Love at First Game

Episode 11 Video

Vivian stared at her screen, bewildered. "He fell off the chair?"

Max replied with a chuckle, “Yeah, your delivery was very intense. George started laughing so hard he toppled over.”

Vivian rolled her eyes and sighed. “That is why I didn’t want sidekicks.”

Miles chimed in, “But sister-in-law, it’s way more fun with us. Don’t you think so?”

Nathan’s voice came through the chat, calm and dry as always. “Fun or not, we’re wasting time. Get back into character.”

George groaned audibly. “Give me a second! My chair’s not stable.”

Vivian pinched the bridge of her nose. This was supposed to be a simple, lighthearted project, but somehow it had spiraled into a full-scale production, complete with a director, side characters, and enough chaos to rival the game’s most challenging missions.

Take Two

After a short break, they reset the scene. Nathan resumed his position, descending gracefully from the mountain path with his white robes billowing behind him. Vivian, now steadier on her horse, emerged from the forest with a confident trot. She stopped in front of Nathan and delivered her line again:

“This mountain is mine, this tree I planted. If you want to pass this way, leave a man behind!”

This time, George stayed seated and retorted as planned. “How dare you block the way of the great Nathan Daniel Thorne! Prepare to be defeated!”

George charged forward, and the fight choreography began. Vivian dismounted and engaged in a mock battle with him. Despite her inexperience with staged fights, she managed to follow Nathan’s earlier instructions, delivering a few flashy moves while George dramatically overcame his defeat.

“I’ve been bested by the fearsome female thief!” George shouted, collapsing in an exaggerated heap.

Max entered next, delivering his own taunts before meeting a similar fate. Miles followed, giving it his all in the fight but ultimately losing as well.

Finally, it was just Vivian and Nathan left. Nathan raised his flute-turned-sword and stared at her down with a cool, detached expression. Vivian hesitated, her mind racing. What do I do now? Should I actually fight him? Or... improvise?

Before she could decide, Nathan broke the silence. “Are you done pretending to be strong, or should I disarm you properly?”

Vivian, flustered, stumbled through her response. “H-how dare you underestimate me! This mountain belongs to me, and so will you!”

Nathan smirked. “Interesting. Let’s see if you can back that up.”

Wrapping It Up

The rest of the scene went smoothly, with Vivian pretending to overpower Nathan and “forcing” him to join her gang. In reality, Nathan’s calm demeanor and precise movements made it clear that he was allowing her to win.

When the final shot ended, Vivian collapsed in her chair, laughing. “I can’t believe we actually pulled it off.”

Nathan, ever efficient, had already started reviewing the footage. “It needs editing, but it’s good enough.”

Max leaned over in-game, his character peering at Nathan’s. “Director Thorne, when’s the premiere?”

Nathan didn’t look up. “Tomorrow, if I finish the edits tonight.”

Vivian groaned. “You’re really taking this seriously, huh?”

Nathan glanced at her, his in-game avatar tilting its head slightly. “Why wouldn’t I? It’s our video.”

Vivian blinked, feeling her cheeks flush. Our video... She quickly shook off the thought and turned her attention back to the group.

George clapped his hands together. “Great work, everyone. Now, who’s up for another boss fight?”

Vivian laughed. “Not me. I’m logging off before you rope me into another one of your schemes.”

Max teased, “Come on, sister-in-law. What’s the rush?”

Vivian smiled as she clicked the logout button. “I need to rest. Being a legendary thief is exhausting.”

Aftermath

Later that night, as she lay in bed, Vivian couldn’t help but think about the day’s events. From Nathan’s duel with Mason to the impromptu video shoot, everything felt surreal.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Natalie: "Vivian, I heard about your video. Can’t wait to see it!"

Vivian smiled, typing back: "It’s just for fun. Don’t expect too much."

But deep down, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. Despite the chaos, they’d created something together—a memory she’d cherish, even if it was just a silly video game.

And maybe, just maybe, she was starting to see Nathan Daniel Thorne in a new light.