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

"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.

From:

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.”

From:

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.

From:

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.”

From:

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."

From:

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.”

From:

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.

From:

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

From:

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."

From:

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.”

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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.”

From:

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.

From:

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.”

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

getfeldsparred

They didn’t realize their heart had started thrumming the second they made their offer - it was only when it slowed with relief that they even noticed.

They laugh and look out into space, the Interloper passing by Giant’s Deep, the stars glittering in the sky, calling their name. “Yeah,” they say softly. “Me too.”

Feldspar hears footsteps behind them and then a soft cough, obviously to catch their attention. “No one’s sleeping outside. Come on, I’ve got the room set up.”

From:

videointhenoise

"Eskar," he mutters, pushing himself up. "Sleeping outside is kind of a hobby."

He brushes off his hands and grabs his stick to follow them. "Ellie, my friend, and I used to stay outside in her truck. Uh - land vehicle. We'd lay on the back of it at night and listen to the radio signals from the radars sometimes."

From:

getfeldsparred

“Yeah, we got camping too, but this is the moon. You turn over a little too hard and off you go flying,” Esker chuckles, stepping up when Kent rises and offering his arm, just as Feldspar had. “Tell me more about the truck.”

They try not to bristle. Esker is Kent’s friend, it’s not some slight against them to step in to help. But still, they can’t help it, and they stay seated and prod the fire.

“I’m going to douse the fire. I’ll catch up,” they call after them, successfully keeping the annoyance out of their voice.

“Sure, sure!” Esker’s not paying attention to them, Feldspar can tell. It’s all about Kent.

From:

videointhenoise

"No, camping is different," he insists, ignorant of Feldspar's mood. "Camping is with a tent. This is just sleeping. And trucks are four wheeled vehicles with engines."

He smiles, following them into the room.

From:

getfeldsparred

They can head Esker laughing as they bring Kent into the spare room, asking more questions, of course, being charming and sincere as they usually are.

Once they’re inside Feldspar gives themselves a little slap to the face. “C’mon, Felds, get it together,” they grumble, dousing the fire until it’s just glowing coals and heading in after them.

The room is nice enough, the bed fairly roomy for something just cooked up by Esker.

“Didn’t have time to build a bunk, hope you two don’t mind.”