a blessed mystery for sweeter souls did not survive

It's not often these days that I am completely blown away by someone's creativity in world. This individual? Astounded me.



This is Eupalinos Ugajin. And this was not a still life. She floated in midair, spun, over the illusionary room below her.



She shone like chrome, all of her. The bubbles moving gently with her shone like chrome. The avatar alone was fascinating, even without the rest of it.



I'd gone to Contraption to find their offering for the latest Steam hunt. It's unisex, so I'm not sure how well the lines are going to work with my bosom? But I still wanted to find it.



And I couldn't stop spinning my camera around her. I had literally never seen anyone who was their own art installation wherever they went, basically.



On her profile is a link to a video of her latest work, which is apparently part of a cooperative multi-artist installation, many minds coming together to articulate their current view of the world. It has its political aspects--right now, how could it not?--but what I noticed most was the antigravity experiment I'm showing here? Seems to be part of her approach to art. Antigravity, floating things, machine-assisted removal of natural laws--it's a recurring theme.



Anyway. I was so completely astounded I didn't IM her or anything. I just stood there, struck dumb by the brilliance. But--if you have the time, do check out the art. The page with her video on it has the SLUrl on how to get to the exhibit. I'm fascinated, and I may have to explore further myself.

But either way--yes, anything is still possible. Any concept can be articulated creatively. We can be our own living art. Fantastic.

I hope it's worth it, out on the highway, yeah (part III)

And we pick up from the very full-bright version on the roof...

[13:15] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you can't deny she IS pretty, though.

I mean, yes, but that's hardly the point.

[13:15] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and that breast tattoo. I made that.
[13:15] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): She's lovely. The tattoo is lovely too.
[13:15] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You can only see 1.6666 nipples
[13:16] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): This does not help!
[13:16] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and below her belly button is not in view

Be grateful for small favors, I suppose.

[13:17] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: let me try to move it
[13:17] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [sh*t]

Yes, I did go through all the images I planned to post and carefully add a modesty covering.

[13:17] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): NOW THERE'S TWO
[13:17] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): please
[13:17] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): [Mxxx]
[13:17] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I'm begging you
[13:17] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): please stop
[13:17]mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: But I didn't have anything pressed to drag copy

Just...STOP...doing the things! Call for help! Why did she keep trying things that apparently only made things worse?!

[13:17] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: something wrong with my edit tools
[13:17] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): [Jxxxxxx] may kill ME at this point, and I didn't do it!
[13:18] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I'll rotate them if it lets me

Why...would that help?

[13:18] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: doh
[13:18] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): YOU
[13:18] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): are making
[13:18] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): MORE
[13:18] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): of them
[13:19] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Does, um....anyone have a net?
[13:19] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): For [Mxxx]?
[13:19] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I think it let me delete two!
[13:19] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Good
[13:19] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: 3
[13:19] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: wtf

Oh, don't say that--

[13:20] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): DO NOT TILE THEM

Oh, for the love of--STOP with the tiling of things!!

[13:20] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I AM NOT
[13:20] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): MIZI
[13:20] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I am no Amy Iwish, but I can build!! I don't knwo what is happening!!
[13:20] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): This one painting is going to become the bane of this poor girl's existence
[13:20] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ugh

At this point, she made the entire thing radiantly blurred, which...I suppose...helped? And I thought we were done...

[13:21] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Well...that's...radioactively infective, but....better?
[13:21] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: it won't let me move it again
[13:21] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Which is SHOULDNT ANYWAY
[13:21] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): [Axxxxx]'s not in world, or she'd be here for this catastrophe
[13:22] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: mauybe it is a parcel thing
[13:22] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I'll wallk over
[13:22] Axxxxxx Gxxxxxx: Keystone Cops meets Sotheby's?
[13:22] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Apparently!
[13:22] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok I have move .. things again

I have all the fear.

[13:22] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: That sounds about right, [Axxxxxx].
[13:23] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Okay, good. Be *careful*....and try to move it, and take it back.
[13:23] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I will yeet it over there

No yeeting!

[13:23] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Do not yeet! Bad things will happen!
[13:23] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok I will "LOWER IT GRACEFULLY" into the gallery
[13:23] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but it is like 10 meters tall
[13:24] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok .. it DEFINITELY is "move" and not "Stretch" or "Rotate"
[13:24] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: one
[13:24] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: two
[13:24] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: three
[13:24] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) holds her breath

She made. It GLOW. Once more, it was just dire comedy at this point.

[13:24] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): NO
[13:24] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): BAD [MXXX]
[13:24] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: !!
[13:24] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): NO BISCUIT
[13:24] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I am not doing this on purpose!!

ARE YOU SURE??



Every time I thought it was over...Do you see the tiny little circles? Do you see the tiny little labels? That's Miss M. and I. On the roof. For size reference.

[13:25] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): It's the size of the ROOF
[13:25] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: imma relog and see if that fixes my tools

You do that.

[13:25] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Thankfully it's only facing Caledon Greystoke, but if anyone WAS there, they could SEE it from the island!

And then...

[13:26] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): ACK
[13:26] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): she made it physical
[13:26] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I thought that would help!
[13:26] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): HOW
[13:26] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: OMG
[13:26] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): How would that HELP
[13:26] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: It would fall off into the water
[13:26] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Well that's not what happened!
[13:27] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: OBVIOUSLY
[13:27] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: So gravity influences it and it falls.
[13:27] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Forward
[13:27] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): She wanted it to fall backwards, apparently.
[13:28] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: It didn't even crush us!
[13:28] txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Usually when one complains about gravity being the scourge of one's unclothed form, this isn't what they're talking about

I know, right?

[13:28] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: maybe if we push it

Push...butwhy...

[13:29] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: [Mxxx], what are you trying to do with the huge picture?
[13:29] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: would it help to make it phantom
[13:29] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Get rid of it!
[13:29] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: Let me see if I can return it.
[13:29] Pxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Phantom just means it can be walked through.

Oh, great, that would be all we'd need, a giant pin-up we can walk through.

[13:29] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): It did not crush us only because, ironically, the church steeple stopped it

I mean. Let that sink in.

[13:29] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Somehow, despite not having edit rights, it let me copy it

And I still don't know HOW...

[13:29] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: so I tried to move them
[13:30] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): You were able to take it back?
[13:30] Axxxxxx Gxxxxxx: Turning large objects physical is often used by griefers. lol! You just griefed the Village with a nudie! *snorts*
[13:30] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): SHE DID

So, between Mr. J, Miss R., myself, and the at this point very doubtable Miss M., we got everything squared away. Finally.

[13:31] txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: This really is the best conversation that I've seen here in years
[13:33] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): This is unbelievable
[13:33] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): She just keeps finding new photographs
[13:34] Axxxxxx Gxxxxxx: The Tragic Tale of the Fallen [Jxxxxxx] with the Big Boobies.

Infamous in song and story, I'm sure.

[13:34] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) snorts
[13:35] txxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: And here I thought you were supposed to fall from grace......
[13:35] Axxxxxx Gxxxxxx: Turns out, it just takes [Mxxx] with a bit of edit rights. *grins*
[13:36] Axxxxxx Gxxxxxx: *insert rimshot here*

[13:37] txxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: What little virtue I have left is even more at risk than I;d thought, clearly.....

Clearly.

[13:37] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): But she doesn't have any on this parcel beyond rezzing out her own items!
[13:37] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): That's what we can't understand!
[13:38] txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Given that large physical prims with nude textures are seemingly falling from the sky, much more than mere virtue is at risk.
[13:38] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I remain ever grateful to Raven's Perch, for stopping the fall of the astoundingly huge painting onto [Mxxx] and I.

And thus ends the tale. I hope. But if Miss M. pulls this trick a third time, somehow? I'm going to fly over in the Gray Area with the Duke and bomb her house.

I hope it's worth it, out on the highway, yeah (part II)

So, the previous post was the day before yesterday. And then, yesterday...this happened:

[12:48] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [dusts off her hands against each other] There. So apparently I have "atoned" for "making" [Jxxxxxx] put her tastefully nude photo up in [Axxxxx]'s gallery by putting my own next to it. Hopefully neither will be gracing an outside public wall in 100s of repeats, full bright, sub 1.0 scaled, any time soon.

Yes, that is...devoutly to be wished. And I have no objections to the gallery show--I was considering the concept--but all this sounds...well, very much "There I've fixed it". And...how? Precisely?

[12:49] txxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Thank you for warning me. I, for one, will exercise every bit of discretion I possess......
[12:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I....what.
[12:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): YOU ARE NOT MAKING IT EASY NOT TO BLOG THIS

And obviously, I failed on the not blogging it part, though I would reinforce, I did ask both Miss M. and Lady J. for permission. Because this was...oh, gods, "huge" sounds like a terrible pun, considering what happens later.

[12:50] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: *I* don't have any qualms about your blog.
[12:50] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Yay! Permission!

Which is when I went back and captured the beginning of this section of chat, but held it until verifying with Lady J.

[12:50] Fxxxxx Cxxxxxxx: Every ... bit ... of...discretion? What are the units of "discretion" ?

Valid question.

[12:50] Wxxxxxxxx Jxxxxxxx: Discretion? We don't got no discretion? We don't got to show you no stinkin discretion. (apologies to Gold Hat)
[12:52] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I am definitely not advocating anyone go to her gallery and see either photo, on the back wall on the let side, 2nd floor.
[12:52] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: *left
[12:52] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Of course not.
[12:52] txxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Wouldn't dream of it....
[12:52] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: *Right side!!!
[12:53] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: right
[12:53] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: (omg I am the WORST geographer)
[12:54] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Just don't go here Caledon Oxbridge Village (75,26,32) if you don't want to see them.
[12:54] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Helpful!
[12:54] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) grins
[12:55] txxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: That's certainly a load off my mind......
[13:02] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) smiles
[13:03] Axxxxxx Gxxxxxx has found myself surprised that there's never been a burlesque club in Caledon called the Bewm Bewm Room.

I'm not. That sounds more like it should show up in Seraph City.

[13:04] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: So apparently somehow I was able to drag-copy [Jxxxxxx]'s photo so there are 4 of them. I shoved 3 back behind the wall.

And this is when things started going off the rails again. How? How does someone copy someone else's object in SL? I can't recall if Miss M. still had rights to Lady J's objects, it's certainly possible, but I have rights to move, send back, and outright delete Lady J's objects, because we do run into issues building on Gearhaven? And I don't have to right to copy anything she directly owns. So...confusion?

[13:04] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) facepalms
[13:04] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): You....have issues. :D
[13:04] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I wonder if I can resize them
[13:05] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oh no

Oh, please no--

[13:05] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Don't say that
[13:05] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Don't say that concerning nudes
[13:05] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Not again
[13:06] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i can fix it

OH PLEASE NO--

[13:06] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you know how when you build
[13:06] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and the angle is odd and you slide a stretch handle

Oh, no. What? Oh no.

[13:06] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and it flings the opposite way?
[13:06] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Uh-huh....
[13:06] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): WAIT
[13:07] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): So where is [Jxxxxxx]'s nude photo NOW??
[13:07] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: at teh gallery
[13:07] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I can't edit or move it now
[13:07] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Somewhere flying over Caledon??
[13:07] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh, so it's still in the gallery

I suppose we should be grateful for small favors.

[13:07] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: well, the one ON the wall is fine

Good, good...

[13:07] vxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ...on the side of a blimp?
[13:07] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: it's up
[13:07] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: over the building
[13:07] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and .. large

Don't say 'large'.

[13:07] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Well, that's fine, I'm sure Ms. [Jxxxx] can send it back or delete it at....

And then the ha'penny dropped, so to speak.

[13:07] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): YOU
[13:07] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): DID
[13:08] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): NOT
[13:08] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): do this
[13:08] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): AGAIN
[13:08] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: no no not exactly
[13:08] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i um
[13:08] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You um?
[13:08] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I will try to shrink it.. but now it won't let me.. I don't have edit permissions on her stuff but it let me do it a minute ago!

HOW?!?

[13:09] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: if it lets me move it maybe I can put it in the ground or the water
[13:09] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i will TP out and back an dsee if that helps
[13:10] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok i can move it
[13:10] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oops

And it was hearing that 'oops', faithful readers, that made me leave the En Garde event at Sakura--in my very 1940's sleeveless twin set, with the extraordinarily non-Victorian lipstick-red pumps--and take the landmark that Miss M. had "helpfully" given out earlier. Because oh, dear gods, this was going pear-shaped AGAIN.

[13:11] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): AND the landmark you gave drops you off in midair--

Because it did. I didn't even bother flying, I just fell to the roof and went splat.

[13:11] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: does it?
[13:11] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) stomps on the roof for emphasis
[13:11] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: um

And, when I turned around after hitting the roof...

[13:11] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): MIZI OMG
[13:11] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: let me see if I can make it all grey or something
[13:11] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I THOUGHT YOU LIKED HER
[13:12] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) facepalms

[13:12] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): All the palms

[13:12] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Oh I fixed it!
[13:12] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Well, it's gone at least...
[13:12] txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Landmark "is not working as intended" or "not working, as intended"?

That is an excellent question. I do not know.

[13:12] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: whew
[13:12] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oh it autoreturned
[13:12] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: let me take care of that

WAIT NO WHAT--

[13:12] Gxxxxxxx Hxxxx cacophony of the screeching damned somewhere in the distance.
[13:12] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): DO NOT BRING IT BACK
[13:13] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): mizi void stars stop
[13:13] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I wanted it back in my normal inventory

At that size??

[13:13] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oh that isn ot what that does
[13:13] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Please tell me you can take that back
[13:13] txxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: There is such a thing as a normal inventory? Who knew?
[13:14] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: nope
[13:14] vxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I have crocuses in my pocketses.

Miss V., I highly doubt you march around anywhere with even tasteful nudes in with the crocuses, ready to be whipped out at a moment's notice, so...

[13:14] Nxxxx Rxxx: Certainly not a description of MY inventory

Nor mine, but nevertheless.

[13:14] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): You can't do ANYTHING with it?
[13:14] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Not even make it grey?
[13:14] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: maybe if we put a giant Caledon flag in front of it
[13:14] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): [Jxxxxxx] is going to kill you

Oh, WHY...

[13:14] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oh no
[13:14] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): YOU MADE IT FULL BRIGHT
[13:14] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I didn't do anything!!

YOU MADE IT FULL BRIGHT!

[13:14] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): [Jxxxxxx] is going to kill you.
[13:14] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I may help.

And we adjourn to part three...

I hope it's worth it, out on the highway, yeah (part I)

We had been discussing the Steam Hunt when Miss H. veered into building matters:

[14:47] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ahh no [Sxxxxx] has me on a show leash...I am no longer allowed to delete or make buildings invisible...I already pulled that stunt
[14:47] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Make...buildings...invis....
[14:47] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Okay, that's one I haven't done!
[14:48] Cxxxxx Mxxxxxx: you can always make them invisible, but only for yourself
[14:48] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: well first I made it invisible thn I turned them plywood colored all over
[14:48] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I have deleted them out from under me, taken back walls or floors, once made a house physical on misclick, THAT was fun....
[14:48] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I had a mishap with a picture frame
[14:48] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Yes, I've accidentally retextured with a texture I didn't want. :D
[14:48] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Never made an entire house invisible.
[14:48] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I live to excel
[14:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) salutes you

I mean...it is a kind of accomplishment. What does one do with an entirely invisible house? I'd probably turn it teal and make it glow, but then I'd worry about the neighbors seeing in. :D

[14:49] Cxxxxx Mxxxxxx: I've done the re-texturing with a definitely-not-a-wall texture before.
[14:49] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Yes. .. I once had 100s of [Jxxxxxx]'s looking at me when I dragged a snapshot on teh wall i was editing.
[14:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) laughs
[14:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): That would be amusing AND unnerving
[14:49] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: If you are going to do something bone headed go for the whole enchiladea
[14:49] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and then LL decided, oh, you can't edit that now and locked it.
[14:49] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oooh [Mxxx] that sounds creepy
[14:49] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yikes
[14:49] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Yes.. her eyes follow you wherever you walk
[14:50] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) grins
[14:50] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I just reskinned all my apartment walls over it
[14:50] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Not that I minded that so much
[14:50] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): They do that in front of her, too
[14:50] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hurts the prim allowance though
[14:50] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but no way was I asking [Sxxxxx] for help with the wallpaper again after that
[14:51] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: This was a public wall on the [RP] sim.

...wait. It was all fun and games until this. Miss M., you did this on a public wall? How public a wall?? Dear gods.

[14:51] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I am trying to keep a low profile
[14:51] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: wow you are famous then!
[14:52] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Luckily I tend to be one between the UK and US East coast crowds, so I sorted it before anyone else came on sim
[14:52] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: well, mostly

Um..."mostly"?

[14:52] Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxx feels a disturbance in the force and pokes her head in the room.
[14:52] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) falls down laughing
[14:53] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx tries to look innocent
[14:53] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I now have a NC full of UUIDs of anything I try to edit like that. Thank gods for cache viewers.
[14:53] Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxx: [mxxx] did what now?
[14:53] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) can only point weakly at [Jxxxxxx], make weird gestures towards her eyes, and collapse into giggles again.
[14:53] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You know the main wall on the old [RP] sim that the mansion is atop?

You fill me with dread, Miss M. Say on.

[14:53] Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxx nods slowly, "above the river? yes?"
[14:54] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I dragged you portrait onto it on accident and set the repeats to like . a lot.
[14:54] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and then LL locked it
[14:54] Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxx gapes in horror. "oh. my. GOD."
[14:54] Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxx falls down. "wait, WHICH portrait?"
[14:54] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: um
[14:54] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: the um
[14:54] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh gods
[14:54] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: racy one
[14:54] Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxx: oh GOD

I should note, this entire conversation was held in the main Independent States of Caledon group. So Miss M. has just told a bunch of neo-Victorians that she tiled a pin-up shot of another Caledonian across a retaining wall that runs the length of more than one building. Let that sink in.

[14:54] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): 0.0
[14:54] Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxx: oh NO!!! YOU DIDN'T
[14:54] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): OKAY THAT'S WORSE
[14:54] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: well, the nakies one where your bits are hidden
[14:54] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: mostly

"Mostly".

[14:55] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) facepalms
[14:55] Justine (justinejohndory.amethyst) falls to the floor, hands over her head. "OH MY GOD."
[14:55] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): "Mostly"
[14:55] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Its ok. only like 2 people came on sim before I fixed it

"Only".

[14:55] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) snickercackles
[14:55] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and they probalby didn't see it
[14:55] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: most lkely
[14:55] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): "Probably"
[14:55] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ish
[14:55] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) collapses again

She keeps using these words!

[14:55] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I mean, [Axxxxx] and [Nxxxxxx] never have said one word.
[14:56] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I want to send the Duke this entire conversation. :D

I did send the Duke this entire conversation. Then I saved it for here (with permission from both chief parties involved, yes).

[14:56] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxxx: anyway.. we were saying.. *I* was saying how your eyes followed me wherever I walked
[14:56] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: OMG
[14:57] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I mean I wasn't panicking running around
[14:57] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: a lot

"A lot".

[14:57] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: this is why I don't do Nakies piccies
[14:57] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you never know where they end up

Probably wise, Miss H.!

[14:57] Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxx: they were TASTEFUL!
[14:57] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: When you got far enough way you couldn't even tell it was you

This...is...not as reassuring as you think it is, Miss M.

[14:57] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hardly
[14:57] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I'm sure they were!
[14:57] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ish
[14:58] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: pffft
[14:58] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): "Ish"
[14:58] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) giggles again

Oh, dear gods, Miss M. and qualifiers. I was just astounded at this point.

[14:58] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: someone needs to give me a scale with ish on it so I can calibrate
[14:58] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: of course, full bright did make it easier to tell in the dark
[14:58] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): FULL
[14:58] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): BRIGHT
[14:58] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) is dead nao.

AKA, actually leaning over the keyboard, laughing until I was fighting for air, as much in shock as amusement. Not even kidding.

[14:59] Gxxxxxxx Hxxxx looks over the brim of his glasses in bemusement.
[14:59] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): can't....breathe....halp....
[14:59] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Hey! at least I didn't have glow on it
[14:59] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: LOL
[15:00] Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxx digs out the photo.
[15:01] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: It was a good lesson in texture preparedness, making sure to get enough sleep, and reading texture titles more carefully.
[15:01] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) grins. "Yes. Always texture when rested."
[15:01] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Ok Justine is trying to calibrate my ish...but FLikr doesn't want me to see
[15:01] Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxx: and maybe don't use a naked picture of your best friend?
[15:01] Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxx: maybe?

THIS. ALL the this!

[15:02] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I wasn't using it per se
[15:02] Mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and I didn't know the wall was selected

Wait, whoa, missed this....What were you doing, then, Miss M.? That tiled the texture that many times over the wall you didn't know was selected? Were you trying to make a, what, a mosaic vase? With little images of Lady J as the tiles??

[15:02] Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxx passes the photo to [hxxxxx]. "PLEASE don't put it on any walls? kthx."
[15:03] Hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I will look and delete it to be certain Sounds fair enough.

Can digital images be cursed? Because...there's a second part to this.

part time dreamer, would-be player

Look! Finally I have my Arctic fox back.



Yes, I know, it takes me a long time to decide. But I wanted to be sure, and I demo'ed a lot of options, and sure, while it would have taken much less time, effort and demo testing to simply buy an all-in-one like AVP's white fox, we're back to that whole "feeling like me" thing.

Keep in mind, this was my first fox:



And do take note of the vintage, nothing looks like that, I know. That head was all prims and pieces and one wrong move could take the entire thing down to components. I know that. But...back in 2007? That was me about a third of the time.



Now I have this. It's Whisk's Gelato mod for Maitreya, using Cerberus' Canis Bento head. I can't remember what store sells the neck extender, but fluffylittlellama made it. And Whisk made the eyes, their Calm Eyes in the Variety pack.



I'm going to take the additional hit today and pick up Apricot Paws' Feety Peets for female canines, because as much as I adore having shoes, she's telling me she wants paws. Who am I to argue?

And I definitely have to find a better outfit. This one's cute, but it was also an extremely lucky pull of Alchemy's 'The Wilds' outfit in Celestial, and...that's the only color it comes in? And I'd prefer a longer skirt. So...more shopping.

And I haven't decided if she needs whiskers yet. My brain is saying yes, but the people who made the Canis head don't have whiskers for sale, so...maybe not? I don't know. I'll think about it.

But either way, I have her back. One more piece of the past me that I want to retain in the new world. It's a good thing, I think.

and I don't want to go home right now (part V)

"Be pretty if you can, be witty if you must, be agreeable if it kills you."
~~Elsie de Wolfe

(Continued from part IV.)

The last I've found so far.

Jan 30, 2012, 4:30 AM

Master,

Late re-greetings, but we had a group venture into CoH that we wanted to start (a new story arc which it seems the whole of the playing population has completed but us), however, Neome was in a slowed mindset. She wasn't terrifyingly fatigued, but she wanted to get a shower done and food made and laundry started and bed remade and more laundry folded and email answered, all *before* she went in to play. So our target of two ayem turned into three-thirty before we started, and I made the decision to tell you later, and just finish the story arc.

As soon as the mission tied up, I logged off, but as you can note, it's now a half hour behind. However, I am on my way towards sleeping now.

Also, A Hole At the Bottom of the Sea is actually quite the engaging book. I think he's really doing his best to be objective, and not paint BP as the ultimate evil in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, but he's also been granted some unprecedented access all the way along the procedure, from the first night of the accident onward. I've been very impressed with it. (It even has its own web page: http://aholeatthebottomofthesea.com/!)

And love you, and breathing, and hope you are doing well, and I am~

Yours,

[Em]

As far as I know, the last, while also written out on an iPod note before sending, seems almost too cheerfully upbeat when compared to the others. I get the definite feeling it was 'brave face' time. It didn't work for long.

I found myself playing Phoebe Bridger's "I Know The End" video over and over again, coding these out for publication.

No, for anyone curious, I never heard from him again. Still haven't, all these years later. Likely never will. Life moves on.

(Continued in part VI.)

the world is somehow different, you have all been changed before my very eyes (part VI)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part V.)



She watched as Justine walked onto the flight deck. She leaned in close, murmuring. "The replicant's already up and about."

Justine blinked. "Wait...replicant? So..."

"Did you not follow?"



"That wasn't Hiro last night?" She stared into the middle distance, thinking, before looking at the replicant like it was his fault. "I...need a minute."

Emilly looked concerned. "Well, yes? And no? Mostly? Sort of."



Hiro looked between the two women, baffled. "What the hell is a replicant? What are you talking about?"

Justine wrapped her arms around herself tightly. "Okay...small words, and slowly? Walk me through this."

Hiro looked confused. "Huh?"



Justine looked upset, watching Hiro, then turned away again, eyes wide, looking at the Duchess. "Small words. Like I'm five."

"Justine--I don’t know anything about a replicant," the replicant said slowly. "What I do know is Tannhäuser Gate Security System sent an alert on a poison pill. And well...I know I designed the security system, but I am drawing a blank on this."

Emilly flailed a bit, then tried to look reassuring. "You've been...ill...for a while. I'm sure those memories will come back." She hated to play that card again, but on the other hand, telling him he was ill had worked after she'd gotten him out of the asylum, so...

"But why would we close the gate? Like, close access to the wormhole? How, why? What is so special about now?" He fidgeted in place, frustrated.



Justine heard a beep, and checked her comm to find a security alert. She looked up, expression bleak. "We're in lockdown."

The Duchess sighed. "Well...hell."

Justine stared at the replicant, remembering last night, her jaw clenched. "Did you both get the security message? Someone want to tell me what we do now?"

It's a good question, the Duchess thought. What should come next? And what were they going to do with Hiro Secundus in the meantime?

(Continued in part VII.)

let nothing come between us, my love for you is strong and true

(Roleplay entry, but not *strictly* in the same story chain as the Duke's disappearance. Still, for completion's sake, let's say it happens after part V.)

I suppose it's time, I guess...



After all, I'd put them in the little caps while they were recovering, and they were all very good and kept their caps on for me, but...they weren't sick anymore. So it's time for them to come off.



Yes, Athena, that means you can take off the hat now.



And of course the first thing Enoch does is go back to sleep. That boy.



At least they're happy. And safe. Things could be worse.



And every time I tell myself not to buy them new toys...Ah, well. Sucker for a furry face, I always have been.

Now if we can just find their father...

I can feel you still staring at me when I look away (part V)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part IV.)

Even though it was dark, Hiro could tell he was in a wooden cage. There was straw in the floor poking his fur. He could heard the sound of horses. The cage was covered with canvas, the road was uneven and rocky.

At this stage, The Duchess and Lady Justine would have noticed the absence of the Gray Area. Gearhaven Security Protocols would have been activated. The Duchess was aware but Justine may not have been briefed.

The Cloning Lab in Tannhäuser was programmed to produce a clone of the Duke, if he was missing after 72 hours. The clone would have generalized memories up until the last upload date. Superficially, this Clone would have Hiro’s skills, memories and personality. However, for security reasons certain memories and knowledge was not uploaded. This was to protect the Duchy from a hack or catastrophic theft.

The Forked Hiro would think he is Hiro. There would be two entities and eventually would combine memories. The deep secrets of the house. The magic, the location of certain weapons, the strategy for the Duchy. Much of this would be vague, if not unknown, to the clone. Most importantly, the ritual of the Order, the passcodes for the caliphate--those would be unknown. Also the combination and passcodes to the ST vaults would be unknown to this clone, the memories blocked.

Hiro rolled over, looked out of the cage. There was a small gap where the canvas was tied to the cage. They were entering a city. Earthen walls and structures. Hiro tried to make out any landmarks. It was all foreign. The wagon became to roll in a smoother fashion as they moved on to a better roadway. The leopard's tail twitched slowly as he was thinking.



Elsewhere...Tannhäuser Station circles the rift. in the Cloning Lab, a display lights up, flashing red in distress. No one observes.

Tannhäuser Error Message Critical Fault@@
Axolotl tanks running low.
Please renew supply prior to completing Cloning and Replication process.
@@ Tannhäuser Error Message Confirm Poison Pill Passcode to prevent proactive closing of gate.

ΦΑ : 618 ξαοθς
=:≫≫≫≫φ2900
Time for correction 72 hours.
End of transmission - GH Security Protocol 3568.φψΔΞ

Elsewhere...



The Duchess was trying to explain, for the third time, the difference between a pentacle and a pentagram to the kittens. She heard a bell sound, touching the comm device in her ear.

"Attention: ST inter dimensional fund transfers are prohibited until a routine leadership authentication is complete."

She blinked. What on earth...

"@ emilly
@ justinejohndory
All ST outposts are advised to go to lockdown local operations. ST base reality override in effect, Gearhaven Prime, the Expanse, Metropolis, Caledon, Oceanpoint, Carcosa Station, Tännhauser, No Man Sky Pharms and Mining operations in Euclid Galaxy and Armada are confirmed secure."

"Good," she murmured, mostly to herself. She stood, moving to the teleport circle in the nursery.

"The Ozian, Arrakis, Mos Eisley, Culture and Demonic Embassies are off line."

She stopped, blinking. The Sphinx-Templar Syndicate had an embassy in Oz? Since when?? And where??

Right. That's it, she decided. Tannhäuser Station it was, she needed a terminal.



By the time she arrived at the station, things were definitely...amiss. For one, it was colder than it usually was, and with a shudder, she sprouted fur, her festival batiks changed for a simpler dress. For two, Hiro was there, punching buttons on the flight deck, smiling when he saw her.

Her face lit up for a moment. "Oh! You're--" And the penny dropped. You're you, she thought. But not you. Oh, this is gonna get weird...



"Hey, so...What is a poison pill passcode? And what does that mean, 'prevent closing of gate'?" He pointed at one of the display screens.

"I--"

"Does it mean like 'THE GATE'?"

"The Gate?" She was confused by the emphasis. She was confused by the clone. Why the hell was the witch bomb activating in Stormhold? Where, in point of fact, was the Duke??

(Continued in part VI.)

if you're lucky, when it's over, the dreamer's still alive (part IV)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part III.)

At first, all he heard was the sound of waves. Hiro woke up in shallow water. Warm tides...vision blurred. His Napoleonic uniform was wet. His Sword weighed him down. He was exhausted. He let the sand and tides push him onto the shore. There was a ringing in his ears...

Then voices, overhead. He tried to lift his head and failed. The voices over him circled around.

"Egyptian? Philistine?"

"--have never seen a uniform like that..."

If it's a cat god...has to be Egyptian, we should kill it--"

"Are you sure we could? Bind him..."

"He could break the ropes..."

"BIND HIM..."

"What if there are others? We saw the fire and the crash..."

"Hurry...get him into the wagon...we need to get him to Gaza.."

Another voice. A woman. "No. Not Gaza. We need to go direct to Jerusalem."

"But...if he..."

"Nephillim, Atlantian and Hyksos prisoners need to be brought direct to court!"

"But...what if he wakes up?"

The woman sighed. "Then we're screwed. But maybe this can buy us time."

Hiro felt a sharp pain in his neck, like a lance, or a needle, and lost awareness...the last sensations were the tide, still lapping at his legs, and the pain...

(Continued in part V.)

cannot be free and you can't deny the end is coming, the end is coming (part III)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part II.)

"Your Grace, the calculations indicate--"

Hiro looked up from the desk.

"--that the rotational velocity has a maximum value of 225 km/s (140 mi/s) at 1,300 ly (82,000,000 AU) from the core, and it has its minimum possibly as low as 50 km/s (31 mi/s) at 7,000 ly (440,000,000 AU) from the core. Further out, rotational velocity rises out to a radius of 33,000 ly (2.1×109 AU), where it reaches a peak of 250 km/s (160 mi/s). The velocities slowly decline beyond that distance, dropping to around 200 km/s (120 mi/s) at 80,000 ly (5.1×109 AU). These velocity measurements imply a concentrated mass of about 6×109 M☉ in the nucleus. The total mass of the galaxy increases linearly out to 45,000 ly (2.8×109 AU), then more slowly beyond that radius."

"Okay, but can it be done?"

"It depends on if we can--"

"Never mind...begin the calculations."

He moved to the center of the room on the Gray Area.

"Read them aloud." He began to intone as the AI began to speak the theory, overlaying both to create form.

"CORONZON, ZACARE CA OD ZAMRAN, ODO CICLE QAA, ZORGE LAP ZIRDO NOCO VOVIN, HOATH--"

"Denote as D-quarks, leptonic. Denote as D-quarks--"

"The right-handed particles are those of the standard model. As the gauge symmetry is unbroken, physical particles must be singlets under SU(2) transformation, and we thus get the following particle spectrum, where g is the coupling constant of the gauge group SU(2)L and Dμ is the corresponding covariant derivative. We have used the unitary gauge--"

"Ilasa viviala pereta salamanu balata das acaro odazodi busada od belioraxa balita: das Inusi caosaji lusadanu emoda das ome od taliobe darlapa iehe ilasa mada zodilodarepe Zodacare od zodamaranu. Odo ciacle qaa zodoreje lape zodiredo noco mada hoathahe. San Tonium Sen'Hee'Kay Zanconium Spruto Menok Sal'Ensam..."

A sputtered noise from the speakers. "Your Grace--arming an active Weapon of Magical Destruction on board is a violation of protocol. After the Countess had the accident in that small 1940's town...you yourself said--"

"Shut up, Al--"

"Alakash, Manurvava, Aalakama--"

"--function jacobi(n, k)
assert(k > 0 and k % 2 == 1)
n = n % k
t = 1
while n ~= 0 do
while n % 2 == 0 do
n = n / 2
r = k % 8
if r == 3 or r == 5 then
t = -t
end
end--"

"--Zaranta, Karanta--"

"--n, k = k, n
if n % 4 == 3 and k % 4 == 3 then
t = -t
end
n = n % k
end
if k == 1 then
return t
else
return 0
end
end--"

Hiro began to type frantically on the holographic display.

{\displaystyle \left({\tfrac {\alpha }{\mathfrak {a}}}\right){n}\left({\tfrac {\beta }{\mathfrak {a}}}\right){n}=\left({\tfrac {\alpha \beta }{\mathfrak {a}}}\right){n}.}
(
α
a
)
n
(
α
b
)
n
=
(
α
a
b
)
n
.
{\displaystyle \left({\tfrac {\alpha }{\mathfrak {a}}}\right){n}\left({\tfrac {\alpha }{\mathfrak {b}}}\right){n}=\left({\tfrac {\alpha }{\mathfrak {ab}}}\right){n}.}

There was a very bright light...

(Continued in part IV.)