#but then it's not like I have been all over MT either

[ailurinae]

Not real. The location shown on the maps inset view does exist, though the "Glory's Enterprise Supermarket" is marked on google maps if you search for it, it has no reviews and no information - not surprising given that satellite view shows no buildings of any kind near there, supermarket, church or otherwise.

Furthermore, there is no Street View closer than ~28 miles to that location.

It's also notable that "Hope County" is not a county that exists in Montana: Unless you mean the alternate reality Montana portrayed in Far Cry 5

Hilariously and disturbingly, Montana tourism seems to have partnered with Ubisoft to promote tourism in southwest MT under that name.

What would that pitch even sound like? "Welcome to southwest Montana, just like in Far Cry 5. Except no religious fanatic anti-government cults, we promise"

Surely only good things are going on here (random street view drop - Montana)

[gurorori]

i will be a hater for a minute. i hate the whole 'ohh i was too mature for my age as a kid but now i'm immature as an adult' cause never once have i seen anyone talk about the case where you were never mature. i never at all felt it or was on the same level with our peers at any point in life and that's a very different experience. the very few things we were into as a kid/teen were always juxtaposed with the things others were doing that were wiser and more sensible and more in touch with. whatever expectations are in place and whatever is gauged as mature

[fleuraliasave]

❤ Version 8.0 Fleuralia Save File ❤

Download link down below (please read entire post before installing)

This save file uses all EP’s, GP’s, SP’s and most of the kits (Except Sweet Slumber Party, Cozy Kitsch, Urban Homage, Goth Galore, Grunge Revival, Carnaval Streetwear and Modern Menswear kits).

What’s new in this update?:

Ciudad Enamorada and Ravenwood have been completely redone, added multiple new lots, updated other lots and provided make-overs for the households.

Added new households (when living in world; with jobs, friends, preferences etc).

Current Status of Worlds:

Finished worlds: Willow Creek, Oasis Springs, Newcrest, Magnolia Promenade, Windenburg, San Myshuno, Forgotten Hollow, Brindleton Bay, Del Sol Valley, StrangerVille, Glimmerbrook, Sulani, Britechester , Evergreen Harbor, Mt. Komorebi, Henford-on-Bagley, Tartosa, Moonwood Mill, Copperdale, San Sequoia, Chestnut Ridge, Tomarang, Ciudad Enamorada (NEW!) and Ravenwood (NEW!).

Finished vacation worlds: Granite Falls and Selvadorada.

Finihed other lots: Hospital, Science Lab and the Police Station.

To be updated: the Magic Realm and Grimm's office, will either be included in a future update or on the gallery (OriginID: fleuralia)

What do you get with this save?:

For my save file all lots are either completely new builds (almost all) or renovations, ofcourse created by me. Exception: I have added the official build for the release of the Paranormal SP by Dr Ashley to this save. This build is therefore not my own creation, credits are given in the description to Dr Ashley. The lots in newer worlds are largely created by GameChangers. The ratio is around 50/50 with my builds versus renovations (done by me but with the original as the base).

All the townies had make-overs plus I added new families to spice it up a bit. Some of the townies are made by other creators, who are given credits in the description of the household. All the townies in the different worlds have a story, some include sentiments and adjusted relationships to the story.

Added plenty of community lots to give your Sims something to do (YAY!). Almost every world has one restaurant, but it also includes festivals that represent the four seasons (park lots) and a fully functional shopping street in Magnolia Promenade (toy store, bridal store and more).

I have added rental lots so you can go on vacation in more worlds. For example in Sulani, Willow Creek and Windenburg.

Other details:

As mentioned at the beginning, this save uses almost all packs (except some kits). This means that if you download it without owning or installing most of the packs a lot of objects will disappear from the save, but if you are not bothered by this you can still download and play in it.  

I disabled the neigborhood action plan voting/environmental changes, you enable them again in the pack settings menu. I also disabled the neigborhood stories, you can enable them again in the household menu.

I would love to add some households in this save created by all of you! Add your household under the hashtag #fleuraliatownies in The Sims 4 Gallery, you can add a storyline and world in the description but thats not obligatory. If I respond on your creation it means that I have incorporated it in the save for the next update.

Sadly every game update comes with a lot of bugs. I suggest before reporting problems in the save to me, to check on forums if its related to a general bug/glitch or to mods (if you use them).

Questions and supportive feedback are always welcome, you can reach me here via a comment on this post, an ask or through a DM 😁

As said in my previous post I will be slowly starting on moving the builds and sims to a fresh save to help with bugs and incorporate fixes from the Sims team that only work in fresh saves (like Grimm not being able to woohoo). But this will take me some time, when its nearly done I will update on here as always.

How to make it work in your game:

Download the save file from the link below.

Drag it in your saves folder under: PC/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves.

Change the numbers if you already have a save with the same name.

It should now show up in your game as: Fleuralia Save V 8.0.

DOWNLOAD (SFS) / Alternate (GD)

!!Don’t re-upload or claim as your own!!

Future updates will follow after each pack release (if it includes a world). The time the update will be uploaded after each release depends on how much I have to change and on my work schedule around that time.

Last but not least, enjoy and till next time! XX

Fleuralia

Feel free to support me ❤️: Ko-fi account

[moiderahart]

About the Warships in Armored Core 6

I'm basically repeating what I said on cohost here because I actually kind of love the designs of the PCA's ships in Armored Core 6.

Now much ink has been spilled about how they're "too weak" and "I wish they were harder :(" which is more just people saying they wish they had more setpiece levels like the STRIDER which, to be honest, same; I'd love that. But the warships are actually gigantic. They're like 300 meters long; comparable to a container ship or a carrier than a warship. But more importantly they have an exposed bridge and pretty rudimentary defenses uptop. The bulk of their defenses are all localized on the bottom. Lasers designed to scour the earth. A bay to deploy LCs and MTs, and a full wing of drones to keep you down. Some units even have railguns on their underside, some have missiles uptop to try and counter the weaknesses of the deck side of these warships, which to be fair, probably would have worked if the Karman Line level didn't give you infinite energy.

Arquebus doesn't really know how to handle these warships. Because they keep on throwing them at you as though they're traditional air-to-air war machines.

When you attack the PCA, they're either flying over the majority of your forces or their ships are outright docked.

Basically what I'm saying is these ships aren't designed for a fair fight. They fold like paper when they're faced with something that gets on the deck.

Because they're subjugation machines.

They are designed to bully a population into submission.

The PCA aren't a normal military force, they're fucking space cops.

[pearllovesgold]

S o l S o u l C h a l l e n g e

Have you ever wanted to switch it up from typical family gameplay but still want to feel the coziness and don't know where to start? Then this challenge is for you! Welcome to the DINK Lifestyle - ie dual income, no kids.

The main idea of this challenge is to play the life of a sim/sim couple that has no kids! Sometimes it can be refreshing to approach the sims from a new perspective, and in a world of sims challenges that surround having and raising kids, I thought it would be fun to have one where the whole thing is having a fulfilling life/game without kids. Especially now that with Life and Death, your game doesn’t have to end just because the main household died, why not focus on something other than kids?

you'll need all packs to be able to do this challenge.

rules: no money cheats! you can, however, cheat your sim to have a max of level 5 skill levels for 5 skills of your choice. (for example, you can cheat your sims to have lvl 5 baking, lvl 5 flower arranging, lvl 3 gardening, lvl 4 photography, and lvl 2 handiness). this is optional, but will be beneficial to give you better choices for degrees relative to your sims traits/story! Long lifespan not required but highly recommended.

speaking of, your sim can have any aspiration, traits, and likes/dislikes you want! choose to your hearts content! this challenge is more about shifting how you play vs the kind of sim you want. that said, obviously, you'll want to avoid family-based traits and aspirations.

finally, NO KIDS! you can play this challenge as loose or as strict as you'd like, however, the one main rule is NO KIDS! You can play this either as your sim not wanting kids and/or (by using the custom gender settings in CAS) they can be infertile.

alright, here we go~

Young Adult

you, whether by choice or by nature (i.e., infertility), are not going to have kids. oh well, that doesn't mean your life is over! you can still have a cozy, comfortable, and romantic life without kids! so let's set you up for success! ♡

you can move into any of these worlds to start your household: willow creek, oasis springs, tartosa, mt komorebi, sulani, chestnut ridge, henford-on-bagley, brindleton bay, or windenburg. You must start as only one sim, no pets. move into a small lot (20x20 or 20x15 or you can move into a 1bd or studio in a rental lot if you have For Rent and place a rental lot in your selected world).

apply to university, choose any degree of interest but only take 3 courses at a time (no electives).

move into the university housing

join one university organization

make three friends, one must be college best friend (take lots of photos of your friends!)

have a college partner, break up before graduation.

"move" back into the world you set your sim up in.

before getting a job, 'find' yourself by taking a 7 day vacation in any of these worlds (obviously, not the one you live in, though): granite falls, sulani, mt komorebi, tomarang, henford-on-bagley, or tartosa.

have a short, romantic fling with a local during the vacation. end it on the last day.

return home and get a job related to your degree! Congratulations!

adopt a pet of your choice with your bonus money.

make 3 friends with locals! (you can make some!)

make a local best friend! (again, can be premade!)

make two clubs! one for your college friends and one for your local friends! meet up to connect whenever you want at your sims' favorite local spot!

earn silver doing a social event of your choice with your local and college friends!

go on a 3-day vacation with your local friends to any of these worlds (unless you live there and/or been there before): granite falls, sulani, mt komorebi, tomarang, selvadorado, san myshuno, or windenburg.

it's time to focus on your health! start up on the wellness skill, whether it be through yoga, meditation, or both, is up to you!

make a third (and final) club for your coworkers and make friends with at least two coworkers!

go on 3 dates with 3 different sims

go on a date with a 4th sim, go on 3 dates with that 4th sim before asking to be in an exclusive relationship. (note: if after the 2nd date the sim autonomously asks to be in a relationship with your sim, you can say yes!)

get engaged (wait a min of an in-game week)!

throw an engagement party!

vacation with your fiance in any of these worlds (unless you live there and/or been there before): granite falls, sulani, mt komorebi, tomarang, henford-on-bagley, or tartosa.

Adult

you have a hobby, a degree, a career, friends, and even a true love! congratulations, but your life still isn't over! you've got so much more to do and see! the world is your oyster! ♡

have a small wedding or elope and have a dinner party with friends after!

go on a honeymoon in any of these worlds (unless you live there and/or been there before): granite falls, sulani, mt komorebi, tomarang, henford-on-bagley, selvadorado or tartosa.

adopt a second pet of your choice!

move into a larger home! (a 30x20 lot up to a 40x30 lot)

quit your job!

go back to college and earn a second degree of your choice, take 3 mandatory classes + one elective for every term! remain living in your home, though! (commuting is not that bad anyway!)

start a bucket list! complete it as you go along on your own time, but scrap anything that has to do with having kids!

pick up writing as a hobby! max it and write two best-selling books of the genre of your choice! sell one to a publisher (available at level 5) and another to a literary digest (available at level 9)!

vacation with your spouse in any of these worlds (unless you live there and/or been there before): granite falls, sulani, mt komorebi, tomarang, henford-on-bagley, san myshuno, selvadorado, or tartosa.

Pick up a new hobby of your choice! You've got all the time in the world, now!

open your own retail store, vet clinic, or restaurant in your home world/town. when you have enough employees to be able to run the place when you're not on the lot, you can get a new job using either of your degrees!

max your positive reputation! once it's been maxed, host a charity event for your community (theme it however you want!)

Elder

you’ve had a very fulfilling life, but it’s not over quite yet! these are your golden years, after all. let’s make them memorable. ♡

if you've reached the peak of your career, retire! you've worked so hard and did a great job!

host a retirement party with your friends and coworkers! (can be any type of party you’d like - house party, dinner party, bbq, kava party, even a charity event! however you feel your sim would kick off their retirement)

have a small wedding event for a vow renewal with just your closest friends!

go on two separate vacations wherever (and whenever) you want!

write and publish an autobiography! you've done so much in your life, and the world should know!

start up a wellness club for elders! it can be hard to put yourself out there as you grow older, so lets get some initiative and get healthy!

if you haven’t already, complete your soul journey and bucket list!

death has arrived. but it’s not the end. after living a long, fulfilling life it’s time to be reborn.

[olomaya]

Smoking+ (Mild Teenage Delinquency)

*cue the Spongebob 2 Years Later meme*

28-Sept Update: Added Brazilian Portuguese translations (thank you @cs2te!). Fixed an issue where there was no exit to the Sell Fake ID interaction. For those that have the Religion mod, you don't need a separate RM specific version, just download/redownload the main Overhaul package.

3-Sep Update: Thanks to ProtectusCZ over at MTS who let me know about a string issue with the vape flavors. That's been fixed so the flavors should not show up as blank when you are filling/refilling the cartridge. Also the smoking durations should now be tunable so you can adjust them in Retuner.

Czech version now available thanks to ProtectusCZ

2-Sep Update: If you have my religion mod installed, please download this version HERE (alt: here) to replace the main mod file. If you don't and don't want it, carry on.

This is the updated version of my overhaul of Cmomoney's Smoking mod which you can find here (original here). This update adds new features like vaping as well as more delinquency options for your teens by way of fake IDs.

Please read the full instructions after the cut before downloading.

Credits: Fake ID from @aroundthesims. And of course the OG smoking mod from Cmomoney on MTS.

I think that's it. Enjoy ruining your Sims' health and well-being. If you run into any issues, please let me know.

What does it do:

Everything my previous mod did

Sims can now sit and chat with others while smoking

I updated the way addiction works in the game. Previously it was just based on a random number of times smoked but now it's more nuanced and based on how often you smoke and certain trait and lifestyle factors (for example, if you have other smokers in your household, you're more likely to get a smoking habit)

Cigarettes and smoking items can now ONLY be purchased in a special section at the grocery store by YAs and above. You will see a new interaction in the store RH called "Shop for Cigarettes". Teens can get around this by using a fake ID. 

Fake IDs

Teens can purchase fake IDs from: 

Any common criminal (Sim in the criminal career Level 4 or below) 

Any teen that has a fake ID

You can offer a price and based on your offer, the dealer will either accept or reject. 

Rebellious, Computer Whiz or teens with high Rebel Influence Skill can also buy fake IDs online. The underground online market for IDs moves very quickly so prices change every time you check but will never go higher than §500 or lower than §50. Once you purchase, the ID will be mailed to your home the next day. 

HOWEVER, you need to make sure you get to the package first. If your parent gets the package and opens it, then all teens in the house will get in trouble. The one who ordered the fake will get a special moodlet that will allow them 24 hours to confess to doing it. If they confess to their sibling(s), the sibling will either forgive and agree to keep quiet or they will get mad and have the opportunity to snitch to a parent. If the wrongdoer confesses to a parent, it will exonerate the other teens but also potentially get them into bigger trouble with both their parents and their siblings.

Fake IDs aren’t foolproof. If you use it in the store, there’s a chance you will get busted and your fake ID will be confiscated. The chance is based on how young your teen is and the quality of the fake ID. Fake ID quality is determined when you purchase, based on the price you paid so you may want to think twice before jumping on that §60 fake.

Vaping

Sims can now vape, vaping pens can be found where you buy cigarettes.

Vaping pens cost §300 with a cartridge that needs to be filled before you can use and then after every 10 uses. You can buy a regular cartridge or a flavored one and the costs are varied but are all between §200-§300. (I know, it's an expensive habit.)

Vaping is not as unhealthy as smoking regular cigarettes, is less addictive and doesn't leave your Sim with a smoke smell.

For teens, vaping will still get them in trouble if they are caught by a parent doing it.

Known Issues:

There are no IK targets on the sitting animations (they kept floating above the chairs when I added them) so teens will sink a little into the chair because they're smaller than adults.

Download here | SFS alternative

[enihk-writes]

[hard to recall]

part of the [architect!reader] series can be read together with the other fics or as a standalone

pairing: pbss!chung myung x gn!they/them!reader

will be alternating povs from pbss!chung myung and mhdd!chung myung

summary: a hundred years and a few remnants later

word count: 5.50k

author's note: i got very demotivated towards the end but the og plot was supposed to be reader comes back from work to see mt hua in shambles and they tear down all the buildings they built just to secure funds and that's why the current sect looks so bare, and it's heartbreaking because reader is an architect and this was their life's hard work and cm knows that too and he realised there was virtually nothing left of that could remind him of them, like they put their soul into these structures and now it's gone type of thing,, and in the chaos of the aftermath when there was no one to lead the sect as the remaining elder they have to do it and everyone knows they tried their best and that they died miserable,, cm was supposed to find this out bit by bit through hyun jong and the other current elders... BUT like i said, i got suuuuuper demotivated towards the end because of writer's block so i scrapped the og idea... maybe i might come back to try writing it, but not in this story rn...

═══════════════

what does it mean to be loved?

what does it take to be loved?

power? fame? money? or was it a good heart?

═══════════════

they've always had a good head on their shoulders. some have said that it was a little too good. poised steady and head held high no matter the situation, had they been able to carry a sword like he, who knows what they could have accomplished?

but alas, they were not destined for such things.

the natural state of their qi clashed with the martial arts of mount hua. like water on fire, and it had left them weaker after each training session. they were lucky, having discovered this flaw early, or else they might have suffered more down the line.

talent is something you nurture to bloom.

he looks at them, eyebrows raised in questioning.

i'm going off to see what else i can do.

and just like that, they left. nothing much changed in his life. though, sometimes, he does feel as though it wasn't as noisy as it should have been. it's almost like there was a hard-to-ignore scratch on a perfectly polished marble.

the food tasted more bland now that they weren't watching over the cooks with an iron fist. the clothes didn't feel as crisp now, since the ones on duty these days didn't leave it out in the sun for as long as they used to. and dust was now left to collect in corners until it became too much to ignore, it wasn't like that when they were here — they would have gone down on their hands and knees to clean those annoying places obsessively.

he also might have missed that there was someone who talked to him like a peer, an actual peer, over most of the others who either talked to him like a child, their unreliable junior, someone to be feared and respected. it's nice to have someone your age to talk to, and he never really thought he needed that sort of companionship until they were gone.

well, he doesn't mind waiting. he was a pretty hard worker too, and wouldn't it be a little embarrassing for him if he had nothing to show for when they came back?

three years flew by so quickly, and he walks up to the front gates one unassuming day to find them reaching over to knock on the door.

he was a little shocked.

well, not shocked in the ah sense. but in the ahhhhh sense.

when they stood next to each other side-by-side, his mood went a little sour when he sees that they were still not much different in their height. he was hoping that he had grown more then they did.

welcome back.

mmh, i'm home~

he didn't ask about what they've been up to in the past three years while they were wandering across the country.

the elders seemed pleased when they all walked out of that long meeting, the elder in charge of the finance hall in particular looked a little happier than when he walked into the room.

huh. he would be lying if he said that this didn't make him wonder what happened to them in the past three years.

still, he kept his mouth shut, preferring to watch from the sidelines instead. grinning at them when they walked over in his direction, slinging an arm over their shoulders, annoying them like they hadn't ever left home.

dinnertime was noisy, the table where they sat was swarming with so many other disciples — all wanting to hear of their stories of the outside world. chung myung can't blame the others much, most of them weren't allowed to leave the sect grounds until they reached a certain age.

oh, him? he didn't get permission either, he just does it because he never cared about the rules. and it was this mindset that had all his seniors and other elders of the sect rubbing their temples in exasperation.

he watched from across the dining hall, chin propped in his hand, as the littlest ones tried to garner their attention by pawing at their thigh with small and chubby hands.

they laughed at the children's antics, carrying the youngest up from the ground, resting her on their lap as she was lulled to sleep against their chest. for a moment, they caught chung myung's gaze, looking at each other through the gaps between the crowd of people. they smile shyly at him, looking away when one of the older sect sisters asks them something.

chung myung's lips pull into a thin line, looking down at his half-empty plate of food awkwardly.

he wasn't sure why he wished for a moment that they were the only ones there in the dining hall then. maybe he wasn't used to having to share them with anyone, it was always just the two of them. with how chung myung was so quick to pick fights, nobody his age wanted to hang around him. only they had the patience to even try. and because of that, they slowly lost their friends — because if anybody wanted to be friends with chung myung, that person surely had something wrong with them.

he felt bad. knowing that he was the reason why nobody wanted to associate with them was a shitty feeling. he tried to chase them away in the beginning, never resorting to hurting them but he wasn't ever nice to them either.

go away!

nuh-uh!

that was always the way they greeted each other back then. he would hide from them in the tallest cupboards in the kitchen or in the trees or even the rooftops but they must have learnt something from his chung mun sa-hyung with how they still caught him each time effortlessly.

right.

this is how it's supposed to be. seeing them surrounded by so many people, all looking at them in awe and wonder. this was how they should have lived all this time.

the usual appetite he had vanished. pushing the food away, chung myung gets up to leave, slipping away into the cold night and away from the action.

white puffs of air float upwards at each exhale, gravel crunched under his feet as he drags them to bring him back to his room. he doesn't make it far though — there was a pitter-patter of light footsteps coming his way. he sighs and chuckles to himself.

he would know that sound of footsteps anywhere.

looking over his shoulder, he sees that the toddler sleeping soundly in their arms. it was amazing, how they managed to carry the child running without waking her up from all that shaking. he wonders for a moment if...

chung myung-ah.

he tilts his head.

let's put her to bed. she must be tired from staying awake for so long, poor baby.

he listens to them coo softly over the little girl's nose scrunching up from the cold. chung myung curiously pokes at the mounds of fat stored on the child's cheeks, snickering when the kid frowns in their sleep, grunting in protest.

they gasp and slaps his hand away.

hey! don't do that!

they whisper-yell, cradling the fussing baby's head closer to their chest, shushing her cries. rocking their arms, hoping the child would go back to sleep, which she thankfully did.

chung myung only looks away from their accusatory gaze.

═══════════════

there used to be a nursery a little aways from the main dorms.

it wasn't there anymore. much like most of the buildings that used to stand here in mount hua back in its heyday.

it was just one of the many little things that had been torn down from trying to salvage sellable materials. that was nothing more than a product of time, and the actions taken by a sect struggling to feed the mouths living there.

it's been a hundred years, after all.

═══════════════

why would you do something this pointless?

chung myung couldn't understand them. he leans against the wall with his arms crossed, talking to them through their window, with him on the outside as they were drawing out lines on a parchment paper by candlelight.

hm... but i don't think it's pointless though?

they state simply, not once looking up from their work. feeling neglected, chung myung whines a little. they were finally back after a good few years and now that he wanted to spend time with them, they're too busy? please look at me. he wants to say, beg even.

you're awfully clingy these days.

he hears their breathy chuckle. and the corners of their eyes crinkle up, lips barely hiding that wide toothy smile he'd missed seeing. though, it looked less childish than he last remembered. that's right. they're both grown up now, they're both adults now.

he wishes that they could be kids forever.

mostly because kids don't think too hard or dwell too long on things that hurt their brains. and whatever new winds that have begun to sail on the ship since they've returned to mount hua, was bringing them to a different destination than he thought they'd end up. he wasn't going to gamble on the possibility that they might have taken notice of this subtle change like he did too. all these thoughts hurt his head.

he listens to the sounds of the calligraphy brush dragged across the paper, tingles travelling up to his brain. it was late, he should be back in bed... but...

ahh...hnn...

chung myung yawns, not bothering to be polite around someone he's known his whole life. he hears them giggle again, but this time, they set their brush aside. leaning across the table, their fingers fiddled with something, soft clanks of wood bumped into each other for a moment before the window was finally thrown open.

come inside.

they call out to him with that same soft smile.

woah there! you shouldn't be inviting a man into your private quarters so easily like this! what if he misunderstands something... this is so intimate you know...

he gasps dramatically, even if this wasn't his first time in their room, this was his first time in their room as an adult. it was very much a significant thing to him.

they laugh again.

...you jest. we're friends, what's there to misunderstand?

ah. of course. they were only friends. nothing more, nothing less. what was there to get confused about?

he wordlessly climbs in through their window. taking off his boots before putting his foot down on their pristine floorboards. it's hard to forget about that time they scolded his ear off for dirtying the floor they had freshly cleaned.

you still remember to take your shoes off huh?

they mumble quietly.

you don't have to do that anymore though. i'm not as nit-picky as i used to be. i can always clean it up again.

he thinks they've certainly changed quite a bit.

his thoughts wander more, but his gaze never once leaving the drawings that came into being on the paper. thin and thick lines that formed into what he recognised as the entire scale layout of the current mount hua seen from above. he marvels at their small drawings of furniture in each of the miniature rooms.

he moves to stand behind them, eventually sitting on their bed after changing into the spare set of sleeping attire they've kept in their wardrobe just for him.

as the night wore on, he finally succumbs to his tired state, burrowing under the covers of their bed. he calls out to them to go to bed too, but it seems they've chosen to ignore him in favour of their work. he didn't have half the mind to try again — not when they had that look in their eye. it was almost like a possession, some innate obsession that they'd somehow unearthed within themselves in the three years they were gone.

he doesn't remember them ever being like that. if anything, they were the most laid-back person he's ever known. with no particular ambition, no wants beyond what they needed... not much plans for their future. he didn't know what happened to them before they decided to leave, he still hasn't asked them about what happened in the time they were away. they've changed, and deep down he feels a little bitter for getting left behind, falling asleep with those thoughts running in his mind.

the next time he woke up, it was the beginning of daybreak. the room was still dark even with the sky slowly turning into a pale violet. he felt the covers lift and they climbed into bed as quietly as they could, not realising chung myung was very much awake.

ah!

they gasp, startled by the red of his irises staring right at them from under the blanket's dark shadows.

you scared me...

they mumble and whine tiredly, falling into his chest, his outstretched arms circling their waist, pulling them closer.

m'sorry...

his lips ghost on the crown of their head, a hand hesitates to cradle the back of their neck. what if that was too much? sure, they've huddled together under the covers on cold mornings like this countless times before... but they were younger then. now, things have changed. but maybe it's more him than they, or it was both.

he could think about that later. right now, he feels so warm and relaxed he feels himself drifting back to sleep again.

═══════════════

that day when he had dug into the ground to find the secret vault for the ledgers, he just barely missed the pile of scrolls sitting on the bottom of the bookcase.

he got curious, opened them and saw a set of familiar drawings.

the lines were faded from a vibrant black to a faint grey and the parchment had also turned a little yellow on the edges. his fingers traced over the writing at the corner of the paper. it was a signature of that person's name. he tries and fails to remember the way their hands held onto that brush they'd often used.

it's been a hundred years, after all.

═══════════════

recently, the elders have been discussing about what to do with some of the main halls.

you see, they've neglected the management of the buildings in favour of setting aside the budget for other matters like investing in expanding the local businesses or other miscellaneous affairs. they'd figured there wasn't really a need to keep up with building maintenance, not when these halls have been standing well and good for the past few centuries.

though the main issue now was that there was a wee bit of a nothing-too-serious case of termite infestation going on in the wooden frames on a select few of the said buildings. ugh, more work everyone around.

oh! but it's not for chung myung though!

he remained blissfully unaware about the current plight of a certain person until he comes across them slumped against the outer walls of the back gates, head in their hands.

hey...

there was a slight hesitation in his voice.

hm?

they look up to meet his worried gaze with a confused, sheepish smile. loud growling of their stomach interrupting the moment.

he feels his irritation grow. seriously! they were old enough to take care of their own needs! no sane person would choose to ignore those needs to keep on working!

nausea hits them hard when chung myung pulls them to their feet, the world around them spins as their knees grow weak and buckle. thank god for his reflexes, catching them before they fall to the ground — but now what?

he does what chung myung does best.

throwing the poor and sick, now his supposed patient, over his shoulder like a sack of rice.

they don't even bother fighting back instead, they fade in and out of the intense feeling of wanting to throw up on chung myung or passing out — wondering to themselves if this guy was genuinely trying to put them to an early grave.

put me down...

nuh-uh. you need to eat.

they groan in exasperation.

and they passed out soon after.

in the days following that fainting scare, everyone agrees to take a step back. probably feeling guilty that they were driving one of their own like a workhorse. but that isn't enough to stop someone who's a known workaholic. chung myung doesn't remember them being like this before.

though a friend was a friend, and he shoves down the ugly feeling slowly brewing in the pit of his gut to take care of them. he was dependable when he wanted to be. just don't expect it to happen every time.

he knew the corners of the sect they liked to be, and in each of those corners, he'd put down his clumsily made step-stools — uneven and shaky, made from scrap pieces of branches and logs he found. it wasn't the best workmanship in the world, though they were delighted that he did this for them nonetheless.

not long after, there was a second, more polished and well-made stool that stood next to each and every one of those misshapen ones. and in the duo's later years, a third one was added to the lineup.

it was a common sight for the younger disciples to see two of their elders and another guy hunched over, roasting water chestnuts by the back gate like a bunch of delinquents until sect leader chung mun would drag their two elders by the collar as the third person trailed behind sheepishly.

═══════════════

the back gates once made out of brick and stone had been torn down with only a low fragmented outline left behind. chung myung walks around that area until he stumbles on a mound of dirt by a wall still standing.

curiously, he kicks off the top layers of soil, revealing a splintered and rotting piece of wood. the more he unearths, the more the mound begins to take the shape of three step-stools.

his mouth waters at the smell of roasted chestnuts wafting from the kitchen. he hasn't had that in a while.

it's been a hundred years, after all.

═══════════════

loud banging noises from dawn till midday were the norm this past week.

almost everyone bit their tongues from complaining. it was a necessary process, after all. even the elders held back from commenting on the ruckus. of course they did, this whole mess was their fault! who asked them to neglect building maintenance!

they were perched on a bamboo scaffolding, mumbling curses under their breath. straining to pull out rotted wood, trying not to squirm at the disgusting look of wet mold. cleaning out the gaping holes and filling them out one by one was a cheapskate way really — but what the elders ask for, they had to deliver. no matter how tiresome the job was, they have to prove themselves.

somewhere in the back of their mind, a voice was always condemning them. telling them over and over on repeat how useless they were, not being able to pick up on the basic skill of using a sword in a martial arts sect. the odd one out, the nail that stuck out, the stubborn thorn that got on the soles of one's foot. all descriptors that applied to them. their master, a man whose name they didn't want to speak of, was a cruel one. they always felt like a freeloader, taking and taking like a parasite, his words, what use did they have other than being another mouth the sect had to feed?

just as the rest of the world faded into a blur, a familiar voice cuts through the fog of their spiralling thoughts.

he calls out to them, face red from a combination of alcohol, running away from the seniors and the heat of summer. he clamours up the scaffolding with a small basket and a bottle of wine, trying to hide himself from view.

you aren't expecting me to hide you from our seniors... are you?

chung myung laughs nervously.

i'm not going to lie to someone to cover your ass.

urgh... you sound like those shaolin monks talking about the five virtues of righteousness...

they were about to snap back when a flurry of footsteps came their way — chung myung retreats further into the shadows, stilling from making any more noise. they glance over at him, before turning over to continue with their work.

a few of the junior brothers stop at the foot of the scaffolding, panting a little. the boys look up to their senior, nudging amongst themselves to ask the whereabouts of their other runaway senior.

uh, senior... have you seen...

the timid voice of the junior was interrupted by the loud banging of the hammer against the wood. and every time there seemed to be an opening, the banging quickly resumed again.

the boys decided to just give up and report to the elders that they'd lost track of their runaway senior. grumbling amongst themselves about how they've wasted their time.

chung myung remained in his spot, only coming out when the coast was completely clear. all while they were still hard at work, pulling out the wood, and filling out the holes.

he reached into the basket, plucking out a kumquat from the bunch. he blows the dust off it and wipes it clean before nudging the fruit to the other's lips.

open your mouth... ahhh...

the kumquats were just as sweet and tart as expected. they chew on it thoughtfully, gathering the seeds under their tongue to spit it out. chung myung's hand moves to hover under their chin, and they raise an eyebrow in question.

you can spit the seeds on my hand.

ew. that's so disgusting. what are you? a pervert?

the man looks at them indignantly. urgh, they were so rude! it's even worse than when they first left mount hua! to have believed life outside shaanxi would have changed this block-head potty-mouthed person was a pipe dream after all!

you... you're cussing me out, aren't you?

chung myung shakes his head quickly, knowing they weren't above tattling to their elders if he pissed them off. he's known this first-hand since childhood, and it doesn't seem like things were going to change in adulthood either.

you can buy my silence with some of those mooncakes you have or with the mandarin oranges in the basket.

he sucks in a breath. they were asking for his favourite mooncakes... they were so cruel... evil, evil bastard! what friend? this was clearly the devil in disguise, maybe he should have brought talismans to test that theory...

oi.

he grumbles in defeat, getting to work by diligently peeling the skin off the mandarin oranges, splitting the fruit into its little segments, and feeding it to them piece by piece with slices of mooncake in-between each fruit to cleanse their palate.

mmh... our chung myungie can be such a good boy too eh~

shut up!

they cackle and drown out his insults with the loud banging.

═══════════════

the sect had been gifted a few carts of mandrin oranges by the merchant guild. chun myung had taken a few to snack on in his free time, and as he peels the skin off the fruit, he thinks about how nice it'd be to have someone to share these little slices with.

he bites on a piece.

it was sweet, but not like he remembered. and there was also a bitter aftertaste that left him feeling emptier than before.

it's been a hundred years, after all.

═══════════════

war was such a devastating thing.

beyond the obvious loss of lives, there was also the grief gained from seeing someone who is still alive and kicking lose all that made them... them.

chung myung hasn't been himself in a long, long time. he barely remembers through the haze of liquor-induced stupor the type of person he used to be before this endless bloodshed. he smiled less, got agitated more often, and even for someone who had always seemed to attract wayward troublemakers this was all too much. he wonders what went wrong, did that person also notice something was wrong with him?

no. that person surely noticed. they were an architect for god's sake — being observant was part of their job description. he wanted to ask them why they hadn't been so hard on him like everyone else. the tension hanging in the air had made the sa-hyungs lash out at him, he somehow became the scapegoat that took on the blame for the smallest errors. not that he minded, he understood they didn't mean it, but it doesn't make it any less hurtful.

myung-ah.

he looks up, eyes clouded over and dazed. a vaguely familiar figure makes their way towards him, talking with someone, presumably the tavern owner, in hushed voices before a hand caresses his head gently. chung myung leaned into the touch, it was as comforting as it always was. he hasn't been seeing them as often as he'd like these days... he frowns at the realisation.

myung-ah. let's go home.

he groans as he feels them lean him against their shoulder. he's been told he smells like plum blossoms, most of the other swordsmen that practised the plum blossom divine arts did too — but they didn't, and he becomes curious about what they smell like. nuzzling his nose into the side of their head, he catches a whiff of what could only be described as laundry left under the sun.

this person... how was it possible for someone to be this comforting in every aspect of their being? it doesn't make sense, they were human were they not? how was someone able to have such a clear mind at all times? even chung mun sa-hyung slipped up once in a while, losing his patience, just like he did earlier today when he chastised chung myung for not taking things as seriously as he should have been.

do you... do you also think i haven't been doing my best?

he mumbles under his breath, voice strained and cracking just a little. he felt his stomach drop, out of nervousness or dread, he wasn't sure. maybe it was even both.

the two stop walking. they were at the foot of the steps leading up to the front gates. he looks at them, afraid to hear what their answer would be. he tries to laugh off his question, peeling himself off them and was just starting to go up the steps when he feels their hand grip at the back of his uniform.

they pull him back towards them and hesitantly pushed him to sit. chung myung watched the expressions on their face morph through the gaps of his hair hanging over his eyes. he was the most terrified he had ever been in his life — ever since he'd come to terms with the fact that he saw the person standing before him as someone more than a family or a friend, any prospect of them thinking of him in a negative light was enough to have him running with his tail between his legs.

he dare not say he was in love with them. not when he held so much unresolved resentment towards them for leaving him behind. he wished, still to this day that they hadn't gone off to find what they were good at. they should have stayed within the walls of the sect, they should have stayed here with him, where they would have never bloomed their talents and made everyone want to take them away from him. they could have been all his if they stayed, and he could have held them as close as he wanted, envelop them with his whole being. his love, all his, his, his.

chung myung-ah.

he tried not to make a face.

our chung myung works hard in his own way. i don't know about the others, but i do. i know you have your own ways of working hard.

they brushed his hair back, tucking some strands behind his ear. he hated it. he hated how it made him melt under their fingertips, hated how even after all these years he didn't have the courage to admit to something this simple.

they didn't know all of him. if they did would they still touch him this tenderly?

his hands find their waist, and then their hips. musing at the way their pupils dilated and shook, he tugged them towards him. they stumble over their feet, falling into his chest. there was a stupid grin plastered all over his face as the other tried to get up from the embarrassing position. his arms circle around them, pulling them in once more, setting them on his lap.

...you're drunk. you know that right?

they push away his face that had been inching closer. he holds their hand covering his mouth, pressing his lips against the inside of their palm — kissing it once, twice, a few more times until he felt satisfied, before moving their hand to rest on his cheek. he rubs his sand-papery jaw against their smooth palm, the tip of his nose tracing their wrist, thumb pulling down the long black bracer so his lips could reach the thumping vein lying under the thin layer of skin.

their breath hitches as his teeth grazes over their wrist, he ponders for a moment before biting down on the flesh. hard enough that they wince, whimpering softly, but not enough to draw up blood. they feel the back of their ears grow heated, not really wanting to find out whether it was from embarrassment or arousal. hitting at his shoulder with their free hand, they chide him for doing something so indecent out in the open, where anyone could see.

do you hate it?

that's not the point!

but... you don't hate this... right?

they turn away from his prying gaze. he wasn't wrong, they didn't hate that he was doing this. it's just... what if...

chung myung clicks his tongue. with a snap of his fingers, the alcohol in his system leaves completely in a translucent haze. he scoffs at the way their nose crinkled in disgust from the overpowering smell. he cradles their face into his chest, saving them from their little predicament. now sober, he agrees that he had been a little too carried away, so he digs his heels to the ground and kicks off into the air — still carrying them in his arms, jumping on rooftops until he reached the front of his private residence.

he refused to let them down even as he walked inside, despite their balled fist thumping on his shoulder. using that same scolding tone, still said in a soft voice, not once raising it in annoyance or anger.

with wide strides and feet falling heavily on the wooden floorboards, he locks every door and window in the residence — just in case someone becomes too nosy. tense body only relaxing in an exhale when they were both in the privacy of his bedroom. setting them down on the soft covers, he kneels at their feet, resting his chin lightly on the plush of their thigh, mumbling about how sorry he was for the roughness earlier.

it's okay.

their hands work their way through his hair, nails scratching lightly at his scalp, cupping his cheek and turning his face up towards them.

chung myung was a beautiful man.

he knows it, but their look of quiet admiration made the blood rush to his face. he wasn't used to seeing someone look at him so lovingly, not when men and women would throw themselves on him from the lust they felt, not when most people closest to him always had a furrow on their brow from the antics he pulled. this was so new to him, he didn't dare move, lest it broke this tender moment.

have they ever looked at anyone like this?

probably not, he thinks, closing his eyes to savour the smooth pad of their thumb drawing circles on his cheek. smile tugging up the side corner of his mouth as the scent of the sun grows a little closer, their lips brushing over the hard lines on his face, his sun-kissed skin.

═══════════════

he doesn't have a lot of joys in this second life.

though there was one that everyone around him seemed to have picked up on. it was strange that someone as seemingly money-hungry as he was found content in the simplest things — his bedding washed in plum-blossom-scented soap, freshly dried to a crisp under the blazing sun.

what the others don't see was how behind the closed doors of his sleeping quarters he would hold onto the sheets so tightly in his grip his knuckles turned white. burrowing his face into the fabric, he breathed in deeply, trying to recall the face of his sun.

a hazy figure, a blurry visage.

it's been a hundred years, after all.

[murfeelee]

TS3 vs TS4 Features - Supernatural

I saw @moonbiscuitsims' comment here about how EA added "way more features" in their TS4 occult packs, and I wanted to talk about it in depth, cuz that's a misleading statement. Y'all know TS4's my trigger.

Cuz yes, on paper, EA offers a LOT of stuff in TS4 packs. But the saying goes: as broad as an ocean and as deep as a puddle. 😬 QUALITY, versus QUANTITY, which is crucial for replayability, customization, variability, and ultimate longevity. And another thing is the TIMEFRAME that that content was released. Sure, if it takes you 10 years to develop/dripfeed your frikkin game, ofc you can add more content over more packs; than if you'd just stuck to ONE dedicated pack, developed it in 1-2 years, and given people arguably BETTER, if not MORE content.

My gut reaction's to say EA had BETTER be offering more content! 😤 Not even to justify the ridiculous pricetag or anything, but for the simple fact that TS4's supposed to be NEXT GEN. It's SUPPOSED to be bigger & better than everything that came before it. Why are we sitting here for 10 years with TS4 if it ain't gonna increase ANYTHING but my rising blood pressure & trust issues?!

So Imma just examine TS3 SN in comparison with TS4's packs, and give my take on what's been going on, from 2012 (SN EP) to now.

Missing Features: TS4 Fairies

A fairy was the very first sim I ever made in TS3 back in 2009 (my avatar sim, Sakura). Watching the SN announcement trailer for the first time dang near made me cry. TS4 could never; moving on.

Missing Features: TS4 Zombies & Toadsims

TS4 Tragic Clowns are a W for the apple juggling & costume. I think EA was lazy by slacking on the clown just cuz he's already dead in Sunset Valley; and I guess they don't expect players to resurrect his ghost. SN EP did nothing to actually improve/expand him, just creating the alchemy Clown Potion; I guess to better integrate fishing the Clownfish into the lore.

TS4 Vampires GP (2017)

This is an easy one. I've said since TS3 Late Night EP (2010) that TS3's vampires are utter dogtrash, and the SN EP did eff all to patch/improve them, and I will die on that hill (until someone figures out how to give convert TS4's functional coffins & vampire fights & special FX). Compared to every other occult, I have more mods installed just to try to fix how effing busted & stupid vamps are; and these sparkling Twilight dumb AF bloodsuckers STILL get on my dang nerves.

IMO, TS4 Vampires is hands down the best pack EA ever made for TS4. 10/10, the attention they put in that pack outclasses darn near everything else they did until TS4 Seasons. Undisputed W, yes. 👏

TS4 Realm of Magic GP (2019)

Disputed W. I gave it an 8/10 at BEST, cuz magic/fantasy's a win, but I am disappointed. If this had been a home run for EA, I'd've shut my dang mouth, ISTG. But alas. I went on a long AF tirade against RoM when I realized that a lot of its so-called "new" features were things we could already do in TS4, with a flashy coat of paint--let alone things TS3 & the SN EP did, and better. Some things I didn't mention though:

Muggles who ask spellcasters how to do magic are sent on a fetch quest for Magic Motes, which is EXACTLY what the ITF EP Time Traveler occult Emit Revelart makes normies do to, finding Power Cells to learn how to use the Time Portal.

The Witch's perks/ranks system works just like the Vampires one, so kudos to EA for not fixing something that ain't broke I guess.

The Spells: At MTS I actually broke down what each of TS4's spellcasters do that's largely nothing sims couldn't do in TS3, even before SN came out (via SHT Genies or SSNS Aliens, or the Store).

TS3 Witches (let alone other lifestates) can do most of this either through alchemy or inherited features from older TS3 packs. This was a huge RoM dealbreaker for me, as I'd been hoping for WAY more innovative features in TS4's spells--the whole point of Spellcasters--than just an elaborate set of cheats. TS3's Witch's main features are fewer, but far more cohesive, IMO. (Granted, NONE of the packs holds a single candle to the GOAT that is TS1's Makin Magic, which had WAY more features than TS2, TS3 & TS4; and was CHEAPER. But I digress.)

There's no unique features with TS3/TS4 wands; they act the same way; the effects are just different, and TBH I'm not a fan of either--I wish wand/magic FXs could be modded in different colors at least (like BLACK 😈). But I DO like that in TS4 they can duel for rewards.

TS4 brooms do EFF ALL in a closed world; EA made them exactly they way they were in TS2, with zero innovation. (IIRC kids can't even use them--EA's hatred for kids & elders ALMOST matches MY hatred of EA.)

IMO beekeeping doesn't count, cuz TS3 included it as a small feature for alchemy ingredients in the SN EP, while TS4 integrated it far better in SSNS to work with gardening, which is genius.

Speaking of SSNS, there's the Weather Stone that only appears if you have both SN & SSNS, so occults can conjure magical weather effects over the whole world. (I'll talk about the best perk under Crystals SP.)

Familiars are the certified W for me with RoM. They're the best & most unique & most well-thought out & feature of the GP, IMO. ❤️

Extra TS4 features I think are supremely cool are spellcasters' books floating whenever they read anything. And their cauldrons have much cooler animations, and I'm so jealous that y'all can cook food in them; EA should've added that to the Store Cauldron, although I guess I understand why they didn't in the SN EP Alchemy Cauldron.

A lot of RoM's features are wrapped around Glimmerbrook. Access to Glimmerbrook comes with the Glimmer Stone key--and I WOULD use that as a segue into the Crystals SP, but I'll hold off. I already vented about Glimmerbrook in my Werewolves GP rant--but I'll get to that in a minute, too. The bigger issue is what even constitutes a TS4 "world"--those non-customizeable tiny AF clusters of tiny AF lots and huge swaths of decorative set dressing--let alone the Diagon Alley ripoff EA loves promoting like I was born yesterday and never saw Harry Potter. GORGEOUS realm, of course, like many EA worlds are. But they're largely just set-dressing, which irritates me to no end.

TS4 Paranormal SP (2021)

I've ranted & raved about Paranormal before: 7/10 at best.

TS4 Seances with the crystal ball work very differently from TS3's Soothsayer's Crystal Ball, which wasn't about banishing ghosts, but improving progression for SN's Witches & Fortune Telling (career). Fortune Telling's NOT a ghostly job, although the boho aesthetic carried over to TS4 Paranormal. (On top of the fact that they promised this whole NOLA Voodoo vibe, but delivered ZERO cultural accurate features reflecting ANYTHING from Haitian Voodoo, wtf? It's all hippie boho New Age BS--why TF does the tutorial ghost look more like Johnny Depp and less like Dr. Facilier, I ask you, EA.) Granted, some of the interactive objects are nice, like the calming dollbaby & magic candles to purify lots--kinda like TS3 incense. But again: 1-trick ponies. Yes, the animations look great, but crystal balls are typically for divination, asking spirits about the past/present/future, not removing haunting poltergeists, so I don't really get it. Stylish & gorgeous! But GENERIC AF substance-wise.

IMO, TS4's Ghosts are an L across the board; all the way from the base game--that bafflingly launched in 2014 WITHOUT ghosts until they were patched in a whole month later after everyone rose a stink (IIRC TS4 kids can't be ghosts!?)--to present. EA's been over/course-correcting from that gaffe ever since, with like double the amount of Death types than TS3. I DO NOT like how TS4 ghosts colors are tied to Eeemotionnsss~! (more like they're a sentient Plumbbob). TBF, kudos to TS4's smoky cloudy effect when ghosts appear. But the lack of unique deaths & ghost types in RoM (aside from Spellcaster Overload & the Night Wraith) made me roll my eyes, as SN EP's ghost types are some of my faves (ITF & SHT are also my top 3).

IIRC it was the SN patch that unlocked all types in (basegame?) CAS to make playable Ghosts. SN's Philosopher's Stone allows sims to summon new playable Ghosts (and ofc allows for transmutating cheap objects into gold ingots--more on that later), or it can just kill you and make YOU the new ghost, LOL.

But as for features, sure, TS4 ghosts have more interactions--though they're all pretty, rather than scary (vs TS2 ghosts, which were SCARY). TS4 ghosts lost the HORROR to just be silly/goofy or just CUTESY--especially the little spectres from Paranormal.

Speaking of horror, I can't talk about ghosts w/out bringing up TS3's AMB EP, cuz the Ghost Hunter (profession) is the real parallel with TS4's Paranormal Investigator (freelancer). In TS3, they actually stuck to their promised main premise (Ghostbusters). Overall, TS4 Seances are nowhere near as fluid as TS3 ghostbusting. In TS3 you can run all over the world using gidgets-gadgets to detect/fight ghosts & sprites, not just inside haunted houses, but anywhere they happen to spawn (ofc inc. graveyards). You're not just locked to a lot/house the player already knows is haunted (cuz you just toggle Haunted Lot to trigger the feature--SN's Ghost Gnome object isn't exactly the same, but it does spawn hauntings on the lots you put them in). ANY TS3 indoor/outdoor residential/community lot can randomly get haunted during a Ghost Hunter's shift; and you never know which one it'll be, or what kind of shenanigans will happen--EVIL ghost or just some sprites--which skyrockets replayability & keeps things fresh & interesting.

Functionally, Paranormal had no right to be that dang good for a Stuff Pack. That was a Game Pack; IDKY EA insists otherwise; esp. when it offered more & better things than some actual GPs. I'm confused. However, a serious problem TS4 has is that it gameifies everything to the point that TS4's numerous features lose their spontaneity, and just become rote--BORING. The ectoplasm everywhere just becomes another mess in your (haunted) house you have to clean--CHORES. On top of me not liking TS4 ghosts' look & vibe (and I HATE TS4's Bonehilda). Quality over quantity, EA!

TS4 Werewolves GP (2022)

Speaking of ghosts, waaaay back in 2020 I told the spirits precisely what I wanted from a potential Werewolf dedicated TS4 pack. Did they listen? HAYUL NAW. So in 2022 I said everything I had to say about the Werewolves GP, and accepted the fact that EA's INEPT.

Do TS4's wolves have MORE features than TS3? YES ofc (even in 2012 everyone complained that Witches & Faeries got the lion's share & Werewolves got shafted--they're basically glorified Familiars for Witches/Alchemist to find collectibles--more on that below). But was most of it GOOD features though? Debatable! I LOATHE the 2 wolf packs, which was what I'd most looked forward to; plus the whole world's aesthetic was ugly homeless-grunge, without a single bit of creativity or originality--only EA could make monsters as terrifying as werewolves effing cartoony hipster squatters. 🤦 7/10 at best.

TS4 Crystals SP (2024)

These crystals are ugly, EA. Which is weird, cuz the basegame TS4 gems & esp. space rocks are GORGEOUS. I have no idea which vision-impaired dev at EAxis thought these nasty looking opaque poorly-painted rocks were pretty.

Features-wise, granted, having TS4's bonafide Gemology skill from the Crystals SP's nice, instead of TS3's basegame hidden Collector skill. But the functioanlity's largely the same: cut more, unlock more (which I prefer to cheat my way through--TS3 thinks I have time for all this gameplay, LOL). (Not to mention all the extra features TS3's Aliens, Simbots & Plumbbots have when interacting with gems, space rocks, or metals.) TS4 only got 10 gem cuts for 27 crystals (=270), (+25 metals); compared to TS3's 16 gem cuts for 28 gems (=448), (+16 metals with their own separate ingots). Of TS4's 10 cuts, the Skull Cut is the ONLY one I think looks better (ignoring the atrociously flat textures ofc) than TS3's (which TS4 copy/pasted--no agates, no crystal ball, wtf).

The Garden Gnome cut isn't unique to TS4, as TS3 has several craftable (glass-only) Garden Gnome cut from the Glassblowing Machine (more on that soon).

The only TS3 gem that genuinely affects sims is radioactive Tiberium from the WA EP, so more features is definitely a plus. The best addition is TS4's Charging Grid feature--I LOVE that TS4 crystals can be imbued with magic energy--it's like TS3's Store Crystal Tree, ITF EP's magic crystal plants & the SN EP Mood Lamp all rolled into one. @greenplumbboblover's WIP Interests & Hobbies mod brainstormed integrating that functionality that back in 2020.

The functionality of the TS3 SN EP Gem Cutter & the TS4 Crystal Tree are similar, though ofc the tree's wallet & eco-friendly; and it's a plant, not a hunk of machinery, so it naturally has that going for it.

There's also the SN-SSNS Weather Stone, which gives werewolves the ability to summon a Hunter's Storm, raining a hail of gems, rocks & metals over the whole world for easy loot farming. (The best perk, though my fave is the Faeries' Reviving Sprinkle for gardening.)

Aside from SN, TS3's real equivalent is actually the Prism Art Studio Venue's Artisan skill. Cuz the REAL seller's the jewellery-making. There's ~100 CAS items in Crystals SP (plus 30+ regular Build/Buy mode objects). At $10, the Crystals SP is a steal, at least when compared to the BONKERS $20 tag on TS3's Prism Art Studio at the Store (2014). IIRC the Glassblowing Machine newly added 16 craftable CAS items & 13 craftable glass objects (as SN already gave us the Gem-Cutting Machine & AMB already gave us the Widgets work station); and 8 Build/Buy objects (inc. the goated L-shaped "spiral" stairs). It also added 5 craftable Perfumes for sims to use.

So while the Crystals SP added NICE features, I wouldn't say they added MORE features. Rather, they added more content: Quantity. But as for Quality, I think TS3 beats it out--the Prism Studio's a effing ripoff, but AFAIK it added features TS4 still doesn't have yet (craftable glassblowing & perfumes, spiral stairs); and the objects it did add are pretty nifty.

Timeframe-wise, we got the 2014 Prism Art Studio's Glassblower 2 years after the SN EP's Gem-Cutter; 5 years after the 2009 basegame. Compared to TS4's wait for the Crystals SP 2 years after Werewolves, 3 after Paranormal, 5 after RoM; and a whopping DECADE after the basegame launched in 2014. Wtf, EA?

Still, I'd say the Crystal SP's a 7/10 (there's not enough gem cuts, the gems textures are ugly, and most of the features were lifted from things TS3 had innovated 10+ years earlier).

TL;DR

Quantity =/= Quality.

EA's been taking way too long releasing packs to have the nerve to present debatable content--it should be goated releases EVERY time; esp. since everyone agrees TS4 is easier to create content for, so much smaller in scale/scope, and with an infinitely larger budget & fanbase than The Sims franchise ever had. There's zero excuse for EAxis' mediocrity, when TS3 was churning out EPs like it's life depended on it: SHT, SN, and SSNS all came out the SAME EFFING YEAR. 2012 was LIT.

EA, you suck.

[menofsweaters]

Okay, I finally broke down and read the MHA epilogue leaks and I'm throwing my thoughts at the wall here so they'll get out of my brain. I fully did NOT seek these leaks out, but I was inundated with them all over tumblr, Insta, and even TikTok.

First and foremost, canon genuinely means very little to me. 90% of my enjoyment of MHA comes from fan works, including creating my own AUs and whatnot with friends, so like... canon being bad can't hurt me. I'm also old and have lived through way worse queerbaiting and fandom wars. There's also probably a lot lost in translation that we don't know yet and won't know until the official release. 🤷‍♀️

In no particular order, here is my brain dump on:

Izuocha and shipping in general

- as mentioned above, I don't really care about canon and I don't think ships need to be canon to be meaningful and enjoyable. I'll ship characters who never meet. I'll ship characters from completely different fandoms. Who's gonna stop me? In general, I think the shippers need to stop putting so much emphasis on a particular ship being canon.

- ALL THAT BEING SAID, BKDK was my first MHA ship and it's incredibly important to a lot of people. I think Hori had the opportunity to do something with that relationship that would have been groundbreaking, and he chose not to. He also had the opportunity to simply not focus on any ships and he didn't do that either, soooo... yeah. I think it's okay to be bitter that we still can't have a canon queer ship in shounen. It's reasonable to be disappointed. BKDK and Togachako were the most moving and complex relationships portrayed in the entire manga, in my humble opinion, and it does sting that they got pushed aside.

- I am not a fan of Izuocha, even though I generally like Ochaco. I just find it boring. I'm not enthused by het ships in general, but Izuocha in particular has zero chemistry in my eyes. They're also very similar characters in their mannerisms and personality, and I prefer "opposites attract" type ships that are more dynamic. I prefer Izuku and Ochaco as besties. They went through such similar traumas during the war, being unable to save someone that truly mattered to them, I would prefer to think of this ending as them helping each other move past their PTSD to rekindle a closer friendship.

- ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, while the chapter did not explicitly pair up ANY couples (except apparently Mushroom Girl and Vantablack? which is?? cute but random???), it's definitely implied that Izuocha is pursuing a romantic relationship. Feel free to tell yourself something different but it is what it is.

The hero rankings and other random plot crumbs

- the rankings also felt so incredibly random to me?? Best Jeanist dropping below Mt. Lady? what??

- good on Lemillion being number one though, I always imagine him in the top spot and I think the MHA world needs a hero like that to lift their spirits after the war. It makes sense that he's popular.

- also makes sense that Shouto is number two but wtf do you mean AIR CONDITIONING HERO

- so many of the updated character designs on the adult heroes are BAD, but Jeanist looks slick

- they changed Shinsou's hero name? for why? and gave him a bad haircut??

- absolutely no mention of how Hawks and All Might are working to revamp the hero rankings system, do not accept this

- Mirio is one of my favorite characters but his scene was weird af

- so many inconsistencies in the art style and messaging

- people randomly saying ominous things with no follow through like "heroes won't be around for much longer" or whatever

- I saw someone mention an implication that Bakugou is married to a woman but I didn't find any sign of that in the leaks, so I think that's fake. I know everyone is upset about Dynamight being number 15, and I agree that's too low, but that irritation is low on my list of grievances.

- the whole conversation between Baku and Deku about joining his agency was confusing and unfulfilling? I get why Deku would say no to being a sidekick, but I also don't feel like that's what Bakugou was offering, and they had the conversation in the car with Kirishima... just awkward. Which segues into my next talking point

Horikoshi's writing as a whole

- I think you can easily track the degradation of Hori's writing from the vigilante Deku arc to now. It's disjointed, confusing, often strays from established themes, and meanders around on weird tangents. It's... not great. It's not awful, but not great, especially for an epic climax/epilogue. Which is fine! He's a human being, not a content machine! But I think it's fair for fans to be disappointed that the writing has gone downhill, especially since the art has improved and become much more dynamic and interesting at the same time.

- in my view, it's incredibly easy to see that Hori lost his passion and was completely burnt out on MHA as we approached the end. The writing reflects a desire to wrap up everything quickly. Vital details are written in text rather than shown on the page. Storylines and themes are abandoned. Characters die, fail, or excel completely off screen. Hori spends more screen time and puts more emphasis on random side characters (see: Dai and the figure escaped a basement and was saved by that grandmother) rather than main characters, probably because it would be too difficult to give better endings to the main characters.

- you can also see the difference between the complex symbolism and plot points set up since the very beginning in earlier chapters, and all of that complexity and the hopeful vibes are bled away at the end. It's sad, actually.

- I saw an interesting take that this final chapter is Hori trying to make everyone happy - implying Izuocha while leaving BKDK still kind of open, making Deku a teacher AND a hero, listing all of the rankings, etc. and I think this is the theory that makes the most sense to me. He's taking a safer route and trying to please as many fans as possible, while unfortunately disappointing everyone.

- I've also heard that there's pressure from editors or Shounen Jump to have the series end this way, but I don't know about that. I'd think they would want to keep milking this cash cow forever. Maybe that partially explains the lack of queer canonical ships.

- SPEAKING OF WHICH, I've heard consistently from the fanbase that Hori is more progressive and more queer-friendly than other mangaka, but I honestly haven't seen any proof of this. Feels like wishful thinking. I've also hear that he's had other canon gay and trans characters, but the only ones I know of are Magne and Tiger, both characters that are simply implied to be gender nonconforming and maybe trans. But these are also not necessarily great portrayals, even if they are intended to be canon. Maybe there are characters in other works of his that I don't know about.

- maybe I'm jaded, but I also can't shake the assumption that Hori purposefully implied Izuocha at the end because he doesn't like his main characters being seen as gay. We've seen this in many other fathoms. Even if Hori didn't want to make BKDK canon, there are other popular queer ships that could have been given a tiny spotlight if he really wanted to have that representation.

- this is going back to shipping a bit, but Hori had this entire manga to create a meaningful relationship between Izuku and Ochaco and he just... didn't? Instead he literally and figuratively pushed them together at the end? Why not show them going on cute dates and getting closer? Why not a kiss? It just feels like a half-hearted cop-out. Ochaco has more chemistry and more screen time with Toga's ghost living in her brain than with Izuku. I am not exaggerating.

- I think Hori has a major case of "oops I accidentally wrote a powerful queer love story" syndrome (see also: Destiel) and just didn't know what to do with that. There's so little room for chemistry with other characters when you make the entire story about Bakugou and Izuku's relationship. 👀

- I think a lot of fans put Hori on a pedestal and expected perfection, but it turns out he's just one guy and he can't please everyone. I never got the vibe that he was a particularly great writer, and I never got the vibe that he was going to make BKDK canon. I think he (kind of like a certain JKR) created an amazing world and beloved characters, and then really fumbled at the very end when all the pressure was on.

Okay, I think I've cleansed my brain enough of all this.

TLDR: I think Horikoshi's writing has unfortunately been going downhill for a long time and this is the culmination of that. I feel bad for the man because he's probably under so much pressure and so burnt out - he wants to be done. Maybe we would have gotten something better if Hori could take some extended breaks or hand off the manga to someone else.

I'm disappointed about BKDK but more in an "I'm disappointed that we couldn't have this representation in 2024" way than a personal way. I would have preferred no ships. I'll keep enjoying fan content of lots of different ships that aren't canon and you should too! The canon can't hurt you! I hope we get the queer shounen we all deserve one day.

[isshonihongo]

JLPT N5 - している [Part 1]

している is a grammar point that is very very important in Japanese. The “して” part represents a verb in the て form. The “いる” part is the verb いる, which will change to different forms (for example います、る or ます).

している actually appears in several levels of the JLPTs - from N5 all the way to N2! As for the N5 level, there are 2 main ways that you will see it used. In this post let’s look at one of them!

First, here is your vocabulary.

【Repeated Actions】

First let’s look at how している is used with repeated actions. These actions are mostly physical.

= I climb Mt. Fuji every year.

Notice the two highlighted words, 毎年 and 登って. If 毎年 weren’t there you would almost always translate 登っています as “am climbing”. However, because 毎年 expresses repetition, it forces us to translate 登っています as “climb”.

= Traffic accidents happen on this street often.

起きる is a verb that can mean “to wake up” or “to occur”. If sentence #2 didn’t have the word よく it would be understandable to translate 起きています as “are occurring”. However because of the よくwe understand that there is repetition and so we go with the “occur” translation instead.

= Well you see, Dad has been going to China for work once a month since last year.

This time the word / phrase that expresses repetition is 毎月１回 meaning “once a month”. This tells us that 行ってる is “goes” instead of “is going”. Also, the い in the helping verb いる can be dropped, making 行ってる a more casual way of saying 行っている. It also works for います so that 行ってます is more casual than saying 行っています。

Finally, take a look at the nuance section. This んです is actually a different JLPT grammar point. The gist is that it’s used when you want to answer a question with extra details that you think the listener/reader wants to know. The ん is a shortened version of the particle の.

【Occupation or Social Position】

している is also used to talk about someone’s occupation or social position.

= Taiki teaches Japanese at a Thai university.

There is no period of repetition stated outright, but we understand that teaching is a job that you do over and over. Thus, you should use 教えています instead of 教えます。

= Aya is a trading company manager.

In this case, the しています simply means “is” or “has the position of”.

= My little brother studies European history at a German university.

This last example is a good one to remember. Most times, if you say 勉強しています it will mean “currently studying”. However when it comes to being a student, the translation shifts to “studies (for an extended period of time)”. Actions that can be interpreted either way (like studying) will sometimes have time words / phrases like 今 (now) or 2、3時間 (for a few hours). That tells you that it is an action in progress. Other than those kinds of phrases, usually the meaning will be repetitive.

【Conclusion】

So there you have it! The first している is associated with repeated actions, occupations, or positions in society or work. It’s fairly easy to figure out if the sentence is talking about an occupation or a position. For repeated actions, the key is to look for words / phrases that express repetition and remember that they cause you to use the している version of your verb. With that, you should be fine!

Rice & Peace,

– AL

👋🏾

[causeimcrayzeebee]

wow. chapter 3. that was a lot. spoilers down below as usual.

also before we start i just wanna say to all of you guys to PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!!!! ik that this week n last week were so much but please don’t forget to prioritize your health!

okay i was taking notes in my notes app while watching cause i wanted to have some reminders so i could write a coherent review on the trial but god. that fucked me up. i did genuinely really love the trial but it’s just a lot to process so i will be waiting till i write any analysis, so don’t expect any very soon LMAO um so yeah, my notes started off decently normal (lie but they were intended to be normal n serious) and then became more and more incoherent. here ya go, my notes copy pasted over here ☝️

chapter 3 yay

“exactly what it sounds like tamba” THIS BITCH CHANNELING KAMIMURA I CANTTTT 😭😭😭

HAMA TELLING WADA TO BREATHE I ALREADY TWARED UP WUAUE HAMA HELPING WADA W THE BATHROOM THATS SO SWEET

watari telling okazaki off hell yeah lets go but also IAGAH

DONT TALK ABOUT HIM GRRR

hiroaki is actually so smart n we don’t talk about that enough!!!!!! please can we talk about that more!!!!!!

OKAZAKI NOT SHUTTING UP BYE 😭

Hasegawa having to defend himself with evidence only 😭

OH MY GOD HASEGAWAS RAGE WHEN BEING SUSPECTED BC HE CARED THE MOST 😭 the va work was fantastic i got so fucking sad

watari getting itchy from the demon waves im CACKLING

HIROAKI POWERING THROUGH THE BODY DESCRIPTION LETS GO 🗣️🗣️💯💯💯💯

god i knew that was SH cuts but GOD I appreciate how much hasegawa tried to keep it private 😭

Hama being a king n bringing up the bop on the head like tambas poison theory bye

LAB SAFETY VIOLATION 😭 Okazaki label picture dropping when

FINALLY! IT WAS POISON!!!! lmfaooo she was so excited im so happy for her

hiroaki being truthful about trying to kill himself what the FUCK IM GONNA CRY

PLEASE KEEP YP WITH THE REST OF THE GROUP LMAO  STOP BULLYING HER SHES TRYING

hayashigeki divorce arc 

nah but fr what if i cried they’re both so valid but lowk yanagi got a point 😭

WHY DOES TAMBA NOT KNOW WHAT A 3D PRINTER IS I CANT KEEP DEFENDING YOU LIKE THIS 😭😭😭

they shared a bed let us REJOICE 🗣️🗣️

“when she came back from the void” “THE WHAT”

WADA RAGE WADA RAGE WADA RAGE

woodshop mention 🗣️🗣️🗣️

hiroaki being strategically logical and yanagi being more emotional god I LOVE HIRONAGI FOILS

“it seems as though we’re somewhat divided on this issue” SCRUM DEBATE 😜😜😜

yanagi using so much energy to argue with mfs 

the way hayashi gets it out of him,,, HE WAS TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR AUAGSHS

Hama as a safety precaution in wataris room LMFAO I LOVE THIS DUO SO MUCH MORE THAN I EXPECTED

YANAGI STOP BEING SUSPICIOUS UAGAHEUE

it cannot be tamba absolutely not please that’s gotta be insane she does NOT have the motivation for that

tamba is lowk distressed :(

so technically can only be okazaki, yanagi, or tamba????? im gonna cry either way

OH I DIDNT EVEN THINK ABOUT THE SHIRT THING BEING MORE THAN THE COLD

guys pls don’t let it be yanagi

please no

guys no

god fucking no

oh right his hand isn’t working let’s go

NOT MY QUEEN HAYASHI

GIRL NOT THE TRACK RECORD MENTION 😭😭😭

nah wait why is hiroaki suddenly becoming the emotion n yanagi the logic

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

HASEGAWA HAVING A PISSED OFF WADA MOMENT AUAHSHS FUCKKK

NO NOT WATARI HIDING ON THE COAT BEING USED AS EVIDENCE EUEGEGG

sus ahh Okazaki….. with 20 minutes left……. how we feeling Okazaki nation…..

stop lying vro

wadas ribs has been added to your truth bullets

COAT REVEAL 🗣️🗣️🗣️

WATARI 😭😭😭😭😭

oh god i wasn’t expecting that

WATARII MY SWEET BABY OH MT GOD POBRECITO RUCK FUCK MT STUPJD BAKA LJFE

THE LAUGHING

WHAT

WHAT RHE FUCK

WHAT IS GOINNGGG ON

FACE REVEAL1?1?2?3?

BRO OHTTA THE FRAME

OH MT GOD

IM SCREAMING WHAT IS THIS

IM LOSING IT

WHA

IM CRYING WHATBIS THIS 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

this is not real

SODA AT THESE LINES UPPP LMFAOAOAO

OH MY GOD THEYRE NEMESES THATS KINDA AWESOME NGL

everyone being so done with her bye 😭😭😭

SHE WANTED TSUNO SO BAD???? TOXIC ONE SIDED YURI WTF????

IM STILL PROCESSING

this is not happening

THE VOICE CHANGE

EVERYONE IS SO DONE WITH THEM IM SCREAMING

guys why do i kinda love this

tsuno didn’t gaf

WADA GET THEIR ASS 😭😭😭

there is nothing classy about whatever this is

no bc the rivalry is insane

POBRECITO WATARI

KAMIMURA DIED FOR NOTHING WHAT THE FUCK

WHAT THE HELL

WHAHWTWHWKE

loathing unadulterated loathing

get her ass what the fucking shit

NO CLOSING ARGUMENT??????

KAMIMURAS SHORT TOO

OH MY GODDDD

IM SCREAMING

THIS IS CRAzyyt 😭😭😭😭

WHAT IS THIS

this was villanous

GET THEIR ASS HASEGAWA PLSSS 😭😭😭😭

i am in such shock

FUCK YOU FOR MESSING WITH MY KING IM THROWING HANDS IMMEDIATELY

WATARI OH MY GODDDD AUSHSH 😭😭😭

“GO DIE ALREADY” LMFAOAO

the editing for this episode is crazy

wada so real

wada get their ass pls

END THIS SHIT ALREADY

BRO WAS CONFINED FOR A SECOND HELEPP1??1?2?2

fourth wall breaking icon??????

i think im hysterical what do you MEAN HE DIED FOR NOTHING

okay back from crying and pacing around for 10 minutes let’s continue

THE TONGUE WAS A TROPHY?????????? I need another break WHATVTHE fucke

smart to get hasegawa outta here but FUCK YOU

FUCK YOU OKAZAKI

PLEASE VOTE PLEASE PLEASE WHAT THE FUCK!!!

actually when is the Okazaki lore drop happening i need it

THIS MAKES ME SO SAD KAMIMURA DIED BEFORE ANY OF HIS DREAMS BECAME TRUE AND HE LIVED A MAINLY TRAGIC LIFE AND IT ENDED TO HORRENDOUSLY????? IM SO UPSET ACTUALLY

EXECUTE THEIR ASS

WADA PLEASE BE THE EXECUTIONER

OH MY GOD HES TRYING TO HIT THEM OH MY GOD GET THEIR ASSS

OH GET THEIR ASS HASEGAWA

HASEGAWA RAGE RAGE RAGE RAGE HOLLYYYYY FUCKKKKKKKK

WHAT THE RUCWHAT THE FUCJS

WATARIIII OH MT GODDDDDDD

im in actual tears hey yeah what the hell

WATARI HASEGAWA AND WADANOH MT FUCKING GOS THIS WAS SO DESPAIRING WHAT THE FUCK. THE FUCKz THE FUCK.

WATARI 😭😭😭😭😭😭

im actually crying now

I CANT SEE THE SCREEN MY TWARS DUDE WHAT RHE HELL

THE WAY THAT THE CAST IS SO DONE WITH THEM

WELL BE FOXES OKAY? OH MY FOD STOP STIP STOPS FTOOSTBOSRN AROP IT I WILL FOLLOW YOUR FLAME WHAG IF I CRIED

im at such a loss okay trial over execution time

me too dr yonekura

IM STILL PISSED ABOUT KAMIMURA

I MISS KAMIMURA SO BAD

I MISS HIM SO MUCH OHHHHHH MY GOD BRING HIM BACK GUYS PLEAS EPLEAPELWMEPALEPALDJRPWMAPEKE

the way yonekura is so done w okazaki 💀💀

WHO OKAYED THAT HOWD THAT GET THROUGH BUDGETING IM IN TEARS

this chapter was simultaneously the most serious tetro has ever gotten and the most unserious at the same time

oh so she just like suffocated

YONEKURA DOES NOT THINK THIS WAS INNOVATIVE IM SCREAMING LMFAOAO

not an expensive motive???? oh boy

OKAZAKIS TRACK COMING IN I CANTTTT

kamimura nation I think we need a minute (a year of losing it)

THEY ARE CHANGING THE ANNOUNCMENT MID GAME?? wait a damn minute we didn’t have the three person rule before hand bye why did i not realize this,,,, fuck y’all doctors btw

WHAT

OKAZAKI WAS YONEKURAS KID???? AND THEIR NAME WAS YUME????? oh guys I need a lore drop so bad. and also to get through the staffside logs. maybe this is not the surprise it is to me I’m bye. 

the fuck is wrong with yonekura

how are parents even working

soryr i genuinely had to take another break my mom walked into the room and i had somewhat gotten it together n she asked what happened and i just started BAWLING oh my GOD it’s genuinely been so long since I’ve cried like this over a fictional character

ok we are locked in now

OJIMA WHAT THE FUCK HE TRIED SO HAR DOH MY GOD THE TEARS CAME RIFHT BACK

I DONT WANNA LEAVE YOH BEHIND OH MY GOD

HIROJIMA MY BELOVEDS

my eyeliner is GONE bro 😭

guys I really fucking love hiroaki

she done w yanagi 😞

TAMBA APOLOGY RAHAHHHH i love tamba i was a hater a bit during the trial but it’s because i love her,,,,

I LIKE YOU TAMBA YOURE SOMETHING TO ME

MY HEART OH MY GOD “I JUST MISS YOU” IM GONNA CRY AGAIN

NOW I HAVE TO FORGIVE YOU okay bro….. just say you love her…..

their friendship is so special i NEED TO DRAW THIS HUG SO BAD

THEYRE TALKING TO TSUNO

FUCK

AUAHSOEIEOE OH MT GOD

I MISS TSUNO GUYS I MISS HER SO BAD

WADA 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I LOVE YOU OH MY FOD I CHOKEE J CANT SEE ANSYTHING ON THE KEYBOARD ANYKORE

NEW WASA CLOTHES THATS SO FYXJING CUTE AWWW I LOVE THIS SO MYCH

HE WAS DRAWING HIM TO MAKE HIM AN OURFIT1?2?2?2? FUCKKKK TETRO RHINES MY LIFE SLASH POS

WADA NEW CLOTHES SPRITE WHEN

WADA HIROAKI HUG IM DRAWING THIS IMMEDIATELY

WADA HAIR CUT WADA GLOW UP 🗣️🗣️🗣️ FUCK YEAH 

im so glad we ended that on a high note that made me so happy after everything else

no hasegawa episode? interesting…. unless we get one in like an hour or something but yk wow

i do want to say that despite the emotional rollercoaster that was this trial, and the frankly INCREDIBLY UNEXPECTED outcome, i did like it narratively. ik the decision of having okazakis character go this direction is gonna be incredibly controversial amongst the community but i really loved it. kamimuras death was almost meaningless, that’s tragic AS FUCK. but “meaningless” deaths happen. it’s not strange to kill off a character for no reason, because people die unfairly way more than we even want to think. and it SUCKS. it sucks SO BAD. but it’s not unrealistic. I think the unserious tone of Okazaki really made the tone of the entire series become even darker and more sinister. wow, anyways take what im saying here w a grain of salt bc im kinda hysterical rn so yeah.

PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF YALL!!!! in the end, it heavily impacts us because these characters mean things to us, but PLEASE prioritize yourself <3

[fleuraliasave]

*OUTDATED NEW VERSION AVAILABLE HERE*

❤ Version 6.0 Fleuralia Save File ❤

Download link down below (please read entire post before installing)

This save file uses all EP’s, GP’s (not Journey to Batuu), SP’s and most of the kits (Country Kitchen, Blooming Rooms, Incheon Arrivals, Retro Fit, Industrial loft, Moonlight Chic, Little Campers, Pastel Pop, Everyday Clutter, Bathroom Clutter, Simtimates Collection, First Fits and Desert Luxe).

What’s new in this update?:

San Sequoia has been completely redone, added multiple new lots, updated other lots and provided make-overs for the households.

All households that are currently living in the different worlds have set sim characteristics and conversation topic prefrences.

Added new households.

Updated existing community lots with objects for infants like changing tables and toys (where it would make sense to have them, so not in night clubs and such). Added infants to some of the households.

Added splash pad items to some of the pool lots.

Changed up some of the older lots (example Boba Tea shop in Copperdale, ice cream shop in Brindleton Bay).

Current Status of Worlds:

Finished worlds: Willow Creek, Oasis Springs, Newcrest, Magnolia Promenade, Windenburg, San Myshuno, Forgotten Hollow, Brindleton Bay, Del Sol Valley, StrangerVille, Glimmerbrook, Sulani, Britechester , Evergreen Harbor, Mt. Komorebi, Henford-on-Bagley, Tartosa, Moonwood Mill, Copperdale and San Sequoia (NEW!).

Finished vacation worlds: Granite Falls and Selvadorada.

Finihed other lots: Hospital, Science Lab and the Police Station.

To be updated: the Magic Realm, will either be included in a future update or on the gallery (OriginID: fleuralia)

What do you get with this save?:

For my save file all lots are either completely new builds (almost all) or renovations, ofcourse created by me. Exceptions: I have added the official builds for the releases of the Paranormal SP by Dr Ashley and the Dream Home Decorator GP by Deligracy to this save, since I thought they deserved a spot. These two are therefore not my own creations, credits are given in the description to Dr Ashley and Deligracy. Mt. Komorebi, Henford-on-Bagley, Tartosa, Moonwood Mill, Copperdale and San Sequoia lots are largely created by GameChangers. Most lots have gotten small updates, others are completely new builds by me.

All the townies had make-overs plus I added new families to spice it up a bit. Some of the townies are made by other creators, who are given credits in the description of the household. All the townies in the different worlds have a story, some include sentiments and adjusted relationships to the story.

Added plenty of community lots to give your Sims something to do (YAY!). Almost every world has one restaurant, but it also includes festivals that represent the four seasons (park lots) and a fully functional shopping street in Magnolia Promenade (toy store, bridal store and more).

I have added rental lots so you can go on vacation in more worlds. For example in Sulani, Willow Creek and Windenburg.

Other details:

As mentioned at the beginning, this save uses almost all packs (except Journey to Batuu and some kits). This means that if you download it without owning or installing most of the packs a lot of objects will disappear from the save, but if you are not bothered by this you can still download and play in it.  

I disabled the autonomous fame gain and neigborhood action plan voting/environmental changes, you enable them again in the pack settings menu.

I would love to add some households in this save created by all of you! Add your household under the hashtag #fleuraliatownies in The Sims 4 Gallery, you can add a storyline and world in the description but thats not obligatory. If I respond on your creation it means that I have incorporated it in the save for the next update.

Sadly every game update comes with a lot of bugs. I suggest before reporting problems in the save to me, to check on forums if its related to a general bug/glitch or to mods (if you use them).

Questions and supportive feedback are always welcome, you can reach me here via a comment on this post, an ask or through a DM 😁

How to make it work in your game:

Download the save file from the link below.

Drag it in your saves folder under: PC/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves.

Change the numbers if you already have a save with the same name.

It should now show up in your game as: Fleuralia Save Version 6.0.

DOWNLOAD (SFS) (outdated)

!!Don’t re-upload or claim as your own!!

Future updates will follow after each pack release (if it includes a world). The time the update will be uploaded after each release depends on how much I have to change and on my work schedule around that time.

Last but not least, enjoy and till next time! XX

Fleuralia

Feel free to support me ❤️: Ko-fi account

[letomills]

I recently shared a set of 22 skins that I intend to be all the skintones I use in my game. But they wouldn't be complete without corresponding showerproof versions for my favorite custom body shapes, so here we are.

This post will give you sets of showerproof skins (see definition under the cut) of 22 skins each, for the following body shapes: • Momma Lisa F / Melodie9 Fat M • Androgyny F / Lifa's Trans M • Trans Melodie9 Fat M / Trans Momma Lisa • Melodie9 fat family • Dummy Thicc • MartaXL edit • Athletic Girl / Lean Body Builder

These sets are repo'd to the original 22 skins that you need to get from here (go over there for more details on the textures). If you don't have those, none of the showerproof skins will show up.

Download links below, with important info (please read and don't hesitate to ask questions if something isn't clear).

What are showerproof skins? They are skins linked to a custom body shape (or body shapes). When you give a showerproof skin to a sim, that sim will have the body shape that the skin is linked to when they are nude (taking a bath, streaking, doing ACR stuff, etc.). Showerproof skins have no effect whatsoever on clothing, because clothes use their own meshes.

Geneticized • Like the original 22 skins, the showerproof skins from this post are geneticized, except for the alien ones (which will therefore be outside of the genetic spectrum and behave like the Maxis alien skin). • Across all sets, the same skintone will have the same genetic value, indicated at the end of the file name. For example, the lightest skin always has a genetic value of 0.05, no matter which body shape it's linked to. • When two sims have a baby in game, the baby will get one of the skintones that fall in between or on the parents' skintones on the genetic spectrum. Since these showerproof skins are geneticized, the baby could get one of them, regardless of the body shapes that the parents have. Two Maxis-sized parents could have a baby who will grow up to have a fat body shape, two fat cis parents could have a baby who will grow up to have a thin trans body shape. If you've been looking for a way to determine which of your sims should be trans, this is a way to let the game decide for you.

Townified or not • For each set, you will have to choose if you want the showerproof skins to be townified or not (delete the folder you don't want). • Townified skins can appear on new townies and NPCs that spawn, non-townified skins cannot.

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The sets

Uncensored previews are included in the downloads (not for all skintones because the archives would get too heavy for my Mega). Ages not shown have their standard Maxis shapes.

❥ Momma Lisa - Melodie9 Fat Male (ML-MFM)

AF & EF are linked to Momma Lisa, AM & EM are linked to Melodie9 Fat AM, TF/TM are linked to Melodie9 Fat TF/TM.

Download ML-MFM: SFS / Mega

Included meshes: the Momma Lisa meshes are CelestialSpider's edit of Frannysims's; the Melodie9 Fat Male and teen meshes are my fixed versions of the ones from Melodie9's MTS. All are blockfeet. If you want sexyfeet, replace the files in the "Required meshes" folder with these: SFS / Mega.

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❥ Androgyny AF-EF - Lifa's Trans AEM (AndroF-AMTr)

AF & EF are linked to Androgyny, AM & EM are linked to Lifa / @withlovefromsimtown's Trans Male. Teens are Maxis.

Download AndroF-AMTr: SFS / Mega

Included meshes: the androgyny meshes are Aquilegia's edit of Gothplague's (I fixed the feet and crotch mapping), the AMTr meshes are the ones I made for these. All are blockfeet. If you want sexyfeet, replace the files in the "Required meshes" folder with these: SFS / Mega.

✨Alternative set: if you want teens to have trans shapes too (choose either the "AndroF-AMTr" set above or the "AndroUF-UMTr" set below) ↓

❥ Androgyny TF-AF-EF - Lifa's Trans TM-AEM (AndroUF-UMTr)

TF, AF & EF are linked to Androgyny, TM, AM & EM are linked to Lifa / @withlovefromsimtown's trans male shapes.

Download AndroUF-UMTr: SFS / Mega

Included meshes: the androgyny meshes are Aquilegia's edit of Gothplague's (I fixed the feet and crotch mapping), the TMTr and AMTr meshes are the ones I made for these. All are blockfeet. If you want sexyfeet, replace the files in the "Required meshes" folder with these: SFS / Mega.

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❥ Trans Momma Lisa - Trans Melodie9 Fat Male (TrML-TrMFM)

AF & EF are linked to @kaluxsims's Trans Melodie9 fat Male, AM & EM are linked to her Trans Momma Lisa. Teens are Melodie9 Fat TF/TM.

Download TrML-TrMFM: SFS / Mega

Included meshes: the TrML and TrMFM meshes are @kaluxsims's; the Melodie9 Fat teen meshes are my fixed versions of the ones from Melodie9's MTS. All are blockfeet. If you want sexyfeet, replace the files in the "Required meshes" folder with these: SFS / Mega.

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❥ Melodie9 Fat Family (M9Fat)

TM/TF/AF/EF linked to Melodie9 fat TM/TF/AF/EF, AM & EM both linked to Melodie9 fat AM. Children and younger are Maxis.

Download Melodie9 fat family: SFS / Mega

Included meshes: my fixed versions of the ones from Melodie9's MTS, all blockfeet. If you want sexyfeet, replace the files in the "Required meshes" folder with these: SFS / Mega.

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❥ Dummy Thicc (DT)

AF & EF linked to @digisims2's Dummy Thicc, TF linked to my Dummy Thicc TF. All others are Maxis.

Download Dummy Thicc: SFS / Mega

Included meshes: by Digi and me, they have blockfeet & Maxis hands. If you want sexyfeet and/or smooth hands, here they are: SFS / Mega. Replace the files in the "Required meshes" folder with them - as long as you end up with one top/-hands file and one bottom/-feet file by age group, you're good.

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❥ MartaXL

AF & EF linked to Brattylulu's MartaXL, TF linked to Melodie9's fat TF. All others are Maxis.

Download MartaXL: SFS / Mega

Included meshes: the MartaXL meshes are the Maxis hands and blockfeet ones I made for this set, the Melodie9 fat TF ones are my fixed versions of the ones from Melodie9's MTS. If you want sexyfeet and/or Marvine feet and/or smooth hands, here they are: SFS / Mega. Replace the files in the "Required meshes" folder with them - as long as you end up with one top/-hands file and one bottom/-feet file by age group, you're good.

✨ Alternative set: if you'd rather have M sims linked to Melodie9 fat male (choose either the "MartaXL" set above or the "MartaXL-MFM" set below) ↓

❥ MartaXL - Melodie9 fat male (MartaXL-MFM)

AF & EF linked to Brattylulu's MartaXL, TF/TM/AM-EM linked to Melodie9's fat TF/TM/AM. Children and younger are Maxis.

Download MartaXL-MFM: SFS / Mega

Included meshes: the MartaXL meshes are the Maxis hands & blockfeet ones I made for this set, the Melodie9 ones are my fixed versions of the ones from Melodie9's MTS. If you want sexyfeet for everyone and/or Marvine feet & smooth hands for MartaXL, here they are: SFS / Mega. Replace the files in the "Required meshes" folder with them - as long as you end up with one top/-hands file and one bottom/-feet file by age group, you're good.

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❥ Athletic Girl / Lean Body Builder (AG-LBB)

TF, AF & EF are linked to Marvine / @blueheavensims's Athletic Girl; TM, AM & EM are linked to Synapticsim / @blueheavensims's Lean Body Builder. Children and younger are Maxis.

Download AG-LBB: SFS / Mega

Included meshes: you'll have to choose between 2 versions, either "HD" or "low poly" (previews are included). The HD meshes are the top and bottom meshes that BlueHeavenSims shared here, with a couple tweaks (smoothed normals on the forearms, fixed shoulders on the LBB fat morphs) - they have sexyfeet, smooth hands, 3D nipples and are high-poly (6,454 poly for full-body AG; 8,601 poly for full-body LBB). The low-poly meshes are top and bottom meshes I made based on Marvine's original AG and Synapticsim's original LBB v.2.0 (I added morphs with BlueHeavenSims's morphs as reference) - they have blockfeet, Maxis hands and are low-poly (1,960 for full-body AG; 2,186 poly for full-body LBB).

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Further info

The standard set that these showerproof skins are repo'd to contains defaults for S1-4 + alien, which are skins #3, #7, #12, #19 and Tea Leaf's Stargazer. Therefore, skins #3, #7, #12, #19 and Tea Leaf's Stargazer from the showerproof sets are technically repo'd to your skin defaults. They are modified versions of the default-repo'd showerproof skins I've shared before (ML-MFM & M9FatFam, AndroF-MTr, TrML-TrMFM, DT, MartaXL). Corresponding sets are on the same files so you can replace the older ones with the new ones if you wish - I recommend that you do if you use the defaults from the standard 22-skin set because then you'll get the geneticization, the right thumbnails & tootips and all).

All of these skins are tooltipped, have their custom thumbnails and are sortindexed so that they will appear tidily set after set in your custom skins bin. If you use other skins though, there is a chance that those will appear jumbled up with mine if their sortindex numbers happen to clash. It's only an aesthetic issue but if it bothers you, see this tutorial by Kurimas on how to change the order in which clothes appear in the CAS catalogue (it works for skins and other bodyshop content too).

Why make these skins repo-only? 1. Repo'd files = smaller files. 2. If you don't like the textures that I picked for the standard set, you can replace them with your favorites in simPE if you know how to do that and all the repo'd files will follow suit. This way you can get all the showerproof skins to have the textures that you like with much less work than if you had to edit them one by one.

For more info on skin genetics and how to change a skin's genetic value, see Rikkulidea's tutorial.

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Please let me know if you see something wrong that I missed.

[daphwritesworld]

Right! Horny thoughts!

Because I must fulfill my Duty as ❤️‍🔥anon.

Just thinking about Keira being an EATAH, no like really, Just Keira being an absolute munch and getting down with It for a good hour (even though she could definitely keep going, She stops out of pity for you). The First time She goes down on R, She thinks She might ascend to the heavens, that's how good Keira is.

And she'll get down anywhere, at home, out for lunch, at training, at her parents house (She once ate R out against a wall in her childhood room)

Ans when R says She doesn't want her to, Keira gets all whiny and begging because She NEEDS to taste R.

So yeah that's it

-❤️‍🔥

OH MT GOD YESS!! MUNCH KEIRA 🤭 she could stay between R’s thighs all day long, but she knows that’d just be selfishly for her own pleasure. but god can she seduce R into giving up that pussy any and everywhere. Keira has mastered the art of foreplay to a T. She knows where to kiss, pinch, and squeeze, to get R to agree to let her head nestle between her legs. the amount of times one of the girls (from either teams tbh) have walked into the gym late a night thinking they’re the last ones there….just to be met with the back of Keira’s head and R’s legs spread wide open with the most pornographic moans echoing throughout the room. they are genuinely so fed the fuck up those two horny bastards.

oh lord and the amount of times Keira has got R into the backseat of her car at lunch. always starts with a promise of going to get R her favorite food, but ends with Keira eating her favorite meal right there in the parking lot. she of course gives R the lunch she had packed for herself since she gets some scolding for lying about feeding her baby. R does NOT play about her food.

oh god and at her parents house!?! Keira has never in a million years done anything even remotely sexual in her parent’s house out of pure respect….until she brought R home to meet them. how could she not devour her girl’s pussy when she shows up in a dress that hugs her curves just enough to tease. something modest enough for her parents, but sexy enough to drive Keira herself absolutely insane. the way she holds R up against the wall like it’s nothing— not even breaking a sweat as her tongue spilts her girlfriend open while her family cooks dinner right down below them. it’s dirty, disgusting, and downright diabolical. to have someone be this good with their mouth, but not allowed to make a peep? oh that is torture. R cannot look her parents in the eye without a deep shade of red covering her cheeks. they just think she’s nervous and a cutie. telling her “Don’t let this one get away, Keira! she’s an absolute sweetheart.”

and i feel like R would definitely use that as a punishment for Keira🤣 Keira watches ahead in the show they watch together? she can’t eat R out until the next morning. Keira pisses R off in general? “Fine! But your mouth is in timeout!” and Keira almost falls over when she hears that. “Babe? Oh come onnnnnn. I was just kidding,” and now Keira is on her knees in front of R with a look of terror on her face. “Please don’t do this! It’s been forever since you last let me get a taste of you!” and she ends it with pressing kisses into R’s thighs. but R just pushes Keira’s head away as she gets up and starts walking up stairs. “Babe you ate me out like 2 hours ago,” R rolls her eyes as she stomps up the stairs. Keira is hot on her trail tho, puppy dog eyes in full effect and whines of complaint flowing from her lips. Keira will literally do any and everything to get back into R’s pants i mean good graces!! she will become a cook, a maid, and a begger. i’m talking her face buried into R’s chest as she begs and whines and pleads for forgiveness. and she will not give up until R’s just fed up and pushing Keira’s head between her thighs. “Then shut up and make me cum already then!!” and Keira just smiles because….after R had made her beg and plead and wait like that? yeah she’s not stopping until R’s blacking out from the pleasure firing off in her brain.

[mdianasims]

Grace Hastings

for @bloomingkyras Travelogue Journey Bachelor Challenge.

Name: Grace Eleanor Hastings Age: 26 (young adult) Aspiration: Renaissance Sim Traits: Horse Lover, Squeamish, Genius, Business Savvy, The Knowledge. Likes: sunrise yoga, spa days with friends (hand massage and manicure are essential), riding along the shore with her horse, grandma's signature Beef Wellington. Dislikes: cooking (would start a fire if left alone in the kitchen), bugs (will drive them away with high-pitched screaming), mucking out stables, people who think they are funny when they're not.

------

Grace grew up in Brindleton Bay, with her parents and younger brother. A lot of her younger years revolved around horses and Grace became a skilled equestrian. Many Summer holidays were spent on her grandmother's estate in Henford-on-Bagley. The family spent their Winter vacations in Mt. Komorebi to go skiing.

In her teenage years, Grace dabbled a bit as a Simfluencer. It did make her more popular in school and even got her elected as prom royalty, in spite of graduating early (the really smart kids aren't usually popular). She still has a love for S-Pop (more of a guilty pleasure these days) and her signature hot pink nails and lips to show for her Simfluencer days. She wanted to take a gap year and travel, but her parents didn't allow it on account of her being too young. So, Grace went to study economics at Foxbury and, of course, graduated with honours.

After graduating university, Grace took a job in her mother's business, something to do with the San Myshuno stock exchange. Instead of using her degree and connections, Grace opted to start at the bottom of the corporate ladder. Which may have been a mistake. Apartment life in San Myshuno didn't agree with our country girl. She got into a relationship with a co-worker and things got messy, both at work and privately. After she broke up with him, she moved back to her parents house in Brindleton Bay. She was more than happy to commute every day if it meant spending more time with her favourite horse, Artemis.

Recently, Grace felt that her job didn't really suit her anymore. And things were complicated enough, with her ex and her mother constantly around at the office. She went back to what she knew best: Social Media. Of course, Grace has to start all over again, but she can take a more serious route this time. It still requires a lot of trips to San Myshuno (because that's where 'it' is happening), but at least she can do so on her own time.

Grace is good at almost everything she does and that makes others perceive her as arrogant. She simply does her best and certainly has her flaws. It's not a coincidence she's participating in a bachelor challenge with a bachelor who enjoys cooking. But that's not her only reason for participating. Grace feels she does have a few things in common with Shawn and hopes they can find that common ground and build on it.

A few notes:

Grace's backstory talks about a few things. I did not actually play through all of that. I created her as a young adult in CAS and then cheated some skills and a job. So she has no degree or reward traits from her teenage years.

I wanted Grace to have the overachiever trait in addition to her 3 base traits. But I spent soooo long on compiling her outfits, that I didn't feel like playing her for a long time as well (I have my own BC to get back to ;) ). Also, respect to people who are good in CAS - we all have our own talents, and mine is in build mode.

I know there was more I wanted to tell you about Grace, but I either forgot or didn't manage to work the into the story the way I imagined.

@bloomingkyras if there is anything else you want to know, feel free to message me.

To conclude this, here's the (mandatory for all BCs) swimsuit photo ;)

[invisiblequeen]

For @randomsimmy 's Challenge: May I Officially Introduce...Edelynn Nishioka?

Age: Young Adult

Pronouns: She/Her

Orientation: Bisexual

Hometown: Mt. Komorebi

Current Town: Del Sol Valley

Relationship Status: Single

Occupation: Fashion Intern to Octavia Moon

Aspiration: Happy Family

Traits: Eccentric, Loyal, Diva

Likes: Hipster Fashion, Deep Thoughts, Carnival Beats Music, Family Motivated Sims, Idealist Sims, Silly Behavior, Affection, Mixology, Spirited Sims, Blue, Streetwear Fashion, Pink, Dancing, Cross-stich, Soul Music, Polished Fashion, Classical Music, White

Dislikes:Ranch Music, Pranks, Research And Debate, Pessimistic Sims, Yellow, Media Production, Orange, Basics Fashion, Boho Fashion, Cottagecore Music, Complaints, Ambition-less Sims

Dating History: A string of short-lived romances and embarrassing first dates. Somehow, I turn off the guys who are worth a damn while attracting fucksims like a magnet.

Desired Qualities In A Partner: PLEASE be as passionate about fashion as I am! It doesn't have to be your job to be your thing. I know i KNOW I'm a diva, so either match me or help me tame my overly diva outbursts. And if you accept all my wildness, I'll accept all of yours!

How I Handle Social Situations: Well, the party don't start till I walk in...haha! I got a formula: charm+style. You got those two things and I promise, you'll set the stage at any event!

Celebrity Crush: Why just one? Why can't I have Rihanna AND Michael B. Jordan at the same time? Who says I have to put one over the other??

Have I Ever Been Unfaithful?: Tuh! If anything, I'm TOO faithful. I'm the quickest when it comes to changing my status on social media. All you'll get from me is some light-hearted flirting if you approach, and that's just my personality, but if you try to take it further, I will flaunt my girlfriend title in your face until you leave!

WHAT DO WE THINK, @randomsimmy?