(WIP) The Bureau - Chapters 1-4 (390k+ Total Words) UPDATED 08/08/2024

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This is true. And not just for people transitioning, but people figuring out sexuality. Or just generally people finding who they are.

To put it in context: I’m a trans woman. I only realized this when I was nearly 25 years old because, before then, I had always been in a relationship and never been able to be by myself and just figure things out. I also grew up in a time where, still, a change like that would’ve ostracized people so I never even let myself think it. Meanwhile, I was relating to (almost exclusively) female characters and “wishing I looked good in girl’s clothes, because they’re so much cooler.”

I didn’t start my transition until I was nearly 27 years old. That was only a year ago.

The journey of self-discovery is different for everyone. Someone’s journey may not include gender or sexuality at all. It may just being figuring out how to control their anger. Or maybe coming to terms and forgiving or moving on from a parent that was never around. Or maybe it’s finally getting clean at 35 and starting to go to college again. This isn’t about gender or sexuality, this is about becoming someone who you’re comfortable with and finally having the ability to do that. And this is certainly not exclusive to just Ryder.

Alvarez is going to struggle with their thoughts on falling in love, and go through a journey finally trying to figure out how to let someone in in a way that is more intimate than they’ve ever done. Hawks is going to eventually figure out why it is they can’t seem to get away from their work, and try to find out exactly what’s important to them in life. Lance is going to continue to go on the journey of parenthood, going through the ups and downs and learning and growing as a parent and as a person, figuring out how exactly to bring another person into their daughter’s life. The MC is going to go through a journey about how to reconcile with thoughts about their brother as he continues to be a part, even if it’s a negative part, of their life. For some, that will be forgiveness. For others, it will be moving on.

Everyone has a journey. Everyone’s journey is different. Some may find it more difficult. This is one of the things that makes all of us human.

EDIT: To quote Ren: "And I must not forget - we must not forget, that we are human beings."

EDIT 2: Also, I do feel the need to correct this for the artists sakes.

The $1k I spent was for 9 character portraits (female and male of the 4 RO’s and the one of Leslie), the title image that you see on the top of this forum page, and 2 scenery images. That is a very reasonable price for 12 pieces of monetary artwork.

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So before i say anything i wanna just mention im super bad at talking and wording things so if this comes off as uh confrontational(?) or like mean or anything, i don’t mean it to sound that way.

What’s the big issue? I’m seeing people talk about how if they choose one gender for the character and the character realises they arent that gender and it changes thatd be an issue but surely there would be a warning or something before choosing them. So they can just choose a different character?
Or is it that people are just set on plaything the game only for THAT character, y know?

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I’m sorry, you know I love you, but GIRL PANTS HAVE NO USEABLE POCKETS!!!

Pockets are the entire point of pants!

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I didn’t succeed to read all the messages but, damn, I don’t mind the changes and the transition. Like yay, you are non-binary, and I am happy you feel like that, because of my orientation I wouldn’t mind my romance being NB. I feel the other readers, I mean yeah it sucks, but that’s the author’s decision, and the story changes with the process, so…yeah. You need to accept it someway, I feel ya, really, but I mean it’s the story, and it’s a really damn good one at that. Someone said that a romance outing themselves doesn’t fit into a murder mystery themed story but bro, every person has difficulties with their sexuality even in like I don’t know, Apocalypse a person would ask themselves that.

Just saying, still, love ya all.

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I read on Instagram the story of a trans woman who lived closeted until she had grandchildren. She waited so long until she could be herself. Reading things like the age of S invalidating their transition it’s disrespectful and hurtful. If you got your sexuallity/identity figured out before your 30s, good for you, but do not invalidate people who doesn’t.

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In Life of a Space Force Captain (a very different story than this one, granted), Kyle the synth is gender fluid and very matter-of-factly informs the player of this in their first meeting at the school (whether or not they are romanced). Although if Ryder is NB I concur with people who say that it should be a plot point regardless of whether R is romanced by the player or not. But @ViIsBae is the author and it’s ultimately the author’s discretion.

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Yes, I don’t understand why some people would judge a person because they need TIME to find themselves. Some people require time and yes some of them require even more time, it’s not their fault and there is nothing, absolutely nothing wrong if a person figures themselves out so late.

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You’re also not just there to solve the mystery, remember. You’re there as an outside/impartial eye on the team. Learning about what they’re dealing with and helping them navigate it is part of why your character was put on this job instead of in the position they asked/applied for.

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Coming late to the party as usual and would like to give a more profound and concise opinion but I’m having trouble not popping a vessel cuz some of y’all are so fucking mean to a character for having an unexpected development in their story but also it’s not the first time I’ve read trans/gay characters being treated like a problem by IF fans so excuse me for being blunt and harsh. Mods feel free to flag my comment or whatever.

Look I had this issue all the way back with Blade from Shepherds of Haven and you know what I did? Nothing. It sucks. You cry and kick and vent and then you move on. Change RO, make another character, or keep romancing them, it’s your choice. It’s a game. It may be very important to you, but it’s still a game. A public game that is not yours and it’s in development and yes the author can do whatever the fuck they want with it. You don’t want to support it? Okay. You don’t want x or y thing to change? A pity. World keeps turning yada yada.

And I honestly find it so goddamn pathetic that you have to fill the screen with excuses of how it doesn’t fit the game themes or start throwing a fit about censorship or free will or whatever bs or outright making thin-veiling insults when you could just close the damn tab and choose to do something else.

Anyway if I were an author I would make Ryder nb just to spite y’all

Peace out :v:

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How is it that anybody who are just voicing their opinions can disagree respectfully then receive crap loads of insults from other people like this and not get flagged/censored.

But god forbid anybody compares one game to another game or give actual negative criticism of the game, that post would be flagged beyond all repair.

Wait so is the MC in this game suppose to be a therapist for a murder mystery?

I just don’t see why real life events or issues need to be in a non related story or game but the author did say that the theme in this story is “self journey” or something, one character deals with being a single mother, one works too much and one struggles to fall in love.

Like are we in a murder mystery romance or a teen drama show like 13 RW or Euphoria? The theme makes no sense.

If I had to summarize the issues would be.

1: This “subplot” is irrelevant to the themes of murder mystery

2: The poll speaks for themselves, a large majority voted they didn’t like it

3: Why bring real life issues into a work of fiction that doesn’t make it better, doesn’t improve the character or story.

4: Those who respectfully disagreed with this or voiced criticism are getting insulted, gaslit by others with ad hominem attacks like we’re bad people.

5: The contrarians keep saying the author can do what they want and all of us agree like yeah we’re just giving feedback, people will just vote with their wallets in silence.

I can definitely say that if I was watching a movie about Sherlock Holmes investigating a murder who killed his friend and there was a subplot about his RO like let’s say Irene Adler “finding her sexuality or identity” most people would be like “huh whats going on”

Complete genre change, most people wouldn’t like it anyways and if you say that you are labelled as a bad person. I keep saying author can do what they want, no pressure or anything. The contrarians are just salty. Again the consumers just vote with their wallets, actually a guy messaged me who didn’t take part in this discussion and literally said “yeah I’m not gonna support or pay for this” by just silently reading whats going on. Lots of the silent majority felt that their voices were being ignored.

The large paying majority votes in silence, the small non paying minority can scream the loudest its fine.

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This discussion is becoming a circular argument. To avoid that: if you have already stated your position, please take a break and allow others to share their perspective too. Please avoid repetitively hammering a point you have already made without adding anything new.

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As someone who doesn’t really care about Ryder and won’t be affected by this I think, if you decide to do it, you should make it extremely clear and set up this happening from the beginning in Book 1. Waiting till Book 2 will make it seem like it came outta nowhere and blindsided readers, especially those that don’t use the forum, who were romancing them. Also in my opinion you should just get rid of the gender choice for Ryder and give them a set gender, nobody will feel like their choice was invalidated or whatever and you could probably go more in detail with their feelings and stuff.

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A Study in Steampunk: Choice by Gaslight is a steampunk novel, inspired by Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, Jekyll & Hyde, and Jack the Ripper, and in it there exists a core examination of the MC and the main npc’s (possibly homosexual) relationship as a major subplot.

People’s reaction to A Study in Steampunk: Choice by Gaslight has been very positive and this is among the favorites for many in this community.

So, the real life reactions to this type of writing is actually quite positive and encouraging for ViIsBae to double down on her intent to carry on.

If anyone has not yet read A Study in Steampunk: Choice by Gaslight , I would highly recommend it. It has stood up well over time and does many things well. It will be an inspiration to many.

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Oh God yes. I love Study in Steampunk, oldie but goldie (pretty sure it was my first IF, at least the first one I bought, along with Robots and MetaHuman).

Also don’t worry about me. I already said my piece and won’t contribute much until a change of topic, both not to clog the thread and because it’s useless to get mad again and refute all the points said above. My short time in the forum taught me when to fight and when to let go but I want author to know she has my full support in whatever she decides and the story will be exciting to read regardless.

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I love being able to get all science-y in this game. Writing out the coroner’s scene is really proving to be tons of fun and letting me put my anatomy and physiology classes to good use. I absolutely love the theoretical nature of the mutations of having to think, as an author, “Well, the human body works like this… KAY BUT WHAT IF IT DIDN’T?” Really stretches the imagination.

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Winged people were always fascinating to me in this regard. Imagining two shoulder girdles (is this how it is called in English?) in one being is hard but kinda funny.

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Regarding making Ryder NB, I personally don’t care either way you should do what fits your vision of their character best and works within the story but I do think you should leave their gender select able initially. Mainly for the anatomy or you know what parts they have, because while I’m Bi so it doesn’t matter all that much to me besides just a preference, for heterosexual readers or homosexual readers I’d imagine that does matter to them. Like I wouldn’t reasonably expect a lesbian to be okay with dating a non-binary person who was born male and posses male parts even if that lesbian would otherwise be fine. Physical attraction is important so I think as long as their parts aren’t changing I don’t really see what peoples problem would be with Ryder identifying as non-binary.

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Does anyone know what the password is to jacobs laptop? :sob: :face_holding_back_tears:

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The password if i remember right is moneymaker(then the page number highlighted in the book you find) all one word i think apologies if i remembered wrong xD

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Also makensure when putting in the password use lower case for all of it.

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