So you know that bit when you buy a new male corset and it has gold and black studs, and you think “Hmm… I wonder what else I’ve bought recently that can go with this?

TWO MONTHS. This is just the last two months worth of gold studded leather.

Yeah; sure I’m a vampire and the whole “wardrobe stolen from Joan Jett” look is de rigeur, but I’m wondering at which point this becomes a sickness.

Actually – you know what?

SHUT UP YOU DON’T KNOW ME YOU DON’T KNOW MY LIFE.

#YOSLO

Find your studs here.

Antlers – Eternum by Half Deer

Headband – Crown of Thorns by Remarkable Oblivion

Shoulderpads – Spiked Shoulder Pads by Glam Affair

Corset – Pride Men’s Corset by NV Corsetry available only at The Renaissance Galleria

Gloves – Men’s Studded Gloves by MotivAction

Bracelet – Gaga Bracelet by Miss LT

Pants – Biker Pants by Ricielli 

Also wearing

Hair – Ewing by Tableau Vivant

Skin – Nathan by Tableau Vivant

Eyes – Protagoniste by Miamai

Feet – Barefeet by SLink

…and all of a sudden he realised that he existed. Why? Was it important? He spent some time on his back, just watching the gulls whirling above him as he mulled this over. “Yes,” he decided. “And no. I’m here, that’s unmistakable. I feel these splinters working their way into me, when less than a breath ago I was of these boards myself. But I feel no urge to act upon this knowledge. Hmmmmm…”

He sat up, so suddenly that his wooden form quivered a few times as it locked into place. Brushing shavings off his thighs, he looked around at his new world in delight. “It’s all so dimensional, so full and it has air, and space, and light, and volume and… and how do I know these words? These concepts?” Something flitted past the corner of his vision as he gleed over life. His head turned. It turned much further than yours or mine could. But it was worth it.

There she was. A glory of youth, of vivacity, a vision constructed of cherry wood. She was pretending to not notice that he was staring at her, but of course he was too new to understand the wiles of women. She struck the most coquettish pose to exaggerate her grace, then arched her form into a perfect arabesque as she circled the carousel on her skates. He was enchanted, as was intended. After the perfect amount of time had elapsed, she chose to notice his presence.  She skated up to him, then stopped suddenly – sending a shower of sparks across his body. He covered his face with a wince, then lowered his arm as she circled him. “You are handsome;” she advised him critically “but you are lame.  Come with me. Let’s remake you.”

She led him to a trove. A sunlit cave of wonders that was also a game of chance. He darted from the red machine to the blue one, and lost his balance somewhere near the yellow, completely overwhelmed. He knelt on the green carpet and  whispered, not daring to look up. “All of this? I can choose from… ALL OF THIS?” She giggled, taking delight in his confusion. “Shhh… don’t fret, pretty splinter. I want you to look good on my arm. Lets choose you a new self.”

She led him back into the open, marveling at how easily he took to wheels. But everything is easy to learn when you are brand new, and don’t have a head stuffed full of misconceptions. They frolicked along the boardwalk, he barely looked down at the planks that were his creator. She took great care to remind him that she was smoother, that her curves were more appealing and that her cherry wood was of great value. And she reminded him often. He smiled at her, not knowing that he should have been unhappy at her game.

“Oh look!” He led her by the hand to the stall where balloons bobbed against their strings, and gazed up at them in delight. He untied one from the rack to hand to her, then realised that one single balloon was not a fitting enough tribute to her beauty. One more. Another. Several more to balance them out. And now to add these and… “For you.” he bowed as he presented her with his prize.

Disaster!
He grabbed her ankles as she was carried off shrieking, the winds claiming her from the pier. Luck was on their side this day, as he was able to haul her back from the skies. “But…” he asked her in puzzlement. “How…? You don’t look that light?” not realising of course that this is a dreadful thing to say to a lady, no matter which kind. She sobbed in his arms, tears of sap running down her face as she confessed “I’m not re-hea-hea-lly cherry…. I’m just BALSA WOOD WITH A CHERRY VENEER. ” She turned her face away in shame, not daring to meet his gaze.

He looked at her, stricken as she pulled out of his arms, preparing to flee. He shook his head and inwardly declaredno. He clutched her heaving form and pulled her in close, then turned her face to his and told her steadily. “I don’t care. You can’t leave. I love you. I have no idea what love is, or what I’m supposed to do with it. But I LOVE you.”

She stopped crying in disbelief. She had been so contemptuous of him, not realising that his was a heart of oak. Her entire being lit up and she beamed at him, then took his hand and whispered. “I’ll show you exactly what you are supposed to do with this. ”

That was three years ago, readers. They fell in love, mad delirious eternal light filled love. They now have five beautiful children that they hold very high hopes for, even Bricky who was their “Very Special Child” and was treated no differently than the others. (Even if he did have to wear a muzzle in public.) The children were  always happy to visit The Arcade, especially on a Friday night when they were kicked out of the caravan so Daddy could stuff Mummy full of sawdust.
The end.

Oh yeah, and visit The Arcade. 

Pictures by Eve Petlyakov.
Words by Winter Jefferson.
Mannequins by The Domineaux Effect
Everything else available from the fabulous merchants at The Arcade in March 2013.

So Berry begged me to post on her blog more.

“Winter” she said – and you can read this in your head in her voice… if you haven’t heard her speak yet, she sounds a bit like a feminine Gilbert Gottfried but with the sexy overtones of Harvey Fierstein – “Winter. I need you to post more. My blog needs prettying up desperately, and Akami is doing his absolute best but…” and here a tear ran down her face “…but even I can’t bear to look at myself any more. Help me, you studmuffin lord of the Undead. Please!”

She’s lucky she has a friend like me.

I spent a week drooling over these [Lemon's] wings by AcidJuice on Marketplace after I saw them on the flickr stream of Jim Slater. I know that wings are usually considered the purview of the noobie in SL, but these are a new and wonderous thing – they are rigged to the arms of your avatar, and move fluidly with you. It makes for some beautiful editorial pictures, I had great fun testing a bunch of my most interesting Del May poses with them.

Incidentally, I also discovered that they look hilarious when doing the chicken dance.

What Winter Is Sort Of Wearing:

• Hair – Rapunzel in Frost by Thora Charron of LeLutKa
• Skin – Marilyn by M4ri1yn Magic of Tableau Vivant
• Eyes – Gem in Snow by Audrey Lamede of Insufferable Dastard
• Wings – [Lemon's] Wings by AcidJuice – I only found them on MP
• Rings – Gwaan by L3ighL33 of 7891
• Pants – Kara in Silver by Sukitita of ::::Suki:::: – Also only on MP

Hey you with the ears
Let’s make hellspawn together
Will you marry me?

Yes I AM the man in this relationship, thanks for asking!

P.S. Berry says that if you say yes she wants to be a bridesmaid. (She especially wants to be put in a teal dress for this.) If you say no, then I’m going to elope with ManBerry instead.

Oh yeah; credits. Right. Umm… my disgustingly adorbs hair is by Catwa, my goosebump-terrified skin is by Tableau Vivant, gloves are by FATEwear, the boxers are by SmartOrNot (I think we can all see the answer to THAT question right now) and the pose is by my dear friends Dove Swanson and Grazia Horwitz.

The ring, well… if I’m lucky, it won’t matter because I won’t have to return it.

Happy Valentines Day to everyone; no matter who you love and are loved by. A partner, family, friends, pets – it’s all beautiful and should be celebrated today, and every day.

Or as I really wanted to call this post, “This Christmas – Give a Shit!” Hello; I’m the vampire Lord Winter Jefferson. The fabulous Barry Singe is allowing me to take over her blog (again) because… lets face it, she can be pretty slack at times. Can’t style herself either, takes second rate pictures and carries a whiff of curried mangos with her wherever she goes. I’ll admit to being somewhat fond of her, but only very occasionally and after a helluva lot to drink. This post does come out from both of us though, and it comes from some place pretty sincere. In Strawberry’s case it would be her heart but with me I’m not entirely sure as mine stopped beating a good 248 years ago. Self preservation perhaps; I like to maintain my food source in good working order.

This time of year… for most of us, we are so lucky. Sure everyone is doing it a lot harder, I won’t deny. But there’s usually enough to eat, we don’t have to boil our water before drinking it and we are mostly free to live our lives in a safe way. If you have the freedom to be online and read this post then you are doing relatively well. No one begrudges you this and it’s wonderful to see. We’d just like to invite you to take one extra step outside, as Second Lifers have proven themselves to be such a generous community on both local and global levels in this quite frankly crappiest of years.

What we would love is to open up comments to things that you do for others, share and provide inspiration for small acts that can provide cheer where it is least expected – and most needed. As an example, I give my family chickens in a card each year. It’s kind of hard stuffing them in and neither of us seems to enjoy the experience much, but I saw it as an idea on the Oxfam site  and I didn’t really bother reading it closely so I just put my own spin on it… no, really. What happens is you buy the card, and the cost goes towards giving a family in places like Laos a brood of chickens. You can give a friend crabs  (or as I call it “every other Friday night”) and you genuinely can give a shit. I personally recommend sending this one to your boss.

There are lots more ways that can be used to add some extra sparkle. That lonely old widow on the end of your street? Invite him around for some festive nog. That really ugly patch of weeds at the park? Pull an eco ninja and plant some flower seeds there so that everyone gets a Spring surprise. Leave a comment on the blog of someone you do not know. Throw in toll fare for the car behind you. Babysit for your harried friend. Write a letter instead of a text. Compliment a stranger on their style. Pat that strange cat winding its way around your ankles. Create little origami animals and leave them on park benches to delight small children. Reassure Berry that she doesn’t smell like rotten mangos… which means totally lie through your fangs.

I know that we don’t all believe in the same things. It doesn’t matter, beauty is non  denominational. Share with us what you do to make this season special. That’s the first step right there.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Plato.

What Berry Is Wearing and She Obviously Took This Picture Too And Was Quite Upset That I Didn’t Let Her Get An Ass Shot Into This Post:
Skin: Glam Affair Linn by Aida Ewing
Hair: Elikatira Early Black by Elikapeka Tiramisu
Boots: Slink Tall Leather Thigh Boots Curvy Red by Siddean Munro
Outfit: B@R Rolled Up Santa Girl Red by June Dion

What Winter Is Wearing:

Lap Warmer: Strawberry Singh by… well presumably Mr and Mrs Singh
Hair: LeLutKa Olja in Arctic by Thora Charron
Antlers: Illusions Florissinae by Siyu Sien
Skin: Tableau Vivant Vincent in January by M4r1lyn Magic
Eyes: Fashism in Pale Silver by Ikon Innovia

Chair + Pose: {.:exposeur:.} Cozy Santa Chair by RubyStarlight Writer