2025-11-23: Lean Against Me
- Log: Lean Against Me
- Cast: Myunghon Yeo, Shinobu Shimizu
- Where: Cardboard Dragon, Hirasaka Ward
- OOC Date: November 23, 2025
- IC Date: August 11, 2012
- Summary: Myunghon calls Shinobu for company, their nerves rattled. The two talk about Sudou's visit to the Cardboard Dragon, Myunghon's criminal connections, and also themselves.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
It's been an extremely difficult evening at the Cardboard Dragon -- a blonde man visited the store that left Myunghon Yeo feeling extremely unsafe in their own store, Taka Suho, whose identity they were fairly confident on... and Umie Akabane visiting shortly after only confirmed it. Umie told her that they could pull through, that they need the leader of the Cardboard Dragon right now... and they promptly masked hard into being Merry.
This doesn't last forever, however, and after Myunghon's left to their own devices again, she tremblingly goes for their phone to call Shinobu. Assuming she picks up:
"S-Shinobu-ssi? I was wondering if you could... come over... I forget if you have work tonight or not. ... I'm-- not doing okay. I'm really scared right now... someone dangerous came around earlier..."
They're trying to keep it as well together as they can to not unduly alarm Shinobu, but they're close to their wit's end.
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Myunghon calls, and it isn't long before Shinobu picks up. That trembling tone to their voice... There's only one answer.
"Someone dangerous...? Yeah. I'll be right there." Shinobu assures. "Want me to pick anything up on the way?"
She leaves whether or not she had work tonight unsaid. Truthfully, she did... but when they're that afraid, Shinobu isn't going to let that stop her.
And sure enough, it isn't long - allowing for travel time - before there's a knock on the door to the Cardboard Dragon.
"Hey, it's Shinobu. I'm coming in, alright?" She announces herself, so not to startle them - and so long as the door isn't locked, she lets herself in.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon was somewhat certain Shinobu had work, so it does hurt them to know that they're making her drop plans. They didn't really need anything, fortunately, reassuring her that they weren't physically hurt. There's damage on other fronts, though. The door's uncharacteristically locked, and it takes Myunghon a bit to go for the lock and open the door for her.
They're still wearing the chocolate blouse with the ribbon tie, with their white coat and light-coloured A-line skirt and leggings. "T-thank you for coming... was there any trouble on the way here?" they quietly ask, like they're still not certain if someone is listening in or not.
The purveyor pulls back and leads her towards the couch, where Myunghon takes a seat. "I'm sorry to bother you tonight. I know you had plans... um-- there was this blonde man who turned up around noon. He said his name was Taka Suho, but... I knew right away he was lying. On the surface, you could say he was polite, yet... I--I knew he was dangerous. Everything about him screamed that. There was even a bloody bill in his wallet."
A quiet frown, as they whisper: "I think... I think that was the Joker Killer, Shinobu-ssi. The one who went after your sister."
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
The door is locked. Shinobu notices that immediately, when she goes to try and open it. That in and of itself says a lot.
Myunghon opens the door, and Shinobu offers them a small smile and a shake of her head.
"Nah. Hardly any traffic this late, so it was easy to get around." She assures, following them over to the couch and taking her seat next to them.
They apologize for bothering her, knowing she had plans - and Shinobu shakes her head again.
"Hey. You don't gotta worry about that. I don't mind." She says, and listens. Taka Suho... A fake name, and polite on the surface - but he screamed danger. A bloodstained bill... and, the Joker Killer. Shinobu curses under her breath. If they think that's the case, then she doesn't doubt them.
"Shit, are you alright? Did he hurt you?" She asks, looking them over real quick. "The hell... Why'd he show up here? Did he say anything about that?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"N-no... he purchased a game and a book, after sharing quite a lot about his 'family', and left, but..." Myunghon frowns, rather uncomfortably. "I think he must've been looking for Akabane-san. He asked after her a few times. But I could sense the threat behind some of the things he said to me too," they admit, still shaking a little as they reach for Shinobu's hand to gently hold onto it, needing some touch at present.
They're pretty pale at present -- moreso than usual, and the bags under their eye is heavier than normal. "His Resonance was cloaked... it was stifling, like there was wool all around me," they share. "And when I checked the cameras after..."
Myunghon pulls the phone out and shares the picture -- Myunghon is speaking to someone over the counter, but his face is... obscured by a long stretchy shadow, hands seemingly covering his face. It's like it's taunting the both of them.
"I told Akabane-san... she-- well, she told me I could..." A pause. "No, Merry could deal with this."
They pick at their hair gently, despondently. "She's right, isn't she?"
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
He... purchased a game and a book, talked about his 'family', and left? Shinobu frowns, and thinks about that for a moment. What family could he have been talking about? But... he was looking for Umie, but said threatening things to them, too. Shinobu grimaces.
"Shit." She curses again - because what else can you say to that, really. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."
They reach for her hand and she takes theirs, giving it a gentle squeeze. She can see how difficult this is for them.
"Cloaked?" Shinobu repeats. It's not a sensation she's familiar with - but it sounds uncomfortable. And the cameras... She grimaces again. "...That's creepy as hell."
Umie said they - no, Merry could deal with this.
...It's not a distinction Shinobu might have made if it hadn't been put that way.
"I mean... maybe," Shinobu admits with a shrug. "But that sounds like, just... putting it off for later. It's not gonna make the feelings go away."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon has the slightest bit of an inkling, given how one of them loves explosive stuff... but that's just a hunch they don't really want to share. But they have seen Sudou and Jin Shirato working together at Kaneshiro's Palace. Were they that close, even in just a working relationship?
The squeeze from Shinobu's hand does reassure them, though, as they just about wilt into her side for a moment. Their breathing's still rather erratic and uncontrolled, and it takes them a bit of time -- with some help from Shinobu's presence -- to get them to a state where they can calm themself again.
"Merry's the one who can handle it all... that's what they're there for..." Myunghon murmurs.
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Myunghon practically wilts into her side and Shinobu shifts to support them, letting them lean against her for as long as they need. Her thumb gently strokes across their hand as a reminder of her presence.
Merry's the one who can handle it all, huh... Shinobu considers that for a moment.
"...Then where does that leave you?" Shinobu asks. "They can't do everything. Some things... you've gotta sort through yourself."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
There's a jagged spike that Myunghon feels inside of themself, as Shinobu asks where that leaves them.
The purveyor of the Cardboard Dragon chews on their lip quietly, and then they murmur, "I've never been a strong person. Even until recently, I was always someone who didn't really have the courage or confidence to really push back... that was what my mother told me. Someone she could act on without consequence... that was why she tried to..."
Those last words are clearly haunting Myunghon. And in a roundabout way, Shinobu did hear it from So-young or Shinjiro -- that their mother tried to have them killed.
"I'm sorry. There's so much falsehood inside of me... the only thing I can do at times, I feel, is pretend to be human," they murmur more sorrowfully, their mood and demeanor reaching further lows.
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Myunghon admits they've never been a strong person. They didn't have the courage or confidence. Their mother...
...Shinobu grimaces.
"...That's on her. Just 'cause she did a shit job as a parent... She should've been supporting you. Not using you. It's not a kid's fault when their parent's trash." She replies with a shake of her head.
She remembers all too well what she was told about what happened. That she'd go that far... It's unforgivable.
And... they apologize. Falsehood... Shinobu's expression shifts for a moment, unsure.
"...Hey. You're plenty human, alright?" She says, with another squeeze of the hand. "You can feel my hand there, right? You're right here. You're human."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon lets out something of a light, shrill whimper, as Shinobu insists that it's her mother's fault. She'd have feelings about that, given what little they know about how harsh her own parents are. Myunghon quietly swallows, and then does admit, not knowing Shinobu does know:
"... when-- she invited So-young and I to formal dinner, she had me stay and double back... and she decided that she didn't need my services anymore. I fled to... I fled to Mementos to escape them-- her..." They're just now realising that they haven't filled her in on the context. "I knew I was disappointing her. But I didn't know how far she'd..."
Shinobu insists that they're human. They can feel her hand... it's warm and -- reassuring, keeping them grounded, anchored to the world.
"I always thought of myself as... missing something. The ways people behave are often so... mystifying to me, like I was missing some kind of code. I always felt I needed to pretend, to put a mask on to try to emulate them."
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
That whimper... Shinobu offers them a sympathetic look. They admit, then, something she already knows. She listens, though, as they explain it from their perspective.
...It's no easier to hear the second time. Shinobu shakes her head in disgust.
"...I'd heard." Shinobu admits. "It isn't right. Her, and other parents that just want to use their kids for their own ends... She don't have the right to get rid of you just because you didn't turn out exactly the way she wanted."
She thinks to her own parents, and what she's heard about Tsubasa's. There's an unfortunate amount of that out there, isn't there...?
She listens as Myunghon continues, her expression softening.
"...Nah. I mean... Just look at everyone who gathers around here." She says, gesturing with her head toward the rest of the Cardboard Dragon. "We're all kind of a mixed bunch, but I wouldn't say any of us is missin' anything... Same goes for you. We've all got our own way of looking at the world. Wouldn't be the same without it."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon looks really, really surprised when Shinobu admits she'd already heard. "E-eh? Why-- how..." Then their mind starts to catch up. That's right. They'd slipped and told Shinjiro and Umie about all this. They must've been talking out of concern... they swallow a little bit harder, and then exhales quietly. "It's true, though. ...and it may be dangerous to say, but it's because of our... criminal connection."
Not that Myunghon thinks that it's surprising that they have criminal connections -- they've always been shady, even if they don't spell it outright. But this is the first time they've spoken of it directly with Shinobu, something sensitive they're entrusting with them.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell this to you before. If that isn't something you can accept, then... then I'll understand."
Shinobu's comfort does console them quite a lot, however. They're a mixed bunch here -- but she wouldn't say any of them are lacking... they just have their own way of looking at the world. ... it's true that they'd never look down on anyone for having their own perspective -- they're respecting how Shinjiro feels about the Thieves, even, as just an example.
"I didn't... when I wanted to be emotionally close, I didn't mean to just-- I feel like I'm just... venting all my troubles on..." Myunghon starts to recede again, as they bite their lip in anxiety.
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Shinobu offers an apologetic look, but they seem to figure it out, at least. Still, a criminal connection... So-young did mention that she was possibly a crime boss - which means that 'possibly' has gone to a 'definitely'.
"Nah. It's alright. I can understand why you'd, uh... be hesitant to go tellin' that to everyone." Shinobu assures with a shake of her head. "I'm glad you were able to tell me now, though. It's a lot to take in, but... it don't scare me off or anything."
Myunghon starts to recede again, feeling like they're just venting all their troubles on her... Shinobu shakes her head.
"Hey. You can't keep this stuff all bottled up. It's no good for you. You need some kind of outlet... especially when you've been through a lot today already. I don't mind it. Really."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
It's incredible, really -- Shinobu seems so much the picture of poise and patience, Myunghon thinks, even though they've seen her get angry, truly angry. ... some part of them is still taken aback at just how far that anger can go, for good reason, such as when her sister was threatened. And... that nagging, stubborn feeling of deja vu, like they were drowning--
Myunghon suddenly coughs again, for a moment, perplexed for a moment. "I'll... come clean, then. Mother is in charge of a criminal syndicate known as the Baengnyong -- the White Dragon. This store was supposed to be a front for it..." Hence the Cardboard Dragon? "A year ago, she placed me in charge of leading the Baengnyong here in Hirasaka... ... I'd made changes to some of the acts that I found distasteful, and perhaps that made me unpopular amongst the older folks..."
... it's strange to confess that their mom wants them dead because they're BAD at crime, because that seems like the most obvious thing in the world.
"But... I don't want this to change anything with the Cardboard Dragon. That's separate and precious to me, as is when I request help from you."
Shinobu does say that she doesn't mind, and she does move back to lean against you. "... I feel so... grateful to have this -- to have you. Thank you..."
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Myunghon explains, then. Shinobu listens, as they explain about the White Dragon this place was supposed to be a front for...
...So that explains the name.
"So that's why, huh...? Just 'cause you were trying to do things your own way..." She shakes her head. 'Distasteful'. She can imagine what kind of things they might've changed.
She offers them a smile, though, when they say they don't want it to change anything.
"Don't worry. That's not gonna change. We've built up our own thing, now." She says, and chuckles just slightly as she mentions requesting help. "That, either."
They lean against her, then.
"No problem. I'm glad, too." Shinobu assures. She shifts her arm, starting to put it around their shoulders - though she pauses for a second, first. "Uh, d'you mind if I...?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Even Myunghon is underestimating how much more relief they feel when they finally explain all of this. Having been in charge of a criminal group in silence for a full year, transforming it from a traditional criminal group to more of a gray-area organisation...
"The Zainichi already have a difficult time, and police crackdowns of yakuza and other groups and public perception is changing fast... I didn't think they could survive if they stayed the way they were, so we focused on the gray areas to survive... or at least, that's how I viewed it. The old guard have other views."
At least, that's the rational, logical presentation they're putting on it. The morals of it all is another aspect, one that perhaps makes them unsuited to it. Shinjiro has a point when he says their path isn't one of death and violence.
"... that's right," Myunghon can't help but have a little smile as well, feeling some relief as Shinobu reassures them they've built their own thing. But then Shinobu asks if they mind if...
And then Myunghon snuggles a little closer to say, "I want you to do a bit more of that."
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Shinobu nods in understanding as Myunghon explains how things went.
"I guess some folks are so used to the old ways it's hard to do anything different... even if times are changing around them." She comments.
Myunghon agrees with her, and she's glad to see that smile on their face, after everything. It's their turn to assure her, though.
"Then..." Shinobu nods - and completes the motion, putting her arm around their shoulders and pulling them in gently, leaning against them in turn.