2025-08-21: A Safe Place
- Log: A Safe Place
- Cast: Ichika Kawase, Myunghon Yeo
- Where: The Cardboard Dragon, Hirasaka ward, Sumaru City
- OOC Date: August 21, 2025
- IC Date: June 29, 2012
- Summary: Ichika Kawase finally makes it to the Cardboard Dragon. She and Myunghon Yeo both talk more than they expected to. (Things get emotionally heavy. Read accordingly!)
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika Kawase went to school today! ...She does most days, to be fair, but it's still worth checking. At the moment thus she's in her school uniform--the white blouse tied up below her bust and the long, cyan skirt with short boots. Her long hair cascades down her back. And she looks up at... a fire escape.
>Yeah
>I think I found what i'm looking for
>We're on for later still, right? Just gotta take care of this first
Ichika looks again, dubious, but starts up the fire escape, trudging along the steps.
Her expression is more curious than anything as she pokes her head in first and then looks around the store.
"...Yeo-san?" she wonders, and steps inside, marveling a little at the shopfloor. It's... dirty. Cracked. Chipped. And there are bookshelves! And then... collectibles.
"Huh..."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
As it were, Myunghon Yeo just got home some ten minutes ago. They're *really* frazzled about the amount of time they've been spent detained against their will at the police station at this point. They thought they could really cope with it, but--
I know where you live.
Even allowing themself to come close to that thought is provoking shaking and a shiver. They aren't sure how to reconcile Katsuya Suou's demeanor and the way he had to reason it out logically -- they knew his heart was in his right place, but there was a coldness and detached nature to his rasoning that reminded them of...
Of their previous work. Of why it is systems often alienate even those it's supposed to be helping.
They deserve it. This must be karma.
Their name being called prompts a jolt -- and a moment where they have to muster the energy to put their mask on back. By the time they've actually turned to Ichika, they manage to mostly put that gentle smile back on. "Oh, good afternoon. Can I help you?" They rise to lanky height, still dressed in that suit of theirs, though they haven't bothered to fix how disheveled the altercation's made it.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika's spent some time at the police station, but she doesn't know that's what's on Myunghon's mind. There's a lot she doesn't know in here; she's not into old books, and she's not really into card games either...
But Ichika is looking at Myunghon when they turn, and she sees that smile... mostly on.
"Oh, cool," Ichika says, still a little uncertain. She's extremely tall herself, and not self-conscious about it; she stands at her full height, too. But Ichika's less lanky and more... statuesque.
The makeup helps.
"I don't know," Ichika admits. "Tsubsa Seki-kun--my best friend--has a big opinion of you. And someone else told me I could learn some stuff here..."
"About, uh..."
"Palaces, and stuff."
GAME: Ichika Kawase sets her summer uniform desc!
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Ichika is actually taller than Myunghon! Five centimetres taller. Myunghon's trying to stand up as firmly as they can, but with the shoulder inflamed and wounded, and their general state of being, it's hard to at present. But Ichika describes what she's here for, and-- to be honest, that catches Myunghon off-guard too.
They're not particularly *used* to people being very direct about the supernatural, without hinting at it one way or another.
"Ah..." Myunghon draws a breath to steady and centre themself, then gestures. "Do you mind turning the sign outside? It's close enough to closing time and it's best to not have someone walk in on a conversation about that."
It also gives them time to recontextualise -- it's not a bad thing, having to think of the supernatural. They're powerful in the supernatural world. They have Kudlak, who protects them, gives them power. It's easier to believe in being Hope when you have your Persona. In the mundane world...
They've brought two glasses of water out and has moved to the couch. "So you are Tsubasa-kun's friend? I have met them on some occasions now, and I was able to help them out with some matters..." Their best friend. "Apologies for assuming, but might I assume you are the 'Thorn Boss' they speak of? An employee of mine talks about you a lot too."
Gumiho's nattered on about a Thorn Boss too and how now she's learnt the secrets to stretching, they'll win. They still haven't.
"Regardless... yes, you have come to the right place about Palaces, though I should warn you we are all still learning as well."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika notices that difficulty, too; an expression of concert flits over her features despite her TOUGH GIRL ATTITUDE, at that and about the bandages. Ichika, meanwhile, is just the direct sort of person. ...She trusts the info that got her here, perhaps too much. "Are you, uh..."
Pause. "Oh. Sure." Ichika nods, and then goes to dutifully turn the sign to 'closed' as asked. She walks in confident strides despite her uncertainty; she's learned how to do that.
Then, she comes back over. ...Maybe that's part of why she's confident, too; the supernatural makes her stronger. Makes her more capable.
"Yeah," Ichika answers a little roughly at first. She accepts the glass. "Oh, thanks." Ichika is a little awkward for a moment before she decides to do it. Then, "...Oh." Apologies. "Yeah, that's me. I'm the Thorn Boss. ...Kinda surprised you've got somebody who talks about me," she admits. "I don't do a lot outside Kasugayama..."
"That's fine," Ichika says. "You know more than I do. ...I'm... That is, I have a friend who's going into one, soon."
"And I want her to be prepared. Her and the crew she's bringing."
"...Sorry, but are you OK? You look..." She gestures at all the bandages. "Sorry, that's impertinent. But I gotta ask."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Sorry, but are you OK? You look... Myunghon is unable to hide their eye from widening and their body language tensing right up, because they're wondering what part of them is so obvious right now that Ichika is concerned for them. Their pulse rising, their breath shortening. But then Ichika gestures at them in general, and it actually *just* now lines up that it's their bandages, which is ironic, because they're so used to having the bandages on all the time that it isn't *normal* for someone who's just met them to think that this is just their state and they're panicked over something else more ephemeral.
"Oh-- no, no, I am fine. Thank you for asking," Myunghon shakes their head once they figure out the reason behind the question. They're not doing an incredible job of masking, though, but their instinct to help others over themself takes entirely over.
"A girl named Gumiho works here. She goes to Kasu High," Myunghon explains, which is technically true, but only really a small part of the weird story that is Gumiho. "I had the feeling she both admires and sees you as a rival. ... she gets into a lot of fights."
They almost sound like some weird parent figure.
But the important topic right now is the Palace -- and Ichika says a friend is going into one. Soon. A deeper frown. "Mmm." So there's a Palace closer to home. They've been so fixated on Kaneshiro and the Joker Killer that they haven't even been abreast of other happening closer to home. "Let's take this from the top, Ichika. What all do you know about Palaces?"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika definitely spots that body language, that tension... But she doesn't know Myunghon well enough to press them about it. So she just has a vaguely uncomfortable look for a moment and then nods. "OK," Ichika answers. "If you're sure." She for her part is definitely not sure.
"Oh," she says of Gumiho. "Yeah, I know her. She really does her best." A pause. "...That tracks. She tries to challenge me but it doesn't really work out for her..."
Still.
Ichika will take a seat if Myunghon does, but she sips her water either way. From the top...
"OK. A Palace is a supernatural space that's sort of over the real world. You need a special app to get in on your phone, which apparently has all these rules... But I'm not familiar with those. I just fell in by accident."
"There's... some guy in it," she says, "Who's not the real guy from the real world, but has some relation to him? And you can find 'real' stuff there, like maybe evidence of crimes."
"There's a ton of strong monsters in there, and the guy is in charge of them."
"I think that's about it. And... I know the guy, for this Palace. He's..."
"I know him."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
But every time Gumiho gets knocked down, she comes back again, you aren't going to keep her down. The way she never really gets mad about it, just sees it as a bigger challenge, maybe borders on being *weird* but they seem to really enjoy it.
Ichika explains all that she knows about Palaces at the moment, and Myunghon listens carefully, while looking down at the glass of water. Their errant, distorted reflection off off it. Not unlike the one inside a Palace.
"That's correct. A Palace is... think of it as something that gets created when some feeling or belief you have creates such a strong distortion it creates a cognitive space. And you are correct -- a Palace contains all kinds of intimate secrets and belongings that, somehow, you can take to the real world. I am actually also trying to infiltrate another Palace to find evidence, yes...
A pause. They shouldn't bring Kaneshiro up, not because of opsec, but because it's distracting right now. "You are correct that there are many powerful Shadows in there. ... in our last trip, we actually came across the Joker Killer and his backup, so there are powerful organisations who have an interest in keeping them safe too, for some reason or another."
There's a shiver as that shrapnel wound patch starts to ache, and they hold onto the side of their torso. Myunghon, you're not supposed to have Amano-style Other Side aches!
Myunghon looks a bit more level as Ichika shares that she knows the guy. "That's pretty common. You usually end up knowing about a Palace because the guy becomes a real problem in your life..."
A pause. "There are rules we uncovered about how to find Palaces, but you said... your friend is already ready to enter. So they already know how, or would you like me to go over them?"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
It's pretty weird. But it's charming, too.
"...A... distortion?" Ichika wonders. "I don't understand."
Another Palace... "Ah, yeah," Ichika says. "I see. I heard there was more than one. That they're a category, that there's more of them. That's pretty freaky."
"The Joker Killer, huh...? That's bad news. He crashed Kasugayama, too. ...My friend fought him. But there's organizations that want it? ...So it's not so different after all. It's just like the real world. People throwing their weight around," Ichika says bitterly.
A shiver. Ichika frowns sharply at that. "Yeo-san," she starts, but doesn't challenge immediately. Instead, she finishes first. "...He.... he was a problem for me... about a year ago. But I only found his Palace a couple months ago. And I didn't know what it was, at the time. I barely got out. My friend, is... stronger."
"Yeah. I can get us in," Ichika says. "I've got that... app. And I've been there before. So she can get in, too. It's fine, I don't need to know them."
"...Is that how you got hurt?" she wonders. "Fighting the Joker Killer."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon considers on how to explain it. It's back to Kaneshiro again. Maybe it was unavoidable. "A few weeks ago, a Yakuza mob boss made a scene of wanting to buy out some places here in Hirasaka and kick us out. This place... even Kasugayama High. We... picked up on him having a Palace because some of us are more sensitive to the supernatural than others -- and his distortion revolved around 'money'."
They wonder if Ichika's heard about it -- she's got a lot on her plate and she doesn't want to add extra worries. "Don't worry about this guy, though. ... I'm going to see that Hirasaka is protected."
Their voice becomes full of resolve for a moment, as they start to rally around the things they find easy to latch onto. But Ichika explains the attack on Kasu High -- and Myunghon frowns and nods. "... yes. Frustratingly, I was out of town on the day investigating that same Palace. Were you... caught up in that?" Her friend, again, she said, but... Myunghon gets the feeling there's some difficulty in admitting some things, here... but they're not going to pry. A lot of experiences with Palaces are very sensitive ones.
Ichika calls to them in the midst of their shiver -- and they shake her head to say, "N-no, I *am* fine." That sounds a bit too forced. The way Ichika says 'he was a problem for me' somehow makes them feel something... perhaps more familiar than they'd like. There's a way of hiding behind words, being not too specific, to guard oneself but also not reveal too others things that are too painful...
... or perhaps they're projecting, right now? It's so hard to get their thoughts straight. They're getting confused. But Ichika at least confirms for them they know how to access the Palace, and they nod. "I am glad. The hardest part for me was finding the right place where the Palace is superimposed over the real world... but I suppose with someone more local, that is less of a problem."
Is that how they got hurt? Fighting the Joker Killer?
Myunghon hasn't been making eye contact, but they look even further away, like they're staring at a point faraway. "No. It's a..." Police problem? Harrassment problem? Stalker problem? How do they express this to someone they'd rather not inflict their problems on? "Just... someone who is a problem for me right now."
... oh.
They ended up with uncomfortably close words, didn't they.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"Oh." A yakuza boss. "So that's how that yakuza were involved." She heard about that part. From Shinjiro! Not that she mentions Shinjiro. "...Ugh. Don't we have enough trouble at Kasugayama?" A pause. "But I see.... Thanks, then. There's... not much I can probably do about that. I've gotta focus on... this."
Myunghon will see to it. "I believe you. I'm glad someone is."
"I was," Ichika says. "But I'm OK, I didn't get hurt or anything. I saw... I saw that guy, though. The one that girl chopped up." She goes pale for a moment. "...There was a lot of blood."
But Myunghon is fine. And Ichika isn't so sure, but... well.
"Mm. That would be hard. If I hadn't fallen into it, I never would've known it was there."
But Myunghon looks away and...
"Oh," Ichika says, and her heart hurts. "Oh, I..."
She bites her lip. "...I get it," Ichika says. "This guy, he... we were... together," she explains. "It was great for a while, but..."
"But he hurt me. Really badly. So I get it."
"...It's hard, I know, but..."
"If it's that kind of problem, you..."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon has little more than a mute, but reassuring little nod that the Yakuza problem will be cared for. Kaneshiro ironically has become very low on their priority list, if only because there are *so* many people on it that it feels more sorted than not, even though they can't be confident success will be a hundred percent. If nothing else, they want to rely on the fact that the Phantoms' attention is on him.
... is that why Ishiba was making their move? Because they considered the Kaneshiro pawn 'captured', and thus is playing another piece?? Are they being targetted in specific? Did... did any of their friends have to relinquish their personal details because they were forced to?
"You fell into it..." Myunghon sounds a bit surprised. They aren't familiar with people being trapped in Palaces by accident, but given how people have been trapped in Mementos because of the dare, it doesn't sound too far-fetched. A longer pause. "Ichika... given that you are familiar with the supernatural, did you awaken to a-- Persona," they just use the term, "A shadowy figure that feels as if it was 'another you'?"
They have to be certain. It'd be really, really risky if Ichika was involved but wasn't powered.
But Ichika's 'Oh' is weighty and full of gravity. They can positively feel the aching in her heart the way she says it. The way she says she gets it. But Ichika provides a bit more context -- about how they're together -- it was great, but only for a while. But. He hurt her. Really badly.
Each word inadvertently feels like it's breaking down her masking me, like the most wounded parts of them are telling her to just forget about being Rumourmonger Merry and a responsible adult to this youth who needs advice about a dangerous supernatural place, because Ichika is also hurting in a way that feels far too close to home and they'd rather share in that pain right now. Their breath is still shallow and tight. They aren't staying frosty with their breaths, hee ho.
Myunghon's legs pull up as they draw into that favourite position of theirs, knees right up to their face. ... it helps a bit, and helps hide their face a bit because they can feel tears coming up again.
"Really... close. It's not... quite the same. He's a-- police officer," A wave of nausea and emotion, like they just can't put the bottle on the memory anymore. They're terrified of this vague eggshell-y indicating, but even more terrified of saying something conrete, they might just fall over and start crying. But then they share, with trembling voice:
"... he whispered he knows where I live."
Myunghon forces more breaths to supply themself with more oxygen and control. Focus on the supernatural. You have control with the supernatural. You don't have to be made to feel helpless with the supernatural. "Kawase-kun. Does your friend have all the companions they need for the Palace journey? I can call on other Persona-Users, if they need it, or..."
Myunghon gestures very gently. "I also sell Skill Cards here, if you have heard of them. They grant those who can use it extra power or protection."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Myunghon is surprised, and Ichika answers, "I know that's uncommon. I don't know how, either." But--Myunghon asks that question. Ichika visibly hesitates, before, "...I did," she says. "That's... how I got out."
It hurts, to see someone else with a similar problem--though Ichika is jumping to conclusions, isn't quite correct. All the same, the pain that's there...
Ichika worries if she said too much. But Myunghon explains--
"...Oh," Ichika says. "I'm sorry, I assumed..." A pause. "I see. The police, they... They didn't hurt me," she says, "But they didn't help me, either. They just said... I didn't have any proof. That all I was doing was trying to ruin his future. That it would be worse for me if I fought."
"...But knowing where you live... That's really scary. I..."
But Myunghon wants to move on, and Ichika nods. "I--She could use more," Ichika says. "But I think she has a few, now. I'm worried. But I won't... just live in fear, either. Not anymore.'"
Skill Cards.... "I'd like to look at those," Ichika says. "I have money."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon offramps onto the thought of thinking of how people fall into Palaces by accident. Is it related to having an unawakened potential? An association with the Palace Ruler? Or in So-young's case, just being close enough when someone triggers a pull into a Palace? They almost look like they're on auto-pilot when they fetch the Skill Card album.
"Don't... don't worry about money right now," Myunghon reassures, because they genuinely can't deal with the till and counting money out and thinking about their accounting books at the moment. They open the album to a certain page, where the Cards radiate with some Cognitive power. Ichika confirmed that she does have a Persona, so they think she should be able to sense them out and pick them out.
Ichika apologises for assuming, and Myunghon shakes their head. "No, it's..." They find themself squeezing their arm against the opposing elbow. It feels like they can't be covered enough, somehow. There's a flinch as Ichika shares how it went when she went to the police, though. They're not surprised, but they burn with anger and frustration and a shared embarrassment and shame.
"I don't... I don't feel safe," Myunghon admits, glancing down to the floor. "But this is... right now, about-- your friend, and the Palace. ... would you like me to help you? I, too, possess a Persona, and some combat experience."
Ichika resolves that she won't live in fear. Not anymore. Myunghon trembles a little at that. They want to be the one saying that. They're living in fear right now, encased by it. They can pretend to be strong, pretend to not be a fractured and vulnerable person gasping for help...
"It's perfectly okay if you say no, as well. I know Palaces can be very... sensitive. And sometimes, you need those you can trust and know, not just strong arms that can help," Myunghon admits.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
It's a good question! Ichika won't be much help.
"...All right," Ichika says of money. She looks down at the cards and looks through them, thoughtful. "...My Persona's already good at healing," she explains. "And my... friend, uses force attacks. So maybe..." She considers each of them. "But I don't have any idea what would be useful against his mon--Shadows." Shadows, that's the word.
But Myunghon gets it. And Ichika notices the flinch, notices--well, that body language. She knows it intimately, because it's been hers, too.
"...Yeah. When they know where you live..." She shakes her head. "It's hard to feel safe, isn't it? ...When there's not much you can do. When they know you. ...I'm sorry." All she can do is share that feeling. And... "...I... I don't..."
"I don't like being alone anymore," she says quietly. "It's safer when I'm with someone else."
Maybe it's like that for them, too.
Right now. All right. Ichika can't press too hard; she doesn't know them, and she's not an adult like they are. But... she hates to see someone in pain like this anyway. It's too familiar.
"I would appreciate the help," she says. A hesitation. "...No, I'd rather everyone come out safe than that I keep... that secret."
"I should probably tell more of them what to expect, it's just... hard."
A sigh. "...Anyway, can you keep a secret? I hear you can, but... I have one for you. If you promise not to tell. ...You might've guessed already."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon bites their lip for a moment and thinks of how mad Remi might be about the business, but they pull out a bunch of them -- a neat little stack -- and then places them down on Ichika's side of the table. "Take a number of these with you. The worst thing to do in a Palace is to try to rush things -- as much as you want to try to resolve everything as soon as possible, haste is the biggest killer. Spread these around your team and test his defences out -- the more you can figure out ahead of time, the safer everyone will be."
What's a few sales they don't make if some kids are *dead* as a result?? That was the very thing they wanted to get away from, no matter how precarious the books are.
In a way, it's become *slightly* easier when Myunghon knows Ichika can notice and understand what that body language means, because it means the mask is slipping and it isn't as dire a consequence as they've trained and internalised it to be. Ichika relates to how they understand and can share that feeling, and that has to be enough for now. And how she doesn't like being alone anymore -- it's safer when she's with someone else.
Myunghon does intimately understand that feeling. ... they're alone a lot of the time, in part because of OTHER issues, like being too afraid to show people how fragile and disastrous their living space is. There's a vicious cycle of not wanting to make others worry, and putting all their time and effort into caring for others, and letting their own personal life fall into ruin, which paradoxically prompts them to put others at arms' length, which makes them more vulnerable to abuse...
"It's okay," Myunghon's voice is a hoarse whisper. If only it could be a horse whisper, then they could ride away on a majestic steed. "I'll... try to surround myself with friends too."
Latching onto the only thing that sounds like advice feels like strength at the moment. Ichika says she'd appreciate the help, and Myunghon nods. They reach out with their phone and places it on their number screen. "Then... feel free to contact me when you're going."
Ichika ends up at the same logic too -- it's better to keep everyone safe than keep something a secret. She hasn't explained as much of what to expect... it's hard. There's a pause, and a gentle nod... but also a warning:
"I'll... leave it to you to decide how much you need to explain, but... I do need to advise that if some of them end up having a similar reaction to how I did just now... it might be better to do that in safety, than when the Shadow drags the truth out in front of them."
But Ichika asks if they can keep a secret. Myunghon nods, and... glances around, then raises their hand gently. "... I'm going to mute the field around us. Don't be alarmed."
There's a powerful swelling of feeling, and then Myunghon's Persona, Kudlak, rises out of a column of Blue off the chair, an inky black Shadow whose limbs connect seamlessly with a vampire-like cape. He gestures, and then suddenly the sound around them feels more muffled.
"Now, no one listening in can hear in on the bubble we're on. Just call it an extra precaution for your secret."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
A neat little stack... "...Okay," Ichika says. "I'll pay you back when we're done. ...There was a lot of valuable stuff in his Palace, maybe I can trade you some, or sell it, or something." She likes to pay her debts. But she won't say no to any help that she can get right now, either.
"...Okay," Ichika answers, when Myunghon hoarsely whispers, and does not ride away. "...yeah. Friends." Ichika glances to the side, for a moment.
"...Mm." She pulls out her own phone, and enters in Myunghon's number, fires off a text so that Myunghon will have hers too. They can use that.
"You're... right. I didn't think about how it would affect everyone..."
She feels bad for that.
But mute? Ichika blinks--and then feels it. That powerful feeling, that Persona...
"Thanks," Ichika says. "That's so weird, but... If it helps, it helps."
A breath. "...My friend is me," she explains. "I keep my identity secret, to keep people safe. ...Because I'm not sure the stuff I do is going to be... legal, or good, or anything."
"As for him..."
"We were supposed to get married. The Shadow guy is kind of fixated on that. ...I don't know why."
"But I'm scared that if he recognizes me, I'll..."
"Anyway. That's it. Please don't tell anyone about that. But I figured... maybe you should know. I just.. i pretend that I get the information, and she does the fighting. That's all."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"To be honest... more than valuables or cash, I might ask for your friend's assistance in some of the struggles we have around Hirasaka instead," Myunghon confesses. "You've seen as much as I do how dangerous things have been lately. The more we can band together, the safer we'll all be."
The field comes up, and Ichika calls it weird, but if it helps... Myunghon has a weak smile to say, "Maybe it's paranoid, but... ... well, I don't feel safe at home right now." Which would make this card store... home?
Maybe they should learn how to use their Persona to block doors.
"You're not in the wrong if you decide it's too painful to share," Myunghon reaffirms. "Palaces are just very dangerous affairs. I just wanted to make that risk known. You know your friends better than I do."
But Ichika reveals her secret, which... Myunghon *did* kind of guess before, but they were going to respect, as they thought before, that these things can be sensitive. Ichika keeps her identity secret, to keep people safe. She isn't sure if the stuff she does is going to be legal, or good.
"... okay. And absolutely no one -- not even Tsubasa-kun -- knows, right?" Myunghon has to confirm. They'll assume nobody, but confirming isn't a bad thing in their mind. As for the Ruler's Shadow... they were supposed to get married, and the Shadow is... fixated on that. She doesn't know why. But she's scared of being identified.
There's a gentle nod... but also something comes to mind that might help. "Kawase-kun. When you enter the supernatural space, do you... get a mask, or anything like that? I ask because other Persona-Users largely just remain as themselves, but sometimes, you get these Persona-Users with a dramatic transformation of their identity. And in my experience... these transformations protect them from becoming known to others."
A pause. "Shadows included. So... I think if that is the case, you probably have that assurance."
Myunghon gave the protection of their Will of Rebellion self up, because that was not what their call to rebellion was. Are they experiencing what they are right now because this is an ordeal as well, that they need to overcome? That behind a great, inspiring, revolutionary figure of hope, there's a flesh and blood and bones person, with emotions and fears?
Is that all their fatal flaws, in the end?
"I understand. I'll keep it a secret. I can help facilitate some messages across to make it more convenient for you to keep your secret too, if you'd like."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"Oh. ...Yeah, that works," she says. "If she's OK with it." She doesn't know what Myunghon would ask for, after all. And hearsay and vibes are only a start, even if they are good.
"I see. ...Yeah. I might have to. I'll... think about it."
"I dunno," Ichika says. "Is it paranoia, if someone really is out to get you? I don't think so. I think you're being as safe as you can be."
"...Tsubasa-kun knows," Ichika admits. "I couldn't... not tell them. They thought they were crazy. Because this doctor was lying to them. It's... complicated."
"...And maybe the Death Boss. He seemed to recognize me."
A pause. "...Yeah," she says. "That's my 'friend'. The Ogre. I get a mask and some armor and a weapon and stuff. I noticed not everybody gets that..."
"...OK. Thanks."
Myunghon doesn't have it, but that doesn't seem strange to Ichika.
"Thanks," she says. "That'd be good."
She looks down. "...It's..."
"I'll think about telling everyone," she says. "Since... The Shadow will anyway."
"..."
"Can I... stick around a few?" Ichika says. "I know you closed up. I'm supposed to meet my boyfriend later, I just..."
"I want to gather myself up first."
"I don't have to ask more questions or anything. You've been really helpful already."
"...I don't know what I can do about the cops," she says. "Probably nothing. And you probably don't want to talk to a teenager about it. I can respect that."
"...But I get it, not feeling safe. So... There's that."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
There's a gentle little nod as Ichika points out it's not paranoia if someone *is* out there, stalking them, out to get them. ... it's cold comfort, but the contextualisation helps. Myunghon breathes gently, and then listens as Ichika confirms Tsubasa does know.
"Okay. I can still pretend I do not know, if you prefer, around them?" Myunghon confirms. A lying doctor... they've heard just a little bit about it, but they can guess -- perhaps some of the doctors that treated them and dismissed their stories about what really happened on that attack in Kasu High. The Death Boss, huh...? Tamaki told them that it was the Death Boss who was targetted in the end... they didn't find out who called, though. There's tons of room for petty rivalry and jealousy, though. It's not always a conspiracy, with a setup like the Joker Killer.
"The Ogre. Okay," Myunghon starts to mentally separate the profiles. They're pretty good at compartmentialising. That's what makes them good at secrets. They don't want to push Ichika further on the risks, since it does hurt her as well -- and then the topic turns to if... they can stick around for a few.
Myunghon nods gently, drawing tighter into that, frankly, kind of supernatural way they can turn into a ball. It feels like they might have to be at least an expert contortionist. "I... feel safer not being alone too, right now. So, thank you for that, Kawase-kun. It's..." A quiet sigh. "It's more I'd rather you not have to worry about an extra thing when you have so much right now."
There's an uncomfortable swallow from their throat, at the last mention. They reach for the water again. They didn't realise how dry their throat feels until now. "... so Tsubasa-kun's started coming here, and I want this place to feel like a safe space, for the community. In the future, feel free to come here if you need to gather yourself too, for any reason -- you won't have to tell me or any others."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"Thanks," Ichika says of pretending. There's a lot that Ichika doesn't know. And that includes who called the Joker Killer on Eikichi Mishina.
Ichika might wonder, if she knew why Myunghon was so good at this. As it stands, she wonders a little how they're so good at this.
Ichika can't really comment on the ball, either... But that's okay. If it makes them feel better, that's fine. Ichika just sort of sits there with her water. She takes another drink.
"Ah," she says. "...That's OK. I'm gonna worry a little anyway. If the 'Ogre' can help, let me know, OK? That's... that's my power. That's what I can do."
She doesn't mind the shift to a more familiar honorific; Myunghon is an adult who's helping, now. ...There are only a precious few of those, it feels like sometimes.
"Yeah?" she wonders. "...A safe space, huh? That sounds nice."
"...Okay," she says. "But this time..."
"He doesn't know," Ichika says. "My boyfriend. What happened to me. What... that guy did. And I might tell him. So I want to... get ready."
A pause. "But thanks. I'll remember that."
"Maybe if we all want it to be safe... It'll stay that way."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon can't help but smile weakly when Ichika says she's going to worry anyway -- that's her power. It's very familiar -- Shinobu, Shinjiro, Mio, they're all like that. They're all really reliable, heartfelt folks... when did so many people start gathering around them? There's shared, extenuating circumstances, much like how Ichika is banding with her friends to deal with this Palace problem.
There's a quiet nod as Ichika shares that her current boyfriend doesn't know. "... especially when... society'd told you you were at fault for speaking up," Myunghon murmurs. "It really... makes me feel helpless, sometimes." But Rumourmonger Merry should be hope. They should be hope. They should... "When you speak up, but it just gets turned against you. Even that officer... he's done so many things that should get him discharged twice over, but..."
Well. Ichika's no stranger to how corrupt Sumaru PD is, likely.
"... yes. Feeling safe is something everyone deserves... so I want to put my all into it."
At dangerous costs to themself, Ichika can already tell.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"...Yeah," Ichika says. "Daddy was so mad. At them, I mean. He tried not to show it to me, but..." She shakes her head. Her eyes aren't entirely dry, either; she's not sure when she started ruining her makeup again. But Rumormonger Merry...
"Yeah. I get it. ...But that burns me, you know? I want..."
"I want this world to be better. I don't know how, yet. But I'll use this power to do it, when i do."
Put their all in. "..."
"...Just take care of yourself too," Ichika asks. "I'd..."
"I mean, Tsubsa-kun would be upset, if something happened to you."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon is quietly glad someone is in Ichika's corner. Their family situation is even more estranged and awkward. They notice their eye isn't dry either -- they'd been sobbing here and there, without even realising. You can't entirely hold these things back by sheer force of will, at the worst of times. It's a bit less noticeable because Myunghon isn't wearing makeup at present.
"... making the world better is an everyone effort," Myunghon affirms. "We're at our most vulnerable when we're cut off and made to not feel safe at home. I'm grateful you reached out for help, even if... especially because it was really difficult." Are they able to reach out for help if they need it? They might be a hypocrite right now.
The Ogre is a fearsome figure whose power can help in the darkness, despite it not being 'legal' or 'good'. The fearsome image of a demon from myth that rises from shadow. Contrast to that, Merry's desire for rebellion is public. When that nagging, persistent feeling of hope means that things don't *have* to stay the way they are...
And they can work in unison too.
But Ichika reminds them to take care of themself. "Mmm. I don't want to worry Tsubasa-kun either. I'll do just that... I'll call someone to keep me company, when you head out later."