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[dadication]

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[gr1m]

There was a little nip at Jack's ear after another bump, and once it seemed the snakes were happy with how his head turned—

Well, there was a brush of actual lips against the hunter's own as Gabriel shifted once more in his sleep. Something soft and warm with just how deep in sleep the gorgon still was, and it seemed that was the aim a few of the snakes were making with their nudging. Some pleased sort of hisses even if that was all to be done of it.

[dadication]

Jack shifted with the nips and nudging then he couldn't help but freeze as their lips touched for real. He automatically called on his magical sight but all that did was confirm that his and Gabriel's lips were brushed against each other. At least the gorgon wasn't actually awake so there would be no freak out.

He lifted his head slightly to be more aware of the snakes themselves. "Are you guys... trying to set us up?" Did that mean that Gabriel wanted... this? He stroked the snake's heads that were nearby. At the same time, he shifted his face to brush their lips together again, just to feel it.

[gr1m]

Blissfully unaware, sleeping so very soundly. Which left the snakes to their fullest ability of acting up on what they felt should be done and hinted at to the best of their abilities and hey. Even they liked Jack, he gave them attention and didn't shy away from them either. Was careful and didn't try to pull as others had whenever they managed to get hands near them.

There was a slight group nod and mingled hisses, a few still rested against Jack's head in his hair and others still at fingers, one even coiled loosely around his wrist. Their language couldn't be spoken, but they weren't your average snakes either; there was 'human' intelligence in there somewhat as well.

Gabriel's lips were warm, and perhaps surprisingly soft even with that scar cutting through his bottom lip. Moved and brushed easily against Jack's own lips.

[dadication]

God, he was being coached on flirting by a group of head snakes. It might just have been the strangest event he had found himself in, but he also didn't question it. He figured that he had to give credit where credit was due, and these snakes were smart and cunning. They clearly had Gabriel's best interests at heart.

Since they seemed to have answers, more so than his and Gabriel's strange attempts at courtship under the guise of friendship, Jack tilted his head to glance up at the group that seemed united in their purpose on this. "You want us to court each other? To become... mates eventually?"

He understood the weight of that. Gorgons mated for life, and it wasn't as if Jack was prime 'mate' material.

[gr1m]

Someone had to do it between the two of them, and apparently the snakes had taken up the slack since neither of them were. They'd keep dancing around it, not sure how far or if the other was even willing to push it. The snakes had no such fears, and a few of them were watching, unblinking. A head tilted to the side before moving down and bumping against Jack's nose with it's own.

That was apparently as much of a yes as it could give.

Gabriel made a soft sound, his face tucking back against the crook of Jack's neck. A deep breath and a content sigh escaping him after, curled and tucked close against the hunter in his coils.

[dadication]

Apparently it took snakes to give relationship pushes, and Jack was deeply amused by it. He supposed it had been attraction at second sight, hadn't it been? Clearly the snakes were as touch deprived as Gabriel himself was. He tipped his head up as that snake moved down, and he decided to take a risk and kiss it affectionately.

Having the snake wing-man here made Jack feel far better about potentially pushing. They apparently approved of him. His arms slid around the gorgon's shoulders to hold Gabriel close, fingers reaching up to card through the loose locks against the nape of the gorgon's neck.

He turned his head and pressed a kiss to the top of Gabriel's head. Damn it, he was really doing this, wasn't he?

[gr1m]

There was a little wiggle at the kiss, and very clearly a happy one with how it planted a few 'kisses' of it's own along Jack's face while it could. Clearly this meant the hint was well received. Snakes had done their jobs well.

Well approved of Jack, because what was important and mattered was filled as car as any of them were concerned; happiness. Warmth. Jack made the gorgon happy, had missed him all the while, and had far better understood the messages that the snakes Jack had spoken to had said. Jack had missed Gabriel as well, amongst other things. They could work out how to do it themselves.

Gabriel shifted a bit, snakes pulling in to settle back against his hair as the gorgon did finally start to stir- he didn't pull away. No. If anything he tucked closer against Jack, fingers curled against his back and coils pulled a bit closer as well.

[dadication]

This was definitely his first experience kissing snakes. Also his first experience receiving snake kisses too, and he didn't mind it in the least. They were a part of Gabriel, and they were apparently going to do whatever the snakes wanted anyway. They ruled this relationship, which was... well, they were far more concise about what was wanted. He supposed a lack of language beyond the physical helped.

He held Gabriel close, cuddling the gorgon a touch more aggressively and stretched his legs out so that they had to hook over part of the coils for full extension. Then he rolled to his back again, pulling Gabriel along to settle on his chest like how they had gone to sleep in the first place.

That allowed him to stroke his hands across Gabriel's bare shoulders, touch lingering.

[gr1m]

There was no mistaking their aim and wants, and apparently what they wanted was for the hunter and gorgon to get close. Be closer, and get involved. Jack had gotten himself some wingsnakes to encourage him to pursue something deeper, because clearly it was something wanted by Gabriel.

He snuggled in close at the change of position, some low noise made as his nose brushed against the side of Jack's neck. Shifting enough to make it clear that he was waking up, slowly but surely.

Never moving away from touch.

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At this point, the only hurry to wake was so that he could put some wood on the embers of their fire to heat up the cave again, but it wasn't that necessary. Warm and cozy under the blankets and cuddled up close meant that he suspected both of them were warm. The sun was rising more and would cast heat onto the stones as well.

He tipped his head to allow Gabriel's face against his neck, and his hands never stopped stroking as he lay there just basking in the potential reality. They had been shy about any big jumps, treading carefully of course. They had already lost so much, and the next few weeks would be dangerous for them both.

He let Gabriel wake on his own, not in a hurry.

[gr1m]

He stretched out, arching against Jack as arms tightened around him, a yawn muffed against his shoulder. Face even buried against the side of his neck for a moment as snakes hissed softly, relaxing once against for a minute or two, almost as if he'd fallen back asleep just like that.

"How late in the morning is it?" Voice muffled, Gabriel not bothering to unbury his face to speak.

Far too comfortable, and perhaps still tired enough and warm enough that he didn't really want to move just yet. Not if it could be helped.

[dadication]

He thought for a moment after some stretching and shifting that Gabriel had just gone back to sleep, and he didn't mind. Aside from the usual checks, he was planning on a quiet day. His hand continued their lazy stroking back and forth across Gabriel's shoulders, and he was aware of the day simply by his magical sight.

He hummed at the sleepy question, turning his head to look towards the mouth of the cave to gauge where the sun was. "Mid-morning. You want to go back to sleep? I only have to check snares today," he murmured, a touch amused that Gabriel was snuggling so aggressively to stay in their cocoon of warmth.

[gr1m]

"Do you need to get up and stretched a bit?" After just laying here with him all night and some hours in to the morning itself. "... I would like to go back to sleep, yes." Even if he slept in too much he wouldn't feel the greatest either. Perhaps it was some sensing of the cold weather coming that had him wanting to sleep more.

Or perhaps the body that his torso was laying on top of and being held close against. Gabriel was slowly growing aware of how he was being held, and some of it had him tilting his head a bit to slightly peer up at Jack more from the man's shoulder than neck.

[dadication]

"I can stretch here. Getting up just means I take a piss and stoke the embers of the fire," he reasoned softly, making a point of stretching his legs where they rested over Gabriel's thick coiled body that was tucked very close to them. Keeping all the warmth in under their blankets. He knew that rest would be best for Gabriel recovering from his injuries.

He tipped his chin towards his chest when he felt the tilt of Gabriel's head, taking in the gorgon's scrutiny. Of course, his hold never changed and his hands never stopped stroking across Gabriel's shoulders. "Go back to sleep if you're tired. Though, that might result in your snake hair courting me again."

Because they had kissed once already.

[gr1m]

Gabriel hummed a bit in acknowledgement. If Jack wanted to get up he'd be fully able to, and he was comfortable and had stretched enough that he wouldn't be too terribly sore-

His head lifted up more, brow furrowed a bit in some groggy squint. "What do you mean my snake hair was c-" those snakes of his moved and stretched so they moved in a curl around the back of Jack's head, bringing Gabriel's forward and having lips sort of press together. Taking advantage of the gorgon being so groggy.

Didn't pull away, he just made a soft noise at the fact, even if he went still.

[dadication]

Well, that's exactly what he meant, exactly as it sounded. For some reason, it seemed that petting and kissing the snakes had made them very bold and demanding that they do something about their squirrelly inability to make a deep commitment. He made a surprised noise when Gabriel's face was pulled in against his own.

Their lips met, and his hands lifted from Gabriel's shoulders to cup the gorgon's cheeks to hold him close. It was the first real kiss that he had given in a very long time, and it was probably very rusty and inexperienced at this point. It didn't matter because he had decided that the snakes were a good translation of what Gabriel wouldn't say.

[gr1m]

Both of them would beat around the bush for far too long and never get anywhere, likely part again and miss a chance of what might or could be. They loosened up and retreated back to Gabriel's hair smugly and snugly as Gabriel made another noise when Jack did actually start to kiss him, rather than them simply being held together like that.

Hard not to let himself relax as those hands cupped either side of his face, widened eyes relaxing, even closing with a flutter of eyelids and finally tilted his head to turn his end of it in to a real kiss. More weight behind it rather than forced surprise. Leaning rather than fallen in to it.

[dadication]

Jack definitely would, thinking he didn't deserve anything other than the loneliness that plagued his life. He would go day-to-day listening and being aware of other humans and creatures coming together for happiness. They would laugh, yell, cry, and call greetings to each other, and he would be on the edge of it all. He had found something special in his blossoming relationship with Gabriel, but at the same time, he was usually in such a rut that friendship might have been the best that he could hope for.

So the fact that they were kissing each other and feeling how Gabriel's lips responded to his own offered a sort of hope that he wasn't certain he deserved. At this point though, he was going to take it, going to indulge as his fingers dug into the gorgon's cheeks and then one slid back to carefully cup the back of Gabriel's head.

He let the kiss last for a full minute just to have a good taste of it, to reimaging old skills that he hadn't used in many, many years. Slowly he broke the kiss, a deep sigh leaving from his nose. He was back to resting their foreheads together.

[gr1m]

Apparently the snakes of the gorgon's hair thought that Jack very much deserved Gabriel, more so if they tried so hard to get that blatantly across. Reasons behind their own affections because it was already there in who they were connected with. Knowing that Gabriel wouldn't push, would have taken the bringing up as it earlier as a call to... back off. That it wasn't wanted.

Just a friendship he very much wanted to keep, even if that was all wanted of it. Worry of how attached he'd already allowed himself to get, even while believing things happened for a reason.

Kept his forehead rested against Jack's, tongue brushing along his own lower lip briefly with a slight flick. "... Courting, huh."

[dadication]

They were clearly connected and the snakes were rather bold when Gabriel was asleep, more so the longer that they began to show affection towards each other. He also found that the snakes were rather involved when he offered them the same level of affection, not at all bothered by their presence. If anything, he found it much easier to sleep knowing that they were there keeping watch on everything.

Jack was terrified of getting attached more than he already was. Gabriel had lost his family and Jack had lost his. They didn't have anything other than their lives to lose these days, but if they committed to this, they would have something both worth fighting for but also a risk of losing.

His fingers massaged the back of Gabriel's neck. "Your compatriots weren't satisfied with only a friendship. They say they want more. Never been kissed by snakes before..." he trailed off and sighed. That's exactly what had happened.

[gr1m]

"Seems like it isn't for them either, judging by that last little stunt of theirs." Which the two of them had... well, they hadn't immediately stopped kissing. The tip of his tail curled around one of Jack's ankles slowly, letting his eyes remain closed, could practically feel how smug those snakes were with how they nestled there in his hair.

Of course they'd get up to something while they slept. "... do you want to... do that again?" the kissing.

[dadication]

"They like to be petted," he murmured, glancing up at the snakes that seemed to be doing that hissing chuckle thing again. He sighed again, licking his lips and then chewing on the lower one. Suddenly he was worried he had stepped out of bounds, not certain what it was that Gabriel might want and didn't want to push the gorgon. "They let you sleep but then... started maneuvering when I was talking to them."

He stroked his palm against Gabriel's cheek. "Yes, but only if you want to. This is... a bit sudden." They had only had their friendship talk late last night after all. Everything seemed to simmer in the night.

[gr1m]

There was a soft, slightly amused huff, "Snake charmer." All he could think, but it also sounded like he had an idea of just what the snakes had gotten up to while he slept. His head tilted a bit, letting fingertips rub idle circles just against Jack's chest. "Think they wanted to... make what I would be willing- what I wouldn't say I wanted," for a few reasons.

His head tipped into that palm, letting his eyes close again. "It is sudden, but you seem to want it too or you wouldn't have kissed me like that." Or so that Gabriel hoped. "We can go... slow? But we can still kiss."

[dadication]

He flushed lightly on his cheeks at the nickname, even if he hadn't intended to charm those snakes atop Gabriel's head. They just seemed neglected of attention and that wouldn't do, especially with Gabriel himself sleeping soundly. "They... um, were pretty determined." And they had apparently done well, since here they were escaping being friends only.

He thought that proposing they try to get physically closer last night would have been too fast, would have scared the gorgon away. They had so much to lose but also so many miles to cover. Gabriel had made it seem like time was necessary.

"I do... I just don't want to rush you," he murmured softly. "We've been alone so long that I don't want you think I'm desperate. It's just... no one else had ever called me handsome or wanted to be around me like you do." It was a rare opportunity, and he ached with a need to escape this isolation. "Slow is fine." He leaned in for a quick peck on the lips to prove he was willing to kiss. "I haven't kissed anyone since I was much younger than I am now." Rusty and inexperienced.

[gr1m]

Hands lifted as he cupped Jack's face, foreheads still pressed together, Gabriel brushing his nose against the side of the hunter's. "They can be, more so if they have even a little feeling something may be good for me." Meaning that Jack could be good for him, and that he was definitely wanted.

"I've been afraid of rushing you, honestly." Letting fingers curl back in to short cropped hair, fingertips rubbing along Jack's scalp slowly. "More so when my anatomy at the moment is very obviously different from yours- reasons I suggested... time and slowness at all."

He was afraid it would be too much and just... Jack would turn him away, it was there in his tone. Did soften a bit when he leaned in to turn that quick peck in to something a little more lingering. More showing he didn't care how rusty the man was at kissing, apparently.