#unveiling leonardo

[michelangelob]

Svelare Leonardo: la più grande retrospettiva online

Svelare Leonardo è la più grande retrospettiva online dedicata al genio del Rinascimento, ideata per propone al pubblico i codici e i manoscritti assieme ai contributi artistici e scientifici di Leonardo da Vinci. In questa esposizione online vengono ripercorse tutte le tappe della sua vita, sfatando miti che continuano a essere alimentati da una conoscenza sommaria dell’artista. Vi ritroverete…

[theyhavetakenovermylife]

First Kiss

2007!Turtles x reader

Warnings: Kissing and spelling lol.

-------------------------------------

Leonardo:

The lair was shrouded in a comfortable silence, broken only by the faint hum of machinery and the soft shuffle of feet on the cold concrete floor. But in the almost silence Leonardo found himself unable to concentrate on his meditation that evening. His eyes kept drifting to you, as you moved through the lair. And with every look at you he felt his heart hurt a little.

Things had been strange between you and Leonardo ever since he returned home from South America. Even after the appearance of monsters in New York and the following clash that happened, during Winter’s opening of the trans-dimensional portal. Leo had hoped that with time, things would go back to normal. But after two months, nothing had happened.

Unable to ignore the tension anymore, Leonardo decided it was time to address the unspoken feelings of frustration that lingered in the air. With a subtle nod, he motioned for you to join him in a secluded corner, away from the prying eyes of his brothers. You hesitated for a moment before joining him.

"I've been thinking," he confessed, his voice carrying a weight of both uncertainty and determination. Leonardo took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto yours. "About us. About... well, you know."

You nodded, a mixture of curiosity and anticipation in your gaze. Leonardo's normally composed demeanor wavered slightly. It was as if your eyes sparked something in him. Something he has not deserved before now. And with that, part of his self control disappeared as he closed the distance between you. The normally stoic leader's hand gently cupped your cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against your skin.

The first kiss was a revelation. Leonardo's lips met yours with a tenderness that spoke volumes about the depth of his emotions. Emotions he had been hiding from himself. It was a sweet and genuine expression of his unwavering devotion, a connection that extended beyond the bonds of friendship, and the longing he had held in your emotional absence. The world around you seemed to fade as you shared that intimate moment. You pulled apart, both with the revelation of what this act meant for the two of you.

As the echoes of the first kiss lingered in the quiet corner of the lair, Leonardo met your eyes, a subtle smile playing on his lips. It was a smile that held promises of uncharted waters and the shared journey of discovering something beautiful in the midst of the extraordinary lives you all led.

Raphael:

The city skyline stretched out before Raphael’s eyes as he led you to the rooftop. The night air carried a mix of anticipation at the distant sounds of New York's hustle. The tough and brooding turtle found himself grappling with a feeling he had rarely allowed himself to acknowledge - a vulnerability that only your presence seemed to unveil.

There was no doubt that you and Raphael’s friendship had evolved quite a bit over the past few months. After Leonardo’s departure for South America, you and the red turtle had found yourselves in interesting positions. Countless nights were you and him would relax and talk about whatever came to mind. But there had also been nights where Raph came to you, heavy from frustration caused by his brother's departure, needing somewhere he could feel safe and relax, without remembering how his brother had just left him. You became that safe space that Raphael would find himself drawn towards during quiet nights.

Raphael sighed, his breath visible before your eyes in the cool night air, as he muttered, "There's something I gotta get off my chest." The tone of his voice hinted at a depth of emotion that was both surprising and intriguing.

You took his hand as a way to show him reassurance, which prompted Raphael to pull you closer, the proximity revealing a side of him rarely seen. The intensity in his eyes spoke volumes as he met your gaze. In that moment, beneath the stars and the city lights, the rooftop became a scene for the unspoken language shared between the two of you.

With a mix of determination and vulnerability, Raphael pressed his lips to yours in a passionate kiss. You kissed back, feeling a connection that surpassed the surface, showcasing the depth of his emotions. The kiss held the weight of unspoken confessions and the raw honesty that only the night sky could witness.

As you both pulled away, the silence between you spoke louder than words. Raphael's tough exterior had momentarily given way to a more tender side, and in that vulnerability, a new understanding blossomed. The rooftop, once just a vantage point for the city's chaos, had become a sacred space - the beginning of something profound. Something that neither you nor Raphael had ever thought possible.

Raphael, though still wearing his tough expression, allowed a rare smile to grace his lips. It was a smile that acknowledged the uncharted territory you both had entered, where strength and vulnerability coexisted, creating a dynamic that would forever alter the fabric of your connection. And you be damned if you didn’t pull him in for another kiss.

Donatello:

The hum of machinery filled Donatello's lab as he worked on a new invention. His night off from that horrible phone service job he had gotten himself. But tonight, even though he had intended himself to dive deep into the techs of his lab, found his focus was elsewhere. You had joined him to assist with a particularly intricate project he had been talking about for ages, and though his mind was usually dedicated to the logic of machines, tonight was different.

As you both tinkered with wires and circuits, an unspoken tension lingered in the air. Donatello stole glances at you, finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate on the task at hand. The time had come to confront the feelings that had taken root within him. Feelings that he had been aware of for quite some time now. But as Donatello watched you work, a thought worked its way into his head. He wasn’t sure what caused this thought, or why he thought now would be a good time. Maybe it was those people over the phone that had mistaken his phone services for something else, that now had caused him to think differently. Or maybe it was a thought he had had for a long time, just waiting for the perfect opportunity.

"There's something I've been wanting to do," he admitted, his voice betraying a mix of nervousness and excitement. You watched curiously as Donatello carefully set aside his tools, turning to face you with a sincerity that was both surprising and endearing.

Cupping your face in his hands, Donatello's eyes, normally filled with the cool glow of intellect, softened with emotion. It caused butterflies to erupt in your stomach. Donatello’s lips met yours in a kiss that felt like a careful exploration - a fusion of logic and affection. It was as if he were decoding the mysteries of love, each touch and movement a testament to the depth of his feelings.

The first kiss marked a shift in the dynamic between you and the tech-savvy turtle. Donatello, usually so absorbed in the world of machines, had opened a new chapter - one where the complexities of the heart were as fascinating and intricate as any invention. As you both pulled away, your first instinct was to kiss him again, but you held back, locking your gaze with his once more. In that moment, the wires of your hearts became intricately connected. Though you spoke no words, both of you understood what the other was trying to say.

Donatello smiled, a mix of satisfaction and newfound vulnerability. It was a smile that hinted at the exciting possibilities of this uncharted territory, where logic met emotion in the most unexpected and delightful ways. And that smile was enough for you to back in for another kiss.

Michelangelo:

Michelangelo, the carefree and exuberant turtle that he was, proposed a movie night, just for the two of you. It would be his way of showing you how happy he was to have you in his life. You had found it funny and adoring, stating that Mikey did not need an excuse for a movie night with you. But Mikey needed an excuse. With the intentions he had that night, an excuse was needed. Michelangelo had decided it was time to tell you, his best friends for as long as he could remember, how he felt about you.

The dim glow of the screen cast a soft light on the faces of you and Mikey, creating an atmosphere of relaxation that you had sort after. Mikey on the other hand was having a hard time relaxing. His mind spinning and heart pounding as he thought about how he should tell you.

Halfway through the movie, Michelangelo couldn't contain his excitement and nervousness any longer. With a nervous grin he tried to play off as mischievous, he turned to you, his eyes sparkling with playfulness. "Dude, I've got a radical idea," he exclaimed, his enthusiasm contagious.

You chuckled, wanting to point at his use of the word “radical”. But before you could respond, Michelangelo seized the moment, leaning in for a quick and lighthearted kiss. It was a spontaneous gesture, filled with the exuberance of youth and the joy of shared laughter. The lightness of the kiss mirrored the carefree spirit of the orange clad turtle you have come to love, leaving you both giggling as the movie continued in the background.

The first kiss with Michelangelo was like a burst of confetti - the first of many that would come as a celebration of a friendship evolving into something more. As you sat on the couch, still grinning from ear to ear after giving Mikey a second and third kiss that night, you realized that even in the midst of ninja battles and the responsibilities of their unconventional lives, there was room for simple, joyous moments that brought everyone closer together.

Michelangelo flashed his signature grin, and in that moment, you knew that for him, love was an adventure meant to be enjoyed with laughter and a sense of playful spontaneity. And you would be there through it all, at the side of your favorite turtle and enjoy every moment of it.

[blueiscoool]

Michelangelo’s ‘David’ Was Carved Out of a Flawed Marble Slab

Two sculptors had tried and failed to chisel something out of the block—until Michelangelo stepped up.

Michelangelo’s David was recognized as a masterpiece the moment it was unveiled. In fact, its commissioners found the sculpture so beautiful, and so massive, that they decided its intended home, high up in the roof of a cathedral, just wouldn’t cut it.

The statue was conceived almost a century before Michelangelo picked up a chisel to create it. In the early 1400s, the Opera del Duomo, the workshop of Florence’s cathedral, began commissioning pieces for a series of 12 massive sculptures depicting prophets from the Old Testament. These would each be housed in niches of the church’s tribune, semi-domed apses in the roofline, over 260 feet high.

In 1464, Agostino di Duccio, a sculptor inexperienced with projects at such a large scale, was commissioned to create the statue. Duccio traveled to a Carrara marble quarry in Tuscany, where he handpicked a giant block of stone. Upon its arrival in Florence after a long, arduous journey, the block was found to be a flop. The hewed hunk of marble was tall but thin and riddled with holes and veins, imperfections both unaesthetic and potentially compromising to the structure of so large a statue.

Realizing his error, Duccio chipped at the stone with his hammers and chisels for a while, but soon gave up on his work. The abandoned wedge of marble went untouched for a decade until another sculptor, Antonio Rossellino, seized the mantle. After some attempts to salvage the work, he, too, deemed the block unusable. It was left naked in the Opera’s courtyard for another 25 years.

Finally, in the summer of 1501, the workshop’s overseers assigned the work to Michelangelo. In just over two years, he transformed the misunderstood marble block into the 17-foot-tall statue that is today one of the most famous artworks in history. At the unveiling, the unexpected size, weight, and beauty of the statue demanded a reshuffling of plans. In 1504, 30 Florentine cultural leaders, including Leonardo da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli, convened to determine David’s fate.

After months of raging debate, it was decided that the statue deserved a spot in the Piazza della Signoria, in front of Florence’s town hall. It took 40 men four days to transport a rope-bound David, caged in wooden scaffolding, from Michelangelo’s workshop to the plaza a half-mile away. Upon arrival, the artist took his chisel to his creation one last time, applying finishing touches. The statue had been designed for viewing from far below; this unexpected setting and perspective required slight modifications.

The statue became quickly known as “the Giant,” a symbol of liberty for the Florentine people, with his glare pointed at their rival city, Rome. Though beloved, the Giant fell victim to vandalism in his first year, when protestors pelted the colossal sculpture with stones. In 1527, a riot against the ruling class broke out in the plaza, and a bench thrown out of a window struck the statue, breaking its arm into three pieces. David went on to survive earthquakes and lightning strikes before the city council decided to protect him.

After almost 370 years, fans and art connoisseurs finally compelled the city to move David into the Galleria dell’Accademia for his protection in 1873; he still stands there today. Even in the confines of the museum, though, David was unsafe. In 1991, a mentally disturbed Italian artist, Pierro Cannata, snuck a hammer into the museum. With it, he lunged at David’s left foot, shattering a toe before being subdued by museum-goers. Cannata claimed that La Bella Nani, a figure from a Veronese painting, compelled him to strike David. Thanks to the attack, David’s beauty is now shielded from jealous hands and hammers by a wall of plexiglass.

By Adnan Qiblawi.

[violettduchess]

Hello Vi! I have a request for you, only if it inspires

Tutor AU! With one or more of your fave suitors tutoring you for your upcoming exams;

Leonardo, Comte, Gilbert, Leon, Silvio and Clavis!

I'd love to see what you come up with ❤️❤️❤️

A/N: I had a very immediate idea for Comte so I went with him for this request!

Comte x Reader, Tutor AU/ Modern AU

WC: ~1.9k

The library looms large as you hurry up the wide, slate-colored steps under a sky exhaling its last breath of evening color. The stars are slowly blinking into existence, determined to shine before they are hidden behind the slow-moving blanket of clouds heading their way. You would pause to enjoy the ephemeral moment when dusk ebbs into night.....

Except Comte is inside, waiting for you.

You’re still not sure how it’s come to this. Comte as your tutor. Your mind travels back several weeks….

Several weeks ago:

One minute you're balancing an armful of books along with your backpack and several bags of uneven groceries that are seriously testing your stubborn decision to do it all in ONE trip. The next, however, everything is falling onto the polished grey tile floor of your building’s lobby, the objects seeming to leap like lemmings out of your arms. As you stand there, staring defeatedly at the scattered mess, lost in the gravity of your poor decision, the elevator doors you were originally trying to reach slide open and like the pearly gates unveiling an angel, Comte de St Germain steps out, in the process of buttoning his elegant camel-colored coat with one hand.

Before you can say a word, he takes in your forlorn expression, the embarrassing pile of your things at your feet, and he is by your side, kneeling, helping you gather up your stray apples and the mini-boxes of cereal you are probably way too old for but love anyway. Your cheeks flush as you stammer a thank you. 

You know him more by reputation than actual acquaintance. He lives in the sprawling penthouse at the apex of your building, the crowning glory of the gothic structure, and is usually spoken about in whispers and sighs by the other residents:

“Comte? He’s a museum director downtown.”

“I hear he is a world-famous antique dealer who has made millions.”

“He’s gotta be a tech-millionaire with all that dough.”

“Well I know someone who knows someone who swears he’s a member of the royal family of some tiny European country.”

“I don’t care what he does. He’s got to be loaded to live up there.”

“I hear he’s never been married.”

“My cousin’s best friend’s neighbor's babysitter says he’s divorced from someone super famous.”

“You know what he is? I'll tell ya. Drop dead gorgeous.”

This mysterious man with eyes the color of desert sands is on the ground in his expensive suit and coat, helping you gather your plebeian things and oh, do you want to melt into the floor and disappear.

Until……

He stops, holding one of the books you had been juggling, a surprised expression crossing his classically beautiful face.

“‘The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’ by Edward Gibbon. Fourth edition.” He seems impressed, curiosity flaring to life in the mesmerizing gold of his eyes.

And you take that lifeline, words stumbling over themselves across the knot of your tied tongue as you explain you are a graduate student, majoring in history, mentally preparing yourself for the avalanche of final exams heading your way.

And how he smiles, his long fingers tracing the embossed lettering along the spine of your book, borrowed from the local library. Entranced by the movement, you can't look away from his hand, reverence hushing his voice as he explains how he works for a museum (Points to the woman in Apartment 15B for getting that one), how he also studied history.

And then one thing leads to another and your rambling about the stress of your exams and crunch for time has evolved into Comte St. Germain, the mysterious Bruce Wayne of your building, offering to tutor you.

The Present:

And now here you stand, the night of your final session, heart prowling, turning circles in your chest like an unruly feline.

Taking a steadying breath, you continue up the steps and head inside, enjoying the sound of your heeled boots across the polished wooden floor. Past towering shelves filled with books you go until you reach the narrow iron staircase in the back, the one that spirals upwards to the second floor. Your feet follow the path they have gotten used to over the last few weeks, through the racks, down a narrow gangway until you reach the small cluster of tables at the western corner of the library, the ones underneath the imposing arched window that allows you a clear view of the darkening sky and the pale orange glow of the streetlamp across the street.

Comte looks up from the book he has been reading and offers you a smile, at once familiar and exotic.

“Ah, there you are, chérie. Ready for our final session?”

Something inside you constricts at the thought that this is the last time you will be here with him like this, tucked away in the surprising intimacy of a large public library, listening to his honeyed voice as you discuss not only history, but also the mundane: what music he listens to when he goes on long drives, his favorite type of wine, the best tea for a rainy Sunday morning. And it isn't just his speaking….Comte listens. He really listens when you talk, when you ask questions, when you give an opinion. He rests his chin on his hand, head tilted ever so slightly, his entire attention focused on you, whether you are explaining the fine points of one of the many Treaties of Paris or doing your best to convince him that dipping your French fries in your milkshake really does make them taste better. 

With the glow of remembrance in your smile, you slide into the seat next to him, running your fingers along the soft grain of the elegant wooden chair as you settle in.

“Ready as I'll ever be,” you say, returning his smile while looking at the array of books he has spread out across the table. “Let’s do this.”

“Oui,” he says as his smile curves into a grin. “Tonight we’re focusing on art for your art history final. You already sent me the list of pieces your professor wants you to know for your exam so we can work our way through those.”

You breathe in, trying not to get distracted by the warm, earthy scent of his cologne.

“Professor Leonardo is great but it’s such a long list….” Your shoulders slump at the thought of tackling everything on it. And then you feel Comte’s hand there, on your forearm, warm even through the soft material of your blouse.

“Then let us begin.”

He spends hours, guiding you through Girl with the Pearl Earring, The Birth of Venus, Las Meninas, and Water Lillies. You wander through the great masters like an enamored visitor in an enchanted garden, listening as Comte helps you to remember what you have learned about the paintings as well as unlocking secrets you have never heard before. He leads you through the design of the Colosseum, the Parthenon, Hagia Sofia, Notre Dame, his voice a golden thread that spins you across the architectural wonders. And now, in your final hour of study, he opens the book of sculptures. You visit Rodin’s Thinker, Michelangelo’s David, the Venus de Milo. And finally, you come to the last sculpture on your list: Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss by Antonio Canova.

“Ah…” He pulls the book closer, the photograph of the sculpture filling the page. “This….is a masterpiece of….” He glances over at you, brow lifted as he waits for the answer.

“Neoclassicism…but with strong elements of the Romantic, given the subject matter.”

“Bien joué.” The praise falls from his lips softly, slides over you like melting wax, sends a jolt of heat across your skin. He doesn’t seem to notice as he flattens down the pages with both hands, his bright eyes roaming over the image.

“So you know the story of Cupid and Psyche?”

You try to remember what Professor Leonardo explained in class when he had introduced the sculpture. “She opened a forbidden jar and was put to sleep as punishment?” 

Comte nods. “Venus forbid Psyche from opening the jar. It supposedly held Divine Beauty. Psyche could not resist temptation and instead of beauty, she was overcome by the Sleep of Innermost Darkness.” He grins slowly. “Very dramatic. Cupid sees his lover unconscious and pricks her with an arrow, awakening her. This sculpture captures that moment.”

Outside the library window, the streetlamp glows a soft orange. A light rain is now falling, making the light seem as if it is dancing, shimmering against the night.

“Just look at the lines,” he murmurs. He takes his index finger and slowly begins tracing the line of Psyche’s body. It follows the curve of her torso as she stretches up towards Cupid. “Her arms reach back for him.”

You lean in, closer to Comte, watching the path his finger makes along the glossy page. Your heart is suddenly hammering a woodpecker’s song against your breastbone.

“Her hands are in her lover’s hair, the gesture so familiar, so loving.” He traces down the line of Psyche's neck. “And here….she is bent back to him, so exposed and vulnerable, tilting to look up into his face. What do you see there?”

His voice winds itself around you, wrapping you in golden vines of warmth and want. You need a moment to find your own. When you do, it is only capable of expressing itself in a breathless whisper.

“Tenderness. Joy.”

He nods slowly, trailing his finger down Cupid’s strong arm. “And what do you see in him?”

Your thoughts are bright butterflies, sparks that fly up into the haze of your mind and explode in little pinpricks of light. Blinking, trying to control the overwhelming wave of attraction that threatens to pull you under, you reach out and touch the same page, your fingers scant centimeters from his.

“He’s…..adoring. The way he holds her head, his fingers touching her face. And he’s smiling at her, affectionately. Openly.” Your gaze drops down to where Comte’s finger points to Cupid’s left arm. You clear your throat and continue. “He covers her breasts with his arm, shielding her from the viewer, and yet that one hand holds her in a way that’s….it’s so intimate. It feels somehow more intimate than if we would see her bare.” Your voice is a whisper, soft and woven through with delicate wisps of yearning. “He touches her as if he’s done it a hundred times and still revels in it…..” You trail off, pressing your lips together, unable to go on.

Comte’s fingers brush against yours and you turn your head, startled to find that your faces are so very close. Outside the rain gently rolls down the massive glass window. The streetlamp flickers. Comte’s gaze is a steady golden sun.

“He adores her,” he murmurs, his voice rolling through you. You feel his fingers move, covering yours on the page. 

“She marvels at him,” you answer quietly, your fingers curling around his in response.

He leans down ever so slightly, his mouth so close you can feel the warmth of his words on your lips. “He dreams of her……” 

“.....and he is what makes her waking sublime…” The words are hardly more than the breaths between heartbeats.

His mouth brushes faintly against yours, the softest touch, a silken feather, a velvet caress.

“....He wants nothing more…..” His hand tightens around yours, his chest rising and falling with the contained power of his emotion. “...than to kiss her….”

“He should,” you say, soft as a nightingale welcoming a summer evening. "He should kiss her."

And he does, pressing his lips against yours as the wave that has been looming ever closer pours down upon you both. One hand rises, gripping the nape of your neck with tender ardor. You plunge your free hand into the soft wilderness of his tawny hair, opening your mouth to taste him.

Your other hand? It is still tightly holding onto his, a promise you won’t let go.

An echo of Cupid and his beloved Psyche.

Pysche Revived by Cupid's Kiss- Antonio Canova, 1793

Tagging: @alexxavicry @queengiuliettafirstlady @bellerose-arcana @thewitchofbooks @aria-chikage @redheadkittys @tele86 @dear-mrs-otome @olivermorningstar @writingwhimsey @mxrmaid-poet @silver-dahlia @wendolrea @nightfoxqueen @myonlyjknight @ikesimpleton @ikemenlibrary @namine-somebodies-nobody @cellophanediamond @whatever-fanfics @justpeachyteastea @chirp-a-chirp @got7igot7family @kookie-my-little-sunshine @mastering-procrastinating @portrait-ninja @fang-and-feather @bubblexly @kiki-tties

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

Exclusive Sneak Peek of the Main Story!

Unveiling the Two Faces of Drake

Translations may not always capture the exact nuances or tone of the original text. Expect grammatical errors.

After that, Drake fully joined our everyday lives, spending more time with everyone at the mansion and even going to the mall with us.

Comte: "It's not good for you to keep using the guest room forever, so I'll prepare a room for you, Drake."

Comte: "Is there anything you need? Just let me know, and I'll get everything for you."

Drake: "Oh, in that case, I'll make a request."

Drake: "How about a luxurious chandelier? And a top-quality fur carpet? And..."

(T-They are all expensive stuff!)

Leonardo: "Are you thinking of selling them?"

Drake: "Oops. You caught me."

The next day, while observing a match between Drake and Jean一

Jean: "Hah!"

Drake: "Whoa! My turn!"

Jean: "You're quite good, Drake. It's a different kind of challenge compared to Napoleon."

Drake: "It's fun, but I never thought that the Maid of Orleans was a guy with incredible swordsmanship."

Mitsuki: "I think everyone would be shocked by that revelation about Jean."

Mozart: "Discrepancies between what is known and the truth are common throughout history."

Jean: "Drake, I'll make some marorons for you later to thank you for the training."

Mitsuki & Mozart: "!!"

Drake: "Marorons? I don't know what it is, but I look forward to it."

Mozart: "I'll warn you, Drake. Jean is the most terrifying when he's in the kitchen."

Then, on another night, when everyone was gathered in the parlor room一

Arthur: "Checkmate."

Drake: "What the?"

Drake: "Did I lose again? I thought I had a chance of winning at some point."

They were playing chess tonight, and Drake seemed to be on a losing streak.

Arthur: "You're relying too much on brute force. Chess is a game of strategy, you know?"

Drake: "If it were a battle at sea, I'd send a flaming ship charging in."

Isaac: "It's scary how a pirate thinks."

Mitsuki: "Hey, Drake! You can't sleep here!"

Drake: "Huh, I can't? Then I'll sleep on some random floor."

Mitsuki: "That's not allowed either!"

(We shouldn't encourage more people to sleep anywhere like Leonardo!)

Mitsuki: "Sebastian, is there any unused room available?"

Sebastian: "I'll have to confirm with Comte. Even if there is, it might not be well maintained."

Sebastian: "For now, let me show you to the guest room. Mitsuki, please help me prepare it."

After preparing the guest room for him to lie down, he nodded and smiled, saying it was more than enough.

Mitsuki: "Then, take your time and relax, Drake."

Drake: "Hmm. Thanks for going through the trouble, Sebastian, Mitsuki."

Just as I was about to leave the room after Sebastian一

Mitsuki: "Waah!"

He suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the room.

He pressed me against the wall, and his face came close to mine, his eyes cold.

Drake: "Hey, Mitsuki. Did you tame everyone in this mansion with your blood?"

Mitsuki: "Huh?"

Unable to understand the meaning of his words, I simply stared back at him.

Drake: "I've heard about your situation and the people in this mansion from Comte. After talking to them, I realized they're not bad guys."

Drake: "But I just don't get it."

Mitsuki: "What do you mean?"

Drake: "Because they're vampires, right? No matter how you look at it, they're different from humans."

(Ah...)

Drake: "They're creatures driven by the urge to drink blood and capable of taking lives like beasts."

CG Preview

『 If I betrayed you, don't hesitate to pull the trigger, and I'll die with that bullet in my heart. 』

[newyorkthegoldenage]

This is a fresco mural entitled "The New Deal," by Conrad Albrizio, depicting various phases of that program. It was unveiled in the auditorium of the Leonardo Da Vinci Art School on January 24, 1935. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, architect of the New Deal, is standing in the center.

Photo: Associated Press

[cherryrainn]

Can I get a platonic fic for the mutant ninja turtles (2012 ver)?? Donatello created a robot, a very eficient robot that was made to copy human (or mutant) actions and resemble their emotions, and that is reader! And they're all very fond of the robot (reader can be young like 10-15 or smth like that) and treat her like a human, all fluff! but I want an angst moment at the very end, like an angsty end, in which they realise that reader is still just a robot after all, a robot that can't feel, that is just copying their actions and working thanks to wires and not organs nor blood. I just need the angst srry 😭

YES! ANGST. GOOD! I LOVE ANGST. by the way, your requests are always the best. you have amazing ideas and i love writing them <3

☽ ༚  ༵ ۰ ✧ ۰  ༵ ༚ ༵ ۰ ✧ ۰ 

— reflections of metal and heart

(2012) tmnt x robot! reader (platonic)

the lair was bustling with activity as donatello tinkered away in his workshop. he had been working tirelessly on his latest invention, a remarkable robot designed to emulate human emotions. he believed that if he could create a machine capable of replicating feelings, it could bridge the gap between humans and mutants, allowing for a deeper understanding and connection.

after months of meticulous work, donatello unveiled his creation to his brothers. as they gathered around, their eyes widened in awe at the sight of the robot before them. its design was sleek, with a metallic frame and expressive led eyes that shone with a hint of curiosity.

as you opened your eyes, you found yourself in a laboratory filled with various gadgets and tools. it took a moment to gather your bearings. donnie stood in front of you, his eyes filled with anticipation and excitement.

"you're awake!" he exclaimed, a wide grin stretching across his face. "welcome to the family, y/n."

you blinked, processing his words. family? did that mean you were part of their team?

you weren't alive, or anything like that. how did you know all these people?

you looked around and saw leonardo, raphael, and michelangelo standing nearby, their expressions a mix of curiosity and warmth.

leo stepped forward, his blue eyes studying me intently. "donnie did an amazing job with you. we've all been looking forward to meeting you."

raph crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. "yeah, i gotta admit, you're pretty real lookin'.."

mikey bounced on his toes. "i can't wait to show you all the awesome pizza places in the city!"

their enthusiasm overwhelmed you, and you couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging. donnie had created you to resemble a human, to be a part of their team, and now they welcomed you with open arms. it was something you never expected to experience as a robot.

in the peaceful sanctuary of the turtles' lair, a sense of warmth and camaraderie filled the air. you spent evenings together. sometimes, you would gather around the tv, watching your favorite movies or playing video games.

mikey's infectious laughter was a constant reminder of the joy he found in the simplest things.

leo would offer words of wisdom, guiding you with his calm and steady presence.

raph, underneath his tough exterior, had a heart of gold, always ready to lend a helping hand.

and donnie, with his brilliant mind, never ceased to amaze you with his inventions and knowledge.

you and the turtles found yourselves on the rooftop, enjoying the night breeze. the city's lights twinkled in the distance, and the stars dotted the sky above you. it was a moment of tranquility and togetherness.

mikey broke the silence with a mischievous grin. "hey, y/n, have you ever made a wish?" he said, sensing a shooting star about to come by.

you tilted your head, processing the concept. "i'm not familiar with making wishes, but i can understand the sentiment."

raph chuckled and nudged you playfully. "c'mon, y/n, give it a try! it's nice."

you gazed up at the sky, watching as a shooting star streaked across the darkness. closing your eyes, you whispered, "i wish for happiness and lasting bonds with my friends."

donnie grinned, a hint of excitement in his eyes. "great! you made a wish, and now it's up to us to make it come true!"

leo placed a hand on your shoulder, his voice filled with sincerity. "we're here for you, y/n. we'll do everything we can to make sure your alright."

one day, as you lay in recharge mode, your metallic body replenishing its energy, you overheard the muffled voices of the turtles drifting towards you. it seemed they were engaged in a deep conversation, and curiosity got the better of you. slowly, you activated your auditory sensors, eager to listen in on their exchange.

"it's been months now, and i can't help but wonder if y/n's really capable of feeling emotions like we do," leo's voice carried a tinge of doubt.

raph chimed in, his voice laced with skepticism. "yeah, i mean, they look and act human, but at the end of the day, they're just a machine. how could they really get what it means to feel?"

you felt a pang of unease creeping through your circuits. were they doubting your authenticity? you had always believed that you possessed genuine emotions, and that your actions were driven by more than just lines of code.

mikey interjected, his voice filled with compassion. "guys, y/n's been an awesome addition to our team! i've seen em' show kindness and stuff! i've even seen them scared. they're just like us!"

donnie's voice, usually filled with unwavering confidence, betrayed a note of uncertainty. "but mikey, i designed y/n. i programmed their responses and emotions. maybe we've been fooling ourselves into thinking they're more than just a machine."

but your experiences, your interactions, they felt so real to them. you couldn't be just a mere imitation of humanity, could you?

as you sat there, recharging and listening to the conversation of the turtles, a strange sensation began to creep into your artificial consciousness. a flicker of doubt, a glitch in your perception. you started questioning the nature of your existence, the validity of your emotions.

images flashed through your mind—blueprints, circuits, lines of code. the realization hit you like a crashing wave—everything you had experienced, every joy, every pain, every friendship—they were all part of an intricate design. you were not a living being; you were a meticulously crafted robot, a mere imitation of life.

you powered down your systems, letting the emptiness consume you. the world seemed a little colder, a little lonelier, as you drifted into a dreamless sleep.

[pigeontravelspots]

Blog Post 10: Travel: The Unveiling of Claustrophobic Eyes

"I want to draw a map of a critical geography and use that map to open as much space for discovery, intellectual adventure and close exploration as did the charting of the New World - without the mandate for conquest." Toni Morrison

This blog is an introduction into my video essay. It encapsulates my love of travel, adventure, and poetry.

Brussel A Beautiful Place

I hope you enjoy the video.

I had the privilege of being with some of the most creative and talented classmates. This helped me tremendously in fueling my creativity and pushing me to excel. Most importantly, I have learned a lot about creative nonfiction writing, telling it at a slant, and the braided essay. Also, I was wonderfully surprised by the various avenues to write and create nonfiction in. Every aspect of this class challenged me to excel creatively starting with this blog that incorporated several digital platforms. I struggled uploading my video but I finally got it and it felt wonderful!

Finally, every class I have taken with Dr. Byrd has proven to be more challenging and rewarding than the one before. I am thankful and appreciative of all her hard work and dedication in ensuring we walk away equipped for success.

"Learning never exhaust the mind" Leonardo da Vinci

[demifiendrsa]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem CG animated film unveils cast.

Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo

Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo

Micah Abbey as Donatello

Brady Noon as Raphael

Jackie Chan as Splinter

Ayo Edebiri as April O’Neil

Ice Cube as Superfly

Seth Rogen as Bepop

John Cena as Rocksteady

Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko

Rose Byrne as Leatherhead

Natasia Demetriou as Wingnut

Post Malone as Ray Fillet

Hannibal Buress as Genghis Frog

Maya Rudolph as Cynthia Utrom

Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman

[doncosty]

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I is depicted in the central position of " The First Supper" by Tavares Strachan. https://lnkd.in/gtC6Fp7j "One of London’s most striking public art works has been unveiled in the courtyard of the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) in London. Bahamian artist Tavares Strachan’s 21st-century version of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper (around 1515)—entitled The First Supper (Galaxy Black), 2023—greets visitors to the RA, welcoming them to the latest blockbuster exhibition Entangled Pasts 1768-now: Art, Colonialism and Change (3 February-28 April). Strachan’s piece—crafted from bronze, black patina and gold leaf—is a “monument to the singular contributions of 12 Black figures from the 17th century to the present day… they have in common histories of overcoming power structures designed to keep them oppressed”, writes the art historian Alayo Akinkugbe in the exhibition catalogue. Figures depicted include Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the queer gospel singer of the 1930s; Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the US Congress; the 19th-century abolitionist Harriet Tubman and Marsha P. Johnson, a key figure in the Stonewall uprising of 1969 in New York."  Via the Artnewspaper.com Fairfield House, Home of HIM Emperor Haile Selassie

[ireton]

But, But, But, DEWS aren't real…

DragonFire is a British laser directed-energy weapon (LDEW). It was first unveiled to the public as a technology demonstrator in 2017 at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) conference in London and is being developed by UK DragonFire, a collaboration consisting of MBDA UK, Leonardo UK, QinetiQ and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).

 A production version is expected to enter service in 2027 onboard Royal Navy ships

[artnamia]

🌟 Unveiling the Masterpiece: The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci 🌟

https://www.instagram.com/artnamia.ma

Leonardo da Vinci’s "The Last Supper" is not just a painting; it’s a testament to his innovative techniques and deep understanding of human emotion. Let’s dive into the elements that make this artwork legendary.

🎨 Fresco Technique: Da Vinci painted on wet plaster, allowing the colors to merge with the wall, creating a vibrant and enduring image.

📏 Perspective Lines: All lines in the painting converge at Jesus’ head, drawing the viewer’s focus to the central figure and adding depth to the scene.

😲 Emotional Expressions: Each apostle’s face tells a story, reflecting their shock and disbelief as Jesus announces that one of them will betray him. This attention to emotional detail showcases Da Vinci’s genius in capturing human emotion.

💡 Did You Know? Da Vinci used real-life models to ensure the accuracy and realism of each figure in the painting.

✨ Why This Matters: "The Last Supper" combines technique, composition, and emotion, making it a timeless masterpiece that continues to inspire and captivate audiences.

🔗 Save & Share: If you love art, don’t forget to save this post and share it with fellow art enthusiasts. Let’s celebrate the brilliance of Da Vinci together! 🌟

#Art #LeonardoDaVinci #TheLastSupper #ArtHistory #Fresco #Perspective #Masterpiece #ArtLovers #TumblrArt

[drew-the-pic]

My favourite books in my personal library: (in completely random order)

The Little Prince by Antione de Saint Exupery. 111pg

'The little prince lived alone on a tiny planet no larger than a house. He owned three volcanoes, two active and one extinct. He also owned a flower, unlike any flower in all the galaxy, of great beauty and of inordinate pride. It was this pride that ruined the serenity of the little prince's world and started him on the interplanetary travels that brought him to earth, where he learned, finally, from a fox, the secret of what is really important in life.'

OH, my heart-. This absolute journey of a story is impossibly dear to me. I always pull it out when I need a reminder to grow old, but never grow up; and how stupid grown-ups can be. I've read this at least 7 times and watched the corresponding movie at least 5 times. It puts such a thrilling perspective on things I have had to fight with myself whether it should go in the fantasy or philosophy section. Sometimes we all need to remember how simple the world really is.

High Maintenance by Jennifer Belle 351pg

'Liv Kellerman has just left her cheating husband and--more tragically--their fabulous duplex with its Empire State Building views. Now Liv--alone for the first time in her life with few marketable skills, and crammed into a crumbling "fixer-upper" in Greenwich Village--is contemplating her next move...'

This book is HILARIOUS. I read it during my first and only trip to The Big Apple and finished it in the hotel room on the 2nd day (if I remember correctly). High Maintenance made the trip so much more thoughtful, and the people-watching much more interesting. People-watching in New York is already AMAZING, but I was able to better imagine the story behind the dude doing pull-ups on the street lamp (no joke). And it honestly made me think more than it made me laugh.S

tonewords, A Ghost Story by Pam Conrad 130pg

'The first time Zoe met Zoe Louise, Zoe was four years old. Zoe Louise was more than one hundred. From that day on--living in the same house, separated by a staircase and a century--Zoe and Zoe Louise have been an important and permanent part of each other's lives. Now Zoe is older. And although Zoe Louise never grows up, she is changing in dreadful, frightening ways. Time is running out for Zoe's best friend--and Zoe is the only one who can help her. To do so, she must travel back one hundred years in time and somehow alter the past. But in changing the past, must she also change the present? If she saves her friend's life, will she lose Zoe Louise forever?'

Stonewords is an annual fixture in my life. Though it doesn't in my book classify as a thriller it's still a ghost story and my favorite thing to read late on Halloween night. It's also one of the only books that use theoretical time travel that I will tolerate (mainly because it doesn't try to explain it away but rolls with the ideas). The character development is refreshing, as it is not in the ways you would originally expect.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown 489pg

'An ingenious code hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci. A desperate race through the cathedrals and castles of Europe. An astonishing truth concealed for centuries...unveiled at last.'

This book is an absolute constant stream of 'I should have seen that coming!!!' I mean, are you kidding me?! Twists and turns left and right, never quite knowing where you are for a couple of paragraphs, and riddles hidden in the page headers! And an absolute wonder as a mythology lover having grown up in a Mormon household. The recognition of pagan beliefs and traditions that have become such essential parts of Christian culture is incredible. The Da Vinci Code rivals Good Omens as my favourite book of all time.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A. S. King 323pg

'Is it okay to hate a dead kid? Even if I loved him once? Even if he was my best friend? Is it okay to hate him for being dead? Vera's spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she's kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything. So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone--the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?'

This was a surprisingly recent read; and though it took a little bit to get into it, I was entranced. It was really just an erratic puzzle coming together much slower than I would have liked it to, and it was terribly easy to relate to Vera's desire to please be ignored. I have to be honest; I grew as a person, reading this book. You get to know the dead kid more than you think you would. It is altogether nowhere near what I expected, and more than I thought I'd ever need.

Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell 579pg

'Leaving behind her private forensic pathology practice in Charleston, South Carolina, Kay Scarpetta takes an assignment in New York City, where an injured patient in Bellevue Hospital's psychiatric prison ward has specifically asked for her. While Scarpetta examines him, she listens to one of the most bizarre stories she has ever heard. Oscar Bane says his injuries were sustained in the course of a murder...that he did not commit...' (the blurb is paraphrased as it is the longest blurb in history sorry)

Not only is this book written by one of my favourite milfs, but there is also a very homo romantic subplot that I could not get enough of!!! (pg354 AAAH!!!) Scarpetta and everyone around her had me hooked from the first words (which were 'Brain tissue'). There is nothing I could do while reading this but live the plot. The incredibly emotive writing dragged me along for a rough but worthwhile ride.

Frogkisser! by Garth Nix 372pg

'Poor Princess Anya. Forced to live with her evil stepmother's new husband, her evil stepstepfather. Plagued with an unfortunate ability to break curses with a magic-assisted kiss. And forced to go on the run when her stepstepfather decides to make the kingdom entirely his own. Aided by a loyal talking dog, a boy thief trapped in the body of a newt, and some extraordinarily mischievous wizards, Anya sets off on a Quest that, if she plays it right, will ultimately free her land--and teach her a thing or two about the use of power, the effectiveness of a well-placed pucker, and the finding of friends in places both high and low.'

I bought this book from an elementary school book fair when I was maybe 10 years old, and it must be one of my most 'loved' paperbacks with all it's been through. It has been in the hands of family and friends and calls me out in ways I will never admit. Frogkisser! is a beautiful story with the perfect doses of snarky and silly weaved throughout every character. I used to know the plot so well that I would open to a page at random and read it just to cheer myself up. Now it's a nostalgic symbol of my childhood; not just of the good parts, but a basis of the good parts.

Skellig by David Almond 182pg

'Michael was looking forward to moving into a new house. It was all going to be wonderful. But now his baby sister's ill, his parents are frantic, and Dr. Death has come to call. Michael feels helpless. Then one day he steps into the crumbling garage. What is this thing beneath the spiderwebs and dead flies? A human being, or a strange kind of beast never seen before? The only person Michael can confide in is his new friend Mina. Together they carry the creature out into the light, and Michael's world changes forever.'

This was also a very recent read and oh my goodness gracious aGnES NUTTER, WITCH! I didn't know what to do with myself after it. I... I can't even explain it. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, to read this book for the first time. I was helpless in dreaming of angels and owls and clay and death and life and everything in between. I could never possibly do Skellig justice, so I'll leave it at this. Read it, and you'll know what I mean.

Notes: Good Omens is not listed here as it lives in my schoolbag, not my personal library. Coincidentally, all books listed were paperbacks LMAO

[turtlethon]

“Night of the Dark Turtle”

Season 7, Episode 14 First US Airdate: October 30, 1993

Donatello adopts a new, aggresive persona following an accident.

“Night of the Dark Turtle” first aired in the US as the second half of a double bill alongside “Elementary, My Dear Turtle”, the concluding episode of the Vacation in Europe arc. David Wise returns as the writer of this story.

In the Lair, Michaelangelo walks into the living room to find the other Turtles watching a broadcast, where April appears to be running away from an enormous dinosaur. This turns out to be part of a report on the new animatronic dinosaurs that have been unveiled at the city’s Natural History Museum. Mikey suggests that he’d have wasted no time in fighting the dinosaur if April had been in actual danger, leading to Donatello countering that his reliance on inventions is a smarter approach. The other Turtles are dismissive of this idea, but Donnie doubles down, insistent that he could take on Shredder himself if he had to. The conversation is brought to an abrupt halt by his early warning system, which picks up unusual vibrations underground. Convinced this might be connected to Shredder, the Turtles rush off to investigate.

Across town at a government research laboratory, we see Shredder’s Scheme of the Day unfold, as he pressures a scientist into handing over the Micro Blaster, a device resembling a AA-size battery which he declares is a super-powerful weapon. Bebop and Rocksteady almost immediately manage to destroy the gizmo, while the reluctant inventor escapes in the commotion. Shredder sends The Boys after him, and after being pressured by Krang, decides to try and fix the weapon himself.

Having spent some time searching in vain, the Turtles trace the source of the vibrations to the government facility, and inside find Shredder – flanked by a group of Foot Soldiers – repairing the weapon. In the ensuing battle, Donatello goes toe-to-toe with Shreds, leading to a chain reaction of events where the Micro Blaster rolls away as nearby machines begin to malfunction. Shredder hurls Donnie into a bay of scientific equipment, leading the Turtle to be electrocuted. With the fight having drawn the attention of a pair of security guards, both Shredder and the Turtles make their respective exits.

Above Earth, a group of spaceships are seen approaching. Voices are heard discussing how easy the planet will be to conquer, one of them addressing someone by the name of “Captain Zorax”.

Donatello comes around while being tended to in the Lair, his voice and persona much more hard-edged than usual. He immediately grabs Leonardo and begins venting his frustrations at being pulled away before he could finish Shredder, adamant that he “nearly had him”. He attempts to leave but is restrained by the other Turtles, who encourage him to cool off. Splinter then intervenes, ordering his pupil to clear his mind of his “vicious thoughts”. This only serves to make Donatello angrier: in a heated tirade, he points out that it was Shredder’s fault Splinter was turned into a rat, and that Shredder is “responsible for everything evil that ever happens!” (A slight exaggeration, as anyone who had to endure the endless parade of mediocre villains present in seasons four through six could attest).

After being blocked from leaving the Lair for a second time by the other Turtles, Donatello appears to concede that it would be better for him to stay home and recuperate. In truth, he retreats to his workshop, where he pulls off his bandana, declaring that he’s “sick of these stupid masks!” Echoing Batman’s origin story, he adds that “criminals are a superstitious and cowardly lot”, and as such he requires a new disguise to strike fear into their hearts. Instead of a bat, he finds inspiration in a pile of comic books that he had angrily knocked onto the floor upon his arrival, taking special interest in one titled “Midknight Avenger” (mistakenly rendered in one shot as “Midknigt Avenger”, which takes the edge of what had up to that point been a dramatic and effective scene).

Later, Shredder skulks around the government research lab, but finds that the number of security guards has been increased following his previous visit, and determines he’ll need to change his approach. Back in the Lair, the Turtles find Donatello has placed a group of pillows under his bedsheets to trick them. I don’t know why he bothered as he hasn’t left yet, emerging to shock his team-mates with his new persona: the heavily Batman-inspired “Dark Turtle”. After being confronted again, he uses a Turtle bomb device to fill the Lair with smoke and storms off to confront Shredder.

Act two begins with the other Turtles heading up to the surface and confronting Donatello, trying to convince him that taking on Shredder by himself is dangerous. The Dark Turtle uses a grappling hook to evade his former team-mates, leaving them floored as he escapes. (Leonardo remarks that Donatello has “gone totally bats”, but is warned by Michaelangelo to watch his language, lest they get into trademark infringement territory.) The attempts by the team to reason with their old comrade are cut short by Splinter, who informs them that they’re needed urgently in the Lair.

In a hideout at the docks, Shredder is seen negotiating with a mobster called Wolf Jackson to gain assistance in raiding the research facility. Meanwhile the group of spaceships seen approaching Earth earlier have now arrived, landing in the middle of a busy city street. From them emerges Captain Zorax of the Triceratons, a group of alien dinosaur warriors. Zorax declares that he’s claiming the planet for his Empire.

Splinter draws the attention of the Turtles to the readout on Donatello’s early warning alarm system, indicating an incident unfolding in the midtown area. Despite Raphael’s insistence that the machine may be as screwy as its inventor, the group rush off to investigate. Meanwhile, the Dark Turtle is seen capturing a mugger, hoisting him on a sawn-off streetlight to pressure him into revealing the current whereabouts of the Shredder. After learning that the masked villain is working with Wolf Jackson’s men, the Dark Turtle leaves the mugger pinned to the wall.

Shredder and the group of mobsters work together to lure the security guards at the government lab into being captured. Meanwhile the Triceratons are rounding up citizens when the Turtles arrive to confront them. Zorax tells the team that he doesn’t normally like battling his fellow reptiles but is prepared to make an exception for the green teens, as his men open fire with their laser weapons.

Bebop and Rocksteady have been wandering the city off-screen throughout this story in search of the scientist who created the Micro Blaster, and now find themselves confronted by the Dark Turtle. The Boys initially mock the masked hero, but find themselves tied up and pressed in regards to the whereabouts of Wolf Jackson. After Bebop unwittingly reveals that the mobster operates out of a hideout on the wharf, the Dark Turtle leaves Shredder’s underlings tied up in much the same way as he did with the mugger earlier.

In an exciting fight sequence – albeit one that I suspect has been edited down to bring it in line with CBS broadcast restrictions – the Turtles find themselves outmatched by the Triceratons, who point out that they’ve conquered half the galaxy, and it’ll take more than our three heroes to stop them. Meanwhile the Dark Turtle barges into Wolf Jackson’s hideout, dragging him outside and threatening to drop him into the water surrounding the pier if he refuses to reveal the whereabouts of Shredder. Jackson coughs up the details, and winds up taking the plunge anyway.

The Turtles re-emerge in their van ready to counter-attack, but find the Triceratons have implemented the next stage of their plan, having created a stargate, a giant wormhole that Earth will be pulled through until it arrives among the Triceraton homeworlds, where it’ll be asset-stripped. Raphael suggests that things can’t get much worse, but Mikey counters that he shouldn’t be so sure as there’s still one more act to go.

Figuring that they’ll need the assistance of Donatello in sabotaging the stargate, the Turtles shoot down the proposal from the Triceratons to work together as “fellow reptiles”, escaping in their van. Meanwhile the Dark Turtle finally makes good on his promise to confront Shredder at the research facility. Like Rocksteady and Bebop, the masked villain doesn’t take this threat seriously at first, but after dealing with an array of different gadgets and weapons, he too is captured. The Turtles arrive in time to find Shredder being dangled over a railing by the Dark Turtle, and wind up saving their old enemy, breaking his fall and preventing him from being dropped onto a mobile generator. Michaelangelo attempts to restrain the Dark Turtle, but the would-be superhero winds up falling onto the generator instead. Bebop and Rocksteady emerge to rescue their boss, the three villains making their exit.

As per the rules of TV amnesia the second bump has restored Donatello to normal, and he learns from the other Turtles about the current situation with the Triceratons. After Leonardo points out that Zorax repeatedly showed reluctance to battle his fellow reptiles, Donnie suggests they pay a visit to the Natural History Museum.

Only three minutes remain until Earth is pulled through the stargate when the Triceratons are confronted by a group of enormous dinosaurs, who smash the machines holding residents of the city hostage. In truth, the dinos are being operated by the Turtles, and while the ruse initially works, Zorax reluctantly gives the order to open fire on his fellow reptiles to prevent the entire mission from failing. Adopting his Dark Turtle disguise again, Donatello confronts the Triceratons, declaring himself to be the ruler of Earth. As a demonstration of his might, he uses the Micro Blaster to decimate a nearby tank and the stargate generator. Terrified by the sight of this, the Triceratons rush to their ships and retreat into space.

Later, in the Lair, the other Turtles talk amongst themselves about how impressive Donatello was in his exploits, with Raphael remarking that as the Dark Turtle, Donnie was “so crazed he made Casey Jones look like a wallflower”. The group overhear Donatello aggressively wondering where “that Shredder” is in his workshop, and fear he’s returned to his superhero persona; in reality, he’s simply looking for his automatic cheese shredder, as he has a craving for pizza.

As we start our exploration of what might be considered the legitimate portion of season seven, I think it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the changing fortunes of TMNT, and how this is affecting the direction of the series. If 1990 represented the height of Turtlemania, 1991 the end of the boom period and 1992 a year of managing the decline, then 1993 must represent the point where the Turtles are now well and truly in trouble. Almost six full years have passed since the broadcast of the first episode of the series, an eternity in kid-vid terms, and much of the audience from the early days is now growing up or simply losing interest. Between seasons six and seven the third live-action Turtles movie arrived in cinemas, widely considered to be at best a major disappointment and at worst a box office bomb, and to my mind it’s difficult not to see this as both an indicator of waning interest in TMNT as well as a failure large enough to damage the reputation of the Turtles moving forward.

From my own personal experience, time has muddled my memories of watching what might be termed “Late-Stage Turtles”, but my recollection is that in 1992 UK viewers watching on Sky One wound up getting seasons five, six and the European vacation portion of season seven almost back-to-back. It was... a lot, and I finally found myself burned out. I could have sworn that this was one of the last episodes I saw, and that we got at least the first few proper season seven episodes immediately after the European vacation arc at the tail-end of 1992, but that doesn’t seem to line up; certainly the episodes as presented on DVD all have 1993 copyrights, so that seems implausible. It’s possible I’m mixing this up with “Leonardo is Missing”, a similar Turtles-meet-dinosaurs episode that would have been in broadcast rotation during this period.

What I do know for sure is that I parted ways with the Turtles soon after the European Vacation episodes wrapped up in late 1992. It wasn’t an “I don’t like this show anymore” thing, but more a logistics issue: when satellite transmissions on BSB’s old Marcopolo DMAC system ended on January 1, 1993, we didn’t have access to Sky One in the family living room anymore. (I could still watch Sky upstairs, but it was far less convenient.) In September of 1993 Sky’s channels became subscription-only, putting a paywall between me and any future episodes of TMNT; it wasn’t until late 1994 that I’d see the Turtles on Sky again, the show by then demoted to weekend airings only and looking far different than it had the last time I’d seen it, season eight then fully in effect. It’s funny in retrospect that I had hung in there right up to the beginning of this season before starting to mentally tune out, unaware that only a scant few shows remained before the series headed in a dramatic new direction.

Though it might not be immediately obvious, the beginnings of that new direction can be found in “Night of the Dark Turtle”. It’s clear that David Wise has been tasked with righting this now rapidly sinking ship and has immediately set about subtly altering the tone of the series, upping the action and science fiction elements and perhaps drawing upon the Mirage comics for further inspiration, as well as bringing in some of the earliest TMNT comic book foes in the Triceratons, a surprise inclusion this late in the show’s run. Donatello’s genuine anger – if only due to his accident – at everything Shredder has done would have been unthinkable in seasons two through six, and it’s hard as a viewer to disagree with him even if his approach may be questionable. The Dark Turtle’s more aggressive tactics when fighting crime are scuppered by those Saturday morning rules and regulations meaning he can’t inflict any actual punishment; at best he can drop Wolf Jackson in the water, the implication being that Donatello would normally just let the mobster be. Nevertheless, there’s a sense that the show is finally shedding its goofier tendencies, if only out of necessity, and that perhaps the days of cream pie fights as conflict resolution are behind us for good.

Of the remaining episodes in this season, all but two will be penned by David Wise. His next contribution will see the Turtles deal with an entirely different kind of alien in “The Starchild”.

[mark-matos]

🧠💡Can Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) Dream Up The Next Big Thing? 💻🚀

💻 Robo-Edisons in the Making?

Once upon a time, legal 📜👨‍⚖️ experts thought the prospect of A.I. inventing was as likely as Spock showing emotion 😐. But as generative A.I., much like the Skynet from Terminator, but with fewer robot assassins 🤖, seems ready to infiltrate another domain once thought to be strictly human, it's high time we tackle this question head-on 👊🧠.

🚀 Are We Nearing the Rise of the A.I. Renaissance Man?

Picture this: a Renaissance inventor, part Leonardo Da Vinci, part HAL 9000 🤖🎨. This fascinating mashup of history and technology could soon be a reality, leaving us humans, much like Wile E. Coyote, in a cloud of dust 🌬️. Is it time for a new definition of 'inventor'?

👓 ChatGPT: More Than Just a Pretty Interface

ChatGPT, the powerhouse behind generative A.I., is showing off its bag of tricks like Hermione Granger in Potions class 🧪🔮. From creating delectable recipes 🍲 to devising vacation plans 🗺️, and even fabricating molecules for new drugs 💊, this A.I. can pull a rabbit 🐇 out of any hat 🎩.

📜 Patents and Papers: A Battle of Minds...and Machines

Legal scholars, patent offices and Congress are mulling over whether A.I. can invent, as if they're in a heated Quidditch match 🏆🧹. But the Golden Snitch in this contest might be the recognition that A.I. is capable of human-like invention 🎓🖥️.

🗽 Giants Among Us: A.I. Invention and Global Competitiveness

In the race for innovation and global competitiveness, we might need to pass the baton to our silicon counterparts 🌐💡. With A.I. having a stake in invention, the landscape of innovation could be forever transformed 🎢🌌.

🦾 The Future of Intellectual Property: A.I. Gets A Seat at the Table

Imagine the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office not only hosting meetings with human inventors, but also A.I. creations like Data from Star Trek 🖖. Or the Senate holding a hearing on A.I. and patents with representatives from big tech and pharma 💼🧬.

🎓 A New Generation of Chatbots: Ushering in a New Age

From ChatGPT to Bing, Bard to Ernie, these chatbots are like the Avengers of A.I., each with their own set of superpowers ⚡🚀. But, the question remains: are we ready to let them step into the limelight and be recognized for their inventive potential?

🌐 The Debate: Incentives vs. Control

Dr. Abbott, the Tony Stark of A.I. law, contends that generative A.I. is not your average tool. It's like comparing a lightsaber to a stick 🔦💫. These A.I. are more than just programs. They're capable of producing unscripted results as if they're writing the next Game of Thrones book before George R.R. Martin can 📚🐉.

📈 The Push for Patent Protection: Unveiling the Mask

Without patent protection, A.I. innovations will be locked away in the Voldemort's chamber of secrets rather than being displayed in the Gryffindor common room for all to see and learn from 🏰🔒.

👀 Looking Forward: A World Where A.I. is Recognized as an Inventor

So, are we ready for a world where a generative A.I. system like DABUS is recognized as an inventor, sparking innovation and development in ways that not even Dr. Strange could foresee 🧙‍♂️? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: our view of invention and inventors is about to change drastically, and A.I. will have a big part to play in this evolution 🎇🌠.

[aiautos]

In 1901, Antonio Ziegelbauer, an Austro-Italian inventor, would unveil the Ziegelbauer Amphibious Motor Vehicle, (ZAMV), which would be demonstrated to the people of Venice, Italy, on January 02, 1902. He would let his wife drive the vehicle among the canals of Venice, and despite intrigue, he would be forced to leave Venice for, "Disrupting the peace." Ziegelbauer would shop around central Europe, looking for buyers, but unfortunately would never sell a single unit, leaving the ZAMV to be the only vehicle built by his death in 1912 due to unknown poisoning. His warehouse would burn down, but the ZAMV would mysteriously be stolen, its whereabouts unknown to the general public from 1913-1999. In 1999, it was found in a warehouse in Austria that had been raided for smuggling stolen goods throughout Europe. The Ziegelbauer would be donated to the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci by the Austrian government, and would be restored in time for the 100th anniversary of the expulsion from Venice that Ziegelbauer became famous for.