writing is so funny because i could write nonstop for 9hrs and then hit a block where im like "how do i transition between this moment and the next?" and then i just dont touch it for 6 months
I am a very big fan of bloodymary, especially AUs in which Simon is part of the initial/replacement crew of the Hail Mary. I have no shade to throw to those, and in fact relish the ones that come across my dash.
however
I do wonder why the general consensus for “Simon is part of the crew” fanwork has Simon as the engineer rather than the pilot.
Bear with me under the cut: (spoilers but yknow obviously)
- Simon is shown to be incredibly good with limited information for his piloting of the SM-13. (His map extensions, lack of crashes that aren’t outside his control, not even any “whoops, too far” backtracking, the hand thing he does, etc)
- Simon was not trained for use of the SM-13. At all. And yet by a few hours in, he’s capable and confident enough to leave a book on the accelerator while he takes pictures or checks things.
- Simon didn’t have much to fix on the SM-13. Sure, the fires didn’t help, and he did all that stuff with the terminal, and repairing the electrical systems, but that was more… macgyvering. Fire extinguisher for the fires, doing what he was told by the note (cross the wires) and while restarting the generator was good, it was once again listed in the manuals, proving Simon is smart, but that doesn’t exactly make him an engineer.
From a Bloodymary/Hail Mary standpoint, I can see how having a pilot might change the dynamics, (and I personally vibe with having Colt Seavers [The Fall Guy] because I think giving Ryland a twin is funny) but pilot Simon honestly wouldn’t change the stakes as much.
With an added Engineer in Simon, you gain:
1. A chance for funny moments about calculating voltage in equipment despite lack of memory, akin to Rylands “Why do I know that” fuel calc moment from the movie.
2. The chance to jury-rig more funny xenonite equipment and bonding interactions with Also Engineer Rocky (or Alien Scientist Adrian if that’s your jam for a swap au).
3. Ryland having a gay panic over Simon crawling out of a duct shirtless after doing the hard work of shop repair.
4. The dramatics of not having a pilot for the Astrophage Collection scene around planet Adrian, but you lose out on the dramatics of the astrophage leak or fuel tank blowout.
With Pilot Simon, you gain:
1. Funny moments where Simon calculates zero-g velocities, angles in the dark, or precise speed calcs, and asks how he knows that, akin to Rylands fuel calc moment.
2. Group Cohesion in Pilot Simon, Scientist Ryland, and Engineer Rocky, with plenty of Simon getting to yell at them during high-stress moments like how he yells at Ellie and at the speaker in Iron Lung.
3. Ryland having a gay panic about getting caught bridal-style by aware-of-zero-g-physics-and-also-strong-and-shirtless-Simon after getting launched across the ship by some science mishap once gravity is off.
4. STILL pilot dramatics as Simon hits some Initial D shit to drift them out of Adrian’s orbit.
Anyway that’s my piece, I think he’d do better as a pilot but then again I’m not the one writing the fics.
Again, no hate to the engineer Simon fics, they’re great.
tbh a lot of my advice boils down to “hey you know that terrible horrible looming thing you’re doing your best to avoid and distract and escape as much as possible but no matter what you do it just keeps looming and looming and ruining your life”
are you sensitive to the heat? heatwave tips ahead from your resident bedbound blogger. obviously drink water and get fresh air yadda yadda we already know that. but ALSO:
wear light colours, they basically bounce light n heat away whereas dark clothes absorb heat. also wear looser clothes
apply cold packs on the back of the neck, wrists, and ur stomach which is where your biggest artery is. if you cool the blood you cool the body
try positions where each limb is in minimal contact with other limbs if that makes sense. think starfish, open palms, spacious. you want to minmise the amount of skin touching other skin. ur own body tends to warm itself up whether you want it to or not
check more frequently for pressure sores if youre a wheelchair user, couchbound, or bedbound. sweat is a risk factor for pressure injuries
eat foods with high water content
splash water on the back of the neck and wrists
if the air temperature is above 35c /95f then a fan will NOT help you. try other cooling measures
if it’s humid like if you’re in the uk like me then try a dehumidifier. the humidity is part of what makes uk heat dangerous even when the temperature isn’t that high
sorry for being annoying [remembers that practicing gratitude instead of shame is better for my mental health and my relationships] thank you for letting me be annoying with you
dededos
romaincrisis
kianamaiart
blakekathryn
stormborns
