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

[hostileterritory]

1. What would you like him to be able to suss out about your character?
Anything in narration or his application is fair game, honestly. Will is going to have the profoundly weird experience of not reading any fear, guilt, or sadness in him--or, even more weirdly, read that it's there but that he doesn't feel it. Pretty much any significant emotion that we would label 'negative' has been neutered.

2. Is there a character trait or emotion you absolutely do NOT want brought up?
Nope, nothing comes to mind! I'll communicate it if you land on something I didn't think of that falls in this category.

3. Is there any visual imagery you associate with your character, and/or is there anything specifically that you'd like Will to visualize?
Hmmm. I think it could be interesting for Will to feel the shape of the absences in him. I think if anything he would have a kind of swiss-cheese presence, like a person who's been the victim of a cosmic hole puncher. That and predator vibes.

4. Any plot threads or development you'd like to actually get going through this mechanic?
I love the prospect and will definitely let you know if I think of anything--he's going to be a tough nut to crack in terms of any kind of emotional intimacy so this would be a great potential way around that or through it.