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 falls asleep easily, letting the sound of Feldspar's breathing soothe him to sleep.

He does wake up cold, but moves closer to the other body in his bed, seeking out whatever warmth he can find. He isn't fully awake, but Feldspar is absolutely getting a shivering cuddle.

[getfeldsparred]

That Hearthian instinct to cuddle with the next warmest body absolutely betrays them, and they turn in their sleep and wraps their arms around the huddled body in their bed. It’s been a long time since they’ve cuddled like a hatchling, but the desire for affection never really goes away.

[videointhenoise]

Kent wakes when he hears Eskar moving around, and turns, pulling out of Feldspar's embrace.

Feldspar's....cuddling.

...Kent flushes a deep red and sits up, placing a hand on their shoulder. "Hey. I think it's morning," he tells them, trying to steady his racing mind.

[getfeldsparred]

At some point Feldspar feels fluff against their cheek and nuzzles into it, and is in mid-dream when they start being shaken away.

“Mnppfff. Go away, Gabbro.” They turn away from the shaking and waves their hand. “We’ll go explorin’ later.”

[videointhenoise]

"I have too many fingers to be Gabbro," Kent tells them with a laugh and moves off the bed, sliding the blanket over his friend's head.

"Come on."

[getfeldsparred]

They definitely don't sound like Gabbro. Feldspar groans and rubs their face with their hands, then swipes at the blanket until it falls off.

"Yeah, yeah. I should see if Esker needs help with the ship anyway."

[videointhenoise]

Kent cackles to himself because it's much better than remembering the warm touch of Feldspar's arm on his. Or how their breathing felt against his skin. Or how comfortable it was to simply lie there with them.

"Are you doing that to actually help or to be nosy?"

[getfeldsparred]

"Hey!" They sit up and stretch their arms over their head, then arch their back until they hear a pop. "I can help with things! I know how to do basic repairs on my own ship."

With tape. But that's fine, it holds, it works!

Feldspar hops around the room as they pull on their EVA suit and boots.

[videointhenoise]

"Yeah, but does Eskar feel that way?" he teases and starts to pick up his own suit and put it back on.

He can't wait to take a shower.

[getfeldsparred]

"Esker's nice, but not so nice that they'd just let me do whatever I wanted and ruin all their hard work."

They pick up Kent's helmet and hand it to them.

"I'll make you something warm to drink by the fire."

[videointhenoise]

He takes the helmet and tucks it under his arm for now. "It's alright. Just - help me get there and I'll sit and wait," he assures them. "It's no big deal. And the faster that ship gets repaired, the faster I can go home and sit in my own comfortable chair."

[getfeldsparred]

Home.

Feldspar guides Kent out to the small fire and helps them find a suitable place to sit for a spell, giving them some breakfast in the form of a bun with some kind of savory filling. Esker's already tinkering with the ship, so they run up the crater to help them out, handing them tools and chatting with them casually.

"When are you coming down? A week?" Feldspar extends a hand down to Esker to hand Esker back their wrench.

"For the next big campfire," Esker tells them. "I've got to reup my supplies, and Slate's been wanting me to help with some of the new equipment they've been working on."

"New equipment?"

Feldspar can see the glint in Esker's eyes. "Sure, new equipment. Interested?"

"Of course! What're they putting in the ships? You hafta tell me, Esker!"

Thankfully Esker has mercy on them and tells them all about the new reactor Slate's been putting in, which puts a little metaphorical extra spring in their step as they bound down to the crater.

"Esker's told me about a platform they want to build on the north pole, so I'm gonna check that out before we go. I'll be right back, Kent."

They give a little pat to his shoulder and bound off towards the north pole, one of Esker's radio antennas in hand.

[videointhenoise]

Kent stays there by the fire, tearing apart the little bun as he eats it. He can hear the other two talking, though he can't make out all the words. He doesn't try; it's not his conversation. He sets his helmet down beside him and perks up when Feldspar comes.

Then he smiles and settles again when they leave. "Have fun," he calls out with a smile before he leans forward, hands in his lap.

[getfeldsparred]

Esker, setting down their tools and wiping their hands on their pants, walks to where Kent’s sitting and patiently waiting.

“They’ll be back in a flash. No one knows the moon better than Feldspar,” they reassure him.

[videointhenoise]

"I'm not worried," Kent tells them, raising his head with a smile. "They aren't risky when I'm around."

He leans forward again, towards their voice. "Have you been up here long?"

[getfeldsparred]

“That’d be a new thing then, because Feldspar’s downright reckless with their own health.”

Esker looks Kent a little more closely, obviously drawing a few silent conclusions themselves.

“Not long, no. This outpost is sort of a new thing, we had to wait for the trees to grow and haul all the supplies back and forth. I was excited to come up here though; Felds and Goss kept saying how beautiful the view was, and they weren’t wrong. Plus I don’t take as many risks as them - sure, I’ll fly anything Slate builds, but I’m not the first one to volunteer to go out and explore a new planet.”

[videointhenoise]

"No, that's Feldspar," Kent says with a soft smile, though he disagrees about them being reckless. They're passionate and single minded. Everything that he's always admired about someone.

"Its peaceful up here."

[getfeldsparred]

If Kent could see Esker’s face he’d witness a number of emotions twisting their mouth and narrowing their eyes. But when Kent mentions how peaceful the Attlerock is, Esker nods and looks back out towards Timber Hearth.

“It’s really peaceful. A nice change from the chaos of the village crater. I’ll be heading back down in a few days though; Marl’s going to have their sap wine ceremony.”

[videointhenoise]

"Yeah?" He perks up. "I didn't realize it'd be so soon. Good for them," he says with a chuckle. "Come by the cabin before you come back here. I'll show you what we've been working on."

[getfeldsparred]

“They’ve been wanting at that wine for ages now, they’re gonna be so sick.” Esker laughs to themselves. “Most hatchlings are that way though.”

There’s a pause as Esker looks out and sees Feldspar hopping back towards the crater.

“Ah, there they are. Time for you to go back on to solid ground, my friend. Get that helmet on and I’ll lead you to the ship.”

[videointhenoise]

He nods and stands up, picking his helmet up as he does. "Can do," he laughs. "Thanks for the chat, Eskar. And the room. And the stew."

His smile is warm and genuine as he puts the helmet on over his face.

[getfeldsparred]

“Sure,” they say, sticking out their elbow near him. “Don’t be a stranger. I’m listening to that radio most nights.”

Feldspar can only see the exchange, but after jumping around on the moon for a bit they’re all grins and jokes as they bounce on over to their ship.

“Thanks for not breaking my ship, Esker! Hey, that area you picked out is perfect. I set up the antenna, and I’ll have Slate pack some lumber onto me and Gossan’s ships for our next trips out. We’ll have that platform up in no time.”

“Appreciate it, Feldspar. No one knows the moon better than you.”

“Pfft, that’s not true. You’re a regular lunar resident now!”

“I guess, but I’m not the one who planted the flag,” they laugh, and Feldspar from under their helmet tries not to look annoyed at the mention.

“Hey, Kent. Ready to go?” They’re already turning to pull down the ladder, still rusted and creaking, but that’d be a job for Slate when they get back.

[videointhenoise]

Planted the flag.

Kent isn't surprised to hear that, and he also isn't surprised that Feldspar hadn't mentioned it. He chooses to be impressed, but not bring it up.

The ladder is easy to find, and Kent scrambles up, eager to be back home. Sitting at the camp with the hatchlings.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar follows Kent, saying their goodbyes to Esker and doing all the pre-launch securing of the ladder and hatch. They brush by Kent as they sit back in their chair, smiling slightly to see Esker already back in the crater waving them off with their signature hat in hand.

“The village’s on the other side of the planet right now, so this might take a little longer than normal. Hold tight-”

Feldspar grabs their radio while the other hand reaches for their belt. “Feldspar to ground control.”

“Ground control here. Hey, Feldspar!”

Feldspar grins. “Gossan! Putting in a shift as Hornfels, huh?”

“You bet. Need the conditions report?”

“Uh huh. We’re ready to come back. Wait until you see what we found.”

“Can’t wait, Felds. Well you’re all clear down here, so get your butt down here before Hornfels has a fit. They’ve been worrying about Kent all night.”

“Pfft, he’s fine. Tell ‘em, Kent!”

Feldspar holds out the radio to him.

[videointhenoise]

"Help, I'm being kidnapped," Kent says with a laugh as he leans in closer towards the radio. He snickers a bit. "I'm fine. Everyone's fine. It's been an adventure."

He does like to hear that someone was missing him, though. It gives him a bit of a thrill to know that he's...wanted. Accepted.

Not that the Heartheans have ever given him reason to think otherwise!