Henry does have whiskers, I just usually don't draw them because she looks better without them in my style
Young Henry is a malnourished, scrappy little thing and looks younger than she is
age 40 – champion at her peak
design notes:
this is her official gladiator outfit. It comes with a matching red cape she takes off before a fight (gotta make a dramatic entrance)
Henry's scars are mostly covered by thin, white fur that grew back over them. They're probably not quite as visible "irl" as I make them seem
age 40+ – post-canon retirement
design notes:
the shirt and the mug were gifts from the boys. They were jokes, but Henry loves them. Mom 1 and 2 are Splinter and Draxum.
she likes to wear silly touristy new york shirts and stuff like that. Got that mom cringe.
the prosthetic leg is made by Donnie and has a plethora of extra functions (some more useful than others). He wanted it to be special, and might've overdone it a little bit. Why can it make pizza.
the "toes" on the prosthesis are just for design
sidenote: if you feed any of my works to ai, i reserve the right to hunt you for sport ✨️
*Title is a word play on phrase 'The Girl Next Door'
TMNT all 4-1 February challenge
Hosted by the lovelies: @post-apocalyptic-daydream @thelaundrybitch @leosgirl82 @tmnt-tychou @nittleboo and @turtle-babe83
Prompt: Splinter asks one of the boys to help him set up a dating profile
😇I decided to use this an excuse to write about Camilla and Splinter, because I've been wanting to and had no motivation or time to.
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"Donatello? May I speak with you for a moment, my son?"
Donnie thought it weird that Splinter would come into his lab out of nowhere. But still he let him in. "Sure thing. Let me just..." He put away the last of his latest project. "There. What is it, Master Splinter?" he asked, turning in his chair to face his father and sensei.
"I know that you are... what was it Michelangelo said... a 'computer wiz'. You know more about technology and the culture above ground." The rat gave a pause. "I've seen commercials on television about these.. dating websites, and since then I've been wondering why I feel incomplete. My answer led me to seeing how happy you and your brothers are to have female company. So, will you help me make a dating profile?"
On the inside, Donnie was smiling because he knew something was off with his father for quite sometime. His suspicions were right. He stretched his fingers, cracking his knuckles. "Of course, is there a particular site you want to try?"
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Camilla came down to the lair to check on everyone. It was her day off and she waited a long week to be able to hang out with her "adopted kids". (Mikey was the one who was over the moon when she told them that she would treat them like they were her own. He calls her mom.) Well, she wanted to see Splinter, too. She was always anxious to see him; her heart pounded, her cheeks turned pink everytime he was near, which made him ask plenty of times if she was feeling sick or hot. She was going to do some snooping for gifts to get everyone, what with Valentines Day around the corner.
Splinter seemed to be the hardest to get something for because he didn't want much or ask for anything, and didn't have much but was still content. There was something he didn't have though: a woman to be by his side for the rest of his life. Every good man deserved to have a good woman to be his life partner. She wanted to be his.
Camilla popped her head into Donnie's lair. "Hey, Donnie. What're you up to?" she asked as she stepped in.
"Camilla. I was helping Master Splinter make a dating profile."
Without thinking, she blurted out,"He can't do that!"
"Why not?"
Realizing what she said, she tried to come up with a lie on the spot. "Because... it's not safe... You never know who you'd meet on the other side of the screen." She hoped he would believe her.
"Oh, I already know that, and don't worry. I'll be monitoring Master Splinter."
"Oh, okay... I see... Well, is there anything you need?" she faked a smile to hide her distraught feelings.
"Nope, I can't think of anything."
"Okay, I'll go check on everyone else. Bye"
Donnie sighed, smiled and laughed to himself. Usually it would be Mikey wanting to do this, but it seemed like he was going to have to play matchmaker. He quickly formulated a plan to get Splinter and Camilla together.
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Camilla made herself a dating profile that day. It wouldnt hurt to give it a try. Maybe finding someone else would help her get over this ache in her heart. It is Valentine's Day. She's waiting on a bench in Central Park; she recieved a message from someone named Stan to meet him there at midnight, and to not worry about anyone harming her. There was something about how it was written that sounded so familiar, but she couldn't quite put a finger on it. Who could it be?
While she waited she was listening to Heavenly on repeat; Donnie was listening to it and she liked it so much she had to get it on her phone. It reminded her of Splinter, and plenty of times she dreamed of slow dancing with him, laying her head in the crook of his shoulder, and sometimes sharing a sweet kiss....
"Camilla?"
She jumped and turned to see Splinter. She was absolutely... stunned. She paused the song. "O-oh, Splinter. What're you doing out in Central Park?"
"I could ask you the same thing. It is very dangerous to be out this late."
She explained about the mystery man wanting to meet her here at midnight. He said he too recieved a message to meet a woman at Central Park at midnight. That was strange, indeed. He pulled out the phone Donnie made for him and showed her the message.
She blushed pink. "T-That's-"
"Yes, what is it? Do you know this woman?"
"Yeah, that's my dating profile name. B-but I didn't send you anything." She looked at the username for Splinter's profile. Her heart felt like it would leap out of her chest. "Oh, you're... Stan??"
Camilla was in disbelief. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Splinter sent her that message?
Splinter was in disbelief, too. This was no pure coincidence. "I don't remember sending a message to anyone." He was deep in thought, until an answer came to him. "Donatello." He face palmed and sighed.
"Donnie? Are you saying he set us up on a... blind date kind of thing?"
"I know my sons very well. Donatello has a sharp mind, I'm sure he noticed my, well, our behavior towards each other."
He stopped talking. His attention was focused on something else. His ears was alert.
"What is it?" she quietly asked.
"Someone is coming. We need to hide."
"How about behind that tree?"
"Excellent, that will do."
He took her by the wrist and quickly but swiftly ran to a nearby tree. He pulled her against him with his back to the tree trunk. The sleeves of his robe wrapped her like a blanket as he wrapped his arms around her in a protective shield.
Camilla couldn't stop her heart from beating so hard in her chest and feel the blush creeping back up to her cheeks. She hoped no one would hear or see her. She tried to control her breathing, too, so as to not attract unwanted attention. For a short moment, everything faded as she laid her head on his chest. His heart beat calmed her, and she couldn't help to close her eyes and listen to it.
Splinter felt a warm feeling spread through his chest as she did this. His left hand gently held the back of her head, keeping her there. It felt so right having her right here, right now, in his arms and holding her. He did have a dream about her one time when they were listening to older songs and danced to them when they thought no one was looking.
He saw who went by: just a couple of teenagers walking the park before it closed. He let out a sigh of relief when they were out of sight, and turned back to look at the woman he held. A smile spread across his face.
"The coast is clear. We must leave, as well."
Truth was she didn't want to be let go. She wanted him to hold her just a little longer. She replied,"Just a little longer, please? I love it when I'm in your arms. I always feel so... happy and warm." She said that with the memory of everyone watching a scary movie together; she grabbed the shoulder of his robe when she was scared. Splinter would wrap his arm around her shoulder, wanting her to always feel safe....
He saw her eyes looking back into his. She had the most gorgeous blue-green eyes he'd ever seen, as well as her pale skin, her pouty lips, and her long hair captured his heart at first glance without him knowing. She bought him peace, tranquility, and filled his heart with happiness. She was indeed a thing of beauty, just like the flowers he grew in his garden.
"Of course, how could I deny a lady what she wants?" Splinter took one of her hands to kiss the back of it and then placed it on his shoulder. "Would you like to dance?"
"Yes, I'd like that." Camilla pressed play on her phone and stuck it in her back pocket. With his other hand he held the small of her back and began to lead the slow dance to the song.
She lipsynced the chorus, a small smile forming on her lips, and causing him to smile back at her. It was like the music and the lyrics did the talking for them; they said nothing yet knew everything they wanted. His eyes sparkled as he slowed to a halt to give her a look over. He brushed his fingers across her cheek and tucked a lock of her soft hair behind her ear.
"Camilla?"
"Yes, Splinter?"
"May I kiss you?"
Her fingers threaded into the soft fur on his face. "Please~" His hand angled her head and slowly he pressed his lips into hers. They stayed like that for a long moment. Like the words in the song, this moment was indeed sweet and heavenly.
"Learning to love the boys is what changed her" this "she always cared for Lou" that, what actually happened is they fed her a slice of pizza and it completely rewired her brain structure. Feral cat: domesticated 🐈⬛🍕
It's quite alright, really. A leg's a small price to pay for the world. And a Donnie-original, homemade prosthetic is, if anything, more of an improvement than a disability. Once he manages to hold back on tricking it out, at least; because Henry's leg probably doesn't need rocket boosters and a built-in pizza oven (she keeps some of his add-ons though. You never know when you might need a snack dispenser).
After the end of the world has been prevented, Henry and Lou finally become friends again, now that she no longer blames him for what happened in the Battle Nexus. This should surprise no one, because this was always going to be about their ship; it's just that Henry's arc had to be about her learning to love his sons before she could even begin to love him. Likewise, in turn, I won't believe that he could've ever loved her if she didn't care about his boys, either.
But even with the two of them finally back on good terms, the step up to romance doesn't just happen overnight. They've both got a lot of issues to work through. But they get there eventually – because it's my story and I'm writing it, and I want the cat and rat to kiss <3
Anyhow, who knows what sort of adventures they will go on next. Not me, because the show got cancelled, but hey, let's figure it out together! Sooner or later, Henry is going to try to take down the Battle Nexus and Big Mama once and for all. While she does not have friends, because she does not trust anyone enough anymore for that, Henry does have allies in there that might consider her their friend, namely Salma and Emi, fellow competitors in the Nexus. Once Henry manages to settle down enough, and to get used to having an actual family, she'll start to think about them, and how they and many others are still being forced to fight daily. And she's gonna make it her problem.
Might also be fun to take her family on a day trip to beat up her former gang.
And, of course, she'll have to figure out how to coparent with Splinter and Draxum, because they're all going to have a custody battle at this point. Though I feel like her and Draxum could be good friends once they get to know each other. He'd probably like some yokai buddies.
Splinter x Henry is canon in every universe and Henry will have different variants just like every other character.
That said, 2012 Splinter is definitely by far the one I am most down bad for (like. holy fuck. Sensei please), however Rise!Henry has me in a chokehold her lore fucks so severely. I need to get her info post done so I can share it with the world.
2012!Henry is honestly mid at best I can't think of any way to make her interesting so as of rn she's literally just some guy. Finds a rat in a sewer and goes "oh no he's hot" which, frankly, is a huge mood, but that's all. Where's the drama? The intrigue? She's just there for me to live through vicariously because I need that rat carnally, but beyond that she's honestly pretty boring as a character.
Rise!Henry kicks ass in the Torment Nexus™. I think if you look at 2012!Henry a bit too hard she'll just drop dead that bitch can't fight. Virgin 2012!Henry vs Chad Rise!Henry.
Have this art of her I just finished, I'm gonna post this properly and officially when I get her lore out but y'all can look at it already. Just pretend it's new when I post it again lmao
I love you Rise!Henry. How tf did Splinter pull that. The mom that stepped up ever.
More art and info coming soon – just wanted to already give a first look at her! This is her post-plot version, after all the drama is over. She loses a leg in the finale and the boys got her the shirt and mug (they meant it as a joke but she wears it proudly)
The leg is a Donnie original. That's not a disability, that's an improvement. Why does it have a pizza maker built in?
