#whump tropes

[whump-polls]

spin the whump trope wheel

opinion on the trope you got?

love it, a favorite

like it

neutral, depends

not really my thing

hate it

nuance

results

Voting ended onJun 1

[sleepy-dog-boy]

I want more chronic pain whump. Give me a cocky, independent character who suddenly can’t walk because a sudden rain storm aggravated their old leg wounds and now they have to lean on a friend to get home. Give me a usually stoic character shaking with pain during a flare up. Give me a character who’s finally healed having their first bad pain day and abruptly feeling like they’re back at square one.

[callithumpwhump]

Characters who hate who they once were. Characters who are disgusted by who they once were. Characters who absolutely despise who they once were.

Characters who miss who they once were. Characters who long for who they once were. Characters who would give anything to be who they once were again.

[silver-bunnyspell]

I was thinking about how these things never fail to make characters sexier:

scars

eyebags and insomnia due to frequent nightmares

more scars

Nod if you agree

[bloodiedbriars]

touch starvation

too scared to ask for affection

testing the waters with “casual” brushes

“please, don’t go…”

meeting a naturally physically affectionate person and being thrown for a loop

freezing up when receiving physical affection and not knowing how to react

being uncomfortable when they do receive affection

seeking out hobbies associated with physical contact (dancing, wrestling, …)

watching someone hug and feeling envy

taking long, hot showers to simulate touch

hugging self in bed to self soothe

trying to replace human affection with animal companions

learning to ask for hugs and cuddles

once they feel comfortable with it, they become insatiable for touch

(is also sometimes called “skin hunger” and i just think that’s sick)

(Whumpuary 2026, Day 29: Touch Starved)

[whump-until-wretched]

I love characters that appear arrogant or self-centered but you don’t have to dig deep to find it's a poorly built façade to hide the fact that they actually despise themselves with every ounce of their being.

[yougivemewhumperflies]

Accidental trauma reveal my love. When friends or enemies unintentionally discover Whumpee’s tragic background. For instance

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.

Any other tropey goodness that results in Whumpee finally getting the comfort they deserve.

[zedd-undead]

Whumper posing with Whumpees drugged, bruised, tied up body like how modern hunters pose with dead deer