openmisc | Kent/Feldspar

"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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

videointhenoise

Kent reaches up to rub at his face. "Well, I'll work on that," he laughs and curls up around them. "I don't know if I'll be able to sleep," he yawns.

From:

getfeldsparred

"No? Then I'll tell you a story," they murmur, happily cuddled into Kent's arms. "Maybe my first rocket ride? That's probably a good one."

From:

videointhenoise

"Is this a good story, or is this going to make me want to slap you and Slate?" he murmurs, closing his eyes.

From:

getfeldsparred

They pause for a long, long moment, then grin.

"It's both!"

From:

videointhenoise

Kent sighs. "Alright. Then tell me," he mutters.

From:

getfeldsparred

Feldspar very happily, though sluggishly, tells Kent all about the first official launch of Outer Wilds Venture. They pause at the right points, trying to hit the right dramatic beats, though they soften the blow about the ship completely disintegrating upon impact with the Hearth.

They blink slowly and close their eyes.

From:

videointhenoise

"You're right," he mutters. "About enjoying it." Another yawn. "And about wanting to punch you both. I know what you're omitting."

From:

getfeldsparred

“You’ve sat in the chair. What remains of the chair.” They smirk a little. It’s fun to rile Kent up.

“You okay with going to sleep now?”

From:

videointhenoise

He raises a hand and plants it right on top of Feldspar's face. It's as close to a slap as he can get.

"I'm already asleep," he mutters into their shoulder.

From:

getfeldsparred

“Good.” They turn their head and press a kiss to…somewhere. Who knows at this point, but it’s warm and smells like Kent.

When they’re sure that Kent’s sound asleep, his breathing deep and even, they exhale quietly into his skin. “I love you,” they whisper, almost testing it out.

From:

videointhenoise

Kent doesn't hear, of course, but he does pull them closer in his sleep. And when he wakes up the next morning, his stomach grumbles, reminding him that all he had to eat the night before was one perfectly roasted marshmallow.

"Felds?" he mutters, reaching for him.

From:

getfeldsparred

They’re not in the bed with Kent when he wakes, having gotten up early and gone out to do some of the chores so the elders can sleep. They’re in the kitchen when they hear Kent call for them, and they grin and pop their head into the bedroom.

“Hey! I’ve got breakfast if you’re hungry.”

From:

videointhenoise

"How the hell did you get up so early?"

But he crawls out of bed and finds his clothes, tying the little belt around his middle.

From:

getfeldsparred

“I get up early when I’m not coming back from a flight!” they call back, grinning to themselves.

They finish cooking up the fish and set everything out for Kent: a bowl of berries, roasted fish, plain broth soup, and a few dumplings with roasted veggies stuffed inside. A perfectly good Hearthian breakfast.

From:

videointhenoise

Kent stands up and holds out his hand for them. The cabin is similar to his own, but without his markers, he's a little lost.

And god knows where his stick ended up.

"It smells delicious," he admits.

From:

getfeldsparred

Feldspar’s by his side in a matter of seconds, guiding him into the kitchen and at their declutterred table.

“Gneiss taught me how to cook, so now the only fires I start are with the ship.”

From:

videointhenoise

"Mm, and is this where I'm supposed to be thankful?" he laughs, settling down at the table. He reaches out and finds each of the plates, starting with the berries. "This is great, though. Thank you."

From:

getfeldsparred

“I never said anything about being grateful, though a little appreciation would be nice.”

They sit down and pull their own plate closer, their foot finding Kent’s under the table.

From:

videointhenoise

Kent locks his feet around theirs. "Nope. Not from me, flyboy," he smiles.

The fish is next, taken slowly. "You stop setting this forest planet alight and then we'll talk."

From:

getfeldsparred

“I do my best. I think you should talk to Slate if you want to reduce the fires - they’re the one making the damn rockets.”

From:

videointhenoise

"Oh no. I'm talking to you. You're the one driving."

Kent flicks a berry at them.

From:

getfeldsparred

The berry hits Feldspar square in the face, and they start to laugh in equal parts surprise and glee. “That hit me in the nose! Do it again!”

From:

videointhenoise

Kent cackles and picks up a berry, eats it, and then tosses another one.

"Bullseye?" he teases.

From:

getfeldsparred

This one hits the wall behind their head, and they sigh in fake disappointment.

“I guess that means ‘hit the target’? The answer’s no, sorry.” They have some of their soup, holding the bowl with one hand as they sip. “What’re you up to today?”