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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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That's right. He picked up the first aid kit last night for Gladio's stitches. It should be in their room still. Excellent! John takes the proffered hand up. He only half-pretends at being dizzy as he leans against the other man for a moment. What was that about getting his mind out of the gutter? It's hard when Gladio is exuding delicious scents and a sense of triumph across the Bond.

"Real massage might be nice. I think I could go with a shower and breakfast for now. Think that counts as a workout, yeah? How's your shoulder doing?"

John's not going to be the one to point out that Gladio's promised prize is available to him. He's free to ask the Guide whatever he wants and John will answer, reluctant as he might be.

Gladio shifts his shoulder, feeling it out, then peels his tank top back and grunts. "Don't see any blood staining the bandages, so I'd say your stitching's held." It's sore, but he's bigger than grumbling about the ache. "Probably have Ignis use his skills and take a bit of magic to it, heal this up faster just to be safe."

Oh, he knows, but he's not ready to push it just yet. Instead, he leans down to John's neck and makes a slow, deep breath on the scent pouring out of him. The soft groan is downright cruel in how sensual it is. "You smell like the best thing that's ever existed."

John tilts his head instinctively to give Gladio full access to his neck for a moment. They're in the middle of the gym, though. Probably best not to get too handsy, much as he'd like to. The Guide pulls away and offers Gladio the sword he'd been using. "I'll keep in mind 'defeat' smells best on me." Once the Sentinel takes the sword back, John will roll his shoulder a few times and gesture for Gladio to follow him back out and up to the rooms.

"Magic'll be faster, yeah. You could have just had him do it in the first place." Although, that would mean they would never have met. "Change of heart on it being embarrassing, or just giving up since he had to pick us up at my clinic?"

"That isn't what you smell like," Gladio rumbles, his eyes nearly black as he looks down at John, taking the sword and dismissing it back into the armiger. "You smell like sweat and fight and strength and determination and if I had my way I'd-"

Blink. The slightest moment of what might be embarrassment before he turns away. "Both. It's not like I can hide it and I know Ignis is going to rail me about it at some point, so if I can guilt him into healing me while he's railing me about it, so much the better."

John has a feeling he knows what Gladio's way might be and he's really not opposed to it on principle, more just location and the unsullied eyes of anyone who might wander in accidentally. They might end up terrifying someone else like they did when Gladio had delivered his first bite in the clinic.

"Sounds like a plan for you. And talking of plans. What's the schedule today? We're meant to meet Lady Lunafreya, right? Or... am I going to be waiting to meet with her?" If Prompto's kicked out of direct talks, as well, it might be fun to do some shooting with him.

Gladio wouldn't give two shits in one sense, more the idea of possibly getting a nation upset with Noctis being the issue in another sense. He isn't ashamed of this relationship in the least, but he's smart enough to realize they have a hotel room like two minutes walk, tops. Besides, he can fuck John into the bed there and have a place to cuddle after back there.

But, for now, schedule. Plans. Gladio rubs a hand over his face before stretching out slowly. Really, he still plans to finish his proper workout. "That's up to Noct, so not sure. Prompto's still not great on that front so he sits out unless we think we're gonna need him as a Guide, but Lady Lunafreya actually wants to meet him. Less a political thing and more because he's Noct's Guide and she wants to see who her friend's got as a Guide." Gladio gives an easy grin, walking back into the gym proper. "If Iggy's got Noct up by the time we get back, we can find out from there."

Gladio can finish. John's finished for the time being after getting chucked around and body slammed. "Has Noct been keeping Prompto away from her or have they just not had a chance to meet since the pair of them were Bonded?" Noct certainly doesn't seem any sort of shy, so he can't imagine the lad being embarrassed by Prompto. And they've been together long enough for Prompto to integrate into the group dynamic, clearly.

They're out of the gym now, and John punches the button to call the lift down. That can't have been very long at all, certainly not the hour-long workout John was envisioning this being. He can't say that he's terribly bothered by that. Ignis' cooking had smelled amazing.

Edited 2017-09-30 22:48 (UTC)

"The latter," Gladio says, though there's a tiny bit of a frown as the thought of anyone thinking Noctis would hide something like that from Luna, but it goes away immediately because John, obviously, doesn't know all three in play like he does, so really John's question is a fair one. "Prompto's been dying to meet her. Ask him about it, sometime. Funny story about how those two knew each other way before he ever became Noct's Guide."

He flashes a quick smile as the elevator comes. "I'll meet you back up there. Tell Iggy to save some meat for me, because otherwise those two will devour it all." Said with a tone of long suffering knowledge. With a lazy salute of two fingers, he turns and heads back for the gym, indeed wanting to finish out his workout.

John will return to Noctis looking particularly zombie-ish in front of the telly, staring at it blankly, still in pajamas. Prompto is setting the table, looking far, far more awake than his Sentinel.

John's beginning to wonder if Prompto ever looks tired. He's like the Energizer Bunny. Noctis is more in the realm of what John imagines for the typical teenager upon waking to the world. "Morning," he calls to the lot of them. "Gladio's still down in the gym, asked me to ask you to save him some meat, Ignis."

Ignis raises a spatula amiably, and John turns his attention to Prompto. He's still feeling a little awkward after last night, but he doesn't want to give the other Guide the impression that he doesn't like him. "Need any help setting the table? I should probably get cleaned up, but... I can spare a moment if you need it." Before the ache of his body sets in from Gladio's beatdown.

"Morning!" Prompto responds with a real word while Noctis just sort of grunts and looks like he's ready to go back to sleep. In fact, he curls himself around a pillow on the couch even as John watches. Prompto, though, doesn't seem to show any signs of awkwardness at all and shakes his head. "I've got it. Go ahead and clean up. Iggy won't let anyone eat if they reek."

Really, he is terrified John doesn't like him after what they did yesterday. He doesn't really know what to do with John but Prompto's already quietly filing him under 'thinks I'm a freak' like others have. Not the most fair assignment but the others had all been under that filing at some point or another, too.

John holds up his hands. "Fair enough." He can fetch some meds from the kit in his and Gladio's room that way, as well. The shower John takes is quick, rather than anything relaxing like last night. He does, for a moment, picture Gladio slamming him up against a wall downstairs in the gym, though, and gives in to the urge for a few strokes. Realizing he's really not a teenager anymore and shouldn't act like one, John switches the temperature over to something cold enough to cool himself down in the ways he needs to before stepping out, combing his hair, and throwing on some casual clothes.

He doesn't know if he'll be paraded around to Lady Lunafreya, yet, but he's not going to get his hopes up and dress sharp for no reason. John downs a pair of ibuprofen before heading out again to see how breakfast is going. Ignis has finished and it looks like he's making omelettes.

"Where do I line up for breakfast?" He'll just... try to be casual and friendly. Try that on for size without Gladio there as a buffer.

"Just grab a seat," Prompto offers, pointing towards the table. "Make sure you let Iggy know what you want in your omelette. Gladio always takes his the same way." He's over by the couch, stretched out. Noctis is gone, probably getting ready. Prompto's hair is damp or is that gel or both? but he's in black, looking fairly formal in a uniform that looks cut exactly to his body, though his feet are bare on the table.

It will only be about ten more minutes before Noctis comes out of the room he's sharing with Prompto, his hair damp and around his face. He actually manages a somewhat awake looking raise of his hand to John before he goes and plops himself down at the table. "We waiting for Gladio or not?" So very not-princely sounding.

John pauses just a moment to consider that Prompto cleans up surprisingly well before turning his attention to Ignis and giving him his order. He sits down at the table, still feeling a touch awkward as he pulls out his smart phone to check on his messages. There's one from Ella confirming their appointment tomorrow. As he types out a response, he consoles himself with the knowledge that this will be the last time.

Noctis arrives sounding about as unprofessional as he had last night, but John tries not to let that move him. He's eating the omelette Ignis has delivered on, well-pleased with the results. "I think he was gonna be down there another five or ten minutes. When were you planning to head out?"

If he'd known they were on an early schedule, he would have been a little more conscious of time and making sure Gladio was there. Is that his job? No. Maybe? No. Gladio's a grown man. He does reach out over the Bond, though, and send.

Urgency. Uncertainty.

John's still getting the hang of this, but he can sense his Sentinel distantly, something akin to how he used to feel all Sentinels when they were closer by than Gladio is now.

Down in the gym, Gladio reacts... well. Everything is fine, then suddenly something isn't right and there's a feeling of urgency from his Guide. So he racks the weights and immediately comes up, but not before sending back a feeling that can only be described as-

????

"When he's back up here and ready," Noctis says, then sighs when he gets a look from Ignis. "We have to be there by ten."

"But we'll get to meet Lady Lunafreya!" Prompto, clearly, is excited. For him, it's a chance to finally meet the woman who had been so important to Noctis for so long and someone who had a part in his own life, completely separately, totally by accident. Maybe it was Fate.

Once he has food, though, Noctis actually does seem to wake up... as much as Noctis ever seems awake. Even 'awake' looks somewhat sleepy with him.

"Mm..." John narrows his gaze when he feels Gladio's response over the Bond.

Safe. Safe.

He doesn't want Gladio thinking there's danger. He just does his best to send along a sense that he's running out of time.

There's a moment before he realizes that people are talking at him.

"Sorry. What?" He blinks at Prompto a few times as he mentally rewinds the conversation. "Yes. Oh! Right. That's good, yeah." A chance to meet Lady Lunafreya and maybe learn more about these fake potions. John glances down at his clothes, which are significantly less formal-looking than Prompto. "Should I be coming along? I have another suit..."

There's a sense of confusion that gets returned, then the faintest sense of... displeasure? Gladio lets out a breath as the elevator comes finally, realizing what's going on, but he knew the time he needed to return. They have a schedule, a system. Getting a panicked moment of something being wrong this early in the morning is not fun.

"You're talking with Gladio~" Prompto teases, his nose wrinkling a little as he laughs. "I get the same way with Noct - he's kinda better at hiding it than me, though."

"You weren't supposed to come," Noctis says bluntly. His omelette, from the look of it, might be nothing but eggs and cheese and bacon. There's no hint of green or tomato or anything in it. "Then again, Gladio wasn't exactly supposed to pick up a Guide while we were here or anything, either, so I guess you're coming along." He shrugs, clearly not too concerned about it, but there's a hint in his voice that makes Prompto look over at his Sentinel.

Noct, he's pretty sure, still isn't entirely keen on this stranger in their midst.

Mild annoyance gets shot back at Gladio. John's not even sure what his role here is other than pretend to be a new doctor for Noct until it's found out that he's Gladio's Guide. They should, he realizes, probably talk about actual day-to-day things like whether or not John's meant to keep Gladio on a schedule. How much to impose himself. He knows Gladio intimately, he knows the man's rage. The mundane matters of everyday life? They're both going to have to learn those about each other and learn to live with each other's rhythms and ticks.

Noctis puts a fine point on the matter with the mention of him not meant to be there.

John runs his fingers through his hair, only offering Prompto an embarrassed shrug. "All right. I'll go change, then. And, um... see about getting something more aligned with everyone else later." Or apparently Ignis will be procuring it according to Gladio. Thoughts of money and his lack thereof flit through John's mind again and anxiety over accepting something like that spikes again before he can beat it back into a corner. The only one who might notice any particular change would be Prompto, but John gets that particular worry clamped down swiftly.

"Think Gladio should be on his way up... soon."

They really do need to talk about that kind of thing, but they're both men who don't do so well talking about that. Gladio's younger, he's used to his own schedule, and the idea of someone else outside of Ignis trying to keep him to it feels... somewhere between strange and invasive. Is that what Guides do? Then again, the only Guide he knows well is Prompto and Prompto, as far as he knows, can barely keep a schedule himself. (Thank the Six for Ignis who can keep those two in line.) But he's dealt with himself and keeping a rigid schedule most of his life thanks to his upbringing.

"Is Doctor Watson getting a uniform?" Prompto asks over towards Ignis, uncertain about that. "I mean, I got mine once I got brought into Noct's guard properly and all of that, but like, at least black? I think he could rock some black." Black being the royal color and all, though he's pretty sure in England it means something else all together, maybe? Didn't he hear that? Maybe it's white over here, like Lady Lunafreya.

He smiles at the thought.

There's a brief feeling of something in the air that pulls him out of his thoughts, but by the time he tries to focus on it, it's already gone, leaving him to just look around before shrugging and going back to his meal. Noctis has slowly put away his meal and looks ready to fall asleep into it, barely hiding a yawn behind his hand.

"I believe so." Ignis casts a brief glance over at Noctis before adjusting his glasses. "We'll have little time to take care of the matter this morning, but I can see to a tailor this afternoon. Provided you'll allow me to take your measurements, John."

John balks, the immediate flare of no rising up before he tamps down on it. He forces a brief smile. "Sure." He needs to learn to accept things graciously or he and Gladio are going to be rowing like cats and dogs constantly. He knows this. It's just... difficult. But John's determined to at least make the effort.

"I have a black suit I can wear in the meanwhile, if that'll do? Just a white shirt, though."

"Up to Iggy, but black's better," says the man all done up in black, with his Guide equally in black. Black is the color of the family, even if that's not true here in England.

Prompto has an eye on John, but he isn't sure what's going on. He doesn't really know John, so he can't make heads or tails of what he's feeling from the other besides the fact it keeps conflicting. Something's not right, but he isn't sure what, exactly. It brings out a frown as he goes back to his food.

The door opens to the suite and Gladio steps in, giving a quick wave. "Gonna shower." Though he does give a bit of a look to John before he goes for their room.

John casts a look right back. He was just trying to help and he's a little annoyed with himself for overreacting as he had. It's going to set a poor precedent for Gladio on what sorts of things he'll prod his Sentinel about over the connection of their Bond. John has no desire to come off as overly anxious, even if he... is. It's the principle of the thing and he just feels embarrassed for the slip-up, mostly.

"I think I have a black dress shirt you might be able to fit in to for the meeting," Ignis offers, sighing at Noctis' obsession. It's not that he's particularly opposed to the royal color--he's already mentally setting out an outfit to suit John--it's just one more thing on his list to sort out to make certain the young prince's aesthetic is favored for his entourage.

"I'm sorry for the trouble," John offers quietly. He does mean it. He wishes he could just pluck some sleek, all-black number from his wardrobe, but he has a decent business suit and a black shirt should at least put him in the same spectrum as the others so he doesn't stick out quite as badly.

"Not at all!" Ignis casts the other man a brief smile before turning his attention to Prompto, trying to get more of a read on his expression to better assess John. Prompto's more familiar and therefore easier to read... not to mention he's not particularly guarded with his emotions.

They were two people bound together by Fate, but Fate couldn't completely smooth over the differences between them when there was years of life written into them. It was the reason that, most of the time, Sentinels found their Guides very early on, so they could correct and write into one another when things were much more impressionable. Well. Here they are. It's going to take some getting used to, even if they are now deeply connected.

Prompto is, frankly, terrible at guarding his emotions... for the most part. There's certain things that not even his Sentinel knows, and in that aspect, he's actually the best. But... just that. He doesn't want to have to hide things from his friends or his Sentinel. They're his family, the only real family he's ever had. Right now, though, Prompto's brows are pinched and he keeps glancing to John, unintentionally picking up on John's tension and displaying it instead of the newest addition to their group.

"It doesn't all have to be black," Prompto points out. "I like the red and silver and stuff!"

"You're all golden to begin with," Noctis counters.

Which has Prompto blushing.

John raises his brows at the flirting. It's not unexpected, but he's just a bit surprised at how easy and open Noctis and Prompto are. He'd noticed that last night. In fact, the whole group seems to be well at-ease--and here he is, the interloper. John clears his throat, trying to push the more intrusive thoughts away. A part of him wonders if it's something to discuss with Ella before he ends their sessions for good. No, probably not. He's never told her anything substantive before. Why start now?

"We'll do black for today. Maybe fancy it up some other time." He rises from his seat and collects his plate to do the washing up while they wait for Gladio. "Are there any particular protocols I should know about for meeting with Lunafreya that are specific to your entourage?"

When he'd met her as a soldier, he'd been directed not to speak unless asked a question or stare at her for too long. She'd been radiant and that second part had been far more difficult than the first.

Noctis throws a look to Prompto, one that's hard to read, who shrugs slightly and looks a little off to the side as if uncomfortable with whatever's in that look. Noctis then mirrors his Guide and shrugs in return. "Just don't be rude, I guess."

"It's 'Lady Lunafreya' until she inevitably laughs and tells you to call her Luna." That's Gladio, coming into the room from a fast shower, towel around his shoulders to catch drips from his hair. He's got the lower half of the same kind of uniform Prompto has on, but he's still bare chested for now. "Lady Lunafreya anywhere in public." He moves close, squeezing John's shoulder before slipping into a seat, looking hopefully to Ignis because breakfast.

He grins easily. "Just relax. Luckily you're with us and we're pretty loose on the whole fancy business. Lunafreya... she's some kind of special."

Ignis rises from where he'd finished his own breakfast and goes to prepare an omelette for Gladio. It's a relatively quick affair, at least. He'd left out everything he needed.

John listens intently to the advice, even if he... apparently doesn't need to? Still, he supposes he can just rely on his military manners. If he's the most formal one at this little get together, so be it. Better to impress with good behavior than embarrass his Sentinel or the prince by being a little too casual.

Instead of letting that sense of being on edge translate fully over the Bond, John consciously adjusts what he's putting out to favor the general eagerness he's also feeling. This is a chance to help with whatever the poisoned potions are.

"I'll do my best, mate. Managed not to trip over my own feet the first time I met her." Granted, he'd just been stood there at attention and offered a 'thank you, m'am' when she'd addressed him briefly for the transfer of a small piece of her magic for the battlefield. Still, that... should serve him well enough.

An omelette is delivered to Gladio's plate and Ignis goes off to fetch his black shirt for John. While his Sentinel eats, the Guide heads off to change into his dress attire. He feels a like a priest, dressed all in a black formal suit, but it really can't be helped. At least it's slimming? Not that he needs much help with that these days. John does take a moment to slick his hair back with a little gel to give it a touch of flair. It's too short to do much with, as far as styling goes, but the others seem to have a thing for interesting haircuts. John considers trying to grow out a mustache or a beard for a long moment before deciding against it. He already looks older than the other men. He doesn't need to further accentuate it and make himself feel ancient.

"Think I'm ready to go whenever the rest of us are," John offers as he steps back out to the common area. Ignis' shirt is tight around the chest and long in the arms, but it's a decent fit for the moment.

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Shall we timeskip a bit to arriving at Luna's place?