Engine Room: After-Hours Gossip

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STORYLINE: “No no,” the Newspaper Delivery Guy said, “I heard it was a secret society behind the Earthquakes.” His incredulous friend, the Barista of Steam Beans, laughed and slapped him on the arm. “For a newsman, you sure do love your fancy conspiracy stories!” He huffed, “It’s not a conspiracy story if its a real conspiracy!” She shook her head and poured gain alcohol on a napkin and dabbed his face with it. “Ouch,” he jumped. “So tell me, you big baby," she smiled, "how you really got those nasty gashes on your face?” He blushed with her so close to him, tending his wounds. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” She gave him The Look. “Fine, fine. I saw a comet hit the ground, buildings fell, and people running out of that Secret Society building I told you about. One of them was screaming back to others still inside, “Lord, he’s coming! Reset it! Reset it!” She was leaning in on his every word, “and then?” He shifted nervous, “I saw a giant emerge from the crater. He was twice, no four times as tall as me. He looked really pissed. And he held a great sword. But get this, it was on fire!” She had that skeptical look on her face once more, "And then what?” "Nothing," he shrugged sheepishly. "Nothing?" ...“Ok fine, I ran! You would have run too if you were there!" She laughed, "Don't tell me, you tripped on a stack of newspapers, and hit the railing with your face." He looked away and blushed. "Oh shit, you did! Poor baby," she pet his arm. He yanked it back, "Nuh uh! I fought that big Angel barehanded and kicked his huge big ass!" She chuckled and shook her head. 

Head over to the Engine Room for steam coolness and gifts, today is the last day! A gallery of products can be seen here: https://secondlifesyndicate.com/events/syndicate-events/engine-room/

On Him, the Newspaper Boy:
Shirt: oni vintage man grey Jake/Legacy [mesh](Engine Room)(300L)
Hat: Deadwool Newsboy hat "1920" herring light [mesh](Engine Room)(120L)

Tattoo face: Broadwing B.W. Mechaneer Wound, Scar [mesh](Engine Room)(200L)

Shoes: Deadwool Dandy shoes - non rigged - black/silver wingtip [mesh](360L)

Tattoo: Clemmm Wretched Arms Black [BOM]

Pants: TheShops PANTS Legacy m Chinos Black(bundled with mesh body)

Head: LeLUTKA lel EvoX KANE 3.1 [mesh](3990L)

Body: TheShops [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.0) [mesh](5000L)

On Her, the Barista:
To see Aarya Phantomhive's complete stylecard and continuing story, go to: Dark Phantom Blog
Dress: Insomnia Angel Francesca dress Blouse Mpetite [mesh](Engine Room)(350L)
Boots: Eudora3D Ylva Boots (Legacy) [mesh](Engine Room)(399L)
Earring: Arts & Gear *AG* Steam earrings [mesh](Engine Room)(180L)
Hat: Wicca's Originals  Engine Room Gift Wickham Hat [mesh](Engine Room)(gift)

Setting: 

Cafe set: Kumagami KMGM Steam Beans Cafe [mesh](Engine Room)(398L)

Hanging Plant: Architect Airship Plant [mesh](Engine Room)(275L)

Hanging Light: Air Light_Anniversary gift for CCB_Light [mesh]
Bottles: Apple Fall Argentinian Malbec [mesh](gift)
Newspaper: Apple Fall Crumpled Newspaper [mesh](100L)
Glasses: Apple Fall Wine Glasses [mesh](gift)
Desk Lamp: 22769 [bauwerk] Petroleum Lamp [mesh]
Posters: Noctis barber shop posters
Skybox: TROPIX Vintage Room 01 [mesh](275L)
Poses: ExclusiveShop Bar [mesh](1950L)

Thanks for your help, Aarya!

Engine Room: The Golden Express Bandit

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STORYLINE: Kurt Jameson, (formerly known as the Golden Express Bandit), lurched forward falling out of his chair. He had been fast asleep on his post outside the Dark Inventor’s door when the Clocktower Hotel violently shook. Danger! Danger! Danger! All around him were little mechanical sparrows sounding the alarm. He cursed under his breath and searched the wooden floor with his hands until at last he found what he needed. He quickly snapped the strange visor into place over the ruin of his face once more. As it hummed to life, he was able to see again. Without wasting more time, he grabbed his weapons and darted to the window to look outside. A dark ominous crack had formed across the sky, and from inside it, something impossibly bright fell to the ground with such a force the hotel shook again. He took a few steps back. Had the device malfunctioned? When his gaze returned outside, everything was normal. He shrugged and was about to leave when the crack reformed and the bright flaming object fell, but this time when it struck the ground it was so violent two brick buildings nearby fell. He gasped, “What the hell?”

On him, Golden Express Bandit, Kurt Jameson:
Top: Deadwool Malone working vest Legacy taupe[mesh](Engine Room)(390L)

Weapon: AiiZawa Songbird Claw Revolver w/ Grappling hook [mesh](Engine Room)(499L)

Weapon: Val'More Prototype Chainsaw V.2 Steampunk Sling [mesh](Engine Room)(400L)

Mask: Omise OctaScopes FaceArmor [mesh](Engine Room)(200L)

Hat: toksik Varmint Hat [mesh](Engine Room)(300L)

Holster: toksik Varmint Holster [mesh](Engine Room)(400L)

Pet: Rivendale Aether Birb Copper [Animesh](Engine Room)(250L)

Bracers: L'Emporio&PL Bullet Bracers LEGACY/Athletic [mesh](350L)

Pants: TheShops PANTS Legacy m Chinos (Sand)(bundled with mesh body)

Head: LeLUTKA lel EvoX KANE 3.1 [mesh](3990L)

Body: TheShops [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.0) [mesh](5000L)

Pose: sakupose+ yzk mens pose 4 hero2 (70L)

Setting:

Birdcage: Air Septem birdcage silver open [mesh](Engine Room)(300L)

Chair: Architect D'Arcy Steampunk Armchair black[mesh](Engine Room)(295L)

Table: Architect Porthole Coffee Table dark [mesh](Engine Room)(245L)

Hanging Plant: Architect Airship Plant [mesh](Engine Room)(275L)

Decanter: HEXtraordinary Kraken Decanter[mesh](Engine Room)(275L)

Skybox: TROPIX Vintage Room 01 [mesh](275L)

Thanks for your help, Aarya! 

Engine Room: The Society for the Prevention of Aging

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STORYLINE: Like most bad ideas, “The Society for the Prevention of Aging” sounded like a noble cause at first. It began as a rich and powerful secret society's pet project. They threw an extravagant fund raiser. And not long after, a gifted inventor and powerful witch were commissioned. With the combined forces of science and magic, a time portal was created. However it could not stop aging, it could merely freeze time for anyone who dared to enter. Obviously, it was dangerous. A few limbs were lost before they realized they needed to bring their own oxygen supply, (frozen time has no chemical reactions). However with practice, they grew more bold. At first, it was innocent pranks like removing the chair from under a frozen person who was about to sit down. The prank played out flawlessly. The culprit never discovered. Since there was no law governing each and every moment in time, abuse of the society's newfound power escalated quickly to all manner of ghastly atrocities.  Is it any wonder, the sky itself cracked?

Aarya and I, (Team Blogger Bat!), joined forces once more for this image. We have been collaborating with Discord for awhile now; coming up with ideas, storylines, feedback on outfits, camera angles, lighting and EEPs. Its been wonderful. This image started as an idea for her dress, and quickly grew into Time Villains!   Many interactive scripted items on this one from the current round of The Engine Room. Ex Machina's Prof Baltazar's Astounding Portal is a site to site teleporter. It uses a cool special effect you can see in Advanced lighting. From Celeste is the Nixie clock that keeps SL time for you. From Whats Lost Spirits is a Steampunk greeter and Enforcer Orb. The lvl.9 Masks come with a hud that lets you retexture its many parts. (I loved the animated flames on the lenses.) I'm wearing the Tempus Shirt by AsteroidBox. It comes in male and female fits, and its mod. I opted to hide the corset part. On the shoulder is a fun SpiderBulb prop by White Crow. In set, you can see the fun Pipework Lamps by Dictatorshop. Touch them to turn on and off, and in distance is the underside of the D-Lab Capsule Sky Island. For more details on Aarya's Time Witch, head over to Dark Phantom Blog.

On him, Dark Inventor:
Top: AsteroidBox Tempus Shirt, Legacy [mesh](Engine Room)(289L)

Pants: Somnium Mage Trouser & Boot, Legacy [mesh](Engine Room)(450L)

Mask: lvl.9 Ninth Life Mask [mesh](Engine Room)(500L)

Pet: The White Crow Spiderbulb [mesh](Engine Room)(220L)

Arms: Contraption SP1NDL Prosthetic arm *AETH* [mesh](500L)

Cane: Deadwool Goat cane - v1 [mesh](group gift)
Hair: Wasabi Pills Hawk Male - Night shadow [mesh](250L)

Pose: pose maniacs {pm} Male & Female 27

On Her, Time Witch:

To see Aarya Phantomhive's complete stylecard and story, go to: Dark Phantom Blog

Collar: Silvery K Steam Libera [mesh](Engine Room)(280L)

Dress jewelry: Kosmii Bedelia Chatelaine, gold [mesh](Engine Room)(399L)

Hair: KMH F175 hair [mesh](Engine Room)(325L)

Setting:
Set: Ex Machina Prof Baltazar's Astounding Portal [mesh](Engine Room)(587L)

Clock: Celeste Steampunk Nixie [mesh](Engine Room)(187L)

Robot, orb: Whats Lost Spirits Steampunk Greeter [mesh](Engine Room)(888L)

Fans: D-Lab Capsule Sky Island [mesh](Engine Room)(150L)

Light: Dictatorshop Pipework Lamps Brass [mesh](Engine Room)(395L)

Thanks for your help, Aarya!