guess again, you made friends, and some still ask about you now and then (part III)

Part the third and last!



This is Lord Erik Wall, I believe.



And of course Mr. Soup Jonson. I am endlessly amused that the picture he sent in to be used for the ball had his name on it.

Though, considering my inability to remember...may have been a good thing after all!



Another shot of Miss Mizogoi, being invited to dance by Miss Willow Nova, I believe...



...who ended the night quite magically by levitating them both!

All in all, it was a lovely introduction to Caledon for new friends, and a lovely dance for Caledonians in general. I was pleased with how well it turned out. Kudos to the organizers.

guess again, you made friends, and some still ask about you now and then (part II)

Back for part two!



Such a lovely dress. She looked like a sunset. No idea now who she was. (Anyone who wants to help, feel free, and I will make corrections!) [[Now informed this is Miss Kay Cooper!]]>



Not a newcomer, I just adore this portrait of the Lyonesse, Kamilah Hauptmann. Really well done.



This is...Miss Mizogoi? Was Mizi ever blonde? If anyone knows... [[Late entry from the Editrix: Someone does! This is Miss Ithela!]]



And this is Miss Violet Scrivener. If anyone needs a DJ for electroswing or transglobal tunes? Plus any of the handful of other genres she favors...she's happy to take on gigs to entertain.



And Miss Justinejohndory Amethyst, Attache to the House of Gearhaven, Companion in training, and more than willing to find trouble at any time, any place.



Which brings us to...um...this lovely lass, who is...??? [[Late entry from the Editrix: This is also Miss Kay Cooper!]]

One more coming!

guess again, you made friends, and some still ask about you now and then (part I)

Let's talk about the Newcomers' Ball!

So, this happened several weeks ago, if not months, and I'm only posting it now because I forgot where I put the folder of photos.



Every formal dance needs a wraith, right? [Insert from the Editrix: Miss Justine has pointed out, repeatedly, that this is Grimoire Hexem. Yes, I know. EVERYONE knows. But sure, posting for the uninitiated--that's Mr. Hexem, one of Caledon's resident demons.]



I had notes on all this, too, I'll try to find them. I know the fellow is Soup Jonson, I don't remember the lass he's dancing with. Mr. Jonson was new to Caledon this year, or the year before. One of those. [[Late entry from the Editrix: This might be Miss Ithela?]]



Mr. Wordsmith Jarvinen, of course, can't miss that circlet anywhere. And...again, my memory fails me.



Miss Mizogoi (on the left) and Miss Justinejohndory Amethyst, on the right in the purple. Justine was new to Caledon this year.



Miss Tashi Kai, also new, I believe, and I did have better pictures that showed her face, but...there was just something about this pose, the wildness of her hair, the total abandon to the dance...I had to put this one up.



And finally, Miss Stereo Nacht (the little penguin). Miss Nacht is in NO wise new, but a happy figure of much regard in Caledon, lo these many years. She was actually dancing around the tiny donkey, but this particular image looks like she's sitting on it!

More to come!

lying awake and everything has changed

So let's talk Bsukmet Stormcrow. I knew nothing about them, I just saw the notice go out for the group a couple weeks ago, so I went.



This was the notice:

⊱♬⊰Elctronicals⊱♬⊰

█▓▒░ ᴡʜᴏ : ⊱♬⊰Bsukmet

█▓▒░ ᴡʜᴇɴ ⊱♬⊰ Thursday 12 PM - 1 SLT
█▓▒░ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ⊱♬⊰Hannah's Lodge
Your Taxi:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Quandisha/232/49/3003
█▓▒░

So, I went. I'd been in a very disagreeable mood, that a love had delicately peeled away, and I felt open to new experiences. I'd never heard of them, but thought, I like Hannah's, I like electronica, let's go see.



They're AMAZING. Don't believe me? Listen. Or go wander their Soundcloud. It will be worth your time, if you like synthesized sounds.



I'm also wondering if their look is influenced by Steam Powered Giraffe's Rabbit, but even if it's not, it's cool as hell. I've never seen anyone quite like them in SL, and considering I've been pretty much perpetually on the grid for fourteen years? That says something.



And look--this may not seem like a bunch of people, but keep in mind Hannah's is about the size (and layout) of a typical English village pub. It's a dime-size dance floor, and it was packed--I took this picture towards the end of the set, after some folks had left, even.

Did we have some lag issues? Yeah. Did we have some difficulty rezzing things in? Yeah, absolutely. Was it worth it to hear Bsukhmet? YES in every way. If you ever get the chance, and you have any liking for electronica and ambient, well done--GO. You won't regret it.

and sooner or later, it's over, I just don't wanna miss you tonight

This is not the usual conversation on the dance floor, let me make that plain. But it's also not rare, or at least, not rare for me. Still, I thought it was worthy of capture.

We're also coming in near the middle, because...well, that's when I arrived.

[16:22] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: well the brain plasticity is tremendous in the first five years, but the same happens during adolescence. And plasticity research shows how much the brain is capable of rewiring itself. So keep learning - it'll keep moving
[16:24] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Isn't that amazing [Sxx]
[16:24] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: it really is. A lot of research into older brains came from recovery from severe brain damage

True. Learning how brains recover from severe trauma helped us learn how to help brains slipping into Alzheimer's, and other age-related degradations, process information in better, or at least different, ways. We still have a long way to go, but we're learning good things.

[16:25] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: it just rewires around the damage
[16:25] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: a part could be completely non existent, but yet, its functions cuold be taken up by a different part of the brain not normally associated with those functions
[16:26] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: it's why stuff like 'left-brained/right-brained' distinctions are complete [bullsh*t]

The biggest revelation of brain pathway research is that the human brain is not two lobes that process independently, but more...holographic. There is the mind/brain split, which is as much philosophical as biological, but as far as left and right brain workings, she's correct. It's all one thing.

[16:27] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: That fits in some situations maybe ...but not the full picture
[16:27] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: tell someone they are right brain dominant and what that means - taht's what'll happen
[16:27] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: I learned of a new one recently - linear vs fractal thinkers
[16:28] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: pfffft

To be fair, I do like that one.

[16:28] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I was told by my psych teacher that both sides of my brain worked together...I hope that is good
[16:28] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: you can learn to be either, but that's not how you are always wired unless you want it to be
[16:28] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: or trained to be
[16:29] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: I would hope so [Jxxxx]!
[16:29] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: using both sides works for me...I can do art and scripting
[16:30] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: it's a ridiculous idea that you shouldn't be able to do both
[16:30] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: ok, shut me up

We are trained to say things like this, btw. That's female training 101--get us to apologize for having opinions and our own thoughts.

[16:30] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: agreed [sxx]
[16:30] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: my father taught me to use my brain like that
[16:30] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Nah, why? You're right
[16:31] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: love how actual conversations and information flow occurs at the wandering Star

I admit, that's something I love, too. Never can predict the topic, but it's always interesting.

[16:31] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i like chatting with [Sxx]
[16:31] Dxxxxx Axxxx: i'm swapping fashion tips with [Txxx] :)
[16:31] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes Q...it is the best
[16:33] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: collaboration is the best thing about the internet
[16:33] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): That...doesn't happen at other places?
[16:33] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: depends on the group

So, maybe I just have different perceptions on what makes a good club? Or maybe I just hang out at fun places.

[16:33] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: okk so I left the keyboard to shut myself up, but I have one thing to add. Corpus Collusum - why have it if the two halves weren't meant to communicate, support and aid the other!
[16:34] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): So you can give them really tiny spears and gladiator skirts?
[16:34] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yayyy [Sxx] is back
[16:35] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: some of us use our brains more than others of us
[16:35] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Also true
[16:35] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: You've just reminded me of an article I read once about how an athlete healed themselves of really bad injury through learning about the damage so well they could visualise it
[16:35] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: then
[16:35] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: they visualised tiny bow and arrows being shot across the fibres
[16:36] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh, I like that
[16:36] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: came back top class athlete
[16:36] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: wow that is powerful
[16:36] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: written off as 'lucky to be able to walk again'
[16:37] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: mind is an amazing thing
[16:37] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: brains are PLASTIC... they will change as needed and you are what you think you are
[16:37] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): There have actually been several studies on how running quad- and paraplegics through walking or exercise simulation games actually gives them measurable muscle differences and better resting pulse rates
[16:37] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: interesting

I think it's fascinating. And it's an EXCELLENT reason to take up running in SL, riding, swimming, whatever--because if we keep our virtual bodies active, some of that does carry over to our physical bodies.

[16:37] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: our consciousness is an emergent property of our physical brain (biological and electrochemical)
[16:38] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: so makes sense that both consciousness and the physical matter can effect each other
[16:38] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: emergent property of all our physicality
[16:38] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: nods
[16:39] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: brain/body distinction set psychology back ages
[16:39] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: and we are as much a conglomerate of bacteria/viruses as we are meat and bone and orgnas
[16:39] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: we are an ecosystem :)
[16:39] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: you have more bactertial entities than human cells
[16:39] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: within you
[16:39] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: which is kind of mind blowing

We are large, we contain multitudes.

[16:40] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: when I was fencing and I thought of it as physical chess I started winning
[16:41] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: how do the bacteria think I wonder
[16:41] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: funny, but I think I used to win karate competitions knowing the opponent wasn't as clever as me.
[16:41] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Bacteria don't think, they just react to stimulus
[16:41] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: they are a group mind (or at leats they use chemical signaling to do stuff together)
[16:42] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) nods
[16:42] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: but then thought is not a process it is an emergent property....
[16:42] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: it just IS
[16:42] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: because something else IS

Yeah, it's conceptually tricky to evaluate thought, because we're using thought to break down how we think. It gets very meta.

[16:42] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Right.
[16:42] Vxxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx scratches his antlers.
[16:42] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): In that sense, all thoughts are reactions as well
[16:43] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: nods
[16:43] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Just to different forms of stimuli
[16:43] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: we live a good few ms behind reality

And that is the bit that tangles me up the most. We don't actually see anything when it happens--we just get impressions after and fill in the blanks. So much of what we experience is supposition.

[16:43] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: so we have entities in us that do chemical signaling
[16:43] Vxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx eats popcorn slowly....
[16:43] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: our perception is slow
[16:43] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: hmmmm actually..... we make a decision ms before we consciously are aware of it.
[16:44] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) nods
[16:44] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: when we are on auto pilot

No, pretty much constantly, that's our state of being. We make decisions and then tell ourselves we've made a decision, and that's when we think we've decided. So much is chemical.

[16:44] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: yeah - one has to be careful what terms one uses lol
[16:44] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: no - not when on autopilot
[16:44] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: like if I said - choose a dot
[16:44] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: out of 20
[16:44] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): one of my favorite quotes was paraphrased from Chuck Wendig: "You are a ghost, driving a meat covered skeleton, while riding a rock floating through space. Fear nothing."
[16:45] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: i liek that emily °͜°
[16:45] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: whoa
[16:45] Vxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: you forgot the speed! that's the scariest part!
[16:45] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Yes! True!
[16:45] Vxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: lol
[16:45] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: you will have decided which one before you can in anyway consciously manifest which one you've chosen, even as a thought

There's a really great heist film, Now You See Me, that actually deals a bit with this. The closer you look at what a magician is doing, the less you see. The best ones use our own perceptions against us, and we're happy and amazed, instead of angry and hurt, that we've been completely taken in.

[16:45] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: the rock is not floating
[16:45] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): No, it's more hurtling, or slowly spinning, depending on your perception of speed
[16:45] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: it is falling tworads the gravity well of the sun at a nasty high accelleration
[16:46] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Which is the "Everything dies, baby" end of the argument
[16:46] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: but has enough momentum that it keeps not quite falling inwards
[16:46] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: we all fall towards the earth (our nearest largest gravity well) at 9.8m/s
[16:47] Vxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: Gravity is coool.
[16:47] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: no wonder I have no idea I get bruises I can't explain
[16:47] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: so Laurie Anderson was right when she said we are walking but we are falling and catching our selves from falling
[16:47] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but as long as we have the magnetic core we won't lose our atmosphere

Which probably won't happen, regardless of how much I adore the innate stupidity of The Core.

[16:47] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: true
[16:47] Vxxxxxx Hxxxxxxx: Newton broke all kinds of laws when he invented gravity
[16:48] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Which is a good thing for us, we kind of need that
[16:48] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: and it also drives teh tectonic plate actrivity
[16:48] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: lol Emilly
[16:48] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: walking and falling
[16:48] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: magnetic core also gives us the radiation shielding
[16:49] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: such a delicate balance here
[16:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Yep. Otherwise poof, no life.
[16:49] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: yep
[16:49] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: we are the end result of some pretty amazing set of coincidences

We are indeed. And that is a wonder and an astonishment every day.

[16:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) nods
[16:49] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: well not quite end result
[16:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Middle? Only it's not even really the middle, either
[16:50] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: and heer we are doing our very best to destroy teh balance on which our existence rests
[16:50] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): That's humanity for you in a nutshell
[16:50] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: 'we'?
[16:50] Sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: we are just starting to understand the machine
[16:50] qxxxxxxxx Lxxx: yes all of us are at fault somewhere along teh line for some infinitesimal part
[16:51] Sxxxx Fxxxxxx: I think a few really who've bound us into it.

Also true, but humanity is very, very good at both fouling our nest, and blaming someone else for doing it.

Still. Fun conversation all around. It was a good day on the dance floor.

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!

we're lost 'til we learn how to ask, so please, please just ask (part II)

We continue from part I, with part II, and Aby in midair. And we'll start introducing the story in sections (sadly, grabbed from the web, not the exact version Zack read in voice):

[13:49] Aqua Aura Firecaster - Hai Wan (nerthuschild): oh!
[13:49] Saazerac (saazerac.atheria) marvels at Aby "oooh"
[13:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) smiles happily at the wings

The Tale of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl

A young cowherd named Niulang (Chinese: 牛郎; pinyin: niú láng; literally "[the] cowherd"), came across seven fairy sisters bathing in a lake. Encouraged by his mischievous companion the ox, he stole their clothes and waited to see what would happen. The fairy sisters elected the youngest and most beautiful sister Zhinü (simplified Chinese: 织女; traditional Chinese: 織女; pinyin: zhī nǚ; literally "[the] weaver girl", the star Vega) to retrieve their clothing. She agreed to do so, but since Niulang had seen her naked, she agreed to his request for marriage.

[13:49] Kaneha 金葉 (kaneha) gasps in awe
[13:50] Varahi Lusch: hard life!!
[13:51] Varahi Lusch: sees the river appear!

She proved to be a wonderful wife, and Niulang to be a good husband. They lived happily and had two children. But the Goddess of Heaven (or in some versions, Zhinü's mother) found out that Zhinü, a fairy girl, had married a mere mortal. The Goddess was furious and ordered Zhinü to return to heaven. (Alternatively, the Goddess forced the fairy back to her former duty of weaving colorful clouds, a task she neglected while living on earth with a mortal.)

[13:51] Aqua Aura Firecaster - Hai Wan (nerthuschild): beautiful
[13:52] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) smiles warmly at dharma and invites him to sit on the grass with her.
[13:52] Varahi Lusch: beams at the heavenly being sure to visit our humble Earth!
[13:53] Varahi Lusch: oooooh

[13:54] Varahi Lusch: cool water after a long journey!
[13:54] Eddie (edwardmccooper): oh yes
[13:54] Tóng Tǐ 统体 (goswamitulsidas) wide eyes beams.. and reaches out to grasp
[13:54] Eddie (edwardmccooper): and I think that this is a kind of story party
[13:54] Varahi Lusch: O.O
[13:54] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): It is.
[13:55] Tóng Tǐ 统体 (goswamitulsidas) beams

On Earth, Niulang was very upset that his wife had disappeared. Suddenly, his ox began to talk, telling him that if he killed it and put on its hide, he would be able to go up to Heaven to find his wife. Crying bitterly, he killed the ox, put on the skin, and carried his two beloved children off to Heaven to find Zhinü. The Goddess discovered this and was very angry. Taking out her hairpin, the Goddess scratched a wide river in the sky to separate the two lovers forever, thus forming the Milky Way between Altair and Vega.

[13:55] Zeta (zeta.blackheart): Blackmail ;)
[13:55] Varahi Lusch: a Chinese tale!
[13:56] Beta 1465: summons a yinglet to cuddle and enjoy the show with
[13:56] Aqua Aura Firecaster - Hai Wan (nerthuschild): uh oh
[13:56] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Do we have a yinglet?
[13:56] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): awwwww
[13:56] Varahi Lusch: ah! a short time together!
[13:56] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) wipes her eyes.
[13:56] Sammy (samantha1492): Well that sucked
[13:56] Zeta (zeta.blackheart): They had 2 children, *and* they were happy. Definitely a fable.
[13:56] Sammy (samantha1492): Whoops... sorry!
[13:57] Zeta (zeta.blackheart) giggles "Wrong window, Mine?"
[13:57] Varahi Lusch: s'ok Sammy... it kinda does
[13:57] Varahi Lusch: :D
[13:57] Varahi Lusch: beams at cowherd going the extra mile!
[13:57] Varahi Lusch giggles

[13:58] Aqua Aura Firecaster - Hai Wan (nerthuschild): awww
[13:58] Khaing Zar (raigann): Oh! I know this legend
[13:58] Tóng Tǐ 统体 (goswamitulsidas): ^^
[13:58] Tóng Tǐ 统体 (goswamitulsidas): :))
[13:58] Varahi Lusch: ya magic Empress :D

Zhinü must sit forever on one side of the river, sadly weaving on her loom, while Niulang watches her from afar and takes care of their two children (his flanking stars β and γ Aquilae or by their Chinese names Hè Gu 1 and Hè Gu 3).

[13:58] Tóng Tǐ 统体 (goswamitulsidas) walks up the bride with wide eyes opening his arms

But once a year all the magpies in the world would take pity on them and fly up into heaven to form a bridge (鵲橋, "the bridge of magpies", Que Qiao) over the star Deneb in the Cygnus constellation so the lovers may be together for a single night, which is the seventh night of the seventh moon.

[13:58] Aqua Aura Firecaster - Hai Wan (nerthuschild): once a year better than never
[13:59] Aqua Aura Firecaster - Hai Wan (nerthuschild) grins
[13:59] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) applauds wildly!
[13:59] Varahi Lusch: awwwwww
[13:59] Sammy (samantha1492): I gotta fly, Love y'all, I'm proud of ya Abs, you're beautiful and the show is wonderful. Bye Xoco and friends, have a great time!
[13:59] Varahi Lusch claps her hands
[13:59] Beta 1465 claps
[13:59] Aqua Aura Firecaster - Hai Wan (nerthuschild) claps happily
[13:59] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) whispers: Beautiful
[13:59] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Tragedy with a sweet ending.
[13:59] Swoan Dipoa (dipoa) waves
[13:59] Kaneha 金葉 (kaneha) applauds
[13:59] Zeta (zeta.blackheart): Later, Mine! *kiss*
[13:59] Varahi Lusch rises and claps!
[13:59] Lexus Melodie: wonderful
[13:59] Catori Mistwalker: lovely enactment : )

[13:59] Lexus Melodie: ★ (`'·.¸(`'·.¸ * ¸.·'´)¸.·'´) ★ A*P*P*L*A*U*S*E !!! ★ (`'·.¸(`'·.¸ * ¸.·'´)¸.·'´) ★
[13:59] Aqua Aura Firecaster - Hai Wan (nerthuschild): well done!
[13:59] Tóng Tǐ 统体 (goswamitulsidas) bows respectfully
[13:59] Tevor Zenovka: a beautiful story and a love performance

[13:59] Aby Tî Qí (aby.kiyori): Bows in respect to you
[13:59] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) applauds
[13:59] Varahi Lusch: so important to continue to tell these tales of love!
[13:59] Khaing Zar (raigann): waves to Sammy
[14:00] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): marvelous, aby!
[14:00] Khaing Zar (raigann): Beautiful, Aby
[14:00] Lightweaver Balan: lovely
[14:00] Elizabeth (ellybot): Was great
[14:00] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs): Amazing! that was dreamy!
[14:00] Aby Tî Qí (aby.kiyori): thank you so much Gos and Zack!! ME APPLAUDS!!
[14:01] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): wonderful acting, tong ti!
[14:01] Aby Tî Qí (aby.kiyori): Lexus!! I am so happy you are with us :DDD
[14:01] Tóng Tǐ 统体 (goswamitulsidas): Yay.. tunes.. marshmallows?
[14:01] Varahi Lusch: smiles proudly at her new Companion!
[14:01] Lexus Melodie: Aby ♥ that was beautiful congratulations
[14:02] Aby Tî Qí (aby.kiyori): but before we want to have Varahi'S words?
[14:02] Varahi Lusch: hehe i will speak a lil
[14:02] Varahi Lusch: come on stage with me aby
[14:02] Varahi Lusch: ne? And then Lexie Melodie performed live for the crowd. She has a lovely voice.

[14:07] Kaneha 金葉 (kaneha): To Aby! Gan bei!
[14:08] Zeta (zeta.blackheart): Ayahue!
[14:08] Varahi Lusch: and now to music... which communicates muchly where direct speech cannot ne?
[14:08] Tevor Zenovka: To Aby! May your path be beautiful and inspiring!
[14:08] Aby Tî Qí (aby.kiyori): I may thank you all, especially Sa, Tong Ti and Zack and of course Lady Varahi but also Khaing Chieftess of the Xoco - they all helped me to make that party happen...
[14:08] Varahi Lusch jogs aby's elbow and grins

All in all, a lovely, laid-back, peaceful event, one, I think, very reflective of the Companion Aby will be. I'm learning that the Wo Men Dai, the announcement of the end of a Companion's training, and her or his official festival of registration, is only guided partially by Guild tradition--mostly, it's formed of what the Companion in question wishes to share with the world of their heart, their understanding, their wisdom, and their gifts.

I'm looking forward to more of these.

we're lost 'til we learn how to ask, so please, please just ask (part I)

This one sort of has to be not anonymous, considering it's a capture from Aby's Wo Men Dai:

[13:43] Aby Tî Qí (aby.kiyori): I want to welcome Lady Varahi, Khaing Queen of the Xoco and all my guests for this to me so very important evening
[13:43] Aby Tî Qí (aby.kiyori): thank you so much for coming tonight
[13:43] Varahi Lusch nods at Priestess Hai Wan
[13:44] Varahi Lusch: beams with affection at Companion Ti Qi

This will likely need to be separated into two parts, but this part, at least, will feature the dancing while the tale was being told.

[13:44] Aby Tî Qí (aby.kiyori): we will show you a story like a chinese Valentines Day, Cowherd and Weaver Girl
[13:44] Sammy (samantha1492) Watches the performance mesmerized by the performers, her eyes fixed on her friend as she dances so beautifully


And they began the dance onstage, and retold the tale, which technically happened in voice, so not captured here.

[13:44] Aby Tî Qí (aby.kiyori): Zack will tell us the tale and Gos and me dance it
[13:44] Khaing Zar (raigann): waves to Frugal, Sammy and Zeta
[13:44] Aqua Aura Firecaster - Hai Wan (nerthuschild): Grace and beauty is so much needed in these times
[13:45] Aqua Aura Firecaster - Hai Wan (nerthuschild) sighs happily
[13:45] Varahi Lusch: woot!
[13:45] Lightweaver Balan: or any times

It was a fan dance, but as I am learning, there are as many varieties (on the grid and off) as there are places where they were danced.

[13:45] Sammy (samantha1492): Waves back to Chieftess Khaing, respectfully of course
[13:45] Tóng Tǐ 统体 (goswamitulsidas) sways his fans loosing his feet in dance to the music
[13:45] Swoan Dipoa (dipoa) looks at the dance, enjoying the company
[13:46] Lilith (silviagarcia): smile

They spun and twirled, fans moving in unison, steps precise.

[13:46] Zack Alexander Starbinder (bluedragoneye88) folds his fans and gets to the koto
[13:46] Aqua Aura Firecaster - Hai Wan (nerthuschild) applauds!
[13:46] Sammy (samantha1492): Claps

The backdrop was beautiful, glittery purple cut-outs of the star-crossed lovers.

[13:46] Lexus Melodie: ★ (`'·.¸(`'·.¸ * ¸.·'´)¸.·'´) ★ A*P*P*L*A*U*S*E !!! ★ (`'·.¸(`'·.¸ * ¸.·'´)¸.·'´) ★
[13:46] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) applauds!
[13:46] Kaneha 金葉 (kaneha) applauds

And up again, moving as a unit, the music accompaniment plantive and beautiful.

[13:46] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst): hurrah!
[13:46] Zeta (zeta.blackheart): (¸¸.•´ ¯¨•.¸¸ Applause ¸¸.•¨¯`•.¸¸)
[13:46] Varahi Lusch: 干杯 Gān bēi! (Cheers!)

Tong, playing the cowherd, pulled off to one side of the stage, and Zack knelt by the koto, beginning his telling of the tale.

[13:46] Lister McMillan: ~!~!~!~! Applause !~!~!~!~
[13:46] Elizabeth (ellybot) claps
[13:46] Deebs (deebrane.string): Heyyyyyyyaaaaaahhhh!

And then Aby rose into the air on rose-sunset wings...

[13:46] ڰۣۜღ αsɦ ڰۣۜღ (genieluvs) wolf whistles!
[13:46] Saazerac (saazerac.atheria) claps wildly

And the rest will be continued in part the second.

don't you want to go for a ride, just keep your hands inside

Found a fun new dance club. It's in Quandisha, at present--I know the owner's planning a rebuild, but I don't know if she's also going to move sims? But it's here for now.



I know because Violet Scrivener DJ's a music set there on Tuesday afternoons.



I don't know if it's going to change after the rebuild, but right now, there's a lovely see-through fish tank inset into the wall just past the front door.



The tones inside are warming, comfortable--the dance floor is ringed with deep-cushioned chairs and sofas, the bar is open-access with comfortable bar stools--it feels very much like an old, beloved pub.



And I swear, this guy could fit in in Caledon, he has the quirky spirit.



Yes, that is an iguana on his head. The iguana was very agile and able to stay on his hat during every spin and twist.



And I even got the Duke out on the dance floor! So I think it qualifies as a really neat place.