HI OMG YOUR ART STYLE IS SOOOOO CUTESYYYYYYUHHHHH 🩷🩷🩷 it makes me so so happy omg.
If you’re taking requests, I’ve always personally been a truther of Grace freezing up and goes cuckoo bananas when Simon gets his neck, kinda like how cats freeze up when you get them by the scruff.
Maybe Simon uses that to get Grace’s attention, or get him to focus? IDK IDK TEEHEE HAVE A GOOD DAAAAAAAY Y FEEL FREE TO IGNORE 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷
Hey all! I wrote this based off of this drawing I did with the pebbles! I’m gonna try and draw a bit some more even if I just post some doodles for you guys! I hope you like and enjoy!
Slight spoilers for movie and book!
Summary: Grace gets to see pebbles for the first time while Rocky and Adrian babysit.
Lee!Grace / Ler!Pebbles
Word count: 2,367
“Grace want help Rocky Adrian babysit pebbles today, question?” I perk up from my spot on the couch.
“You guys are babysitting? I didn’t know Eridians did that.” I look over at the two cuddling on the floor. Rocky has perched himself on top of Adrian, soaking in their heat.
“Obvious. Other Eridians get busy. Need help watching over pebbles.” Rocky clicks out. Two of his legs hang off the side of Adrian’s carapace and I notice they swing back and forth a bit.
“Well my bad.” I roll my eyes with a smile. “I would love to. I haven’t been given the chance to see baby Eridians yet.” I’ve only taught more adolescent Eridians in my class, not toddler and below age. I’m actually a little nervous at the thought.
“Grace must be gentle.” Adrian adds a bit sternly, shifting to stand. Rocky climbs off and stretches a bit, kinda like a cat.
I scoff “Of course I’ll be gentle! Who do you think I am?” I fake a shocked expression, hand over my chest.
“Grace is…clumsy.” Gee thanks. “Grace be more careful than usual.” Rocky adds as they both head towards the door.
“I promise to be more careful than usual.” I hold my right hand up like I’m giving an oath though I don’t think either one of them actually knows what that means.
I lean over the couch to watch them head out. Adrian lets out a low giggle. “Adrian Rocky be back soon with pebbles.”
They shut the door behind them as I slump back into the couch. I feel a bit giddy, my first time seeing little baby Eridians! I hope they’re as cute as I imagine them to be.
——————
Around an hour later I hear a very soft knock at the door.
“Coming!” I scramble over to let them in. As I open the door Rocky pushes himself in and then herds me out of the way.
“Grace move out of Adrian way.” He lightly taps at my shins. I stagger back a bit, trying not to step on Rocky in the process. Adrian walks in holding six little rocks in one arm, little sounds of random notes coming from them. They are all buzzing with life, little legs and claws moving and squirming about.
I let out a little coo as Adrian walked up in front of me, letting me get a good look, “They're so tiny! They look adorable!” They look like they would fit in the palm of my hand! A few are thick and stubby while others are thin. So thin it’s a little scary. I desperately want to reach out and touch them but decide not until I get an okay at the very least.
Adrian hums “Yes. They are.” They stop for a moment, letting me bask in their adorableness. “Pebbles will love you Grace.”
“Why me?” I smile a bit, leaning my face closer to the little babies in their arms. I see their claws reach up at me, their claws making grabbing motions.
“Grace is new. New sounds and new species. Grace is whole new experience.” They shift to move past me to settle on the floor in the house. “Also…Grace is cute and nice.” They add, making me a bit flustered. Me and Rocky quickly follow and Rocky curls up next to Adrian while I stand awkwardly. I’m not sure where I should sit.
Adrian makes a circle on the floor using their arms as a little fence to keep them in. They carefully lower the pebbles into the circle and they all immediately start moving. Adrian lifts a claw in my direction and I take it in my hand. They guide me back to the circle as Rocky shoos the little baby’s away from me so I can sit in the circle too. I lean my back against Adrian as I feel my excitement and anxiety rise.
”Pebbles not communicate well yet but still very curious. Can understand most of language.” Rocky explains but pauses “…Grace heart beat fast. Calm. You will do great.” He reassures as the pebbles make their way over to me. They are careful and cautious but their curiosity seems to be winning.
“O-okay…can I, um, touch them? Like, pet them?” I ask as they move closer and closer. Little legs scuttling in my direction.
“Of course.” Rocky takes my hand and places it out in front of me, low to the ground. It’s like if I were to meet a new dog for the first time. Letting them sniff my hand to make sure I’m not a threat. They seem to stop their advance towards me at the movement, keeping a distance.
“Aw! Hey little guys! My name is Grace—“
I suddenly realize I have absolutely no idea if they can understand me. Heat creeps up my cheeks as Adrian gently repeats what I said beside me. Right. Of course they can’t speak English.
Not my brightest moment.
I keep my hand as still as possible, hoping one comes up to me. I feel my anxiety rise even more as the thought of them hating or being scared of me crosses my mind.
I tense at a feeling on my head and I glance up. Adrian has started petting me softly, I think to calm my nerves but also to show the pebbles I mean no harm.
One brave pebble scuttle up and places a single claw on one of my fingers. It squeezes softly and chirps excitedly. God, there so cute!
That seems to be enough to convince the others and they all rush towards my hand. Little claws grab at my fingers, squishing and pulling. I giggle a bit, clenching my fingers ever so slightly. They seem to like it and they all let out little squeaks and trills.
I hear Rocky and Adrian giggle from somewhere above me.
“I think they like me!” I whisper excitedly grinning with a goofy smile. I carefully tip my hand over letting them explore. Tiny claws rub over my knuckles curiously, feeling the difference between my soft palm and the bonier top of my hand.
One pebble wanders past my wrist and grabs onto my pant leg. I tense instinctively, fighting the urge to pull away and accidentally shake them off.
Apparently, once again, one brave pebble is all the encouragement the others needed. They swarm my leg almost immediately. I let out a startled laugh as claws climb up my jeans and into my lap, forcing me to lean back against Adrian for support.
“See. Grace is natural.” Rocky teases a bit, chittering in my direction.
One pebble climbs up the front of my shirt, surprisingly quickly. It grabs at my collar and hoists itself on my shoulder, two arms grabbing my neck for support. I gasp slightly and the tickly feeling and hold as still as possible, my body going ridged.
“A-ah wahait! That tihickles!” I fight every bone in my body to not scrunch up my shoulders but my hands to fly up to grab at the air around my neck. I realize the other little ones go still. I carefully glance down and they are all sitting, like they are waiting. Then I suddenly feel the claws at my neck slowly trace and squeeze experimentally and I jump.
“Noho dohont doho thahat!” I giggle softly and a symphony of chirps and trills follow my laughter as the pebbles start moving again with vigor. They all start trying to climb up my shirt now.
Fudge.
“Adrain think they like Grace laugh.” Adrain chuckles out, still softly rubbing at my scalp. Little legs claw at my stomach as they try to reach the baby perched on my shoulder that is still clawing at my neck.
“AH—guys wahait!”
I squirm helplessly, unsure of what to even do with my hands. Instinctively I curl forward trying to protect my stomach while I laugh which is a huge mistake.
My shirt rides up in the process and the pebbles immediately notice the new exposed skin. Apparently they decide this is a much better route to my neck than climbing over my arms. Tiny claws hook into the fabric before several scuttle below.
“NANOHO NOhohot underNEHEATH—!”
I slowly slide down Adrian’s carapace, forcing my arms up and out. I don’t want to hurt them but I don’t know what else to do. They go still again for a moment and suddenly they're digging into the pudge on my stomach with purpose now, trying to force out loud laughter from me. I squeal as I feel Adrian let out a laugh against me.
“H-Hehelp meheHEHE ADRIAHAHAN! ROHOCKY!” I yelp, my arms slowly lowering back to my stomach against my will. I can’t help it, it’s their little legs, the way they vibrate with sound and excitement against my skin tickles more than I can handle.
“Adrain help Grace.” I silently thank them but I don’t hear Adrian or Rocky tell them to stop or even any action to grab at the little guys. Then I feel a large claw scoop up my hands and stretch me up and out against my will with my back half on the ground and half leaving against Adrian. The pebbles slow a bit at my sudden movement, balancing themselves.
“Adriahan w-whahat are yohou dohOHOING—NO WAhahAIT!” I hear happy trills from under my shirt as they dig in more. Some pinch, some claw, some vibrate, all experimenting to see what can bring the best noises from me. A few have travelled up towards my ribs, feelings round the bones with their legs while other push into my hip making me arch up with a squeak.
“Adrain make sure Grace not hurt pebbles on accident. Still let pebbles play and experience Grace.” The playful trill in their voice tells me I’m doomed. I tug helplessly against their grip but Adrian doesn’t budge.
I turn my head towards Rocky in a last desperate plea for mercy only to find him sitting comfortably beside us, cooing at my distress.
I feel my face burn bright red.
I squeeze my eyes shut trying to block out any tickly feelings. One pebble makes its way up to my collar and carefully starts tracing my clavicle making my chin shoot down to my chest with a squeak. I fidget at the new sensation as the other pebble still stationed on my shoulder traces the shell of my ear.
“This is human version of tickle.” I hear Rocky explain over my cackles. “Hunan touch sensitive. Have common ‘tickle spot’ but Grace very sensitive human. Tickle spot everywhere.” I feel the tips of my ears go red at Rocky’s very helpful commentary.
I’m about to say something dumb probably when a certain curious baby decides to explore my belly button. I shoot up as straight as I can, feeling a small claw reach in and scratch at sensitive skin hiding there.
“AHAHA—NAHOHOHO *SNRK* NAHAHAT THEHEHEHEREAHAH—!” I screech out and flail hard.
I’m actually worried the noise that ripped from my throat would scare the little pebbles but it only seemed to make them more determined. The other three little Eridians on my stomach and ribs immediately went to investigate this new very sensitive spot.
I kick my feet as I feel twenty little arms claw and trace at my bellybutton, making tears quickly well up in my eyes. I buck my hips up, I can’t help it anymore. My erratic movements do nothing to stop them.
“PEHEHEBBLES *SNRK* P-PLEHEHASE!” I beg, kinda forgetting they can’t understand me anyway. They trace around the sensitive spot, reaching in a poking making me laugh hard, my face hurts from the smile.
I squeal, “ROHOHCKYEHE PLEAHAHASE! ADRIAHAHANONO—!” I feel my body get increasingly more exhausted, my arms going slack against Adrian as I slump down, hunching into myself, shaking my head softly.
“Okay. Enough.” I hear Adrian say rather firmly. The pebbles slow their torment to a stop but don’t move off of me. There are little movements to balance and hang on, still making me squirm with giggles.
“Give Grace room.” Rocky adds, getting up to pluck a few pebbles off of me while the other skitter off.
“Heheha thahank yohouhehe.” I wheeze, my eyes closing in relief.
Once they're all off Adrian finally lets go of my arms and I immediately pull them close, sliding all the way to the floor. I rub at the skin of my tummy, trying to get the tingles out of my skin.
As I huff to get my breath back, the baby’s crawl up and watch closely around my head. I feel a small movement and I jump. But then I feel more and more. The pebbles start petting me, mimicking what Adrian was doing earlier. Not sure if they're doing it to be soothing on purpose or if they're just curious about what hair is but I don’t care. They let out purring and cooing noises as the continue. Little claws scratch at my scalp making me melt a bit under the touch, relaxing my tense muscles.
“Told Grace. Pebbles love you.” Adrian shifts closer to me, pulling my shirt back over my stomach and fixing my glasses, pushing them up the bridge of my nose. They take a digit and carefully wipe at the tears on my cheeks making me giggle and scrunch up softly, pushed at their arm.
I sigh, “Well they could at least express it in a different way.” A smirk makes its way to my face as a pebble climbs on my forehead, feeling my eyebrows then reaching under my glasses to graze the tear soaked eyelashes of my one eye.
Anxiously Rocky trills “Careful! Human eyes very important and delicate!” I see him shift to quickly grab at the baby but I hold my arm up.
“It’s okay. I’m okay.” I peek out with my other eye and hear Rocky give an annoyed huff as Adrian lets out a soft laugh. Sometimes I forget I’m just as fragile as a pebble to them, always needing to be looked after and new things to be added to the dome. It makes me feel loved but the thought of them seeing me like a pebble embarrasses me a little bit more.
HIHI I LOVEE YOUR ARTSTYLE its so so cute!!!! have u seen the bloodymary ship stuff ? w simon from markiplier's movie iron lung and ryland grace? i thought it might be pretty cute if grace was a ler for him as he like, learns to trust people and let himself feel joy No worries if u arent interested in drawing that tho!!!!
ask and you shall receive!!!!! i hope this suffices my liege
You guys voted for Grace’s day to be ruined, so here you go. Simon will have his day too at some point, so if you voted Simon, don’t lose hope. Please forgive my proofreading once again, my glasses are still MIA…..
I got big ideas for him fr….
Anyway, this one is pretty rough at the start, but it mellows out pretty quick, dw. PLEASE heed the warnings tho. OKAY LETS. GET IIIITTTT.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Lee!Grace (PHM) Ler!Simon (Iron Lung)
TW: Descriptions of a panic attack, mentions/description of self harm [picking/scratching skin], blood, feelings and talk of low self worth/inadequacy, heavy survivor’s guilt
❦ Grace is struck with the debilitating fear that he hasn’t done enough, and could possibly be responsible for the detriment of Earth, and struggles with the guilt. Simon reassures him, and keeps him company, just to keep an eye on him in the wake of a panic attack.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
There is no way to know if all my work paid off, and that fact has lost me countless nights of sleep.
There is no way for me to know that those Beatles made it back to Earth intact, that the taumoebas survived the journey, let alone reentry, or that Earth wasn’t already empty by the time they got back.
It’s a possibility that I had convinced myself I needed to accept. Something I knew even Stratt considered a likely outcome. Utter failure.
Why else would she name the mission “Hail Mary”?
But I am terrified. I risked my life to make sure my planet had a fighting chance at survival.
What if it was all for nothing…
I gripped my arms tightly, nails digging into the skin, with something slick beneath my curled, clawed fingers I couldn’t see in the dark on my right arm.
Every drumming beat of my heart felt like rhythmic punches to my chest, making me wheeze and gasp.
Breathing was merely a motor function - not purposeful or productive. A machine instinct to keep air in my lungs, though no matter how hard my body pushed, hardly anything made it in.
Dizziness.
My extremities tingled as the blood in my body collected around my vitals, leaving my arms and legs feeling cold, heavy, and numb.
I know I have to breathe, but it hurts. Every breath feels like I’ve just come up from underwater.
I deserve nothing more.
“Everyone’s gone…”
I mutter to myself. My voice, if you could even call it that, was no more than a whining squeak.
“Everyone. Eva’s gone… Dimitri’s gone… Carl, your students- they’re gone. They’re doomed to freeze a-and starve, and die and it’s my fault. It’s my fault! it’s my fault-!”
My voice cracks, the harshest words I’ve ever spoken to myself are nothing but a whimper.
“I’m a coward. A coward. I wouldn’t have done ANY of this if Eva hadn’t forced me. What the hell makes me so special? What makes ME with being the lone survivor of the ice age I didn’t even want to help prevent…”
My grip tightens on my arms, a stinging, staticky pain on my right flared in rapid pulses, but I ignore it still.
“I’m not a hero…” I begin to cry. “I’m not a hero… I’m not a hero… I hope they don’t think I am…”
I hang my head, glasses tumbling off my face. Heavy, heaving sobs lurch from my chest as I sit in the tiny, dark bathroom.
It’s cold, it’s pitch black, and I couldn’t convince myself I deserved anything more at the time. My punishment. Death would be too merciful.
My body shakes, but not from the cold.
Breathing becomes difficult, shallow and erratic.
“Grace!”
There’s a voice… I can’t bring myself to look up.
“Grace!”
“Get away from me.” I wheeze, head still hung, knees to my chest.
“Are you- Grace what’s going on?”
I don’t reply, hoping he’ll leave.
“Ryland Grace, can you hear me?”
“Go AWAY.”
“No, look at me.” The voice is insistent.
I only sob in reply.
“Grace, it’s me, it’s Simon. What’s happening? Can you please look up at me?”
“NoooOOO! LEAVE ME ALONE!” I cry out, pressing my back to the wall as hard as I can.
I hear soft footsteps approach me, slowly, like you would a scared animal.
“Grace, you’re scaring me…”
“Simon… go away…”
“No! Stop telling me to leave, I’m not moving! You think I’m leaving you alone like this? You’re out of your fuckin’ mind! I could hear you crying from the observation deck!” I pick up the irritation in his voice, but he was making an effort not to shout at me.
I shake my head slowly, sniffling and breathing heavy.
There’s a quiet click as Simon turns on the bathroom light, casting the room in a dim, whiteish orange glow.
“Oh Jesus- fuck, Ryland!” Simon hisses, taking a shaky breath, before dropping down in front of me.
“You’re bleeding. Shit- damnit, Gracie, you’re bleeding, where is that coming from?!”
It sounds like there’s a lump in Simon’s throat. Oh- he’s afraid of blood…
I shoot up, staring at him with wide, puffy eyes.
“I-I’m sorry-! I didn’t know! I- I can’t feel…” my words are breathy and quiet, but urgent. “I— I’ll take care of it, go- go back upstairs!”
“NO. Give me your hands.” Simon demands.
He sits on the floor in front of me, extending both hands out to me.
“Now, Ryland, I’m serious.”
I hesitate for a long time, and Simon waits patiently.
Finally, I weakly put both my hands in Simon’s, and he pulls my arms out straight.
“There it is- Gracie, you’ve picked straight through Rocky’s paw print scar on your arm.”
The source was hard to see through blurred vision, but my forearm was painted red, along with the opposite hand’s fingers, and some of my, thankfully, red shirt.
“I- I didn’t… I didn’t realize…”
“I know, you do this when you’re anxious, you pick, and you pick, and you pick. Never like this though.” Simon sighs.
He looks around for a moment, I say nothing.
Quickly, he yanks a wad of toilet paper from the wall, and slips the headband he’s wearing off his head, fashioning a crude gauze and bandage around my arm, trying his best not to focus on the blood.
I wince as he pulls the knot tight.
“I know. I’m sorry. It’s not severe, but I have to make sure the bandage stays secure.”
“Y-your headband…”
“It can be washed. We have peroxide.”
Simon finishes his work, sighing as he releases my arm.
“I’m so sorry…”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“I’m sorry…”
“Grace, stop.”
My voice begins to shake, and I can feel another wave of guilt, sending me to tears. Now I’ve involved Simon. I’ve worried him, scared him…
I shake my head, trying to will the words out that are stuck in the back of my throat, but all that comes out is a dry heave, and a sputtered sob.
Simon sighs, bringing himself closer to me. He waits a moment, before gently taking me by the shoulders, and pulling me into him.
I don’t protest, falling into Simon’s chest, arms wrapped tight around him, clutching his sweatshirt as though it were the only thing between me and oblivion, which for all I know could be true.
“It’s alright, you’re alright. You’re alive, you’re safe, and I’m here. You’re not alone.” Simon begins to rock from side to side, gently tracing a hand up and down my back as he tries to put me at ease.
I shake my head against Simon’s chest. “No… no… nonono…”
“No what, Gracie? Use your words.”
“Nonono, no! What if I messed it all up?!”
“Messed what up?”
“You haven’t messed anything up… and if you have, I’m sure we can fix it.”
“You don’t… know that. How do you k ow I’ve done everything right?”
Simon pulls back, looking down at me, brows furrowed in confusion. “What’re you talking about?”
“I- I went through the motions- I did what I had to…”
“Okay… for what?”
“But how could you possibly know it was all correct? W-what if something happened?! What if I did something wrong?!” I sob, almost pleading with Simon.
“What if I did something wrong with the probes- o-or the breeder tanks, and because of me, everyone is gonna die?!”
“Hey, hey-“
“What if it’s my fault humanity is gone?! Wh- what if I’m a murderer…? They said I’d be remembered as a hero, but that’s not- that’s not true!”
“Grace-!”
“I’M A MURDERER, SIMON. EVERYONE COULD BE GONE AND IT’S MY FAULT.” I shout, my entire body tensing as I use every ounce of strength to scream.”
“No., that isn’t true”
“I’m a murdererrRRR. Why should I get to survive when everyone else is on the green mile?!WHY AM I STILL HERE?!”
“HEY. Do not say that. That’s a horrible thing to say. You deserve to be here, and you’re not gonna say otherwise. I don’t fuckin like hearing you talk like that.”
“People have been condemned for far less…” I mutter.
“Enough. That’s enough, Gracie. You’re getting in your own head.” Simon gives me a sharp squeeze, bringing me back to focus.
“Listen to me. You have gone places, done things, experiences and survived things that no human ever has.” His voice is soft and quiet.
“Impossible odds, even more impossible decisions, and here you are, still alive, and still well. That counts for something. That means something.”
Simon brings a hand to my hair, brushing through it lazily.
“And neither of us are naive, or idiots. We know there’s always a nonzero chance of something happening, but what matters is that you have done everything and more in your power to make sure your planet survives. And that’s all anyone can reasonably ask of you. No one is gonna blame you personally on the off chance something goes wrong. You’ve done your part.”
I say nothing in reply.
“And don’t give me the bullshit of “I’m not a hero”, either. You realize you’re the lone savior of Earth, Erid, and me, right?”
Simon pushes me back just far enough to get a look at my face.
“Why else would I call you my angel, if not for the fact that you saved my life? You nearly crashed your ship taking a chance on a distress signal from a moon you didn’t even have charted on your system, all to potentially help something in need. and you brought me aboard, showed me patience through my distrust and anger, care for my injuries, and compassion towards my past, my mutations, and every bit of baggage I dragged in with me. You saved my life. If nothing else, then selfishly, you’re my hero.”
I let out a whining sob, collapsing back into Simon. He tightens his hold on me, resting his chin on the top of my head.
“I owe you my life, and I’ll spend every minute of the rest of it making sure you know just how much you’ve done and sacrificed for me, and the two planets you and Rocky saved.” I can feel the vibration of his words through my skull, and I nod slowly.
“Can you sit up and look at me, Angel?” Simon asks, coaxing me up again.
Reluctantly, I sit up, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand, and looking up at Simon.
“You are humanity’s, Erid’s and my hero, Ryland Grace.”
I take a breath, still a little shaky, but nothing like before. I shift to sit on my knees in front of Simon, and pull him into a hug, arms wrapped tight around his neck. He doesn’t miss a beat, returning the hug with equal strength, the both of us holding each other as if we’d never see one another again.
“Thank you, Simon- I- I’m… I’m so happy I found you.”
He chuckles softly, nodding against my shoulder.
“I’m glad you found me too, I would t be here if-“
“I love you.”
The words are put before I even know it. Silence follows.
“I- I’m sorry, I don’t mean-“
Simon shakes his head.
“No, no. It’s alright… I love you too.” He chuckles, squeezing me tighter. He pulls back slightly, tipping my head down, and planting a quick kiss on the top of it. “I love you more than you know.”
The words aren’t as heavy and burdening as they’ve felt for me in the past. There was something different about how Simon said it.
The moment I loosen my grip, Simon Dows the same.
I sit up, my cheeks a bit red. I take a deep breath, sitting back against the wall.
“Do you feel better?”
“I think so.”
“You think so? Or you know so.”
“I’m… retry sure so.” I sniffle, shrugging.
“I’ll accept that answer.” Simon nods, sitting crisscross in front of me.
“What brought this on? Bad dream? Did you see something?”
“I dunno. I couldn’t sleep all night, and my mind just…”
“Started wandering.”
“Yeah.”
“So you’ve been up all night, then? That’s why you look so exhausted.”
I nod, thumbing the bandage on my arm with the opposite hand. Yeah…”
“Why didn’t you come up to the observation deck? I could have kept you company.”
“I- I didn’t want to wake you- I know you have trouble sleeping too…”
“Ohhh bullshit, you know you don’t have to worry about that.” He rolls his eyes.
“I know, but-“
“Anything my Saving Grace needs is within reach, if I can help it.” Simon says dramatically.
“Come on- don’t call me that.”
“I am ever at your service.”
“Ugh, stop that!” I scrunch my nose at Simon, cringing at the display, unable to help bit smile.
“Oh! Look at that, we got a smile!” Simon teases, flicking me on the nose.
“Simon!” I shove his hand away
“Fine, Fine, but I mean it, if you feel your mind starting t wander, please come find me. I’ve always got time.”
“I appreciate it. S-same to you, of course.” I try not to make it sound like an afterthought. It isn’t, it’s just hard to articulate at the moment.
Simon gives me a smile, before standing up with a groan. “C’mon. Grab your pillow and quilt.”
He nods towards the door of the tiny bathroom.
“What? Why?”
“You’re sleeping over at mine tonight.” He crosses his arms.
“In the observation deck?”
“Yeah, I cannot in good conscience leave you alone down here tonight, so you’re coming upstairs. Rocky’s sleeping up by the deck tonight too. He finally trusts me enough to sleep by me. I’ll be all of us.” He smiles.
I remain on the floor, staring up at him, trying to hide the smile on my face.
“You’re excited, I cannot see you smiling.”
“Whatever.”
“I’ve got eyes, Gracie- not good ones, but I can still see. Here, I’ll take up your stuff, you clean up, change into something that’s not covered in blood, sweat and tears, and meet me upstairs, ok?”
I look down at my shirt, sighing. It was in pretty rough shape.
“Alright.”
Simon nods.
“I’ll see you in a bit, then.”” Simon says, before rather discreetly taking the clippers from the shelf above the sink, and pocketing them as he leaves the bathroom.
I sigh. I know why he took them, and part of me hates myself for making him distrust me. The rest of me appreciates the concern.
-
I find a pair of shorts, like basketball shorts, but softer, and a sweatshirt that I rarely wore - black, with the NASA ‘worm’ style logo branded on the front in stark white. I roll the sleeves up over my forearms, deciding this was good enough as anything.
-
I ascended the ladder, crawling out of the dormitory. The observation deck was straight down the long hallway, and I could see the light of the stars from where I stood.
Since we converted the observation window to Simon’s “room”, it had taken on a life of its own. Rocky built a suspended platform for his mattress, with room on either side for personal items, like books from around the ship, rolled up charts, and notebooks. The rounded walls held a few shelves with more books, a small box Rocky built to hold Simon’s amulet if he ever took it off for any reason, and a crudely made origami plant that I made for him a few months back. He even kept it under a UV grow light.
I approach the platform, stepping up, and plopping down beside Simon. He had my quilt and pillow laid on the opposite side of the bed from where he typically sleeps.
“Looks a Lot more comfortable.” He gestures to my sweater.
“Yeah, it is.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen that one before.”
“I don’t wear it a whole lot- I’m still getting over the uh- the whole ‘wearing merch for the company that sent me out to die’ thing.” I shrug.
Simon chuckles. “That’s fair, I definitely wouldn’t wear a COI t-shirt.” We both snicker.
“Oh- you changed your bandages too.” Simon points down to my arm.
“Yeah, I had Armando wrap it up really quick. Linda tight, but that’s alright.” I lift my arm, looking down at the cleanly wrapped gauze. “Oh, and I promise, I promise I’ll wash your headband for you- I already hit it with some hydrogen peroxide.”
“Don’t sweat it, I’ll be fine.” Simon shakes his head.
I sigh, lying back on the bed.
…
“Can I ask you something?l Simon looks down at me, his voice sounding heavier than it had a moment ago.
“Sure.”
He takes a moment, arranging his sentence in his brain like scrabble tiles.
“You don’t… uhm… are you- okay?”
“Am I… okay?”
“I mean- I know you were in a tough spot earlier, but you were saying some really concerning things, Ryland…”
“No, no, Simon really, I’m alright. It was the panic talking.”
“That doesn’t just come from nowhere, though. I understand what you mean, but you don’t just say you don’t think you deserve to be here without having that idea cross your mind in the past.”
I’m quiet for a while. He’s absolutely right.
“I promise, it’s not something that I consider as often as it… probably seems… which is probably why it makes me panic- it scares me too- but I swear, I’m alright.”
“Please, utilize me. We’re the only humans around for lightyears - we’ll lose it if we don’t communicate. So please please tallk to me, and bring things like this up to me in the moment so I can help.”
“I will, I promise. I’m sorry.” I sit up on my elbows as I speak.
“I hope you mean it…”
…
“Thank you, by the way.” I say
“Hm?”
“For keeping me company- and making me feel like I’m not Earth’s biggest failure.”
“Anytime. I’m glad I got to you in time.”
I hum in reply. Im glad too.
A moment of silence passes.
“Oh- I have something for you.”
I turn my to face Simon.
“I was gonna wait to give it to you, but this is as good a time as any…”
He turns to the shelf on the wall, grabbing a roughly wrapped object, concealed in notebook paper with “Grace” written in marker on it. It was taped together hastily, like he was fighting with the dispenser in the process.
I chuckle, sitting up and taking the parcel from him, turning it over in my hand. It was about as big as my palm, and relatively light.
“I know, I’m terrible at wrapping things up, but…”
“N-Noho! No, it’s great, Si!” I chuckled, tugging at the twisted tape.
After a bit of struggle I get the thing open, and a thin, dark metal chain slides free onto the quilt beside me. I pick it up, letting it dangle in my hand.
It was a… a pendant… it looked quite similar to Simon’s amulet, a round frame with a clear center. Something was suspended in the clear, glassy center - small, ivory, sharp and curved.
“Wow- this is awesome! What is that? In the center?”
“Don’t freak out.”
“…okay..?”
“It’s a tooth.”
I gasp, staring at Simon for a moment before shouting.
“Simon!! This is your tooth?!”
“No! No, dummy it’s not my tooth, calm down. It’s a tooth that got stuck to my clothes before you rescued me - a fragment of one from the creature in the ocean. I cleaned it, and had Rocky make a pendant to keep it in.”
I sigh. “My god, lead with that.”
“Not as funny that way.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever… this is really cool though, thank you.”
“Now you can wear a reminder of what you saved me from. Now you have no reason to doubt that you’re a hero.”
I’m silent for a long while, clutching the pendant in my hand, staring down at it, before a few tears roll down my face, dropping down into my hand.
“Oh shit, goddamnit, are you alright?!”
Simon puts a hand on my shoulder, concern in his voice all over Gaian.”
“I- I’m okay, I’m okay… sorry, just kinda emotional at the moment. I love it. I’ll never take it off.
“Good, good- I don’t think I can take another scare tonight. Here, give it here.”
Simon extends a hand, and I drop the pendant into it. He moves behind me, lowering the charm over my head and onto my chest, fastening the clasp behind me with a bit of struggle.
I shudder, letting out a stray huff of laughter as his knuckles brush against me.
“Laughing at a man struggling with a prosthetic?”
“Nohoho! No, I’m just- tahahake your time.” I say.
“You’d like that.” Simon mutters, scritching my neck with one finger, making my shoulders shoot up.
“Sihihimon!”
Sorry, sorry. I’ll stop.”
I look down at the necklace. “I don’t- I don’t mind…. You don’t… have to…” I mutter, as Simon moves back over beside me.
“You want me to?”
“W- well I mean…”
I can feel him smiling at me. I continue looking straight ahead.
“Would that make you feel better? If I ticke you? That’s what you’re dancing around asking?” He tilts his head.
“Maybe, I guess…”
“Maybe you guess?”
“C’mon, please don’t make me spell it out, it’s been a long night.” I huff.
“I won’t, I won’t. Just wanna make sure it’s what you want.”
“Yes.”
“Ok, I’ll go easy on you.”
I look over at Simon with an honestly pretty pathetic look.
“You don’t want me to go easy? Angel, I- I don’t want to overwhelm your system- you’ve only just come down from a panic attack, is laughing like a maniac really safe after crying so hard?”
He does raise a valid point, but I can’t find it in myself to care. I needed the pick-me-up.
Simon sighs after I greet him with the same expression..
“Fine, I’ll work up to it. Start slow.” He relents. “Are you gonna come to me, or am o gonna have for grab you myself.”
I smile at him, not moving an inch.
Right… fine, I’ll bite.” He shrugs, lurching at me, grabbing me by the shoulders, and pulling me down onto the quilt.
“Please let me know if you need a break.” Simon says rather sternly as he sidles up to me.
“I will. I’m okay.” I smile.
He nods. Two, uncharacteristically gentle hands find their place against my torso, lightly squeezing and kneading my stomach.
I snort,quietly giggling. “Sihihimon, you don’t have to treat me like I’m made of glahahass!”
“I know that, I’m just being careful.”
“I- I tohoOLD YOu, I’m okay. You’re nohohot gonna hurt me I’m a grown man.”
“Hmoh.”
“What’s thahat supposed to mean?!”
“Nothing.” He pokes me in the navel.
“AaAAH-haha-! If anything, it’ll just tire me out and I’ll finally be able to get some sleep.” I shrug, looking over at Simon.
He sighs. “If it’ll help you sleep…” Simon grumbles. He grabs me, dragging mw up into his lap. His metal arm held me up against his chest at an awkward angle, my arms suspended, and unable to drop. My sweatshirt had ridden up to my stomach in the process, which was precisely the target he struck.
“A-AHAHAHA-HAHAHAA!!” I shriek, feeling a strong hand strumming at my stomach like a guitar.
“Y-YOUR HAND IS SOHOHO COLD-!!”
“Low iron.”
“H-HOHOW IS TBAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!” Simon switches to roughly squeezing the center of my stomach, forcing the muscle to flex.
“It’s not, that was a lie. Wow- have you actually been using the fitness equipment?” Simon chuckles, giving my abdominal muscles a few strong pokes.
“A-AH! AHAHA! WHY IS THANAT SURPRISING, JERK?! OHOHOW!”
Simon stops a ruptly. “Whats wrong? Are you okay?!”
“YEHEhehes! Simon, I’m fihihine!”
“Why the hell did you say ‘ow’ then?!”
“I dunno! I just did!” I shrug as best I can in the suspended position I’m stuck in.
“You’re gonna give me a heart attack. Don’t say that unless you’re actually in pain, dumbass.”
“You’re so jumpy!”
“I’m worried about you! God forbid I’m worried!”
“AwwwwWWAAAAHAHAHA-!”
“Shut up!” Simon hisses, digging his knuckles into my ribs, dragging them up and down like a xylophone.
I throw my head back against Simon’s shoulder, cackling probably a bit too close to his ear.
I find myself sliding upward, pushing with my legs, instinctively to move away from Simon’s hand. He grumbles, clearly annoyed with me worming around.
“My god, hold still if you want me to do this!”
Simon takes me under the arms, lifting, and tossing me down into the bed, with enough push to one shoulder to land me on my back.
I land with a muffled thump, looking up at him with a lopsided smile on my face. Simon’s mild annoyance thaws when he looks down at me.
“You tired yet?”
“No, not really.”
He sighs, looking me over.
“The hell is with those socks?”
“What?! What’s wrong with them?!” I shrug.
The Hailart crew stocked my luggage with apparently, very strictly science themed items… shirts, sleepwear, and socks.
There’s no way this was all my wardrobe was back on earth…
This particular pair of socks, I quite liked. They were black, patterned with the line angle formulas of various chemicals. Dopamine, adrenaline, seraronin, and others of the sort.
“Are these constellations? Whats going on?”
“No- they- no they’re not constellations, are you blind?! What constellations look like that?!”
“How would I know?!”
“Oh- haha- r-right.”
“Jerk.”
“They’re skeletal structures of chemicals. They’re diagrams used in chemistry to show the bonds of molecules.”
“Huh…” Simon lifts my right foot up by the ankle. “What’s this one.” He jabs one of the images stitched into the bottom of the sock, and I yelp, jerking my knee back, unable to pry my ankle free.
“AH-! I- I dunno-! I cahahan’t see it!”
“Okay, does this help?” Simon shrugs, tracing a finger along the hexagons and lines of the chemical structure.
“A-ABAHAHA-! SIHIHIIMON-!”
“Do you know it or not? Pay attention.” He huffs, starting over.
Hexagon… two lines protruding from the left, going up left, and down left… GOD this sucks- then a line going up right from the hexagon… Oh!
“ADREHEHENALINE! IT… ITS ADEENALINE.” I shout, grabbing a corner of the quilt and covering my face with it, letting out a gravelly, muffled scream.
“That’s not what it says here. It’s got a bunch of letters and numbers.” Seriously?! The formula?!
Simon retraces the shape again as I struggle to think
“UHUHUJHH- DANGIT!! I- I DUNNOHOHO.”
“Yes you do, Think.”
“UUUURRBHHAHAHAHA OH-! OHOH ITS C- SUB 9, H SUB 13, N O SUB 3.”
“I need the elements, Gracie.” Simon shakes his head, suddenly raking his fingers up and down the bottom of my foot.
“AAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA-! OKAHAHAHAY OKAY ALRIHIHIGHT-! PLEHEHEASE! STOP AND I’LL AMSWER- I CAN’T TAKE IT.” I howl, thrashing around like a fish out of water.
Simon stops immedietly, pulling his hand away. “Alright. Go.” He says.
I take a moment to catch my breath before answering.
“You asked!” I throw my hands up. “NO. Nohoho no more of that, that SUCKED.”
I yanked my leg away from Simon as he searched for another chemical to quiz me on.
“You’re done?”
“Just with that.”
Simon chuckles, patting my bent knee. “Okay, fine.” He says, shuffling up to my side. “One more, the. I think it should be lights out.”
“Deal.” I agree, admittedly feeling a bit groggy already.
Simon smiles with the wickedness of a man with a plan.
“Sit up.”
“Huh?”
“Up, Gracie.” He makes a rising motion with his hand.
I stare at him for a moment, a bit confused, but I do as I’m asked, sitting up with my knees still bent.
Simon opens out his arms, gesturing for a hug.
“What?”
“Would you just come here?” He chuckles. “So inquisitive.”
“I’m a-“
“Scientist, yes, so I’ve been told. Cmon.” He become me close with a rotation of the wrist.
Hesitantly, I move closer, accepting the suspicious hug, wrapping my arms around Simon’s neck as I do before, and he closes his arms around me.
“Perfect.” Simon purrs, before tightening his grip like a boa constrictor, both hands digging into the muscle of my back.
“A-AHAHAHAHA-! WHAHHAT?! WHAT THE HECK?!” I shout with stunned disbelief.
Simon chuckles darkly, the sound reverberating through my head as he began to knead and pinch and scratch, and jab all up and down the expanse of my back.
“AAHAHAHAHA-! AAAAAH-!! PLEHEHEASE THIS IS SO NOT FAIR!!”
“Yes it is, this is all at your request, Angel.”
He drives his knuckles into my low back, at the same time, blowing a sharp raspberry onto my neck. I thrash in his iron- or xenonite grip, until finally, I’ve had enough.
I fall limp, and Simon keeps me steady against him.
“That was cruel, y’know that?”
“Again, you asked me to do this. You said it’d make you feel better.”
“Uuurrerrghhj…”
Simon snorts, patting me on the back.
He peels me away from him, holding me at a short distance.
“Do you feel better?”
I nod, fatigue weighing heavy on my eyes. “Yeah, yes, thank you.”
“Anytime, Angel.” Simon nods, squeezing my shoulder gently.
He reaches up, combing a hand tgrough my hair, pushing it out of my face. He looks at me softly, not saying a word.
…What happens next can only be explained by a sleep deprivation induced lapse in judgment. I honestly to god don’t know what came over me in the moment, but in the stillness of the silence, I took a breath, and leaned forward…
I kissed Simon.
I… kissed Simon. I did.
And he kissed me back.
I figured- heck, I expected him to push me back, but he didn’t. Sure he was stunned for a second, but once the shock wore off, he slid a hand behind my neck, the metal one down to my back, and he kissed me back.
Not rough, not vicious or messy… equal, comfortable reciprocation.
I’d hardly ever done this before, and hadn’t the slightest clue what I was doing, but pulled back, with a sharp pain in my lip that I’m pretty sure was y standard for the experience.
Right, the teeth.
“Oh, sorry-“ Simon mutters, looking down at the red stain on my lip.
“No no, it’s alright. It’s fine.”
“It’s bleeding.”
“Yeah I can taste it. It stings…” My voice is quieter now. @Y- you’re not… venomous, are you?”
“I dunno, guess we’ll see.”
“What?!” I tense up.
“Joking, Joking. I’m not venomous. My teeth aren’t hollow like snake teeth.” Simon taps one of the long, sharp teeth with his finger.
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.” He smiles.
I nod, looking to the side.
“Gracie.” Simon tilts his head to catch my eye again. “That didn’t have to mean anything you don’t want it to. You’re drained, and your mind is probably still a little scrambled - don’t worry about it, okay?” He says softly.
Admittedly, a part of me is relieved. I’m really not a relationship guy, let alone a kisser, so I couldn’t begin to imagine the implications a spur of the moment kiss would have on any other person.
I sigh. “Thank you, I- I appreciate it. I don’t know where that came from… W-well it’s not that I didn’t- that I don’t want to… kiss you…”
“Oh? Okay-“ Simon chuckles.
“No! But- I don’t- I just-…” Simon puts a hand up, signaling me to shut up, and I do.
“You don’t need to explain yourself. Don’t hurt yourself, you don’t have to explain.”
“Right… sorry…”
Simon lets out a deep quiet laugh, shaking his head.
I yawn, rolling my eyes.
Simon tips my head down, planting a kiss on the top of my head, like he did earlier.
“Why don’t we stick to that for now? No obligation, Nonthreatening.” He smiles.
“Yeah… yeah okay that sounds good…” I murmur, fading in and out where I sat.
Simon points behind me to my rumpled quilt and pillow. “Lay down. You’re gonna pass out sitting up.”
I mutter something even I can’t remember now, and let myself drop back onto the bed, making the supports rattle with the impact. I had been craving this sleep for dozens of hours, and it was finally within reach.
I hear Simon shuffle over to his side of the mattress, enough room between us maybe for Rocky to fit without his hamster ball. The light on the shelf clicks off, and Simon lays back with a groan only a man thirty years his senior should make.
I short.
“Something funny, Grace?”
I giggle like a kid at a sleepover, whispering - “you sound like an old man.”
“You’re older than I am.”
“But I don’t sound like that when I move around.”
Simon sighs, no longer finding me amusing. I can’t blame him.
“Go to sleep.” He grumbles.
I sigh, rolling over, closing the distance between us.
“Seriously?”
“It’s cold…”
“You chose to wear shorts!” He hisses.
“Okay! And so I’m cold!”
“Will this help you go to sleep?”
“…yes.”
Simon sighs, slinging his arm up and over me, yanking me close, my head between his arm and chest.
“Goodnight.” Simon says, grumbling with exhaustion.
“H’night… love you.” I mutter, my body finally falling limp against Simon’s.
… have we considered touch starved Grace (who is also lowk a massive lee..), who’s mental health is declining on Erid because it’s been like a decade with no physical contact
so Rocky is concerned because Adrian noticed abnormalities in eating, movement and sleeping and they’re concerned. And Rocky is just like
??? What is happening?
And Grace gets like… super embarrassed when it’s pointed out, but because it’s technically for his health Rocky and Adrian will not stop pushing
So then he explains touch starvation and this is what mainly leads to the creation of the form-fitting xenonite suit, Grace gives a lot of information about types of touch (ie, massages, scratching, where not to touch, cuddles, etc.).. which of course, after much hesitation, includes tickling (which eridians have a form of!)
And Rocky? Oh he’s amazed. You mean to tell him that all this time he could’ve been tickling Grace to keep him happy?? Like little baby pebble?
~ A/N - THIS MOVIE IS THE FUCKING CUTEST OMFG and even better that I got to watch it cuddled up with my best friend 🥺
Just a little something something between my two favourite space buddies. ~
Since the day they met, Rocky had been fascinated by Ryland's body (- or more accurately, the human body). It was weirdly vertical, perhaps due to the lack of gravity compared to Erid, and had so many odd eccentricities that complicated it's shape.
One such oddity, was what Ryland called 'ears'.
Rocky had noticed them after Ryland had begun sitting and sleeping near the wall that separeted their ships, and once Rocky became mobile due to the ball he designed he was able to get an even closer look.
Seemingly random curves and hollows surrounded the epicentre, forming an overall lopsided conical shape with a small dangling circle at the base (that still confused Rocky to this day).
However, as often happens in science, one question quickly led to another discovery.
Ryland had been hunched over on the floor, scribbling in a notepad about their most recent attempt at solving the Astrophage problem, and Rocky had been crouched next to him tittering away about everything from their science mission to "Grace writing messy."
After a few moments of Ryland tuning Rocky out, the little rock creature had decided to turn his attention to the side of Ryland's head. Given they were so close, with Ryland practically lying against Rocky's ball, surely it wouldn't be difficult to Rocky to reach out and investigate his ear.
And reach out he did.
Rocky gently pushed his hand against the mesh of his ball towards Ryland, outstretching his claw and making sure his touch would be gentle as to not hurt Ryland. He got closer, and closer, and right as he made contact-
"HUH?!" Ryland flinched, ducking his head backwards into his shoulders and slapping at the air as if some extra-terrestrial mosquito had tried to take a bite out of him.
"Grace hurt?! Question?!" Rocky chirped, jumping back himself and retracting his claw.
Ryland rubbed his ear, a slight red tinge on his face. "No- no... You just... surprised me."
Rocky, relieved, settled back into his ball and let Ryland continue. Given his pressure wasn't enough to hurt Ryland, surely he could try again.
As Rocky's claw touched the shell of Ryland's ear a second time, Ryland stifled a giggle and slapped Rocky's arm away again.
"Rohock don't."
"Why Grace hit Rocky? Question?" Rocky wriggled, mildly disdained. "Grace said touch not hurt."
Ryland blushed further "I- uh- Well it didn't hurt, it's..."
"Rocky going to touch again. Statement." Rocky announced, reaching out through the mesh again.
"Rocky will not!" Grace yelped, swatting at Rocky's claw and dodging his head from side to side.
Rocky persisted. "Why Grace fight?! Question! Rocky want to touch ear! Why Grace not let Rocky touch?! Question! No surprise!"
After a moment of back and forth, Rocky widthdrew his arms and Ryland was able to settle back to his spot and pick up his notebook in peace.
At least, he thought so.
"Rocky touch again. Statement."
Without a moment to lose, Ryland scrambled to his feet. "No! No, Rock you can't!"
"Rocky touch Grace!" Rocky chirped, beginning to chase after Ryland. "Rocky learn about human ears! Rocky do science!"
Ryland giggled as his feet pounded through the Hail Mary. "Rohocky stop it!"
"Grace come back! Come back for science!" Rocky tumbled after him, clanging against the wall of every turn and surprisingly gaining on Ryland. "Rocky learn how to make humans make sounds!"
The hail mary had never been louder, footsteps pounding throughout the ship, metal clanging against metal, Ryland's nervous giggling echoing down the corridors, and Rocky's endless chirps chasing after him.
Ryland felt Rocky hot on his heels, increasing his giggling tenfold.
Rocky chirped in excitement and sped up. "Rocky not even have to touch grace! Rocky make grace make sound anyways!"
"Stohop chasing me then!" Ryland shouted back.
Rocky beeped. "No! Rocky want to find more sound! Rocky want to find why sound!"
With that, Rocky's ball smacked into Ryland from behind, sending the pair of them tumbling to the floor. Ryland, already in a fit of giggles, frantically tried to push Rocky off - but the little rock alien was far too determined in his pursuit of knowledge and rolled himself high onto Ryland's sternum.
"Rohocky Rohocky nonononoNONONO!" Ryland squealed as he watched his friend's claw extend out of the mesh again.
"Grace hurt? Question?" Rocky asked, pausing his attack.
"NOPE!" Ryland answered far too quickly. "Nope I'm fine just let me g-"
"Good! Rocky can continue science."
Ryland panicked, giggles bubbling out of his chest as Rocky reached out for his ear again. His sudden shift in movement made Rocky's ball slip, and Rocky grabbed out for anything to steady himself.
Unfortunately for Ryland, that happened to be his side.
"NONONO ROHOCKY!!!" Ryland squealed, legs curling up and kicking out in the air.
"Oh! New sound! New sound!" Rocky beeped excitedly. "All humans make sounds when squished? Question?"
Ryland shot his hands up to cover his burning face with a giggly groan.
Rocky continued, poking and prodding his claw into the softest parts of Ryland's torso. "Why grace no answer questions? And why Grace face red? Question."
"SHUHUT UHUHUP ROCKY!" Ryland begged, feet drumming on the metal floor.
Rocky decided to investigate further, adjusting his position so he could access Grace's neck. "Why Grace say bad words to Rocky? Rocky doing science! Grace like science! Statement!"
"THIHIHIS ISNT SCIEHEHEHENCE!" Ryland squeaked, shaking his head from side to side.
Rocky jumped up and down in his ball. "Is science! Is science! Rocky experiment with squishing Grace! Rocky find out why!"
Ryland slapped his hands against Rocky's ball in a futile attempt to free himself. "OKOKOK ITS CALLED TICKLING!"
Rocky paused. "New word? Question?"
"Uh..." Ryland stutterred, residual giggles still tmbling out of his mouth. "So, when humans are touched in particular spots, we tend to move away and... laugh."
Rocky seemed to ponder the thought a little. "Oh. Why tickling? Question?"
With another giggle, Ryland continued his explanation. "It's usually considered a social bonding activity, potentially for an evolutionary self defence-"
Seemingly out of nowhere, Rocky vibrated and bounced around excitedly. "TICKLING FOR FRIEND? QUESTION? ROCKY TICKLE GRACE GRACE BE FRIEND !"
Ryland shrieked as the vibrations rumbled through Rocky's ball and into his stomach. "ROHOCKY Rocky we're ahalready friends you don't have to tihihickle me!"
"ROCKY BE MORE FRIEND WITH GRACE GRACE AND ROCKY FRIEND FOREVER ROCKY WANT TO TICKLING GRACE!" Rocky sang, intermitedly interrupted by happy beeps and chirps as he reached his claw out again.
Ryland began sliding his feet on the floor, trying to gain some kind of traction to get away again. "Nonono Rohohcky please!"
But there was no deterring the Eridian, Rocky somehow wormed his claw up under Ryland's arm (evoking a quite embarrasingly high pitched squeal).
"ROHOHOCKY QUIHIHIT IHIHIT!" Ryland begged, clamping his arm over Rocky's claw.
"Grace not want to friend rocky?" Rocky asked as he tickled, moving his claw down Ryland's sides again. "Grace not like rocky anymore? Question?"
Ryland groaned through his laughter, covering his face again. "Nohoho Rocky I do I dohoho I swear, just plehehease let me gohoho!"
Hello Everyone! As promised I have another PHM fic for you all to enjoy! Consider it a follow up to the previous fic I made “How to teach and Eridian” Oh and you know the poll I did? I sort of lied…because I liked both ideas so much. And a lot of you did…BOTH prompts are in this single fic! I hope you all enjoy it!
CW: Mentions of Alcohol
Switch! Rocky and Grace
Word Count: 3000+
Ryland Grace floated around the Hail Mary with a straw in the corner of his mouth, leading to a bag of vodka. He hadn’t been drunk in a hot minute and needed something to feel a little less like himself. It was certainly a problem he had but at least some form of way to taste something nice and forget stuff for a bit. Be a little happier despite all that was going on around him. Making his way into the screening room where Rocky was staring at the screen surrounding him. What played was one of those videos you play for cats with ocean sounds in the background. All sorts of fish swim by, sharks, sea turtles. Something grace had taught the little Eridian not too long ago and seemed to have formed quite the likeness towards. Something so pure and majestic he could just watch for hours…almost seemed to have beat the tape measure.
Anti-Gravity had now been turned off to Grace’s request by Mary as he slunk to the floor. Awkwardly landing on his feet, waltzing over to his friend and sitting down beside him. Leaning his right arm against the xenonite ball. A bit wobbly from the amount of alcohol consumption but still functioning smoothly. He never let himself go that bad…well…most of the time.
“Hey Rock, what's got you watching this?”
Said alien chirped in delight at the sound of Grace’s voice, reaching an arm of his out from the mesh of his ball to hold onto his friend’s arm.
“Hello Grace! Rocky wanted to watch calm video. Rocky like fish.”
Grace smiled softly at his friend's words. Patting the top of the ball with his palm and setting down the bag of vodka.
“Do you have a favorite bud? Mine’s the manatee but if we are talking about actual fish. Then I really like basking sharks…such interesting creatures.”
“Grace has a dumb taste. Spider crab is an obvious choice.”
Grace snickered at that.
“Pfff, whahat? Why would you say that?”
The Erdian seemed to raise his claws up into the air. Letting go of grace and pinching his appendages in the air similar to how a crab would.
“Great big creature with many arm scary! Rocky look like this! Rocky very big. Very strong. Like spider crab.”
Grace couldn’t help but chortle and shake his head at the thought. He remembered now that Rocky had taken an interest in all things with many appendages like him. The giant squid, octopus, all sorts of crabs, spiders and such…If only he could see and understand what color was. Then he would really have his little rock mind blown.
“Whatever you say buddy.”
“Yes Rocky say yes, Rocky smart yes yes.” As Rocky spoke his arms pushed through the mesh of his xenonite ball, briefly going to reach up and skitter against the side of Grace’s neck. Making the poor guy squeal and squish his shoulders up to his ears. Quickly glaring at his friend and playfully giving him a push.
“Rohocky!”
The Eridian chirped and trilled at his friend. He loved the sweet sounds that came from his favorite human when he tickled him.
It had been several days since the little Eridian had learned what exactly tickling was. It was such an interesting and endearing concept to him. Something so simple made his friend laugh and smile so brightly just by touching him…He couldn’t help but chirp at the thought. Rocky had turned it into a normal thing to now sneak in a tickle or two while the teacher worked or was bantering. Always seeming to jerk out a new reaction from the man that always seemed to make the tips of his ears glow a warm shade of red. That be a snort, a squeal, a shriek. Whatever it was, it was something that swelled the Eridian's heart. That is if he even had a heart….You get the point
However Rocky couldn’t help but start to wonder something about himself after the events with Grace…Was he ticklish? As in himself…Something he would begin to ponder about for a few days…He tried doing what he did to Grace to himself but it didn’t seem to work. Maybe leaky blob humans are just far more sensitive than any other species…who knew. The Eridan was never shy of an experiment, however. All he had to do was ask his friend! Right?
A few days had passed before Rocky began to act on his thoughts. Finding Grace in the laboratory. His eyes fixated through a microscope, performing experiments on taumoeba. Adjusting the lenses as seen fit and squinting to try and notice any changes. The man hadn’t been seeming to sleep much at all recently. In the past three days Rocky had only watched him sleep one time…Grace was running himself dry. Nothing coffee couldn't fix. He eventually brought a pause to his work however as the Eridian rolled his way to be close to his friend.
“Hey, buddy! I unfortunately haven’t made any progress on well…anything today. So if you’re looking for further information I don’t have any”-
He was cut off.
“Can Grace tickle Rocky question?”
The rest of what Grace was going to stay immediately paused at the tip of his tongue. Processing what the Erdian just asked of him. First furrowing his eyebrows. Then leaning back in his chair. Eventually, a soft smile spread across his face.
“Wait wait wait. Whahat do you want?”
“Grace ask dumb question.” Rocky twittered and pointed at Grace. “Rocky ask Grace to tickle Rocky. Rocky want answer.” ‘
Now this was something that Grace didn’t necessarily expect the alien to ask of him. And yet he couldn’t help but hope he eventually was going to ask him. A small smirk spread across his lips. Pushing his glasses up upon his nose.
“How can I say no to something like that? Comere big guy.”
Grace got down onto the floor and sat upright on his knees. Arms open enough for Rocky to come towards him. Completely oblivious to what was about to happen.
“Not hurt right? Question…”
Ryland shook his head giving the side of the xenonite ball a pat.
“Noho no of course bro, buddy. Yknow hugging right?”
“Long thing that goes too long that Grace also like? Question…” Rocky deadpanned.
“Well- yes that. Think of it like that but added with a bit of extra. Just tell me to stop whenever you need me to, pal.”
Rocky was a bit skeptical, but he trusted Grace. Allowing the man to bring his hands through the mesh of Rocky’s protective ball. The texture was something familiar to dish gloves for Grace. He hated doing the dishes. Especially when soggy food got under his fingernails. The thought was enough to make him gag. But his fingers simply rested on the from appendages of the Erdian. Rubbing his thumbs along the rough surface. It wasn’t enough to cut him however. The xenonite blocked anything that could actually hurt him. But it did make his palms a bit warm. It was almost nice.
“You ready pal?”
Rocky chirped a yes, giving Grace the go. “What Rocky supposed to do? Que”-
Before Rocky could finish Graces fingers gently scratched experimentally at the top of Rocky’s back. Tracing his fingertips along the cracks and crevices. Rocky was genuinely so surprised he darted to the corner of his xenonite ball with a high pitched shrill. Almost sounding like a dolphin.. Not running away considering graces arms were still through the mesh. If he did so he was prone to hurting his friend. Grace couldn’t help but worry he scared his friend or started too quickly.
“WHAT WAS THAT QUESTION?!?”
“Thahats what tickling is buddy! I’m sorry did I scare you?”
Rocky came out from the corner and back to his friend. His little claws gently holding onto An his friends wrists. Putting them back on the top of him. The act alone was enough to make a FAT grin draw across Grace‘s face.
“No. Statement. Rocky does not get scared.”
“You sure about that, pal?” Grace chuckled softly.
Continuing the little experiment with his alien buddy. Gently tracing the little bumps along Rocky’s topside. Little chirps and tweets coming from said Eridian that didn’t seem to be translated. This was certainly his form of laughter….
“Who would have thought that Erdians could be tihicklish…this is really cute buddy.”
“Rocky not cute statement! ᯓ𝄞 ˎˊ˗ ♬⋆.˚!!”
“Yeah you are, pal.”
Grace traveled his tickling down the sides of his friend. Noticing, however, that Rocky’s assumed ‘laughter’ seemed to deminish…So Eridians have tickle spots like humans too.
“Why not work question?” Rocky disappointingly drooped.
“Well…As humans people have different places that are more…sensitive. Like I’ve told you, usually in protected places…maybe you’re similar…” Grace hummed.
“Grace ticklish everywhere statement.”
The straight up thought made Grace look off to the side. “Y-Yeah wehell…T-that’s different…”
“It is not.” Rocky twittered cheekily….was Rocky provoking the scientist?
“Yohou little- alright pal you’re just asking for it now.”
The Eridian chirped at the sudden fluttering of Grace’s fingers underneath his front two appendages. What would be considered his underarm, the joint of his body to his ball and socket would be. Not clamping his arms down however. Not wanting to pinch the man’s fingers.
“Feel funny-‧₊˚♪𝄞࿐₊˚⊹ statement! ‧₊ ♪˚⊹”
Rocky tapped one of his feet onto the ground, curling up like a cat and loafing around Grace’s hands. The man simply followed Rocky. Keeping his touches as feather light as he could. Not wanting to overwhelm his friend. Rocky was enjoying himself quite a bit. He wasn’t entirely sure about this concept before but it sure was interesting to him. Human culture is so interesting…
“Yeahhhh that’s how it is, bud! It’s completely harmless. Are you sure you're still okay with this?” He asked Rocky.
“No worry Grace! ˖ ݁♬⋆.˚𝄞༄࿐༘⋆ Can keep going statement!”
His playful attributes travelling to trace the under sides of the alien. An even higher pitched noise coming from the Eridian. Swatting one of his paws at Grace and using another to hold onto the human’s wrist. Almost in a way acting like a puppy getting its belly scratched. It was so endearing to see… Especially for Grace. He himself was very much enjoying himself. Smile wide, biting his lower lip just enough. Glasses slightly off his ears. His heart swelled with affection for his dear friend.
“I wonder if…” The teacher paused for just a moment.
Giving Rocky a bit of time to recover before taking one of his paws in his hands. His arms are still inside the xenonite ball. Such a shame that such material had to separate the two…Really limited the tactics he could have used…He wished he could teach Rocky what a ‘raspberry’ was. (No not the actual fruit…You reader. Yes you. Know what I’m referring to. Ticklehead) But the two different types of environments they could be in really limited that. Grace gently began to poke and prod around the place Rocky's fingertips had a crevice to his palm. A slight and yet genuine twitter and tweet coming from the rock.
“Nohow THIS is sweet. Your little paws are sensitive.” Rocky couldn’t resist closing his paws around Grace’s fingers. Holding his friend's hand and shaking up and down just a bit from all his chittering. The astro(not) adjusted his glasses on his face. Letting go of Rocky’s paw and pulling his arms from the xenonite ball’s mesh. Sitting criss-cross now from his friend.
“Glad you seemed to enjoy yourself pal.”
“I like ! Repay Grace statement.” Rocky rolled slowly towards his friend.
Grace's big smile shifted…his eyebrows changed his expression. One of now…nervous worry, Processing what Rocky said. Slowly standing up and backing away towards the door. Rocky followed close.
“R-Rocky…dohon’t….”
The alien raised his claws up into the air quickly picking up the pace to match Grace’s backwards walking.
“Rocky tickle Grace now! Thanking friend and run experiement!”
Grace quickly turned around and began to bolt out of the laboratory for anywhere to hide. As fast as he could however…considering how exhausted he was. His body was finally starting to feel the effects. Crap. Rocky being close behind and quickly catching speed. The man nearly fell due to the fact he wasn’t wearing shoes and his socks made his friction on the floor being far less than with shoes. Catching himself on the wall sliding into a nearby room. He hadn’t really thought out this plan well..Rocky was incredibly fast and had intense hearing…He eventually was going to catch up and find him. Maybe secretly that's what he wanted. Rocky was so gentle with him all the time, and affectionate. He wouldn’t mind it in the slightest. After all, it made him and Rocky both happy. As he was lost in thought however, he didn’t notice his friend in the doorway to the room. Grace had practically trapped himself in his bedroom now with Rocky at the entrance.
“Hey Grace!” He rolled closer to his friend.
“Uhhh…H-Hihi Rohocky…” He waved towards the Eridian, slumping to the floor in the middle of his room. Accepting his fate.
“Rocky want to help Grace relax. Rocky know how statement. And Rocky wants to try things!”
Grace began to curl his knees up to his chest. Hugging them as the Eridians sat right in front of him.
“I-I don’t think that’s necessary pahal…” Rocky pushed his from appendages out of his protective hamster ball. Tapping at Grace's arms as a way to ask the man to let go of his legs and instead hold onto him. With a sigh, the man obliged. Holding onto the ball and wrapping his legs around it. His shoulders scrunched tight and up against his ears.
“Just be soft alright bud?”
“Rocky understands.”
Grace’s nose scrunched up as his expression turned into a wobbly smile. The slowness of Rocky's arms wrapping around his sides and resting on his back filled the anticipatory feeling inside his chest. Rocky remembered the first place Grace had tickled him. Imitating the same place now on Grace. His fingers gently began to trace and flitter across the teacher's back. Dragging up and down his spine as well. An almost immediate mouse-like squeak coming from him.
“EEE! R-Rohocky! Oho goodnehess!”
Grace tried to wiggle and squirm from his friend arching his back just a little bit even though it did literally no good. Squealing as Rocky experimentally scratched underneath his shoulder blades.
“GYEHahaha! *squeak* W-wahait nahat there R-Rohock!”
“Grace so noisy statement” The alien chittered and gently stayed at that spot.
Grace tapped his feet on the floor and squirmed a bit against Rocky’s tickling. Pressing his forehead against the xenonite and letting his soft genuine laughs spill from his lips.
“Ihi cahan’t help it buhud!” He hiccuped.
Rocky couldn’t help but think again…He learned that his sides weren’t ticklish and he already knew that Grace’s were so there was no need for experimenting there. He already had his answer there. He also knew just how ticklish the man's underarms and stomach were. But a little time in those spots wouldn’t be a waste in the slightest. With a few more pokes and prods against Grace’s back the tickling traveled down and across the human's belly. Sliding his paws underneath his shirt and pinching at the soft skin. Grace immediately bit down on his lip, squeezing his eyes tightly and holding in his laugh. His cheeks puffing out.
“Why Grace not laugh question?”
Rocky was confused. Maybe human spots change over time? He instead changed his methods. Gently skittering his fingers against the lowermost part of the man’s belly. Causing Grace’s protest not to last very long as he erupted into adorable laughter.
“PfffHYAHA! *snort* NahaAHAHA!”
He sucked his belly in to try and protect himself from Rocky’s tickling fingertips. You would think he would have learned by now that it does literally nothing. But alas.
“Rocky fix Grace laugh statement!” The alien enthusiastically trilled and dragged his curled paws up and down the sides of Grace’s belly.
The man’s shoulders shook as he let go of the xenonite ball. Lightly pushing with little effort against Rocky. Being given the grace of a break however as rocky pulled his paws out from under the man’s shirt. Patting his sides. Before asking an interesting question.
“Can Rocky see Grace hand question?”
After rubbing his cheek with a bit of confusion he agreed. Resting one hand on his tummy, rubbing out the butterflies that fluttered within. Giving the other to Rocky.
“Why do you need my hand?”-
The Eridian gently held Grace’s wrist with one hand and used the other to gently circle a singular finger along the man’s palm. Tracing the creases and soft padding.
“Gyeheh H-hehey buhuddy!”
“Grace very ticklish statement.”
Grace curled up around himself the very best he could. Lots of giggles coming from the man as his hands were tickled oh so softly. He didn’t even know his hands were ticklish. He wasn’t surprised however. Like Rocky stated very clearly and despite how flustering it was. He was a very ticklish individual.
Not too long after Rocky ceased his gentle and playful actions. Closing up graces fingers into a fist and giving his hand back.
“Rocky done statement. Eridian and Humans share ticklish areas.”
Grace sighed as he hugged himself around his mid section.
“Must you hahave to p-pohoint it out?”
“Yes.”
Grace shook his head, catching his breath. Using Rocky’s ball to help push himself up and walk towards his bed. Rocky follows close behind to prepare to watch him sleep.
Rocky helped push Grace up into the bedding. Pulling the blanket across the man. His arm dangling off the side of it for Rocky to hold onto. Laying down next to the bed, loafing like a cat.
“Thanks buddy…”
“Ill be here when you wake, Grace.”
Not long after Rocky said those words he was out like a light. Proceeding to sleep for 18 hours…He needed it anyway.
Hello Everyone! As promised I have another PHM fic for you all to enjoy! Consider it a follow up to the previous fic I made “How to teach and Eridian” Oh and you know the poll I did? I sort of lied…because I liked both ideas so much. And a lot of you did…BOTH prompts are in this single fic! I hope you all enjoy it!
CW: Mentions of Alcohol
Switch! Rocky and Grace
Word Count: 3000+
Ryland Grace floated around the Hail Mary with a straw in the corner of his mouth, leading to a bag of vodka. He hadn’t been drunk in a hot minute and needed something to feel a little less like himself. It was certainly a problem he had but at least some form of way to taste something nice and forget stuff for a bit. Be a little happier despite all that was going on around him. Making his way into the screening room where Rocky was staring at the screen surrounding him. What played was one of those videos you play for cats with ocean sounds in the background. All sorts of fish swim by, sharks, sea turtles. Something grace had taught the little Eridian not too long ago and seemed to have formed quite the likeness towards. Something so pure and majestic he could just watch for hours…almost seemed to have beat the tape measure.
Anti-Gravity had now been turned off to Grace’s request by Mary as he slunk to the floor. Awkwardly landing on his feet, waltzing over to his friend and sitting down beside him. Leaning his right arm against the xenonite ball. A bit wobbly from the amount of alcohol consumption but still functioning smoothly. He never let himself go that bad…well…most of the time.
“Hey Rock, what's got you watching this?”
Said alien chirped in delight at the sound of Grace’s voice, reaching an arm of his out from the mesh of his ball to hold onto his friend’s arm.
“Hello Grace! Rocky wanted to watch calm video. Rocky like fish.”
Grace smiled softly at his friend's words. Patting the top of the ball with his palm and setting down the bag of vodka.
“Do you have a favorite bud? Mine’s the manatee but if we are talking about actual fish. Then I really like basking sharks…such interesting creatures.”
“Grace has a dumb taste. Spider crab is an obvious choice.”
Grace snickered at that.
“Pfff, whahat? Why would you say that?”
The Erdian seemed to raise his claws up into the air. Letting go of grace and pinching his appendages in the air similar to how a crab would.
“Great big creature with many arm scary! Rocky look like this! Rocky very big. Very strong. Like spider crab.”
Grace couldn’t help but chortle and shake his head at the thought. He remembered now that Rocky had taken an interest in all things with many appendages like him. The giant squid, octopus, all sorts of crabs, spiders and such…If only he could see and understand what color was. Then he would really have his little rock mind blown.
“Whatever you say buddy.”
“Yes Rocky say yes, Rocky smart yes yes.” As Rocky spoke his arms pushed through the mesh of his xenonite ball, briefly going to reach up and skitter against the side of Grace’s neck. Making the poor guy squeal and squish his shoulders up to his ears. Quickly glaring at his friend and playfully giving him a push.
“Rohocky!”
The Eridian chirped and trilled at his friend. He loved the sweet sounds that came from his favorite human when he tickled him.
It had been several days since the little Eridian had learned what exactly tickling was. It was such an interesting and endearing concept to him. Something so simple made his friend laugh and smile so brightly just by touching him…He couldn’t help but chirp at the thought. Rocky had turned it into a normal thing to now sneak in a tickle or two while the teacher worked or was bantering. Always seeming to jerk out a new reaction from the man that always seemed to make the tips of his ears glow a warm shade of red. That be a snort, a squeal, a shriek. Whatever it was, it was something that swelled the Eridian's heart. That is if he even had a heart….You get the point
However Rocky couldn’t help but start to wonder something about himself after the events with Grace…Was he ticklish? As in himself…Something he would begin to ponder about for a few days…He tried doing what he did to Grace to himself but it didn’t seem to work. Maybe leaky blob humans are just far more sensitive than any other species…who knew. The Eridan was never shy of an experiment, however. All he had to do was ask his friend! Right?
A few days had passed before Rocky began to act on his thoughts. Finding Grace in the laboratory. His eyes fixated through a microscope, performing experiments on taumoeba. Adjusting the lenses as seen fit and squinting to try and notice any changes. The man hadn’t been seeming to sleep much at all recently. In the past three days Rocky had only watched him sleep one time…Grace was running himself dry. Nothing coffee couldn't fix. He eventually brought a pause to his work however as the Eridian rolled his way to be close to his friend.
“Hey, buddy! I unfortunately haven’t made any progress on well…anything today. So if you’re looking for further information I don’t have any”-
He was cut off.
“Can Grace tickle Rocky question?”
The rest of what Grace was going to stay immediately paused at the tip of his tongue. Processing what the Erdian just asked of him. First furrowing his eyebrows. Then leaning back in his chair. Eventually, a soft smile spread across his face.
“Wait wait wait. Whahat do you want?”
“Grace ask dumb question.” Rocky twittered and pointed at Grace. “Rocky ask Grace to tickle Rocky. Rocky want answer.” ‘
Now this was something that Grace didn’t necessarily expect the alien to ask of him. And yet he couldn’t help but hope he eventually was going to ask him. A small smirk spread across his lips. Pushing his glasses up upon his nose.
“How can I say no to something like that? Comere big guy.”
Grace got down onto the floor and sat upright on his knees. Arms open enough for Rocky to come towards him. Completely oblivious to what was about to happen.
“Not hurt right? Question…”
Ryland shook his head giving the side of the xenonite ball a pat.
“Noho no of course bro, buddy. Yknow hugging right?”
“Long thing that goes too long that Grace also like? Question…” Rocky deadpanned.
“Well- yes that. Think of it like that but added with a bit of extra. Just tell me to stop whenever you need me to, pal.”
Rocky was a bit skeptical, but he trusted Grace. Allowing the man to bring his hands through the mesh of Rocky’s protective ball. The texture was something familiar to dish gloves for Grace. He hated doing the dishes. Especially when soggy food got under his fingernails. The thought was enough to make him gag. But his fingers simply rested on the from appendages of the Erdian. Rubbing his thumbs along the rough surface. It wasn’t enough to cut him however. The xenonite blocked anything that could actually hurt him. But it did make his palms a bit warm. It was almost nice.
“You ready pal?”
Rocky chirped a yes, giving Grace the go. “What Rocky supposed to do? Que”-
Before Rocky could finish Graces fingers gently scratched experimentally at the top of Rocky’s back. Tracing his fingertips along the cracks and crevices. Rocky was genuinely so surprised he darted to the corner of his xenonite ball with a high pitched shrill. Almost sounding like a dolphin.. Not running away considering graces arms were still through the mesh. If he did so he was prone to hurting his friend. Grace couldn’t help but worry he scared his friend or started too quickly.
“WHAT WAS THAT QUESTION?!?”
“Thahats what tickling is buddy! I’m sorry did I scare you?”
Rocky came out from the corner and back to his friend. His little claws gently holding onto An his friends wrists. Putting them back on the top of him. The act alone was enough to make a FAT grin draw across Grace‘s face.
“No. Statement. Rocky does not get scared.”
“You sure about that, pal?” Grace chuckled softly.
Continuing the little experiment with his alien buddy. Gently tracing the little bumps along Rocky’s topside. Little chirps and tweets coming from said Eridian that didn’t seem to be translated. This was certainly his form of laughter….
“Who would have thought that Erdians could be tihicklish…this is really cute buddy.”
“Rocky not cute statement! ᯓ𝄞 ˎˊ˗ ♬⋆.˚!!”
“Yeah you are, pal.”
Grace traveled his tickling down the sides of his friend. Noticing, however, that Rocky’s assumed ‘laughter’ seemed to deminish…So Eridians have tickle spots like humans too.
“Why not work question?” Rocky disappointingly drooped.
“Well…As humans people have different places that are more…sensitive. Like I’ve told you, usually in protected places…maybe you’re similar…” Grace hummed.
“Grace ticklish everywhere statement.”
The straight up thought made Grace look off to the side. “Y-Yeah wehell…T-that’s different…”
“It is not.” Rocky twittered cheekily….was Rocky provoking the scientist?
“Yohou little- alright pal you’re just asking for it now.”
The Eridian chirped at the sudden fluttering of Grace’s fingers underneath his front two appendages. What would be considered his underarm, the joint of his body to his ball and socket would be. Not clamping his arms down however. Not wanting to pinch the man’s fingers.
“Feel funny-‧₊˚♪𝄞࿐₊˚⊹ statement! ‧₊ ♪˚⊹”
Rocky tapped one of his feet onto the ground, curling up like a cat and loafing around Grace’s hands. The man simply followed Rocky. Keeping his touches as feather light as he could. Not wanting to overwhelm his friend. Rocky was enjoying himself quite a bit. He wasn’t entirely sure about this concept before but it sure was interesting to him. Human culture is so interesting…
“Yeahhhh that’s how it is, bud! It’s completely harmless. Are you sure you're still okay with this?” He asked Rocky.
“No worry Grace! ˖ ݁♬⋆.˚𝄞༄࿐༘⋆ Can keep going statement!”
His playful attributes travelling to trace the under sides of the alien. An even higher pitched noise coming from the Eridian. Swatting one of his paws at Grace and using another to hold onto the human’s wrist. Almost in a way acting like a puppy getting its belly scratched. It was so endearing to see… Especially for Grace. He himself was very much enjoying himself. Smile wide, biting his lower lip just enough. Glasses slightly off his ears. His heart swelled with affection for his dear friend.
“I wonder if…” The teacher paused for just a moment.
Giving Rocky a bit of time to recover before taking one of his paws in his hands. His arms are still inside the xenonite ball. Such a shame that such material had to separate the two…Really limited the tactics he could have used…He wished he could teach Rocky what a ‘raspberry’ was. (No not the actual fruit…You reader. Yes you. Know what I’m referring to. Ticklehead) But the two different types of environments they could be in really limited that. Grace gently began to poke and prod around the place Rocky's fingertips had a crevice to his palm. A slight and yet genuine twitter and tweet coming from the rock.
“Nohow THIS is sweet. Your little paws are sensitive.” Rocky couldn’t resist closing his paws around Grace’s fingers. Holding his friend's hand and shaking up and down just a bit from all his chittering. The astro(not) adjusted his glasses on his face. Letting go of Rocky’s paw and pulling his arms from the xenonite ball’s mesh. Sitting criss-cross now from his friend.
“Glad you seemed to enjoy yourself pal.”
“I like ! Repay Grace statement.” Rocky rolled slowly towards his friend.
Grace's big smile shifted…his eyebrows changed his expression. One of now…nervous worry, Processing what Rocky said. Slowly standing up and backing away towards the door. Rocky followed close.
“R-Rocky…dohon’t….”
The alien raised his claws up into the air quickly picking up the pace to match Grace’s backwards walking.
“Rocky tickle Grace now! Thanking friend and run experiement!”
Grace quickly turned around and began to bolt out of the laboratory for anywhere to hide. As fast as he could however…considering how exhausted he was. His body was finally starting to feel the effects. Crap. Rocky being close behind and quickly catching speed. The man nearly fell due to the fact he wasn’t wearing shoes and his socks made his friction on the floor being far less than with shoes. Catching himself on the wall sliding into a nearby room. He hadn’t really thought out this plan well..Rocky was incredibly fast and had intense hearing…He eventually was going to catch up and find him. Maybe secretly that's what he wanted. Rocky was so gentle with him all the time, and affectionate. He wouldn’t mind it in the slightest. After all, it made him and Rocky both happy. As he was lost in thought however, he didn’t notice his friend in the doorway to the room. Grace had practically trapped himself in his bedroom now with Rocky at the entrance.
“Hey Grace!” He rolled closer to his friend.
“Uhhh…H-Hihi Rohocky…” He waved towards the Eridian, slumping to the floor in the middle of his room. Accepting his fate.
“Rocky want to help Grace relax. Rocky know how statement. And Rocky wants to try things!”
Grace began to curl his knees up to his chest. Hugging them as the Eridians sat right in front of him.
“I-I don’t think that’s necessary pahal…” Rocky pushed his from appendages out of his protective hamster ball. Tapping at Grace's arms as a way to ask the man to let go of his legs and instead hold onto him. With a sigh, the man obliged. Holding onto the ball and wrapping his legs around it. His shoulders scrunched tight and up against his ears.
“Just be soft alright bud?”
“Rocky understands.”
Grace’s nose scrunched up as his expression turned into a wobbly smile. The slowness of Rocky's arms wrapping around his sides and resting on his back filled the anticipatory feeling inside his chest. Rocky remembered the first place Grace had tickled him. Imitating the same place now on Grace. His fingers gently began to trace and flitter across the teacher's back. Dragging up and down his spine as well. An almost immediate mouse-like squeak coming from him.
“EEE! R-Rohocky! Oho goodnehess!”
Grace tried to wiggle and squirm from his friend arching his back just a little bit even though it did literally no good. Squealing as Rocky experimentally scratched underneath his shoulder blades.
“GYEHahaha! *squeak* W-wahait nahat there R-Rohock!”
“Grace so noisy statement” The alien chittered and gently stayed at that spot.
Grace tapped his feet on the floor and squirmed a bit against Rocky’s tickling. Pressing his forehead against the xenonite and letting his soft genuine laughs spill from his lips.
“Ihi cahan’t help it buhud!” He hiccuped.
Rocky couldn’t help but think again…He learned that his sides weren’t ticklish and he already knew that Grace’s were so there was no need for experimenting there. He already had his answer there. He also knew just how ticklish the man's underarms and stomach were. But a little time in those spots wouldn’t be a waste in the slightest. With a few more pokes and prods against Grace’s back the tickling traveled down and across the human's belly. Sliding his paws underneath his shirt and pinching at the soft skin. Grace immediately bit down on his lip, squeezing his eyes tightly and holding in his laugh. His cheeks puffing out.
“Why Grace not laugh question?”
Rocky was confused. Maybe human spots change over time? He instead changed his methods. Gently skittering his fingers against the lowermost part of the man’s belly. Causing Grace’s protest not to last very long as he erupted into adorable laughter.
“PfffHYAHA! *snort* NahaAHAHA!”
He sucked his belly in to try and protect himself from Rocky’s tickling fingertips. You would think he would have learned by now that it does literally nothing. But alas.
“Rocky fix Grace laugh statement!” The alien enthusiastically trilled and dragged his curled paws up and down the sides of Grace’s belly.
The man’s shoulders shook as he let go of the xenonite ball. Lightly pushing with little effort against Rocky. Being given the grace of a break however as rocky pulled his paws out from under the man’s shirt. Patting his sides. Before asking an interesting question.
“Can Rocky see Grace hand question?”
After rubbing his cheek with a bit of confusion he agreed. Resting one hand on his tummy, rubbing out the butterflies that fluttered within. Giving the other to Rocky.
“Why do you need my hand?”-
The Eridian gently held Grace’s wrist with one hand and used the other to gently circle a singular finger along the man’s palm. Tracing the creases and soft padding.
“Gyeheh H-hehey buhuddy!”
“Grace very ticklish statement.”
Grace curled up around himself the very best he could. Lots of giggles coming from the man as his hands were tickled oh so softly. He didn’t even know his hands were ticklish. He wasn’t surprised however. Like Rocky stated very clearly and despite how flustering it was. He was a very ticklish individual.
Not too long after Rocky ceased his gentle and playful actions. Closing up graces fingers into a fist and giving his hand back.
“Rocky done statement. Eridian and Humans share ticklish areas.”
Grace sighed as he hugged himself around his mid section.
“Must you hahave to p-pohoint it out?”
“Yes.”
Grace shook his head, catching his breath. Using Rocky’s ball to help push himself up and walk towards his bed. Rocky follows close behind to prepare to watch him sleep.
Rocky helped push Grace up into the bedding. Pulling the blanket across the man. His arm dangling off the side of it for Rocky to hold onto. Laying down next to the bed, loafing like a cat.
“Thanks buddy…”
“Ill be here when you wake, Grace.”
Not long after Rocky said those words he was out like a light. Proceeding to sleep for 18 hours…He needed it anyway.
Author’s note: More PHM content COMIN’ AT YA! I knew I wanted to do a fic with Rocky in his upgraded suit from the start, and I remember hearing that Grace uses Rocky like a backpack in the book, and from that one image an idea was sparked! (The backpack thing is like in one description and has nothing else to do with the fic but for some reason I remember that being one of the main inspirations for this 😭 Lol) Thank you for all the kind words on my previous PHM fic by the way! 💕 I hope you enjoy this one too!
(Also available to read on AO3!)
Series: Project Hail Mary
Characters: Ryland Grace and Rocky
Word Count: 4,121
Summary: Rocky and Grace are testing the Eridian’s new xenonite suit to see how well it holds up in different activities. The pair is having trouble coming up with what they should test next with the suit, until Rocky comes up with an idea thanks to a little reminder about Grace’s laughter-inducing reflexes.
---
When Rocky first proposed the idea of a “skin-tight” xenonite suit for himself on the way back to Erid, Grace was thrilled along with Rocky. “With a new suit, Rocky can be closer to Grace!” the Eridian stated, and Grace gladly welcomed the idea of his friend being able to interact with him more outside of a giant sphere. However, once the excitement of the idea was out of the way, now came the question of practicality. Both of them certainly knew it wasn’t impossible, but how they were actually going to execute it was still in the air.
With two scientific minds on the case though, the odds of pulling it off increased significantly.
On the way back to Erid, Rocky created multiple prototypes with help from Grace with some calculations and adjustments. Some of them were too thick and bulky where Rocky could barely walk, some were way too tight like Rocky was encased in cement, and one just straight up exploded. How, they still have no idea.
It took the entire trip back to Erid before they finally found a base model prototype that functioned well enough, but it still needed tweaking. Plus, once Grace’s dome was built so he could live on Erid, Rocky’s new xenonite suit had to be tested under brand new, human conditions instead of a spaceship.
They broke their tests down into three categories: dexterity (how efficient could Rocky move his limbs), speed (how fast Rocky could maneuver), and durability (how well Rocky’s suit could handle the test without sustaining damage like cracks or scratches). They also added a fourth category for comfort. It started off as how comfortable Rocky was in his suit, but it quickly transformed into how comfortable the suit is for Grace when Rocky gives him hugs or snuggles up to him. So far, it’s excelled in that category.
Grace sits on the floor of his Eridian-made house with his legs crossed. In his hands, he has a notepad and a pen.
“Okay, so we’ve already checked the suit against atmospheric pressures; activities like swimming and running; elements like water, sand, grass… doors,” Grace lets out a little chuckle at that last one.
The rock alien across from Grace pipes up, wearing the newest version of his tight, but comfortable xenonite suit.
“Yes, Rocky learned that suit can handle door if Grace hits Rocky with it,” the alien’s computer voice from Grace’s laptop translates. Grace is starting to get a little bit of a grasp on the Eridian language, and Rocky his, but it's always nice to have the translator in the room.
“I didn’t hit you with the door! You ran into it while I was opening it!” Grace points the pen at his friend and smiles.
“How Rocky tested suit against door is irrelevant, statement,” Rocky waves his claw.
Grace huffs out another laugh. “So, what do you want to test next?”
Thinking it over, Rocky taps his rock face like where a chin would be located. “Rocky is not sure. What does Grace want to test next, question?”
“I asked you first.”
“I asked you second,” Rocky responds like it’s a game.
“Hey, are you copying me?” Grace jokes, “What are you, a parrot?”
Grace thought Rocky would continue throwing quips at him, but instead, Rocky tilts his body to the side. If Rocky could blink in confusion, he would. “Do not understand Grace,” Rocky replies, “Grace say new word.”
“Oh. Did I never explain what a parrot is?” Grace is a little surprised himself. Out of all of their conversations, he’s surprised something humans usually learn in kindergarten never came up. He puts his pen and paper down and pushes to the side. “It’s an animal back on Earth. I mentioned to you what a bird is, right?”
“Yes, yes!” the alien perks up, “Rocky recognizes bird.”
“Well, a parrot is a type of bird. Some humans have them as pets. They’re able to mimic speech or sounds that a human teaches them, or that they pick up from their environment. They usually perch on a human’s shoulder as a companion,” Grace taps at his own shoulder.
Rocky seems intrigued at this, wiggling his body. “Rocky understand! Rocky repeated Grace, so Rocky sounded like parrot.”
“Exactly.”
The alien still has an exciting thought on his mind. “Can Rocky be Grace’s companion?”
“What do you mean? You already are, buddy,” Grace smiles.
“No, no. Like bird!”
“What?” Grace chuckles.
“With new suit, Rocky can be Grace’s bird companion on shoulder!” Rocky skitters over to Grace, sliding behind his back before the human can respond. He drapes his stony arms over Grace’s shoulders like a backpack and tries to hop on top of the human.
Grace playfully tries to elbow him off, “What?! No way! You’ll crush me, you big boulder!”
“Grace will be fine. Rocky want to try! Grace, lower shoulder!” Rocky takes another attempt at climbing on Grace, his scrambling back claws grabbing and swiping across the sides of his torso to gain a foothold like a ladder.
The human continues to ‘fight’ off the curious alien. “Rocky–! AH! Wahahait wait! You’re tickling me!” the squishy human compacts his arms to himself and giggles.
Rocky stops his skittering, but keeps his arms over Grace’s shoulders. The alien learned about what tickling was back on the ship when Rocky had poked Grace’s fleshy side one day. Rocky tickled Grace all the time to pass the boring moments in space, and to mess with the human (Rocky thinks it’s a nice bonding experience too), but Rocky was slightly limited to the pokes and prods he could do through the mesh of his big, clunky ball. But now…
Rocky gets a smug idea. A low purr takes the place of a smirk.
Grace recovers, still on the parrot thing, “I don’t think this is going to work, bud.”
“Rocky knows what he wants to test next with the suit,” the alien pipes up from behind.
Grace glances over his shoulder. “Oh yeah? And what’s that?” Grace asks right before a yelp rockets out of his throat; without a moment to waste, Rocky skitters his claws into Grace’s sides.
“AH! Hehehehey!” bouts of laughter already spill out of the human.
“Rocky want to tickle Grace!” The alien chirps. “For science!”
Grace clamps his arms to his sides and squirms in place. “Yeheheah, I figured thahahat part out! Whoa-!”
Rocky tackles Grace from the back like a big dog, sending the human belly-flopping to the floor as if he is a drawbridge. Grace stretches himself out like a cat flattening itself to the floor as Rocky stands above him experimenting with his claws on Grace’s torso.
“So! First test: dexterity!” Rocky announces. “With new suit, Rocky can flex claws much easier to scratch and squeeze at squishy flesh of Grace. Rocky will demonstrate.”
And the alien does, kneading at Grace’s side like dough and skittering his claws over the back of his ribs. Grace barks out a laugh on top of his other booming laughter and pulls his arms closer to his sides. Grace wiggles around, but Rocky holds one leg on Grace's back to weigh down the scientist so he stays lying on his belly.
The alien lets out a pleased chirp. “Surprised! New suit is working much more effectively for tickling already, statement. That, or Grace has become much more ticklish.”
Oh, now Rocky is just teasing him, huh?
“Reheheheally? I think it’s the sahahame!” Grace uses sarcasm to try and keep a sliver of his pride, but Rocky squashes that immediately with a well-placed squeeze to his side that causes him to snort. Grace face-plants into the floor, his chest bouncing with uncontrollable giggles.
“Grace serious, question? Can Grace hear self? Grace is laughing so much more,” Rocky counters the scientist’s claim. Grace can feel the blush creeping under his glasses.
“New suit can also tickle harder to reach spots, like here,” Rocky slips his claws into Grace’s armpits, to which Grace folds his arms down even tighter to himself and shoots his head up with giggles. He kicks his legs behind him. Rocky sees this and knows he has to take advantage of it, naturally. The alien turns and catches one of the human’s kicking legs. “And back of knees,” Rocky punctuates with a scribble to the pocket of skin.
Grace completely dissolves into a giggly puddle. “I see-hehehehe-ee that–AHA! Rohohohocky!!!” Grace swipes at the air when Rocky sneaks in an extra third claw to test a few tickles at the foot beneath his sock. The human presses his face back into the floor, slamming his fist to the ground next to the side of his head.
Even past his own overflow of giggles, Grace can hear Rocky letting out a squeaky chuckle as he scratches at Grace’s toes. “Still shocked how human's walking appendages can be so ticklish.”
Grace lifts his face off the floor. “Rohohocky! Stahahay focused ohohon the experiment!” he shouts at his friend, knowing that Rocky deviated from the task at hand to mess around a little.
Rocky hums out chuckles and lets go of Grace’s leg, giving the scientist a short breather. “Okay, okay. Dexterity has been checked for efficiency. Rocky will test speed now.”
Before Grace can even get out a word, Rocky leaps back to Grace’s top-half, now changing tactics to quickly scribble and scratch at his friend’s torso like he was flipping a bunch of buttons on a control panel.
Grace laughter returns in full force. “Rohohohocky!” Grace shifts so he can turn over on his side, and Rocky steps off of Grace’s back to allow the human to roll off his stomach. The scientist curls up and wiggles around on his side, trying to defend against Rocky’s swift claws attacking him from the front.
“Speed in new suit appears effective for tickling as well, statement. Can keep up with the movement of squirmy human. Squirmy like Earth worm,” Rocky throws in. “Does Grace agree, question?”
“Whahahat do you thihihihink?” Grace sasses, only getting two claws digging into his belly in response. He yelps and flops onto his back with a wheezy cackle. Rocky hops over the human like a hurdle to his other side, positioning himself there to continue the tickles.
“Grace did not answer question,” Rocky hums, knowing fully well that he’s teasing his friend.
“Ohohohokay yes!” Grace covers his face, leans his head back, and kicks out his legs. “I agree! I agree!” he quickly amends his statement before throwing his arms back down to his torso and swatting at Rocky’s claws.
Rocky’s suit certainly makes him faster, but Grace’s reflexes swinging around his middle like a shield is making it difficult.
Rocky almost lets out a little squawk of frustration. “Grace. Hands are in the way of experiment.” As soon as the alien says this, it clicks for Rocky that his new suit has the solution. He beams, “Rocky will move them!”
When Grace takes another swat at Rocky, the alien pauses his tickling to gently grab one of Grace’s wrists and hold his hand up by Grace’s head. The scientist appreciates the breather, but he also hasn’t fully processed his position. It isn’t until he sees Rocky’s claws preparing to come at him that he shoots back into a giggly frenzy.
“Wahahait! Wait, Rocky! Time out!” Grace waves his free hand, already turning his head into his shoulder with a smile and trying to lean away from Rocky’s hovering claw.
The alien seems surprised at this. Rocky tilts his body again. “Why is Grace laughing already if Rocky is not touching yet, question?”
Grace sinks his head into his shoulders, realizing his slip up. He flushes under his glasses. “Because! Because it’s funny!” Grace replies.
“It is funny, but not the reason why Grace is laughing,” Rocky doesn’t buy Grace’s explanation in the slightest.
With one of Grace’s arms held up beside his head and Rocky’s claw dangerously close, the scientist wagers he’s better off explaining the truth. Though, that doesn’t prevent the butterflies fluttering in his belly at the concept of trying to teach Rocky the cause of his outburst while in a precarious position.
He takes a breather to get his frazzled thoughts in order. He adjusts his glasses. “Um… okay… So you know how you’re going to tickle me, r-right? Well, even if you’re not actually tickling me, my brain is expecting it, so the anticipation is already activating my ‘flight or fight’ response, which in this case is causing me to laugh already. It’s kind of like our brain is tricking us that we’re being tickled before it even happens.” After he finished his explanation, Grace thinks he’s about to short circuit from embarrassment, right then and there.
There’s a moment of silence as the alien processes the new human quirk. Then, he responds, “That’s dumb.”
Grace lets out a flustered scoff, “Well excuse you!”
“How can the human brain be so easily tricked, question?”
Grace counters, “Well, I seem to remember YOU being tricked when I pretended to throw you a ball and you went after it when I didn’t actually throw it.” Grace snickers at the memory of fooling around with Rocky while they were on the ship, like his alien friend was a dog playing fetch with his little stress ball of Earth.
Rocky does not seem as amused. “Oh, yes. Rocky remember. Made Rocky feel foolish.” Rocky pauses. He hums and shakes his body; if he could smirk, this would be his way of showing he’s doing just that.
“But now, with new suit, Rocky can now trick Grace,” the alien brings up two of his claws and wiggles them closer to the scientist, whose arm is still snugly in the Eridian’s grip.
Grace squeaks, already letting out giggles against his control. “Rohocky! That’s so mean!”
“Take this! And that!” Rocky pretends to aim for spots across his torso where his claws can hover. The first few times get Grace to flinch and giggle, but Grace stops reacting as Rocky repeats his movements, like a cycle.
Grace blinks at the alien, “Well, it’s not going to work now since I know you’re just tricking me—HEHEY!” Grace is interrupted by one of Rocky’s teasing claws officially plunging itself into Grace’s outstretched armpit. Rocky’s second free claw joins in, scratching at his ribs, earning the happy sound of Grace’s loud laughter he was waiting for.
Rocky squeaks out a snicker. “Rocky likes tricking Grace, statement. Rocky got an even bigger reaction. Did not think that was possible.”
Grace cackles, “NOHOHOT fair!!! Yohohohou hahahave five arms!”
“Seems like a human problem,” Rocky shrugs.
“Ohohohokay! That’s it!” Grace declares. In a burst of instinctive playfulness, not even considering the possibility if this will work or not, Grace launches his free hand towards Rocky and squeezes his leg, wrapping his fingers into the back of his joint. Rocky squeals.
He instantly topples off of the human, hitting the floor backwards with a clunk like he was just shoved by an invisible force. Rocky scrambles to get back on his legs.
Grace quickly sits up, a slight pant leftover to his words. “Rocky! Are you okay! I’m sorry I was just playing! I didn’t mean to hurt you!” Grace says frantically.
Rocky waves his claws to reassure him. “Rocky okay. Rocky was not hurt. It was, however, a strange… funny feeling.”
At first, Grace is still worried, but the second he thinks about Rocky’s word choice, it hits him.
Grace starts to smile. “Wait a minute… a funny feeling you said? Rocky, you wouldn’t happen to be ticklish, now would you?” Grace’s grin grows wider.
Rocky stomps his foot. “N-No! It was just a funny feeling that made Rocky want to laugh!”
“Yeah, that’s called being ticklish, buddy. Ha! I can’t believe this!”
Rocky’s computer voice sputters. “No! No! Human tickling does not work on Rocky! Only Eridian tickling!”
“Wait, hold on-” Oh, this just got even better. “There’s an Eridian version of tickling, and you never told me?” Grace points an accusing finger at his friend.
Rocky freezes, realizing the gravity of the information he just spilt. He turns around to face away from Grace and crosses his arms.
“Rocky thought it was unnecessary to tell. Rocky was also in xenonite ball, so Grace could not touch. Grace’s attempts to try would have been futile.”
As much as Grace wants to ask about Eridian tickling, that’ll have to wait. Right now, he’s interested in testing a theory about Rocky’s new suit.
“But you’re not in that ball anymore, are you?” Grace smirks at him. Rocky whips around to face Grace; his rock face doesn’t show it, but the way he’s standing stiff shows he’s mortified.
Grace revels in Rocky’s reaction. “I think I know how we can perform the durability test of your suit,” Grace wiggles his fingers in the air.
With a squeak, Rocky tries to scatter, but Grace practically pounces towards him like a panther. The human lands on top of him and a well placed scratch to the side of the alien’s rock face makes Rocky squeal and his legs collapse from under him like a ton of bricks. The mesh of the xenonite suit under his fingers feels like the gel of an unfrozen ice pack, but he can also feel the hard surface of Rocky’s shell beneath. Grace quickly theorizes that his scribbling fingers are causing seismic-like waves to course through Rocky’s shell. In other words, it’s like Grace is creating a mini earthquake vibrating through the Eridian, resulting in the tickly feeling for Rocky, but he’ll have to confirm that theory later. First, revenge!
While his fingers skitter across Rocky, already earning sputters of high-pitched trills and gurgles from his friend, Grace swiftly sits back and drags Rocky into his lap like an extra heavy bowling ball, using his criss-crossed legs like a nest to hold the alien.
“Gr-Grahahahahace!” Rocky’s chirps become melodic, as if his laughter is performing a tune. He flails his limbs like he’s trying to regain his footing, but catching nothing but air. Grace knows Rocky is so much stronger than him, but the tickling seems to have the alien malfunctioning like a robot that just got a bucket of water thrown on them. Even his computer voice has trouble translating the increase of giggly garbles and squeaks that spew from the Eridian.
“Wow,” Grace has to giggle at the sight. “It looks like your suit is holding up so far. How about you, Rocky? You look really ticklish,” Grace emphasizes.
“Rohohocky is ticklish a nohohohormal amount!” Rocky tries to squeak with pride. “Human is mohohore ticklish! Abnormally so!”
“Oh no, I don’t think you’re in any position to be talking back to me, mister. I’m not going to take any sass from someone who looks like a jellyfish flopping out of water,” Grace smirks.
“Rohohocky does not know what that is! Buhuhut knows Grace is trying to fluster Rocky!” Rocky shoves at Grace’s legs to put up some kind of a fight, but the human knows that’s not the alien’s full strength. Rocky starts to heats up as if he is an electric blanket splayed out across Grace’s lap. Grace guesses this is the Eridian version of a blush when their surface becomes warmer.
“And it’s working, huh?” Grace observes, “Hey, does this work on you too?” Grace stills his fingers to give Rocky a quick breather. When the alien turns to face the human, he lets out a squeal and presses himself to the pocket of Grace’s criss-crossed leg as he notices Grace wiggling his fingers in his face.
The alien already releases chirpy giggles while watching the wiggling appendages he’s trying to get far away from move closer.
“Grahahace!” Rocky squeaks, his computer voice frantic with anticipation.
“Ha! It does work!” The scientist rejoices and plunges his fingers back towards Rocky for real this time, not wasting a second. Rocky shrieks again, and bats gently at Grace’s hands that are exploring around the small pockets of holes at the front of his rock face. “Who’s brain is getting tricked now!” Grace throws in for good measure.
“Shuhuhuhut your human face hole!” Rocky then shrieks when Grace grabs one of his legs and tickles around the center of his joint, very similar to when Rocky tickled the back of his knees.
“Excuse you! And it’s called a ‘mouth,’ Rocky. Did our anatomy lessons teach you nothing?”
“Rohohohocky knows human hahahave five fingers, ahahahand it is SO unfair fohohohor tickling!” Rocky states through his abundance of joyful chirps.
Grace scoffs, “Oh, well now you know how I feel!”
The alien shouts, “Nohohohot the same!”
“Oh yeah?” Grace lets go of Rocky’s leg and utilizes all ten of his fingers to the fullest, one hand at Rocky’s side, scratching like he was giving a big dog belly rubs, while his other hand skitters up and down his carapace like a spider. Rocky practically squeals, nearly falling out of Grace’s legs and onto the floor again.
“What were you saying again, Rocky?” Grace grins.
“EEP! 𝅘𝅥𝅮♬♪♬ !” Rocky chirps out a harmony with how much he’s giggling, “Ohohokay! Okay! Grahahahace has made point! Nohoho more tickle! Plehehease!”
As soon as he hears this, Grace promptly lets go of Rocky. The alien takes a few deep breaths then flops over Grace’s legs to relax.
Grace softly chuckles. He starts to feel Rocky’s heat return to its normal, warm temperature.
“You good, Rocky?” the human gives the alien a gentle pat. Rocky jumps from the touch at first, but he leans into Grace’s hand, knowing his friend has had his fun with him for today.
“Rocky is okay.” After a few breaths, Rocky crawls off of Grace’s legs so he can face his friend.
The alien stomps his foot to the floor. “Grace was evil, statement,” Rocky says, jokingly.
“Me? You started it! And I didn’t see you trying to fight me," Grace points out with a smile.
The Eridian ignores that second half. “Rocky started it for science! Grace for fun.”
“Hey, if you were doing it for ‘science,’ then I was doing it for science too! I was testing my theory to see if human tickling works on Eridians. The answer is yes,” Grace answers smugly, but scientifically speaking, he is curious to explore more about his discovery, another day though. “Plus, your suit stayed in tack, didn’t it?”
Rocky grumbles. “Rocky suppose suit did stay strong while being tickled by Grace…”
“Yep! That means it passed the dexterity, speed, and durability test. So this is one more thing we can add to the list,” Grace grabs his pen and paper that was pushed to the side and writes down ‘tickling’ as another activity they tested.
“Maybe Rocky should make the suit tickle proof…” the alien mumbles.
“If you do, I’ll just find a way to get you through your suit,” Grace banters back at him with a grin. Rocky rattles his body, which Grace knows is like the human equivalent of rolling his eyes.
A moment passes. Rocky speaks, “You know what Rocky just thought of?”
“What?”
Rocky steps forward. “When new suit is finalized, Rocky and Grace can use what was learned to make a suit for Grace.”
Grace’s focus shifts fully to the alien. “Really?” he asks, his heart touched simply by the offer. “A suit… for me?”
“Yes! So Grace can come visit Eridian home sometime!”
The scientist glows. “You would do that for me?”
“Yes, yes! Rocky is able to visit human home, so it’s only fair if Grace can visit Eridian home,” Rocky wiggles his body.
Grace’s big smile lights up all of his features. “Well, then we better start getting ahead on these tests then. We’ve got to make your suit the best it can be first,” Grace declares.
“Agree! Agree!” Rocky cheers. “So…what should be the next test, question?”
“Right…” Grace leans his head in his hand. “That’s what we were trying to discuss,” Grace realizes they’re back to square one. “Hmm…”
Rocky taps one of his claws to the floor as he thinks. Suddenly, he straightens himself on his legs like an idea has been shocked into his system. “Oh! Oh! Maybe Adrian has idea! Rocky and Grace can ask them!”
“Hey, good idea Rocky!” Grace shares in the alien’s enthusiasm.
“Then what are Grace and Rocky waiting for! Go let’s!” Rocky chirps.
“Heh, the phrase is ‘let’s go,’ buddy,” Grace replies. “But yeah, let’s go!” Grace hops up from his spot and Rocky skitters by his feet as the duo prepares to run off in search of their next round of experiments.
Hey gang, sorry for the oddball post tonight- I’ve had a RRRROOOOUGH couple days, and I ended up writing this kinda shorter, dumb, self indulgent little number, and I figured I’d post it while I finish up with Rock-Sitting, which is the fic that won the poll.
I PROFUSELY APOLOGIZE. I HOPE THIS IS DECENT COMPENSATION IN THE MEANTIME. IM STILL XOOKIN’ YALL TRUSTTTTTTT 

Lee!Grace (PHM) Ler!Simon (Iron Lung)
Grace points out something about Simon that he’d love to hear more of, And Simon points out something about Grace that he’s sick and tired of. An agreement is achieved!
If I were still on Earth when I met Simon, I think it’s safe to say I would have been a little offput, even afraid of him. But being in deep space long enough will show you that you can make a friend out of just about anything.
Cells on a microscope slide, a sentient rock spider with an attitude, blood-soaked, marred and mutated space convicts from alternate universes…
I was proud to say that at this point, there was nothing left to surprise me.
…I thought.
“Ryland.”
“Hm?” I sit up from my slouched position over the lab table, spinning my pen idly like a drumstick.
“Where’d you put the sleeping bags? You said you were gonna put them in the wash, but I didn’t see them by the laundry hatch.”
“Oh, I tossed them in a little while ago… uh-“ I tilt my head. “Say that again?”
“What?”
“What’re you looking for again?”
“The sleeping bags?”
I let out a soft huff, turning to look at Simon. He had annunciated the ‘s’ in ‘sleeping’ with more of a ‘sch’ sound. Did he always have a lisp..? How have I never noticed that?
“Right, Right yeah, uhm..” I think for a moment. I want to make sure it isn’t a fluke, and have him try another ‘s’ word.
“Oh, speaking of laundry, are we out of clean towels? I couldn’t find any earlier.” I lied. There were a whole bunch.
“Yeah, should be. Above the bathroom sink.”
There it was again! Schink” instead of “sink”. I wasn’t imagining!
“Ha!” I cover my mouth. I didn’t mean to let that slip.
“What..?”
“Nothing! Sorry.”
Simon furrowed his brow, staring at me with a look that I’m sure he didn’t mean to be as icy as it was.
“Nothing, I just… noticed you have a little bit of a uhm… a lisp- probably because of the… the teeth. Never noticed before.” My voice gets quieter as my sentence continues.
“So you’re making fun of me.” The lisp was gone that time…
“NO! No, I’m not making fun of you!”
“Then why are you laughing at me?”
“I’m nohohot! I promise I’m noOT-!”
Simon takes a step closer to me, and I move back instinctively, stumbling over my stool and falling the short distance to the ground.
Simon snorts, looming above me. “What’re you scared of me too? You act like I’m gonna kill ya.”
“Don’t joke like that!”
Simon Rolls his eyes, standing still for a moment.
…
“BOO.” He jerks toward me suddenly.
I flinch with a dramatic gasp, groaning once the momentary adrenaline fizzles out.
“Ha! Knew it.”
“Cheap shot.” I mutter, standing up off the floor and planting my butt back into my stool.
“Oh and laughing at my speech impediment is fair game?” Simon folds his arms, tilting his head. The xenonite prosthetic emitting a quiet whir as it moves into position.
“I’m not trying to tease you, I just never noticed it before. It sorta juxtaposes your voice. I-in a good way! I- I mean, it doesn’t make you less cool- and I’m also not saying speech impediments aren’t cool-“
“Alright, alright. Put the shovel down while you can still crawl out of the grave you’re digging.” Simon shakes his head, sitting up on the lab table beside me.
“It’s the teeth, yes. But more importantly the lack of any skin around them. These stupid things let too much air slip by, and it messes up my speech a little bit.” He says with a shrug.
“Huh. I never noticed before.”
“Yeah, I try to control it as best I can. I just have to adjust my tongue and it pretty much fixes it. She sells seashells by the seashore. See?” With just that small adjustment, the relatively minorlisp was gone. Impressive!
“Huh- wow. So you just forget to control it sometimes?”
“Mhm. That’s why I call you Ryland and not Grace. I’d end up calling you “Grasche” one of these days.”
“That’s alright.”
“Mmph.” He shrugs
I frown.
“That seems like a lot of extra effort… why not just-“
“Let it go?”
“Yeah- I mean it’s just us and Rocky. No one’s gonna care.”
“You just laughed at-“
“I SAID I DIDN’T MEAN TO.” I pointed at him sharply. “Just- I dunno, just try going without the self-censoring for a while. Might be nice! Unless it’s more comfortable to keep doing what you’re doing, or easier, of course…” Simon groans, his head lulling to the side.
“You can give an opinionated suggestion without opening up 75 alternative options. Just speak your mind, you don’t have to people-please on a ship with two people and a rock.”
I stare at Simon, face heating up like plasma on a hull. Ouch…
Simon sighs. “That was blunt, sorry.”
“No, no. It’s alright.” I mutter.
“You do it a lot, though.”
“I do?” Simon nods dramatically, dull black hair falling into his face.
“Yes, constantly.”
I hum in reply, dropping us both into silence. Simon sighs, turning to face me on the table.
“…How about this. I’ll promise to drop the lisp avoidance if you promise to speak your mind. To be direct. Deal?”
He extends the xenonite hand towards me. I look down at it for a moment. Man, Rocky did a great job with it.
“Deal.” I accept the handshake. We both sigh heavily, mentally preparing for our own self edits.
*Beep Beep Beep*
Saved by the bell. Well, the… laundry alarm.
“Sleeping bags are done.” Simon lets go of my hand with a smile, not bothering to self-correct the ‘s’ this time. I smile back, nodding.
I turn back to my lab station as he walks off.
-
“Grace!” I perk up, hearing my name clear across the ship. Simon? He used my last name!
“Yeah! Whats up?!” I shout back, still perched over my microscope and notebook.
“I need help!” I stand up, senses on alert.
“Where are you?!”
“Dorm!”
I drop my pen and jog to the Dorm hatch, lifting it, and descending th ladder as fast as I could.
“What?! What’s wrong?!” I swing down from a few rungs up, trotting over to where Simon stood, fussing with his prosthetic.
“The elbow joint is jammed- I can’t get it unstuck. I don’t wanna break it.”
“Okay, okay! Well for one, this thing is made of straight up xenonite, so I don’t think breaking it is a risk. Here, let me see.” I gently take the prosthetic in hand, attempting to extend the arm manually. Stuck.
I hum to myself in thought, rotating the thing in a few directions before spotting the issue. A small gear had shifted slightly out of place, causing the entire elbow joint to freeze up. I grab a spare pen I had balanced behind my ear, using it to coax the metal back into place.
With a satisfying click, we were back in business.
“There! Should be good now.” I nod, stepping back.
“Try moving it around.” I say.
Simon flexes and extends the prosthetic, the machine humming as it moved. It seemed to be back in working condition.
I nod in satisfaction. “Try not to lift anything too heavy before Rocky can make some edits on the mechanics. We don’t want you getting jammed up any worse than this.”
“I didn’t even lift anything heavy- just that stupid stack of sleeping bags from the dryer.” He said with a frustrated huff.
I smiled, (a little wider and goofier than I world have liked) hearing the shameless,mild slurring of his s’s. There was something about it that really made me giddy.
“What’re you smiling about?”
“Nothing!” I shrugged directing my eyes anywhere else.
“Now hold on- You promised you’d speak your mind, didn’t you? What’re you smiling about?” He asked again, taking a step towards me. Why is he so intimidating today?! Good lord!
“I-I’m just happy to see you’re letting your wall down! That’s all!” I babble nervously.
“You look to the side when you lie, you know that?”
“I’m being serious! And you’re backing me into an oof- corner, here-” My back hits the wall.
“Why’re you smiling?” At this point he had to just be messing with me.
“Y’know, I can hear you just as clear from two paces back, actually.” I mutter.
“Your ears can turn red too? Jesus. Glad I’m not as scared of blood like I used to be.”
“Hey!” I bark out.
“Tell me why you keep smiling and I’ll move back.”
“Ugh, FINE! I find your lisp incredibly endearing, and it makes me happy to know that you’re comfortable enough to let it slide around me now!” I blurt out.
“Soooo close.” Simon purrs, shaking his head. He’s so close to me now I can make out every scar, blemish, and freckle on his face.
“Come ooonn, man! What more do you need for me to say! I’m speaking my mIIIHIHIND!! N-NOOONONONO-!”
“Yeah, you are, but you’re wrapping it up in about 800 unnecessary words. Just get to the point.”Simon drones, both his hands, real and robotic, grabbing my ribs, squeezing and vibrating into the bone. My knees give out under me, and I slide to the floor. Simon follows me down, my arms gripping his desperately on my descent.
“A-AHAHAHA-! THERE WERE NO. TERMS AND CONDIHIHITIONS TO THIS AGREEMENT-! O-OW-!” I thrash under his grip, only catching a glimpse of him rolling his eyes before my own squeeze closed.
“Yeah, but I’m not avoiding the words I know im gonna mess up. I’m just talking like a normal person, and letting it happen.” He says, Voice eben and calm.
“You, however-“ Simon delivers a sharp pinch to the back of my shoulder blade, making me gasp. “Seem to have quite the habit of wrapping your statements in flowery, unnecessary words.”
“AH-! AH-! OKAHAHAY OKAY, IM SORRY!” I plead, kicking my legs uselessly like an upside-down bug.
“If you’re sorry, then tell me why, everytime I do the exact thing you asked me to do, you smile and giggle about it like a child. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were poking fun.” His voice is level and smooth.
“I DID AHAHALREADY- AHAHAHAA!!”
…I can assure you, the sound that came out of my mouth just then was manly, masculine, and honestly, probably sunshine in the baritone range. ..
“Jesus, Grace you’re gonna blow my eardrums out, stop screaming-“ Simon hissed, wincing as I… screamed…
In my defense, he somehow got a hand behind my neck, pinching the Splenius Capitus muscle.
Yes of course I know what it’s called.
All my life I’d been a denier of being ticklish, despite how easily provable it was, but my neck had always been one of the places I couldn’t poker-face my way through. Even my students knew about it.
It only took one time, when a student tried to get my attention at my desk by tapping me on the neck, and you would have thought I had gotten tazed. I couldn’t stand it. Can’t stand it.
“SIMON-! SIMON NO NO NONO PLEHEHEASE. IM SEHEHERIOUS! I- I CAHAHAN’T” I plead, wheezing and heaving, body rigid as a board.
“Wow- alright, tell me why you keep smiling at me and I’ll let go.”
I grit my teeth, squeezing my eyes shut.
“3…”
We’re counting down?!
“Y-YOHOHOU’RE COUNTING DOWN?!”
“2…”
“WAIT WAHAHAIT IKAY!”
“1…”
“I THINK THE LISP IS CUTE! OKAY?! I- I THINK IT MAKES YOU SOUND INTERESTING, AND I WISH YOU’D LET IT OUT FROM THE START. NOW GET OHOHOFFA ME!”
Simon releases the back of my neck, and my whole body falls limp against the wall, my chest rising and falling, greedily wasting the ship’s oxygen.
“There’s no way that was worth screaming bloody murder about.”
“Oh says you! You and your stupid gills!” I bark back. Simon smiles.
“There you go, speaking your mind! That’s what I’m talking about!” He snickers.
“Shut up.” I sit up, leaning my head back.
“Sp what’s that about my lisp?”
“I’m not… saying it agai- DO NOT come near me.” I bark out, curling in on myself, and lifting a leg towards him, threatening a kick as Simon acts like he’s making a move to lunge at me again.
“Relax, relax, I’m done.” Simon stands up slowly, pausing for a moment, and looking back down at me, his expression a bit more serious.
“Was that too much for you? You’re alright?”
I nod weakly. “Yeah, yeah I’m fine, you’re fine.” I sputter out.
Simon smiles again, fondly this time.
“Did’ya have fun?”
My glasses fogged up from the sweat on my face, and boy did I hope that obscured the bright red that crawled over my cheeks and nose…
I nod.
Simon tilts his head.
“What?!”
“I kinda wanted you to say it.”
I sigh, swallowing whatever iota of pride I have left.
“Yes, I did.”
Multi fandom tickle fics but mostly Irondad @fluffygiggles - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
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