I've got a world up in here, delicate and vivid

Grace likes to be an active citizen. He'd taught civics two semesters when Mme. Landry went to maternity leave. He voted! He thinks he phone banked for Obama in college. He definitely had the shirt.

So when the telegram arrives inviting him and Rocky to be ambassadors to the Eridian Olympics, he's totally fired up at the chance to contribute to something with a civic spin.

Eridians don't vote, and even if they did, Grace is fairly sure he not a citizen of Erid. He has some kind of fuzzy legal status he tries not to think too deeply about because it makes him panic. The implications of it all freak him the heck out.

Unrelated to this, Grace rarely turns down invitations for public appearances.

"They want us to do a medal ceremony at the Olympics?!" Grace says, sitting up with interest and squinting at the invitation Rocky has thrown onto the table. Written Eridian is still a little bit of a nightmare for him, but he can see his name, and Rocky's and and a lot of titles after that, which means it's an official invite.

"What is that, question. Need word," Rocky grumbles. He absolutely hates being reminded of his status as the Savior-Survivor of Erid. He's definitely got some PTSD, but the little guy has a computer for a brain so without access to Eridian Task Manager he's a little out of his depths on that..

"Oh, uh, Olympics. It's a big competition where humans play sports and see who's the best," Grace says, deciding he'll skip the mythology part, and the oil wrestling.

"You said that was FIFA," Rocky says accusingly, and Grace groans. Rocky had gotten very into FIFA during their trip — he had gone wild when Senegal had beaten France in the 2002 tournament.

"It is!" Grace says "But that's one sport – this is a whole bunch,"

"Like Redbull Extreme Sports Ultimate 2010 Adrenaline Championship, question," Rocky asks, perking up.

"You watched that?" Grace asks, because he didn't even know that was a thing. His only real associations with Red Bull is throwing it up after mixing it with vodka.

"Yes, Rocky like," Rocky chitters with the noise Grace classes as a giggle. "Humans go fast, climb high, not fall. Grace could not join" Rocky says, and shakes his carapace in a way Grace can only describe as pitying

"Rude!" Grace replies, "I think anything we did getting the Taumoeba sample from Adrian is way cooler than the Redbull Extreme whatever,"

"Grace would break every bone in body," Ricky says, ignoring him , and then perking up in delight as he says "Rocky would have to replace entire skeleton,"

"Why did you get excited at the end, huh? My bones work great," Grace says.

"Not good for Erid gravity, Rocky could design better," Rocky says with a noise like two pumice stones rubbing together, a sot of raspberry mixed with a scoff.

Grace is tempted to agree. His knees really hurt.

"I think tendons and stuff are also part of the issue," He says thoughtfully.

Rocky raises two vents and shakes his carapace like a dog, smug pride clear. "Rocky fix tendons, easy easy. Grace want Xenonite bones could do surgery in…maybe four weeks,"

"Lets put a pin in that," Grace says "Don't think you're getting away with trying to change the subject,"

"Fine. What Grace want to know about stupid sports festival, question"

"What do they do at these games?" Grace asks "I don't think we talked much about sports,"

"That's because Grace is nerd and not athletic," Rocky says, and Grace gently aims a kick at him.

"Don't be a brat. Tell me about the games," Grace chatises, and Rocky huffs.

"Ugh. Normal sports," Rocky says after a few moments.

"Normal for you, buddy, not to me!"

"Running, hunting, chasing, team games," Rocky says "Like human thing,"

"Yeah, the idea might be the same but the sports aren't. Like you guys won't have the swimming," Grace says, imagining a group of Earidians in synchonized swimming costumes. It makes him grin.

Rocky grumbles, and says "you will like ♫♪♫,"

"what's ♫♪♫?" Grace says, his whistle back a little off but understandable. Damn his lack of airsacks.

"…You would call it cannon assisted stone skipping," Rocky says, and Grace bolts up, a huge grin curling across his face at the idea.

"You've been holding out on me, Rock," Grace says, "Maybe you're the nerd who doesn't like sports," and Rocky explodes into an annoyed sound and clacks three of his claws like the worlds most attitude filled crab.

"No! Rocky cool and fun guy, statement," He argues.

"Fine, well, cool and fun buddy, I'm making…well, not popcorn, but something crunchy for a snack. We're doing a sports day," Grace declares "Statement. Non-negotiable,"

"Disgusting bossy human," Rocky grumbles, calling him several variations of a wet mouthed dickhead, but he turns on the TV away.

—

Art inspiration below! :)