Jason Todd and Bruce Wayne = I’m your man by mitski
I saw a tiktok post the other day saying that when Jason died Bruce felt like a part of him died too.
I feel like when Bruce found out that Jason was alive again that part was still dead and him trying to convince Jason that he did care and that he did try to save him was him trying to piece himself back together. Bruce lets Jason hate him because he feels like he deserves it after letting Jason die.
The final interview with the Silt Verses cast is giving me some interesting thoughts. I want to write an au at some point where Naruto was raised in the orphanage by Nonou as Kabuto and Urushi's brother.
Not really well developed or coherent thoughts but thoughts all the same.
Specifically, theninterciew is giving me thoughts on what brotherhood and family in general means to both Naruto and Kabuto. Like. I use the sentiment that "they're brothers" often but what would attaching the title to the other mean in some official sense?
I feel like for Kabuto, family is something you give for and in return being part of it imbues you with a kind of meaning, a role. How much he'd sacrifice for Nonou, the orphanage, and later Orochimaru who paints themself as something of a parent or brother. It isn't something he uses in a comfort seeking way necessarily, he doesn't seem to lean on any of these people for emotional support more an affirmation of who he is. In both cases his sense or self falls apart without their living, immediate approval. When he speaks of Nonou after her death it seems like he thinks that, because she is dead now, he is no longer her son.
Chapter 584.
Dusclaimers, I think a large part of Kabuto's breakdown is definitely that Nonou didn't recognize him, but I think the need for a living connection is important to him. Likewise, the reason for him never thinking about or seeking Urushi is because Urushi didn't exist until his fight with Itachi. Still, its a pattern.
Chapter 585
On top of that we have how he refers to the Uchiha clan and wanting to be Sasuke’s brother during that fight. Family isn't blood, it's a role you play in relation to another person. Claiming such a title isn't about bloodlines necessarily, Kabuto doesn't claim relationships to Kimimaro or the like due to their now shared blood (I reread and didnt find it, I could be wrong though). It's the identity. It's being something to someone.
Its interesting watching Kabuto try to break into the Uchiha brothers dynamic in that fight. For Sasuke and Itachi brotherhood is more than a title, it confers a level of experience and understanding. Sasuke might not trust Itachi but he does play along, Kabuto can't separate them. He isn't playing by the same definitions they are. Kabuto can never be Sasuke’s brother in a meaningful way. They view what being a brother means differently.
Contrasted with Naruto, who I think sees family as something more active. He calls Sasuke a brother to him and that entails a kind of leniency he doesn't always show other people. He makes an effort to understand Sasuke when there's not necessarily a benefit to him. He compares himself in this way to Itachi at a point.
Chapter 1
His first experience with familial love is Iruka (who he asks to be his dad during his wedding so I'm saying this is familial love in canon) taking the shuriken for him and I think that sticks with him. That isn't what wins Naruto over though that's when Iruka offers Naruto acknowledgment, that Naruto is someone worthy of connection.
Mizuki’s argument in this fight is that Iruka should shun Naruto because he's a jinchuriki, and plays vessel to the fox that killed Iruka's parents. Iruka says Naruto himself is what matters and I think the idea of seeing beyond someone's circumstances to who they are under it, and offering acknowledgment for their humanity, is something Naruto carries more than anything Iruka taught him in class.
To Naruto family isn't easy. It isn't something you're given freely but something earned. Like love in general to him, he needs to earn the right for others to see him as worthy over and over. Needs to fight tooth and nail for it. It's a struggle for him to gain Kakashi, Sakura, Jiraiya, Ebisu, Tsunade, Neji, and Gaara's respect and become worthy of their approval.
(Funnily enough Naruto earns a smile from Kabuto by just being himself, turning a crowd of strangers to enemies by yelling at them, and like Iruka Kabuto sees Naruto as distinct from the fox, but I digress, that's not the point).
It's an interesting dynamic. Both of them see family as something you need to make sacrifices for, and something that conveys a sense of identity. They manifest in very different ways though, Naruto explores and creates himself with the protection of his mentors who accept him as he is, and Kabuto erases himself to protect the orphanage and throws that persona to the side after it causes him too much pain, then becomes reliant on Orochimaru for his sense of self.
This all ties back into "I want to write something really exploring this dynamic" but I need to think on it more, I think. I'm not sure I've fully grasped this and tbf I think I need to sit with Narutos half of this more. I won't be taking Boruto into account for it but his viewing the village in its entirety as family is fascinating.
I was curious i stumbled upon your blog from seeing your fic the 03 crossover on ao3. I do remember seeing the art on here. Since he’s my personal fav i wanted to ask. What’s your opinion on Raph? I mean for both iterations ROTMNT and 03.
Yes I post CDK on both here and AO3 8’D
And oh boy, buckle up kiddo I have a lot of opinions on dear Raphie *cracks fingers*
(jk it's actually not that long even under the cut X'D)
TLDR:
2003 Raph: Summed up Raph is home, safety, and warmth wrapped in an awkward bubble that doesn’t word well but will absolutely fight for those who deserve it.
Rise Raph: An adorable puppy that I look up to when it comes to dealing with people and selflessness for the sake of others, and I would adopt him in a heartbeat and smother him with plushies because he's such a good boy.
More in depth thoughts in a scrambled mess below the cut.
First, since he’s older
2003 Raph:
I first watched TMNT 2003 when I was a youngish teenager I think, and I will fully admit I was a little afraid of Raph at that time 8’D I have a really bad tolerance towards anger, I get freaked out easily and afraid I’ll get hurt or yelled at even if I didn’t do anything wrong. So having Raph portrayed heavily as “the angry one” made it hard for me to get attached to him. BUT, after growing up and watching 2003 just before starting CDK I have gotten soooo attached to Raph. This guy is not “angry” all the time, he’s open, honest, and passionate. This guy is the reason the others get out of the house. He’s the reason the others live and get into the fun times. And while Mikey certainly helps with being the life of the party, Raph is also the shield of everyone who deserves it. This guy is the most dad/big bro out of the four, and while Don could probably take care of a kid the best based on technicalities, Raph is the one that would keep them safe. Raph is home. Raph is the safety net that keeps the family warm. Because while Don is the heart of the group and we know they fall apart without him, Don wouldn’t have a voice without Raph because Don is too soft to fight back when Raph will. Donnie is still my all time favorite of the TMNT 2003 boys, but just barely. If Don is 100/100 on the favorite meter, then Raph is 99/100. He kicked Leo out of the second favorite spot for me on my recent watch.
Rise Raph:My first exposure to Rise Raph was my sister sending me the scene of Raphie crying over not being able to figure out how to help his family after they’d just lost Karai, and I have to admit the only thing I thought was “oh that’s nice, Raph actually cries in this one”. And then I actually watched the show (because sis insisted I watch the movie and I knew I needed context to fully enjoy it) and omg the Rise bros (and April) have the unique case of all being just about equal in my favorites tier. But specifically about Rise Raph this boy is a puppy and also I would adopt him and his family in a heartbeat because he’s also the sweetest lil guy and so good at watching out for others without being smothering. And just like 2003 Raph, Rise Raph is the protector of the family. Not because he happens to be the biggest and therefore the tank class, but because he wants to. I think he finds comfort in others being safe - feeling safe- and having fun. He thrives off taking care of others even though he’s not perfect at it. But him not being perfect, not making the most amazing meals, not being prim and proper, maybe getting a little dirty and bending a few rules, is what makes him charming. He’s not “attempt at being the perfect parent” 2003 Leo, he’s big brother Raphie that will cuddle with you in a mound of soft teddy bears, or throw you across the room in a roughhouse depending on what you need. Sure Leo really knows how to annoy the crap out of him, but I don’t think it’s because Raph thinks Leo is irresponsible or a bad kid. It’s much more infuriating to know that someone can be amazing, but seeing them chose not to, and you don’t know how to help them see they can be so much more than they are. And it’s easy to see that regardless of any of his siblings being annoying there’s nothing they can do that will make him hesitate even slightly in helping them when they need it. I don’t think Raph became a parent to the others like some of the fandom does. I think he’s just an adorable, soft, warm teddy bear big brother that did really well in his part of the whole family keeping each other afloat.
If I had 03 Raph as my uncle and Rise Raph as my brother I would be a lot more outspoken and rather reckless because I would have the upmost confidence that they would have my back and would keep me safe.
I was looking at this article that studied the motif of "The wizard versus the witch" in Disney movies. They listed the "Disney wizards" and alongside Merlin from the Sword in the Stone and villainous sorcerers like Jafar or Doctor Facilier they had... King Triton. I was quite surprised but he IS one of the "Disney wizards". Elderly man with a big white beard, using magical powers thanks to wielding his magical staff - I mean, his magical trident... Later takes on Disney's Little Mermaid even made him the direct brother and rival of Ursula the Sea Witch (with this whole thing that the trident is Triton's magical item opposed by Ursula's shell). So yes, he IS one of those.
Looking at this article also made me realize that, despite what the person who wrote it tried to claim, in terms of magic users, the "wizard versus witch" motif is NOT actually a prevalent or strong Disney trope... There isn't much a gendered dichotomy when it comes to magic helpers and influences. Out of my mind there are only three of those "gendered magical fights" across the Disney movies and they are set far and wide apart (The Sword in the Stone, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Frog).
Since its early days Disney has been favorizing a conflict between same-gender outside of influences. Cinderella has the Fairy Godmother versus the witch-like Lady Tremaine. Sleeping Beauty has Maleficent versus the three Good Fairies. Aladdin, to take a more recent example, is the Genie versus Jafar.
Exception made for the very first Disney movie where the Evil Queen's influence is countered by the seven dwarves, who are not truly "wizard", though they are still men with white beards... In fact I realize now it is quite fascinating how Disney kind of had a vague age-positivity motif in its early days? The white-bearded seven dwarves are the good guys against the fake old/obsessed with youth queen ; all their good fairy godmothers are powerful little old ladies... And while yes there are good and bad old folks, the important thing is that there is a LOT of old folks, and very often in position of power (royalty or magic). Especially when you look at more recent Disney movies where you see less and less characters with gray beards or white hair... It might be just me but I get the feeling there was much more elderly characters in old Disney movies than today. (Of course I am looking at fairytale centered movies ; Cinderella versus Frozen, Sleeping Beauty versus Tangled, all that stuff)
I don't know, this is just a post where I scrambled ideas and throw them on a wall and call it "modern art".
Over the last few days I've had a name and it's variation pop up in unconnected ways. I've had memories of my ex come up in unexpected ways. Images of blooming flowers. I don't believe in coincidences. When something so seemingly random comes up more than once, I start paying attention.
Especially this week.
What you need to know is I'm seeing all of these paths converging onto one topic: Healing after heartbreak.
"Adonis was the deity of plants and rebirth. He is known as a god who was for ever youthful, the one who would live and die only to be reborn again."
Yesterday I watched The Wedding Planner (JLo and Matthew Mchaughneheyheblahblah) for probably the 30th time. It's a comfort movie that I haven't seen in a handful of years. I haven't seen it since before I left my ex in 2020. There's a scene where JLo and MM are walking through a statue garden and Adonis is brought up (the first instance). I forgot about the later scene where JLO is drunk on the couch crying to MM because they had just ran into her ex in the flower mart along with his pregnant wife, the woman he cheated on her with right before they got married. My ex cheated on me and is now married and (i think) expecting a baby. We can all make small connections like that, no problem. But then...
A part of my job is monitoring licenses for our drivers. My boss told me someone with the last name Donis got a DUI and we needed to revoke his use of company vehicles. My ex, E, got a DUI when we were together and it was a dark cloud that hung over us both. I did all the driving, E did most of the drinking. Especially since he lived 3 hours away from me in Greensboro. Every other weekend for 2 years I drove 3 hours to GBO to spend time with him. Usually it was spent with him drinking and me crying. Shadows followed me during that entire relationship. I haven't been back to GBO since I left him (the morning I found out he cheated) and vowed I would never return... but...
"One thing for sure about Sting is nothing's for sure."
Since childhood, my favorite wrestler has been Sting. Outside of him being a great wrestler, he's a good man, and I've learned a lot from his story. He went through pain, addiction, and depression. He was so affected that his usual surfer Sting style turned into Crow Sting. He taught me that joy and pain are two sides to the same coin. Both exist and one can lead to another no matter how you flip it. I made another vow this year that I would be present for his retirement match no matter how far I had to travel. In 6 days he will be in the ring one last time. In 6 days my favorite wrestler is having his retirement match in Greensboro. In 6 days I'll be spending time with the friends that held me when I cried over E and the Pisces that has watered my wilted vines. In 6 days I'll be going back to the scene of the crime, the city of my heartbreak, the source of my trauma, the place the shadows call home. Of all the cities in all the world.
But I will be there with the friends that held me, with the Pisces that watered me, watching the wrestler that taught me.
What all of these names and images and stories are telling me is that healing from heartbreak is coming. Not the beginning of it, but the completion of it. It's telling me that God has laid a direct, very poetic hand on my heart. It's telling me that justice will be done. The bell is going to ring, the hands will raise, the crowd will cheer, the laces will untie, and the boots will be left where the fight with the shadows ended.
“When a man’s heart is full of deceit, it burns up, dies, and a dark shadow falls over his soul.”
This haunting line is pure Sting, encapsulating the darkness of his “Crow” persona. It’s a poetic, almost Shakespearean reflection on the consequences of betrayal and the inner turmoil it causes. Fans love this quote because it paints a vivid picture of a fallen hero’s journey through the shadows. It’s a reminder that wrestling isn’t just about physical battles; it’s about the emotional and psychological warfare that takes place both in and out of the ring.
