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  

A space oddity...

YYYAAAWWWWWWNNNNNNNN!!!

It had been a long day alright, with lectures and seminars, then time in the research library, all before the hours volunteering at the planetarium. Even after the long days work Estella could lose herself in the stars, tracing their paths across the manufactured sky, enlightening those who came to see the show. Educating without ever boring, her passion for the subject shone through. As happy to talk through complex theories as she was to create stories to inspire young minds about other worlds, but now her day was done, it was time to sleep.

Closing her eyes, the world never went away, rather it opened up into her dreams.

Transported across lightyears to where she felt free, she would dance through the cosmos. Stepping lightly on belts of meteors, she could move without gravitys restriction, tails of comets brushing through her hair as she gazed on sights unseen. Planets passed by as she traced the orbits of moons, learning things about the universe and herself that she could never explain. Worlds everywhere would turn, as would those on them, in their dreams. Estella would stay here as long as she could, galaxies spiralling in her eyes.

Scene 1
Hair: Magika   Early (Mesh) L$250
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Magika%20Land/127/127/22
Glasses :   +REDRUM+ Nerd Glasses - Blood Red L$49
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/REDRUM-Nerd-Glasses-Blood-Red/4245674
Outfit : +REDRUM+   Monday - Ice blue bratop and knickers - part of the 7 days underwear set  L$79
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/REDRUM-7-DAYS-Underwear/3458933
Eyes :  ~*By Snow*~ Bioluminescent Eyes (Black - L) L$25
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/By-Snow-Bioluminescent-Eyes-Tattoo/3191169
Skin : S u g a r : -C- :3: Bound Pretty - currently unavailable
Tattoo :  Garden of Ku   Tattoo Neo3  Forbidden Planet  L$300
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Huggies/116/147/25
Bed  :  Lisp   Mathilde BedV2   500L
http://slurl.com/secondlife/LISP/122/136/1268

Scene 2
Top :  +REDRUM+ Nerd Crop Top (Mesh - 5 sizes)  L$49
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/REDRUM-Nerd-Crop-Top/4022921
Bottoms : +REDRUM+ Galaxy Leggings (Mesh - 5 sizes) pack of three designs L$169
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/REDRUM-Galaxy-Leggings-3-Pack/4380646


I love the blue geeky look so much!

Ground control to...

Yes... she'd taken her protein pills and put her helmet on...

This was no normal mission, no normal space agency. This was the 60s!  Bespectacled men packed into rows of consoles back at the rocket base had their ranks swollen by stylish female graduates. Some of the first of their kind, studying on par with the boys, maintaining their femininity and good looks all the while. Sophia was the first to join the cadets, those destined to pierce the firmament on a journey to the stars. No bulky spacesuit for her. The department had been flexible, as she offered to take the greatest risks, she got to have her say, in the science, and the stilettos. There was always the danger that Austin Powers would show up, and the launch would turn into a conga line.. but not this time.. as the countdown ticked to zero, she was up, and off into the darkness.

Tapping on the nosecone of the rocket, her message returned to earth, reverberating down the long string tying her to base. Through the vacuum of space, particles of dying star, of light and dark itself brushed passed her. But as her TV advertisement spots had shown the viewing public, the fabric of her suit was stain and particle resistant, and could be laundered at just 30 degrees! As the string behind her was payed out, and the reflected light of the earth faded behind her, she began to look around, searching the darkness, until.. making her kohl rimmed eyes flare open... the tap on the back of her helmet...

Austin!!!

The 60s were sexy, no doubt, as shown by this vintage space suit by [*RD*], available of course, at the Vintage Fair. You can just about see the globe of the helmet in the second image. There was no getting away from the Austin Powers silliness once that image got in my head of course, so going into space on the ride on rocket - a single pose free gift at the Vintage Fair from *~*HopScotch*~* is also available to buy, with more poses included. Here I've used the same eye makeup from Lovely Mi as in my last post, because I like it, and here you see it on a different skin. The spatter paint look of it is unusual to most makeups I've seen. The skin worn here is ::Modish:: Valena Fair, also a gift from the Vintage Fair. Its a sweet skin, almost porcelain in tone, with rosy pink lips. Could be ideal for doll joint tattoo layers! Those heels, I've been a big fan of N-Core heels for a long while, generally when buying any heels, having opted for the styles that include a foot. These don't and don't need to, as there's no warping of the foot which has put me off such styles in the past. The Vintage Fair runs until August 29.

From the Vintage Fair
Skin :  ::Modish::    Valena Fair {cleav} (Gift)
Hair :  Style by Kira    Rockabilly Hair - Black L$50
Eyemakeup :  Lovely Mi    Deep Eyes black [Eyes] L$80
Outfit :   [*RD*]   Vintage Space Suit-Red & Black-Cut Out  L$100
Shoes :  N-core   COQUETTE  L$295
Rocket :   *~*HopScotch*~* Rocket Woman - Single Pose Rideable Rocket (Gift)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Retro/190/183/23
http://slurl.com/secondlife/CHIC/74/106/23
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Classic/95/214/23

Not from the fair
Tattoo :  Garden of Ku   Tattoo Neo3  Forbidden Planet  L$300
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Huggies/116/147/25

The Girl and the Skull

She lay there at night, bathed in the moonlight shining through the glass panes of the window. Tears welled in her eyes, and slid softly over her cheeks. The music, made to be played so loud, brought her some comfort even as it came from the speakers in barely a whisper. She felt the overwhelming sadness of loss, as the world turned, and the moon followed the steps of its slow dance through the sky. Had it always been like this? Such depth of feeling? Or did it deepen, wounds worsening with each passing?

He felt the pain, even across all these miles, it found him. Found him through the maze of city streets and alleyways. Even through the smog, the pale smudge that was the light of the moon could be seen. He stepped out from under the streetlight to see it away from the manmade glare. The pounding beat of the music pushed him, their songs... He knew from the moonlight the phase it was in, and what it meant. His eyes darkened, this too would end. They would come together again, joined by more than the girl and the skull, the music and the moon.

This is the first of several posts that will be coming all about the work of an amazing artist Mzzy Wytchwood. All artwork in her designs is hand drawn by her, and I hope you will love them as much as I do. These T-shirts are just the start. While there is no in-world store (yet) you can get the shirt from Marketplace. Marketplace store is

+REDRUM+

Shirt +REDRUM+   Girl Skull T-Shirt - same on both pics.

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/REDRUM-Girl-Skull-T-Shirt/3407498

Girl pic stuff
Skin :   : S u g a r : Cry My Heart Out -C- :3: (hunt gift from Jack or Jill Depraved Nation hunt - I still love it)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Depraved%20Nation/233/22/86
Tattoo :+REDRUM+ Alice  (have to wait for this one  I'm afraid - its not out yet!)
Hair  :   [rQ] Glare onyx / coral  single colour 199L   three shade fatpack 250L
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Magic%20Isle/123/128/31
Eyes :  Repulse   Nocturnal eyes -Green  100L
http://slurl.com/secondlife/REPULSE/181/159/1095
Bed  :  Lisp   Mathilde BedV2   500L
http://slurl.com/secondlife/LISP/122/136/1268

Boy pic stuff
Skin and Shape :  [-B-]  Buried    Fate II Fair. #06    700L (Shape mods thanks to help from  Xelyn Xaris!)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Boom%20Boom%20Pow/118/150/46
Tattoo   :   Garden of Ku   Angels & Demons  250L
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Huggies/117/68/23
Hair   :  Dura  Boys and Girls 20 (Black) 120 L - also black hairbase - free at store.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dura%20Dura/65/130/1002
Trousers   :   <TheAbyss>    Chaos Leather Pants MALE (black) 300L
 http://slurl.com/secondlife/The%20Abyss/96/136/237
Piercings    :   [-B-]  Buried :Basic Piercings: - Upper Cheeks (Shadow) Dollarbie
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Boom%20Boom%20Pow/118/150/46
Eyes   :   Repulse   Slaughter v2 Eyes (Red Sclera)  100L
http://slurl.com/secondlife/REPULSE/181/159/1095

The Fallen

The fall itself did not seem to hurt him...

Not in a physical sense anyway, though, he may not know, or understand this, it being afterall the first time he had taken physical form. Until now, he had been a being of pure light and shadow, even the angels now had some shadow to them, some understanding, however vague, of the world below. The dawn had come, it was his time, his turn to fall, to carry some light with him, and be tested against the darkness. Should it come to pass that he help, or hurt, even he did not yet know. As he fell, bathed in the strangely warm blue light, his path was unknown to him, his character forming from the atoms as they wrapped together, his true self only now coming together. The light and shadow mingled within him, heart and lungs, skin and bone. Falling further and faster, the world opened up beneath him, its heat, its life, its billions of heartbeats, each one affecting him, making his mind clearer, setting his goals.

As the light bathed his new form, his fall came to an end. The virgin touch of skin on sand burned with icy fire, he knew nothing else... this must be how it was, to touch, to feel. With newfound eyes he looked around, saw the beauty and the barrenness of this world, felt more of its power, its malaise. As the light still shone, further changes were wrought. As his plans formed, all he would need to begin was given to him, soft black animal hide, the sensation of a sound, a word, formed in his mind "Leather" even as the material clothed him. This must be it. This was all he needed. He was ready. Stepping from the light, a sure step, no sense of it being the first he had taken, and he was gone, off to start his work in the world.  

Skin and Shape   :   [-B-]  Buried    Fate II Fair. #06    700L (Shape mods thanks to help from  Xelyn Xaris!)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Boom%20Boom%20Pow/118/150/46
Tattoo   :   Garden of Ku   Angels & Demons  250L
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Huggies/117/68/23
Hair   :  Dura  Boys and Girls 20 (platinum) 120 L - also platinum hairbase - free at store.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dura%20Dura/65/130/1002
Wings   :   Material Squirrel  Ezriel Angel Wings  150L
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Winged%20Isle/128/175/36
Trousers   :   <TheAbyss>    Chaos Leather Pants MALE (black) 300L
Jacket    :     <TheAbyss>     Bomber Jacket MALE  150 L
 http://slurl.com/secondlife/The%20Abyss/96/136/237
Piercings    :   [-B-]  Buried :Basic Piercings: - Upper Cheeks (Shadow) Dollarbie
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Boom%20Boom%20Pow/118/150/46
Eyes   :   Repulse   Living Dead (Blind) (Large)  Old Zombie Popcorn Hunt prize, similar available from store - not sure if it includes the blind version, but they are beautiful nevertheless -  100L
http://slurl.com/secondlife/REPULSE/181/159/1095