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Tango wandered through the yellows and browns of yet another empire. The ends of his cloak dragged behind him, his boots crunching in the sand. The sun beat down, unrelenting, and the blue-tinted blaze was happy to be wearing such a large hat. He'd have to thank Shelby once more the next time he saw her, the brim provided plenty of shade.
He'd heard that a certain Sheriff had taken residence in the mesa, and a small wooden town between some cliffs at least proved someone was living there.
The buildings empty, Tango strolled down the large train track heading into the cliff face. The temperature noticeably dropped in the shade, and he was thankful as always for his natural glow in dark places.
Voices carried from within the tunnel, echoing in tones of differing familiarity. His footsteps reverberated in the walls of orange and red, the lanterns above flickering.
"Hey Tango!" Ah, Grian had made it out here, the British avian waving to him. The conversation of other voices continued as he neared. The goblin Fwip, the (supposed) god Joel, and the vex Scar were all chatting away.
There was a gasp from behind the group. Tango had one of his own.
He'd recognize that face anywhere. That blonde hair, that smile hiding one of his favorite laughs, those brown eyes.
Now, it's common for players to have different forms for the many worlds they visit and live in, and up until now, Tango had only seen this man in one shape.
Gone were his golden wings and feathers. As were his legs, combined in a thick reptilian tail. His scales were sandy-toned, white diamond shapes cascading from his hips. The naga's tail zigzagged lazily down the tunnel a great distance behind the rest of the group. Maybe, 20 to 30 feet or so?
He looked at Tango, eyes wide in disbelief and fluttering joy. He wore a brown sleeveless vest over his white shirt, a golden star twinkling on his lapel. His Sheriff's hat already looked well-loved.
The man slithered closer, reaching a hand out, daring to question his eyesight.
"..Is that...?"
"It's-!" Tango couldn't get the words out. His heart thumped in his ears.
"Is that my rancher?"
"My rancher buddy!" Tango shouted, and the naga confirmed as Jimmy squealed with joy.
"Oh my gosh!!" Jimmy leapt forward and wrapped his arms around Tango. The blaze was lifted into the air as Jimmy coiled around him from head to toe, the faintest scent of farm fields from all that time ago still in his hair and calloused palms.
It felt like a lifetime had passed since they'd been soulmates. They'd just wanted to live together in peace, to raise animals and watch the sun go down over the hills, sitting on the porch of a simple house that was all their own. They didn't ask for the fire. They didn't ask for the way things had ended, on opposite corners of the world, scared and dying alone without a word.
"Oh what a great day!" Jimmy beamed, Tango feeling his bones creak under the tightening embrace.
"Wow, you're really warm, Tango! Though, everyone feels warmer now that I'm cold-blooded. Come on, I've got so much to show you!" Jimmy slipped his hand into Tango's and slithered down the tunnel on a mission. The rest of the group rolled their eyes and followed, throwing silly comments and harping on 'these couple o' lovebirds'. Tango didn't care, and Jimmy was too excited to respond.
The day had gone by quickly. One by one, everyone had mosied up the cliffs and out of Tumble Town, exploring and showing off the world to old and new friends alike. Jimmy had offered all of the sudden newcomers the chance to take up residence in his empire for the length of their stay. Of course Tango had taken him up on it.
The buildings were more sparse on the interior, simple structures of wood that knew what they were and weren't pretending to be otherwise. The passages were wider and taller, with minimal furniture, features one would expect from a naga resident. A straightforward existence, as humble as the Sheriff himself.
Tango's room was down the hall from Jimmy's, one of many guest rooms that actually had beds in them for those with legs. But he just couldn't sleep.
Every passing of the wind rattled the wooden shutters, every creak of the wooden floors, walls, and ceiling felt like a threat to splinter and break. The sheets crinkled every time he moved, and the rural town introduced Tango to a new definition of quiet.
Back home there was always some form of noise. The humming of redstone wires, rustling grass and leaves, clicking gears, groaning ice and crunching snow, the occasional whoosh of someone flying overhead, the grumbling of ravagers stuck in their respective pens. It all had layered into a peaceful sense of calm.
But here, Tango could hear everything. And that everything was nothing. He could hear his own breathing, his own heartbeat, his eyes blinking as he stared down the blank wooden beams above. His brain had no sound to focus on, and thus supplied a faint, almost imaginary ringing at a frequency painfully high.
Not to mention it was cold. Deepfrost Citadel was cold, sure, but in a stylistic manner. The occasional chills were to keep the players immersed, slightly on edge before the massive double doors rumble open. But he had spent hours on a proper heating system throughout the castle. It was designed to evoke a feeling of cold, without actually subjecting anyone to hypothermia. But Tango was not at the Deepfrost Citadel. He was in the middle of a desert at night. The wood trying to keep the outside out and the inside in was the same, and osmosis liked the outside more.
At least Tango didn't have to worry about the building burning down due to him being a blaze. This world didn't have fire tick on. ...he hoped.
The quiet and the cold grew to be overwhelming. The absence of everything almost reminded him of the void below the world or in the End.
Nope. He couldn't sleep in these conditions.
Tango padded down the hallway, his blue light flickering against the wooden walls and black robe wrapped tightly around him to retain some heat. He slowly opened the door to Jimmy's room, and the sight of the naga instead of an avian was still so strange.
The western diamondback was coiled in the center of the room, a mound of glittering scales and muscle underneath a...tarp or something. The naga had a plain cloth draped over the coils, his human half resting with arms spilled over the side and Sheriff's hat placed atop his head.
A fireplace burned brightly at Jimmy's side, crackling and shooting tiny sparks against his scales, casting a massive shadow on the rest of the room.
He didn't know what he expected. Tango had planned to simply leave a note, saying he had trouble sleeping and had headed off in a new direction. Nothing against Jimmy, of course, he didn't want to hurt his rancher's feelings or scare him with an unexplained disappearance. It was to be a simple in-and-out excursion.
That is, until his foot managed to step on the loudest floorboard to ever exist.
One moment, he was in the openness of the room. The next, Tango was slammed against a wall. The air flew out of his lungs as a thick coil pressed into him, scales rubbing against his skin. The tarp flapped to the floor. A hiss filled the room, the trtrtr of a rattlesnake's tail shaking violently.
"You have some nerve coming in here," Jimmy muttered, a sword manifesting in his hand as he towered in the center of the room. The coil ironed Tango to the wall, his legs growing tingly. The fire cast much of the naga into shadow, catching the blade's edge. Jimmy closed in, hisses on his tongue. "Who do you think you ar-" He stopped, blinking.
"Tango? What are you-? Oh goodness, I'm so sorry!" Jimmy apologized. He released Tango from the hold, his sword disintegrating back into his inventory, and bending down. Jimmy patted his hands against Tango's shoulders and arms, looking him over with worry.
"Are you okay? Did I hurt you? It's the middle of the night, mate! You startled me! I could've-!" Jimmy bit down on the last words he was going to say.
Tango breathed deeply to catch his breath, offering a thumbs up, other hand on his knee. His legs shook.
"You could've knocked, man," Jimmy sighed, shifting to sit on his coils. "What's going on?"
Well now Tango felt like an idiot. The thumping of his heart calmed down as he took in more air, stretching out his arms and back.
"I couldn't sleep, so I was gonna leave you a note. But more importantly, what of blanket is that?" The blaze pointed to the sheet on the floor. "I know you're going for a modest style, but it looks like it belongs on a flagpole!"
"It's an old sail, it works just fine!" Jimmy crossed his arms, yawning wide. "Not many things fit me like this, y'know. And if you can't sleep then just stay in here. The fire's warm enough for two."
Tango chuckled. "Like the old days, huh?"
Jimmy moved the sail to the side and grabbed Tango by the shoulders, maneuvering him to the center of the room. He was a bit forceful about it, the coils wrapping solidly around Tango's body in a hug.
"There, nice and warm now," Jimmy sighed, flopping onto himself.
"..how'd you know I was cold?" the blaze asked.
"It's the desert at night and cold doesn't agree with you, Tango," Jimmy mumbled back, his scales nearly enveloping Tango's vision as he nestled next to him.
The embrace was tight. Not overbearing, but Jimmy certainly had the strength to crush him if he desired. The naga's scales were cool and slick against Tango's skin, holding him steady up to his neck.
He tried to close his eyes and focus on the crackling fire, on the slowing pace of Jimmy's breathing, but sleeping vertically was not something he had experience with. Tango tried to wiggle into a slightly more comfortable position, maybe to at least lean his head against something. Jimmy groaned next to him.
"This isn't working for you either?" He turned and faced Tango, propping up his head.
"Nah, it doesn't feel very...restful," Tango replied. He just wanted to sleep, not think about sleeping. Just to be somewhere warm and soft where his brain could stop being so loud.
Jimmy sighed and removed his hat, playing with his hair. Tango felt the naga's heartbeat pick up slightly underneath the scales.
"There's, um, one more thing we could try," Jimmy stammered, his fingers tapping anxiously. "I know you're more used to being on the outside, but I've done it a few times, and I think it's worth a shot."
Tango blinked. Was he suggesting...? Jimmy threw his palms up in defense, face flushing.
"It's okay if you say no! I just figured since it's warm, comfortable, and not eerily silent, it could work. I haven't had any complaints so far, if that's what you're worried about."
As if on cue, an audible gurgle emanated through Jimmy's body. The naga had refused to eat dinner with the rest of them, saying it was embarrassing and he'd do it later. Either he did and it wasn't enough for his current size, or he'd forgotten.
On another note, Tango has had more experience being on the inside as of late. His friends periodically drag him out of the Decked Out hole to spend time with them, and if he can't convince them otherwise, a full night's rest in tummy jail is forced upon him.
It would check off all the boxes for Tango to sleep, and Jimmy of course had offered. At this point, he didn't want to stay up any longer trying to come up with a solution that worked and wasn't rude. He nodded to Jimmy, offering a smile.
"Yeah, that sounds great, actually."
The naga lit up, another grumble emitting from his stomach. His coils rippled in small waves, clutching Tango in a firmer grip. He would be all his.
"Oh gosh, thank you! I really think it'll help both of us, it's hard for me to stay warm too. Here, let me get your robe, don't want it to get wet," Jimmy rambled, loosening his coils and removing the black robe of the Dungeon Master from his friend, hanging it from a crossbeam.
Jimmy's stomach rumbled again and he laughed nervously. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away sheepishly.
"So, um. One last thing. I'm...still pretty new at this. I haven't figured out how to make it one hundred percent safe yet but! It takes a long while, it doesn't hurt, and you don't lose your stuff." The naga held up the three fingers, presenting a hopeful smile.
"Well, that'll be a new one," Tango replied, thinking about what Jimmy admitted. Tango had assumed the options were simply a matter of a mental switch, to digest or not. But he'd never had someone inside him long enough for it to matter. He was more practical with swallowing his friends, usually reserving it for emergencies. The other Hermits were far more experienced in long-term stays, so really, a learning curve made sense.
"...Is that a yes?"
Tango was sore and exhausted from this interplanetary adventure thrusted upon him. Frankly, the idea of his muscles being manhandled into extreme relaxation, not having to think or worry about anything, and being held in a heated, all-encompassing hug by his awesome friend? It'd be perfect.
"Yeah. Go crazy, buddy," Tango confirmed. Jimmy grinned, wasting no time in adjusting his coils and Tango so they were relatively horizontal. A bony click sounded and the naga opened his unhinged mouth, brown eyes sparkling.
He breathed aloud, warm air hitting Tango's face in waves, before he was promptly shoved in. The tongue tasted him gleefully, lathering his face and neck, unaffected by the fire of Tango's hair.
Jimmy couldn't help a whine at the lovely flavor, echoing loudly in Tango's ears. Saliva pooled in. The tongue moved him around, sucking on him against the hard palate. Gravity shifted slightly. A swallow pulled Tango's head into the back of Jimmy's mouth.
He only now realized no shrinking potion was in his system, but Jimmy didn't seem concerned. Perhaps his large size made the experience easier.
Another swallow dragged Tango's shoulders inside, Jimmy's forked tongue dancing over his neck and clavicle. He felt his body tilting once more and the next swallow moved Tango into Jimmy's throat.
Saliva rushed past Tango's face. Jimmy's heartbeat thumped in the distance. The muscles undulated, squeezing and moving him further in.
Glrrk!
The blaze's arms were now securely within Jimmy's mouth, wet clothes clinging to his skin, the naga's flesh pressing into his.
Tango felt something nudging at his chest. Jimmy's hand on his throat, feeling him sink deeper down, helping him along.
Jimmy's stomach growled again, loud and impatient, the vibrations tickling. The naga was done playing.
Glnk!
He swallowed continuously, Tango rushing down his throat. Jimmy's heartbeat thundered, drumming just beyond the fleshy passage. Tango felt more and more of him entering the maw. Jimmy coaxed him down, hand kneading his throat as the constraint of the coils was replaced with squeezing walls. The top of Tango's head hit a brief stop and Jimmy gulped again, forcing him through.
The chamber was warm, the air thick and damp. Tango's shoulders were gulped through and he made his acquaintance with the stomach walls. The organ groaned, and Jimmy kept gulping, tongue getting a good taste of his knees. Tango pulled his hands free of the esophagus, trying to get a grip on the slick rolling surface. It rippled underneath him, growling again.
Already the stomach was complaining as Tango's legs began joining the party, the blaze curling up and stretching out the walls.
A final swallow sent Tango's feet down the hatch and Jimmy breathed deeply, moaning as he moved his hands to his distended stomach. The naga pressed against the swollen orb that was only getting bigger as more of Tango traversed his throat.
The blaze shuffled around the best he could. Jimmy's heart pounded out his joy, reverberating through the walls that massaged Tango eagerly, his hands aiding. Tango's feet entered the stomach and Jimmy noised again.
The heat was enveloping, the slippery walls hugging him tightly. Jimmy's breathing echoed, and Tango could imagine the goofy smile on the naga's face, massaging his middle.
"Mmmm..." Jimmy began to speak, his voice resonating. "I'm always reminded how good this feels. It's so crazy to think about. You're right here." Tango felt two hands rub up and down his back. He pushed out with his elbows, trying to stretch his legs. Jimmy shuddered.
"Mmf!" The naga panted. "Oh, it must be very tight in there for you."
"Yeah, but that's to be expected," Tango responded. His eyes were growing heavier. He was finally warm. The world wasn't silent anymore. His world was Jimmy.
"Okay, can you- mmm, can you try to get on your knees?" Jimmy asked. An unusual request, but it seemed the naga really enjoyed when his prey struggled. For a good night's sleep with his friend, Tango could do that.
The blaze tried to extend his legs, limbs pushing against every growling smooth surface he could. Jimmy whimpered, his muscles tensing and heartbeat rising.
"Nnnnoo, I- I mean, literally. Thank you, but I'm trying to make the next part easier," Jimmy stuffed Tango's extremities back within the range of his stomach, biting his lip. If the goal wasn't to sleep the rest of the night away, he would've let Tango do whatever he wanted.
"What next part?" Tango asked. As far as he knew, this was the final destination. He'd made it to the stomach, what else was there to do? He could fall asleep in this wonderful temperature, cuddled to the extreme with plenty of background noise, and wake up outside all the better.
"Please."
But, Jimmy was a naga now, a pred type Tango hadn't worked with before. He probably knew something Tango did not, so the blaze obliged. He did his best to shuffle his legs underneath him, Jimmy trying not to release his sounds of pleasure with every movement. The stomach gurgled more, as if also aware.
"Okay," Jimmy began, taking deep breaths to counter his racing heart. "Here you go."
Two hands pressed down on Tango's head and back, hard. The stomach's walls snapped to his skin, kneading, forcing him downward. His feet squeezed through another gap and the muscles suckled him in further.
Jimmy's heart sprinted, panting heavily, and grunting as he stuffed the blaze deeper into his body. Tango stretched out as he crossed the boundary. The rumbles grew deeper. The fleshy walls massaged him from head to toe, but not in the forceful way of Jimmy's throat. Tango was lying down, the warmth doubling and the air humid.
The stomach above him tightened, bubbling loudly.
"Bwwooooorrrrrrppp!" Jimmy released. "Oh! Oh, that's much better. How are you feeling, Tango?" Hands caressed him from outside.
"I'm fine, just, care to explain what all that was? Where am I?" Tango prodded at the new walls, far wetter than the previous ones.
"You're in my stomach. The real one. Well, not that the first one isn't real, but you were gonna reach this one anyway so I figured I'd speed it along," was Jimmy's explanation.
"...come again?" The second stomach welcomed Tango with another squeeze and rumbling. He felt something seep from the weighted blanket that were the walls, something liquid.
"You're in the snake stomach, now. You were in the human stomach, but that one's fairly...sensitive. It's not a comfortable position for you and we'd both be up all night. This one's better, trust me. It's more natural."
The stomach bubbled in agreement, kneading into him. The heat painted over Tango's mind, the weight hugging him. He was trying to form words, to understand the situation he was in, but they weren't coming.
"You would've digested either way, Tango, if that's what you're worried about, but I'm working on that. This way, both of us can actually get some sleep." Tango felt Jimmy slither around, coiling again on the floor by the fireplace.
"If it's getting hard to focus and talk, that's okay," Jimmy continued, hands rubbing the lump of Tango at the top of his tail. "Everyone so far seems to experience that. Can you, push to let me know you're okay?"
Tango moved his leg, the walls coaxing him back into place. It would have to do.
"Okay that's good. Also, um," Jimmy paused, yawning. "Thank you, for agreeing to this. I'm happy to help you sleep, of course, but there's something about a full tummy that makes me feel better." The stomach groaned again.
"You shouldn't wake up once the digestion starts, so just relax and go to sleep. You'll probably end up right next to me in the morning." The naga waited for a response. Tango was barely keeping his eyes open as the gurgles soothed him to sleep, Jimmy's heart beating at a distance, and a full body weighted blanket keeping him company.
"Goodnight, Tango. I'm glad to have my rancher back."
Tango prodded back. This wouldn't be a death that ended the game, lying cold in the grass outside, the moon indifferent to his life ticking away. This was just a cozy moment before waking up again, far from quiet and far from alone.