Hey, guys. So. As you know, I've kinda been struggling with getting out updates for this fic, mostly as a result of looking back and only seeing all the things that I would change/fix and, quite honestly, that attitudes been following me since the Belle Island arc.

There's not really anything I think is awful or disengaging… it just… sections felt not as thought out as I would have liked, or it rambled on something I didn't need to ramble on, etc. Or, it implied concepts that I didn't really have an interest in exploring but have felt forced to because of throwaway lines or an overcomplicated storyline that I was just- no longer interested in pursuing.

And it's kind of become my most prevalent issue, that everything is so tightly planned out that- whenever I want to try something new or introduce a new concept- it feels like I can't because it would become lost in the things that I've already setup.

For example; Katsura's Esse Shells. I feel like I gave away too much information about them, when I hadn't fully realized them, and got locked into a description that I would now change. Which becomes significant when I think about future chapters and kind of dread them because I have an entire arc planned out for him just before Sabaody Archipelago, requiring the information I set up in that arc, based around the introduction of the second to last member of the crew. Which is a Canon Fishwoman character and who's introduction might be… urgh. Because of it.

My point behind saying this is that: I have pretty firmly decided that the only way I can continue this story and try to reignite the passion I once had for writing it, is to actually re-write it. Plan a little looser and have more… fun with it. Because I haven't actually had much fun writing it in a long time.

I think the last time I had fun writing it was a paragraph during the Ace and Spice vs Nightmare Nightmare fruit, describing and comparing Ace to an Inferno.

And there's certain just- character moments I would change.

Quinn, for example, was only supposed to be good at running and parkour initially but, as I thought more about her past and her family and the effect they would have on her, it felt like I was slowly introducing things that… should have been there from the beginning or not at all.

I started writing this story… Gosh. When I was still in middle school. And also very heavily depressed. And Quinn was supposed to be representative of- leaving school after high school and finally, finally, being able to pursue a happy, mentally healthy lifestyle and be around people that finally loved and supported her. Her entire dream, her entire character, is based around the idea of accepting a support system after she's struggled for so long without one and slowly working up to that.

It was actually very therapeutic to write and think about at the time. Especially considering One Piece was such a big part of my life and is what is making me consider pursuing a career in comic books and writing and art.

Now, though, it's just lost quite a bit of the passion I once had for writing with it, and I really don't want to abandon this story just because it has been such a part of my writing and so.

Yeah.

A rewrite.

Honestly, I'm kind of frustrated as well. Because we only just recently reached Paradise and I know the kind of frustrations that come with having read a story for a long time only for the author to decide to take it again, especially when you enjoyed the first version a lot, so I will be updating this version of Living for Today with what was planned for the remainder of the Flamenco Arc as well as the beginning of the next one, since there's no doubt in my mind that that will change in a newer version.

I hope that I'll be seeing some of you on the newer version of this fic, once it comes out, as I imagine I'll lose a significant amount of people when I change, even if just because they don't care enough to follow onto a rewrite, which was honestly a large part of why I didn't want to rewrite so badly.

That said, this is not the end of Quinn and the Spades. I hope to see you all back in Paradise again with me soon.

(This version of Living for Today will not be deleted, as I've received some concern from people. At the moment, the plan is to simply mark it as completed, change the summary to include that there is a rewrite coming, and that it will simply be marked with Old Version in the title.

The new version may be re-titled and may take awhile to be posted due to me wanting to have a few chapters breathing room before posting anything.

In the meantime, this fic will receive two final updates: one detailing the plans for the end of Flamenco Island, which you may or may not choose to read, as I'm currently unsure what will stay and what will change. And a final update with the first chapter of the rewritten version, as well as a link to the new fic.

Thank you and I hope for your continued support.)

Im also primarily on Ao3 these days.

i feel really bad for the very long timespans between updates, i always look at in and am like /oof/

sorry i've been very very busy lately and only really have time to focus on the things i'm... well, hyperfocused on (currently my bnha fic) and can't really set aside much time for writing multiple things nowadays cause i gotta eat :] and i need the moneys for that. so a lot of my time is not exactly my own

gosh i haven't even replied to the commenters from last chapter yet D: i feel bad

but... in the meantime

Quinn Varela shall return!