Him: … I wanna see my baby fresh out of the shower, glistening wet.

Me: *grins*

Me: your baby, huh?

Him: *strokes her hair, purring* Arent you?

Me: I dunno. We haven’t even had a first date yet

Him: Well I came in your ass. Does that count as a date?

-when I was finally able to type again-

Me: excuse me while I die from laughing

I have always had difficulty in expressing myself, and that’s why I prefer written communication. It’s the one area where I am effective in expressing myself. I also tend to hold things in, with the exception of my writing. When I write, I can let things out that I would normally keep bottled up.

A friend once marveled at the things I would share on this blog, things she would keep private in her own life. But I always felt that writing was therapeutic, and maybe… something I wrote would in some way help someone else out there. I wrote when I felt strongly about something.

But I changed when my relationship with Hanze ended. I was very angry and bitter, but I still loved him. I didn’t want to write things on my blog that would hurt him. So I started another blog, one that only a few people had access to.

I noticed that it became harder and harder to share things, even in writing. I rarely posted to this blog, and when I did, it was about insignificant matters. I did not like this withdrawal. In a real case of “the chicken or the egg,” I became depressed because I isolated myself, and I isolated myself because I was depressed.

I wanted to change. I wanted to be open and honest, and I wanted to stop hiding. So I pushed myself to write more. And I started feeling that it was safe to express my opinions again.
Until I wrote how I felt about events that had unfolded in the Bards of Gor group.

First, the group’s founder sent me a note, calling what I had written “a hatchet job.” He went on the say that I twisted things, and made myself look “righteous, perfect, untouchable.”

It wasn’t a hatchet job. It was my opinion, and I certainly didn’t twist anything that happened. If someone disagreed with my thoughts on HOW things happened, they were more than welcome to write in the comments sections. That’s why that section is there.

I certainly don’t think I’m perfect or untouchable. When I thought that Maeglin was unwilling to discuss the matter, I lost my temper, and I shouldn’t have. I have plenty of faults, but they aren’t the ones that certain members of this group are accusing me of having.

And then, the co-owner of the forums, Maeglin, sent me a notecard in SL. The note was as follows:

This was posted on the Bards of Gor forum…I just thought you should see it.
Seriously, with regards to the above post on Dear’s journal, I would like to make something perfectly clear. The slaves in our group are NOT viewed any differently in talent, dedication, loyalty, brilliance, or regard in ANY fashion. For Dear to suggest such is just…well…poppycock. (Now I’m using foul language.)
Since this entire debacle is pretty much finished, I will provide some additional information that has been kept quiet up until now. I did so because I did not want it to color the issue or adversely effect anyone’s opinions whatsoever. However, now that the matter has been resolved, it may be best for it to be brought out into the open.
This had nothing to do with the decision I made. This had to do with the fact that I made the decision.
This was a power struggle. Plain and simple. How do I know this?
Not long after Sirius chose to make me a partner and co-owner of the Bards, Dear made her feelings about such clearly known. She did not believe I was the right person for the job nor that my talent or ability to do so was up to par.
In the case of this decision, I believe that Dear was most upset over the fact that she did not have an active part in making the decision. I believe that she felt as a moderator of this forum, she should have been included in the decision. I will even concede the point that perhaps she should have.
However, her primary reasoning for why she objected is because we are “giving in” to tag-readers. Yet, that is also the basis for her leaving…the terminology of one tag. If tag-reading really doesn’t matter, then why would she use it as a basis for leaving the group?
No, all of this was about power and drama, neither of which I have any stomach for. Despite all of my arrogant boasting, despite all of my prideful folly, despite all of my vainglorious posturing…
I do this because I love to. I do this because I am humbled by the talent of those artists around me, slave and Free alike. I do this because I am happy to shed blood, sweat, and tears if it means helping a fledgling writer blossom and grow.
I do not do this because of a tag.
Dear, evidently, did.

I went to the Bards’ forum to reply, only to find that I was banned. Cowards. I may say things they don’t want to hear, but at least I have the guts to leave comments open so people can reply if they choose.

So I will reply here instead.

Maeglin wrote, “The slaves in our group are NOT viewed any differently in talent, dedication, loyalty, brilliance, or regard in ANY fashion.”

If this is really true, then why was Maeglin first considering making another group for slaves and moving them completely OUT of the Bards’ group? That certainly smacks of “slaves are second class citizens OCCly” to me.

Next, he says that it was a power struggle. Ah. That’s very humorous. I have my own business with 30 employees. I’m a published author and freelance writer. So why do I need power in a game? Someone explain this to me, please.

Then he goes on to write “Not long after Sirius chose to make me a partner and co-owner of the Bards, Dear made her feelings about such clearly known. She did not believe I was the right person for the job nor that my talent or ability to do so was up to par.”

This is a flat out, very deliberate lie. That never happened.

Show me where, in these conversations, I said such things.

When I joined the group, I only did so as a favor to Sirius. I had no interest in it. But I came to respect the goals of the group, and looked forward to promoting creative endeavors in SL Gor, as well as better roleplay.

I publicized the group as best as I could. I posted content on the forums. I planned and attended events. That was the extent of my involvement in the group. I didn’t even care when Maeglin was made co-owner of the group. And I certainly did not discuss his talent or ability with ANYONE.

He reduces my departure from the group to the terminology of a tag. Obviously, he didn’t listen when I explained my objections. So here they are once more:

1.) The group was supposed to help writers and roleplayers grow. If I found out that Maeglin was teaching group members that punctuation wasn’t needed, I would have objected. If he continued with this, I would have left the group. Supporting something in roleplay that shouldn’t be done is just as bad.

2.) I felt then, and I still feel now, that Maeglin treated those who play slaves as inferior. I know that’s upsetting to some, but I honestly feel that’s the case, because he wanted to move them all to a different group. He wanted to basically kick them out of the group. I am proud to be a slave in SL. For me, there is no shame in being on my knees. But OOCly, I am not getting on my knees for every Tom, Dick and Harry. Being strong means that I give my submission only to those who deserve it. It doesn’t include being treated like shit. And when Maeglin chose to support a roleplaying no-no over group members, I felt pretty shat upon.

Maeglin would have people believe that I was only in the group for a tag. Guess how many times I ever wore that tag? Never. I felt no need to ever wear it, and I wouldn’t have cared if it only said “member.” As long as there was some equality, as long as roleplayers weren’t reduced to lesser members in an OOC group just because of the role they chose to play.

And just to clarify, Sirius had given me a tag of “Silver Quill,” a title I would have retained. So why would I be upset over a tag that didn’t affect personally me at all?

Maeglin made it very clear that my opinion doesn’t matter, so I don’t know why he felt it necessary to tell lies about me. In the end, a small number of people will really hate me over my opinion. A larger number of people will think badly of the Bards group. But the majority of people just won’t give a shit. They will choose to use the Bards group or not use them for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with this mess. The world always keeps turning, in spite of drama.

So let it go. Stop spreading the lies. Stop sending the notecards. Stop trashing me in a forum I can’t read or respond to.

The City of Laura will provide a variety of entertainment today, Dec. 20, at 4pm SLT in its pavilion.  Entertainment includes orignal work by Dear Darling and Sefa Klaxon. We hope to see you there!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Meadowlands/128/128/651

You can see me on the top, you can see me when we drop.
You can meet me on the block, we’ll stop and talk
We do not get thrown, we don’t stop
Whether or not we up on top, we still rock
You can see me back on top, you can see me when they stop
You can feel it when we rock, we got shit locked
We do not get cold, we feel hot whether or not we up on top, we still rock

I’m a stun gun, pills ’til my tongues numb
I stay home, don’t ask where I come from
Conquer from beneath, I sparkle when I speak
This bug me on the in, the inside, fuck it I’m a geek
A lovely individual, hug me ’cause I’m miserable
This wizardry is dismal, drugs make me invisible
I’ve risen from my physical frame, you can’t touch me
Top boy that rock, but it still got ugly

Dusty the country roads take me home to the place that I belong
Lost skeleton bones, locked in the closet deep family secrets
Discover this recovery, my brothers in sequence
Ever had to dance with the devil in pale moonlight
Snakes in the grass but the scales don’t move right
Fight when you need to, bite when you have to
Run, no never, stand ground when we smash through

Virtuoso piano solo play Mozart
Vocabulary colorful, like feathers of a peacock
Operating theater put your head upon a butchers block
Rise from my own grave eyes nuclear holocaust
Astronauts t-minus arc of the covenant
My part spreading sick art that starts on this continent
Confidence ensures there’s no formidable adversaries
A savage land and a band of terrible mercenaries
Program your lives like the wives of Stepford
Voice remains immortal and survives on record
Hannibal Lector pour myself a glass of Chianti
This is my Divine Comedy the finest since Dante
Cape scrapes the floor dark prince the Impaler
The order of the dragon Prevail no failure
Slain all the vain overcame with my saber
Maintain and let the blood rain explain my behavior

It goes:cracked halo horns on my helmet
Little doll crawl in cherry red velvet
Burning Man in the house of charm
Chemical to the mouth but not to the arm
My tastes spinning out of control
Your face two eyes with a whole
Suicide watch, king of the strippers
Glorified hookers smash your glass slippers
Nothing can tempt me, everyone empty
I get high on the road when they let me
Trade craft-work off exotic substance
Some want to carve out my heart still love this
I’m trying to hurt myself, still smoking
But I’m afraid a blood won’t cut my wrist open
Told you that I loved you, I was just joking
You can’t hurt my heart it’s been broken

I was talking to a friend, and mentioned that I liked this guy who had been hanging around Laura for a while. He said something like, “You just met him 15 minutes ago!” He seems to think I’m looking for a relationship, when I’m just looking for a roleplay partner, someone to play my Master in SL Gor.

I guess maybe for someone who develops a strong bond with others in SL and has a relationship that crosses the line into real life, it can be hard to understand the idea of a strictly roleplay relationship. And maybe it’s hard to understand how I feel.

I don’t belong anywhere in SL Gor. I have no anchor. I may as well be a Free person again, because I can come and go as I please. I’ve been feeling depressed in real life, and I have been isolating myself. My roleplay has consisted of me hiding in my bushes across the river.

And no one in roleplay notices. I am not accountable to anyone in roleplay. If I want to really get into the feeling of being a Gorean slave, how is that possible when I can do exactly what I want when I want?

And yet, I absolutely, positively know I can’t have a relationship right now, and I don’t want one. I want to heal and become a more trusting person. I want the old me back, and that won’t happen as long as I am jumping from relationship to relationship, and then hiding behind a wall out of the fear of getting hurt.

So I feel that having someone who is solely a roleplay partner would be a good compromise to both problems. Tonight, I was telling my friend that this man I like scolded me in roleplay yesterday, and it made me cry in reality.

First, this guy told me he wanted his paga in a bowl, not a tankard. Then he told me that he didn’t want me kissing the side of his bowl because I might have poison on my lips. Logically, it’s good roleplay, I suppose. Perhaps his bad mood in real life bled over into roleplay. Logically, it shouldn’t affect me. But it did. I sat at my desk crying through each of his scolding sessions.

And when I shared this with my friend, he sighed in worry over me, saying that this was a sign that I could never be “just” roleplay partners with this man. I don’t agree.

I used to play a character named Yummy, and her Master was Michael. In character, Michael was a very stern Master. Once, he took something that Yummy had, and she gave him a bit of a dirty look. His reaction was a bit scary. He whipped her, and before he even got the whip out, I was crying in real life.

Yet, Michael was ONLY a friend. A good friend, to be sure, and still is. He’s the one who really taught me how to roleplay, and it’s led me to places for which I am very grateful. But I cried when he was angry with me in roleplay.

I have never worried over real life displays of emotion from roleplay. I certainly don’t make a big deal out of it when I get turned on from sexual roleplay. Why should I worry over roleplay that makes me laugh or makes me cry? I like that I feel these emotions, for I think it makes me a better writer. When I feel these emotions, I can pull it into what I write.

And, it’s been a long time since someone has been able to make me cry because of roleplay. Sure, I was also angry, and I wanted to talk back to him. But I didn’t. Maybe that’s a sign that I’m thawing, that this wall around me is crumbling a bit.

But it doesn’t mean anything else. I’m sure of that.

The City of Laura Week of December 6, 2009 Events

EVENTS FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 6th :: (Please remember, that during all events you should dress appropriately in Gorean attire and conduct yourself accordingly for RP. If you feel uncomfortable with this, then pick up an observor’s tag in the Marketplace and abstain from RP.)

December 11-13 :: Bina-Bana Fishing Tournament – Docks or anywhere you want to caste your reels into the water. Friday at 9:00pm SLT to Sunday at 12:00pm SLT Some mischievious slave has stolen all of Lela’s bina and dumped them into the water! Quick get here before Lela finds out – and snatch up some unique items to trade in for a bina bracelet – or…better yet…place bets on the bow tourney with them between yourselves! You’ll find fishing gear on the docks for purchase to enter…contest board by the river to the left of the Arena. (some spending money too!) Contact Lela McKeenan for this event if any questions.

December 12-13th: Bina Bracelet Scavenger Hunt – Market/City-wide The City of Laura is pleased to bring you the Bina Bracelet Scavenger Hunt. The first token and clue will be posted in the city market with additional tokens and clues spread throughout the market and city. Thanks to some scripty magic created by Markos Binder, once you’ve turned in all your tokens, you will get one of Lela McKeenan’s creations. If you have any questions or problems, please contact Lela McKeenan. Happy Hunting!!

December 12 :: Winter Dance Competition at 5:30pm SLT in the Arena. The rustic beautiful City of Laura invites you to a Winter Dance competition on Saturday, December 12th at 5:30 PM SLT within its Arena just outside the gates. For this event, and just prior to and after, the sim will be considered OOC and a safe zone. Please remove your meters, huds, scripts and any un-needed prims to cut down on lag. Contact Larne Ashbourne for this event if any questions. Prizes to be awarded :: Prizes to all who enter, (we thank Gutterpup and ::WG:: Bina & Bana !!) (TBD – gift from WG:: Bina & Bana to all place winners)

1st Place – 3,000 L (+ gift certificate to The Perfumed Rope)

2nd Place- 2,000 L

3rd Place- 1,000 L

December 12 :: OOC Dance at 8:00pm SLT THEME :: Tarts & Vicars (sighs….Prostitutes and Priests?) Just dress sexy *grins* $L Prizes to the Best Male and Female costumes – plus a trivia game during this event. Our own Admin, Markos Binder spins the tunes this eve! ~*~*~*~*~ Sunday, December 13th :: Laura Cup-Bow Tournament/ 2nd Qualifying Round – 12:00pm in the Arena The Red Caste of Laura extends to the men of Gor an invitation to a bow sparring tournament in the Lauran Arena. The Tournament is named “The Laura Cup” and will be held annually for all contestants on this inaugeration tournament. Each contestant that competes in this years innaugural “Laura Cup” will automatically qualify for next years tournament. We will hold monthly qualifying tournaments in the moving forward with each winner advancing in qualification for next years “Laura Cup”. Please reply to Tristan Genira, Captain of the Red Caste, Laura, to let us know if you wish to take part in this grand event.

I left this group, Bards of Gor, today. I left because the title “Bard of Gor,” an Out of Character designation, was removed from anyone who roleplays as a slave.

The fact that this title would be stripped from players simply because they play a certain role, and just to placate a certain group of tag reading roleplayers, bothers me to an extreme level.

This group was started as a way for Gorean writers to network. That was its primary purpose, and that is the reason for the name of the group, Bards of Gor. The hope that these writers would then perform their works in SL Gor was secondary.

The group was built by several people, many of whom play as slaves. Many of those who play as slaves are the ones who have publicized the group and planned events for it.

And yet, the group’s co-owner today stated, “I receive a great deal of input from those outside of the organization. Some of this is positive and other parts of it negative. One of the most common negative opinions provided is with regards to those who choose to play slaves and who also hold the title of Bard of Gor. Most often, these individuals point to the following quote within the books:

‘There is a saying to the effect that he who makes music must, like the tarn and the Vosk gull, be free.’” (Kajira of Gor, p. 298).

In addition, there is supporting evidence in the books that this extends not only to music but to any who would be qualified as an entertainer.

“In my humble opinion, I think there is some validity to this claim. However, as I have mentioned before, the Bards exist for two reasons:

1. A social networking and support community for writers, both RL and SL, who create their own original work and enjoy doing so within the genre of Gor.

2. An in-character performance wing who organizes and puts forth events to showcase our work to the other residents of Gor.”

Yes, that’s right. The decision was made because roleplayers are reading tags. And they, being by the book, don’t like what the tags say. I find it ridiculous that this OUT OF CHARACTER title was removed for IN CHARACTER reasons. Any roleplayer worth his salt would not read tags, and especially would not use tags in roleplay. We are supposed to be knowledgeable writers and roleplayers, but here we go — making a change to support something that SHOULD NOT BE DONE IN ROLEPLAY.

When I first got the notecard, my immediate feeling was one of being demeaned and devalued. I choose to play a slave in SL, and I am submissive in reality. However, no one has the right to treat me as a slave OOCly unless I give them permission to. After all of my hard work in the group, it hurts to come secondary to a bunch of supposed roleplayers who choose to basically cheat and read tags.

This feeling was further emphasized when I tried to speak to the man who made the decision. His words made me feel that the matter was not open for discussion, and I felt further devalued as a contributing member of the group. So I immediately left the group, and took the man off of my friends’ list. It was a reckless act, and if I had thought about it, I probably would have waited. In the end though, I would have removed him. I don’t wish to be friends with someone who treats others as second class citizens solely because of a role they choose to play.

I was also told several times that the group would succeed without me. In other words, my opinion didn’t matter. That’s fine, but I see no reason to stay a part of a group who would treat me this way. I can accomplish what I need to accomplish separate from them.

It seems that some compromise was needed, but this was simply easiest compromise to come to. Other possibilities include reducing all titles to that of “Member.” Or asking that those in the group not wear titles when performing, since we are spending time in the company of those who can’t resist the urge to roleplay.

Bowing down to a group of people who seem to not know how to roleplay is, in my opinion, the wrong way to grow the group. We should be incredible writers and talented roleplayers. Our reputation would have grown and spread throughout SL Gor, and those same groups that rejected us before will come back and ask that we perform for them.

But reducing members of the group to OOC slaves because of a certain group of people just seems wrong.

This whole business is not about the title. It’s the tag reading and OOC treatment of slaves as inferior, in order to appease certain groups, when slaves are usually the ones who plan events and actually show up to events to perform. And I’m BTB myself, yet I think insisting that OOC tags matching BTB mantra is just silly on their part.

If this group is IC, then slaves can’t perform, unless you are going to roleplay traveling to get them, and then traveling to the city to perform, and then traveling back to return them. Of course, a suspension of disbelief could be allowed, but why allow it for this and not for tag reading?

If you really want to pursue BTB, then Free who are not entertainers should not be in the group at all. There are scribes in the group who do not perform, as just one example. As I understood it, the primary goal of the group was to bring WRITERS together. That these writers may perform was a secondary objective. If you are going to exclude kajirae from having the title Bard, then why not exclude Free who are only writers too and not performers?

Those who play as slaves were largely responsible for the growth of the group, yet now they are having an Out of Character title stripped from them because of In Character reasons. It just doesn’t sit right, and that’s why I left the group.

I’m not the only one who isn’t happy about the change, and I’m not the only one to leave. That’s ok though. As I was informed, slaves don’t matter to the group.

I have been roleplaying on the forums at http://elliquiy.com/. The first story I started writing with someone is about a woman whose husband left her penniless at his death, and she goes to the man who holds the debt in an attempt to seduce him. I’m adding my first post here, but if you want to read the rest of it, you’ll have to register at Elliquiy. Be warned… the registration process can be time consuming, but very much worth it.

The first post:

Katterina was lost in thought as she was driven through busy streets, so consumed by worry that she failed to notice when the driver pulled up in front of the huge skyscraper which was her destination. It took the gentle “ahem” from the driver to pull her attention from her musings.

Her lips tightened in anger; apparently, her fall from wealth didn’t entitle her to a driver who knew enough to come around and open the door for her. She lifted her chin haughtily as she looked at him, her eyes glittering with rage, the educated tones of her voice even as she speaks, “You will come around and open this door immediately.”

The man instantly jumped out of the car to do her bidding, though in truth, it was more her beauty than her commanding tone which made him move so quickly. As he got the door open, his eyes were irresistibly drawn to the delicate arch of her foot, attired in the latest Prada. His gaze then traveled up the curves of her leg encased in the sheerest of stockings. An audible gulp could be heard from the man as she rose from the luxurious comfort of the limousine.

She paused for a moment to soothe the skirt of her red suit. She had spent a considerable amount of time pondering what to wear, as she had to look her absolute best. She had chosen red over other colors as it brought out her porcelain skin and set off her black hair superbly.

Giving him a cool nod, she then headed for the building, a smirk curving her lips as three men ran headlong into each other in their attempt to open the door for her. A fourth man finally got the door open, in time for her to breeze through, the sultry scent of her perfume lingering in her wake.

The tall beauty stepped into the elevator and withdrew an expensive compact, opening it to check her appearance. She ensured that her lipstick perfectly outlined her lush lips before checking to make sure none of the color had transferred to her teeth. She snapped it shut and smoothed a shaking hand over the bun that held her long raven hair up from her shoulders.

She was relieved that the elevator was empty, though the ride up seemed to last an eternity. She fought back nerves, which often made her fidget, twining her fingers together in a clasp in front of her body. A sigh wafted through parted lips as she thought of her mission today.

She should have been in some exotic location. Fifteen years spent with a man old enough to be her father, but wealthy enough to keep her in the style she always dreamed of enjoying, and yet here she was – penniless after his death.

Her shoulders slumped temporarily before she silently scolded herself, then throwing them back and standing tall. Her beauty was for sale once upon a time, and it had brought her this far. Her striking good looks, the smoldering innocence in her blue eyes would ease her burden, and help her to convince the young business tycoon she was about to see to relinquish his hold on her deceased husband’s account.

The thought brought a full smile to her face, and she stepped from the elevator with confidence. Her smile was gracious as she spoke to the secretary, informing her of the appointment she had with her employer. Hips swung with bewitching sensuality as she entered the room to meet the man who held her fate in his hands.

I wrote this after a writing prompt on a roleplaying forum:

The woman shifted among the jewel tones of the sheets, stretching with feline grace before sitting up, absently pushing long red hair over a freckled shoulder as she sat up. Sleepy eyes opened, then blinked several times as she looked around.

“Wha…?” Her expression of shock was not fully enunciated as her mouth hung wide open for several long minutes, her eyes roaming over the plush pillows and low divan on which she sprawled. She turned her head, nothing the sheer curtains hung here and there, partially hiding the gleaming walls of metal.

“Metal…? Where am I?” she whispered as she stood, crossing the small chamber to feel the burnished surface that seemed to enclose her. She saw no window, no door. She stood back, drawing her lower lip into her mouth to solemnly gnaw on it in consideration, then just happened to look down. A soft gasp escaped as she took in her attire — purple harem pants of diaphanous material and a matching vest that barely covered her breasts.

She had just reached down to rub a hand over the finery that clothed her when the room began to shake. She twisted her head this way and that, searching in vain for some door jam to seek sanctuary under. Suddenly, she was standing in an antique shop near a strange man.

He looked at her with a huge grin and said, “My genie! Finally!”

Her brows shot straight up, to almost disappear into her hairline. “Um.. I am no genie, pal.”

“Sure you are,” he stated, dangling an antique lamp in front of her face. “You came from this lamp. And look at what you are wearing. Now, I want my wishes.”

She stared at him, torn between a desire to laugh and one to cry. She could only shake her head mutely as she could find no words to make the man understand his lunacy. The man reached out to poke her with his finger, “Hey, I want my wishes.”

Laughter bubbled free then, along with a few words, though they weren’t the choice ones she felt like using. “I am not a genie, and I can’t grant wishes. It’s not like there’s a manual on how to grant wishes. I sure wish there was.”

Her words hadn’t even faded away when a book suddenly appeared in her hand. She looked at the cover and read out loud, “The Genie’s Guide to Wish Granting.” She muttered under her breath as she looked for a place to sit down, “Un-freaking-believable!”

As she curled into an old fashioned wing back chair, she darted a glance to the dark haired man with an attempt at a smile on her lips. “Looks like I have some studying to do.” A lingering look told her that the man had also settled into a nearby chair, and she turned her attention to the book cradled in her lap.

Several hours later, she yawned and arched her back in a graceful stretch, lifting her arms over her head briefly. She grinned as she looked over at the man, only to find him asleep. She giggled quietly, took off one of her slippers and threw it directly at his head, yelling, “Wake up!”

The giggle grew into a laugh as the man woke with a start, frowning at her as he idly rubbed the spot the shoe had struck. “I never knew genies were so violent.”

“I’ve never been a genie before, so I don’t know how genies behave. I don’t even know how I became a genie. The last thing I remember, I was…” She broke off with a shrug. “Ah, never mind. Let’s get to work. What is your first wish?”

The man’s studied her intently, seeming to be lost in silent thought. She prodded him. “Surely, you have had this all decided? Don’t you know exactly what you want to wish for?

It was his turn to shrug, a rueful smile curving his lips. “Well, I never thought it would actually work, that I would actually find a genie.” His gaze returned to her, warm as it roamed the porcelain of skin painted with freckles. He stepped close to her, his dark blue eyes seeming to smolder. His close proximity to her made her nervous, causing her to swallow hard around the lump in her throat as she inhaled his scent.

The dip of his head brought his lips close to hers, and her knees nearly buckled as she grew certain that he would kiss her. Instead, his lips took a detour and paused close to her earlobe, his warm breath fanning her skin as he spoke.

“I wish you would believe in yourself, so that you can find me. I wish that you would trust yourself, so that you can trust me. I wish that you would love yourself, so that you can love me. Those are my three wishes, and I won’t find you, the love of my life, until these wishes come true.”

She drew back to look at him in astonishment… and woke up, finding her own bedroom, sage walls instead of metal ones, her body dressed in her usual Jessica Rabbit pajamas. She crawled out of bed to wash up, dress, and grant those wishes.

December 12-13th: The City of Laura is pleased to bring you the Bina Bracelet Scavenger Hunt. The first token and clue will be posted in the city market with additional tokens and clues spread throughout the market and city. Thanks to some scripty magic created by Markos Binder, once you’ve turned in all your tokens, you will get a one of a kind bina bracelet.

If you have any questions or problems, please contact Lela McKeenan. Happy Hunting!!  (Lela is also finalizing some additional events for this weekend, including bina fishing. She will post more details once things are finalized).

Please Note: The City is open for Roleplay during this event, so please act accordingly. If you aren’t comfortable with this, please grab an Observer tag from the boat. If you enter the city as an observer, in order to not be disruptive to roleplay, please keep open chat chatter to a minimum. Thank you!

Go to Laura now.