Work Text:
Eridian fashion is a lot, especially for those of us with eyes. So, only me then. The rest is quite content with clashing colors and all sorts of bling. “The rest” in this case are a tailor, a materials expert, a jeweler, three apprentices/assistants and of course Rocky, to help with translations. The Eridian side is a bit crowded and buzzing with excited chatter, while Rocky explains some images of human clothing on his screen.
I have put this meeting off as long as possible. I hate shopping for new clothes at the best of times and commissioning clothes seems even more stressful. But Amazon won't deliver to Erid (something to do with shipping costs …) and the clothes I came with are barely more than rags at this point. So, here we are. At least I made sure I won't end up in a Victorian dress just because Rocky took two wrong turns on Wikipedia.
“Why do we need a jeweler?” I ask Rocky after he had introduced everyone.
“For decorations of course. Like these!” He points at the jeweler's shirt, which has little gems and embroidery on the outside of each long sleeve, running all the way down from the top to the cuffs.
“We can add this to your clothes too. Top and bottom sleeves.” the jeweler says helpfully
“No no, that's OK. I just need something really basic”
“Yes, that would be really nice” Rocky “translates”
I glare at him and although he is very used to being glared at and knows exactly what it means he chooses to ignore me.
“Do I just put the samples in the airlock?” an assistant asks while opening his bag
“I just need something made of plain cloth ...”
“Yes. Look, this is how it works.”
“Rocky, you're not helping”
“I think my airlock instructions are very helpful.”
“You know exactly what I mean!”
“Yes, yes” Rocky say, now definitely sounding amused
After I have measured various parts of my body and Rocky has converted everything to Eridian units the tailor gets out a tablet and does a couple of quick sketches.
The jeweler points at one of them. “This is all one piece? No seams, no holes?”
“Yes” the tailor confirms “Hole is up here, sleeves attach here and here. Only two. The bottom garment is extra”
“So much space for decorations ...” he practically buzzes with excitement and I can already see myself in an overly bedazzled shirt.
“Maybe we could keep the decorations to a minimum?” I try again
“Maybe not” Rocky says, carapace tilted in a smile
“You know what translation means, right?”
“Yes”
“And what do you think you're doing here?”
“Making sure you will look your best of course!”
“Have I ever told you that you remind me of my ex-girlfriend Linda?”
“Yes. I like Linda.”
“Believe me, you would stop the minute she reorganizes your workbench because she thinks her system is superior to your system. And don't try to argue, because you're clearly in the wrong.”
“Mmh ... Adrian never moves my work … you still need fashion help though.”
“Pffft!”
I turn to the material samples that have been sitting in the airlock for a little bit to cool down. The embroidered fabric samples are surprisingly flexible and light.
“What is this made of? Some synthetic material?” I ask and it seems I have finally asked a question that merits a proper translation from Rocky.
“All synthetic, yes. Rocky says natural materials might be bad for you. Too many heavy metals and always in contact with your skin.”
Oh, right. I hadn't considered that. Rocky might be Erid's worst interpreter, but he's always looking out for me.
“Good thinking” I say to him.
“Moving on the gloves?” one of the assistants asks after I have picked the materials I like best.
“I don't really need these, it's quite warm in here ...”
“We need prints of both top and bottom claws” Rocky interrupts “see how they are all different?”
“This doesn't even come close to a translation” I mutter, but obediently press my hands and feet in the wax-like material they passed through the airlock. Some shoes would be nice actually.
When we're finally done I'm feeling exhausted. Like I've been dragged through all the fashion stores in the mall.
“Anything else we can help you with? Accessories? Bag?” the tailor asks
“Gosh no, I feel like I have already overdosed on fashion. Any more would be fatal.” I look at Rocky “Don't translate that. Tell them I'm very grateful for their help.”
Rocky translates but adds, that we will be in touch about accessories once I was able to try on my new clothes. This seems to make sense to the fashion crowd and someone mentions sleeve length and wrist decorations that need to be coordinated.
“Yeah, wouldn't want to get caught with uncoordinated wrist decorations by the fashion police”
“Sarcasm is a good coping strategy”
“And moving on to psychology is a good strategy when your career as an interpreter inevitably fails” I say chuckling
“Good good, I will consider it. Chess tomorrow at the usual time?”
“Yes! Bring Adrian for an English lesson too.”
During the next couple of weeks I have several fittings while the Eridians are figuring out the patterns and materials for my clothes. And I manage to snag a pair of basic pants and two t-shirts. But eventually, it is time to face the first final product in all its bling glory. Rocky insists on delivering it, maybe he is worried that my reaction might offend?
The t-shirt is sitting neatly folded in the airlock and looks entirely black, no blotches or other irregularities.
“The color of the fabric is amazing” I say to Rocky
“Unfold it!” he says, sounding excited and a little impatient
I get the t-shirt out of the airlock, unfold it and look at our mission crest in vibrant blues and yellows.
“Wow. How did you do that? The colors? They are ...”
“You picked the colors”
“I didn't … oh. You didn't really need me to help you with calibrating that screen last week, did you?”
Rocky tilts his carapace
“Sneaky!”
“But it worked. And I never said that's what I was doing. You just assumed”
I'm running my finger over the motive and notice that each color has a slightly different texture. So this makes sense to Eridian sonar too. The crest has acquired a third star and some Eridian writing and my memory takes me back to the Hail Mary cockpit.
“What is meaning of this, question?” Rocky asks, pointing at the Hail Mary mission crest that is duplicated on his screen.
“It's a special logo, for this mission. Remember how I told you that my people have been to space many times before? Each mission gets its own picture.”
“Understand, but what is meaning, question?”
I point at the biggest circle “This is Sol, and the smaller one, that's my home planet. And this one up there is Tau Ceti. The line connecting the two shows it's a mission from Earth to the Tau Ceti system”
“This is human writing, question?” Rocky asks, pointing at the text that says “Hail Mary”
“Yes, this is the name of the ship.”
Then I point at our names. “This is human writing too, these are our names, the crew. Here is my name.”
I pause for a second.
“I wish I knew how to edit it because your name should be on there, you are part of the crew too.”
“Is OK. Thought counts. Is much appreciated. Thank.”
“What do you think? Do you like it?”
“It is absolutely perfect. I don't know what to say. Just. Thank you so much.” I'm afraid I might cry so I quickly look down at my new shirt and slowly trace the letters with my fingers. Our names. My crew. Yao, Ilyukhina and Rocky.