The Time Merchant Café: The Enigma of the Waiter & Helen’s Legacy – The Beginning:
Before our known universe came into existence, two contrasting cosmic forces debated its fate. One relished the serenity of emptiness, while the other yearned for the vibrant dance of life. Their resolution led to the birth of stars and planets, setting in motion the beautiful dance of existence.
Guardians vs Adversaries:
To ensure that life’s progression continued, two guardians were provided, but not without counter adversaries who oppose not just Helen and the Waiter but the very essence of life itself.
Helen: Gifted with fixed immortality, Helen seamlessly transitions between identities throughout history. From the influence of Cleopatra to the intellect of Hypatia, her legacy can be traced if one looks closely enough. As time reveals her agelessness, she adopts a new persona, becoming whatever the world needs at the moment. While her wisdom is a boon, her physicality is her vulnerability. If her body is destroyed, she faces true death.
The Waiter: Proprietor of the “Time Merchant Café”, he offers patrons a peculiar experience: a taste of the future. However, this foresight isn’t absolute. Post-vision, patrons can change their destinies, but that outcome isn’t always as they would desire or expect. Yet, there’s a catch: if their actions lead to a shortened lifespan, those years are transferred to the Waiter, extending his virtual immortal existence. Conversely, if they prolong their life, the Waiter sacrifices his years. Interestingly, it’s often those with dubious intentions who inadvertently grant him more time.
These guardians face immortal adversaries, designed by the cosmic force that relishes in quietness. These agents of chaos subtly influence some of history’s most infamous rulers, seeking civilization’s end. Tracing back through history, the malevolent advisor to leaders like Hitler and Genghis Khan is eerily consistent in description, suggesting a singular immortal entity bent on chaos and the end to civilization as we know it.
The Waiter’s Dual Role:
The Waiter’s role extends beyond granting visions. With a palate for life’s delicacies – from wine to melodies – he seeks a world where such pleasures thrive. This often means guiding certain souls toward paths that benefit civilization. His influence is evident in milestones of human progress, from inventions like electricity to the telephone, many of which saw light after a visit to his café. Beyond societal impact, these interactions proved lucrative for the Waiter, making him an unseen titan of wealth.
However, his endeavors aren’t without criticism. Those who’ve delved into his journals debate his true intentions. While he seems to promote civilization’s growth, his methods blur moral boundaries. And while he often selects café patrons, at times, Fate steers them his way, leading to complex discussions on the nature of free will between the two. The question becomes: Is Fate the prevailing entity, or is the Waiter its equal? A question the reader of the Cafe’s journals is to decide.
The Dance with Fate:
Both the Waiter and Helen have faced their fair share of challenges. Helen, due to her tangible mortality, has found herself in dire situations, like being nearly burned at the stake as Hypatia. In such instances, the Waiter, drawing from his cache of acquired allies, intervenes. Similarly, the Waiter, despite his ability to accumulate time, has faced instances where his time almost ran out. Their bond, forged over countless epochs, has seen them rescue each other from the brink. Helen and the Waiter each have had lovers, but their true love is each other, something they themselves are not sure how to navigate. After defeating an immortal adversary, they spend time in each other’s arms on the adversary’s island. But they grow restless and eventually move on, each in their own direction.
The Café’s Philosophy:
The “Time Merchant Café”, a temporal entity, represents the fragile balance between destiny and free will. As patrons leave with insights into their futures, the café vanishes, leaving them to chart their new paths. Through it all, the Waiter, sometimes a guide, sometimes a mere observer, navigates the intricate maze of existence, ensuring life, in all its flavors, persists. But happiness is something that the Waiter and Fate don’t always agree: The discussion of: is a shorter life full of hope better than a longer one filled with regret? A young architect full of hope marries the boss’s daughter. He winds up living a miserable life. His visit to the cafe leads him to question his marriage, which leads to his death, but he dies full of hope, not dying full of regret. The answer, not always pleasant, can be further discussed in the journals of the cafe.
Explore the captivating journey of the Waiter and Helen, as they steer the course of civilization, sometime one soul at a time. step into their world and discover the secrets of the “Time Merchant Café”.