day 3 - misunderstanding / "give me another chance"
Adrian realizes they judged Grace too quickly. Minor injury. Mostly fluff. <3
Adrian doesn't expect to feel nervous when they arrive outside Grace's door, but their claw hesitates before they can knock. The last time they saw Grace, he was unconscious. For a long time, Adrian was patient. Rocky explained just how sick Grace was, just how close he was to dying, and they had dropped everything to help save him. They'd worked hard with the science team to make his food, his vitamins, his biodome. More than anything, they'd been patient with Rocky needing to spend all his time with him until he woke up.
But now, he's been awake for two weeks, and Rocky still never wants to leave his side. If he's not in Grace's biodome, he's checking with the science teams to check their progress on his environment and nutrition and health. Even when he is home, his mind is on Grace. Adrian can't blame him--it's not Rocky's fault. He watched brutal suffering and death, then tolerated an unthinkable amount of time alone in space. It's no wonder that he'd form a strong bond with the first thing that showed him kindness. The gravity of that kindness is not lost on them. Grace had saved their mate's life. He'd sacrificed his chances to go back home for Rocky. He'd almost died for him. That's why they worked so tirelessly right alongside Rocky when Grace had been dying.
However, that's not the case anymore, and they're starting to think that Grace is asking for a lot. Not only does his food have to contain hundreds of complicated nutrients while filtering out... literally everything else, because it could kill him, but it has to taste good. His biodome atmosphere meeting his needs isn't enough: it has to be cool and sandy and smell like an ocean, which, what even is that? Also, what does he need a door for? It's just hard to watch anyone take advantage of their Rocky, especially someone Rocky will never, ever say no to.
That fire fuels them to tap on Grace's door.
"Rocky?" he calls, shuffling to the door as fast as he can, which isn't terribly impressive. "I wasn't expecting--oh, Adrian? What are you doing here?" His posture stiffens a bit when he sees them standing there, which reminds them that Grace has never properly met them.
"Hello, Grace. Can we talk?"
"Of course," he replies. "Let's go for a walk."
One thing they notice about Grace right off the bat is that he feels a need to fill silences. He's chattering away awkwardly, clearly nervous. He's unsteady on his legs as they walk down the beach, his cane digging little holes into the sand.
"I'm really glad you dropped by," he says, "and you're always welcome, but, uh, it's a little out of the blue. Is something wrong? Is Rocky okay?"
His immediate concern for Rocky is, at least, nice. Rocky does enough for him, after all. It's good that he cares.
"Rocky is fine," they reply, and Grace exhales.
"That's a relief. I worry about him, you know. It seems like he's always busy with something these days."
"Then we agree."
"What does that mean?"
"You know you are welcome on Erid," Adrian beings, "and I believe you want the best for Rocky."
"Of course I do. Rocky saved my life; he's my best friend. Adrian, you're scaring me a little. What's going on?"
"Rocky needs space."
Grace stops in his tracks. "Rocky said that?" he asks, sounding hurt.
"No. He would never. I, as his mate, am requesting it."
"Why? I mean, of course I--he's your mate, and you can--you two should--but I feel like I'm missing something. Like something is wrong and you're not telling me."
"When you came to Erid, you were ill. Rocky has been desperately trying to keep you alive, so much so that I feel as though he hasn't been addressing his own needs. He's finally back home. He needs to be allowed to process that."
"I totally agree," he says. "I'm sorry, I had no idea. I--argh!" he trails off, scrawny little leg twisting on a rock in the sand, sending him sprawling to the ground. Rocky told them he's clumsy. The fall isn't hard, so it's likely more embarrassing than anything else. Probably best to politely ignore it. They wait patiently as he shifts into a seated position, breathing hard. "Sorry."
"It's fine. I know humans are uncoordinated."
"Uh-huh." Though Adrian expects them to continue their stroll, Grace seems done, for now.
"Rocky cares deeply for you. If you feel the same, you'll let him have this time."
"Adrian, I'm--ah--I'm so sorry. I didn't know. Of course, he should take all the time he needs. I've been--" he hisses through his teeth, "telling him he's working too hard. I've been so worried. He doesn't take no for an answer."
Adrian can't help a fond chuckle. If there's one thing that can be said for Rocky, it's that. "You're right about that." They expect Grace to get to his feet, but he doesn't. He's sitting on the ground, holding the ankle that tripped him. "Is something wrong, Grace?"
"No, I'm--fine. Just feel guilty. I didn't mean to hurt him."
"You didn't," Adrian says. For as frustrated as they've been, it sounds like Grace has been telling Rocky some of the same things. It's not fair to keep that on his conscience. "This is Rocky's choices."
"Please don't blame him," he argues. That's a little surprising. They're offering Grace an out, and he's fighting it? "I was really, really sick on the Hail Mary. Can't imagine how hard that was for him." The thumping and swooshing sounds from his chest are both rapid. He groans.
"Grace, you seem distressed," they point out. "Are you injured?"
"I'm--a little," he admits. "Sorry. My body's still really weak. Muscles aren't what they used to be. Twisted my ankle." Adrian shifts.
"I thought you were fully recovered."
"Nah," he dismisses. "Still got a long way to go, and some of the damage is gonna be permanent."
Adrian curses. He's been walking and talking. They wouldn't have initiated this conversation just yet if they'd known he was still sick.
"Like... what?"
"I don't know yet," he admits. "Bones are going to be weak, maybe some damage to my heart; too early to tell. Definitely some chronic pain."
"You're still hurting?"
He looks down. "Again, it's nothing you should even be thinking about. Just--tell Rocky I asked for some breathing room, okay?"
Before Adrian can ask further questions, before they can even fully process the fact that they've just asked Grace, who is apparently still very sick, to stop seeing the only person he knows on this entire planet, he's clambering to his feet. His chest is thumping fast fast fast.
"Grace, perhaps you should sit down. You're hurt. I can get Rocky."
"No," he reassures tightly, "no. Not necessary. Just, uh, I might need someone to help me get back home. Don't think I can walk on this."
Adrian offers their arm, gesturing a little more impatiently when Grace just stares at it. "Well, are you going to hop on, or force me to pick you up?"
"You don't have to do that."
"How else are you going to get home?"
"Just--I don't know, you can send one of the doctors down or something. You don't even like me."
"On," they command, "now." Grace obeys. "When did I say I don't like you?"
"I--I mean, why would you? I'm taking up all Rocky's time."
"I... may have been a little prematurely hostile. I thought you'd been telling him that his efforts in caring for you are not good enough."
"What?" he actually laughs a little. "God, no. He's been--you've all been so kind to me. More than I could have ever asked for. Rocky is just... I mean, he can be a bit..."
"You may say it."
"Bossy."
Adrian chuckles again. "Only when he loves you."
As gently as they can, Adrian moves Grace back to his home, settling him on his bed. He removes his shoe and sock, then hisses in pain as he presses on the affected joint.
"Are you badly injured?"
"Nah, probably just a sprain. Hurts, though. I'll get Armando to wrap it up and just use my wheelchair until it heals. It's okay."
"I'll send Rocky up to check on you before you sleep."
"No, please. He needs to be spending his time with you."
"This is true," they admit, "but I suppose there is also time for Grace. We will both come visit later."
Though Grace tries to argue, what he's about to learn, as Adrian scuttles out the door and ignores him, is that they're pretty bossy, too.
it's really really funny to me that eva stratt's list of crimes canonically includes piracy. do movie only fans know they tried to take her to court for pirating everything ever published and she ron swanson'd her way out of it. i need you all to know this.
ryland grace is aroace. however he is also stratt’s dead wife, rocky’s red string of fate starcrossed soulmate, & intensely violently homosexual for mark “simon iron lung” iplier. all things are true & all things can coexist. peace & love on planet erid
I feel like grace was in such a rush to turn that ship around and hightail it back to rocky that he was indiscriminate about what data he sent back. just shoved it all into the beetle probes, just to realize ‘ok so 20% of that data is scientific breakthroughs to save the world……..80% me and rocky’s movie reviews. and I def forgot to delete the fifteen minute long dance off. hm.’
Okay but imagine being the team of Eridian scientists tasked with keeping Erid's Only Human alive for as long as possible while the whole planet's environment is literally trying to kill him. And then Rocky shows up and is like:
“Grace says he would like half of dome to be water.”
“Oh, is necessary for humans to have large amounts of water question?”
Small Eridian equivalent of a sigh. “No. Not needed for life. In fact Grace will die if he falls in water and does not get out.”
“Tell him we give him water in containers that won't kill him. Lots lots lots of water on Erid for Grace to drink.”
“No. Grace say he want water on ground. Also want it with excess sodium chloride compound so it will be unhealthy for drink.”
To celebrate Erid getting their sun back on track, Grace asks for some alcohol. There's a small amount left from the Hail Mary and Rocky offers to take it to the science Eridians to see if they can synthesise more.
“Grace want this liquid for celebration.”
“Of course.” They scan it. “You have wrong liquid. This contain compounds which are poisonous for humans.”
“Yes yes yes. Grace say humans like feeling of being slightly poisoned.”
rocky always yells “enrichment for grace! enrichment for grace!” when he has a new invention to make the humans time more interesting on erid. grace, while appreciative, replies ‘I know I’m in a zoo enclosure but could we maybe not call it that? I feel like a bear getting thrown a pumpkin covered in peanut butter.’ rocky simply gives him a thumb, not wanting to explain that a significant amount of the population sees grace as the celebrity savior scientist who rocky keeps as a controversially young trophy wife and publicly lavishes in gifts
i am so obsessed with your phm art i want to eat all of it. grace is my pathetic wet cat and you draw his sad little guy tendencies so well.
if you're so inclined i would love to see more of rocky comforting grace (just a guy who probably has big time ptsd from how earth sent him away and his emotional support rock shaped alien. what if i cried right now)
i hope your day is amazing!! 🫶
thank you <3 they really are so much fun to draw - hurt/comfort is like my all time favorite trope so….. have these various grace and rocky comfort drawings as thanks!
This moment is so dear to me I want to cry. First of, Grace is so gentle with him? Something something kindness literally saves the world (two worlds, in this case). Also, you just KNOW that Grace is that teacher in whose classroom the kids go to cry when they feel like the whole world has turned against them.
But secondly, "I'm a science human"! Because yeah. None of them is the other's weird alien dog. None of them is the "smart one" (or rather, they both are). They can't do this without each other. They complement each other. They need each other to succeed, there's no other way. That's the whole point! Cooperation! Connection! Working together!