The Golem Runes

The runes called to me. I could hear them in my slumber, the shift of colours, the pulse of light, the gathering of energies.

They called to me, awakened me, shaped me. I could feel their melody singing new forms to life, drawing new lines, connecting them, giving them thought, purpose, spirit.

When I withdrew from stone I could still feel them. Each spark of colours pulsed magic in my veins, responded, conversed, connected. I did not know much of the world outside the runes, but my understanding of their secrets filled me, made me a living being. Separate, moving unit. A part of something bigger.

They kept singing to me, the runes. They kept singing and as they did, my veins pulsed to the melody, my limbs moved with it and slowly, steadily, I found my ability to move. Ability to live. To dance.

Scene:
Garden of Dreams – Floating Island*
Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Fae Waystones Set*

Avatar:
Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Coal Golem, female* at Fantasy Gacha Carnival
Tattoo: Fallen Gods Inc. – The Name of Water* at Fantasy Gacha Carnival
Eyes: Fallen Gods Inc. – Glowing Eyes
Hair: Analog Dog – Pipe Dream Splash
Body: Maitreya Lara & Slink Hands & Feet

Poses: !bang – Taurus 5 & Intuition 1 | Picture This! Dance [Gift]

Perhaps You Had Wings All Along

The difference between falling and flying is very small and for a great amount of time non-existent. Perhaps the biggest difference lies in faith, in trust. Perhaps if you truly believe you can fly, your fall will become a flight.

Perhaps it teaches you to feel for others struggling to fly, for either their environment chaining them earthbound or their fear locking them down. Perhaps it lights the warmth of empathy, of recognition, kindles your fingertips with mercy and encouragement.

Maybe the fall will cease to frighten you if you stop staring down, stop estimating the distance to ground, to the moment when your shivering reflection meets your helpless form. Maybe if you look up instead, at the endless skies, endless opportunities, the fear will let go and loosen its grip.

Perhaps in that moment of being embraced by the open sky you finally realize you had wings all along.

The absolutely stunning wings by ClaVv are an exclusive prize in The Epiphany, meaning you can purchase them with the points you’ve redeemed from the gacha prizes you got from the event. You can read how the system works on their website. The outfit by !gO! is from the current round of The Secret Affair.

Body: Skin: Pink Fuel – Doll V2 Crystal Pure (blkbrow) | Hair: Olive – The Tumble Hair RARE (Old Tag! Gacha Prize) | Eyes: IKON – Hope Eyes Leonine | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Body: Maitreya | Hands & Feet: Slink | Nails: Beautiful Freak – Romantic*

Outfit: Top & Belt – !gO! Antiope | Jewelry: Bliensen + MaiTai – Soleil Necklace & Hair Pin | Wings: C L A Vv. Gatotkaca Golden Rustic Wide Wings | Particles: Cole’s Corner – Pixie Dust Aura* (the white ones)

Poses: !bang – Intuition 2 | LAP – Field of Fire & Go Free (props with poses & firefly particles) | Exposeur – Underwater 5M

 

Sword Day, Red Day

Red had traveled under many names, most of them either forgotten by now or branded into myths and legends. Having a mythical name meant these days simply that your parents had played Dungeons and Dragons as youngsters, so she preferred Red.

Horses had changed to bikes, which in general meant they were much easier to fix than their predecessors had been. Sharp pieces of metal had turned to small blunt pieces of metal of beautiful velocity. The ring of swords had become the drums of guns.

In all this time Red had never changed. She was always beautiful, always fiery, always tempting and glamorous. She was glory and fame, power and control, the beauty of fire calling you closer until you burn.

She was all the reasons humanity had ever needed for fighting each other. She was War, and tonight she was riding to town.

New round of A Tattered Page has just started, this time focusing on Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. War is of course one of the Four Horsemen Bikers of the Apocalypse. The boots by Pale Empress and the helmet by Eclectica can be found in the ATP Library.

Scene: The Wastelands

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Gazala Salt Black Brow* | Eyes: IKON – Hope Eyes Leonine | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Exile – Pick Up Lines | Lipstick: Beautiful Freak – Liquid Metal Blood Red* | Hands & Feet: Slink Casual & High | Body Blood Smears: Fallen Gods Inc. – Bloody Flesh 

Outfit: Jacket: Erratic – Tory Cropped Biker Jacket Glossy Red | Pants: Erratic – Zoey Leather Pants Red | Boots: Pale Empress – War Boots* | Helmet: Eclectica – Good Omens War Helmet for ATP Red* | Jewelry: House of Rain – Burn Choker & Rings Ruby* | Sword: Fallen Arms – For the Living Sword* | Particles: Cole’s Corner – Digital Confetti Aura Firey*

Poses: {NanTra} Requiem 3 | !bang Carefree 2 | !bang mini series Overcome 2

Dropping the Masks

If we let our masks drop, Mr. K, and walk into the desert to watch the moons, to swim in the wine-filled canals, to speak to each other in soft melodies, would the fire flowers bloom for us again?

If we abandoned the routines, the rituals, the appropriate behaviour, if all the masks of joviality, stern moments of disapproval, gold and silver and paint, if all of them dropped on the red Martian sand, would we be able to connect again?

If we forgot assumptions and covers, if we opened our minds and bodies to touch once more, reached out toward each other and found ourselves in the telepathic sharing, would you hold me as tenderly as you do the ancient books that sing to you?

If you did, I would not dream of strange metal crafts and white skinned men of Earth. If you did, the calling would be answered by someone else. If you did, our days would be a flight of flame birds across the sky: sparkling fireworks in the heavens.

The second round of A Tattered Page has just started, and it’s focusing on The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. The book is a collection of short stories written in 1950, the stories spanning the imagined years of 1999 – 2026 of Mars colonization. The first story, Ylla, features Mr. and Mrs. K, a married Martian couple. Their marriage has faded into familiar routines and rut, until Mrs. K begins having dreams of a strange white-skinned, black-haired man of Earth, arriving in a silver craft. It is my favourite of the whole book, both because it shows the Martian culture most, but also because Ylla is so heartbreakingly easy to sympathize with.

A Tattered Page has a central Library now for your shopping convenience, although the items are also available in the main stores. The skins and eyes by Fallen Gods Inc., the fire flowers by @->~ISD, the masks by Roawenwood and the arm-strap mask by .Luminary. are all from the event.

Mr. K is fittingly represented by Alia Baroque, of course. After photobombing Mrs. K he managed to change the whole direction of where the post was going for the better.

Scene: Garden of Dreams – The Desert* | Fire Flowers: @->~ISD – Martian Fire Flower Pretty Face Pack | Masks: Roawenwood – Moody Martian Masks*

Mr and Mrs. K: Skins & Eyes: Fallen Gods Inc. – Mr. & Mrs. K.* | Hairs: Mrs. K: Exile – Rain Natural Fusion | Mr. K: Exile – Tidal Light Blondes | Arm Strap Mask on Mrs. K: .Luminary. – Peregrine Pauldron*

Poses: :Picture This!: – Dance [Gift] | !bang – carefree 5 | N/A (dance, not a pose)

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

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~

Unlikely Eve

“If you consent, neither you nor any other human being shall ever see us again; I will go to the vast wilds of South America. My food is not that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite; acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment. My companion will be of the same nature as myself and will be content with the same fare. We shall make our bed of dried leaves; the sun will shine on us as on man and will ripen our food. The picture I present to you is peaceful and human, and you must feel that you could deny it only in the wantonness of power and cruelty.” – Frankenstein, chapter 17

The neverborn mate of the creature, the culmination of his plan to make peace with mankind, the symbol of hope and happiness that companionship brings to the lonely. What if she was not destroyed half-formed, what if Frankenstein kept his word and let his creature escape the civilization with his newborn mate into the warmer wilds than Europe can offer?

She would know nothing of the humans except the horror stories her mate bestows upon her to warn her away. To her eyes neither of them look monstrous for she’d have nothing to compare to nor any shocked reactions to prove such judgments correct. How long would she stay innocent, this unlikely Eve of crafted dead flesh brought to life again?

Perhaps it would all work out like the creature dreamed, perhaps they could have been happily lost in their own paradise. Unless, of course, one day her matured curiosity lured her out of the jungle and into the light…

A Tattered Page is a new in-store event that draws its inspiration from books. The first round focuses on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and you can find the shopping guide from the website. The creature skins with stitches are event exclusive by Fallen Gods Inc., sold for the event duration together with the non-exclusive unstitched cadaver skin, courtesy cadaver eyes and a mountain load of appliers for both genders.

Scene: Garden of Dreams – Relic Tree 1* | Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Wisp Mushrooms Large Patch* | Studio Skye – Enchanted Woods 5 | HPMD* Happy Mood – Sweet Garden Grass

Creature: Skin & Eyes: Fallen Gods Inc. – Cadaver Creature & Cadaver Eyes* | Hair: Alice Project – Clarissa* | Body Parts: Slink Physique, Slink Hands, Slink Feet

Poses: Olive Juice – The Thriller 1 | Picture this! – Artistic Nude 3 Mirror | !bang – Stand 131

The Flight of the Dragonfly

“Lady Anisoptera, you are one of the more upstanding citizens of the current Spiral, how would you describe-“

“Oh, you can call me Anise, titles are terribly tedious business. Or Lady Dragonfly if you absolutely must, it has a nicer ring to it.”

“I did notice that people referred to you as such when I was inquiring how to gain an audience with you. An intriguing nickname.”

“I think they just like to add a little mystique to me, makes amazingly amusing rumors even more scandalous, I guess. Not that there’s any truth to them. I have absolutely nothing to do with the Prototypes and I have met the Spark only once at a dinner party.”

“But it is however true that you hold a substantial amount of the Spiral’s wealth and influence in your very young hands and that none of it was inherited, correct?”

“Oh, you journalists, always exaggerating. I might know some people and own some property here and there, but it’s hardly substantial.”

“Nevertheless-“

“Nevertheless you should come and join the next party we’re holding, meet some people, see the situation from a larger perspective. You do know that there’s a club underground right beneath the Station, correct? They have delightful shindigs there several times a week. You should go. Much more interesting than having tea with me. Thank you so much for visiting! Remember: club underground, the Station. Good bye.”

There really is a club underneath the train station in A Clockwork Spiral: Club Gothika’s Mobile Unit functions according their regular schedule, make sure to tune in to the stream when visiting the event area and if you’re in luck timewise: go enjoy the diesel underground! The corset and skirt by :{MV}:, boots and collar by lassitude & ennui and the dragonfly and ladybug jewelry by Bliensen + MaiTai are all available in the Spiral. Same goes for Anise’s surroundings, which is a mix of Spiral furniture from 22769 ~ [bauwerk], Roawenwood and Spyralle.

Scene: House: Scarlet Creative – Neva Captain’s House | Wall Sconce: Spyralle – “Inspiration” Manhattan* | Table, Stool & Plant (first picture): Roawenwood – The Brigadier’s Table Set* | The Rest of the Furniture: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] – Grammophon, Around the World in One Day Rug, The Vintage Chesterfield, A Clockwork Side Table, Spine Light, Steam Powered Pouf*

Body: Skin: Pink Fuel – Doll v2 <Crystal> Pure blkbrow w eyeshadow soft black & thin gloss pink | Hair: Exile – Dream of Paradise | Eyes: IKON – Hope Eyes Leonine | Hands: Slink

Outfit: Corset & Skirt: :{MV}: – Libertine Corset & Skirt Copper | Boots: lassitude & ennui – Selene Boots black/brown* | Stockings: League – Ella Stockings Light Brown | Collar: lassitude & ennui – Wayfinder Choker Gold* | Jewelry: Bliensen + MaiTai – Aeropleustic Ladybug Earrings, Luminiferous Dragonfly Necklace, Ring, Hairpin*

Poses:  !bang – Carefree 1 | Part of the couch. | N/A

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.

Just Be

They’re always there, fluttering. Thoughts, hopes, fears. What-ifs of past, paths of the future. Choices, estimations, considerations, re-considerations. Neverending. Tempting, condemning, promising, despairing.

They can feel like a burden, a swarm around you, never giving you a moment’s peace, drawing you in different directions, pulling your steps from one side to another, turn from your path forward back and around to the past again, caught in a cycle.

Sometimes you can’t leave them behind, sometimes they will simply turn you around again. Sometimes the fears are so mixed with hopes that you cannot tell them apart, all the paths are blocked with both.

Sometimes there’s no path, sometimes all you can do is be. Face them, dance with them and simply be, see where they will fall in the end.

World Goth Fair is still going on (last day June 1st) to cater more darkness to the grid. The corset, skirt and hat are combined from two different outfits by Aliza Karu’s AD Creations Dollhouse available in Port Seraphine. You can find the boots by Sax Shepherd Designs from the same sim. The necklace by lassitude & ennui and the liner by Beautiful Freak can be found in Sium. The petals by Uncertain Smile are a part of separate cage-based pose set, I just used them with other poses for this. The slink applier gloves and nails are from Severina set by Pale Empress and the slink applier gloves are meant to be worn with long system gloves layers and then mesh sleeves on top of them, I just liked them like this. You can find Pale Empress and Uncertain Smile also in Sium.

Scene: Cursed | Petals: Uncertain Smile – La Fete Triste1 Petals*

Body: Skin: Essences – Clover 01 Pale Dust Brunette | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Classic Frozen Silver Bright | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Analog Dog – Schnapp Natural Black | Blush: Zibska – YesNo Two | Bunny Ears & Tail: +Half-Deer+ Velven Bunny Ears (Darkheart) & Bunny Tail | Liner: Beautiful Freak – Demonia Black*

Outfit: Top: LoveLace – Petit Four Licorice | Corset: [AD Creations Dollhouse] Sophie Corset* | Skirt, Pants & Hat: [AD Creations Dollhouse] – Goth1c | Shoes: Sax Shepherd Designs – Lolita Boots Calavera* | Gloves & Nails: Pale Empress – Severina* | Necklace: lassitude & ennui – Ravenskull necklace black* | Ribbon: *BOOM* – Precious Bow Choker pitch 

Poses: Poise – GA_2 | aDORKable Poses – 13 of 25 2012 | !bang – mini series optimistic 3