#bruno (dispatch)

im tellin you, dawg, youre gonna love yung gravy.

(Other Outfitswaps: MechaPrism, MechaMal, MechaBlades, MechaBat, PhenomaMech, WaterMech, MechaPunch)

close up under the cut :)

We are the Mother Fucking Crystal Phoenixes

Putting some of my headcanons/ideas for the Z-Team and extended cast's family dynamics here for future reference for AUs or potential fics.

Z-Team:

Mecha Man Blue/Robert Robertson:

Is Wasian (Korean specifically) as per the concept art. His paternal grandmother (Su-Jin) fell in love with Grandpa Bobby when the pilot was stationed over in Korea, and went home with him.

Robert's other parent may also be East Asian depending on the AU. In the case of Elliot being his other dad it's a little murkier. Lets just say Grandpa Bobby's white Scandinavian genetics won the lottery.

Robert "Bobby" Robertson the first was a first-generational immigrant from a country that used patronymic naming system. The immigration officer dealing with his family got confused and listed then-young boy as "Robert Robertson" (Robertson being his dad's surname). The family decided to keep the new name because it was funny - and Bobby decided to keep up the joke with his son Robbie.

In the comics Robbie makes a very brief reference to having cousins. I hc that Bobby was one of many siblings. Robert has only met this extended family very few times since they mostly live in the colder Midwest states. He wonders how things may have gone if they had known about the Mecha Man thing (if didn't already).

Flambae/Chad:

Persian/Afgani as per canon, but raised bi-culturally Hispanic.

Is third out of four siblings; Has an older sister (Farrah), older brother (Arash), and a younger sister (Maryam). His youngest sister is from his mother's second marriage.

Yes, his name is actually Chad. More specially it's تشاد (Tshād) - yes, he recognises the irony of being named after a lake.

During the chaos of the 1980s Soviet-Afghan war, Chad's biological father fell into an extremist rebel group, prompting his wife to flee with their three children to the US seeking refuge.

In the Americas, Chad's mother met her second husband; a park ranger of Southern-Spanish descent who sympathised with her family's troubles. This man would become "Papi" to his step-children and eventual biological youngest child.

Chad freaking loves his step-dad. He'll talk up the guy as if describing a towering pillar of awesomeness, only for Papi to show up and be... a tiny balding Hispanic dad.

Papi did in fact "introduce him [Chad] to arson" - as a park ranger, he helped organise controlled burns. He'd let little Chad run wild with his powers on full blast in the burn zone to express some of that boundless energy.

Papi was raised Catholic, but honestly doesn't give af. He was willing to convert to Islam to marry Mama, and stands by that decision. Has no idea whats going on during holidays, but he tries to keep up.

Papi and Mama still smooch like teenagers, much to the dismay of their adult children, and the grandchildren.

Chad is the bratty little brother to his elder siblings, and it shows. His elder sister Farrah is the only one able to match his temper. He's also a little bit of a jerk to his younger sister Maryam, but that's a given for older brothers.

Arash is the calm, nerdy eldest son of the family. He works in finance. Chad thinks he's "terminally boring". Arash is married with two small sons - who are almost always bouncing off the walls in a sugar-high.

Farrah is the no-nonsense eldest daughter. Is divorced, and has a young daughter named Leila. This is the very same niece Chad attends recitals for. Farrah works as a charge nurse, and has no time for bullshit. Chad babysits Leila when Farrah is working, although his sister does not appreciate him teaching his niece new swear words.

Maryam was a "surprise "whoops" baby, and is younger than Chad by a decade. She is far more of a wild child than her elder siblings, and frequently flies off into "adventures" with her demonic Ifrit hubby. Has a daughter named Parisa that she leaves behind after her unfortunate passing.

The family gets together nearly ever holiday. They aren't Christian, but they still do a little Christmas celebration for the kids - you try to explain to tiny Muslim children that they don't get presents when all of their classmates do. ("Who's Santa?" "Thats the Prophet's uncle. You see that beard, and how he only shows up once a year with gifts? Pure uncle energy")

Chad did have a falling out with his family in his 20s what with the emotional instability and the arson. Papi got sick and couldn't work anymore, so Chad turned to shady means of acquiring money. This is what lead to his arrest and mutilation at the hands of Mecha Man.

Chad's family literally do not care about the him being gay thing. Mama will still needle him about settling down and getting married to nice man someday.

The nieces and nephews favourite hero is Mecha Man. Oh cruel irony.

Prism/Alice:

Canonically mentions "never having a dad" - was raised primarily by her single mother and her maternal grandparents.

Momma worked multiple jobs to ensure that Alice was fed and educated. Ftom an early age, Alice had the goal that once she made it big as a singer, she would make sure her family never had to work another day in their lives.

Alice started out singing with one of those toy boom-boxes with the microphone. Her family always praised her, even when the feedback screeched. Later she'd begin honing her craft in the church choir and in talent shows.

The infamous Middle School Talen Show where she got second place; was the first time Alice's powers manifested so strongly. Before that day, they were limited to tiny sparkles.

After discovering her power, Alice began seeking an alternative route to fame and fortune. Physics.

Yup! She's a science girlie! Alice graduated from University of Michigan, and was considering going into their research division before her music career started taking off.

As her stage persona Prism, she unfortunately fell into the pitfalls of being unfamilar with the cut-throat world of modern music.

Alice's first manager/boyfriend began exerting ever-increasing control over her actions and career, culminating in Alice having a drug-fuelled nervous breakdown after a concert.

Alice was tried as a Supervillain on a technicallity - being that she committed a number of crimes under a persona, and while using her meta-abilities.

Alice is more afraid of her Momma's rage than jail time.

Despite her spiral, Alice stayed in contact with her family in jail - making sure to call almost every week.

Alice takes Thanksgiving and Christmas off to spend it back home with the family. The one time the Z-Time got called in short-notice around the Holidays, Alice was the most distressed. Thankfully the Z-Team conspired to get Alice on a plane to Michigan before the higher-ups noticed.

Golem/Bruno:

Was created by a Jewish rabbinical wizard. His creator/Dad is a tiny old guy with a short temper that loves his goopy son very much. (Imagine Mel Brooks)

Bruno was an accident, but a happy one.

Dad was a little over-sheltering, leading to Bruno acting out. The turning point was when Bruno fell into the wrong crowd aka petty crminals that wanted to use him for his powers. Bruno ended up being the fall guy.

To say that Dad was disappointed would be an understatement. Thankfully the old man has (mostly) forgiven his creation, as long as he continues "cleaning up messes".

Baby Kaiju aka "Pebble" is very spoilt by her Zayde/Granddad. He doesn't even care that she's an adopted mega-creature.

Bruno takes major Jewish holidays off to be with his Dad. He ain't that religious, but he knows it means the world to the old man.

Invisigal/Courtney:

Claims to have been "raised around villains" which could suggest a pretty messy up-bringing.

Personal hc that Courney is Pinoy/Filipino. She isn't sure how to feel about this part of herself.

Parent was jailed and Courtney simply never heard from them again. Ended up being bounced around the foster system before becoming a runaway in her teens.

Courtney has a very complicated relationship with sex and mentor figures due to her past. The less said about her early villain career, the better.

Would literally not know what to do if someone treated her like an actual member of a family. Probably cry.

Sonar/Victor:

Comes from a WASP-y wealthy family with enough drama to make a multi-season soap opera.

Only bat hybrid in his immediate family. Details are a little wonky, but the official story is that his Mom got bit by bat while and vacationing in Columbia. Narcotics were involved. Victor was born eight months later.

Victor's relationship with his parents is pretty fractured what with the squandering of his inheritance money, the fraud, and the coke habit. He's trying to mend bridges now he's with the Phoenix Program.

Victor gives "Eldest/Only Child"-vibes. Got that "heir to the family fortune" expectations put on him at a young age.

Harvard was an attempt to get Victor away from the glitz and grit of San Francisco. It did not work. In fact, thats where the drug habit started.

Victor has a lot of older snooty relatives. Will actively act out when he hits his limit of "old rich people talk".

Victor is expected to bring a sensible plus-one to any family event that requires his presence (weddings, graduations, birthdays etc). Last time he brought Malevola, and that was a hoot to explain to the priest at the funeral.

Malevola Gibb:

Parents were survivors of the Church's Expansion Schools - in which orphaned and indigenous children were relocated to colonise less-populated areas of Australia. This sour history with the Church left a bad taste in their mouths regarding any form of organised religion.

Mal's parents were good friends throughout their late childhood and teen years - reuniting as adults.

Mal's Mum was a flower child, and experimented heavily with narcotics as a means of spiritual exploration. She met Mal's biological father (a Prince of Hell) during one of these explorations, and fell pregnant.

Mal's Dad meanwhile, became an anti-government conspiracy theorist, and began building a self-sustaining property out in the bush.

The old friends reunited by chance passing through the same small town, and hit it off famously. The two fell in love and married while co-raising their little imp.

Mal's Bio Dad isn't around that much. He shows up to birthdays, but he's got busy job down in Hell. Mal can't help but feel a little bitter that he wasn't around more when she was growing up.

Mal has a lot of half-siblings on her Bio Dad's side. She keeps a list of their names, but isn't bothered to keep in contact with them.

Mal's parents have likely passed on, but their spirits linger on in the old property... Especially Dad's, who's spirit chases government agents off with a rifle to this very day.

Mal misses her human parents a lot.

Punch Up/Colm:

Youngest of five children (mostly brothers), and the shortest even before his transformation.

Family lived in the rural Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) region of Galway and came from a long line of farmers.

Dear Ma raised the boys mostly on her own after her husband passed away in a farming accident. She's the toughest lady anyone could ever know, despite her diminutive frame. The sight of a tablespoon shoots fear into the brothers to this very day.

After the death of her husband, Ma moved herself and the boys to a more populated town. The sudden loss of his Da, combined with the move, stoked a resentment in young Colm.

When Colm was a teenager, he fulfilled on the common childhood promise of "running away with the circus". He joined up with a burgeoning performer group that visited the town, showing off his farm-boy strength.

Colm still wrote to his Ma while on the road, promising to come back stronger for her. After his deal with the sorceress, Colm felt too ashamed to face his family for a while.

Colm fell into supervillainy as a side-effect of seeking a bigger and better fights. Boxing made him good money, but his non-meta opponents were way too easy to defeat. He frequently participated in unregulated matches against meta opponents, sometimes with a familar ballerina at his side.

Colm's big arrest was during a crack down of one of the many illegal fighting tourneys on the West Coast. The Irishman had gotten used to the easy money and sunny weather, and failed to notice he was being investigated by SDN.

It's only after some soul-searching, and his encounter with Janelle, that Colm gains enough courage to finally knock on his mother's door once more. She was certainly... surprised by his change in stature, but in a world a meta-humans, magic isn't too hard to believe in. Ma welcolmed her "littlest boy" home with open arms.

Colm's brothers immediately began making fun of him for his height, prompting a good-natured brawl.

Colm doesn't lie about sending his tourney belt home to his Ma. She keeps it above her fireplace along with her other children's great achievements.

Colm has a horde of tiny nieces he dotes on. He always pretends that they can lift more than him.

Ma is convinced Janelle is secretly Colm's wife. She holds back on asking for grandchildren. For now.

Coupe/Janelle:

True nationality is unknown, but has genealogy suggests ties to North Africa, France, and Imperial Russia.

Has vague memories of a time before her training - she remembers having a mother and father, and performing Ballet with them. Beyond these dream-like memories, she can't remember anything else.

During her early childhood, she was inducted into a program designed for producing superhuman killers. Janelle learned alongside a number of other little girls. She doesn't like talking about what happened to her adoptive sisters.

Is a hybrid - swan/shrike variant. Her overseers removed her wings when she express doubt over her purpose. Janelle's inherent Umbra Magic attempted to repair the damage by forming a new set of wings made of pure shadow.

Upon deciding to leave her old life behind, Janelle murdered her teachers in the program. She hopes to abolish the organisation for good.

Expresses interest in tracking her potential family tree. If only to shed light on who she used to be.

Waterboy/Herman:

Mostly raised by Grandma/Bubbe. His parents became overwhelmed by the burden of raising a child with such an inconvenient power that they transferred custody over to his paternal Grandmother. At least, thats what Herman believes. The truth is a lot more messy.

Has magical/hybrid heritage. His paternal Grandfather/Opa was a Vodnik/Vodyanoy - a frog-like freshwater merperson. Opa and Bubbe met while both immigrating to the US from the Slavic region. It was quite the sordid love story, given that it was a time where hybrids and non-humans where heavily discriminated against. They married in secret after Bubbe's family disapproved.

The new couple agreed to live somewhere close to water. The LA river has had many cryptid sightings ever since Bubbe and Opa moved in.

Bubbe is Jewish and raised both her children and Herman as such. Opa was a godless water spirit, so he didn't mind too much.

Bubbe and Opa ultimately had seven children (them slavic genes). Most of their children migrated to other waterways and started their own families. Herman's father was a middle child.

Herman use to frequently visit his aunts and cousins upstate where it rains a lot more. Visits have slowed since Bubbe's health started to decline.

Opa passed away long before Herman was born, but he's always looked up to the frog-fishman from the grand stories his grandmother would tell.

Bubbe has the superpower to heal with a kiss. Of course that slipped under the radar during the early days of meta-abilities becoming known. It's hard to quantify her impact, as she's a very affectionate woman. Many boo-boos were kissed better during her time. For the longest time, Herman just assumed all Grandma Kisses healed wounds.

Herman isn't sure what exactly happened between his parents and Bubbe, but there was some sort of terrible falling out around the time he was born. Herman wonders to this day if it was his fault.

Herman's mother likely wasn't human. He thought it wasn't his business to pry.

The cats are the result of fostering animals left homeless after villain and kaiju attacks. Some have meta abilities and/or health conditions that make them unlikely to be adopted. Bubbe keeps a laminated photo album of all the little fluffs that have come into her life.

Bubbe keeps every little reminder or her children and grandchildren in her home. There's a number of water-sealed boxes in the attic of her dear Hermie's baby clothes and toys.

Phenomaman/Katon-Ur:

Has two biological parents, and at least one litter mate. Does not elaborate further. Relationship with birth family not great.

Honorary Z-Teamers:

Blonde Blazer/Mandy:

Has high "Raised by Older Relatives"-energy - most likely raised by grandparents.

Her amulet is possibly a family heirloom, if not then was entrusted to her grandparents by the previous owner (her future mentor).

Mandy was the little girl Mecha Man Prime died saving. As you can imagine, being "the reason Mecha Man is dead" didn't help her socially or emotionally. She only hopes that she can pay that kindness forward.

Mandy takes financial care of her elder relatives using her Blonde Blazer earnings. She feels guilty about not visiting more often.

Royd/Roy:

Has a BIG family - lots of aunties, uncles, and cousins. Was named by his maternal aunt.

Immediate family was forced to immigrate to the mainland for work when Royd was a teenager - a move that had a huge emotional impact on him.

His brief stint as a thief caused tension between him and his parents, but they were quick to encourage him when he expressed a desire to follow Mecha Man Astral's example and study technology.

Royd went back island-side for college, cutting costs by staying with family. He treasures that time greatly, though he admits he went a little lolo frat-boy style for a bit.

The little kids of the family are convinced Cousin Roy is secretly a superhero, but he won't tell them who. (A few suspects that he's real Mecha Man).

Yes,yes he is.

When the alcohol and shitty late-night TV aren't enough to chase away that hollow ache within himself, Colm calls Robert. He knows he shouldn't when the moon is so high in the sky, but Robert picks up every single time with a voice that gives no indication of he just woke up or hasn't slept at all that night. He stays on the line for as long as Colm needs, either letting the silence connect them or filling it with conversation as necessary, despite the alcohol both slurring Colm's words and making his accent so much thicker. Robert understands, he always does, just as he always answers the call.

If you're in trouble, put the fall on me

She tries. By the skies above, does she try. To be a hero, to be a good person. But it isn't easy. Years of being a villain and a lifetime of being selfish have made Courtney believe she's entirely incapable of what the Phoenix Program represents. Yet when she messes up—as she always seems to be doing—Robert is right there. He encourages her to fix it and helps her when she agrees. And if it's too much, if it'll get her in trouble with corporate or civilians, it's Robert or Mecha Man who accepts full responsibility. So, though she stumbles, she continues striving for goodness and heroics, just because Robert wholeheartedly believes she can.

When you're mad, you can take it out on me

Chad hates being angry. He hates being filled with that fire he can't control—a heat that genuinely hurts. He doesn't want to be a violent, rageful creature, yet it always comes to the surface with a plume of smoke and a destruction at his fingertips. And when it does, there's always someone there. Robert, whose heart is hardened against insults and is sarcastic enough to dish back what he's given. Robert, who doesn't mind getting a few more scars when they fight as equals. Robert, who holds Chad despite the fire, promising reassurances and small comforts. Robert, who helps Chad figure out the source of his anger and calms Chad down through his pragmatic problem-solving skills and compassionate heart.

When it don't add up, you can count on me

Music is a huge part of Alice's life. It's her greatest connection to the world around her, the people in that word, and to herself and her emotions. From the notes to the lyrics, she finds a piece of herself by laying everything out. And she finds that if someone listens close enough, they'll learn about her, too. At the very least, this is a fact when that someone is Robert, a man who has listened to everything she has to offer—Alice and Prism's music—and come away with an understanding of her. It's so thorough that when she's struggling with her music, Robert oftentimes knows what note or lyric or harmony or piece is missing to make everything sound perfect—make it sound like her.

When you're low, come get high on me

A dozen meetings with his NA group have given Victor so many tips and tricks and alternate activities and whatever the hell else to keep him from going back to the drugs he loves so much. None have worked as well as his sponsor would like, but he's been getting better. While he's told it's mostly because of himself, Victor rather thinks Robert deserves most of the credit. Whenever Victor wants to get high, he just goes to Robert. He can play video games with Robert (who is usually pretty good at them, something he claims is because of his experience in the mech), or he can lay his head in Robert's lap, yapping about Crypto and scams and the economy with someone who understands, who always responds, who runs his fingers through Victor's fur until he feels half-asleep and no longer remembers wanting drugs in the first place.

Make it slow, take your time on me

It's easy to be around Robert. He waits patiently for Herm to finish what he was trying to say. He never asks to hear it again because he gets it the first time. When he responds, it's never teasing him about his stutter or his anxiety or his water—never the things he can't control. This extends into Robert dispatching Waterboy. Though he's still inexperienced and prone to messing up, Robert doesn't give up on Waterboy. He guides the hydro hero through everything, answering questions and giving instructions, praising Waterboy for his success and encouraging him after his failures. It doesn't matter that learning is hard or their progress is slow—not to Robert, anyway.

Settle in, let it out, come and lay on me

Janelle likes sitting beside Robert. She can lean her weight against him, or he'll trust her enough to lean his weight against her. It doesn't matter where they are or what they're going. He makes it clear that he finds as much easy comfort in her as she does in him, never once fretting over the security of his life because he doesn't think for a second that she'll take it. This is especially odd considering what happened between them—him cutting her off the team, her torturing him, their fight on the Red Night—but Robert forgives, so she finds the strength to as well. Forgive him and herself. Let the past fade away so that they can continue leaning against each other.

When it gets heavy put the weight on me

It's entirely too easy to perceive people who don't look human (who technically aren't) as others. In Malevola's experience, it's common for a demon like her to be seen as all-powerful and emotionless, especially when factoring in her criminal status. While they aren't true, Malevola is used to it. She could even say she's okay with it. At least, she would be, if Robert didn't show her what it's like for someone to understand how physically fallible she is and how much her heart bleeds. Once such instance of him proving he knows this is when he—in that mech suit of his—got under a piece of rubble she was struggling to hold up. He took her place, letting her carry on saving more people. And as she was doing that, she realized how nice it can be to be saved herself sometimes.

Baby put it all on me

Katon-Ur cannot claim to understand humans despite his strong desire to protect them. He does, however, realize that humans do not understand him, either. Despite speaking their language, there is a barrier between them. Katon-Ur thought this was just how it went for heroes. But Robert—both a hero and a human—acts like it isn't difficult at all. He seems to get Katon-Ur's words and, in particular, his feelings. Katon-Ur appreciates that. It is much easier to feel when there's someone guiding him through it, to tell him what he can do to start feeling better.

Put it all on me

Golem: Oh Yeah honey, Just...just like that!~

R/n:...Does that feel good?

Golem: Go faster!~

[The freaking curiosity was too much for Sonar as he throws the door open with his eyes half covered.]

Sonar: WHAT'S GOING OOOOoon...Here?

[Sonar is confused when he doesn't see a scene of animalistic passion in front of him, but instead finds R/n standing on a stool leaning against Golem while she rubs him with a scrub brush.]

Golem: Massage......*moans as R/n scrubs him on the back*

R/n, as she pats Golem's arm: Jeez, yer back's so tight and full of knots... What have you been doin'? You gotta loosen up more.

Sonar: Oh....Okay.

Golem: What did'cha think was going on?