Small(or not) what if scene 👀
What if Mushroom Boy didn't have the ability to hypnotize people, but just read their minds???
Like an AU where his powers are different? I'll indulge since the scenario does seem interesting! 🍄
If Mychael didn't have hypnosis but instead read minds under cut:
Mychael's hypnosis is pretty much his main go-to for survival. As a pacifist (or at least he tries to be) the fastest way to de-escalate a hostile situation is throwing a hypnosis blanket over the threat and make them docile/non-aggressive. If it has a mind he can manipulate why go about it any other way? And keep in mind it's a one-way street. He can feed thoughts into your head but the only way he knows it's working is you reacting externally like with your words and actions.
But suppose he can't manipulate minds but only read them? I think it would shift his entire personality. Knowing people's true intent and what they think of him would change his survival behavior. Instead of placating the threat directly and just force people to accept his presence (albeit under mind control), he'd have to adapt on the spot more often.
He'd have to say and act in whatever way that would earn others' trust enough so they won't hurt him, or just turn and run if he feels like they're out for his blood. He'd be more manipulative, less open and honest, and wear several more masks than he already does now. He'd never give away that he knows what you're thinking at any time, since that's basically his only tool to survive so he wouldn't give up that information easily.
And I imagine after hearing "WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT" over and over and over every single time he meets someone new, he'd just accept nobody wants him at all. So would he even begin to yearn for company? Absolutely not.
This was a really fun scenario so I made a quick doodle just highlighting their main mindsets:
george actually has pretty good memory at times, such as when he reads a dono, sidetracks into a different topic, then afterwards answers the dono without looking at it again
