”its hella dehumanizing you know”

Red light sprays across your face as you change the light bulb on your massive heat lamp. It’s the only real light source in this room, your little friend likes it dark.

“What is?”

Sand crunches beneath his shimmering scales as Dave moves, pulling his torso out of his giant glass enclosure. “the whole pet shtick” He hangs his arms over the edge. “cant you use some better excuse? im not your dog”

Several pairs of eyes bear into you — Dave’s and his posse of snakes connected to his scalp. You don’t meet their gaze, even if the several pairs of sunglasses prevent you from getting frozen. It’s still unnerving.

“Everyone hears the noises you make in here. I can’t say it’s nothing. Honestly, I think my neighbors are convinced I’m a killer.”

“y’think if i scream loud enough theyll come get me out of here”

“I save your ass from bleeding out in my backyard, let you freeload off of me for months, and this is how you repay me? Shame.”

He and his snakes look at each other before glaring back at you blankly.