Okay but imagine being the team of Eridian scientists tasked with keeping Erid's Only Human alive for as long as possible while the whole planet's environment is literally trying to kill him. And then Rocky shows up and is like:
“Grace says he would like half of dome to be water.”
“Oh, is necessary for humans to have large amounts of water question?”
Small Eridian equivalent of a sigh. “No. Not needed for life. In fact Grace will die if he falls in water and does not get out.”
“Tell him we give him water in containers that won't kill him. Lots lots lots of water on Erid for Grace to drink.”
“No. Grace say he want water on ground. Also want it with excess sodium chloride compound so it will be unhealthy for drink.”
“WHY QUESTION???”
To celebrate Erid getting their sun back on track, Grace asks for some alcohol. There's a small amount left from the Hail Mary and Rocky offers to take it to the science Eridians to see if they can synthesise more.
“Grace want this liquid for celebration.”
“Of course.” They scan it. “You have wrong liquid. This contain compounds which are poisonous for humans.”
“Yes yes yes. Grace say humans like feeling of being slightly poisoned.”
“WHY QUESTION?????”
Grace is like one of those extremely finicky tropical fish who instantly die if not kept in extremely specific conditions.
Only here the fish can talk and keeps asking you to make it vodka.
this is veering slightly off the point but adding vodka to a tropical fish tank actually does have benefits and is a thing many fishkeepers do regularly. creatures just long for the hydrocarbons
Wait please elaborate on the vodka-seeking fish. Is it enrichment benefits? Does it help physiology? I do not know enough about tropical fish to know what questions to ask but I have so much curiosity what???
ethanol can help improve water quality by providing a source of carbon for the bacteria that process nitrates and phosphates. vodka is basically pure ethanol + water so it's a go-to source. it doesn't directly affect the fish but they benefit from its presence in the water!
