PRDS- Post Rent Depression Syndrome (inspired in part by PandaFire McMango's Rent as a Religion)
A/N- This is a disease I have been suffering lately. Enjoy.
Post Rent Depression Syndrome- In which the affected person cannot think about anything but Rent, and can burst into tears at the slightest mention of the Nederlander Theater, Jonathan Larson, Mark's Camera, or Roger's pants. (full list of triggers will be listed below).
Symptoms- These symptoms can occur at any time and they generally include- feeling incredibly sentimental, suddenly reading piles and piles of Rent fan fiction, building a Rent shrine in their bedroom, feeling the need to get out their playbills and organize them, or sudden bouts of weepiness when the subject of early, bad timed death is brought up in conversation. Additionally, an affected person may start to compulsively listen to the OBC recording of Rent, only stopping when they go to sleep. In extreme cases, the affected person will refuse to talk about, see, listen to, or think about anything other than Rent.
Causes- This disease usually occurs after a person has gone to see Rent on Broadway, though it can also be activated after a person sees the show on tour ( although the Nederlander theater has been known to begin most of the more extreme cases). However, rare cases can occur when a person is sitting at home and realizes they may never see Rent again, or even for a first time. That is a disease called Rent Deprivation Syndrome and it is every bit as serious as PRDS, or even more so.
Triggers- A bout of PRDS can be trigged by mention of any of the following items, places, or people:
The two most extreme triggers in most cases are " Nederlander" and "Jonathan Larson", however, equally extreme cases have been known to occur with the words "Anthony, Adam, Mark, Roger, Angel, and Collins". Some of the lesser triggers include "camera, guitar, plaid pants, scarf (although that has been known to bring on extreme cases of Markaria, yet another dangerous rent related disease, cowbell, Benny, Maureen, Joanne, Wilson, Idina (although that can easily bring on PWDS, which, by the way, is nowhere as serious as PRDS),Jesse, and even vaguely related words such as "theater, pay, and music" can trigger cases.
Treatment- This disease is never fully cured, except in two rare circumstances. 1) In which the affected person is cast as a role in Rent, and therefore gets to spend all of their time at the Nederlander or at a similar theater, advocating and spreading love. This is the best way to cure PRDS, but it is also the hardest to acquire. If you are planning on attempting this cure, talent is strongly recommended. 2) In which the affected person goes to see Rent SO many times on Broadway, they become bored of it. note- this cure is NOT recommended, as becoming bored of Rent is a huge crime. However, treatment for the disease (which will not COMPLETELY cure it), is actually quite simple. Some affected persons have felt relief just by gazing at pictures of various cast members' faces, although this is not recommended as it may trigger another bout of the disease. Writing fan fiction to get your sorrow out is a good way. Although it is not fail proof. The best way to get rid of PRDS is to buy tickets to see Rent on broadway, preferably for a date way in the distance. You will be so excited that you are SEEING rent, your depression will instantly deplete. Additionally, if you are lucky enough to procure tickets to see Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, your depression will instantly lift. J
History- This disease began around 1996. It most strongly affects those who practice the Rent faith, although occasionally it will hit others. It is very dangerous and in extreme cases has led people to see Rent over a hundred times.
((thank you Jonathan Larson))