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.

Forgotten: City and Its Automatons

We lived on borrowed time, we automatons. Every tick of the clock brought us closer to the point when there would be no more rewinding, where our gears would cease to rotate, where our functions would simply stop.

We were unaware of this. Unlike humans, who know their bodies are temporary and fall into lethal disrepair in time, we thought we were built to last. That if we broke, we could be fixed. If we ran out of energy, we could be rewound.We trusted the City to always be there. We trusted there would always be the machinery and the systems to rewind our clockworks, to fix our broken limbs, to improve on the original design.

We trusted the light to dance in the air, the energy to flow, the magic that is machinery to carry us forward. We trusted the City would be there for us whenever we needed it.

The City is broken. The machinery that fixes us is unable to fix itself. The automatons designed to fix others wander aimlessly on the silent streets. With every passing cycle the City drifts, wavers, fades. Disconnected. Malfunctioning. Defective. Like us, Forgotten.

Forgotten City is closing down in September. If you have never visited this astonishing sim, do yourself a favor and go now. If you’re familiar with it, now is the last chance to revisit its magic. I do not know when exactly the sim will close down, but I felt the automatons had a word to share on the subject.

Scene: Forgotten City

Doll: *Tentacio* Galatea Doll: Body Carousel RARE, Head Vamp B, Bra&Thong Gold at The Arcade
Hair: Tableau Vivant: Editorial Underwater Redheads at The Arcade
Particles: Cole’s Corner – Dazed Dancer Aura (Peach)*

Poses: Tabou Irresistible – Pinup Pose 6 | an lar [poses] – The Naken Series Three (m) | Kirin – Hera Pose 4 | Exposeur – Back to Black 8M

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

Joulunlaitto

It all started on December 3rd. Addler the Butler Otter promoted the Brothers Squirrel as his Majorly Mostly Assistant Decoration Wranglers. Mostly because they had paws that could reach and grab and twist and twine, and poor Addler himself had always been somewhat paw-challenged due to his round tummy that he was extremely proud of.

After the decorations came Addler’s favourite part: baking! Not that he could bake anything himself (see: paw-challenged), but the Hamster Baking Brigade was extremely professional and a joy to watch and sniff. One of the bunlings had taken the art of Learning Letters very seriously and could now read almost every other word from the Big Book of Noms. He told Addler every other word was ‘nom’, and who was Addler to question his learned ways.

While the critters on the table plateau were focused on baking, a disaster struck on the lower level: suddenly everything except the rugs was lava! The Bunling learning the Art of Scribbling immediately made an alarm flag. The Bunlings had wisely divided the Arts so that one of them learned to Read, the other to Write.

The Brothers Squirrel figured out an escape plan immediately, but only the penguins showed interest or daring to follow them across the ladder. The Squirrel in charge of Taking (the other was in charge of Keeping) even performed a small squirrel jig to show everyone it wasn’t dangerous. He knew it was the work of the Magician and surely he would not fry the critters in lava: not good barbeque!

The brave escapades were forgotten the moment the scent of ready gingerbread cookies descended to the rug-level. Lava and adventurous challenges already forgotten, it was time to party! The Nom Fest was so thorough that the Brothers Squirrel forgot to ponder where had Addler gone.

Addler had orchestrated the Grand Nom Feast on the main table. On many tables. After several Critter Committees were held on the decor and colour matching, defeat was admitted and the Bunling scribbled a plea for help in the flag: magician aid was required. After some patient translation work from the Ladybun, the Magician got to work to change the critter infested mess into a proper feast.

What a feast it was! Addler could barely see to the other end of the table! The Ladybun had helped him with a bow tie (see: paw-challenged) and all he had to do now was oversee everything from his spot at the end of the table. Well, to see, and watch and sniff and approve. Extremely responsible job!

Addler could feel his otter tummy growing from the scents alone: so round and pretty! He guarded the sacher cake of chocolatey goodness with care: if he was lucky, the Magician would eat only one piece and he could have all the rest! …to share with his friends, he reminded himself. To share with his friends, yesyes.

The Rat Band had settled next to the cheese tray that had been promised to them, already playing festive songs such as Every Whisker Glitters and All the Red Ribbons and the critter favourite Nom Day Every Day.

The Bunling that Knows Bun Glyphs had found tiny bunlings from a glowing jar of snow. He pressed his nose against the glass and wiggled it in hopes of communication, but the tiny figures did not move. Surely there should be another plea for the Magician to make them come alive.

In the meanwhile, under the tree, everything was peaceful. The band played a song or two to keep in shape, the weffs practiced puppy parkour on the presents, the guest bunnies were helping with the decor and the cocoa train kept driving around the tree in slow, delicious circles.

Everything was ready. Just one more night to wait.

I meant to simply take pictures of the hijinks and shenanigans happening home as usual and add them to Flickr for shared amusement, but this December the story just kept growing and growing and called for more words. So here: a home-ful of critters to wish everyone a delightful, happy and relaxed holiday!

Laziest Credits Ever:

Critters by Ohmai, MishMish, Half-Deer, Snips & Snails, Aisling, Intrigue Co. (fd), Offbeat, Ispachi, Lark, Balaclava, keke

Noms by Poche, Lost Junction, Schadenfreude, Tres Blah, Erratic, Vespertine, Aphrodite

Grand Nom Feast Table & Chairs by The Looking Glass (free under the tree)

Tree by ~Libertine~

A lot of noms and critters from the Arcade, the tree from the Midwinter Fair.

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~

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*

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)

Krampus the Yule Yak

It’s almost time. All the signs are there: the shifting colours to very specific spectrum of reds and greens, the emergence of lights in the middle of the darkness, the mistletoe and holly and all other words ending in -olly.

We’ll leave the reindeers to more commercial types and instead set out with yaks. Nobody expects the yak acquisition! Acquisition and re-delivery, that’s the name of the game. The Great Yak Company: bringing smiles and laughter around the world since the… era that you’ve never heard of but is surely there. Yes.

Little Krampus here is a perfect candidate, ready for hours of work to find things that were lost and to bring them to people who miss them. Sometimes it’s the same people, sometimes different. We don’t mind, we’re creative about the whole distribution. It’s not about who throws money around the most, it’s about how to make the most people smile in the end.

So when you have a moment to sit down in all the commercial stress and rush, listen to the clip-clop of tiny yak hooves and prepare to enjoy the spirit of Gothmas: accept yourself with all your misgivings, accept the people around you with all of theirs, take a deep breath and simply smile.

Most of the look can be found in Gothmas by Gaslight: the dress by :{MV}:, the earrings by House of Rain, the eyeshadow by Beautiful Freak and the liner by Pin Me Down are available in Cursed. The ribbony Batty necklace by lassitude & ennui is available in Sium. The delightful stripes in the hair are from the new Winter HUD by Alice Project, colouring your favourite hairdos to new tones. The yule antlers by Cerridwen’s Cauldron are available in the current round of We Love Role-play. The skin by Al Vulo is from The Dressing Room: Fusion, the house by Scarlet Creative from Collabor88, the eyes by Adoness from her Christmas Market and the rocking chair by Atelier Visconti and the yak by +Half-Deer+ from The Garden. The dresser by DIGS, the crown by Schadenfreude and the tree and wreath by Trompe Loeil can be won at The Arcade.

Scene: House: Scarlet Creative – Trilby | Chair: Atelier Visconti – Mont Blanc Rocking Chair | Krampus: +Half-Deer+ Winter Yak Black | Dresser: DIGS – Geary Dresser Moon RARE | Crown: Schadenfreude – Storybook Royalty: Crown of Skulls | Tree: Trompe Loeil – Star Tree | Wreath: Trompe Loeil – Branch Wreath 

Body: Skin: Al Vulo – Mimi Dk dark brow cleavage milk | Eyes: Adoness – Lignum Eyes Weed* | Eyeshadow: Beautiful Freak – Lua Eyeshadow Blood Red* | Liner: Pin Me Down – Julie Eyeliner 8 | Lashes: Redgrave – Luscious | Hair: Alice Project – Bella II* | Horns: Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Yule Antlers*

Outfit: Dress: :{MV}: Translate Dress Crimson* | Shoes: Has Been – Betsy Bow Pumps | Stockings: ~Cannibelle~ Gothic Lace Suspender Tights | Necklace: lassitude & ennui – Batty Necklace Black* | Earrings: House of Rain – Melt Earrings Garnet/Silver* 

Poses: N/A | Kirin – Nina Pose 4 | Part of the chair.

 

 

Once Upon a Time…

…there was a small flight of dragonlings, the last five survivors of their kin. Their mother had bravely hidden them away before luring evil humans after her to save the dragonlings. Their big sister found them and brought them to safety to their aunt, who lived far away from others because she liked peace and quiet and… put that down. Right now.

Alright, where were we… ah. The said aunt promised to look after her small nephews and nieces while their big sister went to hunt for proper food and- Those are not healthy, especially not before dinner, stop- …oh, so you paw-stamped and licked them all already? Very well. Just this once.

The young dragonlings were completely unaware of the tragedy they had faced and played around recklessly without a pinch of gratitude, I might add, and would certainly soon catch the melting sickness from all those candles if they do not stop pretending to be deaf and get out of there right this moment.

In the end their aunt accepted that her sensitive silence-loving ears would never stop ringing for the next couple of centuries and- …where did the fifth one go? I swear when I find you little rascals-

The skin by Fallen Gods Inc., dress by Senzafine, horns by .{Rue}., dragonlings by ~Alchemy~, chairs, table and candles set by .a i s l i n g. and waystone and blue grass by Cerridwen’s Cauldron are all available in the current round of We Love Role-play. The cherry noms by Apple Fall can be won in The Arcade and the eyes by IKON can be purchased in FaMESHed.

Scene: Background: MAB – Small Season Changing Cave House | Singing Stone: Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Fae Waystone, Two Holes* | Chairs, Table, Candles: .a i s l i n g. – Louarn Set* | Blue Grass: Cerridwen’s Cauldron – Winter Underbrush Field/Blue Grass* | Cherry Noms: Apple Fall – Cherry Voulevants | Tea Service: c( Two Cats ) – Tilting Tea Server White* | Dragonlings: ~Alchemy~ Baby Dragon Accessorie Air

Body: Skin: Fallen Gods Inc. – Draco Glacier Scaled SB* | Eyes: IKON – Spectral Eyes Wight | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Analog Dog – Wound Up Winter | Horns: .{Rue}. – Horns/Krampus Ghost*

Outfit: Dress: Senzafine – Thetis Dress Mithril*

Poses: A part of the chair | {Imeka} Reika-Pose 8

A Little Forest Story

“It had all seemed so safe and harmless,” contemplated Sage the Chipmunk from his perch on top of the story tomes. “A few tales of magic and adventure, a couple of stories of transformation, a wise fable of finding your true self… no harm in that, right?”

“Wrong. Who knew that donning a scarf and wielding a twig that she calls a wand would actually turn Faith the Chipmunk into a wizard? It shouldn’t even be possible!”

“But there she is, proud in her scarf and new-grown bunny-ears. More importantly: there they are, Blush, Bark and Nosy Chipmunks in their new forms. Even more importantly: here I am, with no clue whatsoever how to turn them back!”

“I’m also quite certain that Flitter the Chipmunk’s butterfly book should not be sprouting new ones, but at least that seems relatively harmless. …until she turns into one, perhaps.”

“I guess our only hope is the mysterious man cat in a fez.”

All the chipmunks, puppy pals, bunny, books, bowls, carved woodland animals, bunny ears and even the mysterious cat in a fez can be won from The Arcade, but only in this September. If you haven’t visited yet, hurry!

Scene: Tree: New Trails – Mediterranean Tree Set | Carrots: Dysfunctional Designs – Lil’ Garden Plot Carrots | All the Chipmunks: MishMish | Carved Animals: +Half-Deer+ Red Squirrel & Fallow Deer | Bunny Ears: +Half-Deer+ – Velven Bunny Ears Pearly | Bowls: Vespertine – Pumpkin, Apple, Acorn Bowls | Puppies: Intrigue Co. – Dexter the Jack Russell & Princess the Sheltie | Bunny: Tee*fy – Lop Eared Bunny Plushie | Books: Lark – Imaginarium Librarium Roots & Butterfly | Cat: Schadenfreude – Chibi Cat Sweetie