Engine Room: Murder at the Cabaret

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STORYLINE: The velvet curtains of Le Rouge Noir rippled in a wind that did not belong. Giselle blinked, her vision sharpening against the haze of cigar smoke and dim crimson lights. The club still pulsed with jazz, but the laughter, the music, the warmth of bodies—none of it touched her.

Then she saw, -- him.

The Master of Ceremony stood before her, his grin too wide, his haunted eyes gleamed like a cat’s in the dark. She saw now, for the first time, he was merely a puppet to a terrifying creature hovering behind him. Beneath the sheen of his silk suit, his skin cracked like old leather, shifting as if something monstrous animated him.

“Darling,” he purred, voice like velvet and decay, “I’m afraid you’re quite dead.”

Giselle staggered back. Her mind screamed that it couldn’t be true—she had just been dancing, drinking, alive.

“But,” the Master continued, stepping closer, the scent of brimstone curling from his lips, “I do love a good game. Solve your murder in three nights, and you may yet waltz out of here breathing.”

His grin widened, revealing teeth too sharp, too many.

“Fail…” He chuckled, low and terrible. “And you’ll dance for me forever.” 

It's time to go back to the past that never was, Engine Room has returned! This post was inspired by a story I wrote while on hiatus, and the awesome cabaret and burlesque themed items this round.   ...The spooky monster head Arges is by Lightwood. The eye is animated, and comes in several colors. It's meant to replace your normal head. However for my image idea, I combined it with the bento animated Ride of Delusion by Contraption, so its looks like a shadow spirit possession.  ...Talk about spooky, I felt like a ventriloquist doll in this amazing Caberet style makeup for men by Somnium. It has an old feel with parts of the makeup cracked. Comes with brow and mustache and without. This rare gem of a retro male makeup is a free gift at the Engine Room too! The beautiful and versatile tuxedo set by Somnium is great for many occasions. It includes bowtie, shirt, vest, tailcoat, pants and the hud includes 7 textures options for each area of the suit so you can mix and match colors, (including dusty and bloodsplatter).   ... The Hunter's Handbook by Static is very fun. It's wearable as a necklace, and then you can trigger a pose for it to be worn in your hand as if reading it. Its has fits for men and women, and an unrigged version. It comes in 3 colors.   The prosthetic hand is by Cabalpier. In PBR and nonPBR versions, with both style and texture options. It's unrigged so you can display it too!  ...I used the handy Contraption Dapper gloves which include an alpha to hide one hand's glove. ...The spooky haunted eyes are by Hallbourne. I love black sclera eyes for that extra spooky look.   ...The Burlesque club setting is by Paparazzi. (Thanks for your help on the set, Akira!)

On Him:
Monster head: Lightwood Arges Head Inferno Black Chains [mesh](Engine Room)(399L)

Makeup: SOMNIUM Maestro Makeup - Brows/Mustache, ears  [mesh](Engine Room)(gift)
Outfit: SOMNIUM Maestro's Aria set, Legacy (PBR)[mesh](Engine Room)(850L)

Eyes: Hellbourne :H: Thaumaturgy Eyes, White [mesh](Engine Room)(275L)
Book: Static Hunter's Handbook [Bento][mesh](Engine Room)(325L)
Hand: CABALPIER Dead Hand M6, Male (PBR)[mesh](Engine Room)(425L)

Pet: Contraption Ride of Delusion *rdeath [Bento](500L)
Gloves: Contraption Dapper Dandy's Gloves Legacy M [mesh](350L)

Shoes: Muho Zas Shoes, black, LegacyM [mesh](90L)
Hair: Volkstone Ryot ll Hairbase / Black [BOM](199L)
Head: LeLUTKA Kane Evolution [mesh](3990L)
Pose: Puppets World trust me m k f (35L)

Setting:
Set: Paparazzi BACKDROP - Burlesque [mesh](350L)

BONUS IMAGE: inworld raw shot, midday sky

Cyber Fair: Attack of the Cursed ANGEL

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STORYLINE: The beeping started as a faint whisper in the background, a rhythmic pulse that barely registered against the cold hum of the underground bunker. The kidnappers, hardened men of the underworld, paused, their nerves fraying as the sound grew louder.

Then a flash. White-hot, like a snapshot searing into their retinas. The leader, a scarred brute named Korbin, cursed and reached for his weapon.

"What the hell was that?" one of his men muttered, his grip tightening on his rifle.

Before anyone could answer, the distant chaos began. Gunfire echoed through the tunnels. The sharp cries of dying men pierced the stale air. The unmistakable sounds of destruction—shattering glass, collapsing walls, the screech of metal being torn apart—crept closer.

Korbin spun toward the android they had chained to the rusted chair in the center of the room. RED, their prize, their leverage, merely smiled. A synthetic face sculpted to perfection, eyes gleaming with something almost… amused.

"The Cursed Angel is coming," RED said, voice smooth as silk but laced with eerie certainty.

Korbin felt his stomach twist into knots. He had heard the stories. Whispers in the dark about an entity that moved like a ghost, struck like a demon, and left nothing but corpses in its wake.

"No," he growled, grabbing RED by the collar. "Tell me the truth! What's coming for us? Tell me before we all die!"

RED tilted its head, expression unreadable. Then, with almost reverent quiet, it spoke: "Its a symbiotic relationship, a Trinity. Kujo caged an ancient evil. The last of its kind. You see, starvation can bring even the strongest monster to its knees."

Before Korbin could demand more, the world exploded. The side of the bunker disintegrated in a burst of fire and debris. Dust choked the air, and through the settling smoke, an eerie glow seeped in—a burning light that silhouetted the towering figure standing in the wreckage.

The Cursed Angel stepped forward, slow, deliberate. His long regal cape billowed in the rush of hot air, his heavy exoskeleton boots crunching over the shattered remains of the bunker’s defenses. And then he snarled, the baring long, gleaming fangs.

Korbin’s blood ran cold.

RED’s voice cut through the chaos, steady as ever. "The Father acquires. The Son is the sacrifice. And the Holy Ghost is their protector." 

Korbin barely had time to scream.

This post is inspired by my very first cyberpunk blog post, and it started with an idea: Would vampires die out in the future as they don't change but human do. With technology, cyberizations and genetic engineering, would humans still be easy to hunt, and would they even still be compatible to the vampire's diet? 

 ...The halo on the Cursed Angel is by Rozoregalia. Touch it to shift between 3 colors, fullbright, and resizes.  ...The stunning red armor, Infermun Viel, is by Bison. It includes a sinister tall hood and scary robotic mask, and animated LED glows. It comes in several color themes, but red is my favorite. ... Adding to the magical vibe are the animated the Energy lines by Amadeus which swirl around the arms and shoulders. ...The face mask is by SOLE, and there are several texture versions available. ...Flying close by, is the Cursed Angel's helper, the Jellybot. I used the cool WWII texture for the bot. You can find it in the fatpack. The bot is Animesh and can fidget in place, or float around. ...The big plasma gun by RekTrevor is super cool. It shoots a massive blast with impressive details in smoke and spiraling sparks. It includes several animations for both men and woman, (draw, hold, reload, fire, stance) and you can change out the gun's textures too. ... The moody cybertatstic setting is by Zeroichi. I loved that it was mod and I could move around a few things for my pictures.

On him, the Cursed A.N.G.E.L.:

Top: BISON Infernum Viel, Chest, Legacy M, Red [mesh](Cyber Fair)(349L)

Gloves: BISON Infernum Viel, Gloves, Legacy M, Red [mesh](Cyber Fair)(220L)
Pants: BISON Infernum Viel, Legs, Legacy M, Red [mesh](Cyber Fair)(349L)
Special FX: Amadeus Energy lines, Arms aura [mesh](Cyber Fair)(199L)

Mask: SOLE SA Headset ARA2, White [mesh](Cyber Fair)(349L)
Pet: Positronic Network PN NODE001, JellyBot, WMII, fatpack [animesh](Cyber Fair)(450L)
Halo: ROZOREGALIA Ruda Halo (Nyoroyakunyoden)/B [mesh](Cyber Fair)(345L)

Weapon: REKTXTREVOR Sicarius Plasma Gun, Grey [mesh](Cyber Fair)(350L)
Cape: toksik Coronation Cape, M2, mod [mesh] (550L)

Hair: barberyumyum L19(02) style1 [mesh](Collabor88)(300L)

Skin: FallenGods Pure [xy] + Pure, Ivory [BOM](990L)

Head: TheMeshProject (BETA) Head(m) - Anime (Deluxe) [mesh]

Body: TheShops [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)

Pose: UZME Poses "HandGun #1" Set (190L)

Setting:

Set: ZEROICHI Chaotic Area Backdrop Ambient light (mod) [mesh](Cyber Fair)(560L)

BONUS IMAGE: inworld raw shot, midday sky

Cyber Fair: Neon Shackles

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STORYLINE: RED’s servos whirred as he struggled, the synthetic sinews beneath his chrome plating straining against the magnetic restraints. His last recorded memory flickered in his quantum core—standing outside Club Aqua, bathed in the pulsing blue glow of the club’s underbelly, his velvet voice coaxing patrons inside. "Drinks. Cythroid. Pleasure." Then—blackout.

Now laying in a jail cell next to a strange offering of stimulated human food, he wondered where he was being held. It was dark and reeked of sweat. A warehouse? An abandoned facility? His optical HUD flickered through possible locations, but his captors had been careful—no GPS, Net, or HIVE access.

A jagged voice cut through the silence.

“You know why you’re here, tin man?”

RED’s processors whirred in confusion. The most logical answer was a jealous husband, -- he had seen his share of those. Or maybe traffickers, -- high-end androids like him fetched a fortune on the black market.

Instead, the figure looming over him growled a name he didn’t expect.

“Eden. The boy. Who is he?”

RED’s neural circuits reeled. Eden. The ethereal child who never left the VIP lounge, always under the watch of that inhuman warden—the Cursed A.N.G.E.L.?

RED’s synthetic throat flexed, his voice smooth despite the tension in his restraints.

“You think I know?”

A fist crashed into his face, shattering the false skin of his cheek, exposing the gleaming metal beneath.

“Then let’s start with what you do know.”

As they powered up a pain emulator—a cruel little toy meant to make machines scream—RED calculated his odds of survival.

They weren’t good.

Yes, of course I took inspiration for this image from the Bailizhi's take of the Deepspace prison wear for naughty vampires. lol. I hope I was able to come up with something you Deepspace fans and Cyber fans would both enjoy. The matching hairstyle for the BlackShift outfit is unrigged and comes in a wealth of color options, it was fun to try them all, (I loved the auburns).  Red's body android lines and material body shine is by Abyssal. It comes in Wet and Dry variety, works perfectly on male or female bodies. And includes a few additional tech word tattoo options. ...Can we talk about how nice the Cerridwens-Cauldron food set is? I didn't expect to see such nicely crafted cyberpunk food at the event, but it's totally a must have for any cyber setting! The textures and materials on the noodles, eggs, and soup look so real.  ...Sole is the master of Cyber accessories, and ARA2 doesn't disappoint. I used the headset for Red. The set also includes a full respirator and electrodes for the forehead. ...The Tech handcuffs by Solares are a gift you can find in the marketplace. ...The setting is the cells by Varonis with chains by Static and Fayded.  ...(fyi, The mesh head I used here is an pre-bom and bento mesh head by TMP. I'm hoping someday we will get an update on them, it has a unique Anime/Bishonen look no other mesh head has!)

On him, Club Aqua android host RED:

Body shine: ABYSSAL Justice, Dry [Materials][BOM](Cyber Fair)(477L)

Headset: SOLE SA - Headset ARA2, White [mesh](Cyber Fair)(349L)

Hair: Bailizhi hair A10-UNRIG, color 1 pack [mesh](Cyber Fair)(200L)

Complete Outfit: Bailizhi BlackShift fatpack, legacy M [mesh](Cyber Fair)(2,599L)

Cuffs: solares Tech Handcuffs [mesh](gift)

Eyes: Poetic Colors oriental pearl - small bright [mesh] (150L)

Head: TheMeshProject (BETA) Head(m) - Anime (Deluxe) [mesh]

Body: TheShops [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)

Pose: Tableau Vivant man4

Setting:

Food: Cerridwens-Cauldron Gyozo Troy Set, white [mesh](Cyber Fair)(269L)

Food: Cerridwens-Cauldron Spicy Noodles Set, white [mesh](Cyber Fair)(269L)

Collar: Static Shackles of the Damned [mesh](295L)

Chains: Static Chain Clutter [mesh](275L)

Chains: FAYDED Chain Heap [mesh](100L)

Setting: VARONIS DuskHall Cells [mesh](699L)

BONUS IMAGE: inworld raw shot, midday sky

Cyber Fair: The Blade of Kujo

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STORYLINE: Insilico never slept. It pulsed—an electric heartbeat of neon and vice, where the strong ruled with steel fists and the weak were swallowed whole. Hovercrafts screeched between spires of glass and chrome. Data ghosts whispered through the air, carrying secrets worth killing for. And at the center of it all sat Kujo.

Kujo, the Cyber Mafia boss. A name spoken in hushed tones, feared from the top tiers of Insilico’s floating utopia to the grimy underbelly where oxygen was bought and lives were cheaper than code. His body was a symphony of engineered perfection—chromed bones, biofiber muscles, a neural core more advanced than military AIs. He was a predator in a world of scavengers. His blade showed no mercy.

And yet, in the heart of his fortress—a penthouse of bulletproof glass and digitized nightmares—sat a boy who didn’t belong.

Eden.

Barefoot. Clad in simple linen. A relic from another time, another world. The boy had no implants, no augments, no cyber-link. His eyes, untainted by the ever-present glow of the city, held something rare—something untouched.

People whispered about it. Why would Kujo, the most ruthless force in Insilico, guard the lad like a dragon hoarding treasure? Was Eden worth more than credits, more than data? Or was it something else entirely?

Some said the boy was a key—a secret weapon hidden beneath soft hands and innocent prayers. Others believed he was Kujo’s redemption, a living memory of something the crime lord had long since lost.

But the truth?

The truth was a locked vault in Kujo’s mind. And in Insilico, secrets were the deadliest currency of all.

Longtime readers of my blog might already spotted both Kujo and Eden are returning characters. Updating both characters with current wares at Cyber Fair, and the story are the inspiration for this series.   The intense stare of Kujo is thanks to the Savage Fantasy black sclera by Gloom. And how awesome is the gritty Replicant skin by Utopia? It's different for me, but totally works for my style with a brow change by HISS and under underage concealer by Izzie's.   The armor, jacket, and glove by Lavenvo have PBR are beautifully crafted and have many color texture options.   The Visor by _TRK_ is interactive. Touch it to open the face shield and touch again to close. It and the jaw both have many color options, glow color. Very cool.   The large wicked looking spider leg backpack is by Bison and has color and texture options.   The sword is by Ayaya and its mod, so just edited its glow to red.   The Xanthe hair by Sintiklia is a style with a lot of potential you might miss at first glance. There is an unrigged version with bangs as separate attachments, plus a style hud. It made possible to turn a whimsical cat headphones girl style into a warrior samurai style! The hachigane headbands are by Last Ride. Blood tattoos by Yaya and Sacrilege.

On him, Kujo of the Cyber Mafia:
Armor: [LANEVO] Silence Armor, Legacy.M, fatpack [mesh](Cyber Fair)(885L)

Jacket: [LANEVO] Silence Jacket, Legacy.M, fatpack [mesh](Cyber Fair)(885L)

Glove: [LANEVO] Silence Glove, Legacy.M, fatpack [mesh](Cyber Fair)(660L)

Skin: [utopia] replicant, scream, picasso, no brows, evo X [BOM](Cyber Fair)(799L)

Backpack: BISON NeoGrip-X [mesh](Cyber Fair)(249L)
Eyes: Gloom Savage Fantasy Collection - Sclera 03 - Red [mesh](Cyber Fair)(290L)
Hair: Sintiklia Xanthe, black and browns [mesh](Cyber Fair)(350L)
Sword: AYAYA HF Executioner's Blade, White [mesh](Cyber Fair)(275L)
Visor, jaw: _TRK_ Futura Mask, Visor, V1, fatpack [mesh](Cyber Fair)(899L)

Headband, hair bow: Last Ride 47 Samurai/Headband, Hachigane [mesh]

Horns: Cubic Cherry Aeon [mesh]

Claws: L'Emporio&PL Oblio Vampire Claws male [mesh](350L)
Makeup: Izzie's - LeL Evo X - Under Eye Concealer 01 [BOM

Blood: YaYa face blood, evox [BOM]
Makeup, blood: sacrilege eternal damnation [BOM](329L)

Brow: HISS Mika Brow [BOM]

Head: LeLUTKA Kane Evolution [mesh](3990L)
Body: TheShops [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)

BONUS IMAGE: inworld raw shot, midday sky

Cyber Fair: DJ Sharky Shark

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STORYLINE: Eden had escaped from the Amish reservation, but freedom came with a price. He was being hunted for his unaltered, pure human DNA—a rarity worth a fortune on the black market. That’s how he ended up as a DJ at Club Aqua, owned by Kujo, the ruthless crime boss of Insilico. Being Kujo’s favorite “pet” was terrifying, but it also kept him safe from DNA poachers.

Every night, Eden spun tracks at Aqua, breakdancing to a priceless relic: an old 1980s boombox filled with music from a lost era. He had found it hidden in an abandoned barn back on the reservation, and the infectious sounds of the past awakened something in him. The music made him crave more—more than just dusty farms and candlelight. It ignited a longing to see the world beyond The Dome.

Cyber Fair is such an amazing event stuffed full of cyber awesomeness and I love the fancy sim build too. It really gets you in the cyberpunk mood. This first post is inspired by the fun and texture-animated glows Sharky boots by Diaboli Design and the Midwest boombox and Cybertooth Catboom wearable speakers. Seka's Cy-Visor has a cool glitch animation, and the Cy-Tard comes with a Lara X flat chest fit, so.... I did a little gender bending here. That's right! That's Lara X! Surprise! hahaha Wearing Lara X allowed me to also wear the MDN Neon Veil Jacket. I used the Reborn size for bagginess. The thigh guards by Aurora add even more coolness to the look. Helping to create a more masculine look, I used the Cheerno latex body suit, a bunch of deformers, and the Cruel neck corset to hide the head and body seam. The Nova hair by RavenBell is on sale at the Night Market for 25% off. It has a shimmering glitter effect and edgy color textures. The semi translucent Trent Demon cyborg hand also by Cybertooth. Helping me set the watery mood is the Jian shark that I converted into a faux-hologram effect with translucency and a glow. Breakdance pose by Le Poppycock, and my breakdance pad is the wearable hologram by Solares.

On him, DJ Sharky Shark:

Visor: SEKA Cy-Visor [mesh](Cyber Fair)(349L)

Outfit: SEKA Cy-Tard, LaraX flat [mesh](Cyber Fair)(299L)

Thigh guards: AURORA Cyber Future Hip, LaraX [mesh](Cyber Fair)(fatpack 2699L)

Speakers: CyberTooth CatBoomBox! [mesh](Cyber Fair)(250L)

Hand: CyberTooth Trent's Demon Hand [mesh](Cyber Fair)(200L)

Boots: Diaboli Design Sharky, Legacy Athletic [mesh](Cyber Fair)(999L)

Jacket: MDN Neon Veil Jacket Fatpack [mesh](Cyber Fair)(fatpack 1588L)

Boombox: Midwest Glitch Bass Boombox, The Hunted [mesh](Cyber Fair)(299L)

Hair: RavenBell Nova Hair Short w Bangs, Shimmer [mesh](Night Market)(25% off Sale 338L)

Bodysuit: CHEERNO CHN F22 latexbody [BOM](225L)

Collar: Cruel Sulfur Gorget, Legacy M [mesh](100L)

Halosign: solares Tech Sigil [mesh](gift)
Head: LeLUTKA Kane Evolution [mesh](3990L)
Body mod: Maitreya Mesh Body - LaraX FlatChest Add-on [mesh](499L)
Body: Maitreya Mesh Body Lara [mesh](2750L)

Shark: JIAN Mako Shark, Static Rawr [mesh](550L)

Pose: Le Poppycock Cool like dat

BONUS IMAGE: inworld raw shot, midday sky

Night Market: Whispers of Stone: Notre Dame Grotesques Reimagined

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STORYLINE: At the prestigious Vordun Museum, a breathtaking new exhibition is capturing the imagination of visitors. Whispers of Stone: The Notre Dame Grotesques Reimagined presents a stunningly realistic recreation of the famed cathedral’s legendary guardians, resurrected in exquisite modern detail.

Each grotesque, sculpted with meticulous care, retains its medieval soul while embracing contemporary artistry. Their weathered expressions, once lost to fire and time, are now vividly reborn—every crack in the stone, every flicker of an eerie grin rendered with near-tangible realism. As visitors wander the exhibit, they can almost hear the whispers of these silent watchers, their presence as haunting as it is magnificent.

Blurring the line between history and innovation, CRYPTID’s latest masterpiece invites all to witness Notre Dame’s mythical protectors as they have never been seen before. Will you dare to meet their gaze?

There are moments in SL where I fanboy hard over something, and as a real life collector of gargoyles, I was having a moment over this gorgeous boy. I had an idea to make a fictional art exhibit and dropped it inside the nicest Museum in SL, The Vordun. For those not rabid fans of Notre Dame's sentinels, here is a shot of the original from Tour France. What kind of creatures were a part of this chimera? No idea. But Cryptid seems to be going with Eagle-Puppy-Goat-Bat. lol It's 7li and comes in 6 colors, 3 of them are PBR enabled.

The Night Market is open with excellent dark themed items marked down for a limited time. Sale ends March 15th. Hurry and check out the deals! 

If you haven't seen it, do check out Fancy Decor's breathtakingly awesome museum, The Vordun.

Rush to CRYPTID's for free gifts, including more gargoyles. Sadly, CRYPTID closes in April.

And also I want to give my respects to the restoration effort: Friends of Notre Dame de Paris.

Setting:

Statue: CRYPTID Gargoyle, grey limestone [mesh](Night Market)(Sale, 120L)

Tapestries: Fancy Decor The Vordun

Location: 

The Vordun Museum and Gallery

CYBER FAIR is coming March 4 - 24

For More information go to:  https://www.access-sl.com/cyberfair