Fics like Ryland Grace vs. The World-Building Implications of Scenting

Ryland Grace, savior of humanity, is invited to a gala celebrating the 5th anniversary of solving the Astrophage Crisis. It is a mandatory scent-neutral event requiring everyone to wear heavy-duty blockers. Which is why when he is approached by Tom Ryder stinking the room with his alpha scent, he considers two explanations. One: Tom Ryder is an entitled jerk who thinks he is above even the mandated policies of the Petrova Foundation. Two: Since no one else seems to be reacting to Ryder, this means that only Ryland can smell him. Which means their compatibility is so high that it bypassed industrial-grade blockers. Or in more romantic terms, they are soulmates. But if that's the case, why does Ryder smell so repulsive to him? Answer: Definitely Option One. Right? OR: Scenting is usually taken as an afterthought in Omegaverse. This is an attempt to explore the biological, cultural, and sociopolitical implications of such an ability if taken seriously in our world-building. An exercise in speculative biology, delivered through the medium of Starstruck (Ryder/Grace).

You may also like

  1. Message in a Beetle by ConalltheLibrarian (Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary (2026))
  2. Into the Limelight by TheCrowsDesk (Barbie (Movie 2023), The Fall Guy (2024), more)
  3. Discordant by EvieNyx (Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary (2026))
  4. You Don't Know F*ck About My Family by ArcadeFloorAo3 (Project Hail Mary (2026), Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir, more)
  5. dear future self (hands up!) by menaciingly (The Fall Guy (2024), Project Hail Mary (2026))
  6. Bitter Sweet Symphony by art_is_dead (Project Hail Mary (2026), Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir, more)
  7. All The Years You Haven't Lived by Aster_MacGuffin (Project Hail Mary (2026), Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir, more)
  8. take a look, i'm not such a stranger by snapdragonpop007 (Iron Lung (2026), Project Hail Mary (2026), more)
  9. Quantum Starwalker by faeriecore (Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary (2026), more)
  10. Within A Spectroscopic Binary by oofouchyikes (Iron Lung (2026), Project Hail Mary (2026))
  11. Thinking of 'When' by VibbleWibble (Project Hail Mary (2026), Iron Lung (2026), more)
  12. The Fall Guys (+ An Eridian) by Wenber (The Fall Guy (2024), Project Hail Mary (2026), more)
  13. Ryland Grace Can't Catch a Fucking Break by Plurekko (Project Hail Mary (2026), Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir, more)
  14. Something to Lose by S666t666n (Project Hail Mary (2026), Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir, more)
  15. where nothing bleeds by interstellarisms (Iron Lung (2026), Project Hail Mary (2026), more)
  16. Can You Find Me (in between the stars)? by Vnvrss (Project Hail Mary (2026), Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir, more)
  17. SloeBurn by thepossumwrites (Iron Lung (2026), Project Hail Mary (2026), more)
  18. The C Team by MatchesOnlyBurn (Iron Lung (2026), Project Hail Mary (2026), more)
  19. You’ve Got Stars In Your Eyes, Spaceman by dream_on_river (Project Hail Mary (2026), Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir, more)
  20. The Lost Prince by chubbysloth11 (Project Hail Mary (2026), Iron Lung (2026), more)