CJ Entus' mascot.
Why does he hang out in abandoned basements? Why is there what appears to be a single, child's sandal on the floor next to him? Suspicions rise...
I wanted to watch Starcraft though. The possibility of getting to see Leta, Effort, Stork, and Jangbi among others (Roro) caused me to swallow my un-ease and go to the event in-person anyway. I knew if worse came to worse I could always count on my old buddy, Torch, to help out if things got rough.
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Torch correctly answering the question "How many teams are there in the Proleague finals?". I knew I could trust him.
We got to the event in time to see the opening ceremonies. It felt amazing being back in the land of Starcraft again and I couldn't wait for the games to get started.
It was just then I noticed a familiar shape near the front of the room...
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Can't quite make it out...
I couldn't be sure. I told myself it was just another Leta fangirl. I zoomed in for a closer look.
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Enhance.
There was no mistaking it. I'd know that round, white shape anywhere. I tried to slouch in my seat, but it was too late. IT SAW ME.
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*shudder*
For a time CJ's Mascot just paced the front of the arena, waving a flag about and trying to pretend it hadn't noticed me. I knew it had seen my tweets. It was only biding it's time. Then I got a message from Lilsusie. She had greats seats in the very front and wanted us to join her. I knew that would put me closer to the terrifying creature, but I couldn't turn the opportunity down. This was the last time Brood War would be played in a televised match after all. I moved up, carefully watching for any sudden movements from the CJ Mascot. The seats were great!
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I mean really great.
Only one row separated me from the stage. I couldn't have been more psyched! Between one of the games I noticed a few of my old house-mates from the GOM house days across the aisle. As I chatted with Slog and Naniwa I felt a presence behind me; not evil, but something far worse. A sensation of nothingness. A void of un-reality where words like "emotion" or "existence" don't make sense. I turned to face what I knew was there.
A flash of white and suddenly I felt deceptively soft cartoon gloves encircle my throat. The CJ's mascot moved with unbelievable speed...
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A grip like steel.
My pulse pounded as I fought for air. Was this the end? Torch desperately tried to pull the mascot's arms away, but it had incredible strength. It's cold, dead eyes and expression-less face stared into my face as it's grip tightened.
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CJ's mascot felt no emotion at all as it crushed the life from me.
I knew I only had seconds before I lost consciousness. My brain scrambled to think of anything that could help me reason with the mascot. I was barely able to croak out a simple truth. I didn't know if CJ's mascot would understand. For all I knew he never even watched the games. He hardly ever faces the screen during them. "Effort is my favorite KeSPA Zerg to watch right now..." I said. Suddenly the grip loosened. CJ's mascot removed his hands from my neck. I didn't hear any words come from the rotund being in front of me, but I sensed some sort of speech in my very thoughts. "Effort... friend... you... friend?" I had flashbacks of the Lovecraft short stories I used to read and knew that without a doubt the CJ mascot was not from here. Maybe not even from our universe... As I considered this revelation a feeling of care and friendliness began to emanate from the mascot. The cold, blank stare became warm and inviting. I knew I had been accepted and would be welcomed at CJ matches in the future. The nightmare was over.
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A new bond between global Starcraft 2 fans and KeSPA is born as Effort himself looks on from the CJ bench.
All in all a great Proleague finals. It's good to be back. (picture is results-spoilery)
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