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

[getfeldsparred]

They close their eyes and leans into Kent, exhaling very softly as he repeats what they wanted to hear. "Just me," they whisper. "Feldspar and their Kent, a being from another world."

Was this their reward for always pushing themselves? Always wanting more and more out of life? To see the world and the stars beyond, for always putting their life on the line? They get the stars and all of this too?

"I love you."

[videointhenoise]

"I know," he mutters, snuggling tight against them. "So prove it and go to sleep."

Kent is already halfway there.

[getfeldsparred]

They laugh quietly. "Easy way to prove my love. Great. Can do."

Feldspar finds the blanket around their ankles and draws it up and over them, snuggling back down to take advantage of Kent's body heat. They fall into a sound sleep, tangled up in Kent very insistently as they sleep.

[videointhenoise]

He knows they hadn't intended on missing the Hatchling ceremony, but these things happen when they happen.

Kent had been planning and preparing for days with Hornfels, who had helped him get together a crib and taught him the basics of hatchling care. He knows he still needs help, but he's prepared.

One night, over the radio, Kent finally gets his "alone" time with Feldspar.

"How do the twins look tonight?" he wonders.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar adores most of the ceremonies, but by far the hatchling ceremony is their favorite. They’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for the young ones - and maybe that’s because they share the same kind of awe about the world around them - and they unabashedly enjoy greeting the new hatchlings and holding them and playing with them. Slate used to tease and say they never grew out of that hormonal phase when all pre-adulthood hatchlings constantly think about things like kissing and touching and potentially making new hatchlings, but Feldspar knows they’re just sentimental.

Hatchlings don’t judge. Hatchlings see the world for the wonder it is, and like to enjoy every second of it. Hatchlings are fun and care free, and adorable. Sometimes they’ve thought about being a flight instructor; Gossan always seemed well-suited to that job, but they have to admit being able to pass on what they know to recruits is appealing.

But so are the stars, and as they sit out in orbit around the ash twins they sigh and lean back in their chair to get a little shut eye. Of course that’s when the radio sizzles and pops to life, but it’s Kent, and any exhaustion immediately leaves them.

“Looking dusty today. All the sand’s on Ash Twin, so you can really see those deep canyons on Ember Twin.”

[videointhenoise]

"There's something in there," he tells them firmly. "I can hear the hum of their electricity way down deep. But that sand is a bitch."

He leans back. "You sound tired. Have you slept?"

[getfeldsparred]

It doesn’t surprise them to hear that Kent suspects something at the core of the Ash Twin - there are those strange Nomai towers of indeterminate purpose.

“Nah, not yet. I was just getting ready to - I’m in a nice, steady orbit, ready to let the noise of the machinery lull me to sleep.”

[videointhenoise]

"Mm, that's a good lullaby. You want me to let you go?"

He doesn't want to give them up, but he will, if they need to sleep.

[getfeldsparred]

“No, I want to talk to you. Wait all day to talk with you, so I can go without sleep for a while.”

They lean back in their chair and reach for a can of marshmallows. “Tell me about what’s going on down there.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent chuckles low.

"You don't want to know," he says, leaning forward.

[getfeldsparred]

“That great, huh?” They laugh quietly and snuggle down into their pilot’s chair, the radio tucking against their shoulder so he hear Kent’s voice in their ear.

“Tell me anyway. Or tell me nothing. I just want to hear your voice.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent chuckles. "They're hatching," Kent tells them softly, then waits for the inevitable reaction to it.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar turns and stares up at the roof of the ship, blinking softly and fondly and with no small amount of homesickness. “Already? I thought I’d have some more time.”

[videointhenoise]

"I know," he tells them a bit sadly. "We thought they'd hold out, but they're ready. Even the small one," he adds quietly.

[getfeldsparred]

Even the small one. They hope that they’ll get to meet them all when they come back - and that the little one will be thriving. Gneiss and Spinel were worried about that egg.

They try to force a smile on their face and into their voice. “Your first hatching! You’re going to love it. Have you talked names at the campfire yet?”

[videointhenoise]

"I did, but then they asked about the different names on Earth, so I had to go into that," he chuckles.

He's worried about that little egg, too. But he's not going to let that deter him from enjoying this ceremony. "Apparently they really like the name Gregory."

[getfeldsparred]

“Gregory? It’s weird, but I like it.” They laugh quietly to themselves. “Let me guess, Riebeck is obsessing about the name.”

[videointhenoise]

"Mm, exactly," he laughs. "But - I offered another name and the elders liked it enough that it might go to one of them."

[getfeldsparred]

“Another name! What did you suggest? You gotta tell me.”

[videointhenoise]

"Nope. It's a surprise," he says with a chuckle.

[getfeldsparred]

“Awh, you’re no fun! How about the other names? Did someone suggest Moraine? I’ve always liked that one.”

[videointhenoise]

"They didn't, but I'll bring it up with them later," he assures him.

"You need to sleep."

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar sighs quietly at Kent’s insistence that they sleep. “I will, I will. Just…tell me more about your day.”

[videointhenoise]

"I worked on the soundscope a little. Thats the name we're going with."

He sits back. "Slate and I are going to try and put it on the ship."

[getfeldsparred]

“Sound-scope,” they repeat, laughing to themselves. “Says exactly what it is, nice. It’d be useful on the ship if there’s a couple of us flying out here. Help me locate Esker and Gossan.”

And for them to find Feldspar, which would be more useful but they’re not thinking like that.