#aaaaahhhh kinda wanna write a thing but I need to work on other stuuuuuf

[painedlamentations]

How about a Caretaker who isnt equipped to help Whumpee. All they can offer is the absolute bare minimum.

There is no cozy house with picture windows overlooking the sea or quiet suburbs, no sun soaked carpets, no fuzzy blankets or endless warm beverages. No beds you can sink into, no soft reassurances that there is plenty for them.

Caretaker is barely managing take care of themself, let alone someone else. Caretake lives in a cramped rented apartment--windows that leak with the slightest rain, neighbors stomping overhead or shouting in the hallways, appliances that don't really work, suspicious stains on the floor and a constant barrage of sirens and traffic outside. The fridge is always empty because what little money Caretaker does have goes to rent and utilities.

Caretaker has nowhere for Whumpee lay aside from their own sagging little twin mattress. Caretaker makes do with a couple of blankets and a rolled up jacket on the floor.

When Whumpee wakes up Caretaker coaxes them into drinking glasses of slightly cloudy tap water (old building and even older pipes). Meals consists of the same two box dinners, ninety nine cent ramen bulked out with hot dogs and rice with whatever else Caretaker can scrounge up, but its better than nothing. They wont let Whumpee suffer hunger again, even if it means Caretaker misses a few meals here and there.

Caretaker doesnt know what's worse: the guilt of not being able to properly take care of Whumpee, or Whumpee thinking the world of what little Caretaker has.