Author's note: A. k. a. what would happen if Red Guy WERE around in Episode 5.
They lied: his fangs remained ivory white the morning after. A glance into a pocket mirror out of curiosity just proved him more right: not even a spot of grey. The only reminder of what had happened yesterday was this red furry globe, still anchoring him to the bed, making his checkered pyjama shirt and the blanket ride up. Softened only a little, still somewhat sensitive and aching, but nevertheless, the last ever home for any food, healthy or not, that would dare to mess with his friends.
They probably were still conscious enough to feel the ginger tea drizzle on them now, but at least didn't muck around anymore. Or maybe gave up and just fell asleep. He definitely would if he were them, knowing what a warm nest of pillows and blanket they all are in. The only difference was about them eventually becoming him — the same way they wanted to force Duck Guy to become Yellow Guy — and not any other way around.
He cringed at the thought of how close he was to punching — himself — yesterday, because how else does one even calm down that mad Steak, who tries to beat back even after it's swallowed. Stretchy as any other mop monster's skin was, it still could barely withstand both the huge Steak and the pesky Spinach Can, and at some point, he got almost afraid for his own life. And yet there he was now, alive and well. Haha, well. A bottomless one for them. Another sip of ginger tea, Red? — Oh, Red, don't mind if I do. And let's pull that pyjama shirt over your middle, like that… well, try to, anyway. And the blanket. Not for them, for yourself, it's you who needs warmth to soothe that overfull globe. Good thing it somehow still has some room for tea.
Punching himself; what a stupid idea. As if apologizing to his own body for that thought, he ran a paw over his blanket-clad belly. Yesterday it might seem like he was stroking his prisoners — that's why he didn't want even Yellow or Duck to touch it, but now, with these prisoners settled (settled… ah, feels great to even savor that word), washed down with tea and barely even resembling their former selves, it was a quiet praise to himself for saving his friends. If it's going to take a while for the devious foods to break down, it's better to turn it into the best digestive siesta you ever had.