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

[abrightboy]

1. What would you like him to be able to suss out about your character? It's pretty well established in Prodigal Son that Malcolm is sort of in a constant fear response in a lot of ways. While he is genuinely afraid of Martin Whitly most of the time, he is more afraid of what he, himself, is capable of and being (or being seen as) the same as the Surgeon. He also has a crush on Shaw right now as an embarrassing aside.

2. Is there a character trait or emotion you absolutely do NOT want brought up? Not at all. Do your worst. Best. Bestworst.

3. Is there any visual imagery you associate with your character, and/or is there anything specifically that you'd like Will to visualize? When Malcolm was hiding the Endicott murder his sister committed, he would see himself smiling maniacally in reflective surfaces. He also often has nightmares that involve being trapped in his father's prison cell, either with his father or in his place.

4. Any plot threads or development you'd like to actually get going through this mechanic? I don't know right now but I will def keep it in mind.

[empathicfault]

So there's a lot to work with here. Malcolm is someone who Will is probably going to tangle his own issues up with the most, for obvious reasons. So I wouldn't be surprised if he also mixes in his imagery with Malcolm's.

He accepted the offer of therapy because he's evaluating Malcolm and basically trying to use him to compare and contrast. So he might press harder on that fear response and see what he gets. Should be interesting to see where they end up together.

[abrightboy]

Yes pls. Also his father was always pressing on him to be like him and to admit being like him etc etc. Essentially, pressing on his fears is something Martin does a lot and I forgot to mention that when he gets highly emotional - but especially up in the fear response - his right hand has a pretty severe psychogenic tremor.

[empathicfault]

Noted on the tremor.

And also! I don't know if you want to play out all the therapy sessions, but I'm down for hitting up Malcolm's Inbox sometimes to play out them talking some stuff out, if you'd like? Will will honestly probably be talking to Malcolm more often than most people.

[abrightboy]

I am definitely down to play out or handwave as warranted. I love whatever this is that's developing.