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 nods. "I understand," he mutters. And he does. He absolutely does. "Go - to sleep. I'll make you breakfast in the morning."

[getfeldsparred]

“Going, going. And I’ll leave you alone for the rest of the night, promise.”

Feldspar is true to their word and falls asleep almost immediately, but they hold onto Kent tightly.

[videointhenoise]

Kent holds them in return, falling asleep a little slower but no less deep. He does, unfortunately, sleep through breakfast.

He's been relying on Lapis to wake him for so many days now that it's almost become a habit.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar also sleeps well into the mid morning, waking only when their stomach starts to grumble. There’s no complaints on their end though; they get to wake up next to Kent. They lean against him with a few kisses to his shoulder.

“Kent, are you awake?”

[videointhenoise]

"Mm," he answers without leaning one way or another. He does shift and wrap his arms around them, though. "Are you getting up?"

[getfeldsparred]

“Mhm. I need to get things done today.” Slate’s going to be a pain in the ass if they have to do all the maintenance all alone too.

Feldspar sighs and pulls themselves up, leaning down to smooth down Kent’s wild hair. “Do you want me to get breakfast? It’s the least I could do after wearing you out last night.”

[videointhenoise]

"Mm," he laughs again and pushes himself up fully. "No, I promised you breakfast. I'm going to make breakfast. You need to bring Lapis home before you go gallivanting off with Slate."

[getfeldsparred]

They laugh quietly, “I’ll go get your hatchling then.”

They wash up quickly in the nearby basin of cold water and dress, stuffing their cap onto their head and kissing Kent on the head. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t miss me too much.”

With a whistle they head out to Gneiss’ cabin to fetch the little one, finding them both outside, Gneiss bouncing Lapis on their knee as they sing a lullaby. It’s a nice little sight - clearly Lapis didn’t suffer from being away from Kent for a night.

[videointhenoise]

"Our hatchling," Kent mutters softly as he starts to dress. He makes a bit of breakfast with some seeded toast and smoked fish, which is waiting at the table with Lapis' breakfast.

Kent opens the door to let the fresh air inside and whistles a bit, already feeling much more awake as he sweeps the porch.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar’s outright belting out a tune as they hop and dance down the path with Lapis in their arms. It’s an old song, but for every time they’re supposed to say ‘star’ they sing ‘Lapis’ instead. The little hatchling seems to enjoy the change at any rate.

“Oop, there’s your dad!” Feldspar grins, watching Lapis’s four eyes widen and their little limbs start to flail excitedly. “We’re baaaaaaack!”

[videointhenoise]

Kent steps outside of the door and onto the porch. "Come on, then," he laughs. "I made breakfast for you both."

He holds his arms out for Lapis.

[getfeldsparred]

Lapis lets out a happy squeak and wriggles their arms and legs even more as Feldspar holds them out to Kent. “Somebody missed you…” they chuckle, stepping inside with a gentle brush to Kent’s lower back.

[videointhenoise]

Kent brings them into a kiss and then presses another kiss to Lapis' forehead. "Well, I'm sure they were happy with Gneiss," he predicts. "Anyone would be. But come on. I know you missed home."

[getfeldsparred]

Lapis continues to make happy little snuffling noises, still wiggling their little limbs as they try to grab onto Kent’s hair. “Of course they missed home.”

They grin lopsidedly and walk into the kitchen to happily pick at the delicious-looking breakfast.

[videointhenoise]

"Hey, watch the hands," Kent says and pries their little fingers from his hair. "I need to cut it, I know." He brings them to the table and sits, placing them in his lap so he can feed them properly.

"How is it?" he asks both of his loves.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar narrows their eyes as Lapis tries to grab at their plate next, playfully grousing at them. “If they’re greedy their hands grabbing for my food is any indicator, it looks really good.”

They stick out their tongue and pop a piece of fish into their mouth, then quickly offers Lapis a tiny bite to appease them before they start crying.

[videointhenoise]

Kent snickers. "They have their own food," he assures Feldspar and finds their bowl and spoon.

"You better eat, though. Slate will kill you himself if you're late."

[getfeldsparred]

“I can share,” Feldspar chuckles, taking another bite as Lapis stares them down. Their mouth eventually finds the food on the spoon and they’re sufficiently distracted, leaving Feldspar to enjoy their own breakfast.

“Yeah, yeah. I ain’t afraid of Slate. They’re just anxious because we’re testing out the new retro rockets.”

[videointhenoise]

"Hmm," Kent grumbles. "Well, the math checks out, so I won't complain too much."

He taps Lapis' little mouth and feeds them more. "I'm working with Hornfels this afternoon for a bit. I think some of the elders were having the newest clutch together at the bonfire tonight, so Lapis can go with them."

[getfeldsparred]

Lapis gobbles down the spoonful and attempts to grab at said spoon, Feldspar watching with a broad grin on their face.

“Mm? Oh. Right. The bonfire.” They nod, a little distractedly. “Yeah, that’ll be good for them. Gneiss was asking when they can see them next, so I’m sure it was their idea to begin with.”

They pause, picking up a saucer to sip at their tea. “What’re you working on with Fels?”

[videointhenoise]

"A way to put the soundscope on the ship," he explains. "Slate thinks it's useless, but I know it will help."

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar scoffs. “Slate doesn’t think anything aside from rockets or boosters is worth their time, don’t take it personally. I think it’s a great idea.”

[videointhenoise]

"Don't worry. I know better than Slate," he says and then pauses, as if expecting them to show up at their door at the sound of him.

"And yes, I know it's a good idea."

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar doesn’t look in the least bit concerned. They’d happily badmouth Slate to their face.

“Can’t wait to test it out,” they grin. “Finally, something that won’t explode!”

[videointhenoise]

"If it does, it's not supposed to," he laughs. "I'd like to put someone else on another ship and see if you can find each other in the solar system woth just the ships."