diff --git a/venice/chat.py b/venice/chat.py
index d55a4b3..6dfafdc 100644
--- a/venice/chat.py
+++ b/venice/chat.py
@@ -83,26 +83,16 @@ class Tools:
             default="", description="Your Venice.ai API key (overrides admin default)"
         )
 
-    def __init__(self, valves: Optional[Dict] = None, __user__: dict = None, __request__: dict = None):
+    def __init__(self):
         """Initialize with optional valve configuration from framework"""
         # Handle valves configuration from framework
-        if valves:
-            self.valves = self.Valves(**valves)
-        else:
-            self.valves = self.Valves()
+        self.valves = self.Valves()
 
         # Enable tool usage visibility for debugging
         self.citation = True
 
         # Handle user valves configuration
-        if __user__ and "valves" in __user__:
-            user_valves_dict = __user__.get("valves", {})
-            if isinstance(user_valves_dict, dict):
-                self.user_valves = self.UserValves(**user_valves_dict)
-            else:
-                self.user_valves = self.UserValves()
-        else:
-            self.user_valves = self.UserValves()
+        self.user_valves = self.UserValves()
 
         # Simple in-memory cache
         self._cache: dict = {}
@@ -117,7 +107,7 @@ class Tools:
                 return user_valves["VENICE_API_KEY"]
             elif hasattr(user_valves, "VENICE_API_KEY"):
                 return user_valves.VENICE_API_KEY
-        
+
         # Fall back to UserValves instance
         return self.user_valves.VENICE_API_KEY or self.valves.VENICE_API_KEY
 
@@ -137,10 +127,10 @@ class Tools:
             return False
         return (time.time() - self._cache_times[key]) < self.valves.MODEL_CACHE_TTL
 
-    def _format_error(self, e: Exception, context: str = "") -> str:
+    def _format_error(self, e, context: str = "") -> str:
         """Format HTTP error with detailed context for LLM understanding."""
         try:
-            if hasattr(e, 'response') and e.response is not None:
+            if hasattr(e, "response") and e.response is not None:
                 error_msg = e.response.text[:200]
                 try:
                     error_json = e.response.json()
@@ -180,7 +170,9 @@ class Tools:
             pass
         return {}
 
-    async def _get_available_models(self, model_type: str = "text", __user__: dict = None) -> list[dict]:
+    async def _get_available_models(
+        self, model_type: str = "text", __user__: dict = None
+    ) -> list[dict]:
         """Fetch available models (cached)."""
         cache_key = f"models_{model_type}"
         if self._is_cache_valid(cache_key):
@@ -635,7 +627,11 @@ class Tools:
 
         # Resolve and validate model (require reasoning capability)
         resolved_model, error = await self._resolve_model(
-            model, "text", require_reasoning=True, __model__=__model__, __user__=__user__
+            model,
+            "text",
+            require_reasoning=True,
+            __model__=__model__,
+            __user__=__user__,
         )
         if error:
             return f"Error: {error}"