[IN PROGRESS]
Martha and James are soulmates trapped together in a never-ending reincarnation loop. Not a bad way to spend eternity, but they wanted more. They wanted a child. Serafina is born and Martha and James are elated to love and raise her a...
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September 4, 2235 |-262|
"And guitars have always felt a little... I dunno, phallic?"
Rosa zoomed in close enough to see Serafina's freckles. They continued. "You can't be punk without a guitar? You might as well say you can't be punk without a man."
"Uh-uh. I don't buy it."
Amused, Serafina tilted their head in mock confusion. "Sorry?"
"Bullshit you're a freshman."
Their mouth pinched and the slightest dimple popped as they smirked and feigned innocence. "But I am. Would you like to inspect my high school transcripts? Or my birth certificate? Born in '97. My birthday was in April. Too bad you missed it."
Rosa paused the God's Eye projection then zoomed back out to a one to one ratio. Alone in the massive and once bustling Observation Room, she stood from her chair, left her terminal and stepped up and onto the arena. The image shimmered as she walked through the 21st century cafe, dissipating like disturbed smoke before snapping back to form behind her.
She approached Serafina. Their face wore an amused smile. They were playing with Ursula, teasing her affectionately. But Rosa knew from watching Serafina through their years and lifetimes that there was something more. They were happy – no small feat for a Quinn – and no amount of smirk or snark could hide it.
Rosa had never looked at anyone that way. Nor had anyone at her. Standing next to Serafina, she leaned in, over the wingback's armrest, closer... closer... Her nose made Serafina shimmer and she backed away. What am I doing?
She was exhausted – and quite possibly delirious. In the five weeks since Serafina had revealed themself to Rosa, she'd been obsessed, abandoning James, Martha, and any manner of self-care to watch as much of Serafina as she could.
At first, she wasn't alone. Everyone still involved with Project Savior was inspired anew by the development. Three immortals instead of two! There might actually be a chance!
But even after Serafina's personal shock wore off, Martha and James' requisite panic from their daughter's immortality derailed humanity's mission before it could begin, life after life. Then Serafina slipped into nihilism as their parents had before and Rosa's peers began dropping out.
Some took their terminal injection, others wasted away in passive hopelessness, still others found peace with the impending extinction, choosing to spend their final weeks with loved ones. But Rosa stayed.
She wasn't sure if she actually believed the Quinns could succeed and give humanity its lifeline. Maybe she was in denial. Maybe she needed a distraction. Or maybe it was Serafina.
