How the heck does Gaius go BLITZING around the battlefield like he does? I mean. When I think of it in terms of playable class moves, for the most part, I chalk it up to some level of aetheric manipulation...
...which we all know Garleans Can Not Do.
Then I would maybe say: Well it’s possibly something to do with his armor, maybe some ceruleum-based shit???
...which his Shadowhunter outfit, so far as we can see, does not - oh hm. He DOES have his gauntlet on though. Which fires ceruleum rounds. :|a Anyway I’mma be ruminating over this for a while so if anyone wants to weigh in I’d be happy to hear your thoughts!
Some of my soft/vague Gaius headcanons. Specifically soft/vague because I don't like to press into them too deeply for whenever canon comes in like a wrecking ball.
1. Born before the Republic became an Empire, he came from a somewhat rural village that suffered under the attack of (non-Garlean Ilsabardians).
2. Orphaned or not, likely to have been 'saved' by Solus's troop (or whatever a pre-imperial group of soldiers would have been. Honestly? probably similar to how it is now but maybe on a smaller scale but this is big digressing).
3. Essentially taken in and raised by Solus - or at least 'sponsored' and groomed by him. (I like this idea basically as a nod to Gaius himself taking in and sponsoring orphaned youths later on.)
4. A bit more reaching, but going off of Solus not naming a successor (specifically, as he said, verbatim; "for teh chaos, lulz") I like to think part of that "chaos" was Gaius being one of his favorites. I should really go dig up the actual quotes, but I recall somewhere in 2.X it being talked about that "with the Black Wolf gone" the empire has essentially fallen into a war of succession after Solus died.
So I kind of imagine that Solus gave the impression that Gaius was someone he was considering to name his successor, even if he may or may not have actually PLANNED on it - again, "for teh chaos" it would cause. (Also, Gaius might only specifically be talking about conquering Eorzea in the Praetorium, but his quote about defeating you serving as "proof of his readiness to rule" feels like it could fit in this context also.)
Firm fingers pulling at Aegis' hips, tugging him to straddle a smiling face. A long tongue parting through the folds of his valve and messily thrusting up into it. The hands gripping his aft to keep him close, encouraging him to rock against their lips. A deep voice that reverberates into his core when they're kissing him thoroughly and lapping at any fluids that drip freely from him.
Aegis' optics widen a bit and he blushes as he reads it over, squirming in his seat. Gaius reads over his shoulder and gently curls his arms around his lover's waist, nuzzling into his neck.
"Something you'd enjoy?" Gaius whispers to him.
"Well..." Aegis sets the note down, his tone guilty.
"Anyone in particular you were thinking of?"
"You. And maybe... one other mech?" Aegis turns to look at Gaius, hesitant.
Gaius nods and lightly kisses the nape of his neck, squeezing him in a delicate hug. "Of course. Just let me know what you want. You know I love watching you."
Gaius is one to agree to a point. If a child is in a relationship, there is no need to give a shovel talk. It shouldn’t be suggested that you don’t trust the mech or your child and you should allow them to grow in their healthy adult relationship.
But if you fuck up, the cityformer will undoubtably throw you into the heart of a star and then go and console their child. Do not test them.
What do Hivestorm, Aegis and Gaius think of other species in the galaxy?
Hivestorm is pretty ambivalent to other species, he could take them or leave them. He prefers the company of other Cybertronians with a leaning towards Insecticons and beastformers. There are exceptions though and he loves those bots to bits.
Aegis finds them fascinating and takes any opportunity he has to study them and learn about their cultures. If he hadn’t gone into medical sciences then he likely would have taken a field in xenobiology and sociology.
Gaius... he’s a city former, and keep in mind, he used to be a city made specifically to keep sparklings in. He sees small species (or even big ones) and all he can think is “Look, something for me to take care of.” He’s a big mama hen.
