geode-crystal

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"You do have a heart after all."

The guard's hands stilled on the bandage they were wrapping the prisoner's wounds with. "I- Of course, I don't like that they're hurting you."

"You have a heart. But you don't have a spine." The prisoner's voice was raspy after hours of screaming. "You can pity me, you can bring me food, you can treat my wounds, but you still stand by and watch while those wounds are inflicted. You console yourself that your heart is in the right place, but you don't have the balls to defy your boss and get me out of here."

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those little, tiny caretaker phrases in which you can feel their voice shaking:

“oh dear…” - when they first discover what really happened to whumpee, barely holding back tears

“it’s just me” - when whumpee jolts awake from another nightmare

“don’t look” - when they clean and bandage whumpee’s wounds, despite the look of it all making them sick

“h-hold on!” - when whumpee nearly passes out in their arms

“hush” - when whumpee apologises for something that’s not their fault, not an order but a gentle whisper

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when the team finally finds whumpee locked in a cell and they were all so so worried so they all scramble to help them stand up and ask a lot of questions. which of course ends up overwhelming whumpee. they immediately flinch back in fear and mutter quiet pleas to not touch them, their body shrinking further into the corner theyre hiding in.

when one of the members notices it and tells everyone to back off and give whumpee some breathing room.

when there's that One character who refuses to move away. its like they didnt even hear the command. their eyes are completely focused on whumpee and it's like nothing besides them even exists. the mix of worry and relief they must feel because finally they found them and theyre alive and everything will be okay now and they will never let whumpee disappear from their side again.

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Whumpee realizing for the first time that Caretaker is right — they ~do~ deserve better. And maybe they even want it too.

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possible replies to:

"I'm not scared of you."

"That's something we can work on."

"You're not? Your expression tells me otherwise."

"Let's see how long that lasts."

"They all start out saying that, it usually takes a few days. Just give it time."

"Not a very convincing liar, are you?"

"That's because I haven't done anything to you to just yet.

"Keep talking back and I'll cut your fucking tongue out and force it down your throat."

"Oh love, you really should be."

[geode-crystal]

Sometimes you just gotta let the waves toss your character onto the shore of a deserted beach like that seagull in Animal Crossing

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look, I have a type okay??? those are my emotional support tropes. i need them to make the brain do the thinky thing.

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Two rescuers arguing after finding Whumpee, while Whumpee cringes back into the corner with their hands still tied.

“I don’t know, man, she’s freaking out!” Rescuer 1 with their hands up, defensive.

Rescuer 2 keeping their volume low, even though the annoyance in their voice is audible.

“Of course she’s freaking out, Whumper’s held her here for months, we’re strangers, and you just ran in here guns blazing and screaming! And—wait, did you try to touch her?”

“To get the ropes off!”

“You can’t just grab these people without asking! I’d be scared, too. Listen—can you go handle the cleanup outside? I’ll talk to her.”

Whumpee still curled up in the corner, wishing she could fuse into the wall itself.

“Hey…hey. Sorry about my friend, they’re new to this. They didn’t mean to scare you, but…they did. But we’re friendly, I swear.”

[geode-crystal]

Sometimes you just gotta let the waves toss your character onto the shore of a deserted beach like that seagull in Animal Crossing

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extremely good trope: injured character sees their own blood on someone else who's otherwise unscathed and gives a concerned "are you hurt?" double points if they're so injured they're barely lucid

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The thing about whump for me personally is that I think it always hits best if there is someone to witness it, and show just how much they care.

I need pity. I need people treating Whumpee like a glass doll that could break any moment. I need someone gently bandaging their wounds, all the while horrified at the story they tell. I need Caretaker crying while they watch Whumpee getting hurt, desperately pleading Whumper to stop. I need someone finding Whumpee covered in blood and showing them so much care and kindness that Whumpee feels like they might suffocate. I need people getting Furious on Whumpees behalf, having to leave the room to control their anger.

I NEED "It's over now, you're safe, you're safe with me" repeated ad nauseam.

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"We have to do this while we walk. I don't have time otherwise."

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ANOTHER really good part of whumpee finally telling someone about what happened to them is just the shame of it. and I mean specifically the shame of admitting how weak they were. how easily they broke. how much it hurt. how they've let another person affect them so much that they can't even talk about it anymore without their voice breaking.

it's particularly difficult for any prideful character - coming to the terms with the fact that they're made of skin and bones just like everyone else, and that theyre not as invincible as they liked (others) to believe

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Obsessed with Caretakers going “easy, easy.” To their Whumpees who they’re either unshackling during a rescue, or setting into place to be patched up.

Knowing Whumpee is in agony, but somehow Caretaker’s reassurances are just enough to calm them to get through what they need to.

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Todays vibe:

A whumpee with invisibility powers instinctively turning invisible when they’re scared

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I really really like it when Whumpee's friends know about their trauma and just subtly try to make them more comfortable without even saying anything.

Making sure Whumpee gets a seat from which they can see the exit doors.

Coming up with an excuse to go elsewhere if Whumpee looks uncomfortable in a crowd.

Always having their hands visible if they're gonna try to touch Whumpee (and going slowly so that they can prepare/react).

Avoiding all touch in general if they notice Whumpee tensing up/flinching

Directing conversations from topics that can trigger Whumpee.

Stealing the first bite of Whumpee's food and playing it off as being greedy (it's to show Whumpee that it isn't poisoned).

Making plans or randomly showing up at Whumpee's home on anniversaries that are bound to be rough for them. (!!!!!!!)

Not bringing unnecessary attention to Whumpee flinching or their hands trembling.

Noticing that Whumpee is in a worse mood but also knowing very well that trying to bring it up will only make them shut off more. So they just stay close as much as they can, to show that they're always here for them once they're ready to talk.

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Whump Dialogue

"Come alone."