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

[artistinexile]

1. What would you like him to be able to suss out about your character? Thrawn has muted emotions that he sometimes struggles to show appropriately in society. His desires and motivations are far more clear and speak to a strong desire to protect at all costs. He is prepared to sacrifice much (and has!) to safeguard his people, and is extremely fearful especially if children are threatened. He wants to do what he can to safeguard all life but certain life just a LITTLE more (ie., he will kill someone if he feels they're interfering in a greater mission). Much deeper down is a sense of loneliness and longing, like he wants to foster deeper emotional connection with others and can't stop thinking of people as tools or weapons and knows this about himself.

2. Is there a character trait or emotion you absolutely do NOT want brought up? N/a, but he will get tetchy if Will starts to dig in places where Thrawn doesn't want to go and will change topics.

3. Is there any visual imagery you associate with your character, and/or is there anything specifically that you'd like Will to visualize? Plenty! Primarily Thrawn is represented in predator animals in books - the Chimara is his flagship, and the symbol he's painted on its underside. He adores symbolism and would have also had strong ties to birds of prey - ship's he's worked under or commanded in two different fleets are coincidentally the Springhawk and the Blood Crow. A symbol of a seven-pointed sun would be prevalent because it represents his family, and a section of several overlapping circles would be the symbol that represent his home planets. This last one is key to pissing him off because it also could be read as a star map to a place he's kept hidden.

4. Any plot threads or development you'd like to actually get going through this mechanic? Honestly Thrawn would want to adopt Will because he knows he himself SUCKS at the emotional game and it's a major blindspot he works to correct. He also loves art and loves that Will makes art.