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.

take my breath as your own, take my eyes to guide you home (part two)

(Continued from part one.)



Under Club Aruba is...a sea city.



Caustics are used to stunning effect here and there.



Oh, my gods, it is so beautiful down there...so many varieties of kelp and sea plants.



You can get to Aruba simply enough, but keep in mind, everything under the waves requires a tail or gills. Or a rebreather.

And above the waves? Dances for the legged, airship battles, and everyone's welcome--from steamlands denizens to humans to elves to furs to mers. It's a one-stop acceptance shop.

I like that. There are too few of those places these days.



A shot of the arcing red orbs from the particle machines.



Center floor's now rigged for rockets. Remind me never to dance in the center!

[14:32] Maria (rain0bow): foam
[14:32] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh no
[14:32] Jon (jonform.coeur): sprinklers kicked in
[14:32] Maria (rain0bow): love it
[14:32] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Welp, dry-cleaners for this, now
[14:32] Maria (rain0bow): fiesta de la espuma (foam party)
[14:32] Fleming Helfenstein (mountainhall): Good to have a lot of foam around when having fireworks :-)

Would cut down on the chance of fire!

take my breath as your own, take my eyes to guide you home (part one)

So, I've been involved with the Aruba people for a bit, now--I even turned in an entry on their marvelous ballroom a while back--but today was the grand opening of their new dance space, Club Aruba Deep.



Now, I don't know how it's going to operate from here--right now, it's a platform over the wide Aruban sea, and it's going to switch off between landlubber events (today's) and dances for the finned (so does that mean this platform drops? Who knows?)



It's a lovely build. I've never been the market for sun and sand and palm trees, but it's pretty.



The DJ today was Crim Mip--never heard him before, he's good, but the REALLY amazing thing? The suit he was wearing was ANIMATED:



It's a terrible gif, but it gives some idea of what it did in person. Awesome.



I didn't grab names for everyone, 'cos that's not usually the point these days? But Svetlana Salomon threw off her fins for the event, and I caught that because she came in with stunning silver scales.

(And that dress, I learned later? Changes COLORS. Also amazing.)



They went all out on particle effects, too. One setting spawned random words--I caught "PARTY" and "DANCE" before the effect shifted--while another tossed sprays of silver stars or red dots. And then there was this one, which spawned an entire planetary system to float overhead.

[13:09] Jon (jonform.coeur): try it on midnight setting it looks cool

And...ooh. He's not wrong. (He also owns the Aruba Deep sim, or at least, the clubs over and undersea.)

Though wau, you can really tell who still believes in facelights...



[14:04] Svetlana Salomon: Is it like in the movie with Kevin Costner? When all the world is ocean, and when he dives down you see flooded cities heehee ㋡
[14:04] Jon (jonform.coeur): hmm kind of

So I cammed down to check.

And...that deserves its own entry, frankly. Onward!

you were in my dream last night, but your face was someone else's

Oh, not this again.

[20:42] bxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Hi Everyone! New here, love to meet new people. Would any lady like to chat/talk?

We've heard this before.

[20:42] Emilly Orr: One day old, soliciting in a store group. Good luck with that.

Pulled his profile, shook my head, because seriously--one day old, he's jumping into store groups with a 'ladies hit me up' line? Come on, now. Does that ever work?

[20:43] Axxxxx Cxxxx: come party woth us
[20:43] bxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: where at?

They don't say it here, but I know from the conversation at the end of this--someone far more patient than I am ported him in to her club. Didn't...work out.

[20:43] Cxxxxxxx Gxxxxxxxx: right emilly
[20:43] Cxxxxxxx Gxxxxxxxx: XD
[20:43] Emilly Orr: Honestly, doesn't even phase me any more.
[20:43] Txx Axxxx: read profule, same as [Bxxxx] from before, lol

Cue aaaagh, because that particular individual haunted the group through several iterations of "please let me be your doormat", to the point that it became a running joke.

[20:43] Txx Axxxx: bless
[20:44] Emilly Orr: Oh, no, really?
[20:44] Emilly Orr: That's very nearly an insta-block
[20:44] Emilly Orr: I stopped at one day old, no SL pic
[20:44] Txx Axxxx: He is just looking in the wrong places

Well, hasn't everyone at least once? But this does go a tad far.

[20:45] Emilly Orr: Truth
[20:45] Emilly Orr: Like, possibly-[Bxxxx] [bxxxxxxxxx] person: Try, y'know, looking in femdom groups? Just as a suggestion?
[20:50] Exxxxxxxxxx Mxxxx: lol Emily, I brought him over to my event at a Femdom and he left

This would be the lass I mentioned above, who decided to help him out. Only...

[20:50] Zxxx Wxxxxxxx: lol
[20:50] bxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i am trying to get a better avi
[20:51] Axxxxxxx Vxxxxxxx: lol
[20:51] Emilly Orr: Oh, don't EVEN

Because if I'm fed up with guys seeking girls in all the wrong places, I'm past done with guys scamming for Lindens. Not only no, but hell no.

[20:51] bxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: why not?
[20:51] Zxxx Wxxxxxxx: guess him claiming being submissive, was #fake too lol

Probably.

[20:51] Emilly Orr: Do NOT beg in here
[20:51] bxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i'm not fake..was trying to get a avi
[20:51] Emilly Orr: Uh-huh

That's what they all say...

Conversation stalled there, but my IMs pinged, so I clicked over a tab. This was the lass that ported him to her club:

[20:54] Exxxxxxxxxx Mxxxx: lol he said I was rude and uncool and insulted him in that group
[20:54] Emilly Orr: How?
[20:54] Exxxxxxxxxx Mxxxx: evidently because I said I tp'd him here and he left
[20:54] Emilly Orr facepalms

Of, fer gossakes. How can someone be rude by trying to give you what you want? That makes zero sense.

[20:55] Exxxxxxxxxx Mxxxx: I told him that wasn't rude, He's in for a rude awakening around this place if he thinks that's rude
[20:55] Emilly Orr: Yeah, really. Poor delicate flower.

I mean, sure, he's one day old, assuming he's not a new face for an old spammer, but...seriously?

[20:55] Exxxxxxxxxx Mxxxx: yeah, he's not got the stuff to be a sub
[20:56] Emilly Orr: Tch. Sounded like that was what he wanted. Go figure.
[20:57] Exxxxxxxxxx Mxxxx: it really did didn't it. I have been djing at this femdom for 11+ years on friday nights. Figured I'd hook him up.
[20:58] Emilly Orr just shakes her head
[20:58] Emilly Orr: Even with help, some people.
[20:58] Exxxxxxxxxx Mxxxx: That's true. And I tried to tell him he's not going to get another avi for free. He said he didn't want to hear it from me because I insulted him, was rude and uncool. Oh well. I TRY to help noobs. He's beyond it
[20:59] Exxxxxxxxxx Mxxxx: anyway, thought I'd tell ya I tried
[20:59] Emilly Orr: Well, more power to you!

I feel for her. She's just trying to be nice to some poor little subby boy, and what does he do? Call her rude and storm off because she won't buy him an avatar. The nerve of some people.

integrity, honesty, its too late for me

Well, this was...ick:

[22:26] ixxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: a free [p***y] with hud and sounds inclus here [just gave the sim name and the number coordinates, no actual SLUrl]
[22:27] bxxxxx Bxxxxxx:
[22:30] Emilly Orr: That's...not a SLUrl.
[22:31] Oxxxx Sxxxxxxx: it can happen when you copy one, you can pop that name into the map
[22:31] Oxxxx Sxxxxxxx: and coordinates
[22:33] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: hit Map
[22:33] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: stand infront of the board
[22:33] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: then hit Copy SLURL on the 'map' screen
[22:34] Nxxx Exxxxxxxxxxx: i think its fake bot person.. same message in multiple groups

So...sure, I pulled the profile, as is my wont. She's not a native English speaker, and she has eight years on the grid, so I'd say she's old enough to know better, if she hasn't been hacked. Beyond that and a few of her groups giving some indication of her interests, there's vanishingly little additional info on her profile.

[22:34] ixxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: no its not
[22:35] ixxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: come see

Really, not interested. Plus, I was busy. But then she IMed me:

ixxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx has given you this landmark:
[name of club]

Oh, what new fresh hell is this...

[22:36] Emilly Orr: Newp, not interested in going to a club, thanks.

I just hit discard.

[22:35] Emilly Orr: Ew. Multiple groups?
[22:35] Oxxxx Sxxxxxxx: not sure that wording or content is ok here

I'm not sure either? Though I did read through the group's rules on their website, and they don't specifically cover intimate bits, per se? So not sure. Though I'd hazard a guess that the terminology plus the complete failure to post properly, added to the fact it's a club, not a store, would get a scolding were a mod on.

[22:35] Emilly Orr: I wasn't either, but I figured I'd err on the side of 'new person to posting here'.
[22:35] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: well, if you post the actual link, we WILL come
[22:35] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: do the thing I said
[22:35] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: hit the Map button
[22:35] gxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i went and it's a club
[22:35] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: and then hit Copy SLURL
[22:35] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: and paste it here
[22:35] Emilly Orr: Double ew.
[22:35] Axxxx Bxxx: just open your map and type in
[22:35] Rxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxx: no pun intended ?
[22:36] Axxxx Bxxx: dont ned one but i do wonder what sound it has lol
[22:36] Axxxx Bxxx: splashes?
[22:36] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: if someone got to the thing, can you TP me?
[22:37] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: or post the damn SLURL?
[22:37] Axxxx Bxxx: [posted proper SLUrl this time]
[22:37] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: ty
[22:38] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: where do you see the free [p***y] thing?
[22:39] Axxxx Bxxx: no ide
[22:39] Oxxxx Sxxxxxxx: 1. Group Chat IS allowed. Please be considerate and respectful to the other members. DO NOT gossip! Discriminatory discussions involving racial, sexual, religious, political, vulgar, and argumentative views are disallowed. Take any arguments to private IM. The group is not meant for debates or belittling of others. Basically if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.

Figured it was only a matter of time before someone posted the group rules.

[22:39] gxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i only saw girls there and a dance floor, no gift
[22:39] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: ah, right inside the door
[22:39] Oxxxx Sxxxxxxx: that covers at least 2 words
[22:39] Emilly Orr: The SLUrl [Ixxxxxxx] sent me--unasked--was to "[name of club]", and...I could not be less interested if I had actually died.

Because if I ask for it, that's one thing, but if someone just wants to gank me into their club? Not cool, not cool at all.

I also looked up the club. This is from their place bio:

"Place for All Nylon Lovers!!! pantyhose tights stockings feet foot fetish dancer go-go girls meet people europe russian girls relax fashion shows soul 80's music pole dance pad french german english private room lounge"

Not surprising, about what I expected. And I'm not kink-shaming here--truly, if I was going to shame anyone's kinks, Dolcett is the top of my list, not nylons. (For all I've been hassled more by weird nylon wrestling fetishists than any other kink group). But in all seriousness, does that sound like a place with an MM board? Or even a free gift?

[22:39] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: [posted the club SLUrl again]
[22:40] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: im infront of it
[22:40] Txxxxx Axxxxxx: will TP anyone who wants
[22:40] Rxxxxx Sxxxxxxxxx: lol Emilly
[22:40] Oxxxx Sxxxxxxx: no thanks

Here's the thing. This particular group isn't dead-set against adult items, nor are they that draconian about language, but this went beyond the pale for them. And I expected what the group members still up said. When posting in a freebie/gift/MM group, you want to list the item, the numbers on the board, free group needed or no group needed, and the SLUrl. She failed in nearly all aspects with her initial post.

And that's really all, it's not hard. No spamming, no misdirection to get traffic to your club, no missing links, and please, please wait until someone actually asks to send a port. Because that's just tacky.

we're in this alone, we bow to no one

Oh...boy. Here we go.

[16:16] jxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Hello!

Oh, gods. This came with a big, booming male voice gesture shouting "HELLO!". Why. Why was that necessary?

And...this was him:



Yes, that censor box does need to be that big. He didn't have just rampant genitalia, he had an uncircumsized log.

[16:17] Emilly Orr: Hi there
[16:17] Emilly Orr: Two years old and you're still shopping naked.

I'd been facing another direction, trying to get things to rez in, and then I'd turned around. First thing through my mind came out of my mouth, but can you blame me? Not only shopping naked; not only shopping naked erect; shopping naked with a foot-long summer sausage at hip level.

[16:18] jxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: how are you beautiful
[16:18] Emilly Orr: Doing well.

I really didn't know what else to say.



Right after I snapped this, he jumped on the floor mat behind him and went into pose. I could clearly see that the mat said "forced", so...not interested. I wandered. Ten minutes later, when I'd determined there was nothing suitable for Sakura, I wandered through the bedrooms (I am ever on the search for an Adult bed with rationally named poses), and found him on one of the beds, madly thrusting away into air.

I left.

But after that--and I can only assume he'd IMed originally as I was leaving--came this:

[16:19] exxxxxxx Exxx: hi
[16:19] Emilly Orr: Hello.

Guarded? Why, yes--after the first fellow, do you blame me?

[16:19] exxxxxxx Exxx: how are you
[16:20] Emilly Orr: Doing well.

I was starting to feel like a walking echo chamber.

[16:21] exxxxxxx Exxx: you are alone?
[16:22] Emilly Orr: Well, define 'alone'.
[16:23] Emilly Orr: Do you mean right now, or in general?

That's when he offered to teleport me. To another Adult sim.

[16:23] exxxxxxx Exxx: other place
[16:23] Emilly Orr: And...why would I be going there?
[16:23] exxxxxxx Exxx: for fun
[16:23] Emilly Orr: Oh, in that case, I can send over my rate card.
[16:24] Emilly Orr: But if you're not interested, I perfectly understand.

Of course he wasn't going to hire me. I knew that. Seven years old, no info on his SL page, no FL info or picture, no picks of any kind. Of course he wasn't interested in anything beyond free sex.

[16:24] exxxxxxx Exxx: ok byee
[16:25] Emilly Orr: Enjoy!

Color me unsurprised.

Seriously, this was my look for the day.



To me, this doesn't say "Take me, take me now!" All I was doing was shopping around for potential replacement furnishings for the club. I wasn't dressed for the club, and I wasn't dressed to impress. I was dressed for autumn comfort--boots, sweater, argyle wool skirt. My hair was even windblown.

Anyway, that was that. Mr. "I want you for five minutes, ten if you're lucky" never said anything after that, and neither did the log-bearer.

So, more scattered images from Halloween wanderings.



I was honestly looking for a sales sign to see what that store had on offer, when I ran across this. I'm not sure exactly what's going on. Does one ride the burning bull? Does one try to put the fires out? Does one dance before it and try to get it to charge? I have no clue.



Second, sighting of immodest statue on moderate sim. Now, that in itself is not precisely untoward, as by the ToS nudity is allowed as long as there's no sexual activity, or Adult furniture nearby in sight range.

However, I had to fight very hard to take a picture that was as 'figleafed' as I could get it, and if you look carefully, under the male's arms, you're actually still seeing part of his bits. Full on, his bits are erect and visible caged. Both are collared and on leashes. So, while in one sense, they're perfectly legal, for me they do skate that line of what is innocuous nudity, and what is sexual objectification.

It's very well done, don't mistake me. I just headtilted seeing it.



Finally, this is just a pretty picture from Redeux's Halloween event. This is of the entrance, before walking into the event proper, and a ghost drifted by at just the right time. I had to take the picture.

call me any name you like, I will never deny it

So, I'm irritated by this. This is currently the Dark Spa at work:



It doesn't look great, no.

This is inside:



I'm still not sold on the purple.

Why, you may ask? Well, I'd willingly tell you, in EXCRUCIATING detail, but as upper management pointed out, even anonymizing conversations I have in most work situations does not really cover things. And is indiscreet. And they're right, I agree.

But.

I HAVE both notecards, both the rant to a fellow Blossom, and the rant to me, and that fellow staffer has their full UUIDs in case they decide to show up and rant again, because we are so over people whining that they can't do what they want on a free sex sim.

PRO TIP, YOU IDIOTS, WE ARE NOT A FREE SEX SIM. "Adult" does not equal "free sex". My gods, there are sims that are rated Adult because they're violent RP sims, where character death occurs. THOSE sims do not equal "free sex" because they're Adult rated, either.

A comment from that fellow Blossom:

[14:02] vxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Now, I refuse to believe that either of them are children. How is it okay to wander into your neighbour's back yard and get nekkies at poolside? And your rationale is that the gate's latch was easily overcome?
[14:03] Emilly Orr: I know!

And that, essentially, is the problem.

So for now, this will be the Dark Spa:



Yeah, I found another brocade that matches things better.

I've sent out the appropriate notices to the House VIP group, and to the staff group, and as mentioned, sent the notecards in question to the sim owner, our Duchess, and the Sakura management, our dear Lynn. And we WILL solve this, but for now, it is VERY frustrating that some people just can't conceive of polite behavior.

We want to be a place people can feel comfortable, where our patrons can relax in discretion and relative security. We want to make our club inviting, warm, and pleasant.

Random naked people "because it's free" and "because it's Adult" does not make the environment inviting, warm, pleasant, or discreet, and I for one am beyond tired of it.

This will change.

and as I watch you disappear into the ground, my one mistake was that I couldn't let you down

This one's weird...their description:

Restaurant buffet, Dinner, Date, anyone welcome to dine in and enjoy the other activities in Bazzar Fantasy Community, Bowling Alley, Movie Theater, Halloween Haunted House, Ice Cream Shop

So "Haunted House" is in there, but...the rest of it has nothing to do with anything I'm looking for. Will it be any good?



I have all the dread.

So I looked around for a bit, and near the corner of "Beyonsay Road" and "Fierce Blvd", I found what might be a haunt? Maybe? Okay, time to set the proper mood.



Midnight works better. Could this be the place?



I walked up to the sidewalk, walked onto the parcel, clicked to open the door...and was immediately bounced:

[23:03] Second Life: You have been ejected from this land.

Well, that's rude. No skulls for you.



What about Peach's Haunted House? The parcel image looks very overcrowded. The description seems just as cluttered:

Interactive Haunted House. Halloween, Haunted Mansion. Fun for all ages. Take your time exploring and sit on things to interact. Spooky, Scary, asylum, Circus, Freakshow, Haunted Museum, Fright, Halloween Photo Spot. Vampires, Haunt, boo, witches,

"Boo, witches" indeed. At least this place looks more like a haunte....waitaminute, this is Lunar's haunted house again? WHY DO YOU HAVE TWO NAMES AND TWO ADS IT IS CONFUSING!

Okay, third try. And the rapid sound looks are just as annoying, even without a headache.

Ana-stasia's came up. Their blurb:

Voice Lounge, voice, club, music, dance, dj, dancer, voice club, open mic, games, voice, haunted house, hangout, chat, fun, all genres, Singer, relaxing, Entertainment, karaoke, celebrate, photo studio, Comedy ALL WELCOME

So...basically a voice hangout, but it does say haunted house...I am dubious, but let's go.

So first off, the port drops off inside the club. Which is not the haunt. And I was having a bit of trouble rezzing in walls and such--I'd cranked down all my settings for the masquerade ball and had forgotten to raise them--so it took a bit to figure out I couldn't just walk through the "door" in the back of the club--which was, in fact, the back wall of the club--to get there.



This is a weirdly expansive place. Once I found out how to get in, I had to stand on one side of the room and just let things rez in. I kept having to up my draw distance. Most haunts I can run through at my standard 180-225 draw distance. This one I kept having to edge it up because it was so huge.



I set this pic to autocontrast, just because it was so dark and so large. The animated arrows on the floor led me from the, I guess, haunted warehouse, through a door to, I guess, a haunted warehouse club. Here there be spiders (note arrow--that's a larger-than-human sized one. Not realistic, but be aware). Here there be game rips. And here I'm done with this haunt. Three for three, all struck out.

you got your finger on the trigger, but your trigger finger's mine

The blurb for Sono's Spooky Spot read:

Roumors in the town spread of an old abandoned house deep in the forest outside your small town. on a dare you are sent to walk the maze like home. Are you brave enough to endure what lies inside!? Find out in this fun haunted house attraction!

Hmm. Okay. I'll take that dare.



Simple enough rules. (Inside, another sign reinforces these rules, and also strongly suggests mouselook. Mouselook can be useful for direct ride experience, but it's lousy for picture-taking.)



Getting down to the house was tricky. I had to jump over the railing on the far side to get onto the path I thought led to the house. Then I apparently went around the wrong side trying to find the entrance, and saw this. Oh, so this is how it's going to be? Game rip central, again??



I ran into invisible walls on both sides of the house, with no way to get to the door, so finally, in frustration, I cammed through the entrance and found a chair to sit on. Needlessly irritating.

First room, not sure why I bothered. Yet another rip, though I did like the hanged man silhouette. Oh, and this:

[15:33] Onyx Plaza @ Get Right City shouts: Onyx Ent now features 5 radio stations for your enjoyment, stop by our office in the business area for more info!

A few minutes later, this was shouted:

[15:37] Onyx Plaza @ Get Right City shouts: Onyx Ent Management thanks you for coming to party, shop and hang out with us!

Great. They must be next to a club.



One floor up, past a chainsaw-wielding pigman that triggered late, and this:

[15:40] Onyx Plaza Welcome Center: Hello Emilly Orr, welcome to Onyx Plaza!! Please grab the NC and if you want to join our group follow this link: [group link given]

Dude, I'm not even on your parcel, shut the hell up.

Around another corner, and...he doesn't so much look scary, as...bored.

[15:41] Onyx Plaza @ Get Right City shouts: Would you like to have an event here? Contact XkwizitLeigh Teardrop

Yeah, yeah yeah, I get it already, stop. I do not want to book an event there. I do not want to contact anyone. I want to go through a haunt in peace.

Also, tiny Bluebird zombies. Just randomly in a hall. Why?



Really? That's it?

Yeah, okay, fine, whatever. I'm sure there's more to the house, but between the club next door screaming at me and the various "monsters" in my path that either failed to trigger or didn't do anything but stand there, maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace. But I stopped there. There didn't seem to be much point in continuing.

pantry shelves slanting sideways, whistle blows, no buyer

So, it's been something of a morning. A friend wanted to go do something fun, so we went to a blues club we both like. We turned up in a meadow with a wooden stage. I thought I was in the wrong place at first.

[11:43] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [cxxxxxxx] hello
[11:43] Cxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Heylo! :)
[11:44] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Hi There [Txxx] welcome

Owner of the place.

[11:44] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hello emilly
[11:44] Cxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx waits for teh rezzinks

Then the club owner started to sing...gospel tunes. Now listen. I don't mind gospel as music. I mind landing in the middle of a revival church meeting when I'm expecting a dance club.

[11:44] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: When darkness tries to roll over my bones
When sorrow comes to steal the joy I own
When brokenness and pain is all I know
Oh, I won't be shaken, no, I won't be shaken
[11:44] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya [Bxxx]
[11:44] kxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ϟ♪ϟ♪ϟ♪ ĄѾЄﻜОМЄ ƬՄՌЄ❢ ϟ♪ϟ♪ϟ♪

Oh, brother. I cannot stand people who think characters from alternate alphabets makes their names or their words more interesting.

[11:44] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Hi Emilly! welcome to Gospel in th4e meadow

Is that what this is?

[11:44] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: 'Cause my fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love!

I'm...happy for you?

[11:44] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Welcome [Axxx]!!
[11:44] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hello [axxx]
[11:44] Emilly Orr: Oh, good, I thought I was in the wrong place for a moment--I remember [the club] having an actual building.
[11:44] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya [ixx] hiya [Jxxxx]
[11:45] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya [Txxxx]
[11:45] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya [Zxx]
[11:45] axxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hi [bxxx]
[11:45] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya [Sxxx]
[11:45] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Oh, shame no longer has a place to hide
And I am not a captive to the lies
Oh, I'm not afraid to leave my past behind
Oh, I won't be shaken, no, I won't be shaken!

This is so not my scene, but I suspect take this crowd, and dump them in the middle of a heathen ritual praising the Aesir, and there'd be as many problems with dissonance.

[11:45] bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes, on sunday normally here in the meadow

Got it. Avoid this place until the evening, check.

[11:45] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya Emily
[11:45] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love!

I guess it would give one confidence, but...doesn't this go directly against the Biblical injunction against proselytizing?

[11:45] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya [Cxxxxxxx]
[11:46] Txxxxx Txxxx: hey [Axxx]
[11:46] Txxxxx Txxxx: hiya [Bxxx]
[11:46] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: And there's power that can break off every chain

And there she goes again.

[11:46] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx:There's power that can empty out a grave
There's resurrection power that can save
There's power in Your name, there's power in Your name
There's power that can break off every chain
There's power that can empty out a grave
There's resurrection power that can save
There's power in Your name, power in Your name!

Yes, it's called necromancy.

[11:46] Boni Dexler (blynn5): hi [Txxx]
[11:46] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love! 

Truly, I'm not bashing religion as a concept--I'm religious, so I get it. It's just...damn. Singing the lyrics in chat. I mean...really? Is that necessary?

[11:47] kxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I first heard this song here, when i hear it on the radio, i think of the meadow
[11:47] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: isnt this wonderful ?? that we have this place and this time!!!

For those who want and expect it, sure. For those who were just looking for some good blues...no, I am not in agreement.

[11:48] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: == standing on the Rock!!!!

I bet you are.

[11:48] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: My firm foundation!!!

It's apparently a thing. 

[11:50] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You called me out of darkness
And You silence every lie
And no other voice will define me
'Cause I belong to You, I belong to You
[11:50] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: By Your blood I've been adopted
And I've taken on Your name
And I need to be reminded
That I belong to You, I belong to You

I am so ready to leave.

[11:50] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: And the enemy can't
Take what I have
Or change who I am
I belong to You
No, the enemy can't
Take what I have
Or change who I am
I belong to You
Yes, I belong to You

That's when my friend decided her brain had had enough of the revival, and dragged me off to a Celtic bar.

[11:51] Emilly Orr: Ah, apologies, gentle folk, I'm being dragged off!
[11:51] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Hugs a nd be safe
[11:51] Emilly Orr: Blessings of the day!
[11:51] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thank you for coming

I was happy to leave. Honestly, if she'd dragged me into a lava pit and chained me to something, I would still have been happy to leave.

But, while we were standing, waiting for the bar to rez, someone bumped into both of us, then turned around, and bumped into me again.

[11:52] Cxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: 'Scuze you
[11:52] Emilly Orr: You're very keen on running into people, [Jxxx].
[11:52] jxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes

"Yes"? That's your answer? "YES"??!

[11:53] Emilly Orr: So...it's sort of your joy, then?
[11:54] Emilly Orr moves to a stool, which will be harder to be bumped off of.
[11:55] Cxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Apparently only likes running into women though

It was true--we both sat down, and he stopped moving.

[11:55] Emilly Orr: True, he hasn't moved since we both sat down.
[11:55] jxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: what do u want to do?
[11:55] Emilly Orr: "You", and what do you mean?

Yes, I was feeling snarky at this point.

[11:56] jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx chuckles under breath
[11:57] Cxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Oh yes, I'm very interested in what [Jxxx] wants to do.
[11:57] Emilly Orr pulls the profile, and sighs.

One day old. ONE DAY OLD. Great.

[11:57] Emilly Orr: All right, I do apologize for assuming you're an adult. Okay, welcome to SL, and rules for your first day--bumping into people without an apology is generally considered rude.
[11:58] Emilly Orr: Sometimes it is unavoidable--you hit a busy sim, you rez before anyone else does, you don't honestly know besides the little sound cue that you have bumped into people.
[11:59] Mxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i'm new here too.
[11:59] Emilly Orr: Which is why the apology works.
[11:59] Emilly Orr: Welcome, then, [Mxx].
[11:59] Mxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thanks for telling that
[11:59] Emilly Orr: Of course.

She was also one day old. The hell.

[12:00] Emilly Orr: Saying "yes" when someone remarks that you bumped into them--twice--makes it sound like you did it deliberately. That makes sense, right, [Jxxx]?

Then Mr. J tried to get me to answer a voice call. Dark gods, why? And in trying to close it, I accidentally hit one of my favorites landmarks, and poofed off. While I was gone, he moved close to my friend, and asked if she wanted to be his girlfriend. Cue eye-rolling from both of us.

[12:04] Emilly Orr: OKAY, second tip, John--it's considered rude as well to just randomly call people.
[12:04] Emilly Orr: I was trying to close that option, and accidentally hit another landmark on my favorites bar.
[12:04] Emilly Orr: Thanks for taking my seat, too.

One of the bar's bouncers at that point asked if I was being harassed, and I said I wasn't sure, but he had sent my friend an invite to be his girlfriend. I don't know if he was given a talking-to, but he poofed at that point.

[12:05] Cxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Awww, he ran away
[12:06] Emilly Orr: That's maybe a good thing? Normally, I like it here, though I admit, I don't pass by often.
[12:06] Cxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Bummer. "Bait the fake Newb" is one of my favorite games. ;)
[12:06] Emilly Orr grins
[12:06] Emilly Orr: Well, he could be a genuine newbie.
[12:07] Emilly Orr: And this place is still listed in Destinations, so I assume it's a big draw for randoms.
[12:07] Cxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: Doubt it. He was too well dressed. ;)
[12:07] Emilly Orr: I don't know, starter avatars have upped their game recently.

Things evened out after that--apparently my friend used to work at this particular bar, and the conversation was merry past that point. But what an uneven start to things.

looking likely I'm thirty, and feeling one hundred and ten

Took a bit to find it--the port dropped me off at the club itself--but down the hill, through the trees, I found a small haunted house ride. And it's not on Adult land.

Let's go see.



So, I had to click the panel that rezzes out a car a couple times, but once it did, and I got in, the ride started immediately. And it is FAST--about the fastest haunted ride I've been in this year.



Inside's a pretty standard collection of haunted decor, a lot of things we've seen before, blood splashed liberally along the walls, cobwebs, blood pools, et cetera...but the difference is the speed with which everything passes by.



It feels very old-school--not in the sense of old SL, but in the sense of those little carnival rides found in small towns, where everything's sort of rickety and creaking, but it's still fun? It's that kind of feel.



And in the middle of the ride, a set of surprisingly realistic textured tombstones. Impressive.



It took me around twice, because I didn't have time to jump off, and at the end of the second go-round, it launched me into the air, where I landed at the foot of the stairs to the upper section. There's not a lot of upstairs to see, the main draw is the ride--but it's a good, if short, ride to take. I recommend it, I thought it was a lot of fun.