Will's Insight | Opt-In Post

[empathicfault]

In the series Hannibal, Will Graham is shown to have a unique ability- he calls it 'interpreting the evidence', whereas Hannibal calls it 'pure empathy'. It lets Will know what the people around him are feeling, often to Will's detriment. Will frequently appears to be overstimulated by the outside world, slumping in chairs and avoiding eye contact. He finds comfort in dogs and being alone.

However, this ability can often be extremely useful for determining motivations, desires, and fears. When he uses it at crime scenes, the series shows murders taking place as if Will were the culprit. He sees fantastical visions and metaphorical imagery as he places himself in his target's place, seeing the world as they see it.

I'd like to write out some of this imagery in narration as I roleplay, but I also don't want to infomod. So if you are interested in letting Will into knowing your character through this ability, please reply here.

What I'd like to know (feel free to copy+paste, or just write out what you'd like)--
<b>1. What would you like him to be able to suss out about your character? </b> He works in emotions, so fears, desires, motivations, immediate wants, all that sort of thing is good. <b>2. Is there a character trait or emotion you absolutely do NOT want brought up?</b> Will isn't magic and he's not always right with this ability. It's easy to veer off of any topic you might want to avoid. <b>3. Is there any visual imagery you associate with your character, and/or is there anything specifically that you'd like Will to visualize?</b> Sometimes he sees things that don't seem to make a whole lot of sense until later- I tend to interpret that as him integrating evidence that he hasn't logically noticed yet. <b>4. Any plot threads or development you'd like to actually get going through this mechanic?</b> Let me know, I'd love to plan with you! Will could be a good way to weasel info or feelings out of someone who would otherwise keep them hidden, if that's something you'd like. I'm also very happy to just see where things go.

Thanks, and please let me know if there's anything else you'd like me to know or talk over with you.

Comments

[pharadyne]

1. What would you like him to be able to suss out about your character? Norton is a bundle of perky flibbertigibbet wrapped around a hard inner core of spite and damage. And, like Dorian, he's also usually horny on main. He's, like, 80% open book which makes people often not look for the hidden 20% because it seems like he's just letting it all hang out. But that inner 20% is a mess. He's very angry, very lonely, but has a very hard time trusting people enough for genuine emotional intimacy. And he has a very transactional mindset.

2. Is there a character trait or emotion you absolutely do NOT want brought up? Nothing I can think of! If something ever does come up, I'll let you know.

3. Is there any visual imagery you associate with your character, and/or is there anything specifically that you'd like Will to visualize? Mid-century, post-WII London. (Buildings bombed out from the Blitz, dingy boarding houses, Soho dance halls and gay clubs, flickering lights, thick pea soup smog, etc.) Also holograms, alien ray guns, fancy 1950s suits and hats. Or anything that you think might make sense is good too!

4. Any plot threads or development you'd like to actually get going through this mechanic? I usually end up winging things, but if something specific pops into my head I'll let you know. And if you ever have a plot idea I can help with, I love helping people make plots happen.

[empathicfault]

Will tends to show a lot of people his damage so they don't know the REAL damage that's in there, so- he gets at least the hiding of the True Self, Norton. And ooh, some old London imagery and old sci-fi nonsense should be fun. It's less creepy than he usually goes, so at least there's a silver lining there. Thanks for replying. :3