The Queens of Remnant - Commentary - Ch. 21-22 (Patreon)

Ok, where did the last two weeks go?  It feels like only yesterday that I was sitting here writing a commentary, and now I’m right back in my chair writing a commentary.  It’s crazy how life has a way of filling up your free time whether you want it to or not.

I’ve been looking at the things on my plate and wondering if I’ll ever get back to the number of hours I used to spend writing just months ago.  What if the holy grail of writing time has already passed?  What if too many other responsibilities have snuck in?  Also, I’ve been adding projects and goals that aren’t writing-related, such as…possibly going back to school and getting an MBA!  We’ll see on that though.  I’m trying to get my job to pay for it, but they’re being sticklers at the moment.  If it happens though, I’ve lost even more of my time - for a few years, at least.

I was also out of town for a couple of days this week, so that ate up some of my writing time.  I did get a oneshot done though!  It’s like 13k words too, so not an insubstantial one.  It’s one of the many ideas I had for Bumbleby Big Bang that I ultimately decided not to use, but I finished it up for myself (and for you!) so that we could still read it.  I’m going to try to clean it up this weekend and post it on Wednesday now that Dirty Little Secret is done, so keep an eye out for that!

This week, my goal is either to finish another small story (I have several of them floating around), or dive back into a long one.  I have the Bumbleby companion piece to…the White Rose mob boss AU one that I can’t remember the title of.  I’d like to finish that as my next big story, but my upcoming travel schedule suggests that the smaller stories might be safer choices for the next few months.

Either way, you can bet that I’m still trying to get stories out when I can!  The pace has just significantly slowed down as of late.  It doesn’t help that the RWBY fandom feels a little dead at the moment.  It is the hiatus again, obviously, and we have no news about future seasons, so…it could be a long wait.

While we wait though, let’s talk about Queens of Remnant!  I know the official title is “The Queens of Remnant,” but that’s a hassle to type every time.  It also flows much better without the “The,” but it’s not a very good official title without the “The.”

Anyway…we got our dose of White Rose in these two chapters, which I’m sure everyone was thrilled about.  Look at the two of them working together, growing all close and stuff…they’re so adorable and I love them.

Ruby, in particular, is basically everything Weiss needs in a person (ironic because I crafted her to be that way…).  You may remember, way back in Chapter 1, that Weiss had Winter as a supporter - but Winter is no Ruby.  Winter also had her own issues going on in dealing with their dad and what sounded like far more responsibility in Atlas.  Ruby, on the other hand…

Ruby’s only responsibility at the moment is to get the treaty done (plus some side quests that she set for herself).  She’s away from Vale, so no one’s coming to her for approvals or advice or with questions.  She’s still a Queen, but a Queen without most of her queenly responsibilities.  And so…she’s taken it on herself to fill up her time.

Who just so happens to have a ton of work that Ruby could fill up her time with?  Who is herself a project that Ruby would like to see succeed?

Weiss, of course!

You’ve probably noticed the numerable hints I dropped about how miserable Weiss’ upbringing was.  Poor girl was an afterthought at best, and a hindrance at worst.  I basically just removed all of her self-confidence and replaced it with hesitance and uncertainty, especially when it comes to people.

So, isn’t it perfect then that Ruby takes Weiss out into the middle of Atlas and convinces her to chat up some strangers?  I know we’ve seen this plot in so many movies, but I couldn't resist.  Just look at her growth!  Her budding confidence.  Her blossoming certainty in her words and actions.  It helps that the people she talked to were kind and helpful, and Ruby provided encouragement and praise for a job well done.

I think there’s much to be said about Ruby’s strategy of getting feedback from the people most impacted, and directly.  Speaking to them directly makes them real and humanizes them.  They’re no longer just ‘the people of Atlas’ that you gaze upon from your palace window.  They’re ‘that fruit merchant’ or ‘that guy selling shoes.’

I had named specific fruits that the fruit merchant had on sale - apples, oranges, and the like - but realized at the 11th hour that Atlas might not have any of those things.  It’s an AU, after all!  They have horses but also firebeasts, so they could have apples but also some mysterious other fruit that we’ve never heard of before.  Because I was feeling pressed for time and didn’t want to invent some new fruits and veggies, I just scrapped that detail altogether.  Instead, we just know he’s selling fruit, and we get to fill in whatever fruit we imagine.

I guess you could say that, in that instance, I passed the mental work from myself to you!  That must be what people mean when they talk about the relationship between reader and writer.  I do a lot of the planning and scene setting, but there are plenty of holes left for you to fill in.  By the time you reach the end, you’ve filled all the holes and (hopefully) had a very smooth reading experience.

But yes, imagine whatever fruit you want!

One of the more notable things we learn in Weiss’ chapter is that Atlas doesn’t know about the tentative treaty.  The Council convinced her not to make an announcement, which she doesn’t quite understand yet we can come up with multiple potential reasons for, none of which are very good!

Meanwhile, you might remember that Vale already knows about the ceasefire because Yang drafted a proclamation almost immediately.  Blake was surprised about the expediency at the time, but Yang wanted to give everyone hope even if it turned out to be false.  Atlas, on the other hand…well, that’s just the difference between positive and negative thinking…and having some unsavory parties in power.  (Yang’s in power in Vale, and she’s very savory if I do say so myself!)

I’m so proud of Weiss for her effort though!  I would rather hide in my room than go ask strangers what they need in life, but she takes the idea and runs with it.  Having a sweet, beautiful guide encouraging her probably helped a lot though.  Actually, now that I think about it, I would also be very willing to talk to strangers if a pretty girl suggested it and said that she would come with me.

But Weiss is also driven by wanting to do the right thing!  And by the pretty girl.

I’m sure that everyone loved Ruby’s chapter for the gawking alone.  I know that I loved writing Ruby staring in disbelief as Weiss finally starts growing into her own.  I thought it was even better that James keeps catching Ruby staring yet she keeps on doing it.  Can you blame her though?

I find it somewhat hilarious that the way to Ruby’s heart is through helping others.  Weiss could give her coat to a stranger and Ruby would be like, “That was the most attractive thing I’ve ever seen.”  So of course Weiss saying that she wants to learn more about the real people of Atlas hits Ruby’s heart like a thousand arrows.

Weiss is like, “I think I’m finally on to something,” while Ruby’s clutching her chest thinking, “You’re on to something, alright.”

James, meanwhile, is shaking his head at both of them.  I love that Ruby could come right out and admit her burgeoning feelings to him though.  I bet you weren’t expecting that, right??  Ruby’s like, “Yup, I caught feelings.  Might as well admit it.”  Unfortunately, those feelings rank pretty low compared to everything else on her plate right now.  A new crush versus saving her sister’s life and bettering her entire kingdom?  Her priorities are straight (for now…)

She’s watching Weiss grow in front of her very eyes though!  While Yang’s back in Vale fretting about Weiss’ lack of experience, Ruby’s seeing Weiss gain experience and confidence and knowledge hand over fist.  And she sees Weiss do her first thing against the Council’s wishes: tell Atlas that the war is almost over.

Oh, I was so focused on the cute things in this chapter that I totally forgot that we got some horrible news - Weiss knows nothing about a cure for the Phage.  Talk about taking the wind from Ruby’s sails right when she’s flying high with all those bubbly feelings, huh.  But I had to keep her on track, you know?

It’s so easy to get swept up in them being cute together and forget Ruby’s more pressing obligations.  Like, sure, Ruby’s all giggly and happy around Weiss, but they’ve only known each other for a short time.  No way would Weiss be more important to Ruby than Yang, which means that Ruby can’t/wouldn’t shy away from any opportunity to find that cure.  She would probably even, at this point, be willing to destroy her relationship with Weiss if that’s what it took to get the cure.

Fortunately, she doesn’t have to do that!  (Yet…?)  But she does suffer a sucker punch at Weiss’ lack of a positive response.  And Weiss, who tries so valiantly to cover up her lack of knowledge, immediately points to that lack of knowledge as a way to keep Ruby’s hopes alive.

Weiss is a good egg, isn’t she?  Ruby’s a good egg too, so they should be good eggs together!

When we pick back up with them next, maybe we’ll see them get even closer?  Or *gasp* maybe some flirting??  I honestly don’t remember, but I hope so!  Perhaps I felt the same way when I wrote the story?  I guess we’ll have to wait and see (or I’ll peek ahead and find out…)

Some ominous clouds are brewing in Atlas (treachery is afoot!), but perhaps there are seeds of romance as well.

Who are we kidding.  You know me!  Those seeds of romance were planted from the beginning.  We’re just throwing some water on them and waiting for those bad boys to grow!

Anyway…life returns with more responsibilities, so I’ll be jaunting off to take care of those.  I hope you’re enjoying the story so far though, and are as excited as I am about what’s to come!

Until next time,

Miko