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Why both Eddie and Venom are autistic and how the movies are actually a metaphor for neurodivergence

Includes some of my personal headcanons and concepts that I’ve been thinking about and need to share.

BE WARNED!!! This post is a bit long (and also a cringy, rambling, nonsensical mess) full thing under cut.

Some quick notes before we begin: when I have one of their names at the beginning of a section it means anything in that section only applies to one of them. (Idk, I couldn’t figure out how to organize this, you’ll see what I mean)

I don’t know much comic lore, all of this is based off of the movies. Though the movies are a different universe so I don’t think it will matter too much.

Also I use He/They/It pronouns for Venom.

In the end, Im just one guy with a hyper fixation please take everything I say with a grain of salt and feel free to add on or correct me about stuff. Especially if I say anything stereotypical or offensive about nurodivergance/autism a lot of this is based on some personal experience and I absolutely make mistakes and generalizations.

Alright enough of my yapping let’s get to it.

Overall big picture stuff

Applies to Both of them

the whole concept of them being “losers” together is kind of autistic coded. Autistic people are often viewed as incompetent or childish or useless. And I like to think they are connecting over that shared experience.

Noise sensitivity!!! Both of them have noise sensitivity! I probably don’t need to elaborate that much but that one scene in their apartment was some of the best overstimulation representation I’ve ever seen overstimulation guitar scene

Venom

Venom comes across as unfeeling because they don’t emote in a “normal” way.

They’re very blunt and literal.

Venom sometimes has a slightly higher-pitched voice when excited or angry. Which I’m going to attribute to him masking. He wants to appear tougher and scarier. This is important to its species and Venom, who is already perceived as weak by their peers, intentionally deepens his voice a bit to blend in. (This is definitely a headcanon but I love this concept so I don’t care that the real reason is that the voice modifier they use does silly things)

This is also why I think it’s so concerned about Eddie and him “looking bad” Looking weak was dangerous and they trained themself to hide “weakness”

It’s always “How does Venom affect people” and never “What does Venom need and how do other people’s actions affect them”

Venom prefers to express its thoughts and feelings through mental connection with its host and then have that person relay the information to whomever they are “speaking” to. Nonverbal communication!

Venom not understanding humans (social interaction, conventions, etc.) is kind of autistic coded.

Eddie

Edie kind of disregards a lot of social conventions. Still hangs out with his ex-fiancé AND her boyfriend. He also doesn’t seem to mind talking to Venom out loud.

Eddies is just kind of anxious in general.

Eddie struggles to find full time employment.

On that vein, he also struggles to maintain relationships.

Eddie's sense of justice. Eddie has a strong sense of justice and morals that often don’t align with generally accepted values and he follows this view of justice and morality to an absurd degree and it often gets him in trouble. Aka, the entire plot of the first movie is because Eddie has autism.

He wears the same clothes all the time.

Specific moments that I think about

Venom

Venom chewing on the tire swing (they both have oral stims btw)

Sand between his toes. Idk I just thought it was cute and chose to believe they like the sensation.

Say it with me. Tater tots are a safe food!!!

Venom rocks back and forth a lot.

This is a stretch but when Venom is like “look at all these weirdos, my kind of people” it’s a metaphor for him being queer but I’d argue it also kind of fits with neurodivergence. Neurodivergent people often connect with “weirdos” (other neurodivergent people)

Likes organization “Pile of bodies, pile of heads”

Eddie

I’ve been told Eddie chews on his necklace at the beginning of the movie but I can’t find the clip and can’t do a rewatch right now so take that with a grain of salt… (I chose to believe this happened though. Also his bracelets are stim heaven)

When he says “Oh, I have a parasite” to Mrs. Chen he had no clue what to say here. He just said the first thing that came to mind and panicked instead of explaining.

Also the way he says things funny. Ex: “✨It’s a treeeee✨” supa, supa, fhasstt” “Heee…. has. one. up. hi’s. Ass toooooo” “ET. Phone home. Aliens? 😃” I chose to believe they are vocal stims (I also attempted to find a compilation but I couldn’t find any. Maybe I’ll make one sometime)

Eddie also makes sound effects a lot.

Eddie writes notes on pen and paper instead of digitally.

He apologizes an excessive amount. Like he says “I’m sorry” to people actively trying to kill him. Which is so real.

“I just bit that guys head off” “I, uhhh, yea I’ve been there it’s not fun” 😕

Eddie also rocks back and forth. Which can be seen in this scene

Quick segment into why I think Venom was rejected by other Klyntar (it’s because he has autism)

Venom doesn’t adapt as quickly or as efficiently as other Klyntar. It doesn’t handle change well.

All of the normal Klyntar weaknesses are turned up to 1000 with them. Instead of just certain frequencies, the range that hurts him is larger and is also affected by loud noises. As shown by: “Venom” car alarm scene

instead of just fire, heat also bothers it. Also doesn’t adapt to light well. (Just a headcanon)

Can’t create weapons out of their body like other Klyntar. struggles with “simple” skills.

Much more emotional than other Klyntar and develop attachments (also purely a headcanon)

Just overall didn’t fit well into their society.

Just headcanons

Venom and Eddie are so compatible because their brains work the same way.

“I wish I could just mentally project my thoughts and feelings directly into your brain. Oh wait, we can do that!”

Venom also has temperature sensitivities. He gets hot.

Venom likes to stim to low key music, mainly jazz and lo-fi. Does the one song on repeat for three hours to wring all the happy chemicals out of it like a dish rag thing.

Venom also absolutely loves cheesy pop music (unrelated to anything here but I’m right and I needed to include it)

Venom functions as a weighted blanket for Eddie when he’s anxious. Maybe even hides under his shirt and stuff and becomes an extra weight.

Eddie stims with his jewelry.

Venom likes to sit in the freezer. Sometimes they visit Mrs. Chen's walk in just to chill (lol)

Purely my opinion but I think Venom also has some light sensitivity for a bit because it’s not used to being in such a bright environment. He gets used to it eventually but every once in awhile he finds the city lights overstimulating.

They are both very tactile. Touching things. Love a good texture.

Venom is super particular about food for someone who eats out the garbage but certain textures and flavors drive them crazy.

Venom hates vegetables. (Except for celery because it likes the crunchy and stringyness of it)

How all of this makes for a great metaphor!

Feeling like an alien in the world is probably the most relatable thing for a lot of nurodivergent people. Like there’s a manual for being human you don’t have. And just the concept of a literal alien showing up and struggling to navigate in a world not made for it is so relatable!

The way they both immediately connect to each other because they have the same weird brain stuff and weren’t accepted by their respective societies is so adorable and wholesome.

“We’re not so different, you and I” This line lives rent-free in my mind at all times. It’s my favorite quote. I think it perfectly encapsulates their relationship and why it’s special. They have autism and are bonding because the other is the first person who truly understands them! (Cries, screams, throws up)

In conclusion

They are in love and have autism. And they cling to each other because they are the first people to truly understand each other. Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

Also I listened to UFO by Smith and Thell on loop while writing this. It’s very autistic symbrock coded so give it a listen if you’re a fan of inde-pop.

Art by Ungfio

c! dream drabble i wrote just thinking about his recovery cause i love him so

cw! mention of blood a lot, it's actually the main focus of the drabble, brief mention of self harm, some violence sprinkled here, some wound stuff sprinkled here.

crimson is the colour of his blood on his best friend's blade. it's the shade of vengeance, fear of a metamorphosis beyond one's understanding. it's a tone of finality because there is nothing to be said. it's too late for explanations.

crimson is the shade of earnest eyes through rimmed spectacles tapped down the middle from domestic mishaps. it's the shade of trust, the scent of fresh stew on an open fire, warmth that doesn't burn and simmer his skin but settles the chiding chill in his bones. it's the tone of new beginnings, something dream feels he doesn't deserve but techno insists he does.

techno says crimson is the shade of wounds large like gashes on your arms but as small as skinning on your knees. it's the shade of regret and mistakes and childhood, the feeling of being human and breakable and fragile. it's the tone that says all things must come to an end. it says that time goes on. things are left in the past but things are also left to heal.

crimson is the shade of roses that if you're not too careful will spread the color to your fingers.

crimson is the shade of trees in the fall, time has gone by, things are changing, the earth is healing.

crimson runs in dream's veins and sometimes he feels the need to scratch his nails against his wrists as a reassurance that despite everything anyone says, against all odds he is still human.

he is a person too.

In honour of zevwarden week 2023! here are my unfinished Zevran and surana works from over the last few months (and recently) . They may not be directly related to any of the prompts but currently this is my favourite week ever and I just feel an urge to share

Because I just haven’t really had the time

I love the three World Remembers gays. They are effeminate, visibly queer and by far the bravest students in the school. And I love that in this episode we got to see them outside school with their boyfriends. Characters like this are usually treated solely as comic relief in dramas. They never have love lives of their own because they’re supposed to be obsessed with shipping the main characters. But these three are so different because they play an important role in the story. They are rebels. They are protestors. They are the only people standing up to the authoritarian administration. I really like to watch how our main characters react to them. I feel like (aside from Ayan), it’s a mixture of discomfort and envy.

There’s this scene from the first episode of Kan having a moment of yearning, followed by internalized homophobia and moving away from Thua:

And then we see the gang pass by happy and carefree, carrying their protest signs. 

Kan and Thua watch them, and Kan makes this remark: 

I think its so interesting that this is right after he chastised himself for getting too close to Thua.

In episode 5, right after Thua has been verbally abused by his stepdad in the car, he walks into school to see the gang being bullied by homophobes. There’s such a contrast between Thua and these characters because they stand up for themselves. 

It ends up making Thua more depressed.

Ayan is friends with the gang and supportive of them. I loved this moment from today’s ep:

But Akk is so freaked out when he sees them. It’s not just a “oh no, they will see me being friendly with the enemy” kind of thing. He really seems to be worried that they’ll pick up on the romantic tension between them. 

It’s really sad. I will be sooooo happy if Akk, Kan and Thua become friends with these three later in the story. And they can have group hangs at the Café for All.

you get her there, you keep her alive and you set everything right