Whump - Tumblr Posts
You've talked about someone under mind control and the guilt they feel when hurting someone they love. But what about when they hurt themselves? They aren't in control, they have no regard for their own safety. They're chasing someone and they break a leg after jumping off a roof. They break their fingers from punching too hard. But they don't even acknowledge it. They don't stop to eat or rest at all. Then, when the control is broken, the pain and exhaustion hits them all at once.
Imagine if Whumper uses that to put the others under duress! “I’m in control of them. Surrender or I’ll make them dislocate an arm or throw themself out the window or etc. etc.” The possibilities!
Appreciation post for the times that a whumpee is so exhausted/delirious/drugged up/in shock/etc. that they can only manage incoherent half-conscious mumbling
The team is in a big collapse (a cave-in, a fallen building, whatever) and Team Leader is pinned down by debris, barely able to breathe, much less help any of their team. All they can do is try to stifle the rising panic as they listen to them screaming or crying somewhere in the dark. But what about the ones that have gone silent? What’s happened to them?
Writing a character who becomes severely malnourished/dehydrated/sleep-deprived?
Here’s what you’ll need to know! Learn all about the wonders of the human body and add scientifically-accurate drama to your stories.
MALNOURISHMENT
DEATH: average - 21 days (3 weeks), max ever recorded - 70 days (2.3 months)
6 HOURS: grouchiness and hunger due to lack of glucose.
24 HOURS - 48 HOURS: hunger very apparent; pains in stomach; body has entered ketosis and is using fatty acids as energy.
72 HOURS+: muscles begin to get broken down for energy.
You will become: increasingly depressed, irritable, hysteric apathetic; decline in concentration, comprehension and judgement; social isolation and withdrawal; possible self-harm.
If your character doesn’t eat for 5 consecutive days, they are at risk of Refeeding Syndrome. This is extremely dangerous and can be fatal.
recommended reading:
The Minnesota Starvation Experiment
Psychology of starvation based on the above experiment.
DEHYDRATION
DEATH: average 3 days; some live 8 - 10 days
for the calculations: TWV = total water volume in body; average adult loses 2.5 litres of water per day.
Assuming that your character does not eat, drink or absorb any moisture.
9 HOURS/2% TWV: thirst, discomfort, dry skin, loss of appetite; 50% loss of performance for athletes; elevated body temperature, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, dizziness when standing, decreased fluid secretion (sweat, urination, tears, etc).
24 HOURS/6% TWV: sleepiness, severe headaches, nausea, tingling in limbs.
36 - 72 HOURS/ 6 - 15% TWV: no urination, seizures, muscle spasms, shriveled skin, fainting, vision dimming, delirium.
72 HOURS+/15% TWV+: Organ failure.
recommended reading:
dehydration on the psychology wiki.
SLEEP DEPRIVATION
DEATH: not known, but can stay awake for 11 days; max chronic sleep deprivation ever recorded (until death) - 6 months.
NOTE: This does not mean you can stay awake for 6 months. It means you can survive that long with chronic sleep deprivation - going days without sleep and then sleeping once or twice.
24 HOURS: mental ability impairment of someone who has blood-alcohol content of 0.10%; everything is worse - emotional control, memory, attention, decision-making, hand-eye coordination.
36 HOURS: hormonal spikes everywhere; losing time; lack of motivation; head buzzing like you’re dehydrated.
48 HOURS: microsleep, regardless of what you’re doing (you fall asleep for 1-30 seconds and then become disorientated);
72 HOURS+: say goodbye to higher mental processes like decision-making and planning. Also, say good bye to saying goodbye because even simple conversations are hard.
80 HOURS+: … and hello, hallucinations!
recommended reading:
this article of a soldier’s experience with sleep deprivation.
Eleven Days Awake; The Experiment.
For whatever reason (i.e. they serve a critical role on a mission) the caretaker has to keep the whumpee awake at all costs, even if it means being less than kind. Shaking them, shouting, slapping them, pulling their hair – They can’t afford not to, even when the whumpee weakly pleads with them to stop.
“M’so tired…Please m’begging you…” Whumpee slurs pitifully, face haggard, eyelids fluttering. “Don’t care if they punish me…Just wanna close m’eyes for a sec. Just a second…”
“I can’t let them do that to you,” Caretaker whispers as they pull back a fist. “They might kill you, Whumpee, I can’t let that happen.”
Whumpee yelps when the fist connects and it breaks Caretaker’s heart, but the jolt of pain keeps them awake. For now.
Affects of being choked repeatedly?
Ooo, there’s a lot. Bruising around the neck (obviously), hyperventilation, oxygen flow being cut off to the brain, brain damage, loss of voice, trouble swallowing, nausea/vomiting/drooling, dizziness/headaches/memory loss, PTSD, incontinence…
sorry but im a sucker for character development. make your defiant whumpee beg and plead, make your harsh leader sob around a gag, make your weakest angry and violent, make your naïve whumpee go through hell. make your team watch as their entire sense of being collapses, make your caretaker unsure of how to care for them now that they’re so different. make your innocent whumpee’s so violent with rage that the team are afraid of them.
semi consciousness
Give me semi consciousness
The feverish flutter of eyelids.
How they can only mutter inaudible sounds and noises
As their being cradled in caretakers arms, they don't understand what's happening but seeing caretakers face they know everything will be alright. Right??
When whumpee has to be their own Doctor.
them carefully trying to reset their bones, while trying to keep themselves alert through the blinding pain.
Shaky hands desperately trying to stitch up their wound.
The desperate cries and harsh panting as they dig the bullet from their bloody, slippery flesh.
The grunts and spiking pain with every step.
let them press their fingers to the wound, let them try to stop the bleeding, but most importantly don't let them give up.
Defiant Whumpee is popular for good reasons but I personally like my Whumpees absolutely terrified. Kicking and screaming and crying like some kind of animal. Give your Whumpee terrible anxiety it's very fun.
Nearly Unconscious Whumpees
I know we love unconscious whumpees. How about nearly unconscious whumpees?
Caretaker is trying to carry Whumpee to safety but Whumpee is kind of delirious and the little consciousness they do have is absolutely fixated on one thing, e.g. the wellbeing of a fellow whumpee. Bonus points if it’s something less consequential, like fretting about the blood they’re getting on Caretaker’s clothing. Extra bonus points if their mumblings show a complete lack of understanding of the situation, such as pleading for Whumper not to hurt them or asking when Caretaker’s getting here.
Whumpee’s eyes are open and Caretaker thinks they’re more alert than they are. It’s only when Caretaker tries to get them to sit up and has to support their limp head and neck that they see their glazed expression.
Whumpee drifting in and out of consciousness without realising it, so what may seem to be a coherent conversation to them is strung out over full minutes or even hours for Caretaker.
Whumpee drifting in and out of consciousness, realising it, and panicking as much as they are mentally capable of doing at that moment. Caretaker has to soothe them and let them know it’s all right, they’re in safe hands and Caretaker won’t let anything happen to them.
Caretaker carrying Whumpee over their shoulder and having to set them down on a bed or a table. Whumpee’s limbs ragdolling as Whumpee mumbles weak apologies.
Whumpee lying in a bed and seemingly unconscious, but Caretaker knows they still have some alertness because they squeeze Caretaker’s hand really tightly.
Whumpee wishing they could pass out completely because the pain is too much for them.
And two more (reference to noncon drugging and nonsexual noncon touching):
Whumper has drugged Whumpee into a hazy state. When Whumpee gets rescued, they’re terrified Caretaker thinks they’re drunk or deliberately intoxicated.
Creepy Whumper doing something intimate like stroking Whumpee’s hair. Whumpee is either frightened but unable to pull themselves away, or not conscious enough to really be scared or know who’s touching them.
My favorite ways to deal with defiant whumpees:
Restrict their breathing
Drug them
Let them fight until they tire themself out
Lock them up someplace cold
Restraints
Set them loose in a field or the woods and chase them down (for enrichment)
Sensory deprivation
Isolation
Control their diet- make them associate whumper with being fed, or just keep them weak and starved
Magic! So wonderfully multipurpose!
I’m not a fan of breaking bones unless there’s quick healing involved, but it’s an excellent way to keep them subdued for a while
Talk to them! Be condescending, teasing, or even soothing. Don’t let their insults get to you tho, you don’t wanna give them anything to work with
Sometimes the intimidation factor works wonders. Set out all kinds of creative tools then pretend you know what you’re gonna do with them
Do I know how to use a dough mixer to torture someone? No.
Am I gonna tell whumpee that? Also no.
Okay this is getting long, feel free to add your own favorites!!!
They are still lying on the floor, barely alive. They are shaking and wheezing, all covered in blood and dirt. The only thing that keeps them alive is the sheer determination not to die in that cold, dark, miserable place.
There’s a dull noise and the usually locked door is opened.
They lift their arm, trying to shield their tired eyes from the light coming from the door, but suddenly that light disappears and a shadow looms over them, menacingly.
They gasp as they see a figure on the doorstep, so they try to crawl back, but their arms are too weak. The figure enters the cell, walking slowly towards them.
“No! Please….. p-please…. i-i-i… d-don’t…. i-i…. dunno…. w-where….. t-they are…. p-please…..” They beg, sobbing. They don’t want to be hurt again, never again.
The figure, cloaked in shadow, crouches down next to them, and passes a hand on their cheek. They close their eyes and flinch, trembling, afraid of the pain that touch is gonna bring.
But no pain comes. This hand seems attentive and caring.
They open their eyes as a soft, quiet voice fills the air. "My god, what have they done to you…“
Reasons your character may be tortured that don't revolve around trying to get information:
(for those who care about accuracy and don't have time to research psychological techniques)
Revenge: the torturer feels wronged by their victim, and wants to make them suffer.
To get at a loved one: the victim isn't the actual target, but hurting them will emotionally affect or demoralize the torturer's enemy.
To force someone else's hand: similar to the above, torture by proxy to force the torturer's target to turn themselves in, sign a binding document, or make an impossible choice.
To coerce a confession: the torturer needs to pin a crime on someone, and their victim is a believable scapegoat.
Propaganda: we've captured one of your strongest men, now watch as we make them break down and beg for their life.
even more reasons
Water Whump
- Drowning (duh, this is the obvious one)
- Waterboarding (also obvious)
- Drinking saltwater out of desperation while stranded
- Wearing cotton clothing in the middle of a blizzard. (Cotton absorbs water and is the worst thing to wear in a cold survival situation.) Hypothermia and frostbite will ensue.
- Waterskiing accidents
- Shipwrecks that cause a closed-off room to start filling up with water. (This one never fails to make me anxious.)
- Being dragged underwater without SCUBA gear by someone with SCUBA gear.
- Speaking of SCUBA: decompression sickness, which is caused by resurfacing too quickly.
- ba-by s h a r k do-do-Do-dO-dO-D O O I’m so sorry
- A while ago, I once watched a medical lesson-type video about this lady who jumped off a precipice into a large body of water for fun (something I will not do; I hate heights with a burning passion). Anyway, she landed in the water in a seated position, which bruised the backs of her thighs. But, the vertical pressure from that also ended up causing an *impact fracture in her sternum. So, if your character jumps into water, that’s a thing that can happen.
*Edit: I said “compression” fracture before, but that is a term that applies to the spine. It’s “impact.” whoopsie
Whumpee being waterboarded has a panic attack mid torture, gasping even when their head gets dunked underwater. They accidentally swallow water during their panic attack and when they are allowed to breathe again, they began to choke and cough.
BONUS: Whumpee is aquaphobic.
Hi! I was wondering what could be ways for a Whumper to keep a Whumpee awake?
Caffeine
Kick and slap them
Shock them awake
Blasting loud music
Sharp, pungent smells
Bright, overbearing lights
Douse them with icy water
Dose them with stimulants
when the character who's like "i will never reveal my trauma to anyone" gets a high fever and, while weak and delirious, starts spilling every.
last.
secret.
touch-starvation needs to be written with emphasis on the starving part. you are hungry to be touched. so hungry that even the very taste of it makes you nauseous. it has been long since anything has ever touched you, ever fed you - that your body has grown more used to that gnawing emptiness more than anything else. it's better for you to be held, to eat but it makes you sick to try. you know