2025-12-03: What Our Rebellions Demand
- Log: What Our Rebellions Demand
- Cast: Myunghon Yeo, Ren Amamiya
- Where: Mementos
- OOC Date: December 04, 2025
- IC Date: August 20, 2012
- Summary: Umie sets up another meeting between Joker and Myunghon, who comes as themself, rather than Rumourmonger Merry, within Mementos. The two discuss the distortions of those that have become Palace Rulers, where the Meta-Nav app might've come from, and Myunghon expresses their plan to remove Ishiba's distortions.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon sent a message to Joker, via Umie Akabane this time. They'd like to discuss something in a smaller setting than their entire group, and says that they're fine with meeting at any number of places -- the Cardboard Dragon again, Mementos, or any other place of Joker's choosing. After some (assumed) discussion, they've chosen Mementos this time, just slightly near the Entrance but not so exposed that any other Meta-Nav user would be able to walk in on them...
Myunghon did sign the message with, simply, 'Myunghon'. Not Merry.
And thus, it's why today, they're seated in one of the shallowest station stops -- not unlike the one they were found at when Tsumugi Kujaku whispered in their ear that they should make Koichi Ishiba know who holds the true power. It's a little traumatising to be back here, seated like this, not as Merry, but as themself, perhaps --
But it's important that they aren't wearing Merry's mask today.
They're dressed in their femme clothes today, which is also an unusual choice for Mementos; a white button-down ruffled blouse with a black ribbon tie, to match the jet-black Cognitive Coat of the Peacock Silk's masterful creation, and a dark brown inverted-pleat skirt and leggings to go with some nice dark Mary Janes. Their bandages are still on, as always, but they carry a more gentle look as they gaze into the depths of the tunnels as they wait, undoubtedly with a thousand superluminary thoughts in their head.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren wouldn't have minded going to the Cardboard Dragon--they've gotten into shogi lately via shogi champ Hifumi Togo, and it's fun regardless of its tactical value or how it might help their chess game--but on second thought, if "Ren Amamiya" is just getting into the game, it might not be wise to let "Joker" show a novice interest in it too. Thus, Joker ultimately agrees to meet up at Mementos.
They need the extra time anyway. Part-timing continues to devour most of their summer vacation...
Joker approaches the station stop with hands tucked in their longcoat, its tails fluttering around them to match their stride. They pause as they approach, seeing Myunghon as themself. They'd signed off as Myunghon, sure, but they didn't expect them to show up completely untransformed. Mementos is a dangerous place. Actively, willfully removing one's protection from it...
Are they okay?
Joker's deadpan is powerful; that mask of theirs helps hide the concern in their dark eyes by hiding the furrow of their brows. They approach all the same, not hiding their footfalls.
"Rumormonger Merry--or should I say, Myunghon Yeo," they declare by way of greeting, projecting their deep voice as they are wont in this form. "This is quite a choice for a conversation between leaders. What sort of surprise did you have in mind?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon rises their head from their deep rummination on the first sounds of footsteps -- they'd been really poor at actually spotting people approaching lately, which is rich for a Navigator, but no one said Navigating was foolproof or unrelated to one's emotional condition either. Fortunately, Joker just simply steps up to place, and they smile and wave quietly.
"Good afternoon, Joker," Myunghon greets, Joker already identifying how they're presenting. "Indeed, it's just me today -- Myunghon Yeo. I'd realised that I've only presented half of who I want to be to the world last time, so I felt that I wasn't doing any of you a proper service."
They rise from the semblance of public seating, tilting their head one way. "Were you expecting a surprise?" they chuckle. "I should have brought some of my cookies with me, perhaps. I did find that they cognitively restore some energy."
A quiet hum, however.
"I did encourage the others to hold to their convictions, Shinjiro-ssi included. I do wonder if I'd been a bit hasty in proposing an alliance?" Merry would never say such a thing, show such vulnerability, but Myunghon feels like being honest is important here.
"But there was one matter that I'd been ruminating on since our meeting. Regarding Palaces, and Changes of Heart..." Myunghon raises a finger to their lips, gently.
"I am something of an amateur magician, and I do enjoy the act of grand, theatrical misdirection. But it is within that misdirection that I believe some of us have misunderstood their nature."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Joker could have given Myunghon a surprise of their own--but this feels like an inappropriate place and time for it. They consider them in silence when they explain why they're here as Myunghon rather than Merry. "Why call for just me, in that case?" they wonder.
They step the rest of the way inside the strange station, opting to sit on the other side and fold their legs rather than stand and loom over them. "I was keeping an open mind. Some sort of surprise wouldn't be outside the realm of imagination," they reply.
They smile slightly at the talk of their cookies restoring health. They've found the coffee they'd made in Leblanc and carried in a thermos afterwards has had similar effects--not to mention all the snacks and canned drinks. That smile fades as Myunghon questions themself. "Perhaps," they say of the alliance proposition. "But considering how much our interests crossed over in Kaneshiro's Palace, I don't think it was out of line, either." They pause a beat. "Should I take that to mean Shinjiro Aragaki continues to disapprove of our work?"
Myunghon has a question of their own, though--or at least, they imply one. Joker nods once. They'd gotten that impression too--that Cardboard Dragon has a fundamental misunderstanding of what they're doing, even after the explanation Joker gave. There's not really any avoiding that; the Phantom Thieves are deliberately leaving out crucial information. If this is about to turn into a declaration of war, they couldn't really fault them. Not that this approach Myunghon's taking really seems like it would segue into that sort of thing...
For now, though, they prompt, "How so?" Best to let Myunghon explain rather than jump to conclusions.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon pauses. "Ah, I didn't mean to imply that I wanted to present 'Myunghon' only to you," they wave their hand gently, supressing that pang inside of them that's screaming 'that was a mistake, wasn't it?'. Joker does point out that a surprise wouldn't be unimaginable, like this...
"I suppose that that is fair," Myunghon has a quiet smile that's a bit more faded. "Now you have me wondering what I could have prepared. A festive Jack Frost-in-the-box?" Undoubtedly the 'surprise' probably was implied to be a more sinister one, but Mementos is often associated with their Pacted Shadows for Myunghon...
But as Myunghon doubts themself, Joker points out that it wasn't out of line that they'd think such after how well the two groups worked together at Kaneshiro's. But does Shinjiro still disapprove? "I did explain some of the realisations I had to him, but I do believe so. It's not my place to explain why he feels that way, though -- his feelings are his," Myunghon does share.
But it's time to get down to what they did realise.
"The 'Change of Heart' phenomenon, on its name alone, invites one to imagine, does it not?" Myunghon first begins with, words that are similar to when they talked to Akechi. They have no idea how close he is to Joker, to Ren, and all the clashes they've had. "It's easy for one to invite themself and think that it's boundless in possibility. That you can change one personality to another, as if slipping a mask on..."
They bob their head.
"But we both know it is about a 'distorted desire' that has come to afflict a person, is it not? And I know that it is not limited to those who have such severe cases that it blossoms out into a Palace. No, even here right now, there are those with distortions too..."
Myunghon gestures gently.
"People have misunderstood the phenomenon as 'imposing one's will on someone to change their personality'. That's what has the media and police in a furor," the purveyor of the Cardboard Dragon remarks. "But in reality... it's more akin to 'removing an external influence on a person', is it not? The phrase you said... 'now they see clearly.'"
It's a particularly striking way to phrase it that it's lived in their mind.
There's a look of sorrow that crosses their face for a moment.
"And both you and I know there are many other Kaneshiros and Madarames out there that don't exhibit such distortions, that fully believe in their evil with no conflict to their psyches."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Does that mean you plan to reach out to the others as 'Myunghon' after this, then?" Joker asks. "It would be simple enough to pass on a message, if that's your desire." And if it's not... they did notice Myunghon didn't actually answer their question. They don't think they mean any harm, but... are they perhaps nervous about doing this?
They chuckle at the suggestion of a Jack Frost-in-the-Box. They actually didn't mean to imply a sinister surprise--but they haven't unmasked to them. It's only natural that Myunghon would think otherwise as long as they don't know Joker and Ren Amamiya are one and the same. "That would be a welcome surprise indeed, given the recent weather," they remark. Heat waves.............
Once again, their humor fades as the topic turns more serious. They nod once on the matter of Shinjiro's feelings and don't press. He has a right to how he feels... even if Joker disagrees with him.
Myunghon discusses the misconception that naturally follows the term 'change of heart.' It makes sense, now that they lay it out plainly. Joker has zero intentions of rebranding, considering The Phantoms are heroes that remain in the dark and only speak when they issue a calling card, but it's worth knowing that's what other people have been thinking of what they do.
Myunghon themself at least understands better. They nod again. They hadn't mentioned the Shadows of Mementos, but it seems (emphasis on "it seems") like Myunghon's sussed that out for themself. Since they also have the Meta-Nav, that makes sense. They can potentially track when Shadows vanish from this place.
"That's right," they confirm. "Once someone's views become distorted, those distortions often grow over time. Any of the human Shadows that lurk this place could, with enough time or leaning heavily enough into those distortions, develop a Palace of their own."
They fall silent when she points out that not all wicked people are distorted, though. That they see the people around them as they are and choose to hurt them anyway. Joker's skin crawls. They say both of them know that, but the concept is almost too hideous to wrap their head around... They keep up their poker face and nod once. "Being 'distorted' doesn't mean being 'evil.' It simply means one doesn't see the people and things around them as they are. Take, for example, Kaneshiro's Palace. The people who wandered the streets of cognitive Shibuya appeared as ATM machines, because he saw them not as people but as sources of quick cash."
What's a good example of someone distorted but not evil, then? Well... when Joker encounters one, they'll bring it up. Probably. That one's still something they only know from Morgana's explanations at this point.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
There's certainly much more nervousness and emotion worn on Myunghon's face. Merry paves away everything they might be feeling under that bombastic, vivacious smile of theirs, like they could take on the world and be shot and stabbed and cut and not bleed, for you'd only find Hope and dreams under there.
"I'm not so strong," Myunghon admits. "I do need the mask of Merry to take on the harrowing things we face, in the supernatural, and otherwise. But I thought it was still important I do this. I apologise, if you think I'm rather two-faced about it."
The weather has been, indeed, rather unpredictable. ... it's a bit strange, to be talking about the weather with a Phantom Thief, but it is a welcome reminder that they too are human and are affected by rain and heat waves and everything else as well. "I gave some of your allies a fright when they went through my bedroom," they admit. "Given how summer is coming to an end sooner than later, I do have to do something about it."
... just what the heck is up there??
Myunghon's knowledge of the Shadows of Mementos is fresh, and came from Akechi. It's an intriguing piece of information that's come in useful here. They don't bring up the Phan-Site, though -- it's better, at present, to not identify that, not out of a desire to hold one over the Phantom Thieves, but because they might appreciate less eyes probing on what they think might be a fragile asset for them.
... 'asset'. For a moment, they think that the cold, ruthless thinking of Myorei Yukichi has come back.
But Joker also clarifies that being distorted doesn't mean being evil, and Myunghon nods. Though in that example, they'd probably view that viewpoint as being thoroughly evil -- at least, that was the kind of thinking that their father wanted for them. That was how they killed so many, from so far away, without ever meeting the people they harmed, all to make a quick buck...
"There was one thing you said that interested me. That you act as a group only against distorted people that are causing public harm, that cannot be stopped by mundane means. This implies to me that there are many other Palaces out there where the afflicted has not caused harm... and by extension, that there is an ending to this affliction of distortion that does not require urgent attention," Myunghon continues.
"I have actually been investigating a similar phenomenon -- the 'Homunculus' -- where a person's Shadow becomes trapped in a supernatural space known as an 'Atelier' by an external presence. In that instance, if nothing is done, that person effectively dies, and that Homunculus takes over," they freely share, which is a little unusual, but at least on the topic of Homunculus, it's better that more people know... and it doesn't feel like Joker's the kind of person who'd abuse this.
A pause, as they say: "Which brings me to my hypothesis... many people believe that this phenomena started with the 'Change of Heart', as it became sensationalised by media." Beat. "But I have a feeling the distortions predated you and your group. It just falsely became a pattern when you started removing the distortions."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
o/` A mirror right in front of me... Reflecting the sad truth
o/` It's telling words not to be told: I need the mask
"No need," Joker replies quietly as those lines run through their mind. "I'd be quite the hypocrite if I criticized you for being two-faced."
No need for an explanation. They haven't removed their mask, either literally or metaphorically. After all the stress they've been under lately as Ren--after all their agonizing on reaching out to their father to try to find out the truth behind their enrollment into Shujin Academy--masking up and being "Joker" was a welcome reprieve.
You can never really escape who you are, though... Ren isn't ashamed of themself--they have faith in their convictions and abilities--but lately, more and more, it feels like the weight of other people's misconceptions has been crushing them.
...That's not something to think about right now. Their friends are a wonderful support against that, anyway.
"How frightening. I pray you deal with whatever horrors are up there with due speed," Joker replies of the eerie Third Floor, leaning an arm on the back of the bench and leaning their cheek on a folded, gloved hand. Their tone is droll, but they do remember the million-yard stares Skull and Panther had... What is up there?! Maybe it's better they never find out...
They nod at Myunghon's recap of what prompts The Phantoms to act. Theoretically, the rest of what they say about other Palaces whose Rulers aren't causing any harm is true... but they've yet to come across that, either. The Phantoms really only have been doing this since April... That's only four months. It feels like a lot to a teenager, but they've got a lot of other things to balance, too.
Joker doesn't expect Myunghon to start discussing a different supernatural phenomenon, though, and frowns at this talk of Homuculi and Ateliers. People trapped by an external force...? They don't interrupt, though. Getting this kind of information is exactly why they're still considering that alliance. They consider their hypothesis; then they shrug. Fair is fair... They shared for free, so they should respond to that good will.
"I admit, I'm not familiar with the phenomena you describe. If there are similarities between these Homunculuses and our changes of heart, it's purely a coincidence, as far as I know." They nod once. A false pattern, hm... "That's likely. We only formed four months ago. Precisely how long that scoundrel of a teacher had a Palace, none can say--but Suguru Kamoshida had been terrorizing Shujin Academy for long before we brought him to justice. It's logical to think that Palaces and Mementos have been around since long before we took the stage."
For all his amnesia, Morgana didn't get his knowledge of the Metaverse from nowhere. It'd have to have been around for a while for him to get in so deep he even lost his human form.
"Presumably, the same is true of the phenomena of which you speak," they conclude.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon's also been under a lot of duress, in no small part because of their choice to simply be known as Myunghon to the world, which has invited all manner of trouble and frightening characters to their doorstep. A logical individual might observe that it was foolish to remove the protection of their identity, but...
That they can be someone one can find when one needs help, that they stand Amongst them, is incredibly important to Myunghon. That was the seed of their Rebellion, on that day when the snow turned to rain, when Miho set those Demons upon them.
There's a graceful nod as Joker says they don't need to apologise, though... indeed, as much as Myunghon has been relying on 'being Merry'... they'll have to reckon that this isn't some kind of Jekyll and Hyde scenario (no, that's Tsumugi's Persona). That the unhealthy way they've compartmentalised as a coping mechanism will eventually catch up to them, that there will come a time when 'Merry' has their limits and be fallible...
"Some things are more difficult to deal with than a mere battle in the Metaverse," is all Myunghon says of the Terrifying Third Floor.
But, ultimately, the issue with a hypothesis is that you can start to assume that the other party knows more than they do. That the Thieves act when someone distorted is causing harm implying that they can let others be does not necessarily form a truth.
"I bring the example of the Homunculus up because I suspect that there are forces coaxing us into behaving in a certain manner -- battling Shadows in Mementos and Palaces, exploiting how they affect the physical realm," Myunghon admits readily, looking a little more wan. Joker does say that it is likely that the Palaces and Rulers and Mementos have been around longer than the Thieves...
"You may have ascertained this by now, but I own the Meta-Nav app that appeared on my phone," Myunghon also shares. "And I have done extensive testing with it. Throwing my phone away, switching to a burner, even swapping to an old gara-kei... it all follows me. And that deeply unsettles me, the idea that I have been marked by an unknown entity into what seems like a path to power..."
They shift gently, on their seat.
"But one that may ultimately contain ulterior motives beyond both of us. What causes these distortions in the first place, and where they come from... and why some of us -- and not others -- have been chosen by this app."
That wanness melts away to a weak, but gentle smile. The kind of smile Ren sees when Myunghon is in the shop.
"I suppose that, ultimately, forms my desire to be in touch with you and your group. I feel as if I am adrift in a dark pool more than I'd care to admit, and the more I can alleviate that in others, the better."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Sometimes it's liberating to be someone else for a while--but only sometimes and for a while. At the end of the day, Ren's true identity is thoroughly known to their friends. If not for them, they don't know that they could've even gotten this far. Myunghon's choice to be known as who they are... The more they think on it, the more sense it makes.
Generally speaking. They still think it's dangerous to do that here in Mementos. They choose to appreciate the trust that Myunghon's showing them, though.
They raise their eyebrows at Myunghon on the topic of the Third Floor, an expression they tilt their head down slightly to make sure Myunghon will see it. Joker leaves it at that, though.
"Forces?" they echo. When Myunghon explains all the experimenting they've done with the Meta-Nav on their app, that's surprising--but it also starts to make more sense. An 'unknown' entity... He's not unknown to Joker, though they're starting to wonder why they get to know and not, say, Myunghon sitting across from them, even though the Velvet Room opens its doors to all Persona Users... if with greater services to some than others. Something to ask Igor later... If that grinning warden will give them a straight answer, anyway. And if Caroline and Justine will stop banging on the bars of their cell long enough for them to ask.
He told them that they're the Trickster whose rehabilitation is necessary to avoid the coming ruin. If they're so special, though, why do all these other people have the same app? Why don't they get any kind of explanation behind it? Maybe Myunghon's right about an ulterior motive...
"I appreciate that," they say aloud. "Once more, I must admit that talking to your group has made it clear to mine that there's much in the supernatural world that we simply aren't familiar with."
They pause, considering their own words. "How familiar are you with Igor and the Velvet Room?" they ask. Maybe if they know that much, the rest will fall into place.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
A few months ago, one could probably ask if being Merry was liberating and Myunghon would admit that it is. Recently, however, that sense of liberation has melted away slightly into being a sense of necessity -- and Myunghon is perhaps a little further behind on the practice of sharing vulnerability and allowing emotional support from their closest, given how swiftly and suddenly the Cardboard Dragon has risen up from where they really didn't have many people before that.
In that way, perhaps it's understandable why the second and third floors have such a stark contrast.
"It could be a person, such as that black-masked one from Kaneshiro's Palace, or an organisation... or even some kind of Shadow that we are not privy to yet," Myunghon does sound helpless, not knowing the form of who it is guides them. "The phenomenon of the Homunculus is known at least two years back... and other supernatural incidents such as the Dark Hour date even further back than that.
But Joker does appreciate that sentiment. And it does count for a lot that they can share some moments where they do appreciate each other -- in hindsight, perhaps, Myunghon did feel as if they were drowning a bit in the bombastic nature that they presented as Merry, as negotiator for the whole, as much as they feel they must become better at that. A nod, as they chuckle to say, "That is the role of a Rumourmonger, after all."
But Joker then asks-- how familiar are they with Igor and the Velvet Room?
"I do visit often..." A pause, and then they find themselves admitting, "It has been useful to run away into when I am overwhelmed and need a place to piece myself together. But aside from that -- Igor is someone I still need to turn to, to affix Skill Cards, as well as exchange the various Tarot Cards I collect from my various Demonic Pacts with the demon artist."
So, very transactional, in other words. Outside of mooching the space as a place to cry in, one supposes.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
It's easier to make a friendly space if it's for others, one supposes. For Joker's part, it is sometimes a pain to remember to speak with eloquence, as befitting the mask--at least while in mixed company.
"..." Those are some guesses... There's a few organizations about, too, besides their respective ones. It might be hard to call either The Phantoms or Cardboard Dragon organizations anyway. That implies far more coherence and competence than either of them have.
"Two years... That's quite a while, comparatively speaking," Joker muses, resting their hand across their lips. "One does wonder where it all began." They quirk a half-smile back at them. "No wonder you've taken on that role, then." It's only natural for someone who's experimented and asked as many questions as they have. They will not admit that The Phantoms were mostly coasting on vibes before Makoto joined the party...
"Hmmm." Transactional, sure, which is fine. Joker has a lot of transactional relationships--not that that means there can't be anything more beyond the deals they've made. It does sound like Myunghon may have been relying on Igor more for what he can do than for what he knows, though. So:
"Have you ever asked him about the Meta-Nav?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon's speech, as Myunghon, is gentle and polite, even to Ren, like they've been drilled to speak in keigo all their life that it's exceedingly difficult to just stop, even to younger people after they've escaped the corporate world. Merry, in contrast, is even more bombastic with their speech, though it never quite reaches brusque or churlish. In both the masks they bear for the world, there's always a kind of refinement that probably came from their higher-class upbringing.
"It is a little humbling to remember that all these have been happening much longer than you and I have been awakened for, yes..." Myunghon does admit. "And some, perhaps, beyond anyone's eyes." There's a soft chuckle in turn as Joker tells them that it's no wonder they've taken on the role of the Rumourmonger.
Buuut...
Joker asks if they've asked him about the Meta-Nav.
And Myunghon can understand the implication that's behind Joker's words. Or at least, the one they choose to take.
It's kind of cute to watch them devolve through their faster-than-light thoughts in real time. In their mind, a plucky group of youngsters have come to attack and dethrone a god that has just summoned a comet of fact marked 'IGOR' into the solar system of their web of thoughts and it's just landed on the sun marked 'META-NAV', and it's melting away Mercury, Venus, the Earth... (the plucky youngsters each take 90 damage.)
"Y-you mean... you mean... it was--"
Oh, Myunghon is STRUCK speechless.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Joker nods in agreement. The Phantoms know a fair chunk more about the Metaverse than most thanks to Morgana's teachings, but even that's dicey thanks to his amnesia, and just forget about anything else. It took an embarrassingly long time to realize the Dark Hour is called 'The Dark Hour'--they used to refer to it as 'the green time' before that. Another little something they won't be sharing with Myunghon. "Joker" has an image to maintain.
They do appreciate both Myunghon and Merry's refined mannerisms. Their normal speech mannerisms are fairly casual--it's easier to just say whatever without worrying about it, you know?--but thanks to the manner of their upbringing, it's dismayingly easy to take on a more educated vernacular when it suits them.
But then they ask, and Myunghon's brain melts down in real time, as seen through their eyes... (It is kind of funny. Joker keeps that off their face too. It's rude to laugh at people.)
"That's what he told me," they say instead with a light shrug. "He said he sent it to my phone, and spread it to my companions. I can't speak for anyone outside of The Phantoms, however." They frown. "Honestly, I hadn't realized it was a big mystery outside of our team. It could still be possible that your version of the Meta-Nav comes from somewhere else. That's why I asked what I did."
Cheer up, Merry! Maybe there is still a horrible god-thing out to manipulate us all out there! You can still be right!
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon continues to quietly sizzle in the desperate embarrassment of that realisation when the answer's been right in front of you this whole time and you just haven't stopped to check, though Joker at least does acknowledge that it is possible that the Meta-Nav apps could in fact not have come from a single source. That is a good point.
"I was one such person who didn't quite have anyone to explain the supernatural to me, when I first awakened," Myunghon shares, since they're in a vulnerable, sharing mood. It's a bad habit, perhaps, but they do feel grateful at what Joker's decided to share -- they very well could have not.
"My awakening left me on death's door, and I was hospitalised immediately after... and my earliest supernatural memory involved experiencing the Dark Hour in an emergency ward, believing I'd truly lost it when I saw that all my fellow bedmates had turned into coffins."
No wonder they want to be someone who can explain things to those who're roped into the supernatural.
"So thank you, Joker. I will ask him," they nod.
"There is... one other thing I wished to tell you. There is someone with distorted desires here in Mementos whose distortions I am aiming to resolve. A policeman in the Sumaru PD who has... assaulted... and severely injured me, not one month ago," Myunghon confesses. "His name is Koichi Ishiba."
They don't share that they were nearly goaded into causing in him a Mental Breakdown that likely would've also ended in failure and their death. The circumstances of this approach will be different. "We don't possess the knowledge to remove these distortions as you do. But... I'd like to try, regardless."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Joker at least wasn't trying to embarrass Myunghon. They continue to pretend not to notice their sizzling. Their powerful deadpan once again saves the day...
Likewise, when Myunghon decides to share further about the circumstances of their awakening, Joker listens without expression. It sounds like a truly awful experience--no wonder indeed. If it'd been like that for them, they don't even know what they would have thought. There was that hallucination before everything happened, but that was so brief. At least when they fell into Kamoshida's Palace, Ryuji was there to be baffled and freaked out with them, and they both ran into Morgana not too long after that. It's dawning on Joker that they've been blessed in a lot of ways they haven't seen up until now.
Well, at least when it comes to the supernatural.
"You're welcome. It seems we've both been lacking in important information," they reply. They pause, though, as Myunghon goes on to tell them about Koichi Ishiba. Their eyes narrow behind their mask at the damningly discreet description of his sins... and the just-vague-enough manner in which Myunghon states they want to do something about him.
"Is this a request? Or are you merely informing me as a courtesy?" they ask. "Or, perhaps, a way of telling us 'don't get in the way'?"
They pause again. Then they lean their head on one hand, fingers splayed along their cheek. "...A while back, I observed a debate the second Detective Prince conducted with someone about the ethics of a change of heart in terms of whether it's truly a boon for those who were terrorized by the one whose heart was changed. His Highness's position was that it would actually painful to a victim to see their abuser apologize apropos of nothing--that a true punishment would be to have that victim tear them down directly and force them to live in agony and hatred."
A beat.
"A surprisingly vicious young man, don't you think? But... I could understand his point of view. There's a thin line between Justice and revenge." They fold their hands over their knee. "If you are asking us to stay out of the way, we'll let you handle it as you see fit. However, we also aren't in the practice of ignoring those who seek our help, either."
In other words, if this is a request, then they'll take it to their compatriots, and never mind that some of Myunghon's friends might get upset.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
There's a gentle nod from Myunghon in turn, as Joker observes how they've both been lacking information. As a result of this meeting, even if they don't go through with a full alliance, they're definitely certain that continuing to trade intel will only benefit them both in the end. But... indeed, Myunghon is being a little vague.
"... if you'd asked me at the time when I was attacked, I would have requested a Change of Heart," Myunghon does confess. "It is the downside to what I have chosen, I suppose. You can find where Rumourmonger Merry lives and ask for their aid... but it also means that there are those who choose to abuse that too. He had pushed me beyond my limit."
A pause, and then there's something approaching a drive in their gray eye as they rise from their seat and listen to Joker speak about the second Detective Prince. There's a note of some recognition in their eye. How timely. They don't miss the way Joker refers to him as 'His Highness'...
It's a little different from the more neutrally observant, prudent way they express things most times.
But Akechi's perspective on this is certainly... interesting. They could converse for hours about the nature of justice and punishment, and their own perspective on remedial action within the justice system. Perhaps, the next time they meet.
"Don't worry. This isn't for revenge... I've already been saved from such a path by those closest to me," Myunghon admits, continuing what may very well be a confession from what they were saying earlier. Then, their eye goes half-lidded with resolve.
"Consider this... a request to watch us, the Cardboard Dragon. Because I've a means in which we may be able to affect that distortion ourselves. And if it does become proven... then perhaps we both will stand to gain from it."
With that said, they quietly turn towards the Entrance again. "Thank you for your time today, Joker. ... I'd certainly like to continue sharing information with you or your peers. You always know where you can find me."
After all, that's the characteristic nature of their Rebellion.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
He is a Detective Prince, after all. But maybe there is something more to it than just a flippant joke... Certainly there's something to the look in Myunghon's eye when they bring him up, Joker observes in turn.
"Oh...? Very well." Joker rises to their feet too and slips their hands in their coat pockets. "Thank you as well, Myunghon Yeo. I look forward to whatever you have to show us."
They quirk them a half-smile... and then turn to deeper into Mementos, leaving the way out clear for them to traverse--for their own Rebellion demands they must remain in the shadows.