2025-08-24: Better Friends
- Log: Better Friends
- Cast: Myunghon Yeo, Ayame Watanabe
- Where: Cardboard Dragon, Hirasaka Ward, Sumaru City
- OOC Date: August 24, 2025
- IC Date: June 30, 2012
- Summary: Ayame drops by the Cardboard Dragon after all the excitement to see Myunghon, and they have a talk.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Yesterday was a TRIUMPH, but you still have to go to work the next morning.
Myunghon can't believe that they got away with that. It wasn't just that they saved Hirasaka from Kaneshiro -- it was that it felt like they made inroads into understanding a powerful other team of Persona-Users, the Phantoms. They can't necessarily believe that they'd want to become allies just like that, but... they could feel it. Their interests do align. The supernatural is full of mysteries -- like that mysterious sniper -- and it's in their best interests to band together... could they broker a Negotiation for it?
Their high is kind of interrupted by the reality that HEY, you should probably not try to just self-staple your wounds back on from tools from a vet, no matter how rumour-enhanced it is?? And thus this morning the painkillers have worn off and their body is going: HELP, HELP!!!
By the time Ayame arrives, she's hit with the smell of disinfectant right away -- Myunghon's at the couch having finished a more thorough attempt at resealing and keeping the blood in their body. Their white dress shirt's worn over the shoulders and the black chest binder is on, along with the myriad bandages somewhat on their body... and also not, which means there's a lot of unsightly old scar tissue present.
"Oh--" Myunghon looks up with slightly wide eye. "Watanabe-san? Just a minute... my apologies. This is a bit unsightly, so you may not wish to look."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Ayame is somewhat chagrined at her assumptions, still. Her feelings are a muddle of many sources: exhiliration at the supernatural power she's achieved is part of it, sure. There's a lot to be said for having the power to act in such situations, even if she didn't make it to the end of her first battle. ...Relief, that Ikkaku is all right. Concern, that now she may be a target again. Relief, that her assumptions were wrong... and embarrassment, that she had those assumptions in the first place. It's a lot!
And what she really wants is to take a while with Ikkaku and work out her feelings. But... He's recovering, and they have the children to consider, and--
Well, he went back to work, because the school insisted everything be normal, and today Ayame has decided to follow up another lead: Myunghon Yeo, who was there at the Incident and may be able to help her understand what happened.
She's in a nice, light dress for the summer, and she knocks on the door before entering. She opens up and--ah, disinfectant.
"Oh!" Ayame says, and spots her at the couch. "...Oh, dear."
It's unsightly, sure, but...
"Are you sure I can't help?" Ayame offers. "I'm not a proper nurse, but I've patched up a lot of things in my time."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"Ahh.... um," Myunghon looks a bit embarrassed, but their vision briefly doubles as Ayame asks if they're sure she can't help. "... please. It's really painful right now, actually..."
They've done the proper treatment of the wound on their stomach -- but they're having some trouble keeping everything held down long enough to wrap enough lengths of bandage to then secure it all in place. Fingers trembling, Myunghon says, "Just... over here, and..." A clip goes on to at least hold it in place while they work... "Sorry, I do not wish to get your nice dress bloodied, Watanabe-san."
But it's over with the two of them working together, and Myunghon lets out a sigh as they gesture towards the sink at the store bathroom, in case Ayame needs to clean her hands. They're going to have to as well, but right now they're reaching for a pill bottle to take a fresh dose of painkillers.
"Please, try to not receive a sword wound from the Joker Killer. It turns out it really hurts," Myunghon tries to make light of the situation. "Watanabe-san... is everyone all right? How is Ikkaku-san doing? How are you doing?"
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"Then leave it to me!"
Ayame steps inside and walks over, looking down. Hmm... There, and...
"Oh, that's fine. I've dodged dirtier messes than this," she says with a smile. The injury is kind of distressing to look at, but Ayame can put on a brave face. "Let me wash my hands and then I'll bandage you up."
Ayame walks to the sink to do just that, so that she doesn't dirty the bandages and wounds.
"I will keep that in mind," Ayame says. "I'm surprised I managed not to the other day..."
She returns and gets to work on the bandages. "Here we go..."
A pause. "Yes," she says. "The school has already gone back to normal, if you'll believe it. ...Ikkaku and I haven't had a chance to unpack everything about what happened, but he's all right--the doctor gave him some bandages and a bit of medicine. The worst injury he took was just falling into the hard floor."
"....Thanks in part to you," Ayame says more seriously. Then a sigh. "I can't believe I thought he was having an affair, and it turned out to be... this."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
It does feel a bit better to not have everything exposed -- Myunghon wipes their bandaged hands on a small towel, before realising they're also going have to probably redo the ones on their arms with how soggy they've gotten from the treatment. Later. The school's already gone back to normal...
"... that is difficult to believe with how an entire wall was shattered in our fight, but also ..." Myunghon frowns deeper. "A few weeks ago, Kasugayama High was attacked under similar circumstances, and the police and public services simply wrote it off under gang warfare. It's clear they're in on hiding what's happening."
There's a soft sigh, as Ayame confirms Ikkaku is all right too -- but... Ayame admits she can't believe she thought he was having an affair.
"Eh?"
Oh. Oh dear. Look at the Rumourmonger who's prideful about their breadth of information be BABY, because they are twenty three and has actually no experience about things like 'infidelity' and how to read the signs in people, if it is even happening.
"I... oh. I did not know..." Myunghon appears at a loss of words for once!
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"I can help you with these too, if you want," Ayame offers. She gingerly holds the bandages away from her body as she works, willing to stretch a little to avoid bloodstains. But it's not the first time she's seen such a thing. ...So her calm with it may be surprising for that reason.
"Hmmm... Well, that's normal," Ayame says, with a shake of her head. "They always cover things like this up. It was true back then, too. And it's true now, it seems."
A pause. Eh?
"...Oh, he wasn't!" Ayame confirms. "But, well--he was keeping terrible hours at work, and he mentioned this woman who he talked a lot about, and..."
"You can see where I'd imagine it, right?" Ayame asks, but she feels guilty and nervous about it.
"Ah, anyway. In the end he was being quite honest... I feel bad for doubting him. But I suppose I'm doubting everything with my parents around..."
"Ah, but you don't need to hear all of that, do you?" she asys, and smiles, putting her face back on. "So this 'Persona' will allow me to deal with such things in the future? I suppose I should get a weapon of my own... Strange as that is to think, I found myself knowing what to do with a sword when I held his."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon does wonder in what situation Ayame has had to handle injuries and wounds, given that she's already said she isn't a nurse or a similar profession. But the Shimizu family's had a bit of a history, if they had to guess. They can imagine Shinobu getting into scrapes and having to get treated...
"Ah... these are old wounds," Myunghon gestures slowly to their hands. ... which also by extension probably means most of the body. And probably their face too. "I mostly just keep them bandaged because what's underneath is pretty gross. I'll change them later, but thank you."
Ayame confirms that the Old Cucco was not, in fact, sighted. "Oh..." Myunghon looks a bit embarrassed. A woman he talks about a lot? Myunghon does nod assent to Ayame, but sensing the nervousness and guilt, they choose to not follow up so she can gracefully offramp off off it. It's her business to talk with Ikkaku anyway, and it looks like they already did to a degree -- and perhaps more later.
"Well... I am not myself... experienced, but," Myunghon thinks back. "When I met him when he wanted to return that book you and Koume bought, I did get the sense he did very much care for his family."
Ayame speaks of how she's doubting everything with her parents around. Myunghon has a kind and weak smile to that. "Oh, I understand. I... did have the feeling that things may be a bit strained, the way Shinobu-ssi chose to be independent and live in Hirasaka. I haven't asked her about it, but..."
Ayame switches topic to her Persona. Myunghon nods gently. "But, you have to be careful, Watanabe-san. You aren't able to summon it just anywhere; Sumaru is special, because for one reason or another, there are plenty of supernatural patches here. This store is one of them, one of the reasons I picked this location. But there are still lots of places where you might find yourself without access to it."
Myunghon does rotate the topic in their mind when Ayame mentions how natural a sword came to her. "It's just a theory, but... do you remember how the Persona spoke that it was 'you', Watanabe-san? I imagine that unconsciously, such skills, like swordsmanship, must become shared from the other yous that exist in this unconscious world too, when you awaken to it..."
They're not sure, because they didn't really feel anything like that happened. But they have seen it for others.
Warning 'my-desc' for Ayame Watanabe(#524PenA):
player is missing description
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
It's a mystery! Ayame has not explained. A scrape or a cut now and then would be normal for a mother of three, but...
Maybe it's just that and that Shinobu used to get into trouble.
"I see," Ayame says of Myunghon's wounds. "All right, then." She doesn't... really want to see gross wounds if she can help it, and she wants to repsect Myunghon's privacy.
Myunghon looks embarrassed, and Ayame realizes that's her doing. So she tries to make up for it. "Oh, that's fine," Ayame says. "I married my first boyfriend," she says conspiratorially. "So it's really just a matter of time that separates us!"
That book... and the care. "Oh, yes. ...Yes, he really does. He always has. He's an incredible husband. It's just been difficult lately. It's not really his fault..."
Strain. "Yes," Ayame agrees. "That's how it is."
"I see," Ayame says. "That's good, isn't it? It means you're not vulnerable to these things everywhere, too. Though I would've assumed the school wouldn't be such a place..."
She pauses. "Hmm. Another 'self'... Another self who knows how to wield a weapon. I suppose there could've been another 'me' in some world who took up fencing."
"Well, thank you. I appreciate the information..."
"...I'm going to be getting involved, after all," she says, and there's more certainty in her voice when she says that.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon nods gently, buttoning their shirt back up and somewhat loosely slipping their tie back on so that that can be out of sight, out of mind. The First Aid kit is packed a little roughly, but they're going to go back and tidy that back up for real later when they have some alone time.
There's a quiet smile that tries to look like they're IN on the conspiracy when Ayame says she married her first boyfriend. That's... I mean, that's pretty romantic too, in Myunghon's mind. "Your parents did not agree to that, I imagine... but... it seems that time has proven you correct."
There's a nod of understanding when Ayame says it's been difficult. "Moreso than you may imagine. I do not want to alarm you further, but... I do not think the Joker Killer contract expires simply because he failed his first attempt. One of my friends was targetted, and in that same incident, he still treated her as someone he had to kill."
Myunghon splays their long, bony fingers on their chest. "But you do not have to be alone. There are a lot of us resisting the Joker Killer, against the other threats to our neighbourhood... to Sumaru."
Another Ayame, who could've taken up fencing...? It's more likely than you think. Isn't Miho-in coming soon sometime...?
"Mm. Let's see... you should take one of these with you, Watanabe-san," Myunghon gets up and goes to their album, and fishes out several Skill Cards. "This is called a Skill Card. You can harness these to enhance your Persona's power. It might take a bit of practice, but... you'll have some more powers at your disposal."
Do you want the Grass, the Fire, or the Water card, Watanabe-san? Or perhaps the secret fourth murder card.
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
It is pretty romantic, isn't it? But Ayame just means she doens't have a lot of experience with others. ...Still, Myunghon suggests what they do, and Ayame says, "They... did not. But yes, I wouldn't trade my family for anything. Him very much included. ...I suppose that's why I was so worried..."
Well. Moreso? "Hmm," Ayame says. "I had a feeling that might be true. If nothing else, I believe I made him angry." A pause. "is that so...?" To Sumaru. To their neighborhood. "Well, I may be in a different neighborhood, but I certainly want to resist the Joker Killer."
"Oh!" Ayame looks down at the cards, and somehow, she can feel their power. It's a strange sensation. "I see... So there are things like that out there..."
Hmm. "My... Persona," she says, still growing used to the term, "Is adept in slashing attacks and Dark magic." A pause. "That's a strange thing for me, isn't it? I didn't think I was so violent..."
Grass!
"Maybe this one would complement my abilities."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon gently nods, but doesn't pry further. It doesn't feel correct, unless Ayame is the one who wants to vent about how it went down when she decided to marry Ikkaku against her parents' wishes. "Of course. I've had the pleasure of meeting both your sisters now, and..."
A long pause. "Actually, both of them have saved me at this point," they sound a bit more bashful. "Reiko-san intervened when I was pulled into the police station by an officer who..." A pause, as that tremble comes back unconsciously. "And... well, you know Shinobu-ssi has her own Persona. We've worked on many occasions now, and she's definitely saved me more than once."
They're probably being humble, because Shinobu'd probably say the reverse is just as true -- but still. ... do they just get a bit fond talking about her, though? There's a nod as Myunghon gently sets their phone down with their number shown. "We should exchange numbers, Watanabe-san. I'll be able to contact you if there's any dangerous events happening."
On the topic of the Skill Cards, though... Slashing and Dark Magic. There's a weak smile. "That is more common than you might imagine. People often express, 'why a cat...?' for instance. They might still be thinking about that."
Somewhere, Katsuya Suou might feel a sneeze oncoming.
"If you find yourself in need of practice, you can come back here after hours. I can teach you about some of the less intuitive aspects of using your Persona, but you may find that experience is the best teacher of all."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Ayame may share that story later--but at the moment, it feels like a bridge too far to lay that at Myunghon's feet. Her sisters, though, remain one of her favorite topics.
"Reiko-chan is very heroic, isn't she?" And then Shinobu, "I saw! I was so surprised... But Shinobu-chan is so good at so many things. It's not surprising that she would be good at this too." A pause, then. The officer...
"I'm sorry," Ayame says. "I'm glad she could help you." Ayame doesn't know what happened, but...
Still, the cards. "Hmm. Another 'me'," she considers. "She said something about... Loss. And endings."
Hm.
"I appreciate that," Ayame says. "I'll look into that matter. But I'd rather not do it alone."
"...It's a little difficult, that Ikkaku doesn't have his own," she admits. "But maybe..."
"Well, he's been my hero for so long. Perhaps it's time I pulled my weight."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"She really is..." Myunghon's smile is a bit weak, though, because they realise they keep seeing Reiko in the context where they're at their worst and most vulnerable -- and they're also concerned that the corruption of the police force might weigh down on her soul. And Shinobu's so good at so many things!
"Loss... and endings," Myunghon muses. That's right. Ayame's Persona provoked a strong sense of... drowning, in them. Why is that? "That might not be an ominous portent. To a lot of us, awakening does mean... the loss of a simpler life -- not that our lives were particularly simple even before, but having to balance both is even more complicated."
"For instance... I am sure you noticed it last night, but now that you are aware, there is an additinoal hour past midnight where the air turns green and people turn to... coffins. We call it the Dark Hour." Myunghon frowns gently. "It can grow dangerous outside, Watanabe-san. If you don't have any particular plans to investigate, I'd recommend staying inside."
There's a faint smile. "It might be a grace that Ikkaku-san doesn't awaken to one, in a way..." there is a nod, at Ayame's resolve.
"Ah... Watanabe-san, I was also wondering..."
Oh. Oh, what is this? Relationship senses are tingling.
"Well, it's as I said -- Shinobu-ssi's helped me out of trouble so many times. I wanted to buy her some concert tickets." Tickets, plural? Oho? Why's Myunghon getting a little bashful in their voice, when they've kept a pretty good mask on their voice so far.
"Do you know what kind of bands or music she likes...? I'm... entirely unfamiliar with these things. She wears a lot of band shirts, but I don't quite understand a lot of times."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Ayame hasn't pressed to know exactly what that situation is; it, likewise, feels a bridge too far. But maybe staying cheerful will help. Ayame is the sort of person who thinks a lot about that. "Hmm..." Ayame considers. "Somehow I don't think that's it. She said something about... the 'weaker' me." She has a feeling she knows what it means--but is she ready for that? Ayame isn't sure.
"...Oh!" she says. "No, actually, I went to bed early... An entire additional hour?" she wonders. "That sounds terrifying but also convenient," she reflects. "I could get a lot done with an extra hour... ah, but at night--"
It grows dangerous. "I see. Well, I hardly have many reasons to go out that late as it stnads."
So it's safer if he doesn't... Hm.
"Ah?"
Concert tickets... Hmmmm. Ayame smiles. "That's such a nice idea!" she says brightly. "You could become even better friends!"
Ayame, no.
"She likes... loud music. Heavy things! Like rock, and metal!"
"If it'll wake you up too much at 7 in the morning, she probably likes it!"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
The weaker her? Myunghon doesn't really have the context or knowledge of what Ayame might be thinking. "The weaker 'you'..." What might that mean. "I would not take it too much to heart, Watanabe-san. It is true that our Personae are often a shadowy reflection of us..." Myunghon would know. "But at the same time, it's important that we find some level of harmony with it."
There's been a lot of instances of Personae not behaving as they should... what is the difference between theirs and the Joker's Persona, for instance?
Myunghon nods. "It's one of the most dramatic changes... so I think you should know ahead of time, so that you aren't caught off-guard." A bashful smile. "But it is true that sometimes I just accept the extra hour of sleep... if I can. The air conditioner does stop working, as does other machines, unfortunately."
B-better friends... Myunghon's head lilts to say, "Yes, that is what I thought too..."
Loud music. Heavy things. Rock. Metal.
Myunghon looks terrified at every single adjective Ayame's employed against them. "Wow... I should have expected it from the band shirts she wears, but still..." A pause. "Was she the type to wake you up with loud music when you were all younger? It sounds like there's a story there."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"I see," Ayame answers. "...Harmony... I'll think on it, then. Don't worry, I'm not distressed. I only... wonder if perhaps... I have to act a little more firmly with myself."
But, "Thank you, then. That would've been very frightening to experience unexpectedly. It probably still will be," she admits. "But..."
Ah.The air conditioner. "I see."
But better friends!! Of course that's what it is. Ayame may be jumping to the wrong conclusion.
"Hmmm." Ayame laughs. "Sometimes. Not too often--our parents wouldn't stand for it. But I can think of at least once..."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"For instance... my Persona is based on European legends of the vampire," Myunghon expresses. "It did not take long for me to feel out what someone was insinuating about me... that might be the same feeling that you are experiencing with yours right now too." To take more resolve, and act more firmly...?
"I think that that you are already resolving to be Ikkaku-san's hero is quite the admirable step already."
In a way, it's probably a good thing that Ayame's radar is firing a missile right into the friend zone, because that means acceptable deniability. "I do wonder, what that might have been like sometime. I didn't grow up with any siblings... but then I found out I had a sister all this time, who just walked into my life some month ago. She's very loud and boisterous... and I don't think we could be more different if we tried."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"Oh, vampires! That's exciting," Ayame says. She does not think of the downsides of being associated with a vampire. It just doesn't occur to her! Instead, "Hmm..." But Myunghon thinks that she's already resolving. And Ayame smiles. "He really saved me, once," Ayame says. "...Well, more than once, now. I won't hold back, if it means keeping him safe."
Ayame's radar is absolutely terrible. She does not assume gayness in pretty much any situation. She has a gay friend! ...He's the only one she's aware of, considering others in her life...
"Crowded," Ayame says fondly. "...But I'm a bit older than both of my sisters. So it was different for me, too." She pauses. "Oh, dear. That does sound very different..."
"But it's nice, too, isn't it? Learning you had family you never knew about. It's like a gift."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
... it is exciting, is it not? Vampires are popular in fiction now. Everyone loves a good vampire story. But Myunghon can immediately see how the vampire is a bourgeois leech that is a drain on common society. That's the privilege of understanding their own background -- much like how Ayame knows what the weaker 'her' might be suggesting. "We are blessed, are we not? Having so many people around us that can lift us out of trouble..."
Ayame describes the household as crowded. Myunghon imagines it for a moment... warm, noisy, loud...
"Hmm.... I can only barely imagine it. My own household when I grew up was... silent. Absent," Myunghon admits. "Oftentimes, I'd have a pouch of money and a note, not a mother or father, on most days."
They're not sure why they're sharing that much, but... perhaps the talk of family is making them feel a bit nostalgic. They are a sentimental person, whether they want to admit ir or not. "It is true. And not just my actual sister too -- the people that have come here, to protect Hirasaka, the people that can start to feel like this little shop is a slice of home... perhaps I have found my family that way instead."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Vampires are very popular lately! Like boxes!
"Yes," Ayame agrees as to their blessings. "I'm glad we weren't alone, facing the Joker... Thank you very much, for your help. I need to thank that nice police officer, too..."
A pause. "Ah..." Ayame nods. "Our parents... preferred the quiet," Ayame admits. "They had very strict expectations. But girls will be girls, and we were still unruly sometimes..."
A pouch of money and a note. Ayame shakes her head. "I promised myself I'd never be that way with my children. They'll have me, as long as I'm here."
But others...
"That's good," Ayame says. "I have a lot of friends who 'find' their family in that way. ...I'm very lucky, that the one I was born with stayed with me. Especially after our parents..."
Pause. "Well. I'm glad you've found those people," she says, and smiles.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
If you were in a box, could a vampire enter it without your permission? It makes one wonder...
"That nice police officer..." Myunghon has to rack their brain through the dulling pain for a moment. "Oh. You're referring to Officer Suou. Yes, he is pretty forthright..." Perhaps a little too forthright. ... their last engagement still makes them shiver a little bit.
That's right. All three Shimizu sisters were girls. And suddenly more of it made sense -- as the eldest, Ayame was probably most on the hook for responsibility in some traditional fashion, so to have married her boyfriend at a young age probably was seen as some kind of betrayal of family expectation... at least, that's the strings Myunghon is starting to piece together.
"You've done more than just promise," Myunghon finds a bit more strength in their smile. "Both at that festival and when you came in, I can see that your children love you very much."
But Ayame drifts off about her parents again... Myunghon does wonder what it is happened. Ayame decides to turn-of-topic it, however, and there's another nod from the rumourmonger. But then something from earlier comes to mind, on the topic of loud:
"... rock concerts are very loud and crowded, are they not."
Uh oh. Loss and endings... Ayame might very well be measuring this person's lifespan before her very eyes.
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Officer Suou! "Yes," she says. "He seemed to want to help, and he helped me calm down..." She remembers well. But--
Yes. Ayame was on the hook the most. Myunghon's thoughts aren't really off the mark. Not the whole story, maybe, but not off the mark, either.
"Thank you," Ayame answers. "I'm happy that it looks that way. ...I feel it's that way, too. I really do my best for them."
Rock concerts, though...
"Ah," Ayame says. "Yes," she says. "Yes, they are."
She bites her lip. "...It helps to stick with your friends," she offers.
May there be mercy upon Myunghon's soul...