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Waking up, Grace is way too aware of his lungs.
Unfortunately that's become the norm for him. His breaths have gotten more difficult for months. It was just mostly covered up by the other myriad symptoms he was suffering through. Labored breathing is one he didn't really account for, but it always seems to remind him when he first opens his eyes. And that was before he had the equivalent of double earth's gravity pressing on his chest.
Wait, gravity? But weren't they—
"Rocky?" Grace calls weakly, confused by what he's seeing. Or not seeing. He's on his back, and was sleeping. So he should be staring at Rocky's form sitting in a tunnel above him. Or leaned as close as he can get to his friend's carapace behind xenonite barriers, feeling a fraction of Rocky's heat bleeding to his shivering body.
He's neither. Grace woke staring at a ceiling that looks like mottled stone. Which seems weird for a spaceship. He doesn't remember that being on the blueprints for the Hail Mary.
"Mary?" He tries while waiting for Rocky's response. The eridian can hear him from literally anywhere on the ship, so he must be on his way. Despite the audible lack of scuttling rock limbs coming his way.
Nothing again. Okay, don't panic Grace.
"Hello? Rocky?" He calls again, forcing his muscles to move, trying to lift his body from his supine position into literally any other.
His arm nearly collapses under his own weight.
"NO— That's bad." He hisses, letting gravity carry him back to the thin mattress with a little thump. Fine, so getting up is not a good idea.
So. Wait for Rocky? The doctors said that Rocky could come back when he got proper medical clearance. Since then Grace has been in and out so often that—
Huh? Doctors? Armando? That doesn't seem right. Armando can't treat Rocky.
…
OH! But the eridians can!
A laugh bubbles out of his weakened lungs without control, grows and swells into a fit of relief pretending to be simple amusement. It hurts his chest, shakes his aching joints and makes his spine scream. The bruises all over his body act up, but the euphoria of his realization makes every iota of pain irrelevant.
They made it!! He forgot! How could Grace forget?! It was beautiful. The planet Erid was so beautiful almost felt sad that the eridians couldn't see it the way he could. It was the single most gorgeous thing he had ever seen.
Yeah, maybe that was in part because it was his final port in the storm, his potential salvation from slow, unrelenting death via hunger, but it was real pretty too.
Somewhere between his giggles, Grace almost misses the sound of an eridian's approach.
"Savior Grace?" A voice on the higher end of the scales that he's heard so far greets him. Grace thinks he hears a slight hesitance in-between tones, probably because this person thinks the messed-up alien is going crazy in here, "Something happen, question?"
Fighting the laughter, Grace turns his head, still grinning like a dummy, and squints at the eridian who steps into the room, claws tapping on the floor. Their image is blurry, and Grace realizes he's not wearing his glasses. Rocky must have removed them while Grace was knocked-out.
Despite the lack of detail, Grace wracks his strung-out brain to find this person's name. Let's see, they're a copper color, they're a little bit smaller than Rocky, a clear, high voice.
Oh! He's got it, "Hi, Rufaida!" Forcing down the light in his chest, keeping from laughing at their concern, he shifts to face them more, wincing just slightly at the motion, "I'm okay! Sorry to worry you."
Scuttling a little closer to the bed, Rufaida uses the little steps that Rocky and another engineer had quickly installed all around the bed to climb closer to his side. Rocky had complained about the quality of the work, but Grace can't imagine anything Rocky makes would be subpar. Rocky is just picky and is irritated at staying in this little room so long.
(Not Grace! No, Grace is very, very grateful for the room. It's plain, but specially designed to keep him safe in. An act of kindness that Grace was only 90 percent sure he would receive upon arriving at Erid.)
For now, Grace is fine with this setup. Not like he can move much anyway, no matter how bored he gets. Even scooting a little to the side to give Rufaida a better reach is difficult and makes his muscles complain.
Tapping on a little bar that Grace theorizes is some kind of sonar-based medical tool, Rufaida listens closely. Tapping and pausing, moving the bar around his torso and tapping again. Probably making sure his organs didn't spontaneously dissolve or something, "Savior Grace was… very loud. Woke from sleep-cycle very suddenly. Is okay, question?"
Ah, was he that loud? He thought— Wait, no. Eridian super hearing. That's right. "No, no. I'm okay." He smiles against while reassuring his… nurse?
Rufaida is definitely some kind of medical care professional. When they first met, the eridians were still treating him on the Hail Mary. Rufaida was one of the first he met. With a no-nonsense attitude and admirable calm around treating an alien patient, Grace reasoned initially that Rufaida was probably a paramedic. Or maybe something like a field medic. Someone used to dealing with critical injured patients. But then they stayed even once he was settled in this place. Maybe their job doesn't even have an earth equivalent.
"Savior Grace vitals okay." Rufaida informs him, "Worse than yesterday." Worse?!
"Ah man," he sighs, still feeling every bruise on his body, "Thought I was getting a little better."
"Grace will." Rufaida responds, pushing the sonar-bar out of their way, "With rest."
And food, Grace really wanted to add, but was also kind of wary of asking about how the nutritionists were getting along. Sure, Rocky gave them some samples to synthesize, but so much has been happening that he's not sure if they've made any progress.
"Mmm." He hums, glancing at the door, visible in the light that Rocky had stolen from the Hail Mary to set up in his new pad, "Is Rocky—"
"Savior Rocky is fine," Rufaida cuts Grace off. Not unkindly, but Grace can't help a sheepish smile when he recognizes a chime of exasperation, "Savior Rocky is now in treatment. 🎶🎵🎶🎵. For change in gravity." Huh? Oh.
Physical therapy probably. Grace is going to get used to that word all too soon. He's cringing just thinking about it.
Ever alert, Rufaida twitches in response, "Savior Grace alright, question?" They tap twice on the bed-frame, "In pain, question?"
Ah. Kind of all the time… "Not bad pain." Grace shrugs. Definitely not the worst he's ever had. The old burns on his arm and back would make this full-body ache seem like a cake-walk.
"More painkiller, question?" To be honest, he's pretty tempted…
"When is Rocky coming back?" He asks, even knowing that Rufaida will be even more exasperated with him for asking.
They don't show it as they calmly say, "In three earth hours."
Three?!? What kind of therapy are they doing that will take three full Earth hours??
Oh. Guess they do have five limbs to work on rebuilding strength and balance in. Ugh.
"Maybe, then," he murmurs, leaning back against the pillows that Rocky had thoughtfully brought in from the ship. He brought the cardigan too, which was smart. Grace has been freezing lately. If Rocky wasn't going to be back for a few hours then heading back to bed sounds pretty darn good.
Sure he just woke up, but he was tired, okay?
"Will do small amount. Keep Grace comfort in sleep." Ah, good. Just a short nap.
Closing his eyes, he listens to Rufaida set up his medication. Most of the gear they have setup in the room is straight from the Hail Mary, including the painkillers themselves. He's not sure if they cracked open Armando or what—
But he starts drifting off before he can ask.
There was a much more familiar scuttling when Grace woke up next.
Instantly he realizes he was silly for thinking Rufaida was Rocky because that is Rocky! That's his best friend!! He came to visit!!!
Is he done with his therapy? Is he okay? Rocky is probably tired. Grace should offer to watch him sleep. He's had a few hours himself now, he can tough out Rocky's sleep cycle. It'll be fine!
As Grace mentally looks forward to watching his buddy rest, he realizes that for some weird reason he isn't actually physically looking at anything yet? Because he hasn't gotten his eyes open, he notices.
Forcing them open, Grace can tell that his vision is even more distorted than before. Not in a terrible way, just a little extra fuzzy. It feels right in line with the little tuffs and balls of cotton in his head.
What is up with that sensation? It's kinda nice on one hand, creating some mental distance between him and the pain, but on the other the it is a little funny to feel like he's only half there and—
Oh wait, Rocky!
Turning his head with a smile already in place, Grace is greeted with a familiar brown carapace bouncing just outside his door. The clear xenonite airlock reveals Rocky shoving on a protective suit.
One of Grace's new favorite noises is the sound of the airlock hissing, letting in the eridian. "Hey Rock—" He barely manages to get out before Rocky is leaping at him.
"Grace! Grace, Grace, Grace!" Rocky chants his name, running in a half-circle around Grace's bed. Hopping around like a spider on a sugar high, all five limbs scrambling to find purchase after each little jump, "Is Grace ready, question?!"
Oh wow— Is he ready for what? Did the eridians have something planned? Testing of some kind? Is it something to do with the taumoeba, maybe? Grace isn't really sure what was on his calendar. Does he have a calendar? What does the eridian calender even look like? Or sound like. He should probably know that if he's going to be living on Erid. Where does one get a calendar on this planet?
A high-pitched squeal of a note knocks Grace out of his fuzz-lined thoughts.
Rocky is now scrambling on top of his mattress, manic with energy but still careful not to step on any part of the fragile human, "Grace!" He repeats, this time Grace can tell there's more desperation in his tone, "Ready, question?!" Rocky demands, tapping one his favored limbs on the bed beside Grace's left ankle. The motion makes his leg tingle like the pressure is waking it up.
"Yeah! 'Course I am, Rock!" Grace answers, stretching out his limbs as best and can and trying to appease his friend. Who is clearly exhilarated about whatever event is coming up. Is it about his planned bio-dome? Or food? That could be nice.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Rocky sways his carapace side to side, maybe faster than Grace has ever seen, "Finally Rocky finish suit! Took too long. Had to check and check safety requirements. Had to be sure." Oh!
…a new suit? Grace doesn't remember them talking about that recently. But it would be exciting. He thinks Rocky has been working on the flexibility of the small xenonite paneling.
"Finally finished!! Size perfect— Ready for Grace environment."
"Sounds good!" Grace smiles at Rocky, who nods back, just as fast as he had been rocking his body.
"Amaze amaze! I tell them Grace ready!" With that, he scrambles off the bed, rushing through the small room to the door.
Before he leaves, Rocky pauses, and with another excited rocking sings, "Adrian is excited too! Amaze!"
And with that he's rushing out the airlock and Grace—
WHOA! Wait! Did he just say Adrian?? Like his mate, Adrian?
Is Grace about to meet Adrian!?
"Wait!" He starts to call weakly, "I didn't agree—" Oh.
Hold on.
…fiddlesticks! That's right!
Grace totally agreed to this!!
Oh jeez— How did he forget? It was this morning! Well, what Grace counted as the morning judging off of the Moscow-based clocks from the Hail Mary. It had to have been at least eight Earth hours ago by now. A few eridian days. No wonder Rocky was so excited.
They'd been talking about him meeting Adrian long before he touched eridian soil. Or rock. Whatever material they make their buildings out of, he hasn't asked. Whatever— The first Earth week they all had in contact with everyone been chockfull of work. From setting up the barest minimum of life support for a human on Erid, stabilizing the Hail Mary near the space elevator, to distributing the news of a cure for Eridani, and generally letting everyone know that Rocky made it back from the lost mission with a tag-a-long.
After they were certain Grace would survive long enough to meet Adrian that was often all Rocky cared to talk about.
Though he also liked to complain. One of the complaints was that he had to make Adrian a whole new xenonite suit, which delayed their meeting by a few weeks given that Rocky was so busy.
He never brought it up himself, he assumed Rocky just wanted to make absolutely sure that his mate would be safe in Grace's horrible oxygenated environment. With how obviously high a priority this event was for Rocky it was pretty obvious that he'd be meeting Adrian soon, but right now??
Yeah, sure, he'd said yes happily this morning, but that was before he'd been given a brand new dose of morphine (he thinks) and clearly slept only half of it off. He would love to meet Adrian at his best— Grace really doesn't want to embarrass himself in front of Rocky's mate.
As much as Rocky talked them up, Grace has to assume that his best friend is just absolutely smitten and full of malarky, or that Adrian really is the coolest eridian on the planet.
And it could be both!
"Actually, on second thought, maybe we should do this another day?" He suggests at a slightly-lower-than normal volume. Knowing for sure Rocky can hear him and very much hoping Adrian can't. Grace doesn't see any other eridian in the airlock just yet. Although his glasses are still missing.
Completely ignoring him, Rocky rushes out from his line of sight.
Wow, okay! Guess this is happening. Oh boy. His head is still feeling way too weird for this.
No. Actually, this is fine. Rocky was so, so happy they were going to meet today. So what if Grace is a little loopy from the meds? What is Adrian really going to think, 'this alien is weird'? So what? He is weird! Absolutely strange to an eridian. It will be fine.
Really, what's the worst thing that could happen?
So what if Adrian doesn't like him and might just be upset that Rocky spends all his spare time here at the hospital with Grace instead of—
…oh. Does Adrian…
A weird sense of grief grips his heart. Adrian might actually have reasons to really not like Grace all that much. Rocky said he told his mate all about Grace. But never really said what Adrian thought about all of this. Grace never asked either. Kind of figured he would give the two love birds as much distance as Rocky would allow.
So uh. It's maybe actually important to Grace that this goes well. Vitally so. Probably more important than anything else. That's terrifying.
Anyway! He should actually get ready. Not that he can stand or do much at all to spruce himself up, but he should probably be able to you know. See Adrian when they come in.
Now where the heck did Rocky put his glasses??
One bonus of the painkillers still lingering is that Grace is able to force himself up to scramble for the little end table someone dragged in here for him. Grace is pretty sure it might actually just be a big rock cube they smoothed out—which is fine! Just a bit plain with an almost uniform gray surface. The again, that table might be the height of eridian interior design, who is Grace to say?
Either way, he has a few small things laid out on top; his bean bag, one of the statues that Rocky gave him for puppet shows, and hopefully his glasses. Rocky normally puts them within his reach and requested that everyone do the same if they are to ever touch them. Well, he demanded they do that, actually.
Squinting at the items and patting at the stone surface, Grace just barely skims his glasses with a finger when he hears the airlock opening again. Darn, they're quick.
"Sorry, just um." He says to Rocky and presumably Adrian, "Getting my glasses on—" He shoves them on his face, nearly poking himself in the eye but dexterously avoiding blinding himself even with his limbs only feeling about a quarter and a half there at the moment. One point to Doctor-Captain Grace!
As soon as they're situated on his face, Grace turns to greet the eridians—
Holy moly.
Rudely, Grace's mouth drops open as he stares.
"Adrian?" He says, voice softened by shock.
"Yes! Is Adrian!" Rocky answers for the eridian beside him, standing on three legs to gesture at them with the remaining two, displaying them with utter pride.
Oh, wow, wow, wow! Amaze, amaze, amaze—
Grace had been pretty confident that he knew what eridians looked like.
In hindsight, his assumption was pretty obviously built on some flawed logic. And definitely a little human-centric. But can you blame a guy? He wasn't exactly ready for living rocks to look this varying! He's not a geologist!
Quickly eridians proved him false, the eridians who scrambled around him in the Hail Mary during their rescue all looked so unique and cool that he would have asked to sit down with each of them and ask how and why their carapaces were so different. How eridians seem to be covered by all three types of basic rock. (His running theory is a mix of genetics and diet from what he understands of eridian biology.) The only reason that he didn't is that most of them were in a bit of a hurry. Getting the cure for astrophage will do that to you, Grace can speak from experience! Interrupting those people's whole planet receiving its literal salvation to start a conversation about phenotype expression seemed a little arrogant.
So, more accurately, Grace had been pretty sure the second time that he had a rough idea of what eridians might look like. Adjusting for all the little variations in texture and size, plus with the new colors that he'd seen, Grace had reworked that original image.
But now he's realizing that he still kinda had Rocky as the the common denominator. When he thinks of eridians as a people, Rocky still portrays that image.
Grace held him as a kinda. Platonic ideal of an eridian.
Which in no— Literally zero— ways prepared him for the sight of Adrian.
Grace knows he's gaping like a fool, but he can't quite help it. He is not even sure where to start, what to think of as the most striking feature on Adrian.
First of all, they are massive.
If Rocky was the middling size in Grace's mind, then Adrian was an absolute unit. Grace had the idea that eridians might not differ that much in size; some eridians like Rufaida lean a bit smaller, then some larger, but mostly the eridians he had met were barely brushing one or two feet tall. Maybe if they stretched their legs out they could reach three. Maybe.
Just standing on all five legs Adrian is easily coasting to four foot something. Maybe nearing five.
The top of Adrian's carapace would be near parallel to his collar if he could stand. As it is now, Grace feels much smaller than the eridian before him. First time for everything.
Besides their obvious size, Grace is gobsmacked by the visual of their carapace. It's arched in a vaguely triangular shape that he hasn't seen on any of the other eridians yet, it morphs their silhouette into a tower beside their mate. For just a second, Grace sees a flash of human architecture in Adrian, of skyscrapers in the Bay. The smooth arch interrupted here and there by organic outcroppings of stone. The surface of their carapace is a completely brilliant blue, utterly outshining all the more neutral colors he's witnessed so far.
They shift slightly and Grace realizes that the shine on their surface is literally brighter than any other eridian too. The gleam is not reflected off the clear xenonite suit— Grace realizes huge chunks of their carapace literally sparkle, covered with layers of crystalline structures.
Whoa… amaze, amaze!
Adrian steps forward, tapping slightly on the ground in that eridian searching way and Grace realizes he's been really rude so far, just staring and saying absolutely zilch.
"Wow! Hi!" He exclaims, wriggling up to a better sitting position to try and actually hold a polite, adult conversation with his best friend's mate.
Almost as soon as Grace knows what he's doing, Rocky shoots forward, climbing on the bed to help him stack the pillows up to rest against. Thanks, buddy.
When he can recline a bit, Grace breathes a sigh that comes slightly easier this time around, his lungs seemingly adjusting to the shock of Erid again. Rocky settles his favorite fox cardigan over his shoulders like a blanket, not bothering to have Grace put it on properly. That's right, he has to focus on this conversation. Gotta get it right.
Adrian takes another step, and Grace grins at them, probably looking disheveled and wild, but he hopes that won't put them off. Judging by how Rocky talked his ears off about his mate Grace is sure Rocky must have told Adrian a little bit about Grace in return. Good things, hopefully.
…Probably some bad things. Embarrassing things, more likely. Rocky is pretty darn blunt, after all. Eridians in general have been. Grace can appreciate that, he doesn't have to guess too much what an individual think. But in this case, Grace feels a little like shaking his best friend and demanding to know what slander he might have told Adrian.
Mostly because he really, really wants to impress them, "I'm Grace. Ryland Grace. Doctor Ryland Grace, technically— But everyone just calls me Grace." He introduces to the eridian in a short burst. Desperate to get the words out. Grace had been his de facto name since introducing himself to Rocky, who in turn introduced Erid to 'Grace the Human'. He doesn't mind, it sounds right. Fitting. He barely remembers using Ryland at this point.
Dipping their carapace surprisingly low, Adrian presses two limbs closer together, not quite connecting them the way Rocky did when he first introduced himself. Still, Grace can easily see how the marks on their limbs must blend together. Etched on the crystalline surface there Grace can see lines similar to Rocky's, in-filled with a mix of darker stone under the blue and flecks of gold. Some of it is a distinct design, different from the rest. Grace assumes that is the pair's clan symbols combined. He smiles a little at the mark of their relationship. Above their arm is a small section of carapace that departs from the blue into a very familiar brown. Ah! Their mating marks.
Once their limbs are showing their clan marks, Adrian resonates their verbal introduction.
Grace feels it in his ribcage.
Adrian's voice is much deeper than their mate's, which makes sense given their sizes, but it still throws Grace for a loop. They're close enough that he can physically feel the vibrations as Adrian delves into the details of their identity. Like a distant thunder, it rolls over Grace, demanding his full attention.
Which is why he is more that a little embarrassed to admit he definitely did not catch half their titles.
In between the deep tones Grace caught their given name, familiar from Rocky's wonderful monologues, their clan title translating to something like; 'beyond-the-🎵🎶🎶🎵-near-the-water', a word he's not entirely sure the meaning of, but he knows it has something to do with science given the high-pitched, layered prefixes that Rocky has applied pretty often to Grace himself.
And of course, the fact that they are the mate of Rocky.
Embarrassed by his distraction in that moment, Grace refuses to ask Adrian to repeat themself. He doesn't want Adrian to think he wasn't paying attention out of lack of care! No, it was just that he was surprised by their voice. It stands out against Rocky's slightly higher, bell-like song. Actually, Adrian's voice was really pleasant— His comparison to thunder was admiring, he promises. It reminds him of a pleasant night staying inside during a storm, the comforting white noise of the weather muffled by safe walls in a warm home.
Not to say that Adrian's voice was only one-toned! Grace is pretty sure that would be the hightest insult to an eridian. Their voice still holds the sweet bell-tones all eridians speak in; with music in every word.
Once they are done with their introduction, Adrian pulls themself back up to their full height. As they start, Grace realizes that he's definitely gaping at them again. At this point they're going to think it's a human sense thing. Like he's trying to echolocate back at them like a bat.
Shutting his mouth (Mostly. He still has a dumb grin), Grace reflects Adrian's gesture, dipping his head. He would lean forward, but he's pretty sure he would fall off the bed and he doesn't want to make Rocky catch him again.
"Wow!" He repeats instead, "It's so, so cool to meet you, Adrian! You know," Grace can't help smiling even bigger as he forms a plan, "Rocky never stopped talking about you. The entire trip. Even before the planet he named after you." Listen,
Grace has never gotten the chance to be a proper wing-man (that he remembers) And with Adrian and Rocky being apart for so long… He has to hype Rocky up a little, right? It has to be his duty as a best friend.
When Adrian hums a burst of notes that sounds similar to the content noises that rocky would chitter during the quiet moments of Movie Night on the Hail Mary, Grace knows he must have hit the bullseye.
"And you know," he can't stop himself from adding, "He told me that he had the coolest, smartest, kindest, and prettiest mate of Erid, but wow. He really undersold the pretty part." The guy would not stop talking about them and he did not convey anything accurately about Adrian. For shame, man.
Behind him, he can feel Rocky twitch a limb, and then still.
For a minute, Adrian doesn't say anything either.
Oh no.
Grace made a mistake somewhere, didn't he?
"I just mean, I guess he couldn't have known, but your carapace is really, really pretty. Beautiful, actually," Grace can feel himself ramble in response to the lack of response, "By human standards! It's um. Blue."
Nothing. Crickets.
"Wait! You um. Don't know what that means, right?" He asks Adrian. He's not sure how much of an explanation of light and color Rocky covered with his mate. It probably wasn't exactly topic of a priority while he reunited with his long-lost mate, "It's a part of the spectrum of light visible to humans. It's kind of like a 'pitch' of light that we perceive in a specific way." Explaining the science of color in a easily digestible way is like an instinct. Comfortable, routine, and eases the anxiety he feels in his blurry body at the fact that he definitely insulted Adrian somehow and that they hate him—
"Interesting." Adrian whistles.
Internally, Grace winces. Is that a good interesting, or a 'Man, this alien is annoying and can't shut his trap' interesting?
Coming closer, probably barely within Grace's arm' s reach (had they not been limp noodles lately), but notably staying just a pace away from touching the edge of his bed with their carapace, Adrian asks, "Pitch is pleasing to human? To Grace?" Oh!
"Yeah! Your carapace is like. A gem color. Really pretty! Is it an actual gem covering? Or crystal, maybe—"
"Yes." Adrian cuts him off.
…
And leaves it at that.
(Oh wow. Okay. So they really do hate him—
Wait, wasn't he supposed to be hyping Rocky?)
Raising an arm, Adrian reaches towards that sonar bar, hesitating over it for a second before giving it a few taps. Ha, getting a good look at the squishy alien, huh?
"Tell Adrian Rocky color, demand." His friend echoes his mate's tapping on Grace's shoulder blade.
"Ha! Sure, bud. He's brown," Grace says simply.
Rocky won't endure such an insult,"Beautiful brown, question?"
"Very beautiful." Grace adds playfully, knocking an elbow gently into Rocky's suit.
Adrian's next hum is much lighter, it immediately seems less curt and Grace can feel himself relax at the extended tone.
"Why is Adrian Rocky pitches good, question?" Adrian asks, "Are there upsetting pitches?" Oh!
"Not really?" That's a really interesting question though! Grace is pretty sure he's never been asked what his least favorite color is. He should introduce eridians to human icebreakers sometime. But only the actually fun ones he used on his classes, like what element of the periodic table you would be, "It depends on the person. Some humans might not like a specific color. Or sometimes cultures might apply certain connotations to colors that you have to consider, but those aren't universal."
"Adrian Rocky pitches have implications, question?" Adrian asks, scooting very slightly closer.
"Well yeah. Blue is pretty popular where I come from, first of all. Plus, you see it all the time— It's the color of Earth's sky when it's not cloudy." That alone is a foreign concept to eridians, he knows. An uncovered sky is something they will never experience. Would never want to experience given their atmosphere situation and their general vulnerability to radiation.
That probably makes blue sound bad...
Grace looks Adrian over, once again struck by their bold coloration.
He thinks of blue and how to redeem it for eridian sensibilities. Trying to find some allegory or comparison. Don't use the sky, obviously. Grace knows he misses Earth's sky. Will always miss that sky.
But Adrian is certainly not the blue of that sky. The deep blue with hints of green and little nicks on their crystalline surfaces that reflect white makes him think much more of the ocean. It's not exactly the same, obviously, and Grace isn't sure he has the energy to explain why humans sometimes assign color to things that aren't that color, but he still gives it a try,
"You look like the ocean." He pivots, "On the beach, when the waves are rolling in," Grace can practically picture the sea-foam sliding towards him, nearly touching his legs as he reclines, the sky above not evenly blue, but an overcast gray, with darker clouds rolling in to cover the last of the clear sky, "with sunlight reflecting off the water, making it glitter," He doesn't know if Adrian is even aware that they gleam. Shine like the waves.
His eyes land on their mating mark before he realizes he was still staring and he can't help but smile, picturing Rocky as the ground below the water, the sand and the pebbles and the shells long since shed.
"It's really beautiful…" Grace finds himself murmuring, just to himself. Entranced by this vision of his home world. Wistful, but not quite melancholy.
Wait.
No, Grace was definitely not whispering to himself. Eridians hear everything.
Oh boy! He's really, really embarrassing himself.
And he's thinking in weird visions and allegories. Wow, what did Rufaida put in that IV?? Haha—
"Excellent!" Rocky cheers, apparently unbothered by his speech, "Adrian love water. Very brave!" Whoa, really? Rocky always acted like he was going to faint when Grace described swimming pools before.
(And called the entire human race idiots when he said people regularly go to the beach just for a swim.)
Apparently this standard of stupidity does not apply to his beloved Adrian, who dips their carapace and trills, "Untrue. I enjoy creatures who call water home."
It's difficult for Grace to even picture what lives in eridian waters. The atmospheric pressure is crazy enough to him on the surface of the planet. And he doesn't know how deep their oceans go! That's not even touching on the temperature.
Still, Grace sees an opportunity, to distract from his mistakes, and just maybe salvage this first impression, "Oh really? Tell me about them! If you want." He quickly adds, making sure Adrian knows it's not a demand.
For a few heartbeats, there is silence, but just as Grace starts to worry that he managed to put his foot in his mouth again, Adrian shifts, settling on the stairs that are attached to the bed.
"Yes. Adrian tell Grace about 🎶🎵. Creature makes long journey around Erid 🎶."
"It's migratory?" Grace asks, settling against the pillows, feeling the adrenaline from meeting them settle in his body, leaving him a little over-tired than he should be for this short conversation. "That's cool! We have a lot of animals like that on Earth."
The position of Adrian on the steps he worries isn't the most comfortable. Grace would offer to let them share the bed, but he's not entirely sure what the weight rating is. Two eridians, one who has to be at least over 400kg before double gravity might just ruin his only comfortable sleeping spot. Adrian's height at least gives him a clear line of sight to their carapace as they rest, even if the image is a little silly. Like Adrian is poking their non-existent head over the edge.
It doesn't give the eridians even a second of pause as Adrian quietly launches into a description of a truly fascinating eel-like creature known to drown small land creatures on coastlines.
Even stronger than before, Adrian's voice rolls over him like the sounds of a storm, a song played in accompaniment. Soothing and lyrical.
Grace realizes too late that their voice is acting like a lullaby, something that he maybe got used to on bad nights during their journey on the Hail Mary. Rocky's musical tones were the best sleep aid a guy could ask for, and Adrian's are apparently no different.
At some point his eyes close, but he still does his best to listen to Adrian speak, having moved on to a story of their coworker mislabeling a specimen and almost ruining data for a paper.
"Grace okay, question?" Adrian stops suddenly in the middle to ask.
"Mmhm. Grace good." He mumbles. "Sorry, tell me about um," He trails off, not remembering any of the notes for their coworker's name.
"No. Grace lie." Rocky insists. Rude. "Grace tired. Always lie about tired." He definitely does not!
See, this is what Grace was worried about! This rock besmirching his good name. To Adrian no less!
"Grace can sleep." Adrian says.
No!
"Sorry, I'm listening." He promises, forcing his eyes open to look at Adrian, even though he doubts it matters much to an eridian who hasn't gotten used to silly human habits like eye contact, "Your voice is just really nice." It is putting him to sleep at the worst time.
…wait, did he say that out loud?
Behind him, Rocky chitters a specific note that he knows is not a generic laugh, it is very much his 'I'm laughing at Grace' giggle, "Yes! Adrian voice beautiful. Most beautiful of all Erid!"
Ugh. "Yeah, it's really nice." He agrees. Doubling down against Rocky's bit.
Who stills, probably disappointed that Grace didn't take the bait. Ha! Got you.
Then he surprises Grace by putting a gentle claw on his shoulder. "Grace sleep. Rocky watch. Adrian watch, question?" Oh man—!
"I don't want to take too much of your time, Adrian!" Grace exclaims. "I've been so happy to meet you, I swear. But if you and Rocky want to do something while I sleep, that's fine!" He's about to gear up for a speech about how 'humans really don't need to be watched while sleeping, no matter what Rocky told you', and how they should go do something together since they've been separated for literal decades and should carve out time for a date or something, not sitting here watching him while he can't even talk—
When Adrian raises a hand and hovers it over Grace's arm.
They don't quite touch him, they lower it carefully, as if they will, and then pull back slightly. His skin itches slightly where their hand should have made contact.
"Grace sleep. Adrian Rocky watch." Adrian says.
What?? "No, seriously, I can't imagine being cooped up in here will be any fun." At least he has to say for medical reasons. Rocky's health is a little. Well, rocky at the moment, given all that happened in space, but he can at least leave the house and do something. Have fun or just relax with his mate. They both deserve that.
"Grace sleep." Rocky says, yanking a pillow out from his back and—
"ROCKY!" he yelps, trying to push back his friend as the eridian drops the pillow over his face. "Are you trying to suffocate me!?" Grace laughs as he turns his head to get fresh air around the fabric. As fresh as recycled oxygen gets, anyway.
Adrian honks an alarmed note, but Rocky just pulls back on the pillow slightly, leaving it pressing against Grace's cheek with an extremely gentle claw, "Block light for Grace. Grace so sensitive! Make light quiet for Grace sleep-cycle." Rocky 'explains' his murderous actions.
Unable to fight Rocky normally, let alone when the laughter weakens his body, Grace just lets himself giggle through the vicious assault, laying down with Rocky's guidance, one of his stony limbs readjusting the bedding even as he almost kills Grace.
As he gets laid down, Grace can feel all the little aches in his body complaining together. Apparently sitting up and just listening to Adrian's stories was somehow too much for his body at this point. Ugh.
Giving his friend as strong a shove as he can when he's settled (Which is probably barely a tap to Rocky), Grace waits as Rocky pulls back.
Taking the opportunity to focus back on Adrian, giving them an apologetic smile. "Sorry— If you want to go do anything else that's still fine." He insists above Rocky's disapproving humming, "But,"
Cautiously, Grace closes some of the gap between him and Adrian, reaching a hand over to them in a bid for…camaraderie, he guesses?
Laying his hand on the bed, inches from them, Grace doesn't touch them directly. Adrian didn't seem to want physical contact with him. Which he respects! He just wants to reach out and say,
"Thank you, though. For offering to watch my sleep with Rocky." he imagines it's probably a bonding thing with eridians. And Grace is warmed by the suggestion that Adrian is still willing to give him a chance, despite their mate's alien being very leaky, squishy, and just straight up strange.
"Yes…" Adrian murmurs, the resonating of their voice softened. "Of course, Grace."
Then they reach out to bridge the final gap.
Avoiding his hand, Adrian very lightly taps his forearm, their claw practically weightless against Grace's skin. The touch so light it feels more like a breeze than a physical person's touch. Impressive for someone literally covered in stone and xenonite.
"Grace must rest." Adrian continues, stroking one claw very experimentally across the width of his forearm.
And pulling away quickly, as if upset. But before his heart could sink, Adrian adds so softly, "Rocky Adrian will watch. Promise,"
Oh…
"Yes, yes!" Rocky adds his own exuberance. "Adrian stay. Listen to Grace sound so weird in sleep."
Hey!
Adrian chitters a laugh as Grace starts plotting revenge against his best friend.
Not that he has the energy to enact any said plan just yet; he's already pressed against the pillows, eyes drifting shut.
"Good night, Grace!" Rocky sings.
Adrian lets out an unsure note, but copy their mate more sedately, "Good night, Grace."
But the last thing he hears as he drifts off is their beautiful voice saying with more ease, "Rest well, Grace."
No, actually, the last thing he hears is a twin-voiced lullaby, its reverberation lovely and gentle, pulling him into sleep.
Before he even cracks open his eyes, Rocky says, "Hello, Grace!"
Whatever Grace responds with was probably nonsensical, because even to him it sounded something like:
"Hrmfrusmrock."
"Grace must speak up."
Ughhhhh. What time is it?
When Grace gets the gumption up to open his eyes, he winces at the light. Aw jeez, Rocky was right, he should have quieted the lamp before sleeping— Ugh, he means turned it off. Where are his glasses?
"Rocky, where did you put—" Trying to get up makes his body ache. It's so much worse than before, the painkillers were doing so much work that he left unappreciated. Where is Rufaida when you really need them?
Turning his head to the door, Grace realizes on first glance that he has a clear line of sight. No blue crystal in his vision.
Wait, Adrian is gone?
Ah. Well… Obviously he couldn't expect to monopolize their time, keeping them stuck in this boring hospital room for hours. Literal eridian days!. Grace shouldn't be shocked that they skedaddled when he fell asleep. He offered for them to leave beforehand with no offense! He hopes Adrian is having—
"Adrian fine," Rocky apparently picks up on his thoughts like a telepath, because he squirms away from his position near Grace's chest to enter his line of sight, pointing at the door, "love goes to get project from home. Something to work on during Grace sleep cycle." Oh. Makes sense. Why wouldn't they want— Wait, during his cycle?
"They're coming back?" Grace asks.
Not quite hiding his surprise given the gentle tone Rocky responds with, "Yes, yes. Obvious. Adrian promise watch sleep." Oh. They did.
And Adrian keeps promises. Rocky's told him that over and over, "Yeah… They did. I just. You know."
"No. Don't know." Rocky's deadpan disappointment makes him wince, "Sleep cycle not done. Human brain still stupid stupid. Go to sleep."
Ha! Probably a good idea, "Sure bud… you watch?"
Really, he doesn't need to ask. Grace knows Rocky will stay as long as he needs him.
"Of course." Rocky reassures anyway.
Closing his eyes, Grace allows himself to drift off and—
"Grace? Rocky have one question before Grace go into sleep-cycle."
With his eyes still closed, he mumbles, "Oh yeah? What's that, bud?"
"Why Grace flirt with Rocky mate, question??"
Surging up from his bed makes his core and his spine scream in pain.
But Grace hardly notices as he grabs Rocky's arm with more energy than he's felt in months, his body practically vibrating with it as he demands,"What?! What do you mean?!"
Unimpressed, Rocky lets Grace shake his limb, keeping it limp and movable, "Grace calls mate beautiful many times. Is that not human flirting?"
That was ridiculous! That was—
Oh. Holy moly. He did call Adrian beautiful. Oh no!
"I didn't mean it like that!!" Grace protests. This is bad, this is friendship ending—Oh no, it could be much, much worse, "Did I upset Adrian?!"
This is a disaster-level scenario— He probably made them so uncomfortable!! This weirdo alien talking about how pretty you are when he first meets you— Crud, they definitely think Grace is a total creep!
And he was supposed to be hyping Rocky!
Right now. He has to apologize right now!!
Rock starts howling with laughter below him.
"Rock! This isn't funny!"
His friend pats his arms with some free limbs, letting Grace cling on to the one he's still shaking, "Grace relax! Was joke. Adrian fine. Not mad at all."
Oh… that is such a relief. They must have been weirded out, but at least he didn't scare them.
"Besides, you said nothing that wasn't true!" Rocky cheers.
Grace loves the wife-guy energy, but he still feels nauseated, "Rocky! It's not supposed to come from me! Are—" Wait, he said Adrian wasn't mad.
"Are… you mad at me?"
Another chittering laugh is Rocky's initial response. It makes the blinding fear of losing his dearest person fade, even before the eridian adds, "Grace tired. Human brain stupid. Say nice things in stupid, funny way, yes?" Those hands gently pat and stroke over Grace's hands, "Rocky not mad."
Relief rushes through him and steals the strength he has found. Grace lets go of Rocky and stops fighting himself falling back into bed, landed with a muted thump.
Ow, his back really didn't like that. It's gonna yell about that one for awhile. He ignores it and says, "Thanks, Rocky. You know I would never—" He chuckles awkwardly, not even willing to voice his fears of what Rocky could have thought, "That was singularly the worse first impression I've ever made." And Grace has been kidnapped during an introduction before.
"Yes! There was no dancing. Shame." Oh gosh—
He can't tell if Rocky is being serious or not, but he still laughs along. Knowing he hasn't totally lit his relationships on fire here, Grace feels much better.
Settling back into his position near his chest, Rocky presses against Grace, warming him past the xenonite. An arm rests near his shoulder, pressing warmth and soothing pressure into a muscle that is violently upset about his behavior the last few minutes. The top of his carapace bumps into Grace's chin so softly that Grace is pretty sure it was on purpose as Rocky loafs into a comfortable sleep watching position.
"Rocky love Grace very, very, very much."
Oh… Grace throws an arm over his friend, embracing him in a hug as close as he can, in defiance of the xenonite between them. His throat feels blocked and tears prick at his eyes as he whispers, just for Rocky,
"I love you too, Rock—"
"Even if Grace big time home wrecker."
HEY!!