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 is already charmed by Esker's enthusiasm, and doesn't mind that they are a little...lonely here. Really, he understands.

He walks alongside Feldspar, hopping lightly on his feet as he tries to get used to the gravity.

"I remember your voice," he assures them with a laugh. "And it's good to meet you. Feldspar is a much more careful pilot when they have someone else, I guess."

[getfeldsparred]

“They better be!” Esker laughs. “You can’t just go around doing stunts while you’ve got a passenger in your ship!”

“Unless Esker asks you nicely to do a barrel roll,” Feldspar chimes in, smirking.

“That was the one time. Anyway, welcome to the Attlerock, Kent! Glad to have you here. You can take off your helmet if you’d like - we’ve some of the best oxygen in the solar system.”

Feldspar laughs and clicks the latch on their helmet to reinforce the offer, pulling theirs off first and shaking their head in awe.

“Breathing without a helmet up in space. You’re a lucky Hearthian, Esker.”

“Don’t I know it, Feldspar. I got a good stew on the fire if you two are hungry.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent is a little more hesitant, but he makes sure he's close before he takes off his helmet and automatically breathes in.

"Oh. That's- that's really clean. And I could definitely eat. I brought something to go with it."

He takes a small package from his suit. "Graham crackers. Best space food you can ever have, minus the crumbs."

[getfeldsparred]

“No smoke in the air aside from the campfire,” Esker says, winking both eyes on the right side of their face.

Feldspar’s looking at the little packet wrapped in…some weird clear material, definitely intrigued by the thought of a new food. But more importantly, it’s from Kent’s home world and Kent seems to like it. “Best space food, huh? Well okay then, you’re the expert, Kent the Alien.”

Esker knocks Feldspar on the back of their head with a tsk. “Manners, you!” They turn to Kent, “thanks for letting us try it. Food from outta the solar system, huh? Is it sweet? I’ve got a sweet tooth.”

Feldspar, still rubbing the back of their head, adds, “most Hearthians do, to be fair. Come on, Kent, let’s pull up a log by the fire. Have some space stew.”

They lead Kent to their seat by the fire, passing by parts of something Esker’s clearly been carving in their spare time, and pop open a can of mallows to start roasting. Two go on one stick which gets propped up in the Attlerock’s gravel, then Feldspar sits back and takes out their harmonica to hum a little tune.

[videointhenoise]

"I am the expert, flyboy," he teases them in a mutter, but sits down when instructed. He stretches his feet out, finds the fire, and smiles. "Hey, the crackers actually go with marshmallows. Keep it for after stew," he adds, placing the clear package down. "And theres so much plastic in it...we should just shoot it all into the sun."

He elbows Feldspar. "You have a stick for me, don't you?"

[getfeldsparred]

Flyboy? What does that even mean?

Esker laughs and starts looking around for bowls, but Feldspar can tell they’re having a great time watching someone give him the business.

“Got two marshmallows on the fire, one for you, one for me,” they say, letting their breath blow a note in the harmonica. “And I dunno, Kent, marshmallows are perfect as they are. Adding anything extra to it sounds silly.”

[videointhenoise]

"You just talked yourself out of a treat," he tells Feldspar. "Play your pipes and hand it over when it's done."

He sits back, feeling...rather comfortable here. The music is fine, Eskar is wonderful, and the Attlerock is peaceful.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar rolls all four eyes and scoffs. “You’ll still let me have it.”

“Bossing the great Feldspar around already,” Esker laughs, moving around the fire with two bowls of stew in their hands “Hold your hands out, Kent, I’ll give you your bowl.”

[videointhenoise]

He holds out his hand so Esker can place it carefully there. They make sure that he has a good grip before giving it up, and Kent gratefully pulls it close to eat. "Oh, this is really good," he sighs. "And I can boss him around because he kidnapped me."

Kent manages a floppy little smirk.

[getfeldsparred]

The smirk does something to them, makes their heart speed up a little like it does when he starts up the ship for launch.

“That’s me,” they chuckle, averting their eyes when Esker hands them their bowl. “I keep taking you places against your will.”

[videointhenoise]

"Damn right you do," he chuckles. "But I can't hold that against you. I have fun."

He enjoys more of the stew, marveling at how fresh it tastes, even though they're on the goddamn moon.

At least their moon has a name.

"Thanks again, Eskar. This is exactly what I needed."

[getfeldsparred]

“Don’t tell them you’re having fun, you’ll never get rid of them.”

Feldspar nods in agreement - it’s true, they know themselves - and moves the marshmallow stick a little further back, just to keep them from burning while they eat.

They take a bite of the stew and sigh quietly into their bowl. It’s really good for moon food. “Thanks, Esker. About my ship…”

“I’ll check the fuel and make sure the rockets are in good shape, don’t worry. You two should stay the night though, it’s getting late.”

[videointhenoise]

"How do you know?" Kent laughs. "The Attlerock isn't tidally locked, is it? Or - can you see the village from here?"

His entire sense of time has been skewed and he knows it.

[getfeldsparred]

“Nothing like that,” Esker grins, “I just heard when you launched over the radio. You’ve been up here for a while. And…alright, I’m going to be frank either way you, I’m not going to get to the ship tonight.”

Feldspar chuckles. “Yeah, there it is.”

“I’m tired, Feldspar!l

[videointhenoise]

Kent laughs and takes a couple of the graham crackers, breaking them apart and holding them out to Eskar's voice. "That's alright. We don't have anywhere else to be. Here, take this and put it around your marshmallow like a sandwich. It'll change your life."

[getfeldsparred]

“Ah, alright.”

Feldspar watches as Esker roasts a mallow and then carefully sandwiches it in between the graham crackers. They take a bite - big, crunchy bite, and chews thoughtfully and with a growing grin.

“Woah.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent grins in response to that whoa. "Yeah. That's what I thought. You still a purist, Feldspar?" he asks, wiggling the cracker at them.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar sighs and snatches the cracker out of Kent’s hand. “I’m an adventurer.”

They snag one of the marshmallows and follow Esker’s lead, taking a large bite as is befitting their typical way of just racing ahead without thinking. They chew, then swallow.

Then they take another bite, and Esker laughs and slaps their own knee.

“…alright, it’s pretty good,” they admit, sucking on one of their fingers.

[videointhenoise]

"Damn right it is," Kent chuckles, flushing slightly. "Add a little chocolate to it and you've got a real snack."

He reaches out for his stick once he finishes the stew.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar finishes off the graham crackers snack in record time and takes the empty bowl from Kent, handing him the stick with the marshmallow still waiting for him.

“Chocolate - don’t know what that is. But I’ll trust you.”

[videointhenoise]

"A different kind of sweet. I wonder if the seeds..." He shrugs. "It's alright. This is perfect."

He yawns, making his little chocolate-less s'more.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar catches the yawn, as does Esker, apparently. Esker leaves to do…something, probably getting the spare bedroom ready, and Feldspar moves a little closer to Kent and offers another toasted marshmallow.

“Hey, uh.” They clear their throat a little, pocketing their harmonica. “I’ve never had anyone join me on a launch before. This was fun.”

[videointhenoise]

"It was. Don't know if I'm suited for exploration, but - I liked it. A lot. Thanks for not flying us into the sun."

He leans against them, taking the other mallow.

[getfeldsparred]

“If not exploration, then maybe just a ride in the ship every once in a while. I promise to keep not flying you into the sun.”

They grin, this time a little softer. The weight of Kent’s body pressing into theirs is pleasant and welcomed - it’s not often anyone gets this close to them.

[videointhenoise]

"Oh, who else is going to take that second seat?" he teases. "I look forward to it. Well, in my own way."

He pops the mallow in his mouth and chews it, appreciative and smiling. "I think I could fall asleep right here."