THE MOMENT
"You?" Sandra asked. She had been enjoying the old man's company enough that she needed to reappraise him after his revelation. He hadn't given his age; but, he was ancient possibly about her grandfather's age. His dense wrinkles and balding head did not evoke any kind of power or fear. Much less his outfit which gave him the appearance of a retiree on a cruise. He wore a black guayabera with orange detailing. Orange and black Bermuda shorts with fully raised black socks and orange flip-flops completed the look.
"You're gonna really claim you're the Grim Reaper when you look like he's already late picking you up?" Sandra asked the question with a giggle. She wasn't trying to be mean, and their conversation so far had been full of light-hearted insults going back and forth. Tim, the old man, was surprisingly charismatic and even feisty.
"Well, that's the sticking point," Tim nodded. "I'm not THE Grim Reaper, I'm A Reaper. There are a lot of people in the world and a lot of worlds in the multiverse. There isn't just one Reaper; it's a fully staffed position."
"Uhuh," Sandra nodded with only a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "You know I'm going to ask you for proof," she replied. She believed him enough to play along; but, she didn't take it seriously. As she answered him, Sandra noticed Tim glance at his wrist. He wasn't wearing a watch; but, she was sure she saw some sort of blue glowing text on his skin.
"Well, this wasn't my plan; but, this'll work too," he nodded. He grabbed a half-full pint off the bar and looked into Sandra's eyes. "Watch this for a second," he said. He turned the glass upside down; but, the beer didn't pour out. Then, he let go of it; but, the tumbler remained fixed in the air upside down. "I'll be right back," he said. Then, Sandra blinked.
When she opened her eyes again, Tim was still there; but, now someone new sat at their table. He was a younger, older man wearing a white lab coat and a nervous expression. As Sandra's mind caught up, Tim grabbed the upside-down glass and gave it to the man who quickly gulped it down.
"Alright, Dr. Warren," Tim patted the new stranger on the shoulder. "Now that you've had some time to think about your mistake, Chroma Corp. will be in touch," he said. "Go on and appreciate being alive for a little longer," he added.
"Thank you!" Dr. Warren nodded as he stood up and walked away.
"What just happened?" Sandra asked. She knew something strange happened. She just didn't know what it was, nor how it functioned as proof that he was a Reaper. Though, that mattered less now that he'd proven he wasn't exactly normal.
"Being able to control time is one of the key qualifications of being a Reaper," Tim replied. "I froze you in time for a few minutes to go and collect Dr. Warren," he explained.
"Did you Reap him?" Sandra asked.
"Nah, he's still pretty useful," Tim replied. "He just had to be taught a lesson. He spent all day contemplating his mortality until I got the 'O.K.' to get him. I actually don't do much Reaping these days, there's no fun in it and there are plenty of others to get the job done."
"So, you're a retired Reaper?" Sandra smiled. She was willing to believe him on the basis of his ability to control time. Supers with unusual powers existed in the world, so why not someone able to control time? And, it wasn't like he was using it as a pick-up line. It was a topic that came up naturally in their conversation. She had also told her own minor fib and wasn't actually a school teacher. Though, it was an easy lie given her interest in science. She could easily answer the few questions he tossed her way. She felt comfortable asking for proof considering his subtle test of her abilities. "...and you can control time; so, what do you do with all that time?" she asked.
"I do a lot of partying," Tim grinned. "I'm headed to one in a few if you want to tag along."
"Oh gee, I don't know," Sandra shook her head even as she smiled. "A party full of seniors sounds a little too lively for me," she said.
"Oh, don't worry, I'll be the oldest one there," Tim replied. "But, you might find it interesting, from a science perspective anyway."
"Oh yeah?" Sandra asked. "You're gonna introduce me to Einstein or something?" It was a big leap; but, she allowed herself to indulge in asking the question even if there was no chance. He could control time, apparently, so she didn't think it was completely out of the realm of possibility.
"Well, he won't be at the party; but, sure," Tim nodded. "I could take you for a chat sometime. And, don't feel you have to come to the party just for that," he gave her a reassuring smile. It wasn't until then that Sandra registered how strange and pleasant Tim was. She'd been hesitant to spend the afternoon with a group of Seniors; but, if he was friends with them, maybe there was more to them too.
"How many people are we talking about?" Sandra asked. "I'm not really feeling up to a crowd." It was another minor fib to test the waters. She did feel like she wanted to go; but, she wanted to be sure she wasn't going to be overwhelmed.
"Oh, don't worry about that," Tim chuckled. "With you there, it'll only be us three," he said as he stood from his seat. A black portal opened in the air next to him, and he gestured at it. "I'm gonna head out; feel free to join me, or not. If you don't show up, I'll catch up with you later to see about that visit."
"Oh, I'm sorry, but I don't think I will," Sandra shook her head. It was one thing to hope for a small gathering; but, just two other people was a different vibe that she wasn't expecting.
"That's alright quite alright, dear," Tim replied with a smile. "Professor Hawking isn't expecting anyone to show up anyway; it won't matter if it's just me."