i like mutated turtles a normal amount

wow double art! kind of!

here’s the full pic, theyre in raph’s house :3

here’s the og sketch, its meant to be in animatic #296 (trust)

RAPH

Donnie: uncomfortable, acquainted, respect

Donnie occasionally treats him like an experiment 😭 in the first half or so of the story, Donnie and Raph aren’t close yet, just acquainted from their first interaction. Raph does respect Donnie though, because of his smarts, and sees a soft side of him that he secretly doesn't point out.

Leo: like

he has a mostly neutral opinion on him except for the fact that he talks a lot. After all, Leo was the one who talked to him first. however, he still felt comfortable with him, Leo seeing through the rumors, and the fact that he gave him a chance to prove himself. he liked playing basketball with someone who was challenging him for once.

Mikey: like, close

he already sees Mikey as a close friend. It wasn't hard --- after all, Mikey has a tendency to adopt introverts, even if it meant someone older than him. anyway, he has a random urge to protect Mikey, which shows a lot in his actions --- like whenever he feels upset, he physically directs the attention to himself instead of his lil' friend. Any respect for him really turns into cuteness aggression, though.

DONNIE

Raph: acquainted, like, respect

although seeing him as somewhat of an experiment, he has grown to see past the rumors during their first meeting and respects him for still being kind to other students despite how they treat him. because he would've pulverized the school already, if he was in his position. he's not close with the guy yet, but likes him enough. at least he isn't annoying and quiet, a comfortable presence.

Leo: close, like, tolerate, uncomfortable

lowkey doesn't know if he hates or likes him 😭 Leo genuinely does irritate Donnie, but he sees him as a somewhat reliable friend. they met each other first, after all, before the other two, so he feels a little closer to him than he does with the others. openly banters and doesn't mind his presence --- but then again, Leo makes him uncomfortable and irritated. (no, it's not fond, what are you talking about?)

Mikey: acquainted, tolerate

at first, sees him as a coworker, only for it to disappear in one day during the Diner Incident™. he sees him as more of an acquaintance now, but still not close. he eventually talks to him more often in chapter 5, and tolerates his emotional spiels and bursts of energy.

LEO

(in Leo's case, he will have the uncomfortable status to each of them because of his trust issues. so just account for that in every relationship)

Raph: acquainted, like, respect

at first sensing Raph's presence, he was a bit suspicious of him. lurker!! ☝ but still giving him a chance to prove himself, he grew to respect him as an individual, because of his skill at basketball and willingness to change. (maybe it was also because Raph punched a freshman last year because he insulted his family, but shhh that isn't related!!)

Donnie: like, close, respect

he approached him first, mostly because they were the last one in class and --- sue him --- he was curious why. he's Donatello Vasquez! (though Leo didn't tell him he recognized him.) Leo seems annoyed with Donnie's everything at first, but once you look closer, he's really just fond of him. finds him really smart and respectable because of his deserved popularity and interviews, and once you push through the rough exterior, you could see his true passion for inventing.

Mikey: like, close, respect

AW SO CUTE !! <- basically his thought whenever he looks at Mikester. although their first meeting was a little less than ideal, he sees Mikey as a somewhat younger version of himself (he wouldn't admit it.) doesn't realize it yet, but he already kinda sees him as a little brother because of it, feeling an uncharacteristic rage whenever someone bothers him. respects him because of his emotional maturity and dr. delicate touch. you can see him talking to Mikey a lot in the fic.

MIKEY

Raph: close, like

he sees him as a friend, mostly someone to rely on, especially after the Diner Incident™. sees him like a protector already, despite their first meeting being the opposite (kind of). he could see the care in his eyes and the hesitation to talk to him, maybe because he's SUUUPER TALL! but Mikey doesn't let that stop him from being his friend.

Donnie: close, like, respect

INVENTIONS!! SO COOL!! who cares if Mikey didn't talk to him all that often, he feels like he's already close to him and broke through his for some reason grumpy exterior! he finds Donnie really cool, and even cooler for asking for his opinion about the art/design aspect of his inventions. also kinda relies on him for his smarts about his academics, lol

Leo: like, close, respect

HIS BEST FRIEND!! despite meeting him the last out of the three, he was the easiest to attach to. literally upon minutes of meeting him, they could find common ground and joke around, and he could see that Leo had his back and would get angry on his behalf. although his methods were a little passive aggressive, he appreciated it. they talk super often and is arguably the closest!

overall, great start! i cant handle angst between them yet sorry guys 💔 dont worry im pretty sure ill make them have a somewhat friendship break from each other BUT IM NOT SURE IF ILL MAKE THAT HAPPEN... hum hum (dont worry its plot relevant, not for angst's sake)