The Whumperfly Effect

Somewhere in my 20s| She/Her| Didn’t want to spam my writing blog with whump because I love it too much, or is it hurt/comfort? Either way| Favourite whumpees currently: Daniil Dankovsky, Sir Julien Davinos | Various Others: Fox Mulder, Newt Geiszler, Dennis Reynolds | Formerly: Sam Winchester, Dr. Gregory House, Malcolm Reed, Malcolm Bright, Sherlock Holmes, John Constantine (2005), Todd Brotzman | Psychological whump? Yes please! Torture not so much. | Do you know Prodigal Son is the whumpiest show I have ever seen and I am forever bitter about its cancellation.

[allthewhumpygoodness]

Honestly love it when characters are just...really out of it but in a very specific way.

I love scenarios when someone's going through Some Crazy External Shit that's really extreme and traumatizing and draining and they're absolutely exhausted and their brain is just not in the right place & they're kind of seeing things.

Like okay if they're in an intense battle that's been going on for hours and they're bleeding and staggering and are still on their feet with adrenaline alone, but then they're hit badly again and kind of bleeding out and there's gunfire or lasers or magical explosions going on all around them and they're trying to stay conscious while also disassociating completely and when somebody grabs their injured body and starts to drag them from the battlefield they look up and all they can see are the shadowy arms of death before they pass out

Or someone on the run through a forest at night with a storm raging overhead, lightning threading through the sky and thunder booming with alarming volume, they're terrified and cold and certain either the storm will kill them or their pursuers will, and suddenly a lightning bolt strikes a tree near them and lights up the whole world for an instant, now there's fire and water and wind all around them at once and their ears are ringing and they're sure they must have already died somewhere in their chase

Anyway whumpees being in that panicked, adrenaline-ridden, in-bad-shape-in-a-multitude-of-ways state and then something just absolutely bonkers happens and they can't process it (usually followed pretty quickly by them losing consciousness either from exhaustion, cold, their injuries, or sheer panic)...just gets to me

[memento-morri-whumps]

I don't know what it is, but I have such a deep fondness for slightly "old-fashioned" phrases in whump. "ill", "unwell", "in a poor state", "[how did you] end up in this state", etc. They just really hit a sweet spot for me, and I have no idea why.

[autumndragon]

im a huuuge sucker for "bad reaction to the sedative" whump—staying unconscious for longer than supposed to, disoriented, rapid heartbeat, blurry eyesight, headaches, no control over their limbs, just awake enough to notice they're being taken, to hear voices speak over them, feel hands on their body.

even better if it's carewhumper trying to rouse them and getting worried by the lack of reaction, how pale and weak and out of it whumpee looks, barely able to stay lucid enough to be given some water.

[rooksshinies]

give that character who is usually so stoic a fever. make them softly beg for contact. Make them whimper and sob and plead for someone, anyone to stay. Stay with them— they don’t… Everything feels weird, and it’s safer with you, please—

[allthewhumpygoodness]

Just the simple concept of giving a sick whumpee medicine. So many forms - are they in a hospital or hospital-like setting and a painkiller is injected through their IV? Or are they at home, a caretaker sorting out pills in dim lamplight to be swallowed with a scratchy throat and some cool water, or warm tea? Is it sickly sweet liquid cough syrup? That gritty, banana flavoured antibiotic like what they give to kids? That lemony but bitter powdered flu medicine steeped like tea? Strong smelling herbal remedies? Or herbal cough drops discreetly sucked on while they're at work? Something inserted painfully via syringe?

The sheer variety of medicines y'all.

[allthewhumpygoodness]

Sickfic aesthetics part 2 (you guys seemed to like the first one so)

Peeling wallpaper and lights that no longer work, chips of paint scattered on the floor and the smell of mold, a weak, lifeless person huddled on a moth-eaten couch under a ragged blanket, sun streaming in through boarded up windows, a mouse that skitters across the floorboards as someone fights to sleep, burning eyelids and confusion, not knowing what time it is or how they managed to get where they did, knowing no one will find them here

Firelight casting tall shadows across the room, someone restless and feverish tossing and turning by the hearth, dark shapes looming out from the corners, sweat on their brow and a racing heart, trapped in a never ending night of terror, fighting monsters and demons in their dreams

A thermometer resting in their aching ear, struggling to keep their head up and eyes open, clutching three jackets around their shoulders, the icy metal touch of a stethoscope that makes them shiver, the delicate crinkle of a paper-covered examination table, greenish fluorescents painful on their eyes, struggling to read the fine print on a bottle of unfamiliar antibiotics, hardly being able to wait until they can go home and sleep

Waking up off and on to strangers caring for them; feeding them spoonfuls of broth and medicine, bundling them up warmer, cleaning wounds -- dimly feeling the heat of a fever playing on their battered skin, bruises aching however they lie, too weary and confused to remember what happened to them, smells they don't recognize but that somehow comfort them, blurry and unfamiliar faces speaking anxiously in a language they don't understand

Cold, wet feet, a hoarse cough in their chest and a sharp pain when they breathe in the icy air, wind chimes on a front porch somewhere, snow swirling down dizzyingly from a pinkish night sky, colourful holiday lights with blurred halos around them, unsteady legs, a dazed, unreal, almost peaceful feeling surrounding them as they stagger home, harsh winter wind at their back

Too tired to open their eyes, limbs heavy, blankets almost suffocating them, hearing voices from another room mingling with the voices in their dreams, patterns swirling behind their eyelids, mouth dry and breathing laboured

[allthewhumpygoodness]

Time travelling characters getting super sick once they land in their new time - even if it's a time with more advanced medicine than they're used to, their immune system is just so wacky and different than the viruses of that time and place so they get knocked flat

[allthewhumpygoodness]

GUYS Ok this is A Thought I had a while ago but never wrote down for some reason...but what about a fictional/fantasy illness that's potentially deadly without a cure, but it does have one. However, rather than needing to be administered right away, for some reason you have to wait until the illness gets to a very specific stage to give the patient the medicine, otherwise it won't work. Do it too early or too late and you've missed your chance. The possibilities? Super watchful caretakers keeping an eye on the sick character to make sure they know exactly when they're at the right time to be given the medicine, the desperation of a time crunch, and of course a miserable whumpee who knows a cure is coming but has to suffer through at least a portion of the sickness for a while first before they can have relief.

[allthewhumpygoodness]

Popular aesthetics: whump edition!

So this is a silly silly idea that came to me after looking at some older posts that brought up "cottagecore whump" aka, cozy whump and h/c situations taking place in a cottage or cabin. I then got thinking about some other popular aesthetics and how to whumpify them so...this.

Cottagecore: Spoonfuls of honey-laced medicine, quilts, creaking floorboards, panicked hushed voices under the light of kerosene lanterns, no proper insulation; cold and heat alike seeping into an old cottage, a hot fire and wool blankets; a mug of tea clasped between shaking hands

Dark Academia: Storms lashing at the windows, sleepless nights, hoarding secrets that slowly eat away at the psyche, getting trapped in old buildings, reawakened old traumas, dark undereye circles, feverish nightmares, literal and metaphorical ghosts, fires started from spilled candles, old scars

Goblincore: Poisonous fungi, a healer's hut deep in the woods filled with tiny glass bottles housing unsettling contents, chased by creatures that look like familiar woodland animals but aren't, finding bones in the woods (whose are they?), getting lost in the forest late at night, having to build or scrounge for shelter before it gets dark

Light Academia: Waking up in an unfamiliar bed; cold winter light spilling in from the half open window, recovering with quiet but kindly strangers, blood spilled on white marble floors, exhaustedly finding a mostly hidden nook in the library to sleep in, weak tea and bitter medicine, windows rattling ominously late at night

Whimsigoth: Sinister potions from masked figures who claim to know what they're doing, eerie hallucinations, possession, vampire bites and werewolf claws, a murder of crows watching over someone's fitful sleep, hypnosis, breaking curses

Cyberpunk: Hurt and bleeding in a dark and rainy alleyway, running from secretive forces all on your own, unlicensed medical procedures, nowhere to hide, narrowly escaped assassination attempts, bloody hands and knees, numbers counting down to the day you die

[silvercap]

Thinking about how fucking scary a really bad illness would be back when doctors and medicine weren't an easily accessible thing and there was really nothing to fall back on. I'm thinking fantasy scenarios here, but historical works too and whatever. Just the stomach-dropping realization that this is a bad one, and they (sick person or their caretaker) are in for a long day/week, their life on the line. Just a lot more terrifying for everyone involved!! The Fear, which leads to bedside vigils etc. So good

[brainstreams]

HOW TO SHOW FEVER / NAUSEA IN WRITING

“They felt sick.” — Vague. “They threw up.” — Sometimes, but not always.

Illness isn’t a switch you flip. Fever and nausea creep, spike, ebb, lie to you, then come back worse. They live in the body first, and that’s where your writing should live too.

Below, I've written a lil' cheat sheet for you. Reblog so you can come back later.

THE BODY LANGUAGE OF FEVER & NAUSEA

Skin & Temperature

Skin alternates between clammy and burning

Deep internal warmth

Sudden chills while sweating

Clothes feel wrong, either too heavy, too tight, too warm, not warm enough, etc.

Goosebumps even in a warm room

Face flushed, ears hot, neck damp

Head & Senses

Head feels pressurized or stuffed with cotton

Eyes ache when moving

Nose stuffed (on either one side, or both)

Ears ringing or deaf on one side

Lights are too bright/sharp

Sounds blur together

Food smells gross

Room feels tilted or surreal

Focus slips mid-thought

Food/water has an aftertaste

Stomach & Core

Nausea that comes in waves

Swallowing feels deliberate, effortful

Dry swallowing, dry throat—dry everything

Saliva thickens or pools suddenly

Abdomen tightens

Hunger exists but is nauseating at the same time

Body curls inward without thinking

Mouth & Throat

Tongue feels coated

Taste turns metallic, bitter, or flat

Lips dry; licking them doesn’t help

Gag reflex hair-trigger sensitive

Breathing through the mouth makes it worse

Movement & Posture

Barely any movement

Sitting becomes slouching, then curling

Standing too fast triggers instant nausea/dizziness

Hands brace on thighs, counters, walls

Feet shuffle; balance checked constantly

Body seeks cold surfaces or firm pressure

Voice & Speech

Voice dulls or drops in volume (due to plugged nose and raspy throat)

Words come slower

Sentences trail off unfinished

Irritation spikes easily (even if people are being nice)

Delayed responses

Apologies come out automatically (“Sorry. Sorry.”)

NOT ALL “SICK” FEELS THE SAME

Fever (infection-based):

Comes with chills + heat

Mental fog, slowed reaction time

Body aches feel deep, joint-based

Thirst increases, appetite drops

Sleep is restless, sweaty, unrefreshing

Colds / Flu:

More head pressure, sinus heaviness

Heavy cough, sore throat

Heavy fatigue

Fever may be mild or absent (especially colds)

Chronic Illness Flares:

Pain is familiar but still intense

Less panic, more resigned

Symptoms stack (fatigue + nausea + pain)

Character may ration movement and speech

Recovery expectations are lower

Menstrual Cramps:

Pain pulses rhythmically

Heat helps

Nausea tied to motion and smell

Sensitive emotions (more prone to snapping, saying things they regret)

Body feels heavy

Stress-Induced Nausea:

No fever, no chills

Jaw tension, shallow breathing

Nausea spikes during stillness

Relief when distracted or moving

These differences matter. They change how a character reacts, not just how they feel.

So yeah, hope that helps. You don't need vomiting on the page every time. Sometimes being sick is feeling off-key, or sometimes it's quiet recovery. It varies. The symptoms are one part of your story, the rest is up to characterization and plot. Why is illness relevant to your story? Why is this character sick, and how is it different from another character? You can have a lot of fun with this.

Written by a human with a headache and too much experience lying very still, hoping it passes. If you liked this post, buy me a coffee... or cough medicine. 😔

[allthewhumpygoodness]

God I love that trope where the character has a fever for a long time and it’s from their pov as they’re suffering through delirium and nightmares and all that, and then they finally wake up shaky and weak and drenched in sweat, but they can think clearly again. Maybe then they fall back asleep in exhaustion, after they’ve made sure they’re safe, or the stumble out of bed and to wherever the caretaker is - who quickly guides them back to their room and tucks them in again, knowing they shouldn’t be on their feet for too long.

[comfortingcatharsis]

An ill or injured character who must be strapped or tied down to the bed and restrained for their own good- repeatedly tearing at wounds and dressings when their hands are free; liable to tear delicate stitches or displace a tenuously-set broken bone with the slightest shifting; deliriously attempting to get out of bed with no regard for their condition- whether through delirium or moving in their sleep or stubbornness to the point of a death-wish; no matter the cause or their distress at the sensation, it's outweighed by the physical necessity of preventing them from moving around.

[homebasesystem]

i've been really fixated on whump with disoriented whumpees for like a year now. i don't get entirely why but i think it's like:

that fear caretaker has as they realize whumpee isn't quite centered in reality. chef's kiss

the relief caretaker feels as whumpee slowly comes back down to earth

the vulnerability of being disoriented from illness or what have you, to the point of not being able to function, and how someone taking care of you during that time is such an expression of love and trust

and also it could be a prime time for whumper to further torture them for fun. lmfao.

[allthewhumpygoodness]

This is oddly specific but 😭 a whumpee who is usually so kind and caring, but also so stoic, in the sense that they are very emotionally cool-headed and don’t ever let their emotions get in the way of things, completely melting into a caretaker’s embrace, sobbing out of delirium or discomfort from their illness and letting themselves be taken care of… just that… 😙🤌

This was one of my first whump favourites hmmmmmggmmm

[allthewhumpygoodness]

Just. A whumpee in the throes of a viciously high fever; lying limp on their bed with sweat clinging to their clothes and glinting on their pale face, their breathing laboured and uneven, eyes half open and glazed, seeing nothing; the only sound or movement a faint moan of pain once in a while and their head tossing restlessly on the pillow, a crease between their brows and cracked lips forming soundless words as they grasp fitfully at the air...

[fuckyeahhc]

Regression. Because being next to caretaker makes them feel safe and accepted. Bonus points if it's a PTSD espisode (bonus bonus when the issue is related to the caretaker) + illness. Bonus bonus bonus if they're embarassed and ashamed of their current situation but can't help feeling safe in caretaker's arms.