{"id":12186,"title":"The Siren of Monaco","description":"The story behind the Hideous Siren design involving Mr. Hideous, a trip to Monaco and a possible real life goddess?","content":"

\"t5kn4xktnkwhdhjwfpjgypcgnborvdqmpuun1l9pkjj13qu5.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"The Story of the Hideous Siren<\/h2>

Monaco in the Summer<\/em><\/h3>

July 2015. Mr. Hideous walked down the steps of the cruise liner, and took in the exquisite surroundings of Port Hercules. He had been travelling at sea for two weeks now. He loved this mode of travel. It wasn\u2019t like being in a plane, above and away from everything. Being at sea made the world feel more tangible to him as if it were truly at his fingertips.<\/p>

He straightened his suit jacket out, tugging at his tie and adjusting his hat before making his way into the mainland. He was excited for this particular leg of the trip.<\/p>

Monaco was truly a beautiful sight. It was mid-afternoon, and the sun shone brightly overhead, highlighting the vivid blue water sloshing under the dock. He could see extravagant yachts moored as far as the eye could see. Looking towards the city, the view of beautiful hotels, bars, apartments and very upmarket sports cars of all shapes, sizes and colours. It was alive.<\/p>

\u201cSir.\u201d Mr. Hideous looked up and saw his driver holding the sign \"Mr Hideous\". \u201cShall we head to the hotel now, sir?\u201d He nodded and handed the driver his suitcase.<\/p>

After checking in to his hotel, exploring his suite, unpacking, getting showered, changed and tasting the hotel tea, it was time to venture out into the city.<\/p>

It was a warm and humid evening, though, of course, not too overbearing for Mr. Hideous to forgo his usual attire of a well-pressed suit and hat. It was perfect here\u2014 with the amber lights illuminating the pathways aligned with expensive cars. He loved to hear the sound of his immaculately polished new shoes clicking rhythmically on the pavement.<\/p>

Everywhere he looked, there was something interesting to feast his eyes upon. Cafe's, bars, yachts, cars, hotels, clubs, a glittering casino, tourists taking pictures and selfies and a lot of very attractive people. Monaco had an incredible vibe and energy. One of those places, similar to Santa Monica, when everyone looks like a film star.<\/p>

An Ethereal Sight & Sound<\/em><\/h3>

Mr. Hideous gravitated towards the water and a beach bar, bustling with patrons. It was lit beautifully with string lights, bringing a laid back atmosphere to the establishment. It was only a very short distance away from the sea which currently had a full moon reflecting against its surface.<\/p>

He made his way to the bar, parting the crowd, and easily signaled the bartender down with a wave of his hand. Mr. Hideous\u2019 presence alone captured people\u2019s attention. Tanqueray and tonic was to be the first drink of the evening.<\/p>

He walked away from the main area of the bar, onto the beach to hear the sound of the water. He closed his eyes and breathed in deep, loving the freshness of the sea. His eyes fluttered open at an unfamiliar sound. Singing.<\/p>

His head swung from side to side, desperate to identify where the crooning originated from. Like a moth to a flame, he found himself almost in a trance-like state. His legs moved as if he were being controlled to follow the notes swirling through the air.<\/p>

He stopped short, eyes wide as he set his sights upon an ethereal figure across the way from him.<\/p>

The Goddess<\/h3>

The woman was beautiful\u2014 more than that, more than words could depict. She sat atop a rock, one leg dangling beneath her, skimming the surface of water that flowed and ebbed onto the shore. Her hair was a deep black, almost blue. It was the color of the ocean now, in the dark of night. Her skin was pale, like the moonlight that shone upon it.<\/p>

From where Mr. Hideous stood, he could see her lips, painted red, moving fluidly, mouthing the notes that graced his ears. Of course, the obvious answer was that this woman was the originator of such beautiful music. Yet, it was hard to comprehend that something so otherworldly could even have an explainable source in the first place.<\/p>

\u201cHello,\u201d she spoke, curling her fingers into a wave. Even her voice whilst speaking was enchanting. Mr. Hideous was immediately entranced.<\/p>

He straightened himself out, clearing his throat and tugging at his suddenly tight collar. His mind felt fuzzy, despite the fact that he had only sipped at the drink in his hand.<\/p>

\u201cSo......you must be the local goddess?\" said Mr Hideous. He was always quick to give a compliment if it was well deserved. Far too many people feel awkward in doing so.<\/p>

The woman giggled behind a dainty hand, her eyes sparkling. It wasn\u2019t dissimilar to the way that the stars were glittering upon the ocean surface.<\/p>

\u201cThank you.\u201d She winked at the gentleman. Mr. Hideous tried not to blush at how forward she was. \u201cYou don\u2019t seem like a local......\"<\/p>

\u201cNo, one of your many tourists I'm afraid. Just off the boat today.\"<\/p>

\u201cHmm.\u201d She sat back, leaning on her hands. Mr. Hideous followed her line of sight, finding the beautiful night sky to be almost as alluring as the woman next to him. \u201cAnd how are you enjoying your stay so far?\u201d She asked, a playful smile tugging at her lips.<\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s just got better\" said Mr Hideous mischievously.<\/p>

It was odd how comforting the silence that settled upon them was. Mr. Hideous would usually be taking the time to woo the other woman, charming her endlessly without much effort. Yet, he didn\u2019t feel compelled to. No, this woman was not like any other he had encountered before.<\/p>

\"Aren't you imbibing?\"he asked.<\/p>

The woman smiled mysteriously, shaking her head. \u201cNot tonight, I\u2019m afraid. I really have to be somewhere and I'm already late, it's just so beautiful here, but I really need to make a move. It was very nice to meet you, even if you are a tourist!\" she said with a cheeky but sparkling smile.<\/p>

Mr. Hideous felt his heart speed up, and felt helpless as he watched her gracefully pull herself to her feet. She began to walk away, gliding across the sand.<\/p>

\u201cI'll see you around then\", Mr Hideous said in a way that made it sound like a question.<\/p>

The woman stopped, turning with a smile that could stop an army.<\/p>

\u201cI\u2019ll be here tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>

Mr. Hideous watched her walk away until her figure was nothing but a speck in the dark.<\/p>

Another Bite of the Cherry<\/h3>

The next night, Mr. Hideous found himself at the bar again.<\/p>

It didn\u2019t take long before he found the mysterious woman. She was surrounded by suitors, both men, and women, flocking to her like bees to honey. Mr. Hideous was no exception.<\/p>

It almost felt as if he were possessed, the sweet sound of her voice, those mesmerising eyes capturing his own, her red painted lips tilting into a small smile. It all worked in conjunction to lure him. Step after step, he fell deeper and deeper into a trance, tunnel vision for nothing but the magnificent woman.<\/p>

\u201cMaybe I will have champagne tonight\" she teased. Mr. Hideous smiled, surprised to find how close he was to her now.<\/p>

After he had purchased their drinks, they walked along the beach. They talked about anything and everything that came to mind. Mr. Hideous was surprised that he had so much in common with the woman. They eventually settled into a calm silence, which was broken by the woman\u2019s quiet singing.<\/p>

Mr. Hideous was brought to a stop, once again in awe at the ethereal sound that the woman produced. It sent him into a dreamlike state.<\/p>

\u201cWho are you or maybe I should say WHAT are you?\" he joked. The woman turned to him with an enigmatic smile.<\/p>

At that moment, Mr. Hideous took in the woman. How her beauty was unlike anything he had ever seen, how her hair flowed down her back\u2014 fluid, like water, how her presence and voice captured and enthralled all of those around her.<\/p>

It was supernatural.<\/p>

Mr. Hideous had heard of creatures with features that were much like the woman before him but he couldn't pinpoint what the memory was. Though those tales were frightening, Mr. Hideous felt completely at ease around the woman.<\/p>

Then it dawned on him.....sirens! It was the sirens. In Greek mythology, the sirens were dangerous creatures who used their bewitching music and singing voices to lure unsuspecting sailors to their death through being shipwrecked against the rocks. It was said they could even charm the winds. In his notebook, Leonardo da Vinci once wrote \"The siren sings so sweetly that she lulls the mariners to sleep then she climbs upon the ships and kills the sleeping mariners.\" They had names such as Aglaope and Thelxiepeia.<\/p>

If this woman was a danger to him, well\u2026 at least he would enjoy such a sweet and alluring death.<\/p>

Time seemed to stand still as they talked, walked, sat and drank for hours, long into the night.<\/p>

A Goddess Wooed<\/h3>

From then on Mr. Hideous spent every day in Monaco with the mysterious woman who he considered to be his soulmate.<\/p>

Though, she wasn\u2019t as much of a mystery to him anymore. The more that they talked and spent time together, the more it was apparent how well they connected.<\/p>

Mr. Hideous didn\u2019t hold back on gifts. One in particular was a stunning bracelet she had fallen in love with in a shop window.<\/p>

It wasn\u2019t explicitly said between them, but they knew what that bracelet meant. It was a promise to one another.<\/p>

She was practically living with Mr. Hideous in his hotel now. Together, they would go down to the beach and drink tea to begin their day. The woman had told Mr. Hideous about her connection to the water. It was her home, she\u2019d explained. She loved it most in the morning when the water was cool and crisp, the orange and red hues of the sun just barely touching the surface.<\/p>

Mr. Hideous thought that she was most beautiful like this\u2014 raven black hair tousled and face completely natural.<\/p>

Afterward, he would take her out to the finest restaurants that he could find. Dinner was always an event, something that he took care to dress up for in his nicest suits and hat.<\/p>

He knew that she wasn\u2019t necessarily impressed by glitz and glamour. She had told him so when he brought her back to his hotel for the first time.<\/p>

Seeing the extreme luxury of the hotel, the woman giggled, a light titter falling from her lips.<\/p>

\u201cI hope you\u2019re not trying to woo me over with\u2026 all of this.\u201d She gestured to the grandiose room.<\/p>

Though, Mr. Hideous had made it clear that he wasn\u2019t trying to impress her in an attempt to win her over. No, truly, what Mr. Hideous was doing was genuinely showing his appreciation for her.<\/p>

They visited the casino and she brought him luck. Both at the card and roulette tables. Mr Hideous sensed every man seemed to be casting admiring glances in her direction. She showed him the sights and sounds of Monaco, although strangely, she seemed unwilling to stray far from the sea.<\/p>

Holiday Heartbreak<\/h3>

Mr. Hideous\u2019 stay was beginning to come to an end. In his stomach, the sickly feeling grew as the hours passed. He had always known that this relationship\u2014 would have to end. No more morning beach walks, watching the sunrise. No more dinner dates.<\/p>

They hadn\u2019t discussed it, but he knew that the woman knew as well.<\/p>

On his final day in Monaco, the woman and Mr. Hideous took one last walk along the beach, watching the world begin to wake up with the rising sun.<\/p>

\u201cCome and visit me in London,\u201d Mr. Hideous whispered, holding the woman\u2019s hands tight.<\/p>

The woman gave him a soft look, her eyes glazed with unshed tears as she shook her head.<\/p>

\u201cI\u2019m sorry\u2026\u201d Her gaze fell to the sea with a reverent look. \u201cThis is my home. I can\u2019t leave.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cI understand.\u201d He nodded, agreeing. He knew how much her home meant to her, and he wouldn\u2019t be the one to come between that.<\/p>

He was leaving that afternoon.<\/p>

She walked him down the dock, and he revelled in the feel of her hand wrapped in his. They had a final kiss. \"I'll never see you again will I\", he asked rhetorically.<\/p>

\u201cMaybe in another world\" she answered mysteriously.<\/p>

He waved goodbye to her as the ship began to sail away from the docks, wishing that she was standing next to him, hand in hand.<\/p>

Mr. Hideous watched as his goddess moved farther and farther away, a dot in the distance. Now, a beautiful memory.<\/p>

He may not have been killed by his siren, but she had stolen a piece of his heart.<\/p>

<\/p>

The Hideous Siren is available here<\/u><\/a><\/p>

\"Hideous\"Hideous
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Find the full Hideous collection here<\/u><\/a>
<\/p>





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