Destructive… Sometimes…

Today I am very happy to do my first post as an official CerberusXing blogger. I was dreaming of that for quite some time now and now it finally happened *dances around*. I love the creations and designs of CerberusXing for… I guess in forever. He has a very special way of creating his designs and his texture skills are incredible. I rarely saw a better leather than in CerberusXing’s designs. I love his sadistic, morbid take on and that he always dares to stretch the boundaries from modern dark fashion to a nearly haute macabre look sometimes. He isn’t afraid to even go for stronger morbid thoughts or sometimes for fun stuff when you do not expect it. I admire the variety of styles his creations can be used for, but with always having his very personal trademark on them – even with no label on it, you easily can recognize a CerberusXing design.

For my first post I decided to go with a mix and match of my favorite items from CerberusXing. The “Enochian Succuba” outfit including the boots and the choker, the “Mucronate Top” as well as the cool “War Fan” and the “Tritinium Clave Collar, which is a collaboration of CerberusXing and The White Crow. The collar, which right gets plunged into your skin and flesh comes with an amazing tattoo layer that supports exactly that and makes it look more realistic. The bar-code reminds me of some kind of registration of a slave on a certain website 😉

If you look at the picture below you can see another extraordinary creation of CerberusXing – the “Ostium Impaler Ears”. I am a huge friend of unusual mesh ears and with the long stretched ear hole and the piercings these ears have exactly that what it takes. You are able to color the bottom of the earlobe like a tattoo and that heavy earing shows you why it is stretched that way 😉

For a cool look you need the perfect makeup as well and so I wanted to use one of the newest tattoos from Nefekalum Tattoos. His tattoos are more like artwork on your skin. Sometimes you get the feeling, that he has a slightly destructive adder which he puts in some of his creations and the same I feel sometimes with CerberusXing. I  am not saying that this is a bad thing! I have this adder as well and I really enjoy it, to live that part of me in SL more than in RL – that really balances me out sometimes and keeps me more healthy in RL*giggles*

Clothing

Top: [CX] – “Mucronate Top – Leather” (Maitreya)

Bottom: [CX] – “Enochian Succuba – Skirt (Black)” (Maitreya)

Boots: [CX] – “Enochian Succuba – Boots (Black)” (Maitreya)

Jacket: [CX] – “Enochian Succuba – Jacket A” (Maitreya)

Accessories

Backpiece: [CX] – “War Fan”

Collar: [CX] x -TWC- – “Tritinium Slave Collar”

Chocker: [CX] – Enochian Succuba – Choker” (Maitreya)

Glasses: .Inkhole. – “Trianglix Glasses”

Piercing: [CX] – “Drop Septum”

Hair & Makeup

Hair: no.match – “No.Comission”

Makeup: alaskametro<3 – “Impressionist” (Omega Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.4”

Ears: [CX] – “Ostium Impaler Ears”

Eyes: !SU – “Tender Eyes” (Group Gift)

Faceart: Nefekalum Tattoos – “Corruption” (Omega Applier)

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Chest Tattoo: [CX] x -TWC- – “Tritinium Slave – Skin Marks Applier” (Omega Applier)

Poses & Props

Poses: Del May

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

Kunoichi

Kunoichi: A kunoichi (Japanese: くノ一) is a female ninja or practitioner of ninjutsu (ninpo). During the feudal period of Japan, ninjas were used as killers, spies and messengers. The training of kunoichi differed from the training given to male ninjas, although they had a common core of skills, being trained in martial arts, such as taijutsu, kenjutsu, and ninjutsu. Kunoichi training tended to prioritize female skills.

[Wikipedia]

Again I had a Japanese desire and with the awesome “Masami” gown from Fellini and the super amazing Katana headpiece called “Shakatu”, it was time to full fill that desire 😉 Both of those amazing creations you can find at the NEO Japan event this  month.

I needed shoes and first I thought about heavy boots as a fighter would wear them and then I was watching a movie… Sucker Punch! some of those really strong and kick ass looking ladies had heels on! Even if I doubt that you can fight and run on heels that great, the “Phoebe Slingbacks” from [Gos] looked so great to the whole look so I could not resist adding them to my look 😉

Having already some ‘girly’ parts to my look, I thought I can add the stunning “Mayra” nails from Formanails as well and still be able to holding my Katana right *giggles*

I still find a lot of inspiration in the web for my posting ideas and this time it were the Kunoichi, that inspired me.

First I wanted to shoot it with a simple background, but then when I tried the Katanas, which had those cool flames coming with them, the fire idea was born. The poses for this amazing shoot certainly were made by Poseidon Poses, one of my favorite pose stores especially when it comes to action and movement in pictures.

Clothing

Dress: Fellini Couture – “Masami Gown in Red” (Maitreya) – NEW @ NEO Japan // October 2019

Knee: .:Avanti:. – “Jersey Knee Warmers – Black” (Maitreya Applier)

Shoes: [Gos] – “Phoebe Slingbacks – Boutique” (Maitreya)

Accessories

Headpiece: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Shakatu” – NEW @ NEO Japan // October 2019

Collar: [CX] – “Hell’s Harbinger” (Maitreya)

Rings: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Morphine Rings” (Maitreya, Bento)

Nails: FORMANAILS – “Mayra XXL” (Maitreya, Bento)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: Exile – “Maybe”

Makeup: alaskametro<3 – “Impressionist” (Omega Applier)

Lipstick: Zibska – “Bussasba” (LeLutka Applier)

Face Art: Nefekalum Tattoos – “The Master Number” (Omega Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.4”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Eyes: .ARISE. : – “Haya Eyes / Brown”

Tattoo: Nefekalum Tattoos – “Fibrous” (Omega Applier)

Poses & Props

Katana: [ Quixotica ] – “Katana Pose Collection” (came as a bonus to the pose set)

Poses: Poseidon Poses

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

You only have to look at Her straight on to see Her…

TUNES

“The cavern cracked and groaned. Dirt, rocks, and glow worms rained on their heads. With a wave of panic, Andy swung around and dashed into the next cavern. “Run!” The ceiling collapsed. Behind him, Medusa laughed, her snakes still hissing.”
[A.P. Mobley, The Helm of Darkness]

Finally my favorite season arrived… October is here!!!

Now I can be freaky, scary and dark without being asked if I am ok or being called weird and a freak – not that I do really care during the year, but these days I can feel “normal” *giggles*

So the first one today – kinda my annual brake-free – features some new releases from Salt & Pepper and Nefekalum Tattoos and some of my long time favorites like CURELESS[+], UTOPIA@Design, Avanti and one of our latest releases, as it did fit in so nicely.

First I wanted to do a scary Medusa typical picture and the Salt release her “Guardian” for the Salem event. I t looked so cool, that I could not wait for another post and so I gave myself the challenge to find an idea, how I could use both. The result was the vision of a gatekeeper for an old, mystic cave with lots of cobwebs and spiders.

Recently I love to play with lights and projectors, as well as with new Photoshop tricks a lot. The result is, that I tend to use a plain dark background, to be able to add in some layers and basically try create the background in Photoshop. With additional lights and my new drawing pad it is a lot of fun to play with different brushes and as well even draw parts of it – even if iI really need more practice with that damn pad and pencil. Sometimes It feels even more easy to draw with the computer mouse, even if that sounds ridiculous for those who have more experiences with it.

I always loved strong contrasts. With many of my past pictures I wanted more depth as Second Life had to offer and now finally I found a way how I can do that with some tricks I found in Youtube tutorials. It took a while until they did what I wanted, but for me it was worth the time and I really found new inspiration and motivation with learning new techniques. It felt like unlocking new doors to have more possibilities to achieve what I was looking for a long time. I am still practicing and with every new picture I come closer to what I desire.

I lately was talking to a sweet lady, which I recently feel like a good friend. She does the wonderful sweet and smooth art, which I tried a lot of times but never could do – maybe it just isn’t in me or I did not yet find it… it always feels awkward when I try to do this kind of pictures and moods. She helped me with my tribute for Autumn Rose a lot, as that required exactly that way of art (HERE).

In the past it felt like I would have to have the ability to feature all kind of styles, but the more I turn into my personal favorite direction, the more I feel secure and my pictures do have way more impact  – at least it does feel like that!

I am not saying I will not still try other things, but I took the pressure of myself that I HAVE TO do so. For now I will do enjoy the dark season as much as I can and hope that I can get all my ideas done in time, before the cozy Christmas times will start… or maybe the dark times turn into dark scary “Krismus”? *eyes “The Nightmare before Christmas” DVD over there in the shelf*

Clothing

Outfit: Scandalize – “Nicole Harness” (Maitreya)

Gloves: Wicca’s Originals – “Ryn Gloves (Scales)” (Maitreya)

Stockings: .:Avanti:. – “Ripped Nylons V2” (Maitreya Applier)

Shoes: UTOPIA@Design – “Halloween – V2” (Maitreya)

Accessories

Dragon Skelleton & Spider Legs: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “The Guardian” – NEW @ Salem

Collar: [CX] – “Hell’s Harbinger (Black Out+Gold)” (Maitreya)

Tounge Piercings: LeLutka – “BDYART-TBRBL” (Bento)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “Medusa Head Dress” (Part of the Outfit Medusa) – NEW @ UBER

Faceart: Nefekalum Tattoos – “Shaman Series – Fire” (Omega Applier) – NEW

Makeup: alaskametro<3 – “Impressionist” (Omega Applier)

Lipstick: Izzie’s – “Black Lipstick” (Maitreya Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.4”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Eyes: CURELESS[+] – “Seerees Eyes”

Poses, Props & Tools

Poses: Poseidon

Face Animation Tool: LeLutka – “Axis HUD Face 1.1”

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

The Engine Room – Part II

As I was threatening in my last post – her is the Engine Room part 2! *snickers*

Today with something more naughty, but still in a vintage, maybe today more dieselpunk looking way. Now you might scratch your head and think… usually she talks about steampunk and now she throws in a new word called “dieselpunk”, but actually it is a different genre, even if there is a lot of cross over happening in fashion. Lets take a look at the “Dieselpunk Encyclopedia“…

“Dieselpunk is a style and a budding sub-culture that combines the zeitgeist of the interbellum period through World War II and ending before or at the early 1950s with postmodern sensibilities from a counter-cultural viewpoint…”

“Dieselpunk fashion blends the styles commonly found during the diesel era with contemporary styles to create a fusion of both. The “punk” nature of the subculture comes from expressing a more complete presence in public akin to the fashion styles popular during the diesel era such as waistcoats, covered arms, hosiery, styles of shoes, and head wear to name a few. Military and paramilitary also counts, especially related to genre icons. Dieselpunk emphasizes the inclusion of such accouterments to render one’s look “complete,” in defiance of modern custom.

The now defunct blog Gearing Up was one of the first web sites dedicated to dieselpunk fashion. Despite its domain name (dieselpunk.net) it promoted mostly steampunk costumes and accessories but also helped to define the style and to point out the difference between Diesel and Steam… Generally, dieselpunk fashion is not (and never was) restricted to formal dress or military uniform. It includes a broad range of styles, from 1930s colonial to 1940s bomber jackets, from posh zoot suits to humble working-class overalls. Sometimes a light touch of style, like a vintage wristwatch, a pair of Art Deco earrings or an old-fashioned petrol lighter, is sufficient for a fashion-conscious dieselpunk.”

I tried to archive that look with some of the releases from the Engine Room certainly 🙂

When I saw that awesome bondage crane from Dictator Shop while I was wearing that super naughty, but kick ass cool and military looking “Disciplinarian” dress from CerberusXing, the dieselpunk idea was born in my mind. I do love the combination of steel and military inspired fashion with a little touch of fetish as well 😉

First I was tempted to cover up my chest with a black bra, but then I thought that would drag away the attention off the dress too much and when I found that cool nipple piercings in my inventory, which had a touch of a military decoration, the desicion was made.

The incredible detailed and interesting face art was made by Skye Nefekalum, an artist and friend which I do admire for along time for his creativity and skills. The “Shaman Series – Earth” is one of an amazing series of the 4 elements and it does come in black, color and one white/tintable version as an Omega applier. With that it is compatible with most of the mesh heads in Second Life.

What really caught my eyes are the “Mistic Glasses” from The White Crow. They do come with a tattoo for face and body, but for this post I only used the body part or it to not mix up the face art I already was wearing. The interesting part of the glasses are that they are “pierced” into your nose and do not have frame temples at the sides – those of you who know me, know that I LOVE such things 😉 They are available in 3 different colors and are resizable so you can customize them perfectly to your head.

To get an even more dominant touch for my pictures, I did add three of the “Unfortunate Destiny Mannequins” and put the new “Plague Masks” on them, which you can wear yourself a well as you can see in my last post (HERE) – so I was able to show all the colors that are available at the event 😉

The Engine Room is open until the 20th or October and again this will not be my last post – I am already working on the next look and pictures *winks*

Clothing

Dress: [CX] – “Disciplinarian – Original” (Maitreya) – NEW @ The Engine Room // Sepetmber/October 2019

Accessories

Hat: !R! – “Peaked Cap/Wearble” – NEW @ The Engine Room // Sepetmber/October 2019

Glasses: -[TWC]- – “Mistic Glasses – Reading” – NEW @ The Engine Room // Sepetmber/October 2019

Collar: +AH+ – “Pampering Collar”

Piercing 1: IMMODEST – “Downfall Septum”

Piercing 2: Blaxium – “Dangerous Bento Piercing – Simone” (LeLutka Simone, Bento)

Piercing 3: .::Supernatural::. – “Sweet angel Nipple Piercing [Gold]”

Bracelets: Gemini – “Sis Bracelets” (Maitreya)

Rings: : CULT : – “Rou Rings Set” (Maitreya, Bento)

Nailpolish: DP – Koffin Nails – “Neo-Victorian Keys” (Maitreya Applier) – NEW @ The Engine Room // Sepetmber/October 2019

Hair & Makeup

Hair: .Entwined. – “Nyx B”

Face Art: Nefekalum Tattoos – “Shaman Series – Earth (White/Tintable)” (Omega Applier) – NEW

Makeup: Zibska – “Noir Pack 06” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: alaskametro<3 – “London” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.4”

Ears: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Ears Akasuna”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Right Arm: Wicca’s Originals – “Eagleden Arms” (Maitreya, Bento) – NEW @ The Engine Room // Sepetmber/October 2019

Tattoo: -[TWC]- – “Mistic” (Omega Applier, part of the glasses) – NEW @ The Engine Room // Sepetmber/October 2019

Poses, Props & Tools

Poses: Foxcity

Set:

[Ds] – “Vindustria Bondage Crane – Adult OMNI v1” – NEW @ The Engine Room // Sepetmber/October 2019

::Static:: – “Unfortunate Destiny Mannequin” – NEW @ The Engine Room // Sepetmber/October 2019

::Static:: – “Plague Mask – Caged {Worn Hide}”, “Plague Mask – Aperture {Worn Pale}” & “Plague Mask – Caged {Worn Coal}” – NEW @ The Engine Room // Sepetmber/October 2019

Face Animation Tool: LeLutka – “Axis HUD Face 1.1”

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

I can see you understand me…

“Once you put your hand in the flame,
You can never be the same,
There’s a certain satisfaction,
In a little bit of pain.
I can see you understand me
Tell that you’re the same”

[Madonna]

Sometimes it needs a kind person and some amazing conversations to be inspired for a certain picture. This happened today when I was thinking about doing a post about some awesome releases of the Fetish Fair that is currently running for a few more days. It is always difficult to do fetish or BDSM related pictures if you don’t want to be dirty or pornographic but ther is even editorial fashion shoots in the real world that are none of that. For my post I did not want the editorial ones only, I wanted some kind of emotion to it as well and that is, why I did not just use a blank background with simplistic furniture only. D/s is something very sensitive. It is part of the whole BDSM content but it is only one of a million different shades. But many people do have D/s relation ships without even being aware of. D/s itself can have a million different shades as well. Sometime girls like the fact that they are taken care of in life and that they only need to please (please ISN’T always only sexual!) a man, to be his precious he would take care of. Some girls do like older men, because they feel more safe with them and they like if they say how it goes (NOT only in a sexual way). That brings me to my next point… D/s doesn’t always have to be a sexual thing. Making a coffee for the man you belong to, because he asked for it… we could argue now if he did order you to get him one or if he just asked to have one… when you bring him that without starting a discussion or telling him off to get it on his own… you obey… you obey to a wish made by the person you love. So D/s is way more common as that we think about. Same if your partner tells you, he would like you to dress in a certain way… you can say, it is because you just love him and do it, because you know you please him with having him the gift of you wearing the particular outfit. But on the same hand you can sa it was an order you did obey to out of various reasons and motivations. D/s doesn’t mean anything else than, someone that gives orders (wishes, requests, begging… call it what ever you want) and someone that is willing to full fill them, either for a certain result or just because out of love, dedication or devotion. Where I live, we are lucky that we can be free in our choices that we make about our relation ships – I know this is not the case all over the world. And so all can decide how they want to have their relationships without being pointed with a finger at someone. Did you ever think about why in Second Life BDSM or D/s is so big? Because not everyone has the possibility to live their fantasies! Even if I made horrible experiences in Second Life with that kind of roleplay and gave up years ago in SL, because of wannabes and people who think they know it all only because they read the Story of O or saw 50 Shades of Grey on TV, it seems there is attraction in that kind of lifestyle for many and why not just let them do what ever they want as long as they to not violate any law or feelings of others who are not want to be involved? I have to admit I met a few people, that are living this lifestyle in the real world too and I had incredible amazing conversations about so many different things with them – I would not want to miss them. Most of those people are incredible skilled artists in one or both lifes and the lifestyle must have something that touches those sensitive and very special people.

Since my post tunred out totally different as intended and the shoes didn’t get the deserved spotlight on the pictures, I just thought I do a clean close up!

Recently I had the pleasure to talk more to someone, that I did know for a while and when we met, none of us did talk about BDSM or D/s or something like that. We just were assigned to do a print-work job together. It was a fashion job so far away from all of that. But when I arrived there, the way of how that person was talking already got me to my toes. I can not say why, but the way he used the English language wasn’t what I usually experienced. I mean, I did know his Flickr as I always look though peoples Flickr when I am assigned to work with them, but you find all kind of artists on that platform so I normally do not jump to conclusions if I do not know those people. The way he spoke, the use of words I never heard before for just normal conversations, did build some feelings or emotions that I could not sort the first time we met. It was a great shooting and the pictures turned out fantastic. It wasn’t the only time I had the pleasure to work with that person and I do not even remember anymore when or why I started to call him Sir, just in a normal conversation. I remember quite well, how bad I was blushing in real life, when I realized what I just said, but it just felt normal and right. He did not seem irritated by that and since it felt right, it was just normal for me to call him Sir whenever we worked together. A couple times we even just made pictures together, without any particular job behind it and they are some of the best pictures I ever had together with someone. Not too long go we got to talk more in IMs here and there and I had the pleasure to know him more each time we talked. It feels amazing if you can talk with someone in a natural way without ulterior motives, just because you are friends and respect someone. There are no words to describe our conversations, but I feel very honored to be allowed to have them. They unleash creativity, they reduce anxieties about some things, they even are an enrichment for my English skills, as I learn new words and different ways to say things. After all it feels incredible amazing to have someone, that does understand you, the way how you behave, or who you are. I have to admit, I guess I can be happy that he is so far away as I have no idea, if I could stand those eyes and voice, if I would be near him, but since I am happy in my own relationship (Yes – my partner knows about our conversations // NO – that isn’t anywhere near cheating) and far away, I just immensely enjoy those conversations and projects and hope there will be many more. Thank you Sir, for inspiring me for todays post and pictures!

Clothing

Outfit: :::insanya::: – “Helga Top & Shorts” (Maitreya)

Cuffs: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “Bondage Deluxe Set” (Maitreya) – NEW @ Fetish Fair // August 2019

Stockings: .:Avanti:. – “Vini Stockings” (Maitreya Applier)

Shoes: [Gos] – “Tamara Ankle Boots” (Maitreya)

Accessories

Nails: .:Avanti:. – “Byzzy Nails” (Maitreya, Bento)

Rings: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Morphine Rings” (Maitreya, Bento)

Piercing: Blaxium – “Dangerous Bento Piercing – Simone” (LeLutka, Bento)

Septum: Blaxium – “Aracnida Septum Piercing Unrigged – Silver” (Gacha, Common)

Hair & Makeup

Makeup: Livia – “Desire Eyeshadow” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: alaskametro<3 – “London” (LeLutka Applier)

Hair: no.match – “No.Aspects” – NEW @ Hairfair // August 2019

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.3”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Tattoo: RedFish – “Roses Tattoo” (Maitreya Applier) – NEW @ Fetish Fair // August 2019

Ears: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Akasuna”

Lashes: Livia  – “Whisper Lashes” (LeLutka Applier)

Poses, Props & Tools

Poses: Foxcity

Set:

3rd Eye Perceptions – “Hanging Chain Curtain”

~*S.E.*~ – “Wall Pallet Bed (PG)”

[Since1975] – “All in1-BDSM Cage/Pole(Maledom)”

[Since1975] – “All in1-BDSM Cage/Hanger(Maledom)”

[Arch] Deco – “Box of Chains v1.0”

Mushilu – “0005bg Whip and Whispers complete”

ED. – “Anu Whip Black”

22769 – “Toys and Lube”

22769 – “Handcuffs”

22769 – “Leather Whip”

Face Animatin Tool: LeLutka – “Axis HUD Face 1.1”

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

“Insufficient facts always invite danger.” – Mister Spock

“Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no one has gone before”

[Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Treck: The Next Generation]

I was a Star Treck addicted since I saw the first episodes on TV back when I was a kid. I always was a little dreamer and the idea of having worlds out of reach, that no one yet had explored and either Captain Kirk or Captain Jean-Luc Picard just took us on their journeys to do exactly that, was just amazing. How often we sat, with the family or with friends, together in front of the TV and watched with excitement, what they would find and if it would be good or bad. For my age it first was Captain Jean-Luc Picard. I was about 10 years old when the first season came out on TV and when my mom realized I do love the whole story, she introduced me to the “older Star Treck” episodes with Captain Kirk and Mister Spock. Even if Jean-Luc will be my all time favorite, I did enjoy the older ones too, especially Mister Spock. The idea of having a life with no emotions, can be attractive if you are a very emotional kid and run into problems all the time*snickers*

That addiction to unknown space and fantasy stories did never go away… it did even grow over the time. Nowadays I still love Star Treck but as well all kind of post apocalyptic movies like Resident Evil, Mad Max, Book of Eli and many more. Fantasy or Sci-Fi as well is a genre that I do love a lot. The idea of machines that get some kind of personality like I Robot, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Minority Report or Ex Machina as well are an amazing yet dangerous idea… if artificial intelligences decide, that humans are the major problem in the the end – I would not wanna be part of that. What was an interesting movie as well and maybe a future vision of Second Life, was Surrogates. A world, where people never leave home again and just operate machines to do their jobs. When I saw the movie first, I thought it would be a cool idea, but the more I was thinking about that it was a scaring vision to me. I do have a love for such fictions and I am sure a few were part of what inspired me for todays post.

When I saw the “Space 2099” gacha set from Salt & Pepper, I instantly felt the 60s/70s, retro mood of the old Start Trek series. Then I saw, that Ex Machina made a matching scenery to exactly that gacha, there was no way that I would not blog that amazing collaboration. 2 of my favorite designers, collaborating on a sci-fi inspired set – priceless!

The gacha set from Salt & Pepper contains a body, shoes with long leg parts, sleeves and 2 different interactive tools that cooperate with the clothing AND with the matching props and skyebox from Ex Machina!!! While you can have 5 different colors for the clothing you get 3 options of guns. each gun shoots a different color (slime, hexagon glitter, holo swirls), while you can remove all the splashes with the scanner, which as well is part of the gacha. Sadly I found no other person, as I first had the idea of having a pixel fight with someone and colored slime splashes all over, but then I came on a different idea anyways. Maybe I will do some fun with that interactive gacha in the future ;). The VIP prize, a visor with a color HUD to match the clothing colors. The matching gacha from Ex Machina, as well called “Space 2099”, contains various props, a modular tunnel system and a skybox as rare.

For todays post I used the 2 gachas, but as well some other matching designs from Ex Machina. Hatris Panacek recently released some amazing sci-fi items that just were perfect to furnish the skybox. I first made one level with the modular tunnel system and all the gacha props. When I rezzed the skybox, I immediately had the idea of having a laboratory inside of it as a second level of my interstellar home *grins*. Who does not dream of a separated work/life balance *winks*

When I was done and satisfied with the look (I will credit all parts properly in the end of this post) I again came back on my initial idea of foreign spaces and forms of life. That brought up the neat idea with the little dragon , that just was born in my laboratory. First it looked super cute and then it did demonstrate it’s power and I had to run :p

I do love to tell little stories with my pictures and with that amount of items I wanted to showcase, it had to be a few more pictures than usual, but they all went so well together that I did not want to part them for a post.

Again I used the Axis HUD from LeLutka to animate my face. I know there is various face expressions out there at the moment, but I still think, that LeLutka had the most genius idea with that animation HUD. I already did talk about my first steps and tries wit the Axis HUD (HERE), but I seriously cannot stop to tell how amazing that HUD is. you can make expressions completely personalized and to exact purpose you need it. Sometimes I even modify existing expressions (certainly I mostly use the awesome, pre-made expressions from LeLutka as well), if I just want a little tweak and like the general attitude of the expression. If you not yet tried it, you really should. There is as well a demo HUD available where you can test the way how it works at the LeLutka main store.First I wanted to include a gyazo of my LeLutka HUD in action, with all the worked bones, but  with all my excitement about taking pictures… I again forgot to do that. I will try to remember that for the net time, when I have it excessively in use 😉

Clothing

Body: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “Space 2099 Body” (Maitreya, Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Sleeves: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “Space 2099 Sleeves” (Maitreya, Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Shoes: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “Space 2099 Boots” (Maitreya, Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Accessories

Face Implant: Wicca’s Originals – “Edge Implant” – NEW @ Driftwood August 2019

Leg Lights: Normandy – “Leg Implants” (Maitreya)

Nails: [CX] – “Shredder Claws” (Maitreya, Bento)

Heart: NeurolaB Inc. – “Heart Reactor MK-6”

Hair & Makeup

Hair: lock&tuft – “Stranded (woman fit1)”

Lashes: alaskametro<3 – “Slay” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: NOX. – “Incomplete Lip” (Omega Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Head: LeLutka – “Aida 3.3”

Skin: ~Jeanette’s Joint~ – “Android 2.0 Skin and Tattoo” (Omega Applier)

Eyes: CURELESS[+] – “Spookshow Eyes / Dialated”

Ears: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Nepthune V2”

Facetattoo: the crone – “flesh shell” (LeLutka & Maitreya Applier)

Metal Tattoo: *YS&YS* – Pris Tone ELF” (LeLutka & Omega Applier)

Poses, Props & Tools

Poses: Poseidon

Set 1 (pictures 2 & 3):

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 SkyRoom” (Gacha, Rare) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “THX Sci Fi Botanical Lab”

Ex Machina – “THX Sci Fi set” (Console, Cannister, Crate)

Ex Machina – “THX Sci Fi set 2” (Vertical Console, Suspension Pod)

Ex Machina – “Advanced Teleporter Pod v1.5”

lassitude & ennui – “Dragon whelp – mystic” (Gacha, Rare)

Set 2 (pictures 1, 4 & 5)

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Corridor Ending A” (Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Corridor Ending B” (Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Corridor” (Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Intersection” (Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Crate 1-3 Black & Teal” (Gacha, Commons) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Power Washer – Black & Teal” (Gacha, Commons) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Sign 1-3 Black” (Gacha, Commons) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Info Center – Teal” (Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 teleporter” (Gacha, VIP prize) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Planetary Holographic Scanner”

Tool: LeLutka – “Axis HUD Face 1.1”

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

 

Imagine…

TUNES

You, you may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

[John Lennon]

Clothing

Top: neve – “Milla” (Maitreya)

Pants: Blueberry – “Pride Shorts” (Maitreya, SL16B Gift)

Shoes: [Gos] – “Emelie Sandals” (Maitreya) – NEW @ UBER // August 2019

Accessories

Legwraps: Storybook – “Savage – Brown” (Maitreya)

Necklace 1: Eudora3D – “Eithne Necklace Gold Materials”

Necklace 2: MG – “Leather Alexa Choker – Design 3”

Rings: Meva – “Bento Maitreya Rings Gold” (Maitreya, Bento)

Glasses: EarthStones – “The Yesterday”

Headpiece: DRD – “Vagabond – Flower Crown”

Bangles (l): DRD – “Chunky Bangles – Flower”

Bracelet (r): [ kunst ] – “Conrad Bracelet”

Piercing:  [ kunst ] – “Piercing #10” (Gacha, Common)

Septumn: [ kunst ] – “Anuket Septum Ring”

Hair & Makeup

Hair: no.match – “No.Weird” – NEW @ COSMOPOLITAN // August 12th, 2019

Makeup: Zibska – “Noir Pack 06” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: alaskametro<3 – “London” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.3”

Ears: CODEX – “Marley Ears”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Tattoo: ((Mister Razzor)) – “Dante” (Omega Applier)

Poses & Props

Poses: Foxcity

Set:

DRD – “The Stranded Pack Rat”

DRD – “Vagabond – Guitar” (Groupgift

DRD – “Post Apoc Camp Sitting Crates 1”

DRD – “GG – Catcher – One” (Groupgift

22769 ~ [bauwerk] – “Beertray Sidetable Green” (table made transparent to use ashtray and cigarettes)

Location

…:::Bartertown:::…

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

The artful Alchemy of Wicca Merlin – VERSUS Magazine Spring/Summer 2019

I had the great honor of being the cover and the cover story of the actual VERSUS Magazine. I do work with VERSUS as a model, stylist and photographer since the very first issue, the more I felt honored and happy about being asked if I would like to be on the cover!

I remember very well, how speechless and overwhelmed I was when Shena told me, that she planned me, my photography/blogging and our store for her next cover story – I nearly was fainting!

I was sent some wonderful questions for the interview by Sita Writer, in my opinion one of the most talented writers I met in SL (actually I do have  2 favorites only *grins*). Anyways, I was super happy when I saw, that Sita did not only pull the usual mainstream questions and it really was fun to answer them. If you want to see the full article you can find it HERE or you can pull an inworld Magazine at the entrance hall of our Mainstore!

And as if that would not have been enough already… Shena surprised me again and left me speechless! When I turned in my pictures for the Mother Nature theme I was assigned this issue, Shena went totally crazy about one picture and wanted to take that as the cover for the magazine… MY picture as cover for a magazine!?! that never happened before, I never was allowed to do a picture for a magazine cover!?!

I really have to say thank you for a wonderful article, as well as such a great honor, to Shena, Sita and the VERSUS Magazine staff for that incredible opportunity and experience! VERSUS always felt like home and family to me and that, even made that bond tighter than ever before.

Why I am posting this today, away from that I am so proud and honored, is that I got asked so often in IMs about the style I was wearing for the cover and so I will put my style credits below this post.

THANK YOU VERSUS FAMILY!!!

VERSUS Magazine Spring/Summer 2019 https://issuu.com/versus.sl.magazine/docs/versus_magazine_spring_summer_2019

Clothing

Dress: Legal Insanity – “Camila Dress” (Maitreya)

Cloack: Astralia – “Danaus Spring cloak” (Maitreya, Gacha, Rare)

Accessories

Headpiece: Astralia – “Danaus Spring Crown (orange)” (Gacha, Common)

Flower (mouth): Astralia – “Danaus Spring Flower (orange)” (Gacha, Common)

Bracelets: Gemini – “Sis Bracelets” (Maitreya)

Rings: *elise* – “Diana” (Maitreya, Bento)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: [e] – “Juniper”

Makeup 1: Zibska – “Ventura Eyemakeup” (LeLutka Applier)

Makeup 2: Zibska – “Tamia Eyemakeup” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: Zibska – “Flore” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.3”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Lashes: alaskametro<3 – “Slay” (LeLutka Applier)

Poses & Props

Pose: Foxcity – “Long Grass” (VIP Gift 6-17, Bento)

Wand: Astralia – “Danaus Spring Scepter” (gGacha, Special Prize)

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

 

“I am not here to fit in your World – I am here to make my own!”

“It is a law of nature we overlook, that intellectual versatility is the compensation for change, danger, and trouble. An animal perfectly in harmony with its environment is a perfect mechanism. Nature never appeals to intelligence until habit and instinct are useless. There is no intelligence where there is no change and no need of change. Only those animals partake of intelligence that have a huge variety of needs and dangers.”

[H.G. Wells, The Time Machine]

Steampunk always had something that pulled me closer… I do not know what exactly it is, but maybe it has to do with today’s title. It always had something active to me… something that develops forward never staying still somehow. Maybe that is part of the attraction it has to me 🙂 The Victorian epoch, was a time of inventions, so no wonder that the steampunk era was put into that time frame somehow. But what exactly is steampunk? Lets see what Wikipedia has to say 😉

“Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction or science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Although its literary origins are sometimes associated with the cyberpunk genre, steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century British Victorian era or the American “Wild West”, in a future during which steam power has maintained mainstream usage, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power. However, steampunk and neo-Victorian are different in that the neo-Victorian movement does not extrapolate on technology while technology is a key aspect of steampunk.

Steampunk most recognizably features anachronistic technologies or retro-futuristic inventions as people in the 19th century might have envisioned them, and is likewise rooted in the era’s perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, and art. Such technologies may include fictional machines like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or of the modern authors Philip Pullman, Scott Westerfeld, Stephen Hunt, and China Miéville. Other examples of steampunk contain alternative-history-style presentations of such technology as steam cannons, lighter-than-air airships, analogue computers, or such digital mechanical computers as Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine.

Steampunk may also incorporate additional elements from the genres of fantasy, horror, historical fiction, alternate history, or other branches of speculative fiction, making it often a hybrid genre. The first known appearance of the term steampunk was in 1987, though it now retroactively refers to many works of fiction created as far back as the 1950s or 1960s.

Steampunk also refers to any of the artistic styles, clothing fashions, or subcultures that have developed from the aesthetics of steampunk fiction, Victorian-era fiction, art nouveau design, and films from the mid-20th century. Various modern utilitarian objects have been modded by individual artisans into a pseudo-Victorian mechanical “steampunk” style, and a number of visual and musical artists have been described as steampunk.” [Wikipedia]

So steampunk is nothing that really existed back then, but was invented by the desire of the thoughts what time back then could have been with its future thoughts… yeah sounds crazy, but it does make sense if you get deeper into it 😉

Maybe it is as well the colors that are assigned to that kind of styles. I love the combination of muted, dark colors and the gold and copper metals. It just falls together so well most of the time and you always get a lightly elegant touch even if you do not wear a long gown :p Maybe it is the feeling of strength, that all the gear and leather gives most of the outfits and the huge buildings, vehicles and structures you can find if you look up steampunk in SL or google about steampunk in RL.

Whatever it is, steampunk does have a huge fascination for me and I do enjoy those styles and looks a lot, so that won’t be the last time I am styling up like a Victorian steampunk or a dieselpunk ‘Conqueror’ to discover new and unexplored space and maybe get more information about the mystery of the time machines 😉

Clothing

Dress: Wicca’s Originals – “Cecilia”

Sleeves: Wicca’s Originals – “Amity Arms” (Maitreya, Gacha, Rare)

Shoes & Socks: Eudora3D – “Yana Boots” (Maitreya)

Accessories

Mask: [ContraptioN] – “Maskineri II Eye *???*”

Necklace: Codex – “Vintage Time”

Rings: Meva – “Victorian Bento Rings” (Maitreya, Bento)

Nails: Formanails – “Cris Claws” (Maitreya, Bento)

Wings: Luas – “Steam Commander Bento Wings Beige” (Maitreya, Bento, Gacha, Common)

Hair & Makeup

Makeup: alaskametro<3 – “Molten Eyeshadow” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: alaskametro<3 – “London” (LeLutka Applier)

Hair: no.match – “No.Ring” NEW @ Salon 52

Body & Tattoo

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Head: LeLutka – “Piper 3.3”

Skin: *YS&YS* – “Petal Tone 02 Skin Applier” (LeLutka/Maitreya Applier)

Ears: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Nepthune”

Shape: .{ wren’s nest } – “Piper Shape for LeLutka Piper Bento Head”

Poses & Props

Poses: Foxcity

Set:

DRD – “Steampunk Airship – Ground”

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Antique Gramophone” (Gacha, Common)

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Drum Table” (Gacha, Common)

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Pipes Lamp” (Gacha, Common)

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Armchair” (Gacha, Common)

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Bike Figurine” (Gacha, Common)

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Cart Table” (Gacha, Common)

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Glass Of Red Wine” (Gacha, Common)

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Wine Bottle” (Gacha, Common)

::Static:: – “Vintage Lighting – 15 Bulb Lamp” (Gacha, Common)

::Static:: – “Vintage Lighting – 11 Desk Light” (Gacha, Common)

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

Tonight is the Night!

As promised… one more Vintage Fair post, even if Vintage Fair ends today. But while you have a last chance today to go shopping, I am sure you will find all the great creations and designs at the main store of all brands soon.

Today the main inspiration was the idea to prepare for a first date back in the good old days 🙂 The amazing gown from Salt & Pepper and the incredible jewelry from Tres Beau made me do a classy and elegant  post! Not happening that often, but with that awesome designs, I could not resist 😉

As I mentioned in my last post, I really do love The Vintage Fair – I do have to admit I do have a weakness for vintage looks, even if usually show my dark side mostly. Most of my addiction comes from the music of that times. Music was/is always very close connected with fashion at all times and sometimes musicians even were style icons. The Beatles, Elvis, The Rolling Stones, Edith Piaff, ABBA, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Grace Jones, Marlene Dietrich, Ray Charles, Paul Anka anyways what name I would drop, I am sure you could easily recall how they have looked 🙂 Being a musician in RL myself, I always looked about the development of music – maybe thats why I like some of the vintage styles, when I do like the music that belongs to that certain time.

Let’s go back to the actual purpose of my post today. It was really fun to use some poses I never had used before, but they made total sense in this picture series. It started wit the cool “Eau De Parfum’ Prop Set” from WetCat, where my idea was born to kinda go through a whole series of how you prepare before you go on a date :)you make your way into your room, sit down and think about what you would to look like and then you start doing your make up and perfuming 🙂

I have to go back to the 2 amazing designs, that are center of my today’s style and post idea. The “Evelyn” dress from Salt & Pepper certainly comes with a texture HUD to change the color of fabrics and metals. and  is rigged for Slink Hourglass, Belleza Freya and Maitreya Lara. The way how Salt created and formed her fabric is just awesome as it does make it look so realistic. The shape of the dress already screams vintage all over but the colors really underline that too. The outfit usually comes with a matching head-wrap too, but I wanted to use the amazing hat made by Tres Beau for this post.

The delicate veil and the amazing feathers as well as the “Betty” jewelry really caught my heart. I adore Kimmera Madison for years, not only because she is my sister, but as well for her incredible awesome skills of designing and texturing. Kimmera was the first who released the first Wedding Gown in SL, her brand Tres Beau is one of the oldest fashion brands in SL. When she started back in 2004, ther was not even an idea about flexies, scupties or even mesh… she started the hard way with pure system layers painted on the avatar itself and made her way through all the changes Second Life made about designing. You rarely find designers, that are still around and in business after such a long time and all the changes! To me that is something I highly respect – we all saw how many designers left Second Life, when mesh was invented.

Even if this post and style is something non usual for me, I do enjoy it immensely. Maybe you noticed, that I do not wear my regular “face” for this post. I decided since Wicca is not really an elegant person, that I would like to try the “Cate” head from LeLutka. Cate looked very young to me on the vendor, but after fooling around with skins, I was able to give her a ‘grand dame look’.

Clothing

Gown: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “Evelyn” (Maitreya) – NEW @ Vintage Fair 2019

Accessories

Hat: Tres Beau – “Featherd Pill Hat” – NEW @ Vintage Fair 2019

Veil: Tres Beau – “Veil White” – NEW @ Vintage Fair 2019

Jewelry: Tres Beau – “Betty” – NEW @ Vintage Fair 2019

Bracelet Right: Kunglers – “Elvira Combo Crystal”

Bracelet Left: Kunglers – “Misha Crystal”

Nailpolish: DP – Koffin Nails – “Flapper Fancy” (Maitreya Applier)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: KMH Hair – “F112” – NEW @ Vintage Fair 2019

Makeup: alaskametro<3 – “Soiree” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: Navzar – “Wild Lipstick Palette” (LeLutka Applier) – NEW @ Vintage Fair 2019

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Cate 3.3”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Skin: Navzar – “Ashley” (LeLutka / Maitreya Applier)

Poses & Props

Poses: Foxcity & WetCat

Perfume Flask (With Pose): WetCat – “Eau De Parfum’ Prop Set” (Bento) – NEW @ Vintage Fair 2019

Cigrette: +Dreamcatcher+ – “Cigarette with mouthpiece”

Lighter:  :BAMSE: – “Shabby Gifts – Golden Lighter” (Gacha)

Backdrop: Hive – “Simple Skybox”

Furniture:  DRD – “Gold Retreat Vanity”

Book & Birds: Serenity Style – “Bella Dreams – Magic Book” (Hunt Prize)

Hand Mirror: Serenity Style – “Bella – Broken Mirror”

Light: ::Static:: – “Vintage Lighting – 11 Desk Light” (Gacha)

Wallart: DRD – “Gold Retreat Wall Art – Protection – Gold”

Wallflowers: ChiC buildings – “Wallflowers Gold”

Flowers: ChiC buildings – “SEA Flower Art – Brass”

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin