#it's the mask and unmasking aspect

[eddiebabygirldiaz]

no one told me how isolating unmasking would be

[moe-broey]

What did she mean by this. Btw.

LIKE. It is SUCH an interesting observation coming from Veronica SPECIFICALLY, someone who has been notoriously out of touch with emotions -- her own emotions, and also struggles significantly with processing other people's emotions and understanding their intent.

And like thinking about this like. Alfonse has a tendency to be sincere even when he doesn't want to be. He can't help it. No matter how guarded he is, that sincerity always shines through.

But when I think about Sharena, like. I never think of her as Insincere. I never think of her as Fake-Nice, like the way I view Henriette at times. Where it feels like there's something more unsettlingly detached underneath her warm smile and overly affectionate demeanor. Which isn't to say I believe Henriette is secretly evil or something, I just think she has Something going on that makes it so I have never completely trusted her as a character and would Not be surprised if she was hiding something.

When I think about Sharena, I think maybe she's like. Try-Hard Nice. It's very hard to explain what I mean. But I don't believe she's insincere. I don't believe she's hiding something like Henriette could be. I think she's desperate? And takes a methodical approach to relationships, where she's set out on A Goal, which is to make a friend. If I say the right thing and act the right way I will succeed in being the perfect friend. She's incredibly open, but is she really? Does she know how to be truly open? Has she ever just let herself, be?

ALSO incredibly fascinating the implications of this for Veronica, having noticed this and saying it so confidently. I haven't delved super deep into Veronica's character, but... I just think it's interesting, that she struggles so much to process these things, and yet seems to be able to detect when something is off and untrustworthy to her. Even MORE interesting is how all this plays out with Letizia, where she trusted her completely. Ofc, in that case, you have to consider the entire context of their relationship -- Veronica never having had a reason to distrust her. Unfortunately I don't have a lot I can say on that though (<- emotionally cannot finish Book 6)

Idk I just. Sometimes I'll be reminded of a dialogue and it'll infect me with brain worms LMFAO

[fandomfloozy]

Oh, I'm pretty boy?

pairing: katsuki bakugo x sick!reader

c/w: fluff, early relationship, petnames (katsuki calls reader babe, reader evidently calls katsuki pretty lol), sprinkles of hispanic!reader/spanish-speaking!reader, gn!reader

wc: 1.3k

~°•*~

You've been sick the last few days.

You're on the tail-end of recovery now, thank god, but for most of the week you've been bed-ridden, and snotty, and sweaty, and hot, and cold. It's been miserable, if you're being honest. With the light at the end of the tunnel in view, you're glad the worst of it is over.

There has been one upside to being sickly, though--one aspect that makes you wish you could be sick just one more day: Ever since you fell ill, since the moment he'd heard you were taking leave off work to rest at home for a bit, you've been under the thorough care of your very own, self-appointed nurse, Katsuki.

There's this saying: "You'll never truly know someone well enough until you've seen them struggle financially, grieve a lost loved one, or witness them while they're sick."

Your relationship is new. Not early days, but still far too soon for him to be seeing you sick, for your liking.

But when he showed up at your door a couple days ago--masked up, worry-eyed, and holding all the essentials for treating a typical head cold--how could you refuse him?

And to be fair, he's been a rock. He's changed your compresses (water bowl kept at optimal temperature), given you medicine in intervals (timed and administered to the MINUTE), and even cooked you palatable meals (anything you could keep down, but namely the caldo recipe he got from your mom when he asked her what you ate when you're sick). He did everything short of rubbing Vick's vapo rub on you (not for lack of trying), all while keeping a level head and brushing aside your concerns over feeling like you're burdening him.

"You're my partner," he'd say matter-of-factly. "This is my job, ain't it?"

A rhetorical question. He said it as if it was an irrefutable truth, as if he hadn't even considered an alternative, as if the very thought of leaving you to fend off this cold by yourself was an affront to your relationship, scowl on his face and all.

His bedside manner needed work, but when he said those words to you... let's just say the flush rising up your face probably had nothing to do with the cold.

So, yeah. While you're happy to be feeling better, you can't help being a little disappointed that the doting will soon come to an end.

Which is why you now sit with your head resting in your hands, elbows on the kitchen bar, making the most of admiring a now unmasked Katsuki as he cooks your dinner on what will be the last of your "sick days."

You're unashamed in your ogling. You feel bold. It might be the relaxed atmosphere. It might be the way Katsuki let you wear his hoodie tonight... It might just be the cold medicine. You feel dozy, comfy, and so dopily content as you watch your boyfriend chop vegetables.

He does it with ease--so practiced that it's like he's on autopilot. His defenses are down, completely in his element.

"'Ya sure you want all this cooked in with your rice?" Now that you're feeling better, he's less inclined to hold his tongue about his thoughts on your childhood dishes.

You yawn and nod. "Mhm, it's the way my mami always makes it."

"Just sayin', I could make ya rice without all this extra stuff."

"It's a good thing you're not making rice, Katsuki." You pout dramatically for emphasis. "You're making sopita."

"Sopita," he repeats, shaking his head with a sideways grin. "Alright, babe. I've got you covered. Sopita coming right up."

You switch to resting your cheek in one hand, continuing to observe your boyfriend as he works. He looks so serene this way. With his smug little half smile, even his expression screams "relaxed"--very unlike his usual frown and furrowed brow.

You're not used to seeing him like this. Sure, you've seen him in a good mood, upbeat, excited, even downright elated, like on the day you agreed to go out with him.

Katsuki has always been an... expressive person, even when it doesn't grant him the most flattering of expressions.

Right now, though, while he's contented and caring for you in the comfort of your own home, his features are on display in such a way that you wonder if the cough syrup really is getting to you.

He looks almost...

Pretty...

"You're starin'."

You know you are. "Sorry," you laugh. "I was just thinking how it's a shame you have such a cara de fuchi most of the time, Kats. You're so pretty."

His head snaps toward you. "Fucking WHAT." The furrow is back in his brow. If you were paying proper attention, you'd notice the flush rising up his neck and the back of his ears, but your eyelids are feeling a bit heavy at this point.

You wave your free hand dismissively. "You know, cara de fuchi," you explain. You're sure you've used this phrase in front of him before. "Like you're a sour puss, you pull faces--"

"I'm not fucking pretty," he interrupts.

You open your eyes slightly to squint at him. "Pfft," you laugh. "Has no one ever told you that?"

"Hell, no." He turns back to the task at hand. Grumbling under his breath.

With his signature grimace making its return, the allure is gone; but now that you've seen it, you can't unsee it. He's beautiful. His eyes are a nice shape, and the crimson color of his irises is striking against his light complexion. The way his hair falls just above is strong browbone makes you want to push it back and rub at the scrunch between his brows. And you know he has soft lips, but on top of that, they're such a nice shade of pink. His jawline. His cheekbones. His chin.

It's a fundamental truth. Katsuki Bakugo is pretty.

You fold your arms on the island and press your cheek into the crook of your elbow. "I'm sure people would tell you more often if all the pretty wasn't covered up by your perpetual stank face."

Cue said stank face. He bumbles over his words in frustration for a second. "You're sick and loopy, stop bein' weird."

You giggle. "And you have a nice face when you're not acting chronically disgusted by the world."

He looks at you properly and you smile to yourself in pure delight and fondness.

"You're pretty when you're happy, Katsuki."

He deliberates over it for a moment, stank face semi relaxing. He's about to say something else when you cut into the silence with another yawn.

His gaze softens into an amused smirk as he reaches for your cheek and pinches softly. "Alright, alright. Don't fall asleep on me just yet, you gotta eat properly before goin' to bed."

You swat his hand away and rise to attention while rubbing your eyes. "Okay, okay. I'm up."

He smiles and goes back to cooking your half-prepared meal. "Ponte las pilas, or whatever the hell your mom says when you start lazin' around."

You huff at that. "I regret teaching you Spanish, you always pick up the worst phrases."

Katsuki barks out a laugh and you can't help the snort that follows as you giggle right along with him.

You two settle into the monotony of the last evening of your first of many sick days together. You're sure your boyfriend has had more than enough of witnessing you sick to satisfy stipulations. Suffice to say that he felt he knew you and your "sleepy freak tendencies" a bit better now.

There's definitely an addendum you'd make to that old saying, though: You'll never know how pretty someone is until you've seen them care for you while you're sick.

~°•*~

divider via cafekitsune

gif via ara-kan (deactivated)

[beep-beep-robin]

some notes on the „no more masking“ arc quinni goes through in s2 of hbh because i imagine a lot of allistic viewers might not have really gotten the point of that storyline:

first of all i think it‘s important to mention that everyone experiences masking in different ways and these are just my thoughts on the matter as an autistic person myself, if you don‘t agree or this doesn‘t apply to you i‘m of course not saying otherwise!

i don‘t believe what quinni was doing was her genuinely unmasking. unmasking is a thing that is really hard to do on command, because it takes a lot of getting to know your own brain and mask, it’s most often a long process.

quinni states in the last episode that she „doesn‘t really know who she is“ and that really struck a nerve with me - a lot of autistic people spend their whole lives stuck in their mask, often without even realizing that‘s what‘s going on. i would argue this especially applies to late diagnosed autistics.

what quinni was actually doing was attempting to unmask, in the way she thought made the most sense. in this case, it‘s making a complete 180, pretending to not care at all about others anymore. which is basically just a very intense form of stopping her people pleasing. but she went a bit too far into the other direction - her statement in the last episode makes it clear that she didn‘t necessarily identify with who she was presenting as while „unmasked“ (and while masked).

i believe quinni does genuinely care about her friends, but there‘s a very thin line between caring about others and giving too much of yourself. this is a thing i also struggle with a lot myself, and as i‘ve mentioned before, it‘s a long journey to finding that line.

i also want to mention that the whole people pleasing aspect is only one aspect of masking, masking affects so many more areas than that, without going into too much detail because like i’ve mentioned, it can be different for everyone.

[frownyalfred]

I accidentally DM’d you trying to ask this question lmao just ignore that.

Anyway.

I know most Identity Reveal fics/headcannons tend to lean more towards the humorous aspect of the situation (what do you mean my mailman is secretly Barack Obama) - which I love, don’t get me wrong! But I was wondering if you had any angsty headcannons about a possible identity reveal? Regarding Batman/Batkids or Superman

Ooh yes! Some angsty ideas off the top of my head:

Batkids being forced to unmask each other (because only they know where the switches/latches/etc are in their masks/cowls/suits)

Being forced to unmask on live television so there’s absolutely no going back or covering it up

Being given up by an ally one of the Batkids trusted

Bruce’s identity being revealed not because of his own mistake but because of one of his kids

Being suddenly and painfully depowered leading to identity reveal (Clark)

Identity reveal but the person the Batkid told doesn’t believe them because [hero] is so “different” from them

Villains threatening innocent civilians to force an identity reveal

Identity reveal but the person being revealed to liked the Bat/Super better as the hero and not the person

Identity reveal by calculated near-miss, or like when someone swings a gun around shooting and the hero jumps/reacts/gives themself away before they realize

Identity reveal causing a media firestorm and preventing heroes from even leaving their homes

Identity reveals in the context of tribunals/trials/etc, where the hero must face legal repercussions now that they’re identifiable

Identity reveals from Bruce to his parents and his parents are confused/disgusted/horrified at what he does

[butmemostly]

autistic kevin price headcanons because i have seen the light:

went by completely undetected because his symptoms presented in “acceptable” ways or were just not recognized by his parents/guardians as neurodivergent

needs routine and does not handle sudden changes to his routines well. if something unexpected happens he’ll freak (internally)

on that note, internalizes everythinggggg. not in the “turn it off” way – in the way that he will feel things but just will not express it outwardly if he can help it.

related, he is very much in a state of constant masking. he does not know how to unmask. he also does not know why he feels so stressed/anxious all the time (surely unrelated /s)

NEEDS his alone time to relax or he’ll lose it (but being the oldest of several siblings definitely trained him in Not having that)

gets overstimulated easily

type of guy who definitely studied and memorized social cues and norms to remember what’s acceptable and what’s not (unaware most people don’t need to do this)

generally very good at studying, memorizing, and parroting information. we see an example of this in AAP when he recites the entirety of the origins of mormonism, when later we find out he didn’t even fully understand or believe in all the mormon stories he studied.

part of the masking - hides all of his special interests/fixations and/or tries to downplay his interest to seem Normal. like “oh yeah i like that thing too!” <- trying so hard not to infodump

he is SO worried about how he’s perceived, and part of why he’s uncomfortable around arnold is because arnold is everything kevin doesn’t want to be seen as. he’s also envious of arnold; the way he’s able to causally be himself and be silly and goofy, make mistakes and then make amends, while kevin has kept all of that tucked away, out of sight.

was generally neutral about religion as a kid until his parents pulled the “well if you’re a good mormon then you’ll be rewarded and be able to go back to orlando :)” and then he Locked In.

orlando is obviously a fixation of his, despite how idealized it is as a concept in his head. definitely read about its history as a city and such via absorbing entire wikipedia pages, but he's most interested in the theme parks and tourist aspects, since that's what he was around when he visited. read everything he could about the development and history of the tourist industry and its major players. he's most interested in & familiar with disney world, since that's what left the biggest impact on him as a kid.

he flip-flops between being physically affectionate vs. touch-averse (based on mood & level of overstimulation). i think he’s naturally kind of touch-averse but has gotten used to dealing with it via lots of friendly people handshakes and pats on the back, siblings touching him constantly, older relatives and close acquaintances wanting hugs every time they see him, etc etc. i think mostly he doesn’t like being touched when it’s unexpected/he’s not mentally prepared for it to happen, or he's already on-edge. (for example, while sometimes put off by arnold randomly hugging him, he usually just lets it happen or doesn’t react. but in act 2 when he’s agitated and upset, he tells arnold not to touch him.)

on the other hand, sometimes he likes contact and comfort. it’s on his own terms when he initiates it <3 having something physical to grab/hold onto when upset or under duress is comforting and grounding. he likes the pressure of being hugged. when it’s people he’s very close to (like arnold post-play or (Sometimes) his parents), he’s fine and open to hugs and physical contact :) he’s just so used to it being obligatory and disingenuous (or purposefully to annoy him like with his siblings).

i think he also has just noticed that most people tend to respond positively when there is friendly contact involved (hand on the shoulder/arm, etc) and utilizes that. despite his social cues/norms studying, he sometimes doesn't know when to Not utilize this technique (like with an authority figure or someone you're not close to who might find it rude or offputting).

mostly subtle or socially-accepted stims, part of the "constantly masking and needing to seem normal and perfect" thing. tapping and fidgeting with things, bouncing leg, etc., keeping excess movement mostly to his hands. but he still has some things he does unconsciously, like shaking his hands/arms, repeatedly shifting his weight, and various tactile stims like thumping his chest or leg.

the wigglerrrrr. "disguises" stims by doing a little dance. hes a musical guy he likes performing so this is normal for him this is just one of his little quirks (<- copium. i mean it's true but he's still stimming and will do a little jig when he feels like he Needs to move his body around)

also hums a lot (more of a self-soothing thing).

can usually pick up on jokes/tone but sometimes takes things too literally

lowish empathy and has a hard time relating to others. definitely contributes to the "everything is about me?" mentality

while he’s well-liked in mormon spaces, has a harder time in public school and with people outside his church. like aside from having the Mormon Demeanor™ he just comes across as like. Weird. not in a way people can put their finger on, though, because for the most part he’s “normal.” he’s self-absorbed, yeah, but nice and doesn’t cause trouble. i think he’s stubborn and has a very hard time when things don’t “go his way,” or rather, how he expected them to. he’s very particular about things. he asks a lot of questions in class about small details and wants lots of clear directions on assignments. he comes across as “fake” to some people because of his masking and crazy politeness.

he wears the same exact clothes every day like a cartoon character. since they don’t have a uniform they’re his “school clothes” that he only wears at school. something like, idk, blue jeans and a white shirt. something simple and comfortable. one year during a spirit week event or halloween, everyone in his theater class dressed up as him in the same outfit. kevin didn’t even realize at first.

he’s the straightman among his friends because he’s easy to throw jokes at that takes him a moment to process, or takes too literally, or because they want to see Good Boy Kevin’s reaction to something less appropriate. he usually takes it in stride, though, and is a bit of a jokester himself

completely oblivious when other people have feelings for him. he’s so focused on other shit that it’s not on his radar at all. girls have confessed to him and he’s like oh. Huh? (this is definitely also leaning into my aspec headcanons for him so i’ll leave it be for now…)

[valley-of-headcanons]

Can you write a fic or hcs about Haley with a female farmer who is autistic?? Thank you! 💗💐⚖️

haley with an autistic! farmer || headcanons

haley finds your differences alluring, not off-putting.

warnings: nothing really? talking of fidgeting might trigger tics but nothing that i can see. read with caution if needed

requested by: anon! hiyaa, thank you so much for the request! sorry if everything is not 100% totally accurate, i know a good bit about the topic but there's always room for human error! feel free to kindly educate me if i need it :) anyway! hope you enjoy! :)

• When Haley found out that you were autistic, she didn't mind. She may have seen the signs or she may not have, depending on how much you masked it. She wasn't really familiar with it, or anything neurodivergent really. She knew her sister was diagnosed with something somewhere down the line, but she didn't think too much of it. But, she’d learn. For you, she'd do a lot of things that weren't usually her style.

• During your relationship, you slowly begin to unmask around her. Finding yourself more comfortable with her, you open this side of yourself up to her. She can't help but find some beauty in it. Seeing you, the true you, find solace in her? It puts a smile on her face. Whether your autism is high or low functioning, she finds your soul just as beautiful. So much different from her’s.

• If you have a tendency to fidget or tic, Haley wouldn't really know how to react at first. She'd ask what's going on, probably with an odd tone, but once after it's explained to her she understands. If you two are out in public and you need to fidget with something, she'd offer you her hand. Her fingers are always adorned with many rings, so it's no surprise that there's something to fidget with. If you two are alone, she’d also let you fidget with her hair while she lays in your lap.

• If your autism causes your emotions to be on the extremely subtle side, Haley would try her best to communicate with you. She's not perfect at the whole communication thing and would get a bit frustrated, but she’s trying. She's never tried this hard with anyone before. However, if your autism causes your emotions to be extremely heightened, things would be a little bit different. Haley could read your expressions like a book, and knew exactly what you meant without even having to ask. Of course, this leads to a little bit of miscommunication, but things happen. She’s trying her hardest.

• Haley would listen to you ramble on about your hyperfixations while doing menial tasks. Painting her nails? She’s listening to you ramble on about a certain aspect of your interest. Doing her makeup? Asking you questions about your interest, happy to hear you talk so much about it. Picking out an outfit for the day? Listening to you talk in-between outfit options. She always has an ear open for you, but she's not the best at reciprocating conversation. Haley has learned that she likes being more of a listener, not a talker. She loves hearing your voice instead of her own, these days.

• Despite your differences, you two were set on making this work. Haley cares more about you than anyone she’s ever met, and she wouldn't dare mess things up. The things that are different about you complete her, and she wouldn't change a single aspect about you. You’re her sun, moon, and all of the stars in the sky.

[covid-safer-hotties]

I would like to ask if there are some things I've misunderstood or been misinformed about when it comes to masking. Are the following things true?

If I take off my mask in public for even a brief moment, it cancels out any positive effect wearing it might have had up until then.

If I touch my mask with my hands, my hands are contaminated and must be washed immediately with soap and water before I touch anything else.

If I take off my mask, it's "spent" and must be thrown away, and I have to put on a new mask.

I'm asking because I'm having a hard time figuring out how to drink water or eat food while masking, or if it's even possible to do so safely.

There's some crossed wires and half-truths here.

While unmasking in public for a moment doesn't undo the protection you've been doing, it does remove that protection and potentially expose you to covid. This risk is lessened outdoors, especially when you're far from others and it's breezy/windy (covid aresols don't stay aloft long on moving air; and the turbulence can potentially kill any virions that remain aloft... and being away from people diffuses any potential covid they may be exhaling, substantially reducing chances for infective exposure.) The risk rises the closer the people and in public indoor spaces (air changes often aren't high enough to clear covid aresols via ventilation. Big offenders in bad air circulation are schools, many medical buildings, and resturants.) You also are far less likely to get a good seal when putting your mask back on in public, increasing your exposure risk while masked again. It isn't all or nothing, but donning and doffing [taking off] a mask isn't just like pulling up socks: there's ways to do it correctly and most people don't.

This is following contamination controls for diseases spread by fluids or fomites. While covid rarely if ever spreads via surface contact, other diseases (such as mpox, potentially) could seep through the fibers of your mask given the right circumstances. All this being said, touching your mask (especially with dirty hands) fouls it like any filter. It means it will have to be thrown out sooner, and touching it may also break your seal. Avoid touching your mask in public and do try to touch it with mostly clear hands, and only on the edges of the filter material for best longevity.

Most masks used for covid can be used several times by most people. It's been proven in studies that the elastic on a disposable mask will wear out before average usage would wear out its filter medium. You should throw out any mask that is visibly dirty: sweaty masks grow mold. Dry masks can be stored in paper bags for a week or more to aid in basic decontamination, and you can use most masks that still have stiffness in the nosepiece and good elastic 3 or 4 times depending on type and how you use them. Daily wear (multiple hours at a time) will wear out the components faster. I have some KN95s that I opened in 2021 that I still use when opening the door to get a delivery or when I'm pumping gas around people or something like that. They probably need to be replaced soon (and many have been) but they've been used maybe a total of 25 minutes each and they're clean and the elastic and nosepieces are still good! It's all about being able to judge the quality. If you struggle with this aspect, it's best to play it safe and not reuse masks much.

[thanatika]

an interesting lens to analyze pathologic would be through the ways it references commedia dell'arte. part of it is that the conventions of commedia have left a lasting imprint on theatre, puppetry, and performance in general, but i think there are some very specific nods as well.

for an obvious point, farcical character archetypes represented by masks were an essential aspect of the art form. pathologic not only uses that concept in mark immortell's masked plays, it also uses the same two types of masks: a flat mask that covers the face with holes for eyes and mouth (also comparable to ancient greek theatre masks), and a mask featuring an exaggerated, beak-like nose.

i'd say there are also references to the commedia archetypes in the actual characters themselves. for example, i'd be surprised if "vulgar comedies" wasn't an intentional reference:

(i don't have a clear translation of "площадных комедий", the term that clara uses for "vulgar comedies" in russian, but the russian wikipedia page for commedia dell'arte is the first thing to come up when I google it.)

that's not to say i think the game is trying to completely frame dankovsky as il dottore, the laughable caricature of a psuedointellectual. but clara certainly sees him as one! and arguably his characterization is closer to this archetype in her route, as well as in the pathologic 2 haruspex route (mister "i was blessed with a naturally high intelligence", among other hits). these differences are possibly an indication of unreliable narrator.

after all, changeling's route is from the POV of a religiously-fixated teenager who sees the world in terms of stark good and evil, and whose character is bifurcated between pure good and pure evil herself. arguably the NPCs in her route act as elevated, exaggerated versions of themselves due to her perspective. and pathologic 2 leans harder on the "it's all a play" framing device than the original game did, giving the player a role to embody and making NPCs feel more like characters who exist for the purpose of the play (and for artemy as the protagonist) than as fully realized people. hence how in p2!artemy's first and last confrontation with the bachelor, you find him staged dramatically in a room cast in mood lighting as though his sole purpose is to wait there for you to enter. (well, either that or it's just that he's a drama queen.)

at least, that's one interpretation of why he comes off as more of a pompous twit depending on the route. another aspect of commedia dell'arte is that the protagonists often go unmasked, and relatively unexaggerated, compared to the masked villains and comic relief characters. bachelor is the protagonist of his own story, and arguably the deuteragonist of the haruspex route. but in changeling route and p2 his role is more of a bit player among many, cranked up into the role of learned fool.

[zebulontheplanet]

could you elaborate on the difference between regression and burnout? (if you want)

Hey! I have a few posts on this but sure, I can explain it again!

Late autism regression is usually caused by something called Autism Catatonia. I’ll put some links below about it.

Autism catatonia is a serious condition that involves the slow start of regression in developmental and social aspects. Someone with autism catatonia will start to develop catatonia, as the name suggests. The person will freeze before and sometimes after tasks, they will have trouble completing tasks, need extensive prompting or hand over hand help, and more. The person will also start to decline in social aspects, from isolation, to aggressive behaviors, to just generally declining in all areas involving social interaction. They will also start to decline in the ability to do skills, for example; forgetting how to shower, forgetting how to do certain things, etc etc. The person might also start to decline in speech, and in some cases, lose their ability all together.

Mood decline is also very common, from aggressive behaviors, to depressive like behaviors. The person will have also episodes of catatonia, such as freezing. The person might also have trouble doing tasks and going over thresholds.

Autism catatonia is very complex and not a lot of professionals know a lot about it so it’s good to speak with a professional that is knowledgeable in it if you suspect you have it. Please keep in mind that autism catatonia is rare. And is not the same as executive dysfunction. It is often treated with medication and in more severe cases, ECT.

Burnout is much much different. It’s caused by masking. And over time as someone masks to conform to society, they start to feel burnt out. This CAN lead to some loss in skills, however with time, healing, rest, and accommodations and unmasking, it can lead to you getting pretty much back to normal or at least get you to where you want to be. Burnout is also serious, but it is much different from autism regression.

Again, I’m not a professional, my information might not be 100%. I’d google more about it and research more! There are a ton of resources on autism burnout, and a few on regression. Please do not try and self diagnosis autism regression with catatonia, it is so serious and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

AGAIN. IM NOT A PROFESSIONAL. THIS IS JUST FROM MY PERSONAL RESEARCH AND EXPERIENCES.

https://asatonline.org/research-treatment/clinical-corner/catatonia/

[mehiwilldoitlater]

Would you be willing to write a oneshot where after reader has the baby, she has yet to see Death relax around the baby (ex: hold them, take off his mask; he’ll touch them, albeit briefly) cause he’s convinced something bad will happen if he lets his guard down/he’s afraid he’ll accidentally hurt them in some way (he was like this even after reader told him she was pregnant, but now it’s even worse with the baby here, cause now it actually real). It’s only until she wakes up in the middle of the night to find Death holding their daughter trying to get her to go back to sleep, witnessing this man that’s usually so reserved act so soft with his child (bonus points if the baby touches Death’s unmasked face), and the reader leans against him and alleviates his worries while they both watch their baby lovingly.

I put way too much thought into this, I’m just in love with the idea of Death being a dad 😭

"i'm pregnant."

Those two words hit the pale rider worse than a cascade of arrows. It was hard to understand the mental state of that poor soul. After your burst, his facade was always able to hide every emotion. But the eyes are the windows of the sound, and His own were screaming.

And yet he reached for your hands, caressing with his colloused thumb your so soft skin.

"It's all right, we'll manage."

From that day on, Death became overpowerful over you, even more than he already was, of course. Without human experts that could assist you, his best option were the makers.  

He was a deathbringer, like his name said, not a life-giver. He didn't know anything about pregnancy or all that subject, but he was wise enough to set a line on his knowledge without hurting his pride.

 The day of your birth, you mourned your lost lover, sacrificed for the better good of your own kind, and even with the presence of all of your new friends, you couldn't shake the fact that death was lost. When he came back, you found the force to finally live again, and yet the presence of the baby seemed to scare him. Maybe not the baby per se, but something connected maybe... 

The first moment he laid his glaring eyes over that small creature, it was like he was always walking on ice. It was hard to let him hold the baby, but it was harder watching him feel him or bathe him. Seriously, that creature was delicate, but Death acted like he was made of glass!

Not to mention how hypeprotective he was towards him. He was always ready to step in action for you, but now it was another level. One day you caught him while he was casting some portective barriers, just because he was going tending to ruins for half an hour and he believed that someone or something could enter and hurt the baby.

After a confrontation, he confessed his fears that, taking them by your situation, were almost reasonable. But now he was just getting them to control every aspect of your life and your baby too! It was painful watching him waste those precious moments with his own son because he was afraid of someone taking him or killing him.

Those fears were bound to his own name, and somehow you were almost understandable: the pale rider companion had a child; this made him vulnerable. This fueled his desire to keep you both safe and sound, even to his own expenses.

Yes, maybe, but I never wanted something like this. 

You already know how dangerous and full of peril that universe of yours was, but sacrificing love for protection in that case for you was absurd.

You didn't know if your words were able to move him, but you had your answer that night.In your shared bed, you heard the pitched high cry of the infant.

You, deepened in the sleep and exhausted by the long maternity day, needed a few minutes to understand that he was actually crying.

Your eyes, still asleep from your interrupted slumber, haven't noticed the absence of the large nephilin in your bed, but you didn't even have to wonder where he could have been.Noticing the now stopped crying, you could only hear a soft murmur of something. It seemed like a song, written in a language that was unknown to you, or maybe just forgotten.

The soft light of the candles, the shadow on the doorstep—you needed to be extra silent to witness that moment.

Holding that small boundle of life, so small even compared to his own hand, Death was slowly and rhitmically rocking him, whispering what seemed to be a Nephilim lullaby, or something that was supposed to be near it.

His eyes, usually so stoic and strong, were so soft while looking, and that fragile creature, yet so strong.You admired that scene from the doorstep, unaware that the acute senses of the hero had already noticed your presence.

After a few minutes of silence, with the security of the baby now asleep, he slowly put back in the crib that Valus had built after the knowledge of your pregnancy. And only after that, he finally decided to acknowledge your presence.

"He's sleeping."

You nodded, moving closer to him, caressing his giant hand. The baby was small for everything, but everything was small for Death.

"I'm happy that you wanted me to be part of this."

"You don't have to thank me, Death."

"Maybe...still, I'm happy to be."  

[necromanix]

i rlly like projecting onto kabru because kabru legit feels like a masked autistic who has learned how to flourish in conversations. he and laios may be like differents sides of a coin but like. hear me out. kabru is just an extremely masked person compared to laios, who is unmasked

uh yea (please i feel like everyone probsbly has said this m sorry idk if im original but yea)

the autistic experience is so different compared to everyone and like yes i resonate with laios too but like. “woah poc, thats literally me.” kabru has so much debt into him still for like what he is, that and fanart is incluencing me.. his people pleasing aspects into his character as well are so relative to the need of fitting into the “normality” in the nuerotypical world. to me he craves the affection laios as kabru is such a person who really seeks the validation

there was a certain scene in the anime where he kinda is all “:) ^^ hee hee” while talking to a party member, then he goes into his :|, I did see this in a post but like

genuinely my boy, PLEASE UNMASKING SAVES LIVES PLEASSSE 😭😭😭

i’ve been meaning to read the manga and like, who knows maybe i’ll be like “oh shit nvm hes just ___ and his backstory just makes him the way he is and its not the autism on the top of the cake” but i really don’t think it’ll sway me too much

but also, come on. his favorite food is plain ass tomatoes (i love cherry tomatoes, someone discuss tomatoes with me)

rant over happy disability awareness month

i have audhd i genuinely may not know what im saying half the time, some of this experience may also be the strange collision of audhd, but its nearly midnight writing this, senshi, laios and kabru are my comfort characters. i rlly just like connecting things to characters i love.

i love men 🏳️‍🌈🫡

(if some of these sentences are unfinished, srry i have a habit of hopping paragraphs and going “ill finish later” then not finish)

[salinelakedweller]

Unmasking and Authenticity

I am a huge advocate for unmasking ones neurodivergence. As an autistic person, I do have some unresolved thoughts on the matter, questions I always ask myself that I've yet to get proper answers for. This post centers one of them.

I do not know what it means to be authentic.

I got diagnosed a couple years ago, and I had been pretty certain I am autistic since a year before that, but prior to having the word "autistic," I already knew something was "off" about me. Akin to many late diagnosed autistic people, I masked a lot, even up until now, maybe. Which leads me to my point. I don't know where the mask ends and I begin.

I do not know what aspects of my character and the way I express myself are a result of habitual masking. An example I am certain about is the fact that I slightly raise my eyebrows when in social situations to make myself appear less hostile. That has gotten to the point where I only know I had been doing it because my face would feel sore at the end of the day. I know a huge part of unmasking is essentially "finding what feels right" but I do not know what something "feeling right" means. I have to encourage myself to stim, uncomfortably jump over the formed habit of suppressing them. It makes me worry that I'm "exaggerating/faking" my traits. Something I do not think about anybody else.

How do I know that I'm pushing past habitual masking, rather than just "acting more autistic"?

Trying to unmask does not feel like things just clicking into place for me, and that sucks. Are my speech patterns exaggerated? I do not know. I tried to speak in more of a monotone and force of habit keeps bringing it back. Does that mean expressing myself outgoingly is truly me? Or am I just slightly raising my proverbial eyebrows again?

[parvulous-writings]

Could I request dating headcanons for Tiro with gn s/o?

Notes: Absolutely you can!! I'm splitting it into two sections because he may act slightly different depending on what path is being taken :p I tried to keep the above cut HCs as SFW as I could!

Warnings: Toxic behaviour/relationship under the cut. Mentions of death, both animal and humanoid (both above and below cut, mainly vague). General Dark Urge stuff, really. Feel free to skip over it, if you so wish!

Redemption Tiro

Tiro tries to be tender - he knows that his brutish impulses are not typically what people go for or want in a partner, and he tries his best to curb it as much as he is able to. He tries to keep his touches subtle, gentle - everything he was not, before this. Before he wanted to try.

He brings you little gifts - often of the more morbid kind - but he tries to make some more light-hearted ones too. He is much like a cat in what he brings to you - small kills, usually. A frog, a squirrel, an eagle. He knows that you're not always so keen for him to kill anything larger, so he keeps his remaining urges under wraps as best as he can.

He asks a lot of questions; what people like, what couples normally do - all of it, he wants to know, he wants to learn. He wants to be somewhat normal, to be able to do things with you that others do. He thinks about that kind of thing a lot, and tries to hold aspects of himself back, to keep you safe and appease to you.

He lets you take the lead most of the time, dating or courting is very new to him - he hardly remembers anything even close to it. But despite this, he enjoys himself. He's vulnerable - almost painfully so - but it's you, so it's... Bearable. Just about.

Non-redemption Tiro

Now this Tiro is a very different kettle of fish altogether. He's reserved at first, letting you show him your affections, giving you the upper hand at first - he wants you to feel as if you are taking the lead with the relationship, to have that security. But he knows what he wants, and he knows just how to manipulate you into place.

In front of others, he's quiet, reserved - he lets you initiate everything, and he happily takes what you give him, no questions asked. If anyone were to be asked about yours and Tiro's relationship, they'd most likely think that the big, quiet brute was subdued by you, but this is unfortunately far from the truth.

Behind closed doors, Tiro is domineering, taking the lead whenever he is able to. He is obssessive, and he has to know of every little thing that you do when you are not in his sight.

He will describe - in vivid detail - what he will do to your corpse once you've died. From playing with it and your innards, to much more heinous activities, he spares no small part of information; he wants you to know every little thought, every fantasy that he has had.

As the relationship evolves, in the so called comfort of your home/tent, Tiro starts unmasking more and more - not that there's much left underneath that mask anymore - and doesn't hide his violent tendencies or desires from you. Sometimes he even likes to toy with the idea he'll carry some of them out on you, rather than some stranger or animal.

// Tiro taglist

@rey-is-not-a-skywalker

[violetprince26]

There is something so healing about being able to be ugly around the people you love

I’ve had to be ugly and drop this mask of ‘I have my shit togetherness’ so much over the past 6 months

I think it ties in with growing up undiagnosed autistic and trans

You learn that you have mask to the point where you are constantly performing in case someone sees something in you that is slightly off putting. Being told you are too sensitive or intense as a child. Your interests are not ‘normal’ and you have to study them in secret. You begin to live a double life. Sitting in your bedroom trying on clothes that make you feel beautiful and then immediately taking them off when you feel the pit in your stomach open. Sitting on your dusty old computer when everyone has gone to sleep to engage in queerness online under the secrecy of night. Seeing someone in the street that you find captivating but pushing it down so that your mask doesn’t slip.

Even describing all these things as ugly is in itself me internalising the culture I grew up in

Yet I find a lot of comfort and joy in describing my autism and queerness as ugly, reclaiming it as my own.

I’ve been able to completely unmask with friends, family and loved ones over the past few months because I simply didn’t have the mental strength to hold up this impossible standard that was assigned to me by society and people that were once in my life

I cried and screamed. I could only eat certain foods. Stimming. Creating art that was slightly off putting and hard to explain. Writing in code that only I understood. Ripping off this binary disguise and embracing all aspects of my queerness. Falling deeply in love with my lesbianism. Engaging in hobbies that brought me joy which other people could not even begin to think was pleasurable. Embracing my queer kinks and being able to express that openly without fear of being ridiculed

In unmasking, I found that the people that mattered to me the most got to see me completely raw and still chose to love me. I have been able to connect to others like me and joyfully share in our experiences. I’ve been able to find love in the most unlikely of places

I’ve fallen in love with me again I don’t only love the parts of me that are ‘beautiful’ but I love the ugliest parts of me. I love that I cannot think in a straight line because it fuels my creativity. I’m messy and cannot sit still but that means I’m constantly learning and trying out new things. I love so deeply which was something that has really fucked me over. I’ve tried and tried to push it down but found only doing that hurt me more. Now I love completely and move with the tide of my heart willingly. My heart almost cannot contain the pain that I feel from my strange life. In that pain I have come to find peace as it has been my greatest lesson

I have been told that my ugliness is beautiful and lovable. I am my ugliness. I am loved

[solar-tl-27]

The hanged man part 1

Winx reignited= Cryos

Hello hello and welcome too the hanged man part 1 there will be 2 hanged man cards for cryos shares this slot with riven because although they never got to meet their stories are linked!

We will ofcourse start with the art and … for the context i’m gonna have to drop so much lore for my plans for zenith OMG so let’s get into it!

LORE

Descendant of the original inhabitants of zenith. A body preserved and reformed for its seemingly unlimited magical resources.

A boy who’s face was supposed to remain unknown forever. A world who has chosen to abandon its past yet forever haunted by its remnants.

Cryos was designed as a battery his human side hidden behind the ruse of the king’s false immortality for he’s not the first battery… but determined to be the last. He descends from the original people of zenith people with extreme intellect and magical abilities. However as the magic aspects of zenith lowered the people needed to sustain their need of magic somehow. So their king was crowned a false crown that has been worn by countless people unbeknownst to the public. Until zenith gained it’s first guardian fairy in centuries then secrets started unraveling and suddenly…. He felt alive. A strong pain rushing through him as apparently a girl had punched his mechanic exterior so hard his mask shattered.

Suddenly a world opened up to him but he was also instantly thrown into the deep end with dark secrets uncovering, suddenly gaining mobility and self awareness. Tied between higher ups telling him he’s a king. And his heritage.

WHY I CHOSE THE CARD!

the hanged man represents pause, surrender, new perspective & letting go

For cryos that focus lays in surrender, pause & new perspective

Having basically been in a hollow minded state for most of his life it was basically like laying in a sensory deprivation tank your whole life only hearing whispers. His world on pause for eternity he also needs a large amount of readjustment time as although he possesses basic motor skills he’s basically new to life. Which is also why new perspective works for him in the sense that the people around him tell him one thing.. but he’s gained curiosity and wishes to learn and choose for himself. Surrender is the fact that he’ll eventually have to be locked away again if zenith’s plans are to continue. He’s defenseless against his creators. But there’s hope for him with the winx on his side!

WHY I CHOSE TO DEPICT THE CARD LIKE THIS

Looking up towards the arms of a original zenith residents arms while being held in place by the arms holding on to his shoulders from the current zenith. Dressed in his armor to show his identity yet being unmasked. A depiction of the 2 sides of who he is in contrast with eachother.

This card was the card where I realized just how much i already shifted from cute easy cards with blush & bloom to

Incredibly lore heavy cards and i am making this difficult but fun for myself lol!

His armor is incredibly fun to draw and i also love drawing his hair (he’s very hunter from toh coded in lore but a lot more mellow in personality)

Also yes the person that punched him into basically gaining consciousness was tecna lol

This was part 3 and the next one will be the first one with a trigger warning (for vomiting no worries 😅) as it will be riven’s hanged man card a more … graphic depiction of the hanged man interpretation lol

Ty for enjoying part 3!