All Bingo

>> But that sort of... feels like cheating, somehow? I basically always write these two characters as autistic, and sometimes it comes up in recognisable ways as the narrative takes shape and sometimes it doesn't. <<

It's okay to vary the amount you are showing.

>> I feel like I ought to be adding> something, somehow? <<

It is necessary to the story or characterization? If not, it's probably padding.

>> I mean, we can talk about autistic-coded characters til the cows come home (certainly anime is filled with them), but most would agree that they're not actually 'autistic characters', and don't count as 'representation'. <<

I think that depends on the quality and depth of the portrayal.

>> Is the knowledge in the head of the writer that yes, these things make the character autistic, enough to transform it into representation? Is it enough if the author would clarify 'yep, I see them as autistic' if asked? <<

Those are "Word of God" territory, if not supported by character behavior. Better than nothing, especially if tangential to the plot/theme at hand, but not as good as more detailed representation.

>>Does the tag validate itself by its own presence? <<

That depends on who gets to add tags. If only the author, it's Word of God. If readers -- especially with a tally, like "33 people have tagged this work Autistic," then you get to see how other people view the work. People don't always see the same things, and that's okay; that's literature.

>> But tags are for seeking as well as delineating. If I tagged a 100 word drabble that just features those two characters kissing without any other especially autistic elements, then I'd be worried about people coming in expecting some actual focus on that. <<

That's a challenge in most identity literature, like gay lit. Most people come to it looking for, say, gay sex/romance or activism. But there are other folks who want background parity, who want to see gay men going about ordinary lives and, you know, not dying tragically.

I tend to use tags for things that are shown in a given piece. YMMV.

>> So where's the cut-off? At what level can I tag it - or submit it for a challenge such as this one? <<

For this challenge, I would look at pieces which show how a disability affects the characters and how they deal with that. Some challenges want the theme to be highlighted while it others it just needs to be mentioned. This is especially true with bingo prompts -- does the story have to be about that prompt or do you just have to get the word on the page or can you write anything inspired by it? Often the instructions specify which, but they vary from one challenge to another. That's okay too.

>> I don't know - obviously, I'm overthinking this, lol. It's just that when I was trying to think of fiction ideas, I couldn't stop wondering about all that, and being kinda weirdly worried that some of my ideas were subtle, but also kind of not wanting to take the ''easy'' route and make things explicit unless it feels logical and natural for the characters... hm.<<

Thinking about it is good! Writing overt fic is fine, writing covert fic is fine. I generally recommend that you do what works for the story and the characters, don't force it.

>> Well, I shouldn't act like that's why I didn't write anything more - a head overflowing with plotbunnies and recurrent brainfog did that job lmao :'D <<

It happens.

>> (Also there are plenty of other disabilities I could write as well haha - this is just what I know best!) <<

That's a good place to start.

>> But welp I've been thinking about this loosely for a while and this challenge really shapped the question for me? *thinking* <<

:D Then I have done my job.