A Kiss Before Dawn

1 A Kiss Before Dawn

Almost always when I am shooting a photo for my blog I begin with an outfit or an item, style a setting that works with it, then go through my ridiculously large collection of poses to find one that suits the scene. Not so, in this case. I have had this pose, Savior from !bang for We < 3 Roleplay for over a week and have tried numerous times to fit it into a photo. It just hadn’t worked out. This pose is everything I look for in a couple’s pose – it shows tenderness, strength, romance, passion and tells a story. I needed to make it work. So yesterday, I reversed the process. I started with the pose and created the scene and styled the outfits around it instead.

Other than knowing that Chance would be in the photo, I wasn’t sure what I would do. I had to use this lamp from [ keke ] for the new round of Kustom9 because it is…well, so [ keke ]. It is crafted with loving detail, it sparkles yet has darkness and depth and has a haunting appeal that says romance and mystery.

While I was standing on my platform puzzling over what to do, I decided to head over to Collabor88 to look for some inspiration. While I have never used a Scarlet Creative house for my inworld home, I almost never pass up picking up Charlotte Bartlett’s releases at C88. The angles and textures and oh, those windows (!) are heaven for photography. When I spied her Moon Rise House, my imagination just flew to a setting that is somewhat Twilightish/Gothic to showcase the pose. While I am not well-versed in either genre, I did my best. I tossed in some of the wonderful items from DRD for The Arcade, and I was ready.

The secretive encounter in an abandoned house, the rustle of his leather coat against her bare skin, the subtle glow of the lamp in the moonlight, his gentle touch as he prepares to depart, make up my interpretation of the mysterious stranger who has captivated her heart. A kiss before dawn, and then he is gone.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Bra: *LACUNA* Cleo Lingerie – Aubergine by LacunaInc
Skirt: :::insanya::: Cora Skirt – PunkHC (Maitreya) by Tatyana Ultsch (limited edition – may not be available)
Boots: CandyDoll _CD_ Arabella Cream – Maitreya Lara by Rebeca Dembo (available at Collabor88 Sept. 2015)
Hair: .:EMO-tions:. * ANYA * REDS by Mirja Mills (available at ON9 Sept. 2015)
Tattoo: [White~Widow] Midnight in Paris – Maitreya Mesh Body by Julie Hastings
Skin: -Glam Affair – Amberly II skin – America 13 C by aida Ewing
Body, hands and feet: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V1.0 by Onyx LeShelle
Eyes: IKON Promise Eyes – Maldives by Ikon Innovia
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

On Chance:

Jacket, shirt, pants & boots: [ hoorenbeek ] Mesh Outfit – Eldritch by Limer Frekriksson
Hair: Besom~ Derek by Kattington
Body: Slink Physique MALE Mesh Body Release 1.2 by Siddean Munro
Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands MALE V2.2 -Relaxed by Siddean Munro
Skin: 7 Deadly s{K}ins – DAMIEN Caramel by Moonspell Ghost

Sofa & ottoman: DRD MM covered furniture couch by DeathRowDesigns (gacha prize available at The Arcade September 2015)
Blinds: DRD MM blinderspile by DeathRowDesigns (gacha prize available at The Arcade September 2015)
Suitcases: DRD MM suitcasespile by DeathRowDesigns (gacha prize available at The Arcade September 2015)
Table: DRD MM sidetable darkbrown by DeathRowDesigns (gacha prize available at The Arcade September 2015)
*Lamp: [ keke ] rainy day table lamp by Kean Kelly (available at Kustom9 Sept. 2015 – NEW LOCATION)
Build: Scarlet Creative Moon Rise Cottage 0.1 by Charlotte Bartlett (available at Collabor88 Sept. 2015)

*Pose: !bang – savior by Luna Jubilee (available at We < 3 Roleplay Sept. 2015)

Photo taken using the LumiPro HUD by Stefan Buscaylet

End of a Long Day

1 End of a long day2

I spent more time in Second Life yesterday than I have in quite a while. Of course, there were a lot of things I had to do.

Shopping. Taking pictures. Shopping. Catching up with a few friends. Shopping. You know, the usual…just on steroids.

My first stop was *ARGRACE* to pick up a couple new releases. Next to Analog Dog for one of Queue Marlowe’s newest styles. Over FaMESHed. A second trip to Uber. Then off to .LeLutka. to demo the new mesh heads.

To be honest, I was a bit skeptical about investing in a mesh head. I would be happier if there was the capability to use sliders to customise my face, as with my mesh body. But since I spend so much time retouching bumpy and pointy bits on my face when processing my photos, the temptation was great.

And I really liked Aria. I did make a couple of adjustments to my shape to make me look a bit less “out-of-the-box.” And after (finally) reading the instructions, I was able to tweak my viewer so my face matched my body. I was sold.

I can’t say I’m crazy about the profile; I feel a bit like a pug with a smooshed-in face. The facial shape is also rounder than my usual face, so I’m discovering that not every hairstyle I’m used to wearing works with Aria. But with as much hair as I have clogging my inventory, I’m sure I have plenty that will work. And I don’t plan on using it every day, like I do my mesh body so I don’t have to give up my favourite styles.

After playing with the HUD to get a look I liked, I trekked back around the grid to do more shopping, created a couple of sets for photos, dragged in Chance and sent HIM shopping, took photos and then went back out for (ahem) a tiny bit more shopping.

Is it any wonder I was so exhausted I just stripped off my clothes and fell into a deep, restful sleep at the end of a long day?

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Bra & Panties: *LACUNA* Mae Bra & Panties – Mint by LacunaInc
Earrings: EarthStones Triple Tear Earrings – Turquoise by Abraxxa Anatine (group gift)
Hair: *ARGRACE* MEGUMU / Women – Ginger by rika Oyen (New Release)
Body, hands, feet: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V3.0 with Glam Affair America skin tone by Onyx LeShelle
Head: .LeLutka.Mesh Head-ARIA v1.0 by jadenart

Bed: Scarlet Creative The Arcade Carriage Day Bed by Charlotte Bartlett (gacha prize)

Pose: oOo tootsie_six by Olaenka Chesnokov

Photo taken using the LumiPro HUD by Stefan Buscaylet

Racked

1 Racked

It’s that time of month to get raunchy, racy and racked. Consensual is open again until March 27th. You can pick up this industrial clothes rack from Kuro, along with the corner stool and lamp. They are loaded with poses that range from romantic to adult.

Like the hangers, clothing is optional.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

On Chance:
Shorts: / XIAJ / Summer Board Shorts + monotone by Superjaix
Necklace: AITUI – Hammered Steel Necklace by Jesseaitui Petion (previous hunt gift)
Hair: *ARGRACE* TAKUMI – Classy Brown by rika Oyen
Skin: 7 Deadly s{K}ins – January group Caramel by Moonspell Ghost
Hands: Slink Male Hands (AvEnhance) – Relax by Siddean Munro
Feet: Slink Male Feet (AvEnhance) – Flat by Siddean Munro

On Peep:
Lingerie: *LACUNA* Cleo Lingerie Maitreya Lara Applier – White by LacunaInc
Hair: ~Tableau Vivant~ Sherilyn hair – Redheads by M4ri1yn Magic (available at Collabor88 March 2015)
Skin: -Glam Affair – Amberly II skin – America 13 D by aida Ewing
Body, hands and feet: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V1.0 by Onyx LeShelle

*Rack: Kuro – Industrial clothing rack by Luana Dawg (available at Consensual March 13-27 2015)
Rug: Kalopsia – Old Rug (Dusty) by Shawneese Offcourse
*Stool:Kuro – Corner stool by Luana Dawg (available at Consensual March 13-27 2015)
*Lamp: Kuro – Wall lamp by Luana Dawg (available at Consensual March 13-27 2015)
Frames: :HAIKEI: My vintage art studio / Gacha {6} by qo0op
Build: :HAIKEI: Warm&Natural / Gacha {RARE}skybox by qo0op

Pose by Kuro Industrial Clothing Rack

Photo taken using the LumiPro HUD by Stefan Buscaylet