The Hewitt's Reaction To A Modest Reader

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Is Thomas {Hewitt} Neurodivergent?

TW: Discussions of mental health, TCM-Canon-activities

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I’ve headcanoned Thomas as neurodivergent, specifically with high-function/low-support needs autism {What would’ve  previously been diagnosed as Asperger’s} for quite some time now, which I brought up in a previous post. As someone who’s autistic, being diagnosed late gave me..mixed feelings. On one hand, I’m glad I was diagnosed. On the other; Feeling so isolated socially, being overwhelmed and “trapped” in my head without knowing why, and being so aggravated / anxious all the time made me feel like something was wrong with me. I literally imagined myself as a druid, elf, siren, and even an alien at times because I felt so ‘inhuman.’ I imagine Thomas felt and still feels this way, too. I mean, the most he was diagnosed with was ‘mental deterioration’, which for the time period, makes sense. Mental deterioration is often described as loss in memory, changes in mood, decline in intellectual functioning, social isolation, changes in thought, difficulty perceiving things, and so forth. Considering Thomas doesn’t speak, is very reserved, very much ‘in his own world’, and has had violent / destructive tendencies since a young age, the diagnosis makes sense. For the time period. First of all, Thomas has a very cluttered and inconsistent family life. Having a family member in the military is no easy trip; It takes a lot of mental energy to keep yourself together when they leave {coming from someone who’s father is in the military.} I spent a little under half my life without my dad, Thomas only spent a year without Charlie/Hoyt, but the impact is still there. Second of all, Thomas was and still is intensely ridiculed socially. The childhood pictures of people covering his face? He’s basically been told he needs to ‘cover it up’ his entire life. The only time we get to see his face {besides his reveal} is the pictures at Henrietta and ‘Kathy’s’ trailer. Even then, his face isn’t shown in that, you have to look it up. 

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The ridicule most definitely caused image/confidence issues, as well as some social anxiety. I tend to get aggressive when I’m anxious {prior to my Lord and savior prozac}, which I think could be the case with Thomas. He can control himself, sure, but he still gets overstimulated. Surprisingly, he doesn’t seem to get overstimulated from loud noises and textures; But maybe those things bring him comfort. He’s very attentive with an almost heightened sense of hearing, which is surprising considering he basically breathes through his chainsaw. Especially at around 1:17:7-8 in the 2003 film. Bro whipped his head around so fast once he heard those rats. He does seem to shy away from touch, unless it's a necessity or something he initiates. This is incredibly clear at 1:09:15 during The Beginning 2006; When he comes in to amputate Monty’s legs with his new mask. When Luda Mae tries to touch him / his mask, he just..stares down and adjusts his jaw. He doesn’t lean in, he doesn’t acknowledge anyone; Just zones out almost. He’s there to get a job done, not to talk. I think this is a form of self-regulation for him: Just focus on what needs to get done, then we can go back to the basement. Speaking of the basement, I think that’s his preferred space. It’s the one place {besides his bedroom / sewing room} that feels like his. No one else comes down there, spare the victims which he brings, and Hoyt on occasion. Even then, it’s short and to the point; Hoyt’s a busy man, he doesn’t linger too long. Thomas gets to let loose and be violent. It’s like as soon as he opens that steel door, the mask drops {pun intended.} He gets to create, he gets to be violent; There’s no expectations for him. In the 2003 remake, he’s listening to the radio with a HEAD ON A PLATTER as well as bottled eyeballs, sets of teeth, jars of petrolatum, and all his little machinery n’ trinkets; He’s just working away with some metal music playing and his collectables sprawled out without a care in the world. That’s his space; His “safe room” if you will. And his sewing machine up in {what is believed to be} his room. 

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Going back to his ‘social awkwardness / social isolation,’ Thomas likes to stare. Like, a lot. There's multiple shots in the 2003 remake {34:15-34:23, 34:55, 43:02, 1:11:49, ect} where he’s just..staring / observing. And that’s JUST in 2003. Obviously, he’s trying to see what Erin and other victims are doing, but he’s definitely hyper-aware of things. I brought this up in a previous post, and I’m bringing it up again; in the extended scene in part 2 {0:00 - 0:30}, where Bailey is tied under the table and starts screaming once she sees Thomas just..staring at her from the doorway. He’s doing what’s called ‘T-rex arms’ as well as fidgeting with his fingers which might be a form of self-regulation; ‘Cause lets be honest, he just got introduced to this new ‘way of life’ the previous night. He also just lost his job and killed someone the previous day. He’s a little new to this. #firstkillkindanervous

I think Thomas doesn’t understand, or maybe just doesn’t care / notice he’s doing it. Staring can be very intimate for people, and I guess Thomas is just a curious and cautious fella. And I get why, gotta make sure the family is okay, and nothing goes wrong. Anyway - I also previously discussed how Thomas could have Apraxia of Speech; Which if you didn’t know, is often found in autistic children. It usually progresses with speech therapy, but Thomas very obviously didn’t have that. Expenses + time period and rural areas don’t usually produce good outcomes for neurodivergent kids anyway. 

To wrap things up; I definitely think Thomas is neurodivergent. Even if he doesn’t have Autism, Apraxia of Speech is considered neurodivergent. I still firmly believe he has Autism {Level 1?}, but I’m always open to feedback and alternative ideas!

Much love, 🫀

sometimes I genuinely tweak because what y'all are lying to me and secretly think I'm annoying and need to stfu

Im just cool like that {Diagnosed with anxiety at the age of 12} So fun

୨୧ i really cannot BELIEVE how little fanfic there is for this man… he’s SO fucking hot, get out of here… got some dating headcanons for him in the drafts, they should be done soon <3

yeah I know.

CHARLIE (R LEE ERMEY) IS SO HOT I CANT HIDE IT ANYMORE🤰🤰

I mean..at times

need him like this or somethibg

tis is so ass blud 😭

what do you think a modern-era thomas would be like? i wonder how different he would be from his canon version with the greater normalization of mental health disorders and everything (and possibly being able to stay in school for longer). i love reading your posts :)

I love reading your posts :)

Modern Thomas {Hewitt} AU Headcanons

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･.

I think the most impactful effect of the modern AU would be Thomas' mental and physical condition. He'd most likely get diagnosed quicker and more accurately -

'Mental Retardation' - ASD 1

Would not be diagnosed with 'Mental Deterioration'

Disfigurative/Disfiguring Facial Disease - CLE or Pustular Psoriasis {Possibly both}

Birth Defect {Assumed to be an Incomplete Unilateral Cleft} would stay the same, potentially fixed at birth IF the Hewitt's had the money

Other mental disorders:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Depression

Apraxia of Speech {?}

PTSD

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With the earlier/more accurate diagnoses, Thomas {if the Hewitt's had the money} would have more treatment/management options. For example:

Therapy: ABA, Speech therapy, general psychology

Medication: Anti-depressants, Anger management, Anti-anxiety, Anti-Psychotics

Honestly..I doubt the Hewitts would approve of either..BUT they'd be more open to it than compared to the canon timeline {due to less societal pressure}

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School...oh boy. Depending on what year he'd be born {late 80's - early 90's} his accommodations would change {not too drastically, though}.

The Americans with Disabilities Act {ADA} was signed into law in 1990 by former President George H.W. Bush, meaning Thomas {if he had a 504 or educational plan of some sort} would require accommodations. That being said...he went to school in a small conservative town...in the Deep South...that is heavily religious..

Would he have stayed in school longer? Most likely. Would he have graduated..I don't think so. LISTEN - He'd probably drop out around 14/15 {not that it was legal} - To work at the slaughterhouse. School would've been overwhelming not only from work, but the social aspects as well. He wasn't the best in school..

If he did happen to make it through high school, I doubt he'd go to college - but that's just me.

He would NOT be employed at age 12, as the Texas Child Labor Laws {finalized in 1993} state:

"The Texas Child Labor Laws make sure a child is not working in a job or way that could harm the child's safety, health, or well-being. Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) also has rules to make sure a job does not interfere with a child’s education. It is illegal to employ a child under 14 except under specific circumstances."

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Okay!! Now time for more personalized modern AU headcanons 🤗

IF he had a phone {which I don't think he would, unfortunately} he'd like playing random mobile games. I'm talking Tetris-esque and solitaire games {and those of similar nature}.

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He'd grow his hair out - OP and I have talked about this; He'd grow it out a bit. Maybe not terribly long, but longer than his 2006 length. {I have no idea why this would be modern-related but it popped in my mind}.

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I don't know if Thomas would be the type to watch TV, honestly. Maybe whatever's on here and there - Eavesdropping on what the family's watching - But nothing too particular.

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The family would not spend money on mobile phones. I'm sorry, but they wouldn't..they really don't talk to anyone outside of the family, and even then, they'd most likely have a rotary or push-button phone.

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The Hewitts are poor, okay? Which leads me to believe Thomas would have a CD player as opposed to an online streaming service {for music}. I just envision this post.

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Possible Music Taste {Open to suggestions}: Type O Negative, The Smashing Pumpkins, Korn {momentarily}, Led Zeppelin, Mortician, Cannibal Corpse, Pantera, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Alice In Chains, Johnny Cash, The Highwaymen, Elvis {momentarily}, Lynyrd Skynyrd {momentarily}, ACDC {momentarily}, Slipknot {momentarily}, hear me out..Radiohead?

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Thomas would have more variety in his masks - Listen, rural Texas is still rural Texas, but it's not 1960's rural Texas. There'd be more variety in the people there {both from in and out of town}, which leads me to believe his masks would show that.

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The family would have a bit more variety in their food - Not by much, but still an influential amount. Think about it, Luda's community center/gas station would get some different things {especially in the 2020's}. Vapes, new chip and sweet brands, gum, different soda pop brands, more fast-food-esque stock, but still new stock nonetheless. I'm sure she'd bring some home for the family..even if it's just a bit.

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I think Thomas would dress relatively the same - Wearing his Sunday clothes to work at the bug-infested bloodfest that is the slaughterhouse {we love a gentleman}.

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Okay listen, I know this post is about Thomas but I just thought of something: Hoyt would want a phone. NOT because he's social, but because he wants access to certain things..with ease. The Hewitts wouldn't have internet but that doesn't mean Hoyt won't drive out somewhere. He'd have a Facebook account - You can't tell me different.

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yay modern Thomas playing solitaire with his momma

Hi Tae, I was wondering if you could tell us how Thomas would react if a victim (reader) who's cornored or meets him for the first time stare into his eyes for a moment, taking all the details in, to then tell him that he has beautiful eyes. It dosen’t matter if he looks at then angrily or with a dark gaze. They still thinks they are beautiful. Like a gem or the sky on a sunny day.

I figured you could answer this easily since you know the Hewitt family so well and it's pretty much an easy question.

oooo I love this!!

I think he'd be very confused and taken back which would cause him to pause for a bit - He's in his own head a lot. This gives the victim more time to escape but as soon as you move he's right back in the game. (Or..with a little "family motivation")

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"You're beautiful." You don't know why you said it - Why you felt it. All you knew was that it's true: He was beautiful, at least to you.

The cannibal paused. Beautiful? Such words were never used to describe him, not even once. The most praise he'd gotten was on his work ethic, never on his appearance.

His expression tightened, what was left of his nose wrinkled, his eyes squinted as his eyebrows closed in. It doesn't make sense - You're lying. You were just trying to catch him off guard, break down his walls; Escape.

Don't be tempted, son. These women are something else.

That's what Charlie had told him one time - Back in what were supposed to be his high school years. There were always pretty girls with infectious smiles and loud laughs that made him turn his head. He liked the way their hair was done, how creative they could be in accessorizing. He liked their lips and the way they framed their smiles. The fantasy would break as soon as they saw him. He'd be staring at them, distracted from his work at the slaughterhouse or at the community center his momma worked at. The girls would stiffen - They were disgusted with him. Afraid.

Why're you staring? - Can I help you?

He didn't have the tools to answer those questions. His answer wouldn't make anything better; In fact, it'd make it worse. They weren't asking out of genuine curiosity, they wanted to deter him. His freakish nature and abnormal behavior. Momma taught him not to stare, but, why could they stare? No one told them not to, he was a macabre one, that's for sure.

In a matter of seconds, his head replayed the compliment you gave to him. Beautiful. He was beautiful.

It felt good. Odd, peculiar, abnormal, but so damn good.

Say it again. Just one more time; Please?

Of course, he couldn't say that. He didn't say that. And he didn't want to.

Thomas restarted the chainsaw, revving it loud enough to drown out his irrational thinking. You didn't mean it. You couldn't have.

You jolted back, frightened, but yet, still determined.

"Beautiful, beautiful eyes." You whispered shakily.

He threw the chainsaw to the ground, frustrated and confused. If you didn't mean it, stop fucking saying it!

"What's taking so damn long down there!" A voice called out from upstairs. "Tommy, stop stallin' and cut her up already!"

Hoyt stomped down the stairs, his eyes meeting the corner you were trapped in. "Oh, Christ, Thomas. Get a grip on yourself."

"What? Did she butter you up all nice and sweet, huh?" Hoyt called out condescendingly. He didn't view Thomas as "ugly" necessarily, but Hoyt knew a thing or two about survival. Never let your guard down. Ever.

Tommy looked between the two of you, frustrated, confused, overwhelmed. He wasn't teary-eyed but he was damn close. Still, his anger shadowed his confusion as he picked up the chainsaw once more, starting it up as the two of you locked eyes.

"There you go...attaboy, Tommy. Finish the job like you always do."

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Sorry this is kinda short. I was in the mood for a mini oneshot lol

As always, if you have more requests, questions, or I misinterpreted an ask, please let me know!