Life Update: February 2026
Added 2026-02-01 11:00:00 +0000 UTCFebruary is here! How are you?
It's been raining here since January. I actually enjoy the calm and cold atmosphere when it rains. But the problem is, it made me sleepy all the time (╥﹏╥)
About Operation Christmas...
As you already know, I've been struggling to finish ongoing projects. At the moment, commissions and my full-time job come first, followed by FANBOX/Pixiv and my personal works. Operation Christmas sits at the same level as my personal projects (like Late Night News or Myrefall Strangler from years ago). Honestly, it's even lower now, because I've fallen a bit out of love with it. I'm really sorry (｡ᵕ ◞ _◟)
This comic is from 2024 (I posted it in 2025, but I made it months before that), and while my style hasn't changed drastically, it has changed. That said, I do have one finished part.
The comic initially has five main parts: Violet, Kai, Julia, The Twins, and Shi. The one that's fully ready to publish is The Twins.
Would you like me to post that part first? Or would you prefer to wait until Julia's and Shi's parts are done?
About Subscriptions...
I don't remember when New Year started becoming a financially stressful time for me. Probably around the time everything became subscription-based.
For productivity apps alone, the total is around 2k per year. By productivity, I mean things like CSP (my main drawing app), SketchUp (backgrounds), Enscape (3D rendering), Google Drive, and so on.
I also subscribe to Apple TV, Netflix, and other entertainment platforms, but only when there's something I really want to watch. I could rant about subscriptions, but that would turn into a 1k-word essay, so I'll stop here.
That brings me to my FANBOX. What do you think about the current pricing? So far, I've only offered early access and uncensored versions, no exclusive content yet as far as I remember.
I want my artworks to stay accessible and not locked behind a paywall, but I also want to give something more to my supporters without making the casual Pixiv followers felt left out. Do you think early access and censored/uncensored versions are enough, or do you have other ideas?
About Translations...
In 2024, I ran a poll. While most preferred English, about 20% of respondents preferred 日本語 or 简体中文. I also made the mistake of not adding an "Others" option, so I'm not sure if some of you prefer different languages.
So far, I've been using ChatGPT for translations, and honestly, I found it better than Google Translate. However, my personal stance on AI has changed recently. If possible, I'd prefer to use human translators or interpreters.
But human services aren't cheap, and I'm broke. Also, I don't think formal translation service would take... NSFW works.
I'm conflicted. Any suggestions would be very appreciated!
About February...
I'm not sure if I can work fully on Ryona this month. I have two Late Night News episodes at work (one goes live tomorrow, and the other is about 20% done), scheduled for the first two weeks, alongside commission works.
That means there will be two updates per week... for the first two weeks.
I'm unsure about the latter half of the month. I do have a lot of WIPs, mostly projects I paused midway. Would you be interested in a WIP dump? Maybe Operation Christmas?
Lastly...
Thank you, as always, for your support and patience. I know I'm not the fastest when it comes to replying to comments, DMs, or commissions, but I'm working on it and will respond whenever I can.
Please, please, please take care of yourself! Stay healthy and safe. I hope you're all doing okay, and I'll see you again in my next post.
Comments
Can't wait to see OC
saladin
2026-02-12 05:58:02 +0000 UTCRuby, may I ask if you have any plan to release the Twins part during February?
BinhTurtle
2026-02-11 15:38:44 +0000 UTC(◍˃̶ᗜ˂̶◍)✩
妍妍
2026-02-03 13:47:17 +0000 UTCI dont know what do you and other friends think, in my view, I think you dont need to publish them all even you finish all in this week. You could still publish one chapter per week, so that you dont need to worry about what to publish in longer time. But this is my idea, and if you have WIPs prepared to publish in following weeks, then just go at your own pace
一枪
2026-02-03 13:00:59 +0000 UTC哈哈这个我认 (╥﹏╥) 想法有点多，执行力还在修炼中，谢谢提醒！
ruby is healthy
2026-02-03 11:57:28 +0000 UTCShhh, she didn't really mind the mess as the rain will wash it away (˵ ¬ᴗ¬˵)
ruby is healthy
2026-02-03 11:42:11 +0000 UTCThank you for the update—I'm really glad to hear from you again. About Operation Christmas, I think posting the finished part first (like The Twins) sounds perfectly fine. There’s no need to wait until everything is complete. Regarding FANBOX, early access and censored/uncensored versions already make a lot of sense. If you ever want to add something small without locking content away, simple supporter polls (for themes or preferences) could be a gentle option—but only if it feels comfortable for you. There’s no rush at all. Please don’t push yourself too hard—your health and your pace matter most. I’ll keep supporting you and looking forward to your work whenever you’re ready. Take good care of yourself.
金式
2026-02-02 15:43:50 +0000 UTCBy the way, I really like the picture accompanying this life update. A cold-blooded female assassin completed her character in the rain, but the technique might be a bit rough, and there's too much blood—it doesn't feel quite right... Professional? Haha, just kidding. The picture is cute! /ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\
妍妍
2026-02-02 12:12:51 +0000 UTC不过要真说什么建议的话……ruby姐你别老是挖坑不填啊 怎么感觉好多好题材和好思路都是开了个头 结果半途而废了……有点遗憾只能说
ruby小姐的狗
2026-02-02 11:32:54 +0000 UTCAww ;; v ;; I'm so sorry, and thank you for your feedbacks and continuous support! ( っ˶´ ˘ `)っ
ruby is healthy
2026-02-02 09:04:34 +0000 UTCThank you for your suggestions! ; w ; I'm actually thinking of trying to finish the comic this week if I can. If not, I'll upload the twins first instead. Personally, I don't think the order matters too much. Each episode can stand on its own, except for the final one. But honestly, I'm not thinking very clearly right now T w T;; Thank you once again!! ( っ˶´ ˘ `)っ
ruby is healthy
2026-02-02 08:59:38 +0000 UTCThank you so much for your suggestions!! I heard about the credit card issue from others too, and sadly there isn't much I can do about it. I've thought about opening an account on another platform, but I'm not sure if I could manage it. Actually, my drawing app itself isn't too expensive (I think it costs around 100 a year). The most expensive part is actually the 3D apps TT _ TT That said, as you mentioned, those tools are useful for both my day job and ryona work, so at least the subscription doesn't go to waste! About the translation, chatgpt saved a lot of time since I'm not very skilled with languages, especially when it comes to typing. There's been a lot of discussion about the developer specifically, and it is a very shady company that I don't really want to support. But at the same time, I don't think there’s any company that's 100% good either. So... I guess it's a matter of picking your poison :') I still need to think more about whether it brings more good or bad.
ruby is healthy
2026-02-02 08:35:30 +0000 UTCThank you so much for your suggestions ;; w ;; I'll answer them one by one! 1. Thank you! I just checked, and there are still a few panels left. I'll try to finish them this week, but if I can't, I'll upload the later part instead :') 2. I really like this idea, but I'm not sure if I can commit to a continuous comic ; w ; I get bored pretty easily. I'll definitely put this into my idea box though, thank you! 3. Ah, I see…! For now, I think I'll stick to English only for convenience >< 4. Got it! I'll see if there's something from "Secret We Can't Keep" that's worth uploading x'D 5. Same goes to you (づ๑•ᴗ•๑)づ♡
ruby is healthy
2026-02-02 07:56:58 +0000 UTCHi, bloop! Welcome to my Fanbox ( ⸝⸝´ ᵕ `⸝⸝) Sorry for being inactive for a while! I'm really glad you enjoy my work! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, I'll definitely take them into consideration. You're right about offering something exclusive. It's something I've been thinking about for a while, and I'm still figuring out what would be the best fit.
ruby is healthy
2026-02-02 07:03:08 +0000 UTC谢谢你的体谅，也很开心你期待之后的作品，我会继续加油的
ruby is healthy
2026-02-02 06:48:21 +0000 UTC谢谢你的支持与信任！真的很感激，也会认真对待每一个决定
ruby is healthy
2026-02-02 06:46:18 +0000 UTCThank you!! ٩(^ᗜ^ )و ´-
ruby is healthy
2026-02-02 06:19:19 +0000 UTCOhh!! I didn't add Shi to the dossier (because she wasn't the main target). She's the maid from previous episode ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧ I'll think about your suggestion, thank you so much!
ruby is healthy
2026-02-02 06:19:09 +0000 UTCGot it! I'll think about it, thank you for your suggestion (ㅅ´ ˘ `)
ruby is healthy
2026-02-02 06:17:41 +0000 UTCWill definitely think about it! Thank you for your suggestion (ㅅ´ ˘ `)
ruby is healthy
2026-02-02 06:17:16 +0000 UTCI'll keep that in mind, thank you!! ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ )
ruby is healthy
2026-02-02 06:16:42 +0000 UTCThank you so much for the feedback! Four to six months feels a bit long for me, but it's a really good idea. A longer delay would actually help my forgetful self a lot. Thanks again! ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ )
ruby is healthy
2026-02-02 06:16:25 +0000 UTCObviously I'm a little biased towards seeing Julia's part next, but if the twins part is basically finished then it makes sense to publish that next, I don't mind waiting to see my gal die. As far as the subscription goes, I think it's fine as is! I'm subscribed in part because it's nice to see your stuff early and uncensored, but mostly it's just to support you. You're probably my favourite guro/ryona artist, so I'm happy to help out.
Julia Summers
2026-02-02 00:20:20 +0000 UTCI agree with the majority here, seeing the part with the Twins first would be awesome! As a creative it honestly does help with burn-out & falling out of it to publish a part of it and circle back when the project comes back into mind naturally. It's healthy to manage a fan-favorite project like that, especially because it releases the pressure of expectation AND it tends to brighten your feelings on a delayed project ^-^ My personal recommendation is to post the Twins part of the fan-favorite Operation Christmas during the back half of February, perhaps aiming softly for the third week of February. But! That's just my 2 cents. Ultimately, you post what feels right ruby, you're doing great =]
ielzarr
2026-02-01 20:41:33 +0000 UTCFor Operation Christmas, I am definitely willing to see the finished part and wait patiently for the rest part. For subscription, the fee is very cheap compared to the quality of your works, the big problem is that we can only pay it by credit card, while not everyone owns one... Btw, the overall cost for drawing apps is 2000 dollars per year? That is crazy, although you may also use it for your full-time job. And for translation, the work done by AI is perfect, at least for Chinese part. If you dont want to use AI, then I think only English passage is acceptable, too. Because translation apps are accessible for nearly everyone now, it makes no sense for you to spend extra money on it. Finally, glad to know that you have another full-time job to cover your expenses, take care plz.
一枪
2026-02-01 17:45:55 +0000 UTC^_^，hello，Here are some of my personal suggestions, representing only my personal opinion. 1.About Operation Christmas...， I think it's better to release it in chapters, although... I really want to read more pages, but after all, I've been looking forward to it for a long time, so I'd be happy to read even just a part of it. 2.About Subscriptions... I think we could add multiple tiers, and the more expensive tier could be for serialized comics, updating one page every week or two. Having some income might motivate you to create more content. 3.About Translations... The translation aspect is actually not too bad. In my personal experience, I can manage to translate it myself by copying and pasting using translation software. 4.About WIP dump。。 I think this is a good idea, haha. I still want to see the line art for that old piece, "Secret We Can't Keep." 5.Finally, I hope everything goes well for you and that you stay healthy. I will continue to support you. (๑•̀o•́)ง(๑•̀o•́)ง(๑•̀o•́)ง
妍妍
2026-02-01 16:58:04 +0000 UTCHi there, I heard about your work pretty recently, when you were away for a while, and I could quickly see why people spoke highly about it! Being new I wasn't really sure if you'd become active again so I'm really happy to see you came back. I had looked at some of your old updates and I'd be happy to see the Operation Christmas part that's done, if it doesn't rely on what happened in Julia's part you could even just call this one part 3 instead 😅. Also, about the fanbox question, I think the pricing is fair, it's pretty low compared to a lot of others really. Doing something exclusive for the higher level would be reasonable imo, but either way would be good to me.
bloop_227
2026-02-01 16:55:51 +0000 UTC虽然没能等到完整的圣诞行动有些许遗憾，但更期待将来ruby能推出其他优秀的故事作品!
小云
2026-02-01 16:30:41 +0000 UTC没有任何想法 ruby小姐的决策永远无条件支持
ruby小姐的狗
2026-02-01 16:03:06 +0000 UTCgo go go o7
Falcomster
2026-02-01 15:54:01 +0000 UTCI think I can wait for Julia and Shi later on (and honestly speaking, I think I forgot who Shi is), so, it would be nice to see the finished part of the Twins
BinhTurtle
2026-02-01 14:32:15 +0000 UTCfor me, I would love to see those part been posted when it is finished.
SAG-13
2026-02-01 14:14:25 +0000 UTCI definitely agree that if that part is finished, It would be great to see it! Thank you for all you do! your work is amazing
Tallman
2026-02-01 13:47:07 +0000 UTCIf it's ready to go, I would say post it!
Founty
2026-02-01 13:09:51 +0000 UTCI think I'd like to see the part with the twins, your art is really good so imo anything you post is gonna be good. As for dumps of WIPs I think that could be a neat idea. Might give us an idea as to how you draw or what you've been working on. As for your subscription, you could do what some other artists have done and keep it paywalled up to a certain point. Like ones that are several months old, say 4-6 months or something like that, get posted to pixiv while the new content stays up for fanbox only till that point.
krollym09
2026-02-01 13:00:20 +0000 UTC
