Sketch Artist

Knock, Knock, Knock. No answer, no reply. Looking around, he checked the number on the building, it had seemed such an unlikely spot after all. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a folded note. Torn from thick heavy paper, its edges feathered with fine graphite lines, the fade out of some sketch were overwritten with a confident hand. The address was right, and the time... "Hey" the call spun him on the spot. There she was, the girl with the sketchbook. Grinning, he moved to walk toward her until she held up a hand. "No" she paused, letting her bag drop to the ground, crouching to rummage in it, and rising again with a sliver of charcoal in her hand. "Stay just where you are." As she spoke, more like her appeared, each with sketchpad in hand. Soft murmurings of voices drifted across the lane to him as they nodded to each other. "The light here is perfect..." she said, settling down next to her bag on the cobblestones, her hand already tracing the lines of the building behind him onto the page. "Now, take off your shirt." Changing things up a bit, with one for the bois. More from District 5!

Hair : ~Tableau Vivant~ Aidoru Series - Reita - Winter  L$ 250
HUD driven colour options for this unisex hair.
Tattoo :  .Reckless. - Notti Faded  L$ 300
Love this design - a great look for bois and girls.
Top : etham - James Cardigan - Black  L$ 199
HUD driven colour options - down to the buttons!
Pants : DN Mesh (m): Clip Jeans L$ 195
Another HUD - pick the colour of yer pants!

Not from District 5
Skin : AKERUKA Josh Skin - Group Gift L$ 1

Taxi to District 5

Love in the mists

They were of the mists...

They would be everywhere, part of everyone and everything. Steam rising, dew forming, tides rolling, and rivers flowing. Under the moon, the sea fret formed. As did they. They emerged from vapour just as they had entered it, coming together in a never ending embrace. Moon and starlight gave them substance, to last only as long as the night. They were poured into a well of feeling, had only to take care not to drown. In these brief hours they could step from the water onto even the driest of lands, puddles forming in their wake, evaporating just as they, with the dawn.  

He wears; 

Skin: AKERUKA Gary Beard Dark Group Gift (L$1)
Another great skin with excellent detail.
Akeruka
Hair: *Dura-Boy*49 (Black)  L$ 120
Realistic and stylish as ever from Dura.
Dura
Tattoo: +REDRUM+ Tarot of Lovers Tattoo  L$ 119
A must for all lovers of the cards.
+REDRUM+
Pants: +REDRUM+ Leather Pants with Suspenders from THE BONES outfit L$ 299
Love these - whole outfit works great and also as parts! MESH in standard 5 sizes.
Boots: DRD Beggers Boots (Coal) L$ 189
Great Unisex boots - HUD driven options for fabric colour and style, laces and to have been walking through mud or snow!
Death Row Designs 

She wears;
Skin:  YumYums  Alli Skin Tone 5 (Dark Brow Cleavage) pack L$ 899
As always, the skins from YumYums are amazing, excellent detail, and many options for your L$. The pack contains light brow, dark brow and no brow, all with cleavage / no cleavage. Also included are freckles, blushes, moles and Loud Mouth appliers.
YumYums
Appliers: YumYums  Alli Skin Tone 5 applier pack  L$ 199
Excellent applier HUD with Tango, SLink, and Phat Azz options. Good for your skin and nails.
Hair: Magika [Hair] Shimmer  (Colour pack 3) L$ 250 
Love this hair, not generally a fan of short styles, but there's no getting away from how great this is.
Magika
Makeup: +Nuuna+ Meta Gray 70% (F) full black L$ 100
Beautiful makeup I've been hunting for for a while. Mod, so here I have darkened the tattoo layer to get the opacity I wanted.
+Nuuna+
Corset: -DRD- Corset Arts Red  L$ 200
This is my second purchase of one of Death Row Design's Art Corsets. Original works of art at the heart. Beautiful.
Death Row Designs 
Armour: [The Forge] Eldar Armour, Female (Worn Black) - MeshL$ 399
This really is beautiful armour. Three sections for each arm included. Textures and design are amazing.
The Forge
Hands:  Slink AvEnhance Hands Female - Relaxed  L$ 450
A more relaxed look.
Slink
Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet Female Mid L$ 675
My most used feet!
Nails: DLS Ceredil nail applier (RFL vendor) L$ 199
I was lucky enough to get these at the Fantasy Faire this year, and the Relay for Life vendor has been moved to the fabulous De La Soul Mainstore!
Shoes: -DRD-  Monochrome v2 black  L$ 189
These really stand out for me - as they aren't the 'perfect' unscuffed shoe. They have been worn, the laces undone. Perfect for RP! 

Poses;
{.:exposeur:.} We Are Water- L$ 175
Exposeur
Del May - Fissure - L$ 150 
Del May 
{look.sharp} "Denial" L$ 10
Look.Sharp - Marketplace 
 

Pirates!

The ship had settled into its final resting place on the rocky shore some months back. Now it lay there, breaking up slowly as storms came and went, washing the wooden planks into the murky coves that made up the edges of the island. It was in this darkness and gloom that they now lived.

Here in the mist, they had taken over the positions held so recently by those who had lured their former captain onto the rocks in the first place. On high platforms jutting out from the cliffs lanterns were hung day and night, winking out to ships at sea, promising rest and a chance to trade and restock. Their former Captain had fallen for the ruse, and had paid the price, as he now hung from a tree in the centre of what passed for a town square, deep in the marshy heartland of the island.

Common sense, and the ability to read the stars had told Najma that this was no place to find safety and fair trade. Reading the stars was her occupation, her eyes blindfolded during daylight hours, to further her sight in the darkness. She could plot a true course, guiding the ship safely with Johannes' help. From lowly cabin boy, he had spent his time on ship and on land wisely. Learning from rare master cartographers, and far from eschewing any old sea dog with a scrap of parchment, linen or leather with coastline etched on it. They had told the Captain that this was no safe place, that it was anything but... but the drunken old fool was adamant.

It had all come to and end very quickly. The wreckers on the island took the Captain, then those on the ship took the wreckers. Pirates could exist just as well on land as they could on the water... smugglers coves had to begin somewhere after all. This would be where they would make their stand from now on.

Oh I do like to be beside the sea side... and I'd Yo Ho Ho for a bottle of rum. With the sun finally out here, seems as good a time as any to spend a while in a murky sim, playing pirates, inspired by +REDRUM+.

Najma wears;
Shape :  [ S H O C K ] Dakota - Noire - (Skin and Shape Set ) - L$ 200
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Four/211/158/2312
Skin :  : S u g a r :  [Lush] Berries in [4] Barbados- Dark Brow, Cleavage, Eyecrease and Teeth.
Will be available as a Marketplace item soon.
Tattoo :  +REDRUM+ Pirate Tattoo
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Death%20Row/196/83/56
Hair :  >TRUTH< Elisha w/Roots - mirage (Light Blondes colourpack)  L$ 250
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Truth/158/27/34
Mask :  +REDRUM+ Blindfold Leather L$ 69
Comes with a gag!
Top :  Swanky - Black  Gypsy Top with optional MESH Sleeves L$ 99
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Swanky-Black-gypsy-top-with-optional-mesh-sleeves/4084192
Skirt :  +REDRUM+ HighWaisted Skirt Carnivale
Amazing high waisted skirt - range of colours and designs available - my inspiration for this set, as the buttons are decorated with the traditional pirate Skull and Crossbones!

Johannes wears;
Shape : Bird Next Door Jonny2  L$ 10
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/BND-Jonny-Shape-Dollarbies-Male-avatar-Shape/2065226
Skin : AKERUKA Caesar skin (Group Gift L$ 1)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akeruka/163/135/23
Hair : /Wasabi Pills/ Teeloh MALE Mesh Hair - Storm  (Black Colourpack) L$ 250
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Coraline/206/135/53
Eyes : REPULSE - Living Dead (Blind) (Large)  L$ 99
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/REPULSE/181/159/1095
Tattoo :  +REDRUM+ Pirate Tattoo
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Death%20Row/196/83/56
Pants :  ~Tableau Vivant~ Gatsby pants black  L$ 99
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/World%20of%20Beauty/71/131/26

One life, one chance...

High on the cloud mountain the citadel of memories nestled between stone and iron. Each dwelling a fortress for those within its protection, when stepping outside into thick hanging mists meant madness and death. Darkness and swirling winds wrapped around each strongfast, pressing in against brick and glass...

Such special glass, poured aeons earlier it seemed, deep in the mines of the mountain, where no light but coalfire ever reached. It filtered moonlight from the mists, lighting the rooms where it was wanted, letting those who remained inside see what they would. Sylba liked to see, liked to watch. Her watchroom was filled with screens, lit in the gloaming with flickers of those spirits beyond the walls, the ghosts who wailed in the mists.

Within the walls though, she felt as a caged bird. Stories of such, or the lingering memories of them at least, had played on her screens for so many years. Sylba had seen them there, flying free, through skies of blue. Skies far different in time or miles from the purple and green bruised skies above her own cage. The feeling grew stronger each day, demanding recognition. That was when she called for Gryphon.

She called for him each time the lost souls came too close; through the glass high above, and from the screens before her. Gryphon wandered the wilds more than she, charms and sigils added the touch of tradition to his protective clothing, now discarded at the airlock. He would come when she called, whenever he was needed. There were bound together, heartstrings and ropes.

The designs that filled her mind would be etched on her skin by his touch. Already rendered in inks were her fear of living as the caged bird, never free to fly as intended. The sun still shone brightly, if only here in her world of moonlight. Flowers and insects long gone from the lands, but not forgotten, remembered by Sylba as part of herself. The sacred heart, a recent addition, had been inspired by Gryphon. As he had walked through the rubble and wastes of the old city, far from the current citadel, spirits long at rest had stirred again. Following the living, singing the stories of their souls. Belief rained down that night, longing poured over the screens like wine into cups at a feast. That image, that symbol, burned in their minds and soon found a place in her to rest. She had called him again tonight, skin would lie on skin, and images form. What they would be, only the spirits could tell, each had their life, and this one last chance to be remembered...

Sylba

Hair :   Magika Rewind - Colourpack 2 L$ 250
Such a pretty, and realistic hair. Love it.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Magika%20Land/127/127/22
Skin :   :Sugar: [5] DB Bay / InK {1} Clevage
Still a favourite
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Magic%20Moment/194/41/1751
Tattoo:   +REDRUM+ One Life Tattoo L$ 159
Not all of the tattoo is visible here I know... there is a more revealing picture if you click through to my Flickr stream!  Well worth it to see a bit more of this fantastic original design. I may be convinced to take more, still missing the fabulous moth.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Death%20Row/196/83/56
Corset :   *League* Nyx Corset -Leather  L$ 295
Blown away by this. Found this particular corset at League's Whore Couture2 store and fell in love. So many options (HUD driven) for the spikes, great range of colours. 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Duende/154/129/39
Skirt :   *Tentacio* Kay Skirt black L$ 70
Another great item from Whore Couture2! Longer at the back than the front, this unusual skirt is a nice break from the norm
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cies%20Island/130/126/23
Boots :    Razor /// Regulator Combat  Boots  Dirty  L$ 279
I'll admit it... I saw someone wearing these, didn't have the time at that moment to chase them down myself to find out where they got em, so set a friend on the stalking trail. Found, Bought, Love.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Depraved%20Nation/140/157/70


Gryphon

Hair :   *Dura-Boys&Girls*20 - Dark 6 Colour Fatpack L$ 360
Love this style - Messy, but secure.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dura%20Dura/64/129/1002
Skin :   AKERUKA Kal V2  (Group Gift)
Cost of the group join is WELL worth the skins available as group gifts. Amazing detail.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akeruka/128/138/36
Tattoo:    Angels&Demons_GoK_soft 2  L$ 250
Still utterly enamoured of Garden of Ku tattoo styles and imagery.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Huggies/117/68/23
Armour :  [Exiled Inc.] Neck corset grey straps armbrace  L$ 150
Love love love this. Two versions included in the price - with the arm brace and without. Armour with a hint of style, while not straying too far from classic shaped leatherwork. 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Date/62/36/601
Jeans : +REDRUM+ Grandpa's Jeans - Grey  L$ 89
These jeans are made with a fanatastic texture - very unusual, not your normal denim. In the blue - they look great - here in the grey option - they look like roughed up old tweeds. You can see the shredded material on the knee.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Death%20Row/196/83/56  

Love Hurts

As the day of the Saint rolled closer and closer, love was in the air. Valentine had never set foot here, few would by choice. Few, but some. The darker alleyways are sometimes the best places for some lovers to meet, after all, who would look to find them both there?

The demon and the angel had met there once by chance, many years before. The alleyway had grown no cleaner over time, though at least the body of the one whose soul each had come to claim that fateful night had gone. Food no doubt for the rats which scurried ceaselessly between crates and trashcans. Love like this was not something that could be explained, too close to hate as it was. They should loathe each other, and certainly, each felt nothing but repulsion for all the other stood for. Despite all of this, love was what it was.

Whenever good and evil came together, there was bound to be violence. Angels would do all they could to be good and fair, and Demons likewise to be destructive and evil. Violent passion drew them back there each time, despite the inevitable pain that would follow.  Far from these opposites of feeling, emotion and nature cancelling each other out to some even keel, sparks would fly, and blood would flow.

Each time they met, there would be love. At each meeting; pain. The cycle continuing on and on throughout the ages.  As they loved each other, the Angel would give up his heart, and the Demon, she would eat it...

Oh Valentines... Death as love. How fitting for these latest releases!

Shown above, we have +REDRUM+ Love Thief - Stolen Heart - which is a two person set, the prize at +REDRUM+ in the current Tainted Love Hunt (which when I get round to hunting out all the prizes, there should be another post about).  Its L$1 until the end of the month, and comprises in its two sets - which are transferable for you and your love - blood for the arms, blood for the face, a chest wound, sticky out tongues, and a heart to bite on! You can find all the details about the ultimate anti-twee hunt here...

http://www.woefulwednesday.com/the-tainted-love-hunt/

Here is also the latest release from S U G A R! That's right, after so many of us crying, complaining and whinging because she wanted to have an enjoyable life, she came back! *grins*  This is a reload of perhaps my all time favourite skin - Cry My Heart Out - and it's a Group Gift!  There are five skintones, each with standard, with teeth, and a total of three cleavage options. If you were lucky enough to get the previous Cry My Heart Out skin - you might just love this lipglossey do-over!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Magic%20Moment/195/41/1751


Also shown:

On the Demon:
Hair : Magika - Early (03)
Top : [ SAKIDE ] Insanely Cute Dress White
Skirt : ..:::C&M DEsignS:::.. Emanuelle*Pure White Feather*Skirt
Pasties : [Plastik]-Bandaids - Cirrus
Wings : Material Squirrel  - Ezriel
Nails : +ROZOREGALIA+- Gemma

On the Angel:
Skin :  Akeruka  - Antonio
Hair :  *Dura-Boys&Girls*20 (black)
Tattoo :  +REDRUM+ Leopard Tattoo
Horns :  [][]Trap[][] Obsidian Crown
Vest : +REDRUM+ - 'Punk' Denim Vest
Jeans : +REDRUM+ Grandpa's Jeans Grey

Darkness will rise from the deep

Once upon a time... when the days were short, and the nights were long...

A soft creak of wood and metal would greet each twilight. Coming up from deep in the cavernous excavations hidden under the house on the hill, the telltale sound was audible to none but the crows beginning their roost in the gnarled trees which guarded the bramblestrewn garden. This softest of sounds was followed by others. The moaning, and occasional crashes were explained away by townspeople as subsidence, the land was old, and old things would creak... Far below their feet someone still older was waking, and making the noises.

Closer to the thick stone walls of the sanctuary, the noises resolved into their true forms. Stumbling out of the coffin, things were bound to get knocked over. Shins would be bruised, expletives would rain down as he pressed icy fingers to his temples, shading his vision from the searing pain of soft candlelight, easing into animation as the hangover from hell pounded and throbbed behind his eyes.

He would stand a while, centred in his mausoleum, letting the memories ebb and flow, settling back into a pattern only discernible from the nightmares of those who scurried about on the surface above by its unyielding clarity. As the tide of blood drew back, he again knew his name. Names were given to him, in different places, at different times. As seasons changed, so must he, if only on the surface. In this time, he could fit in as easily as any other, new ink graced old skin... it wouldn't last forever, but for now, it pleased him, and some others, to look at it.

Some hated it of course... designed to be divisive, it won friends and enemies. Followers of fashion all, in one way or another, be it of the flesh or spirit. None of it mattered much, a means to an end for him. Pulling the thick woolen sweater over his head, moonlight, seeping through fissures in the rock, reflecting from well placed crystals, gilded his skin. Black ink, driven deep marked him out as one of this age's exiles, their otherness forming a protective barrier, one which he could stalk from, and hunt within whenever the mood struck... Which it would, and often did.
More awake now, he turned to view the fruits of his labour the night before. The old copper tub, heated to the all important 37 degrees was half full... this was a little necessary luxury, not an extravagance. Even this had tired him. Slipping into the vitae, jeans and all, a wry smile would twist his lips at the thought.."Perhaps this is me growing old at last..."

Hair :  *Dura-Boy*38(Black)  L$360 Fatpack of 7 colours.
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Dura-Boy38-Dark-7color-Fat/3981889
Skin : Akeruka Godric - Former group gift.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akeruka/163/135/23
Eyes :  REPULSE - Living Dead  L$ 99
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/REPULSE/97/143/23
Tattoo : +REDRUM+ Inverted L$ 99
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/REDRUMInverted-Tattoo/4338601
Top : +REDRUM+ Loose Fit Top Mens - Black MESH   L$89
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/REDRUM-Loose-Top-Mens-Black/4248285
Love the easy flow of this woolen sweater - looks so comfortable!
Jeans : +REDRUM+ Grandpa's Jeans - Grey  MESH L$89
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/REDRUM-Grandpas-Jeans-Grey/4464530
These jeans are made with a fanatastic texture - very unusual, not your normal denim. In the blue - they look great - here in the grey option - they look like roughed up old tweeds. Very nice!

All +REDRUM+ items available at the new mainstore - which you can find here...
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Death%20Row/196/83/56

Mausoleum :  Glitterati - Mausoleum (5 poses) L$150
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/GLITTERATI-Mausoleum/3066983
Coffin  :  Stone Misery - Coffin Black Nailed - Had this a long time - check out the store for what's on offer!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Owendale/132/93/36
Wall Cross : KOSH- CRUX & CANDLES -regular- L$66
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/KOSH-CRUX-CANDLES-regular/3439823
Arch : Trident - Frozen Mistletoe Arch [Candles,White] L$350
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Frozen-Mistletoe-Arch/4326336
Just noticed that in all of the pictures above, the mistletoe on the arch had not rezzed fully. Damnit.
Bath :  Boudoir - Bloody Tub  L$250
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Bloody-Bath/4079183

For the boys...

Menswear fashion week March 23-31

He walked around the shadowy green room, tapping dexterous fingertips against his pale chin...

"What to wear, what to wear..."

Most days, his options felt limited. There wasn't much choice, although, perhaps this was for the best in his line of work. It had to be practical, had to hold all he might need. His vanity wasn't much, but it was there. To get into the places he had to, it helped to look the part, to blend with the fashionable crowd. Of course, once his work was done, he had to be able to get out again, he needed his tools.

Everything he needed was to hand. Pulling on the black combat trousers, their thick material would give some protection should he need it, and of course, their many pockets were invaluable. They passed as regular streetware, noone would ask any questions, and for this job, security weren't expecting anything... They wouldn't be checking too close. Patting the pockets, he felt the handle of the folded switchblade, the innocuous wooden pegs in another, the curl of thin wire, the lighter, his smokes..

Glancing in the mirror he eyed the face staring back at him from his chest, not so smart to have such a distinguishing mark, but he didn't care. He wasn't planning on getting caught, and the the kanji looked hot over his muscled abdomen. Working feet into the heavy but flexible work boots, he bent to lace them tightly. Straightening again, running a hand through his hair, styling it just so, he slid into the thick woolen knit jacket, its shape would comfortably hide what he was planning to take. Catching the fastening, and adjusting the collar before heading out into the night.

This week is Menswear Fashion Week, I was hoping to create a great look to show here, preferably made up from gifts available at the Menswear event itself. Admittedly, I'm not used to shopping for male items, when I've tried in the past, I've always been a bit disappointed about what was on offer - at least in the price range I could stretch to for photo set ideas. The event itself has some great stores, different styles on offer, covering skins and teeny pants to whole outfits. The underwear fashion show last night was something to behold! There are some free or 1L gifts in the stores, but not many, those that there are match the styles of the stores, not necessarily each other, so no full freeish look here unfortunately. But bits here and there add up!

Menswear Fashion Week 2012
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Menswear%20Fashion%20Week2012/128/5/26

Event items

Skin : AKERUKA  Damien Cyber Love  - Group gift skin 1L (250L group join fee) While there is a poster to hit for the skin at the event, it didn't work for me, so had to head to the mainstore.
Mainstore:  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Akeruka/129/133/36
Hair : SHAG Suedehead (obsidian) 250L
Mainstore: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Silent/194/134/40
Pants and Boots :  ::GB:: Cargo Pants and Work boots  580L
Mainstore : http://slurl.com/secondlife/GABRIEL/128/124/23
Jacket : =Zenith=Sweater Coat Rigged Mesh 2 color (shown here in Choco) FREE
Mainstore: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fujin/35/129/29

Other items - if you like the style, check out the stores.
Shape  Fei's shape V2
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Fei-Premium-Male-Shape/2310274

Eyes :  Repulse - Living Dead (Blind) Large (hunt prize from Zombie Popcorn hunt)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/REPULSE/181/159/1095

Tattoo : Endless Pain Jack Hunt Tattoo (hunt prize from Jack Or Jill hunt)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sweet%20Reach/174/95/1588

Background : Watsoon Steampunk Ornate walls and ceiling textures (hunt prize from Steam 6 hunt - ongoing)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steamland/136/97/33