The First Encounter

I hope everyone gets an opportunity to have their movie moment, where a crowd slowly disperses and in the center is the person who shines brighter than anyone else in the room.

While amazing, this moment was fleeting as the person in question was there with other people and they were my guests at this establishment. Over the next few weeks we would casually see each other, make mention of some games and programs she was helping with in her college program. I thought nothing of it, just friendly banter.

The arcade had grown exponentially by this point, going from a few families throughout the day to a hub for all ages. We had accomplished what we set out to do, we built our third space. Now with the newfound popularity, we wanted to give back to the community by working with local charities and foundations to fundraise for people in need.

As a child I would always give toys, clothes and necessities to kids from my mother's childhood home. Sometimes we gave things I wasn't ready to part with, but I knew everything I put in those boxes was going to people who would appreciate them. So as an adult, I aimed to continue the trend but hoped to accomplish it on a larger scale. We got the opportunity to work with many amazing causes, such as the Children's Miracle Network. All while doing what we all loved, playing games and making connections.

It was around this time that she returned, hearing about our fundraising events and aiming to include a cause that she wished to support. We hosted a few events, raised some money for good causes, found out she was available and then we began to hang out. These moments became a cornerstone of our relationship. And then a friend asked if wanted to learn how to play a tabletop RPG.

The game was Rogue Trader, a space faring game about pirates. I was the captain, and she was my navigator. Even back then she lead me in the right direction. We played in the arcade after hours, battling creatures and getting pummeled by bookcases. Our social circle grew, and I began to dream once more about building something adjacent to this community. We had the arcade, as many video games as one could ever want. But what about these tabletop games? comics? trading cards?

The thought gnawed at me for weeks, so I began my research into what it would take for us to expand into this endeavor. But weeks turned into months, and before I knew it, time had run out. She had been accepted into a college program over 300 miles away.