There are a number of great discord servers for Murderbot Diaries (book series) fans, each with a little different characteristics.
Murderbot Transit Hub was created as a beginner-friendly place for those new to both fandom and discord/communities. We have separate channels for each book so that people who only started reading can join the discussion without any fear of spoilers. We also act like a hub station to other servers.
We've been running a weekly audio-book listen-along (Kevin R Free version) since the launch back in September 2024. We are shortly starting System Collapse, and plan to move on to the upcoming Platform Decay (to be published on May 5, 2026). Our listen-along event is pretty relaxed. You can choose to just passively listen or you can also share your reactions in text channels. (Thus, no need to use the microphone)
You are most welcome to join us.
A beginner-friendly discord server for The Murderbot Diaries fans! All are welcome! | 196 members
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This is the Veil Nebula, which Hubble saw on July 1, 2020.
Have you ever looked up what our Hubble Space Telescope saw on your birthday? (Or your anniversary, or your pet's adoption day, or...)
We've given our popular interactive page a new look — and, just as importantly, it now shows you five different cosmic sights Hubble was checking out on the day that you picked.
When ART asks why Murderbot claimed constructs and bots couldn't trust each other, Murderbot says:
“Because we both have to follow human orders. A human could tell you to purge my memory. A human could tell me to destroy your systems.”
ART doesn't deny it, and instead it simply says, "There are no humans here now"
Which was a powerful statement that MB couldn't really argue against.
But realistically, ART could probably say no to an order from its humans, if, for example, it thought that the human who gave it the order might have been compromised in anyway. Also, we all know how manipulative ART could be.
But putting super-MIs like ART or its class of ships aside, do you think bots (not those whom Murderbot considers barely sentient) generally have enough self awareness to want to do decision-making themselves?
Like, you ask Jollybaby or Tellus to do some job and they go, "I don't wanna!" (which would be quite funny)
Discord Red Flags: Signs Your Community Isn’t Healthy
[Summary of this post]
This is a guide to common warning signs in Discord communities, including (1) toxic positivity, (2) gaslighting, (3) tone policing, (4) derailment, (5) groupthink, and (6) lack of transparency. It explains how these behaviours show up in online spaces, why they are harmful, and how to recognise when a server’s culture is becoming unhealthy. It may also help moderators and community leaders reflect on whether their server shows any of these patterns and consider healthier approaches.
Discord is a wonderful tool for bringing people together. Large servers can become lively communities where people from all over the world casually drop in – someone shares a picture of their lunch while someone else says goodnight. These spaces can feel familiar and fun.
But even in friendly communities, server culture can slowly turn sour. Sometimes people contribute to a harmful environment without realising it, genuinely believing they are helping. Other times, the harm is subtle enough that many members stay oblivious while a few begin to feel uncomfortable.
When you get to know people on a server, it can become difficult to acknowledge that something is wrong. You might find yourself becoming a bystander, or if you’re negatively affected, you might start doubting your own perception and feeling increasingly distressed.
To avoid that spiral, it helps to recognise early warning signs of an unhealthy server environment. Below is a summary of common red flags, based on personal research and guidance from Discord’s own Safety Center, as well as other sources.
[Red Flags to Watch Out For]
1. Toxic Positivity
Toxic Positivity is defined as the pressure to maintain a positive atmosphere by suppressing or dismissing negative emotions, concerns, or criticism, even when those criticisms are valid or necessary. (MedicalNewsToday, 2021; Psychology Today, 2025; Verywell Mind, 2026a) While a positive outlook is considered to be good for mental health in general, it can become harmful by invalidating the individual's genuine emotions, resulting in experiencing guilt and shame, leading to avoidance of authentic emotion (Verywell Mind, 2026a)
[Toxic Positivity in Discord Communities]
Negative opinions about characters, storylines, or community issues are discouraged or shut down.
Difficult topics (e.g., racism, misogyny, harmful behaviour) are avoided to “maintain civility.”
Criticism is reframed as “drama,” “negativity,” or “hurting the feelings of people who are there for fun,” sometimes using cutesy or infantilising language (e.g., “yucking someone’s yum”).
Triggers are sometimes dismissed as mere “squicks,” minimising the seriousness of someone’s trauma response.
Supportive‑sounding or therapeutic language is used to shut down criticism instead of engaging with the concern.
[Why this matters]
This becomes harmful if the fandoms use "positivity" as a shield:
to protect specific characters, narratives, or server members above others
to avoid all forms of conflicts including those that are necessary (discussion) for growth or constructive change
to maintain a curated image of harmony
to silence marginalised voices
to avoid acknowledging harm
2. Gaslighting in Groups
Group gaslighting happens when a community dismisses or reframes someone’s concerns in a way that makes them doubt their own perception or emotional response. (Verywell Mind, 2026b; Healthline, 2024)
[Group Gaslighting in Discord Communities]
Concerns about racism, misogyny, or unsafe dynamics are reframed as “overreacting,” “misinterpreting,” or “being hostile.”
The group insists that “everyone else is fine,” implying the issue lies with the individual.
Moderators demand excessive “proof” while ignoring the context or lived experience behind the concern.
People who raise issues are subtly pressured to apologise, soften their words, or doubt their own interpretation.
[Why this matters]
Group gaslighting can make someone feel isolated, confused, or ashamed for noticing a problem. Over time, it can cause members to:
suppress their own discomfort
stay silent to avoid backlash
internalise blame
leave the community quietly
This is one of the most common early warning signs of an unhealthy server culture.
3. Tone Policing
Tone policing occurs when the focus shifts from the content of a concern to the way it is expressed. The person’s tone becomes the issue instead of the problem they are describing. (Business Insider, 2020; Verywell Mind, 2026c)
[Tone Policing in Discord Communities]
Moderators focusing on the speaker’s tone rather than the behaviour or pattern being raised.
Prioritising group comfort over the validity of the issue raised.
Expecting marginalised members to express concerns in a way that feels “palatable” to the majority.
People who express concerns are told to “assume good faith” in situations where harm or bias is being named. They are labelled as troublemakers, accused of bad faith.
[Why this matters]
Tone policing silences people by shifting responsibility onto them rather than addressing the issue. It discourages honest expression and reinforces existing power dynamics.
4. Derailment Tactics
Derailment refers to conversational strategies that shift attention away from community issues being raised. Instead of engaging with the concern, the discussion is redirected, minimised, or reframed so the original point is never addressed. (Derailing for Dummies, 2010)
[Derailment in Discord Communities]
Questioning the motives of the person raising a concern and suggesting they are acting in bad faith.
Asking for excessive proof in a way that stalls or invalidates lived experiences.
Redirecting the conversation to unrelated topics to avoid addressing the issue.
Focusing on small details instead of the broader concern.
Reframing the concern as a misunderstanding or overreaction.
[Why this matters]
Derailment prevents communities from resolving problems. It can silence people, shift responsibility onto the person harmed, and create an environment where raising concerns feels pointless.
5. Groupthink/Group Behaviour
Groupthink occurs when a community values agreement and harmony more than honest discussion or critical thinking. Members begin to follow the dominant viewpoint, and disagreement becomes uncomfortable or discouraged. (Janis, 1972; Psychology Today, 2026) According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (2019), online environments can intensify groupthink by increasing social pressure and making dissent feel risky.
[Groupthink in Discord Communities]
Moderators or long‑term members consistently reinforcing each other’s views on community behaviour and norms, creating the impression that their perspective is the only acceptable one.
Difficult topics being avoided to preserve a sense of unity or positivity.
A clear divide forming between an “in-group” and everyone else.
Members feeling pressure to agree with the dominant viewpoint, even when they have concerns.
[Why this matters]
Groupthink makes it difficult for communities to address problems. It can silence individuals, reinforce power imbalances, and normalize unhealthy behaviour. In fandom spaces, it often appears when criticism of characters, storylines, or community norms is treated as a threat to the group’s identity.
6. Lack of Transparency
Transparency is essential for trust in any Discord community. When moderation happens behind closed doors or rules are applied inconsistently, members are left confused, anxious, or unsure of what is actually happening.
[Lack of Transparency in Discord Communities]
Inconsistent penalties: similar behaviour receives different consequences, and the reasoning isn’t clear to the community.
Rules enforced unevenly: some members are corrected publicly while others are handled quietly or not at all.
No reliable place to raise concerns openly: channels meant for feedback may be locked, closely monitored, or discouraged, leaving members unsure where they can speak.
Posts or messages about concerns being removed: this makes it hard for others to know an issue was raised at all.
Moderators directing all issues to private channels (e.g., tickets, DMs), which prevents the community from seeing patterns or understanding outcomes.
Members feeling vulnerable in private channels (DMs or tickets), where moderation happens out of sight and they have no safe place to document or share their experience.
Members “going quiet” without explanation: timeouts, strikes, or bans are not communicated, so it appears as if people simply left on their own.
[Why this matters]
When moderation is hidden, members cannot understand what is happening or why. This creates an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear, and it allows harmful behaviour, including from moderators, to go unchallenged.
Conclusion
These signs don’t always mean a server is malicious, but they do mean you should pay attention to how the space makes you feel. Healthy servers make space for concerns, listen when something feels off, and adjust when needed. Unhealthy ones often repeat the same patterns, dismiss feedback, or protect the status quo instead of the people in the community. If you recognize several of these warning signs and attempts to speak up are met with defensiveness or silence, it may be a sign that the environment is not willing to change.
In those situations, the safest and most peaceful option is often to step away without fanfare. You do not need to justify your feelings or convince anyone on your way out. Your well‑being matters, and you deserve to be in spaces where your voice is respected.
Reference (for further reading)
Business Insider. (2020). Tone policing is a little-known microaggression that's common in the workplace: here's how to identify it https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-identify-and-help-stop-tone-policing-in-workplace-2020-8
Derailing for Dummies. (2010). Derailing for dummies: A guide to derailment tactics. https://www.derailingfordummies.com/
Discord Safety Center. (n.d.). Ban evasion and advanced harassment. https://discord.com/safety/ban-evasion-and-advanced-harassment
Discord Safety Center. (n.d.). Transparency in moderation. https://discord.com/safety/transparency-in-moderation
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2019). Dangers of groupthink and the internet. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/featured-articles/dangers-of-groupthink-and-the-internet
Healthline. (2024). Gaslighting: Signs, Examples, and How to Protect Yourself. https://www.healthline.com/health/gaslighting
Janis, I. L. (1972). Victims of groupthink: A psychological study of foreign-policy decisions and fiascoes. Houghton Mifflin.
Medical News Today. (2021). What to know about toxic positivity? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/toxic-positivity
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Having been watching media for tens of thousands of hours with the capacity to store everything it likes word-for-word, Murderbot has an enviable ability to whip out a perfect quote for every occasion.
So far, I remember:
I didn’t think she was wrong, but I still wasn’t used to things that were unfair to me being a major point of consideration for humans. It also sounded vaguely like the break-up part of the romance scenes on the shows I watched, most of which I usually skimmed over. I said, “It’s not me, it’s you.”
[Network Effect]
I had another newsdrone focusing in on armoredHostile2’s weapon this whole time and my archive search had not turned up a match. (I’ve been out of the game for a while, as they say on some of my shows. Not the good ones, though.)
[Platform Decay]
...
Okay, maybe it's better at coming up with original lines! 🤣
Although it might be interesting to see if lines from Cruel Romance Personage and Honor Princess Detective creep into its phrases.
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my partner was a TA for an intro-to-subject course in grad school. finals week rolls around and the students are required to submit this big module assignment they've had like a month to do for a decent chunk of their grade. if you've submitted everything, you'll see a summary screen with a star beside each module name showing it's been completed.
an hour before the assignment deadline, he receives an email from a student claiming they completed the assignment, but the system is not allowing them to submit. there's an image attached to the email. partner goes to open what he assumes is a screenshot of that summary page.
instead, he sees that the student has taken a photo of their laptop from about 2 feet away, with that page open. strange, but it wouldn't be the first time a college freshman has lacked the tech literacy to take a screenshot. he almost doesn't look twice at it, but he realizes something about it just feels a little bit...off. so he zooms in.
the student had CUT STARS OUT OF CONSTRUCTION PAPER and TAPED THEM TO THEIR LAPTOP SCREEN BESIDE EACH MODULE NAME. you could see where they actually had completed the first couple of modules, but the stars for all the subsequent ones were like, double the size of the first two and exactly as uneven/irregular as you'd expect if you were freehanding them with scissors.
probably would've been quicker and easier to just photoshop them in but no, this student took a refreshingly creative, arts-and-crafts approach to getting an academic misconduct case
Had a friend ask me about PHM fic recs today, plus I was already thinking about sharing some of my favorites on here, just because I'm loving that there are so many gen and even explicitly aro/ace fics in a fandom for once.
These are just some personal favorites that I think do something fun/interesting/unique with the story and characters. I will also note that the "-ish" is because some of these fics focus on blurry relationship lines, and/or have some focus on Rocky/Adrian as a ship (and Grace as their weird queerplatonic bonus partner), but these recs are generally all quite romance-lite, or dig into the relationships in question on order to explore aro/ace themes.
(Also, I've tried to ping authors where I found tumblr usernames, but if you're on here and I couldn't track your blog down, please let me know!)
Okay? Okay! Without further ado, here's some stories I've really loved:
Appendix: Saving Grace by twasbrilligand -- I bet you can guess what this one is about, but if not: Consider that maybe as a last-minute substitute, there might not have been time to give Grace the full-on Antarctic expedition appendix treatment. Anyway what's better than two friends tag-teaming a critical surgery, with one of them very scientifically interested in the other's insides?
what exists beyond, beyond, beyond by tardigradeschool -- Incredibly adorable Adrian/Rocky & Grace fic featuring a new hatchling addition to their weird little family unit and some bonus disability feelings on Rocky's part, courtesy of his time spent alone on the Blip-A. Handles the topic of internalized ableism really well , plus the family content is sickeningly cute.
Roche Limit by @spektre-writes -- A good old "Rocky and Grace on the way home to Erid" fic that deals with a lot of the expected themes, but also has a big more plot to it due to one final wrinkle the duo run into. That made this one stand out a bit more, plus the fact that Rocky gets to be particularly smart and resourceful (and traumatized).
Care package by @unknown-lifeform -- Earth sends an interstellar care package to the man who saved their planet. Really cute idea, and I thought some of the post-sun-dimming worldbuilding in this one was very interesting and may have cried a little over the idea of Grace getting video thanks from some of his students. Plus, the ending (which I will not spoil) is just perfect.
error:("DEPLETED") by @kellen-kat -- A creative format fic (which is always something I love) that deals with the journey home to Erid. Really excellent pacing, which is fun to see an author pull off when writing a story through things like crash logs and medical reports!
Easy Lover by ForgetMeNotForest -- On here because it's a great aro/ace Grace fic, but even more importantly it also has some of my favorite Stratt characterization I've ever read. Just really well-written, and I love the idea of her being able to read Grace like a book, even when it comes to things he doesn't know about himself.
family matters by Goldmonger -- Another absolutely amazing Adrian/Rocky & Grace weird little family fic. And from Adrian's POV! I'm really into the dynamics of their family unit as portrayed here, plus I love stories where Grace gets leaky over his Eridian family. :)
playing favorites by @marya-blackbone -- Part of a series with a name that name me laugh out loud ("not everybody lives; some people still died") in which Yáo, Ilyukhina, and the crew of the Blip-A all actually survived, resulting in a radically different first contact scenario. Cute and funny, and of course, I love the idea that in whatever universe they meet in, Rocky and Grace have something very special going on.
you land badly, but you crash standing by @taylor-tut-fics -- A technical issue on the Hail Mary after the (planet) Adrian fiasco leads to Grace pushing himself into a health crisis, and Rocky panicking. Told in a mix of flashbacks and what's going on in the present, which works very effectively. Currently an in-progress work, but I'm very excited for the last chapter!
The Greatest Act of Optimism and A Journey Unknown by @acewithapaintbrush -- Two parts of a series about Grace teaching on Erid, the first about how he got started in the first place and the second focusing on the kids' first "field trip" to his enclosure. Incredibly adorable, and there's some bonus excellent queerplatonic content in the second one.
Lost in Translation by @mayasynth -- I'm dying to see how this one ends, but it's an aro/ace Grace fic that also plays around heavily with the (DEEPLY CORRECT) idea that Eridians conceptualize relationship dynamics totally differently from humans, and the misunderstandings that might crop up as a result. Would love to see more people mess around with that idea, so I'm glad this fic exists.
Accident Waiting to Happen by @constantconfusion14 -- It's always sort of fun to see how authors handle two characters who are deeply close to each other having a disagreement/argument of some kind, and I thought this fic did a great job of keeping Grace and Rocky sympathetic while also toying with some of the difficulties they might run into as friends from totally different species (and with a solid helping of baggage/trauma, no less).
Fragility not Forseen by @cyberneticghosts -- I love a LOT of things about this fic -- really thought-out disabled!Rocky! the author's convention of using he/him pronouns for Grace and Rocky when writing Grace's POV, and they/them pronouns for both characters when writing Rocky's POV! everything about Adrian! I really highly recommend it.
He Will Carry Her Name Across the Heavens by @danafox1013 -- A short fic with a clever immersive feature, but I have to mention it entirely because the idea of Christa McAuliffe's family sending a charm of St. Christopher along with Grace in solidarity made me bawl real actual tears. (I have a lot of space travel feelings, sue me)
Eriddit by @calensis -- Look I KNOW Eridians do not have an internet equivalent but silly formatted fics are like catnip to me AND this fic perfectly encapsulates the vibes I want out of an entire planet learning that aliens are 1) real and 2) really, really weird.
Adding several more fics to this list because the tag is moving fast and I also found these to be excellent:
The Chronicles of Terra's Grace by Clare_Hope -- I am going to be so real "A human spaceship arrives on Erid in Grace's lifetime" is a tricky sell for me, but everything about how it's done in this semi-epistolary fic is really lovely. The original characters are interesting, the headcanons about Grace's life both on Earth and Erid are really good, and it's just very soft in a way that I'm actually really enjoying.
(Not) The Jealous Type by @butchselkie -- Ohhhh man, I adored this one. A jealous Rocky notes that Grace is getting presents and gets irrationally worried someone else is trying to court his aro/ace queerplatonic partner. Really lets Rocky have some complexity and it's very well done, and Adrian also really shines in their appearances in this one.
planet earth is blue (and there's nothing I can do) by @sebastian217 -- Grace finds a video log made by Ilyukhina onboard the Hail Mary shortly before she and Yáo entered their comas. This fic is gentle and even a little bit silly thanks to Ilyukhina's personality, but of course, also deeply melancholy. I absolutely loved it.
The back on earth series by rib14 -- Explores various reactions to the Hail Mary Project back on Earth through a constellation of Discord messages, social media posts, letters, news articles, and etc. Also just... really really understands the unique combination of despair, hope, and comedy that would be going on. I found the end of the second fic in the series particularly thematically rich.
End-Anthropocene Extinction Event by tritavia - An incredibly well-done fake Wikipedia article about the astrophage crisis on Earth. Great and creative worldbuilding and a really good workskin.
culture shock by sly_as_an_alpaca -- Really fun Rocky/Adrian & Grace fic that plays around with some queerplatonic relationshiop stuff, Eridian culture and mythology, and Rocky sort of fumbling introducing his two favorite people.
"I wrote a eulogy for my best friend last week. Then I read it to him. At the pub. On a Tuesday."
He was alive, holding a pint, looking at me like I'd lost my mind. Maybe I have.
I'm Mick. I'm 70. The man across the table was Barry. Seventy-two. Best mate for 46 years. Met on a building site in 1979. He dropped a plank on my foot. I called him something unrepeatable. He bought me a pint after the shift. Haven't gone a week without talking since.
Three months ago we went to a funeral. Bloke we'd worked with. Cancer. The eulogies were beautiful - people saying what he meant to them, things they'd clearly never said to his face. And all I could think was, he can't hear any of this.
Every beautiful sentence. Every "he changed my life." Said to a room of crying people and a box of wood.
I turned to Barry. Whispered, "What a waste."
Drove home. Couldn't sleep. Because I realised, if Barry died tomorrow, I'd stand up and say extraordinary things about this man. Things I've never said in 46 years. And he'd be in the box, missing all of it.
So I wrote them down. Took a week. Harder than expected - not finding the words, but admitting I had them.
Rang him. "Tuesday. The Crown. Need to read you something."
"Have you joined a book club?"
"Just come."
Same corner table. Pint of bitter. Crisps. I pulled out the paper. He saw my hands shake.
"Mick. What's this?"
"Your eulogy. I'm reading it now because I'm not wasting it on a day you can't hear it."
"Have you gone mad?"
"Probably. Shut up and listen."
I read it. In a pub. To a man very much alive and very much uncomfortable.
I told him about the plank and how it was the best injury of my life. About the night he drove forty minutes in rain to help change a tyre. About how he rang every day for three months after my divorce and never once asked "Are you alright?" - just talked about football and weather, because he knew I didn't need a question. I needed a voice.
I told him he was the funniest man I'd ever known and his jokes were terrible and both things were true. That he'd been a better father than he thinks. That his wife's a saint and he knows it. That I'd have been a worse man without him.
He didn't look at me. Stared at his pint. Jaw tight. Doing that thing men do when the feelings arrive and they'd rather swallow glass than show it.
When I finished, long silence. Then he picked up his pint, took a sip, and said,
"You're paying for the next round. And the one after."
That was his answer. Perfect. Because Barry doesn't say "I love you too." He says "you're buying."
But in the car park, he hugged me. Not the quick back-pat. A real one. Thirty seconds. Neither let go first.
And he said quietly into my shoulder, "Don't read that again at the real one. I want new material."
Who would you write a eulogy for - while they're still here?
Don't wait. The flowers can't hear. The box doesn't laugh. Say it now. At the pub. Over a bad cup of tea. You'll feel ridiculous.
They'll look uncomfortable. It'll be the most important thing you've ever done.
Read them the speech while they can still hug you in the car park.”
When you search for "Ryland" in the entire Project Hail Mary (like you do, of course), there eleven hits. Of these 11 times, 8 was "Ryland Grace", 2 when he was talking to himself, (e.g., "Stop being stupid, Ryland", when he was surprised to see Rocky for the first time.)
Once he tries to get DuBois to call him by his first name by, "You know, you can call me Ryland. We're all PhDs here. I think first names are fine.", but DuBois politely declines, "I'm sorry, Dr. Grace. That is not how I was raised. However, you may call me Martin if you wish."
I don't think Grace ever called DuBois "Martin" after that.
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Grace and Rocky, giving a tour of the Hail Mary to fascinated Eridian scientists and diplomats.
Pointing at things and explaining what they are and how the ship works, lots of awed and appreciative noises are made.
Until one of the visiting Eridians points out a specific item. “And that?”
It’s a strange, circular thing, a xenonite disk mounted upright on some sort of pivot so it can spin freely, but around the edges it has… spokes? Pegs? Sticking out of it, that hit against a stiff flap that would slow down the spinning.
It is also separated into sections decorated with crude etchings of a human and an Eridian.
“Ah,” Grace says.
“That,” Rocky says.
“That’s. Um.” Grace seems somewhat embarrassed. “That’s the sacrifice wheel.”
The Eridian visitors clearly do not know what to make of that. “We think we misunderstood Savior Grace’s word,” they say, apparently hoping this is a vocabulary mix-up. “Explain (question, polite)?”
“Didn’t misunderstand,” says Rocky, sounding very sheepish. “That is sacrifice wheel.”
“So. While we were on our way to Erid, we might have gotten… anxious about each other’s well-being,” Grace says, which everyone is already very aware is a wild understatement. “And, well, you heard what happened at Tau Ceti, and after. There were a lot of unexpected dangers for the whole trip that required a lot of, at least, attempted self-sacrifice to solve. We ended up almost dying for each other several times. And we had an argument about what we’d do if another crisis like that came up. And we couldn't agree.”
“Grace argued that Grace already was unlikely to survive long-term on Erid, so he should be the one to do any potential deadly but necessary maneuvers to make sure I was able to bring taumoeba back,” Rocky says.
“Which made sense.”
“Did not make sense! Grace already sacrificed so much for me and for Erid, wouldn’t be fair to make you do it again—“ Rocky cuts himself off with a huff. They have obviously had this conversation before. “So sacrifice wheel was compromise.”
“Yeah,” Grace says. He spins it to demonstrate; it whirls around in a blur and a rattle of the flap hitting the pegs, then eventually slows down, and stops—pointing at the segment depicting a very bad but very clear image of an Eridian. “Rocky made the wheel, I spin the wheel, and whoever it lands on, that’s who gets to sacrifice themself to save the other and the other person does not get to argue. This way, we wouldn’t waste time debating who does the self-sacrifice and who survives, it’s just a plain fifty-fifty chance. Or, eighteen-eighteen chance in base six. But the point is it could be either of us and we would have to accept the outcome.”
Rocky started fidgeting while Grace was explaining. When Grace finishes, proud of the equitable solution they came up with to allow them to die for each other fairly, Rocky says, “Now that we are back and we don’t need sacrifice wheel anymore… I have confession to make. About the wheel.”
“What about the wheel?”
Rocky doesn’t answer. Grace frowns, first confused, then suspicious, and spins the wheel again.
It lands on Rocky again.
He spins the wheel again, and again, and again, and it lands on Rocky every single time.
“Rocky!”
“I weighted the wheel,” Rocky admits.
“Rocky the whole point was that it was equal, that was why we even made it—“
“Never was necessary so doesn’t matter anymore!”
“But you WOULD have!”
“And you never noticed because you were hungry and cranky and distracted and so would have done bad job on heroic self-sacrifice anyway!”
“I would not! I would have done fine!”
(The Eridian scientists and diplomats are still here watching this btw. Slowly dawning on them that 1) these two are extremely not normal about each other 2) if Erid ever does another space mission they NEED to send a therapist aboard because this is what happens when they don’t)
