#long dispatch

You know how Robert runs afoul of the Dragon Goon (also nicknamed Lóng/Ryuu in fandom) in Sardine, and the guy seems fixated on him?

Well, in East Asian and particularly Korean mythology, Fox spirits (kitsune, huli jing, gumiho/maegu) and Dragons do not get along.

One famous Korean fairytale set-up is "The Monster Fox Threatening a Dragon"; in which the Dragon King of the Western Sea is so injured from a fight with a divine Gumiho, that he seeks the help of a mortal archer named Geotaji/Jakjegeon. The archer helps slay the kaiju fox, rescues the dragon princess, and the Dragon King grants him the princess's hand in marriage as a reward.

It's a little of a subversion of the European trope of "princess held captive by a dragon" cus in this case; the princess is a dragon, and the "dragon/beast" is a hungry fox demon.

There's also Taoist mythos in which foxes work alongside the Celestial Gods against Dragons in times of war. Even in tales where the dragons and celestials are buddies, a fox demon will appear as an opp towards dragons.

Evidently these two groups of animals no likey each other.

This is likely tied to Buddhist symbolism of foxes being symbols of deceit, earth, and femininity, and dragons being royal, airy, and masculine. Sort of a darker version of the contrast presented by Dragon/Phoenix motifs common in mainland asia.

In the Mecha Man Foxtrot au: Robert is a fox spirit hybrid, though he likely doesn't know how deep the Fox vs Dragon grudge goes. The Dragon Guy be glaring at him like he's wearing opposing gang colours.

Which makes the whole thumb-biting and bathroom beat-down seem a little more thematic.

Yeah, these two read "there's room in our bed for more". Might be surprisingly freaky in the sheets, but at the end of the day they're both looking for someone who treats both them and their son right. <3

Bakugo seeing Izuku again after the school break, only to see an entire squad of furious superheroes beside him like bodyguards.

(Also Flambae sees a lot of his younger self in Bakugo, and doesn't want him to go down that dark path.)

Fun fact! All we know about Izuku's (supposed) biological father Hisashi is that

He's currently abroad.

He can breathe fire.

Remember a handsome son-of-a-gun we've been discussing in the "snake hybrid au"?

That feel when the cute twunk at the bar is your co-husband to your wife whom you've been estranged because of being excommunicated from the yakuza.

Everything after is a blur. He remembers listening Visi and Robert discussing over pulling the downed villain's pant up (ew), going around the SND hunting down for more Red Ring because Robert asked him to (those damn eyes and voice) and by the time the dust fully settles and it looks like he's going to get arrested, the Z Team starts to say he is with them. And Robert is more than happy to support the claim? Guess he's a Phoenix now?? Yay???

Oddly enough, I don't feel, in case of a polycule, he would pose a problem. Because western dragons? Are greedy, and like to hoard. It's only that instead of gold or anything like that, Dagon takes a look at this motley band of ex-villains, all pining for the same man as he is, and his lizard brain goes "More mates? MORE MATES!"

Idk if this is something, but just feel in my bone that bro saw those doe eyes fog with pleasure once (1) and he was done for.

Prev.

Ohohoho!

Also consider that with Robert's larger form in this AU, he actually can't hide from ThumbStick as easily as in canon. Things get messy (in more ways than one) when the killer decides to pee later, and take out "random SDN blue collar" now.

Dragon Guy (love the name hc Dagon btw) intervenes, much to Robert and Visi's surprise.

Turns out the lure of "possible date with cute snake guy" (and maybe more if Robert and him did hookup in between Ep 5 & 6) is stronger than the dragon's loyalty to the Red Ring. Plus he figures after the Z-Team beat the crap out of the Red Ring forces, that it's a sinking ship anyway.

Toxic and Armstrong seeing the Dragon Guy/Dagon/Long/Ryuu getting a pardon cus he flipped on the Red Ring for a twink. (Perhaps multiple if Waterboy is involved)

Dragon Guy: "Don't care. He's cute as hell." Toxic: "Boo, you whore."

Bonus if Shroud is still alive. He is pissed at the disloyalty, but at the same time can respect the instinctual need to protect one's mate. Also its nice to see Robert expressing his more repitilian side for once.

The Z-Team are a little confused at first why this seemingly random ex-Red Ring guy swapped sides, but Sonar and Coupe quickly ID him as "Robbo's bf from the Sardine bathroom". Scandalous teasing ensues.

Flambae, impressed: "What went on in that bathroom? I've never recieved head good enough to change loyalties!" XD

Dragon Guy turns out to be a sweetheart under all those tattoos and spikes.

Lizards can be surprising romantic creatures. Males will suspend from branches/cielings of enclosures to act as hammocks for their mate. And in the case of certain skinks, will mate for life.

Combine that with the belief of western dragons acting a bit like birds; gifts, nest building, food sharing etc, and you've got an ex-villain with some rizz.

(I am suddenly reminded of those Dragon Bros comics.)

The addition of more mates is no issue. Lots of species of snakes/lizards keep to tight poly groups.

Prev.

She Deserves It!!

The Z-Team ladies ask her what her type is and it cuts to just, so many reckless selfless men with nice butts.