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

[skybeyondsky]

1. What would you like him to be able to suss out about your character?
Wu Xin is a pretty self confident kid for most part, but he also keeps his emotions very tightly under wraps. When he feels happy, most of the time it's real. Little things can make him happy, and unexpected kindness will give him joy. He's a pretty lonely kid, and although he's comfortable with loneliness and doesn't mind being alone (like there wouldn't be sadness from it), there's extra happiness when he's not.

However, talking about his past does make him feel a little anxious and maybe a bit of fear, especially about his parents. He's been judged most of his life because of who his parents were and what his father did, so it's not something he brings up, and if he does, it's sometimes as a challenge as if "dare you to say something about that". It might bring some anger too, and feelings of abandonment since his mother left them at age 3 and he never knew why. These are also where his biggest problems lie and things he's both mired in and trying to avoid.

Bringing up his life in the monastery would bring bittersweet feelings. He was genuinely happy there and wants to go back to that simplicity, but because his master there is recently dead, there will be that feeling of sadness and mourning if it's ever brought up. He never got to mourn the man or the loss of his peaceful life at the temple either, so that's kind of repressed and might trigger crying from him if it ever explodes.


2. Is there a character trait or emotion you absolutely do NOT want brought up? None at the moment

3. Is there any visual imagery you associate with your character, and/or is there anything specifically that you'd like Will to visualize? Sunshine? Warmness. Singing birds and rainbows. That can become covered by a storm cloud hiding everything away... if you're talking metaphorically.

If you're talking about physically... Wu Xin with glowing golden eyes, or dark eyes. Or him standing on a peaceful pool of water.

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.

4. Any plot threads or development you'd like to actually get going through this mechanic? I'm sure we'll figure out lots of plots now that they're paired. I'm also thinking it might be fun at some point if Wu Xin is feeling defensive and uses his own demonic mind draw powers on Will in order to stop him from pushing too hard (probably without Will realizing he had). Wu Xin doesn't usually use it unless with good reason, usually to get away or as a defensive measure.