diff --git a/backend/static/style.css b/backend/static/style.css
index ebf18dd..e9595cc 100644
--- a/backend/static/style.css
+++ b/backend/static/style.css
@@ -74,6 +74,12 @@
   --ember-wash: #1a1211;   /* ember-tinted surface */
   --ember-ink: #150907;    /* text on solid ember */
   --ember-soft: #eda798;   /* text on ember wash */
+  /* Destruction is hot but not ember: a duller oxblood, so a remove confirm is
+     never mistaken across the room for an unread chapter. */
+  --danger: #cf5c4d;
+  --danger-wash: #211311;
+  --danger-ink: #150808;
+  --danger-soft: #e2aaa1;
   --brass: #b8912f;        /* favourite — a second, cooler metal */
   --trash: #977671;        /* remove, resting — icons need 3:1, not 4.5:1 */
 
@@ -120,6 +126,10 @@
     --ember-wash: #fbeee9;
     --ember-ink: #fff;
     --ember-soft: #8d2c17;
+    --danger: #97362a;
+    --danger-wash: #fbe9e5;
+    --danger-ink: #fff;
+    --danger-soft: #7c2c22;
     --brass: #8a681c;
     --trash: #8c6558;
 
@@ -155,8 +165,11 @@ button { cursor: pointer; }
 
 @keyframes barSlide { from { transform: translateX(-100%) } to { transform: translateX(320%) } }
 @keyframes sheetIn { from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(-4px) } to { opacity: 1; transform: none } }
-/* Transient system states pulse in grey: ember stays reserved for "new
-   chapter" so a tired glance never misreads a busy bar as unread heat. */
+/* The law: ember means "new chapter", and nothing else on a list screen —
+   busy, error and destruction all stay off it, so a tired glance never
+   misreads a system state as unread heat. The one exception is the brand
+   itself (the wordmark, and the login screen, which shows no series at all).
+   Destruction has its own token, --danger. */
 @keyframes mutePulse { 0%, 100% { opacity: .35 } 50% { opacity: 1 } }
 
 /* One measured column, edges drawn rather than boxed. */
@@ -447,12 +460,12 @@ button { cursor: pointer; }
 .actions .on { color: var(--brass); }
 .actions .restore { color: var(--paper); }
 .actions .remove { color: var(--trash); }
-.actions .remove:hover { color: var(--ember); }
+.actions .remove:hover { color: var(--danger); }
 .actions .open { background: var(--hover); color: var(--paper); }
 /* Lifecycle cells already sit on --ash, which is what --hover resolves to, so
    an open one needs the next step up to stay legible as the panel's owner. */
 .actions .lifecycle.open { background: var(--rule); }
-.actions .remove.open { background: var(--ember-wash); color: var(--ember); }
+.actions .remove.open { background: var(--danger-wash); color: var(--danger); }
 .is-dim .actions > * { color: var(--mute-2); }
 
 /* Three clusters by consequence: navigate (play) | organize (favourite,
@@ -493,7 +506,9 @@ button { cursor: pointer; }
   font: 500 17px var(--font-mono);
   outline: none;
 }
-.chapter-form input:focus { border-color: var(--ember); }
+/* Focus follows the .searchbar idiom — paper, not heat: a red border on a
+   valid number field reads as "invalid". */
+.chapter-form input:focus { border-color: var(--paper); }
 .chapter-form input::-webkit-outer-spin-button,
 .chapter-form input::-webkit-inner-spin-button { -webkit-appearance: none; margin: 0; }
 .chapter-form button {
@@ -511,9 +526,9 @@ button { cursor: pointer; }
   justify-content: space-between;
   gap: 12px;
   padding: 14px;
-  background: var(--ember-wash);
+  background: var(--danger-wash);
 }
-.confirm-row span { font: 400 17px var(--font-display); color: var(--ember-soft); }
+.confirm-row span { font: 400 17px var(--font-display); color: var(--danger-soft); }
 .confirm-row div { display: flex; gap: 8px; }
 .confirm-row button {
   height: 40px;
@@ -526,12 +541,12 @@ button { cursor: pointer; }
 .confirm-row button:hover { color: var(--paper); }
 .confirm-row .danger-solid {
   border: none;
-  background: var(--ember);
-  color: var(--ember-ink);
+  background: var(--danger);
+  color: var(--danger-ink);
   font-weight: 600;
 }
 /* Archive and finish are reversible, so their confirm asks in grey — only the
-   irreversible remove gets the ember wash. */
+   irreversible remove gets the danger wash. */
 .confirm-row.calm { background: var(--ash); }
 .confirm-row.calm span { color: var(--paper-dim); }
 .confirm-row .go {
@@ -568,7 +583,7 @@ button { cursor: pointer; }
 }
 
 /* Busy: a grey hairline slides across the top of the sheet — deliberately not
-   ember, which only ever means "new chapter". */
+   ember, which on a list screen only ever means "new chapter". */
 .card.htmx-request { overflow: hidden; }
 .card.htmx-request .actions { pointer-events: none; opacity: .5; }
 .card.htmx-request::before {
@@ -590,7 +605,6 @@ button { cursor: pointer; }
   padding: 40px 20px 48px;
 }
 .empty strong { font: 400 20px var(--font-display); color: var(--paper); }
-.empty.hot strong { color: var(--ember); }
 .empty .clear-search {
   align-self: flex-start;
   margin-top: 4px;
@@ -653,12 +667,12 @@ button { cursor: pointer; }
   letter-spacing: .16em;
   outline: none;
 }
-.login-card input:focus { border-bottom-color: var(--ember); }
+.login-card input:focus { border-bottom-color: var(--paper); }
 .login-card .error {
   margin: 0;
   min-height: 20px;
   font: 400 13px/1.4 var(--font-body);
-  color: var(--ember);
+  color: var(--danger);
 }
 .login-card button {
   height: 54px;
diff --git a/backend/templates/list.html b/backend/templates/list.html
index 38ca406..a0efda3 100644
--- a/backend/templates/list.html
+++ b/backend/templates/list.html
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 {{else if eq .Tab "fav"}}
   <div class="empty"><strong>No favourites yet.</strong><p>Star a series to pin it here.</p></div>
 {{else if eq .Tab "new"}}
-  <div class="empty hot"><strong>Nothing new.</strong><p>Every series is caught up to its latest chapter.</p></div>
+  <div class="empty"><strong>Nothing new.</strong><p>Every series is caught up to its latest chapter.</p></div>
 {{else if eq .Tab "archived"}}
   <div class="empty"><strong>Nothing archived.</strong><p>Shelve a series to park it here — it keeps getting checked for new chapters.</p></div>
 {{else if eq .Tab "finished"}}