I find a lot of inspiration in music, so I make playlists for everything I write. Yes, every fic, every original story - they all have playlists somewhere! It helps me get into the right headspace, generate new ideas, and dig into what characters might be thinking or feeling. While some instrumentals and such might be vibes-based, the ones with lyrics are chosen specifically because they fit the characters' backstories or feelings as the story occurs. I have a fairly sizeable playlist for Encore, Encore and thought it'd be better to share a curated version of it instead of the whole thing! So, here we go, with commentary by track.

Until Next Life by Lorien Testard & Alicia Duport-Percier

Of course I had to choose at least 1 track by Lorien Testard and Alicia Duport-Percier. Of course it's the one about the man whose time flows off beat. Or should I say men in this case?

You'll learn that all is not in vain All that matters remains But it's time to say goodbye Until next life A man whose steps leave no trace A man whose voice sounds like tears A man whose memory erase A man whose time flow off-beat

How could I not include this when, in this fic, it fits both Verso and Gustave so well? An impossible challenge to me.

2. Colder Heavens by Blanco White (the fic's theme song!)

I'm very serious when I say that this song is the fic's theme. Maybe it's not what one would choose if doing, say, a title credits sequence, but this song gets to the true heart of Encore, Encore. Once more, it fits both Gustave and Verso... and Maelle.

In every corridor that shifted the maze No single part of you was ever the same Now we're so tired by the things we have seen All we've forgotten only visits in dreams [...] Sometimes I get the feeling I'm lost Just hiding it is never enough Now I find in every mirror a ghost

We've got the core of it: Gustave and Verso being unable to escape the maze that is their lives yet being changed at every turn, becoming more and more tire the longer they go on. They hardly remember anything except the endless marching of days sometimes. It burdens them so heavily that, at times, they can hardly bare wearing the mask even when it feels necessary.

It's the same for Maelle: though she's forgotten she's a Peintresse, though she's forgotten Gustave's deaths through sheer force of will, ultimately... those truths will always come back to her in dreams.

Also, when the last repeated line hits, "Heaven's over now, gone away," I can't help but imagine the Gommage to that fluttering guitar, the fading voice, the chorus slowly joining in... it feels so ghostly. It often gives me goosebumps just imagining it.

3. Copycat by the New Division

Sick of your life You lust for a knife You lust for a life

Verso, sick of his life, wishing he had a life that was his own yet lying at every available opportunity to preserve his plan, wishing that someone, anyone would pick up his lies and stop him before it's too late. Imagine living your whole life on this delicate balance, especially now with someone you're falling for: you want them to notice that you're living a lie so they can really connect with you and help you. You don't want them to notice because you don't want to be talked out of it. You want to be noticed. You don't. You want it.

4. Goliath by Woodkid

With this track, we go from the acceptance of desolation and loss to seething anger. This track is post-Old Lumiere, with Gustave being forced to reconcile his conflicting feelings about Verso with what needs to be done to stop the Peintresse. The more Gustave forgives Verso, the more it backfires.

In your eyes, night cold, I see the end of us You're playing your best role but the mask shatters Where are you going, boy? When did you get so lost? How could you be so blind? How could you be so blind?

Also, not gonna lie, I think it's funny that this line - literally the first line of the song - feels like Renoir separating Gustave's head from his body over and over on the Stone Wave Cliffs:

The chest and the head divided by a white laser

5. Divine by Ember Falls

I won't go, I won't go / I won't leave you here alone / I'll remain, I'll remain / I won't let you down again

Hear me / You and me / We'll be there across the sea / Where this war has no reign / And we can sleep

Gods. Okay. Verso and Gustave both swearing to each other that they'll help each other and wanting to be together at the end of it all BUT

I'm not afraid to die this way [...] I would trade eternal life for a touch of the divine

Let me make a bridge to bind our thoughts / Even if I only get to share one / I would waive forever just to hear your voice again

I cannot stress enough how crazy thing song makes me at times. What do you MEAN it Gustave and Verso and Maelle and Aline and everybody in this damn story??? CRAZY. But I keep hinting that Maelle recalls Gustave's deaths as nightmares because she refuses to accept it as fact... an increasingly important fact as the story moves on!

The parts of the playlist below have not yet happened! They contain hints and clues as to what's going on so be forewarned.

6. Hurt by One Desire

While "Colder Heavens" is the story theme, this song, "Hurt," is the Gustave + Verso love theme and OUCH. I think you all can figure out pretty easily where this song fits and why. Just look at the lyrics:

But trouble came for what I left behind / Hey, was it all pretending?

Ouch, my heart!

They say this world will not run dry / So where's the hope you feel the same as me? / (Cause I never saw the fall) / And it was never ending

OUCH, my heart!

Hurt / Does it matter where the pain is coming from / When it still burns? / And the fire here inside me wasn't enough / Will we still love? / Can't you see that there was never ending love? / And it's still here / And it's still here / And it's all alone / And it's all alone

OUCH, MY HEART!!!

There is a VERY specific place in the upcoming story where I think this song fits the most. I'll give y'all a hint: Bourgeon.

7. Fearless Pt. II by Lost Sky & Chris Linton

A Verso song! A Verso character development song!

The pain I felt is paid for, all is said and done / I am restricted, fixed upon the web / I need to kick the habit / That my mind is breathing in

I am conflicted / Watching where I step / Still, hangin' in the balance / Not the life I want to live / I want to take it all, standing tall / Fear outweighed the person you are

Verso is going to grow, I swear! And he will do so because he's inspired by Gustave! But ALSO... he's still conflicted on some very serious issues that the fic will address as it goes on.

8. Gates by Speak

A song for Verso and Gustave both slowly coming to terms with what they are for each other and that they need to do right by each other. Well, Gustave at least has that second part down, but Verso needs to learn it too.

This is my second life / And it's hell or paradise / Those circles in your eyes

Maybe we'll get it all / If we choose one night / And we both choose right

Dude, the YEARNING. The TRYING TO BE BETTER. Literally, I won't live my life again!

9. Out of the Dark by Young Lions

This song is about saving a friend from suicide even when you feel like you're good for nothing. I mean... come on.

It was light when I came back to life

The first lyric is already hitting just right!

Oh, are you close? Are you far? / Can you hear when I say from my heart / I was there at the edge of the earth / I was screaming to pull you out of the dark

Oh man, I am SO not normal about this. I think you can all see why I included it. But I think once you read what I have planned for the ending, you will understand.

But I found out music can pull you out of the dark

The last lyric is also so fitting!

10. Don't Look Back by Kotomi & Ryan Elder

This song is apparently from Rick & Morty which I've never seen so I don't know the full context but I like this song a lot from the vibe + lyrics. Specifically, it's about learning to let go of the past that has been dragging you down and to face your fears so you can live the life you've always wanted to.

Don't look back / Nothin' left to see / Just leave the shadows in the past / If I let it go / Can I shake this feelin'?

Just like that / Tomorrow's one day that I'm never getting back / I can feel you, though / Wake me from this dreamin'

We're reaching the true fulfilment of forgiving each other, forgiving ourselves, learning to embrace both the present and what you can make out of your future. This will be, of course, a key theme as we keep moving on through the story.

11. Ocean Eyes by Dakota Deyoc

And we've reached our happy ending.

Purple foam crashes on the sand / Sinking starlight hand in hand / Feel your heat embrace the chill / Love me until your soul is filled

Partly shy, partly blind / No matter where it's you I find / Heaven hears our earthly sighs / And lives inside your ocean eyes

And that's a wrap on the curated playlist! I have lots of other songs on the uncurated playlist that I'm happy to share also, but just these 11 I think set up the major themes of the story's progression pretty well.