The ocean By Against Me!

Finished the book and felt the sudden urge to make this

also yes, he is wearing Ilyukhina's skirt

Individual strips under the cut:

This ask has been rattling around my brain, and I'm struggling so much with an answer (Don't worry I love it.)

There's so many variables to this. Let's start with canon. In the book carvings on eridians aren't a thing, so we can't get any info from there. And although the movie introduced the concept, we only got definite info on Rocky's markings from sources outside the film itself (Instagram and Twitter posts and such.)

The only thing we know for certain is: They use these markings as a way to communicate one's social standing non-verbally. And some ridges to say goodbye.

"I am Rocky from X family. I am an engineer. I work on solving the astrophage problem. I have a mate."

All of this is very utilitarian, there really isn't much artistic flare to it. But maybe Rocky isn't the type to get an artisy tattoo, maybe the concept exists but since are stuck having to make assumptions from a single individual we can't know for certain.

So I guess it's time to speculate?

Obviously theorizing about a planet spanning species' art and aesthetics is very complicated. But seems like repeating patterns like fractals are popular, math and art seem to go hand in hand.

And since patterns derived from equations are the current norm, perhaps more organic/naturalistic designs are seen as avant-garde. Smoothing of one surface can be a way to signal rejection of beauty standards, or maybe detachment from material possessions and social rank.

Maybe they could even enjoy having carvings that make certain noises when rubbed. Perhaps they replicate sounds from eridian animals, or sound like the name of a diseased close one. Tying into the themes of farewell and goodbye.