#donnie is a snarky nerd

[brightlotusmoon]

I think about them all the time. They're the reason I started writing fanfiction again after years away, and writing Tumblr in general.

[fishsticksloser]

Hello! Could I please ask for headcanons for the RotTMNT turtle boys with a zoology major reader? With a focus in Herpetology (so basically a reptile nerd).

Zoologist

RotTMNT x gn!reader

Warnings: none? except it's super short

A/N: time is... Moving weirdly again..

Donnie

He thinks it's the funniest thing in the world

Hey make snarky comments about your job/studies

As a joke

Says that you're only dating him to get insider info on his species

But really, he likes taking science with you

Leo

He also studies biology

Add the medic, it's pretty important

So...

He fills you in on somethings

Since he has a deeper understanding

He'll even help you with anatomy

COMPLETELY INNOCENTLY

... Weirdos...

Mikey

Thinks it's so cool

He'll sit and listen to you talk about things

He's always asking questions

Always wanting to listen to you talk

He's such a big supporter

Raph

A little confused

Though he does find it a little humorous

You're focus is herpetology

And you're dating a snapping turtle mutant

It makes him chuckle a little bit

But he's so supportive, is willing to help you in your studies 1 million percent

[gaybananabread]

Oh my gosh congratulations on the milestone!! 🥳💖 I would love something for ROTTMNT! Maybe lee Mikey and ler Leo or lers Raph, Leo and Donnie. I’d love Dragon Fruit, Oranges & Grapes! Take all the time you need and I hope you’re doing well! 💖

Fruit(s): Dragon Fruit, Oranges, Grapes

AAAAAHG THANK YOU! You're so nice all the time, just make my brain go (>w<)✨! Been a hot second since I've done something for Rise, these boys need some more love from me. (Got carried away but we don't talk about that shhhhhshsh) Again, thank you sosososo much, and I hope you Enjoy!

Lee: Mikey

Lers: Raph, Leo, Donnie

Summary: Mikey tries making a treat for his bros, but things don't go as planned, bumming him out. The boys quickly notice and, after a quick wrestling match and some questions, manage to get their baby bro back into his high spirits.

Warnings: none! This is a fic, so if you don't like that, scroll away!!

“No no nononONONO!”

Feeling his heart sink, Mikey pulled his fruity Danish pastries from the oven. The charred surfaces and burning smell of the treats brought tears to his eyes. Three hours of work down the drain…

The teen had been trying to make desserts for his brothers; they’d been really supportive during his recovery from the Kraang invasion, encouraging him and helping him wrap his arms. Even Donnie had put aside some extra time to shop for arm braces. They deserved it.

His arm had a flare-up during the baking, making him take a break to put a brace on. The timer had gone off without him in the room, his poor confections roasted beyond recognition. He sniffed, dumping the marred fruits of his labor into the trash. Maybe some music and drawing would help…

-

“Okay, family meeting.” Raph sat down with his two of his brothers, Donnie quickly correcting him. “Teeechnically, it's a partial family meeting. If we count the main seven family members and round the percentage, it's only about 42%-” He got a hand clamped over his mouth, the blue-themed turtle interjecting. “HUSH the nerd stuff! We know what we're here for, right?”

Donnie scoffed, but stopped spouting math. All three brothers knew what the problem was. Raph took charge again, attempting some order. “Mikey's been really down all day. Raph's worried about him.”

The purple clad turtle tapped his wristlet, frowning. He had been keeping track of Mikey's expressions from the past few days.“He seemed fine yesterday. Angelo’s face only drops around two today. I hadn't seen him for a few hours, my data’s a bit incomplete. I think he was in the kitchen.”

Leo blinked, seeming shocked. “Wow. Your number craziness finally paid off.” A claw extended from Donnie’s battle shell, whacking the snarky teen upside the head. Raph stepped between them before any more chaos could ensue.

“HEY! Donnie, do ya know what he was doin’ in there?” He huffed before answering, looking down. “I…do not. Dr. Delicate Touch made me promise not to install cameras; even I won't defy him.”

That was fair; none of them wanted to go against Dr. DT… Leo sighed, twirling his mask tails as he spoke. “I've tried asking, but no dice. The dude's clearly not okay, but he won't talk about it. Little hypocrite…” 

The techy teen offered an idea. “We could try to interrogate him.” Leo snorted, snapping out of his little trance. “Interrogate? What is this, one of dad's movies? Besides, it'd probably only make him more upset.”

Raph bit his finger as he thought; one bad habit he'd tried and failed to drop. He got an idea, snapping his fingers and smiling. Bingo. “I got it! Listen up boys, here’s the plan…”

-

Mikey was sitting on his bed, moping and dragging a pencil across some cardboard. He wasn’t making anything; it was just a nice way to destress. Things weren’t working as well as they usually did, though… A knock at his train car door startled him, making the typically upbeat boy flinch and drop the pencil. “C-coming…”

The metal slid open, an obviously forced smile on his face. All three of them wanted to wrap him in a hug, but they had to follow the plan. “Hey guys…what is it?” 

Leo stepped forward, looking his brother over. He took special notice of the arm braces. “Alright hermano, the jig is up. What’s wrong?”

The boy’s fake smile faltered a bit, though he tried to keep the act going. “J-jig? I dunno what you’re talking about, Leo. I’m good!” His artificial confidence got a bit stronger at the end. It was clear he wasn’t telling them without a fight. 

Raph was next to get closer, trying to sneakily box the boy in. This time, however, a small smile was paired with the chasm. 

A small squeak escaped the youngest as he backed up, recognizing the look on his brothers’ faces. They wouldn’t…would they? “C’mon Mike, this can go quickly if ya just hold still.” Oh. They would.

Feeling a slight giddiness rise in his chest, Mikey ran farther into his train car, diving for his escape hatch. Raph stopped him in his tracks, using his mystic tonfā power to catch him in a giant fist. Leo ran over, being careful of his brother’s arms as he tossed him into his hammock.

“GUys- guys wahait! Mikey squirmed and kicked, the hammock swinging as he thrashed. Leo flipped his sword, opening two portals to hold his brother’s arms safely. Didn’t want him getting hurt after all that recovery time.

“Nah, there’s no fun in waitin’. Raph’s out for giggles and the truth.” Wasting no time, Raph started poking at his brother’s armpits. A genuine smile formed on the younger’s face, giggles spilling from his lips. “Rahaphie! Nohohot thihis!” 

“But this is the best! You get to giggle, and we get to hear it.” Leo smirked, not wanting to miss out on the fun. “Big man’s right, Miguel. The truth will set you free~!” He moved his hands to Mikey’s plastron, scratching and scribbling on the area where his stomach would be. “LeheheHEEOOOOO! C-chohOHOME OHOHOhohon!” 

“Just tell the truth, Micheal. You know there’s no simple way out of this predicament.” Donnie took in the sight of them; his co-conspirators smirking, enjoying the sound of their brother’s laughter, and Mikey, laughing and sounding happier than he had all day. He supposed it was worth breaking a few of his rules for the occasion. He pressed a button on his bo, the feather he used against Shredder popping out. 

“D-dehehee? Whahat ahare youHU- NYAAAHAHAHO!” Mikey squealed as he felt the soft fibers of the feather run behind his knees. Curse him for taking off the knee pads… The armpit pokes, the tummy scritches, the feather on his knees; it was all too tickly. It was nice to be able to laugh with his brothers, though he didn’t know how much longer he could take all of them at once.

Raph chuckled, smiling warmly as his brother laughed. Those goofs were gonna be the death of him…but he loved them more than he could ever express. If it takes some playful tickles to get one of his bros to open up, then so be it. “All ya gotta do is fess up, Mikey. What’s been goin’ on today?”

He still didn’t seem like he was giving up, though it was clear he was reaching a breaking point. Donnie, ever the over-achiever, wanted to speed things up. He sent a claw from his battle shell to his brother’s knees, having it squeeze and scribble along the underside. That did him in. 

“K-GAHAHAHA! DOHOHONIEHEHE! *snrk* NAHAHAH!” Raph gave the purple-clad turtle a look, sighing. “The goal is to get the truth, Donnie, not kill him.” Dee just chuckled, continuing the metallic tickles. 

Kicking and thrashing like crazy, the teen finally reached his limit. “OHOHOKAHAHAY! IHI- *snrk* IHI’ll TEHEHELL!” 

And just like that, it all stopped.

Donnie begrudgingly retracted his tools, a small smile still on his face as he watched his little bro giggle. Leo followed suit, though Raph’s hand moved to the underside of the boy’s chin. He gently wiggled his fingers into the soft skin, chuckling as his little bro melted into the touch. His loud and bubbly laughter died down to soft, breathy giggles.

“Spill it, little man~” Raph practically purred as he said it, his tone softening with the next phrase. “We promise not to judge.” 

Mikey whined through his giggles, but didn’t squirm. Leo had long since released his arms; he just hadn’t noticed. “Uh-uhuhum…I wahanted to make youhuhu guhuys some d-dahanishehes for helpihing me throuhugh recovery.” He looked down, still not pulling away from the loving tickles. He’d never say it out loud, but he loved them.

“Ihi uhm… Ihihi kinda buhuhurned them. H-hahad a flare-up whehen they went ihin the ohohoven…” All three brothers’ expressions softened, even Donnie’s. The thought was incredibly sweet, and it wasn’t his fault his arms still hurt sometimes.

“Mikey…listen. We love ya. Even if you weren’t an awesome baker, we’d still take care of ya.” He continued to gently scritch under his chin, though the big guy limited it to one finger. Donnie jumped in, not making eye contact. “It’s not your fault you still get pains. Based on typical recovery times, you’re actually making exponential progress. Occasional aches are to be expected.”

“If you ever need anything, we’re all here for you. I could help with the baking and stuff, if you want.” Leo’s offer made his heart soar, as well as his other brothers’ kind words. Heartfelt moments like those would forever be cherished, especially that one.

He felt a few tears spring to his eyes, arms reaching for his bros’ hands. “Youhu guys are the behehest…” Raph stopped tickling, enveloping them all in a hug. Donnie whined, but he relaxed into the embrace. Mikey sighed, his heart full and the sadness from earlier in the day completely gone. He loved his brothers so freaking much…

[illunicae]

Dancing on the Skyline

100% angst free one shot! (Also on Ao3)

Pairing: Rise Donnie x Spider-sona Reader

A night out under the stars with music and, of course, dancing.

The wind whistled in your ears, brushing your cheeks as you stood on the ledge of a skyscraper. Down below pedestrians crowded the sidewalks and cars screamed at each other with their shrill horns, but up there–halfway between the stars and the ground below–the surely deafening noise was faint. Up there no one down below would be able to see you, should their wandering eyes take their gaze to the stars. 

Your toes hung over the edge of the ledge, one more step and you’d surely fall the many stories the pavement below, but fear was far from your heart in that moment. A deep breath passed your lips as you exhaled. Tilting your head, you cracked your neck. You reached up, pulling your mask down over your face. Rolling your shoulders, you stepped back an inch to bounce on your toes, a physical stim of excitement. Your hands grasped the headphones hung around your neck and you placed them over your ears. The constant noise of New York City fell away as the headphones settled. With the press of a button, your favorite adrenaline jumping song began to play from the device. 

The beat infected your every muscle as you began to nod and dance along the edge of the building without a care in the world. As the music built, the excitement was back. With the drop of the base and the first words of the chorus you threw yourself off the ledge with a twisting flip of your body. You let yourself freefall for a few seconds before snapping out your arm with your middle two fingers to your wrist. Loyally, your webs caught on a nearby building and the momentum had you swinging just above the traffic of New York City. 

A handful of people cheered for you when they saw you pass in a blur of colors, though their words could not be heard over the lyrics to your favorite song. 

Building speed and height, you kept swinging through the city; occasionally freefalling to feel that addicting rush of adrenaline. With flips, twists, and dives, you traversed the city almost subconsciously. Your body knew every movement it needed to do to keep you from ending up as a bug splat on the pavement. The music in your ears provided a spirit-lifting soundtrack as the headphones stayed snug on your head.

Your spider-senses alerted you just in time for a purple blur to zip past your swinging form. Your eyes widened and a laugh bubbled out as you recognized your favorite nerd had come to join you for a “flight” around the city. Determined to catch up with Donnie, you swung faster, twisting your body to become more aerodynamic and running along the sides of buildings when you needed to.

You caught up to Donnie relatively easily, afterall you’re very aerodynamic when you want to be. You nearly slingshot yourself past him, bracing yourself as you landed on the side of a building. Donnie watched in awe as you ran up the side of the building, kicking off when you reached your desired height and spreading your arms wide as if you could fly while flipping elegantly over him. He will always be amazed by how fluid you twist and move through the air. He’ll never admit it, but it was love at first sight for the purple turtle when he saw how elegantly you fought off a villain thrice your size. Even now, with your hands clasped together as you spin through the air, he can’t believe how lucky he is that someone as brilliant, snarky, strong, and equally nerdy as you bothered to give him a chance.  

 Hand in hand you both landed on a shorter building, only to sprint along the ledge as the song played in both sets of headphones. Keeping a tight grip on his hand, you both jumped from the building over New York City traffic. Donnie squeezed your hand as you shot out your webs to swing. With your chests to the stars, you both had let the momentum take you up before gravity pulled you back down. After a second, Donnie’s battle shell kicked on and you both were once again flying through the air, weaving around buildings. 

You eventually let go of Donnie’s hand as you both began doing tricks in the air, dancing to the song singing in your ears. You flipped over billboards, and used flag poles as slingshots. Donnie did his own type of rolls and flips. Together the two of you were lost to the music. 

With your favorite part of the song coming up your speed and height increased as you swung through the city. 

Rising with the beat of the song, you launched yourself past the height of the tallest building, leaving the ground far behind and reaching for the stars beyond your reach. For just a moment you sat there, floating in the sky with pure euphoria flowing from your heart and your hand outstretched toward the sky; it would only take a few more inches for your fingertips to brush the stars. A soft breath left your lips as you began the inevitable free fall. 

You only fell for a handful of seconds before Donnie caught you in his arms. Your eyes met his recognizable smirk as your arms reached up to wrap around his neck. Clutched tightly to his plastron, Donnie flew the both of you toward the tallest building on the skyline. You were close enough to reach your hand out and drag your fingers lightly across the cool glass as you both flew higher. Your reflection followed you up until there were no more windows and you shot past the roof of the building. Returning your arm to its place around Donnie’s neck, the two of you spun slowly as the first song started to fade out. Together you drifted down toward the roof of the building.

The next song started as the two of you landed. Both of you lit up with joy as the song was a favorite of both of you. Offering his hand for a dance with a joyful glint in his eyes, Donnie smiled. You gleefully took his hand and together the two of you danced under the stars on the skyline of New York City. 

Donnie spun you under his arm as the two of you sang along to the song only the pair of you could hear. He pulled you close and dipped you with a flourish. The grin on your face was bright as he righted you and you both got right back to spinning with the beat of the song. 

With a flick of the wrist, you spun out and away from Donnie, both of you an arms length away from your clasped hands in the center. In a fluid moment you took off your mask which in the same movement knocked your headphones off, but it didn’t matter as the song was then playing from the speakers in Donnie’s battle shell. He spun you back in tight and as you jumped his hands found purchase at your hips to lift you in the air. 

Your voices echoed in the air as your feet touched the ground again. It’s pure, blissful fun as you two sang the lyrics at each other and danced along the edge of the building. One wrong step and either of you would fall off the edge, but you both danced with confidence and ease, with full trust in each other to catch the one to fall. Donnie jumped down from the ledge before turning and catching you in his arms for another spin. He set you down and you took off.

Heart racing, you sprinted for the edge of the building. With your hand outstretched you tipped over the ledge, but before you could fall Donnie grabbed your wrist, pulling you back to him and continuing the dance by pulling you into another dip that had your head almost touching the ground. He lightly shook his head at the mischievous glint in your eye, but it was quickly replaced with that familiar, fond love in his eyes as he pulled you up. 

Hand in hand you two danced the rest of the song away with only the stars watching your midnight tryst. As the song slowly faded you both brought your faces close. Your arms wrapped around his neck, while his arms wrapped around your waist. You mumbled out the last lyric, before sealing it with a kiss. 

You were both panting as the adrenaline finally started to die down just a smidge. Foreheads together, you two stood where the city noise couldn’t reach you, bathed in starlight as you both basked in the comfort of each other’s presence.

No songs are specified but the ones I listened to while writing were: Roarin' 20s by PATD and Come On Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners

[cpunkhobie]

Why are you in here?

post-movie, touch-averse disaster twins fic with low empathy donnie and ptsd leo

words: 1.5k

tw // panic attack, tactile flashbacks

Posted this to AO3 so figured I should put it here too. AO3 link here — aight now let’s get on with it

—-

Leo has never taken a beating like that before. Never, it was- he can’t even describe it. It just hurt. He was usually more physically affectionate out of his brothers he’d say, although he’d never admit it, he was. But lately he’s been more… reserved. Something Raph has taken notice of. Something Donnie has taken notice of most of all.

Donnie because Leo has been around him much more lately. Not like- around, but he’s been willingly hanging out with him more often than not. Even letting him ramble sometimes. Sometimes Leo doesn't even make a snarky nerd comment. If Donnie didn't know better he’d say his brother had become genuinely interested.

But Donnie knew better.

“What? No-, no there's no reason I'm just,” Leo paused and tried to glance for something he recognized in the lab “,interested in all your nerd shit.” Donnie rolled his eyes. “Not that it's shit,” Leo continued “,just that it's.. y'know?-”

“That's exactly it Leo, I do know. I know you don't actually care about my science so why are you here?,” Donnie pressured, even though he really didn't mean to “,you would rather die before even stepping foot in here last time I checked. Are you sick? Have you been infected with some kind of brain eating parasite?”

“No-? No! No I'm just-...” Leo paused. “I’m sorry,” he said.

Donnie blinked at him for a moment, for a moment he processed his brother’s stained clothes and quivering hands and well, someone could say he didn't really process it at all. “Ok you’re definitely not Leo, come back when you’ve found my brother Ta-Ta!” Turning back towards his desk, Donnie’s robot arms started ushering Leo out the door playfully - but also not, Leo could tell - “Donnie I'm serious.”

He turned back to look at his brother, expecting a scowl or a death stare, or hell maybe even a grimace but what Donnie did not expect were tears.

Leo of course, did not expect this either. Usually he’d be able to tell when it’d start, maybe coincidentally right at the time for a bathroom break, but this time it was just- it was sudden. And he didn't know why. He just felt all this-... pain in his arm, it was like his shoulder was screaming against the cold titanium, and he felt all the nerves in his face quiver and suddenly he was crying and did it just get unusually warm for a robotics lab all of a sudden and-.

“Oh god Nardo, please no crying in the lab. You’re going to start a fire,” Donnie said straight, now ushering them both away from the open electric circuits - not so playfully this time.

“I’m sorry,” Leo muffled.

“Stop saying that.”

The steel door closed behind them.

—-

Donnie woke up to 3 loud clangs at his door in quick succession. He knew the quick succession meant desperation - given how it was 6pm after a night shift, around the time where all of his brother’s should have been deeply asleep. That means any clangs on his door should have been slow and groggy; something sleeping Donnie could have easily passed off as another way his dreams become vivid and “full of life.”

“Hey Donald?” his brother drawled “,It's Leo, can you open up?”

Donnie rolled over onto his side and groaned into his pillow, muffling something causing a loud swoosh and the yellow light of golden hour whistling into his room.

Leo stood in the doorway awkwardly waiting for his brother to react at all, deciding it was ok to step in once he heard a grunt of recognition and a small shoulder nudge coming from the pile of blankets. “Thanks,” Leo said, going to sit down as the doors closed behind him, once again blanketing the room in a dimly lit purple.

Donatello rolled over to look at his brother, blankets still covered up to his nose “, what do you want Leo?”

Something in his face tightened “, oh- nothing, just had a nightmare and…” Leo paused “,you know…”

“I don’t, please enlighten me.”

“I didn't want to be alone.”

Donnie let out a hearty sigh and grumbled something starting somewhere with “-ull” and ending somewhere in “-it.” “Why wouldn't you go to Raph, he’d be far more equipped for this situation,” Donnie muffled out, closing his eyes.

“I don't know- I just,” Leo did know. He sat there with a blinking purple light in his face “,Raph seems like he has so much on his plate, right? I wouldn't want to-”

“And I don’t?” His brother snapped louder than he would have liked to.

They stared at each other in stunned silence for a minute - both too tired to really process anything but Leo knew that wasn't the entirety of it, Donnie did not.

“No, that’s not what I meant at all, I mean- We all have our own stuff going on, and I know you do too. It's just- I'm just… I don't know,” he just didn't want to say it. “I’m sorry,” he said again.

“Stop saying that,” Donnie ordered.

“Sorry,” Leo whispered.

“I’m serious. It’s weird coming out of your mouth.”

“Well what do you want me to say?”

“I don't want you to say anything,” Donnie answered “,I never said you had to say anything.”

“Oh so you don't want me to say anything?” Leo hissed.

“Oh shut up.”

“Sorry.”

“See that is a socially correct time to apologize for something,” Donnie rolled over “,when you’re being an ass.”

Leo hunched back into his brother's desk chair “,sorry for being an ass.”

“You're always an ass,” his brother jeered.

“Ok now you apologize,” Leo quipped back.

Donnie sighed and rolled over onto his shell, staring at the ceiling. “Why are you in here, Nardo?”

Leo looked up and started fiddling with his hands, stroking each of his fingers up and down before moving onto the next one. If Donnie didn't know any better he’d say his brother was ignoring the question, but Donnie knew better. Leo thought whether he wanted to answer honestly. Actually, he was honestly thinking about whether he wanted to be honest with himself. Of course, he didn't think that, why would he think that? No, instead of that very narrow, straight forward thought process his brain decided to run him in a circle like a rat on a hamster wheel.

“I don't know,” Leo lied, hiccuping on the last word.

“Ok, well when you do know, you can tell me,” Donnie complied, without a stutter or misspeak.

Donnie glanced at his brother, wincing at the sudden onslaught of tears streaming down his face, not quite knowing what to do.

“I am trying-, so hard not to say sorry right now,” Leo sputtered out.

“Thank you, please don't,” Donnie said propping himself up “,do you want me to get Raph?” Leo went cold. “Or maybe Mikey-” Donnie continued.

“No! No, please don't.”

“Ok! Ok I won't,” his brother affirmed.

Donnie took his covers off and placed his foot on the floor, slightly leaning into Leo’s personal space in the chair across from him. Leo felt his entire body go tense and numb and it hurt, why did it have to hurt “Please don’t touch me!” Leo cried out. “OH! I won't- I wasn't,” Donnie lurched back, surprised “,I wasn't going to touch you. Believe me I don’t want to either.”

Leo huffed, biting his lip, his face pinching, his breath hissing through his clenched teeth. His heart was beating so fast he swore he was about to have a heart attack, but, again, Donnie knew better. “Leo, look at me,” he said “,look at me.”

Leo looked up, feeling the world get clearer around him, yet that somehow made him feel worse. Donnie watched as his brother’s face tightened before he curled himself into a little ball, clutching his hands over his ears as if even the silence had become too much for Leo to handle.

Donnie crawled out of his bed and onto the floor, sitting beside the spinning chair Leo had begun rocking on. “Y’know, you can go into your shell if you want to,” Donnie recommended, pulling for what helpful scraps he could.

“I don't want to go into my shell,” Leo hiccuped through his knees.

“Ok,” his brother answered.

“Donnie?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you hold my hand,” Leo knew it was a big ask of him but- he needed a big ask right now.

Donnie hesitated and thought a bit before answering “,Yes.” Dislodging his arm from under his head, Leo squeezed his brother’s hand as hard as he could. Still curled up with his knees up against his forehead.

Donnie rested his head against the seat of the chair and let his body go limp. It's not the most uncomfortable place to sleep anyway.

“Hey Donnie?”

“Yeah, Nardo?”

“Thank you.”

Donnie muffled out a “you're welcome,” before slowly dozing into a half-sleep. Leo’s hand kept grasping tighter by the hour, and y'know what? Donnie was ok with that. They decided not to mention it in the morning; just giving Leo one of his convenient bathroom breaks.

[bleeeppx]

Fuck everyone, like it or not if u picture a girl for Donnie, she def would resemble Kendra from the purple dragons, yall can argue with the wall.

She is def his type "You're so cute but so mean, why do I always go for your type" when he was attacked by the weird sexy tomato strawberry animatronic thing, shes snarky, shes purple, shes a tech nerd!!!!!

"She used him for his tech and tried to kill him bleh bleh" rise loves their redemption arcs, thats all i have to say.

Kendra is awesome and could be a really good enemies to lovers if Capril's enemies to lovers simply wasnt as best as it is and wasnt taking up majority of my headspace, but yeah even tho i said tha all I actually prefer Donnie and Kendra as frenemies more than anything, i just really like these purple mean two nerds and i like seeing them fight

[embrose]

(ROT)TMNT rant XD

This is completely self-indulgent, I just wanna yell into the void!

I just finished watching the first season of TMNT 2012, and I have thoughts. Mostly on characters.

I barely remember watching the 2003 TMNT as a kid, and had a basic understanding of the base personalities of the boys. I watched ROTTMNT with that in mind, and could understand the show was pretty much flipping Leo and Raph upside down in that sense. Donny a bit too, but since I’ve watched 2012 TMNT I can see where the inspiration for him comes.

Anyway...

2012 Raph is SO MEAN!

Like, it’s so weird to watch 2012 TMNT after ROTTMNT. Because in the latter, Raph is this big buff teddy bear. Pretty much a himbo, and I love him. I love him so much. So, after falling in love with his character 2012 Raph is just jarring. I miss Rise Raph every time 2012 Raph opens his mouth and says something mean, or condescending, or violent. Heck, it’s weird that he isn’t giving Mikey head pats or lifting Donnie and Leo up casually or being the oldest child! T__T

Mikey was my fave as a kid and remains so now. I relate to him the most and he is a precious bean in both shows. He is the heart of the team, since he is sometimes the only one able to empathize, and he doesn’t deserve to be treated the way he does in TMNT 2012. I feel that especially hard after watching ROTTMNT in which his brothers pretty much adore him and he is the baby of the family that everyone must protecc. I already said a lot about my thoughts on him in an earlier post so not gonna repeat it here.

Leo is boring. Yes, I said it. 2012 Leo is boring. I like how they made him a huge nerd and how genuinely intelligent he is, but he is so serious and such a basic hero type character that I can almost always predict what he will say or do. Not the kind of character I can get attached to. And Rise Leo is just Dewey from Ducktales 2017 but as a teenager XD I have to wonder if the character was written before or after the voice actor was chosen. But I have pretty few complaints, because I love Dewey and I love Leo. And Leo is also very intelligent (tho it’s hard to admit it with him being so smug about it XD) and responsible and charismatic. So charismatic that I couldn’t help but fall in love with that smirk.

Donnie. Oh, Donnie, Donnie, Donnie. Okay, Rise Donnie is a wonderful autistic, snarky theater kid who loves to act dramatic and I can relate to that. My ADHD ass has done theater for over 10 years. His character is written so well that he is the favourite among many, if not most fans. I want to applaud the people who designed him, 5/5, A+ work. And I was surprised to see that 2012 Donnie has a lot of similar traits to him. Putting aside the April simping (ew) 2012 Don is sarcastic and also has the tendency to be dramatic. They both hyperfixate and are passionate and kinda emotionally clueless (Rise Donnie more often than 2012 Donnie). 

Don’t have many thoughts on April. Just that Rise April is a lot more interesting than 2012 April. 2012 April is pretty basic. I’ve been spoiled and I know there’s some more interesting developments for her in the future, so we’ll see how I feel after those. But right now, 2012 April can’t beat the sassy firecracker that is APRIIIIIIL O’NEIL!

The group dynamic with 2012 TMNT is somehow so much colder and more professional than with ROTTMNT. Like, in 2012 Leo is clearly the leader, and they act around him. But ROTTMNT boys are much more of a democracy. Like yeah, sure, Raph says he’s the leader, but he pretty much just feels like the oldest brother, throwing his weight around when needed ‘cos he wants to protect his baby bros. But everyone comes up with plans, everyone is heard out (when the plans are actually viable, DONNIE), and even tho Raph is the main planner everyone pretty much does what they want at the end of the day. This chaotic dynamic is very much what I prefer in any group. It brings out unique characteristics and allows the freedom of expression. And in ROTTMNT’s case the team work really shines, because the boys know each other well and play off each other seamlessly. 2012 team just feels like a collection of individuals doing their own thing with some teamwork here and there.

Also, in the TMNT 2012 finale’s first part Splinter pretty much says to Leo “ya might have to sacrifice yourself or one of your brothers, but hey, gotta do what you gotta do”. And I got SO MAD! In Rise, it was always family first. The boys call Splinter dad and other affectionate names, almost never sensei. The found family trope is so prevalent, and the boys and Splinter love each other so much that hearing that from 2012 Splinter almost made me have an aneurysm! I know, I know, I shouldn’t compare, but I can’t help it!

Okay, rant over, I wrote it when half-asleep so some stuff might be wrong or I might regret it later. But eh.

[samsung-smart-refrigerator]

Here we are! All the turtles, yes Donnie and Leo are trans

Okay here’s all my notes and a speedpaint at the end (if I remember lol)

Donnie

trans

buffest

he helps Raph carry stuff

Severe adhd so like he knows how do a lot of stuff

very curious and always wants a reason why

hacks on a 3ds

Donnies very snarky and sassy

losest moral compass

is a programmer

can only microwave stuff

has the second biggest space in the lab

Mikey

Very flamboyant child. Like sparkly pink jacket gay

is colorblind donnie stole glasses for mikey

very intuitive

like he knows exactly what every one is feeling

falls constantly for deez nuts jokes

graphic designer makes Donnie’s programs look more stylish

He also diys furniture to make the lair look good

they all share a work space

has the third biggest space in the lab

can cook

optimistic

Leo

Mom friend

is the least buff

has an Ōdachi because he can’t aim for sh*t

training is his hobby

very clumsy

medic

why’d splinter give the sharpest weapon to the most clumsy? beats me

Autism

you have to be very specific with him. Like very specific he will push the rules to the limit

very spacey

cunning

huge nerd

wants the first bite out of everyone’s food.

which is really funny because he can’t cook

Raph

definitely gonna change

is Aprils favorite because he doesn’t complain when she dresses him up

the most elegant

has the most clothes out of all of them

Angry and stressed about the state of the world

hates plans changing

Is very sickly

second buffest

very energetic

is a morning person

is mute

everyone treats him more delicately

Spike exists and understands him.

Ralph also writes fanfiction

he’s very soft spoken

he talks to spike about his fanfiction

highly political

the most emotionally stable

never sleeps

drinks decaf

chronically on line

is a really famous fanfic writer

the handy man like fixing cars and lights are his jam

has the biggest space in the lab

can cook and mainly cooks bc his family’s picky

[ducknotinarow]

[2012 RaphDon]

Now that things had settled, and Don's illness was being taken care of, there was only one last thing for him to take care of - Raphael. He knew that Raph took care of him, cared of him, but, there was a lingering pain and anger in the air. Don knew it, thanks to the fact Raph refused to be around him. He understood why, and it was deserved.

Still hurt though.

Heading to Raphael's room, he stood in their doorway for a moment, soon knocking his knuckles on the frame of the door,

"Raph?" He questions, "Can I talk to you about something?"

Donatello enters before Raph even really gives an answer. Taking a seat at the end of his bed, Don takes a deep breath, before just, speaking, forcing himself to do what he always struggles to do,

"I'm sorry," He starts, "I'm sorry I didn't come to you about Casey, ever - I just, I didn't want you to potentially do something dumb and hurt yourself, because, I saw how happy you were with him and I didn't want to take anything wrong you."

He had explained it once, but, he felt he needed to do it again now that he was better,

"But that doesn't mean I shouldn't have ever said anything to you about it, you're my brother and I trust you, but I made it seem like I didn't, and I'm sorry Raphael."

It wasn't an apology though that was needed...okay, well, it was, but there was something else,

"I need you to say it though Raph," Don speaks in riddles, "I need you to just...tell me how you felt about it. Get angry, get upset, we'll go to the dojo and fight it out if you need to...but I don't want us to keep avoiding each other," Don admits, "Because I miss having you around Raph, I miss having my twin."

| Muse Interaction

Raphael would say at best it's been maybe a few weeks the longest since he really kind of was around Donnie. Sure he sat in the kitchen for meals, he lounged around in the pit, and even took part in training sessions that Leo held not just the Splinter ones. Not minding if he and Don were paired off but there was something to note that made a difference. If it was just Don in the kitchen Raph waited till someone else entered or kept what he needed to do brief. He wouldn't lounge in the pit for the same reasons. Though more rare since Don often wasn't there alone less they were all going to gather to watch TV together. He avoid sitting anywhere near Don. The worst? The training sessions. When it came to fighting Raph took it seriously sometimes. Mostly against Leo if they spared with Donnie? Well it was near border bullying at best how Raphael teased and played around with his twin. That wasn't there. No snarky remarks on Don being a nerd, not playing into banter. Maybe a slight peek to make sure Don was fine what with the discovery on him being diabetic now, of course he wanted to make sure they were fine. Didn't want to see Donnie like that again.

But he also seemed like he just didn't want to see Donnie. Which wasn't true but it was getting easy to tell Raph was avoiding his twin and that is pretty rough to do when lived in the same place. Sometimes Raphael found the lair to be too cramp but he sure was finding all kinds of space now. But it seemed Donnie picked up on what Raph was doing. Of course they did though, Raph may hate to admit it but Don was pretty smart he guesses. Fine he knew his brother was a genius but still sometimes that genius still couldn't take a hint. Raphael was letting his eyes fix to the art of his comic book. Aware Don was standing in the door way of his room. Near about cornered in here like this. He could maybe just leave, brush right past them lie say he had somewhere to be. Hell didn't have to lie he could just leave with out a word.

Green eyes peered over the top of his comic looking to Donnie, just to make sure, recalling the last time they came to him he was deathly ill. Raphael's upset and sure he can be short sighted he admits. But he knew Don did that because he felt like he could go to Raph. But they seemed fine so couldn't be that letting his eyes fall back to the page, being all to aware of Don's eyes on him was making it hard to just sit and read. Rereading the same speech bubble over and over again letting his brow furrow when Don's knuckles finally rap against the door frame. Softly hitting it enough to bring attention but there seems to be something more in the action Raph just flips the page to seel the act he was reading.

"Raph?"

It goes unanswered but since when has any of his brothers cared for the silent treatment.

"Can I talk to you about something?"

Seemed they weren't waiting an answer more should have worded it as I need to talk to you about something. As Don soon made his way in and sat at the foot of the bed. Raph simply rolled his eyes and slouched down. Kness rise up so he could rest the comic against legs. Slightly hiding himself away from Donnie a dumb attempt at doubling down on the whole 'i'm ignoring you' shtick Raphael had been one for the on going days.

"I'm sorry,"

Raph dose seemed to tune his attention more towards Don in the moment. Sorry for what now?

"I'm sorry I didn't come to you about Casey, ever - I just, I didn't want you to potentially do something dumb and hurt yourself, because, I saw how happy you were with him and I didn't want to take anything wrong you."

Oh this again, why bring this up it's over it's in the past there nothing to fret over. Raphael is more trying to convince himself of course, seeing how not once has a word left his beak to voice it to his twin. Doesn't understand why hes explain it all again. Don told him when he beat the shit out of them that same day. The memory made the guilt near about curdle in his gut when he thought about it. He get's it though Don had a thing for Casey but kept it to himself. Because of Raph. It's old news why bring it all back up things were fine.

Thought the turtle whose hold on his comic increased making pages crease under his finger tips.

"But that doesn't mean I shouldn't have ever said anything to you about it, you're my brother and I trust you, but I made it seem like I didn't, and I'm sorry Raphael."

Raph can't help the scoff that comes out from him at that point. Slightly cursing himself for paying attention towards Donnie. He was meant to be ignoring them. Not that he had the second he could tell they were in the door way. It's hard to ignore someone that you just so connected with. But try as he might to shut them out he could just 'tell' something was working through Don's mind. Nit like he could read his thoughts of course. Thank fuck for that on Raphael's end at least. But it was a odd sensation sometimes.

"I need you to say it though Raph,"

what? Raph head pops up a bit finally looking, really looking at Don just then no following what they were getting at. He needs to say it? say what? Sorry? oh the hell he was saying sorry to Don! Look making for beating on him sure since he was sick and all but nothing else! Donnie was the one in the wrong he decided in this moment he made this mess! he can clean it up. Falling back down to turn to pretend reading his comic in that moment.

"I need you to just...tell me how you felt about it. Get angry, get upset, we'll go to the dojo and fight it out if you need to...but I don't want us to keep avoiding each other,"

Oh.

Okay he jump the gun a bit here but still, guess he picked up on what Raph was doing as well. That was really Raph's dumbest thought here of course Donnie would notice what he was doing here. Don just seemed able to better tell that stuff.

"Because I miss having you around Raph, I miss having my twin."

"I miss mine too" Raph mumbles under his breath in turn. Unsure if Don even hears him, A heavy sign follows before he finally givens in and set his comic book down off to the side moving to sit up, legs crossing over his tiger print bed sheets as he keeps his gaze low for a time. Don true to his intentions seemed to just be waiting. Raph working to gather his thoughts a moment here here before speaking up.

"I'm not mad about ya 'iking case or did whatever dont matter. Case gets to decide who he 'ikes an' for some reason 'hats me." Raph starts with, the jealous was an issue at the start but Casey's made it so clear who he picks and it's always Raphael and he takes comfort in that. Even if someone else shows an interest hes not just going to dump Raph. "neva was about 'hat anyway." He's trying to stick to just words, even if its hard sometimes for him but least Donnie was letting him have a chance to speak. Finally he lifts his head to look at Don really look at them, not through or past looking straight at those mahogany eyes of his twin brother.

"Ya always seemed on my side sure we fight, I fight wit' everyone. But ya least 'ike care or whatever. We both give Leo the same hard time when he's in the wrong, ya sided with me at the start an' "He pauses trying to figure out what he is even trying to get at here.

"You hurt me. Thats how i felt" He finally says it because that's what it was, "Look maybe I would have done somethin' stupid I dunno. I dunno what I would of done, ya can' know what I woulda done either and I hate that people all assume shit 'bout me." Maybe he would have but he's not sure either he really loves Casey after all maybe he would never give them up. Raph positive, nothing could make him give Casey up. Not even his brother. Besides, Raphael was a tad possessive when it came to Casey, so he really felt he wouldn't.

"I felt hurt when I found out yeah, maybe scared at a chance of losing out on what I got I dunno, but it felt like I been whack by ya fuckin' bo staff to the back of my head to have some no face tell me somethign my twin should!" He snaps finally letting anger flare out before it faded away "but you didn't. Because you thought you couldn' right? and that hurts Don." Raphael states before looking away again.

"I trust ya, I know if I ask you'll have an answer and I know that's dumb ya can' always have my answers even if ya gonna make me feel dumb for askin' I'll still ask anyway." Because of that relaence on Don to just know "I know I could talk to you 'bout stuff. Anything an' everythin' an' ya maybe have answers for me on those things...but I'm not ready for those answers." Another sigh works out of him with that admission.

"But despite how i feel that way. you couldn' tell me about this? I was hurt and I jus'...wanted to hurt you back." He knows that makes him awful " least Leo willin' to tell me things, yeah we fight but he don' hide things from me. He don' avoid the hard talks wit' me. Sure expects me to lash out but least he talks Don." Some scolding in there now "I got more respect for someone who will be honest to my face and feel they can be honest to me even if it might not be somethin' I'm gonna wanna hear or handle well. But if ya can' do 'hat then maybe ya jus' don' need me either." Explaing his own avoidance now.

"And that hurts me more than anything else that's gone on."

Raph could maybe leave be done with this and leave Don to thibk on it more. But he suddenly moves uncrossing his legs as he moves to crawl and sit behind Don rest back against thier shell like they used to. Raphs attempt at trying here. He sometimes did it with Leo but it was more comfortable with Donnie. The groves of their shells seemed to lock in place so easily and well. Tipping back his head as he can feel the back of Donnies brush against his own. Sometimes he hated how tall Don was but that was mkre because he hates how short he was in comparison. It honestly felt kind of nice.

"And seeing you after ya got sick an' I didn' have a fuckin' clue? Because I was jus' that mad at you? I couldn' tell I had no idea! Ya could have-" He let's that thought trail off. "I jus' don' think ya need me around Don it might be better that way..." Despite his words he clearly dosen't like the thought because of what he's doing now. "Cause I shoulda known Don. I should been there for you. You needed me and...I wasn' doin' what I set out to." Nothing but guilt and remorse in his voice.

[strawberrymilkloadingscreen]

In 2018 TMNT do you think Don and Raph switched roles? Everyone's favorite nerd is really mean in this version. Isn't that usually Raph's job?

Oh fuck yes, Character essay writing time! 

So Rise! Donnie is basically kind of the natural evolution of who Donnie has always been. His contribution in the comedic sense has always been a little dry, and it’s been getting dryer the longer the series has been running and with America in general liking that kind of humor more and more. You can see this especially in the jump between 2003! Donnie and 2012! Donnie. Where 2003! Donnie was more of a straight man with the occasional dreamer moments, a thing he shared with 2003! Mikey on occasion, it’s in 2012 where we see even more sarcasm and bitterness. 

Multiple times through out the 2012 series we see Donnie having a short fuse and a sense of bitterness about him. From all I have seen this is not exactly something that has always been there, but of course I could be wrong since I’m not prone to reading western comics.  ( @brightlotusmoon is probably a wonderful reference for this aspect and the older shows since they’ve been here since day one.) 

So, keeping to the world of movies and TV shows, a bitter as coffee Donnie isn’t exactly the norm. However, giving Donnie a personality outside of machines and nerdery was bound to happen. Was it successful...

I dunno. I don’t exactly like 2012! Donnie because he’s so bitter, but I’m not the entire fandom, so...

Anyway! It looks like they went back to the drawing board and began looking at what made each turtle interesting. Mikey is an empathetic dreamer with ADHD tendencies. Raph is a passionate guy that only want the best for his family, but has a hard time articulating things. Donnie is snarky and likes to know everything about anything, and appears to get overstimulated with some things and over thinks everything. Leo is a person who has a lot of skills and can grasp things easily when he puts in the effort. (I will be writing a rant about this disaster child eventually.) 

Now we have to add in the unique point where we are in our history. It’s okay for a man to emote things other than rage, Stoicism, or being an idiot. Nerds are higher on the social ladder than they were when the comics and show first came out. 

The natural conclusion? 

Long story short: Make Raph a sweetheart that gets easily frustrated, and make Donnie a snarky bad boy. 

Yes you’re reading this right. 

Rise! Raph is now a softie who wants to protect his family, but gets frustrated because he can’t always do so or articulate this need properly. This is seen time and time again by the younger ones relying on Raph, but not really listening to what he poorly explains to them. 

Rise! Donnie is a much softer version of 2012 Donnie. (Resident fandom Dad said he went from a Beta to an Alpha. Even without the weird wording trying to make him into an ‘emotionally unavailable badboy’ was on purpose.) He’s a guy who really doesn’t seem to get emotions or closeness, but he goes all out on things he’s passionate about whether it’s machines or people. 

Now that we have the backstory and current day explained... Is Rise! Donnie mean? 

Not really mean as much as dryer and way blunter than he used to be, and one to jump the gun (I.E: Splinter stealing the turtle tank) but for the most part he’s just joking around with his brothers and April. 

Also, I don’t think Raph has always been mean. He’s been more of a person that can’t articulate what he feels, gets overstimulated, and explodes. How effective the writers are in explaining this, and having Raph apologize and learn is another essay for another day... 

[brightlotusmoon]

Bay Donnie in my fics: *raising eyeridges Vulcanly*

Me, knowing Bay Donnie's face was modeled after Spock: Nailed it.

@remmushound

[kittypancake]

About Rise of the TMNT - Long Post (sorry, but I need to geek out)

I always kinda liked the tmnt series, though I was always teased and bullied about it. So I never really...watch a lot of it, unless I could find a way to do it secretly. Now that I’m older, I realized something. I can watch whatever I want, whenever I want! I have a lot to catch up on, but my internalized fear from all the bullying has kinda been hard to get passed. I haven’t watched the shows I wanted to, holding it off for “tomorrow”, yet never following through.

Then a couple months ago I saw some fan art for a series called Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

I had no clue about the show! I didn’t know they made another Tmnt after the 2012 version! I was shocked, but also hopeful. Maybe I could watch it, start off fresh with a series that isn’t full of hurtful memories.

Let me tell you, it was not easy. I didn’t know where to watch it! I don’t have cable, nor do I know anyone who has cable. So no Nickelodeon or NickToons. I heard it was in Netflix, so I asked my sister if I could use her account to check. Not there. I was feeling really frustrated at that point. I wanted to watch this show so badly, and the more fan art I saw (because let’s be real, I didn’t see any sort of advertising for this), the more excited I was.

I loved the designs! They all looked different, more than ever! Each being a different kind of turtle, and Raphael was the leader? How would that change the dynamic? I wanted to know!

After searching for so long, I finally found Philo. It’s...not that good honestly. It’s like $20! But I was desperate and willing to pay to watch just this one show.

And I’m glad I did! It’s amazing! I fell in love. Usually, I only really liked Leonardo. To me, he always seemed awesome. Raphael...he always scared me. I have a deep seated fear for anyone who is aggressive, yells, and shows anger. And Raphael was ANGER. He terrified me. Donatello was alright, I liked how smart he is but he felt...one note and super creepy to me in the 2012 version. Michelangelo was pretty neat, he was the goofball. But he was always played off as the dumb one, the one who accidentally succeeded and couldn’t be serious. That’s not bad, he and Donnie were alright to me.

In Rise, though, it was so much more. Leo is a teen! He’s snarky, punny, smart, and just loves his brothers so much. They are his strength, and it shows. He’s insecure, he’s more than “fearless leader, splinter jr”. He’s neon Leon! You can tell he loves his brothers, more than any other interation before this. Leonardo of the before times has always been a bit too detached, cold in a way. He was isolated, but now he can just be more relaxed. Spend more time with his bros, find things he loves to do. And he’s still a nerd! I love that. Plus he’s not oldest!!! He’s like...maybe second youngest, and I just aaaaaaaaaaaa.

Raph? He’s a sweetheart!~ A gentle giant who could and will hug all his brothers at once. He tries his best as leader, but still has the “I will punch first” mentality, but he doesn’t scare me. He’s there for his brothers, maybe too much so he tries to step back a bit to help them be more independent. He’s literally their mother hen now, and he’s good at it. For once, I can honestly say I love Raphael.

Donnie is a riot, I love what they did with him. He’s the funny one! He’s smart, yes, but he’s confident (in his knowledge) now. He’s fun, he’s adorable (do I need to remind everyone of the basketball flashback of him? That’s cute and relatable), and he loves to dance! You can tell, not even by his bootyyyshaker9000 name, but by how he moves throughout the series. He builds so much for his family as well, giving them gifts that he thinks would be helpful, but they also blow up in his face too and that’s kinda humbling to know he’s not a perfect genius all the time. He tries to hold in emotions, but we see them come out and it’s just nice to see. He’s a sassy guy, and I love him.

Mikey, oh my gosh, he’s perfect. He’s still a ray of sunshine, but he’s more! He has more to him now, he has sides to him to help him be helpful both emotionally and with strength. Dr Feelings is there to be the shoulder everyone could go to, Dr Delicate Touch will crush you and not even blink while doing so. He can still be a prankster, but now it feels like he’s more. And I love his interactions with his brothers. I feel like him and Leo get in a bunch of shenanigans, him and Donnie go on a lot of adventures, and Raph and him can bond though he wants to not be treated like a baby. Did I mention he’s awesome? He’s awesome, throwing around trucks and stuff like nothing!

Don’t even get me started on the rest of the characters or I will ramble on for an eternity because of how much I love them. Even the bad guys! I’ve never liked the bad guys before but Draxum? Warren Stone? The SHREDDER? I love them so much, for character design and story. For how it’s not always as it seems, for the redemptions. Splinters development was fun to experience too. Having a positive message where a parent can do wrong and actually apologize to their kids for it? We need more of that! I’m slipping into a rant. Short of it, April, Sunita, Foot Recruit, Casey, Foot clan, Big Mama, I love them all.

I’m very upset that we didn’t get to see the story as the Rottmnt crew wanted, missing what was it? 13 episodes? And one of them was a turtle tots! Another with Draxum and Raph bonding!! More time with Karai! That’s messed up.

I want to experience more. I want to get lost in their world more, l want to be happy.

Because that’s what this show is for me. It makes me happy, in a time where my depression just keeps attacking me constantly. Where there’s fear outside, where I’m not motivated to do anything, even drawing which is something I love. I got lost in the mystic world of Rise. In the characters, the awesome animation, the wonderfully beautiful scenery and story. The silliness actually made me laugh out loud multiple times, and it felt amazing. Still feels amazing every time I can rewatch. It helped me cry, and not feel alone. Because sometimes you really need to get those tears out.

I want so badly for this show to continue. To rewind and give us those missing episodes, to continue afterwards.

This isn’t even all I want to say, but it’s hard to put into words how I feel for this show. And I shouldn’t make this any longer. Thank you to the people in this fandom, for the Rottmnt crew, and for anyone else listening. I strongly recommend you give this show a watch and support it in anyway you can.

@nickelodeon @tmnt

[theromanticscrooge]

Thoughts on Apriltello Across the Animated TMNT Series

After watching the Rise of the TMNT episode “Donnie Vs Witch Town,” I’ve been wanting to chime in on this topic.

My big introduction to TMNT in general was the 2012 series, so I’ve kept a few tabs on Donnie and April in the 2003, 2012, and 2018 series. From what I can tell, there’s been more of a highlight on these two as each new animated series comes out. It just depends on how Donnie or April are set up and written in each one as to what kind of dynamic they share.

2003

In the 2003 series, April seems to be a few years older than the turtles. Over the course of the series, she becomes the older sister figure of the group. She and Splinter are the guardian/parental figures of the group in certain situations. The turtles are ready to deliver nosy sibling banter and jokes when she goes out with Casey. And she’s lived in the sewers with the turtles as often as they’ve taken temporary residence above her antique shop.

In combat situations or missions, April usually acts as back-up, filling the role of ongoing research assistant to the turtles when they’re out in the field. Or, for a better description, she serves a role similar to what the Oracle does with Batman.

In regards to her dynamic with Donnie in specific, I’d say that they’re best friends and lab partners. They share strong mutual interests in science and technology. They even collaborate often enough to where Donnie has commented on how valuable her feedback is to him.

There’s one scene in particular where Donnie gets excited after April makes the comment “I could kiss you!” after he steps in and tries to rescue her. This is a one-off scene, though. April’s romantic interest is focused on Casey. And Donnie never expresses interest in trying to make any moves or pursuing any kind of romantic relationship. I think Donnie would go for it if April showed genuine interest. Otherwise, he’s satisfied being just friends.

2012

In the 2012 series, April is fifteen; the same age as all four turtles. She’s a friend, confidant, fellow kunoichi, and an adoptive member of their family.

Donnie is smitten with April from the moment he sees her and his infatuation grows deeper over the course of the series. His feelings are painfully obvious, he can get overbearing with his attempts to flirt with or impress April, and he can come across as clingy and creepy. He places April on a pedestal to the point that he can’t relax around her enough to get to know her as a three dimensional person rather than an idealized love interest.

One episode shows Donnie developing enough self awareness to approach April and tell her he’ll be better about giving her space. But it doesn’t really stick. Or, more specifically, there aren’t any other significant scenes or moments that show a deliberate shift in Donnie’s behavior or his dynamic with April.

On April’s part, she likes Donnie well enough. He’s her favorite turtle and she’s been openly affectionate in expressing her gratitude or fondness towards him. She appreciates him going out of his way to help her and her dad. The largest problem is the lack of communication. Donnie and April don’t really share their feelings well: Donnie is too forceful and can’t read the room where April seems reluctant to outright address Donnie’s feelings for fear of hurting him or otherwise.

It’s dubious how much Donnie and April have in common, too. Science and technology are the center of Donnie’s life. Sometimes, April calls one of his inventions “cool,” but there’s also been a scene where she looked bored to tears as he was describing one of his latest inventions. Donnie and April watch TV together in a big group, but there’s little to no hints at mutual interests they share or activities they’d exclusively do together.

Compare Donnie and April with Casey and April. Casey and April share chemistry from their first scene onward. He has just the right amount of self-confidence and awareness that his flirting is cool and casual. They’re comfortable around each other. April openly flirts back, banters, and has fun with Casey. She even uses “date with Casey” as a plausible cover for her outings with the group at large. If April did start up a committed romantic relationship with any character, Casey would be the most likely choice. It’d just take a couple of scenes where they had a more meaningful stare, kiss, whatever. In short, the groundwork was there. Casey and April have exactly what Donnie and April lack in more casual settings and situations.

There’s hints that Donnie and April are together in the last season. Because of how big a part Donnie’s crush on April is to his character, I’m not keen on hand-waving that all of that development happened off-screen. When romantic relationships contribute to a character’s growth or writing in a significant way, I want to see what leads up to that and how it impacts that character.

As a concept, I think Donnie’s intense crush is an interesting setup and painfully relatable. The way he acts is believable and accurate to what a lovesick socially awkward nerd can be like. But I wanted to see Donnie back off and actively work on how he acts around April. As in, he catches himself before he makes yet another awkward gift or unwanted over-the-top gesture. For me, the ideal end result would be an organic, gradual shift towards Donnie developing a healthy friendship with April.

2018

In the 2018 series, April is sixteen. According to the ages listed in the fan wiki, she’s a year older than Donnie. She’s considered part of the family to the point Splinter coaches her as much as his own kids and makes a point of wanting to meet her parents. She’s good friends with all of the turtles and it’s implied she hung out exclusively with them until she met Sunida.

But Donnie is definitely her best friend. He’s the first one she calls for help with tech related issues. They have the same taste in Jupiter Jim movies and video games. And Donnie designed part of his metal shell to accommodate April if they travel by air. There’s also a handful of episodes that specifically follow Donnie and April; and these two are the most likely dynamic duo to star in a one-off episode out of the main cast.

Unlike the 2003 and 2012 series, there’s plenty of scenes and dialogue to articulate what kind of dynamic these two share. They’re visibly comfortable around each other, share fantastic chemistry, and have complementary personalities. Donnie is snarky, arrogant, and puts on a front to mask his insecurities or doubts. He doubles down unless someone pulls him aside and talks things out. More often than not, April’s willingness to be blunt and no-nonsense helps reign him in. Where Donnie helps April troubleshoot tech, she keeps him grounded.

These two have a solid enough dynamic that a friends to lovers setup could play out in a satisfying, well done way; as long as they still had the same open communication anyway. That said, though, I prefer them as just friends in canon. They’re one of the better guy and girl friendships I’ve seen in a more comedy-centric episodic cartoon in awhile (after Rad and Enid in O.K. K.O.). 

Conclusion

Rise of the TMNT has the best Donnie and April dynamic in my opinion.

It pretty much boils down to Rise giving characters individual attention and writing as well as Rise knowing exactly how this take on Donnie and April works, how they fit, and why they fit. The 2003 series was more focused on telling a grand, ongoing adventure than much emphasis on the characters themselves. There just wasn’t as much of Donnie and April highlighted in the ’03 series as there is in Rise. The 2012 series was bogged down with enough exec mandates and other writing issues that Donnie and April probably got sidelined in favor of other plot points and character writing. It needed more time and focus to feel more fleshed out and cohesive than it turned out.

I used to write long, rambly takes called The Shipping Corner on why I thought Character A was a good fit for Character B. When I’d sit down to cobble something together, I felt like I had my best results if I could unpack why a character acted a certain way and articulate how the other character fit into or impacted their life. If given a week or so, I think I could write up a Shipping Corner for Donnie and April in Rise. I don’t think I could write one for them in the 2012 TMNT.

It’s been a few years, but The Shipping Corner still determines some parts and pieces of my shipping interests or even how I analyze some characters.

[obtusemedia]

Top 25 songs of 2020: Honorable mentions

2020 was not a good year in many respects. But despite the world collapsing around us, there was a shocking amount of great new music.

Some of 2020′s best songs were a good fit for this terrifying year — we’ll get to those ones much, much later in the countdown. But 2020 also gave us gorgeous folk ballads, euphoric dance music and infectiously fun pop and hip-hop that had nothing to do with COVID-19 or any other awful aspects of the year.

Before we get to the proper list, here are 15 nearly-as-good songs that juuuust missed the cut, listed in alphabetical order by the artist’s name.

“Shimmy” by Aminé

Oregon’s most prominent rapper — okay, fine, Oregon’s only prominent rapper — came out of the gates blazing this year with “Shimmy.” 

Aminé may have heavily sampled Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s classic “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” on his second album’s leadoff single, but he replaces ODB’s chaotic vibes with a cold, snarling precision. He almost evokes Pusha T in his gleeful takedown of his rivals over the ice-cold beat. Pair this banger with one of the year’s best music videos, and there’s no doubt it would sneak onto this list.

“Dakiti” by Bad Bunny and Jhay Cortez

I am all about this nocturnal, new wave-y style of reggaeton. The melody is catchy as hell, yet the production has a sinister, chilly vibe that wouldn’t sound out of place on an Italians Do It Better complication. 

Megastar Bad Bunny’s husky vocals and Jhay Cortez’s more nasally voice make for a fun contrast as they trade verses. It’s a winning and charismatic combination!

“Boomer” by Bartees Strange

When you hear the phrase “rap-rock,” you’re likely shuddering at the thought of Limp Bizkit. But that style can work, as promising new artist Bartees Strange — stage name of D.C. alt-rocker Bartees Leon Cox — proves on “Boomer.”

Cox spices up a solid mall-punk banger with some rap verses. And unlike the Fred Dursts of the world, he can actually, you know, rap. 

But it’s the song’s explosive chorus, where Cox unleashes his howling vocals over charging guitars, where “Boomer” goes from an interesting song to a great one. If there’s any justice, he’ll be rising up the indie ranks very soon.

“Kyoto” by Phoebe Bridgers

I think I might be the only music nerd who didn’t adore Phoebe Bridgers’ new album, Punisher. For me, her mix of hushed, mostly-sincere singer-songwriter ballads with snarky lyrics just came off as tonally awkward. Her quips about Scientology and outlet malls in otherwise-sad ballads left a sour note for me.

But Bridgers’ unique songwriting style shines most on the few uptempo songs on Punisher, particularly “Kyoto.” Her goofy non sequiturs fit much better in a driving, anthemic song. And I’m immediately primed to enjoy any tune with a strong resemblance to Sufjan Stevens’ “Chicago.”

“Dynamite” by BTS

I’m not sure what it says about me that I didn’t learn to love BTS, the insanely-beloved South Korean boy band, until they finally recorded a song in English. 

It’s not that I dislike their earlier, Korean-language stuff — “Boy With Luv” in particular is a banger. And BTS’ English-language lyrics on “Dynamite” don’t really have any meaning (they’re basically just a bunch of random catchphrases jammed together ... but they do sound good).

But there’s something immediate and pristine about “Dynamite” that makes it impossible to not adore. It’s a little too cleanly produced to be on the level of the Bruno Mars hits BTS were clearly aping, but the sense of fun is infectious. At the very least, it’s on equal footing with Taio Cruz’s classic of the same name.

“Comeback” by Carly Rae Jepsen feat. Bleachers

Carly Rae Jepsen can knock out wistful synthpop nuggets like this in her sleep. So can Jack Antonoff, who produced the track and provides some backing vocals. 

But just because this isn’t anything new for the duo doesn’t mean the winning formula’s gone stale. “Comeback” is a worthy addition to both of their catalogues.

“Hollywood” by Car Seat Headrest

I can’t, in good conscience, put this song in the top 25. It’s an intentionally abrasive misfire from the Seattle indie rockers, who’ve done much better. Complaining about the vapidness and sleaziness of Hollywood is an overplayed topic, and letting side members of the band rap some of the verses (in goofy voices, no less) was maybe not the best call.

...but at the same time, there’s something to this objectively bad song that I keep returning to. Maybe it’s the embarrassing bluntness of the lyrics. Maybe it’s the forceful guitar riff. Maybe it’s because the aggro, visceral nature of “Hollywood” makes it a perfect workout song. Maybe it’s the goodwill left over from Car Seat Headrest’s last two albums, which were both stone-cold indie rock classics. I’m not sure! 

But even though I know it’s not a good enough song to make the proper list, I can’t lie to myself and leave it out of the honorable mentions. It’s a banger in spite of itself.

“24 Hours” by Georgia

"24 Hours” is the best possible version of a left-of-center synthpop club banger. 

What makes it great — the pulsating energy, Georgia’s yearning vocals, the “whoo!” vocal samples — are obvious on immediate listen. But perhaps what makes “24 Hours” worthy of this list is its replay factor. It came out in January, and it still sounds great 11 months later.

“1985″ by Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist (song starts at 1:35)

We already knew — thanks to his two collaborative albums with Madlib — that Freddie Gibbs’ gruff flow sounds incredible over dusty samples. So why not team up with another producer who does something similar?

“1985″ is a prime example of knowing one’s strengths. The Alchemist’s production is stunningly gorgeous in his typical style, with a soaring guitar solo and a shuffling, dreamy beat. Gibbs pounces on it with the same ferocious street-life verses he’s been spitting for years. I’m glad to see Gibbs has figured out exactly which production sounds best for him to make Tiger King jokes and tell coke-dealing stories.

“Say Something” by Kylie Minogue

Aussie icon Kylie Minogue has been at it for 33 years at this point, reminding us every decade or so exactly why she’s stuck around.

“Say Something” is one of those reminder tracks — a burbling, irresistible, futuristic-yet-retro disco banger. The production is stellar, from the clanging guitar riff to the bouncy synth bass, and Minogue has a winking confidence on the track like she’s been doing this for decades (which, of course, she has). It’s exactly what you want out of a bubblegum pop jam.

“Right Round The Clock” by Sorry

With their very-British boy-girl dueling vocals, new London indie rock outfit Sorry definitely have more of a whiff of The xx. But instead of hyper-minimalist, whispered tunes, “Right Round The Clock” has a thundering, droll swagger that grabs you by the throat when the chorus comes slamming in.

The thumping, piano-based sound of “Clock” has a bit of a jazzy flair, thanks to the flecks of sax that pop in here and there. And Sorry interpolates Tears For Fears’ classic “Mad World” in a gloriously tongue-in-cheek way on the chorus (at the very least, it’s far superior to that awful gloom-and-doom Donnie Darko cover).

“Brooklyn Bridge To Chorus” by The Strokes

In a year FILLED with improbable comebacks from ‘00s and ‘90s artists (we’ll get some of to them in the top 25!), The Strokes may have been the least likely. The early ‘00s indie rock standard-bearers had been in sharp decline for nearly 15 years before their new album, The New Abnormal, dropped and the group returned to form.

“Brooklyn Bridge To Chorus” is a prime example of The Strokes’ invigorating comeback. It’s a killer new-wave jam that could’ve been been written by The Cars, with its jittery keyboards and impossibly catchy chorus. And of course, The Strokes’ most valuable asset — lead singer Julian Casablancas’ impossibly cool vocals — is here in full force. 

It’s not quite Is This It, but “Brooklyn Bridge To Chorus” is still The Strokes’ best song in 14 years.

“Spotlight” by Jessie Ware

After a career making increasingly dull ballads, “Spotlight,” and Ware’s new What’s Your Pleasure? album, is a refreshing change of pace into sleek dance-pop. 

I don’t know if “classy” has ever been used to describe disco, but that’s the best way to describe “Spotlight.” It’s undoubtably a dancefloor filler, with a funky groove and ‘70s string stabs, but there’s also a stateliness to it. It could fit equally well at Studio 54 as it would at a black-tie affair. I credit Ware with that, using her breathy vocals and charisma to strong effect here.

“Lilacs” by Waxahatchee

Any time you can write a song that sounds like an outtake from Tom Petty’s Wildflowers, I’m on board. 

That’s a bit of a reductive way to describe “Lilacs” — Katie Crutchfield’s vocals are much more fiery, for starters. But there’s something nostalgic and welcoming about this southern-fried folk-rock song with oblique lyrics and catchy hooks for days.

“Mood” by 24kGoldn feat. iann dior

Much of this new wave of emo-influenced rap isn’t really my thing. Maybe I’ve grown out of super-angsty and blunt songs about depression? Although I still love Smashing Pumpkins, so maybe that’s not the case. I can’t really answer why I don’t adore Juice WRLD or Lil Peep like so many others seem to.

But “Mood” — an unabashed sell-out, watered-down version of that sound – immediately clicked for me. I know 24kGoldn is trend-riding here, and that this is essentially a wildly shallow pop song. BUT! It’s a really catchy wildly shallow pop song! With bouncy pop-punk production that sounds like trap-ified Blink-182! (okay, it’s much better than that sounds, but you get the point)

I allow myself a guilty pleasure or two on my lists. “Mood” is one of those guilty pleasures this year. As the kids (presumably still?) say, it’s a vibe.

[fire-fira]

Some headcanons for the Dark Turtles and Cody

(borrowing the names for the clone turtles from @onthespectrumwriting‘s fic [Progress], because hell yes).

So, Dark Leo = Len, Dark Raph = Ray, Dark Don = Tello, and Dark Mike = Angelo. (And because this is long as heck, a large chunk of it is under the cut.)

After the original turtles and Splinter went back to their time and things had settled down, everything hit Cody like a ton of bricks. He finally had time to process. He went from “Everything is fine, they’re back home, it’s all great, and it’s only a matter of time before Darius is caught— but now that I know what he’s really like I know to be on the watch and I’m great” to “…Everything is not fine.” - Everything was the opposite of ‘fine’. - Did Cody develop a huge case of paranoia? Maybe, but it wasn’t entirely unjustified. - Then there was the fact that the clone turtles were out there, and they’d been put through worse than he had. - Cue Cody suddenly worrying that the clone turtles were going to wind up killed, and him developing a gradually increasing conviction that he needed to get them away from Darius. - Which also brought up the question of where they could go if he got them out and kept them out of the hands of the authorities. - Cue Cody nearly giving Serling the robot equivalent of a heart attack when he up and decided that if he got the chance he’d invite the clone turtles to move in with him. - Serling was not pleased with this. AT ALL. - When Darius and the clone turtles got caught, that’s when the first hints of Cody’s vicious side started showing up. (He was ready to actually bust into the place where the clone turtles were being kept in order to get them out if they weren’t released to him.) - Yes, Cody was seriously contemplating breaking into a prison and making a jailbreak if he couldn’t get the legal system to cooperate. - Fortunately he managed to get the legal system to work with him after Darius’s trial, even if it took a threat or two and pointing out that the clone turtles were kids and that keeping them imprisoned was child abuse. - Cody Augustus Jones does not play around where his little brothers’ freedom and safety is concerned.

In the course of taking them in, Cody adopted the clone turtles as his little brothers and wound up naming them (since Darius is an ass and couldn’t be bothered). - The fact that Cody adopted them horrified Serling. - The fact that they adopted Cody right back almost horrified Serling worse. - Serling gradually got over it once he was finally convinced that none of them were going to kill Cody. And accepted the fact that Cody was helping them become more functional and less violent. - Serling still doesn’t appreciate the random instances of things accidentally getting broken, or the kitchen getting turned into a wreck due to the boys not yet knowing how to cook (or decently work the stove). - Serling has temporarily banned the clone turtles from touching the stove at least once due to an incident where it somehow caught fire. (It’s a work in progress.)

All five of them have massive trauma and various triggers that can easily be tripped, but they all are making painstaking efforts to be better and help each other be better. (It’s not always easy, but they do better together than they do apart.) - By mutual agreement there are words that DO NOT get said to avoid having buttons pushed. - They also do their best not to startle each other or move fast in the periphery of each other’s vision without forewarning. (There have been several close calls where one of the five of them almost got seriously hurt because of incidents like this. In one Angelo stopped himself just before his claws would have met Cody’s face. It took several hours to calm him down and for Cody to convince him that he wasn’t mad at him.) - Cody usually tends to act as the mediator and gets the others to talk things out after a blow up. Over time Ray starts picking up the habit (when he’s the calm one in the situation) and starts gently ‘feelings policing’ the others to nudge them into thinking things out over whether or not they’re being fair. - Nightmares have a way of resulting in Cody getting glommed onto.

All four of the turtles have physical problems because they were speed-grown, to different levels of severity. - Len had his left eye removed and completely replaced before he and the others were woken up for the first time because that eye was blind; the metal bands on his scalp are part of the structure keeping his cybernetic eye and its housing securely attached to his skull. With his cybernetic eye he can see normal wavelengths of light, infrared, and night-vision, and he can switch among the three at will; but because of one of the fights with Leo an internal part is prone to sliding out of place and causing the vision in that eye to glitch. He is very twitchy about having his cybernetic eye opened and worked on, and is extremely leery of the idea of possibly having to go through surgery to get it fixed. His knees and ankles are mildly iffy at him without support, but the main issue for his legs is blood flow; his ‘pants’/stabilizers add just enough pressure to improve it so it’s almost not an issue. Without, his feet get cold fast. The bones of his left forearm are prone to shifting out of place without the sleeve-stabilizer (which can wreak havoc on his elbow and wrist), so he rarely takes that one off. (The armor on his left shoulder is there to compensate just in case that arm does have issues even with the stabilizers, so that way he’s not entirely defenseless on that side.) - Ray’s knees don’t like him, but he can get by with mild support for them; however his left ankle and right hip are both heavily prone to slipping out of place without his stabilizers (which is really not a good thing since he’s walking on the balls of his feet and is carrying around so much weight). His right shoulder, elbow, wrist, and ribs all have issues and easily dislocate, but the sleeve and rib stabilizers keep things in place. (Also, while the series doesn’t show him taking off his gloves, the ‘talons’ on those gloves are protective metal sheathes for the talons/secondary ‘thumbs’ he has underneath.) -Tello has a weak neck and a jaw that would easily pop out of place without the metal pieces fused to his cheekbones to provide guidance and support. Without his leg stabilizers his ankles are iffy, but his knees absolutely hate him; he will not risk trying to stand or walk anywhere without his leg stabilizers unless he has absolutely no other choice. Like the strips of metal attached to Len’s head, the metal stabilizers on Tello’s ribs can’t be removed (at least not without surgery)— but since they keep his ribs from moving in ways they’re not supposed to, he has zero complaints about keeping them. The stabilizing sleeve for his tail isn’t entirely necessary but acts as armor and shock absorption and decreases the chances that he’ll wrench any of the vertebrae of his tail out of place in a fight. He’s also nearsighted and needs glasses (though he won’t wear them in a fight or during sparring sessions, because he doesn’t want them getting broken). - Angelo’s left knee was bad enough that he has two stabilizing metal strips anchored into the bone to keep his knee moving correctly. His right knee, ankle, and foot are all prone to having the bones shift without his stabilizer, but it’s at a mild level compared to the state his left knee was in. The rest of what he wears is purely armor, so in one sense he came out the least ‘messed up’ of the four, but he’s also the only one with visible ports embedded in his neck (which he has to make sure stay clean or risk possible infection—fortunately he has a good immune system).

Len is a grumpy child who largely wants peace and quiet while being surrounded by his garden. He’s also a snarky hothead who’s full of sass and is really not good at putting on a polite public face. While Cody tries to make sure none of his little brothers ever have to deal with the media, Len is the one who is ‘forbidden’ by his brothers from saying more than a word or two in a single sitting to any media or public figure. (He’s good with his family and when it comes to being honest, but most of the time he doesn’t see the point in public social niceties and that’s something that could easily get him into trouble.) Any mention of the scorpion story puts him in a bad mood that can last as long as a day, and sometimes even longer. The same can be said for him getting called ‘Fearless’ (yes, Len getting called that has been privately banned within the family). He has also been dubbed one of the two members of ‘The Grumpy Brigade’ by Angelo.

Tello is also full of snark and sass, but with a flavor of Science!™, and has a much better public face than Len. When he wants to, Tello can be downright charming and come off as just a pleasantly sociable tech nerd— which means he’s ready and willing to lie through his teeth to increase the chances that his family will just be left alone (and he is not afraid to leverage that pleasant façade to explain away the various explosions he and Cody are at fault for). There are two things that, if he is deprived of, will provoke him to cause absolute hell: his glasses and his coffee. Like Donnie, once he picked up the habit of coffee, he doesn’t do well without it. Unlike Donnie, if he goes too long without his glasses, he starts giving himself migraines due to trying too hard to bring the world into focus. He’s the second member of ‘The Grumpy Brigade’, and one of two members of ‘The Mad Scientist Brigade’ (also a name Angelo came up with).

Angelo is the dramatic theater kid of the family (he really takes after Mikey that way) and is— in his own way— a bright ball of sunshine. He is also abnormally skilled at squeezing himself into spaces that he shouldn’t be able to fit into (none of his brothers know how he does it). He’s charming, he’s funny, and he’s usually ready with a quip or a way to casually mouth off without stepping on any toes. Where he and Mikey really differ is that while Mikey always wanted more friends and company, Angelo is much more cautious about getting close to others. He’s good at putting forward a bright and confident façade, but he doesn’t trust easily and is hesitant to be anything close to vulnerable around anyone outside his family. (He especially hates hearing cop sirens, because it forcefully reminds him of when he and the other three turtles got caught.) If anyone asks him, he’ll insist that he’s the cute one, but if he starts to feel like he’s getting too much attention he’s quick to come up with an excuse that’ll let him nudge Cody into the forefront so he can fade back.

Ray, despite his horrendous temper to start with, has become the voice of reason out of him and his brothers. Soon after Cody took him and the other three in, he became thoroughly aware of the fact that he could do some serious damage as the biggest and strongest of the brothers (to say nothing of the massive talons on his hands), and as a result he has worked his ass off to gain control of his temper and to be as gentle as he possibly can. He still has his moments and flares of temper, but he’s put in enough effort and work that sometimes he’s even more sensible than Cody (though Cody has his reasons for giving into his anger more). Through a lot of effort Ray has become gentle, thoughtful, quiet, and highly inter-personally intelligent. He’s become the sort of person to carefully think things through before he responds (when warranted) and has developed a habit of being deliberate when he speaks— though he tries to be honest when he’s at a loss and doesn’t have an answer for something. He’s a giant teddybear, a complete cuddlebug, and he loves curling up with all four of his brothers in a big pile whenever he gets the chance (though sometimes it’s still a little hard for him to bring himself to ask for it and affection in general). To the public he seems to have a shy disposition, but that’s because he prefers to hang back until he feels like he has a good enough grasp of a situation and the people involved. He’s not comfortable with large tightly-packed crowds or sterile rooms with a single door that’s locked. (Like Angelo, he did not take their confinement well.) Angelo has affectionately dubbed him ‘Sir Snugglesworth’.

Cody is the one who most people think is the responsible and reasonable one— and to be fair, he is up to a point. He’s also absolute hell-on-wheels to anyone who dares to threaten him or his little brothers. When the original turtles were in his home, Cody started out fairly subdued and sheltered, naïve to the trap he was living in. Over the course of finding out exactly the sort of person Darius was, what he’d done to him and his brothers, what he would have done, and the fact that there were people who wanted to keep his little brothers caged after everything was said and done, it isn’t all that surprising that he went from 0 to 60 quick. He has gradually shifted from stuffing down all expressions of anger like he used to, to carefully wielding his anger to maximum effect when he needs to; and because of this it’s led him to prove just how much he absolutely is April and Casey’s great-grandson (both in his careful use of tech in his bouts of moonlighting as a vigilante, and his growing fondness for explosives). Cody may be the smallest of the brothers, but he is protective of his brothers to the point that he will not hesitate to put himself between them and any threat that may come for them. He’s patient and gentle with them, softly leading the way and coaxing them into more fully becoming themselves. He doesn’t hesitate to be a source of comfort for them, and he doesn’t think twice about being the ‘older brother pillow’. (Because of this it’s become a regular thing for all five of them to crash in the living room on bad nights.) He’s also the most skilled at maintaining his perfectly polite, cheerful, and upstanding public façade for the media, and does his best to keep the attention to his brothers as minimal as possible. He’s the other member of ‘The Mad Scientist Brigade’, and Ray actively tries to forbid him from using exploding pucks (thanks to the limo incident). - Yes, Cody blew up an old limo with an exploding puck that had been packed with too much explosive force, resulting in raining shrapnel for several minutes. Yes, Tello is also technically at fault, because he and Cody worked together to design and test the exploding pucks in the first place. No, neither of them regret it (even though Ray took to calling them pyromaniacs afterward).

(Also posted on Ao3.)

[memes-in-a-half-shell]

I have been in love with the turtles since like forever. And I am facinated with alternatives. I'm new to your blog but I already love you too!!

Hi !!! I love you too ;o; you’re so sweet !!!

That’s kinda hard to answer, to be honest ! It would all depends on if they would keep the same shape (looking at Raph and Donnie here HAHAHA) and if they would keep some of their basic personality too. I’ll try my best !

Leonardo

Tough Guy: Definitely the dark, brooding type. Would probably be worse than Raph at some point and would easily go on secret lonesome patrols.

Nerd: Not gonna lie, he’d be an anime/manga nerd xD Expect some naruto-style running from him!!!!

Playful: He’d be playing so many pranks on his bros! His high ninja skills definitely help him to set up traps in secret and then watch the others get caught in them.

Raphael

Leader: Tends to plan as things go on and has very poor team coordination in the beginning. But as time goes by, he definitely shows that he has a heart of gold and cares very much about his bros

Nerd: He would be the kind of person to always come up in conversations and correct others about facts and trivial stuff. … A bit a pain in the ass :B

Playful: Would playfully roughhouse his bros a lot and do a lot of sarcastic comments/jokes. He’d be smiling a lot more and his laugh would gladly fill the Lair.

Donatello

Leader: A tactical leader, he would thoroughly plan his missions before completing them. He’s very in tune with his team’s needs and will always take time to listen to each of them.

Tough Guy: He’d be some sort of punk/early 2000′s skater tough boy who’s somehow laidback and just ‘‘meh’‘ about many things. Anyone: “WANNA GO DO SOMETHING FUN?!?!?!” Donnie: “HHhhMmeehhh. Idk. *dabs*” (

Playful: So many puns, oh god. Definitely the life of the group with his snarky comments :’U

Michelangelo

Leader: Very heart-to-heart with his bros and always on the lookout for what’s best for them. He’d surprisingly be a good leader!

Tough Guy: I can’t help imagining a very ghetto attitude out of him. It’s definitely not in a bad way as I think it mostly fits his overall personality! Don’t you dare mess with his bros or else~

Nerd: A comic book/movies enthusiast! He’d try to reenact some of his favorite scenes or act like one of his favorite superhero. A real encyclopedia when it comes to his favorite subjects!