T-Cest Shippers

Just a few random thoughts that have been floating about in my head as of late.

I haven't always been a fan of t-cest. To be honest, I didn't much care for a whole lot of romance between any of the characters in TMNT. My only exception was Casey and April, and even then I didn't want to have the romantic elements of their relationship constantly shoved down my throat. I knew t-cest existed, and while it wasn't my cup of tea, I also remember feeling relieved that it was never forced onto me in any way. If I didn't want to see it, it was relatively easy to avoid.

I can't remember how exactly my mind was changed on the matter. It certainly wasn't from someone trying to convince me, that was for sure. I think I read a story, or maybe couldn't resist looking at some beautiful artwork, even if the subject matter gave me pause. But eventually, somehow, I've grown to absolutely love it. And the most amazing part about this, is that I never ONCE felt pressured by t-cest fans to change my mind on the whole idea.

As a fan of April and Casey, sadly, I can't say the same. This "shipping war" going on between AprilxCasey fans and AprilxDon fans is intense, snarky and downright immature. I'm sure just about every TMNT fan knows that it's there, even if they don't partake in it. I know I try to avoid it the best I can, and keep myself to the types of work I like involving April and a romantic partner.

When I consider this "war", I can't help but reflect on how it pertains to the t-cest community. Fans who absolutely loathe t-cest will go out of their way to bash, badmouth and outright pick on t-cest shippers. Yet, as I said before, even before I grew to like it, I never felt at all antagonized by t-cest fans to change my mind, to 'see things their way'. This is a one-sided war.

Don't get me wrong. This whole childish argument between Casey and Don is quite as ridiculous as well, but at least in that situation I can see how both sides are lashing out in equal numbers. But t-cest fans are some of the NICEST members of the TMNT community I have ever met and don't try to force their opinions on others. I wonder if it's because we're such a small community that we want to help support each other when so many are ready to call us perverted, disgusting or sick. Even among t-cest relationships there are so many different ones to choose from-RaphxLeo, DonxMike, RaphxDon, LeoxMike, RaphxMike, LeoxDon, OT4, OT3, and yet it just doesn't seem to matter at all. I have my preference for which pairs I like, most t-cest fans do, and yet the same internal conflict over which pair is better of another just doesn't seem to exist (or if it does...on a very small scale that I have yet to experience). Okay, is every t-cest shipper an angel? No, we're human. But I can say that I have never felt more welcome before in the TMNT fandom than by other t-cest shippers.

This isn't meant to convince anyone to give t-cest a shot. That would be purely hypocritical of me if it was, and hey, it's not for everyone. That's cool. All I really wish...and am asking, is to give t-cest shippers the same level of respect you would any other fan. To let us share our work without feeling like outcasts or that we don't belong. We're not disturbed or gross. We're not immoral or bad people. We're fans of TMNT.