Context. I’m very Mexican Italian, as in lived in Mexico, Italian family and Mexican family. And because of this, I speak with my hands. Lots of gestures and movements. Hard to misunderstand me when talking in person because of it.

But due to this, I’ve found that I use a LOT of hand gestures when I imagine characters talking. Particularly vocal ones. Like, Nasuda, Eragon, Angela. Anyone who tends to tell stories, argue, or is diplomatic I imagine has very clear body language unless stated otherwise. And even then, they ALWAYS use their hands when speaking, even if subtle.

And I didn’t realize I had this, UNTIL it became an issue of reading a book where a teacher/mentor/crazy dude/story teller, doesn’t have hands. He’s an amputee on grounds of punishment, and using hand movement for his magics. So although hand movements would fit his character in my mind and canon, he LITERALLY CANT. I have to keep reminding myself that he doesn’t have hands and I can’t just give him Spector ones for my brain, because that wouldn’t make sense for other characters seeing him, and not mentioning him literally waving his arms around like a madman.