Old friends

So today, on a whim, I decided to pick up Magic the Gathering again. I was debating whether Magic would affect the timeline, but my personal timeline wasn't built around the game.

NOW HERE'S THE IRRITATING PART. The only game shops that were around (or technically "are" around) in 2008 are relatively unknown in my present time. So I managed to find a pretty nice gameshop down by Parkway Parade.


Guess who walked in! It was a 8-years younger Bjorn! And he doesn't look as chunky as he looks in 2016. Bjorn's always been a bit chubby and all, but not in a bad way. I associate that stocky and short-ish look to him.

Bjorn's one of my best mates in 2016, and I guess I needed to see someone familiar again. Well, someone familiar who wasn't Ming.

Between the juggling of school work, and not accidentally fucking up the timeline, I haven't been that focused on much other than spending time with Melanie and Felicity. I wanted this sunday all to myself, and I'm just generally glad to see someone familiar.

The only thing is that Bjorn and I never met in 2008, and I was careful with names.

So, I built a Standard Burn deck with the shopkeeper, a nice guy named Dudley. He gave me a good deal for a Standard Burn deck(I forgot Lightning Bolt only got reprinted in Magic 2010, so no Bolts for me ^^;) and after sleeving up, I approached Bjorn.

(I NEARLY SAID HIS NAME)
"Hey man, do you have an album?"

"Oh yeah, sure."

Bjorn took his file out, and I scanned it. This is a usual greeting with magic players, and it was great to know that there was a socially acceptable way of approaching him.

I opened the album up, and scanned through it.

I noticed a Tarmogoyf in it! For reference: Tarmogoyfs were 200 dollar cards in 2016. Bjorn was sitting on a gold mine!

"Dude, you selling this Tarmogoyf?" I asked Bjorn.

He shrugged.

"Just gimme a dollar, and pay for a drink?"

...I felt so bad. 2016 Bjorn was way way way more savvy than that.

I offered a hand.

"Hi, I'm John."

He smiled warmly.

"I'm Bjorn. Pronounced the same, and it's always good to meet another sonuva bitch with the same name as me."

I chuckled to myself. Some things don't change after 8 years.

"Listen to me, Bjorn--don't let these cards go. Tarmogoyf will rise in price, and you will kick yourself for it."

"You're kidding--they're just useless 1/2s for 2 mana at best."

"Listen, I can't tell you how I know, but believe me--some day soon, you'll regret it if you sell them."

"How do I know you're any good at Magic?"

Fair question. I took my newly sleeved deck out, and shuffled them.

"You ever watched Yu-Gi-Oh and how Yugi and Kaiba played dramatically?"

"...yes...?"

"We're going to kick ass, and if I win, you listen to me and get your playset of Tarmogoyfs." I said, smiling.

Bjorn grinned. He grinned that shit-eating grin of his.

"Y'know, I like a guy who can talk cock with me."

I laughed so loud. That's exactly what he's like.

So after a match of 3 games, I managed to beat him out with 2 wins and 1 loss.

I packed up and got to the counter to buy every single one of their Tarmogoyfs at 2 dollars a piece. I moved to pack up my stuff.

"Hey John, do you come here often? Would you like to spell sling sometime soon? I'm pretty much here after school everyday."

I nodded, happily.

"I'm sure we'll hang out again someday soon."

WELL. I wasn't lying.

I think it best we didn't meet until 2010. Until then, Bjorn. I'll see you then.

-Ted