2025-11-24: Reach Out
- Log: Reach Out
- Cast: Myunghon Yeo, Yusuke Kitagawa
- Where: Cardboard Dragon, Hirasaka Ward
- OOC Date: November 25, 2025
- IC Date: August 16, 2012
- Summary: Yusuke comes to the Cardboard Dragon to apprise Myunghon of the work they've done on the Skill Card commission, and Myunghon treats him to cookies and tea, and offers to reach out to Masao Inaba for him.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
The Phantom Thieves visited the Cardboard Dragon a week ago or thereabouts -- when the titular group mentioned that they'd be interested in a manner of collaboration through Jose. The meeting was... inconclusive, with some hearts on the Cardboard Dragon side with some misgivings about the Phantom Thieves' methods -- but nonetheless, they've had contact... and more to think on since then.
But that's then -- and this is now, in the pleasant, cozy afternoon of a Thursday during school holidays. Myunghon Yeo is just themself at present, not the bombastic, theatrical Rumourmonger Merry -- and they're rarely humming to themself as they carry several big boxes of Koala March crackers to the couch in preparation of their favourite activity.
They're dressed femme today -- one of their white ruffle-blouses with a brooch ribbon tie, with a chocolate A-line inverted-pleat skirt to go with their leggings, but they have their jet-black coat draped on underneath.
Something smells nice in the air too, outside of the Koala March crackers... they've been baking.
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Things might be... complex between the Phantom Thieves and the Cardboard Dragon crew, but one half of the equation has a distinct advantage; they can still come by the card store without revealing themselves.
A thing that Yusuke is taking full advantage of; after all, he has a commission to complete! He's brought a portfolio case with him as he steps into the shop.
He has only previously seen Myunghon in their suit and bandages, so the choice of sweater and skirt takes him aback for a moment - but only for a moment as he stops to look up at the bookshelves thoughtfully, before turning towards the proprietor. "Good afternoon, Yeo-san."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Indeed! Myunghon has no such luxury. But, at the same time, this is a statement they've made to the world -- Myunghon Yeo is someone you can simply find on a map and approach, for better or worse. Because that is their brand of Rebellion: to be approachable.
This has had disastrous consequences already, like beatings via violent, racist cop, and also more recently, the Joker Killer. But the die has been cast already, and they must take their beliefs to the very end, whether they will burn with their Justice or not.
"Oh, Kitagawa-kun, good afternoon," Myunghon greets. They look somewhat more wan and frail than the last time, pausing and catching that moment and looking down at themself, biting their lip gently. But then a diversion:
"I just baked some cookies. Would you like some?"
That aroma of fresh baked vanilla and chocolate cookies, arranged in a checkerboard pattern...
The bandages, at least, are all still there -- that's not an option for them.
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Myunghon's own pause at his pause and their look down at themself - Yusuke pauses again. He half-opens his mouth, not sure what to say -
A blessed diversion is presented in the form of cookies. His stomach suddenly agrees that this is a good topic to pursue.
"Ah, that must be what smells so good. I would love to try them," he answers. "They look lovely - how difficult was it to get the checkerboard pattern to come out?" He seems more interested in how the cookies look than in their nature as a snack.
"I have some samples of the work you commissioned from me," he says, idly. "I was hoping to see what you thought of them."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon sounds rather pleased Yusuke's cottoned onto the pattern. "Oh, it does look rather fancy, does it not? But it was a bit simpler than I thought. I only had to make two batches, and then create -- logs, if you will, in a small two by two stack and then cut them to create each cookie."
There's even some where the chocolate and vanilla have been swapped with a heart or star cut-out pattern. One supposes Myunghon swapped those around too.
"I must say, baking has been quite the wonderful diversion. It makes sense to me for its... specificity," they admit. "Like a science. But there is an art to it too, is there not?"
But Yusuke has examples! They look rather delighted, saying, "Oh, thank you so much. Let me prepare some tea for us..."
It doesn't take them that long to prepare -- though the motion of actually bringing everything is a little precarious, their arms still damaged and weak like the last time when they tried reaching overhead. They're quite used to it at this point, though.
Tea and cookies settled (with Yusuke free to help himself to as many as he wants), Myunghon appraises his work!
"Were you able to get in touch with Inaba-san too, by the way...?"
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
"Ah, I see... a mixture of mediums to complement each other." Yusuke takes a cookie, taking a bite of one of the corners.
"Mm! This is excellent. I can tell you've worked hard on them." He takes a couple and sets them aside on a plate as Myunghon steps away to prepare some tea, turning towards his portfolio case and unzipping it.
"You gave me that card, previously, and I attempted an exact recreation, but it was..." Absent of proper words to describe it (at least, without outing himself as someone who can perceive the differences between skill cards and the Cardboard Dragon's normal wares), he waves a hand. "Lacklustre. Not like my work."
He pulls out a large print - has he been working at canvas scale? And offers it to Myunghon. "I have a few iterations - it struck me that you might prefer a collection of... different attempts to capture the idea of lightning."
"As for Inaba-san... I have not yet reached out to him." He pulls a face. "It feels... awkward."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"A mixture of mediums... I do like the way you put that," Myunghon does sound genuinely appreciative. They're starting on the Koala March boxes to open them, as they observe the -- surprisingly large Skill Card! Even untrained and quite frankly, with very little artistic brain as Myunghon does, they can tell it's done quite well, from a technical perspective, yet...
"Hmmmm...." Myunghon bobs their head, as they accept the print. "This is beautiful nonetheless, though. And I do appreciate the work and effort you've placed into it. Thank you."
Still, that makes both Yusuke and Mark now who can't capture the essence of Skill Cards. It's clearly not a matter of technical skill. What is it that they're missing? What's the... secret sauce, as it were?
But Yusuke tells them that they haven't gotten in touch. "I see..." A pause. "Would it help if I reached out to him on your behalf? Sometimes, having someone there can take the pressure off. Inaba-san and I are acquainted, and I would not mind doing this."
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
"I think it was the exact recreation of the style that was troubling me," Yusuke says. "Whatever was missing, it was... some ephemereal quality. The kind of ephemereal quality that real masters imbue their work with."
"That said, I have no intention of giving up. It's quite the challenge."
When Myunghon offers to reach out to Mark, Yusuke sighs and nods. "The idea of directly meeting someone else who could have been one of Madarame's victims..." He looks away, fixating on his plate of cookies for a moment and taking another bite. "... He used us all against each other. As each of his pupils - that is, the people he was stealing the work of - became of no further use to him, he would tell the rest of us that that person was the one stealing, betraying the rest of us. It was a matter of luck that Inaba-san didn't manage to become a part of that, but even so the fact that he came all the way to Japan for the apprenticeship only for that to fall through -"
He sighs. "I am afraid of meeting him."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"I'd be happy to supply you with anything else you need -- but we can consider this leg of the commission done," Myunghon does smile softly as Yusuke says that he has no intention of giving up. In response to that, they rise to the counter to work on something for a moment, then returns with a familiar envelope -- money, again.
"The monthly commission fee, upfront," Myunghon nods. It feels a bit weightier than before. Did they sneak a bonus?
They listen more intently and gently as Yusuke shares of the horrors Madarame exposed them all too, though. There's a deep frown that crosses their features. It's no doubt that the Phantom Thieves acted on those... distorted 'desires'. Still, it doesn't excuse what he did... though it makes them wonder what would've happened if Madarame simply just... was happy with what he did. Such evils exist. They can't reach them, if they have no Palace.
What then?
The thought is unpleasant, so they put it aside. "Unfortunately, I can say such vile practices also existed in the corporate world, before I left. Even in the position I was in, there was much incentive to... 'beat out the competition', even amongst your peers. That we dwell in such a society that has allowed such rot to take hold..."
They exhale gently.
"... I understand that fear. I do think that he is a kind man, however -- when I was attacked by that awful police officer and severely injured," that happened??? "He offered to do laundry at his parent's service for me at a time I would have just run out of clothes, even coming here to pick them up for me..."
Myunghon places their finger to their lip for a moment, in thought.
"But... I do leave the choice to you, of course. Just know that I am willing to help."
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Yusuke's eyebrows raise as he takes the envelope, noticing its weight. "I'll keep trying," he says, firmly.
He frowns as Myunghon talks about how the corporate world encourages similar ruthlessness from the people on that ladder. "... I can see why you prefer this arrangement," he says, looking around at the store. "It's quite pleasant here."
If only he knew the horrors dwelling merely one floor over their heads.
His frown intensifies as Myunghon explains further about the violence they faced, and how Masao helped them afterwards. "... I see," he says, quietly. "Well, in that case, please do reach out to him."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
It is quite pleasant here! Myunghon Yeo devotes a lot of energy to ensuring that their customers and friends find this a safe and pleasant space. There's even been additions over time, like the game console and now the ever-present trickle of baked goods to keep people coming back...
Of course, the third floor is just for them. So they don't need to try, there.
That's how it works, right?
"All right," Myunghon nods, a little more encouraged as Yusuke agrees. "I'll let you know by text then, if he does agree. I'm about due to see him again anyhow..." A pause. "Things have been quite busy and... perhaps less safe than they used to be."
They plaster a smile afterwards before a look of concern can creep up over their face. "Thank you for the prints, Kitagawa-kun. And, please feel free to have the rest of the cookies too."
They can just tell this teen definitely needs the calories when he can afford to get them.