#when will she get her autistic justice?

[serious-goose]

when they eventually do to Amelia Bedelia what they did to Archie comics with Riverdale,, that will be my Joker

[waterfall-ambience]

oughhh the fontaine characters :>

[jellyveesh]

Feel free to reject but can we get the Hazbin Crew with a Reader who’s sinner animal form is a fainting goat?

face first

fandom ## hazbin hotel (fainting goat-sinner reader)

characters ## charlie morningstar, alastor, angel-dust, husker, sir pentious

prompt ## the hazbin hotel is filled with unique characters, and amongst them is a little goat sinner with a habit of just... fainting? how will the residents of the hotel treat their newest addition, and how will they react to their disorder?

contains ## SHOW SPOILERS, gender-neutral reader, canon-typical character behaviours/habits, swearing, reader has a neuromuscular disorder, autistic coded lucifer

thank you for the request!! i hope i did it justice masterlist

for some context, 'fainting goat' syndrome is actually called myotonia congenita - an inherited neuromuscular disorder characterised by the inability of muscles to quickly relax after a voluntary contraction, like flinching

the disorder is not only common in goats, but can be found in humans too!

so chances are your demon form was formed as a result of your disorder when you were alive, and so you became a goat featured sinner

and whilst yes, this may be hell, and yes, people have seen it all, you randomly just fainting is absolutely horrifying

and yes you've found yourself in many precarious situations and, as such, would have to be strong to fend for yourself in this dog-eat-dog world

so when the opportunity of a safe haven, poorly drawn on a flimsy piece of paper and stuck messily to a notice board, is presented to you... you, of course, go to check it out!

CHARLIE MORNINGSTAR

honestly, when charlie first met you, she was instantly drawn to your goat-like features

because like, you're clearly twins! she's goat themed, you're goat themed! what could make you less twin-like?!

so she wasn't really listening when you randomly and shortly mentioned you have a habit of your muscles seizing and you dropping to the floor during stressful situations as a result

and charlie was likely the person who first triggered your 'fainting' - simply with one cheerful outburst

she had been particularly excited to try out a new redemption activity that she squealed super loud, unsuspecting to everyone to everyone else who got equally startled

then you just kind of... dropped, to the ground, face first, with a sickening crack

charlie thought you were dead.

like actually

full blown panic attack whilst the others minorly panicked

after a few moments, you managed to break free from the tightness of your muscles and sit up - heaving a huge sigh in relief and rubbing at your bloodied nose

it was like you had been revived

charlie got up and immediately started apologising, hugging you and petting at your head in an attempt to comfort you

she also apologised for seemingly brushing past such an important detail

charlie then sets out on a mission to 'faint-proof' the entire hotel, or at least the areas you'd likely be in frequently

she also makes sure that either razzle or dazzle are with you whilst you're inside or outside of the hotel, so they can alert her if you do have a fall or need help

will never forgive herself for that one incident, and will still panic every time you fall but it's endearing - because it shows she cares a lot

she also scolds the others if they ever intentionally (some of them do, all the time) attempt to scare you so your disorder kicks in

charlie and vaggie are honestly the most accommodating to your disorder and help out wherever they can

ALASTOR

oh, he finds it endlessly amusing

one of the sinners who will intentionally startle you just to watch the spectacle

at least has the decency to make sure you won't hurt yourself, he's gentlemanly enough to at least catch you before you hit the floor

but he does everything in his power to spook you

it's funny

and he finds it kind of cute, because he saw it happening to goats when he was alive

and you've reassured them multiple times that the disorder doesn't actually hurt, it's the act of hitting the floor that does

so what's the harm?

but he also gets extremely annoyed if someone else scares you and triggers your disorder - because like... why are they playing with HIS entertainment?

will accompany you outside of the hotel often, because, really, what's scarier than the radio demon? nothing, that's what!

he joins in on charlie's faint-proofing efforts, but only half-heartedly because he enjoys the excuse to hold you

did i mention alastor loves goats, because he REALLY loves goats

if your muscles seize for an extended period of time, alastor makes it his job to take care of you - ensuring you're comfortable and kept company

this is regardless of whether he's the cause or not (he probably is)

despite his endless teasing, he really does like you - you're a sweet addition to the hotel and you're polite, and honestly... that's a step above nearly everyone besides charlie, and is extremely rare for hell

if you also enjoy old jazz music? sold, you are now his favourite little sinner (sorry nif)

ANGEL-DUST

another resident who tests the limits of your disorder - but instead of scaring you, he enjoys teasing you in flirty ministrations

especially because it seems like being flirted with startles you

he will also catch you though because it's all harmless fun, but he'd kick his own ass if you got hurt over something stupid

much like alastor, he is also really protective of you if someone OUTSIDE of the hotel messes with you

got mad at cherry once for doing it and carried you home grumpily, ignoring cherry's texts until you convinced him that it didn't matter and she didn't mean any harm

she promised she wouldn't do it again

she did it again

i feel like angel enjoys tracing the grooves of your horns - it's like, really therapeutic for him

separately, sometimes angel gets really insecure and needs reassurance that what he's doing to you isn't too far because consent is key

you're fine with it, constantly reassuring him you don't mind and you actually find it kind of funny

and when you express that you find it funny because you trust him and know he wouldn't do anything to harm you, you best believe he will cry a little

only a little bit though (he cried a lot)

actively keeps you FAR away from valentino - because in a seized up state, you are undeniably vulnerable, and that momentary weakness could drag you into his line of business

absolutely adores you, coddles you, and he will protect you with newly found fierceness

you trust him and he will NEVER break that trust

HUSKER

honestly doesn't care that much

well, not at first anyways

after a while, once he realises that alastor has a sudden interest in messing with you, he becomes a little protective

and a huge worrywart, not that he shows it...

but he definitely sticks close to you throughout the day (where his job allows) and escorts you to places, hissing at passer-by's who look a little 'spooky'

another one who catches you frequently, and he also has a pillow behind the bar that he throws under your head if you go to collapse against the bar

uses your disorder to his advantage, but not often enough for it to become a predictable behaviour

IT'S NOT AS BAD AS IT SOUNDS I PROMISE

he will just do something subtle to make your muscles contract so you'll seize up if you're being difficult so he can drag you there

like refusing to go to bed

you literally stomp your hooves against the ground

like, it's bed time, go!

has fought and will continue to fight people for treating you like you're less than them because of your disorder

if you want a drink, he will stay sober - so he's in a good frame of mind you make sure you get to bed safely without head bumps and bruises at the end of it

you're your own person and allowed to do at you please, so husk doesn't baby you or limit you - but he's pretty solid for good advice, so if he advises you NOT to do something... honestly, it's a smart idea to listen

but he will help you fix your messes if you still do the thing he told you not to

because he's a softie at heart

is truly your number one protector, him and angel have a mutual understanding that they'll defend you regardless of circumstance

SIR PENTIOUS

the second most terrified of the consequences of your rough falls, just after charlie

ORDERED his eggbois to keep an eye on you, because like... what if you fell and died?

unlikely but not impossible, so every necessary action must be taken to ensure this incident does not occur!

he will be so soft spoken around you and never startles you, and is the ONLY one in the entire hotel who hasn't caused you to fall - the first time he saw it happen, he was determined to make sure it didn't happen again

i love sir pentious, please save me from this brainrot this is not okay...

he offers up his living space for you if you ever need a getaway from the others and is very pleased when you take him up on his offer

makes him feel super accomplished

also makes him feel like he's won against everyone else in the hotel

sir pentious is definitely the most 'domestic' aspect of living in the hotel, but he definitely also babies you - he'll plate up your food, fetch your belongings, get you a drink, etc. at the slightest mention of what you needed

i need a man like sir pentious

is so sweet too

if you're having a bad physical and mental day as a result of your disorder, or even for other things, he's immediately by your side - blankets and snacks in hand, and movie suggestions on the tip of his forked tongue

"ssssssshall we watch an action movie?"

he will also just hand you an eggboi to cuddle, since he himself is too shy to actually initiate a hug - so, unless you hug him first, don't expect him to do it

in this household, we LOVE sir pentious <3 and in this household, he loves you right back

[hells-wasabii]

If that’s okay, can i request a headcanon with Velvette with a male autistic S/O?

A/N: That is 100% okay! i've said it before and i'll say it again, I freaking love Velvette. I've seriously been loving the requests everyone has been sending in! A little shorter than i would've liked but it's quite late when I'm writing this. I really hope i did this one justice!

Character: Velvette

Type: Headcanons (Velvette x autistic m!reader, General)

Honestly, as much as I hate to say it, at first, she probably wouldn't get it. But that's not to say that she won't try to understand. It's part of who you are, it's not going anywhere, so if she plans to keep you around (which she does), she's going to have to get used to it.

Over time, she does. She actually will go out of her way to help you out if you're ever out and about with her and you get over/under-stimulated.

But that being said. she also won't completely coddle you either. You're your own person, not a helpless child. No matter what, she considers you an equal and will treat you as such. She also won't hesitate to reprimand anyone who treats you otherwise.

If you have sensory issues, especially when with comes to certain types of clothing and material, you'd better believe she's going to make you outfits. She'd do it regardless, but she'll go above and beyond, using fabrics that won't feel ick on your skin. Just say the word and she'll take your measurements if she doesn't already have them.

Velvette would plan an occasional outing or event to surprise you, all centered around your interests. History? Fuck it, she doesn't care for it but she's sure that there's a museum or something of the likes down here in hell.

Speaking of any interests you may hold, Velvette would happily listen to you talk about your interests as she works (says it's almost like listening to a podcast). And if one of those interests includes fashion or clothes design, that's awesome! It'll give her a means to contribute to the conversation better even if she has no idea what the rest of your interest is.

By no means is she perfect, she is in hell for a reason after all, but she will try, for you, and for your relationship.

[voidpacifist]

things I loved about season four of sex ed (spoilers ahead)

the amount of representation present this season. the disability rep, the queer and trans rep, how not shy the writers were confronting different trans and disability rights issues head on.

eric's arc with his religion and his gayness and how he was able to reconcile the two. this one really hit home for me as someone who is both queer and a person of faith. I love getting to see gayness have a place within faith, it just healed something for me, okay?

otis was so classically otis but he finally (FINALLY) acknowledged his own idiosyncrasies without just writing them off as being the fault of wounds in his life. by the end of ep 8 he was dedicated to making things better for himself and for other people and I'm actually so proud of him for that.

aimee's journey with healing from her SA trauma and how she navigated a new relationship with that. also I know it probably wasn't intentional but she's a very autistic coded character to me and watching her flourish as herself with isaac just did something so special to my heart. I would level cities for her.

and adam too!! him finally getting the closure he needed with eric and them communicating !!!! the scene at erin wiley's funeral when eric is able to tell adam how genuinely proud of him he is, just,,,my heart I love it when people get to heal !! also again with the unintentional neurodivergent rep, like come on - sitting undiagnosed by yourself, handsome? he's just like me fr.

I was worried the writers wouldn't do isaac's character justice, even though he was given a good arc in season three I was still anxious about where they would take it now that maeve was overseas and honestly, they didn't give him very much of a story outside of his history and who he was when he was with maeve. similar to aimee with him, I really liked watching more of his artistic traits pop out and I loved seeing him have a healthy friendship with someone. even better, I love it when the feelings he harbored for that person were mutual with no strings attached. I wasn't expecting him and aimee to be endgame but I'm absolutely not disappointed about it (you can tell he's my fav because I've written the longest paragraph about him so far).

cal and aisha and pk. need I say anything more? my only gripe is that I wish we could have had a glimpse of the three of them on a date or even see if there were other people in the polycule but that's okay !! I also just really loved cal's journey with themself and I loved getting to see them supported for their identity it meant so very much to me.

lastly but certainly not the least, I loved that otis and o ended on mutually agreeable terms with each other, it just really added to the whole theme of trying to heal and open new doors and be okay with things not being in control all the time. it was especially touching that he gave his position as therapist to her because he knew and acknowledged he had work to do on himself like !!! very rare otis w but totally welcomed. had the show continued I would have loved to see more development w him.

[cottoncandy1322]

My thoughts on Dragons Rising S1-S2P1!

⚠️ POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD, TREAD LIGHTLY ⚠️

1. Arin is literally SO Autism coded I swear and you cannot tell me otherwise. It literally pissed me off so bad how that master dragon was treating him. He's a smart boy, he learns quick too!! But sometimes he gets stuck and held back by his own self. He needs a lot of patience when it comes to his training!! Stressing him out is not doing wonders for him grgrgrg. (I say this as a certified Autistic person)

2. The ninja are literally experiencing the Zane effect. His curse his spreading. My evidence?

Lloyd - Visions - Zane used to have many visions that all came true and they often caused him to wake in a startled state.

Jay - 100% no memory, plus it seems likely that he may turn to the dark side, if only temporary. - Do I really have to say it? Ice, fucking, Emperor.

Kai - Gets stuck in another dimension. - Oh ehm gee, Zane with the ice emperor arc.

3. My god, when Nya saw that fake vision of Jay not remembering her and she said she realize it was fake because there was no possible way he could forget her... it literally broke my heart. Like girl, I am sorry. I am so so sorry. You're love for him is so sweet but...it might seem a little crazy what I'm about to tell you...

4. Cole and Geo are so fucking gay, it's so sweet. They're so cute!!! I love them so much I can't 😭

5. Lloyd my poor poor boy. The visions just utterly terrorizing him was so devastating to watch. I felt so bad for him. I'm glad he managed to find peace with it, if somewhat.

6. What happens if Kai comes across the other four of the Forbidden Five?? What are the gonna do to him?? Please for the love of god-

7. Still waiting for a Cole v. Jay showdown. I need it and I need it now.

8. I miss Wu, Pixal, and Skylor!! And Dareth. Give Zane and Kai their girlfriends back istg. And like, maybe actually do Kailor justice for real this time?? Just sayin. And don't you DARE say Wu is dead, I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT. I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL BUILT ON DENIAL, JUST YOU WATCH.

9. Hear me out on this first Forbidden Five dude, PLEASE I BEG OF YOU-

10. I think it would be kinda silly if one of the Ninja actually got stuck with a wolf mask on while the gong thing was set off, and something bad actually happened with it?? More conflict and angst and drama please, make my heart bleed.

11. What are ya'lls theories on Jay so far after S2P1? I wanna hear em!!

And that concludes my thoughts...for now!! :)

[cookii-moon]

Introducing… the Perfectly Neurotypical Ninja!!!

(I had an idea and thought it’d be funny)

our first incredibly neurotypical ninja is…

✨ JAY! ✨

Has zero volume control whatsoever

He can NOT be quiet for the life of him

There is no way he doesn’t have some form of anxiety disorder

Like his entire panic and fear definitely seem like anxiety to me

Has a plushie he still sleeps with for comfort and is emotionally attached to (which is super real of him honestly)

Panic attacks

He DEFINITELY has hyperfixations

Have you just seen him in general

That one short where he just starts running around on the roof

Also that one time he and Kai were supposed to train and got distracted by competition (Actually this could probably apply to all the ninja because they do this type of thing all the time)

Got so hyperfixated on dancing games that he learnt how to dance

I don’t think he can sit still it just doesn’t seem possible to me

(I’m not a Jay fan so I can’t point to much else off the top of my head but we’re all in agreement there’s no way he’s neurotypical right?)

Okay never mind, our FIRSt neurotypical ninja is…

✨ COLE! ✨

Talks to himself. A lot.

No seriously he talks to himself so much

Professional school dropout

Gets along great with animals and people who don’t fit in

Probably has owned a pet. Or five. (Probably a cat or a reptile) (he came around to them eventually and now he loves them) (dogs are too energetic and loud)

Most likely has depression

Definitely has sensory issues there’s no way he doesn’t

That one time he nearly had a breakdown from being overwhelmed. (Points to core shorts)

Dislikes metaphors (canon)

Wears the exact same hoodie without fail in every single episode where he has to wear civilian clothing (I think it’s a comfort thing at this point)

Probably taught himself several different ninja things he had no need to learn (why can he fight with a sword and nunchucks when he never uses either of them outside of a single special) (this also applies to shields and staffs and throwing stars but those are at least practical)

He says it’s to prepare but really he did it for fun

Has somehow not discovered his ninja special interest yet

(he physically can’t do anything else it’s too boring) (even when he’s not ninjaing he needs to practice once a day minimum or else he explodes)

Dances when happy/excited (definitely not a stim)

Immediately starts telling Jay about dancing when he enters the contest in a very excited manner (definitely not infodumping)

Has caused several misunderstandings due to bad social skills (he can NOT read the room for the life of him)

His best friend is Jay.

(even if he’s not autistic there’s no way this guy is neurotypical.)

(these are not the actions of a neurotypical person we’re all in agreement of that right)

Whoops… uh…never mind…our FIRST!!!! Neurotypical ninja…

✨ NYA! ✨

Terrified of failure

Like it haunts her she does NOT want to fail she has an entire arc devoted to it

Has a hard time letting go of things (she holds grudges A LOT)

This also includes things of sentimental value like Samurai X

Change is difficult for her just in general

SUPER stubborn

Definitely has a schedule that she envisions in her head but forgets to tell everyone else

(that short where she planned to spend time with Jay but he was going to the arcade)

Short temper especially on bad days

The more I write this the more I realize how little characterization she actually gets for most of the series

Justice for Nya honestly

(I’m assigning her neurodivergence I don’t care how short this is)

(I think autistic. But spicy.)

(probably also anxiety or OCD)

(do you see the vision)

….Okay so maybe not that one either- Uh… our FIRST!!! Neurotypical !!! Ninja!!!

✨ KAI! ✨

Has anger issues. Probably.

Super impulsive

No like incredibly impulsive. Ultra impulsive.

Craves attention but has really bad self worth issues

Hinges his worth on his powers (not healthy)

Wanted to be useful so badly that he convinced himself he’d get powers if he drop kicked Garmadon (it did not work)

Did I mention anger issues

Wants to be useful so he can protect!!!

That one time he and Jay were supposed to be training and-

Has zero patience

(I don’t know what flavor of neurodivergent he is but he’s neurodivergent somehow)

(once again I don’t pay attention to Kai there’s definitely more)

…Okay so this time for sure. Introducing FOR SURE our FIRST neurotypical ninja….

✨ ZANE! ✨

Do I even need to say anything

The entire episode “Home”

Social skills

Taking things literal

That one canon (?) book where he apparently has flashbacks to the ice emperor (im calling OCD or PTSD on that one Zane)

Also that one time he locked away bad memories in decoded (decoded is canon to me and the reason for that is mainly because it actually references ghost Cole (iirc) which is a miracle)

Yeah I think he has PTSD

that one time he hyperfixated on and roleplayed as a detective and then a pirate

probably more. Maybe.

That one’s a robot he’s disqualified. The FIRST, FOR SURE, NO MISTAKES, neurotypical ninja is…

✨ LLOYD! ✨

The fact he apparently has so much of starfarer memorized that he can nearly win a quiz contest thingy and the only thing that stopped him from doing that was that he hadn’t read a brand new limited edition issue

starfarer in general he is not normal about starfarer

Way too trusting for his own good

I would be more surprised if he didn’t have some sort of disorder considering everything he’s gone through

hes got to have at least something related to his trauma right

(This one is way shorter because. Again. Not a Lloyd fan. but. I think the starfarer thing is enough to push him into probably not neurotypical territory.)

(most kids do not know the entire plot and all the fun facts to a long running comic book series by heart)

Are you kidding me none of them are neurotypical?

Okay ne- what do you mean the last one

there’s those ones over there!!!! *points to Arin, Sora and wyldfyre*

Oh wait they’re also neurodivergent?

…..uuuuugh shows canceled then…. Sigh… Guess I’ll start up the Incredibly Neurodivergent Ninja show instead.

(disclaimer this is a joke)

(but they are all neurodivergent that part isn’t)

[sundrop-writes]

Sundrop's The Last of Us Masterlist

Decided To Break It - Abby Anderson x Fem!Reader. Childhood Friends to Lovers. Hurt and Comfort. Abby confronts your abuser, and you both come out better on the other side because of it. (5,000 words.)

My Heart Is The Worst Kind Of Weapon - Ellie Williams x Fem!Reader. Strangers to Lovers. Hurt and Comfort. Ellie confronts your abuser, and after years of torment, you finally feel free. (9,600 words.)

Note: The rest of these link off to AO3, but I am hoping to have them edited and posted on Tumblr sometime soon.

Honey - Pervy Jock Abby Anderson x (Faux) Innocent Fem Reader x Pervy Punk Ellie Williams. Friends to Lovers. Smut. No Infected AU. Your best friends, Ellie and Abby, think that you're the perfect picture of innocence. One night, in the best way possible - they find out that you're anything but. (14,300 words.)

Love From The Other Side - Abby Anderson x Fem!Reader. Established Relationship. Smut. Abby has fought long and hard to get you the justice that you both deserve. To you, it's beautiful. And you both have to celebrate it in the most perfect way. (5,600 words.)

Slumber Party - Ellie Williams x Fem!Reader x Abby Anderson. Friends with Benefits. Smut. Very Canon Divergent AU. When Abby over worries herself about Lev's first patrol, you and Ellie both agree that she needs to just take her mind off it, whether she wants to or not. (8,200 words.)

IFHY (I Fucking Hate You) - Abby Anderson x Fem!Reader. Enemies with Benefits. Smut and Angst. You and Abby truly seem to hate each other. So when you find Abby handcuffed inside the elevator, instead of being kind and just letting her out, you make her pay a certain price for the key. (8,100 words.)

Fall In Line - Abby Anderson x Fem!Reader. Enemies to FWB. Smut. Abby finds herself constantly annoyed by you. And those feelings come to a head one day when the two of you are assigned together - and she finds a way to finally put you in your place. (13,900 words.)

Sweet Revenge - Ellie Williams x Fem!Reader. Established FWB. Smut. You and Ellie love to play games. And even on patrol, it never stops. (16,200 words.)

Bring Me Your Pain, Love - Abby Anderson x Chronically Ill Autistic Fem!Reader. Strangers to Lovers. Mutual Pining, Emotional Angst, Smut. (Fluffy Ending.) Abby thinks that she knows herself and her place in life very well - until you turn her world upside down. (38,100 words.)

Five Minutes - Manny Alvarez x Fem!Reader. Established FWB. Smut/PWP. Manny finds a very quick and efficient way to make your morning better. (2,300 words.)

Rock The Boat - Abby Anderson x Fem!Reader. Established Relationship. Smut. On the way to find the Fireflies, you and Abby manage to get a quiet moment alone. Naturally, there is only one way to use that time. (4,500 words.)

[jasontoddssuper]

'Fanon is better than canon' Batfam stans are so transparent.Jason is a mentally ill man who shows all the ugliness that comes with brutal trauma,grew up poor,has a deep respect for women and is closest to the only black Batkid so ofc it's 'better' to erase his erase his symptoms and trauma responses because they're not pretty enough,make him a rich dudebro,have him be a stereotypical playboy who gives his female love interests backhanded compliments and insist that anyone BUT Duke is his favorite sibling to the point of bringing in non-DC characters because they're so desperate to replace him.Cass is a wasian girl who's butch and probably on the nonbinary spectrum,snarky even without talking,tougher than nails,has a hard time with her emotions and is brutal in fights so ofc it's 'better' to feminize her and take away her struggles with gender and all her massive amount of bite,make her soft uwu and sensitive,reduce her down to the Batboys' perfect therapist and prop and have her never hurt a fly

Tim is an autistic-coded teenage boy who's mom died when he was little and who's dad abuses him so he's a huge asshole in the same way most traumatized teenagers are and is canon bi so ofc it's 'better' to switch his autism traits for stereotypes,infantalize him instead of treating him like a person and having him own up to his faults so he can grow up in a healthy way and say he 'has a thing for blondes' in order to reduce his attraction down to apperances instead of personalities.Duke is a young black boy who's extremely troubled from his dystopia-like childhood and a rebel with impulsivity out the ass and a physical incapability to not run his mouth and has some of the coolest powers ever that he knows how to use well so ofc it's 'better' to write him like a fucking white boy,completely brush over all he's been through,turn him into a weak geeky softboy who's oh so scared by his much more interesting family's weirdness,have him be the 'token nice Batboy' and never EVER show his literal demigod heritage

Dick is a romani man who grew up too fast and is mean so often that it's as defining to him as his kindness is,has a darkskinned black woman as his soulmate who he's constantly talking about how much he loves and shows it just as much and is a multiple time SA victim who's triggered by being sexualized by strangers so ofc it's 'better' to exotify him even more than canon does,turn him into a doofus who's happy 24/7 and dosen't have a mean bone in his body,downplay his wife who's also one of his best friend's and has been since they met and replace her with your fave white girl or boy and transform him into a sex symbol to 'normalize casual sex' and 'for gender equality'

Stephanie is a young woman with an abusive father and a drug addict mother who always fought both emotionally and physically to keep herself kind and to do true justice,was a child genius,is super bubbly and femme and silly and unashamedly weird but also take no shit and has a huge mean streak and a hell of a punch instinct and acts like a mix between a big sister and a pseudo-mom to the kids she meets because she wants them to have the positive adult figure she didn't get to have so ofc it's 'better' to age her down to take away her agency,treat her like she's never been constantly mistreated and dosen't 'understand' childhood trauma,is just naturally the way she is instead of working her ass off for it,treat her like a dumbass,take away her all her nuance and feminist personality to make her just a quirky white girl and girlbossify her and pretend she's never been good with younger people and bullies them instead

Damian is a biracial brown boy who was raised as a weapon instead of a child,loves his mom despite her faults,has severe self-eestem problems in the sense that he both believes he's better than anyone else and that he'll never live up to their greatness,developed violence as a coping mechanism,can't socialize normally because he was never taught to and is very much a child so ofc it's 'better' to draw him with no features from his parent of color for your unfunny and overrated and overdone 'they all look the same!!!' jokes,make him hate his own mother who was the only person who gave him genuine love,call him a narcissist as an insult when it's an actual personality disorder which he most definitely is developing/will grow up to have and 'feral' for shit that Jason and Tim have pulled,transform his lack of social skills into him being emotionless and careless and treat him like he's grown either so you can bash him or simp for him

They say 'fanon is better than canon' because despite all the writings faults,the Batfam are still amazing and wonderful characters that so many minorities can easily relate to and see themselves in.And that dosen't sit right with them so they have to destroy all that to turn them into their perfect caricatures of what we're like and pass it off as 'happy family fluff'.It makes me sick to my fucking stomach

[all-about-the-tea-parties]

As an autistic, I very cautiously watched Extraordinary Attorney Woo.

There are many things to say about it, but positive isn’t a word that does it justice.

Loving. This show was written, directed, and acted with love. Young-woo is a full person. She’s not infantilised, sanitised, or model minority’d (much, but I’m on ep 1 and every person who calls her special have social context for saying so).

Aside from the fact that she has a friend her own age that swears around her and says dirty things, what sold this to me was the visual symbolism (and I was pretty much hand full of cash by the point a co-worker helped ease a movement issue).

In most autistic character shows, directors frame shots for Maximum Empathy effect. A group, usually secondary characters, and the main autistic one, always shot with a type of distance between them. The symbolism of otherness, loneliness, not belonging. These shots tend to shadow the characters characterisation, close at the heel, half personality trait in itself. These shots are never momentary, never impact driven, or epiphany oriented. Ever-present. These shots are misery porn and they’re for neurotypicals.

I hate these shots. They re-affirm a depressing reality, and often place an anxious wedge between me and whatever friend group I’ve accumulated when I attempt to fix it.

Autistic people are not the stories that are told. Autistic pain is. But autistic pain that is disgestible for NTs. Pain that is dramatic and loss coded. Pain that can be projected upon. It’s fantastical in nature and it falsely depicts autistic life as depressing.

It makes the message: their lives would be better if they were different. They’re inherently separate and can’t be folded in.

I hate it.

As a message of an experience it’s fine. All people have this experience after all. Otherness is not an autistic trait. But NTs want it to be. Need it to be. Not being them must be hell. Autism must be a sad state of being, not just life on this planet.

And that’s the difference. That’s what I love about this show. One episode in and I trust it.

Young-woo is never framed as separate. Every shot, she’s part of the group. She’s not an intruder, or an outsider. She’s different, sure, her mannerisms definitely tell that story (and boy do I love the actress for the soft way she did it), but narratively? Narratively Young-woo *belongs*. She belongs and the feeling of her not belonging is the responsibility of other characters to overcome.

She gets to be happy. She gets to succeed. She gets to be accepted and valued. Not because she overcame the ever rising hurdle as a poor fleabitten underdog, but as a woman with prejudice set against her, a woman who lacks advantages, a woman. She even gets to affirm that she *is* different, when someone tries to rectify their opinion of her by saying she’s just like everyone else.

She is different and it’s a fact. Not a sad one, or a righteous one. She’s a person. People are snowflakes. She belongs to that snowstorm as much as they do.

Please watch it. It’s wonderful.

[knightbeng]

RWBY and Neurodiversity

Ive been thinking about this for a while but resisted posting until Volume 9 ended. Mainly to see how Ruby’s ascension would resolve, because I knew it would impact how I felt about this. 

Also this is long. Like seriously long. Once I started it got out of hand. But I feel it is all Important. 

I will start by saying that I am autistic, and I have friends and family who are both autistic and or neurodiverse. I also understand that a lot of this maybe subtext or head cannon, and at times deeply personal. I also get that this will never be made cannon or had ever even be intended by CRWBY. But, I cannot escape some of the connections I have made or how I relate to some characters. 

Right with that out of the way

RUBY IS AUTISTIC, or at least somewhere on the spectrum.

From the first volume I could see some of the traits coming through. From the use of headphones and music separating her from the world around her. Her over exuberance when is excited or interested in something. Right up to her passion/special interest in weapons and being a huntresses. This is not to lessen the other characters interests or passions, but Ruby’s is very much all consuming. She speaks about how she went over board on Crescent Rose’s design, and about how much she likes others designs. Including Jaune’s classic Crocea Mors. I cannot help but see my own love of history. That took me to university and beyond. Like Ruby with any weapon, I love any history. 

Then there is her abilities in the classroom. Ruby is clearly a natural talent, but she is never shown to be a savant. She has issues keeping her attention in class and with the work load. Although I do understand that this can be put down to being jumped ahead and that Port n Oobleck’s class seem to have a similar effect on others. Much like me and some of my friends we had classes we loved but struggled to show it though other academic difficulties. 

The early volumes also cover her struggles to connect with people. Such as wanting to be with Yang, instead of meeting new people. Or with Weiss and hers rocky relationship, early on. Countered with the open acceptance by Jaune, who sees a fellow outsider. Although for different reasons. Her own comment of wanting “normal knees” is something I think everyone one with autism can relate too. The wish to be just like everyone else and not stand out. That, at times, can be the greatest wish living in a world you struggle with. 

Then there’s the events post Beacon. They show a defining personality trait so common in autism. Her unshakeable moral centre. It can be hard to describe but it is well documented the autistic people have a very strong sense of justice and morals. Although obliviously not all the same morals. We are all have a different in outlook, just like everybody else. Ruby’s is based around helping people and making the world a better place. 

This is shown most strongly in her mission to walk to Haven. Even if most would say she is too young and it is too dangerous, for 4 unqualified huntsmen/huntress. They went and got hurt and burnt out along the way. Yes others went with her but would they have gone without her taking the lead. It shows a lack of self awareness that can be common as autistic people. To the point that they burn themselves out pushing to achieve things, without taking time for themselves. 

The other massive tell is her reaction to Ironwood. She has no dislike for him and shares his goal. But, his actions and plans go against her moral code. So again she sticks to her morals and works to stop him, while rescuing Atlas, at the same time. Yes others agreed that he was in the wrong, but would the likes of Winter changed their allegiance, without someone like Ruby offering an alternative.

Then we get to the biggest thing for me and the reason I felt I had to put my feelings down. Volume 9. While Ruby’s mental state and issues during this volume are very much based in trauma, lose and depression. That a lot of people can relate too, not just the autistic community. I cannot help but think about what she says before she drinks the tea. “I don’t want to be me anymore.” I have never related to a character more. Or be triggered more, for that matter. When I spoke to some of my autistic friends about it, it was something all of us had felt at one moment or another, to varying degrees. See we all know we cannot separate autism from the rest of our person. Most of us don’t even know what is an autistic trait and what is just us. But, I need to make this clear, none of us want a cure or to be changed. More the reaction was things I have felt at times when at your lowest a small voice screams that would it be easier if you weren’t you. 

Then there is Ruby’s ascension. After episode 9 when it was put to her she could change to be someone else, and people where discussing how she might change, if you see Ruby though the lens I’ve described it can be harmful.

Now I don’t want it to sound like I’m accusing CRWBY of not thinking about this. Thousands of people watch RWBY and can be effected by it in ways they would not think, not having that person’s experience. They are telling a story, and that story includes these real moments. 

Back to the point. Telling someone with autism or that person thinking they have to change to achieve or be accepted is a horrible experience. And it is something almost all autistic people experience. It is the reason we learn to mask and hide who we are. The world tells you that it is what’s expected of you. So when in episode 10 Ruby chooses herself and is then reminded that her friends accept her for being herself. It is powerful. Again I understand that this can relate to a lot of things; imposter syndrome, being gay or race issues. But, as someone who is autistic this is how I saw it. I personally have only had 2 people truly accept me like this. 

PENNY is the only other character I see as on the spectrum. Obviously a lot of her character traits are put down to her being a robot. But as Ruby says to her does that make her any less a real person. In fact the relationship between Penny and Ruby is a massive indicator for me of them being on the spectrum. When they first team Ruby asks if she was just like Penny to Weiss. It is not uncommon for autistic people to spot each other quickly, whether they realise it or not. Then when they meet up at the tournament, both feel no need to hide who they are. Ruby is openly dorky in asking Penny about Ciel’s knowledge and Penny doesn’t hide her excitement to see her friend. 

This is repeated multiple times when Penny returns in Atlas. Each time they see each other they share and communicate in away that they don’t with others. Such as hugging Ruby first and asking do all hugs feel like this, before hugging others. She knows that Ruby will be honest and non-judge mental. In fact we can see how non autistic people react when Penny is her over excited, unmasked, self in front of them. Winter stopping Penny bouncing is a typical action from neurotypicals. Even if it comes from a place of care and concern, with no wish to harm, as I believe Winters was. But it is something neither Penny or Ruby would do to the other. 

Then there is Penny’s morals. She is clearly guided to help her friends, people and world. At great detriment to herself. She becomes the hero of Mantel, protecting those who can not protect themselves, and when others will not. Much like Ruby she will risk it all for her sense of justice. 

One of the most impactful parts of Penny’s story is that of virus. I didn’t even think of this, my friend pointed it out when I spoke to her about it. But her Penny is controlled by the virus, she felt it worked as a metaphor for Applied Behaviour Analysis or ABA. Which if you haven’t heard of it, is a horrible thing to experience as someone with autism. Much like conversion therapy for the LGBTQ+ community this works by trying to train you out of being autistic and make you more accepting for others. Penny is pushed towards things she doesn’t want to do and most horribly to do harm. She becomes a tool to the villains, which can also mirror how some savant autistics are treated. There skills used for a “greater good” instead of them being in control of their own destiny. 

Now I want to move on to discuss Ships. These are all Ruby related and while I’m not saying these should be cannon or that they are over other ships, cannon or otherwise, but I feel they work at different points in Ruby’s story when viewed as discussed above. 

LADYBUG is the first ship I gravitated towards in the show. For me Blake was the first character to simply accept Ruby as who she was. This does stem from Blake’s own wish to be accepted for who is she and not what she is, but it is still important to outwardly show it to others as well. I understand that a lot of people find this to be a boring ship, I think that’s because it lacks drama, but for me the idea of someone new accepting you without question or concern is powerful. That is why I like the ship. It is comforting and has little interpersonal drama between the two. More mutually assured care and concern. In fact that is why they talk so little in the show. They understand and trust each other. One of the many reasons people have Blake as a deputy team leader, during and after the events of Volume 9, is this mutual trust. 

NUTS AND DOLTS maybe the most loved ship these days. Outside of Bumblebee, that is. As I have already gone into Penny and Ruby’s relationship as being very neurodiverse. They are themselves with each other, and communicate more easily with the other. Although I would add this is the only one I see as asexual, but I think both characters can be seen as both asexual and not. Just when they are together, they are asexual. Plus after events in Volumes 8 & 9 I think we can call it as close to cannon as possible. 

WHITEROSE i find the most interesting. At the start of the series I never got it. Weiss was mean and uncaring to Ruby. Why would Ruby ever being interested romantically in Weiss. But then as the show progress I understood it. Weiss is just as bigger dork as Ruby but due to reasons outside of autism, she had to mask this. Seeing Ruby act as she wishes and not be punished for it, as she might have been, lets her drop the mask. Two big things outside of the main show solidified this for me. The first is Ice Queendom. We see inside Weiss’ mind and how she has locked away her childish side for protection. Going as far as to do the same thing to Ruby. The second is that I was recently introduced to The Owl House. Luz and Amity’s relationship has a lot of similarities to Weiss and Ruby. Both start with a cold and unforgiving person who is thawed by the loveable dolt. Bringing out there more natural playful side, originally hidden away to protect themselves. Now after the loss of Penny and Weiss being so accepting of Ruby in the ever after. She is the first to call her name when she returns and doesn’t ask any questions, after all. I can see it becoming cannon. If there is time. 

Thank you for reading this I know it is long but I felt I never saw much discussion about RWBY from this perspective. 

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for complaining about a teacher?

context before i start: the class i'm in takes up 3 hours of the day, and was the only reason i came to this school in the first place. it's an art school and is supposed to be somewhat serious—like, you have to apply to get in. but the 2 years i've been here we've had like 4 teachers (+ there have been even more before that) and none of them have been qualified for the job whatsoever

our newest teacher just got out of college and doesn't know what she's doing. she doesn't assign work that's actually creatively challenging, 1 hour of class time is usually dedicated to a really bad prompt and the rest of the time is independent work, it's barely an actual art class. she also never talks to the class and doesn't really have a clue what's going on ever. supposedly she has a degree but she just seems so. confused. the reason i'm still at this school is because i know people here who live upwards of 40 minutes away who i'm very close with + along with that i'm also autistic so any kind of drastic change would be hell. unfortunately leaving, though it would be the best option for me, is just not an option at all

anyway, we're already a quarter of the way through the year and people are still saying to cut her some slack because she's... new. which is kind of exactly what the issue is? i went through something similar to this last year because one of our previous teachers gave me really bad vibes and just didn't really work, so i complained about her to my classmates, and then i went to the administration about some issues i was having and she ended up quitting a few weeks after. people thought i got her fired on purpose. i was a little bit overly angry looking back so idk i can't blame them

anyway, i recently went to the admin about this new teacher (unlike last time, i tried to "give her grace" and hope for improvement, even though... idk... i just don't see it happening) but haven't really held back in complaining about her to my classmates too. most of the time people will say i'm being overly negative, or they don't want her to get fired, and honestly it's just fucking wild to me. they've also made comments about how she's not a good teacher! like everyone agrees that she's just not ready for this position and they're really sick of not being able to learn things! when i do complain though it's like i'm messing up some kind of social contract there is to just not do anything about the problem we're having and it's really confusing and frustrating

but at the same time i do wonder if this is me being overly critical and nitpicky of a situation that i shouldn't be. to me, because of aforementioned autism, i have a really strong sense of justice. this kind of stuff seriously bothers me and it upsets me that nobody else is as affected by the unfairness as i am?? idk. i just want the class to actually be worthwhile because the academics are really good

so AITA?

What are these acronyms?

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Why Temple Grandin is NOT my Hero

Hello everyone,

As the title says, I wanted to talk about Temple Grandin. I got to meet her when I was 12. She seemed very standoffish (which isn’t surprising). I did some research on her for some time and I’ve come to realize that she isn’t the best autism advocate. According to this article:

As a believer in functioning labels, Temple Grandin believes in preserving “high functioning” autistic traits while eliminating “low functioning” traits through Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and cures and even special diets for autism, such as wheat free and dairy free. ABA is a harmful early intervention that causes PTSD in autistic adults and attempts to eliminate autistic behaviors and replace them with neurotypical behaviors, which causes distress and emotional and psychological harm in autistic children and adults who undergo ABA. The Association for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABAI) even endorsed electric shock therapy at the Judge Rotenberg Center, the only care facility in the United States to use this horrific form of “treatment.” The fact that Temple Grandin divides autistic people into those that should be “preserved” and those that should be “cured” is a very harmful and ableist belief, and this view is damaging to the pro-acceptance and neurodiversity movement.

Article will be below:

Clearly she supports ABA therapy, which is harmful to autistic people. Plus she also mentions how she thinks autism can improve in time. Which…isn’t how it works. You can manage your traits and symptoms, but you can’t necessarily “improve”. Your autism is your autism. It’s not going to change.

While she did do some good work for the world, I cannot bring myself to support her advocacy. If you aren’t advocating for all autistic people, higher needs included, then you aren’t advocating for us at all.

Some autistic people have high support needs. And she doesn’t seem to understand that, and thinks it can magically improve is the gist I’m getting here. That’s not how it works. You don’t “improve” an autistic individual. You “support” them. No matter where they are on the spectrum.

According to another article I found:

Temple Grandin believes that "high-functioning" autistics are talented, intelligent, and necessary to human survival, while "low-functioning" autistics cannot function or live independently, and thus should be cured in the present and prevented from existing in the future. Both I and others have thoroughly deconstructed the false dichotomy of high and low functioning, but suffice it to say that such claims not only reinforce ableist hegemony, but also reinforce a capitalist notion of success and value in that only people who can produce are worthy of inclusion in society; all others are burdens.

That’s all I wanted to share. I will leave the source below if anyone wants to read it. I find this very disappointing because I looked up to her when I was younger.

[magnetothemagnificent]

could you talk a little bit about the narrative decisions in prince of egypt that you liked or disliked?

Narrative and plot decisions in Prince of Egypt I didn't like, in no particular order:

Making Pharaoh a symphathetic character. He was a tyrant over slaves. I get maybe emphasizing the regular Egyptians that got caught in the crossfire, but there should not be an entire fandom saying Pharaoh deserved better. Also the whole Moses and Pharaoh being brothers thing- in the Tanakh, Moses is Pharaoh's adopted grandson, son at most if maybe you want the first Pharaoh (Moses's adoptive grandfather) to die. That's an entirely different dynamic than adoptive brothers, and I think Moses facing the imposing Pharaoh whom he saw as a grandfather/father in contrast to the memory of his mother's song is much more powerful.

Not including Moses's disability. In the Tanakh he has some sort of speech impediment, and it's really important in the story. I don't like how Aaron was sidelined in the Prince of Egypt- he was Moses's interpreter!! I think it would have been really cool for a kids' movie to have a disabled protagonist, because speech impediments are really only used in movies for comedic effect or to imply a lack of intelligence or maturity in a character. Having the main character and hero of the story just happen to also have a speech impediment and have his brother as his interpreter would have been so meaningful. There's so many different angles they could have taken too- they could have made Moses a non-speaking or semi-speaking autistic person, or a Deaf person, or someone with an anxiety disorder, or someone with a neurological disorder, or someone with an injury that prevents him from speaking. All of these would have been incredible and I think it was a major loss for the film to not include Moses's disability.

Not including the kickass Jewish midwives who disobeyed Pharaoh. They could have made them seperate characters, or they could have followed Midrash and made them Yocheved and Miriam. Would have been really cool to see Yocheved risk her life not just to save Moses, but to save other babies, too, with Miriam as her assistant. Also not including Yocheved being Moses's wet nurse. In the Tanakh, Moses doesn't just get left with Pharaoh's daughter. Miriam offers Yocheved as his wet nurse, so Yocheved still gets to nurse her son. Would have been such an heartwrenching emotional plot point, for Yocheved to nurse her son and watch him grow up but not being able to tell him who she actually is. She could have sang "Deliver Us" while nursing him in Pharaoh's palace, and I think it would have hit even harder.

Not having Aaron perform the plagues of Blood, Frogs, and Lice. Moses recalling how the Nile and the earth saved him would have been so incredible, and just....justice for Aaron honestly he was completely destroyed as a character and flattened out and it feels like he was only included in the movie because they had to but they didn't flesh out his character at all and I hate it. They made him into a cowardly nobody when he was literally the first ever High Priest and Moses's interpreter and ughhhhhh

Parts of the Prince of Egypt that I loved:

"When You Believe". Just...god it makes me cry every time. The animation for this song sequence is beautiful and just...I love it.

"Through Heaven's Eyes". I love Jethro, I only wish we got more of him.

"You're Playing With The Big Boys Now". Incredible. Love the dread it makes you feel, but again, I only wish Aaron was given more of a larger role in confronting Pharaoh.

The scene with the burning bush. I like how it's animated and how it's both beautiful and terrifying at the same time- just like G-d.

The little details like the Erev Rav (Egyptians that joined the Jews when they left Egypt) and Miriam with her tambourine that shows that the creators really knew the source material......which makes it all the more disappointing that they changed really important details or omitted them, because they knew better.

There's probably more things I liked and disliked that I'm forgetting, but yeah these are the ones that I think about most.

If you disagree with me I don't care but please make your own post about it because I don't want my post to become a PoE discourse thread.

[skillsco]

just some autistic frank things and headcanons:

• one of his special interests is weapons, when he was a teen he developed one involving medieval torture. he’s known all the pressure points of where to hit someone in order to incapacitate them for years.

• he reads and writes more than he speaks. he often felt like an outsider growing up. he needs rules to function and many social situations are too complex. he likes when things are simple.

• goes nonverbal when he’s upset and starts stimming by tapping his fingers, walking around.

• general stims include his index finger tapping against his thumb, chewing the inside of his cheek, licking his lips, and rubbing the back of his head if it’s been shaved. he likes playing with his longer hair too but hardly anyone is around to see it.

• he stims every time he listens to music. he doesn’t listen to music very often. it’s distracting for him.

• he likes his long hair but it’s too noisy for him. he needs it out of his eyes and face to be able to focus.

• autistic rage is how he survives.

• safe foods include black coffee and breakfast foods. he likes trying new foods and recipes because he likes exploring different types of textures and flavors. he cooks for people to show that he cares because he’s not great with words.

• stims by cleaning his guns. he used to play with maria’s hair a lot. now he rubs the scar on the back of his head.

• extremely high pain tolerance from years of dissociating from his body. it was difficult when he was growing up. his mom would often find him injured and not saying anything or acting like there was something wrong. he once broke his finger and didn’t realize it until later when someone pointed it out.

• has to have everything extremely organized. as a child he lined things up and would get upset if people touched his stuff. he wasn’t good at playing with others.

• technology is overwhelming for him, he likes old fashioned things with physical parts.

• needs more information to assess a situation. whether that be for a mark or in personal situations. he would always ask “the wrong questions” and offer solutions instead of just listening. it was one of his main issues with maria. she thought he didn’t care about her feelings for years when he was trying to help.

• he did not realize maria was flirting with him at first. she was his first real relationship because all other people gave up when they assumed he wasn’t interested. he doesn’t know how to flirt.

• he’s obsessive. when it comes to his mission, nothing else matters. when he first got with maria, nothing else mattered. he needed to know everything about her.

• his autistic sense of justice is what drives him. he believes what he is doing is right and is firm in his beliefs. this also goes hand in hand with his black and white thinking.

• even before war, he was awkward in social situations. he’s always been quiet. he doesn’t like big settings of people, it’s too loud with too much going on. he prefers one on one interactions. it’s easier to focus when it’s just one person.

• he’s been told he struggles with empathy and has no emotions, but he feels so deeply despite not expressing it. he doesn’t understand how people don’t see it but it’s not something he can really explain. it’s always been like that.

• he was nonverbal for years as a child, which is why he was so used to the comments that were made at the construction site (nmcu specific) and he couldn’t understand why they gave a shit.

• in school, he was bullied, but he never really told his parents about it. he was always kinda different. always felt like he was faking the whole “being a human” thing, so in some ways what he does now is easier. he doesn’t have to pretend and put energy into things he’s bad at.

• lisa was kinda like him and it made him nervous. she was blunt and accused of being cold when he knew what she meant. maria had to explain why it was an issue, but all he could think about was the factual statements and how it’s good to pick things apart.

• he always has a plan, a backup plan, and a backup backup plan. it’s part of why he hates a lot of heroes that just go in with no plan. why don’t they have a plan? he’s gone on many tangents before. it’s one of the main reasons why he doesn’t do team ups. that, and other people are too unpredictable. he still doesn’t play well with others.

• when he was young, he really believed in god because god and catholicism has rules that you stick to. he never understood why god and the angels were allowed to kill people but he wasn’t. he went into seminary because he had a special interest in god. he can debate a lot but religious people rarely enjoy it. he’s now a lapsed catholic, mostly because of that.

• nowadays to him, heaven is just a fancy prison and free will is what’s important. he doesn’t like the idea of being a pawn. it’s why he told heaven to go fuck itself. if he has to sacrifice his beliefs then what does that say about him?

• part of why he went into the marines was because he dad always told him he needed to respect authority. he was pushed into it, told that maybe it would do him some good since he was constantly picking fights and not understanding why people behaved the way that they did.

• he likes dogs because dogs like routine. they’re always affectionate. he can also talk to them and they don’t judge or expect him to say the right words. they just like it when he talks.

• his punisher shirts are always a blend of cotton and polyester overtop kevlar. he has a stencil he carries in his bag. the skull is like the jacket he had in high school. it makes him feel comfortable and secure.

• he never wears cologne and doesn’t like things with a lot of scent.

• he was never too good at hygiene, even as a child. now he has an excuse, but really it’s just a lot of effort and he’s going to get dirty again so why does it matter?

[thatonebirdwrites]

The neurodivergence of Legend of Korra: Asami Sato

Perhaps others have noticed this, not sure, but I thought I'd write about it because it's why I love these characters so much. I'd like to go through all four of them, but we'll see.

Asami Sato

Her behaviors and characterization

When we first meet Asami Sato, she has run into Mako literally. We also see how her flirting is basically dialed up to 11. There is no subtlety about it at all. In fact, this will be true the entire series and comic run. She simply cannot do subtle flirting. It's either all or nothing.

We also see how she is essentially acting for her father. When she's alone with the group, especially during the racecar scene, she drops her socialite mask. She's more down-to-earth, more compassionate, more playful, and tends toward what I call her 'observation mode' where she analyzes a situation to try to discern solutions. She's also very justice oriented.

Her strong streak of justice is what pushes her to turn on her father. Although that scene shows her struggling with the decision, everything up to that point had left clues that she would not side with her father on this. She found the accusations Korra made unjust and confusing, and she worried that her father was being targeted due to being a nonbender -- this is all worries rooted in a sense of justice. So when the moment comes when she discovers Korra is correct, her father has betrayed the city and is harming people, her sense of justice flares again. She looks at the people she had befriended, how hurt they are, and how they are being rounded up like cattle. And she chooses justice.

This is a common theme for her. She chooses justice and Korra again and again. She is incredibly loyal. Stubbornly loyal.

She also struggles with social situations. Her interactions with Varrick in Book 2 for instance show how easily confused she is in social situations that are a bit chaotic. She tends to prefer more ordered social interactions. She at this point has been unmasked around Team Avatar for several months, so she also struggles to bring up her socialite mask around Varrick. Her palpable relief when she's done interacting with Varrick shows how draining these situations are (which is also an indicator of her being an introvert).

All of her eye rolls are the typical eyerolls you see for autistic characters and people in real life. There's actually an interesting post about how autistic people actually "roll" their eyes for the eye roll because we're interpreting it literally. While non-autistic people don't do that - they look up then down. I find this pretty accurate for a lot of us, to be honest.

Asami hyperfocuses a lot. She has special topics that she can infodump on for hours. Some of the few times she talks a lot in the series is her discussions relating to her engineering.

She is visibly uncomfortable in large crowds, and you see this especially in Book 4, where she is shown uneasy and frustrated by the crowds (and then Wu) at the train dedication ceremony. She is relieved and relaxes ONLY when someone she trusts appears - Mako, but even then, she's still on guard. You also see this in Book 3, where she hangs at the edges of crowds during Korra's press conference about the vines -- she is there to support Korra but shows hesitancy in getting any closer to the proceedings.

Her quiet watching of the Krew is a common trope for autism in cartoons. The quiet, thoughtful, loyal, smart person who is present and only talks when needed. The way she talks is also highly that of a neurodivergent person, in that it is very direct and uses language that doesn't fit the typical norms that non-autistic characters used.

Like in Book 3, where she tries to parse Bolin's somewhat confusing explanation of why they had lost Kai, so she turns to Mako and asks, "Can you interpret that?" I noticed that she behaves this way if the speaker talks too fast or blurts out a lot of information at once. She has to take time to process it, and so tends to be more of a planner. Her replies are always measured and rarely does she blurt out things. She analyzes the situation carefully, thinks it through, and then comes to a decision. This actually is what makes her the perfect foil for Korra.

She prefers strict/rigid schedules and when those are disrupted she struggles with finding balance. This leaves her on edge and insecure (you see this in Book 1 and 2); however, in Book 4, when her schedule is disrupted to work on the hummingbirds, her reaction is anger and irritation, due to her character development. She's become secure in who she is now, so disruptions no longer bring out insecurity but instead her irritation. (Every time she deals with Varrick that irritation toward him is apparent, because he adds an element of chaos that Asami does not like. Plus I don't think she ever forgives him for the bullshit he pulled on her in Book 2).

Asami hates dishonesty. You see this in Book 1 especially, where she's angry at Mako because of his dishonesty. She is never angry with Korra, because Korra was never dishonest with her. Even when Ikki shares that Korra likes Mako, Korra never disputes it, she's honest and shows that she still wants a friendship with Asami. So Asami respects her for this. Asami is always honest and direct in her interactions. If she is subtle, it's in a playful way or because she's uncertain on how exactly to proceed in the interaction.

All of these can be common traits for autistic folks. These behaviors, her speech, her reactions, and how she is shown to stand and exist in scenes were all used when I went through a few diagnostic tests for her.

Diagnostic Tests

There's several types of tests for autism. One that I had for my evaluations (as an adult), is a variation of this one here: Autism Spectrum Quotient When I went through that test and examined each question based on Asami's words, reactions, interactions, and actions in the series (transcripts are useful for this as well as rewatching), Asami scored between 36 and 42, which is above the typical autistic mean of 32.

The reason this was a range is due to the fact some of the questions reference situations that was never shown in the show or comic run, so I had to think through how she reacted in a similar situation to try to discern whether she'd agree or disagree with that question.

Social situation questions The social situation questions were also a struggle to decide on if she'd agree or not. When she is masking in Book 1 for her father, it looks like she enjoys them, but as soon as she turns on her father and unmasks for Korra, Mako, and Bolin (she slowly unmasks through the rest of book 1 and 2), she no longer looks at ease in social situations. In fact, she looks more and more uneasy, and she becomes more and more quiet.

Another important example for social interactions is exemplified in the Book 1 scene where Ikki shares with Asami that Korra likes Mako. Korra is horrified at this because she hadn't wanted to make things awkward between them, but Asami just looks thoughtful and replies, "I wasn't aware of that." She misses these clues partly because she is taking in data about how Korra reacts to her and not to Mako. This scene also reveals how subtle details in social interactions escapes Asami's notice unless she is hyperfocused on observing the situation to gather data. After that scene with Ikki, Asami pays much, much closer attention to Mako. Not Korra. She knows where Korra stands, but she doesn't know where Mako stands. She goes into what I often call her "observation mode" where she observes the proceedings, and then once she has a better handle on it, she starts to interact/react.

She also tends to talk more when she's with people she trusts -- the Krew for instance. Otherwise, she's fairly quiet in discussions with other people -- such as planning meetings with the Krew, Lin, Tonraq, and others in Book 3 -- where she only speaks up out of concern for Korra. Otherwise, she is quietly listening and observing proceedings.

Patterns

There are some other questions in the test that are outdated as noted by the authors of that website (who are autistic clinicians). So any questions related to "dates" I interpreted as noticing numerical and other types of patterns, which Asami does.

Asami is excellent at noticing patterns and odd details in the environment. You first see this in Book 1 when she comments on a detail in the environment that is odd, or her behavior shows her noticing the detail and reacting to it. Before she can fully process what it means, it's often too late (like the electric invisible fence where Asami noticed a detail that she found odd, but it was too late, and they all get knocked out). This happens other times in the series as well.

Hyperfocusing and empathy Her engineering knowledge is definitely her special interest, and when asked about it, she gladly talks far more than any other time. Her hyperfocusing on tasks often to the exclusion of all other tasks and bodily needs is pretty common for her -- one of the reasons why the fandom is convinced she forgets to eat due to this hyperfocusing, so then Korra saves the day by making her eat.

This hyperfocusing also shows up with how she cares for Korra at the end of Book 3/4. She is super, hyperfocused on being there for Korra and is willing to drop everything to be with Korra, even to head South with her. (It's also because she's in Love with Korra, let's be honest there, but it's that tendency to hyperfocus on what/who she loves that also plays a role too I think. I know I can do that myself where I hyperfocus on the person I love, and then have to dial back.)

Some might claim that because Asami is highly sensitive and perceptive of other people's emotions, then that is a sign she isn't autistic. I, however, argue that is actually a good indicator she is autistic. Autistic people are not lacking in compassion at all. In fact, we're the opposite. We feel too much, and that can be overwhelming to the point of deadening emotions or causing us to fall out of sync with our emotions. We also take in too much sensory data, and that can also overwhelm us. So when people make the claim that we lack sympathy or compassion, it's because we are often in an overwhelmed state because we are feeling too much of it. We want to help, but until we stabilize or limit the sensory overload, it's harder for us to articulate and make it clear how much we care.

This is also why our sense of justice can be so strong. We care so much, and we find arbitrary rules to be frustrating. We want to know why something is the way it is, and if there isn't an answer that makes sense as to why things are that way, there is a tendency for autistic people to disregard that rule. We prefer just and fair options, and prefer direct and honesty because it's easier for us to interpret and process.

Now there is ALWAYS nuance to this as not all autistic people have the same traits nor do our traits manifest in the same way. But there is strong correlations that we all share, and Asami shares as well.

Anyway, I could go into further depth and do some scene analysis, but I'll stop here because my pain has flared up again, and I need some rest. Thanks for reading!