LadyLadyWhump

(still on the same vein, this post by @/creatingblackcharacters is a pretty nice resource to start out i think every now and then i reread it i think it has nice things to keep in mind)

^get peer-reviewed @whumpity-whumpity (on my other post) this is soooo real

I feel like most of whump post-rescue focuses on the physical scars and specifically psychological trauma (which are very important to explore as well!), but cognitive damage is an underutilized topic.

Depending on the whump (beatings, isolation, oxygen deprivation, electric shocks, even magic) there can be a lot of different consequences to the brain and its functions. I'll list some examples.

Brain fog and slower processing speed.

Thinking is becoming so much more difficult and energy consuming. Before the whump, character had lightning fast reflexes, could spot patterns and connections in seconds and could adapt to any situation. Now every task takes twice as long and they feel utterly exhausted at the end of it. Maybe some more complicated tasks have simply become impossible.

Losing the ability to read and/or write.

They used to spend hours reading, writing, journaling. Now the letters have just become incoherent shapes, constantly blurring and losing meaning. One day someone asks character to write down their name and with tears in their eyes they have to discover that they're simply not able to.

Memory loss, both retrograde and anterograde.

Before the whump, character's memory was a source of pride for them. No matter if it was faces, random facts or important dates. Now all of that is lost. Familiar faces wiped and all wisdom of important topics lost (retrograde amnesia). At the same time, character is slowly realizing that retaining new information after their rescue is also not as effective as it used to be. They met someone new just yesterday, how is it possible that they can't remember their name or anything of their conversation (anterograde amnesia)?

Previous abilities disappearing.

Different brain areas are important for different talents. Maybe character was a math genius before, had exceptional balance and body control or could compose music like no other. But during the whump, that specific part of their brain got damaged and now they are unable to do what gave their life meaning and what made them so unique.

All of those usually go along with heavy self-doubt and an identity crisis. Character will probably get frustrated at failing something that used to take no effort at all. Maybe they will lose their sense of identity as abilities that used to define them are stripped away.

Cw: anticipation of noncon

Whumpee was being absolutely smothered, crushed in the arms of their captor as they cuddled them. Arms were wrapped tightly around their chest, legs intertwined in a restraining lock. Whumpee could feel their body heat, feel their breath against their neck. They could try and squirm away, but they knew the movement would only bring satisfaction.

Whumper was sadistic, they enjoyed the cries of their captive, finding them cute and arousing. Every cut, every bruise, every tear falling down their cheek, Whumper would kiss. Whumpee knew it was only a matter of time before they'd be raped. Whumper enjoyed the slow burn, every day passing by leaving Whumpee with an anticipatory sense of dread.

but ive been thinking about whumper slowly introducing the kid to the concept of their other parent being less than

they love the kid, they want to raise the kid to be like them, and of course they miss their old dynamic with their captive, they aren't desperate to keep up the happy family charade

it'd be super fucked up

- giving a toddler a shock collar remote

- telling the kid about how some people are held captive

- the kid growing up with a taste for violence (carrying on the tradition as a 2nd gen whumper)

When you’re stumped and you don’t know what’s not working for your writing, or you don’t know where to go next, take out a rubber duck (or any equivalent friend/inanimate object, I like to use my dogs) and start explaining every single detail as if the rubber duck knows nothing about writing or about your story. Explain out loud what’s going on, what part you’re up to, why you’re stumped, and what you know you need to get to when you figure out how to get there

Content: child abuse, verbal abuse, passive whumpee, defiant whumpee, beating, aftermath

Teen cringing as they come in the door and it shuts loudly enough they can be heard coming in

A passive teen who stands their with their head lowered slightly as their parent hurls verbal abuse at them, waiting for it to be over, knowing that if they move a muscle, it will get physical.

A defiant teen getting shoved into a wooden bookshelf, pushing off of it, and shoving back.

Teen and parent screaming at each other only for the parent to physically overpower the teen and start punching them until they don't have the breath to scream back anymore

Parent standing over the teen panting as the teen still writhes on the ground over their beaten body, trying not to give their parent the satisfaction of seeing them crying.

like yes oh my god let Whumpee panic as numbness spreads throughout their limbs and their mind clouds over with fog, their legs giving out and sending them tumbling to the floor.

let them shiver in their cold, their eyes glassy as they try desperately to hold onto their final strands of consciousness, helpless as their world descends to black.

let them feel the bite of a needle, their screams fading to murmurs fading to whispers fading to nothing as Whumper scoops them up and carries them off.

let the unconsciousness come in a surge, a sudden blow to the head that they don't realize has happened until they wake up with their wrists bound and their torso tied to a chair.

~~~

Whumpee who has no idea who or what Whumper really is. They’re just a loyal servant, and why wouldn’t they be? Whumper’s given them everything! A nice big house, delicious meals three times a day, a comfy bed—everything they could ask for!

Whumpee who doesn’t know they’re a Whumpee… until Caretaker/Team show up. They corner Whumpee, asking so many questions and Whumpee gives panicked, confused answers. Yes of course they’re alright. Who are these people? Why do they look so…familiar?

There’s a pair of hands on their shoulders, gripping tight. Too tight. A pair of eyes they recognize but can’t place staring down into their own.

“Whumpee it’s me! Don’t you know me? Don’t you remember? It’s ________!”

Pain cleaves Whumpee’s head in two—flashes like lightning behind their eyes. They stumble, pressing their hands over their face.

Remember. They can’t remember. They don’t remember anything. Their past, their loved ones…Why don’t they remember anything? What’s going—

CW: Shock collar, degradation, humiliation

Shock collar that activates every time Whumpee talks, until they're terrified to make a sound.

Then after they're rescued, Caretaker is horrified to discover that the chatty Whumpee they knew has turned completely mute and refuses to speak even after the collar is removed

Having to find new ways to communicate while trying to teach Whumpee to talk again

Permanent burn marks ringing Whumpee's neck

Power-suppressing collar around a super's neck

The Villain clawed and spat and yelled, now they sit in shame, their greatest asset stripped from them

Subdued Hero paraded around like a party favour by the Villain after turning them harmless (or the other way around)

A bejewelled collar covered in rhinestones that cost tens of thousands, but Whumpee would do anything to get rid of it

Or maybe they wear it with pride

"There now, you should be grateful I spend so much on you." "Yes, Master."

Living Weapon/Monster!Whumpee collared so they don't hurt themselves or others

Collar so tight it chafes, leaves bruises, maybe even cuts off Whumpee's air supply

Pet!Whumpee who is fiercely protective of their collar, feels exposed without it, so when Caretaker tries to convince them otherwise it only makes them more distrustful

Team gets captured and Leader is dragged out and collared in front of them, the leash tight in Whumper's hand as they smile down at Leader

The rain used to be Whumpee’s favorite thing in the world. Not so much now.

They were tied against a metal pole, wrists fastened behind them. An additional strap went around their neck, waist, and ankles to make sure they were as close to it as possible. The winds blew fiercely, the rain was freezing, and the thunder now was more terrifying than it had ever been before, an active threat.

Neither Whumper nor Whumpee were exactly sure what would happen if lightning struck, but Whumper was curious, even if it would result in death.

What are they supposed to do when "How are you?" is not met with the expected "Fine" and the reply is actually "Bad. Really really bad." coupled with a pretty graphic description of Whumpee's injuries and experiences.