Engine Room March 2024 – Part III

TUNES

Skepticism might keep you sane,
but it won’t necessarily keep you alive.

[- Mima Sawsaan, Carnival Row -]

When I was at the Engine Room event today to find my next look for a blog post, I came across that amazing outfit from CHANDRA. When I saw that, I immediately remembered that cool head, which BeSpoke released at the Warehouse Sale this round.
I have no clue why, but I instantly had a “Carnival Row Feeling” – you remember that show on Amazon Prime with Cara Delevingne and Orlando Bloom? When I found a sim called “Tirna-Nog” in Second Life, I just had to go that path for my picture today!

Lately you hear more and more about AI (Artificial Intelligence) used for artwork. I have to admit, I am not yet fully sold about that, if people create pictures only with AI and kinda just put words to get a full picture. Maybe I am too old to be convinced completely, or I do have a weird mind. Iam 46 years old – I guess it was 46 *laughs* – I learned to draw with pencils and colored pencils as a kid and it took me years to learn how to draw myself on a graphic tablet/monitor (… and I am still learning that). Maybe that is the reason why I can not yet allow myself andl my brain to think about art, if everything is just generated by words and no one ever touched it with any kind of pen, pencil, graphic pens or what ever you can hold in your hand to create something. Ok to be fair, a photographer is slightly different, but in the end he caught a situation with his own eye and camera in his hands as well *snickers* I hope you get what I mean 😉

What I found interesting after I forced myself to look more into AI, is that you do not have to create a complete ready made art piece with it, but you can enhance your work with it. That caught my interest. I am always looking for new tips, tricks and twists I can learn and use for my Second Life pictures.
Lately I was kinda depressed with taking pictures in SL. It felt all the same even if I tried to learn new techniques for Photoshop to enhance my pictures as even Second Life has it’s limits – especially with lights and shadows, movement or even sometimes with posing ot what you can get to set up a scenery.
You can add things you miss, you can correct minor issues, you even can enlarge a scenery if you took the wrong size to make the perfect picture… really interesting and as well exciting. If you miss a backdrop or a background you can kinda create parts of that. I tried to make a whole backdrop first as well but the way it does look like, I decided to not do that yet, as it was too far always from the look of a real Second Life environment and I do enjoy that still a lot. So I tried just to fool around with 2 birds – to be precise 2 crows – I wanted to add to my picture. It did take me quite a while, since I just started to play with it. I had to generate one crow like 50 times until I figured out what I had to put in to have it sit, no spread wings and facing the right direction. After a while I realized, that it does even pick up the lights I had put inworld already and since I wanted to change that a little too, I had to start over again after I worked all my lightning and shadows. I did not yet know how to safe the generated birds yet, so I started over new on those again. Then I wanted to darken the background a little bit and… DANG… the generated birds again looked wrong as they pick up parts of the background as well to fit in properly. Ok… deleting the birds again and get everything else right first *chuckles*.

It was the start of a learning process I really want to look into more, even if I do not want to fully work with AI and my avatar only – Second Life is way to pretty for that and so many amazing creators, designers and sim builders did (and do) put a hell lot of work into creating amazing places for us to be there and to create pictures.

Clothing

Outfit: +CHANDRA+ – “Lucca Outfit” (Reborn) – NEW @ Engine Room // March 2024

Accessories

Nails: V/. VoluptasVirtualis – “[Esbaa]” (Maitreya, Bento) – NEW @ Engine Room // March 2024

Head, Body & Tattoo

Head: BeSpoke – “Nature Spirit” – NEW @ The Warehouse Sale // March 2024
Eyes: REPULSE – “Post Mortem Eyes (Blind)” (BoM)
Body: eBODY – “REBORN v1.69.6”

Poses, Props & Tools

Pose (incl. Lantern & Keys): [piXit] – “Clementine Posepack + Props” – NEW @ Engine Room // March 2024

Location

Tirna-Nog

Model, Stylist & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

Halloween Nightmares 2023 – Part 3

TUNES

Dark bodies floating in darkness
No sign of light ever given
Imprisoned in a world without a memory

Unconscious or am I conscious?
Cut from the heart I am part of
Sometimes I feel as though I’m frozen in Heaven

[- Fear Factory -]
Clothing

Outfit: Pixicat – “Ukok” (Maitreya)

Accessories

Nails: Formanails – “Zombie Updated” (Maitreya, Bento)

Hair & Makeup

Hairbase: Mina – “”Myla Hairbase-2022 (black)” (LeL.EvoX BoM)
Scar: -Vermillion- – “X Face Cut (left)” (LeL.EvoX BoM)

Head, Body & Tattoo

Head: BeSpoke – “Murda” – NEW @ The Warehouse Sale // October 2023
Eyes: REPULSE – “Psychotic Eyes” (LeL.EvoX Applier)
Body: Maitreya – “Lara V5.3”
Tattoo Blood: Izzie’s – “Blood and Wounds medium (less)” (LeL.EvoX BoM)
Tattoo Dirt: Izzie’s – “Dirt & Mud (light)” (LeL.EvoX BoM)

Poses, Props & Tools

Pose: <Emozione> – “Creepy” (Bento, Edited – Store Closed)
Scenery: DRD – “Cemetery” (several parts of the pack)
Location: Bartertown

Model, Stylist & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

Miss Pennywise 2023

Clothing

Outfit & Balloons: S&P – “Miss Penny” (Maitreya) – NEW @ Satan Inc. // October 2023
Shoes: Wicca’s Originals – “Alannah Boots (Bloody” (Maitreya)

Accessories

Earrings: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Earring Mads all linked” (LeLUTKA EvoX female/human)
Ear Lobes: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Inazuma Plug” (LeLUTKA EvoX female/human)
Piercing (Nose): Wicca’s Originals – “Jadeon Piercing” + “Tegan Piercing Set” (unrigged)
Piercing (Mouth): LittleFish – “EziliV2” (Lel. EvoX, Avalon)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: [RA] – “Alice Hair”
Faceart: BeSpoke – “Clown Makeup” (LeL.EvoX BoM) – NEW @ The Dark Style Fair // October 2023

Head, Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLUTKA – “EvoX Avalon 3.1”
Face Tattoo: BodyArts – “Faceband Wicca” (LeL EvoX BoM, custom made – take a look at the “Vere Flores” or the “Fantasia Face Tattoo”)
Teeth: [CX] – “Strigoi’s Fangs – Silver Type.1 ( Size E / Wider )”
Body: Maitreya – “Lara V5.3”

Poses, Props & Tools

Backdrop: K&S – “Last Hope Harbor”

Model, Stylist & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

We Shouldn’t Fear Change Itself…

We Shouldn’t Fear Change Itself, But Only Who We Might Change Into.

[- Misty, Cyberpunk 2077 -]

Clothing

Bodysuit: A&Y – “Helix Cyber Suit” (Maitreya)

Gloves: A&Y – “Electra Cyber Gloves”  (Maitreya)

Shoes: Wicca’s Originals – “Neuron Boots (latex)” (Maitreya)

Accessories

Headset: .:Mea Tenebra:. – “Fremen”

Glasses: Astara – “Emo Tech Lens 1”

Face Implants: .{PSYCHO:Byts}. – “Cyberimplants Upper”

Collar: A&Y – “Helix Cyber Collar” (Maitreya)

Upper Legs: A&Y – “Neon Cyber Leg Boosters” (Maitreya)

Hair & Makeup

Hairbase: Hexed – “Neuromancer Hairbase – Silver” (BoM. LeL. EvoX)

Ears: Hexed – “Strange Ears Tattoo” (BoM. LeL. EvoX)

Eye Shadow: Rubedo – “haven full 08” (BoM. LeL. EvoX)

Head, Body & Tattoo

Head: BeSpoke – “Android Raven”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara V5.3”

Tattoo: Nefekalum – Galvanized 01 (Full) (BoM, Materials)

Poses, Props & Tools

Backdrop: .PALETO. – “Backdrop:.HIGH BASE”

Pose 1: Poseidon – “Hacker 4” (Bento)

Pose 2: Black Cats Creations – “Alien Monkey 2” (mirror)

Couch: DRD – “Xantis – Rounded Couch black”

Trashcan: DRD – “Xantis – Garbage can black”

Table: DRD – “Xantis – Round coffeetable – Black”

TV: DRD – “Xantis – TV Triangle”

Animals: Black Cats Creations – “Alien Monkey” (Part of the Pose Set)

Model, Stylist & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

Krampus 2022

Originally made for Christmas 2022 for the Attention Magazine, this is my dark vision of Christmas. In south Germany we have the tradition of the Krampus.

Krampus, in central European popular legend, a half-goat, half-demon monster that punishes misbehaving children at Christmastime.

He is the devilish companion of St. Nicholas. Krampus is believed to have originated in Germany, and his name derives from the German word Krampen, which means “claw.”

Krampus was thought to have been part of pagan rituals for the winter solstice. According to legend, he is the son of Hel, the Norse god of the underworld. With the spread of Christianity, Krampus became associated with Christmas—despite efforts by the Catholic church to ban him. The creature and St. Nicholas are said to arrive on the evening of December 5 (Krampusnacht; “Krampus Night”). While St. Nicholas rewards nice children by leaving presents, Krampus beats those who are naughty with branches and sticks. In some cases, he is said to eat them or take them to hell. On December 6, St. Nicholas Day, children awaken to find their gifts or nurse their injuries.

Clothing

Jacket: !gO! – “Wild Fur Coat XS”

Accessories

Hat: S&P – “Santa Baby Hat”
Shoulders: [NC] – “AmazonQ – Arm Spikes” (Gacha, Ultrarare)
Rings: L’Emporio – “*Under Pressure*” (Maitreya, Bento)

Head, Body & Tattoo

Head: BeSpoke – “Monster of Famine”
Body: Maitreya – “Lara V5.3”
Hands: {aii & ego} – “Demonic Touch” (Maitreya, Bento)

Poses, Props & Tools

Pose: selfmade

Backdrop: DRD – “Last Christmas Shop”
Globe: 22769 – “Snowglobe Santa” (Gacha, Rare)

Model, Stylist & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

But before the night is through…

TUNES

When you came in, the air went outAnd every shadow filled up with doubtI don’t know who you think you areBut before the night is throughI wanna do bad things with you

I’m the kind to sit up in his roomHeart sick and eyes filled up with blueI don’t know what you’ve done to meBut I know this much is trueI wanna do bad things with you, okay

When you came in the air went outAnd all those shadows there filled up with doubtI don’t know who you think you areBut before the night is throughI wanna do bad things with youI wanna do real bad things with you

I don’t know what you’ve done to meBut I know this much is trueI wanna do bad things with youI wanna do real bad things with you

[- Jace Everett -]
Clothing

Top: DRD – “Hellion Top/Hell” (Maitreya Petite)

Accessories

Piercing: SFU – “Atom Nose Set” (unrigged) – NEW @ Men ONLY // August 2022
Collar: ::GB:: – “Long Chain Collar Black / Silver” (Maitreya)
Hand Jewels: L’Emporio – “Amuletum Wicca” (Maitreya, Bento)
Nails: FORMANAILS – “Wela” (Maitreya, Bento)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: no.match – “No_Security (size 2)”
Eyeshadow: Glam Affair – “Smoky Makeup 01 F” (LeL. EvoX BoM)

Head, Body & Tattoo

Head: BeSpoke – “Werewolf Salem” – NEW @ The Warehouse Sale // August 2022
Teeth: [CX] – “Strigoi’s Fangs – Silver Type.1 ( Size E / Wider )”
Body: Maitreya – “Lara V5.3” + “Add-On Petite V1.1”
Tattoo: .:Vegas:. – “Togun ( Medium )” (LeL. EvoX BoM)

Poses, Props & Tools

Pose: Poseidon

Set:
HISA – “Floral Bouquet Vines – A – Burgundy”
HISA – “Floral Bouquet Vines – C – Burgundy”
HISA – “Grass – Bright Greens”
LB – “GiantCedar{Animated}*Seasons”

Model, Stylist & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

BeSpoke & Wicca’s Originals – First Collaboration!

Wicca’s Originals @ The Warehouse Sale // July 23rd – August 18th

When brilliant minds get together, brilliant things happen. That’s exactly what happened in the latest collab between Wicca’s Originals and BeSpoke! We’re beyond excited for you to check out our collaboration at the newest round of The Warehouse Sale!

The Chitinous Legs take inspiration from the insectoid world and is perfect for anyone looking to make a very unique avatar, be it for Roleplay or just to impress your friends!

The legs are rigged for Maitreya, Legacy (F/M), Gianni and Jake bodies + it is also 100% BOM compatible!.

Check it out now at the newest round of The Warehouse Sale!

 

“My heart will always belong to you.”

TUNES

Davy Jones’ final words to Calypso come when she asks him: “and what of your fate… Davy Jones?” Davy responds softly with, “My heart will always belong to you.” Davy fades away while Calypso smiles, showing genuine love between the two characters.

Lately I was watching the ‘Pirates of the Carribean’ series again and when I saw the new head from BeSpoke, I totally had to do a picture inspired by Davy Jones. Davy Jones even got his own theme song for the movies and I had to share that above in the tunes link. I was playing that kinda in circles when I did work on the picture. It so very well describes the 2 souls in Davy Jones chest. He once was a good man and had loving heart and in the end he full of anger and fury – I love how the song does reflect exactly that.

The amazing “Monster Cthulhu” head from BeSpoke you can find at the actual round of Engine Room. It does have neck sizes for male and female and all that amazing skin colors you know from BeSpoke. Engine Room is one of my favorite events during the year, as you can find so many different things for a steampunk or diesel – or aether punk styles and sceneries. I simply love that styles. The lovely coat I am wearing as well is available at the Engine Room. Toksik made this amazing ornamented and incredible textured long coat as their exclusive for the event. I does come with a huge color HUD. For my set I used new leases from Engine Room only, too, to show you what amazing backgrounds you can create 😉

The event is open until the 20th or April if you want to take a look by yourself – taxi is in the credits below, just click the “Engine Room” letters 🙂

Clothing

Outfit: toksik – “Debonair Coat” (Maitreya) – NEW @ Engine Room

Accessories

Hand Accessories: .Drastic.  – “Tentacle Jewelry”

Nails: L’Emporio&PL – “::*Tormento*::”(Maitreya, Bento)

Head, Body & Tattoo

Head: BeSpoke – “Monster Cthulhu – Head (female neck)” – NEW @ Engine Room

Eyes: Madame Noir – “Iceberg Eyes 1” (BoM)

Poses, Props & Tools

Pose: selfmade

Backdrop: Spires Society – “Lament of Innocence” – NEW @ Engine Room

Deco 1: -Jane&FInch-  – “Outer Satellite” – NEW @ Engine Room

Deco 2: (:ERG:) – “Water Tank ~Dreaming Fish~ (Large) v1” – NEW @ Engine Room

Deco 3: WLS – “STEAMPUNK AIRSHIP v1.0”- NEW @ Engine Room

Heart: CURELESS[+] – “Valentine’s Heart”

Model, Stylist & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

Ratpack @ The Roadhouse Bar

Ratpack @ The Roadhouse Bar

With ease and a practiced flick of her wrist, Snot flips the switchblade in her hand open and closed, over and over again. Slow at first, the action became a blur as she increased the speed. With a loud sniff, Snot wiped her nose on the back of her arm. Yes, that’s how she got her name.

Her eyes scanned the room, noting the position of every patron in the roadhouse bar. Rats, Mice, even a Squirrel or two sat at the makeshift tables and chairs they scavenged after the Apocalypse.

The Apocalypse – the day when the humans destroyed their own species and elevated others into higher forms of life. The Mice were the thinkers; the planners. The Rats, Snot’s ancestors, were the muscle; the heavy lifters. Squirrels were the scavengers; the trackers who found human items and made them useful again.

A couple Rabbits trolled the room for, well, what rabbits did the best. One spotted Snot and moved seductively across the room. It sidled up close to Snot and nuzzled her neck. With a sweep of her arm, Snot pushed the horny Rabbit away. The warning look she shot the Rabbit told it not to return again.

It’s not that Snot was against afternoon sex or cross species mingling, but she was on duty and took her responsibilities seriously. Especially today, when a contingency of Weasels was scheduled to arrive to meet with the local Mice leaders. Snot would not allow any distractions.

The survivors of the Apocalypse were determined not to make the same mistakes as the humans, but even in their un-evolved form, animals were also territorial and bloodthirsty.

Speaking of the devil, a pair of oily looking Ferrets stroll into the bar and survey the surroundings. Just like the Rats, the Ferrets were enforcers; bodyguards to the Weasels in their own little part of this messed up world.

Apparently satisfied with the room, they step back and hold the makeshift door open of Wartman, the leader of the Weasel encampment up north. Macro, the leader of Snot’s community, stands to greet the arriving leader.

Today was about peace, cooperation and trade. That didn’t mean Snot wasn’t prepared for trouble as her eyes continued to scan the room. It was the Rat’s nature to watch for danger. After all, they were all animals in one fashion of another.

The evolved species that developed from the human’s global devastation were determined to live together in peace. They would not follow in the footsteps of humanity and allow hatred and aggression to rule the Earth again.

Or with evolution, was human nature far behind?

THE END

Clothing

Top: Mug – “Punk Rocker – #1 Band Tee” (Maitreya Petite, Gacha, Rare)

Pants: DRD – “Slacker Pants/Light” (Maitreya)

Shoes: Semller – “Worn Canvas Hi Tops Festival Edt. Black” (Maitreya)

Accessories

Glasses: -[TWC]- – “Mistic Glasses -Black-” (unrigged)

Collar: *PKC* – Risque Collar – No Neck Lock” (unrigged)

Bracers: .:E.A.Studio:. – “KnothArm LeatherBlack” (Maitreya, Gacha, Rare)

Gloves: L’Emporio – “::*Fingerless Gloves” (Maitreya, Bento)

Nails & Rings: [CX] – “Essential Dirty Claws” (Maitreya, Bento)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: CUREMORE – “/ Punk Chic / Mowhawk / Fire” (Gacha, Common)

Head, Body & Tattoos

Head: BeSpoke – “Rodent Lou”

Skin: BeSpoke – “Rodent Skin – Lab Rat” (BoM)

Body: Maitreya – “Lara V5.3”

Tattoo: .:Vegas:. – “Tattoo ( Dark ) Essence” (BoM)

Poses, Props & Tools

Poses: Selfmade

Set: DRD – “Roady’s Biker Bar – Complete Set – PG”

Knife (incl. Animation): [CX] – “Mizu Occam’s Razor” (Bento)

Beer: BellePoses – “Beer 2” (out of the Jeh Pose Set)

Location: Bartertown

Story

Anne Daumig

Model, Photographer & Stylist

Wicca Merlin

Survival Of The Fittest

Survival Of The Fittest

To say the world has changed is an understatement of biblical proportion. Damn humans and their damn weapons. Good riddance to them all!

They thought theirs was the superior intellect. Sure, they harnessed nuclear weapons and developed biological warfare. Then they were stupid enough to combine the two and created the Apocalypse.

The global holocaust that followed eliminated 95% of the human population. The remaining survivors were not so lucky. Many died a very slow and very agonizing death. The rest, those immune to the manufactured biological agents were nothing more than mindless lumps with the mental acuity of a rock.

Another assumption the human race miscalculated was that cockroaches would be the only living creatures to survive the devastation. Oh, they survived and grew to the size of horses. What they did expect was us to endure – the Mice.

The humans underestimated our intelligence and our strength. Where their weapons wiped them off the face of the earth, the Mice were enhanced by them. We grew in size that exceeded the largest humans and our intelligence quotient far surpassed their most learned scholars.

We, the Mice, took control when the Apocalypse came. Not the way the human’s would when the strong bully the weak. No, the Mice organized the survivors, all the species of animals that did not fall. We gathered food, built shelters, tended the injured. Everyone was treated with fairness and compassion. Everyone has a job to do and no one is better or worse than their neighbor.

Our cousins, the Rats, also grew in size that slightly eclipsed the Mice, though their brainpans grew to a more moderate level. The Rats are the laborers in this new world – the muscle that carries out the jobs that require brute strength.

It’s no Utopia – the human’s arrogance saw to that. But the species that lived to tell the tale of the Human Apocalypse will not make the same mistakes. We learned. We adapted.

We are the future.

Clothing

Outfit: [The Forge] – “Aftermath” (Maitreya)

Shoes: Eudora3D – “Exie Boots” (Maitreya)

Accessories

Mohawk: [ rD ] – “Exodus Fauxhawk”

Glasses: -[TWC]- – “Mistic Glasses -Black-“

Bracers: [CX] – “Ruffian Armguards – Black” (Maitreya)

Rings & Nails: [CX] – “Creature Claws – Gold” (Maitreya, Bento)

Weapon: [The Forge] – “Anarchy Bat, Black”

Head, Body & Tattoo

Head: BeSpoke – “Rodent Carla”

Skin: BeSpoke – “Rodent Carla – Skin – Gray” (BoM)

Body: Maitreya – “Lara V5.3”

Poses, Props & Tools

Pose: myself

Set:

– Dirty Rat –  – “Bell Shelter”

[CD] – “Newhaven Utility Tower Se”

:FNY: Designs – “Refurbished Mannequins”

/sD/ – “Rust Buckets”

Story

Anne Daumig

Location

Bartertown

Model, Stylist & Photographer

Wicca Merlin