Chapter 2 Gifted in Spirit
The other Koopalings leaned forward, their curiosity going off the charts. Ludwig and Iggy observed the lot of them with jubilant smiles. Ludwig in particular was on the border of smirking. He looked right into Iggy's bespectacled eyes just as Morton spoke up.
"How do you guys use your autism to your advantage?"
Iggy leaned back a little bit. "Well, one of the advantages of being on the autism spectrum is a WICKEDLY high intellect."
"Yeah," Ludwig said with a nod. "A lot of the super geniuses throughout history are autistic, and if they aren't, they are at least suspected as being so." He beams. "And, well, I don't think you need me to tell you how that relates to us."
Iggy nodded. "If I were to put my own biases to the side for a moment, I would have to say that Ludwig and I are about neck and neck when it comes to IQ. In terms of wisdom gained from experience…that one is a little tricky. Ludwig is first in the birth order and predates me by about three years, so he obviously has a greater quantity of experiences under his belt. In terms of quality, however…well, that is also up for debate considering that I did go to college at a young age. So, you could make a case for either of us in terms of who has the superior intellect." He smirked. "Personally, I will argue that it's me until the cows come home."
Ludwig snorted. "Oh please; it's obviously me." His eyes shimmered. "Do you want to have a debate about that? I always did wonder what would happen if an unstoppable force meets an immovable object."
Lemmy laughed. "You probably shouldn't debate now. It's not even nine o'clock yet; it's too early for the universe to implode."
Everyone at the table laughed. Larry wiped a tear from his eye just before speaking up. "So, how do you guys use your super brains?"
Iggy grinned, both his teeth and glasses sparkling. "Well, I have devised a method that allows my Asperger's to coincide with my OCD. As I said before, my OCD has allowed me to multitask. This is how I am able to divide my attention when I'm tinkering in the lab. And, since my brain is wired in a unique way, I am able to run through a plethora of information without really losing out on anything. This is how I am as good a scientist as I am." He smirked and patted himself on the back.
Ludwig rolled his eyes. "Oh, sure sure. Science is one thing, but how good are you at composing a musical masterpiece?"
Iggy narrowed his eyes, smiling at Ludwig wickedly. "I don't know, Ludwig. Why don't you tell me?"
Ludwig blew a strand of hair out of his face. "Well, I will admit that you being more in tune with the left side of your brain has allowed you to detect patterns, even in musical tracks."
"Precisely." Iggy grinned. "And you being more right brained allows you to see the beauty in the natural world, as well as beyond."
Wendy gasped. "Holy crap! You guys are right! You're like…like…oh, I don't know, but it's like you're two sides of the same coin! It's like you're…yin and yang!"
"Ah, yin and yang," Ludwig said wistfully. "Yeah, that is one way to describe it."
Lemmy stood up. "Oh my goodness, now I'm looking at myself in a different way!" He looked down at his right hand. "I'm a righty, and I am able to see the patterns in clown acts! Plus, I'm able to put my own spin on them but trying out new moves and routines!" He laughed. "I guess I'm both right and left brained!"
Iggy nodded. "That is one way to look at it. The left-right brain thing works as a general rule, but there are some exceptions. For example…Wendy. You're right handed, correct?"
"Yes, I am."
"And yet, you would consider yourself more of the creative type than the analytical type, right?"
Wendy blinked before gawking. "Oh my developer…" She looked down. "Yeah. I have a real eye for color; that's how I'm so good with fashion and cosmetics!"
"Precisely!" Iggy exclaimed. "And because your default is your analytical side, this is how you're able to think critically about an outfit and detect patterns in a design."
Wendy's eyes glittered. "Woah. I feel like you're staring into my soul." She laughed. "But you're doing such a good job at it that I don't want you to stop!"
Iggy laughed. "That's the thing about me; I'm supremely good at being bad!" He snickered. "If you're going to do something wrong, do it right!"
Roy laughed the hardest out of everyone there. Once he got himself back under control, he directed his gaze at Iggy. "What about me?"
Iggy placed his hand to his chin. "Hmmmm…you." He looked across the table. "That's a tough one, I think I want to phone a friend. Ludwig?"
Ludwig smiled at Roy. "You're right handed. So, you're able to detect patterns and sequences."
Roy blinked. "Really?" He looked down at the table. "I don't really know; I mean, I stink at math."
"True. But that doesn't mean you're completely locked out of your default setting. I can think of at least a few areas of your life where you apply it. For example…you're really good at thinking on your feet during a battle."
Roy blinked again. "Huh. I guess." He smiled a little. "I am good at figuring out my opponent's next move."
"Yep, you are." Ludwig turned toward the siblings to his left. "Now, Mr. Morton. You are a lefty, correct?"
"Yep." Morton licked his lip. "I'm good at choosing combinations of flavors when I cook." He smiled a little. "Plus, I am good at exact measurements, both when baking and when knitting."
"True," said Ludwig. "And Larry, you're ambidextrous. That means you can tune into both parts of the brain."
"Yeah ha!" Larry grinned confidently, puffing out his chest to make himself looking tall and threatening. "I'm better than all y'all combined!"
Iggy snickered. "If you say so." He looked back at Ludwig. "It's really fascinating to study this stuff; that's why one of my nine college degrees happened to be psychology."
"I agree," said Ludwig. He put his elbows on the table, leaning against them like he was about to negotiate a business transaction with Ignatius. "Now, your medical chart…"
"Ah, yes!" He turned back to the rest of his siblings. "While Ludwig and I both are autistic control freaks, that is where our similarities end. However, those two are arguably the two that impact our personalities the most, so they are worth bringing up above all else."
"Yeah." Ludwig looked around the table, his brow scrunching up in confusion. "I can't believe you guys never knew about this." He looked back at Iggy. "It's not like we're unwilling to talk about it!"
"True. But then again, we don't go around with a neon sign either."
"I know! But still, any half wit who has spent even a second with us can see we have the symptoms!" He shook his head. "I mean, I guess I shouldn't complain, as I didn't know I was doing that well, but….damn, you guys are dumb!"
Roy smirked. "Maybe it's the drugs you take?"
"Okay, first of all, I prefer the term 'medication,' or 'med' for short," said Iggy. "And secondly…I'm really the only one who still takes medication. And even then, I don't use it to treat my Asperger's; I use it to treat my anxiety."
Wendy's jaw dropped as she pointed at Iggy. "Oh! I actually did know about this; you have Generalized Anxiety Disorder!"
"Yeah. That was kind of a package deal with the OCD. It allows me to be more...hyperactive, I guess you could say. I do have a med on standby in case I need it, but it's not one that I take daily. It's more of a last resort; a 'rescue med' if you will."
"Yeah," Ludwig said with a nod. "As for me, I am completely unmedicated at the moment. However, that is mostly due in part to the therapy I got to treat my other 'quirks.' I also have Narcissistic Personality Disorder on my list." Everyone at the table snickered, to wich Ludwig rolled his eyes. "Yes, hahaha, you don't need a med doctor to tell you that." He smiled. "Obviously, if you have as strong as a sense of self as I have, that can easily turn into a God complex. However, years of therapy have helped me keep the NPD under control. Therapy and discipline." His features softened up a little. "Now, this one you probably won't find on my chart, but I also have clinical depression."
Morton nodded, his face gloomy. "I hear you buddy. I've climbed that mountain."
Ludwig blinked. "You're clinically depressed?"
"Officially clinically depressed," Morton clarified. "That one does show up on my chart."
Ludwig did a double take. "Huh. I didn't know that. But then again, now that you say that, it does make sense." He straightened his posture. "You know what? I take back what I said about you guys being dumb; I guess I learned something new today too." Everyone else nodded.
Lemmy beamed at Ludwig. "Hey, I just realized! You have four illnesses, and you have four powers!"
Ludwig blinked before smiling. "You're right! I never noticed that!" He chuckled. "Interesting symmetry is what that is." He shook his head. "Even a super genius can learn something new."
"Yeah," said Larry. He looked between Iggy and Ludwig. "It makes me wonder; do the rest of us have any mental illnesses?"
Iggy smirked. "Well, it isn't entirely ethical for a psychologist to analyze their own family." A wicked little flame flickered in his eyes. "However, there are some things I have noticed…"
