#aquilan shield

[bleedingichorhearts]

𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫

“I just changed the titles. The first one is a prologue. This is more set in the future, but that should be clear with how the chapter changes? I mean, last one is prologue. Here’s an continuation after about a year.😭” - Ichor

Summary - “Simply walking the halls of a defective mansion. You are suddenly met with new things.”

“@kit-williams, @egrets-not-regrets, @bispecsual, @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan, @sleepyfan-blog.”

“+@c-u-c-koo-4-40k, @marcela2000.” - Tagged

TW // Neglect, Predator.

|°𝕄𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕃𝕚𝕤𝕥°| • {Prologue} • {Chapter II}

Your hands are behind your back as you walk straight down one of the mansions corridors. A gleaming white tile glaring at you each time you pass and wide window that brings in a reflective glare of the sun into the home. Something you honestly hate of this modern mansion. Too much white for your tastes, and well the people that lived inside of it, but that couldn’t be clear enough already. Yet, your not one to purely judge people and nature itself- Well… unless those Golden Knights count as something… unnatural.

Its weird though, you have never really addressed them as their original titles: Adeptus Custodes or just Custodes in short. You have just been mentally calling them “Golden Knights.” Your pretty sure it was because you practically grew up under their eyes, and your younger, innocent self couldn’t fathom nor pronounce Adeptus Custodies. So your little mind settled on what was closer: Golden Knights. Knights also had happened to one of the things you admired then and well now. Admittedly, you like to think of a more… characteristic knight now since you figured out how exactly knights where back in the 12th century. It was a very stark contrast between a little fairytale and the real thing. All the more reason to avoid the Golden Knights though. You’re not sure how they act besides being annoying statues, and trying to follow you are despite your inner turmoil.

Maybe you should just settle for a War World II soldier instead? At least they cared for their nurses… Well, in the movies they did. You didn’t have enough information in written history to claim such. Maybe that is something you could figure out in the time being? Learn a bit more about War World II? You know you have heard of the Astarte's being first sighted there… Maybe that will allow you to get more information on the Golden Knights in your home er- household? No, those words don’t seem right to call this false security of a home…

You pause in your steps; in the middle of the hallway. Your head slightly down as you eye the shiny tile. Your mind in a sudden deep thought. What would you even call this household? Certainly not the Last name of the family, the blood is too mixed and… judging. You felt like they didn’t even deserve the honor of a last name. So, what would you call this… corruption?

‘Dysfunctional? Toxic? Tumultuous? Unstable?’ You almost amuse yourself with those definition's.

“Auntie?” A little, childish voice brings you out of your thoughts. Blinking, your back straightens up a bit again at your other- rather only friendly title you’ve been called here. Eyes flickering down to a little girl behind you, no more than 4 years old. Her wavy, strawberry hair stopping at just her shoulders; her sea green eyes innocent of youth. “Little Eden” you like to call her- mentally. Selectively mute you chosen to be. If you can’t talk in the home; voice your opinion's… Why bother talking at all?

You remember the first time you had met little Eden though. How her little fingers, grasped around your pointer finger while she tried to eat at her other hand, slobbering all over it. Her little cheeks chubby with cute fat, and her eyes a bit puffy with the cry’s for attention she desperately needed. Yet, she seemed to calm at your mere presence. Quieting down to soft sounds of nibbles. A few gnawing “yah, yah, yahs” leaving her. It would have been cute sight if it weren’t for the thought of the whys and hows she was crying for attention in the first place.

You were simply wandering the night halls of the mansion again. A routine you usually do to keep yourself and other things in check. Another party being hosted by your father as the walls thrum with vibrations, and through all that noise? You can hear a faint cry of displeasure. A cry of a newborn that you knew that was, and had come into the world, but just was never allowed to the hospital to see the brith of the new addition. So, you had to settle on patiently waiting for the time you would be able to see her without the foul glares and words of the family that might change her perspective of you at day one. It just… wasn’t a risk you were willing to take just to see someone new, but that wasn’t the thing you were most worried about. It was how the child was crying their heart out, wanting, seeking, needing attention. Their parent no where in sight, no doubt joining that damn party, and you’re not sure what scares you. The child’s obvious neglect or how you feel like you would be another failure to someone else. Even if they weren’t supposed to rely on you.

You sigh out, trying to calm your thoughts before your body would start to shake in anxiety. A hum leaving you to acknowledge the little one behind you. Your body turning a bit to give her your attention. Her eyes brightening up at your simple movements after she rubbed her eyes with her palms. Your eyes flickering to the shimmer of gold behind her, ignoring the… What was he again? A Shadow Keeper? Did she just wake up from a nap?

“Hi, auntie!” She greets you again, bounding up to you on her little legs. Her hands coming out to grasp at your pants. A huge smile on her face, and you’re not sure of what to make of it. No one has ever smiled so brightly at you before. Your brain thinks “logically;” to protect yourself, even from a child, thinking this was a trick. While your heart craves for such actions. Yet, you know better to have your heart to lead you, but it doesn’t mean you would neglect anything- anyone that would show you a smidge of kindness in this chaotic world.

Your eyes flicker over to the Shadow Keeper again. His form slow, basking in the shadows that a part of their armor seamlessly absorbs. His red visor softly glowing, even in the brightest areas, and it never fails to pull a shiver down your spine. These beings were so unnerving, but they have shown nothing to… oppose that. Opposite, really? You think? The people just somehow accept these… things that just appear out of no where, didn’t they think that was a bit suspicious? You weren’t at all judgmental of them nor combatant of them. You just wanted to know their origin, their purpose. Everything has it purpose you believe, but you can’t find anything to support your own ideals of them. Not even with the normal Astarte's. You just find they are kind of like different species: Primaris Marines, first-born, Iron Warrior’s to Salamander's…

Ugh, thinking about them just hurts your brain, brings you a massive migraine. You’ve gotten a bloody nose out of it one time, and you really don’t want to experience that again. It was one of the worst ones that you had, and even that, was suspicious to you. It wasn’t hard to notice that something was at play here as a mute watcher. Yet, something stops you from thinking of such. You wonder if you can get your answers from an Alpha Legionnaire or a Thousand Son. You heard it was a bit risky to deal with the mysteries untold, but if you wanted answers…

“Auntie?” Eden calls for you again, a tone of worry, perhaps defensiveness in her voice. Her hands tugging up at you. Wanting your attention again. “Did Mr. Varon offend you? You stare at them quite a lot…”

‘What? ’ You think to yourself, blinking away from the Shadow Keeper; rising your brow as you look back down at the child. Ignoring your own hint of embarrassment that grows inside of you that you were just… staring at things. Though, who's Varon? Wait…

Your head moves back up to the Shadow Keeper, your eyes narrowing at him slightly, judging him. His helmet tilting a centimeter to his right. His visor flashing a bit brighter as if he was… amused. Never in your life have you made on effort to learn the first and last names of the Golden Knights. You didn’t want to, you wanted the favor of your supposed parents then, but now?

You shake your head, ridding of any thoughts that could be driven by your heart. Turning your head back down to the child that was trying to pull you along somewhere. Her hands tightly grasping at you, grunting in… cute effort to try and move you from your spot. A singular twitch of your lips frowning upward, being shown for the trained eye before quickly going stoic again and following where the child wanted you to be. The shadows’ following at a respective distance right after.

She leads you a bit through the mansion, as if she was checking it out with you. Her hand never leaving their spot on your pants to pull you along. Taking you around the kitchen, living room, the outer rim of the mansion before taking you back inside and pulling you up stairs that has a loft near the entry way of the mansion. An honestly good spot to spy on the new people that come and go, and you suppose its one of the things you and Eden like doing together. Sitting in each others presence and watch the drama unfold just at the entry of the mansion.

“Father! I got someone new I want you to meet!” Ah, and so the show begins. A male and feminine figure slamming the front door shut upon entering the mansion. A click of heels echoing through the area as Father and Mother appear from just down the hall. Mother appearing from the laundry room. Something you take note of quickly as her being in the laundry room was suspicious, she never- doesn’t do laundry. Father appeared somewhere further down the hall. The rest of the hallway unseeable with the second story room wall’s in the way, but you would have to guess it was from his office.

Mother, something you don’t even call her anymore nor Father, but she was a rather fine looking woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. Good figure that would make her a model until you get to her shitty attitude. Most of the time she's a manipulator. Her tone untrue to others, including family. Seems like she just can’t stop being in a play. A fantasy she puts herself in. Something at least you can feel pity on her **for.

Father was all the dark a broody unless he was hosting his parties. Drinking away his worries. His dark eyes almost distant; black, slicked back hair seemingly always greasy now a days, but at least he occasionally shaved when a beard started to grow. That was something to show he wasn’t a complete failure. At least physically, emotionally? You, and only you knew he was drowning in silent debt. He should really consider rejecting some things… It will only be a matter of time before he breaks. You take a bet that he would even brake before your mother would.

“This is Linton Stokes.” Your stepsister, more like half-sister, but you don’t really even consider her blooded or even a sister. It’s another thing you think that many would need to earn the title of, but she introduces the new male next to her. Her arms wrapping around his neck while this “Linton Stokes” puts his hands on her waist. A sound of hushed disgust coming from the child besides you. “He’s my new boyfriend.”

‘What's the number now for that? The 12th one this year?’ You muse to yourself, shifting your weight as you lean up against the glass railing. That's also not even counting the past years she's had these flings of boyfriend's. Sometimes you feel bad for them because some of them seemed genuinely good material, only to be ruined by Lessas’ habits of being well…. a known whore, to put it boldly. Other times you can tell it was just a game to the men, and this male? Was going to be no different. You can just tell. It’s like a sixth sense.

“Oh! How exiting!” Mother gasps in fake excitement, but it has just enough training that it fools nearly everyone. Her hands clasping together. Her smile too bright, and the bright red lipstick she was wearing wasn’t helping her either. “What do you do, young man?”

“I, uh, I do business.” The guy retorts and immediately, you know that's a lie. If he was business he wouldn’t be dressed like a commoner. He would be more formal. Not only that, but he hesitated his words. He wasn’t confident in his position. So that's all the more reason to think that he was a liar or he just wasn’t doing well at his job that he was most definitely going to get fired sooner or later.

That, or you’re too judgmental.

“What type of business?” Father inquires, raising his brow. His fingers threading through his hair as he sighs out. Seemingly not in the mood to meet anyone else, unless of he was drinking of course. Friendly, deceiving person when drunk. Uncaring, tired man when sober. Pitiful, almost.

“Corporation, sir.” Linton speaks with manners but if he actually had any he wouldn’t be allowing himself the freedom of touching Lessa openly. He would have been respectful and shown promise in front of father, but you know the simple word: Corporation caught your father’s interest. His eyes regained a bit of light to them at the first syllable.

“Corporation, eh?” Father chuckles in a low tone, coming forward to remove Lessa from him and wrap his own arm around his shoulder. His daughter, not even of blood, pouting just a bit with a stomp of her black heels. “Say… I can teach you a thing or two? Hmm?”

“Mother!” Lessa huffs and puffs, never really liking the attention off of her. Another clicking stomp coming from her as she looks over to mother, expecting her to do something when another solid gold came into the room: Aquilan shield if you remember correctly of what type the Golden Knight was that has entered the entry way freely. His golden armor, and what you assume jewels imbedded in it having a bit of a reflex on the tile below. His figure more prominent in the tile reflection than anything else in the damn house. Probably the most expensive thing in the world too. It’s one of the few things why your father just… tolerates them because not only do they look intimidating, but your pretty sure there is dollar bills in your fathers eyes each time he glances over them.

Linton, probably and most likely has never seen an Custodies before, shivers in his spot. His adam apple signaling that he swallowed hard at the Aquilans’ sudden appearance, and man was it always amusing to see the new people crumble at just the sight of them. You had to at least give that to the Golden Knights. They were effective in chasing people off and keeping them off the property. Not they really intend to. It was just how they were built.

Yeah, built. You don’t believe these men or perhaps just things of armor: formed like golden bars were birthed like 1,000+ pounds at the getaway from a woman’s womb. They were definitely created in a lab unless they came from a line of giants or some mythical creature. Exaggerated? Maybe, but what else could you think of without getting a pounding headache that stops you from thinking further?

“Is…i-is that a Astarte's?” Is the first thing Linton says about them, and it’s almost a boring answer. Her eyes flickering over to father before looking back at the Aquilan with clear nervousness. His hands were shaking a little bit as he swallows again. It was a bit of a miracle that he hasn’t excused himself yet. It was a bit strange, but not everyone was the same. Maybe this guy has a bit of a back bone?

“No, that’s Atlas!” Eden speaks up right next to you. Her little mind not taking the disrespect for the Custodies, no matter if it was a simple question, and you… praise her for it, but did it have to be near you? You were just the playing object, perhaps a puppet in their eyes. Not even their child or sibling, just some random that lives in their house, eating their money, and you can just tell with how they look up to you with such disgust. It would sicken you, yourself if you weren’t used to it already.

“What are you doing out?” Your father more like comments up at you. His arm still wrapped around Lintons’ shoulders while they just seem to forget about the new Golden Knight in the room since they noticed you, and not in a good way as an uncomfortable silence stretches through out the area. Your mouth never opening to answer them. You never do as it would come with a cost of your own sanity. You just watch.

“Who is that, sir?” Linton speaks up with a slight waver in his tone. His brown eyes looking up at you in mild curiosity, and it leaves you skeptical. Your eyes tracking every movement that he does. Man should know what not to question around here. Especially with the attitude of your mother and Lessa. They do not do well with your mere presence or of an uttered word of/and/or about you.

“They are no one, honey!” Your mother grins too brightly, gaining the attention of the newcomer for a second and huff from her daughter: who smirks in response as if she won something she never even participated in. Her arms folding over her chest as she shoots a poor attempt of a sinister glare up to you.

‘Was that suppose to remove me from the plains of the Earth?’ You muse to yourself to keep your spirits up despite the prickling anxiety that feels like lightning was roaming across your back. Your form shifting your weight on one leg.

“Come, baby!” Lessa smiles too brightly as well, forcefully taking Linton back from her father, pulling at the mans’ clothes. Her tone so full of under toned venom, and she wasn't even hiding it. She never tries to. Probably one of the reasons she losses relationships so much…You honestly wonder how well she would do if she was paired up with a chaos Emperor Child? For you, you want it to be a form of punishment for her. You know that what you’re thinking of is… dark. You know the difference between chaos and a “holy” marine; have a slight concept of it, and by god you wished something akin to what was going through your mind happened to her. “Let me show you around my mansion!”

Your father face twitches at Lessas’ words, clearly taking in of how she says “my mansion.” Clearly displeased with her. Not only did she take away a potential victim of his… scam’s, but she was pulling a dominance card, and if you didn’t know any better yourself? Certain men don’t like that, like your father. It’s surprising he doesn’t do anything about it just yet. Most likely wanting to try and score some money off the “Linton Stokes” and spend it all in one go. That is if he was even a business man. This guy could be wanting to do the same to him.

“Hold on now,” Linton pauses their attempts to move him further down the mansion. His hands coming up to hold Lessas’ hands to try and stop her from dragging him. Lessas’ eyes giving him a glare that he simply ignores, looking back up at you. “I thought I was supposed to be meeting your whole family?”

‘Whole family, huh?’ You narrow your eyes down at him, meeting his gaze; making sure that you gather any more detail you could about him physically. He knows a lot more than what he leads on… His eyes flickering around briefly: at Eden then back to you, and something about that simple look around irks you. It sends a couple of negative mixed signal’s through your brain. Your form shifting a bit to cover Eden up more with your body, at most your legs. Her hands squeezing at your clothing at the unintended invitation.

Lessa was a absolute fool to bring this one in.

“She’s nobody.” Lessa hisses through her teeth with a happy tone. Her blue eyes sending you another glare up at you before lighting up again once Linton looks back at her. Smiling as if she hasn’t done a single unholy thing in her life before giving a light laugh. “A maid at most! Let me show you around, babe!”

You can see the man hesitate before reluctantly following her. Letting himself be pulled by her hand and lead him further into the mansion. Your parents lingering for a second, giving you a lasting glare before following their steps. You would feel… sorry, but with how many years you put up with their shit? It wasn’t even worth to waste such emotion.

“That guy is weird.” Eden comments up at you, saying whatever pops up into her head. Your figure leaning up from the glass railing while you decided that pinnacle of drama was enough for the both of you. Better things can be done besides being bait to some theatricals.

You nod down at her though: agreeing. This “Linton Stokes” was definitely weird. He knew that you were part of the household even if you weren’t really well… apart of it. His gives off an… strange aura that you can’t pinpoint just yet, but you know it’s negative. It’s not something to just brush off either. Not to mention the random look he gave Eden…

You need to keep an eye on this dude. Yet, you cannot always be there for her, no matter if you want to or not; could or not. The family would get suspicious, and start lies or something that was supposed to ruin your own reputation. She also could get targeted too, and you definitely did not want that to happen. No child deserved to not feel a mother’s love, father’s protection or even a siblings connections, and just because you didn’t have it yourself? It doesn’t mean you would revoke someone else of that… wholesomeness. That was just a low blow, or at least you think it was- is.

You sigh, your shoulders dropping slightly in some form of internal defeat. How would you even protect her? At least until you feel safe that she was safe? It’s not like you could hire a damn mercenary or bodyguard. The spent money would be suspicious too.

…Wait.

Your eyes flicker up to the black and gold Shadow Keeper that kept to the shadows and the gold and royal blue Aquilan Shield below that keeps his own red visors staring up at you. Your mind thinking… There are others that can protect her, but were you willing to take that risk? To finally make request them of something after years of trying to ignore them the best you could?

To finally give them a sliver of your inconclusive trust?

[sleepyfan-blog]

Interviews

Author’s Note: This is the next part of the Big E raises the primarchs AU! First. Previous. Next. A big thanks to @plagueparchments, @undeaddream, @kit-williams and @bleedingichorhearts for allowing me to borrow their OCs for this fic! Please rb and support their artistic endeavors!

word count: 5,041 this fic got away from meeeeee

Warnings: none? Please tell me if I need to tag something

Tagged: : @egrets-not-regrets @the-pure-angel @sharenadraculea @whorety-k @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan 

Summary: Valdor interviews some candidates to become primary caretakers for the infant primarchs.

Valdor sent out a coded message, asking all  those above a certain clearance level who were not currently assigned to high priority missions to arrive at his office at their earliest convenience in order to discuss a top-secret medium term mission that required discretion, finesse and care. He has already spoken to over a dozen of his fellow custodes, high ranking mortal military officers, admech and civilian mortal staff… Along with the occasional Terran noble. None of them had the qualities that he was looking for as of yet. 

There was a light knock on the door and Valdor called out neutrally “Come in.” A flash of surprise shot through him as Pariah Almach walked into his office. 

“As you say, captain-general. The mission details on the call you sent out were light on details, but I’m… Curious and willing to serve.” The tanned man stated, tucking a stray lock of dark brown hair behind one of his ears and lightly rubbing one of the facial scars on his lower cheek, golden eyes flicking up to Valdor’s face before looking away respectfully.

“There is a reason for that. I have a series of questions to ask you, which I stress you must answer as truthfully and honestly as you can. There are no incorrect answers, but they will determine  your fitness for the mission. If I deem you a potential candidate, I will inform you of the mission details. Due to the nature of the mission it is strictly voluntary, however if you decline the mission, the lord sigilite will remove your memories of the specifics of the mission for the safety of the mission. Do you understand?” Valdor asks, making sure to be upfront. This was the first hurdle that had more than half of the potential candidates who had arrived so far to decline the mission and leave. 

“I understand, Captain-general. I am ready to answer your questions and pass whatever tests are necessary.” The powerful blank answered with a serious and determined nod. 

“Excellent. How much experience do you have working with young children? Specifically infants and toddlers?” Valdor asked, watching him carefully.

Almach blinked rapidly a couple of times, visibly confused before answering “As a child and a teenager, I had many younger siblings I was raised alongside. As one of the eldest, part of my duties were to care for and protect the little ones as best as I could. I haven’t any formal childcare training, but I’ve got a good few years of experience with children of all ages, including infants, sir.”

Valdor noted that down on his dataslate and continued “How do you feel about potentially interacting closely with psykers who will start out wholly untrained due to their nature, as well as those who are closely attuned to the Warp because of their nature?”

Almach shifted a little in his seat “As a Blank of some strength and training, I have dealt with out of control psykers by exerting my own abilities to nullify their own, sir. As long as the psykers don’t attack me for existing, I think I would be able to get along with them well enough… Though I’d need to be away from them for the psykers to learn how to use their powers, if that’s something in the cards for those psykers.” He’s aware that not all psykers who are found by the Emperor’s forces are allowed to continue to live and are brought under his banner. Those tainted are killed to prevent further contamination. Even if the psyker themself is unaware of the darkness they’ve brushed.

Valdor nods, asking several more childcare related questions before saying “I believe that, despite your status as a Blank, you would be a good fit for this mission. As you are aware, The Emperor has many projects going in order to further unify and strengthen humanity. One of these is the Primarch Project. Twenty-one genetically and psychically hand-crafted human infants by The Emperor and each with a multidisciplinary team of the brightest scientific minds who could be found on Terra, created to lead the Legiones Astartes. Most of those scientific minds have been reassigned to the Astartes project, with a couple of the medical staff on hand at any time of the day or night in case the genetically altered infants require medical attention.’

The captain general paused for several seconds before continuing to explain “They were originally to stay in their incubation chambers until their physical maturity was that of a toddler, but strong visions prompted The Emperor to pull them from their tubes early and bring them to a secure wing of the palace. One of these infant generals is a Blank, though how powerful he will be has yet to be seen. Should you accept this mission, you will be assigned the primary caretaker for primarch eleven, the Pariah Primarch. He does not have a name other than Primarch Eleven yet. Your duties would involve the total physical and emotional care of primarch eleven while he grows from an infant to a toddler, which should take up to two years. One of the fail safes that the Emperor put in place in each of the primarchs was to ensure that they would physically mature faster when exposed to danger. You may also be assigned to care for primarchs Five and/or Seven, depending on how many qualified people I find for this mission. What say you?”

Almach swallowed dryly. Could he raise one to three children for war and bloodshed? Admittedly, that’s what they were made for, and his own hands were dripping in the blood of others. He was also keenly aware of what it was like to be a Blank surrounded by non-blanks. How lonely and aching that could get. He would do his duty, despite the guilt that bit at his heart “I will, captain-general. When do I start?”

“Do you have any loose ends to wrap up? Otherwise you will start immediately, and you will be living in the same section of the Imperial Palace as  your ward or wards.” Valdor revealed. 

Almach shook his head “I have no loose ends, sir. Am I allowed to pack a couple of mementos before being transferred to the palace, sir?”

“You are. One of the Golden Host will accompany you to your apartment and aid you in packing, take the rest of the day to get ready.” Valdor ordered. “Oh, and you will be given a week of childcare training before being introduced to your charge or charges.”

“Yes sir.” Almach responded, nodding. He’s not surprised he’s going to be watched while having such information in his head. He got up and headed off, mind running in many different directions at once.

~

There was a light, efficient knock on Valdor’s door, soon after Almach left and he called out “Come in, please.”

“Yes sir.” Apollo responded, quietly walking in, closing the door behind him and sitting down when Valdor silently gestured for him to do so. “I received your call for a highly secretive, multi-year mission? I am here to present myself for it. What do I need to do, sir?”

“Before I tell you about the mission, I have several questions to ask of  you. There are no correct answers, merely the truthful answers you have. If I decide that you are unfit for the mission it is not due to a fault you possess, merely a mismatch in abilities and needs of the mission. Understood?” Valdor clarified, knowing that some of his fellow Custodians would take a rejection of any mission as a failing on their part.

“I understand sir, and I am ready to answer any question  you have.” The Dread Spear responds, lifting his chin a little and squaring his shoulders.

“Excellent. Now, I will ask you a series of hypothetical questions and I want you to answer them to the best of your abilities.” The captain general instructed, before he cleared his throat and stated “You are guarding a very young and willful charge that has shown signs of willfulness and a prickly disposition. They are being difficult and refusing to do what you have told them to in order to keep them safe. What do you do?”

“I remove them from whatever the source of danger is, or I eliminate the danger, depending on whatever is the swiftest option. Is this a bodyguarding mission, sir? I… Do not have experience with such things. I thought the Aquiilan Shields took those missions solely.” Apollo murmured, shifting ever so slightly in his seat.

“This particular mission is set to last for at minimum two years and will be taking place within the Imperial Palace itself, Apollo. There are a number of other… Considerations that caused me to widen the pool of potential candidates. How well can you adapt to humans with enhanced and altered instincts?” Valdor asked.

Apollo thought about the question for a couple of moments before asking “Are you talking about the approved abhuman strains? I have worked alongside different kinds of abhumans before, sir. While they may be a perversion of true humanity, so long as they are willing to serve the emperor, I have no qualms with them.. And as long as their instincts do not get in the way of the mission, they don’t particularly bother me either, sir.”

Valdor hummed, writing down what the younger Custodian said, tapping the stylus thoughtfully against the dataslate before saying “Before I explain this mission it must be said that this information must be kept in the absolute strictest of confidence. Do not breathe a word of this outside of the imperial palace, even among our fellow custodes, even if you know that they are also aware of this duty. If you feel you cannot keep such silence, speak now and you will be removed from the duty roster.”

“I can keep this silent, captain-general.” Apollo answered, shifting a little in his seat again, leaning forward slightly, intensely curious. He’d recently arrived back from a kill mission and had noticed that some of the golden host were abuzz about something, yet they could not or would not say whenever he approached to speak with them. 

Valdor quickly explained about the changes in the Primarch project, and that the infant primarchs had been removed from their incubation chambers and moved to a different heavily guarded and warded section of the Imperial Palace for their own safety, and finishing with “This particular posting would have you taking care of the needs of one or more of the infant primarchs directly. Tending to their physical needs and ensuring that they are adequately emotionally and mentally stimulated as well. You cannot become emotionally attached to your charge or charge. If you feel that you are, come to me and you will be reassigned.”

“I… Infant care is not something I have been trained on, sir and is outside of my realm of expertise. But I feel that I can maintain proper emotional distance from the Primarchs, and should be able to care for whichever one or more of them I am assigned to tend to.” Apollo answered honestly.

“You will be given childcare training for the next week, and then introduced to your charge. I’m sure that you will do well, Apollo.” Valdor murmured, nodding.  

~

Valdor called out, "Come in," As he heard a quiet knock on his door, ignoring the desire to pinch the bridge of his nose. He'd dealt with a half dozen nosy and unfit nobles who had only wanted to know what the mission was. As they had no intention of actually completing the mission he did not tell them. Not that their whining and fussing... and the fact that His Imperial Majesty had shown up to court lat. Again. And with a small dirty towel over one of his shoulders... Rumors abound in regards to why, and he knew that he would need to head those rumors off sooner, rather than later. It was a job for future him, but he's noted down to get done after the initial interviews were done. 

"What is the mission you are seeking to staff, sir?" Zedkiel asked, standing attentively near the door. The Terrab born Raven Guard watching with dark and inquisitive eyes. 

"Before I tell you, I have questions for you to answer first, and the warning that if you are selected for this mission, you cannot tell any of your brothers the mission... And that you'll have limited to time to even contact them over the vox, due to the nature of the mission. If you wish to withdraw now, you may," Valdor explains evenly, watching the other trans-human carefully. 

"I am used to being out of contact with my Brothers for long periods of time during missions, The Raven Guard are primarily trained in stealth, assassinations, and misdirection after all. I will answer your questions to the best of my abilities." Zedkiel murmured, resolute. 

"Good. Now. How do you handle interpersonal conflict? How do you handle discipline of others under your sway? How do you adapt under high pressure situations where you cannot resort to violence?" The Captain General asked. 

Zedkiel was now very intensely curious as to what this mission could possible be about, but restrained the hundreds of inquiries that The Captain General's questions spawned in his mind. He took his time to ponder each question before answering. "I try and find ground with whoever I am in conflict with, to come to a compromise that all involved can live with, if not happy about. As for discipline, I find that corporal punishment leads to long-term issues and prefer to correct problems using more constructive methods. I find redirection and positive reinforcement of the correct behaviors to be a more effective, sir." 

Zedkiel was aware that a number of Commanders and Officers preferred to use the rod and sticks liberally, but he had found that Carrots and gentle correction had much better long-term results, even if it took longer to get unruly Scouts into line, than beatings and terror tactics. "As for high stress non-violent situations, I deal with them by first assessing the situation ato determine the source, and how I might be able to solve or stop the stress. How I would do that depends on the kind of stressor or stressors present, Sir."

Valdor wrote down what Zedkiel said, a considering expression appearing on his face. He was quite certain if he offered a spot for the Astartes on the mission, that Zedkiel would accept without pause. To b able to meet his tiny Primarch. But would he be a good caretaker? From what Valdor knew of the younger trans-human's mission history and personality... The other may be a tad indulgent, but given that he knew that Apollo would be Strict... A gentler hand and limited Astartes exposure should be fine for the infant warlords. "If you refuse this mission after I give you the details, they will be wiped from your mind, for safety and security reasons. Do you understand?" 

"Yes sir. I am ready," The raven guard responded, posture straightening minutely. "The Primarchs were pulled from their incubation chambers as infants for security reasons. They have been moved to a secure wing of the palace and require full time caretakers. Will you be one of them?" Valdor explains deliberately keeping his face neutral. 

Zedkiel's eyes widened a little in shock before the Astartes spoke, voice cracking a little in eagerness, "I would be honored to help care for any of the Primarchs why they are so young." Valdor inclined his head, the corners of his lips quirking up a fraction of a centimeter before flattening again, He's unsurprised by the other's eagerness, "Of those I've interviewed today, you are one of three candidates I've found acceptable for their care team so far. Tie up any loose ends that you have today, then report to Imperial Office 156 on Beta level for training. You and the other caretakers will receive one week of child care training." 

"Yes sir," Zedkiel murmured, saluting Valdor and leaving once dismissed. 

~

"Come on in," Valdor called out as another person knocked on his office door. He had taken just long enough of a break to eat and stretch his legs a little before returning to the desk that His Emperor had given him. 

"Yes sir," Another of the Golden Host murmured, stepping into the room and sitting down. She removed her helmet and massaged her horns, looking him over, a small smirk appearing on her face, "Long day, cap? Just what is this mission? Half the palace is talking about what it might be, or so it feels like." She shook hout her dark hair as she spoke. 

"The mission is highly classified, " Valdor responded before he gave her the same warnings he had given about the secrecy and security level that this mission was and an offer for her to back out before continuing, as well as the pre-screening questions. 

Baphomet flashed him a challenging grin, eyes alight with interest as she leaned over his desk a little, "Oooh, now you've got my attention sir! It's gotta be something special with this kind of security involved. Ask your questions Boss, I'm ready!" 

Valdor cleared his throat a little before answering with several questions in a rapid response, "Do you have any experience dealing with untrained psykers in a non-violent way? How experienced are you with dealing with those who see glimpses of possible futures? How well do you interact with Blanks?"

Baphomet hummed a little, scratching at the base of one of her horns, leaning back in her chair, kicking her feet before answering, "I've corralled untrained psykers before. Especially given how most baseline psykers tend to be squishy. I can usually scruff them if I need to without much issue. Blanks freak me out a little, but the Sisters do important work. As long as the Blank or Blanks in question aren't shitty to me. I'm fine with 'em. But you know how some baselines get with my mutations. I won't tolerate any whining. Oh! I dunno much about seers, though." 

... Considering that Nine had an obvious mutation he couldn't be able to easily hide. Baphomry might be an excellent fit for him as a primary caretaker, despite her disciplinary history. Valdor gives her one more chance to back out of the mission- to which Baphomet flashes him a grin and laughs. He explains about the infant Primarchs, concluding with, "one of them has bird-like wings and future sight. Almost half of them exhibit warp-touched abilities regularly. And all but three of them have shown at least one warp-touched abilities once after being removed from incubation. Are you willing to be a caretaker for the infant Primarchs?" 

Baphomet's eyes widen in surprise and delight as she shot up to her feet, "That sounds line an absolute riot! Fuck yes, I'm up for the challenging mission! I haven't had ... any experience with itty bitties, but I know you. I'm getting kiddie care training before being unleashed on them. I'm absolutely up for it!" The younger Custodes was bouncing a little on the balls of her feet, radiating excitement. 

Valdor nods, a small smile, which he allows to, appearing on his face amused by her exuberance as he instructed her, "Deal with anything you need to. Caring for the infant Primarchs will last for two years at minimum. Possibly longer, depending on how much of a handful they are as toddlers. Report to room 156 on Beta level tomorrow to begin the week long child care course."

"Aye aye sir!" Baphomet chirped before prancing out of the room, grinning widely and helmet in hand. 

There was a quick, rapid knock on Valdor's office door.

"Enter," The Captain General instructed, mildly curious as to who would next present themself for consideration. The fact, as it stood, the caretaking team was half Custodes, did not show any bias on his part, but rather due to the fact that Custodians were likely the best suited to handle infant warp creations meant to Lead Sector-claiming armies when they were fragile and at their weakest. 

There was a rapid clicking sound as a Martian Tech Priest crawled along one wall of Valdor's office. through the door that they were closing with their tail. The Mechanicum's cultist waved a heavily modified hand in Valdor's direction. 

"Uhm. Greetings. Why are you here?" Valdor asked bluntly, pulling out the language translation app on his data slate, ignoring the rising frustration clawing at his mind. 

The Tech Priest clicked rapidly at him for several seconds. The translation software wrote out for him [Here for Assignment. High Priority and Security Level. Serve Omnissiah.]

 ...Great. Sure. Uh-huh. Not. “I see. Do you have other methods of conversation, or is this auditory clicking your only method of communication?” On one hand, it might be good for the infant primarchs to interact with a member of the Mechanicus, and to know that there was a varied methods of communications.. Would it be prudent to allow a member of their tentative allies so close to such a vulnerable resource? Even if several of his fellow Custodes would be present when this priest was as well?

[Singular method of communication.] The priest clicked rapidly, head tilting a little to one side. [Translation simple with helmet and vox-communication systems.]

“While that is true, if you are picked for this mission, not everyone you will need to communicate with has access to a helmet or vox to translate the sounds you are making. Regardless, I have other questions to ask of you, before you receive the details of this mission, if I deem you a fit match. This mission is highly secret and you would not be able to inform anyone else of receiving this mission any of the details. I was handed the task of stocking the best people by the Emperor Himself. Very few people are aware of this mission as it is. If you refuse to take the mission if you learn of the details, your memories of such will be erased permanently. Do you understand?” Valdor responds, leaning over his desk and looming at the tech priest, gaze narrow and focused.

[Understood. Will answer queries. Serve Omnisiah.] The tech priest beeped response. [Will serve faithfully and keep silence.]

Valdor nodded, looking over the list of questions he had and began with “This mission will take a minimum of two years, and will involve a great deal of physical, mental and emotional discretion and effort on the parts of the team members. Do you have any experiences with caring for and disciplining delicate sentient resources? If so, please give examples. Additionally, if you are chosen for this position while you will not want for any resource you may need to successfully complete this mission, are you able to discern between a need that is not being properly fulfilled and a want or desire in your charge that they are trying to emotionally or mentally attempting to manipulate from you?”

[I have worked with tech-priests in training, after they are released from their vat tubes. They can be unruly as their weak flesh can overwhelm them with sensation and stimuli. Routines, training and careful praise/punishment system is effective in keeping them in line. Before they have been fully brought into the fold, some of the young priests in training can get… Stubborn and unruly. I have dealt with youthful manipulations in the past with a firm hand, when interacting with them. Logic and not yielding to yelling or other emotional appeals is important while training and interacting with such resources.] The tech priest - whose name escaped Valdor at the moment - clicked at a steady tempo.

Valdor hummed as he wrote down the other’s response. The lack of regular communication was a bit of a hindrance, but his responses were illuminating and could prove to be most useful in dealing with the infant primarchs. That and they would need to get used to the strangeness of the Mechanicum quickly, so early exposure wasn’t a bad  idea. “Very well. This is your last chance to back out before I explain to you the mission parameters. If you do decide to back out, it will not be held against you in any way.”

[I am ready to serve.] the tech priest clicked.

The captain-general nodded, before explaining the success of the primarch project, and the fact that the infant generals had been pulled out of their maturation tubes as infants due to security concerns, and the fact that the tech priest - amongst others - would be tending to their physical and emotional needs during such a vulnerable point in time, as well as the week long child care training the priest would be taking before being introduced to his charges, finishing with “Currently all of the primarchs are being cared for in a single room together, though that is subject to change, particularly as they grow older and their requirements change. Do you accept this duty?”

[I would be honored, Captain-general.] The tech priest beeped back, his tail flicking a little. 

“Good. Finish up any tasks you have today.” Valdor ordered him, informing the tech priest as to where to report to for training tomorrow.

~

“Sir, are you still looking for candidates for that high priority, top-secret mission?” Adonis asks as he peers into Valdor’s room, where the captain-general of the Adeptus Custodes is sitting, staring at his dataslate as if he hopes it has the questions to all the questions in his mind.

Valdor looked up at Adonis as he spoke and beckoned him inside with a curl of one finger “That I am. I have found some who qualify, but ideally I’d have one or two more on the team to fill it out competently.” He was still somewhat hesitant in including the tech priest in the group… But from what he had read over of Tiny’s service history, the priest should be a good fit, if a mildly mischievous caretaker. 

“I see. What qualifications are you looking for, sir?” The Aquilan Shield asked, tilting his head a little in curiosity as he obeyed the silent order to come into the other’s office and sit down. 

While Valdor had been tempted to simply assig the infant Primarchs a team of Aquilan Shields - particularly those who had been previously assigned young charges in the past, he was also aware of the… Mixed feelings that the Primarchs provoked in many of his fellow Custodes. Mixed feelings that Valdor knew he himself was not exempt from. “I have several questions to ask of  you, as well as a warning to give to you.” He informed the other of the length of the mission, if he refused it that the memories would be taken from his mind, and that Adonis was free to decline the mission with no repercussions.

“Ask your questions, sir. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t ready to complete such a mission.” Adonis answered stalwartly, chin lifting up a little, resolute.

“How have you handled medical emergencies that occur to your charges in the past? When one of them fell seriously ill, for example.” Valdor responds. He knew that Adonis had never allowed any of his charges to come to harm during the course of his duties,but illness was an unfortunate thing that happened to baselines. While it was exceedingly unlikely that the infant primarchs could get sick with normal illnesses, and the palace was well-guarded against magical curses and maladies…

They were still gene-crafted infants, and while they were definitely heartier than any natural born infant, there was still the possibility of something unfortunate happening to one or more of them. 

“Fifty years ago, one of my charges fell critically ill. I realized their symptoms and brought them to one of my brother apothercaries who had training in treating the illness that they had fallen prey to. Once they had the medications they required I monitored them closely for signs of relapse or worsening condition, while ensuring that they complied with the medical orders and restrictions they’d been given. I personally ensured that they got all of the nutrients, electrolytes and water they needed in the form of a nutritious but easily consumed soup. Under my care they swiftly and fully recovered from their illness.” Adonis answered promptly “While they were resistant to fully complying, I allowed them to move a little more than recommended in order to get them to consume the soup I created for them without fuss. A little bit of compromise goes a long way to compliance in my experience.”

Valdor nodded as he noted that down, a reflective expression appearing on his face. “I will ask you once more, do you wish to withdraw your name from consideration? If you do not, I will explain the mission parameters.”

“I am ready to serve, sir.” The Aquilan Shield responds, alert and inquisitive.

The captain-general explained to Adonis about how the primarchs had been pulled from their maturation chambers as infants, where they had been placed, adn the fact that his Majesty had been the one primarily taking care of the infants, before realizing that to take care of so many infants at once would effectively prevent him from continuing to reunify the Sol system, amongst His many other duties that had begun to fall to the wayside. Which was why he had assigned Valdor to find appropriate caretakers for the infant primarchs. He finished with “Are you willing to care for the infant primarchs, while they are so weak and vulnerable?”

Adonis nodded “I would be willing to do so, sir. I am well aware of His plans for them in the future and will do my best to guard and guide them, should I be chosen for this mission.”

Valdor nodded, saying “Excellent. I will give you the rest of the day to tie up any loose ends you may have. Report to room 156 on Beta level tomorrow to begin the week long child care course.” 

“Yes sir.” Adonis acknowledged before leaving with a brief salute.

[matrim-cauthons-hat]

one Blade Champion of the Aquilan Shield ready to go forth and put her life on the line to protect whoever is deemed necessary for the survival of the imperium. a little bit of a pain to pint, but that was largely my own fault for priming her in gold xD. i really like her pose too, a dagger in the off hand ready to deliver a fatal blow to one enemy wil her broadsword is about to decapitate another... its just cool

[leier-coyol]

Zerión, my paladin from our Spelljammer campaign.

He's an adeptus custodes that lost most of his memories and misteriously landed on a different plane with blindness and got adopted by a kobold family.

He's slowly getting his humanity and memories back by travelling with his peers.

[some-old-psyker]

☢️ @aquilan-shield-girl

Two days out from the last settlement and Ana was glad for the masks she and Jenny had acquired when they first came to this world.

Seeing the approaching ash storm, they quickly took shelter in some ruins near the road, Ana praying all the while that it wasn’t already occupied by one of the many mutant beasts that roamed the wastes as well, or those crazy cultists that worshipped the Emperor as “The Father of Ash”.

No sooner had they settled into a massive dome-shaped building that appeared to have once been a church, the winds came, buffeting the structure with howling winds and toxic particulate. The sky outside grew darker by the second.

“Might as well settle down Jen, we’ll be here a while.” Ana called out to her companion.

“ ‘Ow many more of these?!” Jenny complained in exasperation as she dropped the supplies she’d been carrying in the middle of the floor. The Ogryn woman took a rag out of her pocket and wiped her face.

“Might have to get used to ‘em, we’ll be here a while.” Ana made her way over to one of the packs and began to look for lights or fire-starting materials. She didn’t anticipate having to spend the night again but it never hurt to remind herself where these things were.

[moodymisty]

just learned about aquilan shield custodes... oh to have a huge golden bodyguard following you like a scary dog 24/7, not even leaving you alone to sleep... it'd be a shame if he got a little too possessive, even more so than his duty could justify... a shame if one of the emperor's finest found himself utterly besotted with his ward, wanting things that custodians aren't made to want... a real shame if you became the prize and obsession of your big golden boy, knowing that there was basically no force strong enough, not even space marines, to keep you away from his affections... 👀

Having a Custodes get attached to you would be a weird fucking thing. I mean most of them are super stoic even more so than Astartes, but they are capable of emotion. I mean in Saturine Valdor smiles at a guardsmen making a joke about stripping naked and running into battle, and in another book I can't remember a few custodes joke about another having a stick up his ass.

An Aqulian Shield being placed in change of protecting a particular human and having to spend so much of his time protecting you, perhaps you don't even know he is there at first, until he eventually reveals himself to you. You know he's always watching now, always making sure nothing ever happens to you. You're his charge, his one and only to protect and make sure the future comes to pass.

He doesn't know what love is, but surely this feeling in his chest in that, yes? His overwhelming desire to keep you away from everything, to keep you in his light. Can Custodes love? He's heard of Astartes tempted by such a thing, but could the Emperor give him such a flaw? He doesn't know, but he knows he wants you.

[bebopat]

In which were we see the VIIIth try to redeem themselves.

++Will you follow me home, Decimus?++

...

The Prophet of the VIII is plagued by visions of death, but what actually worries him is the familiar dread that beckons him home in his dreams.

...

Custodian Solenus Kalreth of the Aquilan Shield is given an objective by the Emperor of Mankind. He sails the stars to find his charge and safeguard the lost son on his journey home.

...

The Emperor, occasionally, does protect.

[aerkame]

Warhammer 40k Fic ideas

I think we can all agree that Warhammer 40k has an insane amount of lore and it's hard to pick just one topic. So, I decided to just make a poll and ask from a list of topics that you guys would want to see written in as a fanfiction.

Now, there is a full fanfiction I plan on writing already based on a one shot fic I already wrote, but aside form that, I am not sure what other topics to get into.

For my usual readers, yes, I am still writing that finfolk fanfiction and Alive AU

Some of these are reader inserts for a reason (or at least, I just don't know how I could write an x reader for it) for the sake of staying in character or maintaining their image. The Emperor *cough cough*-

I love the custodes in case you could not tell. :]

[sculptorofcrimson]

My Angel

@kit-williams I take FULL responsibility. Behold, more scary golden boys!

~~~~~

“Je prie les anges et les anges m'ont pris”

Translation from French: I prayed to the angels, and the angels took me. 

~~~~

It's not a pretty feeling, is it, when you are denied even the right to die?

The Aquilan Shields. The desire of any, the saviors of countless. The gilded heroes in gold and crimson, thundering from the skies. 

But they are not heroes.

They are not saviors. They are not angels, they are seraphims bathed in fire and brimstone and choking smoke. They do not chase off death, but rather prolong it, until you can die by their command. 

It is a tradition, they say, a practice that carried over from the First Custodian and into their Order. The First to seal what belonged to him in gold and crimson, the first lifebringer who preserved life in a dead man walking. The outcast dead, preserved beyond an end, beyond life, beyond even adoration itself, until love curdled into obsession.

He was the First of the Custodes, the First to adore so vehemently it was beyond even death itself. 

It is a tradition for them not to love, but to protect, to adore and nurture, to keep. It should be an honor. It should be adoration. Many want to be loved. No one wants to know. Many yearn for that pretty delusion, the warmth of the fire without fearing its heat. You cannot love a heartless man. 

It was hard to imagine Leinth had once wished for the stress of their regard. 

“You seem melancholy today.” He observed. His voice filters through perfect vox lines, yet she could detect no waver beneath it, no human imperfection. It was as if he had been mastered as a machine, without deviation, and without error. 

Leinth offered a wan smile, the girl kicking her thin shins out over the rooftop’s edge. He had found her with ease, as he always had, regardless if she was in the Palace’s grand gardens or had paid a civilian to carry her to the outskirts of Terra. He would always find her, after all. 

Sekhmet Andas of the Aquilan Shield made no noise as he shifted to a resting position besides her, making eerily little sound for one as large as he. For a moment they were silent, watching the setting sun bathe the slums of Terra to red, then crimson.

“I had thought Terra would be beautiful.” she spoke, after a long while. Sekhmet inclined his head. 

“What makes you think it is not?” 

“These.” Leinth gestures with one hand. Her fingers, still unused to the exercises she had been subject to, awkwardly form crude signs in thoughtmark. + These. The ones you never show. + Her voice had yet to be taken away from her in her ascension to a full Sister, but her freedom to roam certainly was. 

“You cannot drape wraiths in raiments and call them beautiful, Leinth. You cannot show the shadow of the sun.” Sekhmet, with surprising tenderness, gently nudges her index finger to the proper form. "Longer, Ley. Thoughtmark is not an unelegant language."

"But are they too not loved?" she bats his hand away. "These wraiths." Leinth couldn’t help but feel irate at the simple use of her endearment. It had once belonged to her brother once. 

"I cannot speak for them." he replied. "Only that they were not graced by His light."

"Like I wasn't?" Leinth chuckles softly, bitterly. "Like I wasn't blessed, for the first decade and half of my life? Worthless, until my gift was seen?" 

“No. You were…exceptional.” Sekhmet’s tone was as level as always, even in the face of Leinth’s capricious wrath. The thin girl was shivering, but seemed unnoticing of the setting sun’s cold. Sekhmet reached out, and wrapped his cloak around her shoulders. Leinth never looked up. 

“Oh, you.” Leinth’s giggle sounded far too jaded, far too cruel for a girl of her age, all of twenty-three and as bitter as a veteran. “You’ve spent so long in the gold, you’ve forgotten how to speak of the bronze.”

Sekhmet did not respond to that. He simply wrapped the cloak around her, and tried to fasten the clasp. Once more, Leinth shakes his hand away. Sekhmet contends with draping the fabric around her. 

When she next spoke, her words were laden with vitriol. “I had a brother once. Down here. We were together.” There was an old rancor here, an ancient ache. Her eyes had become unfocused, her legs swinging out into the void as she gazed upon Terra’s slums from the shelter of the rooftop. 

She sounded almost wistful. 

“We were together when Father died. You wouldn’t know. Of course you wouldn’t. You wouldn’t care how Liaser fed me, clothed me, fought off a gang and ended up losing a third of his index finger from a knifethrust that was meant for me. You never saw the bodies left in the streets to rot, the trashheaps we buried ourselves in to hide from the gangs, how he took in a pariah at the age of twelve and refused to abandon her. You never knew what it felt like to starve, not knowing if you’d live long enough to scavenge from the streets. But he refused. Not even when my gift suffocated him, not even if he hated my soul, but loved me enough even when I drew “visitors”. When my aura drew…others here. Visitors that beat him. Visitors that tortured him. Visitors that hated me, hated my mind. Visitors wanted me.” her eyes had become unfocused, bitterly embroiled in the past. Sekhmet placed a titanic hand on her shoulder. He could feel the Pariah’s pulse from here, beating fast and hard like a dying rabbit’s, her shaven head bobbing from side to side with seemingly no consciousness. She was shaking. His other hand, still clad in gold auramite, rubbed soothing circles next to her spine. 

She regained her voice after a few moments, still trembling. “One of them tried to skin him alive unless I showed myself, were you there to protect me from then?” 

“Ley, you know that-”

“Were you there?” She half screamed. “Were you there when they broke three of his ribs and I robbed a clinic with my gift, when I walked in and the doctor called me a soulless monster and ran? When I left that dingy, rundown place with credits in my bag, knowing they feared me, knowing they looked at me and saw nothing but loathing? Knowing how it felt like not to be unnoticed, but to be utterly hated?”

“The golden do not know hate, dear Ley.” His hand wrapped around her, tightening and dragging her close when she tried to move away. Leinth snorted in derision and annoyance. He continued on. “And they will never step foot nor hide, so long as you’re beneath my gaze, little Sister. Where love is made impossible for you, Pariah, then contend yourself with fear.” With more tenderness than thought possible for a creature so cold, he reached out and gently turned her head towards him, tilting her face up until they were eye to eye. Leinth saw nothing, not even the cold spark of life, behind those eyes. It was like gazing into the eyes of a corpse, a corpse that would hold her, love her, suffocate her, for eternity.

“Contend yourself with fear, little Pariah. Where they cannot love you, they will learn to fear.” 

Leinth pulled away from his grasp. “But I do not want to be feared.” 

She did not ask to become a Sister, she did not want to be plucked from her brother’s arms and paraded like a trophy before golden eyes. She did not ask to be in that alleyway when they came, her thin arms over her head as the blows rained down one by one, still hearing her brother screaming at her to run. Sobbing for her life, pleading to be spared, praying for the angels to come and save her. And she prayed, and the angels came to save her. 

“I do not want to be feared.” she repeated. 

“But you will be.” His grip was like iron. He did not allow her to turn away. Instead, he dragged her close, cold auramite upon her shoulders and her neck. “You will be feared, not loved. Because, after all, who else would love you except for I, little Pariah?”

Who else would love you, when the world itself has turned away in fear and horror? Who else could love her, when even the Emperor’s light could not warm her?

Who else would love her if not for him? 

Leinth tried to move away, but his auramite grip was unbreakable. He dragged her against him, and this time she didn’t even struggle. Unshed tears had dripped steadily from her lashes, her sobs too proud to be spoken yet too painful to be restrained. Her small frame was shaking, but her voice was bitter, and filled with more vehemence than either of them had known. 

“I prayed that night you saved me, you know. I prayed for you, Sekhmet. I prayed that you would find him and bring him back. But you never even tried, did you?”

The silence was his answer. 

“You never even tried to find him. You left him there. And you took me.”

[thegreatclowncat]

I'm currently playing a warhammer 40k ttrpg campaign and my character is a brand new Inquisitor Wisteria, Ordo Malleus (daemon hunter). I actually try to speak in the 1930s transatlantic villain voice for her since I think it sounds a little more unhinged than the standard high gothic posh voice. Anyway, the deal is that we each get our own immediate cohort (npc fighting group) that we interact with for story and an extended cohort that arrives in times of big battle. My DM allowed me to make my cohort A SINGLE AQUILAN SHIELD CUSTODIAN who crashed my first real mission and almost messed up the whole thing by drawing so much attention by being 10ft tall and in solid gold armor. So now, they are wrapped up in a bunch of fabric and robes and to try to pass as an Ogryn. My DM was really clever in making them carry their weapons and unequipped-armor parts and shield on different places of their body to give them a more Ogryn-like shape, which they can equip quickly if necessary. Also, I am keeping my custodian's identity a complete secret from the other PLAYERS. I refer to them as "Ogryn" or "Crusty" and reeeeaaaally try to avoid complicated wording because the more *I* talk to them them like an Ogryn, the more other npcs and players will overlook any discrepancy in their behavior (like their WICKED PRECISE FIGHTING) In reality, my character believes the custodian is her best friend.

last thing, DM has my old character Rilenata (Adepta Sororitas Zephyrim) is on the ship and does minor npc things and it makes me so happy, I probably get to play her when my inquisitor (inevitably bc it's warhammer) dies

[kit-williams]

Imagine an Adeptus Custodes though. (Can be yandere or not. Maybe Space Marine Husbandry?) But, not just one, multiple. One for each set of an Adeptus Custodes.

A Shadowkeeper, Aquilan Shield, Dread Host, Solar Watch, and Emissaries Imperatus. Each one taking their turn to guard you for reasons you don’t even understand. They are just there. Came out of the blue.

The Shadowkeeper, seems to stick by the closest. Always patrolling the homes hallway’s, and room’s. Checking out even the smallest of things out within the home. Sometimes, just standing there, by the door’s like a guardian statue for—who knows how long?

The Aquilan Shield, were always following just a couple steps behind. Acting like an assigned knight or bodyguard of sorts. A very much bigger, and enhanced bodyguard. Can’t go sneaking off, and out of their sight now, can you? NEED TO PROTEC.

The Dread Host, is a challenging one. Doesn’t take sh*t from others. (None of them do, honestly.)You can feel their heated, piercing glare from underneath their helmet. Intimidating silence. A silent wrath perhaps? Have yet to see such proclaimed fury.

The Solar Watch, also patrols. Just in a bigger/wider area. Doesn’t keep to the house like the Shadowkeepers, but rather the whole territory/property. Keeping things out like that raccoon that gets in your trash, or even your pesky Ex that just doesn’t know when to stop. You’ll know something up with the area/land, but so would the Solar Watch. Will you be fast enough to see them?

The Emissaries Imperatus, also stays close within the house/area. Learning about you, reading your books. Trying to predict your next move, and keeps you rather close. At least at arm’s length. I suppose they like your presence?

And with all of them together? You’re the most, well protected human of the planet! Perhaps, even the most pampered one too.

If yandere? Well! I guess you’re not going anywhere anytime soon.

You're just really advocating for Yandere Custodes oh god I don't think I would subject a singular darling to 5 god like beings at the same time.

But if they had to do the 5 yanderes at once you better believe it would be a smack down of demi god like proportions. But that's the Yandere thoughts.

Okay we're going back to Yandere thoughts because these are all fine for just Space Marine Husbandry and how each would react.

I would like to think their darling is literally no one important just some Hiver or menial or a lowly imperial guard and then suddenly this demi god shows up to sweep them off their feet. But then you start to learn about their job.

The Aquilian Shield Yandere yeah if their darling is a guardswoman she would be so thankful practically throwing herself at him in joy after the battle's won but then it would be frighteningly lonely as he would scare anyone else off in the name of keeping her safe. A menial darling would be far easier to just pluck away simply just receiving anything from him would make her life so much easier and then his soothing voice offering honied promises and none of them are lies? The little menial doesn't show up to work the next day. She just simply vanishes with the golden godling.

The Dread host would be aggressive to everyone else but not his darling. Another whom a guardswoman would be happy for but would also be the most likely that once she gets close enough and is grabbed she's just gone. He is not above bullying his little darling into listening to him, she has to understand that he knows best he has slain terrors beyond her comprehension and her continuing to be here and not on Terra isn't helping... you do want to go to Terra don't you little one?

The Shadowkeeper... it would be hard but I see him finding a more menial darling who maybe found something she wasn't suppose to. They hoard technology from the Old Night... perhaps she found something pretty in some pile of scrap. Does she run? Does she freeze? It matters not when he comes breathing down her neck. Even if she hands it over he might croon down at her telling her that she has to come with him just to be sure that she wasn't tainted or perhaps she was able to coax some property out they weren't expecting. She's gone like a shadow at midday.

The Solar Watch don't really leave the Sol system but when they do its because someone who could be a threat to the Sol system is coming. A desperate guardswoman on a front and then these golden godlings come to wear down the tip of the spear to make it blunt for people like her to deal with. But no one notices when she is taken just assumed another causality and not having be lured away by honey in his voice coaxing her closer till she is just gone by the time the Custodes return to the Sol system.

The Emissaries Imperatus... his darling might be a young scribe in the imperial palace writing down his words from what he had heard from his meditations or perhaps she was some short lived champion that was told to simply unlock some door or wield some knowledge. Her use done and he knows that he might not hear the voice of his master again for some time... she smiles up at him feeling so very blessed to help out at least in some part... a part that will be forever nameless to time really. Either way whatever his darling is she, like the others, is drawn in and her name will live on beyond being just a short lived obituary or unknown mortal who helped unlocked a vault... she will live on as a name carved upon the heart of a demi god.

Bleeding I hope you are happy with what you've wrought

[bleedingichorhearts]

𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐈

“Interesting, this one came out early. :) I’m add this to my AO3.” - Ichor

Summary - “You give the Emissaries Imperatus an written envelope, only to end up with more than you're comfortable with.”

“@kit-williams, @egrets-not-regrets, @bispecsual, @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan, @sleepyfan-blog.”

“+@c-u-c-koo-4-40k, @marcela2000.” - Tagged

TW // Controlled Panic?

|°𝕄𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕃𝕚𝕤𝕥°| • {Chapter I} • {Chapter III}

Your eyes watch the standing golden knight in front of you. Skimming over any detail that his still armor could give you. Your mind debating on even attempting to… make contact with the custodian as you shift in your seat, trying to get comfortable despite the soreness in your side. The same question popping up in your mind.

Can you just up and trust this- these golden beings that don’t belong? Can you trust the unknown? Can you trust them on watching over Eden, would they even do it? Would they even accept a written proposal from you? You don’t even trust them enough with your own voice…

“Speak your mind, little one.” The aquamarine visor of the golden knight glows a bit brighter on acknowledging you with a male, modified voice. That weird… what do they call it? Feathers? Plume? That red plume of theirs waving softly behind their cone-like helmet as the vent system of the mansion keeps the small library-like office cool. In fact, it is the only area in the whole mansion that was cold and very much protected by the golden knights for a reason your mind cannot grasp.

You don’t give a hum or a movement of acknowledgement to the golden knight, but your eyes? They do. They search him, judge him, strike him down if they could. You wanted information on the one that seems to be the… messenger of the group. Even if you would like to know more: where they come from, their purpose, but you know you’re limited by things unseen. Things that shouldn’t be true. Things that make you have a migraine just thinking of the golden knights. It’s preposterous, and cruel in its way.

“Come now,” The golden knight encourages you. His modified voice deep, rumbling, something that seems it was a genetic tone for them to have, including the Astartes. Yet his seemed to be more smoother; softer. You suppose not all are a copy and paste. There is something in them the makes them different like how all humans don’t have the same finger prints. “You do not sit there to stare at any one of us. You need something.”

His words speak truth. You were never one to just stare blankly. If anything, that was a trick to any on lookers, but these keen beings have read you just as you have read them. Well, in body language. There was nothing in books that could explain these beings. However, do you really need something? Were you really desperate enough to seek something they could provide? That is even if they accept your proposal, but you weren’t going to take a denial for an answer. If these beings stayed around this hellish household, they can made do on your proposal.

Your eyes shift up to his glowing visor, staring him down with such intensity from where you lounge on the dark brown leather chair that it makes him tilt his head to a centimeter to the side. Another thing you notice these beings having a same habit of doing. Always tilting their helmets when they seem curious of something in front of them that causes the head tilt.

Then, you stand. A bit tense at first, but the more steps you dare to take to be in front of the golden knight? The more your form is… unseeingly: hidden, more… confident. Your head having to tilt back and look up at him while he has to lean a bit to look down at you, and the both of you just stare at one another for a moment. His form shifting; straightening up. His eyes beneath his helmet watching as your hand reaches into your back pocket and bringing out on envelope with a wax seal on it. Your hand positioning the envelope where he can clearly see it as he was dumb enough to not to.

You keep the envelope in front of him, making sure that he is absolutely seeing it. You were not going to play around on this deal that you wouldn’t even have done, but your hand is forced. You would not be there for Eden, even if you wanted to. It was just not possible with your position. You are at a barrier with your family and you have other stuff going on that needed your attention. So, there guys are really your own best bet in this situation. If not? You suppose an Alpha Legionnaire wouldn’t mind taking that place. At least, until she finds her own bond or that Astartes might get lucky, who knows. You’re not against a bond, but you are not keen of one either, for yourself anyways.

The Custodies lifts his gauntlet slowly to take the small envelope into his armored fingers. Seemingly not wanting to scare you away as he was the height of a damn skyscraper, and he knows you feel a bit… differently about them. You’re not that easily swayed with whatever the warp holds over this ancient Terra like a regular baseline. Your little mind subconsciously notices they don’t belong.

You turn away from him when he takes the envelope, walking back to the chair and just stopping just before the end table off to the side. A cream colored, touched activated table lamp lighting up the area a bit more as the sun starts to set for the day through the picture window. The oak trees swaying slightly outside at the nighttime breeze. Your form leaning a bit to pick up a book upon the end table and flip through it for a second. Thinking of what you have done today while you hear the Golden Knight open your envelope.

You have gone out in the early morning, the air still crisp with frost. Your breath able to still make a cloud of carbon into the air that brings a certain nostalgia over you as mourning doves coo out, greeting the new day. It’s soft sounds definitely better than a rooster screaming at the crack of dawn. That would no doubt awaken the Golden Knights quick, not that you were sure they even sleep… You swear that Shadow Keeper doesn’t. You get caught by that one in the middle of the night all the time. You also get caught by that Solar Watch too, if you wandered a bit far from the property, but hey. That gave you a pattern to put them down on, sort of.

The Shadow Keeper liked sticking close to your places that one would find you mostly in like your bedroom and the current room you’re in present time. The Emissaries Imperatus liked being in areas where there was… knowledge? Like again, the current room you’re in: the office-like library. Aquilan Shield liked to try and follow you around, no matter if it was a singular step for him to do so, or if your family was near. (That always ended up in some sort of disaster.) The Dreaded Host? He was a bit more tricky one, but you mostly see him placing himself where the highest… damage could be done, verbal or not, and the Solar Watch? He is like the wanderer of the outskirts. Always keeping an eye on what comes in and what goes. So, you had no doubt that he had saw you leaving the property this morning. It was hard to avoid their watchful eyes, but you have ignored them long enough to not care too much. They at least don’t snitch on you. Well, as far as you know. You feel like they snitch on you to each other when you’re out of your… “boundaries.” Something that seemed unusual of you to do. That Aquilan Shield always seeming to know where to go to find you; scaring some Astartes and humans alike around you away, and that annoys you to no end. You have business: work to attend to. You know not to rely on your failing father.

Besides that, you have gone out into the world. Walking out onto the paved driveway with a few cars like a black BMW, deep red Ferrari and a couple more expensive cars sitting out in the driveway that belonged to your father and some annoying partygoers. Your form simply walking past the (rather unimpressive) cars and walking down the mile long driveway with just a landscape of fresh cut lawn. The lawnmower hire coming in the early mornings to finish the job they do rather good at for getting paid practically nothing. You feel bad for them, and sometimes even pay the man personally for his hard work which in return you get a praise from him. “You’re too kind.” He would say, and for some reason, that clenches at your heart. Were you really kind or were you just… masked sympathetic?

You shake your head in that moment of time, dismissing the thought quickly. Your form taking the sidewalk at the end of the driveway. Doing your duties that you set upon yourself like: picking up some lunch, checking up on Eden at a public school with said lunch and just do some personal things that you thought that was well earned of you. Indulging into things that could give you a bit more of a fraction of happiness into your soul. It wouldn’t be a whole lot as you could regret such a purchase later, but it was something, right? To at least feel something of what you could call your own?

You jump softly as you feel something wraps around your waist, snapping you quickly out of your thoughts of the day. Your heart jumping up in your own chest as you glance up and behind you while you get pulled back into a cold material, getting an eyeful of a glaring gold in your vision. Your face giving a wince at the bit of the contact, not at all used to it. Your form tensing up and twitching slightly as if expecting to be hit or on uncomfortable and/or uncommon grounds.

“You are injured, little one.” The golden knight rumbles down into the top of your head, his helmet blocking the breath that would have ruffled your hair. His body having to curl around you and kind of fit you underneath him like a puzzle piece. It was… it was strange, something you never experienced to much of. Was it a hug? Was he trapping you? Was he trapping you then going to throw you off a cliff? It just all felt… uncomfortable. You don’t think you would allow such… actions, but again, you’re forced to test even your own boundaries. You don’t like it. “Why?”

You don’t answer him, you never have. Why should you now? All just because he was claiming; assuming you to be injured? Why can’t they just back off for once? Why can’t anyone? Why do people have to be such drama seekers? Why can’t they just leave you alone? Stop calling you names-

“Little one.” He sighs and you inhale through your teeth. A sharp sting shooting up through your nerves, causing you to wince and twitch away again. Trying to get away from his prodding touch. It was gentle, but not gentle enough to your mind. Your body spinning around; quick to stick something into the Custodies gorget.

A dull sound rings out then just the sound of your breathing is heard as he lets go of you rather slowly, unaffected. Leaning back up again to his full height. Your own heart giving quick, rhythmic beats into your own ears as you back away from the Custodies immediately. Your feet heading for the closest exit. A low, repetitive-like zap barely just being heard over your own heart.

You watch with panicking eyes as the Custodies slowly rises his gauntlet up once more, towards his gorget. Seemingly… not surprised by what you have stuck him with. Simply pulling out the taser you kept on you for defense for all types, but clearly it didn’t work for the armored beings…Though, you should have expected that with a logical mind. His visor dulling, looking down at you as if you’re some piece of meat. “…I see, little one.”

You’re not sure if you should be running for your life now or just keep still like a deer in headlights. Perhaps even hide yourself in your own room until you starve within it by yourself. You’re unsure of what these beings would do to you after you ruined a chip of their precious armor. They were always unpredictable. You can’t find anything on them, and that unknown scares you.

“…We accept your proposition.” He speaks again, making you shift in your spot with unease as he crushed your defense object with undeniable deftness. The hairs all over your body going up. Not at all soothed by his words. “However, we would like to make one as well.”

You narrow your eyes at him, and you know full well that you shouldn’t. Not after sticking a god damn taser into a piece of his armor just a few minutes ago. Sure, you had the stoicism against your family, against the world, but them? Golden beings of the unknown? Your own feelings, your own personal boundaries don’t stand a chance. All the more reason to be untrusting of what they were about to propose to you as well.

“Allow the Shadow Keeper: Celsus Varon into your personal quarters.”

You and your own heart pause, a bit surprised at that request and incredibly stressed by it. You didn’t allow anyone in your personal- er bedroom. Not even a maid. The closest anyone has gotten was just standing right outside of it. You hated to think anyone would barge right in a take anything they wanted from you, not that one had tired yet, thankfully. They think you’re poor: a maid. Yet, what would an custodies need from you that would be in your room? Why would they want to be in your room at all?

A heavy sigh escapes you. Out of trying to calm yourself and at the situation that you put yourself in. You mind trying to think through the mental panic attack that you were having. Trying to get the pros and the cons of this… and well? There wasn’t much, but you wish there was. You wish there was something that you could pin these being down with, but they prove to be innocent until proven guilty.

You nod very slowly, very hesitant to even accept such demand in order for your own to be fulfilled before instantly heading for the exit of the room, nearly running into the damned Shadow Keeper as you quickly turn away from him too. Not wanting to be in a room with that custodies any longer, or with any custodies for that matter. You can handle Astartes, but you can’t stand a custodes.

God, you need to move out. Get a place to yourself. Maybe that would take the custodies off your back? Take everyone off your back? To be in your own world that others don’t have to worry about you? That sounds so pleasing, but atlas. The world, fate- whatever it is likes to keep playing its own, cruel game to play with your own life.

[sleepyfan-blog]

First Meetings

Author’s Note: Author’s Note: This is the next part of the Raised on Terra AU! First. Previous. Next. A big thanks to @plagueparchments, @undeaddream, @kit-williams and @bleedingichorhearts for allowing me to borrow their OCs for this fic!

Tagged: @egrets-not-regrets @the-pure-angel @sharenadraculea @whorety-k @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan 

Warnings: swearing, verbal threats

Summary: The newly assigned caretakers to the Primarchs meet their charges for the first time, and each other. 

“So… These are the Primarchs, huh? I wasn’t expecting them to be so little.” Baphomet hummed as she leaned over one side of the bassinet holding one of her newly assigned charges. Nine peered up at her with sanguine eyes as he flared his oversized, fledgling-down wings up at her “Good morning to you too, ya little shit.” She cooed at the fussy little primarch. She grinned as she reached down and ran a finger across the infant general’s puffed-out wings.

He issued and bapped her finger with his wings, wiggling from side to side, trying to evade her touch.

“Aww, I’m sure that we’ll get along sooner or later, little buddy. Unless your liege lord or Valdor decides otherwise, you’re stuck with me until you’re big and old enough for martial training, fluffy.” Baphomet informed the tiny, tetchy Primarch. She booped his little nose and he started to gum the offending finger, occasionally letting out little hissing sounds.

“Please stop winding up Nine, we are supposed to be caring for them, not distressing them.” Adonis gently admonished, having slowly placed a single hand into Sixteen’s bassinet, allowing the naturally curious and generally friendly-natured little Primarch to get used to this new person in his life. 

Sixteen slowly wriggled towards Adonis’ offered hand, tiny fingers gently wrapping around the Aquilan Shield’s thumb and squeezing a little. “Bah?” The infant general babbled, staring up at him with curious eyes. 

Apollo frowned as he looked over at one of the vents that kept the atmosphere in this room at the optimal conditions. There were odd whistling and clicking sounds growing louder from the vent closest to Eight, picking up the sleeping infant general with one hand, tucking him into his chest, a low warning rumbling from the Dread Spear as he moved into a defensive position “Who or whatever is in the vent, state your business as to why you are there and either continue to do it silently or leave. This room is strictly off limits to everyone who does not have the personal seal of the Emperor’s Approval to be here. Your execution will be slow and graphic.” 

“Careful of your language.” Almach murmured, the powerful Blank narrowing his eyes at the Dread Spear Custodian, having already picked up Primarch Eleven and rocked the younger being into a peaceful slumber, with Eleven’s head pressed against his chest, listening to the steady sound of his heartbeat.

“I have not sworn once, and mind how you speak to me. We may be part of the same team, but I far outrank you.” Apollo huffed, glowering down at the dark haired Blank for a moment before focusing on the potential threat to the end-results of one of the projects that His Majesty had been working on the most intensely for ten centuries. 

There was a series of binaric chirps and clicks, which was quickly translated into [Greetings! This one is called VM-3507 or Tiny for short. I have been assigned to this project by the Captain General Himself, to care for Primarchs Four, Seven, Ten and Eighteen. I heard a slight miscalibration in the aeration filtration system and went to investigate and fix it. The minor malfunction has been repaired.] 

The martian tech priest scuttled out of the vents, unfolding into a larger form, shaking off imaginary dust from their long robes and clicking their way over to where Eighteen was currently laying on his back and patted the infant lightly on the head.

Eighteen wiggled a little before smiling and laughing in response to the touch.

Apollo’s eyes narrowed a little, before he huffed and held Eight a little closer to his chest, looking down as he felt a dampness on his shirt start to grow. The little Primarch had latched onto his shirt with his tiny, clawed hands and was sucking onto a small wrinkle of fabric. The Dread Spear rolled his eyes and grumbled “Hungry again, I see. Well then, let’s get you some warmed formula.” And stalked over to where the formula was stored, pouring a measure of it into a bottle, double-checking that it was the correct temperature before pressing the artificial nipple on the bottle to Eight’s lips.

“You all… Are very noisy.” Zedkiel murmured, holding Nineteen close to his chest, the terran-born Astartes staring down at his tiny Primarch with a mixture of awe and soul-deep protectiveness. He was keenly aware of the fact that if there was so much as a whisper spread amongst his brothers to be able to have a hand in raising and training their primarch when he was so young and vulnerable, there was no one they wouldn’t kill, maim or slaughter for the privilege. He still couldn’t quite believe he’d been given such a weighty and wonderful responsibility by the Captain General of the Custodes. He’d thought that the rearing of the Primarchs would be a duty done solely by the Custodes… Though given that half of the caretakers were Custodes, perhaps they’d been brought in to broaden the little Primarchs’ initial exposure to different kinds of peoples. 

Almach rolled his eyes, still rocking a sleeping Eleven slowly back and forth “Not all of us are noisy.”

One woke up when the adult Blank walked by his crib, rolled so that he was on his belly and began hissing at Almach, his bright green eyes almost glowing in the light.

His hissing woke up Six, who snuffled in his crib before starting to whimper and whuffle in distress at all the new scents around him, burying himself further into his nest of blankets. 

The emotional distress from two of his brothers immediately woke up twelve from his doze, who promptly began wailing at the top of all three of his lungs. 

Apollo sighed as Eight finished eating. He patted the little Primarch on his back, just in case he swallowed down any air for several seconds before setting him down and going over to pick up Six as gently as he’d been sternly informed that infants needed to be handled. He roughly began rocking the fussing Primarch with an irritated “Hey. Shh. Calm. Calm down you little sh-... Infant. No need for tears and crying. We are here to protect and care for you. Stop. Crying!” 

Hopefully the Primarchs would be able to better take direction, once they were out of infancy. Because Six wasn’t at all listening to Apollo as his whuffles turned into full-blown howls of distress as he was picked up, desperately clawing at Apollo’s chest, trying to wiggle his way to freedom.

“You don’t want to be dropped. My new training tells me that dropping you from this height would injure you quite a bit… And though you were designed for faster than normal heal-... You know what? Maybe dropping you is a good idea. Our Creator wove fail-safes within your DNA to ensure that you would grow faster in response to perceived dang-”

There were several sharp clicks and whistles as the Martian Tech Priest all but teleported over to Apollo and dared to swipe Six from his grasp in one fluid movement as one of it’s other hands grabbed Six’s favored stuffed animal, a dark grey and white canid, wiggling it just out of Six’s reach. 

Six sniffled and shuffled a little, before trying to reach out and grab the toy.

The martian priest held it just out of Six’s reach for several more seconds before allowing the infant primarch to hold and cuddle the toy. VM-3507 gently placed both the little primarch and the toy down and stared up at Apollo and clicked out [Omnisiah commands we care for and raise infants. Deliberate harm at this stage causes emotional delays and harm that are life-long. Your breach of duty has been reported to the captain-general.]

“Wh… What the fuck, ‘Polly?” Baphomet spluttered, glaring at Apollo far too judgmentally for the Dread Spear’s taste. “We’re supposed to care for the little buggers, not threaten to half-kill ‘em. Even with how carpeted this floor is, a drop for your giant-ass height would break at least one of their teeny tiny bones and take weeks to heal. Do you wanna explain how one of his generals got hurt on your first day in charge of caring for him?”

“You… You do remember his majesty’s temper and mood when it comes to potential delays in the progress of the Primarch Project, yes?” Adonis added in, voice mild and quiet. 

“I wasn’t.. I wasn’t actually going to drop Six! It was… My mouth got ahead of me in a moment of frustration is all.” Apollo huffed, turning to check on one of his charges. He startles, having not realized that the only Blank on the Caretaker team had set down Eleven and made his way over to where he had been standing, glowering darkly up at him. “... Why are you so close to me?”

“Proving a point. You Custodes are deadly warriors, yes. But you are not the only ones who are deadly and quick when need be.” Almach growled, glaring threateningly up at the oversized golden bastard “My expertise in battle lies in Guerrilla warfare. I have slaughtered hundreds of men and witches in the name of the Emperor, and by all that I hold dear… If you prove to be a threat to any of these blessed infants I will strike you down myself and no one will ever be able to find your body. Do you understand. Sir?”

Apollo leaned away from the fuming Blank, arching a brow at him. “While I am certain you are a deadly warrior with few peers… First, I have no intent on harming any of the Primarchs unless expressly ordered to do so in order to encourage their growth… And two, I somehow doubt that you would be able to overcome me in one on one combat. Even with your particular… Traits as a Blank.”

 During the arguing, Zedkiel had quietly placed his infant primarch in one of the many available baby slings after securing it to his chest. He then grabbed two more, grateful that his astartes-sized chest allowed him to carry multiple infants safely as he picked up Twenty-A and Twenty-O, making sure to place the twins in the slings next to each other, to help keep them quiet. He then stealthed over to where Thirteen was quietly watching and listening, blue eyes wide.

Thirteen made a small burbling sound as the Raven Guard picked him up, befores settling down quietly, turning to look at Nineteen, who he was placed in a sling next to. Thirteen slowly reached out and poked one of Nineteen’s cheeks.

Nineteen tilted his head a little and poked Thirteen back in the chest with a tiny giggle.

Zedkiel had no desire to deal with squabbling Custodes, and neither should his charges. As long as he didn’t leave the wing of the Imperial Palace where the Primarchs were located, he could go wherever he liked with them.

[askthecaptaingeneral]

@rogue-trader-samuel-drakon

"Excuse me, Captain General, but would you mind telling me why one of your brothers has been living in one of my lower decks with a sister of silence? He refuses to explain why he is here, and frankly, I'm a bit concerned."

“The Aquilan Shield are to strange for my tastes, I never served in their shield host so I do not know.”

[ezri-is-real]

Nephrel Calgori, Telemon Dreadnought of the Aquilan Shield Host

[asthmaadmiral]

Just learned about the Aquilan Shields. There's some good fanfic opportunity there BUT also just imagine doing your thing, minding your business, I dunno, having your daily corpse starch snack or dropping a duce and one or more of these guys rock up and just loom like great golden crows. Try explaining that to your site foreman or your mom at dinner.