Director Mason should have known this day would come.
He'd survived Aria breaking doors.
He'd survived her obliterating stunt choreography.
He'd survived explosions, romance accusations, and a studio executive demanding "more tension."
But today?
Today he faced the greatest threat of all:
Being accused of stealing Aria's chicken leg.
The Moment Suspicion Shifts
The blurry warehouse footage ended.
Julian was cleared.
Daniel took a dramatic breath, stepped forward, and pointed at Mason with all the elegance of a courtroom drama extra.
"It was YOU."
Mason choked.
"ME?! Why in the FIRE-BLESSED HELL would I steal her chicken?!"
Daniel paced like Sherlock Holmes, but louder.
"Motive:
You hate chaos."
"That's not a motive!"
"Opportunity:
You walk around yelling all the time—no one pays attention to what your hands are doing."
"That is not—WHAT?!"
"Suspicious behavior:
You've been extra stressed today."
"I'M ALWAYS STRESSED!"
Daniel gasped theatrically.
"AHA!"
Mason screamed.
Aria Turns To Mason Calmly
Aria looked at him.
Her gaze gentle.
Her tone soft.
Her aura terrifying.
"Mason."
He froze.
"Y-Yes?"
"Did you take my snack bag?"
The crew held their breath.
A lighting technician whispered:
"If he says yes… we're all dead."
A stuntman whispered back:
"If he says no, we're also dead."
Julian watched with mild amusement.
Daniel watched with unhinged eagerness.
Aria waited patiently.
Mason sputtered:
"NO! I DIDN'T! I DON'T STEAL FOOD! I CAN BARELY EAT LUNCH BECAUSE YOU BREAK SOMETHING EVERY DAY!"
Aria blinked.
"…I do not break something every day."
The crew whispered:
"She absolutely does."
Mason threw his arms up.
"SEE?! EVEN THEY AGREE!"
Aria Begins Her "Analysis"
She stepped closer.
Mason backed up until he hit a wall.
Aria's tone remained calm—almost gentle.
"Your hands are clean."
"My—what?"
"No grease. No seasoning. No food scent."
Daniel whispered:
"She's sniffing him."
Mason screamed:
"I CAN HEAR YOU WHISPERING!"
Aria continued:
"You also do not smell like poultry."
Julian's lip twitched.
Daniel pointed dramatically.
"OF COURSE HE DOESN'T. HE'S THE DIRECTOR. HE SMELLS LIKE REGRET AND LOUD NOISES."
Mason rounded on him.
"DANIEL, I SWEAR TO GOD—"
Rick Pulls Up More Evidence
Rick rechecked the blurry video.
"Director Mason wasn't even on that side of the warehouse. See? Time stamp."
He zoomed out.
Mason stood in the opposite corner, yelling at props.
Props confirmed:
"He was lecturing us about doors again."
Mason screamed:
"THE DOORS DESERVED IT!"
Aria nodded once.
"He did not take it."
Daniel threw his notes into the air.
"OH COME ON! WHY IS EVERYONE GETTING CLEARED BUT ME?!"
Mason pointed at Daniel.
"WHY ARE YOU EVEN A SUSPECT?!"
Daniel shouted:
"I DON'T KNOW! ARIA HAS RULES I DON'T UNDERSTAND!"
Aria nodded calmly.
"That is true."
Daniel fainted for three seconds.
Aria Concludes Mason's Innocence
She stepped back.
"Director Mason is not the culprit."
Mason's knees buckled in relief.
"Oh thank god—
WAIT. WHY WAS I EVER A SUSPECT?!"
Daniel whispered:
"Because guilt energy."
"I DON'T HAVE GUILT ENERGY! I HAVE SURVIVAL ENERGY!"
Julian leaned against a table, amused.
"You're reacting suspiciously."
"I'M REACTING HUMANLY!!"
Aria blinked at him.
"You are loud today."
Mason pointed at the sky.
"WHY DOES SHE TALK LIKE THAT?! WHY DOES IT SOUND LIKE AN ASSASSIN ASSESSING MY SOUL?!"
Crew Reactions (All Unhelpful)
Makeup artist:
"He didn't steal it. Mason doesn't even eat on set."
Lighting tech:
"He just drinks coffee and screams."
Stunt guy Marcus:
"He's got clean hands. No chicken oils."
Props team:
"Also, he hates poultry days because Aria always gets feral."
Elliot (pyrotechnics):
"Maybe it was vaporized."
Everyone stared.
"ELLIOT NO."
The Final Verdict
Aria nodded.
"We move on to the next suspect."
Daniel gasped.
"There are MORE?!"
Aria blinked once.
"Yes."
Mason collapsed into a chair.
"I can't survive a full investigation… Someone get me chamomile tea… or a sedative…"
Julian smiled at Aria.
"Let's continue. Lead the way."
Aria walked toward the hallway.
Daniel whispered, horrified:
"She's so calm.
So efficient.
So… terrifying."
Mason muttered:
"Please let the thief step forward before she takes all our souls."