whatiswhump

[whatiswhump]

HE STARTED OUT AS A GOOFY RAY OF SUNSHINE i yell as they drag me away

Okay, it seems I cannot stop making Renārs videos.

Renārs has been wrongfully imprisoned in a psychiatric hospital in Soviet Latvia because of his dissenting political views. Mostly that he just likes rock music and blue jeans. They know he isn’t mentally ill but that doesn’t stop them from treating him like he is- the treatments, meds, all of it. In addition, there’s a doctor that takes a personal dislike to him- and takes pleasure in knocking him down and exercising his control over him.

But then Renārs is offered a life line. He either looks down a lifetime institutionalized and treated as a schizophrenic… or he can be released on the terms that he becomes a Communist poster boy, attesting to that he was sick with Western Capitalist ideas and that now he is better and sees reason thanks to the hospital… interviews, radio, public speeches…

And although he is strong he agrees- otherwise he will never live outside of the hospital again and be with the girl he loves.

But then when it comes down to it- he can’t do it- they parade him out, dress him up but when he gets in front of the crowd of young people he tells them what he really thinks. He is dragged away and immediately brought back to the hospital.

He knows that was his last chance. They will never give him another try, not after he humiliated them like that. He knows that he will live the rest of his life drugged, controlled, and treated with things like electroconvulsive therapy. That was it. And Dr. Federov takes satisfaction in this, treating him to a course of ECT as soon as he gets back. They all know it isn’t necessary but that isn’t really the point is it?

So then his friends, peers, etc, are revolting but he is taken and put away far from them, getting tortured, never to be let out again. He may have contributed but what does it matter now that he is back in their clutches?

[whatiswhump]

Does anyone watch school spirits? I have a LONG and arduous fic of Xavier getting committed by his dad brewing… I’ve already got so many chapters. And i SHOULD post but I always feel weird about fics about existing characters lmao

[whatiswhump]

Okay, it seems I cannot stop making Renārs videos.

Renārs has been wrongfully imprisoned in a psychiatric hospital in Soviet Latvia because of his dissenting political views. Mostly that he just likes rock music and blue jeans. They know he isn’t mentally ill but that doesn’t stop them from treating him like he is- the treatments, meds, all of it. In addition, there’s a doctor that takes a personal dislike to him- and takes pleasure in knocking him down and exercising his control over him.

But then Renārs is offered a life line. He either looks down a lifetime institutionalized and treated as a schizophrenic… or he can be released on the terms that he becomes a Communist poster boy, attesting to that he was sick with Western Capitalist ideas and that now he is better and sees reason thanks to the hospital… interviews, radio, public speeches…

And although he is strong he agrees- otherwise he will never live outside of the hospital again and be with the girl he loves.

But then when it comes down to it- he can’t do it- they parade him out, dress him up but when he gets in front of the crowd of young people he tells them what he really thinks. He is dragged away and immediately brought back to the hospital.

He knows that was his last chance. They will never give him another try, not after he humiliated them like that. He knows that he will live the rest of his life drugged, controlled, and treated with things like electroconvulsive therapy. That was it. And Dr. Federov takes satisfaction in this, treating him to a course of ECT as soon as he gets back. They all know it isn’t necessary but that isn’t really the point is it?

So then his friends, peers, etc, are revolting but he is taken and put away far from them, getting tortured, never to be let out again. He may have contributed but what does it matter now that he is back in their clutches?

[whatiswhump]

I am so obsessed with Soviet jeans and school spirits right now, two very different shows but both are so good

[whatiswhump]

Reblog bc I posted this in the middle of the night

Song: Mitski- I bet on losing dogs

Okay another Renārs edit.

This is comparing his first morning in the hospital and then the last scene.

Spoiler: He is initially released on terms that give up his principles. When it comes down to it, he can’t betray himself and they summarily bring him back in without hesitation. Even though he was never ill to being with- this effectively means they will never let him go now, he only had one chance.

In the first scene he is wide eyed and nervous. In the final scene, returning to the hospital, he is grey, stony, and confidently defiant. He may comply but the doctor sees the look in his eyes, that he is no longer afraid of what they can do to him, he will take it.

He looks like a different person when they bring him back and it gives me shivers. Transformed nearly beyond recognition.

[whatiswhump]

Song: Mitski- I bet on losing dogs

Okay another Renārs edit.

This is comparing his first morning in the hospital and then the last scene.

Spoiler: He is initially released on terms that give up his principles. When it comes down to it, he can’t betray himself and they summarily bring him back in without hesitation. Even though he was never ill to being with- this effectively means they will never let him go now, he only had one chance.

In the first scene he is wide eyed and nervous. In the final scene, returning to the hospital, he is grey, stony, and confidently defiant. He may comply but the doctor sees the look in his eyes, that he is no longer afraid of what they can do to him, he will take it.

He looks like a different person when they bring him back and it gives me shivers. Transformed nearly beyond recognition.

[whatiswhump]

Renārs, Soviet Jeans

Song: Mountains by Message to Bears

Renārs lives in Soviet Latvia and gets committed to a psychiatric hospital because he is sewing political dissent through his interest in American blue jeans and rock music.

They know he’s not really sick but that doesn’t matter to them, particularly not to Dr. Federov.

There’s a lot more to this mini series that I didn’t include in this edit like the obsessive and cruel KGB agent who is investigating him and some other great whumpy plot points but I enjoyed editing this vid as a good jumping off point.

I especially love in the beginning treatments you can see how wide eyed and apprehensive Renārs is… but at the end, he looks like a different person- exhausted, leaner and grey- but confidently defiant, smiling even when Federov decides to give him ECT as a welcome back gift- staring him down as he is prepped… Renārs!!!!

****Also if you speak Russian and/or Latvian sorry I took great liberties with the captions to summarize the story a little.

[whatiswhump]

Renārs, Soviet Jeans

Song: Mountains by Message to Bears

Renārs lives in Soviet Latvia and gets committed to a psychiatric hospital because he is sewing political dissent through his interest in American blue jeans and rock music.

They know he’s not really sick but that doesn’t matter to them, particularly not to Dr. Federov.

There’s a lot more to this mini series that I didn’t include in this edit like the obsessive and cruel KGB agent who is investigating him and some other great whumpy plot points but I enjoyed editing this vid as a good jumping off point.

I especially love in the beginning treatments you can see how wide eyed and apprehensive Renārs is… but at the end, he looks like a different person- exhausted, leaner and grey- but confidently defiant, smiling even when Federov decides to give him ECT as a welcome back gift- staring him down as he is prepped… Renārs!!!!

****Also if you speak Russian and/or Latvian sorry I took great liberties with the captions to summarize the story a little.

[whatiswhump]

I love when a whumpee has finally gotten out- they’ve escaped from the institution they’ve been kept. This is it- their freedom.

… but then without warning they are found and captured to be returned to where they were kept.

This whole time we had been holding out hope and suddenly that disappears completely. It is plainly obvious that we never should have had that hope to begin with. They were never actually going to leave and now with this utter failure we know they will stay here forever.

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This is a topic I’ve been grappling with, their loved ones want them to do a treatment course of steroids to shock their system and help their critical disease… but they tell them what happened the last time- the ocnfusion, the fracturing reality, no insight or awareness, fluctuating between highs and lows. They know they psyche can’t take it and they try so hard to clinically and clearly explain- they can’t go back to that place…

But the doctors think this is the only option, all others have been exhausted. And they don’t want to resist and make it seem like they don’t want to get better. All they want is to be just a little better. So they acquiesce… maybe they will be stronger this time…

But when the mania comes, the out of body horrifyingly out of touch, the inability to slow down… somewhere in them they know that they said no, they pleaded.. but they still did this to themself. They gave in- they should’ve known better.

Manic whumpee

I see a lot of depression and exhaustion in whump (which I love, don't get me wrong) but I want to see some of the opposite too.

Give me whumpees that are manic. Whumpees that are high. Whumpees that are buzzing with euphoric energy, pacing — no, running — up and down because everything is going a thousand miles an hour and they have to keep up or they'll explode. Talking constantly but never finishing their sentences as their train of thought bounces off mental walls until they ricochet to their next, completely unrelated point with no idea how they got there. Spending in excess; reckless drinking, driving, and sex; trying to learn French, bake the Eiffel tower out of croquembouche, and master the piano all at once when the impulse strikes at three in the morning.

Then give me the depression. The crash and the devastation as the rose-tinted glasses shatter and Whumpee is suddenly faced with the mess. The debt; the crashed car; the bills; the broken relationships and the relapses Whumpee thought didn't count because they were having fun. And they don't have the energy to fix it because they spent it all by causing the damage.

(And don't forget the onlooker's reactions. Caretaker's brow knitting tighter as Whumpee burns brighter — is this new behaviour for Whumpee, or has it happened before? Does that impact how much Caretaker worries? Do they worry more if it's never happened before because what the hell is going on? Or is it scarier if Caretaker has seen it all before and knows exactly how it could end?

Reactions from the team — do they think Whumpee is acting like this on purpose, or do they accuse Whumpee of being on drugs, making Whumpee defensive and upset because nobody believes that they are sober (is Whumpee actually sober, or are they just scared of the consequences if they admit the truth?)

The awkward laughs and smiles from strangers in public as Whumpee strikes up a conversation, not sure how to react to Whumpee's energy. Or the people that are excited by Whumpee and think they're great fun, until the fun doesn't stop and they grow tired, leaving Whumpee stranded as they're still buzzing but their great source of stimulation has been taken away.

What about Whumper's reaction? The encouragement shown to Whumpee's risky decisions; endorsement of activities that will put Whumpee in harm's way, all so Whumper can watch Whumpee dance with death for entertainment, then offer Whumpee support and care so Whumpee will never think to leave. They see Whumpee's state as a weakness and an opportunity to take advantage of Whumpee, as Whumpee is too drunk on their own brain chemistry to see the warning signs until it's too late.)

[whatiswhump]

A whumpee that is treated as though they couldn’t be expected to take care of themself- that of course they don’t have that agency or ability. The detached professionals don’t mean anything by that- they’re not trying to be demeaning…

They just think that if whumpee was remanded into their care- then it is their responsibility to manage and take care of them. They don’t even give them the chance to prove that they are capable.

[whatiswhump]

Your last drabble made me think of your OC, Max

Omg yes, I love max, i need to get back to him!!! Btw nice to hear from you! Hope you’re well!

[whatiswhump]

“You’re going to want it- the meds.”

The medical assistant’s voice has surprised whumpee who by now had learned no one would speak directly to him except the head scientist.

Whumpee furrowed his brows quizzically at this young woman, who had only used a blank clinical gaze to observe him up to now. Was this a trick? Upping the cruel ante to keep him interesting with a mind game?

“They might feel like a loss of autonomy, frightening- but trust me- not being there- not being aware- is infinitely preferable to lucidity once they start.”

He looked away. Away from her, away from the view of his body laid prone and restrained on the lab table. No other sights were any better though- frightening machines, trays of sharp anatomy tools and other things he could not identify every other corner he could look.

But after a few minutes cloying curiosity won out, “Then why not just force me like every other thing?”

“It doesn’t matter to the doctors. If you refuse- it makes no difference to them whether you suffer. It’s not worth the effort.”

“I will suffer. No matter what.” He responded flatly, irritated this young woman was acting as if she was taking the moral high ground. She had been working on him alongside the others for weeks already. He knew her, he recognized the low ponytail that never had a hair out of place.

“Yes. You will. But the difference will be still having your mind intact at the end.”

He swallowed as his mouth went dry. Her words were final and sobering. Without a word, he nodded minutely. Yes, he would accept the drugs.

She nodded in equally silent approval and left the sterile room, leaving him to wait on the table until they all returned, likely sooner than later.

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just curious- what does Sean look like? I always kind of imagined him ginger

Oh haha, that’s so funny to me… so good question indeed (and pls accept my apology as I change it on you)

Sean

Sean is the classic gentle giant, really quite unremarkable in every way except his height (6”2 and quite well built- strong but also maybe one or two too many donuts). He keeps his light brown hair neatly cropped (as in the norm of the 1950s) and is otherwise plain except for his eternally warm complexion- the kind in which his cheeks and across his nose are always tinged with warmth like he’d been on a windy walk or braving the cold. His mom always said that healthy look was from his natural athleticism and never taking a break from playing with his 5 brothers all the years of his childhood.

Sophie sure is grateful for the encompassing bear hugs his long arms and solid frame can give, she knows it sounds corny but she’d never leave his protective embrace is could.

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Have you ever considered an AU where Alfie is super possessive of his psychiatrist or Sean? What would Harris think... like the thought just came to me randomly

Hmm… I like every alfie idea but I’m having trouble wrapping my head around it or finding a scenario. It would certainly make sense with Sean bc we love Sean but with Harris it would be more chilling aicne it would not make logical sense.

Alfie is generally so passive and inwardly facing- most often struggling to make his will or thoughts known other than rare cases that I wonder if it makes sense that perhaps another random patient attacks Harris in a hall and alfie is the only one there to help him and pull the other patient away… I do like the premise of that…

Thank you, this is very interesting!!

[whatiswhump]

How are you doing!! If you're comfortable, what are your pronouns?

She her, I’m a lady 💁🏼‍♀️

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A whumpee that the world has passed by.

They been in the hospital so long that friends and family stopped visiting a long time ago. A release date is no longer discussed and they start to forget they ever thought they could leave to begin with.

Being kept here till kingdom-come has become a forgone conclusion. Dreams of escape and a real life fizzled out long ago.

It scares the new patient- Whumpee seems so normal… so fine… what did they do for an unofficial life sentence? And what’s to say it won’t happen to them??