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

[getfeldsparred]

“But you do still have a bottom, right?”

They need to know. For science. They twist slightly and crane their neck to see if they can spot anything underneath Kent’s trousers.

[videointhenoise]

"Everything that has a top, has a bottom," he remarks, leaning forward. "Is that something of note here? The bottom?"

[getfeldsparred]

“I mean…”

Feldspar might have spent their later hatchling years staring at Slate’s ass or at Marl’s - equal opportunity gazer, they are.

“It’s not not of note,” they chuckle, very definitely looking at Kent’s bottom now. Small, but shapely.

What is underneath all those clothes? They can’t help but be curious; it’s in their nature, after all.

“I’ll show you the shower and you can have a wash while I make toast.”

[videointhenoise]

He chuckles, cheeks turning a little pink. He finds himself here, not even a full day, laughing with an alien (no, Kent is the alien, he reminds himself) about their various erogenous zones.

"Thanks," he laughs. "Toast? Jesus...we have toast."

[getfeldsparred]

“Good, so I don’t have to explain to you what toast is,” they grin. Yeah, the overlap is strange, but what’s more strange - the fact that they share similar foods, or that he’s here in the first place?

They notice that their cheeks are turning a different shade, sort of a reddish-pinkish color.

It’s pretty.

“Come on, this way.” They take Kent’s arm to bring him to the bathroom area in the back of the cabin, the part with the shower enclosed in a large, wooden room that also acts like a sauna.

[videointhenoise]

Kent takes their arm and follows, walking through the different ways of getting water, the earthen cleansing gels and smiles as he realizes that he probably needs his own for his much different skin and hair. Still, the water is nice and he's eager to hop in.

"I think I've got it," he tells them.

[getfeldsparred]

It’s an interesting time, trying to explain things that are so basic to a Hearthian in a way for another species entirely. Fortunately a lot of it does translate, and they raise their arms and duck out of the bathroom when Kent is comfortable operating everything.

Toast calls. Feldspar makes it with a bit of smoked fish on the side, then comes to check on Kent.

“I’ve left some clothes by the door!” they call to them. They hope it fits.

[videointhenoise]

Kent stays in the water for a lot longer than he anticipated. He cleans himself and grabs the clothes, trying not to let himself get sucked back down into That Place. It's keeping him sane, keeping him grounded.

He puts on the rough hewn clothes, tying the pants up around his waist with a length of rope.

"You'll tell me if I look ridiculous, won't you?" he calls out as he steps back into the main room.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar likes to think of themself as an honest Hearthian. If someone looked ridiculous then they were going to tell them they looked ridiculous, though of course in a careful way. They’re not a monster. But staring at Kent the Alien, looking at them in a Hearthian shirt and pants, they can safely say they don’t look ridiculous at all.

“I would, but you don’t. You look great!”

[videointhenoise]

He tuts softly, glad that his cheeks are already pink from the shower. He runs his fingers through his hair.

"Great, huh? Guess it's that good Hearthian fashion. Who - made these?"

[getfeldsparred]

“Fashion, sure,” they laugh. “Um…we all kind of keep and darn our own clothes. I think these were made by Gneiss or Spinel. I can’t really remember. But sure, you look great, like a proper Hearthian now.”

Feldspar clicks the plates as they set them down in the table. “Come have something to eat.”

[videointhenoise]

"A proper Hearthian with really little ears," he tells them with a smile, walking to the table and putting his hands out in front of him to find the chair. He sits, feeling for the plate. "First thing I'm doing today is finding a really big stick."

[getfeldsparred]

“Cute little ears, with a big ol’ stick,” Feldspar sings, pushing the plate across the table towards his fingers. “We’ll get the hatchlings to find you one. Gabbro’s good with that stuff.

[videointhenoise]

He takes the plate and picks up the toast, finding the fish on the side with a relieved sigh. He knew he could smell it, which means that he hasn't lost his mind.

"What? Big sticks? They have to be perfect!" he teases.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar picks up their bread and takes a decent-sized bite.

“Oh, it’ll be perfect, but you’re right, you should at least give your input. What would you say if we had the hatchlings take you out to the woods?”

[videointhenoise]

"I think I can handle that," he assures them. "I used to do tours for kids sometimes."

And he can entertain them with stories.

That actually sounds like fun, and he perks up a bit as he finishes his breakfast.

[getfeldsparred]

They can see the noticeable change in Kent after the suggestion that they head out with the hatchlings. It’s nice, and Feldspar knows they’ll have a good time. The hatchlings are a funny bunch - Chert, Riebeck and Gabbro will make sure Kent has a good time.

Hopefully Riebeck won’t vomit again.

They finish up their breakfast, keeping Kent’s cup of tea refilled, and stand up to excuse themselves.

“Before we can go back up and get your things, I’m scheduled to test one of Slate’s new ships. I’m going to head up to the observatory, but I’ll send the hatchlings down your way.”

[videointhenoise]

"Take your time with it. I should have grabbed it when we left but - " He laughs a bit sheepishly. "It can wait. Good luck at the observatory."

[getfeldsparred]

“You had other things to think about, like the handsome alien rescuing you from the deserted planet,” Feldspar teases, waving their hand. “Just be ready. Those hatchlings together are a formidable force.”

[videointhenoise]

He laughs into his tea. "Is that how the story will be told? Go on, Feldspar," he laughs. "I think I can handle this."

[getfeldsparred]

“See ya,” they laugh, heading out the door and down the stairs with a whistle.

They pause a few steps away from the cabin, just taking one more look back, then do what they promised and round up the hatchlings to spend time with Kent. They don’t need to be bribed or coerced, all three are thrilled to help, and Feldspar has to warn them to be careful before they scamper off to say hello to the alien.

Though it would be nice to spend more time with Kent, there are things that need to be done. They show up at the observatory with Slate already talking about the new system updates with Hornfels, and they’re eagerly pulled off towards the launch pad.

Time to do what Feldspar does best.

[videointhenoise]

Kent has time to finish his tea before there's enthusiastic knocking at the door. He calls for them to come inside and they all pile in like puppies, eager to meet the new alien up close.

He gets his shoes on and follows them out to the woods, letting sweet Chert lead him. They talk about the stars, about the different sorts, as they walk, and Kent tells all three of them about listening to signals in the desert.

They try out different sticks, like a fashion show, and finally settle on one that is the perfect height.

[getfeldsparred]

Slate’s latest and greatest invention is an additional thruster on the ship, designed to quicken the trip up through the atmosphere and into the vacuum of space. They’ve been working on it for a while, and takes Feldspar on a little tour of the addition while they suit up for a test flight.

“Twice as fast?”

“Twice as fast,” Slate grins. “Assuming it doesn’t explode.”

“That’s what you always say,” Feldspar snorts, pushing his helmet down on top of their head.

Outer Wild’s success rate for successful launches might have skyrocketed (no pun intended) this last year, but that doesn’t mean they’re not without their crashes or fires. Slate’s done an amazing job with the additional thruster, but it does mean the balance of the controls are thrown off. Feldspar gets nearly to the top of the clouds before the steering freezes and they know they have to brace for impact.

The explosion roars through the trees just outside the village crater.

[videointhenoise]

Kent is showing the hatchlings how to swordfight properly, no sight required, when he hears them gasp.

"The launch!" they cry out in unison, but those gasps turn fearful just before an explosion sounds and Kent instinctively reaches for the three to pull them close, out of danger.

"It's okay, Kent! It's just Feldspar," Chert pipes up and Kent's jaw clenches slightly. He is not at all soothed by their apparent nonchalance.

"We should - "

"Go see what happened," Gabbro offers, somehow sounding both bored and intrigued at the same time.

Before Kent can protest, Chert has his arm to lead him out to the crash.

[getfeldsparred]

The impact shatters the viewing window and sends Feldspar flying straight into a tree, where they hang from a set of branches while they watch Slate, Hornfels, Gossan and a few of the other villagers come running straight through with buckets of water. They pass underneath them, rushing towards the crash site.

It’s a few minutes later that they realize Feldspar’s not actually in the craft or any of the surrounding debris. They can hear their name being echoed through the trees and give a quiet little grunt to try to get their attention.

“FELDSPAR! Feldspar, where are you!”

They wait until Gossan’s right below to shake a pinecone loose and drop into their helmet.

“Up here!”