Agathe smiled and shook her head. "I wouldn't be bugged by it at
all, as long as your snakes don't mind that is." She chuckled
slightly. "I had wanted to feel your scales, but didn't know how to
ask without sounding like a creep." Wait, had she said that one out
loud? The momentary awkward silence was her answer. "Oh gods," Her
hands flew to her mouth. "I-I'm sorry... I," She blinked and
decided to silence herself before she made things worse.
Sasha shook her head, laughing softly. "No, no you are not a creep
and you don't sound creepy," she said, sliding in behind her. "I
think my snakes will play nice. They seem to like you. Been
following your movements. Okay, now I sound creepy..."
"You don't sound creepy either," Agathe's blush faded as she heard
Sasha move behind her. "Snakes do that sort of thing. If they don't
play nice I won't blame them, I'm a stranger and they're not used
to me yet... I hope they'll get used to me..." She held out her
hands so Sasha could guide her.
Sasha took Agathe's hands in her smile, long fingered hands. "Thank
you. Though, I am inclined to believe they like you. I like you
too," she murmured, slowly showing Agathe what to do. She was
careful and patient, enjoying being close and teaching.
"You know Sasha, you're the only person on this world, with the
exception of Shaye, who I like. Sure there were a couple passersby
who were nice, but they didn't stick around or let me stick around
like you have." Agathe said quietly as she felt how her hands were
being moved and what was going on.
"They were foolish, then. Not to put them down, I am not impervious
to being foolish. But they should have let you. But I am selfishly
glad they didn't... Means you came here and I got to meet you,"
Sasha murmured quietly.
"I'm glad they didn't either. I would have been found by others who
wouldn't have been so kind." Agathe smiled and chuckled slightly.
"I guess I was blessed in a way since I'm here with you now..."
"If you are blessed, then I am willing to believe that one god out
there has to be looking out for me. Or at least, doesn't wish me
ill," Sasha said. "That makes me sound self centered...I am just
glad we met."
"No more than self centered than what I had said." Agathe chuckled.
"I'm glad we met as well." She was quiet a moment and tilted her
head a little. "How am I doing with the cutting? And how are your
snakes doing? They seem to have quieted down a bit..."
A blush stole over Sasha's cheeks and she shifted her weight.
"Well...um...the cutting is great. I was going to switch to the
carrots. And...as for the snakes...uh...that would be because they
are smelling you...I think they must approve because they look
quite at ease and lulled into a trancelike state..." She squeaked,
not saying that she liked how Agathe smelled. She couldn't help but
feel as happy as the snakes on her head at the scent.
"I know I'm not the cleanest, but I'm glad they approve." Agathe
chuckled, happy that the snakes that seemingly like to cause
problems are calmed by her being this close. She couldn't really
feel Sasha's scales that well, but she wasn't about to touch her on
purpose.
Sasha pulled the carrots in front of them and showed Agathe how to
cut them as they continued to talk. She moved them through the rest
of the gathered vegetables as well. "As am I," she agreed.
"Thank you for showing, or rather helping me feel how to cut the
vegetables. I know you're not used to being so close to someone,
and I hope that I didn't make things awkward when I spoke that
thought about touching your scales..." Agathe said in almost one
entire breath. She was rather worried that she'd put a bit of an
awkwardness in the air between them. She really didn't want to have
done that, but she did want to feel her scales, as weird as that
sounds.
"Not at all. I was happy too. I think I outweirded that with my
snakes smelling you. And if you want to touch my scales, I can
guide your hands to what would be my outer knee if I had legs.
Nothing improper or embarrassing. If you'd like," Sasha said,
blushing as she went to put the ingrediants together in the pot
with broth and the fish.
"Oh no, I wasn't weirded out by that, animals do that, they sniff
at things they don't unde-" Agathe froze and fell silent a moment
trying to figure out how she should reply to that offer without
sounding over-enthusiastically weird. "Y-yes please, I would like
that, I would like that a lot..." She swallowed trying to get her
mouth to stop being so darn dry.
Sasha grinned, getting everything together and cooking before
coming back over. She took Agathe's hand in hers, her fingers
caressing the skin for a moment. "Here goes...no one has ever
touched me without the intent to kill besides my mom...and grandma
before her...oh! And Shaye, of course! Can't forget him." Sasha
slid Agathe's hand to her outer scales, letting her run her hands
over them if she would like.
Agathe gasped softly as her warm hand came in contact with the
contrasting cooler scales. Her mouth was partly agape and her eyes
moved slowly focusing on nothing. She moved her hand slowly further
up a few inches, and then back down. She didn't want to touch
somewhere Sasha would be uncomfortable. "You're so smooth... Almost
soft... It's, amazing..." She'd never held a snake, let alone
touched one. She was used to fur and feathers, stones and rougher
things, and rougher treatment. Any kind or gentle touch was few and
far between in her past. This was so very different, and she liked
it. It was almost comforting.
Sasha giggled. "Thank you. I don't mind the feel. I find myself
rubbing one spot or another when I get nervous. Like a worry stone.
I don't know if I am amazing...just me."
"You are most definitely amazing Sasha." Agathe tilted her head up
so she could "look" her in the face, her hand stilled, remaining on
Sasha's side. "You are just you, but just you is more kind than
everyone I've ever met."
The gorgon blushed further, ducking her head. Tears pricked her
eyes and she leaned closer to this incredible blind woman. "Thank
you. But kindness isn't something you should need to thank for.
Then again, that is exactly why I am thanking you, isn't it? Agree
to stay kind to each other?"