#Improved Joint Function

[dragon-breaths1]

[sayruq]

Berlin announced on 23 April that it will resume cooperation with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza. Germany’s move came after an independent investigation headed by former French diplomat Catherine Colonna that found “neutrality-related issues” in implementing UNRWA’s procedures to “ensure compliance with the humanitarian principles of neutrality.” Colonna’s report made note that Israel provided no proof of whether UNRWA staff were involved with the Palestinian resistance’s Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on 7 October. “The German government has dealt intensively with the allegations made by Israel against UNRWA and has been in close contact with the Israeli government, the United Nations, and other international donors,” a joint statement by the German Foreign Office and the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development read. The former French diplomat’s investigation proposed reforms to UNRWA to increase the neutrality of staff and behavior, education, and governance, including methods to achieve these goals through engagement with donors. Germany pushed UNRWA to implement these recommendations, strengthen its internal audit functions, and improve the external surveillance of project management. “In support of these reforms, the German government will soon continue its cooperation with UNRWA in Gaza, as Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Japan, among others, have already done so,” the joint statement continued. Germany gave the UN agency over $200 million in 2023 and is the organization’s second-largest donor after the US. In an interview with Al-Jazeera, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said the attacks on the agency “have nothing to do with neutrality issues but in reality, they are motivated by the objective to strip the Palestinians from the refugee status.”

[tacticalhimbo]

HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF

Since I'm incredibly anxious and very much annoyed, I'm compiling this post as a sort of master list of relief organizations and individual fundraisers for those in the path of Hurricane Helene.

Many of the links I post on this won't be individuals, but I encourage those within the path to add their links to this post in reblogs! Likewise, if you have any organizations / volunteer / grassroots efforts y'all would like to share, please do so!

LAST EDITED: 9/29/2024 - MAKE SURE TO CHECK REBLOGS FOR UPDATES!

My list is particularly focused on widely accessible resources, as well as Florida specific resources since... I'm from Florida.

(INTER)NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

American Red Cross - The American Red Cross is on the ground helping people as Hurricane Helene approaches land as a very dangerous storm. Helene may produce winds over 150 mph, a massive 20-foot-high storm surge and as much as a foot of rain. Prolonged power outages and tornadoes may occur. The effects will be felt hundreds of miles inland including in Georgia and the Carolinas.

FEMA Disaster Assistance Improvement Program - The Disaster Assistance Improvement Program’s (DAIP) mission is to provide disaster survivors with information, support, services, and a means to access and apply for disaster assistance through joint data-sharing efforts between federal, tribal, state, local, and private sector partners.

Roll Mobility - An application that equips wheelchair users with reliable information about the accessibility of restaurants, public spaces, businesses, trails, and parking areas. Good information to have on hand, especially for those evacuating from their home areas.

Warmline Directory - Providing extensive yet accessible resources that empower individuals to find the mental health and wellness resources they need through a directory containing accurate and in-depth information. For those unfamiliar: Unlike a crisis line, a warm line operator is unlikely to call the police or have someone locked up if they talk about suicidal or self-harming thoughts or behaviors. A good resource for individuals in mental distress due to natural disaster circumstances.

Food Not Bombs - Recovers food that would have been discarded and share it as a way of protesting war and poverty. They also reduce food waste and meet the direct need of communities by collecting discarded food, preparing vegan meals that they share with the hungry while providing literature about the need to change our society. Food Not Bombs also provides food to protesters and striking workers and organizes food relief after natural and political crisis.

Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies - The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (The Partnership) is the only U.S. disability-led, 501(c)(3) organization that prioritizes equity, access, disability rights, disability justice, and full inclusion of people with disabilities, older adults, and people with access and functional needs before, during and after disasters and emergencies.

FLORIDA

Volunteer Florida Disaster Fund - The Florida Disaster Fund is the State of Florida’s official private fund established to assist Florida’s communities as they respond to and recover during times of emergency or disaster. In partnership with the public sector, private sector and other non-governmental organizations, the Florida Disaster Fund supports response and recovery activities.

State and Local Level Referrals - When a disaster occurs, local governments often work together with community leaders and organizations to provide on-the-ground emergency management. Curated by FEMA. (Has 52 Organizations Listed)

GEORGIA

State and Local Level Referrals - When a disaster occurs, local governments often work together with community leaders and organizations to provide on-the-ground emergency management. Curated by FEMA. (Has 60 Organizations Listed)

TENNESSEE

State and Local Level Referrals - When a disaster occurs, local governments often work together with community leaders and organizations to provide on-the-ground emergency management. Curated by FEMA. (Has 49 Organizations Listed)

NORTH CAROLINA

State and Local Level Referrals - When a disaster occurs, local governments often work together with community leaders and organizations to provide on-the-ground emergency management. Curated by FEMA. (Has 45 Organizations Listed)

Beloved Asheville - A community-led coalition dedicated to providing home, healthy, equity, and opportunity for all.

Triangle NC - This links to another post I've made, but Triangle Mutual Aid is organizing supply drop offs as well as financial support.

SOUTH CAROLINA

State and Local Level Referrals - When a disaster occurs, local governments often work together with community leaders and organizations to provide on-the-ground emergency management. Curated by FEMA. (Has 44 Organizations Listed)

INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISERS

Support a Resilient Family Seeking a New Home - LINK ; Tumblr @junpei-iori-ace-defective (Close Friend of the Affected) | Fundraiser Text Below:

My name is Adam. I'm not the best at this; I never thought I'd have to do this, but my family and I lost our home on September 26th due to the hurricane Helene here in Florida. No one in our area thought it would get bad, but we didn't have any rain. All of a sudden, the water rose, and by midnight, our home was flooded with three feet of water. I had to carry our pets to the neighbors and my disabled wife through five feet of water. Then, my elderly disabled mother and grandmother through the water. We lost all of our clothes and many of our belongings, and our landlord will be having us move out. We have nowhere to go, so today I'm asking for help from the kindness of the world. Anything can help. If I can get enough to get us into a new home, it would be a blessing. Thank you all, and God bless.

Help Rebuild Lives After Devastating Flash Flood - LINK ; Tumblr @undeadnecromancer (Close Friend of the Affected) | Fundraiser Text Below:

On September 27, after being trapped in a flash flood for 5 hours, my father, Jeffrey Fuller, and sister, Kayla Fuller, left with their lives ❤️ but lost everything else. My father had set his life up to be simple and enjoyable. He didn't have a lot extra, but he had everything he needed, and now all of that is gone. Unfortunately, he did not have flood insurance, and the older you get, the harder it is to bounce back from something like this. For a man who has always shown up for everyone he loves, he needs us to show up now. Please help my father rebuild.

If you have seen the video circulating around from Jeffrey Fuller where it looks like a river is going through his house and he ends it with a “Love you all,” you have seen what has brought on this devastation.

Hurricane Helene Aftermath Help - LINK ; Tumblr @moonenjoyer (Affected Individual) | Fundraiser Text Below:

Man I hate to do this but I'm in Valdosta, one of the cities hit the worse by Hurricane Helene. It's BAD here. In particular, there's no estimate of when we'll get power back. Word on the street is it could be a week or longer.

I work from home and going without power that long, I won't be making any money. Meanwhile my groceries are all spoiled in a fridge with no power and my car is on E. All the gas stations are down atm and when they're back up I KNOW gas prices are going to be crazy high because of all of this. In fact, EVERYTHING is going to be more expensive for a while because of this.

If you have anything to spare to help me with gas and groceries and just surviving this, I'd really appreciate it. If not, a reblog/share would mean a lot. Thank you ❤️

Save Nate and Amanda's First Home - Urgent Hurricane Needs - LINK ; Tumblr @luckyfirerabbit (Affected Individual) | Fundraiser Text Below:

Hi. I'm Porter Henderson. This isn't about me, though. You’re going to see a lot of fundraisers with Hurricane Helene. This might be a little different.

You see, I’m writing this on behalf of my landlords and friends, Nate and Amanda. The home we share with an additional disabled man in Lithonia, Georgia had some repairs that they couldn't afford, made much worse by the hurricane. They'd been limping along like everyone dealing with inflation and underemployment, but the situation has become urgent, and they need and deserve help.

Nate and Amanda have been my friends for over a decade, and when they heard I was no longer able to work and in a bad situation, they offered me a place in their first home. I told them I wasn’t sure what or when I would be able to pay. They told me that if I ever won my disability case I could start paying rent then.

You see, I'm trying so hard to save this home because they’ve tried so hard to save me.

I was so grateful to move in, and they treated me like family. When I lost the ability to drive, they made sure I got to my doctor’s appointments, and still do. When I can’t afford food, they take me to food banks, and what I can’t find there they’ll help me get at the store. They meet all the needs they could reasonably meet, and then a couple more.

I’ve lived here for three years now, and they’ve never stopped assuring me that I am wanted, even if I can’t contribute to the household on a daily basis. They have never let me go without if there was any other way. They have helped friends and strangers every time they have seen a need. They are unfailingly honest, incredibly trustworthy, and extremely hardworking people.

They've never had much, but they've shared everything they have.

Now, though, the hurricane turned a seem in our roof into a gushing waterfall, and finally into a large hole in Nate and Amanda's bedroom ceiling.

We tarped the leaking roof from the inside to channel out as much water as we could, but with a literal hurricane outside, there’s only so much that you can do.

The three of us who couldn’t get into the attic pushed our chronically ill bodies past their limits, dragging furniture away from walls, hauling totes as fast as we could with our canes, shoving empty containers into the corner as we kicked the debris out, and researching strategies for how to deal with the nightmare. Later we would wade through flooding water to dump out rain and tie down loose trash cans, shine lights and relay directions from the attic to outside, as we all attempted to get the water venting outside the house.

To make matters worse, the HVAC needs to be replaced. It’s a seventeen year old system, with a huge crack in the (inaccessible) drain pan and a bad motherboard. Some friends pooled money with Nate and Amanda to get a couple of window air conditioners for the summer. With medications that make three of us sensitive to heat, it’s been a rough summer, but we got through.

Unfortunately, winter is a few weeks away, and it’s going to be a little less than seventeen thousand for a new system to be installed.

What makes it an emergency however, is that without the drying and air movement of the AC, trying to dehumidify everything is going to be even harder, giving us a greater chance of mold. If mold takes hold, I'm not sure if we can save the house.

This fundraiser is for the $2,500 hurricane deductible that we're almost certainly going to be charged by the homeowner's policy and the $17,000 for the HVAC, plus estimated fees for the platform.

Not included in the total are any cleaning supplies, or a tiny storage unit and rental truck if we need one to store all of their bedroom furniture while the roof is redone. (We won't know about any of that until we get the estimate from insurance/roofing.) The claim has already been filed.

The air conditioning is a pre-existing problem, and I've found no way for it to be covered by any charity, government program, or private programs in the state. The ones that my social worker knew about didn't apply (I applied anyway) and I let her know about two more that I found. The religious groups I've reached out to in my area don't work in anything but clothing, children's furniture, and durable medical goods.

If additional costs emerge, or anything ends up being less expensive, I will update and adjust the goal accordingly as soon as I find out.

Please help these genuinely good people. The smallest donation helps. So does sharing.

Thank you in advance.

[elicathebunny]

HEALTH SHOULD ALWAYS COME FIRST! PRIORITISING HEALTH BEFORE EVERYTHING ELSE TO LOOK GOOD + FEEL GOOD.

People always leave out the basics when it comes to trying to improve their looks. Prioritising health is so important before going in and tempering with your body. Your base is what you work with and you can definitely level up with what you've got naturally.

DIET

Your diet also depends on what your goals are. Someone who wants to build muscle will obviously eat differently from someone who just eats relatively healthy. So identify what your goals are and work your meals around that.

Here are some videos to give you a better insight: HOW I LOSE FAT AND KEEP IT OFF MEANS, WORKOUTS + EVERYTHING ELSE PROTEIN EXPLAINED, STRENGTH, MUSCLES, FAT LOSS & ENDURANCE HOW METABOLISM WORKS

Diet not only makes you feel better from the inside, but it also reflects on your outside. Your skin is a huge display of how you eat.

When you consume junk food, it can show up on your skin as breakouts or dullness. Your skin is one massive organ which soaks up everything put onto it and reflects everything you put inside your body. Fix the problem from the inside before getting confused about why your skincare routine isn't working.

FITNESS

Again, your fitness will differentiate from your goals. So work out your goals and make a plan around that. There are so many forms of fitness, some more intense than others and with different results. Working out in general is good for you, our bodies are meant to move. So even if you don't have a goal, staying active is always recommended.

HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT WORKOUT PLAN

THE BEST WAY TO GAIN MUSCLE, SCIENCE EXPLAINED SIMPLY

Low-intensity workouts:

Yoga: Focuses on flexibility, strength, and relaxation through various poses and breathing techniques.

Pilates: A low-impact exercise method that strengthens muscles, improves flexibility, and enhances posture.

Walking: Simple yet effective, walking is a great way to improve cardiovascular health and boost mood without high impact.

Swimming: Provides a full-body workout with minimal stress on joints, making it ideal for people with joint issues or injuries.

High-intensity workouts:

HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training): Alternates between short bursts of intense exercise and brief recovery periods to maximize calorie burn and improve cardiovascular fitness.

CrossFit: Combines elements of weightlifting, interval training, gymnastics, and other exercises to build strength, endurance, and overall fitness.

Sprinting: Short, explosive bursts of running at maximum effort, often performed in intervals for cardiovascular conditioning and leg muscle strength.

Circuit Training: Involves moving through a series of exercises targeting different muscle groups with minimal rest in between, combining strength training and cardiovascular exercise.

These are just a few examples, but there are plenty of other workout styles out there to explore depending on your preferences and fitness goals. Walking every day is just a simple way to stay toned.

SLEEP

Sleeping is important for rest and recovery after workouts and energy-consuming activities. Sleep is needed for the brain to function, mood regulation and performance + productivity. Lack of sleep deprives you of all of these things, so getting your beauty sleep is absolutely needed.

School-age children (6-13 years): 9-11 hours per day.

Teenagers (14-17 years): 8-10 hours per day.

Young adults (18-25 years): 7-9 hours per day.

Adults (26-64 years): 7-9 hours per day.

HYGIENE

Upkeeping good hygiene is always needed anyway. Making sure you are clean (smelling good is a plus). Make sure you always wash your hands and take daily showers to remove any dirt on your body (clean those feet and your back well, don't forget them!). Taking care of your oral health must not be forgotten. Oil pulling and brushing your tongue for a healthy mouth. Make sure your hair is also getting the attention to keep it as healthy as you possibly can make it (this also depends on diet). Doing the extra things like spending time on your nails (making sure there isn't that stuff underneath them), making them pretty.

BODY CARE ROUTINE | FOR SMOOTH & GLOWING SKIN, TREATING KERATOSIS PILARIS, SHOWER ROUTINE

ENVIRONMENT

Having a stress-free environment is obviously the best to thrive in. But clearly not even being lucky enough to live like that constantly. So make sure you have that space to be on your own and have some alone time to really recharge. Keeping your space clean for a clear mind. Surround yourself with like-minded people and really set boundaries for those who prey on your mental clarity (energy vampires). Spending time in nature is one of the best ways to detach, rest time should not equal spending time on your devices. Let go and truly let yourself decompress. Mental health will improve how you carry yourself.

EMBODY YOUR POTENTIAL.

[kaijutegu]

So. Now that she's home and safe and gonna be ok, I can talk about this.

I almost lost Kaiju. Christmas Day. I was woken up by a phone call from Allison, who will be referred to a LOT in this story. Allison runs the pet store where I board Kaiju. She called to tell me that Kaiju had lost a LOT of blood. (As it turns out, half her blood volume. Humans die when we lose 40%, just so you know. She lost 50%.)

There were no visible injuries, and she had passed a bloody stool. Or rather, a blood clot with some poop in it. She continued to pass only blood when they put her in the bathtub to clean her up. If I'd taken her anywhere else, that... would have been it, probably.

But Allison is an actual miracle worker and knew an emergency vet who was open- on Christmas Day- and could see reptiles. As soon as she called me, she took her to the e vet, where they gave her fluids and oxygen and got her stable. They did some x rays and found... nothing.

In fact, the e vet actually complimented me on her bone density and how nice her toe joints look. Whatever this mysterious haemorrhage was, it was in the soft tissue.

The immediate thoughts were:

Impaction

Cancer invading an artery

Aneurism

Reproductive issues

However, the emergency vet couldn't figure it out, and my vet was out of the country. The e vet consulted with a lot of vets and it was decided she'd go into Chicago Exotics for care the next day- they were willing to see her on immediate notice. Allison drove her over and they did an ultrasound... and couldn't differentiate the mass they found.

So, exploratory surgery it was.

But... she didn't have enough blood for that. She wouldn't have survived... if Allison hadn't found blood for her. Tegu donors were found, the transfusion happened, and was completely successful.

And what the surgery found was completely unexpected. No cancer. No repro issues. No typical impaction.

Instead? Weird white things in her muscles and a partial impaction that seems to be related to a reduction in her ability to properly digest. There are two possible diagnoses at this point. One is visceral gout. This is very strange because in reptiles, articular gout basically always happens first, and her kidneys are fine.

The other option? Weird, potentially cross species parasite she picked up when she was in the Everglades. Something she's likely had all her life, something that was dormant until recently.

I'll know when the pathology report comes back in a week or so.

Anyways! She is doing very well. She is alert and interested in things. She has an incredible appetite, even though she can't have solid food yet. She's on three meds, including one I have to inject. At her three week recheck, we will add a fourth- either the correct anti-parasitic or a medication to improve kidney function, depending on the diagnosis. Currently she's in a hospital cage and she hates it- she can't have any substrate because of the stitches.

The vet says it should take about three months until she makes her full blood volume. Her pack cell count should be at 35%. It was at 7% on the 26th. But by the 28th, it was at 10%. She's gonna be ok. She's tough. My little girl is a fighter, always has been. You have to be scrappy to survive in the wild.

And throughout this entire experience, everybody has told me how lovely her personality is. Through the injections and cloacal probing and everything, she never bit or even tried to. The vet didn't think she even wanted to bite. Like it wasn't a question of wanting to bite and not being strong enough- it's just not something in her behavioural repertoire. She doesn't bite because she doesn't want to. Because even at her most scared, at her most painful, she's still Kaiju, the best tegu to ever live. Love is stored in the tegu, and it continues to be stored in the tegu. We have a long road ahead of us, but she's out of the woods and is going to be ok. We both are.

Also, consider this a MAJOR plug for Curious Creatures in Chicago. I'm never going to board my animals anywhere else.

[theambitiouswoman]

Supplements & Vitamins

Here's a list of some of the most commonly used supplements and their benefits. Please remember that while supplements can be beneficial for certain people, everyones nutritional needs are different. It's always a good idea to consult with a specialist before adding any new supplements to your routine, as individual needs may vary.

Multivitamin: Provides a range of essential vitamins and minerals to support overall health and fill potential nutrient gaps in your diet.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Promote heart health, brain function, and reduce inflammation. Typically derived from fish oil or algae.

Vitamin D: Supports bone health, immune function, and may have a positive impact on mood. It's commonly obtained through sun exposure, but supplements can be useful, especially in winter or for those with limited sun exposure.

Probiotics: Help promote a healthy gut microbiome, aiding digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune function.

Magnesium: Important for muscle and nerve function, bone health, and energy production. It may also help with relaxation and sleep.

B vitamins: Help convert food into energy, support brain function, and maintain healthy hair, skin, and nails.

Vitamin C: Boosts immune function, acts as an antioxidant, supports collagen production, and aids in iron absorption.

Zinc: Essential for immune function, wound healing, and cell division. It also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence.

Iron: Required for red blood cell production and oxygen transport. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia and fatigue, but it's essential to get iron levels checked before supplementing.

Calcium: Crucial for bone health and muscle function. It's often combined with vitamin D for better absorption.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): Plays a vital role in energy production within cells and acts as an antioxidant. It may benefit heart health and cellular energy metabolism.

Curcumin (Turmeric extract): Possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, potentially supporting joint health and cognitive function.

Ashwagandha: An adaptogenic herb that may help reduce stress, promote relaxation, and support cognitive function.

Green Tea Extract: Contains antioxidants and may support cardiovascular health, weight management, and cognitive function.

Glucosamine: Commonly used for joint health and may help alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Chondroitin: Often taken alongside glucosamine, it may help reduce joint pain and improve joint mobility.

Probiotics for Gut Health: Certain strains of probiotics can help restore and maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria, supporting digestion and immune function.

Melatonin: A hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles, melatonin supplements can help with insomnia or jet lag.

Vitamin E: An antioxidant that supports immune function and may help protect against cellular damage.

Ginseng: An adaptogenic herb that may help increase energy, reduce stress, and support cognitive function.

Prebiotics: These are non-digestible fibers that promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, supporting gut health and digestion.

Magnesium: In addition to its previous benefits, magnesium may help reduce muscle cramps, improve mood, and promote relaxation.

Probiotics for Vaginal Health: Certain strains of probiotics can help maintain a healthy balance of vaginal flora, reducing the risk of infections.

Cranberry Extract: Often used for urinary tract health, cranberry extract may help prevent urinary tract infections.

Resveratrol: Found in grapes and berries, resveratrol has antioxidant properties and may support heart health and longevity.

L-theanine: An amino acid commonly found in green tea, L-theanine may promote relaxation, improve focus, and reduce anxiety.

[a-d-nox]

web of wyrd: annual energies and potential surgeries associated with the year

the outer rim of the wyrd web foretells the themes of our year ahead. today i will be covering some common surgeries that tend to occur. in no way does one number mean a single surgery type. each number can mean different surgeries - multiple surgeries - no surgery... this is just what i associate medically with these energies and i have seen correlate with other charts when surgery occurred. your lack of a number correlation with an experience below does not mean to minimize your experience. this is a general hypothesis not a fact.

tw: sensitive topics like amputation, ivf, addiction, weight, physical trauma, and end of life care are included in post.

1 (the magician): laser surgery

skill, precision, and transformation. this technique uses precision tools to create change in the body.

2 (the high priestess): diagnostic surgery

intuition, secrets, and hidden knowledge. seeks to uncover hidden issues or provide clarity about a medical condition (will be common for 2000 baby around the time doctors start recommending colonoscopies and mammograms).

3 (the empress): fertility surgery

surgeries like in vitro fertilization (IVF) or other fertility-related procedures.

4 (the emperor): orthopedic surgery

structure and stability. anything involves bones, joints, and structural support of the body, resonates with this energy.

5 (the hierophant): cardiovascular or oral surgery

what maintains order/structure in the body a.k.a. anything dealing with the heart and blood flow. oral surgery is because of this card connection to the throat and sharing of beliefs which requires the mouth - it might be time for your wisdom teeth extraction.

6 (the lovers): cosmetic or reconstructive surgery

this is often elective surgery / chosen for personal reasons related to self-image.

7 (the chariot): neurosurgery

deals with the brain and nervous system (the body's control center), which aligns with the chariot's themes of mastery and control.

8 (strength): physical rehabilitation surgery

requires a lot of resilience as muscles and tendons aren't easy to heal...

9 (the hermit): gastrointestinal surgery

involves the digestive system, relates to the internal processes and inner workings (aligning with hermit energy).

10 (the wheel of fortune): emergency surgery

often needed unexpectedly and dictated by fate, aligns with the theme of chance.

11 (justice): corrective surgery

aims to fix or balance out bodily functions or appearance, mirrors the themes of rectifying and balancing.

12 (the hanged man): organ transplant

sacrifice, suspension, and new perspectives. transplant surgery involves the sacrifice of one organ for the life of another, offering a new lease on life.

13 (death): amputation

a literal removal or ending of a part of the body, that can also lead to a transformative process of healing and adapting.

14 (temperance) : bariatric surgery

used to achieve weight balance and improve health.

15 (the devil): addiction, breast reduction, and reproductive surgery

surgeries that address addiction-related issues, such as gastric banding for overeating. but also reproductive surgery like a tubal ligation or vasectomy. any surgery where something big/open becomes small, constricted, snipped, or thinned.

16 (tower): trauma surgery

sudden upheaval, destruction, and revelation. this type of surgery is often performed in response to sudden, life-altering accidents or injuries, echoes the energies themes of sudden change and crisis.

17 (the star): reconstructive/plastic surgery

hope, healing, and renewal are themes of this energy - this surgery which restores form and function after trauma or illness, aligns with the themes of healing and rejuvenation.

18 (the moon): biopsies and tissue collections

biopsy involves extracting tissue to investigate potential issues, often when there’s uncertainty about a diagnosis or the presence of something hidden (like tumors or other abnormalities).

19 (the sun): pediatric surgery

performed on children and ensures their health and vitality, which connects with the energy's themes of life, energy, and well-being.

20 (judgment): organ transplant or some other life changing/saving surgery

life-saving surgeries, such as heart or organ transplants, can offer a second chance at life, reflecting the energy's themes of renewal and awakening.

21 (the world): making a full recovery or end-of-life care

surgeries that lead to a full recovery or decisions around end-of-life care align with the themes of closure and achieving a state of completeness found with this energy.

22 (the fool): exploratory surgery

represents the unknown. aligns with entering a medical situation without knowing what will be found.

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© a-d-nox 2024 all rights reserved

[cy-cyborg]

Please stop giving your leg amputees weird robot toes. I don't know why this is as much if a pet peeve to me as it is, but there's a reason why even the most advanced prosthetics irl don't have them and its not because the tech isnt there yet (kind of).

Making that many joints so close together is very difficult and will make the foot increadibly heavy for function that can mostly be replicated by a sheet of bendy carbon fibre (what irl prosthetic feet are usually made of). That many articulated joints are hard to control (even on hands, it's a challenge, and your hands dont have to weight bare), they will add a lot of weight, and will mean more power will be needed. Not to mention the joints would be points of weakness in an area that will be, at some stages in the walk cycle, bearing the majority of user's weight. Unless your character is going to be using their prosthetic feet as hands to grab things like that villain from Kim Possible, they are more trouble than they're worth, and your character doesn't need them.

And look, if the reason you want to give them robot toes is because you have a thing for feet... why did you make them a foot amputee, of all disabilities lol? Odd choices aside, if that's the reason, just be honest about it, because why else is it always "sexy cyborg" type characters that have them?

Joking aside, the goal of a prosthetic is not (usually) to look as similar to "the real thing" as possible, it's to improve mobility. As such, sometimes the best solution will not be what looks the most "normal with a robot aesthetic twist". In the event looking like the real thing is the main goal, we already have the tech for that. Many prosthetics have silicone covers that look so realistic you wouldn't be able to tell unless you can see the top of the socket (where the artificial limb meets the real thing) and you don't have to give up much mobility or functionality to use them, since that carbon fibre sheet I mention just gets hidden inside the cover.

Signed an amputee who finds your pudgy little foot fingers unsettling and wishes people would stop giving robot ones to characters unnecessarily for the sake of making something that looks "normal".

[ID: an animated gif of a character from Kim Possible in a red dressing gown, using his hand-like feet to pour himself some tea. he places the tea pot down and it focuses on his hands, in a close up. the caption reads "and risk damaging these hands?" /end ID]

[fatliberation]

I totally understand and can empathize with fat activists when it comes to medical fatphobia. But I do think its important to provide nuance to this topic.

A lot of doctors mention weight loss, particularly for elective surgeries, because it makes the recovery process easier (Particularly with keeping sutures in place) and anesthetic safer.

I feel like its still important to mention those things when advocating for fat folks. Safety is important.

What you're talking about is actually a different topic altogether - the previous ask was not about preparing for surgery, it was about dieting being the only treatment option for anon's chronic pain, which was exacerbating their ed symptoms. Diets have been proven over and over again to be unsustainable (and are the leading predictor of eating disorders). So yeah, I felt that it was an inappropriate prescription informed more by bias than actual data.

(And side note: This study on chronic pain and obesity concluded that weight change was not associated with changes of pain intensity.)

If you want to discuss the risk factor for surgery, sure, I think that's an important thing to know - however, most fat people already know this and are informed by their doctors and surgeons of what the risks are beforehand, so I'm not really concerned about people being uninformed about it.

I'm a fat liberation activist, and what I'm concerned about is bias. I'm concerned that there are so many BMI cutoffs in essential surgeries for fat patients, when weight loss is hardly feasible, that creates a barrier to care that disproportionately affects marginalized people with intersecting identities.

It's also important to know that we have very little data around the outcomes of surgery for fat folks that isn't bariatric weight loss surgery.

A new systematic review by researchers in Sydney, Australia, published in the journal Clinical Obesity, suggests that weight loss diets before elective surgery are ineffective in reducing postoperative complications.

CADTH Health Technology Review Body Mass Index as a Measure of Obesity and Cut-Off for Surgical Eligibility made a similar conclusion:

Most studies either found discrepancies between BMI and other measurements or concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support BMI cut-offs for surgical eligibility. The sources explicitly reporting ethical issues related to the use of BMI as a measure of obesity or cut-off for surgical eligibility described concerns around stigma, bias (particularly for racialized peoples), and the potential to create or exacerbate disparities in health care access.

Nicholas Giori MD, PhD Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Stanford University, a respected leader in TKA and THA shared his thoughts in Elective Surgery in Adult Patients with Excess Weight: Can Preoperative Dietary Interventions Improve Surgical Outcomes? A Systematic Review:

“Obesity is not reversible for most patients. Outpatient weight reduction programs average only 8% body weight loss [1, 10, 29]. Eight percent of patients denied surgery for high BMI eventually reach the BMI cutoff and have total joint arthroplasty [28]. Without a reliable pathway for weight loss, we shouldn’t categorically withhold an operation that improves pain and function for patients in all BMI classes [3, 14, 16] to avoid a risk that is comparable to other risks we routinely accept.

It is not clear that weight reduction prior to surgery reduces risk. Most studies on this topic involve dramatic weight loss from bariatric surgery and have had mixed results [13, 19, 21, 22, 24, 27]. Moderate non-surgical weight loss has thus-far not been shown to affect risk [12]. Though hard BMI cutoffs are well-intended, currently-used BMI cutoffs nearly have the effect of arbitrarily rationing care without medical justification. This is because BMI does not strongly predict complications. It is troubling that the effects are actually not arbitrary, but disproportionately affect minorities, women and patients in low socioeconomic classes. I believe that the decision to proceed with surgery should be based on traditional shared-decision making between the patient and surgeon. Different patients and different surgeons have different tolerances to risk and reward. Giving patients and surgeons freedom to determine the balance that is right for them is, in my opinion, the right way to proceed.”

I agree with Dr. Giori on this. And I absolutely do not judge anyone who chooses to lose weight prior to a surgery. It's upsetting that it is the only option right now for things like safe anesthesia. Unfortunately, patients with a history of disordered eating (which is a significant percentage of fat people!) are left out of the conversation. There is certainly risk involved in either option and it sucks. I am always open to nuanced discussion, and the one thing I remain firm in is that weight loss is not the answer long-term. We should be looking for other solutions in treating fat patients and studying how to make surgery safer. A lot of this could be solved with more comprehensive training and new medical developments instead of continuously trying to make fat people less fat.

[becomingthatgirl111]

"hot girl walk"

daily walking is also a form of exercise, we work all our muscles, it helps us to lose weight, to have a healthy lifestyle, and more benefits. you should practice it and incorporate it to your routine!

the "hot girl walk" is a very complete activity since we take advantage of exercising and moving our body while connecting with ourselves, our purpose, and nature.

what time of the day? whenever you want! i love to do it mid-morning and I have also practiced it before sunrise and at sunset.

where? look for a place that inspires serenity and calmness, preferably in nature, i do it on the beach.

how long? 30 minutes is fine, the time is up to you.

how many days a week? minimum 3, the recommended is every day!

i like to complement this practice by listening to personal growth podcasts or audiobooks, you can also listen to relaxing music or simply let yourself be carried away by the sounds of nature.

i also recommend you to download a walking app that will count the km you do so you can keep track of what you do, i assure you that it will help motivate you! you can also motivate yourself with small goals such as starting walking 3 times a week.

benefits of walking for the mind

reduces anxiety

reduces depression

removes stress

sleeps better

helps with memory

plan better

you make better decisions

it gives you security

benefits for the body

increase your energy

helps you lose weight

walking prevents obesity and cellulite deposits.

increases vitamin d levels

improves circulation

is good for your bones and joints

lengthens your life

can help boost immune function.

strengthens the heart

is good for the brain

muscles we train when we walk: quadriceps and hamstrings, calves, and hip adductors. the gluteal and abdominal muscles are also used.

romanticize your practice

listening to meditation while walking

listening to positive affirmations

thinking about your goals and objectives for the day

reflect and focus on the positive

plan your intentions for the day

visualize dreams and goals

listen to a personal growth podcast

listen to the sounds of nature or music that motivates or calms you

other benefits

you will learn to enjoy your own company

you will stay in shape

will help you feel more focused and positive

help you create a healthy routine

you will feel motivated and grateful

work or study better

feel like your priority

connect with yourself and nature

[treesareredinautumn]

I saw that Richarlyson's model has one leg but two feet! So - rotationplasty!

A rotationplasty is where a persons knee is amputated, and their ankle is grafted in its place to function as a replacement knee joint!

what little I know about rotationplasties under the cut:

Rotationplasties are done to preserve the function of a patients knee. because it offers improved control over one's own prosthetic! This control allows greater agility - for ease of use running, jumping and crouching.

A rotationplasy is most commonly done to remove bone cancer that has developed at the knee.

A bone cancer, osteosarcoma, is most common in young people, a may require operation. Fortunately, young people who get this operation are still growing, so are usually expected to develop a strong and well healed graft.

From what I've seen, the ankle graft is usually set a little lower than the knee, but I don't know why ^^;

edit: I’m a dumbass and gave him a cane instead of crutches. Little man would not use a cane without his prosthetic.

[howtofightwrite]

I’m gonna be honest, I’m not very good at numbers and visualizing how much power is needed to do something, so I felt it would be good to ask you.

How much force/how strong would a character need to be in order to cut off a hand as quickly as possible? For context, my character in a scene is being infected with a sort of symbiote, and quickly tries to hack it off before infection reaches the brain. It’s also not in an apocalyptic environment, they have access to medical equipment. (that bill is gonna make their pockets cry tho)

This is one of those times when it's about having the right tool, not about the effort. A fire axe should take off their hand pretty efficiently with one quick blow. Now, I'm not sure how well they could do this on their own, or if they'd really need an ally to lop off their hand. I'm pretty sure you could get it done with a machete, though probably not as easily. I'd also wonder about an old-school paper cutter. There's a lot of industrial equipment that will happily lop off an unwanted limb, though, keeping it intact after removal is a different topic entirely.

Surgically reattaching the hand could be a bit of work. Assuming no magical medical technology, replacing the hand isn't a simple process. The original hand needs to be in good condition (and I'm assuming, symbiote free.) You can't fully repair the nerve connections in the severed appendage, so, while there's going to be some use of the hand, it's never going to be back at 100% (again, assuming there's no magical way to regenerate the nerve endings), age is a factor here, children have a better chance of regaining more functionality, but for an adult, it's going to be imperfect at best.

I've never interacted with someone who's undergone replantation, but, from experiences in the past with friends who had suffered nerve damage in their limbs, I'd expect numbness in some parts of the hand (or the entire hand, potentially), and limited manual dexterity. (It's possible some fingers or joints simply wouldn't work anymore.)

Additional surgical procedures may be needed, particularly for nerve grafting and adjusting tendons. In some cases the reattached limb needs to be removed and replaced with a prosthetic due to chronic pain.

Replantation technology will probably improve over into the future. But, at least presently, your character would still have a permanent injury, that impaired the use of that hand from that point forward. It's not a situation where you can glue your hand back on.

-Starke

This blog is supported through Patreon. Patrons get access to new posts three days early, and direct access to us through Discord. If you’re already a Patron, thank you. If you’d like to support us, please consider becoming a Patron.

[monbons]

Stitches and Sentences Sunday

Friends, CORB has begun! I am so excited to see all the beautiful art and read all the amazing fics. With that in mind, I'm gonna take a break from The Boy Next Door today to give you a behind-the-scenes tour of the doll factory and tease a few sentences of Body Language, @melodysmash's amazing accompanying fic.

Behind the Scenes of The Monbons Doll Factory Honestly, when I originally submitted to CORB I wasn't sure if anyone would pick my art because it was so untraditional. I also gave writers so little to go on. Here is the messy sketch writers saw.

The text that went along with these sketches basically boiled down to "I literally don't care what the situation or plot of the fic is, I just need Baz in ballet slippers. Also, I will make him a partner of your choosing."

Once @melodysmash and I got paired up, she felt very passionate about Disco Simon. We went back and forth on possible materials for his clothing before she selected the green sequins. Here is a full body picture of just Simon. Please note his bell bottoms and sparkly disco shoes!

Below is a full-body picture of Baz and his lovely accessories. He turned out so much prettier than I had pictured in my brain.

While the ballet bag is an adorable prop, I would also like to note that it is FULLY functional.

Finally, everyone who has ever received a doll has mentioned that they were surprised by their size. Especially those who have received the upgraded bodies (all dolls starting with DeNiall feature improved joints, three-dimensional heads, and ears!) also note that they are quite sturdy. To give a sense of just how quality these little guys are, enjoy a video tour of Ballet Baz below.

Several Teaser Sentences

Finally, I cannot say enough about how much I love @melodysmash's fic. It is a quick read but it packs such a great emotional punch (in the best way). If you also enjoy reading Watford Era getting together fics, this one is definitely for you. Here's a bit of Simon POV.

“Any blokes doing ballet?” I blurt, definitely not sounding casual anymore.  Agatha sighs loudly. She’s onto me. “Yes… Baz. Don’t worry, Simon, I can take care of myself.” I’m mostly quiet for the rest of the meal, but my heart is racing. I’m probably smoking a little. Agatha and Baz dancing together? Maybe even…as partners in a romantic ballet recital? (Is there acting in a ballet recital? Will they have to kiss?)  After I’ve cleared my plate, I go straight to the professors’ table and ask to switch from yoga to dance class.

Hellos and high-fives from the doll factory!

@alexalexinii, @aristocratic-otter, @arthurkko, @artsyunderstudy, @best--dress

@blackberrysummerblog, @brilla-brilla-estrellita, @bookish-bogwitch, @confused-bi-queer, @cutestkilla

@drowninginships, @emeryhall, @facewithoutheart, @fiend-for-culture, @hushed-chorus

@iamamythologicalcreature, @ic3que3n, @ileadacharmedlife, @katatsumuli, @larkral

@letraspal, @messofthejess, @mooncello, @noblecorgi, @orange-peony

@raenestee, @rbkzz, @rimeswithpurple, @roomwithanopenfire, @run-for-chamo-miles

@shrekgogurt, @skeedelvee, @stitchyqueer, @supercutedinosaurs, @talentpiper11

@thehoneyedhufflepuff, @theimpossibledemon, @thewholelemon, @valeffelees, @whatevertheweather

@you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @youarenevertooold,

[ashswordsman859]

the effects of the gases used by the bigger bodied smiling critters

Bobby bear hug: rose helps with stress, seizers, aging, and diabetes. (Nurse?)

Hoppy hopscotch: peppermint helps with pain management, digestive issues, common cold, sinus infection, and headaches. (Child care?)

Kicken chicken: ylang ylang is good for anxiety, depression,mood enhancement, and cognitive function. (Councilor?)

Craftycorn: jasmine is useful for immune support, blood circulation, optimizing hormone levels and relieving stress. (Nurse?)

Picky piggy: citrus is useful for heart health, help maintain cell health in brain tissue, prevents heart disease, kidney stones, brain dysfunction, and emotional regulation. (Food?)

Bubba bubbaphant: lemon grass helps with menstrual issues, improve digestion, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps, spasms, rheumatism (joint pain), high cholesterol, anti-inflammatory, bloating, and boosting red blood cell counts. (Child care for kids with chronic issues?)

Dogday: vanilla as said before helps relax and calm people by reducing anxiety and calms the nerves but also helps with fevers, spasms,blood clotting, although from what I found large amounts can lead to sleep issues but I don't know how accurate that is so take that with a grain of salt. (Kid care?)

Catnap: poppy flower as known does cause a fatigue affect but also has traces of opioids, along with that it also analgesia (inability to feel pain.), euphoria (the laughter), respiratory depression (breath shallow leading to build up of carbon dioxide in the blood.), decreased gastrointestinal mobility (digestive problems resulted when nerves or muscles in the gut do not work in a coordinated way.), and physical & psychological dependency.

eat your heart out au makers!

[lucagray813]

Safety in Shadows

Rating: T

Word Count: 2,929

Main Characters: Macaque

Minor Characters: Wukong, MK

Relationships: Little bit of Macaque & Wukong that could be interpreted as Shadowpeach

Summary: Macaque has never caught a break the entirety of his second life.

Additional Tags: The Pagoda, Branching Story, Multiple Endings, Worldbuilding, Chaos

CW: Dependence on Medication, Chronic Pain, Implied Cannibalism, PTSD

Link to AO3 Version

----

Ever since the defeat of the Lady Bone Demon, Macaque had been dependent on a cocktail of magic and medicine to manage the pain of his deliberately shoddy resurrection and he was in real trouble now that he was trapped in Lǐ Jìng's Pagoda.

His entry into this prison had stripped him of his glamours, possessions and any spells that had been cast on him. And while he could put together some new glamours, the spells that dulled the pain and improved his mobility were entirely beyond his ability.

Not only did he lack the knowledge to craft the correct seals but his brand of magic didn't lend itself to healing. It was possible there was a demon in here that might be able to help him but the price would no doubt be steep.

Not to mention, they would only be able to help him with the magic element and not the medicine that worked with it to keep him functional.

As soon as his feet had touched the Pagoda floor he had collapsed with a choked gasp as his muscles seized and his joints stiffened but thankfully he'd still had one way to escape from the pain.

Sinking into the shadows, he mimed a sigh of relief and allowed himself a moment to recover his senses before he tried to take stock of the situation.

He likely still had some of the medicine in his system but it wouldn't be there for much longer and so maintaining a physical form was extremely unappealing but unfortunately staying in the shadows wasn't without it's risks.

The longer he remained, the harder it was to leave and, when he wasn't in crippling agony, he rather liked being able to exist in the physical world. He'd pushed his luck to the extremes once before, a long, long time ago, and it had required a very upset Wukong to find a way to pull him back out.

Wukong had outright refused to let him spend anytime in the shadows for days afterwards. Keeping a constant vigil by his side and holding him tightly if he even dared try.

But that was then.

There was no guarantee that he would be rescued anytime soon, if he was rescued at all, and even then who's to say Wukong would actually care to free him from the shadows this time.

He had to assume he was on his own and that meant he couldn't remain in the shadows for too long unless he wanted it to be permanent.

Which might become a viable option if it turned out he was trapped here for all eternity but it was a little too soon to be abandoning hope of escape.

He was going to have to give some serious thought to how he split his time between being physical and shadow. But, for the moment, he was in the perfect form to do some recon and once he'd figured out what to expect in the Pagoda he could put together a plan.

The majority of the demons locked away in the Pagoda were immortal in some way and as such resources such as food and water weren't quite the necessities they might have been otherwise but, depending on the brand of immortality, you were looking at a long life of suffering without them.

But even if you didn't have a need to eat or drink, the sheer bareness of the Pagoda would no doubt lead to boredom and madness. The only resource available to alleviate suffering was your fellow demon.

Unfortunately, that resulted in a great deal of suffering on its own.

There were small handfuls of seemingly close knit demons that kept to themselves but for the most part you were looking at crazed loners who hunted either out of necessity or entertainment or warring gangs led by the strong and vicious.

The shadows were looking more appealing by the minute.

Making friends had never been on the agenda but he'd be lying if he said a small part of him hadn't hoped for one or two potential allies. Because beyond the need to manage his pain, he also still had some dependency on food and water that was going to be difficult to resolve.

He could certainly go without either for longer than a human could but if he didn't eat or drink relatively soon then he would start feeling the detrimental effects of dehydration and starvation and he really couldn't afford not to be at the top of his game.

That was, of course, if he had a physical body. As a shadow he didn't need to worry about food or water.

Chances were high if he wanted food then he was going to have to fight for it and the prize would be some demon's raw flesh or organs.

They'd probably regenerate but if they caught sight of him they'd no doubt hold a grudge and he couldn't say he'd blame them for that.

But his chances of winning that fight were low if he was in debilitating pain. He would likely have to scavenge and take whatever remained of someone else's temporary kill.

He knew it had been his choice to play the hero but that didn't stop him from blaming Wukong for his predicament.

The good news, if you could call it that, was there were plenty of empty floors to take refuge in that he could get to easier than most. So he could at least suffer in relative safety.

Bracing himself he stepped from the shadows and he was quickly brought to his knees.

Well, at least this time he knew it was coming.

How long did he think he could manage out of the shadows? He could use some of his magic to assist him with moving but he couldn't do anything about the pain.

He curled in on himself and cursed Wukong with everything he had.

He grit his teeth as he forced himself to stand up right, his shadows taking most of his weight. He had to move, he had to test his capabilities. And so, very slowly, he stretched and took tentative steps around the room, refusing to let frustrated and angry tears escape him.

It was clear he couldn't rely on his body in a fight but he also couldn't let himself stiffen or atrophy. He'd make himself do stretches when he was out of the shadows but he would need to plan his strategies for engaging with other demons carefully.

He allowed himself to take a short reprieve in the shadows and as he caught his metaphorical breath he realised there was probably no reliable way to track time here. He'd have to wait a little longer to be sure but given everything else, he doubted Lǐ Jìng had bothered with a day and night cycle.

He'd probably have to judge the time on the habits of other demons and when they slept was the most obvious indicator that came to mind.

He needed to do more recon - find the best places to haunt for food and keeping track of time. It looked like there was going to be a lot of waiting in his future and he could only hope a rescue party was on their way.

----

He wasn't sure if it was weeks or months later but the rescue party did eventually blunder into the Pagoda and he had weaved together some rather impressive glamours to hide his condition from them.

At the last possible moment he would leave the shadows but right now he was pulling the strings of the most realistic clone he'd ever created and whether it was just that impressive or because everyone was just too distracted didn't matter. Nobody was any the wiser.

He was really banking on the adrenaline tiding him over until he could at least grab some heavy duty painkillers but failing that being in the presence of Wukong's magic might be able to see him through whatever was about to happen.

Wretchedly, it was like a balm to his physical ailments, the warmth of it enough to slightly ease his discomfort. And that realisation had sent him spiralling for days when he discovered it while trying to find the best combination of magic and medicine for his pain.

But right now, he didn't have time to feel conflicted about it because suddenly the Pillar of Heaven was cracking and he had to stop a self-sacrificing fool from trying to fix it his way.

----

Option 1 - Chaos

Universe saved, hero speech endured, he fell into the shadows at the very first opportunity and re-emerged in his safehouse to swallow a potentially dangerous amount of medication and to scramble for the seals he needed to relieve him of his suffering.

He had gems filled with foreign magic to activate the seals but upon touching the first one it trembled violently before throwing itself across the room. He stared after it for only a second before trying to grab another and this time he had to throw himself on the floor to avoid the small explosion as it shattered.

Tentatively he reached out a strangely shaky shadow tendril towards the gem across the room and it went haywire before he could even get close to it.

He stopped and curled into a ball as he waited for the medicine to kick in.

It had to be a side effect of the new magic that had flooded into the world and into every living creature in it. And he grieved the fact that meant he likely wasn't getting any magical intervention soon. His provider was either going to have to relearn how to create their seals or wait for the influx of magic to settle down.

He tried to reassure himself - he still had the medicine, and he could find more. He could hide around the island and bask in Wukong's magic. He didn't need to struggle to survive on top of enduring the pain.

It wouldn't be as bad as it had been in the Pagoda.

He could do this.

He just had to hold out for a little longer.

----

It wasn't the new magic in the world causing the problem.

It was him.

His magic had fundamentally changed and no spell could be cast on him without it going wrong. The best case scenario was that a seal didn't work, the worst case was pain and carnage.

Even worse than that was how little the medicine was doing for him because his pain fluctuated with seemingly no rhyme or reason.

At random, he would feel no pain at all or he would collapse unable to move of his own accord as he spasmed uncontrollably.

Even deep within the shadows he was no longer safe - feeling pain in a form where such a thing shouldn't be possible.

He desperately sought answers but there was nothing. Everywhere he looked, and everyone he asked, knew nothing about Chaos magic.

Pride or any other emotion be damned eventually he found himself sobbing at Wukong's feet, begging for him to make it stop.

But his magic no longer soothed him and Wukong was at a loss for what to do with the man who had disappeared weeks ago only to reappear and have a breakdown while clinging to his trousers.

But he'd done his best to weather his agony and in between angry lectures about not coming to him sooner he had promised that they would fix this, that he would fix this.

Unfortunately, he knew better than to trust a promise made by Sun Wukong.

But then salvation came to him in a dream.

In the form of the Nine-Headed Demon.

Their eyes were compassionate as they held out a hand to him, "The longer you fight against the Chaos, the longer you will suffer like this. I know. I understand. Let me help you."

They waited patiently as he grappled with this offer but he was just so tired.

He would do anything to make this stop.

He took their hand.

----

Option 2 - Harmony

Universe saved, hero speech endured, he fell into the shadows at the very first opportunity and re-emerged in his safehouse to swallow a potentially dangerous amount of medication and to scramble for the seals he needed to relieve him of his suffering.

It was almost instantaneous and he sagged to the floor and couldn't bite back the sob that escaped him.

The medicine would take a little longer to kick in but he wasn't going to remain conscious for long enough to experience the exact moment it did. Exhaustion and stress had him curl up in a ball where he was and he welcomed the dreamless dark that followed.

It was the only peaceful sleep he would know for sometime.

Because in his dreams he returned to the Pagoda and he relived the harrowing experience over and over again.

But he was no stranger to nightmares, the revulsion to raw meat was new but that was easy to adapt to, the compulsion to dive into the shadows at the first hint of perceived danger was a little more annoying to deal with but hey, who wasn't a little jumpy these days?

The important thing was that he was in control of the situation and no-one was any the wiser.

Sure, his magic playing up was cause for some concern but he was looking into it.

No need to worry anyone needlessly.

He easily slipped back into doing some reconnaissance for the "good guys" - reporting back anything of note to Wukong or MK about the new Ten King-less world they were living in - and it was business as usual.

No need to think about, let alone talk about, almosts or what-ifs.

He had been exceptionally careful to never let himself linger but he did like to stick around long enough to exchange some, admittedly subdued, barbs and lighthearted quips with Wukong and MK respectively.

On this latest visit, MK had been keen to show off a trick he'd been working on and without warning he had activated his Golden Vision and Macaque saw his perfect facade crumble before his eyes.

One glance at him had MK interrupting himself, "And the idea is- Wait? Have you always been so glow-y and seal-y?"

Wukong's head had snapped in his direction immediately, his own Golden Vision shining brightly and the urge to hide within the shadows couldn't be ignored.

"Oh no, you don't!"

The hand in his scarf yanked him back before he could fully submerse himself and he beared his teeth as he fought against Wukong's unyielding hold.

While he probably couldn't parse the precise purpose of the seals, he would know they had something to do with healing. He could only hope that his Golden Vision revealed nothing about the new nature of his magic.

Wukong shook him, "What the hell is all this? How did you get hurt badly enough to need all this?"

MK cried out in alarm, as he tried to move in closer, "Hurt!? Where? What happened? Why didn't you say anything?"

If their Golden Vision hadn't revealed it then he couldn't risk using any magic to force either of them away. He would have sunk his teeth into Wukong's hand if the thought of tasting blood didn't fill him with revulsion.

He snapped at them, "It's none of your business! Let go!"

While MK fretted, Wukong's eyes narrowed and he knew his poor attempt to escape had been noted, "What's wrong with you? If you really want to run away then why aren't you trying?"

Panic was building and he had very few cards to play to get out of this situation.

His desperation must have shown on his face, as MK tried to step in, "Hey, maybe you should let him go... I think you're doing more harm than good."

Wukong didn't yield, "I let him go and we'll never see him again." His eyes had never left him, but they softened as they asked, "What's going on? We can help."

He growled, as he continued to try and pull away, "You want to help then let go!"

"Not until you-"

The second MK knocked Wukong's arm away from him he disappeared into the shadows and he travelled within them as far as he could go before he let himself stop and curl up into a circle in some dark corner.

He was safe in the shadows.

As long as Wukong couldn't find him, he was safe in the shadows.

It was a mantra he repeated over and over again until at long last the panic subsided enough to let rational thoughts start to return.

He could have so easily lied. Said that he got caught in the crossfire of some fight while out doing reconnaissance. Or that they were preventative nature, an attempt to safeguard himself from the influx of new powers in the world.

Instead, panic had taken hold almost instantly and his only thought had been to get to the safety of the shadows.

There was no saving face. He would just have to leave them written reports when they weren't looking from now on.

Because he couldn't let them know.

He couldn't let them know that he was broken and damaged and that Chaos dogged his every step.

But now that Wukong had an inkling that something was wrong, he knew it was only a matter of time before the truth came to light.

--End--

Want another fic about Mac's time in the Pagoda? Check out The Pagoda

LMK Fanfic Masterlist

[whotfletamothhyperfx]

Fun fact! Peppermint oil is apparently very toxic to foxes, peppermint oil is commonly used to treat headache, muscle aches, joint pain, itching, treating coughs and colds, reducing pain, improving mental function, and reducing stress.

Who do we know that probably has a lot of headaches, stress, pain, and probably gets cold a whole lot? Tails.

Anyway what I’m trying to get at is one of the others using peppermint oil to try and treat tails for one of his many headaches or just random muscle pains and he starts breaking out and vomiting cause that stuffs deadly to foxes

They have a very lengthy Google search on what is and isn’t toxic after that