I read “Fear of the Dark” recently and it was actually pretty good for a Doctor Who novel, I would recommend it if you enjoy angst, horror, and good characterisation with above average side characters (don’t listen to “The Dark Flame” afterwards though you will spend the whole time going “Trevor you hack this is just Fear of the Dark again!”).
However. There was a metaphor. Which threw me slightly.
Mr. Baxendale why. Are writing this like the primordial darkness from before time began and which lingers in the space between galaxies and drives planets to cycles of debauchery and ruin as it eats the light from the stars is about to kiss Five. Why. Would you do that.
He scrambled to his feet. ‘Hard as you can. Quickly!’ He barked the last word like an order and Stoker jumped up. Then she slapped him across the face.
‘Harder!’
She slapped him again, and it felt rather satisfying.
‘Again!’
This time his head jerked to one side with the force of the blow.
‘Better!’
‘Mind telling me what this is supposed to achieve?’ Stoker asked, hitting him again. ‘I mean, besides making me feel a whole lot better.’
‘I’m trying to use pain to weaken the Dark’s mental grip; give me something else to think about.’
‘Right,’ said Stoker. She made a fist and punched the Doctor hard enough to send him sprawling across the lab. He smashed into a workstation and flipped over the desk, landing heavily on the other side. ‘That do the trick?’
‘I have an idea,’ whispered the Dark. ‘Why don’t you take the neurolectrin?’
The Doctor’s eyes widened fractionally. His hand, controlled by the Dark, moved slowly towards his own throat, twisting the injector into position. The tip trembled against his skin, ready to deliver the dose. ‘It won’t harm me,’ the Doctor protested.
‘I know…’ The Dark leant closer, close enough for the Doctor to see the tiny black worms wriggling on its tongue and lips. ‘But I could squeeze it back out of you like blood from an open wound.’
imagine if the mark of the dark in fear of the dark never left and fivey just had it forever
Imagine if the fifth doctor had a visual reminder of the deaths he caused on his face for the rest of his life like the mark of Cain 😁 a huge black stain on his face that was cold as a corpse and ugly and never let him forget. Imagine if it disturbed Turlough and the Black Guardian cited it as proof of his evil. Imagine if Turlough actually asked about it? Because it's not just a mark of the Doctor's guilt, it's a memory of when he was touched by a primordial force of utter malevolence. Its a violation. It isn't just a scar of infamy or blame, it's a visual trauma. It's a brand like Turlough's. Imagine if it made Fear of The Dark a motivator in Nyssa's exit? Everything in Fear of The Dark happened because the Dark had a hold of Nyssa's grief. What if Nyssa couldn't live with that shame on the Doctor's face. Imagine the Master commenting on it. Imagine it being paralleled with Sharaz Jek's deformity in The Caves of Androzani. Does the sixth Doctor still bear the mark? Or does it disappear, making him think he's finally broken the "curse" he brings wherever he goes?
Hello! And welcome to the whump gifmaking challenge! I'm your host @aceofwhump and I'm excited to bring another year of a whump challenge specifically created with gifmakers and visual artists in mind.
The challenge begins in August!
Rules:
All gifs posted must be made by you. Do not just post gifs using the gif keyboard and claim them as yours and do not repost other people’s gifs. No AI-generated content please.
Various mediums are welcome! So long as the visual art aspect is the focus you can make whatever you want. Yes this is primarily a gifmaking challenge so everything is geared towards that but any visual art is welcome. If you draw, make moodboards, edits, videos, etc you’re welcome to participate!
You can use the prompts however you like. There is no wrong way to use a prompt. Feel free to interpret them however you wish. If you think it counts as whump? It's whump! Make it! Angst, comfort, emotional whump, small things, big things, it all counts so no need to over think it.
Tag all potential triggers (things like emeto, gore, nsfw, blood, eye whump, rape/noncon, etc.) When in doubt, tag it.
Tags to use when posting so I can find your ppst: #whumpedit, #whumpgifathon, #whump gifs
Please try to include the show/movie title, character names, and episode number (if applicable) somewhere either in your tags or in the post caption. This way anyone interested in watching it can find it easily.
An example of a way you can caption your gifsets:
@whumpgifathon | Day #: "prompt description"Show/Movie title, episode number, character name
2026 Prompt List
Each day comes with one thematic prompt and 3 specific prompts. Feel free to use any of the 4. If none of them float your boat, use one of the alternate prompts!
Text version of the prompt list is below the readmore:
Day 1: Sickness
Fever | Vomiting | Passing Out
Day 2: Broken Bones
Field Splint | Sling | Ribs
Day 3: Captivity
Escape Attempt | Caged | Restrained
Day 4: Magic
Magical Fatigue | Elemental | Possession
Day 5: Interrogation
Splashed with Water | Beaten | Manhandled
Day 6: Emotions
Panic Attack | Crying | Outburst
Day 7: Comfort
Face Touching | Hand Holding | Holding
Day 8: Whump Awakenings
Gif the scene that made you realize you like whump!!
Day 9: Medical
Gurney | Nasal Cannula | Stitches
Day 10: Environmental Whump
Fallen Tree | Snow Storm | Lightning
Day 11: Senses
Blinded | Overstimulated | Numb
Day 12: Objects
Ropes | Knives | Chairs
Day 13: Injury
Bleeding Cuts | Dislocated Shoulder | Concussion
Day 14: Sounds
Screaming | Gasping | Groaning
Day 15: Period Drama
Pick a time period of your choice and gif your favorite whump!
Day 16: Whumperflies
What scene always gives you those yummy whumperflies?
Day 17: Tied Up
Show your favorite whumpee all tied up!
Day 18: War
POW | Facing Death | On the Battlefield
Day 19: Recovery
Bedrest | Hospital Stay | Bruises
Day 20: Aesthetic
What’s your favorite whump aesthetic? Covered in blood? Tear stained face?
Day 21: Relationships
Platonic, romantic, sibling, parental. Share your favorite whumpee/caretaker relationship!
the hottest thing a guy can be is barely conscious on the floor while someone lifts his head up by the hair so that you can see his glazed out eyes and the blood running down his face
I understand your aversion to being seen using the crutches. Well, if you understand it, I wish you’d stop hectoring me about it. But the boot was never intended for a wound this new.
thinking about injuries/scars on a character that were undeniably caused by intentional harm from another person
ligature marks around wrists or ankles, evidence that the character has been restrained against their will
bruises in the shape of finger or handprints
scars or brands purposefully fashioned to look initials, a logo, etc!!
whip marks. So clearly malicious and done to a person who, for whatever reason, was defenseless at the time
bite marks!!
Just…. the way these kind of marks tell an immediate story in the way others might not, and the terrifying vulnerability of a character literally having their experience written all over them
