2025-09-05: The Real Drake Adventure Begins Here
- Log: The Real Drake Adventure Begins Here
- Cast: Myunghon Yeo, Reiko Shimizu
- Where: Reiko's Apartment, Yongen-jaya, Tokyo
- OOC Date: September 05, 2025
- IC Date: July 06, 2012
- Summary: Reiko agrees to house Myunghon after their assault by Officer Ishiba. They talk about Kaneshiro, uncertainties in the police force, and also play... Drake Adventure III! Which makes Myunghon cry.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
It's been a very... trying couple of days for Myunghon Yeo. And that's putting it very lightly.
From Reiko's context, she heard late on Tuesday that they were violently attacked by Officer Ishiba, near midnight while out near Hirasaka Station, and was only saved thanks to the intervention of everyone else around, Shinobu included. Then they went to the emergency ward and was put up on the hospital, and...
And... fled?? There was a commotion where they apparently leapt out of the third story window of their ward room. Or perhaps that was a vampire. It's unclear which??
But they've been found and retrieved, and it's clear that the hospital is only a more mentally and emotionally injurious place for them to recuperate -- and so Myunghon's closest friends have been taking turns putting them up so they have a place to recuperate that isn't...
That isn't, you know, the Cardboard Dragon, because Officer Ishiba's threatened them that they know where they live.
Myunghon's a little drawn up, buckled into the seatbelt of Reiko's car passenger seat with their knees pulled up to their face. They look... a little floaty, distant; it takes them a moment, sometimes, to realise they're being spoken to. But they have that black coat draped over them, like it's clinging to them possessively. Their bandages are back on properly, so they don't have to panic about that. There's a small packed bag that someone prepared for them on the back seat.
Yongen-jaya isn't far now.
"Ah... thank you again for... everything you have done," Myunghon sounds a bit bashful, glancing towards the rear screen mirror. "Especially knowing how busy the last week has been for you, with Kaneshiro."
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
When Reiko heard that Ishiba attacked Myunghon, she was beside herself. There isn't that much she can do -- Ishiba is on the Sumaru PD, not the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. And when she heard that they fled the hospital...
She fretted and worried even more then. She volunteered, of course, to put Myunghon up.
She has reached out to Benkei, too. Maybe he could do something about Ishiba. It feels so... incomplete, though. Giving Myunghon a ride to her apartment, though...
That, Reiko can do.
"It's okay," Reiko says, as she drives -- she glances at the rearview mirror, then briefly sideways. "Really, it's no problem. Kaneshiro... just turned himself in, which cuts the paperwork a lot."
She hesitates for a second. "I'm... sorry I couldn't do more, Myunghon-san." She exhales. "But you can stay with me as long as you need."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
The topic of Ishiba's been a... quiet one, on the police front. It seems that his actions really did tip something over the scale more than the usual way of his usual flagrant provocations and abuses of police power. But he's not going to be gone -- Sumaru PD will make sure of that.
"It was... risky," Myunghon wants to focus on Kaneshiro for the time being. "But it did pay off in the end..." What're they talking about? Is that related to the calling card the Phantoms sent? "The deadline has passed, and nothing has happened to any of the people he threatened in Hirasaka. And I would say that I have you to thank as well, Reiko-san."
Reiko feels hesitant, and then their head tucks down as they nod. "I have burdened you with quite a lot already." A pause, and then a quiet shiver. "I cannot simply run, knowing what I know, but... it is unsettling, to be threatened that someone knows where you live..."
Their breath is a little bit more difficult at that. What happened to 'say his name, with no fear'? It all feels like a dream... did it really happen?
"What made you choose Tokyo, Reiko-san? I think Ayame-san did mention you'd all moved out of Sumaru, since she said she moved *back*..."
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
It was risky?
Reiko blinks, then she glances sideways at Myunghon. There is a moment of hesitation at what they say, before she smiles. "I'm glad. I was worried about everyone there. I--ah." She laughs, sheepishly, then. "I don't know that I did that much."
She looks sideways at Myunghon, then she tilts her head. "I... mm. I know." She hesitates, then, and her eyes glance down for a second. "We'll... we'll figure it out."
She doesn't know what they can do. She keeps her eyes on the road.
"...Our parents still live in Tokyo, actually," she says. "Onee-chan went to college in Sumaru, and then she moved in with Ikkaku-kun. But, um." She was dodging the question about herself. "An MPD officer... ah, we don't make that much. I can afford the rent, but since I'm staying close to them..."
The answer is that she didn't choose Tokyo.
"...well, it helps."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"You did a lot," Myunghon smiles very gently. "Who knows what would have happened if you had not intervened, on that day, either." The smile is a bit weak, given how they're floating in and out and constantly being spooked by feelings and phantoms of their assault. "Knowing there was someone who would do justice with what we found... that counts for a lot as well."
With what they found?
Reiko explains how the parents still live in Tokyo. It's Ayame that went to college in Sumaru, and Shinobu ended up heading there as well... but... it's not a matter of choice that she stays in Tokyo.
"The pay of an MPD officer is a bit of an injustice," Myunghon can at least spin it in a way that's somewhat light. They feel more relaxed around Reiko, for some reason. There's something really reassuring about them. "Shinobu-ssi showed me her favourite game, since I'd purchased the wrong console, by the way. It was a very loud and bombastic fighting game. Video games are..."
A pause.
"I'm still not sure I understand... video games."
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"I... yeah," Reiko says, deciding to accept the compliment. She hesitates, though, and then she looks sideways at Myunghon. "You, um--you investigated Kaneshiro, then?"
She seems truly and genuinely clueless. She doesn't know about the supernatural; she doesn't even begin to fathom how the Phantom Thieves might change a heart. As best as she can figure, they must be using some sort of blackmail.
How little she knows.
Then, she laughs a little. "Nee-chan did, huh? She likes fighting games. And, she gets competitive," she says. "It's okay."
She glances sideways at them and grins. "The best way to understand video games is to keep playing!"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"... we did," Myunghon answers Reiko, not wanting to obfuscate around someone who's been so helpful -- someone they feel they can trust. "The specifics are... you likely wouldn't believe them, even if I told you, but it was a little outside of the usual -- but you know that the usual isn't effective on someone like Kaneshiro. They had the judges and lawyers all in his pockets."
Are they implying crime??
"I can say it is all above board, though," Myunghon does reassure. In a sense. In the sense that you probably can't get tried for a B&E into someone's Palace.
Shinobu gets really competitive. "She really does," Myunghon looks shocked. "I thought she'd go easy on me, but, biff, bang, boom, I'm on the floor and turned into a billiard ball. And then the next round I'm fired out of a cannon into the skies. Destroyed, it says."
The best way to understand is to keep playing! There's a smile there too. "I may need something a bit less stressful on the hands. I wonder if there are other controllers... holding them for a time hurts these--" they reach forward and wiggle their fingers gently. "I never noticed, since a laptop doesn't aggravate it."
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
Reiko feels like it might be crime. Even with Myunghon's assurances, she wonders for a moment. But, then, she nods her head. "I... well, all right. Sometimes, it's better I don't know. Or have a conflict of interest."
She smiles a little. Being a cop and being a friend means, sometimes, she is better off not knowing the details.
She laughs a little at the description of her sister. Then, she nods. "Mm-hm," she says. "That's her, all right. I had to work hard to keep up, when I was little."
There is a sideways glance again. "There's other controllers. And other games--uh, RPG's are less intense. Usually," she says. "And... um. There's other controllers, if you are going to play Nee-chan more."
She makes a turn with her car -- and into the backstreets of Yongen-Jaya. It means slowing down, to be safe.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
It might not be forever that Reiko can look away. It's only going to be a matter of time before they come into contact with another distorted Palace Ruler or the Joker Killer or one of the other threats governing the city. But there is another point that they do have to tell Reiko now.
"Reiko-san... this may be dangerous to say, but I feel it is important you know, rather than not know." Myunghon pauses. "I uncovered evidence that what Ishiba is doing is -- targeted. It isn't a random act of profiling." They deflate a little bit more, and then they say, "It might be an act of retribution for Kaneshiro as well." They're actually not certain about that, but it's impossible to not draw the lines once you see them.
"I say this to you just because I am worried you may draw ire for helping me as well." A pause. "If that is too much, then... I would understand."
They pull up to the streets of Yongen-jaya. There is a little chuckle as Reiko reflects on Shinobu. "She says she was the one that acted out when she was young. Is that true?" A pause, as they sigh. "I... followed your advice and booked concert tickets for us. It was supposed to be this Wednesday, but..." Well. The assault happened. "Ah, rotten luck, I suppose..."
They look a fair bit torn up about it. But the talk of games does please them. "Perhaps something flat...?" Myunghon ponders. "I see. The most demanding part of that game Shinobu showed me is how important timing and your dexterity is. Is it not the case for RPGs?"
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
Reiko frowns when she hears that. If Ishiba was working for Kaneshiro -- or with someone who is connected to him -- then that is a problem. She hesitates for a moment, before she nods her head. Even if she feels her blood run cold at the idea. But, she knows crooked cops exist. They can't all be like Benkei.
"I'll... that's good to know. I can talk to my boss," she says. "Maybe we can look into it. And... I'll be careful, too."
She looks sideways at Myunghon, then. There's a smile -- and she puts her eyes back on the road. "Yeah. Nee-chan acted out. I was the good one, and... Onee-chan wasn't around by then, after she got married."
She hesitates, though, at the realization they seem upset. "Maybe," she says, "you can try again later?"
Then, she turns the car down a back alley -- and there's a back entrance into a small apartment building, down the way. "RPG's are usually turn-based. Or... close enough." She decides to save explaining action RPG's for later. "They're easier to put down."
A beat.
"Better stories, too!"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon does nod very gently, and leaves it at that -- they can't just keep talking and spook Reiko further, and she'll talk to her boss. ... they're really hoping their boss is as forthright as she is, because sometimes, those further up have very pleasant masks that hide very evil allegiances. "It is rich coming from someone who usually needs the saving, but please don't hesitate to contact me as well, if trouble does arise."
The car pulls into the alleyway, and Myunghon quietly slips out; they have to hold themself on the door frame because standing up made them very dizzy for a second. "Oh... just a moment." They shiver, then take the small bag out -- it's not very heavy, thankfully.
Perhaps they can try again later? "I hope so. I felt so crushed, like I ruined everything. ... tickets are also not cheap, I found," Myunghon admits.
"Hmmm. Stories, you say? That game Shinobu showed seemed to *suggest* it had a very involved setting and story, but it was difficult to understand since everyone was just fighting," Myunghon ruminates, as they follow Reiko to their apartment. "What RPG has your favourite story, Reiko-san?"
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"I won't," Reiko says, with a nod. She means that -- at least, within the range of things that she can involve them in. Some things would be police business. Still...
She opens her door and steps out -- and then she stretches her arms, and looks sideways at Myunghon. Her eyes blink once.
"You were really looking forward to it," she says, as she has the realization. "I'm sorry. And I'm sorry about the expense..."
She considers, then, at the question of game stories. There is a nod -- fighters usually have a background story, but she doesn't quite want to get into supplementary materials off the bat -- and then a smile.
"I'd probably have to say... uhm." She scratches her cheek. "Last Legacy X. It's a really good story, if pretty sad."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon breathes a bit more laboriously as they take careful steps, finding the sudden shift to movement a little jarring when they've been seated in a car for the last good half an hour. They're making sure to keep close to a wall or railing just in case they start to tip over again, but it's mercifully not long before Reiko opens the door to the apartment and lets them in.
"Ah--" Reiko points out they were really looking forward to it. They look a bit bashful. "W-well, yes... though I was unconfident I would make it out of a heavy metal concert alive. But I wanted to... share in some of the hobbies Shinobu-ssi has."
They set the bag down at the doorway, then takes their shoes off. "Last Legacy X... I see. A sad story? I suppose I do enjoy sad stories often as well. So the thrill of the game is in understanding how the story unfolds... but I assume you have to overcome the game challenges to see more of it. Not like a movie where you can simply watch for two hours."
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
Reiko's apartment is small -- and older. It must have been built in the 1970's, and it really only has two rooms. A living room with a tiny, attached kitchen and a bedroom. The living room has a sofa, and it's the sort that folds out into a bed.
"Yeah, I know her concerts can be... intense," Reiko says with a laugh. She hesitates for a moment. And, unfortunately, in some ways, Reiko is clueless about her older sisters (and assumes Shinobu is clueless about her in turn).
"I'm glad you're her friend!" she says sinceely, and cheerfully.
She nods her head, then, at the explanation. "Mm-hm! That's it. And--well, you can customize your characters' builds, and try to do a lot of hard challenge fights and stuff, but..." She laughs, sheepishly. "...that's outside of the story."
She walks in the rest of the way, then flips on a light. "Home sweet home," she says. "Um, want anything to drink? I thought, um, the living room is yours while you stay here. The sofa is pretty comfortable once it's folded out, too."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon feels quite familiar with old apartments -- in a way, their living space is... a commercial living space built in the 1970s... and this is quite nice, to be quite honest. Cozy and lived-in, in the way a home should be. They sit on the sofa, sounding a little beleaguered even from their short jaunt from the car to the apartment sofa. A hand is places on their head for a moment.
"I was warned about needing earplugs... which sounded contrary to me..." Myunghon chuckles. "But-- ah--" Friends!!
... this is the second Shimizu sister to hit them with this now.
"Y-yes, friends," Myunghon laughs nervously.
Reiko explains the game, and there's a moment where Myunghon just looks rather charmed at her explanation. "T-their... builds? As in, um..." Myunghon considers. "Making them gain muscle or height or somesuch? Like someone preparing for a marathon?"
A pout, as they say, "Shinobu said the size of the muscles do not matter. Videogames are confusing."
Do they want anything to drink? "Oh..." Myunghon rummages into their bag and pulls out a... protein shaker? "I feel a bit faint... I should probably have something to eat. Could I trouble you to fill this with water to this line?"
It's labelled... UNFLAVORED PEA PROTEIN.
...
??????
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
Reiko is happy to let them sit for a moment. They seemed like they needed it. She looks back at Myunghon, blinking -- but then she smiles. Friends!
And then, she blinks -- and she quickly shakes her head. "Oh, um, no, their stats -- like if they're better at magic, or physical attacks, and what spells and status effects they do, or how many turns they get..." A beat. "...that's a bit advanced, though."
Then, she takes the protein shaker. She looks at it for a second. Slowly, both eyebrows lift.
"...S-Sure, or I could put on some tea?"
She is not drinking that. Myunghon can live dangerously if they so choose.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Stats??
Oh, that must be like their key performance indicators, like client contracts signed, or tickets closed... and how far off from one standard deviation they are?
No, it's-- magic, or physical attacks-- so it is muscles??? Status effects? Like what, scandals?? Being found out you have a mistress? Is that what having effects on your status means?
Their head is absolutely swimming. "I see..." Myunghon nods gently. "That makes perfect sense." That makes no sense! None whatsoever!
But Reiko looks skeptical about the protein shaker, and Myunghon pauses and becomes hesitant and self-conscious. "Oh. I'll... have both...? No, I'll just have the tea."
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"It, um. It might be best to see it in action," Reiko says with a little laugh. She sounds slightly sheepish -- the sort of embarrassment of explaining a nerdy thing to someone and being uncertain if they get it. She adjusts her glasses up her nose.
"Y-You can do both!" Reiko says, realizing maybe she was a little rude. She flushes, but heads into the kitchen.
The kettle starts to rumble a moment later.
"I know it's a bit small," Reiko adds. "But... please, make yourself at home! I don't have guests over too often. I mean... uh, Tsubasa-kun stayed here once, but..."
Reiko shakes her head. And, besides, that isn't having an adult friend over. That was taking in a child in a need.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
It's just cottoned onto Myunghon that they're HERE, now, in Reiko's apartment, which means--
"That means you can finally show me the true Drake Adventure III...!"
They look so earnest about it. This is someone who promised they'd play the game she really likes to the point where they're nearly 90,000 yen out having bought the wrong game and console. They're trying. ... that means they're in the well meaning mom zone, huh.
Reiko looks embarrassed in turn, and that makes Myunghon a little more self-conscious... but eventually, they return with the protein shaker filled, and they start to mix it. "Sorry. I have..." A pause. "Difficulty with eating." Yua's words are giving them power, though. "A... picky eater." They don't hate the sound of that, though they know that that's not how people use 'picky eater', but still. "This has been helping me recently."
But Reiko mentions how Tsubasa stayed over. "Oh, did they? Thank you for looking out for them." A distressed little sigh. "I was so afraid when I heard them, on that night... I truly did not want to have them be wrapped in this trouble. It seems they were let go, however..." But that doesn't always mean a good thing... Myunghon is familiar enough with corruption to know that can be a 'favour'.
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"Mm-hm," Reiko murmurs. "I was thinking that! If you want." Especially after Myunghon's trials and tribulations -- including buying the wrong game and console. She laughs, sheepishly, and then she leans against the counter.
She nods at the answer, and looks down for a moment. "That makes sense. Well, if it helps..." She bobs her head in agreement.
Then, she looks up -- and there's a nod of her head. "Yeah," she says. "I'm their parole officer. So... um, I came and got them out. It's okay. I made sure everything will be fine."
She shakes her head. "And when Tsubasa wants to get involved..." She smiles a little ruefully. "...well, good luck convincing them otherwise. The best you can do is help them refocus."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"I do. I'd really like that," Myunghon insists, thinking... "That would be a very nice distraction right now."
They take a little drink of their protein shaker -- unflavoured pea protein... it's just bland enough that it's not truly rancid and ash-like. It's workable. They can tolerate this. It's a little step forward. They feel a little bit more focused, since there's some caffeine in there. (This is, however, probably one of the problems because most of the mixtures they're finding have caffeine in them!! Sometimes that's not what they want).
"Oh, truly? That relieves me. I know you'd do a great job," Myunghon lets out a soft little sigh, as Reiko describes Tsubasa's nature. "Yes. ... you know, people like Tsubasa-kun is part of why I feel so invested in Hirasaka... so many people turn their nose up on us, but... I care deeply about the people there. They are kind when you get to know them... we are better when we share our troubles."
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"Then we'll do that!" Reiko says, with a smile. It would be good to help -- and to say nothing of playing her favorite game.
She look sideways at Myunghon, though she has to look away when the kettle goes off. She pours the two mugs -- though the tea will need to steep, still.
"Mm-hm. I've been their parole officer for a few months," Reiko says. She looks up, then, as she considers. "Yeah. Hirasaka... it seems like a nice place. I've visited nee-chan out there, a few times."
She hesitates for a second. "I'm really glad it was saved from Kaneshiro."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon has a distant, but fond smile. "A lot of people are put off by the rough outer exterior. Kasugayama High has a reputation of being somewhere you're dumped, rather than somewhere where you go. But... that doesn't change that we're all people, with our own wants and needs and strengths, as much as other people'd like to pretend that isn't true."
Then they bob their head again. "That's in no small part thanks to you too, Reiko-san."
But then they have some tea -- Myunghon seems to like it very light, not strongly flavoured, and then they take the console out and...
...
...
...
DRACKY attacks! 24 damage! FIGHTER died!
"I--I--I--" Myunghon is in shambles. "That man died under my command! And now he's a COFFIN!!"
What the hell?! Is this game related to the Dark Hour in some fashion?! Were the developers in on it -- is this a secret code? The Slimes are cute, but Slimes, yes, Slimes are frequently demons that appear in Mementos and other Sumaru locales too, and the curved little smile they have appears adorable, but they're not going to be fooled by it. They see the patterns within. Why, this is perhaps a secret Kirijo Group ploy to get children used to the idea of climbing up a tower and fighting monsters, isn't it? They're ONTO YOU NOOOOOOOOOOW
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"A lot of people aren't fair," Reiko says. "They don't... really see people for who they are." She sighs a little. But then she smiles at the compliment -- even if she wonders how true it is.
But then, there is Drake Adventure III.
She scratches at her cheek as she looks at the screen -- and the dead fighter, in the coffin -- and then she looks sideways at Myunghon. "I-It's okay, it just... is a way to communicate that he's dead! See, the coffin just floats after them on its own power!"
Reiko, that may not be comforting.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon is whimpering and -- actually CRYING. "I was not a wise enough commander... that man believed in every one of my commands and I failed him...!" How does the coffin FLOAT?? Is it by the magic of the other party members, or the hero?? They're able to float THREE coffins in one go! That's impressive magic power! Is their Magic stat great, then?
They check. No, it's garbage. ... how does that work?
...
"Unbelievable! You're able to raise those killed in action by just... simply going to a church?" Myunghon wipes their tears. ... they're kinda cute like this, aren't they? They seem so taken in by the magic of the game's reality.
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
They're kind of cute and they're also making Reiko's head spin a little. Clearly, Myunghon truly hasn't played many video games. She scratches at her cheek again. "I-It's okay, really! Just, go back to town, and..."
And then pay gold to revive them at the church. Which...
Which also has Myunghon crying. Reiko sighs, then she reaches over and pats them on the shoulder. "Mm-hm. Nothing to fear!"