There's always room for another

Chapter: 8 2.1 The healing

Dedicated to all everyone who's still reading the stuff I write.

As usual, unedited, un-beta'ed. I just had to get it out.

Important note: Due to timeline discrepancies, I had to change some dates around - so Ining started looking for Byulyi on the 2nd of October - not the 23rd. So assume that at least two months (three months?) have passed since then to this chapter.

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Yongsun shivered against the cold. Winter had set in - really set in - when she hadn't been looking. Like a cat digging its claws in deep into wool, Yongsun could feel the faint wisps of it even though her clothes - even though she was bundled up in two layers and a padded jacket. She took the final few steps to the company building lost in thought, wondering if someone was going to ask her about New Year's plans.

It wasn't something anyone wanted to talk about, really. The entire company avoided the topic as much as possible, when they could. The newer staff members - the ones who hadn't seen Mamamoo grow from their trainee days till today - they didn't quite get it. But they were a saving grace, in their own ways. Levity was much needed nowadays.

Mamamoo was in trouble. They were still getting booked for shows, but the absence of their rapper was obvious, especially because they refused to tweak the choreo to replace her, and to take over her rap parts in the song - letting the pre-recorded track do it for them. Their energy and playfulness was still there - they were professionals, after all. But it just wasn't the same.

So they'd lost their position as the second most sought-after act at festivals. The Moomoos were holding on, but newer fans and casual observers didn't seem to understand why they didn't just replace her. It was entertainment. Things had to move on.

But just because people had started to forget didn't mean anyone at RBW had. Yongsun took solace in that.

"Hey Yongsun." B.O. gestured her into the recording studio with a smile. Yongsun managed one in return, shrugging off her coat and scarf, dropping them onto the one couch in the small room. She nodded to the sound technicians and Kim Do Hoon. Their producer gave her a long look before nodding and turning back to his notes.

She was recording a new song today. After announcing an official hiatus about a month ago, the remaining members had pretty much split to do their own solo activities. Wheein was working on at least two more collab songs with artists from different companies, while Hyejin was trying her hand at acting. But Yongsun was right where she'd always been - recording and singing in an RBW studio. Today was a drama OST that B.O. had been commissioned for. Yongsun could barely remember which one.

(She didn't watch dramas anymore.)

"So here are the lyrics. Give them a look over, and we'll go straight into it. You heard the demo I sent, right?" B.O. had the worst finger-drumming habit ever. He was drumming them now, unable to keep himself still. Yongsun did her best to ignore it. "Great. I would love to hear any thoughts you had on it."

B.O. was a great guy, Yongsun thought as she nodded again and headed into the recording booth proper. Great, but too eager to show off his talent. He was improving as a producer though, she reflected as she set her lyrics onto the stand. This song was a pretty one. Quiet and emotional.

Yongsun couldn't help but feel like Byulyi would have been perfect for this song - not as a rapper, but a singer. She had surprising range, and could hit the high notes as easily as Yongsun could. While Byulyi couldn't belt, she definitely had the charisma to pull it off. Yongsun tried not to think about that too much as she heard B.O.'s voice through her headphones. She flashed him a thumbs up to begin.