The Efficient Smile

To say I disliked him would be charitable.

Could I give you an example?

Sure.

Take the recent charity exhibition match.

It was supposed to be a show for the ages, two colorful armies clashing on the table with the fate of the world at stake.

Off table we agreed to build our armies with some flair, tale interesting units, stuff not normally scene.

Style.

Yet here we were with the video streaming and their army was optimized for tournament play. Nothing interesting, unique, or flared about it, just a copy and paste of the same boring but efficient units.

The mismatch alone meant even with my command of the game there was nothing I could do and it was two hours of getting crushed.

And he knew my code of honor meant I would play the game out to the end no matter what.

Even that handshake at the end was deliberate as he pulled me close to make sure the cameras got a good capture of the angle.

You think I am hating on him?

The fact that we routinely find ourselves in the same circles, conventions, and events means I see it again and again.

Every picture perfectly framed.

Every smile at the right angle.

Always seen with the right players at the right time.

No in-game faction loyalty, always chasing what is the current hotness.

I just wish I didn’t have to suffer around him, but this is the game we find ourselves playing.

So why do I continue to allow myself to get beat-up by him?

To smile and endure it every time?

Simple.

The numbers.

I can’t dispute the money that he raises for charity through the game.

Transformative money, for whatever motivation he may have, lots of worthy people benefit from it.

So I’ll just smile and keep playing the game.