spring kiss : after words

 ***spoilers ahead

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this puzzle started with the alternating stair steps and without seeds ~ i chose TAKE A CHANCE ON ME first and the downward 15 (THAT'S A TALL ORDER) seemed like a response to it 

then i was playing around with amuselabs features and ended up liking the look of curves in the grid

words/clues i liked most were CAT, IRIS, CINNAMON, CAJOLE, CRADLED , USES*, and HENNA (saira hussain's designs are my favorite <333)

i also like how the bottom right's " WANTED / IM HERE / GOLDEN " look and sound together

* you can read "the uses of anger" here