Is There Such a Thing as a Shy Shapeshifter?

[stickmaker]

For an upcoming Masks story I have a character say the line "Is there even such a thing as a shy shapeshifter?" I'm not sure whether I'll keep the line, but the character this is said about is already firmly entrenched in the story. She's a student at one of those other schools which have opened programs to teach supers. She has the somewhat disturbing habit of asking the other girls in the dorm what they think of this or that change. She's also willing to take suggestions. This isn't a "showing off at a party" sort of thing, or even blatant exhibitionism. She simply likes her power and enjoys using it. As part of this, in the dorm she often wears less than would be socially acceptable in mixed company, to the discomfort of some of her friends.

Would it be a natural tendency for most people with such a power to use it to show off? At the very least, to improve their looks? Also, would being able to change your shape make you less shy?

Given how most people deal with any sort of public attention, I'm thinking yes. YouTube has a plague of examples of people willing to post embarrassing things just to get some whisper of fame. I'm thinking that someone with a power would do the same, and have occasionally mentioned this as being at least part of the motivation in the Masks universe for someone to put on a costume to fight or commit crime. It's just that the tradition there is long established to leave yourself a way to have privacy through keeping a secret identity. Also, pogroms - such as Thurlin's - tend to weed out those who don't take this precaution. Which would, of course, be much easier for shapeshifters.

I'm assuming the age at which the person gets the power has a significant impact, here. Most likely, the younger the more likely, though I'd expect a peak in the teens.

Comments

[annathepiper]

I must concur with maellenkleth--just because you have a power does not in the slightest mean you might wish to show it off.

And that includes shapeshifting. Consider a scenario where a person who discovers she has shapeshifting ability uses it to change her appearance because she's hiding from an abuser, not because she has any desire to show it off or make herself prettier. I don't think you're writing anything nearly that dark, but still.

Now, sure, yes, some people are going to go HOT DAMN I'll give myself straight teeth or clear up my skin or make myself taller or whatever. Some personalities are just naturally going to be more outgoing and prone to seeking input, but some aren't. A natural introvert who discovers she's a shapeshifter isn't necessarily going to become an extrovert because of it.

Your particular character doesn't sound like an introvert. I would suggest that it's natural for her perhaps to publically use her powers, sure, but that wouldn't necessarily extrapolate out to other characters with the same powers.

[stickmaker.livejournal.com]

That definitely fits. The character was a beginning model when her powers manifested.

Still, if someone could give themselves an ideal (in their minds) appearance, that would be a major confidence booster.

There could be a polarizing effect. Any shapeshifter you know about is just naturally going to be an extrovert; you just don't hear about the shy ones. So it just seems shapeshifters are naturally outgoing.

There's also the principle that sometimes personality shapes powers. However, in the Masks universe they are generally genetic, so that's rare.

[annathepiper]

Still, if someone could give themselves an ideal (in their minds) appearance, that would be a major confidence booster.

Not necessarily. And not even necessarily in a way that would register as "outgoing". Again, much would depend upon the specific character's motivations.

What if your character comes from a non-white, non-American background? What if she's, oh, say, devout Muslim, and she finds out she's a shapeshifter? I guarantee you she's not going to turn into somebody who's prone to show off her power in public, no matter how much inner confidence it might give her.

What if she comes from a background where what is considered an "ideal" appearance isn't necessarily even her own idea, and she has to use her power to conform to an ideal that's imposed upon her? She may think initially that it's a good idea, but if it's forced upon her, that isn't going to build her confidence. It's going to eventually wreck it. Especially if she's in a situation where someone, a parent or an abusive spouse say, is constantly harping on her for not being thin enough or pretty enough or big-chested enough or whatever.

What if she's actually already quite happy with the way she looks and doesn't see any need to play around with changing herself other than minor cosmetic issues at most? E.g., she's nearsighted and wants to fix that? If she's already at peace with her looks that isn't going to necessarily show any outward sign of confidence boosting. She might just want to change it because being nearsighted is annoying!

What if it's a male character and he's a football player, and he's less concerned with how he looks necessarily and more concerned with making himself bigger, stronger, faster so he can win the game? What if he actually goes overboard with it and pushes himself too far?

What if an old man is a shapeshifter and is quite happy to just use his power to keep himself in the best health possible?

What if a cancer patient discovers she's a shapeshifter? I absolutely guarantee you that she's going to give way less of a shit about walking around scantily clad and more about oh, say, making herself not die.

Long story short, I very, very much recommend against just automatically assuming that because a given character has a given power, that he or she is going to automatically react to it the same way. That's lazy worldbuilding, and it does your characters a disservice. Think about them as individuals instead and what drives them and what they care about, and let that determine how they'll react to having a specific power. Whatever power that might be.