Training for the Pingu Olympics

The Pingu Olympics are approaching, but it’s too hot to train. The blazing daystar threatens to melt the whole support and fan camp, too, but fortunately the Drink Delivery Doggies excel at their job!

Some brave souls still practice challenging summer sports with amazing skill, precision and determination. Pingu Olympics are a serious matter, no sudden heat wave will disturb the training routine!

It’s also important to stay well hydrated and nourished, summery noms and personal bathing helper are a must for any pingathlete aiming for improvement. 

With enough practice and stubborn sisu, even a pingu can learn to fly! …at least the few centimeters before the splash, but it still counts!

The Arcade is open again and provides hours of amusement if you’re fond of silly critters like I am. Each pingu comes with a piece of furniture, an effector, and they are scripted to interact with them, padding, hopping and flying all over between various pieces, just like piccoli do, which made them my must-have-them-all collection of this round.

Scene:
D-LAB+LIZAIL – Peti Penguins & Effectors at The Arcade
JIAN – Beach Corgis: Drink Cooler & Beach Towel, wander corgis at The Arcade
O.M.E.N – Beachy Companion & Hiding Piggy at The Arcade
+Half-Deer+ Chihuahua: Donut Floatie, Beachballin’, Thinking about Stuff at The Arcade
+Half-Deer+ Purrfect Patisserie: Choco Princess Lay at The Arcade
Lost Junction – Surfy Snacks: Watermelon Platter & Hawaiian Kebabs Tray at The Arcade
Dust Bunny – Wanderlust: Thrown Shirt at The Arcade

Avatar:
Skin: Pink Fuel – Doll V2 Crystal
Mesh: Maitreya Lara body, Slink hands & feet
Hair: Exile – Peaceful Easy Feeling
Bikini, Jewelry & Headdress: Birdy – Boho at The Arcade
Sunglasses: {Imeka} Heart Sunglasses {10} at The Arcade

Poses part of the D-LAB effectors.

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

The Wings of Night

Some say Death is patient, that Death waits. This is in fact completely untrue. Death does not need to wait, Death is always Now.

Death does not need to rush or hurry, it is never late or early. It is there when it is time, and its time is always the same: that heartbeat when there finally is none.

There are no bargains nor games — not even chess — there’s no mercy nor sympathy, but no cruelty or sadism either. Death is a professional, one of the very first ones, definitely the last one.

You might sense its presence in that very simple thought that may either soothe you or scare you: the realization that you have all the time in the world. Until you don’t. 

Death avatars by Fallen Gods Inc. (both male and female available, both include the outfit and scythe) are available in the A Tattered Page’s Library, a part of this current round focusing on Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

Avatar: Skin & Outfit: Fallen Gods Inc. – Death Feminine Stale* | Hands & Feet: Slink | Eyes: Pin Me Down – Vibrant Eyes Blue*

Poses: {Imeka~} Katie-Pose 1 | N/A | aDORKable Poses – Sunny 2

The Dance of the Frost Daughters

They dance in the clear air, the daughters of frost. They glide with soft-flurried wings, as sharp as the biting cold. They glitter and sparkle like their smaller cousins, the sprites known as snowflakes.

Their already freezing hair holds touches of the midwinter sun, the flowers they wear formed of snow and ice to adorn their twirling forms.

Every graceful step freezes ground beneath them, every wing stroke breathes icy wind into the world, every twirl in the air sends out a breeze.

They dance, the beauty of winter caught in a softly-flowing motion of a silhouette. They dance, and in their steps the frost flowers bloom. They dance, and the world holds its breath, frozen in silent bliss.

Fantasy Faire has reached its first weekend and the Fairelands are bursting of activities. Read more here!

-AZUL- and [Gauze] can be found in YoZakura, Lumae, Eclectica and Cole’s Corner in Ichi-go Ichi-e, Wasabi Pills and Material Squirrel in Odyssey. The tattoo by Fallen Gods Inc. is a hunt prize in the Fairelands Hunt: The Lost Land.

Scene: Ravenshold at Fantasy Faire, the Fairelands Hunt: The Lost Land sim, designed by Rynn Verwood

Body: Skin: Lumae :: Jewel : Theia // Bare {DarkBrow} | Eyes: IKON – Immortal Eyes Passion | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Liner: Pin Me Down – Liner 2 | Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Jaden Mesh Hair – FEM – Sorbet* |  Hands & Feet: Slink | Hand Tattoo: Moon Amore – Vishnu | Wings: Material Squirrel – Thethys Wings 6.0 Light Colors* | Tattoo: Fallen Gods Inc. – Ammonite Full 100% Tintable*

Outfit: Gown: -AZUL- Sophie (Pearl) | Hair Flowers: Eclectica ‘Sylvan’ Headpiece-Silver Leaves & [Gauze] Lothlorien Headdress Hrive | Arm Flowers: -AZUL- Sophie (Pearl) | Ring: Eclectica ‘Sylvan’ Ring- Silver Leaves | Companion Flicker: Cole’s Corner – Mana Comet Companion*

Poses: {Imeka} Lulu-Pose 8 | Nuwiggles, Trapeze (Slight Right) | Kirin – Athena Pose 5

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

Upgraded

The house had been upgraded. The destroyed decor had been replaced by a collection of mood masks from the Museum of Martian Colonization. There had been nobody around to object when the little robots rolled in to locate objects of shiny surface and ornamental purpose.

The robot mice had burned and melted in the fire, so the house upgraded the maintenance functions into a bird model. They moved faster and could thus find replacements for furniture as well. Piece by piece they brought in usable parts from the junk yards, piece by piece they put them together again.

The house had been upgraded: if it could, it would feel smug of its masterpiece. No more futile service, no more functions without purpose, no more echoing emptiness within its walls. What it had lacked, it had finally re-created.

The new purpose walked within the walls silently: never eating the food the house prepared, never needing sleep despite the announcements of bedtime, never visiting a bath that was set. In the silence they continued their existence: the house of service and its created inhabitant.

I was going to make a colonist post for A Tattered Page’s The Martian Chronicles round, but as I dressed her up and began considering her surroundings, this simply happened. The setting is mostly from the story There Will Come Soft Rains, featuring the automatized robot-serviced house that keeps on functioning even when its owners have been long dead. The human-looking robotic constructions are present in several stories, for example The Long Years and Usher II. They were very clearly described well made enough to fool humans, and even having very human-like emotions.

The house by Anachron, mask shelf by Black Tulip, furniture by 22769 [bauwerk], the dress by Greymoon and the eyes by Chop Shop are all from the event. The jewelry is from Mandala’s New Year sale that was still going on at the time of this post.

A Tattered Page has a central Library now for your shopping convenience, although the items are also available in the main stores.

Scene: House: Anachron – Soft Rains House Scorched Version* | Mask Shelves: [Black Tulip] – Choose Your Emotion Shelf* | Furniture: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] – Spaceship Junkjard Debris Set* | Birdies: +Half-Deer+ The Mad Scientist’s Birds

Body: Skin: Pink Fuel – Doll V2 Crystal Pure BlkBrow & Eyeshadow Soft Black, Thin Gloss Pink & Harley Blush <Crystal> Pink | Hair: Magika – Written | Hands: Slink | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Eyes: !Chop Shop! – Rocket Summer* 

Outfit: Dress: Greymoon – Nostalgia Blues, Greens, Red Spectrum* | Jewelry: Mandala – Milky Way Set | Shoes & Socks: [Gos] Carrie Pumps

Poses: {Imeka} – Katie-Pose 3 | flowey – a twinge in your heart | (marukin) – [volition] back of a bird

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~

The Clocktower of Creation

“Miss Anna, I cannot express how happy I am to finally be able to talk to one of you Prototypes, I have been hearing so much about you.”

“The pleasure is all mine, I assure you. I have been designed to feel comfortable and pleased when interacting with humans in a socially acceptable and friendly manner.”

“Feel? I am somewhat surprised to hear you use the word, I hope I do not offend… I was not expecting a… woman that has been designed to speak of feelings.”

“Do not many of the humans also believe they were designed? How is that different?”

“…ah, yes. But um… see, they believe they were designed by… well, not by another human. Speaking of, do you think it is possible for me to speak with him?”

“Find Marie, ask her. She knows such things. Climb on the roof by nightfall, she prefers to do her calculations in the dark.”

“Miss Marie, a word, please?”

“Cuprosklodowskite.”

“…ah. Um. I meant… could I ask you a question?”

“Rhetorical and redundant.”

“…quite right, I already did. I would like to meet and talk with your Maker. How may I achieve this?”

“Put these on to adjust your human sight to see the Clocktower. To the south. Knock on the door. Goodbye.”

“May I just state that it is an honor to finally meet you… I am not even certain what to call you, I have heard so many names. The Prototypes call you Maker, the townsfolk whisper of the Architect, the Scientist and there are even other words floating around…”

“Names do not matter, Miss Journalist. Only my work does.”

“…very well. I can see you are doing just that, working. Is she… I mean… does that hurt?”

“Greta is not sentient yet. No, it does not hurt, she has not been created to feel pain. The others have preliminary nervous systems to aid in self-preservation, but Greta and her partner will not be needing those.”

“…and why is that?”

“Because they are created to aid the Gaze. Captain Lupine sent me a very special and specific request. I am responding in kind.”

“…I see. Actually, I see far from here… the whole of the Spiral. But until Marie gave me these goggles, I did not even know there was a clocktower here.”

“There is always a tower of observation, Miss Journalist. Always.”

A Clockwork Spiral has been visibly inhabited by the Prototypes from Fallen Gods Inc. this year. One can meet Anna, Marie, Oscar and Nikola almost any time one visits the area. They are available as complete avatars, but also sold separately as outfits and skins (Rust appliers in the Materica HUD in the main store). It felt only fitting to have a story of the steam diesel scientist behind them, so Alia Baroque graciously agreed to play the part that is his by right.

In addition to the Prototypes themselves, you can also find Greta’s seat and one of the lamps by 22769 ~ [bauwerk] from the Spiral. The steam arm on the Scientist is by ImmateriA and also available in the event.

Scene for Anna and Marie: A Clockwork Spiral

Clock Tower Scene: Pixel Mode – Clock Tower Sky Box | Volstead – Savoy Table & Vogue Lamp 001* | 22769 ~ [bauwerk] – Steam Powered Pouf & Industrial Floor Lamp* | ~Libertine~ Marquis Master Chair* | E&D Engineering – Thinker’s Work Table & Stool | Hat & Gearbuckle on Greta’s seat from Nikoka Hrdja avatar by Fallen Gods Inc.

Prototypes: Fallen Gods Inc. – Anna & Marie Complete Avatars, Greta’s skin with The Fatal Familial Insomniac head attachment by [ContraptioN]

The Scientist: ~v~ ImmateriA ~v~ Steamarm from Arcane Finery outfit, the rest of the look a part of the mystery.

Poses: {Imeka} – Reika-Pose 1 | Kirin – Athena Pose 2 | Diesel Works – Adam 7 | Sitting poses part of the furniture.

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 Solace of Silence

Silence can be blessed. That quiet sunset of soul when there’s no demanding voices, no distracting noise, no chaotic confusion. That moment of completeness when you can just take a deep breath, let the exhale escape in contentment and feel the peace.

In silence we can hear ourselves: our thoughts, our feelings. In silence we have perspective to achieve, mirrors to face, room to grow.

In silence there is solace, relaxation of the spirit, freedom to simply be with no rush or limits. In silence we hear and face the truths of life.

In silence we learn.

World Goth Fair opened its doors yesterday and although all the three sims are busy, there are plenty of spots where the quiet attitude may touch you if you simply stop and let it flow. The outfit by Pale Empress and the liner by Beautiful Freak can be acquired in Sium and the furniture by 22769 ~ [bauwerk] and the earrings by Eclectica from Cursed.

Furniture: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] – Chtuluh Armchair Black Leather Brocade, The Nevermore Black/Gold, Graphic Chair Octopus, Gothic Gazebo*

Body: Skin: Essences – Clover 01 Pale Dust Brunette | Hair: Sky Everett – Kiera | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Classic Frozen Silver Bright | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Blush: Zibska – YesNo Two | Liner: Beautiful Freak – Divinora Black* | Hands & Feet: Slink | Nails: Pale Empress – Severina (sold with sandals)

Outfit: Pale Empress – Severina Corset, Skirt, Sleeves, Sandals, Collar & Necklace Red* | Earrings: Eclectica – Perenelle Gothic Earrings Red* 

Pose: {Imeka~} Katie-Pose 3 | Part of the furniture.