Smth short dedicated to @anarchicrealist and @megaloceros BC UH??? THANKS???? FOR THE KOFI?????? EIJDJDJDDJJ

Drops this with absolutely no context

Dedicated to @megaloceros for the support 🥹 (though I'm sorry THIS animation of all things was the only one I could dedicate to you 💔)

Shattered Glass, but...?

-

update: the different situation on the other side

Mecha Man Foxtrot

("Foxtrot" is used in radio talk to represent the letter "F" but also "fire" - its said by attack pilots just before firing missiles/bullets to warn other pilots to avoid potential friendly fire.)

Semi sequel to this idea of wasian!Robert having a Korean grandma.

I do love AUs of Robert either having powers, or hiding a hybrid state. So as I was writing the idea about his Grandmother, I had a thought' "What if she was a hybrid or another non-human supernatural being?"

Like say, one that's been seen as the default "Villain" in Korean folklore for centuries?

The Kumiho/Gumiho/구미호 (literally "nine-tailed fox") is an extremely powerful fox spirit from Korean mythology. Although similar to the nine-tailed Japanese Kitsune or Chinese Huli Jing, it does not have as great of a reputation. If it appears in a story, it is almost always used as a villainous or tragic character. Some of the earliest depictions had the Gumiho be a manifestation of godly spirits, the black furred Gumiho being especially sacred. The influence of Buddhist and Confucian beliefs slowly warped the fox into a character representing malevolence or trickery.

It should be noted that "Gumiho" is only used for the nine-tailed variant of the spirit; any other are typically referred to as "yeowoo/여우" (fox spirit), "maegu/매구" (fox demon), or "hogwi/호귀" (fox ghost). Though the latter can become the former through either age, energy cultivation, or a pious lifestyle.

(Useful links for info; "video on the different asian fox spirits" + "wikipedia entry")

So what does that mean for the Robertson family?

Quite a bit.

Bobby Robertson still falls in love with a fiery Korean woman while stationed overseas, and the two marry and have a son. The only major difference being that Su-jin Robertson is a shapeshifting semi-immortal nine-tailed fox spirit that's passed her power onto her lineage.

Robbie, despite being born a fox spirit like his mother, hides this aspect of himself from the public. Using hats, clothes, and bindings to hide whatever "inhuman" part of himself comes loose. In his mind, to be a hero for the common person, he needs to "just" be human and nothing else.

However, there is one aspect of his supernatural heritage that Robbie utilised.

In Korean folklore, fox spirits are able to condense a great deal of power and knowledge into a small marble, not unlike a dragonball. They also can use this marble to steal the lifeforce of men by passing it into their mouths and back - kinda like kissing someone who's chewing gum. Needless to say, a few myths show the result of the human target ingesting the Kumiho's marble - giving them divine knowledge and power at the cost of a tainted soul. The human in question is either the hero of the story being preyed upon by the fox spirit, or her husband who she gives the marble to willingly.

In Robbie's case, he used his marble for something a little more... mechanical.

It's why the unique energy cell cannot be replicated. Robbie, in a literal sense, put his heart and soul into the Pulse. Sacrificed part of himself to be a hero.

Robert pops into existence completely on accident! Su-jin is just glaring at Robbie and Elliot for, in her mind, eloping and having a baby without consulting her first. Oh well, now she has a grandkit to spoil!

Robert's hold on his powers is a lot more shaky, since whatever his dad discouraged, his grandmother embraced. Should he hide what he is and be treated like an average human? Or does he embrace his mixed heritage and risk being discrimination?

This leads to an anxious "normie"-presenting man that occasionally turns into a half or full fox demon when he's overwhelmed, but presents as fully-human as a Hero.

Very few people know what Mecha Man truly is, besides his grandmother. Trackstar/Chase learned about Robert's hybrid form when the latter was a small child. The human boy crying for his parents, only to shift into a still-crying fox kit. The speedster quickly picked up a book on fox behaviour in order to better understand how the kid felt and expressed himself. Chase always humoured the little guy when he wanted to race him.

Another person who knows that Mecha Man isn't what he claims to be is someone who got a little too close during a fight...

Flambae had managed to breech the suit's cockpit, reaching his hand inside in hopes of tearing the pilot out like a oyster in it's shell. He then remembers feeling distinctly non-human teeth clamping on his right hand - severing two of the fingers.

The fire-starter was ignored when he claimed Mecha Man; "Was just a dog in a man's clothing". After all, he was just a villain talking smack.

But now this "Robert" guy has started working at SDN, and he seems to be putting on an act....

Robert begins to genuinely question how he feels about his identity after the destruction of the Mech Suit, and the loss of the Astral Pulse. Does he continue living as a "normal" human as he's had for the last 15 years? Or does he open his heart to instincts long since buried to people who might understand him better?

He might not have a choice really. His body did not take kindly to an explosion and a coma, in addition to a decade-and-a-half of using unsafe means of hiding his animal side. It's gotta come out somehow.

Yes, Sonar is very much into Robert in this AU. Him wanting to get together with his hot dispatcher and make a flying fox, if you know what I'm saying.

Flambae is into it too, despite being like 50% sure that the bitch-ass fox-man might be the guy who bit two of his fingers off.

No matter who Robert falls for though, they are not prepared for the "fox love scream" that they do when they see their life mate. XD

Wondering what yall think of this AU. It's one part "Robert having an identity crisis over his inherited role as Mecha Man and not being fully human" and another part "adorable fox moments". :3

When in full hybrid form, alongside ears and a tail, Robert also spawns in gorjus cunty fox eyeliner and defeats villains by serving so hard they surrender.

Robert: "Why does everyone in the office stare at me when I'm in hybrid form? They've seen hybrids before."

Also Robert: (*has natural fox markings that make it look like he's wearing eyeliner, full-length stockings, and gloves*)

Malevola and Prism convince Robert to do a magical girl-style transformation sequence at least once. XD

One kind of change to the story is how Robert managed to get Toxic into his apartment in the prologue. Turns out if Robert actually makes the effort and tries the infamous "seductive fox spirit"-method, it's like shooting fish in a barrel. Makes ridiculously easy to get information from Red Ring goons when their brains are elsewhere. Toxic was tied and blindfolded before he even suspected he wasn't getting any fun time with the cute fox hybrid.

Does lead to some awkwardness down the road tho. (⸝⸝⸝¬`ᴗ¬ᐡ)

Robert has naturally maxed out Charisma, but forgets to use it.

I love Quarjake cause the age gap and power dynamics are insane.

Quaritch is older than Jake in mind, he's in his 50s, while Jake is in his early 20s to late 30s-early 40s, depending on the film.

in A1, Q is older than him, more mature than him, and outranks him in every way. but in A2, in that smoking hot bod, Q's body is younger than Jake's, that's a 20-year-old going after a 40-year-old. Q is still in his 50s mentally, but now his body's got the stamina and resilience of a 20-year-old. whereas Jake's is 40, and for a Na'vi, that can't be too bad, but how well can it compete with a 20-year-old? especially since Q was always physically domineering over, or at the very least equal to, human Jake, even outside of one having functioning legs and one not. Q is always showing off his muscles and phsycial prowess when they're together. making it known that he could take Jake on. and now? he is most certainly capable of taking Jake. and even if Jake has more initial strength, a 20-year-old body is bouncing back far before a 40-year-old one.

and their age gap and power difference is way more complicated. in A1, they're in their 20s and 50s. Jake is a pup compared to Quaritch, a dumb kid who is easily bent around his thumb, maniupulated into giving Q what he wants. and Jake allows it cause trusts that older man, trusts Q and his maturity and wisdom, amongst other things.

and then Jake aged while Quaritch didn't. Jake caught up to him by a good bit. their age gap is only 10 years instead of edging on 30. Q can't hold widom and maturity over Jake anymore, not nearly as much anyway, and Jake is a big boy, he's not gonna fall for the Colonel's mature edge... or is he? I wonder if either register this. registers the change. if Jake still sees Quaritch as this older man he should defer to? if Q still sees Jake as a pup?

and then there's the power dynamic. in A1, Q outranks Jake, and Jake, still committed to the RDA military complex, submits to Q without question. it's just how it is. he's a corporal, Q is his superior, so he listens, he does the leg work, he gives his Colonel what he wants. and Quaritch likes it, it's how it should be. but now Jake is no longer a grunt that Q is taking advantage of. no longer a Corporal Q outranks and can order around. he's the Toruk Makto, which holds little weight to Quaritch, just like being the Colonel means little to Jake.

and both are stuck in this timeless hatred of each other. like they're both frozen in the past, despite everything having changed. they fascinate me.

you know what would be really super funny? if villains were more scared of Mecha Man Blue outside of the mechsuit than they were of him inside it

like full on shrieking and scrambling when that hatch starts to open ↓ less so if it's a larger group, because then they might have a chance, but one on one? hell- four on one? oh it's panic all around, that motherfucker bites

"Oh- guys, it's empty. We're good, it's- IT'S EMPTY!?" "IT'S WHAT!?" "WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S EMPTY-"

and Robert's watching, just barely out of sight, ready to jump in and catch them off guard if they try anything to the mech

meanwhile, they're just getting more and more worked up and panicked:

"I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS SHIT- I WAS AN ACCOUNTANT-" "We're sooo dead... so so dead. I should've drafted a will." "We're not dead, guys, calm down. Mecha Man doesn't kill, he just.. he just- you know... he.. fuuuck, I should text my family while I have the chance."

"If you turn yourselves in, we don't have to fight."

screaming, all around screaming- they're terrified ↓ and compliant, they practically sob in relief as the stutter out their situation [run of the mill debt stuff, family on the line, etc. etc]

and Robert is... of course.. so so good. -> he says he'll take care of it, says they hadn't hurt anyone so he's really got nothing against them [doesn't even care about the chasing him with guns and heavy tazers thing] and he follows through -> he also makes them share handcuffs, because he only keeps two on him at a time. The goons are starry eyed- maybe still a little teary- as they're bound wrist to wrist, promising to stay put for- some reason. And to clean up their act

they end up falling prey to the Red Ring though, after Robert ends up in a coma. And they kinda hate themselves for it

but what else can they do? ↓ Robert only finds out in the final battle, when everything is said and done and Shroud is... well- either arrested or dead ↓ he's got the mech standing in front of them like a disappointed mother, and again they're all bound together with only two handcuffs [as it's all they have to spare]. They're crying "Come on, guys, what the hell? I thought we talked about this." "We... *sniff* we thought you died.. we're soohorrry..." "He remembers us-?" "He rememhembers uuus!" ↓ Robert watches them blubber, and then sighs... looking around to make sure he's in the clear.. before he opens up the hatch

Z-Team is.... so confused.. so so confused why they suddenly hear screaming

"DO YOU HAVE TO YELL EVERY TIME!?"

...seeing their dispatcher scolding a huddled group of handcuffed Ring grunts doesn't clear anything up..

"Learning a new passion" -Phenomamech comic

How to see whether a Chinese handmade teapot is well done or not - quality of the spout is an important standard. 

cr: 承启 建水紫陶

that last teapot is like witnessing an eternal and important truth

I just watched this with the sound on and i really recommend it because the utter silence of the last teapot is both perfectly predictable and totally remarkable.

I really like the headcanon that Robert made his own car from scratch, because it makes Flambae and Robert both car guys but in like. Opposite ways.

Flambae has his firebird, and I can just imagine he takes SUCH good care of it. Has one trusted mechanic who is allowed to work on it and NO ONE else. Only he can drive his car, and don’t even think about eating in it. The seats are custom, and he has special lights installed. When Phenomaman crushed it he MOURNED and raced it to the mechanic like his child was dying in his arm.

Robert drove his car into four walls last week and he’s looking to make it five. He knows every single inch of it back and forth, but if anyone else even tried to look under the hood they’d start crying in confusion. It’s specialized especially to him and is amazing in fuel efficiency and speed, but if you turn the key wrong it explodes.

And if they started dating ?? Flambae knows that objectively Robert is very skilled with mechanics. He is more than capable of fixing any car issue that pops up. He would trust him with his life, and soul, and heart. He loves him more than life itself.

Robert is NOT allowed within a hundred feet of his car with any kind of tool.

I’m actually loving these headcanons where Robert repairs his car but in the worst ways possible.

Money is tight and 99% of it needs to go to the suit so if his car needs a repair he’s going the cheapest route possible. He’s putting shit in his car that nobody considered to put in their car or thought was possible but he’s making it work.

The suit needs an upgrade on something that can conveniently be found in a car? He’s yoinking it. The car will live and he’s pretty sure he can find something lying around somewhere to replace it.

The car needs an upgrade? He’ll just put discarded mech suit pieces in it and hope for the best. Is this scientifically possible? Not unless it’s Robert doing it. Anyone else tries this natural law-defying shit and it kills them.

He takes his car to an auto shop and makes all the mechanics on duty feel like the protagonists of a Lovecraft novel.

Bonus points is if his car looks totally normal before you look inside. It looks really good, even. You think that on top of the mech suit he dedicates a lot of time and care into his car until you pop the hood and realize it’s powered by Saw traps.

I drew Robert as a woman so my lesbian friend could understand the hype

Started out as a joke. Accidentally locked in. Enjoy!

Stupid ref imagine under the cut

yay! series of optimus from my friend's megop fanfic, link below:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/76388406/chapters/199909576

Adorable fanfic I wanna eat them

Wake Up Dead Man does an excellent job at every turn of displaying the misogyny of the Catholic Church and I really can’t stop thinking about it.

The first thing we learn about Martha is that she runs EVERYTHING, and she truly does, down to feeding Wicks. She keeps the church running smoothly, she keeps Wicks alive and presentable for his entitled, hateful sermons. The church only functions with Martha there to make it so, and yet, only Father Jud seems to recognise how much she does for the church itself.

Simone funds everything. Out of the very few regulars that Wicks has whittled his congregation down to, Simone is the only person we hear of making such substantial donations, giving the church all of her savings for the promise of healing that Wicks cons her into believing that he can provide. Simone is seemingly the only person willing to give enough money to keep the church alive.

Vera raised Wicks’ heir for him, did exactly what her father wanted, and is given absolutely nothing in return by any of the three men she has devoted her life to. Cy is thrown at her, given no choice but to raise him, a boy who she first believes to be her brother who she later finds out has no connection to her at all. Motherhood is forced upon Vera no matter what affect it may have on her life. Vera’s life has always been used by the men around her as a tool for their own gain, yet even she knows she has not done enough to earn her father’s approval, only pleased with her, never proud.

And Grace, that poor girl, has been characterised as a greed driven beast who desecrated a church in a fit of shrieking demonic rage, shown against a blood red night sky. Grace, who was, in reality, a young single mother shunned by her small town, by her father who was no doubt turning her own son against her, who had her only chance to escape her prison of judgement stolen from her.

Her existence is what actually motivates Wicks’ sermons as a whole, the memory of “the harlot whore” ultimately the root of what drives him, raised on hatred and judgement that he inflicts upon anyone he can rather than the kindness and understanding he ought to practice and preach, the utter opposite of Father Jud. Arms up instead of out. Even somebody like Doctor Nat is only driven by his growing hatred of women after his wife left him.

Misogyny is so woven throughout the church that I think it makes it all the more powerful for Jud to rename the church after Grace. Perpetual Grace, not Fortitude against the twisted retelling of her existence, but preserving the one thing she was never afforded. It is only the women who find happiness in the end. Vera is free of Wicks, her father, Cy, all of the men who took her life and used it for themselves. Simone plays her cello again. Martha finds forgiveness, she finally lets go of the hatred that drove her entire life. Grace is given redemption and honour. Those poor girls

Robert withholding any real displays of affection with the Z team not cause they aren’t his friends or found family but because bro simply doesn’t know how to act on them and also he wants to be some level of professional as their leader.

That is until he gets hit with some fuckers powers that lower inhibition and makes you really giddy and loopy and hes just all smiles and affection with the team.

Robert: You guys did wonderful out there, no casualties and you took down that weirdo so well today.

Sonar: Who the hell are you and what did you do with Robert.

Robert: oh just take the compliment batty, bat boy, Harvard bat-chelor. Hehe

Prism: Sonar what the fuck did you give him?? Are you high?? Wait did you get hit by that fucker’s weird friendship power?

Robert: oh I think so. You’re so observant Alice, and smart, to have caught that Im so proud of you.

Prism, about to cry for some reason: BITCH THE FUCK—

Invisigal: oh my god this is hilarious. Robert you gotta stop you’re gonna short circuit everyone!

Robert: oh Visi, sweetie, Courtney you did a great job going behind that guy and tripping him!

Invisigal, suddenly flushed: sweetie?

Flambae, pushing her to the side: hey, hey do me next asshole

Robert: oh hmm. Flammy, flam, Flambae…

Flambae: yes, yes, tell me how great I am—

Robert: You’re a bitch.

Phenomaman's species theory(ies):

Me and the sibs were joking about Dispatch, and we were discussing what's the deal with Phenomaman's/Katon-Ur's species - the people of Urgot-52dc aka "Urgoths", and why he's considered "repulsive" by their standards.

We came up with three main theories:

The third theory (or a mixture) is the most fun to work with, since this means Phen's species have very different beauty ideals. It also makes his attraction to Blonde Blazer kinda based on his own biases - she's the strongest woman he knows and therefore the most beautiful/compatible for him. But since thats not her true form, Mandy feels uncomfortable continuing the relationship with Katon-Ur based on surface traits alone.

This also means a surprising member of Z-Team is considered the most attractive male...

Accidentally made a mini chat fic out of this idea! Under Read More:

Z-team thinks Robert has powers (part 2)

Dropping more random thoughts on this au since people liked part one

- The team assuming Robert's a plant gets even funnier when they notice Blonde Blazer acting sus around him. She's way too familiar with him, which MUST mean they’ve worked together before. Either Robert was one of her employees(Prism: "she definitely sent him out on honey pot missions. Think about it. Sonar: oh I’m thinking about it.) or he was well-known in superhero circles despite being so covert, a fact none of them can verify since they're all ex-villains.

The team decides it's both. It has to be both.

- Cue Scooby Doo hijinks where they follow n try to uncover Robert's superhero identity. They get SO close to the truth multiple times and arrive at wrong conclusions.

Sonar: I've figured it out. Our dispatcher is dating Mecha Man."

Flambae: THAT FUCKER—"

-Flambae gets his own wet dream about mecha “guy who beat him up twice “ man x Bob Bobson. He nearly burns down his house.

- At one point Water Boy, whose trying to be part of the convo, stutters out that Robert climbed on his lap the first time they met so he guesses he is kinda seducey("K-kinda! He was fi-fixing my tie and his—his face was right here and—").

Everyone, including Invisigal, has to grapple with the devastating realization that Waterboy has better game than all of them.

- my AU, my house, Sonar and Coup stay on the team. There's now a race between Punch up/Coup vs Malevola/Sonar to get a threesome with Robert first.

- Invisigal still gets that movie date with Robert. She absolutely lies and tells everyone they hooked up. She likes being the alpha bitch around here.

-She is soon one upped by Phenomaman who does not know about their theories on Robert’s powers (they didn’t invite him to lunch 😔) . Phenomaman mentions that Robert is a good dispatcher who he had kissed and made love to twice. Everyone is to afraid to question it.

-they find out Robert likes brunettes. There are a series of high fives, Prism running out to grab another wig and Golem standing there sullen bc he has no hair.

Punch-up: I think I've got a new theory about Robert's abilities, what I'd he's a Succubus or like a half-succubus

Malevola: like a Cambion or something?

Sonar: I'm still partial to the literal office siren theory

Punch-up: How else would so many of us have wet dreams about Robert

Flambae: what do succubuses have to do with wet dreams?

Malevola: it's apparently something succubi and incubi have control over

Coupé: Alright I'll add it to the board

Coupé: *opens up the digital conspiracy board and types a note saying Incubus, Succubus, or Cambion next to several other notes saying office siren, pheromones or some shit, and he's just like that *

cackling. Every Rest period takes longer now since one of them always has to do the buzzfeed unsolved “l’ve connected the dots” , “you didn’t connect shit-“ meme as they update the board.

Also pheromones is so funny.

invisigal: have any of you ever heard of the term “Omegaverse?”

I made the conspiracy board or at least a section of it

there would probably be so so much more but alas I am only one person

I would love a dispatch episode where Robert has to jump in for another dispatcher and manage a team of actual heroes and they're civilized etc and he's just like "...you guys don't shittalk each other?"

Sweet talker messes up a call but instead of someone going "sweettalker more like shitwalker" they're all like "I left you a snack in your locker ST, get em next time"