2025-09-25: Rise of the Vampire Baker
- Log: Rise of the Vampire Baker
- Cast: Myunghon Yeo, Katsuya Suou
- Where: Cardboard Dragon, Hirasaka Ward
- OOC Date: September 25, 2025
- IC Date: July 16, 2012
- Summary: Katsuya walks in on Myunghon attempting to bake. The legend of the vampire baker starts here...
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
The last time Katsuya visited the Cardboard Dragon, Myunghon was in quite the wounded state, half-asleep and having quite a lot of difficulty being coherent -- they were ultimately able to manoeuvre his visit and Yoko's well enough, but it perhaps wasn't the best time to discuss much more with the Rumourmonger. Today, however, there's positively signs of life from the Cardboard Dragon, but when Katsuya enters--
Butter. At least 200 mililitres of it, melted.
The treacle-like, sticky sweet smell of soft brown sugar.
Eggs.
Just a hint of vanilla essence. The cheap fake stuff, sadly.
Some salt.
Baking powder.
And the tickling sensation of all-purpose flour.
It's all coming back to him, and how; how strange, though, that he should be smelling these here. He spots a new addition on the kitchenette counter -- a toaster oven, the kind with the glass doors. It's no substitute for a proper oven, but this is far more portable and reasonable for a first-timer, perhaps. It's not new -- perhaps Myunghon got it pre-loved, or borrowed someone's around the neighborhood?
And where are the ingredients themselves--
Ah. Myunghon is currently perched on the couch, trying their best to brace their mixing bowl against their chest and thighs, using a fork to try to blend all the ingredients together with a bit of difficulty. They're dressed in... white?
They have a white coat on, with a pale gold sweaterdress underneath, with black leggings. Underneath the sweater is a collared, ruffled shirt and a black tie ribbon. It's kind of an unusual look for them, very femme, but... the clothes don't appear new either, like Myunghon suddenly was in the mood to get a new wardrobe.
"Oh-- Officer Suou? My apologies, one moment," Myunghon calls as they set the mixing bowl aside.
<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.
It's not that this is the only place where he can get spell cards, as it happens. There are a scattering of these places around Sumaru and even beyond the city limits. But all that being said, there are reasons for him to check in on the place, with all that's happened. Today, it looks like it's open--
The scent. It hits his nose first before he can spot anything else about the shop space. His brain catalogues it all in order. That's butter, without question. Sugar, salt. Flour, and the rest-- right down to the cheap synthetic vanilla. Good enough, if that's all you can afford, but surely, there are better options.
Pieces of the environment resolve for him in order, the little bits and pieces that weren't there before. The toaster oven: he has to use one himself in the police dorm, but this one is a far cry from his own. But it's not in use. Of course: the ingredients, as his nose already told him, are still raw. Mixed, but not yet baked. There's no bowl on the counter. So where--
Then, he spots Myunghon, the last element of this puzzle to come into focus. Funny, the way his mind works. There's the bowl. They're trying to mix it with... a fork?
And they're not even wearing an apron, dressed like that...!
It's very fancy for someone like Myunghon. Very feminine. Is this--
A handful of scenarios present themselves where someone might want to dress nicely and make a cake. One of them is--
"Yeo-san? ...Are you preparing for someone's birthday?"
Because of course someone like Katsuya Suou wouldn't immediately assume that they were preparing for a date or something. Oh no.
"By the way, it's better to use a whisk for mixing, or a spatula if you need to fold the batter. The fork is too small for that volume of batter." You know, just in case they need the help.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon does stop, looking a bit more self-conscious as Katsuya asks if they're preparing cake for someone's birthday. They look a bit frazzled and embarrassed to be caught in the act, but what should've they expected? They're doing it in the shopfront, even, in plain sight. People will walk in and find out. They tuck that white coat a little tighter around them -- it's a very lovely coat, although it doesn't look new... it's very fastidiously kept, given how easily white gets stained as a fabric colour, and it's very obviously tailored to fit them and them alone.
"No, I..." Myunghon pauses. "I wished to give a treat to those who've given it their all with me these last few weeks," they admit, a little shyly. "I don't know how to cook, but when I browsed recipes online, I realised that baking appears to be more within my very limited means."
Katsuya points out that that fork is too small for that volume of batter. "That is true... but, I do not own any of that, unfortunately." A lapse and a quiet, bashful chuckle, as they shyly look to Katsuya. "Ara, Officer Suou? You're surprisingly knowledgeable about this."
They take their bowl again and brace themself down onto the couch to start mixing again. "The recipe says I need to cream this butter and sugar for a few minutes... this is more laborious than I expected."
<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.
It's even more strange the more that he looks at it: that's a tailored coat, isn't it? And it's in white, a difficult color to keep clean. There's a reason why Katsuya favors a darker suit in his line of work -- beyond the fact that white, as a color, really doesn't suit him in that volume. And yet, it has no obvious signs of damage or dirt that he can see. It takes a lot of effort to keep something like that looking nice, and the same could be said for the lighter color of their dress.
But Myunghon explains. It's not because it's someone's birthday, but another situation where Katsuya can empathize: making a cake to demonstrate the gratitude one feels for their coworkers, a feeling which he's sorry to say he's felt deficient in of late.
But trust is neither here nor there at the moment: if he can't trust anyone at work, at least he has a few people in whom he can put his trust. ...Mostly, that is. Perhaps he'll be forgiven for keeping a few things to himself. They're personal matters, after all, and he shouldn't be troubling them with them, at least not so long as it can be avoided.
"I see," Katsuya muses, and here he tries to get a peek into the bowl in question. "So you thought you would bake them something? I've always thought that handmade is best, myself." Ah, creaming the butter, it looks like. With... a fork? A mixer would be a better choice. They don't have a stand-mixer? Perhaps bakers of old had to do it like this, but--
Myunghon asks him a difficult question. He's not used to someone interrogating him so closely. "Well," Katsuya starts to say, glancing away from them, "I've picked up this and that. Do you mind if I take a look at it? Do you have a mixing spoon by any chance?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
It's a window, of Myunghon Yeo in another time, perhaps. Perhaps a time when they were still Myorei Yukichi. It does speak volumes to their much more different presentation. It's very cute, yet distinguished and striking, the kind Katsuya'd see out on the streets as part of a fashion crowd, even if it's modest enough for day to day use. There's an old pin on the coat's lapel, somewhat burnished from wear, one that depicts a cute little stylised bunny and the words 'ANGELIQUE' underneath it.
Myunghon nods, before pausing and placing their fingers to their lips. "... you're one of them too, Officer Suou. I meant to give some of them to you as well," they point in no uncertain terms. Where Katsuya's been feeling a deep deficit in the amount of trust in his coworkers, perhaps it's nice that Myunghon sees them as someone to thank for their hard work -- in no small part because of how they handled Ishiba.
"That is part of it, but I do... also wish to learn another useful skill. I do not do well with food. I will not even be able to taste these cookies, so you will have to be the judge, as well, Officer Suou."
What do they mean, they won't be able to taste the cookies? They made them, didn't they? Are they just going to ship them out immediately?
But, no, Myunghon doesn't have a stand-mixer, which is easily hundreds of dollars and requires counterspace they clearly don't possess. But Katsuya offers to have a go at it and asks if they have a mixing spoon. "Um... I have a... spoon. I'm sorry to say I only possess a small spoon and a regular-sized spoon."
How long has it been since Katsuya has seen someone attempt to bake with the barest of tools imaginable? Is this acceptable? Would a vampire baker allow this? Can this really, truly stand? A new soul, awakened to the culinary delight of baking, the interstice between cooking and chemistry, and they're bereft of equipment! Like a student with a mind waiting to be unlocked, but lacking pencils, pens, notepads, books!
<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.
Katsuya doesn't have an eye for women's fashion as such, being solely focused on the domain that affects him most readily (e.g., men's, and even then, not in more depth than he needs to project the image he wants). That doesn't mean that he doesn't know broad trends, however. There are those fashion choices which are 'cuter', as society terms it. Then there are more sophisticated examples. There are even scandalous trends, of which Katsuya does his best not to look at too long (for fear someone might judge him, among other things). But it's not that typical to see something that manages to straddle two different areas of fashion, is it? It's a little bit cute, and a little bit...
It's certainly an older piece, that much is certain.
He's... one of the people they want to gift? Katsuya, taken aback, shakes his head. "That is... that is quite alright, Yeo-san. There is no need for... it was only my duty." Still, he avers, "But, thank you, all the same."
But that faint embarrassment gives way to confusion: he tilts his head to one side, as if he weren't understanding them properly. "You are... not going to test one?" It's true that it's not possible to test all baked goods thus, but, cookies are the easiest to do so! Why--
But he'll abandon that confusion for the chance to leap to the rescue, and for once, not involving a deadly weapon.
[ELECTROCHEMISTRY]: At last! This is your chance! Show them what proper technique is like--
Myunghon says they have. a spoon. Also a tinier spoon.
Katsuya stares at them, uncomprehending.
[MIS EN PLACE]: ...But how? How could someone have possibly gotten to this step without even the most basic of equipment? --No. Could it be? Do they not even have... measuring spoons? Say it is not so!
"You... do not have a mixing spoon? Or a even a blender, or a whisk?" he asks, as if they had said something as basic instead like 'I don't own any shoes'.
...
......
"I... I see..." Katsuya says, and, as someone who is in their own way indefatigable, "Then, I'll use your spoon to do it." He can't give up just because he doesn't have the equipment...!
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
It's one thing for a piece to be fashionable, but there's the distinct sense that this outfit feels... meaningful, perhaps. More than a work suit, something you just slap on because you're expected to present that to the world. Somehow, sentiment lingers in it. Katsuya looks slightly embarrassed that they're included in the gift-recipients, though, and even Myunghon has to admit he looks cute in the moment.
But are they not going to... test one?
"... I have a... taste disorder," Myunghon explains very gently, readying themself for an admission. "After struggling with sickness years ago, I lost both taste and smell. Most foods taste little more like ashes to me, Suou-san, and smell like nothing." Hey, Suou-san's back! Does that mean they're slightly more comfortable around him again? Maybe. "I struggle with my diet day to day, even, but people have been helping me... but-- it is very clear that that cookie will not taste the way it is 'intended' to me. Thus, I have need of you to ensure it tastes how other people will receive it."
Does Myunghon not have any of that? They look a bit more embarrassed and ashamed, glancing away.
"I-- well, Suou-san, if I am going to confess, that small kitchenette--" which is more a kitchenette for an office, rather than a proper kitchen, "--is the only place you'll find anything resembling cookware, and there aren't very many supplies, no. There is nothing more upstairs where I live."
... they LIVE here? But Katsuya's certain this place is only zoned for commercial use. That's in violation of a law, certainly! Aha! Potted-Plant Law-Catching Katsuya Suou has found you again, evildoer!!
They do offer the bowl and the spoon, though, since Katsuya likely has more arm strength anyway and isn't injured. "I'm very sorry to distract you like this. Is there anything you needed to talk to me regarding, while I have you mixing?"
<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.
There's a lot he doesn't know about Myunghon. A lot of it, it probably isn't any of his business. But he does wonder.
He's embarrassed about getting a present. He can't help it. It's how he is: he's usually the person taking care of other people, rather than the reverse. ...Though sometimes, mysteriously, some of the women at work give him chocolate. He's still not sure what provokes that.
They have a taste disorder, Myunghon explains, and the look on Katsuya's face, piercing through the cool affect he so typically prevents, suggests that this is the worst fate he can possibly imagine before he recovers himself. "I... am sorry to hear that, Yeo-san." To lose both taste and smell! Wouldn't one lose their affinity for food, if they were so afflicted? He can't imagine it. Of course, he could still cook and bake if it happened to him, but to lose those senses... not only is it dangerous (think about a gas leak!) but it would be an extra barrier to someone attempting to bake. "In that case, I..." He presses one hand against his chest. "...I would be glad to help you confirm the final product!" ...Is this earnestness why he's so popular with the ladies? He should really be more careful.
There is a pause when they admit all this. A thousand thousand thoughts go to war at once, but the statement that makes its way out into the world is:
"This area isn't zoned for residential use, Yeo-san."
And what? Is he going to report them for that? After all that's happened?
That's not a question that Katsuya can answer, at least, not immediately here-and-now.
Instead, he takes the bowl from them and takes the spoon (a regular... spoon, just as they'd said to him...) and with determination, begins doing what he can with it, the butter, and the sugar. This will not be an easy task on its own, even for him, with more strength and even more importantly, two uninjured arms. "Actually... I had come to ask about spell cards. I believe I should branch out, as it were. I cannot keep relying on those with Personas more attuned to healing or supportive spells." Even if Helios will never be as a good at either, it still might be better in a pinch. Sorry little Zio card, but the best offense is sometimes a good defense.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"It wasn't certain if I would live, about two years ago. I was in the hospital for a very long time, and you know how when you're very sick, your body just becomes vulnerable to everything else... so there were various infections and flus, despite the staff's best efforts," Myunghon does come very close to thinking, as Katsuya commiserates with them regarding the destruction of their taste and smell and how he'd be glad to help confirm the final, that Katsuya does seem pretty cute. He's so earnest and sincere!
...
And then he talks about the zoning laws of this building.
Nevermind. Wait, or is this gap between 'I'll help you taste your cookies!' and 'You're violating residential laws!' his gap moe?
Myunghon can admit how it would be cute, but that wasn't cute. They look a bit upset as they say, "Yes, well... I do not quite have the funds to move to another place, I am afraid." Myunghon you have like twenty safehouses. Katsuya's BEEN in one of them! YES but that's for other people to stay in, not for themself! The self-sacrificing habit is rearing its ugly head once more.
"It was difficult when I was recovering. I had to have Inaba-san take care of my laundry, and the nearest public baths are a bit too far," Myunghon does lament. ... they barely have a kitchen, and no burners at all, they have no whitewares (which is, to be fair, not uncommon), and no bathing facilities either... this is sub-standard living, surely.
But Katsuya's an old hand at this... the butter and sugar is in perfect temperature to be whisked and aerated. And the other ingredients have all been carefully measured out. For all Myunghon is inexperienced, they have a chemist's eye, and it's easy for them to measure ingredients on a scale.
He came here for Skill Cards, though. "I see. You want to support your allies more. I have actually also been working hard on fulfilling that role, because a lot of the Cardboard Dragon Persona-Users favour offence."
Oops, all DPS!!
They pull towards their card binder and turns the page to a certain spot. "These are all my healing and support cards at present... what about this one? 'Media'. You can stitch together multiple wounded Persona in one fell swoop."
They place the card just slightly over their lips.
"I am willing to part with some of these... if you teach me more about baking, and introduce me to baking equipment."
<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.
"I see... It is a fortunate thing that you survived, in spite of everything," he tells them. It is sorry that they lost such basic senses in the bargain, but perhaps sometimes this is the 'price' of survival. He thinks, of all thinks, of that teenager. Tsubasa Seki, who survived setting themselves on fire, but not without grave cost. How strange, why is he brought to think about them now?
He makes such a declaration, yes, and it's not even 'just' because he has a sweet tooth or anything like that: a chef must know their product, especially with an unknown recipe!
And then he talks about the zoning laws of this building. Why is he like this.
They look a bit upset, as they should be. "I understand," he starts with, in spite of his comment he's not an unreasonable man, "but these laws do exist for a reason. If there were a fire, and you were here, you could be in danger," he explains. It's also extra leverage if someone else finds out about it, which is a dark thought and not one that Katsuya precisely enjoys having thought up. And then he remembers something else. "...Wait, did I not get taken to a safe house of yours in Konan on that day?" The day on the beach, he means.
Besides, as they explain, it's not as if living on top of the shop is comfortable or easy. Even if funds are tight, surely...?
"Is Inaba-san another employee of yours?" He's not sure they've met. Also, if he keeps asking nosy questions like this, someone's going to think he's nosy.
Creaming the butter with just a regular spoon is not an easy task. But once upon a time, there wasn't any electricity, and whatever someone did they had to do by hand. Imagine it, Suou! Meringues, without a mixer! Imagine it. And yet, it was done. ...If they were up to the task, he reminds himself, then surely...!
At least they used a scale. At least the ingredients were measured and not weighed. At least the proprotions are right. These cookies aren't damned at all -- certainly not, if he can continue to apply himself to this process. "So, these cookies then... am I wrong in guessing shortbread?" He's using the proportion of butter to sugar, along with the remainder of the ingredients as his guidepost, but he could still be mistaken. "Be careful not to overbake, if that's the case. It's easy for them to overbrown. They're not inedible in such a case, but they can be a little too hard. A proper shortbread cookie should melt in the mouth," he goes on, as if he were a baking instructor, and not, say, a homicide detective.
He can't help it.
He wants to help his allies, and anyone else he ends up fighting alongside. "Yes. It is not a bad thing, to rely on others," he explains, stopping mixing for a moment to check the creamed sugar and butter's consistency. "Yet, there have been situations... I have found Helios lacking, in some cases. There, I think that this is done. But, speaking of cards again," he says, looking up from the mixing bowl, "If I find myself in a sitaution where no one can heal, there could be trouble. I think it's best to be prepared. Don't you?"
They have, meawnhile, pulled out a particular card. Media. He knows that spell. "Yes," he says to them, "that would be exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for." Sometimes it's just one person. Sometimes, and he thinks of Ayame and others collapsing in that fight against the Joker, it's more than one person.
They make their offer: they'll part with cards in exchange for baking expertise. And some information about the proper equipment.
"Of course," he tells her. He's happy to do that. In fact, more than happy: has he ever gotten the chance to explain how to do this or that since his brother started to get older?
"Now, I don't think we have the time to go shopping for the proper equipment now, and we should be able to make do with what we have here," though it will be hard "but you will want to invest in a basic mixing spoon and a whisk. Even without a proper stand-mixer, there's a lot you can do in the kitchen with a whisk," he starts, because now Myunghon's gone and done it, they're off to the races now...
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon does think Katsuya is somewhat nosy, but detectives have to be nosy. Who has ever heard of a detective that isn't? They are also inevitably nosy by nature of their job as well. Is it a fortunate thing that they survived? There's a weak smile from Myunghon as he says that. "I suppose so." They almost sound like they want to disagree there. It perhaps isn't something they're willing to dredge up further.
But Katsuya gets a quizzical look. "Those are safe houses. They're alloted for emergencies just like such. If I were to assign myself to one, then that would only be cutting into the amount of available and unknown places for us to be sheltered from our enemies," they lecture, as if it were common sense. Why, it's not like they've assigned a safehouse to someone just because they insist on being homeless! But assigning a safehouse so they can actually live in a proper home? PREPOSTEROUS!
"Inaba-san runs the Inaba Dry Cleaning down the street. He appears to be a proficient Persona-User as well, I have received some advice from him... I'm certain he'd have some guidance for you as well, and if nothing else, it is nice to introduce yourself to more of our kin," Myunghon explains Mark simply enough.
Were they making shortbread cookies? "Ah, I wished to make chocolate chip cookies... but they were out of pre-made ones, so I purchased a bar of chocolate instead. That was the only uncertainty I had. Then I realised I did not have any knife skills, and even I know I am not in a state to attempt such a dangerous thing while I am injured. So... what is a chocolate chip cookie, without the chocolate chip?"
A bit sad, maybe...
But Katsuya espounds on the wonders of shortbread cookies! They pull up and look at him a bit closer with a smile. "You *are* a baker, are you not? This is not just one of those instances where you are slightly read up on the subject. You have more of a spark in your eye when you speak about this, much like how you were insistent there was a cat here the last time you visited."
But Katsuya accepts!! He starts on what he believes are the very basics: a proper mixing spoon, and a whisk. "I see... mmm, perhaps I will first check the second-hand stores... I imagine baking equipment is often lent out as they wear, or if people have to move."
They can tell that if they just listen wholesale to what Katsuya recommends, they might be burning a bigger hole in their budget...
<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.
As the saying goes, 'it comes with the territory'. Either you don't become a detective, or you don't last as a detective without being a little bit nosy.
"Yes, but..." he tries to argue. ...He can't say that they lack for enemies, though. Or that it wasn't helpful to hide Hamade-kun away after that attempt on her life. "...Nevertheless... it still isn't safe for you to live here..."
Even Katsuya knows he's losing the argument, though.
"Inaba Dry Cleaning... I see. So he is a Persona-user, as well? Perhaps I should pay him a visit, if he's as experienced as you say." He might have at best a month and change under his own belt as a Persona-user; the more (reliable) help he can get, the better. And if this Inaba has been kind enough to help Myunghon, well, doesn't that speak to his character?
It's not shortbread, Myunghon explains. "Aha! I see," he says, scarcely missing a beat. "You've used brown sugar, so perhaps bittersweet is best. It might work out better with the molasses in the brown sugar," he explains. "If you have the bar and a knife, I should be able to break it down. It will be more like 'chunks' but it should suffice." He's in the zone now. "If we had real vanilla, it would be better, but this suffice. In something like this, the vanilla plays a supporting role." Much the same way he hopes to in any further fights alongside those he considers his allies. "Now, if I were to do sugar cookies, the vanilla is more noticable, so a higher quality extract or paste is best in that case. Speaking of vanilla, it's expensive and some extra work, but sometimes it's also good to buy the whole pod. It leaves an impression."
He's not just a dabbler, is he, though--
Oh, no, he's been caught. As if there were any question of it! "Well... that is," he starts and stops, then shakes his head. "It is... a hobby of mine," he admits, unable to tell such a bald-faced lie. He's silent a moment, then looks right at them. "Is it that unusual?"
Ah. The cat. He doesn't think it's here now. Or at least, his allergies aren't acting up. Looking vaguely uncomfortable, Katsuya speaks to that thus: "Well, that is..."
But the contract has been made: he'll give them advice and make some suggestions for what they might need for basic supplies. "Second-hand is not a terrible place to start," he says. There's a chance they could even find some proper equipment, depending. "I see you used a scale for measuring out the ingredients; this is the best way to do it. A scoop can be helpful but they are often inconsistent."
Myunghon will have to be careful. He's serious about his baking, which means that they could well end up the poorer if they heed his every word. For someone like him, accuracy and precision are more important (though of course it's also best to be frugal, or you won't have money for the important things like your little brother's college fund).