#donnie is a sassy nerd isn't he

[brightlotusmoon]

Feb 2024: I remember none of this yet it all makes perfect sense.

Dear TMNT Fandom, especially Bayverse fans:

How do you think Bay Donatello got his glasses?

@remmushound and I are doing a RP scene with Bay Donnie, Bay Mikey, and Rise Mikey. The Mikeys are high on pain relief* and Rise Mikey wants to know where Bay Donnie's unique glasses came from and how they got the lenses to correct his eyesight. Be creative. Tell a story.

*some of that is plant based, gummies that Bay Don and Bay Mike made themselves. We're figuring out that whole thing too. Bay Splinter approves, because arthritis in mutant rats is probably terrible even with a mutant healing factor..

This reminds me to take my own pain relief because my face still hurts and also the back of my skull which is tension and cervicogenic-

Aand I think my spiritually inclined Mikey will suffer migraines as a side effect of being able to directly manipulate the energy of other beings, which @remmushound can absolutely use for future fanfic stuffs. I need to figure out how far that ability can reach.

I say his power got triggered when the Rise boys showed up in the first place, woke up more during the cross reality shenanigans, and really started moving after Meat Sweats gave him that concussion with open head wound.

So the power is like neuroplasticity! It's active and like a muscle, or a growing kitten training to be an emotional support animal, living in Mike's brain like a newly formed neural structure, like a whole new sensory system, like interoception and proprioception merging and creating psychic manipulation**. Maybe.

I need to go to neuroscience websites and then cross reference with websites about qigong and healing.

Oh. No wonder Rise Mikey feels so, uh, intense. Good for her gif meme.

***(I totally did this for 2012 but I need to tone it down for Bayverse, so I'm borrowings from my 2003 AU. I have a lot of ideas. Yay painkillers.

Right right. Sorry. ADHD hyperfixations ramble about Autistic special interests. How did Donatello get his glasses?

[brightlotusmoon]

What I really wanna know is did they make Donnie more abrasive to fit being a soft shell turtle or did they make him more abrasive first and decide that he must be the type of turtle who's main survival skill is being aggressive (probably the former if I had to guess)

Oooh, great question. I genuinely believe that they saw too much Angst piled on 2003 Donnie and decided that a Donnie needed to be able to laugh in the face of angst - darkly, dryly, full of bored sarcasm - and kick its ass. So they made him a feral gremlin who knows exactly what he contributes and they probably chose the soft shell based on that. But perhaps other fans have other thoughts?!

[brightlotusmoon]

Repo Mantis has given the Bay Turtles carte blanche. Since they de-mutated Mrs Nubbins, he's letting them play in his Best Junkyard Ever in exchange for getting medical stuff for Mikey.

Bay Donnie is quietly losing his fucking mind.

Dear Fandom, I need things that Bay Donnie and Raph would get excited about in a junkyard. I'm drawing from 2003 and 1987 a lot, with some 2012.

@remmushound

@beesandturtles

@tmntspidergirl

@ravn-87

@turtle-babe83

@imagine-turtles

[grizzlyofthesea]

ROTTMNT Appreciation Post #3: Donatello

Like his brothers before him, Rise Donnie is pretty different from what we've seen in the past. Also like his brothers? I. Love. Him.

Where do I begin with this absolute madlad? Donatello. Dramatello. Greatest Of All Turtles--the GOAT, if you will. He's smart. He's sassy. He's dramatic. He's hilarious. His inventions are awesome. There's a lot going on under his "insufferable genius" facade, too. He feels like he's only worth as much as his inventions. He craves praise and validation. He puts a ton of thought into everything he creates for his loved ones. He may not know how to express his feelings all the time, but when he figures it out, he can show some of the purest kindness and love in the series.

Let's not reduce him to his inventions, either. He has a ton of interests--music, science, reading, Jupiter Jim comics (though Leo is the bigger comic book nerd this time around), skateboarding... And he's passionate about all of them. "Passionate" is a good word for Donnie in general. When he finds something he loves, he goes all in on showing appreciation for it.

All of the Rise turtles mean a lot to me, but Donnie hits different. He's the first turtle I was exposed to, and it was through a video showcasing his autistic traits. I also happen to be autistic. He's some of the first genuinely entertaining, heartfelt representation I've ever seen. He isn't pushed to the sidelines, treated like a weirdo (more than the others, anyway), babied, or reduced to his special interests. He's a nuanced character who gets lots of screentime, and he's adored by both his family and so many fans of this show just for being him. Are there people who dislike him? Yeah, and that's okay. That's just part of being not a stereotype, but a character. That means so, so much.

I don't know if Donnie's a hearttype or a kintype or what, but man, I want to be him. He's my favorite character, yeah, but it's even more than that. He almost feels like an exaggerated cartoon version of me. I dunno. Maybe I'm just projecting way too much. Either way, I love Donnie, and he means a lot to me.

[brightlotusmoon]

Now I picture the Mikeys doing a perfect rendition of "Someone will die." "Of fun!" just off-camera.

How could you ever resist teasing this dude.

Original Text

[xinkypotatoechipsx]

Greetings and salutations, my lovely friend. I adore your blog and I was wondering if I could get a tmnt 2014 match up, please ?

My name is Gabriela, but my friends call me Gabi, Gabika, Bella and Raven. I'm 15 years old girl from Slovakia 🇸🇰, Libra ♎, 5'9 ft tall and I am an only child.

I have brown-green eyes, dirty blond hair to my shoulders and slim figure. I'm tall and I have cute gap in my tooth.

I'm half Slovak, Spanish and Russian. My family members are from these wonderful countries. I was born in Spain, we are going to Russia every holiday and currently I live in Slovakia. I'm like from everywhere.

I'm introvert. Calm and collected, shy, funny, sweet, kind, very intelligent and smart. Hothead with short temper and I'm so flirty. I'm sassy and natural born leader. I always stand for things that are right and I'm not afraid to slap and beat 6 ft tall people or turtles heh.

I love Art and books. I'm bookworm and I'm nerd. I adore chem labs and I love to write stories, headcanons, matchups, song fics and fiction. I LOVE CHINESE DRAGONS.

Dancing is my passion along with cooking. I'm on High school- Hotel Academy with my adoptive brother.

My adoptive brother is Casey. He's 15 and he's like Twin of BayMikey. He love skateboarding, playing on drums and play videogames.

We dance together and he adore when I sing.

I sing and I play on accordion, piano, tamburine, harmonica, electric and acoustic guitar.

That's All. Thank you so much for your time and asking. I'm so so sorry for any mistakes and I hope you drink a lot of water and eat 😍😍😍.

First of all I would like to apologise about how late this is and I hope you can forgive me and this is my first time writing a match-up so I'm sorry if it's shit and very short.

xxx

I pair you with Donatello!

I feel like you and Donnie would bond extremely well over your shared love of books and labs and I feel that he could talk to you for hours about what both of your favourite books are and the ones you are currently reading. He'd be proud of you for being able to stick up for yourself and take no shit from anyone. Although you have a bit of a temper he wouldn't mind a single bit, I mean the poor dude has 3 brothers...1 of which that is constantly mad and violent and wouldn't hesitate to break someone's bones *cough* Raphael *cough*. Donatello would also be very understanding and would constantly be there to help you out if you felt stressed/depressed/etc and unless you ask him to give you some space he isn't going anywhere

He'd also be pretty curious about what fanfics and stuff you write too, and he may or may not look all over the internet for your work.

[brightlotusmoon]

A preview of the current RP with @remmushound aka "I Would Not Wish Any Companion In The World But You" (yes, that's a Shakespeare quote). Because it amused me and you guys deserve it. FYI, this takes place in the Rise lair's giant pool, where Bay Donnie is doing physical therapy for Bay Mikey to soothe the hypertonia.

-

“Don has to make all our trackers and ear pieces edible because SOMEONE.” Leonardo looked to Raphael, “will end up eating it eventually,”

"Does it taste good?" Mikey asked, as Donnie flexed his foot.

“No I put a bitter coating on everything, he just doesn’t care.”

"Oh, well that's... oowwwww Dee, what did you do?"

Donnie had a stunned expression. "Your ankle just went into subluxation. Fascinating." He crunched the joint back in and Mikey yowled. "This might be why you keeping turning it. Remind me to make that brace I was looking up."

Mikey glared at him. "Warn me next time."

“If he warns you, you’ll tense!” Leonardo said, “and it’ll hurt worse.”

"Yeah, fair," Mikey grumbled. "But I don't want tendonitis!"

Donnie had put them both vertical, and locked Mikey into a hug as the shorter turtle floated. "I know. We'll manage it."

Leonardo swam over and wiggled into the hug. “All hugs are group hugs when you got four clingy younger brothers.”

“I HEAR HAPPY NOISES!”

Michelangelo came out of nowhere and jumped into the water.

“I WANT HAPPY!” He paddled like a dog, rapidly sinking until Raphael dove under and let Michelangelo ride him like a surfboard.

Mikey flung his arm wide. "There he is, get over here!" And his orange pink aura flared.

Michelangelo launched himself off of Raphael’s shell and paddled like a half-drowned rat over to Mikey.

Mikey bit his lip as a vision of Michelangelo sinking like a stone flashed in his mind. His urge to reach out manifested as a streak of dark rusty orange, which flared out and literally pulled at the tiny turtle like a tractor beam.

Michelangelo gave a started squeak at the pulling but didn’t resist it, letting it pull him along until he could scramble on top of Mikey.

“Hi.”

"Hi! I have no idea how I just did that!"

Donnie's mouth was hanging open.

“Awesomeeee.” Leonardo whistled his awe.

Michelangelo snuggled into Mikey. “That was so cool!”

Mikey giggled nervously. "Guys, do I have superpowers?"

“Yeah!” Michelangelo chirped, “that’s soooo cool! We should show you our powers one day! I mean, you already seen Leo’s, but not mine and Raphie's!”

"Are your powers also organically activated by mystic energy?" Don asked.

Michelangelo blinked slowly. “What?”

Mikey also blinked slowly. "What?"

Donnie chuffed. "Running on a theory. The chest injuries Mikey sustained during our first battle with Krang must have been an entry point for mystic dimensional energy to begin manipulating his chi, his neurology. His subsequent injuries combined with his born empathic abilities probably jump-started his current psionics. With you three, was there anything already inside you that your powers manifested? Or were they externally placed on you by mystic forces?"

Mikey pinched his cheek. "We love you, Nerdatello."

“Our mystic weapons have all our mystic stuff.” Michelangelo said with a frown, “I… think.”

Nodding, Donnie hugged them a little tighter. "Activated by mystic energy externally manifested," he muttered. "That must be a rush. Oh, yes. Are there side effects? Pain?"

“My fundo throws me against the wall sometimes when he gets too excited.” Michelangelo mused.

Donatello sighed as he drifted past. “Overuse of the mystic powers can cause headaches, nausea, numbness, and weakness. It varies from power to power. And each power has its own drawbacks too.”

Donnie clucked rapidly, taking his tablet and calling up his notes app. "Does the power embed itself inside the user? Does it fade after a certain point? If you were without the mystic weapons, could you call upon any power at all?"

Mikey watched him with a gleam in his eyes, wrapping one arm around Donnie's waist, the other still holding Michelangelo, letting his lower half float. He pressed his face into Donnie's plastron and rubbed it back and forth. "Waterproof nerdery, hehehe. It's swim time, not science time."

"It's always science time," Donnie said lightly, with conviction, propping the tablet on his brother's skull.

-

Keep in mind that just because canon didn't show it doesn't mean that a Michelangelo doesn't have a library of literature. Most if it is illustrated. He's very visual. @ulisabarbic-blog and I like to write him infodumping Lord Of The Rings, Shakespeare, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Theodore Sturgeon, and LE Modesitt with Donatello. Especially if they're in graphic novel format.

Oh, @diploglottis @fire-fira @silexwitch @roseyturtles @eemoo1o-tmntoo @sylvain-writes @rhythmsmith @crowdog - I have a lot a lot of thoughts on the fantasy fiction that every Mikey consumes when nobody is looking.

Oh hey, the ADHD meds just kicked in.

[brightlotusmoon]

Me, in a discussion about 2003 Leo during Season 4: 2003 kept poking Donnie with an angst stick that got shorter each time. Leo just gets stabbed by the stick a few times. Also it's the same stick.

Me, updating fics: Hang on Mikey needs to get impaled on the angst stick-

[brightlotusmoon]

I like to think that, while the boys are in the junkyard, half the cats are like this:

Cat: WHAT THE FUCK

Cat: IS THAT?!

And the other half are like:

Cat: owo?

Cat: big ‘ol climbing pole?

Cat: GIB TO MEEEE

There is no in between

Agreed. Bay Donnie getting covered in cats just while he's thinking is a fantastic imagine.

[brightlotusmoon]

Help I decided to binge 2003 tmnt and I desperately wish they let the turtles keep their character development and for Mikey especially to start getting viewed as less of a wiseguy and more of a wise guy

I know, I know. Here, have a hug.

Every few years, I feel justified in my frustration regarding Mikey's lack of character development.

See, this is why there are so many fanfictions where Mikey is shown with all his talents. And why my tags are so salty.

[brightlotusmoon]

In the RP with @remmushound with Rise Donnie and Bay Mikey in the dreamscape: Oooh, sudden Depressed Mikey vibes, okay. Hey, 2003 Mikey, your series never really gave you an angst arc because of that writing clause, so you get to play Bay Mikey freaking out about his insecurities in front of the most insecure Donatello ever, hooray for you, have fun!

[brightlotusmoon]

Earth And Oxygen: The Heart's Brain - BrightLotusMoon - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TV 2012) [Archive of Our Own]

(Note: I have no idea where this came from. I started writing it from a slip of a thought, and in less than an hour, this whole thing happened. It takes place sometime during the "Water And Oxygen" story. It's more B-Team fluff. I keep getting anonymous reviews and messages about "Don being somewhere on the autism spectrum" which makes me groan because it's technically not a spectrum, it's like a curvy shape, a Mobius strip, an Infinity knot, an Ouroborous. Spectrums generally tend to mean a high and a low, and that's not what autistics do. So I think I unconsciously wanted to prove that "Look, you're trying to stereotype a character, is it because he's into science? There are plenty of reasons why he's autistic, but stop shoving him into these holes. For science's sake, I'm autistic, here, read this." And then I make little mention of the stereotype. We...we are difficult to pin down, okay? And I'd rather readers come at me with "but why" rather than "because this". PS, we don't suffer. Autism isn't a disease. It is a neurodevelopmental disability with a communication disorder at its core. It houses dozens of syndromes that affect attentiveness, sensory perception, executive function, physical balance, communication, understanding, socialization, interaction with stimuli, and essentially the entire body-mind. But it's not awful, we are never ever to be pitied for it, it's not scary, we're not trapped, it can be worked around with the proper accessible tools, and the next person who tells me it must suck is getting a salty, fire-tongued lecture. Anyway, these two kids are what I am in this series from the start for reasons and they're amazing, go B-Team.)

-

Anyway, someone had asked about this and it took me a minute to remember because this was four years ago.

And then there's this one:

"And no matter what, Mikey and Donnie are always together, Bouncy and The Brain, Emotion and Logic, Air and Earth, Sugar and Salt, Chocolate and Coffee, Innocence and Experience, Sunshine and Stardust, Speed and Savvy."

[brightlotusmoon]

Hahahaha so a few people have messaged me to tell me how they look up to me for my unwavering optimism in the face of so many painful disabilities as well as being harassed, etc etc. Sometimes they tell me how much I really do seem like a version of Michelangelo mixed with Donatello. And as much as I blush and wave it off, I really really need to hear it. Even if my AO3 fics get no comments, I get Asks and messages where people have read all my fics and got inspired and then that in turn inspires me. I've gotten requests that are bubbling in my writerbrain. But literally the only things holding me back are the chronic fatigue and insomnia issues. So, this is my thank you I'm so sorry update. Chapters are totally being outlined and written, at least from my bed! And do keep encouraging me.

Also, please remind me who takes Imagine requests particularly for ADHD Mikey and Reader, who would actually be me, because that totally inspires me.

Also, I am in desperate need of "it's going to be okay" stories.

[brightlotusmoon]

Tmnt4life❤🐢🐢🐢🐢#supportrottmnt on Twitter: "@jj_conway Omg this all looks so cool Really love this show and appreciate all the hard work and pure love that went into this series looking forward to finale episodes tonight and can't wait to see what next…

[brightlotusmoon]

No context needed

meta humor

[brightlotusmoon]

These Good Boys

“Leonardo is a red-eared slider. He’s a little bit of a lovable scoundrel. He’s got the smarts to be the leader, but he just doesn’t quite have the maturity yet. He’s much more interested in enjoying life and being a teenager.”

“Raphael is a hulking, bulky snapping turtle. Because he’s the oldest, he is a leader by proxy, which changes the dynamic. He thinks with his fists and trusts his gut. It could lead the team into precarious situations.”

“Michelangelo is a box shell turtle. He can pull all of his limbs fully inside his shell. He’s the eternal optimist. Mikey’s an artist, he’s going to tag up his shell, tag the lair up…He’s going to be our version of Banksy.”

“Donatello, he’s a softshell turtle and it suits his character because he built this fleet of battleshells that he wears, that have all of these different functions. Instead of nerdy scientists, today coding is cool, so he’s more confident and competent with his gifts.”

They're so pure. I love them already.

They do look strange, and sharp, and bright, and odd, and too many angles and edges.

I am strange. I'm too bright and odd and I'm too soft and too small and my edges are too curved and I hurt myself on how deeply I retract my angles and myself to stay safe from the big things. I thought if I could be tiny forever the big things would not see my light and would not want to eat me up.

Now I want to stand on the shoulders of big ones and roar my little roar of the me, I finally found a voice in an age where I'm too old, still too small, but at last I'm loud and bright and finally IT'S OKAY to be something else, I spent over THIRTY YEARS being a not me. Now I am a me.

*points at Ninja Turtles* Those boys. Those bright crisp sharp edge children born into a new world. They're the me I should have been.

Look, this will be flawed. This will have bad moments. This will make you cringe and cry out from vicarious embarrassment, what have they done to you. This will also make you laugh, and giggle, and roll your eyes, and scoff, and make that soft pfftt sound. This will feel all kinds of wrong. And then it will feel beautiful and wonderful and sweet and heartbreaking because that's what these Turtles do. That's why I love them.

(That's why I hate the cheesiness of the 1987 show and why I yelled at Dave Wise for literally making Mikey into a surfer party dude, why I resented l the 2003 writers for dumping the comic relief on Mikey.

Why we do not speak of Next Mutation, why the Image comic is Not Canon, why 2012 will stay weird because of dear gods so many things, why 2018 is both WTF and OMG.)

TMNT 2018 is all WTF and OMG and whargharbhl.

Because for the first season of Rise Of The TMNT, Leo won't be leading and he's not ready to lead and he just wants to be a kid and we need to watch him play and grow into Leo as Leo, and Raph is a soft child who thinks he can hold them all in his big strong hands and they can't hurt but they will, and Donnie is done with everything but no this sweetheart he's just beginning, and Mikey is the creative fountain of sunshine and heart and wild excitement he was meant to be, because April is their adoring worried sister who smacks them together, because I don't even know with Splinter but he's an old man who means well so pat on the ratty head.

I've never felt this way about an incarnation of Ninja Turtles. I haven't really slept and I need to be quiet so I don't wake husband but the cats will do that anyway.

And I love these Turtles. I love them. They held me through years of issues with disabilities and bullying and depression and confusion and look I was in my thirties before I really realized myself and these boys were still here and.

Okay.

Um.

Yeah.

Hey.

'M gonna go

rock in a corner with my plushies and be autistic at Ninja Turtles.