Azure’s Search for Normal People

Never content with just one world, Azure had long ago mastered the skill of landwalking. The first shifting had been awkward, her new-shaped limbs as useless as a baby fish tail, shuddering on reflex instead of control. But she had learned since. She had learned well.

She taught the craft now to the other curious mermaids, how to control two narrower, more angular tails, how to balance upright on them, how to survive in thin non-supporting air instead of the stronger embrace of water. How to transmute sea shells and coral into human body ornaments and wrappings.

It was perhaps the biggest challenge of them all, to learn which parts of the body should be wrapped in decor and which not, but after the initial mistakes and a lot of landwalker observation, Azure was now confident she had it right. If she could just find landwalkers with a normal skin colour instead of this one endless tribe of sand tones, she’d be happy. 

But no matter how far she had searched she could find no blues and the sand-skins kept raising strange structures wherever she had visited and burning small fires in them. Kneeling was also commonplace, but Azure assumed it was to show off their superior limb control. If she could only find normal people things would be easier: they would explain the landwalker oddities to their mer-cousin, those normal blue people.

The Draco Odyssey/Laguna skin by Fallen Gods Inc. is available in We Love Roleplay event. Azure’s skin was the scaled version underwater and smooth when rising to the surface. The mask by Senzafine, octobra by ieQED, fishnet dress by FDD and the Nereid dress by lassitude & ennui are all from the current round of The Fantasy Collective, conveniently themed around mermaids. The hair by Exile is available in Collabor88.

Scene: Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Jellyfish Weed Crownleaf, Hydra Anemone Indigo 20 Tentacles | Fantasy Flora – Fantasy Sea Grass Light Blue & Fantasy Bubble Plant Blue | Chair: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] Tentacle Chair

Body: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Draco Odyssey/Laguna Scaled Marks Awake & Smooth* | Eyes: ~*By Snow*~ Midnight Eyes II Indigo* | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Exile – Windsong | Tail: !deviousMind – Undine Electric Blue | Hands & Feet: Slink

Outfit 1: Mask: Senzafine – Morgazh Mask* | Bra: ieQED – Octobra Gold | Collar & Bracers: Luas – Revenge Set

Outfit 2: Dress: FDD – GS Mareena Fishnet Tunic Silver | Face Chains: . aisling . – Xanthe N1 Gold

Outfit 3: Dress: lassitude & ennui – Nereid Dress* | Jewelry: House of Rain – Bring On the Dancing Horses Jet/Gold* (rings not available anymore)

Poses: Part of the tentacle chair. | Exposeur – Underwater 7M | {Imeka} – Lulu-Pose 3

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~

Skadi Speaks

It is time. The time of darkness lit only by the snow and the wild foxfires across the sky. The time to raise your glass to King Winter and welcome him in.

Let the winds blow and scathe, let the frost bite until all the humans see the wisdom of staying indoors and warming each other. Let the lights blind their eyes until they learn to love the soothing darkness.

Let the frost embrace and cover the world, pulling silence after it like a cloak. Let the snowflakes dance in the air, let the sound of their falling be the only audible thing.

Deep in the frozen silence, where no sound of life dares to emerge, Skadi speaks.

Gothmas by Gaslight opened today and it is held on two sims: Cursed and Sium. The outfit by Pale Empress, pendant by House of Rain, makeup by Beautiful Freak and the two first poses by {NanTra} are all available in the event, the booth slurls in the credits. The hair by Tableau Vivant is from the current round of Collabor88.

As for Skadi that the dress is named after: she’s a Norse goddess of winter, bow-hunting, skiing and mountains, sometimes theorized to be also connected to the darkness. I felt it was just right to let her speak for this one.

Scene: Gothmas by Gaslight

Body: Skin: [KOOQLA] Bisquit . Pure 04 (db) | Eyes: IKON – Spectral Eyes Wight | Hair: ~Tableau Vivant~ Snowdrift Hair B&W | Hands: Slink | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Nails: Beautiful Freak – Dead of Winter Nails* | Makeup: Beautiful Freak – Bitter Winter Makeover Black*

Outfit: Gown & Collar: Pale Empress – Skadi* | Pendant: House of Rain – Daggers Necklace*

Poses: {NanTra} Merry Deathmas 1 (with red goblet)* | {NanTra} Merry Deathmas 4* | Picture This! – Magi 1

The Glyph of the Bun

“I greet you, bunlings, and wish you warm eve. What has brought you out of the forest in such numbers, what might be so important that you ventured forth all the way to the Pool Between Worlds?” 

“We want to write things!”
“Yey things!”
“Many yey things!”
“To make surprises!”
“We can’t be cheerful in human sounds, strange loud human sounds.”
“But we want to yey. Happy yeys!”
“To be helpful.”
“And then we hop out of the surprise box and waaaaave flags. Yey-flags!”

“That is certainly a noble goal and nice of you, brave bunlings. To mark down human sounds you need some ink and paper, like so… and a brush to hold with paws, possibly mouth, maybe if you tilt your head… yes. I must say that is a remarkably well done pictogram, very clear in meaning, but perhaps also these signs… they are called letters. Add them for emphasis, hm?”

“‘s a bun glyph! It says ‘yey!'”
“Letters just dull lines. Bun glyph better.”
“Are you sure the dull lines say yey too?”
“They don’t look very yeysome.”
“Are you really really suuuure? Ohalright.”
“Now we’ll form a pyramid and then hop out and wave all the yeys!”

“Perfect. I’m sure your bravery and dedication will be noted and appreciated. Now hop back to the forest to practice, I think the pyramid could use some more work. Perhaps practice on a cushion, come to think of it. It’ll become the best of surprises.”

This just happened. Don’t ask me how. These things do that. Happen.

The headdress by !dM deviousMind (watch me go back and play until I have them all) and the Japanese Atelier decor by Anc Ltd. are from the current Fantasy Gacha Carnival. The throne by 8f8 and the first pose by Kirin are available in Collabor88.

Scene: Bunnies: !Ohmai – Mochi Bunny | Throne: 8f8 – Blossom Throne Zeus | Ink Bottle: [ keke ] – Ancient Ink w Magnolia | Tea Server: c( Two Cats ) – Tilting Tea Server Black | Notepad: [ni.Ju] – Multifunctional Clipboard | Box, Saucer & Glue: Anc Ltd. – Japanese Atelier Box Blue Silver Open, Glue & Gluestock, Saucers Nurebairo

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 | Hands & Feet: Slink

Outfit: Kimono: Silvery K – Kimono Mesh Rose White | Shoes: r2 – A/D/E jf Wedge black&red | Headdress: !dm deviousMind – Amidala Ornament Fans w Pearl Strings Box 4

Poses: Kirin – Athena Pose 2 | Aisling – Pose 2 1

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

No News, No Shoes

When will the trade airship arrive? I’ve been waiting for days at the window and nothing. Just occasional wispy cloud passing by before the sunset. No news. No new groceries. Most importantly: no new shoes.

This is a state of emergency that can cause a lady to despair. My latest delight and joy in the form of boots has only five colours I haven’t worn yet! This is utter nonsense and I will make an official complaint to the Air Trade Companies.

This is beginning to be rather disconcerting. Surely nothing bad has happened? I know they hire only the best of squirrel crews, the ones that pass the No Nuts in the Mast test, but still…

How is one supposed to live without constant influx of new shoes, seriously?

The stunning materials-ready Duchess C. Influx dress by deviousMind and the jewelry by Bliensen + MaiTai are available in the current round of We Love Role-play. The house by Scarlet Creative is from Collabor88 and the multitude of boots by lassitude & ennui will be released in the upcoming Shoetopia, opening on November 15th.

Scene: House: Scarlet Creative for Scarlet Apple – Neva Captain House | Couch: . a i s l i n g . – Lady Sciarri | Table: . a i s l i n g . – Edward Table Sun | All the Boots: lassitude & ennui – Jolenta Boots*

Body: Skin: Essences – Song TDRF Lait Brunette | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Summer Wheat | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Exile – Crazy in Love Sunset | Hands: Slink – Avatar Enhancement Hands Elegant1

Outfit: Dress: !dM deviousMind – Duchess C. Influx corsetDress/C Leather/Gold* | Necklace: Bliensen + MaiTai – Time Loop Necklace* | Earrings: Bliensen + MaiTai – Dewdrop Earrings Red Gold* 

Poses: N/A | Part of the couch. | Kirin – Burlesque Poses Cane Pose 5

Nuts in the Boom Room

“It’s your fault!” A high-pitched squirrel shriek wavered in the wind.

“How could I know humans disguise explosives as delicious nuts!” Exclaimed another voice.

“It said they were explosives! It even had a picture of a boom!” Third voice joined in.

“It was dark! …and …and I can’t read! I’m a squirrel!”

“SO ARE WE ALL!” The chorus sounded furious, if screechy small voices could be such.

“She’ll ground you for life once we… you know… hit the ground!”

“No more flying ships and adventures for you-uu!” The chittering sound managed to convey a very strong nyah-nyah tone.

“No more nuts either! Explosive or otherwise!”

“Serves you right, too!”

“Oh for Tesla’s sake: boys, just shut up for a moment.” The human voice sounded more amused than angry, although it attempted to stay stern. “We’re all alive. We’ll land somewhere, get a new ship, I’ll lock up the boom room and no one gets grounded. Although someone might have to be in the coffee delivery duty a few months extra.”

“But for now we’ll fly until we find a good landing spot. In the meanwhile: here, have a nut. A real one.”

The steampunk squirrels and human-sized goggles by Ohmai, boots by Beetlebones and the propeller by *MishMish* are available in Collabor88. The hair by Wasabi Pills is from FaMESHed and the dress by :{MV}: can be purchased in the current round of Genre that is open only few more days, so hurry!

Body: Skin: League – Sia Fair Bloom | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Classic Frozen Silver Bright | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Lipgloss: M.O.C.K. Cosmetics – Clear Lipgloss | Hair: Wasabi Pills – Rene Mesh Hair Night Shadow | Hands: Slink – Avatar Enhancement Hands Casual

Outfit: Dress: :{MV}: – Gearhouse Corsetry Steampunk | Boots: Beetlebones – Fowler Laced-Up Boots Mud | Stockings: League – Ella Stockings Light Brown-Black Garter | Necklace: KOSH – Rapture Necklace | Armlet: KOSH – Rapture Upperarm Bracelet | Ring: KOSH – Auna Ring | Goggles: !Ohmai – Steampunk Squirrel Goggles Human Ver | Propeller: *MishMish* Propeller Copper

Squirrels: !Ohmai – Steampunk Squirrels

Ned the Newt and Hoo-Wo-Man

“I remember when Uncle Flip went missing,” the wise old toad croaked. The newts called him simply All-Seer because surely when one missed eyes it meant they saw more and better than others. “Soon after that the chocolate frog appeared. Coincidence? I think not! Boys, if you do not save your Cousin Fred from the Jar, he’s going to end up chocolate as well. Then chomp! She’ll bite the head right off.”

So it was that the bravest of them all, the young Ned the Newt wiggled his way up the fireplace, freezing in fear only when the spellcasting terror known only as the Hoo-Wo-Man glanced away from the mysterious object she held. Cousin Fred was frantically nudging with his tail toward the true horror: the chocolate frog that surely had to be the missing Uncle Flip!

Ned the Newt squirmed between the Jar and the fireplace, waiting for the moment when the mysterious object flew away from the Hoo-Wo-Man so she had to flail to catch it again and look away. Then he pushed with his tail and huzzah! the jar was falling. But the Hoo-Wo-Man was already turning, noticing the movement. Ned lunged after the jar, no time for careful descent!

Landing on the floor was a painful, dizzy experience, but the Jar didn’t break — who knows what kind of materials it’s made of, terrible prison! The Hoo-Wo-Man was approaching already, but Cousin Fred was free! The newts scuttled back into the shadows as fast as they could, losing only Ned’s tail that he bravely left as a decoy to guarantee the safe retreat.

Behind them they could hear the mysterious gibberish voice of the Hoo-Wo-Man: “…well, guess no newt familiar then. Maybe something cuddlier.”

The heroic newts, frogs and all the furniture and props are from the Wizarding Faire, the house by Trompe Loeil and the dress with the cape by *katat0nik* are from Collabor88. The earrings by Bliensen + MaiTai are from We Love Role-play and the eyes by Adoness are available in The Body Modification Expo.

Scene: House: Trompe Loeil – Autumn Cottage | Newts & Jar: Silent Sparrow – Purple Newts | Frogs: Beetlebones – Wizarding Phantom Toad A & Chocolate Frog | Table: O.M.E.N – Wizarding Table | Extras on the Table: [Consignment] – The Edinbure Manuscript Silver | Cauldron Full of Books: [Consignment] – The Spell-o d’Cauldron | Other Cauldrons: :{Atomic}: – Cauldrons | Plant in a Cauldron: Floorplan – Dirigible Sapling | Books on the background: Lark 

Body: Skin: Essences – Amaterasu TDRF 02 Brunette | Eyes: Adoness – Bestia Eyes Albino Tiger* | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Alice Project – Mika* | Hands: Slink – Avatar Enhancement Hands Casual | Feet: Slink – Female Feet AvEnhance Medium

Outfit: Dress: *katat0nik* Wishy Woman Dress old gold | Cape: *katat0nik* Wishy Woman Cape forest | Shoes: lassitude & ennui – Alisha lace booties brown* | Bangles: [The Forge] – Ailida’s Bangles WornBronze* | Earrings: Bliensen + MaiTai – Moonchild Earrings Gold* 

Poses & Held Books: [okkbye] – Wizard Books MM Static 4 & 1

The Grey Lady

“Don’t go near the briars or the Grey Lady will get you. She makes people fall into the thorns, see something shiny there, reach in and suddenly the thorns move! Just to draw blood. She feeds off of it, you know.”

“You’re being silly, there’s no such thing as the Grey Lady, it’s just an old story. I read that it’s based on some poor woman fleeing a warband into the briars, getting stuck and- …well, dying. Of course people would spin a story about it, she’s hauuuunting the briars, looking for revenge!”

“Well, if you read about it then it’s definitely true! She lived here, she died here, wouldn’t you haunt the place after a death like that? I know I would! Uses her ripped off jewelry as bait, or maybe she’s just still searching for them…”

“Yeah, sure, maybe in a horror movie. Ghosts don’t exist, don’t be such a scaredy-cat. …ohey, look, there’s something shiny in there!”

The briars by Cerridwen’s Cauldron, the skin by Fallen Gods Inc. and the gown by Senzafine are all available in the current round of We Love Role-play. The hair by Clawtooth is available in Collabor88 and the eyes by Pin Me Down in Flux.

Scene: Briars: Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Hellthorn Briars*

Body: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Rotten Ghost Female Meat Out* | Eyes: Pin Me Down – Vibrant Eyes Red* | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Clawtooth – Windswept Aged Well

Outfit: Gown: Senzafine – Nephilaine Wolf* | Necklace: [The Forge] – Opidda Necklace Silver Diamond*

Poses: !bang – Stand 135 | Del May – Brain Ache | Pose Plastique – Harvester of Hearts Five

Colours on Menu

Tasty, tasty colours. In a world where the colours are nourishment food is consumed through sight: the brighter the colours, the sweeter the experience. The Big Bad Bun definitely thinks so! Only the brightest, happiest meals for him!

This particular restaurant has delivery butterflies as waiters to maximize the tastes. The rainbow-dressed woman is not a part of the staff, she’s a minion. The very best colour-hunter the Big Bad Bun employs.

No pale pastels would survive her jewel tones and if she encounters anything especially dull, she might just have to dig up the neon gun.

Rainbows and eyecandy can be serious business.

The building and the plants by Chic Buildings, the delivery butterfly by Studio Sidhe (really a hang glider) and the piercing by .:ellabella:. are from Taste the Rainbow Hunt. The colourful cocktail is the item you have to find in the hunt. The deliciously happy Gingy ice creams by !Ohmai are from Atelier Kreslo’s Festival. The peacocks by *MishMish* can be purchased in the current round of Collabor88. The dress by Adoness is a hunt gift in Colors of Summer Hunt and the hairdo by Adoness is from the new round of the Thrift Shop. The faux elf ears by Kahli Designs can be found in the current round of We Love Role-play and the neck corset by *Perception* is from Acid Lily.

Scene: House and Plants: Chic Buildings – Rainbow Cottage & Planters | Peacocks: *MishMish* – Blue Peacock The Razzle | Butterfly: Studio Sidhe – Franklin C. Flutterbye Rainbow Hang Glider | Ice Creams: !Ohmai – Atelier Kreslo Festival Gingy’s Neapolitan & Strawberry | Big Bad Bun: D-LAB – Rabbit-B-sit | Cocktail: Taste the Rainbow Hunt item

Body: Skin: .ploom. – Lea Vanilla DB Libra | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Summer Breeze | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Lipstick: M.O.C.K. Cosmetics – Sarah Jane’s Bloody Lipcolor | Hairdo & Hair Base: Adoness – Myrina pitchblack/scarlet & shaved butterfly black shades* 

Outfit: Dress: Adoness – Colors of Summer Dress* | Neck Corset: *Perception* – Neck Corset Green Silk* | Piercing: .:ellabella:. Ballad of Stars Rainbow | Ear Decorations: Kahli Designs – Faux Elf Ears Silver* | Tights: *Sheer* Zebra | Boots: lassitude & ennui – Phoebe lace-up boots red/dark wood*

Poses: N/A | !bang – Carefree 2 | Exposeur – Call the Shots 2M