#caretaker and whumpees

[snakebites-and-ink]

Former living weapon absolutely dominating at laser tag

[literarystarfish]

When Whumpee misconstrued one of Caretaker’s questions/concerns/casual comments to be something they are sorry for/ should be apologetic about or that Caretaker meant for them to stop doing that thing or was being demeaning about it.

“You’re bleeding!” “Sorry! I’m sorry! I won’t get it on anything!”

“Does your ankle hurt?” “I can still do the [thing Caretaker asked if they wouldn't mind doing]. It doesn’t hurt that bad.”

“You’re sniffling…. Are you crying?!” “I promise I won’t be loud! I just can’t stop! I’m sorry!”

“You’re breathing a bit loud. Is your rib hurting again? … WHY ARE YOU HOLDING YOUR BREATH?!”

“Your room was a bit warm today. Is that how you like it? I sleep hot so I would end up sweating all night with my heater on that high.” (A few nights later) “C-Caretaker? Is.. is it alright if I t-take the blanket from the couch to m-my room t-tonight?” “Of course! How are you still cold when you're room is so hot? Are you feeling well?— WHY ARE ALL YOUR WINDOWS OPEN?! ITS WINTER!!”

“You sure are hungry! Looks like your appetite is coming back.” “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take too much. I won’t eat tomorrow to make up for it.”

“Your hair looks different!” “I know… I'm sorry. I didn't really like it in [old-Whumper’s-favorite-style] so I changed it. I’ll change it back though, 'cause I know it makes me more pleasing to look at. I’m sorry.”

"Why are there bandage wrappings in the garbage?" "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to take your supplies without asking! Its just that one of my stitches opened up and it wouldn't stop bleeding."

[saccharin-simper]

Whumpee had been so quiet, so pliant, so easy to deal with for the first few months after their rescue. They let Caretaker tend to their wounds and hold their hand without a fuss, they ate and drank whenever they were told to, they answered every question they were asked.

Then, suddenly and for reasons unknown to Caretaker, they were acting the exact opposite. Suddenly they were refusing to allow Caretaker to touch them, screaming, crying-- begging to be left alone, to not be harmed. They stopped cooperating, fighting Caretaker tooth and nail on every little thing.

Used to the easiness from before, it doesn't take long for Caretaker to become exasperated-- and finally, they snap, shouting at Whumpee for being so difficult.

Whumpee freezes on themselves instantly-- instantly lowers their head, instantly apologizes in a feeble, pliant voice, instantly reverts back to the way they were before.

Caretaker soon realizes that Whumpee wasn't fighting to be difficult, but fighting because they could. In those first months, Caretaker had become the first person Whumpee trusted to listen to them-- to actually care if they didn't want something.

Whumpee only nods along with that pliant expression when Caretaker tries to apologize, letting Caretaker hold their hand.

[jordanstrophe]

Whumpee who save themselves instead of waiting for rescue. Whumpee who waits at home for caretaker to find because they didn't know where else to go or who to trust.

Caretaker, who just came home after a hopeless day of no leads for whumpee's disappearance to find them passed out on their couch.

[justbreakonme]

“Please… I’m so tired.”

“Then sleep. I’ll stand guard.”

“I thought you said it was safe here?”

“It is. But you don’t feel safe, do you?”

“…not yet.”

“Then I’ll stand guard, till you can.”

[thinkingofausername]

I love when the whumpee has to reinvent themself. No, you will never be the past you again, they are permanently changed by the trauma, but that does not mean death. You just have to find you again. The people who care about you might mourn, you might as well, but getting to know each other again can be quite interesting.

[whumporama]

Whumpee who is recovering after the whumpTM, but it's not going great. They're so frustrated with themselves, with their caretakers, just with everything. Everyone is so soft and understanding and it bothers them and they want to scream, but they know they should be grateful.

Until Caretaker comes along. Caretaker isn't 'nice' like the others, they don't take bullshit. They're good for Whumpee, but they don't baby them. They treat them like an adult with anatomy, and it's so refreshing for Whumpee.

"You want to stay up, fine. But you will tell me when you can't anymore, because if I have to drag you off the floor we're both in trouble. Understand?"

"Stop whining. What do you need?" (And then they get or do whatever it is without issues or judgement.)

"Want to tell me why you're doing worse today?" -- "No..." -- "Okay."

"Where does it hurt?" -- "It doesn-" -- "Don't give me that, I can see it hurts. Now tell me where."

Caretaker trusts Whumpee to know what they need, and lets them know again and again they won't take this nonsense of hiding their pain. They're practical, and kind, and Whumpee needed that.

[spinzolliii]

DISCLAIMER: I HAVE NO CLUE IF THIS IS MEDICALLY ACCURATE

Something that whump writers don’t consider:

IVs feel cold. Can you imagine a room temperature liquid going directly into the bloodstream of someone who’s 97-104 degrees? It’s hellish. You can’t get warm no matter how much external heat you receive.

Imagine a delirious whumpee whimpering and clawing at an IV while being restrained and reassured by Caretaker.

“No no no, that stays in”

“Hey, hey. I know it hurts, but it’ll help you feel better”

Maybe the whumpee’s hallucinating, thinking that they’re being tortured. When Caretaker’s words fail to get through, they have to use gentle touches and singing. Or, if you want to be mean, you can have the Caretaker being forced to restrain Whumpee to prevent them from hurting themselves until they run out of energy and pass out.

[hurtmyfavsthanks]

We all know about magical fatigue as a whump trope for magical overuse. Now I raise you: Magical euphoria.

Magic that feels good to use. It leaves the user dizzy and lightheaded, a giddy energy rushing through their entire body. It's enough to leave the most stoic whumpee giggling madly, to make the most obedient soldier go rogue. It's a power that ultimately, inevitably, controls its user.

Mages aren’t trusted to act on their own. They can’t be, not when each spell costs them their sanity. Not when, in a daze of manic joy, they’re just as liable to destroy the enemy as their allies.

And so they need a handler.

Imagine Caretaker in this situation. Forced to watch Whumpee throw themselves into madness, to turn themselves into an unthinking weapon under the demand of some uncaring general. Having to put aside their affection for Whumpee as a person, and analyze them as a tool.

It’s Caretaker who decides when Whumpee is still fit for battle. It’s caretaker who has to look into their dazed and distant eyes, blood dripping into a too wide smile, and decide if Whumpee has anything else to give.

It’s Caretaker who decides when they’re too far gone, when Whumpee needs to stop. And if Whumpee can’t, it’s Caretaker’s job to make them stop. Even if that means using force, even if it means hurting them, because letting them run wild isn’t an option.

And when the battle’s over, when Whumpee is either led or dragged away to the medical wing, Caretaker’s the only one brave enough to tend to their injuries. They wrap bleeding, scorched fingers without a word, the only sound being Whumpee babbling, mad ramblings. Caretaker knows they won’t remember any of this. They still talk to Whumpee anyway, soft, comforting words they hope will bring Whumpee back faster.

And when whumpee’s eyes finally clear, when their body sags with exhaustion they’re just now able to feel, Caretaker feels nothing but grief, because it’ll start all over again tomorrow.

[defire]

Whumpee that's never had genuine comfort before

(comfort stuff)

Caretaker trying to be gentle and whumpee freaks the fuck out--"what are you doing?!" With paranoid wide eyes

"I'm cleaning your wounds...." "Not like that you're not. Here, give me the needle."

Caretaker trying to comfort them--"fuck, you've had it rough" and reaching out for a hug and whumpee just stares at them

Whumpee trying to be "nice" to caretaker by slapping them on the back painfully hard and making boisterous vague remarks that are supposed to be compliments

Or, whumpee staring at caretaker wondering how to say "thank you" in a way that won't get them beaten up, like last time

Caretaker impulsively hugging or touching them out of kindness and whumpee flinches away and grabs the spot like it burns

"You've always taken care of your own wounds?" Caretaker says. Whumpee frowns, confused. "Who else is supposed to do them?"

"Look, I get that you're trying to be nice, caretaker, but I have it handled," whumpee trying to get themself across the kitchen by leaning on the counters.

"I do not need you. It's okay. I'm not a burden."

[f1sh-bone]

Yes yes, sedation, forced sedation.... All good.

Now listen.

Sedation that doesn't knock you out completely, but just makes you very confused and tired instead, unable to form a clear though, yet still somewhat aware of what's happening around you. Drugging basically...

Augh

I especially adore that when combined with an otherwise very defiant whumpee who refuses medical treatment, and a kind, gentle caretaker? One who holds their hand, strokes their hair and reassures them that everything is going to be okay? Even better when it's a hero/villain dynamic???

Mhmhmtmfmgmmt

[whumpdaydreamerx]

Caretaker picking an injured Whumpee up off the floor and pulling them into their lap, back against their chest.

Whumpee being semiconscious, only able to manage a groan as their head falls back against Caretaker’s shoulder.

[whumpy-bi]

“Hey, are you okay? You look like you’re gonna faint…hey, hey—“

[whump-galaxy]

Something about a whumpee with regenerative powers. No one really takes it seriously when they get injured cause it really will just grow back. Even the whumpee is a bit blasé about their wounds.

But when the team completely ignores them in favor of another teammate’s injuries, not even stopping to give the whumpee pain medicine…

That’s a pain their body can’t fix.

[jordanstrophe]

Caretaker finds whumpee bound and gagged, unable to move and whimpering for their attention. Caretaker skids to their knees and pulls whumpee into their arms.

Whumpee, with their arms behind their back, can only press their face hard into caretaker's shoulder.

[the-samcrifice]

"Ghnnn!" Whumpee cried out, Whumper slamming their body to the floor. They could barely see straight as Whumper tilted their head up to look them in the eyes.

"ooo, look at you-" Whumper began to say, but they were cut off by their own cronies.

"Whumper, Caretaker is here. With reinforcements." They said.

Whumpee's heart sang. Whumper on the other hand, snarled, hand fisting the front of their shirt, bringing them face to face.

"This facility is hidden. There is NO WAY Caretaker would've found us." They snarled, slamming Whumpee against the wall. "I'll ask you one time. What. Did. You. Do."