I have heard your plea for drabble ideas and come bearing this little pearl my brain came up with... Essentially boils down to reader is a streamer Ryland enjoys watching while he's grading papers, totally thinks they're gorgeous but would never admit that bc he doesn't wanna come across as parasocial...
Turns out reader's little sibling is in Ryland's class and reader says something like "my sibling's teacher said x," (if it's a universe where the astrophage exists it could be the 'the best minds in the entire world are working on it' line.. that would make what comes next sooo bittersweet) and ADDITIONALLY the sibling keeps begging Grace to take reader out on a date (playing BOTH sides) eventually time rolls around for a parent (/gaurdian) teacher conference and when they finally meet face to face they're both fumbling, babbling messes and the sibling is just sitting there in triumph. Maybe they go on a few dates and things get freaky... but that's up to you >:)
I LIKE YOUR MIND. Ok this is a little thingy I wrote hope ya like it. I made Ryland a little neurodivergent (projecting who?)
Warnings: mentions of death, child neglect, lmk if I missed anything else
Ryland was a lonely guy, to put it simply. His social circle consisted of his coworkers and his 7th grade students (in the least weird way possible). He never felt like it was entirely his fault, but he felt a bit to blame. His head was always in the clouds, he was a total blabbermouth, he was always either thinking too much or not thinking at all.
So maybe it was for the best that he was alone. He didn’t mind it so much, didn’t mind the ache he felt deep within him when he simply had no one to talk to, no one to listen to.
That’s where he would find himself binging National Geographic every night, or worse — scrolling on his phone — however, that’s how he found you.
“Study w/ me!” The screen read. And he saw a pretty woman, she looked to be in her late 20s, taking notes, her room had a yellowish warm tint to it, and there was a cup of coffee on her desk. Soft lofi-beats played in the back. That was the whole video, that’s sweet he thought, glancing to the stack of tests needing to be graded.
“Maybe I will study with you” he spoke out loud to himself. He clicked on your profile and saw a link to a YouTube channel, which he clicked on as well. He saw you were live so he clicked on that to see a similar set up, this time you had tea instead, and there was soft music playing but also the sound of your pencil against your notebook pages.
He felt a little dumb, his phone propped up while he graded papers, but he also felt a little less lonely. It was sad, he knew it was, he didn’t want to think about why he had trouble connecting with people. It’s not like he was shy, awkward sure but he wasn’t mean, he hoped he wasn’t. Sometimes he felt like there was some big social rule he hadn’t been let in on, so he always felt out of place.
Your voice snapped him back to reality.
“That’s all for today guys! Thank you so much for hanging out and if you want to support me further my go fund me is in my bio, I’m trying to put myself through college and I would super appreciate it! Bye guys!”
And then she was gone. Ouch.
“Just do what the kids say Grace: lock in” and he was back grading.
For the next month, he had a similar routine, come home, eat, watch a controlled amount of national geo then get on your livestream and grade, you weren’t on a live every night, mostly mondays and wenesdays, but you had other videos on your channel that he liked. He always finished grading much faster when he watched your videos, he felt more focused, he wouldn’t get caught up in his thoughts as much because he’d look up, see your beautiful face, and be reminded what he was doing.
He didn’t want to seem like a perv, but you were pretty, so pretty. And when he found out you were majoring in astrophysics?? He felt so much more connected, not in a weird way, he was rooting for you. But of course these were all inside thoughts, if he even had close friends he would mention it, it was his guilty pleasure, his little token of joy he got when days were hard. He liked to think that all the people watching your videos with him were all studying or taking time to do something, it was sweet, he’s a very sweet guy, Bambi makes him cry, he’s a sweetheart.
When the whole astrophage situation hit, it was rough. Mostly for his student he felt, they didn’t fully grasp the situation, no one really did, but he felt for them, and their futures. And when the one pocket of joy he had started talking about the petrova line, he almost left the live.
“Guys, I’m gonna be honest I’m having a really hard time focusing now with all the stuff going on in the world”
Same girl, same
“..I have a little brother, and I think about his future and I get really emotional. He learned about the petrova line and the sun dying a few days ago at school”
Oh great. I wonder what other teachers are worrying their students like me, why would I tell the kids about that?
“But he’s so hopeful. He’s so full of hope and joy it always makes me want to keep going. He said that his teacher said that ‘the best minds in the world are working on it’ and that gives me hope”
Um what. Hey hello what. That kinda sounds like oh I dunno exactly what I said in class yesterday.
“I think I’m gonna log off early but thanks for joining me”
That is such a weird coincidence. He thought. Wow, maybe I’m not a horrible teacher if other teacher are saying that. Unless.. no.
She did mention being from the Bay Area.. but no. Cool coincidence but no.
But the coincidence happened to come up to him after class the next day.
Elijah, a sweet 13 year old boy, he was held back and often had trouble grasping concepts, but when he did he was so enthusiastic. Unlike some of the boys in his class he was quiet and thoughtful. He had a knack for drawing and Ryland would call him up to draw diagrams on the whiteboard (because Ryland is always gonna say “guys I’m not an artist so don’t judge me” and then draw only god knows what).
“Hey bud what’s up?” Ryland said while erasing whatever was on the board.
“Um nothin I just- I got my test back and my sister said I should talk to you about it”
Sister? That’s weird. Whatever.
“The one on thermodynamics? Let’s take a look” Ryland pulled out his test and sat down in his swivel chair. “Alright kiddo, I’m gonna be honest, you didn’t do very well this time”
“Oh..” he looked crushed, pulling an rylands heart strings.
“Look Elijah, you’re a really great student, if you’d like you can come for your lunch period and we can go over the test and see what you got wrong okay?”
“Okay”
“Plus parent teacher conferences are coming up so I’ll talk with your parents then alright?”
“Alright. Thanks Mr Grace!”
Elijah jogged out of the classroom to catch up with his friends. Ryland glanced back at the last name on the paper, he recognized it from somewhere, but couldn’t put his finger on it.. probably nothing.
As he did whenever students were struggling he went to his emails to let the parent know, and since teacher parent conferences were coming up, this would be convenient.
In the beginning of the year he gave each student a google form where they would say a bit about themselves and then put their parent/guardians contact info. When he went to check Elijah’s he copy and pasted the email, and scrolled down to “relation” to see it was his sister. Putting together the dots that now seemed very obvious: his sister was his primary caretaker. Okay maybe that explains some stuff. Good to know.
The next week, as per his routine, he came home, had dinner, watched a bit of tv and then graded. But now you had disappeared, one post “gonna take a little social media break, don’t miss me to much :)” too late. He was missing her. Quite a bit actually.
Wow I am pathetic. I’m missing this girl I don’t even know like a parasocial weirdo. I need friends. Or a girlfriend. Remember how the last one worked out Ry? No just just focus, focus.
Soon enough parent teacher conferences rolled around and being the caring guy he is he wanted to give detailed reports on his students and propose ways to engage them or help them, this ended in him having a binder for each kid, all 126 of them. He was up to his knees in work and conferences for essentially the entire week. His sleep schedule was sub-par at best.
But it was Thursday, he only had about 10 conferences left, and his next scheduled one happened to be Elijah. He was actually excited for this, he was passionate about helping kids, he saw himself in Elijah, being the genius that he is he didn’t do great in school. Most of his teachers didn’t make an effort to accommodate, many passed him off as stupid. But Ryland knew that was BS, he didn’t believe there was such thing as a “stupid student”, so what if Elijah didn’t fully understand enthalpy, he could create worlds and draw them out, he had an endless imagination. What’s the use of making a fish climb a tree?
With his glasses half off his face he heard a knock at the door, he scrambled slightly to set them on and walked over, letting Elijah and his sister- wait a minute. Wait a damn second.
Holy mother-forking snickerdoodle. I know her. I know her very well.
He might’ve stood there blinking dumbly for a minute
“C-come in” he coughed out nervously, barely making it to his chair, thinking about your warm smile, your swooped hair.
It’s her! Who fricken knew!
He adjusted his glasses again, opening Elijah’s binder.
“Im y/n, Elijah’s sister and caretaker” you offer your hand. Shit she offered her hand!
He nervously shook it, internally cringing at his sweaty palms.
“I’m Dr Grace but uh duh you know that” WHY AM I TALKING LIKE THAT.
“Yeah I’ve actually heard of your work” you say trying desperately to be nonchalant in front of your little brothers shockingly good looking teacher.
‘I’ve heard of your work’? So she knows I nearly assaulted someone in Denmark great wonderful
“Can we just get this over with?” Elijah half whined.
“Cmon bud it’s not that bad.” Ryland said sympathetically. “I’ll start by saying that Elijah is a great kid, he’s really got a knack for some of this stuff he’s just been.. having a hard time grasping certain concepts”
You nodded, looking down at your little brother who was doodling in his notebook. You looked up at him, a silent way of saying ‘go on’
“Recently we had a unit on thermodynamics and Elijah got a 14 out of 50” he started, giving a sort of pit in your stomach, you didn’t want Elijah to do bad, he was only in middle school but the thought still bounced around your brain
“I suggested maybe he comes during his lunch period and we can go over it. He hasn’t come yet to work on it but that’s- that’s okay”
“Elijah you need to work on this- this, Elijah are you paying attention?” You start. He can’t help but let his eyes fixate on your face, he’s seen you on screen before sure but seeing you in person is like seeing a celebrity, a really really pretty celebrity. He felt star struck, he felt like a teenager, your presence was comforting and nerve-wracking, and he was internally hitting himself for his inappropriate thoughts, your his students sister! He needed to snap out of it.
“Look it’s not a huge deal, his grade is still an 87, he always participates and tries his best, plus he’s our class artist, always drawing the diagrams for us because god knows I can’t I mean look at that one- was supposed to be a gamma ray, looks like an elephant” uh oh im blabbering shut up Ryland. You laughed softly at his horrible drawing, a blush creeping up on your cheeks.
God she laughs heavenly too?
God why the fuck am I laughing right now?? And smiling?? Gross! Lock in y/n don’t think about how his shirt is too tight or how his glasses are falling off his face brushing against his pink lips..
“I um- anyways that’s all- do you have any questions?” Ryland asked, trying to bring back the long gone professionalism.
“Me? Haha no no this is great, you’re great, we love you- Elijah loves you, your class.”
“Thanks- thank you- Elijah’s a great student and you’re a great sister- or guardian- or”
“Sister, I’m just his sister, guardian makes me feel old”
“How old are you- may I ask?”
“Twenty eight”
Twenty eight? What is she doing in college?
“Great well I’ll.. see you around- or I probably won’t but uh- let me walk you two to the door”
“Are you suuuure you want her to leave mr grace?” A very quiet Elijah piped in, not so quiet any more, in fact incredibly mocking. How does he know?! Oh god whatever
His cheeks go red. “No cursing Elijah don’t run don’t- bye bye now”
Elijah then saw one of his friends and rushed off, leaving you and Ryland at the classroom door.
“Thank you again”
“Hey I’ve uh- your familiar” Ryland started, trying to play it cool and failing. “You do like livestreams right?”
Oh my god. This is definitely my worst nightmare how does he know. Immediately your cheeks go pink and he notices.
“No no it’s- I like them. It’s such a coincidence that you’re here cause I actually have graded papers watching one of your videos a few times” a few? More like every night.
“God this is so embarrassing” you said, thinking out loud, and also unsure of what to even say.
“No I think it’s cool, it’s like a little community you’ve got- or I figure you’ve got I wouldn’t know I don’t know a thing”
“It’s just a little stupid side thing I do, extra money for college and for Elijah”
“Why are you in college so late? You don’t have to answer sorry I talk before I think I’m sorry”
“No it’s okay.. I wanted to mention it anyways just so you’d have a better understanding about our situation.” You started, nervously. “I was about 14 or 15 when Elijah was born, our mother died very soon after that and our father just.. sorta lost himself you know? Stopped taking care of us, got fired, eventually skipped town. But by then I had a job and I was basically his mom. Anyways I couldn’t get through high school with everything going on so I got my GED and worked full time until I could save up enough money to support us and go to college”
“Wow.” Ryland started, you braced yourself for criticism, doubt. “That’s incredible.”
There was a beat of silence, it was half awkward half warm.
“You’re a really good sister.”
That made you want to cry. Maybe your support system was more empty than you had noticed.
“What are you studying?”
“Astrophysics”
Ryland practically jumped, he did a fist pump.
“That’s incredible your my new favorite person- astrophysics? So badass I mean I had to stick to stuff mostly on earth all that space stuff, I’m not cut out for it you feel me? Too complicated too scary.”
“I’d go to space, I love space” you say a little shyly, you didn’t really get to ‘nerd out’ on things, but seeing Ryland do it made you feel better
“You’re brave. Look if you ever need any help I’m a doctor- well I got a doctorate so- or if you need help or have any questions regarding Elijah I’m here, he’s one of my favorite students and- I’m talking too much and crossing a boundary woah step back wow I’m still talking” he mimed zipping his mouth shut, looking slightly mortified at his offer.
“No no I will, I’ll email you or- yeah. Okay well thank you so much- bye!” You shared a very very awkward fist bump and promptly ran away, looking for your little brother so you could get the fuck out.
“So how’d it go?” Elijah asked smugly in the car.
“Shut up you little brat” you said, undeniably smiling.
