Ozalite

BIRTHDAY GIFT FRON FRIEND @sernhuh

Some of them are being outright disrespectful but for others it's simply difficult to see him as a person as easily as Rocky did. This is partially because no-one is as desperate and exhilerated as Rocky was and partially because at this point Grace is basically a dying animal that can't do anything on his own.

After watching the same problem occur over and over again Rocky and the human care team decide to make it mandatory for anyone who is planning to work with Grace to play a game of chess (or a similar Eridian board game) with him. A game where neither an Eridian nor a human has any real advantage.

The idea is that direct observation will help Eridians have an easier time understanding human intelligence, gestures, vocalisations and familiarize themselves with the unusual (and frankly freaky) human body. Aside from this, it also helps both Grace and Eridians socialize with each other. Working like what humans call an "ice-breaker". And if the Eridian fails to interact with Grace in an adequate manner, they are kicked out of the project.

And some Eridians find it enjoyable playing with Grace who accepts proposals readily, which leads to score-keeping, which snowballs into having entire tournaments within scientist groups working on Project Save Grace.

I was thinking about what it would be like to live on an alien planet and what kind of experiences we have on earth that could be similar to that and i realized something

1. Leaving your home involuntarily and urgently at a time of great distress

We are all gonna die here. If you want things to get better, you better go. Well, I say "You better" but you never really had a choice

2. Food scarcity

You have a limited amount of food and you will run out. After believeing you'll die of starvation, you find a way get more food. You're happy you have something to eat but the new food is weird and unpleasant. You dont have any other choice

3. Language differences

You have to learn a new language now. One that's not like any that you've ever heard before. It's not the worst but it's tiring, and you won't ever speak it like the natives do. You don't have a choice but to try despite that

4. Cultural differences

Things that were completely normal to you are now seen as obscene and unsightly. And things that you've never done before are now part of your daily life. It's not that bad really but it does remind you of how much of a stranger you are in this place. You don't have anywhere else to go

In conclusion:

That man is practically an interstellar immigrant