Out of the Shadows

Into the sun. It’s in a way exactly what the Sophie Lancaster Foundation is about: working on spreading tolerance to include also the people who simply dress differently. It’s rather mind-breakingly sad that this has to be any kind of issue, but we all know it is. The world is exactly that sometimes: mind-breakingly sad.

There should be a base respect within us for other human beings, no matter what they look like or how they dress. It is strange how much easier it is to channel all the negativity you feel toward anything different than to face what is really the matter. No one can change how people react toward differences, but we can change what is considered different. Eventually.

Most importantly, we should — everyone should — stop trying to hide in the shadows and simply be who you are, no matter if it fits in the norm or not. Same of course vice versa, don’t try to be something you are not. Simply be yourself. Be so proudly, in the sun. The norm will change in time: gradually, eventually, one person at a time.

Almost everything in the look can be found in the World Goth Fair that has just opened. Evie’s Closet, lassitude & ennui and +Half-Deer+ can be found in Port Seraphine and The Plastik, Beautiful Freak and Pin Me Down are on Cursed.

Scene: World Goth Fair Cursed

Body: Skin: The Plastik – Astrali Skin Rapture Heavy* | Eyes: Beautiful Freak – Chloral Goblin Green* | Liner: Pin Me Down – The liners 1* | Hair: Alice Project – Steph*

Outfit: Dress: Evie’s Closet – Morrow* | Necklace: lassitude & ennui – Macabre silver_red* | Skull: +Half-Deer+ The Necromancer’s Headdress (Black Stripes)*

Poses: PoseMonster – Stand 56 & 52*

Zodiac: Taurus

Steady, reliable, practical and patient, that’s the bull of the Zodiac. Often called stubborn, they simply know their goals and work toward them one step at a time with a calm, pragmatic mindset. Once the goal is reached, Taurus will reap the benefits and enjoy them, for it is also the most materialistic of the signs.

Taureans know how to make money and they also know how to enjoy it. They work hard for the rewards and then spend in quality and comfort. These are the lovers of good wine and cuisine, soothing surroundings, fine furnishings and luxury. Considering how sensual this sign ruled by Venus is, one could also say that these are the lovers, period.

Although Taureans generally value harmony in their lives and are stable, calm people, if you do manage to anger one you can prepare yourself for getting your fair share of the horns. Being an earth sign the pragmatism tends to ground them fast enough, though, and the bull returns to its peacefully persistent path toward her goals.

Stubborn, sensual, loyal, patient, romantic, pragmatic and even easily indulgent, Taureans work hard in their lives and then invest both in material wealth and personal harmony at home and in their relationships.

The Patience-dress by lassitude & ennui, Aphrodite hairstyle by Alice Project and Taurus skin by Essences are all available in the current round of Zodiac. The Janna Statement Necklace by Glam Affair is available in FaMESHed.

Scene: Garden of Dreams – Dining Room* | ~Libertine~ Delicacy Tray: fruit and wine, Rubens Leucippus Goblet, Cushions red*

Body: Skin: Essences – Taurus 02 brunette | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Classic Summer Breeze Bright | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hairstyle: Alice Project – Aphrodite*

Outfit: Dress: lassitude & ennui – Patience brown* | Necklace: Glam Affair – Janna Statement Necklace Gold/Orange | Spoon: Illusory – Dessert Bunny Chocolate Mint

Poses: N/A | Olive Juice – Oh, these old things? | PoseMonster – Stand 34

Black and White

Sometimes they are both red. Every story has at least two sides to it and often one is painted black, the other white. Fairytales do this, many books and movies do this, presenting the side that the main character is not on in simplistic unlikeable hues. One can always recognize a more realistic story from having more than two sides, none of them truly evil or good, but with more developed agendas of their own.

Despite all this we all enjoy a story with clear cut division. We were raised on fairytales, with heroes and villains, with arch-enemies worth an epic struggle. There are many such pairings in fantasy, but one of the more popular ones in recent years has been vampires and werewolves. Both traditionally evil, simply different viewpoints to their supernatural existences. Vampires tend to at least pretend to be urban, civilized, cultured and decadent. Werewolves are seen to represent nature, uncontrolled passions, rage and brutality.  Maybe that is why they have been so popular lately: a step away from black and white, both dancing in their own shades of grey, always ready to be covered in red.

No matter which side of the red you favor, both skins by Fallen Gods Inc. are currently available in the We Love Role-play event and you can locate the werewolf’s scale pauldrons by [HANDverk] in there as well. Both outfits are new releases by [ SAKIDE ] and both hairdos are by Alice Project, the vampire’s curls can be found in the current round of FaMESHed.

Vampire: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Ghost xx War SB* | Hair: Alice Project – Serena* | Eyes: Repulse – Mystic Eyes Red | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Lipstick: M.O.C.K. Cosmetics – Sarah Jane’s Bloody Lipcolor | Blood: A Netherworld – Mmmm Blood! | Outfit: [ SAKIDE ] – Prima Outfit & Voulez-vous Corset* | Necklace: [HANDverk] Pearl Necklace Black/Silver*

Werewolf: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Fur xx Red/beast runner* | Hair: Alice Project – Sari* | Eyes: Repulse – Lacerated v2 Green | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Outfit: [ SAKIDE ] – Lush Top Black, Lush Leather Shorts & Appeal Boots Black* | Pauldrons: [HANDverk] Scale Pauldrons Black Small*

Poses: aDORKable Poses – Melancholy 4&4M | Exposeur – Call the Shots 3&3M

Conquering the Grid

Roleplay. It’s about time it gets a bigger spotlight on it in Second Life. To me it is what the grid should be about, with all the means to make impossible possible, to turn any vision in your head into reality, to share any flight of fancy you might entertain with others. No definitions but your own.

To me roleplay is more than just swords and spells, to me all the models, children, pageants, even the majority of the people who claim not to roleplay at all still do: it does not have to be an elf or a dragon to count as roleplay. Please do not take this as an accusation of being insincere, take it as an inclusion, a praise of being able to weave around your personality and expand on it, to enjoy parts of yourself that might not get focus in the life behind the screen. We all do this. We all enjoy this. Let’s respect each other for it.

In some ways, the masks we wear might be more true to ourselves, to our spirits, than the mundane details. Where better to let them shine than in the world where anything is possible? I say it’s time to conquer the grid back for roleplay, one prim, pixel and avatar at a time.

If you recognize any of this in yourself, if you feel like taking a step to more traditionally defined roleplay, there is a completely new monthly event called We Love Role-play that has just opened its doors. The shop list is impressive, so I encourage all of you to go and have a look!

The Fire and Blood outfit by The Muses, the Jaw Breaker sword by [EZ] Weaponry and the Unseelie mask by *~*Illusions*~* can all be found in the We Love Role-play event. The Disna hair by Alice Project is available in the current round of FaMESHed.

Scene: Surroundings: *~by Nacht – The Cloisters* | Fountain: Trident – “Crimson Fields” Fountain (KoH hunt, not available anymore)

Body: Skin: Glam Affair – Mia Fairy Tales 2012 03 A | Eyes: IKON – Utopia Eyes Dark Red | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Liner: Pin Me Down – Liner 6* | Hair: Alice Project – Disna*

Outfit: Armored Dress: The Muses – Rainha* | Mask: *~*Illusions*~* Unseelie Mask & Headpiece | Sword: [EZ] Weaponry – Jaw Breaker*

Poses: aDORKable Poses – 19 of 25 2012 | Poise – GA 3*

Forest Dragon

Not all dragons are roaring flames and burninating the countryside (sorry, I could not help myself). Nor are they dark menace made out of greed and tyranny. Some of them are protective, nourishing forces of nature.

Forest dragons must prefer shapechanging for practical reasons, not much left of the forest if you stomp through them as a dragon. It is also easier to aid other creatures when they are not expecting you to snack on them any given moment.

If you lack the ability to shapechange or help with magic, there is an excellent opportunity to do so with a much more mundane means: money. Isle of Wyrms is holding a spring festival that will benefit St. Tiggywinkes Animal Hospital in the UK. You can find many a wondrous thing on their marketplace, for example this Draco Laguna skin by Fallen Gods Inc. Half of the price will go to the charity while the festival is going on (skins available afterwards in the main store). The festival will end tomorrow (April 14th), so fly over to shop while you still can!

Scene: Forest: Studio Skye – Enchanted Woods | Arch: Coco Creations – Regal Arch (Pose Fair until April 14th)

Body: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Draco Laguna Scaled Marks Dormient | Hair: Alice Project – Heather* | Eyes: Repulse – Cyborg v3 Eyes Red 

Outfit: Mask: *~*Illusions*~* Unseelie Mask & Headpiece

Poses: Part of the arch.

Busy Mode

Sometimes life resembles juggling more than anything else. Keep everything in motion, one part at a time, one movement after another. Don’t think, don’t analyse  just keep going. Catch the umbrellas before the wind pulls them away. Or the privateering bunnies hijack them as an impromptu airship flotilla.

There’s a rhythm to juggling — or keeping all your thoughts balanced and somewhat grounded — if you let one escape you’ll be spending all your time chasing it and when you get back to the others, they’ve floated away as well. Don’t lose focus, stick to the rhythm, don’t let anything distract you.

If everything else fails: prioritize and have a cup of coffee, then start all over. The coffee will help.

The parasols by HANDverk and the poses by PictureThis! are available in Pose Fair until April 14th. You can find the umbrellas in Exposeur’s booth, since they were designed for those poses. I just had too much fun juggling air flotilla bunnies instead of using them as intended. The Bells II hairstyle by Alice Project is available in the current round of FaMESHed. The accessories on Kimallus — the black bad-ass bunny — and the earring on Latte as well as my dress are all new releases by Zibska. Same goes for the Thorny Eye makeup by Beautiful Freak and the bracelets by House of Rain.

Scene: Forest: Studio Skye – Enchanted Woods | Umbrellas: HANDverk – April Showers Parasols* | Coffee Cup: Schadenfreude – Tako Teacup (latte) | Bunny Accessories: Zibska – Luli Earring, SpringSprangSprung Hat, Hailey Fling Pauldron* | Bunnies: Ozimals

Body: Skin: League – Sia Fair Bloom | Hair: Alice Project – Bells II* | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Summer Wheat | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Eyeshadow: M.O.C.K. Cosmetics – Pantone Spring Collection eShadow Poppy Red | Eyeliner Tattoo: Beautiful Freak – Thorny Left Gold* | Hands: Slink – Mesh Hands Casual | Feet: Slink: Mesh Feet

Outfit: Dress: Zibska – Hailey Ruby* | Bracelets: House of Rain – As Darkness Falls Bracelets B Ruby/Gold & Amber/Gold*

Poses: PictureThis! – InMotion1 & InMotion2

Growth

Once upon a time I roleplayed a dryad called Halava. She was a lithe little thing, recently re-emerged from her sanctuary tree, fully recovered from the catastrophic wounds of the past but still young as dryads go. She wore a skin from Fallen Gods Inc. and very little else, so when the new tone of Crystals appeared in Skin Fair, I knew Halava would grow up.

More magic-infused than her younger self, she glows of the regenerative powers coursing ever so slowly through the veins that would bleed sap instead of blood. Her resemblance has turned more human due to spending more time with these brief-lived, rushing, nonsensical  creatures.

Experience comes slow to tree dryads as they take their time to observe and consider, not unlike the ents of other myths. Her younger self was oblivious to humanoid cultures beyond ancient mythical Greek ones and considered everything she witnessed with non-judgmental eyes, accepting everything as equally strange and normal part of the human behaviour. Given enough years she would have matured and formed opinions on what is good for growth and what unnaturally detrimental.

I would like to think that despite gaining more experience, more maturity, she would have kept her simple view on life, innocence and acceptance. Nurturing growth and avoiding the rot, as trees do.

The musk tone of Crystal line is currently available in the Skin Fair and they come in both female and male versions, as usual. The only decoration a dryad needs is actually a fascinator by Zibska, a part of the set available in L’Accessoires. The Victoria hairstyle by Alice Project is one of her new releases and it is tinted with the new anime hair colour HUD that is available in the Anime Hunt 2.

Scene: Studio Skye – Enchanted Tree Tunnel

Body: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Crystal Musk OpalFae Gloss* | Eyes: IKON – Eternal Eyes Green XL | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Alice Project - Victoria * 

Outfit: Leaves in Hair: Zibska – Leigh Fascinator*

Poses: aDORKable Poses – 25 of 25 2012 | PoseMonster – Stand 58 & Stand 54

Night Is Not A Colour

It’s a sensation. It’s a state of mind. A scent, a sound, an understanding. Best felt with eyes closed. Night cannot be a colour for it is full of colours, darkness painted with subtle hues, decorated with lights, constructed of shadows. The longer you watch the night, the more you see that it could never be caught in a one simple hue.

Day reveals what our shapes seem to be, lighting our forms, showing the outer surfaces, bringing every curve, scar and scale to plain sight. Night hides the surfaces and lets you breathe with your senses. It allows you to feel as a whole being instead of a spirit bound in a flesh prison.

Night is not a colour: it is the safety of a hiding place, being unseen. It is the danger of all the monsters in your mind lurking around you. It is freedom from norms, it is a palette of shades, a feeling at the back of your neck that is ancient: be awake, be aware, be wary.

New round of Genre has started and this time the focus is on gothic beauty. The Blood Snakes skin by Fallen Gods Inc., Futakuchi Onna outfit by Bare@Rose and the bench by Painfully Divine are all available in Genre.

Scene: The Ruins: *~by Nacht – The Abbey | Bench: Painfully Divine – Little Gothic Bench Onyx

Body: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Blood Snakes xx + Dark Tears (Genre Special)* | Eyes: Repulse – Demonic v3 Eyes Red | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Alice Project – Zephyra*

Outfit: Bare@Rose – Futakuchi Onna

Poses: PoseMonster – Stand 100 | Part of the furniture. | PoseMonster – Stand 90

Nothing But Skin

It is a vulnerable state, wearing nothing but your skin. Leaving the cultural taboos and sexuality aside, nudity exposes us. There is nothing between us and the surrounding world, us and the other people. No layers of cloth to form an armor, no distractions, no pretension.

We’re not used to such openness anymore, we’re used to being able to select what kind of mask of implications we present for the world to see. When we are robbed of our covers, the timidness easily settles in.

Underneath the protection of all the masks and armor there is sensitivity bruised by the lightest of touches, spirits wishing to be understood and accepted, hiding in the darkness under the layers of shields out of fear, out of tiredness.

Perhaps, just perhaps, if we dared to look in the mirror without wearing a mask, if we dared to leave the armor aside for just a moment, we could learn to understand and accept ourselves. Whether the others do or do not depends on who we meet, but if we do not accept ourselves first, how could they?

Skin Fair has opened its doors and Essences is releasing a new Clover skin line there. I have adored their soft shading and strong eyebrows for a long while now, but what really delights me is the pale skin tone options. Most skins on the grid are way too tan for my taste and so every skin designer who makes truly pale tones is a triumph to find.

Scene: Studio Skye – Enchanted Tree Tunnel

Body: Skin: Essences – Clover 01 Pale Dust Brunette* | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Classic Frozen Silver Bright | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Alice Project – Sunny*

Poses: Poise – Vogue 10 | Exposeur – When You’re Smiling 3 | aDORKable Poses – 3 of 25 2012

T is for Tavern

It is the center of any town and the beginning of countless adventures. You can meet all sorts of people in there, from townsfolk to travellers passing by. There’s respectable wives and tradeswomen handling their business or perhaps looking to hire some help

There’s the barmaids and serving wenches milling about, occasionally dropping something not too important to get an excuse to lean down and pick it up: it’s good for the tips.

Perhaps even the elusive members of the local clergy — or whatever spiritual organization should there be present in the town — looking for help in a quest of utmost importance.

Whatever you are looking for, tavern should be the first place to check: the very least you’ll find pleasant company and good drinks and that’s already worth of a quest, isn’t it?

The Muses has just released three new dresses for the more commoner styled medieval women: Tika, Tansy and Tysha. The furniture by ~Libertine~ is really meant to be a Warrior Hall, but I used it as a tavern here. It’s available in the current round of Genre. 

Scene: House: Trident – Nordmaar House III | Furniture: ~Libertine~ Legends, Hall*

Tika the Tradeswoman: Skin: League – Sia Fair Bloom | Hands: Slink – Mesh Hands Casual | Eyes: IKON – Horizon Eyes v2 Dark Turquoise XL | Hair: Sky Everett – Tudor Lady Katherine | Dress: The Muses – Tika Dress Brick* | Necklace: Trident – Thassa Necklace III | Pose: Poise – Vogue 9*

Tansy the Barmaid: Skin: League – Sia Fair Bloom | Hands: Slink – Mesh Hands Casual | Eyes: IKON – Horizon Eyes v2 Dark Turquoise XL | Hair: =DeLa*= Evita Black 2 | Dress: The Muses – Tansy Dress Forest* | Pose: Pose Plastique – By the Water 1

Tysha the Priestess: Skin: League – Sia Fair Bloom | Hair: Alice Project – Zephyra* | Eyes: IKON – Eternal Eyes Peak XL | Dress: The Muses – Tysha White* | Necklace: House of Rain – First and Last and Always Pearl* | Pose: Exposeur – When You’re Smiling 3