#nightwatcherraph

[side-shuffling-hyperfixations]

Regret for Mikey and Raph

Going over everything he wanted—needed to say was one thing. It was another thing entirely for Raph to march in with surety and purpose and then wither instantly as he got a real look at the nasty bruises welling around Mikey’s ribs.

Getting ragdolled by someone three times your size’ll do that to a guy. Who’da thunk it? the biting voice of guilt hissed, weighing his shoulders and steps down more tentatively.

With the help of the Battle Nexus healers, Kluh’s attack probably wouldn’t leave any lasting damage but right here, right now, it was bad. Mikey should have been crowing about another decisive victory as soon as Raph set foot in the room. Instead the look he shot him could barely be considered a smile.

“Take a picture, Raphie, it’ll last longer.”

Raph tried not to wince. He deserved that for his pre-match comment about bringing the video camera. But what was he supposed to say to that? Mikey’s uncharacteristically pointed stare had banished his rehearsed apology from his mind.

“Getting your ribs broken ain’t…great,” he managed, gesturing vaguely at everything. “I, uh, know the feelin’. Anythin’ I can do to make it…”

Make it up to you? Make it clear that I never actually wanted see you as a little smear in the dirt? I should’ve eased up. I should’ve known somethin’ was wrong. Should’ve found some way to get in there and protect ya…not that you needed any of us in the end.

“…more comfortable?” he finished at last, lamely—but it was precisely the lameness of it that softened Mikey’s scuffed face with knowing amusement.

“Get uncomfortable, bro. I better see you give the crowd a Disney princess smile and wave at my next award ceremony.”

[emeraldhazeart]

Oh hey thank you for following XD I am curious since you like tmnt 03 and Leo is your favorite I was wondering what’s your opinion on Raph how do you feel about him?

Hiya. Thank you so much for your ask 💚

Oh stars, I love all the 03 boys! Every one of them is just perfect, as far as I'm concerned. They will always be the version of the turtles, for me. 😅

This got long, so I've put it below a Read more 😅

I must admit, though, I didn't really vibe with Raph when I was growing up. You're right: Leo is my favourite, but in terms of personality, I'm much more like Donnie. So, I found it difficult to connect with the brash, "count on [him] to throw the first punch" Raphael.

That said, I've really grown to appreciate Raph as I've gotten older. Fanfic is always a powerful empathising tool for putting you into the mind of a character you might not have otherwise gelled with, and there are so many fantastic explorations of his character out there!

In addition, I guess my own worldview has evolved as I've grown wiser. So now, I'm much better able to see his hot headed temperament and gruff exterior for what they really are: Ralph's own unique way of expressing his love for his family.

I love how he's the Red Oni to Leo's Blue. I love how they're two sides of the same coin. I love how they each take up the mantle of the Responsible One™️ when the other is going through it. I love how there's no denying they love each other as brothers, even when they're at each other's throat.

I love how considerate he is of Donnie. I love how they've got this unique bond where they can come together and talk machines as equals. I can definitely see why they're often portrayed as twins in fanon.

I love how clearly the push and pull between him and Mikey is a way they show they care about each other. I love how ready Raph is to give Mikey outlets, even if he hides it beneath a frustrated growl and a slap on the back of the head.

I love how he seeks out Splinter for guidance in the rare moments when he's lost. I love how you can tell his Dad means so much to him, even if Raph will only ever say so through actions rather than words.

I love how Raph is always the first to jump to any of his brothers' aid. I love how it's clear that, even though he may talk tough, at the end of the day, his family is the most important thing in the world to him, and he's not afraid to show it. I love how his Number 1 priority is always and forever to his family.

(I know that seems a bit redundant - they'd all put their family first. But I feel like Raph is perhaps the only one that would choose to save his brother's over the rest of the world.

Leo would be bound by honour to do the Right Thing, Mikey's compassion wouldn't let him save his brothers over an innocent, and Donnie would be forced to choose the most logical option. None of them would like it, but they'd all feel compelled to act for The Greater Good, even if it meant sacrificing their family.

But Raph? I honestly can't see him making any other choice but his brothers. Sure, he'd lay down his life for them in a heartbeat, but to paraphrase the words of Amy Rose in Sonic 06, if Raph had to choose between the world or his brothers, he'd choose his brothers.

And I don't mean that in a negative way. It's an impossible Trolley Problem choice, and there are no right answers. I don't think Raph is any less noble for making the "selfish" choice. If anything, I respect him more because he would make that choice, and he'd defend it to the end.)

Wow, that got long, sorry 😅 I didn't realise I had that much to say about Raph. Then again, that's the beauty of the 03 turtles for you: they're such goldmines of exploration and characterisation 💚

[kobbers]

Hey there! Since you are a Leo fan I wanted to ask. What’s your opinion on Raph? I mean in general but I will say for 12 07 and 03 since those ass my favs.

In general? I love Raph. His archetypal role tends to be one of my least favorites in ensemble casts: impulsive, moody bad boys tend to get on my nerves. I simply don't find their angst and lack of self control Cool or Relatable, no matter how tragic their past is to justify their antisocial behavior.

Raph's frustration, however, comes from a place I can easily sympathize with - his family is on their own and in constant danger. You often get the feeling that he'd like to be part of society in some way, but he can't and that's stifling! The result is a core drive to protect the small circle of family and friends he does have, no matter the cost.

Though the human world is too dangerous to interact with openly, Raph still sees humans as fellow People, and will readily intervene on their behalf. He leaps boldly into action in part because he worries that indecision and delay will give the enemy more time to cause harm (of course, he also finds combat fun and fulfilling, which may occasionally get him into trouble). He may grumble and complain, but at his core Raph is a helper.

My favorite versions of Raph are the ones where he and Leo are almost too similar underneath their wildly different demeanors. Their conflicts usually come down to how they want to approach their goal, not on which goal to approach.

In fact, there's an argument to be made that in D&D terms, my ideal Raph and Leo could both be cast as paladins, with Leo as Oath of Devotion (focused on honor and protecting the innocent) and Raph as Oath of Vengeance (focused on justice and punishing the wicked). Mirage Raph, on the other hand, is 100% a barbarian. So I mean, there's a range of viable interpretations, and the character can be well-written anywhere within it. It's just that the more selfish Raph is, the less I will connect with him.

2003

I thought Blue Swords Guy was the coolest turtle as a toddler, and when I started watching 2k3 as a teenager, my general preference for straightforward paragon types led me quickly back to Leo. I liked Raph the least almost instinctively, purely based on role. But the show won me over on every single brother, and I couldn't even begin to rank a least favorite anymore. Even at his worst early in the show, Raph is just struggling with impulse control rather than relishing violence or being contrary for its own sake. Sometimes he might enter a fight too early or resist retreat, but he rarely enters a fight unnecessarily. He might hide his squishier emotions, but he clearly still feels them. It lays down that core of Raph-as-protector that softens him from his more troubled, bloodthirsty Mirage counterpart. A good bean, 10/10 favorite Raph, heavily influences what I want to see from the character in general.

2007

The general vibes of this movie are similar to 2k3, which is why it sometimes surprises people that it's supposed to be in the live action film continuity as a sort of TMNT 4.

It's weird as a whole though, because Raph was the director's favorite turtle and it shows - Leo makes a poor foil because he is simply written to be wrong (I HATE his "I'm better than you" line for many reasons, heheh). But in terms of how Raph reacts to everything the story throws at him, it all rings true to character. He's my favorite character in this movie kind of by default, because Leo and Splinter are ~off~ and Mike and Don are mostly just on quip duty. But that doesn't change that Raph's still legitimately solid.

2012

Honestly can't say much about this version - I only made it a season into this show due to general annoyances I had with the writing. I remember liking Sean Astin's vocal performance, at least. And I remember digging the premise of that one episode where Raph tries to be the leader and finds that he's way more comfortable acting on plans than making them.

[emeraldtortoiseshell]

Since we are in the topic of the 07 movie. Thoughts on Raph there? I realize that movie too showed that Leo and Raph are two sides of the same coin with the ghost of the jungle and the nightwatcher

03 Raph is, without a doubt, my favourite version of Raphael (to be honest, all of the 03 boys and Splinter are my favourite versions of the characters 😅).

But I like 07 Raph, too. He certainly got the most development and focus in the 07 movie out of all the characters.

I particularly loved the scene of him and Casey just sat talking on the rooftops, telling each other things they'd never share with anyone else. I love the fact that Raph's got someone he can be vulnerable in that way with, without having to worry about his brothers teasing him or worrying his family with that stuff.

Like, sure, family is important. But there are just some things you can't share with them, y'know?

Overall, I thought they handled Raph's character well. I loved the fact that he turned on a dime when Leo needed him, even though they'd been at each other's throats seconds before. And I thought the scene where he humbled himself to Master Splinter was particularly touching.

That said, I don't like some of the way the characters were handled in that film. (I do not like Leo's "I'm better than you" line. Just feels wrong all over.)

I don't really like Raph threatening to punch Donnie in the kitchen. I know it's just a bluff, and Raph does it in response to Donnie's criticism. But it just feels a bit too mean. The Raph I know would be heartbroken if any of his brothers were afraid of him.

Maybe I need to write a fix it one shot where 07 Raph and Donnie apologise to each other... 🤔

Overall, I think he's an interesting character. And I enjoy the inflection Nolan North put into voicing his lines, especially the "We got on just fine without you!"

[dreamstormdragon]

5 for 03 raph again XD

5

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon. I wish, as a whole we would've gotten to see more time with Raph and Leatherhead. Their friendship is underrated, since they both are good guys, with rough tempers. I really wanted to see more of them bonding together. I also would've loved to see more moments with Raph and Splinter, since their bond is so under-appreciated. Something I didn't appreciate until I was older, was that 03 Splinter NEVER ONCE, made his issue the boys' issue until trouble literally was brought to their doorstep. He was training them, not to avenge his master, but to defend themselves, to be safe if they were ever put in danger. They had to live, a life where stealth was survival.

Me and some friends were pouring over some of the books released for it, for lore reasons and it was FASCINATING how, in Raph's sections there was a LOT of facts, like genuine facts about weapons, historical stuff. Things you'd think would be in Leo's but it wasn't. He's a LOT like his father and I don't think that gets recognized enough.

[turtle--soup]

1 and 7 for 12 raph

1. Why do you like or dislike this character?

I already answered this here, so instead have some images I have saved on my phone of 2012 Raph, why not?

And one of my Build-a-Bear Raph for the hell of it (yes he is sat next to Flat Raph...)

7. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you like?

It's kind of canon I guess, but every 2012 fan fic I've read usually involves Raph being like "omg, [insert brother's name], you're so dumb lol" and then moments later being like '"I would DIE FOR YOU [same brother]" lol. Especially Mikey.

Also I love when people just go 'this boy is awkward af' because... yeah. He's a teenager. He's allowed.

Thank you for the ask!

[raphaelesbian]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Thank you, @nightwatcherraph for recommending Puppet Tightly Strung by clairakitty (@raphaelesbian)!

PS: I got this rec before that last anon ask!

[turtleshellpage]

I remember 7th grade. One of our teachers found out 3 girls in the class are vaping. Teachers were so shocked, woah, that never meant to happen, blah blah 🙄 guess they don't know half of the school is vaping as well 🤦🏼 #newgeneration

The principal was so angry, she did something I don't think it's legal 🤷🏼

She took their phones and just asked for the password. She looked at all their messages, photos, apps, literally the entire phone memory. After that she called their parents because of inappropriate images she found

But 😶

She continued on us and the entire school. She just asks for a password and tells you to leave the room. We were so scared we deleted EVERYTHING from our phones 😂 at the end she only asked a few more students and we did it for nothing 🤦🏼

Anyway

Wanted to ask how would you react 🙃

If the principal walks to you and says "Gimme your phone. What's the password?" What are you doing?

Knowing she would look at everything? 😂 Your private conversations with family, friends, social media, phone gallery, everything? (Imagine ur 13-14 years old)

@wrecking-it-raphie @ezgurple @rufwooff @redlotuz @randomcerealbrand @racky000 @turtlevariabilis @turt1esstuff @untitled-tmnt-blog @indieyuugure @iredoodles @ilovebeinaturtle @onionninjasstuff @porplewisteria @phewgitoid @pezhead @allyheart707 @alichu707 @stormy-m00n @disasterpartyyy @dotbot2012 @donnie-rp-blog @heckitall @justatoxictaurus @justasmallflick @knuxthefangirl @lara-cairncross @luna1star10 @luckynesser @lionalovit @yanteetle @xxlea-nardoxx @chessman-protocol @ceruleanterrapin @charcoaldustonmyfingers @bigb22374 @bluefeather-tmnt @butthead7 @neonzeontmnt @nightwatcherraph @ninnosaurus @matryoshkalex @mybasementpanda

😘

[dorky-pals]

Main Masterpost

Hi I'm Dorky! I'm a tmnt Fanfic author and I have the biggest brainrot for all iterations!

I am a minor (16), pronouns She/Her, cis&straight ally.

tcest, proship, pedophilia, DNI

You can chill in my DMS with me if you ever want to talk about turtles or just slide into my inbox!

Fun Fact: I run the turtle dedication week blog here where I send out prompts dedicated to one turtle!

A have a few ongoing stories that I've been writing fell free to check them out!

Brain Dead -ROTTMNT, Under the table -TOTTMNT, Therapy Don -2003

These wonderful people are my tmnt moots go check them out they're all wonderful!

@donatellokinnersinner -the responsible parental figure

@lucatea -the moot i see as a brother

@b1ankslate -that one friend who randomly teaches you how to crochet but they dont even know how to do it.

@vicbutnotactually -unhinged cousin

@nightwatcherraph -the cousin who teaches you how to scoop out your enemies eyes out with spoons because they have trauma.

@noodleskeleton -noodles

@greyartx -that one guy who shows up randomly one day and know you have a friend

@genetello -the friend that somehow has better grades than you do

@howzaboutsomewaterysalt -unhinged best friend

@tae-rhymeswithslay -the only friend who has a pencil you can borrow

@yis-memestation -the absent one

@liya4kar -the other absent one

@misshowdoyoudo -literally my neighbor

@lasanya539 -girly pop

@azucar-skull -favorite tio

@languajix -Uhh Jix

@nexlve -BROOOOOOOOOO

Other socials- AO3, DISCORD - @dorky_pals

Master list to my rottmnt au Brain Dead here

Master list to Under the Table here

[whattraintracks]

Thanks @nightwatcherraph and @yellowhollyhock for tagging me!

Tag Game: Put your 4 favourite characters from 4 pieces of media as options and let your tumblr pals decide which one most suits your vibe then tag 4 people

no pressure tagging @languajix @lycanthropiclesbians @iztarshi @ezrahayls

[meanderfall]

Submission by @nightwatcherraph: Your post on Leo was so interesting. Sorry to send this your submissions your asks are closed. So I wanted to ask how do you feel about Raph in this series so far?

Oh, thank you!!! yes, sorry, it's been closed for a while, and I didn't bother to open it again bc I didn't think it'd be used at any point hfljdfhg

And to answer your question, I love him a lot! My thoughts on him probably aren't as in-depth as Leo's just bc Leo is my blorbo, but I've noticed a couple of things about him and characterization that I just whole-heartedly love.

Things like how, if they're in a big fight scene, and one of his brothers is about to get attacked from behind and they don't notice, Raph will be the one to jump in and protect them. He is so protective over his brothers, it drives me insane ("you mess with my brother, you mess with me!"). And, like, the fact that he can even do that in the first place probably means he has some pretty good battle awareness. Or at the very least he is crazy aware of where his brothers are and what they're doing. (People say Leo is an overprotective mother hen, but 1) I havent seen THAT much evidence of it since he usually only intervenes when they ARE actually in trouble and 2) i think Raph in this show could give him a run for his money on that front lmao.)

I've also noticed just how often he just. Throws his sai at opponents. To the point I'm actually surprised he hasn't LOST them yet. And, once again, it usually happens when one of his brothers is in trouble and he's too far away to intervene. Which means he'd rather be weaponless but protect his brothers over seeing them get hurt when he could've done SOMETHING. (once again. the protectiveness drives me crazy.)

There's also how the two Raph-centric episodes I've seen so far usually involve him meeting someone going through a similar emotional turmoil he is and it's through trying to help them that he seems to actually process and understand the advice his family gives him. Like, I think he does know that on some level that they're right when they tell him to control himself or calm down or not to rush ahead but it doesn't feel right to him so it's hard for him to take it, until he's on the other side of the equation and he can, like, understand their side better.

Also, I think Raphael is usually talked about being the angry or aggressive turtle but like. Not really? There was that one early episode where losing a sparring a match with Mikey got him so mad he tried to seriously hurt him, but I don't think it's actually cropped up much since then. Like, yes, I guess compared to the other turtles he's more aggressive, but that usually comes from a need to protect or defend or DO SOMETHING when something is wrong, which isn't the same as having a temper imo. He gets annoyed with Mikey a lot, but in fairness, Mikey also deliberately tries to annoy him in the first place so like.

Same thing actually for the impression that Raph and Leo fight a lot. I think in the first two seasons I can think of only 4 moments where they actually seriously disagree? When Raph wanted to get revenge on the Mousers destroying their initial lair in the show, when Raph confronts Leo on meeting with the Shredder and actually getting into an agreement with him at first, when they're staying at April's place bc the sewers have been invaded by Foot ninja and Raph wants to go back to their home and Leo keeps saying it's a bad idea, and the whole City at War arc. And tbh, those middle two barely count imo, Leo needed to get his head knocked straight after meeting with the shredder that first time. And since Splinter also warns Leo against going back to the sewers after the episode with that argument, I think it's safe to say that Leo also kind of agreed with him lol.

Actually, the Raph and Leo relationship seems pretty supportive and understanding to me! In Monster Hunter, when Leo woke up from his coma but is still struggling with what happened to him, Raph is the one to support him as he processes what happened and helps him forge new katana. And when Splinter is missing and Raph is getting increasingly frustrated waiting for news, Don and Mikey are the ones telling him to chill and be patient, but Leo is the one to tell him to go up top and search for Splinter and blow off some steam. (and considering the way the City at War arc starts, they apparently still play Follow the Leader together, which is weirdly adorable to me? and it's so friendly too?)

Dunno, they just feel like they're on the same wavelength most of the time, it's just that since Leo has to consider the safety of everyone first, they have some mild disagreements here and there (which, I think, Raph is aware of and why he does listen even if he doesn't always like it, bc he wants his family safe first and foremost). (City at War is an outlier but like. I have other thoughts on that that's going to be touched upon on a different Leo post.)

[side-shuffling-hyperfixations]

Now I am curious to hear your thoughts on the Leo and Raph thing on 07 lol like Raph did not cope well with leo being gone at all he clearly missed him and felt abandoned.

I have a love-hate relationship with their love-hate relationship. It's hard for me to watch, they both seem to have the emotional intelligence of a brick and it drives me crazy :'D

Leo was in the wilderness thinking "These people need me more than my brothers do" but April says his brothers are totally lost without him. She's right, of course, but maybe that wasn't a good way to phrase it because it affected the mindset and approach of his return. He's spent all this time trying to get better so he interpreted it to mean he had to go back and dive straight into fix-it mode so they'll be better too. Every time Raph pushes back against him, it probably compounds his initial worry that everything he's done out here to improve for them hasn't been enough ("I can't go back a failure.")

It's not a warm welcome, his brothers don't look to him (or in Raph's case, even seem to want him) anymore like April implied they would, like they used to, which probably makes him feel out of place and insecure. Was all his time away even worth it if they hate him for it, if they can't reconnect? Should he have even come back if he can't properly reintegrate? Has he come back a failure just as he feared? No, he can't accept that, so he brushes off/belittles other figures they have looked to in his absence like the Nightwatcher and puts on the air of false confidence ("I'm better than you") so he'll feel needed again. Otherwise what was the point of it all?

Raph insists he's been better off alone when he so obviously wasn't (which is infuriating to Leo, as someone who's spent all this time away specifically with the lofty goal to be better). He was clinging so hard to his self-isolation and coping mechanisms so he wouldn't have to acknowledge how much he missed Leo that when he came back, Leo's mere presence became a threat to said coping mechanisms and he just doubled down on them. Of course he's just trying not to face all the pain that's built up and then as soon as it hits that boiling point and he's trying to hurt Leo the way Leo hurt him -- wouldn't you know it, Leo ends up gone again. That was probably how it needed to happen to be a wakeup call.

They finally had that chance for reunion and reconnection and they squandered it being petty and fighting. Push him away, push him away, push him away with all the pain, until he pushes him right into the hands of the enemy. As soon as it's no longer a case of Leo apparently abandoning them, leaving of his own volition, but instead being taken, and Raph realizes he's losing him again, the fear cuts through all the anger and he just crumples. Because he does need him. And as Leo says when he's rescued, "I'm gonna need you too."

That one reconciliatory line said so much. They're not weaklings or failures for needing each other, they're a family unit and a team, that's how it's supposed to work! If only it didn't take so long and such a harsh reminder to cut through their pride and emotional constipation and acknowledge it XD

[emeraldhazeart]

I feel stuoid fit asking this this so forgive me. Ya know that fic ya linked. Is it me or did even that small bit with Raph feel kinda I dunno off? Maybe I am being picky again sorry.

You're not stupid for asking about anything, and you're always welcome to talk to me or ask me anything. There's no need to apologise 💚

Do you mean this one?

I suppose I can kinda see what you mean. Raph does come across as maybe a little too gruff, and oddly quiet. He's not normally the type to just stand and stare at someone until they look after themselves. Even if he doesn't have the words to express how he feels, he'll try to say it out loud, at least.

That said, I found this passage quite touching:

He appears at Don's side, hauling him up with a touch that would be manhandling by Don standards but is excessively delicate by Raph standards.

Raph's care is shown in action - in making sure Donnie eats, in getting him to bed so he can rest properly. And even through the cloud of Donnie's guilt, he can notice that Raph is being particularly gentle with him right now.

This is literally hours after Mikey, Raph and Leo were nearly killed by the Cyber Shredder, after all. Maybe Raph's still processing it? Maybe he doesn't trust himself to speak because he's also warring with his own guilt over nearly failing to protect his brothers? Maybe Leo's already had to make a stop to another brother's bedroom before he wakes Don? 😅

Sorry if that wasn't what you meant.

[terrahlee-cup]

@nightwatcherraph requested iteration lore so I shall provide (very vague for now) lore:

-[Begin Audio]- ???: I was introduced to the so-called "big project" today.

???: I wish I wasn't. 

???: What the hell are they thinking?

???: This is so dangerous.

???: Someone's going to end up killed.

[Pause]

???: If they haven't been already.

???: Fuck.

???: I'm going to be talking to this thing a lot more than I thought.

???: I don't even know why they wanted me.

-[End Audio]-

[yellowhollyhock]

been thinking about, if they met in the right circumstances, 03 Raph could become very protective of 12 Donnie

Which also reminded me of sort of a half-thought @nightwatcherraph and i have talked about before where Next Mutation Donnie would like 12 Raph, and again if the circumstances were right I could see them being close

I just like mixing up Brains and Brawn duos XD

[dreamstormdragon]

03 raph for the ask game

3: My Non-Romantic OTP For this Character

For 2003 Raphael!

My favorite friendship, for 2003 Raph is his friendship with Casey. These two are each other's ride or die friendship.

Raph and Casey will always go to bat LITERALLY with each other.

They also help each other, ironically mellow out. When they first meet each other, they're at their most tense in that moment, but as the series goes on, Casey is just part of the family. He's not afraid to tell Raph what he NEEDS to hear, not what he wants to hear and vice versa. There's no need for sparing their feelings, they can handle it. And I love that. Cause let's remember: At any point, Casey would've after EVERYTHING they've been through, been 100% in the right to walk away.

And he didn't.

You only risk your life and limb for family and Raph and Casey's friendship/bond as brother figures to each other is AMAZING.

Also, Raph is Casey's wingman, let's be real.

He basically went: "I am trusting you, with my sister DO NOT SCREW THIS UP!" when it came to April.

Casey's farmhouse is his second home, it's just as important as the Lair.

I was rewatching The Monster Hunter the other night and just... aahh.. Farmhouse arc episodes are always so good.

So yeah, there's my thoughts. Thank you!

(From this ask game )