*takes long draw off cigar* And what do you know about the foxes in the stars?
Been on a nostalgia binge for my favorite crunchy 1997 N64 game, I didn't know they were releasing another one this year! Too bad I have no fucking way to play any of the games without a Nintendo device LMAO fuck me
I don't post nsfw here but I don't care, I need to say this.
If you enjoy anything related to detransition porn, go fuck yourself. Violently. You disgust me and I'm questioning the mindset of any trans person who subjects themselves to that treatment. And if you post that shit and then reach out to trans people, especially me? I hope you get fucking throat punched straight in the Adam's apple.
Don't defend it. Don't argue with me. It's fucking disgusting and wrong. Block me if you feel like it, you'd be doing me a fucking favor. Someone messaged me and that's literally all they posted, now I'm sitting here viscerally disgusted and feel like I need to puke. There are some real sickos out here.
Joined a magma sesh for the first timeđ @weeklymagmas theme was favorite tmnt fanworks and lemme tell you, it is n o t easy to choose just a few, especially being me and wasting time by accidentally flipping the lineart and color and then merging them together, resulting in an hour-long emergency re-linearting of those first three (mercifully reconstructed from screenshots)
Riiiiiight so these can be found on the artists' blogs: @qoldenskies @less-depresso-more-espresso @probably-not-a-rutabaga @juvmarchiori @artisticgargoyle @indieyuugure @xxlea-nardoxx @the-lavender-clown @68spidey anyone who sees this go follow them now đŤthey're cool
A commission piece I purchased from @poisonheadcrabsalesman . I figured now would be a good a time as ever to share! Thank you again for doing my boys such justice, I'll be sitting here reading it over and over again. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!
- Boiling Point -
Summer in New York was like nothing else.
The heat bounced off the concrete, reaching a new intensity that didnât seem to fade, and it even brought a new smell. Too many bodies, too many cars, too much heat; it was a blistering sprawling mess that spilled over from the crowded streets and subways. People brought it home with them. The city buzzed and cracked in the sunlight. It was baking the asphalt to such a degree their home was beginning to feel like an oven. It was such a pain when the manhole covers got hot enough to burn. It'd been weeks of high temperatures with no relief from the storms echoing through the evenings. Summertime in the concrete jungle did not make for an easy time and tensions rose and hung there like the humid stagnant air. Something was beginning to fester.
Everyone was more easily riled up in the heat, and Leo wasn't immune either. He had snapped at his brothers on more than one occasion, but he had expected the issues to pass. Water under the bridge. They were a team - they were family, and theyâd survived everything before. Whenever one of them fell down, the others would help him right back up. Always.
So he was surprised to hear someone in the training room when he was going to squeeze in a bit more practice. It wasnât unusual but doubt crept in sometimes. He was antsy about something he couldn't quite name, but his poor bandana was getting chewed to pieces if he continued thinking (not sulking!) about it in his room.
He was the leader! He needed to get it together and get his head back in the game. Master Splinter had lectured him enough about doubt and making choices, but still his anxiety stayed, like a shadow at his back, always weighing on his shoulders. Leo was supposed to be better than this. He was supposed to lead his brothers, not struggle under some stupid doubts. He wasnât a kid anymore! Still, something was off. Spats broke out more and more and now the shadow was back with a vengeance.
Must be the heat, tempers flaring.
Short, curt replies and sharp glances were probably nothing. Probably.
Maybe it was related to recent missions not quite going off without a hitch. Their teamwork and communication could use some work, maybe he could schedule some extra practiceâŚ
His bandana finds its way into his mouth and he chews on it without thinking. The cloth is familiar between his teeth. Comfortable.
Still, he needs to be perfect. He canât keep getting lost in his head. He's expected to be an example and a little extra practice would do something about his worries. He pulls the bandana out of his mouth and shakes his head. He needs to stop looking for childish comforts. Going to the dojo and running through some katas would help. It always did.
Then he could put this silly emotional mess behind him and get some sleep. Things were moving quickly and he needed to be in top shape for his team. For his brothers.
-
The training room echoes with the sound of blows and heavy breathing; the mats on the floor doing nothing to muffle the chaos inside. Noise bouncing off stone and brick doesnât break the occupantâs concentration. Leo rounds the last corner obscuring which brother is training this late, but he already knows who it is.
Raphael had been tense lately, more serious than usual. Heâd bristle over every little thing and eye contact was a signal to fight. Even Mikey had noticed and pointed out that Raph had taken to sulking in his room again. His presence fills the room even as he trains in the corner. His brotherâs hits donât lose their power or accuracy, if anything he seems to hit the dummy harder now that he sees that itâs Leo at the door. Thereâs water bottles scattered on a nearby bench and other signs pointing that Raphael had been there for a while.
Leo raises his hand in greeting before lowering it and simply nodding in acknowledgement. The look on Raphâs face darkened at the possibility of Leo opening his mouth so he backs off. Leo goes to his usual spot on the mat, but he feels Raphâs eyes like a brand on him.
He waits, takes a breath, and unsheathes his sword moving into first stance. The sound of another hit landing on the dummy rings through the dojo.
And before silence can fall Leo moves. His stance changes, breath flowing through the movement and ending with his sword striking swift and true. There is only him and his envisioned target. He shifts his hips and slices with his sword, power coming from his focus and twisting body. Breath leaves him in a powerful exhale and his eyes follow the line of the blade. He pulls back, hips cocked and sword level with his cheek as he moves to the next kata.
His form is nearly perfect. Nearly.
Again.
He moves back and continues. Resetting and recentering himself as he trains and offers companionship, however unwanted. Leo has to ignore when his brother looks at him and the way Raph huffs at his obvious missteps and the way the hits echo in the room as Raph attacks the dummy again and again. He can wait him out. Raphâs got a short fuse and Leoâs used to dealing with it. They can talk when he calms down. They always do.
But Leoâs tired. Tension has him wound tight and he knows he should be better - heâs the leader - but heâs also reaching his boiling point. Heâs hot and sick of the anger radiating off of Raphael for no discernable reason. So he snaps, after once again being subjected to his brotherâs not so silent judgment.
He puts too much power behind the sword swing and loses his balance, then overcorrects by going down on one knee to avoid falling.
Raph lets out a laugh, mean and cold. Leo burns. He should walk it off. He should be better. Heâs Team Leader.
He stands and sheaths his sword, rolling his shoulders back. Breathe. What would Master Splinter think?
âThought everything came easy to you?â Raphael calls from his corner. âFunny seeing you mess up.â
Leo flinches and turns to look at his brother who decided to start speaking to him. Thereâs a bitter edge to his words and hurt in his eyes.
âWhat?â He responds intelligently. Anxiety ripples in the back of his mind. The Shadow rears its ugly head as he blanks. What would he say to this? Where was this coming from?
âIâm just saying I thought you were better at everything. Didnât have to work as hard as us problem students?â Raphael is hanging off the dummy now, his broader frame barely hiding the damage to the dummy itself and his poorly wrapped hands. His sai are on the ground. When did he stop using them?
âHello, Earth to Leo? What, too good to answer me?â
Leo flushes with embarrassment and anger burns up his neck, but heâs worried. This isnât the usual goading. Raphael is mad mad and going straight where he knows itâll hurt the most. He looks at Raphâs hands, and at the empty water bottles littering the training room.
"Raph, man, you going easy on the dummy? That's not like you." He prods, ignoring the barbed words. Heâs genuine about checking in on his obviously upset brother but the words only seem to stoke Raphâs anger.
His eyes narrow, nostrils flaring, and he stalks closer to face Leo. Tension and barely controlled anger roll off his shoulders and hands flex and close into fists. Something shifts behind his eyes, and he responds with his jaw set and chin raised.
âYou done dancing yet? Or are you going to tell me why youâre really here?
âIâm practicing, same as you.â Leoâs defenses are still up, but heâs confused. Theyâve always shared everything, if Raph needed space heâd sneak out or sulk in his room.
âSure you are. Perfect Leo needs to come down here and grace us with his presence because he needs practice.â
âHeyâŚâ Leoâs actually kind of hurt by Raphâs anger. What did he do wrong?
âJust leave it.â Raphael mutters and returns to his corner. His body language is tense and closed off, but Leoâs grown up with him.
He knows what Raph looks like when heâs sad.
Raphael sees him staring and rounds on the dummy, hitting it hard enough it sways and remains rocking for several moments. Then he takes a deep breath and falls into form.
Raphael goes through several techniques as Leo returns to his sword katas. Raph moves onto kicks and Leo winces at the strength heâs using behind them for practice. Waiting him out is proving harder than he thought. He resumes his own forms, but focus is hard. It doesnât want to come, try as he might he canât help sneaking glances at Raphael as he works out his emotions in the corner.
Leo gets through 15 more minutes of listening to Raphael pushing himself before he stops and wanders over to the weapons rack. He can hear Raphael pause as he puts up his sword and hefts the wooden practice katana in his hands.
The anxiety is still there. The Shadow lingers in the back of his mind, but he doesnât allow it to show on his face or in his voice when he asks âHey, want to spar?â
-
A spar would help. Help blow off some steam. Itâs just the heat. The team is fine. Theyâre fine. Doubts bubble up in the back of his head, rattling around but he doesnât silence them this time.
Theyâre not fine. His brother is hurting. Yeah he's the team leader but this was because of the team. Maybe heâd been too harsh recently. Maybe too many missions have gone wrong. Maybe Raph has something going on that he hasnât talked to anyone about yet. His brother has a short fuse yeah, but heâs a big powder keg too - keeping too much inside until he blows up.
The wood of the practice sword is an old friend in his hands.
Raphael lingers near the weapons rack, unsure if only for a moment before grabbing the dull practice sai.
âReady?â Leo asks. He shakes his arms out and bounces on his toes at the edge of the mat before falling into a stance. He doesnât bow, because this is an impromptu thing, casual. Itâs a peace offering, one that he hopes Raphael gets. He looks thrown off by the fact that Leo is treating the spar so casually.
Leo smiles.
Raphael remembers his anger and scowls, bringing up his sai. âIâm always ready.â
Leo grins and calls to start.
Raphael moves quickly and hits hard. He must know heâs at the disadvantage - tired from training harder and longer.
Leo blocks. The hilt of his sword shakes in his palm from the force of the hit and he blinks in surprise. The wood clacks loudly against the blunted training sai.
Raphael is tired. It makes sense, since heâd been there for who knows how long before Leo arrived an hour ago. His attacks are sloppy, too much force and wasted movement combining to leave obvious openings that would be all too easy to take.
So he doesnât.
Leo parries and returns with his own quick strikes, just enough to show Raphael where his openings are.
Wood on metal. Blunt edges meeting, the previously silence broken by a new dance as they work into a rhythm. Thereâs less power behind Raphaelâs hits even if he hasnât dropped the scowl. It becomes less of a spar and more of a game. One two, one two three four, one two, back, one two, dodge.
Thereâs no telegraphing, thereâs not even any holding back because theyâre both using appropriate force now. Give and take, Receive and push, dodge and redirect.
âOur footwork is a mess.â Leo says between breaths, and the furrow between Raphâs brows that had almost disappeared returns until Leo continues, âGood thing Master Splinter isnât here to see it.â
That breaks Raphaelâs concentration and he snorts. The grin that had been threatening to show finally makes itself known.
The tension in the air lessens and so does the sting in his palms from blocking Raphâs hits with his sword. The tension is still there, but itâs not stifling. The pain is still there too, but itâs a reminder. A warning, to check before things get too bad.
The spare ends when they both get too tired to hold their weapons up. Leo and Raphael are breathing hard, but thereâs less anger in the line of Raphâs shoulders. Thereâs still frustration in his eyes. This didnât fix everything, but it helped.
Leo feels lighter, internally. Physically his limbs feel like lead and he wants to crawl into bed and sleep for twelve hours. But heâs not done yet. He puts the practice sword away and watches Raphael distance himself again, heading to the door without a word. The anxiety is still there, but it doesnât stop him. Leo doesnât let it.
âHey Raph?â he calls, and Raph actually pauses. He doesnât face him, but he waits.
âYou know, Iâm here if you want to talkâŚor if you ever want to spar.â Leo says after clearing his throat.
Raph doesnât respond, but he doesnât leave right away. He cocks his head to the side as he listens. Itâs only because Leo is waiting and watching closely that he sees the small shrug of his brotherâs shoulders before he disappears down the hall.
Itâs late and the airâs cooled off to be comfortable again.
Been swamped with work and getting ready to move, but I'm cooking for Raph! Might explore some rainbow baby Minerva or the first time he took a life, on accident or otherwise
An older doodle for @suetonicsonic with their oc and Donovan doing.. whatever kinda mating dance he's doing. Idk man! But thought he looked particularly scrumptious so have at him
An older doodle for @suetonicsonic with their oc and Donovan doing.. whatever kinda mating dance he's doing. Idk man! But thought he looked particularly scrumptious so have at him
Alright, poll participants! Why did the majority of you chose R aph? Is there anything specific you want to learn about him? I'm gonna throw my balls to the wall and see what sticks but I don't want to miss any specific questions or curiosities!
Welp, can't say I'm surprised! Y'all really love Mr Red huh? I'm a little surprised it was so close between the other three, usually Donovan's neck n neck with Raph in terms of popularity!
I'll dump some writing, lore, and doodles for Rapha and go from there :) Thank you everyone for participating!
TW: blood, violence, body horror elements (what would you expect??)
While I was perusing for old art, I found a SAINW wip for my 2k17 au boys! It's so weird seeing Donovan without his scar or markings or full bandana, 2023 had my boys primed to bloom
Unsure if I'll ever finish this up so I figured I'd share now. I used to never share unfinished things because "IT'S NOT PERFECT" but uhhh idc. Also ignore the fact that I just videoed with my phone LMFAO
