Post by Stella Basch on Jul 2, 2024 16:11:24 GMT -5
Arena Comics and Gaming
Panama City, FL
Monday, July 1, 2024
Yeah, I know… I’m shopping again. But at least this time, I remembered to bring plenty of pairs of shoes.
No, this time, I’m wandering the aisles of a local game shop looking for something to pass the time. After all, I may be traveling out here for work, but it doesn’t ALWAYS have to be “all work and no play,” right?
Looking around, I spot a few tables spread out through the store, with a couple of games of Dungeons & Dragons in full swing.
Stella: Remind me to check out the miniatures before I leave…
The first thing that catches my attention once I’m past the tables is the dice display on the counter. My brother may call me crazy, but a gamer can NEVER have enough dice! Of course, what I REALLY need is a new playmat for Magic: The Gathering. And maybe a new dice bag.
As I’m poring over the various dice sets available, I hear a familiar sounding voice off amongst the comic book section.
Stella: You’ve got to be fucking kidding me…
I turn a corner into the next aisle to find Tom Carradine casually conversing with some other store patrons. He’s got several Magic: The Gathering booster packs clutched in his hand.
Tom: So I’m running this Red/White/Black Commander deck…
I stand there, wondering for a moment if I should speak up or just go back to what I’d been doing and pretend like I don’t see him. Just as I take a step back and turn around…
Tom: Whoa, fancy meeting you here….
FUCK! I’ve been spotted!
Thankfully, I have my back to him, so he can’t see the pure cringe on my face. I clear my throat and turn around.
Stella: Yeah… fancy that.
I look down at the booster packs in his hand, then back at him.
Stella: I didn’t know you played MtG.
Tom: Well, I’m chock full of surprises, your Highness…
Did he just… “Your Highness”?
I can’t help but be at a loss for words as I stand there, occasionally glancing back at the wall behind the counter, where some of the more expensive preconstructed commander decks are stored.
Stella: Apparently so. Anyway, I’m guessing yours is a custom deck?
Tom: Of course it is. Preconstructed decks are decent, but they do have their limitations...
Stella: I suppose you’re right. That said, I still would never sleep on a precon. Some of them can be pretty sick if you get the right cards at the right time.
Tom: [chuckling] Nature of the beast….
Stella: Indeed.
I look at a rack with several sets of dice hanging from the pegs. A set of translucent dice with swirls of pink and mint green catches my eye, but before I grab them, I reach into my purse - a black velvet D20 bag that I made about a year ago.
Tom: Nice bag…
I smile as I pull out my keyring, which definitely has more keychains attached to it than actual keys.
Do keyblades count as keys?
Stella: Thanks. I made it. I could fit a whole outfit in here if I really wanted to… and didn’t have anything else in there.
Tom: Ah, very convenient…
Tom checks his watch.
Tom: You know, I’ve got some time to kill. Up for a game?
Stella: Sure… I just need to grab a couple of things real quick…
I reach back into my bag, pulling out my deck box.
Stella: It just so happens I have one of my commander decks right here, but I need a new playmat, which was the main reason I came here. Of course, a new set of dice never hurt anyone…
I grab the small, portable black light attached to my keyring and shine it on the set of dice I’d been looking at. Sure enough, tiny little flecks within the swirls of color light up like stars in the sky.
Hell yeah!
Stella: Yup… definitely grabbing these!
Tom: Good choice. I’m gonna grab us a table.
I watch as Tom turns and heads over to the area set aside for patrons to play games.
Stella: I’ll be right over as soon as I pay for this stuff…
At that moment, a store employee walks up to me and smiles.
Employee: Is there anything I can help you with?
I point to one of the playmats hanging on a hook behind him.
Stella: Can I get that Dragon Knight playmat? Also, these dice and…oh, hello!
I spot some purple nebula D20 earrings and smile so hard my face hurts.
Stella: I’ll take those Nebula D20 earrings as well.
Employee: Post or hooks?
Stella: Yes.
Employee: Gotcha!
He grabs both sets of earrings as well as the playmat, then I follow him to the register.
Employee: Anything else I can do for you?
Stella: Nope… just this. Gonna see how well I can hang against Mr. Red/White/Black Commander Deck over there…
I look over my shoulder at Tom, who waves at me from the table. The employee glances over at him, then back at me, and smiles.
Employee: Excellent! That’ll be $66.27.
I pull out my wallet, make my purchase, and then carry my stuff over to the table. As I sit down, I look over and give him a confident smile.
Stella: I guess we could call this a little preview for Scion, eh?
Tom lifts an eyebrow.
Tom: I guess we could, indeed.
I smile.
Stella: Game on…
Panama City, FL
Monday, July 1, 2024
Yeah, I know… I’m shopping again. But at least this time, I remembered to bring plenty of pairs of shoes.
No, this time, I’m wandering the aisles of a local game shop looking for something to pass the time. After all, I may be traveling out here for work, but it doesn’t ALWAYS have to be “all work and no play,” right?
Looking around, I spot a few tables spread out through the store, with a couple of games of Dungeons & Dragons in full swing.
Stella: Remind me to check out the miniatures before I leave…
The first thing that catches my attention once I’m past the tables is the dice display on the counter. My brother may call me crazy, but a gamer can NEVER have enough dice! Of course, what I REALLY need is a new playmat for Magic: The Gathering. And maybe a new dice bag.
As I’m poring over the various dice sets available, I hear a familiar sounding voice off amongst the comic book section.
Stella: You’ve got to be fucking kidding me…
I turn a corner into the next aisle to find Tom Carradine casually conversing with some other store patrons. He’s got several Magic: The Gathering booster packs clutched in his hand.
Tom: So I’m running this Red/White/Black Commander deck…
I stand there, wondering for a moment if I should speak up or just go back to what I’d been doing and pretend like I don’t see him. Just as I take a step back and turn around…
Tom: Whoa, fancy meeting you here….
FUCK! I’ve been spotted!
Thankfully, I have my back to him, so he can’t see the pure cringe on my face. I clear my throat and turn around.
Stella: Yeah… fancy that.
I look down at the booster packs in his hand, then back at him.
Stella: I didn’t know you played MtG.
Tom: Well, I’m chock full of surprises, your Highness…
Did he just… “Your Highness”?
I can’t help but be at a loss for words as I stand there, occasionally glancing back at the wall behind the counter, where some of the more expensive preconstructed commander decks are stored.
Stella: Apparently so. Anyway, I’m guessing yours is a custom deck?
Tom: Of course it is. Preconstructed decks are decent, but they do have their limitations...
Stella: I suppose you’re right. That said, I still would never sleep on a precon. Some of them can be pretty sick if you get the right cards at the right time.
Tom: [chuckling] Nature of the beast….
Stella: Indeed.
I look at a rack with several sets of dice hanging from the pegs. A set of translucent dice with swirls of pink and mint green catches my eye, but before I grab them, I reach into my purse - a black velvet D20 bag that I made about a year ago.
Tom: Nice bag…
I smile as I pull out my keyring, which definitely has more keychains attached to it than actual keys.
Do keyblades count as keys?
Stella: Thanks. I made it. I could fit a whole outfit in here if I really wanted to… and didn’t have anything else in there.
Tom: Ah, very convenient…
Tom checks his watch.
Tom: You know, I’ve got some time to kill. Up for a game?
Stella: Sure… I just need to grab a couple of things real quick…
I reach back into my bag, pulling out my deck box.
Stella: It just so happens I have one of my commander decks right here, but I need a new playmat, which was the main reason I came here. Of course, a new set of dice never hurt anyone…
I grab the small, portable black light attached to my keyring and shine it on the set of dice I’d been looking at. Sure enough, tiny little flecks within the swirls of color light up like stars in the sky.
Hell yeah!
Stella: Yup… definitely grabbing these!
Tom: Good choice. I’m gonna grab us a table.
I watch as Tom turns and heads over to the area set aside for patrons to play games.
Stella: I’ll be right over as soon as I pay for this stuff…
At that moment, a store employee walks up to me and smiles.
Employee: Is there anything I can help you with?
I point to one of the playmats hanging on a hook behind him.
Stella: Can I get that Dragon Knight playmat? Also, these dice and…oh, hello!
I spot some purple nebula D20 earrings and smile so hard my face hurts.
Stella: I’ll take those Nebula D20 earrings as well.
Employee: Post or hooks?
Stella: Yes.
Employee: Gotcha!
He grabs both sets of earrings as well as the playmat, then I follow him to the register.
Employee: Anything else I can do for you?
Stella: Nope… just this. Gonna see how well I can hang against Mr. Red/White/Black Commander Deck over there…
I look over my shoulder at Tom, who waves at me from the table. The employee glances over at him, then back at me, and smiles.
Employee: Excellent! That’ll be $66.27.
I pull out my wallet, make my purchase, and then carry my stuff over to the table. As I sit down, I look over and give him a confident smile.
Stella: I guess we could call this a little preview for Scion, eh?
Tom lifts an eyebrow.
Tom: I guess we could, indeed.
I smile.
Stella: Game on…
