This is where your journey begins.
Before time began, eternity fractured into two distinct philosophies. One longed for noise, chaos…life; the other was content with absolute nothingness. In the end, they struck a fragile truce: life would flourish—or perish—on its own, without interference.
Of course, loopholes were inevitable. The life side created immortals: the Waiter, master of the Time Merchant Café—sophisticated, enigmatic, private, and patient enough to play the long game of civilization. His counterpart was Helen, brilliant and alluring, who moved humanity forward from the spotlight of thrones to the shadows of revolutions. The Waiter’s true name has never been recorded, but Helen’s appears in history books: Cleopatra, Hypatia, even the famed Helen of Troy—yes, she was real.
The other side created its own immortals—whisperers of chaos who have stood behind history’s most destructive leaders, and on occasion, tried to end humanity outright.
The Waiter’s Café can appear anywhere, at any time. Inside, patrons are offered a glimpse of their future, chosen by the Waiter to nudge them toward his desired outcome. Whether that makes humanity better—or simply serves his own purposes—is a question even he can’t answer.
The ultimate guiding force behind it all may never be understood. For now, the Waiter and Helen continue to save humanity—sometimes one person at a time.
The story begins here:
→ How I Met the Waiter