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Rocky keeps tapping at his ball impatiently as I type on my keyboard. I've been scrolling around for around 30 minutes now. Why? Well, after a few months on our journey to Erid, we decided on a little tradition so we don't go insane. Every Earth Friday, we watch a movie in the Don't go insane room. The first movie I showed him was Rocky, obviously. Then I showed him Star Trek and Star Wars. Well, I tried. He got offended at how humans represented other life beings.
"Movie, movie, movie. Grace is late," Rocky complains. "Grace promise to be on time. Why lie, question?" He stomps a few times, but I don't think he expects an actual answer. It's more of an annoyed rhetorical question. I tap the top of his ball while still scrolling on my laptop.
"I promise I'll be there in a couple minutes Rock. I'm trying to find the perfect thing to show you." He seems to perk up a little at that. He always did whenever I mentioned I'm doing something specifically for him. He likes the attention, which I honestly relate to. Unfortunately.
I've been looking for a musical to show Rocky. When I mentioned one of human's most popular forms of entertainment involved music, he was extremely excited. It didn't take as long to explain to him what a musical was, as opposed to a normal movie the first time. It's been easier ever since he made that gun thing.
"Grace better not disappoint."
"You know I won't bud."
"Grace does though. A lot."
And with that he scurries away in his ball to the DGI room. I want to yell at him, but I know it will be fruitless. I've been trying to think what's the best musical to show Rocky. I was thinking Cats, but I don't want his first impression of the animal to be the musical. Maybe Lion King, he really enjoys puppet shows. But same thing with the animals as for Cats.
I end up just choosing Hamilton. It's extremely popular, and it's about human history. Two lessons in one! Thanks to Stratt uploading everything into the computer's database, I have access to every streaming service. Which includes Disney+, which has Hamilton.
I get up from my seat and grab my laptop, ready to head to the DGI room. In the corner of my eye I spot Rocky's celebration clothes. After our celebration, I asked him if I could see the clothes up close, which is why they're on my side of the xenonite walls. They're less clothes, and more special jewelry. At least to my "stupid human culture and need for many layers." Maybe it would be more fun if I was wearing them...
I rush over and grab the ornaments, setting my laptop on The floor. The shoulder things manage to fit my shoulders, but his waist belt thing couldn't fit around my waist. I end up just putting it around my neck. I shake out my nerves and grab my laptop again.
Then I remember Rocky had actually made some special ornaments for me. I almost drop the computer as I rush to my dormitory to grab them. Rocky made bracelets that look like his shoulder decorations, and another one that works as a headband. I probably look stupid in human standards, but I probably look like I'm ready for a party to Rocky. And I sort of am.
I finally get to the DGI room, Rocky waiting on the platoform in the middle. I plug my laptop into the bigger computer that connects to the screens. Rocky taps at the xenonite ball.
"Grace take forever." There's a pause. "What you wearing, question?"
Because I don't need the translator anymore, I'm able to hear his tone of voice better. He seems hesitant to ask that question. Like he's in disbelief, maybe. But who knows, maybe I'm imagining things! I stand back up and crack my back. Rocky cringes at that, backing away a little.
"I decided to wear our special celebration clothes! Costumes are very important in musical theater, so I thought I should look the part," I say proudly. Rocky just stays still for a moment. I clear my throat and boot up the computer, the intro to Hamilton playing on the screens around us. I stand in front of Rocky and get in place. Hope he likes this.
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After almost 3 hours, I turn off the screens and close the laptop. I'm extremely sweaty, and around only an hour in I took off my shirt. Rocky didn't move much during the musical, barely at all. There were a few moments I thought he had fallen asleep, but there would be the occasional shuffle from side to side.
I stand in front of Rocky, hands on my hips. He just stands still. My foot taps against the metal floor. I really hope he liked my performance. I could have just had him watch it without my addition, but I thought it would be more fun and a better learning experience. I also know all the choreography and I need to put that skill to use.
"Did you like it?" I ask expectedly. There's a strong moment of silence from him. I can feel sweat starting to form again on the back of my neck. Then Rocky is running around in the small space, music notes trilling out of him.
"Amaze amaze amaze! Grace ♪♫♫ for Rocky! Beautiful!" He does his jazz hands a few times. He runs his ball against my leg and bumps his carapace to the top. I lean down and hug the ball, feeling sort of giddy. He really liked it! I'm guessing that unknown word is 'perform' as I haven't actually taught him the word for it.
He doesn't say much else, just beautiful music notes humming out into the air. His language is absolutely beautiful. I always enjoyed music, but I could listen to Rocky for hours. It feels a little awkward to admit that, but it's not like there's anyone to judge me. Besides Rocky. But idk never tell him this.
Speaking of Rocky, he exits out of the room, the sound of him clanging against everything echoing throughout Mary. I can still hear his notes hum. I guess he's really happy.
After a few hours I settle down and get ready for bed. I call Rocky to ask him to watch me sleep, but he comes running (rolling?) before I can ask. He's gotten so used to my sleeping habits that I probably don't even need to. It's nice to know someone knows and cares about me this much.
I get under my quilt and set my glasses down to the side. Rocky tales his spot next to my bed and tucks his arms underneath his carapace. I like to think of it as loafing. I shut my eyes and turn on my side, facing Rocky.
"Goodnight Rocky."
"Good sleep Grace."
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It's been around a week since I showed Rocky Hamilton and did my performance for him. Ever since then, Rocky has been acting strange. He's been nicer. Which, yeah, I'd a weird thing to complain about, but he hasn't been calling me stupid or questioning me. It was part of our banter, part of our dynamic.
At first he was just being nicer, not insulting me. Then he would hum whenever I went to sleep, and hum when I wake up. He would make my bed, getting any blanket on the ship and shaping them almost into a nest. After that went on for a couple days, he seemed to get annoyed. He spent more time on his "portable thinking machine." He didn't talk to me much if it wasn't for sleep or science.
Then he started making me gifts out of his xenonite. Models of Earth and Erid, flowers, animals. It was actually really sweet. Everytime he would put something in the airlock he built in the walls that seperates us and transfers it to my side I would flush, knowing he's using his materials to make me something. It's the nicest thing anyone has done for me, better than anything on Earth.
I kept them all by my bed. I wanted him to know that I really did appreciate his gifts, shown through actions instead of just words. It was around noon, and Rocky had just given me another figure. A fox this time. He was shuffling in his tunnels above the lab while I write progress of taumoeba evolution. We, thankfully, were able to fix the whole 'taumoeba is getting out of the xenonite' problem.
Rocky shuffles side to side more continuously. I take a quick glance towards him.
"You alright Rocky?" I ask. He jumps a little at my voice. Cute.
"Yes yes. Rocky alright," he responds with. I don't believe him though. One of his front arms is drawing little circles on the floor of his tunnel. I'm pretty sure that's a habit he picked up from me. I finish typing and turn towards him, looking up a little because his tunnel his connected to the ceiling of the ship.
"What's wrong bud?"
He hesitates for a moment, I can tell.
"Grace has not reciprocated Rocky's ♬♪♩♩ displays." He stomps two of his back feet when he says this new word, similar to how he lightly stomps one leg when he asks a question. I perk up at being able to learn a new word. Haven't gotten one since my performance.
"What's that?"
"Erid displays of affection, way to show another interest in becoming mate."
I immediately freeze up. He... He's been trying to court me?! There's no way! Right? I push away in my rolly chair, hands slapping against my thighs.
"What?! Where did this come from?" I can feel my face heating up, sweat forming on my brow. Rocky lowers his carapace a little.
"Grace did display of ♪♫♫ for Rocky. Eridian sign of affection for mate, shown by dance with special clothing. This not same on Earth, question?"
Oh, that's unfortunate.
This is just a big cultural misunderstanding, I can handle this. I wile away my sweat and smooth down my pants. I roll my chair closer to his tunnel.
"Rocky, I was just showing you musical theater. It doesn't mean anything important on Earth. I'm sorry we had this misunderstanding," I say, trying not to sound like I'm talking to a child. It's hard sometimes, like instinct. But Rocky isn't a child. He's smarter than me in ways aspects, and a lot older.
He shrinks down, front two arms tucking underneath him.
"So Grace not trying to ♬♪♩♩ Rocky?"
Darn it, he sounds so disappointed. I take in a deep breath.
"No, Rocky. This is just one big misunderstanding. I'm sorry. Fist bump?" I rest my fist against the tunnel, waiting for him to reciprocate. He justs sits. Then, he scampers off while yelling. Or crying.
"Grace stupid, Rocky stupid! Rocky miss Adrian."
Ok, so that didn't go well. I sigh, turning back to the table and laptop. I won't be able to get any work done, so I turn it off and start walking to where Rocky's sleeping quarter is. I find him curled up in the corner, all limbs tucked underneath his carapace. I tap the wall seperating us.
"Rocky?"
He doesn't respond.
"Rocky? Can we talk please?"
He curls into himself even more. My shoulders slouch. I decide to leave him alone, maybe he just needs a minute.
It's been 10 hours. 10 full hours that Rocky has been ignoring me. I am extremely tired, but I can't sleep without Rocky watching me. Like actually, I've gotten so used to him being by my side that I can't fall asleep without him.
Now that I really think, this does explain his behavior the past week. He was probably so still during my display of musical theater because he thought I was taking the first step in trying to court him. His gifts, the humming while I sleep, building a nest out of all the blankets. He's been trying to court me back.
It's not that I'm appalled by the idea. The exact opposite, really. And that scares me. I mean, Rocky is an alien, we have totally different anatomies! It would be weird if we got together, right?
Right?
....
Ok, stop thinking about that. Think about Rocky. How interesting learning about him is, how giving he is, how kind he is (when he wants to be), how whenever he insults me or shows off how strong he is there's a strange heat that travels down my body-
STOP!!!
Rocky is the best thing that has ever happened to me. He's given me company on this journey, a true reason to succeed. A true reason to live. Because it's not just Earth that's on the line. It's him, and all of Erid. We are tied together by a red string of fate, even if that string is made of the very thing that caused this mess.
But we need each other. Deeply.
"Sigh."
I march out of my room and towards his. I am going to end this silent treatment and tell him how I feel. I find him tinkering in the corner of his room. It's less of an actual room and more of just a segment of the ship that's been blocked off, but whatever. I stand in front of the clear wall and knock on it three times.
"Rocky, please come out here. I want to talk."
"Grace go away, statement."
Wow, okay. I place my hands on my hips and stand straight.
"Rocky. Get out here now." I pause. "Please." He let's out an exaggerated sigh, which I know he learned from me because he has no lungs. He gets up and walks out of my view. After a few seconds he rolls around next to me in his ball.
"What Grace want, question?"
He sounds annoyed, which I can understand. I sit cris cross apple sauce across from him, but he remains standing in the ball. I let out a deep breath and clutch at my pants.
"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry, about not noticing your attempts to court me." I stare down at the floor while I talk, not wanting to look at Rocky when I tell him what I've been thinking.
"I don't...mind the fact you were trying to court me. I think you're an amazing being and I've never felt so much joy and peace with anyone besides you."
He stands up a little taller, tilting his body towards me a little more. Another habit from me. It's adorable how much I've rubbed off onto him.
"I want you to know that I accept."
He reeeealy perks up at that. He jostles around, doing his jazz hands while also running around me.
"Grace accept Rocky ♬♪♩♩! Grace and Rocky mates now, statement!"
I laugh as he runs around me. He rolls into me, nudging against my thigh. I lean over and hug the ball, and he lifts himself up to be as close as possible to me. I can feel a few years forming.
"Grace leaking, statement."
I let out a fry chuckle. I wipe my eyes and go back to hugging him.
"It's happy leaking, don't worry."
"Human body weird."
I don't bother answering, I just keep hugging him. We sit in silence for a while, my skin getting warmer from being so close to Rocky for an extended period of time. After a solid 5 minutes or so, I pull away.
"What about Adrian?"
Rocky hums at the mention of them. It's so stinking cute.
"Eridians can have many mates. Rocky sure Adrian will like like Grace. No need to worry, statement."
That makes me feel a lot better. I stand up and stretch, a yawn coming out. I start walking back to the dormitory.
"Will you watch me sleep?"
I shouldn't have to ask, but I still do. It makes me feel weirdly warm inside when he perks up and follows after me. I settle down in my bed and pull the quilt over me. Rocky settles next to my bed, but I pat the space next to me on the mattress. He immediately rolls over and settles down, tucking his legs beneath him. It's a little uncomfortable at first, but I manage to find a position that I can cuddle against the xenonite ball. I set my glasses aside and close my eyes.
"Goodnight Rocky."
"Good sleep Grace.
It's probably the best night of sleep I've gotten since waking up on this ship. Or maybe ever. Because Rocky and I are together.