#|music

“Summer” by Joe Hisaishi

I can just imagine this as the OP or ED of an anime, or a gentle montage for passage of time or a conclusion to a story, Cuinn and Azena going about their lives. Maybe travelling from their countryside home to a small city, selling or dropping off their own wares, buying from others. Blue sky, wispy clouds, light breeze. Enjoying each other’s company in a peaceful time and place. The part that starts at 5:17? A brief bout of… panic? Concern!! Maybe they’re about to drop something and it’s flying from hand to hand, maybe they’re watching an expert chef tossing their next meal over a great fire… or maybe there’s a tall crowd and Azena’s pacing around trying to get a look around them.

“Uneasy” (from Plastic Memories) cover by saymenyan

There are a number of covers for this one, all pretty similar, but I picked this one in particular for its softness and pauses. I feel like these gentle lapses could be punctuation equivalent to those times when a gaze is averted or a moment of uncertainty strikes in a relaxed atmosphere. Cuinn and Azena spend a lot of time idle side by side, basking in sun or starlight. Sometimes they talk–sometimes with words, sometimes with touch–sometimes they don’t.They’re quiet and comfortable in each other’s presence, and they’re okay if that’s all they are.

Eddie van der Meer’s cover of Uchiage Hanabi『打上花火』by DAOKO x 米津玄師

This is way late largely in part because it took me so long to find something! The lyrics of the original version don’t fit the relationship and interactions between Cuinn and Luvshan, but I think this instrumental version works pretty well. I feel that acoustic guitar is really nice for them, especially fingerstyle--a little punctuated, a little sharper than strumming, but still fluid and relaxed. This particular song has a homely and comfortable feel. I imagine a sort of slice of life montage with things like them reading books together, sharing a meal, maybe going for a stroll and taking a seat somewhere in the grass and enjoying the sunshine, even if they don’t talk much if at all.

♬ - A battle theme for my muse

The Glitch Mob - “Fortune Days”

[ Instrumental ]

Though not quite as descriptive as 2CELLOS, Glitch Mob does a fine job of illustrating Cuinn’s atmosphere in combat and approach to violence while he’s in a level state of mind. His judgment is generally swift and low key with minimal suffering--a little dark, a little strange.

💓 - A song that embodies the muse’s love for another

Goo Goo Dolls - “Iris”

You’re the closest to heaven that I’ll ever beAnd I don’t want to go home right now…And I don’t want the world to see me‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understandWhen everything’s made to be brokenI just want you to know who I am

This has always been one of my favourite songs (and likely one everyone’s heard!), and one that’s been on Cuinn’s list for a long time though I think this is the first instance I’m using it in a prompt. It’s pretty self-explanatory, but one of the things that really makes it for me is that it’s fair to say he is in love with the sky, yet he could tell someone “you’re the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be.” He yearns for home as well, but he could give it up if it meant being with someone he loves. Being with someone (or people) he cares for is truly a high point for him, and he won’t hesitate to give himself wholly to support them.

🖤 - A song that my muse would dedicate to someone they hate or dislike

Ganju - “Vacuum” | lyrics

How far are we ready to take thisYou sat in silence, hear a voiceBefore it all crumblesLie, rape, steal and murderSmiling I plot your pain

I don’t consider Cuinn a vengeful spirit, but it could be seen as “revenge” the way he hounds people who treat others the way he was treated in Eorzea. He is quiet, he is sweet, he is considerate and generous… but he is comforted–though I’d argue it’s more that he is relieved–by the ending of souls unworthy of power and superiority they don’t deserve but presume to have. And the sound of this song feels stuttering, broken, as disjointed as Cuinn sometimes is.

🎶 - A song that gets the mun into the muse’s headspace

Big Wreck - “Ghosts”

And if my scars were tattoosI could hide them in plain viewIf these ghosts let me goI would set fire to them all

“Ghosts” by Big Wreck. Nothing aggressive, with an air of desire–for anything; for freedom; for comfort–and acceptance, that this is how things are. And this is how they will be, until the “ifs” become reality. This is another song that I could almost see Cuinn singing if he was a better singer and brave enough to give his voice more strength. Alternatively, imagine the artist with a lower voice and a slower tempo…

😡  - A song that embodies my muse’s aggression/angst

MYTH & ROID - “JINGO JUNGLE” | lyrics 

Showing up...　Showing up...A lynching disguised as moral justice brings torment... torment...You're the same...　You're the same...Your true nature lies in the ugliness of defending your virtue!

So this is a very different sound than what I normally pick for Cuinn--usually something heavier, sound-wise. But these lyrics are plenty compensation. It has an air of being driven to madness, which is relevant to Cuinn’s history (as are the lyrics above) and, to a lesser degree, his darkside (though to be clear, darkside has never been the reason for any of his deeds). A part of him wants to wreak havoc because he has few other outlets and fewer people--who could accept his outlook--to go to when he needs help. Little has changed for him in the last near-decade.

As an aside, I imagine that this could be the voice of his darkside. The grittier, heavier voice would definitely be Cuinn himself, which brings up some interesting questions...

Admittedly this one had me stumped for the longest time and I struggled to answer my other asks because this was foremost on my mind! I tried really hard to find a song that related to Cuinn in lyrics, sound, and voice--I even considered looking for an artist who had a similar accent but I managed to reign in my ridiculous criteria. Glad I didn’t go with that.

So here’s “Lions” by William Fitzsimmons. Most of his stuff, actually, reminds me of Cuinn, though the lyrics are a little more direct on heartbreak than is applicable. If his voice was a touch deeper, I’d say this is pretty well perfect.

Cuinn is generally soft-spoken, not very articulate--have you seen his vague comments in action? yes--and keeps his struggles and experiences on the lowdown. He’s not much of a singer but if he were to sing, he would definitely be ambiguous in his lyrics, and it would be reminiscent of how he normally speaks.

Music Name Challenge: A mix for Cuinn Kha.

Steppe Hawk (Listen on 8tracks)

Part 1

Colder Heavens - Blanco White | YouTube

Unwell - Matchbox Twenty | YouTube

I Don’t Why Know - Imagine Dragons | YouTube

New Ways - Daughter | YouTube

Never Come Back Again - Austin Plaine | YouTube

Part 2

Keep Me Breathing - Ashes Remain | YouTube

He Films the Clouds Pt. 2 - Maybeshewill | YouTube

Animal I Have Become - Three Days Grace | YouTube

[[ I cheated and reused two of these because they are very Cuinn and I love them a lot. I don’t think I’ve used the others ones (in memes). If you wanna see my previous go at this (over a year ago!), you can find it here! ]]

Rules : Find music for each first letter of your character name. It’s always better if it fits to them but it’s not mandatory !

Tagged by : @grumpy-limsan-customs-cat & @jlaweez ! Thanks I hate it. ;-;

Tagged by @etro-ascalon​. Thanks! ...This was a lot of work.

Musical Name Meme: A mix for Cuinn, the “Hawklet.”

Sometimes Beautiful & Sometimes Insane (Listen on 8tracks)

Part 1

Crush Him - Noisia | YouTube

Ultra - KMFDM | YouTube

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For - U2 | YouTube

Nothing At All - Rob Dougan | YouTube

Never-Ending Story - Within Temptation | YouTube

Part 2

Heist - Lindsey Stirling | YouTube

A Stranger I Remain - Jamie Christopherson | YouTube

Why - Ayaka | YouTube

Kioku - See-Saw | YouTube

Lost Pieces - Yasunori Mitsuda | YouTube

Everything Fades - Poets of the Fall | YouTube