Basic info

  • ■ name - rocket

  • ■ age - 22 years

  • ■ d.o.s - jan. 17

  • ■ pronouns - any/all

  • ■ sexuality - unlabelled

  • ■ region - crossroads (formerly playground)

  • ■ faction - none

  • ■ occupation - store assistant

  • ■ gear - rocket launcher

relations

zukawithout him, rocket would be dead - a fact they reminds themselves of at every waking moment. zuka isn't just their adoptive dad, he is rocket's biggest inspiration and foundation of who they are trying to become, even going as so far as to shave and carve their horns in a similar fashion, and frequently wear zuka's old visor. being the first individual to show them kindness without expecting anything in return, zuka shattered rocket's understanding of how the world worked. the single act of compassion left a permanent mark on them, and despite how much they care, they struggle to express that openly, so they are determined to forever make it up to their father however way they can, because they owe him everything, and the fear of losing zuka is something they fear they will never be able to face.
swordrocket's closest - and kind of only friend, though getting to that point was anything but smooth... rocket saw him as naive, weak and irritatingly persistent. they tried ANYTHING to keep sword away, to get him to give up on them, just like everyone else had - but sword refused. he kept coming back, again and again, no matter how harsh rocket was. his persistence is what ultimately earned rocket's respect, and sword, along with his stubborn loyalty eventually became something rocket felt as though they could rely on. rocket still masks their trust behind a lot of sarcasm and joking around, but sword is one of the very few people rocket will do anything to protect and stand by.
medkitmore of an acquaintance than an actual friend, they do not speak with each other often. medkit was introduced to rocket through sword, with the former eventually being responsible for creating rocket's prosthetic leg and arm - things that fundamentally changed rocket's life. initially accepting that kind of help wasn't easy at first, especially with how vulnerable it made them feel, but it left a lasting impression of deep respect nonetheless. rocket views medkit as reliable and capable, someone who can follow through with things when push comes to shove. but they cannot fully find themselves to trust him, especially with how secretive he tends to be. though, they keep those thoughts to themselves, not wanting to worry or upset sword.

personality

Rocket comes off as aggressive, confrontational, and very difficult to approach. His tone is often sharp and his patience is seemingly nonexistent - traits that stem directly from his time surviving alone in Craterdust Capital. Back then, any form of hesitation meant you were vulnerable, and being vulnerable resulted in death. He learned to live on the defensive at all times, trusting no one but himself, so as a result, Rocket is highly volatile and prone to assuming the worst in people and their intentions, especially when it comes to strangers. In his experience, kindness almost always came with a price, and he grew used to people only acting friendly when they wanted something from him. While this mindset has softened slightly over time thanks to the people now in his life, it hasn't fully disappeared - just dulled around those he's learned to trust in.In his earlier years as well, Rocket's aggression was far more extreme - he was quick to pick fights, often escalating situations over the smallest of provocations. Violence was not just a defense mechanism, but his way of life, something he relied on to survive and assert a small form of control in an otherwise unstable world. That tendency hasn't fully disappeared either, as it still lingers behind the constant edge behind his words, or in just how quickly his temper flares. However, the incidents that cost him his arm and leg forced harsh moments of self-awareness. Rocket came to recognize just how dangerous he could be, not only to others, but to himself. Since then, he has grown far more restrained and avoids using his gear unless absolutely 'necessary', now treating it as a last resort rather than a first response. But even so, when it comes to protecting the people he cares about, Rocket will not hesitate to push past his fear, his restraint and even his own limits if it means keeping them safe, no matter if it costs him more than what he has already lost.Beneath their volatile exterior, however, Rocket is deeply loyal and far more emotionally driven than they let on. For the few people who manage to break through their many, MANY walls, their loyalty is unwavering, and once you're in their circle, you're there for life. They hold an immense amount of care and respect for those who stayed by their side despite everything, though having them express that openly is another matter entirely. Rocket struggles heavily with vulnerability and finds direct emotional expression 'embarrassing', often defaulting to deflection or irritation when put on the spot. Instead, they show their care through actions, usually sticking close and helping out without being asked, or quietly doing things for others without expecting any acknowledgment. Even then, they still struggle with a lot of doubt, often unsure if they're doing it 'right', still trying to figure out what healthy emotional expression actually looks and feels like.Despite the stability they've found in Crossroads, Rocket is still in the process of healing from years of survival driven behavior. They have a lot of difficulty fully relaxing, even in environments they logically know are safe, and can easily slip back into old habits when under a lot of stress. Their instincts still tell him to expect the worst, to brace for conflict, to prepare for things to go wrong - and unlearning that has proven to be a slow and ongoing process. They're trying their hardest however, to dismantle the belief that everyone is out to get them, even if that belief still silently lingers in the back of their mind.

■ ■ ■ likes 
fireworkswho knew you could make explosions into a spectacle? the beauty of fireworks kinda mesmerizes rocket, and he is often more excitable around holidays like new years where fireworks are commonly utilised.
handyman workrocket enjoys helping around the store, but he much prefers being hands on with gears and other tasks that require him to repair things. getting to fix things instead of destroying them for a change tends to bring him peace of mind.
competitiondoesn't matter what the competition is actually about - rocket always strives to win and be the best in any given field, wanting nothing more than to prove himself and rub salt in the losers' wounds afterwards.
■ ■ ■ dislikes 
helplessnessanything that reminds him of his injuries, or moments where he was unable to defend himself is deeply frustrating. he never wants to feel that way again, and will often panic or overthink heavily in dire situations because of this.
touchthey prefer keeping to themselves, sudden touch without warning is often returned with a sock to the face. it takes a lot of time and trust for them to allow physical contact.
being pitiedsympathy makes him uncomfortable and defensive, often causing him to shut down or lash out. he prefers not talking about his worries or insecurities because of the embarrassment it causes him. he would much rather deal with it on his own.
■ ■ ■ hobbies 
his jobit counts as a hobby...! he takes his job around zuka's store seriously, and will even begrudgingly work alongside the broker for supplies.
video gameshe's a gamer. does that come as much of a surprise? he is very competitive and hates to lose, even if it is the most mundane, friendliest game ever - he will make it into a contest - someway, somehow.

backstory

Rocket was naturally spawned in Playground, initially living within Splintered Skies. Like every newspawn, he was eventually brought before Windforce for the Newspawn Initiation Ceremony, where he would be given the opportunity to prove himself worthy of joining the kingdom. Rocket had spent much of his early life unsure of what he was actually good at, but with his future hanging in the balance, he chose the only trial he believed he could prove himself through - Trial by Combat. Convinced that if he could demonstrate his strength, perhaps he could finally earn a place among the people around him. The moment his trial began, however - his gear refused to manifest.Rocket tried again and again, yet nothing manifested. The pressure of the arena, the watching crowd, and Windforce's increasingly disappointed gaze only made the panic worse, but he refused to give his future up. With no gear to rely on, he resorted to dodging the weapon of the knight before him, desperately trying to stay in the trial despite the crowd's growing disapproval. Eventually, he managed to latch onto the guard in a last ditch attempt to disarm them, but the mounting pressure had become too much to bear. Something inside him finally gave way, so despite knowing the risks, he made a last attempt to summon his gear.But it just so happens that Rocket suffers from fluxiophurnia, a condition that causes the amount of phire produced by his phurnace to fluctuate unpredictably. Usually, the fluctuations could be manageable, but under enough stress, they become dangerously unstable. The fear, desperation, and overwhelming pressure of the trial pushed his phurnace far beyond what he could control. First, there was a massive explosion, and then, only darkness remained. When Rocket eventually regained consciousness, he found himself lay down in the dirt, unable to feel his right arm, for his own explosion had taken it from him. He was left severely injured and surrounded by blood, confusion and a deafening ringing in his head. The guards stabilised him, but whatever sympathy might have existed for his condition, was largely overshadowed by the conclusion Windforce and the kingdom had already reached. Rocket was deemed too dangerous to remain in Splintered Skies, and was swiftly sent plummeting into the land below.He miraculously survived the fall, but what did that matter? He was still young, frightened, and now missing an arm, but Craterdust offered no room for weakness. With no family, no friends, and no one willing to protect him, Rocket learned to survive however he could. He became increasingly defensive and aggressive, treating every stranger as a potential threat and every confrontation as something that could quickly become life or death. His time in Craterdust gradually hardened him into the person he is now. He became quick to pick fights, fiercely territorial, and suspicious of anyone offering kindness, having learned that generosity often came with many strings attached. Yet, his greatest fear remained the one thing he could never completely escape - that being his gear. The loss of his arm had been caused by a fluxiophurnia induced surge, leaving Rocket terrified of what might happen if he ever tried to summon it again.Eventually though, another violent territorial struggle pushed Rocket beyond his limits. Already weakened and fighting desperately to protect what little he had managed to claim as his own, he was forced to resort to his gear despite everything he had come to fear about it. And as expected, the summoning was unstable once again. In the aftermath, Rocket was left with one less limb - this time, his gear had claimed his leg. Bleeding, exhausted, and unable to properly defend himself, Rocket finally understood that there was nothing left for him to do. He couldn't run. He couldn't fight. Everything he'd done all these years had only ever been delaying this inevitable moment, so he simply accepted it. Lying there in the dirt, Rocket slowly faded in and out of consciousness, convinced that this was where his life would end. There was no anger left, no more fight left in him.Only then, somewhere through all the darkness, he heard a voice telling him to hang on. He felt himself being lifted and carried off somewhere, though he was far too weak to understand what was happening. He didn't know who the stranger was, or what they wanted from him, but he had no strength left to resist - whatever it was, be it the strangers voice, or their choice of words - it made him want to continue to fight, to hang onto what little life he had left. That stranger just so happened to be Zuka, who had found him just barely left alive and brought him back to Crossroads to be treated.Zuka's kindness became the first genuine kindness Rocket had ever known, overtime, eventually becoming his guardian and the person he looked up to most. Though adapting to Crossroads was difficult, Rocket slowly began lowering the walls he'd spent his entire life building. He later met Sword, whose stubborn refusal to leave him alone eventually turned their constant irritation into a lifelong friendship. Through Sword, Rocket met Medkit, who created his prosthetic arm and leg and helped him regain more of his independence. In the present day, Rocket works alongside Zuka in their store, assisting with providing artificial gears and repairs in order to repay the lifelong debt he feels like he owes. He still struggles with his temper, distrust, and fear of his own gear, of course - rarely- if ever - summoning it, unless deemed absolutely necessary.