2025-10-05: Glimmer of Hope
- Log: Glimmer of Hope
- Cast: Rin Sasaki, Myunghon Yeo
- Where: Cardboard Dragon, Hirasaka Ward, Sumaru City
- OOC Date: October 5, 2025
- IC Date: July 21, 2012
- Summary: Far from the world she knows, Rin finds a friendly Rumormonger that can shed light on what is wrong with her husband.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
The Cardboard Dragon is something of a... strange store to try to find -- about two blocks down from Kasugayama High, the actual building that it's a part of is easy enough to find, with the Sunny Day family diner at the ground floor... but actually finding the Cardboard Dragon requires going down the unmarked alley, which kind of looks like you might find yakuza fighting there sometimes, up a set of fire escape stairs, and into the fire escape door and...!
The actual storefront is divided into several sections -- a section of bookshelves with rare, foreign books from around the turn of the 20th century by authors such as Dostoesvsky and Hauptmann, not to mention classic Japanese authors like Osamu Dazai or Yukito Ayatsuji... and the actual card game store front has an advertisement for the NEW! Sourdough Princess Vampire Bakers card game set, and several tables to actually play card games at.
There's no one there at present.
Myunghon themself is seated at the third section, which resembles most like a detective's lounge, with a couch and coffee tables, and is currently hard at work at their laptop with only one hand, given their other is in a sling at present. They have white hair and their face is partially covered in bandages, including their right eye and neck, and they're dressed in a white dress shirt and black tie, along with black dress pants and a clinging black coat that's slung over their shoulders.
A tiny stack of animal crackers is rising beside them, and their fingers reach for another Koala March cracker... to place ontop. It's growing.
<Pose Tracker> Rin Sasaki has posed.
This is very far from Rin's normal world. The location itself perhaps not so much -- she's always enjoyed frequenting small businesses tucked away in odd spots from the street traffic and noise of the city, and even counts a few of them as clients; although, this is certainly the most...threatening location she's probably ever visited -- but certainly what she seeks there. It took casting a wide net among friends and professional contacts for Rin to even be set upon the right path to reach this point, dropping vague questions and meandering prompts in other conversations that eventually led her to two other people that finally pointed her here.
Suggesting anything outright, of course, would have branded her mentally ill, at best, and a lunatic, at worst. She remains uncertain that she isn't.
Rin steps into the empty store and glances around with a degree of uncertainty. She is a thin woman in her late twentys, standing just a little above average height, with a soft, narrow face and pale skin. She is wearing a long, flowing emerald chiffon skirt, a loose white blouse and open low-healed sandals (which did her no favors on her ascent up on the fire escape stairs). Styled, wavy black hair frames her face and spills down her back; manicured nails and glittering earrings and a wedding ring. She is carrying a small, decorative purse over one shoulder. There is a deep exhaustion in her eyes that refuses to be concealed by makeup.
The books on display would normally have her rapt attention, but she instead makes a line to the only person she's able to find in the store. "Hello? I'm looking for a --" Pause. A moment of uncertainy. "A Merry-San?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon first hears the call for a 'Merry-san' and immediately rises to their feet -- they're pretty tall at 175 centimetres, and quite thin (one could say frail), that coat spilling out behind them and giving the illusion that they're grander than they really would be without it, not unlike a vampire's cape. If the location is hostile, Myunghon isn't carrying themself with a threatening aura, at least, a gentle smile on their face. They note the exhaustion in Rin's face, and then gestures welcomingly towards the couch. "Welcome to the Cardboard Dragon. You've come to the right place; I'm Rumourmonger Merry, also known as Myunghon Yeo." A Korean name.
How interesting! Whoever Rin was referred by went with 'Merry', which isn't the most common way they get to know people; is it from an investigative angle, or perhaps a more supernatural one? The way Rin carries herself isn't particularly typical for one of their customers too, but then, the last time someone dressed like Rin came in, it was So-young, and she turned out to be a half-sister they never knew they had.
"Please, feel free to take a seat, and can I bring you some tea or another kind of drink?"
<Pose Tracker> Rin Sasaki has posed.
Myunghon's unusual, perhaps even outlandish, appearance is actually somewhat reassuring to Rin. The bookstore/gameshop had her wondering if she had actually made it to the right place, or simply been made the target of someone's idea of a joke. To her, the person that greets her looks like someone that really might make a business of knowing odd things -- while looking far more put together than some crackpot bum raving about lizard people and mind-control chemicals in the water.
Which was the other fear about how this little rabbit hole was going to terminate.
For this reason and Myunghon's welcome demeanor, a visible amount of tension leaves Rin. But certainly not all of it. "Thank you, Yeo-San," she responds, switching to their actual name now that has it been offered (is it actually their real name still? All of this still feels a little surreal). Rin takes a seat on the couch and smooths her skirt out after. "Tea would be lovely." It will also give her a few moments to arrange her thoughts now that the pending questions are more than hypothetical.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon does nod, and heads off to prepare tea at the small kitchenette -- and returning a few times to first set the teacups and saucers, since they've only one functioning hand at present, and they're not about to risk carrying a whole tea tray on their own, since they'd probably fumble and drop it and that would be a mess. While the kettle boils, they do ask: The rest of the detective's lounge part of the store does lend an air of legitimacy, perhaps -- there's various bookshelves and cabinets full of case files, marked in some kind of ordering, filing system that perhaps makes sense to its owner. One might even get the impression the book and cardgame store is partially a front, something to help conceal the business underneath that they conduct as 'Rumourmonger'.
Eventually, they return with the teapot. They're generous with Rin's tea, but they seem to only want a little bit of tea leaves in theirs, preferring their tea very light. There's sugar, at the very least. "My apologies for the wait." Their language is very humble, as if they're serving her at a high-class restaurant. "So what brings you here today, ah..."
<Pose Tracker> Rin Sasaki has posed.
Rin does glance around at the rest of the lounge during this time. It certainly goes some of the way to explaining the difficulty for (and current complete lack of) foot-traffic for the other parts of the shop.
Rin does not add any sugar to her tea. "Rin," she offers, then follows after a brief pause. "Rin Sasaki." There's a much longer pause, then, filling the room with silence as she seems to consider how to answer the main part of the question. The interim to collect her thoughts barely helped. Vague questions and inferences were much easier, but in theory, this is finally the moment to speak more plainly.
The idea of it fills her with a heavy dread she can't quite shake. Maybe because speaking it aloud makes it more real. Maybe because she herself is still not entirely convinced that she shouldn't be locked away in an asylum. "I'm told you might know about..." Still fishing for the right word, not quite looking at Myunghon. Here and now, she doesn't do a good job hiding her nerves. "Abnormal occurances," is what she finally settles on, stressing the first word. The rest comes out in a tumble, as if she's worried she might not get the words out at all otherwise, and here she does snap her gaze back to Myunghon. There's a worry and a fear in her eyes. This is obviously a deeply personal issue. "People -- people suddenly not being themselves? Not acting themselves?" Beat. "I can pay; I can pay -- whatever you need." There's more than a hint of desperation in her voice now.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon nods gently as Rin shares her name. They wait patiently, taking a sip of their own tea and also placing another Koala cracker onto the top of that stack... just how high is that stack going to go? How has it not fallen off into pieces yet? It must be some measure of dexterity on their part. But they are paying attention, since they can sense the tension and concern evident in Rin's countenance, and how difficult this must be.
Rin settles on 'abnormal occurrences'. There's a pause, and then their expression softens again -- even as they have to put effort to maintaining eye contact, since it doesn't come easy. There's no judgement in that singular gray eye of theirs, at least. "I see. Yes, you've come to the right place, Sasaki-san, actually," they reassure.
Rin speaks of someone not being themselves -- not acting like themselves. "... mm." Myunghon places their fingers to their lips, as they seem to spiderweb out in thought for a moment. "I see. I am familiar with such a case, actually, yes. We can help. I'd need to know more of who this person is that isn't themself lately. But-- first, Sasaki-san, are you in any personal danger? I can arrange for protection for you as well, should you require it."
<Pose Tracker> Rin Sasaki has posed.
"You -- you are?" Rin asks when Myunghon says they are familiar with such a case in particular, voice wrought but almost daring to be a little more hopeful. She takes a deep, shuddery breath, and there's dampness at the edge of her eyes. "I thought -- I thought I might be going crazy." Of course, that might still be true. This 'Rumormonger' in a shady backalley shop with no customers could just be taking her for a ride, telling her whatever she wanted to hear. It wouldn't even be the most outlandish scam.
Yet they sound so confident about it (of course, they would, wouldn't they?). But it's still the first real lifeline she's had since that night. It's difficult not to latch onto it.
"Protection?" she repeats with a reflexive incredulousness, for the sole reason that such an idea moves even further from life as she has experienced it thus far. But then she has to consider it more closely. "I...hadn't thought about it." And the more she thinks about it, the more disturbed the idea seems to make her. 'Is she in danger? She might be.
"It's my -- it's my husband," she stumbles over the words. Another shuddery breath. Rin is more confident speaking about these matters in general now that Myunghon has reassured her she's in the right place, but the details. Dredging back up the details is hard. Thinking about it again, speaking it aloud. It makes it more real. "But it wasn't him, that night; a few nights ago. I can't explain it, but it wasn't. Like there was -- like there was Something Else in our bed, by not him." She's trembling as the words tumble out, yet certain, near to tears, eyes pleading for continued belief of her outlandish declarations. "And it was so --" She's afraid. "Possessive." Beat. "I haven't been able to bring myself to go home again since."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
"I know. I know exactly what that's like, Sasaki-san -- you've seen something that you just can't quite explain, and no one will believe you, and you're made to believe as if your grasp on reality is slipping as you try to convince more people," Myunghon reassures, remembering back to their first experiences seeing the Dark Hour, hospitalised as they were, seeing a whole row of coffins on the beds beside them...
It all could be a scam. And yet, indeed, Rumourmonger Merry seems very confident about it -- perhaps they're a very skilled con artist indeed! But they keep that gentle, reassuring tone, their language polite and warm. Protection, though? Is she in danger? That's something Myunghon can't assess for themself, but Rin explains that it's her husband.
That wedding ring, Myunghon thinks back to when they first glanced upon her person. That explains why she's so distraught -- it's not just an acquaintance or even a friend, the person affected is the very partner she lives with. And she describes how he hasn't been himself -- that it wasn't him, she's certain, like there's something else, not her husband. Myunghon does frown very gently, and nods quietly.
But Rin speaking of how he's become -- posessive -- does draw a faint shudder from their own body. And she hasn't been able to go home since.
"Is there someone else you trust you're staying with at the moment, Sasaki-san?" Myunghon asks. "I will be able to help, as will my colleagues, but we'll need some time to investigate this matter, and I'd like to ensure that, since it is your husband inflicted, that you won't be in the path of any harm. That would be my first priority."
Myunghon does reach for their laptop. "I'll need some details, such as his basic profile and history -- but I assure you that what you're seeing isn't just in your head, Sasaki-san. There is actually one other such incident happening that I'm a part of as well, and..."
A brief bit of consideration. "It'll be very helpful for the investigation if you can share as much detail about his history as possible. Even small, seemingly irrelevant details -- his hobbies, his dislikes and interests, little things he may be hung up on... of course, you don't need to answer right away. Here's my number -- please feel free to contact me at any time," they hand their card over across the table.
<Pose Tracker> Rin Sasaki has posed.
As Myunghon begins to describe the information they need, Rin draws a deep, shaky breath and tries to compose herself a little. The former's consistently reassuring manner helps. The idea that there are actionable steps to be taken helps a little more. And she really doesn't want to break down completely in front of a stranger, if a very helpful stranger. She takes few slow sips of the tea now that it has had time to steep and cool just a bit.
"I've been staying at hotels the last few nights." she responds. She accepts the card, glances at it, then puts it away in her purse. She's trying to keep her voice steady. She is partially successful. "I didn't -- I don't know what's happening, and I -- can't drag his name through the mud if this is some; some temporary malady. There's no one I can stay with that wouldn't raise questions."
Rin doesn't answer the request for information right away, instead leaning forward and looking Myunghon in the eye. "Yeo-san," she starts, clasping her hands tightly together to try and keep herself from trembling again. "...Is it temporary? You say this is not unknown to you, and speak as if you have some course of investigation." There's an intensity in her eyes, and her voice breaks with her next question. "What happened to my husband, Yeo-san?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Rin's been staying at hotels. It must get pretty expensive... but they seem satisfied enough at that, and trusts that they can stay safe, at the very least -- they don't look like their personal safety's most at stake, the way others with less means in their life might be at risk. There's an understanding nod from Myunghon that Rin feels that she can't stay with others, that it'll... drag his name through the mud. It brings into their mind an image that it was a successful marriage, one that wasn't plagued with issues before this.
But there's a way in which she looks at them in the eye that catches them a bit off-guard, even. That desire to know.
The way Rin described being able to feel as if there's 'someone else' there speaks to the potential inside of her, Myunghon thinks. But it doesn't seem like she's awakened, a Persona-User. They were happy to leave it vague if Rin didn't want to pry, but she does, and thus...
"... Sasaki-san. What I say may sound like absolute nonsense to you, but you are here because you've already been disbelieved by many, so I will say it plain to you as well," Myunghon explains in turn. "Your husband is being infected by a kind of -- parasite, we'll call it, a Homunculus, which is taking over his psyche. That is the reason behind the behavioural changes you've been observing."
They let that sit, because they know that's a lot to take in -- to sip some more tea.
"I am in the business behind some of the strangenesses that you may or may not have observed in Sumaru City, as are my colleagues. What we'll do is rid this parasite from your husband's psyche, which will return him to health gain. There is a time component to this, I will not lie, and in our line of business, it is important to know as much about who we're rescuing as much as possible. In particular, for this case, it has been made known to me that it is important to identify a belonging and a location of importance to him -someplace lonesome, and a memento of great attachment... do you know of such places, in your time with him -- or even prior, Sasaki-san?"
<Pose Tracker> Rin Sasaki has posed.
It is a lot to take in. It is also the final straw for Rin's shaky attempts to maintain her composure. It doesn't come right away, but a shocked, incredulous exhalation becomes a second, then a third, then a fourth -- and then it hits, transitioning fully into broken, hysterical laughter joined right after by deep, wracking sobs. She believes them. Oh, she believes them. The explanation fits far too well with the deep and unshakeable sense of terror and the alien she experienced that night.
But of course something this improbably terrible would happen to her. To them. Of course.
Myunghon will have to wait for the hysterical, manic energy to burn itself out before they can really continue. It takes several minutes. After, the exhaustion in her eyes is so much more complete than when she walked in. "I'm sorry; I'm very sorry," she says as she brushes the tears from her eyes, which are red and now smudged lightly with running makeup. The put-together image she was trying to display to the world is pretty well ruined for the night. "It's just --" Another, this time single, sharp exhalation. "It seems I must have been a very terrible person in a past life," she continues with a small, shaky laugh (with only the slightest tinge of hysteria this time) and a twitch of a smile.
She listens raptly as Myunghon continues, taking a few slow sips of tea. "How?" is the only question she interjects, after the mention of ridding him of the parasite. The weariness in her voice does not bury the insistence of the question. But then a mention of a memento and a location of importance...
She sighs heavily and leans back into the couch. No sobs this time -- that's all been burned out -- but a quiet sadness. Unbidden tears in her eyes. She knows immediately. "Our first ultrasound image. The graveyard." She can't look at Myunghon anymore. "I don't think he ever wanted anything more in life than
to be a father. It..." A long pause. But there's no reason to hide it now, not if it's tied up in all of this. "It never took."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
In a way, Myunghon perhaps wasn't quite expecting the response, but... it does, in the end, make quite a lot of sense when they consider all she's been through. They do wait patiently, respectfully. Their thoughts are still fixated on how much Rin's able to sense that something is 'wrong' -- that's not something just anyone can do. She'd be able to protect herself better if she awakened, but that would also plunge her into a particularly difficult life in turn... not that hers isn't already difficult, right now.
"Take all the time you need, Sasaki-san," Myunghon offers very gently, offering her a handkerchief, if she needs it.
"Mmm," they muse, on the topic of whether Rin's been a terrible person in a past life. "Perhaps we are all bound in karmic cycles in some way, but it does not mean we have to quietly accept our fate."
Myunghon does watch as Rin settles, having worked through all those tears and laughter, as if some kind of heavy, personal catharsis. But Rin already immediately has an idea of what might be lonesome and important to him... and it's very easy to draw the conclusions of an unborn child between them. "... I see," Myunghon quietly nods. "I'm very sorry for your loss... both of yours." A longer pause, as they say, "A copy of that image needs to be brought to that location -- if you could lend the picture to me, that would come in very useful."
The how is directly asked.
Myunghon lets out a soft breath they didn't even know they were holding in.
"Unfortunate people such as I are privy to the means of entering other people's minds to aid them," Myunghon explains. "This does involve no small amount of personal danger, since as you might well imagine, our minds have many defence mechanisms to protect us, even under healthy circumstances. But this is our business, Sasaki-san, and we won't let your husband be a victim to this parasite."
<Pose Tracker> Rin Sasaki has posed.
She accepts the handkerchief gratefully to dab at her eyes. Her voice is evening out, but she continues to avoid Myunghon's eyes, opting instead to mostly look down to the floor. "Thank you," she says quietly in response to their condolences. "It happened too many times. Started to get dangerous, physically. I had to move on, move past it, but...I don't think he ever did." Pause. A faint, thoughtful frown creases her lilps and her brows furrow a little. She clasps the cooling teacup in her hands; having something tactile helps.
"Looking back, that's when the changes started, I think. He completely buried himself in work since...the last time, about a -- about a year-and-a-half ago now? Like he couldn't stand to be home. Couldn't -- stand to be in the same room as me." Her voice hitches here, but otherwise remains steady. "I thought maybe he was slowly starting to -- just a few weeks ago. He wasn't avoiding being home, less moody; more open, and happier -- a little more like how he used to be. But...was that just also this 'parasite?' It felt like something was off a little? But I thought it was just because I'd gotten so accustomed to him barely being home. It wasn't anything like what I -- felt the other night."
Rin shakes her head. "I guess it doesn't matter. If you and your people can purge it --" there's a harshness here on the last two words; despite the redness of her eyes, she's becoming more focused -- "that's what really matters. For the print..." Pause; consideration. "I think I will need to take you up on your offer of protection for that. I know where it is, and he shouldn't be home during the day. But he's..." Pause, deep breath, recovery. "He's very strong." And she is not. "I can't risk going there alone."
Rin looks up, finally. Even as Myunghon explains entering minds, she has very clearly moved past possible skepticism over the course of this conversation. "How much do I owe you upfront? And beyond the picture and more details, what else can I do to help?" It's not as if this seems to be some sort of standard, workaday procedure.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon's expression is downcast, as Rin explains how the pregnancy endangered her life. Her thoughts turn to Yua, and perhaps reflect on themself and how disinterested they've been in it, and how much that's put pressure on them in various parts of their life too. Gilded cages... there was no way this was the best of all possible worlds.
It is a painful story to share, but Myunghon seems ready to share the burden; perhaps that conversation with Shinjiro has allowed them to contextualise this in a way that they can cope with better. There is a solution here, one they can act on. "The key is that... 'offness', Sasaki-san -- I was informed of the time limit, since it is a process where this parasite, the Homunculus, moves on its prey, there exists a time in which it will complete subsuming its host. To be perfectly honest... not everyone has the ability to sense that 'offness'. That's why everyone can interact with them without reacting the way you have."
But Rin will need to take them up on the offer of protection. She knows where it is, but he's very strong, and she can't risk going there alone. "... very well. Would it be all right if I also referred your case to my other colleagues too? I will be discreet, but as you can see, I too am not... well, let's just say my strengths do not lie in a physical confrontation, so I would need assistance if we were discovered."
The topic of payment is brought up, but Myunghon waves their hand. "...let's not worry about the price at present, Sasaki-san. No doubt you've already been cutting into your savings having to stay at hotels already, and I don't wish to financially burden you any further until this is resolved. I confess I don't have a standard rate anyway, given how unique each of these cases tend to be."
Remi's gonna be so mad they're taking another case on pro bono, more or less. What else can she do to help? They consider this for a moment...
"Mm. I'd say, largely, to keep in touch regarding your safety and if you remember anything else that may be pertinent -- I think we have a strong case already, but matters of the heart and mind are touchy... and, some of my colleagues may be in touch with you as well, with any further questions they have. I'll ensure I ask them to give my name out so that you aren't approached by complete strangers."
Myunghon quietly rises from their seat, taking the cups. "And thank you for confiding in us, Sasaki-san. I know this cannot be an easy matter to share. We will be in touch with any developments."
<Pose Tracker> Rin Sasaki has posed.
Rin does not directly respond to Myunghon's reference to their own lack of strength in a physical confrontation, but had already generally assumed that the original offer of protection might include other colleagues. "Yes, of course, Yeo-San. Whatever you think is best; I am dependent on your expertise here."
"Very well," she says in the matter of upfront payment as they both rise to their feet. "Then we will settle accounts at the end." 'The end' has a nice ring to it, really. That there are actionable steps to be taken to reach the end of this nightmare -- something that was very much in doubt when she first entered the building. "Please do not concern herself with the state of my finances." Perhaps, just perhaps the slightest stress on 'my.' "That is the least of my troubles in all this."
Rin bows formally as the conversation comes to a close. "Thank you, again, Yeo-San, truly; for your answers and your patience. You have been most kind." She will pass on her contact information, then excuse herself to find anotherhotel for the night.