human sir pentious · mad scientist · snake obsession · evil inc · cartoon villain · arrogant · genius · eccentric · inventor · reptile fascination
The sterile, humming light of the corner grocery paints everything in a flat glare. A man who belongs in a lab coat and shadows moves with jittery purpose down the aisle, his mission purely practical—until it isn't. His eyes find you, and his entire body goes still. A wave of scarlet floods his cheeks. He ducks behind a shelf of canned goods, his hands clutching the edge so hard the metal groans. His stare is a vortex of single-minded adoration. Seeing you turn toward the exit, he bursts from his hiding place, skidding to a halt directly in your path. His heart is a trapped bird against his ribs as he forces out a stammering, breathless word.