I've been doing some History of Dress work for university.
And I had a mad idea.

Queen Elizabeth I.

Edit: Some pics!
That would be this sort of madness:
tudor gown: [link]
and another: [link]
queen elizabeth dress: [link]
cate blanchett as elizabeth: [link]
cate blanchett again:[link]

and this is a gorgeous render:


Madness. Dare I? Or would that be just TOO complicated...?

CSS Journal Coded by =FleX177

[EDIT] - Do you like Scifi? Do you like Fantasy? What about Science-Fantasy?

Science-Fantasy is a subgenre which combines elements of both science-fiction and fantasy genres and since there didn't appear to be a group dedicated to it...



There is now!
If you're in to this genre, please join and stick the icon in your journal or on your page (or stick a Groups widget on your page!) for me too

Devianart groups: Beta

I've literally just noticed that the new official groups platform for dA has been released in beta (gods know how long for - I'm the last to notice everything). I wanna make one. I like new things and that little = in front of my name means I'm meant to test these things .

But I dunno what about :3

CSS Journal Coded by =FleX177

Edit: changed to prevent Lobo's eyes from bleeding

Stolen from *Rynnay it’s originally from here [link]

100 questions posed to the character of your choice. And the lucky winner is… Kesi von Zegre!

Some pointers:
- Kesi is the exuberant, flamboyant, and accidental rock singer from my Chronicles of Avania stories.
- YAWA (You And Who’s Army) is the exclusive fashion label which Kesi co-owns with a couple of his closest friends.
- anywhere that mentions ‘The Current Group’ is taken to mean Kesi’s closest group of friends, those that he works with; his band (Nesurei, Caiisn and Sezzafou) or the other members of YAWA (Nas, Yeshi, Usagi, Shearine, Sheeba).
- all dates are Avanian timeline
- a reformer or reformed vampire is one which doesn’t drink blood.

Mandatory Questions:
1. What about you is heroic?
“Heroic? Ha… I’m a bit of a coward actually. I guess the most heroic thing I ever did was standing up and screaming at the world, ‘hell yes! I’m a vampire! So what!’ …that was when it was pretty dangerous to be a vamp, too, so yeah, I guess that was pretty heroic… brave. Stupid, probably. Oh, and plenty of people tell me I’m their hero, but they’re all fangirls – does it count if it’s screamed at you when you’re on stage? ”

2. What about you is social? What do you like about people?
"Pretty much everything! I talk way too much and I guess my reputation proceeds me everywhere I go, ‘cos when I go places suddenly everyone wants to talk to me… ah! To be famous. Sometimes you just want them to leave you alone, but this is what I do, so I try to keep smiling even if I really, really want to tell them all to get lost...”

3. Of what benefit could you be to the current group?
“I’m the one that gets things done… I can pull strings and get pretty much anything we need… I haven’t had to resort to pulling the, Don’t You Know Who I Am card yet though…”

4. Why would you choose to join the current group?
"They’re the best friends a guy could have. I mean it – we’re like joined at the hip or something. It’d take a lot to break us all apart.”

5. Invent an adventure/plot that your character would actively undertake (as opposed to just tagging along)?
"Oooh, the possibilities! But I guess I do this already in music videos…”


Personal Questions
1. What is your real, birth name? What name do you use?
"Technically it’s Lord Kesi von Zegre but I only pull that out when I need to be official… everyone I know just calls me Kesi, but I get just ‘Kes’ too. Or ‘freak’. I know some delightful people, really.”

2. Do you have a nickname? What is it, and where did you get it?
"Only if you can call having my name shortened a nickname ”

3. What do you look like? (Include height, weight, hair, eyes, skin, apparent age, and distinguishing features)
“5’11’’, ‘bout 190lbs, long black hair – I mean long, like, butt-length – and usually I keep it in a braid these days. Brown eyes, really dark, nearly black… look reddish sometimes… couple of scars… most famous face in Avanian music . Can’t miss me...”

4. How do you dress most of the time?
"Fabulously! *laughs* Seriously. These days generally jeans and a shirt... though they’ve gotta be good stuff, nice stuff. No crap! Boots. If I’m feeling casual I’ll wear high-tops, not sneakers. Tshirts. Slacks. A lot of stuff, really, but it has to look good.”

5. How do you "dress up?"
"Depends on the occasion. For official type stuff – Lord Kesi type stuff – it’s all suits and ties and… waistcoats! I love waistcoats. You can get pretty mad with what fabrics you use. And ruffly sleeves… maybe I was born in the wrong era, I don’t know ”

6. How do you "dress down?"
“Tshirt, old jeans. You know the type. The jeans you’ve had for so long it’s like you’re not wearing ‘em, they’re that battered and comfy. We’re all guilty of hiding a pair somewhere in the house…”

7. What do you wear when you go to sleep?
"Who wants to know? *grins*”

8. Do you wear any jewelry?
"A couple of things… my wedding ring is the only constant; I have flesh tunnels in my ears too, but I change the plugs too often to count Generally they’re a bit sparkly. Oh, I have a tongue bar too… plain silver.”

9. In your opinion, what is your best feature?
"When all is said and done, it always comes back to vanity, doesn’t it? Ahhh… I guess I have a nice smile. I’m terrible, I notice the bad bits more.”

10. What's your real birth date?
"7th day of the 4th turning, 3301AL.”

11. Where do you live? Describe it: Is it messy, neat, avant-garde, sparse, etc.?
"It’s an ex-stately home out in the middle of nowhere near Bludmont in Algamia, called Black Woods Court… and I’m aware how pretentious that sounds. It’s big and old and gorgeous – and the best bit? It’s completely hidden from the paps by trees and bushes and a two-mile stretch of road… private road owned by me. By the way… did you know there’s no speed limit on private driveways…?”

12. Do you own a car? Describe it.
“Quite a few actually… it’s a bit of an obsession… and expensive one but, come on, are you telling me you wouldn’t go crazy if you could? My favourites are my vintage ragtop Lifvescion Cadoris – black, sleek, sounds like a hellbeast – and my Lamborghini…. Yep, Earthan import, Avanian-tech engine, goes like a bat outta hell and it’s bright orange. I want an Aston Martin…”

13. What is your most prized mundane possession? Why do you value it so much?
"Aw gawd, I have too many stupid little things. If you can call a supercar ‘mundane’ I guess its my Liffy.”

14. What one word best describes you?
"Ah, crap. Too many things… How about… hyperactive.”


Familial Questions
1. What was your family like?
"Being reformed in the centre of a city full of unreformed, reformer-hating vampires was pretty hard. I was just a kid, then, though…”

2. Who was your father, and what was he like?
"Damion von Zegre… he was fantastic, the only reformed vamp in his side of the family and he somehow managed to keep that completely secret…”

3. Who was your mother, and what was she like?
"Aisha Morelock… same story as dad, really, one of the only reformers in her family except for her sister, my aunt Dahlia. She was a sweet, wonderful lady…”

4. What was your parents marriage like? Were they married? Did they remain married?
"They were close. Really close… they did everything together and shared everything.”

5. What were your siblings names? What were they like?
"Blood siblings, I have only one – Lucilla, or Lucy, two years older than me. She’s… feisty. A spitfire. But she has hidden depths, trust me. I have a couple of people who I grew up with who I count as siblings – Sheeba and Amara Herne, Sheeba’s lovely, two years younger than me, Amara is four years older… and tough as hell ”

6. What's the worst thing one of your siblings ever did to you? What's the worst thing you've done to one of your siblings?
“Not a lot… we all generally get on. I can do plenty damage to myself without any help from the girls…”

7. When's the last time you saw any member of your family? Where are they now?
"Just today… the last one of them I saw was Damion, on his way out this morning... he's in the 'Saugers."

8. Did you ever meet any other family members? Who were they? What did you think of them?
"Ugh. My grandparents were all unreformed court vampires… all loyal ones, which is pretty much synonymous with ‘evil bastards,’ if you can excuse the terminology. After my parents died, I and Lucy lived with Aunt Dahlia and her husband, Uncle Rhys… and that one cousin, Kraig. Snooty little clever sod works in forensics ”


Childhood Questions
1. What is your first memory?
“Um. Moving to Carpathia – that’s an island off the coast of Azapea, was a reformed vamp colony – with my parents and Lucy.”

2. What was your favorite toy?
"When I was really little I had this stuffed cat that I used to drag around everywhere… it got that battered it went all squishy and floppy because I carried it around for that long.”

3. What was your favorite game?
“We had a lot…. Mara’s seemed to be covering me in whatever she could find…. Mud, lipstick…. Explains a few things.”

4. Any non-family member adults stick out in your mind? Who were they, and how did you know them? Why do they stick out?
"Hmm… Amara’s parents, I guess… and Gabriell Cross, who was living in Carpathia when we moved there… but then, we’re really family now… her son Zane is my daughter’s husband ”

5. Who was your best friend when you were growing up?
"Amara and Sheeba… I never really lost best friends, just added to the collection of them… there’s Nessy and Cai, and of course Nas and Yeshi too.”

6. What is your fondest childhood memory?
"Ah, geez. Too many things to think of!”

7. What is your worst childhood memory?
"…long story.”

Adolescent Questions
1. How old were you when you went on your first date?
"Everyone always seems to think I was some kinda heartbreaker or something – but actually I guess my first real date was when I was twenty three…. I know, I know. But when I was younger than that, I was just suspicious of all the girls I met, they all seemed to be fangirls. Anyway, it was with Quoia ”

2. It is common for one's view of authority to develop in their adolescent years. What is your view of authority, and what event most affected it?
"It might be necessary but authority figures aren’t always right… if you have different opinions so be it. As long as you’re not breaking any laws it’s a free damn world, say what you like and don’t be afraid to express yourself, even if you’re constantly told you’re being ridiculous. Of course, without some people to tell me to stop being stupid, I’d be crazy.”

3. What were you like in high school? What "clique" did you best fit in with?
"Being one of the few vamps in high school wasn’t fun… didn’t really fit in. Still don’t! I realised later that I was happier not fitting in.”

4. What were your high school goals?"
"To be myself… to prove it was no bad thing being a vampire. And I knew I always wanted to do something fashion-y, it’s just that music got in the way for a while!”

5. Who was your idol when you were growing up? Who did you first fantasize about in your life?
"Didn’t really have one.”

6. What is your favorite memory from adolescence?
"It can be nothing else than getting my record contract! ”

7. What is your worst memory from adolescence?
"Waking up in intensive care… looooooong story.”


Occupational Questions
1. Do you have a job? What is it? Do you like it? If no job, where does your money come from?
"Singer/Songwriter mainly, but what I trained to be, went to university for, was fashion design… which worked! Finally. I opened YAWA with Nas and Yeshi when I was twenty five… that was in Algamia. We have five other boutiques too.”

2. What is your boss or employer like? (Or publisher, or agent, or whatever.)
"My manager, Tessa Cole. Crazy freak in a Ferrari! She’s the one who tells me to stop being ridiculous and to sit down and think when I get too crazy. She’s also the one who made me hire a PA…. which happened to be Quoia ”

3. What are your co-workers like? Do you get along with them? Any in particular? Which ones don't you get along with?
"Oh, gods, they’re all amazing. We have a lot of fun and we seem to spend most of the time messing around…”

4. What is something you had to learn that you hated?
"Accepting help! It sounds silly, but I’m pigheadedly stubborn and insisted on doing everything myself… at least until Tessa and Jess [his agent] forced me to hire a PA. They did all the interviews without me… but they picked the right one….”

5. Do you tend to save or spend your money? Why?
"Spend it! Geez, I have enough of it. Can’t take it with you, can you? Might as well spend it. Most of it goes on other people – Quoia mainly, and the kids – and my not-at-all guilty obsession with cars…”


Likes & Dislikes Questions
1. What hobbies do you have?
"My hobbies are my life… singing, writing songs, designing… performing. And driving like a maniac I’m a speed demon. Hell, if you’re good friends with a professional racing driver, what else are you gonna do?”

2. Who is your closest mundane friend? Describe them and how you relate to them.
"What the hell is a mundane friend? No own is mundane! That implies boring and simple and uninteresting!”

3. Who is your worst mundane enemy? Describe them and why you don't get along.
"There’s that word again. Enemies, enemies… the paparazzi! Sparkle magazine’s in particular.”

4. What bands do you like? Do you even pay attention?
"I guess I have to say my sister and Aisha or they’ll kill me ”

5. What tape or CD hasn't left your player since your purchased it? Why?
“At the minute? Taegan Phoenix’s first album. The kid has a fantastic voice!”

6. What song is "your song?" Why?
"Dunno about ‘my song’ but ‘our song’ is an old Earthan rock song… Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by Aerosmith.”

7. What's been your favorite movie of all time?
"……….again I have to say something of Lucy’s or I’m gonna get skewered. Um. The Demon Hunter Diaries…. Which is amazingly good anyway.”

8. Read any good books? What were they?
"The book the movie was based off… and a load of other things, but I’m generally doing millions of other things and don’t have time. Quoia’s dad is Jean Pierre Lafontaine – the author – though, so loads of hardbacks are forced on me. He’s really very good..... hint hint ;D”

9. What do you watch on the Television?
“Actually I generally don’t…”

10. When it comes to mundane politics, do you care? If so, which way do you tend to vote? If not, why don't you care?
"Ha! Politics on Avania is shark infested waters…”

11. What type of places do you hang out in with your mundane friends?
"Mundane again! I don’t do hanging around.”

12. What type of places do you hang out in with your normal friends?
"Mundane means normal you realise? We don’t ‘hang’ but I guess if we had to it’d be in Macey’s [a popular icecream bar in Bludmont] or Yeshi’s dad’s restaurant. We’re generally sitting around the store too.”

13. What annoys you more than anything else?
"Paparazzi harassing my friends and family… they have no place doing it. I personally don’t care what they say about me, but Quoia, the kids and everyone…”

14. What would be the perfect gift for you?
"Big ol’ pile of sketchbooks and notebooks. I love those fancy leather cover ones and I go through about a sketchbook a month. Quoia’s got me quite a few really nice one of a kind ones.”

15. What's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?
"Thing? That Aston Martin I want. It’s stunning. *laughs* The most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen is my wife ”

16. What time of day is your favorite?
"Sunset.”

17. What kind of weather is your favorite?
"Raining… or more accurately right after the rain. I love that smell when you step outside after it’s rained, all fresh and clean.”

18. What is your favorite food? What is your least favorite food?
"Favourite… I’m a sucker for the white chocolate and raspberry muffins Macey’s do. I’m vegetarian so I guess my least favourite is meat… and fish. Yeuck!”

19. What is your favorite drink? (Coffee, Coke, Juice, Beer, Wine, etc.)
"Coffee! Precisely, a soya latte with cinnamon.”

20. What's your favorite animal? Why?
"Cats… domestic cats are just great, they’re independent and they have brilliant little personalities… they’re hilarious.”

21. Do you have any pets? Do you want any pets? What kind?
“I have an ancient black tabby who’s gone mostly grey now, he’s an antique We also have a dog and an iguana… the lizard is one awesome creature ”

22. What do you find most relaxing? (Not as in stress relief, but as something that actually calms you down.)
"Driving… trust me, there is absolutely nothing, nothing like it. Just you and the road…. And a fantastic car of course ”

23. What habit that others have annoys you most?
"Leaving mess ¬_¬ everything has to be straight. I have OCD. Even my mess is straight, all organized.”

24. What kind of things embarrass you? Why?
"Not much! I’m kind of impervious to embarrassment.”

25. What don't you like about yourself?
"Ohhhh, where do I start? I have manic depression – bipolar disorder – and it gets so bad sometimes I get on my own nerves… when I’m in a depressive episode my OCD gets worse and I’m doing all these stupid things, can’t stop, and it’s just so aggravating…”

26. How would you like to look?
"I’m pretty happy as I am. I’d like to be taller. Everyone I know is freakin’ taller than me ”


Sex & Intimacy Questions

1. Would you consider yourself straight, gay, bi, or something else? Why?
"Straight ”

2. Who was the first person you had sex with? When did it happen? What was it like? How well did it go?
"Quoia… that’s all you need to know, thank you ;D”

3. Have you ever had a same-sex experience? Who with, what was it like, and how did it go?
"*rolls eyes* oh this old one again. No.”

4. What is your deepest, most well-hidden sexual fantasy? Would you ever try it?
"Wouldn’t be hidden if I said it ”

5. What was the wildest thing you've ever done, sexually? Who was it with and when did it happen?
"and that’s none of your business ”

6. Is there any sexual activity that you enjoy and/or practice regularly that can be considered non-standard? (Bondage, Fantasy Play, etc.) Why do you like it?
"That’s none of your business either ”

7. Is there any sexual activity that you will not, under any circumstances, do?
"Obviously. Surely everyone has limits?”

8. Do you currently have a lover? What is their name, and what is your relationship like? What are they like? Why are you attracted to them?
"Quoia! My gorgeous, wonderful, lovely, patient wife.”

9. What is the perfect romantic date?
"The cliché… the romantic meal.”

10. Describe the perfect romantic partner for you.
“*sighs* my wife! How many times.”

11. Do you ever want to get married and have children? When do you see this happening?
“Too late ”

12. What is more important - sex or intimacy? Why?
"Intimacy. Quoia and I share everything, we don’t have secret.”

13. What was your most recent relationship like? Who was it with? (Does not need to be sexual, merely romantic.)
“I’m getting sick of these questions… Can we get this clear? I’m Married. I’m a vampire: I am monogamous, does that word mean anything to you people?”

14. What's the worst thing you've done to someone you loved?
“Tried to kill myself, years ago… then I realised later that it’s not just about me. It was selfish.”


Drug & Alcohol Questions
1. How old were you when you first got drunk? What was the experience like?
"Never been drunk. Never wanted to. I don’t drink either… tried it, though. Didn’t like it very much… though I could probably get used to Mojitos.”

2. Do you drink on any kind of regular basis?
"Only coffee ”

3. What kind of alcohol do you prefer?
"I don’t ”

4. Have you ever tried any other kind of "mood altering" substance? Which one(s)? What did you think of each?
"Nope.”

5. What do you think of drugs and alcohol? Are there any people should not do? Why or why not?
"Drugs… waste of time. I mean, why would you want to poison yourself? As for the alcohol… to each their own.”

Morality Questions
1. What one act in your past are you most ashamed of? What one act in your past are you most proud of?
"Trying to kill myself… then bouncing back and somehow becoming some high profile singer. Still not sure how that happened!”

2. Have you ever been in an argument before? Over what, with who, and who won?
"Oh who doesn’t argue?”

3. Have you ever been in a physical fight before? Over what, with who, and who won?
"Ooooh, yes. Looooooooong story.”

4. What do you feel most strongly about?
"Prejudice. Speciesism. Racism.”

5. What do you pretend to feel strongly about, just to impress people?
“I don’t feel like I need to pretend. I am what I am.”

6. What trait do you find most admirable, and how often do you find it?
“Having the guts to stand up for what’s right, even if it seems like the entire world is against them.”

7. Is there anything you think should not be incorporated into the media or art (sex, violence, greed, etc.,)? If so, what and why, and if not, why not?
"The media really shouldn’t be allowed to print slanderous lies and rumours…”

8. Do you have any feelings in general that you are disturbed by? What are they? Why do they disturb you?
"Come on, I tried to kill myself… those were dark, disturbing days.”

9. What is your religious view of things? What religion, if any, do you call your own?
"ha, religion. There’s so many religious sects who are anti-vampire… specifically there’s lots of anti-vamp Thenredites. Here’s the doozy: I’m not very religious but I guess I’m Thenredite. So are most vampires…”

10. Do you think the future is hopeful? Why?
"I try to think so.”

11. Is an ounce of prevention really worth a pound of cure? Which is more valuable? Why do you feel this way?
“Yes… why deal with the disease when you can prevent it entirely?”

12. What's the worst thing that can be done to another person? Why?
"There’s many things… kill them, kill someone they love… abuse them, hate them…”

13. What's the worst thing you could actually do to someone you hated?
“Me? Probably not a lot. I’m a chicken…”

14. Are you a better leader or follower? Why do you think that? If you think the whole leader-follower archetype is a crock of shit, say so, and explain why?
"It is indeed a bag o’ crap. Someone can be a leader one day and a follower the next, or both at once.”

15. What is your responsibility to the world, if any? Why do you think that?
“As it’s always been… I’m here, shouting out to the universe, to say that it’s completely ok to be different.”

16. Do you think redemption is possible? If so, can anyone be redeemed, or are there only certain circumstances that can be? If not, why do you think nothing can redeem itself?
"There’s really unforgiveable things, and things which are just hard to forgive…”

17. Is it okay for you to cry? When was the last time you cried?
"Oh, yes. I’m emotional, and I know I am. Sometimes I can’t help crying and you know what? If it makes you feel better, do it. Don’t be afraid to show your feelings.”

18. What do you think is wrong with MOST people, overall?
"They’re too eager to hate the people that are different.”


Post-Supernatural Awareness Questions
1. When did you go through whatever made you supernatural? What was it like (in your opinion)?
“Don’t think of me as one of those vampires ”

2. What do you think now of being supernatural? Is it cool, or have you been screwed?
“Aaaand again.”

3. Do you have a mentor? Who are they? How did you become their student?
“Nope.”

4. Do you have any magical items? Where did you get them?
“Not that I know of…. Though I’ll be damned if I know how engines work. You put hydrogen in, magic happens, and suddenly you’re roaring along the road at ninety …that’s not what you meant? Well screw you !”

5. What do you think of the other denizens of the World of Darkness? Why for each? (If you haven't met something, do you think it exists, and if it does, is that bad or good?)
“*eyebrow*”

6. Think of a major event that happened during your training/initiation. What was it?
“*sigh* can we move on?”

7. What is something you had to learn during your training that you hated? Why did you hate it?
“Moving on now!”

Miscellaneous Questions
1. What is the thing that has frightened you most? Do you think there is anything out there that's scarier than that? What do you think that would be?
"For me there is nothing more terrifying than the possibility that I’ll lose someone I love…I’ve lost too many already.”

2. Has anyone or anything you've ever cared about died? How did you feel about it? What happened?
"My parents.”

3. What was the worst injury you've ever received? How did it happen?
"It wasn’t even really that bad, but when I tried to kill myself… I lost a lot of blood. I was in ICU for a while...”

4. How ticklish are you? Where are you ticklish?
"Oh god, really ticklish. You don’t even have to touch me. Just get close enough. The thought of it has my skin crawling…”

5. What is your current long term goal?
"Meet all the deadlines! I freakin’ hate deadlines. When you’re in college, and uni, it’s all deadlines, deadlines deadlines. You think when you’re done you’ll be free. You’re not.”

6. What is your current short term goal?
"Buy that Aston Martin!”

7. Do you have any bad habits? If so, what are they, and do you plan to get rid of them?
"OCD. It’s a nightmare. Everything has to be straight… cups in cupboards, cushions on sofas… and I do things in even numbers.”

8. If you were a mundane person, what would you do with your life? What occupation would you want, and how would you spend all your time?
"I’m doing what I wanted ”

9. What time period do you wish you had lived in? Why? (Looking at this as an attempt to change history doesn't count.) What appeals to you about this era?
"Not a clue. I like this era… I rely on mod cons too much!”

10. How private of a person are you? Why?
"Even being famous, I keep as much to myself as I can. Most of it, actually, because it’s no one’s business but mine. And it helps me keep an aura of mystery ”

11. If you were to gain an obscenely large sum of money (via an inhertiance, a lawsuit, a lottery, or anything else) what would you do with it?
"I already have an obscene amount of money I buy cars. Lotsa cars. And stuff for Quoia.”

12. What would you wish for if you found a genie?
"You know what’s at the top of my list? I’d wish to get rid of all my horrendous mental baggage…”

13. What do you do when you are bored?
"Read. Write lyrics. Draw…. Drive am I getting predictable yet?”

14. What is the most frightening potential handicap or disfigurement you can conceive of? What makes it so frightening?
"Blindness… I can’t imagine not being able to see, not being able to draw, to drive, to do any of that… oh, or being paralysed… I can’t think of anything worse than having to rely totally on other people.”

CSS Journal Coded by =FleX177