My Reaction To This Comic. I Literally Waited ALL Day To Come Home From Work To Take This Picture Because

Why revenge my dear, Chessman. Why else? You make us suffer so fabulously with your incredible skills and intriguing personality. You’re practically impenetrable due to your mystery. Seems only fair to return the favor. Within small doses of course.

*chants softly before getting progressively louder* one of us OnE oF Us ONE OF US ONE OF US

Apologies everyone... I fear I have accidentally killed him. Who knew a cryptid could be so powerful...

YOU ARE NOT SORRY IN THE SLIGHTEST--

DON'T EVEN--

I-I…um…help?

could you please do 29 for dialouge prompts, leo and donnie?

dialogue prompts

29. “Tell me where it hurts, and be specific.”

x

When they were little, Donatello’s twin was his translator. 

Donnie was the last of the turtles to start talking—though the first to start reading and writing and dismantling kitchen appliances—and no amount of coercion or bribery or outright begging was enough to get a single word out of him in English or Japanese before he was good and ready. 

Splinter was in over his head already just by having four unplanned children to raise who were not even the same species as him. He fretted about his sons’ health and their development in those early years, and had absolutely no one he could turn to for regular parenting advice, let alone advice on what was and was not normal for mutant turtle children. 

He tells the story now with a rueful good humor granted only by hindsight and a decade and a half of distance, but at the time, Donatello refusing his second meal in a row while blinking silently in face of his father’s increasingly worried questions probably would have driven Splinter to tear his fur out if not for the contribution made by Donnie’s talkative striped shadow. 

“It’s the, uh, the red things, daddy,” Leo piped up. “He doesn’t like those.” 

Splinter blinked at him, and then down at the plate Donnie was refusing to so much as look at it. 

“The tomatoes?” he said. 

“Tomatoes,” Leo parroted. “They’re hard outside and squishy inside. He doesn’t like things like that. And they touched everything else so all of it is no good now!”

Never having considered that texture, of all things, could be the issue—and kicking himself for it—Splinter scrambled a fresh pair of eggs for his stubborn little softshell. He skipped the cherry tomatoes, and sliced a bell pepper instead that he made sure to put on the opposite side of the portioned plastic plate. 

Donnie sniffed his fresh plate of plain eggs suspiciously, but it passed his inspection. He crunched into a piece of bell pepper so eagerly that he must have been hungry. Splinter sank back in his chair with an exhale that left him feeling like a deflated balloon. 

Leo, eating the discarded tomatoes out of Donnie’s original breakfast, giggled at him. He was the first of Splinter’s babies to start speaking, and the sound of his bright voice tripping eagerly over clumsy human words rarely failed to coax a smile out of his father. 

“Thank you, baby,” he said, poking Leo on the edge of his beak and earning himself another peal of bubbly laughter. “I’m glad one of us speaks Purple’s language or I might have set us up for failure big-time.”

“‘Course I do! ‘Cause we’re twins!” Leo said, with only half an idea what the word meant, but happy for any reason to be one of a pair with his best friend. Donnie knew very well what the word meant and simply nodded along, because he was happy, too. 

Now that they’re older, and Donatello no longer needs a translator, he finds himself returning the favor instead. Leo is far from nonverbal—Leo talks too much—but he hardly ever actually says anything. He can pontificate and harangue and lecture to lengths of absolute absurdity without giving a single word of substance away that he doesn’t want to give away. 

Donnie can read him like a book. Like one of his favorite books that he doesn’t actually have to read, because he knows every page by heart. 

The summer after the world didn’t end, Donnie’s twin becomes someone unfamiliar. 

He’s self destructive in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. He seeks out things that scare him, lingering above the death drop an extra second even though he’s been afraid of heights since he was fourteen. 

It’s obvious that he’s trying to train himself out of weakness. No more childish fears, no more lazy Sunday mornings, no more silly Nardo. 

Raph and Mikey have clocked it, too, in their own ways. At first Raph was pleasantly surprised when Leo beat him to the dojo for training, ribbing him amicably when he was also the last to leave. But then Leo started turning down Mario Kart tournaments and ninja tag in favor of shutting himself away and working working working to correct an internal ugliness that just doesn’t exist. Mikey’s used to being the exception to every rule, used to arms opening for him wherever he goes, and the way his sweet, sunny smile slips every time Leo talks around joining him on the sofa for Kitchen Nightmares reruns—or explains away why he’s skipping dinner—is one of the worst things Donnie’s ever seen. 

At the very least, Leonardo doesn’t lie to Donatello’s face. He’s stopped looking him in the eye altogether. 

You’re not going anywhere without me, Donnie thinks at him, ready to dig in his heels and fight like hell. 

It’s hard to say how long it would have gone on, but one late night Leo limps home from a solo patrol and Donnie is waiting for him, arms folded, tolerance for foolishness nonexistent. 

“What, are you tracking me?” Leo jokes half-heartedly. And then, when Donnie doesn’t blink, he adds, “Wait, actually?”

“Don’t waste my time with questions we both know the answer to,” Donnie says, and points Leo directly towards the medbay. Leo, who had been angled toward the bathroom instead, likely because he can close the door and suffer in private with no one the wiser, sighs loudly and course-corrects. 

The overhead lights in the medbay hum to life when Donnie flips the switches. Leo looks over his shoulder to gauge how far those lights have traveled past the open door, restless with wondering if he’s going to have to save face in front of someone else. 

All of this? All this behavior? Donnie hates this. 

Larger-than-life Leonardo seems smaller as he boosts himself up onto the edge of the bed. The infirmary is the one place he never puts on airs, the one place he takes seriously because his family’s health and safety has never once been a punchline to him. He peels off all his false layers at the door. He’s back to not meeting Donnie’s eyes. 

“Tell me where it hurts, and be specific,” Donatello says. 

“Your bedside manner could use some work,” Leonardo replies. His attempt at wily good humor limps along a lot like he had limped through the front door, like the least funny thing in the world. “That’s why between the two of us I’m the team medic.”

“And I’m two minutes from pulling the fire alarm and making this a house party,” Donnie says frankly. His tone isn’t gentle, isn’t quite angry. He’s somewhere in the middle, gentleness and anger fighting for the spot that affection has never once surrendered and never once will. 

He hates the way his twin’s eyes get wet, staring down at his own knees, knuckles stark white and standing out like a string of pearls where his hands are bunched in the thin blanket he’s sitting on. He hates that it’s come to this, the quiet of midnight in the medbay, one of the brightest lights in Donnie’s life dimmed and miserable and so clearly struggling. It’s laughable that Leo really thought he could have hidden it forever. 

Donnie sits beside him on the bed and says, “What if I quit?”

The non-sequitur takes Leo by surprise. He was clearly expecting a full frontal assault and glances sideways at Donnie briefly. 

“Quit what?”

“My bad, I should have been more specific,” Donnie allows. “I meant, what if I quit being a ninja? I have better things I could be doing, and I don’t like getting hurt.” Leo is staring at him fully now, totally bewildered. Flabbergasted, even. It melts some of the sternness Donnie has been careful to shore up for this conversation. “Would you love me less?” he asks. 

It would have been kinder if Donnie had slapped him. “Don’t say that,” Leo says, barely any air behind it. 

“Are you more capable than I am?” Donnie steamrolls on. “Are you better than me?”

“Of course not. I don’t think—I didn’t say—”

“Then why do you have to be perfect if I don’t?” Donnie presses the advantage ruthlessly. “Why aren’t you allowed to struggle and doubt and spectacularly fuck up every now and then without raking yourself over the coals for it?” 

Leo glances over at the door automatically, like Raph is going to be summoned by the bad word. He’s sixteen, he’s just sixteen, Donnie wants to scream it loud enough that those resistance fighters in Casey’s future could hear him, the ones who thought it was a halfway decent idea to put a child in charge. 

Earlier Donnie thought that Leo looked smaller here. Now he thinks he can tell by looking how much weight his twin has lost since June. There’s a deficit of Leonardo in this world and his whole family is feeling it keenly. 

Raph wants to scoop Leo off the sofa when he stays up too late and tuck him into bed, wants to listen to Leo filling the comms with chatter on those nights when patrol stretches long and dull. Raph misses his little brother, the gossipy, gangly, growing up little turtle that Raph used to be allowed to carry everywhere.

Mikey wants to bicker over who gets to play Sonic in Smash Bros and eat cookies while they’re still hot from the oven with the person he admires so much, who taught him all the best cheats in Smash Bros and that fresh sugar cookies in the falling apart stage, pre-icing, are better than ones that have cooled. 

‘Sometimes you gotta get burned to get results,’ ten-year-old Leo had announced, but he was always the one who lifted the cookies off the sheet pan, he never let Mikey burn his fingers.  

That goofy, clever kid who was always getting them all into trouble and talking their way out of it again is worth a thousand made-up Master Leonardos. 

Leo keeps his face lowered, shoulders hunched, because he knows what he’ll see if he scrapes together the courage to meet Donnie’s gaze. He’ll see the love blazing in his twin’s face like one of those digital billboards towering above Times Square, and somehow he’s convinced himself he doesn’t deserve it. 

Donnie doesn’t give a damn what Leo has decided he deserves. Donnie’s going to love him anyway, on purpose, whether he likes it or not. If Leo wants to grow up so badly, then he can stop acting like a kid pushing vegetables around on his plate and swallow the truth. 

It’s okay if he doesn’t grow up yet. They can be kids awhile longer. It’ll be like when they were babies, when Donatello would rather go hungry than stomach certain foods. Leo never let Donnie sit alone at the breakfast table, keeping him cheerful, babbling company, even when their brothers had moved off to play. 

This time Leo is the picky eater, willing to go hungry and sit alone at the table. But Donnie learned from the best. He's returning the favor.

Donnie isn’t going anywhere without Leo, either.

Scrumdiddlyumptious, my good woman, as always

*pokes head into your inbox and waves*

Howdy Hon!

Last night was kind of an adventure wasn’t it, and I hope that you’re doing ok. I wish I had words that could make this better, but all that’s coming to mind is an internet bear hug and the words of my all time favorite redhead “There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.”

Thanks for being someone who fights for the good and is a light while doing it 😊🧡🫂

Speaking of words, I was also wondering if I might try my hand at a request? I was thinking specifically for Rise Raph or Leo but I’m always down for artistic free rein so do where ever the creativity flows.

But AnYhOo, I was wondering how the boys would respond to a friend who was confident in their love language of words of affirmation? Like without thinking, drops the most heartfelt and specific compliments or “I’m grateful I have you in my life” kind of stuff at the drop of a hat? I think it would be funny since unfortunately the boys are very under appreciated verbally to meet someone who was fully confident in their ability to affirm people with their words and mean it.

Does that make any sense?😅 If you can’t tell I ramble a bit, but all I want to do is tell my boys why I believe in them, help them see all the good they do, and be their biggest supporter. They deserve nothing but goodness and overwhelming love and by golly, I will give it to them any way I can or my name isn’t aggressive affection 😆👊🏼🧡

Sooooo uh yeah…thank you for your time and no pressure if this request doesn’t float your boat. Keep being fabulous ✨🧡

Considering everything that has already come to light concerning the "election", yes. I am not happy and I will let it be known on the freaking rooftops. For reference, I come from a family of nationalists where I'm from, with my biological mother being one of the prime supporters and I... will fully admit that I staunchly disapprove of it. Being proud of your country's accomplishments is one thing. Using it to degrade other people who felt like they had no other choice but to flee? No. Hell no. You do not step on other people and cheat because you think your cause is right. So, as I said, fuck the government. I will continue being myself and not be the baby-making machine this nation wants me to be.

... Sorry for that. If you tend to ramble, I tend to get heated whenever discussing people's rights. ANYWAY.

I was wondering how to go about this request and I think this might be better as a headcanon segment. If someone would like me to elaborate on any of them later on or provide proof as to what I'm advancing, you are more than welcome to ask, but for now, here goes nothing. Warning, I'm going to go about this in a weird order, but it'll make sense after they're all there.

So! First things first!

How the Rise Boys Would React to Words of Affirmation.

Michelangelo Hamato

As someone who dishes out compliments himself, Mikey would be the one to blink at you, chuckle, and blush a little, at least if it was something concerning him directly, like saying you're grateful he exists or his artwork since it isn't something he gets this often for. His cooking and clothing choices though would get parading and maybe a little peacocking because of his genuine confidence in those skills, you would need to push a little harder to get him silent and shy.

Either way, expect him to bounce back and throw some compliments your way real quick. Why? 'Cause it's his love language as well! Hell, expect him to turn it into a competition because he will not be outdone. No sir. And if you end up looking like a tomato by the end of it? Well... you started it, didn't you?

Donatello Hamato

Hope he doesn't have anything in his hands or it will be dropped. Doesn't matter where the words go with his boy, if he so much as recognizes the honesty, and he will, he will go silent and stare at you like you've grown another head. Not because you've hurt him, but because he doesn't understand. Spontaneity and genuineness, at least when it comes to words, is Mikey's thing. You are a stranger to his family and you're not only complimenting him but being genuine about it? Does not compute.

He will adapt, though, and at first, he might ask about what you think of his work. It'll be cautious and he will absolutely downplay it, but he will start fishing for compliments while enjoying your presence. And if you show interest in any of his special interests? Consider yourself his best friend. He will bug you at impossible hours before waiting for you to wake up so you can both talk.

Raphael Hamato

The big guy, the oldest, the one who had to raise this merry band of idiots. I don't think he would drop anything, but he would blink at you and look behind himself several times before he even acknowledges that you're talking to him. From there, expect him to blush and hesitate. He's not used to compliments, poor guy, and even less when they're spoken with honesty and kindness.

Surprisingly, though, I think it would calm him. Reassure him. He doesn't hear often or from anyone that he's doing or has done a great job, so, for a moment, it would silence his brain. He wouldn't bug you as often as Donnie would, but if ever he had a big decision to make, he might either ask for input or just want to make sure he took the right one.

Leonardo Hamato

... Eugh, boy. Where do I start with this guy? With the Face Man, the one who's used to lying, the one who nearly took out the planet on accident because he wanted to show off his skill? The initial reaction would be a simple one, use your words and embellish them. Make them more grandiose. Build himself up as high as possible. If it makes you laugh? Great! If it upsets you? Well, you're the one who said something so you only have yourself to blame.

Eventually, though, he would fall quiet. He would listen and ask you if you mean it. Saying you do will get you more silence and little else. He might even walk away. Why? He's waiting for the other shoe to drop. He's waiting for you to get angry at him. Change your mind. Everyone does. So why wouldn't you?

taglist:

@silverwatergalaxy, @thegirlwiththeninjaturtletattoos, @thelaundrybitch, @luckycharms1701, @thepinkpanther83

@avery73, @the-cauldron-witch, @redsrooftopprincess, @iridescentflamingo, @ninnosaurus

@milykins, @yorshie, @justalotoffanfiction, @truffle-reblogs

Astronomy Lines Pt. 2

Made some wallpapers featuring the disaster twins because Venus is one disaster of a planet 😆

My reaction photos including my niece

CONGRATS AT FINISHING THIS! ✨🧡🙏🏼🙌🏼

This story means so much to me, that I am both so happy and devastated that it’s done. But it was done beautifully, so don’t mind me cheering at work rn

And finally, Aftermath Family Meeting 7 | double post for the special occasion~ :) PREV | FIRST

I cannot believe its finally finished. Aftermath was the biggest project I've completed to date and I am so honored to have so many of you along for the ride with me. Now, you may be wondering: what now?

yeah. Me too. It feels really weird to finally have this completed. But, as a donnie core individual, i have PLANS :3

I will be taking some time off of Turtles, Dreamworks Trolls is currently making my brain all fuzzy and happy so I'll be skerdoodling about in that fandom for a bit before I return to start my next Turtle Project. It's all written. You guys aren't ready. It's gonna be SICK.

Once again, thanks for being here for Aftermath. it means the world to me that so many people liked to read something I made. Remember to be kind to yourselves and that healing isnt an all at once thing, its a every day tiny steps thing. See ya soon :)

I can't not tell you the amount of rage I feel after drawing this. Lee from Bayverse movies is my least favorite turtle and the fact he came out decently well BUGS me like none other.

You can see my displeasure in my roast with my dear friend @anobodyinabog. Hence the reason I decided to set him on fire.

*deep inhale before belting out*

I have like…so many words about this storyline that cannot be contained in a mere tumblr post. Lucky for y’all, I’ve saved you the headache from having to read it and placed it as a comment on A03 instead.

THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE ART TO APPRECIATE AND APPRECIATE IT I SHALL

(I wanna add comments to every delightful picture, so please understand that for simplicity’s sake, I’ve numbered the pictures in the order they appear and said comments will correspond)

1: Classic April look. Live the glasses and how you captured the tenacity in her eyes. Such detail for such a simplenoutlins. I am in awe of your prowess with the pen 😤🤌🏼✨

2: Mikey WOULD be the pop in and our of frame individual #adhd go brrr. Also he is rocking the suspenders 🙌🏼 I am WEAK for Raph in a poncho, like he just St looks so delightfully huggable. Just wanna into his poncho to give him a big ole h u g. Also Leo is slaying it over there with the long trench coat. I appreciate the nod to the “Clothes Don’t Make The Turtles” and low-key wanna try coloring this because it's so clean. Donnie expressions will forever be the light of my life, and this one is no exception. 😙👌🏼🔥

3: I am just in love with the little details in this: the slow drop of the wheat stalk, the hat slipping back, Donnies surprised wide-eyes. Like he looks so absolutely flabbergasted and I love it. April as always is a vision in anything she wears and you certainly did her justice in this outfit, yesiree bob.

4: I legitimately giggled at this. Donnie is one big bad ninja for sure, but put him up to April no matter the AU and the poor pancake boy is nothing but a wet paper towel of a man and I am HERE FOR IT. Like his bum is in the air, he's completely folded over and again his expriession is just *chef kiss* Also how on earth did you get this reference for this pose because it is so positively delightful.

5: *shakes head with a low whistle: Im surprised Donnie didn't combust into flames on the spot when she shot him this look because whew…she is H A W T. Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande can be heard playing

6: Again the tiny details are so delightful: Donnies soft life ok, Aprils carefree laughter, the slight cradle of the small of her back and the gentle but firm lead of her hand. Dance is just poetry in motion and I think you captured this beautifullly 🧡🥰

7: As silly as it sounds, my favorite part of this was how clean the poses and lines of action in the background. It was just clean and expressive and I really appreciate that.

8: Did I mention Donnie is a wet paper towel of a man? Please see exhibit B here. Also we live a woman who makes the first move. Go April, ya queen 🙌🏼👏🏼

9: HIS LITTLE HAT PULL-DOWN MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME INCLUDING THE TEENY HINT OF BLUSH LIKE…AWWW BABY BOY.

Seriously tho, I was incredibly impressed by the simple detail, the vibrancy of the expressions and the fluidity of movement of your pieces here. Really helped capture the vibe and moved the story along quite beautifully I may add.

Thank you for blessing my eyes with these fine pieces of literature, and may you continue to bless the lives of others as y'all continue to create. ✨🧡

All the art I made for a collab between @hersheyotaku and I for an Apritello server event! We made a western AU! Fic can be found here on ao3~ (Please give Hershey some kudos for her *fantastic* writing.) And if you'd like a special flip book version, you can find that here!

So…does this beat do anything for anybody else??? Or is this just me??

Also THAT ANIMATED BOUNCE YALL 🤯🫠☠️💙

The animation in this movie will be the death of me because it’s so FLIPPIN SMOOTH AND PRETTY *respectfully flips a table*

Also not my TikTok. Rightfully belongs to the incredibly talented: @blizcocho

Well…who says you can’t do both?

BEHOLD

And totally because I’m not like a nerd or anything

✨🪷 Floriography Flowers ✨🪷

Clematis: Represents both ingenuity and cleverness (which I feel like you exempt through both your art and how you engage with fellow tumblrs. Like you are so polite and healthy that is absolutely refreshing to read your asks)

Foxglove: Meaning riddles and secrets (because I genuinely can’t get a read on you and your stories + work always leave me incredibly stunned because MAN I did NOT see that coming)

Anyhoo, 👉🏼😅👈🏼 I hope this doesn’t come across as love bombing or anything and makes you feel uncomfortable, just really admire ya respectfully and you inspire me, so…ya…🧡👊🏼

Telling On Yourself: Pt. 1

//Feeling super "FLUFF-Y"--

...Ohmygosh-- I need to draw this ridiculously intimate or love-y thing-- IT'LL BE WONDERFUL--!!!💜💜💜

//Starts sketching--

...But what if--

//Chooses different pose-- Character is now solo--

...Okay, I can still--

//Adds a toothy grin or smirk-- Expression becomes intimidating--

...Alright, maybe just--

//Adds battle scars, wounds, blood, etc.-- Stares at canvas--

...

...MAN--

THEY FINALLY MET AND ITS NOT ANGSTY! ITS WHOLESOME! IS F!LEO BOWING LOWKEY TO BABY LEO?! IS HE?!

SO MANY EMOTIONS MUST KEYBOARD SMASHICJSVDISPSLEHRIWJSBDB

Don’t mind me almost getting into an accident because I read this while driving 😅

Part 9!

You have no idea how much I've been thinking about this topic

Part 1