Something that I kind of like is how it is a consistent trait of Splinter's, no matter which iteration, to look at a bunch of mutated baby Turtles just after being mutated himself & in every iteration just responding to the situation by going 'well I guess I'm a dad now'
Tired: Rise!Splinter is a neglectful and awful father who doesn’t care about his kids >:(
Wired: Rise!Splinter’s negligence comes from a place of deep trauma that he’s carried with him his whole life – losing his mother, having been betrayed by the love of is life, being imprisoned and forced to fight for his life, used as an experiment and subsequently being mutated and losing his whole identity as a person – and while it certainly doesn’t excuse his behavior, there is no doubt that this man loves his sons fiercely despite his own shortcomings and perhaps it is exactly that love and care that causes him to keep his children at arms length in hopes to spare them his family’s cursed legacy that grooms them into martyrs and are thus destined to die young, a sacrifice for the greater good that Splinter is never willing to make even if it means forfeiting the world to the Shredder. Splinter’s journey of fatherhood began by being completely unprepared as a fresh young single father of four young children that depend on him to survive and there is no surprise he’s hit almost every bump there possibly is when raising a child but never in his life has Splinter ever blamed or resented his children in any way – he is not perfect and he’s aware and he tries to do better all because he loves his kids this fucking much bc despite all the shit he’s been through, those kids made him realize that he can try again. to dismiss him as an awful father is a gross mischaracterization of a deeply traumatized man of color who evidently tried his fucking hardest not to pass on the hurt onto his own children while grappling with his own demons and the crushing destiny of his family’s blood line that took away his mother.
I was today years old when I found out that in the Battle Nexus 2 video game, the TMNT fight the TMNR while Splinter and the turtle sensei discuss their own past match (and bitch about their sons' lack of intellectual development). And it's as hilarious as it sounds.
Rat!Mike: I heard turtles move slow, but I didn't know their minds were slow, too!
Turtle!Don: Hey, buddy. Isn't your master a turtle?
Rat!Raph: You dare to insult our master??? That's going too far!
Sorry that you're overwhelmed 😔. But I want to add this before I go to bed. So speaking of hints, you know in every reincarnation story there are always clues, what if somehow when Spike mutates, suddenly he has the smell of an old man which of course only Splinter could tell and it puzzles everyone since Spike is physically around the boys age. That, and sometimes he suddenly speaks like an old person, especially to himself when he thinks no one is listening
(It's fine, I'm just not used to so many asks :p)
You got it spot on siyajwkwuw. I wanted Splinter to know somethings off first, but originally it was via mediation.
This is funnier.
Seems Ronins scent/aura is a bit too similar to a certain cheerful orange.
Context: This Au Is 2003 Raph and 2012 Raph died in their World and got reincarnated as a Mutated turtles Got adopted by Rise raph. Rise Boys are also Reincarnation by four great warriors who sealed the Krang.
So the Cousin AU is just absolutely adorable! I was wondering what place would Draxum have in the Cousin world Family? [Also do you allow fanart?]
(I’m glad you like my work!! It means a lot 🩷 also yes I do allow fanart!! absolutely, go ahead!!)
Oh I’m so glad you asked! I was thinking about it a lot actually.
Then at some point, just as we know, Orange would help him and he’d slowly become a part of the family. Although I think Blue would be very hesitant about him, which would make the other cousins unsure about him too, as they’d be worried for Blue. They’d try to like Draxum but it’d be hard when one of your little cousins was so uncomfortable with him.
(I think my Baby Blue comic could be a part of this au. I have an idea for a whole comic tho, about the movie stuff for rise so we’ll see!! 🫢)
So yeah, in the end Draxum would be a dad to the Rise boys and an uncle to the other turtles. I think I like the idea of other Splinters being a little mad at Lou for getting so close to the ex-villain, especially when Blue was so upset about it. They’d come to accept him tho, after they were sure their baby blue started to trust him AND seeing how a relationship makes Lou happier.
That’s it, I think. Thank you for the question, love!! 😚❤️
Young Splinter is the most cringefail mullet trans dad ever, look at him go <3
Raph and Mikey all fussy for being carried, Lavi enjoyin' a nap nap and Donnie being a good leash kid trying to run away even when he's severely concused
he isn't out to his sons and just lives as a stealth trans because he prefers it that way. when little kid leo comes out as trans it naturally goes great and the whole family is supportive, but splinter still doesn't tell them. one night they're watching a lou jitsu movie as a family and leo gets worried that he'll never look as masculine as lou jitsu does and splinter's like "do not worry about that, blue. lou jitsu is also a trans man. you can be like him" and leo's like "how do you know that?" and splinter's like (um oh fuck uhhhh uhhhh umm welll) "there was an interview with him! he confirmed it!" and little leo tries to find the elusive interview and even donnie can't find it so he assumes his dad just lied to make him feel better and then one night in his late teens he bolts upright in bed when he finally makes the connection.