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

[cactusy]

1. What would you like him to be able to suss out about your character? Her emotions are, as a general rule, muted all to hell. They exist (though she, unreliable narrator of her own life that she is, will say that they don't), but they're buried deep and hard for her to access. Anger is by far her most accessible emotion, and even that doesn't always show up when one might expect it to. She's currently very depressed and very much grieving a loss (neither of which she fully realizes), and she doubts her own reality and struggles with paranoia related to that (which she realizes all too well). While it's very easy (and understandable!) to mistake her for the type of person who actively represses and fears their own emotions, this isn't actually her: not being able to access, interpret, or recognize her feelings is a genuine issue that she has, not a front that she puts on. Ultimately, it's not true that she has no feelings, but she still honestly believes it to be true when she says it.

2. Is there a character trait or emotion you absolutely do NOT want brought up? Nope!

3. Is there any visual imagery you associate with your character, and/or is there anything specifically that you'd like Will to visualize? Nothing immediately jumps to mind (and I'm not familiar enough to know how his imagery works in canon), but always feel free to come up with your own stuff based on threads!

4. Any plot threads or development you'd like to actually get going through this mechanic? I find the way her emotional landscape works really fascinating, and am always up for delving into that! I said this on plurk already, but I could see her muted emotions potentially being a relief for Will.

[empathicfault]

I definitely think he could find some solace in the 'quiet' around her. I've got a good idea of what his visuals for Shaw would be- lots of plastic sheets draped over everything. You can see a shape of something she cares about, but no details. Or something like that- I'll have more detail when I actually write it out.

Will's probably not going to push on her when she claims she doesn't have feelings, but he knows there's something there. He might try to eventually poke at that.

[cactusy]

Ooh, I love the plastic sheeting analogy; it's perfect for her!