*wibbles*

[agilebrit]

So, matociquala (Elizabeth Bear) had an interesting post today about PTSD, and how it's portrayed in fiction, and how most of the time it's portrayed wrongly. It's not sexy, it's not a character flaw *gags*, and it's not going to be healed by the power of the Magical Vagina (or Cock).

She says:
"traumatized" is not a character trait. It can lead to character traits, because suffering generally affects who we are, but all by itself it's not a character [trait].

Not!Harry is Traumatized. Yes, with a capital T. His triggering incident happened three years ago, and, while he's getting better, he's in no way "whole" or even close to it yet. Do not restrain him, do not come at him with a needle. As not!Harmony says:

If he wakes up tied to the bed, you will not believe the level of freakout. He lost his shit when I suggested that he tie me to the bed once. I don't even joke about that stuff with him.

And he's got a longer row to hoe than most, because he refuses to take mood stabilizers--because along with the needle phobia he picked up a lovely fear of being addicted to anything.

Naturally, with everything that's just happened to him, he's had a major setback. And not!Harmony, she loves him, she does, and she's got a nice case of Wilson Syndrome (she's a Fixer by nature), but even she isn't sure she can go through this again with him--although I don't really explore that. Maybe I should.

So, yeah, it's a mess. He's a mess. Not only that, but he knows exactly how much of a mess he is. In fact, in light of this, I'm not sure that even I know how screwed up he is, and maybe I should dive back in and figure out what triggers him beyond the obvious and possibly weave that into the narrative a bit.

Why, yes, it's still All About Not!Harry and the fact that he's My Favorite Punching Bag™. Why do you ask?

In the meantime, I have a shower scene to write, in the interests of Showing rather than Telling. *evil laughter* Speaking of what triggers him.

Comments

[pensive]

I really liked the bit on brainwashing.



NO STOP IT

PLOT BUNNIES, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

*feeds the Plot Bunny a carrot and runs away, laughing evilly*

[pensive]

BEHOLD WHAT HAS BEEN WROUGHT

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

Shower scene good. You're very clear on not!Harry and not!Harmony's status, we ought to see it at least once.

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

Are you thinking there's going to be sex in the shower scene? *evil laughter* Because, no. This is where we get to see him freak out for the first time. Because the bad guys drowned him as part of the torture--which we get to see in a dream sequence right before he wakes up. Yes, I'm mean.

And I really like your suggestion, vis., Megan misinterpreting Alex's lively horror of going into the paranormal part of pharamceuticals and thus keeping her secret from him because she's afraid he'll freak. Which means she needs to have a mental conversation with herself when she's telling Barnhardt "I doubt he'd care" when really she thinks he'd care a great deal, but Barnhardt doesn't have to know that.

Mwahahahaa. *piles more angst onto the characters*

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

Oh! I didn't know about the drowning. You are so evil to that poor boy! :)

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

*headdesks* I know...

I added the drowning in this draft, it wasn't part of it before. But it seems like such a simple form of persuasion that I can't imagine them not trying to use it.