Day one of official filming began with high hopes, nervous energy, and Director Mason praying over his coffee like it was holy water.
The schedule said:
08:00 — Actors arrive
08:30 — First scene rehearsal
09:00 — Camera rolling
What actually happened was:
07:58 — Aria arrived with snacks
08:00 — The stunt team cheered
08:02 — Mason started losing hair again
Daniel whispered,
"Today. Please. Just today. Try not to do anything outrageous."
Aria took a contemplative bite of her custard bun.
"I will be normal."
Daniel's expression said he believed that less than he believed in unicorns.
The Crew Watches Her Enter Like a Mythical Beast
The moment Aria stepped onto the soundstage, a hush fell over the room.
Not from awe.
From bracing.
Camera operators straightened up.
Lighting techs subtly double-checked bolts.
Props team hid all edible items behind locked cabinets.
The stunt team waved like she was a celebrity athlete entering an arena.
Julian, leaning against a prop crate, smiled softly as she approached.
"Morning."
Aria nodded.
"Morning."
Daniel stepped between them like a church pastor.
"No flirting."
Julian: "We aren't."
Aria: "I'm eating."
Daniel pointed at them both.
"Exactly. NO FLIRTING."
Julian: "Daniel… she's chewing."
Daniel: "I SAID WHAT I SAID."
Director Mason's Inspirational Speech (Fail)
Mason forced everyone to gather around him in a circle.
He inhaled deeply.
"Alright, team. Today is crucial. This is a delicate scene. No improvising. No surprises. No unnecessary action—"
Aria raised her hand.
"I have snacks."
"—NO SNACKS!" Mason barked.
Aria slowly lowered her hand.
The stunt team groaned in sympathy.
Julian looked like he was trying not to laugh.
Mason pinched the bridge of his nose.
"If anything goes wrong today… if ANYTHING breaks… if any wall, ceiling, or beam is touched by unauthorized hands—"
Everyone collectively looked at Aria.
Aria chewed her bun.
Mason exhaled with despair.
"—I'm going home."
The Scene Begins (Slow Disaster Imminent)
The first shot of the day was a simple one:
Aria needed to walk beside Julian down a hallway, delivering two lines.
Two.
Lines.
That's it.
Mason repeated the instructions twelve times, staring directly at Aria each time.
"No running. No flipping. No dodging. No wall climbing. No stealing props. No eating on camera unless scripted."
Aria nodded politely.
"I understand."
She did not understand.
Take One
"Action!"
Aria and Julian walked side by side.
Julian delivered his line flawlessly.
Aria opened her mouth—
—and a muffled crunch filled the audio.
Mason screamed.
"CUT! CUT! ARIA, WHAT IS IN YOUR MOUTH?!"
Aria blinked.
"…A cracker."
Daniel facepalmed so hard the sound echoed.
"You said no snacks!" Mason wailed.
Aria held up the cracker sleeve.
"I forgot."
Take Two
Mason inhaled deeply.
"Again. Please. For my sanity."
"Action!"
Julian: "We have ten minutes before the target moves."
Aria: "Then we need to—"
A prop vase behind her wobbled.
Julian saw it falling.
Aria reacted faster.
She spun, caught it before it hit the floor, placed it back perfectly, and resumed her line smoothly:
"—move quickly."
The entire set froze.
Julian stared at her, amazed.
Mason screamed:
"CUT! MISS LANE, WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!"
Aria looked confused.
"It was falling."
"That vase was GLUED!"
Aria tilted her head.
"The glue was weak."
Daniel whispered to Mason,
"You need therapy."
Take Three
Mason put his forehead against a wall.
"Please… just… walk and talk."
Aria nodded solemnly.
"I will do exactly that."
"Action!"
They walked.
Aria spoke.
Julian spoke.
Everything was perfect.
And then—
A crew member sneezed loudly.
Aria's reflex kicked in.
She grabbed Julian's arm, spun him behind her, and shielded him like someone had fired a bullet.
Julian blinked from behind her shoulder.
"…It was a sneeze."
Aria released him slowly.
"Oh."
Mason staggered backward like he'd been shot.
"CUT—WHY—WHY IS SHE LIKE THIS—"
The stunt team applauded her instincts.
Julian, quietly impressed, whispered:
"You're incredible."
Aria stared straight ahead.
"No. That was reflex."
Julian smiled.
"That's what makes it incredible."
Daniel threw a folder at the floor in despair.
Mason's Final Attempt at Control
He dragged Aria aside.
"Miss Lane. Listen carefully. I need this scene done.
I need it calm.
I need it human.
I need it NON-ASSASSIN."
Aria nodded.
"I will tone down."
"Tone down MORE."
She considered this.
"I will tone down extremely."
"Good!"
Aria whispered to Daniel afterward:
"What does 'extremely' mean?"
Daniel cried openly.
Take Four (Miracle Take)
"Action!"
They walked.
They talked.
No snacks.
No dodging.
No protecting.
No flipping.
No wall-sensing.
Aria delivered her lines perfectly.
Julian kept pace beside her, glancing with quiet admiration.
The camera rolled smoothly.
Mason nearly passed out from relief.
"Cut!" he shouted.
Then:
"…YES! YES! WE GOT IT! THANK YOU, ARIA! THANK YOU, JULIAN! THANK YOU, UNIVERSE!"
He hugged a random crew member in joy.
The crew erupted in applause.
The stunt team lifted Aria in celebration.
Julian laughed as Aria awkwardly accepted the cheering.
Daniel sank to the floor whispering,
"We did it… we survived…"
Aria's Only Comment
She looked at the cheering stunt crew, then at Julian, then at Mason celebrating like a touchdown.
She said quietly:
"That was… fun."
Julian smiled warmly.
"Welcome to the set, Chaos Queen."
Aria blinked.
"…Is that my title?"
The entire stunt team shouted:
"YES!"
Daniel screamed:
"NO!"
Mason wailed:
"PLEASE GOD NO—"
Aria shrugged.
"…Okay."
She accepted it.
And that was the moment everyone on set knew:
This production would go down in history.
For better.
Or for Mason's scalp.