By day three of filming, Director Mason's once-proud hairline had receded so noticeably that even the camera crew whispered about it.
Not loudly.
Not rudely.
Just… sympathetically.
Like soldiers watching their general fall in slow motion.
Daniel bowed his head in mourning.
"He had such potential."
The makeup artist quietly added,
"We can do a comb-over… maybe."
Aria stared thoughtfully at Mason's hair, then offered:
"You should eat walnuts. They're good for hair growth."
Mason stared back at her like she'd suggested he swallow a grenade.
"STOP WORRYING ABOUT MY HAIR AND START WORRYING ABOUT YOUR SCENES!"
Aria held up a bag of walnuts.
"I have some."
Mason nearly cried.
Reason #1: The Chicken Leg Incident (Again)
Today's scene required the actors to sit at a table and discuss a mission.
Serious.
Political.
High stakes.
Nothing could go wrong.
Except lunch was delivered fifteen minutes earlier… and someone had left a gorgeous, golden, perfectly roasted chicken leg on the craft table.
Aria saw it.
Everyone saw Aria see it.
Daniel whispered,
"Oh no."
Before anyone could stop her—
She moved.
A blur.
A flash.
A soft whoosh.
And suddenly Aria was sitting in her scene chair like nothing had happened…
…except she was now holding the chicken leg.
Julian looked at her arm.
It was still warm.
"Did you teleport?" he whispered.
Aria shook her head calmly.
"No."
Mason stomped over.
"PUT. THAT. DOWN."
Aria's grip tightened protectively.
"But it will get cold."
"IT'S A PROP TABLE, NOT A BUFFET!"
Aria blinked innocently.
"But it wasn't labeled."
Mason pressed his fingers to his temples.
"Everything is labeled! That's the POINT of labeling!"
Aria nodded.
"It did say 'for scene use.' I'm using it in a scene."
Mason made a noise only dogs could hear.
Julian coughed into his sleeve to hide a laugh.
Reason #2: She Outperforms the Stunt Crew Without Trying
The next scene required her to walk across a narrow metal beam.
Marcus, the stunt coordinator, reassured Mason:
"She just has to walk. No flips. No jumps. No tricks."
"GOOD," Mason said. "Fantastic. Simple. Safe."
Aria stepped onto the beam.
Balanced perfectly.
Walked across like it was a sidewalk.
Then suddenly crouched, ducked, and dodged a falling prop light instinctively—
before it even fell.
Mason screamed.
The crew screamed.
Julian sprinted forward.
The light crashed exactly where her head had been seconds earlier.
Aria straightened calmly.
"Oh look," she said. "Loose bolt."
Mason wheezed.
"You— YOU DODGED BEFORE IT FELL!"
She tilted her head.
"It wobbled."
Julian whispered, stunned,
"You sensed that?"
She shrugged.
"Reflex."
Daniel collapsed into a chair.
"My heart can't handle this."
Marcus looked impressed.
"She saved herself. And the equipment. And probably us."
Mason pointed wildly at Aria.
"STOP BEING IMPRESSIVE. STOP IT. YOU'RE TOO GOOD. YOU'RE MAKING MY MOVIE LOOK UNREAL."
Aria blinked.
"Is that bad?"
Mason screamed into a megaphone.
"YES!"
Reason #3: The Director's Daughter's Candy
During a break, Mason's five-year-old daughter visited the set.
She offered Aria a lollipop.
Aria accepted happily.
Two minutes later, Aria walked by Mason's office sucking on another lollipop.
Mason frowned.
"Where did you get that?"
Aria licked it.
"From a child."
Mason gasped.
"That was MY CHILD."
Aria paused.
"…She offered it."
Mason collapsed onto a chair.
"My daughter is sobbing in my office because you robbed her of candy—"
Aria held up the candy.
"She said I could have one. I took one."
"She had TWO left!" Mason cried. "NOW SHE HAS ONE!"
Aria blinked.
"…I miscounted?"
Julian nearly broke trying not to laugh.
The Crew's Side Commentary
From behind the monitor:
CameraGuy:
Director's hair loss increases 12% every hour Aria is present.
SoundTech:
If she eats one more prop, he'll be bald by lunch.
LightingGuy:
Should we start a betting pool?
StuntWoman:
Move over. I'm writing his eulogy.
But There's a Twist
Despite the chicken leg theft
and the stunt scene disruptions
and the candy heist,
Mason's assistant leaned over to him, whispering:
"Sir… daily raw footage just arrived."
Mason groaned.
"What did she break this time?"
"No… sir… she looks incredible."
Mason blinked.
The assistant handed him the tablet.
He pressed play.
The footage showed Aria walking on the beam—
balanced, graceful, focused—
then dodging the falling light in a single impossibly smooth motion.
It wasn't chaotic.
It was cinematic.
It looked like pure action perfection.
Julian appeared in the frame, rushing toward her with real concern—
the chemistry electric, unscripted, irresistible.
It looked like a pinnacle scene from a blockbuster film.
Mason stared at the footage.
Then whispered:
"…Damn it."
His assistant nodded.
"It's beautiful, sir."
Mason glared at the screen.
"I hate how good she is."
Final Scene of the Day
Aria finished shooting her last line.
Julian passed her a water bottle.
"Good work today."
She nodded.
"You too."
Director Mason watched them and groaned.
"This movie will be my masterpiece," he muttered.
"And also my funeral."