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

[untiltheend]

1. What would you like him to be able to suss out about your character? Sebastian puts on an act of politeness and charm, of being hard-working and helpful, but in reality he completely lacks empathy, is cruel and looks down on others. He gets intensely obsessive over what he wants: his master, eating, having a meal that tastes just so. He thinks a lot of humans on the Barge smell like they'd taste delicious (Will included, most likely).

2. Is there a character trait or emotion you absolutely do NOT want brought up? The specifics of who his master is and what their Contract entails, just on the off chance said master is ever apped here.

3. Is there any visual imagery you associate with your character, and/or is there anything specifically that you'd like Will to visualize? Black smokey tendrils, blood, claws and fangs (if Hannibal's inner monster is represented by a Wendigo, Sebastian's true self is more darkness made manifest, a black hole, a creeping shadow). And on the other end fancy china, tea, elegant chandeliers, heavy velvet curtains --mixing the two categories works too.

4. Any plot threads or development you'd like to actually get going through this mechanic? I've yet to actually watch the show, but I'm thinking Sebastian would likely give Will major Hannibal vibes?

[empathicfault]

Yeah, there be some Hannibal vibes over here, wow. It's only Sebastian coming off like an actual void or black hole that's different, really.

Will is having a fairly nice chat with him over the network, funnily enough, as Will doesn't quite get enough info through audio to go off of. But I'm thinking Will'd end up staring at Sebastian for overly-long periods if Will sees him on the Barge, and especially if he's spotted working the breakfast shift. He might actually seek out Sebastian after that, partially because he isn't sure if other people catch the danger, and partially because Will makes terrible choices and is drawn to monsters.