Jenuinely Speaks - Tumblr Posts
Been watching so many Sam and Colby videos, I think I'm finally back in the head space to work on my main story.
Time for some haunted TMNT, babeh~π»π’
As someone who is dealing with decades of emotional, mental, and physical trauma on different levels each, this is it. Over half of the trauma I received I didn't even know was trauma until therapy last year (talk about β¨mind blownβ¨) but after rediscovering them, it explained SO MUCH. The triggered habits and PTSD is still there, though.
It is very hard and not always a daily showing in both the trauma examples and healing--but the minute signs are still there in both. I put examples of this very thing in my stories, fanfic or original, because it is something fascinating. Terrible, but intriguing. All of the things I went thru, I wouldn't wish on anyone. However, it's stuff I still think should be talked about; the actions, the reactions, the life-altering details, all of it.
A sequel to my main fanfic series I'm writing, Haunt AU/AHoN AU (A Haunt of Normalcy), has a character that possesses all of the trauma reactions and life-altering changes I went thru, though for them they came from different types of Trauma. The Hamato family is also dealing with the trauma they went thru the past couple of years in the series, as well. It's as much as a story as it is a character study: a study in healing, a study in connections, and a study in growth (alongside sci-fi and paranormal science, but that's another post).
For me, trauma writing is amazing not only to showcase the amazing integrity and strength of people, but to show how comforting deep seeded connections can truly be thru the healing of them. That Hurt/Comfort is as beautiful as an HE (happy ending), both in life and in writing.
"Character doesn't act traumatized"
The flaw with the criticism of "this character isn't acting traumatized, you need to show how this event changed them" is that a lot of people experience EXTREME traumatic events and think it's normal. Their behavior might change in subtle ways, but they mostly just continue with their life.
This is especially true in children/young characters. See example here:
You ever get in the intense mood to write, but your brain can't focus long enough to get the words into hand on paper/screen, so you're just left floating in the abyss of amicable words and disjointed visions like an unedited student film in the cutting room?
ahhh thank you!!! π and good morning~
Absolutely! Sending all the hugs and care your way for today and looping
So, I know everyone is loving their muskled arms (purposeful spelling--those are not muscles, those are muskles, gawddamn they're bigger than my head). However, I can't get over the characterization details of just their arms.
Raph has a tattoo that, because of his scales has bubbled up 3D. How fucking cool is that?? I'd kill for a 3D tattoo, but they are freaking expensive and he just naturally has one? Bruh.
Also, still on Raph--the hell happened to his scales on his forearm? It looks like he has some missing with the dusty coloring compared to the natural green of his skin/scales. Did training get too intense? Was it from a mission before the movie? Bro, how did you lose those scales?? (For the record, I don't know if he did, it just looks like from the differentiated coloring).
And Mikey. Michelangelo. My accident prone, ADHD love muffin. Those are some biggen bandages, my guy. Were you slow on evading Raph during training? Did you go too hard on skating the sewers? Did you just knick yourself on one of Donnie's projects? Stories. Gib. Please.
I am also loving his obsession of collecting random bands on his wrists and firearms. I did this a lot as teen and well into my twenties 'cause the compression felt wonderful, and allowed me something to mess with when I became agitated or just physically anxious to move around. Also, I enjoyed the colors. Feel ya, bro.
I could go off on their hands, but this is arm appreciation, so I will withhold (for now) lol
Raph and Mikeyβs arms, though.
Re-reading the original comics for the first time since childhood and rediscovered something.
First page of the mirage issue #2, I forgot it was shown that Leonardo is a sci-fi fan. Considering the release of the new movie part two, this feels both nostalgic and apt upon the rediscovery.
Head canon below, if interested.
HC upon seeing this:
I bet Leonardo would have called on his brothers for a "mission" and surprised them with a showing of both movies in theaters -- Donnie, of course, would have absolutely known what was going on both times, but wouldn't say anything cause he, too loves Frank Herbert's astounding series. And, most likely loves seeing when his elder brother lets loose and shares his favorite things with the rest of them from time to time. He will not ruin Leo's "surprise" just because he knows his brother well and shares some level of understanding with him. Seeing the joy reflect in both eyes and smile of his elder brother is too precious to do that to him, especially when he planned and strategized these events all on his own, when he didn't need to include his brothers: this choice of continuously bringing his brothers in to enjoy his favorite things always shuts Donatello's break from spoiling the surprises.
But he will still leave notes out "accidently" or say something during conversation as if in unconscious passing to help Leonardo increase the difficulty from their other brother's cracking the surprises.
Leonardo may be an undercover nerd, but Donatello's expert geek is always there to lend a hand.
That "oh no..." Moment when you realize that short story turned into a series of four short stories turned into a series of four interconnected novellas turned into a series of four fully fleshed out stories connected to a duology sequel that all now have a solid foundation backstory interconnected to the shit that happens both behind the scenes and in print.
One of my besties went to the East Coast for vacation and brought back miniature crochet turtles for a lot of us.
Meet Gentileschi! (Yes, that Gentileschi)
She helps me write π Currently, we're working on finishing the one-shot that decided to metastisize in word count. Have a Girl's Trip this weekend happening, so aiming to have it finished and posted before then.
(pictures of wittle turtle below the line)
Yo, I agree!! β¨β£οΈβ£οΈ I actually have an actress in mind that would have been wonderful to play her (Delphine Chaneac -- pic of her inspired photo below). Just some practical makeup/prosthetics, red-orange hair, and I think she'd match pretty damn close! π€π½β¨β€οΈ Her French accent I feel would make a good and natural impression as she speaks English for a second language, too.
I'm still deciding on who would best represent her friends/brothers, Dask and Zak π
Hi, tis Jenuinely Speaking!
So .. About those bayverse sequels π€£
The sequels start with them going back in time and meeting Usagi about 1-2 years after OotS (a lot of inspiration from Usagi's original story, plus minor plot points from the 90s movie), and the fourth is give years later when they deal with Dimension X thanks to a Nuetrino that was accidentally stranded on Earth (a lot of sci-fi shenanigans happening in this one).
I'm still in the very basic story board/plotting phase for both; most likely won't get to them until closer to the end of the year, but if you have anything you'd like to see or think would be a fun thing to add on the reading, let me know!
Was honestly not sure if there would be any interest for sequels like these, so when I saw your post I had to come over and be all, "WELL, let me tell you!" Lol
Hope you have a wonderful day/evening π
Lol I love it so much! Thank you for leaving me this letter ππβ¨ I am upset that Neutrino's are looked down alot and in the 2012 series, They did them so dirty π i wanted to hotrod teens so bad.
No lie, Dove Cameron was tie with Delphine. It was so hard to choose between the two--took like a week for me to settle π Though, with this being a writing project and not a visual one, I may end up using both as Kala's inspiration lol
Hi, tis Jenuinely Speaking!
So .. About those bayverse sequels π€£
The sequels start with them going back in time and meeting Usagi about 1-2 years after OotS (a lot of inspiration from Usagi's original story, plus minor plot points from the 90s movie), and the fourth is give years later when they deal with Dimension X thanks to a Nuetrino that was accidentally stranded on Earth (a lot of sci-fi shenanigans happening in this one).
I'm still in the very basic story board/plotting phase for both; most likely won't get to them until closer to the end of the year, but if you have anything you'd like to see or think would be a fun thing to add on the reading, let me know!
Was honestly not sure if there would be any interest for sequels like these, so when I saw your post I had to come over and be all, "WELL, let me tell you!" Lol
Hope you have a wonderful day/evening π
Lol I love it so much! Thank you for leaving me this letter ππβ¨ I am upset that Neutrino's are looked down alot and in the 2012 series, They did them so dirty π i wanted to hotrod teens so bad.
Feel this π― Always thought red eyes would have looked fantastic on Leo and Donnie, and Raph and Mikey with gold eyes. However, within the film industry red usually stood for "the dark side", "evil", "bad guys". So although (semi)not upset about it, can understand the decisions they made to stay with blue and hazel-gold eyes.
Would have just been so cool to see β¨π€π½
This isn't π― accurate but i do believe that the 2012 series had an impact on the turtles 2014 bayverse eye colors. This was during the same time these two were coming out together with a new series every month and the movie itself. The only one turtle that didn't get affected was Donatello. And i remember thinking about this when the designs were pushed to commercials in 2014. I wondered why they didnt give them actual box turtle designs with lava lines and stripes of black.. or make them into different turtles (which might've upset people cause they're always green. I get that π―). But i really really thought they should've all had gold or red eyes πβ¨ π
This isn't π― accurate but i do believe that the 2012 series had an impact on the turtles 2014 bayverse eye colors. This was during the same time these two were coming out together with a new series every month and the movie itself. The only one turtle that didn't get affected was Donatello. And i remember thinking about this when the designs were pushed to commercials in 2014. I wondered why they didnt give them actual box turtle designs with lava lines and stripes of black.. or make them into different turtles (which might've upset people cause they're always green. I get that π―). But i really really thought they should've all had gold or red eyes πβ¨ π
Oh man, I'm very sorry about that Angel π« that is the absolute worst. Very reason why I got off Wattpad years ago, so I feel those sentiments. It's one of the anxieties I have about publicly sharing my own works, original or fanfic, but the past year my own want to share with potential readers has grown over those anxieties (though they still exist).
Plagiarism is a parasite within the creative sphere, π―, but one that can potentially decrease from the amount of support that creatives can give one another π«π
I hope you and your friend are able to still enjoy your writings together, and I'm glad she was able to return; breaks my heart knowing such instances have given you both such weights on your talents, but can definitely level and understand with youππ«
This isn't π― accurate but i do believe that the 2012 series had an impact on the turtles 2014 bayverse eye colors. This was during the same time these two were coming out together with a new series every month and the movie itself. The only one turtle that didn't get affected was Donatello. And i remember thinking about this when the designs were pushed to commercials in 2014. I wondered why they didnt give them actual box turtle designs with lava lines and stripes of black.. or make them into different turtles (which might've upset people cause they're always green. I get that π―). But i really really thought they should've all had gold or red eyes πβ¨ π
Ever get that weird pause when you realize how weird it would be if someone were to walk in on you writing/creating a piece of angst art and you're listening to the most bop of songs while dancing in your chair?
Honestly live for those moments, 'cause what a trip that would be
Not gonna lie
I saw this and immediately thought "this is a proper stuffed pizza"
And then saw the link line "perfect grilled cheese sandwich"
And my brain did the loading circle....
The Perfect Grilled Cheese Stuffed PIZZA
The Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Hello! This is an urgent and immediate announcement from Disney. We are informing you that the following programs will undergo a termination: Gravity Falls and The Owl House.
As they include disagreeable content towards children and families, these programs will no longer be broadcast on any Disney network, and will be leaving Disney+ on October 13th. Any merchandise produced of these programs are strongly encouraged to be recalled. Being dedicated friends and family together at Disney, we have made this statement clear: we have zero tolerance for the incitement of hate in any form, such as fragrant disinformation alleging of pro-violence and anti-inclusivity.
Donβt fret, friends! You can continue to experience the magic with other shows such as Mickey Mouse Funhouse, SuperKitties, Puppy Dog Pals, and so much more on Disney Junior, Disney Channel, and Disney XD.
Hm. Interesting choice on doing this anonymously.
For those wondering: No. Neither Gravity Falls or The Owl House are being removed from Disney+. Both are money grabbers for the company and have gained increasing popularity; it's on their top charts. To the point that Disney is in talk with Gravity Falls Creator, Alex Hirsch, about a possible revival of the series (it's still in conversing; nothing official has been confirmed or announced since I last checked, as that is one of my favorite series).
Do, please try again. I'd be further interested with the anonymous tag turned off.
Thank you on spreading the no hate, though. That is important, no matter what the situation is--though I do admit you'll never know what the other person is feeling behind the screen. Tread carefully on what you're doing, even if it's to troll.
A wild Jen appears
Well then.
I have been absent for a hot bit. And I will be absent for a bit longer. A lot of things are happening on the personal side of life away from this decompression site, but I will be returning on reposting beautiful art and head canon pieces, as well as posting my own (finally, yes) in the very near future.
Hang in there, buddies. It's a rough ride, but at least it's a ride.
A HAUNT OF NORMALCY MASTER POST
Warning
This series is under the genre Horror/Thriller/Suspense. There are 6 stories in total planned, four stories for Season 1 and two stories for Season 2, and each one contains different genre of horror. With each introduction/summary, there will be tw tags. This series is not for the faint of heart (trust me, I've learned this the hard way by presenting my wips to friends, who have graciously helped me with figuring out the tw). If you wish to proceed, please do so with caution.
If you're the type that loves/enjoys horror, especially the paranormal kind, have fun jumping into the screaming pools.
"How would the TMNTs react to an official, terrifying haunting?"
There is a lot of spiritual stuff that happens in their story, in any iteration. Comics. Movies. Series. Every single one has some type of spiritual element to it. Now, I'm still re-reading a lot of the comics (especially between the original Mirage and IDW), but I don't recall ever seeing the TMNTs being involved with a terrifying haunting. Like, The Haunting in Connecticut or Talk to Me type of haunting.
With that thought, I realized that all of those different hauntings happened within an everyday, normal life. When you very much least expect it. And 9/10 times, it barrels into something chaotic and near uncontrollable.
As one of my friends placed it, "It's like TMNT meshed with Mystery Incorporated." And honestly, I never forgot that apt description to this series. The only difference is that, here, the monsters are real.
As I continued writing and plotting, this fun series of TMNT horror adventures became thick with plot that combined every single story into one giant mass, larger than I initially planned.
Each story now holds a thematic frame of horror; a nod and homage to the genres, as it were, while also providing subplot that ties into each other until the very end.
Now, let me be honest with you on something: Horror is something I usually shy away from. I rarely read it, and I am uncomfortable by the movies (though I do watch some), because they are so intense on my nerves, my imagination makes it seem like it's real. Thats just how my brain works. But with this series? Having been continuously working on it and going at my own pace? I've discovered that I love writing horror and suspense.
Who'd have figured? Certainly not me, that's for sure lol
Again, TWs will be before the following summaries. Grammar mistakes are likely to be present (still in format stage). All stories have a HE (happy ending), unless stated otherwise in the TW-- it's just a real hike up a mountain to get to the happy endings, and sometimes it takes two stories tied into one to get to them.
Links will be provided as the stories are posted and updated on A03.
Universe: Amalgamation of own design (even have a full history backstory, might post later on) Setting: New York City, New York 2012 (boys start at 28-29 yrs) Season: Starts Early Spring - March
CRIMSON MARKS
TW/Tags: Poltergeist Horror, intense haunting, intense possession, child harm, parental fear, homelessness, helplessness, unnatural/metaphysical danger, pain-filled exorcism, if you're a parent please read with caution (my friends that are parents told me they had to hold their kids after reading/discussing this story)
TIME DURATION: 7 NIGHTS During a patrol late one night, Raph comes across a small family of mother and son in a park, Callista and Gabriel Meza. Both look too clean to be homeless, yet very tired and very scared. Going against their family's code, he shows himself to the pair and showcases he means no harm and only wishes to help. Through slow conversing, he finds the pair are being plagued by a terrible haunting that has turned physical and rendered them temporarily homeless. With his brothers' involvement, Raph is determined to help the Meza family reclaim their home and sense of safety. Time is not on their side when the seriousness and all-too-real danger of the situation is laid out in less than a blink; and with the prospects of the Hamato Clan being introduced to even more humans due to the weight of the situation, and his baby brother becoming a possible haunted target, Raph begins questioning himself whether or not he made the right decision on being led by his heart, instead of by his family's code.
ULTRAVIOLET SILLHOUETTES
TW/Tags: Paranormal Horror, build-up haunting, psychological horror, possession, forced isolation, internal battle, exorcism pt 1, ancestral haunting, intense ghost-hunting, tech haunting, exhaustion meter skyrockets, the calm before the storm (the storm is the next story), semi-cliff hanger ending
TIME DURATION: 2.5 MONTHS Following the events of Crimson Marks, Donnie had kept in contact with HONe, the investigative team that worked with them to eliminate the Meza haunting, and even became a valued member of their team by updating and building up their tech. After he finishes his latest haunt hunt tech, a scanner of his own design that picks up the particle wave energy being used by the specters, he and Mikey take it out on its first test run in a delipidated building. Good news: It works. Bad News: It works. The brothers are attacked by an intense haunting taking place in the building, and although they escaped uninjured, they agreed to never test in abandoned buildings again...at least alone. For their part, Leo and Raph agree, especially after watching the evidence video Donnie managed to capture. As Donatello works to complete his latest masterpiece, and one that could make HONe the best paranormal investigators in New York State, the brothers go on test runs together--only to find out too little, too late that they may have brought something home with them.
AZURE CLARITY
TW/Tags: Paranormal Horror, psychological horror, historical thriller, historical prejudice, intense possession, control possession, identity crises, exorcism pt 2, major character near-deaths, blood and injury, somber ending
TIME DURATION: 3 MONTHS Directly after Ultraviolet Silhouette, Leo is adamant the family gets to the bottom of their family history upon learning their discoveries in the haunted apartments HONe called them in to help investigate. Even Master Splinter was both shocked and intrigued at finding their family history in America was older than originally expected. Finding the original settlement in up-state New York where Hamato Yoshi's older relatives had come from, the brothers and their sensei travel to the long-forgotten ghost town and find it to be thoroughly, terrifyingly haunted; both by an avenging spirit and a terrible event that quite literally shut the town down. This time, it's far more personal; not only are their very lives in danger by something that is near-impossible to fight, but their own family honor and self-identities lay in jeopardy.
TANGERINE SUNSETS
TW/Tags: Psychological horror, blood and Injury, major injuries, fighting (not the fun kind), intense stalking, psychological abuse, kidnapping, minor character deaths, sacrificial summoning, struggles in relationships, internal struggle on limitations, mental self-harm, self-isolation patterns, Michelangelo tries so hard to remain a sunshine--but even the sun has to accept overcast and stormy days
TIME DURATION: 6 MONTHS A few weeks after the final ceremonies to ease the past that render the future livable, Mikey was the one that had been the most shaken by discovering the grueling past of his family history. He tries not to show the others how negatively it had affected him, but some days--some nights are harder than most. Especially with his growing spiritual talents. As he's trying to find his new normal once more, Mikey stumbles upon a woman, Alise Beau, or rather she stumbled upon him. She's a cryptozoologist photographer--something Michelangelo had never even thought existed--and found an instant friend in her; his spirit feeling calm and centered for the first time in a long while. He managed to successfully talk his way into joining her current job, photographing the same area surrounding his ancestral ghost-town, if only to escort her when she's alone as most of her shots were commissioned to be done at night. During their growing friendship and adventures, Mikey is reminded that the real-world dangers aren't mysterious monsters, or even the hunting of the unknown. But, in fact, other humans with mysterious and unknown intentions.
PATINA SOULS
TW/Tags: Body horror, psychological horror, full body possession, intense exorcism, minor character deaths, major character death (temporary), eco-destruction, A Whole New World of Trauma(TM), the slowest of burns (literally and figuratively), kinda-sorta zombie warning? eh it's eldritch horror bs
TIME DURATION: 1 YEAR [Description in the works - dealing with an accidently woken nature-encrusted Eldritch Horror hell-bent on finishing a long-forgotten mission that could bring about something far worse than the end of times.]
KERATIN HEARTS
TW/Tags: Past abuse, past manipulative abuse, predatory stalking, self-harm, fighting (not the fun kind), intense masking, intense breaking of masking, struggle in relationships, double-sided healing, identity crises, kidnapping (x2), living with hauntings, the spirit that haunts and taunts
TIME DURATION: 1 YEAR [Description in the works - dealing with a person that's inadvertently been in the turtles' lives for the past 1.5 year who brings in a whole new slew of adventures which forces healing abound]
A Family Tail Master Post
Behind the scenes, I have so many AUs and stories planned and in the works it's not even funny. I do plan on posting about them because they're all heavy with information, not just what I'm going to post on A03. At this point, my friends and I are convinced I'll be writing beyond the grave lol BUT! Focusing now on a fluff related AU, on that is on-going as I write it as a buffer while writing my AHON AU. It all started with a random thought one late summer afternoon during work: Why is there a lack in Splinter love stories? The guy deserves it. Having gone through a life-changing mutation, raising four boys that also went through the same life-altering changes, and ensuring not only theirs but his own survival and safety? Bruh. Having a friend that is going through single parenthood with 2 boys in life, Splinter deserves medals, spa days for the rest of his years, and love. Being a single parent to four boys, let alone mutant boys, is no easy task. But that's just me and my thoughts. This AU, however? It's not just a love-letter to the best Mutant Dad, but to four brothers and a small family that has gone through hell and back in order to find their peace and loving found-family. Which amped up the original thought to the following: What if the brothers had grown up with a mother/mother-figure? One that not only accepted and loved them, but accepted and loved their dad?
Enter Genevieve "Gene" - A head nurse for an exotic animal clinic, on-call for the local area zoos, and volunteers her time at the reptile sanctuary the clinic runs for rescues and surrenders.
In story, Gene "meets" (more like catches sight of) Splinter first when he sneaks into the clinic to 'borrow' some medicine for his sick, young sons (we're talking toddler ages here). After she left a note with her number and willingness for extending help, some time passes, and she receives a call from him requesting that aide. She does not physically meet him until a few months later, their conversations strictly having been by phone calls. He arrived at night when she's leaving the clinic, to properly thank her for saving his sons. After a tense conversation, they begin a shaky friendship/acquaintanceship, but neither push for regular in-touch basis (though Gene does make regular weekly calls to check up on the boys', and subsequently Splinter's health). She doesn't meet the boys until sometime afterward, but it doesn't take long after the meet that Gene becomes a regular in their lives--providing healthy groceries, presents, furniture and utility updates, and even providing a teaching of some modern hobbies the boys obtained that Splinter was open for them to learn, but lost on providing that type of teaching for his boys. Needless to say, she becomes a staple within their lives that it becomes difficult for all involved to imagine life without her, and vice versa for her towards this small mutant family. Some notes on this AU:
There is no set universe for this story; most likely will be an amalgamation with different cameos and easter eggs, just for the funsies.
An out-of-sync chapter story (attention span is too short due to other projects to figure out a proper timeline); some chapters will be shorter than others, and some will be marked as parts if I decide there is an arc to them.
Splinter in this AU will be a Human-turned-Mutant, Hamato Yoshi, because of plans.
The lair is 100% based on the '87/'90/'03 animation lair design(s) with how big, vast, and multi-room use it is, but with the grittiness of the 14/16 movie set designs.
The boys still learn the art of Ninjutsu -- they wouldn't be Ninja Turtles without it, after all. Gene also learns an impressive amount of self-defense combat, training under Splinter separate from the boys.
By the time the boys are teenagers, Gene is in her late 30s and Splinter is in his late 40s and they are in a solid relationship by that point
How the boys meet April + Casey will be different compared to the other iterations (that's honestly becoming a theme in my AUs, now that I think about it...What is wrong with me?)--April's meet is figured out, but still working on Casey's.
Even though majority of this will be Contemporary Life type genre, there are action scenes planned with Oroku Saki/Shredder and the Foot Clan (kinda hard to stay away from that).
I will be completely upfront: I don't normally write anything fluff related. But my brain has been craving this while I write scary angsty stories. Thus, having me fall to the dangling fruit that is contemporary 'what if's for these guys (including this, I have 4 planned stories within that genre), and I couldn't shy away from thinking up scenarios with turtle tots involved.
Here are the chapter summaries for two of those very scenes (centering around Mikey, because I've been very hard on the guy in my other story):
When the boys are around 7-8 years old: During the time when Gene is making it a good habit to visit the Hamato family during her down time, she is caught painting her toenails in the lair. Mikey gets inquisitive and asks her questions about the process and the 'why's. She is patient and lighthearted with her answers, but stalls when he ends up asking if she'd paint his nails. Instead of answering, she looks up to Splinter, who had been drinking his tea in the kitchenette; he had already been watching the exchange and after a moment, he gives his nod of approval. With the silent permission, Gene tells Mikey that she will prettify his nails, and while she finishes up and lets her toes dry, he can pick out a color, or colors that he'd like to have. When he grabs a handful of colors and asks if she could do a rainbow, they start to plan on how to do this project without making a whole lot of mess. Mikey ends up stealing borrowing a role of tape and paper from Don's rooms so they could tear small strips to make stripe patterns to test out. When Mikey finds one he likes, it's another hour or so of the two of them spending time together of her painting his nails (hands and feet) in striped rainbow. When Don comes out to see what's going on with his 'borrowed' materials, he asks if he can have his done too, but in shades of purple. The lair smelt of nail polish for at least a day after that afternoon/evening.
Sometime after Gene and Splinter begin their relationship: Michelangelo is having nightmares, and normally he'd go to one of his older brothers to pile up on, however he finds that he is wanting the comfort of Gene; her hugs are the best, and her extra squeezes and flop of her body makes him feel loved and safe. On one night she decides to sleep at the lair (it's a rare treat for her to sleep over that's slowly becoming more common), Mikey wakes up from another nightmare and immediately goes to seek out Gene. Only he doesn't see her on the couch or cot in the living room space she normally sleeps in--he hunts her down, doing his best to see it as a game of hide-and-seek to keep his panic down, and finally finds her in dad's room. The two are snuggling in slumber on his mat, with Gene having her back to Splinter and arms splayed before her, while Splinter has one draped over Gene's side and the other cradled under her neck. Mikey almost doesn't want to disturb them (in the back of his mind, he remembers that his brothers owe him their pot of treats), but only almost. He ends up going in the room and when he tries to figure out how to only wake up Gene, she startles awake from feeling his stare on her. He tells her about his nightmares and before he asks if he could have one of her hugs, she smiles and opens her arms for him. When he snuggles into her arms, they both feel Splinter wrap his arms closer against the both of them as they fall back in slumber; Mikey doesn't have nightmares after that (and crows at the breakfast table that his brothers owe him the winning pot of treats).