Dear gawd. What a horrid night. No Wiz… it is not until the person is not there that you realise how important they are to you or your sanity. RL took Wiz away from us this week. It was HIS RL JOB that took him! Imagine that, putting his RL job before SL. He seriously needs to get his priorities straight. Just like Gunner!!No Wiz meant no proper lineup all laid out neat and tidy with the two rows of dashes, each choreographer in their own blocks with their dancers and the song title, all nice and OCD perfect on a notecard. Without Wiz, I had to find out for myself so much information that I usually just copy/paste from his notecards. Like, what song are you dancing to? Who is in your dance? A lot of IMs. And then I had to type out MY OWN notecard all by myself. It didn’t look near as nice as the ones Wiz types.
I had to do the show opening announcements, which I would have completely forgotten had Miss Ame not reminded me… Wiz usually does those. I completely spaced nagging people about their tags, ankle locks, and other protocol, but I think Jilley and Paul took care of that. It’s just… without The Wiz… it was stressful! And I completely missed any hope of getting lashed by his feather duster. Actually, I think it is a feather-tipped crop of some kind. Not sure, just know there’s a handle and feathers.
Gosh Wiz has me spoiled.
COME BACK WIZ!!!! *cries*
Wiz not being here rattled me. It meant I had stuff to do so I was unable to spy and lurk and cause near as much trouble as I usually cause during a show. What was that about idle hands…? Well my hands were not idle tonight, no Sir! I poured myself a bourbon and rolled myself a cigge, only noticing later I had rolled one of my long BROWN NOT GRAY hairs up in the cigge. Screw it. I would just have to smoke it like that, hair and all, which was half dangling out and tickling my wrist as I took a drag off it.
My head hurt!
People were pulling at me, my IM box lit up like Macy’s at Christmas. People had questions, they had comments, they had information, they needed things, they had things to pass to me…. They were all over me! Slow down, slow down!!
COME BACK WIZ!!!!
I staggered downstairs to the dressing rooms to escape the masses. And then I saw something on my dressing table that had not been there during rehearsal. Something that I did not put there.
It was a huge bouquet of long-stem red roses in a crystal vase. Big red roses, not those tiny tight little buds that wilt and die without ever opening. This was sitting on my dressing table with a box of chocolates, a mixed variety, some with nuts and some with cremes, all special and fancy, each in its own delicate brown wax paper tray. I quickly sat down and placed my hands over the chocolates. I then slid the entire box into my lap and, looking around to make sure no one noticed, I slipped them into the top centre drawer of my dressing table and leaned into it, my ample bosom pushing the drawer shut. My secret seemed safe. My heart raced in panic that someone had seen me and would thus demand I share, and I didn’t want to share. I wanted the entire box of chocolates for myself. What if Jilley saw them? She’d prolly steal them when I was onstage, a vile thing to do. There is no excuse for stealing someone’s chocolates. What a low act! Only an equally low person would commit such a crime. I needed to find a better hiding spot.
Looking around frantically, I blinked as I noticed a picture wedged in a big red bow tied around the crystal vase. My brows knitted as I plucked out the picture. It was a closeup of a male torso and arms… biceps… cropped just below the neck. The subject wore no shirt. Just a chest and a bit of pelvis, arms and hands. I studied the biceps, brows knitting in concentration. Hmmm, whose torso was that. It wasn’t Stoke, arms weren’t long enough. It wasn’t Gunner… no teeth marks. It wasn’t Seb… too much meat on the bones. Was that my admirer, the person who had left me these gorgeous flowers and that generous, obviously expensive custom box of chocolates? I arched a brow as my eyes sparkled. I had an admirer! I studied his chest. He had a nice, well-muscled chest and nice biceps, true, but what I really loved was his chest hair. It stirred something primal deep inside the marrow of my soul, and I felt my girly bits awakening with an insistent tingle.
NOTE: Upon re-reading, I see I used that “knitted brows” thingy twice in the last paragraph. That is just sloppy writing. I should change it, but I am too tired, so I am going to just leave it like that as an example of my laziness and low standards.
I sighed deeply, gazing at that picture. I then heard a horrid mooing in my ear that startled me and ripped me out of the warm, velvety place I had been descending into. I spun around, my nose in a snarl and teeth bared. It was Jilley. “What are you doing at my dressing table, cow,” she screeched, stamping the floor like she was going to charge. I thought about tipping her and not in the way she’d enjoy as a dancer, but rather tipping her in a more bovinian manner. Then I focused more fully on my surroundings, my face falling in shock and horror.
“YOUR dressing table?” I cast defiant eyes upon her.
She pointed to her picture on the wall near the table. “Mine! Yours is over there!” She pointed a hoof over to the next cubicle.
I cast my gaze and sure enough… it was true!! I was sitting at JILLEY’S dressing table!! OMG those flowers, the chocolates, that hairy chest were for… HER! SHE had an admirer, not me!! My bottom lip poked out and my chin started to quiver. Bitterly, I dropped the picture of The Chest next to the crystal vase of roses that were not mine.
Jilley looked upon me aghast. “Are you really going to cry? Fine! Sit there. But clean the mirror when you’re through!” She then stamped off, her tail swinging with each shift of her hips. I watched her go, hissing at her departure under my breath.
Then my eyes darkened. I swivelled back towards the mirror. I opened the top centre drawer and slid out that box of chocolates, scurrying them over and stashing them in Wiz’s dressing table. Since he wasn’t here tonight and that would be the last place she’d look, perfect hiding spot! I would sneak back later after the show and claim them, whisk them home and enjoy them ALL MYSELF, whilst finding an excuse to justify my theft! I then took a moment to sneeze on her mirror and not wipe it off.
So I guess the night had a bittersweet ending. She has the roses and crystal vase, she has the admirer, but I got the CHOCOLATES. I think I got the best end of that stick.
Meanwhile! I have decided, being that I am greedy, that I want The Chest as well. Thus, I am asking for help. Please take a close look at this picture. Do you recognise that chest? If so, I am offering a reward that will probably horrify you but amuse me in return for the name of who this chest belongs to. I have decided I want to run my fingernails through this chest hair and run my nose down along that happy trail and see where it leads. So come on, Elysiums, help me to identify Jilley’s admirer! Any leads are appreciated!
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, here we go, once again we have a tie for tonight’s Golden Tweezers Award! I could not decide which of the following two posts in group chat amused me more, so I picked them both to receive a Golden Tweezer:
[18:37] Jilley: pick up your body parts after the dance pls
[18:37] Cael Szondi: I bet we forgot to hand out the complimentary bags for the audience for their ‘accidents’
CONGRATULATIONS JILLEY (AGAIN!!!!) and CAEL!
Remember, our Golden Tweezer goes to the person who makes the post in group chat that I find the most amusing, outrageous, or something along those lines. Just memorable. Must immortalise it on THE BLOG! I think I should just give Jilley a Lifetime Accomplishment Golden Tweezer Award.
On to what was in the show… soon. First, I just have to say: TRAY!!! OMG!!!!
And again, TRAY!!!! OMG!!!!!
And now. What did the show look like? Let’s fine out. Oh, and Welcome to the weekend!
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Elayn
With ErikEnder
Bernadette Artist: IAMX
1. Why did you choose this song to create a dance to? What was your inspiration?
I like listening to music I anticipate I won’t like. This artist was one of those. Way too “out there” too “hipster goth” for me. One more time I was wrong. I love the darkness of this song and just had to play with it.
2. What were the particular challenges you dealt with when creating this dance?
As usual, learning more about scripts and textures and just how they interact.
3. What does this dance mean to you? Is it a bit of fun, or is there a deeper meaning?
Oh definitely fun! Never trust crazy except to be crazy.
4. Is there anything you would like others to know about your dance?
Try. Experiment. Don’t be afraid to fail. You just never know what is going to work.
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Antonio
Nightcore male cover of Rihanna’s “Disturbia”
1. Why did you choose this song to create a dance to? What was your inspiration?
I’m not really sure to be honest, I was stuck the first one I built I didn’t like so I pulled it up, then pulled out something from my % a n x i e t y (yes plug for them cause Joseph and Josh are awesome) and it started falling together.
2. What were the particular challenges you dealt with when creating this dance?
Too many ideas in my head…
3. What does this dance mean to you? Is it a bit of fun, or is there a deeper meaning?
Its a bit of fun but also a look inside my head when I have too many ideas and can’t get them all out.
4. Is there anything you would like others to know about your dance?
I’ve never seen Dexter so it wasn’t based off him, it just came out of my head onto the blank template canvas.
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Hailie
With Pea, Jilley, Victory, and Dear
Paint it Black by Ciara
1. Why did you choose this song to create a dance to? What was your inspiration?
I originally created this set for the Dance Queens Texture Challenge, where I was given a texture and I had to create a set around it, so that was a lot of fun to do.
2. What were the particular challenges you dealt with when creating this dance?
Well, I did have an issue with the summoning circle part of my stage, when I came to link it together it wasn’t allowing me to copy, luckily after some investigation I figured it out and usually turns out to be a script of some kind!
3. What does this dance mean to you? Is it a bit of fun, or is there a deeper meaning?
This dance was a fun challenge and once I got the texture, things started coming together. Besides, who doesn’t have fun dancing with some sexy witches?
4. Is there anything you would like others to know about your dance?
Check out Babypea’s ass when she shakes it! I fear it has been neglected lately so this dance showcases the beauty of the ass! Enjoy!
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Queenie
With Cael
Under my skin by Frank Sinatra
1. Why did you choose this song to create a dance to? What was your inspiration?
I have a friend in SL that is an amazing photographer and she did a picture with these skins. I have always loved that photo so I did a dance based on her vision. Then when Paul asked me to do a Macabre style set, this whole idea came together. Under My Skin by Sinatra….so wrong and yet so right.
2. What were the particular challenges you dealt with when creating this dance?
The costumes kept sticking to us, no skin and all….it was messy and painful at times but you do what you can for your art, right?
3. What does this dance mean to you? Is it a bit of fun, or is there a deeper meaning?
It’s a little peek into my demented humor.
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Adam
With Bella, Sammy, Web, BabyPea, Paul, Si, Jilley, Kyser, Taema, Josephine
Michael Jackson – Thriller
1. Why did you choose this song to create a dance to? What was your inspiration?
Michael Jackson’s Thriller has always been a favorite song for the Halloween time of year. It’s scary/creepy, yet has a great beat and is very fun to dance and listen to.
2. What were the particular challenges you dealt with when creating this dance?
This was a complicated set because of all of the features to make it scary, plus a lot of scripts for making the clouds and fog on the ground. Creating the movement for 11 dancers, making sure that no one hit a prop or another dancer took some work, but the outcome was cool.
3. What does this dance mean to you? Is it a bit of fun, or is there a deeper meaning?
It’s a fun dance for Halloween. We asked each dancer (11 total) to pick their own costume; it gives everyone the opportunity to express themselves in their own fun way. It gives us all a chance to “dress up” for Halloween.
4. Is there anything you would like others to know about your dance?
It was a fun routine to create and share with my friends and the visitors of The Empire Room.
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Lina
Madness by Ruelle
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Pea
With Diamonte
Dark Sarah – Dance With the Dragon
1. Why did you choose this song to create a dance to? What was your inspiration?
I found this song a long time ago and have had it on my bucket list for probably two years. It is macabre and therefore this show, themed macabre, seemed a perfect time to do it.
2. What were the particular challenges you dealt with when creating this dance?
Trying to find old ‘destroyed’ toys. They are in short supply in SL.
3. What does this dance mean to you? Is it a bit of fun, or is there a deeper meaning?
It is about a pretty dancer wanting to escape the box of toys she is trapped in, and there is a clown who will not let her go. She wants out of the box and wants her freedom, but he wants to keep her as his ragdoll. She does care about him and is attracted to him. It is a bit of a mess. It feels haunted to me.
4. Is there anything you would like others to know about your dance?
I was inspired for this set by an episode of The Twilight Zone that I saw when I was a kid. It really freaked me out. The episode was called, “Five Characters in Search of an Exit” and is episode 79 of the television anthology series The Twilight Zone. It haunted me so bad, I never forgot it, and as an adult with thanks to Google, I was able to track it down. It was about these people trapped in a tall metal round room. And they kept trying to get out. When the one finally made it out by them all forming a human ladder and him climbing, he fell out of the room and into the snow, where he promptly turned into a doll. It was just freaky.
“Clown, hobo, ballet dancer, bagpiper, and an army major—a collection of question marks. Five improbable entities stuck together into a pit of darkness. No logic, no reason, no explanation; just a prolonged nightmare in which fear, loneliness, and the unexplainable walk hand in hand through the shadows. In a moment, we’ll start collecting clues as to the whys, the whats, and the wheres. We will not end the nightmare, we’ll only explain it—because this is the Twilight Zone.”
“Just a barrel, a dark depository where are kept the counterfeit, make-believe pieces of plaster and cloth, wrought in a distorted image of human life. But this added hopeful note: perhaps they are unloved only for the moment. In the arms of children, there can be nothing but love. A clown, a tramp, a bagpipe player, a ballet dancer, and a Major. Tonight’s cast of players on the odd stage—known as—The Twilight Zone.”
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Jilley
With Paul
I Put a Spell on you – Marilyn Manson
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Eva
With Everyone
Feed My Frankenstein, Alice Cooper
Rebel Yell, Dope
Dragula, Rob Zombie
Above: In spite of our best efforts, Old Lex managed to get past security and infiltrate the show! *snorts* I guess that mask fooled the guards.
Elysium Cabaret 