Forgotten: City and Its Automatons

We lived on borrowed time, we automatons. Every tick of the clock brought us closer to the point when there would be no more rewinding, where our gears would cease to rotate, where our functions would simply stop.

We were unaware of this. Unlike humans, who know their bodies are temporary and fall into lethal disrepair in time, we thought we were built to last. That if we broke, we could be fixed. If we ran out of energy, we could be rewound.We trusted the City to always be there. We trusted there would always be the machinery and the systems to rewind our clockworks, to fix our broken limbs, to improve on the original design.

We trusted the light to dance in the air, the energy to flow, the magic that is machinery to carry us forward. We trusted the City would be there for us whenever we needed it.

The City is broken. The machinery that fixes us is unable to fix itself. The automatons designed to fix others wander aimlessly on the silent streets. With every passing cycle the City drifts, wavers, fades. Disconnected. Malfunctioning. Defective. Like us, Forgotten.

Forgotten City is closing down in September. If you have never visited this astonishing sim, do yourself a favor and go now. If you’re familiar with it, now is the last chance to revisit its magic. I do not know when exactly the sim will close down, but I felt the automatons had a word to share on the subject.

Scene: Forgotten City

Doll: *Tentacio* Galatea Doll: Body Carousel RARE, Head Vamp B, Bra&Thong Gold at The Arcade
Hair: Tableau Vivant: Editorial Underwater Redheads at The Arcade
Particles: Cole’s Corner – Dazed Dancer Aura (Peach)*

Poses: Tabou Irresistible – Pinup Pose 6 | an lar [poses] – The Naken Series Three (m) | Kirin – Hera Pose 4 | Exposeur – Back to Black 8M

QP Agency

Greetings, humanoid of hormonal functions. It is the registered period of time to use various forms of currency and monetary compensations to purchase and acquire items to be delivered to another humanoid of hormonal functions.

Our databanks suggest that the spectrum of purchases varies from indestructible materials such as coal-based condensations to consumables of mostly sucrose content. Perishables, such as various bio-organisms with photosynthetic abilities are also recommended.

We have been given the undestanding that choosing within such a wide spectrum, or even remembering the brief timespan, can be challenging to humanoids. This is why our agency was created. We keep track of your target humanoid’s purchase preferences and then at the agreed time deliver them something we guarantee they will like. 

We will send a forward notification to you with the bill, so the only surprised humanoid is the target, not the one agreeing to our incredibly reliable and affordable contracts. 

QP Agency: The Hormonal Humanoid’s Best Aid.

A post combining Futurewave with Valentine’s? No problem! The outfit and necklace by GALLACTIC, the forehead implant by Bliensen + MaiTai, the circuit makeup by Beautiful Freak and the furniture by 22769 ~ [bauwerk] are all available in Futurewave. The QP Agency’s services, however, are only available far in the future.

Scene: Skybox: Garden of Dreams – Showcase Basalt* | Furniture: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] Snake Sofa White, USB2 Tree, Hexagon Table, Loudspeaker Flower*

Body: Skin: Kooqla – Queens (Black) | Eyes: ~*By Snow*~ Citadel Eyes* | Hair: Analog Dog – Val Blacks | Makeup: Beautiful Freak – Circuit Eye Makeup Bubblegum* 

Outfit: GALLACTIC – Andromeda Dress, Hat, Sash & Sleeves, Callisto Necklace* | Implant: Bliensen + MaiTai – Bionique Implant Forehead Gold* 

Poses: Kirin – Athena Pose 5 & 8 | Part of the sofa.

Upgraded

The house had been upgraded. The destroyed decor had been replaced by a collection of mood masks from the Museum of Martian Colonization. There had been nobody around to object when the little robots rolled in to locate objects of shiny surface and ornamental purpose.

The robot mice had burned and melted in the fire, so the house upgraded the maintenance functions into a bird model. They moved faster and could thus find replacements for furniture as well. Piece by piece they brought in usable parts from the junk yards, piece by piece they put them together again.

The house had been upgraded: if it could, it would feel smug of its masterpiece. No more futile service, no more functions without purpose, no more echoing emptiness within its walls. What it had lacked, it had finally re-created.

The new purpose walked within the walls silently: never eating the food the house prepared, never needing sleep despite the announcements of bedtime, never visiting a bath that was set. In the silence they continued their existence: the house of service and its created inhabitant.

I was going to make a colonist post for A Tattered Page’s The Martian Chronicles round, but as I dressed her up and began considering her surroundings, this simply happened. The setting is mostly from the story There Will Come Soft Rains, featuring the automatized robot-serviced house that keeps on functioning even when its owners have been long dead. The human-looking robotic constructions are present in several stories, for example The Long Years and Usher II. They were very clearly described well made enough to fool humans, and even having very human-like emotions.

The house by Anachron, mask shelf by Black Tulip, furniture by 22769 [bauwerk], the dress by Greymoon and the eyes by Chop Shop are all from the event. The jewelry is from Mandala’s New Year sale that was still going on at the time of this post.

A Tattered Page has a central Library now for your shopping convenience, although the items are also available in the main stores.

Scene: House: Anachron – Soft Rains House Scorched Version* | Mask Shelves: [Black Tulip] – Choose Your Emotion Shelf* | Furniture: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] – Spaceship Junkjard Debris Set* | Birdies: +Half-Deer+ The Mad Scientist’s Birds

Body: Skin: Pink Fuel – Doll V2 Crystal Pure BlkBrow & Eyeshadow Soft Black, Thin Gloss Pink & Harley Blush <Crystal> Pink | Hair: Magika – Written | Hands: Slink | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Eyes: !Chop Shop! – Rocket Summer* 

Outfit: Dress: Greymoon – Nostalgia Blues, Greens, Red Spectrum* | Jewelry: Mandala – Milky Way Set | Shoes & Socks: [Gos] Carrie Pumps

Poses: {Imeka} – Katie-Pose 3 | flowey – a twinge in your heart | (marukin) – [volition] back of a bird

Under the Tree

I shouldn’t really look yet. There’s still many days until 24th. Should be good and keep it all a mystery until then. No point in spoiling your own surprises, now is there?

But I can smell the tree, I can see the shadows the lights cast on the wall, I can almost feel the candles as warmth, there’s so many of them… what was that? There’s sounds! Small shuffling sounds… a small woof!

Shh, this never happened! I’ll re-pack the boxes and pretend to be surprised, yesyes. Or say it was just to save the presents from the rambunctious pup. Yes, perfect excuse!

Shinies and small critters. The very best things under the tree.

The dress by Senzafine, the jewelry by Eclectica, nails by Beautiful Freak and the Pandora gift boxes by Libertine are all available in Gothmas by Gaslight, you can find them in Cursed: straight booth slurls in the credits.

The shoes are an upcoming release by House of Rain: this particular pair will be a part of the 21 Shoe’s exclusive deals on 21st of December. Visit the main store on that day to grab two pairs at the price of one.

The tree and all its decor, the rugs under it and much more are all a part of A Libertine Christmas gacha, which is available in the Midwinter Fair. Decorating the tree is an almost game-like experience of dragging the won ornaments into the tree to unlock the textures and then simply choosing which ones you want in your tree. More information here.

Half-Deer’s helpful snow day bunny is available in Collabor88 and the birdy in The Liaison Collaborative. The lantern by Remarkable Oblivion is from The Arcade.

Scene: ~Libertine~ ~A Libertine Christmas~ Decoratable Tree 2014, ~Libertine~ Sangue Floreale, Rug [Animated], ~Libertine~ Pandora Gifting Set, Yule Ed.,* | Remarkable Oblivion – Holiday Spirit Lantern Wrought | (fd) Animals – Playful Pup Black | +Half-Deer+ Bunny helps with the Decor (Black) | +Half-Deer+ Northern Cardinal M – Static | Eclectica ‘Nightblooms’ Neckpiece | House of Rain – Horror Holiday Shoe 21 shoe exc. – black/red*

Body: Skin: Pink Fuel – Doll v2 Vamp Pure blkbrow | Eyes: IKON – Horizon Eyes v2 Dark Turquoise | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Magika – Written | Hands: Slink | Nails: Beautiful Freak – Dead of Winter Nails* | 

Outfit: Gown: Senzafine – Isadora Dress* | Jewelry: Eclectica – Gothic Pearls Neckpiece & Earrings, Nightblooms Rings* | 

Poses: !bang – mini series overcome 4 | {Imeka} – Lulu-Pose 7 | Part of the rug by ~Libertine~

The Clocktower of Creation

“Miss Anna, I cannot express how happy I am to finally be able to talk to one of you Prototypes, I have been hearing so much about you.”

“The pleasure is all mine, I assure you. I have been designed to feel comfortable and pleased when interacting with humans in a socially acceptable and friendly manner.”

“Feel? I am somewhat surprised to hear you use the word, I hope I do not offend… I was not expecting a… woman that has been designed to speak of feelings.”

“Do not many of the humans also believe they were designed? How is that different?”

“…ah, yes. But um… see, they believe they were designed by… well, not by another human. Speaking of, do you think it is possible for me to speak with him?”

“Find Marie, ask her. She knows such things. Climb on the roof by nightfall, she prefers to do her calculations in the dark.”

“Miss Marie, a word, please?”

“Cuprosklodowskite.”

“…ah. Um. I meant… could I ask you a question?”

“Rhetorical and redundant.”

“…quite right, I already did. I would like to meet and talk with your Maker. How may I achieve this?”

“Put these on to adjust your human sight to see the Clocktower. To the south. Knock on the door. Goodbye.”

“May I just state that it is an honor to finally meet you… I am not even certain what to call you, I have heard so many names. The Prototypes call you Maker, the townsfolk whisper of the Architect, the Scientist and there are even other words floating around…”

“Names do not matter, Miss Journalist. Only my work does.”

“…very well. I can see you are doing just that, working. Is she… I mean… does that hurt?”

“Greta is not sentient yet. No, it does not hurt, she has not been created to feel pain. The others have preliminary nervous systems to aid in self-preservation, but Greta and her partner will not be needing those.”

“…and why is that?”

“Because they are created to aid the Gaze. Captain Lupine sent me a very special and specific request. I am responding in kind.”

“…I see. Actually, I see far from here… the whole of the Spiral. But until Marie gave me these goggles, I did not even know there was a clocktower here.”

“There is always a tower of observation, Miss Journalist. Always.”

A Clockwork Spiral has been visibly inhabited by the Prototypes from Fallen Gods Inc. this year. One can meet Anna, Marie, Oscar and Nikola almost any time one visits the area. They are available as complete avatars, but also sold separately as outfits and skins (Rust appliers in the Materica HUD in the main store). It felt only fitting to have a story of the steam diesel scientist behind them, so Alia Baroque graciously agreed to play the part that is his by right.

In addition to the Prototypes themselves, you can also find Greta’s seat and one of the lamps by 22769 ~ [bauwerk] from the Spiral. The steam arm on the Scientist is by ImmateriA and also available in the event.

Scene for Anna and Marie: A Clockwork Spiral

Clock Tower Scene: Pixel Mode – Clock Tower Sky Box | Volstead – Savoy Table & Vogue Lamp 001* | 22769 ~ [bauwerk] – Steam Powered Pouf & Industrial Floor Lamp* | ~Libertine~ Marquis Master Chair* | E&D Engineering – Thinker’s Work Table & Stool | Hat & Gearbuckle on Greta’s seat from Nikoka Hrdja avatar by Fallen Gods Inc.

Prototypes: Fallen Gods Inc. – Anna & Marie Complete Avatars, Greta’s skin with The Fatal Familial Insomniac head attachment by [ContraptioN]

The Scientist: ~v~ ImmateriA ~v~ Steamarm from Arcane Finery outfit, the rest of the look a part of the mystery.

Poses: {Imeka} – Reika-Pose 1 | Kirin – Athena Pose 2 | Diesel Works – Adam 7 | Sitting poses part of the furniture.

Keep Walking

“Of course we come out at daytime as well. No, the sun does not really burn us. No, we do not turn to stone at the touch of sunlight.”

“Parasols are convenient though, even on beautifully soft and cloudy days. …no, not because of the sunlight, didn’t you listen a word I said? They’re convenient to twirl and preen with, the best accessory of them all.”

“Not to mention that if you fold it, you have a sharp poking stick weapon at hand. Just in case. Where was I? Ah yes, the stories about turning to stone at sunlight? Complete myth and fables.”

“Although if I were you surrounded by all these statues paused in play, I’d keep walking. Just… keep walking. While it’s still daytime.”

World Goth Fair continues to provide you with all the things you need for the darker flair of day or night. You can find the blouse and skirt by Senzafine, tights by ~Cannibelle~, shoes and bracelets by Bliensen + MaiTai, skin by Jalwa and the parasols and poses by {NanTra} from Cursed. The makeup by Beautiful Freak and the hair with veil by Redux! can be acquired from Sium. The eyes by Chop Shop! are available in Port Seraphine.

Scene: World Goth Fair – Port Seraphine

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Celine – Gold Smoke Eyeshadow* | Hair & Veil: Redux! – Mourning Hair & Veil Shadows* | Eyes: Chop Shop! – Morrigan Blue* | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Liner: Beautiful Freak – Demonia Royal* | Nails: Beautiful Freak – Loli Nails* | Hands: Slink

Outfit: Top & Skirt: Senzafine – Belladonna Blouse & Aconite Mini Skirt Sapphire* | Tights: ~Cannibelle~ Lace Insert Tights Black* | Shoes: Bliensen + MaiTai – Morticia Black/Black* | Bracelets: Bliensen + MaiTai – Mano Bracelets* | Necklace & Earrings: House of Rain – Love Hurt Bleed Black* 

Parasols & Poses: {NanTra} Promenade* 

Rabbit Day

It happens every spring: bunny girls appear out of nowhere, wandering around with mysterious baskets with eggs. Are they planting or are they harvesting, one might wonder. Which was first, the bun or the egg? Do they plant the eggs in spring to be harvested as baby bunlings later? Are they responsible for bun-population’s growth like the squirrels tend to trees: by forgetting where they hid their treasures?

Perhaps it’s for the best that we do not know, that we get to simply enjoy the sudden appearance of birdies and eggs, flowers and bunlings, signs of life returning.

After all, it’s better to be completely oblivious in case there’s cunning plots of bunnobility going on. What better time to be crowned as the Leader of All Bunkind than when the population is the largest?

That said: do indulge your bunnies that like to hold odd things on their heads. You never know who you might be talking to!

Ozimals is hosting a wonderfully entertaining Easter-Egg Hunt in Magic of Oz. Port over here, click the poster to receive your egg basket and instructions and start hunting! You can read more about the hunt here. The dress by katat0nik, bangle by +Half-Deer+, sniffing nose by Fallen Gods Inc., burdies by Silent Sparrow and burd-fitting eggs by Schadenfreude are all hunt prizes. The bunnies in the pictures are also hunt prizes: special Easter Elites. As all Ozimals elites, the colouring is just a coat and not a gene: they won’t pass to the new bunlings and underneath the coat is a completely regular random bun.

Scene: First Picture: Magic of Oz | Rabbit Setting: Eggs: Schadenfreude – Burd’s Breakfast < 3 & @, Easter Eggs | Birdies: Silent Sparrow: Lady Burd Dovey, Boi Burd Sunny | Easter Bunnies & Cake: Ozimals – Elite Pysanka Magic & Elite Faith 2014 | Bangle-Crown: +Half-Deer+ Painted Rustic Bangle (Bunny) | Strawberry Feasting: Gumi’s Flower Shop – Table Strawberry Server, Ohmai Steampunk Squirrels & Bunnies

Body: Skin: Essences – Clover 01 Pale Dust Brunette | Hair: Analog Dog – Schnapp Natural Black | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Classic Frozen Silver Bright | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Liner: Pin Me Down – Liner 1 | Blush: Zibska – YesNo Two | Hands: Slink – Casual | Nose: Fallen Gods Inc. – Just Sniffing

Outfit: *katat0nik* Cheeky Bunny Dress Black | Bangle: +Half-Deer+ Painted Rustic Bangle (Bunny) | Ears: +Half-Deer+ Velven Bunny Ears (Angelbloom) RARE | Basket: Ozimals Hunt Basket

Krampus the Yule Yak

It’s almost time. All the signs are there: the shifting colours to very specific spectrum of reds and greens, the emergence of lights in the middle of the darkness, the mistletoe and holly and all other words ending in -olly.

We’ll leave the reindeers to more commercial types and instead set out with yaks. Nobody expects the yak acquisition! Acquisition and re-delivery, that’s the name of the game. The Great Yak Company: bringing smiles and laughter around the world since the… era that you’ve never heard of but is surely there. Yes.

Little Krampus here is a perfect candidate, ready for hours of work to find things that were lost and to bring them to people who miss them. Sometimes it’s the same people, sometimes different. We don’t mind, we’re creative about the whole distribution. It’s not about who throws money around the most, it’s about how to make the most people smile in the end.

So when you have a moment to sit down in all the commercial stress and rush, listen to the clip-clop of tiny yak hooves and prepare to enjoy the spirit of Gothmas: accept yourself with all your misgivings, accept the people around you with all of theirs, take a deep breath and simply smile.

Most of the look can be found in Gothmas by Gaslight: the dress by :{MV}:, the earrings by House of Rain, the eyeshadow by Beautiful Freak and the liner by Pin Me Down are available in Cursed. The ribbony Batty necklace by lassitude & ennui is available in Sium. The delightful stripes in the hair are from the new Winter HUD by Alice Project, colouring your favourite hairdos to new tones. The yule antlers by Cerridwen’s Cauldron are available in the current round of We Love Role-play. The skin by Al Vulo is from The Dressing Room: Fusion, the house by Scarlet Creative from Collabor88, the eyes by Adoness from her Christmas Market and the rocking chair by Atelier Visconti and the yak by +Half-Deer+ from The Garden. The dresser by DIGS, the crown by Schadenfreude and the tree and wreath by Trompe Loeil can be won at The Arcade.

Scene: House: Scarlet Creative – Trilby | Chair: Atelier Visconti – Mont Blanc Rocking Chair | Krampus: +Half-Deer+ Winter Yak Black | Dresser: DIGS – Geary Dresser Moon RARE | Crown: Schadenfreude – Storybook Royalty: Crown of Skulls | Tree: Trompe Loeil – Star Tree | Wreath: Trompe Loeil – Branch Wreath 

Body: Skin: Al Vulo – Mimi Dk dark brow cleavage milk | Eyes: Adoness – Lignum Eyes Weed* | Eyeshadow: Beautiful Freak – Lua Eyeshadow Blood Red* | Liner: Pin Me Down – Julie Eyeliner 8 | Lashes: Redgrave – Luscious | Hair: Alice Project – Bella II* | Horns: Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Yule Antlers*

Outfit: Dress: :{MV}: Translate Dress Crimson* | Shoes: Has Been – Betsy Bow Pumps | Stockings: ~Cannibelle~ Gothic Lace Suspender Tights | Necklace: lassitude & ennui – Batty Necklace Black* | Earrings: House of Rain – Melt Earrings Garnet/Silver* 

Poses: N/A | Kirin – Nina Pose 4 | Part of the chair.

 

 

Gothilocks

But only two bears. Surely this was some sort of bizarro-day in story land, things definitely out of place and overlapping. Holidays mixing with fairytales, critters running from one story to another, no one sticking to the original plans anymore, absolute chaos! (And hijinks and shenanigans.)

There was no porridge nor beds, but a holiday feast and comfy pillows, even a small gingerbread house for noms. Gothilocks wasn’t quite certain why there was a snowshoe rabbit riding a small yak indoors, but surely there’d be an explanation for everything eventually.

The cocoa train kept puffing along steadily while the little arctic fox tried in vain to awaken the doggie that had unfortunately zoomed right through the Sleeping Beauty’s story before landing here. It was all so very peaceful and cosy that it was tempting to close one’s eyes, for just a moment.

But wait, maybe it wasn’t just the doggie… where did all this food come from if not a castle’s kitchen? Definitely not from this cottage, there’s not even a kitchen here! This amount of sleepiness all around cannot possibly be just from relaxed atmosphere… there’s trouble afoot!

Most of the look is from Gothmas by Gaslight. The outfit by Violent Seduction, the furniture by [noctis] and the nails by Pin Me Down are located in Cursed. The skin by Jalwa and shoes and jewelry by Eclectica can be found in Sium. The cocoa train by Lark and the sleepy doggie with pillows and the yak by +Half-Deer+ are from the current round of The Garden. The arctic animals are from a gacha in Beetlebones. The eyes by Adoness are a part of F R O S T and the gingerbread house by Poche is from the Christmas Mini Mall at Naminoke.

Scene: House: Trompe Loeil – Frostbite Cottage White | Rugs: ~Libertine~ Green Brocade Rugs | Train: Lark – Cocoa Express Large Track & Train | Center Pillow & Doggie: +Half-Deer+ Sleepy Italian Greyhound Black & Pillow | Yak: +Half-Deer+ Winter Yak Black (gacha) | Gingerbread House: Poche – Christmas Hexenhaus | Furniture & Tree: [noctis] – Von Scarlet Chairs and Dining Table, Baron Von Scarlet’s Secretary Desk, Gothmas Tree* | Critters: Beetlebones – Arctic Friends – Polar Bear Pals (Snow & Soot), Snowshoe Hare Pal (Snow), Fox (Soot), Snow Owl (snow) RARE

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Zahida Coven Salt Cleavage* | Hair: Wasabi Pills – Kylee Mesh Hair Licorice | Eyes: Adoness – Salina Eyes Starfish* | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hands & Feet: Slink | Nails: Pin Me Down – Gothmas Nails*

Outfit: Dress, Collar & Bow: Violent Seduction – Criminal Monochrome* | Necklace, Rings, Shoes: Eclectica – Catherine Ringsets in black, pendant in pale gold, Gothic shoes in dark* | Stockings: ~Cannibelle~ Bow Suspender Tights

Poses: aDORKable Poses – Sunny 2 | Part of the +Half-Deer+ pillow. | aDORKable Poses – Sunny 3m

Not Quite Twins

Does it really matter if one prefers pastel glow and the other dragon scales? If one’s hair bounces in curly pigtails and the other goes for crimson red with black streaks?

Does the colour of the dress really matter? Black or white, red or purple. To a point it does: the covers reflect inner choices, decisions, preferences. Personality shows in palettes, poses, fabrics, styles. 

Once you go past the clothes, past the colours, past the surface, you’ll realize that there are more similarities than there are differences. Spices, flavors, nuances do not change the fact that in the larger scale of things we are all the same.

Sisters in different personality wrappings.

Almost everything here is from Gothmas by Gaslight. The skins by Fallen Gods Inc. (now complete with Slink appliers, huzzah!), the surroundings from *~by Nacht and the liner by Pin Me Down can be found in Cursed. The jewelry by Bliensen + MaiTai, shoes by .Enfant Terrible., gothbrellas by Pale Empress (gacha) and the dresses by [ SAKIDE ] are available in Sium.

Scene: *~by Nacht – Chalet d’If, Arch Swing (Winter), GxG Gacha Ultrarare Skelly Chair*

Body: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Anemia Opal & Draco* | Hair: Alice Project – Mika & Bethany* | Eyes: IKON – Lucid Eyes Optimism & Utopia Eyes Dark Red | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Liner on Draco: Pin Me Down – Julie eyeliner 8* | Hands & Feet: Slink 

Outfit: Dress: [ SAKIDE ] – Silent Dress White & Black* | Shoes: .Enfant Terrible. – Wrapped Heels Skull Vio & Red Black* | Brooch & Earrings: Bliensen + MaiTai – Drusilla Bow Tie/Brooch & Pearl Earrings* | Parasols: Pale Empress – Lacey Gothbrella Purple & Black/Red RARE*

Poses: N/A | {Imeka~} – Katie Pose 1 & Reika Pose 8