there's a second voice inside my head, it tells me shut up and trust this (part II)

(Continued from part I.)

We pick up where we left off, just starting the presentation.

[16:33] Wordsmith Jarvinen: Welcome to the presentation gala for the inaugural Gearhaven Endowment for the Arts, Sciences, Magick, and Metaverse Culture Prize for Steampunk Preservation. Thank you all for coming.

[16:34] Wordsmith Jarvinen: The Gearhaven Endowment for the Arts, Sciences, Magick and Metaverse Culture recognizes that interactive (and occasionally immersive) creation of speculative scenarios are vitally important to diversity of thought and experience.
[16:34] Lightweaver Balan listens
[16:34] Wordsmith Jarvinen: The goal of the endowment is to promote highly interactive and immersive roleplay across the Multiverse, with an emphasis on Steampunk, Dieselpunk, and Sci-Fi communities.
[16:35] Wordsmith Jarvinen: In 2006 Desmond Shang bought the first Caledon Sim. In 3 months that expanded to 5 Sims. Since then the Steamlands in Second Life have expanded to dozens of Sims.
[16:35] Wordsmith Jarvinen: Over the years, hundreds of people have put in thousands of hours creating the glory that are the collective Steamlands of SL.
[16:36] Wordsmith Jarvinen: And there have been some quite amazing creations.

So many of the wonders listed in that link, by the way? They're gone now. Speaking of things vanishing.

[16:36] Wordsmith Jarvinen: In their 15 years on the grid, Duke and Duchess Hiro-Shatner Orr have seen many of these sims rise to glory only to disappear back beneath the waves.
[16:36] Edward Pearse: Wow, they're old

Gosh, thank you, Edward. :p

[16:37] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener) grins!
[16:37] Lightweaver Balan: indeed
[16:37] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): laughs
[16:37] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) mutters, "SOOOO OLD."
[16:37] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) snerks
[16:37] Wordsmith Jarvinen: There are many reasons a sim or build may be lost, one of which is lack of funds to pay the tier.
[16:37] Wordsmith Jarvinen: To address this, the Duke and Duchess have instituted the Gearhaven Prize for Steampunk Preservation. Recipients receive a one-time payout of 25,000 lindens.
[16:38] Wordsmith Jarvinen: Two recipients have been chosen to receive the first Gearhaven Prize. Both have made significant contributions to Steamlands Culture. The first recipient is Michael Macbeth and his Tesla Theatre.
[16:38] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) creaks helpfully
[16:38] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth) bows respectfully
[16:38] Wordsmith Jarvinen: Opened 15 May 2018 in Victoria City, Caledon, the Tesla Theatre and Lounge hosts live stage productions of plays, musicals and ballets; live musician; and DJ led dances. The beautifully ornate two story edifice is an homage to Nikolai Tesla.
[16:38] Lightweaver Balan: yay
[16:38] Wordsmith Jarvinen: I'd like to invite Michael to come up and talk a little bit about the Theatre, the obstacles he has faced, and his future plans. Michael?
[16:39] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner) claps
[16:39] Bain Finch (bainfinch): ♪♫~ ღ♥ღ Applause ღ♥ღ~♫♪
[16:39] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener) claps
[16:39] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): ☆(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ * ¸.·'´)¸.·'´)☆
[16:39] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): •.¸¸.·` APPLAUSE!! ´·.¸¸.•
[16:39] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): ☆(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ * `'·.¸)`'·.¸)☆

I know, I know, I've hated gestures all these years, but...someone gave me this and...it's pretty, it makes a clapping noise, it has mild crowd sounds, and it's slaved to F1. I get it.

[16:39] Panza Finch (panza.eilde): ♪♫~ ღ♥ღ Applause ღ♥ღ~♫♪

[16:39] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth): Thank you Chancellor, Your Graces, distinguished colleagues one and all.

I've always sort of handwaved off the level of respect for being a Duchess. I know I'm only one because I married a Duke. But...honestly, this? Helping to pull this off? Knowing we're going to move forward with it? It's honestly the first thing I've been a part of where I actually think I might be starting to earn that 'Your Grace' title.

[16:40] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth): in 2009 I had been a theatre teacher in community colleges and high schools and produced or directed nearly a hundred plays.
[16:41] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth): I heard in Second Life, you could make a replica of your theatre and use it to map out your RL stage pieces. But I quickly learned it was much, much more.
[16:42] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth): I am really quite blessed I think- I get to make theatre shows, or revues, work with people from around the world, and put on amazing shows and spectacles, with the fun steam and dieselpunk flair which I have always enjoyed.
[16:42] ღ Vivian Song ღ (vivianasong): nods
[16:43] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth): This year will bring another major production as well as some live performances and DJ'd dances, with DJs such as Duchess Gabrielle Riel, and many others.
[16:43] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth): This isn't about making money, it's about making art, making a difference in peoplke's lives. Being the conscience of the people, and the mirror of their own conscience.

That, right there. Don't get me wrong, financing helps, absolutely, but--the goal has to go beyond just the acquisition of coin. Especially with theatre, which is the closest of any art form to reflecting who we are back at us, so we can better understand.

[16:44] ღ Vivian Song ღ (vivianasong): smiles
[16:44] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner) smiles
[16:44] Gʀɨʍօɨʀɛ (grimoire.hexem): Hear, hear.
[16:44] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth): I am very very grateful for this award and entreat you all, at your leisure to see the Tesla, and let me know what you might like to see performed.

And while I never doubted the second of the first two awards should go to Marshall Ortega, I hadn't heard of Mr. Macbeth's efforts before we looked into him and his theatre. I am so glad, and grateful, we chose to honor him as well.

[16:44] Bain Finch (bainfinch): cheers for the community builders

Always. And that's the point of this award, really.

[16:44] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth): Thank you all.
[16:44] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner) claps
[16:44] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener) applauds
[16:44] Panza Finch (panza.eilde): ♪♫~ ღ♥ღ Applause ღ♥ღ~♫♪
[16:44] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): hurrah!
[16:44] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): ☆(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ * ¸.·'´)¸.·'´)☆
[16:44] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): •.¸¸.·` APPLAUSE!! ´·.¸¸.•
[16:44] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): ☆(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ * `'·.¸)`'·.¸)☆
[16:44] Lightweaver Balan: **********Applause!!**********
[16:44] Circle2 Claven claps
[16:44] Lightweaver Balan: **********Applause!!**********
[16:44] ღ Vivian Song ღ (vivianasong): claps
[16:44] Saazerac (saazerac.atheria) applauds enthusiastically
[16:45] Edward Pearse: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
[16:45] Edward Pearse: ☆ -~*APPLAUSE*~-☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
[16:45] Edward Pearse: ☆-~*AWESOME*~-☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
[16:45] Edward Pearse: ☆☆~~-WoOoOoOoHoOoOoOo-~~☆☆
[16:45] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) grins
[16:45] RoseDrop Rust: Huzzah!

And I'm pretty sure those in the audience saw Mr. Macbeth's passion and spirit, too. That counts for a great deal.

[16:45] Wordsmith Jarvinen: Thank you Michael. The second award goes to Fuzzball Ortega and Steelhead Bay. Fuzz, please come up and tell us about the history of Steelhead Bay and your future plans.
[16:45] Wordsmith Jarvinen: For those who haven't been there, it's an enchanting region with Victorian houses and shops, attractive plants, a lighthouse, a pirate ship, an observatory, and an airship.
Zaida Gearbox (zaida.gearbox): jumps up and offers a steelhead
[16:45] Zaida Gearbox (zaida.gearbox): Hoooo!
[16:45] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) laughs
[16:45] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener) grins
[16:46] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): As is tradition!
[16:46] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner) laughs
[16:47] Fuzzball Ortega: Didn't work on a speech, my apologies, but I am used to being behind a podium
[16:47] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Quite all right.

Except he'd turned partially away from the crowd, facing a side wall. Seemed odd. I didn't figure out why until Justine uploaded her pictures of the event.

[16:48] Fuzzball Ortega: I came onto the Grid back in 2006, for those who remember Darien Mason, he and I were acquainted in other Aethernet circles, and that's where I found out about SL. He had described it as Sims On Acid, and I was intrigued
[16:48] RoseDrop Rust: heh
[16:48] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): laughs
[16:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Well, that's true enough.
[16:49] Gʀɨʍօɨʀɛ (grimoire.hexem): interesting description yet not inaccurate...
[16:49] Bain Finch (bainfinch): lol
[16:49] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener): Fleeb, indeed.
[16:49] Fuzzball Ortega: After arriving to the welcome area, he teleported me to the original Steelhead City, and that was where I stayed.

And this angle showed me what he'd been looking at, and..pure serendipity, really. In the rushed madness of getting maps back up, I hadn't bothered to do more than just make sure maps were up and visible, but...the wall Marshall Ortega's facing? Is the one that has the early map of Steelhead on it. He wasn't facing away from the crowd--he was remembering Steelhead's beginnings. There's something...so touching about that.

[16:49] Panza Finch (panza.eilde) wistfully wishes that Genie was here...
[16:50] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) nods.
[16:50] Fuzzball Ortega: A few years back, sadly, TotalLunar Eclipse was not able to make tier on the Steelhead regions, and they were shut down

It was a heart strike for many, both residents who lived there, and for Lunar, and for a great many residents of the grid, that loss left a hole in their lives.

[16:50] Edward Pearse: Yeah I guessed it was going to be THAT photo

Because of course it was. Honestly, I was surprised I'd still held onto it.

[16:50] Bain Finch (bainfinch): it's a great picture
[16:50] Fuzzball Ortega: For awhile, I wandered The Grid, even visited areas on the Mainland.
[16:50] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): It is...a picture. :p
[16:52] Fuzzball Ortega: I even made my home in Caledon for awhile. However, it wasn't quite Steelhead. So, around 2017, I thought Steelhead was gone long enough, and purchased Steelhead Bay.
[16:52] Bain Finch (bainfinch): :-)
[16:52] Bain Finch (bainfinch): that long ago?!?!

I know. Feels like just last year, doesn't it?

[16:52] Fuzzball Ortega: It has been a real struggle. I'm not a builder nor a terraformer. For awhile, I kept saying, "I'm not The Elf, but I'm trying my damnedest"

Having now terraformed most of two sims? I have mad respect for the difficulty levels involved.

[16:53] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Mmhmm.
[16:53] Dharma Bum (improvateur): Persistence furthers...
[16:53] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth) nods, totally relating
[16:54] Fuzzball Ortega: I did have some help along the way. But it's been a real struggle what with August 2019 thru November 2020 of being unemployed.
[16:54] Edward Pearse: Yeah I hear that one
[16:54] Dharma Bum (improvateur): ouch

Hard not to. That's relevant to so many right now.

[16:54] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) nods.
[16:54] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth) nods
[16:54] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): But perserverance and commitment.
[16:54] Zaida Gearbox (zaida.gearbox): we love our fuzzy
[16:54] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): Thanks for keeping it going
[16:55] Fuzzball Ortega: Several charitable individuals helped me keep Steelhead Bay afloat, even The Lindens were extremely helpful, some of you long time folks may remember my "Love Letters To The Lindens" in the past (the letters included some choice words for them to fix stuff)
[16:55] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener) grins
[16:56] Edward Pearse: *snerks*
[16:56] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) nods, grinning
[16:57] Fuzzball Ortega: So, now, my goal is to get more visitors to Bay. To bring back the town meetings. It may or may not get to the same level as the Steelhead of Old, but I'm a Steelheader, it's my home. And I'm going to continue to do my best to share that Steelhead Spirit.
[16:57] Fuzzball Ortega: Thank you.
[16:57] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): yay!
[16:57] Lightweaver Balan: **********Applause!!**********
[16:57] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener) applauds!
[16:57] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): ☆(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ * ¸.·'´)¸.·'´)☆
[16:57] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): •.¸¸.·` APPLAUSE!! ´·.¸¸.•
[16:57] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): ☆(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ * `'·.¸)`'·.¸)☆
[16:57] Edward Pearse: ☆ -~*APPLAUSE*~-☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
[16:57] Edward Pearse: ☆-~*AWESOME*~-☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
[16:57] Edward Pearse: ☆☆~~-WoOoOoOoHoOoOoOo-~~☆☆
[16:57] Edward Pearse: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
[16:57] Lightweaver Balan: **********Applause!!**********
[16:57] RoseDrop Rust: here here
[16:57] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner) claps
[16:57] Dharma Bum (improvateur): Bravo!
[16:57] Bain Finch (bainfinch): Huzzah!
[16:57] Circle2 Claven applause
[16:57] Bain Finch (bainfinch): ♪♫~ ღ♥ღ Applause ღ♥ღ~♫♪
[16:57] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth) claps
[16:57] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): yea!!!
[16:57] Panza Finch (panza.eilde): ♪♫~ ღ♥ღ Applause ღ♥ღ~♫♪
[16:57] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) grins happily
[16:57] Saazerac (saazerac.atheria) claps and claps

I left this bit in, because yeah, the applause really DID go on for some time, and it had gone on a while for Mr. Macbeth. Sometimes we never adequately see how much we're respected, until that respect is shown.

[16:57] Fuzzball Ortega: And that was a VERY old picture, Emilly.
[16:58] Wordsmith Jarvinen: Thank you, Fuzzball.
[16:58] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Yes, yes it was. :D
[16:58] Edward Pearse: With this endowment Fuzz can get a skin made after 2010? *grins*
[16:58] Panza Finch (panza.eilde): At least it wasn't The Hair.
[16:58] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): ouch
[16:58] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh, stop.
[16:58] Bain Finch (bainfinch): lol
[16:58] Fuzzball Ortega: Steelhead first, Fuzzball makeover second
[16:58] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Good to know your people still respect you, Fuzz. :D
[16:58] Wordsmith Jarvinen: The Gearhaven Prize will be awarded quarterly.
[16:59] Wordsmith Jarvinen: You can get more information about the Endowment and nominations for the Prize by clicking on the easel in the foyer.

Eventually, we'll make something more permanent to live there, but you know, even that felt appropriate--that I'd nipped over to our parcel in Steelhead to nab the easel with the information in it for the gala.

[16:59] Panza Finch (panza.eilde): Good man with simple tastes.
[16:59] Wordsmith Jarvinen: In the meantime, please enjoy your time here at Gearhaven, there are food and drinks in the kitchen to your left and out in the garden, and DJ Violet Scrivener will be providing the music for dancing!
[16:59] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): hurrah!
[16:59] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener) grins again
[16:59] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Actually, Justine asked me to move the food and drinks to the kitchen FROM the garden, so....

And most of us ended up dancing in the garden anyway, but no one seemed to mind.

[16:59] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): thank you Chancellor
[16:59] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): and thank you so much, Word, for being our MC today!
[17:00] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener) applauds!
[17:00] Panza Finch (panza.eilde): ♪♫~ ღ♥ღ Applause ღ♥ღ~♫♪
[17:00] Bain Finch (bainfinch): ♪♫~ ღ♥ღ Applause ღ♥ღ~♫♪
[17:00] Wordsmith Jarvinen: That's why it says "in the kitchen to your left"
[17:00] Wordsmith Jarvinen: A special thank you to the following people for providing historical photos and documentation:
[17:00] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): ah. hee!
[17:00] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) grins
[17:00] Wordsmith Jarvinen: Edward Pearse
[17:00] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): and congratulations to Mr. Macbeth and Marshall Fuzzball...
[17:00] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth): Thank you.
[17:00] Panza Finch (panza.eilde): here here
[17:00] Wordsmith Jarvinen: Give Edward a clap since he's here
[17:00] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): ☆(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ * ¸.·'´)¸.·'´)☆
[17:00] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): •.¸¸.·` APPLAUSE!! ´·.¸¸.•
[17:00] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): ☆(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ * `'·.¸)`'·.¸)☆
[17:00] Fuzzball Ortega: Thank you
[17:00] Wordsmith Jarvinen: Lady Aeval-Leigh
[17:00] Fuzzball Ortega: Hoooo!
[17:00] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): yay, edward!
[17:00] Bain Finch (bainfinch): ♪♫~ ღ♥ღ Applause ღ♥ღ~♫♪
[17:00] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): Claos
[17:00] Panza Finch (panza.eilde): ♪♫~ ღ♥ღ Applause ღ♥ღ~♫♪
[17:00] Bain Finch (bainfinch): ♪♫~ ღ♥ღ Applause ღ♥ღ~♫♪
[17:00] Bain Finch (bainfinch): *•.¸'*•.¸ ♥ ¸.•*´¸.•*
[17:00] Bain Finch (bainfinch): .•*♥¨`•BRAVO!!•¨`♥*•.
[17:00] Bain Finch (bainfinch): .•*`¸.•*´ ♥ `*•.¸`*•.¸
[17:00] Bain Finch (bainfinch): ♪♫~ ღ♥ღ Applause ღ♥ღ~♫♪
[17:00] Wordsmith Jarvinen: Kamilah Hauptman
[17:01] Wordsmith Jarvinen: And my pleasure to be able to announce today. Thank you

I won't lie, we had asked another presenter, who turned out to be unable to make it, but Mr. Jarvinen did so well. And we are beyond grateful to the Lyonesse, Lady Aeval, and Sir Edward Pearse, who went well above and beyond making sure we had access to historical maps from several sims in the steamlands, as well as other documents that helped put things into perspective.

[17:01] Bain Finch (bainfinch): said in a million times. Not the prims, it's the people that make communities in SL
[17:01] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Absolutely.

It is. And really, that's the point of the award, and in fact, the Gearhaven Foundation in the first place. To support and encourage those fostering connections between people, as much as those who have grand dreams and visions.

[17:01] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) smiles brightly! "let's turn over the stream to Ms Violet and have some fun!"
[17:02] Dharma Bum (improvateur): Welll said
[17:02] Wordsmith Jarvinen: People and the attitude to cooperate and create
[17:02] Gʀɨʍօɨʀɛ (grimoire.hexem) goes to enable sound...
[17:02] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) smiles
[17:02] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Gentlemen, do remember to take your trophies home with you.
[17:02] Zaida Gearbox (zaida.gearbox): Hoooo!
[17:02] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener): The garden is set up for the dancing .. and the weather looks like it will be agreeable. Also shadowy in places.
[17:03] Zaida Gearbox (zaida.gearbox): fuzzy! fuzzy! fuzzy! fuzzy!
[17:03] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): True.
[17:03] Gʀɨʍօɨʀɛ (grimoire.hexem): I do like shadowy places...

Indeed so. And we danced the rest of the night.

There were so many ways this could have gone wrong. There were so many ways it nearly did, from the sim having to be clawed back from the void by the Lindens, down to returning everything we'd set out for the gala, resulting in the move back to the old sim, which then needed to be decorated nearly from scratch because I'd been removing things as I transferred them over to Gearhaven Prime. But somehow, through sheer stubborn intransigence in some cases, we managed to get past every obstacle thrown in our way. And in the end, we got what we wanted--an event that was not about us, the organizers, but that brought more attention to our recipients. Who deeply deserve every iota of that spotlight.

And that was the end goal. That, I sincerely hope, will be the goal every quarter with the awards. We will be looking for future nominees, and we already have some names that helpful folks have tossed into the hat. Anyone can nominate someone they believe is worthy of consideration, after all, and we will consider anyone nominated. And it will get less intense from here, to be sure, but I'm hoping it will stay this meaningful.

there's a second voice inside my head, it tells me shut up and trust this (part I)

(This one, like the dinner party, is also going to be non-anonymized, but because this was an awards ceremony, and the recipients deserve the lauds.)

After spending most of the day frantically planting things in the garden for the gala, interrupted for script questions, building separate things, and moving furniture, I got a wailed IM and ported back to the main house.

[16:02] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): i'm sure we tested these.
[16:02] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): and yet, here we are.
[16:02] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I am very confused

Apparently I had had Justine laboriously set out--in two different iterations of Steamopolis, no less!--forty Dali chairs. That could not be sat upon. WHY.

[16:02] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Do we need to replace them
[16:03] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): i think so.
[16:03] Panza Finch (panza.eilde): LOL
[16:03] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): THIS DAY
[16:03] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I need eighteen ounces of gin, and all we have is the bottle of neurotoxic whiskey that I'm not allowed to drink!
[16:03] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): THIS DAY

You do not know how many times I thought of getting up and getting a shot, but...I had promised people I loved, and someone I once loved, that I wouldn't drink any more past the one shot necessary for the worship bargain. Go figure, they got concerned when the left side of my body went numb. For six hours.

The sensation came back, come on now...

[16:05] Bain Finch (bainfinch): sitting is highly over rated
[16:06] Panza Finch (panza.eilde): I think I'll stand.

There were other guests that chose to, so while we did set out workable chairs, at least the Finches were not alone.

[16:11] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): All right, I'm leaving this in your capable hands, Countess, I'm going to go see what I can rescue from the kitchen bundle
[16:11] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) grabs the drink tray on her way in
[16:11] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): we had chairs that looked good...
[16:11] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): but had an issue
[16:11] ΩღLina RodexღΩ (shannon.warden): i saw them i really did like them
[16:11] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): so we are setting up new chairs...sorry

Meanwhile, I was in the kitchen, gutting things out of the bundle of conjoined prims that had gotten returned on accident from Gearhaven Prime. We had both adults and urchins, so it couldn't just be alcohol. The caterers had set out deviled eggs and bread next to the coffee urn, so I just started rezzing out trays on a table nearby--rum, gin, tea, I think hot chocolate...and then threw my hands up and put the two trolleys we'd gotten from KittyCat's Creations for work out, on either side of her Cthulhu drinks stand...and it wasn't until I was leaving the kitchen that I realized I was putting out the Cthulhu drinks stand.

For guests.

Measure of stress, I suppose.

[16:12] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): Mr. Macbeth...thanks for coming...
[16:12] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth): You have a spectacular home!
[16:12] Gʀɨʍօɨʀɛ (grimoire.hexem) looks for a corner to darken...
[16:12] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth): Truly
[16:12] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener) shivers involuntarily
[16:12] Lightweaver Balan: wow someone lives here?
[16:13] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): a few of us do...
[16:13] Lightweaver Balan: good heavens
[16:13] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): we are in the process of moving to different sim...

I'm not including this to brag. It's just...Steamopolis started off as impossibly huge and complicated, and yes, awe-inspiring, but...at this point? It's where we live. And I was actually confused when people started reacting as if it was...well, what it was. Strange how we get used to things.

[16:16] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): We actually have several dark corners here! This room just has more light.
[16:16] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) reads back.
[16:16] ΩღLina RodexღΩ (shannon.warden): well i did open the door
[16:16] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Do I need to move some of the maps?
[16:16] ΩღLina RodexღΩ (shannon.warden): come in silly
[16:16] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): no the maps are perfect
[16:16] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth): *Tips hat and heads for the bar trolley*
[16:17] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh, all right.
[16:17] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): OH!

Because I'd just remembered.

[16:17] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener) quietly sips from a battered silver flask
[16:17] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Because I didn't think this through: A WARNING. Because I'm in no fit state to pick things up. Avoid the gear table with the wee cephalopod if you're not in an...experimental?...state of mind.
[16:18] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener): I thought it was a cake stand.
[16:18] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Some of the drinks are fine, most are eldritch, so....take your chances.
[16:18] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): i'll dip into them later...
[16:19] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) laughs
[16:19] ΩღLina RodexღΩ (shannon.warden): come on in
[16:19] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) looks up, "what have i missed?"
[16:20] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener) passes Lady Justine her flask

I should have grabbed something, but I was in the numb aftermath of the second day of panic. People told me later I looked very composed.

[16:20] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) clicks the stream on, considers changing it, thinks today that might mean something explodes, and leaves it.
[16:21] Edward Pearse: Should we run the stream?
[16:21] Michael Macbeth (michaelneff.macbeth) waves to Grim
[16:21] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): Your Grace, Duke Argylle thank you for coming
[16:21] Gʀɨʍօɨʀɛ (grimoire.hexem): Hello good sir.
[16:21] Gʀɨʍօɨʀɛ (grimoire.hexem): Been a while.
[16:21] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) takes a heavy swig from violet's flask and hands it back. "THANK YOU."
[16:21] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): ok.
[16:21] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh, we can, though I didn't invite you to the group to do that
[16:21] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) waves at Edward
[16:21] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I can, though!

I truly felt at this point that I was just clinging to the edge of something, expecting the something to explode, or dissolve, or...something unpleasant.

[16:21] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener) accepts the flask and winks to Lady J
[16:22] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): is violet flying?
[16:22] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener): Sadly, my typist is twitchy.
[16:22] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Not...to me?
[16:22] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener): So not officially.
[16:22] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Trust me, I resemble that remark.
[16:22] Panza Finch (panza.eilde): I tried one of those green drinks....quite refreshing.

Did someone put out absinthe? If not, we should lay in a supply for the next gala.

[16:22] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener): hee
[16:23] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And, considering the potential of all ages, we do have tea in the kitchen as well.

I sat and breathed for a bit as chat swirled around me.

[16:27] Fuzzball Ortega: Hello
[16:27] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Hello!
[16:27] ΩღLina RodexღΩ (shannon.warden): your good to go come on in they are inside
[16:27] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh, good, you're both here now!
[16:27] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): yay!
[16:27] Edward Pearse: Hey Fuzz
[16:27] Hiro Shatner-Orr (hiro.shatner): welcome!

Thank all the gods, they'd both made it. I relaxed fractionally.

[16:27] Panza Finch (panza.eilde) smiles as Fuzz arrives.
[16:28] Bain Finch (bainfinch): greetings
[16:28] Panza Finch (panza.eilde): Hullo Fuzz.
[16:28] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Also, brace yourself, Fuzz, i found a TRULY terrifying picture from The Olde Days of Steelhead. It's in the slideshow.
[16:28] Saazerac (saazerac.atheria) smiles and absorbs the scene "Hello all"
[16:28] Violet Scrivener (violetscrivener): Hello!
[16:28] Lightweaver Balan: better if the scene absorbs you
[16:29] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): No, no, did that yesterday, the entire sim absorbed me, thank you, but enough of that.

The bad crash. The bad, bad crash.

[16:30] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) looks up at the song.

It was "Little Red Corvette", and I guess I'd become fixated enough on making things as non-adult as possible, I was now twitching at the music.

[16:30] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Right, maybe enough streaming for now.
[16:30] ღ Vivian Song ღ (vivianasong): Awww, love this song!
[16:30] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): please find a seat, we'll be getting started momentarily!
[16:30] ღ Vivian Song ღ (vivianasong): wow, RIP Prince, you little eccentric oddball. WE love you!
[16:31] Gʀɨʍօɨʀɛ (grimoire.hexem): You know I don't sit, Justine.
[16:31] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh, I do too, but--we were sort of making the swerve away from adult matters for today?
[16:31] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) amends her previous statement. "everyone but Grim."
[16:31] Gʀɨʍօɨʀɛ (grimoire.hexem): yes, good.
[16:32] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) nods at Wordsmith, whispering, "i think we're ready."

(Credit to our attaché, Countess JustineJohndory Amethyst, for this shot.)

And we began.

(Continued in part II.)

show me a garden that's bursting into life (part II)

We continue in media res from the impromptu dinner party, from part one.

[18:30] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): Release the Kraken
[18:30] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh, you don't want her to do that :D
[18:30] Circle2 Claven just notices the tentacles
[18:31] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): *mywineglasscanhaveorangejuiceiamnotcomfortablewithhthis*

Apparently I'd missed when Justine laid out the drink options available.

[18:31] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): My eggs benedict I cooked this morning looked way better than this
[18:31] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Better

I'd selected their red wine. Much better than orange juice.

[18:32] Tevor Zenovka: I'm sticking to the wine.
[18:32] Circle2 Claven: hi Ash
[18:33] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) bows respectfully
[18:33] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): 'lo, Ash!
[18:33] Circle2 Claven: nice to see you again
[18:33] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): yay! ash jiejie!
[18:33] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): hello Orange cloud
[18:33] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs): Greetings Duchess Emily, Greetings Circle and Tevor and Cece and Justine!
[18:33] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) breathes!
[18:33] Tevor Zenovka: Hi Ash. Took a moment to realize who you were
[18:33] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): So....fourteen seat table?
[18:33] Tevor Zenovka: :)
[18:34] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): Hey look a Genie appeared from the orange smoke
[18:34] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): ha!
[18:34] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) grins "How is everyone this evening?"
[18:34] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): So far, doing well!
[18:35] Tevor Zenovka: Not been attacked by the kraken yet, so all is good
[18:35] Circle2 Claven: going well here too
[18:35] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): well, aside from the fact that every dish comes with kraken, apparently.

Not every dish. But a weirdly surprising number of them, yes.

[18:35] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs): Amazing!
[18:35] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): now ...
[18:35] Circle2 Claven loves sushi
[18:36] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) nods approvingly
[18:36] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): every dish?
[18:36] Tevor Zenovka: wait until you taste the kraken beignet
[18:36] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) drools
[18:37] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs): Who cooked tonight?
[18:37] Tevor Zenovka: we're still trying to find the cook to complain about the excess kraken
[18:37] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs): uhoh are we eating the cook?
[18:38] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Goodness, I hope not

Because if that's why she disappeared...we need to find out why.

[18:38] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) inspects the dinner plate
[18:38] Tevor Zenovka: a touch of Titus Andronicus for diner
[18:38] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) chuckles
[18:38] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): try clicking on the silverware.
[18:39] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Or Medea
[18:39] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): WAITNO
[18:39] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): NO ONE EAT THE BABIES

Seriously! They're too cute to eat! JUST LOOK AT THE LITTLE PILLOWS.

[18:39] Tevor Zenovka: Just drink. You;ll never notice the kraken in the wine
[18:39] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs): Kraken bits!
[18:39] Circle2 Claven: mmmmmmm
[18:40] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I won't lie, it seems to be a kraken-heavy feast
[18:40] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs): Greetings Alice!
[18:40] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Hello Alice!
[18:40] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): How is Tonya?
[18:41] Beta 1465: work last i spoke to here tdau was stressfull but shes well
[18:41] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): alice!
[18:41] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): welcome!
[18:41] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): please join us. have a drink. careful around the wine kraken.
[18:41] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Good.
[18:41] Tevor Zenovka: Hi Alice
[18:41] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) leans over to press soft lips to Alice's cheek
[18:41] Alice Illios (alicethekitty): things are loading
[18:42] Tevor Zenovka: this is a hell of a whack of scotch you gave me, J.

Apparently the standard measure of Scotch at this table? Came in a tumbler glass bigger than Tevor's hand.

[18:42] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Omnomnomnom coffee

I, on the other hand, was smart and requested coffee. S-M-R-T, smart, dass me.

[18:42] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): thannnnk you Justine
[18:43] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) stabs her fork in the kraken bits before offering it up to Alice for a taste "It's delicious"
[18:43] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) dismisses the wine kraken.
[18:43] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Hiro's also saying if this doesn't quite work? We can hold it in the Oceanpoint version

Because moving everything over has been a pain, and some things can only be moved by Hiro, and Hiro's been gone...

[18:44] Tevor Zenovka: It is best to stab it forst. It's a bit feisty
[18:44] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): chicken and waffles!

Yes. There is a menu option for chicken and waffles. No, I do not know why.

[18:44] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): nom!
[18:44] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): nom nomnom.
[18:44] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I will say for all the oddity--they at least have a recognizable English breakfast.
[18:44] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And they have fried green tomatoes.

Near as I can figure, whomever made this table was an expatriate Londoner currently living in N'Awlins?

[18:45] Dirty Secrets ~ Spanker: Cecelia Hadrian spanks Cecelia Hadrian.
[18:46] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) whispers: Cecelia share whatever you are drinking

No doubt.

[18:46] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Well now
[18:47] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I was just holding to the SL traditional of pouring coffee into my third eye, but I can switch to whatever that is
[18:47] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): Justine slipped me a Mickey
[18:47] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): She's tricksy like that
[18:47] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) gasps "where is mine?"
[18:49] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): did i not send you the scotch?

It's in the Scotch?

[18:49] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): i'm so sorry.
[18:49] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) chuckles
[18:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): You sent it to me!
[18:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) raises the glass
[18:49] Circle2 Claven sips his Earl Gray hot
[18:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Of course, now I'm tempted to wander through the Lovecraft drinks :D

Which are not in the table. They actually come from Kitty's Creations, who's been making drinks on the grid for thousands of years now.

[18:50] Tevor Zenovka: Yes, we need absinthe now
[18:50] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) bows her head gratefully "Thank you Justine, will this scotch make me spank myself as well?"
[18:50] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): i can share those as well.
[18:50] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): ummmm. do you need a drink to make you spank yourself?
[18:50] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) whispers: Yes....
[18:50] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) runs down the list. "Justine, did we try the Nyarlathotep Martini the last time we were at Lotus House?"
[18:50] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): she would rather spank you I am sure
[18:51] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Maybe I should stick to absinthe.
[18:51] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): umm, emilly, i'm not sure.
[18:51] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) swirls her drink before taking a slow sip
[18:51] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): and ... if ash needs to give someone a spanking, i'm putting my hand up now.
[18:51] Absinthe Suissesse: Sweet Mary's Deight, Emilly Shatner-Orr! This is AMAZING!
[18:51] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh, one of the talkative ones

To be fair, a lot of Kitty's drinks talk.

[18:52] Tevor Zenovka: I start to worry when my drink talks to me
[18:52] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Considering some of these? Yes.
[18:52] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) starts cracking her fingers "Justine tell me more about your Theater pretty please. Have you opened already?"
[18:53] Tevor Zenovka: a theater?
[18:53] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) grins
[18:53] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) perks.
[18:54] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) whispers: details please
[18:54] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): the theatre!
[18:54] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): well, right now, it's still at the old sim.
[18:54] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs): Yes!
[18:54] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) whispers: but, once we put in carcossa, right emilly?
[18:54] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh, the Mystic!

Remember the Mystic?

[18:54] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Yiss
[18:54] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) whispers: the castle and the mystic, right?
[18:54] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) grins.
[18:54] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): The Mystic will be there
[18:55] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): i can take you to see it at the old sim if you like!
[18:55] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): it's soooooooo pretty.
[18:55] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs): I would love that very much
[18:55] Circle2 Claven: Yes, very much
[18:55] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): cool! ok, well?
[18:56] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs): Have you started showcasing plays?
[18:56] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): field trip?
[18:56] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): no. we have NOT started, ash, which is why i wanted to talk to YOU.

And, if the new sim behaves, this is not beyond the pale--we will have an entire huge theatre in the desert, so....we actually could have theatre groups run plays, if they like the layout. It's not beyond the realm of possibility.

[18:56] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): :)
[18:56] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) chuckles
[18:56] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): tev, are you double fisting your drinks?
[18:56] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh-ho, Justine has plans TOO
[18:56] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs): I can only advise on debauchery Justine
[18:56] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): i'm pretty sure you've got wine AND scotch.
[18:57] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): i have dreams. i wouldn't call them actual plans yet.
[18:57] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): First play "The Ash's of Chaos" staring the Ash's ?
[18:57] Tevor Zenovka: no no, just keeping this one full
[18:57] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): hee!
[18:57] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) chuckles
[18:57] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): ah!
[18:57] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) looks beyond the screen.
[18:57] Tevor Zenovka: You planning on demanding a 36 hour day, J?
[18:57] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And, there is the call of disconnection.
[18:57] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): the caledon anniversary dance is starting shortly.
[18:57] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I knooooow, don't remind me!

Because it was happening during dinner. Everything fun in SL happens during dinner.

[18:57] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): anybody feel like dancing?
[18:58] Circle2 Claven: sure
[18:58] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): go visit the mystic then get dressed and go to a ball?
[18:58] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): At any rate, do enjoy, table seems to work, ta for now!
[18:58] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs): I would love to but I am expected to work a shift tonight
[18:58] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): Caledon is a bit G-Rated
[18:58] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): By choice, usually :D
[18:58] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): But there are dark areas here and there.
[18:58] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) grins
[18:58] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): see you later, duchess!

And that was the Kraken dinner party.

show me a garden that's bursting into life (part I)

Sometimes you plan a formal dinner. Sometimes you realize kraken have invaded the menu.

[17:52] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): the urge to have the gala here is very strong.
[17:52] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): if we could get the island looking nice by march 8th
[17:52] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): oh, i think we should go with march 8th.
[17:53] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Instead of the 7th?

I'd been up on this little balcony above the formal dining room, trying to invent a house banner from the mostly non-workable banner prototypes I had in the full-perm folder.

[18:01] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): emilly emilly emilly!!!!
[18:01] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): come sit!
[18:01] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): come sit!
[18:03] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) grins
[18:03] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Banners are being silly anyway

So, I picked a chair mostly at random, and sat. And...

[18:03] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Huh. Says drink, gives no drink.
[18:04] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): ah yeah. need to figure out the "giver"
[18:04] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) grins
[18:04] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): But hey!
[18:04] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): but ... look at the chair a the end of the table!
[18:04] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I have discovered how to write on the tablecloth!
[18:04] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) looks
[18:04] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Kraken under the table?

I don't have a picture of this, but trust me. Long formal dining table, elegantly set, huuuuuuuge tentacle coming from underneath the tablecloth.

[18:04] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): yes, kraken attack!
[18:05] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): now, at the other end of the table ...
[18:05] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): there we go.
[18:05] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) grins

She tapped the table, and another tentacle emerged, and coiled around the chair at the head of the table.

[18:05] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): ha!
[18:05] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh EEP
[18:05] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Okay, that's hysterical
[18:05] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): THAT is really why i wanted this set.
[18:06] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): ok, lemme see if i can give you a drink....
[18:06] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) frees you from the kraken.

Yay!

[18:07] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): People. People. That is not a drink.

As I recall, it was something that sounded like a frothy confection of a drink, and it turned out to be fruit and sorbet on a plate.

[18:07] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): GAH
[18:07] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Also not a drink
[18:07] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): what?

Another menu item, another hope dashed.

[18:07] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): did i not just hand you a wine glass? what was it?
[18:07] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): You di----
[18:07] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): .........
[18:08] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Very active, uh....soup

The menu for Entrees featured a soup, and I wanted to see what it was. I touched the plate to request it, and the bowl arrived, and the soup...waved at me with its little tentacles.

[18:08] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): incoming friends. :)
[18:08] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): what?
[18:08] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) pokes at the tentacles
[18:08] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): oh dear! tentacle soup!
[18:08] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): hi, Cece!
[18:08] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): join us!
[18:08] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): "Kraken Bisque", apparently
[18:08] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): lol!
[18:09] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): If it starts talking it gets thrown across the room
[18:09] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): oh come now, you can't tell me you're squeamish around tentacles. i know better!
[18:09] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) laughs
[18:09] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Well, I'm not generally eati--
[18:09] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Hmm.
[18:09] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Mrf.
[18:10] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): cece, do you know the duchess emilly shatner-orr?
[18:10] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Hello there!
[18:10] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh, gad, more kraken on the main course

Why are there so many cephalopod-heavy dishes in this menu? That's what I want to know.

[18:10] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Were we mad at the kraken? Is that why it's in soup now?
[18:10] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) peers at her plate
[18:10] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): where did you get the meal menu?
[18:10] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Yup, those are kraken bits

To be fair, that menu option was titled "Kraken Bits".

[18:11] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Click on the silverware
[18:11] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): ah ta.
[18:11] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): Well yes and no, I have seen her at event but she has been very occupied, but I think you introduced us at Saaz's coming out party
[18:11] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): ah. well, join us please!
[18:11] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): we're just testing out this dinner set.
[18:11] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I do that. Also highly distractable. And occasionally oblivious.
[18:12] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): this is one massive table

It's a massive dining room.

[18:12] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): i think the chairs need to be just a smidge higher.
[18:12] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Ooh, it has lamb
[18:12] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And yes
[18:12] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): well, this is a massive house.

It really is. Steamopolis, the ancestral home of the AiNeko line, is based on Ulysses Cabaret's Steampolis steampunk mansion. (By which, I mean, Hiro called it Steamopolis, and so I do, and until this moment I didn't actually know it was 'Steampolis'. But hey. Our house now. We can rename it.)

[18:12] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Truth
[18:12] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) calls in reinforcements.
[18:12] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) claps at the English Breakfast offering

Let's be honest, here. I am not English. A true English person would probably be appalled. But to me, just seeing the presence of black pudding on a plate makes me happy.

[18:13] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): let's put this table through its paces. [18:13] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): It has black pudding Yay!
[18:13] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Wait. What on earth is....huh.
[18:13] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Okay.
[18:13] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I guess.
[18:14] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): what is it?
[18:14] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Apparently "Rezday Cake" is a giant cupcake with pink frosting and a candle
[18:14] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) peers.

And that really was it. It didn't explode. It was just a really huge cupcake on a plate.

[18:14] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): there's a rezday cake in the menu?
[18:14] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): that is awesome!
[18:14] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Under desserts.
[18:14] Tevor Zenovka: Hello, hello
[18:14] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): hi, tevor!
[18:14] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): welcome!
[18:14] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): please, join us.
[18:14] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): "Tea Plate". Erk.
[18:15] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): tevor, do you know the duchess emilly?
[18:15] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): Justine Haggis for you lol
[18:15] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): All right, tea pastries is better.

I don't know why, but I was truly expecting actual tea on the tea plate? Silly, I suppose.

[18:15] Tevor Zenovka: waiting for the orange clouds to disperse.
[18:15] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): We've met!
[18:15] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): and this is my guild sister cecelia.
[18:15] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): cece, tevor and saaz are besties.
[18:15] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): WHY DOES THE GEEK PIZZA TURN.....Oh.
[18:15] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): but he still hangs out with me sometimes.
[18:15] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): It has gears.
[18:15] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oooookay.
[18:15] Tevor Zenovka: pppffft
[18:16] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): oh neat!

No! Not neat!

[18:16] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): thought he looked familiar
[18:16] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I do not want to eat gears!

I don't! They get in your teeth, and then your teeth make the crunching sounds, and then you wonder why your mouth is filled with blood. Just no. Rather avoid that, thanks.

[18:16] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): lol.
[18:16] Tevor Zenovka: as if you have more than a moment a week with your jam packed schedule
[18:16] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): i don't know what you're talking about.
[18:16] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Also, under "Lunch/Tea" options? Avoid the Redneck Calamari.

It's terrifying.

[18:17] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): now you got me curious
[18:17] Tevor Zenovka: Dignified. Yes, that's the pose for me

The chairs at this table occasionally misbehave.

[18:18] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): That's a holiday feast? Which holiday?

It just looked like...random meats, a green veg, mash, and a squiggle of something that could either be cranberry sauce or brown gravy. No clue.

[18:18] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) snerks.
[18:18] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): laughs hotdogs cut to look like squid lol
[18:18] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): It's...depressing
[18:19] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): snickers
[18:19] Tevor Zenovka: I am unclear on how to see the menu
[18:19] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Silverware
[18:19] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) peers in the soup bowl
[18:19] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I hate to tell the caterers, but...that is not turtle.

I know. I have eaten turtle soup before. Of course, it was back before I realized that in many places, the turtles used to make the soup are endangered, but...nevertheless. The chunk of undefined meat in the soup bowl did not look like turtle. If anything, it looked like boiled pork belly.

[18:19] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): i'll have a word.
[18:20] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) selects Spring Salad
[18:20] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Please don't have springs, please don't have springs--

It did not have springs. Yay.

[18:20] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Okay, we're good
[18:20] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): that sounds pretty safe
[18:21] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Ooh. They got all fancy with the beet salad.
[18:21] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Regular AND heirloom beets.
[18:21] Tevor Zenovka: I think I'll stay with the wine and catch up
[18:21] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) laughs
[18:21] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I'm just checking out menu options, because....this was what I selected after blindly assuming Lunch/Tea options meant getting tea
[18:22] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And, well...
[18:22] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) points at the twitching

I'd summoned out the Kraken Bisque again.

[18:22] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): ha!
[18:22] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): oh, sorry.
[18:22] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): in english, "tea" is a meal. not a beverage.
[18:22] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Ah
[18:22] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): This explains much
[18:22] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): in new zealand, "tea" can be morning or afternoon tea.
[18:23] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): or, it is often used as a synonym for dinner.
[18:23] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) nods
[18:23] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I live amongst the uncivilized :D
[18:23] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): in the US Tea is well umm Tea

What she said.

[18:23] Tevor Zenovka: the pastry is a bit flat
[18:23] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) snerks

Ha, ha. (For those who may not get the joke without visuals, most--though certainly not all--of the offerings in this table are essentially flat picture prims that rez out on the plate.)

[18:23] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): yeah. well, here in hobbit-land, we eat 7 meals a day.
[18:23] Cecelia Hadrian (haadrian): lol
[18:24] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): welcome, circle!
[18:24] Tevor Zenovka: Hi Circle
[18:24] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): please, join us.
[18:24] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Hello!
[18:24] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): circle, everyone, everyone, circle.
[18:24] Circle2 Claven: Hi Justine, everyone
[18:25] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Just FYI, Justine, dinner "starts" at six, so of course, I think people are still sleeping :D
[18:25] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): But I may be poked off the keys at any time
[18:25] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): ah, yeah. ok.
[18:25] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) grins
[18:25] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) declares this an accidental dinner party and starts tossing out invitations willy nilly.
[18:25] Tevor Zenovka gingerly tastes the kraken
[18:25] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Ah, for the lost days of yore, when dinner happened at five....
[18:26] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) tsks at the beignets. Not proper beignets, either.
[18:26] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): All right, how wrong can you get cheese?
[18:26] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh!
[18:26] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Just cheese.
[18:26] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Yay!

It is truly a sad day when a plate of sliced cheese makes you happy...because it doesn't contain gears, tentacles or hot dogs.

[18:27] Tevor Zenovka: may be best to just go right to dessert
[18:27] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): ok, so if you click on your wine glass you can change the contents.
[18:27] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): red wine, white, ice water, orange juice.
[18:28] Circle2 Claven: I guess I should change my own glass
[18:28] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): well, the help has the day off today, so yes.
[18:28] Tevor Zenovka: beignet soup?
[18:28] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): AH, that's why you're training the kraken
[18:29] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) calls for the wine kraken.

Not entirely sure this will work long-term.

[18:29] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): We need to lay out a place in Carcosa for the castle
[18:29] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): he only serves red, though.
[18:29] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And then put the castle out
[18:29] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): yes.
[18:29] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And then bring the kraken over here
[18:29] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): this table is no copy, sadly. so it's either one or t'other.

And we'll pick up the rest in the second part.

and here we stand, the sweet arresting duality

(Light roleplay entry.)

The uplift is complete.



Also, there's something mystical and lovely about dancing with a group of known pagans, heathens and atheists, whose sole intent is to dance, chat a bit, and leave all the nonsense behind in a very accepting, mellow setting. I'm really starting to like the Wandering Star.

At any rate..."On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me..." SNAKES, apparently.



No, it's only Christmas today, actually, and no one had to give me evil snakes, they come with the territory. In this case, the territory being the snowy moon of Haven. And I'm the idiot who decided tromping around in the snow looking for ores to sell was a great idea.



Get away get away get AWAY! I thought the "Anti-Arc" was supposed to keep them off me!



Did I also mention Haven has feral wolves? That will attack if I get close enough? Note how I'm not getting close enough.



Oh, great, now there's two snakes near me! Find someone else to harass!

Also, I am curious--did this particular wolf suffer an injury? And someone patched up the leg, and wrapped it in jolly holiday red? Why??

In other news...



I put a dance floor in Gearhaven's garden. Right now, it's not scripted to do anything but rotate, but I'm fond of it.



And NuTanis is coming along swimmingly.

To that end--the Gearhaven end, not the cyber-city end--we may have to delay the first Gearhaven prize. We'd targeted that for somewhen in January, and we may still be able to, but the holidays have proven busier than expected, plus, the Duke's planning at least a "soft" open for Gearhaven in January. We've had some time to discuss potential candidates, so there are names in the hat, it's just...time, and availability, and lack of holiday stress...it's...somewhat daunting.

Tales of the Gearhaven Foundation

Nerdist has an article on a very well done video comparing the sizes of various structures in speculative fiction. Definitely worth the watch.

Meanwhile, slowly but surely, the Gearhaven Foundation is being put together for a launch. This will be a charitable effort to support steampunk (and dieselpunk) institutions, businesses, clubs, designers, artists, musicians...basically, anyone someone thinks deserves an award? We'll consider. Established or new, the field is open.



Just drop by the Gearhaven Estate in Caledon II and grab a notecard from the portrait, or drop your suggestions in the mailbox nearby!



And since--for mysterious reasons known only to the Sheriff--I still had a parcel, lo these millenia later, there, we've also put out a notecard giver at the Armada Convalex in Steelhead Bay.

The text of the notecard in both locations:

♔ What is the Gearhaven prize?

The Gearhaven Prize is given out by the Gearhaven Foundation to individuals, businesses, groups or sims that embrace the spirit of what makes steampunk (and dieselpunk) an important, if niche, genre.

♔ When is it given out?

Quarterly, starting in January 2021.

♔ Who can be nominated?

Anyone that is doing something for steam that should be recognized, be that a charity group, an estate, a club, a clothing designer, a sim, an educational effort--tell us who you think deserves it, and we'll decide.

♔ Who decides?

Right now, the Duke and Duchess of Gearhaven, and Lady Justine of Gearhaven, but we are open to advice, and we will be adding jury members in time.

♔ How do you accept nominations?

In front of the Gearhaven Estate in Caledon II is a mailbox keyed to Duke Hiro Shatner-Orr. Drop notecards off there, or contact him directly with your nominees.

And that's it. Oh, there's work still to do--we need to finalize Gearhaven's coat of arms, for one, and then come up with a foundation logo, and eventually we'll need a website, most likely--but this starts the process. I'm quite looking forward to it.