whump sideblog

Character gets hypnotized by two different villains, completely unrelated to one another, and the hypnotic commands are exact opposites of one another.

Oh, and they hear two conflicting trigger phrases at the same time.

There's so much good stuff here.

-Mind control isn't meant to conflict, so character goes insane. Just starts acting crazy and erratic, because they don't know which command to obey. They basically become a glitchy NPC, walking into walls, pouring a drink into empty air instead of a cup, etc.

-Character is fighting between their true self, and two strange compulsions in their head. Literal battle in the character's brain as they wonder what the heck is happening

-They frantically talk about everything they "must" do, and it's nonsense:

"Don't you SEE!? I have to kill everyone on my team so I can take them alive without killing them! It's the only way I can kill them all!"

-Alternatively, it makes the character act drunk, too loopy to follow either order, and just blissed out

-Or, character becomes extremely paranoid and hostile, unable to tell friends from enemies. Everyone must be out to get them. That's why they're so confused. It has to be!

-Character passes out when they hear both trigger phrases at the same time

-Or they just freeze, standing wide-eyed, unable to think at all. Just full-on Windows error screen.

-Character starts obeying both commands at the same time in a way that makes no sense

"i.. need to sit down for a bit.."

"god, you’re burning up… have you been feeling sick all day?"

"i.. think so.."

“Hey… wait up… I feel dizzy.”

“You don't look very well. When did you last drink water?”

“Come on, let’s get you in the shade…”

“Let’s take a break before you have to take a permanent break.”

“How long have you been out here in the sun?”

“We’re almost out of water…”

“Whoa, your skin is really warm. Are you feeling okay?”

“Easy there. Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you, but I found you passed out on the trail and dragged you in the shade. Help is on the way. You okay?”

“Shut up and let me help you.”

“We need some help over there! Someone collapsed!”

Bandaging themselves, hisses of pain as they treat their wounds and hide evidence of their injury

Sneaking away from the crowd, looking pale and unwell

Sitting down when the rest of the team isn't looking

Struggling to catch their breath

Needing to slow down or stop "for just a moment"

Taking an uncharacteristic nap (either completely exhausted or something is Very Wrong)

"I'll catch up with you guys in a sec!"

Staring at an item that has significant (or traumatic) meaning to them

When they can't hold back their tears any longer

"Sorry- I didn't know you were there..."

"Get out!"

Looking lost

Gazing at their old scars and faded bruises

Taking medication for a problem the other character never knew they had

Showing a symptom they denied having

In much more pain than they originally let on

When they're having an off day and a small thing causes them to lash out/break down/panic

"(Please) Don't tell anyone about this."

Sleeping later than usual

Still awake (or not sleeping at all)

Grimaces and pain noises when they think no one can hear or see them, trying to get into a more comfortable position

When they're finally left alone and all the energy they put into acting normal/well vanishes

With that distant look in their eyes

Just. Spontaneously starting to sing together. Maybe one person’s humming, then someone mumbles along, then another joins in, and someone else is tapping out the beat MMM

Collective adoption. One person brings home a Child and everyone immediately gets attached

Sleep piles! Bundled up in blankets and pillows in the living room all on top of each other

Cooking for each other. Taking it in turns. Pretending to love the burnt lasagne and raw cake batter while ordering takeout under the table

Pizza and movie nights

Meeting a member’s younger sibling and instantly adopting them

Nicknames

Inside jokes that make no sense but make everyone who hears it roar with laughter

All piling into one room when they notice the person starting to isolate themself

“Hey, we’re family, okay? I’d do anything for you.”

”Loveable idiots.”

Arguing about cleaning/chores

Missing each other when they are away

Late night texts

Dumb inside jokes that make zero sense to anybody else

"I love you" being the standard goodbye

Knowing each other's hobbies and special interests

Accommodating for each other, knowing what trigger words to avoid, stocking up on another's safe foods, memorising breathing techniques for someone else

Calls that last all night

Falling asleep on call

Tough love/yelling at each other to look after themselves

Shouting (lovingly) from the other side of the house

Long distance calls

Leaving little notes around

Calling each other while doing their own separate activities (parallel play>>>>), working and listening to music side-by-side

Everyone speaking in hushed tones as Whumpee sleeps on Caretaker’s shoulder, not wanting to disturb their fragile peace

Whumpee jerking awake with a gasp every so often, from a nightmare, from not remembering that they’re safe now, and Caretaker gently shushing them and comforting them back to sleep

Caretaker carrying Whumpee while they’re sleeping

Caretaker softly stroking Whumpee’s hair, rubbing their back, gently rocking them as they sleep

Everyone hates this. Whumpee is clearly being triggered by every single interaction, and the team can’t do anything to comfort them or else they’ll rouse suspiscion.

Caretaker has to bite their tongue at every dehumanising comment and remark, because they’re supposed to be agreeing.

If the team get unlucky, they show up on the wrong day. All living weapons are to be inspected for faults, separated from their handlers. Whumpee is no exception, despite the team insisting they need them to help with work.

Maybe the team don’t even really know much about living weapons. Sure, the name kind of makes it clear they aren’t treated so humanely, but witnessing it first hand is sickening to them, and only makes their resolve to defeat the enemy even stronger.

If the team’s cover gets blown, it’s probably over Whumpee. Someone can’t take it anymore and rushes over to them, defends them against harsh words, or just calls out a name that definitely shouldn’t belong to them.

Whumpee casually talking to their team about their time with Medic where they dug into their wounds to see what really was the issue and told them that they didn't have pain killers before trailing off and realizing how absolutely messed up that sounds

The team talking about all their training methods and then Whumpee goes and talks about how their mentor used to make them train until they passed out. The team goes very quiet at this

Reminiscing on memories and fondly recounting them before realizing that Whumper was not giving them advice on their methods and instead just brutally beating them down

Whumpee on a new team talking about how their old team and how they shunned them from most things and had them do most of the work. New team is appalled by the old team's behavior and is now demanding Whumpee to give names