#btw. the tyranid option would allow for some hurt/comfort. while the space ship would have everyone be too busy with the backlash Dad's

[w-40-k]

I was debating giving Angelo a tiny braid.

(Pherhaps his parents or that kid that became his friend for the summer made it. One of the few things he has to remember his family and, dare I say even home planet, by. Really it's part of why he's drawn to stargazing. He loves his brother's, but the chance he actually get's to go home is near zero, and sometimes the longing for his first family strikes him)

As a neophyte, he used to fidget with that thing when he got nervous. Grew out of that habit at some point, but he does touch it when he needs to think.

He looses that thing either when:

- he dies for the first time (big 'fuck this guy in particular' in addition to Dad dying and also a couple months later finding out you got spit out about two centuries to late)

- he's lost his helmet, is delirious and about half feral (imagine a bio-titan but in miniature, he get's caught in that things gas cloud, his healing factor just bearly enough to repair the damage he takes), trying his utmost to get the geneseed of his fallen brother's home (*can't* fail. *won't* fail) and at one point he get's swallowed by an oversized tyranid (perpetual tyranids. Now that's terrifying)

Point being, in both scenarios he misses when he looses his braid and he's only going to notice once he is far enough removed from the situation that he won't even be able to recover the lost braid.

(Like the first scenario takes place on a ship in a room, potentially the braid get's shot off by a stray bullet, either way that thing get's cleaned up with everything else after he gets put down like a rabid dog.)

(The second is possibly, lost in an active warzone burried under several Mt's of debris to be added to the tyranid biomass, dissolved by corrosive gas, dissolved in tyranid stomach acid or spit, or just plain burned or cut of)

Angelo's usually pretty cheerful. Keep your chin up, take joy in the little things wherever you can; quick to rouse to laughter; remember those who died, because their memory deserves to be remembered, even if it's just by one person.

My gut reaction says he would be angry. A single moment where he would be furious.

But probably more likely he'd just be stunned speechless, absolutely devastated for sure and just plain sad. Anger might come later for now he mourns this piece of what he lost.

He wouldn't withdraw physically but he becomes quiet and melancholic.

Does a lot of star gazing, the stars in the rough direction of his homeplanet can hold his attention for hours at the time (would be a shame if that place got exterminatus'ed, they do have that warp portal).

Puts on a smile whilst performing his duties, but an outside observer can see that his heart is not in it, despite his efforts.

He was already a good listener, but during this time especially he enjoyes to just sit in a crowded space and listen. (Bit like a drooping flower.)

(When deep in thought, he still reaches for the empty space where the braid would be, catches himself most times, but briefly presses his lips into a tight line every time it happens)

give your whumpee a comfort item.

give them a doll, a stuffed bear, a photo, a book — anything at all. regardless of what it is, give them something that means the world to them. even if it seems small or insignificant to others.

perhaps it’s the only comfort whumper allowed them, or a gift from a deceased loved one. whatever way whumpee ended up with this possession, have them become so completely and utterly attached to it that they can’t be parted from it. make that simple object be the only thing they’ve been able to cling to through years of torment. have it act as a reminder of safety, of being loved, of anything whumpee holds dear.

then tear the item from their arms and destroy it.