The atmosphere was tense.
Not because someone committed a crime.
Not because a disaster was unfolding.
But because someone—
someone brave, someone foolish—
had stolen a chicken leg from Aria Lane's sacred snack bag.
The production assistant trembled as he held up the half-eaten evidence.
Aria stared at it, calm but unreadable.
Julian blinked.
Daniel screamed.
Mason prayed.
And the stunt team whispered:
"Ohhhhhh somebody's dying today."
The Accusation Begins
Aria turned slowly toward Julian.
Not hostile.
Not angry.
Just… assessing.
Which was somehow worse.
Julian blinked back at her, expression mild.
Daniel immediately pointed at him.
"IT WAS HIM!"
Julian sighed.
"You have zero hesitation, Daniel."
"You OBVIOUSLY did it! Look at your face!"
"My face?" Julian repeated, amused.
"It's a guilty face!"
Julian raised an eyebrow.
"Or just… my face."
Mason exploded:
"CAN WE PLEASE NOT ACCUSE THE MOVIE KING BASED ON HIS BONE STRUCTURE?"
Aria Steps Closer
Aria looked at Julian with that unnerving calm of hers.
"Julian."
Julian met her gaze.
"Yes?"
"Did you eat my chicken leg?"
The room collectively gasped.
Lighting froze.
Makeup froze.
Elliot froze mid-spark test.
Rick held the camera like he was filming the trial of the century.
Julian looked at her steadily.
And smiled.
"I didn't."
Daniel screamed.
"WHY ARE YOU SMILING? SMILING IS SUSPICIOUS!"
Julian turned to him.
"…Daniel. I smile all the time."
"EXACTLY!!"
Julian's Defense (Too Smooth, Too Elegant)
Julian held Aria's gaze without flinching.
"If I wanted a chicken leg, I would've asked you."
Aria blinked.
The crew fainted at the subtle intimacy of that line.
Daniel fell backwards onto a chair.
"WHY WOULD YOU SAY IT LIKE THAT?! YOU'RE MAKING IT SOUND LIKE A CONFESSION!"
Julian:
"It's just the truth."
Mason:
"STOP SPEAKING TRUTH LIKE A MAN IN A ROMANCE MOVIE!"
Aria Analyzes Him (Scientifically and Terrifyingly)
Aria took a step even closer.
Julian didn't move an inch.
Aria studied:
his eyes
his hands
the position of his pockets
the direction of crumbs on the floor
the scent of his clothes
Daniel whispered:
"She's scanning him like a crime lab."
Aria finally spoke:
"You did not eat the chicken leg."
Julian smiled slightly.
"Thank you."
Daniel choked.
"That's it?! THAT'S IT?? Your investigation lasts THREE SECONDS for HIM?!"
Aria explained:
"He does not smell like chicken."
The room fell silent.
Julian blinked, then laughed softly.
"…I suppose that's a compliment."
Daniel cried:
"NO, IT'S NOT! IT MEANS SHE SNIFFED YOU!"
Mason Loses His Mind
Mason slammed his clipboard onto a table.
"WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?!
WHY ARE EITHER OF YOU LIKE THIS?!
WHY IS EVERY MOMENT BETWEEN YOU TWO A FAN EDIT WAITING TO HAPPEN?!"
Julian:
"I didn't do anything."
Aria:
"He was cooperating."
Daniel:
"This is exactly what someone guilty would say!"
Rick Provides Video Evidence (Sort Of)
Rick approached cautiously.
"I… might have a recording."
Everyone turned.
Mason grabbed him by the shoulders.
"RICK. PLEASE. IF YOU HAVE FOOTAGE OF THE THEFT, YOU WILL SAVE MY SANITY."
Rick swallowed.
"It's from the warehouse camera. But the angle is bad."
"SHOW. NOW."
Rick pulled up the clip.
The time stamp matched the disappearance.
The figure entering the snack bag area was—
"…Blurry," Rick apologized.
"The camera couldn't focus."
Aria stared at the shadowy silhouette.
Tilted her head.
"That is not Julian."
Julian raised an eyebrow.
"You're certain?"
Aria nodded.
"Yes."
Daniel threw his hands up.
"HOW ARE YOU SO SURE?!"
Aria pointed at the screen.
"He walks slower than you."
Everyone looked at Julian.
Julian blinked.
"…Am I fast?"
Aria:
"Yes."
Daniel:
"OH MY GOD THEY'RE FLIRTING WHILE SOLVING A CRIME—SOMEBODY STOP THIS."
Mason's Final Word
Mason held up both hands in exhaustion.
"Okay! FINE! Julian is innocent! Moving on!"
Julian smiled.
"Thank you, Director."
Mason pointed at him.
"That was NOT gratitude.
That was an exorcism."
Aria's Closing Statement
Aria stepped back.
"Julian is not the suspect."
Daniel sighed.
"One down… One billion possibilities left."
Mason groaned.
"Great. Now we interrogate the entire crew."
Aria nodded.
"We begin now."
Half the studio fainted.