vital_root



Recent works

Recent series

  1. Words:
    40,785
    Works:
    2
    Bookmarks:
    172
  2. Summary

    What if Tony ran away, rather than return to his Malibu home? What if he became Iron Man from the corner of a mechanic's workshop in India? What if he and Bruce met up before Helicarriers existed?

    What if Steve Rogers recognized the face of a dead man? What if Fury told him Iron Man is a terrorist? What if he and three very special agents looked for the armor but found the Hulk?

    Also, Pepper the cat.

    Words:
    62,620
    Works:
    2
    Bookmarks:
    273

Recent bookmarks

  1. Rec 74

    Tags
    Summary

    Rocky is perplexed by Grace humming, so Grace explains human music.

    Or: I really wanted music to be addressed in the story, but it wasn't, so I made it happen.

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    1,239
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    59
    Kudos:
    788
    Bookmarks:
    74
    Hits:
    3,807

    15 Jun 2026

  2. Rec 81

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    Summary

    If Grace had to pick one word to describe the trip to Erid, it would be boring.

    If he had to pick a second word to describe it . . . it would be lonely.

    Or, on the way to Erid, Grace is getting pretty touch starved, but he had kinda already been touch starved? So he improvises.

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    8,990
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    75
    Kudos:
    326
    Bookmarks:
    81
    Hits:
    1,626

    11 Jun 2026

  3. Rec *

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    Summary

    It's not jealousy. Adrian is adamant about that. They are actually insisting that it’s not any emotion at all. Not even dislike. They are simply completely uninterested in anything that concerns “the human”. 

    Rocky believes them. Adrian has always been the level-headed one out of the two of them. They are too logical to be jealous. They acknowledge that Grace and Rocky have a special bond after everything they went through together and also understand that none of that will ever pose a threat to their relationship. 

    Neither are they heartless or ungrateful. They know that Grace is the only reason that Rocky is back at all, the only reason their star has stopped dying. Adrian has told Rocky again and again that they are grateful and happy and wish the alien no ill will. They even helped with the construction of the biodome.

    And yet they have no desire to get to know Grace. 

    **************

    You know those videos where the dad is like "You may keep the cat but I will have nothing to do with it" and a few days later they are smothering the kitty with cuddles and love?

    Adrian never stood a chance.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    4,122
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    449
    Kudos:
    11,391
    Bookmarks:
    1,778
    Hits:
    44,031

    10 Jun 2026

  4. Rec *

    Tags
    Summary

    In linguistics, a false friend is a word in a different language that sounds similar to a word in your own, but differs significantly in meaning. No word in any Eridian language could possibly be mistaken for English. But Erid absolutely has false friends.

    In his right mind, Grace would easily identify the mistaken assumptions inhibiting his integration on Erid. They are:

    1: A molecular biologist and a sapient rock can cobble together translation software that reflects the etymological nuance of an entire alien language.
    2: Eridians are enough like humans to have an area 51 and look forward to using it.

    Unfortunately, Grace hasn’t been in his right mind in years.

    Or: a ‘Return to Erid’ story where Grace struggles to touch down alone.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    19,101
    Chapters:
    6/6
    Comments:
    220
    Kudos:
    588
    Bookmarks:
    160
    Hits:
    5,029

    09 Jun 2026

  5. Rec *

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    Summary

    Less than 2 months away from Erid. In the process of the Hail Mary evading an exoasteroid, Rocky falls from top to bottom of the ship.

    In normal circumstances, Rocky could shake it off. Maybe a little sore, but okay.

    In this case, Rocky cannot.

    Rocky is scared.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    61,980
    Chapters:
    23/23
    Comments:
    953
    Kudos:
    1,417
    Bookmarks:
    385
    Hits:
    22,490

    08 Jun 2026