Through tattered cloth small vices do disappear.

Robes and fur'd gowns join them.

"You choose a particularly bold cravat in a venomous magenta, embroidered in citrine and sulphur, and drape it over his shoulder. Your friend claps his hands in delight and turns to you. 'I do so enjoy that you know my tastes so well,' he says. 'It is perfect. Just as your...' He turns back to the mirror, happily stroking his new cravat. Later, he presents you with a gift; a new handkerchief he picked out himself. Naturally, you accept the hideous thing with good grace."

Joy and woe are woven fine,
A clothing for the soul divine.
Under every grief and pine
Runs a joy with silken twine.

-William Blake, "Auguries of Innocence"

One makes do with what one is given. Silk in any shape or size still sells as cheap.

Shrewdly,
Pragmatically,

and remaining Yours Always,

 
La Cravate.

Nothing really matters, but Me.

Any way the wind blows.

"Everywhere you go these days, this person is there also. They have insinuated themselves into all your favourite soirees, tea-parties and balls. This is unacceptable."

I was angry with my friend;
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I waterd it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine.

And into my garden stole.
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning glad I see,
My foe outstretchd beneath the tree.

-William Blake, "A Poison Tree"

Guileful,
Gratified,
and still Yours Always,


Le Corset.

A Stranger in Fallen London.

A framed moment of the early days, when all was wondrous and new:

It was drizzling lightly when he passed through the Fifth City's gates.

(Readers should note that the pronoun 'he' is employed merely for the sake of convenience. Using 'it' with reference to non-tentacled persons is often regarded as crass and uncouth in polite society.)

So;

What passed for dusk in the Neath had fallen, though the denizens rarely kept to a common schedule. A fine mist had risen above the ground like mushrooms in the night; silent and unnoticed. The individual at the gates tilted his head - surveying, and considering. The only sign of his satisfaction was in a slight narrowing of his glowing amber eyes.

Yes. What better way to begin, than in anonymity? And what better place for secrets and mysteries, than in the Echo Bazaar? Deep. Dark. Different from the Surface inasmuch as could be perceived.

It was Marvellously Perfect in every way.

The Stranger within my gate,/ He may be true or kind,
But he does not talk my talk--/ I cannot feel his mind.
I see the face and the eyes and the mouth,
But not the soul behind.

-Rudyard Kipling, "The Stranger"

Reminiscently,

and remaining Yours Always,

 
La Cravate.

With a Confident Smile

One ponders why "Smiles! Put that man down!" should not be a Persuasive challenge.

Imagine employing a well-practiced Confident Smile to out-smile, and thereby defeat, Jack-of-Smiles.

It is, indubitably, a viable course of action.

Just ask any of your oriental acquaintances, and they would say that the act of 'hiding daggers in one's smile' is almost always necessary for one's survival in most parts of the Neath.


Pearly White,
Pondering,
and still Yours Always,

Le Corset.

Welcome to Echo Bizarre

Greetings, one and all.

Echo Bizarre is now officially open for your perusal. It is with great excitement and pleasure that we invite you, delectable viewers, to join us in our foray into the world of the Bizarre that is Fallen London.

A Toast of Welcome, Delicious Friends

Always yours,

 
La Cravate et Le Corset

Construction in the Neath

Hello, delicious passerby.

In the few hours between the night and the morn, the dastardly duo has been hard at work.

To be blunt, this site is still under construction.

For now, kindly please move along. And while it is generally rude to stare, please do watch this space.

Edit [17 May, Tues]: No, really, you want to be watching this space now.

Always yours,

 
La Cravate et Le Corset