Dream Bubbles

Dreams are bubbles over water, glittering in the sun, dancing to the quiet melodies within. We create as easy as we breathe — ideas, thoughts, concepts, dreams — they all float and flutter and escape from our mindscapes with every exhale.

Most of our ideas pop like sparkling soap bubbles, perfect for that one brief moment, then gone, forgotten. Some linger long enough to take form, to grow wings, gain life. It is still a fragile life, in constant need of light and warm winds to carry them, to care and support. 

It takes an immense amount of focus, care and perseverence for the brilliant little bubbles to turn into a full-fledged dream in all her complexities and details, for the creation, the project, the thought to become reality.

But when it happens, when you watch your creation complete and fall up into the sky exactly as you imagined, or even better, exactly as she grew out to be — it is worth all the faded soap bubbles bursting in the sun. Worth keeping breathing, keeping dreaming, one deep inhale at a time.

The delightful bubble dress by chocolate Atelier is from the current round of Gacha Garden and pretty much inspired the whole thing. It is one of the so called Seeds of Inspiration, which means you get it automatically from their machine after you’ve played it 20 times.

Scene: {anc} Bubbles & Ephmera Clear | +Half-Deer+ Bubble Brigade Crab Orange

Body: Skin: Pink Fuel – Doll V2 Vamp Pure (blkbrow) | Hair: MINA Hair – Roosje | Eyes: IKON – Odyssey Eyes Clarity | Hands & Feet: Slink | Body: Maitreya | Tattoo: Fallen Gods Inc. – Ammonite (past hunt prize during Fantasy Faire 2015) | Nails: Beautiful Freak – Romantic*

Bubble Outfit: chocolate Atelier – Tiffany Bubble Dress

Poses: Exposeur – Underwater 7 | Picture This! – Submerge 2 Mirror & Submerge 5

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

 

Mielikki, Mistress of the Woods

Mistress of the woods, Mielikki, Forest-mother, formed in beauty,
Let thy gold flow out abundant, Let thy silver onward wander,
For the hero that is seeking For the wild-moose of thy kingdom;
Bring me here thy keys of silver, From the golden girdle round thee.

Fair Mielikki, forest hostess, Spake these words in meditation:
‘Claws I should be pleased to give him, And with teeth endow the wonder,
Would he not abuse the favor.’

“Swore the bear a promise sacred, On his knees before Mielikki,
Hostess of the glen and forest, And before omniscient Ukko,
First and last of all creators,
That he would not harm the worthy, Never do a deed of evil.
Then Mielikki, woodland hostess, Wisest maid of Tapiola,
Sought for teeth and claws to give him.

O Mielikki, forest-hostess, Tapio’s wife, thou fair Tellervo,
Call thy dogs and well enchain them, Set in readiness thy hunters,
Let them wait within their kennels.

Filled with kindness was the forest, Glen and woodland full of greetings,
Tapio showing greatest favor.
Fair Mielikki, forest hostess, Metsola’s bewitching daughter,
Beauteous woodland maid, Tellervo,
Gladly led me on my journey, Smoothed my pathway through the glen-wood.
Marked the trees upon the mountains, Pointing me to Otso’s caverns,
To the Great Bear’s golden island.

All of the above are separate quotes from the Finnish National Epic, Kalevala. I found its translation here, so couldn’t resist just locating the Mielikki quotes for this. To all the Forgotten Realms fans feeling confused right now: yes, Mielikki is an actual pagan Finnish goddess of the forest, her name (and several others) were just happily yoinked and applied into Forgotten Realms.

The gown that inspired me to envision her is another collaboration by Faida and Fallen Gods Inc. and it is available in The Conquest event right now. The hair by Wasabi Pills can be found in the same event. The fennec foxes by +Half-Deer+ are a gacha in Kustom9. Mielikki’s foxes should really be red and northern, but the fennecs didn’t take a no for an answer.

Scene: Home in Ambar (Private)

Critters: Foxies: +Half-Deer+ Fennec Foxes | Birdies: Happy Mood | Bear: Birdy/Alchemy – Forest Babies Bear Cub Sun 

Body: Skin: [KOOQLA] Bisquit . Nude 02 (db) | Hair: Wasabi Pills – Keira Cinnamon | Eyes: IKON – Charm Eyes Forest | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Eyeshadow: Beautiful Freak – Starcrossed Gruesome Gold* | Hands: Slink Casual | Nail Polish: Beautiful Freak – Romantic*

Outfit: Gown: [FAIDA] & Fallen Gods Inc. – Secrets Green* | Headdress & Earrings: Aisling – Dangara | Necklace: .Enfant Terrible. Magic Ride Necklace Gold | Bracelets: The Muses – Vanha Bracelets Bronze* | Honey: Anc Ltd. – Magician’s Honey Drink | Aura: Cole’s Corner – “We Are Groot” Aura*

Poses: Kirin – Florence Pose 3 | Exposeur – Back to Black 2 M | Kirin – December Pose 2

Major Arcana: The Empress

She is the Mother, the Lover, the Goddess. She is wrapped in a wealth of luxuries, in abundance and opulence. She brings with her care and nourishment, the birth of art and creativity, of connections and happiness. She is the Empress and she governs Life.

In her footsteps the world blooms, ideas take root and hearts grow stronger. At her touch the nature celebrates in the richness of summer both in spirit and matter.

For all things stagnant she brings new hope, new sparkles and sensuality, new reasons to laugh, new reasons to reach out to others. Even better reasons to reach out to ourselves and awaken.

Within her lies the mystery of the feminine, from the pleasures of passion to the joy of play. From the nurturing protection to generous sharing of the world.

She is the Empress. May we all be so fortunate as to have her influence our lives, may we all dare to step forward to meet her and embrace her teachings. 

The whole look was inspired by the makeup by Fallen Gods Inc., which in turn was created for the Create Your Own Tarot event. It’s a relatively new event, going through the Major Arcana card by card. This round is all about The Empress.

The surroundings are completely by The Looking Glass, hailing back to this spring’s Fantasy Faire and Ichi-go Ichi-e sim, plenty of which is now available in the main store. The little sakura fairies are a group gift, even! Both the headdress by deviousMind and the robe by =Zenith= are gacha prizes from past events. I know deviousMind has the gacha in their main store and I’d trust =Zenith= adds hers eventually, too.

Scene: The Looking Glass – Ichi Fields, Hearts Like China Roses Ruby V, Ghost Butterflies, Sakura Meditation Message Pod, Sakura Magic Hover Pink*

Body: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Pure Ivory | Eyes: IKON – Eternal Eyes Mesa | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Makeup: Fallen Gods Inc. – The Empress* | Hands: Slink | Hair & Headdress: deviousMind – Amidala Royal HaeadDress Ornament Metal

Outfit: Robe: =Zenith= The Empress of China Dress Rare | Rings: Mandala – Motsumame Rings Red/Gold 

Poses: Kirin – Burlesque Poses Cane Pose 4 | Astalianda – Sun Sparkle 1 | Exposeur – Back to Black 8 | Kirin – December Pose 2 (Note that the gown’s sleeves have an overriding pose to keep arms fitting to them.)

The Goblin Queen

“More loots. That’s what it’s all about, you know, being a Queen. You get to choose first from everything’s that’s raided, stolen, scavenged and generally looted and pillaged all over.”

“See my helmet? From the leader of some fancy wing zooming folks …somewhere. If not a leader, at least an officer. At least it looks like it, yah? Freaking fanciest thing I’ve ever worn, had to have at least ten sticky-handed gobs kicked in the trenches for trying to claim it first, the ingrates.”

“The sword? From some barbarian fellow. Made a lot of noise, was practically naked, completely not poison-dart-proofed. ‘s heavy like seven hells, but it looks impressive!”

“The important thing is to make sure you have fancy boots, tallest helm and a lot of magic on your side. ‘s what they respect: big helmets and shiny footwear. ‘n some blood magic goes a loooong way.”

This post is befittingly about the Fantasy Faire Blogger Challenge: My New Shiny. Before this Faire I had never heard of LURE, Fallen Arms or Cole’s Corner, all of which are new shinies for me. I’m especially recommending catching the upcoming original music and particle show by ColeMarie Soleil, the creator of Cole’s Corner. The encore of her breathtakingly enchanting performance will take place in Ichi-go Ichi-e on Sunday, May 3rd at 12-2pm.

You can find Eclectica and Cole’s Corner in Ichi-go Ichi-e, Alegria Studio in Aurora, Spyralle and Wasabi Pills in Odyssey, *~*HopScotch*~* in Poppetsborough and LURE and Fallen Arms in Tangleshimmer Grove.

Scene: Tangleshimmer Grove by Searlait Nitschke at Fantasy Faire

Body: Skin: LURE – Desire Greenskin* | Eyes: IKON – Deadshine Eyes Crimson (Fiery) | Face Markings: *~*HopScotch*~* Warpaint Dotted & Vision* | Ears: Eclectica – Gargoyle Ears Beastly* | Hair: Wasabi Pills – Jay Licorice* | Hands: Slink

Outfit: Outfit: [ SAKIDE ] Tatsu Silk Purple* | Boots: ALEGRIA – Minerva Boots Light Gold* | Helmet & Vambraces: Spyralle – Wind Rider Coromell* | Sword: Fallen Arms – For the Living Sword (back sheath)* | Spell Effects & Companion: Cole’s Corner – Powder Puff Hand Dancers (bloody) & Gremlin Fae (purple/black)* 

Poses: Exposeur – Call the Shots 4 | Poise – Vogue 7 | c(Two Cats) Magical 4 

The Beginning Wave

So many matters to check, so few units of time. The holographic water is rippling within acceptable parameters. The artificial gravity is within comfortable levels of most known humanoid life. The lighting has been adjusted for precision observance inputs.

The sound transmitters have been correctly calibrated, the temperatures adjusted to support the majority of bioforms, the AI set to correspond and respond to the lifeforms moving on the various surfaces.

The purchase possibilities have been arranged within the structure, the selection carefully curated and procured from the finest production lines available for the occasion.

The stage is set. The teleports are active. It is time. Time to dance with the Wave.

Futurewave has just begun and it provides a fantastic selection of original scifi, space and futuristic content within its event area right here.

The outfit by GALLACTIC, the data pad by BluPrintz and the makeup by Beautiful Freak are all available in Futurewave.

Scene: Futurewave

Body: Skin: Essences – Clover 01 Pale Dust Brunette | Eyes: ~*By Snow*~ Citadel Eyes* | Makeup: Beautiful Freak – Circuit Makeover Teal* | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: +Spellbound+ Velvet Natural Ombres & Dips | 

Outfit: GALLACTIC – Skyla Dress, Boots, Gloves, Hat* | Data Pad: BluPrintz – Data Pad*

Poses: Kirin – Rumi Pose 7 | Exposeur – Back to Black 5 | N/A

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

The Detectors of the Station

“Miss Sight, I assume you’re busy at work, but perhaps I could have just a few words…?”

“Friendly greeting, Visitor 9321. Your record shows no trespasses or misconduct, your current stay at the Spiral just reached nine days, one hour, forty-five minutes and counting.”

“Yes, that is correct. Is that what you do, the Detectors of the Station? Keep records of the visitors?”

“Record every arrival, record every departure, keep track of current status.”

“…and if there is a …misconduct?”

“Inform the Gaze. The Detectors are not equipped to deal with misdemeanors, we simply observe and record matters.”

“Ah. …may I ask why… how… the Detectors are… trained, exactly?”

“Specific radar implants, broadcast unit for communication and control. Organic blindness for enhanced vision. Nerve-integration to Broca’s.” 

“…that seems very… complete, yes. I’m sure you do your job perfectly well.”

“Error-margin non-existent. Good day, Visitor 9321. You have seven days, five hours and twenty-three minutes left of your stay.”

A Clockwork Spiral has passed its halfway point, lasting to October 1st. If you haven’t yet indulged in the matters of steam and dieselpunk, now’s the time! The jacket and pants by Pale Empress, boots by House of Rain, hand attachment by Unrepentant, the nails by Pin Me Down and the eyes by !Chop Shop! are all available in the Spiral.

Scene: A Clockwork Spiral

Body: Skin: Pink Fuel – Sora <Alabaster> Natural | Eyes: !Chop Shop! – Vibrant Moonstone | Makeup: Pin Me Down – All about the liner Sapphire, One 1, Tiken* | Hair: A&Y Aeon Hair 2 Black | Hands: Slink | Nails: Pin Me Down – Oscarian Modern*

Outfit: Jacket: Pale Empress – Meteora* | Pants: Pale Empress – Diesel Capri* | Boots: House of Rain – Decadencia Boots Black* | Hand Attachment: Unrepentant – The Deep Oil Spill* | Eye Implant: Remarkable Oblivion – Photographers Eye Closed

Poses: (marukin) [volition] back of a bird | !Picture This! – Artistic Nude 2 Mirror | Exposeur – Back to Black 6 | Kirin – Hera Pose 1

The Captain of the Gaze

“Captain Lupine, I’ve been told that you’re the one in charge of the Gaze, the local law enforcement unit. Is that correct?”

“Yes. You would be the recently arrived journalist, snooping around already.”

“Reporting, Captain. Reporting. Misinformation is a dreadful thing.”

“Granted. But so is rumor-mongering. You have five minutes. Speak.”

 “It seems to me that the Spiral is somewhat… distressed these days. In military fashion. What is going on?”

“That’s classified. The only thing you need to know is that the Gaze will keep all the law-abiding citizens of the Spiral safe.”

 “Ah. I couldn’t help but notice that little emphasis there. What about the …less law-abiding citizens?”

“There’s no such thing in the Spiral, Miss Journalist. No such thing. At least for long.”

 “…quite right, Captain. I see. However- …what’s that! The train is going off the rails, is there-“

“Your five minutes is up. You didn’t see a thing, citizen. If you did, you wish you hadn’t. Off you go, back to shopping, I have work to do.”

“My eyes! My old temporary blindness ailment has returned. Thank you for your time, Captain, I shall go now and write an article about um… knitting. Good day to you!”

A Clockwork Spiral continues turning and twisting and providing the visitors with both the surroundings and the creations to indulge in their own stories. Captain Lupine is wearing a coat by Senzafine, makeup by Pin Me Down, the eye implant, hand cannon and gun by Souzou Eien and the collar from the gacha of The Little Bat.

Scene: A Clockwork Spiral

Body: Skin: Glam Affair – Margot Petal 02 Black | Eyes: !Chop Shop! – The Wolf | Hair: !lamb – Whoop Dee Doo Ink | Hand: Slink | Makeup: Pin Me Down – Tili in black lips & eyes*

Outfit: Jacket: Senzafine – Echelon Jacket Navy Gold* | Pants: Yasum – Space Steam Leggings | Eye Implant, Hand Implant, Gun: Souzou Eien – Serpentine Optics, Hand Cannon, Plasma Distorter Pistol* | Collar: The Little Bat – Abigail Choker Eye-Yellow RARE*

Poses: Exposeur – Back to Black 2 | {Imeka} – Katie-Pose 1 | Kirin – Athena Pose 4

The Forest Spirit

Can you see them? Dancing just at the edges of your vision, flickering within the embrace of the trees. 

Not everyone can. Not even all of the druids. It takes a special attitude, special attuning to the forest before your eyes open.

But when you do, when your mind is finally relaxed enough, accepting enough, they are everywhere. Joyous, carefree, soothing. Even curious.

From that moment on you will never leave the trees, no matter how far you might travel. The spirit will always be there, at the edge of your vision. Dancing.

The gown by Evie’s Closet, headdress by Alchemy and jewelry by .Eldritch. are all discounted at the moment in We Love Role-play. The skin by Jalwa and the makeup by +Nuuna+ are both from Skin Fair, which opens on March 14th. The hair by Exile can be won from The Arcade.

Scene: Athan

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Meenakshi Salt Black Brow* | Hair: Exile – Rain 14 Wild Fusion | Eyes: IKON – Spectral Eyes Leonine | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Face Tattoo: +Nuuna+ Fen Green | Hands: Slink | Nails: Beautiful Freak – Galaxy*

Outfit: Gown: Evie’s Closet – Nimue Gown Illusion | Headdress: Alchemy – Druid Headdress | Jewelry: .Eldritch. Caird Set 

Poses: .Infiniti. – Better To See You With 2 | Exposeur – Back to Black 2 (x2)