You can appreciate authors works and efforts while still scratching your head over their decisions.
Like- there was this one (tragically deleted) Naruto fic where that had this really interesting xenofiction edge to it where the pov characters were a bunch of summons that got trapped in this world while their people were sealed away by orochimaru and it ended up being a retelling of the musicians of Bremen but with like a ninja donkey, ninja dog, ninja cat, ninja rooster. So absurd. Completely absurd, but very funny and had creative fight scenes.
And then without warning it became a Hetalia cross over. But like only with Italy?
???? I’ve never seen hetalia so I’m not sure where they were going with this but why is the nation of ITALY in the elemental nations????
By that point, I had enough faith in the author that I figured they had a good reason to put it there, but the fic deleted about two chapters later and their blog nuked. And to this day I’ll never know where the fic they were going with that.
Just two regular average teens surrounded by not so average teens- ✨
I tried to do something a bit less chaotic, so I hope this is suitable for my first DTIYS ("Draw This In Your Style") ! I always thought it was interesting how the groups felt divided- That it was always the Turtles & April (The "main characters"-) and Casey & the Girls (The "secondary characters"-), you know? So I wanted to draw those groups for the DTIYS !
Feel free to take creative liberties with this ! You don't have to include the accents I did or even draw the same facial expressions ! Feel free to do your thing ! ☺️👍✨
He isn’t emotionally distant because he lacks feeling, but because he feels too much and has learned to compress it into discipline. Leadership isn’t pride to him — it’s obligation. A role he’s carried so long that he doesn’t know who he is without it.
As his brothers grow closer and move beyond him, Leo isn’t jealous — he’s afraid of becoming unnecessary. Combat is where he feels safest. Quiet moments are where he unravels.
His armor reflects that restraint: protective, grounded, ceremonial rather than showy. Always ready. Never at rest.
This Leonardo isn’t afraid of losing control.
He’s afraid of losing purpose.
Art analysis notes:
Leonardo’s posture is drawn as so:
Squared shoulders, straight spine → discipline drilled into the body.
Feet planted evenly → balance, but rigid balance.
Arms held in controlled readiness → preparedness without fluidity.
It's not a relaxed stance.
It defines him as: "I am always on duty."
Leonardo’s body language signals constant vigilance—even when no immediate threat is present.
So, in the fic as it develops, you'll begin to see more of Leonardo's "cracks" as he struggles to uphold his siblings operating outside of his "leadership" identity. Donatello and Raphael don't need his permission to love: it's unified and out of his control. And that's what bothers him--
It exists without his leadership-- the very foundation and core of his character.
Art concept notes:
When I drew this Leonardo, I really liked the Bayverse designs from the first movie and his concept/character archetype depicted in it. Most of the TMNT brothers in my fic are inspired from that movie depiction. So, Leonardo's outfit here is modeled with some slight updates from it.
Leonardo is a complex emotionally tragic character. So, it's interesting drawing him because in Donatello's concept art, he's very calm and ready. Raph is on guard and protective. And Leonardo just looks like.... he's holding an impossible burden of duty. So, it's really interesting writing with him like this!
Raphael and Donatello's relationship forces him to recognize: Change everything you were to become who you are.
these two decrepit old apocalypse geezers live in my head now.
and for my next trick, I'll ask you to think of what a splash of vibrant color and sunshine Rise Mikey would bring to 2012 Mikey's more dusty, grungy wasteland world.
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