Setting is a local diner, modern day | Canon: The Booth at the End

[themaninthebooth]

There is a 24-hour diner. A diner that serves a variety of normal treats from coffee to cream puffs to pastrami sandwiches. The waitresses, the cooks, the owner have all lived normal lives and serve normal people.

Today there is a Man in the diner. A Man that you only heard about in rumors. A Man heard of in joking tones, but with eyes that said they were deadly serious. Some call him a manipulator. Some call him a mentor. Some call him an angel. Some call him a devil.

He is The Man sitting in the booth at the end of the diner.

He appears to spend his time writing down things in a large, black, leather-bound notebook. He orders whatever seems to suit his fancy at any given moment, but his attention remains on the book.

He's waiting for you. Waiting to make a deal to help get you what you want. All you have to do is sit down... and ask for it.

Comments

[beingmegucaissuffering]

"Of course. That's the difference between us - still, you're facilitating things in a way that I can't reproduce. It's very interesting."

[themaninthebooth]

The Man takes the opportunity to tap his black notebook pointedly.

"Perhaps, if understanding is what you desire, you want to make a deal."

[beingmegucaissuffering]

"I wonder, should I be so hasty? After all, if I have the opportunity to get my wish granted, why should I waste it on anything less than the biggest wish I can imagine?"

[themaninthebooth]

"That's entirely up to you."

[beingmegucaissuffering]

"I'd like to know more about the rules before I make any decisions. Does a more ambitious wish require a greater task? Is it enough for the task to be completed, or must I be the one to complete it?"

[themaninthebooth]

The Man considers the request before nodding slightly.

"The task given by the book correlates to each person and their wish. The task and its difficulty can vary from person to person. You must complete the task as the book has instructed you to do so and provide me with details on your progress."

[beingmegucaissuffering]

Head tilt. It seems to be pondering something.

"If I make a wish, and the task is disagreeable, then can I change my wish?"

[themaninthebooth]

"Yes. And you can stop your task at any time should you wish to."

[beingmegucaissuffering]

"Very well. I would like to reverse Entropy, and create an immortal universe."

[themaninthebooth]

The Man opens up his book and flips through a few pages.

"...You must ensure that you and your entire race gain the ability to express and feel emotions."