Quiet deaths? http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198 badgerpride I have plans for one of my characters to get killed, and for his brother to find him. Said character lives in an apartment building so I need a death that would be quick (he'd die within minutes of receiving the wound or whatever) but wouldn't cause enough noise to alert any of his neighbors. Any ideas? Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:16:40 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1137210 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1137210 Honeybadger12345 Smothering or suffocation can be quiet depending on the circumstances. I think that if one was sleeping, and then awoke to be smothered with a pillow, they wouldn't be able to make a loud enough sound for neighbors to hear. Other things like waking up a person by slitting their throat may also work. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:26:47 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1137236 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1137236 WritingGeek97 Poison always works. Or decapitating him. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:50:53 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1137333 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1137333 frenziedmythology I'm pretty sure that twisting their neck suddenly and sharply would kill them instantly. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:56:02 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1137350 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1137350 Chelle-Lynn Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Not exactly quick, but he might not know it's happening and thus not seek treatment, thus dying rather painlessly and quietly. Cyanide is always fun too. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:59:05 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1137363 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1137363 Itzika Gag him so he can't scream, tie him up so he can't take the gag out, and then slit his throat. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:11:40 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1137404 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1137404 Notkieran A few possibilities: Chokehold. Kidney stab. Silenced pistol. Hammer or other blunt object to back of head. Neck snap. Garrotte. Larynx crush. Drowning. Electrocution. More exotically: Crashing around won't matter so much if it's overlaid with an aural soundtrack indicating that he's getting it on. A less R-rated option would be an enjoyment for heavy metal OR a soundproofed audiophile room/ apartment. Not as funny, though. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:15:18 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1138565 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1138565 Safkhet Is this a murder, accident, or what? There's always the possibility for an aneurysm, heart attack, etc.- most medical related deaths aren't that noisy. If you're going for violence, how about slitting an artery? You bleed out really fast if, say, the vein in your leg gets cut, and you probably wouldn't have much time to shout out. Or if you were paralyzed- I think there's something about stabbing between the lungs that renders a person unable to move while they choke on their blood, but I can't say for sure. Being stabbed/strangled from behind would cut out any time for a struggle and consequent sounds, or if he was drunk and out of it. Or suicide. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:10:45 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1139366 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1139366 neverwinterrains A silenced pistol may work for something highly fictionalized, but in real life, even a gun with a silencer is loud enough that you should wear ear protection when you shoot it. It doesn't make a little "pew pew" like you always see in movies. It's just a not-quite-as-loud BANG. Poison would be easy and quick. Cutting the femoral artery would have him bleed out in seconds. Slitting the throat would both kill him quickly and keep him quiet. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:40:22 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1139680 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1139680 Notkieran Sorry, I was assuming that a silenced pistol would be a .22 single-shot or similar, which are pretty quiet even without silencers. That said, I do believe that a not-so-loud bang would probably be overlooked if there was only one shot. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:39:46 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1139931 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1139931 badgerpride Thanks for all of the suggestions. I think I'm going to go with the slit throat, since it would be quick and also quiet. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:26:23 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1142162 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50198?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1142162