Chapters: 25/?
Fandom: Subnautica (Video Game), Subnautica: Below Zero - Fandom
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: AL-AN/Robin Ayou, AL-AN & Robin Ayou, AL-AN & Ryley Robinson
Characters: Robin Ayou, AL-AN (Subnautica), Ryley Robinson, Architects | Precursors (Subnautica)
Additional Tags: Romance, Drama & Romance, Angst, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Slow Burn, Alien Cultural Differences, Awkward Flirting, Fluff and Humor, Unresolved Romantic Tension, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Infection, Action/Adventure, Space Exploration, Al-an is a angsty flashlight, Ryley is ..vary confused, Robin needs a drink, Someone looses some digits..., Ryley is a walking cockblock and doesn't know it., Al-an isn't amused., Drones have it out for Ryley, Ryley is kinda of whipped, Robin gets thrown..for the second time, Panic Attacks, Al-an riles himself up and need to take a time out, Other alien species - Freeform, Parasite/host egg laying, Leviathan class lifeforms, Dubious Bargains, Only dream Al-an gets laid, Imposter
Series: Part 3 of A Splash Across a Pale Sky
Summary:
After Al-an's failed attempt to initiate warp drive, and rejection of consciouses's aid at Robin's behest the team is forced to set their sights on a distant planet Al-an claims to be the homeworld of a fickle alien species they once called allies.
Meanwhile Ryley struggles to fit in with a enigmatic resercher and her apathic alien companion, all the while trying to figure out just what it is they are keeping from him..
The crew soon finds its best to come clean and wear their ambitions on their sleeves, trust their fellow crewmates. It may very well save their lives.
"Ryley could see the pouting researcher was at her wits end, the bored researcher had been reduced to gleaning amusement from patting the alien's rear, watching the green biolight erupt under her palm then measuring how long it took to dwindle out when she pulled her hand away.
What was kinda of more amusing was the fact that everytime she swatted the precursor's ass Al-an responded subconsciously by issuing a soft quiet clicking noise, despite having no real qualms regarding the researcher's restless exploration of his vessel.."
- Dust (sugoi). “Chapter 11: A Shift in Circumstance.” Planet: Marighettis 047. A Splash Across a Pale Sky https://archiveofourown.org/works/37964023
I absolutely love this fanfic, so I did some art of it! Highly recommend checking it out! Its kinda been my hyperfixation for the last month.
"Yes. The data beyond this point has proved unsalvageable." Al-an sighed blankly, he sounded distanced and somewhat apathetic but she can tell he was still vary upset.
It was understandable Robin herself felt sick, her stomach still tight with dread and anxiety, and terrifying as it was, Robin realized that she equally felt lucky…
Lucky that they had not come sooner, that they avoided being drawn into the brutal slaughter that took place there, knowing Al-an it was likely he would not know when to back down and flee, the likelihood of him surviving was better then the others…but still skeptically low seeing what they were pit against.
As repulsive as the realization was Robin was glad that they were not there to have to make that choice to leave the afflicted behind if need be…
Would Al-an think less of her for this epiphany..?
Finally Al-an moves to stand, Robin finds her person easily picked up as well, her architect ferrying them both out of the observation and into the dark common area, the halls are still subtly glowing, but somehow everything seems a tad bit dimmer…
Robin's throat feels tight and it takes a second to speak around the knot forming in it, and even then she really didn't know where to begin, there was so much to unpack here…
"How are you holding up in there..? It was a lot to unpack, if im being honest I'm glad that last creature wasn't still running around when we arrived…" She admits still feeling that heavy sense of unease as she thought back on it.
"I am fine Robin, I do not require consolation. However if that was your intent your efforts are appreciated. Here..drink this it will calm your nerves." Al-an states simply, pushing a warm mug of tea into her hands, it smelled oddly nutty, but also pleasantly fruity.
And yes she felt it almost immediately when she sipped the mildly bitter concoction, the anxious knot in her shoulders started to wane, that was until Al-an revealed her assumption to be inaccurate.
"I think your assessment is inaccurate, I believe that creature we just witnessed or perhaps a similar variant of the lifeform was tracking Ryley shortly after the matriarch abducted you, had i known the danger it posed i would have ensured I disposed of it before our depature.." Al-an sighs in quiet frustration.
"Well, it's gone now..along with everything else." It only now occurred to Robin that they were probably the only ones left who knew what tragedies transpired on the planet before its destruction..
But something else was also nagging at the researcher's mind….
Something that her architect himself proposed before he left her side to aid Ryley, and frankly Robin had almost considered it too, given her bleak circumstances…but now after seeing what precursor blood was truly capable of, it certainly would have given the researcher second thoughts despite his assurence..
"About…that, can I ask you something Al? About something you said to me when I was sick.."
"….Yes." The way he lowers his eyeless face and shifts away tells her that Al-an was fully aware of what was to come, whether it was shame or something else Robin could practically feel the waves of his aversion to the topic at hand.
"You said you wanted to use your blood to cure me…that my bloodstream was exposed to it before, what did you mean?
Al-an makes a soft trilling noise, but fails to answer her immediately, instead her architect slowly closes the distance between them, his claw hooked the rim of the mug he gave her moments prior, peering down at the half filled mug with muted interest.
"Are you done with this..?" It was a request but poised in the way a question would be, simply put Al-an wanted it..
"Yeah, it's all yours…thanks for that. I think it helped.." Robin allowed passing him the half filled mug and watched with intrigue as her companion quickly drained it and set the cat engraved mug carefully aside.
"You..don't remember..do you?" When he finally spoke it was with timid resignation
"Stop being so damn sweet, Your giving me terrible impulses.." Robin snorted as she pressed another soft kiss to her architect's jaw, the soft content hum her affection earned her only further instigated her dotting.
"Impulses..?" Her architect asked softly tilting his head curiously, she could hear his intrigue but the poor precursor was far too distracted indulging in her attention then to pry any further into the less then innocent comment.
"Yes very invasive ones…" Robin laughed giving into the urge to kiss the side of his neck, trying her damnest to catch one of the anxious streaks of light racing over her carapace.
"Oh…Yes I believe I understand…" Al-an sighed, his claws contently playing in her long braids as he waited patiently for his human to get her fill of him.
"Oh..do you..?" Robin asked curiously.
"Yes, intrusive musings, I often experience these phenomenon when i encounter your coffee machine and contemplate my experiences with it.."
"Hahaha! What..?" Robin couldn't help herself, a mirth filled snort escapes her lips.
"Do you find my unfortunate encounter with your overwhelming bean stimulant amusing Robin..?"
Al-an huffed, a claw idly lifting her chin, angling her face up to meet his eyeless face.
"No..no..i just-" Robin was over taken by the laughter, made even more prominent when her architect blazed an incredulous yellow.
"It was not." Al-an moped broodingly.
"Okay, okay…i know" Robin snickered getting another soft kiss against her cheek for her indiscretion.
"You are still laughing. Perhaps i should recount some of your more questionable decisions in the past year…" Al-an sniffed, pinching her side gently.
"Don't be salty, that was one hundred percent your fault big guy." Robin squeaked with laughter, betting away her testy architect.
"Our vessels require very little salt, I am however experiencing a critical deficit in suger…" Al-an deadpanned rather urgently.
"You are..? No wait. Really Al-an!?" Robin wheezes equally appalled and amused by the terrible pick up line.
"Robin, please utilize haste, I require your aid, carry on." Al-an insisted, pressing forward for his demand.
"Holy sol, your rotten, fine you win." Robin huffed far more flustard then she rightfully should have been at the silly joke.
She didn't even try to stop the laugh the bubbled up when her architect gives a satisfactory hum.
Perhaps his ire was never truely directed at the unfortunate end point of his miscalculated hubris to begin with…
A realization quite worrisome…
Ryley's words had stoked his curiosity, the more he spoke about the leviathan they had kapt in captivity the clearer it was to see the hermit's grudge stimmed not only from the loss of his crew but the loss of the leviathen they had failed to free before the virus consumed them.
Still his confusion regarding the hermit's attachment to her offspring persisted, he had not sired them..?
Broodingly the architect tries to compare this form of distress to that inwhich he experienced when he was informed that kharaa had infested the seed gardens, corrupting and ultimately neutralizing all life..
But…it did not feel accurate enough, while the network in a whole mourned such catasprotic loss of light, generations smited within the blink of an eye.. Al-an realizes his despair was universal, as he did not lemant the loss of his progeny, simply the loss of their life in a whole.
Stoicism that was not shared by those within the network who had willingly partaken in breeding rituals, in hopes of preserving their genes.
Many expressed severe destress at the loss of their progeny as if they had somehow formed an instinctual attachment..
Perhaps the stress of such obligated procedures rendered the architect indifferent, and unable to imprint or mourn the brood he had lost…?
So he chooses a different perspective to compre it to, Robin's two trivalve companions, it was quite obvious she was fond of these little creatures and fully inteded to take them with her after confirming his world to be compatible with their likes..
But upon discovering their nest Robin had decided against such rash action, sacrificing their companio ship in respect to them and the brood they were rising..it was quite fascinating.
Robin had claimed this was because she loved them…Al-an was inclined to believe her, the bond betweem pet and it's beholder can often be expressed as seemingly maternal..
She had raised them as eggs..
Had Ryley adopted her offspring as pets, Or had be become their surrogate in her absence..?
I have rabid and insatiable curiosity, and i got lured to your ask box by your reblogs about wanting questions! :3
So:
1. What (if anything) are you currently writing that you are most excited about right now? (Can be anything!) what about it is fueling your creative spark? if you aren’t currently writing something, it can also be something you’re reading!
2. What was your favorite part of a Splash Across A Pale Sky (so far) that you’ve written? What part was the most fun to write? (Answer Can be the same for both!)
3. I love your original characters. They are absolutely fascinating, and viscerally beautiful. What is your inspiration/creative process? Because It’s been weeks, and the things you made me feel about Raahs still confuse me. /positive
4. Bonus! what’s your favorite part of being in any of the online communities you’re in? this question is very open ended on purpose, interpret it as you’d like and answer in a way that brings you the most joy!
I’ll stop there for now cause I’m the type of person who could ask someone questions all day and still be excited to ask more, but feel free to answer as many or few as you like! :3
Hehe thankies forthe questions! :D
A: I probably have a good 60+ wips in my wip folder executive dysfunction is my baby girl (and i don't want them), i have little free time so everything takes forever lol but I have been working to push out a oneshot based off one of my enemy mine au drabble! The next chapter of planet Marighettis and a update for an amongus fic! I am excited for the next chapter for Marighettis! Everything goes wrong fir everyone! :D
B: I have many favorite scenes!
From the flooding research post they found the three little lights in, to Al-an hurling Robin into the water, to his coffee high, the Lead chase through the woods! It was all so exciting! And so was Ryley's encounter with the rampent Elisskat! And Robin's confrontation with the Sentinel Leviathan/Omni pera/pineapple to emphis admission that she had indeed blindly attacked Ryley!
Bleeeerrgh i can't decide! Heh this series is filled with indulgent scenes!
C: Im very iffy about adding Ocs to fics based around canon character, its why i don't do it often, I mulled over Raahs for a long time! Im glad some like her the matriarch is one of my favorite ocs ( you've read) that we get to meet, i wanted something tarnished but not evil to help bleed out the gravity of human's blind empathy compared to precursor cold practical empathy.
Its tragic that much of Raahs's story doesn't have a place in this fic, but the mistakes that lead to this catastrophic ripple effect are clear enough. So it'll have to do!
Also who doesn't love pineapple! :D
D: most communities i tend to kind of a lurk and tend to float about, except for the sbz fandom, its always great seeing some poor soul sink into the fandom with us! Heheh
I love hearing about ocs and seeing folks fan characters! Seeing folks headcanons and drabbles! Its great all around uwu…of yeah and getting jumpscared by pregnant Ryley on my dash iykyk
