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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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...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.

John's grin is just a little mad. "Yeah! So d'you!"

He realizes that he should probably not be getting quite so into it as he is and tries to sort out why every part of him is buzzing, ready to go. It's the Bond. Bloody hell, this thing. It feels amazing, but he's going to need to learn how to control it a little more before they actually hit the battlefield or he'll be following Gladio right into a rage with a wild laugh and raised sword.

He does love it, though. Even without Gladio there, John's always enjoyed the feeling of battle, standing balanced on the brink, pulse pounding, ready to defend, protect, fight for something bigger than himself, for the people back home who can't fight for themselves. John draws in a breath to center himself.

"Think that first round technically goes to you. Dropped my sword, even if I caught it up again. You've got a better grip than me." It's not exactly the parameters they set, but this feels like a pause before their next clash. It's good to acknowledge where he needs to improve. And 'don't let Gladio feint you and knock your sword' is a place for improvement.

You know, Gladio wouldn't be so against that, the idea of John at his side with a wild laugh in his ears and looking alive and ready to fight. In fact, the idea is damned exciting. So when John's tone sounds like he's calling for a pause, it takes a few seconds longer than Gladio would have liked for the control he's worked so hard for to actually come to a full stop, but he does. He stands there, breathing a little hard but not much, watching John with eyes that shine with the too-short thrill of a fight. Wait until he's in a full and proper one. Should be interesting for them both.

"Been trained to fight since I was five." His grin only grows. "Trained in pretty much every weapon under the sun. You're pretty damn quick yourself, John. I'm impressed. Never thought I'd meet a Guide who could keep up with me." He rubbed his shoulder where he'd been hit, but over all, the look in his eyes and the tone in his voice hold one thing - pride. He's proud to have John as his Guide.

"I'll be paying for it later, trust me." Although, he's feeling pretty limber at the moment. Jumping around is helping last night's aches and pains quiet down. John brings his sword up in salute to Gladio. He can feel the pride across their Bond and it warms him to his core. "Never thought I'd meet a Sentinel I couldn't disarm, though." At least once. He tends to be able to apply his disarm techniques a few times before the lads cottoned on and came up with counters in training. "But I've still got two rounds to try.

"Ready?" He turns the blade so that it's held backward against the length of his forearm, but realizes that's not going to work. The Guide returns to a more standard defensive stance with his blade, although he keeps loose, ready to dodge to either side or back. While the transition between the stances is smooth, it might be obvious to Gladio that John is far better versed in short blades than longer ones.

The strange salute - England's, he notes with a hint of a smile - gets answered with one of his own. "I think it's just the blade. Never thought I'd find a Guide who could come close enough. I've had a Sentinel manage it in the past, but never a Guide." His voice goes challenging, grin slanted. "Think you can be the first?"

He swings his blade up onto his shoulders, a very casual stance, but anyone familiar with a greatsword knows that once it gets swinging, it can become dangerous to even try and stop it depending on the power of that swing. "I can't wait to try you on a short sword. Wonder how it'd do against my shield."

"Think I'd like to be." John returns the grin and Gladio will feel another uptick of amusement across the Bond for a moment.

"And I'm sure we'll have a chance to see. Maybe after I have a go with Prompto on the shooting range. I'd like to see what the rest of the team can do, as well." John's not going to repeat the same move from their first encounter. He has something else in mind, instead. He darts forward as before, but this time he aims a swing low at Gladio's knees. The Guide is hoping the Sentinel will bring his sword down and across in a block. If he does, John's planning to physically kick the flat of the blade while it's down.

It probably won't be enough to disarm Gladio, but it might be enough of a surprise for John do duck down and under the other man's guard.

"You'll be surprised by them, I think." He was, out of the four, by far the most straight forward when it came to who he was and how he fought. He was a big guy who fought like a big guy with a big sword, and he had no problems with that. Most people under estimated his strength or speed, but it was still written out what he'd fight like. The others? Not so much. Ignis with his look of a chef, an advisor, secretly boasting a ridiculous speed, agility, and a pair of lethal daggers, Prompto with his absolute crack shot, and Noctis with control of the crystal's magic... they're less obvious. Specially when Noctis' has been nothing but a lazy bum since John's arrived.

John's tactic works.

Gladio's quick, but once John's inside his guard, he has to shift and shift quick to defend himself, leaving himself open in that moment. However, with John this close, it leaves both of their blades very difficult to use. What will John do with his opening?

John's hoping he can surprise Gladio's mates, in turn. Noctis, certainly. Prompto's prowess with guns is of particular interest, purely from a base competitive standpoint. The Guide might enjoy getting up close and personal like he is with Gladio, but he's well aware that he's most effective at a relative distance.

Blades aren't what John has in mind just at the moment while he has the advantage. Instead, he bounces up with the intent of headbutting Gladio beneath the chin. If he's lucky, he'll manage to stun the other man and might be able to get his weapon out of his hands before the Sentinel regains his wits and simply bats the Guide away... or crushes John to his body and holds him tight and squirming there until he's forced to concede.

Prompto is beyond estatic that someone else will know about guns and be able to shoot with him. He wants to learn from people who know what they're doing, but it's been hard. John will find a very enthusiastic student who has a natural gift (or, well, unnatural, but-) for a gun in his hand even if he is horribly awkward with anything that's not a gun or a machine. Ignis wil be pleasantly surprised. Noct... well. Good luck with Noct because he isn't going to be certain about the old man who's better than him with a blade.

John does just as he hopes, getting Gladio in the chin which sends bright-white sparks through his vision, rocking the bigger man back. However, he either recovers more quickly than expected or gets lucky with a blind shot because a hand comes straight out for John's midsection, with every intent of just getting the attacker away from him to give him a chance to recover fully.

John's triumph at a solid connection is short-lived thanks to Gladio's swift action. The doctor finds himself winded as he's knocked forcibly back and down. He recovers and makes it back to his feet, knowing he needs to press his advantage. He uses the sword in his hand as a counterbalance as he kicks again, this time high toward the hand holding Gladio's sword.

It's a much smaller target than the blade, itself, so it's less certain of a hit, particularly if Gladio's back on his game. John's going to go for it while he can, though. Of course if he misses, it will likely be easy for the Sentinel to tip him over and get him down at swordpoint.

His Guide's speed isn't all physical. That recovery is impressive, far faster than he would have thought someone would take that kind of blow. Sure, he'd pulled it, a little, this is a spar after all and not full on combat, but that would have sent a lot of other people down completely. He can taste a bit of blood - probably caught his tongue or his cheek thanks to John's hit - but it only feels like fuel to the fire.

It would turn out to be a double edged sword for John to try that trick. His kick connects, getting Gladio to drop the blade with a hiss through his teeth, but his free hand drops down onto John's ankle. If he can keep it, John is going to get ripped right off his feet and quite literally flung away from him, meant to stop an immediate counter attack and let him snag his blade, but while it would count to keep him alive in a real fight (most important thing to him), it still costs him a point in John's favor.

John flashes a cheeky grin at the Sentinel as Gladio's hand clamps hold of him. The Guide doesn't resist the yank, but bloody hell is that going to hurt later. He's working out muscles he forgot he had at this point, muscle memory filling in the gaps that the inability to practice has created the past few months.

He goes limp except for the hand holding his blade. He doesn't want that flailing about as he goes tumbling quite literally head over heels. The landing isn't as terrible as it could be. John isn't really capable of recovering at that angle, but being loose means there's less pain and he's able to roll with it a little more easily. The sword gets pointed out, away from him, and skitters on the floor as he lands and tumbles a few feet.

The Guide ends up sprawled on his back, giggling with what breath he has. He'd heard the blade clatter to the ground. After a moment, he rolls over onto his stomach and props his chin up with one hand. "How's your tongue? I'd hate to ruin that for selfish reasons."

Edited 2017-09-09 00:01 (UTC)

...Is John freaking giggling over there? Gladio rubs his jaw as he looks over at his Guide, then snorts loudly on the comment. Yes, point to John, but he'll keep his pride somewhat in tact because he'd still be alive if this had been real. "Thanks to you, sore." he turns his tongue over and finds the source of the blood. "Just bit my lip in the process." He visibly swallows. "Look at that, ruined your fun for the night."

He reaches down and picks up his blade, letting it disappear before walking over and offering a hand down to John to help him up. "You're a quick little asshole. Oh, excuse me, we're in England. Arsehole." He smirks, and if John takes the hand he'll tug the other up as if he weighs nothing at all.

There is a serious look down to John's ankle, though. "Didn't get you too hard, did I?"

John takes the proffered hand and holds on for am moment to the other man while he tests his leg. "Remind me to take longer stretching and wear a little more padding the next time we spar. I'll be fine, just a bit sore. So there goes your fun, as well. Reckon we'll just have to get creative. Maybe a massage would help?" There's a suggestive tilt of his brows.

Reluctantly, he does let go of Gladio's hand. "Well, that sets us even for the last round. And I managed to get that sword out of your hands. My delicate ego thanks you."

"It was a learning experience for us both," Gladio points out, willing to stay braced for John to lean on while he checks his ankle. But, with a bit of a cheeky grin, he points out, "there's lots we could do that don't need to have you moving around too much on that ankle. Might be convinced to doing a massage, though." Complete with brow waggle.

"Think you want to stop, or keep going?" His tone didn't push in either way, knowing John alone could decide for himself how hurt he was.

"Keep going. I'm not that beat up." He gives Gladio a light punch in the arm and winks at him. "Have to see if I can win the right to play 20 questions from the asking side." Although, honestly, John's feeling perfectly happy with his ability to disarm Gladio. Still got that, Watson. It really is a nice stroke for his ego, even if it ended in getting chuck partway across the room. He suspects he'll have to get back in the habit of practicing recoveries. If they go out fighting daemons, there's bound to a number of times he'll get hit.

"Need to work up a good appetite for breakfast, anyway." He takes a deep breath and steps back, raising his sword again. "You ready?"

"Just remember I gave you the option." Gladio winked, but there was something savage in that grin that graced his lips. One to one. The Sentinel, as much as the fighter in him, wanted to prove that he would be capable of protecting his Guide.

It certainly came through on this round, because Gladio held back less. He had seen just how fast John could be, so this was the kind of fight where you didn't hold back, you didn't hesitate, you stood your ground, or you lost. He'd seen that before in men, hells Ignis could be exactly like that.

So when John comes in close again, Gladio feels it out, but not for long. He moves back, wanting to pull John in close, and then just goes for the gusto. He quite literally body slams his Guide, crashing into him with less grace and more a raw strength to send John down to the floor, the point of his blade following to lay against the side of John's throat.

His inner Sentinel is utterly pleased.

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