#stranger caretaker

[viscera-lab]

I understand the appeal of whumpee and caretaker knowing one another before the whump but there's a special place in my heart for whumpee being rescued by a stranger.

A stranger that has to piece together what they can of who whumpee used to be, when all they have to go on is knowing exactly what kind of hell they were dragged from.

[a-little-bit-of-whump-123]

Hero caretaker and Citizen Villain whumpee

Hear me out: What if Hero saw injured Villain but was clueless that this battered guy is their nemesis, because Villain is in their citizen form? So, to Hero, this is a stranger-to-caretaker situation; to Villain, they know they is doomed.

Bonus: Villain kept silent all the time in fear that Hero might recognize their voice. So Hero just thought they was speechless from trauma/mute.

[jordanstrophe]

Caretaker watched the stranger deep asleep on their couch. They had no idea where whumpee came from, only they were on the side of the road in that awful storm. The power was out and they had no way to call for help.

They had wounds that weren't from the storm. They were man made and varied with different tools. It was nothing like caretaker had ever seen before...

Caretaker turned their back to light a candle when they heard a quiet thump behind them. They turned around to find whumpee off the couch against the wall trying to make their way to the door.

"Woah woah woah! You're in no condition to be up like that." Caretaker scolded. Whumpee stopped in their tracks, realizing they weren't alone. They shakily turned around with a wide-frightened gaze. Their knees slowly gave in as they sunk to the floor and stayed frozen.

Caretaker dropped to a crouch, feeling odd standing so tall over them. "I know you're hurt, so let's go back on the couch and see what we can do, okay?"

Whumpee tilted their head towards the door, listening to the crash of lightning and a downpour of rain. "How did you find me?" Whumpee spoke in a whisper.

"Luck." Caretaker shrugged, scooting an inch closer. "Did someone hurt you? Are you in some sort of trouble?" Caretaker asked.

"No." Whumpee spoke shortly. Caretaker knew that was a lie; but if that's what whumpee wanted caretaker to think to be comfortable enough to let them help, then so be it. 

[abhainnwhump]

Caretaker is a new security worker at a prison. They want to help protect the peace. One day, as they're working as nightguard, they lean against a wall, triggering a secret door. They walk inside and find a stairs leading deep underground. Why would this be hidden? Caretaker worries as they walk down, holding a flashlight.

They find a cell at the bottom of the pitch black stair case. Inside, an immortal Whumpee has given up on life. They've been trapped down there for centuries with no light, no food, and no socialization. While they can't die, their body and mind rots away, leaving only a husk of a person. Caretaker has a million questions, but one lingers in their mind.

Should they help them?

[zoethehead]

A whumpee trained as a soldier is injured in battle, and they lay covered in dirt and blood, the hectic warfare surrounding them. Another person was nearby, holding them close, shouting for someone....possibly a medic or the enemy about to take them hostage. They're going in and out of consciousness, unable to breathe as the smoke burnt at their throat and lungs. They passed out, mumbling something as they're dragged away by someone.....

The whumpee expected to be dead, or at least captured by the enemy and left in a cold cell with their wounds poorly treated, but that's not the case....

as the next thing the whumpee knew, they were waking up more cozy than what would've been possible. They opened their less bruised eye to a ceiling, pale grey winter light shining through the window. They feel warmer than what they had imagined, soft pillows nestled against their head, they wearily blinked, groaning as the pain caused by their injuries sparked like a damaged wire plugged in to a socket. They slowly sat up, wincing at the soreness. They looked down, seeing bandages wrapped around their ribs and chest, as well as their arms and thigh. They soon felt someone put their hand on them and lay them back on the bed.

"Not now, son, you're still injured." The caretaker said.

The whumpee obliged; laying down, still exhausted from the whole ordeal, the whumpee rested once more, knowing that they were safe......

[shes-some-other-where]

Rain and Apple Blossoms

[ID: a banner featuring bright red apples, prison bars, and medieval looking text of the story's title, Rain and Apple Blossoms. End ID.]

A nameless convict suffers in a prison camp, sentenced to years of hard labour for his crime. There, he is tormented by cruel guards and an even crueller chief overseer who seems to enjoy humiliating him. Eventually, he escapes, and he finds himself cared for by a kind stranger who is on her own journey of grief and self-discovery. With soldiers still hunting for the fugitive, every moment he spends in his unlikely caretaker's company is a risk to them both.

Heavier on whump than plot. Heavier on hurt than comfort. But it's all there.

Full list of CWs at the bottom of this post.

Written for The Merry Whump of May 2024. All drabbles, exactly 100 words. All connected, but many can be read as standalone pieces. However, if you want to read it as a full "narrative," the suggested reading order is below. (Alternatively, find the list of prompts in event order here.)

Suggested Reading Order

🌫️ The Camp

Day 9 - “You’re nothing.”

Day 27 - C for “convict”

Day 8 - A proud, arrogant fool.

Day 2 - Snake venom and molten sand

Day 2 - “Don’t you dare.”

Day 7 - “Forget about them.”

Day 10 - “I don’t have regrets.”

Day 11 - “Pretty little thing.”

Day 12 - “Let me hear you.”

Day 3 - “See what happens.”

Day 14 - “Leave him alone.”

Day 16 - Your neverending insolence

Day 16 - Twenty-nine and one

Day 16 - “Naïve fool.”

Day 1 - Swallowed by the dark

Day 28 - The indistinct phantoms of nightmares

Day 14/23 - Deserving sinners

Day 5 - The chance to flee

Day 6 - Disobedient dogs who try to run

Day 13 - “To know you'll only fail again.”

Day 8 - “I’m fine.”

🌫️ The Escape

Day 13 - Leave no trail.

Day 7 - The world beyond

Day 6 - A sombre dawn

Day 15 - A fool, a dead man

🌫️ The Cellar

Day 4 - “Who are you?”

Day 15 - “Let me help you.”

Day 17 - “Wait, are you afraid of me?”

Day 24 - “Lean on me.”

Day 23 - Cursed, hunted, condemned

Day 27 - “You’re trembling.”

Day 12 - “I’m dangerous.”

Day 17 - “You’re not a prisoner here.”

Alt Prompt - “No one knows you’re here.”

Day 15 - Her foolhardy selflessness

Day 25 - “Is that wise?”

Day 24 - “Just forget about me.”

Day 30 - “I think you might be a good man.”

Day 29 - “Just another few days.”

Day 15 - Endless pools of sorrow

Day 20 - “Are you alone here?”

Day 24 - “What’s with all the apples?”

Day 13 - “I just wish I could repay you.”

Day 28 - “You've found your smile again.”

Day 25 - “I’ve always loved the rain.”

Day 2 - “What are you doing in my house?”

Day 1 - “What were you thinking?”

Day 18 - “Why do you love him?”

Day 11 - “An arrangement, and nothing more.”

Day 6 - “He would never hurt me.”

🌫️ The Recapture

Day 18 - “Nowhere to run, crook.”

Day 19 - “Rot in hell.”

Alt prompt - “It was her.”

Day 4 - He with no future

Day 20 - “Don’t tell me you forgot about me.”

Day 22 - “It’s been too long.”

Day 22 - A death sentence disguised as mercy.

Day 31 - “Enjoy your last night here.”

Day 31 - “Now you’re a broken man.”

Day 28 - “Hope you enjoyed the last taste of freedom you'll ever have.”

🌫️ The Pits

Day 29 - “You ought to be grovelling at my feet.”

Day 26 - A shambling spectre that once was a man

Day 21 - Leashed, muzzled, and ordered around like a beast

Day 3 - Half-lives in the dust

Day 30 - A creature soft, yet wild

Day 25 - “I’ll always love the rain.”

🌫️ A Free Man

Day 1 - Retribution well-deserved

Day 29 - “You are free.”

Day 29 - Charcoal and silver

Day 26 - Fading stars and blooming sun

Alt prompt - Rain and apple blossoms

Full List of Content Warnings

pain, angst, prison, prison camp, labour camp, forced labour, chains, blood, restraints, cruel law enforcement, branding, taunting, humiliation, physical violence, beatings, very brief minor whump, whipping/flogging, gag/muzzle, exhaustion, thirst/dehydration, mine collapse, minor character death, death mention, failed escape, torture, barbed wire, exposure, guilt, fear, grief, loneliness, prospect of a loveless marriage, betrayal, recapture

[soursagas]

Frost*ೃ༄

draft from july 28th 2022.  posted now.  mdk what the purpose of this was but here we go.

box boy - He/Him, Cesar - He/They

Content: BBU, pet whump, near hypothermia(?), freezing

Cesar froze.

Waiting at their doorstep was a decently sized box, drenched in rainwater. There might even be some ice on the top.

What did I order?

They would’ve stayed in their thoughts, staring at the box, but it was practically starting to hail now. They rushed to unlock the front door and hastily shoved the box indoors.

He threw his wet coat to the side and frantically began opening the box. Cesar let out a gasp at the sight beneath them.

A shivering-soaked little box boy.

He seemed to be trying to position himself a certain way, but could hardly move. Whether it was because of the tight box, or freezing cold, probably both Cesar thought. His mind kept spewing more questions, but he forced them aside, right now his focus was on the little box boy.

“Uh...I’m going to pick you up now?”

The only response was an increase in shallow breaths. Cesar attempted to wrap his arms rather awkwardly around the boy, then moved his arms in several different ways for a few rather embarrassing moments. He settled for a bridal carry, muttering apologies as he tried to make the boy comfortable in his arms.

He considered running a hot bath, but decided against it as the temperature change would likely be too sudden. They set him down against a fluffy couch, then dashed to the bathroom to grab every clean towel they could find. Cesar didn’t know whether to feel relieved or more worried when he found the box boy hadn’t moved at all. They knelt down near his face, several towels at his side.

“So I need to take off your clothes, they’re drenched….I’ll give you some of my clothes but we need to dry you and warm you up.”

This time, the shivering form glanced up at him before quickly averting his gaze. “Do you need help taking off your shirt?” Cesar figured he would, but better to at least ask first, right?

The person shuffled himself into a more upright position—or as much as he could, anyway. His movements were slow with his shivering. His lips moved, trying for words, but settling with a few nods.

Cesar carefully took his shirt off and wrapped their fluffiest towel around him.

He seemed to become more anxious, eyes darting around the room in frantic glances. After a moment, the shivering calmed a bit.

By the time Cesar had finished changing him, the shivering had ceased entirely.

The box boy still seemed very anxious, but more exhausted than anything. Cesar left and returned with a blanket, which he draped over the person.

For a few moments, Cesar didn’t know what to do next. Should I just let him rest? Should I introduce myself?

Cesar snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of a whimper.

He knelt down realizing the sound had come from the person, who I changed and then left on the couch while hovering over him.

“Hey..this is probably really scary and confusing…but you should rest now. It’s alright you’re out of the awful weather.”

They didn’t know whether the person was understanding them or not, but worth a try.

“I’m gonna try drying your hair with the towel,…Uh..lemme know if I hurt you by accident?”

With that, they held the towel spread out in their hand and gently moved it to the top of his head. As gently as they could, he split the hair into different sections and rubbed the towel up and down.

At first, the box boy remained with his frightened expression, trying to keep an eye on Cesar. He gradually became calmer and looked exhausted. After a while, his eyelids became heavily lidded.

His exhaustion overtook his fear, and he fell asleep with Cesar’s hand in his hair.

[leyswhumpdump]

Whumpees being rescued by stranger caretakers is such a vibe. The fear of not knowing they’re safe. The caretaker being uncertain of what exactly Whumpee went through, or worrying they’ve made a mistake in helping the injured / feverish / terrified little mess that’s cowering or unconscious in their spare room.

And then the early recovery period. When Whumpee whispers their own name for the first time. When Caretaker tries to coax out information with food and kindness. When the seeds of doubt begin to soothe themselves until eventually they’re washed away, and Whumpee and Caretaker form an alliance if not a friendship.

Later on, Whumpee wonders how they could ever repay such kindness. The thought of someone like Caretaker helping someone like them is almost unfathomable, and once it’s actually sunk in, they break down sobbing and can’t be consoled.

Of course, once the tears have dried they are fiercely loyal to Caretaker, and will do anything in the world for this no-longer-stranger they now owe their life to.