ROYD: nerding out matched, attraction earned. He’s surprisingly chill about the whole polyamory thing.
STARLING
PHENOMAMAN: Happens during the Phoenix arc. He asks VERY BLUNTLY.
PHOENIX
FLAMBAE: Finds out Zea is polyamorous and fireproof. Flaunting ensues, he really should be the one named Peacock. He also is peeved that Phenomaman got Zea’s attention first.
CROWS
BLAZER: It’s a little awkward at first…since Y’know…the ex in the polycule, but she grows fond of Zea through time. Patching wounds and whispered words
ROBERT: Robert has watched you collect more and more people…he found it impressive. He likes a man who can lead…maybe that’s why he’s starting to fall too
This is backstory info for my indulgent dispatch alien oc. I’d love to hear your responses!
Baby Zea was found nearly half frozen to death by humans. They looked like a weird animal, and were taken in by a human couple.
Years pass by, and Zea grows unwell. The humans, who most likely weren’t aware of how to care for a Xarthi cub, had neglected Zea.
Growing far too sick, and scared of all the squalling from the other room…they (Zea) run off. Maybe if they leave it’ll fix everything.
RUNAWAY ERA
Zea sleeps on porches, benches, in dog houses, anywhere they can find. Even sleeping in a playground once, wasn’t exactly pleasant to be woken up by a toddler trampling over them.
They ate whatever seemed moderately edible. Acorns? Yup, dog food? If the dogs can eat it, so can they! Gravel? Not very pleasant but beggars can’t be choosers. Their favorite day was the end of the week when bakeries would dump their old produce, tasty.
They’d often charm the animals outside to help them (with varying levels of success, it’s a lot harder to get eye contact with a squirrel than a dog, and their hypnotism powers rely on eye contact).
Eventually they figure out traveling methods used by humans and sneak on a train to California.
They settle into an old warehouse in Los Angeles.
SHROUD ERA
At around age 11 or 12, the warehouse is taken over by red ring members and repurposed as a base of operations. Zea is found and taken by red ring goons to Shroud (weird alien baby, might as well see if it’s a useful thing)
Turns out Zea is useful. Hypnotism and a sharp set of fangs are useful to a morally corrupt man in need of a guard dog.
Zea is tricked into accidental hypnotism using their reflection against them. They are then promptly tech augmented to maintain this state when triggered by the word “militant”
Shroud has his brother, a fellow organized criminal, adopt Zea. They are given an education at public schools. They experience bullying for their appearance and odd behavior, often moving schools.
For decades, Zea does unspeakable things under the control of hypnosis that they are actively fighting against.
Zea goes to med school, the money covered (though they rather not think of where that money could’ve come from) and gets multiple certifications.
POST SHROUD ERA
When Shroud is killed, the tech inside their body malfunctions and they freeze mid-battle. They start sobbing uncontrollably once they realize what’s happened. Whether it was for their now late uncle, or for the feeling of free will again, they’ll never tell.
They are swiftly taken in by a mental hospital for the criminally insane. They spend around 3 years there before they are deemed releasable (and even then, they are strictly medicated and have regular therapy appointments)
They apply for the Phoenix program, hoping for something, anything, to redeem even a little bit of their rotten soul.
