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]

Kent swallows back a lump in his throat. "That's the first time someone told me what they look like," he tells them softly. He steps closer, his hand on Feldspar's shoulder.

"They're perfect. They've been so sick..."

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar looks at little Lapis firmly, then shakes their head. “They’re strong though,” they decide. “Real strong. They’re going to be just fine, I can tell these things.”

Kent though -

“You look exhausted, Kent. C’mon, let me take Lapis for a bit and make you dinner. I’m itching to make a stew.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent waves a hand. "I'm fine," he assures him. "The others have been helping, of course."

As much as Kent will allow.

[getfeldsparred]

“I know you’re fine,” they grin, elbowing Kent softly in the stomach. “I’m saying you’re exhausted. C’mon, let’s go home.”

Feldspar brings Lapis up to their face and coos at them sweetly, listening to their little snorts and breaths with a look of absolute adoration. “When you’re a little bigger I’ll take you to my ship. You’re gonna love it.”

They put Lapis back into Kent’s sling and takes his hand. “Tell me everything about them.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent accepts their small weight and something in him twists at the mention of the ship.

He's going to make sure they go as soon as they can.

"They're very - curious, right now. Hornfels tells me they're always watching and Gneiss said they're very alert now that they're stronger. They love to hear songs and music. I play the record for them a lot and I sing."

[getfeldsparred]

“I’ll have to play the harmonica for them. Would you like that, Lapis? Huh?” Feldspar smiles and looks down at the big-eyed hatchling, who is looking at Kent with big-eyed adoration. They love him.

“They’re taking it all in. It’s a big ol’ world out there, pebble, and you’re gonna see it all, aren’t ya? Yeah, I can tell.”

[videointhenoise]

"Big ol' solar system," he coos softly, stopping at the door and opening it for them. "They're probably hungry."

[getfeldsparred]

“They probably are,” Feldspar nods, “and so am I actually. Go sit and I’ll get Lapis their food and make us something.”

Feldspar gives a little tickle under Lapis’ chin and then slips inside the cabin, taking off their boots and pieces of their flight suit to get more comfortable.

[videointhenoise]

Kent takes the little one and sits down with them in a chair. "Tell me about the slingshot," he tells them softly, making himself comfortable as he gently rocks the resting baby.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar moves into the adjoining bathroom to wipe themselves down, keeping the door open of course so they can talk to Kent and listen to the little one.

“Went great! Better than expected. The sun shot me right back out - speed didn’t even register on the instruments.”

They chuckle to themselves and step back into the kitchen, looking through the pantry for various things to put into a stew. The jar of paste for the hatchling is out, so they take that to Kent with a spoon.

“Slate’s pissed because the exterior is charred black, but it’s all fine.” They pause and press a kiss to Kent’s forehead.

They’ve missed him, and this entire look for him is…well. It suits him.

[videointhenoise]

Kent dips the spoon into the paste and feeds little Lapis who is more than happy to chew on the paste and the spoon.

"Of course it is. Slate will be alright."

He closes his eyes and leans back, intending on taking just a moment to breathe, but then the spoon and the now-empty jar clatters to the floor as he sleeps.

[getfeldsparred]

The clattering of the jar and spoon startles Feldspar a little, and they quickly look between Lapis, also starting to snooze from their full belly, and Kent leaning back in his chair softly snoring. They grin lopsidedly and pick up the things from the floor, tiding up the kitchen and pantry a bit and then taking Lapis carefully out of the sling.

“Kent,” they mutter, shaking him gently by the shoulder. “Kent, babe, wake up. You need to sleep in your bed, come on.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent starts a little when Lapis is pulled away, but he relaxes when he hears Feldspar's voice.

"Babe?" he murmurs with a quiet chuckle. "Who taught you that?"

[getfeldsparred]

“You did, babe,” they laugh, leaning down to help him to his feet. “Go lie down and I’ll put Lapis on top of you. They’re already getting wiggly without their Kent.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent grumbles a little and stands up, finding his way to the bed and settling on it. "Whatever you made smells good," he says as he closes his eyes again.

[getfeldsparred]

They sit down next to Kent on the bed, kissing Lapis on their little head and rock-bouncing them back to sleep.

“Yeah? You can have some after you nap a bit. When was the last time you slept?”

[videointhenoise]

He breathes out, letting the world spin under him.

"I've gotten a few hours here and there."

[getfeldsparred]

Once Kent’s on his back Feldspar lays little Lapis down on his chest, pausing to smooth Kent’s hair from his face.

“I’m here now, you can rest properly. If Lapis wakes I’ll take care of them.”

[videointhenoise]

"Okay."

He breathes in, on arm around Lapis to hold them close, and it takes two seconds before he's snoring.

He sleeps for hours and hours, only waking when his stomach protests.

[getfeldsparred]

This is where Feldspar shines. Lapis wakes and they happily juggle the little Hearthian while they do some chores around the house, putting them right back down on their emotional-support Kent when it was time for another nap. When Kent finally rises they’ve got Lapis in their shirt and they’re chatting away with them, telling them all about space and Outer Wilds and how they met this strange alien on Brittle Hollow and it changed their life forever.

To Feldspar’s credit, it does sort’ve look like Lapis is listening to their stories.

[videointhenoise]

Kent can't tell that they're listening, but he can tell that Lapis is quiet and not sleeping. He rolls over and just - enjoys the moment for what it is. Feldspar is a natural at this, which Kent doesn't actually find surprising at all. They had told him about it, but now he can actually witness it.

"You left out how handsome the alien was," Kent says, groggy as he sits up.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar grins as Kent slowly gets up. “They’ve got four eyes, they can see that for themselves. Isn’t that right, Lapis? The handsome alien came here just for you and me. Aren’t we lucky, huh?”

Lapis continues to stare, and Feldspar boops their little nose, causing them to snort slightly.

[videointhenoise]

Kent stands up and stretches. "I did. Mostly for Lapis, though. You're good for stew, though."

He puts a hand on Feldspar's shoulder as he walks by and squeezes it.

[getfeldsparred]

“Just for stew, Lapis, you heard him,” Feldspar chuckles, leaning their head against Kent’s arm.

“There’s food on the stove for you.@

[videointhenoise]

"Thank you." He presses a kiss to the top of Feldspar's head.

"Did Gneiss or Gossan come in here to take them?" he wonders, finding his way to the counter and the stove.