[Moonpaw8033]

Mark @DoorKarmaQueen

[DoorKarmaQueen]

Mark @Moonpaw8033

[strawberryy]

little mark ^^

[hayzel]

mark !! partnering w/ strawberryy

[Davidfluff]

mark!

[Foxghost]

Wip this is for me and David to use-

Credit: me





Credit : here

[cyrevan]

Marking to watch!! <33

[snowdrake]

.*✦ snow |✦| entry |✦| HellyBoo

[HellyBoo]

marking!

[Vanrouge]

☠ 𝔒𝔲𝔯 𝔭𝔯𝔬𝔩𝔬𝔤𝔲𝔢...❀
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❀ ℌ𝔬𝔴 𝔦𝔱 𝔟𝔢𝔤𝔞𝔫...☠

For those who still remember, some may recall that Life and Death were once mortals. The two were never destined to meet, yet a force stronger than fate was feeling gray... And their story started just as any other story would.

Life was once a young maiden who cared for the town's crops and flowers. All plant life seemed to bloom under her care without reservation, though it was known that her personal favorite were the flowers called snapdragons. Her vibrant beauty and gentle demeanor was the talk of the town, and as all lovely maidens do, she caught the eye of a young adventurous lad, who traveled the world a little sad. Now this young man, he had many close calls, but always cheated every fall... some called it a blessing, but with every token of luck came the ordained risk, a kind of danger he couldn't partake in. It was because of this that he never visited the same place twice.

More and more, the young man noticed the fair maiden; her eyes shone like the sun with its warm embrace. Her smile was soft and dazzling like the morning rays, her skin fair and free of any blight. Beauty aside, her heart was unwavering and kind, her compassion for others burning brighter than light. She was like a shooting star in the man’s life, bringing light and beauty, ripping apart the dark of the night. Unable to stop temptation, he approached the maiden only to find the perfect match with the soul within. They shared drinks and danced around the fires that brought the Summer solstice; a wonderful night that ended in a kiss... Alas, shooting stars were never meant to last; they light up one’s world for just a moment before disappearing into the darkness once more.

As seasons changed and spring turned to fall, the chill that crept in spelled doom for all. As the ice and snow began to set in, the young man grew to be wary and his courage thin. He wished to accompany the maiden longer, but his curse was stronger. Days drew short, he knew his luck would catch up to him sooner or later. Out of fear, he left, feeling like a traitor. He abandoned her with their dried snapdragon flowers, a gift that the maiden had given him and preserved as a symbol of their immortal love. He laid them to rest on top of the snow, hoping that his sincerity showed. Every step he took away from the town made his heart feel drowned. He fought with himself on whether he could chance it, was his curse something that he could out wit? Was his blessing just a coincidence? Could he take a chance to find out, and live happily ever after with his doll?

It would seem, fate would not allow this dream to come to life... it decided to strike with a swift blade, its blow merciless and irrefutable.

The young man had parted from the mortal world, his fate had been cruelly bestowed... He was buried under heavy snow, and that was his killing blow.
The maiden found his body only when spring would come around, her beautiful flowers surrounding her lover's body. They had cushioned him, almost protecting him. His body was untouched though all color had fled his skin, lips like wax and paler than sin. Despite the sallow shading of his flesh, it seemed that he was only locked in eternal sleep. The maiden wept for him, and begged her fellow township to help him. They all thought her mad, for asking to raise the dead was something bad. She wasn't convinced, and continued to care for him while trying not to wince. She cried every night, her pleas full of agony and a desperate whim to restore her lost love.

Days turned to weeks and the young man stayed as if asleep... and soon the maiden’s out look became bleak. Her cheeks were slowly losing their color, her livelihood mimicking the flowers and crops that she neglected. She was falling ill with an incurable pestilence, soon falling unconscious amongst her flowers. Her final breath before she fell were full of nothing but the fervent begging that her dear lover’s life to be restored.

Debatable as it was whether this was a blessing or curse, the fact remained that Fate had grown fond of the dear maiden and her lover, but its help always came with a price. It was going to give in and grant the poor maiden’s wish, but Fate had other plans. You see, Fate wanted them to be free, but not as they were. No, their mortal souls and their mortal love would be the payment that it took.

Fate could not give the young man new life, only death... So it took a deep breath...

Our maiden awoke, still feeling a little broken. She covered her gaze from the bright sun, but she could tell something bigger than her had begun. She felt lighter, her head and heart even heavier…

She panicked when her lovers' body was nowhere to be seen. She ran for the town, but couldn't remember where she had been. She couldn't find a way out of the forest, or even her garden. Instead, she found a lake that reflected her image. Tears began to flood down her face, they had long been stored in.
[…
...She was now life's new warden...

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The young man awoke in complete darkness. His breath was cold, his heartbeat slowed. He did not know he could feel so empty. He couldn't see or feel, so he would kneel, looking for something that would bring any kind of feeling. He wasn't sure if he was dreaming, his body and mind both screaming. The void around him felt like it would soon engulf him. His body didn't ache, but he was always fighting this odd feeling. He didn't want to believe it could be death, but he never had such cold sense of dread. He wished to see, if only for a moment. The darkness had become quite lonely.

The dark mist began to subside around a figure who emerged from the thick of it. The mist tickled and followed his every move. He twirled fingers along the edges of the darkness, it felt warm to him now…it lingered on his skin almost intune to his every whim…and he commanded it.
It had become familiar over time. Control over it was easier than he expected, as he grew to accept it…although the dark feelings within him were not.

Death released a deep sigh before taking a step out of the mist to greet new souls. He was the face of his domain. He knew how they were feeling as he was once in their place. He never wished for anyone to feel such despair as he did that day…

Each step forward left an echo of crunching leaves and old roots that rotted away and drifted down to him from above.

The empty eyes of the damned stared up at him, in fear. They knew not what would come next. Death had become feared back in the mortal realm due to how savage Life had treated the mortals as of late. He exhaled softly, to calm his thinking and shared with them a smile and open arms. Many souls wailed and pouted. They missed those who they had left behind, as he did. He was able to see her once in a while, but never often enough.

He missed the cold summer nights they spent in each other's arms…her curly smile and soft giggle in his ear. He wished to caress his lover once again..and under different circumstances.
He looked around to see the souls begin to look about in wonder. They started slowly and quite cautiously towards him.

He tried to snap out of his daydream, but sometimes his heart would ache for her, and it became harder to pull away from his deeper thoughts.

He embraced the souls who came to his side to find comfort knowing they finally found peace and could live like this for eternity…and what about him? He did find peace within him. He knew what he had to do. He saw the opportunity that fate offered to him as a new beginning. No matter how painful it was at the start.

The most unbearable part was the loneliness. The dreaded loneliness that always followed you. Even when you were being issued by sunlight, and in another’s presence, it would still linger. Dark, deep dread of never being loved again…

He tightened his grip around the souls who had embraced him in comfort. He took comfort in knowing he could be here for them in their darkest moment. As he wished someone was there for him that day.

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Days turned to years, and he had no more tears. The young man had given up hope of ever seeing again, until a spark of light brought back his sight. His soul started drifting, it felt like he was being lifted? A light pierced the void around him, raising him up from the darkness. A figure before him stood at ease, bringing with it, a soft breeze. Long red hair that left a fiery flare with eyes that showed they cared, but his heart felt scared. The maiden was before him now, but how? Why now? Could this be the start of new vows?

His maiden had appeared before him with a smile that he could never forget, only this time, it felt strangely like a threat. Her smile was brighter than ever before. Her eyes were still as warm but he could see within them, a storm. A true beauty with horns, and a drape of hair behind her, or perhaps it was a tail that he saw? He was confused and had many questions, but their meeting would be short, for she had one thing to say before the court...

...Welcome home...
(Timestamp: 1:22-1:35)

“Please forgive me. This was the only way to return the life stolen from you too soon back unto you. We will meet again.”

That was the last time he had seen his precious maiden as a young man before she casted him away, back to the depths of the darkness once more. He was filled with rage and confused by her.

He was not home, but rather, his tomb. He pledged to Fate when approached in his deepest despair, he wanted to be a protector and would be for years to come...
[
....so he became Death’s new collector...

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Years easily turned to decades... decades to centuries... Life's warden grew cruel. Life wasn't as precious or magical to her as it once had been. Unable to protect whom she’d loved most, Fate had turned them into puppets using their love to an order that Life no longer cared for. She’d been forced to thrust her beloved into the deepest, darkest pits of loneliness and the cold, she, who had once given him light and purpose. Fate was cruel, and it had been a test to see just how far the young maiden had been willing to go to save her lover. Now, they were destined to rot in their shared responsibility to perverse and end life, recycling mortal souls back and forth in a never ending loop. Time only turned her into a bitter deity, grimly determined to show her hatred for life. She sneered at the thought of a peaceful time for anyone. Making the lives of those around her miserable became her new mission. All mortals suffered her burning rage.

She couldn't forgive herself for what she had done to the young man. She wished to visit him, but she knew his anger for her was greater than their love. She grew bored of her duties and would once in awhile flee her garden of life to visit him, regardless of his mood.

The more she visited, the more she noticed he had became a shell of his former self. He had started his duties as Death with sorrow, a tormented deity that never wished to be apart of the role that he had been given. He never wished to be hated or ignored. He grew less interested in her, and more interested in his duties. He even began to welcome the souls of the dead, smiling and caring for them.

She was disgusted by his eagerness to calm the dead and make them happy. The peace that she had longed for had been denied, a simple life with her lover. Why did everyone else feel peace? Her bitterness turned to rage, and her rage turned her red hair into flames; her warmth was now a scorching fire that burned all she touched. She became jaded as she refused her duties, malice overtaking her as she refrained from releasing new souls back into the world.. It was then when a thought struck her. If her number of living mortals soared, her lover’s dead souls would decline. She wanted to see what he would do if she took them all away from him. Would he love her then? Would he miss her? Would he even want her? She felt her heart waver, but she threw it away and continued her rampage.

Life’s love had grown tainted, her view disjointed and twisted.

It was then that Fate reared its head and sneered, for their warden would not be allowed to do as she pleased…

Disease fell on the mortals, and she lost them. Deaths numbers balanced back to where his quota should be, continuing the balance between them. It was here the maiden broke, the bitterness and anger turning into sorrow. She marched to her garden, eyes full of tears and flames in her hair.

“Why?” She screamed, voice hoarse with grief; hatred and agony being unearthed from her immortal soul. Her facade had been torn open, revealing her wounds, flayed open and vulnerable for all to see. “Why do you love them so? I know that I have done wrong, but believe me when I say that this was for you, for us! Why do you love them but not I?” With raw honesty and a distraught heart, the weight of her grief became too heavy to bear. She fell to her knees before Death, her tears falling to the ground.

Despite the torrent of emotions, Life knew that Death was angry. There was silence for a long moment or two save for the sound of her weeping, but when Death spoke, his voice was like a death rasp, torn between anger and a deep sadness. “I have never once asked for this! This was not my choice or decision, and yet, you thrust me into the ground and buried me alive for years in the name of what you call us!” The harsh words made Life wince as she dropped her head and sunk lower to the ground, her heart stuttering before sinking. She said nothing, lifting her hands to cover her face as she felt her entire world cave in.

Death shook his head. “This was not for us. This was for you. I cannot forgive you. This new life that I was granted, I can use it to do good and help those that come to me after a life of suffering that you put them through, just like you did me.” Death’s voice was calmer now, but the all-consuming anger in his heart was clear. Life could do nothing but let a sob rip out of her as her shoulders shook. She knew this. She had done this. It was her fault, and despite her hatred for herself, her ire had reached those who were unrelated to her sordid fate.

After his condemnation, Life could sense her past lover turning away from her, but in her distress, she did not notice him pause. Something had caught his eye. From the tears that Life had shed sprouted fiery snapdragons, vibrant and proud. An old memory stirred within his mind, a tickle of emotion that awoke his heart from its cold slumber. It was a treasured memory, one of when he and Life had been simple mortals, only concerned with immortalizing the very flowers that symbolized their love, drying them with utmost care and gifting it to each other. The simple love they’d had back then for each other was one born of genuine care and affection, a promise that they’d tried to keep but failed. The memory stirred his icy heart, and the yearning of it was finally recognized. He still loved Life, despite it all.

“...I am not ready,” Death whispered, and with that, Life pulled her hands away to look up, tears still running down her face. She turned her face up to Death as if she was a sunflower and now, he was her sun. His eyes were soft despite the pained smile on his face, and she closed her eyes as he reached forward, fingertips brushing away the tears from his face. “Please give me time. I have accepted my fate, but now, I must accept you. I am not ready to forgive you, but I am still in love with you. If you really did it for us, please, be patient and wait for me. Please do unto the motals now in your care as you would do unto me. Forgive them.”

Life’s hands clenched, the tears on her face refusing to dry as she shed more, replacing all that Death brushed away. Swallowing down a sob, Life nodded, hesitant in her movements before she reached up, placing a shaking hand over his bony fingertips. His appearance had been slowly changing, but hers had been to. Mortal appearances mattered not. “I will wait for you. Forever and more. I am so sorry,” She whispered her apologies into his fingertips as she turned her face to kiss them before she released them. Before she drew her hand away, Death caught it and Life could do nothing but start and look up at him once more.

Upon her wide-eyed look, Death slowly drew her up before stooping down to where the snapdragons had bloomed. Taking one, he plucked it from the ground. It began to wither in his hands, but despite this, Death was gentle as he tucked it behind Life’s ear. “Snapdragons. How befitting our tragic fate. A symbol of our undying love.” He brushed a lock of her hair away, and the smile that took over Life’s lips was unshakeable.

Reaching up, Life touched the delicate flowers, and under her care, they bloomed once more, as bright and vibrant as they had been before. “A symbol of strength and will,” She added, reaching up to wipe her own tear-stained cheeks, swallowing back further tears. She would be worthy of such a flower one day. Death smiled to her words once again, and bowed his head in goodbye.

“Till we meet again, born anew and ready.” Pulling his skeletal hand away, Death turned away from Life and walked away once more to complete his duties as the new collector of Death. Life watched as her past lover disappeared, and only when he was gone did she burst into tears again. These tears were less despair and more hope, and Life chose not to stop the overdue grief now nipping at her heart as she turned away, determined once more to learn how to love the concept of life as she once had before. She was on the path to healing.

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Fate was pleased to see death had accepted his role and found peace in his new domain...It had worried in the beginning, but now it knew. Its decision was meant to be, for no better Death collector had been born.

...Fate wished for Life to see the error of her ways and to accept herself for she had payed… Forgiveness would be her resolve... Now, thanks to Death, she seemed to accept her fate. It was a struggle. There were still days where Life was bitter and angry, wreaking havoc on all she found. Slowly, however, there were more and more days that the Warden began to care and cherish those that she brought into the world. Nevertheless, Fate did not foresee the new Warden to be so fierce. Her constant mood changes and outbursts was cause for alarm. Fate needed for her to see what it did. A life without forgiveness is no life at all...

Both Life and Death felt like time had slowed down... The days seemed to never end. One dark, one light. Both forgotten the other's true bodily forms. Their bodies had changed over time...slowly morphing into something inhuman. Fur sprouted over skin, and pawed legs replaced arms and legs. Fangs protruded their mouths, claws grew and twisted from their new form.

The deified maiden had grown wings and a long drape like tail. Fire trickling and kissing her as she passed along the lanes of her garden of life. She kept snapdragon flowers coiled along her body as a reminder of simpler times... of strength, and the defiance of falsehood. Her heart was slowly healing, growing less jaded over time as the battle of forgiveness for herself began to turn tide.

"She was the yule tide fire, a flare burning bright."

The young man of twisted luck had slowly started to rot away, exposing his bones as he further embraced his role of Death. Life's gifts grew on his body in the form of fungus and dead snapdragons. He cherished them, and despite how rarely they saw each other, he saw that she adored them too. His eyes began to glow a black mist as his pupils turned red, his eyes darker than his new domain. He had no longer felt fear, or sorrow. His new form was most befitting. He accepted it. This was what he had become.

"He was the midsummer harvest, slaughter in the night."

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"I heard your cry and I just knew, I never meant to forsake you. Life, there's no reason to repent." (Death)

"I heard the bells and I just knew, an angel once, now a ghost of you. Deliver me from my own desires.
From my ring of fire..." (Life)

(Lyrics -Black wedding: In this Moment ft. Rob Halford)
(TimeStamp: 1:20-1:54)

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Snapdragons, a flower not unlike Life and Death themselves, was a representative of two vastly different meanings. The flower bloomed stubbornly in rocky terrain, void of all other forms of plant life; it symbolised strength, a trait held by Death's collector. It was always alone, but able to stand against anything, however, the same flower was symbolic of grace and deviousness, both traits that Life's maiden held. Beautiful in her otherworldly appearance, but cruel, with a cold heart. With both forgiveness and acceptance leading to truthful ends, the snapdragon was used as a charm against falsehood and deceit.



Snapdragons. A gift. Something more precious and far more appropriate than the thorned roses grown in their garden, presented as a symbol of love. Theirs wasn't a love of sweetness and affection, but passion that went far deeper than their hearts, to their eternal souls. It was an agreement, silent, but binding, that they belonged to each other. Until the world came to it's end, through fire or ice, they remained.

Life carried the flowers without fear, nor care, with the knowledge that if they should happen to fall, a single touch would bring them back to their usual vibrancy. A flare of red, orange and yellow, the colour of a beautiful sunset, tied together with a lashing of forest green vines.

Death carried the same flowers, however wilted, void of any hint of life or colour. Dried and dead. Yet he carried them with care, love for what had already passed on, with the knowledge that his touch would drain the vitality from it over time, it was precious to him.

They met in the clearing, at the dying of the day, the setting of the sun, as the fiery red disappeared from the sky, replaced with the darkened tones of dusk. She walked with grace, with pride, head held high. A fake confidence that was evidently manufactured when compared to his relaxed stance, each step far easier, slower and calmer than hers.
But for all the differences in how they carried themselves, their expressions matched the moment that they laid eyes on each other. Both Life and Death's faces lit up, her scowl replaced by a fond smile, if only just for a moment, before she caught herself. His smile, however, remained as he closed the gap between the two of them, a chill surrounding her as a warmth burst to life around him.

"It's good to see you."

Death announced, nothing but care and fondness to his tone.

"Mmh..."

Was her simple reply, trying to keep her calm and collected façade in place. But at the tone of his voice, she just couldn't.

"You too."

The words were enough to bring a light to his shadowy eyes, the flowers in his hands bursting to life, flames engulfing the buds, fire licking at the bone of his hand as those clutched in her hands became dry and wilted.

"I brought you these." She murmured, glancing down to the dead buds, reminiscent of the skulls of the dead, before her gaze drifted to those clutched in his hands, bright, beautiful and burning with violent flames.

A silent gaze was shared between the two, as they each plucked one flower from their bunch, exchanging it with the other. But the second the buds were exchanged, a change came about their appearances.

Her flower, in his hand, began to entwine itself around his bone, dead roots and wilted flowers beginning to sprout from his skin, as her body was covered in burning, vibrant buds, flames touching her skin, but its warmth was welcome; like an embrace. A part of him was now with her. A part of her now remained with him.

"Forever?" He questioned, hesitant as his gaze moved from the flowers to her fiery gaze.

"Always," Life answered without hesitation, tears welling in her eyes thought she dared not let them fall. Death had forgiven her. Thus was the starting of a new chapter of their story.


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❀𝔄𝔫 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔡𝔲𝔢 𝔤𝔯𝔢𝔢𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤:☠



It was cold there, cold and dark with a chill that cut her to the bone. But it seemed almost peaceful, if not for the screams of unwilling souls that tore through her mind each step that she took, the only movement the shadows growing on the walls as her flames flickered bright against the dim.

"Ja--" Her voice gave pause, echoing off of the walls before finally dying back down into silence. No. Not the name that she had called so many times before. This wasn't him anymore, just as she wasn't who she had been before. They were something different now, something more than mortal, but less at the same time. They had traded their beating hearts for an eternal fire and eternal shade, forever connected but never as they once had been.

Voice barely above a whisper, she called to him, "Death". For all of her strength and the cruelty in her heart, the word was broken as it left her lips, a reminder of their sacrifice, their loss.

A gust of wind blew through the otherwise calm tunnel, dried leaves and wilted flowers crunching as they drifted to the floor to be crushed beneath a heavy skeletal paw.

An unsettling aura surrounded the other as her circled back around to look at her, a shroud of dark following each of his movements. "You finally came," a voice that was certainly not that of her past lover spoke, the words seeming to come from their surroundings rather than his unmoving lips.

For a short, horrifying moment, Aoife had thought them sealed, immovable, until a smile split across them. It was fond and warm, with the remnants of the sweet boy that she had once known shining in those shadowy eyes. "I go by Achyls now," he announced, as if that was at all important right now, but perhaps he was trying to lighten the mood. Oh, the irony. "It puts the souls at ease to call me by a name rather than a role, it makes it... Easier."

Though they both knew that this was not easy. It was never easy.

Death may have become comfortable in his role, bringing souls to their eternal peace, but each of the deities had had a rough start. Souls had been terrified when they reached his domain, having suffered through Life's bitter hatred and jaded outlook on existence, calming them had been the first step. Reassuring them that, no, there would be no more suffering from this point on. They would finally have their happy ending, away from the pain that each passing day had brought on the surface. Gradually, it became second nature to him, he welcomed frightened souls with a warm smile, quite unlike the chill of the aura that surrounded him. He made the best that he could of his situation.

Life, however, had rebelled against her duties, no longer the caring soul that she had once been. With her heart hardened and closed off to the world, her lover was the only being that could spark any kind of reaction from her other than pure and senseless cruelty. Calmed even simply by his presence, she felt her breathing slow, matching pace with his. No souls trailed behind her today, quaking in fear of the harsh Warden, she was alone, the reason for her visit clear as day as he stood before her.

"Aoife." The word that he had whispered, like a prayer to his lost love. It had drawn her down to the depths simply for the chance to hear it herself from his lips. To convince herself that their love remained, that the flowers that burned with vibrancy across her body meant something. That the wilted buds across his still held the unspoken promise that they had made to one another. They would love again. They would find their happiness once more. Together. As they always had done.


────⊱◊⊰────

Death had once asked our Maiden,

"Would you die for me?"

She responded quickly and without thought,

"Yes."

Death wasn't pleased by her answer. So he rephrased it,

"Would you live for me?"

There was a moment of hesitation from her. She closed her eyes and the flowers around her seemed to droop, before lifting back up. She then opened her eyes, filled with pain and understanding of the true meaning to his question. So she responded,

"Yes."

────⊱◊⊰────
❀ ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔠𝔩𝔲𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫: ☠

Loved by all but herself,
Life had become hateful, her heart hardened and her soul jaded.
Surrounded by so much life,
new blossoms blooming underfoot each step that she took,
she wanted to burn it all. To raize it to the ground.
No peace had been felt in her heart since that day, just cold, cruel creation. A beautiful lie, concealing the painful reality.
Her actions, this life, could not be forgiven.

Alone, shrouded by the darkness that had become so calming to him, Death could have withered away,
could have let the hatred consume him and the pain to numb his heart.
But he didn't.
The representation of something so dark,
perceived to be so evil, had become calm.
Though it had taken time, in the end, acceptance had been his release.
It hadn't come easily, nor without sacrifice,
but to coexist with hatred was a fate worse than his.

────⊱◊⊰────

All thought they knew and understood,
His end they grew to fear
But Life was bad while Death was good,
The beauty, their puppeteer.

────⊱◊⊰────

"But soon they realized that Life wasn't the beginning,
and Death was not the end,
Both were journeys, separate, yet combined.
Life hurt, while Death was feared,
but neither could survive without the other.
To forgive life was to accept death.
Only by doing this, could they find peace at last."

❀ℌ𝔬𝔴 𝔴𝔦𝔩𝔩 𝔦𝔱 𝔢𝔫𝔡...? ☠

────⊱◊⊰────

Partnered with Vanrouge
Writing by: Both of us
Art: Raw_Silver_Studios
Playlist: Chosen for its lyrics to match our themes