okay, its BIG BRAIN time

Jason Todd & Ryland Grace

Grace is a teacher in the Narrows and he works hard to improve his kid's education. When he can—outside of grading—he spends his time at soup kitchens and works on bettering his student's community (it’s harder to set up a communal garden then one would believe, who'd have thought).

Primarily, he volunteers at one of Red Hood’s soup kitchens.

One of the lead volunteers, Jason, was good about placing him where he’d be needed to be during shifts. Sometimes that'd be in the kitchen or handing out food, other times it’d be teaching some of the kids and adults who were willing to learn.

As much as he wanted to volunteer for the night classes, he couldn't. It’s time and resources he just can’t spare with his teacher’s salary, but it’s something to work towards.

Jason was intimidating at first. They may have been the same height but with his slouched posture and Jason’s extreme bulky frame he felt diminutive in comparison when standing next to the man.

Despite that it was surprisingly easy to talk to Jason.

He was a huge literature and theatre nerd—a direct contrast to Ryland’s love of science and microbiology, but they just fit somehow.

Jason would rant and rave about any and all things book related. Talking in length about the differences between the popular live adaptations and the original source material. Ryland would comment something about of the unnecessary risks the stunt team preformed, leading Jason to discuss the importance of proper stunt training and gun safety on big shot productions.

He’d listen intently as Ryland told him all about the newest developments and discoveries in the scientific community, asking probing questions and actively engaging himself in the conversation.

Jason had a nice timber to his voice and an alley accent that only got thicker the more heated he became. It was nice to listen too. It was nice to be listened to in return.

He couldn’t really tell when going out for coffee became grading tests at Jason’s dining table. When quick bites together turned into Jason claiming one of the armchair in his flat.

He definitely couldn’t tell when he started using his microbiology degree to help neutralize toxins that were flooding the streets, but Jason knew a guy who knew a guy—apparently—so here he was.

Surrounded by equipment in a safe-house the Red Hood owned, synthesizing a partial dilution to give to those effected by the fear gas outside. While it wouldn't cure them, it would hopefully lessen the effect.

*turns camera around* omg they were schoolmates

Bruce banner and Ryland Grace went to grad school together

I ain't super knowledgeable with lore regarding Bruce but come on, this is my sandbox and i will play in it how I like

Bruce has 7phds, it’s safe to assume that they could have definitely crossed paths at some point and kept in contact. Going to the same science conferences and talking shop with someone that can keep up

They were each some of the lucky few to stay in contact after they got their doctorates

Maybe Bruce was there for the "waste of carbon" incident and helped Grace get back on his feet after he had some emotional crash out after he was shunned from the science community

Maybe Grace was there in the after effects when Bruce became the Hulk. Maybe Grace worked harder to stay a consistent person in Bruce's life after the fact

Maybe they're still friends to this day

I can't get them out of my head

While Grace is out alone in space time still has to move forward on Earth

Heroes are becoming more and more common as time goes by. Aliens, Lanterns, space travel, everything is progressing at such a fast pace.

Eventually the Justice League forms.

Imagine the angst of knowing that maybe if you waited just a little bit longer. Fought a little bit harder to hold off Project Hail Mary, maybe your friend would still be here. Alive and not on some suicide mission to save the Earth. But how could you have known?

how could you have asked the world to wait for something better when they didn't know that better would come

That your technology has advanced so heavily that he may not of needed to go in the first place. That there is a whole galaxy out there that he and his team now have access too

That he doesn't know that they're already working on sending a rescue team to retrieve him and his crew. That you just have to hope you'll get there in time before they complete the mission. 'Cause he thinks he's gonna die out there and you have no way of telling him that you're coming to save him

And if when you get him, is he gonna recognize the person you are today?

Actually no I'm not done thinking about this

Thinking about Ryland so alone in space with no memories and no idea who he is. remembering teaching his student at Cleveland Middle but he's forgetting something

he's forgetting a lot of everything but remembering his kids just scratch one specific itch that he just can't reach. Of late night and early morning phone calls. of school drama and big achievements

ha can't remember the calls where his kid was having a bad day so their guardian talks with him instead. Of the man sharing his fear that he's gonna mess this up, that he's not doing it right, that his kid would be better off with someone else taking care of him

he doesn't remember consoling him, talking him trough his feeling. Doesn't remember sharing his fears too, about the task force, about falling behind on his workload, about what the world would look like in the next 30 years.

he doesn't remember becoming another father figure in his kid's life. 'Cause it is his kid. He's had children come and go though the years but this kid is his.

Doesn't remember forming a special bond with his kids dad, because that's what he was. he may refer to his kid as his ward but he's his dad, he just hasn't realized it yet.

Ryland Grace x Bruce Wayne Gala meet cute when grace is still working under the Patrica task force. Why he needed to be there, *shrug* Stratt like having her emotional support science lad with her at all times. Maybe he's gonna give a presentation, either way

This can still be early on in Bruce’s Batman career but late enough that Dick would still be fighting crime along side him. The justice League hasn't formed yet and there are very few hero currently know by the public. Bruce and Grace would be close in age, mid 20s to 30s

Stratt would never let any of her crew anywhere near the most crime ridden city of the west coast so the gala is hosted by someone else or just not in Gotham

Grace would absolutely hate it. He’s forced into a stiff suit, the food stinks, and all the rich socialites keep talking down to him or hide their insults behind stupid rich people talk. This isn’t his scene and he is more then well aware of it

I'm sure someone already said it but I'm gonna yell it again for the people in the back

I think Simon, once he is chill with Rocky and Grace (either in Grace's dome or the Hail Mary) would be deeply touched when they say they'll watch him sleep.

He would be completely against it at first. Offended even. Being in a position where he is at his most vulnerable and then have two stranger watch him sleep would be deeply upsetting

He doesn't know them, doesn't trust them like he did with his brothers and sisters from Eden and even then he was never truly safe or relaxed. They survived by surviving and sometimes that meant that peoples best interest could not be put above the betterment for all

A rock creature from space who uses friendship to save the world. This man is a geologist and would absolutely be obsessed

he would make so many Erdian oc with so many different types of rocks. He would make backstories on what environment they come from on Erid, how different boidomes would effect each other, how some Erdians could travels the planet but others would be unable because of their carapace

he would pull so many different rock facts and message people on their rock choices and do some collabs with other users to make Eridians as close to scientifically correct to earth standards as he could

I am not immune to propaganda, specifically Tony Stark/Ryland Grace and coltland

I love they meet in their youth at the conference or decathlon as much as the next person but hear me out

They meet on a movie set of this new space action adventure that Peter had been excited for. Tony wanted to surprise him or just do something nice for the kid so he uses his status to be on set for multiple day

Jody is of course directing and Colt is still doing stunts, but you know what this movie needs. A microbiologist. or at least that's what Colt told Ryland when he roped him into spending time on set

Ryland is being 'consulted' when the two show up and Tony needs-to-be-the-smartest-person-in-the-room Stark zeros in. Science talk is science talk and you don't have his kind of history without having your foot in a little bit of everything

Now science sadly isn't my forte but something about this man sticks with Tony. The way he listen to Peter and answers all of his questions in kind, never once speaking down on his kid. The silly science pun shirts he wears or maybe the way he speaks to Tony.

Sure he might have been a bit starstruck and nervous when he introduced himself, he's used to that, but once he got going ohHhhH boy, let it be said that he a man who appreciates someones brains

Peter makes fast friends with the Ryland and finds himself equally attached to his twin brother, Colt. The stuntman takes him under his wing and shows him all the cool behind the scenes stuff that most get to watch be he actually gets to experience. They talk risk calculations and how to properly roll. A lot of which Peter already knew but could really talk about with those outside the hero community

With Peter in trusted hands I guess Tony and Grace get to spend more time together on the sidelines. Shame. At least they have each other to talk too *winky face