interview ... 2! ptl edition :)
so i got excited. questions from this ask game by @/paingoes (whumpee/whumper/caretaker = sparrow/the lady morgan/angel)
oc picrews here! sorry there is so much exposition i literally cannot shut up. hope u enjoy <3
cw's: pet ? whump (in the dehumanising sense more than literal), nightmares, tiny ref to self harm, compliant whumpee, allusions to sexual violence, controlling whumper, carewhumpee, restraints, self-loathing whumpee
---
Sparrow:
The video comes into focus in a dimly lit shed - there is no artificial light, only what filters in through gaps in the roof where boards have rotted and fallen down. Sparrow is blindfolded, and silent as they are led to sit at a small desk with paper and a pencil atop it. You cannot remove the shock collar, but you can remove the blindfold. No further restraint is needed - they will not try to run.
They are stiff and rigid in the chair, but they still somehow tense as the blindfold is removed. They blink - it does not take them as long as usual to adjust to the light. She does not look at you, but seems slightly confused that you have moved away.
This is just an interview, you say. You can answer honestly.
They frown, and pick up the pencil tentatively, eyeing you warily. When no resistance is found, they write. Is Miss in trouble? Their writing is small and neat, but their hands are unsteady from disuse.
When you reply no, they deflate almost imperceptibly, but nod. Will she see what I've said?
No. We can burn your answers later, if you'd like.
She still seems unsure, but nods again.
After a moment, you ask: ready?
They look up, a small expression of awe on their face. Yes, they write.
What emotion do they experience most often?
They think a little, tapping the pencil lightly on the paper. Sadness, I think. I don't really know what to do. There's no anger. If I'm angry at anyone, I'm angry at myself.
2. What do they dream about?
I wish I could say I dream about getting out. I don't, anymore. I dream of the life I wanted to live with her. I dream that she changes her mind one day, that I'm good enough, that she lets me be a person again. Not just her pet. I was never sure about marriage, but if she wanted a real wife now, an equal, I would be grateful.
If you're talking about actual dreams? I have a lot of nightmares. She pauses, their free hand moving to hold their clavicle in an attempt at self-soothing. She twists the wrist holding the pencil, feeling strain already.There was… a time, earlier, when she… I had. A lot of magical nightmares. Those were worse. It wasn't for long, I think. She'd put me to sleep and I'd have a nightmare and get hurt and wake up screaming, and then she'd do it again. It didn't take long for me to beg her to stop. It was the most pain I'd ever felt.
Normal nightmares, though? I'm trapped a lot. There was one day though… I dreamt that I got out, but I was just running in the forest for a long while, and then I came home.
3. How is their pain tolerance compared to the average person?
They press their lips together, thinking. It's pretty decent, I think? To the average person? I'm not sure if it's gotten better or worse since meeting her. She doesn't really hurt me. Not physically. She's really gentle, most of the time. If she wants to hurt me, it's in those nightmares - but those don't scar, and I don't know if that pain is exactly accurate. I think it is. I can't be sure. I don't ever want to be.
4. What’s their least favourite kind of pain?
It does not take them long to answer. Emotional. It's too confusing.
5. Would they rather be hurt or humiliated?
Hurt. It doesn't happen often. I like seeing the blood. Does that sound bad? I like getting scars - not that I have any. She hates them, and she always tries to get rid of them, and she knows my body better than I do, so I know I don't have any from things that she's hurt me with. She always gets someone to come and heal me. Once I stuck this tiny shard of glass on the side of my foot, but she noticed that too.
They sigh, and if prompted, will point to the spot on their foot where there is no scar. I don't think I really even thought it would scar. I just wanted to do something.
They pause. What was the question again?
At a reminder, they bite the inside of their mouth. I'm more used to humiliation. Does that mean it's an easier option? I'm not sure. Both are bad.
6. What could they be threatened with that would make them genuinely panic?
Sparrow does not answer this question for a long while. They tap the paper with the pencil, bounce their leg. If she told me she didn't want me anymore. I know what happened to the last one.
7. How do they feel about caretaker?
They smile, soft and genuine. Amethyst? They're an angel in more ways than literal. One day they'll get out of here, and they'll be the first to do it, and I will be very happy for them. You obviously cannot discern tone, but they do genuinely seem to believe it.
8. How do they feel about whumper as a person?
[Redacted]* is evil.
*Editor's note: she writes the Lady's first name - an act of defiance.
9. Do they rationalize their pain at all? How do they cope with it?
My… pain. They pause, thinking. They seem sad. Am I - they take another long pause in the middle of this sentence - allowed to not answer?
Worry becomes evident in her posture, but she visibly relaxes when you do not press further.
10. If they could go back in time, what would they do differently?
She shakes her head and her writing comes out rough - she's pressing harder on the paper than she has been. That's impossible. It's impossible to do that. Don't ask me that. Their hand shakes, and the neat handwriting comes out wobbly. They put the pencil down, but picks it up again, suddenly, before you ask the next question.
Don't you think I would've done it already?
11. Would they trade places with whumper?
She frowns. No. I am not evil.
12. What do they think about while they’re resting/healing?
Food? They sigh, loudly, too loudly, and a shock rings through the shed. They grip the table to steady themselves, bite their lip to stop themselves crying out. They glance up, embarrassed. She tries to put the pencil to paper again, but she is shaking and cannot finish her next thought.
It is understandable though. Being lov
13. Who do they trust most?
They think for a moment, smiling slightly. I like Dove. I like Robin. I like Amethyst. Trust, though… I trust them. I do. I trust them not to hurt me on purpose. My life, my freedom, my body, is not in their hands though. I don't know what trusting them would do.
14. So, what did they learn?
Sparrow stills. They stare at the paper for a while, poised to write, but nothing comes. Eventually, they write, slow and steady. What did I learn? I'm not sure. A lot. Too much to say in writing. That people can be impossibly cruel. That praying doesn't do much when you don't believe in it. That it means more to pray when you aren't allowed. That she can't control my thoughts. She can control all of me, but she cannot control my mind.
When she realises that the interview is over, she makes a sudden movement and scrunches up all the papers, but flinches immediately in anticipation of punishment. Still, she refuses to leave till you show her that you've burned them.
The Lady Morgan:
A grand, beautifully appointed room. A huge window overlooks green grounds, a fountain, and a flower garden with brightly coloured blooms. The room is decorated in shades of red, beige, and gold, with grand vases of flowers and chandeliers completing the decor, all perfectly colour-coordinated and matching.
The Lady Morgan sits on a chaise longue, completely at ease surrounded by the opulence. She wears a red satin shirt and black trousers, her hair in a messy up-do with strands falling around her face. She wears dark red lipstick, dangling pearl earrings and a pearl necklace.
"Go on," she says, sounding a little bored. "I hope this is interesting."
What’s their favourite way to hurt whumpee?
Her hand drifts downwards to ruffle the hair of a Sparrow who is not there. She frowns at that more than the question, and she answers after a moment of silence. "They make such beautiful sounds when they don't know which of my orders to complete. I don't like hurting my Sparrow, though. It only hurts as long as they let it. I'm very gentle."
2. Do they think they’re justified? Why?
She sounds genuinely confused. "Justified about what?
3. What’s the furthest they would go?
She sounds deadly serious. "If they misbehave, I have plenty of favours to call in to cause as much damage as possible without making a mark on their body. That's my limit. Everyone knows that, too. Weapons are not allowed within five feet of them. If I find out that anyone has so much as nicked their skin, they will have hell to pay."
4. What would they consider to be too far?
She scoffs, laying down to drape herself over the armrest. "I just said that. Nothing permanent." She smiles then, and looks back up to lock eyes with the interviewer. "Outwardly, at least. I'm not naïve enough to think that there isn't permanent damage inside." She makes a dismissive gesture. "But that's all relative."
5. What moments have made them pity whumpee, if any?
She thinks for a moment, a slow smile spreading across her face. "Oh, there was this one moment. We were meeting at a bakery for coffee. Far out of their budget - impossibly expensive. I knew that. She was so nervous, and oh, she'd made such an effort. I swear she was close to tears when she saw the prices. That was pitiful. She had no idea what was happening, poor sweetheart." She hums, still clearly lost in the memory, and twirls a strand of hair around her finger. "Though they found out soon enough."
6. Are they squeamish?
She seems strangely affronted by the question. "No." A pause, then, "well, yes. K-" She catches herself before she says K's name, and grins slowly before continuing. "K offered to let me into a dream, but it was… not as interesting as I thought it would be. I do hate when people get blood on my furniture though. Not that I would have to clean it up, but I've spent good money on this." She pats the couch, then frowns. "Where is Sparrow, again? I need them here."
7. What do they like most about whumpee? What do they dislike?
She smiles. "She is incredibly obedient. A perfect little songbird." For the second question, she thinks a little longer. "Sometimes, though, I think I can see something in their eyes. They wouldn't run. Not my Sparrow, but I - I do like to dismiss it as paranoia. Something. I'm not sure what. There's something. A flicker, and then it's gone." She's started speaking quieter, as if she's musing to herself more than answering you, but she looks up again and shifts back to her normal tone. "But they are obedient. More than that, they know there is no way out of this, away from me."
8. Have they been hurt a lot in their own life? Or have they been relatively privileged?
She raises an eyebrow. "That is not for you to ask."
(Editor's note: she has never known pain.)
9. If they were to trade places with whumpee, would they handle it better or worse?
"Oh, my Sparrow is really quite good. I think I would be able to pretend better, though. Sometimes they get so tense. Loosen up, sweetheart, I tell them." She shrugs, then reapplies lipstick. "It doesn't matter, though. I would not be so stupid."
10. If they could temporarily feel everything that whumpee was feeling, would their behaviour change?
"That will never happen. I am sure she feels terribly conflicted. That is a problem for her to solve, not me."
11. How do they feel about whumpee as a person?
"She is beautiful. She is mine, and that elevates her beyond anything else. I look at her and see a beautiful, elegant rose."
(This, of course, means that the Lady does not see Sparrow as a person - not completely. Not properly. They are nothing more than an extension of her will. An accessory.)
12. What did they think it would be like before they started? And how does that compare to how its actually been?
She raises her eyebrows and smiles. "Now that is an interesting question. I suppose I thought that there would be more resistance, but other than a few small hiccups, my sweetheart has been an absolute pleasure." She grins. "In more ways than one."
13. How long are they planning on keeping this up?
"Oh, as long as Sparrow stays interesting. They are, and I have not grown old of hearing them, but all good things end." She frowns very slightly. "I wouldn't let her go, of course. There's only one road out of this house, and it ends within the grounds."
14. What would their mother say?
That catches her off guard. "My - mother? What does she have to do with any of this?" Then she seems to grasp your question, and her face darkens with anger. "My mother will never be anything more than in the dark about the truth regarding Sparrow. I am doing far better for myself than she ever did, and she could say nothing to me that would matter."
Angel:
She is sitting, rigidly upright and cross-legged, on a grand four-poster canopy bed. Her right wrist is cuffed to a bedpost, and her jaw is visibly clenched. Her wrists are slightly raw, day-old bruises visible. She's wearing a white strapless crop top and white shorts, as well as a gold collar unattached to anything at the moment. Two gold anklets sit around her ankles, but on closer inspection, you can see that they are simply shackles with the chain between them removed.
She eyes the camera warily, her eyes flicking between it and the cuff. They try to hide it, but it is obvious that she is breathing quickly, heavily. "Can you - say something?" Then, quieter, "this is so fucking humiliating."
It's just an interview, Angel.
"Not my fucking name," she mutters. She looks up with narrowed eyes, then back down to the cuff restraining her to the bed.
"Do you really need this then?" She tugs on it experimentally, but it doesn't give. You know she could break her hand to get out, but she doesn't.
At your insistence, she bites the inside of her mouth and rolls her eyes. "Yeah. I get it. I'm fucking volatile. Don't ask any weird questions and I won't bite."
After a moment of tense silence, you ask: ready?
It seems to throw them, and the angry edge to their voice vanishes. "Oh, uh. Yes. I thought - thought you'd just start."
What habits have they noticed about whumpee, that whumpee likely isn’t aware of?
Amy purses her lips, deep in thought. "Sparrow? They get dazed, sometimes. It's impossible to tell when they're quiet, because they're always quiet, but they get dazed. In their own world. It takes a couple tries to get through to her. Obviously, if it's [the Lady's first name], she snaps to attention. I try not to draw attention to it. There's no need. It's not in her control."
They pause, thinking. "They hold themselves a lot. But like - not hugging. Stuff like holding their collarbone, or - pressing on the pulse points in their wrists and hands. Ribs, too. They press on their ribs. I don't know whether they know they're doing it. I don't know if it helps." She's quiet, staring into the air for a moment before remembering where she is. "Might have something to do with the fact that she can't see. The only solid thing she knows for sure is there is herself."
2. Do they know what they’re doing?
"No. Never."
3. What is their end goal with helping whumpee?
She speaks intently, truthfully. "We need to get out of this shithole. I need to keep her alive till we get out, and then I'm going to show her what love is. I'm going to love her in all the ways she deserves."
4. How far would they go for whumpee? What would they consider too far?
Their answer comes quickly, with an edge of determination to it. "Anything. Anything. I'd die for her." They pause at that, like they're stunned at their own words, but they shake their head and continue. "Um. I would. There's nothing too far. Not for Sparrow, not for anyone. If Jamie asked, if Riley asked, I would do it. Whatever they ask. I can take it."
5. What advice would they have given to whumpee before they were hurt?
She straightens up, blinks, tilts her head, visibly thrown - confused. "Advice?" They pause. "That's hard. Uh, don't trust people. But that's infantalising. They didn't do it on purpose. It was a trick." They think a little longer, then say, "I guess… to stay strong? That's… cheap, though. They are strong. Sparrow's - the strongest person I know."
6. What advice would they have given to their past self?
They scoff. "Don't need any advice. Wouldn't do anything differently."
When you ask if they're ready to move on, they shake their head wordlessly and their confident tone disappears when they speak again. They don't sound sad, just genuine. "I - actually, I guess it would've been better with backup. I didn't think it'd be this bad. Just wanted to keep Calyx safe. They were - fuck, I'd never seen them so scared in my life."
Their own eyes widen with panic as tears build in them, suddenly, and they turn to hide their face in the crook of their free arm. They breathe once, twice, then continue. "I -" they break off with a short, bitter laugh. "I said - two weeks. Ha. Two weeks, max. That was stupid. This, though." They gesture around them. "There's no advice that could've prepared me for this."
7. What’s the worst state they’ve seen whumpee in?
Immediately, you can tell that Amy has gone to a dark place. Their smile falls, they go very still and rigid and break eye contact. They start to open their mouth, then catch themselves. They settle back into a casual posture, though it still seems forced. "I'm not telling you that. That's Sparrow's private business."
8. Do they cry a lot?
"No." It is truthful, but her eyes widen slightly after the admission. Both of you are very aware of what happened two questions ago, but she doesn't bring it up.
"Not that it's bad. If you do cry. If I did. I just - don't. I… I guess I don't really have the energy to, most of the time. I'm busy. I used to…" they trail off, lost in thought suddenly.
When they speak again, it's quiet. "I used to cry when I was around Amber and Evan. In the afterglow, you know? Sunny mornings. When they'd hold hands over my body. Press kisses to my shoulders. I don't cry when that doesn't happen now, but I think about it. When I'm staring at the ceiling. Processing. I think about them. That's… probably the closest I've gotten. That, and, um. If I imagine what would happen if it was Calyx here instead of me. I… try not to think about it. I hope they're safe. I hope they aren't worrying about me. They've been through enough. I'm handling it. Rather me than them. Any day."
9. What would they say to whumper, if given the opportunity?
"Oh, I've told her." They pause, their proud grin falling. "I - don't. Anymore. But I have told her. She's a piece of shit. She's evil. She deserves to die painfully. I would like to kill her painfully. I've told her. She knows. Not anymore, though." They bite their lip, and rub a hand on their thigh. "I… regret saying it all. I was so… angry, at first. Biting. It only fucked things up for everyone else. For Sparrow. I wish I hadn't said it."
10. Do they like whumpee as a person? Why or why not?
"Yes. Obviously. Who wouldn't?"
Why?
"Because they're -" she pauses, thinking. When she speaks again, it's quieter. "She collects buttons, you know. Or - she used to. Got caught and now she doesn't. She prays. She's hopeful and not hopeful. Has she told you that she wants me to get out? It's crazy - it's like she doesn't see that for herself anymore. I don't know her, not really. Not enough. I'd like to. I'd like to see her light up. I've only seen it a couple times." The next part is even less audible. "Most beautiful fucking thing on this miserable planet."
11. Don’t they ever get tired?
"Tired?" They seem immediately poised to deny it, but something stops them before they speak. Something dark and quiet settles over them, and she curls into herself very slightly before sighing. "No," they lie. "I'm handling it. I can deal with it."
12. What have they noticed really helps whumpee?
"Space. Love. Talking about love. Talking about what I used to have. You wouldn't think it, but somehow, it helps. They relax. It's like… they start dreaming. They cry, sometimes, and that gets me choked up too, but it's… they hold my hand and trace good and I know it's because they're building hope for themselves. Or even just… reminding themselves that good love is real."
13. What triggers have they noticed whumpee has?
Amy thinks about the question, and it's almost like you can see them listing them in their mind. They are silent for a long while, then seem to realise that you're still there. "I'm not telling you, by the way. It's just good to keep a log."
If you push, they groan and say, "touch, obviously. Don't fucking touch them."
14. How are they taking care of themself through all this?
The question makes them visibly uncomfortable, and they forcibly cough to break the awkward silence. "I… it's not like I can. Um, but it's fine. I'm fine. I don't need anything, anyway."
---
tagging people who seemed interested in the ptl blurbs i posted ! pls tell me if you'd rather not be tagged though or if you would!
@cepheusgalaxy @days-on-the-road @whumpologyy
