ⅲ. CONNOR HAS MANY HABITS THAT WOULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO AUTISM IF HE WERE HUMAN . HE STIMS ( WHICH I WILL TALK ABOUT LATER) , HE IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE EMOTIONALLY BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER DEVIANCY ( HE HIMSELF IS NEVER SURE HOW HE WILL REACT TO A SITUATION BEFORE IT HAPPENS) AND HE FORMS RATHER STRONG ATTACHMENTS TO PEOPLE , ROUTINES AND METHODS VERY QUICKLY . HE HAS MADE THIS LINK IN HIS HEAD , BUT HAS NEVER LABELLED HIMSELF BECAUSE ALONG WITH HIS STRUGGLE WITH SELF IDENTITY , HE DOESN’T FEEL COMFORTABLE USING A HUMAN CONCEPT TO DESCRIBE HIMSELF - HE DOESN’T FEEL WORTH ANY OF THOSE WORDS . THAT IS UNTIL HANK NOTICES HIM GETTING STRESSED AND SITS HIM DOWN , TELLS HIM THAT HE’S AUTISTIC AND WRITES UP A ROTA TO HELP HIM FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THE HOUSE - IN HIS HOME . WITH A LITTLE MORE ROUTINE .
ⅳ. ON THE TOPIC OF CONNOR AND HIS PLACE ON THE AUTISTIC SPECTRUM , ALTHOUGH HE IS VERY HIGH- FUNCTIONING , HE HAS ONE NOTICABLE TRAIT THAT KEEPS COMING BACK AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE , THAT’S STIMMING . THE MOST OBVIOUS EXAMPLE OF THIS IS HIS QUARTER , HE TEACHES HIMSELF TRICKS AND TESTS HIS ABILITIES BEFORE HE ARRIVES AT CRIME SCENES BECAUSE THE STIMULATION HELPS TO SETTLE HIM MIND , CALM HIM DOWN AND PUT HIM IN THE RIGHT HEADSPACE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE NEW AND DEMANDING ELEMENTS THAT HE MIGHT ENCOUNTER IN SUCH AN INTENSE ENVIRONMENT . THE COIN ISN’T HIS ONLY STIM THOUGH , HE HAS A SMALL COLLECTION OF OBJECTS THAT HELP CALM HIM GOING , AND HE ALSO HAS A LOT OF SELF-STIM HABITS , SUCH AS THE MOVEMENTS WITH HIS HANDS AND FINGERS, AS WELL AS MANIPULATED SELF DIAGNOSTIC SCANS THAT HELP HIM GROUND HIMSELF .
ⅴ . CONNOR LIKES ALL DOGS , BUT SUMO BECOMES VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE HE TAKES ON THE ROLL OF A SUPPORT DOG . WHEN CONNOR NEEDS TO CALM DOWN , OR NEEDS AN OUTLET - HE KNOWS THAT HE CAN GO AND SIT WITH SUMO AND STROKE HIM AND TALK TO HIM , MAYBE EVEN CRY A LITTLE INTO HIS NECK , AND SUMO WILL LICK HIM AND GIVE HIM A BIG OLD BOOF AND LET HIM KNOW EVERYTHING IS OKAY. EVENTUALLY WHEN CONNOR MOVES IN WITH HANK , HE SLEEPS CURLED UP WITH SUMO EVERY NIGHT AND THE BIG BALL OF FUR SEEMS TO STOP THE NIGHTMARES ABOUT THE PRODUCTION LINE AND JERICHO GOING DOWN IN FLAMES.
ⅵ. CONNOR’S AUTISM TIES IN VERY HEAVILY WITH HIS SEXUALITY . BEING ACE , CONNOR ISN’T INTERESTED IN ANY SEXUAL OR EVEN HEAVY ROMANTIC BEHAVIOUR , AND HE CAN BECOME VERY DISTRESSED IF SOMEBODY TRIES TO INSTIGATE ANY KISSING OR TOUCHING THAT HE FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH - EVEN TO THE POINT OF SHUTTING OFF COMPLETELY AND NOT RESPONDING TO ANY INTERACTION FOR A WHILE . IT’S A THIN LINE HOWEVER , BECAUSE HE’S ALSO EXTREMELY TOUCH STARVED - HE DOES REALLY WANT SENSUAL ATTENTION , AFFECTION . SOFT KISSES THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION TO LAND ON HIS FOREHEAD OR CHEEK - TOUCHES THAT MAKE HIM FEEL SAFE - ESPECIALLY FROM PEOPLE THAT HE’S BECOME ATTACHED TO ( COUGH . MARKUS . COUGH ) .
ⅶ. CONNOR BECOMES VERY ATTACHED TO RALPH , VISITS HIM OFTEN AND HELPS HIM FIX UP THE HOUSE AND GARDEN . HE FEELS VERY EMOTIONALLY DEDICATED TO THE ANDROID BECAUSE HE NOTICES A BIT OF HIMSELF IN THERE - HE’S PRETTY SURE THAT THE GARDENING UNIT HAS SOMETHING SIMILAR TO ADD/ ADHD RATHER THAN AUTISM - ALTHOUGHT THERE MAY BE SOME IN THERE TOO . HE’S JUST VERY HAPPY TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT HE CAN BE SOFT AND CARING WITH , A VERY CLOSE , BUT PLATONIC RELATIONSHIP WHERE THEY CAN LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER AND CALM EACH OTHER DOWN WHEN THINGS ARE TOUGH .
