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An ironic thing about of the 2012 TMNT series is that as the show goes on, Raph opens up more while Leo shuts down more.

A bit like this:

Leo liked to annoy him much more in the earlier seasons. Then things got a bit too intense especially post season 2.

But Raph? Raph started out stubborn and guarded, but grew to be more soft and just overall more affectionate with his brothers.

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oh snap

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Employer: “Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?”

Me:

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Leonardo and Autism

I am fascinated by the amount of autistic that 2012 Leo is, because unlike Donnie’s convenient tech savant situation, Leo’s autistic traits are solidly plot neutral to negative? He’s obsessed with rewatching one specific TV show (a cartoon with a repetitive and predictable plot), uses his favorite character to script his Leader Speeches to try to get his team to listen. He generally tries to plan every mission in detail and gets very frustrated when his brothers don’t go along with it/when plans have to be changed (at first- he gets more flexible over time). Leo also has an incredibly black and white understanding of morality and tends to take Splinter's teaching's as fact rather than advice, which can make him fairly gullible and easy to manipulate (the Karai situation), and he probably has the least social intelligence of his brothers.

It's interesting that the traits that make Leonardo such a paragon across most iterations have such autistic vibes. 2003 Leo is obsessed with honor but has a ridiculously hard time recognizing his own emotions (you kumquat!), and MM Leo's heroic personality can't be blamed on Splinter without that good Hamato ninja juice, so like, he's just like that. It sorta reminds me of anecdotes about undiagnosed autistic/adhd people thriving in the military-- "Ninja training" and all the rules that come with it probably works like crack on that neurodivergent turtle brain. Kinda makes me wonder about Rise Leonardo and his comparatively very lax upbringing-- obvi the guy would still be a lot more social and silly compared to most Leos, I think he's more ADHD than autistic, but how different would he be if he were trained in the structure of 2003 or 2012 Splinter?

Anyway, give me a Leo who trains everyday not just to get stronger, but because of how badly he needs that routine. How does he react when it's broken? How does he cope with being away from home during the farmhouse arc? Maybe a Leo with sensitive hearing that makes him great at noticing when they're being followed, but overwhelms him when he's too close to street level traffic? A Leo that tries to suppress his stims because that's not very cool stoic ninja of him? How would his brothers react to a Leo who's calm and focused in the midst of battle finally shutting or melting down over something seemingly small?

Also, 2012 Leo is very cute when he gets excited about his space show and it makes me want to squish his dumb turtle face. Give Leos More Hobbies (looking at you Mutant Mayhem, I'm glad he draws his silly lil comics in Tales but I'm concerned all his interests are gonna revolve around April or Ninja Responsibilities. My boy already has anxiety this shit is too much pressure for him.)

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Me checking on one of my beloved ao3 fics that hasn't been updated since 2017

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Friendly reminder how to actually use band aids on fingertips because we see people doing it wrong all the time.

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THE character of all time in my opinion. 🫶

(This drawing is kinda ass, but whatever- Lmao)

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death by a thousand pinecones

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New hyperfixation just dropped

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he may be stupid

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More Post Season 5 2012 Leo Having No Filter

*At Murakami’s Restaurant*

Donnie: *grumbling and turns to Leo* Ugh. You know later, we’re going to have to take one of those forced happiness family photos that come in the restaurant’s tacky frame?

Leo: *scowling* Why are you so fucking negative all the time?

Karai and Raph: *snorting as they try to hide their smiles by looking down at their food*

Mikey: *outright laughing*

Donnie: *taken aback* I, uh— I don’t kn— uh, what?

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I always feel like 2012 Leo post Season 5 just said “Screw it” and stopped holding his tongue and said whatever came to mind

*Early Morning at the Hamato home and Mikey is rousing everyone for breakfast… with a bugle*

Mikey: *blowing the bugle in the tune of “Reville”* EVERYBODY UP! I MADE BREAKFAST! BE IN THE KITCHEN AT 6 AM SHARP!

Raph, Casey, April, and Donnie: *covering their ears and glaring at Mikey when he blows the bugle directly in their ears as they blearily go the kitchen*

Leo: *rubbing his eyes as comes towards the kitchen*

Mikey: *blows the bugle in Leo’s “ear”*

Leo: *flinching* OW! FUCK!! *glaring at Mikey* You blow that fucking horn again, I swear to god, I will ram that fucking thing up your GODDAMN ASS!!!

Mikey: … *slowly puts the horn down*

Raph: *mostly shocked and mildly amused*

April, Casey, Donnie: … *stare wide-eyed as Leo stumbles into the kitchen for tea*

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@donatellokinnersinner how are you still here?

what a way to announce your skills issue anyway how long is y'all's longest internet friendship, mine is 14 years

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(January 1 - January 31, 2025)

I've been Psychonauts-ing for two years now. YAAAAAAAY!

Phoebe outfit design by @technovillain. Thank you for allowing me to draw it.

Big Bad Purple Bad Boy

Some sort of superhero pose.

Vernon's greatest audience

Inspired by this.

Why did you punch that little girl?