#rafa rambles

I love she. I like to think she secretly wears eye makeup under her mask while still in the closet. She's just happy to know she has it on even if no one else sees it. Sad that she can't put anything on her actual eyelids or she'll get caught :( so she just kinda puts it around her eyes. It still looks good when her eyes are open.

And she's actually like good at it too, making art on her face. She tries it once and suddenly it's her favorite past time hobby (even above Space Heroes), trying out different looks and styles. She searches up color theory and complexions and everything, though she has to learn a lot by herself since she has green skin. She's probably watched a thousand makeup videos. And she keeps this up for months without being caught, being the ninja that she is. It becomes so normal to her to the point that when her mask flies off during a fight with some bad guy she doesn't even realize how big a deal it is at first, lol.

After she does get found out she just says she likes makeup, not mentioning anything about being trans. April is ecstatic about Leo's hobby and buys her all kinds of makeup stuff like fake eyelashes, despite April herself not being that into makeup. Karai joins in too, teaching Leo some edgier looks. Sometimes they wear matching makeup.

Raph and Donnie are a bit weirded out at first but they can see this is, for some reason, important to Leo so they refrain from making any rude comments, even if just jokingly. Mikey loves it, he is fully supportive. Probably asks Leo to do his makeup once or twice. He is a bit jealous that Leo is trying to take his place as the cutest turtle though.

Raph appriciates the artsiness of it and the level of skill it would take to do that. He still thinks it's weird but he warms up to it.

Donnie does not at all get it but it makes his "brother" happy so it it what it is. And he will admit it is pretty cute.

Despite what everyone would have expected, Splinter doesn't make a big deal out of it. He just asks what the occasion is. Leo's new hobby doesn't get in the way of anything and it makes his "son" happy. He can also appriciate the time and effort of the craft. He'd probably be curious to know some of the techniques. Not for any purpose, just pure curiosity.

Casey would randomly walk into the lair one day and think Leo is some new sister of theirs. Which, technically he's not wrong. Leo is silently having a gender moment after Casey calls her a girl while Raph is laughing at Casey's confusion on the situation.

Casey doesn't know shit about makeup (me too fam) but he thinks it's badass that Leo is confidently wearing it. Screw toxic masculinity and all that shit. He goes on a random rant about his sister wanting to try makeup but thinking she's too young for that stuff (does she have a canon age? I imagine her being like 11). Leo tells him he should give his sister a chance to try it out, that it's just a fun activity and doesn't mean anything. Leo gives him like a whole lecture how makeup is about how it makes the person wearing it feel and not looking good for someone else. So Casey ends up deciding he's gonna give his sister some basic makeup stuff for her birthday (or Christmas, whichever comes first). Leo is satisfied.

Not sure what to actually say about them so feel free to ask questions if you're curious. I don't have a LOT lot on them but I have some lore.

What if we (a.k.a I) take this concept, but instead of F!leo just going to the past we turn it into a crossover, with F!leo becoming the new sensei/father-figure to the 2012 boys after Splinter's death👀 Just imagine the angst potential on both sides!!

I've played around with this idea for a few days now and I'm hoping to make at least a semi-concrete plot for whenever/if I gather the strength to actually write it gfhjggj

I don't have much on the story yet, but I can talk about a few things related to their designs.

Obviously their masks and the hamato symbol are based on sakura flowers. In Japan, sakura represent a new beginning and love. I think those themes are very fitting for the turtles and Splinter. Splinter assigned them pink masks to make the beginning of their new life together and hope for another better life in the future. He wishes his children to spread love instead of hate. He hopes that the masks will serve as a reminder to never stoop as low as Shredder despite their grudge against him. And also as a reminder of their origin in Japan. All the turtles are species that can be found in Japan, fun fact.

You guys remember 2003 opening? "Never fight unless someone else starts" is one of the ninja rules and these guys take it very seriously.

I know I said I don't have much on the plot yet but writing this is giving me ideas. Splinter doesn't tell the turtles about Shredder, he doesn't want them to carry on that burden and he doesn't want his hatred to be what controls him. New beginnings and all that, leaving your grudges to your previous life. That's what he had hoped to do. But eventually Shredder shows up again and he has to tell the turtles about his past with him. The turtles are enraged obviously, and during the story they will struggle to control that rage, especially Raph.

Splinter taught the turtles ninjutsu as a form of bonding and letting them experience at least a part of their culture.

Just think about it. These guys come back to Earth only to find out their father is dead. They would probably blame their counterparts for letting it happen AND themselves for not being there to stop it. For leaving to have FUN when the Shredder was still out there.

Another scenario would be the apocalyptic future. These guys were probably off on a space adventure when the mutagen bomb went off. Their home planet is destroyed, nothing but a wasteland. Casey and April are everything that's left of the human race. Their families are dead.

Speaking of families did Casey even tell his he was going off to space??? The turtles probably told Mr. O'Neil but like... Casey's family probably doesn't even know about the turtles. Not cool dude.