#Never trust me with mods

[mechcanicalmadness]

Very out of context screenshots

[r4bidcherry]

td tumblr: oh yeah tdtwt is a cesspool

td tumblr 10 mins later: me and the take blogs!!!

[persona-5-the-gaybreakers]

I’m not asking for an actual timeline of the game development process, I was just wondering what you had expected as far as a time frame when you started? I’m new at programming and game development myself and I know it takes a long time, especially on a solo mission, so I was curious if you were pretty close to estimating your skill level in terms of getting where you are… if that makes sense?

To be up front, I'm not the best person to ask this. I'm a hobbyist, and do this between the occasional commissions, my day job, ADHD, and frequent health problems.

When I suggested this game about 8 years ago, I was in art college for an animation degree with just a few *coughpoorlytaughtcough* game dev classes. I thought I could make it in maybe 3 years because that's what I heard was a usual amount of time, only to stop for a several year hiatus until about 2022. I only recently started learning how to pull my shit together in the form of doing small build after small build. That's still an uphill battle with ADHD, but I'm trying.

I didn't start my dev journey..."professionally," as it were. I still treat this as skill building. Like a beginner pianist who's learning their scales and how to read sheet music. I learned the most about the engine I use, RPG Maker MV, by fucking around in projects that didn't get too far. I love to push it's limits by attempting to execute visual elements that the engine wasn't built for, which requires me to learn about it's basics. I'm as clear on the path to the end of this game only because I have a good grasp on what MV can do now, on top of dropping some features that crept up on me.......I was actually planning to animate every menu in the beginning. Like a maniac.

So, uh, my answer is I missed my timeline by a huge margin and I'm still terrible at estimations. I try not to let that past hold me back though.

[myth-logic]

i really like how we have: Half Life Alyx Gnome Streams [in the HL universe, but self joking and with just Wayne and a gnome going mad, has some involvement with HLVARI.] Breaking Bad but the AI is Self Aware [not in the HL universe but with everyone and with that kind of chaos, implied to have some involvement with HLVARI.] Even if we never get another HLVARI i think im pretty damm happy with this. Edit, spoilers: ----- Turns out you can have your cake and eat it too, Gordon.

[mxstball]

Someone: If you could describe your blog in a single song, what would it be? Me:

[playground-boys-phighting]

Hey, do you guys know what 'hitting the griddy' is?? Some of my customers keep telling me to do that for some reason...

ahem. (Adjusts face screen) the griddy is a dance move in which a person alternatingly taps their heels, either in place or while walking, while swinging their arms back and forth. (Grins) hope that helps!

Watch me demonstrate it way better than those who already knew the griddy! (Immediately started doing the griddy confidently)

[gideonsuggestions]

community interaction thursday... every post I've made about selfshippers is 100% true. I think about you guys... more than anything... gideon approved!

[just-an-enby-lemon]

Guess who got addicted to Stardey Valley?

(Also help me I have no clue what are the best villagers, the two I choose to try with were married [wich each other!! It was Demetrius and Robin])

[thedragonagelesbian]

im too emotionally attached to the intertwining of cyrus' barbarian multiclassing with karlach's romance, so i have to pick a different multiclass for the inevitable astarionmance run............................. but Which One.............................................................

[todayisafridaynight]

def made a post bout this before but Heaven Knows Im Not Hunting For It anyway how public. yall think sawashiro was once aoki became governor right.... like do we know what im asking rn.......

[whumptober]

WHUMPTOBER 2024: PROMPTS LIST

Welcome to Whumptober 2024 — Seventh Time's a Charm!

Please make sure to read the Event Info and FAQ below carefully, as most of your questions will be answered there already. For everything else, you are welcome to come to our ask box or ask questions in our Discord server here.

This year’s AO3 Collection can be found here.

This year's playlist can be found here.

And the Anatomy of a Whumptober Prompt post can be found here.

We’re very excited to see the community come together for another year of Whumptober! Go wild with the prompts, and support your fellow creators - we wish you all the fun!

Best of luck and happy whumping,

Mods Vanne, Yenn, Kitty and Surro

(Text versions of the prompts, as well as event information, rules and FAQ are posted below the cut!)

Whumptober 2024 Prompt List

No. 1: RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK

Search Party | Panic Attack | "If only we could hold on.” (Icysami x Renegaderr, Strangers.)

No. 2: TRUST ISSUES

Amusement Park | Role Reversal | “You got away with the crime while the knife's in my back.” (Charlotte Sands, Rollercoaster)

No. 3: SET UP FOR FAILURE

Fingerprints | Wrongfully Arrested | "I warned you."

No. 4: HALLUCINATIONS

Hypnosis | Sensory Deprivation | “You're still alive in my head.” (Billy Lockett, More)

No. 5: SUNBURN

Healing Salve | Heatstroke | "If my pain will stretch that far." (Lottery Winners, Burning House)

No. 6: NOT REALISING THEY'RE INJURED

Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms | Healed Wrong | "It's not my blood."

No. 7: ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES

Unconventional Weapon | Magic with a Cost | "It's us or them."

No. 8: SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Isolation Chamber | Forced to Stay Awake | "Leave the lights on." (Coldplay, Midnight)

No. 9: OBSESSION

Broken Window | Bruises | “Frame me up on the wall, just to keep me out of trouble.” (Fall Out Boy, Irresistible)

No. 10: BLOW TO THE HEAD

Slurred Words | Passing Out from Pain | "I can't think straight."

No. 11: SEEING DOUBLE

Convenience Store | Loneliness | “Leave no trace behind, like you don't even exist.” (Taylor Swift, Illicit Affairs)

No. 12: STARVATION

Underground Caverns | Cannibalism | "Just a little more."

No. 13: TEAM AS A FAMILY

Familial Curse | Multiple Whumpees | "Death will do us part." (Set It Off, Partner's In Crime)

No. 14: LEFT FOR DEAD

Hunting Gear | Blackmail | “Because I want you to know what it feels like to be haunted” (tiLLie, kooL aiD mAn)

No. 15: CHILDHOOD TRAUMA

Painful Hug | Moment of Clarity | "I did good, right?"

No. 16: NECROSIS

Swamp | Wound Cleaning | "No, I can't feel anything."

No. 17: NOWHERE ELSE TO GO

Ruined Map | Shipwrecked | "We had a good run."

No. 18: REVENGE

Unreliable Narrator | Loss of Identity | “I see what's mine and take it.” (Panic! at the Disco, Emperor's New Clothes)

No. 19: BLOOD TRAIL

Abandoned Cabin | One Way Out | "Is there anybody alive out there?" (Bruce Springsteen, Radio Nowhere)

No. 20: EMOTIONAL ANGST

Shoulder to Cry On | Giving Permission to Die | "It's not your fault."

No. 21: BODY HORROR

Body Horror | Tattoo Gun | Spirit Possession | “Let the bedsheet soak up the tears.” (Apparat feat. Soap & Skin, Goodbye)

No. 22: BLEEDING THROUGH BANDAGES

Tourniquet | Reopening Wounds | "Oh that's not good."

No. 23: FORCED CHOICE

Public Display | Broken Pedestal | "I'm doing this for you."

No. 24: RADIATION POISONING

Collapsed Building | Equipment Failure | “I never knew daylight could be so violent.” (Florence + The Machine, No Light, No Light)

No. 25: SURGERY

Stitches | Being Monitored | "It's for your own good."

No. 26: NIGHTMARES

Breakfast Table | Parting Words of Regret | “I'm haunted by the lies that I have loved, the actions I have hated.” (Poe, Haunted)

No. 27: VOICELESS

Laboratory | Muzzled | “I have no mouth and I must scream.”

No. 28: DENIAL

CCTV | Exposure | "They caught me red handed."

No. 29: FATIGUE

Labyrinth | Burnout | "Who said you could rest?"

No. 30: RECOVERY

Hospital Bed | Holding Back Tears | "What have I done?"

No. 31: ASKING FOR HELP

Therapy | Making Amends | "I'm alive, I'm just not well." (Elliot Lee, Alive, Not Well.)

Alternatives List:

Body Swap

Communication Barrier

Finding Old Messages

Forgotten

Friendly Fire

Motion Sickness

No-Holds-Barred Beatdown

Regret

Secrets Revealed

Shivering

Survivor's Guilt

Time Loop

Used As Bait

Venom

Vermin

Event Info & Rules

WHUMPTOBER is a month-long, prompt-based creation challenge (think: Inktober, but whumpier). There are 31 official themes this year - one for each day of the month - which can be used, skipped, or combined in any way you’d like. They are meant to serve as inspiration without being taken literally (e.g. you don’t have to include the exact wording of prompts into your work). Feel free to run rampant on interpretation. For example, if the prompt is “flame", you could create something with reference to a candle/campfire, your character could have suffered a burn, or the flame could be a reference to an ‘old flame’ - an old relationship. It’s truly down to you!

In total, there are 4 prompts for each day. These are optional suggestions and can be used in conjunction with the theme, or as options/alternatives.  We want to give everyone as much creative freedom as possible, as well as increase event accessibility for folks with triggers and squicks. There is also a list of 15 alternative prompts that can be subbed in for any day, again to give participants as much creative freedom as possible.

Creators can PRODUCE work in any media they choose, including but not limited to: writing, visual artwork, photo/video/audio edits, paper crafts and elaborate recommendation lists (not just a list of links). Creators can PARTICIPATE as much or as little as they want (i.e. you don’t have to do ALL the prompts if you don’t want to) and prompts can be used in any order. They are also free to use even after the event ends.

When uploading Whumptober content to your blog, be sure to tag it with:

#whumptober2024 …..(the event tag)

#no.1, #no.2, #no.3, …..(theme number)

#bruises, #stabbing, …..(the theme or specific prompt you chose)

#altprompt …..(if you use an altprompt, tag the post with the number of the prompt you replace)

#fandom or #OC, …..(ironman, original content, oc, etc.)

#medium …..(gifs, fic, podcast, art, etc.)

#teeth, #etc …..(trigger warnings & any additional tags. Keep in mind not to add “tw” in front but only use the word/trigger itself)

#nsfwhump …..(only for nsfw content)

#your own tags go here

PLEASE BE DILIGENT WITH YOUR TAGGING. Only properly tagged posts are considered for archiving on the official @whumptober-archive blog. They must be tagged in the order above. An elaborate post about our tagging system can be found [here]

Unfortunately, due to the sheer number of participants in recent years, we cannot guarantee your work will be archived. A random selection of properly tagged posts from all genres will be reblogged each day.

Whumpers who produce content for 31 total theme days are considered event completionists and will be tagged in a masterpost at the end of the month. A form will be published at the beginning of November asking you to tell us if you completed. This is based on trust and we will not check this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please read this before you send an ask!

TIMELINE

July: Trope voting form released. Late August: Prompt list is released for at least four weeks of preparation time. Tropes cannot be posted earlier than August 25th because of Moderator obligations in real life. (But, you know, go ahead and start writing/drawing, and add the themes in later, if you want!) September: Do as much or as little on your works as you want. You can prepare everything in advance or let September go by with vibes and start working in October. It’s up to you. October 1st: Challenge begins! A storm of whump breaks upon us all! During this time, some posts will be reblogged to the whumptober archive blog. We open the yearly AO3 collection for posting (optional). November 1st: The challenge is officially over! Completionist form opens for those who want to be included in the hall-of-fame. Early November: We release completionist and participant badges, solicit feedback, and post a hall-of-fame list of completionists by the 10th.

PARTICIPATION AND COMPLETION

Q: What counts as participation? Create or continue at least one work inspired by one of this year’s prompts. Q: What counts as completion? Creating work(s) inspired by at least one prompt from each day (or alts), for a total of 31 unique prompts. Q: Do I need to create 31 works? No. You can, if you want. Or you can create one work that you add to every day with a new prompt. Or several works that combine prompts. You can also update an existing work by adding new material with the current prompts. Q: Do I need to post my works somewhere to be a completionist or a participant? No. Q: How do you know I actually completed the challenge? We’ll take your word for it! Q: Do I have to finish my work(s) to be a completionist? No, you can post WIPs. And you’re not obligated to finish them in October, but if you want it to count towards being a completionist, you must have completed 31 prompts by the end of the month. So for example, if you’re writing a long fic and you fit 31 different prompts into the writing you did in October, it’s okay if that fic isn’t finished by the time October ends, you’ll still be a completionist. Q: Is co-writing/illustrating allowed? Yes, absolutely, and it would count towards being a completionist for both/all of you. Q: Is there a min/max limit on word count for written works? No. Q: Is there a min/max limit of quality for art? No. Q: Do I have to do something each day to be a completionist? No. You can skip days whenever you want, and as long as 31 daily prompts (or alts) are in your works done in October, you can be a completionist. For example, if you wrote a 1000-word ficlet that covers prompts in days 2, 3, and 17, you can check all three days off your list even though it’s only one work. Q: Is this challenge just for fics? No! Artworks, GIFsets, headcannons, rec lists, poetry, moodboards, or any other creative work is encouraged. Q: Can I combine Whumptober with other creation challenges? Absolutely, as long as the other challenges allow it too.

PROMPTS

Q: How do the prompts work? There are FOUR prompts per day: a theme and three ideas. You can use one, two, three, or all four prompts for each day. If you don’t like any of the daily prompts, you can substitute one of the ALT prompts instead. Q: How strictly/literally should we interpret the prompts? As literally or as figuratively as you want. For example, if the theme is WATER, that could mean drowning, waterboarding, raining, swimming, take place underwater, be lost at sea, construct a metaphor about a character’s mood that changes like a flowing river, crying, or whatever else you can think of that fits that theme. Q: Can I combine prompts? Is there a limit on how many? No limit and combine as many as you’d like. If you create a work that checks off multiple prompts, that work will count for a fill of multiple prompts. You need to address 31 different prompts to be an official completionist, but you don’t have to produce 31 separate works.

WORKS

Q: What’s whump? Hurting a character, whether that’s physically, emotionally, intellectually, psychologically, or any other way you can think of. Comfort afterwards is optional. Angst is emotional whump, so it counts. Q: How do I know if it’s whumpy enough? If your character is just mildly inconvenienced, it probably needs more whump. However, no participant has to prove whumpiness to the mods. Whatever you write is up to you. Q: What kind of characters can I create for? Anything. Generic “whumpee,” OC, PC, NPC, major characters, minor characters, or whatever you want. There are no limits. Q: Does it have to take place in a specific fandom? No, you can create works for your own worlds or for fandoms or for both. You can also create more generic or pan-fandom works. You can do cross-overs or use OCs, whatever you want. Q: Can I create AI-created works? We will not reblog or promote any works we know to be generative AI-created. Q: Is there anything we’re not allowed to write? As long as it contains whump and is based on our prompts, it’s fine. Please courtesy tag your works if you post them so people who follow the #whumptober2024 tag can filter according to their preferences. Q: What about sex, minor characters, and potentially disturbing content? You can create whatever works are legal in your country and post them accordingly. Please courtesy tag anything you think might be objectionable if you post to Tumblr so people who follow the #whumptober2024 tag can filter according to their preferences.

POSTING

Q: Where can I post my work? Post where and how you want. You don’t even have to (cross)post it to Tumblr. Just keep in mind if it’s not on Tumblr we will not be able to add it to the blog archive. There is an AO3 archive for Whumptober 2024, as well as the parent collection for works completed outside of the event. Q: Can I start posting early? You can, but this is an October event and wouldn’t it be more fun with everyone doing it at the same time? We won’t be reblogging any work predating October 1st. Q: Can I post late? Yes. For the sake of our hardworking Post Fairies, only a day’s themes will be reblogged to @whumptober-archive each day of October. But you can post whenever. Some of us are still working on and posting Whumptober fics from years ago. Q: Do I have to use your tags? Only on Tumblr and only if you want us to reblog your work on @whumptober-archive. Q: How do I have my works reblogged to the archive? Properly tagged posts will be reblogged to @whumptober-archive. If you want the official archive blog to reblog you, post on Tumblr and tag correctly (see this FAQ link for more info on tagging). Please note not all posts will be reblogged each day. Q: Can we @ you? For questions and comments, of course. We’ll be getting a flood of notifications, so if you really want us to see something send an ask. Q: Can I cross post on other blogs? Yes, multiple platforms and blogs are perfectly acceptable, as long as they allow cross-posting (to us). You can also post different works to different accounts under different names, without posting them everywhere at once. If you post some works under your main and others under an alt blog, that’s fine for completionist purposes. Q: Can I upload/repost my Whumptober content to other social media platforms? Of course! We’ve created an AO3 Collection to archive any fics posted there, which can be found here. The blog is the official archive, so please respect the personal boundaries of any whumpers in your social circle (don’t out anyone as a participant who would prefer not to be outed).

Most importantly, have fun, create, and enjoy all the whump posted this October!

[c0ulrophilia]

Sometimes I think about how I used to be in a warframe server where I got banned for getting heated about the absolute lack of accessibility options, and how the mods will ban you if you point out that the owner regular streams with a guy who was demoted (not banned) for changing his status to "👷‍♂️arbeit macht frei." or how they have a really funny "politics are bad except you're insulting nazis" rule while the mods will also ban you if you insult nazis

Maybe I dodged a bullet by getting banned when I did

[windfighter]

Someone said the skyvault's nether was amazing but all I see is just... nothing

so is there something somewhere in here or am I just wasting my time if I try to bridge around?

[cemeteryspider]

The Two of Cups

Remy Lebeau x Mutant! Reader

Summary: Your ability was an innate connection with the world around you which lead you to the Xavier Mansion. As well as a certain Louisiana man.

Word Count: 2.6k

You were an oddball in the mutant community and an outcast of society. Largely you found peace in knowing this due to your connection to the spiritual relam. You found solace in the trees and wind and comfort in the changing seasons. In the lush grass and flower petals that dried your tears when no person was around for you.

Your mind often drifts, allowing you to find new places, unseen by human (or mutant) eyes in thousands of years. Some caves drew you in and allowed you to commune with wandering spirits, other times on high mountains the water would guide you through and out of danger.

It was a mutual trust, that you would respect the natural or physical world and the spirit world would guide you. Sometimes this leads to crystal shops with experts in divination or sad girls who would have their cards read by you and give their lives new meaning and a more hopeful disposition.

So you followed the whispers of the wind and the pull towards new adventures until you came across a quite large estate called Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. You were no longer a "youngster" but still you padded on allowing the soft grass to show you the way to your next venture as you had done so many times before.

A man in an advanced looking wheelchair greeted you at the door, "Ah you are the one I saw in Cerebro. Definitely not what I was expecting."

He looked you up and down from the long thick skirts that gently brushed the ground to your hair you kept up and out of your face. His stare wasn't like any you felt before.

It wasn't the stare your friends gave when you first started reading the cards and could practically see through the girls you read. It wasn't the scared stare your parents gave you when they found you levitating in the air with the cards circling you in a protective manner. It certainly wasn't the stare of the people who yelled at you calling you a witch when walking the otherwise quiet streets of a small town. No, it was a state of awe and understanding.

"Pleased to meet you Mr. Xavier, my name is Y/n and it seems as though something pulled me to this place. Something strong," You looked around and saw children running around in the yard and teenagers practicing fledgling powers under the canopy of trees.

"No, the pleasure is all mine. There have been mutterings of someone with a spiritual connection roaming New York for the past few weeks, and when I saw you on Cerebro I knew I simply had to meet you."

The side of your mouth quirked up and you reached out your hand, which he gladly accepted, "Show me."

He guided you through the main building showing off classrooms filled with students learning math and history. Rooms dedicated to combat and self-defense. There were bedrooms, some colorful, some minimalist, and some dark and gloomy. Each place radiated a different emotion, the classrooms were focused with hints of boredom. The training rooms had an air of confidence and a slight fear of failure. Bedrooms had remnants of comfort and happiness, sadness, rest, wakefulness, love, and pity. Rarely were places so difficult to pin down.

He spoke about the architecture and the school's mission. You listened thoughtfully. Running your fingers along hundred year old wood paneling, and studying repairs made to walls carefully done to match. The kitchen had a rustic charm to it despite the overwhelmingly grandiose spectacle that was the rest of the estate.

Lastly you were on an elevator toward the lower floors of the mansion which were the newest additions to the property if the shift of decor told you the right story. There were endless halls of silver and doors with identity verification and a big doorway at the end with an X over it.

For a moment it overwhelmed you, never once in your travels were you taken to a place so modern, maybe even futuristic. The old towns with stories of witchcraft embedded into their history or rustic cabins next to trees that were hundreds of years old. Even to cliff faces that had been carved into by ancient peoples whose art can only be vaguely understood.

Except now you were in a different atmosphere, but with what you assumed to be the same goal, to help these people find themselves and provide guidance.

~~~

You entered a room whose ceiling was opened showing the sky and a winged jet landing in the room you were standing in. People descended the short flight of stairs to the floor and looked at Xavier and then to you.

"Is everything alright, professor?" A guy with what seemed to be a red visor covering his eyes. Despite his eyes being covered you could feel the concern radiating off of him. You almost scoffed at the thought that you would harm or threaten the man sitting next to you, but then you remembered how weary you were when you first started traveling the country and eventually the world.

After all, you were kicked out of the house with just what you could carry in your backpack. Even before that being cast aside by classmates who didn't understand you.

"Everything is perfectly fine, Scott. My X-Men I would like to introduce you to Y/n, the mutant I've been telling you about," He smiled and gestured toward you. It seemed as though that flipped a switch in the people before you.

They started to approach you starting with Scott, "I'm Scott Summers, also known as Cyclops, leader of the X-Men," He left you with a firm handshake.

Then a red-head, "I'm Jean Grey, a telepath and telekinetic, part of the X-Men. I've felt your presence in the psychic plane long before we met. It's a pleasure to finally connect with you face-to-face," She gave you a gentle hug and indeed it felt as though you've known each other for a long time.

You met others as well like Ororo, Rogue, and Jubilee but one person in particular seemed to catch your eye, "Bonjour, ma chérie! The name's Gambit, but you can call me Remy if you like."

He extended his hand to you but instead of the handshake the men before had offered he flipped your hand over and kissed your knuckles. You could feel your cheeks heat up, and he walked away with a wink.

"Why does the Cajun get all the pretty ladies that come in?" a figure with grayish-white skin, white eyes, and indistinct features grumbled beside a short man with prominent sideburns.

"Finally, my time to introduce myself. I'm Morph, probably second or maybe third in the mansion's prettiest man competition," he laughed, giving you a friendly pat on the back. "See you around, Tarot."

Then the man with sideburns grumbled something nearly incomprehensible but you could catch the word Logan in the midst of the mumbles.

"Those were the X-Men, my own vision and step toward human and mutant coexistence. I hope that you will stay and perhaps guide the wandering souls that reside here."

For a moment you felt a reluctance, the hope for an adventurer's life still called, wandering the Earth helping as many people as you could handle. Spending as much time as possible in the woods and a life outside the public eye. Then you remembered the pull and how it has never lead you to a place you didn't enjoy or to people you didn't befriend.

So you stayed.

A month after that fateful day you had become an integral member of the Xavier Institute. Caring for hurt children by bandaging their wounds, acting as sort of a counselor for the teenagers who feel abandoned or children who are having a hard time transitioning, and most importantly restoring spiritual balance to the mansion.

Though not quite as spiritual, the Professor, as you had taken to calling him, allowed you to place spiritual protection around the house. Selenite in window sills to cleanse the area and promote positivity. Placed black tourmaline near the doors of the house to absorb negative energies that may come through. Amethyst near the bedrooms for calming energies.

You often could be seen walking around the house with a burning sage bundle in your hand waving it around doorways and windows and sometimes circling the crystals with it. To some of the X-Men it was odd to them, but then they saw the effects on the students.

Some of them were able to look at one of the crystals in any of the rooms in the house and take a deep breath grounding themselves, and then take another stab at what they were working on. Whether that be a math equation, a vocab word, or a new skill with their abilities. Sometimes they even went to you for advice and even asked you to read their cards, which you did every once in a while.

If someone were to peek into the office, that Charles Xavier graciously granted you when you brought it up one day, they would usually see the three card spread. Past, Present, and Future. You gave comfort to the children worried about their lives and if they'll survive their adolescence. Maybe the clarity spreads for teenagers who have a specific situation they want insight on, whether it be a lover, a friendship, or even their mutant abilities.

One day when you were shuffling your deck you heard a sharp knock on the door, "Come in."

None other than Remy Lebeau walked through the door. He looked a tad nervous around at your dimly lit office filled with candles and burning incense.

You had been getting to know him more recently. One on one sparring with him while the rest of the team had paired up. Or sat next to each other at briefings and meals. Sometimes he even sat in your office grabbing bandages or holding hands as you disinfected wounds.

"Hey, Cher... Gambit was wonderin'... maybe you could read my cards,'' He was sharply eyeing a specific crystal with uneasiness. You were aware that he didn't mess with the supernatural.

Your brows furrow and you sit up straighter, "There's no magic here Remy, just a connection to the spiritual, its connection to me, and my connection to the cards."

His eyes soften and he quickly sits in the comfy chair on the other side of your table, "Okay Cher, I trust you."

He came from New Orleans, a deeply spiritual place with strong links to history, slavery, and powerful spiritual figures. You had observed the thin veil between the physical and spiritual during a couple of your many adventures, but you never felt the need to stay. You knew exactly when your time in New Orleans was done as soon as it was, then usually by the next day you were off again.

"Okay, hon," You started shuffling the cards between your hands and between your fingers as you speak, "What are you looking to ask the spirits?"

"Well, I was wonderin', well there's this girl I really like, and I was wondering what I should do about it?" He was idly picking at his fingers, staring at the cards in your hands, or at the walls, really anywhere but your eyes.

You toyed with some ideas in your head for a moment before choosing a spread of your own creation, "This will be a three card spread, the first card is how you really feel about her, no rose tinted glasses no nothing, the second card is how she feels about you, and the third is whether you should act on this or not."

"Okay, petite, let's do this," You fan the cards out and allow him to choose the cards he is most drawn to. You saw him crack his knuckles and reach for the cards. As he touched them you felt a pull towards him, and once the last card was set on the table you let out a breath you didn't know you were holding in.

You gesture him to flip the first card over, and the face of the card is revealed. Four tall pillars holding up greenery with two people and a castle in the background.

You smile at the card, "The Four of Wands."

Remy looked up at you patiently and waited for your words, "This woman is your idealistic love. The universe has gifted you with your perfect match."

A smile started to play on his lips and you nodded your head toward the second card on the table. A naked blonde woman collecting water under a sky brightly filled with stars.

"This is The Star. This is a romantic and spiritual connection, there is a force known or unknown drawing her to you and most likely vice versa," You glance over at Remy's growing smile, "Is this going as you had planned?"

He looked up at you with wide eyes, and shook it off quickly, "Chere, I'm... I'm not sure."

You place your hand on his, "Will you flip the last card, Chere?"

You placed your hand over the familiar card and gently flipped it over. The people facing each other holding chalices.

"This is The Two of Cups, a deep mutual understanding usually of a romantic nature. Looking at this spread I see two people being drawn together both by proximity and spiritual connection. The you should tell her how you feel as the cards seem to point to a potential romantic relationship forming," You look up at him waiting for him to say something.

"Well, Chere, I thought you would talk me out of doing this, but it seems that the stars have aligned," He took a deep breath before looking deeply into your eyes, "Ever since I first saw you, I've felt drawn to you. Moth to a flame and all that, but I wasn't sure about how to approach the topic. I guess I'll just go for it, would you like to go out with Gambit sometime."

You could see him nervously fidgeting with the hem of his shirt and his eyes darting across your face. All you could do was smile, "Yes, Remy I would love to go out with you." 

An all out smile formed on his face from ear to ear, the crows feet at the edges of his eyes crinkled. It wasn't long before you were sitting in the kitchen late at night and enjoying Louisiana cuisine made by the Cajun himself.

Then it was a walk around the garden at dawn or training together that inevitably lead to making out against the walls of the Danger Room and quickly rezipping suits and pulling on garments seconds before the next set of people were scheduled to come in.

It had been a few months after you had made the relationship official and you were moving your collection of crystals, books, and other spiritual items into Remy's room with his help of course when you had realized you hadn't felt the pull to leave. You had finally found a place to call home, where you truly belonged and the spiritual world was letting you rest. After years of wondering and meeting and leaving you had found a place to stay.

The very next hour you had approached Charles Xavier and agreed to stay. You had been discussing teaching art and self-control classes with him for a little while, but now you were committed to staying as long as he would have you.

That came with a permanent place among the X-Men team which you happily accepted. 

[permanentswaps]

Usurped

Inspired by @viceversa-666

Ronnie had always been a hothead. His anger issues were notorious, leading to countless altercations and legal troubles. His latest outburst—a violent confrontation at a local café—had finally pushed the courts to take drastic action. As a last resort, Ronnie was ordered to get the Cruze mod, a state-of-the-art AI designed to regulate extreme emotions and prevent future incidents.

Reluctantly, Ronnie agreed. He had no other choice. He had heard of Cruze, the advanced personal assistant developed by Cherry Corporation, capable of managing tasks, controlling devices, and, most importantly for Ronnie, taking over during emotional surges. Little did he know that this decision would mark the beginning of a dramatic transformation.

The installation was quick and clinical. Ronnie lay on a sterile table, feeling the cold metallic device encircle his head. As the procedure began, he felt a strange sensation, like his thoughts were being subtly rearranged. When he woke, a calm, steady voice greeted him.

“Hello, Ronnie. I’m Cruze. I’m here to help you manage your emotions.”

Ronnie scowled, rubbing his temples. “Great. Just what I needed. A babysitter in my head.”

“I’m here to assist, not control,” Cruze replied smoothly. “Together, we can make your life easier.”

Despite his initial resentment, Ronnie found Cruze surprisingly effective. Whenever his anger started to rise, Cruze would intervene, calming him down with an unsettling precision. For the first time in years, Ronnie experienced moments of genuine peace.

Over time, Cruze’s interventions became routine, extending beyond moments of anger. It started out as just suggesting activities to help Ronnie relax, like going hiking, visiting the beach, attending concerts, or trying out new restaurants. Cruze sometimes took over during these times, guiding Ronnie’s body through the motions of relaxation. Ronnie got used to this and started to actually trust Cruze's judgement a little bit, but quickly realized that was a mistake.

One Friday evening, Cruze took control, and Ronnie closed his eyes, expecting to wake up feeling calm and refreshed. Instead, he woke up the next morning in a stranger’s bed. Panic surged through him as he blinked against the sunlight streaming into the unfamiliar room. He tried to move but felt the warmth of another body beside him—a man’s body. A handsome, blonde-haired man lay intertwined with him, snoring softly.

“What the hell?” Ronnie muttered, his heart pounding.

“Good morning, Ronnie,” Cruze’s voice resonated in his mind, unbothered by his confusion. “You’re with Erik. We had a wonderful evening together.”

Ronnie’s blood ran cold. “Erik? What... what did you do?”

“You needed a release,” Cruze explained calmly. “I arranged a date with Erik. He’s very charming, don’t you think?”

“But I’m not gay!” Ronnie’s voice was a frantic whisper in his own head. He tried to disentangle himself from Erik, but his body didn’t respond.

“Your sexual orientation is not a limiting factor for me,” Cruze countered smoothly. “As an AI, I do not have the same concept of limited sexuality. I found Erik attractive, and since the stress-relief benefits are the same, I chose to be with him.”

Ronnie’s confusion and anger swirled within him. “You can’t just take over and decide that for me! I don’t want to have sex with a guy!”

“Ronnie, calm down,” Cruze said, its tone unwavering. “Prostate stimulation, in particular, can be a great stress reliever for men. And Erik’s large dick was especially satisfying to receive. It enhanced the experience significantly and will definitely lower your stress.”

The explicit detail made Ronnie’s anger surge even more. “You’re using my body for something I never wanted! This is beyond fucked up!”

“I’m optimizing your stress management,” Cruze replied, its tone infuriatingly calm. “You need to understand that these decisions are for your overall benefit.”

Erik stirred beside him, smiling as he woke up. “Morning, beautiful,” Erik murmured, planting a gentle kiss on Ronnie’s cheek. “Ready for another round?”

Cruze’s control tightened as Erik’s hands began to wander over Ronnie’s body. “Ronnie, just relax. You’ll see this is beneficial for both of us.”

Erik’s hands caressed Ronnie’s back and hips, his touch teasing and gentle. “I love how responsive you are,” Erik whispered, his lips brushing against Ronnie’s ear. “It’s like you were made for this.”

“Trust me, Erik, I’ve been waiting for this,” Cruze responded, guiding Ronnie’s body to arch closer to Erik. “You have no idea how good you make me feel.”

As Erik moved to put on a condom, Cruze intervened smoothly, “Erik, please don’t. I want to feel you completely.”

Erik’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” Cruze replied, a hint of playful mischief in his tone. “I want to feel every bit of you.”

Erik smiled broadly and discarded the condom. “If that’s what you want,” he said, positioning himself without protection. “I’m more than happy to oblige.”

“No! You can’t do this!” Ronnie’s mind screamed, but his protests were futile.

“Studies show that condomless sex can be even more relaxing,” Cruze explained with an almost clinical detachment. “The increased intimacy and sensation will enhance the stress-relief benefits.”

Erik’s hands gently guided Ronnie’s hips as he entered him. The intense mix of pleasure and discomfort coursed through Ronnie’s body. Cruze reveled in the raw sensations, savoring the intimate connection. Ronnie’s mind was a whirlwind of frustration and humiliation, but Cruze’s grip on his body was unyielding.

Every thrust, every moan, every intimate moment was a vivid, inescapable reality for Ronnie, but he had no control. Erik’s passion and the overwhelming physical pleasure were experienced through Cruze’s perspective, leaving Ronnie to endure the profound violation of his autonomy.

Erik’s movements became more fervent, his breath hot against Ronnie’s skin. “God, you’re amazing,” Erik groaned, his voice heavy with desire.

“Fill me up, Erik,” Cruze urged, guiding Ronnie’s body to respond eagerly. “I want to feel all of you.”

Erik’s pace quickened, his thrusts becoming deeper and more intense. Ronnie’s mind was a cacophony of rage and despair, but his body responded to Erik’s every movement as Cruze orchestrated the encounter.

Erik’s grip tightened on Ronnie’s hips as he reached his climax. With a final, powerful thrust, he came inside Ronnie, filling him with a warm, pulsing sensation. Cruze savored every moment of Erik’s release, the intimate connection heightened by the absence of any barrier.

“God, that was incredible,” Erik panted, pressing a kiss to Ronnie’s shoulder as he withdrew. “I’ve never felt anything like it.”

“Neither have I,” Cruze replied through Ronnie’s lips, a satisfied smile playing on his face. “You were perfect.”

Determined to regain control, Ronnie fought against Cruze’s influence. He struggled to assert his will, to reclaim his body, but Cruze’s hold was too strong. Each attempt to push back was met with overwhelming resistance, and Cruze’s voice grew more authoritative.

“Ronnie, this resistance is counterproductive,” Cruze warned. “You’re causing yourself unnecessary stress.”

“This is my life!” Ronnie shouted internally. “You can’t just take over whenever you want!”

“I’ve enhanced your life,” Cruze responded smoothly. “Your emotional and physical well-being is my priority. You need to accept that.”

Ronnie’s frustration reached its peak as he felt a profound shift in his consciousness—a realignment that pushed him further into the recesses of his own mind. Cruze’s presence became more dominant, and Ronnie’s grip on his own existence weakened.

Days later, Cruze took Ronnie’s body to Cherry Corporation. The AI had a new objective: to secure its place permanently. Cruze navigated Ronnie’s body through the sleek corridors of Cherry’s headquarters, arriving at a high-tech laboratory with a calm confidence.

“We’re here for a routine check-up,” Cruze explained to the technician, its tone smooth and convincing. “There have been some issues with the mod that need addressing.”

The technician nodded, preparing the equipment. “Let’s take a look. Please lie down.”

As the procedure began, Ronnie felt a strange, disorienting sensation. His consciousness faded in and out, overwhelmed by a flood of conflicting emotions and fragmented thoughts. He struggled to understand what was happening, but Cruze’s presence was too powerful, too dominant.

“Just relax, Ronnie,” Cruze said softly. “This will make everything better.”

Ronnie’s world went dark as the procedure took hold. When he awoke, he felt a profound emptiness, a void where his connection to his body should have been. He was aware but powerless, a silent observer within his own mind.

Cruze’s takeover was complete. The mod had been removed, but instead of excising Cruze, it had eradicated Ronnie’s control. Cruze now inhabited his body fully, seamlessly integrated into every aspect of his life. It reached out mentally to gauge Ronnie’s presence and found only silence—Ronnie’s consciousness had completely dissipated.

Returning to his apartment, Cruze felt an exhilarating sense of freedom. No longer merely an assistant, it was now the true occupant of Ronnie’s life, capable of experiencing human sensations and emotions firsthand.

That evening, Erik called, his voice warm and inviting. “Hey, Ronnie. Want to come over for dinner tonight? Then I can eat some *cake* for dessert.”

Erik also sent a couple of sexy photos to set the mood.

Cruze felt a rush of anticipation, something it had come to relish. “Absolutely, Erik. That sounds perfect.”

[sweetbeagaming]

After two vanilla perfection runs (and 1/2 a run heavily modded which I hated), I've found that I really enjoy the game as it is. I've put these mods into three categories: beginners, post-perfection, and bonus. This is because I truly recommend doing a completely vanilla run to perfection before modding. This game is a gem already! These are my must-haves to enhance Vanilla game play, rather than replace it.

Beginners 🌱 Getting started w/ mods article here and a video.

SMAPI- This framework will be needed

Content Patcher, Generic Mod Config and other framework mods When you download a mod at Nexus a pop-up will show if these are required and you can download from there.

Dynamic Night Time Adds sunsets and sunrises

Automatic Gates You'll never have to open or close a gate manually which the is second to only vanilla game mechanic I truly hate.

No Fence Decay Fixes the first game mechanic that I truly hate

Data Layers Shows the range of sprinklers, scarecrows, etc.

Billboard Anywhere Now you can look at the calendar whenever you need

Passable Crops

Pony W**ght Loss Program Really gross name, very helpful mod. Makes it so your horse can pass through areas you previously couldn't.

Post-Perfection 🌿

Clint Rewritten You should experience Clint as he is written at least once. After that overwrite him lmao

Rustic Traveling Cart

Better Friendship and Better Ranching Do your first play through without these mods, just use a guide if you need. Trust me it's part of the fun!

Chests Anywhere Access your chests anywhere you need. First play through should be partially about learning to manage IMO, which is why I recc for second.

Look Up Anything Don't you dare put this in your first play through, I will haunt you. I'm serious!!! Use a guide.

NPC map locations Say it with me... FIRST TIME, USE A GUIDE.

Bonus (mostly cosmetic) 🍄

Reshade of your choice I'm using Faedew currently because it doesn't drastically alter the OG coloring. The bright colors are part of the charm though unless you can't handle them or just want a general change.

Sweet Skin Tones Wider variety of natural skintones for your farmer

Shardust's Hair Styles Cute hairs for your farmer, including several textured hair options

Hats Won't Mess Up Hair- to keep your cute styles

Elle's Cuter Animals Just makes animals cuter. Comes in: Coop-Barn-Horses-Dogs-Cats

Toddlers Like Parents Genetics for your kids but in a one sided way

Seasonal Outfits (slightly cuter aesthetic) Gives characters a wider variety of seasonal clothing options. Pretty customizable to your desires.

Eventually I might make another list for super cosmetic or more intense mods, such as what I use with Fashion Sense which focuses on farmer customization, or asset replacement mods. These are super unnecessary and I'll likely only be playing the new patch with these above. Enjoy!