#Not really too sure about the Mutanimals

[my-name-is-bunnyfoxy]

I keep thinking about all the TMNT 2012 Turtles, April, Casey, Karai, Mona Lisa and each of the Mutanimals' dreams/goals. What do you think would each of their dreams/goals be?

Leo: his goal is to not fail his family and only wants to protect them. Now, later in life, he is determined to rebuild the Hamato clan in honor of Splinter and to help continue the legacy as the new sensei. He is still continuing to do so.

Raph: Not let his anger get the better of him to the point he would actually hurt not only himself but his loved ones. He is glad he finally managed to after so many years control his emotions and not let them get the better of him.

Donnie: To be seen as talented and amazing when it comes to his inventions and tech. And, wishing that humans won't see him as a freak (in almost every version, Donnie wishes to become human so he can be and look normal).

Mikey: To prove people that he can be serious and that he isn't just some dumb joker. While it does succede later down, he still tries to prove himself worthy.

Venus: To show that she is worth enough and is valid. She is a good fighter and she is reliable. She is trying her best.

Jennika: To figure out a way in which she is able to express her emotions instead of looking cold and serious. In actuality, she is a genuine sweetheart and does love her family and loved ones.

Lita: Just be happy. She is a tiny little child.

April O'Neil: Have a normal life. Girl has been thru a lot, she needs rest.

Casey Jones: Become the coolest and most epic Vigilante and fight crime whenever he wants to and beat the crap out of people.

Angel Jones: Similar to Casey.

Karai: Like cannon, repair the Foot Clan and fix it's reputation. Clear the clan's name after Shredder ha'd been poisoning it for years. Along with rekindling her relationship with her father and her siblings.

Scarlet: Similar with April, have a normal life and move away from her mother's past evil deeds and try to just move on with her life and be with people that actually care about her.

[glubby-guppiez]

*Random TMNT 2012 (mainly side characters) hc's bcuz hyperfixation

*(this is the best divider to ever exist btw)

*Warnings: Spoilers for TMNT 2012 ofc, mentions of gender dysphoria and trans related insecurity, transphobia, accidental arson, bullying, manipulation, ptsd, also the tone of the headcanons shift randomly also also typing quirk

*Chris Bradford is trans. )(e did a full transition, he did hormones, voice training, top and bottom surgery, a few different surgeries to make him look/feel more masculine, all the bells and whistles, even went the extra mile to do procedures to hide his surgery scars. )(e's closeted and does about everything in his power to make sure no one even question that he was assigned female at birth because he's scared of his social image of being the great macho man, Chris Bradford, crumbling.

*Leo mainly or solely uses fandom and fanfic socials like Wattpad, AO3, Amino, Tumblr, and maybe Twitter. She mainly interacts with Space )(eroes and Crognard The Barbarian fan posts and shows a special interest in gender swap aus.

*Later on, post show with Muckman's help the mutants are actually able to freely walk around humans without them completely flipping out and starting a mob to witch hunt after them.

*Speaking of walking around humans, Napoleon and the frogs down in Louisiana are considered local urban legend and humans get really excited when they spot the frogs in the woods.

*Dr. Rockwell is a very big coffee enjoyer and used to secretly steal coffee from the nearby shops around the mighty mutanimals hideout and on the rare occasion when someone caught him and called him out he would always use the excuse of the shops being owned by big corporations.

*Don Visioso is a deadbeat father of 5. )(e also has had multiple wives and many divorces.

*Mondo Gecko will call people posers if he's jealous enough of them.

*Ivan Steranko is also trans but has only had hrt and face masculinizing surgery and refuses to get top and bottom surgery.

*Anton Zeck is incredibly smart and performed extremely well in high school and even got free scholarships for how well he did.

*Shinigami is a big video game nerd and will geek out if anyone mentions one of the games she plays.

*The reason Anton hated the mutant name Mikey gave him at first is because it either sounds a lot like or straight up is a nickname old bullies of him gave in order to make fun of him.

*Premutation, Chris acts transphobic towards Xever (despite Xever being cis) out of jealousy and insecurity.

*Baxter Stockman is either a gay aroace trans mspec nonbinary man or a cishet ally. No in-between.

*Mini April cluster!!!:

*April has a deep love for literature and writes poetry in her spare time.

*She almost burned down the culinary class in her school once.

*She's questioning aroace.

*She felt extra empathy for Muckman because he reminded her of Kirby a little bit.

*She likes to hide stickers around the lair whenever has them on her person.

*She thoroughly enjoys having long conversations with each of the individual turtles. (It's her favorite way to spend time with anyone tbh)

*April does eventually take some time to properly learn Japanese and becomes pretty decent at speaking and reading it.

*)(er and Donnie often like to geek out together whenever they find anything new about aliens (both species they haven't seen yet and ones they know well like the kraang).

*End of the mini April cluster!!!

*Kirby O'Neil is a pretty decent cook. That man can make a mean chicken stew.

*Shinigami actually owns multiple cats. 2 ragdoll, 1 sphinx, 1 Persian, and 3 British shorthairs (I could name them all, but I don't wanna). Also, the majority of them are black cats. She feeds strays, too.

*The last headcanon is much to Karai's dismay because she is somewhat allergic. She gets headaches, her skin gets slightly irritated and she gets the sniffles if she's around cats for too long.

*Casey's younger sister wants to be a hair stylist when she grows up, so Jones let's her do his hair every once in a while and he flexes it to every one at the lair like: "Oh? My hair? Yeah, my sister did it for me. Pretty metal, what she did with it, right?"

*Tigerclaw is the only Foot Clan member to not bully Baxter Stockman.

*Someone manipulated and lied to Alopex in order to make her hate and hunt down her brother.

*After season 4, Baxter Stockman leaves New York and takes over Stockman Industries. (If you're unaware of what that is, it's on billboards that the turtles pass throughout the show the most notable appearance being in the ending scene of the final season 4 episode, 'Owari'.)

*Slash deep down still misses The Newtralizer.

*Leatherhead kind of freaks out (apologies for the bad wording) when someone fully wraps their arms around his neck when hugging him because it reminds him of the restraints the Kraang put him in.

*Pigeon Pete learns how to bake so he can make his own bread.

*The turtles get a Wii (or whatever the universes equivalent is).

*Mondo Gecko gets an old Xbox and plays Tony )(awk games, Bully, and Twisted Metal on it.

*Ivan and Anton actually move out to New Jersey post show.

*Alr, that's all for now, toodles!!!

[fabuloustrash05]

2012 Caseynardo’s Love Story Headcanon

How the Leo x Casey ship would come to be if I wrote TMNT 2012

Their love story starts during the farmhouse arc in season 3 when Casey notices Raph is under a lot of stress and pressure from being the temporary leader of the group while Leo is injured and recovering. He’s got a lot on his plate: taking care of Leo because of his injury, looking after Mikey and Donnie, and even being the one who is making sure Mikey, Donnie and April are all keeping up with their ninja training. Because of this Casey offers to look after and take care of Leo so Raph can focus more on training everybody, and Raph accepts.

This decision results in Leo and Casey spending a lot more time together while living on the farmhouse. Casey would keep Leo company at the house while the others were off training, and together they would hang out, play video games, joke together, watch movies (sometimes Spaceheroes), and also chat and get to know each other more. Overtime the two actually became really close, and they realize they had a lot more common than they originally believed. They are both the oldest siblings of their families and they are willing to do everything in their power to protect them and keep their younger sibling(s) safe and happy (Reminder: Casey canonly has a little sister). They both relate to the feeling that they feel more like a parent to their siblings then an actual sibling because their fathers are never around to take care of them because they are always busy so they unwillingly take on the responsibility.

After this moment of realization and bonding, Leo began to develop feelings for Casey first. Spending so much time together Leo began seeing another side of Casey realizing there’s more to him than just being the reckless troublemaker that his brother hangs out with all the time. Leo admires that no matter the difficult and hard situation Casey is in, he always looks at the positive side of it all. Casey comes from a broken family and lives a difficult life (Note: I believe the writers have confirmed that Casey’s parents are divorced, that’s why I say “broken family”) but yet he still holds his head up high and keeps going. He’s actually more mature than Leo thought.

Casey also began to develop feelings for Leo around this time because Leo was the only person who genuinely listened to him and understood his struggles. April never truly did that. She listened, but didn’t understand, and for Raph he understood but hardly listened because he (like many others) don’t take Casey seriously. Also around this time Casey feelings for April began to fade. He still cares about her, and loves her as a friend, but not in a romantic light. He also grew tired of the love triangle, because he knew that April was growing feelings for Donnie at this point, so he found it pointless being in a competition where he already knows what the results will be, but that doesn’t stop him from still messing with Donnie when it comes to April related stuff.

So Leo (being the closest bisexual I HC him to be) becomes very overwhelmed with his new feelings for Casey, while Casey (who I also HC as bi) is chill with it and doesn’t overthink his feelings but thinks Leo doesn’t feel the same for him, when in truth he does like him too, Casey’s just very oblivious. Whenever he would get close to Leo (hugging him, touching his shoulder, etc) Leo gets really flustered and blush and then panic like an idiot, Casey just thinks that he’s making Leo uncomfortable. Leo also doesn’t realize that Casey likes him to because he thinks Casey still likes April because he still sees him rivaling with Donnie for April, which reminder Casey’s only doing this now to mess with Donnie not because he likes a April anymore.

During and after they leave the farmhouse, there’s pining feelings between them, sometimes even friendly flirty. Later on the Kraang are defeated, New York was saved by the Turtles and Mutanimals, and the city is trying to go back to normal. One night while on patrol, Casey ask Raph if Leo ever talks about him when he’s not around. Raph immediately picks up what’s going on (their little moments of flirting we’re obvious to him, but everyone else was blind) and quickly tells Casey to just go for it and ask out his brother, because out of everybody Raph knows Leo had a terrible first experience with romance (Note: Leo’s romantic feelings for Karai disappeared the second he found out she was his sister, something the writers should’ve done, and because of this Leo had a hard time excepting romance again. *Cue “I Think I’m In Love Again” by Kat Dahlia*)

A little nervous, Casey takes Raph’s advice and asked Leo if he wants to go on a date with him. Leo is shocked by this and believe Casey just means to hang out as friends, but Casey tell him that he’s liked him for a while and wants to go on an actual date with him and Leo happily accepts.

Keeping their newfound relationship a secret from everybody else, except for Raph because he obviously now knows, the two have their first day at the hockey rink. The two have a really fun time and by the end of the date they come close to sharing their first kiss, but Leo stops himself. Leo tells Casey that he really does like him and wants to be in a relationship with him but Leo knows he can’t right now. At the moment he has too much stress and pressure of being leader, Karai is still out there lost in her mutant snake form (though Leo is not interested in Karai romantically anymore he still cares about her because she is his family and he wants to bring her home), Shredder is still out there, and who knows what others threats will soon come their way. Casey is sad but completely understands, telling Leo that he will wait for him. The two agree to be friends after that date and the story continues on as per usual with the occasional flirty banter between them both. By season 4 everyone picks up what is going on between them, and some wonder when are they finally going to get together. It’s a “right person wrong time” situation.

By the end, they would officially get together and their relationship would be confirmed during the season 5 episode, When Worlds Collide. Remember that scene of Leo in the dojo training with Karai? Have that scene play out and just replace Karai with Casey ;)

[vvatchword]

I just stumbled upon your blog it’s such a relief to finally see some adult tmnt fans. I am curious. You mentioned Leo is your favorite turtle do you have a least favorite? It’s in general because I am not sure how much of 03 you watched so I am going for In general

You found the right motherfucker. I am friends with LOTS of adult fans. If you want to meet others, I can introduce you.

2003 is actually the one series I know the least about! I know a LOT about TMNT... I've read through most of the comics, I've seen most of the TV series, and I've seen most of the movies. Unfortunately, 2003 appeared in this super awkward point in my life where I had decided I was An Adult Now Thank You Very Much! Also, I had little time for TV, never had cable before and didn't know where TMNT even aired, and just didn't tend to watch television in general.

When it comes to 2003, I've been able to get through most of Season 1... but it's just so clearly for kids, and the animation style is so ugly, that I routinely fall out of it like no one's business. I need to watch it with friends so they can keep me in it. It's really a shame, too; I just know in my heart of hearts that 2003 would have been truly special to me had I experienced it as a child. In a lot of ways, it was the cartoon I wanted as a bab. Unfortunately, I got 1987 :( Archie TMNT was the closest I could get to the maturity and drama I craved. There's a mass shootout in that thing. The Mutanimals all fucking die. I was delighted.

Well. I say that. I got my hands on the original Mirage Volume 1 at age 8 by complete mistake, and THAT is what I wanted most of all. DEATH. DESTRUCTION. BOOBIES. WAVES OF BLOOD. GUN VIOLENCE. DRAMA. POSSIBLE DEATH? Everyone is a washing machine now. GIANT DINOSAUR MONSTERS. FORBIDDEN FRUIT.

As to my least favorite turtle... at first I thought I would say, "Ah, I like 'em all, who gives a fuck." But that's a lie. Raph is my least favorite. I disliked his personality. I cringed at how edgelord he could be. I just wanted him to do the right thing. See, when I was a kid, I glommed onto the Turt that reflected what I wanted to be: responsible and proper and orderly and focused. Raphael was the antithesis of all that, and I was obsessed with Bringing Order, so he drove me crazy by proxy. Basically, I was Lawful Good. I am now Chaotic Good, but that ancient distrust remains!

Moreover... I had a personal problem with Raphael. See, Raphael is basically the centerpiece Turtle. If a comic book had to center on a single Turtle, it always chose Raphael. Volume 1 is FULL of one-offs where Raphael is the only turtle present. The films also tend to focus on Raphael--to the point that he took Leo's arc in the 1990 movie. Hell, he was straight-up the protagonist in 1990, 2007, and 2016. He was also constantly front and center in Archie TMNT--probably the closest the series had to a protagonist. There was a point I just started fucking RESENTING the character. I started thinking that everyone just had it out for my favorite Turtle instead of recognizing Leonardo's problems as a character and how difficult it was to give him arcs, especially in kids' media.

In other news, I thought I turned off anon and I'm just cackling. How did I fuck this up so spectacularly

[taiblogcomics]

'Til Voodeath Dew We Part

Hey there, mighty mutanimals. It's a Saturday upload, and you know what that means. Hopefully this'll be better than the last one we covered. Coz, like, these ones haven't missed yet. Yeah, it's that time of year again~

Mountain Dew VooDew 2024

It's our mystery flavour of the year, as usual! Finally, our spooky hooded mascot has run out of fingers. So unless they want to do a tie-in with Gravity Falls, I guess we have to settle for a six-shaped eyeball in his palm. Otherwise, I love that they keep remixing this art concept with different spooky colours. Can't really see it on this image, but the art on the other side is tentacles. So I hope this isn't octopus- or Cthulhu-flavoured~

A mystery flavour doesn't leave us with much to speculate or ramble about, so let's just crack this one open~

Ooh. Real nice hit on this one. I use this comparison a lot, but it really has that powdery "Jell-O/Kool-Aid before mixing" smell. Maybe Pixy Stix? I think they've done that one before. Very distinct, though, and a good scent.

Flavour's great, too! Pretty sure they've also done Skittles before, but this really has that taste of, like, the grape Skittles. Like, that moment when you crack the outer shell and taste the shattered parts and inner flavour at the same time? Somehow they have managed to capture that as a Mountain Dew flavour.

I've espoused before that Pitch Black has always been my very favourite Mountain Dew, and grape is a great soda flavour in general. This isn't exactly like Pitch Black, but it's good. This one's definitely worth your time, and it'll be worth my time to get more of this. Definitely more treat than trick~

[obsidiancreates]

Random Into The Neon Rambles (Angsty 2012 Universe Stuff. I mean seriously sad, I cried writing it.)

So I've had the WORST brain fog lately (we keep intending to get a Covid test but it's been over a week and a half now since my breathing became like Just Swam Up From The Bottom Of The Pool But That All The Time and it still hasn't happened yet so IDK at this point, it's dependent on the cleaning schedules) and haven't been able to write SHIT so here's some completely word-vomit rambles about this AU.

April and Casey are still alive in the 2012 universe, but of course the boys died at 19 and I headcanon that they turned 19 in Season 4 and were 19 through all of Season 5 so that means Splinter is dead. The Mutanimals actually moved into the lair and take very good care of it, they set up a memorial to the boys right beside the one for Splinter. April and Casey see them often, Leatherhead took over the main care of Ice Cream Kitty, and they're all trying to get by. April's dad has his hands full these days, trying to be a grief counselor for all of them, and it's difficult because it's not his specialty. At this point he's always on the lookout for therapists and psychiatrists who are either mutant-friendly or, more ideally, mutants themselves.

There's actually quite a bit of focus now on finding and helping other mutants. The reason for the boys deaths was kind of the last Big Thing to happen, so there's not a lot of combat to do in the years following. The occasional alien issue, but April has been practicing and growing her powers with a focus that Casey likes to think is her way of honoring the turtles, specifically Leo and Donnie really, and The Mutanimals have been too.

The boys were alone together when they died. Partly by their own design, making sure no-one else got hurt... or worse.

They knew there was a strong chance they wouldn't make it out this time.

So Earth is well-protected by a powerful, grieving telekenetic/psychic/empath/ninja/general badass alongside a group of kick-ass mutant, a grieving Salamadarian soldier who keeps Raph's mask on her whenever she patrols, a grieving basically-son who's like 10 feet tall and can crush practically any enemy with his mace, a grieving best friend who's determined to carry both Mikey's kindness and ferocity with him always, a grieving teen who just lost some of the first people to truly help him after being kicked out for his mutation, and of course, a grieving big sister who lost her brothers the same way she lost her father and mother: before she could truly know them.

Yes, Karai knew the boys for a few years. But she never knew them outside of War. She never knew them in casual settings, she never even thought to try when they were alive. Now not only are they gone, but the last people who knew her father are, too. April tries to share stories of Splinter, but she can't tell Karai what he was like on birthdays. She can't tell her what he was like as a father, not just to teens, but through childhoods. Karai lost the last of her family before she could even fully appreciate finding them. She's trying, now. She helps a lot with the efforts to find and help mutants who have nowhere else to go. She takes a lot of them into her reformed Foot Clan, trains them to be able to defend themselves, and uses the vast network of international resources for anything that can help. She does it in remembrance of her father, who raised four little mutants as his sons, and those four sons, who accepted her and loved her even after she did horrible things to them more than once, who showed her there was a way beyond The Shredder's and helped her to be free of him.

April tries to find them sometimes. She never learned that kind of thing from Splinter, and her powers actually make it harder to connect to the spirit world sometimes. It's a different energy, one she isn't used to, and she has no teacher. She's felt, at most, a comforting presence, the faintest tough of a familiar paw, but nothing from the boys themselves. She can only hope that Splinter's assurance means they're okay, wherever they are in the universe.

Ice Cream Kitty was very confused for a while. She would yowl and yowl for Mikey. She would climb out of the freezer and drag herself to his room to look for him. At some point they put Mikey's mask in there with her, and a few of his comics. It helped.

They could all tell when she understood. That day, instead of finding her in his room after she escaped, she dragged herself to April in the dojo and meowed sadly until April held her. April cried. Ice Cream Kitty didn't make a peep. April felt the sadness of the kitty more strongly than the cold or stickiness of the ice cream in her arms.

It's been less time for them. The boys are 10 at this point in Into The Neon, for them it's been half the time. 5 years. April is in college, community college. She's not sure what she wants to go into. She thought biomedical for a while, but she kept wanting to ask Donnie for help when she got stuck.

She dropped the class.

Casey is mostly working with The Mutanimals. Leatherhead actually keeps trying to get him to take a break from it, concerned about how much he throws himself into battle. Casey is working on it. He had a breakthrough recently. He has Survivor's Guilt. The boys told him and April to go and convince any stragglers to evacuate, and they did. He wished he'd stayed. He knows he couldn't have stopped what happened, but his last interaction with any of them was a quick nod and a 'Got it.'

He believed they'd come back. Really. He knows April didn't, and tried to assure her. "Those guys are unkillable," he'd said. "If space aliens and Super Shredders couldn't get them, nothin' can!"

He remembers falling to his knees when they came back to the wreckage and saying "Just had to prove me wrong, didn't you?" It was the hollowest he'd ever felt, and he doesn't really remember the words like they came from him. He just remembers hearing them in his voice, distant and far away while he waited for someone to move, cough, shout at him to help them up already, anything.

They were buried on the farm, of course, next to their father. Doctor Cluckingsworth actually protects the graves from the other chickens, and when the others come to visit she usually comes by with some flowers she picked for them. She really only knew Mikey very well, but Mikey loved his brothers, and she remembers that.

The worst part was how peaceful everything became after. April was so angry that they didn't get to see it. That she's living in a world where, slowly, mutants are more able to be known and exist, where there's not a constant threat, where there's chances for harmless fun and just being happy, and they can't be there for it. When they announced a live-action reboot of Crognard she blew up the TV without even meaning to. She just saw it and thought 'I gotta tell Mikey' and then it was obliterated and she was sobbing in her dad's arms.

Casey actually does have something he's considering. He's been the one trying to keep the old vehicles in shape, and he thinks maybe he could be a mechanic or some kind of engineer. He thinks Donnie would laugh about the engineer thing because of all the math that takes, but he's gotten better at it. He has to use Donnie's old blueprints a lot to make sure he's not breaking The Shellraizer or The Party Wagon or the go-karts or anything else while trying to repair it, and you can't really pour over Donnie's stuff and work on the same things without absorbing a little. He's not a whiz by any means, can't do even a quarter what Donnie could, but they work together well. He remembers that every time he repairs a new hole Slash made by accident, or something Mondo accidentally ripped our with his tail while skating past, or anything like that. He remembers working on the hot rod in the barn with Donnie and wishes they made more wild things with each other instead of fighting all the time. He liked that Donnie matched his energy, could go toe-to-toe with him, that they could get into awful fights and rip each other apart verbally and it didn't really matter to either of them. He liked Raph for the same reason. And he liked Leo because he seemed all calm and cool but you could stoke a real fire out of him, and he liked Mikey for a similar reason-

He cries a lot while he's doing these repairs. It's a safe place to do it, and if any of the others have noticed (they have) they don't mention it. They never interrupt him, though he knows April is keeping a psychic eye on him most of the time. Whatever. He's keeping a (regular) eye on her all the time too. At least when he cries over their lost friends, it doesn't have a chance of rattling half the city like they're sitting on a fault line.

Chompy still refuses to fall asleep unless Mona is holding him and she has Raph's mask out. Chompy snuggled his face against it. Slash watches him when Mona can't, because for a while they were deeply worried about the little guy. He was depressed without Raph, and he got sick. It took a lot of patience and care to get him to the other side of that, and the two of them basically made it their whole purpose in life to keep Chompy going. For Raph.

Everyone's trying their best, all for the sake of the boys. For their memories.

They're having a hard time of it.

But they're trying.

[mutagn]

going insane over raph today as i always am. and for the majority of this post assume i'm talking about 2012 raph (and other 2012 versions of characters) but this also applies to mirage and 2003 from what i've seen of those iterations so far. probably idw as well who is to say

but a big thing for me at least writing a lot of the mutants is how there are varying degrees of being an animal in all of them. i think it's clearest with leatherhead, who is explicitly an animal first and as far as we're given in canon doesn't actually HAVE any human dna (we can assume it does just because it's now a humanoid creature, but we aren't told as such). this means that leatherhead is, more often than not, deeply animalistic in both instincts and attitudes. slash gets this too, but i don't think about that little weirdo (@ me write a slash post) as well as pigeon pete, etc - the mutanimals in general up until mondo joins are all well acquainted with being altogether less human than a lot of the other victims of mutagen. i don't think i'm unjustified in saying this is reflected in canon but even if i am my city now. it colours the way they interact with the world, the way their thoughts work, the way their relationships form.

and we are explicitly shown that the turtles were animals first. it could be said that this is where a lot of their conflict with master splinter lies (i hate that guy) - he is expecting his sons to behave in a way that makes sense to him, as someone with dominant human instincts, but. they are not primarily humans. yes, they have human dna, but that was mutated into them. i very much do not think splinter put as much effort as he needed to into understanding the boys, their place in the world - he simply treated them as if they were like him, and they're not. i'm not saying that they should've been treated like creatures or pets, but i am saying that splinter was not even cut out for raising a human child on account of him being a deadbeat so what hope did he have of understanding four boys who are primarily untamed, undomesticated wild animals in addition to adolescent humans.

this is really noticeable with raph and leo (speaking of leo follow @retromutagn who helped me flesh all this out x). it's really easy to answer the question 'who is the most animalistic of the brothers' with 'raph and mikey', but that simply is not true. mikey is deeply human, always shown to be yearning, fitting in best with everyone around him, adopting human slang and culture far faster than his brothers - save donnie who does it faster, who is also a Yearner and gets along really well with humans. it's almost like... they're the most human two. and then leo - we see him most at home in the woods, missing it when they're not there, finding strength in his capability in nature. raph's animal instincts are on display a lot of the time, sure, but they also go deeper than just his anger and defensiveness. it's in his black and white attitude, his desire to stick with the pack, his parental instincts.

i could also chat about how people often mistake raph and mikey and leo and donnie for being the most alike when that is also not true (it's raph and donnie and leo and mikey) but this is already long. just know that's my stance on it

[justaturtleindisguise]

Questions for your tmnt au, if you’re alright with them, you totally don’t have to answer if you don’t want! I also love them so much, their designs are amazingly well done!

1. When did raph find out he was trans?

2. Who is raph talking to on his phone all the time, especially in that one doodle in the first post about the au where they’re texting hearts back and forth?

3. How are April, Casey, and Splinter in this au (if they’re in it) ?

4. Is there any sort of plot you have 👀?

Again don’t have to answer if you don’t want! I really admire your art and creative abilities!

*cracks knuckles*

1. When did raph find out he was trans? Pretty early in life, so much that Mikey and Leo don't remember ever calling Raph a sister. He still uses his birth name, Aka (Red in japanese), and chose Raphael when he was around 9 with his siblings.

2. Who is raph talking to on his phone all the time, especially in that one doodle in the first post about the au where they’re texting hearts back and forth? Raph is always texting April when she's not around because they're besties. But as for the heart messages, I'm planning to give Raph two love interests/crushes. One of them is Monalisa ('cuz I LOVE Ramona) and the other is an OC i'm still planning. I just really love the little red turtle finding love and being s softie hehee~

3. How are April, Casey, and Splinter in this au (if they’re in it) ?

April is a childhood friend of the turts like in Rise, but I'm still planning how they met. The only things I have right now is: she's a lesbian, she's some years older than the turtles, is Raph and Donnie's best bestie and she's brasilian because,, because i need to give them a reason to speak my language lmao-

Casey is more undercooked than April, cuz I want to do some Jonatello like in TMNT12 but I LOVE Rise Cassandra. I'll probally split Casey in a pair of siblings. I plan to make 'em latino because yes, love latinoamerica 'till I die.

Splinter already has some good backstory thought out for him, but I crave to redesign him. I tried drawing him twice, but he looks too much like a mix of Lou Jitsu and 12!Splinter and I wanted to give him a more,, monstruos look? I don't know if that's the right term, but I'm looking for a bigger "rattier" mutant look for him. He's a very affectionate and autistic dad that loves his turtle children very much.

4. Is there any sort of plot you have 👀? Yes I have! :] I'm kinda bad at writing and explaining my ideas, but I can try to give a tiny sumary- Splinter is the reincarnated soul of Hamato Yoshi mixed with one of his decents, that was being kept in a lab for some good years having her DNA used to make tests. He "possesed" his current body while the original soul basically died in the process of getting mutated after the lab where she was being kept exploded. Thanks to various injuries he remembers little to nothing about none of his lives besides fighting and few other stuff. He almost completely forgot how to speak english and spent good years only speaking japanese with the turtles, that until they met April. In the current time (?) they're in, he can remember his former names and has memory lapses here and there.

The turtles and Splints will have family mystics abilities like in Rise, but I'm still thinking of how to implement it without being a straight up copy Shreder is still in the corner not being thought about, just like Draxum, Karai, Big Mama, Usagi, the Mutanimals, etc. Not very sure if I'm going to use all of them too-

As for mystical weapons, wich is a concept i LOVE, the only explanation I have for how this kids got them is: They stole it.

Is very little stuff, but i'm happy to share it anyway :)

Thank u for ur kind words about my art, it really means a lot lot for me! <3 /gen

[nerves-nebula]

I saw you wanted to hear about the Mutanimals, so I have to talk about Pigeon Pete. No one really talks about Pigeon Pete. He only really exists is the 2012 show and IDW comics. I mean he does kinda exist in the 1987 show but he's just a regular pigeon.

He's always a low intelligence character and retains his pigeon behaviors for the most part. He kinda just disappears in 2012 after a point and isn't given as much attention (understandable considering their cast was huge) but I find him to be a fun character. He's just a goofy pigeon guy.

My favorite version of him is in the IDW comic. He's shown to be a really kind character and too trusting/naïve. He likes to do things like cook for his friends, but ends up putting worms/other stuff that don't like. No one really has the heart to comment on it because he means well. He's also really good at board games like an expert level despite his low intelligence.

I don't want to really get into spoilers (never sure what classifies as one), but it's hard to get into Pete angst without some context. Old Hob (IDW's mutanimals leader) is kinda a father figure to some of the mutanimals and I can't say he's a good one. Pete is one of the few that stick with him. Unlike the other ones that stuck with Hob who have a soldier mentality Pete is more of a mascot/morale booster. That's all I say for now.

As a former smart kid that's whole identity was based off my intelligence before burning out characters that's main strength is their kindness and not their intelligence is so important to me. I really love him.

he sounds lovely... beautiful bird who cooks and plays board games <3 i will add him to Mikey's friend group the future!! (Also apologies on taking so long with this ask, the large amount of text swamped me and i kept forgetting haha)

[5-v-five]

dimension x doesn't make any sense to me (and no, i'm not talking about the physics of that dimension - that's actually really cool and i'll talk about it later)

we all know the hc that mikey really spent weeks/months/years alone in dimension x, and truly, it's a fun, angst-inducing hc

BUT

there are just way way way too many pieces of conflicting evidence for me to really accept that hc (for myself at least).

for one, in s2e12, "the manhattan project: part one," when the bros first go through a portable kraang portal, the portal ends up closing right behind them due to an earthquake knocking it down/shutting it.

when they go through the portal, though, they end up sort of in limbo, where they can see different worlds through different Kraang portals. one of those worlds is, ofc, dimension x.

looking through the portal, you can tell that the limbo-sort-of-place is on the same time schedule as dimension x, as it takes a normal amount of time for the kraang to attack them

however, the limbo place is also on the same timeline as their original dimension, because as soon as the portal falls in that dimension, it closes behind them in the limbo one (if that makes sense).

but if the limbo dimension was synced with dimension x, then wouldn't they have more time to go back to their original dimension before the portal closed?

MOVING ON

ok so i'm not really sure which came first (i'm rewatching 2012 rn and i haven't gotten there yet) but there are two more instances i would like to point out: when the bros team up with the mutanimals, and leatherhead

let's start with the bros all teaming up with the mighty mutanimals. don't ask me for the exact context yet (again, i'm rewatching and haven't gotten that far yet) but i do remember that the bros were all in dimension x while the mutanimals distracted the kraang on earth.

in that episode, there is no way that the bros are in that dimension for weeks/months/years, even though the mighty mutanimals distract the kraang for (maybe) a few hours on earth. it just doesn't make any sense.

finally, moving on to leatherhead. we know that he went to dimension x around the end of season one, and he makes an appearance again around the end of season 2, in the episode "into dimension x." when the turtles reunite with him, he tells them that he's been in dimension x for "many decades."

now, i estimate that each season of tmnt 2012 takes place about a year apart (so if they're 15 in the beginning of s1, they're 16 in the beginning of s2, etc). if leatherhead leaves at the end of s1, and comes back around the end of s2, then he's been gone for about a year for the turtles (again, based on my estimation). i also estimate that by "many decades," he means around 6, or 60 years (according to google, the average lifespan of an alligator is anywhere from 30-50 years, but who knows what mutagen does - i said he spent around 60 years in dimension x bc it seemed like a good estimation).

so, with that logic, we have 1 year on Earth = 60 years on Dimension X.

that also means that 1 second on Earth = 60 seconds on Dimension X.

let's go back to mikey's adventure in dimension x.

the bros go in just about two seconds after him, which would mean that mikey was alone in dimension x for just about two minutes.

but how do you explain mikey's immense knowledge of dimension x in only two minutes? i have two very, incredibly reasonable explanations for this:

1 - mikey is a genius / incredibly adaptable / terrifyingly competent - this one just kind of makes sense to me, even if he doesn't act that smart in the regular show. i really think that mikey is incredibly smart, just not in ways most people recognize

OR, my personal favorite...

2 - dimension x doesn't operate on a linear timeline. i mean, think about it - it's physics are all messed up, so why wouldn't its time be? it's very possible that dimension x's timeframe shifts occasionally / randomly, and there's no real way of predicting it. idk if i'm explaining this right so let me elaborate - if dimension x speeds up or slows down at random moments, then it could be that mikey spent years in dimension x in the two seconds that his brothers were on earth. it's also possible that, much like how gravity affects time in our solar system, certain people perceive time in dimension x differently, if that makes sense. (this is where it gets a little murky, so bear with me). without his brothers, mikey could very well have felt like he was trapped in dimension x for hours or years, but once his brothers got there, it slowed down for him. leatherhead could have felt like decades went by while he was fighting/in captivity of the kraang. time in dimension x could be influenced by your situation

*all of this is not to say that i don't like the mikey-angst-dimension-x hc - i just think it's really interesting how dimension x relates to earth in the show. i also think that a lot of these uncertainties come from lazy or inconsistent writing, but the writing of 2012 does leave a lot to be desired sometimes (but that's a whole other rant).

anyway, i definitely didn't mean for this to get so long, so thanks for reading all of this!! :)

[ducknotinarow]

[been meaning to send this for like an hour but kept getting distracted xD - 2k12]

Oh she had messed up. She had messed up really bad and now her brother was in trouble and it was all Angel's fault! She should've listened to Casey, she shouldn't have been so dumb! Sprinting to the lair, panicked and guilt on her shoulders, she called out into their home

"Raph! Raph are you 'ere!!"

She's so thankful he is. An Angel without Casey there was already enough to set off a few red flags. Tears brimming young eyes, she does her best to explain everything. The Dragons, how mad Casey was with her, how they argued and fought,

"Now he's missin' an' he's not answering mine or dads phone!" She exclaims, "I think the Dragons 'ave him an' I dunno what to do cause Casey always knew how t' take care of them an' I've been really dumb an' now he's hurt or or even dead cause of me!"

She's convinced this is the case, and with no one else to turn too, she had risked getting caught herself to come to the Turtles,

"Please help me."

| Muse interaction

Raph was slump back on the couch another Space Heros marathon running so of course Leo was all glued to the screen. Mikey and Don were here as well, eh it was Leo's turn to pick the show. No one could really complain much other than the fact they have all seen this episode before. Raph could quote it even! and maybe has a time or two just because he had the words in his head. Honestly they may have all watched this show once over each just from how often Leo manged to to watch it. Man this show was the worse. Raph thought letting his head fall back as he looked to the entrance of the lair. Begging for anyone to come through them and save him from this. April cause who knows maybe she needed help. One of the might mutanimals even? Preferably his boyfriend. Now he understands why they say to be careful what you wish for.

When Raphael heard the turnstiles he expected to see only one of two humans. Rather that be their friend April coming over for training or whatever or his boyfriend Casey crashing in to hang about at the lair like he been wishing for. When he instead sees Angel though? Well he sort of just tilts his head a little confused by her appearance. Sure see had been here many times before. Heck Mikey instisted she was his little sister and best friend now. Sort of becoming a back up babt sitter. More like a play date if antthing considering how Mikey adored hanging out with her. So Angel being here? Not too weird, but she never came here alone. Worse she had run here easy to tell from how she was panting and had some color to her face. She didn't need to speak Raph knew something wasn't right from the sight alone.

"Raph! Raph are you 'ere!!"

Legs pulled up quick as he twisted around and started to pull himself off from the couch. Making his way over to Angel right away. Dropping down to his knees as he gently sets a hand to her shoulder " 'ight here kid, jus' take a breath." he starts with it easy to tell something had her all worked up, so he's doing his best to keep calm here and not let her own elevated mood affect him. It's not like he wasn't happy to see her, of course he was. He liked Angel, but the situation caused him to go into state of mind telling him something was wrong. "What is it?"

Raph's quick to start checking her over for any cuts or bruises. Casey would kill him if anything hurt her.

Wait a second.

Casey.

Where the fuck was Casey?! Raph's eyes darted back over her shoulder so he could look for Casey there was no way he wouldn't be right on her hells the fact he wasn't here second following Angel? Something's wrong something happened to Casey.

"Angel where is Casey?" He says it in a even tone figuring out why she was crying so hard. If she was here alone Casey had to be in trouble. She tries her best to explain despite the tears. Raph got at least the parts that matter from all the noise. Angel got tangled up with the Purple Dragons, oh great. That alone would have been enough for Raph to start forming an idea on what was going on. Casey was protective of her and he hated the Purple Dragons so Angel having any ties with them? Of course that would lead to a fight between them. Angel may be Casey's loving little sister but well Raph can kind of understand Angel's side here considering things with Leo and himself after all. Casey could helicopter and he was sure that could be annoying at times for her. But damn kid the dragons? He didn't voice it. Clearly she heard enough about it already, besides it wasn't important in this moment.

"Now he's missin' an' he's not answering mine or dads phone!"

They have him.

His eyes grew wide at the thought. His breath caught in his throat, and his heart seemed to stall. He hadn't heard from Casey either so that must be it.

"I think the Dragons 'ave him an' I dunno what to do cause Casey always knew how t' take care of them an' I've been really dumb an' now he's hurt or or even dead cause of me!"

They had the same thought it only made sense that idiot likely went right to the dragons after his and Angel's fight. Knowing them so to get them to stay away from her, and of course he went alone! oh Casey better hope the dragons kill him first before Raphael finds him.

"I'm gonna kill him and kill him again." Raph said under his breath that fucking idiot! What was he thinking. This was Casey he wasn't ever thinking.

"Please help me."

Raph's attetion shifted back to Angel. Large sad eyes still brimming with tears. She was letting her guilt ear at her. Casey was likely in a world of hurt and to her? She might as well be the one to dealt it. Raph just offered her a smile as he took hold of both her shoulders now.

"Since when do ya need ta ask me anything Angel?" He tells her " besides Case ain't the only one 'hat knows how ta deal wit' some lame brain dragons. " After all dragon hunting was one of his and Casey's favorite things to do when they went out to hit the streets together. Softly golding her fave up as he wipes his thumbs slowly and gently just under her eyes. "No need for these either kid, we don' know of he hurt yet right? Gotta be tough for your brother okay?" Trying to redirect her emotions to focuse on her brother instead. "And don' worry I'll kick his butt twice as hard fir makin' ya cry okay?"

Moving arms to take hold of her, you might think in a hug, but no, he moved to lofted her up off her feet and near threw her around to his shell. "Hold on to my neck, Kay kid?" He instructs her to do as he moves to stand up, surrpoting her by holding his arms back behind himself.

"Luckily for ya dumbass brother. I 'ike dishing out payback." He tells her as he looks back over his shoulder to her. And taking off soon after feet poured hard against the ground as he turned the corner sharp and kept going. "Gonna need ya to help, though." He's pretty sure he hears footsteps following behind, but he doesn't care at the same time as he goes to the first man hole cover he knows is nearby.

Casey please be okay.

Is all Raphael could think once they broke free from the underground and started heading to China Town where the dragons main hideout was. It was likely the best place to look considering Casey was gonna be a main target of thiers. Oh, he was in for an earfull for one. He told Angel they couldn't worry about what they didn't know, but that was just to clam her down Raphael's anextiy was causing inky the worse sernarios to be pictured in his mind on what they would do to Casey. Gritti g his teeth hard against each other if they lay a single finger on him he'll break an arm, any marks on him, he'll do worse. A single hair out of place? Hell to pay.

[eyeknowmayhem]

ok so I think the biggest difference imo between the two is like. IDW’s was a crew that became a family over time, and MM was a family that became a crew. Which, ik is a very simplified way of looking at it but it informs a lot of the interpersonal dynamics and like, how their leaders (in this case, old hob and superfly) are treated.

Cuz like. Hob intentionally mutated 3 mutants 4 his “cause” - aka mutant army. In the case of the duo after the second attempt treats more like soldiers and team members rather than like. His kids. (Which gets complicated when you incorporate the fact that like… they acknowledge mondo as hob’s sorta not really son and then never bring it up again,) back to the point though. The rest were found over time and like- rescued in some way or another. And importantly enough with the exception of- Pete and Seymour/mutagen man they’re all trained or have some kind of specialized skill. Like driving, infiltration, super intelligence, being straight up invulnerable. Which, for an army/motley crew/freedom fighter group it’s all stuff you’re gonna need to liberate mutantkind or w/e

Compared to like, The very nonlinear and fractured creation, the MM crew were basically all they had, period. In the sense that since SF was the only one who was able to raise and provide for all 8 of them plus himself it’s way easier to lend itself as like. A family- considering how in a way that’s what they were created to be. Even if this iteration’s stockman didn’t live long enough to see it. Which- ok yeah they’re family and all but what does tht rlly mean? I mean I think. Imo it shows the most in the actual interpersonal dynamics.

Cuz like. For idw, hob Is the leader, there’s no doubt about it, but there’s differences. When his plans r too extreme, or he does something without everybody else’s say- he gets pushback! Most of the time the thing he wants to do happens anyway, but despite being the leader he’s not above being questioned. I do think there’s some level of respect, and eventually closeness he has for his teammates even if he still calls the shots. Which isn’t to say superfly doesn’t respect his crew, it’s more like. For the longest time they basically just listened to what he told them bc- superfly is just as stubborn and has the tendency to just go- my way, or the highway abt it. Doesn’t help they didn’t have any vision where there was other options to begin with for acceptance.

Not sure what the conclusion is here. Mostly just- no wonder the idw comics mutanimals went off the rails with betrayal and policing and infighting later on.

Been thinking abt the IDW mutanimals versus the ones in MM. maybe I’ll write up a quick n dirty study or something. Bc they’ve been living nonstop in my brain

[princessgemma12]

i'm not nero but nonbinary leo Is my beloved - i'll use they/them here, but what do you think their pronouns are? and how do you think their brothers take them coming out? and finally (sorry) do you think Leo lets themself present not-masc, because i think they'd have WAY too much internalized trans/nonbinary-phobia to do much more than quietly correct pronouns for a good while.

Hm... defaulting to 2012 but feel free to ask about Rise or Bayyy

Under the cut 'cause what is conciseness?

I think Leo's pronouns would be they/he/she--preferably they/them but mixes of he/her and even some neutral neos thrown around are just Really Nice for them. Sometimes Leo leans toward one set or another a little more than usual, but they/them is generally Pronoun Perfection. Eventually adopts (they/she/he)/Blue pronouns, sorta, but more on that later.

As for her coming out, I think it would depend. I'll use two basic scenarios here, one that follows the canonical timeline (here) and one where Splinter lives--i.e., "My" basic timeline--in a reblog.

So for "canon" I think coming out would be much easier for Leo--they wonder what Splinter would think, what he'd say, but they don't stress themselves out over it too bad. They hope he would be proud and accepting, is pretty confident that he would be but is still a little nervous that he wouldn't be. They aren't so worried about April or Shini or Karai or Mikey or Donnie--Dee actually helped with some terminology, though he doesn't know it, yet--but Leo is a bit worried about Raph and Casey, and the Mutanimals because he doesn't know them quite as well, and R&C don't really talk about this stuff so they just don't know what to expect.

So he's nervous but fairly confident that things will work out just fine--the little voice that tells them Mean Things disagrees but it's rarely ever right so Leo knows better than to listen to it by now. Still starts shaking when they sit the Main Fam down to talk in the pit, but they power through and try to sip their tea while explaining things. Almost chokes on it a few times but succeeds in not burning their tongue. Shinigami is the first person to say anything, and it's a reference to that tumblr loading screen meme that's been going around--April and Raph almost die laughing, but Leo doesn't get it. Shini has to explain it to them.

They've stopped shaking by the time Raph's calmed down, and everybody's got these little smiles that just say "We're so proud of you! We're so happy you trusted us with this! We won't let you down!" (They do, in fact, let him down, a number of times, but it's not for lack of trying.)

So they move on to gentle jokes and talking over some basic changes that will need to be made--Leo sticks to the simplicity of they/he for now, 'cause they aren't sure how his brothers would react to using she/her. They resolve themselves to other smaller discussions in the future, when they've got their footing back. Donnie and April quickly devise speaking exercises to help get everyone shifted from a he/him habit to a they/them habit, but Karai's the only one on board. Shini picks the change up pretty quick and Mikey stumbles a little but starts defaulting to "thude" (first "dude" but April interjects), which is a little closer to habit and what Leo says "That's a nice starting point!" because Mike's trying so hard and everyone's taking it so well and they really couldn't be happier--Raph keeps stumbling over he and his and wincing and mumbling sorry but he's correcting himself and apologizing even though Leo's not upset.

"It's okay if it takes some time, I don't mind that--I know this is a big change and I know this will be a challenge for you guys, too! I'm really happy that you're all taking this so well and trying so hard."

And Leo means that, he really does! But they all see the way his face lights up when they use they/them and wait Casey what did you say? Case's just been sitting their mumbling "This is my friend, Leo, they use they/them pronouns" over and over again because he's practicing a new introduction to the turtles--he can't just say "These are the turtle brothers, they're my friends" anymore, after all. Leo's just really proud of them all because this is their family, and they're all fantastic and Splinter would be so DAMN proud right now, wouldn't he?

They end up crying afterward and get Mikey hugs for days because how else does Mike show people how much he cares?

All in all, everyone adjusts pretty quickly--the guys and Leo still stumble around how appropriate "bro" is as an affectionate term is, and it's decided that it's fine unless it isn't (usages such as "brooo" or "Bro, check this out!" because it doesn't feel quite as gendered to him as it might to others--they all use it for each other, including the girls, so it's usually Okay). Leo will let them know if it's ever not Okay, but (shyly) makes it clear that they don't want to be referred to as anyone's brother. Sibling is Perfect, thank you. This becomes a Minor Issue for Raph because now there's this big gap in his vocabulary where Big Brother used to be, and it's... just really fucking hard to work that out of their relationship. He was doing great switching his language for Leo and now he feels kind of like a dick because he keeps saying Big Brother when talking to them. Mikey just changes his affectionate Big Bros to a silly Issue One (as in Issue One Sibling, like they're all comic books or something) and Donnie plucked out Androgynous Scaled Amphibian one day it stuck for gods knew why (because Leo laughed like a little kid). But Raph didn't know what to switch it out for. He's stumbling around trying to fill this hole up and he just doesn't know why? Like? What the fuck? Why this one thing?

He's still stumbling through it around the half-year mark and Leo's gotten pretty well used to walking past a conversation and hearing things like "Well, then I told them that they blah blah blah and he said blah blah blah, and naturally I told them to blah blah blah and they..." and Mikey and Donnie's new nicknames. They're no longer shy about correcting anyone if they don't feel like he/him right now but doesn't really know how to handle what's being called the Raphael Issue. They've made their stance on "brother" clear and corrected him, and he's corrected himself, and apologized and said he'll do better but--

As things usually do between them, it becomes an argument.

Things escalate quickly--like, really quickly. It's record-breaking. Raph's not mad at Leo--not in the slightest!--but he's frustrated with himself and why can't he just let this fucking name go? why? It's ridiculous! But Leo's pissed and oh fuck no, he said something stupid and mean and now Leo's crying and--

"Blue, I'm sorry, okay! But I don't know what the fuck I'm doing; I'm not trying to be a dick, I'm trying and I get it, I do, but can we just--"

And he finds his solution! It's like something clicks in his brain like yes, that's who you are--you are my Blue and I love you and this is my name for you now! I'm sorry I upset you, please consider this my apology present. It takes a while for them to calm down enough to actually talk about it, but when Raph explains what he was feeling, and Leo does the same, they get it--'cause for forever Leo was Big Brother and Fearless; those were their names and they meant something important. It doesn't work to just have one but an adjustment--a replacement--needed to be made. Leo likes the way Blue sounds and the way it felt kind of like a childhood nickname, and immediately notices how easy it is for Raph to insert "Blue" after "Big" if he screws up a little. It's cute and rolls off the tongue and they like it a lot. Like A Lot a lot.

Raph notices and kinda defaults to Blue whenever he's talking about Leo with/to someone. Leo thinks it's funny and lets him have it. It makes them both really happy.

It works in their favor because eventually (probably somewhere around one-two years 'cause Leo is a shy and nervous boi) she decides okay I'm ready and I can do this! and open up to more feminine presentation and pronouns/terms. They talk to everyone individually this time--he decides that Mondo's poorly-worded questions weren't worth dealing with right now, and so lets the Mutanimals learn through osmosis--and it goes a little less smoothly overall.

April grins ear-to-ear when they mention an interest in makeup and the excitement is a bit too much too fast for them to handle--she gets it, and backs off, and doesn't mention it again. They understand that the offer for "lessons" is on the table. Karai and Shinigami react more calmly but both slip a couple things in their pockets on their way out--a couple colors of eyeliner and lipstick and two shades of blue nail polish (Leo secretly appreciates it). Casey... Casey handles it. Okay-ish. It's clear that he's uncomfortable but he doesn't say anything and promises to take Leo's requests to heart. Leo gets it. Kinda hurts but they understand because change can be hard. They trust Casey's word and know that he'll keep it, that he means it.

Their brothers are less of a mixed bag, so to speak.

Donnie seems totally unfazed and immediately asks if "sister" is in the same box as "brother" or not, what feminine terms they're comfortable with, etc. He gets his facts straight and Leo balks when he writes them all down. "I need to study these to implement good habits, Leo!" They're privately very very pleased with the reaction and the warning to "check all ingredients on any cosmetic products" before using them.

Mikey asks similar questions but far more rapid-fire. Leo barely has time to answer before the next one is coming at him. In true Mikey fashion, he implements everything very very quickly and throws things around more than anyone else can manage at first. It makes Leo really proud and happy and causes a lot of giggle fits for everyone. The gender euphoria when Mikey says "Oh, yeah, she loves that show! Huh? Oh, no, my sibling Leo! Yeah! He eats it up!"

(The jumbling sometimes happens even when Leo doesn't really want it to, though, and it's hard to explain but Mikey seems to get it and works on it. He stumbles sometimes but usually does fine.)

Raph... doesn't say anything. Like anything. At all. He just grins and gives Leo a thumbs like "Cool, okay"--no questions, no nothing. It weirds them out a little but they don't want to start an argument so they let it go and just kind of keep an eye on their interactions with Raphael for a while. They start finding bottles of nail polish on their nightstand and her meditation mat in the dojo, all blue, every few weeks, and soon they have baskets of the stuff. Apparently, Raph was trying to be encouraging. Leo had to ask him to stop because holy crap how am I supposed to use all of this, Raphael, it's too many!

His name doesn't bother them, never has, but they play with the syllables to figure out how many different nicknames they have to work with--Raph picks up the old name Leelo, something from when he couldn't quite pronounce Leo correctly (he also picks up L for the more feminine days because it sounded like "Elle"); everyone else goes with Lee and sometimes L. Mikey does start calling Leo "Lee-enard-o" as a joke, though, and Donnie's the only one that gets it.

Honestly, it takes a while--probably about three years for Leo to get comfy with themself enough to begin not feeling self-conscious about things. It takes a while longer for them to really embrace the need for more obvious feminine things, but when they do Mikey is Ready with the skirts and dresses, yes, now he has someone to play dress-up with again! and April provides them with a plethora of hoodies with non-binary pride designs (his favorite is their "Non-bino-saur" one). Raph decides to take up nail art and no one is safe--Casey decides he likes the skull designs Raph picked up for Halloween and insists they live forever on his fingers. Shini and Karai are quiet about things but help them embrace their goth side. It becomes a pretty common sight for Leo to be chilling in the pit with a fuckton of eye makeup on and a "cisn't" hoodie on. They absolutely adore all the gifts because yes! gender euphoria!

Honestly, they just become the epitome of assume nothing! and they live for it.

[thecomicsnexus]

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #90-92 JANUARY - MARCH 2019 BY KEVIN EASTMAN, BOBBY CURNOW, TOM WALTZ, MICHAEL DIALYNAS AND RONDA PATTISON

As the Mutanimals get ready to go to war against Bishop, Karai returns to take over the clan.

SCORE: 9

This story was surprising, and while the ending was not surprising... it gave me hopes for a while that it was going to end well.

There are some things here to discuss, most of them for the spoilers section.

Metalhead is a villain, I am not so convinced about this. Of why he has to hate the Turtles. I mean, he and Donnie weren’t really friends lately, but at some point he WAS Donatello. Why would he go against all the Turtles?

I am also quite tired of Bishop, I was hopeful during Battle Lines that he was going to end his arc there, but he is still around, and I cannot wait for him to be dead.

So as you may imagine, that part of this upcoming City at War, with Bishop and Metalhead is something I am not looking forward to.

Still, we have Ch’rell in Burnow, maybe he will take care of Bishop himself.

Spoilers after the break...

SCORE: 9

Of all the reasons there were for the Splinter and Karai to clash... the orphans weren’t in my mind. Now... those orphans... I do not know exactly why they couldn’t be returned to the city. But the problem now is that “they know too much”. And for Karai, they would be a very long-term investment... how long would it take for these kids to become ninjas... they cannot even operate a VCR!

In any case, conflict is here again, and I am hoping that all these plots will get to some kind of climax.

Now, about Jennika.

I am not sure if the writers always knew she was going to be mutated, but her character has always been floating around, without much of a personality. And pairing her with Casey Jones, while it may make sense, feels emotionless. Like Jennika is not good at being human and Casey is not really too invested in going too far with her. I still feel like April and Casey do a better match because they complement each other better.

And speaking of April... I still cannot really see why she has to work with Baxter. I understand she wants to keep an eye on what he does, but... well... in other iterations that never ends well, so I am not expecting that plot to end well either.

[nerdgirllife]

Intertwined Dimensions Chapter 2- Kunoichi Training

The evening had started normal enough the night before back at the Mutanimals lair. Y'gythgba was sparring with Slash to start her day off. Slash was cornering her as she tried out some backflips that Karai had been teaching her, but fell down. Y: Rokka. I still can not get these backflips right. Slash: It takes practice Mona, just give it some time. Karai and Shinigami were visiting the Mutanimals before heading out to Japan. As she finished her sparring both of the girls looked at Y'gythgba. Slash: What are you two up to? Karai: Nothing. Come on space girl we have something for you. Shinigami and Karai walked with her back to her room. Y: What do you mean? Shinigmai: Leonardo spilled the beans to Karai about your Kunoichi training. Y: Spilled the beans? Karai: Yeah, he told me that he was your new sensei. Don't be mad at him, he was just excited that you were his first student and let it out in conversation with me. Shini and I are just super excited, April too. We kinda worked together to get you something. Kunoichi training is special. Shinigami: We brainstormed to see what we could get you, to let you know that you can count on us to help you. April couldn't be here because of her job, but feels the same way. Y: Thank you. I appreciate your kind thoughts. It is a bit harder than I thought. Y'gythgba had thought nothing of training as a Kunoichi, except that as a warrior it made sense to learn how to fight in many different ways. Especially in this new world where she was expected to remain hidden and out of sight. Shinigami would not hear of Y'gythgba not accepting their gift, which was a custom made black ninja outfit for her. All three Kunoichi's had worked on her outfit, even putting the Hamato family crest very discreetly on the back of the outfit. Shinigami and Karai waited for Mona to come out so they could see their handiwork. As she walked out Y'gythgba looked to Shinigami. Y: Shinigami...do you not think this is a little too much? Shinigami was smiling impishly at Karai as she thumbed up the new ninja look. Karai: Nope, it looks good on you. You should be happy I talked her out of putting make-up on you. Y'gythgba pulled on the mask nervously as it covered her face. Y: I'm only interested in, how does Raphael put it 'kicking butt'. Karai: Well yeah, I agree with the hothead, who isn't. But this way you can blend in with the shadows.  I mean might as well be stylish while you are kicking butt. Remember a kunoichi has to use the art of surprise and misdirection.  Shinigami adjusted Y'gythgba's face mask and hood. Shinigami: And I know a certain red masked turtle that will probably be super misdirected when he sees our gift. Y'gythgba blushed slightly. Shini: Now you are ready to go kick butt. Let us know what Raphael says or doesn't say. Y: I will, Rokka Rokka. Thank you.

The alien female went down the sewer, making sure to crawl on the wall toward the turtles' lair whenever there was water, still unwilling to get her feet wet in the sewer water. As she arrived she was greeted by Michaelangelo. Mikey: Oh, hey Mona! Cool outfit, very vintage ninja. Y: Thank you, Michaelangelo. She looked around to see where her love was. Mikey (with food in his mouth): Raph's in the dojo with Leo already. Mikey popped some more pizza puffs in his mouth. Y: Thank you. She nodded and moved towards the dojo. Mikey looked at her outfit and felt déjà vu but dismissed it as he proceeded to watch another Crognard episode.

As she stepped into the dojo she saw Raphael and Leonardo sparring. Y'gythgba silently observed them as she stood next to the beautiful tree that reminded her of Salamandria. All training arenas always evoked warm feelings in her no matter the location.  As long as she could remember her place had been in the training arena. Y'gythgba remembered looking up at G'throkka as a child and trying to place a blow on him with her training sword. Training had always focused her, helped her block out her emotions. How many years had it taken to even get a hit in and the look of utter surprise on his face when she had finally accomplished it. The brothers hadn't even heard her come in, but as Raph blocked an attack he noticed her and fell backwards as he lost his balance. Y: Hello. Raphael. Leonardo. Raphael always melted when she said his name. How was it that she could always do that. Leo: Hey, mona. Nice outfit. Leonardo shook his head as looked at Raph's face, it was almost comical seeing his brother go through a range of emotions; was that awe, love, admiration, and then lust followed by embarrassment for thinking of that? Raph: Mona....you're here. Wow. Just...where did you? You look...ravishing (clearing his throat) I mean...you look beautiful. Raphael blushed and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Y'gythgba smiled and blushed as she watched Raphael compose himself.  Y: Thank you, Raphael. April, Shinigami and Karai thought you would enjoy this gift they gave me to help in my Kunoichi training. Raphael nodded as if he was in a dream like state. Leonardo cleared his throat. Leo: How'd I get stuck with the two lovebirds. Remind me to thank the girls later. Uhh...I feel like the ultimate 3rd wheel. That statement got Raph out of his stupor and he pushed Leo down as they play fought. Y'gythgba smiled as she watched them resume their match. The more time she spent with these honorable warrior brothers, the more it reminded her of what she had lost so long ago. Though she pushed those memories away and focused on her current training at hand.

It was time for her training session as he observed Leonardo turning off the lights in the dojo and lighting  a few candles. Leo: Alright Mona, try to attack me. Remember the lesson here is to blend in with the shadows and remain unseen. Y'gythgba pulled out the sword Raphael had picked out for her a while back, it wasn't quite her old sword. Yet then again Bishop had made it clear that she couldn't keep any of her Salamandrian tech, except for her universal translator. If that was the price she had to pay to stay on Earth with Raphael, then so be it. Leo: Not too bad Mona, you are really picking up the ninjitsu training pretty quickly, even with our different weapons. Master Splinter would be impressed. Y: Thank you. rokka rokka. Y'gythgba jumped out of the way and into the shadows. R: That's pretty good. I see the new outifit is helping you too. Raphael's eyes had not left her and Y'gythgba blushed in the darkness, grateful for her mask. As she ambushed Leonardo she got thrown by a sliding kick off her feet. Rapahel knew Leonardo would pull that move, he was ready for it and caught her before she fell down. Y: (embarrassed at her blunder) Thank you Raphael. She touched his face gently as they looked into each others eyes. Leonardo got up and cleared his throat. Raph smiled with a mischievous idea gleaming in his as held Mona. Raph: Maybe you can find your own dojo Leo. Leonardo threw his hands up in the air. Leo: (Exasperated sigh) Fine. I guess training time is over. Same time next week Mona. (quietly as he walked towards the door) Not that you two are listening  to me right now. Just as Leonardo was about to leave the dojo there was a loud boom and a bright light that knocked them all to the floor. Michaelangelo and Donatello ran into the dojo after hearing their thuds. Donnie: Is everyone okay? My computers didn't register any seismic activity. Raph looked towards Mona as they seemed to be being pulled away, just then Renet appeared from the light. Mikey:Renet! She smiled at him as she held on to the time scepter. Renet: Michaelangelo! Renet observed them all grabbing on to something. Renet: Oh, Sorry turtle warriors and oh! The Salamandrian warrior is here now too, too cold. Leo: Renet, what is going on? Renet: Oh right. (fumbling slightly with the sceptor) Time seems to want you all somewhere. I'll find you all and bring you back. I have to go get a head start, I'll find you don't worry. Just like that she was gone. Donnie: Just great! They all screamed as they were being pulled into the time portal Y: Who was that? Leonardo stabbed his sword into the floor to hold on. (straining) Donnie: That was Renet, a time apprentice. Mikey: It'll be fine guys. Renet said she would come back for us. Let's just enjoy the fact that we are going on a time travelling adventure. As they fell into the portal Raphael reached for Mona's hand R: Mona! (straining to hold onto her) But as they tried to grab on to each other they seemed to fall into a darkness away from each other. Y: Raphael!!

________________________________

Here’s chapter 2. I know I said next week but I couldn’t wait after working on it so decided to publish. Hope you all enjoy it. Just a note too, no leorai for this, here they are just good friends

[yellowhollyhock]

Mikey: Do you guys remember when Master Splinter died?

Raph: No?!!??

Leo: What happened while I was at training?!

Donnie: lolol everyone calm down, he means when Master Splinter went missing.

Mikey: I thought he was dead. It was really scary.

Leo and Raph: I don’t remember that

Donnie and April: You were in a coma

Leo:

Raph:

April:

Donnie:

Mikey: Yeah you guys all keep faking me out it’s terrifying for real

Casey: Mikey you’ve been eaten in front of them, electrocuted, and didn’t you almost get double-mutated on a toilet machine?

Mikey: oh yeah, teehee 🤭

Raph: It’s up to you and me, Leo. We need to get the other guys to take things more seriously. Teach them the hard way so they never have to learn the hard way. This is no game. Our family’s on the line.

Leo: Raph, I’m with you to the end.

Leo: It’s just… I don’t think we’re on the same page about our approach.

Raph, putting on an action movie and ordering pizza: I know it seems extreme, but there’s no other way.

Leo: There’s training.

Raph: ssshhh there’s no other way.

Casey: Don’t forget, Leo, it’s thanks to the movies that you guys won your famous fish and ladders battle in Jersey.

Leo: our what

Raph: Mind Raph is telling me we should swoop right in and take that guy out.

Leo, dryly: My ‘mind Raph’ is telling me we should proceed with caution and gather information.

Raph: You have a mind Raph, too? 😀

Leo: That’s not what I—

Raph: 🥹

Leo: I mean, yes. Of course I have a mind Raph. He’s always keeping me out of trouble. Which is what we should do now. Stay out of trouble.

Raph: lol your mind Raph sounds dumb. What, did he also tell you you should grow hair so you can sneak into a fancy resort?

Leo:

Leo: I do not understand how your brain works

Casey: So that’s a yes

Leo: When did Casey get here

Donnie: So, you guys know how we wouldn’t exist if not for the Shredder?

Leo and Mikey: Eh??

April: You’re gonna have to explain your logic on that one, Don.

Raph: What? Come on guys even I kept up with that. It doesn’t even matter if he meant Draxum Shredder or Demon Shredder. Evil scientist who mutated us, ancestor. Simple.

Donnie: I was actually talking about Utrom Shredder.

Mikey, whispering: utrom shredder….

Leo: Hey Raph, remember when I fell—

Raph, crying: It was an accident!

Leo:

Leo: I was gonna say when I fell for Mikey’s gullible on the ceiling trick… Did you think I was talking about our fight on the roof?

Raph: I didn’t think he would actually do it!

Donnie: I remember when you stepped on a land mine.

Leo: Not helping, Donnie.

Mikey: Oh, or when he took a tumble down those stairs after he was scolding us to be quiet.

Leo: gUYS Raph is really upset—

Mikey: Hey guys, I’m worried about Donnie. He’s been meditating for, like, longer than Leo.

Raph: Has he been meditating all this time? I thought he was shut up in his lab.

Leo: Maybe he’s asleep?

April: psst, Donnie? What are you doing?

Donnie, not looking up: Trying to unlock my dragon avatar.

Mikey: This looks like a job for Turflytle, buzz buzz.

Leo: Mikey, haven’t you and Raph learned by now about ninjas and flashy costumes?

Mikey: Aw, don’t be such a buzz buzz kill, buzz buzz.

Leo: Sometimes it’s just so lonely that we’re the only ones of our kind. I love you guys, but I wish we had a chance to befriend other mutants. Walk about in public. Just a short conversation with a non-family member once in a blue moon would cure me I think.

Mikey: Bro, we tried to invite you to hang out with the Mutanimals last week.

Raph: You could’ve gone with me to get pizza at Hueso’s.

Donnie: I’m on my way to see Leatherhead right now.

Leo: Too bad there are no options. *sigh*

Splinter: Leonardo, please. You must go outside.

Donnie: Hey April, remember how you overloaded the mousers because we couldn’t get access to shut them down?

April: Sure Donnie

Donnie: I was thinking the same idea might work with the teleportation system we’ve been working on. Not to shut them down, but if I overload it enough for the safety protocols to activate automatically, we can locate the other half of that testing dummy.

April: okay

Donnie: It’s so nice to have another scientist to talk to. Well, catch ya later!

April: uh-huh

April: So does Donnie not understand what a reporter is or?

Raph: I mean, to be fair, don’t you change jobs like every other month?

April: Nope. I briefly lost my job once when I met you guys. Other than that it’s literally been the same.

Leo: Yeah, she’s an archaeologist.

April: What

Mikey: I didn’t even know April had a job

April: W h a t

Casey: Alright, so I told the guys you worked at your old man’s antique shop. Maybe I also made something up about once working for Baxter Stockman. Mighta said you used to sell shoes for the Foot. I was just trying to make you seem cool, you know?

April: No

Tmnt Memory mash up part 2 (finally ran out of jokes for the first one)

Concept is, there is no concept we have no idea what’s real because memories are wonky, everyone is a storyteller, and Casey is gaslighting them all. (Actual concept: characters remember the same events differently because that’s how brains work, but now it’s taken to an extreme where the basis for different turtle realities comes from each set of memories.)

Rise Raph, 2012 Mikey, 2003 Donnie, 2007 Leo, 1987 Splinter, 1990s April

Leo: You guys need to focus. It’s just like I learned during my training—

Raph: Your training? Are you talking about when you became a mascot for that basketball team?

Donnie: Raphie, be nice. You know Leo takes ninjitsu very seriously.

Raph: *cackles*

Mikey: pfft yeah haha, he’s a big goofy dork who loves cartoons, trying to act all serious haha (he tried to sacrifice himself again last week why are we laughing)

Mikey: Yo dudes, I made us some pizza, shaken not stirred, canned meat supreme with jalapeños and strawberries, light on rosemary heavy on hot sauce. We’re ready for movie night!

Raph: You’re so creative with food! ❤️ You were watching that cooking show you like again, weren’t you?

April:

Leo:

Donnie:

Splinter: You are a great chef, Michelangelo. Because of my peculiar tastes I will be eating sushi.

Casey: There’s definitely algae on this pizza.

Leo: Casey shut up we’re eating

Donnie, on the last slide of a PowerPoint: And so, Leo, I think you will plainly understand, you cannot go outside.

Leo: What about Raph and Mikey?

Donnie: Did Mikey almost accidentally ally with our family’s nemesis?

Leo: No, but—

Donnie: Did Raph get poisoned at the Battle Nexus?

Leo: Well, no, but—

Donnie: Did Raph or Mikey or Splinter or April or even Casey fight an army of Foot by himself while still recovering emotionally from our first presumed defeat of said nemesis, and end up facing him again, getting thrown through a window, and falling into a coma?

Leo: But you said you were abducted by aliens! And what about all those adventures in alternate dimensions you talk about? Your safety is also important! (fuming)

Donnie: Well I’m not the one who had to go away for training. 😘

Leo: But you did take that horrible phone line job while I was away for training, and do not tell me that was less traumatic!

Donnie: … phone line job???

Leo: Yeah, the—didn’t you—Casey told me you worked in tech support?

Donnie: Casey told you—Casey said—I am the cofounder of O’Neil Technologies he told you I got a phone line job?

Splinter: You must center yourselves, my students. The mind is a powerful weapon.

April: So does he always just call you guys his students?

Donnie: Nah, I think he says ‘my son’ more often than he says my name, he’s just in training mode right now.

Leo: Yeah, it’s more in private conversations that he’ll use familial terms. He really means it with just as much affection when he says students.

Mikey: lol I have been called both son and student with varying degrees of affection and annoyance. When he says my name I run for my life

Raph:

April: Um, you okay Raph?

Raph: He mostly just calls me Red…

Everyone: Dude….

April: Hey do you guys remember that guy who got mixed up with a bad crowd, almost did something really irreversible but then met you guys and turned it around and helped us instead?

Donnie: Angel!

Splinter: Ah, yes, young Carter. I hope his studies are going well.

Mikey: Mondo Gecko my man!

Leo: Do you mean your boss Winters? I mean he was the most recent.

Raph: That was Casey.

Casey: That was me.

April:

April: Anyway I was talking with his dad the other day—

Mikey: You ever had feelings for someone, Leo? Feelings you didn’t know what to do about? Feelings that kept you up at night?

Leo: Mikey I told you, I didn’t stay away that extra time because of a girlfriend.

Mikey: Maybe even feelings that make you act stupid. Feelings like Raph has for his Mona Lisa, or Donnie for April?

Raph and Donnie, eavesdropping:

Raph: What’s going on with you and April??

Donnie: Nothing I’m aware of. Maybe she borrowed a tool without asking or something. Who’s your Mona Lisa?

Raph: Raph wishes he knew.

Mikey: The heart’s a soft muscle, dude. Squish squish.

Leo: I literally have no idea what you’re talking about.

Casey: Hey Mikey! How are things going with that time traveling girl you liked? I can’t remember her name.

Mikey: Time-traveling girl..? Wait yo dude that hasn’t happened for me yet. I think you just accidentally revealed my future!

Casey: Cool, I didn’t even know I was from the future. I wonder if I could convince Leo he might start an apocalypse if he doesn’t find, like a certain artifact or something….

Donnie, again on PowerPoint: If I were to disappear, the whole world would fall to pieces. Shredder victorious. Raph and Leo estranged forever, unable to reconcile after Master Splinter’s tragic death. Mikey and April, the lone fighters against the growing tide of darkness, barely clinging onto hope. Mikey’s lost one of his arms, and with it the spark of joy in his eyes.

Raph: Who let him have coffee

Splinter: I believe he has had a nightmare. We must guard against these dark thoughts.

Donnie, staring into the distance: That dragon-daimyo merged guy nearly won the Battle Nexus. It looked like the blue bunny poisoned Leo, but in the end he stood beside him in battle. At least Raphie won his planet race.

Raph: Who let him have poison pizza puffs

Mikey: Ay Raph that’s scarily specific?

Mikey: They always forget that I’m good at science, too. I help Dee out in the lab with ideas and stuff. I mean, I don’t understand science, but I got good instincts for it. They need to remember that.

Casey: Yeah, like when you created Ice Cream Kitty.

Mikey: Yeah! What.

Casey: Or when you cured Donnie of that stuff that made him super dumb.

Mikey: No yeah but go back to what you said about Ice Cream Kitty.

Donnie: Do you guys remember that jungle dimension we went to with the really big bugs?

Mikey: Did you just call our own city a jungle dimension?

Leo: Reminds me of my training. I miss the jungle….

Mikey, humming to himself: welcome to the jungle, it’s worse here every day, you learn to live like an animal in the jungle where we play

Raph: Did you guys all portal somewhere without me?

Mikey and Donnie: You wanted to see the giant bugs?

Raph:

Raph: Well, no, but—