love hard

1-2 for @bluetribbles

So, my insurance has been trying to not cover my SNRI because it is new on the market and no generic available yet, so pricey.

I apply for a refill and the request gets locked for review. Again. For the 3rd time.

This time I call and immediately ask to speak to the actual doctor making these clinical decisions. Very politely. Must be a slow day because they allow it.

ME: [Teacher voice] I'm calling in regards to the SNRI you have placed a lock on. Why was this decision made?

DOC: Well, there are dozens of other medications on the market in that tier, and far cheaper for you and [insurer]. We have sent a request to your doctor to consider alternatives.

ME: I am aware of that. So, can you do me a HUGE favor and look up my prescription history really quickly and tell me how many SSRIs and SNRIs were only filled once in 2022 for me, showing they were poorly tolerated?

DOC: It looks like eight.

ME: Great job! Now, can you please look at my genetic test for psychiatric drug tolerance and tell me how many medications are listed in the safe category?

DOC: Two.

ME: Awesome! Now, can you tell me what type that other drug is that I'm not taking?

DOC: Yeah, totally, it's an MAOI.

ME: That's correct, you're really knowledgeable! Should I be taking something as dangerous as an MAOI with my other medications, or even just in general?

DOC: It's contraindicated for sure.

ME: It is! So true! So, last question since you've been incredibly smart and helpful. Is it less expensive for [insurer] to pay out for the medication knowing they already get a huge manufacturer discount anyway, or is it more expensive for them to pay for me to need potentially long-term inpatient psychiatric care?

DOC: I'll clear the code, ma'am and flag it as medically necessary. I'm sorry about this.

ME: I appreciate you SO MUCH. You have a great day now.

"Ah yes, the old ball and chain."

"That's a little rude, don't you think?"

Time continues forward. Rocky and Adrian grow and change. They move house a couple of times. Rocky changes career from engineer, to inventor, to scientist, to diplomat, to teacher. Adrian picks up a new hobby every few decades. They explore other parts of Erid they've never seen. They meet humans on more than one occasion, but there's something about it... Something not quite right. The Eridian mind can never forget, and no matter how much time passes, Rocky feels it. Missing Grace. His human.

And then time really does move on. Rocky walks stiffly, Adrian sleeps for weeks at a time, they both eat less often due to how draining it is.

And one day, the temperature is perfect. Adrian wakes earlier than they have in years. The warmth loosens Rocky's arthritis, the wind is quiet that day, and sound can carry for miles because of it. The soil is quiet, ready, resonant. And they both know.

They go for a walk, take a dip in the sea, attend a choir in a crystal cave. And then, without fanfare, when no one else is around, they visit Grace. And Rocky climbs into his stone lap. And Adrian curls their body around Grace too. Just like Grace did hundreds of years ago, they let go, no scream, no pain, just peace and togetherness. Too beautifully intertwined to ever untangle.

it’s not as clear in the movie, but eva stratt does not seem to be a scientist. at least not at the level as the others on PHM. in the book, she seems to purposefully bring grace along to various meetings because she needs his input and his translation. there are several times that a scientist will propose a solution to her, and she turns to her snarky teacher friend second in command and asks his opinion. he’s there because he is incredibly smart and, if needed, can explain things to her so she can understand. before grace? i bet she was largely doing this alone. i’m sure others would explain things to her if she asked, but it comes so naturally to grace. it’s his fucking job. it’s his second language, AND he doesn’t think less of her for it. he knows what she’s capable of, and thinks she’s still right for the job, even if the science of it all is over her head

i’m sure that it started out early, when they were still learning what astrophage was. grace was a leading mind in it, and was needed. but then she brought him along to help translate other things for her. and then because she trusted his judgement. and then because, deep down, he was her friend.

Gordon, you lllllll𝕃𝕆𝕌𝕤𝕪 mothufucker. GET YO 𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐊 - 𝐀𝐒𝐒 down tothe 𝓉𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 or else i will ＳＨＯＶＥ 🆃🅷🅴 ＳＡＭＰＬＥ up your 𝔞𝔰𝔰.

*beep bee-beep bee-beep* *splat*