Rocky finds readers childhood stuffy on their side of the bed and Ryland dosnt know about them either
Anywho Rocky and Ryland ask lots of questions about said stuffie on Erid
-saturn
I say this as I’m laying in my bed with my childhood stuffy
"Barnaby The Blueberry?"
Ryland grace x reader (FLUFF)
summary: see request above!
yaps!: had sooo much fun writing this, hope you dont mind the fact i used my actual stuffies name for this HAHAHA!! mhwamhwa hope you like this as mush as i did!! listened to "Summertime" by My Chemical Romance, "Bulong" by December Avenue, and "Hearken" by Yaelokre!
The atmosphere inside the dome on Erid was a carefully curated slice of Earth, but it was impossible to keep the dust of a distant world entirely at bay. The air always smelled faintly of ozone and the spicy, metallic tang of Eridian tea. Inside the "humble home" shared by you and Ryland Grace, the lighting was currently set to a soft, pre-dawn amber, meant to ease you both into the day.
Ryland was already up, hunched over a workbench in the corner, scribbling frantically on a whiteboard. You, however, were still buried under a mountain of specialized, heavy-duty blankets.
You were also not alone.
A heavy, rhythmic thud-clack, thud-clack echoed across the floorboards. Rocky was on a mission. The Eridian engineer had become a permanent fixture in your domestic life, often wandering into your sleeping quarters to "inspect" the human habitat or, more often than not, to ask a thousand questions about things that humans did that made absolutely no sense to him.
Rocky scuttled toward your side of the bed. You were currently in the kitchen, having slipped out to grab a glass of water, leaving your side of the blankets rummaged and messy.
Rocky’s central carapace rotated, scanning the pillows. His form twitched. There, tucked deep into the crease of the mattress, was something he had never seen before. It was small. It was furry. It had the color of a blueberry, two glass-bead eyes and a very worn, long, black spoon-shaped nose.
“Grace! Question!” Rocky’s voice synthesizer chirped from the wall unit, sounding unusually high-pitched with curiosity. “There is a new organism in the insulation pile! Has no carapace! Has no pulse! Why it hiding?”
Ryland jumped, his marker streaking a long, accidental line across his physics equations. “What? A new organism? Rocky, we’ve lived here for years, there aren't any—"
He trailed off as he walked over to the bed. You walked back into the room at that exact moment, frozen in the doorway with your water glass halfway to your mouth.
Rocky was currently using one of his delicate, stone-like claws to poke at a very old, very loved, stuffed koala named Barnaby The Blueberry.
Ryland blinked. He looked at the koala, then at you, then back at the koala. A slow, delighted grin started to spread across his face.
"[name]," Ryland said, his voice dripping with playful curiosity. "What is that? And more importantly, why have I lived with you on two different planets and never seen it?"
You felt the heat rush to your cheeks, a deep crimson that Ryland always found endearing. You walked over, gently scooping Barnaby out of Rocky’s inquisitive reach. "It’s... it’s just my stuffie. Barnaby The Blueberry. He was in my emergency kit from the Hail Mary. I haven't pulled him out in a long time."
Rocky tilted his entire body, his five-legged frame shifting in a way that signaled deep confusion. “Stuff-ie? Is this a biological subspecies? It has no internal heat. It does not leak energy. Is it a parasite that feeds on sleep?”
"No, Rocky," you laughed, sitting on the edge of the bed and holding the koala to your chest. Being shorter than Ryland, you felt particularly small in that moment, sandwiched between a brilliant scientist and a brilliant alien, both of whom were looking at a plush toy like it was the most complex mystery in the galaxy.
Ryland sat down next to you, the mattress dipping under his weight. He reached out, his fingers brushing the fabric of your shirt—right over the spot where your "Rocky Scar" resided. It was a grounding touch, a reminder of the life you’d built together out of the wreckage of the mission.
"So, Barnaby," Ryland said, his eyes twinkling. "Does Barnaby have a PhD? Or is he more of a theoretical physicist?"
"He’s a koala, Ryland. He specializes in being soft," you retorted, though you couldn't help the smile tugging at your lips.
“Soft is not specialty,” Rocky pulsed, his voice synthesizer vibrating with a rhythmic trill. “Soft is vulnerability. Why you keep a vulnerable creature in bed? Does it guard? Does it watch for vacuum leaks with glass eyes?”
You looked at Rocky’s figure, trying to find the words to explain one of the most irrational, beautiful parts of being human.
"It’s for comfort, Rocky," you explained softly. "When humans are young—and sometimes when we're older—we like to hold things that are soft. It makes us feel safe. It’s like... it’s like a surrogate for the hive. For the cluster."
Rocky went silent for a moment, his clock-eye rotating slowly. “Comfort. Rocky understand comfort. Rocky hot, you cold, Rocky insulate you. But koala-thing not hot. Does not provide thermal stability.”
"It's not that kind of warmth," Ryland chimed in, his voice losing its teasing edge. He looked at you, his expression softening into something so tender it made your heart ache. "It’s emotional warmth, Rocky. Humans have this weird thing where we attach memories and feelings to inanimate objects. It’s like a physical anchor to a happy thought."
Ryland reached out and took Barnaby from you, turning the toy over in his hands. He noticed the worn fur, the slight tear in the ear that had been stitched back together years ago. "How long have you had him?"
"Since I was four," you whispered. "He’s been through every move, every lab accident, and apparently, a trip across the Tau Ceti system."
“Four years?” Rocky asked.
"No, Rocky. Since I was a pebble," you corrected.
Rocky’s synthesizer let out a series of musical whistles. “A pebble relic! An artifact! Why did hide it, Question? It a secret technology? Does Grace not know of koala-tech?”
"I didn't hide it," you pouted, leaning your head against Ryland's shoulder. "I just... I thought it was a bit silly. A grown adult, a scientist, sleeping with a stuffed koala on an alien planet."
Ryland wrapped his arm around your waist, pulling you closer. "[name], I spent six months talking to a camera and naming a spider-bot 'Rocky' before I actually met him. 'Silly' is our baseline. Besides," he leaned down, kissing the top of your head, "I think it’s brave. Bringing a piece of your childhood home across the stars? That’s some serious dedication to morale."
“Rocky wish to inspect texture,” Rocky announced.
You handed Barnaby to Rocky. The Eridian was incredibly gentle, using the tips of his claws to lightly brush the velvet ears. “Is... very textured. It feels like moss in lower caves, but without dampness. Is pleasant. Rocky understand now. It is a portable cluster-member.”
Rocky handed the rabbit back to you, his carapace radiating a steady, happy heat. “Grace is noisy and leaks heat. The koala is quiet and stays soft. You have a good cluster, Question.”
"I really do," you agreed, looking from the stone alien to the messy-haired man beside you.
Ryland chuckled, nudging you with his shoulder. "Does this mean I have to share the bed with Barnaby now? Is there a hierarchy? Do I have to ask the koala for permission to change the thermostat?"
"Barnaby says the thermostat stays exactly where it is," you joked.
---
The rest of the morning was spent in a rare, lazy sprawl. Ryland abandoned his whiteboard, and Rocky decided that "inspecting" the rabbit required him to stay on the bed with you both.
The three of you—plus Barnaby—piled onto the oversized mattress. Rocky sat at the foot, his heavy limbs tucked in, providing a grounding weight that always helped your anxiety. Ryland was a warm, solid presence behind you, his hand resting on your side, his thumb tracing the jagged line of the scar that matched his own.
The light in the dome shifted to a deeper, more comfortable gold.
“Question?” Rocky’s voice was low, almost a whisper in the quiet room.
“Yeah, Rocky?”
“Does koala require sleep-sounds? I can provide the resonance. It will help the rabbit’s internal systems stay calm.”
You felt a lump in your throat at the sheer sweetness of the offer. "I think Barnaby would love that, Rocky."
The Eridian began to thrum. It wasn't a song, but a deep, rhythmic vibration that resonated through the bed and into your very bones. It was the sound Eridians made to comfort their young, a biological lullaby that signaled total safety.
Ryland’s breathing slowed as he drifted back toward sleep, his grip on you tightening just a fraction. You tucked Barnaby under your chin, feeling the soft fur against your skin and the radiating heat of your alien friend at your feet.
In the vast, terrifying emptiness of the universe, you had managed to find a home. It was a home built on science, survival, and shared scars, but today, it was also built on the simple, fluffy importance of a childhood rabbit.
“Good hive,” Rocky trilled one last time before the room fell into a peaceful, humming silence. “Very good hive.”
i would and WILL fight anyone for my barnaby....👁👁
WHAT DO WE FEEL ABOUT THIS GNG hope u had fun reading!! hugs n kisses 💚💚👎👎
notes ➤ gn!reader. cleaner!reader. typical zanka insecurities are touched upon. nijiku sibling neglect mentioned. might be ooc as i've only done one read of the manga so far and did this as a character study.
w.c. ➤ 2.8k
activities - what do they like to do with their s/o? how do they spend their free time with them?
zanka likes sparring with you. he likes to show off what he's been learning, and likes helping both himself and you improve in combat. during missions, he turns fights against trash beasts into friendly competition, but he definitely has to remind himself not to get too heated.
but during free time, when improvement and missions aren't in the picture, he likes sitting around, talking, and admiring the views from a high rooftop. sure, the sights might not be the prettiest, but it really is all groundlings have ever known. he also likes walking around the various towns and doing some window shopping.
beauty - what do they admire about their s/o? what do they think is beautiful about them?
he admires your determination to reach your goals. he’ll help when he can, but he wants you to get there on your own.
you like taking care of others? in a world that’s essentially survival of the fittest, he definitely finds that admirable.
in terms of what he finds beautiful about you, he finds beauty in all of your hobbies. for example, say you like writing or drawing—he finds it beautiful that you want to do something that could leave a mark on the world. or maybe you like inventing or something that gets your hands really dirty. he might swoon a little.
comfort - how would they help their s/o when they feel down/have a panic attack etc.?
it's pretty easy to conclude that he was neglected based on his backstory. he's learned how to comfort and ground himself, and as a result, can do the same things for others.
he'll recommend meditation when you're feeling down, but he gets that it might not always work, especially those with louder minds. he'll take you on walks, ask you to talk about your interests—anything that distracts you.
for panic attacks, his first idea would be to take you to the nearest (clean) water source and have you splash your face. it works for him, but again, he knows that won't work for everyone. he leans towards helping using more immediate grounding methods, such as smelling something strong, tasting something strong, and/or touching something with a rougher texture.
dreams - how do they picture their future with their s/o?
despite the awful situations on the ground, people still do lead relatively fulfilling lives, but you both being cleaners does add a bit of tension and worry.
he really does hope that you’re by his side for as long as possible. now that you’re together, he can’t imagine a future without you there, and it shows in little ways. he’s always watching you extra carefully during missions, ready to step in if he thinks you need help.
he pictures a life where you both accomplish your goals. and if he’s being idealistic, he pictures a life with no trash beasts and no pollution. just a comfortable and safe future.
equal - are they the dominant one in the relationship, or rather passive?
overall, i'd say that your relationship is equal.
zanka thought he'd be passive at first. it already took a lot of guts for him to actually confess, so he was sure that doing all the stuff that comes with being in a relationship would also be difficult for him. he's still dealing with a massive inferiority complex, mind you, and feels like he doesn't deserve to be in a relationship with someone like you.
but no, he gets the craziest high once he's actually in a relationship, and it all comes naturally to him. he runs ahead of you to open doors, pulls out your chair during meals, all the gentlemanly stuff.
he'll come up to you at headquarters, throw out a "wanna check out this spot?", and never explicitly call it a date, but it sure is.
he's not huge into pda, but he'll initiate affection in public from time to time. a kiss on the forehead after you return from a mission. though he’ll immediately fluster if someone points it out and teases him about it. he's much better about showing his love for you in private.
fight - would they be easy to forgive their s/o? how are they fighting?
oh boy. zanka’s got quite the short fuse. he really does make an effort to keep his cool around you, though. but if you’re a ragebaiter, he definitely would lose it at some point and get real snippy with you.
he doesn’t apologize or forgive immediately. he’ll take some time to himself following an argument or fight with you—mostly because he has lingering ugly feelings towards himself in the aftermath and doesn’t want to make things worse.
he meditates. he falls back to old habits and works himself to the bone. he rehearses apologies in his room. then, like a mature person, he sincerely apologizes and tries to work though whatever got the both of you arguing in the first place.
gratitude - how grateful are they in general? are they aware of what their s/o is doing for them?
zanka is very grateful. he has his insecurities about your relationship for sure, but he’s been generally happier since getting with you.
he treasures every moment he has with you—both when you’re doing cleaner duties and when you’re just being relaxed and doing typical couple things.
he does notice when you do things for him, and of course he’s grateful for that. of everything you could possibly do for him, though, he appreciates that you even give him the time of day.
honesty - do they have secrets they hide from their s/o? or do they share everything?
while his ties to the nijiku family and the hell guard are no secret, what went down there is. he doesn’t speak much about his relationship with kyouka and goka. he’d really rather not talk about it.
riyo and enjin, for the longest time, were the only ones that knew about the time he hid down in a well for three days straight. this, he decides to tell you about one day, but only once you’ve been official for a while.
other than the things regarding his siblings, he doesn’t keep many things hidden. he doesn’t have much to hide.
inspiration - did their s/o change them somehow, or the other way around? like trying out new things or helping them overcome personal problems?
you’ve definitely had an effect on him. he knows that he’s been happier, a bit more pleasant, not so snippy. he feels changed for the better.
he might not work himself to the bone as much because some of his free time is now dedicated to typical couple things.
jealousy - do they get jealous easily? how do they deal with it?
this is zanka nijiku we’re talking about. it’s so obvious. he gets jealous easily. it’s mostly out of insecurity, of course. this is also obvious.
he gets a bit antsy, especially if you’re around someone he looks up to, because what if you leave him for them? he knows how much better they are than him (at least that's what he tells himself). he can act all nonchalant if he wants, but it’s painfully obvious how he’s feeling.
one time riyo had to stop him from clenching his fists because he was starting to bleed from how strongly he was digging his nails into his palm. all because you gave someone else a compliment while sparring.
in terms of dealing with it, he meditates on it rather than smacking around some training dummies like he would to cope in different scenarios. he reasons with himself, reminds himself that all of the other cleaners know damn well that you're in a relationship with him and wouldn't even dare to threaten that.
kiss - are they a good kisser? what was the first kiss like?
your first kiss, by definition, wasn’t a first kiss.
it was the middle of the day, the two of you in his dorm room. he was playing with your fingers as you talked, when he suddenly held your hand to his lips and kissed it. he was curious how you’d react, is all.
for your first proper kiss by definition, it happened after you were away from headquarters for a long time. some backup was needed in the north ward, and you were the best fit for the job.
zanka missed you terribly during that time. when you returned, he was pretty good at keeping his cool as you caught up with everyone. then, he pulled you to the side. he had rehearsed this moment for days.
instead, he just stared at you as he choked out a, “can i. please. kiss you. properly.”
and with permission given, his lips touch yours, and it’s as awkward and bad as one would imagine.
over time he got better. he’s pretty good at it, and likes to be touching some part of your face while kissing, even if it’s for a quick peck.
love confession - how would they confess to their s/o?
it takes a very, very long time for zanka to confess. so if you’re waiting for him to confess first, get ready to wait.
this is being brought up a lot, but he’s got his whole inferiority complex going on. there’s all these fish in the sea, and he expects you to settle with him?
honestly, it’s probably even hard to tell that he’s crushing on you in the first place. he’ll probably be extra flustered if you compliment him, and he’ll seek out your praise after missions or training, but… that’s just typical zanka stuff, isn’t it?
it takes enjin coming up to him for him to even make the moves towards confessing. the guy that he fanboys over all the time is encouraging him to do it? hell yeah, he’ll start trying.
he makes sure it’s in a more private spot where hopefully nobody is eavesdropping, but lets be real, everyone that’s invested in the two of you getting together is probably watching in secret.
he’s probably not saying anything outright about loving you. just an awkward “wanna go on a date?”
it isn’t until you’re well into the relationship that he actually says ‘love’. and it’s a slip of the tongue. a simple, “bye, love ya,” as he’s about to leave for a long mission. he proceeds to power walk out without looking back.
but when he does return, he’s sure to clarify that he really meant it.
marriage - do they want to get married? how do they propose? what would the marriage be like?
marriage isn’t on the front of his mind at all.
or on the back of his mind.
he doesn’t see marriage as something necessary for your relationship. that’s about it. but if you ask, he'll do it.
nicknames - what do they call their s/o?
he prefers to call you by your name.
he’ll have a few ‘mean’ nicknames though, but they’re affectionate. like ‘weirdo’.
on the rare occasion where he does use a proper pet name, he goes with ‘love’. sure wonder where he gets that one from…
on cloud nine - what do they like when they are in love? is it obvious for others? how do they express their feelings?
you’re definitely his first relationship, so those butterflies he gets are bad. a lot of what he feels is disbelief. he does a lot of staring for the first few days after getting with you.
yes, it’s so obvious that he’s in love with you. so obvious that there were bets amongst the cleaners for when you’d get together—the winners were enjin and semiu. tamsy also would’ve won if he bothered to participate.
while he expresses his feelings through both actions and words, he much prefers action. the typical gentlemanly stuff, like stated before, is something he likes doing. he’ll grab your food for you during meals, just a bunch of acts of service.
pda - are they upfront about their relationship? do they brag with their s/o in front of others? or are they rather shy to kiss etc. when others are watching?
when it comes to physical affection, he’s quite reserved. he’ll limit it to holding your hand beneath a table or a quick forehead kiss.
but oh boy, does he brag. he’s always proud of you! during training, if you totally kick someone’s ass, he leans to the nearest person and goes, “that’s my partner. in case ya didn’t know.”
once you two become a thing, everyone knows because he keeps on yapping about you, managing to bring you up in any conversation, always near you, and so on.
quirk - some random ability they have that’s beneficial in a relationship.
we all know how much he loves and cares for lovely assistaff. he’s very good at taking care of what he loves.
so, he takes great care of you! he’s a wonderful caregiver when you’re sick, he knows how gentle/rough he should be when patching up your injuries post-mission, and he knows the exact moment when you’re too cold so he can give you a jacket.
you and lovely assistaff are his favorite beings.
romance - how romantic are they? what would they do to make their s/o happy? cliché or rather creative?
he's pretty romantic once he gets into the swing of things. he definitely leans more towards being a people pleaser, so he'll really do anything to make you happy.
you want some plushie of a very specific animal? he'll be looking around stores forever for it if he has to. or, because he's too stubborn to try to ask august to make it, he'll sure try to learn how to make it himself.
he does lean towards being a little cliché, just because of his upbringing.
support - are they helping their s/o achieve their goals? do they believe in them?
as stated in the ‘beauty’, he’ll be there to support your goals, but wants you to get there yourself.
he really believes in you. he’s your number one fan.
he’ll check in every so often, but tries not to be overbearing about it. at the hell guard academy, he’s seen the snowball effect that comes with slacking off on goals via other students. he doesn’t want that for you. even if it’s just a tiny bit of progress, he’s proud of it.
thrill - do they need to try out new things to spice out your relationship? or do they prefer a certain routine?
he doesn't feel the need to try anything new. he's perfectly content with everything staying the way it is with you. if you're the one that wants to spice things up, he'll happily go along.
he tries to keep a routine—specifically, he always makes an effort to go with you somewhere once a week. you both get busy, being cleaners and all.
understanding - how good do they know their partner? are they empathetic?
he's very observant, so he can read your expressions well, including little microexpressions. this makes you two a pretty good pair for missions, since he can tell at a glimpse if you're in a sticky situation and need assistance.
he's a great person to ramble to, and he'll remember everything you say, and he'll ask further questions about things, too. truly a miracle to those with special interests and hyperfixations.
zanka, of course, is empathetic. i think he feels things very strongly, so it comes naturally to him. he's great to come to if you just need some comfort, but he'll just as gladly provide solutions, too.
value - how important is the relationship to them? what is it’s worth in comparison to other things in their life?
zanka strikes me as someone who deeply values his all of his relationships —both romantic and platonic. his relationship with his family is very rocky, so any other connections he has have shot up in value to him.
you're very important to him, as a result.
he tries his very best to balance you with the other things going on in life, but if he's called for a mission, he's not really going to fight it, even if it means missing out on your weekly outings. he always tries to make up for it whenever he picks something else over you, though.
wild card - a random fluff headcanon.
zanka is the vital instrument guy. if you've got one, chances are, he loves it and thinks its the prettiest little thing—well, prettiest little thing right after lovely assistaff.
he admires you technique with it, regardless of it's combat-oriented or not. he'll be really invested in how it changes and grows as you keep training.
your vital instrument has part of your soul in it. so sometimes, he likes talking to it, usually while you're asleep. he gets very flustered if you catch him in the act.
xoxo - are they very affectionate? do they love to kiss and cuddle?
in private, yes. he likes to be touching you somewhere—he finds it grounding. a hand on top of yours, shoulders touching, anything small like that will do.
he has a preference for kisses on the forehead, hands, and lips.
when it comes to cuddling, he's got a soft spot for the 'head on lap' position. he likes playing with your hair, he likes his hair being played with, it's a win-win for him. he also enjoys it when you rest your head on his shoulder.
yearning - how will they cope when they’re missing their partner?
we’ve got zanka ‘yearner’ nijiku over here. being in the cleaners, there’s a lot of times where either you or he is away for periods of time.
if you’re gone, he gets fidgety. his favorite sparring partner is gone! he goes extra hard when it comes to training, and he brings you up in conversations without realizing it. if someone dares sit in your usual spot during meals, he sulks about it, but isn’t gonna tell whoever took your spot to move.
if he’s the one that’s gone, it’s about the same. training extra hard, being rougher during fights against trash beasts. it’s a lot more internalized, since all the cleaners at the location he’s at don’t know you at all, so he feels weird mentioning you.
fake idgafer.
zeal - are they willing to go to great lengths for the relationship? if so, what kind of?
as mentioned in 'value', zanka does try to balance your romantic relationship with your more professional one. it gets hard at points, but he's always making up for it when he finds things are lacking.
he also makes up for it by being quite protective during missions. keeping an eye out for you more than the others. if you're about to get hit, he'll trust you to get out of it yourself—but if you can't, he'll go straight to you. it won't be the grand rescue where he princess carries you, moreso a rough shove where you both end up getting roughed up.
he'll try his damn best to make sure you feel cared for, both mentally and physically.
If you see this and can reblog it would be Much Appreciated! 🙏
This is Noodle who is my mothers LIFE and emotional support dog. He has been with her since she had gotten stage three liver failure and had recovered through it. Hes been with her through many stages of her health and now we are trying to be there for his own health ! We had learned today that Noodle has cancer when we went to the vet. He has a mast tumor on the back of his right leg. We have found a veterinarian to remove it except we have to raise $750 by Dec 4th. If you can help even if it's only $1 anything helps.
You can call the veterinarian directly and put the money on Noodles books.
Accessiable veterinary Care
850-463-4242
it's under
Krystal Black "Noodle"
Or Simply help us out and reblog this post would be deeply appreciated.
Thank you to all who took the time to read this, reblog this or aided in noodles surgery.
PLEASE continue to contact your Representatives and House Leadership consistently with badinternetbills.com and stopkosa.com. Let's stay vigilante on this!
"TIKTOK “BAN” BILL PASSES UNANIMOUSLY IN COMMITTEE This afternoon the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. This means the bill will move on to the full vote of the House of Representatives. It's unclear when or if that will happen. But this bill was already put on the fast track so it's possible it will come soon."
"TIKTOK “BAN” BILL PASSES UNANIMOUSLY IN COMMITTEE This afternoon the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. This means the bill will move on to the full vote of the House of Representatives. It's unclear when or if that will happen. But this bill was already put on the fast track so it's possible it will come soon."
This Thursday energy and commerce will try and ban tiktok again. Go check out @underthedesknews on tiktok for more information. They will talk more about on the minisode podcast called American fever dream.
This is seriously dangerous for us because they talk about imposing civil penalties for apple and google if they host the tiktok app like 5'000 per user per day.
There are some Democrats who have benefited from tiktok. Tell your reps to veto this bill.
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