2019-11-21 - Low Durability Gear

Wearing an old worn military mapcase over the shoulder, Devlin walks in looking a little out of place. He hmms to himself as he starts looking at things, seeing the Sony display he makes his way over towards it.

Abitha stands behind the counter quietly, leaning on it with both elbows. It was ok that he had just walked in to browse, bubbly sales were not her thing in the least. A brief inspection is made of the new customer though, a slight pinching of her face. Damn, he was tall. She absently flicks through something on the tablet she had on and open in front of her, letting him shop in peace. She lifts her flat voice just slightly, "Let me know if you need anything." Typical NPC interaction fare.

Yup, it was easier to figure this shit out when you had a half dozen geeks in the section telling you.. that is what you want Chief.. Devlin pulls out a broken headset that looks like it has seen enough ducktape and bailing wire to have been rebuilt twice(?), and a controller that looks as if may be it went to war is now peaking out of the mapcase. He looks at the headset and then the various options available.. yeah.. new models.. and this does not look like any of them. Want to bet it is the same for the controller? He walks over to the counter, looking a little embarrassed, "Perhaps you can help.. these barely survived my fourth deployment.. and when I tried them the other night, not working."

Abitha lifts her face first before she lifts her eyes slowly from her tablet, EBay postings scrolled past of broken old gaming systems. As her eyes flick to the broken gear, they widen first, her brows lifting then dropping as she then looks... up... at him. The height difference didn't really quench what looked like ire on her face, like how dare he treat his rig like this. Silently, she reaches out to take them from him, gingerly turning them over in her hands, inspecting, "Shocker." she comments sarcastically, though with a bit of a smirk to soften the blow. "You like the form factor on these?" She lifts a hand to a computer next to her, hitting things on a touchscreen that almost looks like a video game menu, finding the originals by their model numbers, her green eyes flicking to Devlin, then his hands, maybe sizing him up.

Devlin nods, "It isn't easy getting replacements in Afghanistan. And my nephews borrowed .. " he smirks, "Or should I say reappropriate my old PS4 thin.. they left me these." He pulls out the old controller too, not as bad condition as the headset. "I guess that shouldn't have been a surprise really. So I bought this PS4 Pro from a guy in my new guard unit in Tacoma a few weeks ago. Figured this would be a good way to blow steam between exams for my certifications and studying."

"As long a you're not blowing your time on like, Fifa, yeah." She sets the headphones down and looks at the controller with disdain, another Are you kidding me? look sent up at him as she steps around the counter. She had actually dressed a little cute today for once. Fuzzy sweater, loose skirt, leggings and boots. She moves to the PlayStation display and taps a few of the items that would work the same and fit on his head the same. "Some people prefer on-ear if they play shorter sessions." She points out full ear covering can styles, "Off ear can be more comfortable for longer, and either nose cancelling or open." She looks back to him, "Generally, you get what you pay for, but the cheaper ones I stock are actually pretty good... I have standards."

Devlin nods, "Over ear I think. Had to use those on ears so I could hear the speakers. I am a combat medic. So could be in a game and suddenly drop everything and dash to grab gear to run to a chopper or an ambulance. Sometimes care was out of my hands." He hmms, "On the controller.." He shows his hands, "They come in bigger sizes? And anything you would suggest for Detroit, Final Fantasy XIV and XV?"

Devlin offers, "If it helps.. got the Pro in my Rubicon," He shrugs, "Sometimes having things together made getting stuff easier when I was at Bragg."

Her eyes quickly snap to him as soon as XIV leaves his lips, a squint there, inspecting. Maybe her opinion of him just changed slightly. Abitha shrugs, crossing her arms as she considers the controller section on the wall. "If you're looking to trade in, I can give you some value on it." She makes a quick glance, "I also repair and resell here. I probably cant repair that..." She tosses her chin in the direction of the countered controller, then stops, staring, considering. "Well, depending on the damage, it's need a new casing though... Sometjing custom..." She drags her mind out of it with a shake of a head, "Sorry, anyways, your choice. I do have some of the Big Hands stuff, like one or two." She points at two selections, black and very very red, "By if you trade in for a bundle, its gonna be the default size, unfortunately."

"Not wanting to trade in, I hear the pros are pretty good. Should go great with my 70" Plasma set.." He then hmms, "I will keep the Pro, I'll get new.. you can keep the old ones. Hell, the headset has been to Iraq once and Afghanistan twice." Devlin then selects the nice high end head set.. "Of those two controller, which one would be the better of the two? And.. I may want to get one controller to have available for friends if someone visits."

"Oh, pff." A dismissive noise, the decision easy, and the difference in price not too far off. She reaches up on her tiptoes and tips one of them off the hook. Obviously, someone who needed a niche sized controller would be taller than her, so she'd hung it high for space-saving. As for a budget for-friend buy, she grabs an off-brand. Cheaper, would wear faster, but was just as good performance-wise, and would get rarer use, she figures. She moves to the counter.

Curious, after the mention of the trips the headphones had been through... She touches them again...

It is a huge random mix, high stress, competitiveness, grief, pain, relief... all mixed through the feeling of having fun and escaping the ~crap~

Devlin nods, "Thanks for the assist there." He looks over at the old head set, "It served me well.. kept me sane in some tough times.. helped others too I bet." He hmms, "I take it not much issue, it's all plug and play, right?" He checks his phone right quick.. "Yeah.. still got the emails for what I need to log in for discord."

A faint smile starts to show in Abitha's face for a hair's breadth, then she quickly looks aside to start ringing up the other selections. The system is pretty quick and intuitive, something he's probanly never seen before... Since she coded it herself.

"Yeah, you wont have any issues if you know how to plug something in." She comments wryly, smirking at him. At the mention of discord, she leans over the counter to grab a card for him, setting it with the purchases. It had her handles across platforms, including discord info.

Devlin says, "Oh, thanks.. my handle is Medicicureall. One of my medics set it up for me, he loves history and has a very warped sense of humor. Kept it as it grew on me." He pulls out cash.. yes, some people carry it. "Had some hacker issues after a problem in LA." He takes a breath, "Seems some people just do not.. never mind, not your problem. So what is the warranty on these?"

A faint snort of amusement is made at the name. "Gotta change your passwords more often, then." Her head tucks into her shoulder, an apologetic look given. He gets a strange look as he false-starts on whatever he was saying, but she goes with what he asked. A couple more clicks on the screen, "Uhhh, varies for what's covered, but mostly a year. All their info is in with the packaging." She grabs a bag, gets it together, reaches to tale his money and do the retail thing.

Devlin says, "Password changes only go so far.. at least they have not gotten into my discord or gaming accounts." Devlin then adds, "Trust me.. if someone hands them a machine and you don't know it.." He shakes his head. "Ok, cool on the warranties. Bet they get honored in the states vs I was in Iraq when it broke..." trying to be more upbeat. "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Devlin. Just hope this is the only way we do meet, as I will be on the EMS team here in town once I get through my state certifications."

"I mean, most of these manufacturers use overseas production, but they're American companies. Shoulda made a social media stink. Games for Solja Bois?" Abitha smirks dipping her chin as she looks down at herself, "Damn, so I guess coffee's out? That's rough." She makes another amused snort, looking him down, then up, appraising, and clearly teasing him. "Mac." She says as she nods her head to him, "MacTheKnife, if you find me on the interwebs."

Devlin smiles, "Now meeting over coffee is very possible, was more meaning professionally.. When I work, most times me at my best days are someone else's worst days... After all, all work and no play makes for a very grumpy Staff Sergeant..." He chuckles a bit there. "According to many of the medics that served with me."

"Yeah, totally. Yaknow, I definitely have a really dangerous job." Abitha holds both her hands up, both a gesture of not knowing and indicating her shop proper as a whole. She lets out another little laughing noise. "Have fun saving Eorzea... Again." She jokes, waving.

Devlin says, "Thanks.." and he picks up his purchases to head out. "Oh.. if you fix those.. and a Vet wants them.. bill me. Thanks again."