Sentinels and Guides - My other HALF

[postingmemes]

 

Sentinels and Guides Shipping Meme
A Sentinel!AU Meme

 

There are special people in the world: Sentinels--whose five senses are incredibly enhanced, sometimes to the point of overwhelming and who can easily lose themselves in fugue states--and Guides, the empaths with the ability to ground a Sentinel and focus them. Meant to be the protectors of the Guides, for every Sentinel there exists a guide that is their perfect match. In some universes, when matches are made, a Sentinel and Guide form a soulbond to fill the feeling of emptiness.

How easy was it for you to find yours? How are Sentinels and Guides treated in your universe? Or maybe you're one of the normal, unremarkable people. Do you fear Sentinels and Guides? Despise them?

 

Rules
1) Post with your character/canon in the subject header.
2a) Choose whether your character is a Sentinel or a Guide
or
2b) If you don't know or don't care, just leave it blank!
3) Information about Sentinels and Guides can be found here and here. Information on 'The Sentinel' which this meme comes from can be found here.

 

4) All the tagging! Have fun 8D

Prompts
oo1. The Meeting: 
How did you meet? Was it at an event organized specifically for finding your other half? By accident? Did you follow a mystical calling to them? Some other way?

oo2. The Bonding: 
Do Sentinels and Guides in your universe soulbond? How does it go down? Is there a ceremony or do you just retreat to the bedroom?

oo3. Rejection: 
Sometimes Sentinels or Guides propose a match but it's just not perfect. You don't feel the pull or maybe you think there is someone better or maybe you're already claimed. Maybe you were claimed and someone better came along?

oo4. Protection: 
Sentinels are meant to protect Guides, any Guides, but it's even worse when they feel their Guide is in danger. They go feral; blind to anything but stopping and killing whoever threatened their Guide or the bond. Maybe someone attacked your Guide or you haven't bonded yet and you feel threatened or maybe you're the one doing the threatening. Whatever the reason, Sentinels in a feral state are dangerous and only their Guides can stop them.

oo5. Lost: 
Sentinels often lose themselves in their senses. Either you're a Sentinel who has lost themselves or a Guide that has stumbled on one or a friend trying to draw them out. Unbonded Sentinels will find it hard to escape without a Guide. Or maybe you're bonded already which means you just need yours to come home.

006. Persecution: 
Sometimes normal people or the government fear the power of Guides and Sentinels. Guides are empaths, feeling the emotions and sometimes passing thoughts of others and it can make people feel violated. Sentinels often have enhanced strength, which can make them dangerous. So they scorn them, hurt them or in the case of governments, regulate them.

oo7. Death: 
Unbonded Sentinels and Guides eventually lose themselves to the empty cavern inside them. Torn apart from the inside by the feeling of something missing. Breaking the soulbond of a Sentinel and Guide is agonizing and horrifying, leading quickly to death for the remaining partner. 

oo8. Old-School: 
Guides used to be treated on the same level as slaves. Unable to work unless their Sentinel said. Not allowed out on their own. They used to wear collars and couldn't own land or inherit money. Maybe the old ways haven't completely fallen out of style. 

oo9. Unbonded: 
Nothing is worse than being an unbonded Guide or Sentinel. Always looking for your other half to fill that empty feeling but you probably have friends that aren't your match or who are trying to set you up with someone. Maybe you're skeptical about the whole love at first sight thing and haven't been looking.

o10. Wildcard: Some mish-mash of the above or anything else you can come up with!

Image from weheartit / original meme by imadeamistake 

Comments

[pains]

(sounds perfect! let me know if this works for you.)

[A guide is never anything Noctis felt he needed. An escort, as he'd called them, at his Father's suggestion that he might just need one. Noctis doesn't need a keeper, doesn't need someone who might as well be a slave for the lack of freedoms they're afforded, bound to their role since the very day of their birth.

But Noctis has never had much control over his own life, not as far as the people who've come into and out of it, nor much else in the twenty years of his existence, all carefully fabricated and built up on his behalf. A prince, for all the trappings of royalty and all the favors afforded to the title, very much lacks the freedoms of the civilians who lend him his support. Set to embark on a journey that may very well cost him his life or a good chunk of his sanity, even the destiny Noctis will supposedly come to embrace along the way is a construct he'd had no hand in designing.

The question begs itself: who, then, is the real slave here?

And it's slated to be a lonely trip, one of "self-discovery" or something equally trite– or it had been until Noctis had been appointed a guard despite his refusal to make the trip alongside some glorified slave.

For his own protection and the good of Insomnia itself, father had claimed that to be the reason for Ignis' assignment as his guide going forward. Until the day one of them disappears from this world, they're to be bound to one another from the moment of their meeting.

That time has come, and following father's urging, Noctis stands before Ignis in the conference chamber, silent and sizing him up. He's a fair bit taller than he is, expression reading equanimity, and that's likely why this man had been chosen specifically for him.

Someone who'll keep him grounded when Noct's temper takes on a mind of it's own was father's idea, no doubt. The weight of the collar around the man's neck doesn't seem to deter him any from standing tall before him, and stepping closer, Noctis bridges more of that distance between them to speak following that long silence.]

Ignis. I'm guessing that's you?

[blindmark]

[Ignis was certainly the type of person who couldn't ever be bound to his lot in life. His status as Guide meant he really had no personal freedoms, not much despite his unbound status until now. However, his hardwork and dedication to his role is what earned him the position given to him now, even despite his disability.

It wasn't that he accepted being a Guide so much that he decided if that's how the world would treat those meant to help Sentinels, then he would show them that they were much more than their title. And so, he waited patiently as his charge was brought in. Shoulders squared, gloved hands resting upon his black cane, he knew he appeared as though he didn't have the weighted collar on him. He listened to the prince's footsteps as he bridges the gap between them and waited, still, until the prince spoke.]

You are correct, Your Highness.

[Moving his cane to one hand, he bowed. He adjusted his darkened glasses as he straightened once more.]

Ignis Scientia, at your service.

[pains]

[A peculiar choice, some might find the assignment, and Noctis isn't without his fair share of doubts. Upon close inspection, what holds up those neatly folded hands is a cane, suggesting Ignis' vision may very well be lacking, if present at all. A sightless guide, then. Talk about the blind leading the blind.

For a man with no more freedoms than a slave laboring the day long, Ignis doesn't pay his bindings much mind– a detail Noctis notes, one he finds worthy of some degree of admiration. He'd be lying to suggest he understood what lead to his father appointing this man to be his guide, but to that end, Noctis finds himself curious.

Curious to learn why, perhaps, they'd been determined suitable partners for one another. A sentinel, surly and prone to bouts of moodiness, and a guide even-tempered and placid. Perhaps that contrast will serve them well.]

...Highness.

[No surprises here: Ignis is very much the proper speaker he projects himself to be. The first order of business is establishing ground rules– starting with the matter of formalities.]

Call me Noctis. Highness is way too stiff and formal for me.

[And that bow? Forget it: another formality Noctis could do without. What that prim and proper greeting earns Ignis is a clap on the shoulder, as much a gesture of good will as Noctis can offer.]

You can take it easy around me. I won't go tattling to the good king if you drop all the formalities.

[blindmark]

[A peculiar choice, indeed. Ignis, too, had thought as much. His experience as a Guide wasn't particularly extensive, aside from the usual training that came with knowing what one was upon birth. It started out much in the usual way, until he'd slowly lost his vision which is where he was today. It wasn't a completely black world for him, but it may as well be with how little he could actually see.

He often described it as though he were looking through a foggy mirror after a particularly hot shower, lights dimmed.

However, he certainly hadn't expected his High-... Noctis, to suddenly greet him in an entirely different manner than he expected. Or perhaps he should have expected it, given the nature of his charge that he'd been told about. His eyebrows had risen a bit, mouth open slightly to begin objecting but then he thought better of it. He gave a nod, instead.]

Hm. If you are sure... Noctis.

[It was odd, referring to royalty in such a manner. But at the same time... somewhat heartwarming. Guides were glorified slaves, he was correct. Ignis knew this and while he didn't openly fight against it, he always did his best to deal with it. It was perhaps how he was ended up being chosen.]

Now, then. I'm afraid I do not know much about the journey I am to accompany you on, just that it is required of you. Would you explain while we make preparations?

[He was meant to simply do his job and not ask questions, but he would be remiss if he let anything happen to his charge due to ambiguity.]

[pains]

[Noctis. That's much better already. One grows bored of stiff formalities over a lifetime of being addressed as highness and the like. Noctis might be a peculiar example in that regard, though– a child of nobility born without a noble mind. His status very well may have been some kind of divine fluke, given how he's never really acclimated to the lifestyle afforded to him by nobility and royal blood.

Twenty years hasn't seen him acclimate any better to it, so perhaps laughably, Noctis supposes he might've been better suited to the role Ignis was dealt in life. Would he be better off a slave with fewer lofty expectations on his shoulders or royalty chained to a destiny he isn't fit to achieve?

The thoughts that plague Noctis in waking and dreaming alike aren't worth fussing over now. He's obligated now to inundate Ignis with the task ahead in greater detail to prepare them both for the journey ahead. It might make for particularly banal conversation, but cluing Ignis in how is better than leaving him in the dark.

He's a part of fulfilling this destiny of his, too. A pretty significant one.]

You know about as much as I do.

[Helpful, truly, but as Noctis turns to stride in the opposing direction, he calls for Ignis to follow along beside him. Mindful, Noctis' footfalls are slower than usual out of consideration for his guide. Noctis can't speak for the condition of his eyesight, but he'll assume a slack pace would better suit him if he needs that cane to get around.]

It's better if we play it by ear. I'm... [This is where the hesitation makes itself known in Noctis' voice, gone quiet as he speaks.] ...supposed to be getting married soon. Political arrangement.

[One step closer to assuming his rightful role as king of Lucis, but like hell does Noctis want to think about it now, if ever. The first order of business is making the drive over to his apartment and sorting through his belongings to determine what needs to be packed for such a trip. Frankly, Noctis hasn't even started and they're due to leave tomorrow. Goes to show how excited he is over the prospect.]

Dad told me you're pretty organized. [Good for you, Ignis, that means packing duty is all yours.] It's not a very far drive, but it's probably gonna take a while to get everything arranged. The whole apartment's gotta be barren before we leave.