some people are undocumented and cannot be caught at a protest
some people have visas that require them to stay apolitical and cannot be caught at a protest
some people are on parole and cannot be caught at a protest
some people are on continuance to dismissal and cannot be caught at a protest
some people have or will take action deemed illegal by the state at that particular protest and cannot be caught on camera
some people have taken action deemed illegal by the state at a previous protest and cannot be caught on camera
some people are fleeing abusers and cannot be caught on camera
some people just simply don't want to be in your fucking photo!
if you really truly must take a photo then ask the people you want in it for consent and make sure no one is in the background (though I advise staying out of photos in general)
Kinich coming across Reader scolding the newer couriers for losing the packages and letters because said couriers were goofing off during delivery, and this happened multiples times (with the items sometimes coming back damaged) before Reader finally snapped and started screaming like Citlali.
The sheer volume of Reader’s voice really shows how pissed they are that even Ajaw seems to have disappeared. 😅
Fury’s Unraveling
Summary: When the younger couriers repeatedly mess up their deliveries, you, the dedicated and no-nonsense delivery overseer, finally snap. Frustrated by their incompetence, you unleash a storm of fury on the culprits, startling the village with your intensity. In the midst of the chaos, Kinich observes the situation from a distance. As the couriers cower and the storm of your anger settles, Kinich offers a rare moment of advice, his pragmatic approach cutting through the tension.
Warnings: Strong Language (when Reader scolds the couriers), Intense emotions and yelling, Slightly chaotic confrontation.
Kinich had always been a creature of observation. The wilderness had taught him the value of watching from a distance, to assess, to understand, to plan. He had become skilled at navigating the world quietly, often unnoticed, his calculating eyes scanning his surroundings with the precision of a predator.
Today, however, he found himself drawn into the heart of the village—a place he'd often avoided. The usual bustle of daily life was interrupted by raised voices. Kinich narrowed his gaze, stepping into the shadows of a nearby structure, careful not to be seen. His ears picked up the harsh words before his eyes found their source.
“You’ve lost it again?!”
Your voice rang out like a storm, cutting through the hum of the village. Kinich’s sharp hearing didn’t miss a single word, and the intensity in your tone was unmistakable. His head tilted slightly as he watched you. Normally composed and calculating, today you sounded more like Citlali, the village elder renowned for her temper. The sight of you standing in front of a group of newer couriers—hands clenched into fists, eyes wide with fury—was enough to make even the toughened warriors of the tribe pause.
“I told you once! I told you twice!” Your voice echoed through the air, making the younger couriers shrink back. “You can’t be goofing off while you’re supposed to be working! You think this is a game? You lost packages! You lost letters! And I can’t even count how many times you’ve brought things back damaged!”
Kinich's sharp eyes scanned the group, catching the guilty expressions on the couriers’ faces. He wasn’t surprised—they were young and inexperienced, still learning the weight of responsibility. But the way they flinched under your wrath? That was something new.
He raised an eyebrow, noting that not even Ajaw, who was always nearby, seemed to be around. The relic (?) had a strange way of disappearing when the situation became too chaotic. Kinich had seen it happen before.
“You’ve ruined everything! This is serious!” Your voice escalated, becoming louder and more furious, a storm of anger crashing over the hapless couriers. “We’re supposed to deliver these things with care, with responsibility! Do you understand that?!”
Kinich couldn’t help but smirk to himself, his hands resting lightly on his jacket that's tied around his waist. His cold, calculating demeanor was the opposite of yours—he would never let his emotions slip to such an extent, even in the face of failure. But watching you tear into the couriers like this was strangely fascinating.
He remained hidden in the shadows, observing you with interest as your fury reached its peak. Your frustration was tangible, and for a moment, Kinich felt a rare, fleeting sense of amusement at seeing you like this. It was… unexpected, to say the least.
“Answer me!” you screamed, your voice almost deafening as you stood, fists trembling in anger. Kinich felt the heat of the moment in the air, the tension practically crackling around you.
For the first time since he had started watching, Kinich took a step forward, his presence finally breaking through the chaos. The couriers didn’t even notice him at first, still too caught up in their own unease. But you did. Your fierce eyes immediately locked onto him, your frustration morphing into a mix of confusion and exasperation.
“Kinich,” you said, your voice more composed now, though still filled with irritation. “What are you doing here?”
Kinich’s eyes narrowed slightly, taking in the scene. “I was watching,” he replied simply, his voice low and steady. “You were… quite loud.”
You let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing your temples as you turned away from the couriers. “Can’t you see I’m dealing with idiots? They keep screwing up the deliveries and—” You cut yourself off, not wanting to waste any more energy on the mess.
Kinich tilted his head, observing you with an unreadable expression. “You did warn them,” he said, his tone pragmatic as always. “But if they don’t listen, then what is left to do?”
You shot him a glare, though it lacked the venom it had moments before. “I don’t know… maybe I just wanted them to get it before it was too late. But they don’t seem to care about the consequences.”
Kinich’s eyes flicked to the young couriers, who were now awkwardly standing in silence. “They’ll learn eventually,” he said, stepping closer to you. “But maybe you need a different approach. They’re not as experienced as you.”
You let out a frustrated huff, crossing your arms over your chest. “Yeah, well, I’m sick of dealing with their mistakes.”
Kinich regarded you for a moment, his expression unreadable. “It’s not your fault they failed,” he said quietly, his voice carrying a calm, measured tone that was almost foreign to the situation. “But you might need to show them more than just your anger. Teach them what you know. They can learn from you if you guide them.”
You blinked, caught off guard by his words. It wasn’t like Kinich to offer anything resembling advice, let alone the kind of calm wisdom you desperately needed. For a brief moment, there was silence between the two of you, and even the couriers seemed to shrink back slightly under the weight of his words.
You nodded, reluctantly acknowledging the point. “Yeah, I guess… I just… I don’t know how much more I can take.”
Kinich stepped back, his eyes still focused on you, unreadable. “You’ll figure it out,” he said simply. “If you need help… ask.”
With that, he turned away, his footsteps silent against the dirt path. The couriers, for the first time, seemed to breathe a little easier. But your gaze lingered on his retreating form, a strange sense of relief mixed with frustration in your chest. Kinich, with his practical approach and cold demeanor, was never the one to show compassion in the way you might have expected. But for a brief moment, it had felt like… maybe he understood.
hello. i wanted to drop by and offer a little hope for the people following this blog who may be affected by long covid or similar chronic health conditions.
low dose naltrexone (LDN) is a new treatment that is showing promise in treating long covid and other conditions caused/worsened by inflammation. there are some studies and papers on it already, and anecdotally, i was prescribed it and the doctor i'm working with said he's seen improvement in about 60% of his patients with long covid. do your research and ask your doctor about LDN, or ask for a referral to a long covid clinic.
thank you for your time, wear your masks, we'll get through this together.
Very helpful information on 1,221 days left- thank you so much.
No, you should. You should learn to compare yourself to others and use it to uplift yourself instead of feeling bad about yourself. I compare myself to others all the time to get inspired, to know where I can improve, to remind myself of my strengths and uniqueness, to place myself in this vast universe, to scope out a potential homoerotic rival, to celebrate humanity's similarities and differences.
For all my European darlings who are suffering through this horrible heat wave, my American friends who don't always have access to air conditioning, and anyone else who needs it....
Here are some tips on how to survive the heat of summer at home when you have next to no money and only household basics to work with.
(I'd love it if readers would reblog this and add their own ideas - people need all the help they can get right now!)
Stay hydrated. This is the most important thing. You're going to sweat a LOT and your body needs that replenished as often as possible. Drink WATER as much as possible and cold is best. Soda won't cut the mustard and sports drinks may replenish your electrolytes, but they are not meant for subsistence. If you need to flavor your water to make it more palatable, do it. And I know cold tea is anathema to some, but a glass of sweet or citrusy iced tea might be just the thing to get you through.
Wear loose, breezy clothing. I know the instinct is to wear your smallest, briefest summer garments, but sometimes wearing something larger, looser, and flowy helps to cool you down. The movement of the fabric creates a little bit of a breeze to draw heat away from your skin and helps all that sweating actually cool you down.
Draw the shades. If you have curtains or blinds or window shades, cover the windows, especially on the sunny side of your home. Shading the place will help keep the heat out, at least a little.
Use fans and appliances judiciously. Keep the air moving. I know sometimes it's just blowing hot air around, but it's better than stagnating. Also if you have an exhaust fan above your stove, USE IT. Draw off some of that heat from your cooking and for the love of all things holy, try not to use the oven. (Also, if you're not using your desktop computer or gaming system, unplug it for a while - those things generate a lot of heat!)
Eat cool and light. Try to avoid making meals that are going to heat up the house. If you can, make cold meals or use the microwave instead of the stovetop or oven. If you have an outdoor grill, use that for the evening meal instead of the stove. Also, if you have a blender handy, smoothies are a great way to cool down and also get in a few servings of fruit or vegetables.
Swamp coolers are your friend. If you've got a towel, a drink cooler, a bag of ice, and a box fan, you can make a homemade swamp cooler as well. Put the towel on the floor and the drink cooler on top. Fill the cooler with ice and position the fan so that it's blowing over and around the open cooler from less than two feet away. Elevate it on a box or chair if necessary. This isn't going to cool your entire home, but it can cool a small space and provides a little relief. Just be aware that there will be some sweating from the cooler and you'll need to replace the ice after a while. (The meltwater may be good for watering the garden or doing the washing up though.)
Cold showers take the edge off of many things. At the end of the day, take a shower that's a few degrees cooler than body temperature. Even if you don't do a full scrub or wash your hair, get in and sluice down, or use a pitcher of room-temperature water to give yourself a rinse. This helps your whole body cool down, cleans off the sweat of the day so you don't get breakouts, and helps you sleep cooler and less sticky. (Also, try sleeping under the duvet cover without the duvet inside to stay cooler at bedtime. And definitely have a fan in the bedroom.)
Make some homemade cold spray. This is something I used to make for camping trips. In a spray bottle, combine tap water and aloe gel in about equal measure. Then, if you have it, add 2-3 drops of peppermint essential oil. Shake to combine. You can store the bottle in the fridge when you're at home or tuck it into your bag if you're out and about. A few spritzes on the chest or the back of the neck helps immensely. (Don't spray it on your face or near your eyes. If you have any allergy or sensitivity to peppermint, leave the essential oil out.)
Keep reusable ice packs in the freezer. These can be a lifesaver. They're a quick way to cool down during the day, by cuddling or leaning against while sitting. If you can't find ice packs, fill a freezer bag 3/4 full of ice water with half a cup of rubbing alcohol, squeeze out the air before closing, and reinforce the seams and edges with duct tape. In an emergency when nothing else is working, or if someone starts to overheat, take an ice pack and put it under the arm. There's a whole host of major circulatory vessels in that area and it's a fast way to bring down body temp if someone's in trouble or while you're waiting for emergency services.
Please feel free to add your own tips and stay safe out there!
