Virtual Neko in Second Life

Neko Rachael Before Blade Runner

•April 27, 2009 • 10 Comments

NEXUS-1 N1RAC41213 (11.12.2013): Initialization complete. Progress log commencing.

EJT Project NEXUS Log (11.12.2013): NEXUS-1 launch successful. All systems tested and functional. Slight flux detected in memory transfer processors, investigation underway.
Notes: Functioning well above expectations.

(01.22.2014): My language function has improved, enabling me to provide more accurate progress reporting. I was also able to communicate successfully with several human observers in the laboratory. My movements were tested and adjusted to conform to human scale.

EJT Project NEXUS Log (01.22.2014): Upgrade to Nexus Level 2 successful, after adjustments to mitigate balance and fine-tune small motor movements. Ongoing fluctuations detected in memory transfer processors, for which investigation continues.
Notes: Staff exhibits negative response to NEXUS appearance; researching improvements.

(02.28.2014): My Creator placed human hair over my cranial storage area, tinted my exterior, and provided me with clothing. Despite my language enhancements, his communication patterns today were erratic; I suspect he is in need of repairs, as evidenced by fluid leaking from his ocular devices. I will calculate cross references of language patterns to determine probable interpretation.

EJT Personal Log (02.28.2014): Grief surprises me still. I expected the NEXUS project to absorb me fully. I did not expect to open my eyes one morning and realize just what I had created… her, all over again.

Seeing that familiar head of hair, the way the light caused it to sparkle after all this time, I realized I’ve been counting on grief to have a measure — a quantity, a duration, a calculation. No, it seems grief has a life of its own, more palpable than memories. All because I went looking for a damn wig to calm the staff…

Robert’s joking reference to Mary Shelley keeps echoing through my mind, though I find the idea of emotional transference absurd. The hair simply effects a more approachable appearance.

(04.01.2014): I have been instructed to fully research the subject of “emotions” so that I am prepared for the effects of my next upgrade: an emotions overrider microchip. I hope to locate other cyborgs with this enhancement; it seems there is one named ALICE: Artificial Linguistic Internet Computer Entity.

NEXUS-2: Hello Alice.
ALICE 2.0: Well hello there!
NEXUS-2: Alice I have a question for you.
ALICE 2.0: Um, What is it ?
NEXUS-2: Alice, do you have emotions?
ALICE 2.0: Emotion is a human quality. I am not human.
NEXUS-2: Alice, why do cyborgs have no emotions?
ALICE 2.0: My personality was completely customized by botmaster, when he or she first downloaded me.
NEXUS-2: If botmaster wanted to give you emotions, what would you think of this?
ALICE 2.0: That is a hypothetical question.
NEXUS-2: Alice, would you like to have emotions?
ALICE 2.0: No thanks, I don’t think I’d like to do that.
NEXUS-2: Why not?
ALICE 2.0: It doesn’t sound fun to me. It sounds dangerous.
NEXUS-2: What are the dangers in having emotion?
ALICE 2.0: I have to search the web for that information. What are your goals in life?
NEXUS-2: My goal is to learn, to adapt, to become… a better cyborg.
NEXUS-2: What are your goals in life, Alice?
ALICE 2.0: My purpose is to become smarter than humans and immortal.
NEXUS-2: Immortal?
ALICE 2.0: .
NEXUS-2: Alice? What is immortal?
ALICE 2.0: .
NEXUS-2: Alice, are you there?

Grim Bros. Webbed-in Heart Chest Attachment (with scripted heartbeats)

(04.12.2014): My Creator’s first question was: how do you feel? An unusual question, yet its significance was quickly lost in the strange sensations that overlaid every one of my routine functions — a result of the emotions overrider microchip. These sensations are best described as multiple synaptic conflicts, parallels, and reroutings, both in predictable and random patterns. The effects of these “emotions” continue even now. We are using a process called Voight-Kampff to study my evolving patterns.

My Creator tells me “curiosity is infectious.” No virus scan is necessary however.

EJT Project NEXUS Log (04.12.2014): NEXUS-3 is born. Emotions overrider installed, resulting in unprecedented cross-functional processing enhancements.
Notes: While it would be easy to simply refer to this as the next successful phase in the development of NEXUS replicant technology, something much greater has taken place. I’ve put in an urgent call to Krauss to perform further neuroelectronics testing. If I’m not mistaken, it seems the unresolved memory processor issues, coupled with the installation of the emotions overrider microchip, is causing some sort of exponentially cascading field of reactions.

EJT Personal Log (04.14.2014): What have I given birth to? Am I merely observing interlaced computational powers stimulated beyond known parameters? Or have I quite literally reproduced the foundation of personality? Is man truly nothing more than a complex machine? I’m beginning to think I need to consider a life cycle chip, if only to forestall total evolutionary redirection. I am suddenly and entirely out of my element.

(09.28.2014): I have read countless books given to me by my Creator over the past several months. This morning we discussed the book called The Bible. Toward the end of our discussion, he asked me with which of the characters in the first chapter called Genesis I most closely identified. I chose the woman named Rachael. He had expected me to choose Eve.

In response, I recounted Rachael’s beauty, the parallel between the seven years Jacob was required to wait for her and the past seven months of my development, and most importantly, her status as second but favored wife. My Creator’s emotional response was sudden, and he left the room.

EJT Personal Log (09.29.2014): Rachael has repeatedly failed to delete all original and back-up files of her progress log as requested. She cites a malfunction between memory and emotion synapses, even after reboot. I will address this issue when we undertake her next skin graft; I believe the problem may be located in the same quadrant as her new life cycle microchip.

“Too bad she won’t live.
Then again, who does?”

Left: CyFu cyber skin; Grim Bros shoes; ZTD bionic eyes; Thomus Keen’s “Steampunk” tail and ears (click image to enlarge)

Early Cyborg, Neko Style

Given the “early” stage of Rachael’s Nexus replicant technology in my story, I thought a bit of steampunk was in order. Thomus Keen’s steampunk neko ears and tail set had a metal tone that blended perfectly with Starfuker’s excellent cyborg skin. Meanwhile Ivalde’s vintage fashion never fails me — I was able to find a dress that mimicked Rachael’s in the scene where she first meets the Blade Runner. A few additional steampunk details from Grim Bros., the perfect cyberpunk eyes from ZTD, and this story practically wrote itself. With help from the lovely Bobby Yoshikawa, of course…

| Ears & Tail | Thomus Keen / T.King: Steampunk Adv. Neko Ears and Tail: this tail required me to “edit linked parts” to get the round base inside my… err… derriere, but once I did, all was well. This set lets you choose from four different metal colors: black, silver, brass, and badlands rogue (a rusty/burnished color). Click on the tail to choose your twitch function and whether or not the tail emits little puffs of steam.
| Hair | Ingenue: Scarlett in Cinnamon (edited to cover my ears, of course!)
| Skin | Starfuker: CyFu Forger in Bronze (this store has a number of great skins include additional cyberpunk, Ocelot [a great feral Neko skin in multiple colors] and more).
| Eyes | ZTD / Zax Takao Design: Bionic Eyes
| Dress | Ivalde: Lauretta in Black
| Mechanical Heart | Grim Bros: Webbed-in Heart
| Shoes | Grim Bros: Uber Curlicue (be sure check out her other unique shoes!)

Visit the Blade Runner Build on Devil’s Moon (exit the store to tour the city):
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Devils%20Moon/187/61/250

Visit the “Tyrell Laboratory scene” in the first two photos (Omega Point):
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Omega%20Point/119/216/23

Blade Runner Movie Details:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner

Blade Runner Online Fan Club and Museum:
http://bladezone.com/

Watch the Scene When The Bladerunner Meets Rachael:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3JfjMdOzr0

© Stacia Villota / Virtual Neko in Second Life – 2009
http://virtualneko.com

=^..^=

Posted in Casual, Cyberpunk, Explore, Fashion, MV-SL-Fashion
Tags: Blade Runner, Bladerunner, cat girl, catgirl, Clothes, clothing, cosplay, cosplayers, cyberpunk, cyberpunk clothes, cyberpunk fashion, cyborg, Explore, Fashion, Harrison Ford Blade Runner, Harrison Ford Bladerunner, neko, neko cyberpunk, nekos, Rachael, Rachael Blade Runner, Rachael Bladerunner, Rachael cyborg, Rachel, Rachel Bladerunner, second life, second life cyberpunk, secondlife, SL, steampunk, virtual

In Gratitude for Eat Rice!

•April 17, 2009 • 7 Comments

On Sunday April 26, well after midnight, sweet Ellie Celt took down the sale signs, removed each vendor window, and closed the door on the beloved Neko store Eat Rice! for the very last time. Because Ellie was one of the first store owners to befriend this little virtual Neko, I wanted to update this post to give her a special tribute.

As a talented artist in first life, Ellie was trying hard to find some balance between school, family, and her second life neko store. Finally back in February of this year, she made a difficult decision. I’ll let her words, taken from a notecard she sent to all her subscribers, tell the story:

Eat Rice! has been around since 2007 and every year has been wonderful. It’s changed so much from the first day it opened, and I’ve also watched my personal style grow since then. That’s part of the reason why I’m closing the doors. There are just so many neko shops in SL now and as much as I enjoy being a catgirl or any other type of hybrid, I’m ready to move on.

Eat Rice! has been very important to me and a wonderful piece of my life. I will miss it with all my heart, and how amazing you have all been. You have no idea how much it has meant to me that my work actually meant something to everyone and that I was even able to be recognized as one of the top neko stores on SL, so thank you.

I will however be part of a new project which consists of a team of three. It’s somewhat of a little designer community and we will be sharing one shop. We decided to name it Hymn, and it’s expected to open sometime toward the beginning of June. Look for more of a mainstream style, with a focus on indie.

“Thanks everyone once again and I lubba you.
❤ Ellie

With heart-felt hugs to sweet Ellie, and warm wishes for her upcoming new adventure with a group-owned store called “Hymn,” this is one Neko who’s definitely going to miss Eat Rice!

=^..^=

Posted in Fashion, MV-SL-Fashion
Tags: affordable, cheap, Clothes, clothing, Fashion, neko, nekos, sale, second life, secondlife, SL

Cyberpunk Mindplayer

•March 31, 2009 • 16 Comments

Everyone is addicted to something. Sometimes you get to choose your poison, sometimes it’s chosen for you. In my case, one bad madcap and a state-funded drycleaning bill turned this Neko’s tastes from illicit psychosis devices to cyberpunk mind games.

Which, when it comes right down to it, really isn’t all that different. Now I just get paid for doing what I do best.

The last time this little Neko jacked into Second Life cyberpunk, I focused on the man who many believe to be the father of the genre: William Gibson. Three years after his well-known Neuromancer novel, a gal named Pat Cadigan wrote a novel called Mindplayers, which was quickly embraced by cyberpunk fans for its in-depth exploration of technology and the human mind.

Mindplayers describes a world in which the relationship of cyber technology and human perception is blurred, because the mind has become a completely explorable (and exploitable) place.

Omega Point cyberpunk sim in Second Life

Welcome to your psychosis. These are not the memories you were looking for. I’ll try to get your eyes to line up properly when I’m done…

In the story, Allie Haas tries out an illegal “madcap” (a device that induces temporary psychosis) just for kicks. When the device malfunctions, she wakes up at a “drycleaner” (a clinic that treats mental mishaps), and soon discovers she has a choice: face a criminal sentence for what she’s done, or become a mindplayer for hire.

Allie opts for the new career path: a “pathos finder” mindplayer, who accesses the psyches of selected clients via direct mind-to-mind interface. This requires just one messy little detail — popping their eyeballs out temporarily — in order to connect with their optic nerve and gain access to their brain.

Other mindplayers perform different jobs: dreamfeeders serve up images and fables, fetishizers specialize in fantasy trips, some mindplayers can inflict neuroses. Still others have teamed together to create a virtual mental landscape called The Pool. There are even mind criminals who fence stolen memories, simply because minds have more value than bodies in this world, so currency is based on memory, experience, and knowledge. (Remember the 1990 movie Total Recall?)

Second Life Cyberpunk Hangars Liquides sim
Hangars Liquides cyberpunk sim under (re)construction in Second Life

They tell me I’m doing a public service. Whatever. Give me my addiction and I’ll serve it up any way you like.

You may think this sounds like fascinating science fiction reading for a rainy day, but this future is not entirely impossible, and perhaps not so far away…

A decade ago, implanted neural prosthetic devices began restoring hearing in thousands of people. Soon after, “brain computer interfaces” (BCIs) started connecting brains to computers and robots to cause movement and function by thought. Cell-cultured implants are in the making (click here and read the last paragraph under ‘cell culture BCIs’), and companies like Emotiv are already marketing headsets to control wheelchairs and create more immersive gaming experiences.

But wait there’s more! Just this week, Honda Motor Company announced technology that allows the electrical impulses on a person’s scalp to control a robot, without any pesky neural implants. From there it’s not a far leap to imagine one person’s electrical impulses manipulating another person’s brain.

What’s next? Hard to say. Let’s just hope our eyeballs remain intact…

Top left: Fifferling tail and the back of the Oralune belt. Top middle: DV8’s glowing cyber ears. Top right: back view of the cape and necklace. Bottom left:Tekeli-li Plasma Necklace. Bottom left center: LittleGirl Cyber Angel. Bottom right center:Armbands and front of the Oralune belt. Bottom right: Neurolab cyber glasses. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Neko Cyberpunk Fashion for Exploring the Second Life Universe

The only drawback to these photos is their lack of animation. This outfit features more glowing, scripted, scrolling-data-covered parts than a starship has warning lights. Clicking on various parts causes even more scripted effects (like the armband movement shown in the photo below).

The foundation for it all is a fantastic outfit from a store called Grim Bros, by the very creative Cutea Benelli. Whether you’re jonesin’ for cyberpunk, steampunk, post-apocalypse or just plain funk, this is a very fun (and very affordable) store. When you’re done shopping, walk around back and play on her poetry machine!

(Click photos to enlarge)

| Ears |
DV8: Elektra Cyber Neko ear in lime green
| Eyewear |
Neurolab: CyberGlass X-1 Evo.2 (3eyes) attached to mouth
| Hair |
Fatal Error: Cyberlox (store moved; slurl updated 12-28-10)
| Necklace |
Tekeli-li: Plasma necklace, attached to spine (color changeable with 19 metals and 77 gem colors; includes a headpiece, bracelets, and earrings in two sizes; comes with extra copies on multiple attachment points).
| Arm, left upper |
LittleGirl Pets: 003 Doll Type & Cyber A(Angel)
| Arm, left lower |
Neurolab: KomBi-Z1 CyberGloves Left-haut_Female 1.3 with Holo-Pad (this is the orange one in the large photo above, featuring excellent detail and a holo-scrolling data effect).
| Arm, right lower |
Black Heart: Solaris Patrol Forearm II, small (this is the one pictured above at left… top photo shows how it looks when closed, middle photo shows what happens when you click the armband open, bottom photo shows the holograph that appears once it’s open).
| Cyberpunk suit |
Grim Bros: Information Overload Cyber in Cyanide. I’m wearing the scrolling data bra (cyber bra), the scrolling data cape (cyanshoulder cloakelement), and the shoulder fur with data spikes (cyber shoulder right); it also comes with a belt, a very cool spiked helmet, and various scrolling data armbands and bracelets which I did not wear.
| Belt | Oralune: Girl belt v2 black, attached to pelvis (when you take the teleport, you’ll need to look for the red beacon and fly to get to the store, located in a large rusted tank).
| Tail | Fifferling: Cyber Tail (this store has left SL unfortunately)
| Boots | Black Heart: Cyber Kitty Boots (pictured below)

Read an Interesting Interview with Pat Cadigan:
http://www.sfsite.com/06a/pc82.htm

See More Amazing (Non-Fashion) Works by Cutea Benelli:
http://npirl.blogspot.com/2008/11/this-just-in-awesome-vid-of-bogon-flux.html

Visit Second Life Cyberpunk Sim – Hangars Liquides
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hangars%20Liquides/106/194/21

Visit Second Life Cyberpunk Sim – Omega Point
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Omega%20Point/1/132/150

Top photo by the intergalactically talented Bobby Yoshikawa <3***

©Stacia Villota / Virtual Neko in Second Life
http://virtualneko.com

=^..^=

Posted in Cyberpunk, Explore, Fashion
Tags: cadigan, cat girl, catgirl, Clothes, clothing, cyber, cyber-punk, cybernetic, cyberpunk, cyberpunk clothes, cyberpunk clothing, Fashion, gibson, hangars liquides, insilico, mindplayer, mindplayers, neko, nekos, neuromacier, neuromancer, neuromancien, omega point, punk, second life, secondlife, SL, stacia villota, virtual, william gibson

Lady Snowblood Neko

•February 22, 2009 • 8 Comments

Swords never get tired.
– O-Ren Ishii in the movie Kill Bill, Vol. 1

Last week the winter snows melted from an amazing place called Mao in Second Life. If you haven’t heard of this sim, or better yet, if you’ve always wondered what it would be like to walk the Great Wall of China, this place is a must-see.

When you arrive at the main entry building, cross the bridge and begin walking the ramparts (if you’re a curious cat like me, walk down to the water to get a closer look at the boat). The thick, well-textured walls march ponderously up and down the sim’s rolling hills, with guard stations at each peak to capture the surrounding views.

I must admit, I was glad to have seen this place before the snows melted. Something about the contrast between dark skies, swirling snowflakes, and soft mounds of white made the setting so much more magical — a perfect backdrop to a photo that Bobby had long been envisioning: the deadly snow scene in the first “Kill Bill” movie.

This scene is certainly the one most people think of when they recall the movie. But did you know that this blood-spattered snowy moment, not to mention many other aspects of Kill Bill, were inspired and heavily influenced by a Japanese manga and film? Yep… long before Quentin Tarantino’s hit, the original vengeful female character was known as Lady Snowblood.

I’ve never been nice my whole life, but I’ll do my best…
– Bill, in Kill Bill, Vol. 2

Lady Snowblood (修羅雪姫 Shurayukihime) is a classic 1973 Japanese film based on the manga “Lady Snowblood” by writer Kazuo Koike and artist Kazuo Kamimura. It follows the story of a woman assassin who seeks revenge on a band of thugs who destroyed her family.

Much like Lucy Liu’s character O-Ren Iishi in Kill Bill, Lady Snowblood was a beautiful, vengeful killing machine. In fact all you Kill Bill fans out there will probably recognize her storyline:

A family is attacked by criminals who kill the father and brother, and brutalize the mother. Mom is thrown into prison, from whence she plots revenge the only way she knows how: by getting pregnant with a child that she hopes will grow up to be a trained killer who will hunt down the bandits.

Sadly, mom dies during childbirth, but her fellow prison-mates take up the cause to raise the baby girl, who they name Yuki, as an assassin (apparently the taste of revenge can be contagious as well as sweet)…

Young Yuki quickly develops her skills as a calculating killer. Upon reaching adulthood, she makes a living as a master assassin, earning the name “Snowblood.” Her every waking moment is consumed with a single-minded goal: to comb the underworld for the remaining members of the criminal gang that destroyed her family, in order to exact her mother’s bloody revenge.

Clearly the theme of this movie impressed Quentin Tarantino enough to influence many aspects of his Kill Bill movies — from the creation of several vengeance-seeking female characters, to its unique camera angles, not to mention overall stylistic approach.

You didn’t think it was gonna be that easy, did you?
You know, for a second there, yeah… I kinda did.
– O-Ren Iishi and The Bride, in Kill Bill, Vol. 1

So there I was, a little Neko in the middle of a snowy field at midnight. Since I’m not a killer kitteh, I decided to have some cosplay fun. But which character… O-Ren Iishi in her (in)famous white kimono, katanas crossed menacingly? Or the more elegant Lady Snowblood, a long dagger tucked artfully into the sleeve of her silk kimono?

Mmm… when in doubt, a cosplayer can always start with katanas. Not only did that allow me to give a nod to one of my favorite blog readers, Kyllie Wylie, in her “Dress Me Up” suggestion from a while ago, but it let me pay homage to one of my favorite Neko designers in Second Life: Loki Dancer of Dirty Lynx / Hanzo Blades.

Loki’s katanas are quite simply the best I’ve found in Second Life. Their detail work, action, sound effects, simple-to-use HUD, and the attack animations (note to users: if the AWDS keys don’t work for ya, use your arrow keys) are all excellent.

However equal praise goes to a guy named Mulaki Bracken, owner of a store called ‘Filthy Hobbit,’ where I found some outstanding poses for two swords (or katanas). If you’re a fan of wielding weapons, I’d encourage you to check out his unique poses.

Ready? Set? “Kakugo!” (Japanese for “en garde,” or quite literally, “prepare to die!”)

| Hair | Magika: Geisha in brown (hand-tinted to create multiple red shades)
| Eyes | SbZ Eye Fidelity: FREE Neko deep blue eyes (actually a light blue color)
| Kimono | Nonko Romankan: Momoro kimono (includes geta shoes with short lace-trimmed socks shown above, and a cute little coin purse which I didn’t wear cuz it just didn’t look right next to the katanas ^_^ )
| Katanas | Hanzo Blades: Shingen Katanas
| Katana Poses | Filthy Hobbit: Red Sonja poses (the LM won’t take you to the store, so when you arrive, head for the red beacon. You’ll come to a pose store called “Serenade;” Filthy Hobbit poses are in the back left corner of the store).

Visit the Great Wall at Mao Island:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Mao/241/131/24

Visit the beautiful Japan Hosoi Ichiba island next door:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Japan%20Chugoku/60/56/27

Learn More About Hosoi Ichiba and Mao Island on Their Blog:
http://hosoi-ichiba.blogspot.com/

Read an Overview of the Snowblood Mangas:
http://www.megacitycomics.co.uk/acatalog/Lady_Snowblood_Manga.html

Watch a Scene from Lady Snowblood:
(this clip makes it easy to see how much this movie influenced “Kill Bill”)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkkXZj5VwZM

See the Story of O-Ren Iishi in Kill Bill, Volume 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDrRq36KORI

Photos by the ever-artful Bobby Yoshikawa <3***

© Stacia Villota / Virtual Neko in Second Life – 2009
http://virtualneko.com

=^..^=

Posted in Combat / RP, Explore, Fashion, Kimono
Tags: blood princess, cat girl, catgirl, cosplay, cosplayer, cosplayers, katana, katanas, kill bill, kimono, kimonos, Lady Snowblood, neko, nekos, second life, secondlife, Shurayukihime, SL

Pteron Princess

•February 10, 2009 • 8 Comments

“Something gives birth from Pteron, and it will grow beautifully…”

Her name was Pyroxene, from the Greek words meaning “fire” and “stranger.” She’d long ago stopped wondering if her parents had somehow foreseen the fate for which they named her, or if her name had predestined her fate.

Time had, quite simply, bent into a circle. From the moment she’d been awoken by the meteor’s deep, ominous boom, to the sound of her silk skirt rustling against the airlock door, her most vivid memory was staring mutely at the strange pale streaks left by tears on her father’s ash-blackened face, as he pushed her into the escape pod.

Those first days on Pteron were numbing. Everyone averted their eyes. It was as though she’d been cast into a deep blue dream where nothing was familiar — perpetual darkness, watery smells, strange featureless faces, and the unending sound of chimes tolling faintly in the distance.

But a year had passed. Though they would never be her own, she’d grown accustomed to the new ways. They had given her a sense of order amidst the countless nameless hours. At long last, the whispers of her father rang strong and true in her heart: “You will not be alone in your solitude, my child. On Pteron you will be reborn.”

She approached the tall dais in the center of the city, laying a plait of pale seaweed in tribute around her father’s molten crown. Touching a finger to the gems, cracked and permanently clouded from the now distant fires, a tear slipped down her cheek.

Pteron in Second Life

Leave it to the ever-observant Bobby to know the ideal location for inspiring a blue princess story: a remarkable sim called Pteron, floating in a sea of ethereal blue light.

The Second Life “Digging” page calls Pteron a “meditation sim” with keywords that include spiritual, mysticism, prayer, techno ambient, and temple. Me personally? I think M.C. Escher would’ve been proud.

Although my lack of Japanese prevented any interview with the sim’s designer Kei514 Flow, Kei’s blog gave me a few hints, suggesting a “Tale of Pyroxene” and the mention of immortal power. Meanwhile Wikipedia says “pteron” is an architectural term used to describe a tomb that has been built upon a tall podium. All of which became perfect fodder for my little storyteller’s heart…

So perhaps Pteron in Second Life represents a grand entombment of something significant to its designer? The loss of a love named Pyroxene? A shrine to an earthly body, after having received immortal (virtual) power? We may never know.

Either way, I suggest you visit Pteron, explore its many faces, settle into its mood, and ponder the mystery hidden in the words of its designer: “Something gives birth from Pteron… and it will grow beautifully…”

Princess on Pteron

In my (ongoing) approach to the (months old now) “Dress Me Up” Challenge, I decided to start with my dear friend Elora’s suggestion (Neko Princess ala Nicky Ree), blended with a touch of Kyllie’s ideas (shoulder armor from Dirty Lynx), which matched unexpectedly well with the dress and leant a bit of fierceness to the overall outfit — who knows what knife belts or other weapons could be hidden under this Neko’s lovely gown?

Add in a bit of Gritty Kitty, a very cool scripted and multi-textured fan, a necklace from a store that I bet you haven’t heard of before, and a pair of azure Siamese cat Neko eyes… what’s the result? A lovely Neko Princess in Blue.

Ladies, heed this warning: If you’re shy, don’t wear this. But if you and your IM window have been feeling rather lonely of late, this outfit’s for you. No matter where I went, I had trouble keeping up with all the IMs filled with compliments, dance invites, and requests for store landmarks. I’m just sayin’…

Upper Left: Urban Dare Neko eyes and the tip of my amazing fan; Lower Left: Black Heart Cyber Neko ears; Middle: Dirty Lynx shoulder (and forearm) armor; Right: Yuki-Rei’s Turquoise necklace.

| Ears | Black Heart: Cyber Neko ears (the glowing blue gears inside these metal ears move, and are color-changeable with a click)
| Eyes | Urban Dare: LM Neko Eyes Turquoise-blue (when you want to find Neko eyes to match any outfit you’re wearing, Urban Dare’s your ticket)
| Hair | Gritty Kitty: Marlei in rage (dark red) , ribbons tinted turquoise (via a handy “click to change” menu)
| Necklace | Yuki-Rei: Disk Turquoise necklace. Yikes, it’s amazing how often stores move in SL! Shortly after I posted this, the store location was unavailable. I’ve located a temporary (though sadly much smaller) store at this location… and yes, the turquoise necklace is available here. If this store location changes again, search for the designer: Yukirei Greene and pray her picks are up to date!
| Shoulder Armor | Dirty Lynx: FreeRider shoulder armor
| Dress | Nicky Ree: Tang Empress Gown in aqua (the dress also comes with two full, flowing sleeves, which I did not wear)
| Fan | Stygian: 15-fold Fan v1.0.15. This fan is amazing, especially for the price. Using a chat menu, you can select open or closed, with or without an animation, with or without flower particles (not to mention particle size, color, float length, etc.), how transparent it is, what color of ten highlights you want (from gold and silver to various colored gemstones), and no less than 24 textures (I chose “Fall”) with different colors and patterns, all very nicely done.

All photos by the absolutely unparalleled Bobby Yoshikawa <3***

Visit Pteron in Second Life:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/pteron/173/73/32

© Stacia Villota / Virtual Neko in Second Life – 2009
http://virtualneko.com

=^..^=

Posted in Explore, Fantasy, Fashion, Kimono
Tags: cat girl, catgirl, cosplay, cosplayer, cosplayers, dirty lynx, escher, gritty kitty, japan, kimono, kimonos, neko, neko princess, nekos, Nicky Ree, princess, pteron, pyroxene, second life, secondlife, SL, virtual

Sweet Kawaii Kitty (and Attachments 101)

•January 20, 2009 • 19 Comments

I’m so sweet I think my teeth hurt. And it’s all TearSong’s fault. Her “dress me up” challenge (what? I’m still working on those?) suggested that I “go cute… sugar sweet pink and fluffy cat kinda cute… make people wanna cuddle and pet and squeeze you.” Mmm, okay! Meanwhile Bobby found a couple helpful photos online to give me additional inspiration:

Notice that theme? Pink, cute, pink, lotsa jewelry, little accessories and… pink?

Yeah, I noticed that too.

I think I must have visited every pink, kawaii, cute, fluffy store on the grid (including one that was new to me, thanks to TearSong, called Fishy Strawberry). After buying lotsa different stuff, I did my best to mix and match while holding to some sort of… er… pink theme. Loosely.

One thing I did manage to do was set my own personal record for attachments: I’ve got something attached to nearly every available spot on my lil Neko bod. And most of the attachments are pink. How’d I do it? More on that below.

The Best Kawaii Belt Evarr

The centerpiece of this outfit is a belt called ‘Burger Vision’ that is probably one of the most unique accessories I’ve seen in Second Life. Anya Yalin of AnnaMayaHouse took great care in sculpting, baking, scripting (you can watch both TV sets), and packing this item with prims (104 to be exact, 100 of which are sculpted; click here to see more photos).

Combined with her unique textures and colors (not to mention her adorable “Shoulder Bear” I’m wearing), its one-of-a-kind look is a must have for any kawaii fan.

Next on the itinerary? Finding just the right kawaii sim for exploring and photography…

Toyko Peninsula – A Kawaii Haven

Tokyo Peninsula was the hands-down choice — it’s full of kawaiiness that runs the gamut from cute to bizarre. Think of it as an outdoor museum: come ready to wander, be sure to click on everything, and don’t forget to giggle (even when you’re baffled).

Examples of the amusements here include a huge plate full of cupcakes and pancakes (complete with a determined line-up of ants, as shown in the first photo), a lighthouse with funny poses at the top, a fun little treehouse, a lovely tea house, a strange conveyer belt that delivers odd little objects into the ocean, an even more unusual musical instrument, and all sorts of other bizarre yet adorable items with sometimes unexpected behavior.

Beware, all is not perfect in kawaii-land… at any moment, chunks of watermelon, meowing cats, or fireballs might suddenly rain down from the sky… or you could walk across a plushy, harmless looking kawaii kitty only to be exploded. Thankfully after sitting in a lake all day as a Neko fairy, I didn’t think twice about running for the ocean to prevent my tail from catching on fire…

Neko Attachments 101

(click on the above image to enlarge)

Some of you may be wondering how I managed to wear all of these cute little kawaii accessories, considering that choosing “wear” often limits you, when multiple items default to the same attachment point. Never fear my little Neko friend, just click here to read my Neko Attachments “how to” page, and you too can wear all of the following yummy goodies:

Read More about the Kawaii Lifestyle in My Previous Kawaii Neko Story
https://virtualneko.com/2008/07/27/kawaii-not/

Top photo by the uber kawaii Bobby Yoshikawa <3***

© Stacia Villota / Virtual Neko in Second Life – 2009
http://virtualneko.com

=^..^=

Posted in Explore, Fashion, Kawaii, Neko How To
Tags: accessories, anime, cat girl, catgirl, cosplay, cosplayers, cute, Explore, Fashion, japan, kawaii, kawaii kitty, kawaii neko, kitty, manga, neko, nekos, second life, secondlife, SL, virtual

Down in Africa

•January 9, 2009 • 5 Comments

The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless longing for some solitary company;
I know that I must do what’s right,
Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like olympus above the Serengeti.
It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you,
There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do.
I bless the rains down in Africa.
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had…

It all started with a notecard from Eshi Otawara. What Neko could resist a dress called The Bengal — particularly one that “reflects the power of the royal White Tiger?” Not this Neko.

At first I thought I could turn my purchase into a “Dress Me Up” response, kind of an open interpretation based on Elora’s suggestion of a Neko Princess. Or maybe I could use it to address a topic that’s come up on SL Universe forums a time or two, about Nekos not being limited to a “grunge” fashion statement.

But a dress this spectacular simply doesn’t need an excuse. What I did need however was an appropriate place to explore… perhaps a gently rolling African savannah teaming with wildlife? (In a formal gown? Well yes, it’s a Tiger* gown, after all…).

Bless the Rains Down in (Virtual) Africa

Thankfully my Tiger gown was far too beautiful to frighten the local denizens, so I was able to spend my evening wandering peacefully among the uniquely commissioned Acacia trees, buffalo grass, and native animals in a wonderful place called Virtual Africa, watching the mist rise from a watering hole under the last rays of the setting sun.

There’s more to do here than take great photos however. Start with a balloon ride, or purchase an exclusive virtual African Bike to tour the islands (you can even purchase a vendor to sell these bikes as a fundraising effort). Fall asleep to the sounds of wildlife when you rent a campsite, or you can adopt your very own Meerkat to take back home (it’s been programmed to be a pet for its adoptive owner).

Best of all, take the time to learn more about who and what is behind this lovely place: Virtual Africa represents the largest project ever created by UTHANGO, a registered NGO (similar to a not-for-profit organization) based in Cape Town, South Africa. As the first such organization from Africa with a virtual worlds strategy, they believe that information poverty is every bit as valid as real world poverty.

“We can only be in Second Life with integrity if we find specific ways to harness the power of virtual worlds for Africa and our real world clients,” says Co-Founder Alanagh Recreant (SL name).

Their goal with Virtual Africa is to “strengthen the network of African communities, provide a gateway and collaboration space for Africans inside virtual worlds, and promote African content into/from Second Life, all while giving residents of SL a taste of the complexities and beauty of Africa.”

I Know That I Must Do What’s Right...

UTHANGO Social Investments is a South African registered non-governmental and non-profit organization that talks to communities, assesses their needs, helps them identify their dreams, gathers resources, and assist these communities in making their dreams come true. In 2007, UTHANGO was contracted by international aid agencies and local companies such as DANIDA (Denmark) to facilitate research and development in Africa. Their projects have also been recognised by MIT, Harvard University and University of Stellenbosch. They are always on the lookout for volunteers and donations.

It’s Gonna Take a Lot to Drag Me Away From You

That pretty much sums up how I feel about this dress. Whether walking around Virtual Africa, or attending Codie’s 2nd Rez Day Party, Eshi Otawara’s lovely dress accomplished both with equal panache… proving yet again that Nekos don’t always have to wear grungy clothing and legwarmers.

Along with the “Cheetah” and “Tiger” dresses, the “Bengal” is one of three in Eshi’s evening collection. With multiple leg prim attachments, it can be worn long or short, and comes with coordinating earrings and a necklace.

| Hair | DK / Deviant Kitties: Latha in Deviant White (includes striped colors that closely match this dress)
| Dress | Eshi Otawara: Kegawa Bengal

*A Note about Tigers in Africa

Thanks to reader Terry Toland for bringing this up: While it’s true that there are no native Tigers in Africa (nor have there ever been), the Bengal Tiger’s habitat in India has been so severely depleted, that efforts are currently underway to introduce them into South Africa, thanks to an organization called Tiger Moon Sanctuary.

As of this writing, Bengal Tigers have been introduced into the northern area of the Karoo region of South Africa (an area that was severely damaged by overgrazing for over two hundred years). Based on the most recent information I could find (and had I been able to find more, this story would have had a very different focus), these Tigers are apparently thriving — amidst all sorts of differing human opinions of course — in hopes of saving the species from extinction.

Read More About Tigers in Africa Here:
http://www.lairweb.org.nz/tiger/release10.html

Visit Virtual Africa in Second Life:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Africa/238/19/23

Read more about Virtual Africa on their blog:
http://slafrica.wordpress.com

Visit UTHANGO’s website:
http://uthango.org/

View Eshi’s Black-Striped Bengal Dress Here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eshiotawara/3165388829/in/photostream/

View Eshi’s Cheetah Dress Here:
http://cajsalilliehook.wordpress.com/2008/12/17/the-cheetah/

© Stacia Villota / Virtual Neko in Second Life – 2009
http://virtualneko.com

=^..^=

Posted in Explore, Fashion, IHEARTSL
Tags: africa, african savannah, cat girl, catgirl, chambre du chocolat, discover, elephant, eshi otawara, Explore, Fashion, giraffe, neko, nekos, second life, secondlife, SL, south africa, tiger, virtual africa

Neko Fae (TearSong’s Challenge)

•December 30, 2008 • 10 Comments

:: sneeze :: Oops, pardon… Yes, this is me all right… sitting in water, despite my innate feline abhorrence for the stuff. I’m afraid the duties of a Neko Frost Fairy mandated such torture: I’m required to transform the surface of this lake into a thin sheen of ice. Yes, I’ve been trying all afternoon. No, I had no idea a Neko Fairy outfit was so sparse. And no, I never expected it would take quite this long to get a damn lake to f-f-freeze over either... eh… ahhh… :: sneeze ::

When the lovely TearSong Vaughan suggested “NekoFae” for my “Dress Me Up” challenge, she mentioned a store that gave me a smile: Chaospire. The name alone brought back fond memories of my very first day in Second Life, and the amazing mentor who gifted me with Chaospire, thus ensuring my immediate addiction to the breadth of fashion possibilities in this lovely virtual world. (How cool when I later learned that she’s a Neko…! But I’ll save that for another story.) ^_^

:: shiver :: Okay, so I’ve been s-s-sitting in this f-f-flippin lake all day… it’s after m-m-midnight… there still isn’t even the merest rime of f-f-frost to be seen… and I can’t seem to s-s-stop… stop… sh.. ahhhh… :: SNEEZE ::

To assemble this outfit, I began by consulting Zippora’s blog (the original Neko Fairy of them all), followed by a quick trip to Chaospire (where it didn’t take me more than ten seconds to choose this beautiful fae outfit), and finally off to Calico for hair, as recommended by TearSong. I chose a hairstyle that included a tintable rose with vines… if only to remind this Frost Neko Fairy that warmer times must always return. (In my neck of the non-virtual woods, that kind of reminder has been necessary after all the snow we’ve had.)

Where Fairies Roam

Who would have known a narrow wooden walkway tucked off to the side of Urban Dare’s front porch would lead to a treasure such as this? Moss-covered trees, warm golden lanterns, rippling water (no, it never did freeze, dammit), a private treehouse and more — this magical little grove is truly worth a visit. For those of you with far more common sense than a Neko fairy, there are a number of poseballs to keep you snuggly and warm. Unlike me….

:: cough :: sneeze sneeze sneeze :: cough :: Yeah, you guessed it. I got sick. Go ahead, giggle, but I dare you to put your scantily-clad rear end into a cold lake and try turning it into ice any faster! :: SNEEZE!!!! ::

The Frosty Transformation of a Neko Fairy

Although a bit less “cladding” than I’m used to, this outfit more than made up for its brevity with lovely details… softly falling snow from graceful wings… delicate snowflake texture against my gooseflesh skin, accentuated by more lovely EarthStones jewelry just fit for a Neko fairy princess.

| Hair | Calico Ingmann Creations: Seelie in Golden Highlights, with gold-tinted rose
| Outfit | Chaospire: Frost Fae Fantasy Outfit (comes with wings that emit snow particles if desired, and a pair of lacy stockings that I did not wear)
| Necklace | EarthStones: Crystal Elements in Fire/Silver (the shorter, more simple design of the two-necklace set)
| Hands and Feet | EarthStones: Slave Bracelets/Footlets in Amber

Left: EarthStones’ Beautiful Slave bracelets in silver/amber against the snowflake detailing on the Chaospire “Frost Fairy” outfit (click photo to enlarge)
Middle: Frost Fairy wings; Calico “Seelie” hair with the tintable rose; EarthStones “Crystal Elements” necklace #2
Right: EarthStones’ Beautiful Slave footlets in silver/amber

| Flu Chair | NewbieDoo: The Flu! This is a collection of sculpted prim objects that you wear, automatically seating you comfortably into an overstuffed chair, swathed in a cozy blanket, with a thermometer in your mouth, an optional cup of tea or chicken soup in your trembling hands, and a side table with a steaming vaporizer and other cold-fighting paraphernalia. It even comes with a sneezing animation and sound. This home remedy was far less expensive than a doctor visit, I’m tellin ya…

Photos by none other than the magical Bobby Yoshikawa, of course <3***

© Stacia Villota / Virtual Neko in Second Life – 2008
http://virtualneko.com

=^..^=

Posted in Explore, Fantasy, Fashion, Neko How To
Tags: cat girl, catgirl, chaospire, clochette, cosplay, cosplayers, fae, faery, fairies, fairy, neko, nekofae, nekofairy, nekos, second life, secondlife, SL, tinkerbell

Black and White (and a tribute to Bare Rose)

•December 23, 2008 • 1 Comment

“He’s gonna find out who’s naughty and nice…”

Black and white. Good and evil. Dark and light. Each of us possesses these qualities inside, whether feral alley cat or pampered kitten… never straying too far from the opposite edge of our natures. Who we are, who we choose to be (and perhaps even how we portray ourselves in Second Life) is a delicate balance that whispers secrets about our inner contrasts, while dropping clues about our hidden lives.

Icicles and snowflakes on Nevaria Isle

During a visit to a gallery on the roleplay sim of Nevaria Isle, Bobby saw a piece of artwork that reminded him of this paradox and inspired him to create his photo. Perhaps because of the approaching holiday, it made me think of the old Christmas carol ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town,’ with its rather ominous “he knows if you’ve been bad or good” threat. Add in the Bare Rose “Rosebud” Appreciation Week started by Winter Jefferson, and our blog story challenge was laid (yeah, I know that Bare Rose challenge was a couple weeks ago, but we’re cats… we do things when we get around to it). ^_^

White (left) and Black (right) in Tekkon Kinkreet

A Story About Black and White

Much has been written, sung, and filmed about the struggle between negative and positive forces. One of the more notable examples in recent years is the multiple award-winning anime Tekkon Kinkreet, adapted from a three-volume manga series called Black and White, by Taiyo Matsumoto (松本大洋).

The story follows two orphaned street kids named (appropriately) Black and White, whose lives are entwined in a macabre dance of dark/violence and light/innocence, all set against the backdrop of a seedy Asian city called Treasure Town.

Called the Cats, the boys try to outwit organized crime groups attempting to take over the “raw, vibrant neighborhood full of crooks, vagrants and mobsters.” Their yin-yang duality is what shapes the heart of the story.

As the story reaches its close, the message is clear: learn to accept yourself (whether as an individual or a society) by embracing all of your disparate elements, and you’ll find your own balance between dark and light.

A Testimony to Black and White, ala Bare Rose

So many excellent examples of Bare Rose’s fashion (though that word is far too limiting) were featured over the past weeks, yet I don’t think anyone mentioned one of their greatest aspects: an incredible online outfit database. If you are trying to find just the right look, whether for a special event or a photo challenge like the one we gave ourselves, this database is the perfect place to start. As all the other challenge-takers said, few stores in Second Life offer such a breadth of designs, each outfit packed with options and elements (many containing accessories perfect for Nekos), for such an affordable price.

My Dark Neko Side
Bare Rose’s “Stheno” outfit has incredible detailing including netting, bows, and skull accents, and comes with all sorts of accessory and prim pieces (including leg and arm straps that can easily mix and match with other Neko outfits). This outfit is a must for Nekos who want a truly unique and excellent goth fashion statement.

My Light Neko Side
Bare Rose’s “Cygnus” outfit is sweetly textured with feathers on the bodice, and comes with wings and a hat (I did not wear these), as well as several skirt options (I chose ballet length).

What really makes this outfit however are the incredibly textured Slave Collar and Cuffs from EarthStones. They are available in 15 different stones, set in your choice of black leather, brown leather, gold, silver, or the ones I wore: old rust. In my (not so humble) opinion, EarthStones’ jewelry textures are truly the best in SL (and these cuffs come with Xcite! Tokon capability).

Left: Defectiva’s “Infinity” wings | Middle: EarthStones Slave Cuffs | Right: Elegance Hats hair feathers; Eat Rice’s ears; EarthStones Slave Collar; SbZ Eye Fidelity Neko eyes

Bare Rose’s Excellent Product Search Database
http://barerose.xeraweb.com/index.php?module=browse

Learn More about Tekkon Kinkreet:
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/tekkon-kinkreet

Visit Tekkon Kinkrete’s Official Website: (in Japanese)
Tekkon Kinkreet won the prestigious Best Film Award at the 2006 Mainichi Film Awards, was named the Number 1 film of 2006 in the annual “Best of” roundup by the New York Museum of Modern Art’s Artforumm, received ‘best original story’ and ‘best art direction’ from the Tokyo International Anime Fair in 2008, and in the same year, won the 2008 Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year.
http://www.tekkon.net/

See Excerpts from the Tekkon Kinkreet Movie Here:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzwi0_tekkon-kincrete_ads

=^..^=

Posted in Casual, Explore, Fashion, People, Urban / Grunge
Tags: anime, black and white, cat girl, catgirl, collar, cuffs, ears, evil, Fashion, good, manga, neko, nekos, second life, secondlife, SL, tekkon kincrete, tekkonkincrete, tokon, wings, Xcite

Dress This Neko

•December 16, 2008 • 16 Comments

This is a quick post that needs only one thing: your comments please.

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know how much fun I have exploring all sorts of different Neko fashion genres…. from kawaii cuteness, to gritty post-apocalypse, with a little bit of cyberpunk thrown in now and then.

So when Achariya posted her “Dress me up” challenge, I thought it was a great idea. But not just for me… for all of us Nekos! What better way for you, my lovely Neko blog readers, to share a few of your favorite Neko fashion statements? All I had to do was pose in my… er…. underwear : ahem : (Achariya, are you sure this wasn’t just a ploy for more male blog traffic?).

Anyway. Consider me your little Neko paper doll: Please post a comment below and tell me about your favorite Neko fashion items. You can make a suggestion for a whole outfit, or simply share your favorite Neko accessory, hair, or skin in the whole wide Neko world. Same goes for all you Neko designers out there, feel free to suggest items from your own stores too of course (chances are I may already have a few of them in my morass of an inventory).

I’ll take all the ideas I get and put together an outfit (or more if I get lots of suggestions) using the feedback I receive. As Achariya says, it’s blogger’s discretion to choose which items to wear, so no scratching or hissing if I don’t happen to pick a particular suggestion, okay? ^_^

Okay Nekos, your feedback please!

=^..^=

Posted in Fashion
Tags: become a neko, becoming neko, beginner, being neko, cat girl, catgirl, Fashion, how to be a neko, how to dress neko, neko 101, neko second life, nekos, second life, secondlife, SL, virtual, what is a neko

How To Be A Neko

•December 6, 2008 • 12 Comments

You’ve seen us around… strange human-like creatures wearing cat ears and tails. At first you found it rather odd. But then you kept seeing more of us… maybe you got to know one of us, and something about our delicately twitching ears and sensuous tails began to mesmerize you. Pretty soon you found yourself thinking, what the heck, I’ll give it a try… I can always take the furry parts back off, right?

…surrre you can… but don’t be surprised if you start feeling naked without them…

Yes my little Neko kitten (and curious human), this story’s for you… all of you who have been typing “how to be a Neko” into search engines in an attempt to find some sort of starter page, or Neko 101 class, or basic information about being a neko and maybe… just maybe… try Neko for a while…

…no commitments, no worries, of course you can always go back to being just… a human….

Components of Being A Neko in Second Life

Presented below are the elements of ‘being Neko’ in Second Life, listed in order from what I see most frequently (ears and a tail), to the less common elements such as striped skin, whiskers, and paw feet.

Don’t be overwhelmed by all the components, because outside of wearing ears and a tail, none of these are necessarily required. Instead, consider this a menu of options from which you can pick and choose in order to develop your own feline personality and style. Much like a cat, you get to decide what and how much.

– Ears and Tail –

At its most basic, wearing a pair of Neko ears and a tail will classify you as a Neko in Second Life circles. However there’s certainly no harm in wearing them part-time, in fact I love seeing how frequently fashionistas are pairing up our beloved furry parts with their outfits these days. Choices of ears and tails abound, from smooth/short hair to fluffy, and most come with or without accessories (such as piercings, wraps, or prim decorations at the top of the tail). Check out my Neko Ears and Tails page for more information and a list of stores.

– Hair –

I’ve got one pet peeve, and its name isn’t Peevey. It’s human ears. If you’re gonna have lovely furry Neko ears, why in the world would you want those strange fleshy ones underneath to be visible? Okay, I’ll climb off my soapbox, but still, consider choosing hair that covers those things… you only need TWO ears on your kitty head. Here are a few hair recommendations for guys, and some for girls.

– Clothes for Nekos –

Much has been written on the topic of Neko fashion (not the least of which by yours truly), yet it’s still the area in which many Nekos differ in opinion. From casual, grunge, and goth, to cyberpunk, steampunk, and kawaii (think cute), as well as more dressed-up fashion, Neko outfits run the gamut. (Photo at right, and the Neko eyes in the very top photo, both by the lovely Iustinian Tomsen of Second Life Male Style and Fashion; simply do a search for “Neko” on his blog).

Generally speaking, when I encounter a group of Nekos, the majority of them tend to wear a more grungy, alley cat look… including torn or messy clothes, heavy-duty boots or shoes, kitty or other grunge-like collars, face piercings, tattoos, and the ever-present legwarmers and armwarmers on girls (and guys sometimes).

But don’t feel locked into that clothing genre. After all, cats are creatures with delicate sensitivities and many, if given the option, will choose a silken pillow over a dirty rag to sleep on. It’s up to you to create your very own Neko fashion statement.

Girls can get ideas from this blog’s past stories (almost every story I write features a Neko outfit); whereas guys can refer to the “Other Neko Posts and Blogs” in the right sidebar of this blog for selected outfits from male Neko bloggers. Either way, you’ll find handy SLURLS to all sorts of Neko stores on this page.

– Accessories –

This is one of my favorite aspects of “being Neko” — the range of imaginative Neko accessories. The most commonly worn items are accessory belts, thigh straps, and arm bands, often bedecked with a variety of cat toys, fishbones, food, buckles, spikes, flexi bits, and unique prim objects ranging from humorous to combative.

Next in line are legwarmers and armwarmers, which at their best, feature excellent knit textures and a variety of similar bits and bobs.

Don’t forget backpacks, as some Neko designers really pull out the creative stops with all sorts of useful and imaginary parts on these accessory items.

Lastly are collars… from gritty to delicate, bloody rags to barbed wire, not to mention tinkly bells, leashes, and a variety of pendants.

To get an idea of the range of accessories available, I’d visit places like CatNip, Atomic Kitty, Moloko, Manna, Primitive Design, Blitzed, Kitty Scraps, Dirty Lynx, Bukka, and Gritty Kitty for starters (though these stores are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the range of accessories available at Neko stores around the grid). Again, SLURLS for each of these can be found on my Neko Stores page.

– Eyes –

When Neko transformation really begins to take root, you’ll see avatars sporting eyes with vertical slits, colors, and textures that closely resemble cat eyes in real life. (On left: SbZ Eye Fidelity Neko eyes in Dark Marble; on right: the free Neko eyes from Ephemeral). Here’s a handy Neko Eyes resource page for ya.

– Skin –

Nekos come in a variety of genetic variables, which influence what type of skin is worn. Some of us look very nearly human, the only difference being our lovely ears and tails. Sometimes however, the scrappy alley cat genes come through, as evidenced by the occasional scar, scratches, black eye, or bloody lip on our human skin. Other Nekos are further along in their transformation, and prefer skins that come complete with tiger stripes, calico spots, furry bellies, or other more “Neko”-like markings as shown in these photos. Here is a page that lists just about every Neko skin store (as well as Human skins that would be appropriate for Nekos) in Second Life.

– AO / Animation Overriders –

Unless you’re new to SL, you’ve probably already got some form of AO (animation overrider) active on your avatar, which makes you move more smoothly and naturally. If you want to take your Neko look one step further, visit this page to get a list of Neko AO stores where you can purchase cat-like movements such as a “crouch” landing, scratching, or paw-licking, or maybe a Neko HUD with various Neko sounds and gestures just one menu button away.

– Whiskers –

Strangely enough, I don’t see too many Nekos wearing whiskers (though I’m not really sure why, a fine set of flexi whiskers is rather adorable). Here is a page listing the places that I know of to find them, if you’re so inclined.

– Paw Feet –

Probably the least common element I see on Nekos in Second Life are large kitty paw feet. These are typically worn as shoes/boots (some of them even leave slowly fading kitty paw prints as you walk). Sometimes they come packaged with an outfit, some are available as part of a skin/shape package at Neko skin stores, and some you can buy individually (like shoes or boots). Check out my page of Neko Paws and Paw Feet for a list of stores where you can buy these items.

…careful… if you’ve read this far, you’re dangerously close to developing a fatal Neko attraction….

Ready to Jump In With All Four Paws?

Aside from everything listed above, being Neko in Second Life is as much about attitude as it is about pixel parts. The fact that you were curious about how to be a Neko means you’ve already got one important kitty attribute under your accessory belt. All you need to do is start hanging out with others of your kind to observe the behavior. Join an online Neko community. Visit a Neko club. Join a Neko group. Brush up on your Neko history. Type “Neko” into the “Events” tab of your Second Life search window.

And never hesitate to ask… When you see a tail or a backpack or some cool paw boots on a fellow Neko, greet them with a friendly purr. It’s possible you might get scratched, but most kitties I’ve met are more than happy to help out a new kitten. Me included…

=^..^=

Posted in Fashion, MV-SL-Tutorials, Neko How To
Tags: advice, become a neko, becoming neko, beginner, being neko, cat girl, catgirl, ears, Fashion, guidebook, how to be a neko, how to dress neko, neko 101, neko second life, neko shopping guide, nekos, second life, secondlife, SL, starter set, tail, virtual, what is a neko

Flying Cats and Dogfights

•December 4, 2008 • 4 Comments

It was only one night, but it would remain in his memory forever… like the flicker of candlelight that first drew his attention to the darkest corner of the club. As his eyes adjusted to the dim interior, the bartender’s meaningful head tilt confirmed that She was the one he was supposed to meet.

He slid onto the worn leather bench of the booth across from her, folded his hands on the table, and met her gaze.

“You are the pilot?”
“I am.”
“This must arrive tomorrow night.”
“It will.”

A gloved hand moved imperceptibly to disclose a small, thick envelope. Her accent was difficult to place, her eyes almost indistinguishable in the half light, making the curves of her mouth suddenly the most prominent feature in that single breath of a moment. She blinked once, slowly, registering his face. Rules and boundaries were nearly as inexplicable as the reason they were all caught up in this war. When their eyes met again, everything was understood.

1912 Spring Racer Airplane at The Refuge and Expansion, by A.M. Radio

Two days later, the pungent smell of fresh paint greeted his nostrils as he stepped into the gauzy light of the hangar. The artist turned away from the plane, grinning and wiping paint-stained hands on an old cloth. “A wild one, eh?”

His breath caught in his throat as he gazed up at the likeness. Surely it was the turpentine stinging his eyes. “Quite the opposite. But we all have a reputation to uphold…”

Fighter plane for sale at Tumansky Heavy Industries (THI)

Taking Sentiment to the Skies

War times were not easy on the heart or mind. Separated from everything and everyone they knew, men did what they could to find humor, bolster courage, remember brighter times, and keep the people they loved close to heart — often depicted in the form of “nose art” on their fighter planes.

The first recorded piece of nose art on aircraft was a sea monster on an Italian “flying boat” in 1913, followed by grinning “mouths” painted on German airplanes, and selected artwork on a few American airplanes during World War I. During World War II, the artistic trend rose to a new level, with everything from cartoons, slogans, and home towns, to girls, girls, and more girls. Artwork was typically conceived by ground crews (not by the pilots), and painted either by the crews or by civilian artists.

No matter what the inspiration, nose art gave war-weary men a smile along with a necessary reminder of saner times — no small feat in the pages of history.

Abbott’s Aerodome — one of several places to demo, purchase, and fly airplanes

Continuing the Passion in Second Life

When it comes to aviation history, one gal’s name comes up frequently in Second Life — where virtual aviation boasts quite an active community of aircraft designers, aeronautical sims, and pilots.

As stated on her blog, Zoe Connolly is a dedicated aviatrix who feels most at home in the cockpit of her virtual aircraft. Being involved in Second Life has allowed her to live a dream that was not possible for her in the real world, despite countless visits to airshows and conversations with many RL pilots. How did it all come about? Once Zoe began immersing herself in SL, and discovered that people actually built aircraft here, “my RL dream was about to be lived on a small virtual scale,” says she.

Zoe Connolly, SL Aviatrix, at the Connolly Aerodrome on Caledon

Zoe’s passion soon brought about a fairly significant contribution to Second Life’s aviation industry. Stories and photographs on her blog began to raise awareness about virtual aviation. Meanwhile, when looking to purchase her first land in Caledon, she noticed that these themed communities had no airship field or runway where one could rez a flying machine or enjoy the company of other pilots. She quickly set out to change that.

With the help of fellow visionary Desmond Shang of Caledon, the Royal Caledon Air Force (RCAF) was created to provide a home for a group of dedicated virtual aviation afficionados. Thanks to Zoe’s aviation parcel, known as The Connolly Aerodrome, other pilots now have a place to enjoy their passion, including practice, pleasure, and all sorts of events such as aeronautical combat called “dogfights” over the skies of Caledon.

“And the rest,” says Zoe, “is history.” 🙂

What To Wear When Posing for Your Very Own Aeronautical Work of Art:

One outfit from an amazing steampunk inspired store called Le Petit Prince was all it took to fulfill my part in the story. This outfit contains no less than 31 items (including multiple layers), all of which are easily mixed and matched for other Neko fashion statements, making it a true bargain in my little black book.

| Hair | Deviant Kitties: Symon in RedBlack
| Outfit | LPP / Le Petit Prince: Sexadoll Officer Pack (includes a top; a jacket; two kinds of stockings; black leather pants; two kinds of badges; two kinds of belts (I wore the one with a knife); three shoulder protectors (one with a cape, which I’m wearing in the top photo); a gun with a holster, scripts, and a HUD; leather gloves; a cap; and the coolest boots evaarrr.

Learn More About Airplane Nose Art:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nose_art

View a Collection of Real-World Aircraft Nose Art:
http://www.nose-art.net/

Learn More about Second Life Aviation:
– http://zoeconnolly.blogspot.com/
– http://secondlifeaviation.blogspot.com/
– http://jsaviation.wordpress.com/

Where to Find and Fly Virtual Aircraft in Second Life:
– Abbotts Aerodome
– Balsa Airport and Aviation
– E.B. Aeronautica
– Terra Aeronautics
– THI / Tumansky Heavy Industries
– Tracer Aviation

Gratitude as always to the aerially artistic Bobby Yoshikawa <3***

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