So... let’s assume that, in reality, Ryland is Colt’s older brother. A huge age gap; Ryland was in his last year of college when his mom called him one day to tell him he was going to be a big brother.
A couple of years pass, Colt is barely a toddler about to star talking, when the news breaks that the Sun is officially cooling at dangerous rates and that the only salvation lies in the results of the Project Hail Mary line.
And, like in canon, Ryland is sent into space. This time, Stratt, in her desperation, didn’t think to look up Ryland’s mother’s maiden name and never discovers Colt Seavers.
Colt only knew Ryland through stories from his mother, his father (Ryland’s stepfather), his students, occasionally from Carl (when the guilt consumed him enough to go visit), and sadly, through the distorted stories Stratt sold to the media. Colt grows up thinking his big brother is, definitely, a brave man who knows no fear, and that fear or cowardice simply aren’t in his vocabulary.
He grows up knowing a version—well-intentioned, but unrealistic—of who Ryland actually was. He grows up believing his brother bravely sacrificed his life to save the world.
And, partly due to his personality, he decides to become a stuntman after being a fan and practitioner of extreme and contact sports. An adventurous soul, just like his big brother.
Right?
Until, when Colt is in his 30s... not only do the beetles arrive (they arrived years earlier, when Colt was still in high school, confirming that Ryland—HIS big brother—was alive and that there was a solution) with the logs. But now... Ryland himself arrives in a remastered version of the Hail Mary.
...
And with his arrival, the scandal of the century.
It was probably Carl who leaked the video of Ryland being captured to be anesthetized, or someone who researched the sun cure and held a grudge about the crimes for which Stratt couldn’t be convicted.
But it leaked. On national TV, when Colt receives the info that Ryland was still in medical quarantine at a naval hospital, the unedited video of how his brother fought for his life, fleeing from Stratt’s military or guards, airs.
Colt still remembers how not only did the idealized image of his brother collapse, but he was filled with terror just hearing how Ryland screamed and begged for mercy, cried for Colt, cried because he wanted to live, and implored Carl to give him more time.
Ryland’s videos, the ones that hadn’t been made public, of how Ryland spent months (a compilation) without knowing his own name or if he was in a simulation because of the memory drug.
Colt feels like he dies when he sees a version of him—somewhat older (damn time dilation and twin theory)—healing in a hospital bed.
“Oh, Colt. Wow, I don’t think I can carry you anymore.” Ryland’s voice was terribly weak and nasally, fragile, due to the near-starvation that was killing him when he was on his way back to Earth (he later discovers that even alien technology has its limits regarding the cloning of nutritional tissues). “You’re taller, buddy.”
Colt doesn’t have an older brother.
Well. Yeah. He has one, but now his big brother and he are almost the same age, and one is definitely braver than the other.
Or, in Jody’s words, one is just as stupid as the other. One for jumping off a 10-story building, and the other for taking off his oxygen helmet in a tunnel created by a rock spider.
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(Rocky, literally every time Pebble Grace asks him about his jumpers)
Pebble Grace! who adores being "covered up" because he can’t stand the idea of being without some kind of garment. He kicks up a fuss whenever Rocky or Adrian try to take away one of his makeshift jumpers. And he doesn't care one bit that he’s always bumping into things whenever he tries to walk around wearing one.
Pebble Grace! who, for some reason (without fully knowing why), still uses "human" motor commands for an Eridian body. That’s why he doesn't speak properly and struggles to move his limbs with any fluidity.
Pebble Grace! who, in reality, is "echolocation-nearsighted." He has to wear an orthopaedic device (the equivalent of prescription glasses) to get around on his own. But he absolutely loves being carried everywhere by Adrian.
Adrian and Rocky, being protective parental units with their little pebble. Because he’s so tiny and bumps into everything.
Adrian and Rocky, who can’t help but dote on Pebble Grace, because they find his attempts at chirping for the first time absolutely adorable.
Pebble Grace! who couldn't speak properly for at least a couple of years. He understood what Rocky and Adrian were saying to him, but when he tried to say it back... it was impossible for him to mimic.
Pebble Grace! who literally has no problem eating in front of anyone; he really doesn't get what the taboo is.
Pebble Grace! who, when he first started trying to speak properly (Adrian began taking him to a speech therapist because he wasn't speaking with the same fluency as his pebble mates), would just come out with unintelligible babble. And he’d get so frustrated he’d "cry." Rocky or Adrian had to act as his translators until he finally figured out the trick to pronouncing his thoughts correctly.
Pebble Grace! who doesn't hesitate to demand "Puppet Theatre" from Rocky to no end.
Pebble Grace! who loves playing in the Xenonite version of the Hail Mary and pretends to navigate it whenever Rocky is around.
Pebble Grace! who watches his own lecture videos from when he was human and gets frustrated because he wants to correct things in the video. Adrian thinks it’s dead cute to watch his little pebble trying to correct his "notes" (they're just scribbles that nobody can decipher, seeing as he still can't coordinate his limbs properly and lacks opposable thumbs).
In the movie, they always portray Tom as an idiot—and he is—but I don’t think Gail would have been so desperate on taking care of him if he didn't have some actual acting potential. It’s clear he’s been in various projects, and Gail has probably managed to perfectly exploit his face for ads and modeling. But the point is, in this story, we’re talking about a Tom who has real potential and some... unique methods for getting into character.
Unfortunately, they tend to be peculiar.
In both cases, he dives deep to figure out how to play his character based on lived experience. When he’s in a good mood, he just tortures and stalks the poor guy he’s picked as his archetype reference, following him everywhere to study him. Gail constantly has to bail him out of the police station for stalking and pay a fortune in settlements. Like the time that he follow a pizza delivery guy for three months.
Or the tima when Tom actually stalked a regular officeman, during a hole year. Gail actually almost did not made it for compensation. Almost.
The second method, which Gail likes the least, is when Tom completely vanishes from the face of the earth for months—no trace, no social media, no emails, no discos, no parties, no drugs—returning only a few months before filming starts, fully prepared and sober. Nobody knows what happens to Tom, but his characters are always believable, so nobody can really say much about it.
Until now.
Tom’s forte has always been action, comedy, and suspense. But then he gets a role in a motivational drama about a teacher who wants the best for his students. For some reason, Tom ends up choosing his second method.
Thomas Riddle arrives at a school in San Francisco to teach drama... and meets Ryland.
The casting is a year and a half out, so Tom literally vanishes from the media for that year, and in that time... oh! Thomas meets the sweetest, kindest man of all: the cute science teacher, Ryland Grace.
He loves it when the kids ask Mr. Grace a thousand questions about science; he blushes when he clumsily tries to help Thomas with his own students. And damn, he feels his face heat up when he sees sweet Ryland getting absolutely furious during a district school board meeting, demanding more supplies for the children.
Ryland, who bikes to work every day, who is patient with the most distracted students, who crochets his own little anatomical plushies, and who always has snacks for the hungry kids.
Ryland, who has a beer on nights out with colleagues and blushes perfectly when Thomas starts getting kind od flirty. Who loves it when Thomas brings him something to eat, or when they chat about the kids who seem to want to become actors or scientists. When they go as chaperones to school dances... Tom falls deeper and deeper for Ryland every single day.
Ryland, who adores how Thomas always seems so excited when his kids are rehearsing lines in the hallways, and who seems obsessed with the sound and lighting equipment just to make sure his 'little stars' always shine in their plays.
Ryland, who loves when Thomas takes the rowdiest kids and casts them as extras in the 'battles' during his theater simulations (they remind him a bit of Colt, his twin, who has been suspiciously happy for quite a while now that he’s free from his odious boss). Ryland, who hates to admit that he blushes when Thomas helps paint the posters himself during school festivals or when he always has a coffee ready for him.
Ryland, who can’t help but smile when Thomas lends him his jacket on museum trips when they’re both chaperoning, or when he blushes even deeper watching Thomas comfort some girls while fixing their hair for school photos (apparently, one of the braids had been ruined because someone spilled juice during recess, and Thomas somehow knows perfectly well how to braid hair in under 10 minutes using just some gel and borrowed hair ties).
More over, when Thomas took a deep breath, and kiss the most cute science teacher after a science fair.
Until the year is up, and Thomas has to disappear.
And Tom hate it.
Tom hates it. He hates watching his calendar count down. He hates that his return tickets to California were booked so far in advance, and he dreads knowing he has to turn his phone back on—to answer Gail’s frantic calls and tell the director of that new project that he’ll be back in time for the start date.
He hates how much it hurts to pull away from kissing Ryland, and he hates how cheerfully Ryland says goodbye to him every afternoon. He hates that his contract at the school is coming to an end—though, considering he was just a temporary teacher, it was bound to happen anyway—and he hates having to let his hair grow out just so he can dye it back to its original color.
He wants to tell Ryland everything—damn, he wants to tell him everything, especially since they’ve been officially dating for a couple of months—when Colt arrives to visit his twin, finding Tom in the living room.
And, like in an action movie, the times freezes.
Colt sees red.
Colt screams at him, they both start arguing, and then Ryland walks in with dinner. And, damn.
Literally Ryland, after crying and dumping Thomas/Tom… just wondering if Tom actually has a certificate or a teaching license. LOL! I mean, considering Tom fully commits to his roles just to know how to act… he’s literally like Barbie, he has a thousand jobs in one.
Colt had never in his life seen Ryder so disappointed.
Literally.
The man was, to put it kindly... a disaster. And, unfortunately, Colt had been forced to witness this level of decay out of obligation—and because Gail made him, mostly because Jody begged him to.
Colt didn't really have a clue what was going on. Honestly, he didn't even care—he already had enough of his own drama. Ryland, his sweet Ry-Ry, was absolutely furious; he’d just discovered that the guy he was dating was a total fraud.
His twin looked so horrified at how easy it had been to deceive him, and it broke Colt’s heart a little that he couldn't comfort him the way he wanted to.
And, to make matters worse, apparently, Tom was acting like this because of a breakup. Or at least, that’s the tea Jody spilled after Gail had begged her to go check on him.
Apparently, Tom wasn't handling the split well at all.
So.. here he was. Tom's hotel room.
Tom was sprawled out in his hotel room; his bed was a chaotic mess of blankets and sheets tangled with suits and British fashion magazines.
In the trash can by the nightstand, all of Tom's regular clothes—his shirts and skinny jeans—were half-ruined with bleach and stained with coffee... apparently, Tom had thrown the coffee pot right into the bin.
The man’s sobs were loud enough to lead Colt to the bathroom, where Ryder was fully transformed into a bastardized, deformed brunette version of himself.
Scattered across the sink were the cheap, basic tools that came with the commercial dye kits. Several tubs of bleach, empty bottles of color, and a pair of scissors were strewn across the countertop, staining everything in sight. The hair dryer (thank God) was far away from Tom, but it wasn't hard to see that it, too, was stained with dye.
Tom... was completely brunette. Not just the hair on his head—his beard, his eyebrows (thank God he’d forgotten his eyelashes), the hair on his chest and forearms... everything!
Just because Colt flinched a little, that tom noticed him.
He saw Colt, panicked for a split second, but instead of breaking character, he doubled down. He smoothed his stained shirt, cleared his throat, and with a shaky, wildly over-the-top British accent that sounded like it belonged in a low-budget period drama, he asked:
'Do I look the part, then? Do you think he'll... recognize me? It’s the right shade, isn't it?'
In the movie, they always portray Tom as an idiot—and he is—but I don’t think Gail would have been so desperate on taking care of him if he didn't have some actual acting potential. It’s clear he’s been in various projects, and Gail has probably managed to perfectly exploit his face for ads and modeling. But the point is, in this story, we’re talking about a Tom who has real potential and some... unique methods for getting into character.
Unfortunately, they tend to be peculiar.
In both cases, he dives deep to figure out how to play his character based on lived experience. When he’s in a good mood, he just tortures and stalks the poor guy he’s picked as his archetype reference, following him everywhere to study him. Gail constantly has to bail him out of the police station for stalking and pay a fortune in settlements. Like the time that he follow a pizza delivery guy for three months.
Or the tima when Tom actually stalked a regular officeman, during a hole year. Gail actually almost did not made it for compensation. Almost.
The second method, which Gail likes the least, is when Tom completely vanishes from the face of the earth for months—no trace, no social media, no emails, no discos, no parties, no drugs—returning only a few months before filming starts, fully prepared and sober. Nobody knows what happens to Tom, but his characters are always believable, so nobody can really say much about it.
Until now.
Tom’s forte has always been action, comedy, and suspense. But then he gets a role in a motivational drama about a teacher who wants the best for his students. For some reason, Tom ends up choosing his second method.
Thomas Riddle arrives at a school in San Francisco to teach drama... and meets Ryland.
The casting is a year and a half out, so Tom literally vanishes from the media for that year, and in that time... oh! Thomas meets the sweetest, kindest man of all: the cute science teacher, Ryland Grace.
He loves it when the kids ask Mr. Grace a thousand questions about science; he blushes when he clumsily tries to help Thomas with his own students. And damn, he feels his face heat up when he sees sweet Ryland getting absolutely furious during a district school board meeting, demanding more supplies for the children.
Ryland, who bikes to work every day, who is patient with the most distracted students, who crochets his own little anatomical plushies, and who always has snacks for the hungry kids.
Ryland, who has a beer on nights out with colleagues and blushes perfectly when Thomas starts getting kind od flirty. Who loves it when Thomas brings him something to eat, or when they chat about the kids who seem to want to become actors or scientists. When they go as chaperones to school dances... Tom falls deeper and deeper for Ryland every single day.
Ryland, who adores how Thomas always seems so excited when his kids are rehearsing lines in the hallways, and who seems obsessed with the sound and lighting equipment just to make sure his 'little stars' always shine in their plays.
Ryland, who loves when Thomas takes the rowdiest kids and casts them as extras in the 'battles' during his theater simulations (they remind him a bit of Colt, his twin, who has been suspiciously happy for quite a while now that he’s free from his odious boss). Ryland, who hates to admit that he blushes when Thomas helps paint the posters himself during school festivals or when he always has a coffee ready for him.
Ryland, who can’t help but smile when Thomas lends him his jacket on museum trips when they’re both chaperoning, or when he blushes even deeper watching Thomas comfort some girls while fixing their hair for school photos (apparently, one of the braids had been ruined because someone spilled juice during recess, and Thomas somehow knows perfectly well how to braid hair in under 10 minutes using just some gel and borrowed hair ties).
More over, when Thomas took a deep breath, and kiss the most cute science teacher after a science fair.
Until the year is up, and Thomas has to disappear.
And Tom hate it.
Tom hates it. He hates watching his calendar count down. He hates that his return tickets to California were booked so far in advance, and he dreads knowing he has to turn his phone back on—to answer Gail’s frantic calls and tell the director of that new project that he’ll be back in time for the start date.
He hates how much it hurts to pull away from kissing Ryland, and he hates how cheerfully Ryland says goodbye to him every afternoon. He hates that his contract at the school is coming to an end—though, considering he was just a temporary teacher, it was bound to happen anyway—and he hates having to let his hair grow out just so he can dye it back to its original color.
He wants to tell Ryland everything—damn, he wants to tell him everything, especially since they’ve been officially dating for a couple of months—when Colt arrives to visit his twin, finding Tom in the living room.
And, like in an action movie, the times freezes.
Colt sees red.
Colt screams at him, they both start arguing, and then Ryland walks in with dinner. And, damn.
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Hola, pasé por tu fanfic de Android BloodyMary AU. Tengo una pregunta.
If Jody mentions that Ryland is identical to Colt because paying for Tom's image rights is so expensive… what about Simon? Or does Mark not exist in this universe?
Oh! …yeah, well, here's a funny little detail: I completely forgot about Mark. When I wrote that scene, I was just aiming for a funny moment where Colt thinks Ryland had to look like him for some deep, personal reason—only for the actual resemblance to boil down to image rights.
So, regarding what Jody mentioned—I’m no lawyer, so I’m definitely taking some creative liberties here—let’s assume there are specific criteria a person must meet to request that CyberLife doesn’t use their likeness for android customization. If Mark exists in this AU, then either he doesn’t meet those requirements, or Ava made the necessary tweaks so that Simon isn’t an exact copy: maybe hair color, hair texture, a slightly different skin tone, or some freckles. Just enough little changes to walk that fine line of image rights law.
Hi everyone! I’ve finally decided to upload the story based on this post to AO3. The first chapter is now available, where Colt recounts his first meeting with Ryland. It’s a brief introduction and I’m still polishing a few plot details, but I invite you to check it out. I hope you enjoy it!
Based post: https://www.tumblr.com/projecthmary/820082660169990145?source=share
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Project Hail Mary (2026), Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir, Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary - All Media Types, Iron Lung (2026), The Fall Guy (2024)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: The Convict | Simon (Iron Lung) & Ryland Grace, The Convict | Simon (Iron Lung)/Ryland Grace, Ryland Grace & Colt Seavers, Jody Moreno/Colt Seavers, Adrian/Rocky (Project Hail Mary)
Characters: The Convict | Simon (Iron Lung), Ryland Grace, Colt Seavers, Jody Moreno, Ava (Iron Lung), Eva Stratt, Rocky (Project Hail Mary), Adrian (Project Hail Mary), Markus (Detroit: Become Human), Carl (Project Hail Mary 2026), CyberLife Employees (Detroit: Become Human)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Post-Pacifist Best Ending (Detroit: Become Human), Post-Android Revolution (Detroit: Become Human), Alternate Universe - Detroit: Become Human Fusion, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Found Family, Fluff and Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Romance, Androids, Protective Colt Seavers, Ryland Grace Needs a Hug, Ryland Grace & Rocky are Best Friends, Ryland Grace and Colt Seavers are Twins, Amputee The Convict | Simon (Iron Lung), CyberLife (Detroit: Become Human), Human Rocky (Project Hail Mary), Human Adrian (Project Hail Mary), Alternate Universe - Project Hail Mary Fusion, Eva Stratt Has a Bad Time, The Convict | Simon Needs a Hug (Iron Lung)
Summary:
Colt feels like a blood vessel is about to pop in his head. He is dangerously close to snapping. Jody doesn't seem to be doing any better; her delicate features are completely contorted into a deep scowl. Actually, "scowl" is putting it mildly—he has never seen his fiancée this downright furious before.
"What do you mean you've lost our Ryland?!" Jody's voice skyrockets, not only startling Colt—who is standing right next to her—but probably blowing out his eardrum in the process. "We just brought him in for an update! What exactly are you trying to imply?!"
The target of all this yelling, Eva Stratt, the manager of the CyberLife branch in California, doesn't even flinch at Jody's escalating outrage.
"As I was explaining, Mr. Seavers... unfortunately, we have discovered that your ST-12011 model android, Ryland, is no longer on the premises."
Before Tom got famous, he was just a struggling actor taking tiny roles in adverts and modelling gigs. He was basically living paycheck-to-paycheck, crashing on a mate's sofa in a packed flat. Things were looking pretty grim. But one day, he saw a fertility clinic offering cash for sperm donations. He wasn't completely desperate but that money could had helping a lot, so he only gave one sample. It wasn't a fortune, but it was exactly what he needed to survive until his next audition. He nailed that audition, landed a massive TV role, and his career completely skyrocketed after that.
Cut to a few years later. Tom is now the ultimate sex symbol of this generation and the highest-paid actor in the industry. And, to be clear, he almost does not remember anything about his donation to de fertility clinic.
Meanwhile, Ryland is looking through donor files at a clinic, hoping to have a baby. He’s feeling super frustrated because none of the regular options seem right. Just as he’s about to give up, they hand him a private catalogue of "only one" samples. He spots a profile for a "Thomas R." The man is healthy, has great genes, and even with his photo blurred for privacy, he looks so atractive. Ryland goes with his gut and chooses him.
The clinic does its part, and Ryland ends up pregnant (use your imagination) . As for Tom, he only finds out—and remembers the clinic—when Gail interrupts him right in the middle of a shoot , drag him to his trailer and started to shouting about an email he received three months ago and never opened.
It was a notification from the fertility clinic informing him that his one and only sample had finally been used, and that any remaining material had been destroyed. And because of the contract Tom signed back in the day, any information regarding the child's parent or parents was strictly private and completely off-limits.
Tom was so utterly confused - and amaze- that he didn't even notice Colt celebrating with Jody right there on set; Ryland had just called him to share the incredible news (since he wanted to be shure) that he was going to be a dad, and that Colt was officially going to be an uncle of twins!!!.
I love your Streamer Simon x Professor Grace AU!
Here’s a sweet little idea, especially considering that, Grace returns to Earth after Rocky confirms that the Hail Mary is repaired.
Let’s say there’s an age gap between them. Simon is a bit younger than Ryland. Nothing scandalous, but it’s clear that Ryland is older than Simon… and that academic life has been really rough on him. (Those dark circles under his eyes don’t just magically vanish with a bit of cream).
So, when Stratt tells Simon that Ryland is the only survivor, and on top of that, that there’s a space probe from the Hail Mary signaling his return to Earth… years have passed! (For the sake of the plot, let's say Rocky convinced his engineering team to make the Hail Mary go full speed because he knows Simon is surely just as distressed as his Adrian during those years).
So? When Grace is finally safe, still inside his medical isolation bubble… he sees Simon for the first time.
Simon is nervous about seeing his beloved husband for the first time because, well… he’s aged a bit. He has wrinkles that weren't there before, he neglected his appearance quite a bit during those first few years, and he was only just starting to function normally again. But Grace? At least to Simon, Grace is still the most wonderful man he has ever seen.
The first thing Grace said to Simon as soon as he could touch him? (Aside from an extremely passionate kiss):
"I told you, dark circles don't just disappear with cream, my love."
Omg thank you so much for the love! I appreciate you!
And yes!! Oh I love them so much!!
Simon and Grace after that would never let the other out of each others sight for the longest time!
Simon, quite literally, went back to the gym the moment he heard his husband was returning to Earth. It’s not like he stopped going entirely, but he definitely quit for the first few years—between searching for the reason behind Ryland’s disappearance and the international notification that the Hail Mary had confirmed Yao and Olesya’s deaths. He was just that depressed.
So… besides celebrating and nearly kicking Stratt, was to get back to taking better care of himself. He returned to his healthy routines because he realized Ryland would need his support for physical therapy, and he wouldn’t be able to help him if he wasn't looking after himself and staying healthy. His only insecurities were his little wrinkles and the first signs of grey hair (the result of the chronic stress he endured during those first eighteen months). But Ryland couldn't care less about any of that. As soon as the doctor gave the go-ahead for them to be together (you know what I mean, wink), Ryland didn't stop kissing him and praising Simon’s beauty.
So… a thought that just popped into my head.
A Detroit: Become Human "Bloody Mary" AU.
Basically, it all takes place in the universe after the android revolution and the aftermath with CyberLife.
Now, androids can’t be hunted down once they’ve broken free from their programming—not just in Detroit, but in any U.S. state, provided they don’t cause any harm to humans.
It’s still a hot legal debate, but essentially, as long as an android breaks its own code, it’s allowed to lead a regular "human" life. However, for that to happen, the glitchy code that allows for "deviance" has to be "transferred" to the android—at least for older models, where any code insertion or programming has to be done manually, unlike the newer models that come with that programming pre-installed.
Here’s the setup:
Colt is a stuntman, but as he once mentioned to Jody in the film… being set on fire is a nightmare, and it hurts like hell. So, while he does most of his own stunts—especially the ones so dangerous that the team takes months just to plan them—the truly lethal ones are performed by an android identical to Colt… who he calls Ryland.
To Colt, Ryland is a completely adorable android, and he has a special soft spot for him. He’s a little "nerd" robot who knows a ton about physics, chemistry, and special effects, as he was programmed with all that knowledge to do his job better. On top of that, Colt programmed him to be chatty. Plus, Ryland was designed to look as human as possible at all times.
Colt usually keeps Ryland with him during his downtime; they live together, or, because Colt feels bad leaving him cooped up, he takes him out whenever he’s running errands around the city. Colt is so attached to him that he jokes with everyone that Ryland is his twin brother. He even studied his maintenance manual cover-to-cover so Ryland wouldn’t get "scared" during his periodic updates; Colt handles the reprogramming or software updates himself with Dan’s help.
The problem is, since Ryland is a relatively old design, Colt had to keep him hidden during the android revolution, and he didn’t update him. CyberLife was terrified that androids would malfunction during server updates—especially since the first publicized cases of "deviants" were the aggressive ones. Ryland kept fulfilling his role, but between the end of the revolution and the success of the leader, Markus, in getting their voices heard… Ryland starts glitching and needs repairs because his systems are outdated.
Colt and Jody take Ryland to a CyberLife center for repairs. Since he’s missing so many system updates, they decide to do a full reset… and during that reset, Ryland becomes conscious and breaks his programming. He became "infected" by another android, Simon.
Since Ava bought him for commercial use—specifically for heavy lifting and high-risk work—he's a bit rough around the edges, and she barely bothered to customize him in any other way.
Simon was Ava's new android, working for an oil company that needed deep-sea divers. They couldn't send humans into zones where the pressure was lethal, so they used androids. During one deep-sea dive, Simon breaks his code—because the cabin pressure failed and the submarine started to collapse—and he manages to surface just as his sub is being crushed.
Simon's entire personality is based solely on the interactions he’s had with Ava and the oil company workers. It hasn't exactly been a pleasant experience, either, since the human divers were constantly complaining about being replaced by androids. They weren't physically aggressive toward Simon, but they certainly weren't very kind to him, either.
Ava manages to "rescue" him from being scrapped by citing the new post-revolution laws, and she takes him in for repairs because he needs a new arm.
The technician had to power Simon down because he was acting quite hostile, and he grouped his update base with Ryland’s… when Simon wakes up, he has a new arm and meets the cutest android he’s ever seen in his short life.
As for Ryland? He’s literally crying blue tears because he has no idea what the hell is happening. He thinks Colt has abandoned him for being an old model; during the update, some memory files were deleted, and Ryland doesn't remember that Colt was supposed to pick him up once he "woke up" (remember, Colt was always the one to handle his updates). Simon, meanwhile, has absolutely no intention of going back to Ava to be sent back to a submarine.
What’s the most logical move? It’s simple: Simon takes Ryland by the hand, they steal some clothes, and they decide to run away to Canada.
And there you have it: Colt is absolutely furious, Ava is desperate for Simon and Ryland’s safety (since Simon was a fairly new android, his personality wasn't fully configured), and Eva Stratt—the state branch manager at CyberLife—is completely livid because the idiot technician left both androids in that state.
And while the humans are running around like headless chickens, desperately trying to track down their respective androids… Simon and Ryland are busy planning their new lives in Canada.
Ryland dreams of becoming a schoolteacher, eager to share everything he knows about science with kids, while Simon has developed a genuine fascination for flowers and trees—he could easily land a job as a gardener at a landscaping company.
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current favorite pre bedtime scenario to imagine is Tom Ryder meeting Courtland mother fucking Gentry and being intimidated as hell. It's called a shovel talk for a reason and Court Means It when he says he'll bury Tom if he has to
The thing is, Ryland doesn't really know why Tom is so terrified of Court. The first time Court saw Tom was when Ryland invited him to dinner with Colt to catch up—and Tom wasn’t even there.
At dinner, after Court cut up his chicken as if he were six years old again—"Some habits are hard to break, Ry." "I don’t know what you’re laughing at, Colt; you asked me to open your juice bottle less than a minute ago"—Ryland felt he could finally open up to his older brother about Tom. Court didn’t say much, simply nodding every few minutes as Ryland recounted how his relationship with Tom started, their first date, and how Tom was trying to be kinder to Colt.
After that, Court himself—which was strange, considering his usual personality—was the one who insisted on inviting Tom to a family lunch. That was the only time Tom ever met his family. But it seems Court has a deeply intimidating gaze, because Tom can’t stop shaking or jumping whenever he hears Ryland mention his older brother, hears Court’s voice on the phone, or finds out from Colt that Court is visiting their flat.
Ryland knows his brother is stern, but he’s definitely not rude. The only time they met, Court offered him a beer, listened attentively to what he had to say, and—to both Ryland and Colt’s surprise—actually served him his portion of lunch himself.
Maybe Tom is just feeling shy. After all, Ryland only knows Birdie, Tom’s older sister, and she is—to put it mildly—the complete opposite of Court. That’s probably all it is.
Of course, what Ryland doesn't know is that Court managed to corner Tom while he and Colt were washing the lunch dishes. He grabbed him by the shoulder and whispered not only everything he knew about him, but also everything he knew about Birdie —all his and her dirty little secrets from their youth.
He went on about how he had an incredibly precise and lethal file on Tom’s medical conditions and past addictions—he did congratulate him, though, just to be cordial about his first years of sobriety—and how he knew exactly how much bullying he had put Colt through at work.
Court also made sure to stress that, if he so wished, he could make him disappear without a trace; all it would take was for him to find out that Ryland had cried because of Tom.
He added that he didn't even need to kill or torture him to make him suffer, and that he would much prefer this little "friendly chat" to remain a secret.
It’s not just that; we need him to act completely oblivious to anyone who sees him in that t-shirt, especially since it’s the one that says "I had potential." To top it all off—because Colt doesn't believe in divine retribution enough—Tom arrives smelling of Ryland’s favourite perfume... and only Colt knows it, as it’s the perfume he and Jody chose as a birthday gift last year. Dan has to grab hold of Colt, as Tom seems so pleased with Ryland’s t-shirt—so much so that he refused to take it off, despite his usual habit of doing so during his breaks when he’s not in costume. Colt nearly faints when, upon arriving at the flat, he sees Ryland wearing Tom’s yellow and blue striped dressing gown over his pyjamas.
Hey so yeah for my series on adopting an eridian with Ryland (you can find more about it on my ryland grace masterlist if unfamiliar), I've been doing hella research on Erid, Eridians, and also having to figure out behavior and biology of the pebbles because 1: I like to be accurate, and 2: Its fun :3
The basis for most of this is from the official PHM fandom Wiki, which most of that comes from Andy Weir himself. Additionally, I based a lot of the biology and behaviors on earth animals that primarily use echolocation, with baby bats as a main source of inspiration!
So anyways here is some of my shared research/headcanons/ideas that I'm going to be using for my fics!
The average pebble is around 5 inches in diameter. I did the math and using the ratio of a baby to an adult human (Which may not be the best animal ratio to use, but
Pebble's often get confused on their directions constantly. Eridians canonically are able to sense magnetic fields and inherently know which direction is North. Pebbles aren't the best at this quite yet, so they get confused a lot.
Object permanence is something the pebbles deal with as well. Their range of hearing is much smaller than that of an adult and are practically wandering blind half the time, and I want to think that this also applies to seeing through walls. They can't exactly see through walls just quite yet, as their hearing isn't that adept at doing so, so while you leave behind a wall, it may seem like you genuinely disappeared.
Pebbles cry whenever separated from a parent. Because of their survival instincts of wanting someone to watch them sleep, a pebble with freak out whenever a parent is not near them and will cry out for their parent. These cries get more desperate whenever they get sleepy or have just woken up and they are alone, as they do not feel safe and secure.
Baby food isn't that different from adult food. Adult eridians already have to butcher up a carcass and grind up the food into almost a paste. The main difference is that pebbles need it to be much more ground up, into practically a liquid. Additional nutrients can be given in the foods, such as certain minerals, usually for the carapace health of the pebble.
Pebbles like to babble. Just like almost all babies, they like to repeat back and mimic adults. This is how most babies learn how to speak and learn languages, so it only makes sense for the pebbles to babble too.
Pebbles molt/shed their shells as they grow. These outer layers are high in mineral value (same as their eggshells after they are born), and it is a common practice and encouraged for a pebble to eat their molt while they are still very young, as it is beneficial for their carapace health to maintain these minerals.
Molting/shedding is a difficult process. When the pebble is very, very young, you are able to help keep their skin moist to help gently ease off the outer layer. If these layers come off too early, it can be painful and cause bleeding and possibly cause malformations in future carapace growths. After they shed, their carapace is much softer, as it hasn't yet been exposed to the air. A moist environment is also helpful in this situation to help ease the hardening of the carapace.
Newborn pebbles eat once a day, compared to the adult feeding schedule being around a week or so. They cannot control ejecting the waste from their previous feeding cycle, so it is important to keep an eye on the pebble so that if they eject their waste, they can eat immediately, as their opening needs to seal as soon as possible to lessen any possible infections from the outside air.
Pebbles nap quite often. All eridians will go into a dormancy period after eating, as it conserves energy for digestion. Because of the frequent eating cycles, they will have a quick nap after eating. Because their opening is much smaller than that of an adult, who usually needs a few hours, a baby might only need an hour or so.
Pebbles also sleep for longer than an adult Eridian. Eridians sleep at irregular intervals based on availability on someone being able to watch over them. Since pebbles are almost constantly being monitored and are rarely alone, their intervals of dormancy and in-between dormant states are much shorter. They don't need to prolong the time in-between dormant states, unless prompted by the lack of monitoring. Usually, their dormant states are triggered after physical activity, such as playing.
When a pebble is sick or about to molt, dormant states are longer. This is due to the fact that they are needing to conserve more energy to prepare for a molt. Additionally, they need to be able to conserve energy for recovering from a sickness, so they will sleep for longer and with less time in-between these dormant states right before molting or when they are sick.
If you guys have any input or ideas, I'd love to hear your thoughts!!! I hope you enjoyed my yapping lol. I'll probably post more research into Erid as a planet, as I've done a bit on that too. Love y'all! - Saturn <3
Many people think—partly due to the management of his public image—that he’s an idiot. Right, fair enough, he can be a bit of a berk, and he only really enjoys being affectionate and patient with his beloved Ry-Ry. But he isn’t as thick as many people like to claim or believe.
After all—even though he’s been in the industry since he was a nipper—Thomas Ryder holds a university degree in acting and fine arts. He definitely has more than two brain cells to rub together, thank you very much.
But, as I was saying from the start, Tom dotes on his husband.
Ryland is, in more ways than one, the love of his life, the very reason for his existence, the light in his darkest moments, and—definitely—the reason he can actually perform in romantic films.
Gail had spent YEARS trying to get Tom to venture into romantic movies or series. His forte, until now, had been action plots—which is how he met Ryland, as he’d be visiting Colt on set—and war films. He’d also featured in historical dramas as a supporting character, war epics, or—occasionally—in comedy series as a recurring character (early in his career) or as part of the main cast (now that he’s at the peak of his career).
But he NEVER took part in projects with romantic storylines. And certainly not as a lead.
In action films, his characters would have some sort of romantic interest. But, since the plot didn't revolve around romance, he didn't really need to share many scenes with the other actor. And, to Tom’s total embarrassment, he admitted that those shots were always left until the very end, given how tense he would get whenever it was time to be affectionate with his co-star.
So... yeah. Tom might be a modern-day sex symbol, capable of flirting with the camera and being all lovey-dovey in interviews... but he couldn't be "believably" romantic on camera.
In fact, many casting directors used to tell Tom that... perhaps romance just wasn't his thing.
Because the man, to put it mildly, was dreadful at pretending to be in love with his castmates. Not to mention, he could be a bit of a numpty with the other actors, which made sharing scenes and photoshoots incredibly difficult.
Until Ryland came into his life.
And blimey, was everyone shocked.
Gail realised, because she’s not blind, that every time Ryland was visiting Tom and Colt on set, it was enough for Ryland to be standing behind the co-star of the moment for Tom to literally nail his lines.
It was almost a miracle. And she wasn't foolish enough to waste that new discovery.
His body (Tom’s) would become less tense, he’d appear more expressive, and his monologues for close-ups definitely flowed faster. Plus, he seemed much kinder to his co-stars—something the production team appreciated immensely.
Did the scene require Tom’s character to be on a romantic call with his love interest? They just had to put Ryland on the other end of the conversation, whether in person or via phone call. The editor would have to cut a few pet names, but nothing major.
Did Tom have to deliver a big romantic confession or gesture, where only he was on screen? But Ryland couldn't make it to the set? Colt—stupidly dressed in Ryland’s clothes with a photo of his twin taped to his face—would just stand where Tom could see him. And Tom would deliver the most romantic speech anyone had ever heard.
Did Tom have to film a scene where his character had to propose to his love interest? He just had to think about recreating the proposal he’d made to Ryland. But, if Ryland was right there, they’d simply dress him in the co-star’s clothes to get several takes of Tom and sort it out in post-production. (Makeup and art literally have a small collection of Ryland in disguise, with costumes, makeup, and wigs, as Tom’s co-star).
Did Tom have a scene scheduled where he had to run—that classic movie trope—after his girl/boy so as not to lose his love? Ha! They just had to tell him to imagine it was Ryland leaving him. The cameraman and his assistants had never run so fast in their lives.
The same went for any scene where they had an argument or Tom cried over the potential loss of his love interest. They only needed Colt to tell him that Ryland was upset with him for Tom to shed tears that looked genuinely convincing. Although, at the end of the day, you could catch him on an endless call with his Ry-Ry, as he wouldn't stop sobbing and Ryland would have to comfort him.
If Tom literally had to film any take where he had to show love, they simply had to tell him to imagine his co-star was his beloved Ry-Ry.
Gail’s most desperate measure, during one particular shoot, was putting a cheap mask on Tom’s co-star, since Ryland was on a school trip with their kids and couldn't get to the set or be on a call. It worked.
So, yeah.
Does someone need Tom to act romantically and affectionately with a co-star? They just need to call his husband. And, failing that, call his stunt double and dress him up as his twin brother.
(Imagine this is the face Ryland makes when he's on set with Tom; he finds it absolutely adorable watching his husband pull that look.)
When DuBois and Shapiro died in the accident, Eva realized that Olesya’s survival wasn't exactly guaranteed. Two of the best scientists in their field—experts in astrophage—had died when they least expected it. Just like that, two down. They were suddenly backed into a corner with no options left.
Don’t get me wrong, Olesya is a brilliant engineer, but while Grace would be forced to go simply because there was no time to find a replacement, what would happen if something happened to the only engineer on board? Ryland was a scientist, and although Yao could handle some things internally, there was no guarantee that Ryland and he could manage more complex repairs on their own. A second engineer was non-negotiable.
Eva spent hours in a manic search for a solution... and then, she found Simon’s file.
Simon Park. An engineer specializing in nautical engineering and submarine construction. A stellar CV: first in his class, top-tier university, and every elite program an aerospace engineer could ever dream of. And the best part? He had the damn gene. On top of that, he had absolutely no one to stay for. No parents, no siblings, no partner.
Just like Ryland, Simon was drugged first. Simon had refused to be a candidate, claiming it was useless since he lacked the proper training. While Ryland only had to be stopped at a fence, Eva took extra precautions with Simon—she spiked his drink. Simon didn't even know it was a one-way ticket.
Carl had already packed his things, grabbing a few personal belongings, and when they least expected it, Ryland and Simon both woke up light-years away from the Solar System... right next to the corpses of Yao and Ilyukhina.
Right to the plot:
And, for better or for worse, almost the same thing as the canon happens.
Simon knows who he is, but he quickly discovers that Ryland doesn't. They both have to perform the funeral service for Yao and Olesya, look at their ship's coordinates, and continue the mission.
They grow close. They become friends, even when Ryland starts to recover his memories in fragments and falls into depressive crises. Even when Simon becomes paranoid about the arrival of an alien mega-ship. Even when both Ryland and he don't know how to communicate properly with a rocky alien—Rocky—who knows nothing of privacy.
They grow close; they become best friends.
Simon even became friends with Rocky.
And the three of them spend good days, they explore a new kind of dynamic and "world" in the Hail Mary.
Even when he cries, because it is Ryland—now having recovered a large part of his memory, or at least the memory of his last years on Earth—who breaks the news to Simon that this was always a one-way trip.
Neither of them wants to die.
But it is Ryland who has to comfort Simon and Rocky. It's Ryland who has to said goodbye to his new alien friend while Simon is overjoyed with the idea of eating real ramen and fresh air.
He finds the solution... but then, Rocky's ship incident happens.
Simon saw the fear on Rylands eyes. He hate it.
Ironically, it is Simon who gives Ryland the go-ahead to turn back and return for Rocky. It is Simon who has to pull Ryland and Rocky out of the shattered connection nexus.
It is a miracle that Ryland and Rocky survived that day.
It is a miracle that the three of them are alive; it is a miracle that Simon and Ryland survive the trip to reach Erid.
Ryland and Simon grow increasingly closer; they become emotionaly intimate.
Ryland confesses his feelings to Simon one night, when they could finally celebrate being free of scurvy and on the road to recovery.
Simon rejects him. They remain friends.
A few years pass. They discover through a space probe that the astrophage beetles have reached Earth, and that the sun is not going to die.
Both of them are at peace.
Ryland starts teaching classes to the Eridian children; he seems happy. Simon, although glad to be alive... doesn't feel right.
Rocky notifies them—just like in the film—that his team of engineers has managed to create a reconstruction of the Hail Mary based on the blueprints. If both wish—considering that Erid isn't entirely suitable for long-term human life—they can begin a project to return to planet Earth.
Both of them have time to think about it.
Simon hears Ryland tell Rocky that, although he will think about it, he doesn't want to leave Erid. He has no reason to return to Earth.
Ryland only watches as Simon tells Rocky that he will keep it in mind.
That news arrived a couple of months ago.
Ryland notices that Simon begins to withdraw. He tries to ask, but Simon pushes him away.
Simon speaks less and less; he becomes increasingly volatile.
Ryland tries to find out what is wrong, but Simon keeps pushing him further and further away.
The situation escalates one day. Simon seems to be packing his things when Ryland arrives at the cabin they share. Ryland feels his heart sink when he realizes what is happening.
"You want to go back there," Ryland's voice is barely audible, as if it were painful for him to even say it.
"I do want to return to Earth."
The argument is huge. It is terrible. They both start saying hurtful things because, while one is hurt because he wasn't notified, the other doesn't understand why Erid would ever be considered a new home.
They yell more, they insult each other, they tell each other lies and painful truths.
The next day, Rocky and his team are working on the ship's reconstruction for a future launch. There is only one passenger on board. A one-way trip, no return.
Grace's hand itches after that argument.
Simon feels his heart clench—and his cheek aches—when he sees Grace (Ryland) helping the team, synthesizing all the food they can and making sure the new Nannybot has all the relevant information for Simon's health.
At no point has Ryland directed more than a few words at him.
The conversations they have are exclusively regarding what Simon needs to know to reach the International Space Station.
The probe announcing Simon's arrival on Earth has already been sent.
And then, just days before Simon is set to be put into a coma again... a notification arrives: an unidentified ship has entered Erid’s atmosphere.
Simon’s departure is postponed for security reasons; the Eridians confirm there is intelligent life inside the battered, makeshift spacecraft.
No response back, but yet, somehow, the spacecraft shows life indicators.
Ryland and Armando are swamped—they need to stabilize the poor man who was pulled from a literal sea of blood. Simon joins them, while also studying the improvised "tin can" that was launched into space. theat poor man, all cover in blood, barely alive, but yet... alive.
It’s a miracle the guy was even alive; his oxygen tank hadn't just run out, it had developed leaks long before, and the wiring was abysmal. They have to notify the rescue team.
Simon screams when he sees himself being carried into the medical wing.
Ryland doesn't have the time to scream; the torn arm and the oxygen deprivation seem to be making everything worse. Simon doesn't notice how Ryland is trembling the entire time, while the doctors attending to them rush in and out, performing the procedures necessary to stabilize his clone(?), his double?
Simon’s trip back to Earth is frozen indefinitely. Nobody knows where that space-can came from. Nobody wants to take the risk that Simon might be attacked while alone.
Simon stays by Ryland’s side, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. His double hasn't woken up yet, but the medical exams seem—all things considered—promising.
Ryland feels his heart breaking and mending all at once; he wants to vomit. It’s bizarre having two Simons—or whoever he assumes the injured man is, whether it's his Simon or something else—so close to him.
But he actually vomits after even daring to imagine the circumstances that could have led Simon—not his Simon—to end up in such a state.
For the first time in months, Simon comforts him while helping him get it all out of his system.
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(Rocky, literally every time Pebble Grace asks him about his jumpers)
Pebble Grace! who adores being "covered up" because he can’t stand the idea of being without some kind of garment. He kicks up a fuss whenever Rocky or Adrian try to take away one of his makeshift jumpers. And he doesn't care one bit that he’s always bumping into things whenever he tries to walk around wearing one.
Pebble Grace! who, for some reason (without fully knowing why), still uses "human" motor commands for an Eridian body. That’s why he doesn't speak properly and struggles to move his limbs with any fluidity.
Pebble Grace! who, in reality, is "echolocation-nearsighted." He has to wear an orthopaedic device (the equivalent of prescription glasses) to get around on his own. But he absolutely loves being carried everywhere by Adrian.
Adrian and Rocky, being protective parental units with their little pebble. Because he’s so tiny and bumps into everything.
Adrian and Rocky, who can’t help but dote on Pebble Grace, because they find his attempts at chirping for the first time absolutely adorable.
Pebble Grace! who couldn't speak properly for at least a couple of years. He understood what Rocky and Adrian were saying to him, but when he tried to say it back... it was impossible for him to mimic.
Pebble Grace! who literally has no problem eating in front of anyone; he really doesn't get what the taboo is.
Pebble Grace! who, when he first started trying to speak properly (Adrian began taking him to a speech therapist because he wasn't speaking with the same fluency as his pebble mates), would just come out with unintelligible babble. And he’d get so frustrated he’d "cry." Rocky or Adrian had to act as his translators until he finally figured out the trick to pronouncing his thoughts correctly.
Pebble Grace! who doesn't hesitate to demand "Puppet Theatre" from Rocky to no end.
Pebble Grace! who loves playing in the Xenonite version of the Hail Mary and pretends to navigate it whenever Rocky is around.
Pebble Grace! who watches his own lecture videos from when he was human and gets frustrated because he wants to correct things in the video. Adrian thinks it’s dead cute to watch his little pebble trying to correct his "notes" (they're just scribbles that nobody can decipher, seeing as he still can't coordinate his limbs properly and lacks opposable thumbs).
I’ve only read a couple of fics where Grace is an Eridian nipper or a pebble.
And then, it hit me.
Grace kicks the bucket; his age and the sicknesses from being on Erid just overwhelm him at some point. And, mind you, Grace lived proper comfortably within the limits of what was possible, 'cause Rocky and the Erid medical lot and the boffins seemed to genuinely want to give him a bit of a life.
But, Grace survived so much gear: malnutrition, burns, knocks and bruises... at first it seems like he recovers, but as the years roll on, the damage starts to take its toll.
He lived longer than he was originally meant to, based on standard human life expectancy. But, obviously, by Eridian standards... Grace hasn’t lived long enough, has he?
I digress.
Grace passes away, the Eridians throw a funeral for him, and they put up a memorial statue at his grave inside the habitat dome they built for him. This dome stays open to the public for a bit of remembrance and for scientific and academic study.
The thing is, Rocky is clearly gutted by the loss of his human mate. And it takes Adrian an absolute age to pull him out of that depressive state.
For at least a couple of decades, Rocky goes almost every day to spend a couple of hours near Grace’s grave. It’s his way of finding a bit of solace.
Work getting a bit much? He heads to Grace’s statue. Had a barney with Adrian? He goes there to calm down. Want to hear the ocean waves where his best mate loved to swim? He’s there.
But then, tragedy strikes.
Since Grace’s dome had become open to the public, plenty of folk could get in. Usually, it was Eridian scholars or those wanting to pay their respects. But some Eridian committed a murder. The dome was shut to the public for the crime scene, then for decontamination.
For a couple of years, Rocky couldn't get in, as the contamination was proper rank and they had to restore a lot of the gear in the dome.
But it was enough.
When Rocky finally arrives at his usual spot inside the dome... the first thing he clocks is a tiny Eridian egg, half-hidden in a dodgy excavation in the disturbed earth of Grace’s grave. And, miraculously, the egg seems to be sound. Its shell and the earth seem to have protected it well enough.
All hell breaks loose.
The authorities rock up, wondering how any absolute shithead could do something so atrocious. An unhatched egg left in such a shambles. No one to blame, no one to take the fall. Whose egg was it?
Rocky refuses to budge from that tiny egg.
They haven't found a parent. The Eridian version of Social Services doesn't have a clue what to do with the egg 'cause they’re terrified it’s a dud, or that suddenly plunging it into Erid's atmosphere will snuff it out.
Rocky—with Adrian backing him up—decides to keep the egg.
And, weirdly enough, it seems to help Rocky a bit.
Adrian sorts out a nursery, a proper nest, some blinding toys, and anything else a pebble might need.
Rocky knocks the toys up himself, builds a kid's version of the Hail Mary in his cave (like a treehouse) for when the pebble grows up and can have a bit of a play. He makes sure there’s a load of recordings of Grace teaching his students available so the pebble can learn from the best teacher in the world.
But nothing happens.
A bit of time passes. Rocky and Adrian take turns keeping it warm, tending to it in the nest, slowly getting it used to the proper Erid atmosphere... well, they do what they have to do to make sure it becomes a healthy little pebble.
...And he’s the clumsiest pebble of the lot, tumbling and rolling about inside the nest until he ends up on his back. Rocky wanted to blub (just like Grace did), absolutely chuffed and overwhelmed seeing the little lad make it.
After staring at him for a few seconds, Adrian names him Grace.
Grace the Pebble! He doesn’t seem to have a cracking echolocation system. He needs Rocky and Adrian to even know where he’s got to inside his nest.
Grace the Pebble! Despite all the graft to get him used to the Eridian atmosphere, he’s... "soft" by stone standards. (I don't know much about rocks; someone would have to tell me what kind of stone is considered soft or malleable, but that’s Grace all over).
Grace the Pebble! He seems to feel both "cold" and "hot," always wanting to be wrapped up in something. And he starts squawking if Adrian or Rocky nick the blanket or cloth he’s wearing.
Grace the Pebble! Who doesn’t seem to have a shred of decorum when it comes to eat, seeing as he’ll tuck in right in front of Rocky and Adrian or any other adult looking after him.
Grace the Pebble... well, he’s anything but graceful, 'cause he’s incredibly clumsy; one of his paws is a bit dodgy, so he almost always uses four to get about.
Grace the Pebble!... when he finally learned to chatter, the first things he came out with were "Rocky" and "Mary."
It took a couple more years, and a fair few strops and therapy sessions. But both Adrian and Rocky realised that, somehow, Grace had come back to them.
Though, a tiny Grace the Pebble! telling Rocky that he’s a shameless, bossy git was all it took for Rocky to put two and two together.
Grace was back, with them.
(I imagined eridians eggs looks something like this)
