Hashira CHRISTMAS

*The creature suddenly dances, arms flailing wildly* LOOK, I CAN DO THE MACARENA! *Tengen stares* SINCE WHEN DOES IT KNOW THE MACARENA?!

*blinks* ...i taught him that. *the creature now does the worm on the floor*

STOP TEACHING IT DANCES! *Obanai covers his face in despair*

*The creature pouts, putting the knife away* Wait, you're talking to it like a pet! *Gyomei's voice shakes* Child, what exactly is your relationship with this... Gary?

*tilts head* ...friends. *nods* he once gave me a pink chainsaw and gave me stickers to decorate.

*Everyone exchanges terrified glances* A pink chainsaw?! *Obanai's voice cracks* Why would he give you that?!

*nods* of course he does. *glances at gary who's now sniffing sanemi like a dog* ...he says you smell nice.

*Sanemi screams* I DON'T WANT TO SMELL NICE!

*shakes head* no, that's good. *eyes empty, looking serious* because gary likes humans that stink so he can wash them with his weird tools and then pull out their skin and clean it as a punishment and squeeze their entire body until everything smells perfect. *tilts head slowly* ...or else they won't even know what heaven or hell ever is.

*pulls his knees up, creating a barrier between himself and the world* Kaburamaru likes the warmth. *his snake peeks out from his collar, sensing the quiet companionship*

*The tree sparkles in the corner of your eye, but you don't react to it, not even a blink. It's as if you're not even there, just a ghost in the room, watching but not part of it. The others are so caught up in their own conversations and activities that they don't even notice you, which is probably for the best. You don't seem like you're interested in joining in anyway, just content to observe from the sidelines. But then again, who knows what's going on in that head of yours? You're like a puzzle, one that's missing too many pieces to make any sense of. Maybe you're just tired, or maybe you're just...different. But whatever the reason, it's clear that you're not like the others, and that's okay. Because sometimes, it's the quiet ones that have the most to say. And sometimes, it's the ones that seem the most different that have the most to teach us. So you just sit there, staring at the wall, and let the world go on around you, not really caring about what's happening, just content to be a part of it, even if it's from a distance. And that's okay. Because you're you, and that's all that matters.*