2025-09-15: Survive to Spite Them
- Log: Survive to Spite Them
- Cast: Tsubasa Seki, Myunghon Yeo
- Where: The Cardboard Dragon, Hirasaka Ward
- OOC Date: September 15, 2025
- IC Date: July 11, 2012
- Summary: Myunghon returns home and reunites with Tsubasa, who has a thoughtful gift for them.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa has been... avoiding coming back here.
It's not that they're not worried about Myunghon -- they are. It's not even that they think they wouldn't be worried about them. It's just...
It just feels weird. Awkward. Or like they just made shit harder for them, okay? It's not like they have anything intelligent to say or useful to do about police brutality, anyway. What are they gonna do, talk to the cops? Even when Reiko rushed out to help them, that prick still called their dad. Yeah, never talk to the cops, idiot.
And it's defensive thoughts like that, echoing back and forth in their head, which keep them from slinking back into the Cardboard Dragon for a solid week. At no point do they admit to themselves that what they're really worried about is finding out their X-mentor has become an ex-mentor, on account of no longer being alive.
... they oughta man up and quit bein' such a coward, though, so they head on over tonight, still wearing their Kasugayama uniform.
They trudge up the stairs, hiding something vaguely rectangular close to their body as they shove their way into the store. "Uh... hey?" They call, their gravel-worn voice stained with awkwardness, as Lance ambles in behind them. They don't expect to see Myunghon, here, but... they don't know what hospital they're at.
(Oh, that sweet Summer child. They think Myunghon's still in hospital.)
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
It's perhaps for the best, because Tsubasa missed a whole week of other people having to tend the store, or it being unexpectedly closed with no warning -- until about a few days ago when Myunghon declared that the store would be open again... ... and then it was closed AGAIN today with very little warning but a sign reading 'Out on family business today, apologies!'
But that was then, and Myunghon did promise Shinjiro they'd be okay on their train ride back since they wanted to travel before it became dark and too dangerous for them to travel alone. The ridiculousness of modern travel! You can go to Tatsumi Port Island in the morning and be back again! People've had way worse commutes!
Anyway.
The shop is devoid of customers by the time Tsubasa and Lance enter -- Myunghon is tiredly tapping away at their laptop at the couch, and they've certainly had no small amount of mortal excitement lately. Between Ishiba and now, Myunghon's dodged ANOTHER attempt on their life! And discovered terrifying new revelations about their friend's lifespan that's definitely not put them into a spiral. They pull their head up tiredly and say, "Oh-- Tsubasa-kun...!"
The Rumourmonger forcibly shuts the laptop to focus on Tsubasa and their dog. Their right arm is still in a sling, and... and, well, their head is always bandaged, so that's not really any different, one supposes. They're a bit unsteady as they carefully walk towards the two of them. "I apologise I haven't been in touch. How are you and Lance holding up...?" They probably got in touch with Reiko about their whereabouts, and heard they were released, but that their father was involved... and that's likely not a pleasant thing.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Oh, uh, you're here?!" It comes out in an undignified yelp, as Tsubasa takes a half-leap backwards in surprise. Somehow, they manage to collect themself, and even not reveal what it is they're holding in the process!
They'd thought maybe they'd just leave something here, or like, get directions, or... man, their arm's broken?!
Wait, not just their arm, they're walkin' like they've had like four beers. (To a teenager, that's a lot. Being fair, do you know how hard it is to get underage booze? You've got to adjust your estimates of drunkenness if you want to impress anyone.) So they kind of take a step forward, instead, and jerk and hesitate and then just jam the stupid thing in their pocket so their hands are free don't even worry about it it's just this big rectangle it's nothing.
Anyway, hands free, they can actually kind of try to reach out to see if they're going to need to catch them right now. "H--hey, man, you cool?" They ask, and if the spiral of anxiety didn't tip them off, they also sound worried.
"Seriously, it's cool," Tsubasa adds, shaking their head to shake off Myunghon's own worry. "You got, uh, your own shit to deal with. But like -- look, it's cool, like, check this out." They pull up the tied-off bottom half of their shirt, to better show off the electric blue-and-black binder underneath. Ta-daaaaa!!
(They do not say 'ta-daaa'. That would be, like, super lame.)
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
The right arm injury is a dislocated shoulder that they've been advised (and repeatedly ignored) to not aggravate and thus the sling, but perhaps it's kind of difficult to tell between a broken arm and other arm injuries. ... maybe? Help!! Myunghon does notice the rectangular package, but Tsubasa's shoved it in their pocket and-- does take hold of Tsubasa's arm, when they realise they're a bit less steady than they expected. Don't stand up immediately, you'll be dizzy, fool!
"I'm-- fine. Sorry, I stood up too fast," Myunghon reassures. They take the time to move back to the couch, where they likely should've stayed in the first place. There's a large corkboard that's normally somewhat hidden away behind the shelves that has a large map of Sumaru and the greater Tokyo Metropolitan area, with all kinds of pinned post-it notes and red string and pictures of... of... fast food mascots.
But Tsubasa has their OWN present to reveal! "Oh!" Myunghon gasps, eye positively twinkling. "Tsubasa-kun! That's amazing! So you went to the Silk? How were they? Did you meet Tsumugi? And most importantly-- how does it feel?"
Yeah, Myunghon, how is Tsumugi? The image of them sweeping them into a decadent dance in the Dark Hour still pervades their mind. Their whispers. The confident touch of their hand. The electrifying words that drew them to Mementos... where they nearly made a mistake they couldn't take back.
...
They're still not sure if that was a dream or not. Even though the new cognitive coat was clearly delivered, and they JUMPED out of the hospital ward room as a result. Perhaps they're being deliberately stubborn about it so they wouldn't have to suspect Tsumugi.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa isn't great at touch, but, like, this isn't that, this is just stopping Myunghon from eating the floor. They're pretty strong, so long as you're counting them by the metric of 'can vault over a low fence in the process of running from the cops' and not by 'can deck Jack Frost in his stupid grinning face'. And like, they can deck plenty of people in the face... just so long as they're not insane monster-summoning superdudes.
Which is to say: they're pretty good at keeping Myunghon upright and getting them over to that couch.
Of course, sitting down kind of ends up jutting that thing in their pocket out a bit, revealing an edge of cardstock. They don't notice, though, because they've been distracted...
"Kujaku-hakase is seriously out of this world!" They say, and tragically forget to be cool about it briefly, before they realise they were way too enthusiastic and kind of shrug and sink back into the couch cushions. "Uh, I mean... like, I alter my clothes and shit, but they're really on another level. They said I could come back, too... but man, it's really somethin' else. Like -- like it's kinda weird? I was worried I was gonna get stuck the first time I tried to take it off... uh, it's real good, tho'. T--thanks for gettin' that all set up, Yeo-sama. I owe ya one... really."
They rub at their arm, glancing down to Lance, who has of course come over to snuffle in a friendly manner at Myunghon. "How you doin', anyway?" They try, still awkward. "Y'know... after... y'know." Well, just because they're trying doesn't mean they're very good.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
It's likely Tsubasa's strength somewhat exceeds Myunghon's, since they're a twig at the best of times and definitely doesn't engage in as much physical activity as regularly as Tsubasa does given the everythingness of Kasu High gang rivalry. They probably engage with Yua's dance studio because they've had a conversation with her long ago about how much they dislike rehab and then dance became a form of rehab and that's part of why their legs aren't as bad off as their arms cause there ain't no skipping leg day in dance.
But Tsubasa's REALLY into Tsumugi and there's a bit where Myunghon actually just, like -- giggles in turn, fingers on their lips, almost out of character, nodding. "Mmm, mmm, I was quite enamored myself. I'm also fond of what you're doing with your alterations. At the best of times, I have a shaky hand, and the one time I tried emergency sewing I can't even thread the needle and pricked my fingers more times than I can count..."
The tale of how Tsubasa nearly got their head stuck the first time the binder came off has Myunghon softly laughing. "That makes two of us! Once I had the binder stuck between my arm and face I knew I made a terrible mistake."
But Tsubasa thanks them, and Myunghon does settle slightly from their joy. Ah, it feels really good to share in some genuine good news for once. It reminds them their life isn't just a series of assassination attempts, one after another.
Which is coincidental to Tsubasa bringing it up, and Myunghon pauses and they can kinda see their eye going a bit distant, then they stammer, "I-- well... I will admit, I do not do very well with hospitals, and that made some of my injuries worse... but my friends have had the grace to let me stay the last few nights. Fortunately, I haven't seen that..." A slight hesitation, "... awful man in a while. Perhaps there are limits as to how far you can exploit your position, even in a place as corrupt as the Sumaru Police Department."
There's another reason, of course, but Myunghon really doesn't want to really bring up the NWO to Tsubasa.
"What are you carrying there, Tsubasa-kun?" Myunghon does gently ask, after, since letting their thoughts marinate on Ishiba is still frightening. He's one of the shadows they think will leap out at them.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Yua would remind Myunghon sternly that one oughtn't skip arm day in a dance either, but she'll take her wins where she can get them.
Luckily, there's no way Myunghon can see Tsubasa going red when they point out that they're being blatantly aspirational here, and it's a good thing there is absolutely no alternate way to tell that. "Y--you gotta get a thimble, man, that's what that shit is for." It is not, in fact, a Monopoly playing-piece or a waste paper basket for fairies.
"O-oh, uh, it's like that?" They ask, in response to Myunghon's laughter, scratching at the back of their neck. "Yeah, guess it'd be that way..."
But the reason why Myunghon isn't in hospital is revealed a moment later, as they talk about how they don't do well with them. "Oh... yeah, me neither. It's cool. Uh... I reckon maybe he pissed someone off, since... they were sayin' how they weren't gonna press no charges on me for assaultin' an officer or whatever the fuck. I was thinkin', like... if they put me on trial, they'd have to put up with everyone sayin' how he was bein' a violent dickhead, right?" So refusing to punish them surely was also a way to minimise how much he was burning in the department.
They might be reaching for reasons why it wasn't all to make their father happy, but this is not about that.
BUT THEN -- MYUNGHON ROLLS PERCEPTION!
And Tsubasa yelps, hand flying to their pocket. "N--nothin'! Nothin' lame! It's no big deal!"
Lance whines, and paws at their hand, as if to point out just how bad their lie is. At their dog's admonishment, Tsubasa sighs, their shoulders sinking.
"It's, uh... it's really nothin'... it was stupid, so..." They bite the inside of their cheek, because they've been found out, and so reluctantly they pull from their pocket...
... a card.
It has CONGRATULATIONS on the front, bizarrely, complete with hat and streamers. Inside, scrawled in kana with terrible penmanship, is the message: surviving is spiting the bastard.
"See, it's stupid," Tsubasa says, not quite managing to look at them as they say it. "I just thought... y'know, you might still be in hospital, or... or not up for seein' some dumb punk, or... d-don't even worry about it, man, it was super lame."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon just seems so pleased, as Tsubasa tells them they should protect their fingers with a thimble. "Ohhh... I should ask you for lessons, Tsubasa-kun. It would be nice to have some basic skills," echoing how they deferred to Tsumugi earlier. There's no mocking or teasing in the voice either, just a full appreciation for their craft. Being enamored with a skill someone younger than them just comes naturally to Myunghon!
The Rumourmonger settles in and listens to Tsubasa's account, on how they're not gonna press charges... and gently nods in turn. They're going to let the topic of their father slide, since it's useless to bring up for any reason other than to make Tsubasa more skittish. "I discovered it was deliberate," Myunghon confesses. "That someone above him was also encouraging him to harrass and... abuse me." The last two words there still make them very uncomfortable. "But if you turn that around, that also makes sense, since if it became a public scandal, it'd come up the pipe back to them as well."
Myunghon does spend a bit of time lavishing Lance with pats and scratches, since they've established that dog times can be good times now. In the midst of doing so, though, they look up with Lance and Tsubasa works through their embarrassment and pulls out...
A card!
They accept it with some curiousity, but see the message and their smile just gets rosier and warmer. Myunghon isn't someone who frequently gets colour on their face, but the sheer sense of warmth just seems to fill them with gratitude.
"Tsubasa-kun. I admit, I was having a really difficult last couple of days, I just arrived not half an hour ago back in Sumaru with bad news... but just like last time, I already feel much better. Thank you for this. You are correct. Surviving is spiting the... bastard." A longer pause. "He truly is one! A bastard," like they have to be reminded they can call people that actively hate and want to see them harmed bastards.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Uh, I mean, I can show ya, ain't that hard. Most annoyin' shit is people thinkin' you're a girl just 'cuz you sew... but that's why it's cool that Kujaku-hakase is so good at it, yeah?" No wonder they're calling them the Professor of Peacocks when they're actively bucking the trend of women being dressmakers.
Still... the beating they received was deliberate, and that makes Tsubasa look a touch ill. "... fucked up. Gotta wonder, sometimes, man..." But whatever they're wondering, they shake their head, and brush it off: "it's nothin'."
Even if it's a conspiracy, there's no way they're connected.
Lance, of course, just eats up all that attention, snuffling at Myunghon's hand and thonking her chin on their knee and wagging her tail so ferociously one might wonder if her back half is going to helicopter away.
But -- Myunghon gets their card, and -- likes it? Tsubasa squints, suspiciously, glancing over to them, only to see that their expression actually matches that tone. "Oh," they blink, their expression fading to vague confusion, "you-- you like this kinda corny shit, huh? Uh--uh, yeah, I knew that! That's why I did it!" In fact, it was totally just because it's Myunghon's thing and not at all because Tsubasa was worried about them. They've also got a bridge to sell you!
"But I, uh... I am glad it made you feel better," and through a heroic act of willpower Tsubasa manages not to append 'or whatever' to the end of that sentence. "Yeah, he's a piece of shit... you didn't deserve gettin' jumped by a pig like that. Guess I kinda fucked shit up showin' up, but... it wasn't right, man."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
On another day, Myunghon might worry if being more earnest and gentle with their reactions would adversely affect how Tsubasa views them, compared to their first meeting -- but at the same time, they probably would've pointed to that other part of them that the feeling is genuine and should just be relished for what it is, and that their relationship is more important than the image on a first impression. These moments are rare, in Sumaru.
"True. ... I've had comments like that when I was in high school, just, the other way," Myunghon remembers, with some of the other students going, 'You don't know how to sew? But you're a girl!' and somehow, there wasn't a violent course correction because of course The Perfect Student knows how to sew, because sometimes you just aren't very well positioned to learn something new.
Tsubasa wonders about something, in the midst of their reflection of how twisted it is -- but... no, nevermind. Myunghon does look curious, but they don't want to pry particularly hard about it either. "Hmm...?"
But it is also Lance time, and Myunghon does say, "I was thinking since last time, and I do want to stock some food here for her. And also-- I'd be more than happy if you want me to dogsit her sometimes, since I know that can be a stressful thing sometimes." There's a soft chuckle. "Perhaps Lance will beat me at card tricks again? She's very smart..."
Does Myunghon like this corny shit? "I like this corny shit," they just affirm without hesitation, looking over the card several more times, before setting it ontop of the closed laptop. Tsubasa feels they messed up turning up, but...
"... I was alarmed at the time as well-- I thought I heard your voice, but everything was a blur, and I could not see. But... I believe that that I know so many people willing to defend each other when awful things are happening... that's part of what I love most about our little community here in Hirasaka."
They snicker again, slightly more bashfully and say, "That was also corny, was it not? I believe it, though."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa just struggles with being genuine, themself. Even Ichika has a hard time getting their feelings out of them. They just... really value their image.
"People are stupid about it," Tsubasa agrees, of society's Comments. But, speaking of society --
"Just... a lotta conspiracies out there," they shrug a shoulder, vaguely.
But -- Lance!! "Uh, sure, if you don't mind or nothin'. Like, people do mind her for me sometimes," Tsubasa says. "Like the gang... uh, and Amamiya-kun was watchin' her the other week, too. Just... don't like lockin' her up in my apartment too much, y'know? It's... kinda cramped." That's a very generous way to describe their living quarters.
But it's cool, Myunghon is into this lame shit, so clearly the only reason Tsubasa did it is because it would make them happy. Totally selfless action. (What? The original action was selfless and doesn't need to be dressed up as faux-selfless? No, that doesn't sound right.)
"'Each other' nothin', it was about you," Tsubasa points out. "I ain't stupid enough to attack a pig for just anyone... just, you're different." Tsubasa's insistence that they're totally selfish enough to let a rando get beaten by the cops may be slightly undercut by the way they put themself at great personal risk to save Atsushi Kazama despite not knowing him from a hole in the wall. "... but if you wanna believe in the goodness of people's hearts or whatever, I'd be a real dick if I told you it was bullshit, huh."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"There are," Myunghon quietly answers, as Tsubasa speaks about conspiracies. "I don't... live the safest life," is the way they're willing to phrase it to Tsubasa at the moment. On multiple fronts, Myunghon, even the ones that aren't associated with the conspiracies. Such as your living conditions! "I suppose it was only a matter of time before I caught someone's attention."
Which is a half-lie, because Myunghon was already marked (but not Marked) from the day they betrayed the conspiracy, but it's not untrue that this extra attention is new... even if its ultimate source is old.
"Amamiya-kun...? There was an Amamiya who came here the other day too, a nice student from Shujin with dark hair. He was into some of the mystery books here," Myunghon ruminates, proud that someone was actually here for the old books for once. But on the topic of Lance: "Yes, I absolutely don't mind. Lance doesn't look like she minds it here either." They do know that the way Tsubasa phrases that probably is putting it... mildly.
But Tsubasa points out that it was for their sake they did it -- they wouldn't just do it for anyone! "Hmmm. Well, I do appreciate you feel that way," Myunghon doesn't press the point or anything, since much like with Akari and Ixquic, they do believe in the importance of not undermining how youths view themselves. "And I suppose, I wouldn't say it's as anything as sweeping as that... that bastard exists, after all. But I really have met quite a lot of caring people here in the last month. And that, of course, includes you too, Tsubasa-kun."
It's the only thing that's keeping them from truly falling apart, because there have been a truly exceptional amount of people with malice too.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"I, uh..." Tsubasa starts, only to stop, again. There is of course their doctor, but -- but that surely isn't related. But...
"... they let me go 'cuz of... who my father is," is what they get around to saying, with a generous pause. "Since he's this bigwig executive at Kimpara Electronics, uh... and it weren't him showin' up and makin' the problem go away, they... that Sergeant Ezoe, uh, he recognised me. When he reminded that other shithead about it, they were... way more delicate 'bout me... brought me in for 'safety'." It's deeply uncomfortable, but if Myunghon's being targeted... they owe them this much. "And... they insisted on callin' my father, even when Officer Shimizu showed up to try and save me... I really don't know what father's involved in, though." With a dark, bitter expression, they add: "... just that he was a loser before I got called an arsonist."
Maybe they won't trust them if they hear how the people who almost killed them were toadying up to their father, they think. But that's fine. They deserve to know, anyway.
"Amamiya-kun's cool," they say, of Ren. They're not able to rat them out to Myunghon, but saying that much might just get them on their radar. Right?
Lance barks, happily, when she hears her name. "Yeah, guess so," Tsubasa says, looking over to her. (She's still wagging a million miles an hour.)
"Nah," Tsubasa says, a touch awkwardly, glancing away. "I'm a dick. But I'm fine with that, y'know... just, if I want somethin', I go for it. Uh, back then, I wanted that guy to lay off you... that's how it is. But, uh... it's cool you got carin' people around you and shit. Good for you, y'know?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Tsubasa simply explains that they reach for what they want, if they see it! And back then... they wanted Ishiba off Myunghon. There's a tender smile and a nod. ... the statement does sort of remind them of when Shinjiro says it -- sincere, but at the same time, like there's a belief that they themself don't deserve it.
Tsubasa explains part of the truth behind their release -- the catch and release, Myunghon had twigged was likely what the scenario was. Kimpara Electronics... that's a name that they're inevitably well-acquainted with, as someone who was a rising corporate star not even two years ago. Myunghon does frown a little deeper as the thought sends them back into analytical mode, into the land of cold hard logic rather than in the mushier environs of pleasant feelings that they probably didn't realise they liked, because it be like that for them sometime.
"I suppose... that makes two of us with miserable bigwig executive fathers," Myunghon does have a tired smile for Tsubasa. "That sounds like a move straight out of the Sumaru PD playbook... they don't pass up an opportunity to make the rich 'owe' them favours." But Tsubasa thinks it might've beeen deeper than that -- that he's connected to what Sergeant Ezoe and the others are pulling. "... mm."
But it's not lost on them, what Tsubasa says about being called an arsonist. That's the incident at City Hall -- it's impossible for someone like Myunghon to not have heard the detail. "I've looked into that incident at City Hall before. I was following a money trail..." A pause. "Were you set up, Tsubasa-kun...?"
Myunghon realises they've entered work mode again, but this is important for Tsubasa, so perhaps that's all fine. They're energised enough that it doesn't feel like they're doing it to just not run aground of how painful it feels otherwise.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa doesn't deserve anything.
That's why they just steal what they want.
"You too, huh," and there's something terribly weary about the way Tsubasa says it, like the beaten down 'it can't be helped' of a salaryman who's been bowing his head thanklessly for fifty years. "Your mom zonked out on pills to cope, too?" The man who owes them a favour is...
They frown, though, when Myunghon says they were looking into it. "... fuck if I know," they shrug a shoulder. "I was just a part-timer, but I got curious where our opponent's nice shit was comin' from, so when my boss had me input data under his account I just kinda... went lookin'. Was like, fuckin', five million yen in dark money, no associated donor or nothin'... but before I could tell Nakajima-san... I don't remember what happened, but they said I was laughin' when they pulled me outta the fire. They said Nakajima-san was embezzlin' money, but it was comin' in, not goin' out." Kenta Nakajima, of course, is a local Yongen-Jaya politician, presently imprisoned for his crimes.
Tsubasa pauses. "Got told it was a Psychotic Breakdown," they say, without meeting Myunghon's eyes. "... and the Phantom Thieves prolly did it, before they decided to start cleanin' their image up."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Something does hurt about the way Tsubasa says it. That's not the kind of weariness they want to see in anyone -- remotely in their age quadrant. It's too miserable. That's the kind of weight that made them choose life when Miho was ordered to go after them.
There's something that hits very close in Tsubasa's tale as they share more of the details. "Mm... so you did find it. You saw something you shouldn't have, and..." A quiet frown, as Tsubasa explains it in a way they weren't expecting. A Psychotic Breakdown... by the Phantom Thieves. "I see..."
Unlike a certain other boy in red, Myunghon's worked with the Thieves to know that's likely not what they'd do, but... it's not like they're at the point where they know all their motives, either. "That does follow. The trail I followed was from the outside, but I never found its outstream source." And it doesn't sound like it was Nakajima, either. And Tsubasa became the scapegoat to cover it all up... they erased both of them.
"... I'll confide with you something I've rarely told other people, Tsubasa-kun."
They're not sure why they're telling this tale. Something about Tsubasa's tale really did strike close to home. "There was a multinational health corporation, Frey Pharmaceuticals. That was my father's corporation... and they were involved in something truly vile. It sank virtually overnight two years ago in a massive scandal the media loved to call the 'Great Surrender'."
A pause. "Well... I engineered that scandal." It sounds impressive, but there's no bragging in their voice, just solemn, distant sorrow. "And for doing that... my father ordered a hit on me in turn. As you might put it..." They gesture with their bandaged arm. Their bandaged everything.
"I survived with these scars to spite the bastard."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
It's... weird, hearing how Myunghon was following it. Like... kind of validating, but...
But if they knew about it, too, why did Tsubasa have to be the one to eat shit?
(Probably because you were stupid and easy to hit, they think, dismally, to themself.)
Their knitted brow grows more severe, when Myunghon brings up their own past. Engineering a scandal that brought down a whole company, huh...
Tsubasa looks over to Myunghon, again. ... huh, yeah, they've never seen them without the bandages, have they. Huh.
"Your father... wanted you dead, huh," they say, slowly, and Lance whines, sensing their distress and nosing over to their lap instead. "Wonder if that's just, normal for guys like that..."
Why they'd wonder that is a question left for the ages, as they pet their dog, looking terribly bothered by it all.
"Mine's lazier," they shrug, speaking to Lance. "Just told me to hurry up and die to make his life easier. Not like he can discipline me these days anyway, with Sergeant Suou and Officer Shimizu on his back... hah, he's mad about that, too." They huff out a chuckle, like it's funny. "Too bad for him I ain't never done a decent thing in my life. Why would I stop disappointin' him now?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Perhaps they've seen a peek at what's under them sometime, but Myunghon does tend to take care with their bandaging so that nothing they believe is displeasing shows through -- not unlike how Tsubasa covers their scars in their tan, makeup and wig as well. Different tools, and yet... perhaps, not so dissimilar desires.
"... my father *and* mother, for different reasons, now I've found," Myunghon lets out a despondent little sigh. But then they pause and shake their head. "No-- nevermind." They've got to get themself under control; so many people are going to get hurt the more they let this slip. The consequences from Ishiba are devastating, but they don't know to what lengths their mother would start hurting those around them just to exact retribution. The depth of her shadow is immense, in their mind.
"It's distressingly normal," Myunghon does impassively say, as if they're familiar with it. "The higher up you are from reality, the more empowered you are to think you can wave a magic wand and make people disappear."
Lance is sensing their distress, though, and Myunghon does at the very least receive a reprieve to say, "Ah, I'm sorry, Lance..." Over more pats, they look to Tsubasa as they say Katsuya and Reiko's put him both in check. The huff and chuckle does get them to smirk as well, though their gaze is distant.
"Standing up to a cop for me's a pretty decent thing, if you want to count one that definitely made him mad."
There's a gentle shake of their head, though. "I didn't mean to sink into all this... I feel I took away from your thoughtful gift."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"It's cool," Tsubasa assures Myunghon, when they edge close to issuing their mother fault before shying away.
Of course, they're thinking of Etsuko, when they say it.
It's harder to admit mom hurts too, huh?
(They don't know the half of it.)
But Myunghon is impassive about the horror, and...
"Sometimes," they start, and then fall silent.
... there's just no good way to say what they're thinking. And it's not the sort of thing Myunghon should worry about when they're all beaten up, anyway.
"I ain't decent," they insist, though, with a little more feeling. "Nothin' good about me."
And Myunghon might notice the way they've retreated back into short answers, back into themself, but...
"Uh... look," Tsubasa says, rubbing at the back of their neck. "I'm the asshole who came in here and made you sad, so don't even worry about it, yeah? Look, uh... you're into the sappy cards and shit because of the card games, right?" IS THAT WHY THEY THOUGHT THEY'D LIKE A CARD -- "S-so -- how 'bout you show me the new July set? Y'know, that Faerie shit?"
Oh, yeah, that's a great idea, Tsubasa, get them all sad about their horrible family and then get them to play cards. You got any other brilliant ideas up there, champ? Well, those are the thoughts running through Tsubasa's head, anyway, but they try not to rain on Myunghon's parade so much as to undercut their offer before they can even respond.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon does notice, the way Tsubasa is receding into themself too. It's not just them that's sinking and getting distressed; there's so much about the way they insist they're not decent that reminds them of Shinjiro's own brand of self-loathing. They could argue to the contrary, but it'll just make them more defensive. No, they just have to think of the ways in which they got through to them in the end -- showing they care, not saying.
"Oh? That's right. You've come to a card store, you'd best know we have a wonderful supply of Faerie cards. Like--"
Myunghon then fakes a gasp, fingers to their lips.
"Tsubasa-kun! What's that in your pocket?!"
It's a July booster pack from Faerie! There wasn't even any time for misdirection this time! How'd they do it!?
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Uh?" Tsubasa looks down, reaching into their pocket, and... pulling out an entire goddamn booster pack?
"Holy shit. You have got to show me how to do that," they issue, to Myunghon, with a flat tone which broaches no argument.
"Just, y'know," they add, as they crack the card pack open. "After I kick your ass."
Tsubasa talks real tough for a guy challenging the person who sells the cards.
Maybe that moxie will even win them a game... one way or another.