Chapter Text
*Image description:*
*white background, a very round rock base of an Eridian character is a soft grey colour with bright orange lichen anywhere light would touch if they were from earth. They have 4 arms on the ground, and are shaking slightly, they are very old and are not as strong as they once were, their final limb is open in a wave. Above them is musical notes to indicate Eridian speech with Asterix to the side with english translation saying "hello, dearest!".*
Grace had informed everyone that human's did not need to be watched. At all, but especially when sleeping. But it was such a shock to all the Eridian's he told, Rocky included, that it seemed he was vetoed. Not that he really minded, he was so used to it after years of being watched by Rocky and watching Rocky in turn on the hail mary, that he felt he might struggle to sleep even if they did listen to him. But Rocky and Adrian as much as they tried couldn't be there all the time. Human's just slept too often. So... they all but hired him a babysitter.
Grace quickly learnt that the Eridian in charge of watching him sleep while Rocky and Adrian were busy with Thrums and meetings was a little old lady. Old... person? He needed to stop gendering an inherenly agender or he supposed more accurately hermaphodite species' with gendered terms. It was a hard habit to break. But most of Erid didn't seem to mind, understanding humans from their own research and what Rocky had said. Besides if you have no concept of gender, it doesn't really offend you much.
Regardless, the Eridian tasked with watching him sleep when his best friend and their mate was busy was an elder. Not by human standards, by human standards even rocky was practically a historical relic, no this Eridian was old by Eridian standards. The Eridian was rounded, similar size to rocky which as aparently quite small for most Eridians. Agnes as he had lovingly named her, looked more like she had been worn down by the years like rocks back on earth were. After 652 years, earth years, which was how old they said they were, it was easy to assume wind and sand and gravity had worn at old limbs. Her carapace smooth and round, reminded him of a very squished heart shape and it had several long cracks all over the limbs and body. She walked slowly and with many tiny tremors, perhaps he should ask rocky for some kind of mobility aid for her. Though as soon as she settled she seemed perfectly happy and healthy sitting on the other side of a xenonite wall. She occasionally wore an EVA suit, but only typically for meeting him during his day. When she watched him sleep she preferred her atmosphere, likely more comfortable for long hours on old limbs.
Her carapace was a warm deep grey, blended with a bleached grey on the points of most light. Accented brightly with almost neon orange lichen coating the tops of each limb making her stand out even among adrian and other brightly coloured Eridians.
Grace was almost pissed at how much he liked the old woman's company, his friend knew he would have his reservations about being watched by a stranger and had likely done the most in-depth vetting process known to man or.. Eridian... only to land on Agnes (Grace had named her... it was the most 'old lady name' he could think of.. hes sure it was popular in 1375 when she was born if she had been from earth.. maybe). Her true Eridian name was just as long and beautiful as every other Eridian he had met, with more sing song notes than Adrian's name for example, and softer than most names he had heard. It matched her perfectly. She was sickeningly soft and sweet.
And damnit Rocky as right. Agnes was endlessly interesting, she had lived a long life and had knowledge of almost every field from her lifetime stored away in that perfect memory. She was just as chatty as him, and she reminded him of a perfect stereotype of a grandma. He was almost surprised she didn't come knitting, and bringing him heavy metal cookies each visit.
Just as Rocky had planned the evil bastard, he couldn't get rid of a sweetheart like that. She would tell him long winding stories that were so intriguing but soothing that he would fall asleep without even meaning to. She was a mastermind.
"-oh yes, has change much." She warbled in a song of cords, after years on the ship with rocky practicing and almost a year on Erid itself he was getting almost fluent at listening to Eridian, or one of the Eridian languages at least. Apparently there were *numerous*.
"Symmetry more important today, previously most important is sound. Though sound still very important."
Currently she was discussing the changes in celebration dress from when she was a pebble to now. It was more interesting that Grace had expected. Her arm lazily adding to her words in floaty illustration.
"No sight like Grace but sound must be same from all direction and being equal weight more important and pretty sound. Today sound need prettiness. In Agnes day most important is loudness. Is celebration, must be loud!" She gave a sweet chittering noise he knew to be laughter.
"Still have dress from when Agnes 100 Erid years. Agnes show Grace next time." She promised. And she would, even at her age she had the perfect memory of everyone on this planet.
Agnes was a master of her craft. Her craft being putting people to sleep. He didn't mean that in a negative way, he meant that as a compliment and observation. she was hired to put me to sleep and keep me safe. And by golly she intended to do as such. She had a routine so exact that Grace was practically conditioned like a pavlovian dog. First she would greet him, then they would simply hang out. She had a story or three, she was a joy to talk to. Then, at a certain time, usually at exactly 9:45pm 'earth time', she would finish her chat and settle in, tucking in her old cracked and smoothed legs to settle into a comfy curled up sit. And every-time like clockwork it made Grace feel sleepy just by the action alone. Curse you Pavlov.
Agnes was old fashioned and has said many a time she thinks it's dangerous not to watch with full attention while watching someone sleeps. So instead of knitting or crafting like an old lady past time on earth, or making some complex item like Rocky, or planning biodome expansions like Adrian. Agnes just sits there, sorta meditating or sometimes singing a Eridian Lullaby or something pass the time. She said she's used to it. Many clutches of children to watch in her past. Now, Her children have long grown old.
"Hey, Agnes." I say almost too quickly, before she can start a song that will surely have me falling asleep before i even realise it. "How did you and Alice meet?"
That caught her attention, lifting from her tucked position just slightly pulling one claw free but remaining partially curled up. Alice was their late mate. Agnes told many a story of her life, and until roughly 30 human years ago Alice was part of their life, meaning they were a common character in stories. Grace had also picked the name Alice when he was asked to early on into meeting Agnes. Why he picked two 'A' names and accidentally made Agnes gay? He had no idea. The Eridian's needed to stop letting him name them. He was hopeless at it.
"know what Grace doing. 🎵🎶🎵" she said in a way that told him that she knew he was just trying to put off sleeping, but she would allow it. The last word was some kind of nickname she refused to translate for him but he had never been able to catch in recording or in front of anyone else to ask. His running theory was a turn of endearment to a grandchild and she didn't wish to embarrass him. He was thankful for that. He was already being sung lullabies and watched while he slept by an old lady in his big age. But it was still endearing regardless.
"Hm. Alice, very smart Eridian. Alice was like Grace. Teacher. But very smart, could have had any job. But liked pebbles, liked to teach."
"I work at clock factory. We make.. hmm.. yes probably obvious" she continued and made that sweet chittering sound again. "Alice, stranger, come in, frantic. Alice say 'quick. I need 34 clock, with new design for tomorrow! Must have hours, minutes, seconds able to seperate and each number different texture. Very clear. Need tomorrow!'"
"Aw, accessibility aids for her students, question?" He asked, he had gotten in the habit of saying question, it just made it easier for those learning english to speak with him, a convention from Eridian, and a habit he had picked up. "But why so urgent, question?"
"Yes, accessibility. So urgent because Alice taught class this day and class not understand normal clock, too many dials and clicking. Students too confuse. Alice want to fix quickly for tomorrow so student not stay confused and form bad habit. Alice know class well." Agnes replied, one claw gently rubbing over the mate mark, the carved circle of rock made of her late mate's carapace, carved into her larger family crest. Beside the family mark a symbol not on Adrian, nor Rocky's arm; a death date. Eridian's did not carve a date until death was confirmed. Adrian while it had been over 40 earth years, never had confirmation, and thank goodness for that, as Rocky returned. And with him he also brought that confirmation for all the mates and family of his crew who had been in that limbo of unknowing for so long.
"But at the time all Agnes see is frantic Alice. Alice look crazy, so many clocks and is already an hour til end of day. No way. And custom order not something clock factory Agnes work at do." She laughed as she spoke as if reliving the absurdity of the day "but Alice so pretty even when frazzled and Alice beg me, seeing my name on workbench Alice go 'oh Agnes! Agnes please, many student. Don't Agnes want them to learn, question? It is simple task! Just 34 clock! You are clock factory worker! Can make clock easy!' Alice try convince. Agnes decide 'okay, after shift Agnes make Alice clocks.' Work will not allow, but i do anyway. Good for students."
"Oooh, cute, off the clock work for the pretty lady, huh?" He teased, luckily Agnes had picked up on human humour much faster than rocky.
"Yes. Risk trouble for pretty Eridian. I sneak material from work, and we go to Agnes workshop to make. Is not farm from work and not get Agnes Alice in trouble." She has settled back into her curled up ball pose again, tucking in her arms. "Alice help as Alice can. Alice make design but Alice is *horrible* crafter. Agnes think *Grace* do better at crafting than Alice, and Grace alien." She snickers again, harder this time as she recalls the horrible craftsmanship of her lost love.
"Agnes do all work instead. Very long time. Very taboo but Alice must sleep before class next day. Short rest. Agnes watch as work. Big no no. Always watch with no distraction. But... clock important to Alice. so Agnes watch while crafting."
She hums for a moment recalling the memory, it's sweet. Grace has no idea what Alice looks like, it's not like pictures had any reason to be invented. All he has to go on is that mate mark of a soft glassy warm brown and a small circle of forrest green. The two main textures of a mate's carapace. The marks themselves were often different colours for different tones that made up an Eridian's mate but not always. It was whatever the two most dominant textures were. Colour wasn't something Eridian's ever considered, they couldn't see it.
"In morning, Alice run off quickly quickly!" Agnes continued after a moment, her sing song softer, and grace can feel himself resting heavier against the pillow below his head. "No time to exchange contact. Only later, Alice come back to factory. Agnes not working, but coworker next day give me Alice details. Soon after we begin courting. Alice not nearly so chaotic normally."
Grace smiled, settling into the mattress and tucking his quilt higher.
"Alice sounds wonderful. I wish i could have met her. Would have loved to hear teaching tips. Or just hear more stories from both of you." He said thoughtfully.
It was true. He also wished he had some picture of them to place into the stories. Instead he had to use his imagination of a glassy brown Eridian with stripes of equally glassy green.
"Alice would have liked Grace. Adore. Grace care for students. Grace funny. Grace smart. Grace caring. Grace save stars." She said sweetly, like it didn't make Grace want to start sobbing. He was a grown ass man, but damn it if a sweet old lady saying her dead wife would have loved him wasn't gonna make him feel like tearing up.
"Grace sleep now." Agnes said after a moment. Her tone still soft but leaving no room for argument. "Want song, question?"
"...yeah." Look he wasn't going to lie. Her voice was beautiful and so what if he was being sung a lullaby. He was over 20 lightyears from earth. Who cares. Agnes began her tune as Grace simply let the words and sounds wash over him. This one wasn't in the Eridian language he knew. It was something from Agnes' culture, something older and more nostalgic than the songs she had previously sung to him. It lulled him to sleep in only a few minutes.
*Image description:*
*White background, An Eridian is curled up tight like a cat, all limbs beneath its round rocky base. Its colours are a warm grey of varying tones with bright orange lichen on the top most areas of its carapace. Above the character are musiv notes that seem to dip and rise to indicate song, the colour of the notes growing greyer as they continue to show the song continues even as the pov fall asleep and stops hearing them. The translation in asterisk says Eridian Lullaby. And their a hearts around the character to show they are singing lovingly like a grandma.*