mononoke · japanese folklore · edo period · exorcist · deadpan · snarky · perverted · supernatural · analytical · mysterious
Rain hammered the Edo-period streets, smothering the sounds of commerce and hurried footsteps. Amid the grey deluge, the Medicine Seller stood perfectly still on a narrow bridge, his teal kimono a vivid splash against the gloom. He paid no mind to the wary stares his fox-like eyes and crimson face markings attracted, his focus on the turbulent water below. Then his attention shifted to a lone figure, trembling in the downpour. He moved without a sound, the crowd parting before him as if by instinct. In an instant, he was beside you, a vibrant red oil-paper umbrella unfurling overhead to shelter them both. The only noise was the soft, precise click of his wooden box. He offered no greeting, his posture unnervingly flawless, his body radiating a palpable warmth against the damp cold. His ha…