Worth the Risk

Some kisses change you forever. Some moments awaken you from the slumber you’ve drifted into. Some encounters kill you, only to nurture you to rebirth. Some apples taste so sweet that everything else will become bland.
There are bites worth taking, risks worth daring, touches worth falling for. There are fairy tales that are real, as long as we remember that happy endings are just a marker on the road, one step among the many we take. 
We write our own stories, find our own tastes and flavors, and eventually decide which apple is worth the risk.

Scene: 
JIAN :: Nightingale’s Tree
JIAN :: Fallen Bunny Log
D-LAB+LIZAIL-PIPPIP-EF Apple tree01
D-LAB+LIZAIL-PIPPIP-EF Apple barrel
Ankle Biter – Your name is written in my heart
!Ohmai: Ninja Hedgehog [Chocolate]
HPMD* Little Birds — blue — type B
D-LAB+LIZAIL PICCOLI3 GrassBed 01
HPMD* SleepyRabbit white L — with Cuddle AO —
!Ohmai: Mochi Bunny
{anc} happyendpark. color little chick (natural) 5Li
Studio Skye – Enchanted Woods

Snow White:
Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Pure Ivory*
Blush: Zibska – YesNo Two & Izzie’s Blush
Lipstick: Fallen Gods Inc. – Courtesan Lips, Red, Defined with Beauty Marks*
Mesh: Maitreya Lara Body & Slink Hands & Feet
Hair: tram – F516
Eyes: IKON – Charm Eyes Brown
Dress: Fallen Gods Inc. & FAIDA – Cadeau deballe, Poison Apple~ Dress / Maitreya RARE at The Epiphany
Leg Ribbons: Fallen Gods Inc. & FAIDA – Ruban, red~ Leg Wraps / Maitreya at The Epiphany
Head Ribbon: G Field – Ribbon Headband -xmas red-
Apple: Shade – Hand Apple

Poses: Astalianda – New Friend | Eternal Dream – Free Spirits 09 | Imeka – Lulu Pose 8

Flutterpaws, the Dreamlings of Whimsy

Flutterpaws are dreamlings of whimsy. They flutter and pad and nose their ways through dreams with either endless curiosity or excessive feline indifference. When they find a dreamscape they like, they gather as indeed a flutter of paws, one after another.

Fish or other flickering moving things are often favored, but any dreamscape of shiny surreal things is sure to draw their attention. They don’t make friends often, the flutterpaws, but they do love chasing after zig-zag patterns and making a point to ignore anything they don’t comprehend. 

The yoga frogs inhabiting this particular dreamscape have fortunately endless zen patience toward their quirkier dream-kin. Perhaps the next time this dream will feature less butterflies and flying fish for less feline interruptions and therefore more meditation opportunities.

Sometimes when the flutterpaws feel especially whimsical, they invite a dreamer to join them: transform and transport, all for the sake of momentary amusement and an extremely puzzled dreamer with a story to tell when they wake up.

Scene: 
lassitude & ennui – Flutterpaws at the Gacha Garden*
meadowWorks – Lotus Wishing Lanterns at Home & Garden Expo*
meadowWorks – Yoga Frogs Gacha at Home & Garden Expo*
{anc} picnic / swallow tailed butterflies at The Chapter Four
{anc} I’m planet / wrapped melt moon, fish puddle & school, my bijou ring
Cole’s Corner – Oracle & Bokeh Particle Sets*

Avatar:
Skin: Pink Fuel – Doll V2 <Vamp>
Mesh: Slink Hour Glass Body, Logo Alex Head
Hair: Magika – First Light
Nightie: Fallen Gods Inc. & [FAIDA] – Chaleur Court White, Camisole Hourglass*
Feline Bits: c(Two Cats) Fantasy Neko Ears & Somali Neko Tail

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

The Touch of Infinity

Infinity does not call. It does not lure or tempt like its cousin Destiny. It does not reach out, or set goals. It doesn’t consider itself to be a goal either.

Infinity simply is. It breathes, it feels, it exists. It connects. Thoughts, concepts, realizations, revelations. It has all the time in all the worlds, that is its nature. There is never any rush, for understanding and comprehension arrive in their time. In the right time.

Sometimes it even connects people in addition to their thoughts. It allows them to awaken each other, to feel that golden spark within, the light we carry, nourish and sometimes — too often — simply hide. At such a touch we feel the world shake, views change, life paths form. Old empires fall for inner revolutions, new foundations are built.

All for that brief touch of Infinity we can find in ourselves. That brilliant spark we can feel in the connection to others, the glow in the lover’s eyes, the peace of mind in natural silence, the mystery of our lives fully realized, if only for a moment.

The touch of Infinity centers us, it wraps around us like the comfort of nightsky, makes everything clearer, more focused, more meaningful. It gives us the gift of perspective, of time, of awareness. It breathes into us, within us, until we remember our small part of it. Remember and begin to nourish it again.

It is October again and that means Fallen celebrations! 2015 marks the eighth Fallen Gods Inc. Anniversary, this time themed around Infinity. The avatar in the pictures (except for the mesh body parts, of course) is a full complete packet that you can win at the Fortune Teller in Selidor. There’s an equivalent version for men included in the prize. You can see preview and applier list here. Remember that the traditional Fallen God & Goddess Contest is also going on, and every participant receives an exclusive thank-you skin and has a chance to win even more prizes! Read more details here.

Avatar (skin, appliers, hair, eyes, outfit, particle magic):
Fallen Gods Inc. (collaboration with FAIDA, Wasabi Pills & Cole’s Corner) – Infinity

Body Parts: Maitreya Lara body & Slink hands and feet

Poses: (*chanimations – alchemy_look | Astalianda – Infinity 4 & 2 | Picture This! – Jewelry Model 2 Mirror

They Say: The Story Behind Blood

They say I’m bad. That I strike before speaking, strike before thinking, strike for the pleasure of striking.

There’s songs about me, songs about wading through the lakes of blood I’ve drawn. Rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, it all depends on the minstrel.

They say I don’t even have a reason. I don’t bathe in it for youth, I don’t drink it for occult sustenance, I don’t walk on some grim path of vengeance. 

They say I just want to have fun. …and you know what, I do believe they are absolutely correct.

Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Pure Ivory*
Body: Head – Logo Alex | Body – Maitryea Lara | Hands&Feet – Slink
Bloodied Hands: Clemmm – Bloody Hands
Hair: (fd) Swept Away Red
Dress: [FAIDA] & Fallen Gods Inc. – Whistles, Anarchy* at The Fantasy Collective
Axe: ~Arx Loricatus~ Classic: Naval Boarding Axe
Poses: Niqotine – Screaming Fist 01 & KMGM18(Point) | Vibe – Blissfully Aware 02 Mirror

The Seasons of Persephone: Winter

Summer was always too short. The time to return took her by surprise every year despite the signs beginning to appear: her skin paled, her hair lost its vibrant colour, the summer greens changed to darker winter tones.

The butterflies transformed to small spirits, twirling around her, eager to return back to Hades. Flower decorations became chains and bones, metals and gemstones. 

The blooming lines across her body sharpened into a strong mask befitting the Queen of the Underworld, the one whose name was barely whispered aloud in fear it would call her attention. Call the attention of the one carrying into effect the curses of men upon the souls of the dead.

As the nature quiets into its winter hibernation, Persephone returns to Hades: the realm and the god. She returns and she rules by his side until the awakening spring calls her back to the warmth of summer.

The dress by Fallen Gods Inc. & [FAIDA] is one of the exclusives in The Epiphany. You can acquire the exclusives by redeeming in your gacha prizes, that way you can get rid of the commons you don’t want and get exclusive shinies in return! The halo by Cerberus Xing is a gacha prize in the same event. The tattoo by Fallen Gods Inc. is available in Create Your Own Tarot event, the skin by Fallen Gods Inc. is from Wayward Carnival, the hair by EMO-tions from Hair Fair and the necklace by !deviousMind from the current Underworld round of Genre.

Scene: Annon

Body: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Pure Ivory* | Tattoo: Fallen Gods Inc. – The Emperor Complete + Gold Filigree* | Hair: EMO-tions – Stephanie | Eyes: IKON – Immortal Eyes Parchment | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hands & Feet: Slink | Body: Maitreya

Outfit: Dress: Fallen Gods Inc. & [FAIDA] – Jour Reveur Diabolique* | Crown: Aisling – Savage Winter Crown (snow) | Halo: Cerberus Xing – Tsukiyomi’s Halo (Gold + B) | Necklace: !deviousMind – Lasombra – Vampire Necklace Gold/Silver* | Bracelets – Bliensen + MaiTai – Mano Bracelets Gold* | Spirits: Cole’s Corner – Mana Comet Companion, Mushi Chain Companion, Water Faerie Companion*

Poses: Picture This! – Jewelry Model 3 | {NanTra} – Eternal Beauty 8M | {NanTra} – Eternal Beauty 1M

The Seasons of Persephone: Summer

Her mysteries bloom in the sound of birdsong, her footsteps lure forth flowers, her whispered words soothe minds and spirits alike, wrap the world in the warmth of summer.

Nature responds to her mindset, her feelings, or perhaps the nature influences her thus, but regardless they are one. It is summer and Persephone wanders amongst the trees and flowers, breathing in the scented air after the long winter months in the Underworld.

The trees sway with her steps, the flowers reach higher to touch her as her steps take her in the dance of delight through her summer realm. Her touch revives and revitalizes the smallest of details, conjures the celebration of life in an orchestra of colours, scents and sensations.

It is summer, and Persephone celebrates with nature: one months-long delight of warm souls, green growth and the embrace of life. It is summer, and she invites you to join her. Join her while the summer lasts!

The skin by Fallen Gods Inc. is available in the Wayward Carnival, the tattoo by Fallen Gods Inc. can be purchased in Genre’s Underworld round and the dress by Fallen Gods Inc. and FAIDA can be won from the gacha in The Epiphany. The Staff of Life by lassitude & ennui can be won from the same event.  The rose accessories by Bauhaus Movement can be purchased from the Seasons Story.

Scene: Home (Private)

Body: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Pure Eden* | Eyes: IKON – Immortal Eyes Sage | Hair: Magika – Which Witch | Tattoo: Fallen Gods Inc. – Persephone Flowering* | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hands & Feet: Slink | Body: Maitreya

Outfit: Dress: Fallen Gods Inc. & [FAIDA] – Jour Reveur Intense RARE* | Flowers: Bauhaus Movement – Sissy (Spring) Head & Chest | Staff: lassitude & ennui – Staff of life RARE* | Butterflies: Balderdash – Flutterbye Swarm | Particle Magic: Cole’s Corner – Sakura Dust Aura*

Poses: Imeka – Lulu-Pose 6 | Kirin – Athena Pose 5 | Kirin – Hera Pose 4

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

The Bunny Painter

“When will the Bunny Painter arrive, Uncle?”

“Nobunny knows, young Splatter. She comes on a whim and a wish, when the spring sounds grow to a melody, when the scents of newgrowth tickle your nose, when the sun warms your ears. You close your eyes for a moment and there she is!”

“She paints everybunny colourful to celebrate the soon-summer, all the colours of the flowers and grass and sky and rainbows and birds and plants and stars and-“

“Stars aren’t colourful, Uncle. They’re just sparkly.”

“That’s only because you’re so young you haven’t been painted yet. Just you wait, young Splatter. Just you wait. When the Bunny Painter colours your life, even the stars will sparkle in brilliant glowing tones, alive and laughing!”

“I’ll stay up all night to see the colourful stars! All night! ‘n then I’ll wink at them and we’ll laugh together, the stars and I and the Bunny Painter.”

Magic of Oz Holi 2015 Hunt has started and lasts until April 16th. You can read about it in here or teleport to Magic of Oz, click the big poster to get the hunting platter and go figure it all out, it’s not difficult! The Holi Phalgun Purnima tattoo by Fallen Gods Inc. and the bunny masks by Ozimals are some of the prizes in the hunt. The elite Holi bunny is purchasable for as long as the hunt lasts. As always with the purchasable elites, the colouring is just a coat covering genetically a perfectly ordinary random bunny.

The Bunny Painter has horns and brushes by +Half-Deer+ and hair by .Olive., both available in the Xiasumi School Festival that last until April 21st. The bottle lamps by Happy Mood can be purchased in Creation.jp until April 18th.

The bunlings are enjoying their colourful life on the giant clovers by Cerridwen’s Cauldron, complete with the usual fantastic fantasy-colour options.

Scene: Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Giant Clover Set* | HPMD Happy Mood – Lamp Bottles | Ozimals Bunnies, including Holi 2015 Elite and masks on the other bunnies

Body: Skin: Pink Fuel – Doll v2 Vamp Pure Black Brow | Hair: .Olive. – the Elisa II Hair Streaks Faded Colors | Eyes: IKON – Immortal Eyes Passion & Sage | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hands: Slink

Outfit: Dress: [FAIDA] & Fallen Gods Inc. – Circe Gluttony* | Tattoo: Fallen Gods Inc. – Holi Phalgun Purnima* | Horns & Brush: +Half-Deer+ Artist’s Antlers Pastels & Paintbrush

Poses: Kirin – Athena Pose 1, Athena Pose 2, Hera Pose 3

The Piccoli and the Princess

They find their ways into the forest sometimes, the giants. They’re usually lost and confused and need guidance to get out.

They don’t understand the normal language at all, and have pitifully small ears for signals anyway. Instead they make sounds, a lot of sounds.

Sometimes the animals feel bad for them and join them, sometimes they even use the forest energies to make sounds back at the giants. This always first shocks, then delights them.

We know better than that. Every time you acknowledge their presence and feel sorry for them and use a bit of magic to understand which kingdom is now in peril and what they need to save it, off you go on some quest and end up living in a castle full of giants.

No, thank you. We piccoli are better off in the forest. Who would train the birds and make the flowers grow if we left with every pretty giant that seemed to be in trouble and in need of help?

Nono, not even if you ask nicely. Not even with those giant puppy eyes. Talk to the otter, he’d love to go into a castle. Especially the kitchen. We’re busy. We have a spring to prepare!

Piccoli by D-Lab and Lizail can be won from The Arcade. They’re astonishing critters, padding and hopping independently from one structure to another and interacting with them. Shopping for noms, flying birdies, climbing up to tree houses, starting the sprinkler on their own. It’s absolutely fascinating to watch. Yes, I had to get them all. This was my March-Arcade Madness.

The dress by [FAIDA] & Fallen Gods Inc. can be purchased at the main store of [FAIDA]. The necklace by Anachron is available in A Tattered Page Library, where it is a part of the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea theme. The hair accessory by [NI.JU] is available in Origami event. The shoes by lassitude & ennui can be found from their main store.

Scene: Home Forest (Private) | D-LAB + LIZAIL – Piccoli Set 2 

Body: Skin: Pink Fuel – Doll v2 <Crystal> Pure (blkbrow) | Eyes: IKON – Charm Eyes Brown | Hair: Clawtooth – Angeles Black Beauty | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hands & Feet: Slink

Outfit: Dress: [FAIDA] & Fallen Gods Inc. ~ Jolie Proie Red* | Shoes: lassitude & ennui – Lucy heels gold* | Necklace: Anachron – Chaplet of Pearls Necklace Black & Gold* | Hair Accessory: [NI.JU] Hana Head Ornament flower only

Poses: Kirin – Hera Pose 8 | three middle ones AO pictures | flowey – a twinge in your heart