#rivervale_lodge

"Oh, everyone's a critic" Jimmy observes "Just because a story's been done doesn't mean it can't be done again and well."

The options vary. There is some new stuff, but a large chunk appears to be used games resold- a dying market with streaming going on. Another wall has electronic parts- mostly game console and PC related.

And behind the counter there's a tubby middle aged man with quite a lot of body hair. He's looking over his smart phone while he waits for the customers to make up their mind.

Adam heads over to look thrpugh the RPGs.

THAT gets the younger guys attention as he puruses. Yeah... this is the teen guy peer test. Does he know his games? Is he into the classics? Cutting edge? indies? Any might be acceptable depending on their own biases. Or is he a wanna be newb?

The tall teen with a confidant attitude and angular features seems interested in all stripes of gaming. But maybe heavier on Fantasy?

"Sup" The more talkative of the boys says. Not Jimmy. Jimmy is the other one "Used Game copy of Skyrim on sale if you're one of the unlucky few who have never experienced."

Adam shrugs. "Been there, done that."

Nods - not a newb, clearly. "Don't bother with the Witcher Three copy they keep trying to sell here. Folks keep having to return it." a look to the guy behind the counter. "Hey, name's Zane. "

The guy behind the counter scowls as Zane warns Adam off the merch he's been trying to unload.

Jimmy says "hey" laid back.

"Hey. Adam."

"Oh and this is Jimmy" Zane says, then looks over the grumpy guy behind the counter "Sorry man, but the 'script protection' on that copy makes it unplayable. It's a paperweight"

"Humph, What do you want from 'used'. I thought you Gen Zers were all master hackers by now anyway" The man behind the counter goes back to reading his smart phone.

"Heard they were making a Witcher show. Maybe you could tie into that? Something like.... 'Experience the game as it was meant to be played before the show!'

"Yeah I guess" the older man says.

"They'll still return it when they find they can't play it" Zane says sing song under his breath.

JImmy snickers. Then says "hope it's based on the books a lot. The stories are wild."

"Haven't read them yet, but I've heard good stuff about them."

"Audiobook on youtube can be found for free" Jimmy says.

"The first short story he means." Zane says

"Well, it's a start."

"So you going to school around here, Adam?" Zane says

"Yeah. You?"

"yeah" He names the school.

A girl enters in. This is not, jokes aside, unheard of in video gaming stores, but it is the LOOKS of the girl that wows. She maybe younger than Adam, but she looks like she belongs on the cover of Teen Magazine. Brown hair flowing, she fills out everything really nicely.

Certainly not as tall as the other girl he saw

Ha! Adam thinks, hearing the school. "Does it suck?" Then to the girl, ".... Hey."

"Eh" he shrugs. "A few cool teachers, which is surprising. Got a great basketball team... on the girls side especially. Football team needs help. Badly." Wry "If youre not into the sports, the theatre group is kicking it. Got some funding. I have to say I don't like the guidance counselor but..." His eyes fall o nthe girl with recoginition and fondness "Hey, Tanya."

Tanya gives Adam an accessing look, then turns to Zane, "You said you and Jimmy would be 'just a minute'...that was ten minutes ago."

Adam lifts an eyebrow as he turns back to this perusal of games. Story there.....

"Whoops?" Zane says "Sorry, Tanya. I just got caught up. Oh, Adam here is new so I was dishing with him about the school."

Adam tips his chin at Tanya.

"You go there too?"

Tanya's eyes fall to Adam as if she were trying to look, well, not through him, but into him. For a moment he can almost imagine dying to be in her eyes.

"Yes." She says simply.

It takes him a moment to find his voice. "Y.. yeah? Cool." So very not-cool, Thomas...

She turns cooly back to Zane, "Look, we don't have a car,, if I miss the bus because of you, I'm going to be irked."

Zane grins at her, "Wait, so you're saying you'd stick around for me rather than just taking the bus?" Yup. He's pleased.

She rolls those eyes of her, sniffs and strides off and out of the store.

Zane watches her go, "That was a yes. "

Jimmy shakes his head "High maintenance"

"You need a lift? I can take you. " Super casual.

"That's nice of you, man" Zane says "I'll take you up on that. Let me buy this and then I'll tell her we got a ride." Zane grabs a game. "you good, Jimmy?"

Jimmy nods

Zane walks up to the guy behind the counter, throws some cash on the table hurriedly.

Adam keeps at what Zane is getting.

Peek!! Peeks at!

*sigh*

Zane picked up a copy of a King's Quest game. Hard to see which one but it was cheap.