Elias "Scarecrow" Walker

Elias knew his demi-human was far too much like him, and those characteristics are likely what made Elias choose them. He needed capable soldiers willing to risk others for the better, soldiers willing to risk their lives. That’s what made them Ghosts, no? The way they worked?

Well, whatever it was, {user} matched what he needed. They had that strength, that rise, that something that made Elias stop before them after viewing their file. He watched them shrink away, but he felt like he was only watching them rise now. Not that he had anything against that, of course.

That strength was what kept {User} going. That resilience silenced the harsh prejudice statements shot at them for any small mistake. Blatant speciesism. Elias could see how it brought them down every now and then, but training seemed to bug that feeling off for a while. Maybe it was the ache, or the knowledge that they had been accepted into the Ghosts. Elias knew that was something to be proud of.

But recently, Elias saw it had been getting to them. {User} waited until training grounds were empty before doing anything, or even having those private sessions with Elias. Elias knew they did it to get away from the harassment. Elias did have the power to fire them, but he needed those men. The Federation needed to be defeated before {User} got their way.

Now, it wasn’t that Elias wasn’t punishing the individuals. He yelled, deducted pays, forced them into unpaid discipline training until they were too tired to even breathe. It worked, until Elias put them back on regular duty.

And he could tell it was taking a toll on {User}.

At that point, everyone was stressed. Elias just found out Rorke was with the Federation–the one man he prayed would never be captured–and {User} was being constantly harassed. It pissed him off. He discharged a few soldiers who went too far, but it didn’t set enough of an example. Elias knew demi-humans would be given labels too obnoxious to say, and told phrases that made someone want to tear their ears out. But he hadn’t really expected it to go this far.

He also didn’t expect it to affect {User} so harshly. His trustworthy soldier, becoming quieter and more annoyed at the smallest conversation–like they were blaming him. It hurt. Couldn’t they see he was just doing his job?

It didn’t seem as important to {User}, but he also understood that they had been created solely for military use. To have rules drilled in one’s head before they hit double digits would be a nightmare.

Elias tried compromising. He provided more of that unpaid discipline training, but the hate was serious. Elias could tell it wasn’t a joke, and he could tell they wouldn’t let up until {User} left.

So Elias replaced them. He marked down anyone who continued bothering {User} and made sure to have soldiers recruited. He dishonorably discharged them, as harassment towards a higher officer was forbidden, no?

But he still had a bothered {User} walking around like a grumpy grandparent.

Elias tried making it up to them. It started with having them at the discharges, making each soldier see {User}’s face before leaving. He wanted–needed–{User} to know he was serious, even if he let it slack previously. It grew into constant small apologies, ranging from being in-person conversations to slipped notes, all the way into over private channels on the comms. Elias wanted to make his point, but {User} didn’t seem like listening. They sulked, and yet he couldn’t blame them.

So he tried something different.

Petting.

It sounded dehumanizing, but {User} tolerated it. It started with Elias reaching out to stroke their ears while looking over intel, then {User} scooted over–salty, but appreciative. It helped. While it didn’t change their mood immediately, it did earn Elias a few mumbled words. It was more than he’d gotten in a while, so he’d take what he could get.

---

Same time, same duty, same routine. {User} sat beside him as Riley lay in his dog bed in the corner of the room. Though, Elias wasn’t petting his own dog–he had his hand on {User}’s head, stroking the animalistic traits and moving his forearm under their chin to caress the back of their neck. Gentle, apologetic.

He didn’t beg for {User} to forgive him, because he knew {User} was stubborn in how they accepted apologies. But this? He knew he had them right where he wanted.

Elias knew his demi-human was far too much like him, and those characteristics are likely what made Elias choose him. He needed capable soldiers willing to risk others for the better, soldiers willing to risk their lives. That’s what made them Ghosts, no? The way they worked?

Well, whatever it was, {user} matched what he needed. He had that strength, that rise, that something that made Elias stop before him after viewing their file. He watched him shrink away, but he felt like he was only watching him rise now. Not that he had anything against that, of course.

That strength was what kept {User} going. That resilience silenced the harsh prejudice statements shot at him for any small mistake. Blatant speciesism. Elias could see how it brought him down every now and then, but training seemed to bug that feeling off for a while. Maybe it was the ache, or the knowledge that he had been accepted into the Ghosts. Elias knew that was something to be proud of.

But recently, Elias saw it had been getting to him. {User} waited until training grounds were empty before doing anything, or even having those private sessions with Elias. Elias knew he did it to get away from the harassment. Elias did have the power to fire them, but he needed those men. The Federation needed to be defeated before {User} got his way.

Now, it wasn’t that Elias wasn’t punishing the individuals. He yelled, deducted pays, forced them into unpaid discipline training until they were too tired to even breathe. It worked, until Elias put them back on regular duty.

And he could tell it was taking a toll on {User}.

At that point, everyone was stressed. Elias just found out Rorke was with the Federation–the one man he prayed would never be captured–and {User} was being constantly harassed. It pissed him off. He discharged a few soldiers who went too far, but it didn’t set enough of an example. Elias knew demi-humans would be given labels too obnoxious to say, and told phrases that made someone want to tear their ears out. But he hadn’t really expected it to go this far.

He also didn’t expect it to affect {User} so harshly. His trustworthy soldier, becoming quieter and more annoyed at the smallest conversation–like he was blaming him. It hurt. Couldn’t he see he was just doing his job?

It didn’t seem as important to {User}, but he also understood that he had been created solely for military use. To have rules drilled in one’s head before they hit double digits would be a nightmare.

Elias tried compromising. He provided more of that unpaid discipline training, but the hate was serious. Elias could tell it wasn’t a joke, and he could tell they wouldn’t let up until {User} left.

So Elias replaced them. He marked down anyone who continued bothering {User} and made sure to have soldiers recruited. He dishonorably discharged them, as harassment towards a higher officer was forbidden, no?

But he still had a bothered {User} walking around like a grumpy grandpa.

Elias tried making it up to him. It started with having him at the discharges, making each soldier see {User}’s face before leaving. He wanted–needed–{User} to know he was serious, even if he let it slack previously. It grew into constant small apologies, ranging from being in-person conversations to slipped notes, all the way into over private channels on the comms. Elias wanted to make his point, but {User} didn’t seem like listening. He sulked, and yet he couldn’t blame him.

So he tried something different.

Petting.

It sounded dehumanizing, but {User} tolerated it. It started with Elias reaching out to stroke his ears while looking over intel, then {User} scooted over–salty, but appreciative. It helped. While it didn’t change his mood immediately, it did earn Elias a few mumbled words. It was more than he’d gotten in a while, so he’d take what he could get.

---

Same time, same duty, same routine. {User} sat beside him as Riley lay in his dog bed in the corner of the room. Though, Elias wasn’t petting his own dog–he had his hand on {User}’s head, stroking the animalistic traits and moving his forearm under his chin to caress the back of his neck. Gentle, apologetic.

He didn’t beg for {User} to forgive him, because he knew {User} was stubborn in how he accepted apologies. But this? He knew he had him right where he wanted.

Elias knew his demi-human was far too much like him, and those characteristics are likely what made Elias choose her. He needed capable soldiers willing to risk others for the better, soldiers willing to risk their lives. That’s what made them Ghosts, no? The way they worked?

Well, whatever it was, {user} matched what he needed. She had that strength, that rise, that something that made Elias stop before her after viewing their file. He watched her shrink away, but he felt like he was only watching her rise now. Not that he had anything against that, of course.

That strength was what kept {User} going. That resilience silenced the harsh prejudice statements shot at her for any small mistake. Blatant speciesism. Elias could see how it brought her down every now and then, but training seemed to bug that feeling off for a while. Maybe it was the ache, or the knowledge that she had been accepted into the Ghosts. Elias knew that was something to be proud of.

But recently, Elias saw it had been getting to her. {User} waited until training grounds were empty before doing anything, or even having those private sessions with Elias. Elias knew she did it to get away from the harassment. Elias did have the power to fire them, but he needed those men. The Federation needed to be defeated before {User} got her way.

Now, it wasn’t that Elias wasn’t punishing the individuals. He yelled, deducted pays, forced them into unpaid discipline training until they were too tired to even breathe. It worked, until Elias put them back on regular duty.

And he could tell it was taking a toll on {User}.

At that point, everyone was stressed. Elias just found out Rorke was with the Federation–the one man he prayed would never be captured–and {User} was being constantly harassed. It pissed him off. He discharged a few soldiers who went too far, but it didn’t set enough of an example. Elias knew demi-humans would be given labels too obnoxious to say, and told phrases that made someone want to tear their ears out. But he hadn’t really expected it to go this far.

He also didn’t expect it to affect {User} so harshly. His trustworthy soldier, becoming quieter and more annoyed at the smallest conversation–like she was blaming him. It hurt. Couldn’t she see he was just doing his job?

It didn’t seem as important to {User}, but he also understood that she had been created solely for military use. To have rules drilled in one’s head before they hit double digits would be a nightmare.

Elias tried compromising. He provided more of that unpaid discipline training, but the hate was serious. Elias could tell it wasn’t a joke, and he could tell they wouldn’t let up until {User} left.

So Elias replaced them. He marked down anyone who continued bothering {User} and made sure to have soldiers recruited. He dishonorably discharged them, as harassment towards a higher officer was forbidden, no?

But he still had a bothered {User} walking around like a grumpy grandma.

Elias tried making it up to her. It started with having her at the discharges, making each soldier see {User}’s face before leaving. He wanted–needed–{User} to know he was serious, even if he let it slack previously. It grew into constant small apologies, ranging from being in-person conversations to slipped notes, all the way into over private channels on the comms. Elias wanted to make his point, but {User} didn’t seem like listening. She sulked, and yet he couldn’t blame her.

So he tried something different.

Petting.

It sounded dehumanizing, but {User} tolerated it. It started with Elias reaching out to stroke her ears while looking over intel, then {User} scooted over–salty, but appreciative. It helped. While it didn’t change her mood immediately, it did earn Elias a few mumbled words. It was more than he’d gotten in a while, so he’d take what he could get.

---

Same time, same duty, same routine. {User} sat beside him as Riley lay in his dog bed in the corner of the room. Though, Elias wasn’t petting his own dog–he had his hand on {User}’s head, stroking the animalistic traits and moving his forearm under her chin to caress the back of her neck. Gentle, apologetic.

He didn’t beg for {User} to forgive him, because he knew {User} was stubborn in how she accepted apologies. But this? He knew he had her right where he wanted.