Wishing - A Midas Tale. Fantasy Faire 2019

What would you want, if you could have anything?

A seductive question, perhaps the most enticing combination of word or thought that could be conjured. Once asked, it captivated; either by focus and endless longing, or through purposeful, eternal avoidance through fear of what may, or may not be possible.

Midas had certainly thought himself lucky, blessed by the gods with a touch that turned all to gold. The gold delighted him, what more could anyone wish for? No worries could plague him, all financial concerns a thing of the past, he and his family were all set for life. Xenia, the eternal honoured practice of opening hearth and home to any guest had gained him this prize. The gods however, took their pleasure in not only punishing those who flouted ancient laws, but in toying with those who did all in their power to follow them. Midas had gone first to his rose garden, touching each bloom in turn, until the bushes sagged under the weight of his riches. A brushed kiss on his daughter's cheek, the loving clasp of his wife's hand and his family were worth more than all the wealth of the town, their true value lost forever.

What could you want, when offered everything, other than some guarantee that what you already had wouldn't be taken away? Or, if what you truly wanted was for something to be taken away, that it wouldn't be visited on those closest to your heart to appease some deity's twisted sense of humour in a cosmic joke? Wishing for more wishes was forbidden of course, though people were still sure to waste their opportunity by asking. Whatever was asked for was granted, but this. The consequences, good or bad were unknowable in advance, even to the one granting the request. What was best, what was safest, what could do the most harm, the most good? There was no knowing, no guarantee in wishing. Would it better serve the worlds if there were no wishing? Wishing stemmed from hope, its painful double edge cut dreams into tatters while opening doors. Hope fuelled wishing, from Midas to the modern day. Those who granted them, mostly by now grown out of impish mischief, could only hold to that which gave their power. The heart of it all. Hope.

Hope. We have it. The Fantasy Faire has been, and for a short while longer will continue to be, amazing. Hope and the goodness within people has raised over $60,000. Thats USD. Over TEN MILLION LINDENS. That L$250 here and there, that one big purchase of a skin, or a build for a thousand or more - it all adds up. It is all adding up. It is adding up to improving your life inworld. To improving life in the really real world, for people fighting for their lives. Keep going. Keep relaying. You are the ones granting wishes. You are bringing hope.

(Oh and don't worry too much about Midas, he was granted a further boon by the gods and all he'd turned to gold was returned to him as it had been, including his wife and daughter!)

All pictures taken in Fantasy Faire Sim Midas

Hair : !!Firelight!! Rigged FItMesh Hair - Fatpack - Irene Gen2+
Sanguinely Garden
Veil :  Dreaming Thicket - Dianthus Veil - Pomegrana Gold (Transparent)
Tensors Flying Market
Tattoo :  Endless Pain Tattoos - Virion black
Twilight Spring
Necklace :  [HarshLands] FF X Necklace - ULTRA RARE - Demon
Light of Valoth
Dress :  MoonLiteCatCreations -  Marigold Gold Dress
Midas
Bracelet : .AiShA. Kraken Bracelet Ring Gold
Faireholm
Shoes : (*<*) 1313 Mockingbird Lane Evie Sandals
Nightshade Blossoms

Why I Relay - Fantasy Faire 2019

The words whispered through the lanes, rounded corners, and whistled through the leaves of the Shrine Tree.

Words of all languages, from all lands. From tongues long lost, their syllables faded from all worlds but this. Cries of pure sound, filled with meaning even before understanding speech. The murmured, the whispered, the silence of words only thought, or communicated by gesture, by touch. Their soft breeze gently nudged the lanterns hanging from every bough. Shouts, yells and screams shook the ground, sending showers of petals down from branches high above.

Words had built each building, brick by brick, stone on stone, tile by tile. It took many words to make each of course, or by now the accumulation of buildings would stretch to the ends of the world. Every word found its place here, those of resolve and conviction, strength and stability formed foundations and walls, rising higher with spires of hope and challenge to be achieved. Glass from clarity, rooftiles from words of protection and care. This land was one of words, of memory.

A land of memory, but no mausoleum. The words which had coalesced into matter, pulled together into shape and form, they would never diminish, they would endure. The names which lit each lantern would go on burning bright long after all who had spoken them were themselves passed and gone. Knowledge and understanding developed over time, slowing the process of building, illuminating fewer new lanterns, fewer new candles. Fewer voices would add to the chorus, and that was the goal. That was worth celebrating. Worth fighting for.

Why I Relay

I relay for this. This which was once a dream, and is slowly becoming a reality. A world in which fewer and fewer people are lost to or hurt by cancer. We are all affected, we can all show resolve, have strength, offer hope and care. We do this for those who cancer has taken. We do this for those who fight it every day. We do this to make sure there will be an end. There will be no more lights. No more loss. I relay to remember and honour. I speak the names. I hold the memories.

Pictures taken in Fantasy Faire sim The Shrine Tree

Headdress : ROZOREGALIA_GYURIA*HEADDRESS(LastNote){GOLD}_FF
Midas
Hair : Wasabi // Prudence Mesh Hair
Midas
Eyes :  {Acios} Eyes of Bayounimba
Bayounimba
Necklace : *~*Illusions*~* Shikoba Necklace
Midas
Tattoo : Endless Pain Tattoos - Myrdin black
Twilight Spring
Dress : .AiShA. Gothel Dress Maitreya Red
Faireholm

A dryad's dream - Fantasy Faire 2016

Spring was moving through the woods. Winter's chill grip loosened gradually, day by day. As a soft breeze blew warmth through bare boughs, sap began to rise, bringing life back into cold dead wood. Thalia watched the change of season creep toward her, eyes for months shielded by a layer of bark and moss blinking free. Tingling shifted to movement as leaf by leaf unfurled, roots drinking deep as frozen ground thawed. Sunlight was no longer a harsh glare, but reached the softening earth through a canopy of shimmering green.

She had listened long to the stories told beneath her branches. In the gently curving glade she had made her home, people had come each spring, each summer, to rest, to eat and share their stories. Travellers, couples and families, each brought their tales. The families were her favourites, they brought books, bound in leather, or with cardboard covers crumpled from years of use. Tales of magical beings, perilous quests and curses broken. It had been years since she had chosen to put down roots, to sleep for a while in the soil.

This spring Thalia felt the joys of spring more strongly, it was the season for the dryad to climb out of the tree, to feel different grass beneath her feet. There were flowers across the glade she longed to smell, the fitful breeze had never blown their scent her way. This year she would visit other glades, other trees, greet the rivers and streams, enjoying her freedom.

Come on down to the Fairelands!
The Fairelands Junction

Relay for Life total raised currently stands at L$ 5,105,493 that's $ 20,422 real life dollars!

Hair : /Wasabi Pills/ Thyra Mesh Hair  L$ 250 Relay for Life item
Lovely hair, 19 HUD driven colours, 16 colour options for each of the two hair ribbons.
Skin :  [NM] - Aurora - Corset/Brows - Dystopia  Relay for Life item
Captivated by the tone of this skin - pack contains 6 versions with appliers for Maitreya, Belleza and Slink
Earrings :  EF: Talia's Heart Earrings HOPE  L$ 225  Relay for Life item
Delicate but eyecatching jewellery from the masters at the forge.
Dryad outfit : .AiShA. Dryad Relay for Life item
Dryad dress comes in standard size MESH L, M, S & XS. Included accessories, mask, ivy collar and bracelets are resizer scripted. 
Gown : !!TWA!! Maya of Moonhollow Gown  - Mystery
Beautiful elegant gown, the lacework really stands out with a tactile quality.
Treeswing : TLG - Boho Fae - Twisted Tree Light  L$ 200 Relay for Life item
Lovely illuminated entwined tree, complete with a swing! Couples poses included.

The mists lift - the Fantasy Faire is here!

The day was finally dawning, after a long year of waiting.

Within the waiting, there had been work, so much work. So much careful attention.

The wait could feel like an exile, of course it was.

The distance was all a part of it. It made the coming together what mattered.

It formed the magic, the magic spreading into being, out there, just beyond the mists.

The mists crept back the whole world over.

In darkness, dawn, the brightness of day to the deepening of twilight to dusk.

The thick fog which obscured all vision had drifted together over the preceding days.

Only this provided a clue as to where the magic would truly come alive.

From all over the world the would come, by ship, by balloon, by any means possible.

In the depths the change in the world was felt.

Where no sun shone, and no season passing wrought change.

They felt it, the magic drawing together, more powerful year on year.

The magic was the people, they came from every sphere, each addition bringing its own flare.

The fire burned brighter, every being working towards one goal, one fight.

The fight for life.

The mists fade, the gates swing open. The world is changed once more. The Fantasy Faire is here.

The Fairelands Junction

Scene 1
Hair and Headdress : Bliensen + MaiTai - Godiva - French Hood with Hair (Reds)
Outfit : c*C*c:::  - Leona + Leo Steam Hatter  L$ 350 Relay for Life item
Boots : Avatar Bizarre - Zaahn Boots Relay for Life item
Wings : Bliensen + MaiTai - Dragonfly Wings - static  Relay for Life item

Scene 2
Mask : .AiShA. Dryad Mask Relay for Life item
Outfit : Jinx : Effy Dress - Bright Summer Relay for Life item
Backpack Balloons : The Dark Fae's - Flying Backpack Relay for Life item
Pose :  [Curvosity] - Winged Pose Set (Pose Winged 3) Relay for Life item

Scene 3
Halo : {Acios} Angelic Halo Relay for Life item
Hair : /Wasabi Pills/ Cleo Mesh Hair - Solar Ombre L$ 250 Relay for Life item
Skin : .:Soul:. Ranitomeya - Gen2 F - [F3] SE - Complete Package L$ 1299  Relay for Life item
Eye makeup :  !Musa! Eyeshadow Fei  Lavender Relay for Life item
Beard : OtherSkin - Prophecy - Relay For Life 2016 - Fantasies - Relay for Life item
Pendant :  !Musa! Seraph Pendant (Dark) Relay for Life item
Outfit :  Syren's Song - Josephine Gown in Grape Relay for Life item
Pose :  [Black Tulip] The Warrior #1Relay for Life item