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]

“And what should a cosmonaut sound like, huh?”

Feldspar sneaks up behind him and wraps their arms around his waist.

“You’re a pain. Tell me how much you’re going to miss me.”

[videointhenoise]

He tugs on his shirt and adjusts the collar with a grin. "I will miss you every moment of every day."

He doesn't answer the cosmonaut question; he just puts a hand on their arm. "Go, Felds. Lapis and I will come to send you off."

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar leans in close and nuzzles their cheek against Kent’s, feeling his stubble against their skin. They inhale softly, capturing the moment in their mind and then pulling away. “Going. See you later.”

They grin and slip out of the room, heading off to the launch pad to look at the ship with their helmet tucked under their arm. They’re definitely moving slower than normal, but they doubt anyone will notice.

[videointhenoise]

He waits until he can't hear their footsteps anymore. Then he starts to clean up and when Lapis and Hal return from their sleepover, he takes them to the makeshift school he's started and leads the others in a lesson. He's distracted himself, but they all know why. They know that it's because of Feldspar.

And when the sun begins to set, he takes them back to the village square to show off their newest projects.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar’s the same whether they’re preparing for a mission or actually flying - seemingly careless, laid back, ready to roll with the punches. They are paying attention though, always; that’s just the mark of a good pilot. They learn all the new modifications Slate’s put into their ship, all the little tweaks and upgrades and experimental parts that they like to make them fly with instead of the new recruits - for obvious reasons. If the new recruits were treated like Feldspar then no one would want to fly.

They take everything in, those last final instructions and preparations, hauling up their supplies and equipment and listening to Hornfels review the flight conditions and chastise them for not checking in with ground control as often as they should. Gossan drops by to catch up and talk about their flight plans, and they trade a few friendly barbs about riding cyclones before they’re finally left alone with their ship.

Finally, a bit of a break. They climb into their ship and settle into the pilot’s chair, settling back with a low groan as they finally let themselves react to the toys that were very much torturing them throughout the day. They roll the top of their flight suit down, turning them into trousers that they can then slip their hand into and give themselves a little relief. They fiddle with the toys, looking at the top of their viewing window to the picture they keep of Kent tucked into one of the seams. They come surprisingly fast, quiet unlike all the other times they might have done this in the quiet void of space.

Feldspar takes a minute to rest, then cleans themselves up and hops back down onto the ground to join the others at the campfire. They keep their flight suit top rolled down and tied around their waist, scars on full display from just wearing the thin, sleeveless shirt they typically wear under their suit.

The campfire is in full swing by the time they arrive, and they’re met as they usually are - happy cheers and pleas for stories or to join the others with their harmonic. They promise they’ll do so soon, but they’ve got to see a certain someone and kiss their stupid face.

[videointhenoise]

Kent is quizzing the hatchlings when he hears the increase in noise that signals Feldspar's arrival. He knows he's lost the kids, at least, and smiles as he settles back, waiting for those kisses to come.

When they do, he wraps his arms around them, nuzzling into their neck.

"How did it go?"

[getfeldsparred]

They smile happily as Kent settles into their arms. The hatchlings are long gone by now, which is good since they probably couldn’t look them in the eyes at the moment. “Great, just great. All ready to launch tomorrow morning, weather permitting. How are you?”

[videointhenoise]

"Tired. We walked in the forest a while and I think the hatchlings led me astray," he chuckles.

[getfeldsparred]

“Yeah, they’ll do that.” Feldspar grins and raises Kent’s head up for another kiss, keeping it somewhat chaste for the sake of some of the others around them. “Are you too tired to help me out, or am I on my own for this one?”

[videointhenoise]

"Help you out?"

He sits back. "What could you possibly need help with?"

He grins innocently.

[getfeldsparred]

“Oh, you think you’re real funny, huh?”

Feldspar pushes them back with a low chuckle. “It was rough today, you know. A little sympathy would be nice!”

[videointhenoise]

"I am funny," he protests and catches himself on a log. "But if you think I would pass up this chance, you are quite wrong. Are you ready to leave?"

[getfeldsparred]

“First thing in the morning,” they answer, grabbing a stick from the ground and picking off the bark. “All packed up and ready to go.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent moves closer to them, his arm around their waist, grinning as he leans in close. "Then we have time."

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar waits a beat before leaning back into Kent’s embrace. “Not a lot, so don’t be cruel,” they mutter. “Take me home? No one’s watching.”

[videointhenoise]

He nods. "If you think we can escape," he murmurs in their ear. "But you can take me home. I had a little bit of wine."

[getfeldsparred]

Ah, well that changes the dynamic a little. Feldspar nods and looks over their shoulders, seeing the backs of a few of the others as they listen to the music around the campfire. The hatchlings are off playing somewhere, they imagine, which leaves them with a few hours before they stumble home and get into bed.

“Yeah, let’s go,” they whisper. They take Kent’s hand and creep around the edge of the woods with him, tripping over a couple of branches along the way but thankfully not drawing any attention to them.

[videointhenoise]

Kent chuckles as he follows them. "I feel like a teenager again," he mutters to them, not even bothering to explain. Hopefully they get the vibe.

He doesn't trip, but he does take smaller steps until they reach the road again.

[getfeldsparred]

They do indeed get the vibe. “I know,” they say, almost giggling. When they get into the path they start moving a little faster with Kent’s hand in theirs.

“Though to be fair, you keep me feeling pretty young.”

[videointhenoise]

He chuckles, squeezing their hand. "That's because you've been getting fucked all day." He uses his other hand to smack the approximation of their ass.

[getfeldsparred]

The smack to their ass makes the toy inside slip a little deeper, and Feldspar yelps and then grabs Kent for a bit of a sloppy kiss. “I want it for real.”

[videointhenoise]

"I know, but you have to get me home first," he points out. "And only once or you won't sleep."

Kent is being very responsible and not at all drunk.

[getfeldsparred]

“Only once.” They nod in agreement, but without any other terms they’re pretty sure ‘one time’ could last for a while. “Then sleep. Busy day and all tomorrow.”

[videointhenoise]

"Busy morning. And Lapis and Hal are sleeping at home tonight," he reminds them as he places a hand against the door.

[getfeldsparred]

“Doesn’t leave much time, true, true, so let’s not waste it.” They push through the door and sweep Kent right on through to the bedroom, closing the door and quickly stripping themselves down.