#doom sentinels

[deblep-kai]

So considering dnd didnt happen and aint gonna happen for a long time.... me and the dm went for some funnies of my character's past. Gdm horsemen of apokalypse

Context: Character - Ik'nor Setting: DOOM Eternal

now... onto the past with his squad :3

[omies-odd-writing-spot]

Wraith of the Mother: 05 Dragon

Best-est of good boys has come with a present, holy hot chocolate, not to mention real food about to be served. And arrival of the Doomdad into Gecko's new life.

Also in typical Omie fashion, this turned into something so much longer then I intended. it's like full chapter length instead of a short...

@noris-stoneward @thespiritofcliffhangers I did thiiiiing

[part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 6]

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

05 Dragon: It was one thing to see the outside through windows and a few glimpses of memories that were unguarded. It was wholly another and nicer thing to be able to sit in open clean air. 

Even with the expanse of stars, and the shield that protected this area. Well. This roofed area. Protected only from the odd pockets of rain, Gecko was still trying to sort out how the artificial weather worked as he watched the misting downpour from his spot.

Not impossible to get up for him, as the last adjustments for his first new leg was made elsewhere.

Gecko wanted to see the process, but though his request to do so was given to whoever was making the first prosthetic. He really did not need a translation for the snarl that came from a device, the startled look on Asa’s face had been clear. Then seeing the apothecary… healer's expression darken before snapping back and scolding whoever, was entertaining. More so as the annoyance was no longer aimed at him. Again he did not need the translation for the conversation that followed. Mostly Asa growling at whoever for a solid ten minutes, and in a horrible way never raising her voice but the anger was clear.

There was a second voice in the background that barked a demand or order, Asa had switched to the second voice. Who then took up scolding the first in person and dragging them away.

Lily had giggled openly and shamelessly beside Gecko in that same ‘someone else was in trouble’ way. Something universal between mortal and nearly immortal it seemed.

That had been a few days ago. After waking up he spent a full day in Asa’s domain. Likely monitored, having some questions asked and answered by both. Gecko was sure he was in the wrong… time. Possibly. He was also still going on half formed memories and instincts. Gecko was familiar with his own body in many ways, the rest of the place is what had him confused.

He recognized humans, different brothers (and sisters?), and the small ones. Little babies, or not all babies. Toddlers and such, each one could fit in his hand nearly, but he could watch them from his spot now, as the little ones were taught. He was also keenly interested in the class itself, listening in. Finding it as endearing as…informing.

He was picking up the local language faster with the classes the last two days coming inside. Gecko not at all bothered by it being for the so young, the picture cards he glimpsed also helped sort a word out. Not to say that he did not have company that helped, or company overall. Lily visited at least a few times through the last few days. There were another few recovering brothers of this new… chapter (chapter?) as well in the covered area.

At the moment only one was here with Gecko, and he sounded asleep. From the way Asa had parked him, and that cool glow used, the pass out may have been intentional. Then again this other man was wrapped in a good amount of bandages and Gecko recognized the smell of healing, burnt flesh. This man had fallen asleep on his side, propped on some cushions, not unlike what Gecko had. Fallen asleep watching the great winged creatures taking off, spiraling in play and then coming down to roosts out of sight. Even the wolf creature that came and went had not calmed him down until seeing the wintherin.

“Who is he?” Gecko asked the last time Lily came by. One large hand rubbing the big, old wolf head that rested in his lap.

The woman looked over, taking a moment to recognize the other before speaking. “I don't know his name. But he's a wintherin rider. They pulled him through a portal before we found you.”

Dragon rider?

Gecko wondered at that again now, glancing down to see that the last class of the young was done for the day. The other area did not have as much coverage for rain that day as he watched the rain turn from misting to proper rain. The clouds were thicker than ever, at least since before Geko woke up.

It was… nice.

There was a curious sense of peace that was coming over him. No.. it was coming over those all around him at the rain, the smell of the rain and that odd smell of warm stone that got wet suddenly.

Petricor.

Gecko blinked and looked around, reaching out unseen to the unconscious brother who was easing a bit more in his dreams. The man reached out farther to that brother, trying to smooth away nightmares again, wanting his odd little brother to heal peacefully.

Sound drew his attention, even through the rain, picking out a familiar voice now. Lily was just close enough, and Gecko looked around realizing she was talking with someone else. He could hear that cart, and sat up a bit. Reflexively reaching out as he sensed the old wolf again, and another soul. Mind. Younger but not, somewhere in Lily’s age range but shimmering with a more solid wall.

Like the new brothers, but rooted very well, one might say. It reminded Gecko of a shield or wall really, and almost reminded him of someone he used to know. Older than this boy, but just as solid in that person’s soul and mind. Or… he had been. When they… were… young… together?

Gecko shook his head, turning in his lovely seat, looking for the young woman. That cart meant real food, and also dinner was coming. Food that had taste, even if he was on soft foods still. Also he would get company for a while until Lily was pulled away by her tasks. He was still trying to figure out all of what Lily did, other then learning how to be a healer.

She took care of a few people?

Hmm.

Movement from the covered path had him looking over. Seeing the now familiar, little form that was Lily. She had an escort, one without armor and dressed in a similar style of lavender colored clothes. Though unlike others, this young one had purple cuffs and hems. Like Lily's own?

Was that a former family thing? A brother visiting their own family…?

Gecko watched as the young man's attention was pulled down to the human. He blinked and then stooped over as Lily motioned for him to bend down. Gecko did not need his other senses to suddenly understand that the two were not once siblings, watching the young man's eyes widened and then flushed. Lily let go of the taller one, grinning a bit awkwardly but peering up. Only to get scooped up and squeezed into a hug, possibly kissed back. But they were laughing, even with the storm.

The man could not help stare for a long few moments, part of his mind almost seemed to short circuit. It was both very cute, but also… for some reason almost seemed wrong?

Like he, Gecko, knew the young brother should not do that. Yet at the same time he could feel the happy humming from both, it was a stolen moment for them but not a… a… bad? Gecko could feel the delight from the young brother that was living in this moment of life. The exited thrill from Lily at being held and willing to open up-

It was, by all accounts, something that was a cute, soft moment.

Gecko could not understand why part of him also thought it was too much. That this young brother might not know what could be done to him if caught…

…caught by who?

The man watched as Lily was being lowered back down by the cart, which had not been disturbed despite being sniffed around by that big old white wolf. The younger brother cupping Lily’s face and smiling before using both hands to ruffle her hair. Getting smacked and flailed at before Lily ran her own hands through her short hair to straighten it out.

It was only a few moments, a minute at most, and the young brother was grinning, walking lighter on his feet as he followed behind the smaller human. Their path stayed under the covered areas with the rain as long as possible. Lily had to pull up her jacket, a bit too big, closer and a hood up to run through the one spot to get to where the covered area that Gecko and his sleeping companion were. The younger brother had a hood pulled up as the old wolf just trotted with her own time. 

The wolf shook herself, her fur too thick to be more than just a little wet. She en moved to check on Gecko first, then over to sniff and check over the other injured man. That young brother went there first to check and pulled out some things from his own jacket to tend to the exposed parts of the burns. As well as starting to change bandages that were exposed. 

“Good afternoon Gecko! Are you still wanting to be outside with the storm?” Lily asked and greeted as she came over with her cart. It was a different one from last time, larger and had what looked like a heating element to keep the food warm on top, and an enclosed part that seemed to hold some more things. 

“I like it,” Gecko said aloud, there was a rumble in his voice now. Something a little more familiar to his half formed memory. A few days with steady food, rest and plenty of water was helping his healing ability and his voice had been getting stronger. Or back to normal yesterday, and now it was getting a bit smoother. There was still a lower gravely edge to it that might not leave. “And I think, your healers layered enough on me.”

Gecko looked down, bemused at his seat being very well padded, he had three whole blankets on or beside him.

Lily giggled a bit, rubbing her neck and looked at the lower section. “Yeah…and Pax sent more. Just in case.”

“Check the brother there,” gecko half requested, looking over at his normally quiet companion. “He might need the added coverings more than I, with the weather change.”

Lily looked over, hesitated and then walked over to the other two, “Rai?” 

“He seems to be asleep,” that young brother… Rai spoke in his language from where he was sitting on his knees checking the face and head. The older warrior was able to pick out some words on his own now as he listened carefully while the boy… young man, checked the mobile bed itself next. “It's a good thing I brought the extra batteries. We can move him closer to Gecko. Go ahead and set up the dinner Lily, I'll move this brother closer to make room and set up the bars for the blanket.”

“Get him moved while he's still asleep.” Lily agreed and pulled the cart over closer to Gecko, smiling at his red gaze. Gecko was pleased that his new little friend never did seem afraid of him, but fascinated.

Then again, Lily seemed used to living among the giants around here, as did most of the normal humans Gecko got a glimpse of. Even those babies and small ones he had been watching. He hummed as the old wolf came back over to nose into Gecko’s lap, then lifted up carefully to thread herself under the one blanket and into the nest. Partly in his lap for attention, partly on the bed frame, with her wagging tail and one leg hanging off. “Hello again Lady. Are you two…three going to be staying as company?”

“Yes!” Lily seemed excited, then dropped her voice so as not to disturb the injured being rolled closer. Opening up quite a lot of space in the covered area. “Dad's coming up to join us for lunch. I hope you don't mind, but we thought the rider here would feel better if he had his Wintherin come to visit him.”

“Here?” Gecko asked, pausing while petting the big wolf head until his left hand was nudged. Blinking, the man sat up a bit before reaching to give another pet to the wolf, able to smell the food and smiled. He liked the idea of one of the creatures he had been watching in the air over the last few days coming here. “I would like to see one.”

“He might not interact with you directly,” Lily said, helping the bigger young man with spreading a large blanket over the frame that had been set up around. Thick enough to help limit the cooling breeze that would chill the healing burns too much. “Dad's riding him up here to see his rider.” 

“Your father?” Gecko echoed and seemed happy at that. He had been starting to worry that Lily did not have anyone to lean on, not to say that she was not an adult, but family admits the all the warriors was a good thing. “He is a… rider of the dragon creatures as well? Wintherin rider?”

At his attempt at saying the phrase must definitely have an accent. Judging from the looks Gecko got not just from Lily, but the other tall young man stood up and looked over. Lily giggled and echoed the phrase, correctly, getting Gecko to repeat it a few times to get it right. The younger warrior was grinning now as he finished.

Coming over, Rai sat down beside Gecko's spot, his tone reassuring and words mostly understandable. “Really close brother!”

“...Close.” Gecko muttered, then rumbled almost in time with Rai as movement caught both their attention. Lily was at the cart and was setting bowls out on it, and lifted the first cover off a dish.

He could definitely smell whatever it was, Gecko not sure what the pale dish was, but it was something creamy. It smelled good regardless, and there was something else that was tangy he had the scent of but could not see yet.

Then the first wonderful thing of the evening was offered to Gecko. The large handless cup that Lily needed both hands to hold was brought over. Something that smelled rich now that it was uncovered. An earthly, nutty flavor of smell that gecko could almost recognize by some deeply rooted human instinct. Even though Gecko also knew, despite quite a lot of gaps in his void-burned memories.

“What is it?” Gecko asked, seeing how the younger man was perking up and sniffing at the air.

“A comfort, and treat,” Lily said with a proud grin that said she might not have officially been allowed to bring this. “Since Dad's back I made a big batch. There's some alcohol in it, but that should have cooked mostly out. It's spiced, hot chocolate.”

“Ooooh,” Rai sat up, watching as if to be sure Gecko had a good grip with his sole hand. Not to steal but making sure that nothing would be spilled, Gecko could feel the unguarded, surface thoughts. Wanting him to have the treat. Then he chuffed happily as the young man was offered a cup too. 

Gecko was lifting his cup, before being able to try it, the old wolf was climbing up in his space. She was shamelessly making full use of the room that came from the lack of Gecko’s left leg. The wolf sighed deeply as she rested her head on Gecko’s left thigh as he blinked. Then the wolf was so still that the darker man had to listen intently to be sure there was a heartbeat as the other two looked over. 

Then the wolf took a breath and snored.

All three were relieved. 

If Gecko had two hands, he would give his furry companion a pet. Having gotten fond of the creature that still thought of protecting her people even her aged state. 

“Shite, Rula you scare me sometimes.” Lily said as she came over to cup the massive head, ruffling the pale fur. Gecko could feel the worry from the young woman. “You’re not allowed to leave me, pretty lady, not after only coming to see me for a few months.”

The wolf gave a soft thump and wag of her tail before dropping into a surprisingly boneless sleep. Gecko smiled, trying to sort out how to give the wolf a pet without putting his drink down. The idea of the prosthetics seemed even more appealing now that he wanted both hands again. The old wolf had been a good companion when she was by to check on him. 

The earthy, sweet smell of the drink drew Gecko’s attention back to it. It smelled rich, and the cup was wonderfully warm in his hand. The smell was a good clue that he never had anything like it, but when he tasted the drink there was something so very deeply instinctually aware that this was good. It satisfied a human rooted taste for something that had been around humans in the early life of their race- but was missing when he was. 

Gecko knew both that he never had whatever was in the drink, but also knew that it was something safe, warm and comforting that his body still knew of.

Ritch, earthy, smooth and then creamy as he took careful sips to enjoy the odd but ingrained known treat. There were a few fluffy balls of half caramelized sweet on top of the drink that tasted good.

Gecko wondered not for the first time if he had died, if these people, the odd brothers (and sisters?) and little human lives were also trapped in this pocket with him. Trapped in a pocket beyond the void with souls that were peaceful, recovering- some echoing his own protectiveness… would that… be… so bad?

Sound of air moving against the storm, then sensing mass and a well of power had Gecko looking up, startled. He was a third of the way through savering the rich drink and quite honestly was not expecting to sense someone with enough radiating power to blur the edges of his other senses-

The massive creature suddenly blocked out most of the light over half of the roofed area of the stone pavilion. No, not blocking the light exactly as large forepaws, then larger hind paws grasped the railing and stone foundation. It’s wings were dark naturally, darker like charcoal by the body and limbs, even the wing limbs. There was a dusting like splattered silver spots over the black, and the wing membranes lightened to a gray, then were edged in a burnt orange. The large head and neck was pushing into one of the openings of the pavilion, making itself inadvertently seem bigger by stretching out to sniff the air. 

The big creature purred- paused and then backed up, to adjust to lean back and fold up those massive wings. The dragon-like creature eased into the open space of the covered area, sniffing around the roof before tilting his head down. Muscles rippled and flexed as the dragon stepped in, crouching low to make sure a human figure on its back was not knocked off. 

That was when Gecko saw the saddle, a band of formed hide, straps and what might be metal. Around the base of the thick neck, the saddle down its back partly between spined ridges, made to hold one person but not strapped in, other than twisting an arm into the straps. The dragon had no bridle, or anything to do more then seeming pressure of the rider moving to get the…blind? Blind dragon?

There were no eyes visible, a patch of off-color pits on the armored head under the large red-orange horns that were in the main placement one would expect eyes to be. The horns were swept backwards in a crescent shape, and with the shorter, thicker horn of the same color. It almost seemed like the creature could ram into things. Gecko was quick to spot the little pits on the edges of the horns, like sensors?

Gecko reached out with his other senses, feeling the crooning, soft thoughts of the dragon as he found his rider. Wings held tight and purring to the injured, unconscious man, the dragon-like creature was smart enough to hold affection and worry for his person. His rider. Stretching out on his belly, the purr picked up, seeing the world very different, as people glowed and pulsed with energy and life. All in different ways, alike but some stronger than others

Like the current rider dismounting and walking around the dragon was ablaze with a well of power. The dim, crippled but still hot ember glow that was Gecko himself. The shield-like shimmer of Ria that was sitting beside him. Then the soft steady golden glow that was… Lily? 

Gecko could only look up as the big head was leaning close, sniffing his own remaining leg, then the wolf. Ria and Lily were both young enough to get a lick of greeting before the wintherin was trying to slowly turn itself around. Finding how to place his tail and then rump, before one massive wing extended enough to become a shield against the storm. What thoughts that came from the dragon were curling around its worry for its rider. The want to nest with his person was so strong, the want to help keep his rider warm and safe and show off what he had helped make? But the wintherin knew it should not, and could not properly nest on the injured man.

So the dragon was coiling and curling up around the bed without disturbing it. Water fell off its frame as he crooned a soft song to his rider. Head resting over his tail near the head of the bed, almost vibrating the air with the reassuring purr that came out.

What a wonderful creature…

[omies-odd-writing-spot]

Doom Prompt 26: Showers

A self prompt I yeeted at my Doom Discord, Based on the Garnets Story

It doesn't go into detain, but have a very shell shocked Intern/Cimon getting.... an few eye-fulls of not just shirtless Argenta Sentinel Heavy's but also Doomguy/Slayer

.

26: Showers:

Cimon blinked as he heard the angry squeaking of one of the garden drones. The man looked around, having about to take advantage of the free access to showers again. Even if he had one last night, with the luxury of a clean, warm bed, he had nothing to do but recover here. So why not get another scrub?

It might help the unconscious feeling of having death ash staining his skin.

That was when Cimon heard the sounds, and followed them up the stairs a bit to find one of those horseshoe crab looking Argenta drones. Only it was on its back, the long legs that helped turn earth in the gardens were flailing in the air, as it had fallen just right coming down the stairs. There was a bundle of clothes not far, having been spilled off the drone down a few stairs below it.

Normally these little drones were good about righting themselves, but this one fell just right that the curve of its back ‘shell’ on the stair. Cimon winced at the sad trilling from it, then the drone flailed again with another set of squeaks as it tried to rock free. “Oh no, you okay there?”

The drone paused, tucking its legs close reflexively at a voice it did not know well. There was a squeaking chirp with a questioning edge.

Cimon was pretty sure Vega was not making the drone emote as he came up the stairs, “Need some help there little friend?”

The drone squeaked a soft three tone sound, waving one leg in Cimon’s direction, as if it was saying a shy, ‘yes please.’

The man tossed his towel over his shoulder coming to sit on the stairs beside the drone. Admiring at the Argenta technology once again that this drone was. It was a chance to get a good peek at how the legs and mechanisms worked as Cimon gingerly lifted the drone. Surprised at the weight, as he was expecting it to be heavier than it was. 

The garden drone gave a little buzz of a low tone that seemed very much like a sigh of relief. It slowly got up on the stair and tested its legs before rotating around to show Cimon the slight damage on the stubby antenna like tail, meeping a request.

Cimon grinned, more than happy to be sure the antenna was tightened back up and in place. “Better?”

There was a squeaky chirp back, it seemed happy.

The man looked at what had been spilled on the stairs, reaching to pick it up and finding the cloth was a very large pair of paints. Like the loose clothes the Argenta favored, only this was something that was almost an earthy purple shade. Deffently made for someone argenta size, not human. “What were you doing all the way over here with this?”

The garden drone meeped an alarmed sound seeing the pants unfolded from the fall. Coming up to Cimon and the long little legs reaching out to pick at the end of a pants leg. It was trying to roll up the very end of one of the pants legs. It was oddly cute.

“Need some help?” Cimon asked in a bemused tone, starting to fold the paints. Getting an exited trill as he did so, trying to be neat and at the drone’s insistence carefully placed it on the back of the horseshoe like back. Grinning as the garden drone placed in a circle, clearly happy before moving to the edge of the stair to start climbing down. 

…and Cimon found out that this drone had a reason for normally staying in the gardens. Unlike some of the longer legged drones, this one did not have big enough legs to quite make it. The man made a grab for it but missed as the drone slipped down the stairs and bounced a good five down before stopping upside down, those pants flung aside once more. There was a good four second pause before the sad squeaking started again, short mechanical legs flailing in the air.

“Oh…oh no.” The man tried really hard not to laugh, starting to move down the stairs. Cimon glanced up at the soft sound he learned Vega used in the Fortress to warn someone he was about to talk.

“I am sorry,” Vega’s smooth voice spoke up through the nearest speaker. It almost sounded like Vega was amused as well, “Would you be willing to put the drone down on the next level, Cimon?”

“Sure, what was it trying to do?” Cimon picked up the paints again, tossing them over his shoulder and carefully moved around the drone. Watching as the flailing stopped mid waving before the legs went limp as Vega must have done something. It let the man pick the now quiet drone up, and it was much easier to carry it. The garden drones were lighter than expected, but still a good fifteen to twenty pounds depending on the model. So it being still and not flailing helped make the walk back down the stairs easier.

“It was trying to deliver the last pair of pants to decontamination.” Vega sounded… interesting, the man realized as he set the drone down. The former colony AI sounded amused at the drone as he continued. “Would you be so kind as to deliver the paints there, Cimon? Haco is distracted and it will be needed for when the Slayer is finished.”

“Ah, sure, is it safe for me to go wherever the decontamination is?” The man asked, refolding the paints neatly, admiring the color before looking around. “And um, where is it? I thought the group that came back a few hours ago went to another area?”

“It's a different set of stairs that leads to a sealed area of the washing area.” Vega explained, “The Slayer started a habit that the Sentinels also follow to go down that way, as it's easier to clean up.”

Mostly, Vega could spray down the hall with the same chemical the Slayer used to get demon internals and blood off him. And then incinerated what was left in the hall to make it safe. 

Vega continued as he nudged the drone, so to say, to start heading to the normally sealed area. “Follow the garden drone, and it is safe in the area now Cimon. Asin and Haco are in the hall you will be going to.”

Cimon smiled despite himself at the mention of the two Argenta. Remembering the two, admittedly towering men that were somehow even bigger than the Slayer himself. Though Cimon had not seen them out of the armor, they seemed to fill it out. As well as the way they could face the demons humans could not, and able to fight the creatures one on one? He could only imagine what the near myth like Argenta were like out of armor, not really having seen much of anyone with a clear head while in quarantine the last few days. That healer still had been in armor, something about the ‘Wretched’s blood’ that got on Cimon that was also tied to the night terrors.

A scream had him looking up, tensing before Cimon realized it was not one of fear or pain. It was something he had not expected as a few kids of all things came running around a corner to Cimon’s left as he came to an open space of a crossroads. The garden drone scuttled off to the right, but the man could only stare in shock.

Kids.

And there were young kids, two seemed to be toddlers following the teen and those that could not be over ten. Encouraged to follow the older kids to a door that had one of those rooms with shower cubbies. One of the kids he realized in a shock was also a toddler, or that stage of growth right after, but was as big as some of the others. His bright white, but natural hair gave away that this was likely an Argenta child trotting after the human kids as the teen was looping back around to give an exaggerated, “Rarw!” 

To get the kids laughing and play screaming again. The little party running into the showers.

Kids.

There were babies here. 

It was one thing to be told of other survivors, to have a glimpse of adult humans. But kids… healthy, lively, playing kids. A few looked to be recovering from malnutrition like the kids that ARC picked up. Only unlike them, these kids were just being children. Not scared mute or flinching at any noise.

They likely felt safe here, enough to play.

There was a soft trill from the garden drone. A little thin leg tugged on the bottom of Cimon's pants leg for attention. The horseshoe crab-like drone gave a soft whistle as if asking what the wait was for. 

“...sorry little guy, I’ll follow this time.” Cimon said in a distracted way, but refocused on the garden drone and following it. Taking a few moments as he walked and almost hugged the fabric, to realize the emotion bubbling up was something like hope again. It was amazing being in an Argenta facility, one that was whole and not in ruins, in hell only able to be seen by drones that came back. There was a distinct architecture to this Fortress, it was fascinating.  

They had kids up here, and babies. They were safe enough to have kids and survivors like him, and elderly like the older couple he glimpsed walking down the hall earlier. All brought up here into the Slayer’s… home, not just a base of operations as the ARC had thought it was.

The garden drone he was following stopped at a wall, and it took Cimon a second to realize it was just a wider single door that opened down the middle. It had been painted on, or had several, many paintings made of hand prints. Small hands to larger ones, in different colors, and then over that where outlines to make… butterflies?

The semi hidden hall beyond was exposed, and Cimon swallowed down a startled sound. It was clean, even had a few more drones inside, the two types he had seen, like the argenta made garden type, the smaller hover ones that had Vega’s new emblem on them. Something new as well that was large and had a thick shell, and scraping parts that were working on cleaning the floor. 

Cimon just had not expected to see someone in the hall. 

The massive argenta man looked over at the open door, glancing at the new drone as it trilled for attention. Then dark green eyes looked at the distinctly shorter human, arching an eyebrow as he noticed the cloth he held. The man was definitely one of the tallest argenta, having a good head and shoulders over the normally towering Slayer himself. Darken, ash stained skin on his arms, face and neck. The exposed upper half of his body showed tanned, thick skin.

Scaring was visible over arms, shoulders and chest, as well as bleaching from demon blood, even a faint glowing mark on his right forearm. The man had short brown hair, freshly cleaned with the rest. Thankfully he had leggings on, but no shoes.

Cimon flushed despite himself realizing he was being eyed back. And that the leggings the argenta hand on were very low on his hips. The shorter man got an accidental eyeful, but could not look away. That was a lot of muscle, and what looked like a healthy layer of padding coming back over.

“Yes?” The voice was familiar, sounding amused and thankfully not offended. Haco glanced up at the nearest camera in the hallway.

Cimon startled, held up what he held, edging into the room like a hallway. “Sorry! Um, the garden drone was… ermm, struggling with the stairs. I have these. Vega said they were the last pair needed.”

“Ah, yes,” Haco turned partly, to where there was an open door behind him. “Asin! The Lord’s leggings are here, you don’t have to surrender yours.”

“Thank the gods, hold on, I’ll get them for you.” Another voice that Cimon recognized but could only put to an armor set that was impossibly tall like Haco.

…and yep that man coming out was definitely as tall as Haco. Being well over seven feet and just as broad and built to fill out the armor. Ragged scarring was down Asin’s abdomen like he had been repeatedly clawed there and around to his right hip. An assortment of other smaller scarring was scattered over his arms and shoulder. Demon blood had bleached a larger spot on the dark tan-olive tone skin on his chest and back like he had been soaked many times.

Cimon felt small, not so suddenly barely coming up to these men’s middles. His cheeks felt warm again as he was watching Asin tying the belt like strings attached to his own leggings. They were sitting rather low, not that dangerously low, but enough to see all the curves of muscles before Asin relaxed his stomach as he finished, revealing a layer of soft over the muscles. Neither he nor Haco had much but it was something on the way to healthy. 

The surviving Argenta were recovering too, Cimon reminded himself. Still staring for a moment before trying to shake his head. Good lord, he needed to focus. This was him trying to be useful to his hosts, not oggle his hosts. He could not even focus on the hall.

Cimon turned his head as he realized that he had drifted closer, and was even with one of the tables now. He was face to face with a massive shotgun. Face to handle? Pummel? But? Cimon was not sure what the right word was as he stared at the weapon that was not made for human hands, but the larger Argenta. 

…were shotguns a coincidence that humans made them? Argenta were around long before humans, right? 

“I think he likes it.” Asin mused as he was moving aside, only to grunt in pain at a prod to his ribs on his back. “Careful. That’s still smarting.”

A low rumbling that was felt in the chest interrupted Cimon’s thought process. Remembering the feeling of sound in his chest and bones as the Doom Slayer himself bent over and picked Cimon out of the mud he had fallen in. The man turned, wondering at what the Slayer looked like even remotely out of his armor. Cimon never got to see more than a hint of dark hair from behind--

Something very belatedly kicked in.

He was holding the Slayer’s pants.

The very same Slayer wandered out of his shower room, notably shorter than the two Argenta men. He was still taller than Cimon by… a lot. The death ash and char of some many years (...centories?) of fighting seemed to permanently dye his skin. But it was so layered with scarring it almost put to shame Haco and Asin in comparison if one was going to compare them for some reason. Eerie blue-green eyes that seemed to glow turned from head tilting at Haco, before noticing Cinmon. 

Cimon definitely felt small, like he could be broken in so many ways as the Slayer turned his attention to the sole human in the room like hall. The neutral expression was not aggressive, mildly surprised if anything. Then a wide toothy smile was flashed as the Slayer walked over, the towel he was using on his arms was tossed over his shoulder as he walked over to the now very rooted Cimon.

He had the Slayer’s pants.

Cimon started to lift his arms, but could only stare with wide eyes as the slayer, sans armor… and under suit… sans everything just walked up to him. The smaller man tried to say something, but it came out as a strangled whine. 

He did get his eyes back up at chest level!

There was a thunder deep rumble of amusement as the Slayer stopped. Looking bemused before chuffing a chuckle like sound and reaching out. A large hand resting on Cimon’s head and ruffling the very short hairs trying to regrow there. It was a bit heavy-handed, not painful, before the Slayer reached down and picked up the fabric from the smaller man’s unresisting hands. Stepping back and smoothly getting into his leggings and tying them as he turned, grunting in mild annoyance that he had to finish tying the strings before his hands were free.

Cimon could only watch with some awareness, his face and chest felt hot. So it took a delayed moment to realize the Slayer was… using sign language?

“Yes, brother,” Haco rolled his eyes, motioned at the table, “I’m already done, with your and my weapons. It’s just Asin’s that are left. We’ll get yours in your workshop. Go see your daughters.”

The Slayer grinned wide again, stepping back to pick up the two sword hilts on the tables. Pushing the larger one in his waist band at his hip and holding the other in the right hand. Turning back he snorted softly at seeing the glazed look on the human, resting a hand on his head before awkwardly patting Cimon again and walking out the door the smaller man came from.

Cimon squeaked belatedly, flushing even deeper as Haco laughed.

The bigger argenta turned back to the tables, starting to subspace some of the larger, and clean, weapons. “Careful, consorts don’t really get all the action you might think they do. It’s really rare for our king.”

“Not impossible, just rare.” Asin added, the tease almost hidden fully under his even tone.

“...that’s…a thing?!”

“He is a king,” Haco snorted, grinning as wide as the Slayer had now. “War Kings are aloud the queens and a few consorts as well.”

[omies-odd-writing-spot]

Wraith of the Mother 03

[part 1] [part 2] [part 4]

Do I know what I'm doing with this crossover? the answer is still No. But Gecko's not going to stay in the fountain anymore, and he made a friend! writing the semi language barrier is oddly fun too.

Based on an annon request/ask from months ago, and after talking on my Doom Discord and SOMEONE [ @thespiritofcliffhangers ] encouraging me. Have a VERY lost Gecko finding some shiny...brothers?

____

03: Help

The feeling of cool, fresh air on his face was what greeted him coming back to awareness. He tried to reach up and grab at who was behind and above him with his right hand. Body jerking as his hand was not seen grasping at the shadow above. He tried to grab with his left hand but his reflexes were clearly off as the figure dodged back and then shoved something metal in his hand-

It broke, crumpled like paper really and splashed water on his head, startling him into freezing. Holding still to hear something heavy drop into water with a splash and get him in the back of the head. Then he realized the little young ones were not on him anymore, and the light had shifted notably from before. 

“Ay- ey, shuu, shh.” The figure spoke, a female voice that’s owner leaned to his unresponsive right side. He saw the face, recognized it…her as human, but not knowing who it was.

He stared at the human, as if not quite sure what he was seeing was real and not another nightmare about… about…

Cool hands carefully touched his cheeks, the woman speaking carefully, slowly, distinctly reassuring in a way he was not sure he could ever do. The words filtering was almost something he knew. Then away. Then nearly alike again-

She was speaking different languages. Or dialects? Trying to find something he would recognize.

“...are you real?” he rasped out, left hand lowering, staring at hazel eyes.

The woman tilted her head, and then smiled, she echoed the last word, voice having such a strange accent to his ears. “...real?” 

“...I think… you are.” He said, voice still low and damaged. He let go of whatever was pushed in his hand, slowly moving to try and reach for a smaller hand. At the same time he was starting to extend his other senses, and the woman grasped his fingers with her own left hand. 

At the same time there was the feel of wonderful coolness that reminded him of both of those voices. The beings that broke the void around him and… and brought him here.

Bastet, she said her children were here.

This little woman was, the kids too, were human as far as he could tell. In a way very different from what he instinctively was expecting, yet it seemed whole what he was seeing. They seemed like glowing… life. 

He found himself settling back in the hard cradle of his armor, sinking into the light, soft feeling of whatever was being used on him. No twist, pull or after bite from…warp. No twisted energy, but whole and healing coolness that spread, nubbing the throb in his head and easing some of the tension down his neck. Not so powerful to go much farther than some of his shoulder muscles. 

“Can… you hear?” The woman asked slowly, speaking the off dialect of old gothic as if not used to it.

“I hear…understand.” He said in a low voice, twitching at the dry pain in his throat. His own red eyes opening again, watching this woman as she tilted her head and let go of his left hand. Shifting to look down.

He realized belatedly that she must be standing in the fountain, and was carefully reaching to a tiny set of hands holding… water? A just as little container that was clear to show water inside. Keeping her right hand on his head, and that cool, wonderful, of strange power against him. 

The woman used her teeth to open the cap and spat it over off the side. There was a young giggle and the sound of little feet patting away after. Then showed him the clear bottle that was not much bigger than her own hand, and took a drink where he could see, waiting for a count of ten before offering the bottle closer.

That was… so oddly cute to him. 

He nodded, and did not resist the slow trickle of offered water. It was fresh and sweet almost, at least compared to the nothing he had been forced to have.

He was pretty sure this might be a heaven.

He wanted the water faster, and the two slow attempts he had at grabbing for the little bottle were dogged. The woman pulled away and almost hissed, a negative sound like, ‘titch!’ for the attempt. After the second time he understood and rested his hand on his chestplate. Slow but steady source of water was likely better.

Once he was done the woman turned and spoke in a different tone, and langage. Still kind but firm as she spoke to the young kids. Finally lifting her right hand and moving back, pulling off a colorful over shirt and showing a smaller under one. Plunging the colorful one in the water to soak it through. He could see that this human had lean muscles for her size, fitting for the size if he had to guess. Nothing like what he or his brothers used to have… but fitting. 

The older two kids set two more water containers on the edge of the fountain and ran off, calling what seemed to be a name as they were quickly lost to sight. 

Then the woman was turning back, the wet overshirt resting around the top of his head. “Here… helps, close eyes?”

He blinked but closed one eye, watching the woman with fascination and felt the smaller hands rubbing the wet cloth over half his face. Cleaning? He could feel small fingertips through the cloth and wetness that… slid something off. She ducked the cloth again, scrubbed it against itself and then came back. He closed his other eye, amused and… becoming slowly relieved. 

It was such a strange thing, to have his face and head cleaned, but also… relieving. Comforting. Not the same comfort of the cold beings before but something solidly real. Then a new water container was being offered again after the first wipe down. The woman did not let him drink fast, but again it was steady as she checked over his head. 

Each scar was found and inspected to see how old it was, if something needed help or was infected. As likely she was unaware of his normal healing rates. All of them were old scars. 

She touched the collar ridge of his armor, studying but recognized that the woman did not have the strength to move more than his helmet. Once the second dose of water was finished she smiled and met his eyes, “bet? Bet-ter?”

He took a deep breath, almost feeling the water in his stomach vanish, absorbed. He nodded, looking at the last two bottles, “More?”

“More,” The woman agreed, grabbing another to give him. A sound had her looking up and whistling in the oddest, gentlest way he had ever heard a whistle. Belatedly he felt a sense of two people not the children coming back. 

He paused drinking to lift his head and look. Seeing… giants on par of him. His brothers… brothers… his brothers? The armor was different, something he could not place but almost looked right. Close enough that it fit into the gaps of his addled memory. 

He was not aware of shifting to try and get up, to reach for brothers he knew would help.

Maybe he should not have tried to get up with water sloshing in his stomach for the first time in ages. The woman in the fountain yipped as his equilibrium and then balance gave out. The world fuzzed and he saw silver-white armored hands grabbing at him, hefting his bulk and then everything went out of focus.

The world settled back with no sense of time passing, but he had been moved. Settled back and propped up on his armor’s power pack, so he was reclined back. Small hands of an adult human were bracing his head with a wet bundle of cloth. He saw the silver armored brothers, and felt… a little put off as he wondered if he had been gone in the void long enough for armor to completely change. He did not recognize the design, but was able to tell it was much more streamlined than what he was used to seeing. What he had on now.

They were the right size and bulk with the compassion to the few (base…basic?) humans around them. 

When had so many showed up? The children were almost on the side of his awareness, sitting somewhere out of sight but seemed happy. Three adult humans, including the woman by him, and two others with the young. The two brothers were shimmering in his other sense brighter than the human with the cooling gift. Solid and strong and stable in mind.

Mind, body and spirit it seemed. 

He started to hesitantly lean against the feeling of them. One must have been more sensitive as their helmet turned to look at him, and then reached out. A larger hand cupped against his face before a low voice rumbled out… words he could not understand. It was the same thing the woman had started speaking the first time.

He could not help but stare at the armor of the man leaning over him. Trying to focus on the smooth, streamlined angles of the armor. Not nearly as harsh as what he had-

What… how long had he been in the void, to miss such armor upgrades?

…would he have some too?

“-hear?” the woman was saying, patting his cheek and jarring him back into the present. A semi distance thrumming was sinking into his awareness. It was… something he knew. The woman smiled down at him as he focused on her. “Under-stand? Help coming.”

“Help is coming.” he repeated, saying the words clearly for her.

“Help is coming.” The woman said, getting the right grammar this time, “no move…moving. yes?”

“Yes.” he looked up, seeing a shadow of something swinging overhead past the trees. Aware but not fully able to watch the ship landing behind him. Them?

He was offered some more water, a small amount and was distracted to drink while he was being checked. The cracks in his armor found and… and other brothers. They were coming, in that same shimmering armor. He could feel the solid strength of them, and mentally leaned more into it, then the well of cool energy that stayed by that he finally realized was coming from the woman.

“Help is here.” The woman assured, moving to start to get out of the way.

He did not want her to leave, grunting as he was being picked up. Several bodies working together to lift his bulk, the dead weight of his own armor. Being moved and far more aware, mostly, he was aware of pain. Dull throb through his right shoulder and a sharper spike through above the left knee. He bit his tongue and growled at it, but tried not to fight these strange brothers as he was brought back to the shuttle.

It was not the worst pain he had been through, but it was a constant pain that he was struggling with more than he should. His back clanged against metal, not stone. 

He was still growling, even as these strange brothers were inspecting his armor.

Then the coolness was back, the woman resting both palms against his temples. That energy back to sooth as it was starting at his leg, someone else able to use the same thing. Though that sense was more of a refined feeling.

He wanted to talk but it took far more concentration to not move. To let the new younger brothers help him. He looked up at the sound of humming, that human woman was allowed to come? She was the one holding his head again and humming. Of all things, the simple reassurance seemed like the most soothing.

Help had come indeed.

[omies-odd-writing-spot]

Doom Prompt 13: Sentinels finding a pet bunny

A writing prompt from my Doom Discord, tied into the Garnets story. Short and chaos XD

. 13: “One of the sentinels finding a pet bunny”

“Commander Milla,” Vega's voice drew the Sentinel's attention, as well as a soft flickering light to the left of her helmet. “Look to your left please?” 

The Argenta woman turned her head, scanning for what might have caught the Fortress’ Atlan’s attention. It was still just the human refugees they had escorted to the docks and the ARC evacuation ship. Then there was a highlight of a group in the back and to the south. Out of the flow of the moving people. 

Even if Vega had not highlighted it, Captain Milla would have, and had noticed this group. Seeing someone with both a rifle and bow and arrows was odd enough, but the three animals for pulling were… odd. She heard before someone called them… jacks? Don-keys? Something about those quadruped animals can and had killed a few lesser demons. Dark browns and lighter bellies with big ears. 

Right now the two that owned the wagon had everything almost packed up, but… they had set up just to the side and were passing out packages to those passing. Simple things like a can of food, what looked like rolls of bread with something inside, and what looked like a pale amber colored candy all wrapped up in a colorful cloth. 

“I know them,” Vega said after he confirmed who he thought was seen from the corner of Milla’s visor, the Atlan sounded surprised and relieved. “I know we can not bring everyone to the Hidden City, Captain, but please, could you see if you can get them to stay and offer them to come?”

“Who are they?” Captain Milla asked softly, her voice too low for anyone else to hear as she kept a lookout. Scanning farther out just in case, but her scouts were showing no signs they had found any more demons near.

“That is Richard Deegan, he was the husband of Commander Deegan of the Elite Guard on Mars. And their daughter Lana.” Vega explained, “I did not know their evacuation ship made it off the surface just as Hell invaded Mars.”

“Elite Guard… those are the warriors that pulled the Lord Slayer out of the Kadingir Sanctum in Hell?” The Captain asked, she had studied what she could around the recent history of humans. As well as what would be tied to the Slayer. 

“Yes, they are the ones that coordinated the attack in the Sanctum,” Vega spoke, watching through her helmet as Captain Milla signaled one of her Sentinels to come take her spot and climbed down to the street. Seeming to be checking on the humans and making sure they were staying orderly and had their things that could be carried. Making her way towards the back, where some of the Shadowed were stationed to guard there.

Captain Milla slowed, listening to the quiet thank yous to not just the Argenta, but realized once closer the three by the wagon. One of those… Don-Keys was eyeing her as if debating on how to fight the giant armored woman if need be. That was when Milla realized the creatures were not tied up at all but just stubbornly standing guard of their wagon and their people. There were other soft sounds of small animals in the big wagon, carefully covered for the most part and if Milla was not seven foot five she would not have seen the glimpses of the small birds and something…fuzzy?

She did not get too close once that bigger Don-Key pinned its long ears back in warning. But the blue-gray furred creature looked like… like… what was it. Little Heather had a stuffed ‘easter bunny’ that looked alike but not really like that creature. The Sentinel looked to the humans as the last group came to get their little gifts.

“I hope that helps,” One of the young women said as she waved at the last small family, at the kids.

“The ginger will at least help, Mary.” The man, Richard said in a tired, rough voice, “Come on girls, let's get ready to leave. I don’t think the ARC will let us take the donkeys, as their mammaths, let alone the other animals… hello?”

The man paused as he stood up and saw the taller armored figure standing near, watching his own family. The silver helmet tilted and then the Sentinel walked around the jack, giving the creature a good berth. 

“What are the creatures you have?” The voice that spoke was a deeper female tone, holding a sort of strength that Richared recognized from his late husband. Strong and that sort of even calm.

It made his heart hurt again.

“Quail, rabbits, some chickens.” Lana spoke as she came over to stand beside her Uncle, who had adopted her as a baby. She looked up at the armored Argenta with some wonder, not expecting the outline to be female at first but then there was no real way to tell who was who with these strangers that helped. “And the mammoth donkeys there, the big jack is Buck, the two jennies are Luna and Grace.”

“Impressive beasts,” The Sentinel noted, sounding a bit amused as she stopped beside the humans, looking at the few packaged gifts they had left. “What were you giving?” 

Mary motioned behind them at the other side of a parking lot to the dark mall, “We found food, and some supplies. We were baking last night so everyone could have some fresh bread rolls with a can of soup. Plastic spoon, a ginger candy to help with seasickness on the boat, and… well a note to remember to be kind to each other and help one another.”

“That’s very kind of you three.” The Captain said, looking at the boxes left over, each with neat, small writing to list what was inside. Then she recognized the feed bags that were found for the animals in the Fortress. She gestured inside the Wagon, “Can you show me what those are? I don’t know the names of those creatures, except for ‘chickens,’ I just found out about the birds.”

The three humans exchanged confused looks, but it was Lana that shrugged and headed to the back of the wagon. She carefully pulled two cages over and lifted the covers, the small birds making nervous sounds, but like the furry creature they at least recognized the young woman as a caretaker. “These are the quail, it's a mix of Valley and Coturnix in there for now. They’re used for eggs and meat. This here is one of the buck rabbits, he’s a rex. Their meat and fur rabbits, but also pets. That over there is a cat that someone couldn’t take on the ship.”

“It looks like you have more supplies for the creatures than yourselves.” The Sentinel noted, but she was very gentle touching the rabbit’s travel cage. Then tilted her head at several clear bins both in the wagon and out, pointing at them, “Those are… seeds?”

“Animals should be supported as much as my girls,” Richard said, and then nodded at the second question, “Yes, we’ve been saving any and all seeds we can find. Trying to save what we can of them.”

Captain Milla smiled, straightening as she looked back at the docks in the semi distance, then around at the small group. “You can’t take all of these on that ship.” 

“We know,” Mary spoke, smiling and then shaking her head, “We weren’t really planning on going on there, or to the Sea Platform offshore. We might set up in the mall for any other survivors and start some things growing.”

Captain Milla stooped a bit, offering a hand to Lana for her own. After a moment she studied the slimmer hand set in her palm. Soft as humans were but also showed signs of working and living. “Would you like to keep your animals, and be safe?”

Richard blinked, frowned and then tilted his head, “What do you mean?”

“You three were kind when you did not have to be, you shared what you found rather than hoard it. You’re willing to take in animals that others are forced to leave to give them reassurance.” Captain Milla let Lana take her hand back, “Those are good traits… and you are the surviving family of the warriors that found and freed my Lord Slayer. By either way as I see it, you deserve to be safe in the protection of the Sentinels. I am Captain Milla, I serve the Lord Slayer himself, and though the big creatures may not fit in his garden, there’s plenty of space in Taras Nabad.”

“...whoa.” Mary breathed as she shifted over and latched as hard onto her girlfriend as Lana did to her. The sudden shock of the offer hand heads, and hearts, spinning. Was this the same place the towering Argenta took the orphans earlier?

“The real Slayer?” Richard asked, in no small amount of shock. “You’re not lying to us?”

“Absolutely not.” Milla said firmly, and then a little softer added, “The Atlan, Vega, he asked me to see if you will come.”

Lana gasped, she remembered Vega when she was little and on Mars! She turned to her uncle, her only father figure left, “Vega’s alive?”

“What will this cost us?” Richard started to ask and then blinked in confusion as the Sentinel pointed to one of the rabbits.

“You will likely need to let the Slayer pet those. Or let him have a baby… puppy? Once they are born and ready to leave the dam.”

“Kittens,” Mary started to correct, paused and then stood up. “Wait, you mean we can have shelter for… a rabbit?”

“Maybe two-” Milla started, tensing at the almost united shout of:

“Deal!”

“If the god of war wants to have a rabbit pet for trade, for protection, he can have his pick of the litter- and I’ll them them breed all the time and he can have whatever one he wants and we’ll make sure that is the sweetest desensitized kitten ever,” Lana tossed her arms up and then waved them at the wagon before hugging tight to Mary. “Just not four of the adults, those are our babies.”

Milla grinned under her helmet.

[omies-odd-writing-spot]

Doom prompt 11 Sentinel Wolf

A writing prompt from my doom discord, tied into the Garnets story. Rula is bestest of good girls, also I do write and head cannon that the Argenta are distinctly Taller then humans so... its confusing for the sentinel wolves [also, Jasmine needs a hug soon lol]

.

11: “The sentinel wolves follow the humans on the Fortress around, wondering why the "children" are doing adult jobs.”

Rula was, in a few words, very worried. Padding after her current charge, the wolf eyed her, then around them both. 

“You know I'm fine?” the young teen asked the big wolf, sounding bemused as Jasmine walked down the big hall. The grocery basket she was pushing was out of place with the old stone work but it was the best thing she could find.

The giant wolf huffed again, leaning over too carefully push her head into the small one's side. Whining, because she should be resting, or eating, or just playing with the other odd pups. Rula snorted as a small hand hesitated before making contact, she had to nudge it and let the small one's arm rest over her head before there were proper head scratches.

These new young ones need so much reminding that it was safe here in Rula’s opinion. This was a Sentinel protected place, both Eitan and herself would protect these odd pups of their people. 

It was just taking time for the pups to realize this.

“I'm just going to the kitchens.” Jasmine was saying, having to pause to rub at the massive, silver furred ‘cheeks’ of the wolf. Rula watched her back with half lidded eyes, they seemed golden to Jasmine. She could not remember if they were always that color. 

The old wolf leaned forward, trying to groom at the young woman's arms but Jasmine got away with a nervous giggle. “Come on momma, I want to get this to the kitchen. They're setting up freezers and shelves there! I'll make you a peanut butter and pumpkin treat, but we got to get over there.”

Rula grumbled as the odd Argenta pup kept walking. Missing her old strength, but just could not figure out how to get this puppy to be herded safely and with- The wolf snorted and shook herself, trotting ahead to be sure she had the right scent. Letting out a half huff, half borf sound to alert the Sentinel in there that something was off.

Because it was.

There was one of their puppies that were working, and not playing like puppies of all kinds should be doing, thank you very much.

“I… don’t know what you’re fussy about momma,” Jasmine said as she moved to the front of the cart, pulling the front over the odd spot of the doorway. 

“She’s upset about something being off,” A deep voice said from inside the dinning area of the galley. It made the young woman yip, startled, dropping the basket back on its wheels and turning. 

The big argenta man winced at the second yip sound, as the human just dropped a wheel on her slipper covered foot. He got up, setting the mug of tea down and came over to help. The light green eyes reflecting guilt, and the Sentinel made sure to move slowly once over by the little human. Reaching out to grasp the odd, but very effective wire basket the human had been using. 

The teen looked down for a moment, flustered at being so startled. As well as just in reaction as the practical giant of a warrior just… picked the whole basket full of frozen food up to move it inside almost one handed. “Thank you, um… sir?”

“Asin,” The Sentinel provided his name, smiling at the girl, then arched an eyebrow at Rula as the wolf came into the room talking. A yowling, not quite howl of a sound now. “You’re talkative Rula.”

“She really is Mr. Asin, and I’m afraid I don’t know why.” Jasmin looked between the big wolf, and bigger argenta, eyes wide as he was standing back upright. The teen was staring at the fabric covered stomach. “Oh! My name is Jasmin by the way.” 

“You can just call my Asin child.” The Sentinel smiled, even by human standards, this girl was still a child. Hell invasion or no, Asin knew she had a right to still be a child. He glanced at the wolf circling them, still vocally complaining like an insulted husky. “She seems to think something is off. I’m not sure what, might know.”

“I think he’s training below?” Jasmin tried to remember, then sighed, as these canine-like complaints had been happening off and on since Rula found the teen in storage. “I’m sorry to have interrupted up mr… sir… Asin.”

A massive hand rested on Jasmin’s head, her currently short blond hair was ruffled in a way that was surprisingly warm. Asin was chuckling, not that same sort of thunder deep rumble edge in primordial. But it was… warm, Asin himself was relaxed and it showed he was getting used to humans. “I was just having tea and reading.”

Asin lifted the left side of the dark blue, tunic like shirt, showing a healing line of stitches, “And healing as you can see.”

“That sounds fun- wait, not the healing part. I mean, it’s good that you’re healing but not that you have too- oh, I’m sorry- wait? What?” 

Asin chuckled again as he moved his hand behind the girl’s back, having to stoop a bit to push her ahead of him as she rambled. “Come, lets get this put away and you can come have some tea too.”

“Okay…” 

Rula would have rolled her eyes if she could, as it finally seemed like the puppy had a reasonable adult to watch out for and help her now.

[omies-odd-writing-spot]

DOOM Prompt 07 Bar?

A writing prompt from my doom discord, tied into the Garnets story. n.n; after the fact I'm not 100% sure I got this right for the prompt but I tried.

.

7: “Night Sentinel find the remains of a Biker Clubhouse while scavenging and think it was a Warriors' Lodge”

Ria paused on his half patrol, half scouting walk. He was not trying to hide, not that he could really hide given his height and silver, if stained armor. In a way the shield barrier was not trying to hide at all, both to lure any lingering demons in the area his unit had not already culled. 

Or maybe, just maybe any surviving humans. 

He paused, Rai carefully reading what at first he thought was a scrawled graffiti in yellow paint on a sign but then paused. It took him a few moments and some needed steps to get closer to tell the difference between the yellow paint over the older different shade of yellow of metal of the sign. It was a pretty clever trick really, and Rai was impressed.

There was a huff beside him and he turned, kneeling down to rub Rula’s ears, “Do you smell anything old girl?”

Rai watched the wolf shifting and lifting her head, blue-silver fur was in much better condition. Between being fully brushed out and some time to recover body condition, Rula did not look so raggedly rickety that she would fall over. Either dead or just dead asleep on her paws again.

The sentinel wolf was not really her younger self, but had strong legs and muscles again. Enough to come and help look for survivors or be an early warning for any wandering hordes. Now she was scenting around and paused, turning in the same direction the sign indicated survivors to look. That was enough to convince Rai to head off the main street to one of the side ones. 

His weapons were not in hand now, but easy to get too in case. Short of the higher powered or modified plasma weapons Rai was pretty sure that his armor would hold against most things humans had. Likely smart but hold. He paused at another sign, working half way through the local human language, then followed Rula as she padded to a stone work building. 

There was the oddest sign, or flag there beside the door. Most things from humans were odd to Rai, from their cars that were massive, wheeled or no wheels as humans did have hovercraft technology, but the things he was seeing under rigged up sun or rain covers were some of the strangest. They were a good body length long with two wheels, and of all things it almost looked like a wintherin saddle built into it!

“Humans are strange.” Rai decided after carefully inspecting several of these two wheeled vehicles. Guessing they were likely some sort of pleasure types? They did have dust and ash on them, but some seemed oddly clean, one even warm despite being in the shade.

Rula smacked a door to the stone brink building with a whine suddenly, her tail was wagging as the wolf sat and stared pointedly until her current Sentinel came over. He glanced at the flag again, it was a flag and not a proper banner as he knew. With a black backdrop and several circles with text that was hard for Rai to read. In the center was a closed fist that had letters.

“...ba’ca’?” he tried to say what he read, reaching down to rub at one of Rula’s ears. A flag with the name of a vegetable made no sense so Rai doubted that was right. He looked down, “Do you smell someone alive, Rula? Or a ghost?”

The wolf shifted to smack the door again with a big paw. Whining like she did when not aloud into the areas for the kids on the Fortress. TAking that as something good, Rai reached for the door, testing it and winced in his helmet as it felt like the small lock broke under his hand. The door opened and he let Rula go in first, the wolf padding in and putting her nose to the ground, starting to work through the scents.

“Hello?” Rai called, making sure it was in that slightly formal seeming ‘standard’ human version of the Argenta language. He had to duck low to get through the door, wary of a low ceiling- he had hit his helmet on one too many light fixtures that day thank you. 

He could feel the warmth, even if the windows were covered, and the place was dark. It looked like a fireplace of some sort had been active the night before, Rai stooped to touch it, and found warm ish coals in the ash. There were also other signs of life that had been here, but not at the moment as Rula was getting frustrated not being able to find the young she wanted to mother like she was allowed to do on the Fortress. 

She was a good mother!

“I’m sorry Rula, I don’t think they are here,” Rai said after a few minutes of looking around. He chuckled as the wolf sat and then heavily flopped over onto her side with a low groan. “Maybe they had to leave in the culling of demons?”

Then it hit him as Rai looked up again, taking in the layout. Just different enough but just similar at the root that Rai realized they were in a converted tavern. Like the ones he had seen back on Sentinel Prime and Argent D’nur when Rai was young. After the Slayer had found him in the rubble of his childhood home. The now young Sentinel remembered peering into taverns alike, to see his guardian at the time and other impossibly strong warriors, both immortal and not. The oddness of seeing the same firm faces that were laughing and relaxing away from the Keeps.

Rai walked over to the bar counter, feeling strangely too big as he passed low tables. Looking around as he noticed similar and different things. Displayed pictures of humans, instead of broken shields of fallen brothers hung up… oddly the head of a taxidermied animal that must have been hunted. 

There were cups, some with water, some with a familiar amber fluid that looked like ale. Rai found a clear spot, not moving anything as there were also possibly personal things. Just in case, he dug into his subspace, because just in case the surviving humans had fled as the fighting started. 

Rai set several idioms down on the counter, the device for Vega to talk to someone once it was active and able to activate a portal. The bag of stable food, a clean water jug and the letters that humans on the Fortress had written out in as many different languages they knew. The Sentinel lingered a moment, and then whistled for Rula to get up and stop her pout, turning to leave. 

The young man grunted as he hit another low hanging light fixture, but avoided the others and carefully got back outside. Rai had to give another command for Rula to come, and she reluctantly did, looking back as if sure there was something inside for her. Grumbling in her way as they started back to the patrol.

A whistle came almost before Rai was about to turn back towards where his brother Sentinels were, starting to go through the supplies of storage building. Weares house?

Rai turned with Rula, startled, but paused as he saw a shorter than him human in some sort of odd leather jacket, standing in front of the place he was just in. Looking unsure and then determined as he glanced behind him, and Rai spotted a smaller child clutching one of the ‘peanut butter’ jars in the left bag.

Rula wiggled, she had known she smelled a child!