Among all departments on set, only one man truly, deeply, enthusiastically loved chaos:
Elliot, the pyrotechnics supervisor.
A man whose soul smelled faintly of gasoline and victory.
A man who smiled widest when things went boom.
A man who, up until this film, thought he understood unpredictability.
Then he met Aria Lane.
And immediately said:
"This one.
She's my favorite."
Everyone else screamed.
The First Meeting
Aria wandered into the effects area searching for a snack.
Instead, she found Elliot testing detonators.
BEEP. BEEP. BOOM (tiny).
Aria blinked.
"That was small."
Elliot froze.
Turned.
Saw Aria.
Grinned like a mad scientist discovering a new element.
"You like explosions?"
Aria considered.
"…They are efficient."
Elliot slapped his knee.
"I LIKE YOU."
Daniel, who had followed her, grabbed his hair.
"NO NO NO—
DON'T LET THEM TALK—
THEY'RE GOING TO START A WAR."
Elliot Gives Aria a Demonstration
Elliot proudly gestured to a row of safely rigged mini-charges.
"These are 4A sparklers. Low flash, no heat. Pure cinematic."
Aria leaned in slightly.
"They are weak."
Elliot's soul left his body in joy.
"YES! EXACTLY! That's what I tell Mason every year!"
Daniel whispered:
"Why are they bonding…
WHY ARE THEY BONDING?"
Elliot pressed a switch.
PYOOOMF — A controlled fire burst.
Aria nodded.
"Better."
Elliot's eyes sparkled.
"I have bigger ones."
Daniel screamed.
Mason Discovers the Alliance
Mason stormed in after hearing an unauthorized bang.
"WHO SET SOMETH—"
He froze.
Saw Aria standing beside Elliot.
Saw Elliot showing her detonator buttons like they were shiny toys.
Mason dropped his clipboard.
"No.
NO.
THE TWO OF YOU MUST NOT INTERACT."
Elliot frowned.
"Why not?"
"BECAUSE SHE'S ALREADY TOO STRONG AND YOU MAKE THINGS EXPLODE!"
Aria blinked.
"I only watched."
Mason clutched his chest.
"That's what scares me!"
Aria Asks Questions (The Dangerous Kind)
Aria pointed at a control panel.
"What does this button do?"
Elliot's grin widened to unsafe levels.
"Oh, THAT one? That one is—"
Daniel tackled him.
"NO EXPLANATIONS! NO BUTTONS!"
Aria blinked.
"…Why?"
Daniel sobbed.
"Because you'll press it."
Aria considered.
"That is correct."
Daniel screamed again.
Elliot Compliments Her
Elliot brushed himself off.
"You have good instincts. You'd make an amazing effects specialist."
Aria nodded.
"I like your fire patterns."
Elliot gasped.
"She understands PATTERNS!"
Mason cried out:
"STOP FLIRTING WITH HER EXPLOSIVELY! I BEG YOU!"
A Minor Explosion Happens (Accidentally)
A small test charge Elliot set earlier popped in the corner.
BOOF.
Aria instinctively moved—
grabbing Elliot's vest,
pulling him away,
shielding him with one arm.
Elliot stared at her in awe.
"…You saved me."
Aria blinked.
"It was loud."
Daniel clutched his soul.
"She protected the pyrotechnics guy FROM pyrotechnics. We're so done. We're so, so done."
Elliot Draws the Most Dangerous Conclusion
Elliot pointed at Aria dramatically.
"You. Are. Meant. For. Action MOVIES!"
Mason screamed from the depths of cinematic hell.
"WE KNOW!! THAT IS THE PROBLEM!!"
The Entire Crew Responds
Stunt team:
"She should do explosion runs with us."
Lighting team:
"Her hair looks great when backlit by fire."
Makeup:
"She doesn't flinch. Amazing bone structure."
Rick:
"She moves so fast I can't even get smoke blur on her."
Daniel:
"STOP COMPLIMENTING HER!"
Elliot:
"I want her to test a mid-range detonation!"
Mason:
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!!"
Aria:
"I can test it."
"NOOOOOO!!" — Everyone simultaneously.
The Final Blow
Elliot handed Aria a pair of protective headphones.
"For next time."
Aria looked at him, surprised.
"…Thank you."
Elliot smiled warmly.
"You're one of us now."
Mason dropped to his knees.
"NO SHE IS NOT.
I REFUSE.
I REJECT THIS FUTURE."
Julian walked in, saw Aria wearing pyrotechnic gear, and laughed softly.
"She looks good."
Mason burst into tears.