Hello :D
You're so cool
Anyway have you thought that in your rat sons au Splinter might outlive the boys?
You're very cool :D love your stuff dude
(tw for some blood, light gore, implied overdose (kinda??))
hi copper!!! this is a fantastic question!
so obviously typical irl rats have far shorter lifespans than the average irl tortoise. according to google (yes, be awed by my spectacularly in-depth wealth of research) the average pet rat lives between 2-4 years ish, and the oldest on record lived to be about 7. meanwhile, an African spurred tortoise (Splinter's species) averages more around a 50ish year lifespan in captivity, tho is suspected to possibly exceed 75 or more in the wild.
Now, the mutation does give us a lot of wiggle room for playing with these numbers. For the rat sons boys, id say their natural lifespan probably clocks in at about 45-55 years old? definitely not old by human standards, but not young young either. (though, its also important to note that the boys were exposed to the mutagen just days after being born.)
For Splinter, meanwhile, aging is slightly more complicated. He lived the vast majority of his life as a regular normal African spurred tortoise (well, non-mutated at least. there were perhaps some shenanigans of a more mystical variety going on before he was mutated, but thats a separate matter) He was about 70ish i think? when the boys were born and they were all exposed to the mutagen. so he is already distinctly an old man turtle papa. id guess he'd probably still have another eh lets say 25-30 years after his mutation. he could probably push it a little farther even with some mystic nonsense, but when push comes to shove id say his 'natural' post-mutation lifespan would put his death like a solid decade or two before his sons.
of course, the tricky part of the matter is that theres no way for Splinter to know any of this. theres no way for him to know how the mutation affected them all, or if it even affected them all in the same way. especially since the boys dont show many physical signs of mutation for the first few years, and just kinda look like normal rats, (albeit with a more human sort of intelligence) — what sort of health standard do you hold them to? what if they simply dont show external signs of sickness or old age anymore? how do you actually know if something is wrong?
for a while there Splinter is very worried that one of his babies will just essentially reach the end of their normal rat lifespan, fall and not get up again.
so mostly, he just tries to live in the moment, enjoying whatever time he does have with his little ones, taking each day as a gift <3
still,
that fear
never
really
goes
away.....
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Mandatory rant about kaveh’s 2023 birthday letter incoming!!
Kaveh and Alhaitham’s birthday message subject lines are seen to mirror the other through their usage of punctuation, as Alhaitham’s subject line reads as: “…” as opposed to Kaveh’s: ‘!!!’.
A sense of familiarity evoked in their current living situation emanates from these mirrorings and within this message. Kaveh writes about him bringing coffee beans “home” in order to try, and then follows this with: “we compared the taste of each, we decided that this was the best”. Through Kaveh’s explicit usage of the word “home”, it is evident that the “we” refers to him and Alhaitham. This description establishes a sense of domesticity, only to be achieved in a mutually agreed ‘home’ as opposed to a ‘house’.
It is relevant to reference Kaveh’s understanding of “home”, as in a place in which words are not necessary and link it to the idea of companionship being more important than understanding. The latter idea consists of supporting a person, regardless of the ability to empathise with and relate to their particular struggles, should be valued over attempting to be understood by people who are not willing to listen in order to understand - established by Kaveh’s mother within his hangout.
In this, Alhaitham is offered as a companion to Kaveh, where he cannot empathise with Kaveh’s artistic and idealistic struggles, but he is willing to listen to him over offering empty words which cannot solve Kaveh’s particular problems.
Kaveh’s understanding of “home” as a place in which people are at ease with each other and support another regardless, can be seen within his relationship with Alhaitham.
Kaveh and Alhaitham split the chores according to Alhaitham’s character stories; they both make attempts to decorate the house; presumably they eat dinner together, according to Alhaitham’s Story Quest where he excuses himself in order to have dinner, only to talk to Kaveh; the two can be seen to share a study; when ordering out, Kaveh orders extra for Alhaitham – a common enough occurrence for Alhaitham to be confident in relying on this; and for Kaveh’s birthday they try coffee beans together to determine the best ones to send onto Kaveh’s friends - Kaveh’s close friends who are also Alhaitham’s.
Rather than the “cold” and “lonely” house which Kaveh was left with after the passing of his father and departure of his mother, this conjures the image of warmth and familiarity. In this, it can be inferred that the two have created a home together.
(Update: For more analyses like this, the essay this is taken from is now uploaded! It can be accessed here and here as as a pdf <3)
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Fewer women than men enlisted, then only a handful of those women made it through the gauntlet of machismo that stood between them and real valor. Of those that did, next to none of them got promoted up the ranks or into the jobs so specialized and classified that they didn't get official titles.
Zephyr had been aware of this aspect of his workplace, but had never really thought much of it because it simply did not concern him.
It meant he got the odd jobs that had him flying out to exotic places and talking pretty while draped in a moderate income's worth of jewelry and high end fashion, even though women were always the most effective in this sub-field of subtle swaying.
He liked the term "influencer" to describe their line of work, and that was what he told people his job was, but the official term was technically, less-sexily, "psyop."
The lack of women in his immediate circle of coworkers never really stuck out as a failure of the system, it benefited him just fine, until he was stood outside a modest suburban home in the exurbs of Iowa.
The first wave of super soldiers were begining to be retired, and someone miles further up the command chain than Zephyr seemed to have finally had to face the consequences of making a weapon no one could destroy. That, or, this had always been the plan.
Once the things were obsolete, put them behind a white picket fence in ass-nowhere and stick an operative with the job of teaching the murder machines how to live that apple pie life.
It was a stupid enough idea for it to have always been the plan.
The only evidence that it wasn't always the plan was that when the day finally came for the first Andromeda Class Soldier to go home, there was not a Single woman with the right clearances, temperament, availability, lack of a family or friends that would notice her disappearance, and who had a willingness to be spayed, to take up the mantle of Faux-Bride of Frankenstein
Instead there was just Zephyr, who, in the words of his handler, "Was close enough."
He was supposed to be in Bali, but instead He's In Fucking Iowa, because the actual U.S. government didn't think to neuter their science experiment before making it bomb proof.
"Seething" was the only word to describe his mood as he walked down the stepping stone path to a porch that looked like something out of a stock photo.
Perfectly painted with two rocking chairs and a potted ivy, it would be cute were Zephyr's handler were not staining it with his presence.
Elton stood from one of the rockers and demonstrated his one impressive talent as he greeted Zephyr: His ability to look down his nose at someone nearly a full head taller than him.
"Zephyr."
"Elton," he responded coolly. They had ranks, technically, but neither of them typically cared to cast that kind of respect on the other. Especially not when they weren't even using their real names. "I'm looking for someone. Big guy, fugly. Seen it?"
"Your beautiful bride is just inside," Elton held out a cartoonish looking journal to him. "Here's everything you need to know for its care and keeping."
Zephyr took the book in hand, he didn't bother to ask who decided it should be pink and furry with ugly sequins and glitter that was already making Zephyr itch. He knew Elton had probably taken great pride in designing this "diary" himself.
"Hm hm, Give me the TLDR," he dropped it into the small backpack of personal belongings he was being allowed to bring into this mess.
"It's got super soldier dementia. Sad really. It's still in prime physical condition but something went wrong with a reprogramming and now it's bunk. According to the file, it gets confused. Old programs come back online or it's current one breaks so badly it has to revert to those shreds to stop itself going catatonic.
"There's no helping it and no putting it down, so it's your problem. The lab guys stripped out every memory and scrap of programming they could, so it should be a sponge of a blank slate for you to do your manipulations on."
"Everything?" Zephyr quirked a brow. He didn't know if he should be made eager by the limitless potential in making a man from nothing, or intimidated by the vast number of ways he could fuck this up.
"Everything. The higher powers want to see if you can make it into anything useful, and if you can't, then if it's able to adapt to being it's own person."
"Understood," he slung his backpack over his shoulder, "Last question - What are my off hours?"
"It's a temporary and highly sensitive post. You don't get any."
"Elton."
"Don't whine. You'll survive at least a year."
"No I won't. If I'm still 24/7 in three months time I'm killing us both," Zephyr shoulders pass him, not because Elton was in the way, but because Zephyr was hoping it'd knock him down the steps.
"It's a fucking super soldier- You're not killing it," he watches down his nose as Zephyr grabs the keys that are in the lock and opens the door to his new prison.
"Oh," he sneers as he backs through the door "I was Not talking about We as in it and I."
Closing the door in Elton's face was almost satisfying enough to make this situation worth it.
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It's a date :)
[DP x DC fic]
[Love at first... murder? - part 9]
<< Prev | Next >>
Part 1
Ao3
---
Private chat nicknames:
RedHood = Jason
Danny = Danny
---
The next day, Jason wakes up with a yawn. He stretches, letting out a relieved exhale. That was one of the best nights of sleep he’s had in a long time.
Usually, the Pit’s bothering him, combined with hours of patrolling and fighting crime, usually getting injured as well, he usually wakes up sore and almost just as exhausted as he goes to sleep.
But now…
It was calm. He felt calm.
He didn’t quite dream, though that was fine, as he hadn’t had any nightmares either.
It was… refreshing.
Though, all of it is also kind of… unnerving…
All these good things happening?
The Joker finally dying, meeting a cute guy who doesn’t seem intimidated by him as Red Hood and taking him out on a date, the Pit barely bothering him, sleeping better than he had in years…
With all of that happening, Jason can’t help but wonder…
When is the other shoe gonna drop?
His good mood slightly dampened with disconcertion, Jason gets out of bed with a small grunt. He doesn’t bother to get changed yet, instead moving along to the kitchen to start on breakfast.
After taking in the groceries he has left, Jason starts making some simple bacon and eggs. He catches himself humming while cooking and abruptly stops, continuing his cooking with a small frown on his face.
Why is he feeling this… this… good?
Just what is happening with the Pit?
He’s not enchanted or drugged or anything, is he?
It’s all the unknowns that are making Jason slightly worried.
Are his emotions still his own?
He feels like most of his worries have been stripped from his body. He feels way more comfortable in his skin. He feels happy, content, tranquil…
He just feels so much.
…
But still no rage.
He eats his breakfast while he ponders over his newfound emotional state. It’s as he eats that his eyes land on his phone.
The Bats have probably blown up his phone with calls and messages in the meantime.
And the fact that he doesn’t feel as irritated or mad as he should about it is another point of slight concern.
Either way. Ugh, Jason still doesn’t really want to deal with it.
However…
After he has put his plate away, he picks up his phone anyway and turns it back on. Sure enough, he has too many missed calls and unread messages. And it seems that with his ‘online’ status, some are encouraged again and start sending him more texts.
Jason ignores it all in favor of doing what he had planned to do when turning his phone back on anyway, messaging Danny.
Just so that he has Jason’s number as well
…
And perhaps to plan another date meetup, he thinks with an involuntary soft smile on his face.
---
Private chat
RedHood: Hey, it's Red Hood. Just checking in and making sure you also have my number.
RedHood: In case of emergency, of course.
Danny: hi!! 👋😊
Danny: it’s Danny!! 😁
Danny: which you already knew..
Danny: obviously 😅 😅
RedHood: I do now.
RedHood: Who knows, you could’ve given me the wrong number.
RedHood: It’s good to have the confirmation that it’s you :)
Danny: ahh yes!
Danny: good point 👉
RedHood: So, I was wondering if you had the time to meet again sometime this week?
RedHood: I can show you around the city, y’know? Like I mentioned yesterday? :)
Danny: !!!
Danny: yes!! 😁
Danny: that sounds like fun! ☺️ 🙃
Danny: and very useful 🤔
Danny: it’s good to know where not to go 😌
Danny: so I don’t kill another clown 🤡
Danny: haha
Danny: not that I’m like planning on killing another clown! 😰
Danny: no sir, there is no murder on this agenda!! 🙅 🙅
Danny: clowns or otherwise
RedHood: Haha, I didn’t think so.
RedHood: It was pretty clear to me it was self-defense anyway, don’t worry :)
RedHood: Even if it wasn’t, it was the Joker. So who, other than the Bat, cares?
RedHood: And it’s not like I can judge.
Danny: ah, good good
Danny: didn’t want my first impression to be being a murderer 😅 😅
Danny: that’d be bad 😓
RedHood: You don’t need to worry.
RedHood: You made a pretty good first impression in my opinion :)
RedHood: So, when are you free? For the meetup?
RedHood: I can come pick you up at your apartment again, if you want?
Danny: oh yeah that’d be nice!! 😊
Danny: and uhh, lemme check my school schedule real quick brb
Danny: alright, so I have classes till like 12.30 today
Danny: but I’m free from then on 🙃
Danny: minus like, time I need to eat lunch and stuff 😅 😅
Danny: does that work for you?
Danny: I mean else I could probably do like thursday or something 🤔
Danny: if that works better??
RedHood: Today works just fine. And we can pick up some lunch on the way if need be. My treat :)
RedHood: I’ll come pick you up around 1 pm then?
Danny: it’s a date!! 😁
Danny: I mean sure, totally! it’s not a date!! 🙅 🙅
Danny: unless you want it to be a date?.. 👀
Danny: I mean did you mean for it to be a date?
Danny: is it a date? 🤔 🤔
Danny: I mean I don’t wanna assume 😅
Danny: and like
Danny: I wouldn’t mind if it was a date.. 👀
Danny: or if it wasn’t a date!!
Danny: wouldn’t mind that either, of course 😅
Danny: I just wasn’t quite sure where we stood 😓 🥺
Danny: and what the context of the meetup was
Danny: ..?
Danny: Red Hood??
RedHood: It’s a date.
RedHood: ;)
---
Jason goes offline and turns his phone back off, still pointedly ignoring all the unread messages and missed calls from the Bats. He slides it onto and across the table in front of him and proceeds to put his arms down in front of him, resting his face on them.
Soft smile still on his face and cheeks colored faintly pink, Jason closes his eyes.
It’s a date…
---
Taglist:
@i-always-say-yea @uraniumwizard @why-must-i-be-like-this @griffinthing
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