#I'm ill. Tee hee.

[shima-draws]

Anyway speaking of poly trios. Have any of you considered Lawlusan because MANNNN.

[icewindandboringhorror]

recent things

[mashmouths]

missed an important deadline bc my stupid bitch of a brain decided that checking the cutoff date (or just fucking doing it when i found out it was due) was too stressful so instead it's been looming, lurking, etc in the back of my mind for WEEKS and i just now managed to get nauseous and nervous and overstimulated enough to force myself into productive manic panic energy mode and i'm sooooo fucking tired of needing to force myself into productive manic panic energy mode to do literally anything the least bit stressful. what do you mean i need to hype myself up for weeks to open a website to check a single date be so fucking for real right nowwwwww

[nitebit]

give this a like to plot connections / add you to my google doc 🔪🖤

[autonomousxselves]

//I really meant to write tonight but I ended up eating way too much and had to lay down, so I finally started watching Trinity Soul. What the hell is happening

[confetti-critter]

What do I want exactly when I can't get off my computer or phone even though there's nothing to do on it?

[arc-misadventures]

Advice For The Heartbroken

: Oh? Hello, Jaune.

Jaune: Hello, Mrs... Miss Schnee. I'd offer my condolences, but I don't think you'd truly care for that.

Willow: No, not at all.

Jaune: I will say you are looking better; you, and this house seems more lively. Like a new wave of fresh air has blown in.

Willow: Yes, the oppressive aura that, Jacques carried about him has been lifted, bringing new life to my family, and house. Speaking of looking better; I must say I like your new outfit; Is that a, Specialist uniform?

Jaune: Ahh... yes... Yes it is. I recently became a member of the, Specialist as of, Winter's recommendations.

Willow: Oh congratulations, Jaune! That uniform suit you perfectly.

Jaune: Thank you, Miss Schnee.

Willow: Please, Jaune I already told you, you can call me, Willow. No more of this, Miss Schnee business.

Jaune: Alright then... Willow...

Willow: See, that wasn't too hard. Now then, please take a seat, I assume you're here not because of your new position. Perhaps about the odd circumstances around, Jacques's suspicious death?

Jaune: Thank you... and, uhhh no. I'm not aware of anything in regards to, Jacques's death, and the investigation. I'm a, Huntsman, not a detective.

Willow: Thought I should ask; Winter is unable to tell me anything. Something about the: 'Confidentiality pertaining to the ongoing investigation pertaining to the suspicious death of, Jacques Schnee.'

Jaune: In essence: No.

Willow: Precisely~!

Willow: Now then, since you are not here to talk about, Jacques death, what can I help you with, Jaune?

Jaune: Well... Since you mentioned, Winter... I need some help with her...

Willow: Oh, what is wrong? Did my daughter do something to you?

Jaune: Uhhh... kinda...?

Willow: Kinda... what?

Jaune: Winter likes me...

Willow: So? You are a well mannered, polite, respectable young man. There is very little to hate about you, Jaune. So of course she likes you.

Jaune: Uhhh... no, not that... Winter likes me... As in, like-likes me...

Willow: ...

Willow: S-Seriously...?

Jaune: She's blushed in front of me. She's laughed with me, not at me. She's smiled at me. She gave me this sash on my waist. And, I swear on my mother's life; she winked, and said 'tee-hee' at me!

Willow: Holy shit... Winter does like-like you... I can't believe this...

Jaune: Neither can I.

Willow: I picked a wrong time to stop drinking...

Willow: Okay... you have my permission.

Jaune: ...

Jaune: Wha...?

Willow: You have permission to date my daughter.

Jaune: Oh... thank you... B-But, that isn't why I'm here... kinda...?

Willow: Oh? Then what is it, Jaune?

Jaune: I have... absolutely no experience when it comes to romance. If you ask, Weiss about my attempts to, 'whoo' her, you'd whinge in shame at my antics...

Willow: Yes, I do believe I remember hearing, Weiss complaining about that.

Jaune: ...

Jaune: I... I like, Winter... I'm not entirely sure how much I care for her, but I know I do care for, Winter... If there is a possibility of us having a relationship, I want to try... I don't want to miss this chance... not again... So, I came to you to... ask for advice.

Willow: Advice? Why me, couldn't you ask one of your friends for advice?

Jaune: Ha! Ruby has no experience when it comes to love. Weiss, has poor taste in men, and we have that whole history together, not to mention it's about her sister! I can't possibly talk about this with her.

Willow: That would be an ill-advised endeavor to take.

Jaune: Nora, and Ren are out of the question. Nora is pinning for, Ren so hard she might as well become a pine tree. And, people call me dense?! They should take a look at, Ren! A woman is literally fawning over him, and he doesn't see a damn thing!

Willow: Oh, she liked him, I never notice...

Jaune: Don't even get me started on, Blake, and Yang's thing.

Willow: Oh please do, I do love gossip~!

Jaune: Oh, that's right, woman love to gossip; My mother, and sisters love to gossip too.

Jaune: Okay... Blake, and Yang are stuck in this will they won't they situation upon which I don't think they should, because dating, Blake would end up being a part of a very toxic relationship. I mean... Blake is a coward, she has a habit of running away from her problems, and dumping them on others, and refusing to take the blame. Not to mention her past dating experience is horrible! Her first lover was Adam Taurus! A psychotic race supremist terrorist! And, a fanatical lesbian who like, Adam, tried to kill her! Twice!

Willow: Oh~? Now isn't this juicy~!

Jaune: Yang has abandonment issues! Her mother abandoned her when she was a child! It would destroy her if, Blake ran away, again! My sister is a lesbian who is married. and in a loving relationship. I told them about, Blake, and Yang, and they looked horrified at the thought of the two of them dating. Not, because its a human, and faunas relationship, because they know how toxic it could be!

Willow: Oh my~! Even the lesbians are looking down on them~! Now things are getting interesting~!

Jaune: Since I don't get involved in their conversations, I just observe. And, I don't like what I'm seeing... Is there a chance they get together, yes. Is there a chance it will be a healthy relationship, maybe... But, I wouldn't bet money on it.

Willow: Ohh~! It's so much fun hearing all the juicy gossip! I feel like I'm a teenager again~!

Jaune: So... I said, I have no experience with dating, so I've come to you for advice. I know you had a toxic relationship with your ex-husband...

Willow: That's an understatement...

Jaune: But, even before that there must have been moments that were happy? Or, the very least you can tell me the does, and don'ts of a relationship. Mostly the don'ts all thing considered...

Willow: ...

Jaune: I know you didn't have a good relationship... But, of everyone I know... You're the only one I can ask.

Willow: Couldn't you ask your sister? She's married after all.

Jaune: Yeah, I could ask my sister how she got together with her wife, but...

Willow: She has no idea how it happened?

Jaune: No clue whatsoever.

Willow: So you came to me for advice.

Jaune: Yeah, I did.

Willow: Listen, Jaune... I do not understand my daughter well enough to give you advice when it comes to having a relationship with her. I estranged myself from my children when I escaped, Jacque's abuse to the bottle. I am in the middle of trying to rebuild our relationship. I'm learning who my children are, and plan to become. So, I can't tell you what you could do to enter a relationship with her... But, if what you said is true, that if you're making my daughter laugh, and smile. Then you should be together, or at the very least, give it a chance. And, don't regret not taking the chance.

Jaune: ...

Jaune: I don't want to lose that chance again...

Willow: Again?

Jaune: Okay... for now I'll just play it by ear, and see where it will take me... hopefully somewhere nice... Thank you, Willow.

Willow: My pleasure, Jaune. I hope the best for you two. I wouldn't mind you becoming my son in law.

Jaune: O-Oh... Thank you... Now, I best get going there is work to be done.

Willow: Do, Say hello to, Whitely before you leave. He's been wanting to talk to you again.

Jaune: Oh? I'll go do that. Goodbye, Willow.

Willow: Goodbye, Jaune.

Willow: ...

Willow: I wish you the best of luck, Jaune...

[spiderfunkz]

MIDNIGHT FICTION

pairings. cho hyun-ju x f!reader

cw. very cutesy fluff, post-transition hyun-ju, established relationship, hyun-ju and reader move to thailand, takes place a while after the games.

author's note: helloooo, my requests for hyun-ju are open, or if you wanna request for another squid game character just check here. oh and, the title is a song by ill-it in which i am obsessed with tee hee.

the streets of thailand felt like a breath of fresh air.

compared to the previous atmosphere you were in, this was the change you needed. the lights were radiating an addictive glow, it illuminated the market stands filled with delicious food and exotic treats, everything felt a bit overwhelming but nonetheless you couldn't be anymore excited to explore.

hyun-ju's hand held yours tight, navigating through crowds, you eventually landed on a street decorated with different fashion, makeup, and jewelry shops. this was exactly what you're looking for.

your forever stay here completes a certain promise made during tough times. a night where hyun-ju shared tears and smiles, you reassured that she'll get out and live the life she's always wanted. though, she wanted you to go with her, so she could give you the love you've never gotten before. at that moment, a pinky promise was initiated.

her surgery went well, she's still healing from post. but now you thought it was the perfect time to go shopping for new things. initially, you two didn't bring as much stuff from korea, most used clothes or items were donated, and your homes were sold not long after. you wanted to move here to start a new chapter of your lives.

hyun-ju had been prepared for everything, she looked for houses in good locations, jobs that could be taken, everything was perfectly analyzed and well thought out by her.

the clothing shop was the first stop.

"oh! look at this skirt, this would look so good on you!" you smiled, the black skirt with lace accents were held up near hyun-ju. she flinches slightly, "i don't know if i would be confident in it," she shrugs, causing you to pout.

"okay, well, i could give it a try." she smiled.

she left the shop with two bags full of new skirts, tops, and outerwear. you left happy, skipping. "see how fun this is! i've always wanted to go on shopping dates, you know?" — "thank you for taking me here, y/n. don't you want to buy something as well?" she asks.

you nod, "let's go there." you point at a large makeup store, it's plastered with different advertisements for all kinds of brands.

you and hyun-ju swatch lip tints, eyeshadow, eyeliner, highlighters, concealer, to the point your arms were basically a makeup product itself. you helped hyun-ju find her perfect shades, and she handpicked products she thinks suits you. at the end, you left with your new lip tint, and hyun-ju with a small bag of basic makeup anddd, a kiss stain in your exact shade on her cheek!

as you two were about to leave and go back to your home, you spot a small booth with handmade jewelry. it was priced for a reasonable amount, and the seller seemed incredibly nice.

you made a quick plan to distract hyun-ju and buy a pair of matching rings. and so you did, "wait, hyun, could you buy me a drink there really quick? thanks!" she nodded, "okay, don't go anywhere."

you wave, before walking towards the booth. purchasing two rings with a small butterfly on it, one in hyun-ju's favorite color, and one in yours. you thanked the seller and hyun-ju came back almost immediately.

"here you go, i also bought a drink for myself, i've been craving something sweet this entire day." she laughs, "oh, am i not sweet enough?" you joke, the small bag with the rings hide behind your back.

"hm, i guess not." hyun-ju teases. you roll your eyes, "maybe, this will change your mind." the bag was handed to hyun-ju, she held out the ring in her favorite color and admired it for a moment.

"you bought me this?"

"do you think i'm sweet enough, now?"

hyun-ju gave you the biggest kiss ever before making a stupid pick up line joke.

[notiddygothgf]

i.

★ pairings: aki hayakawa x fem reader

★ ❝Baby, you're a star. Fuck me all night. Show me who you are, Pornstar.❞

★ c.w.: me rushing through plotbuilding to get to the good stuff, aki being an asshole, tension.

★ a/n: hiiiii! im so excited for this lil short story. its just something i was inspired to write while finishing up shameless. i thought... wow i love writing simp aki. now what if he was mean.... hrnngfhghj.... anyway so this is the fruit of that! i hope you enjoy, i should have the next chapter up soon if my studies permit!!!!! enjoy and leave lots of comments (ill update quicker if u do tee hee)

★ w.c: .5.2k

pornstar ; chapter index

AKI HAYAKAWA WAS infuriating. As a Captain, he was capable. As a man? He was, single-handedly, without a doubt, the most insufferable individual you had ever had the displeasure of working with. He had this "I'm-better-than-everyone" sort of approach to life, was impossible to conversate with, and had no regard for leniency or any other sort of thing that required him to have basic human decency. He was a machine – all he cared about was work, work, devils, Miss Makima's orders, and work. You knew that any human who had gone through what he had gone through would be a little rough around the edges, but "rough" was an understatement. He was an asshole.

Still, he was undeniably attractive. Considerably handsome. He had the most striking blue eyes – an almost elvish face partially hidden behind his midnight black hair. You had never seen it out of its signature ponytail, but his bangs were fluffy enough for you to know that it was soft. Rosy pink lips that seemed to permanently rest in a scowl and a jawline that could cut steel topped it all off.

Additionally, he was a horror to work with. 

Exhibit A:

One day, after a mission, you were trying (unceremoniously) to use your sword the way you had seen Captain Hayakawa do once before. It was something you hadn't seen before, a flick of the wrist, a movement of the arm, you weren't quite sure. Regardless, it had been smooth, and you needed to have something that looked cool in your itinerary.

So you spun the sword around the way he had. And, of course, the sword promptly flew out of your hand and landed on the floor five feet away with a resounding clatter – one that attracted the gazes of the rest of your team (including him).

"What the hell are you trying to do? Kill us?" He had asked.

Embarrassed, you tried to cover up for yourself, "I was trying to recreate this one move I saw you do earlier, but I think I need to work on my form."

He scowled then, perfect eyebrows drawn together, and grumbled, "You want my advice? Give up."

Exhibit B: 

Your team was investigating an abandoned building on the outskirts of Tokyo. Captain Hayakawa was, as per usual, leading the pack. Following close behind him (because, admittedly, you were a little scared of the dark and he was holding the flashlight), you were at eye-level with his back, and he had... quite an intimidating physique, but that was a story for another time. 

(Still, for the reference, the hard, muscled planes of his back practically obstructed your entire field of vision).

"We've been searching for hours now, Aki," Himeno sighed, crossing her arms after reaching into her pocket and fishing out a cigarette. Somewhere in the back of your head, you remembered your Public Safety trainer telling you that it was bad practice to introduce fire to uncertain situations. "Might be time to give it a break."

"Maybe we can split off into groups?" You suggested, "We might be able to cover more ground that way."

He paused, then, glancing over his shoulder – cobalt eyes partially hidden by the dim light, "Butt out."

Alright then.

Exhibit C:

Denji burst out laughing, nearly choking on his food. "Nah, nah—hold up, say that again! That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." 

You smirked, swirling your drink. "I'm just saying, Denji. If you actually tried using your brain once in a while, it might not be so bad for you." 

Denji scoffed. "Like you're one to talk!" 

Aki exhaled sharply through his nose, setting his chopsticks down with a quiet clack. His patience, already thin, finally snapped. He glanced between the two of you, his expression flat, voice edged with irritation. 

"It's funny how you morons flock together, isn't it?" 

Denji's grin faltered. You shifted in your seat, the weight of Aki's words settling over the table like a heavy fog. 

No one said anything after that. The conversation was over.

So, yes, in short, he was impossible. His attitude and yours made for a deadly combo – namely, that the two of you were constantly butting heads. You weren't quite sure why everyone but you seemed to get along with him just fine – was he different towards you? Were you imagining it? Were you the problem?

Even Himeno was starstruck by the guy. Now, admittedly, he was handsome. Still, that wasn't an excuse to be an asshole.

Presently, you were on a mission, standing around in some damp, dimly lit alley with Himeno, Aki, Denji, and Power. The target—a devil you were supposed to be tracking—had yet to show itself, and the whole thing had devolved into a waiting game. A miserable, frustrating waiting game. 

At least Himeno was good company. You leaned against the wall beside her, arms crossed, your breath fogging slightly in the cold night air. 

"I swear, if we wait any longer, I'm gonna fuse with the concrete," you muttered. 

Himeno laughed, nudging your shoulder with hers. "That'd make things interesting. Maybe we'd finally get some action." 

Aki, stationed a few feet away, turned his head slightly at the sound of your conversation. "Shut up," he said, voice low and firm. "We're working." 

You sighed, long and theatrical. "Bruh. We've been here for three hours, waiting for something to happen. If it hasn't by now, it's not gonna." 

Denji, crouched a little ways off, perked up at that. "For real, man. I say we just bust in somewhere and start smashing shit until something shows up." 

Power grinned, baring her teeth. "Yes! At last, a plan worth considering! Denji, you are a true genius." 

Aki exhaled sharply, the kind of exhale that carried the weight of profound disappointment. "If the two of you move from that spot, I swear to god—" 

"Relax," you interrupted, smirking. "No one's actually gonna do anything. We're just talking." 

Aki's gaze snapped to you. "That's the problem. Talking gets in the way of listening." 

You raised an eyebrow. "Listening to what? The sound of absolutely nothing happening?" 

For a second, his jaw twitched—just a little, just enough for you to catch it—but he said nothing, just turned his attention back to the alley. 

Himeno shot you a knowing look, grinning. You had a feeling she found the whole thing amusing. Maybe because she knew Aki well enough to see what you couldn't. 

Denji stretched his arms above his head with a groan. "Man, I hope this devil shows up soon. I'm starving." 

"You're always starving," Power said. "'Tis because you are a weak and pathetic man." 

"At least I ain't lying about it," Denji shot back. 

Himeno shook her head, laughing under her breath. You smiled too, despite yourself. Because honestly? As much as you hated standing around doing nothing, there were worse people to be stuck with.

After the investigation scene was cleared – a gruesome hour later – you and Himeno sat on a rock outside the building. A cigarette burned between her fingertips. You didn't smoke, but the smell didn't bother you – not nearly as much as it used to. So, instead of complaining, the two of you sat in companionable silence. She smoked and you... well, you told yourself you were relaxing, but that was a lie.

No, deep down, you knew you were staring right at the illustrious lieutenant captain Hayakawa, watching him take his smoke break a pointed ten yards away from the two of you – smoke practically pouring out of your ears.

Way to make it clear that you're not interested in conversing, you thought.

God, he's such a stuck-up prick.

You had a mission report to give him, a summary of damages and whatnot, something stupid like that, but you were dreading giving it. If Himeno wasn't taking her much deserved smoke break, you would have asked her to do it. 

You supposed it was unavoidable.

"I gotta give the mission brief to stick-in-the-ass," You sighed, turning your head to the side to size her up.

She winced, then chuckled. "He's not so bad."

"Yeah, to you," You whined. "I swear, he has it out for me."

"I think you're right, actually," She hummed, tapping the end of her cigarette and spreading the ash on the ground. "I wonder what you did."

Exasperatedly, you threw your hands out, whisper-shouting, "Nothing!"

"Wanna ask him?" She teased, kicking you in the shin with her boot. 

"Not a chance," You answered. Still, standing up and dusting off your knees, you added, "I'm gonna get it over with."

Himeno waved you off with a lazy flick of her wrist, taking another slow drag from her cigarette. "Good luck," she said, exhaling smoke through her nose. "Try not to pick a fight."

You scoffed. "I don't pick fights."

Himeno gave you a pointed look.

"...Not on purpose."

She laughed as you turned away, rubbing at the spot where she'd kicked your shin. With each step toward Aki, your reluctance grew heavier, settling in your stomach like a stone. He hadn't looked at you once—not even when you'd gotten up, not when your boots scraped against the pavement, not when you stopped just a few feet away.

You cleared your throat. "Mission report."

That finally got his attention. He flicked ash from his cigarette, eyes shifting toward you, dark and unreadable in the dim alley light. "Go ahead."

Right. Because heaven forbid he make things easy.

You inhaled sharply through your nose, forcing yourself to keep your tone professional. "Minimal collateral damage. No casualties. Devil confirmed dead." You paused, watching for some kind of reaction. When none came, you added, "Oh, and Power punched a hole through the third-floor wall. Don't ask me why."

Aki's brow twitched—just a little, just enough for you to catch it. "I see."

Silence.

That was it? Not even a sigh, a comment, an ounce of acknowledgment? You gritted your teeth.

"That's it? You see?"

Aki took another slow drag, exhaling through his nose like he was already tired of this conversation. "What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know, maybe 'Thanks for telling me, oh esteemed and respected colleague,'" you deadpanned, shifting your weight onto one leg.

Aki exhaled sharply—right in your face. A deliberate stream of smoke curled into your eyes, stinging, making you cough.

You recoiled, waving a hand in front of your face. "Oh, screw you," you muttered, blinking against the burn.

Aki didn't react. Not a smirk, not a flicker of amusement—just that same blank stare as he took one last drag, then flicked the cigarette to the ground. The quiet scrape of his Converse sneaker grinding it into the pavement felt just as dismissive as the way he looked through you.

"Go get some rest," he said, tone clipped, final. Then he turned and walked off, leaving you standing there, fists clenched, scowling after him.

God, he was impossible.

You spun on your heel and stormed back toward Himeno, already composing the exact rant you were about to unload on her.

The aftermath of one particular mission had been messy. The kind of messy that left the street littered with rubble, the air thick with dust, and your muscles aching from overuse. The scent of blood and burning filled your lungs. Somewhere in the distance, a car alarm was blaring, and you could hear Power cackling about something—probably the chaos she had personally contributed to—but your attention was locked onto the man standing in front of you. 

Aki was rigid, shoulders squared, his coat hanging loose where the fabric had been torn. His hair was a little mussed—annoyingly attractive, even now—but it was his expression that held you in place. 

Cold. Impassive. But beneath that, a restrained, simmering anger, the kind that barely clung to the edges of control. 

And then, suddenly, he moved. 

The way he turned toward you wasn't abrupt—it was slow, deliberate, every step measured. His presence alone was enough to make you tense, though you refused to show it. When he spoke, his voice was low and steady, but every syllable was razor-sharp. 

"What the hell were you thinking?" 

The words struck harder than you expected, sinking under your skin before you could throw up any defenses. You were still catching your breath, sweat cooling against your skin, adrenaline still singing in your veins, but you forced yourself to straighten, shaking off the weight of his scrutiny. 

You lifted a hand, swiping away some of the blood smeared across your cheek— not yours, thankfully—and shrugged, keeping your voice as casual as possible. 

"I was thinking that I got the job done." 

Aki's expression didn't change, but something in his jaw ticked. He ran a hand through his midnight colored bangs, exhaling sharply through his nose. You could see the way his patience frayed, hanging by a thread, stretched taut and ready to snap. 

"The job," he echoed flatly, like the word itself irritated him. "Right. And what about the building you nearly leveled?" 

You scoffed, crossing your arms. "It wasn't that bad." 

Aki's eyes darkened, his expression shifting into something heavier. "Three floors caved in," he said, tone low and measured, but beneath the restraint, you could hear the crack of irritation bleeding through. 

He stepped closer, not enough to be aggressive, but enough that you felt it—the weight of his anger pressing into you, the sheer force of his presence making it harder to breathe. 

"Do you even understand how reckless that was?" 

Your fingers curled into fists. Of course, you understood. You understood that things had gotten messy, that your plan hadn't been the safest, but what pissed you off the most wasn't that he was right—it was that he always acted like he was the only one who was right. Like you were some reckless idiot who didn't think things through. 

Your jaw tightened. "It wasn't like I had a choice," you shot back. "I did what I had to do." 

It was different, this time. Aki took another step forward, and this time, you felt the air shift between you, thick with something you didn't want to name. His movements were precise, controlled, but his eyes—his eyes—were burning with something deeper. 

"You don't get to decide that," he said, voice quieter now, but no less cutting. "You follow orders. You don't play hero." 

You swallowed hard. 

The way he was looking at you made heat crawl up your spine, frustration twisting into something else—something that had nothing to do with anger and everything to do with how unfairly attractive he was when he was pissed off. 

Your fingers twitched at your sides. "If I hadn't done what I did, people could've died." 

Aki's jaw tightened. "If you keep pulling reckless shit like that, you're going to die." 

His words hit harder than they should have, but you refused to let them sink in. Instead, you glared, chin tilting up defiantly even as your breath hitched. 

"And I'm not cleaning up your mess when it happens," he muttered. 

There was something in his tone—something unreadable, something you almost wanted to reach for, like he was trying to cover up the fact that he might have cared about you a little bit—but before you could, before you could shove back with another retort or demand what the hell he actually meant by that, he turned. 

Without another word, he walked off, leaving you standing there, heart racing, thoughts in complete disarray. 

You exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down your face. 

God, you really needed therapy. 

Or maybe I just need to get laid? You thought. Perhaps it was the involuntary celibacy getting to you.

You decided that you needed both.

Mission get laid was a lot easier said than done. In your line of work, people often didn't last long enough to fuck around. If they did, they were assholes (not pointing fingers at anyone in particular). A few weeks later, and you were aching for some action. Everything seemed to piss you off a little more than usual. In fact, someone seemed to piss you off more than usual.

Hayakawa the cockblock.

You didn't know when you started thinking of him like that, but the title fit. It wasn't just that Aki was always there—it was that he seemed to have a personal vendetta against anyone who so much as looked at you the wrong way. If a guy even considered flirting with you, Aki had something to say about it. If a conversation lasted longer than a few words, Aki was there, lurking like a shadow, arms crossed, expression unreadable but just judgmental enough to kill the mood.

It was frustrating. More than frustrating. You were an adult. You could make your own decisions. You could handle yourself.

Which made this all the more annoying.

You had been talking to one of the newer guys, a hunter from another division, who, for once, wasn't a total weirdo or an asshole. He was tall, dark-haired, had one of those easy grins that made it clear he knew exactly how attractive he was—but not in an annoying way.

And he was into you. That much was obvious.

He had slid up beside you while you were taking a break, an easy smirk on his lips as he leaned against the railing beside you.

"You always look this intense?" he asked, tilting his head toward you.

You quirked a brow, unimpressed. "You always this nosy?"

He laughed, and okay—maybe it was kind of a nice laugh. He held his hands up in mock surrender. "Can't blame me for trying to get to know the prettiest hunter in the division."

You snorted, rolling your eyes, but the corner of your lips twitched upward. "Is that what you tell all the girls?"

"Only the ones who might actually kill me," he shot back, grinning.

Alright. Maybe this wasn't the worst conversation you'd had in weeks. He was easy to talk to, and more importantly, he wasn't running for the hills after five minutes of conversation.

"So, drinks after work?" he asked, cutting straight to the point. "I know a place."

And you were considering it. Actually considering it. What was the harm? A drink, some harmless flirting—

But before you could so much as open your mouth—

"Get back to work."

Your entire body tensed. That voice. Of course.

You turned your head just enough to see him. Aki stood a few feet away, arms crossed, expression blank but so obviously irritated that you had to bite back a groan.

The guy beside you straightened a little, caught off guard by the interruption. "I was just—"

"You were slacking off," Aki cut in, voice sharp, authoritative. "We're not done here."

You huffed, shoulders dropping. "Oh, come on," you said, turning to him fully now. "Are you serious?"

Aki didn't even look at you. His gaze stayed fixed on the other hunter, cool and dismissive. "You have a job to do," he said simply. "So do we."

The guy beside you hesitated, glancing between you and Aki, clearly weighing whether this was a fight worth picking. After a beat, he let out a breath and muttered a quick, "See you around," before walking off, scratching the back of his neck.

You watched him go, feeling the frustration coil tight in your stomach before you rounded on Aki.

"What the hell was that?"

"Flirting on the job is unprofessional," he said flatly.

You scowled. "I wasn't. He was asking me out for drinks."

Aki didn't react, just stared at you, unblinking, unimpressed. "Don't get drinks with him."

You narrowed your eyes. "Oh? Why's that?"

"He's not trustworthy."

"Oh, please." You scoffed. "You don't even know him."

Aki's jaw tightened. "Doesn't matter."

You crossed your arms, staring at him hard. "Why?"

He didn't answer right away. He just looked at you. That cold, assessing look, the kind that made your skin prickle, like he was peeling back your layers, picking apart your intentions before you even had the chance to understand them yourself.

And then, finally—

"Just don't."

Something inside you twisted, irritation spiking high, sharp. You tilted your head, expression turning coy, teasing, because if he was going to be insufferable, you might as well make him suffer for it.

"What, you worried about me?"

Aki's expression didn't change. But his eyes darkened, just a fraction, and for a split second, you thought—maybe—that you saw something else flicker behind them.

But whatever it was, it was gone before you could name it.

"Get your head out of your ass," he muttered, and before you could fire back, he turned and walked off, leaving you standing there, fists clenched, frustration bubbling over into something you weren't quite ready to deal with.

You let out a slow breath, forcing your shoulders to relax.

The silence felt heavier now. The absence of the guy who had been flirting with you only made it worse—like the moment had been stolen right out from under you. You turned your head slightly, watching Aki's retreating figure, and something about the way he walked—stiff, tense—made you wonder.

Was it really about professionalism? Or was it something else entirely?

You exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down your face.

Hayakawa the cockblock strikes again.

You swore to God—one of these days, you were going to figure him out.

And when you did?

You weren't sure who would come out of it in one piece.

Late one evening, heart racing in your chest, you raised a hand to knock at Captain Hayakawa's door. You hadn't been sure whether or not he would have even been in so late, but you saw the telltale light shining through from beneath his door, and you knew he was working later than usual. So, gathering your wits and your courage (and smoothing your hands over your clothes to correct your appearance), you finally knocked.

It was answered with a faint, "Come in." Something only he could make sound scary, truly.

Be brave. Be brave, you told yourself. You had spent the entire way over here deliberating what you would say to him once you had him face-to-face – a lie you had rehearsed to explain your absence from work in a few days, something about your grandmother being sick, typical par for the course. You couldn't back down. Not now. Instead of running away like you really wanted to (because you knew that once you were inside, it would be just you and him, and you weren't entirely sure you were ready for that), you entered.

You poked your head in first. Swallowing the thickness that had settled in the depths of your throat, you called out to him, "Sorry to bother you so late, Captain."

He was sitting all alone inside, hair neatly done back – and, for a moment, you couldn't help the fleeting thought that he might have straightened out his appearance in the few seconds it had took him to respond to your knock. Papers were sprawled out over the length of his desk in neat stacks. The room was dimly lit, save for a lamp at his desk. He had a pen pinched between his index finger and his thumb, tip tapping mindlessly against the wooden surface. 

Beneath the dim light, he looked a little older than you knew him to be. He was either 20 or 21, you couldn't quite remember. Either way, he was only a year or two older than yourself, but the experience gap was noticeable. You knew that could easily be attributed to the psychological horrors he had witnessed at a young and impressionable age, but that was a type of business you tried not to mind. The bags under his eyes were a little more pronounced than usual, blue eyes half-lidded and droopy, like he was trying not to pass out.

His eyes dropped to your shoes, then raked themselves up your tense form. You writhed beneath the heat of his gaze.

God, I can never tell what he's thinking.

"Is something the matter?" He asked, something so remarkably normal and not angry that you had to actually do a double-take. When you said nothing, he curled a brow at you, waiting for your response. 

Now that you were actually standing there in his office, you were getting cold feet. No longer were you confident in the lie you had carefully conceived on the ride over. Truthfully, you had a date, but you knew you couldn't tell him that.

Was it that you knew or that you were ashamed?

Frighteningly enough, you weren't entirely sure. Either way, it felt like you were walking up to your father, about to tell him you had been hiding a boyfriend from him for the past year. 

So, switching your weight from foot to foot, you answered shakily, "I have... uh..." You swallowed, "I wanted to tell you that I won't be coming into work on Thursday."

That got his attention. He set the pen down, leaning back in his work chair and giving you the kind of look that could wither a fucking plant. "It's your responsibility to tell me a week in advance. That's when I make the schedules."

You hesitated, the weight of his gaze almost suffocating. The silence in the room stretched longer than it should have, thick and heavy with the unspoken words hanging in the air. You had to say something—anything—to break it.

"I'm... I'm visiting my sick grandmother," you said, the words feeling foreign as they left your lips. It was a story you had fabricated on the way here, an easy excuse that anyone could buy. But even as you said it, you felt a pang of guilt, like you were betraying something, someone.

Aki's eyes flickered over you, narrowing slightly, as though evaluating the sincerity of your statement. You couldn't read him—he was too good at keeping his thoughts hidden. For a brief moment, you wondered if he knew you were lying. His expression didn't change, but the air in the room seemed to grow colder, more tense.

"Alright," he said with a sigh, the words laced with resignation, though you couldn't quite tell whether it was disappointment or just weariness. "I'll make an exception. But don't make a habit of this."

His voice was the same as always—calm, almost too calm—but the underlying exhaustion was palpable, like he was just tired of dealing with people's excuses. You couldn't blame him for that. You knew he had been through more than his fair share of hardships, and the last thing he probably wanted was to deal with your little white lie.

You stood there for a moment, not sure what to do next, before Aki leaned back in his chair, picking up his pen again, signaling the end of the conversation. His focus returned to the papers on his desk, his posture relaxed, but something about the way he avoided your gaze made your stomach twist.

Before you could make a quick exit, something unplanned slipped from your mouth, almost without your permission.

"Hey, um... Himeno and I are going out for drinks tomorrow with some of the others from different divisions. You should come with us," you blurted out, the words catching in your throat as you said them. "It'd be nice if you joined us. We could all hang out for once. You know... get out of the office for a bit."

The request came out of nowhere, and you couldn't quite understand why you had said it. You had never once thought to invite Aki to something like this before. It felt... strange. You knew he wasn't exactly the social type, and you weren't even sure why you wanted him there in the first place. Maybe it was the loneliness that crept up on you during the long, sleepless nights. Maybe it was the faint hope that his presence would fill the empty spaces that seemed to grow wider between you and the people you worked with.

His gaze shot up to meet yours, and for a moment, you almost regretted speaking. He looked at you like you had just said something completely absurd, like it didn't even make sense.

"You want me to come out with you?" Aki asked, his tone a mix of incredulity and something else—maybe amusement, maybe suspicion. It was hard to tell with him.

"And Himeno. Yeah," You answered back, rather stupidly.

Your heart raced, and you shifted awkwardly on your feet, the uncertainty gnawing at you. Why had you invited him? You didn't even know why you wanted him there, why you felt this strange, impulsive need to extend an invitation. The thought of spending time with him outside of work—outside of the walls where everything was so professional and detached—seemed impossible. But here you were, offering him an out-of-place invitation to something that was supposed to be casual, easy, and fun.

Everything he was not.

"I mean, it's not like a big deal or anything," you continued, your voice faltering slightly. "It's just drinks with everyone... Himeno and some of the other teams. You could join us. It'll be a good way to unwind. We don't do this often, but..." You trailed off, suddenly unsure of yourself. "I don't know. You don't have to if you don't want to."

What the hell am I doing?

For a moment, Aki didn't say anything. He just stared at you, his expression unreadable, as if he were processing your words in his mind. He was quiet for too long, and you felt yourself growing more self-conscious by the second, like you had made a huge mistake.

But then, just as you were about to apologize for being so forward, he let out a soft sigh, one that barely registered as a sound.

"Alright," he said, his voice as flat as ever. "I'll think about it."

And just like that, the tension in the room seemed to dissipate. The cold, businesslike atmosphere returned, and you realized he wasn't going to press you further on it. But you still didn't understand why you had invited him. Why him? Of all the people, why did you want Aki to be there?

"Alright, goodnight then," you said, your voice sounding louder in your own ears than you intended. You started to turn toward the door, almost relieved that the conversation was over.

"Goodnight," he replied, already turning his attention back to his papers, not sparing you another glance.

You left his office, the door clicking shut behind you, but the weight of the interaction lingered in your chest. The invitation you had made—so impulsive, so sudden—felt strange. You didn't understand why you had said it, or why it felt like there was something more to it, something you couldn't quite place.

Why is my heart racing a mile a minute?

As you walked down the dimly lit hallway, you couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the night than you were letting on. A part of you wanted to retreat, to pretend it hadn't happened, but another part of you couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he said yes. 

Would it change things? Would it make you feel differently?

You didn't know the answers, but one thing was certain: something was different. Something you couldn't quite put your finger on.

No, you weren't going crazy. Something had shifted between the two of you.

a/n: okay so this is gonna be a lil short sum summm just to tide me over during these trying academic times. lmk what you thought! lmk if you enjoyed!!!!!!!! x

credits: einruji__ on twitter . I obviously do not own csm or anything related to it. please do not reproduce, copy, or translate my works anywhere. dont fk w me im a bruja.

also: come find me on my wattpad if u wanna interact more!

taglist: @mitsuyeahhh , @sleepysnk , @enneadec , @noaabean , @em1e , @drakensdarling , @bertholdts--butt , @satanlovesusall666 , @mitsuwuyaa , @noctifule , @scaraphobia , @ask-the-insect-hashira , @lovingranchturkeyweasel , @bontensbabygirl , @slvdsjjk , @novacrystalli , @hanmastattoos , @kodzuksn , @hqtiny , @ohmaiscool15 , @redlittlequeen , @leivane , @goldeneagles-posts , @yeahblahlame , @no-oneelsebutnsu , @cookiesandcreammy , @cawwn , @the-haitani-baton , @littlelovebug98 , @armani78 , @mindurownbussines , @kokos-property , @violetmatcha , @hp-simp505 , @acethebrave , @mitsuyeahhh , @sleepysnk , @enneadec , @noaabean , @em1e , @drakensdarling , @bertholdts--butt , @satanlovesusall666 , @mitsuwuyaa , @noctifule , @scaraphobia , @ask-the-insect-hashira , @lovingranchturkeyweasel , @bontensbabygirl , @slvdsjjk , @novacrystalli , @hanmastattoos , @kodzuksn , @hqtiny , @ohmaiscool15 , @redlittlequeen , @leivane , @goldeneagles-posts , @yeahblahlame , @no-oneelsebutnsu , @cookiesandcreammy , @cawwn , @the-haitani-baton , @littlelovebug98 , @armani78 , @mindurownbussines , @kokos-property , @violetmatcha , @hp-simp505

wanna join the taglist? | pornstar ; chapter index

[potatoqueenpal]

*looks around*

Okay ill say it.

Redacted confession blogs have gone from "tee-hee small MAYBE unpopular BARELY controversial take or opinions about redacted"

To just an echo chamber of complaining and whining and just...frankly being full of the REALLY. REALLY entitled parts of the community.

IM SORRY I DONT WANT TO BE A BITTER BITCH BUT GODDAMN EVERYTIME I GLANCE OVER THERE YALL ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT SOMETHING.

I know i sound hypocritical complaining about people complaining, but like- tell me, you understand what I'm talking about, so I don't feel crazy!

[hydemercats]

awkward looking animatic i kind of speedran

ill put the cws in the tags but ill also put them here just in case ^_^

//blood, corpse, also possible mild flash warning, i left one flame blank at is way more jarring than i intended anyway i made this in like 5 hours it is not the best quality b nice to me/lh

my script under cut, as well as AWESOME FACTS FIRE EMOJI

(the script is like, annoyingly tall)

Run from their pity - matthias finds the house of usher after WITNISSING the house of usher and he's like. um! what the fuck! (im not entirely sure how he finds the gw books, but he does) from responsibility - something something. he figures out portals and loses his humanity or whatever Run from the country - he goes and looks 4 adam and run from the city - adam finds him can run from the law - matthias climbs into jekylls laboratory through the window I can run from myself - oops! hydes already drinking arsenic I can run from my life - carmilla is fucking bleeding out! I can run into debt - hi dracula. he's just talking. matthias is exploring the library I can run from it all - jim shoots a man! I can run 'til I'm gone - jim tells matthias about how he shot a man! I can run for the office and run for my cause - matthias finds winston and is like 'hey man lets get the fuck out' I can run using every last ounce of energy - matthias crisis cuz he still feels some crushing guilt I cannot, I cannot -matthias is like. oh yeah that guilt is probably how im the sole survivor of the usher thing! tee hee! /j I cannot run from my family - transition 2 the end of house of usher when matthias finishes reading the tale and oh shit madeline is here They're hiding inside of me - madeline starts fucking killing roderick but also not really? its. its complicated corpses on ice - they die Come in if you like but just don't tell my family - even FURTHER flashback, roderick and matthias r talking a few nights before, roderick tells matthias about how he's probably going to die and why They'd never forgive me - matthias doesnt fucking believe him but he's trying to be nice about it because he's also pretty sure roderick is gonna kick it soon they'd say that I'm crazy - self explanatory

the book matthias reads at the start is the first book fall of the house of usher was published in, in 1840 i believe?

hyde has a green shadow behind him because of the line 'run from myself' and.. yknow,

matthias has a glass of blood 4 carmilla, he hadn't expected her to be literally dying when he got there

jim, when he's killing a man, has a dagger in his shoulder and is holding that pistol wrong. realistically he would probably be losing his arm here - or at least, being more seriously injured than he already is. or dead. i reread ti recently, he SHOULD be dead by now.

matthias is wearing a top hat when he meets winston, since they are slightly thematic in 1984

fun fact: im very proud of that hair animation

after that transition is where it gets really late at night when im drawing this and i start to go. LET ME GO TO BED PLEASE. so the quality rapidly decreases

if for some reason u read all of this, heres some roderick and matthias art i did for goretober a few nights ago ^_^

the roderick design is not at all accurate to my hc i just used it for simplicities sake. this mostly on one layer, including the lineart, btw :3

[rhapsoddity]

Rhaps I'm taking away your eyes nor more winking for you/j

Anyway! Skulk Jimmy au, would he try to get anyone else in particular infected? If so how?

WINK WONK

Ideally the skulk would want to infect Scar, but he knows every trick in the book to avoid skulk, so it's too much effort to chase him down, nevermind the fact Hotguy can DEFINITELY take Jimmy in a fight

Hephaestus tho? Skulked Jim hiding his skulk, just looking ill, and hep finding him. Jim not wanting to fight, not even humouring hep's jabs. Stumbling, stuttering, genuinely sparking Hephaestus' pity. He's not worried. Totally not. He gets close to Jim during one stumble... And then Jimmy bites him, transfering fast acting skulk onto Fwhip. Hep pulls back and Jim stops hiding his skull, Hephaestus is horrified... Esp since he can see where the skulk is the thickest... Where he'd broken Jim's arm...

Tee hee ✨

[misc-obeyme]

simeon having had exposure to small pox in a way that it exists in his system but as an angel his immune system never paid it any mind then he turns human and mc has to pull up to the doctors office w him asap like 'hey yknow that vaccine we havent really had to use in decades since the disease was eradicated? yeah break that bad boy out. also we need appointments for everything else' and when the doctors are like 'why is this grown man not vaccinated against anything and also how is he still alive????' mc gets to go 'whackjob asshole father' (in this house we talk shit about om god)

Yessssss because OM god is the WORST and I am ALWAYS good with shit talking that guy.

Ahhh poor Simeon, I imagine him being his usual calm and smiling self while on the inside he's freaking out like am I gonna die!?

Meanwhile, MC is trying to figure out what to put on his new patient paperwork. They're gonna have to come up with a believable year for his birthday on the spot. And I suppose they could just say he has no history of illness in his family at all, which would technically be true? MC's like okay no medications, pretty sure Simeon doesn't smoke, uh... and then they'd have to ask. Hey Simeon, are you sexually active? I gotta know for the papers.

And Simeon's just like excuse you?? (Unless MC already knows the answer to this question tee hee...)

Do they even make the small pox vaccine anymore?? I have no idea, to be honest with you. Gonna need a TDAP and whatever they call the ones for measles & mumps... the dr's like... uhhh does he want the COVID vaccine too? Simeon's not going to understand the political nonsense behind that question, so he just goes with whatever MC suggests. Do they still do the polio vaccine?? I'm not sure about that one, either, but he might need that, too.

I think there may be some time in between things like I think TDAP has two shots? He might have to go back for a second round on some of them. I don't know if you can even get them all at once. Also if he's already got the diseases would it be too late?? I really don't know lol.

I like to think that he managed to survive, even if it was a trial by fire, through the help of MC and the miracle of modern medicine. What a way to welcome him to his new human life!

[catboygirljoker]

and a second one for Larxene to pick your brain about her too tee hee - 1, 12, 14 and 25

TEE HEE character ask game :D

1. Why do you like or dislike this character?

SHES SO FUCKING GOOD SHE RUUUUULES

ill talk more abt it in a bit but i was worried before i saw her that she was gonna be a sexist stereotype, and to me at least, shes really not. shes definitely very feminine, but i never feel like any compromises are made for her character because of it. sometimes i feel like female characters can be "[trait], for a woman". but larxene isnt cruel "for a woman", she's cruel. she isnt "ruthless and aggressive for a woman," she just is ruthless and aggressive. in combat she feels frightening and powerful, she isnt afraid to get up close and personal with her attacks. her data battle theme in 3 fucking OWNS and reflects all of these traits. her vocal performance owns, too. she's so awful and has so much fun being awful.

(and thats not even touching on her appearance in UX and all of the potential that comes from that, only reason im not speaking more to that is because its been a while since i watched UX and i wanna refresh myself on that before i do talk about Elrena.)

...i will say im a little worried about the direction her character might take in the future. i'd really like to see her retain some of her meanness and awfulness as a human, and get some depth by being a light-side character with those traits. but i worry that she'll be flattened instead, and i'm also a bit worried about what might come of what i read as an implication of her being motivated by a crush on Marluxia. shrugs. guess we won't know til we know.

12. What's a headcanon you have for this character?

hgghghghg uhmmmm. she has an animal crossing island she runs like the navy. does the bare minimum on her mission reports so she can boot up her switch [fancy custom shell] and spend 2 hours watering flowers and picking weeds. checking turnip prices throughout the week and comparing them against the possible stalk market patterns. hourly refreshes nookazon or whatever the current platform is for buying/selling/trading ACNH items. her island is Pristine and Aesthetic and 50% covered in custom patterns.

14. Assign a fashion aesthetic to this character.

you shared some fanart of her that has determined this for me. sleek sharp angles. 80s padded shouldered pantsuits. eye catching and stylish. wears stiletto acrylics and isnt afraid of breaking them if she has to throw hands.

25. What was your first impression of this character? How about now?

i knew going into CoM that Larxene was The One Woman in org13 and i was so scared that she would suck as a character. i was so worried she'd read like a misogynist caricature of a bitchy blonde bimbo. and like, i think someone could argue that she is, but my honest first reaction to her was "oh good she rules. she just sucks as a person and not because she was written by misogynists." also i loved and still love her antennae. shes bug to me.

larxene is one of those characters i light up for whenever she appears. i just love watching her in every scene shes in. excited to see however much of her we get in future games ^_^

[tonberry-yoda]

i always get so nervous requesting lmao (you are way to cool and I'm way to shy )

but anyway I saw that you were writing for one piece, I'm not sure how far into the show you are so ill just ask for Sanji or zoro with an alt like s/o like with a lot of piercings short hair and such who seems intimidating but can be very shy

please and thank you : )

Zoro and Sanji with an shy and alt s/o

notes - DUDE DONT BE NERVOUS TO REQUEST OMFG! You're cool too, like literally, but thanks for thinking I'm cool tee hee that's such a nice compliment. But know that I love getting requests from you, so don't hesitate to send in more before the end of the month <333 Have a super day and stay super hydrated :)

Zoro

I think he would love your style so much omg

like when you roll up with some sick ass boots and cool ass piercings, he cant help but blush a bit lol

like at first when he met you, he thought you were a little intimidating tbh

and then when he realized you were shy, he thought you were such a cutie and couldnt help but fall for you

like he's your big protective bf who will talk to people first for you lol

and like when you're together you both look so intimidating, but deep down you're both super sweet

and if you ever want to dress him up, he would actually get so flustered

he would act like he hates it, but he would actually love it

overall he digs the aesthetic you got goin on and loves you to bits

Sanji

I think at first he would be intimidated by you

like a lot

like total heart eyes, yes, but at the same time, he is just too scared to talk to you lol

I mean from afar he will call you gorgeous, but he's a little scared to see what you'll say if he said that to you

but one day, after Nami told him what your favorite meal was, he made it for you and served it to you

that day he saw how much of a a sweetpea you were and it was almost off putting to him

like with the clothes and the piercings he never thought you would be as shy as you were that night when he made you dinner

so when you two start dating, he cant help being the golden retriever boyfriend to your black cat personality and the contrast is great

he knows that your inside is nothing like your outside and he thinks that is something that's really cool about you

he knows the real you and just loves to be your amazing boyfriend <3

~~~~~

one piece masterlist | pinned post

2023 @tonberry-yoda – do not repost or claim ANY of my work as your own! likes, reblogs, and comments are not only welcome, but appreciated

~~~~~

[demonslayedher]

My Research: You know, for as much time as we've been spending together, you've been surprisingly well-behaved.

Me: I might just be containing myself well. I also might not be.

My Research: Today I must have you learn about the classical dances and courtly music performed at one of the oldest temples in Japan, in honor of the sixth century prince--

Me: Yes, yes, Shitennoji Shoryoe Bugaku, we've all heard of it, but I admit it's a bit too austere for my tastes (even if I am curious about that "Kochou" dance) (also, tee hee, "Tennoji.")

My Research: One such dance inspired by the styles of the Korean peninsula is "Soriko," which you can watch here, in which dancers cover their faces with paper and--

Me: OH MY GOSH

My Research: Well, good to have you interested. This is a 竈祭舞ー

Me: Wait, wait, hold up--is that pronounced, "Kamado Matsuri no Mai"? As in a dance celebrating a... you know, a... a hearth?

My Research: Yes... that "kamado," not the more uncommon 竈門 which includes the "gate" kanji as more blatant reference to the hearth being one of the "gateways" through which impurity can enter a home and make a family sick, which therefore needed special attention in order to keep the family healthy. Also, I'm giving you serious side-eye right now. Don't interrupt me.

Me: No, no, I'm with you! It makes sense for certain areas of the home to require more mindfulness to things like hygiene, like in preventing food borne illness. Folk beliefs are totally full of wisdom, I got you.

My Research: You only know that because of... never mind, I won't say it. The hearth is also the source of sustenance for a house's inhabitants, so the state of a hearth also reflects the state of the family. To say things are lively around a hearth is to say that a family is doing well, to say that the hearth is broken is to say that they've lost their fortune, and so on. You could also think of the fire itself sometimes being a cause for danger, something susceptible to evil influence, like how it might burn humans, so it took having a god of the health to protect against that too. These are reasons why the god of the hearth has been worshiped since ancient times, not only for protection from the dangers of fire, but also for prosperity.

Me: And this dance for this 'kamado' god has dancers dressed with covered faces and nice baggy clothes and stuff. That is wonderful.

My Research: The association with how fire can also be a purifying substance led to also thinking of this hearth god as a god of fire, a hi-no-kami---

Me: *SCREAMS*