#this is the first mouse i've ever caught in a trap (all the rest of them have fallen to rat bait!)

[rowenabean]

overhear screaming coming from the other room. current flatmate is very stressed. debate whether to go say anything (to person I have known less than a week) and then eventually decide to. turns out stress is a response to the presence of a cockroach. ah, problem: this house is the least-cockroach-overrun house I have lived in in a very cockroach-overrun city. try to deal with cockroach.

go to kitchen and fIND A MOUSE IN THE TRAP

[cambion-companion]

Possession

Caring at all is caring too much.

I've never written from Raphael's perspective...at least not for this long. The idea just came to me last night. He is a very possessive and proud creature. I had to wonder how he'd react if Tav yanked on that chain a little.

Raphael x Tav (female) | drabble | Raphael POV

Caring at all was caring too much. The twisting knife of jealously lodged in Raphael’s chest.

He lounged upon silken pillows, a cup of wine held idly in hand, surrounded by doe-eyed doting mortals all wanting something from him.

Not her. The nymph of his orisons who now swept in a dance some meters away, her vivid satin skirts swirling with each twirl only to come close and hug her body at the end of each enticing movement.

Raphael took a sip of wine, the bitter draught staining his lips maroon.  

She was taken up into the arms of a green dragonborn, the large clawed hands dipping too low upon her form, feeling the curve of her-

The pain of shattered glass piercing the palm of his hand registered in Raphael’s mind.  He was yet loathe to tear his gaze away from her, yet left little choice as the courtiers surrounding him began to make a fuss akin to a gaggle of hens upon seeing a fox.

Red blood was pooling in Raphael’s palm. “Hush.” Was all he said to the women and men attending him, the word commanding immediate silence.  He plucked the remnants of the ruined crystal from his hand idly, smirking slightly.  

Raphael pushed aside offered hands of help, magic lighting his fingertips as he healed himself.  His brow darkened and his eyes smoldered as he trapped her again within line of sight.

She had come to the end of her dance, in more ways than one Raphael mused, and was now leaning up to kiss the cheek of the scaled interloper.

Unacceptable.

Raphael stood, abruptly. His anger spread around him like a cloud of brimstone. The mortals surrounding him scattered.  

Raphael approached her slowly, as a stalking cat does its prey. Her attention was drawn, recognition flashed in her eyes.  Those lovely eyes in which Raphael desired to only ever see his own reflection.

Before she could speak, though those lush lips of hers did part, Raphael stroked his hand down her side to rest atop her hip. With a gentle movement belying his true intent he pulled her to him. “What is a little bird doing straying so far from her cage.”  He purred against her hair, feeling the change in her body, the tensing of her muscles beneath thin fabric.

“It is a gilded cage at best.”  Tav replied. Her eyes narrowing in challenge. Just the way which had first drawn him to her. “Besides, I am not beholden to you.”

“Then why do you not walk away?”  Raphael coaxed her to sway with him, in a dance more fitted to lovers. Their movements guided by the new music lilting from musicians atop the raised dais.

Tav hesitated. “We have a contract.”

“Which you are no closer to fulfilling.”  The glow from the many candles and torches flickered and shone off the polished floor. Raphael turned his face in, closing his eyes as he inhaled her scent. Allowing himself one moment to forget his turmoil. “Least of all in the arms of a potential paramour.”

“Then what are you?”

Raphael smiled, loathe to admire her bravery in quibbling with him. He looked down upon her upturned face, caught between the desire to take her in his hands and kiss the soul right from her mouth or rake his claws down the soft skin of her back.  

His deep eyes showed nothing of this conflict.  With care he replied. “I am your master.” He held her tighter as she began to revile. “You are the brightest of my treasures. You will tarnish from all this inaction, and no longer be my favorite.”

The muscles of her neck tightened, drawing his gaze to the mark her vampire companion had made there.  Raphael wanted to swoop down, as a fell eagle to a mouse, and replace the scar with one of his own design.

“I will go, then.”  Tav seemed to take his warning to heart. She was defiant yet not to the point of becoming a fool.

“Good girl.”  Raphael smiled, smugly aware of the effect such praise had upon her. “When you return, we will feast.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

Raphael held her for a moment more, the moment fleeting as a crystalline flake of ice falling unguided from the sky.

Then he let her go. Grimacing only when she had turned away. His fingers still itching to bury themselves in her in myriad ways.

Raphael returned to his lounging, his little flock of admirers slowly trickling back. With effort, Raphael pulled his thoughts back into careful order.  He would not allow himself to submit to the chaos she stirred within him.  He had many deals being laid at his feet, and eager souls practically throwing themselves at him. It was business as usual.

[beommiya]

"I was mainly talking about your personality, I think that when you are not acting bitchy and overly bratty, you can actually be a very enjoyable company to be around. Plus your smile makes you look very innocent and cute. Thus why I think you are sweet, but..." Xuan leans over Kibum's shoulder, to whisper in his ear, his breath warm and soft on the heated skin. "...If you'd let me taste you, I wouldn't mind testing the sweetness of your body too, although I am pretty sure that it must be even better than anything I've ever had before!~" His lips are so close to Kibum's skin that he could almost feel their touch, but Xuan pulls away before he could give him a proper kiss, half to tease, half to see what the younger will do next.

Now that Kibum was finally lying on his stomach, with his back up, Xuan could start working on prepping him up. Sure, he hadn't missed the positive movements of his body to his touch earlier, Kibum basically giving into every single one of Xuan's touches, but the man wanted to keep true to his word and honor his precious guest with that massage. "You seem to really be enjoying yourself." The Chinese comments with a snort and pours some of the cold oil onto Kibum's back, before starting to spread it evenly with his hands, in an almost caress kind of rub. "I must admit that this isn't something I would usually do. I don't really treat my hostages to 5 star meals, eccentric baths or relaxing massages. Most often than not they are pretty much dead, or beaten to a half dead bloody mess by the time I am done with their interrogations. So I guess you can count yourself as an exception from the rule. The only exception, to be more precise." The man was grinning and it translated into his words, hands now having moved to Kibum's neck, on which he now worked on removing the tension knots he could feel in the younger's muscles. "But if we stay to think about it, you aren't really a hostage now, are you?~" The question was more of a rhetorical one, meant to point out at the fact that their relationship had long ago stopped being one of a captor and his hostage and more akin to two partners... What kind of partners? That was up to Kibum to decide. "Gosh, your muscles are so sore that I'm surprised you can even move around!" Xuan eventually chuckles, lightening the mood with a little joke, as he continued working Kibum's neck.

At first, the words made his heart drop. Kibum misunderstood every single thing, from the longing looks to the soft touches. Realization hit him like a wrecking ball and he could feel the purest form of embarrassment filling him up. How is he ever going to be able to look Xuan in the eye after such a monumental mistake? A honest mistake, to be more precise. Was the whole flirting from earlier just an illusion that was playing inside his mind? Perhaps. The moment Xuan leaned in closer to his ear, thought, he was honestly expecting for the other to laugh and call him stupid. But no, the complete opposite happened. And now Kibum was conflicted like never before. Why was Xuan playing with him like he was just a little mouse, caught in a trap, not a deadly one but enough to keep him locked in a certain minds pace. It was thrilling, and the light brush of his lips made Kibum tilt his head to the side in hope that they would press against his skin. But that was taken away from him before it even happened. "You're such a tease..."

"Do I? Well, let's say it's all thanks to you, young master Xuan" he chuckled but that abruptly stopped when the cold oil got in contact with his hot skin. Of course he hissed and of course he was going to nag at his very welcoming host. "You're supposed to warm it up in your haaaands before pouring it all over me." he whined, even looking over at Xuan with a pout on his lips whilst a frown was also decorating his face. He huffed, resting his head back onto his arms. "Wow, I must be the luckiest guy in the world right now, I wonder what saved me from the saddest death ever known to mankind?" Xuan was talking about torturing and killing people but his hands felt like magic so that really took his mind off of any gore-ish visual images that were about to form inside his brain. At one point he got ticklish and he started to laugh, squirming a little under his touch "You're tickling me, Xuan" but it was not a complaint, not at all. It was tickling him in a rather good way. "This is so relaxing, I could really get used to such treatment every night." his body actually relaxing more and more under his touch.

@phoenix-of-jade

[ikemensweetheart]

Spider Lilies Chapter 1

Yokai? Yoshimoto x reader.

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An unexpected turn of events leads you into the Spirit World. A land of mythical and terrifying creatures called Yokai.

Pursued by a powerful Yokai called Nobunaga, you find refuge with Yoshimoto. A 'collector of beautiful things' as he calls himself.

Trapped in a strange world with no one else to turn to. 

Will you become Nobunaga's bride or will another win your heart?

A/n: I've been wanting to explore the idea of the Ikesen suitors as Yokai since the release of Mitsuhide's route. The idea seemed perfect for October. So, here it is!

I also wanted to give Yoshimoto some much needed love.

Reader is female

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, birds were singing and the flowers were blooming. It was a perfect day to go out for a walk. "I'll be back soon!" You called out as you stepped out the backdoor for your parents' house.

"Be careful!" Your mother called back from the kitchen window. "I will!"

You smiled as you set off into the woods that was on your parents' property. You had loved to take hikes in it ever since you were little. It was nice to get some fresh air while surrounded by nature. There was nothing more invigorating.

So, you were off with your sketchbook in hand and a pep in your step.

You walked down the worn deer paths you knew by heart. You followed the paths with no particular destination in mind. Your mind wandered from subject to subject as you walked. You were a college student on break and staying with your family for the summer and you were finally able to properly relax after a long semester at school.

As you walked, the trees around you opened up into a small clearing. You stopped when you saw something in the middle of it: a torii gate. 

"Where did this come from?" You wondered out loud. You had never seen one in these woods before. It looked old, its red paint was chipped and dull. You were surprised to see it was still standing. There were red spider lilies growing all around it.

Curious, you approach the gate. 

Nothing looked out of place other than the gate itself as you stood in front of it.

You moved closer to get a better look at it when something caught your foot. You yell as you stumble forward, falling through the gate and towards the ground.

You were surprised when a strong pair of arms caught you. "Well, what have we here?" A voice rumbled.

Your head snapped up. You find yourself staring up at a pale face, with horns protruding from his ebony black hair. "A human?" Blood red eyes flashed with surprise at the sight of you. They then narrowed. "What are you doing here?"

You glance around. You were no longer in the familiar, sunny woods near your home. All around you was a dark, foreboding forest. Tall trees looming over you as mist lay thick around the trunks. There were more spider lilies growing around you, but these ones had an ominous glow to them.

A sick feeling started to form in the pit of your stomach. A question came out of your mouth that you were dreading the answer to. "Where am I?"

"You are in the Spirit World." The strange man said. 

Spirit World? Like in the old stories where Yokai live? The pit in your stomach grew.

"What do you have there, My lord?" You jumped at the sound of a voice. You looked up to see another man perched in a nearby tree. He has silvery white hair, fox-like ears on top of his head and seven tails swishing behind him. His ears twitch with interest.

"Ah, there you are, Mitsuhide." The other man said. "It would appear a human has fallen into my realm."

The fox man, Mitsuhide, studied you. His golden eyes gleaming. "Quite a fetching human." He commented.

"Indeed. She will make for an excellent bride." 

You stiffen. "Wait, what?!" The man still holding you looks at you. A self satisfied smirk on his face. "You heard me correctly, human. You are to my bride."

You stare up at him with shock and horror. "You can't be serious!"

"Very serious." Mitsuhide said from up in the tree. "Lord Nobunaga would not bestow such an honor lightly."

"No way! I don't even know you."

Nobunaga's eyes narrow dangerously. "You would refuse me?"

Your body grows cold. A lot of Yokai were known for eating humans, you could very well be this guy's next meal if you didn't go along with what he said.

But, maybe there was another option...

This Nobunaga guy's arms were still loosely around you. This could be your only chance.

Deciding to take that chance, you push away from Nobunaga. Caught off guard, he lets go of you and you take off running. Ignoring the shouts behind you.

Nobunaga's eyes glare after your fleeing form. "Would you like me to retrieve her, my lord?" Mitsuhide asks. "Yes." Nobunaga answers. "And see to it that my bride is unharmed."

You didn't know where you were going, you just knew you had to get away from those two guys. You ran as fast as your feet would carry you. Weaving around the trees and dashing through the mist.

Suddenly, a figure appears from among the trees. You come skidding to a halt before Mitsuhide. "Where do you think you're going?" He asks leisurely. A wicked looking grin on his face.

You back away from him and start running in a different direction. "Looking to make a game of this, are we?" His voice echoed through the trees. 

This was a nightmare. 

"Very well, I always did enjoy a good game of cat and mouse!" He jumped out from behind a tree.

You scream and backpedal.

Suddenly, the ground under your feet gave way. Sending tumbling down a steep slope. As you wheeled down the sloop, you saw a figure standing at the edge of a lake.

There's a yelp as you collide into that body and you both fall into the lake. You hit the water with a splash!

You gasp from the shock. The water was ice cold.

You quickly tried to get up, but you slipped and fell back down. "Oof." Your head snapped to find yourself face to face with another man. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" You say, struggling to get up off of him. He steadied you with his hands. "It's alright." He assured you. "Though, I didn't expect to be such a lovely lady's pillow when I got up this morning." His tawny eyes twinkled with amusement underneath his dripping wet blue hair as he gave you a gentle smile.

Strangely, his reassurances put you at ease.

He helped you get to your feet. 

"I would ask you to return that human to me, Yoshimoto." You froze at the sound of Mitsuhide's voice. You looked up to see him appear at the edge of the lake.

The blue haired man, Yoshimoto's, eyes narrowed. "What makes you think you have a claim to her?" He asked. "Not me," Mitsuhide replied. "But my lord has chosen this her as his bride."

You shrink away from Mitsuhide. Yoshimoto put a protective hand on your shoulder. "I see no union mark, therefore, Nobunaga has no real claim to her unless she is found in his territory." Mitsuhide took a step forward and Yoshimoto pulled you a little closer to him. Raising his free hand toward Mitsuhide. "Need I remind you, fox, that you're in my territory?" 

Mitsuhide scowled. "I concede this time, Jorogumo, but my Lord will have the human as his bride." With that, he disappeared, leaving his ominous warning and a chill in your heart.

Yoshimoto sighed and let go of your shoulder. "Are you alright?" He asked. "Yeah. I'm fine." You said as you started to back away from him slowly.

Which he seemed to notice. He gave you another smile. "If you're worried about me eating you, don't be. I've never had an affinity for humans."

"But, you're a-"

"It's Jorogumo females you should be worried about. They are much more predatory than males. That's why they show up in more human stories." He explained. He then studied you for a moment. His elegant brow furrowed. "Are you cold?" He then asked.

"A little bit." There had been a slight chill in the forest when you had first entered it, but now it was freezing.

"My home isn't far from here. Come, I have a spare change of clothes you can use until those are dry."

Yoshimoto stepped onto the shore, but you remained rooted where you were. An awful thought had occurred to you. 

"Wait, you're not going to try to marry me, are you?" You really didn't want this to turn into a creepy Yandere situation.

Yoshimoto looked at you, a deadly serious expression on his face. "I don't condone forcing someone to marry another against their will."

"Oh." You sighed in relief. "That's... good to know."

"Now, let's get you out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold."

"Okay." You stepped out of the lake and followed Yoshimoto around it until you reached a traditional Japanese house standing at the edge of the lake.

"Welcome to my humble abode." He said. "It's beautiful." You told him. "Thank you."

He led you to the bath. "Take all the time you need to wash. I'll leave a fresh set of clothes for you." He said. "Thank you." He gave you yet another smile before he left you alone. 

You washed as quickly as you could. Feeling self-conscious of bathing in a stranger's home.

As soon as you're finished, you found a gorgeous silk kimono set outside the door for you. You stared at it in wonder. It had to cost more than your family made in a year.

There was a problem though: you didn't know how to put on a kimono. You had worn one a time or two when you were younger, but not enough to be able to put one on yourself.

Taking a deep breath, you tried to put on the kimono the best you can. Relaying on your memory.

When you were finished, you knew that it wasn't the best, but it works.

You then stepped out of the bath and into the rest of the house. 

As you made your way to the main room you saw all sorts of hanging scrolls, statues and pottery all over the place. It was like an entire art museum was stuffed into this house.

You found Yoshimoto in the main room. Sitting at the table with tea set out on it. "Ah, there you are." He greeted you with his alluring smile. "Are you warmer now?"

"Yes, thank you." You replied as you adjusted your kimono's collar.

Yoshimoto cocked an elegant eyebrow at you. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, it's just been ages since I've worn a kimono." Your face grew warm with embarrassment.

Yoshimoto rose to his feet. "Here. Allow me." He came up behind and undid your miserable attempt. Wrapping it around you properly and skillfully ties the obi in place. He then came around to face you. "There." He said. "You look lovely." 

"Um, thanks." Your cheeks were ablaze now.

"I have some tea ready." He went to sit back down like nothing happened. 

You stood there for a second as your brain kicked back on. Once it did, you hurried over and sat back down. Hoping you didn't seem too rude.

"Thank you." You say as he offered you a cup of tea. "This is quite a place you've got here." You commented as you took a sip of the tea. The main room is filled with as much art as the rest of the house. "Are you an art collector or something?"

"I'm an admirer of all things beautiful and as such, I like to fill my home with it." Yoshimoto explained. "Although, I don't believe I gave you a proper introduction and for that I apologize. I am Yoshimoto and may I ask your name?"

"I'm (MC)."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, (MC)." He says with a smile. "But, if I may ask, what are you doing in the Spirit realm?"

"Well…" You explain to Yoshimoto about the torii gate, going through it, stumbling into that Nobunaga guy and Mitsuhide chasing you.

After you finished your story, you said. "Thank you for your help, and the tea, but I should really be getting home now."

You moved to stand up. "I'm afraid that may not be possible." Yoshimoto said softly. You stopped. "What? Why?"

"There were red spider lilies around the gate, correct?"

You nodded. Yoshimoto let out a sad sigh. "The spider lilies mark the path between the human world and the Underworld. On the rare occasion, that path goes through the Spirit realm. However the path is always changing and never stays in the same place for long." That pit that was in your stomach earlier came back with a vengeance. "What does that mean?"

"It means that the only way back to the human world is along that path." Yoshimoto's expression was a solemn one. "I've no doubt that since Nobunaga intends to make you his wife, he will have had the flowers destroyed by now and There is no other way for you to return home than the way you came."

You dropped back down to the floor. It felt like the wind had just been knocked out of your lungs. "You… you mean I can't go home?"

You had to go home. You had promised your mom you'd be home in time for dinner. She was making your favorite. You… you couldn't break your promise.

"I truly am sorry." Yoshimoto murmured. There was a sad look in his eyes that told you he meant it, but it still didn’t make you feel any better.

Hot tears start streaming down your cheeks. This can’t be happening. All you had done was go out for a walk. You hadn’t expected to never be able to return home. You had told your mother ‘see you later.’ Not ‘goodbye.’

Suddenly, there’s a hand on your shoulder. Your head snapped up. You found Yoshimoto looking at you with a gentle look in his eyes. “Since you have nowhere else to go, you’re welcome to stay here.” He said softly. “I can’t.” You objected. “I can’t pay you or anything like that.”

“There’s no need for payment.” He replied. He gave you a reassuring smile. It was strange how easy it was for this guy made you feel at ease. “You don’t have to have an answer right away.” Yoshimoto added. “You can sleep on it. I have an extra room and a futon you can use for now.”

“Thank you.” You murmured.

“This way.” Yoshimoto helped you to your feet and led you to another room. There, he pulled out a very cozy looking futon and rolled it out on the floor.

“I’ll leave you to rest.” He said.

“Thank you again.” You mumbled.

He gave you one last, worried look before leaving you alone in the room.

You collapse on the futon. More tears running down your cheeks as choked sobs started to escape from inside of you.

Meanwhile, Yoshimoto stood outside your door. Listening to the heartbreaking sound of you crying. He remained there, making sure you were alright until finally sleep had overcome you. It was only then that he left.

To be continued…

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Thanks for reading. I hoped you all enjoyed.

Stay Safe.