#raph ic

"Ah. I guess I am sensitive sometimes. But it's not a bad thing to feel things. It's not healthy to not talk about your feelings, or ignore em. And if I have a question, I'll ask. I hope people ask me stuff too, if they need to. I don't ever want anyone to feel like they can't approach me about stuff. I want my friends to say how they feel. Always. Even if it means, it's something I did wrong. I'd never get mad about that...I'd like to know. Cause...I'd like to say sorry, even if it means you don't wanna talk to me no more. At least I'd feel peace in my heart saying sorry."

"Ah. It's okay. I can explain. I call it mind-Raph. Lots of people can do this. I'm not sure why I can, but Gram Gram used to say I was born under a special star. I still don't know what that means but... I think that's why I can do it. And! I care a lot. And I often worry about my friends, my bros, and the younger folks in my life! I wish I could be everywhere and help everyone all the time! So... I think thats why my mind swishes around. I go here and there and help the ways I can. So if you wanna talk to mind-Raph all you gotta do, is to focus on Raph, think a thought and Raph will listen! Well. In theory I will. Unless I'm sleeping or eating."

"Moms are usually right kiddo! and your mom was right sayin' I was trying to protect ya. Did she call me a saint too?"

"Look. I aint gonna rest until I know the young folks are okay."

Why Yeth. Offcourth. Some believe leadership is about bossing people around. Having the last word. Yelling and making a scene and getting mad when you feel triggered or overwhelmed. Shaping the team in a way that makes you or others feel the most at ease. Using fear or guilt to control. Not allowing differences of opinion in fear of change, or out of fear of making someone feel hurt. It's not. Leading is not about protection of the self and your ego, but protection of the group as a whole. To recognize that structures and rules that once made you feel safe and in control, constantly need to be challenged, broken down and remade for the betterment of the group as a whole. It's not easy...Because the leader is the one who matters the least in that sense. It is about knowing yourself and your triggers. About making everyone feel seen and respected. Listening with compassion, patience and curiosity of what others may be feeling about you as a leader. It's about your own constant growth, and gently calling out destructive patterns of individuals you care about, for the sake of the group. About regulating your own feelings when you feel triggered or small, asking for help, when you need it. It's about allowing people to speak their minds freely even if they disagree with you. its about seeing the strengths of others as strengths of the whole team, even if it makes you feel small or less competent than them. And most of all, being the best version of yourself, for others. As for me, I'm not the leader anymore. And when dad asked Leo to step up to take my place, I felt... hurt. Even unappreciated. I don't enjoy thinking about it, but I didn't have faith in Leos abilities as a leader at the time, and I was young. I asked dad, what the heck he was thinking. I looked for mistakes Leo did, instead of seeing his strengths and potential. I'm not proud of that, but I can see that even though I acted out of my own insecurities, I also came from a place of concern for the group and Leo... But now, my focus is to support Leo as much as I can.

"Listen. I'm glad they got me, and not someone else cause I'm made for it. Okay? I said so before, NOTHING breaks Raph. And if it does, I bounce back like a cannon ball. Promise."

Raph was a shy person, despite his size and strength. But Daphne was his girlfriend, after all. Affection between them was nothing new. So he swallowed his nerves down and drew large arms around her frame, dipping his head down to steal a soft little kiss to the pale skin between her hair and her collar. Smiling, Raph nuzzled his beak against her head. "Love you," he sighed, feeling perfectly happy and content.

"Sweet dreams, babe."