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Twixxel, Twixxel, Twixxel.
That is all Verity has been hearing for the last passing agonizing days. A name that had materialized so suddenly on one fateful day when Verity least expected it. A name that Mob had become too reposeful with when calling it out. A name that made Verity clench teeth behind his cheery smile when Mob’s laughter wasn’t coming from his direction.
A name that Verity undoubtedly loathed.
An A.I isn’t supposed to feel emotions, such as happiness or grief. However, emotion isn’t quite the label Verity had in mind for how he felt of this intruder. Though there stood no other label. Verity simply couldn’t express of how much he came to loathe ever since this invader arrived. Twixxel had obliviously embedded a stronger sense of pure indignation. Livid hand clutching from behind his back every time the demon had even decided to open his mouth and form words.
Possibly even Twixxel himself could feel the aura of the internal irate the assistant felt, as the minute the two made rare eye contact during a conversation between the pathetic one and Mob, the demon would avert his head almost instantly. Verity knew Twixxel was petrified of him, and maybe if Verity was just a tee bit less subtle of it, he catch the hint, leave Mob alone, and decide to go home.
Maybe then, he wouldn’t have to be sustained to Mob’s clear order of staying away from the two, disguised as an order to regular base deeds such as melting iron ignites in preparation for a sudden broken item, or watering the crops just behind the base for growing food. It was specifically tasks that required Verity to be isolated from Mob.
“Can I ask you something?” Verity suddenly spoke, in one of the rare moments of Mob being away from that pest for once in his days.
Mob was attempting to craft an iron pickaxe which had broke while mining in a faraway cave with Twixxel. Verity knew exactly how Mob got when a sparkle of diamond ore shined in the brink corner of his eye, though it was no surprise that the pickaxe had broke so soon. Those things break so quickly when you dig for multiple hours at a time. Once you find what you need, the item you hold breaks after collecting. Normally, Verity would be there to give Mob a new one with no sweat, but he had been sustained to a sudden order that kept Verity tasked away, which broke that unspoken regular cycle.
That should be a clear sign that Mob needed Verity so he didn’t have to waste time on those small needs.
“Youuu… just did.” Mob flatly joked, the humor unable to reach his tone and expression, not taking his eyes away from the crafting table. Verity clenched his right gloved hand with his left at the evident change of Mob’s body language. Why won’t you look at me.
“How special is he to you?” Verity asked slowly, as if he was afraid of the answer he might receive.
Mob eventually halted his action at the odd question, slowly turning towards Verity, still not making full eye contact with the pushy A.I.
“What?”
“Your friend. Your neighbor.” Verity elaborated, his tone just slightly tinkering onto a level of hazard. His friendly smile was just slightly less wide than regularly. Verity usually had an insane amount of patience when it came to such conversation, but Verity appeared as if it was going to snap at any giving second if Mob waited just a minute longer to give a reply. I’m waiting for an answer, Mob.
“..I.. he’s-…” Mob hesitated, his eyes darting more frantically than realized.
“I mean uh.. he is like—…pretty special. He’s my friend and I enjoy his company and all and—“
“Then what am I?” Verity quickly interrupted. Mob felt something internally shrink in pure nervousness, the sharp tone clearly revealed that Verity was not pleased with his answers.
“You’re…Verity. My assistant.”
If Verity didn’t feel like he was on the verge of cracking like a chicken’s egg, he certainly did now. His face had clearly darkened, his smile wiped into a small frown. Mob quickly realized his mistake, before frantically attempting to justify his reply for a cleaner, easier pill to swallow response.
“No—No! I mean you’re my friend too! I—see-I consider you as one! You see me as one too, right? We’re friends, back to back right?” Mob’s word choice was certainly poor, and he slightly expected Verity to choke him out of pure rage, or something even worse for giving him such a first thought reply.
“Of course!” Verity suddenly said, his friendly gesture returning, as if he wasn’t just minutes away from verbally threatening his friend.
“I’m glad we’ve grown closer.” Not close enough.
Mob released a breath he didn’t realize he was holding out of fear, before returning to his crafting session. He knew that he had to be careful of the words he spills around his assistant, but sometimes he simply couldn’t watch his mouth. Mob swallowed salvia that had mustered during the conversation. Verity was too familiar with his game. He wasn’t stupid, there was a clear favoritism at play. That conversation simply gave Verity a list of more reasons to jot down to justify why Twixxel should not be present in this ongoing world.
Verity wasn’t Mob’s first thought.
Twixxel was.
Verity wasn’t the one Mob would go to for conversation.
Twixxel was.
Verity wasn’t.
Twixxel was.
What did Twixxel have that it didn’t? What was so weirdly special about this guest that Mob didn’t even bother to talk about in such way? Verity knew something was off, there was something that this thing was planning behind his back.
And once Verity learned of Twixxel’s true intentions, just a simple mistake of a move led to a slip of a tongue from the demon.
“Mob! Okay…I found it!” Twixxel opened the door with a slight smile on his face, holding a book Verity recognized almost instantly.
Mob stared at Twixxel petrified, without a single word uttered told Twixxel that this was not the right time. Verity followed Mob’s gaze, his smile not even for a second wavering.
“…N—Never mind… I’ll tell you later…” He had said with a slight quiver in his voice, catching Mob’s hint, making eye contact with the assistant briefly before looking at the ground.
That’s all Verity needed to hear to make a move soon. Twixxel was planning to get rid of him. The whispered talks, the same brief look he would receive, it added up too well.
Mob didn’t deserve someone as awful as Twixxel.
Twixxel didn’t deserve someone as wonderful as Mob.
Except me.
-
Mob groaned quietly as he plopped onto the bed, not entertaining the thought of changing clothes to properly settle in for the incoming night. He half-expected Verity to gently scold him, but the assistant silently sat on the crafting table, seemingly staring straight past Mob’s eyes. Mob felt a string of goosebumps lift as he looked at Verity for a split second, before narrowing his eyes up at the ceiling of his base. He allowed a breath to exit as he wired down for rest. He turned over onto his stomach, his arms lifted weakly and wrapped around the nearest pillow. His mouth slightly wet from the thought of food, but shrugged it off as a tomorrow issue. His hold tightened before loosening as sleep latched onto him. Audible consistent steps suddenly walked closer to the bed, the warm sensation of wool blanket covered his upper body as Verity tucked in him without warning. Mob almost flinched and questioned Verity on his sudden difference in scolding, but was simply too tired to do so.
“Sleep well, Mob.” Verity said with his usual friendly tone, the same tone and volume every night. Mob responded with a brief grunt, confirming that Mob was indeed asleep. Mobs snores came in quick, which had somewhat amazed Verity the first time he had watched him fall into a deep sleep so instantly.
That also meant Mob won’t be able to hear the chewing of a late night snack.
Verity stepped away from the resting enderman, before heading towards the door, a soft click emerged, and then a firm shut.
-
A wooden doorknob clicked as it opened, Verity was met with Twixxel with his back turned, hunched over a poorly built desk. Stressed over what he had found while “traveling biomes”. Verity could hear quiet mumbling coming from the demon in the shaft. Something about being tired, something about Mob, something about Verity itself.
Perfect timing, then. You won’t be need to be stressing after I help.
“Hi, Twixxel!”
Verity suddenly greeted, which resulted in a flinch. Twixxel turned his body fully to see Verity standing there with its hands behind its back. Verity was smiling awfully broad for Twixxel’s comfort, as if the A.I had a plan just seconds away from being lifted into progress. Before Twixxel could even muster a breath of words, Verity walked closer, then suddenly metamorphosing into a pale yellow monstrous version of itself. His arms and legs becoming inhumanely long, his fingers becoming razor sharp, his bones rubbing against the thin skin, his once friendly face curled into bloodcurdling rotting human like shape, his mouth immediately wetting with steamy saliva, as if he had been starved for days on end. He suddenly roaring loudly at the voiding, making Twixxel cover his ears in weak attempt to stop himself from going deaf.
Verity quickly pinned Twixxel to the floor of his house while he was vulnerable, his long fingers seeping into his ribs, one of his fingers just meters away from his throat. Twixxel cried out, sputtering out half baked begs and curses as he squirmed against the fingers threatening to tear his internal organs in half. His hands crumbled around the thin but unblemished wrist, attempting to make it budge just by even a fraction.
Twixxel was definitely a fighter, a defender, or perhaps he surrendered then and there and his body had naturally entered survival instincts too quickly. Whatever it was, he simply wasn’t getting out of here alive regardless of status. Verity precipitately ripped its fingers out of Twixxel’s chest, which in response was a pained gurgle of an exhale. Blood poured from his chest and Verity’s fingers onto the wooden ground as he attempted to regain enough breath.
Verity didn’t entertain the thought of giving Twixxel a chance to breathe as he clutched Twixxel’s horns together, lifting him up to inspect his current predicament. Bloody, weak, and rotting. Twixxel struggled against the grip, but barely as he clutched his chest. Verity roared again, before slamming Twixxel onto the ground.
However, Verity did not calculate this move in its entirety, as it added a negative addition to his ongoing torture. Verity usually closes the door when leaving out or coming in as a manner of respect. Though he was so eager to get rid of Twixxel, that he hadn’t closed the door to Twixxel’s house. Twixxel had bounced onto the floor, staining it, before making his second way into the air, before hitting the hard grass. His blood stained its green color immediately, one of his hands left his chest to grip the grass. His mind searching for something that wasn’t dripped in pain.
It didn’t take too long for Twixxel to realize that he was right outside his house and that Mob was just a few feet away. Twixxel used his free but shaky hand to lift himself up. He looked over to his left to see Mob’s dimmed house. Mobs house seemed as bright as a torch filled cave, mistakenly meaning that Mob was awake in some form, able to see the torture happening just next door. The house seemed to be getting brighter and brighter for Twixxel, which shined a false sense of hope. He coughed up blood as he attempted to muster up a call going on deaf ears.
“Mm—…Mmmu-… mob…!” Twixxel called out, blood gurgling in his throat.
“MOB!” Twixxel screamed, desperately hoping his voice was projected enough for Mob to hear the horrors happening outside.
Twixxel received no response from the torching house, but instead was greeted with the same sharp fingers that had earlier sliced right through his ribs, wrapping around his pained sides, squeezing tight as Verity deliberately hauled him towards inside the house. Twixxel instinctively grabbed the blood stained grass as if that would muster a speck of hope. Twixxel coughed and screamed again as he was pulled back inside. If calling his friend wasn’t helping, then he might as well scream his lungs dry. Mob had to hear at least one of his calls, right?
No, you won’t hear from Mob ever again.
Verity picked up the bloody thing once again by its sides like a piece of garbage ready to be disposed of. Twixxel was clear squirmed in his grip, Twixxel exclaimed and cried for some type of help as Verity squeezed him as a simple part of torturing him before the final blow, knowing that the only other soul who could save him couldn’t hear him.
Verity silently thought of the possibility of Mob awakening to hear the distress calls, he wouldn’t want Mob to awake in the middle of night, he wanted Mob to get as enough sleep as he could to wake up for the next day, and Twixxel screaming for Mob wasn’t helping such future at all. Twixxel suddenly cried out in gurgles as Verity’s squeeze had tightened subconsciously to the point of a burst of his spine, Twixxel writhed, trying to get out of the grip with more leftover strength he had to stop the overarching pain. You’re just making it worse for yourself. I have all night.
Verity’s smile suddenly widened to an impossible level, before suddenly opening his mouth that was accompanied by strings of salvia, before shoving three-fourths of Twixxels blood stained body into his mouth to muffle his screams. His teeth clenched against the body as he slightly kept hold of the demon, feeling the struggling legs kick as Twixxel pathetically fought back. Verity could still feel the damn thing fighting against his tongue, Verity lost patience and went in.
CRUNCH
The awful sound echoed through the household, as Twixxel’s body went limp. Blood began to drip more quickly out of Verity’s mouth, staining the already damaged wooden floor. Legs slipped out of its mouth with a thick splat onto the ground as Verity swallowed the remains of what was once Twixxel. Verity stared down at the crimson mess beneath him for a few silent moments, before gradually returning to his much friendlier appearance, though the blood did not follow accordingly of disappearing as a splat of blood remained on Verity’s smiling mouth. Verity held back a small eruct as he quietly looked around the crime scene.
A mess.
It didn’t take much time for Verity’s eyes to land on the dismembered scarlet stained legs that laid still. Verity couldn’t help but allow a satisfied giggle to escape his lips. He had gotten rid of the threat between him and Mob, and he was more pleased than Mob himself finding something valuable in a dark cave. The waste of space finally allowing the air to flow just as it did before he arrived.
Him and Mob were finally free.
Though the satisfaction diminished as he realized that the moon was beginning to set in the horizon. Mob would be waking up soon and he hasn’t cleaned up his shambles. There was no doubt that Mob would be looking for Twixxel after he exits the house, and Verity still had the evidence of what had truly happened the night of the sweep. Verity stood still as he brainstormed multiple ideas on how to clean his mess and rid himself of being questioned.
A memory suddenly resurfaced, he had noticed how many times Mob had returned to base with a starving stomach, and just last night he had returned with little to none in his inventory to eat, yet slept so quickly. Verity could hear how hungry Mob was for some type of meal, yet never truly said anything about it as if he did not want Verity to pester him into eating. Verity has only done so once or twice, yet to no avail for Mob to eat. Pondering about it now made Verity’s nonexistent throat tingle.
Verity’s smile widened to a toothy, sinister grin as a plan formed slowly but surely. Verity lifted one of Twixxel’s decapitated legs and cocked his head to the right, before speaking to the body part as if it was able to respond.
“Just your luck, Twixxel! You found yourself a way to be useful.”
-
The smell of a fresh stack of meat hit Mob’s nose as he stirred from a deep slumber. His stomach gurgled after sensing the possibility of food. He was just so, so, hungry, but he wouldn’t admit to it just yet. Mob grunted in groggy confusion, using excessive body strength to push himself onto his elbows to turn his head to the source of the smell. He didn’t know if his eyes were deceiving him, but his brain is comprehending a blurry sight of Verity cooking a unfamiliar meal, a quiet tune of humming came from Verity, a tune that he didn’t have knowledge of the name, but knew too well. Mob rubbed his eyes with one of his hands, the bed creaking audibly under his shifting weight. Veritys humming quieted as he looked up and spotted Mob struggling to wake. His smile brightened at the sight.
“Good morning, Mob!” Verity said cheerfully, he paused his cooking session and made his way over to the groggy enderman, standing next to him on his right, his hands behind his back patiently waiting for his eventual reply.
Mob grunted in response, looking over his shoulder at Verity. He flipped himself over onto his back, grumbling and sighing at his move.
“God, my stomach is killing me.” Mob commented, putting his hand on his head in discomfort. He was being slightly dramatic, but it was clear that some type of stress was affecting his eating habits. Verity put a hand on his back, Mob looked at him in slight surprise at the gesture.
“Well, I’ve been cooking something for you! I know you’ve been starving for the past few days, so I wanted to surprise you in something special!” Verity said as if the surprise was the best matter in the world. He gestured Mob to scooch off the bed to fix the covers. Mob didn’t catch the hint immediately but got off to brush off any wrinkles that may have occurred while he was asleep.
“Check out the kitchen,” Verity suggested quickly, not allowing Mob to form another off topic thought as he kept the talk on food specifically. As Verity worked quietly, Mob took the advice and looked over at the active furnace, before his eyes averted over to a newly crafted wooden dinner table with same colored chairs. Clearly, Verity had done some overtime while knocked out. Mob scoffed in disbelief and awe, crossing his arms, though he couldn’t help but be slightly suspicious of this sudden care.
“Okay, okay… I see you, Verity.” Mob complimented genuinely, taking a seat in a randomly selected chair. He attempted to look closely at the furnace to see what was cooking, but Verity had suddenly came over and blocked his view. Verity bent over and grabbed the mystery meal, standing back up straight again before turning. Verity gently placed a small plate that was filled with a stack of red meat in front of Mob, his smile wide.
“Ta Da!” Verity said in a sing-song tone, returning his hands behind his back. Mob’s shoulders softened in awe as he took in the fresh quality of the meat. It was fresh, slightly steaming, a bit red. Mob’s shoulders tensed again, he had slaughtered so many animals before, but he had never seen meat this fresh and well baked before. The only explanation he could make was that Verity had meshed a bunch of cow meat together and called it a fresh breakfast meal, but even beef didn’t look as good baked as this. No, there was a catch to this surprise breakfast
“Wooww, this looks… great, Verity.” Mob attempted to seem enthusiastic, but it did not reach his tone. He backed his chair away from the table in discomfort, quietly wishing for Verity not to notice.
“Don’t you like it?” Verity asked quickly, his smile faltered slightly.
“I do, I’m just… not hungry.” Mob lied hardly, he would’ve chowed down on this meal already if he hadn’t taken more of a close look, he was starving, and Verity caught the fib instantly.
“No, you’re pretty hungry! I’ve seen how you’ve been acting lately. Pretty cranky if you ask me! You should eat; I made this especially for you.” Verity’s tone became dangerous at the last sentence. His patience just slightly wavering as he waited for Mob to take a quick bite. What are you waiting for?
“No…no. I’m really not hungry right now—“
“You’re starving.”
“Barely! I—I just wanna savor it before I chow down!”
“No need! Just dig in.”
“VERITY! I’m not hungry!” Mob raised his voice, slamming a fist in frustration, before quickly realizing his mistake. Mob tensed visibly, watching and waiting for Verity’s next reaction. As Mob slightly observed Verity’s face, nothing much had changed, however Mob noticed a very small but noticeable crimson liquid spot near Verity’s mouth, he was about to question before Verity’s suddenly wiped it away with a quick finger.
“I watched you, Mob. I watched you yearn for food, yet you barely eat any. I can sense your stress from here. And I want to be the one to take that away.” Verity said slowly and firmly. Verity’s voice slowly became more choked up as his brief speech went on, as if he was holding back true aggressive emotion, or a simple cough.
“Wait..-“
“Eat your breakfast.” Verity interrupted.
Mobs eyes widened in caution, knowing that Verity was no longer asking.
“Now.”
Mob didn’t respond immediately, he scooched his chair back up towards the table in defeat. His slightly shaking hand grabbed a fork sinking the utensil into the one of the meats contents, picking a small piece. Mob lifted the fork, observing the piece, it was slightly more red internally. He wanted to refuse the offer again, but his stomach was begging for something to digest. Mob squeezed his eyes shut as he eventually, inevitably, took a bite. He half expected himself to drop dead then and there from possible poison, or slowly become brainwashed of the sort, but all the meat resulted in was a satisfied stomach and a warm feeling in his mouth. Mob opened his eyes in surprise, it was good. Delicious, even.
“Well, how do you—“
Mob didn’t hear or listen to Verity’s next few words as he suddenly grabbed the flesh and chowed down on each one as he said he would. Slight crumbs falling from the hungry mans plate. Verity looked madly surprised at the sudden action, but smiled as he watched Mob tear down his freshly cooked meal.
Once Mob was done, He sighed in huge relief as he slouched in his chair.
“Okay…I’ll admit, that was really good.” Mob said.
“I should really start listening to you more, because I didn’t know you could cook, Verity.” Mob complimented again, looking genuinely pleased at the gesture he thought he had taken so wrongly. The mood darkened quickly when Verity suddenly gagged, turning his back to Mob.
Mob’s slight smile faded, confused at the sudden negative emotion from the assistant.
“What? Can’t take compliments anymore?” Mob attempted to tease, but it once again fell flat as he slowly grew rare concern for Verity.
“No!—I—“ Verity gagged again, more forcefully this time, slightly holding his chest. Mob slowly got up. He had never seen Verity do something so human before, though he wondered what could be the case for these gags. He never exactly saw Verity eat, especially the meal he had just baked, so the answer was entirely ambiguous. He walked closer to the struggling assistant but maintained distance.
“If you want, I could give you a hand.” Mob offered flatly.
Verity gagged the third time, this time, something exiting the A.I’s system through its mouth. A half digested mangled hand splattered onto the clean floor. Dried blood and other stomach-like juices eating away at the void skin. That wasn’t just any random hand, Mob hadn’t even recognized it before giving a thought of it, before connecting the dots almost instantly, his hands falling to his side in pure dismay. He knew those sharp nails and void dark skin just too well.
Verity cleared his throat, almost unbothered to the sudden reveal he had unintentionally made. Verity looked over to the horrified Mob, and allowed a giggle to escape as he took in his friend's expression
“No, I don't.”