eeeksjdksj if your rqs are still open… your artstyle is so gorgeous and i’m such a sucker for grace being destroyed so maybe just rocky or simon gushing abt how cute he is while being tickled. ryland ‘can’t take compliments’ grace btw
ok i suck at dialog so this one is significantly more embarrassing than the rest of them </////3 to make up for this fact, i have drawn both rocky and simon ❤ hope it suffices ❤❤
op is a minor, please keep in mind when interacting!
summary: first part of potentially a series 👀 in which rocky and grace argue over which of them is more of an evil deadly monster. they're both space orks.
note: i need all the fics about the differences in their evolution stat. i love the hunting trope (ambush vs persistence) so much, i think it's such a fun idea.
I'm really confused.
The Hail Mary is not a big ship. It took me less than 20 minutes to explore every room after I first woke up - and that's with having forgotten to walk after not moving a muscle in over four years. Just 20 minutes.
I've been looking for Rocky for over two hours now.
"Rocky?" I call out into the dormitory that I've already checked three times.
I frown with my hands on my hips.
We both have our days when we really need our own space. For the most part, we'll usually respect it and leave the other be as well as we can, but in living quarters this small and with a roommate who can hear through walls, me-time is always more of a we-time. Surprisingly, it hasn't been too bad. We both know what the alternative is like, and I think that's given us enough perspective to not just be tolerant of each other's constant presence, but straight up clingy for it. Even this late in the game. So I'm beginning to feel small-to-medium amounts of disturbed. I might not be able to see through walls, but I've never had trouble finding him before-
"What the-!"
I snap my head around, eyes bouncing from spot to spot. I feel the hairs of my neck stand and the flesh of my arm pimple with goosebumps.
There's nothing there. Nobody there. No Rocky there. Rocky is the only person who could be on the ship. Heh.
"Okay, buddy. If you're trying to mess with me because of what I said, I'm sorry! It's not gonna work!" I call out, trying my best to keep my voice from betraying the unease I feel in my gut. I feel like I'm being watched.
Before his sudden disappearance, Rocky and I had a bit of a discussion over who, in our scenario, would be the horrific monster alien that poses an extinction threat to the other's species, and who would be the chum. We've tallied up the points so far and learned the terrifying histories of each other's evolution and special adaptations. It got more and more heated as we tied in counter with each other over and over. I'd win the balancing on one foot contest, he'd win the 'has five legs and has no need for stupid balance' contest. So on and so forth.
After a few hours of this, my blood was up. I (cockily) suggested performing a live demonstration of a perfect monster for him when we touch down on Erid. I may have said something about getting the entire Eridian race under my squishy and opposable thumb. Starting with Rocky's mother.
So now Rocky's missing. For the first hour, I worried I took it a step too far. Maybe your mom jokes are a line you just don't cross in Eridian culture, and I offended him so badly he took his new EVA suit out through the airlock because of how much space he needed from me. But now, I'm pretty sure he's messing with me. Because I've felt him watching me for a while. I just don't know where from.
It's really quiet on the ship. I've never known Rocky to be light-footed, and it's starting to get unbearable not being able to hear him. I'm about to ask Mary to start singing for me when-
All of the lights suddenly turn off, with Mary's voice piercing through the silent darkness. "Automatic lighting disabled."
Mm no. I hate this. "Uh, no no no. Lights back on, please?"
"Automatic lighting disabled. Manual override required." Her voice is so much louder in the dark.
"Manual-" I huff. "How am I supposed to manually override if I can't see anything?"
"The manual override is located in control-"
"Yes, Mary, I know." My voice wobbles in steadily growing terror. I slowly feel my way across the dormitory before I stop suddenly in the doorway - the long, black corridor in front of me.
Rocky is in the control room. That's how he did all this fudgery with the lights. My heart picks up speed, and my nerves assure me that something (Rocky! Rocky is the only other person on this ship!) will attack if I go up there. Gulp.
I back up a bit from the doorway, turning over my options in my head - which is working in significant overtime. I feel sweaty looking down the corridor, but I refuse to take my eyes off it.
Rocky is currently in the control room, but he switched the lights off like this on purpose. He knows how useless I am in the dark. And he can see through walls, so he knows exactly where I am right now and there would be no purpose in hiding. He's probably on his way to me right now, and I'm defenseless. Unless he's already at the end of the corridor just staring at me.
I squint down the corridor. Do I see his figure at the end of it? Well, whatever I'm seeing, it looks nothing like him. Too big, too still, too wrong.
My thoughts are starting to drift into stupid territory and my mind is playing tricks on me. I try to shake it off, wiping my sweaty palms on my pants and taking deep breaths. I know he's trying to scare me, so it's stupid that it's actually working. Rocky is my best friend. He's not a monster. He'd never really hurt me-
I hear the rapid sound of footsteps charging towards me from the end of the corridor. I scream, scrambling backwards as fast as I can. It's not fast enough. A shrieking invisible thing tackles me and I brace for-
A pillow softens the blow to my head from the ground. Once all my scream putters out, I wheeze from where Rocky is squeezing me tightly.
"Wh-whhhyy.." I gasp pathetically.
"Grace get too cocky. Needed to teach a lesson," Rocky's cheery, friendly voice chirps. It does good for soothing the terror bells still ringing through my head and body. So does the squeezing. "You were sooo scared. Did not know heart can get that fast!" he sings in joy.
"Ugh, whatever! I wasn't that scared," I grunt, trying to wriggle my arms free from the death hug. I can't help the small smile that forms in my relief. "I was more afraid that you were actually mad at me."
He titters at me. "You're lying. You're scared even now. Your body-nerve-system still think I will eat you," he shimmies his carapace onto my stomach, and I grunt and tense at the nuzzling. "Maybe will. Show who is the better monster."
"Ew!" I start to laugh stupidly - the energy built up from all the terror needing to be released somehow. "No, please! At least kill me first. Or start your process over there. Away from me."
My body-nerve-system has taken over and is wiggling uncontrollably, trying to avoid his consistent nuzzling. "Pf- stop it!" I snort.
"Why, question? Thought Grace not scared." He wiggles more emphatically.
"Ah- I'm not!" My knees knock against Rocky's back as my body tries and fails to curl in, my stomach feeling more sensitive the more he moves. "I'm worried your biology is going to take over and unload on accident, thinking it's dinner time. Okay- Rhhoc- hehehe- quuuit it!" I whine, embarrassed about not being able to hold back my giggling. He's doing this on purpose.
He trills a noise of offense. "You are disgusting. That could never happen. Eridians too dignified. Ripping apart prey must always come first." He moves my arms away from my body just enough to tickle my sides and, despite expecting it, I explode.
"AGH- No! hAhahaha!!" I can never really talk when he does this. What I'm trying to say is, no! hey! get off! but unfortunately all I can manage to get out is convulsive giggling. My arms snap in over and over to protect my sides, but they're blocked by his rock hands. I only succeed in bruising myself a little.
"Don't laugh," he says while laughing himself. "encourages hungry-feeling!"
Ugh. I never win this challenge. I hold my breath, clench everything, and put every ounce of willpower I have to try and contain my giggles. Surprisingly - still squirming and with my eyes squeezed shut - I almost manage it! Until Rocky moves further up into my ribs. I whimper and fall back into hysterics.
I try to flop around to deter his hands (too many hands!!! too many hands!!) but my torso can't move at all under his FAT body. My legs are free to kick in and out as much as they want at least, but it doesn't do anything to stop him either. I can't stop it.
I continue to strain, but my head falls back in resignation as I laugh. I regret it immediately. The position turns a desperate intake of breath into the loudest snort ever. Rocky stops then, but I hardly feel relief from it - he only stopped because he's laughing at me so hard that now he can barely breathe.
"G-gett offff..." I gasp through giggles. His laughter is making him shake over my stomach again, and I'm so hypersensitive that I can't stand it. I squirm to no avail.
"♫♪what♫noise♪♫♪~~!!" He dissolves back into his amusement without finishing his sentence. I burst out into full belly laughter again despite the heat in my cheeks. His giggles are so contagious. And his vibrations are still tickling me down to the bones. I think I might die. Atleast I'm taking Rocky down with me.
Mercifully, Rocky climbs off me after a minute. His legs are weakening from laughter and he doesn't want to crush me for real. I curl up the second I'm able to in a way-too-late reaction to preserve my vital organs from tickle torture.
"I see now," he giggles. "Sensitivity is good defense. You become so funny, nothing can eat you. Predators too busy laughing."
"Please be quiet," I groan. I take a steadying breath. "Alright, I admit it. You're scarier out of the two of us. You ticked all the boxes that scare humans the most. Silence, darkness, surprise attacks. You'd definitely be able to take over humanity before I can take over Erid. Your mom would destroy me."
"No," he sighs through his vents, and I frown in confusion. Rocky's not one to reject a win. "Grace scary too. Stealth is part of Eridian nature. Know how to stay silent. Not detectable," he shudders. "You detect anyway. Almost catch me many times with crazy light detectors. Scary."
I smile incredulously. Fascinating! "So, all that just for us to tie again?"
"Grace winning for now, actually. We move ticklish from weakness to strength," I gape at him, but he cuts me off. "Serious about good defense. Funny, funny, funny."
"What- that's not- it's.." I stutter helplessly. "You're ticklish too! You know what, I'm hunting you next time."
"Grace not stealthy. Cannot ever surprise Rocky."
"Humans don't hunt our prey like that anyway. We just keep following them until they get too tired to keep running," I lean in as Rocky shies away. "We get them in their sleep, you know. When they're the most vulnerable. You might hear me coming, but you won't be able to stop me."
"♫♪!" he shakes his carapace like he's snapping himself out of it, then rushes me to start poking my sides and stomach.
"He-hey!!!" I giggle and push at him.
"Grace not trick me," he trills, but I swear I detect notes of relief when he hears me laugh again. "Can not scare me. Grace is best friend. You are not monster."
For the Tickle Alphabet ask: C, D, K, & L for Ryland Grace please!
C: Chase | What are their chances in a chase, both as a lee and ler?
His chances are much better when he’s doing the chasing. He has this slow, casual gait that is somehow super menacing & it’s a mystery how he can catch up so fast (he just runs as soon as their back is turned) but when he’s the one being chased, he’s too giggly & nervous to get very far. Constantly checking over his shoulder & stumbling over his own feet
D: Death Spot | What is their most ticklish spot?
I feel like his tummy is his worst spot, he’s just so giggly & cute it feels so fitting
K: Killer Move | As a ler, do they have special skills to use against their lees and drive them crazy with?
Idk if this counts, but he LOVES to pretend he’s the tickle monster & hunt down his victims. He’ll growl & make silly noises & it never fails to make his victims squeal & laugh louder
L: Laughter | What does their laughter sound like when they are tickled?
He has such a happy, loud laugh & it’s literally the auditory equivalent of pure sunshine. Super giggly & his laughter gets a lil wheezy if you really get him going
summary: rocky pov - he wants to cuss. inspired by a post i saw where rocky is trying to call grace a little bitch
note: i know i said stratt or carl is next and they are 🤞right after this. also i know i already did this idea but... what if i just kept up a bunch of installments of them having tickle fights like this??? i fear i will not move on anytime soon.
BTW rocky is in his form fitting suit in this fic. i had a whole part written out about how he built the suit for Grace's birthday and got too excited to wait and built it way quicker than expected outta eagerness but. i couldn't find a way to make it fit 💔
~~~~~~~
Logically, I know Grace is not a child.
I startled when we first discussed age. I thought there must have been a mistranslation - or that Eridians were mistaken in their estimate of the time it takes for Earth to complete its rotation around Sol. But no - he assured me we were indeed precisely accurate. Grace is 38 Earth years old. Approximately 13,870 Earth rotations - though he says it's more, and must be nearing his 39th year soon. I understand why human culture marks days of their birth as special. I am sure Eridians would celebrate each year as well if our lives were as rare and fleeting. If incredible responsibilities were entrusted upon us at such a young age. If we accomplished so much in such a short time.
Being in Grace's presence, I find myself adapting more to his sentimentality and emotional physiology. Truthfully, I want to implement the human customs of birthday celebrations through all of Erid once we arrive. I realized just how rare and special life is while on this mission. I want to implement many, many, many of humanity's customs on Erid and turn my home into his.
Anyway, he is not a child, I know this. He is fully mature for his species. But damn it, he is only 38 years old! Those shit eaters let a baby sacrifice himself! A baby saved my life and my world!
Right now, too much power is in the hands of a baby.
"Not a baby, you butthead. I'm a full grown man. Been a full grown man twice over now, and some change. Humans reach adulthood at 18. I've told you this."
"Butthead? You are a baby. Will not even put my vulgar words in the computer," I sulk. I'm finally starting to adapt to English's use of pronouns in their language. I believe the least he could do is translate my words properly.
"I won't let your bad habits rub off on me," he says. Ironic, since I'd say that specific turn of phrase sounds quite vulgar. "You're a bad influence."
"You are stupid! Stubborn! Like a baby," I say, oddly agitated at being called a bad influence. Because like I said, I have adapted so heavily to Grace since boarding the Hail Mary. I enjoy his emotional processing. I enjoy his silly ways of communication, often so confusing in how far off the direct translation is. I find myself speaking like him and acting like him and I am certain I will return home as the strangest Eridian of all time. More than I already was. "I am older. Smarter. You must listen to my influence, instead of influencing all over me, all of the time!"
I must have said something incorrectly somehow, because his happy mouth stretches and huffs in amusement. I can't believe I ever used to be disturbed by that action. It is incredibly endearing how obviously humans wear their emotions, and all agitation I previously had warms away at the sound everytime.
Truly, I will be a freak to all Eridians. Luckily, I am still able to keep my emotions from.. secreting out of me better than my friend, so I pretend I am still annoyed. Mostly pretend; I really fucking want to swear.
"You are purposely ignoring important culture. Refusing to learn. Future of Erid's education at risk because you are stupid and stubborn," Grace's face twists as my words reach him the way I intend. "Teach me English swear words, baby. Obey your senior," I stomp.
"I taught you stupid and stubborn, didn't I? Isn't that enough?" Grace sticks his disgusting tongue out at me over his computer - crude even on Earth - and I shout and cringe backwards.
"Childish! You can do an awful thing like that, and I cannot even call you a little bitch?"
"I'm sorry, what was that? Didn't catch that last part."
"Oh, fuck you! I will add it myself!" I run up to him to grab at the computer, but he stands and holds it above my reach. I curse again - how can a creature of just 38 years be so tall?
And then he sticks his tongue out at me again, but this time, he blows, creating the worst sound in all of existence.
I will show him scary space monster. I will show him Rocky of Balboa.
"Give it to me or I will tickle." I wave two 'jazz' hands near him, but in threat this time. He is incredibly weak to this and already begins giggling before touching him, his arms dropping halfway down before he catches himself.
"You c-hhh-can't just do that every time you don't get what you want. That's abuSI-I-IVE!!"
He drops to the floor laughing instantly when I squish his sides, as he typically does, but he is stubborn stubborn stubborn today. He hugs the thinking machine under him protectively, leaving the rest of himself exposed even knowing what will happen. All fine with me - his malleable flesh is tremendously touch-satisfying. As are his reactions. I wonder if human brain chemicals are infectious to my species. The laughter certainly is.
His giggles break into whiny shouts as I crawl now three of my hands up and down the sides of his back. His grip is loosening on the computer, and I could easily grab it now, but I don't go for it just yet.
"Baby, baby, baby! Let me swear, and Grace will not suffer."
"Never!" A sudden strength overtakes him, and he manages to crawl away. I grip an ankle quickly and he falls in his escape, and I briefly worry the thinking machine is damaged before I notice it is still secure in his arms. However, he suddenly struggles harder and his heart rate picks up speed in panic.
"Grace, question?" I say with concern. His lower appendage rolls around erratically, and I almost let go in fear he will hurt himself. But then his giggles are back, and I have not touched him!
"Nonono-! Don't - not there! Rocky!"
Hmm.
He has not told me about this. I tilt my carapace at him and tickle on his lower appendage. I do it lightly, not like I normally do, just in case I am wrong and this action will harm him too much.
"NNN-!" He seizes for a second before bursting into sound. He abandons the computer in an effort to pull his leg out instead. I am strong and he cannot do this - he just pulls the rest of his body closer. What a reaction! Just from light touch! How can he stand on them? Is this what socks and shoes are for, so humans do not get tickled all the time? Why is their evolution so inconvenient?
"STOP! STOHOOP. HEREHEREHERE - YOU WIN, ครรђ๏ɭє!" I let go immediately. Grace draws his legs into a ball. He continues to laugh tiredly - I wonder if humans are so sensitive, they can feel a tickle both before it happens and after? I make a note to ask about this and all my other questions.
Wait. That last word. I have not heard it before!
"Did Grace just say bad word, question?"
His smile is very resonant when he says, "Yes. ครรђ๏ɭє. You can look up the meaning yourself." He hands the computer to me.
I trill, feeling very accomplished and influential. I start searching and... wait. There are already many, many, many Eridian bad words inputted into the translation code!
"What is this, question?"
"I've been adding them to our library as I heard them, of course. I wouldn't actually keep them out just because I don't use them." What?!
"Then why..." Ohh. I see. I see how it is.
I scramble on top of him again, ignoring any and all pleas. Gleefully, I sing all the words I know he understands.
Simon getting chin scratches and leaning into it like a ticklish, touch starved puppy. OouuuuUUUUGHHHH.
this can be a request if you truly in your soul feel like drawing it, but no pressure at all. I just felt the need to share.
Also your art deserves to be in the louvre. Thank you for the food you provide 🗣️
I SUBSCRIBE TO THIS IDEA SO HARD. OUGH.YOU ARE SO CORRECT this was a really quick doodle so idont feel like ive encapsulated this idea but. perhaps i will return to it in the future
op is a minor, please keep in mind when interacting
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 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷
ryland "it tickles!!" grace
op is a minor, please keep in mind when interacting!
