#and the one mod that can get it done...I feel like it needs to cook a bit longer...

[violet-dragongirl]

...so sadly I'm back in the Bethesda Caves....again...[angrily] chasing shadows and modding FO4... So far things work...but knowing how that game is...*sigh*

Anyway main thing is I've been really into overgrowth/forest environment mods lately for that game and I decided to take my old one out since it was giving me so much trouble last time and try another, but there's another out there that's actually more overgrowth AND trees than just...trees.

But it's still in beta and requires so much reading (reading the process to get it in the game ain't the problem btw) that I decided to just sit in the discord, read, and wait.

The one I have now should suffice with the theme of the game I got going so far but yeah...for a while I got tired of the Scorched Apocalypse look cos seriously that's been over done for games/stories that start like...200+ years (basically Post Post Apocalypse) after the Post Apoc started and like...I'd like to think that nature is a LOT more resilient than we'd like to write about in stories sometimes so having a mod that reflects that...ish...not perfect or scientifically accurate, but enough to where like...it gets the point across that you're in a world that's been through a lot worse nature wise and is now "healing"...even if that healing is just...Not Good for your chances of survival in said Post Post Apocalyptic Story.

[orteil42]

some undifferentiated thoughts about my Starfield playthrough as i have them. i am a game developer with a strong interest in procedural generation and i've enjoyed a bunch of other bethesda games so this might get pretty mean sorry

(this is a long one)

starfield dialogue is already exhausting me "oh you must've been living under a moon rock ;)" get it! because they're in space! this would've been too corny for the Jetsons

there's a kind of cheap dusting of space theme over everything. the food isn't salmon but alien salmon. it's not seaweed but alien seaweed. cooking alien stir-fry. come on

cannot get over how clumsily the theming is handled. books, board games, weapon names revolve heavily around space. these people have been living on alien planets for hundreds of years yet have this unending sense of novelty about it. the game takes itself completely seriously but feels like it's attempting to parody itself

people's EYEBALLS are CLIPPING THROUGH THEIR EYELIDS

a woman is speaking to me in french. her accent is about as believable as her haircut

these are some of the worst reflection maps i've ever seen

next to nothing is interactive. you can sit in chairs and sleep in beds and that is about it. can't even drink from people's toilets. disgraceful

game helpfully crashes 5 seconds after i decide i should get some sleep. very handy!

my character has not said a single thing since i started playing. not one peep. this is an unmitigated improvement over Fallout 4 i'm so glad honestly

the more i poke around the big city the more the NPC quips feel like something out of gen-1 pokemon. can't get enough of this coffee :) this city is where it's at :) spacesuits are comfy and easy to wear

very strange sense of altered reality from the quest dialogue too. has anyone at bethesda met a person before? i move on to some mission that has me scanning wildlife on a faraway planet hoping this will, somehow, feel less alien than human conversation

just as with No Man's Sky, every planet is uniformly dotted with equidistantly-placed points of interest that you slowly make your way to (no vehicles besides your jetpack) which always turn out to be some cave or building identical to those you've cleared before

unlike with No Man's Sky, the seamless exploration is faked and the biodiversity is nil. you do get an impressive amount of raw loading screens however

the prefab bases and power stations found everywhere on planets seem to have very sparse, very specific slots for spawning consumables, which results in encountering some giant industrial installation in the middle of nowhere with, i don't know, a loaf of whole-grain sandwich bread just casually sitting next to it all proper. there is no breathable atmosphere here. who is eating this

planetary traversal is a CHORE. i am saying this as someone who loved Death Stranding

heinous "hold to confirm" buttons sprinkled in various flow-breaking places throughout the interface

enemy AI is abominable. nobody is pathing their way to get my ass. "must've been the wind" taken to the next level. an infant playing peekaboo has more object permanence

hoisting yourself up on ledges when jumping is…nice

companions randomly nowhere to be found. persists through multiple fast-travels and loading screens until, just as randomly, they pop back up

storage space is now limited! unlike in Fallout 4 and virtually every other bethesda game, your containers now hold a finite item capacity. god forbid we let the player have fun

baffling inventory UI. i imagine there's a mod out there that completely overhauls it the way SkyUI did for Skyrim. this should not be needed! how are your UIs getting worse a decade later!

scanning the precious few species inhabiting some dusty planet; one of them is this arching red root i've already seen several times before. my job done in this biome, i travel (read: teleport with a loading screen) to the polar region to find some other species. the first one i catalogue is the exact same red root again but this time it's named "boreas root" todd howard is a genius

some alien horror comes at me full fangs out. i hop on a pebble. obscenely, i am safe

procedural terrain generation beyond dull, impossibly unimaginative. these people have not had one critical thought on what makes a procedural world interesting. beginning to feel validated in my belief that only i should be trusted with proc gen. along with perhaps tarn adams

jokes aside this is making me feel genuinely insane. there have been excellent procedural generation techniques that produce compelling explorable maps for decades now. bethesda absolutely has the budget and know-how to do miles better than this yet somehow they just…do not? the same way Pokemon has decided to just no longer bother with their mainline games despite being the highest-grossing media franchise in history? hello? what is for real going on

some of the most cynical breadcrumbing i've seen in years. approaching some random cave and this person in space gear, who in the vast immensity of the infinite cosmos just happens to be snapping pictures right here, tells me more-or-less verbatim "if you like this place, you should see this other place" [other random cave has been added to your map.]

i do not like how good this makes No Man's Sky's gameplay look. it depresses me how much i have to hand it to No Man's Sky for at least not fucking up this bad. please stop making me wish i was playing No Man's Sky instead this is grotesque

i think i've exhausted my interest and patience for this game at the moment. i'll get back to the main story at some point and try some other systems ie. crafting and base-building to see if there's any engagement to be found but so far, my god. my god

[rheas-chaos-anthology]

How to fight writer's block (45 ways)

If you are indecisive like me, use a 1-45 number generator and do that one

Listen to music that's the vibe of the scene you need to write.

Set small goals, like one sentence a day. Majority of the time that will make you want to write more

Get an accountability partner

Use writing sprints, write for 5 or 10 minutes without stopping. Then take a break and repeat.

STOP BEING SCARED TO WRITE BADLY

write something random, maybe just a paragraph to get in the flow

write while doing something else, like eating lunch or watching TV if you can focus

read a book you wouldn't normally read

do some physical activity

do writing games/writing prompts

imagine people making fanfiction about your work

watch a movie/show to inspire you

write the scene you've been wanting to write

do something else creative (doodle, paint, cook, etc)

edit a scene

rewrite a scene in a different setting

take a shower/bath or just wash your face

pick up a random book/remember a book you've read and "pick a fight" with the author. What did they do that you didn't like and why don't you?

listen to your favorite song (with lyrics) but imagine it in a different context. imagine it a scene from a show/a show.

make a list of things you want to include in your work, eventually you will come across an idea you will want to write.

use pen and paper

create a check list of things you have to do (make them small like open computer, open google docs, write one paragraph, etc.)

identify your strengths

identify your weaknesses

write from a different pov

remember why you started writing this project

remember why you started writing in general

dress up and pretend you are in a movie about a writer

reread your writing and find your favorite part

create a writing ritual, do two thing to get you in the mood of writing

take a break

write for one imaginary reader, what does that one reader want to see?

write some bad poetry (helps you "feel" your emotions)

use this game, you have to write an amount of words that you choose before the opponent knocks you out: Fighter's Block! (cerey.github.io)

write with a friend

write badly on purpose. And when i mean bad or cringe i mean commit. Write a dicord mod x discord kitten Wattpad fic (maybe dont post it though 😭). Just make yourself laugh

If you are stuck because you dont know what to do come up with something stupid that can be changed later (for this one scene the hero a has fourth leg that allows them to dig through the wall)

Figure out why you can't write and address that first.

imagine someone reading your story for the first time and it inspires them to do something they wouldn't have done otherwise (confess to their crush, start writing too, come out, etc)

GIVE YOURSELF DEADLINES AND STICK TO THEM

OR HAVE SOMEONE GIVE YOU DEADLINES

write about having writers block

write something that isn't yours (dont steal peoples work and try to publish it/pass it off as yours). Like a scene from a show or incorporate song lyrics into your scene.

create Pinterest boards based off your characters/plot/scenes

STOP BELEIVING IN WRITERS BLOCK AND WORK THOUGH IT. WRITE IT BADLY. WRITE IT BADLY. WRITE IT BADLY. WRITE WHEN YOU DONT FEEL LIKE IT. WRITE WHEN YOU THINK YOUR TERRIBLE. WRITE WHEN YOU ARE UPSET. WRITE IT BADLY.

[rinchfest]

Coming this September to an internet near you: Rinch Fest 2024, a ship week for Harold Finch/John Reese from Person of Interest! This is a low-pressure event meant to encourage the creation of more fanworks for Finch/Reese or Finch & Reese’s friendship. Fic, art, gifs, vids, podfic, you name it—all are welcome, as long as they’re Rinch-centric.

Posting for Rinch Fest will run from September 24 through September 30, 2024

PROMPTS:

Day One – September 24 Fluff• Pining• "Always" • Dark• Domesticity

Day Two – September 25 Be Nice To John• Established Relationship• Road Trip • Food/Drinking/Cooking • Art

Day Three – September 26 Be Nice To Harold• Belly• "Beach Cabin in the Woods• "Five+1" • Pets/Animals • Music

Day Four – September 27 Kids/Babies/Pregnancy• Hugs• Clothes • Setting/Genre Change AU• The Machine

Day Five – September 28 Bed Sharing• Wedding/Marriage• Crossover • Canon Divergence • Tropes

Day Six – September 29 Finch Whump • Reese Whump • NSFW/Kink • Retirement • Home

Day Seven – September 30 Free-For-All/Catch-Up Day

Keep reading for more info!

Who’s running this? ArgylePirateWD. Hi! Now with mods @alexsrousseau and @stingalingaling

Any changes since last year? None! As in previous years, Reese&Finch friendship is also allowed

Why not call it Rinch Week? It started out as Rinch Fest on The Rinch Loft on Discord, and that’s what stuck.

Plus, Rinch Fest and Reese & Finch share the same initials.

What’s allowed? Complete fanworks focusing on Harold Finch and John Reese in a romantic or close platonic relationship with each other. Fic, art, vids, remixes, sequels, you name it! No length requirements, no style requirements, all ratings allowed—do what you want!

Anything not allowed? Works where Finch/Reese or Finch & Reese is not the primary relationship (additional ships are fine), works that are incomplete at the time of posting, and remixes or other transformative works for other people’s fanworks that are done without the original creator’s permission. Anything else is fair game, as long as it’s labeled.

Also, don’t be a jerk.

What about [insert controversial topic here]? Can I make something with x?/OMG someone made something with x! Anything else is fair game, as long as it’s labeled. This includes works featuring tropes and kinks that you may not like or approve of. As long as it’s warned for, it’s fine and allowed.

Please warn for the usual AO3 warnings (Major Character Death, Graphic Violence, Rape/Non-Con, and Underage) and any subjects others may find deeply unpleasant, and clearly label any NSFW works.

What about poly? Gen? Poly is wonderful, but this is a Finch/Reese or Finch&Reese event. Sorry.

Finch & Reese gen is allowed!

What do I do with x prompt?/Can I do [insert concept here]? Anything goes! Seriously, however you want to interpret a prompt is fine.

Do I have to make something for every prompt? No! You can if you want, but it’s not required. Feel free to skip days, combine prompts, create multiple fills for each day, anything! This is as flexible as it gets.

If it fits multiple prompts, when do I post it? Whatever day works best for you!

What if I want to do something NSFW? There's no nsfw prompt this year. Is it still allowed? YES! Bring on the spicy if you want!

What about a multi-chapter/piece thing where each chapter fulfills one day’s prompt? When do I post that? Post an update each relevant day until you’re done! (Just make sure you can finish it by the end of the event.)

What if it doesn’t fit a prompt? That’s what Day 7 is for! :D

What if I need to post my fill(s) on a different day? Life happens. The AO3 collection is set to Unrevealed, so I can reveal early submissions on the right day, but if that doesn’t work for you, I’m sure we can work something out.

Can I work on a previously-posted WIP? As long as it’s finished when you make your post for the event, sure! If you’re just updating a WIP without finishing it, no.

Can I start working now? Absolutely! That’s why I’m announcing it now—so there’s plenty of time for people to make things.

Can I talk about/share previews of what I’m working on? Sure!

Wait, there’s a Rinch Discord server? Do I have to join to do this? Of course not. We’d love to have you at The Rinch Loft, and it’s a fun place to hang out, but Rinch Fest is for anyone into Rinch.

If I want the Discord link… Send in an Ask to the @rinchfest Tumblr, contact ArgylePirateWD somewhere, or ask around. It’s open to anyone who likes Rinch or Person of Interest. I’m happy to give it out to anyone who wants it.

Where do I post? On Tumblr, post to your blog and use the #rinchfest23 or #rinchweek23 tags. You are They are being watched. 👁 And maybe add @rinchfest in your post to be sure. Tumblr is as hungry as Bear and Shaw.

Submissions are also open.

On AO3, you can post it here: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/rinchfest23/

Do I have to have a Tumblr? AO3? As long as you’re on some kind of platform and can get a link to the work to me somehow so I can share it with the world, you’re welcome to play.

On October 1st, I’ll make a round-up post full of links to all the shiny things people made. If I know you made it, it’ll go in!

What time zone? The daily prompt posts will be going up at 12 am Central Time, but as long as it’s the relevant day for your fill somewhere in the world, go ahead and throw it in!

(And if you want to sneak in some Day 7 things a little after, as long as they get posted before the Master Post goes up… 😉)

Sounds fun! How do I sign up? No signups! Just post your stuff somewhere on the right day(s), and you’re in!

[crowandmousewritingco]

If You're Reading This

Pairing: Joel Miller x nb!reader

Word Count: 4.5k

Rating: PG-13, there's no spice. It's all angst bay-beeeeeee

Summary: You met Joel while out on a 'hunting run', you startle him and in return he almost shoots you. After everything settles the two of you get to talking and decide to stay in contact one of the only ways, via letters. Over the time writing each other, you grow feelings for him, and learn things about yourself that you don't know how he'll handle. Telling him, he goes silent, but you refuse to give up hope. Will your hope be enough to keep you going?

Author: Mod Crow (Got a new job so life has been ahhhhh)

Author's Note: The reader says their age. This was for @burntheedges' Roll-A-Trope! I was very back and forth on how I wanted this to play out, in the end I'm pretty happy with it.

Masterlist

Warnings: Language, mentions of suicide, and mentions of raiders and guns.

Dear Joel,

Thanks for not shooting me today, I wasn’t even in my best attire to die. I’m kidding. Not about the not shooting me thing. 

It was nice really meeting someone who didn’t want to kill me or rob me. It was also nice having the help dragging a deer all the way back to this place. I only hope my butchering and fileting skills aren’t getting rusty. But hey, if they are, you said something about you showing me “the way it’s done in the big beauty of Texas” or however you worded it. I know you aren’t here, but I need you to know that I’m currently laughing. I made myself laugh. Gods, I’m losing it aren’t I?

 Anyways, I should probably start cooking myself something to eat before the sun goes down. If you ever head this way and stop at this place, you should leave me a little letter or something. Obviously, I left this one for you in an obvious spot -and that’s what you should do as well- then after that we can start putting them in more well-hidden places, we can’t have someone finding them before we have a chance to. But that’s for the next letter.

-Y.F.

P.S. Y.F. means your favorite, I know what I am, you don’t have to tell me.

Hey Smartass,

Now that I like the sound of. Oh, and drop the formality, I’m not your pen pal or some shit like that. Ellie wanted me to tell you that “if you try to replace her as my favorite, she will stab you”. I don’t pick favorites. Just so you know. I haven’t had a favorite person in a while now…

God let’s stop talking about the sad shit anymore. I saw a baby squirrel on the porch as I was walking up. I thought maybe he had lost his mama or daddy; I’m thinking that’s what he also thought because when one of his -what I can only assume- parents came back they had scared that poor little thing so bad that he damn near jumped three feet high. I was kind of wishing you could have seen it, I remember you telling me how much you loved nature and all that stuff. Don’t read into that.

Anyways, I don’t know what it’s like heading up from the southwest, but Ellie and I ran into more raiders than we normally do. I don’t know why there’s more, but I’m not liking how things are looking.  

I left you some ammo and rations hidden in the fireplace. Ellie left you something, she wouldn’t tell me, besides that it was hidden in the bathroom. That’s all she told me, so I’m guessing that means good luck. 

-Joel 

I’m not calling you my favorite, I don’t have a favorite between you two nuisances 

Dear party-pooper,

Yes, that’s what I’m calling you from now on, you fucking party-pooper. ANYWAYS, I found your stash, thanks. The ammo was a life saver…literally…the rations could have at least been a good one. You left me some beef jerky (the only good thing in that damn ration), some stale ass cracker, and some unidentifiable fruit-like substance. 

The raiders though, they’ve actually been better. Based on my guess, I think they might have migrated up your way. If you think it’s getting too bad for a bit, I get that, don’t feel pressured to write me back whenever you’re here next. 

On a lighter note, Ellie hid a book that she’d think I’d like. So far, her shot in the dark has struck bull’s-eye. Tell her I said thank you. As for where she hid it -you’re gonna love this- she pulled the medicine cabinet off the upstairs bathroom’s wall, knocked out a small bit of drywall, and hid it in the wall before replacing the cabinet. It took me far longer than it should have, but who the fuck would look behind the cabinet on the wall? The cabinet, mind you, looked like it had never been pulled off the wall. Fuck, I really gotta give her credit for how creative she is with hiding places. You should take notes. Your hiding spots in the past have been…kinda in plain sight. Love you old man, but you suck at hiding. Expect, I give you credit to this last drop, up the chimney fluke. Maybe you still have it in you after all, old man.

Anyways…I left some things for you in the door of the fridge. It’s not much this time, things have been rough at this place. We let in this new couple, and they’ve been super suspicious. The first night they were here, the woman -Gabrielle- was found snooping around in the owner of the farm’s wife’s dresser. Gabrielle couldn’t give us a straight answer as to why she was snooping. That wasn’t even the weirdest bit, that same night the man -Kenneth- was snooping around in ALL of our shit. I woke up at gods only know, probably 3 or 4 in the morning. I didn’t think he got any of shit. I didn’t look though, and that’s on me. He got away with most of the things I was going to give you, what he didn’t take is hidden for you. I left Ellie some magazines I found about alternative bands from before the pandemic. I don’t even know if she knows what alternative music is, gods you probably don’t know what alternative music is. I’ll explain that to you in person one of these days. 

-Your favorite nuisance 

You fucking child, 

You and Ellie act like the exact same person sometimes I swear. Sometimes I feel like it’s just Ellie leaving me these notes. 

Forget all that, you said that the ammo I stashed for you came in handy? What happened? Are you okay? Were you injured? What happened to the other guy? That’s something I would have paid to see. If half of what the shit you’ve said in the past were true, then you’re a pretty good aim. 

What you left me enough, the granola was honestly a god sent. You have no idea how boring coffee was getting. Ellie also said -and I quote- “Hell yeah these bitches look sick.” I have no idea where she’s heard that, because it sure as hell wasn’t me. 

Backtracking -kind of- I know we’ve talked raiders, how have those fucking clickers been? I think because of that “migration” or whatever the hell you called it, they’ve been out there killing those fuckers while they snuck through the shadows. Our raider problem went up, but the clicker problem. It’s been too quiet recently. But following that thought, your raider problem went down, so that means your clicker problem got worse. Didn’t it? Fuck… You’re a pain in my ass, but I like this banter I get to have. You should come with Ellie and I back to our little place. It isn’t much, but Ellie’s been complaining that where we are isn’t “comfortable”. I swear she says what she says just to test my patience. But, yeah, Ellie would love it. She’d never shut up and it wouldn’t be me for once. Just give us the when and we’ll meet you here.

-Joel M.

Hey grumpy,

I think I like this nickname the best so far. I do swear one thing to you grumps, I am 100% NOT Ellie. I’m your…something. I’ve been kinda held up in my room at the farm this past week. I’ve been thinking about some things after the raiders. That’s not something I lied about; I am a pretty good shot. So was the leader of the little gang. He was 100% aiming for my head, I’m only alive because I got lucky. He drew his gun quicker than I did, he aimed quicker than I could, and he pulled that fucking trigger before I could…His gun jammed. It took me a minute to even register that I was still alive. When I realized though, gods, was I ready. Almost dying makes you really think about how you want to be remembered by people. 

I don’t even know if what I’m thinking would make sense to you. Ellie might, but all she’s ever known is…well whatever it is she grew up knowing. These are things that I haven’t thought about since…fuck, well before the outbreak. Bare with me as I try to figure out to explain this in writing that isn’t going to be a fucking novel. 

Actually, before I do that, I want to get this out there first. if you aren’t sure you want to be a part of this emotional blah, I got lucky. Ken left his bag open in Gabrielle’s room right next to her bag in her room! What’s even better? Neither of them were anywhere near the bags, Gabrielle was helping with dinner and Ken was helping with fence repair. I left you just under half of the ammo they had -hey, gotta keep myself safe- and Ken’s utility hatchet like thing (you’ll see what I mean). I also snatched you some more granola. I have no idea how this old couple is doing it, but they have so many oats. They also have a fucking bee house! You know what that means? Fresh honey! And just for you grumps, I snatched a mason jar for the two of you. Honey’s also good for a sore throat. I know it’s getting cold out there. I’ve actually been knitting (I know, I must be lying about my age. I’m not, I swear. I learned how to knit because of my grandma. When I was probably six or seven, I made a huge deal out of wanting to learn to do what my grandma was doing. So, she taught me. After the outbreak, I needed something to do with my hands, otherwise things…things would be incredibly different right now. Gods, sorry about the ramble.) some scarves for the two of you. You have no idea how much yarn got left behind in the stores. If after you read this, you decide you still want me to go with you I will. We can do it the weekend after next. Next week is my birthday and Marieann and George (the old couple of the farm) told me that it was “my day to relax and rest up after the hard year.” Who am I to go against what a sweet old lady tells me to do? That being said, I don’t like not knowing what’s going on and how the two of you are doing. At this point, what’s even the point of keeping track of birthdays anymore? Like, “Yay I lived another horrid year on this dying hunk of space rock, can’t wait to suffer through another one! Anyways, I'm sneaking out past curfew to leave you a note if the plan has changed. Anywho…I found more magazines for Ellie. I’ve hid them in the pantry. She’s smart. Your is hidden in the basement behind that dresser, it’s the same idea as what the kid did in the upstairs bathroom cabinet.

Back to the emotional blah…If anything I write doesn’t make sense, you can try asking Ellie. She may know. Gods, I thought it would be easier to write this out, not having to see your weathered (ignore that) expression change. To what? I don’t know. Anything? Fuck it…Joel when we meet, I thought I had figured myself out. When I met you, I was sure I was a woman. I don’t think that I am…I’m not a man either though. I’m neither? I don’t know how to explain this. Okay, so I was she/her when we met, you were -and still are- he/him. Well, if I’m neither of them I have to have a way to refer to myself, right? I do, instead of she or he, I’m…them. Or they! Well, it’s more like both, they/them. Gods I’m shaking so bad right now haha, I’m just really scared of losing you two…You two have been the first good thing since this shitstorm started. I know I can’t make you write me back, but I can ask you to at least leave me something saying you’ll either come back and write a new note or some kind of…I don’t know sign? That doesn’t feel like the right word, but note isn’t the word I want to use…I don’t know Joel, just please leave something. I don’t care how long it takes; I’ll keep coming back till I get another note from you. Even if that means I die doing this because you chose to leave, and I wouldn’t hate you for it. 

That’s all I’ve to say. I really do…like you Joel, when thinking, remember I am the person from all of those letters and the few times we met.

-Your Raven no    Magpie also no Crow now that’s one I like

Joel, 

Hey, I came back this weekend, I’m 26 now! Yay! I’m not going to lie; I’m terrified right now. The clickers are getting worse around the farm, they aren’t too bad on the way here yet, but I know they will be.

I checked to see if you took the stuff, and you did. I saw that Ellie left me a comic book and a band shirt from one of those mags I gave her. I can’t believe she was able to find one, let alone one in my size. I also saw that you left me some ammo and another ration. I know it isn’t much, but it’s something. It gives me hope, and that’s all most of us have nowadays. Along with that hope, I also hope that you'll come back again. If that’s the case, I’ve left you both some things, same places as last. 

Joel, for you, more granola (enough for the both of you), a scarf for you, some peach preserves (Marieann opened up some preserves she had made to be opened about this time), and some bread I baked. I warn the bread isn’t pretty, but with the chill, it should last a bit longer.

For Ellie, her scarf, a couple of mangas I found (this will be fun to hear how that goes), a Swiss army knife I found on a dead raider (I know it’s gruesome, but it’s the world we live in now), and a slightly used deck of cards. I felt like she could find a way to entertain herself why you do whatever it is you do when you want to be alone.

-Your hope filled Crow

Hey again,

You took the things again, and you left some more for me. It’s still something. No matter how little. It just hit me, these letters are going to be getting shorter and shorter until I hear from you huh?

Should I even keep writing to you? Maybe don’t answer that. Or do. You take all the time you need. I’m leaving you guys some more things, the same place as before.

-Your Crow

Hey, 

I’m sorry about how long it took, I’ll be honest, I didn’t understand at all, and it freaked me out a bit. I asked Ellie if she they understood it and they did. They also came to realize that about themselves too. No, I don't fully understand it, but I’m willing to learn.

Thanks for the scarves, they’ve really helped with the chill at night. Ellie was so intrigued by that one that I’m guessing was the manga. I have no idea if they figured it out, but they’re having a blast trying. 

The clickers have been a bit more active around us too. I wonder where they’re all coming from though. 

Ellie and I are ready to head out, just tell us when. We’ve gathered all we could, the rest of the stuff we’re leaving is replaceable. Thanks to your scarf we’ve managed to carry a bit more stuff, not the way you meant for them to be used but they’re multifaceted. 

I don’t know if Ellie has anything to leave, but I’m assuming it’s in the bathroom. I don’t have much to leave, I found some yarn. I just happened upon it when looting some cars on the main road. I also found a broken bow. I don’t know if you can fix it, but maybe that old man, George(?) could fix it, or maybe someone else in the house. They’re in the basement, it’s the only place they’d fit. 

I want to help you keep that hope alive. I have one of my own, I hope we can get somewhere warm and safe together.

Joel, with…

Holy fuck,

Joel, you came back?! Thank you fuck…thank you. If you could see me, I am a mess right now. Gods you’d get a kick. 

I wasn’t able to fix the bow, but George was! I guess he used to bow hunt back in the day. He said it may take him a bit; he has to dig out his tools. I’ll leave a letter the night before with an update. If you find a letter then there’s kink in the plans, if you don’t find a letter then it’s because I was there waiting, or I died. Or some other third thing, I like being dramatic sometimes. 

With this plan may be happening, I’m not leaving much. This time it’s a kindle of firewood. Dry firewood hidden in the sugar in a mason jar. I remember you saying you drank coffee, and you were growing tired of the taste. So have some sugar, make it sweeter. Maybe add honey too. 

-Your Crow

Dear Joel,

I know you hate the formality of these kinds of letters, but for once, just let it be. See the thing is I’m writing this as a “worst case scenario” kinda thing… I started writing about an hour ago for me, gods only know how long it’s been for you. To put in perspective the time difference, I’m writing this the same day I read your letter you had left, the letter about the plans about me coming with the two of you to find somewhere else. 

I don’t know what has happened to me to force my hand in leaving this letter, but if I had to take a shot in the dark, I’ve probably been shot by other survivors. I’ve been bitten. If I remember, I’ll try to come back and write what really happened. Anyways, I know we had a plan, I also know that you’re a strong man. You don’t need me; I would have just slowed you down. So now you have to promise me you’ll keep that kid safe. Oh, and if you happen to find yourself in Omaha -I know we’re several hundred miles away, but you never know- stop by 1004 Cicada drive. It’s where I was living when all of the shit hit the fan. Now, I won’t be there to give you the tour, so you better not go tracking mud or anything inside. 

Look, there are some things in that house that I think could be beneficial to you, I know you’ll find what you need. I have some things out in the garage, there’s some other things in the attic, and then there’s some things down in the basement’s crawl space. Now, it’s going to be dusty and dirty down there, but back before all of this, it was a beautiful basement. I had just finished painting it that beautiful blue color that has since been destroyed by some fucking raiders. Fuck, look at me gushing over my old basement. I must really sound like some weird fucker, huh? 

Anyways, if I’m dead and that’s why you’re reading this, I just wanted to tell you some things…Where do I even start? I guess I’ll start light, that’s what you do right? I don’t know why I keep asking questions, I don’t know your answers to them. Gods do I wish I did know your answers, writing this with the unknown has been killing me. If you could see me right now, you’d have a pretty good laugh, I’m shaking like the last fall leaf in a big dying tree in the middle of a tornado. Fuck, I’m rambling…Look I’m really happy we ran into each other when we did, that day you almost shot me in the forest -behind this decrepit house- I lied to you. You asked me why I was out there, I told you I was looking for some animals to catch. I wasn’t…I couldn’t take any more of this bullshit. So, I was gonna beat the zombies to my death, and I wasn’t giving them the satisfaction of bringing me back to be some brainless creature monster. I was going to paint a bit of the forest with gray matter. When you insisted on helping me because you also needed food, I was honestly kinda pissed. But now? Now I’m happy you stuck around. Joel, I don’t wanna make you feel any type of way but…You are the only reason I’m still here on this shithole of a planet. Also…you sticking around had affected me in ways I wasn’t expecting…Joel thanks to you Joel, spending all of that time with you, getting to actually know you, exchanging stories, all of that shit. All of that meant means far more than you could understand, and in that time, I grew to fell in love with you Joel. 

I should have told you in person not through a piece of paper. I know there isn’t much I can say now…. but I am sorry. I wish I could have told you in person, I really do, I wish I could have heard your lips say it back. I can only imagine how your raspy, yet honeysuckle sweet voice would say those three words “I. Love. You.” Gods the thought of it…

Anyways, if I keep going, I might accidently write you a book. For whatever reason it is that made me tell you where to find this, I’m happy I got to meet you when I did. Make sure to tell Ellie I said hi. You make sure you keep that girl safe or so Gods help you, Joel Miller. 

-Your Crow, with love

P.S. Joel I don’t know how much longer I have till I turn, but I just wanted to say before I die, I love you Joel, tell Ellie I love her too. I left you my remaining ammo and handgun. I left Ellie my lucky bullet casing -we both know she’ll love it- and my bracelet, the one with that little metal rabbit foot charm. You have no idea how excited I was to leave that lonely farm. I would finally be with people I cared about and who cared about me. Like who actually cared about me. 

I had a weird feeling that this is how things would go, so I planned. I know I’m leaving you my handgun and ammo. The handgun only has one bullet right now. You can fill it the rest of the way and leave, or you can do what I was too scared to do in the end…Kill me. Right now, I’m in the kitchen writing this. I don’t feel good, I feel like someone beat me with a lead pipe. My head is throbbing, and I can’t tell if I’m sweating because I’m hot with a fever, or if because of a cold chill. 

I thought I’d have a bit of time, you know, write you some more, pour my heart out on paper for you, but I don’t. It wasn’t a deep bite, but it was a bite, nonetheless. I tried to sneak past this clicker, I was doing so well until I lost my balance and stumbled, twisting my ankle. I didn’t try to fight it, I thought I’d have better luck running back here. I didn’t…  

I love you Joel, I really really ….

*Joel’s POV*

Your writing at the end was practically ineligible, trailed off almost. Joel wasn’t quite sure, what he was sure of, was the feeling of his heart break. An all too familiar break, one he hadn’t felt since Sarah’s mom…

Joel quickly and silently tore his path through the house, he was certain that you were playing some kind of sick cruel joke. 

“Joel. Joel! Come on man,” Joel could hear Ellie, but for some reason his legs wouldn’t stop. He had to prove Ellie wrong, that’s why. Yeah, that makes sense. “Joel, Jesus fucking Christ. STOP!” Hearing Ellie’s loud voice had pulled him to a halt. 

“Joel, I know you loved them man, I did too. I don’t know what hell-bent path you’re on, but you aren’t going to find them okay. I know,” Joel looked to Ellie, his unfocused eyes taking a moment. When his eyes finally focused, he could see it, he could see the tears that were pouring from Ellie’s face. That’s when he realized he too was crying. “I looked for them after I found their rabbit’s foot bracelet. I think they’re in the basement, the door is locked or jammed. I can’t get it open.” Joel swallowed the pained howls that wanted to rip through his tired body. Clearing his throat, Joel quickly wiped his face on his jacket sleeve. 

“You stay up here; I’ll get it figured out. No matter what, I don’t care if you're curious or something else, don’t under any circumstances come down there am I clear?” Joel clenched his jaw, he needed something to focus on something, so why not something he can do. 

Ellie never responded verbally, but Joel saw the stiff nod. Turning from Ellie Joel tried to make quick work of finding the things you left. It took him far less time than he expected. Joel also found a key; one he could only assume you left. It wasn’t particularly noteworthy or showy, but if he had to guess, it would unlock that basement door. Was that even something he wanted to do? Kill you? Or rather, kill the already dead you? 

Heading back to the dining room, Joel looked at the things he had found in the house. The one catching his attention first? Your handgun. The one with only one bullet loaded in it. Picking up the gun, Joel examined it in his hand, the handle was worn, faint groves noticeable to the touch. The metal on it had definitely seen better days, days when the metal was clean and before it was used in all of this shit. 

Swallowing the lump in his throat down, Joel took the key -along with the gun- to the basement door. Standing there, Joel simply stared at the handle. God only knows how long he stood there, but hearing Ellie walk into the dining room, pulled him back to the doorknob in hand. Gripping the gun tighter, Joel carefully put the key into the knob. Giving it a trying twist, Joel felt it resist for a second, before a soft ‘click’ could be heard. Gripping the knob, Joel twisted it slowly and carefully pulled the door open. There wasn’t a single sound coming from the basement, maybe you had found a way to do this. Something he was now dreading. Readying the gun, Joel carefully made his way down the stairs, trying to be as light as possible on his feet. 

Once his feet hit the basement floor, Joel clicked on his flashlight. The basement wasn’t huge by any means, but it did have a smaller room off the back wall. Walking towards the doorway, Joel practically held his breath to listen for the all too well known cl-

The sound of clicking slowly filling the air as he grew closer. The sound put him to a stop. Can he really do this? Yes, because you shouldn’t have to be one of them. Clenching his jaw Joel continued on. 

In the doorway, Joel could barely make out the shadow of you, or at least what used to be you. It was kind of hard to tell for certain where the bite was for certain, but it seemed as if it was your shoulder. As he stood there, Joel was silent, he wanted to remember what you were like, this wasn’t you and he knew that. You were gone by now, long gone and he knew that. Raising the gun, Joel closed his eyes for a moment. Opening his eyes, Joel cocked the handgun, the click of the hammer grabbing your attention. Staring at what used to be your face, Joel could feel the tears run down his face. 

“I’m sorry I wasn’t quicker my Crow.” His last word punched through the silence, with the loud echo of a spent shell.

'''''''

The divider was made by the beautiful @mikeykuns

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[mister-qi]

Mr. Qi Friendship and Romance Mod: 4/19 Progress Update

It's a working title, I'm trying to come up with something less wordy that still will pop up in Nexus searches.

I wanted to be able to track my progress, mainly for myself, but if you're curious, this is the state of the mod right now:

Writing:

Heart Events - the 2 heart event is fully written (with blocking directions), and the 6, 8, and 10 heart events are outlined. The 4 heart cutscene currently has me a bit stumped; I have ideas, but nothing concrete yet. I definitely now understand why Sam's 4 heart cutscene is him dropping an egg. 14 hearts is on the back-burner as a little treat to myself once I get further into things.

Generic Daily Dialogues - about 1/3 done, probably the highest priority for writing. I'm leaving his vanilla casino dialogue as the two heart dialogue, and the vanilla Walnut Room dialogue as his four heart dialogue, with a few small changes. And, since it's me, I have more marriage dialogue written than anything else...

Day-Specific Dialogues - very few written, lower priority. Hoping to have a lot of these made eventually, and I have plenty of ideas, but they aren't necessary for the core of the mod so they're on the back-burner for now.

Gift Dialogues - all 5 generic gift response dialogues are written, with an additional 22 dialogue lines for specific items/groups of items. I'm also up to around item 530 in figuring out what item corresponds to which dialogue/whether or not he likes it. Certain item groups, like cooked food, still need more lines, however. This is definitely something that should be low priority, but also something I'm really enjoying working on. Some personal favorites so far are-

[if given a fish (hated)]: "Eugh, it's all slimy..."

[if given a legendary fish (disliked)]: "If you must give me one of the rarest fish in the valley, can you at least wrap it so I don't have to touch it with my bare hands?"

And I think that's pretty funny.

Art

Portraits - 3 new portraits finished: "deep frown" "glint" and "glasses-less". I'll probably be messing with "glasses-less" for a looong while; it's first shown at a dramatic moment so it needs to look good. Blushing portraits are next on the docket.

Here's "glint" btw, with a background thrown on so I can have a custom icon. You know I gotta make him do the anime glasses thing a few times.

Sprites - no progress yet. Walk cycle is up next after I finish the blushing portraits. Did you know he doesn't have a walk cycle at all? [1.6 spoilers] in the cheated Summit cutscene where he attacks(?) you, he literally just slides at you very fast. Anyways, I may also change his map sprite a bit as well, since it was drawn to match his old portrait and doesn't actually have the same color scheme as his sprites. Note to self: is it possible to make the sparkles on his outfit prismatic?

Maps - no progress yet. The 6 heart and 10 heart cutscenes both require custom maps, with the 6 heart one being a fully custom asset. 10 heart recycles some existing assets but will still need some custom stuff done as well.

Misc Sprites - in my head, there's a dream version of the 8 heart cutscene that has so, so many unique sprites. Like an incredible amount of stuff. I think it'll kick ass, but also that sequence could be done with a few lines of text. So, for now, it's low priority. But maybe in a few months I'll put out a request for help.

Implementation

Not totally sure how to split this into sections yet, as I'm very much still in the preliminary stages so far. To say that I'm feeling overwhelmed is an understatement; documentation on the wiki swings wildly between "an asset is a file in a video game" and "this is an advanced tutorial. Read these 4 other pages first before continuing."

I've started using Ms. Coriel's NPC Creator which has been good for setting up the basic file structure, but ultimately doesn't cover some of the more complex stuff I want to do. EDIT: Turns out it's completely outdated for 1.6! Had to throw out a bit of work, but I still learned from it so it's fiiine.

I think setting up his "schedule" will be a challenge, in that I don't actually want him to have a real schedule like most NPCs. Not to pull back the curtain too much here, but I want him to "exist" in both the Casino and the Walnut Room simultaneously, which is to say, he does not exist in two places at once in the narrative, just in the code. This will change after marriage, however.

My next goal is to set up placeholder cutscenes for each of the heart events, and then to implement the generic daily dialogues once those are finished.

Final Notes

God, this will be a work in progress for a while, but I'm enjoying it! Definitely enjoying the writing more than anything else, but hey, that's how it be. I've got around 70 lines of dialogue written, a bit of art done, and I've started learning how to actually get stuff in game. I've always been more of a designer than a coder, but it's getting there!

ADDITIONALLY I've decided that if I abandon this project for more than 8 months, anyone is welcome to request my work so far and use it for their own mod. If this blog hasn't posted in a long while, feel free to send me an ask or message! I may say no, however.

Ultimately, I want this mod to exist in some fashion. While there is an existing one, I have a pretty different take on the character and I want to share it with you all! Every line of dialogue, every heart event, every little detail needs to share something interesting about a character and their world. Yet, Mr. Qi is a mysterious guy, and I think some things should be left up to player interpretation. And I think it's crucial to be able to match his tone and voice to the vanilla game, while also expanding on his characterization. It's a fun challenge to write, and I hope the finished product, uh, well I hope it gets finished mostly, but I think it'll be pretty good.

Thanks for reading all this. This is largely just a stream of consciousness for myself, but I hope it's...interesting, or something?

[britt-kageryuu]

Leo is playing a version of the Sims, with some mods installed.

The audience has watched him mess around, and try to get the Sim based on himself with the one based on his boyfriend named Moon, and somehow just annoying the Bunny instead.

"This is somehow harder in this game, than in real life. Then again my lovely Moon did threaten to cut me in half when we first met." Leo says this while trying to figure why the 'romance options' are making Sim Usagi annoyed.

"Bit of a fun fact. When I visited Bunny Boys family I got to see some pictures. And let me tell ya. He had a Great something Grandfather that was very handsome, and apparently had a 'best buddy'," Leo stopped to do air quotes, "that showed up in quite a few pictures. Though said Grandpa was also a Samurai, so who knows what their relationship was."

In the middle of him talking the Mikey Sim somehow caught something on fire.

"What? How!? He was Painting? How did it catch fire?!" Leo quickly tries to get the Sims to get to safety, or put out the fire. "I need to pause and ask Dee if something in one of the mods is messing with my game."

Leo didn't switch to a BRB scene, he just muted while talking on the phone.

Meanwhile the game wasn't paused either, and they can only watch as the Donnie Sim messes with a Science Station then have it blow up in their face. The Sim then stomps over to a shower to clean up.

The Raph Sim can be seen just going back and forth between a few exercise equipment.

And the Leo Sim starts a stream on the computer, but because of the angle of the camera where Leo left it, it looks like the Sim is talking to the audience. Which is slightly unnerving for the viewers.

Leo after a few minutes ends his phone call and un mutes.

"Sorry about that guys. I asked Dee, and they mentioned that there may have been a mod that adds hidden attributes to the Sims that you have to learn on your own. So maybe my Moon might not see the romance option as romantic until later, and Mandarin might have a hidden pyromaniac trait." As Leo says this the camera switches to see Mikey cooking something with a Flambe flair.

"Though my own Sim might have a hidden trait that makes him a terrible flirt so that romance options fail. Either way time to buy some better fire alarms, and look for a different approach to take with Moon." Leo says while leaning back in his chair with his arms folded.

He just sits back to watch what the Sims were doing for a few minutes, kinda forgetting to turn on double speed, and observed them going about with their lives.

An in game notification mentioned a Sims Splinter, who's a big celebrity, was caught in a scandalous affair.

"I guess this is part of one of the mods. Though what is this affair?" Leo leans forward to click on the notification.

It brings up a in game 'newspaper/magazine' that showed a couple pictures, one of Sim Splinter coming out of a closet with a random male sim, and another of an in game wedding photo of Sim Splinter with Sim Draxum.

"Well this isn't the first time I've seen this kind of article about Dad, but it's the first time that they have a wedding picture. Ya know. Since Pops never married his Ex." Leo says while taking a screenshot and sending it to the group chat. "Though I didn't know his Sim was married to Barrys. I guess that's a personal touch from Dee."

Leo goes to make an attempt at a different interaction between his Sim and Moon. That's when he found a modded sub category of interaction that involved a sword duel.

"Why not? It's the closest thing to what happened, so it might work."

He and the audience sit and watch as the two sims have a fight that didn't last long, but then once it was done their relationship meter had gone up quite a lot. Then the sims started flirting on their own.

"I swear Dee programmed this just to make fun of how weird my relationship is. Because I feel very called out." Leo says with a bit of a pout.

The chat was still very entertained, and tossing around suggestions of what to do next.

The stream continues thankfully without any of the Sims setting themselves on fire.

-----------------

Masterpost

My mind was hitting me with so many story ideas while I was writing the Convention series. Which kinda tells me that my own mind doesn't like working on one connected story over multiple posts, and rather me have 10+ loosely connected posts.

[dragon-appreciator-fray]

I spent most my entire day yesterday playing Tales of Mistria. (For the first time.)

For context, none of the other Farming Sims have really done much to convince me to buy them. And I don't even go back to my modded Stardew Valley saves.

You all have no idea how much I needed a fantasy farm game with a Dragon Guardian spirit and a Dragon themed Tavern.

The cast of characters that actually feel like a community remind me that the number of people I actually play and share video games with has shrunken dramatically since coming out as trans.

The main sibling I talk about Stardew with has been kinda unavailable lately. So you're gonna receive my posts instead.

The pixel art, customization, and how immediately available the community's resources are really appeal to me. No needing to upgrade a house to start cooking.

So much of the cast shows up for each little stage of progress. Characters drag us from scene to scene as we ask other members of the community for help. No dialog will play as the dog walks up to my avatar, receives pets, and returns to his lil cushion all independent of the unfolding dialog. It's just a cute thing happening on screen that sells the world and its characters.

I can even get perks that make my cooking sometimes considered a universal like by the townsfolk. Which means a lot to me, because I like to cook food I like to eat and share it with others.

I'm really glad this game exists.

I think I might be playing a lot of it.

Hopefully no one minds if I share a lot of my experience with it.

I... really like taking screenshots but don't wanna drown my partners' DMs.

Anyway, here's my cute little horned Fray (She/They) with the progress I have made on my home throughout the first season. I've got a new bed and rug pattern. I have just yet to set aside the personal time needed to craft them when my focus has become breeding chickens and expanding the amount of farmland available for Summer crops.

[amethystamanda]

Famous Pastry Chef Aspiration by xbrettface Updated

There was very very little that needed to change in this aspiration. It just needed updating for new added tuning and to mark it as a teen+ aspiration (there's no straightforward way to mark it as young adult and older). and to recognize cupcakes baked in the oven. So I changed as little as possible.

From the original description (also the picture at the top):

Famous Pastry Chef: This sim wants to master the art of baking and become a famous pastry chef! Reward Trait: World-Renowned Baker (Adds Fresh Chef and Unstoppable Fame traits) This sim has earned a place in the Culinary history books! All prepared food is high quality and never spoils! Their fame is immortalized and incapable of fame decay over time. Tips for gaining Fame Points and winning an Award as a Baker/Pastry Chef: I have also included additional information/tips for objectives when you hover your mouse over the text of an objective. 1) Half Baked Watch 4 Hours of Cooking TV Buy a Cupcake Machine Bake 6 Cupcakes Achieve Level 5 Baking 2) Whisked Away Bake 10 Pastries Volunteer at a Bake Sale Research Advanced Cooking Techniques Achieve Level 10 Baking 3) Selling Like Hotcakes ]Earn Gold on 2 Fan Meet & Greet Events Reach Level 8 of the Culinary Career Buy a Bakery (Retail Lot) (If you need a bakery, you can download my Sweets & Treats Bakery lot here!) Become a 3 Star Celebrity 4) Life Is Sweet Earn Gold at a Hosted Charity Benefit Become a 5 Star Celebrity Win an Award at the Starlight Accolades Place a Celebrity Tile in Starlight Boulevard

What I've changed:

I changed how cupcakes are registered--instead of checking using the cupcake making interaction on the cupcake machine, it now checks for making cupcakes (a whole batch, not a single cupcake). It will now register cupcakes made in the oven too.

I added the teen+ aspiration_valid_age_type. Not having that is the main reason it was broken.

I added completion loots to the objectives, for wants and pivotal moments, as is now the standard.

I added a buff to let the game know that the aspiration was completed. I'm not sure why it's in all the aspirations I looked at, but it is, so this one matches those. Maybe milestones?

The reward trait is now valid for reincarnation.

The reward trait is now available for teens.

The reward trait now has a display_name_gender_neutral.

The reward trait is restricted to humans, or available for humans--humans meaning not pets. Probably both. I think a species test became required since the mod was last updated.

I re-used the included icon on the trait, since it didn't have one.

I updated the SImData.

I added comments, since I had to update all the files anyway, and if it does require a full overhaul at some point in the future, they'll make it much, much easier. This time it just needed a little touch-up.

Most of those are things I've done for every aspiration I've updated.

I haven't added wants. I've made so few changes that it didn't feel right to, and xbrettface said they had plans for the aspiration the last time they updated it. Hopefully they will come back and make those changes.

If you've been playing with the aspiration despite it being a bit broken, you can pop the update into your game and keep going with no progress lost. And existing translations will still work (no idea where they are, since they're not linked or included).

Requires Get to Work, Get Famous, and Parenthood.

Download: https://www.patreon.com/posts/famous-pastry-by-120412364

[ethicaltreatmentofcowplants]

Asylum Challenge: Day 12

(Nothing to see here - just Vlad very excitedly browsing through Trendi by the looks of his current get-up)

This was the first of three days where Wicked Whims... kind of got out of hand until everyone figured out what they were into, I guess 🤔. Also I realised that I'd set the lot to the FLIRTY trait for one day and forgot about it which was... a chaotic combination to put it mildly.

So while nothing explicit will be shown, just something to keep in mind, I guess?

Look at her, look at her, she's no good at yoga. I had considered a Spa Day pack aspiration, since Lilac will likely need the inner peace going forward, but then I saw how grindy they all were.

So... Lady of the Knits!

Level One: Humble Knitter

❌ Knit for 5 Hours (2/5) ❌ Start 3 Knitting Projects While Inspired (0/3) ✅ Knit on a Rocking Chair

No, she isn't Whims related below the waist - it's just flesh toned underwear. (I had to take a second look too.)

Another early riser (easy for someone who doesn't need to go to bed) was Vlad. Along with Rory. The two... well, one occult heavyweight, and one tissueweight, actually managed to have a civil moment, perhaps with music loving Rory appreciating Vlad's skill on the piano.

Oh wait, L. is up. There goes the ceasefire, if not the entire neighbourhood.

Meanwhile the Roswells had a moment over breakfast. Could a GOOD traited Sim and her EVIL husband ever make their marriage work? Now that they're played Sims, apparently not.

While Lilac took a THOUGHTFUL SHOWER to get those creative juices flowing (takes on a whole new meaning with this mod 😬), Jacques woke up in a sad mood thanks to those voices in his head.

Clearly whatever leftover gourmet dish that Raj made the night before was the only cure.

Meanwhile Ted apparently tried to enlist Vlad in order to sway Meredith over to their EVIL ways, but as Vlad was seemingly more interested in having Ted's opinion on his potential Trendi buys, it wasn't working. Thanks to their POSSESSED late night strolls and chats, Ted is the one person in the household other than Lilac who has a positive relationship with Vlad.

As unlike L., for the most part Vlad is actually trying to be cordial to most of the household, the Watcher does lowkey feel sorry for him about this.

THOUGHTFUL SHOWER did the trick, and Lilac was able to start her three inspired knitting projects! Since that glitch where you can't resume projects is still hanging around, she wasn't able to finish them, but we'll take any loophole that we can get.

Rory started a new freelance career as a programmer (great way to work on her handiness too being a werewolf I guess 👍) while Meredith apparently didn't get the memo that On Wednesdays, We Do Crafting Hour.

Lilac kindly pointed out that mixology with the globe bar just over there would count as a creative skill. Perhaps as a result of her less than stellar relationship with Ted, Meredith appears to have decided that yes, actually a drink sounds real good right about now.

Ted literally could have gone and done anything else in the house, but instead he goes and plays Road Warrior or whatever near where Rory is trying to work, and freaks out because he's next to a transformed woof-woof. I don't think that Rory's the problem here...

Raj seemingly did not appreciate the Watcher telling him to make himself useful and to take out the trash.

It must have frozen over in Tartosa and the gameplay hell that is the My Wedding Stories pack, because L. was actually nice to Lilac! Oh right, the Watcher got her to 'scope the surroundings,' and Lilac is apparently 'very attractive' to her too.

The Watcher set the one person in the household who doesn't need to eat on the task of cooking dinner, mainly so that he's close by so that I can cancel his autonomously eating it when he has the vampire weakness where food makes him sick. Because he has a knowledge related aspiration, he's actually at a decent culinary level.

Looks like L.'s niceness allotment for the year is about to expire.

Ted and Jacques were impressed with Raj's alleged unaliving of a workplace rival, offered to recruit him to the round table of villainy. He said that he's good, thank you.

Yup, L.'s niceness streak aged like warm milk. And a reminder that she thinks Lilac is hot too!

While Vlad wisely stayed out of things by doing the dishes (he acquired the NEAT trait at some point, which is very useful to have in the household's vampire), Rory must have taken issue with L.'s meanness, because next minute they went outside, Rory was walking in with a spring in her step and L. was bruised and battered.

Just how long is it going to take these apparent occult geniuses to learn not to forbidden word with Rory?

Lilac must have been especially appreciative of her shieldmaiden in furry armour, because well. This was the one animation it was safe to show you. In fairness, it's a pretty cute one.

In less exciting news, Lilac is now on the second stage of the Knitting aspiration.

Level Two: Thread Setter

❌ Achieve Level 4 of the Knitting Skill (3/4) ❌ Knit While Listening to Music ❌ Sell a Knitted Object on Plopsy

My head is feeling full and gluggy so I may post the next couple of days in a few hours.

[ask-the-critters-survival-au]

Static dances out from the speaker of the monitor... which is probably power by magic now that you think about it-

"I am sorry children... Picky does not seem willing to listen... It hurts me to think she still considers Dogday to have abandoned you all- especially because it was her own words that confirmed my knowledge of where he is. She seems so... scared to believe what I have said. So quit to curl her ears and ignore it. So quick to turn her emotions into rage... I feel like forcing her to confront that truth may break her."

"I hope you have a plan children. One that does not involve making a deal that could permanently disable you or make this situation even worse. As Hoppy explained the rules behind our contracts? I hope so- if only for you not to fall victims to one of my fellows suggesting a deal that will do more harm then good."

"I have been hard at work devising a way to create a deal that could help you all without harming you or making the situation worse... and I believe I have finally found it. I am to assume that much of the food you all have is food either to rotten to eat or stuff your bodies cannot consume? Picky has told us of your carnivore diets... which does not make sense do to what was used to make you. Studying of that strange issue must be dealt with later."

"Using the rules established- it should be possible for you to use the rule of equivalent exchange to turn that rotten and uneatable food into something you can eat. Again, it perplexes me that none of you can eat other things- Ah sorry, Lost in my thoughts again. I will warn you now that you may end up with an amount of food a small bit less then what you use for the deal- but that should be made up for in spades by the meat sent back being cooked- allowing your bodies to absorb much more of the nutrients then simple raw meat."

"As of the recording of this message... Crafty has only been revealed to me. For the sake of future proofing I have also prepared a deal for her as well. I am not sure of the nature of her episodes of madness... all I do know is that she may freak out at no having anything to paint with- and even that is faulty knowledge. So, with this extra deal, it should be simple to change any spare art supplies you have around into another color. In the case you don't have any... I will attempt to devise a safe deal for that for out next contact."

"All you must do is gather the proper items listed for the magics to consume and warp and accept the deal as per our rules. I hope this can help you all moving forward. I got suggest rationing what you can and eating slowly, as flooding the body with nutrients during starvation can cause a multitude of issues. Perhaps getting you all glass jars to preserve the food is in order. I'll attempt to keep the spell work up so you may continue to do this at any time... but magic can be finicky."

"Maybe making this deal to Picky in return for stopping her pursuit would work, but I am still unsure any magic can be done away from the monitor. What are your thoughts on this Children?"

"I will also look into this issue of you not being able to eat food stuff other then meat- that should not be so yet it is... what has Playtime done this time- How would one warp the human stomach that way? Possibly an inhibiter to the brain? or possibly an certain change in the enzymes your bodies produce?- Ah sorry- Rambling once again. Talk to you all soon. Please- Be safe."

(Heh- Magic time : ), Hopefully everything here makes sense and seems fair to you mod. No need to have our beloved stars starve no? Of course if not that is always alright! I simply wish to fulfill my promise of doing all I can to aid these young souls! Hope you have a great day!)

YES YES! FOOD! IM SOOO TIRED OF EATING ROTTEN FLESH! WE ARE SO TAKING THAT DEAL.

I’m not surprised about Picky. She’s…always been a little ignorant.

She’d still hunt me down even if she got that deal. Me and her...have history.

And Crafty not having paint isn’t exactly the problem. She doesn’t have hands to paint with anymore.

You can thank CatNap for that.

[Mod note: I hope you have a good day as well! I love getting your asks :)]

[inwhichidoaheckinart]

Tatters

Pix dug their fingers into the cut of kelp in their hands. They usually didn’t mind waiting. But then, they usually knew how long they needed to wait.

If they needed to wait until the next day to go exploring, they could go fishing or farming or just go for a swim or bask in the toasty sun until night came, and sleep would pass the rest of the time. If they had to wait a couple of days for someone to arrive to a new world or from a far off area of one they were on, that was okay too; they could spend time preparing for someone’s arrival, baking them bread and smoking them salmon and maybe making something else for them as a gift. If they had a week until something big happened, they could wander in the deep green of forests or sail the azure waters. 

This was a different kind of waiting. Waiting to see, waiting to hope, waiting to… to… to know if something would or could happen. It was anxious and floor-pacing and it had no damn end! They felt like a dog clawing at a door, or like a sheep waiting for a fence gate to open, waiting and hoping and not knowing when they would get in or out, whichever they were now and whichever they weren’t. They were pretty sure they knew, knew that they were out and wanted in, but this nervousness made it feel all upside down.

They wondered if they should send a message. If they should try to convince the Caretaker the way the others had been. But Kiwi was so true and so thoughtful and she hadn’t done it. And Fero was fire and light and still hadn’t burned down that door. And Stars was poking and prodding, and hadn't slipped the Caretaker’s shields. Yet. Pix hoped it was yet, all of it, all of them, any of them. So what could they do? They knew they got petulant and chased arguments when they got frustrated - as they already had - and they knew that wouldn’t help.

They had to do something. Kelp and grass and stalks of wheat lay shredded on the sandstone at their feet. They’d barely even realized what they’d been doing until it was a proper pile of strands of plant matter ripped longways on the grain. They had extra, it wasn’t an issue of lack, but they worried about the cleanup and where the pile said their mind was.

Why shouldn’t they send a message? They’d calmed down, they could think a little clearer. But can you? whispered the wind through the torn plants on the ground. They thought they could, but they didn’t know.

It wouldn’t be angry, though, if they did try, just hopeful, and maybe sad. So what would be the worst that could happen? 

That they’d still mess it up for everyone. That they got everyone cut off from Quill - Quill cut off from everyone. They couldn’t do that.

They pulled out their comm and started scrolling back through all the messages sent in to the Caretaker, all of the replies, half reading and half skimming. They’d already read them a thousand times, it felt like. Then further, to all of Quill’s replies after her comm had been recovered. The last they’d all heard from her. Pix hadn’t revisited these as often. The messages just made them itch to try and reach Quill again, and they knew they couldn’t.

They lingered on one set of messages in particular, far longer than they meant to.

[kikithekiwi] Wait...more kiwi? It's a fruit, of course it's a fruit. Is that where I got my name from? I don't know a lot about modded foods, but my friend would get me apple cider from modded worlds sometimes. I think all you need is a cooking pot (which uses iron, a wooden shovel, bricks, and a water bucket) and then put in sugar and apples. [kikithekiwi] It reminds me of home, [kikithekiwi] and of you? I don't know, it just feels like something you should have. You deserve something like home. It should also keep you warm, if you were worried about that. [twistedquill] I haven't heard of another type of kiwi, so probably. [twistedquill] And I'll have to try that cider thing. [twistedquill] it sounds vaguely familiar? [twistedquill] and the breeze coming down from the mountain does get cold at night.

Cold. Cold. They could practically feel the wind from the mountain seeping into them the more times they read that last message over.

Pix knew Quill was different than they themself were, of course. She was a fox hybrid; she didn’t have the same issues keeping her temperature right that they did. She could probably handle the cold just fine.

Even so, they’d pulled up their own messages before they even realized, and with their mind all memory-muddy, they typed almost faster than they could think.

-----

I might be a little late to board the 'what's everyone been feeling while Caretaker's been blocking communication with Quill' train but I couldn't help but give it a go myself! Forever rotating @for-quill-with-love in my mind

Also I absolutely intend on expanding on Pix's temperature issues with being a lizard hybrid. I may or may not already have something written out, actually....

Mostly general references to recent events, but this post is specifically referenced as well.

[jjcocker]

ok hi dumping Thoughts bc im actually not normal abt sprunki. And also yhis is more on vineria and her horror version. Guess who my favorite is/silly

while it id confirned a plant grew inside of vineria How exactly did itndo that? was she slowly dying? Like already showing somr weird signs like. feeling sick or something? Like feeling a wholeass plant grow inside you till one day it just GORGES your fuckin eyes out must be painful. I like to think she started feeling like. sick or something. coughibg blood and maybe a headache. or maybe she was feeling some pain in her eyes. Like something was "poking it from behind". Yes this is like for foreshadowing. She had gardening as a hobby so she must have known what appendages were cooking up inside of her right? Right?? idk what type og plant can. do that (of theyre real)(and if theyre not idk what would rlly matter there) so let's just say that plant was just. Unknown. some unknown plant-like Thing has grown inside of her. oh wait. plant LIKE. is the Thing exactly A Plant? or is it like.. onlt remotely similar to one? is it like some invasive species that needed somewhere nice to grow and maybe like, vinerias body was perfect for its conditions? idk. I just like to think that the plant started to grow inside of her, most definitely hurting her organs (DUH it was probably poking her insides even before dying) (plus i mean its unknown which Plaht this is) before it started getting worse and worse. And Then She Died. I'm also thinking abt the overgrown au (funny how this mod has an au already Dhjffkfj) bc like. Maybe that plant wasn't done yet. it was a species that needed to Grow with multiple hosts and the sprunki were a Perfect place for the plant to grow more in. since vinerias vine wig rots in her horror version I think that she also slowly rots the more sick she gets. She doesn't get to do what she likes now that I noticeit. What she liked (plants/gardening) was the death pf her

[sparktober]

Sparktober Bingo 2024!

Almost in time for the first Sparktober Theme Day: Get A Bingo Card!

Our standby bingo-creation website is inactive this year, so I have cooked up a homebrew solution that will hopefully work smoothly and also satisfy the primal human urge to tick boxes.

How To Play Sparktober Bingo:

Get yourself a bingo card (instructions below & on the google sheet).

Create Sheppard/Weir fanworks of any kind (fic, art, edits, meta) related to your prompts. A single fanwork can fill as many prompts as you can fit in it.

Prompts this year are sourced from other 2024 'tober lists and some new dialogue prompt posts -- see the "credits" tab for links to all the sources. This year's center square is "completed WIP."

Use the prompts liberally! “The Long Goodbye” could be an episode-related fic or a fic about saying goodbye or inspiration for a Raymond Chandler-esque Noir Detective AU. Go wild!

Tag #sparktober to share your bingo card and creations!

Complete a row/column, corners, or a blackout of your card by November 1, or not! Update as you go. Spontaneously declare victory whenever you feel accomplished.

How To Get A Bingo Card:

Visit https://tinyurl.com/sparktoberbingo2024 with a web browser or the Google Sheets mobile app. All tabs have instructions on them.

The Automatic Bingo Card tab is easy mode. Check off which prompt categories you'd like to include, add your name in the yellow box, and generate a random card!

If you'd like to curate your selection manually, the Manual List Bingo tab has the full prompt list and lets you check/un-check individual prompts and even add new ones of your own. If you want to get even fancier than that, copy the whole document and have fun.

Want to make a card of your own to fit your WIPs or un-filled prompts from previous years? Type your own card on the Blank Template tab.

Screenshot the card to share it. You may need to zoom out in your browser or on mobile if the template is too big to capture on your screen.

Please close out of the browser tab when you're done, so other users don't worry that they will interfere with your changes.

Please let me know how it works, and upload your cards to tumblr and/or the Sparktober discord for all to enjoy!

If you have any issues or this sounds annoying, I'll pre-generate some cards and make a post for folks to pick from. Just let me know!

-mod @mylittleredgirl

[thenewfuture]

What are your thoughts on the most recent Despair Time episode? Especially when compared to Mod Bubbles?

Yeah sorry about that, I’ve been pretty busy this week and also tired from work so I didn’t get the time to do this properly. And I was also waiting for the thumbnail to come out like for this episode, but it’s just the generic deadly life picture like in the previous episode; possibly indicating that there’s no new CG in the up coming episode. Alright so let’s get this started!

Also, real quick…

HA!

Anyways, we start off by confirming that yes, Levi’s secret is that he is a killer. And a pretty ruthless one at that too. As well as the fact that he seems to have AntiSocial Personality Disorder. Which would explain some scenes with him earlier on in the episodes last week; constantly wondering and worrying if he’s acting the right way around others. And as for his killings….he seems to not care…

The cast reacted accordingly, finding it peculiar that Levi not only killed multiple people, but one of which was his father. And he just seems to not….care. But that’s what it is to him. He couldn’t care less. Not because he doesn’t care about the consequences, he quite literally cannot comprehend the empathy about it. As well as him listing down his other various crimes like blowing up a car seems to suggest this is just…an average day for him. Which brings us to Ace…

Oh my goodness, the AceVi shippers are in shambles. Someone check on them.

Despite Ace feeling rightfully hurt that Levi has threatened to take his life at the last class trial, and once more here, he still thought as Levi as a friend. Levi constantly checked on him to make sure he was okay, and even helped in treating Ace when his neck was bleeding. And in the end, Levi admitted he wouldn’t care if Ace died. Ouch.

On top of that, it seems like Ace has his own share of grief and heartache from a past friendship. The trauma thickens…

Anyway, after that we finally get all the secrets!

Yaaaaaaaay! Finally, after so long and theorizing! It’s finally revealed for the world to see!

OH YOU MOTHERFUCK-

Anyway, one more thing of more here is Arei and David. David reveals what happened that night with the two of them, to no one but the audience mind you, and it’s….kinda sweet.

Arei has been trying to change and trying to be this idea of a “good person” is. And now that she’s knows David’s secret, she doesn’t feel the need to beat herself over it because she can still change…just not a the quickest pace she thinks it is. And that’s okay.

No one is entirely good or bad. The black and white morality system that society has placed into others is outdated. It’s a matter of perspective. Every person is hiding some skeletons in their closet, some huge black tar of a stain on their life that they try their best to cover up and avoid. Many of you will recall earlier this year, I dealt learning something similar. And while I’m not going to dwell on that dark part of my life anymore. This idea of shape you have of others and sometimes reflect on yourself…it doesn’t exist, it never did. And trying to convince yourself that it does is only going to hurt more.

Here…Arei is coming to terms with the things she’s done and not regretting it because she can still change in the end. It’s not too late for anybody. She’s no longer going to beat herself over it or condemn herself for it…and that’s fine.

“You can still be good, and be the person you want to be”

Hoo boy…anyways, after those tangents are finally over and dealt with we finally move onto…

OH MY GOD!!! FINALLY!!! A NON-STOP DEBATE! What is this, the second one we’ve had so far here. It took us 4 episodes and a year and a half, Rico ally progress with the murder. It’s so over, this cast is cooked!

So it seems the murder method has something to do with the spinny thingy-

“Carousel”

Carousel to take some long rope to it and tie up Arei’s neck with it so it breaks when they want it to. I’m a little confused on the logistics of these things but like I said, I’m dumb as fuck. And it also just is quite scary how some fangan writers can be what their murder methods…Yeesh.

But all this speculation puts someone in the hot seat.

DUN-DUN-DUUUUUUN!

What really happened with Nico’s previous murder attempt? Who is the true Blackened of this case? Will this cast have a scrub debate before episode 20? Find out the answer to all these questions and more, tonight! On DanganRonpa: Despair Time! Fridays at 7pm!

On Channel Zetsubou!~

-Mod

[perseyhandmaiden]

Monday Summer 2, 001 6:36pm After the whole ordeal with the mouse, Nova feels icky. It will be the third shower today, and that's great because it's so hot outside, Nova can also run cool water.

Being a Genius gave Nova a boost to one of her more practiced skills.

I need to get some programming done before work tomorrow, that's the skill I'll focus on tonight.

7:00pm Nova sits down at her computer, ready to Make a PlugIn, and hopefully sell it.

7:06pm To help spend some of her hard earned money, Nova bought a new bed. It's definitely an upgrade, from Energy 4 to Energy 6! This will help to get sleep even on those late nights.

7:22pm Very Focused Nova seems to be enjoying this song! Should she embrace that she Likes Easy Listening Music? Yes, it's helping me to relax after my tiny visitor.

7:38pm Miko Ojo is wondering if I want to go over to her house and hang out. Residential 701 ZenView.

"Sorry Miko, I have some work to catch up on. I'll hit you up when I'm free!" HIDDEN LIFESTYLE IN PROGRESS Nova has discovered a Lifestyle that was previously hidden! Techie in Progress Maintaining Behaviors of immersion in technology. Interact regularly with electronics and technology or join a tech-related career

8:04pm That malware blocker plugin is making browsing the web safer for everyone. Nova has earned $0 for her efforts. "I'll keep this one to myself.."

Online shopping! $950 later, Nova has made a purchase Madame Zoe's Voodoo Doll A crudely-made doll of fabric, stitching, and stuffing, roughly resembling a person and used for mischievous purposes. "Thanks for ordering! The Voodoo Doll Nova purchased can be found in her inventory.

CONFIDENT +2 Feeling Accomplished from making a plugin. Those programming skills are starting to pay off! (4 hours) Happy Boosting Confidence +6 Promotion, Easy Listening Music, Good Environment Playful +1 from warm clothing (3 hours) Focused +1 from Genius trait.(1 hour)

8:11pm Nova is squeamish at the moment and doesn't appear to have the stomach for gross things or creepy crawlers. Does this mean Nova is becoming Squeamish? No, because it's just the cockroaches in the kitchen. She feels like she could handle them.

ACQUIRED THE HANDINESS SKILL Nova's new skill in Handiness will allow her to salvage parts from piles of junk and repair broken objects. As the skill level increases, more upgrade opportunities will become available. Boosting Confident +2 Handy Hero! (4H) From successfully fixing apartment problems Yes! Who needs a landlord when fixing apartment problems comes so easily? Uncomfortable +1 Grungy!

8:34 pm Cleaning up vermin is gross, even if you're not squeamish. Nova is hungry but can't even start before washing up.

Cutting up fresh fruit for a little salad. Happy boosting confident +1 from cooking

9:34pm REACHED COOKING LEVEL 5 Nova learned the recipe for French Toast and Fish & Chips. She also unlocked the Gourmet Cooking skill and will receive the Competent Cook Moodlet when cooking. She can also mentor others in Homestyle Cooking.

Boosting Confident +3 Self Sustaining Cooking, & Want Fulfillment.

10:34pm Game Developers, what do they know? Nova can definitely make this game more fun! Mod Incredible Sports Completed daily task of programming.

1:24am I can't believe I finished the mod, but look at the time! I have work in the morning. Time to test out this new bed!

Finally, Nova is able to get ready to jump in bed. She's feeling happy from a very accomplished day, and the feeling that her life is really taking off.