-Humiliation

I wanna write a fic where the whumpee is physically stronger then the whumper- so do you have any advice/ideas on ways a whumper can keep the whumpee under their control/bound besides sheer force? — 🐌

Hello snail anon! 🌼 Garden greetings to you friend and I’m pleased to try and help you with this situation. 

Without any faffing, let’s get to the content. 

(TW: gaslighting, implied abuse, manipulation, restraint, implied medical whump, drugging, threatening, dehumanization, shock collars, degradation/humiliation, implied intimate Whumper (only in brief reference, no elaboration or heavy focus), psychopathic Whumper, implied torture, heavy reconditioning/mental reconditioning)

When it comes to working with out of balance physical dynamics, the best route I can offer you personally, is mental challenges. 

This means that whatever you can have Whumper do, to mentally destroy Whumpee's, the better. I will do my best to break things down into possible categories and give examples as I go along of what I might do in this kind of scenario. (Teehee, I work with really strong and really frail character pairings as is, so this is right up my alley.)

When it comes to someone that can obviously take Whumper down at a battle of strength, I find it a necessary in my writing to balance it with wit; this doesn’t always mean what you think it means though. Sometimes sitting and taking a punishment is a smart, power move, that can buy them time to do something more grand. 

Especially if Whumper is unhinged and a bit of a loose/unpredictable cannon. If Whumpee is strong but also smart enough to know when they can act and when they can’t, this alone can be an easy enough reason for Whumpee to be taking a certain kind of punishment. Keep that in mind if you please, I use it occasionally to press more focus on a smart, cunning and more detached Whumpee. 

If the Whumpee is in fear, it’s not as easy to pull this off, unless they are suited to do so given the story. Fear makes humans and brains in general, messy and unsure. People get sloppy and a few others can become very precise. It’s all up to what you’re doing with the individuals in the situation. 

Try to take each instance and think: If I was Character A-Whumpee, in this situation, what would their reaction be to this tactic? Go with your gut because in an intense, high-adrenaline situation, there is a large amount for human error. If they aren't human? Fear is a wildly versatile emotion to play with. If Whumpee is afraid, judgement can be clouded enough to react poorly and off beat. Or on the other hand, act recklessly and make Whumper increase their intensity to keep them under wraps.

It all depends on how strong you want your Whumpee to be in this situation they've met with Whumper. It also depends on how cunning your Whumper is, how much they truly want to keep Whumpee under wraps and how much they can work with physically and mentally.

Play around with several situations and use an easy failsafe, like tranquilizer darts or a cell that's electrified. That way if you feel like Whumpee would have a different reaction to what Whumper is deciding to try; there's always something keeping Whumpee captive there.

Don't be afraid to simply knock them out and tie them up. No matter how Whumpee got there, when Whumper starts doing what they do best, it's always going to be great.

-Humiliation

+Force feeding

Starvation alone can make a strong Whumpee, used to getting lots of healthy protein, collapse in exhaustion when exerting themselves. Lock them in a room and starve them. Then Whumper can come in and offer a tasty totally-not-drugged meal that if they refuse, they can stuff down their throat anyways. Maybe it’s spoon feeding, maybe Whumpee’s pride is too strong and it’s a hand around their throat and food crushed on their lips.

+Shock Collars

If Whumper has the time or direct contact moment to be able to latch one of these bad boys on Whumpee’s neck; do it. If they go to take it off? Crank it up to 10 and give them a warning zap. They’ll learn quickly and this can be a great center for control as it’s incredibly uncomfortable and tends to be a wireless control. They don’t need restrained if they can’t make it off the ground after a few painful shocks. 

+Forced to restrain Themselves

Make them tie themselves up if they don’t want hurt. Give them handcuffs, make them immobilize themselves with fear and do the dirty work for Whumper. Whumpee might try to keep from harming themselves and Whumper can add a little 'help' tightening knots or tension on knots. If they don't want mean old Whumper doing it for them, they can save some of the brute force and do it themselves.

+Public entrapment

Bind them to a fence, a pillar, put them in the stocks. Pass them around to the group to torment, leave them in the basement of a gang HQ. Throw them into a pit with monsters. Strap them to a chair and leave them in the rain. Keep Whumpee at the power of strangers, poor weather or sudden danger. Then have Whumper save them or take them back to a 'safer' space for contrast. Whumpee will be begging to not be put in the barn, in the middle of a snowstorm in no time. No matter how strong they are.

-Threatening

+Family/Friend Threats

If Whumper knows anyone related or in Whumpee’s friend circle, this alone could be a big enough selling point to keep them under thumb. Giving hints and small details about them that they shouldn’t know. Telling Whumpee their address, phone numbers or where they work. Anything that sells the fact that they could actually pose a threat to them. If Whumper is the type, have them get more physical and bring back locks of hair or tears of clothing, pieces of body parts. Make them think that it belongs to that person but it's a faked decoy. If Whumpee isn't allowed to be able to confirm it's not someone they know, Whumper can do a lot of trickery with enough information.

+Lover Threats

Similar to Family/Friend threats, any kind of significant information on their significant other is going to be a pinpointed devastation. Bringing them back a piece of their hair, a piece of clothing or a special item. Even coming back smelling like them, could be enough of a context clue to make Whumpee mind their manners and obey whatever it is Whumper wants of them. 

If Whumper knows their partner, imitating them or treating Whumpee similar, could be a damaging part to how Whumpee views them and complies. This could be as simple as mimicking gestures, imitating phrases, pet names or speech patterns. But it can form a connection to Whumper that Whumpee doesn't realize is there. Perhaps when they lash out at Whumper, they hold themselves back because of this. It is also a surefire way to establish an intimate Whumper and have grounds to terrorize Whumpee all the same. If Whumpee ever returns to that person, the chances of them being trusted become very low.

+Physical Harm Threats

Threatening them with pain and bodily damage can be an effective way of keeping someone within grasp or in Whumper’s isolation. If Whumper has shown signs of aggression before, or is more of a loose canon personality; Whumpee could be put into enough fear to be made compliant. Especially the more that they believe Whumper will be good on their threats. Sometimes simply threatening to do something awful will get into their psyche enough to prevent them from attempting to escape. 

+Descriptions of Harm

If they are told enough that they'll be hurt, chances are they'll start believing it. Have Whumper talk gratuitously about harming them, what they 'might' or 'would' do to them, can pain enough of a picture that Whumpee might think twice. Describe what kind of torment the last Whumpee suffered, plot intentions not even Whumper plans on carrying out. Whumpee doesn't have to know they're not serious and won't go through with the gratuitous gore they'd promised to turn them into.

+Attachment Items

If they have an item they're fond of; a necklace, a teddy bear, a comfort item, use it. Take it, hold it hostage and threaten them with it. The last family photo they've hidden under their pillow? The necklace that's an heirloom or last puzzle piece to their memories about their past life? The life before Whumper, their connection to the outside world through a single item. Keep it hostage and use it as bait. Whumpee might submit easier if they know Whumper isn't kidding. Damage the item in small amounts if applicable, threaten them with the intent.

+Information Leaking

Threaten Whumpee with their own humiliation. Publish photos of their battered bodies, print news articles about their missing persons reports. Send emails, video tapes, locks of hair or clothing items to their lovers or families. Hack into displays and livestream them for the whole city to witness.

Another way to do this can be leaking information to Whumpee that Whumper knows where their families/lovers/friends live. Clueing them in that Whumper has been tracking them for a long time and knows where they work, who they know and how to find them. This kind of threat could be enough to make a Whumpee compliant despite any kind of size difference. The more details Whumper knows about things in Whumpee's life, the people Whumpee knows, the more it will set the tone for intention and premeditation. - See more with Family/Friend Threats.

-Degradation

+Mental/Verbal

Call Whumpee names. While it may seem childish, even if it annoys Whumpee at first, it will eventually grate on them enough psychologically that they are affected. Especially if that’s all Whumper calls Whumpee and they aren’t associated with their own name anymore. Distance them from humanity as much as Whumper feels the need to do so. The less personalized they are, the more it will force other senses of detachment. It can bleed into Whumpee and work to help Whumper program them back to their lizard/survival brain.

Gaslight them, play good cop bad cop. Switch up Whumper as much as you please because the more hot/cold, the more wild card personality Whumper displays; the better. Don't let Whumpee predict them if they pose a threat to combatting Whumper. Feel out Whumpee's personality and question their memory in the present situation. Could Whumper pretend like nothing happened? Could Whumper tell them they were saving them from something else? Tell Whumpee that they're over reacting and they shouldn't be scared. Threaten their natural responses and question every move they make, if Whumper is able to do so. This will root uncertainty in Whumpee and eventually lead to room for more mind games.

+Mind Games

Drive Whumpee crazy with information. Have Whumper give them a whole fake persona, intimate backstory, connect with them on a deeper level. If Whumper is inclined, create a desperate or even intimate relationship with them. It sets up the betrayal of punishment that much easier, when Whumpee starts to try to empathize or can relate to Whumper. Even if it's entirely fake. Instill a false sense of security while Whumper has Whumpee. This is even easier if Whumpee has no idea how they got with Whumper in the first place.

Make Whumper treat Whumpee differently every day. This works especially well if they are stuck in one room or area/enclosure. If every time they come through the door, Whumpee doesn't know how they're going to act, this can drive a sense of instability into Whumpee. It can scatter their decision making and make it harder for them to properly handle or react to situations Whumper presents them with.

Insist that they're always lying and punish them for it. No matter what they say, it's a lie and they're getting punished. If Whumpee becomes afraid to speak or answer, Whumper can start to order them to speak and get information that way. They can also use this to teach Whumpee what Whumper wants to hear for certain responses or buzzwords. It will also make them distrustful of themselves, eventually believing that they're lying or always going to be considered a liar. This would make telling people about their situation or needing to escape, very unlikely after enough teachings.

+Forced to beg for needs (bathroom, food, water after long periods of entrapment.)

If it’s a tactic Whumper would go for, make Whumpee’s every movement dependent on them. When they eat, when they sleep, what they do. Put them in a closet, a suitcase, a locker or safe. Strap them to a bed, tie them to a chair. Whatever keeps them hostage and just let time make them submit to Whumper. They’ll have to need something, soon enough and if that need is great enough, they might cave and be compliant for Whumper. Even if it’s just long enough to eat poisoned food or drink a little tea laced with a little paralyzer. 

+Kept physically disgusting (dirty, bloody, left in excrements.)

This is along the lines of locking them in a room as well as forcing them to beg for needs. However, depending on how injured they are, infection is a real danger to a Whumpee kept in a filthy surroundings. Have Whumper leave the blood on them, leave them in the same small enclosure for as long as they like. Keep them away from hygiene, let wounds fester, give them newspapers as a bathroom in the corner of a cage. This can drive sanity down and make Whumpee emotionally fragile enough to negotiate. 

+Injured and submitting out of survival. 

Injuring Whumpee with a ‘timer’ injury, where Whumpee could perish if untreated, is a great way to earn the submission from a larger Whumpee. Put them in so much pain they can’t breathe, think they’re going to collapse. Give them an ultimatum; they submit to Whumper or they meet their doom. This can scare a Whumpee of any size, to comply with whatever will save them. 

-Physical (Etc. Restraint)

+Drugging

A needle to the neck, or a dart, or being forced to take pills. Any way of subduing Whumpee without having to restrain them is ideal with large Whumpee’s and size dynamics. Crushing pills into a spoon and force feeding them, knocking them out and giving them a shot. Anything that could paralyze or induce a sense of strength imbalance is optimal. The kind that when they go to smack Whumper away, they barely land weak little fists at their shoulder. 

+Surrounded by harm

Suspending them over acid, water, a pit or sudden death is effective. Trapping them in a room of monsters. Trapping them in a room with nothing but themselves. Surrounding them by danger is a good way to keep a Whumpee at bay without Whumper having to really be involved. What if what’s outside the house, is worse than what's inside the house? Whumper’s torment doesn’t seem so bad if there’s a bigger threat outside. Or if Whumpee is at least made to believe there is. 

+Self-imposing bondage (Stress ties)

By tying Whumpee up in such a way, their natural relaxation hurts them elsewhere, it’s an effective way to restrain someone capable of breaking their binds. If they loosen that position at all, it perhaps tugs on their neck or cranes their arms back in a painful bend to the extreme. If they stand off the balls of their feet but when they rest, it wrenches their limbs out of socket, it’s an impressive leveling ground. Making their restriction based on posture or holding a pose can fatigue a Whumpee enough that they no longer pose a threat at any given mass or size. This is an effective stamina drain.

+Injuring tendons* 

Injuring tendons in the back of the legs is a *permanent way of keeping a larger Whumpee submissive. Although it’s entirely irreversible, it’s entirely binding and will ensure that they’re unable to run or escape without gratuitous effort in doing so. This is a method I encourage if it’s a last resort and you can afford your Whumpee to be disabled from that point on.

+Magnets/Implants

Surgically implanted magnets or fixtures on the bone itself, while it would take a long time to heal it could also prove to be a quick and thorough method of restraint in the future. Bed frames, cell doors, metal crates, even magnetizing to themselves for tie-free restraints. This could also be in the form of handcuffs, wrist bands, ankle cuffs and collars. Waist cages/belts, garters, chastity devices and more can all be made in such way they're magnetized and lock to each other. If the setting is futuristic enough, make it so Whumper has a remote that can cause the polarity to change and stick and unstick at the press of a button. If the floor is metal, think of the possibilities. : )

Essentially, I think the best route for working with a Whumpee that poses a threat to being managed by Whumper, it's going to include a lot of psychological manipulation and actual restraint. Medicines, poisons, darts that paralyze them; Whumper will need to get a little creative.

At least until they're able to get another form of control in position to take over. Be it chains, restraints or charms, seals and spells. There are many many ways to keep someone down, already down.

Don't overthink it and don't worry if you think something is 'too cliche' or 'overused' or maybe even just 'too simple'. Sometimes, working smarter is the easier option for both the story line and what Whumper would realistically need to do in their circumstances of intent.

Some sleepy time tea that paralyzes them while they're fevered and sick. Or starving them until they're too weak to fight and being nursed back to health.

The simple solutions are often the most fun and engaging to read and it can keep more story progression going while unsticking some of the harder moments. My favorite trope is just a good old spiked beverage or laced gruel and shock collars always give me whumperflies.

I hoped this gives you a little help snail-anon and I wish you the best in your creative journey~ Please come back and see me again sometime, send some asks, tell me how you're doing if you'd like.

Thank you so much for the ask, to all the readers who see this and lots and lots of love from this fruit-filled, colorful garden we've all created here.

xoxo,

The Mayor