2025-10-08: Peppermint and Sourdough
- Log: Peppermint and Sourdough
- Cast: Myunghon Yeo, Saika Kikuchi
- Where: Cardboard Dragon, Hirasaka Ward
- OOC Date: October 08, 2025
- IC Date: July 23, 2012
- Summary: Myunghon receives a visit from Saika while waffling endlessly on going back to the Silk.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon Yeo is having a kind of traumatising week (again) with more weirdos after them, probably sent by mom, and also things are still messy and dramatic between them and Shinobu and also they're still putting off trying to contact Tsumugi despite really wanting to talk to them about the literally everything that happened. This has all been well and put down under a lid to be compartmentalised later, because right now they have to be a responsible adult and actually run a card store instead of delegating to Gumiho or Remi since they're busy today!!
They're in the black coat today, with the white dress shirt and black tie and black dress pants, rather than one of the femme outfits they've been wearing more often -- it almost feels strange to return to what they've now definitively thought of as funerary suits, but the thought of Tsumugi's creation draped around them still gives them some comfort...
The Rumourmonger is at the counter, with their right arm still in a sling, working point of sales as they slowly and very meticulously register new products -- booster packs -- through the scanner to actually add them to their inventory. Then the door rings and they reflexively call out, "Ah, good afternoon--"
Then inevitably the fact that it is Saika catches their attention, since they remember her from the grand sale!
<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
Also, because SAIKA KIKUCHI - who just barged in through the door -
IS!
* DEFINITELY MEMORABLE TO LOOK AT! Her hair is three different colors, none of them according to Jack Frost's plan for our lives!
* Not the usual kind of book or card person!
* Walking in with a swagger and her thumbs in the belt loops of her shorts (because it's still summer!)
As she walks in, Saika scans the room, giving Myunghon a cheerful "Hey!" and a raising of one hand... which stays up... and trails off... as she takes a couple more steps in, a customer in the process of leaving having to kind of step around her, before she says, "Oh my god," and immediately ducks into the bookshelves.
About eight minutes later - or just as Myunghon is moving to go after her - Saika turns back around and says with wonder and glory, "I didn't know you sold BOOKS! Holy living FUCK!" She sweeps a hand towards the shelves. "This shit is great! You got like all the classics here! I think."
A beat or two passes. "I thought you just sold those cards."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon does look a little startled as Saika Kikuchis her way into their life and-- turns to said customer and then finishes the transaction and quickly autopilots through a 'thank you, please come again', before watching with more rapt attention as she swans into the books.
"Ah. No, I actually wished for this to be a bookstore at first, but I received advice that it would be... boring, for youths," Myunghon admits. "Kikuchi-san, isn't it? Or do you prefer Saika, like the others?"
There's a faint little smile as masking comes on again. "We met once, but it was quite busy then... but I'd managed to miss you in my subsequent visits to the Silk. But Yanagi and Tsumugi have both spoken much of you." Quite a lot, in fact. They're definitely terribly curious about her too.
"Is there anything that particularly catches your eye?"
Speaking of eye-catching, Yanagi's Koala Pin is fastened onto their lapel buttonhole, which is silver and sodalite and splendourous and cute.
<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
"Yeah, Saika Kikuchi," reaffirms Guess Who with a nod. "Guess you remember me! Glad I left an impression," she adds with a wink, before her hand rests on her hip, loosely curled into a fist. The other hand remains upright. "They better have said good stuff!" she continues, lightly.
"Hm," Saika then says. Her head turns to look at the shelves.
"I'm going to be real with you," Saika continues, folding her arms. "I'm a big reader but a lot of fiction just doesn't do anything for me. If I'm going to see a story I want it to be something real, right? I'm not saying it's bad, and I mean I like stuff like... classics and everything, I just haven't been big on, like." Saika gestures. "Authors."
Her head turns to look over. "Ohhhh, you got Kurami-san, there they are! How're they treating you? Are you finding a mysterious craving for eucalyptus leaves or anything?" After this, Saika resumes her earlier tone. "Anyway, I came over to say hi and chat with you about some, stuff, a little, if you have a minute."
"But first I want you to recommend me a book."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon considers this for a moment, their left hand moving up to their lips as they fisheye in thought, even as Saika's wink does get them to smile a little bashfully in turn. Much like the others in the Peacock Silk, she sure knows how to make a bold, unmistakable impression in an instant. ... they don't want to share that one of the most memorable facts so far is Yanagi saying that Saika is also in an open relationship with Tsumugi, though.
"Not as much as you'd think. They said I should meet you to really know you," Myunghon answers in turn. Saika isn't big on *authors* so far... and that's precisely how Myunghon's relationship with literature exists. They get into the authors, try to study what their lives were like, how relatable things were back in 1890 or 1940 or whatever... some things people just continue to struggle with even though they lived a whole 70 years ago at this point in time.
"K-Kurami-san? Is that what this Koala is called?" Myunghon looks surprised, before smiling into themself. Hmm, did Yanagi name this Koala already? Somehow, that just seems more special.
"Have you tried some of the classic i-novels? I find that they often blur the line between fiction and nonfiction, often considered 'confessionary' novels for the authors of the time, in a way I find myself relating to, and yet having to separate what they weave from their reality at the time," Myunghon tries. "For instance... well, I do consider this my favourite book of all time, No Longer Human, by Osamu Dazai."
It's rare that they just go straight to that, it feels like projecting their own tastes on others, but they feel strangely confident right now. Perhaps Kurami-san is influencing them.
There's an obedient 'mm', though, as they say, stepping closer to the shelves, "It is not busy at present, I would be glad to speak. I have been putting off trying to go back to the Silk..."
<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
"Huh," Saika says as the Truth is revealed. Saika purses her lips and says, "I kinda saw that in some kind of internet picture? It was someone who took a picture of a koala that was like, looking really chill. I don't know why they said Kurami-chan... but it stuck in my head. You can name 'em whatever you want!"
"I-novels," Saika muses, scratching her chin with her other hands. "You got a copy of this Dazai guy's work? I'll give it a shot."
"Is it a pain in the ass to get out that far, or are you anxious you're gonna get judged by Pernelle?" Saika asks, possibly while walking over to the 'da' section of the store shelves with Myunghon. She pauses, then adds while leaning her head nearer to them, "Just bring him some fries."
"But... this is mostly about..." Her voice lowers quietly, just in case there's customers she didn't see, "Joker Killer. I think I saw you there but I kind of just put my head down and tried to kick his ass... You know about the thing in Aoba, the other day? Yeah... at this point, that guy's pissed me off. I want to put his ass in the ground."
She says it so lightly!
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
KOALA MARCH -- Kurami, Kurayami, Kurayamichi... glycogen!
Myunghon pauses for a moment as the glucose starts ominously chanting in their head. But Saika was referring to a popular image of some kind! Myunghon is clearly not a terribly online person, despite needing to sort of be one to be a Rumourmonger these days. The Dark Side of Sumaru's become very popular, you know, not to mention the Phan-Site.
"Ah, yes, over here..." Myunghon steps and leads her to another shelf, where they start to reach up and-- pauses with a wince, as their shoulder doesn't cooperate. "At this point I should have shorter shelves. My apologies, it's up there, the blue one there."
But Saika has some insight as to why it is they're hesitant to go back to the Silk. Is it Pernelle? "Oh, no no, I quite loved meeting Pernelle. I had tater tots to feed him, and then we bonded over car keys and toy cars." Said just like that! This white-haired floof is going to be a terrible influence on their parrot. No, it is... ah, well, I have met Tsumugi a few times, and it became a little... complicated."
They sound just a little anxious and maybe even lovestruck there for a moment. But then they return back to reality when Saika starts talking business. "... the art gallery, yes. I myself have had my stomach cut open," they sigh gently, "I do not recommend that one bit. Yes, the Persona-Users I work with have quite the collection on motives on seeing him stopped one way or the other," is the polite way they put it.
There's a faint smile as they say, "I can certainly provide you with more intel if that suits. The Old Maid has been in our sights for quite a time."
<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
It's true. Koalas do contain glycogen. Probably.
Saika knows what glycogen is, no doubt, and the funny thing is that she wouldn't even be lying. She purses her lips as she lets Myunghon guide her, looking up before pausing when they show that sign of pain. "It's cool," she says, with a faint smile. "Don't worry about it. Did you hurt your arm?"
It's somehow less brassy than her previous talk.
After this, humming for a few times, she reaches up to select the title -- she can see it from here, and it's not as if it's sitting among a dozen variations on 'my step-sister is a gyaru elf and I was reborn in--' in what? You gotta buy the book to find out, buddy! But we are before the true heights of an 'isekai boom.' Drawing the novel off, holding it in both hands, she says...
"Oh my," in a lower and more flirtatious tone of voice.
A second passes.
Two seconds.
"I'm sorry," she says, "your literal stomach got cut open?" Saika's voice lifts a little, "And you're WALKING AROUND? Holy shit! I'm gonna carry you to a fuckin' couch!" She immediately puts the book back in place (and upside down!! oh no!!) before she moves -- she seems to have meant it though Myunghon has time to press A and avoid a princess carry -- to scoop the ailing bookseller up!
PRESS A!
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"This was a--" Myunghon frowns for a moment, trying to conceal any terror that might be showing in their eyes. As if having to make sure the fear is also not in their voice: "A terrible man did this not long ago. He is... mostly... dealt with." And yet not, is it? They had to leave it to Miho and Yua. They haven't shown him true power -- haven't made him realise his place.
But Saika, in the midst of appraising their favourite book, whispering in that silken tone of hers, is suddenly alarmed by Myunghon's careless words! There's a yelp of surprise as they, in their freakishly tall 175cm self, are swept into her inviting arms!!
QTE FAILURE
(did you even press A...? This ain't a cutscene--!!)
Cheeks terribly flush all of a sudden as they have to steady themself against Saika's shoulder with their one functioning arm, Myunghon whispers stammeringly, "K-Kikuchi-san, that was a while ago, I am fine, please--" It really wasn't fine for a while, given that you used STAPLES from a VET for it for a while, Myunghon, but still.
This is literally the second time in successive days that Myunghon has been princess carried by someone 5'3" in height. They have not become any further used to it.
<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
H O I S T
With a sound much like that of the famous retro game Super Jack Bros. 2 ('Heart Heart Panic' in US), Saika hefts up Myunghon. She grunts a little, but it seems her strength is more than it seems, or else she's good at this, even if she may have estimated that Myunghon is below average weight.
"Yeah, a while ago, so like five days, which means you have a sucking abdominal wound," Saika continues, turning around with some effort to walk with pressing effort towards the counter. To Myunghon it might seem like tender cradling walking; they're certainly able to tell that Saika had a good long rinse and shampooing session with what smells like a peppermint soap recently.
"I mean, I had to get surgery when I was younger so I know you can't just mess around with that kind of thing," Saika continues. "Don't bend or wiggle or anything! I just don't want you staggering around with this, you know? At least you got rid of that guy who hurt you - I'm guessing it's not anyone I'd know -"
Saika thinks: Crap, and pivots away from the counter to walk towards where there are rows of more gamer-oriented card and card accessories as well as sundry other Merch on display, promising hope and excitement for a mere piece of your allowance.
"But tell me about this old maid shit," Saika continues. "Is that the other one who was backing the Joker up? That guy's strong, I'll give him that, even if he had help *and* he had the advantage of surprise. But I'm pissed off now, Myunghon-kun, I'm going to make him tap or suffer the price."
Saika is going to continue tottering around Myunghon's shop floor for the next ten minutes if they don't do something about this.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon is definitely fragile and rail-thin enough that even at their height, they're remarkably lightweight compared to other people, like some kind of massive radish that very well can't dish it out. "A-a few weeks ago, at least!" they protest, as if that makes it any better, given how flagrant they are about ignoring the different number of wounds that've riddled their body. Their protests *are* halted when they do notice that Saika's hair, lavish and beautiful in its tri-colour arrangement, does smell awfully nice too--
don't get distracted, you damn bottom!!
"W-well, no, but I heard he was suspended by the police..." Myunghon does sound incredibly weak having to admit that, like they didn't really 'get rid' of them, Tsumugi's silken words now crossing in with Saika which really is just the tandem combo to defeat them once and for all--
Saika passes a tall cardboard cut-out of an anime princess that reads: NEW! Princess Sourdough Starter Set, start your Vampire Baker journey HERE!! and Myunghon looks bashful and covers their mouth as several of the players at the tables stare for a bit, although at this point, they really are used to it:
If you play cards at the Cardboard Dragon, you come for the cards, and stay for the drama.
"T-there is a couch over there," Myunghon has to point out, for fear of being beet red at this point.
"Oh, no... the Old Maid is the term the police use for the Joker Killer," Myunghon has to clarify. "But the Joker Killer is backed by an organisation called Strega." There's something of a little smile at Saika's card joke, however. Enemy Sudous won't untap during the next enemy phase!!
"Do you have any... particular history with him? The Joker Killer, I meant. It would not be the first time someone who has approached me has had a vendetta."
<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
It's possible that Saika weighs as much as Myunghon. Perhaps likely! Saika's hardly thick or ripped but she eats her breakfast golden rice and sundry other delightful vegetarian protein sources. That's how you really get swole. Just ask a gorilla.
saika is not a gorilla though
unless she's the gorilla your dreams, myunghon...
"Oh," Saika says, blinking. "What? Like just NOW? I saw him the other night! I was going to go hassle him in Sumaru and try to join the case," Saika continues, looking over at Myunghon in surprise. "He did seem kind of defeated, maybe that's why? That shit was during the -- uh, you know, around midnight."
Pause. She's PRETTY sure Myunghon knows what she means. (she's referring to the dark hour... the dark hour've your dreams...)
Continuing, she passes that anime princess, squinting at it with distrust as she says, "Right, right," and pivots to walk over to the couch. "Was that thing I saw a pun, with the little girl with the vampire fangs and the bread rolls? Or is that the new game lately?" As she keeps on walking, she nods sternly... as...
She places them on the couch, gently.
"Yeah," Saika says, straightening up. One hand on her hip.
"He made a critical mistake in his entire horrible existence," Saika continues.
Her eyes thin. "He pissed me off."
("If you mean if I've lost someone, no, but I did hear about it from a few different places and I figured it's the kind of thing where I might be able to do some good, right, because like seriously if it is someone who's just some jackass I could break his arm or put a scar on his body or something, write an anonymous note to the cops, boom, busted, go directly to jail." A pause. Saika is considering if a jail would do anything to a Persona user.)
"I'm guessing, though... there's a lot of people ahead of me in the line, huh?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon has to be constantly reminded to eat anything at all and then their only success so far is unflavoured pea protein ice cubes and also beansprouts with Ma'am's mysterious radioactive grimace sauce. It's fine, they eat their share of bland, fibrous vegetables. It's the calories that's a constant battle. This is more marzipan than tarzan, though, so perhaps those dreams will not be realised.
Myunghon does look a little puzzled, but then does admit quietly, since Saika seems unusually clued into what's happening around them, "A-ah? You did?" Myunghon does look unusually terrified for a moment, thinking that Saika's referring to their policeman harrasser, Koichi Ishiba. "It is true, I was attacked just before midnight... that was how most of us were able to escape and defuse the situation."
A delicate sigh, as they say, "They had to bring me to the emergency ward, which was such a distressing moment... then Tsumugi came the next day to deliver this coat to me and set me free."
Is it a pun or a game?? "Both," they answer. "I think there is a pun in a sourdough starter and starter set... I believe? And then they tell you that you'd best have the dough to buy everything."
They are finally down on the couch and not being princess carried anymore, and for a moment existing on their own gravity has them frazzled. They can still breathe in peppermint for a moment longer...
But the topic centres on the Joker again. Her issue with him is a lot more straightforward than they'd assumed -- that he pissed her off and she'd like to do some good by using her own two fists because don't trust the cops, ever.
"Unfortunately... I do think the police are compromised, on the topic of the Joker Killer case," Myunghon does advise, singular gray eye looking up to Saika from where they're seated. Talking about cops has them shrinking a little into themself, making them look a bit smaller than they are.
"But-- that is no reason to stop. Many of us in Sumaru have had at least one encounter with him, and many that are close to me have been targetted. I would very much welcome another with interest in seeing this case closed." They still can't quite bring themself to say they'll kill him. It reminds them of when they didn't have the courage to say they'll be responsible for Ishiba's death too.
But there's something of a more delicate, bashful smile at the end. "Mm. Everyone from the Peacock Silk is quite confident and vibrant, I must say. You each do stand out in your own way that I find very charming."
<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
Saika will cook Myunghon dinner.
It may involve protein pancakes.
MUSCLE BUILDS HEALTHY!
But her eyes narrow when she doesn't seem to recognize the incident. Then she takes a deep breath through her nose and lets it out. "If it was a shallow thing and they mostly just stitched you up... I'm still gonna tell them not to do that shit, but I thought from what you said it was like --"
She mimes at her own abdomen, or more like the ribcage/abdomen area. "Like stab stab stab, you know? Your chest is important, you know??" It is where most of the organs are.
The vampire baker is somewhat more mystifying to Saika, but she casts a long look back in that direction. Starter set. That makes sense, she thinks to herself. It'd be a pun in English, right? Or French? Either-or. She lets out a breath afterwards. "Fucking cops," she says, quietly, so as not to teach the Youth new words.
Rubbing a hand over her mouth, Saika doesn't look back. Thinking. Weighing. "That entire thing he does... I didn't believe it. I actually was kind of worried when I heard it from Sassy-san, because I thought maybe he'd actually..."
"I mean I can't exactly test it, like, ethically, right?" Saika says, looking back towards Myunghon. "Like even the worst bastard I can think of doesn't deserve to get killed like THAT. I'm not gonna put my faith in the cops but I saw that Joker Old Maid -- how'd the Old Maid thing come into it, though?" Saika pauses, the new topic being more interesting than whatever she was about to say about ethics and shit.
After that, her face colors slightly. "Oh, haha!" she says, with a little bit of a smile. "I guess we do kind of all... shine a bit, huh? But you're pretty shiny yourself, if this is your dream situation. Even if you had to compromise with the games some, I mean, you're really making it work, you know!?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon has so many personal chefs that will cook for them!! It will be an incredible challenge to cook for them, but that's what makes it exciting. You have to fight every single ounce of reason that makes food delicious because what makes food delicious makes it taste like ash for them. Perhaps they will share with Saika at a future bond level.
"I--I was a bit flippant with my words, but I was rather grievously injured still," Myunghon does admit, bashful as if they feel the need to sell their injury so as to not feel like they were faking it. That's anxiety, baby. "Yuarin had to take me... someplace... it was terribly mortifying to be bleeding out in your old school, do believe me." Especially when school isn't a particular place of many great memories.
Saika does at least curse the cops for them. They look a bit awkward and uncomfortable, so the topic pinballing back to the Joker does encourage them a little.
"You mean the phone calls? Yes, it is quite hard to believe, but knowing how extensively backed by a conspiracy the Joker Killer is..." Myunghon makes a humble little shake of their hand. "I think the Old Maid... mm, perhaps it refers to the game, Old Maid? A single Joker is slipped in, and whoever ends with it in their hand is the loser... at least, I believe that is what the codename refers to."
But they really do like talking about Saika and the Silk in turn. "More than you'd think. You remind me of when my university friends and I pushed for our own fashion boutique... but that story ended poorly, so I feel compelled to participate." Saika compliments their own living situation, though. Is it...?
Myunghon quietly brushes their white hair to one side, pressing their lips together. "I suppose, in a sense... this store has become quite cherished to a lot of people that have come together in Hirasaka, yes." But it wasn't their dream, was it.
<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
"Oh yeah, of course, a cut or a stab wound's nothing to sneeze at," Saika tells Myunghon. "In fact you definitely shouldn't sneeze if you've got snitches in. That's like the worst thing ever! Man, I could tell you stories."
Not now, she can't.
"Oh," she then says when the game Old Maid comes up, with a sort of sour tone. "Yeah, should'a thought of that, huh. No, that makes sense, it's just like... That's like the thing you call some case where it's some fifty six year old auntie killing teenage boys to bathe in their blood because she wants to get married, right?"
Saika does smile, somewhat more warmly, at the mention of college friends and a boutique. "We have a couple of advantages," she says, "and it's a tough market out there. Don't feel bad, it's not a great environment to launch in! I'm glad it lets you feel good, though. I know sometimes you can get that kinda feeling and it becomes jealousy, right?"
She puts a hand on her hip afterwards, smiling. "You're building it here, too. Though I dunno if vampire baking's gonna get you the big bucks, it seems like people were playing it out there, right?" (Saika could tell they wasn't playin normal cards, but beyond that, it was mystical to her. She is not enough of a Nerd, perhaps.)
After this, Saika steps closer, moving to perch on the end of the couch and fold her hands on her knees. She looks to Myunghon after that. "... But I can hang out if you need to settle down. I really am sorry if I surprised you, there. I'm definitely buying that book, now, least I can do." A pause. "And how much is the baker thing...?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon is starting to come to something with how Saika speaks about it -- "Have you... suffered such an injury before in the past too, Kikuchi-san?" They're not quite going yobisute with Saika just yet. Perhaps it's just the nerves in them right now, even if being doted on the frailty of their body does feel kind of nice, it does inevitably end up with them having to talk about unpleasant things like the everything out to destroy them, apparently.
There's a soft chuckle, though, as they say, "Our reality is not quite as gothic as the story of Elizabeth Bathory or The Creature, unfortunately. No, having been privy to some of the reasons the Joker Killer has appeared has been appalling... but I must thank you for being there, for protecting Tsubasa-kun."
A couple of advantages. "Pernelle said as much, that you are quite magical with the finances," Myunghon chuckles a bit more richly. "Our designer, Mei Arisugawa, passed away to Apathy Syndrome... and when there is no craftsman left, there really was nothing left for us. Shimokitazawa was one of the places we'd planned to move to, after LaForet doubled our rent, which was what reminded me, after seeing the Silk there."
There's a gentle nod as Saika points out it could've become jealousy. "Not at all. You're all quite resplendent to me."
Perhaps vampire baking won't get them the big bucks. This building's kind of falling apart, after all. Saika does sit down, and they shuffle a bit closer. "... no, no, I am just-- easily startled in the last few weeks. I would love your company though. Perhaps you could tell me what hair products you like? That scent really is lovely... and, ah, of course, I can check the book out for you."
How much is the baker thing...?
"Quite a lot of dough indeed."