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How Will You React? - Holding a Human Head

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Post #648597
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7:39 pm, Jul 29 2014
Posts: 156


You are in a dark alleyway; you last recall a group of punks led you to there, and they threaten you through extortion, or even worse. One thug pulls a knife on you, and that is when you blacked out. As you sort out your thoughts, you realized that that something is wrong. It's like the aftermath of a gruesome struggle that took place: bodies mangled on the ground, blood spattered on the walls, guts spilled from the gaped holes. As you took in what you saw, you noticed that your right hand feels heavy. You lifted your arm, and you see the expression of the thug that threatened you before. You realized that you are holding a human head, torn from its body. The expression on the face was ridiculous, you can't even describe it. You then dropped the dead, as it rolled away, you hit your back to the wall, and a wave of emotion began to swell inside you. You then felt something was bursting from your stomach, and you clasped your mouth with both hands, holding back whatever was trying to come out. But you couldn't hold it in anymore, and you let out-

A.
Spoiler (mouse over to view)
A scream of despair

B.
Spoiler (mouse over to view)
Vomit from disgust

C.
Spoiler (mouse over to view)
Laughing from the dead guy's last expression


A story I'm making has this kind of scenario, which involves vampires. Yes, I know that its a cliche, but its not really the focal point of this story. The person in this scenario is a female high school student, with a peculiar trait, something she had before all of this happened, so option C was considered, but I want to know how would you react in her situation.

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Post #648601
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8:44 pm, Jul 29 2014
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Did anyone else think that one of the options was going to be that an alien comes out? smile

Anyway...

Unless your girl is a psychopath, or you're writing a dark comedy, I wouldn't have her laugh. I wouldn't have her scream in despair either - they're thugs, not her BFF, and I think that the reaction of most people would just be shock, revulsion and panic as to what the consequences might be. They're not going to be thinking about their moral culpability in that moment, just that it's gross and they're scared.

As for me, I'm bad with blood, so I would faint. I might throw up after that, but I usually only gag at disgusting things. Then I would silently think about what to do next.

I must add that your girl would probably attack the guy with the knife first, since he's the most threatening, so she shouldn't be holding his head. Unless she picked it up after killing everyone else to laugh at the silly expression.

Post #648606
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9:13 pm, Jul 29 2014
Posts: 208


I'd probably pass out.

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Kigurumi
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10:22 pm, Jul 29 2014
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B from the given options. Although I don't know if I'd react like that in reality since I occasionally have to deal with similar stuff first thing in the morning. After that I'd probably make sure that I'm unharmed and then check my surroundings to see if I'm still in danger. I might also search the corpses for possible survivors who need my help. Plus, they might be able to tell me what happened.

Regarding the third option, I fully agree with hkanz. Laughing isn't even remotely believable if we're talking about the average citizen.
I can tell you from experience that most people either become pale and dizzy, which may be followed by fainting, or they feel dizzy and/ or sick and throw up. But either way, they'll try to move away from the body as fast as possible. Contrary to common belief, it's not only shock, repulsion or panic that makes them do this; their instinct simply kicks in because of the smell.

If you want your scenario to be realistic, write about the smell before you describe anything else. From what I gathered, you plan to have the protagonist surrounded by fresh, open corpses. So the first thing she feels would probably be some sort of pain from being struck down or having hit her head or something similar. Then a certain smell would slip into her awakening consciousness.

What follows is a detailed description of the odour. I've put it into spoiler tags to spare the fainter-hearted community members. Read at your own discretion.
Spoiler (mouse over to view)
Depending on the corpses' state, it'd be either a slightly sweet, unpleasant smell - which always reminds me of some blend of spices containing anise - with a tinge of iron from the half-dried blood when they are still fresh. Or the foul stench of severed intestines and half-digested food that have been out in the open for some time if you intend to include spilled bowel into the scenario. Imagine the smell of rotten pork combined with foul eggs and vomit, and you'll gNISHIJIMA Daisuke
get a remote impression of how a dead human's decaying viscerals reek.


And after taking in a few breaths of this smell and realising her situation, she'd react in one of the ways I mentioned above. Her limbs might feel slightly numb and cold, too because of the shock.


Last edited by Tripitaka at 4:06 pm, Jul 30 2014

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10:27 pm, Jul 29 2014
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Seeing as I've handled human cadavers...(beautiful fresh ones too)...and found them pretty fascinating (some people are able to dissect cadavers as if it was art)
probably C laugh

Then again I tend to laugh under anxiety and stress or disbelief~ it's just a fun (and very odd) coping mechanism. I laugh during horror movies, gore, etc too

But yea~ laugh in disbelief (ahahaha...*dream?*) and probably start crying shitless lawl

Last edited by BlueHaro at 10:36 pm, Jul 29 2014

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2:37 am, Jul 30 2014
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I'm not a screamer nor do I become queasy easily. I'd probably take a few photos with my phone, get out of there and call the police. Depending on wifi signals and whether or not I think I can be charged with murder, the photos will likely end up on reddit and facebook.

Post #648624
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A talking rock
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2:49 am, Jul 30 2014
Posts: 383


Rather than simply dropping the head, I would throw it away as far as possible.

Same with Blueharo, I had the tendency to laugh under stressful condition, not uncontrollably or maniacally, but more to a faint laugh. Then start sobbing quietly. Since my stomach has been weak lately, maybe I'll vomit too. But your character has peculiar character right? It could change her behavior greatly or subtly, depending on the peculiar trait. Mind sharing more?

If you write professionally/ for assignment and wanted to made the scene as a turning point that would affect the character greatly (trauma, drastic change in personality), it would be great to get someone with physiological background to proofread it. Friends that take physiology major maybe?


Post #648627
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6:23 am, Jul 30 2014
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I would say first A then B and then probably passing out. Although I don't think the scream would only be from despair, but also fear of me being next if the one that cut it is still there.

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6:32 am, Jul 30 2014
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Other options:

D- The character is so overwhelmed by what has happened, what they have potentially done that they start crying.

E- You're character is just in shock, and doesn't believe this is reality. They start shaking their head, pinching theirself trying to wake up.

I think if it was me I'd just be stuck in a state of disbelief.

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8:22 am, Jul 30 2014
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Masturbate furiously, sheathe my katana and tip my fedora.

Post #648632
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8:40 am, Jul 30 2014
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Since you chose C I think you should consider the following for future reference:
to be honest the scenario is impossible because -And I am sorry if I'm wrong- you said that thugs approached the girl which means she is weak in strength and look's like it. and then you said that one thug pulled the knife on her. and here where the problem is if the girl did indeed had the head of the thug that pulled the knife and at the same time everyone else is dead this means one of 2 cases 1] that she did have some trait that gave her super strength and killed the rest before reacting to what happened; but this means that thug could not have enough time to have the ridiculous expression.
2] that she did have some trait that did not gave her super strength so she would kill them normally as like any other human. so that would have gave the thugs the time to realize the abnormal situation and they will run so only 1 or 2 would be killed; why you may ask
Spoiler (mouse over to view)
imagine the following: you come across a rotting corps and it suddenly opens it eyes and starts to speak most people reaction will be running away from the abnormal situation which is the talking dead body as it defies the assumption that this is a dead body

to keep it short she should not be terrified from the aftermath but rather joyfully crying that she avoided death whats more she should not react after realizing; but rather should be indifferent as the traits would prevent the moral sense of going haywire as in she would enter the 5 stages of grief or even just regret.
so basically none

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Mad With a Hat
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9:29 am, Jul 30 2014
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I'll let you know if that ever happens to me.

I mean, it's rather impossible to tell how a person will react to something for the first time.
But in all honesty, I'd probably throw away the head and then obsess over the fact that my fingerprints might be all over that thing.

What reaction are you looking for though?
It really depends on the individual.
I guess screaming is default for some people?
If the person can't stand gore, then vomiting is another option.
If the person has a nervous personality and is a bit off on emotions,
then laughing will fit better.

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2:28 pm, Jul 30 2014
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I don't think A) would happen to me since I tend to hold in my screams most of the time.
B) Is possible, but that's only if there's a disgusting smell. (and I'm okay with the smell of blood ....)
C) is the most possible for me, but not because it was funny (since you said it was a ridiculous facial expression.). I notice that I laugh hysterically when something is wrong. (Kind of like I had a small breakdown ... ) Yup, deliriously laughing uncontrollably would be the most probable thing to happen to me in that case.

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5:42 pm, Jul 30 2014
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i will probably black out again.

but i think C is ok for your girl character. it will be an abrupt but arresting intro to our mc.

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9:03 pm, Jul 30 2014
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Where's the option to shriek like a little girl and drop it in shock and then be afraid that you'll get arrested?

Bah I guess I'll go with A.

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