macksting

 

Thinking about how OJ Haywood and Laios Thorden have a few things in common, and how the Jean Jacket operation had a lot in common with a Dungeon Meshi plan (albeit, one of the ones that went somewhat awry.) Laios was more knowledgeable of his foes than OJ was, but both relied on their ability to understand a specific menace in order to neutralize it, to get what they needed. There's even moments in Dungeon Meshi where Laios makes quick and important observations which then become part of a plan, even in the middle of the action, just like OJ does with regards to eye contact. (I did say there's spoilers.)
The above scene could easily have been Laios getting told off for something he said; likewise, OJ may in Laios' circumstances have said something others found uncomfortable, for its timing or for its content. He's more circumspect than Laios, so it happens less often, but it does happen at least once.
Thinking about how the autistic-coded (as in prolly very much so) character in Nope is the one who realized eye contact is bad. Thinking about how he cannot play the social game, gets overrun and ignored (as opposed to Laios, whose resting bitchface, genuine frustration with people, and almost total earnestness earn him an unfairly spooky reputation.)
(Actually, OJ's got a nearly flat affect, so manga!Laios and OJ actually do have similar vibes, just Laios is harder for others to ignore.)
The rest of their respective parties don't map to each other. Angel, Em and Antlers are not Chilchuk, Marcille or Senshi. The stories these works tell are different in most every way other than OJ and Laios being probably autistic, and everyone relying on their knowledge to win the day and survive.
I don't really have a thesis here. I just think they're neat.