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]

Feldspar perks their head up, thoughts of snuggling their way to nibbling on Kent’s ear temporarily leaving their brain.

“Yeah, good idea. I told Lapis we need to talk to Slate and Hornfels. Between the three of you you’ll be able to stabilize the power supply.”

[videointhenoise]

"I'll talk to them about it later. Does Lapis know where the power is stored?"

He turns to face them, burying his face against their chest. It's been a long time since he's felt...useful. Like he has a project.

[getfeldsparred]

“Maybe, they know this place pretty well, but they didn’t say outright.”

Feldspar wraps their arms around Kent, rubbing his shoulders softly.

[videointhenoise]

Kent breathes them in and kisses their face.

"Once more and then we go back out and find out?" he suggests.

[getfeldsparred]

Kent must have read their mind. They grin and try to pull him down for another kiss, mouth finally finding his earlobe to bite gently with their teeth. “Just one more time. We’re too old for those marathon sessions, aren’t we?”

[videointhenoise]

"Maybe you are," he teases, but he knows it's the truth, even as he shudders.

"I don't want to forget how this feels."

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar definitely felt old when they first emerged from the Dark Bramble, but now…less so. They’re slowly starting to feel like their old selves - invigorated, excited. They pull their hand back and take his chin in their fingers.

“Hey. I’m not going anywhere, Kent.”