Can we have nothing there Roland receiving affection headcanons? I love him sm :D
Sure thing! One Nothing There Roland coming right up. Honestly I never really paid attention to the floor realization besides the main stories, but it’s fun to look back and peek at the dialogue to really get a feel for the characters. Also fun because that way you can empathize and really get an idea about how they’re feeling.
It is 1 AM so I apologize for any typos, but I would not rest until I got my ideas out.
Nothing There Roland Affection Headcanons:
Much like any other of the floor realizations, this form of Roland stems from concentrated emotions that have risen up to the surface from underneath, and taken hold of him entirely.
Specifically emotions that happen to center around hollowness and loss. Failing to succeed in an action, which in turn rips and tears away at the inside and leaves only a husk. Emptiness that stems from having nothing, no friends, no loved ones, and ultimately not even yourself. To feel as though you’ve sunk to the lowest of low to the point you don’t exist anymore, only the perception of you does.
Despite this heavy turmoil he’s undergoing as well as the fact that his manifestation has stemmed from an ALEPH, I believe that given any circumstances outside of the floor realizations Mimicry Roland would be surprisingly easygoing.
I mean of course there’s gonna be some level of risk in interacting with him in such an unstable state, but I don’t believe there would be a large amount of aggressiveness or desire to lash out on others.
More than anything he’s just tired and hopeless. There really does seem to be nobody on his side and it clearly has taken a toll. No desire or motivation is left, it doesn’t even feel like he’s in control. It’s a melancholy indifferent feeling that saps at you.
For this reason he doesn’t even have motivation to fight. He might, but there’s not a desire or incentive to. Everything is just numb and there just doesn’t seem to be a reason.
Beware though, because this has potential to lead to possibly unpredictable behavior. He has the equal amount of power to react in a sudden way without remorse because the strong emotions have caused a lack of empathy.
However if you manage to approach him, he’s surprisingly reposed.
Going back on the feeling Roland has concerning the absence of others, I think that affection would actually be really sweet in the Mimicry form. He feels as though there’s no one for him to protect, and no one who really values him.
So I feel as though he’d actually enjoy it a lot. Nothing There does love attachment work after all, and if he’s going on about how he has no one anymore I think he would respond positively to an extent when you try and fill that role.
I say to an extent, because he’d also be confused. I mean he feels like a shell of his former self stripped of its original drive, but you just don’t care about that? I think it has something to do with him not feeling deserving of the care you give to him, so it perplexes him.
Just a warning: Mimicry Roland is clingy. Even if not physically, he’s constantly hanging out near you. He definitely got that from Nothing There, cause as much as an amalgamation that abnormality is it’s ultimately just a meat dog.
He’s lost loved ones and friends, and even though it’s unrealistic and quite literally impossible for you to die in the library, he’s still horrified that you’ll manage it somehow. He isn’t thinking rationally, and if he was he wouldn’t be in this form to begin with.
He follows you around the library like a lost puppy. He’ll try to help with what you’re doing and maybe sort some of the books, but his mind is cloudy and going a million miles a minute so it doesn’t really turn out successful.
You know that thing that dogs do? Not just dogs but any domestic animal. It’s where they sit right in front of you and just stare at you until you give them attention? Yeah, he does that.
I think he’s especially so drawn to you because of the care and concern you offer. He may feel hollow, but you’re offering something new. A warmth. And feeling empty all the time can kinda get boring.
Chances are you’ll have no idea what you’re getting into. You’ll hug him once, and then he’s constantly coming back for more. I hope you’re able to keep up with it.
Speaking of which, be careful of the teeth and spikes. While you don’t have to worry about him hurting you intentionally, it’s not gonna be pleasant if he gives you a bear hug and the hand mace stabs you.
Also a warning for your own sake: I hope you’re okay with the texture of flesh. As cuddly as he is, he is not really made out of cuddle material.
I don’t think he’s necessarily as blood-coated as some other forms, as it’s part of him rather than on him, but you’ll still probably feel like you need a cold shower afterwards.
Try and mind the eyes too, they aren’t sensitive because of Nothing There’s natural regenerative properties, but no one likes being poked in the eye.
While he will go along with you anywhere, it’s probably preferred that you stay relatively in one place. It’s a bit difficult to drag around a hand mace, and I don’t think anyone is gonna be happy about scratched up floors in the library because the teeth spikes were being dragged.
A lot depends on whether he’s in his first or third form. In his first form, he actually has at least one hand, whereas in the third form Roland’s arm becomes a giant scythe and a danger hazard.
He’ll be happy to hold onto you in the first form. Unless it’s impairing your movement, he’ll try to have his hand on your shoulder, arm, back etc. at all times. He does not like the feeling of not being in your presence.
If you want to you can try to hold his hand. I think he’d appreciate it a lot, but you’ll have to beware that his nails don’t dig into you. He’s also very firm with his grip, you can tell that as vacant as he feels there’s an at least subconscious fear of letting go.
I think he would get a bit upset with himself if he accidentally ended up hurting you. As close as he tries to stay to you, he tries to be as careful as can be. However, accidents can happen especially when you have a lot of sharp objects sticking out of you.
He’s worried that if you get injured you’ll get upset at him, turn away, and he’ll be alone once again.
But you reassure Roland that’s not the case. I mean your whole job is getting into brawls, something as small as bumping into a spike really isn’t that big of a deal.
He subsequently engulfs you in a large hug, this time making sure there’s no mistake.
I believe he can mimic speech just as Nothing There could. It’s kind of creepy at times, especially when you hear your own voice or the voices of your colleagues coming from him, but you know it isn’t intended to be that way.
It’s more of ‘hey look at this cool thing I can do’ and he’s trying to impress you.
…It is pretty impressive.
He does say 'I love you' a lot. Exactly the one that Nothing There says to be precise. It's a bit odd to hear something so associated with the abnormality to come out of his mouth, but you appreciate it nonetheless.
If he’s in his third form I will say that you’re probably going to have to initiate the affection more. He would if it was safe, but now he has a whole scythe for an arm and it’s awkward to move around and he doesn’t want to run the risk of accidentally cutting you.
But it’s pretty easy to just make yourself comfortable beside him and lean on him. And he loves it.
For however long Roland will be in this form you will not see the end of it. He tries to be in contact with you at almost all times, even if minor. But hey, it’s pretty sweet when you can get out of work because he won’t let go. Not like anyones gonna approach him and try to make him stop.





















