#now they have to learn and avoid every subtle motion that will set Whumpee off

[letitbehurt]

Whumper forces Whumpee to punish themself when they break a rule; kneeling on rice or glass, maintaining a stress position, even using whatever object happens to be within reach to inflict pain. Eventually, Whumper doesn’t have to tell them to do it. It becomes a programmed response to Whumper’s disapproval—the slightest frown, a pinched brow, a warning tilt of the head.

When Whumpee is rescued, Caretaker has to learn this the hard way.