I find it so Fascinating that the construct called Teacher is so genuinely afraid of Water. The first time I read this book I was sure I was Important and now having read Harrow the Ninth I'm absolutely certain it has Something to do with The River but like

What

Due to Rust’s “human-like”, or if you’d prefer it “organic”, nature, they’re the only known Tombsona to be susceptible to human illness.

Zero_One tends to go into a protective state whenever Rust is sick. Although this usually isn’t a problem, an issue can arise if Rust were to become ill with something more hazardous. During these times, Rust is to be relocated into Doc’s quarters for observation and rest.

However, this is not so that Doc may treat the sick Tombsona; rather, it is because Doc is able to successfully separate Zero from Rust. Doc has attempted to explain how they do it many a times to me, but it is based solely on magical properties that are only loosely based in the realm of science--such things do not interest me.

There is a benefit to how Doc maintains his room as well. Doc's love for plant life has resulted in his room being covered and filled with various plants, many that have healing properties. Though it is only superstition, Doc fully believes that--even if Rust won't allow for medical treatment--Rust merely being within the room helps to heal them faster.

That has yet to be proven or disproven.

I mean Yoav and I certainly both are neurodivergent lol. Like do you mean the characters in canon? My POV around the tombsonas specifically is that they’re intentionally semi-blank slates that we as a community kinda imprint on. For example if you’re AuDHD and you feel a kinship with Tesla, then Tesla can be AuDHD! The fact that the tombsonas pair with an indefinite amount of people across all of time and space means that EVERYONE is in the mix. I don’t want anyone to feel excluded or unrepresented because canon has not specifically shouted them out. Or feel like “well I have dyspraxia and so does Armstrong, so that forces me to look at them as representing me, when otherwise I’d more relate to Doc.”

There’s a (maybe apocryphal) story attributed to Stan Lee where he emphasized the importance Spider-Man being fully covered head to toe, because it means almost anyone can feel like they could be inside the suit - I feel much the same way about the Tombsonas. They’re not people - YOU are the people, so whatever is in you is in them.