bakerstreet | Sentinels and Guides;

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Sentinels and Guides;

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

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It is just something John is just going to have to get use to. Gladio's long since learned to just deal with Ignis as he is, but then again he tends to stick to his uniform if he has to look decent and he doesn't give a damn what Ignis says the rest of the time. He can't protect John from everything that's going to come his way from this group and John's a full grown man who can manage on his own.

Noct looks at John, then asks in a tone almost like he doesn't care, "do you want to come?" Something in his gaze suggests that John's answer will be important. He doesn't understand why the doctor would care about this when he hasn't been involved.

Gladio frowns towards his prince at the question, though. "Prompto goes with you," he points out.

"He keeps me from getting bored."

"People are being hurt." John takes little notice of the exchange about Prompto, or the implication of it. "Of course I'd like to help however I can. If those potions get out to the general public or into the military? We rely on them for the battlefield. Soldiers start getting wary of potions, it's only a hop, skip, and a jump to start worrying about magic, itself. Medics need to be able to trust their supplies whether it's the front lines or some A&E clinic here in London."

That's probably more than Noct actually needed to know about John's thinking on the matter, but his tone and expression are entirely earnest. There's no time for pretense when people are dying in what sounds like truly horrifying ways.

"I'd like to come, Your Highness. Please." He doesn't drop Noct's gaze, even if the show of submission might win him some points here. The important part is the young prince knowing how much he actually cares about this now.

Noct holds that gaze for a long while, before looking away calmly, almost bored. "Noct." Then he goes back to his food, leaving Gladio to lean over and whisper low, "think you can come." Complete with approval through their bond.

Noct isn't fond of being called a title by anyone close to him.

Prompto frowns, looking between the two Sentinels before going quiet in a rare move for him. Gladio doesn't looked bothered at all but he does share a look with Ignis, one that suggests they'll talk later. Prompto briefly glances to Gladio, like he wants to ask something, but he bites his lip and drops his gaze after a flicker over towards John.

The approval is a little strange when there's this... awkward silence across the table and the exchange of looks that John doesn't miss. What exactly is going on here? Did he do something wrong? Something right? Gladio's words suggest the latter, but Prompto's silence makes him wonder. Some of the concern might edge back through the Bond for Gladio, even as the Guide puts on a mask of general indifference.

Ignis clears his throat again. "Regarding the potions, Lady Lunafreya has received some lead on a new shipment of black market potions that will be arriving in the city next week. It's unclear if any of them will be contaminated, but we'd like to intercept the shipment, regardless... without it appearing to be the act of royalty."

"They're gonna steal the potions and just pretend to be another rival black market gang," John translates.

Ignis adjusts his glasses. "To put it more succinctly, yes."

"And are all of you going to be involved in that? Your faces aren't exactly unknown." John doesn't have that particular problem, yet. Yet. "I'd be happy to step in, if you need me to."

"No." That comes from Gladio before he can even stop it. It's entirely protective and that surges right through the Bond. Realistically he knows his Guide can fight and fight well, unlike most Guides, but he's still new to the urges that crop up from it. John will see it, feel it with context as Gladio immediately realizes what he said and gets up from the table, leaving his food and walking away.

It's Prompto that says to John, "might wanna give him a minute." He can smell what Gladio's putting off as well, but he's super used to how Gladio acts with certain things. Prompto gives a faint smile but nothing else.

"Sounds like a good plan to me," Noct says as if that hadn't just happened. "Better than what we had in mind."

John's breath catches in his throat as that protective instinct surges through the Bond. Sentinels are naturally inclined to be protective of Guides, even when they aren't Bonded. The doctor has dealt with that instinct and his return instinct to follow a Sentinel's direction and decisions. He feels like cold water's just been dumped on him, though, and he can't help staring after Gladio, only offering a cursory glance to Prompto.

He wants to go after his Sentinel. But they both need to learn to deal with these instincts on this new level. John realizes he's risen halfway out of his seat and forces himself to sit down. He stares at the table, fighting his own urges for a moment.

Gladio must know that this is a sensible plan. It feels like forever, but it's only about half a minute before John manages to reply to Noct. "What did you have in mind?"

"Prompto's got a unique ability," Noct offers lazily, still poking through his meal. He pops a chip in his mouth before he continues. "He can affect anyone. Sentinels, other Guides, even Nons. We were gonna use it to get in."

Prompto doesn't look exactly happy about Noct revealing that and he shrugs anxiously. "I suck at it, though. I didn't really think it was a great idea because it's so risky-"

"You're better than you think you are," Noct says with the tone of someone who's said it many times before.

"Woah." John's not even going to try to hide his astonishment or his naked curiosity as he mentally reevaluates Prompto. Gladio's discomfort and upset still pull at the edges of his mind, but they're easier to ignore when information like that comes out. "Have you always been able to do that?"

Is it a skill that can be developed? He'd felt rather more coming from Prompto than usual when he'd first entered, but put it down to the other man's puppy-dog personality and thousand-watt smile. That it might have been him actually using his Guide abilities--however unconsciously--puts things into perspective.

And very suddenly, it makes Prompto a much more dangerous man than anyone else in this room. John's confident he could subdue Noct and Gladio if he needed to. Another Guide who could potentially use his own tricks to subdue him? He's second-guessing that offer to teach Prompto now. But there's not much for it. They're meant to be part of a team. Trust is difficult for John, but he's trying, in spite of appearances to the contrary. And really, it offers a rare opportunity to test himself the same way he's tested his Sentinel. If he can learn to resist his own techniques with Prompto's assistance, that would make them both all the more powerful Guides for it.

"Yeah, I think so?" Prompto rubs the back of his head, looking even more embarrassed. It's not like he talks about it because he knows everyone who hears about it ends up gets weirded out or upset by it. He just... doesn't bring it up outside of them. "I don't have a lot of control over it." He sighs a little. "It just... happens."

He glances to John and gives a small smile. It's uncertain and tender and he only wants to be friends with Gladio's Guide. "I promise I don't ever actively try to use it unless we need it, you know?"

Noct looks up from his food. "You've got to figure it out sometime. Maybe the good doctor can help." Is that a faint lift at the corner of his mouth? A joke?

It feels like a challenge from Noctis. John doesn't catch the look, but Ignis flashes a warning frown at the young prince. Best not to press things to far with someone new and untested. Relatively untested. He's aware that Noct's ego has taken a bruising. Retribution for an insult that wasn't meant would be pointless and only end up hurting Gladio in the end.

Before Noct can respond to that look, though, the doctor steps him, back straight and tone firm as he looks to Prompto. "I'd be happy to assist you in learning to take better control of your powers. Reckon we can help each other there. I'm probably not the only one who can do what I do, just haven't met anyone else who uses their abilities quite that way. It'd be good to work on building up my own resistance to that kind of thing if we come across any Guides with your abilities, Prompto.

"Have you and Noct ever had any trouble with other Guides interfering with your abilities on him?" He nods his head toward Noctis. "Disrupting other Guides was another part of my work on the battlefield when we were dealing with enemy Sentinels and their Guides. I can teach you a few tricks to pull back control from someone like me. Bonds are strong and give you a leg up, but they're not foolproof."

"I'd be happy to try and teach you anything I can, too. I... really haven't had a chance to learn from anyone else before. Plus I so wanna see you shoot at some point, too!" Prompto wants nothing more than to put everyone in the room at ease with each other, for everyone to get along. They should all be friends, after all. They're going to end up together because John is Gladio's Guide!

Noct sighs and looks to John, his expression softening. "Do you want me to stick around for this lesson?" Not annoyed, this time, but just offering to leave. "Otherwise I'm going to take a nap."

"Mm..." John's gaze strays from Noctis and turns in the direction Gladio had departed. "You can go lay down. Would you give me fifteen or twenty minutes, Prompto? I, uh... Gladio."

Their Bond isn't even a day old and having the Sentinel out of sight is making John want to fidget. He knows he'll need to get over it and learn to deal with that distraction and bizarre sort of separation anxiety. There's no reason or need for him to be this clingy. The Sentinel is probably fine, but that doesn't stop the Guide from worrying.

"Why don't you go to talk to Gladio, John?" Ignis prompts. "I'll clean up the rest of this and you and Prompto can use the common room as you'd like for your lesson."

John licks his lips and nods. "Yeah... Yes. Thanks. Won't be a mo., Prompto. Sorry."

Unless the younger man actively stops him, John will head off to find Gladio, honing in on the scent and feel of him nearby to guide his feet. When he finds the other man, he'll stop a little ways away, forcing himself to wait instead of going up and just wrapping his arms around the Sentinel. "Hey. You all right?" There's concern radiating thorough the Bond in Gladio's direction.

"Oh. Oh, yeah, go ahead. Totally understand." Prompto can more than understand the weird setup with how Gladio and John met, given that his meeting with Noct had been anything but normal. More like nearly a national crisis. Ask them about it sometime. How bad things had gotten when the two were forcibly separated.

Gladio, when John finds him, is standing on the balcony that looks over the city, hands tight on the railing. He lets out a breath when he feels John coming close and he reaches out through the Bond like a hand reaching for John to come closer. "Yeah. I'm fine." Not quite true. He isn't sure how to talk about that feeling of uncertainty inside of him; he doesn't talk about this kind of stuff but the Bond wants him ease his Guide's unhappiness.

John lets the Bond guide him forward until he's standing next to Gladio, arm pressed against the Sentinel's. "Never had a view like this at night before." It's an offhand remark. John's not particularly keen on talking about feelings, either, even if they should be talking about those. "It's beautiful. Can't beat the stars out in the desert, but it's a little like looking down on the stars."

The Guide stands on his tiptoes and leans further out over the railing, feeling just a little wild so high up. He points toward the cars moving below on the street. "Shooting stars." A part of him wonders what it would be like to jump from here, to feel the air rushing all around him, roaring in his ears. But he'll have to wait on a parachute for that. The stop at the bottom isn't worth it, otherwise.

John settles back on the balls of his feet. "Prompto told me he can affect other Guides and normal people with his abilities." 'Normal.' It's a term that Guide and Sentinel rights groups roundly decry. Everyone is 'normal' for a given value of it, after all. John's never particularly enjoyed being a Guide, though. It's generally made his life more difficult.

"I'll take you to the redwood forests out in the western part of the States," Gladio said quietly, his eyes not leaving the world beyond but the corner of them watches his new Guide closely. There's so much there, an opening like a weakness that a warrior isn't supposed to have, but it's more welcomed than anything he can remember in his existence. John almost represents the emotions he's been trying to keep buried his entire life.

He doesn't know what to do with that any more than he does those emotions.

"Everything is clear as water, to the point you can see the Milky Way, but it's all beyond mountains and trees so huge you've never seen anything like them. There's a haven out there that would take your breath away."

He wants to reach out and pull John back, safe. Into his arms.

He doesn't.

John's more open in glancing up at the Sentinel, but it's only for a moment before he turns his eyes back to the city. His hand, though, moves to cover one of Gladio's on the railing, a quiet question and invitation for touch. "I'd like that, yeah. Reckon I might even be able to stand your mates for that holiday." John's the sort who enjoys a companionable silence, when things are said without words, so he lets the conversation lapse there for a little bit.

His mind is on the Bond, reaching out across it. There's a touch of longing Gladio will feel, followed by something that might might make him antsy. It's a wanderlust. John had joined the Army to have an excuse to travel. Maybe there was some sort of Roma in his bloodline. He's always had the urge to wander. Or maybe his home had just been the sort of place a boy would want to get away from. That holds a distinct possibility, as well.

If Gladio allows it, John will shift to lean more fully against the other man, just pressing their bodies together.

"They're better than they've been coming across. Noct's... got his issues and I really can't deny him most of them. He's had a lot of shit happen to him, people try to use him because of who he is. He's protective of all of us, and you're a threat until he thinks otherwise. It's not fair but it's who he is. ...Same as you, I guess. Not wanting to let people in too easily, right?" His words might be a little harsh but he says them for a good reason, wanting to have John understand as much as trying to understand his Guide more.

He softens his words by turning over his hand and lacing their fingers together, allowing, and taking, that much. He lets John lean in and there's a warmth of agreement through the Bond. Neither of them were going anywhere, not with this strong of a Bond already in place.

"He told me to call him Noct, if that means anything." Unconsciously, John tilts his head to the side and lets that rest against the Sentinel's shoulder. He'd be mildly annoyed with himself for that if he were paying more attention, but his thoughts are on Gladio's words now.

"Sorry I've been... difficult." It's probably the best word he can use here. Gladio's been accommodating to the Guide's anxieties and guarded nature. His inexperience, his overstepping on some things. "Harry always said I was a control freak." Ella, as well, in so many words. "Unnatural for a Guide. I really do want to help all of you and show him I'm not a threat, though. Not to you lot, anyway. Can't say much for anyone else." John adds a note of humor to the end of that to try to lighten things up.

"Means he cares enough to tell you that. He hates the prince and majesty shit. He ignores anyone else who uses it. So, yeah. It means something." He leans his head towards John, then sighs and gives in entirely, bringing an arm around his Guide and pulling him close. "Besides, you're offering to help Prompto. That's even more important to him."

"You are a threat, though. It's good, in a way. He doesn't suffer fools or weaklings easily and unless he has no choice, ignores them." Seems to be a default for Noct, doesn't it? "He's gotten better with it, though." ...Sort of. "Mostly people forgive him because of Prompto. Kid could humanize a behemoth. ...'sides, I didn't want a normal Guide. I got something better." Though he clearly hadn't liked the fact John could zone him out like that.

Something tight in John's chest finally loosens when the other man draws him in. He shifts, fitting himself comfortably against the Sentinel and hoping none of his mates happen to wander out. It's not shame, really. Just... embarrassment? Certainly embarrassment at being caught acting like a lovestruck teenage by a couple of teens and a 20-something where Ignis is concerned. Maybe that's all right for them, but 35 is a bit past the fluttery heart thumping phase of things.

"Your kid's more of a threat than I am. Once I get him trained up a bit more, he'll be a proper menace. I can only affect Sentinels. Him? He's something else. Glad he uses his powers for good." For now. Hopefully, they'll all keep him on the straight and narrow if and when he does grow in power.

"I'll try to be something useful, at least. Are you gonna be okay, though? Really? I know you didn't... like what I did much. And then volunteering. I just want Noct and the others to know I'm taking all this seriously. If I'm going to be a part of this team, I'd like to contribute to it however I can."

Gladio knows even if Ignis sees them, most likely, it's far from teasing the other would feel like doing. That's... a whole subject he still isn't sure how to bring up. The younger two might but he would have little issue in decking Noct or embarrassing Prompto with reminders of how those two were to start.

"There's not a bad bone in that kid's body. Menace isn't the right word to use with him. He could be dangerous if he really wanted to but he doesn't. He fights because of Noct and that's it." He sounds so sure of it because he is. He's completely sure about his feelings on Prompto and that it's not just Prompto's ability affecting him.

"..." A long silence starts, Gladio watching the city beyond. When he finally speaks, it's more... hesitant? "I think they're getting it, but it'll just take time, that's all." He won't admit to the disliking it; he wants to over come it, though.

John wonders if pointing out he can feel that discomfort rolling off of Gladio in waves will get the other man actually talking more. He's getting the impression that Gladio is the sort of man who needs to be Strong. There's nothing wrong with that, and it's more or less John's modus operandi, as well, but it's going to exacerbate communications problems between them. If neither of them talk about their honest feelings, nothing important is going to be sorted.

Instead of tackling the feelings question that directly, the Guide decides to come at it from the side. He pulls away from Gladio, shifting so that he's now standing in front of the other man, between him and the railing. It gives John a better line of sight to the door, which is comforting, even if it does cage him between the Sentinel's arms.

"Gladio, you should probably tell me now... that trick at dinner. I don't have to use it on you again." His gaze is steady and his voice is calm as he looks up at the other man. If this were anyone else, he'd be wary about having his back to the open air like this, easily tipped and shoved over the side of the building if he pisses someone off too much. "We're already Bonded." John touches a hand lightly to his neck. "I don't have much of a reason to do it at you other than showing off. I might use it on other Sentinels if I need to, though. I can't promise you I won't. I also won't stop from speaking up to offer my services, even if it puts me in danger. I can take care of myself. I need you to remember that, all right? It's easier with you, but you don't need to worry."

John's change of motion forces Gladio to step back, peering down to John with a questioning expression at his placement. He listens in silence through John's words, the questioning look softening as he does. The touch to his neck sends a gentle wave of pleased-possessive-contentment through Gladio, though it settles behind the uncertainty of the moment.

"...I don't care if you use it on someone else," Gladio finally says when John finishes, voice a hint rough even if his eyes are serious. "I like that you can protect yourself. I'm gonna keep you safe, that's going to happen no matter how you feel about it," because he damn well knows John will get, has gotten already, touchy on those sorts of things, "but I want you to be able to fight when needed. ...To protect yourself or as a part of this group. We're not in the safest line of work as it is."

The rest... Gladio's lips thin, looking past John as he thinks. There's a muddled confusion over their bond. "...Don't... don't ever use it on me unless I ask you to, or the situation is something... that you have to, and I can live with that." His gaze finally turns back to John. The idea of very suddenly being forced into that state, unless the situation required it or he volunteered, feels very much like having all of his control taken away. Like being captured.

Not in the safest line of work suits John's interests just fine. He hasn't felt this pumped to see the next day ahead in weeks. If one thing can be said about the Guide, it's that he's highly adaptable, and too much routine is absolute murder, even if his therapist has insisted a routine is healthy for him. A therapist he still needs to see and end his appointments with in a few days. That's a conversation John's still not looking forward to.

But it's something to think on later. John responds to Gladio's confusion and uncertainty by releasing some pheromones to sooth him, even as he sends back surety and resolve through the Bond to his Sentinel. "Okay. That's all I needed to know. No more parlor tricks. Noct's volunteered to be our test subject for Prompto's training, anyway."

And they would have made do without a Sentinel if they'd had to. Maybe Ignis? If Prompto's abilities can affect normal people, then they could really use anyone. "I'm gonna be doing a little training session with Prompto before bed, so you'll probably want to steer clear of the common area. Just avoid getting caught in any crossfire, by accident."

John places his hands on Gladio's shoulders, going up on his tip-toes to be able to kiss his neck, over the bite mark that the Guide had left there in return for his Bond mark. "Maybe think about how we can make up for lost time together while I'm away, hmm?"

Ignis might have been willing to give it a go, just to see what it was like, really. Prompto certainly isn't sure if he can manage the kind of thing John does, as like most Guides he doesn't use his abilities like a weapon, but so far they haven't needed him to. His ability to put people at ease and to trust him has been more than enough for them.

Gladio shivers under the kiss, knowing right where John pressed his lips. "...I'll make sure you come back to a warm bed," he rumbles, turning his head to return the favor, sweeping his tongue over the Bond mark and tasting John there. The image of having his Guide open and beautiful and ready for him is certainly enough to keep his interest through until John returns.

"I'll stay out of the common area. Be right here, waiting for you." They had talked, at least to some degree or another, right? It's enough for Gladio, who is slowly learning more about John even if their words are stilted by all they are and have been. Both of them have needed to be Strong for so long that they don't know how to be anything else, even when there is nothing lost in being that something else when it comes to their Bond. They can both feel it, but to acknowledge it... is like calling someone on their weakness. You just don't, unless they're an enemy.

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