The Silent Admiral, or Violator In Space

Sometimes there is clothing you just wear, but this not the case when your body is draped in something created by Violator. This is not just clothing, this is wearable artwork. I only hope to be half as famous as this designer someday.

As I transported myself around the seedy space ports and glorious galaxy sims of Second life in search of a proper place to shoot a photo of such out of this world clothing, I kept receiving IMs from complete strangers. “Neat Outfit” “Love the costume” “Where did you get that?” It really was difficult to keep up the image of a “Silent Admiral” when people keep insisting that you talk and give them the name and space port location of your tailor’s flagship.

Surely you want to know too. This stunningly unique Space Glam design called the “Silent Admiral” is the mind’s work of the every so creative Soraya Vaher and can be found at the Violator Headquarters.

Design wise its a very unique outfit. The red panels and graceful flexi-spikes that adorn the outfit give it shape and motion that begs to be photographed. It’s also easy to wear. I am a slender avatar and I was able to get the belt and long coat to fit me with very minor adjustments. The long coat is not required to worn, removing it gives the outfit a slightly more casual and less “evil warlord” appeal.

While on the topic of evil, I have to also mention these boots.

These are the “GridRunner” boots and they are not to be worn by the faint of heart. You can lose blood wearing these boots, those graceful looking curved spikes are mighty sharp. But then nobody ever said fashion was meant to be safe.

2010…..Thank Goodness You Are Here.

Whew. I do not think I can ever recall a year I wanted to see end more then 2009.  This last week I was honestly counting the days, eager for it to be over already. If ever there has been a time  I was desperate for a new beginning, this was it.

My Second Life was pretty dramatic this year. Some of  the highlights and low points included…

• I was fired from the job that supported me in SL and so had to get back into clothing design to pay for my fees.
• I met the love of my Second Life and fell for him harder and trusted him more deeply then I ever imagined possible.
  
• I became friends with designers, artists and top models that I formally would have been far to shy to even speak to.
• I had a huge,  beautiful wedding.
  
• I became a Top model myself.
• I got to see my own clothing in a fashion show for the first time.
• I won first place in a designers contest then had the win ruined by complaints, confused judges, ill counted votes and general nastiness.
  
• I had private RL things discovered and wielded against me by those who I thought were friends.
• I got invited to take part in the 2010 clothing Fair as a designer.
  
• I slowly lost the love of my SL life to a horrible RL illness.
• I was the victim of  perhaps the meanest trick i have ever had played on me in my life. In or out of SL.

I have learned so much this year. I have learned that no matter how famous someone is, they are still people and are likely thrilled to talk about what they do to someone that is truly interested  I have learned that even if they are often quiet,  when i need them I have a few fantastic friends who are willing and able to pick me up off the floor, dust me off and help me stand again.  I have learned that SL love can be very dangerous to your heart and health. I now know that if the story sounds to good or bad to be true then it might well be just that…a story. I have realized that I am very strong, very talented and that this coming year is the Chinese year of the Tiger.

All in all, thank goodness 2009 is done.

I am The Brocade Tiger….and this is going to be my year.

There is a Last Time for Everything…

Well, those of you that know me have already heard  that my beloved Partner, Genie Sorbet died in the real world this weekend.

He had been at the end stages of what he called “The Dread Illness” and for the past month he and I both knew whenever he logged out of Second life, it might well be the last time we saw each other.  We talked about it once and got our shared tears and sorrow out of the way..then vowed to not talk about it again. Instead when he logged in, I would drop everything and go be with him to have fun. Our times were pretty rare because he was often tired, but we had a grand time whenever he could. We made love, we walked thou beautiful sims, we scuba dived, I even got my British beloved  to don a cowboy hat and go line dancing  with me.  And snuggles, there was so many times just filled with cuddles and kisses and talks.  I took photos of everything, seemed I was always snapping pictures of him, of us. . …I knew I was going to lose him someday and I so wanted to capture every memory.

Sadly, this week the dreaded someday finally came. Last Weds, Dec 9th, he came on and spent a couple good hours with me. We went out dancing and listened to a live comedic singer who made him laugh till his sides ached.  Afterwords he was tired but wanted a bit of time just to be held before he called it a night.  We found a place on the beach and he settled on my lap, head resting on my shoulder. Then we talked awhile,  just gentle peaceful talk as lovers will do. When he logged out that night, he was still curled into my arms. As always….I took a photo. This turned out to be  his last moments on Second life….and he spent them in my arms.

Somehow the romantic, sappiness of that poetic ending would have made him smile. He always did love when we were overly sappy and silly.

We exchanged an email and he left some comments on my fliker pages after that night, but we never talked in real time again. On Sunday night, Dec 13th, Andreas, the person and soul behind the Avatar called Genie went peacefully to sleep and never woke again.

Second Life may be “just a game” but what a game it is. It allowed a dieing man and a lonely man to find  each other and give to each other what they could not have in real life. I was so very lucky to have and hold Genie in this virtual world and though I will not speak to him again in this lifetime, I shall be forever changed by having known his gentle, peaceful soul. He has made me a better person.

Sweet Sleep m’love.

Ever Yours.

Lex <3

The Redhead Evolution

Hold on to your video card…this post is going to be photo heavy. I started Second Life back in early 2006, before there was such a thing as Flexi hair. Men’s styles were nearly unheard of and if you could find something  prim that did not look to girlish, it was a blessing. I am a confirmed hair collector and nearly all of it is red, but i will be merciful and only show the collection highlights.

Like most guys back then, I started with the system hair. It was red of course and long. I have always been a long haired red head, even back then. So…this was my hair of choice back in 2-06, a LL original.

The hunt began soon after. I knew I wanted a long hair with out braids or curls or other girly sort of style flair. This was surprisingly hard to find. At last I tracked down my very first Prim hair. Created by HTC (Here Comes Trouble) back in “05″ it was a style called “The Warrior”and was made for men. It didn’t work.  I got called “miss” and “she” a lot in this hair. That had me shopping again fast.

There were many trys and fails but this next  hair I stuck with awhile. It was made for women, but I liked it and some people could even guess I was a guy (Male skins were way worse back then.) It was created in late ‘06″ by Goldie Locks and was called the “teased hair”. It was my style until the flexhair arrived.

Hair that moves!  I went broke. Designers were not all instantly talented with flexi…but I didn’t care. Flowing hair! I bought stuff.  Like this long haired wonder by (Belive it or not) Cake.

And this nice ruffian look by Goldie Locks again.

Cake was the winner to me  tho and I spent a great deal of  money in their store and a long time in SL wearing their styles …even going fully over the top with this wonder by Cake called “Riven”. I got mistaken for a girl in this hair a lot too but it was so fun to wear and moved so grandly I did not really care.

By now  I was starting to think I had a decent and somewhat unique personal style going. It was mid to late ‘07″ and I thought it was time to try my hand at a SL modeling career.

Casting call after casting call i went to. Some of them I would be the only guy not picked. I had noticed I was half the size of these guys, with a realistic build instead of the refrigerator with a head build. I also noticed I was the only red head and the only long hair at these auditions but surely that would work in my favor. Right? Right??!

Wrong. I was repeatedly told to lose the red hair, go with a short style and bulk up my avatar. I settled for one out of 3 and for awhile…*gasp*… I cut my hair. This look the “001 hair”  by B R LY1 N became my first choice for casting calls.

As well as this little Full Perm charmer, the “Rebel” by “Boo Hoo” for days when I was feeling a bit resentful about the whole having to cut my hair in order to model requirement.

Hadn’t anyone looked at the covers of any romance novels? Nearly all those guys had long hair.  Lucky for me, a little upstart Modeling agency called “Opium” agreed to hire me, long red hair, slim body and all. Feeling more validated, i started sliding back into the long styles. Short hair is just not me. It was about then I discovered Calico and spent alot more money.  The “Connor” by Calico ….

And the “Fossarius” also by Calico were my main hairstyles when I was not on the runway.

Recently however…they have all been replaced by my latest love, The “Stone Fox” by Exile. This may well be the hair I have been looking for all along. But then I have thought that before.

Well..thats the history of my glorious red hair. Now..if you all will excuse me, its time for my beauty sleep. All this writing  and hair styling has just worn me right out.

It’s Gotten Quiet, to Quiet.

Sometimes I think I am oversensitive but Second life has been depressing me just a little bit lately. Now don’t get me wrong, the times I have with my partner Genie are the best times I have ever had in SL and I almost can’t imagine the place with out him sharing it with me. He is the best and brightest part. The store is going ok. I can’t seem to catch any breaks when it comes to shows or recognition but if I keep plugging, that will come. Maybe. At least my land fees are being covered by sales every month and the store looks awesome. So no real complaints there.

What really started this discontent was the  fading of what had not even really yet become a real friendship. There was a talented woman designer who I shall not name here. She helped me greatly on my designing, giving me a few tips and tricks to vastly improve my work.  She seemed honestly happy for me and interested in what I was doing. I was in awe of her so I made a point not to bother her often but every couple days or so I would wave or have brief chat, or ask her advice or opinion. Then suddenly she started needing to log off when i said Hi…or was to busy to chat. I never minded, she was very famous after all and i am a nobody who was just pleased that she had time for me at all. Then she vanished. I had not seen her listed on my friends list as logged in at all for a good 2 weeks and I was concerned about her, normally she was there nearly every day.

Then someone on a channel mentioned that they were talking to her at the moment. On my list, she was still listed as not logged in. Just as a test, i sent her a friendly little “Hi lovely”  IM.  She sent me a “Hi” back and that was that. I won’t bother her any more. Hmmm….guess she felt she had to hide from me.

Now I really wonder what I did to offend her and bring on this change….and chances are I will never ever know. In my head I have gone over every conversation where i may have mentioned her and i can’t find where the slight or insult was. She won’t likely ever contact me too clear it up…in hind site i realize she never did greet me first, maybe I should have taken a clue from that.

It has made me wonder who else I bother. I have a long list of  names on my friend list, but I can be on SL for hours and not hear from anyone. Genie and Harper, my sister both log on and have 15- minutes of IMs to deal with…that has never happened to me. If I log on….nobody seems to notice. Would more then 3 people even take note if i vanished entirely?

Do I expect to much? Am I being paranoid in thinking that if people don’t ever greet you, they don’t really care if they ever talk to you or not?  Am I the only one that looks at my friends list now and then and is happy to see some of my favorite people there? All I know is that lately I am pulling back into my old hermit ways, waiting days to say hi to folks and not making any hard effort to engage people in chat.  I don’t want to lose anyone else.

Or worse yet…find out there was never anything to lose in the first place.

Bloody Vanilla

I told them, I warned them to leave me alone. I am just a mild-mannered gentleman, really I am. There is not a violent bone in my body and I never planned to hurt anyone. Honest, I didn’t plan it but I did warn them. I told them to leave me alone.  This is all their own fault. They brought it on themselves.

And now there is all this blood. My clothing  is in ruins from it. Damn them all. It was such a wonderful suit too, a orginal made by Vanilla C. Designs. It was my favorite a stunning leaf patterned brocade waistcoat with gold trim,  and delightfully ruffled shirt. I took such delight in keeping the whites snowy and clean, but they would not leave me be.  Those fools. They made me ruin it with their nasty blood. The blood is even on the tricorn hat that came along with my poor suit. The feathers will never be the same. It’s tragic to see such finery ruined. Why couldn’t they just leave me alone?

SL’s Next Fashion Designer, Me?

Week three of the SL’s Next Designer Contest and I KNEW it was going to be epic. The theme was “Create a Fantasy”

I started off thinking I wanted to do a fairy but then decided that might well be everyone’s first thought. So I moved off to look at all my fabric samples to see if i could find inspiration there. What I found was several different heart prints….a bit of sketching later and I had my idea. One I was sure nobody else would think of.

The Queen of Hearts!

( The Queen of Hearts, by Brocade Tiger )

I had a blast making this outfit.  For starters, Miss Hotla Hoodoo, one of the other designers in the  contest told me about a store called “Butterfly Effects“.  I had been grumbling about not knowing how to sculpt and she asked me if I had checked at Butterfly effects. It turns out it  is a whole huge store full of sculpted prims made just for we clothing designers!!! I shopped the entire place, simply drooling over what I could make with this stuff.   My life as a designer was forever changed. If anyone knows of more stores like this…please! Tell me!! I am a sculpt addict now. I need more!

Anyway, after a very long time at Butterfly Effects, I finally remembered why I was there. I got me a bow making kit, some puffy sleeve patterns and then off I went to create. It really just came right together for me. Even texturing sculpted prims was easier than I expected. Then as a surprise, Genie made me a charming heart crown to add to the outfit. It poofed out a little trail of hearts and was the perfect final touch to the outfit. I was really feeling confident about this outfit. It had prims…textures,  it even had an evil queen showing her undies. It  had to be a keeper. I could hardly wait for Sunday.

The Show night was INSANE. The lag was the worst i have ever encountered at a fashion show. Considering that one of the designs had and ARC of over 11000!!! it was not a surprise. My poor girl model was IMing me…she was unable to become visible! When it came her turn to walk the runway, she was just a glowing gas ball with hearts poofing out of it. Nobody could see the outfit. I was so bummed… and then…the entire sim crashed.

I was never so happy to see a crash happen in my life. There was some impressive scrambling done by the show staff and helpers and in a very short time we had a new place to have the show. Everyone managed to come back on line and the entire show was restarted. This time Precious, my model got to strut her stuff…and even be  visible too! She looked adorable!

Then it was judging time and the announcer says that the judges want to ask the designers some questions. Who do they pick first. Me. Of course.  “Why did you Choose the Queen of Hearts?” Is the question the judge asks of me. I babble something back to her  about wanting an idea nobody else would have and her being an evil queen with a sense of style and all.”  Then she tells me that while my Textures are great, she wishes I was not playing it so “safe”.   Then it was done. THEY DIDN’T ASK ANYONE ELSE ANYTHING!!!!!!  There were 7 designers and I was the only one they had to ask something of? What the heck was that supposed to mean!? Safe… I had an evil queen in her undies’s for pity sake….that is safe?! While I sat there trying to figure out why I was the only one questioned and what the heck “safe” means, the First place winner and the  eliminated designer were announced.

If you would like to see the other designs form this weeks round, check the show’s own blog, right here. There were some really impressive outfits.

I was still in. I survived round three!! Not sure my confidence has survived but I am in for another week. This time, we have to make red carpet, Oscar style dresses. High on the glamor and style. With my confidence rattled…I am now off to try and make the sort of dress I have no  knowledge about.

Why can’t there be a menswear challenge? Why was I the only one questioned?

Wish me luck. I’ll need it.

Could I Really be SL’s Next Fashion Designer?

Last Sunday was Round Two of the SL’s Next Fashion Designer. The Theme for this week’s designs was “Famous People” and we were instructed to pick any famous person, living or dead and create a new outfit for them based on their own personal style.  I pondered some silly ideas, like making something for Elton John or Liberace, either of whom would have been a delightfully camp, grin inducing choice.  In the end tho, I had to choose the Artist currently known as Prince.

I have always been a fan of Prince and his sense of style is one I often seem to mimic in my own SL wardrobe. The crisp lines he wears and the androgynous sexuality he seems to manage with ease just delights me. That was something I could surely design an outfit around.

My poor male  model when thru allot this week. I made him lose a good forty pounds….get a very dark tan and dye his hair. Then as the final insult, I put the poor boy in high heeled boots. When it was done though….I think I had a fairly passable Prince.

(Peacock Prince by Brocade Tiger)

The outfit was cream/gold and burgundy and light colors seem to be less used. Imagine my surprise when the two most prim heavy designs in the contest were cream cold in color. It was like we planned it. In spite of astounding odds against it, 2 of the eight designers picked the same famous person, Marie Antoinette and the both of them made her a fantastic gold dress. When I saw all those ruffles and folds I had a sinking feeling  I was on my way out. My poor thin little Prince looked very small and simple out  there between the two Maries.

Then when he walked out on the runway and someone in the crowd yelled “It’s ELVIS….I love Elvis!”  I really could have just died. On one hand it was great my work was being loudly loved….but sweet gods….did he really look like Elvis?!

In spite of brief doubts….I made it thru to round two! In fact I was told the judges placed me in third place that night so the torture of my male model was well worth it. I had to go home and dance around the living room for 20 minutes after the show, I was that thrilled!

There are only 7 designers still in the running now and the next Challange is  right up my alley. Now we designers have to make a outfit for a fantasy creature or person. Vampire, elf, fairy, wicked witch, you know the list.  My idea came to me instantly and I am willing to bet nobody else will think of it.   This is going to be fun!

You can bet I plan to use more Prims this round too.

Wish me Luck.

Feeling Halloweenie?

The Enthralling Virtuality

You know I had to share more about my recent Hand fasting to Genie, after all it was just to big a day to only merit one post. Fair warning…if you are not a fan of things that are sappy and mushy then this is not the post for you.

(He takes my breath away)

My Genie is just beautiful,  I mean really, how could you not be completely over the moon about a face like that?  I have always thought he was a lovely thing to look at but during the wedding, he honestly took my breath away. I told him he is not allowed to take that crown off for at least two weeks.  In fact 2 weeks is how long we intend to give ourselves as a honeymoon.  We will be spending all our time on line together traveling SL…seeing sights, being sappy and doing other things that honeymooners typically do. (You guessed it..there will be more about that in a later post, but don’t  hope for juicy details)

This wedding story started way back in early May when I put out a singles ad on a whim and on a whim of his own Genie answered it. I am not sure it was love at first sight but as least on my part it was a crush at first sight. I was surely charmed by him. Early on in our first date, he mentioned how strange a person he was in SL because he believed in only having one lover at a time, in being true to that one person and building something solid. He thought that would run me off, but in fact I think I fell a little in love right then. He is British and I am a “Yank” as he calls it and our time zones are ridiculously different but in those first few weeks we managed to find time to see each other and talk. Wow…..did we talk. Conversation came instantly and easily to us and still does now, months later.

(Our third date, chatting away)

As second life couples go, we were slow movers. Both of us had people in our pasts that had done us very poorly and we wanted to be sure that this time, this person would be true and steady… sane and faithful and even log on now and then. Still within a month, I already knew I did not want to do my second life with out him. It was a bit over two months before we moved in together and the day we moved into our new home, I got down on a knee on the still empty floor and asked him to do me the honor of being my partner.

It’s pretty obvious he said yes.

The wedding itself  came months later and was quite an epic event. An event  I was not really sure I was up for. I kept trying to convince Genie to go small, save the money and just have some intimate little exchange of vows on some lovely sim somewhere with a few friends as witness. I honestly would have been happy with just he and I standing  in the room where I proposed and exchanging vows with the moon and ocean as witness. He was having none of it,  we were going to have a big old wedding and all our friends would be there and that was that. So I played the typical groom and got out of the way of the wedding whirlwind that was my mate to be.  Later though when his illness took Genie off SL for a couple week, I took over. He wanted a big fancy wedding and he was going to have it…even if I had to help.

Fanastacia Weddings helped plan things out for us and they did a wonderful job.  The Setting was amazing, the ceremony breathtaking and more than one person told me that it was one of the most beautiful, heartfelt weddings they had been to. We did a gypsy theme and nearly everyone dressed to suit it, it made stunning visuals.

(The wedding under way)

Even the party afterward was really fun, not dull as so many virtual receptions can be. The male wedding planner who had been helping us did a good job in spite of being clearly  unsettled by having  to deal with a couple of men.  The DJ who sat thru and watched the entire wedding ceremony and _STILL_ called us Mr and Mrs Vargas….and the one guest of a guest that had to start making jokes about me being the bride both managed to piss me off briefly but there were so many wonderful people there that two clueless ones hardly mattered. We danced with anyone that wanted a chance to dance with one of the newlyweds and got to have many intimate chats with the people who came to wish us well. When it was all over…and the last guest went  home, I was reluctant to leave, it had been that magical. I am completely glad Genie had nudged my hermit-like self into it.

More so, I am completely glad I can call him my “Husband”. I am still getting used to that….but I am liking it.

In case you wonder where I got the beautiful title for this post, it comes from the vows Genie spoke to me…a bit of which I will share with you.

“Lex, I promise to meet you in this our enthralling virtuality, take your hand in mine and walk with you.
I’ll be the subtle fragrance in your creativity, the cream that melts slowly into your coffee and the enchantment of desire in your bed.
May my words caress and comfort you always.
So Mote It Be”