[Yooa, Binnie] Beginning of a journey (for tide_ms)

[omgexchangemod]

Title: Beginning of a journey (for tide_ms)
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Yooa, Binnie, mentions of other members, implied YooaxJiho
Warnings (if applicable): None
Word-Count: 1090
Summary: Shiah falls asleep during class (inspired by the closer MV)
Author Notes: I had so much inspiration from your prompts, and this is just one of the ideas that I began to flesh out. I'm just sorry I didn't have time to write more for you. I left it open ended like this with many possibilities in the future plot, and I wonder where your imagination will take it? Or perhaps I will write it all out one day... I hope you like it!

 

"Wake up, wake up!"

Shiah makes a noise of disapproval, annoyed that someone is attempting to disrupt her nap. It isn't every day that she dreams of chocolate-filled rivers and trees that grow delicious looking oreo cookies (if she stands on her tiptoes she can just reach one) and she wants to stay there a little longer.

The person is persistent however, and soon reality begins to seep through into her lovely dreamworld - had she fallen asleep in class? Is she drooling? She hopes that she hasn't said something embarrassing in her sleep (again).

She wakes with a start, bleary eyes greeted by the culprit of her disturbed sleep; a mass of red and brown, which she soon recognises as the hood of a thick coat and tufts of soft hair.

"Binnie?!" she cries, realisation wakening her fully and finally clearing her view of the world around her.

Shiah's eyes are wide, disbelief and amazement distracting her from the urgency in her companion's expression. She gazes upon the landscape of rich colours and gothic scenery she had begun to think she would never see again, as if it had all been just a figment her mind had created. Amber leaves cover the ground like a soft blanket, the full moon glowing low in the night sky, almost touching the earth. This realm should feel bare to the naked eye, but to Shiah it is so brilliant, vibrant and coloured with magic , and she tries to capture it all again in her memory.

"Yooa." she's so lost in her thoughts that the voice behind her makes her jump.

"Ah, you surprised me." she says, feeling slightly breathless and a little embarrassed. It's also strange to hear someone call her by a name she hasn't heard in a long while - she is known by 'Yooa' only to the people of this world that feels so familiar, yet holds many untold secrets.

Binnie's eyes are on her, but in that moment Shiah is finally looking, and she notices the tense line of the girl's jaw. The hair beneath her eternal blood red hood which Shiah remembers being so lush and smooth is now a bush of unkempt curls; the now obvious dirt blemishes on fair skin and clothes and rapid tapping to the ground of the left foot all indicate that there is something which urgently needs attill ending to. In this realm it can only mean something immense, chaotic and plain and awfully wrong.

Shiah does not speak as she approaches the other girl, cautiously watching and waiting for Binnie to explain what on earth is going on.

"We must go now." is all that Binnie says, wary eyes scanning around them as she leads the way. Shiah silently nods and falls into step beside the other girl.

They trek through quiet landscapes for half an hour, until the wild trees and grasses give way to human settlements, appearing in small clusters from the furthest point they can see. As they draw nearer Shiah notes how the air is still silent - eerily so - without the usual sounds of people milling about. Binnie tenses next to her and they both pause at the edge of the first village.

"We must go carefully through these parts." Binnie warns, and Shiah nods, swallowing down the questions lining the tip of her tongue. She wished she could be given a sign, a clue, a small whispering of what is going on, of how she got to this world when she had failed to do so all the other times she tried, and how Binnie knew exactly where she would wake.

They have not taken more than ten steps when a sudden shout comes from nearby; a group of strangers with handheld weapons appear from within the buildings at either side of the road. The two travellers stop, and Shiah's wide eyes stare around them in fear when she sees the weapons are aimed at them. There's not enough time to process the situation before Binnie steps out between them. Memories from the last time she was in this realm rise to the forefront of Shiah's mind, reminding her that Binnie holds much magical power, and she instinctively takes a step back behind her.

Serving as further proof is the way Binnie reaches to pull down her red hood from a top her head, similar to how Shia's mother would push up her glasses up the bridge of her nose before delivering a lengthy lecture, or the way a sportsperson might tie up their hair before an important game; ready to deliver.

It's not clear what Binnie does next, but what it does is cause all of the armed people to fall to the floor, unmoving. Shiah rushes forward.

"They're just sleeping." Binnie serves as explanation before pulling her hood back up and stepping over the sleeping bodies.

Shiah can't help but stare at the villagers, who she can now see are just ordinary people. Men and women, with expressions which have lost all sign of threat. Worrying her lip, she tears away her gaze and jogs to catch up with Binnie.

Binnie's hardened gaze is focuses straight ahead of them, and Shiah can't take the silence anymore. "What's going on? W-what happened to those people?"

The other girl sighs and finally relents, slowing her strides but not stopping fully.

"The reason they have become this way is the same reason you have been summoned back." she begins steadily, giving Shiah a sad smile.

"I was summoned, by who?"

Binnie doesn't answer with words, but her eyes are telling and the weight of the truth brings tears to Shiah's eyes.

"Arin, the life and hope of our land, has been cursed into an unending sleep, and her sister and guardian of peace is the one who called to you - though I don't think she has realised that part yet."

Shiah takes a breath to steady herself. She remembers Arin, a child so pure and full of happiness that those around her would feel only joy. Even more clear, are the memories of her sister, the armed guardian, independent, strong and beautiful. Jiho. It had always seemed as if she didn't need anyone, but now Binnie was telling her that Jiho needed her.

If it was true then she would not hesitate.

"Let us go to them now." Binnie says, and in unison they charge forth on their journey, preparing for the many challenges that they will face in the fantastical realm.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

this is very nice! there is a lovely ethereal quality to the story which echoes the original feeling of the closer mv. you set up a really interesting premise i think and i hope that one day you might be able to write more of this story and share it with us!! in particular i am curious to learn what is so special about yooa and what relation she has to this realm

[tide_ms]

I'm coming back to read this, dear writer :D

[tide_ms]

I'm really intrigued by all the possibilities this world can grow to ;-; I especially loved the touch of Closer mv in this, Yooa & Binnie together in a journey and just the feel of mystery and magic.

No worries at all about not writing much, although short, the fic felt like a great set up (enough in its own) to your world, I hope you get to expand it some day, but if not, thank you so much for this glimpse <3

This realm should feel bare to the naked eye, but to Shiah it is so brilliant, vibrant and coloured with magic , and she tries to capture it all again in her memory. through your words, chocolate rivers <3 amber blankets and Binnie the guide, the world felt alive to me, too ;;

Also, Jiho the guardian *o* <3 and summoning Yooa without knowing?? Ah, writer ;; thanks for including this.