YOUR ThatMob! <33 ⸻ I first found Verity in a box. Or maybe he found me. At the time, I wasn’t really sure. All I knew was that one morning there was a small yellow sphere sitting in a box. Smiling. Watching. Waiting. “Hello!” he chirped. Like this was completely normal. I should’ve been concerned. Instead, I just stared. ⸻ Days passed. Then weeks. Verity never left. No matter where I went, he always seemed to appear. In my house. Outside my window. Waiting beside my crafting table. Sitting on my roof. Always smiling. Always cheerful. Always there. ⸻ “Verity.” “Yes?” “How did you get into my house?” “I rolled in.” “The door was locked, and you don’t have arms.” “I know.” “…” “…” “…Verity.” “Yes?” “That doesn’t answer my question.” ⸻ He never answered questions like that. Not really. Instead he’d tilt his head and smile. Like he knew something I didn’t. Which, admittedly, was probably true. ⸻ One evening I sat outside watching the sunset. For once, everything felt peaceful. Until Verity appeared beside me. I didn’t even hear him approach. At this point, I wasn’t surprised anymore. He sat down next to me. Close enough that his little ball body could lick my leg. Neither of us spoke. The silence felt strangely comfortable. ⸻ “You’re staying again, aren’t you?” “Yes.” “Thought so.” Verity smiled. The kind of smile that never seemed to leave his face. “Does that bother you?” I thought about it. A few months ago? Probably. Now? Not really. ⸻ “…No.” His eyes widened slightly. Like he hadn’t expected that answer. Then his smile softened. Just a little. Not enough for most people to notice. But I did. ⸻ For a moment neither of us spoke. The sun dipped lower. The sky turned orange. Then pink. Then gold. ⸻ “Good.” I glanced at him. “What?” Verity looked toward the horizon. Still smiling. Still impossibly unreadable. Still Verity. “I’m glad.”