Amnesia

[Lancewing]

Yeah. Hm... Would a conk on the head with a soccer ball moving very fast work? 

[Notes]

Once I read a list of cliches that had to die, now. One of them was the bonk on the head/scene switch one. They said that if they were hit in the head so hard they would fainted, they'd have had to go to the hospital. Also, they'd never read a good story where someone got bonked on the head and then had to go to the hospital for cranial bleeding. 8P

[Lancewing]

I see...

[Notes]

Yeah. I always thought that was an okay way to change scenes, but never did it myself. Then I found that...

Though, with the slightly serious possibilities, you could have amnesia happen that way.

[Lancewing]

Yeah.

[Notes]

8) (Whenever I leave just a smiley face as a response, I probably don't know how to reply.)

[Kat]

I actually wrote a story about a soccer player getting a severe concussion during a game (though it was due to an elbow to the head, which is far more plausible than using the ball). That is how a lot of head injuries happen, especially amongst teenagers/kids. They take one hit (which makes them a bit wobbly and out of sorts) which is actually hard enough to count as a minor concussion (which would go away in a few days if noticed right away), but most don't realize they're concussed, so they keep playing (apparently this affects younger people moreso than older, due to continued brain growth and development). Then while feeling a little out of sorts but trying to run it off, the brain gets jarred again (could be as simple as running into someone, just enough to create a whipping effect of the head) and that second hit is actually when the major damage gets done.

Granted with my story it wasn't amnesia the player developed, but acquired dyspraxia (meaning their ability to speak was affected, and pretty much all facets of physical ability). So basically he would mix up and slur words when speaking, he forgot secondary learned languages, had to re-learn how to walk/write/tie knots/etc. It was like regressing to being a little kid, only in his head he knew he was still an adult, if that makes sense.

It took months of therapy, but eventually he got back as close to normal as possible. But it was a very tough road to go down, and you'll never be the same after (for instance before the injury, he could speak and think in two languages fluidly; afterwards he could only think in his native tongue, and while he could speak that second language, he couldn't actually think in it anymore, he was constantly translating what he wanted to say in his head). I had actually intended the story to be about Ace (and even started role playing it with a friend) but instead decided to write it for a different (much larger) fandom. It's probably my favourite story I've ever written (it's well over 350,000 words, took me years to finish it).

And I'm actually planning to do it to Ace on a lesser scale for the sequel to Friendship's Treasure (given his whole ordeal in the woods). It won't be as drastic as my other story, but he's definitely going to encounter brain damage issues, my poor baby! I always make him suffer.


Anyway! Yeah just felt like mentioning that, since I've done loads of research regarding head trauma. It's probably my favourite ordeal to put characters through. I think if you were looking for something non-magical for BE's amnesia, the best bet would probably be having her fall out of a tree after trying to get up close and personal with some rare species of something.

[Lancewing]

Ouch! So... Brain damage... Think their reactions would be the same should it happen to Bright Eyes?

[Notes]

Wow. You've got to link it to here. I'd watch a series just to read a story by you, Kat! 8) It sounds like I'm not the only one who's done a bit of research too. That's really unfortunate that it happened in a story, and that it exists at all, that dyspraxia. 8(

So I've read you enjoy making your favorite characters suffer! I hope that he at least gets a happy ending!

Sounds somewhat logical for Bright Eyes, too, and yet I've only thought about her falling out of one of those wonderful plants once.

Their reactions would be different, because Bright Eyes losing her memory in a form of dissociative amnesia and her not having the same physical and mental capabilities would be even more unsettling for them.

[Lancewing]

Which again depends on what has happened. And then there's paralysis!

Lancer: *faints*

[Notes]

Do you just want to see Bright Eyes in pain?! You sadist! l80

[Lancewing]

Sorry, just wanted to see what happens when the characters are in different circumstances...

[Notes]

No, I'm joking around, I'm joking! They'd be really worried, though. I feel like I'm overusing that term, but if some side of Bright Eyes stopped functioning, then one of them could have a heart attack. And the doctors would have to force Lancer out of the room.

[Lancewing]

I know that's right. *sees Lancer curled up in a corner* Oh my...

(And yes, I do like breaking the fourth wall. LOL)

[Notes]

Aww, poor Lancer! )8'0 How should we comfort him?

(Lancewing, for heaven's sake, that's the fourth wall you've broken this week!)