Is it just me or do 2003 Leo and Raph have the best relationship out of all the iterations? It's my favorite, at least. Like they do get snappy with each other sometimes but their spats aren't nearly as often, as intense or festering as long as some others I've seen.
It was refreshing that Raph didn't challenge Leo's position as leader nearly as much. Sometimes he would challenge the decisions he made while leading but not undermine his position. He learned and mostly accepted that Leo would be a good leader in childhood and he backed him up nine times out of ten (even when Leo didn't know it: e.g. the "If Leo needs us, we're here. But let's see what this is all about." An instance of Raph pulling a Leo-type move, hanging back to recon rather than rushing in, while Leo's judgment was clouded. Learning from each other and supporting even from a distance)
How ready they are to be there for each other? How openly protective they are of each other? Like they're not as coy or begrudging or emotionally constipated as others about showing how much they care. Small gestures, big gestures, it doesn't matter. Leo's having trouble focusing on a plan because of the noise? Raph makes the noise go away. Wasn't Raph the first one who wanted to look for Leo when his morning training (getting ambushed by the Foot) ran unusually late? Or the scene where Leo's suddenly getting pulled away by an unknown magical force and he calls out to his brothers in alarm. Don cries, "Oh, no!" as he and Mikey stand there and watch; they freeze up. Raph dives headlong after him instantly.
And how they take it when they can't be there for each other? He dove headlong and he didn't actually make it in time to grab Leo's hand before he's gone. Master Splinter has to physically hold him back as he's still shouting and fighting to get to him (and then he has to be restrained again by magic when it looks like Leo's in danger in the 1v1 he was pulled to. Screw the fact that he's obviously outpowered by the almighty binding rules of the duel, he'll go kicking and screaming anyway, that's his bro!) And the scene where they're on top of a moving car, Leo loses his grip on Raph and he falls and from Leo's POV, time slows until he sees Raph land alright. Raph facing his fear ick about bugs, jumping down to defend Leo from the big boss bug with no hesitation when he sees him get stung? And of course when he cries just the once (as far as I recall) in the whole series when Leo's seriously hurt. How he makes me cry in SAINW as he crawls to Leo's side, reaches out for him, calls his name with his dying breath, his last word is his brother's name as he falls beside him, hand against his??? And that was after being estranged in that what-if future! LIKE BRO THAT SCENE MAKES ME WANT TO SCREAM
Even just the two or three lines where Leo's waxing poetic about their family, being completely sincere, and Mikey bursts out laughing and teases him for being a sap. Raph immediately tells Mikey to lay off and that Leo's got a point.
They're just so good. They have a few arguments like all siblings do but there is zero doubt that they love each other to pieces and they don't hesitate at all to show it on the regular. And outside of that estrangement timeframe where they were traumatized and grieving and in a literal apocalypse where they lost all hope, they didn't let their relationship fall apart the way some other iterations did. (Like I love 2007 but that fight on the rooftop? Where Raph could have killed him? I watch it and I can't help but think to myself, "2003 Leo and Raph would never." We saw them have a tussle on a rooftop and the moment there was a possibility he put Raph in real danger, Leo came to his senses and dropped everything to make sure he was okay. I dunno)
Asfjskjfks this is all just biased four AM rambling. The point is I love them, your honor, best/closest/healthiest R&B dynamic duo forever in my heart <3 (Natural disclaimer: I don't say any of this to crap on any of the other iterations. I like them all! I just like 2003's portrayal the most)
Love this idea, but picture this: what if it all happens right after the failed rebellion, but before Jung-bae gets killed? So, In-ho, in full Front Man mode, is in the middle of his grand, dramatic speech. He’s all like, “Did you enjoy playing the hero, Player 456?” when—splash—suddenly, both of them look down and realize Gi-hun’s breeches are completely soaked.
Cue the awkward silence.
Gi-hun, clearly in pain, is trying to figure out how he’s suddenly in this situation. Meanwhile, Jung-bae, who is totally baffled by what just happened, looks at Gi-hun and just deadpans, “Are you... pregnant???”
Gi-hun, looking utterly done with everything at this point, glares at him and snaps, “No, I’m too old for that shit.”
In-ho, under his mask, is having a full-on meltdown, breathing erratically like he’s about to faint. He’s trying to stay composed, but this? This is beyond him.
Jung-bae, still processing, is just like, “Bro, you’re obviously pregnant! And in labor now!” Meanwhile, Gi-hun’s holding his stomach like he might die, and In-ho's mentally just spiraling.
Finally, In-ho snaps at the guards to escort Jung-bae back to the dormitory and to bring the doctor for Gi-hun, who, despite now being in active labor, still thinks the idea of him being pregnant is preposterous and will continue to do so until he is holding his newborn son.
So I've seen a number of anons bring up potential Gi-hun pregnant during the second games scenarios, but I think for maximum comedy he should have zero idea he is pregnant and randomly go into labor either during or in between one of the games.
Gi-hun, during the search for the Frontman, slept with "Young-il" nine months before, who claimed he was grieving the death of his wife and unborn child. Really, In-ho wanted to see Gi-hun, and one thing led to another. So when they "run into each other" at the second games, it seems like a massive coincidence.
Gi-hun has been displaying some strange symptoms like nausea and stomach pains and the occasional odd food craving that he has dismissed because of his stubbornness and determination to stop the games. Plus, the thought that he is pregnant just never even occurs to him because he is not showing because he has not eaten much or rested and simply because he believes he is far too old to worry about such things anymore. So when his waters break at the second games, it is a big "what the f*ck" moment for all parties.
I would love to imagine how In-ho reacts, but I have already taken up a lot of space 😂
this is soo gihun 😭😭😭😭 this would definitely happen to him vnienkgv
sometimes he feels some fluttering in his stomach but he just thinks it's something bad he ate, neverming that he never actually eats anything 🙄
i'm trying to think of the funniest moment he could go into labor and it's either as he is about to vote on the games or when they are playing mingle or the pentathlon.
let's say it's during mingle.
they have just crammed ten of themselves into the room and the shaman is yelling like a maniac and inho is staring creepily at gihun and gihun is bent over, clutching his stomach and watching the remaining players be gunned down outside.
his abdomen is cramping and his hips and lower back ache really back but he thinks it's the physical stress of the game and the result of not eating anything while being nauseous all the time. again, pregnancy flies right over his head because he. is. old.
the labour is one of those that is super quick!
gihun is still watching through the door slit when he feels something wet down his legs and he looks down to find his pants are wet.... daeho of course, would ask if he is okay and jungbae would chuckle that he peed his pants but gihun is just horrified and geumja is like "that doens't look like pee 🤨"
and gihun curls up in pain, holding his abdomen and inho is like "are u pregnant? 😟" and gihun says no, that's impossible... except that they had sex nine months. his contractions are worse and everyone is freaking out and the door won't open!!!! and inho feels like he is about to pass out bc what do u mean he's having another kid????
gihun has the baby right in that room, there isn't even time to get anyone out. junhee has a lovely preview of herself within the following month and daeho can't look gihun in the eye bc he's seen ALL of him. jungbae immediately claims to be the baby's fav uncle and geumja is admonishing gihun for not noticing that he is pregnant. of course, hyunju, our queen, held gihun's hand through the whole thing and let him yell at anyone he wanted, particularly inho 🥰
OR - he has the baby during the night while everyone is in the dormitory asleep
More of the Tiny-Nardo AU inspired by @the-cauldron-witch tags.
Donatello: [bursts into Michelangelo’s room, wide-eyed and frantic] Mikey, have you seen Leo? I had him in his hamster ball on the kitchen counter while I made him a tiny sandwich, and now he’s gone!
Michelangelo: [surrounded by scattered action figures, hiding something behind his back, and sporting tiny bite marks on his fingers] Uh, no, nope. Haven’t seen him. Hah, get it? Seen him! Because, you know, he’s so… small.
Donatello: [crosses his arms, tapping his foot impatiently] Michelangelo, where is he, and what exactly have you done to him?
Michelangelo: [pouts, then pulls out a very annoyed, shrunken Leonardo in a tiny Silver Sentry costume, who immediately bites Michelangelo’s finger] Ouch! Hey, Leo!
Donatello: [frown wavers as he struggles to hide a smile] Did you… already take pictures?
Michelangelo: [holding his finger and grinning sheepishly while holding up his phone] Oh, you know I did!
Leonardo: [crosses his arms, muttering] I hate both of you.
I think a really underrated trope is "character gets shrunk to adorable size and hijinks ensue," and I especially want to see this used in the 2003 iteration of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Picture this: Leonardo, either through some villain of the week, freak accident, or alien technology, gets shrunk down to roughly the size of a Barbie doll.
Donatello calls Raphael and Michelangelo into his laboratory, looking all grim and serious. The absence of their eldest brother has the younger two convinced that something horrible has happened.
Raphael: [bursts in, all worried] Donny, what the shell happened? Where's Leo?!
Michelangelo: [close on his heels, equally concerned] Yeah, where's Leo? Did something happen?
Donatello: [holding up his hands to calm them] Yes, but it’s not what you think! He’s fine. He's just... gone through a bit of a change.
Raphael: [squints] What kind of change?
Donatello: [sighs] Now, I’m going to bring him out, and you two better be on your best behavior. No laughing—this is serious.
Raphael: [crosses arms, suspicious] Serious how?
Donatello gives them a look that screams, "You'll see." He reaches under the table, carefully picks up something (or rather, someone), and gently sets Leonardo down on the table. Leonardo—now barely the height of a Barbie doll—straightens his gear and adjusts his mask, trying desperately to maintain his dignity.
Raphael: [silent, staring] ...
Michelangelo: [jaw drops] ...
Raphael: [deadpan, trying not to laugh] ...I’m not supposed to laugh, right?
Michelangelo: [slowly grins] He...is...so...AWESOME! Dude, he’s like the ultimate, super-realistic action figure! [jumps excitedly] Let me hold him! Let me hold him! Please, just for a minute!
Leonardo: [scrambles to climb up Donatello’s arm, in full panic mode] DO NOT let him hold me! DO NOT let him hold me!
Michelangelo: I think Leo's possessed.
Donatello: [barely looking up from his coffee] Oh, fantastic. That’s just what we needed.
Raphael: [grumpily rubbing his eyes] It’s seven in the freakin’ morning, Mikey. Can we not start with your nonsense already?
Michelangelo: I’m serious! Look at him!
[Leonardo sits at the table, calmly eating a spoonful of Cheerios while reading The Art of War.]
Raphael: [deadpan] Wow, Leo’s eating breakfast. Better alert the Vatican.
Michelangelo: He doesn’t eat breakfast!
Donatello: [squinting at Leonardo] I mean… he usually doesn’t, but maybe he’s turning over a new leaf? Healthy habits?
Michelangelo: Healthy habits my shell! It’s not what Leo’s eating—it’s what kind! Cheerios over Lucky Charms?! Everyone knows he has a sweet tooth he tries to hide from us, and those are his favorite!
Raphael: [throwing his hands up] One meal. That’s all I ask. ONE. Without Mikey accusing somebody of being a zombie, or a werewolf, or—
[Michelangelo suddenly holds up a crucifix and points it at Leonardo.]
Michelangelo: BEGONE, DEMON!
[Leonardo’s eyes flash black, and he lets out an unholy roar, flipping the chair over as he collapses to the floor.]
Raphael & Donatello: [screaming] WHAT THE HELL?!
Front Man | In-ho: Join me, Gi-hun! You feel it too—I know you do!
Gi-hun: Never! My heart belongs to Young-il, and you murdered him in cold blood!
[Later]
Front Man | In-ho [dramatically collapsing onto a velvet couch in his office]: I GOT REJECTED… BECAUSE OF MY OWN ALTER EGO.
Masked Officer: [awkwardly patting his shoulder] There, there…
if you marry me
would you bury me?
To whoever sent this, I opened it Christmas morning expecting the usual nonsensical spam Ask and instead found what is probably the sweetest and most encouraging Ask I have ever received. As someone who just writes in their free time around work and college, I suppose I do not think of myself as contributing much, but seeing messages and comments like this really makes my day and this holiday season! And I am working on the fourth and final chapter! I really hope you like it! I hope I have it out by the end of this week! Happy Holidays, and thank you!
Dear @bangs-coffee-fandoms-unite ,
'Sometimes Dead is Better' is absolutely incredible. I found it before going to bed one night when I was looking for a fic to read in the morning, but it was SO GOOD that I stayed up late reading it, oops! You have such a good grasp on who the 03 turtles really are, I could vividly see them in all their glory. The sibling banter during the opening fight was on point, peak 03 brother behaviour, I loved it so much! It was such a contrast to the rest of the chapter (and rest of the fic lol), it was jarring to see the switch from lighthearted fun to total devastation. I knew it was coming and I was still caught off guard with how raw and desperate the emotions were. Media doesn't often make me cry, but this one made me have to set my phone down for a moment and blink tears away. That is a huge feat and is a sign of a masterpiece, tbh. When I saw the last update went from 3 chapters to 4, I got so excited, I am SO eager to see the conclusion to this fic!!
Have a Merry Christmas and happy holidays!!
@bangs-coffee-fandoms-unite
Christmas Kindness Event Post
In-ho: So, you like cats?
Gi-hun: Yeah.
In-ho: [Maintains intense eye contact and deliberately nudges a glass toward the edge of the table.]
[The glass wobbles, teeters, then slowly tumbles off, shattering on the floor.]
In-ho: [Deadpan, barely blinking.] Meow.
[How I expect Gi-hun reacted after learning that "Young-il" or In-ho is the Front Man.]
Gi-hun: Would you like some coffee?
Front Man (In-ho): I’d love some.
[Gi-hun hurls the coffee pot at him.]
Front Man: …I prefer mine in a cup.
[Gi-hun chucks a mug next.]
Front Man: No cream?
[Gi-hun lobs a creamer container at his head.]
Front Man [dodging]: Maybe a little sugar—
[Gi-hun, with deadpan intensity, launches the entire sugar bowl at him.]
Possibly my favourite 2k3 tmnt screenshot
Bro really said (ㆁωㆁ)
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