openmisc | Kent/Feldspar

"Maybe, though they could have warned us before stranding us. They said it's the way things had been done for - well, forever.the Machine wasn't even theirs. They passed it along to us."

He leans forward. "It opens up an entire - wormhole. Do you have - starcharts? Maybe that I can make tactile? I can show you where my galaxy is if I can figure out where you are."

The glint becomes a full-blown explosion at the mention of star charts. “Yeah! I’ve been mapping the stars for years now. I suppose I could figure out how to adapt them, I’d need to project them on an appropriate surface…”

They continue on, and Feldspar fetches Kent a second glass of water and taps it against his hand. “Here. Hornfels’ll figure out something so you can get your bearings.”

Kent takes the glass from his hand, wrapping his fingers around it, touching Feldspar's in the transfer. It's the first time he's actually felt him, and he lets the touch stay for a moment, feeling more comfortable with that voice in his ear.

"Yeah," he mutters and sips the water, finding it absolutely perfect. "It sounds like it. But - if you go back out there, will you bring the bag and the crate that was in the sphere?" he wonders in a whisper.

Huh. Kent’s hand is so soft and warm. They marvel at it for a second before realizing they were asked a question.

Well of course Feldspar’s going to go back! They smile and raise their shoulders in a shrug. “Sure, sure. If you don’t want to come back with me, that is. It’s your vessel. But I’ll get it to you one way or another.”

"I'm not exactly an asset on your ship," he tells them with a laugh. "And I'm not going anywhere without a seat belt."

Kent takes another long drink. "This is - so good."

“Because you’re dehydrated,” Feldspar laughs. “But you’d be an asset to me!l

With Hornfels still chatting away, this time with Slate as they start figuring out how to modify their charts, Gossan slips over to Feldspar and Kent to quietly intrude.

“I’ve been saying those ships needed seat belts for years,” they grin. “You must be exhausted. You can rest here as long as you need.”

Feldspar shares a look with Gossan - the village is going to know. They have to. They can’t keep this a secret.

“Kent, we’ll need to tell the rest of the village about you,” Feldspar tells him. “Not now, not if it’s too much, but at some point.”

"I don't think I'll be able to sleep," he tells them both. "But you know your people. Whatever you need to do. It doesn't seem right to keep it a secret from them for long."

He reaches up to scrub at his face.

"And I'm not dehydrated. I'm just - thirsty."

Feldspar peels their eyes away from Kent’s face for a moment to stare at Gossan.

“Well, Felds? What’s the call here?”

The village is going to find out, there’s no way to keep a secret this big. But Feldspar doesn’t even think hiding him should be an option - he‘s only the greatest discovery in Timber Hearth history! They’re anxious to show him off and have him meet everyone; he’s extraordinary, after all. A true traveler.

“Go tell the mayor,” Feldspar decides. “Rutile can figure out next steps.”

“Good call. I’ll be back.” Gossan pauses. “Nice to meet you, Kent.”

"The mayor," he laughs, a little overwhelmed. "So - who are these people? The alien welcoming committee?"

He leans forward, dangling his hands between his knees, holding the empty glass between his fingers.

Feldspar laughs and sits themself down on the floor by Kent’s feet. “These are my friends - the founders of Outer Wilds Ventures, which is just the fancy name we call ourselves so we sound more official. Well. I say founders, minus Esker - they’re on the moon right now establishing the lunar outpost.”

They sigh a little. “I can’t believe you’re here. This is really something, you know? If it’d reversed, and I crashed into your planet, it would probably be a lot different, right?”

Kent hesitantly reaches out and places his hand on their shoulder. Well. They have shoulders. That's good. It's a strange feeling, the coarse fabric under his fingers, and he idly brushes his fingers against it.

"Oh yeah. Real different. I don't know how you feel about secret government bases where people in suits do weird experiments, but that would be your life. So - I'm glad it was this way. And I'm - god, is it bad that I'm relieved they'll never find you?

"They wanted to militarize this project first."

Only some of the concepts really translate, but they get that it would be bad business for any alien creature that happened to crash on his planet. They’re glad for it too in that case, though it makes them a little sad. Another place to explore sounds amazing.

As Kent touches their EVA suit Feldspar raises their hand up to let him feel the difference in their hands for himself.

“Militarize? Does that mean someone else takes over the project? Not your astronauts or traveling program, right?”

"People who fight wars. Peoppe who only think of attack and defense," he explains.

He takes their hand again, this time with purpose. "Do you mind?" he asks, running his thumb along the back of their hand. "It's the best way to see. I don't want to be rude, but I am so curious."

“I don’t mind, go for it,” they smile, spreading their fingers a bit and giving them a wiggle. “I’ve got the advantage here. It’s only fair you get to see what we aliens look like.”

And it’s fascinating to them too, getting to watch how a blind alien would experience the world. Aside from the odd stumble here and there, he doesn’t really carry himself any differently.

“Attack and defense. Sounds like they’re scared of what they don’t know.”

"Bingo."

He laughs, sliding onto the floor woth them on his knees. "That means you're right."

He slides his hands along those three digits. "Opposable thumb," he says with a smile. "But not mammalian."

“Four limbs like you. My toes match my fingers, by the way. But hey-”

Feldspar laughs and picks up Kent’s hand and places it on the top of their head.

“No fur!”

He cackles a little, delighted, and slides his hand down the back of their neck.

"Well, we call it hair. Fur is more for animals."

“Hair,” Feldspar repeats. “Fair enough. Feel my skull too? Pointier than yours. Oh, and my ears!”

They guide Kent’s hand to one of their ears - the one that looks less chewed-up. “They droop as we get older.”

He grins, lightly brushing his thumb across the tip of their ear. He brings fingers to their face next, along their strange shaped jaw and - "Scars? Or - normal markings?" he wonders.

Feldspar can feel the heat rising in their suit as Kent finds his way to their face. “Scars. I do a lot of crashing. We’ve got marks on our face and necks and stuff, but you can’t really feel them. They’re like…these, here.”

They touch one of the freckle patches on Kent’s arm.

“Only larger.”

They draw a bigger circle to indicate the general size of the Hearthian ‘scales’.

“I’ve got them on my forehead and down my back, but some of us are covered in them. And uh…our faces…are different. If you wanted to feel that too.”

He moves his hands to their shoulders again, lowering his head a bit as he laughs. "No, it's alright. I think that's as much mapping as I can handle right now." But he doesn't want to move his hands. He wants to keep them here, grounded on their shoulders, as if they can lead him to safety once more.

"You seem more like...well, nothing I've ever experienced. That's a compliment, by the way."

Feldspar doesn’t comment on Kent keeping his hands on their shoulders. They laugh again - this time at the compliment. They’ve heard it before.

“It usually isn’t meant as one, not when it comes to me.”

“It’s a surprise Felds has lasted this long,” Slate calls over, and suddenly they remember that they aren’t alone. They sit back with a self-deprecating smirk and wait for Slate to walk their way.

“Mayor’s on their way, along with Gneiss. They’re calling for a campfire tonight to introduce the alie- er. Kent. But Rutile and Gneiss want to meet them first.”

Feldspar nods, putting their hand over one of Kent’s and then getting to their feet. They pull up Kent as well, wanting his traveler to be impressive when the mayor and Gneiss arrive.

“Rutile’s our mayor,,” Feldspar tells Kent. “They’re good. Knowledgeable. They tend to look down on the whole space exploration thing, but only because we sometimes cause fires.”

“Sometimes? More like with half our launches,” Slate snickers.

“Yeah. That. And Gneiss…” How to describe Gneiss, one of the best of them? “Gneiss is one of our elders. They’re kind and supportive, and lead our orchestra. They’ve built every single Hearthian instrument. You’ll like them, promise. And I’ll…I’ll be right here no matter what, okay?”

Kent takes their hand and stands up. "You'll have to guide me. I'll show you how," he says to them in a whisper before letting go of their hand. He can hear the sound of footsteps approaching outside the door and he tries not to look nervous. He reaches for a cane that isn't there and settles for his hands pulled close to his body instead.

Feldspar’s expression hardens into something serious and protective. If there’s something they needs to learn for Kent’s sake then they will - they’re a quick study.

They stand close enough to bump shoulders if Kent sways as Rutile and Gneiss come through the door of Outer Wilds Ventures, the old floorboards creaking suddenly stopping short with a quiet gasp. Gneiss has their hands over their mouth, eyes darting up and down at the newcomer, while Rutile looks on with a studious frown.

“Gossan says you can understand our language,” the mayor begins. “They also say that you’re blind. I’m Rutile, mayor of our little settlement.”

“My stars,” Gneiss says quietly. “You’re really real. I had to see it for myself, but here you are. A traveler from another planet!”

Rutile gives Gneiss a friendly elbow to the side. “Oh, yes, right. I’m Gneiss. Just Gneiss. You’re so handsome!”

From behind the two Feldspar can hear Gossan chuckle.

If there is one thing Kent can do, it's schmooze. He sets in his best smile, genuinely charmed by their enthusiasm that sounds so real.

"All of that is true. I know your language, in a very bizarre twist. I wonder if your writing is the same. I'm familiar with the letters. I offered to take a check at your star charts, so I can try to approximate our placement."

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