#gentle manhandling
When the whumpee is finally rescued from the whumper, and they end up clinging to the caretaker, not even letting go as they get patched up. The caretaker just holding them close, gently maneuvering them to let the medics care for them without making them let go, and running gentle fingers through the whumpee’s hair to comfort them. The whumpee falling asleep as the medics work, and still clinging to the caretaker, hands gripping their shirt even while they sleep. The caretaker gently settling into bed with the whumpee after the medics are done, eventually falling asleep, and letting the whumpee cling to them all night, hoping it helps them feel safe.
When the whumpee sits down to be patched up, and when the caretaker sees their injuries, all they can do is look at them in horror. The caretaker gently pushing them to lay down, and asking why the whumpee didn’t tell them how badly they were hurt as they start to clean the whumpee’s wounds. The whumpee starting to respond, but interrupting themself with a hiss of pain when the antiseptic stings. The caretaker apologizing, and trying to be gentle as they continue to work, and the whumpee admitting that they didn’t mention it because there were other things to worry about. The caretaker scolding them, telling them that while there may have been other things going on, their health is still important, and they still need to tell someone.
When the whumpee has a horrible headache, but they’re stuck waiting for a friend to pick them up. The caretaker who is waiting with them letting the whumpee curl up with their head in their lap, and playing with their hair to try to distract them. The whumpee mostly dozing off by the time their friend arrives to pick them up, and the caretaker carrying them to the car. The caretaker gently sitting them down and buckling their seatbelt for them, and explaining to the friend how to take care of the whumpee once they’ve gotten them home.
A non-exhaustive list of reasons your caretaker or teammate could participate in this wonderful trope.
- dragging whumpee back to their feet to keep walking, just a little longer
- hauling whumpee out of a self-sacrificial dash towards the enemy
- several pairs of arms catching whumpee when they stumble because everyone’s ready for it
- a group of friends holding whumpee down so they can get painful medical aid
- carrying a fainted whumpee
- pushing the whumpee down so they can’t hurt themselves in a panic
- lifting a whumpee up into an escape route
- grabbing whumpee for a rushed rescue, bundling them away before they can make a sound
- shoving a whumpee out of the sight of patrolling guards during an escape
- restraining a whumpee who resists rescue and is trying to call for help
- forcing a whumpee back down onto a bed to rest
- a hug that restrains flailing panic or lashing-out anger
