The Glass Prison

What brought the curious fauna to the library window of the Nautilus? There was always some sealife in sight, possibly just passing by, possibly trying to figure out what the great metal beast really was.

Did they find the bizarre instruments and objects rare treasures, like the items humans hunt from the bottom of the sea, things that to the sealife are perfectly common and unimportant?

Or were they there to gaze at their captured kin, forever taken from them in their tiny display cells, locked away from the world, all for science?

Or perhaps they were there to say hello, to greet the prisoners and to try and communicate with the strange metal beast, to see if it’d release what it took. Sadly, no matter how well they fluttered and shifted, Nautilus never replied.

A Tattered Page is still diving deep in the oceans with Captain Nemo, this round is focused on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. You can find all the items in the post from A Tattered Page Library.

[Park Place] Captain Nemo’s Library* | Spyralle – Cnidaria Medusas* | [noctis] Nautilus Ceiling Lamp ocean long* | {Roawenwood} Sea Escapes Aquarium Set v1* | BluPrintz – Prized Pearl Pillow, Spyglass Copper, Aronnax’s Research* | *Atomic Faery* Sea Unicorn Horn* | 22769 ~ [bauwerk] Navigation Backstaff, Pair of Compasses* 

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 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

Returning to the Spiral

“It’s been a year since I joined Captain Gearsworth’s crew as they left the Spiral. A year of journeys, flight, adventure and experiences such that I could not reliably scribe them for the fear of scandalizing my audience to death.”

“One year and here I am again, stepping onto the Spiral. I knew I would find it changed for that is its nature: forever turning, forever shifting, forever spiralling from one reality into another, changing its inhabitants with it. Therefore also the great airship dock was gone, replaced by a train station. Most curious.”

“It took a turn of the Spiral for the new knowledge to catch up with me, a turn to grow accustomed to the existence of planes in the air, to understand the tense near-military touches within the town. This was not a relaxed scallywag cycle, one might have to defend oneself here from more than drunk pirates.” 

“Good thing that I had picked up if not a sword, then at least a cane on my travels. Now to apply my favourite weapon of them all: pen. It’s time to get to work.”

A Clockwork Spiral has just opened its station for all the guests to visit. Come enjoy the mix of steampunk, dieselpunk and dark Victoriana with the Cursed gothic twist from now to October 1st! The outfit by Roawenwood, accessories by Eclectica and the poses with the cane by {Rook} are all available in the Spiral. I modified the necklace by Eclectica to turn it into a brooch. The hair by Exile is from the current round of The Arcade.

Scene: A Clockwork Spiral

Body: Skin: Pink Fuel – Group Gift <Peach> September 2014 | Eyes: IKON – Horizon Eyes v2 Dark Turquoise | Hands: Slink | Nails: Atomic Faery – Faerycog Nails* | Hair: Exile – Dancing on My Own 1 Blacks

Outfit: Blouse, Skirt & Boots: Roawenwood – Emmaline Blouse & Skirt, Majesty Boots* | Jewelry: Eclectica – Mechanika Belt Accessories, fob watch Rhinosecerous Beetle, watch neckpiece Dragonfly, Dragonfly Ring Irridescent Gold, Rinoscerous Beetle Ring Irridescent Gold, Antique Glasses half-rimmed | Hat: Senzafine – Memento Mori Mini Top Hat Noir

Poses with Cane: {Rook} – Gentlewoman’s Cane*

Miss Rosabella’s Pirouette

“Miss Rosabella, is it true that tonight’s party might be hazardous to health?”

“Who told you? I mean… where did you hear such a terrible rumour? Our parties are completely safe! They’re practically healthy, counts as gymnastics, surely. Rosy blush on your cheeks and blood flowing… in a completely wholesome fashion!

“If not exactly hazardous to health, there are some saying that the moral of these events is drastically scandalous?”

“A glimpse of an ankle never killed anybody. Except Count Oggledon who stared too much while walking and stepped off the ship. I heard his wife refused to set the house to mourning and instead dropped the tombstone after him! Guess I should say that a glimpse of an ankle never killed anybody who watched where they’re going, huh?”

“Surely that is …um, rather more than an ankle?”

“Oh, you looked? And behold, you’re still alive! Besides, a lady never mentions limbs located above ankles. …if you’re about to make a comment about being a lady, I assure you that these heels are good for more than just fashion.”

“Ah. Um. So why the insistence on taking pictures with the Brasseleina’s Fountain?”

“Are you daft? Her pirouettes are what we all aspire to learn, she’s the very image of a graceful dancer and a role model to all of us… graceful ladies. Just look at her spin!”

Tonight there will be a party to remember at A Clockwork Spiral! September 20th, starting 8 PM SLT and continuing as long as DJ Lokii Violet will keep turning the tune gears! The theme is Best in Steampunk and there’s plenty of gift card prizes from the ACS merchants for the winner!

Speaking of A Clockwork Spiral: the outfit by Senzafine, the hat by Discord Designs, the shoes by Bliensen + MaiTai, the arbor by Roawenwood and the jewellery by House of Rain are all available in there. Read more here and catch an airship to the event here! The hair by Exile can be won at The Arcade.

Scene: A Clockwork Spiral + Ebon Night Garden Arbor with poses by Roawenwood in the middle picture

Body: Essences – Sash 06 light rose brunette | Eyes: IKON – Eternal Eyes Mesa XL | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Liners: Beautiful Freak – Nierika Eye Makeup Red* | Hair: Exile – Just a Reason Blacks | Hands & Feet: Slink – Mesh Hands (av) Elegant1 & Mesh Feet (Av Enhance) Medium

Outfit: Dress: Senzafine – Molly Sepia* | Shoes: Bliensen + MaiTai – Altitude Shoes Brown* | Jewellery: House of Rain – Horror Holiday Necklace, Earrings, Bracelets Ruby/Pearl/Gold (garter is resized bracelet)* | Hat: Discord Designs – Teal (Fascinator)*

Poses: Exposeur – Back to Black 6 M | Part of the arbor by Roawenwood. | aDORKable Poses – Sunny 5

The Black Knight

She’s the Guardian of the Mysteries. The final confrontation on a quest, the Keeper of the Grail — literal or symbolic. It is up to her to test your strength, determination and worthiness.

Admittedly most of the time her life is simply waiting: heroes don’t grow in trees. Most of them give up on the quest before the final stage or get stomped by the earlier phases involving dragons and minotaurs.

It does give her plenty of time to come up with tests, though. Puzzles, quizes, combat moves. Moral tests, trick questions, surprise endings. Waiting around for the right hero for a few millennia does make one rather miffed at the job and very willing to plot for payback, after all.

All she wants is some company that does not invite to be beaten and tossed into the whirlpool!

The Diana corset and buckled gloves are an upcoming release by The Muses, there’s a brown preview version on discount in We Love Role-play. The Dido skin by Jalwa can be purchased in the same event.

Scene: Surroundings: Garden of Dreams – The Whirl* | Throne Set: Roawenwood – King’s Ransom (old hunt gift) | Bow, Arrows, Sword at the Throne: [EZ] Weaponry – Eldar Bow Gold & Wrath’s Conviction Gold*

Body: Skin: Jalwa – Dido Tumeric Brown Eyebrow* | Hair: [monso] – My Hair Daisy Regular Pack 2 | Eyes: IKON  – Eternal Eyes Mesa | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious

Outfit: Chain Mail Layers: The Muses – Rainha Black* | Corset & Buckled Gloves: The Muses – Diana Black* | Boots & Pauldrons: [The Forge] – Daerwen Worn Black* | Straps: [The Forge] – Belt Harness Female Black & Daerwen Chest Belt Chaos* | Sword: [EZ] Weaponry – Wrath’s Conviction Bronze* 

Poses: Kirin – Burlesque Poses Cane Pose 5 | A part of the throne. | Exposeur – Back to Black 7 M

Enchanted Frost

“Frost’s daughters are dancing.” My mother used to say that when the temperature reached the levels where snow is covered with countless sparkling little stars. That’s still the image in my head every time, every winter. It’s December now, the snow has not only fallen but blown in and therefore I had to welcome it with one of the said daughters.

Almost everything in the post is from MadPea’s latest hunt: Enchanted Frost. Their hunts are my favourites due to the excellent storytelling involved. It’s not just finding hidden items, it’s an experience. This one sends you to find the fifteen lost memories of the captured Princess Enid and then make your way through the maze to bring back the summer and to claim all the prizes in the end.

The frosted faun antlers by Vita’s Boudoir make me think of snow queens of less compassionate nature, but that is winter for you. Beautiful and lethal. At least this particular fairy allows birdies to rest on the antlers. The ice elf eyes and the frost half-body tattoo by Fallen Gods Inc. are from the hunt as well, but the matching ice crystal skin, wings and the curlique hip attachment are not hunt prizes, the frost’s daughter simply needed them.

The scene is mixed from the prizes of Roawenwood, Trident and Les Sucreries de Fairy. The harp is playable, even when the fairy seems too blue to try. If you feel like getting into the wintry spirit, you can begin your adventure here.

Scene: Surroundings: Les Sucreries de Fairy – Enchanted Frost Hunt Gift | Harp: Roawenwood – Enid’s White Crystalline Harp | Arch: Trident – Frozen Mistletoe Arch

Body: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Crystal Ice Opal Natural* | Tattoo: Fallen Gods Inc. – Tao Yang Frost | Eyes: Fallen Gods Inc. – Ice Elf Eyes Medium Glacier | Hair: Alice Project – Bliss* | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious 

Outfit: Wings & Fluttery Attachments: Fallen Gods Inc. – Ice Crystal | Headdress: Vita’s Boudoir – Frosted Faun Antlers

Poses: LAP – Fantasy-Puppet PR4 | Bilo – Sari Pose Mujira 5 | A part of furniture.

Petites Like Shinies, Too

Who wouldn’t? In this case I’m referring to the Crystal Hunt in the recently opened Petite Kingdom. I was tempted to take pictures in the sim because it’s gorgeous, but the lure of playing with the prizes and other shinies won. The crystal that seems so big in this picture is the hunt object. They glow blue and every participating shop has a hint, so it’s really not that difficult. More a fun way to explore the sim than a torture method.

The hunt will clothe and accessorize your petite rather well and provides plenty of furniture, but you do have to have a petite first. If you don’t, the first floating castle has plenty of them for sale. This particular petite is obviously a teenager princess, lounging on the alcove by {Mole End}, wearing G Field’s outfit and Wasabi Pills’ Noriko hair. All three are from the hunt, but the extra jewelry she plays with is not. Those are normal avatar sized shinies by ::: Krystal :::.

Roawenwood had plenty of fun petite furniture in the hunt and this little flower parasol by *Epic* was to squee for. The leaf-and-branches outfit is by Fallen Gods Inc., perfect for tiny dryads. The small skunk by D-Lab is from The Arcade’s gacha event, he just plopped on the chair and refused to move. Would you try to remove a skunk, no matter how cute? Yeah, me neither.

I could not resist. I’m sure you’re all surprised. Anyways! The petite kimono by Naminoke and the hair by Wasabi Pills are from the hunt. The Tee*fy camera that floats because magic — duh — and the ASO! alphabet bracelets spelling bunny are also from The Arcade. Happy Mood bunnies are just their squeetastic selves. Non-specified parts of the scenery are Ely’s awesome landscaping.

Even if you’re not interested in the hunt, Petite Kingdom is well worth the visit for breathtaking views. Go explore and have fun!

Picture 1: Petite Avatar: Fallen Gods Inc. – Petites Elf Pale Natural* | Eyes: al vulo! – Petite2 HeadB Eye rose | Hair: Wasabi Pills – Noriko Petite Crystal Pink | Dress, Wings & Hair Ornament: G Field – Fairy Dress Stella B | Alcove: {Mole End} – Garden of Light Alcove (Petites) | Jewelry: ::: Krystal ::: – Sabina Necklace Silver & Sheltered Heart Earring Platinum*

Picture 2: Petite Avatar: Fallen Gods Inc. – Petites Elf Pale Natural* | Eyes: al vulo! – Petite2 HeadB Eye rose | Hair: Wasabi Pills – Monique Petite Seafoam | Outfit: Fallen Gods Inc. – Fleurs Petite Female | Parasol: *Epic* – -P- Cartoon It! Strange Daisy [Raining] Parasol -Yellow- | Furniture: Roawenwood – Rinky Dink Chunky Rocker & Woodland Stove Set | Skunk: D-LAB – Skunk-head-brown | Pose: LAP – TC-Timid Girl PR4 (+ parasol hand position)

Picture 3: Petite Avatar: Fallen Gods Inc. – Petites Elf Pale Natural* | Eyes: al vulo! – Petite2 HeadB Eye rose | Hair: Wasabi Pills – Noriko Petite Crystal Pink | Outfit: Naminoke – Botan Hagire | Camera: Tee*fy Vintage Brownie Camera Neck  Black | Bracelets: ASO! – AlphabetBrace | Bunnies: Happy Mood – HPMD* StandingRabbit & HPMD* SleepyRabbit white | Pose: LAP – TCM-Oldskool Glam PR4

 

 

 

Tiny Twist

This year plenty of Twisted merchants have added in prizes for petites! The shops have marked these differently, usually have a petite trail sign and I believe the cubes for petites are within 20 meters instead of the 30 meters — mayhaps to accommodate smaller avatars. Ten meters is a long journey! Don’t be fooled by the cute, though… these are twisted petites, no matter how innocent and sympathy-inducing they might appear.

Here we have a seemingly innocent little petite girl cruelly captured in a cage with her obviously charming and good animal friends, right? You’d free her in a heartbeat without asking who put her there and why, I’m sure.

Maybe nothing strange would happen, she’d just lounge on the bed you thought was the captor’s, begin catching up with the latest fey-mail, not that she subscribes to the Malice Monthly or anything, of course…

I’m sure her animal friends hunt only canned tuna, too. Nothing strange and wicked going on in here, never!

The animal friends are all by The Booshies. The one that looks like a turtle is their prize in the Finding FabFree Hunt. All of them belong to the Lil’PetZ collection, shoulder and otherwise collectable pets. They are released in limited amounts in gatchas and I fear these two are already gone and new ones have replaced them, but since they are all no-copy, you can always try trading! There’s a forum thread for trading these little darlings, so you could always try your luck there!

Scene: Background environment: Garden of Dreams – The Cemetery* | Trees: Prism Furniture – Mystical Moons (Twisted Hunt) | Cage: Roawenwood – Twisted Lament Petite Cage (Twisted Hunt)| Bed: Malfean Visions – :{MV}: Darkness Lies Within Bed (Petite) (Twisted Hunt)| Animal companions: The Booshies – (B Lil’PetZ) Felitera, Ibstomp & Girecko*

Body: Petite & Eyes: Fallen Gods Inc. – Petite Crystal Violet* | Hair: Wasabi Pills – Orion Petite Mesh Hair (Night Shadow)*

Outfit: Snowpaws – Petite Webwing Outfit (Twisted Hunt)

Poses: First two from furniture poses, third BENT. – ONE. Simply Stillness Appears (available in The Retreat)*

Illusion of an Elf

*~*Illusions*~* has new elf ears out! Mesh elf ears, to be precise. There’s six different shapes out by now with the promise of jewelry that can be added to the ears, instead of buying new ears for each jewelry set. This will make the jewelry cheaper and more fun to play and accessorize with since you’ll have the same freedom as with the normal human ears.

This particular pair of pointies is seelie, falling midway in size and angle and providing a sensual curve to the look. I wanted to use a non-human skin tone to try out the colour HUD and picked up this Leah in Fantasy by Glam Affair from the Dressing Room for it. The said HUD also gives you control over the amount of highlights and shadows the ears have to make them match even better with your skins.

The silks are the latest group gift by Likka*House, although I’m wearing only some parts of it. I wanted to use both the headpiece and the necklace of the Elessia set by *~*Illusions*~* as well, so the illusion of the elf turned out to be topless. In hindsight, I’m pretty sure that’s how they often are.

A morning picture after a long night of throne lounging to show the elfie off to those with darker monitors. The said throne was a prize by Roawenwood in the hunt in Fantasy Faire. The gorgeous Egyptian Glam make-up by a.e.meth is from the Summer Beauty Festival.

My elf illusion turned out to be something of a Roman dark elf. Go get yours and see what yours will be!

Skin: Glam Affair – Leah Fantasy Line | Eyes: Roly Poly – GlassEyes Charcoal | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Makeup: a.e.meth – Egyptian Glam II (Dark Red) | Hair: Sky Everett – Lady Saelenar (CAHH 2010) | Ears: *~*Illusions*~* Seelie Ears* | Jewelry: *~*Illusions*~* Elessia | Silks: Likka*House – Rosephilia Silks Pure | Throne: Roawenwood – Warrior’s Respite Chair (mesh) v2