2025-07-09: SKILL CARDS and You

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(|=========================== The Cardboard Dragon ===========================|)
-=============================================== Sumaru City/Hirasaka Ward ====-
Go down a ways down the Sakanoue Building in Hirasaka Ward and you'll find a    
nondescript alleyway, the kind you might imagine yakuza fighting down in        
fiction. Behind this alleyway is an unassuming fire escape, at the top of which 
you'll find the equally unassuming Cardboard Dragon, a not terribly successful  
bookstore and a somewhat more successful trading card game store.               
                                                                                
The Cardboard Dragon shopfloor is a dismal reminder of the popped bubble of the 
80s -- a mixture of forty-year old gray tiles and cigarette smoke-stained       
concrete walls chipped and cracked at places. The rusting, unglazed windows are 
mostly covered by the business' logo facing the street and have seen the rise   
and fall of an entire economic empire.                                          
                                                                                
One half of the shopfloor is dominated by bookshelves, which contain riveting   
titles from the fin de siecle -- sorry, last century -- rare, foreign books such
as those by Paul Verlaine, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Gerhart Hauptmann, and even more  
local ones -- Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Yukito Ayatsuji ... oh, you were looking for 
something written in the last ten years? I'm sorry, you might be out of luck.   
                                                                                
The other half is why people are actually here -- it's a thriving collectible   
card storefront, replete with wall to wall glass cabinets of various rare and   
attractive cards from the latest and most played card games. A row of long      
tables, even now, has students playing their choice of collectible vice, watched
by a can of deodorant in the corner.                                            
                                                                                
Of course, if you're *truly* in the know, you might be here for backroom deals  
of a more supernatural persuasion -- and that's where you can find Rumourmonger 
Merry and her collection of Skill Cards...                                      
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    The Dark Hour is here. Virtually everyone transforms and slinks into their coffins, blissfully unaware of the 25th hour. A sickly shade of green is washed over the city, the moon appears huge and yellow, as if threatening to distend and bulge through the night into the city itself.

    The Cardboard Dragon is sporting a slightly different look in the Dark Hour. The shelves are mysteriously gone (!), and inside, Myunghon Yeo is seated on a couch at the back of the rather dingy office space that looks like it once had hope in the 80s, and has been forgotten by time. The tables and chairs from the card game side have been rearranged around in a loose circle, and there are seating arrangements.

    Food and drink is available. It's... it's mostly bottled water, and for food there's... there's an enormous and unending stack of Koala March animal crackers, chocolate flavour. How can there be so many boxes of just one flavour of snack sourced in one place?

    Right before the entrance is a sign that reads:

                          WELCOME TO SKILL CARD HOUR!
                   IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR IDENTITY,
                           WE HAVE MASKS AVAILABLE!

    There's a box underneath that has said masks. They're surprisingly well-made and also cover the entire head. The problem, though, if you choose to pick up a mask:

    1) They're all anime or manga characters.
    2) They're all really, really embarrassing in some way, and try as you might, you can't find one that's actually kinda cool.

    CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY!!

    Myunghon Yeo herself has chosen to wear a mask in solidarity, because their head is currently a giant orb that resembles a full moon... if a moon had a creepy set of round white eyes and an enormous grin and...

    Is that a massive row of teeth? It's a mascot from an obscure game two years ago, FaR: Nii-chan, localised in the US as FaR: Daddy.

    "Weeeelllcome!" Myunghon declares, arms raised to either side of them, in their best impersonation of... Igor? "Welcome, to the Emerald Room! What is your desire today...?" 

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

Shinjiro Aragaki is here, dressed in his usual thick red coat, a beanie, and jeans. He looks like a drug dealer, honestly.

It is HOT AS HELL due to no airconditioning, but he seems... fine?

He shivers very slightly, once.

Taking a seat without grabbing a mask, he grabs a bottled water and some KOALA MARCH. "...if they vouch for me, does that mean I can't eat them?" He asks Myunghon. He has no idea what a FaR Daddy is, but their pact was sealed - hopefully he can meet some Persona Users here, even if they're probably not the ones he was intended to be introduced to.

"Do Skill Cards only assist in Persona battles?" he asks, having done some basic research. He has... zero interest in doing that, so if so, he will not be buying any. 

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Yukari Takeba picks several arrows out of the melting ichor of a Mindless Shadow, one of the few on the streets. "I can't believe I'm stuck in Sumaru City during the Dark Hour with you..."
 
With a long-suffering sigh, she replaces them in her quiver. They won't run out, but she doesn't want people to wake up and find arrows all over the street.
 
"... he better make good on his word to drive us back after it's over. We're long past last train, and we have class in the morning."
 
If it's a bicycle, she's shoving him over.
 
Yukari however, EVENTUALLY makes it into the Cardboard Dragon, and groans as she looks at a Pink Featherman Mask in what she assumes is the Girl's pile.
 
Not realizing there probably is no gender divide here.
 
"... I am not doing that. No way."
 
She strolls right in, and slings her bow over her shoulder, before looking at... Shinjiro. "Oh hey, it's that guy, Aragaki-senpai." She does approach him, "I guess you being here at this time explains a lot about you."
 
Which is when she turns around and, double takes at the person in the FaR: Nii-chan Mask, "Whuh-What?"
 
Pause.
 
"Why that Mask?"
 
Asking the important questions here... to start.

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.

Reiya Aomori has another mission tonight: to investigate a strange place in the Dark Hour, advertised with Persona-user information... Unfortunately, he's not on this mission alone. He is sure he could've infiltrated better that way.

He replaces his weapons, the mindless Shadows done with, and turns to Yukari. "It's a mission," he says with a shrug at Yukari's happiness to be with him.

"I'm sure he will."

...Reiya might consider letting Yukari do it if it's a bicycle though.

Here at the Cardboard Dragon, though, Reiya steps in after Yukari. He glances at the masks for a moment. "...I'm not doing that either," he decides. Not because he doesn't approve of Featherman Pink. But it's a really bad likeness, he thinks.

They step in. That guy? "...Hm." He considers Shinjiro for a moment, and looks over the others. he does not doubletake at the mask.

"I want to know about Skill Cards," he says simply, because Myunghon has asked what his desire is today.

He considers the koalas. "...Trying a Koala would also be acceptable." 

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.

The Dark Hour - there's much that goes on in this secret hour, unknown to those who don't possess a Persona or the Potential. And tonight, a secret meeting, amidst the cover of darkness...

...Or, well, not so secret, perhaps, since it's been advertised.

It doesn't bother Shinobu either way. She knows a thing or two about Skill Cards already, but gatherings like this are a good way to meet people and get a feel for the current environment.

Shinobu stops by the entrance. She looks at the sign - and then down at the box of masks.

When Shinobu walks in a moment later, she's wearing the goofy-looking mascot head of one of many in a series of numerous collectible creatures(you must capture each and every one of them, they say).

The Bit will probably only last until it gets too hot for her to manage.

Her eyes are drawn toward Myunghon in their equally-ostentatious mask, and she offers them a brief salute in greeting.

"Looking good, boss." She praises genuinely, before turning her attention to the refreshments.

"It's koalas all the way down, huh." She notes. She acquires some of the koalas and a bottle of water moving to take a seat.

She takes note of Aragaki, who she's seen before, and Yukari and Reiya, who she doesn't. She offers them both a brief nod.

The collectible creature head lists ominously under its own weight. 

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.

Remi is already in the store when the Dark Hour hits, casting the room in its rather creepy pallor. She works here, see, even if this particular shift is well outside of her norm.

She brought her own mask, however--an almost full-face masquerade mask in black and silver. It's... well, it's a little cheap, if you look too close--she has a budget, after all--but she's an actor. She wanted at least a little fun with a costume.

The rest of her is all business, though, a black blouse, skirt, thermal tights, and boots, and a rather thick coat on top. Is she warm? She's not telling.

She has a box of Koala March cookies in hand, however, a cookie pinched daintily in her fingers as she examines it critically. With a sigh she pops it in her mouth and starts to chew.

She does look to the first customers to arrive. "Good evening," she says cordially. "Please be aware that no fighting will be tolerated." 

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    Today's quest: find out how Tatsuya did... whatever what he did.

    There's something, called Spell Cards, that apparently a few people sell. There's that clock shop in Rengedai, but the shop owner...

    SCENE DELETED FROM MEMORY OUT OF EMBARRASSMENT

    That leaves the Cardboard Dragon. At least there's refreshments, and things to disguise your identity! It's like they knew people would want to to be anonymous!

    "... I think it comes with the territory," says the shorter young woman(?) with the... adorably oversized black bird head and collar, to Yukari.

    (Umie really should have paid more attention during the festival. This Yukari person and Shinjiro seem to know each other.)

    ".... Can Skill Cards..." She begins, then adjusts her voice to be slightly lower. "Can they... make you disappear from somewhere? That's a skill, right?"

     .... How are you supposed to eat crackers with a mask on? 

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    There's someone in a big, goofy anime cat mask from a particular magical girl series from almost two decades ago. It's an interesting mask: the cat has a little crescent moon on its forhead. The person in the cat mask is wearing a nice suit. It's probably not someone anyone here knows.

    Katsuya Suou, homicide detective (on forced leave), had been in a hurry. Linger too long, and he'd be spotted by someone else coming here for the discussion on skill cards before he decided on a mask. Perhaps it's in part his job as a detective (as trusting as he can be at times) and perhaps it's his relative newness (and his wish to not be taken as such) in what he has gathered is quite a community of Persona-users.

    But why, again, was the first thing he'd put his hands something shaped like a cat...

    Katsuya, being a rational sort of person, doesn't believe in things like fate or destiny. But sometimes, a man is given to wonder.

    He settles towards the back. In truth, he's hoping to get a look at what his new 'community' consists of -- Myunghon had given him the rundown on skill cards prior. But, they had also said something about a mask...

    For now, he tries to remain casual, watch, listen, and learn. No one will recognize him in this, right...?

    He has a bottle of water in one hand. Like Umie, he's just realized it's impossible to actually drink water in this mask. "..." 

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    "The Koala, Aragaki-san, understands the life-death cycle better than any of us. It brings cocoa and sugar succour within its thin pastry shell... it understands giving, in order to sustain another," Myunghon explains to Shinjiro with deathly calm, like they were a penitent explaining something that had changed their lives forever.

    Yukari Takeba enters, and there is a moment's surprise at her recognising Shinjiro -- oh, interesting -- before the person in the FaR mask rises into a twirl.

    "Welcome, welcome! And why this mask? Well... doesn't it feel like the Nii-chan Mask would protect you from the ills of the Dark Hour? It's perfectly rotund, with a smile that can bear it all, no matter how tragic the past may be. Soft curves protect you."

    Jazz-hands. "It's symbolism, baby!"

    There's an extra gesture towards the tables as Reiya Aomori enters. "Oh, yes, of course, please help yourself to the Koalas and the water! It's quite warm in here, even with the windows open. It is June, after all..."

    Myunghon knows that Shinobu knows about Skill Cards. And perhaps, Timed Hits. It doesn't hurt to have a refresher, though, and perhaps, she can be just as much of a tutorial coach as they can be! When Shinobu enters, though...

    "Woaouw! A Pocket Monster has arrived!" Myunghon dramatically declares, as if shocked by a jolt of lightning. "Just think of the licensing opportunities...! Ha ha!"

    There's a twiddled thumb towards Remi, however. The mask is fun, but they wanted to know which embarrassing anime figure Remi would pick... but, as they say, "A *little* exercise can be tolerated. After all, this is Skill Card hour! We've swept all the shelves away to have space for some demonstrations...!"

    The questions start coming in. "Ah, you've come to the right place, Blackbird-san," Myunghon looks rather intrigued by that question. "I can think of a few ways someone might be able to do that, but are you *sure* they just turned invisible, or did they trick or elude you somehow?"

    "Now, let me give you the lowdown on Skill Cards. These cards only resemble ordinary cards to the uninitiated, but since all of you here are walking during the Dark Hour, I have no doubt you can sense the power embedded within these," Myunghon holds several up as a hand, in a fan shape.

    "With these, you can play with fire or electricity, or even heal wounds or drive someone to the brink of anger. You've no doubt played with some of the power your Persona has... but think of this as a supplement to add what you're missing. You can hit at a Shadow's weakness unexpectedly, or be a team player!"

    It is at this point that Myunghon notices the Lunar Cat at the back of the group. They don't understand who it might be, even though their senses are screaming at them, telling them:

    BEWARE. THIS CAT DOES NOT BELIEVE IN TELEPORTATION.

    Myunghon does return to Shinjiro's earlier question, though. "Of course, Skill Cards aren't only useful for battles. Are any of you really warm right now, given that the Dark Hour has mercilessly disabled the air conditioner?"

    They hold up several cards that have the illustration of ice upon it.

    "Why don't we have a practical demonstration and cool ourselves with some Bufu cards! Come, step right up!" They wag one of the cards. "Now, I'll point out that you need Nose-jiisan from the Velvet Room or other mysterious individuals to truly attune to these cards, especially the vast amounts you'll need to actually harm Shadows. But, just to make the room cool, you should be able to focus on the cognitive power of 'cold' within the Card through your Persona..."

    As if to demonstrate this, Myunghon holds the card above them -- and in a surge of Blue, rising up in columns, an inky-black shadowy figure in a cape rises from their cape-like suit jacket. The Shadowy figure waves its hand, and a soft breeze accented by several small snowflakes spreads across the room.

    A pause. "Ah, Aragaki-san, you can try the opposite with fire to warm yourself up, of course!" 

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

"Ah. You *are* one of Kirijo's," Shinjiro notes to Yukari with mild amusement, revealing he knows *at least something* about SEES, before glancing over to Reiya. He doesn't recognize that one, but he came in with Yukari, so likely him as well.

"Koala crackers are good judges of character, I heard," he tells Shinobu as he eats one with Myunghon's weird approval. It seems so... honest coming from his looks, to just out and say that.

Others filter in, each with their own goofy masks. Shinjiro nods to each, before frowning at the Skill Card display. "So you *do* need to use your Persona to activate them?" Pity. He seems much more disinterested... why could that be? Myunghon knows him to be a Persona user for a fact. 

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

"I wouldn't call myself one of hers..." Yukari says, hesitantly at Shinjiro's comment, "... but it is true we're on the same team."
 
She just doesn't like to be thought of as belonging to Kirijo's.

"I'm guessing that means you know her?"
 
Yukari looks at Shinobu in what is certainly a legally distinct mask, and nods. She assesses her build from it... then looks towards a man in a big goofy anime cat mask.
 
Eventually she sighs, looking exasperated as she murmurs to Reiya, "What kind of place did we walk into where the adults are all like this...?"
 
PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE SIDEARM STRAPPED TO THE TEEN'S RIGHT THIGH LOCAL FUZZ(Ball?)
 
It's definitely fine.
 
Myung-Nii-chan causes Yukari to start, weight shifting to her back heel as they rise with a twirl, Yukari blinking at her show, "Huh!? Uhhhh..." Her expression sours, as if catching an awful case of SECOND HAND embarrassment, "... I don't think I'm need of a protection from some weirdo like that guy. Symbolic or not..."
 
At least Remi's mask is more normal, she can appreciate that one. She then crosses her arms, rubbing one of them, settling in within her none too subtle discomfiture about...
 
... whatever this place is.
 
Do places like this exist EVERYWHERE the Dark Hour is? She tries not to think about it. "It kinda sounds too good to be true..." She says of the idea that her Persona can have DIFFERENT abilities based on Skill cards, of the presentation of Skill Cards. Wouldn't they already be using them if it were that easy? "... is this what the Chairman really had in mind? For us to check out some supernatural scam artists?"
 
But then... NII-CHAN performs a presentation with Bufu and...
 
"Uh-huh...?" (What's with that Persona?) She mumbles subvocally before...
 
... voicing her skepticism, "So... how do we know your Persona didn't just... have that spell before?"

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.

Soft curves protect you, Myunghon says, and Reiya frowns. "No, they don't," he says.

Pause. "...Symbolism," he repeats. "Hm." He doesn't get it. But Myunghon says to help himself, and he seems unbothered by the heat at least, even in long sleeves. Maybe he's got good deoderant???

Either way, he looks at each adult in turn. A man in a nice suit and a... cat... mask. With water. Umie talks about disappearing and coming with the territory.

Reiya knows how to disappear. But he's not sharing that information.

"We're not here to fight," he says to Remi, and notes 'boss' from Shinobu. He nods back to her.

Shinjiro says Yukari is one of Kirijo's, and Yukari hesitates. Reiya says, "It's fine. You don't have to pretend. Evokers aren't common technology anyway."

He has one, too. Don't mind it, officer!!

He's rather more comfortable about this. And, well. "You think it's a scam?" he asks Yukari. "She's not lying. I'm good at telling when people are lying." Pause. "...She's kind of ridiculous. But not lying."

He considers the Bufu card. "I'm not sure that one would be useful to me," he admits.

"I think a better question is... where do you get these? They don't look like conventional technology. Some sort of... mysticism?"

He pauses. he takes a cracker. "Food doesn't judge character," he tells Shinjiro, and pops one into his mouth. 

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    Trickery?

    The Blackbird mask makes a groan, as if realizing something obvious. Of course. If she can mask her resonance, and even her abilities to mask her presence... Tatsuya must have similar abilities.

    Well, there goes her night. Onto the next: people-watching. It's amazing the number of people did expose their faces; but isn't that just a sign of not feeling like you had anything to hide? Or, likewise, you didn't care.

    'One of Kirijo's'. 'Evokers aren't common technology anyway'. Kirijo... one of those bigwig names. Notable to Umie for seeming, for the most part, on their own separate pie piece from anything she's connected to NWO.

    She looks over to a tall, likewise cartoon character-headed person. "... You figured it out too, haven't you, Neko-san?" She raises her capped water bottle to her mask. "It'll still work outside." But then, Umie will know who came out, when they take off *their* masks. This sure would be a lot more useful in terms of information if she wasn't thirsty already.

    "... You need to think in terms of strategy, Ara-gaki-san." Umie has not advanced to '-kun' yet (be thankful), but it still somehow sounds playful. "Not everything will get solved with an axe, you know."

    Though... "She has a point." Blackburn-san directs her water bottle towards Yukari. "It'd be a terrible thing to devise a strategy and have it fail in a fight. Some demons do love a show of misfortune, but shadows... they lack a sense of humor." 

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.

Shinobu looks at the other masked individuals present in turn. The woman in the black and silver masquerade mask seems to be working here... So, Myunghon has other employees. That's good to know. The bird and the cat, though... They also receive a nod - and she notes Yukari and Reiya nodding back at her.

Yukari, assessing her build, will be able to note that while she's about average height, she's fairly athletic, too - her exploits involve a lot of parkour, even before she Awakened.

She notes, too, the mention of 'Kirijo' and 'Evokers'.

She looks toward Shinjiro, then. Behind her mask, she smirks. The mascot head, though, continues to smile inexorably in the face of fate. Nothing can dent its marketable cheer.

"So they are." Shinobu agrees. It sounds like he's already talked with Myunghon before.

Shinobu is, of course, glad to assist as needed. She might not be on the clock, but education's important.

"Pika pika." Shinobu replies to Myunghon's declaration, offering them a casual point in reply.

She's quoting the legally-distinct Pikablu, of course.

She listens as the Skill Card tutorial starts, nodding along with it.

"I can vouch for that. Flexibility can be the difference you need to survive. You don't know what you're going to encounter out there. If you face something that can send your attacks right back at you, you need another angle - or, a quick way out." Shinobu says.

...That serious comment really doesn't feel right coming out of that face...

She nods toward Umie. Strategy is important. 

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.

Remi looks to Myunghon as they discuss all the merits of Koala March cookies. "They're not the worst thing I've ever tasted..." But she calmly takes another cookie and eats it as Myunghon jazz-hands.

Like she's seen that before.

Maybe you can convince Remi to try an anime mask next time. A little exercise, though... "As you say, Merry." She says cordially. "But please try not to overdo it, hmm? The store still needs to be able to open in the morning."

She does listen intently to the lecture, though, even as she keeps an eye on the rest of the customers. Some of this information is still new to her, too.

She's also watching the exchange between Shinjiro and Yukari, filing those names away for later, in case they turn out useful. But Yukari wonders what kind of place this is. "This is a Skill Card Shop, dear customer. We only sell the finest goods here, and we aim to please." She bows, with just a touch of a dramatic flourish.

Okay, so she can find a little bit of fun in this role. But her eyes also take note of that gun...

But she smiles to Reiya. "Then you and your companion are most welcome here." But she definitely takes note of that word 'Evoker'.

Anyone looking at Remi will see that she is of above average height--about 5'6", and though she mentioned no fighting, she doesn't appear to be carrying any weapons, just a box of animal crackers. 

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    He nods glumly. Yes, he has figured out the problem with the masks, too...

    Someone who... turned invisible? He turns his head (ok, he has to also turn, given how this mask's visible field works) to look at the girl (?) in the blackbird mask. Is that something that can be done with a skill card, or...
    Perhaps just eluded her, as Myunghon (that mask doesn't fool him, there's only one person who could act like that -- though it should be noted he doesn't clock Shinobu, or Umie, or anyone else in here he might have changed to have met before) muses aloud about the power of cards and the blackbird mask girl's strange encounter with... someone.

    It's just as the rundown they'd given before. With a card, one can add power to their Persona that it might not already have. He'd purchased one card before, but--

    Come to think of it, this mask is very (overly) warm. He hadn't noticed it too much before, but now that Myunghon's pointed it out, it feels positively stifling-- and he can't even take off this mask to have a drink--

    Until they demonstrate with a card and it becomes a little... cooler? He's reminded of something about his own Persona, however.

    He clears his throat, then glances around. Well, he'll have to hope he's actually anonymous with this mask. "If one has a Persona that has a weakness to a particular element... is it still possible for it to use that element through the use of a card?"

    Helios, perhaps because of the form it takes, is weak against water and ice...

    Perhaps someone from a third-party (fourth-party??) perspective might well see the double-exclamation points that erupt from the person in the cat mask as they spot the holstered 'firearm' on Yukari's person. Nor is she the only one! There is no world in which that is a weapon they have a permit for! That's in violation of--

    Yet, shouting about that now would certainly break cover, wouldn't it? And where would he take them to in the middle of the Dark Hour? And...

    ...it was his group that spread a rumor about a bar that sells firearms. For their own purposes, and to test the power of 'rumors' yes, but it does mean that just about anyone could buy a gun. Including high school students.

    Gloom has settled around the corner of the room in which the cat-masked man stands. Chin up, Suou-kun.

    Still, that is a good question. Is it possible that these cards could in fact be fakes? There's no telling what Myunghon's Persona is actually capable of! After all, he only saw it once.

    But what is this about 'Evokers' and 'Kirijo'? Surely not the same as the Kirijo Group in Iwatodai... 

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    "You do. This means that they're useless in Tokyo or Tatsumi, but even more vitual in Sumaru," Myunghon points out to Shinjiro. "When everyone is playing on a supernatural field, you don't know what kind of tricks they're playing against you. And just because you need your Persona, doesn't mean you can't be subtle about it..."

    One of 'Kirijo's'... how interesting. The most relevant Kirijo in recent headlines is Kirijo Group. Is there some connection between them and the supernatural hours? There's so much more that they need to dig into, that they don't know of. The job of a Rumourmonger is never done.

    There's a snicker as they catch Yukari a little bit off-guard. Their skepticism only seems to spur them on. Yes, that's a good attitude to have. Isn't it all too good to be true? That 'Chairman'... who is he? There's structure to the way she talks, hierarchy... 'Evokers', says the boy? They belong to a completely different world of Persona-Users than Myunghon is familiar with... but perhaps, a little more familiar to Remi. There's a whole undercurrent of information-gathering here.

    "Their strength lies in their solidarity," Myunghon answers Remi, regarding the crackers. "They stack, one after another, like siblings in bonds, arm to arm, ready to endure the coming storm of society..."

    They have really deep thoughts about Koala crackers, don't they?

    How do they know Myunghon's Persona didn't have it before?

    "You probably have already found out that it's extremely difficult to master a great breadth of elements, haven't you, Yumi-san?" In this case, they're clearly referring to the bow Yukari is lugging around, not Yumi the name. "So, to dispel your doubts..."

    As if in another effortless sleight of hand, the Bufu cards are replaced with another spread -- one depicts a firestorm, another a deluge of water, and another a lightning bolt cutting through the night.

    In a display of technicolour wizardry, they hold each card, one after another: one creates a small dancing flame the size of a lighter, then a little stream of water that fills a nearby cup, and finally, a little magical jolt that leaves a faint scent of ozone.

    Remi and Shinobu, as employees or kindred of the Cardboard Dragon, might be able to notice Myunghon's SP flashing red as they go through all this. The pains that they go to sell customers on what they're peddling!! Perhaps the store won't be opening in the morning because Merry will be completely flat on the ground, out of SP.

    It's a good thing that Shinobu's got her backed up -- even in the legally-distinct Pikablu helmet, Shinobu speaks with an air of authority...! And Remi has the patience of a saint, providing a calm contrast to their manic approach, lending just a little bit of credibility to their otherwise run-down establishment!

    Incredibly well-suited Enormous Anti-Teleportation Cat speaks up, regarding weaknesses to elements. "Yes, actually. Nothing is stopping you from striking from where you are weakest. In fact, that might be one of the most devious ways to turn the tables on your opponents!"

    Reiya also asks an incredibly good question.

    "You know Beanie-san from the Velvet Room? He'll create these for you... if you bring him certain blank Tarot Cards. And those come from the fickle hearts of Demons and Shadows. I've spent a lot of time and effort collecting these, because I have something of a knack for negotiating with them... but it's worth bringing these to you at a fair price if it means our Persona-User community will have a higher chance of survival."

    They almost sound respectable for a moment. Like a community leader.

    So of course, they gotta ruin it the next moment by exclaiming, "And that means a twenty percent sale if you act right now!"

    Being seen as sincere would be too painful, of course. 

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

Shinjiro turns as Yukari asks him if he knows Mitsuru. "Yeah. We go back," is all he says.

For all the GUNS CARRIED BY TEENAGERS, Shinjiro doesn't have one! He grimaces at Reiya's literalism, before grimacing again at the 'well, you need to be flexible'.

"I'm fine," he says. "I don't use my Persona anyways."

Though, Myunghon, who he barely knows, is accused of being a scam artist... "I'll vouch for Merry," he says. He has little reason to, but their meeting yesterday indicated to his own soul that they're not a bad person.

And theeeennn they ruin it by being insincere. "Tch!" 

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Yukari's eyes search Shinjiro's face as he indicates they go back. It is perhaps a full ten seconds, before she murmurs, "...Is that so?"
 
(She has absolutely no idea that a COP is ONTO her. That she's breaking ALL KINDS OF LAWS. That she might have a criminal record ONCE THE DARK HOUR ENDS. OH NO.)

Yukari's glad at least that Reiya didn't repeat the words 'soft curves'. She might have smacked him. Thankfully he does not.
 
Instead he indicates that 'Nii-chan' isn't lying? "And how would you tell that with a mask? Geez..." Even as Shinjiro vouches for her, "You too?"
 
There's a long sigh with that dubious quality, before she looks over at the Blackbird, definitely not contemplating how it might sing.
 
"Uhhhhh." Her brow furrows, as Umie says something that's pretty right about Shadows, but...? "Demons? Really? Just how gullible do you think we are...?"
 
Shinobu vouches for the need for flexibility but... "Maybe you're right, but I'm not sure I can take someone who says 'Pika Pika' with a straight face seriously, no offense?" Then again what other face can she make with a Pikablu mask Yukari? HUH?
 
Yumi makes Yukari look around the room for a moment, since Yumi IS an actual name too, before, she gets taken aback by the realization she means her bow, "Huh? Well yeah." She tries to take a more solid stance, her arms resting behind her back.
 
"My Persona kinda is... good at just a few things." She won't say what those things are.
 
And then Myunghon puts on a show!!! "Whuh...What?" Yukari looks on the emotional back foot for a moment as spell after spell flashes before her eyes, then... "... Well it's not anything I can really explain away."
 
If it were a DIFFERENT Persona, sure, maybe so. Then she'd be just like Minato and Minako. This though? She's got no idea.
 
Then Nii-chan talks about Demons again and CARDS that can be brought to a certain weird room for a guy to... do stuff with and Yukari just sighs, long-sufferingly. "How are we gonna put this in a report to the Chairman?" Before she looks back up and, "Okay so... what's your... cheapest offering?"
 
Shuuji Ikutsuki didn't exactly open the SEES petty cash for them to utilize for this mission... or ever, really.

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.

Reiya looks to the Blackbird masked Umie. That groan. "?" he wonders, able to pronouce punctuation like many a teenage boy. But 'Neko-san'. An axe. And strategy.

Reiya is also athletic, as it happens. And Shinobu's pika-pika...

"...Pika," he repeats.

"...An angle out is always important. You can't win a battle if you die."

Remi doesn't mind the crackers. Reiya says, "They're pretty good..." to Remi, in her mask.

Katsuya's question--Reiya doesn't know who he is--seems useful to him. He didn't realize there were this many Persona-users just out there, though... Hm. Well, regardless, as the corner gets gloomy, Reiya looks to Myunghon. He knows subtlety. Still, "...Crackers don't have solidarity," Reiya says, once more excessively literal. "They're crackers." Pause. "But they are pretty good..."

But each card works! Reiya notes them, watching each in turn. And then he considers the strategy involved, until Beanie-san is mentioned. "The Velvet Room," he repeats. It probably sounds deep. It's the way that an anime character repeats keywords, things the audience is meant to remember.

But he has no idea what they're talking about. He hasn't been at this long enough to meet Igor.

"..Hm," he says to Shinjiro, and looks to Yukari when she seems to take so much importance on that. And of course he didn't repeat 'soft curves.'

They don't protect you!!

"I just can." Tell.

Yukari's Persona... and his PErsona. He doesn't say what his is good at right now, either. Instead she considers the other stuff.

But demons? Sure, why not? Demons could exist. That doens't bother him. Demons aren't even the weirdest thing in this shop right now.

How are they going to report to the Chairman? "Verbally," he says. "Unless it's your usual practice to put them in writing?"

Yes.

"...Do you have any cards for Physical Persona abilities?" Reiya wonders. But cheap... And 20% off?

"I'm not sure Nii-san is being honest anymore..."

Pause. "But that's the kind of card I'd be interested in."

They really should bring one back. 

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.

Shinobu nods along. Myunghon does have good advice - there are things you learn in the trade that are vital to being able to survive in it.

She looks toward Yukari as she comments on her 'Pika Pika'. There's a brief moment of lag time, taking just slightly longer for Pikablu's head to catch up with the motion of Shinobu's before it's looking right at Yukari, too.

"None taken. I've had a lot of practice." Shinobu replies. Fighting, or keeping a straight face? She nods toward Reiya, then, the mascot head bobbing right along with the gesture. Survival is the most important thing, after all. She appreciates him playing along, too. "See? He knows the score."

She turns her attention back to Myunghon, listening to their words as well as the questions that are asked of them. It's a good question, whether or not one's Persona's affinity affects the cards they're able to use. She looks toward the cat in the suit as he asks it, assessing him briefly - but ultimately looking back toward Myunghon.

Three cards are drawn - and then cast, one after another. ...Shinobu whistles appreciatively. Even if it's just a demonstration, it's still pretty impressive even now that they can just do that off the cuff like that...

...Though she certainly can imagine how much that'll take out of them. Hang in there, Myunghon.

They go over how they're made, too, talking about the importance of a higher chance of survival for the Persona-User community... and then moves right into a sales pitch. Shinobu shakes her head.

"Excellent segue, boss." Shinobu comments.

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.

Everyone sees the flaws in the masks... and Remi pops another cookie into her mouth.

It is definitely familiar to Remi, as Myunghon notes. But that's a lead she'll follow up on later. That's her own personal business, and right now she's on the job.

"You have such insights into the worlds of Koalas, my dear Merry. Truly, it is a blessing to know them through your words."

Remi--are you enabling her? Yes, yes she is.

She'd help with the demonstration, if she could, to preserve Myunghon's precious SP, but... there are some logistical issues. And she's not about to ask to borrow an Evoker.

Yukari expresses skepticism about Demons. "There are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy, dear Archer," Remi says calmly. "Our dear Merry is many things, but they are not a liar."

Of course, she's on the payroll, so take that for what it's worth.

She smiles to Reiya. "They are certainly an experience." But that might just be Myunghon's philosophy on them. He claims they don't have solidarity, though. "But don't they? They come in a box." She fishes into her own box and pulls out... two thjat are stuck together. "And see how they cling to one another, desparate for connection."

And then she calmly pops them both into her mouth and chews them.

"The savings are quite real, I assure you. But they will only last as long as the Dark Hour does, so please act quickly." The flyer did say midnight-25:00, after all. "And is it so shocking, besides, that a merchant of fine wares would wish their clientele to survive long enough to be a repeat customer?" 

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    Umie goes quiet as Shinjiro mentions he doesn't use his persona. Maybe, he *does* have a Mark. Why else would anyone be covering up even more than she does in this early June warmth?

    Though... if that more telling of her, that she'd assume that from that little?

    "You'd be surprised. But don't take it to be a good thing, either," Umie says, in a slightly singsong voice. "A humored demon may expect more 'comedy' from you." Is that... a twinge of embarrassing experience in that adorable blackbird mask's voice near the end? No, no. No one has to know about those incidents. Especially the Pixie one.

    "So, to clarify," Umie says, now to Myunghon, "what is useless in Tokyo or Tatsumi, but not Sumaru? I missed the question." Because she was too busy bothering Neko-san. (Maybe it's the Badb in her that gets attracted to a certain level of misery.)

     .... 20 percent sale. Well, that figures. "I take it some elements will be more costly than others?" She discreetly takes a look around, trying to identify others by their voices. She, of course, does not realize Katsuya was taking at look at *her* due to her earlier question.

    Ahh, the masquerade of masks. 

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    You don't know what tricks someone will try to use against you on a supernatural field. That, in his experience, certainly seems to be true...

    How do they know Myunghon's Persona didn't just have it before? Well, there's one way to showcase that, and while Katsuya's breadth and depth of Persona knowledge are a little lacking at this juncture, he does know from his own little group that Personas tend to have their specialties. That no one can really do 'everything'. It's just like real life, in a way...
    That settles it. So 'cards like this' really do work as advertised.

    Myunghon answers his question: even if Helios doesn't care for water, there's nothing stopping him from stacking the related card onto it regardless. "Hmm. I see," he muses, folding his arms across his chest. It would probably look a lot more slick if he weren't currently wearing a mask featuring Lunar, the Black Moon Cat.

    So that's what she'd alluded to before. It's possible to 'earn' a card with the cards received from Shadows and demons. "It's possible to negotiate with Demons, but..." he muses aloud, considering his own interactions with Shadows comparatively. He'd come to no harm: it hadn't taken him long to realize they couldn't be reasoned with (insofar as one can 'reason' with a demon to start). "So, when they're destroyed, then: is that where they come from?" He has not yet learned of Mementos.

    For a moment, Katsuya regards Myunghon with fresh eyes. Has he misjudged them--?

    Oh. ...Still, it's not as if he can argue with a sale. "I suppose it isn't a bad idea to pick up some more," he acknowledges. 

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    Sorry, Aragaki-san. They'll catch the baton on the pass eventually. By that point, they might be convinced there actually is something resembling a soul within themselves, not an amorphous primordial blob in the shape of a person that's really good at delivering person-shaped responses.

    But they don't use their Persona...? There's a story there, but one Myunghon doesn't want to probe, right now. It'll be dangerous for him in Sumaru without a Persona, though...

    "It's okay, Truth-kun. One day... one day, you'll hear the Koalas," Myunghon responds to Reiya, as if this is going to be an inevitability. It's as Remi says. The Koala is a creature most embodied by its clinging posture, depicted always needing to grab hold and hug onto something, despite there being nothing. It wants to embrace, but is afraid of being punctured in turn... wait, that's Hedgehogs. Oh well, live and learn!

    Yumi -- Yukari -- has a very, very interesting response, though. They don't believe Demons are real? Their world of Persona-Users really is vastly different. "Hmmm. So what is the difference between a Shadow and a Demon? Don't you think it's a little bit like how they say, 'Soda Pop' in one county, but 'Cola' in another, regardless of what the drink is?"

    There was a different metaphor here in the original version.

    The demonstration is pretty exhausting, but it seems to have had an effect, because Yukari is at least considering it. It's time to seal the deal, and for that...

    FaR Nii-chan reaches for the mask, and then just takes the round, mikan-like mask off, revealing the surprisingly handsome, one could say, face underneath, if it weren't half-covered in bandages, including over their right eye. A large square of bandage is on their left cheek. Their hair is stark-white, fluffy and cut to the short of their neck.

    "That was far too hot," Myunghon speaks, taking a gulp of water from their Aqua spellcard demonstration, and then a small handful of Koalas.

    Umie asks to clarify what's useful in Sumaru. "You can't use your Persona in public spaces in Tokyo, but it's a different story in Sumaru. And the more flexible you are with how you use it, the safer you'll be in Sumaru. For instance... that disappearing person -- what if they used Illuzone to simply fool you into thinking they were still standing next to you, and by the time that spell wore off, they actually had walked off fifty meters?"

    There's a faint smile as they share, for free: "A Mafui spell, usually used to silence Demons, can be shaped in a little bubble around you to make sure you have a private conversation. Persona-Users who live in Sumaru do better when they learn these little tricks."

    There's a knowing look to the Cat at this point, like the cat that's totally not a police officer would find this useful. But they also answer their question: "I do not know of anyone who knows the whole truth of Shadows, or if Demons come from within them. I have an inkling that is a question we will all need to dig at, together."

    Reiya points out that they're not being honest anymore. This boy has an impeccable knack for truth-telling. An incredible skill, a valuable asset... and a danger. But adults lie for all kinds of reasons, Aomori-kun... because truth is incredibly devalued in their lives.

    "Tell you what," Myunghon offers to Yukari and Reiya. "I can tell you've come a long way to a weird place during a dangerous hour, and what's being sold in front of you sounds like fantasy. Here, why don't I give each of you a free card as a sample? You can play with it and decide for *yourself* if it's useful or not. A gift, from Rumourmonger Merry."

    There's a small selection of basic cards for Reiya and Yukari to peruse -- they nudge one that looks like a translucent sphere of gravity is crushing a Shadow within to Yukari, and one that looks like a skilled lancer is raining jabs at thin air with their spear at Reiya, as a starting suggestion.

    There's a little look to Remi, as if to apologise at swerving right despite her strong sales pitch. One could cynically see this as the way a drug dealer entices their audience -- the first hit is free. And of course, that's entirely within the modus operandi of this incredibly shady person! Or... it could be a gesture of good will, a handshake from Sumaru's Persona-User community to Tatsumi's.

    That Myunghon doesn't have to say which one puts them at ease. A nod, in turn, to Shinobu and Remi. 

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

Shinjiro Aragaki definitely has a Mark. For sure! He's not just cold as hell, shivering even in this warm room. (The Bufu may have done him in.)

But, he finally turns to Reiya, since Shinjiro's not buying Spell Cards. "You've got something you want to say?" he asks, especially after Yukari reads his face and finds it stone cold.

"Are you sure you should be drinking that?!" he then interrupts, suddenly asking Myunghon. They drank magic water! WHY? 

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    Myunghon's singular eye gawks at Shinjiro's alarm, becoming goldfish-like. You can just hear the enormous cogs in their brain get really excited.

    Side-quest: Analyse the potability of water produced by Aqua spells 

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

When Shinjiro calls her out for staring too long, she eventually says, "... Not really." It's part her backing down because he can be intimidating, but it's also just part her not wanting to dig too dangerously.
 
If he knows Mitsuru Kirijo then...

It REALLY does feel weird when Shinobu is looking through a Pikablu mask at her. She gets it kinda at summer festivals when all the kids are wearing them, but an adult!?
 
"Uhh... sure, I bet you have."
 
Whereas Remi she gives an odd look, "Is that a line from a play or something? It sure sounds like it..." Followed up by Umie stating demons need comedy in a sing-songy voice. She looks sideways, "... if I stumbled on into some Sumaru City Dark Hour Community Theater Troupe I'm gonna be upset."
 
Then Merry? She causes her to furrow her brow and... "Uh... does that just mean you call Shadows... Demons?" She sighs, "Now you've just got me all confused. But if that's what you mean, sure I guess?"
 
Katsuya's comment only confuses her further on negotiating with demons who are Shadows or maybe not???
 
And then, FaR Nii-chan yanks the mask off-! And- bandages!? ... Actually that's not so shocking, nor is the White Hair, she's been to Takenoko Street.
 
"I mean, duh?" She responds to the Mask being hot, "Why'd you even wear it if you were going to take it off?" The SALE happens though, and Yukari looks forward.
 
"Hmmm, well..."
 
Yukari looks at each one critically... like she's skeptical of her intentions. Gravity Crushing... then something Physical.
 
"... I guess, if it's for free."
 
Yukari's hand hovers over them and then... takes the Phys card, and slides Reiya the Gry card. "Here you go I guess. Geez..." She complains to him sideways. "The girls back at the Dorm are definitely going to think I got into that CCG thing they were talking about."
 
A beat.
 
"Now I guess we gotta go to some place that sounds like a cabaret lounge and talk to a couple of weirdos before we go back..."
 

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.

The score... Reiya does know it. He knows many scores. "Thank you, Pika-san." She seems loyal to her boss. That's a good quality!

Remi quotes Shakespeare to Yukari, and Reiya tilts his head. "Hamlet," he recognizes. "...She isn't inexperienced," he says, feeling a burst of... team pride? Is that what it is? "There's no need for a tone like that." A look to Yukari. "It's Shakespeare."

A pause. But they are an experience, and he doesn't smile back, but he does tilt his head. "...This is a metaphor," he realizes. "I see. The poetic capabilities of... koala crackers." Truth-kun, Myunghon calls him. "I'm not sure that I want to hear the Koalas."

He frowns.

Umie gets a clarification,and mentions elements. And Shinjiro--

"..." He asks about the water that Myunghon drinks. Reiya tilts his head. "...Did you not... think about it before you did it...?"

They consider the mask, and the person. What's there... "...Hm."

Reiya does not understand the lies of adults, of course. He knows what it is to hide the truth, but he's not nearly as good at bending it.

Shinjiro asks, though--does he have something to say? "No," he says. "I don't know enough about you to be sure what I should say. But you know Kirijo-san..."

He remembers to answer her anyway. "Hmmm." He regards Myunghon. "Merry-san," he confirms. "..."

He's not sure what to call them other than that...

Well, it's fine. Reiya looks down at the card and accepts the Gry card. "Are they into that?" he wonders. "I haven't tried that kind of game..."

"..."

"...Don't you think most people are weirdos?" he points out. Then he pauses. "Free is OK. We might be back."

But this is two samples... 

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    The bandages... aren't just part of the costume? Or, is it a costume on top of a costume? Could it be Umie should look at Myunghon's wrist too? Someone who bears one would inevitably think of ways of keeping their identity more nebulous, if not outright hidden.

    Moreover, Umie mistook Yukari completely, which she doesn't realize until Myunghon answers her 'question'. "... They're two different threats, at least in Sumaru," Umie then clarifies, taken aback. But then, did Umie herself only knew recently that demons *didn't* exist outside of Sumaru City. (She hasn't discovered Mementos yet.)

    'Personas can only be summoned in certain areas.' 'Demons exist.' It feels strange, to have these things explained. Trial and error shouldn't be the marker of how knowledge is gained, though. It makes sense.

    'I do not know of anyone who knows the whole truth of Shadows, or if Demons come from within them.'
    
    It's helpful that the mask obscures the way Umie's expression.

    She'll be picking up that Illuzone.

    Recovering, Umie walks over, looking for the card in question, but offering a sly comment to Yukari and Reiya. "You'll find out, soon enough. Word of advice: bring things to barter with." (There's nothing quite like trying to convince an oni that Satomi Tadashi can't take pocketlint as legal tinder.)

    That's her helpful (former) senpai deed done for the day. 

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.

Yukari's scepticism is met with a casual shrug - and Reiya, meanwhile, gets a nod.

"Sure thing." She replies. Pika-san, huh... She has a name now. And it's as she's thinking that that Myunghon removes their mask. Shinobu watches with interest.

A show of good faith? Revealing their face to them, since they walked in without concealing their identity at all...

The further elaboration on Personas and where they can be used - as well as the interesting question of the relationship between Demons and Shadows... but what gets a smirk out of Shinobu is the comment on the way different spells can be used.

It's really fascinating, the way different spells can be used to fit the user's need. Her Persona, in comparison, is a bit more of a blunt object. It says a bit more about her than anything - but at least she'll have a light source wherever she goes, so long as the atmosphere is right.

She does raise an eyebrow, though, when Myunghon offers Yukari and Reiya the cards for free. A gesture of good will?

Shinobu nods back at Myunghon.

And, after a moment of consideration, she reaches up -

Pikablu's head is removed from her shoulders. Shinobu is thankful these are high-school kids. Any younger, and she might be responsible for a few nightmares. The mascot head is set aside as she goes for her bottled water and takes a sip.

It wasn't asked of her, but that's fine.

"If you see me around, don't be afraid to reach out, Dark Hour or not." Shinobu comments. "...But I'd get it if you want to steer clear of 'Pika-san'." 

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.

If Umie is looking for those who are exceptionally covered up, she might also take note of Remi, who, even though this is summer and the air conditioning isn't working, is wearing several layers and tights, besides... though she at least makes an attempt to have it be fashionable.

She sighs a little, giving a small shake of her head as Myunghon just takes the mask off. What was even the point, then...?

Then again, it's not like it'd be too hard to find out who runs the Cardboard Dragon... still, it's all about plausible deniability, isn't it?

She glances sidelong as Merry just offers to give Yukari and Reiya a free skill card. On the one hand, that's not how you turn a profit. But on the other... they could consider it a loss leader, couldn't they?

She catches taht look and gives the barest of shrugs. It's your business, you make the calls.

Besides, if those two have Evokers... Remi's not opposed to extending a bit of goodwill towards them in exchange for potential future answers.

"Our Merry is quite talented," Remi says to Shinjiro. "Why would such a simple feat not be within their grasp?"

There is only an enigmatic smile as Yukari asks if that was a line from a play. But to see that Reiya can identify it, she smiles just a bit more warmly. "Perish the thought, dear traveler," she addresses Reiya. "I sought merely to offer a gentle word of caution."

But are Shdows just Demons? Remi's tone grows serious. "But that I am forbid to tell the secrets of my shadowed house, I could a tale unfold whose lightest words word would harrow up thy soul, and freeze thy young blood. I assure you, they are quite separate, and you should not confuse one for the other."

Then she smiles again. "After all, we would hate to see any dear customer come to harm. We do hope you enjoy your samples."

But she smiles to Umie as she comes over. "And what may we assist you with today? Perhaps an Illuzone skill card?" She's set the crackers down now, and looks ready to start handling business. "Ariel, at your service," since she hasn't introduced herself yet.

Maybe Remi will recognize that one, too.

But she watches with interest as Shinobu also removes her mask. She makes no move to do the same. 

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    The man in the cat mask stares right at Myunghon as she drinks water from a spell.

    [LOGIC]: Surely that can't be safe. But, where does that water come from? is there a lake somewhere that's slightly less full? You distinctly recall your physics teacher speaking about the first law of thermodynamics: energy must be conserved and cannot be created or destroyed. Where does the 'energy' behind a Persona's spells come from? ...Is it possible that you're overthinking this?

    Fortunately, in his own thoughts is not where he remains.

    "'Hamlet', is it? Hmm, a classic," he observes, of Remi's quotation.

    "No, in my experience, Shadows and Demons are quite different. Though, I wonder if Demons show up in the Dark Hour," he muses, unfolding his arms. He'd be quite the 'cool cat' if it weren't for the unblinking anime cat eyes of his mask...

    That much he's learned -- and confirmed -- for himself. Outside the Dark Hour, it's not possible to use a Persona outside Sumaru. He adds, "It isn't even true in all of Sumaru. It isn't possible in some places." Though as to why, he couldn't begin to guess. It's caused a problem in their pursuit of the 'Joker Killer'. If he's in the place that 'Baofu' suggested it was, then...

    Can they confront the killer without their Personas? Can they even reach the killer's room? It isn't possible to use his badge to try to force the matter as things stand: if word got back to the station that he was acting without orders, or forcing his way into a civilian location without cause, then he would certainly be fired. No, that's not an acceptable path.

    So, how is best to solve this?

    Myunghon provides a few more tips and tricks. That effect the blackbird masked person had asked about could have been through 'Illuzone'? And Mafui can be used to... hmm. Considering the way his home city has turned out to be, perhaps it's good that he's learning all this. Who knows how many people could have been using their Personas for ill, and for so long? Of course, unless they're caught breaking a law, there's not much he can do (and even less while being 'on leave') but...

    "I see... so that isn't known." Or if it is known, Katsuya considers, it's not anything anyone is feeling like telling.

    But the blackbird girl has one tip to pass along. "Yes. Some of the fairy-like demons appreciate shiny objects," he observes. Like crows, or so he's been told about the birds.

    In any case, he supposes he had better buy some more cards while the price is right, even if his wallet is going to be hurting some (again). 

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    "I'll be fine. I'm best buddies with Dettol," Myunghon dramatically declares to Shinjiro and Reiya on the topic of potable water. ... how does that even relate to each other? Please don't drink antiseptic fluids, Myunghon. Or is it possible that their digestive system has levelled up to an iron stomach due to years of abuse?! (No, this isn't it, either.)

    "I was hot," Myunghon pouts. But also because they intuited that taking the mask off is a gesture of trust. It might be useless. But Myunghon's face is not a secret in Hirasaka, or the Rumourmonger community. They weren't going to operate as a shadow operative any longer.

    They were going to be hope.

    "You've got a long night ahead of you, huh? Stay safe out there. Even outside the Dark Hour, Sumaru can be rough," Myunghon does suggest to Yukari.

    Hamlet, huh? Reiya's more educated -- or just read -- than Myunghon expects. And to that end, he also applies a literary critique to Koalas. "We might not want to, but we all will... one way or another. The cracked-shell of the March, spilling onto one another, is ultimately but an experience in life."

    Are most people weirdos?

    "I like weirdos above all," Myunghon answers Reiya, with a surprising amount of lucidity. This might be the most unsurprising thing in the world coming from them, the capital-W Weirdo.

    Ooh, interesting... Blackbird-san is in possession of a lot of knowledge. Demons and Shadows are separate? It is true that they're separate threats, but Myunghon had not identified anyone who was capable of parsing them apart. They have their differing characteristics, but the truth behind them...?

    "Blackbird-san is right. I've been in the act of entertaining Demons for a long time and... you never know what kind of thing they'll be fickle about."

    Shinobu, however, chooses to take off her mask alongside them. There's a fond little smile there, more than they'd admit. It feels pretty good. "It's true, we do our share of community service. Ariel-san too." Myunghon understands Remi not wanting to remove the mask. It looks pretty good on her, really.

    The way she says Merry kind of butterflies her, though. Aww, stop complimenting her so much! Her Ego will become so big it will become a boss fight. It's all just business, however. They let Remi ring up Katsuya and Umie's purchases, listening to her quotes for a moment.

    .... it reminds them of high school again. What thou seest when thou dost wake, do it for thy true-love take...

    That world doesn't exist anymore.

    There's a remarkable candidness about the way the Lunar Cat speaks of how the faeries like shiny objects, though. They imagine what it was like for them, their first time, in Sevens, perhaps? Negotiating with faeries...

    ... did they lose their shiny police badge to a faerie?

    It's okay, Sergeant Suou. Yeo won't tell.

    Suddenly, it's as if the world shifts -- and the sickly-green hue passes, and the sudden roar of an air conditioner coming to life fills the dead space of the room. The Dark Hour is over. The noises of sirens and passing cars outside suddenly are palpable.

    "Just in time! That means our tills are working again. Ariel-san, you'll do the honours? Thank you for your patronage at the Cardboard Dragon, we hope you'll consider patronage with us again!" 

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

3:32 on a Freeway between Tokyo and Tatsumi Port Island
 
Yukari was trying to get some sleep, trying... her head against the window of an old compact car that Shuuji Ikutsuki was driving both her and Reiya back to Tatsumi Port Island.
 
She was failing because...
 
"Tell me Aomori-kun... when someone asks you to perform an arduous task during school hours... do you ever answer 'Shur-I-ken?'"
 
Yukari groans yet again...
 
"... I can't take this anymore, Chairman... it's gotta be past three in the morning."
 
"Is it really? Well you know what they say... time flies when you're having pun."
 
And that is the story of how Yukari Takeba screamed into the side of her schoolbag at three in the morning.

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