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Ah, icky thump, whod’a thunk?
Sittin’ drunk on a wagon to Mexico
“This not music!!” Rocky squeals.
I grin, finger hovering over the pause button. “I know, it’s just that good, isn't it?”
“Bad bad bad bad bad!” Rocky yells, waving his fist at me.
I decide he’s had enough. “Alright, Icky Thump is not your vibe, got it.”
“Bad.” He spits one more time, rolling his ball across the room. “Not possibly be music.”
“Then The White Stripes aren't for you, I guess.”
I clap my hands over my ears as he well and properly screams at me. I have the translator muted now, I understand most of his speech by now but it’s nice to have subtitles for moments like this.
Rocky is calling me stupid for “forgetting” how much he hates The White Stripes, cursing my “stupid leaky brain” with words I don't have in the system. He’s so fun to mess with, he explodes at the slightest insult and will tantrum about anything only to be cowed by the gentlest probing.
Once he’s stopped stomping and shaking his fists I’m able to uncover my ears and dramatically fling myself to the floor.
“...Grace?”
“I’m fine, my best friend just thinks I'm stupid.” I say, heaving the world's heaviest and saddest sigh.
“... Grace not stupid. Grace forget.”
“Oh… would you forgive me even if I didn't forget?”
“Yes.”
…
“Wait-”
“Ha! No take backs, you forgive me!” I jump up, fist pumping. Rocky whistles like the world's angriest tea kettle and starts ramming his ball into me.
“Grace is 🎶!! Mean to Rocky!!”
I stumble back, trying to avoid his wrecking ball and grabbing the laptop out of his path before he can run it over in his rage and start Icky Thump back up. He whistles in rage once again, rushing after me as I dart out of the Don't Go Crazy Room. Rocky’s ball thumpthumpthumps after me, I grab onto a pipe near the ceiling and pull myself off the ground and out of his reach.
“Mean! Selfish! Hate stupid not music!!” Rocky screeches, slamming his ball against the wall below me.
“Ape wins again!” I cheer, but silence the song.
“If Rocky not so nice to Grace to be in Grace atmosphere Rocky would climb!!” He pulled three hands into shaking fists to really emphasize the oh when I get you energy.
“Alright, alright. I’m being mean. How about I play a better song?”
Rocky gives an affirmative honk.
I grin deviously, pulling up a new song. “I think you’ll like this one, it’s called Temporary Secretary.”
I set the laptop on a nearby shelf, hit play, and plug my ears again.