Due to a bunch of videos that popped up on my fyp all of a sudden, and because bloodymary has infected my brain like a parasite, I now can't stop thinking of Grace with a whole bunch of tattoos.
That's it. That's the AU. Grace, in his wilder years, got a bunch of tattoos. Sleeves on both arms, lots on his chest, back, and legs. He's got one that's a liiiiiittle high on his neck that it peaks out.
He isn't ashamed of them or anything, but he knows the image they create and he likes to keep them private. As a teacher, his blazers always covered everything. Then, he likes wearing jackets and long sleeves anyway outside of work. People on the Hail Mary Project don't realize he has tattoos for a long while until one time he takes off a jacket to a t-shirt and bunch are on display.
He always gets flustered when people ask about them, but once he gets going he likes to tell the stories for each one. And each one really does have a story. They're gorgeous works of art and he like them a lot, even though he doesn't plan on getting another tattoo anytime soon.
In space, he doesn't hide them for a while because why would he? He's alone and his alien pal can't see them. But then Rocky uses his light sensing device and finally sees them and starts yelling. [HUMAN HAVE MARKS, QUESTION? HUMAN PLURAL HAVE DESIGNS, QUESTION? AND GRACE NO TELL ROCKY, QUESTION?]
Cue cultural explanation of tattoos and the difference and similarities between them and Eridian carvings. Humans have a whooooole lot more canvas to work on and Rocky is fascinated by what Grace has!
And, because again, bloodymary has taken me over, Simon not immediately seeing the tattoos because Grace happens to usually be wearing a jacket or his cardigan, and when he finally does he ends up running his fingers over Grace's skin for what seems like hours, mesmerized. There's tattoos where he comes from, of course, but not like this. Not this much and not this artistry.
Grace is a little flustered, but he isn't pulling away either.
