Eridians aren’t cuddly. Physical touch for its own sake is just not really something they do; their carapaces make them much less sensitive to touch and their biology doesn’t require touch for anything important, so they just don’t have a culture of physical touch. Rocky finds it a bemusing alien thing that Grace is so touchy, wanting fistbumps and hugs, but it’s a Culture Thing so sure.
I do think they develop a way for Rocky to hug Grace for real because guy clearly wants a real hug So Bad (and Rocky is learning that it can severely affect a human’s health to never have physical touch with another person. Which. Wild.) I also think Rocky is extremely neurotic about Keeping Grace Alive after everything so yes!! We will figure out way for Grace to get BEST hugs! This Is New Project. Will dedicate Full Time to solution.
Grace is definitely grateful and after getting his first hug in years and crying a lot about it, it probably takes him a while to realize that. Hey. What do Eridians do? What have you been missing like this from being all alone for decades? I know about watching each other sleep and I’m happy to do that for you, but is there anything you’ve been really missing this whole time?
Eridians don’t really cuddle as humans understand it, but turns out they do purr. Sort of. That’s the word Grace assigns it. It’s a low rhythmic sound loved ones will emit at each other in times of calm and relaxation that just means “I’m here, I’m close to you, I’m happy and safe and calm.” It conveys the same idea.
“Oh,” Grace says. “Humans have the idea of humming, is that similar?”
“Not really,” Rocky tells him. “Somewhat. Have heard Grace hum, not the same.”
Grace goes :( “Is there anything I could do that would make you feel the same way?”
“Yes,” says Rocky, and Grace perks up a little because he is also a little neurotic about this. “Human body is much louder than any Eridian’s body. Water inside Grace’s body is sloshing around all the time.” (“Thanks.” “Is true. Humans are sloshy leaky bags of water. Like baby. No carapace at all.”) “And loudest human sound is heartbeat. When Rocky first met Grace, was hard to concentrate because Grace’s heartbeat was so loud and so constant. Rocky wondered how humans ever made any science inventions driven crazy by constant big sound like that. Then got used to it. Blip-A was so quiet. Grace is loud and alive. Now feels like purr. Know Grace is alive and safe and present because Rocky can hear Grace’s heartbeat.”
This is just about the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to Ryland Grace and he probably starts crying again. Just a little bit.
Also when they get back to Erid and Rocky goes down to the planet leaving Grace up in orbit for the first time you know Rocky has an absolute panic attack unable to hear Grace’s heartbeat for the first time in four years :’)
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