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]

“Point tube at sky, got it. Think I can handle that much.”

Feldspar brings the tube to the window, tucking it underneath his armpit as he lifts up the pain and props it open with a stick, then sticks their arm outside towards the vague direction of Giant’s Deep.

“Got it!”

[videointhenoise]

Kent puts a hand on their shoulder, sliding the other hand down to Feldspar's hand, just near the dial. He turns it a couple of notches, hearing the clicks with a decisive nod.

As soon as Giant's Deep rises, the sounds start. They're soft at first, though as Kent leans closer to the dial and fiddles with it slightly, they become louder and more pronounced. Great waves crash against a shore in a way that Kent can't parse. Winds at speeds faster than the storms on Timber Heart could ever be.

"There she is," Kent says softly, close to their shoulder still to keep a hand on the dial. "She's beautiful, huh?"

[getfeldsparred]

At first all Feldspar hears is the static as Kent fiddles with the dials, squinting as slowly something starts to appear through the white noise. It’s not clear at first, but Kent makes a final adjustment and they heard the crashing of a powerful wave.

“Water,” they whisper, awed. “I can hear the water.”

Oh, they want to see this place for themselves! There are waves, and wild-sounding winds, almost like storms - it makes it all so much more concrete than just a green-looking orb in the sky. They have to fly there, they just have to, it’s calling to them -

“Beautiful,” they echo.

[videointhenoise]

Kent steps back, letting them listen for themselves as the sound fills the living room. "How long until you take a ship that way?" he murmurs softly, as if he knows them so well already.

[getfeldsparred]

They pause long enough to look up at Kent as he walks around the room. “Has to be after Brittle Hollow. I don’t know how long…Slate’ll have to prepare for that wind.”

It pains them to be realistic, but it’s the truth of the matter.

[videointhenoise]

"And the water. And any number of things."

He shoves his hands in his pockets. "Brittle Hollow will be soon, though. I heard Slate talking about final preps."

[getfeldsparred]

They’re reluctant to pull away from the sounds of Giant’s Deep, but what Kent’s saying directly impacts their ability to go back into space.

“Yeah? That’s good news.”

[videointhenoise]

"I know you're excited." He comes back to them and puts a friendly hand on their shoulder. "You can come by and listen any time you want."

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar brings their hand up to touch Kent’s. “Careful. If you invite me into your home I might never leave,” they laugh quietly.

[videointhenoise]

"You brought me here, to your home," he reminds them. "So you'll be hard pressed to get rid of me."

He knows he's happy enough here. Even more comfortable as the days go on. "But it's late and we should go to bed."

[getfeldsparred]

“Sounds like a kidnapping.” They grin slightly, then reluctantly set the radio back onto Kent’s desk.

“I guess so. Big day of peeling Slate off the ground from having too much sap wine.”

[videointhenoise]

"Still haven't tried that. But - I think I'd rather be alert tomorrow. Let me know if I trip on anyone," he laughs.

[getfeldsparred]

“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?”

[videointhenoise]

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."

[getfeldsparred]

“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.

[videointhenoise]

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.

[getfeldsparred]

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!

[videointhenoise]

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.

[getfeldsparred]

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."

[videointhenoise]

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.

[getfeldsparred]

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?"

[videointhenoise]

"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."

[getfeldsparred]

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.”

[videointhenoise]

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."

[getfeldsparred]

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.”