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)

Growth

Once upon a time I roleplayed a dryad called Halava. She was a lithe little thing, recently re-emerged from her sanctuary tree, fully recovered from the catastrophic wounds of the past but still young as dryads go. She wore a skin from Fallen Gods Inc. and very little else, so when the new tone of Crystals appeared in Skin Fair, I knew Halava would grow up.

More magic-infused than her younger self, she glows of the regenerative powers coursing ever so slowly through the veins that would bleed sap instead of blood. Her resemblance has turned more human due to spending more time with these brief-lived, rushing, nonsensical  creatures.

Experience comes slow to tree dryads as they take their time to observe and consider, not unlike the ents of other myths. Her younger self was oblivious to humanoid cultures beyond ancient mythical Greek ones and considered everything she witnessed with non-judgmental eyes, accepting everything as equally strange and normal part of the human behaviour. Given enough years she would have matured and formed opinions on what is good for growth and what unnaturally detrimental.

I would like to think that despite gaining more experience, more maturity, she would have kept her simple view on life, innocence and acceptance. Nurturing growth and avoiding the rot, as trees do.

The musk tone of Crystal line is currently available in the Skin Fair and they come in both female and male versions, as usual. The only decoration a dryad needs is actually a fascinator by Zibska, a part of the set available in L’Accessoires. The Victoria hairstyle by Alice Project is one of her new releases and it is tinted with the new anime hair colour HUD that is available in the Anime Hunt 2.

Scene: Studio Skye – Enchanted Tree Tunnel

Body: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Crystal Musk OpalFae Gloss* | Eyes: IKON – Eternal Eyes Green XL | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Alice Project – Victoria * 

Outfit: Leaves in Hair: Zibska – Leigh Fascinator*

Poses: aDORKable Poses – 25 of 25 2012 | PoseMonster – Stand 58 & Stand 54

Sky White, Snow Blue

Sometimes I think I’m pre-disposed to liking that combination just because I live in Finland and it’s so prevalent everywhere: snow covers everything for half a year, the second half the skies and the lakes turn blue, almost only additional mix is the green from the forests. Therefore this is a completely self-indulgent post of finding the combination beautiful.

There’s clarity in white: simplicity, purity, visibility. Nothing hidden. Blue is the colour of soothing calm, water’s touch, hue of melancholia, wistfulness. Together they are near-therapeutic to watch: serene, peaceful.

The stunningly beautiful near-white skin by Nuuna is available in the Skin Fair. The butterfly-resembling fans in a necklace by Zibska can be found in The Gallery Gift Shop (March 15th) and the delightfully decorated corset by lassitude & ennui will be in the Adore&Abhor Five Year Anniversary Event (March 16th). The barely discernible white lingerie-styled bodysuit by Pale Empress will soon be released as a group gift in Port Seraphine News, which will cover all the shops in the sim.

Scene: Studio Skye – Enchanted Tree Tunnel

Body: Skin: +Nuuna+ Kati Skin Cleavage | Eyes: IKON – Eternal Eyes Peak XL | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Makeup & Brows: +Nuuna+ Kati Smokey & Eyebrows | Hair: Analog Dog – Wound Up Winter

Outfit: Corset: lassitude & ennui – Elena Corset blue/silver* | Bodysuit: Pale Empress – Elyria White* | Necklace: Zibska – Kiyomi* | Headpiece: LaGyo – Angelie headpiece bridal

Poses: Poise – Vogue 2* | Exposeur – Female of the Species 3

White Tea

I doubt the tea itself is white, but the look demanded the title. As much as a coffee addict I might be it was very clear that this character would be drinking tea and speaking in a British accent.

Villains in white has always been an enchanting twist on the stereotypical colour-role-division. Even though these days we don’t take anything for granted, the base stereotype still lives in our minds: black for evil, white for good. Switching them around on purpose has always been a classic intrigue.

If she did not have the gothic makeup and the tiny skulls in the earrings, you would probably take her as a benevolent character: possibly a sophisticated ice queen, perhaps neutral third party with the power both struggling sides want to obtain, but not the villain. As soon as you add the makeup you know she’s going to be the calmly speaking villain on a throne with a pet cat and a knowing smile.

Regardless of this, I’m sure you would not decline a cup of tea if she such offered. Even when the tea is poured into a tentacle cup.

The full length of slinky glamour is Pearl River Gown by SAKIDE, available in Fashion For Life. The villain-defining gothic makeup by Pin Me Down can also be purchased there. The tentacle dishware by Schadenfreude hide inside a gacha machine in The Arcade. The appropriately pale Clover-skin by Essences can be purchased in the Skin Fair.

Scene: Skybox: Garden of Dreams – Piano Bar* | Tentacle Dishware: Schadenfreude – Tako Cake Stand, Teacup (tea), Teapot, Plate-Petits Fours&Orange

Body: Skin: Essences – Clover 01 Pale Dust Brunette* | Hair: Exile – Crazy in Love Frost | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Classic Frozen Silver Bright | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Makeup: Pin Me Down – Tili (lips & eyes)*

Outfit: Gown: SAKIDE – Pearl River Gown* | Earring: House of Rain – Horror Holiday Earring moonstone/jet/silver*

Poses: aDORKable Poses – 19 of 25 2012 | PoseMonster – Stand 43 & Stand 13

Nothing But Skin

It is a vulnerable state, wearing nothing but your skin. Leaving the cultural taboos and sexuality aside, nudity exposes us. There is nothing between us and the surrounding world, us and the other people. No layers of cloth to form an armor, no distractions, no pretension.

We’re not used to such openness anymore, we’re used to being able to select what kind of mask of implications we present for the world to see. When we are robbed of our covers, the timidness easily settles in.

Underneath the protection of all the masks and armor there is sensitivity bruised by the lightest of touches, spirits wishing to be understood and accepted, hiding in the darkness under the layers of shields out of fear, out of tiredness.

Perhaps, just perhaps, if we dared to look in the mirror without wearing a mask, if we dared to leave the armor aside for just a moment, we could learn to understand and accept ourselves. Whether the others do or do not depends on who we meet, but if we do not accept ourselves first, how could they?

Skin Fair has opened its doors and Essences is releasing a new Clover skin line there. I have adored their soft shading and strong eyebrows for a long while now, but what really delights me is the pale skin tone options. Most skins on the grid are way too tan for my taste and so every skin designer who makes truly pale tones is a triumph to find.

Scene: Studio Skye – Enchanted Tree Tunnel

Body: Skin: Essences – Clover 01 Pale Dust Brunette* | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Classic Frozen Silver Bright | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Alice Project – Sunny*

Poses: Poise – Vogue 10 | Exposeur – When You’re Smiling 3 | aDORKable Poses – 3 of 25 2012