some ryland grace head cannons cause it’s currently 3am and i can’t sleep
* maybe self indulgent but grace lovessss a curvy woman
* he tends to lean more towards a younger woman, not too young like 23-30, he loves someone who’s bold, energetic, and extroverted
* he only swears during sex
* hands ALWAYS on your waist, when he’s eating you out pining you down, when you’re on top and he’s guiding you, or when he’s on top keeping you in place when he fucks you particularly hard after a long day
* typically has more female friends
*got a roommate when times were tough financially, she was a few years post graduation with a degree in history and he pretty much instantly fell for her
* the most attentive person ever, from the moment you step through the door he can tell how’s your day been from just the way you carry yourself, if it’s not been a good one he’ll excuse himself to the shops to get ingredients to cook your favourite meal
content pure fluff, established relationship, rylands thoughts
A/N yes i got this idea from ASMR car ride home videos sue me, like 0 capitals cause im writing this one on my phone before bed
you’d just got finished with hanging out with yours and rylands friends, going out for a lovely dinner and catch up. everyone was so busy now, some couples starting to have children, some newly married and some who had even moved away for work. that’s what made tonight feel extra special, everyone was back together again. you had gone out for food at your local burger restaurant, nothing too fancy, just somewhere familiar to reminisce on old memories and to laugh loudly without feeling like a sore thumb sticking out. it was late as those without children decided to stay for a coffee and cake before getting chucked out at closing time. now you were on your way back home, ryland driving, holding hands with your lover and you staring out the window with a content smile on your face.
“nice night, huh?” ryland said softy. you just hummed in response, not because you didn’t want to talk but because you didn’t want this moment to end. feeling too comfortable you drifted off to sleep.
ryland noticed how the grip your hand had in his loosened a tad, your consciousness not wanting to let him go fully, and the way your body sunk into the leather seats of his car. he glanced over at you and when he noticed your state he smiled. smiled knowing that you felt so comfortable around him, that you trusted him to drive you home, that he had finally met the one. smiled knowing that you’re all his.
he felt like his heart swelled up hundred times the size, and a tear slipped from the corner of his eye, he was truly in love.
ryland grace loves you. and in that moment he swore to himself he was never letting you go
being a teacher myself, the part where ryland grace begs for more astrophage to be able to protect his children who are his students hit me so deep. like yes i would do anything for those five year olds even if they do drive me up the wall constantly
Summary after dropping out of beauty school, you feel lost and head to a bar where you reconnect with an old coworker
Content drinking, suggested sex, swearing, age gap (reader is early 20s)
A/n wrote this because im literally obsessed with ryland grace and personally feeling lost with my career choices too. This is very self indulgent. Let me know if you want part 2
How could you be so stupid to think quitting your job as an English teacher to join beauty school was ever a good idea? You never even had a passion for cosmetics! You weren’t even the girl everyone asked to do braids for them in school! English was your passion and you had one bad day at school and now everything ruined. Way to go y/n. Now you’re jobless and even more embarrassingly will have to tell people that you dropped out of beauty school. You felt defeated, lost in what to do. You were sat at home, overthinking everything. Overthinking if English was your passion, if teaching was your passion. Is there a career that’s made for you? And how will you ever find it? There’s millions of jobs out there you cant spend your whole life bouncing between jobs just trying to find one that vaguely interests you. But teaching must’ve interested you somewhat, why else would you’ve stayed there for three years? It certainly was not the pay. You needed a distraction and quick.
And that’s how you ended up in the bar. Alone.
Wow you never thought you’d be one of those people. You know the type of people who are regulars at their local dive bar, alone at the bar swirling a drink in their hand looking dispairlingly off into the distance. The type of person you’d notice with your friends and say, “i hope im not like that when im older.” But surprise older is now and you’re only 24. You internally groan at the predicament you’ve ended up in with no one to blame but yourself. The bartender must’ve took notice of this look they’ve become familiarised over the years and got you another drink which you swiftly downed. You looked around, there was one table with a bunch of girls. Girls who reminded you of yourself before all of this, no cares in the world chatting with their friends. Where did it all go wrong for you? A new round of drinks arrived at their table at the same time the bartender placed a new drink in front of you. Maybe not much has changed then. Maybe there is still some hope for you. You need to get out of this end all be all mindset now. But its too late, you’re a few too many drinks in for that currently. Tomorrow will be different you decide, tomorrow you will contact the school and ask if there’s any positions open for you even if its just as a sub. But for now you will continue to drown your sorrows in alcohol. The entrance doors swung open and it was almost like a sign from god, an old coworker of yours walked in and slumped down in a stool from the other end of the bar to you. You guess the blues are hitting everyone tonight you thought. Everyone but those girls giggling in the corner, gossiping about people in their lectures. You so badly wanted to get up and say to them, “Cherish this moment! It wont last long. In a couple years you’ll be me, sitting in a bar all alone with no chance of a future.” But you didnt, instead you sat there nursing your new drink. You stared at your coworker from across the bar, he was called ryland grace and you had actually been quite good friends throughout your time teaching. You’d spent most lunch times together, offered to supervise the canteen together, chaperoned field trips together. You even helped each other lesson plan despite doing different subjects, but you found that your brains worked similarly, once a term you even found time to merge your lessons together and do a science/ English hybrid lesson for your students. Your class all loved it. Enamoured by Dr Graces teaching style, the way he was so passionate about science, especially space, and taught the students in a way that wasn’t too much where they would snide and call it cringe but in a way which made them also indulge into his passion. You couldnt help but sit at the sides and be in awe at his teaching methods too during his part of the lesson. You would ask him for tips on how he does it but he would look deep into your eyes sincerely and tell you that you dont need it and your perfect the way you are. You knew he meant in the sense of teaching but you couldn’t help but let your brain interpret that in any way. Ryland was older than you by a little more than twenty years but he was never condescending or infatalized you, most of the times you forgot about the age difference. And now you were here looking at him from afar, he was deep into writing notes, eye brows furrowed, glassed gently resting on the tip on his nose and a cardigan hanging loosely on his frame. He might look troubled but at least he’s got his life together. That makes one of you!
After a few minutes, the drinks and boredom were starting to hit you. The drinks more than anything were starting to affect your bladder so you got up and headed off to the toilet. You got into one of the stalls, unzipped the fly to your jeans and sat on the toilet. And a noise came out of you that you had been trying to suppress, a sob. You kept your mouth closed trying not to make too much noise but then another came, and then another. And before you know it you were full on bawling in this grimy, dirty toilet. The door to the toilets swung open hitting the wall with a bang but you didnt hear it, sounds of your cries flooding your ear drums. You didn’t even realise someone was there until they spoke.
“Erm hello, are you okay?” The girl slurred out, you recognised her voice from outside, one of the happy go lucky girl group members.
“Oh, yeah. Sorry. Just a tough day.” You responded, wrapping some toilet roll around your hand to clean yourself up and blow your nose.
“Sorry to hear about that,” her words might have sounded sympathetic but her tone was anything but. In your low spirits and drunk brain yourself you didnt notice.
You flushed the toilet and made your way over to the sink, began washing your hands, all while rambling, “Don’t be sorry. Not your fault. Totallyyyy my fault. I quit my stable teaching job to go to beauty school cause i was scared of committing to teaching but turns out I can’t even commit to doing someone’s fucking hair for an hour. Im a stupid woman who has no future and has fucked everything up like always and now im lost and i so wish i was you right now. Young, beautiful, no cares. Please take care of your life.” You finally stopped and caught your breath.
The girl just looked at you unamused. She had no expression in her eyes and you couldn’t tell if it was her drinks or if he truly didnt care, until she scoffed and said blankly, “I asked if you’re okay, not for your whole life story,” and left the bathroom.
You sighed and left too after a second. When you walked past her table to get back to your seat, she loudly said to her friends, “That old teacher was crying in the bathroom like a loser, telling me how she’s a failure like why would i even care.”
“How pathetic” one of her other friends chimed in.
Their conversation was loud enough for the whole bar to hear and follow you to your seat with their eyes. Brilliant! You slumped and put your head on the bar. Wonderful, not only did you feel lame but now the whole bar does too and now you’re also old. The tears started to fall again and before you could sit up to wipe them you heard a scrape of a bar stool next to you and a voice spoke. God you really hoped this wasn’t one of the bitches coming over to torment you. You kept your head down, too humiliated to look up and see who was awaiting you.
“Y/n?”
Fuck. It was Ryland
He spoke again, “How are you? Haven’t seen you in so long”
You just grumbled, way too embarrassed to show your face.
“You dont have to look at me. Just thought id come over and make sure you’re okay,” god why is he so nice, “I’ve erm, missed you, you know? Been bored at work without anyone to hang out with at lunch. Even my students have missed you, they asked where you went but i didnt know what to say, you didnt tell anyone what you were going to do when you quit. But its nice to see again,” your head was still down, but his soft, slow deep voice calmed you and the tears had stopped, “If you dont want me to bother you i can leave. I understand. But ill be just over there if you want to talk,” All his words sounded calculated like he didnt want to hurt you. You heard him start standing up and you dont think you’ve ever spoken so quickly.
“No please stay,” you begged lifting your head, he sat back down, his eye glistening slightly at what you hoped was the idea of you wanting him to be near you. You began to sob again and collapsed into his chest, “Please. I feel so alone. I need to be near someone right now. I need to be near you,” you couldn’t believe you just said that, how direct you were.
But he stayed and wrapped his toned arms around you and stoked your hair, whispering into your ear, “It’s fine. Im here. You’re okay kid.”
The nickname felt like a punch to the gut. He always called you kid never in a patronising way but it made you hope deep down that he really didnt see you as young, immature and inexperienced. But this was always a thought you were too scared to explore so instead you pushed it down far away and that’s what you did now too, just happy to have a friend in this time of need. He continued to embrace you and only let go when you broke apart the hug.
Grace was also so aware and emotionally smart, which was evident in this interaction, he knew not to push you into explaining whats going on so he took the lead in the conversation, talking about this new thesis he’s writing. To be honest you didnt understand it much, science not being your forte but you let him carry on rambling that made your heart miss a bit. You found his nerdiness endearing and comforting. It was then you realised this was your why. This is why you carried on teaching at the school. And maybe also the reason you left. The realisation hit you like a freight train at once in that moment. You left because you were afraid of what you were feeling and exhausted for pushing down your feelings. Exhausted from your brain exploring whys and whats when you tried to sleep. What would happen if you confessed your feelings to him? Does he even like you or does he really see you as a ‘kid’? Why do you feel so strongly attracted to him? Well that was an obvious one. It was Dr grace for goodness sake!
After the conversation flowed for just over an hour, he asked the dreaded question, “So really, kid, what has happened?”
You closed your eyes and sighed, preparing yourself to be weak and vulnerable. You told him all that you felt, how you felt lost in life, alone, a failure. All the things you told the girl in the bathroom but to actual listening ears this time. He didnt interrupt you once, just resting his elbow on the bar and his head in his palm with a gentle enamoured smile on his face.
“And yeah, tomorrow im going back to our school and going to ask if there’s a position open,” you finished taking a deep breathe and a swig of your drink which he done too, your tears stopping now.
After swallowing his mouthful and swiping the corners of his mouth with the pads of his thumbs, he leaned in close, hand on your thigh. You had never been this close to Ryland before, this was new territory. But he was just being a friend, just showing that he cared, being a grounding tool. Right? Right. You had decided. But you couldn’t help but look into his eyes and everyone now and then glance to his lips. You could’ve sworn he looked at your lips too.
“Y/n, you’re amazing, incredible really. You have no right to take my advice, but i strongly advise you come back to work. We all missed you and plus my students are begging for another one of our joint lessons,” classic Ryland, never being able to stay completely serious.
You dipped your head and giggled, “Okay, fine, ill 100% come back.”
You couldn’t believe what happened next. Ryland hooked his thumb under your chin and lifted up your head, “Huh? What was that? I couldn’t hear you,” He jestered but there was something more to it with the way his voice dropped an octave. You cant be making this up, the evidence was right in front of you, touching you.
“I said, lets get out of here,” you whispered breathless.
And before you knew it you were back his place. It wasn’t the tidiest, it was cluttered but thoughtfully cluttered. National Geographic copies strung out on the coffee table in front of his brown corduroy sofa with his blazer jacket strung out over one the arms. Stacks of papers, tests and homework about the place and a telescope pointing out the window. Once you’d taken in the sight you turned back to him and watched him lock his door while you strode over towards him.
“Sorry its not perfect but its home-“
“Shut up,” you cut him off, not sure on where this confidence has come from and smashed your lips onto his. He froze up underneath you and you pulled away, afraid you’d done the wrong thing but before you could apologise, he kissed you this time, more gente than you did.
After a few slow kisses he pulled back, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose and said in his usual anxious way, “Wow- okay, this is really happening,” and he leaned in again with more urgency this time. One arm wrapping around your waist bringing you closer to his body and the other around the back of your neck and into your hair. You could feel his muscles underneath you, something that was shocking, underneath his suits he wore to teach you would’ve never expected your nerdy, meek coworker to be so built. You could feel his confidence growing and he pulled you closer to his body, feeling him slowly rut into you but once again he stopped. “Are you sure you want to do this? I want to do this! But i dont want to pressure you into this. Whatever this is! Please dont think i assume this will lead to sex! I want it to!” You giggled at his school boy nerves, “What i mean is we’ve both had lots to drink and i dont want either of us to regret this in the morning. Although im sure i wont!”
You could tell he was about to start rambling again and would’ve stop until he had your answer, his was clear the way his hands hadn’t moved from their prior positions, you shut him up with a gentle kiss and then resting your forehead again his said, “Please. You’re my why.”
i love painfully aware ryland grace, like he’s aware when he’s rambling too much or realised he’s saying a fact no one cares about but he can’t help himself so trails off slowly. like the one scene when he tells the scientists the centrifuge butter fact and slows down when he realises it’s unnecessary and leans his head on the door frame, love that nerdy dork
content tears, lots of tears, from both ryland and reader
A/N inspired by that wonderful tiktok i posted on my blog the other day, i love my men crying xxx (barely any capitals cause im writing this on my phone sorry!) also first part is sooo long and then i got lazy 🤭😛
my requests are always open!
@otterlylee
who would like a part 2????? i have so many more ideas
(not proof read)
ryland grace who had a particular bad day at work. he can get into his head a lot about his ability to teach, he’s amazing and a perfect role model to his pupils but a lot of the times he doesn’t see it. this day multiple students asked him if the world is going to end and they’ve seen stuff in the tv about the world dying. it was also the day he was teaching a particularly hard topic which the students were struggling to retain any knowledge with.
you were in the kitchen baking some cookies for you and ryland and a few extra for him to leave in the staff room when he arrived home. his shoulders were slacked and his head low as he dropped his work bag off at the door carelessly and mumbled a, “hey,” and headed to your shared room. you immediately abandoned the sweet treat and headed towards him, this behaviour was unusual and you knew you needed to be there for him.
he was untying his tie as you walked in and kicking off his shoes with his back turned to the door, “hey, ry, wanna talk?” you asked softly
“no no, i’m fine,” he turned around and smiled weakly, planting a kiss on your cheek, “how was your day?”
you put a firm hand into his arm, “i’m not answering that until you tell me what’s bothering you.”
“nothings bothering me, i promise,” he ran his hand along your side trying to really sell his act, but his sullen eyes and lips that refused to stay perked for long said otherwise.
“come on ryland,” you led him to sit down on the end of the bed with you, “i know something’s wrong just talk to me. Please?”
“okay fine. i started teaching my class about homeostasis today and i tried everything but they just weren’t getting it. i tried fun games, worksheets, youtube videos, everything and still no one could tell me one fact by the end of it. i don’t know. maybe im not that good of a teacher.” he admitted vulnerably
“ryland. promise me you’ll never say that again. you are fantastic and one bad day doesn’t define your whole career,” you could see his eyes becoming glossy, “how about later we sit down together and do a lesson plan. i can help you rephrase different things that might help the class understand it better. sound like a plan?” you offered also having a degree in molecular biology.
“yeah i’d like that,” he smiled but again he frowned, “but- but today they said something else to me. a lot of them did,” he looked up at you, “they erm asked me about the sun. said they’re parents keep watching news clips about it and they’re worried that- that they’re going to die,” his voice started to quiver and break, he swallowed back the lump in his throat and continued, “they asked me if it’s true. and i mean what do i say to that? i can’t tell them that yes it is true and that there is a possibility the world could end in the next thirty years,” he fully broke down and you took him into your arms, softly stroking his hair, “but i also can’t lie to them. i don’t know what to do. i can’t disappoint them like that, fill them with dread.”
“it’s okay ryland. whatever you say will be difficult,” you felt yourself getting choked up now, “but you have to say the truth, it’s not easy i know. but it’s out of your control,” you soothed him with your gentle voice and hand rubbing his back. he let out little hums to let you know he’s listening. “you’re so strong ryland, and your students love you, they’d appreciate the honesty that i bet they won’t get at home if they ask. you’re their hero.”
“i love you, just keep talking please.”
“and you can explain the astrophage to them and tau ceti-“
he cut you off, and looked up at you, “no not about that. anything else please. just need to hear your voice.”
ryland grace who one day didn’t come home from work at his usual time. you gave him benefit of the doubt and assumed he was staying late to mark. but then two hours went past and he never stayed that long not without messaging messaging you. but again you pushed all worry deep down and came to the conclusion he was busy with parents evening and you must’ve forgot. simple mistake from you, right? you checked the calendar but it was empty. the pit returned to your stomach, and you become sick with worry but let rationality return to your brain and called the principle.
after a torturously long ten seconds of ringing a voice from the other side of the phone spoke, “Hello, this is Mrs Birnir from Grover Cleaveland Middle School, how can i help?”
“Hi Mrs Birnir, this is y/n y/l/n,” your voice shook, sick with worry.
“Oh Hi y/n, how are you sweetie?” You’ve met the principle a few times, and she was a sweet soul, someone who was clearly made for working with children, for a second her honey voice calmed you down.
“Yeah… Yeah i’m good…” you tried to lie
“Are you sure, honey?”
“Well, erm, i was wondering if you knew if ryland was still at work, he hasn’t- he hasn’t come home yet,” you stuttered out, anxious for the answer.
“Im sorry sweetie, he’s not i just locked up the building, he did leave his bike behind which is strange, and i always make sure im the last-“
“Okay bye thank you,” you abruptly hung up the phone, adrenaline running through your veins and tears streaming down your cheeks. as you wiped away the hot tears with the corner of your sleeve you dialled what seemed to be the only logical number. 911.
after more tears and a near panic attack, you explained to the dispatcher how your boyfriend hadn’t returned home and left his bike at work, when you’d given her his name she froze and immediately put you on the phone with someone else. never in a million years would you’ve guessed what they were about to tell you.
the woman you were now talking to had a strong dutch accent and she explained to you calmly, “Miss y/l/n, Dr Grace is currently in an undisclosed location, helping with an important matter,” as if that explanation explained everything!
“ Is- is he safe?” you asked the one question that had been weighing on your heart heavily.
“For now, yes.”
another sob released deep from within you, “for- for now?”
“Yes Miss.”
“Well can i see him?”
“I’m sorry but this is highly confidential, that will not be possible,” the way her voice was so calm and blase around the whole situation angered you. what was so normal about your boyfriend being essentially kidnapped, and being forced to work for the government?
“No. You will tell me where he is, i don’t care how i get there but i am seeing him. You can kidnap me just like you did him and send me there. Blindfold me for all i care, you don’t have to me his location just take me there like you did him!” you voice raised, hoarse from tears and rage.
“I admire your bravery Miss y/l/n,” and with that she hung up.
was that a yes? a no? is this it? are you never going to see your boyfriend again? just like that your relationship is over just because a woman with an ungodly amount of power says so? you paced up and down your apartment, thinking of all these questions that will forever be unanswered. about an hour after you’d calmed down and sat on your sofa watching yours and ryland a favour show, there was a firm knock on the door.
“Ugh could someone possible want now!?” you childishly stomped towards the door, later you would be embarrassed by your toddler attitude but for now it was justifiable.
Before you stood a large man, twice your age, shades on and a badge you didn’t recognise- clearly security. “Miss y/l/n, Stratt ordered me to get you, said you demanded it,” and with that another man appeared in a lab coat and stuck a needle in your arm- looking back definitely illegal.
You don’t know how longs it’s been but you woke up in a tiny bed, smaller than a single, the kind of bed you get given on a school residential trip. you didn’t have the strength to open your eyes yet but you felt the familiar, comforting touch of someone touching your hair and whispering something, incoherent to you. once you gained more consciousness, you realised who was beside you. with eyes still unable to open, a tear slipped from your lashes.
“it’s okay baby, i’m here. your here now. i’m so sorry about this. i didn’t know i promise,” ryland wiped your cheek with the pad of his thumb as he let his own tears fall down.
