caffeinewitchcraft:

screamingatanemptyroom:

Caffeine Challenge 26

I think I’m a little late but here’s something for the latest Caffeine Challenge by @caffeinewitchcraft . I used the dialogue prompt: “What does it mean to be immortal? A long time ago, I was fool enough to think the answer my mission.” Enjoy!

“What’s the meaning in all this?” The young woman looked at me, as if I had all the answers, her eyes filled with excited anticipation.

I looked down at the colorful rubix cube in my hand, twisting it randomly in hopes that it would magically become solved.

“It’s immortality, Karen. It means you’ll live forever. It doesn’t have to have a deeper meaning.”

Karen stared at me in shock. “But… it can’t be something that just happens!”

“Why not?” I shrugged. “One day I woke up and realized I was immortal. Yesterday I woke up and realized I don’t like pickles. The world is a strange place, Karen. Don’t think too much about things.”

“There has to be a higher purpose in all this!” She wasn’t listening. I sighed, letting out a silent cheer as I matched up a couple of green squares.

“What does it mean to be immortal? A long time ago, I was fool enough to think the answer my mission.”

“And…”

“It doesn’t mean anything.” I laughed to myself. “You can ignore me, try to play god, try out all the painful and pleasurable things this world has to offer. I did. You can try to rule the world from the shadows. I did that too. The appeal wears off quickly.”

“So… what do you do now?”

I grinned. “Try and solve this puzzle.”

She looked down at the cube in my hands. “And how long have you been working on that?”

“A few hundred years or so.” At her scornful gaze I felt defensive. “Hey! I’m not that great at puzzles, ok? Also, sometimes I work on different kinds of puzzles.” I pointed at the table, where a half-assembled 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle rested.”

“… and how long has that taken?”

“A few h… a few years.”

Her gaze was pitying. “It’s been hundreds of years, hasn’t it?”

I sighed. “I told you, I’m not good at puzzles.”

“It’s fine.” With that she sat down at the table and started picking up pieces.

I was startled. “What are you doing?”

“Helping you with your puzzle.”

“Why? Weren’t you going to go out and find the reason for your immortality?”

She shrugged. “Nah. Seems like a lot of work.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yep. Now… let’s find all the edge pieces, it will make this easier.”

I thought it over for a few moments and then grinned, joining her. It had been a while, but it was never a bad thing to make a new friend.

I am tearing up, I love this so much! You took an issue that could have gone sooo dark so easily and made it believable and fun! I really, really love this, thank you for sharing!