I just finished reading Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, and that coupled by a discussion in my writing group about immortals made me decide to pose this question. Besides the obvious inability to die, what do you include as typically associated with immortals?

•  Inability to feel pain?

I argued against this one in discussion. I saw a "House" episode about a girl that didn't feel pain, and because of it suffered an enormous amount of trouble. Every time she ran she had to check herself over to make sure she hadn't broken something and simply didn't notice. Maybe it wouldn't matter if you're immortal--but you still might want to know you no longer have an arm before you try to write out a check. I'm just saying its awkward.

• Regeneration when unhealthy?

This might negate the whole 'pain' thing, since if you happen to lop it off it'll just grow back. What about how fast though? Is this an instant gratification sort of thing, or are there limits?

• Fabulously beautiful?

The only exception I can think of off the top of my head when it comes down to unsexy immortals is the vampires in "The Silver Kiss" by Annette Curtis Klause. Other than that they're all pretty much everything we typify as beautiful. I guess the idea of a fat, balding immortal isn't what we want to read about.

What do you all think?