#cadenforprez

Caden totally didn’t forget he was in the TMNT multiverse campaign—

(I on the other hand did-)

Sooo, lmao, vote for Caden gang and I’ll hopefully try to get back in the swing of things

Tova is being a little goober and not giving the results to Caden-

LUCKILY Donnie sent him the results like 5 minutes later-

can’t wait for the elimination round, HOPEFULLY he’ll still remain in the polls!

art by @cimmerian1275

✨(s)he was a fairy✨

I don’t think Caden likes this theme guys—

TOO BAD THOUGH CAUSE HE IS SLAYING THAT OUTFIT-

“Circus?” Caden repeats what Donnie had told him. The soft shell looked proud and nodded. “Indeed, as your vice president—” He began only to be interrupted by Caden who gave a blank look.

“Isn’t Tova my vice—”

“As the vice president! It’s my duty to make you look spectacular! So, I asked dear Mikey here to make some clothes for you.”

With that, Donnie walked around a table and showed off the clothes laid out. Caden with a tilted head of curiosity, had made his way over to take a look at what creation was made for him to wear this time.

Honestly, he wasn’t even sure as to why he had to get dressed up for each event. Seemed like a hassle. Regardless he appreciated the time that they made for him.

Caden picks up a strange black and white costume. “What’s this?” He quizzes, gazing over to Donnie who grins. “Why tell you; when I can show you.”

He announces, walking behind Caden and dragging him to the nearest private area for him to get changed in.

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When Caden was finally all dressed up, April and Mikey insisted on doing the makeup, it took every fiber of his being to not lash out.

“Guys…I look ridiculous.” He literally hissed out, observing himself in the mirror, hands on his hips. He twitches his eyes when he could that familiar, agonising laughter in his head.

“You’re a s-sad clown! Haha! Oh my, oh, Donnie better be recording this!”

Leo clutched at his stomach, doubling over in laughter as tears formed at the corner of his eyes. “Shut up! It’s not funny!” Caden embarrassedly yelled at the older slider who snorted.

“You're right, no. It’s not funny…it’s more sad. Like a sad clown!”

Caden deadpans when once more Leo began wheezing, turning away as though that was going to hide his amusement as Caden groans and focuses back on the real world.

His eyes blinked, registering that he was not in the mindscape at the moment. He then whirled his head to glare at Donnie. “I want you to delete all recordings of this.”

“What? But what about the campaign, the people should see—“

Caden hisses like a feral creature.

“All recordings.”

….

With a grumble, Donnie scoffed. “Fine.”

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Caden adjusted the hat on his head, mumbling something about how strange this was, wearing a hat.

Cowboy hat to be exact.

“Who comes up with these themes anyways? They’re so…weird.” He asked loudly, only to be ignored when a flash of a camera blinded his vision for a moment.

Wincing, he used his hand to cover his eyes slightly. “Whoops, my bad. Forgot to turn off flash.” April chuckled sheepishly as she smiled and held the phone up once more.

Raph however couldn’t help but grin at the cowboy outfit, crossing his arms calmly. “This reminds me of when we got stuck in that dress up montage that Hypno casted on us.” He paused and gave a quick glance over to Caden, scanning his outfit up and down and nodding proudly. Or maybe nodding with nostalgia.

“Different outfit. Sorta. But same vibes.”

Caden blinked, not understanding what he meant by…well everything. He did turn to Leo in the mindscape out of curiosity, the older slider shook his head at him in an instant.

“Don’t question it.” He spoke. Sounding more like a plea, as if the memory of that time was embarrassing for him to even recall. “You dressed up as a cowboy?” Caden couldn’t help but subtly tease, grinning.

“Leo!” April called out, snapping Caden back to the real world, only to find himself slightly narrow his gaze upon her. “Caden.” He corrected, sighing as he knew what she wanted. He changed his stance, pretending he was holding a pair of pistols. 

“It is kinda cool though. Pretending to be a cowboy.” He mumbled under his breath, grunting softly when Leo snorted and nudged his elbow.

“It is, ain’t it?”

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“You know…I’m looking quite good in this. What do you think guys?”

Caden poses for the camera that April was trained onto him, recording for the views for #CadenforPrez.

When Mikey and Donnie told him that they made a new outfit for him, he was immediately hesitant, given the last outfit he wore was…

He shuddered. Shaking his head as he snapped back to reality when he heard April calling out to him. “Oh! Strike another pose, yeah like that!” April commented, snapping and laughing as Caden lightly grins. Amused.

“You’re enjoying this too much.” Leo snorts, arms crossed as he watched from within the mindscape.

“You’re just jealous I can pull off this look.” Caden huffs, turning back to Leo with his hands on his hips.

The older slider rolled his eyes, but still had a playful look on his face.

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@tmnt-multiverse-election

“Congratulations, you got nominated for President.”

Donnie grinned like he’d just solved world hunger and built the machine to prove it, clapping his hands together with theatrical flair. At that cue, half a dozen mini confetti poppers exploded around the lab with a sad little puff, spraying glitter and biodegradable streamers into the air.

Caden stood completely still, a wide-eyed statue of disbelief. His non-existent brows were furrowed in existential confusion, and his mouth opened, then closed, then opened again like his brain was buffering.

They were in one of Donnie’s labs, which had somehow been transformed into a low-budget campaign headquarters. A hand-painted banner above him read “Vote Caden for President!” in what was clearly Mikey’s glitter penmanship, complete with a smiley face replacing the dot in the exclamation mark.

Tova sat beside him, tongue lolling out as they tilted their head, seemingly just as confused but also very invested. Their small, tiny, nub of a tail thumped once in cautious celebration.

Everyone Caden knew was gathered there. Donnie, obviously proud of himself and clearly the ringleader of this nonsense. Raph stood in the corner, arms crossed with an awkward toothy smile, wearing a “Caden 2025” pin on his plastron. 

Mikey was already halfway through a campaign jingle, freestyling something about “mystic vibes and presidential pride.” Draxum looked like he was trying to calculate the odds of dying from secondhand embarrassment. April had her phone out, clearly something Donnie built for this moment, live-streaming the whole thing with a “#CadenForPrez” overlay. Casey had somehow acquired a foam finger.

And then there was Leo, standing next to Caden in the mindscape, looking just as exhausted and confused as Caden. He tilted his head toward the decorations.

“Well… at least they’re being supportive.” Leo said, deadpan.

Caden blinked twice.

Then turned to Donnie, pointed at the confetti still falling like sad snowflakes, and said flatly…

“What the hell is a president?”

Silence.

Even Mikey stopped mid-jingle.

Donnie opened his mouth, then closed it. Raph raised a brow. April lowered her phone slightly.

“…You serious?” Donnie asked.

Caden crossed his arms. “Dead serious. I don’t even know if I should be honored or insulted.”

“It’s a leadership role.” Leo offered helpfully. “Like… like me! But with way more responsibility and no swords.”

“Wait…” Caden blinked. “So it’s like if I had to do your job and smile about it?”

“Pretty much.” Leo replied grimly.

“Why would anyone want that?!” Caden exclaimed in the mindscape before he returned to the actual world and wildly gestured at the banner. “Did I piss someone off?!”

“I thought you’d be into it!” Donnie argued, holding up a tiny flag. “You’re bold, assertive, tragically traumatized, basically presidential material!”

“Isn’t the president, like… the boss of everyone?” Caden asked, side-eyeing the foam finger now pointing at him. “Does that mean I can fire you?”

“No.” Donnie said immediately. “But you can sign stuff and look serious on camera.”

April added, “And there’s a cool desk.”

“I don’t want a desk.” Caden snapped. “I want a nap if anything.”

“You could mandate naps.” Mikey said from behind a campaign button maker. “Power move.”

Tova let out a short chirp, seemingly in agreement.

Caden looked around again. At the glitter, at the banner, at everything. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath…

…and turned to Leo with an annoyed glare, already telling that the older slider in his mind was starting to enjoy this.

“You’re enjoying this aren’t you?”

Leo shrugged. “Yeah.”

“Of course you are.”

——————————————————————————————————

can’t believe Caden got nominated. Thats gonna be fun—

WELL MAKE SURE TO VOTE FOR HIM!

“Hey Caden. Since you’re running for president, do you have a vice president too?” Mikey asked, flopping over the back of a scratched up and very old couch with a grin, his phone that Donnie made for everyone for the campaign already recording for what he promised would be the best campaign vlog yet.

Caden blinked at the question, head tilting slightly. “Vice president…” He echoed, voice thoughtful.

He glanced down, eyes narrowing slightly in concentration. From what he knew, a vice president was someone who acted as second-in-command. Someone to step up when the president couldn’t. Someone… reliable. Smart. Tough. Capable.

He had choices.

April? She was a solid pick—strong-willed, sharp, media-savvy.

His gaze flicked briefly to the brothers. Raph? Bit too loud. Mikey? Too unpredictable. Leo? Well… Leo was literally inside his head.

“Not that I don’t appreciate the spiritual guidance, but I don’t think Leo can sign documents.” Caden muttered under his breath, careful to not let the others hear him, to which Leo in his mindscape rolled his eyes.

“Fair enough.” Leo replied dryly.

As Caden pondered, Donnie casually slid into view, arms crossed behind his back and chin tilted up in smug confidence. “Ah, I think the most logical choice would be me.” He announced, brushing invisible dust off his shoulder. “After all, I am vice president material. Tactical brilliance, unmatched technological knowledge, memorable public speaking skills—”

“Your last speech ended in fireworks and a minor ceiling collapse.” Raph cut in, his large arms crossed and face deadpan.

“Exactly. Memorable.” Donnie retorted with a proud grin.

“I dunno, Don…” Mikey snorted. “I think that scared off, like, half the cafeteria.”

Caden hummed again, clearly weighing something. Donnie stood straighter, ready to accept the imaginary badge of honor.

But then—

“Tova.” Caden said aloud, almost too casually.

Everyone paused.

Donnie blinked. “I’m sorry, what?”

Caden turned, smiling fondly as the Krang hound—Tova—lifted their head from where they’d been napping beside the couch. Their nub of a tail gave a lazy wag, head perking at the sound of their name.

“Tova’s my vice president.” Caden repeated, now more confident. “They’re loyal. Fierce. And doesn’t try to install questionable tracking software in people’s toothbrushes.”

“Tova?!” Donnie choked.

Mikey was already wheezing, tears in his eyes. “The dog?! Bro. You just got beat out by a dog.”

“Not a dog…” Leo grumbled the side, sighing and running a hand down his face.

Caden rolled his eyes, walking over to Tova who panted, tongue stuck out as they accepted the pats from Caden who crouched to their level.

“They’re a survivor. A symbol. And Tova is cute, which is excellent for public rallies.”

Tova chirps as if on cue.

Donnie stood frozen, one eye twitching. “But—but—they don't even have opposable thumbs!”

“Exactly.” Leo’s voice snorted inside Caden’s head. “Can’t sign legislation, can’t start wars.”

“This is absurd.” Donnie muttered, storming off toward his lab. “Blasphemy!”

“Donnie’s hurt.” Mikey said between laughs, panning the camera toward him. “This is gonna get so many likes.”

Caden gave Tova a little high five—well, more like they gently pawed his hand. “Are you ready for this, Vice President?”

Tova chirps once more and let their tongue hang out like a goofy grin.

President Caden and VP Tova. The dream team no one saw coming.

Except Donnie, who absolutely didn’t see it coming.

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