openmisc | Kent/Feldspar

“I don’t think I will. Use your fancy stick.”

Feldspar heads to the door with a little wave.

“Anyway, have a good night, Kent. That’s…you’re really impressive, you know?”

Kent feels his cheeks turn red, but he can't deny it without sounding insincere.

"Make sure you tell Hornfels the same thing," he tells them. "And make another crack about my stick and I'll beat you with it."

“Good luck catching me, blindy,” Feldspar says with a click of their tongue. They head out the door and close it with a low exhale.

It’s been an exhilarating, albeit confusing, evening. They forgo their usual camp out at the top of the waterfall and head straight to their cabin to crawl into bed.

Maybe tomorrow they’ll be back in space. Maybe tomorrow they’ll be making plans to bring Kent with them.

Kent flips them off once the door's shut, but he's grinning as he does it.

Slate does tell Feldspar that another launch was planned, that the boosters had been altered and, of course, seatbelts installed.

They weren't particularly upset about that part, but Kent had talked them into it by helping balance the boosters.

Naturally the second that Feldspar learns their ship is operational again and that - wonder of wonders - seatbelts were installed, they go running to Outer Wilds headquarters to find Kent.

They’re launching tomorrow at the latest, with Kent on board!

Kent's talking with Hornfels about something - apparently very funny. They're laughing, Kent's laughing, and they automatically lean back from him when they hear Feldspar at the door.

"What's going on?" Kent wonders as the distance between them widens.

Feldspar stands in the doorway, glancing between Hornfels and that purple around their ears and Kent with those wrinkles still around his eyes. They must have been having themselves a grand ol' time together. That's...good, right?

"Hey, Kent," they say, stepping inside and feeling some weird tension in the room. "Launch to Brittle Hollow's back on. Heard you convinced Slate to install those seatbelts and all."

Kent sits up. "Of course I did. But - really? God, that's great. Okay, just tell me when and I'll get ready."

Which means he won't be a burden this time.

It is great! Feldspar's heart gives a little happy leap. "Sure, sure! I was planning on launching tomorrow, but we need to make sure your suit's in good shape first. Hornfels, what do you think?"

"Oh don't worry," they say, a little flustered. "All we need to do is refill the tanks."

Kent sits up. "Really? That easy?"

"Of course, Kent."

Feldspar’s grin widens, and Hornfels starts to join them.

“But you can’t pilot that thing like you usually do, Feldspar! You have to be careful, you have a passenger.”

They laugh quietly. “I promise, I promise, I’ll be careful! Barring any technical difficulties that are out of my hands.”

Kent reaches out and takes Hornfels' wrist lightly. "Don't worry about me. I've been on bumpier rides."

He smiles to himself. "I can't wait."

Feldspar sees the reassuring hand hold and their eyes widen slightly. They turn away quickly before Hornfels can see them staring.

What does it mean, that Hornfels and Kent are that close? What does the laughter mean, the blush, the handhold??

“Tomorrow morning, we’ll meet at the launchpad.”

"Got it," Kent tells them. "Can you come and get me?" he asks Hornfels. "I don't think I've ever been to the launchpad."

Feldspar finds themselves tugging on their own ear. Kent asked Hornfels to lead him to the launchpad, not them. It smarts a bit actually.

“I’m going to make some adjustments to the ship, so I’ll see you both around,” they say, smiling quietly as they slip towards the door.

"Bye, Felds," Kent calls out happily. "I'm sure tomorrow will be an adventure."

He smiles and goes back to his conversation with Hornfels.

They shouldn’t feel so boxed out by their own friends, but that’s exactly what they feel as they walk away from the hut. Hornfels and Kent seem so chummy - which they should, having spent all their time together, but Kent was their friend first and -

Ugh, so petty and dumb. Feldspar doesn’t even know why they care so much, it’s not like Kent turned them down for the launch tomorrow.

They inhale sharply and head towards Slate’s workshop, determined to put all this pent up energy towards the flight. Slate will want to tell them about the adjustments they made, and they’ll need to pack for the flight anyway.

Hornfels seems to sense something's up, but they don't do anything about it except to make sure to get Kent to the launch pad safely. Without letting him fall down the bridge and into the water, of course.

"They really should have railings," Kent laughs, trying not to betray his nervousness.

Hornfels leaves him there with a wish of good luck and Kent continues to the lift so he can wait for Feldspar.

Feldspar's there with Slate, already dressed in their EVA suit and waiting for Kent to arrive with Hornfels. They're surprised that Kent shows up on the lift alone, but they hurry to meet him before he tries to take a step forward in the wrong direction.

"Hey, morning. Feeling alright? Ready for the launch?" They smile and have Kent hold their arm like they've been taught.

He knows not to move off the lift, but he appreciates the care anyway. He reaches for Feldspar and wraps his hands around their arm, pulling himself close. "I am nervous as hell, but yeah, I'm ready." He's already in his suit, but they said they'd have his helmet waiting for him in the ship.

"How are you feeling?"

They inhale softly, feeling those nerves of his right in their gut. He's relying on him to keep him safe, to deliver him to Brittle Hollow and back in one piece. "You'll be alright, Kent. I'm a good pilot; I'll keep you safe."

They frown and then step away from Kent to step up to the ladder. "I can't wait to get back up there."

Kent leans against them slightly, then lets go so they can get up the ladder. "I know," he tells them, then follows them up and into the ship, bringing his stick along with him.

"I did some time in the zero-g cave," he tells them. "So I hopefully won't float away this time."

“You went into the zero g cave?” Feldspar looks surprised, albeit pleased, and guides Kent up with their hand on his lower back and then on the back of his leg. “Well the belt will help with all that, and then Brittle Hollow’s got some gravity to at least keep us on the surface. I’ll try to get us as close to the crash site as possible though.”

"You're the test pilot," he laughs as he climbs inside and finds the seat Slate had installed for him. "God knows if the belts will hold."

He's nervous still, but not overly so. He's waiting to pass judgement.

“I’m sure they’ll hold,” Feldspar calls up to them. They do one last quick inspection of the ship and then climb in after them, smiling to see Kent’s chair just behind their own. It’s a strange little upgrade, being able to carry someone with them, but they kind of like it.

“Belt looks good,” they say, pulling the ladder up and closing up the hatch. “Slate said they worked on distributing the weight, so we’ll fly just as easy as we would without the second person.”

Feldspar takes their seat in the pilot’s chair, sighing quietly as it all settles into place. This is where they belong, right here. This is the only thing that’s ever made sense to them. They flick a few buttons and bring up the preflight checklist, triple checking it with the kind of care they wouldn’t normally bother with if it was only them in the ship.

“Alright. Let’s start her up. Ground control, you listening?”

“We’ve got you, Feldspar. Kent, comfy?” comes Hornfels voice.

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