Author's Choice: The Returning Visitor's Abilities π (Part 1 of 3)
Added 2023-07-24 12:30:01 +0000 UTCThe three abilities are: Empathetic Impressions, Retrocognition, and Extrasensory Awareness. The Skills Page in the Stats suggests your MC has some innate, fledgling competency with all of them; however, there is one that's their primary skill. (It is the one that once freaked out the TFS grandfather during a winter celebration. π») It is also the same ability that directly influenced a scene with A. Corvin in Book Two.
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Comments
I did read the cruelest option! "You always mess up" and then A says "it was an accident" too fast and the very cold "won't even dock your pay." Ahhh, I don't think January hates A THAT MUCH! I love all the variations you take the time to write, even if I don't consider it "canon" for Jam's character.
ckl
2023-07-25 14:49:31 +0000 UTCπππ Absolutely keen to see/read more!! Honestly, not being able to control the power/the power being passive is probably why I like it so much. The MC can't help what they're seeing and can only either react and hope the people around them understand they don't mean to pry, or not react and deal with pretending you don't know what's going on or how to solve it. Without it being "on" all the time, it's almost more overwhelming. Sure you're not seeing everyone's emotions 24/7 but you'd never be able to predict when you might accidentally see more than you should into someone. Either way, MCs that canonically attune with empathetic impressions the most definitely need a hug! Having my own trauma, it was hard not to see all three powers as allegories for it π Retrocognition: you are constantly reviewing the past and sometimes background checking your friends as almost a self defence mechanism: if you know everything there is to know about a place or person, you can't be surprised by them. Danger Sensing: Hypervigilance. You're so in tune with your fight or flight you tend to pick up on "bad vibes" or impending violence and danger quicker than most. Again, a defence mechanism. If you're always ready to fight you can't be caught off guard. And Empathetic Impressions: You're incredibly aware of the mood of every room, and hypersensitive to slight changes in tone and body language in others. If you know when someone is upset, and how to please them as quick as possible, you can avoid bad things happening. They're all superpowered trauma responses, and I think that's just really hecking neat. Kinda makes me feel like my own fawning trauma response is less pathetic and more of a useful quirk - if used only when it's needed, and not overdone. Which also applies to the different powers. Papa is already a shining example of "retrocognition used too often". Awwwh, she'd blush and hide behind her hair to hear you say that π the way she sees it, being kind (or sarcastic/humerous if it would help better) is the best way to try and heal herself. If she's just kind enough, if she can just be the kind hug and loving shoulder to cry on for the people she cares about, then maybe she can earn the kindness and love she lost all those years ago. She still thinks basically everything is her fault - though she would never admit it and worry anyone about it. Kinda why she's so enamoured by B actually. Cause no matter what happened, she was supportive and caring. All of Book 1, her wonderful little honey Bee did nothing but show concern, care and support for her. She wouldn't give that up for the entire damn world.
Bumblebee
2023-07-25 13:30:17 +0000 UTC(Oh, I had a hunch about Bugs possibly being more into retrocognition given Jam's affinity; I'm so glad you'll get to see both abilities play out during the series! π) I see what you mean how there is an opportunity for growth, possibly to foster a bit more understanding, if the MC has a negative past history with A. It can maybe hint at what shaped A as well. I love that adult Jam felt some conflict; I was lowkey curious if she would pick the option to use what she saw/learned against A, but I doubted Jam would go that far with it. (Those choices only appear with the negative past history and can be brutal. >.>) Perhaps A can be promoted to 'tolerable cousin' with time? ππ
Aelsa Trevelyan
2023-07-25 12:07:55 +0000 UTCI'm always curious to learn about what abilities readers pair up with their MCs. π
Aelsa Trevelyan
2023-07-25 12:02:14 +0000 UTCThank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the writing. :D
Aelsa Trevelyan
2023-07-25 12:01:52 +0000 UTCAw, thank you so much for saying you love my writing, Phoebe! π I'm very π at what you typed! We will have to wait and see how Empathetic Impressions develop throughout TFS since it's currently a more passive ability that can indirectly influence the MC's daily life. I do agree that there's so much potential here--the angst, conflict, insight, and confusion can blend together. The MC's perception isn't crystalline--they can perceive glimpses or bouts of emotion, but they are not always 'ON' in a sense. That would be so overwhelming; I would want to wrap them in a hug. I think you make a good point that the MC's trauma can make them more aware of others and themself due to what they have been through. Phoebe being tender does make my heart melt since she's experienced much angst; it is also a great thing for Becca and those lucky enough to befriend her. π₯°ππ
Aelsa Trevelyan
2023-07-25 12:01:01 +0000 UTCI've chosen every ability and this one is the one I keep coming back to over and over to for Jam (Bugs is more retrocognition). I also feel like in the demo that if you have a negative relationship with A, the empathetic power has more of an emotional impact. Going back to the idea that Jam views the Corvin kids as fav cousin and most annoying cousin - young Jam would have been so smug to see A being scolded! Like, folded arms and gleeful "I told you so - you're in trouble again" look. Adult Jam has conflicted feelings, they were all just kids and kids mess up. Maybe some sympathy and understanding for A is slowly growing here.
ckl
2023-07-24 17:40:11 +0000 UTCThat was the ability I chose too so exciting
A Ba
2023-07-24 14:55:26 +0000 UTCLOVE THIS
A Ba
2023-07-24 14:55:11 +0000 UTCLove love LOVE how Empathetic Impressions works!! Definitely my favourite of the three abilities (and aside from wanting to experience the others, the canonical ability Phoebe is most in tune with) Literally feeling what everyone around you feels, gaining deeper insight into everyone, it's an ability that leads to a very vulnerable state for the MC to be in. On the one hand, knowing how the people you care about are feeling can help you cut through the bullshit and really be there for them, and knowing how strangers are feeling can lend you a deeper insight to and empathy for them. On the other, how far is too far? You're always going to know when you've hurt someone, or how to solve an argument between two people, or when someone is crushing on you, or wants to be alone, but always acting on that could lead the people you care about to mistrust you. You'll always know everything about them and they'll never be sure you're acting true to yourself, or because you know exactly what to say to them. It's simultaneously the most isolating and the most... well, empathetic, ability you could have. And it gels SO well with the MCs PTSD. Trauma making you hyper sensitive to people's emotions is DEF a thing. I dunno, maybe it's because in comparison to a lot of MCs, Phoebe is relatively tender, Empathetic and silent suffering, but I just find this ability endlessly fascinating, and I couldn't think of one that fit her more. All this is to say, heck Aelsa I love your writing XD
Bumblebee
2023-07-24 12:55:59 +0000 UTC
