Pete's Expert Summary
My human has presented me with what appears to be a formal napping station, though they insist on using it for their peculiar card-shuffling rituals. This "playmat" from Ultra PRO features a rather dramatic, pointy human named Kain Highwind, who seems to be perpetually leaping, which I find unnecessarily energetic. The material is smooth, perhaps too smooth for a proper claw-sharpening session, but the black stitched edges offer a satisfying texture for rubbing one's face against. Its most promising feature is the non-slip rubber backing, suggesting it won't betray me by sliding across the desk during a critical stretch. While the artwork is a bit garish for my minimalist tastes, the mat's generous size and steadfast nature make it a potentially valuable piece of real estate for overseeing my human's questionable hobbies.
Key Features
- Officially licensed Stitched Edge Playmat for Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy x Universes Beyond
- Features exclusive artwork of Kain Highwind by Toshitaka Matsuda
- Approximately 24 in. x 13.5 in. and lies flat
- Black stitched edges offer an added premium feel
- Non-slip rubber backing keeps the playmat from shifting during use
A Tale from Pete the Cat
The object arrived rolled in a clear tube, a vessel I first assumed was the main attraction. After I’d thoroughly failed to cram my head inside, the human unceremoniously extracted the main event: a dark, flat rectangle they unfurled upon their desk. My initial assessment from the floor was one of profound disappointment. It was merely a mat. Upon it was a grim-looking fellow in spiky armor, caught mid-pounce. A kindred spirit, perhaps, but the art was far too busy for a proper sleep canvas. I yawned, showing my disdain, and returned to grooming a perfectly acceptable patch of carpet. Later, under the cloak of twilight, a familiar madness took hold of me. It began as a twitch in my tail, an energy that buzzed from my whiskers to my paws. The Midnight Grand Prix was about to begin. My usual circuit involved a frantic dash from the hallway, a controlled drift around the leg of the desk, and a final sprint into the kitchen. But tonight, the hardwood floors felt slick, treacherous. My launch sequence was compromised; my paws scrambled for purchase, costing me precious milliseconds. Failure was imminent. Then, I saw it. The dark mat, a patch of absolute stability in a sea of slippery laminate. The pointy man, Kain, seemed to look down at me, his spear aimed not in threat, but as if pointing the way. An idea, brilliant and bold, sparked in my mind. This was not a lounging pad. It was a tactical upgrade. A traction field. A launch point. I altered my racing line, my grey-and-white tuxedo a blur. As I hit the mat, my paws dug into the fabric top, held fast by the unyielding rubber grip below. There was no slide, no wasted motion. I coiled and then *exploded* off the surface, achieving a velocity heretofore unknown. I rounded the desk leg like a comet, a picture of perfect, kinetic grace. The human, startled from their screen-staring, saw only the final, triumphant flick of my tail as I vanished. The mat had proven its worth not as a bed, but as a performance-enhancing tool for the serious athlete. It was a silent, unmoving partner in my nightly quest for speed and chaos. The pointy man could stay. He had borne witness to greatness. The mat was, without question, Pete-approved.
