¹⁾ cigarette smoke
²⁾ cheap, dollar-store cologne
³⁾ pavement slabs after rain
⁴⁾ burning popcorn
⁵⁾ pungent gasoline
⁶⁾ heady amber incense
⁷⁾ salty sea air
⁸⁾ freshly turned earth
⁹⁾ sharp lemon zest
¹⁰⁾ floral laundry detergent
¹¹⁾ acrid black smoke
¹²⁾ stale sweat
¹³⁾ sweet coconut body wash
¹⁴⁾ rich coffee beans
¹⁵⁾ sautéing garlic
¹⁶⁾ iron-tinged blood
¹⁷⁾ sharp acetone
¹⁸⁾ crisp mint toothpaste
¹⁹⁾ synthetic cleaning supplies
²⁰⁾ cheap hotel hand soap
²¹⁾ pristine paperbacks
²²⁾ expensive, luscious perfume
²³⁾ cheap, waxy candles
²⁴⁾ grass cuttings
²⁵⁾ dense smoke
a collection of sketches motivated by the question "what if the abuse happens but Touya stays?"
A trope I love is the moment Caretaker just goes 'Damn it'
That moment Whumpee says/does something that makes Caretaker realize just how fucked up Whumpee's life has been. Maybe they tried to hate Whumpee, maybe Whumpee was their enemy, and now they have to realize Whumpee isn't just an evil, soulless killer. But instead, someone who has been hurt just as much as they were.
Just that moment, maybe Whumpee is confused by a normal concept, doesn't know what something is, because they've never had it. Maybe they say something about their own body, that's 'normal' (hint: it's not. It's really not).
("Do you need a painkiller?"
"A what?")
And they know Whumpee isn't trying to manipulate them. They're just... confused. This is normal to them.
And just... damn it.
What did they do to you?
Every now and again, Noelle breaks things.
Not as in she accidentally snaps a pencil or messes up when fixing a grapple, though that does happen, when Noelle breaks things on purpose it’s… a lot.
the marker of a batkid, even after several iterations of costumes and identities, is a bearing of something almost like nobility. they hold themselves like the Bat — like they think they’re better than you. they are better than you, but most of them are still too polite to say that.
do you perhaps have any prompts for when the living weapon is rescued and is just… so fucking awkward and doesn’t even notice. like no social cues existent (same), no sense of manners, social etiquette or politeness. they dont really talk unless spoken to first, but when they do speak they have absolutely no filter. this guy could murder everyone in the room but would not survive a high school lunch table
Oh hell yeah this is my cup of tea and my favorite brand.
["long as I can remember" vibes]
Sorry it took me this long to answer! I was going through some stuff. I wanted to make sure i could give you quality content 👌 accidentally made too many though.
Eating as fast as possible and super messy. Everyone is just trying to talk and slowly stops as whumpee slurps their food down.
"are you ok whumpee?" "Yes, sorry, so sorry, I'm done. What do you need from me?"
Just casually leaning onto the table in a new tank top, and everyone suddenly notices the evenly-spaced scars down each shoulder. Clearly intentional. Everyone looks horrified at whumpee.
"Oh. I'm sorry. I forgot to cover, um," whumpee backing away flushing and covering their shoulders because they think their scars are gross.
Whumpee biting off their nails, picking their nose, other stuff they got used to doing whenever they had a chance because there was rarely any access to basic hygiene.
Or, whumpee coming in scrubbed and smelling like 5 different soaps because even the slightest smell of body odor triggers them
Whumpee sitting down stiffly, then stiffly mimicking others' relaxed posture when they see people staring. "Whumpee, it's ok, you can relax." "I am relaxed, I'm doing the relaxing thing. I've got this leg on the other leg just like you, what am I doing wrong?!" (Panicking that they're not following protocol!)
Right after being rescued, insisting that they're fine, because any touch feels like an attack.
Getting angry/defensive/paranoid when people show concern. They're not familiar with it and don't trust it at all.
Defending their abusers, forced laughter, panic in their eyes. "It was just a few lashes. Technically they were being merciful." "For refusing to kill a child!"
"I don't really have feelings, it's ok."
"Your OWN PEOPLE tortured you?" "No, torture is different, I've been tortured actually, it's not as scary, hah, uh," whumpee's voice falters as they freeze, that familiar sense of dread trickling down their spine as they flash back.
"I'm aware that you are saying you're not going to hurt me, yes. I understand completely. The concept." Whumpee smiles stiffly. "But do you believe me?" Caretaker pushes. Whumpee swallows, still smiling. "If that's what you want me to do."
When they hold their breath as they sit down in a comfortable chair for the first time in years.
This is going to have a pt 2 because it's really long!