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]

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.

[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.

[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.”

[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.

[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.”

[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.

[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.

[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."

[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.”

[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."

[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.

[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.

[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.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent's sitting on the bed, taking off his suit when Feldspar walks in. "It's fine with me. Unless...are you a blanket hog?" he wonders playfully.

He tries not to sound nervous. Why would he be nervous? It's Feldspar!

But those butterflies still exist...

[getfeldsparred]

It’s not out of the ordinary for Hearthians to bunk with each other, or slip into each other’s bed for affection and comfort in purely a platonic sense. But the other reason also exists, and Feldspar can help but feel their stomach leap when they see Kent undressing in the room.

They try for nonchalant as sit down on the edge of the bed and start to remove their boots.

“I might be. I don’t think I’ve shared a bed with someone since I’ve been a hatchling. I’ll do my best not to be selfish though.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent gets down to the shirt and pants under the suit and stretches a bit.

"I can't believe we're just...on the moon," he laughs, leaning back. "And I will kick you on the floor if you freeze me."

[getfeldsparred]

“That’s what I felt my first few times up here,” Feldspar smiles. They get up to pull off their space suit, wiggling slightly out of all the various belts and straps.

“It never gets old.”

They eye the floor. They would probably be just fine sleeping down there….

[videointhenoise]

Kent rests his arm over his head and flops back on the bed, nearest the wall.

"No, I don't guess it does. We have a flag on the moon. That's about it."

[getfeldsparred]

“We’ve got one of those too.”

Kent looks comfortable. Feldspar chews on their lower lip and then settle back onto the bed, sighing as they sink into the mattress.

“And now a lunar outpost. Maybe one day your people with get that too.”

[videointhenoise]

"I hope so," he smiles, but drifts off a little. They may get an outpost, but Kent won't be there to witness it.

He moves over a little to give them room. "This is a nice bed for a moon outpost."

[getfeldsparred]

Sometimes they know they can be dense, but they can tell when the subject makes Kent uncomfortable or sad. They fold their hands over their stomach and stare up at the ceiling.

“Do you have more bad days than good here, Kent?”

[videointhenoise]

"No day is bad. Not anymore," he explains. "But there are times that are hard. Or difficult. And yeah, there used to be a lot."

He thinks about it. "But it's been a lot better, lately."

[getfeldsparred]

It’s reassuring to hear, even if they’re still sad for Kent.

“Everyone at the village loves you.” They pause. “Possibly more than they love me, and they raised me from an egg. It didn’t take long as all.”

[videointhenoise]

"It's because I'm more handsome than you," he says with a smirk, not wanting to linger too long in that space.

"It - feels like home. Weird as it is."

[getfeldsparred]

“I dunno…Timber Hearth’s a pretty nice place to call home.” They grin and brush shoulders against his.

And yeah, they’re pretty handsome. Definitely more than Feldspar, with all their scars and weird scale pattern.

Stupid handsome alien.

Feldspar gets up with an annoyed grunt to turn out the light.