1 - 20 of 108 Bookmarked Items in Abby's Project Hail Mary Collection

Navigation

List of Bookmarks

  1. *

    Tags
    Summary

    “Don’t have to face any specific direction to talk to you, Grace,” Rocky says. “Am radially symmetrical. Hearing organs on whole body. Grace biologist, should know this.”

    I suddenly regret teaching him literally anything about biology. Some things more than others.

    “Figure of speech,” I say. That’s so not the point. “Listen, is this about the other day? Because we can pretend it never happened, if it’s making you uncomfortable.”

    Rocky skids to a stop. He slowly backs up a few paces, and now I can tell he is actually focusing on me, even though it doesn’t really matter which facet of his body is pointed in my direction, due to the aforementioned radial symmetry.

    “Not uncomfortable,” Rocky says. “Interesting display of human culture and biology. Grace very kind to share with me."

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    34,462
    Chapters:
    5/5
    Comments:
    500
    Kudos:
    2,224
    Bookmarks:
    331
    Hits:
    29,229
  2. *

    Tags
    Summary

    It was just like teaching his kids on Earth. Except it was one kid and he scooted around like a crackhead in a hamster ball.
    A collection of short one-shots of Rocky learning about human customs and words.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    27,010
    Chapters:
    26/26
    Comments:
    226
    Kudos:
    1,146
    Bookmarks:
    219
    Hits:
    18,287
  3. *

    Tags
    Summary

    “Oh, it’s a way for humans to tell each other they’re taken. To remember,” I say, popping a bunch more gummy bears into my mouth. Rocky makes a disgusted sound and I smile as I chew. “It’s just a nice way of showing they have someone they committed to.”

    Rocky freezes. I don’t notice for a good few seconds, not until I get the pressing sensation that he’s staring at me, his lack of eyes irrelevant.

    I turn to face him. He’s jittering, something like shaking from excitement or anger, I’m not sure.

    “Rocky?” I ask.

    Grace have ring,” he points, and oh no.Grace have mate? Why Grace no say!?

    I hold up my hands before he can get too excited, though I can already hear a familiar sound, a repeating joyful and confused song start to escape from him.

    “No, no, no!” he freezes again. Deflates, a little. I sigh and run a hand down my face. “It’s… complicated.”

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    11,510
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    45
    Kudos:
    462
    Bookmarks:
    133
    Hits:
    2,047
  4. 77

    Tags
    Summary

    “Alright, so, how do we uh - how should we get this show on the road?”

    Rocky brought the dildo back around, raising it high between them like some weird sex monument. Grace stared up at it, feeling a renewed sense of dread when given the reminder of just how big it was.

    “Grace is positive question?” Rocky asked, catching Grace’s hesitation.

    “Yeah. I mean, I think so. You can take something this size, no problem - a bunch of other people have, too. How bad can it really be?”

    or, alternatively: grace still has a big dick, rocky is still a masochist, but now grace gets a taste of his own medicine.

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    22,283
    Chapters:
    2/2
    Comments:
    77
    Kudos:
    590
    Bookmarks:
    77
    Hits:
    5,851
  5. *

    Tags
    Summary

    "I was just having a… nice dream, and my body responded. It’s a… natural biological process.” Ryland makes the conscious decision to not tell Rocky what it’s called. “It’s related to reproduction, sort of."

    “Oh,” Rocky says. “Understand. Is biological process finished now, question?”

    Even through the filter of the computer voice, Ryland can pick up on Rocky's devious tone. He knows the answer to his question. Ryland had gone over basic human reproductive biology with him on like, day 25 of their relationship. Friendship? Whatever. And Rocky never forgets anything, so of course he knows he wasn’t “finished.” He can tell Ryland is embarrassed, and he’s trying to make it worse, for some reason.

    Well, it’s working. Despite his best efforts to remain neutral, Ryland is pretty sure he's blushing down to his chest.

    “Yes and no,” he finally answers, trying to ignore that despite everything that’s happened since he woke up, he’s still very hard in his underwear. He rubs at his face, trying to make the blush go away. “I’m… going back to sleep.”

    “Okay,” Rocky says. “Sweet dreams.”

    That little… fudging… freak. Darn him to heck.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    60,748
    Chapters:
    17/?
    Comments:
    485
    Kudos:
    933
    Bookmarks:
    154
    Hits:
    15,804
  6. 55

    Tags
    Summary

    Grace chases down Stratt after her karaoke performance and asks her to come back to the party with him. She learns about the ship-wide bet that she and Grace are hooking up, and shenanigans ensue.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    3,583
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    35
    Kudos:
    446
    Bookmarks:
    55
    Hits:
    1,925
  7. 96

    Tags
    Summary

    “We call this ♪♫.”

    “The color or the rock?” I tease, earning myself a low staccato noise not unlike what a human might sound like when faking a laugh.

    And then, from one second to another, he straightens. I sense the shift in the air, and as I rise from my squat, Rocky's gaze follows me very, very slowly.

    “What?” I ask.

    “Say name of this again,” he says, and I tilt my head. He’s never needed me to repeat something before. His hearing is immaculate, and he’s never once forgotten something I’ve told him.

    “It’s a rock.”

    He doesn’t move. He stares at me with his featureless face until even that feels more unsettling than eye contact.

    “Grace,” he says flatly. “You are fucking kidding me, question?”

    /////

    Or: Rocky learns the meaning behind the name Grace gave him.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    2,265
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    63
    Kudos:
    645
    Bookmarks:
    96
    Hits:
    2,230
  8. 49

    Tags
    Summary

    Rocky emerges, and his body language alone is enough to get me going. I struggle around my laugh, clamping my hand over my mouth. He waits patiently for me to gather myself.

    “Eridians are gay,” he declares. “I escape closet for all of them.”

    I fail. I tuck my glasses into the collar of my shirt so I can put my head in my hands, wiping tears as they come.

    “Rocky,” I say between giggles, “Rocky, I don’t think—I don’t think you can apply human sexuality to Eridians.”

    Something in him shifts, then. He perks to attention from his relaxed state, and though he has no eyes or facial features, I swear I can feel his gaze narrow on me.

    “I also read about gay rights,” he says slowly, warily. “Read that gay humans are hated some places. Bad.” He comes closer, looking up at me with all the accusation his flat face can muster. “You hate gay, question?”

    /////

    Or: Rocky learns about another human custom, and as always, he makes it Grace's problem.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    1,271
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    45
    Kudos:
    368
    Bookmarks:
    49
    Hits:
    1,311
  9. 40

    Tags
    Summary

    I'd thought before that I'd trust Rocky with anything, even open heart surgery, and I really, truly did. Given a few hours to read up on a topic Rocky could blow any equivalent human out of the water, and his adaptability, intelligence and dexterity gave me absolute confidence in his ability to do anything he set his mind to. The real difficulty would be on my end: my confusing squishy organs and the time limit we were on, my incompatibility with his atmosphere, and, most concerningly, the fact that the only anesthesia the Hail Mary had was local.

    Grace has appendicitis. Rocky has to cut it out.

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    3,116
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Collections:
    1
    Comments:
    23
    Kudos:
    364
    Bookmarks:
    40
    Hits:
    2,102
  10. 45

    Tags
    Summary

    I couldn't help but rationalize it to myself: if Rocky could see me getting off anywhere on this tiny ship, did it really make a difference if I did it right in front of him?

    Plagued with newfound attraction to his best friend, Ryland Grace decides he might as well show Rocky how he jerks off.

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    2,450
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Collections:
    1
    Comments:
    20
    Kudos:
    540
    Bookmarks:
    45
    Hits:
    3,572
  11. 23

    Tags
    Summary

    The things you get up to stuck in a tiny spaceship with your best friend who you owe your life to.

    Or: Rocky lets Grace explore his hole.

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    4,425
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Collections:
    1
    Comments:
    21
    Kudos:
    312
    Bookmarks:
    23
    Hits:
    2,043
  12. 54

    Tags
    Summary

    It's been a long time since Grace has gone into subspace, and it's starting to show its strain. Rocky is worried, so for his sake, Grace decides to try a guided meditation.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    2,940
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    37
    Kudos:
    537
    Bookmarks:
    54
    Hits:
    3,527
  13. 62

    Tags
    Summary

    “Grace pick you name. He say is funny.”
    “What does my name mean in your language?”
    “I tell Grace means stone worker. I lie. It mean special present.”

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    6,429
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    12
    Kudos:
    466
    Bookmarks:
    62
    Hits:
    3,588
  14. 4

    Tags
    Summary

    Mary tells you about the journey so far.

    This is a little Mary introspective written as if she were sentient and computers could feel anxiety and imposter syndrome and fall in some kind of confusing love. Or, what if you were a spaceship computer tasked with keeping three astronauts alive and then a couple didn’t make it? You’d probably get really attached to that third one and bend over backward to make him happy and comfortable huh

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    2,838
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    13
    Kudos:
    68
    Bookmarks:
    4
    Hits:
    584
  15. 12

    Tags
    Summary

    Dr. Ryland Grace is spiraling, and his robot assistants know how to help.

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    2,208
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    30
    Kudos:
    213
    Bookmarks:
    12
    Hits:
    1,884
  16. *

    Tags
    Summary

    For three hours, he’s at the beach, takes off his socks and hikes Ilyukhina’s dress up, and stands in the water. He left the cane on the shore; it hurts to let his frame bear the brunt of gravity unsupported. The reliable tide, just cool enough to chill him a little, laps at his shins.

    He closes his eyes and tries to forget about himself, the familiar ache in his joints and spine. Allows himself to imagine something else.

    A different truth, a hypothetical, a thought exercise.


    Rocky can't bear to lose Grace. But he can bear to watch Grace wither away from a sickness easily cured by Earth medicine even less.

    Grace has to make another choice.

    Or: After thirteen years on Erid, Grace leaves his true home for Earth. Eva Stratt lives to see him return. Earth takes note of the changes.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    31,986
    Chapters:
    6/6
    Comments:
    366
    Kudos:
    1,293
    Bookmarks:
    401
    Hits:
    14,425
  17. *

    Tags
    Summary

    If Rocky propositions him during the workday, he makes no such attempt at a performance—or, as Rocky likes to call it, courtship.

    After they determine this is indeed the word Rocky’s using, Grace snorts. “No. Courtship is, like, old-fashioned dating. Very formal old-fashioned dating.”

    “No, no.” Rocky gestures to what he gave Grace. “Is courtship. Trust.”

    “I don’t know what this is, but it’s not courtship!” Grace holds up the honest-to-God padded handcuffs Rocky made for him. They jingle a little. “Explain how this is old-fashioned to you. Quickly.”

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    7,931
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Collections:
    1
    Comments:
    175
    Kudos:
    1,814
    Bookmarks:
    246
    Hits:
    17,304
  18. *

    Tags
    Summary

    "Why are you just standing there? Did I..." I cut myself off, rewording. "Did something go wrong with your plan?"

    Rocky tilts back and forth for a second before finally responding, "Grace not begging, question?"

    My mouth drops open, "You want me to beg?"

    "Grace begging like human pet ringing bell. Is next step in my plan."

    OR: Grace assumes that, after the first time Rocky propositioned him, his curiosity was satisfied. Turns out it's quite the opposite.

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    6,014
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    158
    Kudos:
    2,761
    Bookmarks:
    219
    Hits:
    22,815
  19. *

    Tags
    Summary

    “Ohhh,” Rocky trills. “Rocky understand now. Grace embarrassed because Grace is bad at kissing.”

    “I’m not embarrassed.”

    “Grace is a little embarrassed. Grace say Grace bad at kissing,” Rocky says triumphantly. “Very sad that is Grace’s situation. Sad, old man, bad at kissing.”

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    6,499
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    64
    Kudos:
    2,168
    Bookmarks:
    286
    Hits:
    13,687
  20. *

    Tags
    Summary

    {Also can better see Grace. Study Grace. Understand what Grace fifth limb is.}

    “Woah,” I laughed, “I appreciate it, but that’s… for mating and waste.”

    {I know. Leaky human has many holes to leak from. Never see this one. Has TWO fluids. Interesting. Rocky will study. Answer questions that Grace won’t answer because blood goes to fifth limb and away from stupid squishy human brain. Like now.}

    That jerk was right. I could feel two things at once. Rocky, above me, VERY deliberately pressing his carapace even closer into my body. And the soft, throbbing sensation between my legs, pressing at the fabric of my sweatpants.

    Ohhhh fudge.

    *******

    Rocky and Grace explore each other on their way to Erid with the help of some hot new xenonite technology!

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    85,160
    Chapters:
    16/?
    Comments:
    460
    Kudos:
    3,542
    Bookmarks:
    519
    Hits:
    69,573

Filters

Filter results:
Submit

Include

?
Include Ratings
Include Warnings
Include Categories
Include Fandoms
Include Characters
Include Relationships
Include Additional Tags
Include Bookmarker's Tags

Exclude

?
Exclude Ratings
Exclude Warnings
Exclude Categories
Exclude Fandoms
Exclude Characters
Exclude Relationships
Exclude Additional Tags
Exclude Bookmarker's Tags

More Options

Word count
Bookmark types
Submit

Clear Filters

Navigation