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| Rocket | ||
ic stats canon: Marvel Cinematic Universe canon point: Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol 2.) age: Roughly 6-8 years old. species: Cyborg Raccoon pb: N/A (voiced by Bradley Cooper) |  | player name: Chris over 18? yes preference: prose/action spam HMD: Talk to me. contact: PM me or time zone: EST |
| HISTORY | ||
(BEGIN HEADCANON) Half-World was founded by doctors and scientists, seeking to find a place to cure the incurably insane. Asylums and labs were built on its surface and the Galacian Wall was built as a means to protect the planet from hostile enemies and preempt any escape from the "loonies," a derogatory term that spread throughout the community. Animals were brought to the planet and experimented on to increase their intelligence so they could be used as suitable companions and caretakers for the patients, while the doctors observed from a distance, refusing to engage unless it was to perform medical experiments on their patients, with most of the care the animals weren't capable of performing conducted by robots. Between the increasingly questionable experiments and the lack of results, eventually funding was cut, and the patients were collected and sent to other, better funded and less experimental facilities to receive care. Most of the doctors and scientists stayed behind, however, having developed a taste for their experimentation and realizing they could get away with nearly anything so long as they stayed out of the sight of the authorities. They engaged in illegal trafficking of drugs to fund their research, and turned on the animals (usually the young that they had been breeding), increasing their intelligence even further, and combining them with used parts from dismantled robots that had assisted the scientists on the planet. The end result was Half-World flourished as a planet of illegal experimentation, outside the realm of galactic law and spoken of only in legend. For the most part, their experiments were merely for their own interest, though they had plans to perfect their cyborg animals to sell to the highest bidders as foot soldiers and infiltration agents. One of those experiments was known by the number 89P13. An undersized Earth raccoon bred in captivity with a notable aggressive streak. 89P13 became the only member of the "procyon lotor" designation that the scientists obtained to take to the experiments. His intelligence was unparalleled to the point where he adapted quickly, far beyond the scientist's expectations. Notable incidents included the time he tore the ear of another experiment in what seemed like a violent fight, but turned out to be a scheme to remove a tracking tag. As 89P13's intelligence grew unchecked and his resentment for the constant experiments that tore him apart and put him back together again grew, he began to scheme an escape plan. Since the lab was controlled by robotics and he was brought to and from wherever he needed to be by specific ones, he was able to cleverly recalibrate them to take him anywhere he wanted. From there, he spent hours in the library pouring over books and absorbing the information. In socialization, he was able to convince several other experiments that he knew what he was doing and one night, after 89P13 obtained the codes that would open the Galacian Wall, he and three others escaped. Afterwards, they changed their names to suit their new free lives- 89P13 choosing the name "Rocket." However, Rocket's rudimentary understanding of the outside world wasn't enough to keep them safe. One by one they were captured, until finally only two remained- Rocket and an otter named Lylla. The two of them were able to evade capture for a little while- long enough for her to gain a reputation as Rocket's partner, but eventually even she was captured. Despite knowing he should turn back and rescue them, he continued forward, instead, vowing to never go back to Half-World, even if it meant betraying his friends. After two years on the run, he met Groot in a prison, and used him as a means to an end to escape. Unfortunately, Groot wasn't interested in leaving after the fact, and Rocket begrudgingly accepted him at first, only to slip and fall into a deep and meaningful friendship with him. (END HEADCANON) The events of the first film, leading up to his becoming a member of the newly formed "Guardians of the Galaxy" can be found here | ||
| PERSONALITY | ||
At this heart, Rocket wants desperately to be treated like a person and, as such, behaves in an aggressive, dominant manner to get people to take him seriously, and to hide his fear that it will never be enough. It's not just his overblown theatrics with his unfeasibly large weapons or his big mouth, it's his attitude. For someone so burdened with anguish and self-doubt related to his own origins and where he stands because of it, Rocket exudes confidence. He knows he's smart, he knows he's talented, and he knows he's capable. When he threatens you, it isn't an act or a show- it's because he means it. And sure those words usually work better when there's a giant tree behind him ready and willing to smash some faces in at a word, but it doesn't change the fact that Rocket Gets Shit Done and he doesn't let anyone push him around. He's been to prison. He has no problems going back. And he has no problems getting out once he does go back. He's a selfish, entitled little brat, generally concerned with what he will get out of something or, otherwise, believing himself to be entitled to a thing if he wants it more. The universe hasn't done right by him, so he doesn't really feel that compelled to do right by the universe, which gives him all the reason to do whatever he pleases as his own personal brand of "payback" for the world being horrific to him. He even goes as far as picking on people with similar misfortunes to his own as his way of compensating for his own shortcomings- likely why he has such a grand obsession with stealing cybernetic parts. Rocket can martyr himself like a pro and pretty much lives up on a cross when it comes to believing anything he does can be rationalized, and if you don’t agree, well… you’re a jerk. The problem with being a lab-created experiment is the general existential why of it all. Rocket has deep-rooted issues that tend to only come out when he's drunk (or likely when he's triggered by something) and they all stem from the same horrific fear- he's a thing. He didn't ask to get made, he didn't ask to exist, and he probably doesn't even know why- if there was ever a reason- that happened to him. Regardless of what he does or how he acts, he's well aware he will never ever shake the stigma of being a freak and the only choice he has in the matter is how he takes the treatment (not well, as previously stated). That doesn't make it easier on him, of course. If anything, it leaves him with the constant, horrific burden of self-consciousness that he has to overcompensate for every day of his life. He's a monster and whatever niche he carves for himself won't change that. To that end, he even considers himself to be unlovable, due to being unloved for most of his life, and people getting close to him reminds him that it’s never going to be enough, causing him to freak out and lash out very strongly. He can deal with people hating him, because he can control that easily. But people loving him and caring for him? He can’t handle that. He can’t trust that. Better to be a misanthrope with no friends then somebody who can be tossed aside. You have to be willing to push back when he pushes or able to tolerate his behavior if you want to be considered a friend. Despite having them and feeling them strongly, Rocket has a better handle on most of his emotions than most would give him credit for. Sure, he's angry and volatile and will throw a temper tantrum at the slightest insult, but anger is useful for cultivating his aforementioned tough guy image. Impractical emotions like fear and sadness and god forbid love, he tries not to waste any time on. He's emotionally selfish as well as physically- people exhibiting emotions that inconvenience or annoy him in any way are belittled or insulted, which may well be him overcompensating for his own feelings. He doesn't go around feeling his feelings and leading with anything other than his brain (and his temper) and getting other people killed or making himself look like a fool, so why would anyone else? That's just stupid. That said, moments of utter despair (and also alcohol) can push him to actual breakdowns and when he's pushed that far, he generally doesn't give a shit if the whole world sees him cry. He'll probably threaten you later if you ever bring it up again (or seconds after, he's feeling particularly spunky), but in the moment, he'll allow himself the weakness. It takes a lot to push him that far. He's practical, not gifted with an overabundance of altruism or any real need to be heroic and of all the Guardians, he protests the hero thing the most, only giving in to Quill's plan, because he believes he won't live much longer anyway. Once in the field, however, he displays true compassion for the civilians of Xandar and grieves the causalities of the battle- he's especially shown to be affected by Denarian Saal's death. This (along with his relationship with Groot, which is one of the few scraps of proof we're given that he's not a total dick) proves that Rocket does have a lot of compassion in him when given a reason to be compassionate. He still wouldn’t consider himself “heroic” or even a “hero.” He just doesn’t believe in being the kind of dick who lets innocent people get murdered if he’s in the general area. He’s not going to go out of his way or anything though, unless he’s forced to. Because Rocket keeps such a tight lid on his affectionate emotions, he tends to display them in ways that are more insulting and demeaning than actually loving- if you know him, then you probably know that he cares about you, because he's more "show" and "not tell" about things like that. It doesn't really change the fact that he will call you an idiot constantly and half the time when he says it, it means "you made me worry about you and I hate it" and the other half of the time, he just... thinks you're stupid. There's a hard line between Rocket being genuinely insulting and trying to cover up that a person made him feel things that can be tough to discern. He's an extremely difficult person to care about, which means when people do care about him, he tends to be possessive and protective of them in his own way, because these are his people. To get there, however, you have to deal with his habit of pushing people away to overcompensate for his own issues with being unloved. | ||
| SKILLS/ABILITIES | ||
Enhanced Intelligence: Rocket's cerebral cortex was genetically enhanced meaning that unlike other members of his species he has a cognitive and intellectual equivalent or superior ability to the most sensitive species in the galaxy. He can talk and communicate with other species, as well as perform extremely complex tasks. He considers himself a genius and will talk up this point at any available opportunity. Despite seeming to not give a shit about anything outside of his sphere, he's shown to be extremely knowlegable even about things of a cultural significance- he recognizes Drax's species on sight and knows they're extremely literal, and can understand Groot's speech easily- and, in fact, is the only one who can. He even knows about Gamora and Ronan's reputation when Quill doesn't, suggesting he keeps very strict tabs on things and likes to stay informed. Enhanced Strength: Due to his augmentations, Rocket is able to use weapons that are designed to be wielded by normal sized humanoids with ease. He can also punch hard enough to render an adult male unconscious (though he had to treat his head like a punching bag) Enhanced Agility: Rocket's entire skeletal structure is cybernetic, allowing him to move more like a human and still be as agile as a raccoon. He is extremely fast, able to dodge bullets with ease. Due to his enhanced strength, he can actually jump higher and further than a normal raccoon could, making him an absolute beast if he fights guerrilla warfare from the trees. Enhanced Durability: Due to his augmentations, Rocket is capable of surviving damage that would normally be sufficient to kill an animal of his size. He has been attacked with enough force to knock him back several meters and only suffered minimal injury, as well as survived crashing his ship into the Dark Aster and was only knocked unconscious for a brief time. Enhanced Senses: Due to his species, Rocket can see, smell, hear, and feel better than humanly possible. Expert Tactician: Rocket is a brilliant strategist. He is able to formulate strategies advanced combat and escape, even with minimal resources, and to change them according to the needs of the situation. Rocket already said he fled from 22 prisons. In the Kyln, he quickly devised a plan to escape using only a power source and security band in under 24 hours. Master Marksman: Rocket has a great skill in handling various weapons throughout the Galaxy, with the preference of high-powered weaponry. He has perfect precision, even though he's often seen shooting randomly and loving it. Generally speaking, he can pick up just about any weapon he can hold and use it. Master Engineer: Rocket is an expert in handling, modification and construction of equipment and high-tech weaponry. He was able to modify a power source and security band to break into the control tower of the Kyln, disable the security system, unlock doors, and hijack the security drones. Using scrap from the Milano, he built several high-powered weapons, including the Hadron Enforcer. He is also extremely well-versed in ship maintenance and acts as the Milano's primary technician. He is also capable of recognizing make and model of ships and weaponry on sight. Expert Pilot: Rocket is an accomplished pilot of various starships. On Knowhere, he took down several Necropods using only the high durability of his industrial pod. During the Battle of Xandar, Rocket was responsible for leading the attack of the Ravagers and Nova Corps, in the Dark Aster, destroying many Necropods in the process. Rocket also proved capable of piloting improvised vehicles, like the Kyln's security tower. He easily pilots the Milano back to the Ravager ship to rescue Quill and Gamora, and can even pilot effortlessly through space battles and asteroid fields. He considers himself "the greatest pilot in the universe." | ||
| HEADCANON/OTHER NOTES | ||
-Given Rocket's ranting while drunk and the fact that he remembers enough of what happened to him to suggest he had extreme lucid periods, it's highly likely he wasn't made in a legitimate facility. While genetic experiments of that caliber are probably illegal in various parts of the galaxy, the offhand way Dey mentions it suggests that whatever made Rocket was probably a shoddy and haphazard operation at best- the results were enough for them to consider Rocket a sentient lifeform able to be tried, but not dangerous enough to be euthanized on the spot. -The shoddy workmanship (and the fact that they're EXPOSED) of the cybernetics in his back suggest he was probably made out of bargain bin parts that weren't made to fit something like him. (It would also explain why you can hear his servos working sometimes, but you can't hear Gamora's- his aren't as high caliber as hers.) So basically Rocket was created as a result of someone tampering with bargain bin cybernetics with minimal anesthetic and he was conscious for most of this.. -Headcanon says Rocket is an actual earth raccoon. He was born on Half-World to two raccoons that had been captured on Earth some time before and has no knowledge of Earth or his own species. (There IS a similar species on Drax's home planet, but it's likely that Rocket's appearance is easily mistaken for any small, mammalian vermin, especially since everyone calls him... everything under the sun.) -Rocket considers himself to be a functioning, intelligent member of society (if not a unlawful one). Being referred to as an animal or "dehumanized" (which isn't the proper word, since hah humies) in any way is liable to set him off, because it's a firm reminder that he doesn't belong. If he knew what a raccoon was, he'd probably still be insulted, even if it is his correct species. He's Rocket. Respect, yo. -His specific cybernetic enhancements are likely as follows: Custom hips, capable of "locking" his legs in an upright or all-fours position; custom joints, enhanced/extended bones in his fingers, making them more disconcertingly human-like; extra spine support and flexibility to allow him to walk upright or on all fours with no physical harm done to it; cybernetic enhancements to his vocal chords that allow him to speak; enhancements in his eyes that allow him to see better than an average raccoon; a makeshift metal sternum bracketed onto his skeleton above his ribs and around his spine with reinforced support in his shoulders, enabling him to carry and fire guns with no damage due to weight and recoil. This is on top of the fact that his entire skeleton is fused with fusocarbon alloy and some of his organs are likely mechanical. - The majority of the experiments conducted on Rocket were after he was a year old, though the enhancements to his vocal chords occurred at six months and the enhancements to his feet and hands were done at eight months. - He's very much sterile. The less said about that the better, but it does make him fundamentally asexual. - He suffers from PTSD, and his symptoms include reoccurring nightmares about his time on Half-World and the experiments performed on him; increased anxiety/agitation when around or in laboratory/hospital settings; an extreme aversion to the smell of antiseptic; intense fear of having any kind of surgery performed on him; violent reaction to anyone touching him unexpectedly, especially on the neck or back, or grabbing him from behind (with Groot being the only exception). -He is currently six years old. He spent two years in the lab, two years on his own, and two years with Groot. | ||
| 'front and center' design by mistojen | ||
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