Challenge #01603-D142: Eat Snax
"Fat grubs in butter sauce." this was from a Lizard culture's idea of Snack Food. Humans have popcorn, crisps, peanuts etc. So how about one of those Snack Food van equivalents that caters to various species, and make a good living thereby. -- Knitnan
Eat Snax the sign blared in potentially noxious colours. Underneath, a more staid sign discreetly told the observant that this was a suggestion and not an order. Inside the ludicrously small booth, a popcorn popper was doing its work whilst someone in a cardboard hat was deep frying something. Another nauseatingly loud sign declared that, Unsuitable Food was sold here.
"What d'ye think?" said Shayde.
Of course she'd invest in something like this. The concept of small meals between actual ones was nothing new. Neither was the notion of empty calories. Putting them together in an easy access booth would either explode in unforeseen ways, or become another civilisation-wide hit that would soon get to everywhere. "It's very... 'you'," he allowed.
"And I parked it right next tae the entertainments complex, ye ken. Loads o' business. And I'm sellin' all th' omni-compatible stuff. Wi' choices o' garnish."
There were fat grubs keeping warm in a tray, right next to rounded balls of something that had to be meat paste and another tray of S'quiib[1]. In the fridge, there were individually-wrapped balls of P![2] next to popsicles and ice creams. Cake pops adorned a back shelf, also individually wrapped. As were the lollipops.
As for the sauces, there were heated sauces, room temperature sauces, and cold sauces, all in temperature-controlled dispensers. There was also a slushed ice machine and several options of sugary syrup.
Rael was tempted to buy a sampler. "I suppose they do battered sausage on a stick by request?" It was the only thing he could count as missing from all this... unsuitable fare.
"We print those an' gi'e 'em a quick fry-up," said Shayde. "Saves on the overhead."
There was a scrolling menu with the word Printable permanently on the top. It was paced so that even slow readers could track all the options. And it contained a plethora of options for doughnuts.
Rael cracked.
"How much for one of everything?" he asked.
[1]: Sort of like miniature squash, but way more calorie intense.
[2]: Meeyahndan delicacy, pronounced by sucking one's lips in with a mouth-made vacuum, and then opening the mouth to make a popping noise. Meeyahndese for "Tasty, and sticks to the mouth parts". More modern recipes for P! include peanut butter.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / Fallesenphotography]
If you like my stories, please Check out my blog and Follow me.
Send me a prompt [15 remaining prompts!]