Selective Mutism

Selective mutism is a fairly common comorbidity of autism, I experience it myself from time to time. It is not the same as being non-verbal, those who are non-verbal are either partially or completely incapable of verbal communication and some are even unable to understand words spoken by those around them. Selective mutism is where an individual is otherwise capable of normal verbal communication but under stress are suddenly unable to speak even if they wanted to. Personally this was one of the reasons I likely wasn’t diagnosed until I was 19, as everyone thought I was just pretending to be mute when it was convenient. Except it usually happens when I am in an argument or being bullied, I would hardly call that a convenient time to shut down.

So how does this relate to Reed? I found this example of him experiencing selective mutism. This is from Fantastic Four (2013) #5 AU, by Matt Fraction and Andre Araujo, an alternate universe story to tie into Age of Ultron. Here the Fantastic Four are facing the end of the world and they record a goodbye message for Franklin and Valeria. When it comes time for Reed to speak, he simply cannot do it, he is so overwhelmed emotionally the words just won’t come out.

[Image description: Valeria and Franklin stand before a holo-projection of their father, who is kneeling down, silent, trying to speak. He then raises his index finger in a “wait a minute” gesture. Franklin and Val exchange a confused shrug. Reed returns with a pen and a notepad and begins to write his thoughts down. The notes read: “I don’t know how to say this…words not coming. How does a father say goodbye to his children? Impossible. I am a man of science. There is no god. There is no heaven. There is no hell.”

Next panel shows Franklin holding Val who is crying

Reed continues to write: “No hell = it doesn’t matter what we do = what we do is all that matters.”

Reed then speaks: “Do you understand, children? For all my failings…Please remember that.”]

As we can see, by the end of the transmission he’s calmed down at least enough to say a few final words to his children. God damn, this issue was heartbreaking.

About that Jayce & Viktor bridge scene in Arcane…

…and how they used camera angles to showcase feelings/relations between those two.

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arcane lmfao caitlyn kiramman Jayce Talis arcane season 1

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inside-the-question

5 months ago

there's an observation/headcanon going around that the celestial bodies react to emotions with color, interesting to think about this in regards to mage viktor who is void black

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inside-the-question

3 months ago

I hope now after Harry has once again confirmed that Viktor is soft-spoken and his anger is quiet anger that the fandom will stop writing him as aggressive, cold, rude, and angry in the form of cruelty or outbursts. it's literally so opposite his character I don't see how this portrayal of him persists so frequently. Canonically, when he's angry, we see him speak in low, controlled tones, or with words that are more sharp and hissed than his usual timbre but at the same quiet volume. The only times he raises his voice in the show are when he's alone, screaming from pain, fear, or emotional release. He never yells at anyone, that's why those rare moments where he does raise his voice hit so powerfully. He curls in on himself and makes himself smaller when upset and vulnerable, he doesn't lash out or intimidate others. He cries, he whimpers, he doesn't shout. He hyperventilates and throws up from nerves. Like how does so much of the fandom overlook this and somehow turn him into some sarcastic, aloof 'broody dark-haired boy' stereotype that hits people with his cane and insults Jayce. Please go back and rewatch the source material.

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inside-the-question

5 months ago