(Thomas and dina are wearing Anima/Animus Tiger by Silk & Satyr)

We expected trouble. But life - creativity, business, love - must go on. I threw myself into a myriad of projects.



I was thrilled to have the opportunity to become an Xcite ToKon partner. I knew that it would take hours and hours of product testing...


(Thomas is wearing the ToKon compatible Silver Bells collar by Silk & Satyr)

But the end was worth it - we could produce collars, bowties, entire outfits compatible with the ToKon system, a leader in the SL restraint industry!


(Thomas is wearing the ToKon compatible Chains of Desire silks by Silk & Satyr. His lily-livered posse refuses to wear silks in broad daylight.)

We decided to expand...four new locations at the EventideMarket, the Lovely Shops, Port Olni and A Turian Gate. Of course, our posse had to accompany us, vetting each locale.


(Thomas is wearing Imperial Dragon and the Mark I Kajira/Kajirus Pose Stand by Silk & Satyr.)

I also undertook to solve a technical difficulty...the pose stand. I was constantly clicking "add to outfit" on my folders and finding myself in this embarassing situation. The solution came to me in a flash: we would create the strippable pose stand!


(Zed is wearing a pre-release version of the Silk & Satyr strippable pose stand. The final version won't remove your hair when you wear it, we promise).

For this we would need the mad skilz of a master scripter. We turned to our friend Zed. After some experimentation, our mission was accomplished.


(Thomas is wearing Night Flower Dragon by Silk & Satyr)

The collaboration also gave me the chance to spend time with Zed's sister, the delightful Trillian. She's my kind of woman!


(Ever and Thomas, looking like total noobs as the event begins. Thomas is wearing Ice Dragon by Silk & Satyr, exclusive to Vanity Universe).

Perhaps the most exciting thing was our participation in Vanity Universe's Winter Fairy Tale. We created several special outfits for this event, including two with a 50% donation to CARE International!



We were excited and grateful when these items were blogged...here we see the lovely Faerie Hax in Snow Fae - but she looks even better on her own LJ. We were honored when Wish Upon Pleiades was featured in Sexy Second - Stella Stapleton is absolutely radiant!



Yes, things were going so well that I ignored the more and more erratic behavior of SirFrancis...more than likely, this would prove to be a mistake...


(Thomas is wearing Serve Me Jeeves by Silk & Satyr)

But the holidays were upon us. It was time for fun!


(Thomas is wearing Royal Dragon, an unreleased set by Silk & Satyr)

I admit that I got carried away with the parteh...nothing like the combination of bubbleh and a stripper pole to warm the cockles of a satyr's heart...


(Thomas is NOT tripping...he's simply wearing Imperial Dragon by Silk & Satyr at one of Tuna Oddfellow's Odd Balls.)

...but there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that I was involved with drugs!!!!!


(Thomas is wearing Animus Fierce by Silk & Satyr. Enough with the antlers already!)

In fact, I had a great idea...why not bring the parteh to my beloved customers? Our Saturday Night Dance and Drum circle was born!



I'll admit, the partehs tended to be wild...


(Meli is wearing Avril, Hisui is wearing Emerald Dragon, and dina is wearing Stolen Hearts Hyssop, all by Silk & Satyr)

But it was here that I recognized the talent of the delightful Hisui, who was to become such a large part in our story...


(Thomas and dina are wearing Triumvirate II by Silk & Satyr)

It wasn't all fun and games. New product development continued at a frenzied pace! It seemed that we were always on location photo shoots for our ads.


(Thomas is wearing Dark Star by Silk & Satyr)

Now don't get me wrong...I love location photo shoots. How else would I ever have gotten to see the Coliseum?


(Thomas isn't wearing much of anything, really.)

But the pace is exhausting - and the maintenance! It's so difficult to stay this beautiful.


(Thomas is wearing Fleur de Lys Foret and Strippable Candy Cane by Silk & Satyr)

Perhaps it was the photo shoot for the Vanity Universe hunt that was the last straw. It was so difficult to get the proper lighting in the snow...and standing out in freezing weather wearing little more than a strippable candy cane...brrrrrr!!!!!


(dina is looking damn hawt in Stolen Hearts Primrose by Silk & Satyr)

Compounding the problem...we were having a few, shall we say, issues with our supermodel, dina.


(dina is wearing Incandescent Radience by Silk & Satyr)

Now dina is one of those girls who's got It, and she knows it - which can make her a little hard to deal with...


(dina is wearing Evocative Amethyst by Silk & Satyr, along with more teddy bears than Stevie Nicks gets at a concert.)

We hired her knowing that she had a bit of a reputation as a princess...


(dina is wearing Anima Fierce by Silk & Satyr.)

...a barfly, even.


(Thomas is wearing Animus Blood and dina is wearing Stolen Hearts Hyssop, both by Silk & Satyr. The Mad Consultant is wearing the green top hat and bowling shoes that are his own particular idiom.)

We had to, upon occasion, reprimand her for her behavior.



We needed a break. As always, it was Ever who set me straight. Time to prioritize.



I meditated deeply on our problems.



We decided that dina needed to get away...Ever would take her along on a buying trip for the most exotic fabrics, the most precious gemstones. And I...I would take the helm of the company!



Our trip to the spa was fortuitous in so many ways...we ran into Ever's old friend, Mysti. Now there's a woman who embodies glam!


(Thomas is wearing Ice Dragon by Silk & Satyr and those darn antlers again.)

The first step was to get my personal life in order. As I mentioned, I had been becoming closer and closer to Trillian. It was time to get serious.


(Thomas is wearing a suit. A SUIT. Are you kidding me?)

I serenaded her.


(Trillian is wearing her friends list. Blame the Lindens for that one.)

I took her out for sushi. I gave her flowers.



I popped the question. She said yes!


(Thomas is wearing Parteh Horns Taurus by Silk & Satyr.)

With my personal life on track, I reached some business decisions. We needed a base of operations, a headquarters, and, to put an end to the endless travelling, a photo studio! And I needed to stop with the antlers - it was time for me to design my own horns!


(Thomas is wearing Serve Me Jeeves with the cutaway option and the Parteh Horns Aries by Silk & Satyr).

We needed someplace unassuming and comfy. I purchased an old lighthouse.


(Thomas is wearing Serve Me Jeeves with the white tux option by Silk & Satyr.)

I attended to all the details, making sure that we had the simple comforts of home.



All right, maybe the hot tub on the roof is a little over the top. But that was Ever's idea!


(Thomas is wearing Serve Me Jeeves with the cutaway option and the PartehHorns Aries by Silk & Satyr).

At last we would have a work space, our Sekrit Research Laboratory! And what, pray tell, could be inside?


(Thomas is wearing Serve Me Jeeves with the cutaway option and the PartehHorns Aries by Silk & Satyr).

A pose stand, silly! You were expecting a dungeon?



Best of all, the Sexy Sardines photo studio was up and running. Time to get down to work!


(Thomas is wearing Serve Me Jeeves by Silk & Satyr.)

I familiarized myself with the new equipment.


(Thomas is wearing Serve Me Jeeves by Silk & Satyr.)

With dina travelling, we would need models. I thought immediately of Mysti and Hisui. I engaged them with my suave eloquence.


(Mysti is wearing Chrysalis Reflection by Silk & Satyr)

Mysti was a consummate professional. Talk about glamour!


(Hisui is wearing Lotus Eater Chimera by Silk & Satyr)

Hisui, on the other hand, needed some coaching.


(Hisui is wearing Chrysalis Phosphor by Silk & Satyr)

But soon she was enchanting us with her fresh-faced appeal!


(Thomas is wearing Serve Me Jeeves by Silk & Satyr.)

Of course the life of a model isn't all glam...


(Mysti is wearing Lotus Eater Eden by Silk & Satyr)

But then there are moments when it is all worth while...we have smoke effects! Smoke effects! Whee!



And so I leave you for now...in firm control while Ever is gone...I vow to make her proud of me...



And I promise to continue to bring my beloved customers that standard of style and professionalism in customer service that Silk & Satyr has come to stand for!!!

Triumph...and Trouble!

(dina is wearing First Frost by Silk & Satyr)

As opening day grew closer, all of us worked at a frenzied pace - putting the last touches on the store, practicing our dance moves...


(Thor is wearing Mica Kajirus Leathers by Silk & Satyr)

Many close friends contributed with help and advice for product design...



Of course there were a few missteps, such as when we accidentally autoreturned half of the building...fortunately, our Mad Consultant was on hand to make repairs to the store.


(Zed is wearing Triumvirate by Silk & Satyr. Sort of. He's also wearing our free kajira/kajirus pose stand.)

Things did get a little crazy. We were starting to stress out.



Mistress Courtois advised me that I needed to project a little more "kewlness" in my image. But we soon concluded that any attempt to disguise my hawtness was a mistake. I like the shades, though.


(Julienn is wearing Early to Bed by Silk & Satyr, available exclusively in our unlucky chair.)

Finally, the big day!!! A happiness compounded by sharing it with friends.


(Thomas is wearing Mica by Silk & Satyr)

I was willing to go to any lengths to please my customers.


(Thomas is wearing Mica, dina is wearing Sundown, both by Silk & Satyr)

I was at the store all hours of the day and night. It felt like I was chained to my work.


(Kess is wearing Avril, dina is wearing Sundown, and Thomas is wearing Mica, all by Silk and Satyr)

We were honored by a visit from our friend Kesseret Steeplechase, the lovely and talented designer behind KessKreations. She kindly blogged us - and filmed our dancing! I'm on YouTube! I'm on YouTube!

I have surely arrived.


(Thomas is wearing Chains of Desire by Silk & Satyr)

Indeed, the press was kind...but inadvertently created trouble. One favorable review refered to Mistress Courtois as my "partner." Indeed, we are business partners...but the term has loaded connotations...



I am not, for example, her SL partner. Not that there would be anything wrong with that...Mistress Courtois is a very attractive lady, pursued by many suitors.


(Silk & Satyr takes no responsibility whatsoever for SirFrancis' fashion choices.)

But the real problem lies with my former Master...some 400 years ago, I insisted that we were partners, "eqwalle and frindlie gentlemen." He had other ideas. It was on a long yachting trip that matters finally came to a head...he sold me to the slave masters of Gor to teach me humility. All for my betterment, but the term "partner" is still an emotional trigger...



Shimere: Reality check, TommyBoi. You're retconning again. That isn't what wikipedia says about you. It says that you were beheaded for mutiny.

Thomas: *hmph* You can't trust what you read on wikipedia. Don't you know that?

Shimere: And furthermore, it completely violates Gorean canon. Fighting Slave of Gor clearly establishes that Jason Marshall is the first Earth man brought to Gor as a silk slave. That was loooong after 1578.

Thomas: *tantrum*

Shimere: This is what always happens when you go off your meds.



Well, it doesn't really matter. The point is that he has an explosive temper, and he gets bent out of shape over nothing.. Remember the time when he didn't like my chain dancing, and he nuked the sim?



Well, not exactly nothing...I admit that I was getting a little fast and loose offering larmas at a certain parteh...


(dina is wearing Sundown by Silk & Satyr)

But hey, I wasn't the only one to get out of control. At least I didn't get bitten by a vampire, or worse, wear an embarrassing facelight.



I thought about laying low, donning a disguise, but it would only postpone the inevitable...



And so we prepared to do battle...

(To be continued!)