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

[thedeadgirl]

1. What would you like him to be able to suss out about your character? Laura's a lot, though a little less upon her arrival on the barge. At first pass, it's obvious she struggles internally but putting a finger on any one thing is kind of impossible. She seems to rotate regularly between a gamut of negative emotions, the worst being extreme anger, apathy, and depression which all seem to be very deeply rooted. She lacks any of the faith that most people believe in that, in their opinion, makes life worth living. Love, humanity, God/spirituality, and forgiveness (though this one she is currently working on), all seem to be foreign concepts to her.

It should be also noted that Laura isn't always a nasty bitch. She can be nice and actually is pretty decent to be around even when she is going through the thick of her own personal bullshit.

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

3. Is there any visual imagery you associate with your character, and/or is there anything specifically that you'd like Will to visualize? Do Not Disturb doorknob sign, statue of the Egyptian God Anubis, can of bug spray, hot tub, gold coin (which Will may recognize as being the same as Sweeney's), maggots, a field of blue wildflowers, potion bottle with handwritten 'le vrai sang de l'amour', small brown cardboard box, blood stain on a light blue cement floor, spear (specifically Gungnir, Odin's/Wednesday's spear if he's familiar with Norse mythology).

4. Any plot threads or development you'd like to actually get going through this mechanic? I think because it's Laura, slow and steady is going to have to be the approach. She's very much in denial over Feelings she has for a certain tol leprechaun or any of her mistakes prior to Wednesday hiring Sweeney to see to her death. She absolutely needs kid gloves because telling her what she thinks she needs and how to feel are trigger points that could result in her turning defensive and angry.