#🌸 ~ stolen into hell verse ~ 🌸

[sylviareviar]

Stolen Into Hell - @silver-strings-of-fate

Dammit... Sylvia wanted to groan as she clutched her hot thermos close to her chest. If she could've afforded to miss school, she would've. But people were relying on her today. She still had to finish helping to renovate the old music room into another study room, and she'd promised the teachers she would. Plus, there were like, three tests she had to take, none of which she studied for on account of Teddie all but forcing her to sleep. She'd thought he was kidding when he was threatening not to leave until she fell asleep, but he really had stayed up until 2am with her. Who does that?!

A sweetheart who cares, that's who.

And now because of her difficulty falling asleep thanks to the pain in her throat, she had to attend school on less than four hours of sleep. Worse, being as sleepy as she was, noises that were just "loud" for her before suddenly started grating on her nerves in a way that became thrice as bothersome as it used to, meaning even with her headphones, the sounds of the city had her ears buzzing and she was already dizzy and on the verge of collapse the moment she entered Aoyama-Itchome station.

Though she knew she wasn't sick, she'd seen folks walking around the station while they were, and how they had face masks on to cover themselves in case they coughed. Her weird itchy, sandpaper-y, superdry throat disease was definitely not a cold-- she'd checked her temperature and listed off her symptoms, of which there was only one-- so she knew it wasn't contagious, but in the interest of not upsetting anyone and having to explain her situation, she wore a face mask anyway. It was just courtesy, after all.

She'd been about to walk up the steps, her movements sluggish, when a stranger bumped her from behind and knocked her into a wall. When she tried to mumble an apology, she barely caught herself before another coughing fit and slumped on the wall. She just... gave up. She needed a moment to rest. Just one moment of rest, and she'd be at school soon, where she could sit and doodle and answer the necessary questions.

...Teddie was going to freak when he found her dorm empty, wasn't he. Sylvia felt bad for that. But she couldn't bring herself to text him or let him know or anything, because in hindsight she should have done that, but she could barely think with all the world's noises swimming and folding around her, encroaching in her space and suffocating the life out of her.

Maybe I should just sit here and wait to die...

[sylviareviar]

"Indeed, indeed..." Luciela smiled, benign. "You seem rather young for a detective. To be honest, I'm quite surprised. To have been invited directly by the Angel... You must be rather well-known in your country."

Luciela did not ask the guest's name. She gave no indication of emotion on her face; only a plastered, practiced, poised smile and perfect posture. Beside the guest, Jester Teddie was eagerly eyeing a servant that passed by with a plate of desserts, not even hiding his own drool. The gold-adorned sister didn't bat an eye at him, leaving him to his devices.

"To have heard such high praise of the Saint's Wing from the Angel's perspective..." Luciela went on, her tone light and airy, perhaps even a bit haughty. "I do have to wonder what exactly she must have said. I haven't seen her in so long, after all... It is almost as though she ceases to exist the moment she steps foot here. Tell me, Detective-san, what is it that you've heard from her? I am eager to know more."

Clearly, these were Syvlia's siblings, her family, but why such ostentatious names? Why did their cognitions live in splendor while the Ruler literally carved pieces of herself for others' benefit? Regardless, it wasn't something she needed to ponder right now, as she placed as genial a smile as she could on her face. She placed an arm across the front of her waist as she bowed to the Reviar Sibling.

Although, it didn't escape her notice that two of the family members whispered to each other before walking off. She'd need to be cautious, now more than ever.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I'm but a humble detective, looking to take in the sights and splendors of the Saint's Wing. The Angel spoke most highly of it, and her words were clearly not lies."

This was a rare opportunity to see how these cognitions viewed their Ruler and the best way to glean clues about the Treasure.

"The Angel is such a sweet girl. Really, I often wonder if we're lucky to know her~"

[sylviareviar]

“Vi-chan! What happened?! What’s wrong?!” She appeared fine earlier, albeit quiet, but now something snapped. Teddie noticed she was much weaker all of a sudden.

He was invited over today. Earlier, he was excited to spend time with Sylvia. Now, however, he was panicked. Teddie slowly reached over to place a hand on her shoulder.

(In reference to the thread with Gogo)

She couldn't help crying. Really, she couldn't. Those who compared dry throats to sandpaper had zero clue just how bad it could really get. She could barely breathe, barely think, and all of it sprung painful tears to her eyes.

Her lungs burned. Her throat burned. The moment she tried to talk, she was crumpled in a heap on the floor, gasping for air, choking on nothing. She had an open bottle of water with her. It spilled into the plush carpet of her dorm room. Just taking a single sip of water had been painful. She knew she had to, but it just hurt too much. Swallowing hurt too much. She couldn't. Everything hurt. Everything hurt.

Fuck, she was so pathetic. Just a few days earlier, she'd excitedly planned a fun outing with Teddie. They were going to stroll through the city, maybe even buy some treats as they passed interesting-looking shops. After spending so long in the city, she was starting to slowly learn what to expect, and even the honking of cars wasn't as startling as it used to be anymore. She finally felt like she was doing something right.

Don't breathe. Don't think. Don't talk.

She had to stay quiet. She needed to survive. She was scared. It hurt. Everything hurt. She was pathetic. She was shaking and aching and painfully weak in front of Teddie, and there was nothing she could do about it.

She tried again, but to no avail. She hacked out her lungs again. God it hurt so bad. The friction of her throat walls was so dry and painful she was scared she'd draw blood if she coughed too much. Please don't draw blood. Please don't cough blood. If that happens, I'd have to go to a hospital. I can't go to a hospital.

[sylviareviar]

The Gods have been impatient of late. Perhaps it is time to offer them bigger sacrifices.

The Angel wanders through her Church, crimson drops trailing behind in her wake. Her wings were finally regrowing feathers, though the process was slow and arduous. No doubt when they fully re-bloomed, they would be plucked again, and the church would be filled with a new trend of angel feather pens, feathered caps, and even feathered robes. Such was the cycle.

Her vocal cords still hung suspended in midair in the chapel, and her voice echoed vastly, reaching even the darkest corners of the cathedral. The Angel's sleeves covered what was left of her wrists, dripping steadily. If she was not healed soon, she may bleed out, but somehow, that thought did not frighten her. Somehow, she looked at peace.

It was a selfish thing-- a selfish wish, and one she would surely pay greatly for if she brought voice to it in front of the gods. To long for death-- for escape-- when she should be grateful to them for allowing her to live for so long. Yet they miraculously forgot to seal her wrists to keep her from bleeding out, and for once, they did not force her to cry, to create diamonds for them to adorn themselves with. Instead, they left her be. Her vocal cords, and her newest offering--her hands--easily kept the gods entertained. For once, they seemed satisfied, if only for a little bit.

The gods were happy. Happy! Finally, it seemed like she'd done something right. She got her praise, her small crumbs of food, and she could feel that old joy welling up inside her again. That old pride, of having done something well, and wanting to show it off to someone. It was too bad there were no guests today. Perhaps they'd like an offering too. She felt more giving today. She wanted to give more.

[sylviareviar]

She didn't think about what she was doing when Teddie sat down and patted her back. It didn't do anything to cease her coughing, and she turned away from him as she did, her eyes brimming with tears, but when she finally managed to settle down again, she inaudibly groaned and leaned her head against his shoulder. She tested her throat in a whisper, but when she felt it closing up again, thought against it and gave up, resting against Teddie for a bit while he rubbed her back. In this, she hadn't the heart to tell him it wasn't doing anything for her throat. The physical contact helped her regardless. Yes, she was being selfish about this, but it was such a small thing. He didn't have to know, right?

His hand was warm on her back. He was warm, just in general. In a way that felt almost unlike other people, Teddie actually radiated heat. He probably didn't notice, but just being next to him, she felt her skin growing warm with the contact, and it wasn't just her crush. He really was like a human ball of sunshine.

Sometimes Sylvia tended to notice things about Teddie he didn't even notice about himself. Like how he had sharper fangs-- a fact that, when she pointed it out, he became a little self-conscious of, and ever since then, she didn't see his teeth as often. She hadn't meant to make him feel discouraged. If his teeth weren't hurting him, then that's all that mattered. Besides, it was kind of cute. Or, she noticed, how sometimes he seemed a bit more comfortable in his bear suit than out of it, how it was as equally a part of his identity as his real self. She could understand that, too. Sometimes it felt better to hide behind an avatar, like a picture on the Internet, or a bear suit. He also had better hearing and vision than her, and often he, more than anyone, understood how she felt when she was overwhelmed with noise.

When she noticed things like that, she ended up learning her lesson from the first time and mostly kept it to herself. If she pointed out too much, she was worried she'd come off as a bit creepy or something, or she'd create new insecurities for him without meaning to. Teddie wasn't infallible-- she knew that well. His worry now was evident, and knowing him as well as she did now, she believed he was just as gentle a soul as she was. The difference between them was how they'd taken life's hardships. Teddie did his best to stay positive. Sylvia wallowed in her fears and hated and blamed herself for everything she did wrong. Teddie helped others with a smile and was warm and kind. Sylvia wasn't in any state to help anyone anymore, and she felt cold and depressed.

Teddie had once referred to them both as "stars," and she didn't quite know what he meant. But if she were to take his analogy seriously, then Teddie was the sun, the closest star to the earth. He was warm in a way that was humanly impossible for anyone but him. And if she was a star, she was a shooting star. Pretty for the split second it explodes in the sky, before eventually dying out, never to be seen again.

Despair clawed at her throat, threatening to force her into another coughing fit, and so, begrudgingly, she finally had to pull away from Teddie for just a moment, to lean down into the box and rummage until she found a box of lozenges. She searched for the expiration date, though she probably wouldn't have to worry since it was bought just before she moved in, and when she was satisfied with what she read, she opened the box and popped one out of the tin foil packaging before putting it in her mouth.

The moment it touched her tongue, she wanted to vomit. God, she'd forgotten how horrid these things tasted, even though the packaging said "honey lemon" as its flavor, and her face twisted with pain and disgust as she attempted to swallow her lozenge-flavored spit down her throat anyway, knowing it would help. Already it was starting to numb her mouth a little, so she was just going to have to deal with the discomfort for a while, and thankfully she was quick to get used to the taste as she settled back on the bed beside Teddie.

Before she could think twice about it and hesitate, Sylvia returned to the position she was in before, her head resting on his shoulder, although this time she loosely wrapped her arms around his waist, a silent plea for him to stay. Her phone was laying discarded on the bed, and she couldn't talk without it in her hands. Maybe it was a little greedy, but she hoped that barrier would be sufficient to protect her from explaining her actions.

Teddie warm. Sylvia pain. That's all that mattered now.

Teddie will definitely need to ask Sylvia about where she was from someday. He's never been to any country besides this one and already each city seemed so drastically different. Inaba, Okina City, Tatsumi Port Island, Tokyo, each one was unique in its own way. Teddie enjoyed exploring each one. If Teddie can show Sylvia around Japan then perhaps she can show him around her country as well? Now there was another plan that made the bear smile.

"That means a lot to me, Vi-chan. Thank you bear-y much!" A soft grin accompanied his appreciation.

He would've continued on his current train of thought further, then Sylvia's next text arrived...Sylvia was sad most of the time? Teddie looked down at his phone in silence. Ever so slightly he pursed his lips as he read through her last four texts again. Outside the screen he noticed a faint blush on her cheeks but she didn't appear sad to him. Was there a deep sadness his friend was hiding from him?

"Vi-chan...are you...-"

Teddie rushed over to be closer to Sylvia's side as soon as she began to cough. Her pain, again, clear on her face. Looking ever closer as she held the tea he made, even that couldn't help with her woes. Teddie could recognize that tongue fanning anywhere as a sign of a tongue burn.

"Oh no! Was it the tea?! Did my tea make it worse?!" He made no attempt to hide the panic in his voice as he frantically looked between her and her small kitchen. Should he find a way to make the tea cooler? Putting it in the fridge could work but that'll take way too long and Sylvia needed it now. There was ice as well but he didn't know if her dorm room had any ice cubes. Then again, that also takes a little while and would dilute the tea.

Oh! If tea wasn't the answer then what was? More cough drops maybe...?

With no more options in his mind, Teddie went up to Sylvia before slowly sitting down on her bed next to her. He wrapped his arm over her then gently began massaging her upper back. This helped with coughing, right? Or was it nausea? Or chocking?

"I'm here for you. Whatever it is, I'm right here..."

[sylviareviar]

Her head was pounding. Nothing registered properly anymore. Someone was talking to her, but she couldn't ascertain who, and opening her eyes to a world of light filled her stomach with crawling dread.

She ignored whoever was talking to her in favor of lifting her mask a little and taking a sip of scalding tea, barely stopping when her tongue was scalded so much she could barely feel it at first. She could feel and hear everything. It was the noise that bothered her the most. Her headphones were almost about to slip off her head, but she was at least coherent enough to use a hand to stabilize them. Turning on music to drown everything out wouldn't help. It would only increase the cacophony. She learned that the hard way several times over during her stay.

She just needed a moment to regain her balance. She just needed some peace and quiet. Peace and quiet.

But she didn't have the energy to take out her phone and use text-to-speech to talk, nor did she have the energy to use the hiragana keyboard. So she remained unresponsive, silently apologizing to whoever was trying to get something from her in her head.

Mornings were, without a doubt, the worst thing ever. The last thing Ren wanted was to make himself get up while he was still half asleep, force some breakfast down his throat when he wasn't even hungry, only to end up staring out the window in class the entire day while the teachers repeated facts he already knew. If it wasn't for Morgana's little claws poking him out of bed, he would've probably tried to sleep in and ended up missing the train. Though maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing.

Caught up in his own woes, he almost didn't notice the figure slumped up against the wall. In fact, it was less the figure he noticed and more the way the crowd walked around it. Huh, well that was at least worth a peek, wasn't it?

"Reviar-san?" He said once he finally registered who exactly was on the ground. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

He reached into his bag, waking up its resident from his morning not-a-cat nap, and pulled out the first aid kit he always kept on hand. It was mostly for thief activities, but it could still be of use in the real world.

"Here, let me help."

[sylviareviar]

"Sure thing!" Cognitive Teddie beamed. "You must be a new guest, right? Welcome, welcome! Everyone here is welcome to enjoy themselves and have fun!" He twirled and posed, the bells on his jester hat jingling joyously. "This ball is a masquerade! People don't show their true faces here, because they simply don't want to, and that's okay! These masks are important walls, meant to protect the guests. Of course, that does make the Saint's job much harder..."

He wandered around, greeting other cognitions who beamed and smiled at him, entertaining other guests for just a moment before returning his attention to Gogo to ensure she was still following.

"This way, friend, this way!" he beamed. "I must introduce you to some of our most esteemed guests! Come, come!"

Dancing just beside the stairs was a small family of three. A very familiar family of three, if the pictures in Sylvia's dorm were anything to go by.

A young white-haired girl, about two years Sylvia's junior, was draped in a beautiful golden gown, her hair adorned with flowers and half-braided. Her freckled cheeks barely peeked out of the swan mask she wore, her eyes cunning and sharp, yet deceptively round and kind. She carried a yellow, fur-lined fan that covered her mouth and nose as she spoke. The way she carried herself, she may as well have been a haughty noble daughter or princess.

"Lucy-chan!" Teddie beamed. "Lucy-chan, come meet the new guest! She's never been to the Saint's Wing before, so I'm being a good bear and showing her around!" He puffed his chest out proudly as he said that.

The young noble girl, Lucy-- Sylvia's younger sister-- turned and appraised Gogo with her sky-blue gaze immediately, then politely lifted a few layers of her gown with one delicate, gloved hand, and curtsied to her.

"Welcome to the Saint's Wing, stranger," Lucy spoke, closing her fan and smiling. It was a guarded, polite smile, a perfect mask of concealment. "My name is Luciela Ester Reviar. Pleased to meet you." The cognition was clearly exaggerating her own name. Sylvia had told Gogo Lucy's real name before: Lucille. She had no middle name. Perhaps it had something to do with the rules of this place.

Behind her was her brother, who must've been around Gogo's age. He was dressed in a dark violet tuxedo with rhinestones resemblind stars strewn randomly across his body. Yet, around his waist was a beautiful sash of purple roses, from which billowed a lovely skirt. It was an amalgamation of masculinity and femininity. Like Lucy, Jack also had white hair, though it was much more unkempt and unruly, sticking out every which way. His face was framed with a dark moon mask.

Beside the boy was a tall, intimidating, bald black man in a pure white tuxedo. Adorned in angel feathers (they looked to be the same feathers as what little stayed attached to Shadow Sylvia's wings, though there was not a single drop of blood on them this time), the man all but towered over almost everyone else in the ballroom. His white butterfly mask highlit a sharp, harsh glare as he stared down at the guest before him.

The brother subtly gestured to the man beside him and whispered in his ear. The man nodded and together, the two slipped away, leaving Lucy to attend to the guest.

Gogo observed the door for a long moment before entering. Was this her and the Phantom Thieves going up against each other? Was this the opinion had about their rivalry. Despite the sinister grins of the Thieves in this depiction, both sides seemed to be portrayed gallantly, like great respect was paid to both sides.

Did this speak to indecisiveness? Or a genuine effort to see the good of both sides?

there's nothing good about me--

Either way, it was clear she respected both Gogo's public persona and the Thieves. But she was not here to merely admire the artwork. She pushed open the door...

It was...absolutely breathtaking here.

Far from the oppressive atmosphere of the cathedral, away from all the false gods and stifling doctrine of a supposed holy place, was a place where people danced with joy, talk with one another, and take in the sights. But why was Shadow!Sylvia not allowed here?

Maybe the real Sylvia felt she had to deprive herself of the genuine pleasures of the world? Why else would the false gods tell her to stay away and she, The Ruler, listen to them? Or, in most likely was the case, she envied the freedom of others, and felt powerless to have her own.

God, she hated how she could relate to that--

"Teddie? You're meant to be Teddie, right?"

She was just surprised Sylvia even knew Teddie. How did they even meet up? And why was Cognition bearing his likeness here?

It was still, obviously, a cognitive being, but at least this one didn't seem to pretend that it was a god. Still, she was meant to be sneaking in, and it kinda floored her when no-one seemed to bat an eye at her appearance. Cognitive!Teddie was the only one so far to acknowledge her. Still, if he was ignorant of her true purpose here, she best keep it that way for now.

"I've never been to the Saint's Wing before. Could you show me around? I think I'd get lost otherwise~"

[sylviareviar]

The guest. She was still here. Why was she still here? She should be enjoying the offering. Or escaping. The gods would surely smite her for her insolence...

Why did she feel relieved to see her? Was this a trick? Was she going to use her, too? For some reason, she didn't think so. For some reason, despite the sharp blades covering the woman's body, and the dark shadows she cloaked herself in... she felt safe. Warm. Different. Perhaps she was salvation itself. What a blasphemous thought.

When she opened her mouth to speak, nothing came out. Nothing but the blood dribbling down her chin, staining her black robes. Who was she kidding? Black wasn't stainable. The black would eat away her blood, as it always did. No matter how soaked it was, her robes remained firm. It was almost suffocating.

It was how she lived up until now.

In lieu of a response, she shook her head. Rebel? The last thing she wanted was to rebel. All she wanted was to survive. To live. To be herself. She couldn't help it when she broke rules. Those rules were never explained to her. Yet, it was always her fault for not picking up on them sooner. It always was. The Gods were always right. The Gods knew all.

A child like her could never understand. Children never had power; never would. Children weren't allowed to correct grown-ups. It was an ingrained rule.

DON'T NOTICE. It was a rule plastered all over the church walls, though the paint was fading away by now. She ought to re-paint the walls, lest she forget the preachings. DON'T NOTICE. Roughly translated from Russian, it meant "don't point out [an adult's] mistakes". How would she translate that from Russian to English to Japanese...?

Sucking her finger into her mouth, the little angel turned her back to the brick wall she had been leaning against. Her wings, still slightly bleeding, had left a few loose feathers on the wall. It was barely noticed by her as a common occurrence. She began to write, her blood the ink of choice.

DO NOT CORRECT.

She shouldn't write more. Not with how much blood she was losing. But that didn't really answer any questions, did it...? Still, there was one more thing she had to do. If the stranger was truly serious about this, then...

She pushed past the guest and felt up another brick wall. This time, she marked three specific bricks with her blood. On the wall beside it, she wrote out a word in English: SAFE.

Too weak to keep moving, she crumpled to her knees and hid back in her little corner, trembling. Her head was bowed, face buried in her knees. White hair crept into the roots of her pink head. She was hopeless. There would be no more answers from her.

...

What the fuck did she just witness!?

She didn't even know what effect this would have on Sylvia's self in reality, just the unbridled gory spectacle before her almost has Gogo retching. Not that she was unfamiliar with gore and viscera, not in her line of work, but just the oppressive aura this scene created. They looked at the magically singing cords ravenously, uncaring that the person they had extracted them from had run away. They really didn't care for their so-called Angel, once they had taken what they wanted from her.

Wretches, the lot of them...

And it was stupidly easy to follow after the fleeing girl, the fake deities too occupied with asking their grisly prise to sing for them. Gogo took a small level of satisfaction from crushing the diamonds under her heels, as she followed their trail to a small room behind the altar.

She looked so small. She closed the door behind her, blocking out the majority of the noise coming from outside...

"Aren't you sick of this? Don't you want to rebel?"

She wanted to know that before she asked about the Treasure...

[sylviareviar]

Disney_Princess: ASL is american sign language

Disney_Princess: and i agree

Disney_Princess: i wanna learn more abt the world too

Disney_Princess: thats why i came to japan tbh

Disney_Princess: also bc it fascinated me. language, culture and all. i love the japanese anime art styles so i was hoping to learn more abt that

Disney_Princess: if i can expand my artistic repertoire while im here, id like to

Disney_Princess: also japan is just cool. like in general.

Disney_Princess: i like to think everything has the potential to be inspiring.

Disney_Princess: any place, any person, anyTHING, any experience

Disney_Princess: like ive definitely found myself inspired by you a lot fr

Disney_Princess: uve been rlly inspiring and happy and just. overall so overwhelmingly positive that even i cant stay sad forever

Disney_Princess: and im super sad like. most of the time lmao

Disney_Princess: so uh. just.

Disney_Princess: thank you

Disney_Princess: so much

As she finished typing, her fingers growing more and more hesitant with each passing message, she finally set her phone down and occupied both her hands with her lovingly made tea, though the blush on her freckled cheeks was something she struggled to hide, even after looking away. Eventually, she couldn't hold it in anymore. She had to cough.

And god did it burn. In just a few moments, she was approaching tears again, desperately gasping for breath. When she finally managed to inhale normally again, she took several more gulps of her tea. Unfortunately, she drank the tea so fast that it scalded her tongue, to the point she couldn't even feel it burning for a hot second.

When it hit, she fanned her tongue and reached for the water, but then she hesitated. Swallowing still hurt. Drinking water still hurt. What was she meant to do in this situation?

Another round of giggles was earned from Sylvia’s small bows towards Teddie’s amazing tea. In fact, he held his head high and grinned as big as he could. Hear, ye! Hear, ye! The sweetest tea in the world has arrived to sooth all pain! He was confident that Sylvia could feel all the care he placed onto this tea. A special blend made of the herbs in the bag, honey, and his love for her and her well-being. It was never long until Teddie began to create a sense of deep love for those around him. An ocean filled with love of all kinds!

As he felt the vibration from his pants pocket he knew it was phone time again. He picked it up with a smile and began reading what news his friend had for him. Impromptu learning was always appreciated when the topic was fun. All of the signs are being catalogued away in the bear’s inner language center. This will surely go to great use someday.

“What’s ASL?” He raised his head momentarily to ask his question before returning to the screen of his cell.

For someone so modest, Sylvia knew a lot of signs. Those looked like enough for a full conversation. For fun, he waved as she explained hello. Then the lovely Sylvia moved on to her next sign. Each letter was easy and Teddie created them all on his first try. ILY...I love you. Without meaning to, a faint splash of pink came over Teddie's cheeks. Even if she was only showing the bear another sign she knew it felt good to hear the phrase in his mind. I love you. When was the last time anyone told Teddie these words? The Hanamura's, perhaps? His friends make sure to compliment Teddie and tell him how much they appreciate him as much as they could but...it would be nice if someone told him they loved him wholeheartedly...

I...L...Y

"So much of this world is fascinating. The infinite sea letting us enjoy the beach, bugs making so much noise during the summer, it's all so beautiful. Even a tiny, little word can hold so much!" The blonde looked towards Sylvia. His face held a small smile and his blue eyes didn't necessarily sparkle but there was a certain aura of maturity to them. At this time, he was content.

"I'd like to keep learning more about the world."

[sylviareviar]

The young Palace ruler's golden eyes widened in surprise. Her greatest Treasure...?

"Would that I knew..." she sighed. "The gods do not deem me worthy of my Treasure, so they have kept it hidden away from me. I live in service to all. If what you truly desire is my Treasure, I would gladly bestow it unto you. But..."

Voices began to echo through the catacombs, making Shadow Sylvia stiffen in alarm.

"Where is the Great Offering?!"

"Find it at once! Bring it to the altar!"

"Some angel, rebelling against us like this!"

"Don't blame her; she was stolen from us! She doesn't know better."

"Right. Find the thief!"

Shadow Sylvia shuddered and trembled, her eyes blown wide in alarm. "T-the gods are angry... They are angry with me. I need to go back, I must--" She scrambled to her feet and dashed for the door, but paused and glanced back at the stranger. "Y-you must escape. They'll slaughter you if they find you! I will tend to the gods. M-may you be safe and well..."

Before she could hear the stranger's response, she booked it out the door, running out into the catacombs. If she could make it just a bit farther, maybe she could cover the guest's escape. "I-- I'm here!" she called to the gods, who were on higher alert than usual. "My lords, p-please forgive me! I-I just barely managed to escape..."

A few gods had been wandering the corridors and they all breathed hearty sighs of relief, crowding around the young Shadow and patting her on the head, praising her.

"You did well to escape."

"We will protect you from here."

"Find the thief! Find the selfish devil!"

Devil... Now that she thought about it, that is what the stranger called herself. Shadow Sylvia prayed she was alright, though. She didn't seem like a devil. She might have looked frightening, but it seemed like she really did care about her.

"Come," one of the gods told the young Shadow. "Return with us to the altar."

"Y-yes, my lord," Shadow Sylvia nodded, bowing her head. "T-thank you..."

"Ah, I see..."

So, Sylvia was autistic. It certainly explained a few things, even if she was still a little ignorant of the greater details of the other woman's condition. And despite how gauche it would have been to compare her reality with that of an autistic person, Gogo could feel some similarities...

Just by virtue of being born into the world, you were a player in a game where the rules weren't explained but everyone acted on the assumption that you knew them. And if you were an odd piece, you were blamed for it, despite no efforts on their part to explain what you did wrong. Or they judged you, even if you did nothing wrong.

And what was worst were the evil people who said they would help you, because, by some miracle, your unique existence provided some boon to them. But they would throw you away when you stopped providing that. It would eventually happen to Sylvia...

...and it would eventually happen to her...

Something about this whole situation was forcing Gogo to be honest with herself; She could no longer deny that Sylvia's relationship with who these 'gods' represented was exactly like her relationship with Shido. Because really, Gogo could no longer think of compelling evidence to suggest that Shido would finally acknowledge her when he fell. Or that he wouldn't get rid of her if she rebelled...

She needed help, just like Sylvia needed help.

"...Take me to your Treasure."

She knew from watching the actual Thieves that they needed to find where the Treasure was, something about Securing a Route. She should at least know that before taking care of her own problems...

[sylviareviar]

!!!

S-she was... being pet. Her hair got tangled in the guest's gauntlet and tugged on her scalp a little, but... despite the cold metal and tangles, it was gentle, and sweet... The young Shadow swallowed some blood and leaned into the guest's hand, until she pulled away all too soon.

Right. She was here for her Greatest Treasure. Shadow Sylvia just hoped she wouldn't be disappointed when it turned out to be ugly and warped. If only she could come with her, but alas, the young Shadow knew this was a journey she needed to make alone. If she joined her, the ballroom ahead would only be dark and decrepit, just like the rest of the church. Her presence would taint what lied ahead.

The angel watched her guest disappear into the darkness. Soon it would be time for her to be called upon again. She'd best dry her tears and stand back up. If she ran out of things to offer the Gods, they might lose their need for her. She couldn't let that happen.

What greeted Gogo as she descended the lengthy, dark, stone-cold stairwell was a dimly lit hallway and a pair of dark stone doors engraved with caricatures depicting sunlight and beauty. On one door was a prince, extending his blade across to the other side, standing high atop his castle. On the other was a set of seven shadow-like beings, standing opposite with menacing grins. At the top, in the middle of both doors, was a massive star, or perhaps it was the sun, with another figure praying inside. It seemed the door itself was a mural, depicting the battle between a prince and phantom thieves.

Beyond the door was a grand ballroom, glimmering in golden light. Guests milled about wearing fancy dresses and tuxes, their faces covered with intricate masks. Food and drinks covered tables on either end of the ballroom, while the middle was completely open for anyone to dance. Orchestral music swelled in the room, the walls were covered in murals and mosaics and marble pillars held up a massive balcony at the end of the room, where a royal throne stood tall at the end of the hall, empty of a prince.

Not a single person looked twice at Gogo, too busy talking to one another and laughing haughtily about one thing or another. Despite being underground, the ballroom's ceiling curved into a dome littered with stars and black stone. Glittering glass teardrops, angels, and stars hung suspended from the ceiling, surrounding an enormous, intricate glass chandelier. The way it was made, it could withstand the weight of several people, suspended on multiple ends. The corners of the dome also had plenty of spots to hide in the shadows, blindspots littered all over the rim of the ceiling.

Truly, something out of a fairy tale. The moment Gogo attempted to step forward, however, a strangely familiar voice chirped up from behind her, having somehow arrived completely undetected.

"Hiya! Welcome to the Saint's Wing! What can I do for ya?"

It was a voice of infectious cheer and laughter. A voice of positivity and hope and brightness. Behind the new guest, a cognitive version of Teddie, clad in a bear suit adorned in a jester suit and beautiful jewels, was dancing and greeting her with a bright smile.

Gogo hummed thoughtfully, noting the bloody marks she'd need to press. She would have to be alone here, as even the Palace Ruler had never stepped past this point. But before she would do that...

"Once I confirm a route to your Treasure, I will leave and send a Calling Card to your Real Self. I will... endeavor to be quick. Hold on, until then..."

And, despite herself, she reached a gauntlet-covered hand to pet the Ruler's hair. She felt extremely awkward doing it, as Gogo was unused to giving such gentleness. But she hoped it would convey the comfort she wanted to give. And then she got up, turning on her heel to press the correct bricks in the correct order. The Ruler had used her blood to do so, after all.

A yawning, dark chasm of stairs widened before her, and she almost felt something was trying to get her to not take those steps.

But she would not falter.

The click of her golden heels resounded and echoed throughout the darkness as she descended, prepared to greet whatever may come.

[sylviareviar]

Please. It was such a simple word, one that veiled many demands of the Gods behind her. "Please" give me your heart. "Please" give me your wings. And that was only if they ever remembered to use it, merely out of politeness more than anything.

Hearing it used as a genuine plea, though... An earnest plea, facing the guest who knelt to her eye level-- a guest who lowered herself to the rotten angel, who was certainly beneath her in every way.

A guest who, Shadow Sylvia knew, didn't deserve to be in her presence, yet graced her with her company anyway. She knew it was only because she wanted something-- that was nothing new to her. Yet, unlike those other Gods... Unlike anyone she's ever met in her life before, she felt wanted. Not only because she had something the guest wanted, but because, as a Shadow, she knew what it meant when someone wanted her Greatest Treasure.

Her Desires would be stolen. The core of the church would crumble and fall. She would return to her Real Self. And yet, she and her Real Self were so scared. Scared of losing this, because losing this church meant she would no longer be an Angel, she wouldn't be Nice anymore, wouldn't be Good or Pure or Heavenly. If her Palace was stolen away from her, then what would be left of her? She would be forced to learn to pick up the pieces of her broken self-identity, and she may grow uncomfortably comfortable with her anger once more. She would throw fits like a child and attack anyone who wronged her. She would hurt people, and then get hurt hurting them.

Isn't it better to hurt yourself than to hurt others? Isn't it?

The Shadow knew her Real Self better than She knew Herself, though. She knew She was sick of this. She knew She was in pain. It hurt. It hurt, so badly, to keep going like this. And She, despite Her internal acceptance of her imminent demise, was still scared of death.

For the sake of her Real Self, Shadow Sylvia needed to give up her Greatest Treasure. For the greater good, she must make the Ultimate Sacrifice.

A trembling finger lifted and pointed to the stone wall. In the order she'd marked them: one, two, and three. Each marked brick needed to be pushed further inside the wall, and the guest would be greeted with a hidden stairway leading deep, deep underground. Deeper even than the catacombs connected to the wells and vents within the Palace.

Her Greatest Treasure, Shadow Sylvia had surmised over the time she had been here, must've been hidden somewhere in the depths of the Saint's Wing, hidden deep underground.

Do Not Correct.

Gogo could get the vague gist; Adults made the rules, because, 'naturally' they would know better, by virtue of age and experience. Allegedly. But, unfortunately, that never really was the case in practice. One gets set in their ideas, and even if someone, say, a young child were to point out any flaws, they were wrong. Because the system worked fine up until now. Why would it need to change? Times have changed? Do people need a new way of doing things?

No, they haven't.

No, they don't...

And of course, especially in Sylvia's case, if her thoughts about her cognitive condition were correct, she just needed a different way to approach the world, patience, and understanding. But the world rarely, if ever, gave her that.

...Wow, she really was getting mushy the more she witnessed this girl's situation.

But there was a literal time crunch here. Sylvia's Shadow may heal on the Palace if she gleaned correctly from the fake gods, but it would have disastrous effects on her real body. She wouldn't be surprised if the girl got a sudden case of aphonia.

She needed to act fast.

She knelt down, placing a hand on the Shadow's shoulder.

"Please, Sylvia, tell me where your treasure is..."

An earnest request, not a demand...

[sylviareviar]

Sylvia's face reddened just a little when Teddie checked her temperature. She knew she was the one who brought it up, but she'd meant with a thermometer or something. She'd always struggled with telling someone's temperature in comparison to her own, anyway.

Teddie had always been louder and more expressive than most of his Japanese peers. As someone who struggled controlling her own volume in public sometimes-- either too quiet or too loud-- Sylvia could relate immensely. For him, working as a mascot gave him a good, reasonable outlet to be loud. Mascots were expected to put on a show and gather customers. Usually they were mute when they did it, which is what made Teddie unique as Junes' icon.

Yet somehow he still managed to surprise her. Or maybe it wasn't so surprising, that he caught her off guard like he did. Teddie didn't seem to think anything more of it when he pulled his hand away, so she shoved aside her anxiety and focused more on the pain in her throat. It was the better alternative.

As soon as Teddie read the words she sent him, he sprang to his feet and spouted reassurances. She felt guilty relying on him like this. Like she was weighing him down with her issues, especially since he seemed so anxious before. Of course he was anxious. It must've looked like she was dying, clawing at her throat so desperately and crying as she did, coughing her lungs out. She couldn't stop fits of painful coughs from rattling her ribcage and shaking her to the core.

Once she caught her breath again, she pointed shakily at the little kitchenette corner of her dorm, then began typing out messages.

Disney_Princess: i have tea on the bottom shelf on the left

Disney_Princess: use the black tea

Disney_Princess: i dont have a lot of honey tho. need to buy more. some folks like tea with honey so i buy it to offer to guests. its not enough to get me through a sick episode, but it is enough for a cup or two.

Disney_Princess: might not be safe for me to go out like this tbh... i cant buy the honey myself, but i think itll be fine if you use my card. its in my wallet in my purse.

Disney_Princess: im sorry for all this... i really am </3

A deep exhale was taken as his shoulders finally began to relax. This is what he wanted to see again, her precious smile. Even with tears in her eyes she still held the strength to smile back at him. Teddie could hold her close right now, gently rubbing her back in an innocent wish that he could make her feel better on his own somehow. But for now he was satisfied with her sweet, beautiful smile. He smiled back, too, as he moved a lock of hair away from his face.

Teddie looked down at his phone and read all of her messages as they came through. Good, at least now she can communicate how she's feeling to him. Progress was being made! He seemed to be correct that her throat was the only problem but he's never seen anyone's throat hurt so much that even water couldn't be taken without any pain.

"It's no trouble at all. I'm always happy to help a friend, no matter what!" Teddie exclaimed the last part proudly at a volume he had yet to reach today, "Bear's honor!"

At Sylvia's mention of checking for a fever, Teddie placed his palm on her forehead. It was true that she had no sign of a high temperature but it was still good to check, just in case. He still remembered how his Sensei felt during his fever and this was nowhere close.

"I don't feel a fever..."He reported while removing his hand.

Reading Sylvia's next text filled the bear with more drive again. He nodded as soon as he finished reading it. Yes! Tea sounded like a great idea for a sore throat! Her not being able to drink water didn't exactly set a good precedent, but the bear still had to try something.

"OK! No better way to help a sore throat than warm tea. You stay here, Vi-chan, and I'll make you the best honey tea in the world." He made a rainbow above his head using both hands, "If you need anything, just text. I'll be back before you know it!" Teddie stored his phone back in his back pocket.

[sylviareviar]

She looked through the first aid kit Teddie brought back to the bed. He gave her some cold medicine. She looked over the list of symptoms it helped with. She knew it wasn't a cold. The only symptom was her painfully dry, horribly scratchy absolutely miserable throat. She had no fever, no chills, not even a runny nose. Nothing else (panic didn't count).

Still, it was better than nothing. The bottle Teddie handed her was one for a runny nose. She pushed it back in the first aid kit and fished out a small bottle of painkillers and an other bottle of cold medicine. God, how she hated taking pills, but it was the best solution she had at the moment. She glared at her end table in contempt, as though staring at the water bottle on it would make it go down any less painfully. But she had no choice. She needed to do this. It hurt so bad.

With practiced ease, she untwisted the bottle caps and, after reading the instructions, took the proper recommended dosage. Two painkiller pills, one cold pill. First the cold pill. The water sloshed painfully down her throat, but she willed her cough down until she swallowed, so it wouldn't go flying out of her mouth.

It burned. It burned and stung like a salve on an open, gaping wound. It felt wrong.

Tears sprung to her eyes, but she gasped and swallowed and let it burn. Let it burn. It wouldn't burn forever, so let it burn for now.

Bravely, shakily, she took the second pill. With fits of gasping and coughing and fighting in between each painful gulp of water (water was supposed to be helpful, why wasn't it helping--) she finally took all three pills. Whining miserably, she finally unwrapped a cough drop and popped it into her mouth. It was painful to swallow now, as if she was trying to eat a rock each time. But she did, because swallowing would help. She desperately hoped the cough drop would work. It tasted gross and nasty, so it had better.

It hurt.

Sylvia’s attempts at assurance did nothing for the bear. She shook her head, something that Teddie took as an attempt to calm his anxieties, but her condition was not any better. Was she trying to make him feel better? Why would he feel any better when his friend was clearly in pain? It was already too late to spare his own emotional toll.

Those violent coughs were worse than any he’s heard before. None of his friends ever coughed this hard while they held a yearly cold. He didn’t know it was possible for a human to hold so much coughing power in their lungs! Her throat must be burning right now, Teddie knows his would. That could be his next move, finding something to calm her throat.

He stopped looking around the room as he felt a light tug on his sleeve. As she suffered through another coughing fit, she pointed him towards the closet near the door. Teddie had considered opening closets and drawers yet still hesitated. This wasn’t his home to look around in. But…Sylvia’s pointing counted as permission, right?

Teddie merely nodded before walking off to the closet. Even if he asked what was inside he wouldn’t receive an answer. At first, only clothing, accessories, umbrellas, cleaning supplies…Then, up at the closet’s highest shelf, he found a first aid kit!

“Finally! Found it!” His first shout of joy. A smile came over him as he felt his shoulders relax from their stiff position. Something in here could help Sylvia! Or…at least for now until…

When he opened the kit, he ignored the bandages and let his eyes go straight for the bottles and other small containers. Teddie picked one up and was shocked to see foreign letters. Judging by the recognizable words, it was in English. So Sylvia was a foreigner? Switching gears in his mind, he looked for the word “cough” on the bottles for some cold medicine. To their favor, there was also a small bag of cough drops inside. For now, Sylvia should feel better with this, Teddie hoped.

“Vi-chan, I found some cold medicine and cough drops! You’ll feel better with this.” Teddie made sure he at least had a small grin on his face while handing over the cold medicine. Afterwards, he took a few wrapped cough drops out of the bag and left them on her bedside table.

Once she’s taken the medicine, though, what should Teddie do now? Should he wait and see how she feels afterwards? It’s too early for food but a hot beverage could help with a sore throat and cough.

[sylviareviar]

When she tried to speak, it only made her coughing worse. It hurt, really it did. But literally no other part of her was in pain. She was fine. She was fine! So why was she panicking so hard? Why was she crying?! Wasn't this counterproductive?

Stop whining. Stop sniffling. You're such an immature brat. Just deal with it like everyone else does. You're causing a scene for nothing.

Right. She was just being dramatic. The pain in her throat was dramatic. The tightening of her chest and the tears welling in her eyes and the snot welling in her nose because what if she was suffocating, what if this was the end-- All of it was just her being dramatic.

Teddie was panicking next to her. His voice was shaking. Could he tell? Had she accidentally tricked him, too? Had she bothered him and made him think it was worse than it really was? Surely he would notice soon that she wasn't actually in pain. That she was just being a drama queen, just like everyone said.

She tried to shake her head, and assure him she was fine. But the moment her vocal cords tried to vibrate, she sent herself into another fit of coughing, this time more violent and painful than the last. Muted by her own weakness, she was guided onto the bed, though she refused to put her feet under the covers. She wasn't sick. It was just her throat, nothing else. She didn't know what this was, but she wasn't incapable of movement. She wasn't.

Yet swallowing her own saliva shot pins and needles through her entire larynx, and though she could still breathe, she could feel her air passage had gotten swollen and was thinner than usual. What was this feeling? Why did it hurt so much? She'd never had anything like this before. She needed to write down the symptoms. Maybe someone would have some kind of answer. Maybe...

Another coughing fit. First thing's first, she needed to get something to soothe her throat. Grasping at the fabric of Teddie's sleeve, she pointed shakily at one of the closets beside the dorm room door. Inside were outdoor clothes and shoes, where she sometimes hung her umbrellas and rain or snow coats, as well as scarves, hats, and cleaning supplies. Up at the top, though, was a rather large first-aid kit, where she kept everything from medicine to bandages in case she got hurt but didn't need to see a doctor. Most of what she had were over-the-counter medicines from the United States, bottles with English text on them. Her prescribed medicines were kept on her bedside table, to be taken as per her prescription.

She hoped she stocked up on cough drops.

@sylviareviar Continued From Here

Why?! Why must this happen to him again?!

A silver-haired teen collapsed at the bottom of the stairs. A single step was all it took for weeks of stress to take him down. His forehead red with a high fever while he gasped for air. No one else lived in the house at the time. Except, of course, for Teddie. How funny it was in its own cruel way that the only non-human in the group would be entrusted with the health of a human.

Yet…here he was again. Another friend fell onto the floor in front of the blonde. Sylvia couldn’t even utter the small words Yu could, all she could do was cry as she held onto her pain.

He knelt down on the dorm floor as soon as Sylvia fell. At this closeness the blonde could see tears fall to the carpet along with the spilt water bottle. None of his questions received any response. Fears flowed through his mind. She wasn’t talking! Has she fainted?! No! He could feel her breathing as he instinctively enveloped her in a protective hug. Teddie’s arms lightly wrapped around her. For now, it was something.

Frantically, his eyes looked around Sylvia’s dorm room. Every so often he found an object to identify in his mind. As he started hyperventilating through his nose this helped him stay grounded in reality. Not too long he was breathing fast enough to make himself a little dizzy. He paid it no mind. What mattered was finding something to help Sylvia. When a friend was sick or hurting, it was the star’s job to be their emotional wall to lean against. Teddie had to be strong right now.

He couldn’t find any medicine on any furniture. The blonde’s head turned relentlessly without any time to stop, hoping that this time he’ll find something new. He had to! If this happened before maybe there’s a clue here?! Or maybe anything useful?! If he didn’t act now then Sylvia will-Oh! Right…he wasn’t looking at Sylvia…

Teddie looked toward his friend in pain with his own desire to cry. No, be a strong bear and keep in your tears…He couldn’t leave her on the floor like this. For now, that’ll be his first step.

“Vi-chan…! Hang on to me. I’ll take you to your bed. You…probably need rest right now!” How much he hoped rest was the solution.

Even if Sylvia couldn’t move, Teddie was strong enough to carry her to her bed if necessary. Once she’s safe and warm he’ll try to think about what to do.

[sylviareviar]

"Arise, Great Offering! Sing to us your greatest hymn yet!"

Shadow Sylvia opened her mouth to sing, her voice echoing through the chambers in a high, melodic soprano. The song had no words, but it fluctuated in pitches as though traveling up and down a series of glorious mountains, then dipping into the greatest valleys before peaking again. The song itself must've been foreign, and well-practiced, too, because her voice had the power to capture the gods' attention, silencing them as though they were in some kind of hypnotic trance.

The god at the altar made a conscious effort not to fall under her spell, however, and the longer she sang, the brighter his knife began to glow a heavenly silver-gold. Soon, from the tip of his knife, a thin tether of light formed, snaking its way directly into her mouth and creating a golden glow from the back of her throat. Shadow Sylvia gagged, but she kept singing. She couldn't stop now, even if she wanted to, and gods did she not want to. If they wanted her voice, they could have it. Anything to appease her gods.

When the light snagged what it was after, the young Ruler choked on her own voice, which pitched higher again, growing in intensity and emotion. And then, as a brilliant showing for all, the god yanked his ceremonial knife back, jerking Sylvia's entire body forward and harshly tugging the tether back out of her mouth. The music never stopped, though. A glowing ball of light escaped the Shadow Ruler's lips, and glowing inside them were severed vocal cords, freshly bleeding, but still forcefully singing. The Shadow Ruler's mouth pooled red with blood, and she silently choked on it behind the leading god, her body wracking with violent coughs and tears.

Despite the sound of her choking echoing through the chamber, the gods' attention was on the glowing, gorey vocal cords floating in the air, singing endlessly. The moment they left the girl's lips, the gods erupted in excited cheers, then hushed once more to continue listening all the way through.

Finally, when the song ended, the gods cheered and applauded in a standing ovation. The leader of the ceremony unlocked Sylvia's cuffs and allowed her to go free. The moment she could, she desperately bowed and fled the room, leaving the gods to celebrate. They called out tricks to the floating vocal cords, forcing them to do as they commanded.

"Sing Kalinka!"

"Sing the national anthem!"

"Sing my favorite pop song!"

The gods traded around their new toy, dancing jovially and laughing to each other, manifesting wine glasses and celebrating.

It was too loud for Sylvia. Too loud. The storm outside the church, which had once been raining overwhelmingly, began thundering uncontrollably. The noise got louder and louder, and even the thick walls of the church, which had before nearly muted the hurricane on the island, could barely muffle them now. But the gods didn't even notice. They were too busy drowning in their own greed.

A trail of angel tears-turned-diamonds led out the door of the main room, leading all the way around to a small entrance underneath a grand set of stairs, where she hid in a back room just behind the altar, where the gods celebrated on the other side of the wall. This was her secret spot. The gods typically left her alone here. Not always, but mostly. Her safe little hiding space.

She cried, wiping away the blood in her mouth.

And sure enough, from the conversation she gleaned, it seemed these gluttonous deities wasted no time in asking for another offering. Like getting a reward for doing the bare-minimum. She waited until the fake gods had gone off with the Ruler before going after them herself. But soon, she'd lost sight of them.

"Goddamn it, where the hell is--"

Then, on the very edge of her hearing, she heard...a speech?

She could only follow it for a little while before stopping dead behind an opulent-looking piece of pottery. Whatever was going on, it was coming from a room where there were guards stationed. She was even willing to bet her entire Moon Sailor collection that the other entrances were just as guarded.

"...Shit..."

She glanced at the wall, eyes zeroing in on the decorative marble linings that would be good for climbing. And just her luck, that the guards were concentrating their gazes right in front of them! So she whisked herself away from her hiding place, far from the attention of said guards, and found her way to an area where she could land.

She looked through the large window-like gap. A large, ornate bell hung from the ceiling, over a mass of--

Sylvia!!!

The Ruler was presented for all to see, like an execution, and she was too late, she could only watch--