Kent/Feldspar

[videointhenoise]

"Just once more," they had said when Ellie's team petitioned for it. She was busy with Palmer, falling in love with science while he fell in love with God, and Kent was left to pick up the pieces. He wanted another damn go at it. The Machine had a pricetag in the billions; it was begging to be used again.

But they wouldn't let Ellie go. They wouldn't let just anyone go. They wanted someone who knew how it worked, who had been there from the beginning, but someone who isn't completely taken in by Ellie's words.

That leads them to a dozen people and they end up with Kent. He's blind, but that's not what decides it. They claim that he wouldn't hallucinate the way Ellie did. That he has a unique perspective.

And, he's already proven himself steady and loyal.

He experiences it all the way that Ellie does, but something goes wrong on the other end. Maybe another terrorist attack. Maybe not. All he knows is that he's in the sphere and then, suddenly, he's floating, unable to find his footing until a great crash and he slams into the bottom of the machine.

He groans, pulling his helmet on with a grunt and a wince.

"Fuck this," he mutters, finding the edge of the sphere with his hands. There was a door there somewhere. He just - has to find it.

Comments

[videointhenoise]

He opens the door once they get to the cabin and drags Feldspar inside, slipping out of his shoes. "They wouldn't."

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar trips over themselves to take off their boots, not wanting to inadvertently ruin any of the careful placement of his carpets or furniture. “They wouldn’t, but they’re even more invested now. I think they like you better than me.”

[videointhenoise]

"That's because I'm handsome and charming and you light the village in fire," he teases, stepping back, finding his carpet by his cabinets so he can pour a cup of tart juice for both of them.

[getfeldsparred]

“Only accidentally,” they argue, sitting down at Kent’s table. “But it’s true, you are handsome and charming. I was never going to be the village’s darling.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent brings the cups over and sits down. "You could have been, had you tried," he points out. "But that doesn't seem like your gig. And - that's fine. Means I'm the only one who knows how handsome and charming you are."

[getfeldsparred]

“That’s fine,” they grin, taking a sip of the juice. “I don’t need anyone else to enjoy that Feldspar charm but you.”

[videointhenoise]

"Exactly."

He leans forward. "So how long do I have you before you fly again?"

[getfeldsparred]

“A few days. I’m going on a long trip next time, takes a while to restock and prepare for something like that.”

They look across the table and outstretched their hand to cover his.

[videointhenoise]

Kent turns his hand up towards them, linking their fingers. "Stay with me, then," he tells them. "You don"t have to go back to your cabin. Stay with me."

[getfeldsparred]

It’s not unheard of for one Hearthian to stay with another, but even in their most serious relationships there’s still wiggle room for independence. Staying with Kent seems…that seems like a big thing. A really big thing, something that others would take note of.

But it feels right. Feldspar only wants to spend their hours here on Hearth with him.

They nod and squeezes his hand. “Yeah. Yeah, alright.”

[videointhenoise]

That's what Kent wants, too. Feldspar is gone so often, gone so long, that Kent wants time with him.

He squeezes their hand. "I don't want to - force you into it," he tells them. "But it will keep Rutile off your ass."

[getfeldsparred]

“You wouldn’t be forcing me to do anything.” They smile a little bashfully. “I want this. I really like being with you.”

And keeping Rutile off their ass is always a bonus, but they don’t really care as much about that.

“I’ve just never done it before. And we don’t typically live together like that - it happens, sure, but it’s not the norm.”

[videointhenoise]

"Yeah, well, I'm an alien. And humans are pack animals. We instinctively seek out others. We are - generally monogamous, too. Depending on the person."

He shrugs. "Maybe I want a little piece of familiarity," he says, taking a drink.

[getfeldsparred]

“Maybe you do.”

Or maybe Kent just loves them, and it has nothing to do with wanting something familiar just for the sake of it.

They set their cup onto the table and gets up, coming around to the other side and slipping onto Kent’s lap.

“Maybe you just miss me too much when I’m gone.”

[videointhenoise]

He blinks in surprise, nearly knocking over his cup as he slips an arm around them. "Maybe I will," he says with a grin. "Maybe I want to enjoy every damn second I can."

[getfeldsparred]

“And maybe I miss you too, and get a little jealous when you’re hanging out with other people who aren’t me. Maybe I want to be around you as much as possible.”

And maybe they kinda like the idea of being Kent’s one and only.

[videointhenoise]

He kisses them at that.

"You're jealous?" he mutters, surprised and a little flattered.

[getfeldsparred]

They huff softly and pull back. “Yeah, I’m jealous. So what? You’re my alien, I found you.”

[videointhenoise]

"Mm, so why don't you put me in the museum?" he wonders, letting his hands slide down their chest and to their thighs.

[getfeldsparred]

They wriggle a little in his lap, leaning forward to causally lay an arm over their shoulder. “You’re very pretty, like a work of art, but that still means I’d still have to share. That kinda defeats the whole point, Kent

[videointhenoise]

Kent chuckles. "I suppose," he says, getting comfortable. "But you could put your name on me."

[getfeldsparred]

“Like literally?” Feldspar grins and slips a finger under Kent’s collar, dragging along his shoulder. “Or figuratively? Because I think I’ve already done the latter.”

[videointhenoise]

His face heats slightly at that rough finger along his skin. "There's...uh... reason we have two names. I'm Kent Clark. And - if I was to marry or - uh...pledge to be with someone else, then they would take my last name. Or I would take their name."

[getfeldsparred]

They can tell that Kent’s a little frazzled, or nervous, or maybe a little of both. They’re not entirely sure they understand why though, unless…

“Do you want me to take one of your names? You could have Feldspar, if you wanted, but I don’t know how that’d sound. Kent Feldspar. Yeah. A little clunky.”

[videointhenoise]

"No," he laughs. "You can have mine if you want."

It's a lot to ask, but this is an offer, not a demand. "It wouldn't matter, outside of the two of us."