little-vlogger-binna

[little-vlogger-binna]

Ah, Binna had heard about that. She hadn't been around, obviously, but it sounded like a total horror show. The kind of stuff that Americans railed against, and made people distrust government as a whole.

Binna was technically a Democrat, so she didn't feel that way. She thought the government could be used mostly for good. Or that it should be.

"Well, maybe, but I'm not saying there needs to be no guardrails. Just-- less. Or maybe just revised guardrails to help things be more efficient," clarified Binna. But then she laughed and shrugged. "I dunno! I'm just a vlogger. I just think people go to extremes these days, you know. I feel like we've lost sight of the middle ground."

@kouros-herc

Sidewalk Interview || OPEN

[little-vlogger-binna]

Binna kept nodding along. That echoed what she learned from her interview with Aquata (not that she knew Q was the friend Herc was talking about - if she did, she'd think, dang, small town!)

"Yeah, for sure. I wonder though, like, if there are ways to make the job easier," said Binna. "Not... obviously, parts will always be hard, but I wonder if some of the bureaucratic stuff could be improved so the Board could get more stuff done or get further along in problem-solving, without having to worry about filing reports or getting ten levels of approval, y'know?"

@kouros-herc

Sidewalk Interview || OPEN

[little-vlogger-binna]

When Mirabel leaned in, Binna smiled so wide that Mirabel kissed her teeth.

With anyone else, Binna would feel embarrassed. But with Mirabel, she just giggled, put her own tea down, and then took Mirabel's heart-shaped face between her hands so she could kiss her properly.

And it was like no time had passed at all. They could have been back on the Dalmatian Plantation, with Lucky at the end of the bed, the two of them making out on the other side. Or stealing kisses at the beginning and end of DnD. Or kissing under the lights of Pixie's.

She couldn't believe they'd ever let a stupid fight come between them for months. When they could have just talked and been honest. And then they could do this.

Binna giggled again after a few minutes and leaned away. "So... this means we're girlfriends again, right?"

@waitingona-mirabel

This Is Me Swallowing My Pride | Binnabel

[little-vlogger-binna]

Binna nodded vigorously. She'd noticed the things Hercules talked about -- the good and the bad. It wasn't exactly oppression Olympics out here but... sometimes she'd seen discourse veer in that direction. But she knew it came from this place of craving community and wanting to do right by each other.

"Yeah! Yeah, I think that it's almost a good problem in a way, like people forgetting what life is like outside of Swynlake. I guess it's better to always be pushing for change and improvement, though," she mentioned. "What do you think about how the Board is doing? Do you mind talking about that?"

@kouros-herc

Sidewalk Interview || OPEN

[little-vlogger-binna]

It was a bit vague - and kinda obvious. Most people probably hoped their politicians stayed timely and listened to others. But maybe that's just what politics boiled down to. Maybe people made politics more complicated than it needed to be. Maybe if people focused on the roots of good politics, there wouldn't be as many problems.

"Yeah, I think when you put it like that, it makes politics feel more approachable," said Binna. She smiled, liking this optimistic take. "Well, I think that's all my questions! Unless you have any messages you want to give to everyone watching!"

@aquata-the-champ

Vlog With A Dog | Quinna

[little-vlogger-binna]

Mirabel's hand landed softly on hers like a butterfly. It felt just as precious and rare, Mirabel trusting her despite the cruel things Binna said, the distance between them, and all the time they lost.

But with just a touch, Binna believed they could turn back time. The distance closed, Binna's heart fluttering excitedly like a whizzing hummingbird. She blushed and met Mirabel's familiar brown eyes.

She'd missed her. She still felt safe with her. She loved her too..

Swallowing, Binna smiled shyly, squeezed Mirabel's hand back and then scooched closer on the bench.

"I love you too," she said. "And I'd love to be your girlfriend again. You're one of the reasons Swynlake feels like home."

@waitingona-mirabel

This Is Me Swallowing My Pride | Binnabel

[little-vlogger-binna]

"Yeah, I guess it is. And I'm not giving up my turf," said Binna, her feet firmly planted.

TBH, this was not her problem. She hadn't noticed her interviews being affected. So this dude could make whatever videos he wanted! If he had such an issue, he should go somewhere else.

@oh-phineas

Sidewalk Interview || OPEN

[little-vlogger-binna]

"I agree. People never talk about the successes. Or, they talk less about them. It becomes more difficult to notice, y'know, like-- if the streets are well-paved, then no one compliments the roads, but if there are potholes, everyone's gonna complain," mentioned Binna.

That kind of psychology made politics basically a thankless job. But Binna still felt drawn to it. Or... at least activism and making things better.

"What about now? Are you involved in anything now or-- what is something you hope the new Board does?"

@aquata-the-champ

Vlog With A Dog | Quinna

[little-vlogger-binna]

"Yeah, you've already said that. Like, five times now. You can keep repeating yourself all you want but I'm still going to film here," said Binna, an edge still in her voice. "And I haven't had any complaints besides you. As I've said. Like five times."

See, sometimes - this was when Binna wished it was socially appropriate to bite people!

@vixey-chakraborty

Sidewalk Interview || OPEN

[little-vlogger-binna]

"Oh yeah, I felt something similar! Well -- I'm from New York City," she supplied. These interviews usually went better if it felt more like a conversation anyway and so it was fair to tell her guest something about her too.

"I think the nice thing about big cities is that there are so many kinds of people, you can definitely find your niche. But it can be hard too, like -- really hard."

And what do you do when your niche was the rat family at 14th Street and Union Square...?

"Swynlake, I feel like it's easy to find that niche! Or, I dunno, maybe there aren't as many groups -- people are more accepting, like you said."

@kouros-herc

Sidewalk Interview || OPEN

[little-vlogger-binna]

"What was the compromise? You just want me to leave!" Binna exclaimed.

@oh-phineas

Sidewalk Interview || OPEN

[little-vlogger-binna]

"Ugh, oh god!" Binna groaned and slapped a hand over her face dramatically. "Don't remind me I said that! Ugh, I'm so sorry - you didn't deserve that at all."

And then her hand fell down and reached for Mirabel's.

It was yet another instinct. Like how squirrels knew to bury their acorns and bees knew to spread pollen from flower to flower. Maybe reaching for Mirabel hadn't always been ingrained. But in just a few months -- she'd become part of Binna's pack.

When she realized what she'd done, she blushed and her hand darted back, like a mouse darting for cover.

"Sorry," she blurted. "Sorry, uh-- habit."

@waitingona-mirabel

This Is Me Swallowing My Pride | Binnabel

[little-vlogger-binna]

Yup, this definitely was not hypothetical anymore.

Binna was still nervous. Would she even be allowed? Would she count? That was something she thought about constantly -- her 25%, a failing grade by America's schooling system standards, even if her brain she knew that was a dumb way to look at magic. She definitely counted! She could talk to animals and feel what they felt!

And yet, there was always that nagging doubt that Binna didn't belong. She hadn't lived a true magick life and so she hadn't...earned it.

"Right! Uh-- who is the organizer, by the way? Or is that just like, on the town hall website?"

@aquata-the-champ

Vlog With A Dog | Quinna

[little-vlogger-binna]

"You're the only person finding it disturbing, lady!" Binna exclaimed hotly.

...Oops. But come on! At this point, the lady should just walk away instead of getting so self-righteous!

"I'm telling you, a lot of people want to be on camera. They think my project's cool!"

@vixey-chakraborty

Sidewalk Interview || OPEN

[little-vlogger-binna]

"Can you prove that?" Binna argued right on back.

She flipped her hair and stood her ground. Look, she didn't want to get territorial, but she had grown up in NYC. The rats divided themselves into fierce gangs and staked their claim. She'd spent her entire childhood listening to tales of bloody, violent battles for strips of subway and city blocks.

So she was ready to channel her inner rat king. Bring it on.

@oh-phineas

Sidewalk Interview || OPEN

[little-vlogger-binna]

Oooo. That was such an interesting and honest answer. A brave answer, Binna amended in her mind. Because that's what honesty was, especially when shared with a stranger.

Her smile grew. "Yeah? How do you think Swynlake changed you then? Like, have your opinions changed on magicks or...you've learned new lessons or...?"

@kouros-herc

Sidewalk Interview || OPEN

[little-vlogger-binna]

"No, it is hard. It's really hard," Binna said at once.

Twenty years of emotions bubbled up inside her, ready to gush out. They surprised Binna too-- tears pricking at her eyes. She ducked her head and quickly wiped one or two away, then laughed awkwardly like she might chase them away. She didn't want to cry! Why was she crying?! She'd been wanting to tell anyone outside her family forever.

"Sorry, I-- I dunno why I'm getting so emotional. Maybe I feel guilty-- my appa forbid me from telling anyone. Which, I know, it's messed up but he came from this conservative town in Korea and he works on Wall Street and he was always talking about how it would ruin our family, how we'd lose everything and it was best to just-- to just pretend like we were like everyone else! But I'm not. I have magic."

The second time she said it, she let out a winded breath. Her chest felt funny, heart pittering away. But it was a good feeling too.

"Sorry, I just made this all about me. I just-- everything you were saying about being scared... I dunno. I wanted to tell you." She blushed.

@waitingona-mirabel

This Is Me Swallowing My Pride | Binnabel