#feed me poison till I drown

[whumpookies]

Day 14 Title: Feed me poison till I drown

Prompt: flare (flare of pain)

[whumpneto]

Whumptober 2023 - No. 14: “Feed me poison, fill me ‘till I drown.” Flare | Water Inhalation | “Just hold on.”

Antonio Banderas as Luis Vargas in Original Sin (2001)

[evillittlebirdie]

Salvation (Kar'niss/Tav)

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine

Once Kar'niss was forced inside the cage, the cleric locked him inside and left him alone. He didn't know how long he stood there, unable to get comfortable no matter how he positioned his legs. The cleric returned with two orcs and a Drow male guard. And within minutes, Kar'niss' cage was loaded on a wheeled pallet. The male guard led the way while the orcs pulled the pallet. 

"This is not necessary," Kar'niss protested as he grabbed the metal bars of his cage. He attempted to get the Drow's attention, "I accept my fate. I will go with you wherever you will take me."

The Drow turned to look at him, and Kar'niss felt his hope rise. Instead, the Drow only looked at him with disgust. He shuddered before looking forward. It was the lost contact Kar'niss would have with a fellow Drow for a very long time. 

Kar'niss did not know how far away he was from Menzoberranzan when the Drow and ogres stopped their travel. His cage was unlocked, and Kar'niss stepped out hesitantly. Kar'niss had lived in the city all of his life. He looked around. The cold, dark subterrane spotted unfamiliar bioluminescent lighting. He could see a body of water in the distance that stretched far beyond his eyesight. They had dropped him off at the border of Northdark. But beyond that, he had no orientation. 

Kar'niss was silent as the entourage left him alone with no weapons or provisions. There was no use in wasting breath.

Gone was his family and his purpose. The only hope he had was twisted with his faith. He could only hope by accepting his punishment that Lolth would take mercy on him one day. Either she would let him die quickly or change him back. 

For days, Kar'niss explored the territory. It didn't take long for him to learn to walk fluidly with his body. That didn't mean he was used to it. He didn't realize how much he missed lying down out of everything. He tried to sustain himself only on lichen and mushrooms, but the bloodlust quickly overcame his senses. He pounced on the first living creature in sight. A frog. And fortunately, there was more where that came from. Kar'niss followed the army of frogs until he arrived at the body of water he saw on his first day. 

After Kar'niss had his fill of frogs' blood, he walked over to the water's edge. It was unhealthy morbidity that prompted the movement. It had been days since he had the luxury of reflection. He leaned down to take a proper look.

Kar'niss knew, abstractly, that the extra eyes were there. It had been an odd, additional sensory input that he had to deal with. But to see the black blinking eyes on his face was to solidify his fate. Kar'niss whimpered before moving his hands along his face. His eye color had changed from carmine to black and sienna. Beyond the physical changes, he looked filthy. He hadn't bathed since the day of the test. He used to take such pride in his hair. He loved to braid it and decorate it with jewels. He would run his fingers through it to soothe himself when unhappy. It was his tiny source of joy, the one bit of self-indulgence his mother did not object to. Now, it was ratty, thin, slick. The exoskeleton on his arms and torso reflected against the water. 

Kar'niss leaned closer to inspect the new ridges of his skin when he suddenly felt his balance waver. His legs lost their footing on the embankment. Kar'niss fell face-first into the water. The shock made him inhale liquid. His body flailed in shallow water before he finally got his footing in the sand. He forced himself up and quickly fled from the water. Drenched and discouraged, Kar'niss retreated into one of the nearby caves. It would be years before he saw his face again.

***

Tav was rather woozy after feeding her vampire spawn and filling up an empty bottle for Kar'niss. She hoped the bottle was enough. She read that driders needed blood every four days. But the literature she read did not specify how much blood a drider needed. If the bottle were not satisfactory, Tav would need to outsource. She was not a blood farm, after all. 

"Kar'niss!" Tav called out once she reached the cave. The basket she left earlier in the day was gone. The sight thrilled her. Tav was not sure what Kar'niss needed. But she figured he needed a lantern to leave the cave. Water would quench any thirst. The books would help with boredom while he recovered. And Tav figured that a blanket would keep him warm. 

Tav had another basket with her. This one was smaller. Inside the basket was the bottle of blood and a locket. Arabella's parents gave her a locket in exchange for saving her from Kagha. Tav couldn't bear to sell it, and fortunately, Elminster stabilized Gale's orb before he needed to consume its magical properties. The locket could summon a circle of dancing lights. Kar'niss could find it helpful for when he was hunting. 

When Tav heard the skittering, she smiled. His movements sounded more fluid. Kar'niss was recovering. The drider emerged from the cave and presented himself with a low bow. "Her Majesty's Chosen..." Kar'niss began with a reverent smile. But then, his face paled with anxiety, "No, no, no. Not Her Majesty's Chosen, they said. 'Too much of a mouthful'. But we cannot say the name. They are Absolute." His teeth worried his lower lip, drawing blood quickly.

"Wait, wait," Tav quickly interjected, alarmed at the stereotypy. "You do not want to call me Tav?" She was confused about why Kar'niss had such a difficult time with her title.

"No!" Kar'niss quavered, taking a step back. "To obey we dishonor, but to honor we disobey." 

Finally, the answer dawned on Tav. "You will not call me by my given name."

"Improper!" Kar'niss concurred with a nod, now moving his gaze back to her. 

"Then...what is something you are comfortable with calling me? Something short but respectable," Tav prompted. She wanted to avoid where this was going. She could use a drider as a fighter by her side, but she did not want a slave. 

Kar'niss hesitated before he offered, "Mistress. It's familiar." 

Tav took care not to wince at the title visibly. She certainly had never been addressed a 'mistress' before. It would take getting used to. "We'll work towards Tav. But if you're willing, I'll take 'Mistress.'" 

Kar'niss smiled hesitantly. He raised himself to his full height. His shoulders slumped down as though a weight was lifted off his shoulders. 

Tav glanced down at the bottle of blood. Hoping to lighten the situation and change the subject, she gave an uneasy chuckle. "So I read that driders need blood. We don't have many options for fresh blood..." Tav stopped herself from speaking. Maybe telling Kar'niss that the blood was hers wasn't the best option. "But I was able to get this for you." She offered him the bottle of blood. 

Kar'niss stared at the bottle, his lips opening slightly. Tav could see his fangs peeking out. "They offer blood..." He perplexed. Just like with the haggis, Kar'niss slowly reached forward only to recoil. 

Patiently, Tav kept the bottle in her outreached hand. "I take care of those under my command. You saw my companions. Did they look neglected?"

Kar'niss quickly pointed out, sinking back into a bow, "They are well equipped and serve you satisfactorily. A fair mistress feeds her slaves. They obey or will be shamed. Useless slaves do not  eat ." 

After analyzing Kar'niss' statement, Tav realized how conditional he thought each action was. She wanted to clarify that her companions were not slaves. She would rather have that conversation with Kar'niss than him accidentally spouting out rhetoric in front of Astarion. 

If Kar'niss was any other person, Tav could tell them she would care for any injuries or nourishment. She would then offer two options. They could either leave with no obligation to reimburse. Or, they could stay and pull their weight in one fashion or another. Tav figured Kar'niss would collapse if she offered him that level of freedom. So, as it stood, Kar'niss was her responsibility. 

"If I believe you are without use, I will tell you. Do you think you know more than me?" Tav accused. She hated to be firm with him. Especially when he recoiled even more, almost curling into himself. But she needed to get her point across. 

Kar'niss fretted, "No, no, no. Of course not, Mistress."

"So, to keep you in service, I am providing blood," Tav persuaded him. "Please, take it."

Kar'niss looked at the bottle and then at Tav, much like the haggis. He took the bottle. One of his claws grazed against Tav's hand. It was not sharp like Tav thought. Instead, the claw was dense and smooth, like stone. Kar'niss moved the bottle down to his pedipalps. The bottle caught snugly on the hook of his left pedipalp. 

"I bet that's handy," Tav pointed out, chuckling at her pun. Oh, Astarion would kill her if he was there. 

Confused, Kar'niss looked at her and then back to his pedipalps. He didn't respond. Tav could see his eyes flickering back and forth. How long had it been since Kar'niss shared a pleasant conversation with someone? And even then, was it a frequent reoccurrence? 

Fortunately for both of them, it was Kar'niss who changed the subject.

"Mistress...they have humbled us with their gifts. I ask them to please take pity on this ignorant creature. Tell this beast what they request as tribute." 

"Ummmm...." Tav was nonplused, unsure how to respond, "No need for tribute. I told you that I didn't need anything. Just get better. Please...rise..." 

Hesitantly, Kar'niss raised his body to his full height. "Yes...of course...I understand. I will serve to the best of my ability. I am contemptible. Once I regain my full strength, I will protect you with my life. No hair on your head shall be mussed, no sweat shall be broken, and no blood shall be shed. Not while I breathe." 

Tav felt her cheeks redden at the proclamation. No one had ever done that for her. She knew that her companions would fight for her, as would she for them. But no one ever vowed in such a way for her. Something uncomfortable shifted in her belly before an odd sense of satisfaction waved through her. 

"Thank you," Tav let out, unknowingly letting out an exhale. She didn't know what to say other than that. It felt lacking, given the depth of Kar'niss' vow. But the locket may show her appreciation. Tav reached into the basket to pull out the locket and showed it to Kar'niss. The drider bent over, inspecting the jewelry.

"I know I gave you a lantern. But I wanted to share this with you as well. It can summon dancing lights. Just an added bit of protection. I also like watching them. It lifts the spirit in this bleak place," Tav told him. 

Kar'niss' breath was taken away at the sight of the locket. "For...for me...But...it's pretty. And pretty things are not for...us...monster..." He shrunk back, repeating the pattern of initially rejecting Tav's offering. "Long ago, long ago...under the spider...Not now. Deplorable, base creature." 

Tav once more played off her comrades, "You saw my companions. The circlets my men wear. Aren't they pretty? They're also powerful."

"You would put me with them?" Kar'niss' eyes widened at that implication. Something in him paused with wonder and then the slightest flash of hope. "I...I can have something that shows I am in your force. So all could know I serve Her Majesty."  

"Yes," Tav affirmed cautiously. She unclasped the necklace. She held the two ends of the chain and gestured Kar'niss to move in closer. Kar'niss acquiesced. Now that Tav and Kar'niss were almost face to face, Tav could take in the lines on his face. At one point, Kar'niss had to be stunningly handsome. She could see it in his cheekbones and facial structure. She took in the scar on his lip and the ridges on his cheek down to his neck. His eyes were piercing, striking. Tav clasped the locket around Kar'niss' neck, brushing her hand against his hair as she did so. Under the grime and oil, his hair could be as white and luxurious as Astarion's. Tav could borrow some pomade and rosemary oil from Astarion to wash Kar'niss' hair. 

Once the locket was secure, Tav stepped away from him. Kar'niss straightened to his full height. He seemed taller than what Tav initially noticed. Maybe it was that drop of happiness Tav was able to give him. He looked at the locket as though it was a holy relic. His hand hesitantly touched the locket in awe. "Thank you, Mistress," Kar'niss breathed out. She could hear the tears in his voice before he finally sobbed.

"Kar'niss!" Tav cried, "What's wrong?"

"You have given us, given  me , everything. Shelter, food, blood, provisions, this beautiful pendant. You have not scorned or punished. I've talked out of turn and been obstinate. I should prostrate myself at your feet. Yet you give and  smile . I am not worthy of this light. Please, Mistress," Kar'niss cried out. His hands went to his face to cover his eyes. He continued to bawl, "I shame you, I shame myself. I shame Her Majesty with unclean, vile, unholy thoughts. If you knew, Mistress, how prideful and selfish this beast is. Rutting, savage, ugly monster. Unfit, unfit!"

It was then that Kar'niss pulled from Tav's company and retreated into the cave.

Bewildered, Tav stood there, unsure whether to follow or give him space. The caring part of her wanted to follow him over the practical part of leaving him. Typically, the caregiver won out. And this instance was similar.

Tav stepped to the mouth of the cavern, looking into the darkness. She could see webs in the light. The cave must have been longer than she thought because she couldn't see Kar'niss. She took a few hesitant steps before walking further into the cave. 

[one-piece-aus]

i really love how you write the strawhat pirates <33 i swear everytime i see your works on my feed, it never ceases to makes my day ﾟ+.ﾟ(*´∀`)bﾟ+.ﾟ

i saw your request is open, can i request for an usopp x reader where reader's feelings are unrequited?

thank u for always bringing joy to the feed with your amazing works ﾟ+.ﾟ

Ahoy! I'm happy you love my works for the Strawhats, and I'm happy to fulfill this angst request! ^-^ I hope you don't mind me using it for Whumptober :3

Whumptober Day 14

Usopp x Reader

"You guys are going to be real sorry for messing with us!" Usopp said to the pirates who captured the two of you. "For I, Commander Usopp, command an army of ten thousand men!"

Even in a situation like this, you can't help but smile at Usopp's antics. On the other hand, the pirates didn't pay any mind to him.

"Separate them."

As you were dragged away, Usopp called out to you. "Don't worry [Y/n], I'll get us out of here. Just hold on!"

You smile at him, displaying your sign of trust in him. Soon enough you were taken to the cellar while you heard Usopp getting slapped and told to shut up. It'd take more than that to keep him quiet, you knew all too well.

Quite the journey it's been since you joined the strawhats, yet quite the silent pain you had to bear.

You knew Usopp only had his eyes for Kaya, you admired his determination to protect her and the village when you, Luffy, and the crew met him back in Syrup village. That's all it had been, admiration, then it changed, and you can't recall when it started.

Perhaps it's his bravery in fighting despite being terrified. Maybe all those funny tales he told amused you enough to start feeling warmer around him. You only realized it when you were training for the two years the crew took to get stronger, you found yourself doodling him in your downtime. When it hit, you cursed yourself and called yourself a fool.

Seeing him again your heart could hardly take it, on top of that he got ripped like Zoro. You couldn't even look at him without a blush colouring your cheeks, luckily Sanji distracted everyone from your odd behaviour, and with all the events the crew has gotten into since getting into the New World, you've managed to avoid being noticed.

With all the adventures, another thought came to your mind, maybe Usopp forgot about Kaya. However, as soon as the thought came to mind, it dispersed once you overheard Usopp talking to Nami about home in the East Blue, more specifically, Usopp was talking about Kaya...

The pirates left the area outside the cellar, slithered your hands to make work of the lock and opened it up with a pin in your hair. Pays off to be underrated, the enemy makes dumb mistakes like this. You ran out of the room and began looking for an escape out of the place when you bumped into someone.

"Oof- [Y/n]?" His surprise shifted to a teasing smirk. "What are you doing, I'm supposed to rescue you."

You turned around, not letting him see the pink on your cheeks. "As much as I'd love that, we'd be wasting time if I sat around waiting, let's find the exit-" You moved to continue searching when Usopp grabbed your arm.

"Wait a minute."

"Usopp, we got no time for this, come on." You tried pulling your arm out of his grasp but he only tightened his hold.

"Don't think I haven't noticed."

"Noticed what?"

"You being distant."

"What are you talking about?" You stopped tugging your arm and half turned to him.

"[Y/n], this is the first time we've had a full conversation in two years."

"Heh, well it's been kinda hard since our captain has us running around almost every second of the day," you tried playing it off, even adding a smile.

"We could've chatted at the banquets."

"Hard to find you in a crowd," you lied with a shrug.

"Apparently it is, I couldn't find you anywhere near me." Usopp frowned. "The rest of the crew have no problem though."

Silence strikes through as the facade begins to fall. You go to speak when Usopp's expression shifts and he pulls you into a small closet, and you are smacked right at his chest. You try to protest when Usopp shushes you.

"They're coming," He whispers.

Sure enough, you heard footsteps and men barking. You tried focusing on what they were saying but your senses only screamed in your mind when you felt Usopp put his hand on your shoulderblade and held you closer. Rationality told you he was just doing this in a protective manner, yet your face burned from the contact. With what little room you had in the closet, you stepped back and removed his hand from your back, he glanced at you in questioning and just stared at the door.

"They're gone," Usopp said and instantly you opened the door, hopping out.

"Let's get going, we don't wanna worry the crew." You began running along the halls, and thanks to you adding urgency, Usopp followed behind.

You didn't think he'd noticed, at least not with all the chaotic events, but he did. If you didn't know better, your heart would've fluttered with joy, but you knew better, and your heart weighed heavier because of it.

Tag: @bookandyarndragon @roseoftrafalgar

[nimata-beroya]

🌪️💧❄️ for the ask game!

🌪️Sum up a WIP with a few fic tropes/Ao3 tags

A Reason to Fight [Kalluzeb]: whump, hurt/comfort, found family, keeping a brave face but dying on the inside, Kallus needs a hug, Kallus gets a group hug.

❄️Share a snippet from a WIP of your choosing.

From the chapter 3 of Feed Me Poison, Fill me 'Till I Drown

The level is also eerily quiet, nothing of the battle noise and explosions upstairs can be heard down here. Maybe that’s why the place is deserted. They don’t know that the base has been infiltrated.  But Zeb can’t trust in that. It smells more like a trap. Nevertheless, he has to find Kallus. Time is running out.  Zeb takes his comlink from his belt, and speaks quietly, “Spectre-Three, I’m in position. Be ready t’unlock the door at my signal.” Just as Chopper acknowledges it with a positive warble, Zeb’s ears twist forward, catching the sound of somebody coughing, sharp and hacking, coming from the cell. Then, a familiar scent hits his nose. It’s a bitter smell of fear, one particular rancid stench that he hasn’t sniffed in years, and which takes his memory back to a frozen moon. Despite the rest of unpleasant and unfamiliar scents in the air, he recognizes Kallus’ scent. His mate is just up ahead, and he’s terrified. Zeb approaches cautiously, with his bo-rifle at the ready. His first instinct is to call out for Kallus, but he stops just in time when hears a grumble at the other side of the door. The voice is high-pitched and nasal, lacking the snobby Coruscanti accent Zeb’s desperate to hear.  Kallus is in there, but he has company. And not of the good kind.

💧Share something romantic/hot from your WIP, or just something sweet if it's gen.

I answered it here. And I can't show you a different snippet because I don't have many to choose from. That was it 😅

Thank you so much for asking @annwayne 🥰

[actress4him]

Whumptober 2023 - Day 14 - Querencia

This is the next chapter of Querencia, following Whumptober Day 1!

Taglist: @darthsutrich , @inky-whump , @painful-pooch , @pigeonwhumps (thank you for beta reading!), @bookworm2107

Previous | Next | Masterlist

No. 14: “Feed me poison, fill me ‘till I drown.” | Water Inhalation

Contains: dude whump, electrocution, water whump, Deaf whumpee, captivity, restraints, revenge, death mention, noncon drugging, needles, superpowers

.

.

Quinn jolts awake in an unfamiliar room, still half-expecting to be in charge of steering an out-of-control vehicle. Instead, he finds himself in what looks like a warehouse, but definitely not the one they converted into their home. This one is dingy and in sore need of a good cleaning. The events of the evening come back to him in flashes - the park, the drive home…the spike strips in the road and his inability to avoid them or prevent the crash afterward. 

This was planned, whatever it is. And now he’s alone, without his team, and he can only hope they’re all alright.

He doesn’t remain alone for long. The trio that enters the room looks vaguely familiar, but with his head still swirling from unconsciousness he can’t quite place them. Besides, his thoughts are more caught on the fact that none of them are wearing masks or anything else to conceal their identities. Kidnappers without masks generally don’t plan to allow their victims to leave alive.

“The great Electric Eagle himself,” the woman begins, strolling closer. “Right here in our grasp, isn’t it exciting, boys?”

The bigger man circles him where he sits. “Somehow he doesn’t seem quite as intimidating without the whole superhero getup.”

“That could also have to do with the handcuffs,” the second man laughs. 

“True!”

“Where is the rest of my team?” Quinn asks, careful to keep his expression and voice steady. They normally wouldn’t seem very intimidating, but they’ve already proven themselves rather capable of causing trouble. At the moment, though, any fear in him is for his team, not himself. 

“Oh, he’s British! Did you know he was British?” The woman puts a hand to her heart, looking at the other two. They shrug, unimpressed. “I do love me a British accent. But sorry to tell you, honey, it isn’t going to keep me from making you pay.”

“And…what, exactly, is it that I’m paying for?” He knows these three from somewhere, it’s driving him mad that he can’t place where.

“He doesn’t remember.” The bigger man crouches down and grabs a fistful of Quinn’s shirt, yanking him in close to his face. “What, we weren’t important enough for you to think about, once you’d ruined our lives and moved on with yours?”

“You got us arrested, that’s what. None of us even had records until you and your cutesy little team of superheroes came along and ruined it all. We lost all the money we’d gotten, lost our jobs, can’t get hired anywhere else, Greg’s wife left him…”

Oh. Now he remembers them. Criminals, of course, as he’d assumed, but more specifically a gang of three bank robbers that they’d worked together to stop. Which means that it shouldn’t be just him that they have a complaint against.

“Where…is…my team?”

The bigger man, Tommy Lewis, shoves him backwards so that he sprawls on the floor, hands trapped behind his back. “They’ll get their turns! But you’re the leader, so you get first go at paying up, how does that sound?”

He has no idea what they have in mind, but no doubt that it will be unpleasant. Maybe by the time they’re done with him, the others will have come up with some kind of escape plan and will be able to avoid having to go through whatever it is, themselves. If anyone is going to get hurt here, it should be him. 

Greg Sanders, the other man, comes closer, and Quinn’s eyes immediately go to a syringe in his hand. “What’s that, then?”

“Sheila may have lost her job at the lab, but she didn’t lose all of the formulas she was working on in her spare time.” He smirks, waving the syringe a bit. “You all will get to try out a couple of different specialties of hers while you’re here!”

He comes at him with the syringe, and Quinn kicks out with his restrained feet, trying to knock it from his hands. If it’s just something she’s been working on at home, there’s probably a limited supply. He doesn’t know what could possibly be in it, but being poisoned isn’t high on his list of fun activities for himself or his team. 

Greg dodges the kick, and before Quinn can try to roll further out of the way Tommy is on top of him, sitting on his legs and pinning his upper half to the floor. With his hands beneath him he can’t summon any lightning, and the man is too heavy to fight off without leverage. The needle sinks into his arm.

The three criminals step back and stare at him as he scrambles to at least sit upright. He takes it that something visible is supposed to happen, then. His heart is pounding in anticipation, waiting to start feeling excruciating pain or to grow an extra limb or whatever horrible, drastic thing they have planned. 

Then lightning crackles in his palm, without his permission. 

“Aha!” Sheila screeches. “It’s starting to work!”

Quinn swallows hard. If this is something that affects his powers, it could be much worse than he’d feared. As if in response to his thoughts, another bolt arcs from one hand to the other. The trio starts donning long rubber gloves.

“If my powers go out of control, you’re going to need a lot more than rubber gloves and soles to keep you safe.” He’s imagining the whole room filling with streaks of lightning, taking out the lights and the people and charring the walls and floor. 

Meanwhile, electricity snakes up to his wrist and hits the handcuffs, and for the first time since he was just learning to use his power, Quinn actually feels the effects of it himself. He jolts and grunts in utter surprise as it buzzes through his skin. There’s a reason why he and Nari have to be careful to keep their abilities separate. Metal and electricity do not mix well. 

Greg smirks. “We’re not really worried about it.”

Distracted by getting shocked, he doesn’t notice the hose in Sheila’s hand until a blast of cold water hits him in the chest. “Let’s speed this up a little bit, shall we?”

“This is a bad ide-” He gets a faceful of water before he can finish the sentence, leaving him sputtering. 

“Oh, I think it’s the best idea we’ve had in a while! This is going to be fun.”

He tries to scoot himself backwards, away from the persistent stream of icy water, but they just follow, laughing at him, soaking his whole front. They haven’t managed to get his hearing aids yet, thankfully, but he imagines at this point it’s only a matter of time. 

He’s trying to come up with some other way to dissuade them or a way out of this situation when his power activates again. This time it crawls all the way up his arm, hitting both metal and sopping wet fabric. From there it takes on a life of its own. Quinn’s body jerks backwards, his head slamming into the concrete block wall he’d moved up against, before uncontrollable shaking sends him to the floor. Everything burns like there’s fire inside his veins. He’s fairly certain he screams at some point, without meaning to. He knows for sure he bit his tongue, because his mouth is full of the bitter taste of blood when he can finally breathe and see straight again.

The trio is laughing at him some more. He can see that, though he can’t hear it, which means his hearing aids are fried. Fantastic. At least he doesn’t have to listen to their annoying voices anymore. 

Before he’s fully caught his breath, it’s happening again. And again. And again. It seems to be getting worse the longer the drug is in his system, and of course the more they soak him down with the hose. Sometimes he screams, sometimes it gets trapped somewhere inside and feels like it’s ripping through his throat. He doesn’t bother trying to pick himself up after each round. He’s too exhausted, and everything hurts. 

After a while, they must get bored with that method, because Tommy comes over and yanks him up off the ground with gloved hands. He’s saying something… “new game,” Quinn’s pretty sure is in there somewhere, but his lips are a bit of a blur. 

He can’t walk, not with his ankles chained together, so he gets dragged across the room and deposited on his knees…in front of a bucket full of water. He can already see where this is going without needing to hear whatever taunting they’re doing. 

Sure enough, a hand grabs onto his curls and shoves his head down into the water. Instinctively, he pushes against it, struggling to get up while holding onto what air he was able to gulp in. 

He can’t let them kill him. The team needs him, he has to help them get out of here. They can’t go through this. Just the thought of it makes him sick to his stomach. 

His head feels like it’s going to explode. A burst of bubbles escape his lips, relieving a little of the pressure, but now his lungs are aching instead. He needs to breathe, he needs to breathe…

He’s jerked up out of the water by his hair. Rivulets run down his face, over his eyes and into his open mouth as he gasps loudly for precious air. Greg and Sheila are across from him, big grins on their faces. 

One last gasp - not nearly enough - and he’s back down again. This time, though, his power comes to life, shooting up through his body with a force that makes his back arch. His lungs spasm involuntarily, and then he’s choking, coughing, taking in more water, until mercifully the bucket tips over with his erratic movements and he hits the floor, water spilling across him as he continues to shake and cough. 

He can see open air but he can’t breathe. Water rattles in his throat and chest. The lightning stops, but he still kicks and squirms, trying desperately to draw something in or expel something out, anything. 

Someone flips him over onto his side and kicks him hard in the back, and he’s finally able to spew out the last of the water, coughing until his ribs ache and his throat is on fire. 

He’s not even aware of anyone that’s around him until another needle pricks his arm. No, please, no more… They’re talking amongst themselves or maybe even to him, but he doesn’t know what their plans are anymore. If his power goes even more haywire, though, he’s not going to survive it. They’re going to kill him. 

Minutes pass, though, and the only lightning that happens is small, more like the first few times. Enough to make him jolt, but not writhe. It seems to be calming down, much to his immense relief. 

His ankles are released and someone pulls him to his feet. His legs feel leaden, but he stumbles along beside them as they lead him out the door and down a hall, eventually unlocking another door and shoving him inside. 

Immediately he drops to sit on the ground, no strength left. It’s only then that he sees Liliana sitting there, staring at him wide-eyed and fearful. He forces himself to turn, and there are the others, too. Safe.

Everyone’s lips are moving, probably asking a million questions, but he’s too tired to try and comprehend. He just shakes his head. “Aids got fried.” He hates talking out loud when he doesn’t have them in, but signing isn’t exactly an option when his hands are still cuffed and Liliana still doesn’t know much sign, anyway.

Nari’s face is etched with concern, her eyes darting to his ears, then across his soaking wet body once more. “What did they do to you?” Her mouth moves, but she also signs it as best she can with one wrist cuffed to the wall. “We were so worried!”

Quinn’s eyes drift shut, and he shakes his head again. “I don’t…want to talk about it. Not yet.” He'll have to, eventually. He has to prepare them for what they might face. 

They have to figure out a way out of here before that happens. 

[seldomscilence16]

Whumptober day 14:

"Feed me poison, fill me 'till I drown."

Flare | water inhalation | "Just hold on." 

Fandom: Owl House

Prompts used: All

This once again is in the 'who the frick knows' timeline. Where I move things to fit my needs. It's before the day of Unity Fight, but Hunter gets on their side earlier on… yeah idk. :) I kinda wanted to parallel the battle they had in the human realm in season 3, cause ya know *°•☆trauma☆•°*

TW for drowning

…

Luz pretends she's an open book. She smiles and laughs and puts herself out there like the heart on her sleeve is more than just an illusion. She can pretend everything is fine, that nothing happened ever-

Until she cant.

She stares at the chaos around her, wonders what she should have changed to fix it. Her feet feel numb while the rest of her tingles unpleasantly, she wonders if it will ever fade back to normal or if it's a side effect of being turned to stone. She thinks of Eda, and how that had almost been her fate once, she wonders where she is now. 

A shout reaches her ears before someone crashes into her, when she opens her eyes again she's across the room, a pile of rubble where she once stood.

"What are you doing!? We need to get out of here!" 

"Hunter? Where's everyone else?" Luz duct tapes her spiraling mind together, she's fine.

"They're getting everyone else to safety. I don't know what you've been doing, but we need to get out of here before Belos finds us!" Hunter tugs her along, FlapJack sitting himself on Luz's head. 

Luz can't let Belos see Hunter, she needed to get him out of here, Belos was crazy. She stumbles over her legs but pushes on, they needed to-

"Oh Luzura, we weren't finished yet." That irritating, spine tingling, voice echoes across the space. 

"Miércoles." Luz mutters, pushing Hunter out of the way of a stabby slimy limb. 

"Maybe we should invite your friends-" 

"You won't touch them!" Luz stands in front of Hunter's fallen form, the former Golden Guard still staring at the hole where he'd once stood.

"Oh but they are in my way, why should I spare the traitors?" Belos floats closer, golden robes fluttering behind him, mask still chipped from her hit in their earlier fight. 

"You can feed me poison, fill me 'till I drown in it, but if you hurt my friends, it's over." Luz knows she can't beat him, knows that she helped him get to where he is, but she won't stand by and let something happen to her friends.

"I see. Well, I'm afraid we'll have to revisit this at a later date then Human. When youre more… mallable to my cause. Im sure you'll see things my way then." Its the only warning they get before he slams his spikes into the ground in front of them, the slab theyre on flinging them into the air. 

Luz chokes on her scream as she reaches for Hunter. FlapJack reaches him first, much to her relief, Hunter able to cling to the palisman turned staff and orient himself. Luz watches him shrink above her, looking over her shoulder to see what her demise might be. The foggy waters of a lake are steadily getting closer, she wonders if its swampy/bog water or boiling like the seas, and which would be worse. She wonders if its even deep enough to keep her from splattering apart and joining the liquid. Or maybe its not even a liquid or water, its the Boiling Isles, it could be anything.

She looks back up, seeing Hunter making his way towards her, arm outstretched. Even with Flaps teleportation magic, Luz is falling too fast. She braces herself the best someone falling to what could be there doom can, squeezes her eyes closed and takes a deep breath- 

Like getting slammed into solid concrete by a truck. The breath is forced from her lungs, tingling sensations run down her spine all the way to her toes in waves of numbness to pain, shes surrounded slowly by the lake water unable to get her body to cooperate as her head spins on a stiff neck. She stares through murky water as the light fades away, limp limbs swaying above her. Her lungs ache in a way shes never had, like the thought of her diaphram contracting is the silliest thing its ever heard and would much rather stay a deflated bloom, but dang does she need air- 

A short breath, she chokes as thick liquid invades her nose and mouth, small contractions of the muscles still willing to work as she fights to remove the water and find air. But she is no fish… soon she will be nothing at all. Her eyes slip closed. 

Hunter curses every single thing he can think of as he pushes FlapJack as fast as he'll go. He was utterly useless in that fight, one look at Belos and he'd frozen up, how was he supposed to protect these people if he couldnt even- he plunges into the water without a second thought, eyes squinted as he follows the bubbles down to Luz's limp form. He wraps a careful arm around her back, pulling them all to the surface. 

"Luz, Luz wake up," he sputters water and wipes his eyes clear as he frazzedly looks over Luz's unmoving form. "Come on, just hold on, y-youre gonna be okay!" He quickly searches her jacket, pulling out soaked glyphs, quick to do what he remembers her doing. 

A fireball to the sky, exploding in brilliant light, a fire made nearbye for warmth, carefully rolling Luz onto her back he braces himself before pushing down on her abdomen, right below her sternum. He cant say he knows what he's doing, but this is the section of the body you push on to help someone whos choking, if it doesn't work-

After only a few pushes shes convulsing and he quickly pushes her onto her side as water- and whatever else- is expelled. He cant help the choked sound of relief he makes, holding her steady as she disolves into a fit of coughs. 

"Oh thank the Titan." FlapJack tweets his agreement pecking at the humans hand. 

She either doesnt notice or doesnt care, soaked hair curling into her face and hiding it from Hunters view, her coughing has finally died down, shivers wracking her form as she slumps into Hunters hold. 

"Luz?" 

"'M'okay." She looks up at Hunter, eyes wet and lip wobbling.

Something hits Hunter then, a passing thought solidifing before his eyes. 

For all of Luz's joking and poking and prodding, she is still a kid. A kid who apparently just faced Hunters worst nightmare, and probably almost died at least twice. Not to mention every other thing she'd faced since stepping into this world shes now stranded in. 

"We'll get through this." He says it with as much determination as he can muster, just as shadows fall over them from the sky. 

They both tense automatically, Luz's trembling hand already drawing a circle in the mud forming beneath their soaked forms, and Hunters hand outstretched for FlapJack. 

"Luz! Hunter!" Several voices reach their ears, familiar and concerned and the two relax. 

For the secrets the two share, they forget sometimes that they are not alone. It may just take a minute for them to learn what sharing burdens actually meant.

[zyrafowe-sny]

Chapters: 6/6 Fandom: The Owl House (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Hunter | The Golden Guard & Camila Noceda Characters: Hunter | The Golden Guard (The Owl House), Camila Noceda Additional Tags: Whumptober, Whumptober 2023, Angstober, Angstober 2023, Drabble, Drabble Sequence, Past Child Abuse, Possessed Hunter | The Golden Guard (The Owl House), Drowning, Suicide Attempt, Canonical Character Death Series: Part 1 of October 2023, Part 8 of Drabbles & Ficlets Summary:

This is a connected sequence of six Hunter and Camila-centered drabbles based on various prompts. Each drabble is 100 words exactly.

Chapter 1: Whumptober No. 17 Touch Aversion

Chapter 2: Whumptober No. 26 Seeing Double/Working to Exhaustion; Angstober Day 24 Taught You Better

Chapter 3: Whumptober No. 4 “I see the danger, It’s written there in your eyes.”/Shock

Chapter 4: Whumptober No.14 “Feed me poison, fill me ‘till I drown.”/Water Inhalation

Chapter 5: Whumptober No. 25 “You’re not delivering a perfect body to the grave."/“They’re not breathing!”

Chapter 6: Whumptober No. 31 “I thought that I was getting better.”/Setbacks

[lbibliophile-sw]

Fuel to His Addiction

Also on AO3 @whumptober - day 14: “Feed me poison, fill me ‘till I drown.”

Anakin Vader is always angry now.

It is a constant heat smouldering deep inside, burning and warming in equal measure. Ready to be fanned to flame at a moment’s notice, sending strength through his body and focussing his mind.

Anger leads to hate leads to suffering leads to pain leads to anger – around and around until it all leads back to the Dark Side and the power he craves.

Sometimes… sometimes his anger runs out. Then he is just tired. And sad. And empty.

The Dark Side takes all that does not feed it.

So Vader is always angry now.

[spiltcandycoatedpunkblood]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Adventures of Tintin (2011) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine/Tintin, Archibald Haddock & Tintin, Milou | Snowy & Tintin, Archibald Haddock/Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine Characters: Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine, Tintin (Tintin), Archibald Haddock, Milou | Snowy, Original Male Character(s) Additional Tags: Head Injury, Sequel, to previous fic, Restraints, Gags, Drowning, Animal Abuse, Threats of Violence, Guns, Claustrophobia, Blood and Injury, Robbery, Unconsciousness, Sadism, Desperation, Death, Animal Death, sakharine mentions it possibly happening with his sick humour, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Implied Relationships, Manhandling, Heavy Angst, Hurt No Comfort, Near Death, Abduction, Kidnapping, Panic, Fear, Anger, Rage, Physical Abuse, Fear of Death, Internal Monologue, Insecurity, Whump, Whumptober 2023, no.14, Feed me poison fill me ‘till I drown., water inhalation, Whumptober, and the cycle goes around with how much the captain sakharine and tintin need each other, it makes it so much more exciting, meat & greet - ice nine kills, also sakharine was literally a last minute addition, i got inspired and he was a perfect fit for how this sequel would go, i am deeply obsessed with this man believe me, it truly is like poetry, Darkness, Cold, unfortunately we all know how someone like sakharine can escape the system because of who he is, Minor Violence, Minor Injuries, Possessive Behavior, Obsession, Revenge Series: Part 7 of Tintin Whumptober 2023 Summary: "There was a yelp and whining behind him, and Tintin had almost forgot that Snowy had been shoved into the back of the car with him. He wanted to stop, for the sake of his dog. He knew they wanted him dead and ransacked Marlinspike because of cracking down on their ring of robbers and having them thrown in prison ��� God only knows how they got out – but when his dog was involved, that was a line completely crossed over.

He couldn’t budge himself down the stairs towards the dock, but naturally, he felt the barrel of a gun on the back of his injured head and heard a gruff laugh from behind him.

“I’d suggest you keep walking, you pesky ginger devil,” he spoke, clicking the gun to show he was completely serious, “you and your little mutt will be fine. I’m sure a familiar face at the end of the dock would prefer it…”"

[soleberlandieri]

@whumptober

@whumptober-archive

Title: It's never too late

prompts: “Feed me poison, fill me ‘till I drown.” Flare; Water Inhalation; “Just hold on.”

Fandom: Naruto

Rating: Teen and up audiences

Pairing: Kisame x Itachi

Summary:

It's never too late to understand. Kisame experiences love for the first time and it's not how he imagined it. It's not difficult, it doesn't take much. All he had to do was agree to change for Itachi. It was enough for him to accept that he was in love.

[splendidissimus]

Easter 2000 - Overdose

((Content warning: accidental(?) overdose, possible suicide attempt, vomit))

((Promptspiration: @whumptober 2023: day 14: Feed me poison, fill me 'til I drown. / "Just hold on." ))

Genre: angst

Romance level: negligible

Angst level: 5/5

Draco's headspace: hidden / depressed

((words: ~1900))

------------------------------------

Narcissa was awake but hadn't yet decided to get up when the house elf unwontedly intruded into the master suite, appearing in front of her with a loud Apparition instead of the normal unobtrusive scurry. "Mistress!" Its voice was shrill and it yanked urgently at the bedclothes; she twitched them away in automatic annoyance. "Master Draco is sick! He won't wake up!" 

She immediately forgot about elfish impertinence, or the elf entirely, and threw on a gown as she ran from the master and across the hall to Draco's room. 

The curtains were opened to the midmorning sunlight, so the scene couldn't even hide in polite dimness. "Draco…" He was sprawled out in the bed, not even under the covers, and that already looked unnatural; that wasn't how Draco slept. He didn't appear to be dreaming. He didn't even appear to be breathing. Her heart jumped into her throat and she ran to his side, desperately pressing her hand to his chest. 

Not for the first time. If she found her son dead where Harry Potter had lived… this world wouldn't deserve to go on.

His chest moved. She let out a shaky breath, bowing her head over him, and clutched the front of his robe. He was alive…

He was alive, he was breathing, but only just. His breathing was slow. Even his heart wasn't beating quickly — it had slowed to a crawl, a reluctant labouring thump. She had never expected to feel so much fear because his heart was slow.

She tried to revive him with Rennervate, but it had minimal effect; he moved his head a little, but didn't wake. It didn't even speed up his heart, from what she could feel. She looked around frantically for another option. 

There were several empty potion phials, a bottle of wine, and a used wineglass lined up on the bedside table. She couldn't bring herself to take her hand from Draco, but she quickly sorted through them with the other. The wine was half empty; he was too thin and he didn't eat, two or three glasses of wine would have made him drunk. The potions were each labelled in Draco's neat handwriting: two Dreamless Sleep, his morning heart control potion, and the emergency sedative meant to pull him back from the brink of a heart attack. Why would he need all of those? 

He wouldn't. He'd mixed the potions, mixed them with wine, and taken them all. There was no reason to do that, unless…

"No… No, darling, Draco, what did you do…?" She lifted his head, pushing his hair back from his face. He was so thin, his skin cool and waxy. Like he was already… already beyond her reach. "Wake up… Lucius!" 

He must have already been on his way in the hall, brought by the elf. "I'm here," he said as he strode into the room, all business. "How is he?" 

"He's taken too much." She could feel the desperation in her voice and tried to control it. Have a plan. "Find his potions, it's a shrunken bag, there should be an antidote. It's not meant for this, but maybe it will work…" 

"How long ago?" The potion bag appeared on the edge of the bed, with the elf's ears showing over the side inconspicuously, and he dumped them out to find the right one. 

"There's no way to know." Her hand pressed against his chest again, compulsively seeking his heartbeat. Was it getting slower? Was he slipping away? Hold on, just hold on, a little longer... 

"Have him throw them up." 

Maybe it had been recently enough to do some good. She turned Draco on his side so he wouldn't choke and cast a vomiting hex on him, holding his shoulders. He convulsed in her hands and vomited into the bed, watery and red, but he still didn't wake — testament to the strength of the potions he had taken, or to the half bottle of wine he had washed them down with. 

"I have it." Lucius set the potion at her side. Draco's body spasmed in a final dry heave as she ended the curse — the elf spirited away the mess basically immediately. Sitting on the edge of the bed and holding Draco up against her shoulder, she slowly fed him the potion, a yellow, oily concoction that smelt strongly of charcoal, meant to pull the effects of all potions out of his system. But he had taken so much, of things that were never to be mixed… No, it had to be enough. 

Draco's breath hitched just as she finished, and she felt his heart jump and pick up speed through his back. He choked and then bent double with her holding his shoulders and threw up again, thicker this time, like all the potions he had taken congealed into one mass. Then he panted for breath as the house elf cleaned up, holding himself up weakly with both arms.

Narcissa pulled him back before his arms could give out or he could make another choice or even ask what was going on, holding him so tightly, maybe too tightly, with his head against her shoulder and her face buried in it, fingers constantly worrying through his hair. "Draco." She had to reassure herself that he was alive, he was safe. He was still panting for breath, but that meant he was breathing; his heart was racing against her chest, but for once that was a relief. 

In a moment, he held onto her arm. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. She held onto him even more tightly at the hoarse sound of his voice. 

"You don't do that." She ran her hand down his hair. "No matter what, you don't, not to yourself…" 

He pushed lightly back against her hands, trying to pull away, and she had to force herself to give him that space. Just enough for him to look at her, hand still on his hair. He looked at her face, his expression still as difficult to read as he had become, and stole a brief glance at his father. "I didn't."

She wished she could believe that. She searched his face, but he was still closed off from her, so she shifted her shoulder back and turned his face toward the empty bottles beside the bed.

"Oh," he said quietly. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and the elf offered him a glass of water that he took quite willingly. It gave him a moment before he spoke again. "It was an accident… a mistake. I just wanted to sleep… I guess I wasn't thinking clearly." He glanced back at her guiltily. "…Was it bad?" 

She didn't answer, but pulled him close again, rubbing his back. An accident — yes. That was the only explanation that made sense. Draco couldn't want to… He would never hurt himself. It was only a moment of distracted impulsivity that almost took him from her. Nothing more.

She looked at Lucius over his shoulder; he was only watching quietly, and if he was trying to tell her he saw something else, she refused to entertain it. 

—

Given the morning's events, it wasn't surprising that Narcissa didn't leave the house that day, and didn't let Draco out of her sight for longer than it took her to dress. They spent most of the day in her parlour, and Lucius left them there to their own devices.

After dinner, however, he intruded, just to the doorway. He typically stayed out of her domain. Draco was stretched out on a sofa in the back of the room, doing nothing or maybe dozing, where she had only to turn her head to see him at any time. He was impressed with her self-control, to let him out of arm's reach already. "I need Draco for a moment."

He could see her not wanting to agree, wanting to tighten her grip on him. Draco sat up and was looking to her, blank-faced, for guidance on whether he was going or not; she looked back at him, and in a moment nodded. She didn't even have to instruct them that he was to return; the look she gave Lucius spelled it out, just in case it wasn't already completely understood. 

He nodded to her and stepped back to let Draco out. "We're going outside," he told him, paused by the cloakroom under the stairs to allow him to get one, and then in silence led him all the way through the conservatory and out into the gardens.

It was already twilight. The twinkling lights of fairies were flittering around at knee level as their passage disturbed them out of the beds of narcissus. It was damp but clear, and crisp; likely it was cold to Draco, but he didn't show it. 

Draco was following over a step behind him, not walking with him. As was his wont, annoyingly, but now wasn't the time for annoyance. They walked in silence for ten minutes, until they were nearly to the corner that would turn to the back of the house. He only spoke when the front of the hedge maze came into view.

"I have known your mother for thirty-five years," was what he said. He didn't directly look at Draco, just set the words loose. "Through school, two wars, her family… I have never seen her frightened, save when you're in danger. Never do that to her again."

"I understand." Draco's voice was subdued, but controlled.

He nodded, barely. Nothing more needed to be said about the unfortunate incident. "It would be best to entrust your medication to the elf for the moment."

"Mother's already taken them."

That wasn't surprising. He would be surprised if she could sleep otherwise. She still might not, not without Draco's head in her lap. "Alcohol also seems imprudent, for the time being."

"I understand," he repeated. 

The silence returned, broken by a distant call of a peacock and the irritated buzz of a fairy enough offended by their presence to fly into hearing range. Draco offered nothing, resisted nothing. He seemed controlled. He had seemed controlled yesterday, too. 

"What do you need to prevent another accident like this?" he asked evenly. "Nott?" 

"I've already apologised," Draco said softly. "You don't need to shame me any more." 

"That's not the spirit in which it was intended."

"Then I apologise for misunderstanding."

But he wasn't answering. Lucius glanced back and tried a touch of Legilimency, found himself smoothly rebuffed by a mirror finish that echoed Draco's conversational stylings, and didn't care to try any harder because it would alert him. Draco didn't react to his look. He had stopped looking at the ground as he had been six months ago; now his gaze sat level on the garden without suggesting anything that caused him to think or feel. Giving nothing, revealing nothing, and accepting nothing. On the surface, it was an improvement. 

The surface was not where the problem lay.

Lucius turned back and didn't break the silence again. In a few more minutes, they were to the back doors. He led the way across the veranda, and stood aside for Draco to go past, up the hall to return to his mother; he didn't watch him, but he listened to track his movements and make sure he got back. It would be some time before Draco was truly unmonitored again.

[whumptober]

Whumptober 2023

Welcome to Whumptober 2023 — the sixth year running!

COMPLETIONISTS/PARTICIPANT BADGES CAN BE FOUND HERE

To those of you who participated last year, welcome back! To everyone joining this year, welcome!

Please make sure to read the Event Info carefully, as most of your questions will be answered there already. For everything else, you are welcome to come to our ask box or ask questions in our Discord server here.

This year’s AO3 Collection can be found here.

And this years playlist can be found here.

There are 139 prompt options in total this year - this is including the alternatives list! A special thanks goes out to those who took part in our trope vote back in July. From the 1526 responses to our list of 223 tropes, we looked through the popularity results, as well as your honourable mentions, and were able to produce this years prompts list. Stay tuned, as we will be posting some of the results at a later date!

We’re very excited to see the community come together once more and be a wild, chaotic bunch of creators and consumers of whump. Go wild with the prompts, and support your fellow creators - we wish you all the fun!

Best of luck and happy whumping,

Mods Vanne, Yenn, Kitty and Surro

(All 31 Themes + Prompts, Event Information and FAQs are posted below the cut!)

Whumptober 2023 Prompt List

No. 1: “But now this room is spinning while I’m trying just to fill in all the gaps.”

Safety Net | Swooning | “How many fingers am I holding up?”

No. 2: “I’ll call out your name, but you won’t call back.”

Thermometer | Delirium | “They don't care about you.”

No. 3: “Like crying out in empty rooms; with no-one there except the moon.”

Journal | Solitary Confinement | “Make it stop.”

No. 4: “I see the danger, It’s written there in your eyes.”

Cattle Prod | Shock | “You in there?”

No. 5: “You better pray I don't get up this time around.”

Debris | Pinned Down | “It's broken.”

No. 6: “Do or die, you’ll never make me; Because the world will never take my heart.”

Recording | Made to Watch | “It should have been me.”

No. 7: " “I paced around for hours on empty; I jumped at the slightest of sounds.”

Alleyway | Radio Silence | “Can you hear me?”

No. 8: “I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier.”

Overcrowded ER | Outnumbered | “It’s all for nothing.”

No. 9: “Learning everything ain't what it seems, that's the thing about these days.”

Polaroid | Mistaken Identity | “You're a liar.”

No. 10: “Can’t you see that you’re lost without me?”

Broken Phone | Stranded | “You said you'd never leave.”

No. 11: “All the lights going dark and my hope’s destroyed.”

Animal trap | Captivity | “No one will find you.”

No. 12: “I haven't slept in days but who's counting?”

Red | Insomnia | “I’m up, I’m up.”

No. 13: “It comes and goes like the strength in your bones.”

Cold Compress | Infection | “I don’t feel so good.”

No. 14: “Feed me poison, fill me ‘till I drown.”

Flare | Water Inhalation | “Just hold on.”

No. 15: “I don't need you to help me I can handle things myself.”

Makeshift Bandages | Suppressed Suffering | “I’m fine.”

No. 16: “Would you lie with me and just forget the world?”

Gurney | Flatline | “Don’t go where I can’t follow.”

No. 17: “You’re the lump in my throat and the knot in my chest.”

Collar | Touch Aversion | “Leave me alone.”

No. 18: “I tend to deflect when I’m feeling threatened.”

Blindfold | Tortured For Information | “Hit them harder.”

No. 19: “I’ll take one final step, all you have to do is make me.”

Floral Bouquet | Psychological | “I’m not as stupid as you think I am.”

No. 20: “People don’t change people, time does.”

Blanket | Found Family | “You will regret touching them.”

No. 21: “See the chains around my feet.”

Vows | Restraints | “Don't move.”

No. 22: “They never saw us coming, ‘til they hit the floor.”

Glass Shard | Vehicular Accident | “Watch out!”

No. 23: “It’s gonna get me by the end of the night.”

Shadows | Stalking | “Who’s there?”

No. 24: “I’ve got a head full of chemicals; mouth full of ridicule.”

Goodbye Note | Neglect | “I thought they were with you.”

No. 25: “You’re not delivering a perfect body to the grave.”

Storm | Buried Alive | “They’re not breathing!”

No. 26: “Sometimes I get so tired; I don’t even know myself.”

Seeing Double | Working To Exhaustion | “You look awful.”

No. 27: “You drew stars around my scars; But now I’m bleeding.”

Matches | Scars | “Let me see”

No. 28: “We might not make it to the morning; so go on and tell me now.”

Bloody Knife | Sacrifice | “You'll have to go through me.”

No. 29: “I only sink deeper the deeper I think.”

Scented Candle | Troubled Past Resurfacing | “What happened to me?”

No. 30: “It’s okay, just to say, ‘I’m not okay’.”

Borrowed Clothing | Bridal Carry | “Not much longer...”

No. 31: “I thought that I was getting better.”

Emptiness | Setbacks | “Take it easy.”

Alternatives List:

Betrayal

Aftermath of Failure

Brass Knuckles

Decoy

Body Modification

Playing Cards

Examination

Hunting

Drugging

Shaking

Panic

Broken

Miscommunication

Lab Rat

Reluctant Whumper

Event Info & Rules

~ Please read our extensive event info posts before sending us an ask ~

WHUMPTOBER is a month-long, prompt-based creation challenge (think: Inktober, but whumpier). There are 31 official themes this year - one for each day of the month - which can be used, skipped, or combined in any way you’d like. The 'theme' of each day is the line of lyrics.

The prompts are merely to serve as inspiration without being taken literally (e.g. you don’t have to include the exact wording of prompts into your work). Feel free to run rampant on interpretation. For example, if the prompt is "flame", you could create something with reference to a candle/campfire, your character could have suffered a burn, or the flame could be related to the 'spark' of a relationship. It's truly up to you!

In total, there are 4 prompts for each day: there's lyrics, an object, a trope and a line of dialogue to choose from.  We want to give everyone as much creative freedom as possible, as well as increase event accessibility for folks with triggers and squicks.

Creators can PRODUCE work in any media they choose, including but not limited to: writing, visual artwork, photo/video/audio edits, paper crafts and elaborate recommendation lists (not just a list of links). Creators can PARTICIPATE as much or as little as they want (i.e. you don’t have to do ALL the prompts if you don’t want to) and prompts can be used in any order. They are also free to use even after the event ends.

When uploading Whumptober content to your blog, be sure to tag the with:

#whumptober2023 …..(the event tag)

#no.1, #no.2, #no.3, …..(day number)

#lyric, #bruises, #stabbing,  …..(the theme or specific prompt you chose)

#fandom or #OC, … (ironman, originalcontent, oc …)

#medium …..(gifs, fic, podcast, art, etc.)

#teeth, #gore tw, #etc …..(trigger warnings & any additional tags. Add "tw" AFTER the trigger/content warning. )

#nsfwhump …..(only for nsfw content)

#your own tags go here

PLEASE BE DILIGENT WITH YOUR TAGGING. Only properly tagged posts are considered for archiving on the official @whumptober-archive blog. They must be tagged in the order above. An elaborate post about our tagging system can be found [here]

Unfortunately, due to the sheer number of participants in recent years, we cannot guarantee your work will be archived. A random selection of properly tagged posts from all genres will be reblogged each day.

Whumpers who produce content for 31 total theme days are considered event completionists and will be tagged in a masterpost at the end of the month. A form will be published at the beginning of November asking you to tell us if you completed the event. You do not need to post anything you have created, we rely on trust and we will not check this.

Questions not addressed in one of our many event info posts can be directed to this blog. We will not answer any questions that have been answered in the FAQs or rules already.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How does this year’s prompt list work? What do I have to choose?

You can create something based on:

The overall theme/lyric of the day

Prompt 1, 2 or 3

One or several of the alternative prompts

A combination of the above

Q. Is [specific anything] allowed?

When in doubt: JUST DO IT!

Q. Do I have to do all 31 days?

Participate as much or little as you like! Just be sure to tag your posts properly (ex. #no.7, #radio silence). If you create works for 31 total theme days you will become a completionist. But apart from that, there are no repercussions if you don’t fill prompts for each day.

Q. Can I post early/late?

Yes, you can post whenever you want. We will only reblog posts during October, but you can use our prompts all year round. The day you post will only affect your probability of being reblogged.

Q. Will you reblog my post?

Due to the sheer number of content posted during Whumptober we can’t promise to reblog every single post. We will make a random selection trying to capture a wide variety of content. The following will increase your chances at being reblogged:

tag your post properly

post within 2-3 days of the theme you want to fill: if you fill the prompt for Day 1 your chances of being reblogged during October 1st to 3rd are highest and will go towards zero afterwards.

Q. What if I don’t understand a prompt/theme?

Send us an ask! We’re happy to help with wild, unhelpful clarifications or brainstorming. That being said, the themes are entirely up for interpretation. Don’t take them too literally. For example: You can be choking on a cherry, someone else can choke you or you could be choked up on emotions, etc.

Q. What kind of content can I make? Can it be NSFW?

This is a MIXED MEDIA event! You can write fic, post meta, doodle or paint, create a gifset or photo edit, link a song, or get crafty with video - anything goes. As for NSFW, make what you like, we just hope that you’ll tag your work accordingly so that others participating in the event can stay safe.

Q. Can I combine Whumptober with other creation challenges?

Absolutely, as long as the other challenges allow it too.

Q. Can I upload/repost my Whumptober content to other social media platforms?

Of course! You can post your own content wherever you like (or you can opt to not publish it at all). Additionally we’ve created an AO3 Collection to archive any fics posted there. It can be accessed here. The tumblr blog @whumptober-archive is the official archive, so please respect the boundaries of any closeted whumpers in your social circle.

Q. Can I use prompts to write a new chapter for an existing fic?

Yes.

Q. An existing fic I am currently writing contains many of the Whumptober prompts, can I use it?

If you are actively writing this fic at the moment with the Whumptober prompts in mind, yes. If you’ve previously posted something that checks the boxes, we ask that you not include it retroactively for this current year. You can, however, add new chapters relating to one or more of the prompts.

Q. What kind of characters can I write for?

Fandom characters, OC characters, human, furry, alien, cyborg, RPF, whoever you like. You can use the generic “whumpee” character or have specific ones.

Q. Does it have to take place in a specific fandom?

No, you can create works for your own worlds or for fandoms or for both. You can also create more generic or pan-fandom works. You can do cross-overs or use OCs, whatever you want.

Q. Can I use a prompt multiple times?

Yes, but it only counts once towards being a completionist.

Q. If I’m not comfortable with one day’s prompts can I use a prompt of a different day as a substitute and still be a completionist?

No, you can’t exchange prompts for different days. However, if all four prompts of a specific day make you uncomfortable, we have created an alternate prompts list that you can draw from. You can exchange any prompt with these, but please make sure not to use them twice.

Q. Where can I post my work?

Post where and how you want. You don’t have to (cross)post it to Tumblr or at all. Just keep in mind if it’s not on Tumblr we will not be able to add it to the blog archive.

Q. Can I start posting early?

You can, but this is an October event and wouldn’t it be more fun with everyone doing it at the same time? That being said, you can post early, but we won’t be reblogging any work predating October 1st.

Q. Do I have to finish a fic I started/can I post WIP’s?

Yes you can post WIPs. And you’re not obligated to finish it in October for it to count towards being a completionist.  

Q. Is co-writing allowed?

Yes, absolutely, and it would count towards being a completionist for both/all of you.

Q. Do I have to create 31 standalone pieces to be considered a completionist or can I write one continuous story?

One continuous story is fine.  The challenge is to write something for 31 prompts. If that’s spread over 31 fics or just one, you are still considered a completionist. (The same goes for every other media you choose.)

Q. Is there a min/max limit on word count?

There is no limit.

Q. Can I combine prompts? Is there a limit on how many?

No limit and combine as many as you’d like.

Q. Is a hc/angst/emotional whump focus ok?

Of course! We are not going to establish a threshold for whumpiness. If you think it’s whumpy enough, then it’s whumpy enough. It can be physical, psychological, emotional, or any combination of the three.

Q. What’s considered nsfw?

See this post

Q. What is whump?

Typically the genre includes situations where a fictional character is hurt, be it emotionally, psychologically, or physically. Fanlore provides information here.

Q. My interpretation of the prompt isn’t whumpy at all, does that count?

If you don’t think your interpretation is whumpy, then it doesn’t count for Whumptober. Remember that whump comes in many forms, though, and that we don’t have a whump-checker or a threshold for how much whump needs to be included. If you think your interpretation contains enough whump to count, then it does.

Q. Can I start working on the prompts before October?

Absolutely! That’s why we post the prompts a month in advance. We recognise how difficult it can be creating for 31 days in “real time” so feel free to start creating early!

Q. How do I tag triggers?

tw at the end of the word, ex. #gore tw

Q. Do I have to use your tags?

Yes, if you want your work archived on the blog. If not, feel free to use whatever tags you want. 

Q. Does combining prompts count towards completion?

Yes

Q. Can we @ you?

Yes but we mostly rely on the #whumptober2023 tag.

Q. Is there anything we are absolutely not allowed to write?

There are no rules, but please make sure to properly tag your trigger warnings. And keep in mind Tumblr’s policies if you are posting it here (or the policies for whatever site you use).

Q. Where can I go for brainstorming help?

Here on Discord or come into our ask box.

Q. My characters are minors, is that ok?

Yes, but as with everything else, use clear and descriptive tags.

Q. Can I cross post on other blogs?

Yes, multiple platforms and blogs are perfectly acceptable. You can also post different works to different accounts under different names, without posting them everywhere at once.

Note: This is a creation challenge, please don’t repost your old work under our tags (unless it’s been changed or edited for the event).

Thanks for reading, and happy whumping!

[gierosajie-art]

Whumptober 2023 Prompt List | No. 14: “Feed me poison, fill me ‘till I drown.” | Water Inhalation | “Just hold on.”

He catches their terrified screams before he crashes into the water.

Weak, exhausted, he barely has enough in him to stay afloat, trying to gasp for air. The cold water comes at him from all sides. He feels the rushing current against him.

He's just. so tired.

For a brief moment he manages to break the surface. Only a moment. He sees Kai, terrified. Shouting something he can't make out from the crashing water. Lloyd opens his mouth, trying to get air into his burning lungs.

He chokes on seawater instead.

Aching limbs continue to fail him. It sucks, still being a prisoner in his own body.

I'm sorry-

[nimata-beroya]

The voice of traffic control dispatcher breaks through, “Glimmer, read back, please. What’s going on out there? That ship’s no authorization to take-off until further instructions.”

Dee and Zeb look at one another, hesitating what to say or do. Dee-Four is the first to react, and answers. “Base One Control, this is Intelligence Agent D-4Y7 on the Glimmer. I find the conflicting orders to be unacceptable, and I will submit a proper complaint to the supervisor. Lucky for you, it will have to wait. I am in in the middle of a very important and confidential mission and I must part immediately. Control, requesting permission to take off.”

A wave of yearning for Kallus hits Zeb like a punch in the stomach. He can hear his mate when he’s with his bastard mode on in the words that Dee speaks, even if with computerized voice but with unquestionable authority, enough to make the dispatcher pause. The droid has learned from the best.

“But the order that just came in—“

The frustrated sigh Dee-Four lets out is impressive. “Organics,” he mutters.

Fortunately, Chopper rolls into the cockpit, warbling something at lightspeed. As usual, Zeb doesn’t understand a word, but Dee does. Without missing a beat, he uses the information Chopper told him. 

“Control, authorization code Vev Grek Seven Three Dorn Eight. I repeat, Vev Grek Seven Three Dorn Eight.”

There’s a moment when they wait with bated breath, until the dispatcher’s voice comes through the comm again, sounding a little put out. “Glimmer, permission granted. You’re cleared to take-off.”

Zeb sinks into the co-pilot seat, letting out a huge breath. His relief is short-lived. He sees through the viewport of the ship that the security squad is still running on the tarmac and approaching them fast.

“Go, go, go!” he says to Dee-Four.

“Everyone hold on!” Dee warns as he puts the ship on the air, with no seconds to spare before the security team reach them. Only a few minutes later, they break from Yavin IV’s atmosphere and into outer space. 

“I’m comin’, love,” Zeb think to himself, as Dee engages the hyperdrive and the Glimmer jumps to hyperspace.

—Excerpt from Feed Me Poison, Fill Me 'till I Drown, Chapter 2

[woso-fan13]

Whumptober 2023: 14 (USWNT)

No. 14: “Feed me poison, fill me ‘till I drown.”

Flare | Water Inhalation | “Just hold on.”

“Oh, Kelley!” you chirp enthusiastically, “do you remember what day it is today?”

She doesn’t respond, raising her eyebrows at you while fighting off a smile. 

“I certainly do, today’s the day that you promised to teach me how to surf!”

“I don’t remember promising you that,” Kelley teases, “are you sure you didn’t make it up?”

You huff, not amused. Kelley, on the other hand, can’t control her laughter. Last month, you found out that this camp was being held near a beach. You had instantly begged Kelley to teach you how to surf. She agreed quickly, excited to have a new person to surf with. 

“Yeah, yeah, I remember. Go get your stuff kid, we’ll leave soon.”

“I have it,” you insist, showing Kelley your bag, “I brought it to breakfast, just so I was ready.”

“Give me ten minutes and I’ll be ready,” Kelley says. 

She walks towards the elevator, planning on going upstairs to her room to get ready. What she wasn’t expecting was for you to follow her. Like an excitable lost puppy, you follow the older woman, bouncing on your heels. 

Soon enough, she’s ready to go. You managed to convince some of your other teammates to come to the beach with you. Everyone loaded into a few rental cars and you were headed off. 

—-

Once at the beach, you throw your stuff down on your towel and look between Kelley and the water. She got your hint, leading you to pick up your rental surfboard before getting in the water. 

When you were waist deep, Kelley hopped up to sit on her board. Trying to copy her, you end up underwater. After a disorienting few seconds, you pop your head up excitedly. 

“I’m okay!”

The next hour is filled with Kelley walking you through the basics of surfing. You even managed to sit on your board without tipping into the water- a major win on your part. When you feel like you understand the basics, Kelley gives the okay to head deeper. 

The two of you paddle out, Kelley laughing at the serious expression on your face. You were focused in. 

You manage to catch a few waves, Kelley staying back to cheer you on. Each time, you would just manage to stand up before tumbling into the water. Each time, you would pop back up, insisting that you were fine. 

On what Kelley had decided would be the last run of the day, you get overconfident. You pick a medium sized wave- something that would be no problem for an experienced surfer but was likely a little too advanced for you. Despite that, you managed to catch the wave and get to your feet. You whip your head back and forth, trying to ensure that all of your teammates see you. 

All of your teammates did see you. They saw as you stopped paying attention to your surroundings and were knocked into the water. They all wait, thinking you’d pop up soon, laughing wildly. 

You didn’t. After a few seconds, Kelley starts lazily paddling over, expecting to meet you as you come up to head back in. By the time she made it halfway, there was still no sign of you. She quickens her pace, reaching your board not long after. 

Reaching into the water, she grabs the cord for the ankle strap. Tugging on it, she manages to pull it high enough to grab the ankle that was connected to it. With a firm grip on your ankle, she ungraciously pulls you out of the water and flops you over the front of her board. 

There, you lay, panting. You cough, sea water coming out of your lungs as you work to replace it with oxygen. Kelley waits patiently, one hand keeping you on the board while her other pats your back in a feeble attempt to help you rid your lungs of the salty water. 

Finally, you manage to take a full breath in. With that air, you say,

“I’m fine.”

With a groan, Kelley jokingly moves to push you back into the water. You latch onto her, eyes wide in panic. On the shore, you could hear your teammates yelling at Kelley. 

“You’re in trouble,” you singsong, keeping a hold of Kelley while falling back into the ocean. The two of you break the surface as a tangled mess of limbs, your shrieking laughter being cut off as you go under.