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STORYLINE: In life, Giselle had danced for their applause. She had bathed in the warmth of stage lights and the shimmer of champagne dreams, believing—desperately—that their adoration was real. But now, as a ghost trailing through the damp alleys of the docklands, she saw the truth for what it was: brittle, cold, and gilded in lies.
She had only ever been a distraction. A beautiful puppet in pearls and powder.
Her search for love had led her to Gwendal.
Oh, Gwendal, ...the handsome towering brute with sea-soaked stories and rough hands that once handed her ruby earrings and silk gowns. In his shadowy world, he'd called her "his shining star."
But now, that world reeked of gunpowder that could explode at any moment.
Giselle floated through the curling fog and found him: broad shoulders hunched, loading heavy crates stenciled with the words DYNAMITE onto a carriage. His Havana cigar crackling with flames, hot ash dripping recklessly on the volatile cargo.
Then *she* appeared.
A pirate woman, radiant in her cruelty with a smile like a dagger's curve.
“Giselle is dead,” she said, casually, as if remarking on the weather.
Gwendal froze, cigar almost falling from his lips. “Dead?” The word hit him like a rogue wave.
For a flicker of a moment, Giselle dared to believe he cared. But then, the duo kissed, passionately.
Giselle’s spectral form recoiled as if burned.
“Now what?” the pirate woman huffed, breaking their embrace. “She was our favorite gossip. Who’s going to tell us when the spice ships are docking? Or which crates have the opium?”
“We’ll find someone else,” Gwendal grunted, lifting another crate. “We always do.”
Giselle hovered above them in stunned horror. "I wasn’t his beloved? I was his unwitting spy?"
She turned, fury and heartbreak trailing behind her like smoke. She had no time for that fraud. Those pirates were loathsome con-artists, but they didn’t kill her.
Someone else did.
Was it someone who didn’t like her whispering secrets into dangerous ears?
Giselle raced back to Le Rouge Noir. Her time was bleeding away. The Master of Ceremony’s clock was ticking, each chime louder than the last.
Someone inside that velvet tomb had murdered her.
And soon… she would know who.
She had only ever been a distraction. A beautiful puppet in pearls and powder.
Her search for love had led her to Gwendal.
Oh, Gwendal, ...the handsome towering brute with sea-soaked stories and rough hands that once handed her ruby earrings and silk gowns. In his shadowy world, he'd called her "his shining star."
But now, that world reeked of gunpowder that could explode at any moment.
Giselle floated through the curling fog and found him: broad shoulders hunched, loading heavy crates stenciled with the words DYNAMITE onto a carriage. His Havana cigar crackling with flames, hot ash dripping recklessly on the volatile cargo.
Then *she* appeared.
A pirate woman, radiant in her cruelty with a smile like a dagger's curve.
“Giselle is dead,” she said, casually, as if remarking on the weather.
Gwendal froze, cigar almost falling from his lips. “Dead?” The word hit him like a rogue wave.
For a flicker of a moment, Giselle dared to believe he cared. But then, the duo kissed, passionately.
Giselle’s spectral form recoiled as if burned.
“Now what?” the pirate woman huffed, breaking their embrace. “She was our favorite gossip. Who’s going to tell us when the spice ships are docking? Or which crates have the opium?”
“We’ll find someone else,” Gwendal grunted, lifting another crate. “We always do.”
Giselle hovered above them in stunned horror. "I wasn’t his beloved? I was his unwitting spy?"
She turned, fury and heartbreak trailing behind her like smoke. She had no time for that fraud. Those pirates were loathsome con-artists, but they didn’t kill her.
Someone else did.
Was it someone who didn’t like her whispering secrets into dangerous ears?
Giselle raced back to Le Rouge Noir. Her time was bleeding away. The Master of Ceremony’s clock was ticking, each chime louder than the last.
Someone inside that velvet tomb had murdered her.
And soon… she would know who.
Argh, there be trouble afoot. ...This post was inspired by the Aii Riftwind Mercenary complete outfit set. It comes with fits for men and women, and like other Aii creations, has an extensive texture hud with options to show and hide various elements. ...Gwendal's ZAO 124 hair is unconventional for a pirate, but somehow that "bratty little sister" vibe side ponytail totally works. ...His dark tribal makeup is Skara by Rubedo, and light brown animalistic eyes Kairos by Mana. ... The pirates' guns are Furiosa Fortuna gun is by FOE. It includes pose options, textures, different sizes, and is a fully scripted weapon. ...Akira as "Mats" is wearing Rosier's Rosetta Dress, paired with the Silvery K Steam Aether Boots. ...The crates and sticks of dynamite is by Static. ...And the very cool interactive Animesh Victorian Romance Horse & Carriag by Teegle, is totally drivable. Like other Teegle horses, it's fully animated as it waits patiently for you to board, occasionally giving you a side eye. The carriage comes in single color, or a fatpack to mix and match, and all versions let you change horse and tack textures. You can drive the carriage from the front sitting position, and carry passengers in the back. I love it. Its wonderful.
Makeup: Rubedo Skara, evox 06 [BOM](Engine Room)(240L)
Hair: ZAO 124 Hair m [mesh](Engine Room)(399L)
Hair: ZAO 124 Hair m [mesh](Engine Room)(399L)
Gun, pose: FOE x Furiosa Fortuna [mesh](Engine Room)
Eyes: Mana Kairos Eyes, Clear [BOM](Engine Room)(399L)
Cigar: Linden Labs Single Cigar Attachment, Male [mesh] (SL19B gift)
Eyepatch: C L A Vv. Simple Belted Eyepatch Black [mesh]
Head: LeLUTKA CAMDEN Evolution [mesh](3990L)
Body: TheShops [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)
Body: TheShops [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)
On Her, Mathilde (aka Mats):
Guest appearance: Akira Voorhees of The SL Chatterbox blog.
Dress: Rosier Rosetta Dress, Reborn, FAT[mesh](Engine Room)(1,050L)
Boots: Silvery K Steam Aether, Boots, Fat_REBORN[mesh](Engine Room)
Gun, pose: FOE x Furiosa Fortuna [mesh](Engine Room)
Pose: Reve Obscura *!R.O!* Bad Things BENTO Couple Pose (100L)
Crates: Static Boompowder Explosives[mesh](Engine Room)(350L)
Set: VARONIS Dayport Backdrop Scene [mesh](499L)
