2025-08-04: A Thoughtful Gift

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<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    Myunghon is upset.

    Really, really upset. The one time they're out of town, and Kasu High just had to get invaded by the Joker Killer and allies? What kind of luck is that? Actually, not even that unreasonable as far as luck goes, given that they are on the prowl most days -- being home was more of an indication of their idleness than anything. Still... they haven't found any further clues on Kaneshiro's Palace, which is frustrating them to no end.

    Right now, they're perched on the couch, facing Shinobu with a first-aid kit and other first-line medical tools out, doing a... is it surprising that Myunghon is good at BANDAGING someone, given that they're half a mummy at all times? The jury's still out on that.

    "This is going to sting a bit..." Myunghon murmurs, as they dab a disinfectant-soaked wad of wool to a cut. "Okay. Just apply that and tighten... okay, done."

    There's a despondent little sigh, as they tuck their head back and lull to one side. "I'm regretful I wasn't around. But I am glad it wasn't as bad as it could have been." 

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.

It's been luck all around, it seems. It was only a tight schedule that prevented the Joker Killer his taciturn assistant, and their people on the outside from murdering them all. A lot of people got hurt, and that kid that got axed...

...Shinobu hopes he pulls through.

Still, she needs looking after herself after all of that and she can't exactly go to a normal hospital... but, thankfully, there's someone she knows she can trust.

Shinobu reclines on the couch, she has at least been a receptive patient - though a hiss escapes her lips as that disinfectant makes contact. She tenses - but doesn't pull back, as that bandage is applied.

She rolls her arm a little to test it out, though she tries not to strain it too much.

"That should do it... Thanks, boss. You're a life-saver." Shinobu replies gratefully... and then, shakes her head. "...Don't beat yourself up over. It was kinda short notice. And no one died, at least.."

Yet, she doesn't add.

"...Yeah. Coulda been a lot worse." She mutters. She needs to get stronger, if people like that are going around... 

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

Moriko's not here with her brother. She's also not here in a school uniform. Why would she be? It's a day off. It's also hot enough that she's really not feeling wearing the full leathers getup and doesn't want her bike ID'd anyway. She's wearing a pale green sundress instead, complete with comfortable sandals and a satchel. Also a buckethat that she's got pulled down over her eyes to obfuscate her face a bit. There's a bag over her shoulder with a few other stops she'd made. Other geeky things.
 
 She'd ignored talk about gifts for her boyfriend and other things. Why correct them? Not worth the headache.
 
 She pushes her way into the last stop on her list. Intending to probably spend a bit of time here on her day off. She'd seen something strange recently and watned to talk about it.
 
 She also went to Tartarus recently and wanted to talk about that. The TCG card set being strange was just more on her mind at the moment because it was easier to think about and mundane's not always a bad thing.
 
 She.. does slow down and come to a stop though. Staring at the other two. She should probably say something. Right?
 
 Would hi, I'd like to buy a box of cards count? That can wait. "Hey."
 
 It's kind of lame isn't it. 

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.

Ikkaku Watanabe has been very busy with work, especially since the Joker Killer killed the principal at Sevens! So he finally gets a little downtime, and how does he spend it?

...Well, look. This is important, OK?

"Yeo-san?" he asks as he walks in through the front door. He's a man of fairly average height, with shaggy brown hair and purple eyes, in a suit. He walks in further, and he's holding a briefcase!

"Oh!" he starts, and blinks. "Shinobu-chan?" he asks. "Are you hurt?"

He then sees the STUDENT and smiles because he's a friendly kind of guy. 

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.

    Is that glass of water on the countertop rippling dangerously? Is there a faint, far-away cry of 'dohohoho' dopplering closer? Well, no, So-young isn't that powerful. But just as Ikkaku enters through the front, a vivacious woman enters from the back, busting into the store as if she belongs there with an aura of confidence to match.

    If you pay real close attention to details she looks slightly similar to Myunghon - pale hair if not for the black streaks running through it, grey eyes - but she couldn't be more different in mannerisms and dress, wearing a long black dress with a tastefully flattering amount of frill and lace but not so much that it gets her, say, thrown out of the orchestra hall. A pair of branded sunglasses perch in her hair, apparently just for fashion's sake?? "Hello~!" she calls brightly--

    --and then actually pays attention to the scene, noting the girl being patched up by Myunghon and the customers(?) browsing the cards and the man with the suitcase waiting patiently and politely to be seen to. Barely batting an actual eyelid, she immediately changes tack. "Don't mind me!" she immediately adds in a bright sort of voice, setting her violin case down and plonking herself down next to Shinobu without a care in the world.

    Warning! You are in danger of getting fussed at! 

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    "Of course. You've done much the same for me, so don't mention it," Myunghon quietly speaks, even as Shinobu tells them to not beat themself up about it. It feels... kinda personal, somehow. It happened in their back yard. A kid got seriously wounded. Perhaps that's their pride of being part of the Hirasaka community talking.

    Before long, however, they have company, and Myunghon reflexively lifts themself off the couch and rises like a beanpole. There's an arced eyebrow as they glance their singular eye over. "Ah, Moriko-kun. You've come quite a ways on a Wednesday. Please, come in."

    Coming in not after is... Myunghon doesn't immediately recognise the man, but there's a singular blink as Myunghon is addressed. Oh, interesting? Who could this be... he doesn't feel associated with the yakuza even as a solicitor or an accountant, and they're not familiar with the pool of corrupt solicitors that he could be part of... could this be someone else Kaneshiro sent? The briefcase -- well-worn, perhaps an academic or a professional of some kind--

    Shinobu-chan? Are you hurt?

    "Ah--" Myunghon glances back towards Shinobu, biting her lip. "I just finished first-aid on her. It's okay, there was just a minor traffic accident. Really, Sumaru drivers, sir! I'm pretty sure the guy was drunk-driving..."

    Smooth, just like that. An excuse ready to be deployed off their sleeve.

    They're dressed in their usual suit jacket, complete with the long coat draped over their shoulder. "Ah, nuna." Elder sister. There's a slight frown as they plonk right beside Shinobu, but there's customers to worry about. "Can I assist the both of you with anything this fine day?" 

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.

"...Thanks." Shinobu replies to Myunghon with a nod. She's appreciative - and she can tell, perhaps, how it feels personal. She knows they care a lot about this place, and for them to have something happen while they were busy with something else...

...Well, she can't blame Myunghon if it's eating them up. And then, she looks up. The bell doesn't ring, because there isn't a bell. But the door does open, and people start to come into the shop. Shinobu winces. ...Of course there'd be people here on the day she comes in injured... she doesn't like people seeing her like this. Still, she offers a wave with her free hand.

"Hey. ...Kumamoto, right? Welcome to the Cardboard Dragon. Let us know if you need anything." Shinobu replies to Moriko's greeting, remembering her from the fair in Yongen-jaya. She could've relaxed a little if it was just her, because she doesn't need to explain herself to her... but then, a familiar face walks through the door.

Ikkaku - her sister's husband.

"Oh, hey, Ikkaku-kun... nah, it's nothing serious, just -" She fumbles awkwardly, trying for an excuse, and then "Wha -"

So-young plops right down next to her. She scoots over a bit to make some room for her.

"Uh... hey." She greets. She remembers her from the unpleasant meeting with the Yakuza, so she knows she's fairly consistent here.

And, thankfully, Myunghon provides her with an excuse.

"Yeah. It's alright, I'll probably be good in a day or too... I'm tough, y'know?" She agrees with a nod toward Ikkaku. She flexes her injured arm indicatively... and suppresses an internal wince. Probably shouldn't have done that... 

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

Moriko's cheeks color and she mutters, "That wasn't my best showing. Sorry." She holds her hands up at that. She probably should have put her uniform on properly, but that had been a little bit of protest.
 
 She would do it again too.
 
 "Are you two okay?" She at least sounds concerned there. Watching Myunghon work on a patient. "I uh-" she starts, when she's greeted by Shinobu. She's about to stumble over whether she wants cards, to ask Myunghon about something she'd heard, or the third option of using her brother as a scapegoat again when a businessman shows up, complete with briefcase.
 
 "What happened?" It sounds like she had to force herself past a lot of things to ask that. Like she wants to help rather htan slink away.
 
 Eventually she just sucks it up and says, "Wanted to look at the new sets too. Pick up a box probably." She's a regular. And the geezer behind her won't recognize her right?
 
 Even if she's met that family recently. Oops. 

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

She steps aside when So-young slips by. Offering her a quick nod too. Maybe hse's still tired. She's not this shy normally. 

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.

Ikkaku notices the woman approaching from the back--very fashionable. Does he notice any similarity? Maybe, maybe not, but he definitely sees the violin case.

As to Myunghon though, he smiles once they look at him. He is an academic indeed, as it happens. And he's also related to Shinobu! (By marriage.)

He frowns. "Drunk drivers... With our train systems, there's really no need for it." A sigh.

Still, he looks between Myunghon and So-young, making the connection from what they say.

But it's Shinobu that most keeps his attention at first. It's nothing serious, she confirms, and... Well.

"You are," Ikkaku agrees with Shinobu. "And I know your work involves some risk. ...remember, we always have space if you want to come by and rest for a while."

A pause, then, as he looks to Myunghon. "So, actually! You already helped me," he says with a smile. It's a wry sort of smile, though. "Maybe too much. You see, my daughter gave me a present for her birthday, and when I inquired how and where she got it..."

"Well. I believe her when she says she came by it honestly, but I wonder if you meant to give it to her for as little as you seem to have!"

He looks over Moriko and--nope. Doesn't recognize her at all. "But I can wait until you see to this young lady's transaction of course," he says. "And until you're finished with what you're doing!"

Can he??? he's so busy. all the time.

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.

    Myunghon instantly surprises the woman who just settled on the couch, the musician's eyebrows visibly shifting up higher at the familial term. So-young can't really say she was expecting that, and it's probably going to take a little bit of time for her to even start working through how she actually feels about it all, but for now she grins back in greeting.

    "Nothing in particular! It was a morning performance, and the wrap-up was fast enough I had time to hop on a train over and brighten your doorstep," So-young notes with a happy lilt to her voice. "Everyone did very well, even if you count my everlasting feud with the triangle section. One day I will destroy them all." She does not elaborate, only nods solemnly before continuing. "Besides, any excuse for a train ride!"

    "Why are all the staff here either looking like they're either injured, or about to get injured?" she looks towards Shinobu, turning a dazzling smile on her despite the grousing. "Hello! My name is So-young Park. It's lovely to meet you! I hope Myunghon is treating you well, though it hardly looks like it right now. Whatever happened?" Is-- is she expecting a name in return, or just trying to blast Shinobu with charm? It's genuinely not clear.

    She's... not exactly snubbing Ikkaku, but her last encounter with people in suits at this shop didn't exactly end stunningly. At least the others seem more relaxed around him.
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<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    There's a wave of dismissal at Moriko's embarrassment, to indicate that Myunghon doesn't mind. "Just a little traffic accident." Drunk driver, like Ikkaku murmured! Of course, the true explanation is a supernatural incident, but traffic accidents are just really convenient excuses, much like gas explosions. Who doesn't love a good, mysterious gas explosion?

    "Ah, here you go, then," Myunghon gestures towards the counter, which is advertising hotly the new Vampire Baker set for the hottest new card game. "There's an album on the counter for singles, prices are tagged there as well. If you want to open some packs, we're happy to buy off anything you don't want either."

    But Myunghon connects the dots -- Ikkaku-kun? And then he explains what he's here about, and there's a momentary look of embarrassment from Myunghon. "Ah, I see. To be honest, perhaps a little bit," that's a bit of an understatement, "But it is true I did not put a price label on it, so my employee just had to make a best guess. I can hear from your daughter how much you'd appreciate it, so..."

    There's a more confident smile. "I would say a discount was worth letting her have the pride of bringing you a thoughtful gift, is it not, Watanabe-san?"

    Myunghon turns around again to So-young to sigh, saying, "As much as I love this neighbourhood, I admit its drivers aren't the most civil bunch at the best of times. You take that and the fact that the streets haven't been renovated, and there are lots of blind corners without mirrors..."

    A raised eyebrow, and a faint smile. "Well, it is true the trains are nice. But I imagine South Korea's are no slouch either?" Now they're terribly curious about that. 

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.

"You don't have to apologise to me." Shinobu replies with a one-armed shrug as Moriko apologises. She doesn't really care how a teenager wears their uniform - she sure didn't wear hers probably back when she was still in school. She'll let Myunghon handle the actual business side of things, though. They know what's new better than she does.

"...But yeah. I'm fine. Thanks for asking." She adds, then offers Ikkaku a smile. ...She feels awkward for a moment. She hates lying, but... it's better if he doesn't know. It's better if Ayame doesn't know, too, because she doesn't doubt he'd tell her.

"Yeah, I know. ...Thanks, man. I appreciate it." She replies, massaging the back of her neck. "Something happens next time in the area, I'll take you up on that. ...Though, uh, I'm sure you'll understand if I say I hope it doesn't."

She watches So-young for a moment and, remembering Myunghon's earlier form of address, adjusts some things in her head.

"Yeah, it's kind of a rough town..." Shinobu comments, agreeing with Myunghon with a nod. She's a little awkward in a way she usually isn't. She's not used to dealing with that kind of personality... "But, uh - Shinobu Shimizu. Nice to meet you."

She offers a nod to So-young, now.

"Honestly, they're saving me a lot of trouble right now, so I appreciate 'em. So I'd say they are." She replies. 

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

Moriko's look suggests some level of surprise. "Drunk driver?" She's going to step forward, sucking it up. It's not like she's not recognizable as a regular here. Though she somehow, luckily missed the whole yakuza thing. That might have been awkward.
 
 Ikkaku suggests a place to crash though and that gets a curious look, "What do you do?" Her natural curiosity overcoming that whole 'Geeky girl' thing she's somehow a little worried about. Tomboy's one thing. Otaku's another.
 
 "I'm uh. In no... rush." She assures the business suit.
 
 Speaking of curiosity, she is looking down at the violin case, "What's your uh. Genre?" That's not really the best opening question is it? She does offer her own name though, "Moriko Kumamoto" Both to So-Young and Shinobu. Also Ikkaku by proxy!
 
 "It was.. not my best showing though." There's a difference between defiance and sloppiness after all! "Thanks though." 

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.

Trains! And triangles! Ikkaku smiles politely about So-young but since she isn't really addressing him, he doesn't really focus on her either. It's fine! He is mostly here on Business.

An understatement. Yes, that's true. Ikkaku lifts an eyebrow at first--but then smiles. "Well," he says, "She was very happy at my reaction, so if that's what you wanted, then you succeeded. I just find the original Russian to have so much depth that a single translation has trouble capturing..."

A nod. "If that's how you feel, then I'll accept. But know that I'll take good care of it!"

Then he looks back to Shinobu and nods. "Yes, I also hope not! But I wanted to be sure you knew."

He accepts the LIES apparently as if they are true!

"I'm a teacher at Seven Sisters High," Ikkaku answers Moriko pleasantly. "Ikkaku Watanabe. My wife was here the other day; that's how this story started."

Trains are nice. Ikkaku smiles. "Hmmm, then... I'll at the least buy something since I'm here!"

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.

    "It's not like I'm going to compare them! More like I barely had any chance to take my time back in university. You wouldn't believe how hard they work you," the musician puffs out her cheeks towards Myunghon. "'Oh, So-young, you don't have any experience, so you'll need to work extra hard, hint hint!' I made extra sure to show them, so now I can ride all the trains I like."

    So-young does pause a little as the subject of local traffic comes up. "... ah, really?" she wonders aloud to both Myunghon and Shinobu's deflection. She doesn't really seem to connect the possibilities - even discounting supernatural issues, there's always a good chance that the accidents might have been mafia-related 'accidents', but it's more like the thought of watching the traffic patterns or even paying particular attention to cars at all hasn't crossed her mind up until now. "I suppose I'll be careful."

    Swinging back around to Tsubasa, So-young redoubles her smile. She's quite good at not crowding in too much but also not giving up her attention either, a slightly obnoxious habit because it makes it that much harder to escape the megawatt grin. "However did you manage to start working here? Myunghon's not working you too hard, I hope? What's their most embarrassing habit?" she rapid-fires pleasantly, winking along with the last question. That probably means she's not asking seriously. Probably.

    Peeking up over Tsubasa's head, the woman looks to Moriko. "Oh, anything and everything! Though if you mean professionally, I'm normally holding a baton rather than a violin." She mimes a wave of her hands in a conductor's motion. "If you're ever in Shibuya on a week-day, it's good odds you'll find me there! I'll get you good seats," she winks a second time.

    "This shop seems quite the hotbed for teachers, but I suppose that only makes sense," So-young adds to herself as she settles back in her seat, tapping at her cheek with a finger. She's still trying to figure out the ins and outs of this strange, sleepy shop under the mafia's watch. 

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    Myunghon does wonder if Ikakku is in the 'know', when he offers Shinobu a place to stay -- but given how reticient Shinobu is about it, they think it's become less likely. And by extension, Ayame too... hmm. It's hard being the only sister in the family awakened. ... though with So-young here, they've got an experience on that front too.

    "Given that you were on the clock when it happened, I'm certain we can pull some insurance and claims, so take it easy for the next few days, Shinobu-ssi," Myunghon smiles. This is also a lie, but it's their way of saying: don't worry about having to make ends meet with gigs while you recover. They've used the excuse more than once before.

    Myunghon looks back to Moriko. "So-young hasn't stopped reminding me about her shows. Pretty soon, I'll be due to watch one of her performances." They don't look as enthused about train rides, perhaps the side-effect of the privilege of just being born in a country with amazing train systems: it's ordinary to them.

    "So, do any of the cards look interesting to you?" Myunghon has slipped a Skill Card amongst the sleeved ones in the album. Time to see if Moriko notices it on the sly.

    "Hmmm.... well, that makes two of us, at the very least," Myunghon relates on So-young's time at university. Their university time was cut by one whole year, after all.

    They turn to Ikkaku, though, to say, "Ah, I remember talking about that with Ayame-san. I am a Sevens alumni myself. How's the school doing?" A pause. "Well... principal incident aside. That was quite shocking to hear about. I hope you're doing all right, Watanabe-san."

    Ikkaku is interested, though, so they move towards the shelves. "If you're interested in original copies, I've got a small selection here -- mostly fin de siecle authors, French and English... there are also annotated copies, if you prefer." 

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.

"We've all been there, kid. The only question's what you're going to do about it." Shinobu replies with another one-armed shrug, as Moriko says it wasn't her best showing. Ikkaku gets a smile. "Yeah, I appreciate that. I'll have to stop by sometime soon."

For reasons that aren't, hopefully, because she nearly got axe-murdered.

So-young says she'll be careful, though, and Shinobu nods.

"Yeah. I mean, I probably make it sound worse than it is, but... it doesn't hurt to watch out." She replies.

Myunghon makes an offer and Shinobu nods, grateful.

"Thanks, I appreciate that. That'll be a big help. I could probably use it..." She replies. She can read between the lines - this isn't the first time, indeed, and it's appreciated.

So-young has some questions for, though! Shinobu massages the back of her neck again.

"Nothing too exciting, y'know? I needed a job, they happened to be hiring... Worked there for a bit and it wasn't too bad, so the next time I found myself needing another one I asked if they still needed help." Shinobu replies with a shrug. ...That's only as much as she can say on the surface, though. "But, nah. They don't work me hard at all."

As for 'their most embarrassing habit'...

"Sorry. Trade secret." She replies with a wink. She won't throw them under the bus... Though partially because she thinks it'd be more interesting for her to find out for herself. 

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.

Ikkaku smiles at the talk of university, but doesn't interrupt. Instead, he looks to Shinobu again, and nods. "Yes," he says. "She'd like that." When Ikkaku says it, 'she' is almost always 'Ayame' if he doesn't specify. ...Even though there have been some troubles there, he speaks of her with more than fondness.

But they are having a nice conversation, and he's happy to focus on Myunghon now for the moment, and let Shinobu have her fun.

So he looks to them! "It's..." He considers. "The faculty and students are both doing their best. The students are bearing up really well, despite the difficulty--apparently the rumor is that our Emblem keeps them safe. ...I hope that's true."

A smile then. "Well, while I do love owning originals... I have to go with the annotations. Learning what someone else thought about it is a fascinating exercise!" 

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

The somewhat severe looking teen is starting to wonder if she accidentally stumbled into adult swim at this point. She's surrounded. And in a geek store and- oh well. Nothing to be done for it. "Ah-" she looks back to Ikkaku, nodding. "I don't think I know anyone at that school." She does offer a polite little bow of her head at least, "Your wife?" Why does that seem familiar.
 
 "I just don't like trains." She admits. "Less freedom in it." She holds her hands up and smiles briefly, "I might have to visit the park though. I do kinda like strings." Though So-Young being the conductor rather than the player gets a surprised look, "Wait really?" half wondering if she should ask if strings were pulled, but that's undercutting and not her intent so she catches herself. "Nice."
 
 She nods to Myunghon, "Yeah. Yeah..." she catches the look. Even as she begins to scan the cards. Idly pulling a few she'd like for her own deck. Though she pauses at the skill card. Slowly sliding it out and turning it over, then shooting Myunghon a look. "Wrong book?" It's a roundabout way of asking what's up.
 
 "If you know any courier jobs hiring students-" She suggests to Shinobu since you know, recent job searching. It's a shot in the dark, but she doesn't want to have to borrow, steal or call home for extra cash she can't explain.
 
 Though she does add, "If you need mechanical work done lemme know?" That's a bit more hopeful! 

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.

    "Hm hm hm," So-young chuckles to herself theatrically, then reaches into her bag and pulls out a rubber-banded little sheaf of rectangular pieces of cardboard. Gratis tickets. "Speaking of which, allow me to present... the friends and family allowance!" she cheers as she drops the little bundle on the table with a flourish. "I'll get you over to Shibuya yet. Then I'll drag you to Harajuku and get you all fashioned up. You'd make an amazing goth," she says to Myunghon with certainty.

    "Boo," So-young whines towards Shinobu. "What is family supposed to do if not adoringly and lovingly humiliate each other relentlessly? I guarantee, whatever it is, I've heard worse," she says blithely. There is absolutely no chance she has heard anything like what the people around the Cardboard Dragon regularly get up to.

    The musician's smile is more placid as she looks over towards the teacher. "Hmm... children will be children, but I'm sure they appreciate being able to see a friendly face around even in a place like this." It doesn't seem like she's trying to be rude with that comment... but she might simply not be thinking about it too hard.

    Beyond the movement to go get the bundle of tickets, So-young's hands haven't actually stopped idly moving, and she hums along a little with whatever snatch of melody is running through her mind, a graceful sweep of her arm accompanying it. She takes some care to make the movement reach to the tip of her fingers. "Not every conductor is a crusty old fossil. Oh, but don't get me wrong, a whole lot of them certainly are," she adds with a grin.
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<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    "Oh, right! Shinobu-ssi, Ayame-san helped set up the new game console. It's by that television set over there," Myunghon inadvertently sounds a generation older because who says 'television set' anymore. "I remember you liked videogames, so if you have some titles you'd like to bring in, feel free to do that."

    Shinobu doesn't sell them down the river. Though perhaps, being metaphorically sold down the river... is ALSO an act of Magic River Teleportation?! Hmmm. They're going to have to try it sometime. They can teleport straight to Embarrassment! What a deal!

    Myunghon turns to Ikkaku again and hums quietly. "Well, there's basically almost no cost to keeping one on hand, even if it's something like a lucky charm, right?" they offer, on the topic of the Emblems protecting from the Joker Killer. They know the broader truth of it, and it looks like that rumour has been effective...

    But on the topic of originals and annotations... "Ah, then if that's what's captivated your interest, perhaps I can interest you in these." They pull out some books -- hardcover. "This is a recent annotation of Gustave Flaubert's plays, Le Château des curs and Le Candidat, which I found interesting to read, because it offers a newer Japanese perspective on older French classics."

    Moriko asks them if they got the wrong book. There's a wide smile as they watch Moriko with the Skill Card. To Ikkaku and So-young, it probably just looks like any old trading card. "Ah, good eye, Moriko-kun. That one gets overlooked by a lot of people, but it's quite powerful in the right hand. I can part with that for cheap, since it's not overtly in demand."

    Myunghon's blood freezes for a moment, because So-young starts nattering about Harajuku and fashion, and they'd never hear the end of it if they found out they went to the Peacock Silk in angura. "Please... Harajuku? Don't pretend like you're hip because you went to a glorified Forever 21, nuna."

    ... oh dear. Why would someone who doesn't know about fashion know about that? No, Rumourmonger privileges. RIght?

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.

Shinobu smiles when Ikkaku comments that Ayame would like that. ...It's good to hear that fondness in her voice. She's glad to know they're happy together.

Moriko asks if she knows any courier jobs hiring students though and Shinobu frowns thoughtfully, thinking to herself.

"Uhh... lemme see... I know some people. I can ask around, see if any of my usual guys needs another courier. I can get back to you?" Shinobu replies, scratching her cheek. "Mechanical work, though... I don't need any of that, sorry. But I can check if anyone else does."

Adoringly and lovingly humiliate each other, huh? Shinobu chuckles fondly at that. It's a little nostalgic... She's an older sister, too - even if Ayame is the oldest of the three.

"Sure. But I wouldn't wanna rob you of finding out on your own." She replies. With that, though, she picks herself up out of the sofa as Myunghon calls out to her - a little cautiously, to make sure her injuries are set.

From the way they talk, it'd be hard to guess that Shinobu's older.

"Oh yeah? Lemme see what you're working with, then. I've got a few, so..." Shinobu replies. It was for Draque Adventure 3, right...? She remembers it got a remake a generation later - she wonders if they got the older one or the newer one... She walks up to the TV - and stares, blankly. Wordlessly, she looks back to Myunghon.
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<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    Oh no. It's Draque's Adventure 3: Honour Amongst Thieves, a very popular shooting adventure game where a Rugged Western Adventure Man is finding out the secret of the City of Gold.

    This is pointedly not the game Reiko loves, with the cute little Slimes. 

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

Moriko had to try. Phoning home and asking for cash is always awkward. Really. "Shame. I'll keep looking around too. I uh. I've kept my grades up for it." Which suggests she might be feeling bad she's leaning on the old guy's good will.
 
 She nods to Myunghon, giving another funny look, before she skims the rest of the book. Setting her collection down with the new, strange card on top. Fishing out her cash to pay for that stack. She'd been saving up for the set after all! "A box too please." Saving for a while...
 
 In an undertone, she leans in and asks, "Got a uh, user guide for whatever that is?"
 
 "Goth goth or the dress and and stockings type?" She probably shouldn't butt in, but she had to ask. 

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.

    So-young looks more scandalized than Myunghon has ever seen her, any thought of the skill card completely gone from her mind. This is, at least, an excellent way to distract her, it seems. "Excuse me! I am hip because I am hip! _And_ because I know not to use the word 'hip' in any kind of company, let alone polite company! Hmf. As if I'd go anywhere fast-fashion," she grumbles as she folds her arms.

    It's likely that So-young believes that Myunghon is simultaneously impossibly old and also very definitely the younger sister. It just kind of happened that way. "Oh, believe me, I intend to crowbar all her embarrassing secrets into view eventually," she frowns towards Shinobu--

    --before her head almost swivels around to Moriko, horror-movie style. There is some distinct deliberation. "Mere moments ago, I would have insisted on a ruffled shirt and leather pants for my dear sister. Now I am thinking we need... pink," she slams the word down like it's a tombstone. "A lot of pink." 

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.

    Myunghon does look back to Shinobu with a silently dead stare, because yes, Ayame has informed them: this is the wrong game. HELP. They have a Baestation III! It cost them like 50,000 yen or more! It's an unavoidable red on their books and they can't possibly cook it to look anywhere near feasible!!

    "W-well, I was thinking of having it be a draw point for the store. Give siblings and partners who aren't interested in card games something to do..." Myunghon muses.

    They pull up the purchase for Moriko, perhaps relishing the individual little 'beeps' as they scan barcodes. "Here you are, and I'll give you a bag and..." A pause. "I think you'll find that it's quite easy to put in a deck once you muse on it a little. And there are forums that can help if you're having trouble."

    They mean Dark Side of Sumaru, which inevitably does have at least one thread chatting about skill cards.

    Myunghon leans backwards, however, looking at So-young. Their look is inevitably a bit distant as they remark, "Oh dear, you're going to turn me into a strawberry shortcake. With cream finishings and a mascarpone cherry ontop? Knowing her, Moriko-kun, it definitely is the dress and stockings type." Typical, perhaps. 

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.

Yeah, that's - that's not the console Shinobu was expected. She saw the TV coming in, of course, but she figured they might have gotten one of those converter set-ups...

Either Reiko's tastes have gotten a bit more modern since the last time they talked video games, or, more likely...

"Are you... sure you got the right one?" Shinobu asks tentatively. ...And they're sure, alright - sure they didn't. Shinobu winces sympathetically. ...Yeah, she's looked at those prices. She can imagine how much it set them back, because she doesn't think she'd be able to afford one even if she sold all of her belongings. And now they've got a nice, shiny monument to modern gaming looming ominously in their store...

"...Yeah, uh. I'll see what I can do. I can bring some in folks might like. I've mostly got fighting games and platformers..." She replies. ...She doesn't have any new games, but some of her older ones should still work, she thinks... Drake Adventure 3 might be a distant dream, though, unless they're willing to dive into the fraught world of used games once more.

She looks toward Moriko, and then nods.

"Yeah. Uh - hold on a second, lemme..." She pauses for a second, reaching for her jacket on the back of the coat and rummaging through her pockets. She draws out a business card, offering it toward Moriko. It's fairly simple, as far as they go - having only her name, phone number, and unavailable days on the back, and so is her technique in handing it off. She clearly hasn't learned The Ways. "Call me up sometime if you can't find a job on your own and I'll see what I can do."

So-young's comment, though, gets a smirk.

"Sounds about right, then. Good luck." She says... and then pauses.

Pink.

Shinobu looks toward Myunghon.

...It's hard to imagine.

"I'll remember you as you were." She comments gravely.

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

Moriko examines the card, holding it up between her forefinger and thumb to the light. Turning it one way, then the other before murmuring to Myunghon in a very quiet undertone, "I think I saw some being used the other night." Before carefully tucking it away in her bag. That's a later thing to experiment with.
 
 Here's hoping she doesn't burn her room down.
 
 As for the dress? "The corsets always scared me." Which means at one point she at least had considered some of the outfits. She doesn't go any further though. She doesn't need to draw the owner's ire as well. She even puts her hands up with a wry look on her face.
 
 She does almost pull off a deadpan towards the horror-turn of So-Young's, though there was a brief twitch of her features giving away the bafflement of it! "Take it from me, it's too hot for leather." Muttering a little. "Even if the old man managed to ventilate them a bit."
 
 She won't specify how.
 
 "I know a few people that would probably love a cheaper take on fighting games." Recently even! "I... don't know if any are into card games." And she doesn't want to admit she plays them. "Hideki was asking when the next big game day was though." On a more related note to the normal shop. Even if she does sidelong look to Myunghon, "Actually they might have something of note."
 
 As for Shinobu, Moriko actually properly takes the card in both hands with a polite little bow, making a good effort of reading front and back before it goes in her little holder.
 
 Sometimes protocol has to be followed and sometimes it's drilled in deep! "I appreciate it. Parts are getting expensive when something goes wrong. At least the last time wasn't permanent." Just. You know. Strange.

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.

    "I'm not going to take being teased about whether I'm in-touch or not from someone who can't even identify the right console," So-young grumbles as she folds her arms. Oh no! That's a low blow right into Myunghon's finances! She does at least relent as she gives Myunghon the eye. "I solemnly promise I would not put you in a dress unless you were comfortable with it or I was feeling particularly vindictive."

    Exactly who is the older sister here? Well, it's not like the two of them have really worked anything on that front out yet.

    "Musicians are used to suffering for their art," So-young adds towards Moriko, comically solemn about it, not even batting an eye. "Perhaps not in quite that way, but it counts. Besides, it's good to look suitably dramatic when you're at the head of an orchestra, letting the music fly. I want people to be watching us play," she grins with sudden confidence. As if reminded, she pulls her violin case up to her lap, carefully undoing the clasps on it.

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