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sleepyfan-blog · 9 months ago

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Socialization

Author’s Note: This is the next fic in Cedric’s Adventures. First. Previous. Next

This is based off of @gra93fruit-blog mentioning wanting to know what astartes’ socialization classes look like. @c-u-c-koo-4-40k allowed me to borrow Pyrus for this fic! Thank you

Tagged: @egrets-not-regrets @kit-williams @bleedingichorhearts @the-pure-angel @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan

Warnings: poor stress-response, ask me to tag if something bothers you

Summary: Cedric meets some visiting Luna Wolf, Space Wolf and Salamander Scouts.

Cedric was not lurking in the back of the room he’d been brought to, instead of starting his “punishment” chores for the day as he watched several Salamander Scouts enter the room, chatting excitedly with one another as they sat down on some of the astartes-sized chairs that were scattered about the room with no rhyme or reason to them that he could find. The young apothecary was merely… Observing them.

He didn’t recognise any one of the six of them, either. He’d heard chatter that one of the larger wandering loyalist warbands was passing through this city. Perhaps these scouts were part of that group? They were a noisy and boisterous bunch. Occasionally playfully shoving at each other and scrapping a little. Four Luna Wolf scouts entered the room a couple of minutes later, and they were somehow, even louder and more boisterous.

The two groups of Cousins greeted each other excitedly, each of them in scout armor and no, Cedric was not jealous that all of them had managed to come to Ancient Terra in their armor and he hadn’t, that would be ridiculous. From the patterning of each of their armor, all of them were from early M30. Post finding of their Primarchs, but long before the schism that tore the Imperium apart and caused the death of untold quadrillions and the permanent enthroning of the God Emperor.

Four Space Wolves - also scouts - came running into the room, out of breath and looking around briefly before one of them pointed dramatically at one of the Salamander Scouts, saying “I challenge you to a spar! You have besmirched the name of our primarch and I will not let that stand!”

“All I said was that he’s a blunt and boisterous commander! That’s not a lie or rude! It’s true.” The challenged Salamander protested.

Cedric blinked in abject confusion. The other was just challenged. He had to respond, and while he was being challenged by a fellow loyalist which meant that the fight wasn’t going to be to the death… He couldn’t possibly be trying to turn down the challenge? Then again, he might not know where the sparring rooms were, since he was new to this base.

Before he could decide whether or not he wanted to interject, one of the Luna Wolf scouts spoke up, stepping physically between the Salamander and the Space Wolf, making a subtle hand-sign that had his fellow Luna Wolves moving in closer “How about this, Pyrus, Frengir why don’t both of you take a couple steps back and apologize for upsetting one another.”

The Salamander - probably named Pyrus - huffed a little “But I… If it gets him off my back, fine.” He was frowning a little, glaring at the Space Wolf who’d challenged him, arms crossed defensively over his chest.

The Space Wolf - likely named Frengir - growled low in his chest, his eyes narrowing at the Luna Wolf before taunting “Where’s that Blood Angel buddy of yours? I haven’t seen him anywhere near you in weeks.”

Cedric noted the way that the Luna Wolf tensed visibly, his fingers twitching a little. Still, he kept a pleasant smile on his face as he spoke “You��re deliberately trying to get an emotional rise out of me, Frengir, and it’s not going to work. Are you going to back off and apologize, or are we going to have to get a sergeant involved?”

That prompted Cedric to move forward, calling out loud enough for his voice to carry, the idea of getting a sergeant involved in a spat like this causing him to shudder internally. At best they would all be -... But that was with the Mechanicus. The Black Templars didn’t do Scouts the way most other chapters did, and would be disgusted and prone to punishment for other ways and - no. Focus! “Why should this be escalated to a superior officer? That would make… Whatever disagreement this is official.”

“Where in the fresh fuck did you come from? You’re a great big fucker, aren’t you?” Frengir swore, taking a half-step back in shock as he and the other visiting scouts looked him up and down “How come you’re not in armor? How long have you been here?”

“I came to this room first. I also arrived on Ancient Terra in my night clothes, so I am currently without armor. If you intend on pressing your challenge, I can show you to a sparring room.” Cedric responded, tucking his hands behind his back as he observed the mixed group of Astartes. He tilted his head a little, noting the tension that Frengir was holding himself “Although that may not be wise, from the way that you’re favoring your left side. Are you injured?” He took a couple of slow steps towards the fractious group, not wanting to startle anyone else more than he already had.

“Fuck, I didn’t know that was possible.” One of the other Space Wolf scouts muttered, shuddering a little “I can’t imagine being stuck without my armor permanently. I’m Janison, and Banigh is on my left. Frengir here likes sparring a lot and rolled his ankle pretty badly on his last spar earlier today. Who’re you? How do you know the layout of this base?”

“Because I’ve been living on his base for the past several months, having been found by baselines attached to one of the Ultramarines who works and lives here… Specifically I’ve been confined to base for most of it, and haven’t been able to explore Ancient Terra much. What’s it like?” Cedric explains, in good humor.

“... What did you do to get confined to base?” One of the Luna Wolves asks curiously.

“I tackled a Heretical Traitor who was actively dripping soul-twisting poison from some of his natural weapons and handled him roughly as I taped jars to the living weapons so he wouldn’t leak everywhere.” Cedric responded, still irritated by that. Still, it wasn’t his place to question his punishments, as confusing as they were on Ancient Terra.

“... A what now?” All of the scouts asked simultaneously, blinking in utter and genuine confusion on their faces.

“A heretical traitor. Specifically a Slaaneshi-worshiping bastard.” Cedric answered earnestly, confused by their confusio-... Wait. “What time period do you come from?”

“What’s a Slaanesh?” Asked one of the Salamanders “Oh! My name is Hestius, by the way. What’s your name? Also which legion are you from? All of us Salamanders came from just after Primarch Lupercal became Warmaster.”

“Father becomes warmaster?” One of the Luna Wolves echo, and all of them beam in delight at that. “We were just about to depart for the campaign against the Interex.”

The Space Wolves shift and pace before Frengir says “We were going to accompany Father and our older brothers to Prospero. To bring the Crimson King to Terra.”

Cedric clenches his hands behind his back tightly, feeling his nails bite into the flesh of his hand and bleed before his superior healing ability repairs the damage. Still, the brief scent of blood and the way he tenses visibly at the name attracts all of the scouts attention. “My name is Cedric.” Says Cedric’s mouth “I am a Black Templar Apothecary, and I would ask you not to say that… Not to say that Primarch’s name around non-Luna Wolves and especially not around Blood Angels or their successor chapters. It will… It won’t end well. Slaanesh is one of the four False Gods of Chaos. The God of debauchery and horrid excesses and pride.”

“... Why? Does it have to do with the fact that the Blood Angels refuse to even look at any of us, much less talk or hang out or spar with us anymore? What’s a successor chapter? I don’t recognize the name of that legion.” One of the Luna Wolves asked, confusion and hurt coloring his tone.

Cedric hesitated a little, looking them over before saying “I am… I am from over ten thousand years in the future, from when you were taken. I am a son of Dorn. Much… Much changes in the Imperium in the ensuing ten thousand years. I don’t… I’m not sure if-” He remembered hearing about the one memento that the Imperial Fists had of Lord Dorn. A single, bloodied hand inside his gauntlet. All they had of him. The bloodshed. The agony. The breaking of the legions. The Heresy. “I don’t… I don’t know if you haven’t been told because they don’t want to upset you for something you can’t change, or concerns if you… If you do somehow end up being sent back to the time… How… How long ago was the Ullanor campaign, after which your primarch was made Warmaster?”

“Less than a year ago? By the way, my name is Kox, not that you’ve asked.” The chattiest of the Luna Wolves responded, the smile on his face having faded to a sullen expression. “I’ve been lucky enough to be chosen to train directly under Captain Abbadon. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?”

“I’ve heard of you. But not by that name. I would refrain from speaking that name around non-Luna Wolf astartes as well.” Cedric responds, taking in a deep breath and holding it for several seconds before breathing out just as slowly. He was resisting temptation to shift into a combat ready stance. Four first born scouts versus one primaris marine is a poor match, even if he is unarmed and unarmored - they are in light armor and don’t have any visible weapons.

It’s likely that the Space Wolves would join with him against the traitors, or stay to the side to watch the fight. The Salamanders might fight or may try and intercede, to try and keep the peace. His hands were clenched tightly behind his back as he struggled to keep his temper in check. “Perhaps a decade or two after your primarch, Luna Wolf, he leads half of the legions and his fellow primarchs in a heretical civil war that causes a tremendous amount of death and destruction. It leads to his death, the death of several of the other treacherous primarchs - and several loyal primarchs - and the permanent injury of the God Emperor of mankind.” Cedric explains, doing his best to at least pretend to be outwardly calm.

“Which… Which Primarchs die?” Pyrus asks, eyes huge, breaking the intense silence that followed Cedric’s words.

Cedric is about to answer that question when Captain Ash’val walks into the room, pausing for a moment at the door as he sees the tension in everyone’s posture and the captain clears his throat a little, causing all of the scouts to startle in surprise. “Care to explain what’s going on? You all seem rather tense.”

“They’d like to know why speaking the name Horus Lupercall and Ezekyle Abbadon is a poor idea, among other questions, sir. I was just beginning to explain the future relative to them, and the past as I know it.” Cedric answers placidly.

“That’s… Hm. That’s a heavy conversation, Cedric. And one that shouldn’t be had around so many all at once. While that information is something you grew up knowing, the shock of… Of the betrayal and the civil war hits those from before that time very hard. Next time, inform them to ask a superior officer from a further point in the timeline and try to redirect the conversation.” Ash’val instructed, walking between the stunned scouts and resting a hand lightly on one of Cedric’s shoulders.

The young apothecary is so pleased with himself that he was able to almost fully suppress the instinctual flinch when the first born marine approached him with the intent to touch. Cedric is almost convinced that Ash’val won’t raise a hand to deliberately harm or physically punish him. Salamanders are kind and soft like that… But long-ingrained instinct of far harsher trainers is difficult to overcome. “Understood, sir.” He ducked his head, shuffling his feet a little.

“I’m not angry with you, Cedric.” Ash’val murmurs, his voice going a little sad, a little frustrated whenever he does something that distresses the older Astartes.

Cedric tries really hard not to upset his first born brothers. Nothing good ever comes from it. “I understand that, sir.” He’s still not looking at Ash’val directly, but he dutifully informs the other that he does acknowledge that the other isn’t angry at him. But he is upset. He informs Ash’val of what he did inform the visiting scouts about the heresy - and Slaanesh - having not known he wasn’t supposed to tell them.

Ash’val sighed. “Well, they were going to learn about that sooner or later. If only from the pamphlets that the Ultramarines have created for pre-heresy marines in the off-chance they do get back to their proper time and the Heresy hasn’t happened and they have their memories of ancient terra. The.. The hope is that they can stop the heresy somehow. Or at least mitigate some of the damage.”

Cedric’s eyes went wide. He had no idea how that would go.. And the Ordo Chronos might have problems with that… Then again, he hadn’t seen any of their agents here. “I hope it works, if that’s possible.”

“As do we all, lad. Now, come along, all of you. I’m going to be teaching you a survival course on some of the more subtle dangers of Ancient Terra has.” Ash’val instructs, voice becoming firm and authoritative “Sit down as I explain the basics of baseline socialization practices.”

Cedric and the scouts all found places to sit, and the young apothecary pulled out a notebook and a pencil, in order to take notes.

#oc: cedric #oc: ash'val #black templar #salamander #luna wolf #space wolf #warhammer 40k #space marine husbandry sentience #space marine husbandry #my writing

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