At the end of the final volume of Hiveswap Friendsim, the MSPA Reader is whisked away by Doc Scratch, learns the truth of why they were sent to Alternia, and then tasked to read a "brief" webcomic.
Things do not go as planned in this story. In this story, the MSPA Reader's makeshift home of the Old Watchtower collapses, forcing them and their friends to act fast if they don't want the imperial drones to catch wind of them. But it may already be too late.
The story is complete at 57 chapters and can be found here
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That's Rough, Buddy provides examples of:
- Adaptation Species Change: A justified case with Zebede's lusus, who is stated to be a wombat, while Act 2 of Hiveswap shows it to be a bee instead; the chapter where this is said was written before Act 2 was released.
- And Now for Someone Completely Different: The POV doesn't just follow the MSPA Reader or the Troll Call trolls, it also follows other characters such as
the hotdog juggling troll, various original characters, and the Helmsman and the Handmaid. - Ask a Stupid Question...: Upon learning that Amisia is the Reader's friend, Polypa asks her why she put a culling claim on them. She mentally acknowledges that it's a stupid thing to ask, since she herself (and, as she'd correctly suspected, both Azdaja and Konyyl) had tried to accept the job for the same reason (keeping other trolls from killing them). Later, after being informed that the "pan-broken" troll she just interrogated will be disposed of, Elwurd asks the troll in question, Cirava, if they're able to free themselves with their psionics. They promptly glare at her, and she quickly decides to free them with lockpicks she has in her shoes.
- Better with Non-Human Company: Noted to be the case with Charun, who get on better with Galekh's lusus than they do with any of the other trolls.
- Bittersweet Ending: The MSPA Reader is able to escape with many of their friends, and Fozzer and Remele have their minds restored... but the Handmaid reveals that they're in a doomed timeline, which means that their escape will ultimately be for naught as reality falls apart. However, they're able to speak with the MSPA Reader from Pesterquest, who is more determined than ever to save their Alternian friends.
- Break Her Heart to Save Her: Knowing that her association with the Reader will likely get Stelsa in trouble, Tyzias breaks up with her even knowing that the Reader's plan means they'll likely never see each other again. Stelsa still gives her a modified legislacerator’s uniform with a written plea for her to come home and ultimately chooses to leave Alternia with her.
- "Could Have Avoided This!" Plot: Many of the Reader's friends lampshade that they probably should have done something about their living situation before their home collapsed. Galekh in particular notes that his hive has plenty of room and he would have been happy to have the Reader move in with him had he known what what was going on, and is actually horrified that he didn't do so sooner.
- Despair Event Horizon: Polypa briefly crosses this when Amisia's words make her think that the Reader is already dead.
- For Want Of A Nail: It's strongly implied (and confirmed in the ending) that this story is the result of the Reader choosing "No" when asked "Do you want to understand?".
- I Choose to Stay: Not all of MSPA Reader's friends choose to leave Alternia with them. Some do opt to stay behind, most notably Bronya, Lynera, and Diemen.
- Interspecies Adoption: Barzum and Baizli have come to see the MSPA Reader as their lusus.
- Medium Awareness: Both Boldir and Marvus are aware that this story isn't canon, and even directly interact with the narrator, refusing to be narrated in second person; Boldir settles for having her actions narrated in third person, while Marvus narrates for himself.
- Official Couple: In addition to the ones seen in canon (Azdaja/Konyyl (matesprits with quadrant vacillation), Folykl/Kuprum (moirails), Tagora/Galekh (kismesis), and Tyzias/Stelsa (matesprits), there is also Marsti/Folykl (matesprits), with Marsti picking up Ardata as a moirail in-story, and Elwurd/Cirava (moirails). The MSPA Reader has become the ashen quadrantmate for Azdaja and Konyyl, and by the end of the story has made their moiraillegiance with Polypa official and might have become Mallek's matesprit.
- Papa Wolf: Inverted. Upon noticing that a stranger is feeding his lusus an unidentified plant, Galekh steps toward them with the intent of pushing them away with as much force as he can muster, which, as an indigo blood, is a lot. His Footnote Fever notes that he isn't considering being tactful or using appropriate restraint because "that’s [his] fucking dad this stranger is touching."
- Shout-Out: The fic's title is a reference to Zuko's infamous response to learning that Sokka's first girlfriend turned into the moon.
- So Much for Stealth: At the start of the story, the MSPA Reader is living in the Old Watchtower, which has been built into a cliff and has fallen into a state of disrepair before the Reader even arrives. It predictably collapses with the Reader inside, attracting the attention of Imperial drones.
- Switching P.O.V.: Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character. Some characters only get part of a chapter, and others play out differently (namely Boldir and Marvus).
- Wouldn't Hurt a Child: While Polypa isn't picky about her jobs, she's reluctant to harm Amisia, and she's horrified when she does so by accident even after getting the impression that Amisia's killed the reader.
- You Need to Get Laid: Lynera apparently has a lot of people thinking she could do with a kismesis.
