What sort of experiences have caused Elsyn to actually feel bursts of emotion? Are they always earth-moving and pivotal things or can small things set him off as well? Is there any theme to what moves him?
So Elsyn’s only been in an “emotionless” state for a short time, like only a couple years. Before, he expressed emotions normally though he was prone to bottling things up quite a bit.
So that bottling tendency still kind affect him. Like before he could at least be aware of himself bottling things up and occasionally make a good decision to let it out in a healthy way- now feelings bottle up invisibly. So if for example he faced a long period of time where life was really frustrating, now he wouldn’t feel it day to day but the build up is still there and eventually there’ll be a last straw that causes him to snap. That said, even though the build up to outbursts has a similar progression, he is quite a bit more resistant to smaller triggers now. He’d have to go through some hell for his frustration to show, but his old self would be screaming and crying after like the third day of Everyone Piss Off Elsyn Week.
Frustration really is the most evocative emotion for him, followed closely by loneliness and spite.
One could probably eke some affection out of him if they gave him a ton of love and attention over a long time, but they’d have to be careful not to annoy him (which is ofc very easily done)
Memories are strong emotional triggers. He keeps a journal diligently and rereading entries is a pretty surefire way to feel things again.