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

[routemistress]

1. What would you like him to be able to suss out about your character? Iris is a bona fide alien and he may be able to pick that up. She's very emotional by choice; she comes from a race that tend to pride themselves on not being emotion-driven, and she lets hers drive partly out of spite/rebellion and partly because her instincts are finely-honed instruments that she trusts to do their job. Part of why she became a werewolf was to lend weight to those instincts.

Most of her emotions are positive. Iris is a relentless optimist and a people person with a sacred mission to make reality more fun everywhere she touches it.

2. Is there a character trait or emotion you absolutely do NOT want brought up? Iris is a heavy drinker but also a borderline-magical alien who's not susceptible to the bad effects that humans are. She's not an addict or an alcoholic.

3. Is there any visual imagery you associate with your character, and/or is there anything specifically that you'd like Will to visualize? Bees, honey, rainbows, butterflies, fractals, freedom, flight and playfulness

4. Any plot threads or development you'd like to actually get going through this mechanic? When I think of one I'll let you know

[empathicfault]

Got it, thanks! I could see Iris doing Will a lot of good, if they end up hanging out enough. Positive emotions are not exactly what he's been soaking himself in lately. Like with Kiryu, he might actually be a little confused.

Anyway, looking forward to more! Will will apologize when he eventually realizes she's a humanoid as well as a werewolf, and hope he hasn't been too embarrassing. Also, good job getting the first real smile out of him on the Barge.

[routemistress]

She has identical golden retriever energy in both shapes, ha.