Been There, Done That

 [18:12]  Sokanon: YAY!

[18:12]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): giggle
[18:13]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): awe

[18:13]  Sokanon: We both got a captive!

[18:13]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): pouts

[18:13]  Tia Bell (tiamet) hops up floating off the ground as crows like Peter Pan
[18:13]  Tia Bell (tiamet): Now
[18:13]  Tia Bell (tiamet): chores!
[18:13]  Tia Bell (tiamet): Come come we make dem clean in de castle

[18:15]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): or dust

((The captives, Sylvr and Stevon, are dragged to the castle by Tia and Sokanon))

[18:15]  Tia Bell (tiamet): NOw we has your attentions

[18:15]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): hmmmmm

[18:15]  Tia Bell (tiamet): you wanna be's free? *teasing tone*

[18:15]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): yeps

[18:15]  Tia Bell (tiamet) giggles "Can has a kiss?" holds out hand

[18:16]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): grins course
[18:16]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): kisses Tia's hand
[18:16]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): and then slurps it
[18:16]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): making it clean

[18:16]  Sokanon looks at her captive, remembering Tia's thimble earlier and rolling the snowball in my hands, wondering if he can see my thoughts...

[18:16]  Tia Bell (tiamet) squeals and rubs it on her pants giggling "Ewwwwww okies dat works."

[18:17]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): goodies you can cap me any day

[18:17]  Tia Bell (tiamet) swats at Pan "stop dat you lil blighter!"

[18:17]  XxStevonxX: a penny fer yer thoughts

[18:18]  Tia Bell (tiamet) slobbers on Sylvr

[18:18]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): course.... fairs is fair

[18:18]  Sokanon blinks, looking at him, eyes going wide, then rolls my eyes toward Tia with a faint look of panic, a faint "mreeeep," sound rolling from my throat

[18:20]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): Yesh
[18:21]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): whatchya gioin to make Steve do
[18:21]  Sylvr (sylvrravyn): dances around on the table top

[18:22]  Sokanon hrms softly. "He just issued me a dare... said he'd been there and done that with being drug through the water. I'm going to prove him otherwise." Turning almost imperiously, I tug at his ropes. "Come, come..."

[18:23]  Tia Bell (tiamet) giggle giggle giggle

((Soka drags Stevon to the water, Tiamet following))

[18:25]  Sokanon pauses, looking at the water, breathing deeply, then tosses my head with a royal cant, eyes narrowing, eying him. My hands raise, sparkling, eyes gleaming as they reach above my head.... and then slowly lower before me. Every weapon, ever rope, falls slowly to the ground to lay at your feet, leaving just your clothing. I breath deeply, eyes challenging, then get an impish smile. "Do you prefer those clothes or not?"

[18:31]  XxStevonxX: i prefer to keep my clothes on
[18:31]  XxStevonxX: i would let my clothes loose if my hands were free
[18:32]  XxStevonxX: as i grab at her clothes,
[18:32]  XxStevonxX: yanking at the tunic

[18:33]  Sokanon grins a little, nodding my head and shaking my hood back after, smiling. "No." My hands raise again, stopping at my chest as my eyes begin to glow faintly, then close, faint light seeping from beneath the lids. The glow around my hands increase as they lower before me... wings disappearing in a faint shimmer of light, ignoring the grabbing of his hands other than to brush them away with surprising strength in mine. The tunic stays, but slowly my pants disappear, boots falling from my feet to lay in grass. Only as the partial transformation is complete do my eyes open, assessingly watching him

((Soka transforms to a mermaid from the waist down))

[18:35]  XxStevonxX: confused and amazed at the disappearing pants and boots, i cower down in surprise

[18:42]  Sokanon breaths deeply, feeling a bit at odds in a partial transformation, then humming softly, getting used to the scaled tail with my fae mein. My eyes gleam, using my tail to scoot the pile of items over toward Tia, then rolling into the stream, the salmon easily jumping around me, voice lowering to a purring taunt. "Still going with been there, done that with being drug through the water?"

[18:47]  XxStevonxX: mmm no, never been here, or done this. quite curious and antcipating the next thing, cautiously

[18:49]  Sokanon smiles, tying the rope securely to my waist, then cautions him. "Take a deep breath, and do not panic. I will not let you come to harm..." That said, I start off into the water, head awkwardly raised until I hear the breath, then plunging under, quickening, and towing him behind me

[18:49]  XxStevonxX: breathes deeply
[18:50]  XxStevonxX: enjoying the view
[18:51]  XxStevonxX: gurgle

[18:52]  Sokanon makes a low, thrumming, reassuring hum, twisting to look over my shoulder now and then, giving you a reassuring smile. Hearing your gurgle, I pick up speed, rushing through the gate and dragging you faster. Only when I reach under the castle do I turn, slowly wrapping my arms around you, lips moving to yours with a gentle pressure, encouraging your mouth to open under mine

[18:54]  XxStevonxX: i open my mouth , my pulling you close to me, mouth closing on yours
[18:56]  XxStevonxX: my arms wrap around her,

[18:57]  Sokanon hums, lips parting, head tipping to keep water from entering your mouth, tongue gently slipping across yours... and then my lungs sucking gently, drinking the carbon dioxide from your lungs, bubbles appearing from my necklike as my gills release it into my tunic, taking out the waste... and then breathing deeply, forcing clean oxygen back into you with careful pressure, watching for signs of giving you too much, sinking into your arms, against your chest, as you press me close, hands gentle on your back, reassuring, trying to get you to remember my promise

[19:00]  XxStevonxX: relaxes as i feel the welcome oxygen fill my lungs. the panic subsiding, the need to struggle easing. becoming comfortable, remembering the promise that no harm would come to me. beginning to feel the warmth of her

[19:02]  Sokanon smiles, lips gently closing, urging yours to do the same, then pulls back to smile at you. My arms squeeze.... and then shift, body tilting, strong pushes of my tail propelling us through the water in a dance, lips coming back to yours every so often, again sucking the carbon from your lungs, then slowly pressing in more air

[19:06]  XxStevonxX: gurgles more often, so she will touch my lips more often... enjoying the taste of her, enjoying the feel of her, appreciating the breathes of oxygen, keeping me alive, keeping me feeling, keeping me in her arms, looking into her eyes ignoring the beautiful surroundings because , despite being in a sea, gazes into the sea of her eyes

[19:12]  Sokanon grows a little confused, wondering if the strain was getting to him, or a silent panic lessening his ability to breath effectively. Very slowly, I ease the dance, taking a few deep breaths, then leaning forward again. This time, with a faint blush, I close my eyes and send my tongue on a foray, tasting, learning, teasing around your tongue and the roof of your mouth, then suck the air out after before breathing in a larger mouthful, filling your lungs with a slightly impish smile. Pulling back, I push off, turning and zipping through the water with incredible speed, whizzing back toward the way we came with insane speed, just controlled enough to keep you from being bashed into anything.

[19:17]  XxStevonxX: feeling the incredible strength she possesses, amazed at the speed and ease, unsure of what lies, ahead,but trusting now that she will not harm, i enjoy the ride

[19:20]  Sokanon reaches the shore, emerging drenched and gleaming, making a small choking noise before remembering to switch from gills to nose, coughing faintly and moving my hair out of my face. I tug you to shore, then unbind you, looking at your possessions, then making a disgruntled noise and sitting on the shore, hugging my tail. "We will need to find my sister. She seems to have pilfered a few things..."

[19:21]  XxStevonxX: oh my, well lets find her. your skills amaze and astound me.

[19:25]  Sokanon nods, then shifts, hands shifting, raising again, reforming my legs and wings, though still dripping wet... except for suspiciously dry pant legs. I reach for my boots, stuffing my feet in, then gesture at your items. "There is what is left. It looks like she took every weapon you had..."

((The two wander off after Tiamet))

A Letter to the Readers

Dear Readers,
Some of you may know me, some of you may not - my name is Sokanon, often shortened to Soka.  And I wanted to be able to reach out to you all about something very serious I have been noticing on SL a lot lately, especially among dear readers and friends of mine - and even with myself.

I have heard a lot about others making people feel lesser.  Second rate, or as if they are somehow dirty or wrong.  One very dear friend of mine recently inferred to me that no one has said anything good about her in a while.  In fact, I've heard a lot more about friends being banned without reason from sims and rumors upon rumors about how bad other people are rather than anything nice being said about someone.

And I have two things to say about that: it is complete and utter bullshit and needs to stop now.  I have met a lot of people on sl, some are not pleasant, but not even the two people I have block-listed would I ever say have no redeeming features.  And that there are people out there who are to the point where they have to thank others for having something, anything, nice to say about them is just wrong.  You should thank people for honest compliments, for doing favors for you - but for just being pleasant?  No.  That should be a courtesy, not an exception to human behavior.  Despite a misconception, we are represented by avatars on SL, but we are all humans behind the forms, not computer chips.  No one should ever have the right or ability to make any single one of us feel like we are two inches tall, or a second-hand stand in for someone they would rather be with, or that we must jump through hoops and change who we are to be deserving of their company.

To borrow the words of a friend of mine, people who continually make you feel like that are a cancer best left removed.  The initial surgery may be painful, but, in the end, you will be so much healthier without them.  Surround yourself with those who see the light in you - even better if they do see what dark there is, too, as that makes them honest.  But anyone who only sees dark is not worth the time of day you have to give, my dear, precious readers.  I also like a line I said recently to another friend of mine: To those who are your true friends, you are always good enough.  There is no need to jump through hoops or hide or change yourself, because you are good enough exactly as you are.

And my true message to you is this: I think that you are beautiful.  It may not be a physical beauty, it may not be something others immediately see as beautiful, but I know, with every fiber of my being, that there is beauty within you.  Some of us may have a way to craft words, like some of my fellow bloggers; others may be able to make instruments sing, or to vocalize in a way that would make you fit to weep; for still others, it is the way they can speak, can reach out to those around them, to connect and rejoice in people and in being.  In truth, I don't care where it lies, but I know it is there, and I want you to know it, too.

So the next time someone decides to feel more powerful, stronger than they are, by trying to cut you down, mute them, or thank them for their opinion, then tell them you would be glad to talk to them again when they can speak from their head, instead of their arse - and then leave them to their darkness, for they are jealous of your light.  Never let them take that light from you.  Remember all that is beautiful about you, from your smile, the curve of your hair, the light in your eyes, the joy you take in your friendships - and walk away knowing that you are the better for being without them, and that they cannot destroy what they can no longer have.

I believe in you, Readers.  I believe in the beauty inside you.  And know that, no matter what others may say, I think you are truly beautiful.

                                                            Yours Truly,      

                                       Soka 

                                           

                                          

The Flower Garden

"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you,

I could walk in my garden forever..."

~ Anonymous

Raven Manor was a dark and foreboding place to look at.  Perched on a craggy, rocky hill, dotted with the stony skeleton of ancient ruins, the grayish stones and shimmering glass of the tall, lean building showed little in the manner of signs of warmth.  Instead, it looked like a giant, stony mask, silky isinglass panes the silent, watchful eyes in the glazed face, staring down the hillside with disapproval, ever watchful for prey the dark house could steal warmth from.  Even the often rain-drenched gardens, despite the wealth of neatly trimmed grasses bordering cobbled walks, seemed devoid of life, the grass slightly grey-tinged and without a single bloom in the massive yards.

Raven Manor was not completely without life, though.  Inside the great, hulking build lay a single beating heart - the Master of the Manor, supposedly.  Always sharp-eyed, the lord was quick with a quip or a smile; at least, on the surface.  Down beneath, he struggled to see if he was any more alive than his stone and glass keep.  On the days when that bleak cold threatened to engulf him, he hid himself away, staring out at the world from the glass windows of his fortress, wondering how alive he truly was.  To try to escape the seeping chill, he kept on the move, hopping from city to city, forest to village, gallery to castle, trying to break the bonds sewn and represented by his dark home.  Each time, he would manage to reawaken that warmth he needed to keep him going… only to return to his icy roost and feel that pleasure slowly slip from his grasp.

Despite the seemingly alone, isolated existence of the Raven lord, the village around his manor was not as devoid as his domicile.  The faint, happy shrieks of girls having fun sometimes managed to ring off the ruins of the hillside, briefly invading the hulking behemoth, bright bubbles of laughter that glistened like liquid sunbeams in the murky stones, finally fading to tinkling shards of memory.  They both haunted and encouraged the lord, and for them he brought out his smiles and his charm, hiding the cold soul the manor left until he had to explore once more, to reignite the faint spark left inside him.

But not all of the distant village citizens were oblivious to the darkness of the creeping manor, or as blind to the mask the lord chose to draw.  More than one tried to see what lay beneath, and a few could feel the stark chill radiating from the seemingly bland stones.  They watched, and they waited, wondering what the manor would do to the man inside, worried that he seemed beyond their aid.

But one did not give up so easily.  She watched, and she felt his pain with a wisdom belied by her pretty face, watching the stone manor with a sick dread in her stomach, and the coming and going of the Raven lord.  As she watched, she knew that chilly stone place was slowly whittling away at the human being underneath, and the pain in her gut drove her to try to do something to fix it.  ‘Maybe… just maybe… if I can bring some light to that horrible place, it will be enough…’

So, one day, when the sun was bright and chased the chill of the stones to the darkest corners, protecting itself, and the master was off on one of his jaunts, she braved the rocky hillside.  Holding floaty layers of skirts from the jagged teeth of the ruins, like reaching fingers trying to hold her back from nearing the gargoyle on the hill, she crept upward, try to ignore the rapid beating of her heart.  In her hands, carefully gathered, she cradled cuttings of a tender rose, the velvety red petals a stark streak of warmth against the stone of the manor as she got closer.  Ignoring the feel that the bricks, themselves, were eying her, trying to hold the ice of fear straight against her heart, she rounded the back to enter the garden, finding a promising circular spot near the steps to plant the young bud, a streak of warmth in the gloom, seeming to bring some light.  She tunneled into the cool and loamy earth with her fingers, uncaring of the dirt in her set mission, making a spot for the roots, murmuring encouraging words as she planted the flower and soothed the disturbed earth back around the shoot.

Ignoring the prints she made on her shimmering skirts, she got back down to her feet to look at the little bud of the rose, smiling tenderly.  A single shaft of sunlight seemed to sink through the towering trees from outside the fence, highlighting the ruby bloom, making her smile softly.  One dirty finger stroked over the barely-parted petals as she gave it a caress, then turned to walk more slowly from the garden, feeling less afraid now.

Almost anxiously now, she watched the stone manor, watching for some sign of the brightness to come - and for the return of the Raven lord.  One day, as she watched him return from his jaunts, seeing him smile as he entered his domain, she felt her heart lift for his happiness, and smiled to herself that maybe, just maybe, she had managed to clear some of the cold from his life.

It was not to be.  Before her eyes, she watched the true lightness fade from his step, his smiles again becoming his surface mask as the life faded behind his eyes.  One day, when he was out and about in the village, roaming the sunnier lands around Raven Manor, she crept back up the hill, her heart thundering again, to peek over the rear gate.  Inside, her thundering heart seemed to shrivel in her chest.

The rose was gone.  The spot where she had planted the cutting still peeked from the newness of her tender transplant, but the flower had wilted to naught but the faintest of black sticks in the ground.  A soft gasp fell from her lips at the cold chill the garden seemed to give, as if something sinister was laughing at her attempts to let the sunlight through the gate, and she involuntarily stumbled back a step, as if struck.  She knew they had plenty of rain, and the spot should have had plenty of light… but the chill of the manor had still managed to kill the plant.

Feeling her heart beat in her ears, she turned and fled back down the hill, feeling like the chill of the manor was creeping over her shoulders, trying to kill the heart of her, as it had the flower she had dared to plant in it’s realm.  She ran all the way back to the safety of her own rooms, slamming the wooden door and leaning against it, her ragged breathing loud against the still of her sanctuary, only the crackling of the candles on her desk adding the odd break to the rasp.  Shaking hands clasped tremblingly over her heart, eyes wide and staring at the familiar red paper of her walls, the pristine white of her couch and coverlet, thoughts racing through her head too quickly to be cornered and examined, fear still chasing down her spine.

For the rest of the day, she hid inside her room, listening to the distant sounds of her sisters and friends, the odd, low rumble of a passing male, sometimes the false cheer of the Raven lord, making her shiver again, remembering the cold of that house.  Long into the star-studded night, she sat on the cushioned bench of her desk, staring at the twin flames of the candles on the peek, her mind racing.

Within days, he was away again, once more chilled and driven to find something to renew his warmth, to sustain his life.  A part of her wondered why the company he could find where he was could not do so, why the village could not sustain him, but a part of her realized his fear of chilling them, too - and so he left to wander, to save them from the pain of what he seemed to feel was his due fate.  Once she watched him leave, she went out into the meadows again, purposefully gathering what she needed into two heavy baskets.

Again, the lone girl trudged up the stony hill, rocks coming out to threaten thin ankles, seeming to try to trip her and keep her from the stone of the Manor, to roll her back down the hill to the safety of her home.  With a grim determination, she kept forging upward, determined even in the edge of remembered terror.  Again, she circled the stone building, pulling a shawl she had brought tighter to her shoulders, gripping the twin wicker handles tighter in her slim fingers as she used her hip to nudge open the gate, going to kneel near the stunted grass near the manor’s back steps again, frowning determinedly as she knelt and carefully removed the diseased-looking remnants of her rose from the ground, then turned to open the lids on the baskets, carefully emptying them to the flagstones by her knees.

Riot of colors poured out, a rainbow of blooms in carefully harvested stalks, the open “jaws” of snapdragons lining stalk after stalk.  Pink with yellow hearts, bright and vibrant red, cool white… she had collected every color of the sunny plant she could find, filling her baskets to the brim with the hardy blooms, their colorful petals looking to snarl at the frosty shadows of the Manor, driving the creeping shadows back to their proper corners.  Again, her fingers were her tools, warming the cool, dark, damp earth as she turned it, carefully arranging the flowers in wild arrays on either side of the wide stone steps.  With every stem she planted, she felt her heart lighten, until she caught herself humming under her breath and moving around the garden paths with a light step, placing the last few plants in small clusters wherever it suited her fancy, inviting the sunlight into the garden again.

She left with a light step, this time determined to keep a closer eye on her weapon of choice.  At least once a day, she would sneak away from the village fare, moving stealthily up the hill, no longer fearing the catch of the ruins, to peer over that garden gate.  The flowers seemed fine, blooming in color, and she heartened to see the first start of shoots, where they were already taking root and spreading.  Assured that all was well, she sank back into her routine, gradually letting the garden do it’s thing, waiting almost eagerly for the lord’s return.

When he came back, she was happy to see the lightness to his step, the gleam back in his eyes, and she joined in the general merriment that always came with his general return.  This time, the true man inside seemed to stick around longer, and she heartened to think her flowers may have helped to chase the gloom from his home, keeping him around.  Gradually, though, she again noted him starting to draw back, to spend less and less time interacting, and more just watching, and she rather wondered that he never mentioned the flowers in his garden, after the desolate, empty grey grasses.

Already knowing what she would find, she waited until the coast was clear to head back up the hill again, mind in a whirl.  Before she even neared the gates, she had prepared herself for what she may find, though she still winced at the shriveled stalks of her snapdragons, each more a brown stick lying in the grass, the colorful petals of the ferocious “jaws” long since disappeared in whatever cold wind the Manor managed to brew.  Her heart began to thud again, and her head to pound… and her hands formed trembling, white-knuckled fists as her blood thrummed through her body, no longer cold at all.

Instead, to her faint surprise, she was angry.  Angry at the cold Manor, and at that impassive mask the Raven lord used to hide.  Angry for every wilted flower she had so carefully planted, and for every sunbeam the cold stones managed to turn away.  This time, she did not flee from the towering building, but stomped resolutely away, sometimes hurting her heels on the rocky hillside, making her way through the village with such a dark cloud and foreboding look that even her sisters kept from her side, watching her passing with curiosity and wincing at the resounding slam of her door.

Again, the girl stayed up long into the night, thinking and plotting, the rasp of her pen loud as she jotted down notes, only to scratch them out again.  No matter what she could plant, the cold of the Manor could leach the life from it, and her nails drummed impatiently on the wooden desk.  What she needed, she knew, was such a labor of love that even that horrid Raven Manor would be afraid to touch it… and, if it tried, there was nothing it could manage to take.

An idea struck her at the same time dawn did, her eyes widening as she looked at the balls of discarded lists and ideas littering her room.  A slow smile slid across her pink lips, and she went to bed exhausted, but determined, a plan shaping in her head.

For many days, she spent long hours locked away, working, her windows tightly closed from prying eyes.  She gathered paper and candles with fervor, emerging long enough to keep her friends from worrying, her eyes always lingering quietly on the Raven lord when he joined the village throng, tracking his shift, the loss of his light.  Every time he got a little further inside his mask, she got a bit more determined, and stayed up that much later, working on her projects.

One more time, she made the trek up that stony hill, this time by the light of a single lamp in the dark of a moonless night, knowing the Raven lord was tucked away in his bed.  She let herself through the gate, determined to ignore the threatening stone of his walls, slippered feet sliding silently across the dew-slicked surface of his flagstone path.  She worked with hurried fervor, determined to have the morning sunlight sink well into his stones, the fire of her anger keeping even the cold of the Manor from her.  Her nails became brown and dirt encrusted, her cloak heavy with the moisture of the sodden grass, her knees stained from her toils… and still she worked onward.

Come dawn, the Raven lord awoke to an unfamiliar sensation - that of the light of the sun on his face, stretching against the soft, downy pillows and counterpane that he had long since given up hope of giving him a good night’s rest.  He could not remember the last time the sun had felt so warm in his room, for he never bothered to close the curtains: the Manor’s stone always seemed to eat the light.  Getting up, feeling still tired, he made his way to his lonely kitchen at the back of the ground floor, brewing his morning tea by rote, eyes staring bleakly at the stove, even as his brow furrowed, as something seemed different.  Lighter, almost.

His first steaming cup was carried to his lips as he wandered toward the light spilling in from the patio, and his large, open, grassy stretch of garden, drawn to the warmth he found there, and the way it seemed to chase his chills away.  What he saw, though, had his dark eyes blinking wide, staring through the sun-drenched glass, before swinging the door open and striding barefoot to the flagstone steps outside.

For once, the stone, despite the early hour, felt warmed to the touch, despite the cold that normally chased even through his boots.  Sun spilled through the dappled leaves of the trees outside his fence, lighting the riot of color that seemed to fill every inch of the grass of his garden, blooms and flowers of every type having sprung up overnight, waving on thin green stalks.  His heart beat in his chest as he moved down the steps, looking closer at the magical flowers, as nothing ever grew in his garden.

What he saw made his eyes widen in surprise, for the flowers were not just any flowers.  Birds of paradise, roses, mums, snapdragons, lily of the valley… all were ornately arranged in clusters and lines, rows that were artistically disarrayed.  Moreover, none of them were real, and he trailed one finger cautiously over a sun-drenched “petal,” lips parting in surprise.

Paper flowers.  Someone had spent hours filling his garden with paper flowers, so many that he could wander forever and never see them all.  Even more, they had coated them with something, to keep the wind and rain from ravaging them, and he leaned closer, surprised to catch a whiff of floral fragrance, carefully removing one wire “stem” from the ground and holding the white paper rose to his face, touching it gently.

Wax, with some kind of metallic component, making the petals and the little faux leaves glisten in the warm of the sun, the riot of color impossible to douse in the gloom of the Manor.  Even more, the wax had been scented… the rose really smelled like a rose!  As he carefully replaced the wire in the tilled soil, he caught whiffs of the other fragrances, rising up to the warmth of the sun, and he felt something in him warm, too.  The sunlight spilled through the garden, chasing the shadows from the stone, and he smiled at his colorful garden, strolling gently, laughing faintly when unexpected designs in the larger bed - a bird, or a heart, or just a bull’s-eye of colorful circles - dawned on his mind.

The sound of that laughter tumbled down the hill, bouncing off the ruins to meet the awakening burble of the village chatter, the two sounds mingling and rising to the sky, the sparkling shards of the mingled sound of smiles piercing the gloomy atmosphere of Raven Manor and tossing the shadows to the ground like broken webs.  The new sounds caught the ears of the early risers, and curious onlookers trudged up the hill, moving to stare in surprise into the sunny garden, the way the light seemed to bounce off the dark tiles of the roof in a way they had not before seen, moving to join the Raven lord in his own domain, marveling at his flowers.

Only one figure missed the gathering, as the whole village slowly heard and stumbled up the hill to look at the flower garden.  The lone girl was not there.  More than one of her sisters stopped by her room, knocking to invite her along, only to peek inside and see the bed carefully made, assuming she was already there.  None knew her bed had not yet seen her sleepy head.  In the wee hours of the dawn, as the filtering sunlight broke the trees and bounced with rainbow speckles off the leaves of her paper flowers, shattering the shadows of the Manor, she had slowly, tiredly trudged from the garden, shutting the gate softly behind her.  In her sleepy befuddlement, she had turned wrong, trudging down the wrong side of the hill, and become hopelessly lost, wrapped in her soiled cloak, in the trees down behind the manor, until she had sank to the loamy earth, curled her cloak over her head, and sank into an exhausted sleep, clasping her aching, dirty hands over her equally aching heart; for part of it would remain forever in the flower garden, inviting in the light to chase away the shadows…

Sim Review: Paradise on Eclipse at Ocean Pearl

I want to introduce all you lovely readers to a new sim opening.  The owners are two lovely people I would consider good friends, CrimsonSentinal and Marion (Beauty8000).  Paradise on Eclipse is a lovely, multifaceted sim for role play (and just fun) that the pair have spent a lot of time on - and it shows, in the good way!  The rules for this adult sim are simple: act like the considerate adults we are supposed to be; derezz pose balls when you are finished with them; please keep scripts below 100; donate, if you can, as the sim is a free-to-visit area; and a few items are group-only, which can be gained from the landing zone link or by asking Marion.  While not much to remember in the least, there is the added benefit that the landing zone will offer you the code of conduct, as well, helping keep what few things they ask of their visitors fresh in your mind.

When you land, you will be situated smack outside the maze, which is a lovely place to be, as it is pretty central to most of the sim, and has a quick list of the other locations and where they can be found.  Paradise is rather unique in that there are four completely unique areas to explore and visit - five, if you count the maze, which can use it's fair share of exploration.  There are wonderful scenes and secrets in the twists and turns, and just exploring can be a fun way to while away the time.  I found a painting scene that is beautifully situated for photograph and as a place to park your avi for some quiet contemplation.

Behind you when you land, you'll find the Beach House, a wonderful spot aimed at gathering.  There are all kinds of games and group activities - borrowable vehicles, arcades, bowling, a giant chess and domino set, a TV for group members, volleyball... It's aimed as a place to bring your friends, or your lover, and have a good time.  My personal recommendation is to pick out one of the outdoor furniture places, or one of the beach huts on the islands, turn your sun to sunset, and enjoy the view - it's absolutely gorgeous.

Off to the right of the Beach House, one can see some forested Mountains and a gorgeous waterfall - and then there are the hidden secrets here, as well.  The pond doubles as a spot for mermaids, along with the merquarium, with beautiful fish and ducks on the surface, and up at the top is both a gorgeous scenic view of the rest of the sim and a mini-pool.  Across the bridge is a picnic blanket perfect for cuddles, and the winding trek down to the forest below, with it's own hiking paths and tree-lined sitting areas.  Those with rezzable horses are actually INVITED to use them here, and there are hidden spots for romantic lovers near the small falls bridge.  For those who are more adventuresome (moi!), the mountains are not a hard climb, totally fun to run through, and give some wonderful views of the rest of the sim.

And now, I saved this for last, simply because I love them so!  For those willing to explore the maze, your prizes await, for my own personal favorites lay through that gateway.  First is the BDSM Village.  Now, I won't lie - there is a bit of a fear in me for this one, because I am not a blatant kind of girl, and it is very obvious as soon as you walk to the edge of town what kind of village this is.  The public play arena makes it hard to miss, as are the feeding areas and such for pony-girls.  However, the sheer beauty of the old-timey village helps me to forget that.  Between the maze exit and the village lay an archery range, and a treasure chest of gifts from the owners.  Inside the buildings are a blacksmiths forge, a tavern, and even a form of apothecary/surgery that I just love, just to name a few.  And yes, for those seeking play, there are fully-functioning pose balls all over the place: just clean up after yourselves!  This is a PERFECT spot for rp that the old fans of the village could love, though guys will have the new challenge of bringing their captive with them, or rping their way into her panties - er, heart.  I totally meant to say heart.  The bows here are meant for boards, not backsides!

At the top of the hill is an even better treat for BDSM fans - The Mansion.  This thing is filled with secrets from top to bottom, from the wonderful collection of artwork on every floor to the fully functioning dungeon in the basement - complete with the trap door hidden in the master's study, which is itself hidden behind the secret bookcase entrance.  Think of it as the added delights to fire your blood and twist your panties for getting through the maze.  Remember, this is through the Southern exit, then up the hillside steps! ;)

And while I know I'll have lost most of my readers at the description of the village, I saved my own personal favorite for last: The Enchanted Forest, through the maze's North exit.  For anyone who loves fantasy as much as this elf, this is the place you want to be!  Tree top carousels, an elven hut, a mermaid spot hidden inside a beautiful waterfall, a giant flower... this area is just gorgeous!  This spot invites rp, plus hanging out with friends - there is a fun trivia game in the hut, with all kinds of options for the questions.  One of the owners recommended to me the Grimm Brother's one, which tickles my fancy.  Most of all, my favorite thing for this location is photography!  All kinds of textures and colors, with the sunbeams and sparkles and fairies, that just lend a magical glow to your photos that make them almost look retouched - or a simple, gorgeous background through the elven hut windows, or one of the many benches and cushions, for those who just want a beautiful location and soft lighting.

/me ends gushing rant.  So, yes.  My personal take on Paradise on Eclipse.  Now, I won't lie - the areas are very distinct, which will separate people to some degree, but this can be good, too.  To my view, the Enchanted Forest and the Village invite more serious role playing consideration, the Mansion is definite hard-core for the sex games, with the village just below, the Mountain Forest is more lightweight and romantic, and the Beach House seems more general gathering - kind of an ooc spot in the midst of the role playing.  Now, that is just my take, and certainly not owner's rules!  Role play and OOC can and probably will be done everywhere, and there is a lot of chance for variety.  The other side is that the sim can sometimes lag-steal you and does take a while to load, simply because there is so much stuff.  It looks gorgeous and is dressed to the nines, but I highly recommend giving yourself plenty of load time for your first arrival, and then taking each area piece by piece as it loads - maybe break it into chunks for exploration, until everything is up and running, then go for the real fun.  Personally, the lag is not bad at all once it loads, and I think the beauty is well worth the wait.

Moreover, the sim has friendly owners, a lot of options, and the roleplay potential is incredible, catering to all tastes and levels, from medieval to fantasy to modern (the TV in the beach house lounge definitely invites lounge lizards of all styles).  With no meter, you can come in OOC and explore, or rp to your heart of any type - be a villain, a master, a slave, a free woman, an elf, a demon, a demicorn, a satyr: whatever you dream to be.  Just please note that, if you're going to be especially vicious, make such clear in OOC or such that this is role play, and respect rules others may set as to what they are comfortable with!  The sim is officially opening Friday the 7th, and the owners have set up a challenging hunt through the areas as a great way to greet visitors, to go along with other freebies to try out.  This girl recommends go, see the sights, take some pictures, try out what the sim has to offer - and say a kind hi and thanks to Marion and Crimson if you see them around.

Styling with Soka (1)

In an article a bit ago, Tia mentioned people and designing avatars around role play concepts.  Yeah, I would be one of those people.  For a little style variety, I'm going to be offering some of my own avis up for consideration.

When getting back into SL, I decided I wanted a change of style, so I made myself into an elf.  No specific character, but the shape, design, and clothes were all pictured with the concept in my mind of what would be *my* elf.  So below is one of my favorite outfits I made for her.

Outfit: Shaiya by Elvenbreath
Necklace: Caged Heart Necklace - Rope Chain from KaiAna
Ears: Caverna Obscura Elven Ears Sculpted
Feet: Similar Bare Feet
Skin: Heartsick Enchant Rapture (Nude, Mid-Cleavage, Freckles)
Shape: Self-made
Hair: Truth Bree - Mahogany
Eyes: *Shack* Reflections Eyes - Green

~Sokanon~

In Memory of Sangrelle

In every live,be it rl or sl, we cross paths with people that make a difference and impression in our lives. As many of you already know, the village prey Sangrelle Phantom was hit by a drunk driver in early April which left her in bad shape.  She was in a coma for 10 days, and was slow to rally, facing a long road to recovery.  Despite all of this, from her hospital room, she did make her forays back into the village while she was still there in the hospital, as it was a second home to her.

Unfortunately, due to that accident, Sangrelle was left with bleeding on her brain that required surgery.  She went in to surgery early in the morning on May 8th with the hope that the bleeding would stop.  While that was successful, Sangrelle almost died twice on the table, and things were still not looking very good.  Tests showed minimal brain activity and responsiveness, and they were not very hopeful, with her other injuries, that she could recover from this, though our hopes were that she would.

Sadly we lost Sangrelle. She passed away, and we lost a wonderful friend and a true heart. She recommended that anyone who wished to  help her would contact MADD and other organizations, to help spread the word about how much drunk driving can cost. As far as we know they never found the drunk driver that hit Sangrelle. It is very sad that someone would think so little of others to drink and drive. Sangrelle you may be gone but you are anything but forgotten.

Sangrelle's Song

In the crystal-clear waters of SL shores swam a beautiful mermaid queen by the name of Sangrelle.  Her shiney scales were a beautiful purple marred with faintest lines of magenta and pink, her hair long and blonde, her eyes crystalline blue.  As she swam, her leaps would cast the rays of the envious sun and jealous moon back to the sky, body arching to break the water and throwing crystalline drops around the earth as she returned to her comforting home.  Many, many tried to catch Sangrelle, but few could, and none of those so bold could tame her strong, wild heart.

But that did not mean Sangrelle swam alone - far from it.  Watching over here from the shore was the dark lady Zin and the strong Firebird, and swimming with her through the waves was her pale shadow, Soka.  And beside her, keeping her heart so safe, was her Music Man, his bold red and grey and black tail allowing her to shine as he spun his music for her to dance in the waves.

But one day, evil invaded those sparkling waters.  Carelessness and thoughtlessness hurt the pretty mermaid, tossing her body upon the waves and washing her to shore.  Strangers had to find the pretty mer, but they worked to save her, wrapping her in fine cotton cloth and brushing the sand from her wounds, and, even as the darkness rose to claim her, she murmured to them to beware the hurt to her lovely tail, as she was mer and had to swim again.  But these nice strangers from the Lady Zin and called her to her side, and the Lady leant all her strength to the poor mer.

Moreover, as her other friends pined and waited, Zin braved the choppy waters to find them, to carry them news of the mer queen's condition.  First, she found Soka, waiting in the waves, and she and the pale mer hugged and cried and prayed together for Sangrelle, before Lady Zin was forced to return to the surface, to a land where the little mer could not follow.  Instead, the pale mer found the Firebird, and told him of what she knew, and the two sat and cried and mingled their tears on the earth, and flowers of purple flame grew where the tears fell, to honor Sangrelle.

But it was not enough.  And the pale mer went and she found the Music Man beneath the waves, and the two talked of the lovely mer queen, drawn together by their love for her, and by their wish to be able to transverse the unfriendly earth to be by her side. And they sat and they cried and their mingled tears sprouted lavender butterflies to fly through the flower fields.  But it was still not enough, never enough, to convey their love and distress for Sangrelle.

And so the Music Man began to play, his heartfelt notes slicing through the air of second life, carrying his pain and his love to her the only way he could.  And Soka, wanting to do the same, choked her milky tears and she began to sing, calling out to her mer sister, wishing her well with all the strength and love in her heart.

And their song travelled through the air.  In the skies above the waters, the Firebird heard, and his coarse "woo-hoo" cries were silenced as he listened, and he heard, and it touched his heart, and he threw back his dark head to join in their song.  In the clouds above him, and Angel heard their song, and she was touched, and she leaned down and added her cloud-bound whispers to their words.  In the darkling forests fo second life, the Winter Wolf heard the song, too, and he sat, and he listened, and he thought, and he tipped back his bold head to howl along to the music.  And in the mighty castles, the Earth Princess and the Taboo One heard the music, and they shared a look and began to sing, too, until the music for Sangrelle flew across all of second life, borne to the care of Lady Zin, who stifled her tears and carried it to the broken-doll body of the beauteous mer queen.

And the music mingled with Lady's words, and woke the queen from the dark realm to which she had been sent, her strong heart and soul fighting her way back, and her blue, blue eyes opened, and the world rejoiced.

But the evil was not yet broken, and the kind people of the earth told Lady Zin and Sangrelle that she would need strong, dangerous magic to make her strong enough to swim again.  The day of the casting, the mer and the firebird knelt together at the shore, singing the Music Man's song for Sangrelle, choking in their fear and love, and they waited... and their hearts frozen when Lady Zin stumbled to them, bearing the sleeping form of their queen, painfully explaining all the spells had cost Sangrelle as she laid the beautiful mer beside the shore, and they watched as they prayed, and Lady Zin joined in their song, the lyrics of love ones she already knew.

The pale mermaid crawled from the waters to lay across from the kneeling lady, scale brushing scale brushing gown, and her white hand closed tight to Sangrelle's.  The Firebird, his own heart in his throat, was brought to earth, kneeling by the lady, his own hand closing on the mer queen's free one, calling her name in his once-crowing voice.  And the Music Man found them, and he knelt by her head, placing her golden locks across his lap, hoping to brush her heart as he brushed the hair from their face.  And, choking with tears, the four continued to sing for their beloved mermaid, to call her back from the darkness again, to reach her fierce heart and make it aware of their love...

Sangrelle,
     You have been through so much pain and darkness... but you have never, ever been alone.  You are loved, Mer Queen, more than you may ever know, and I can only hope my words can reach your heart.  You are missed and with me every day, in the corner of my heart that belongs solely to you, my friend.
                        With love,
                            Sokanon