Midnight Order : Haunted

STORYLINE: The moonlight glinted on the ripples of the Mississippi as I ducked into an overgrown secret garden on the bank. My presence was noticed, it was as if suddenly all the life of the bayou held its breath, terrified what I might do. They say it's never a good idea to bring back the dead. I'm proof of that. But how can I ignore what the scholars of the Dark Arts Academy revealed to me? Could they be trusted? Certainly not. My life is literally an open book. It would be simple for them to lure me in knowing my weaknesses. And yet, how I could I not try? She was my daughter....  Even as I cleared the decaying leaves from the wrought iron table for the spiritboard, I thought about what they said. It haunted my nightmares. A vampire is immortal. Even separated from its body, the soul continues to be bound to the Earth. I made quick work of filling the goblet with blood, and placing a belonging of hers, an old doll. Could she really be here, lingering in her favorite place to hide? Was she even her anymore?

Midnight Order's first round of the new year is ending soon. Be sure to drop by and check it out if you haven't already. This post was inspired by the Wrought Iron garden set by Eclectica Curiosities at the event, the blood goblet by sacrilege, fancy top by HotDog, and Arch Arcanum by CELESTE. Another Anne Rice tribute for the late author. Akira Voorhees and I teamed up for this one. She plays Claudia to my Louis, and she took the foreground picture. Thanks for your help Akira!

On Him, Louis:
Open book: Ivy Helping Books - Vampire [mesh](Midnight Order)(200L)
Top: Hotdog Flashy waistcoat, Plain, Slim bowtie [mesh](Midnight Order)(350L)
Pants: Hotdog  Ringmaster boots & pants dark [mesh](350L)
Hair: NO.MATCH NO.PASSION, male [mesh](350L)

Claws: L'Emporio&PL Oblio Vampire Claws male [mesh](350L)
Tattoo: TF: Mort :: Veins (BOM) [BOM](303L)

Eyes: Dead Apples Marble - Olive [mesh](89L)
Skin: KOOQLA Ray nb [BOM](group gift)

Head, lip makeup: LeLUTKA lel EvoX LOGAN 3.1 [mesh](3990L)

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

Pose: Del May Dead To the World (50L)

On Her, Claudia:
(Guest Appearance: Akira Voorhees of The SL Chatterbox blog)
Outfit: toksik Capriccio Blouse, Lara Petite, Skirt [mesh](Midnight Order)(350L)

Makeup: sacrilege eternal damnation - EvoX [mesh](Midnight Order)(275L)
Hair: monso Marcela Hair [mesh](845L)
Nails: Ladybird Anna Nails - Red Solid M (300L)
Eyes: polar<3bunny clara eyes [BOM](149L)
Skin: Glam Affair Clara Dark Dias II Layer, Lelutka EvoX, Milk C [limited edition]
Head: LeLUTKA EvoX CEYLON 3.1 [mesh](3990L)
Body mod: Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara Add-on "Petite" V1.0 [mesh](600L)
Body: Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara V5.2  [mesh](2750L)

Setting:
Gameboard: Level Nine Spirit Board Wood [mesh](Midnight Order)(400L)
Goblet: sacrilege eternal chalice, gold [mesh](Midnight Order)(299L)
Chair, table: Eclectica Curiosities Twisted Garden Chair [mesh](Midnight Order)(275L)
Arched deck: CELESTE Arch Arcanum [mesh](Midnight Order)(275L)(262L)
Doll: Remarkable Oblivion RO - The Doll Maker - Bloody Mary Doll, gacha [mesh]
Tree: 3D Trees Ancient Virginia Live Oak M/T (175L)

Fog: {anc} mist cloud [Heavenlyblue] 1prim sculpt (349L)
Pathway, ground texture: HappyMood HPMD Dirt Road - brown [mesh](200L)
Grass: HappyMood HPMD* WildGrasses -green- a [mesh](180L)

Roses: Mesh Plants Rose Bush Pack - CM [mesh](150L)

Roses: Mesh Plants Climbing Rose Pack - CM [mesh](180L)

Landform: Jumbo Core Plat  River [mesh](95L)
Skybox: Mindgardens Creations MG - Skybox - Mystic Forest 60x30x24 Skybox - v2  [mesh](199L)

Thanks for your help, Akira!

Midnight Order : As the World Falls Down

(click to enlarge)

STORYLINE: Such a sad love. Laughter had fled the decaying Goblin City. The distressed goblins voted to send the Wisest among them to fix the problem. There in a crumbling throne room, surrounded by a mountain of books, was the fierce presence of their troubled leader. The Wiseman tried to sound sympathetic, "It's clear to this old one, a broken heart is the source of your Highnesses’ diminished power." The Goblin King shot him a burning glare. "It's not your fault, your Majesty. You had not been properly socialized with humans. They often say what they don't mean. Take this baby? Or make this baby stop crying? Who knows. You'll do better next time. Forget the raven haired beauty." The King rose to his full height and towered over the small trembling being. "Is my magic not absolute?" The Wiseman immediately bowed deeply and averted his eyes, "Yes, yes of course." The King roared and threw a book at him, "You understand nothing! She WISHED I do anything for her love! It's binding! Unbreakable, you nitwit! I was compelled to grant every ill-conceived notion that crossed her addled mind. Did it make her happy? Did she not see I showed her the error of her ways? NO!" he bellowed, "It made me a villain!" He sank back down on the throne and moaned in pain. "Even if I wanted to leave, I no longer have the power." His gaze turned to a broken stone arch, and looked somewhere far away. His voice trailed in despair, "banished from her life...." 

Suddenly, ray of light penetrated the gloom. A small snow goblin scampered into the room, climbed up on the throne, and offered an intriguing gift from the Academy of the Dark Arts. The King took the book and read its title out loud, "Chicken Soup for the Goblin Afflicted Soul." Intrigued, he glanced at the index and quickly turned to page 98. The sudden click of a heel made his head jerk up just in time to see a crystal ball materialize in front of him. Where did it come from? It wasn't his. His power had long since fled. The ball flew across the room and was caught by a blond spiky haired teen emerging from the shadows wearing the robes of the Academy, "You can thank me later, Mr Tricky" the lad narrowed his eyes. "By the way, that was my book. The Academy helped me overcome your surprise parting gift. You should be more careful who you mess with, I'm not a defenseless baby anymore. But let's not fight, there's someone who wished to see you." With the comic flair of a goblin showman, he stepped aside revealing his blushing older sister who had grown into a beautiful woman. He felt his heart skip a beat. She was terribly busy pretending the floor was interesting. "Just because life's not fair, doesn't mean the King can't impose fairness upon it. If you accept the terms of the deal, you can stay with my sister  half the year, and I will rule in your place with the full power of the King. When time is up, we will automatically switch places and this blasted curse will be lifted from me so I can live a normal life. We repeat the cycle every year. Do you accept the terms?" Speechless, the King had nothing snarky to say. His mouth hung open as he looked from his clever heir to the woman he loved. It wasn't like her to be shy, perhaps she was embarrassed, or felt shame? Maybe she was worried he would say no. When she finally had the courage to look into his eyes, all her doubts melted away. The happiest man in the Goblin Kingdom smiled at her and teased, "Come come, you didn't wish upon your poor brother to rescue me, now did you?"

That was fun. A little super condensed mini sequel to the movie classic Labyrinth. The whole idea for the post and story started with the Cryptdweller boots and pants by Quills and Curiosities, (which  reminded me so much of David Bowie), and the Chicken Soup books by Ivy that included Goblin. Both items are for sale at the new round of Midnight Order. Since its a new year, I thought it would be good try new things. The image is done in what I call the "illustrative style" my blogger bat buddy Aarya excels at. Thanks for the helps, Aarya! Also shown from Midnight Order are the super long horns by Static, tattoo layer Guhu skin by Ederigon to give his hands a more bird-like feel, as a nod to Jareth's shapeshifting to bird form. I hope you all enjoyed this. 

On him, the Goblin King:
Pants, boots: Quills & Curiosities Cryptdweller Bottoms, Silver, Jake [mesh](Midnight Order)(350L)

Horns: Static Lilith Horns [mesh](Midnight Order)(320L)
Body tattoo: Ederigon Guhu Skin - Soot, Plain 2 (Midnight Order)(250L)

Headdress: PENDULUM The Emissary . Headpiece, Mask - Silver [mesh](450L)

Finger jewelry: PENDULUM Hydrus, Black Chromatic, Jake [mesh](group gift)

Finger jewelry: PENDULUM JUVIUS, BC, Jake [mesh](group gift)

Arm armor: TURB Havok Armor Dark Arms, gacha [mesh]
Chest armor: LostHaven [LH] Vampiric Aristocrat Cuirass Male [mesh](750L)

Hair: RavenBell Ethiel Hair M1 [mesh](350L)

Corest: Artificial Hallucination AH+ Summer Sun Corset, Jake [mesh](399L)

Claws: L'Emporio&PL Oblio Vampire Claws male [mesh](350L)

Makeup: Bubble Goblin Royalty (135L)

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

Body: Belleza Jake 3.0 Bento/BOM Mesh Body  [mesh](2999L)

Pose: 3M MMMA_1807 (50L)

Setting:

Open book: Ivy Helping Books - Goblin [mesh](Midnight Order)(200L)

Throne: E-mesh Iron Queen Throne [mesh](240L)

Pet: HEXtraordinary Goblin Babes, Snow Wanderer, gacha [mesh]

Book staircase: 8f8 Storyteller's Burrow 35 Stairway to Knowledge, gacha [mesh]

Book stack: Quills & Curiosities Den of Inquiry [mesh](750L)

Stones: Evhah EVH Vampire Ruins [mesh]

Bokeh overlays: @starline

Thanks for your help, Aarya!