Ranchers Hermittober 2024

1. Vex

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"Then the most powerful evoker raised his hands, summoning all his magic. That's how the Vex came into being." Tango flips a page in the storybook he has sitting in his lap and places his finger under the following line, "The Vex are-"

"Ah, Tango..." Jimmy whispers, interrupting the story. "They're already asleep."

Tango looks down to his right and sees their daughter, Revenge, fast asleep with their Ravager plush tucked underneath their chin. "So she is." He closes the book and sets it on the bedside table, then stands up and moves the chair back to her desk. He returns to the sleeping warden hybrid and fixes their blanket so that it reaches under her face. Finished cleaning up, Tango looks up and sees Jimmy leaning against the door frame, quietly watching him.

When Tango gets close, Jimmy grabs him by the arm and pulls him toward their bedroom. "Our bedtime now," he announces.

Tango is notorious for starting Redstone projects late into the night and was once caught still working when Jimmy woke up in the morning. On a few occasions, Tango fell ill due to stress and lack of sleep. Now, his partner always ensures he doesn't overdo it; it reminds Tango of a mother hen.

At the thought, Tango smirks and peels his arm out of Jimmy's grasp, "Okay, okay, mother hen."

"Caring for your well-being is not being a mother hen." Jimmy shuts the door behind them, and they start going through their routine of undressing and putting on sleepwear.

"A mother hen is 'someone who sees to the needs of others,' so you are!"

"A mother hen is also 'bossy' and 'interfering' in an 'annoying' way, so you think I'm bossy and annoying, huh?" Jimmy crosses his arms against his chest and looks away from Tango. "I see how it is."

"Wha- I never said that. You're putting words in my mouth."

"You think I'm a mother hen!"

"A very nice and beautiful mother hen."

Jimmy throws his shirt at Tango's face, "Flattery will get you nowhere."

Tango tosses it back, "Then how'd I end up with you?"

Jimmy huffs, quickly pulls his shirt over his head, then shoves Tango onto the bed, "Sleep. Now."

Tango raises an eyebrow at the assault. "Didn't know you liked to play rough."

Jimmy flushes, and the embarrassment of the comment is enough for his glamour to slip, revealing two white and bone-like structured wings.

Seeing Jimmy's features out, Tango lets his own glamour fall, revealing the same kind of wings, only slightly smaller. He sighs in relief as he stretches out the additional appendages. "I know why we must hide our Vex features, but I wish we could be free like this forever."

Jimmy slips into bed beside him and hums, "One day, we will be able to fly wherever we want." He wraps his arms around Tango's waist and pulls him close, resting his face against Tango's chest. "But for now, sleep."

"Right, future us problem." Tango raises his hand to caress Jimmy's head and kisses him on his hair, "Goodnight, rancher."
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