INT. CABIN FEVER RESTAURANT – LATE AFTERNOON
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The table clinks and creaks as Vincent returns, balancing three heavy plates. He sets them down with practiced ease.
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VINCENT
"Alright. Burger for the troublemaker, pancakes and syrup for the smiley one, and... meat platter for the quiet one."
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Jason gives a lazy thumbs up. Vincent just chuckles and walks off, back into the kitchen.
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Without wasting a second, A digs in, practically vibrating with excitement over the pancakes. Jason munches on his burger, feeling some semblance of peace.
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Then—
K leans over his plate, opens his mouth wide—
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TOO wide.
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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.
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JASON (almost dropping his burger)
"WHAT THE FUCK—!"
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Before Jason can start a riot, A yanks K down under the table with surprising strength.
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A (hissing)
"Close your mouth!! What are you thinking?!"
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From under the table, a wet snap-snap sound echoes as K forces his maw closed, the seams sealing up like a zipper.
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Jason stares, eyes wide, burger halfway to his mouth.
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JASON (hoarse whisper)
"Was that—was that normal? What the hell just happened?!"
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A pops his head up, smiling a little too tightly.
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A (nervous chuckle)
"Uhh, so... funny thing. Purification bots... we have some, uh, weird design features."
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JASON (still frozen)
"Like demon mouth?!"
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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."
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Jason blinks slowly, still processing.
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JASON
"Threatening... the meat."
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K (muffled from under the table)
"It looked at me funny."
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Jason slaps a hand over his face, groaning deep into his palm.
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Thankfully, none of the other customers seem to have noticed. The cozy murmur of conversation and clinking utensils continues uninterrupted around them.
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A (trying to lighten the mood)
"Good news is, if anyone had seen it, they'd probably just think he’s a cosplay enthusiast."
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JASON (deadpan, lowering his hand)
"Yeah, a cosplay of ‘literal nightmare.’"
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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:
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JASON
"...I'm never sleeping again."
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They return to eating, the weirdness sinking back into the restaurant’s warm, greasy atmosphere.
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Outside, the city blurs on.
Inside Cabin Fever, it’s just another day surviving with two ticking disasters for roommates.
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FADE OUT.
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