#renabe talks

[renabe4life]

Take Root mini update

First off, thanks to everyone still reading this fic. Soon gonna be coming up on four years since I started posting it -five since I started writing it jfc- and it really means a lot to me that there are folks sticking with it this long.

So without further ado...

Chapter 19 has been floating out there for a bit now, and given where that one leaves off, I thought folks might appreciate an update about where exactly we are in the story. Gonna go ahead and put all that under a read more for anyone not caught up yet who might want to before seeing this update :D

Note that this update does also contain minor spoilers for general themes and things upcoming. Proceed with caution.

Okay so!

Chapter 19 marks the end of the first major arc of Take Root. Think of it as a sort of halfway point, maybe or maybe not in length, but definitely in story beats.

Qrow has not only managed to start solidly reconnecting with his family, but has also fully opened up to Clover about his family situation and what really led them all to where they are now. That is not to say that Qrow is done growing or working through everything. There is still much more to tell from his side of things, including working on all of his relationships and digging even more into events of the past along the way to help with that.

That said, the second and final major arc will focus even more on everything surrounding Clover. His hangups and reservations, his walls that he has thus far refused to let down, and of course his injury, the mess that led to it, and its lingering effects on him, both physical and mental, that also affect his interpersonal relationships. Looking at you two, Qrow and Elm. But certainly not just them as he continues to navigate this road to recovery, one step- and a few missteps- at a time.

Oh, we gonna crack him open like an egg and watch all the goo fall out, perhaps into a waiting pan to cook him over easy until he can hold himself together again.

As a final heads up, while I have extensive notes for the latter half of this story, I really need to spend time rebuilding my buffer of chapters written to keep things flowing smoothly. That may take awhile, but I do hope to have chapter 20 done in time for FGW2026 (assuming there is interest to do another one of those, I gotta get started on prep for setting that up again orz).

Thanks for sticking around for what ended up being way more words than I planned this thing. Yes, that can be said both about this post and about Take Root itself :D

[renabe4life]

Late FG Works

As this year's Fair Game Week comes to a close, I want to mention some things I didn't get finished and give a status update for anyone interested :)

Day 6 Drawing - lines and flats done, needs shading still and other edits but should be done within a few days at the latest!

Stop-off chapter 3 - I am... so sad I do not have more of this written. It likely won't get done for a while, much like chapter 2 last year. I have enough to post a wip if no one minds being spoiled on how the plant lad ends up sticking around a lil longer yet >w>

Distraction final chapter - I was really on a roll w this one until writing was interrupted just as things were getting... Ahem. Good, as it were. Might be awhile before brain lets me get back to it, but I'll reblog the wip I posted for it.

Annnnd that's about it! I had designs on drawing something for Day 5, or maybe writing something new for Day 6, but alas. Maybe next time. Thank you to everyone who likes and reblogs my works, it means a lot to me! And thank you for showing the lads lots of love this week!!! <3

[renabe4life]

tfw you've done only digital art so long... that when you attempt pen and paper again you try to ctrl-z a wonky line like um WITH WHAT BUTTONS YOU LITTLE FREAK no love you can't select and transform either haha WHAT ARE YOU DOINGGGGGG

[renabe4life]

I'm thinking about posting the next chapter of Take Root soon. Sorry I haven't shared any wips, but... it just feels right not to for this chapter. It'll be hard enough choosing a snippet to include in the post itself.

All this to say, I hope folks who are reading along with Take Root are looking forward to this one.

[renabe4life]

17 and 24 for the ask game!!

Ooooh thanks for the ask anon!

17. What is something you're confident about in your art?

Heavy hitter right off the bat, eh? I suppose I am confident about drawing hands- which is not to say that I think I'm perfect at them. I frequently look at my drawn hands and think I could do better in many different ways. But I am confident in my assessment of my ability to draw hands, and my ability to spot the areas where I would like to improve on them. :>

24. What's a compliment about your art that has always stuck with you?

Someone once reblogged an artwork of mine saying it was so tender they were gonna set their apartment on fire, and that has very much stuck with me. I can only hope to continue making art that has folks threatening to destroy their homes >:)))

Bonus answer for all the folks who've ever complimented the expressions in my works- those kind words make me want to keep improving even more on that aspect of my art, so thanks y'all!

Thanks again, anon!

[renabe4life]

As I start physio for my wrist, I've been thinking now's a good time to reread some wips and decide which one I might try to work on first once I have less pain from all these exercises. I also thought it might be fun to do a poll to see which fics folks wanna see updated soonest:

Which Fair Game fic would you like to see updated first?

Take Root

Ebb

Stop-Off

Distraction

Voting ended onJul 2, 2024

Propaganda (read: current wip status) below the cut!

Take Root- the modern AU of two old men supporting each other and learning to grow around their scars. The bulk of chapter 17 is written. There is one small scene I need to add, and one other scene needs some serious editing before it is ready to post. We're hitting a big emotional beat in this one, so I want to get it right.

Ebb- feesh lad! aka the mer AU that wasn't supposed to become a chaptered fic, but alas Qrow decided to have some secrets that need time and trust to reveal. There is enough written to call it a chapter, but... I gotta figure out what's bothering me about it and fix it, along with general editing that needs doing. A fun little reveal in this one, plus a cagey bird who flusters a lot.

Stop-Off- the camping AU meet-cute featuring widdol Yang and Rubes (and their mom being a complete menace while dad is oblivious). Chapter 2 is about three quarters of the way written. It needs at least a scene at the end to finish out the day, with a little editing needed on what's already written. Cloves is having a bit of a crisis at the start of this one, followed by Qrow having one in the second half lmao.

Distraction- the two part hurt/comfort plus spice recovery fic. Very little written for the second and final chapter. It is going to require a delicate balance to keep the tone I want throughout those heated moments. Depending on the vibes, I could bang this out in a feverish trance or take forever on it- hard to say!

[renabe4life]

Hey pal, for the fic questions how about 4, 35, 37, 43, 68, 74, and 77! However many you wanna answer ^^

Oh boy, a buncha questions >w> Thanks tc!!! Sorry it took so long to respond oopsie... Now let's see...

4 . How do you choose which fics to write?

-I dunno if I'm really the one doing the choosing orz Usually an idea grabs me by the throat and smashes my face to the keyboard until i start typing. Caveat that for the ongoing ones it's been a game of open one, see where I am and if words wanna play. If no, move along to the next one.

35. What’s your favorite fic you’ve posted?

-That's a tough one… Recency bias would have me picking Take Root or Suspire, maybe even Distraction. But, I'm also still very fond of Real- an older fair game fic with zero dialogue.

37. What fic has been the hardest for you to write?

-Take Root, hands down. I knew it was gonna be long, and also be a hard lesson in planning- which i had rarely done before. Plus it has grown into something far more complex than when I first started. Keeping track of everything and balancing the focus has been a real challenge. But I love it so so dearly, and it is teaching me a lot as I go.

43. Is there a trope or idea that you’d really like to write but haven’t yet?

-Hmmm yes? Not so much that I want to write the trope- in fact it's one I previously would not have wanted to write- but I had an idea recently and frantically jotted down notes for later because I do really want to write that story. And that may be all I'll say on it >.>

68. Are there any fics that influenced you to write the way you do?

-I am sure it is very visible with the occasional turn of phrase in my later works, but yeahhhhh. And the Reason Comes (and plenty others but it started with Reason) by @whatacartouchebag. And also a selection of fics by @afoolforatook, for example Breathing Cues. I just love Cart's descriptive prose and Took's very emotional storytelling. Both are also responsible for a few of my own head canons of the lads >w>

74. Do you have a fic you wish got a bit more love?

-I suppose... Etched. I know by now I have a plethora of fics of Qrow and Clover relaxing all warm and cozy together, and a handful of Qrow recalling silly or sappy moments with his former team but. Well. This one has such a specific flavour of teasing dweeb husbands and I still love it a lot.

77. Why do you enjoy writing fanfiction?

-Why? Oh dang. Uhhh... aside from it being fun to write and be a little insane about the characters... It's also a lot of fun to chat with people about it. So, thanks for sending this ask, it means a lot ♡

[renabe4life]

oh snap i just realised... i haven't posted any wips for ch17 of Take Root. welp, now that i'm starting to edit that, i will have to find a good chunk to share soon :]