INT. CABIN FEVER RESTAURANT – LATE AFTERNOON
41Please respect copyright.PENANAPpD2k9Bv4s
The table clinks and creaks as Vincent returns, balancing three heavy plates. He sets them down with practiced ease.
41Please respect copyright.PENANABEtmlvN5gq
VINCENT
"Alright. Burger for the troublemaker, pancakes and syrup for the smiley one, and... meat platter for the quiet one."
41Please respect copyright.PENANAZk1e9qvby6
Jason gives a lazy thumbs up. Vincent just chuckles and walks off, back into the kitchen.
41Please respect copyright.PENANAUEDXQDd83Q
Without wasting a second, A digs in, practically vibrating with excitement over the pancakes. Jason munches on his burger, feeling some semblance of peace.
41Please respect copyright.PENANAcPGT05e1H9
Then—
K leans over his plate, opens his mouth wide—
41Please respect copyright.PENANAYqhQCIvFQJ
TOO wide.
41Please respect copyright.PENANAY60cDmCLGT
The seams of his faceplate split open like petals, revealing rows of razor-sharp, glistening teeth.
A grotesque, tentacle-like tongue slithers out, drooping saliva straight onto his meat platter.
41Please respect copyright.PENANAbUKrDlOzCG
JASON (almost dropping his burger)
"WHAT THE FUCK—!"
41Please respect copyright.PENANAA505TEvdD5
Before Jason can start a riot, A yanks K down under the table with surprising strength.
41Please respect copyright.PENANAJvUndyKJJw
A (hissing)
"Close your mouth!! What are you thinking?!"
41Please respect copyright.PENANA1EU3G6zBKF
From under the table, a wet snap-snap sound echoes as K forces his maw closed, the seams sealing up like a zipper.
41Please respect copyright.PENANAtBZFvsCcbN
Jason stares, eyes wide, burger halfway to his mouth.
41Please respect copyright.PENANAZxFlfwH5VO
JASON (hoarse whisper)
"Was that—was that normal? What the hell just happened?!"
41Please respect copyright.PENANA8JNF1PghZ3
A pops his head up, smiling a little too tightly.
41Please respect copyright.PENANAr9IS9ND9Dd
A (nervous chuckle)
"Uhh, so... funny thing. Purification bots... we have some, uh, weird design features."
41Please respect copyright.PENANA3KgA1WaLkL
JASON (still frozen)
"Like demon mouth?!"
41Please respect copyright.PENANAS4ifI7s4JX
A (sheepishly)
"Yeah. The whole face-splitting-mouth thing? Totally normal. It's a... um... intimidation mechanism. Usually stays hidden. Unless he feels like threatening the meal, apparently."
41Please respect copyright.PENANAsKKWkXFKep
Jason blinks slowly, still processing.
41Please respect copyright.PENANAgzRSwpUMEL
JASON
"Threatening... the meat."
41Please respect copyright.PENANAC8otNzj2Qh
K (muffled from under the table)
"It looked at me funny."
41Please respect copyright.PENANAmVyBERWH54
Jason slaps a hand over his face, groaning deep into his palm.
41Please respect copyright.PENANAoxLXEzokpn
Thankfully, none of the other customers seem to have noticed. The cozy murmur of conversation and clinking utensils continues uninterrupted around them.
41Please respect copyright.PENANAoP2Msir52f
A (trying to lighten the mood)
"Good news is, if anyone had seen it, they'd probably just think he’s a cosplay enthusiast."
41Please respect copyright.PENANARppdZfdcaZ
JASON (deadpan, lowering his hand)
"Yeah, a cosplay of ‘literal nightmare.’"
41Please respect copyright.PENANAdLLTw7Mx09
K slithers back up into his seat, his face normal again, picking up a fork like nothing happened.
Jason stares at him for a second longer, then mutters:
41Please respect copyright.PENANAGf9mdbsBLg
JASON
"...I'm never sleeping again."
41Please respect copyright.PENANATnRRa5Z8qL
They return to eating, the weirdness sinking back into the restaurant’s warm, greasy atmosphere.
41Please respect copyright.PENANAx3NesJbOu7
Outside, the city blurs on.
Inside Cabin Fever, it’s just another day surviving with two ticking disasters for roommates.
41Please respect copyright.PENANACSNii9MDnL
FADE OUT.
ns216.73.216.156da2