By the time Aria had reached Sapphire, Sapphire had already been at the studio for quite a while. Aria knocked on the door… with her head by accident.
“Wow, someone hasn't been eating all their Wheaties,” said Sapphire Shores.
Aria tried to say something, but couldn't find a place in all the heavy breathing she needed to do.
“You alright?” said Sapphire Shores, “Uh, why don’t you come on in and lie down on the couch?”
Before she could answer, Aria passed out in front of her.
Sapphire grabbed Aria, tried to carry her inside and laid her onto the couch.
Aria eventually came to, she was a bit confused as to why she was on a couch but decided to think about that after the hurting stopped. She was in a relatively small room, at the doorway stood a guard. Sapphire Shores was crouching right beside her.
“Here,” said Sapphire Shores as she handed Aria a glass of water.
Aria just stared at it for a moment.
“It’s for drinking, kid,” said Sapphire Shores, “I’m sure you've done it before.”
There was a drawn out pause before either of them said anything.
“...Right,” said Aria, eventually.
Aria took the glass and brought it up to her face. She tried to drink, but she accidentally got some to start going down to the path of her lungs. A frantic bout of coughing ensued, Aria instinctively needed to ensure her airway was clear. The coughing went on until she had gotten all of the water, and some of her inner throat fluids, outside of her.
“Oh dang, you okay?” said Sapphire Shores, eyes wide.
“Blerg... It’s fine,” said Aria, “I’m used to breathing water.”
Sapphire Shores only raised an eyebrow at that.
It was then that Aria noticed that the glass was on the floor.
Broken in a million pieces, as glass tends to do when dropped on the floor. Water had also gotten everywhere.
Aria let out an expletive.
“What?” said Sapphire Shores, casually.
Aria didn't say anything to that. She had a look of disapproval on her face, but that was nothing out of the ordinary.
“Oh,” said Sapphire Shores when she looked down and saw what happened to the glass, “Watch your step when you get off the couch then.”
Aria looked at her questioningly but decided to think nothing of it. She carefully got up, more carefully when she noticed something.
“Where are my boots?” said Aria Blaze.
“Pff,” said Sapphire Shores, “Hey, it’s a really nice couch that I have here. Don’t want anyone to lay down on it with their shoes on.”
Aria looked at the couch. It seemed nice and all, but it didn't look like anything special to her.
“They’re over there,” said Sapphire Shores.
As Aria was retrieving and putting back on her boots, something occurred to her.
“When did you hear me sing?” said Aria Blaze.
“I was in the audience for that community fundraiser. I clapped for you, first one to do that even,” said Sapphire Shores.
Aria scowled.
“It was you!” said Aria, “You’re the one ruined my plan!”
Aria tried to jump Sapphire, but she was quickly stopped by the doorway guard’s intimidation.
Aria knew that she wouldn't be able to do anything in a fight, so she had to settle for glaring at her tormentor.
“...Plan?” said Sapphire Shores.
“I never want to sing again,” said Aria Blaze, “but I keep feeling the urge to use it.”
Sapphire Shores was confused by how she phrased it, but decided to pay it no mind.
“I was going to finally be free of it, having to sing with my horrible singing voice, but you had to make the audience cheer for me. Make them pity me, I don’t want that. I wanted them to hate me so I’d never have to feel the need to sing. Ever. Again,” said Aria Blaze.
Sapphire Shores looked at her, eyes looked at her sadly and mouth forming a small smile.
“That wouldn't have stopped your urges,” said Sapphire Shores, “Trust me on that one.”
Her eyes glared at Sapphire while she bit the bottom of her lip.
Aria felt angry at what Sapphire had said, mostly because she knew that she was probably right.
“I can help you get over your issue though,” said Sapphire Shores.
“How could you possibly do that?” said Aria.
“Dang it, I keep telling you,” said Sapphire Shores, “Girl, I am gonna teach you how to sing.”