Back at it with Autistic!Ghost. Simon does really well in the Military cause there’s a clear hierarchy for him to adhere to, strict schedules and rules, and more importantly; social scripts to follow. He knows how he is supposed to behave and what he is supposed to say. There is a Right thing to say, a Right way to stand, a Right tone of voice, a Right place to sit, a Right way to handle conflict, and he is well versed in it all.
And most people think he’s an asshole, and he is, but a large part of that is because he’s incredibly blunt. Do not ask questions you don’t want answers for, he doesn’t have enough mental energy to lie to Random Person #178. Yes he has been counting. And most people will think he’s standoffish, and he is, but it’s also because that once those strict boundaries start dissolving in more casual situations, he suddenly feels a lot more self aware of his behaviors. He realizes that he’s the only person standing like there’s a rod to his back, casing the room as if something horrible will happen. He’s the only one not exactly getting the jokes, he’s the only one who speaks in stilted and stiff language.
Once people realize that’s just the way he is, a lot more about him starts to make sense.