Sci Fi & Fantasy Writers at the Table Forum Magical Abilities Needed

OK, I have a character that comes from a cursed tribe where the tribesman are born with dark skin, jet black hair and ruby red eyes. The upside though is that some are born with great power. 

My MFC comes from said cursed tribe and one of her gifts is that her tears can heal anything from cuts to deadly illnesses. However, I'm try to think of other abilities she might have, whether its her tears or something else. Like how could her emotion effect the powers of her tears?

Another idea is that eye color can effect what the tears can do or perhaps what emotion unlock's the tear's magic

Now, call me an old cynic... or perhaps a realist in the scheme of things, but one of the real issues when writing about superhuman powers is that we are often so immersed in the character that we fail to realise that with great power comes great responsibility but the gods are tricksters, there is no doubt about that so, with great powers there is usually a sting in the tail. 

For this reason, why not turn this on its head. OK, her tears can heal but what about if they harm if there is nothing to heal... make it a juxtaposition... something she has to be so careful with that she is scared to even use them.

Or, give her a tax on the use of her gift... not sure what that might be but turn what has the potential to be another teen heroine story into something with a Poe like slap in the face.

Makes what has the potential of becoming a shallow character into someone a lot deeper and far more circumspect... of course, my opinion... but that's why I love a good hero with a serious drug habit :)...