[inhales deeply]
I have only finished one game.
Ruminate.
[gasps]
Thank you for allowing me to introduce myself, Marshall.
Have a great night.
[exhales]
[Bowser barks]
[panting]
I finally managed to tell him the truth.
[♪ opening theme song playing]
[mouse scrolling]
Damn it.
Is she Ariadne?
[clicks]
[Sam reading out]
[mouse scrolling]
[MARSHALL] All right, guys, how'd you like today's stream?
If you enjoyed it, then drop a like.
Now smash that sub button please, and thanks.
I'm trying to hit 500 subscribers.
I've got this. Watch me!
[footsteps]
[MONICA] Hey, baby, I wanted to talk about
the "Marshall Law's makeup course" video we filmed.
Would you mind checking the thumbnail for me?
I've got a feeling that our fans are going to go crazy
when we release this collab.
See?
You look gorgeous, babe!
My mom's gonna be proud of me for this one.
Is something the matter?
Ruminate.
That game I played the other day.
It turns out Sam made it.
Oh?
The problem is, a bunch of my fans
who watched the stream logged on to Indigineer afterwards,
and they review-bombed the living crap out of her game.
So?
I hurt her.
And her career as a game developer
might very well be over.
All because of me and my fans.
That sounds rough.
But that's not all.
It turns out, Sam's one of my oldest fans.
'Kay.
So how are you planning to fix this?
Well, for starters,
I'm going to make a video talking about it.
I'll drive home the fact that
doing something like that is never okay.
And I'll tell them to remove all the negative reviews
they left about Ruminate on Indigineer.
Hopefully it doesn't backfire.
How could it?
As influencers,
the main thing we have to worry about is haters.
If you attack the trolls,
the trolls are gonna attack you back.
You know as well as I do that there's nothing
netizens hate more than when people tell them they're wrong.
I get where you're coming from.
If you do decide to do all that,
some of your fans might apologize
and actually delete their reviews.
But that's only part of what will come of it.
The remaining majority of your audience
will likely lash out against you,
turning their rage towards your content instead of the game.
[soft gasp]
[MAN] You suck, Marshall.
[fans reading out]
[sighs]
If you blow this up into a big thing,
it'll make life harder for your neighbor too.
Are you willing to risk
escalating the situation like that?
In this case, it's best not to do anything.
I get that.
But I can't sit and do nothing.
It may have been indirect,
but I put Sam in that difficult position.
I have to do the right thing,
and make it up to her.
Don't be naive, babe.
If we keep focusing on our content,
we're going to get more famous than we already are.
You won't make it big if you worry about everything.
It isn't worth your time.
[sighs]
If it's seriously bugging you that much,
there are a few things that you can do.
[shower running]
[MARSHALL] I have some crazy awesome news
to share with you guys!
I just hit 500 subscribers!
Thank you all for your amazing support!
[Bowser growling]
'Sup, Bowser?
- [knocking at door] - Huh?
[Bowser barking]
I am so sorry about what happened.
- [gasps] - [Bowser barking and growling]
[SAM] Bowser, calm down.
[barking]
Everything is fine.
[whining]
I had no idea my fans were review-bombing
your Indigineer profile until I logged into my account
and saw the slaughter for myself.
It's not an excuse,
but I almost never look at the game dev's profile
after I've downloaded a game.
So, I didn't even realize that it was you who made Ruminate.
I sent off an email to Indigineer tonight.
I explained the entire situation
and asked if they could restore Ruminate's score
to what it was before I ever played it.
I contribute to them,
so I'm hoping they'll listen to me about this whole mess.
But until then, take this.
I really hope it helps.
Uh... Huh?
That check's for you.
It's all of the money I made off my Ruminate video.
You made this much from a single video?
Why do I even bother working at all?
The unfortunate truth is, out of all of my recent streams,
that one had the most views and likes.
Wait, it had?
I actually deleted the VOD.
And I should have done so a lot sooner.
I appreciate the apology, Marshall.
It's kind, but I can't accept this.
Please take it. I insist.
I'd feel really guilty keeping that money for myself.
[grumbles]
Come on, just take it back.
I can't do that.
But I told you that I don't want it.
Sam, please don't make this hard for me.
Who's making things hard for who?
- [MARSHALL] I won't take it. - [SAM] Neither will I.
[MARSHALL] Well, I refuse.
[SAM] Aren't you being a bit too stubborn?
Listen, I'm giving this to you
because I want you to use it to fund your next game.
[gasps]
People online are always saying the bigger the budget,
the better the final game will be.
Now your next game will be even better than Ruminate.
[gasps]
[hyperventilating]
Whoa! Are you okay, Sam?
Oh, right. Take deep, slow breaths.
In through your nose. [inhales]
[paper tearing]
Ruminate didn't need a huge budget to be great.
You're not apologizing, Marshall.
You're just trying to escape your own guilt.
- I-- - I don't need your money
or your sympathy.
So cut it out.
- Sam, I just-- - Good night.
[sighs]
[crying]
[Bowser barking]
You good, boy?
[barking and growling]
Hm?
[Sam reading out]
[angry grunt]
His increased power level is no match for me!
Hmm?
[gasps]
Sam, did you climb around the balcony wall to get here?
[gasps]
- [grunts] - [groans]
Ah, I'm sorry.
[grunts] Hey!
Don't you dare try to give me money ever again, you hear me?
Sam, careful!
[groans]
[DRIVER] Am I going to be all right?
[LINK] Yes, sir. Everything will be fine.
You just relax and we'll do all the hard work.
[DRIVER] Thank you.
[wheels rattling]
- [DOCTOR] How is he? - [LINK] Still in pain.
But the good news is his blood pressure
and other vitals are stable.
All right.
[LINK] It's not fair.
Of all people, why did Dad have to get sick?
[crying]
[SAM] Excuse me.
I'm sorry to bother you.
[LINK] When I felt like I was drowning
during the darkest time of my life...
- [SAM] Here. - Huh?
Would you maybe like to join me inside?
[LINK]...you were the one thing
that kept me from falling into despair.
I can't take much more.
My father is lying in there dying,
and all I can do is watch.
You stuck by me and made sure that I never lost my way.
That I was never consumed by solitude.
You were the light that drove away the darkness.
You were strong out there today, Link.
So strong.
I'm sure your dad's incredibly proud of you.
Sam, someday I hope to be the light
that can protect you from the darkness.
That's all I want now.
To be the person you were for me.
[DEE] Sam, you got a sec?
[SAM] Huh? Oh, for sure.
As your former roommate in college
and as one of your best buds to this very day,
you'd say I know you pretty well, right?
Yeah, of course you do.
What brought this about?
[DEE] Curiosity.
I was thinking about you.
And I got to wondering why
you've never dated anybody before.
Uh...
Never got around to it.
You showed no interest in college,
and you're still single now.
- Mm... - All right, I'll ask.
It's nothing to be embarrassed by.
Do you not date anyone because you're asexual?
Wait, you think I'm asexual?
That just means a person
who doesn't experience sexual attraction to anyone, right?
Well, about that.
To be perfectly honest with you...
The truth is...
I’m not ace, Dee, I’m attracted to men.
Oh, gotcha.
My dad told me something when I was young.
[SAMUEL] My sweet princess.
There's nothing in this world that would make me happier
than for you to grow up and marry your perfect prince.
But, there's something important you need to know.
I will hate every man who approaches my little girl.
Yeah, that sounds like something your dad would say.
Honestly, I think he's just overprotective of me
'cause I'm so frail, you know.
The thing is,
it's no one's fault but my own that I'm so awkward around men.
With every year that passed,
I lost more confidence.
I was embarrassed about people
finding out I'd never been on a date.
And besides,
most men weren't interested in me in the first place,
so why bother?
Even if you don't see it,
you're an incredibly attractive woman.
You gotta have more confidence, girl.
That's sweet of you to say,
but you only think that because you're my friend.
Not true.
When Link invited you to see that movie the other day,
he wasn't asking you to hang out as friends, Sam.
Huh?
He was asking you to go out on a date with him.
What?
But why would he do that, though?
I thought he and I were just friends.
What am I missing?
Allow me to explain.
Going on dates is how you figure out
whether you want to stay friends with somebody,
or if you want to become more.
It's simple.
He wants to be more than friends?
But why in the world would Link be interested in me?
Didn't I already tell you that you're attractive?
You know Link, he's a good guy,
and he's got an eye for beautiful people like yourself.
Uh. [screams]
[Bowser gasps]
[LUCY] You're at it again, Sam.
You start blushing, and then you blast off into space cadet mode.
Then you blush.
Space, blush, space!
Jeez. You're like a freaking yo-yo.
Have I been that bad?
Tell me the truth, Sam.
You're in love with someone, aren't you?
[SAM] L-L-L-Love?
Well, obviously! What else could it be?
There's no way I'm letting you leave until you spill the tea.
- Lucy... - Um?
I was wondering, what's it like to go on a date?
You're going on a date? Congratulations!
You just have to tell me, who's the lucky Casanova?
Slow down. It's nothing like that.
I haven't even agreed to go out on a date with them yet.
I was just asking a simple question.
[LUCY] Mm-hmm.
What's that supposed to mean?
[car honking]
[BOTH] Uh?
[LUCY] Mr. Jones.
If you ladies are walking, I'd be happy to give you a ride.
- Nah. - I'm a bit busy, actually.
But you can give Sam here a lift.
- Huh? - Just go with it.
You want to know what dates are like,
so find out for yourself.
What?
This'll be good experience for you.
[SAM] Um, why did...
I just happened to see the two of you
when I was leaving the office.
Guess that makes sense.
Wait, do you have a gym bag with you?
[CHARLES] Yeah, it's my fencing bag.
Wow. You fence?
That's such an uncommon hobby.
I didn't know that about you, Charles.
Actually, I work as an instructor
at the fencing club in the city.
Huh. Interesting.
It's almost like a real-world story of swords and sorcery.
You're a legit sword master.
If you're interested,
then come by and watch sometime.
I would like that.
You would?
It looks rather intense,
but fencing is fairly low impact.
It involves bursts of movement followed by rest.
It might be the ideal sport for you,
considering your asthma.
Uh, how'd you know about that?
[CHARLES] When you started working in the office last year,
our business was moved from the fourth floor
down to the first.
That was the first sign.
Then the HVAC.
Your father invested into a top-notch system.
What's more, EpiPens were added to the office's first aid kit.
And Lucy is always diligent
about checking whether they've expired or not.
You sound exactly like Sherlock Holmes.
[CHARLES] My theory was solidified
when your father asked if I knew how to do CPR.
It was elementary.
I guess that adds up.
My father has a habit of being a bit overprotective.
But I have no doubt you've noticed that as well.
[laughs] You're not wrong there.
Samara, has having an overprotective father
ever been hard for you?
Oh, yeah. All the time, actually.
Even if he overdoes it on occasion,
my father has always loved me the very best he could.
He's done a lot for me, so I never want to let him down.
I want him to be proud to have me as a daughter.
So I try to do the best I can.
Sorry for asking such an odd question.
Nah.
There's a young man that I know
whose father is incredibly narcissistic and uncaring.
Quite unlike your situation,
his father shows no true interest
in supporting his son.
The young man actually used to study fencing with me.
So he's a sword master in training, then?
Indeed. And if he had kept up his training,
there was a decent possibility
he could have become a fencing instructor as well.
Did he stop practicing?
One day, he quit class and he never came back.
But there was something more to it.
Something wrong.
Why did he quit?
Couldn't tell you.
What I do know
is that young man only devoted his life to fencing
in order to make his father happy.
But even after all that effort,
his father never looked his way.
Naturally, the boy never seemed very happy.
I still worry about him,
even though I don't see him anymore.
Can you blame me?
[SAM] That poor sword master in training.
[DEE] What can I get for you?
Um, think I'll grab a mocha.
Okey-dokey. One mocha coming up.
And will that drink be for here or to go?
For here, if that's all right.
Hey, Link. One mocha for here, please.
You got it, Dee.
A friend of mine told me
this place has really good coffee,
so I wanted to check it out.
Her name is Sam Young.
Not sure if you know her.
[♪ dramatic music]
It's that jerk!
Angela, don't do it!
How dare you show your putrid face in here,
you overstuffed marshmallow?!
- [VIKKI] Angela! - It's about time
for you to pay the piper.
No one screws with our friend, streamer boy.
Wait, hang on a minute!
It might feel good, but it's not worth it.
Pull yourself together, Angela.
This schmuck ruined Sam's life! He's lucky he's not dead!
I didn't realize that you're friends with Sam.
The truth is, I only came here
because I wanted to apologize to her again.
And to give her this.
If sorry meant anything, we wouldn't need the police,
would we?
- [growls] - [whimpers]
Super Angry Redhead Rage... Strike!
[Marshall screaming]
Get off me! What the heck are you doing?
You gotta calm down, all right?
But why? He's the one who hurt our girl.
Yeah, I know,
but it won't do Sam any good
if her friend gets arrested for assault.
[sighs] Thanks for that. I was worried--
Don't think I did it for you.
No matter the case, Sam doesn't like violence.
That's the only reason I stopped her.
[lion growling]
Uh...
Is that you?
Huh?
You gotta be kidding. Charles Jones?
Ben Lawson?
[SAM] Ben?
This is a surprise.
This is the young man I was telling you about, Samara.
[gasps]
[♪ tense music]
[♪ closing theme song playing]