Cyber Fair: The Cybernetic Body Horror (Escape from Club Apophis, 37)

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STORYLINE:  The recovery room inside GIN AESTHETICA™ was a masterpiece of sterile vanity. It glowed with a predatory, flawless white light. Behind the sleek medical bed, a massive window framed the glittering nightscape of Neu Seoul, a city blissfully unaware of the monsters operating above it. Opposite the window, beside the sealed door, a narrow observation pane watched the room like an unblinking eye.

A smart wardrobe hummed in the corner. It projected a rotating hologram of complimentary Apophis ATELIER garments waiting for a newly sculpted client.

But the patient in the bed would not be wearing haute couture anytime soon.

Diagnostic holograms floated in the chilled air, casting a sickly cyan light over Kyra's ruined chassis. Her external cybernetic shell had been stripped away by the clinic staff. Shockingly little organic tissue remained. The entire upper casing of her skull was missing, exposing an intricate, sparking web of metal, silicon, and processing chips. Only her lower face and brain stem remained human.

She lay perfectly still in sleep mode beneath a canopy of glowing biometric displays.

MasterGin stood at the foot of the bed, his heel tapping an irritated rhythm against the floor as he read the diagnostics. His sheer white tunic rippled as he crossed his arms. His flawless face slowly twisted into a mask of absolute revulsion.

"No. Absolutely not," he huffed. "I am an artist. I compose in flesh. I refine. I elevate. I do not troubleshoot appliances."

Romance sat rigid in the visitor's chair. His knuckles were bone-white. "Your testimonials are full of disfigured people singing your praises. You claim you can fix anything."

The vampire let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Poor Bubblegum Relic." He stepped closer, tracing a perfectly manicured claw over the former idol’s throat. "Adorable. A demon like you, still believing in miracles." He fanned himself as if he were having a hot flash. "Delicious." A wicked glee lit his eyes, like a secret he could not wait to ruin. "I do not cut. I conquer."

Romance refused to be intimidated. He narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean, exactly?"

"Knives are for butchers. I prefer devotion."

Romance tilted his head, still not understanding.

MasterGin’s smile widened. "They always get the beauty they came for. That is the tragedy."

Romance’s eyes widened as the horrific truth clicked into place.

The vampire leaned in, his voice dropping to a theatrical, venomous whisper. "My blood is the miracle, Demon Dullard. I am an exceptionally rare vampire. I do not merely shapeshift. I force the shift. My blood flows into my clients and binds them to my will. It compels their fragile human cells to reshape, to elevate into the perfection of my design. They become my familiars, unable to disobey me. I mold them into gods. Or I melt them into puddles if they bore me. But this?"

He gestured dismissively at Kyra's exposed, synthetic brain casing.

"I do not sculpt gears. There is nothing here to seduce. No pulse to persuade. No flesh to betray itself. If it cannot ache, I cannot adore it."

"But I helped you. This whole time, you knew."

MasterGin pulled back to his full height, suddenly bored. "She is stabilized, yes. A few drops of vitae have halted her biological decay. You are welcome. But I cannot regrow what was never alive." He turned on his heels. "Get this scrap metal out of my pristine suite before it stains the floor."

The glowing white doors hissed shut behind him.

Romance covered his face with both hands. A ragged sob escaped his lips.

He had believed the lie. He had told himself that whatever else Monstrum was, the relief on those clients' faces in the advertisements was real. He had clung to the idea that some small good existed inside the machinery of this terrible occupation.

He lowered his hands and looked at the gleaming, empty room. It felt staged. Too bright. Too clean. There had never been anything behind the curtain. He had just handed them a massive propaganda victory, selling his enchanting curse to the cameras, for absolutely nothing. And somewhere out in the world, desperate people were still waiting for a miracle that would only enslave them.

He curled his fists. A deep, silent fury boiled in his chest.

He forced his hands to unclench. He smoothed his pink hair. He became the idol again.

Romance leaned over the bed. He retrieved a cursed energy chip branded with a devil heart logo from his pocket. He delicately pressed it into the port on Kyra's neck and switched her out of Sleep Mode.

The room filled with the soft whine of rebooting systems. Pistons clicked. Relays snapped inside her open skull. A faint heat rose from her exposed circuitry, carrying the sterile scent of warmed metal and ozone.

Kyra moaned, her voice fractured by digital static. "I can't see. Why can't I see?"

"It's just temporary," Romance whispered, taking her cold, heavy mechanical hand.

They both fell silent, terrified of what words might make real.

"Am I going to die?" she finally asked. Even through the static, the fear was plain.

"No," Romance said firmly. "I can see you will not. It is part of my power as a Saja. I know when a person's time is up."

Kyra’s grip tightened on his fingers. "Thank you for helping me. I'm not afraid when you are with me. I feel safe."

Romance’s heart cracked.

A sudden thump rattled the observation pane.

His head snapped up. Opposite the bed, beside the sealed door, the glass trembled under a double slap.

Lisa Liemawr stood on the other side, her hand leaving a smear of sewer grime on the pristine glass. Her jaw hung open. Her laser-focused eyes locked on the exposed, ruined state of her best friend. Absolute, devastating guilt carved itself across the reporter's face.

Romance was on his feet in an instant, one hand raised in sharp warning. "Go!" he mouthed silently, his eyes wide. "Are you crazy?"

Lisa shook her head. She refused.

Lisa Liemawr filmed everything. She never looked away from a story. But now she was standing entirely still, not documenting, not performing for followers, just staring in pure horror. Kyra, her longtime best friend, lay with her skull open to the world.

Behind Lisa, the rest of the students caught up. Plague, Kyle, Ghost, and Echo crowded into the corridor. Minjo stepped to the front.

Down the hall, the sharp, angry voice of MasterGin echoed off the marble. He was screaming at Nurse Paine, stripping her of her rank and demoting her to guard duty. They were coming back.

Romance locked eyes with Minjo. He pointed sharply down the corridor. "GO!" he mouthed again.

Minjo gave Romance one sharp, definitive nod and signaled to the team to scatter.

Lisa still refused to move. Plague grabbed the struggling reporter by the waist, lifting her entirely off her feet. Lisa kicked and twisted, tears streaking through the grime on her face as Plague dragged her out of sight into an adjacent room. They vanished just before the shadow of MasterGin fell across the far end of the hall.

The hallway emptied. Romance exhaled a shaky breath and sat back down beside the crisp white bed.

"Is something wrong?" Kyra asked, her optic sensors still dark. "What is going on?"

"MasterGin might be returning to discuss your options," Romance said, pitching his voice loud enough to mask any lingering sounds from the corridor. "He has a reputation as a miracle worker. However."

"Yes?" she prompted softly.

"He said you need a mechanic. There is not enough flesh for him to work with."

"Oh." Kyra’s heavy shoulders slumped. "So you were wrong. He can't restore my body."

"I was wrong," Romance admitted, the words tasting like poison. "But the good news is you are stabilized. You are not in immediate danger. We have options."

Kyra’s internal processors whirred loudly. He could hear her mind working through the panic. "Tell me the options," she said quietly.

Romance pulled his chair to the edge of the bed, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"First, you can let go. You can let your systems power down and pass on peacefully."

Kyra shook her head slightly.

"Second, I can permanently convert your cybernetics to run on the cursed energy of the Forbidden Zone. You would live, but you could never leave this place. You would be trapped here forever."

He paused, his golden eyes glowing in the dim light. He looked at the shimmering, infinite lifeline hovering faintly above her exposed mechanical brain.

"Third," he whispered. "You can make a deal with me, right here, right now. Exchange your soul for a new existence." He paused, looking at her destroyed body. "Recover what was lost by becoming a Jeoseung Saja. Like me. You would never age. And I would never have to be lonely again."

Kyra processed the weight of the offer.

"Is there anything else?" she asked, her voice trembling with static.

Romance closed his eyes. He remembered her life opening to him as she lay dying in the debris pile. Memories of incredible athleticism, helpfulness, and a fierce will to survive. She was perfect. He told himself that was the only reason the thought had crossed his mind.

"Yes. I am running a ratline. I can smuggle you out of the Zone entirely. We can find a human cybernetics doctor. Someone who can actually rebuild you. But you would have to leave immediately, and there is no guarantee you would be free. MasterGin has laid a claim on you. There is something in your system now that was not there before. His vitae stabilized you, but it is not neutral. It could be a complication."

The diagnostic holograms above the bed pulsed in the quiet room.

"Tell me what you want to do," Romance said, waiting in the glittering, sterile light.

Can you tell the story finale is looming or what?  Cyber Fair is also ending on the 23, so hurry over and check out all the wonderful items and sales before it ends.   Kyra is wearing amazingly crafted Nyx outfit by Lanevo which includes bodysuit, gloves for each hand separately, jacket, shorts, and boots. The boots also replace the mesh leg to create the "muffin top" squished flesh look under the straps and laces. ts uses BOM to match your body skin automatically. Very cool effect. Each piece is sold separately and has a fatpack of color options.   ...The drama exposed cyborg skull is by NK, Heavy Netrunner Implant. It includes a tattoo layer for the EVOX heads and alpha.   ...The giant claw hand is by Seka's, the GearHead Glove. I used the fatpack color options to stick to the Jae Won University's theme colors of red, black, and white.   ...The black lip makeup is by Other Faces for EvoX heads.   ...And the background, wow. This set is amazing. Crisp glossy whites. The set pack includes vanity, wardrobe, bed, ceiling/floors, and walls pieces to build your layout however you wish. Corners, window, long window, and straight. The wardrobe includes clothing for men and women and also animated poses for both.  The bed includes poses also, and options for PG or adult.

On her, Kyra:
Bodysuit: LANEVO - Nyx Bodysuit (Fatpack)[mesh](Cyber Fair)(885L)
Jacket: LANEVO - Nyx Jacket (Fatpack)[mesh](Cyber Fair)(885L)
Gloves: LANEVO - Nyx Gloves (Fatpack)[mesh](Cyber Fair)(660L)
Shorts: LANEVO - Nyx Pants (Fatpack)[mesh](Cyber Fair)(660L)
Boots: LANEVO - Nyx Boots (Fatpack)[mesh](Cyber Fair)(885L)
Skull, tattoo: NK - Heavy Netrunner Implant - VIP (PBR)[mesh](Cyber Fair)(750L)
Glove: SEKA's - GearHead Glove, fatpack [mesh](Cyber Fair)(999L)
Lips: OTHER FACES - Cyber Lips #Concrete [BOM](Cyber Fair)(199L)
Jaw: Evil Baby - Jaws - Accessory [mesh]
Head, eyes: LeLUTKA - lel EvoX LILLY 3.1 [mesh](3990L)
Body: Maitreya - Mesh Body Lara [mesh](2750L)

Pose: yzk - mens pose 4 hero5

Setting:
Furniture, Room: Erfe Design - Gora Bedroom Set Adult, Fatpack [mesh](Cyber Fair)(3490L)


BONUS IMAGES: inworld raw shots, hi-res, midday sky:

Cyber Fair: The Entropy Engine (Escape from Club Apophis, 34)

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STORYLINE:  The air had changed. Nurse Paine noticed the shift the way a surgeon feels a patient crashing. It was not a sound. It was a pressure. A wrongness in the molecules. MasterGin was somewhere in the building. The clinic grew tense around his presence. The air smelled too heavily of expensive perfume. The immaculate floors felt like ice. Every sterile corridor was listening.

She did not hurry. Hurrying was for people who could afford to be seen trying. Nurse Paine did nothing quickly. Not even betrayal.

Her halo-phone glowed in her palm. She tapped the screen with surgical precision.

Sorry to bother you, Master.

The Tailor is undecided about the ritual garment for Jihoon.

He fears displeasing you. Might you inspect it personally?

Send.

A lie stitched with perfect etiquette. MasterGin loved beauty. He loved craftsmanship. He loved being admired. He would come. And while the god of vanity obsessed over silk, Nurse Paine would commit treason.

She reached the sealed maintenance hatch deep below the clinic. She unhooked her gold serpent brooch and pressed the metal to the optical reader. The heavy door hissed. It unlocked the passage to the sewer.

On the other side, the team of filthy students practically collapsed into her.

Ghost had been mid-hack on the exterior keypad. He yelped and jumped backward. His tools clattered loudly across the wet stone.

Paine offered a sweet, dead-eyed smile. "Welcome to GIN AESTHETICA™."

"You bitch!" Minjo lunged blindly at the white-coated figure. "I would know your stench anywhere! You drugged me! You kidnapped Jihoon!"

Plague caught Minjo around the waist. He hauled her back before she could tear the nurse's throat out. The struggle was silent but volcanic.

Paine did not flinch. She lifted the edge of her pristine coat just enough to reveal the serrated chrome of a bone saw and a glowing syringe of paralytic neurotoxin.

"If I intended to harm you," she said softly, "you would not have made it this far." Her eyes flicked down the dark corridor behind them, calculating the shadows. "I do not have time for this. If you want Yoon Jihoon back, follow me. Make no sound. Touch nothing. Or we are all dead."

She turned and walked away.

The Team hesitated. Suspicion moved through them like a cold river current.

Lisa darted in front of Paine. She planted herself in the corridor like a barricade. "Why are you helping us?"

Paine tried to brush past her.

Lisa raised one finger. "Answer our questions or I start screaming. Trust me. I have influencer lungs. I can hit frequencies that shatter glass and summon security."

"Go ahead and scream," Paine replied. "The soundproofing here is excellent. I had it installed myself."

"Okay then. Here goes." Lisa inhaled deeply. She prepared to let out the full force of her voice.

Paine stopped walking.

Lisa smiled sweetly. "Much better. I'm Lisa Liemawr of the Hexa Herald. Reporter. Survivor. Professional chaos correspondent. Now why exactly should we trust the nurse with a bone saw and serial killer energy?"

Paine's eyes moved to Lisa. It was the flat assessment of someone deciding whether a specimen was worth the formaldehyde jar.

"Because he replaced me." The words landed heavy and bitter. Paine’s gaze shifted to the approaching elevator doors. "I helped build this place. Lead the Children of Apophis. My devotion to Master Ginerva was absolute. Then the Lost One arrived. Suddenly he is the masterpiece. The obsession. And I am reduced to grunt work. I want him gone." 

Kyle took in the tunnels with a security guard's eye. Posh. Immaculate. They were a jarring contrast to the decaying, foul-smelling sewers they had just escaped.

His deep voice cut the tension. "Where are you taking us?"

Paine moved forward. "These are the VIP corridors. They are safe. They connect to the Presidential Blue House and Yeouido’s financial towers. Only human clients are permitted to access this sector."

"No Monstrum?" Kyle raised a brow. His voice was edged with heavy suspicion.

"No," she replied. She picked up her pace and checked her silver halowatch. "The powerful invest in miracles. Not nightmares."

Minjo’s jaw tightened. "Humans only. Meaning you are still human. Able to go where the vampires can't." She began to follow Paine, firing her questions like daggers. "You planted those bugs and devices in Jihoon’s dorm. You were the one behind the Black Snakeskin Box."

Paine spun around and sneered. "You are wasting time you do not have."

She turned and walked faster than should have been possible in couture heels. She disappeared into an obsidian elevator.

The team rushed inside after her. When the elevator doors parted again, they were greeted by a pair of brushed gold cathedral doors. The metal slid open soundlessly. The air beyond was immediately cooler and heavier. It felt as if the room itself had lungs.

They stepped into The Museum of Catastrophes.

An oppressive, deep hum ruled the circular, domed chamber. It sounded similar to the barrier protecting the border of the Forbidden Zone, but the frequency was much stronger here. A low vibration pulsed through the glass floor beneath their boots. It rattled their teeth. Around the chamber’s perimeter, illuminated holograms endlessly repeated historic disasters, displayed like priceless, curated jewelry.

The team slowly entered. The air smelled faintly metallic, like a lightning strike trapped in glass. Plague turned in a slow circle, staring at the vivid, looping tragedies.

"Okay," he whispered. "So we have the burning of the Library of Alexandria." He pointed at one glowing display, then another. "The Titanic snapping like a glow stick. A mushroom cloud blooming over Hiroshima."

He swallowed hard. "Guys."

No one answered.

"Guys, this is exactly like the movie Aliens. Exactly. Like when Ripley realizes she just walked into the Queen’s egg chamber."

Silence.

"For the record, I voted we stay in the sewer." Plague gulped and looked around the terrifying room.

Suddenly, a sharp chime pierced the chamber. It was Paine’s halo-phone. She went completely rigid.

MasterGin’s voice slid through the speaker. It was sharp and highly irritated. "Where is the Damascus silk? It was to arrive two days ago."

Her ruse had backfired. She angled her body away from the team. Her voice dropped to a state of professional calm.

"My apologies, Master. I will investigate at once."

"Do so. The ceremony must not be delayed." The line went dead. Paine shot the students one hard, genuinely panicked look. "Do not move," she mouthed. She vanished through a dark side corridor, leaving them alone.

Ghost snapped his fingers for their attention. He pointed his dimmed halo-wrist light toward the perimeter of the room. Six vertical stasis pods lined the curved walls. They glowed softly. The seventh pod stood dark. Above each pod pulsed a name and a date, flashing in perfect time with the heartbeat of the chamber.

Sister Hana. April 13, 2029. Jeju Island. Sister Mireille. April 13, 2029. Jeju Island.

Ghost blinked. He rapidly tapped on his halo glove, projecting the glowing blue text into the air. "Same birthdate."

Echo's hand flew up to cover her mouth. She already knew which pod would be dark. She did not make a single sound as she read the glass.

Sister Sophia. Missing.

Further inside the room, Minjo stood transfixed by the displays. Because she had lost her glasses in the sewer, she had to lean in close. Her face was lit by the ghostly glow, mere inches from a repeating hologram of a sinking ocean liner. "This is not archival footage," she whispered, her breath shallow. "They are extractions. Time files." She reached out and touched the cold edge of the glass casing. “And these displays? Chronal Resonance Viewers."

The holograms pulsed with sickening rhythm. From each looping disaster, thin filaments of anti-light throbbed beneath the glass floor. The strange shadows actively consumed the surrounding glow. They left only the faint memory of light at their edges, behaving exactly like miniature black holes.

She squinted hard, trying to follow the eerie, bisected light tracing across the floor. "This power. It's not energy born from creation. It is born from destruction. They are extracting it," Minjo said. Her voice dropped into a clinical, terrified cadence.

"Oh!” Echo blurted out. “Like Jihoon’s theory about the Black Snakeskin Box?"

"Yes,” Minjo gestured to the vast chamber. "It is horrifyingly genius. Disasters throughout time, focused into one place like a solar array from hell. This entire room is the Entropy Engine."

The anti-light raced in a mathematical spiral. It converged in a tightening whirlwind toward the beating heart of the room.

"Hey, Dragonlets." Lisa pointed upward, her voice entirely losing its usual commercial gloss. "Is that Apophis?"

A vast projection dominated the domed ceiling. It showed a massive celestial body skimming the Earth's atmosphere. Satellites fell from orbit like burning embers. Northern lights circled the globe on fire.

Plague's eyes widened. "It was almost directly over Jeju Island during its closest approach."

"Wait," Plague whispered, taking a step forward. "Jihoon’s gamer tag was Meteor Strike." He rubbed his arms as goosebumps rose on his neck. "He never did tell us when his birthday was."

Drawn by the hypnotic pulse of the anti-light, the team approached the central dais.

At the focal point of the exhibit, someone reclined across a luxurious, serpent-shaped chaise lounge.

At first, they thought it was a marble statue.

The sleeping figure lay perfectly still. He was draped in flowing ceremonial white. His limbs were arranged with deliberate, artistic grace. Silver hair spilled across the velvet cushions like molten metal.

He was beautiful. Far too beautiful.

A brass placard glowed gently beneath the dais.

Echo leaned closer to read it. Her voice faltered immediately.

"Lathandro Ginerva. April 13, 2029. East China Sea, off Jeju Island."

Absolute silence fell across the chamber.

Kyle stopped breathing.

Minjo stumbled backward, her hands flying to her head. "No," she whispered. "No. No. No."

High above the dais, coiled in the slow silence of the ceiling projection, something vast moved in the dark. It was not a shadow. It was not smoke. It was the outline of something ancient. It was ringed in stolen anti-light. Its attention was fixed on the sleeping figure below, possessing the terrifying, absolute stillness of a predator that had already won.

Spooky! Thanks to everyone who has stayed with me. We are racing towards to the end of this gothic cyberpunk horror.... Ready for more Cyberpunk? Yes? Then hop on your hover bike, it's Cyber Fair time!  

For this post, we get to peek into setting from my ongoing series, the VIP Tunnels of GIN AESTHETICA™ with our tour guide, Nurse Paine. ... The wonderful "007" Sky Tower Building 1 is by Amebic. It has built in lighting, sliding glass doors, and is able to stack, connecting passageways between skyboxes. I used 4 connecting boxes for my image. Love that! ...Nurse Paine is wearing the dramatic and elegant Tamesis hair by Limerence. The side of the hair has a led glowing effect thats pretty cool. I love the long braids too. You can purchase texture packs for more colors, and tint in the hair hud. For my image, I used a white texture and added a slight gold tint match her hair color used in a past post. ...Paine has doubled up on face masks, because you can never be too safe. *snorts*. The lower layer is the most beautiful Face BOM cyber mask I have ever seen, Tactical Cyber Mask by Guapa. You almost don't even notice the lips are not behind a mask! It's a great illusion! I used the Blue version from the Fatpack. ...The upper mask is the Tusk Metal Mask by VERBOTEN. It has animated LED textures, and a texture hud. It's mod, so you can move it around. I turned off the text that said "Tusk" in the edit menu. ...Paine's eyes are the S H I M M set one turquoise eyes, they worked perfectly. They come in BOM or Lelutka eye applier. ...The sporty Xenu outfit by Error worked great as cyberpunk Nurse outfit! It has a hud to change its colors and the animated LED colors. ...The fun Cyber Haute Couture shoes are Ruchell 's Lux Heels. (see image below). The sole has a rotating Diamond hologram, fabric is Hexagon, and has a LED glow too. It's just too fun. Has a texture hud also. ...Other items I used, the Effervescence Miranda Gloves for that nurse latex glow look, the Hexclave Snake Tie Pin as Paine's VIP badge, its a gift on the marketplace. From BluPrintz is the DataPad doubling as a halo phone. I used the Voglia ELEKTRA Skin once more for Paine to keep her consistent. Pose by Yzk.

On her, Nurse Paine:

Hair: Limerence - Tamesis hair [mesh](Cyber Fair)(990L)

Outfit: Error - xena set - legacy  [mesh](Cyber Fair)(199L)

Mask object: VERBOTEN - Tusk Metal Mask [mesh](Cyber Fair)(300L)

Mask tattoo: Guapa - Tactical Cyber Mask For Lelutka Evox, fatpack [BOM](Cyber Fair)(499L)

Eyes: S H I M M - CYBER XIII BONUS [BOM](Cyber Fair)(288L)

Shoes: Ruchell - Lux Heels [mesh](Cyber Fair)(349L)

Gloves: Effervescence - EF Miranda Gloves - MEGAPACK - Legacy [mesh]

Brooch: HEXCLAVE - Snake Tie Pin [mesh](gift)

Syringe, bone saw: CABALPIER - Mad Doctor's Equipment - Bundle [mesh]

Halophone: BluPrintz - BP - Data Pad [mesh]

Skin: VOGLIA - ELEKTRA Skin, EvoX, Icy With Brows [BOM]

Head, eyes: LeLUTKA - RAVEN 4.0 [mesh](3990L)

Body: TheShops - Legacy (f) Special Edition (Basic) 1.2 [mesh]

Pose: yzk - mens pose2 - 5

Setting:

Skybox: ambice - "007" Sky Tower Building 1 [mesh](Cyber Fair)(899L)

BONUS IMAGES: inworld raw shots, hi-res, midday sky:

Midnight Order: The Hunt (Escape from Club Apophis, 13)

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STORYLINE: The humid air in Lisa Liemawr's apartment smelled of desperation and two-day-old noodles. She didn't have the energy to fight the funk, only to shove the carton toward Happy, the DinoDog chomping with a gusto that made the sad leftovers sound like gourmet. Loyal bio-constructs like DinoDog don’t complain. Her own complaints were scattered across the room, a silent collection of failures.

By the window, the light snagged on a frame: a hospital snapshot. A girl bandaged in gauze, bruises blooming under tape. A brand-new cyborg arm, not a replacement but a monument, wired to a drip. A baby DinoDog curled in her lap. That girl's fearless grin wasn't just a smile, it was the triumphant sneer of someone who'd just been reforged in wreckage. That girl smiled like she’d beaten the world. Lisa now… wore a different smile. The kind you put on so no one sees the cracks.

She spun her chair toward the corner, the worn casters groaning on the floorboards. Seven avatars stood in neat rows, a catacomb of her former fame. Their chrome limbs, once polished to a dazzling, poreless sheen, were now dulled. Their led lights, meant to glow like life-affirming halos, blinked like faint heart monitors. Each avatar was a flawless, dazzling version of herself, -- the face the world knew. But the real Lisa sat here, a woman with a plain face and a body that was more wire than flesh, commanding her bot army from the safety of her apartment.

Across the room, her halophone pulsed a fever-hot red. It wasn't just collection notices; it was a digital scream. Court summons, lawyers circling like vultures, all threatening the one thing she needed to survive: the power to run her army of avatars and drones. Her once-celebrated swarm was now an expensive liability, a tomb she couldn't afford to maintain.

And looking very much like a prop torn from a crime drama, was an evidence board sagging with glossy faces and glossy lies. At the center: Dr. Ginevra. White lab coat, immaculate. The miracle sculptor, promising to turn scars into perfection, disasters into pageant winners. Surrounding him, a constellation of his work: presidents with camera-ready jaws, idols with skin too flawless for pores, athletes carved like marble.

And then ...Yoon Jihoon.

On the left: a smudged “before,” a boy who looked like the air had given up noticing him. On the right: an “after” so dazzling the lens adored him. Taller, sharper, radiant with effortless charm. Kyra the cheerleader clung to him in the photo, lips pressed against his cheek while cameras gasped with delight.

And below that: Jihoon engulfed mid-combustion. A human torch, running like a stuntman through flames.

Across it all, Lisa’s hand had scrawled one word in fat red marker: SUS.

The phone buzzed. Caller ID: GIN AESTHETICA™

Lisa let it ring twice, then scooped it up. “Liemawr here. If this is about my extended warranty, you’re already too late. I expired years ago.”

“Neither of us desires this call,” came a silken, disdainful purr. The voice dripped condescension, velvet lined with razors. “So let us keep it mercifully brief. Your reach is… adequate. Let’s put it to proper use. Yoon Jihoon. Ruin him.”

Lisa’s tracer program flickered awake on instinct. A halo of code shimmered across her smart lens. She leaned back, grin tugging at her lips, a bloodhound catching scent.

“Ohhh, really? The poor guy spontaneously combusts in the middle of his debut glory, and you want me to kick him while he’s, ...what? Medium rare?”

“Not kick, my dear.” MasterGin’s tone slipped lower, decadent, theatrical. “Discredit.”

A hologram bloomed across Lisa’s vision, chasing the call.

“Expose him as a fraud. A slow, delicious public execution. You know the menu. The standard ingredients: DNA hacking, black-market augments… a perfect recipe for expulsion and ostracism. Your cheerleader accomplice can assist as an eyewitness to his shameful pursuit for fame at any cost.”

The tracer pulsed. Once. Twice. Code flared like heat-lightning across her digital vision, and for a moment, her grin faltered. The signal wasn't bouncing off some anonymous offshore server farm. The signal drove straight down, punching through the city's foundations like a nail into bone, to a place no one was supposed to be. One hundred fifty meters beneath the earth, into the festering heart of the Forbidden Zone. A place of rumor and rot, where the air itself was a whisper of plague. This wasn't arrogance; it was a declaration. Gin wasn't a surgeon, he was a god ruling an underworld. Lisa's finger flew to her console, saving the trace with a single, furious tap.

“Odd obsession, Doctor," she licked her lips, eyes narrowing. "You’re the world’s most fabulous scalpel-slinger, and you pick a broke kid as your pet project? Trademarked his body like a sneaker brand: ‘Lathandro™,’ mole on the ass and all. And then, poof, up he goes in flames the moment the cameras adored him. Suspicious doesn’t even cover it.”

A pause. Then a low, rolling laugh oozed through the line, theatrical and venomous. “Truth is fragile, Miss Lisa Lies More." he chuckled, satisfied with his little joke. "Outrageous lies, however, they’re what gets you eyeballs. Now, be a darling and do as instructed, if you want the lawsuit to disappear.”

Click.

The silence was absolute. She exhaled slowly and swiveled toward the board. Jihoon’s face stared back at her through the flames.

For years, this apartment had been her command center, her sanctuary, her cocoon. The world knew the flawless Lisa, the avatar she broadcast, never the one who sat in a creaking chair. But this wasn't a game she could win from a distance. She grabbed her old visor, scarred and scratched, buckled on the belt with her forgotten blade.

Happy’s tail thumped against the wall, sensing her rising pulse.

The Forbidden Zone shimmered on the horizon, its neon bleeding red like a wound that refused to close. For the first time in years, she was going out into the field, putting the real Lisa at risk. And she was not afraid.

She patted Happy’s head, her grin wide and defiant. “Let’s go get him.”

I hope you guys are loving the ongoing story and coolness from the overwhelmingly awesome Midnight Order round, ending soon. The big feature here is the brilliant Desert Nomad avatar by Logo. They are known for thier mesh heads, but this a complete avatar and I am loving it! The head is basic, but if you own any of the Logo hud and addons you can upload those into this avatar. The shape is editable, and clothing textures have a hud or colors to pick from in a desert style palette. I hope there are more awesome compelete avatars in the future by Logo!   Adding unsettling look, is the black Mortuvia Eyes by Hellbourne.   ...How about that DinoDog! He is an adorable animesh with multiple animation built into him. You get a fatpack to change his textures, or buy a single color.   ...Lisa's weapon another gorgeous Sword by FOE. This set comes with long sword and dagger. Includes texture hud to customize its look, and has all the good stuff programed into it, not just drawing and sheathing, but many poses for the sword too.   ...The Vintage Billboard by Dirty Rat is so much fun. It has a retro vibe that works well for Fallout like wastelands as well as retro 50s Americana. It includes lighting projectors and built in reflection probe for PBR textures, but also includes a non PBR version.

On her, Lisa Liemawr:

Complete Avatar: LOGO Desert Nomad [mesh](Midnight Order)(1999L)

Weapons: FOE x Decree Dagger, Dominion Longsword & Sheath [mesh](Midnight Order)(699L)

Eyes: Hellbourne Mortuvia Eyes, White (NoPupil)[BOM](Midnight Order)(299L)

Pose: yzk mens pose 4 hero1

Setting:

Billboard: Dirty Rat Vintage Billboard w/probe [PBR][mesh](Midnight Order)(375L)

Pet: Aardvark Wyrmlings Animesh - Earth Claw [animesh](Midnight Order)(399L)

Location:

MOTHERLAND // Social Hangout + Sandbox

BONUS IMAGES: inworld raw shots, hi-res, midday sky : Nomad avatar shown without helmet.

 

Engine Room : The Celestial Mafia, part 2

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STORYLINE: J had a baffling nature. Both beautiful and deadly. "You must be desperate to call me," J sneered. "So who do I end?" ...."No," K replied in a grave tone, "You misunderstand my intentions. People are disappearing from New London. It was just a few at first, nothing to worry about. But the missing are now increasing at an alarming rate. None of the other crewheads came back. Go investigate, and stop it immediately. Use any means necessary." 

How are you guys liking the manga/comic format so far?  From current round of the Engine Room is the the sleek shiny Domentor jacket, vest and top by Jey's. The wings by Petrichor are animated and come in several sizes, and even a nonrigged version. The claw gloves are by Wicca Originals, and since they are mod, I hid the upper part under the jacket. This cool anime style hairstyle is by Zao is called Two Hair. The setting has elements and stars from the Bibliotheca Noctis skybox by the Spires Society.  I have to make an embarrassing confession here, I didn't realize the skybox hadn't fully rezzed out when the pictures were taken. Once I realized my error, I did a reshoot but I liked the original better, so I just went with it!

On Him, Mr J:
Wings: Petrichor :[P]:- Markvaine Wings [mesh](Engine Room)(699L)
Jacket: JEYS DOMENTOR2-/Z-SUIT[LEGACY] [mesh](Engine Room)(299L)
Hair: ZAO +Two Hair [mesh](Engine Room)(366L)
Gloves: Wicca's Originals Tilcott Arm Legacy, Male [mesh](Engine Room)(399L)
Earring: Badwolf  Batwings Earrings, Evo [mesh]
Pants: toksik Remnant Pants Legacy M, Black [mesh](240L)
Head: LeLUTKA Kane Evolution 3.1 [mesh](3990L)
Pose: yzk mens pose2-1

Setting:
Skybox: Spires Society x Toksik - Bibliotheca Noctis [mesh](Engine Room)(2000L)

Thanks for your help, Aarya!

Necrotize: Grover's Mill 1938

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STORYLINE: Grover's Mill, New Jersey, 1938. Site of the Martian Landing in the Radio Broadcast of the War of the Worlds. ...Or was it? One little Trick or Treater will never tell, he was just visiting on the best day of the year to blend in with the human population

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! This year has been a strange one, very fitting my "costume" this year is a cute Grey Alien by Hotdog at the Necrotize event. The Halloween goodies and gifts are by Circa, Schadenfreude, and Vespertine. 

On Him, the Grey Alien Tourist:
Head, eyes, skin: Hotdog Alien head Bento Silver [mesh](Necrotize)(250L)
Bucket: Schadenfreude lavendar Treat Bucket, 2020 [mesh](Panic Pumpkin)(gift)
Coat: Hotdog Tailcoat White [mesh](350L)
Pants: Artificial Hallucination AH+ Nightwalker Pants low boots Jake [mesh](350L)
Boots: Gabriel GB Cyber Boots Silver Elysion, gacha  [mesh](75L)
Backpack: GALLACTIC Jetpack grey [mesh](295L)
Weapon: GALLACTIC Ray Gun grey 1 [mesh](295L)
Headband: Aux Devilish - Headband - Black [mesh]
Body: Belleza Jake 2.0 Bento Mesh Body  [mesh](2999L)
Pose: sakupose+ yzk mens pose 4 hero7 (70L)

Setting:

Treats: Circa "Spooky Delights" 3-Tier Cupcake Stand - Black LI:4 [mesh]
Treats: Circa "Spooky Delights" 3-Tier Cupcake Stand - White LI:4 [mesh]
Treats: Circa "Spooky Delights" Ghost Meringue Platter -Org (Giver) LI:3 [mesh]
Treats: Circa "Spooky Delights" Ghost Meringue Platter -Vio (Giver) LI:3 [mesh]
Treats: Circa "Spooky Delights" Multi Cookie Stand - Black LI:5 [mesh]

Bucket: Circa "DarkMoon Manor" Oval Pumpkin Bucket LI:9 [mesh] (Shop & Hop)

Lantern: Circa "Thornhill" Lantern Hook w/ Deco - Bats - Black (L) LI:6 [mesh] (Shop & Hop)

Tree: Circa "Haunted Hill" Gnarly Tree - Electrified  Prize '20 LI:9 [mesh] (Scary Halloween Hunt)

Wagon: dust bunny & tenshi pumpkin wagon, autumn harvest gacha LI:4 [mesh](50L)

House: dust bunny wildrose manor LI:124 [mesh](600L)

Truck: Consignment [Con.] Stepside Pick-up - HUD - Yellow [mesh](75L)

Hay: 22769 Hay Bale with blanket LI:2 [mesh]
Bucket: Schadenfreude (bone) Treat Bucket, 2020 [mesh](gift)
Bucket: Schadenfreude (black) Treat Bucket, 2020 [mesh](gift)

Pumpkin, candy: Vespertine colourful halloween candy board LI:3 [mesh](150L)
Pumpkin, candy: Vespertine candycorn floor mess /jack o pumpkin LI:1 [mesh](150L)

Pumpkin: Vespertine mr.vampy pumpkin LI:1 [mesh](group gift)

Pumpkin: Vespertine trick or treat pumpkin LI:1 [mesh](group gift)

Pumpkin, candy: Vespertine candy pumpkin with treats LI:2 [mesh](group gift)

Pumpkin: Vespertine boo! pumpkin LI:1 [mesh](group gift)

Tree: Lunaria Enchanted Elm v2 - Orange LI:11 [mesh](100L)

Pumpkins: Lunaria Gourd Family LI:2 [mesh](group gift)
Pumpkins: Lunaria Pumpkin Patch LI:5 [mesh](50L)
Shrub: Lunaria Season Changing Shrub LI:3 [mesh](50L)
Tree: Lunaria Spirit of Halloween Tree LI:19 [mesh](150L)

Poster: free bird Carry Garlic Poster, gacha LI:1 [mesh]

Poster: free bird If The Broom Fits Poster, gachaLI:1 [mesh]
Pallet: free bird Ghost Pallet Decor, gachaLI:1 [mesh]

Pallet: free bird Monster Pallet Decor, gachaLI:1 [mesh]

UFO: SENRIES Koenji UFO LI:74 [mesh]

Corn: Bad Katz Mesh Cornstalk Grouping LI:7 [mesh](145L)

Leaves: DMC Flying Leaves marble B LI:1 [mesh](99L)

Leaves: SHD Autumn Leaves Maple/Birch/Mixed, with particles LI:2 (75L)
Land: Jumbo Core Plat Rock Multilevel LI:37 [mesh](55L)

Mainfame: Cyber Idol Bodyguard

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STORYLINE: The siren of Insilico, Ferah, had a little stalker problem. But that was before she hired a nearly indestructible SAW 655 cyborg. No one dared get close to her now when he was on the job. 

Aarya and I teamed up for this last Mainframe shot. It's always so much fun collaborating with her. We bounced ideas, coordinated on camera angles, poses and windlights. She took the pictures and I edited in photoshop a blend of 5 windlights while she was sleeping. Then I shot Insilico to drop in a background and sent her the pieces to use however she wishes. Hey, its so true "Two Heads are better than one." I hope we can team up again in the future.

Let me just tell you this.. the cinphul Mongrel Saw is badass. It has many moving parts. No one will come near you, but be careful you don't slice off a leg or anything. lol  I am also wearing the helmet by Ghost Bullet + Sugerhigh. its mod so you edit the shape and drop in tints. The Butanik83 Wings have on are actually a tail. I know, I'm crazy. But its so cool I wanted to show it. The pants are by Inkrane and come with alpha hud to change texture and alpha out the lower area with socks, for a better fit with boots. Aarya will tell you more about what she is wearing on her blog, you can see it here: Dark Phantom 

On him, bodyguard SAW 655:
Helmet: Ghost Bullet + Sugarhigh SK helmet fatpack [mesh](Mainframe)(100L)
Wings: Butanik83 Tail of ONAGA [mesh](Mainframe)(200L)
Weapons: cinphul Mongrel Saw[mesh](Mainframe)(349L)
Pants: Inkrave Edge Runner Trousers [mesh](Mainframe)(525L)
Collar: SOLE 10 TIME RIFTER Collor Red, gacha [mesh](75L)
Collar: SOLE SA - Collar Mk.1 Black [mesh](799L)
Armband: SOLE GRPE - CArm White, gacha [mesh](75L)
Skin, head applier: Fallen Gods Legacy of Maul, male skin Coal TMP [BOM](990L)
Head: TheMeshProject (BETA) Head(m) - Anime (Deluxe) [mesh](5000L)
Body, skin: TheShops [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.0) [mesh](5000L)
Pose: yzk mens pose 4 hero2

On her, cyber idol Ferah:
Guest Appearance: Aarya Phantomhive of the Dark Phantom blog
Dress: ERSCH Daela Dress black [mesh](Mainframe)(310L)
Wings: AMBIX Plasmorphic Holowing [mesh](Mainframe)(599L)
For a complete stylecard and more of this storyline, visit the Dark Phantom blog here.

Setting:
Pod: Cerridwens Cauldron [CC] XB Pod Black/High Res Textures [mesh](Mainframe)(250L)

Location:
Insilico

Wizarding Faire 2020: Ambush at the Gamekeepers Lair

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STORYLINE: Hagrid was awoken by a sudden freak chill in the summer night air. He was grabbing his thickest blanket when he heard a loud bang in the other room followed by the startled squawks of the baby hippogriffs. "Off! Off! Get off me!" The home invader was none other than sixth year student Fennimore who was busy waving his wand wildly. "Hagrid! HAGRID! Help me!" Fennimore was firing off ill-thought spells in an attempt to loosen the grip of the snake coiled tight around him. "Easy now. Don' yeh worry, Fenny. Once ye stop all that yippin', she'll relax. She's more scared then yew, and twice as cold."

The Wizarding Faire is back! Grab your brooms, don your house colors and race down to Mischief Managed to see all the wonderful creations. Hooray! This post was inspired by Second Spaces' Game Keeper Clutter, and these two wonderful creatures, the pygmy hippogriff by banana peel, and wearable animesh ohcami by Clover.

I just love this event and Mischief Managed. Its one of the best roleplay sims in SL. The details with so many rooms, areas, places, and mysteries and secret passages... its just a dream. You could spend days just exploring it. The role players are all great people with a passion for the story. So many good times are had, and players progress through the school years, and some become teachers themselves. They recently expanded and added a 2nd sim. You can read more about the sim and roleplay here: https://mischiefmanagedsl.net/

On Him, Fennimore:
Pet: banana peel pygmy hippogriff - ravenhouse, gacha [mesh](Wizarding Faire)(75L)
Pet: Clover ohcami pet [Animesh] (Wizarding Faire)(499L)
Outfit: FATEplay Henry Cloak Pants, Sweater, Tie, Undershirt Ravenclaw [mesh](600L)
Wand: Madpeas Spellbound Ivoryspire Wand, gacha [mesh](75L)
Scarf: +FATHER House Scarf - Blue W/ Tassels [mesh](50L)
Hair: Dura 2018 Group gift Hair [mesh]
Eyes: IKON Hope Eyes - Denim [mesh](150L)
Skin: Tableau Vivant Femboy Hunt 2012 exclusive [BOM]
Mesh head: Raven Bell James, Bento [mesh] (2000L)
Body: Signature Gianni - Mesh Body [mesh](3500L)
Pose: yzk mens pose 4 hero1

Setting:
Decor: Second Spaces Game Keeper Clutter, Ceiling Rack 1 [mesh](Wizarding Faire)(300L)
Decor: Second Spaces Game Keeper Clutter, Ceiling Rack 2 [mesh](Wizarding Faire)(300L)
Decor: Second Spaces Game Keeper Clutter, outdoor [mesh](Wizarding Faire)(300L)
Decor: Second Spaces Game Keeper Clutter, indoor [mesh](Wizarding Faire)(300L)
Pet: banana peel pygmy hippogriff - hufflehouse, gacha [mesh](Wizarding Faire)(75L)
House: Titans The Gamekeeper Hut Rare, gacha [mesh]

Location:
Mischief Managed

Aengima: Dreadful Depths: The Crab Guardian

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STORYLINE: Down below the murky depths, where only glints of sunlight reach, lay a secret. It had been hidden from human eyes for ten millennia. The sunken capital of the Merfolk, Atlantis. But times were changing. Humans now had contraptions for exploring underwater. And one particular human, Captain Nemo of the Nautilus, was a real headache for Nectes, the Crab guardian of the city. No matter what diversion, or camouflage he used, the Nautilus was on the hunt for treasure like a shark smelling blood in the water. "What's a crab to do?" he sighed. Then an idea hit him, -- a boobytrap! He happened to have a rather nasty little baby kraken. It was perfect. The humans would never bother them again!

Aengima's current round is the Dreadful Depths, underwater steampunk. It brings to my mind tales like 2000 Leagues Under the Sea. As a kid, it was one of my favorite rides at Disney World. So the inspiration for this image is an old Disney ride, and cool things from Aengima like the Cinphul's crustacean-like armor. The armor comes in 4 different texture varieties, male and female, with legs unrigged, and rigged for popular mesh bodies. The treasure chest with a nasty surprise is by Guhit.  And the merfolk tattoo is by Lilthum.

On Him, Nectes, the Crab Guardian:
Armor: cinphul prst.comdr - sinister [mesh](Aengima)(333L)
Tattoo: LILITHIUM Leviathan - Blue/Pink [mesh](Aengima)(350L)
Outfit: NOCHE Roman Toga.Black [mesh](249L)
Hair: Argrace CHIZURU_II / men [mesh](300L)
Tail: Aii Daemonium Tail {egosumaii} [bento](400L)
Hat: The Stringer Mausoleum *TSM* Whorl V2 - Rare 2 - Light, gacha
Hands: ANTINATURAL Post-Human Monsterhand black, gacha [mesh](75L)
Shine: THIS IS WRONG Sparkle Materials Shine (499L)
Skin: Fallen Gods SCARAB Male +FGInc.+ Fortune Ed. (1200L)
Mesh head: Raven Bell James, Bento [mesh] (2000L)
Body: Signature Gianni - Mesh Body [mesh](3500L)
Pose: yzk menspose6-4

Setting:
Chest: GUHIT Tentaculo's Chest [mesh](Aengima)(280L)

Location:
The Bay

Engine Room: Commodore of the Skies

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STORYLINE: The frontier towns floating in the lawless skies of Venus were full of scavengers, ruffians, and pirates. But that all changed when the Commodore arrived. He was determined to make it safe for the pioneers.

These are the last days of round two of the Engine Room. Be sure to head over and scoop up some badass Steampunk goodies. Shown above is the Commanders coat by Salem. It comes in several base colors. The Gasmask is by The Forge. It comes in black and brown, unrigged and mod so you can adjust it for a good fit. The gun is by Reliquary and comes with a hud to draw, fire, and holster. It has optional textures you load into it. You can also buy a shell caddy for your gun. In the background is the Irongate Wharf by Ex Machina. Its meant for the water, but hey, it can fly too if you give some propellers. lol  Other items I used, The Blackjack rare Airship, and past LindenLab premium gift the Marauder. Gloves, pants, and boots are by Contraption. And adding a little movement is the Cureless Senshi cloth from gacha.

On Him, Commodore:
Top: Salem Commanders Coat Jake, Black [mesh](Engine Room)(199L)
Gasmask: The Forge Atticus Mask, Black [mesh](Engine Room)(350L)
Weapon: Reliquary !R! Enemy Scattergun [mesh](Engine Room)(750L)
Gloves: Contraption Dapper Dandy's Gloves [mesh](350L)
Pants, Boots: Contraption Airship Deck Crew [mesh](400L)
Cape: Cureless Senshi of the End  Senshi Cloth Mars, gacha [mesh](100L)
Collar: Artificial Hallucination +AH+ Belt Collar male [mesh](246L)
Hat: Deathrow DRD- cap unisex [mesh]
Mesh head: Raven Bell James, Bento [mesh] (2000L)
Pose: yzk mens pose 4 hero1

Setting:
Dock: Ex Machina Irongate Wharf v 1.0 [mesh](Engine Room)(987L)
Rocket: D-LAB sky pirates Zucchini rocket [mesh](200L)
Airship: BJK Fantasy machines SHIP Rare, gacha [mesh]
Galleon Airship: Linden Labs Premium Gift - Linden Marauder v1 [mesh]

Aenigma (Madness) : Contagion

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STORYLINE: No one knew how it started. A sneeze in a subway car? The bite of an exotic pet? Perhaps a meal created of dubious ingredients? Surely no one would have deliberately infected over million people in Mopire City with what they call "The Blood Pox," ...that would be insane.

Oh yes, you can tell where my head is with this image. Its hard to escape our reality at the moment. I hope you all are taking precautions during the SARS2-CoV-19 outbreak. Thoughts about the pandemic leaked into my first image for the Madness theme round of Aenigma. I was inspired by the claws, and syringe to make a type of Outbreak image. Omg I love these L'Emporio&PL claws so much! They come with fits for Niramyth Aesthetic, Jake 2.0, Legacy m, and Gianni. They include a texture hud with 14 gothic and bloody textures plus alpha options to turn on and off individual nails. There is a very good chance I might wear these forever. lol  From Reliquary is a cool oversized Syringe guaranteed to make any needle-squish people weak in the knees. It comes with a pose and optional textures you can drop on it to change up its look. I used the Red textures. The bracelets from Badwolf include 4 styles in gold and silver. The are unrigged so you can edit them and move them around for the best fit.

.... Stay Safe out there peeps!

On Him:
Claws: L'Emporio&PL Oblio Vampire Claws LEGACY m. [mesh](Aenigma)(350L)
Syringe: Reliquary !R! Vile Syringe  [mesh](Aenigma)(275L)
Bracelets: Badwolf - Madme Bracelet, Spikeoh Bracelet [mesh](Aenigma)(250L)
Jacket: Ascend Urban High Collar Jacket - Legacy [mesh](TMD)(299L)
Pants: Gabriel ::GB::Long belt chain pants Graffiti, Indictment gacha [mesh](75L)
Boots: Gabriel ::GB::Chain Boots Black, Indictment gacha [mesh](75L)
Body, skin: TheShops [BODY] Legacy (m) (1.2) [mesh](5500L)
Pose: yzk mens pose 4 hero7

Location:
Mopire City

Aenigma (Tainted Love) : Poltergeist

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STORYLINE: "Betrayer," a malevolent voice whispered in the dark. No, not again.... A whirlwind suddenly exploded. Books flew across the room. Rosa Rossa quickly grabbed his dagger and tried to stab the disembodied arms before they could scratch "Mine" across his body once more. He screamed and thrashed wildly. He was no longer the sleek hunter, a fiend feasting on the blood of innocents. No, it was he who was the prey. "Forever young," they said, "forever beautiful." But none of those lying Nosferatu bastards offering him the Gift bothered to mention there were other dark forces lurking in the shadows.... They gave not one word of warning that a soul who died violently could return to exact revenge.... Now there was no escape. No way to kill the monster he created. Two immortals, locked in a war of love turned to hate for all entirety.

There's a brand new event, Aenigma, full of many wonderful designers delivering creative items around a theme. The first round is "Tainted Love."  Don't miss it, it will be closing on the 15th. Hurry hurry! And keep an eye out for the next round, Madness! For more information, go to: https://www.acadiaslevents.com/aenigma.html

I'm very happy I was invited a few days ago to blog this event, so many designers I love are here.  This image was inspired by a few of the items at the event. The Ghost Hands are super cool! They are animesh by Maru Kado, and hover around you in a very creepy way before grabbing at you. I love it! Coming with it is a White Crow tattoo of scratch marks, in applier and BOM for face and body. I love this super cool Rose and Thorn hand bling by Silvery K. I had to have it! So I switched to the Maitrya body with V-tech chest to wear it. The Dagger is by Deadly Nightshade and includes several hud triggered attack animations. The heart lock collar by unstable includes a hud to change its textures. And lastly you can find this dandy hat in Insonmia Angel houndtooth gacha at Aenigma.    The RavenBell Jay hair I picked up recently at the Humpday Sale. Its awesome! Be sure to keep your eye on those sales to see if he offers any new hairs in Dystopian colors. And lastly, I want to show you a sneak peek of the new FATE Oculi eyes! They are very cool with animated irises that dilate and contract automatically. I helped beta test them. So many things on my wishlist from Fate Eyes and now these made it into the product. You guys are going to love them so much. There will be addons too, for super huge eyes, cat eyes, and a dev kit for the creation of new eye texture and appliers. It's coming soon to the marketplace near you!

On him, the Haunted Vampire Rosa Rossa:
Animesh arms: Maru Kado / The White Crow Always Mine [mesh](Aenigma)(500L)
Dagger: DeadlyNightshade .~DN~. Violent Rose [mesh](Aenigma)(500L)
Collar: unstable Everlasting Devotion [mesh](Aenigma)(200L)
Hand jewelry: Silvery K Rose curse-Bento mesh Black hands thorns [mesh](Aenigma)(300L)
Hat: Insomnia Angel stovepipe hat noir, gacha [mesh](Aenigma)(75L)
Eyes: FATE Oculi v0.9.7 [mesh](coming soon)
Hair: RavenBell Jay Hair, Dystopian [mesh](350L)
Coat: Cureless RedLabel Donatien Manteau [mesh](399L)
Corset: GRIMA Manson Corset Maitreya [mesh](300L)
Boots: GRIMA Maitreya Latex Thigh-High Military Boots Black [mesh](195L)
Pants: S.in Happy Pants Metal Black [mesh](355L)
Collar: Lovely Disarray Personal Jesus : Collar of Thorns [mesh]
Skin: Dimbula Rose :::DR::: Knyam skin Vampire [BOM]
Mesh head: Raven Bell James, Bento [mesh] (2000L)
Chest: [V-Tech] Boi Chest Mod v2.2 - Maitreya  [BOM](499L)

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body Lara  [BOM] [mesh](2750L)
Expressions: Happy Dispatch [HD] bento Facial expression HUD (600L)

Pose: yzk mens  pose8

Setting:
Skybox: VARONIS Sombre Skybox [mesh](429L)
Chair: Violetility Sanguine Throne Lestat [mesh](599L)
Petals: Luna Rosarie L+R petal storm, gacha [mesh]
Flying paper: Moon Amore Opera Romance, Burning music sheets, gacha [mesh](45L)
Curtains: Kalopsia Flying Curtain [mesh](50L)
Outside view: Venexia