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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He hadn't thought just borrowing something off Noct would get to John, but it did, and honestly that left Gladio with a bit of a sour taste in his mouth. How was he supposed to make his Guide feel like a part of this group, at this rate? It gives him a lot of thought while John is freshening up, and he goes to take his turn when John's out. "I have a routine I usually do." Perhaps unsurprising that a figure like Gladio's took routine.

But he's curious and he looks over with a raised brow. "Why?" Because it seems to him like maybe John has something in mind. Usually his routine doesn't involve John (though sometimes Ignis, sometimes Noct... Prompto isn't much of a weight lifter as it is) so he's up for a change if John's got a better idea.

"Just thought we could maybe do some drills, that's all. 'S fine if you have something else. Probably should do some of my physio stretches, anyway." He senses Gladio's displeasure at the refusal to borrow Noct's clothes. Or... perhaps displeasure is a strong word for it. He knows the Sentinel is perturbed, but John chooses not to address that for the moment. Not everything needs to be acknowledged between two people, even when they share a Bond.

While he waits for Gladio, John goes to stretch himself out on the bed again. Without really thinking about it, he snags one of Gladio's pillows with a hand and pulls it toward himself, wrapping his arms around it and rubbing his nose against the fabric. The Sentinel's scent is thick on it, which makes it far more irresistible than any pillow has a right to be.

"No, that sounds like a good idea. Could do both." John is going to learn that Gladio spends a lot of time keeping the shape he's in and the skill he has. Weights, cardio, training happened every single day, without fail. ...Unless of course he's hurt too badly to be able to do so (cough), which means today is going to be a leg day for sure.

Ignis, at least for John's sake, has gotten it into his thick skull not to stress out a wound... too much. He still pushes it.

Perturbed isn't exactly it, either. Gladio's distressed about it, to some degree. He wants John happy, as any Sentinel wants their Guide to be happy (and good Sentinel), but he also wants John to feel like he does - that this is a brotherhood. A family. And that he's a part of it. It'll take time and the logical part of his mind tells him that, he knows it from how long it took for Prompto to be a full part of it, but his instincts want it to happen more immediately than is possible.

He quickly goes through the morning basics, like John leaving a shower until after, and comes out to-

Oh.

Gladio ends up standing there, unwilling to disturb John in the least when he's like that because he looks so content. He just leans in the doorway from the bathroom with a small smile on his face, crossing his arms and taking in his fill.

John breathes in deeply, then huffs out a sigh before rolling over onto his back from his side and tossing the pillow in Gladio's general direction. There's a slight flush of embarrassment on his cheeks for getting caught. He'd only meant to be doing that for a moment while the Sentinel had been otherwise occupied. Now he looks... silly. 'Cute,' is what Harry would probably call it. "Take a picture. It'll last longer."

Which reminds him...

John sits up fully and points toward the door. "By the way, I think Prompto might actually be a magician. He took a picture of us together last night in, like, half a second. Does he normally do that?"

Gladio catches the pillow and laughes, then mimes taking a picture. It's cute. However the change in topic makes his brows come up before another laugh follows the first. "Oh yeah. Worst part is that it was a good picture, right? Kid has one hell of an aim, whether it's with a camera or a gun." He comes over, scratching at his freshly shaven jaw. "Never did understand it because he's so awkward anywhere but those two things."

He stretches out slow and tall before gesturing with his head. "Ready?" He sounds eager because he is. Yeah, he does kind of live for the gym in some ways. It's always easy to let his mind fall into certain patterns, the feeling of his body, the strain, the concentration. "Warm up, then we can run through some shit. Maybe a spar?" Because he really wants to know how good John is.

"Some people are just like that, I s'pose. Seems like a good kid, anyway. And maybe a spar." John eyes Gladio's chest and the bandage over his stitches as he rises and moves to follow the other man out. He mentally steels himself for facing down the rest of Gladio's crew, hopeful that no one will comment on anything from last night. Verbally or non. John's not particularly ashamed--he was known as Three-continents Watson and Casanova in his Army days. But there's something different between a nice long shag for a one-night stand what this is between them now.

Ignis is in the common area kitchen, frying up some bacon that makes John's mouth water. He doesn't even look over as he talks to them, working the stove for the bacon as well as what looks like an omelette.

"Will you be dining with us before or after your workout, Gladio?"

"After." But he does look to John and raises a questioning eyebrow, wanting to know his input on it. Usually he waits until after so he doesn't feel sluggish during the workout itself, but he's leaving it up to John.

"Prompto back yet?" He knows the kid is usually gone for his morning jog at this point, but it varies depending on where they are and how distracted Prompto gets. "Or should I just check his Instagram feed?" Teasing the blond even if he isn't here.

Gladio does lean over to John and mutter, "Noct doesn't do mornings. Dead to the world until someone forces him up."

"Instagram, I think." There's a smile in Ignis' voice, even if it isn't showing on his face. "He found a dog, so it may be some time before we see him again." 'If ever,' his tone implies.

John just nods to Gladio's unasked question and listens quietly to the other two men. He smirks at the mention of Noct being a late riser and Gladio will get a flash of something across the connection. It's more an impression of exasperated amusement than words or a definite emotion, though. "Royalty," the doctor mutters back, but it's more mock-disdain than anything else. "My sister's the same way." Of course, she drinks herself to sleep a lot of nights, but John's choosing to ignore that for the cuter comparison.

"Morning, Ignis," he says louder. "I'll help cook or clean up once we're back, if that's all right?"

"I welcome the assistance, John. Perhaps you'll be an inspiration to everyone else." He's not looking in the direction of Noct's bedroom, but he's thinking in that direction very hard.

"See you in a bit, then." John takes hold of Gladio's arm without much thought and slides his hand down into the Sentinel's as he leads him out and toward the elevator. He's starting to get a little eager. The sooner they work out, the sooner he can have some of that bacon. Food is, the others might find, an excellent motivator where John is concerned.

"Prompto and pets," Gladio says with a quiet laugh and the tone of a long standing, familiar 'problem'. He turns and looks at John with amusement still on his face. "I feel bad sometimes the kid can't have one with as much as we travel around. He's never asked or anything, but it's clear he wants one."

He gives a huff about John's sister, though he does point out, "maybe you'll get a chance to meet Lady Lunafreya. She'll turn everything you think about royalty right on its ear."

He lets John get himself signed up as an assistant - Gladio's the type who is most useful being put to scrubbing pots and it's a chore he gets stuck with often enough if they aren't out in the wild, then it's his job usually to get the protein of choice.

His brow comes up at that unfamiliar touch, but he lets it happen and follows John out with a 'see ya' over his shoulder to Ignis. A moment later and he takes the lead, taking them down a few floors to the hotel's gym. It isn't much, but Gladio doesn't seem worried as he turns, looking to John. "Weights or a little test first?" With a gesture of his head towards a partly open nearby door that reveals what might be an empty ballroom.

Noct is doing a fairly good job of turning John's conceptions of royalty on their head at the moment. "I did get to meet her once." In an extremely formal setting where she'd been handing out crystals to the healers in the battalion to connect them to her magic. He hadn't met her properly, certainly.

Once they're down in the gym, though, John lets go of Gladio to look around the room. The mention of a test gets a raised brow, and the Guide follows his Sentinel's gaze. "Hmm..." On the one hand, the weights would be the safer option. On the other... he does want the chance to go at Gladio. It should be fun and a good way for both of them to test each other. But there's that injury...

No risk, no reward. John's had enough of playing it safe in his life recently. Things have gone off the rails since meeting Gladio, and he can just fix the other man's stitches if they rip. It's one of the benefits of being an on-hand doctor. "Am I being graded on this test after?" John heads toward the empty ballroom.

Gladio's grin to John is feral and his eyes full of something almost like lust, but it's more of a battle-lust than anything else. This is a man who lives to fight, and it shows in every inch of him. "Of course. Maybe you'll pass." But really, all he wants to do is see what his bondmate is really made of, and to him that happened on the battlefield. It brings out a different side to people and he's sure that John is one of those who it'll be one heck of a change.

Gladio immediately starts to begin stretching out, taking the time and care of someone who uses their body for a living and knows what they're doing. It's pointed, functional, and shows what's to be expected - that he's not massively dexterous, but then against he doesn't need to be. He makes sure everything is warmed up before he even turns back to properly face John again.

With a flash of blue sparks, Gladio's massive broadsword comes to hand like he'd carried it in, over across his shoulders. With no point to speak of, it's almost like a shield as much as a sword, but it's the weapon of someone who cleaves, who spins, who swings, and has no delicacy for things like point work. He'll never stab something to death; he'll cleave it in two. His first swing is clearly still in warm up.

"Whenever you're ready."

That sword is as big as John is, bloody hell. That's pretty hot, though, he has to admit. It had been fantastic seeing it appear in the clinic even if it was also a little terrifying--he really hadn't wanted his co-workers getting slaughtered by a Sentinel in a rage.

But the weapon itself presents a conundrum. John spreads his hands wide. "Thought we might be using practice equipment. Think I brought my fists to a broadsword fight unless you want to wait for me to run upstairs and grab my short sword." What he wouldn't give to be able to call the weapon magically to his side again. He'd been able to when he'd been blessed with Lady Lunafreya's magic, but that's not possible for him now. Not unless just being in Noct's presence somehow induces it.

"Could show off my dodging techniques if that'd do well for you."

Not Noct's presence, no. Gladio, Prompto, and Ignis were connected to Noct, and therefore the Crystal of Eos, in a deeply intimate way, a piece of them connected to their Prince, allowing them to borrow magic that otherwise never would have been theirs. Gladio just looked thoughtful at John's words and thought about it, then after a moment shrugged and gestured again. Into his other hand came a sword, an elegant thing a little longer than John was used to with his own short sword, but he hoped it would do.

It was turned in one massive hand and the hilt offered, Gladio holding onto the guard. "How about this? Work for you? Otherwise, I know we've got a damn long dagger or two in the armiger." Easy as that, as if it was nothing at all, but Gladio had been a part of the Guard since he was eighteen and after five years, he was used to it by now, a part of his very being.

John's eyes widen as he takes the sword. It's probably the nicest blade he's ever had his hands on. "No, this... this works." God, what world has he been dropped into? Gladio will be able to sense John's awe through their Bond along with something else, a sensation of being out of place. The doctor does his best to tamp down on that and just get a feel for the weight and reach of the new weapon in his hands.

He steps back from Gladio and takes a few experimental swings, trying to clear his mind and let his muscle memory take back over. Gladio's sword has the longer reach and weight, so he'll have to focus on deflection and dodging, waiting for an opening to strike. The Sentinel might be able to sense the increase in focus from the Guide as he falls into a combat mindset, assessing his opponent and quickly running through strategies to take him down.

Edited 2017-08-12 20:04 (UTC)

Gladio... isn't about to tell John that it wasn't his sword but Noct's, given how John had reacted to practically any other suggestion of borrowing. It was an omission he didn't feel terribly guilty about. He lets John feel the blade out - it isn't weighted for John but it still has an excellent balance and a keen edge, more than useful for anyone who knows how to swing it properly. Gladio takes the time to do the same, warming up his muscles with broad sweeps of the great sword, moving easily into the feeling of it. He had been quite literally bred from birth to fight, for they had known he would be Noct's Shield from that day, as his father had been before him, and the way his body glided through the familiar warm-up showed it.

John's shift in mental focus is matched by Gladio's unconsciously, preparing himself for a spar. Different mentality than a true fight, more prepared to forgive, his instincts less ruthless and brutal and more on correction and deflection. It was all too easy for Gladio to cleave someone in two with his blade if he wanted, but he had years of training experience behind him to keep that in check.

...and now a Guide to make doubly-certain on that.

And a Guide who is unconsciously taking up his role. Gladio will find that the focus from John comes with a release of pheromones that should hone his own focus and keep him more level-headed in the midst of sparring. It's going to make John's life more difficult with an opponent that he's not riling up, but some instincts are ingrained at this point. Gladio is his ally, his Sentinel. If he were an enemy, the temptation for John to Guide him might be surmountable, but not right now. Gladio will just get to enjoy the free boost.

John takes up a ready stance across from Gladio. "How about we put a wager on this, just add a bit to the excitement." He grins, challenging. "Best two out of three. First touch of blade to skin or forced yield wins each round. And the ultimate winner gets to do whatever they want to the other." Within reason, but the Guide imagines that's implicit between them now. Depending on just how pumped Gladio can get him from this, 'within reason' might have a very wide ranging definition.

...Huh.

Gladio doesn't notice it at first because he's getting into that mindset, one that's quite different than his easy, charming ways and very much the body guard he's meant to be. He watches John settle into stance, taking into account everything he can about it - is it an easy stance? set up for being study or fleet-footed? any particular style? before answering.

The answer might be surprising. "Non-sexual."

He actually looks serious about that, and while he wants John (and he damn well does), he wants more than just sex. He wants to learn more about John as a man, and what he's learned so far tells him he wants to push John's limits in every way he can.

It's an easy stance, one that's designed to allow him to yield and dart away to the side or back, rather than take an attack and hold. John had learned very early on that he just didn't have the mass to be able to pull off that kind of fighting style. Not with most other men, anyway. Certainly not with Sentinels. There's no particular style that would be discernible at the moment, but that's John's preferred method. Be unobtrusive, don't draw attention, don't be distinguishable, just be bland and overlooked. It's kept him hidden longer than most other Guides.

His general fighting style is one that's meant to knock his opponent off balance by using their own weight against them. For now, though, there's just testing Gladio's speed. Or there will be in a moment.

The extra condition has John blinking for a moment in surprise. But really, there's nothing objectionable there. He'll have to think a little more about what he wants if he wins, but that shouldn't be hard. "Non-sexual, sure." Maybe Gladio's thinking of a 20 Questions type scenario that John can't refuse to answer. Well, they'll see when they get there, one way or the other.

"Shall we, then? Let's dance, you and I." John moves forward swiftly and feints a swing at Gladio before darting past him. The Guide wants to see how quickly he can react and turn for now. He'll save proper attacking for later. Gladio has more of a reach, which means any combat is going to need to be up close for John to actually get in a hit.

Edited 2017-08-15 17:37 (UTC)

John will learn quickly that Gladio is faster than he looks, but for the moment, he only brings up his blade in what would have been an easy deflect for the faked swing and when John moves past him, he half-turns, bringing his blade around with him in a shielding motion, the flat of his blade turned out towards to be ready to take a swing or bat aside a thrust. He knows he's being tested and he's doing the same in return, and he has every intention of pushing John to see what the other can do. Not limits, not yet, but a more detailed concept of it.

He returned the attack this time, blade turning to angle the edge at John and it comes up in a fast lick, sweeping up from the floor towards the ceiling before rotating at the top of its arc to come down in a slice. With the great sword, it has the length and width to be defensive and keep John out of reach, but it doesn't have nearly the speed or dexterity that his sword does. Gladio usually doesn't need speed; one hit usually is enough to put a lot of humans out of combat.

"Beautiful form!"

John just dodges back, then to the side as Gladio's blade cuts down through air in front of him. Much faster than expected. Rather than deterring him, the Guide feels a rush and a grin spreads across his features. This is fun. This is very much his idea of a fun time. John doesn't hesitate in bringing his sword to bear in a downward swipe aimed to simply come down atop Gladio's and know the weapon from his hand with the force of the blow.

He knows he'll need to be prepared for Gladio to turn his downward stroke into something horizontal. Depending on how fast that is, John will have his sword up ready to block and dance away.

"Not so bad yourself. Come on, let's see more of it!" He is enjoying the hell out of this and his entire attention, directed by John even more than normal even if he doesn't realize it, has completely focused on John and this combat. There's always the thrilling feel of his blade in his hand, the faintest tingle of the connection to the magic of the Crystal in the back of his head, the excitement making his heart pound in his chest. It's going to cycle right back through their bond and he's going to take some of it from John and together, they're both ranking each other up in the best ways.

Gladio holds tight and braces himself against John's blow, one arm able to hold against John's strength, and he meets John's eyes over it before breaking out into a fierce grin. "Yeah." Just a breath out, then he shifts off to the side, letting the meeting of the blades break and swinging hard for John's side.

Bloody hell, that's a grip. The Guide can't help but be impressed and pleased that this is his Sentinel. Granted, he doesn't have the strength of a lot of larger men, but that maneuver has disarmed Sentinels in the Army before. It's good to know how quickly the other man can adapt. That's useful.

John drops straight to the floor and sweeps a leg out, trying to knock Gladio off his feet. He's always fed off the energy of Sentinels mid-battle, but he's not even fully aware of what he's doing now. Gladio's a different sort of intoxicating.

He knows he won't be able to grapple with Gladio, but John has a thought that if he can get the other man down, he can get inside his useful range and force him to yield at the point of his sword. This would be easier with a dagger or his short sword, but he'll make do.

John's maneuver was a quick one, forcing Gladio back to keep the advantage of his reach or lose it entirely. That speed had Gladio grinning, every second of their spar bringing up a fire in him that he hadn't felt in a long time. It shines in his eyes and flares up across their bond as he shifts his stance, tongue flashing out across his lips as he twists his body, bringing up the blade in a swipe that he turns at the last second, rotating all that power into a possible blow from the hilt of his blade.

This... This is everything he wanted in a Guide in his life. Not the weak, simpid thing so many Guides proved to be, someone without backbone or strength or who refused to get into a fight because oh protect me Sentinel. This, right here. Someone who will fight and can fight well, someone who goes toe to toe with him! Gladio laughs, the sound a hint strained towards something chaotic but that sings right back through their bond.

John is quick back to his feet, but not quick enough to simply dodge the next blow. He's planning to parry the blade and slide past with a side-step, but then the hilt of Gladio's sword slams against his own blade and John's grip isn't quite as solid as the other man's. "Ggh!"

The sword falls from his left hand, but John manages to catch it with his right. He springs forward, reaching for Gladio's shoulder to try to grab it and pull himself in. The sword is held backwards and John's aiming to strike the other man's throat with the pommel. The Sentinel has himself to thank for the idea on the attack strategy.

If the strategy gets even near to working, John will instinctively pull the blow to stop from actually injuring his Sentinel. There's something wild being reflected right back at Gladio. John can all but hear the bullets flying around them, the clang of other swords and bursts of magic. He's back in Afghanistan and he feels alive.

There it is again, that sign of speed, as John manages to actually catch his blade from a disarm. Gladio's damn impressed, and the even more so as John turns it to his advantage. When the strike comes, Gladio barely manages to get it away from his throat, instead turning just enough that the pommel ends up slamming into his shoulder again. When it comes, he's prepared for the knot of pain to flare of, but is surprised when it's not as painful as he might have guessed. Pulled?

"You love this," Gladio says as he pulls back several steps, rolling his shoulder. He could feel it boiling over from John and there's a feral look to the Guide's eyes that is downright intoxicating to witness. Yes, John's older than him. They're exceedingly different people, in some ways, but then there's these obvious connections as if they had a thread tied between them.

Hope it was AWESOME!

It WAS. Had lots of fun with my dad.

AWWWW! I'm glad to hear it! That's so awesome!!!! Best thing you saw/did?

Panel by the artists who drew "The Watchmen." One of the most genuinely funny panels I've attended!

That's wicked! Sounds AMAZING!

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cw: mentions of alcoholism

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Given that in brotherhood they use a whole bunch of different weapons each... hell with it.

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