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[missdeeds5070]

YOUR Ryland Grace is a crybaby wimp.

MY Ryland Grace is a crybaby who has and will beat the shit out of multiple people.

[missdeeds5070]

I need Retired Crashout Ryland Grace in a Coltland Gentry fic. Watching C & C trying to reel him in would be hilarious.

"You can't call someone God's greatest mistake and threaten to play double dutch with their intestines, Ryland"

[missdeeds5070]

Stratt: I need people who piss other people off

Grace: That's me!

I bet he used to be a MENACE. He probably mellowed a lot after Denmark and carefully controls himself now that he's a teacher.

While it's not 1:1 we can see in both the book and movie that he's given to snark and a little impatience for what he sees as nonsense (like demanding immediate results on studying a brand new species). "Wow! Nothing happened!" isn't something a spineless person says to a group of obviously important people. He's a little smart ass who, imo, took a major hit to the ego and had his internal foundation rocked. And because of that maybe retreated into insecurity and finds it difficult to believe in himself.

But those basic personality traits are still there. He'll still tell Stratt she's being a jerk. He'll still say things like "sure seems optional to me" then get in his car and leave. He'll still demand to be let back onto the project and refuse to take no for an answer. He's still the guy who was taking random drugs from strangers back in the day.

This version of Grace is infinitely more interesting than the woobified version I see sometimes. The character is many things, but weak was never on the list. That man is a retired crashout who just might take things all the way left if pushed and the deep breathing/countdown combo doesn't help.

So yeah he might have to do things scared sometimes, but he's still going to get those things done.

[introvertathome]

"Retired crashout" is the best description of Grace I have ever seen

Give that man a chance and he will no longer be retired, I swear it

[missdeeds5070]

I have this enduring vision of him and Stratt being in some meeting and a politician is making much of himself and being a real asshole. Grace keeps giving Stratt these very direct, meaningful looks to let her know that if she doesn't get him out of there soon it's gonna get ugly. And Stratt knows him well enough to know that he is not kidding.

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I got so deep into Coltland/Coltland Gentry that I kinda forgot they weren't canon.

[missdeeds5070]

I like the idea that science, curiosity and problem solving are pretty good salves for Grace's fear. Or maybe not salves but the system reset he needs to stop being frightened. Science unplugs him from the outlet and then plugs him in again after a minute.

[missdeeds5070]

I really do take exception to PHM's (or I guess Weir's) insistence that Grace not wanting to go to space, saying no and running are hallmarks of cowardice. To me, that's such a normal response. And I get it, it's to save humanity, but literally get someone else to do it. Someone who volunteered and had more than three hours to decide if they'd be ok with dying. I just. You can't try FORCE someone to kill themselves and then get mad when they don't play along.

And I understand it from Stratt's point of view. To her, it's probably really selfish and disappointing. She's always moved with the mindset of "there's nothing I won't do. No line I won't cross to save us". So, to her, maybe it should be a given. Maybe he should see it as an honor. Maybe some part of her thought they were on the same No Limit Soldier page. And maybe if she'd told Grace from the jump that he's her tertiary choice he could've already been marinating the idea and been ready to accept.

Idk. It's just a sticking point for me. Even with the stakes being what they are, even knowing that he's the best choice, I still don't think he's a coward for wanting to live.

[agentrouka-blog]

I love Carl's introduction. It's such a great establishing moment.

Ryland Grace has made it all the way to his bike with Eva Stratt at his heels, so her trusted security team has correctly assessed it's time to move in the cars, and Carl is approaching off-screen.

Grace comes out of the little "I don't know why that makes me such a nut!" rant, and there Carl is, stepping up into frame exactly next to Stratt. Tall, broad, unimpressed, unmistakably a force to be reckoned with, unmistakably a trusted professional.

But also a nameless goon at this point. An extension of the threat Stratt seems to represent to Grace. A depersonalized tool.

Grace clocks the cars, his presence, the unfolding situation, instantly and incredulously. And he does something clever, something he always does, which is to call attention to the absurdity of the unspoken threat by trying to force the situation into a normal mold.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."

Turning Eva's nameless goon into a person with agency. Trying to force a relationship that hinders coercion.

Ideally, this would force them all to acknowledge how abnormal they are acting and retreat a little to keep up the appearance of normality. Or admit to what they are doing by refusing. Either way, the ball shifts out of Ryland's court into theirs.

Neither happens, though.

Carl sees exactly what he's trying to do with that and interrupts him mid-question. "Carl." And then keeps staring at him the same way as before. One word, and we already know so much about him.

He is not a nameless goon. He is an individual named Carl.

And he fully supports what is happening there. Because nothing is normal and it's stupid to pretend that what is happening isn't happening.

So yes, while he bonds with Grace over silliness and is the astrophage-coparent and instigator of Carl's Hypothesis... he is also entirely introduced to us as the man who will wish Grace the best of success on the mission while he's being sedated on the ground. Because Carl has a personal opinion about what is at stake.

"Sun's really dying, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

[missdeeds5070]

You really can ship Grace with anyone. He's the ultimate crossover manic pixie dream girl.

[missdeeds5070]

"I cross my arms and slump into my pilot's seat. There's no gravity to properly slump with, so I have to make a conscious effort to push myself into the seat. I'm pouting, darn it, and I intend to do it right." (pg 416)

He's such a brat.

[missdeeds5070]

Sometimes I imagine Ryland Grace as a complete and total ho. Like, yes, Sabrina, he has tried that one. In fact he invented it.

[missdeeds5070]

Let's say Colt and Court do rescue Ryland, but Hail Mary still launches on time with the other scientist that was on the list. Do you think Stratt would still try to find Ryland and bring him back on board to step into her place (bc jail 😔) and keep studying and trying to avoid the very worst until either a solution arrives or the sun goes dark?

That could be so interesting.

Maybe he recruits more scientists and engineers to start focusing on harnessing geothermal energy? Maybe using astrophage to boost it? Also they'd have to figure out how to keep breeding the astrophage with the sun dimming. He's driven by a genuine desire to help humanity and a simmering guilt for avoiding going on the mission.

His brothers are super paranoid about him being back in the fray and watch him like hawks. They're ready to snatch him back at the first sign of any kind of fuckery.

I love this sandbox. There's so much room for activities.

[missdeeds5070]

Coltland headcanonns: (The events of PHM happen except no one gets blown up. Sorry. My cup of angst is overflowing)

Colt is the possessive twin and can get jealous over Ryland's time and attention. It was much more obvious when they were young. He's gotten better with age and as he gained more interests of his own. Ryland is generally pretty chill if Colt has to split his attention. He only gets pressed if they go a full day without talking.

Ryland is the more erratic twin. It's unexpected bc he seems pretty even keeled and has a set idea about his future. But he's 100% more likely to have nights he can't remember bc he was absolutely blitzed. He also has the worse temper and has more than once let his mouth get him into fights. He's the definition of you might kick my ass, but just know I'm gonna talk my shit to the bitter end.

Colt is the older twin and takes it extremely seriously. Ryland, however, thinks that's ridiculous and does not accept being the younger brother. Colt does inadvertently baby Ryland sometimes even as adults.

After the Denmark Catastrophe Ryland went on a terrible bender once he was back home and Colt couldn't find him for a full two days. When Ryland finally surfaces Colt cusses him out for half an hour.

Teaching saved Ryland's life.

Ryland knew something happened when Colt had his "accident". He felt it in his gut that something terrible had just gone down. He took a leave of absence to be with Colt. Colt felt weirdly ashamed to need his baby brother to take care of him. It's supposed to be the other way around. There were a lot of explosive arguments and strained silences during this time.

Once Ryland's involved with the Taskforce he and Colt can't communicate as much and it drives them both crazy. Being so far apart for so long feels like a wound for them both. Colt is ready to demand that Ryland resign and come home immediately.

[missdeeds5070]

The idea of Stratt and whoever else watching Grace's logs, specifically the one where he's just bitching about Rocky, is so funny to me. Especially bc he's whispering like we're just having a little shit talk sesh.

Idk if they'd be kept secret bc of the proof of alien life, but imagine they're released to the public and it's just Grace complaining about Rocky being bossy.

[missdeeds5070]

Stratt: I need people who piss other people off

Grace: That's me!

I bet he used to be a MENACE. He probably mellowed a lot after Denmark and carefully controls himself now that he's a teacher.

While it's not 1:1 we can see in both the book and movie that he's given to snark and a little impatience for what he sees as nonsense (like demanding immediate results on studying a brand new species). "Wow! Nothing happened!" isn't something a spineless person says to a group of obviously important people. He's a little smart ass who, imo, took a major hit to the ego and had his internal foundation rocked. And because of that maybe retreated into insecurity and finds it difficult to believe in himself.

But those basic personality traits are still there. He'll still tell Stratt she's being a jerk. He'll still say things like "sure seems optional to me" then get in his car and leave. He'll still demand to be let back onto the project and refuse to take no for an answer. He's still the guy who was taking random drugs from strangers back in the day.

This version of Grace is infinitely more interesting than the woobified version I see sometimes. The character is many things, but weak was never on the list. That man is a retired crashout who just might take things all the way left if pushed and the deep breathing/countdown combo doesn't help.

So yeah he might have to do things scared sometimes, but he's still going to get those things done.

[missdeeds5070]

Is there, like, a diagram or something similar to the movie version of the Hail Mary? I feel like I can't quite wrap my brain around the dimensions and layout.

[missdeeds5070]

I've got fanfiction on the brain. Kinda wanna outline a Ryland Returns fic about him dealing with how people respond to him post mission. The overwhelming almost obsessive love the people of the world would have for him. All the ways that can be sweet and scary. The broad spectrum between "I made this painting for you, please accept it as a gift" and "He's a god and I need to chain him up in my basement". I think it could be interesting.

[missdeeds5070]

Ryland Grace with bangs down and bangs pushed back are such completely different vibes. One of them is a cute li'l guy and the other has undeniable, extremely loud big dick energy.