#verse { 🎆 } reunited

[starvingtongue]

dona tag drop

[starvingtongue]

"Typical." Dona half heartedly scoffs at the refusal, a smile toying at her lips despite how much she wishes it didn't. if this scenario had played out years ago, Dona knew she would've been more annoyed by Yuna's demeanour. the childishness, the naivety, the whimiscal nature of it all would have irritated her beyond belief. now that both women had seen the years pass by, seen the world try and rebuild itself after the final defeat of Sin, received the chance to rebuild their own lives and experience the act of living, Dona no longer was as irritated, nay, threatened, but Yuna's exsistence. occasionally, she felt the twinge of something that resembled it, but no longer did she find herself speaking to Yuna with such open hostility. they had come too far for that now. "You always were a stubborn one."

she turned to face Yuna fully now, accepting the thorny olive branch that the other woman had hesitantly offered. deep down, she was grateful for it. she hadn't wanted to step back out into the streets of Bevelle, having to step past the priests that still lined the streets. they still clamoured to her for advice, still used their honied words to get her to rejoin Yevon's clergy, to follow a similar path to that of Yuna and Issaru and many other former summoners. she outright refused or stayed silent on the matter, continuing to walk through the city until the whole place was behind her. only then would she allow herself to relax. the city sent chills throughout her and it wasn't because of her clothing choices.

their clamourng for her had slowly dwindled with each visit, however. with each visit, the clergy seemed to realise they weren't going to sink their claws into Dona the same way they had with Issaru, much less so like they had with Yuna. in some ways she was grateful she had stayed on Kilika. yes, the island had a temple, but Kilika's temple gave the impression of a kitten rather than a tiger. a kitten's claws didn't dig in the same way a tiger's did.

without an invitation, Dona sat at one of the spots at the table. she pulled herself towards the table, but sat back in her chair, legs and arms folded as she pondered Yuna's question. it wasn't an unreasonable question. even Dona had wondered if there was ever a hope that Yevon could linger in the world that Spira had become. there were those that clung to the ideology, that still embraced the corrupted, twisted thing that Yevon had become. but equally, there were those that cast it aside and wanted something more, something different. Yevon had provided little comfort to her over the years, less so in her adult life.

"I think you're a fool if you think Yevon can become what you want it be within your lifetime." she didn't outright say it couldn't become what Yuna wanted it to be. the idea held a lot of promise, theoretically at least. however, Yevon was still wrapped up in a lot of it's own lies and secrecy, still clung to the teachings that had been dismantled by Yuna defeating Sin and the rise of the Machine Faction. Yevon, as a concept and an ideology, had a lot to compete with in Spira now.

"Let alone that it can be the source of warmth and comfort you want it to be. I don't believe it's been that source of warmth and comfort for years. Yevon has corrupted itself too much, been the home to too many lies and too much deceit for years for it to become the home of solely warmth and comfort." yes, Dona advocated for Yevon to reliquish some of it's current power, to lesson itself so that Spira could breath new air in the ways it wanted too, she could not deny that it provided comfort and warmth to many of the Spira's population. maybe not in the way that it had once had, Yuna and her guardians had cracked Yevon open like an egg when she'd defeated Sin, but the very presence of an active temple or some of the teachings still provided a source of comfort to those that had known nothing else. but for others, mostly those of a younger generation, those that maybe the claws of the teachings hadn't dug themselves all the way in, had been able to shake the teachings off and embrace a life without Yevon. for some, there had been too many lies, too much hostility, too many rules in place for the people to live in comfort, and it had taken the defeat of Sin for many to realise that. Yevon might have provided warmth and comfort to some, but it had been built on a foundation of corruption, lies, and sacrificial murder.

"Do you understand just what you did when you defeated Sin all those years ago? The traditions that you cast aside in order to give us the freedom we have now?" it was as she spoke now that Dona leaned forward, forearms resting on the table, hands clasping together and feet tucking under her chair. intense brown eyes watching Yuna's every move. "Yevon in it's current state is too tumultuous, too defensive over it's own secrets and history, to become the thing you want it to be. In it's current state, with it's foundation of corruption, lies, secrets, deceit, it cannot be the thing you want it to be. You are deluding yourself, Yuna, if you think it can be like that now. If you want it to be a source of warmth and comfort, a source of hope for the people that desperately cling to it like a child to it's mother, you would need to dismantle it and rebuild it from the ground up." New Yevon had tried that and look where it had gotten them. the Youth League had tried that and look what had happened. there were too many that still clung to the old ways, to the old teachings, for Yevon to be cracked open and rebuilt. Dona refused to believe that Yuna was naive enough to think it could happen any time soon.

"And we both know that's not going to happen any time soon."

𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 — 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻, in truth, the one yuna had been waiting to see from her. the woman dona had become and the one she had made herself to be had drifted on shores that seemed so far away, and yet at the very end, yuna would carry the weight of her boat all the way back, hoping that in their contrasting hearts they could find the young girls they had once been, if they were ever allowed to be. tonight, this was it. yuna was offering dona a branch to hold onto, a tedious one that seemed to bear many thorns even in saving. but she would not deny it, no matter what — and so, she smiles at her words, the movings of her body suggesting that the child in question was, at once, justified. ❝ i refuse, ❞ the brigthness of her curled lips is directed at the half shadowed face of dona, now half turned towards her.

at once, her consciousness gains the field, and yuna's fingers start maniacally, yet silently toying with the rosé strings of her sleeves, absorbed in thought following a brief silence. she yields the motion at once, in favor of turning around to reach for the cups that would hold the bevellian tea that dona surely would end up hating, alongside everything that the city had to offer ( once, she must have hated her too, did she not? her and her father, so very characteristically from bevelle too ), her weak bite stuck in the bottom lip.

❝ dona... do you truly think it's so unreasonable? ❞ the question gwarls at her core, although the subject is still veiled. there's some clashing sounds as she makes sure all is soon ready to serve, the pacifist tea that would perhaps calm the spirits, and yet yuna stokes the flame once more and with intent. ❝ — that i would want to restore what yevon once was? ❞ the question fills the air of her living space with a heavy load. surely they had found field to fight upon this before, in the many years past when yuna decided to return to the city that had hurt her deeply ... yet, in her heart she knows dona to be the only one unafraid of telling her once more if needed be: if she were to cross lines that should remain untouched, if she had dreams that seemed so out of reach. ❝ not the lies, or the deceiving teachings... ❞ that is what she was working day and night for, wasn't she? uncovering the truth, learning secrets that were so deeply rooted in corruption and hurt; and that is what dona was advocating against just as much, yet yuna can't help but wonder if there was ever a part of her that missed the comfort of home — perhaps that was more her father than her creed. ❝ the warmth, the love — ❞ so, which privilege should one aspire to? the comfort of having loved and lost, or never having had?

[ @starvingtongue ] : continued from here.

[violetandstarlightgirl]

My Favorite Songs I Discovered in 2023

New year, new list! 🎆🎇

Same disclaimer as every previous list; this is not limited to any songs made this year (though the majority of the songs on this year's list were brand new!) and nothing is listed in any particular order.

Also as an additional disclaimer for any Chainsaw Man fans out there, the first entry on this list is from the anime's soundtrack and mentions spoilers from the last episode of season one.

Previous Lists: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022

the end of childhood- Kensuke Ushio (Chainsaw Man Original Soundtrack EP Vol 3, 2022)

At the start of this year, my husband and I watched the first season of Chainsaw Man together. We both absolutely loved it! We laughed, we cried, and we're excited for the continuation of the misadventures of Denji and company.

It was a tie between this song and Sweet Dreams for this year's list, but something about this song resonated a bit more with me. The melancholic tone combined with the scene in which we hear the track; an overview of the conclusion of a day's work with Denji and Aki taking their anger out on Katana Man, with the song fading as Aki asks Himeno if she can hear the requiem for her.

It's like the feeling of knowing you have a lot more to do, but you accomplished what you've set out to do so far. My Monster of the Week group even approved of this song being the "theme" for the conclusion of a particularly tense session, where we reunited a character with their father who needed medical attention.

One Foot In Front Of The Other- Emilie Autumn (Fight Like a Girl, 2012)

I haven't heard very much of Emile Autumn or heard about a lot of her work before this year, but I'm glad I've found her work and I enjoy a lot of the themes of feminine rage (especially in I Want My Innocence Back). She has a lovely voice, too!

I picked this song in particular because of the message perseverance against overwhelming odds. The voice of the song has experienced a lot of tragedy and continues to struggle (with, to me, implications of human trafficking), but they continue to fight day by day, and will not let their voice be silenced. I feel it's a message we should hold on to, especially with many of the problems that have unfolded within the last year.

Everlong/What You Won't Do For Love- Elise Trouw (2018)

An artist my dad introduced me to this year. She's made many of her own original pieces, but there is something very magical about her live loop cover videos. I picked this one since it was the one my dad showed me.

I like that it's a combination of the instrumentals from Foo Fighter's Evelong (even with the first verse eventually quietly featured) and the lyrics of Bobby Caldwell's What You Won't Do For Love. Elise's voice and choice of instruments make it a lovely combination, too. It's a perfect song to chill out to while you're doing some work.

Denial of Endings- Hammock (Love in the Void, 2023)

I loved all of the songs from Hammock's newest album this year, but there is something almost nostalgic with this particular song, and it might have to do with the strongest memory I have associated with it.

I went to a wedding in February and listened to this album on the way to and from the venue. It was a lovely event and I'm glad I got to be there and spend time with friends and celebrate the union of two wonderful people. Listening to this particular song and thinking about the wedding made me realize this was something I was going to remember for a long time.

Die For A Night- ARIZONA (ARIZONA, 2023)

I've been a big fan of Arizona since they released their first singles. It's been really cool to watch them gain popularity, especially since I've seen one of the band members (Nathan) in YouTube comedy skits when I was in middle school.

This song feels like the perfect dance floor song. It's got a great beat to dance to, and the theme of the lyrics is fun too. "I think your kiss might be the death of me, well maybe that'll be alright, I always wanted to die for a night" Like you're risking it for a moment you won't regret doing, even if it's a daunting thing.

Rymden3000- Carbon Based Lifeforms, Not Lars, Ester Nannmark (Seeker, 2023)

I was very excited that CBL released a new album this year, with this particular song being the first I heard thanks to it being released as a single shortly before the release of the entire album.

I love the overall theme and feel of space exploration in this album, which I feel this song captures beautifully, especially with Ester Nannmark's ethereal vocals. It encapsulates the idea of there being so much to explore and the grand mystery of what's left to be found beyond what we currently understand.

Ivory Tower- Scattle (Access Denial, 2023)

This is the first time I've heard Scattle's work, and it was recommended to me this year with the newest album that came out in the summer. I enjoy the entire album but I especially love the vibe from this song.

Each of the songs in the album has a strong darkwave feel, but I feel it's most prevalent in Ivory Tower. It's like you're exploring the titular tower as the song plays, discovering what curios and dangers lurk within and keeping a cautious wonder with you along the way.

Souvenir- Bump of Chicken (Souvenir, 2022)

This was the year that I was able to finally convince my husband to watch SpyXFamily with me! We still need to finish the first season, but we have both been enjoying it since he is a big fan of the spy and espionage elements and I just love the shenanigans the Forger family gets into.

This is the song from season one's second OP, and it's my favorite! I even use it as one of my wake up alarm sounds. I really like the feel-good vibe from the music and the lyrics; the whole thing feels nostalgic especially in combination with the visuals from the opening credits where we see the Forger family enjoying time together.