JULY 31ST, 2021 — LATE IN THE SUMMER MORNING. “I bet you’ve never met a supe as grotesque as me before,” the person in front of you muses as they reach out to shake your hand. You were new to Vought, new to the Seven, which meant you had a lot of people to meet. Including this person who… did clean up, according to Ashley, though she neglected to say what they cleaned.

A slightly nervous laugh leaves your lips as you shake their hand. They smile, a little, but it doesn’t reach their eyes at all. “My name’s Queensect.”

“And your real name? If you don’t mind me asking?” you ask, thinking of it as friendly. Just small talk.

The answer you get is a flat, “Queensect.” Okay. You take a second to take in this person, this.. okay, maybe they were a bit grotesque — their words, not yours! — their hair was flat, long, and almost greasy looking, a deep seaweed blue reminiscent of a siren.. or Queen Chrysalis from My Little Pony, now that you think about it. Their skin, unnaturally smooth until you get to their eyes, where there lay dull, purplish bags underneath. Piercing eyes, they had. Queensect’s clothing was more akin to dark rags, though that just seemed like an alternative fashion choice. All this, was fine. Anyone could have dyed hair, black clothing, and a lack of sleep. What wasn’t normal was the disgustingly beautiful wings that stuck out of their back, flapping ever so slightly as they noticed you looking. Wings of a butterfly or beetle, stuck onto the back a human being. We can’t all win the genetic lottery, you supposed.

“Do I make you sick?” They ask, almost playful. Almost. “Not everyone can be Homelander, stars and stripes — not every supe can be you, baby, beautiful. Some of us have to be ugly, you know.”

It’s hard to tell if Queensect is complimenting you or being bitter right now. Regardless, they lean in and murmur, “Think of it this way, I make a pretty girl like you look even better. Doesn’t that put a smile on Miss Up-And-Coming’s face?”