The Smile

**The smile** is an infamous and recurring facial gesture made by Chris Seelig in the VGHW franchise. The creepy smile is what triggers Chris' telepathic and mental abilities, and first made its appearance in *VGHW: The Original Saga - Episode II* as a tame, simple, and powerless smile. However, its significance took a dark turn after Owl's intervention. Owl provided a completed keyboard that granted Chris the ability to read and control minds. With this newfound power, Chris's smile was no longer just a facial expression. Instead, it became a signal that heralded the imminent use of his telepathic powers.

Chris became well-known for his smile, often flashing it at his primary targets, Wexler and Remy. It wasn't merely an indicator of an upcoming telepathic attack. Instead, the smile itself was part of the psychological warfare Chris waged, using it to threaten and unsettle his targets before using his abilities. The smile became a potent psychological weapon, a constant reminder of the looming threat of mental manipulation.

Over the years, the smile has become synonymous with Chris Seelig's character, and he carried it with him from the prime ages to the new ages. Even though Chris used it as a playful gesture at times, the smile never lost its edge. It remains one of the most iconic and recognizable elements of Chris's identity in the VGHW franchise, a chilling symbol of his formidable mental powers.

## Profile

The execution of the smile, central to Chris Seelig's persona in the VGHW franchise, is simple in action yet profound in its impact. While it primarily involves a broad grin that stretches across Chris's face, he often personalizes it with distinctive characteristics that make it all the more chilling.

In the early stages of his character's development, Chris would maintain wide-open eyes while smiling at his target, creating an effect of intense scrutiny and unblinking focus. This method served to further unnerve his targets, amplifying the eerie impact of his grin.

As time passed and Chris's character evolved, he transitioned to a more sophisticated and subtly terrifying expression. Squinting his eyes and placing two fingers against his forehead became the new norm as he engaged his telepathic abilities. The narrowed eyes and the fingers to his forehead became part of a unique ritual for Chris, making his smile even more ominous. The gestures were not just aesthetic choices but seemed to act as a form of concentration and focus when unleashing his mental powers.

Despite the change in visual representation, there doesn't appear to be any difference in the potency of Chris's powers between the two styles. The choice between wide-eyed and squinting smiles seems to be purely a matter of personal preference for Chris, rather than having any implications on the effectiveness of his mental manipulation and mind-reading abilities. It underscores Chris's mastery over his abilities, being able to activate them with ease, regardless of his physical demeanor.

## Origin

Chris Seelig's infamous smile, a crucial facet of his character in the VGHW franchise, made its first appearance during a daring escapade where he infiltrated Wexler's house for the very first time. This was just a day after the momentous Stage 1-1 and a day before the revolutionary time watch was brought into existence.

Upon hearing Wexler approach the room, Chris strategically hid in Wexler's time machine closet. Only his head was visible from his hiding spot, showcasing a wide and eerie grin that, despite being devoid of any power at the time, served to create an unsettling atmosphere. This initial instance of the smile was simply for theatrical effect, a testament to Chris's love for mischief and manipulation even before he acquired his telepathic abilities.

When the formidable super-trio of Chris, Owl, and the Brother started taking shape, Chris suggested that his yet-to-be-acquired powers should be invoked by his signature smile. The idea of linking his favorite facial expression to his abilities appealed to Chris's theatrical nature, allowing him to retain his unique personality while wielding extraordinary power. Owl, recognizing the potential for dramatization and the reinforcement of Chris's distinct character, instantly agreed to this idea.

This agreement marked the inception of Chris's iconic wide-eye, wide-grin smile. The smile was more than just a facial expression; it was a symbol of Chris's persona and his unique power-triggering mechanism in the VGHW franchise. As time passed, it became deeply intertwined with his identity and his powers, making it one of the most memorable aspects of his character.

## Important Uses

While Chris Seelig acquired his unique telepathic abilities during the prime ages of the VGHW franchise, he didn't have many opportunities to utilize them to their full extent. This was primarily because he fled from the super-trio shortly after gaining additional powers through Wexler's machine. The true potential of his abilities, triggered by his infamous smile, was first revealed in the new ages.

In one of the defining moments of the new ages, Chris, fresh out of prison and having just pulled off a successful robbery, witnessed a house in Pennsylvania being obliterated by what to him was an unknown entity. Given the magnitude of the destruction, Chris deduced that the culprit was likely Wexler, the only real-world person he knew capable of wielding such enormous power.

Utilizing his telepathic abilities, Chris performed his signature smile to mentally track down Wexler's location and teleport himself there. But he didn't stop at that; once he arrived, he once again used the smile to manipulate Wexler into revealing the location of MiP. After extracting the required information, Chris wiped Wexler's memory, ensuring that he would have no recollection of what he had divulged.

Despite its impressive power, Chris's mental telepathy and manipulation ability, triggered by the smile, has a significant drawback. The energy required to utilize these abilities is immense, leading to rapid exhaustion and diminished capacity. Consequently, there have been several instances when Chris was unable to employ his abilities due to severe fatigue, showing that even the most formidable powers can have their limitations.