The Light of the New Year

It’s a sunrise in the horizon of the Long Dark. It promises fresh snow, new winds, paths never walked before. It tells you all the dark things on your journey will be left behind, that they cannot cross over to this side. It lies. We carry the light with us, just like we carry the dark, and it is up to us to let them go or keep them close, it is up to us to choose. Regardless, in the light of the first new day of our lives it is always easier to be resolute, always easier to believe we will choose well. Perhaps that is the whole meaning of it, to give us that boost of energy to continue trying our best to make good choices, to encourage others to do so, to share our light with each other. 

Here’s to the new year, new world, shared light! May we make it the best of the years yet.

 

Skin: Pink Fuel – Doll v2 V2 Vamp
Mesh: Maitreya Lara Body & Slink Hands
Hair: Magika – Honey Whiskey
Gown & Jacket: Just Because – Christine
Bracelets: MANDALA – Shippoah
Snowflake & Pose: Astalianda – Snowstar (free gift, currently available under the tree in Selidor)

The Season of Whitecold

The few hours of warmer colours encourage frolicking in the snow, enjoying life in the downpour of glittering, fluttering stars. Just for those few moments before the approaching dark arrives. 

As the light wanes, darker creatures emerge from under the stairs, from the shadows, from the frozen spaces between the quick touches of sun.

They appear solid frozen as first, and you might have to glance at them from the corner of your eye to see them move at all, but as golden tones turn to blue, they are suddenly everywhere, skittering on the ice.

Cold cannot hurt them. They, and many other creatures of the night, indulge in the longdark, in the frost, in the starlight captured in small glints on the snow. It is their season, the season of whitecold.

Scene:
Stairs: {anc} NO LIMITS. Stairs for moonlight 46Li RARE
Chapel: {anc} EDEN. chapel / old . 35Li
Snow: {anc} snow ground (mesh uneven ground) white 1Li
Doves: {anc} NO LIMITS // various different doves
Hound: meadowWorks – Greyhound Poser*
Imps: lassitude & ennui – Mischievous Imps Gacha*

Character:
Skin: Pink Fuel – Doll V2 <Vamp>
Hair: !lamb. Bang Bang Ink
Eyes: IKON – Deadshine Eyes Paradise
Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious
Nails: Beautiful Freak – Dead of Winter*
Coat & Hat: Fallen Gods Inc. & FAIDA – Ekaterina White*
at Wayward Winter (event ends on 31st January)
Necklace: House of Rain – The Luxury of Tears*
Hands: Slink Casual

Poses:
NanTra – Eternal Beauty 6M
:Picture This!: Jewelry Model 3 Mirror
NanTra – Requiem 1 mirror

Within and Waiting

Did you really think we were gone? The phantasms of the night, the grim terrors from under your bed, the dancers in the dark, the seduction of the shadows?

Did you think your rules and laws and denial of your own imagination locked us out? That all your burning mountains of books and censoring of the stories old as time removed us from existence?

You cannot destroy us for there are always those flying on the wings of fantasy, delighting in visions and what-ifs, those who are mortal enemies of the Moral Climates of Realism.

You cannot destroy us for we are within you. Silly human. We are within you and waiting.

I was delighted to find Usher II in Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles. Not only because of the goth opportunities it provided, although I admit enjoying classic Poe-induced drama within a scifi mindset, but mostly because of its message. Of humankind becoming an enemy of its own imagination and banning all the flights of fancy, all stories that are not strictly based on reality. Now that is a depressing vision of the future and well worth the vengeance Mr. Stendahl so cunningly wove in the story.

The outfit by Pale Empress and the eyes by !Chop Shop! are both from A Tattered Page. There is now a central Library for your shopping convenience, although the items are also available in the main stores.

Scene: *~ by Nacht ~ The Crypt 

Body: Skin: Kooqla – The Queens Black w/o brows | Brows: +Nuuna+ Black Eyebrows | Liner: Beautiful Freak – Odetta Eye Makeup Blood Red* | Eyes: !Chop Shop! – Crystals | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hands: Slink | Nails: Beautiful Freak – Lucrezia ldg2* | Hair: Analog Dog – Tootsie Blacks

Outfit: Gown & Mask: Pale Empress – Usher II* | Jewelry: House of Rain – Horror Holiday Necklace & Earrings*

Poses: {NanTra} – Eternal Beauty 6M | {R} G1 | {NanTra} – Eternal Beauty 2M

The Golden Dawn

It has arrived again, the change of number, the resolutions and promises, decisions and devotions. For a moment everything seems new and fresh, full of possibilities. The new golden dawn of unknown.

There’s no knowing what it’ll be filled with, what it’ll entail, what joys or sorrows. No knowing, just plenty of wishes, hopes and plans. For this one moment everything seems possible. This year we’ll climb over all the obstacles to plant our flags on that One Achievement we all dream of: happiness. The decision makes us feel good, makes us stronger, the realization everything is possible, always, still possible.

The one thing we miss in this grand scene is the simple truth that every dawn is a new one. Every day ready to be a font of happiness, rich of joy and fulfillment. Once we manage that, once the delight of decisions fills us every day, then our dawns will truly be golden and covered with genuine riches of the heart.

Happy New Year, may it be full of fun, delight and happiness!

The gown by Nylon Outfitters, collar by [The Forge] and the headdress by Eudora 3d are all from the current round of Uber.

Scene: HPMD* Christmas Tree (2014 GG)

Body: Skin: Essences – Clover 01 Pale Dust Brunette | Hair: D!va – Chika4 Type B Onyx | Eyes: IKON – Hope Eyes Leonine | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Liner: Beautiful Freak – Odetta Eye Makeup Gold* | Blush: Zibska – YesNo Two 

Outfit: Gown: (NO) Nylon Outfitters – Russian Princess Antique Gold & Black | Collar: [The Forge] – Pearl Collar Gold | Headdress: Eudora 3d – Isabella HeadPiece Red Gold

Poses: !bang – carefree 1 | Poise – GA 2

The Spiral Dance

“Did I understand correctly that there’s some sort of special celebration taking place tonight, Miss Scapula?”

“Absolutely. It’s the biggest, grandest, and dare I say… steamiest party of the season. Most awaited one.”

“And it takes place in Club Gothika?”

“In its Mobile Unit, let’s be clear about that. The one within the Spiral, underground beneath the Station. There’s stairs leading down, see?”

“So I see. I understand the clubbing continues at even intervals during the Spiral’s turn. What makes this particular party so special?”

“They do keep up the parties according to their schedule the whole time, but this… this is the party we have all been waiting for. The big Spiral Dance of steamy looks, grinding gears and delightful musical orchestrations by Miss Lokii.”

“You keep returning to steamy…”

“But of course. What kind of party would it be if it wasn’t spiced with scandalous indulgences? A boring one, that’s what.”

“Thank you for your time, Miss Scapula. I’ll make certain to spread the word.”

“Oh, you do that. Nobody should miss the Spiral Dance: it defines the spin and turn, the twirl and burn of the next one, after all.”

A Clockwork Spiral will indeed have the official party tonight (Friday, 26th September). It starts 8PM SLT and is DJed by Lokii Violet. The theme is of course Best in Steampunk and there’s prizes from various ACS merchants.

The top and blouse by Greymoon are available in the Spiral. The accessories are all by lassitude & ennui: shoes and necklace available in The Secret Affair, earrings and armbands in Jewelry Fair. The skin was a squee-find from the retirement sale in Pink Fuel that is going on right now. Don’t panic, just some skin lines are being retired, nothing else.

Scene: A Clockwork Spiral
Armchair: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] Chtuluh Armchair Black Leather Brocade | Lamp: Volstead – Vogue Lamp 001

Body: Skin: Pink Fuel – Elly Sugar Baby Doll dkbrow w cleavage 3 & Glam Lipstick Vamp | Hair: Magika – Shimmer | Eyes: IKON – Eternal Eyes Mesa | Hands & Feet: Slink | Nails: Beautiful Freak – Lucrezia*

Outfit: Top & Skirt: Greymoon – Shadowed Steamgirl Keyhole Blouse & Tiered Skirt* | Shoes: lassitude & ennui – Nevermore heels black (slink high)* | Jewelry: lassitude & ennui – Lethe necklace silver, Boudica armbands black, Winged earrings silver*

Poses: Kirin – Athena Pose 6 & 2 | Part of the furniture. | Kirin – Hera Pose 8

Golden Gaze

It’s the golden eve, the heat of day having exhausted every living thing, the rays of sun slowly drawing out the very last pieces of focus and coherence, leaving behind only lazy lounging instinct, the primal indulgence of basking in the sun.

There’s luxury in the warmth, delicious decadence in the heat where the only reason to adorn one’s body is for decoration.

The haze shifts perception into rose-gilded illusions, into acute sensitivity of each pearl pressing against warm skin, the stark contrast of shade and sun like cooler stripes painted on the world.

Luscious, opulent, intoxicated from the warmth, the delightful incoherence affecting the vision until the whole world is gold. Gold and the scent of dreams.

The corset dress with all the pearl accessories by !deviousMind and the mask by Alchemy are both available in The Secret Affair. The boots by lassitude & ennui are currently available in We Love RP and the bed by Kalopsia in Genre. The hair by EMO-tions can be acquired from Hair Fair.

Scene: Bed: Kalopsia – Le Lit de La Marquise (Gold)

Body: Skin: Essences – Clover 01 Pale Dust Brunette | Hair: .:EMO-tions:. – Envy | Eyes: IKON – Immortal Eyes Parchment | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hands: Slink – Casual

Outfit: Corset Dress with Pearls: !deviousMind – Satine La Rouge Pearl | Boots: lassitude & ennui – Marquise Boots Cream* | Mask: Alchemy – Dreams Filigree Mask Cream 

Pose: !bang – Taurus 4 | Part of furniture.

Golden Huntress

Far in the future when genetic cocktails are the way to go instead of makeup products, this is what you get when you ask for a bold look with a touch of lioness and golden sheen.The look comes with personality enhancers, with hunter’s instincts, pride and the absolute security in your right to be anywhere you choose to be and certainty that you are fabulous while doing so.
Forget about perfumes promising you sass, it’s all about mandibles and horns!

The Shika dress by Zibska is available in the Limited Bazaar with only 100 copies, so hurry! All the makeup is from the Cosmetics Fair and poses from Collabor88. The windlight was strongly golden in the pictures, so I must point out that the skin is really almost white goth-tone.

Scene: Sleepy Snail by Rebeca Bashly

Body: Skin: +Nuuna+ Kati Skin (Goth) & Eyebrows | Eyes: Adoness – Bestia Eyes Lion* | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Eyeshadow: Zibska – Roni Mustard* | Face Tattoo Lines: +Nuuna+ Yua Black | Hair: Magika – Awake

Outfit: Dress & Shoulderpads: Zibska – Shika Noir* | Necklace: Zibska – Marielle Necklace*

Poses: flowey: where we ache to go again | (marukin) – [passion] loveless

Come On In!

I promise we’ll play nice! I also promise that our definition of ‘nice’ will leave you alive and mostly breathing, too. 

We are if not exactly cheerful, at least somewhat amused. Surely this counts? Very similar positive feeling, no? Don’t be afraid, step right through and join us!

All this to say that Gothmas by Gaslight is now open: come on in and enjoy! If one sim is full, try the other, there’s two for a good reason: Cursed & Sium. The dress by The Muses can be found in Sium and the jewelry by House of Rain and the makeup by Beautiful Freak in Cursed. The poses and the delightful Coraline-prop by Flash Friendly Poses are located in Sium. The eyes and nails by Adoness can be purchased in F R O S T.

Scene: Gothmas by Gaslight – Sium & Cursed

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Jezebel Vamp Ethereal Black Brow Cleavage* | Eyes: Adoness – Salina Eyes Seaweed* | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Makeup: Beautiful Freak – Lua Eyeshadow Blood Red, Girl Poison Black Liner, Bad Candy Blood Red Lower Lipstick* | Hair: Alice Project – Willow Low Mirror* | Nails: Adoness – King Henry (Slink Nail Appliers) | Hands: Slink –  Elegant1

Outfit: Dress: The Muses – Stella Red* | Jewelry: House of Rain – Melt Ruby/Gold Set*

Poses & Mirror: Flash Friendly Poses – Coraline Trapt*

Liberty of Mind

What would happen if you’d truly free your mind? Open up all the cages of preconception, pull back the dark coils of public opinion, release all the tentative ponderings free to fly.

Would they surprise you, your own thoughts, your own preferences and opinions? Would you like them, understand them, comprehend yourself better? Would you see eye to eye or struggle to accept yourself?

There is only one way to find out: lure them out from their hiding, remove the excuse covers you had piled up on them, break all the dimmed windows walling them in and let them fly free.

One thought at a time.

Anjul eyeshadow by Zibska is available at the Cosmetics Fair, the eyes by Adoness are from the Body Modification Expo and the Agrona outfit by Zibska is a new release.

Body: Skin: +Nuuna+ Kati Skin (Goth) | Eyes: Adoness – Bestia Eyes Lion Mesh Glow* | Hair: !lamb. – Cities in Dust Ink | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Makeup: Zibska – Anjul Smoke* | Hands: Slink – Avatar Enhancement Hands Elegant1 | Black Blend: Orc Inc – Blend Hands Coal* | Nails: Orc Inc – Pastel Shimmer*

Outfit: Dress & Hat: Zibska – Agrona Noir* | Necklace: Zibska – Bodil* | Birds: Zibska – Xiang The Birrrds* 

Poses: aDORKable Poses – Sunny 2 | Musa – Gown 010 | Musa – Gown 009

Titania’s Call

Trapped on a distant shore, banished to another plane, lost in a world alien to her, she calls. Who knows why she is there, what her crimes were, if she is innocent to any except her very existence, if she used her powers for her own gain and was caught or if the ruler of her own plane changed and she fell out of favour.

The delicate bracelets grow and wrap and pulse around her wrists, keep her from casting a portal home, imprison her to the spot, immortal life turned into a punishment of watching the blood red skies and calling, always calling.

All she has left is hope and time. Neverending supply of one, desperate surge of the other. Her eternal red dusks are spent in weaving plans. There is nothing else to do: weave and keep calling. Never stop calling.

The Titania gown is a new release by !dM deviousMind, available both in the main store and in The 24.

Scene: Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Jellyfish Gazebo

Body: Skin: Essences – Clover 02 Pale Dust Brunette* | Eyes: NoirOptix – Pale Violet Eyes | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Eye Makeup: Beautiful Freak – Obake Violet* | Lipstick: Zibska – Belle Six* | Hairdo: Exile – Fire To The Rain Naturals | Hands: Slink – Mesh Hands (av) Elegant1

Outfit: Gown: !dM deviousMind – Titania FairyQueen Gown Purple w Glitter Ivy* | Jewelry: House of Rain – As Darkness Falls Necklace, Bracelets, Rings Amethyst/Old Silver* | Mask: *~*Illusions*~* Curiata Mask

Poses: Orc Inc – Claws 4 | aDORKable Poses – 17 of 25 2012