#i might merge layers we'll see

[bitterpngs]

even though this is almost done, if i tried to finish this i think i’d explode. maybe.

[mcjeetus0133]

Paintings of the Bygone Era (1 - Foundation)

I turned Fallout 4 into the Near-Best Neo-Classic Fallout Experience you can find, and how to do it yourself.

Today we'll be talking about the starting base of this journey.

Conventually, I would start this off by talking about the barebone basics and the biblically accurate textbook basics. Grab your Fallout 4 Script Extenders, make a list of the most essential mods to pick and then grab everything else on top of that for when you're done. That sort of thing. And then carry on with the rest of this after a very considerable amount of important exposition. But thanks to my first bit of experience with using modlists from the likes of Wabbajack for the first time, I get the opportunity to speedrun this one for you.

And it starts off by taking a trip with The Midnight Ride.

From the mind that brought you Viva New Vegas, and Tale of Two Wasteland's: Best of Times, the Midnight Ride is a dedicated Fallout 4 Modlist that provides one goal for you and one goal only: Bring you a Vanilla + Experience for Fallout 4 that is simple, clear cut, and it gives you the most stable Fallout 4 Experience you can find.

The Midnight Ride will feature the basics like Script Extenders, Downgraders, and a vast array of bug fixes tweaks and quality of life improvements that you might not realize you need for some. With an additional optional choice of an extended edition, where you get fixes and additional content that fit the theme and purpose of The Midnight Ride. But the main focus is going to be just the default with all the fixes since making sure you have the most enticing and aesthetically pleasing as possible experience by ensuring it is as stable as possible. (And plus, we'll actually be covering some of the additional stuff The Midnight Ride adds regardless in the interest of time.) The Midnight Ride will provide you with a lot of quality improvements like High PFS Physics fixes, stuttering fixes, your standard issues with the likes of the Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch, and even some bit of Fallout Classics like visible holstered weapons as one example.

Another piece of the optimization is two mods, one that is in The Midnight Ride's roster and another that is optional. And that is Community Fixes Merged, and Community Tweaks Merged.

Community Fixes Merged is a compilation of many fixes and additions that was brought together by various Nexus Mod Authors. This includes things like additional mesh fixes, bound fixes, sound fixes, transparency fixes, and everything in-between. They're all under one mod under open permissions and is part of The Midnight Ride Modpack for the sole purpose that in the offchance that if you don't see what you wanted fixed in the mod list chances are CFM will take care of the rest for you.

The second is the Community Tweaks Merged, and this is essentially an addon pack to Community Fixes and is entirely optional. Community Tweaks Merged provides another additional layer of fixes tweaks and improvements akin to the likes of CFM, however, it actually slips in a handful of mini-overhauls and improvements to gameplay and/or gameplay elements that make it more stabilized or practical in some cases. Community Tweaks is completely optional, and you can indefinitely run these two mods together at the same time as long as tweaks loads after fixes of course. However, I do run both of these because every opportunity to ensure stability comes first and foremost.

With all three of these things together, you got yourselves the basics of the Neo-Classic Experience, all fixes, no frills, and complete modularity- meaning that if you do have one or two things in mind for substitution or something else you had in mind to streamline the process, you can be able to do that. The Midnight Ride is very thorough, provides you with the do's and don't's, and points you to the right direction on what else you can do now that you have your optimized Fallout 4 at the ready.

Now thankfully this is the shortest bit, granted that this is the introduction to the newfound series, I could take a moment to break down the exacts on what it fixes or what it optionally adds, but some of the things that are open for discussion are also just as open to discuss when the future chapters of this series drops. And respectively so I think it is best to do just that as there is plenty to talk about especially in the next bit where we cover things like visuals, retextures and the sorts next time. So I want to congratulate you on reading through the first bit and hope the next few chapters will provide a lot more in terms of what will be expected.

[the-white-soul]

*Flowey at first seems really into it, taking ideas for the future from noelle. It's amazing how she can come up with so many threatening torture plans! However.... after the minute mark passes double digits, he begins to tune it out, just waiting for noelle to finish. He's not very patient. By the time she finishes her threat, Flowey is practically dozing off, bored beyond belief. When she asks him how it was, he snaps out of it and stammers to give a response.*What- oh- ah, yeah! You have a lot of good ideas. Maybe you could write down just the best ones for me? I might use them later on.

So Merg, what do you think? You really want to deal with miss angel of death here? Or are you going to run away guivering in fear like Clover and Arak?

(Merg was sleeping but then) "Oh, we were talking? I thought that we were just being rude little reindeer. Anyway no. Well not in the way you might expect anyway, all those people who fled were alive in the game. Sure, if you kill my character I can only play Undertale/Deltarune games and not explore the multiverse but I don't give a shit."

(Kara) "Let's kill each other then? How is it fair?"

(Merg) "How's it fair? How about you stop being a god damn hypocritic psychopath. Look around and look at me. What do you see? You think you would rather do this than that well actions speak louder than words. You've killed a lot of people, didn't you?"

(Kara) "People change, idiot."

(Merg) "Or do they just get what they want? *Laughs* You think that you would've been a good person if Flowey wasn't your best friend if you weren't also friends with Layer, and if Noelle wasn't still alive. Look at yourself, you are not becoming good out of the goodness of your heart. *Kara gets more and more mad with every word* You do it because you know you just want to be LOVED."

*Kara pins Merg down and starts to try and torture Merg by putting salt in their eyes.*

(Merg) "I don't care. YOU CAN'T KILL ME!!!"

(Layer) "Oh look you are, anyway I've figured out how to make good ice cream."

*Everyone looks at Layer confused and just weirded out*

(Layer) "Bad time I'll come back later."

(Merg) "*Runs away while everyone's distracted* I'm not running forever I'll be back. I swear to Asgore I'll be back."

(Layer) "Sorry."

(Noelle) "It's fine, we'll try your new ice cream. *Layer gives everyone ice cream.*"

(Layer) "I've got to go now bye. *Leaves and follows Merg* Alright I've made them distracted now let's talk. I want there to be complete control over everyone's soul."

[holdon-a-minute]

As Time Repeats

Chapter I

A New World

*Present Day*

Shuffling feet, deep laughs, screeching brakes, choirs of songbird, pieces of conversation...each adding to create the loud bustle that loafs through the street. Listening. She slowly raises her eyelids, to only be greeted by the soft morning sun welcoming each body with its warmth.

Shining smiles, trees of chartreuse, paves of stone grey, breeze-caught hair...all merging together to paint one picturesque scene. Watching. She rests back onto the wooden public bench, controlled deep breaths escaping through her button nose.

Mature parfum, strong mowed grass, golden-baked delicacies, polluting fumes, freshly ground coffee beans...scents of good and bad are to be known everywhere you turn. Inhaling.

Now comes feel.

"Ugh..." Renae lets out an exasperated breath in defeat, sitting her elbows on her spread knees and burying her face deep in her dry palms. She tightly traps her airways, holding her breath as the tears threaten to spill from her eyes once again, before she stops herself and forces the words off her tongue, "I do not want to feel this way." She may not be happy now, she thinks to herself, but this is the start of a new beginning. And at new beginnings there is always hope. "Be optimistic..!" she whispers to herself, but Renae knows better than anyone that it's hardest to keep up with your new start when you didn't even want it in the first place.

Standing from the bench, she turns her judging eyes away from the classy lady who had tried to sit down beside her, and soppily strolls down the direction of her destination. Renae pushes herself past—fitted in her signature style of a soft fabric zip-hoodie and a dark leather jacket layered on top—determined to get through the swarm of bodies and make it back to her quiet house quickly. She wanders through Paris as if she's known it all her life now; the street of shops damp and dewy. Wind whistles through her raw ears as they heed the leftover rain that pitter-patters through gutters, down drain pipes and into the city grids.

The screeching, beeping of a pedestrian crossing makes a deafening echo as Renae and a huddle of rushing people cross the cobbled road, instantly zooming her back into focus of reality. Walking through the avenues of France you can smell dozens of different scents everywhere and anywhere. But Renae's favourite of all, she's come to realise, is the trace of a gingerbread man that runs past her. Every time, he calls out, and every time she ends up chasing him to Mr Baker's Bakery. Mmm, the bakery. This is where the baker she's come to know torments everybody with his luscious pies and pastries sitting on display in the window. And when he opens his huge oven door every day, religiously at 10:30, the whole road is filled with the most sensational smell of freshly baked bread rolls.

When her leg starts to vibrate, she reaches into her pocket and answers the person calling, "Hello."

"Ren, how come you're not home yet? You're going to be late."

"I'm on my way now Alice, and I've got half an hour yet. That's plenty of time to get ready."

"Well have you had any lunch yet? You can't go on an empty stomach your nerves will get the better of you."

Renae chuckles, "I'm not that nervous Al, I'll just eat an apple or something on the way there."

"An apple? Alright then, whatever suits you, I'm not going to argue with you on this important day now am I?"

"No, and I shouldn't think so," she teases as a smile plays at her lips and Renae rounds the corner. "Right, I'm round the corner now I'll be two minutes."

"Okay hun, see you in a minute. Bye."

"Bye!"

Renae was now in the neighborhood, the rush of the street of shops (as Renae and Alice call it) now gone, giving way to the open and tranquility of her housing estate. She loves her short over-the-phone conversations with Alice. They always play quite amusingly, and never fail to reveal their bond of trust, love and laughs.

She swings into the hallway of her home, and is almost immediately greeted with a "Hello!" coming from another unlocated room of the two-bed house, as usual. She shouts back a 'Hi!" and rushes upstairs, dodging another of her Aunty Alice's extremely energetic speeches that are supposed to be the best motivator out there. She changes into something a bit more formal, touching up her makeup as she passes the standing mirror, fills her faux leather bag with almost everything from her desk (just in case), picks up an apple and heads back out onto the street, where her taxi is conveniently waiting.

"Good luck!" Alice wails as she watches her niece drive straight into the fate of adulthood.

~~~~

*Ding-a-ling*

Renae steps through the old brown door and enters the café she hopes to call a workplace sometime soon. The space is fairly large considering its compact look from the outside, and it is so beautiful—everything the young photographer in the corner would need for his aesthetically pleasing Instagram page. She lets the soft, welcoming atmosphere envelop her whole as she strolls deeper into the intricate café, the warmth of brewing tea, the fresh scent of lavender, the ancient bookcase lining the wall, the smokey smell of lit candles, the dark brown wooden furniture, all making Renae feel as cozy as you can be in a Paris café. The building has an aged, withering feel, but the dozens of lush green plants dangling from ceiling to floor brought the life back into the room quickly; the pop of bright emerald managing to spark the creativity into any person who might pass through.

She finds her way to the counter, and politely addresses the waitress. "Hi, I'm here for a job interview with the owner. My name's Renae Cruzette, I rang a few days ago."

"Oh chéri, that would be me," the woman speaks in perfect English, but with a French roll to her tongue, "Come with me and we'll have a seat. Would you like some tea?"

"Green tea would be nice, thanks," Renae replies and finds a small round table for two to sit down.

"I'm Clemence Rosher—founder, owner—of this place, as you will already know."

Renae smiles and does a little laugh, "It's nice to meet you Clemence." The two shake hands as the bleach-blonde woman passes Renae a steaming mug of green tea, the teabag still left in of course.

"Yes and you are Renae Cruzette, you said?"

"Mhm." Renae was waiting for the traffic of questions to come along and preparing herself not to get stuck or lost in them, but they never did, and she finds herself feeling utterly relaxed with the welcoming woman before her.

"So, let's get down to business yes? Why are you here today?"

"I'm looking for a first job actually, and when I heard you were hiring it seemed perfect, because I don't live too far from here and I love baking every now and then, as well as being creative with coffee art. I'm quite the artistic person, you see."

"Good good. That's what I like to hear," Clemence looks into Renae's eyes and gives a shining bright smile, "So are you willing to give your all into this job? I need someone new, someone fresh who will put a part of their soul into my café. I need perseverance, a respectful and capable person. Why would I choose you?"

"I am all of those things and more Miss."

"Madame," she interrupts.

"Right, sorry Madame."

"Who always comes first in my business?"

"The customer does, always!" Renae eagerly answers after not understanding the question for a few seconds.

"Are you good with mathematics? Can you quickly count change?"

"Yes, I graded a nine in my GCSE when I lived in England."

"In England you say? I thought you had a different accent chéri!"

"Yeah I just recently moved here actually."

"Tell me a bit about that then. Why did you move, are you here permanently?" Clemence curiously asks.

"I think I'll be staying here for a good few years now until I have the money to move out and go back to Britain. I've always lived with my Aunty, ever since I was a baby. My parents have never been around, I don't even remember my mother's face, but my Aunty Alice got a promotion, so we had to move here."

"Oh chéri that must be terrible for you, not even knowing your parents!"

"It's fine really! I love Alice so much, she's always been there for me and I respect her with all my heart for deciding to take me in, but she never took the opportunity to become my mother. She's always been my aunty and kept the truth at bay about my parents."

"I see, so is she your true biological aunt then?"

"Yes! She's my father's sister."

"Oh she must be so very brave then, I admire her strength taking in just a child!"

"I do too. You know she is French as well, so it was a delight to her when the company said she'd be moving to their Paris branch. She took me in when she was just eighteen, and we both went to England so she could finish university. It was very stressful for her, and I am so greatful for her determination to not only provide a steady life for herself, but for a child that wasn't even her own too!"

*Snap*

"Yes she sounds like an amazing woman! So how old are you now then?"

"Seventeen."

*Snap*  The photographer guy's camera clicks away

"When would you be willing to start? I'd have to give you some training first of course, but it'd be nothing major."

"As soon as possible Clemence!"

"Okay then how about I give you a call next Monday when I'm ready for you to come down? I have meetings and all sorts until then."

*Snap*

*Snap*

"Perfect, thank you so much!"

"Oh no worries, I have great expectations of you," and she give Renae a wink as they stand and part ways, Renae not knowing yet that it'd be the last time she speaks to the friendly woman who owns a café.

*Snap*

~~~~

Five days later.

"Alice, she still hasn't rang me after three days!" Renae bursts as she storms into the kitchen. A series of transparent patio doors line the back wall of the completely white kitchen, the only colour of the room being the numbers of herbs scattered along the windowsills and the grey laminate flooring below. It reminds Renae of a hospital, and she would very much like to hand some paintings on the walls and colourful flowers, nevertheless it's still comfortable to be in when you've got Alice as company.

"She probably just forgot, don't stress," Alice reassures her.

"I saw her write it in her diary! And she definitely said that she was going to employ me. It's getting ridiculous! Even if she did change her mind about me, a little text to apologise wouldn't hurt!"

"I know, she shouldn't have left you hanging like that, that is very unprofessional," Alice speaks in such a wise, calming manner.

"I really would've liked that job as well," she says saddened now, "It would've met all my needs of a simple first job, but one that I would still enjoy and be easy to settle into."

"I know Ren, but you can't just sit here sulking about it, why don't you go back there and see what's going on with this woman—for your own sake at least."

"What if I make it more awkward though?"

"You won't. You're only going to politely ask when you're going to be set for some training, because you've got other things you need to attend and you can't keep having it delayed or being left in the dark."

"I suppose..."

"Come on, it's not fair on you that she's done this, so go and change out of that old hoodie and get down there standing loud and proud!"

"Okay, thanks Al," and Renae gives her understanding Aunty a bear hug, then rushes upstairs to prepare herself to face Clemence again.

~~~~

The moment she steps out of the front door, an ear-splitting ring starts to sound in Renae's earlobes and an eye-aching migraine begins to crawl into her mind. She should just brush it off, but not matter how hard she tries, Renae just can't shake the bad feeling that drops to the pit of her stomach and the butterflies that flutter up and get lodged in her throat. Renae steadies herself on the doorway for a second, closing her eyes to ease the pounding in her head. She takes a shaky breath in through her nose and out through her mouth, and pushes aside this feeling, ready to take on her plan of action.

Her taxi ride seems to drag on for hours in the stuffy, cramped backseat, the breeze of the day barely noticeable even with the car windows all open. The heat is almost unbearable. Renae can't understand if it's anxiety (which she's never experienced before), or an illness she's suddenly caught that's making her feel this way, but something isn't sitting right in her flesh and bones. Due to the long, unmoving queue of vehicles, Renae decides to just pay the taxi driver now and walk down the rest of the way where café stood stunningly at the end of the road.

She looks about her to see that everyone is busy trying to get to places, and as she strolls further down the street she notices that she's come to a hidden alleyway, "Millbreury Lane, hm." Given her situation and the want to avoid it completely, Renae roams down the alleyway of tall, old-fashioned buildings taking her time to observe her exquisite surroundings.

Right along the bottom of the attached buildings are stores, and they are magnificent to the eye: cafés sit with intricate metal tables and chairs outside; hanging baskets spread throughout are filled with the most colourful, delicate flowers; antique shops showcase their treasures in the wide window each store possesses; and the cobbled floor beneath glows and sparkles as the afternoon sun shines down on the moist puddles and excess rain.

*Chuchak*

Renae stands still. So impossibly still.

The beautiful antique alleyway seems to disappear around her in slow motion as Renae is sucked back into reality and her eyes are met with metal.

Thick, cold, silver-grey metal.

Pointed at her forehead, in-between her eyes, is a slick handgun. For a while she cannot see the person whose hand is slid around the trigger, nor the group of men accompanying them. For a while, it was just her and the weapon, playing a dangerous game in a little world of their own—the opponent not even alive but still taking the lead and winning the girl over completely. She cannot break her eyes away from the metal in front of her, and the hand-held violence cannot take its eyes off Renae.

She feels frozen in her place, barely able to breathe, as the gun wielder speaks, "Oh chéri," before smacking Renae over the side of her head with the loaded gun.

All soon went black.