Toua Genjō Sanzō Hoshi-sama the 31st 【玄奘三蔵】 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
againstthestream) wrote2018-01-24 10:27 pm
againstthestream) wrote2018-01-24 10:27 pm
Empathy - the eyes of the heart
Sanzo is canonically an Empath, but an untrained and unaware one. This means he reads emotions and intent. He'll pick up on things below the surface without even realizing it, and he indulges in vice -- particularly smoking -- as a way to try to drown it out.
Being that he doesn't know what he's trying to drown out, it's about as effective as you might imagine. Smoking and drinking does nothing to shush the Empathic readings, but makes it easier for him to cope with them which... from his utterly untrained perspective, is about the same thing.
This isn't mind-reading, just emotions. As a small consolation prize, it does make him pretty good at poker.
Being that he doesn't know what he's trying to drown out, it's about as effective as you might imagine. Smoking and drinking does nothing to shush the Empathic readings, but makes it easier for him to cope with them which... from his utterly untrained perspective, is about the same thing.
This isn't mind-reading, just emotions. As a small consolation prize, it does make him pretty good at poker.