multifandom

I don’t know how advanced their medicine is, so maybe they could do something for him, but I imagine the damage is already done. He wakes up one day, lethargic and in pain. He’s barely making it to Grace’s dome anymore without seeming exhausted.

I imagine Adrian asks for help from Grace, realizing that something is very, very wrong. Even with all the best Eridian minds working on it, Rocky’s condition just gets worse.

god this is dumb (original)

* New student, very small. Grace said it was pebble. Pebble is small Earth rock. Pebble likes name.

* He found out Eridians have no gender rules.

* Students brought him mineral sample. After he stopped crying he said he loves show-and-tell game. Human naming conventions oddly literal.

* I told him Earthsun grew bright.

* I took him up atop atmosphere bypass elevator to look at stars.

* He woke up from nap and found me still with him. I did not wait on his chest; he says I am heavy like “elephant” and he “couldn’t breathe.” I laid my arm over him instead, kept him close, feeling safe. He said “cuddle” was warm.

* Before class he heard younglings singing.

* He has plants in house from sprouts on ship. Plant grew “bud.”

* Engineers got seawater temperature right. He took off shoes and stood in water, sighing. He didn’t care about pants getting damp. Cried until shirt was also damp. Humans very endlessly wet.

* He missed “Doritos.”

* Adrian helped food scientists make taumoeba dried paste. Made it crunchy after heating. We fused it into triangle form. Told him it was Tauritos. That made him laugh-cry. Laugh-cry is rare and precious.

* He remembered Eridians have no gender rules.

* We made him celebration outfit. Used metals he calls pretty. He can see frequencies named “colorful” and “shiny.” These make humans happiest.

* I gave him hug when he wasn’t expecting it. Easier to hug close now with exosuit. Hug when Grace sitting down so he does not fall over.

*reluctant sigh*

*scrolls back up*

Only to jolt back up in panic, remembering he’s a teacher. But then again, belatedly remembers that he’s not on Earth anymore and doesn’t teach middle school now. He lies down once again.

Only to jump up one last time, remembering: