Whump and other nice things

I really do love it when a character gets to safety after some grueling experience they survived and got out of by their own strength and skill and cunning, and... then gets drastically worse very rapidly afterwards. Just utterly collapsing, sick, out of strength, in so much pain, hardly able to get out of bed without help, probably emotionally an utter mess too

Because they've just been pushing their body on and on, to its limits and past, because they had to, because it was up to them to deal with it all, there was no help, no back-up, nothing to rely on but themself. So their mind and body have just burned up all the reserves and endured it all as best as possible, they've held together until they got out of that situation

But now that they're finally safe, their body recognizes it. Now that they're finally safe they no longer need to endure more, they no longer need to keep anything together, to push the pain and exhaustion aside and refuse to feel it in order to go on. They're finally safe to stop all of that. And so- they collapse. All of it catches up with them all at once, and they have no optipn to keep it at bay anymore, they just have to feel it. Have to suffer the consequences of all the injuries, exhaustion, whatever illness they might've picked up, whatever's going on

The classic nightmare scene. Whumpee has never slept with people close by for this very reason. Unfortunately, they don’t have a choice this time, and they do, in fact, scream (or cry) in their sleep, in front of someone/everyone.

The person behind the trauma suddenly reappearing in Whumpee’s life. Whumpee losing it—running away, hiding, refusing to engage with anyone. Or even better, trying so hard to pretend they’re okay until they just. Shatter.

Truth serums, spells, and items. Flippantly asking Villain, “Why do you keep doing this?” only to get a gut-wrenching answer in return.

The mind probe. Whumpee is sick/unconscious, and someone does the magical mind probe (I swear this comes up so much in media) to figure out what’s wrong and stumbles on Whumpee’s tragic past.

Teammates unknowingly triggering Whumpee for a while until Whumpee finally just screams it out. The looks of horror.

Also shout out to intentional trauma reveals. For trusting the found family enough to tell them the things that hurt the most.

• Sleep can function as mental bondage. If you're asleep and can't be easily woken, you're completely helpless and vulnerable. If you're sufficiently drowsy and out of it, you're still basically helpless, but with the added bonus of potentially being somewhat aware of what's happening.

• The many ways to be forced to sleep -- surgical drugs, chloroform rags, hypnosis, sleeping spells and potions, tranquilizer darts, hidden sedatives in food or drink...

• The onset of sleep can be quick, barely giving you time to react before you're out, or so gradual you won't even realize what's happening until it's too late (and everything in-between).

• Uncertainty -- being put to sleep against your will, not knowing what will happen to you while you're defenseless. Being carried away as you fall asleep, not knowing where you'll be when you wake.

• The fight to stay awake, because it feels like something you should be able to fight, to overcome with enough willpower, but...

• The inevitability of being put to sleep. You might not feel the effects of the drugs or magic right now, you might feel wide awake, but sleep will be coming for you.

• Heavy eyelids fluttering and straining to stay open, drooping and closing all by themselves.

• Confusion and disorientation as the drowsiness sets in.

• Floating in and out of consciousness, perhaps just able to hear people discuss you or feel them handling you.

• Deep hypnotic sleep where your conscious mind is shut down and your subconscious is utterly vulnerable to suggestion.

• Glassy, dazed eyes with nothing behind them -- your eyes might still be open, but you're still fast asleep.

• Sleepwalking, wandering around in a trance, unaware of your surroundings -- or perhaps your sleeping mind is following someone else's commands...

Or

"Easy now, take it slow." Said to an injured one as they help them to shift, sit, or stand.

apologizing for crying... for making noise. apologizing for bleeding all over someone. apologizing for wanting comfort -- for wanting to be held, for not wanting to be alone.

apologizing for their jerky movements. for not being able to keep still with how badly it hurts.

apologizing for "being a burden." apologizing for "being too much."

apologizing to caretaker... to whumper... to no one at all.

maybe caretaker reassures them.

"stop it. don't ever say that again, whumpee. you have nothing to be sorry for."

"oh honey, it's okay, just don't talk right now. you're hurt."

“Are you okay?”      “I'm seeing three of you and last I checked you don't have triplet siblings.”

“I don't think a bandaid is gonna fix this one.”

“Is that your blood or someone else's?”

“Just had to go and get yourself stabbed, huh?”      “I mean, I wasn't planning on it, but…”

“Looks ugly…”      “Aw, man :(”      “I couldn't have more clearly been talking about the giant wound on your side.”

“Shit. You're bleeding through the bandages.”      “Maybe if I put on red clothes it won't even stain.”      “It is adorable that you think staining your clothes is my main concern.”

“You're dripping on the carpet.”      “Apologies, where else would you like me to put the blood then?”

arching spine

brows knitting together / grimacing

clenching teeth together

cold sweats

collapsing to knees

covering the hurting area

crying out / screaming / yelping

disorientation / confusion

doubling over / curling in / stumbling

dropping objects

eyesight blurring / blacking out

flinching / jerking

flushing / going pale/ashy

gasping / hissing

going rigid / tensing up

goosebumps

holding breath and sharply exhaling after

inability to speak / babbling incoherently

lightheadedness

lips pulling back, baring teeth

nausea

nostrils flaring

protective posture

rapid blinking

reaching out for something to hold onto to avoid falling

ringing ears

squeezing eyes shut

tears welling / crying

voice cracking

vomiting

Their mind wanders away, or their train of thoughts keeps derailing or jumping all over, or concentrating is very hard, or they almost fall asleep/ pass out every few minutes or so, or they kind of just freeze and stare into the void.

Friends and/ or caretakers keep having to wake them up or try to get them to focus.

They get worried over whumpee being unable to hold a normal conversation, or unable to fill a role or do something important expected of them. They need the whumpee awake just a little longer, perhaps even to save their live.

They keep telling whumpee: "Are you with me?" or "Whumpee, can you hear me?" or "Stay with me, whumpee." or "Whumpee, please, you have to focus!"

Maybe caretakers and or friends are resigned to the possibility whumpee is not lucid enough for now and cannot help. Or resigned to try again later when the fever gets better, or the blood volume gets restored, or the drugs wear off.

caretaker takes whumpee’s hand and whumpee stops shaking and flailing about.

caretaker cradles whumpee in their arms and whumpee’s pained whines fall silent, breathing evening out.