Oh, Chris definitely has options, including lots of state support for being a tard/poor (which he barely takes advantage of), no doubt about that. I was more emphasizing that he didn't think he could survive on the tugboat.
Also, Chris can't leave Barb on his own. She's like a siamese twin to him. I believe that's one of the few purely mental things that he isn't at fault for. Other things, like being lazy or being an asshole? With those things, yeah, autism plays a part, but Chris being a dick also plays a part.
But Barb barnacling herself to Chris? Absolutely not Chris' fault. He kicked and screamed like a toddler when he was separated for her for a few hours when they got arrested. He's got hardcore mental problems being separated from Barb, and I can't fault him for that.
I think his resilience to disappointment is pretty strong. As long he's got a roof over his head and a solid chunk of time to piss away on legos/video games/whatever, I think he'll bounce back. He'll make excuses about how Crystal's only a year or so away and then feel fine.
Hell, this current batch of depression is ominous (including taking zzzquil to catch another 5 hour nap, jesus), but I think things will be better in the spring. If Chris has a stable home in the spring, I think he'll be back to "flirting the skirt" at gay events in Charlottesville.
Oh I agree that Barb is the Anchor around his neck at the moment, while I think it's a Kink for him dressing as a woman, he is for lack of a better term "Kept in Check" by barb. She has controlled a awful lot of his life an has a abusive relationship with him but it's symbiotic. Chris craves attention an to some point human contact. Chris hasn't got friends an she is the only other Human he has contact with as in physical contact with he is used to her, Chris thinks she is predictable, and is happy with that. The only autistic I know personally close to Chris Holds down a part time job, and is 2 years younger then my Friend who is two years younger than Me. When I first met him I always wore a knee length coat an I played with his toys with him (Nice guy functional, just like's toys) but when I show up at Kevin's an I am not waring a jacket (he focuses on them, no idea why) I will knock at Kevs house (his brother lives with him), he will answer the door through the slot and demand to know who I am and let his pet Terrier bark like mad. I bend down an say "Hey Dude, it's me an I have something to put in the bank" for some reason an I love him for it, has a safe a full blown serious safe full of the Chocklet gold coins, he eat's half of the deposit and keeps the other half for your rainy day, and only his Brothers true friends know of the special bank, when he thinks your sad (
often when your less than sober) he gives you a stack of the coins saying "Interest", The thing is this guy works 30 hours a week, collecting Shopping trollies for £6.50 a hour an god love him spends lots of it on sweets of the little kids in with there parents, but he always ask's the parents if he can offer the kid a sweet, at Christmas time he dresses as Santa (for the kids) when the kid's ask santa what's he is doing, he say's "It's my summer job" an gives them a big sweaty or a toy, he is a genuinely lovely guy.
Now the only reason I bring this up is, he is about as capable as Chris, he spends his money on sweets for him (an a lot of other people, mostly kids), an toys, but he at least put's effort into it, an is a nice person (
an is a really obsessively clean person). But is Dependent on Kev, unlike Chris they had decent parents who both sadly died young Say Len is hungry an Kev is late home he will take what he wants out of the freezer an lay it out for him to cook / microwave as he knows his own limits, but is willing to learn an knows what's within his limits, last year I taught him how to make Beans on Toast, or as Len call's it Farty food.... . The problem with Chris he has a Toxic relationship where all the effort goes one way, She views Chris as a extension of her will not as a person, she will give him a command an expect him to obey. When he disagrees with her it's just a software glitch that can be corrected with Suicide patch 9.6c or Bribery 20.00.1R is all that's needed to make Chris do her bidding.
The thing is, with let downs your right Chris expects them, apart form a few events he has never been a winner, and his level of comfort is far removed from most. Chris an let down is ranging from Bugger can't afford X this month to Shit my beloved is a figment of my imagination. While OPL is a bounce able fucker, he isn't ever lasting, but rather than doing the self review of "OK this didn't work, where did I / We fuck up" he say's the world is fucked up, not him reinforced by his mum an USI.
It's fucking sad really, Chris was fucked in the genetic lottery, fucked in Parenteral roulette an shafted in upbringing Blackjack, as always it's not one thing it's the fucking whole that makes Chris, well Chris.
