Triple Point

Chapter 49: Core Memories

13 AUG 33AE

With the issues that arose from Elsie's accident cleared up, the filming proceeded without any issues. While Camilla was still nervous about all of the eyes watching her when she was completely out of her element, Hitomi's words of encouragement from the night before were exactly what Camilla needed.

So even when the director explained to the guardians that they would be in the foreground of many of the shots, Camilla accepted the information just as if they were a mission brief and she did exactly what she was told. Apparently, the tactic worked, and at the end of the day, a few members of the crew even congratulated her on a job well done.

At first, Camilla just thought they were being nice. But on the second day, the director approached her with the wild idea to actually give her a line to say.

"We need Sam to interact with more of the minor heroes," the director explained. "She'll be fighting when an attack will knock her off her feet."

The director pointed at Camilla. "That's when you'll come in and you'll catch the villain she was fighting off-guard and blow them away or something. Afterwards, when you help her to her feet, she'll protect you from an attack from behind. And, if possible, we'd like to use practical effects for this one."

The director pointed at Pala, who had just joined the rest of the squad in costume. "You can help with that, right? We should have an extra villain uniform for you."

"Uh..." Pala said, glancing at Lee. When Lee simply shrugged, Pala nodded as well. "Sure, I could help."

Since the scene was a last-minute idea, it took a little longer to set up so that the crew was all on the same page. As they bustled around the set, Elsie and Camilla waited together in front of the cameras while the hair and make-up crews put the final touches on their appearances.

"Nervous?" Elsie asked with an excited grin on her face.

Camilla couldn't answer right away since one of the crew was perfecting a scratch on her bottom lip.

"Actually, not really," she replied once they were both deemed fit for the camera and the stylists cleared the set. "I thought I would be, but I'm actually looking forward to this a little."

"Right?" Elsie exclaimed. "I never would've thought we'd actually get to work together like this."

Her excitement made Camilla smile a little. "I think it helps though, the fact that you're here," she said before realizing what she was saying. "It's... comforting."

At Camilla's words, Elsie smiled even more.

The first take of the first portion of the scene began shortly after. Pala played the first villain that would knock Elsie off her feet, and they sent a continuous blast of air straight for Elsie. From off-camera, Camilla generated a shield of water that Elsie pretended to be controlling, then dropped it as soon as the wire rig Elsie was wearing yanked her backwards and sent her sprawling on a cushioned mat, as if Pala's attack had broken through.

They ran through several more takes, occasionally switching up the elements used at the director's instructions, before moving on to the second part.

For this part, Elsie started from her sprawled-out position on the ground, this time without the cushioned mat and wire rig, and Pala flew at her as if to deliver the finishing blow. But just before Pala could make contact, Camilla sent out her own "attack," sending Pala flying in the opposite direction. Camilla stayed where she was for a moment, silently counting to three like she had been instructed, then jogged up to Elsie who was struggling to push herself upright.