#tikmasjiens

[rebrandtdebibls]

'n versperring te veroorsaak. Hy beplan sy gebeure stap vir stap. Dus verwar niks hom nie, al weet hy nie juis altyd waar em by sekere insidente in die verhaal laat inglip nie. Buiten dien is by agter die tikmasjien voortdurend met fiktiewe ka rakters doenig, kan hy met hulle laat gebeur wat hy goed dink. Hier het hy voor die skrikwekkende werklikheid te staan gekom dat hy drie vroumense moet beskerm teen die swernoot weet wat en wie alles!

Sweet stroom van hom af. Hy ruik die kruitdamp, hy ruik die stof wat begin afsak oor die rustigheid van die valleitjie. En hy sien hoe verskrik die menigte voëls oor die kom bly sirkel noudat hulle rusplek so onverwags vernietig is.

Mensehande het daardie ontploffing veroorsaak! Daar is iemand wat hulle koms hierheen dopgehou het. Een of twee of meer paar oë het hulle bewegings bespied en daarvolgens duiwelse planne beraam. Wie is dit wat hier kom skuilhou het? En hoe het die persoon of persone geweet dat die film groep juis na dié vallei toe sou kom? Dit was immers blote toeval, hulle kon net sowel 'n ander pad gevolg het, glad nie cers in die kontrei beland het nie!

Terwyl hy oor die klipperige, ongelyke paadjie aanhard loop, werk sy gedagtes koorsagtig vinnig. Hy weet dat die di namiet daar by die ingang op 'n bepaalde oomblik aan die brand gesteck is. En die hand wat die vuurhoutjie getrek het, kan net sowel die hand van Roux de Waal wees! De Waal is die enigste van die filmgroepie wat nié tydens sy vertrek by die klooster was nie.

Terwyl die gedagtes soos die verskrikte swart voëls bokant die toneel van verwoesting rondsirkel, besef Braam hoe ver gesog hierdie agterdogtige gevolgtrekking van hom is. Roux i'n papbrock, 'n pronkduif wat tot niks meer in staat is as om voor rolprentkameras te loop en pronk nie. Hy het kas sig vorderde opleiding ontvang in judo en karate, maar dit niks. Om 'n bedrewe judokampioen te wees, beteken nie dat hy die moed sal hê om deur bendes en boewe gebruik te word vir dié soort sabotasie nie.

Hy verwerp die gedagte so in die hardloop. Selfs nie eers in 'n verhaal sal by van 'n karakter soos Roux gebruik maak 'n waaghalsige ding te doen soos om dinamiet aan

die brand te steek kort voordat 'n Landrover oor 'n spesifieke plek moet ry nie. Nie Roux de Waal nie-al het Mike Rom ney die vent gekies om 'n taai rol in 'n rolprent te vertolk.

Sy asem jaag hortend oor sy droë lippe. Hy struikel weer, kom hande-viervoet in die klipperige, uitgespoelde paadjie te lande. Deur hardop te swets, verlig hy sy opgekropte span ning en woede, sy frustrasie en die gevoel van algehele ver ydeling. Sy lewe lank kon hy teen die elemente baklei, die on vermydelike aanvaar en gevaar trotseer, sonder dat dit hom juis uitermate ontstel. Hy is 'n avonturier, reisiger en jagter, by ken alle vorms van ongerief; die onvoorspelbare is nie vir hom 'n doring in die vlees nie.

Maar dié soort gevaar is vir hom soos 'n messteek in die rug! Hier is hy in 'n vreedsame land op pad om 'n doodnor male taak te gaan verrig. Hy voel homself verantwoordelik vir die vroumense in die geselskap, omdat hy die een is wat gekonfyt is in dinge soos uitkamp en op safari gaan...maar nou gebeur dinge soos dié! En hy het net so min 'n verkla ring daarvoor as wat Mike daarvoor het. Dit is tog nie dat Romney-Films besig is om iemand of iets aan die kaak te stel deur 'n boek te verfilm wat iets kan oopvlek nie.

Of het hy, Braam van Esschenburg, deur 'n boek soos Aas voëls oor die Omaramba te skryf, dalk slapende honde wak ker gemaak? Suidwes se diamante was nog altyd iets wat die eerlike sowel as die oneerlike fortuinsoeker bekoor het. En in Aasvoëls oor die Omaramba het hy daarin geslaag om waarheid en verdigsel met ongelooflike sukses te kombineer. Hy kon dit doen omdat hy 'n diepgaande studie gemaak het van die metodes en die vernuf van diamantsmokkelaars om stene die land uit te kry. Hier en daar het hy selfs werklike insidente gekamoefleer om sy verhaal groter trefkrag te

is? En is dit moontlik dat die reis na Arikosta deur 'n ver Kan dit wees dat dit sy teenwoordigheid is wat ongewens grootglas bekyk is deur hulle wat nou besig is om stelselma tige verskrikking en verwoesting te saai? Dalk word alle paaie deur Bergmuller se handlangers bewaak. Daar is im mers net 'n paar afdraaiplekke nå Mkuze. 'n Goed georgani seerde bende kan baie maklik alle paaie wat teruglei na die

#afrikaans #poeta #dutchblr #dutch language #original poem #vangelo #nederland #duna #woorden #do revenge #RaBrand

[spookiestarts]

can you tell i have no self control,,,

based on this post by @tikmasjiens please go check it out,,

bonus doodle!

click for quality,,, anyway,,, lisp zuko hours

#lisp!zuko #zuko lisp #lu ten #atla #zuko #my art #jess art #baby zuko #tikmasjiens #fanart #atla fanart #jessart

[khtrnaak]

tagged by @tikmasjiens !! 💞

slow burn or love at first sight // fake dating or secret dating // enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers // oh no there’s only one bed or long-distance correspondence // hurt-comfort or amnesia // fantasy au or modern au // mutual pining or domestic bliss // smut or fluff // canon-compliant or fix-it // reincarnation or character death // one-shot or multi-chapter  // kid fic or road trip fic // arranged marriage or accidental marriage // high school romance or middle aged romance // time travel or isolated together // neighbors or roommates // sci-fi au or magic au // body swap or gender bend // angst or crack // apocalyptic or mundane

tagging (if you don’t wanna do this, you don’t have to!): @engagedzukka @zukkababey @foyal @overcomewithlongingfora-girl + anyone who wants to !!

#tag game #yayay i love tag games #i just never know who to tag lol #like.... do y'all like me enough to wanna be tagged by me idk #also my notifs said i was tagged by tikmasjiens but?? the post didnt have my @ so im confused #but. i did it either way hehe just 4 fun #ily

[becauseanders]

time to shine! tagged by the wonderful and talented@that-was-anticlimactic roughly a bazillion years ago!

only rule: be as thirsty for attention as you want to be! link one of your old fics/art pieces or one that didn’t get enough attention, link a work you loved to create or share a draft from your newest WIP. or do all of these. be greedy. show your art. crave attention. be proud. and don’t forget to give your friends an excuse to show off theirs!

additional note: please consider dropping one of your favorite hidden gems by an other author along with your own work so others can enjoy it as well and so that it doesn’t stay buried any longer!

and yeah to no one's surprise i'm just gonna keep this avatar since that's just all of where i am in fic right now

okay so for being thirsty for attention on myself, allow me to draw everyone else's attention to:

The Way Out Is Through, which i'm actually really proud of the more time goes on i have away from it? it didn't do very well at all but tbh i actually think it's pretty goddamn good??

i'm just gonna link the whole Sun, Stars, Earth series but there are definitely a few in there that i felt should have gotten more love than they did (while as for the most popular one by far, i will never understand how it got that popular, lol)

I've Done It All Wrong for So Long It Feels Okay…When Every Morning After Is the Same Day is another that didn't do super well and was a bit of a challenge for me but all in all i was surprisingly pleased with how it turned out

and of course Where I Want to Be is my best longfic and i sometimes love it and wonder why it does so poorly compared to other zukka longfics and sometimes i hate it and figure it's like that for a reason but i think i'm proud of it more often than not, so

i'm not even gonna bother with my fics in other fandoms right now because of how long it's been since they last updated but if you go on my ao3 i have different pseuds you can peruse as you please

and then some of my favorites, including hidden gems!

Fragile Lives/Shattered Dreams by @khashanakalashtar deserves way more love and way, way, way, way, way more kudos, please and thank you

The Last Time You Leave by @arejour…just please read this

we all know Mark Time, and we all should, but Provide by @foyal is just as beautiful and is highly underrated

we all know I've Built My Life Around You, but We All Fall Down and You Can Be the Little Spoon are just a couple of some more god tier pieces from @tikmasjiens not enough people have read (but tbh i recommend literally their whole ao3)

This House of Mine Stands Strong by @obnoxiouslykit isn't exactly unpopular but it still does not have anywhere near the numbers it deserves; also then go read all of kit's fics just do it

Fine by anattemptatwordbending is so 💙…chronic pain sokka my beloved

We All Hurt Sometimes by Toast_bastard is also just…my heart (and more good sokka love and pain)

Deeper Than Words, you never quite say (but i hear), (wherever i am) i'll come runnin', you are the best you, and do this thing by @that-was-anticlimactic are just a few of her works you should read

a truth so loud you can't ignore by @zukkaoru is FEELINGS

signs of light by @beachytablecloth 🥺

Cover Me in Gold and Pearls by @sorryimabitanxious like did y'all know he can write as well as draw?? truly a renaissance man, go read!

eight seconds (before it all sinks in) by @ambykinns is last but not least and like seriously, it is incredible and beautiful and heartbreaking but just so comforting?? i just really love this fic and y'all should love it too (but do mind the tags)

god uhh yeah, i don't know, i know i'm missing like a trillion but…i did avoid some of the really super popular ones i read and tried to shine light on the "deserves more love than they've gotten" crowd because, yeah, these are all fucking masterpieces

i'm not gonna tag anyone else but if you already came up and wanna do this then by all means!

#fic rec #tag meme #long post

[that-was-anticlimactic]

Sokka with Tourette’s Headacanons Part Two

that no one asked for but here they are because I wanted to write more

Part One here and links to all of my other TS headcanons and such at the end!

*rubs hands together*

let’s start with premonitory urge and Sokka’s experience with it!

for those who don’t know, premonitory urges are essentially sensory tics. It’s when you feel a sensation or a discomfort in your body where you want to-- no, need to do something for touch something. For example, it can be as simple as this feeling in my body and head that I need to rub my phone screen a certain way. If I don’t rub it, the uncomfortable feeling will linger and make me anxious or extra fidgety. They can also increase tics.

Now, in Sokka’s life with TS, he has had... some problems with premonitory urge. When he was younger and training to be a warrior, there were multiple occasions where he almost sliced his fingers off because he kept getting this physical feeling that he had to touch the swords or spears etc... a certain way.

When he gets older, he finds that they start to bother him during council meetings in the Fire Nation, especially when Zuko is doing important stuff so he has to sit far away.

They’ll be in the middle of an important meeting when Sokka looks up from his doodling to glance at Zuko and this tingling, gravitational feeling suddenly moves through his body and he can’t stop staring at the edge of Zuko’s chair and he knows that he needs to rub it.

Obviously, he can’t just get up in the middle of the meeting, walk over to the Fire Lord, and rub his chair (even though they are dating and Zuko would definitely let him)

I have had experiences like this during class where I would mentally shut down or have to calm myself down from an anxiety attack because I need to rub the white board my teacher is writing on or the teacher’s desk but we are literally in the middle of class so I can’t do that (doesn’t always end like that, but that’s worse case scenario). And it sucks. So much. So, Sokka is miserable.

One time Sokka was so focused on not having an anxiety attack because his body was telling him that he needed to rub the surface of a Fire Nation elder’s desk-thingy that’s in front of his chair (because sometimes his body hates him and it happens to people he doesn’t know that well’s stuff) that he mentally shut down. He ended up squatting in his chair, rocking back and forth for ten minutes after the meeting ended without realizing it because all he could think was don’t interrupt the meeting, don’t be weird, don’t embarrass Zuko

Zuko, being the fantastic boyfriend he is, noticed that Sokka didn’t leave the meeting and thought it looked like an anxiety attack. He kind of just sat with him. He didn’t touch him because he knew Sokka wouldn’t want it and wouldn’t be able to coherently answer if he asked to touch him. Zuko just started talking about random things to try to get his mind off of the feeling.

Once he got back into the moment (with help from Zuko’s dulcet voice), he ran to the desk-thingy and rubbed it. Like, almost dramatically ran his hand across the desk and kind of just let his hand take over and rub whatever part he needed to.

Zuko was confused because this had never happened before (well, it had, but not to this extreme in front of him and Sokka never said anything) so Zuko never knew).

Sokka was kind of embarrassed, but he told Zuko about it and together they came up with a signal for when it got really bad so Zuko could either call a five minute break or make an excuse to switch seats so he could sit next to his boyfriend.

This is another reason that Zuko keeps random things on him at all times so if it gets bad, Sokka will have more to do with his hands than draw, write sentences over and over again, take notes, and tap.

Actually, lowkey stealing this particular headcanon from @tikmasjiens and their story For When He’s Being a Dumb*ss (which I highly suggest reading-- it’s fantastic!): Katara and Zuko (for the purposes of later in life when they’re dating because of course imma make it Zukka) carry little fidget kits / bags around for Sokka because he is forgetful and is sometimes so focused on one particular thing that he starts to run late for a meeting or lunch or hang out that he forgets his own personal fidget things.

The amazing Katara and Zuko have random things: brushes, atla equivalent at paper clips (aka metal things he can bend) (yes, yes, we’ve been hiding this from the world, but people with Tourette’s are actually paper clip benders lol), dice, Pai Sho tiles, and other little trinkets.

One time when Sokka was walking around an Earth Kingdom market out of boredom (and this is after the war because I just want him to not be on edge during this), he sees this young girl making noises and movements similar to him and he sees these two other kids mocking her and laughing at her and Sokka just sees red.

He actually goes over and scolds the kids (who don’t care enough to stay and listen ugh but that’s not the main focus of Sokka’s concern so it’s whatever for now) and this young girl sees him (at around age 17-18) making noises and moving ‘weirdly’ too and she’s just like “I’ve never seen anyone else do that stuff before”

and Sokka kind of just sits down with her and talks to her about his own experience and it’s not anything to be ashamed of, even though it can feel like that sometimes.

he rummages through his pockets and pulls out some of his fidget stuff and gives it to her. He, Zuko, and Katara have plenty of fidget stuff for him. Losing a few won’t matter.

Eventually, her parents return and they part ways. They never see each other again, but they never forgot each other either. It was both of their first time seeing someone else like them.

(and personal anecdote, but one time I was faculty at a camp for the weekend, and one of the kids in my group had just gotten diagnosed with Tourette’s and that was one of the most meaningful experiences I have ever had. I got to talk to him and his mom about my experience and it was... I’ll never forget that)

Sokka may be the protective older brother, but Katara is also the terrifying ‘you hurt my brother I will ruin you’ younger sister. One time, someone mocked Sokka’s tics and Katara’s protective instincts kicked in and she lectured them so hard. and very loudly. so everyone heard.

again, y’all, I know this is about Sokka with TS but WOW I love Katara too, what a queen. Let’s take a moment and appreciate the queen that she is.

Ty Lee and Sokka do yoga together at least twice a week. They both find it relaxing and fun and nice, but it also helps Sokka begin the day with less stress in his body. It doesn’t cure his TS, because there is no cure and he needs no cure, but it definitely helps sometimes.

Something that absolutely kills Sokka is that he wants to cuddle with Zuko at night so badly, but sometimes he genuinely just can’t. Zuko’s arms around him will make him feel too trapped and restrained, his arms around Zuko make him paranoid that if he moves too much, he’ll make Zuko uncomfortable and just stressed himself out by only being able to think about “am I moving too much?” “can Zuko feel me move?” “stay still stay still stay still” and it’s just not fun and he gets tense

But sometimes, he can cuddle and he loves it! Because as much as he hates being held, he desperately longs to be held. As self-conscious as he gets when he holds Zuko, he wants to be able to hold Zuko.

So when he feels like he can cuddle with Zuko, he gets so excited!

Zuko swears up and down that the lack of cuddling on occasion does not bother him, but Sokka still has trouble believing him (not that he doesn’t trust him, but he can’t understand how someone would be okay with it)

One time, Sokka was so distressed about whether or not Zuko was upset with him or pretending not to be upset to spare his feelings that Zuko invited Toph over so she could inform Sokka that he was, in fact, telling the truth about it being okay that they can’t always cuddle and be physically affectionate.

Sokka’s verbal tics both annoy him and don’t annoy him. He’s so used to hearing them that they don’t bother him anymore, but sometimes they make it hard for him to talk and he can feel them and that’s what bothers him.

He’s also self-conscious that everyone hates his verbal tics and are annoyed by them.

On a really bad head day for Sokka, the gaang was going to see a theatrical show per Zuko’s request and it was the first time in months they had all been able to hang out together and Sokka wasn’t having a good tic day and was so genuinely afraid to go to the show because he was going to tic and make noises and what if he distracted everyone? what if the strangers in the audience got mad at him? what if the ushers forced him to leave? how embarrassing would that be?

so he pretended to be sick and didn’t go

but Toph saw through his crap and stayed behind as well because “you’ve heard a play once, you’ve heard it a thousand times” and when everyone leaves, she calls Sokka out and asks him what was up

and he knew he couldn’t get away with lying to Toph, so he told her the truth and she just kind of laughed and went “they don’t bother any of us, seriously”

and Sokka was just “how do you know? It’s not like how much my tics don’t annoy you come up naturally in conversation”

and Toph goes “I don’t need to talk to them about it to know that no one’s bothered by them. Besides, they care about you more than they care about what sounds you make” then punched his arm

(and if Sokka silently cried, no one needed to know)

so, overtime, he gets the nerve to ask everyone individually (because there’s no way he could do everyone at once) just to make sure he wasn’t bothering them. He doesn’t get to ask everyone because some of them kind of get a feeling that he’s anxious about it (and if Zuko maybe mentioned it to some people so they approached him and causally mentioned they weren’t bothered, no one needs to know oops) (don’t worry, Zuko didn’t say anything super personal. Just like “tell Sokka his tics don’t bother you because he thinks they do”. Not like the details and stuff Sokka told him in private)

Katara didn’t answer, just asked if she could hug him and said that she loved him no matter what (and ten minutes later asked him if anyone told him that because if someone in the gaang said it, then she wouldn’t be afraid to spill blood)

Zuko, ever the dramatic and romantic one, knelt in front of Sokka (who was sitting) and went “I love you. I love every single part of you.” *kisses his hands* “I love you for your finger clenching and fist pumping.” *kisses his shoulders* “I love you for your shoulder rolling...” *kisses his neck* “your neck twitches...” *kisses his nose* “your nose scrunching...” *gently kisses each eye* “your blinking...” *kisses his lips* “and for every verbal and motor tic you’ve ever had and ever will have”

(look, I’m just... I’m so soft for that moment and I think about it constantly)

Suki gives him this hard and serious look and says “you are not annoying. You never have been and you never will be” and from just her stare and tone of voice, he knows she’s telling the truth.

Aang immediately just starts rambling and is like “I’m so sorry if I ever made you feel that way but you as so far from annoying! Honestly, sometimes I forget they’re even there I’m just so used to them-- not that they’re forgetful or anything, but they’re just so normal to me that I don’t notice-- why are you crying? Did I say that wrong? I’m sorry--”

and Sokka just grabs him and hugs him and says “No. I love you. Thank you.”

Mai is bad at emoting but she tells him “I don’t mind them. They’re comforting. Sometimes. Better than the sound of an empty house or screaming.”

Ty Lee immediately goes into “who told you you were annoying? I have some new moved I’d like to try. Give me names and they’re test subjects number one” and even Sokka feels fear at the look on her face even though the anger isn’t directed towards him

Azula is kind of snarky at first (because she’s trying not to, but it’s hard and it’s not her fault). She just gives him this seriously? look and kind of goes “you really think they’re significant enough to bother me?” and Sokka knows that’s Azula’s healing way of saying “no, they don’t bother me”

okay but let’s also talk about Hakoda and Piandao and Iroh because I want to and I love them

Hakoda kind of does what Katara does and asks if he can hug him and just tells him how proud he is of Sokka for the man that he’s become and that his TS is a part of who he is and it’s a part of his identity and there’s nothing his TS could ever do to make him any less proud

Piandao actually talked to Sokka about it during Sokka’s Master because it was holding him back of bit. Sokka was kind of embarrassed and was getting frustrated with it. Piandao sat him down and told him that perceived weaknesses are actually one of our greatest strengths. Being a nonbender looks like a weakness to many benders who rely solely on their bending, but it takes a certain kind of person to be a nonbender and that’s something to be proud of. The things that make you different are sometimes the things that teach you how special you are.

Piandao just sees so much potential and good in Sokka and Sokka looks up to him so much.

Iroh always lends Sokka extra or old Pai Sho tiles to fidget with. He also has this relaxing tea that helps his mind feel calm. Again, not with the intent to “fix” or “cure” him, but it helps his anxiety levels go down, in turn helping his tics relax.

Iroh tells Sokka that his tics are nothing to be ashamed of and that true friends would stick with him, tics or no tics.

hey? hey? guess what? Bumi ll didn’t just inherent the nonbending from Sokka, he also got the Tourette’s genes:)

imagine the Uncle / Nephew bonding between them

like, Bumi ll asks him why Kya and Tenzin don’t do weird things but he does? and Sokka just smiles sadly because he knows the feeling and talks to him about Tourette’s.

Bumi ll also got lucky because Katara saw the signs instantly and got him tested as soon as she could.

Let’s just say, aside from the gaang, the Kataang family is the most supportive family of his TS:) (it doesn’t hurt that his aunts and uncles will hung down anyone who ever makes him feel like trash and lecture them or their parents oops)

this is something I have mentioned before, but Sokka struggles to sit through meetings. Having TS and ADHD make it so hard for him.

sometimes he just feels so out of place because in this room full of people, he’s the only one rocking back and forth in his chair and changing his position every three seconds and jerking his head. He just feels... so wrong when he sees how still everyone else is sitting. Yeah, occasionally he’ll see some people tapping their foot or tapping the table in front of them with their fingers, but it’s not the same.

BUT on a happy note and not to make this all depressing (because TS sucks sometimes, but there’s nothing wrong with it or us and it’s a part of who we are) Sokka 100% has a top ten list of his favorite and least favorite tics of all time (I don’t know if people keep track of their favorites or if that’s just something I like to do, but I would imagine that a decent amount of people with TS know their favorites and least favorites)

I won’t bore y’all with an actual list, but his favorite tic is rocking back and forth. The motion is so soothing and comforting to him. Like, it feels right to be rocking. Yeah, sometimes he gets self-conscious about it, especially if he’s the only one in the room moving, but it feels so nice and right.

Sokka: *tics a couple times in a row* ughhhh that was not fun

Toph: *jokingly* wow, I mean, can’t you just, I don’t know, stop? Just, not do it?

Sokka: *jokingly* great idea, Toph! Why didn’t I think of that? All I needed to do all along was just not want to tic!

Toph is the only one ever allowed to do this bit with him. Sokka thinks it’s the funniest thing and it never fails to make laugh

Toph said that out of sarcastic instinct one time and almost choked on her drink because she felt so bad but Sokka was stifling a laugh and replied super sarcastically and then just laughed.

Toph still felt really bad and apologized (Sokka told her it was fine and he wasn’t upset, but she’s also been on the other side of jokes like that and it’s not fun).

Now, though, it’s kind of their thing. They do it every once in awhile and it flows like any other banter. It just happens and they don’t even blink.

(if anyone else did that to Sokka, though, Toph would probably rob them or like soak their clothes in cactus juice so they’re all sticky idk, she just wouldn’t stand for it)

Sokka actually takes a leave of absence from being an ambassador to travel around the four nations and visit schools with Toph and Zuko (who also take breaks). The three of them go to educate schools on disabilities (their own and others).

Sokka also personally makes it his mission to sit in one class at every school and see if there’s anything that he can give advice on. Sometimes, he talks to principals and teachers about how to help accommodate students with learning or “disruptive” disabilities so that they can get the best education that they can while still feeling comfortable and safe.

Now, the three don’t get this all done at once, it takes a year or two, but they do it and all three are just... really proud of it.

Sokka really struggles with Locus of Control (LOC). For those who don’t know, LOC is “ a psychological concept that refers to how strongly people believe they have control over the situations and experiences that affect their lives” (Ed.glossary.org).

Sokka, as many headcanon, likes having control over situations or likes having things ordered and scheduled. He doesn’t like changes to his schedule, he likes having schedules... his tics, on the other hand, are not something he can control or schedule

Giving up that control is hard for him. It wasn’t too bad as a child in a super small village, but once he left the SWT with Aang and Katara, he realized how different having tics was (although he was the only one back at home with tics, he often worked with restless children)

He went through a period of time where he thought that he could control his tics, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t. Thus, the loss of control he feels.

He actually went through a ‘phase’ once where he thought that maybe he was making his tics up and doing them on purpose for attention or to be different or something. Katara quickly shut him down and told him that he wasn’t doing that.

I once saw someone say that Sokka has imposter syndrome and I think it correlates a bit with LOC in this context (I should actually do some research about that...).

Learning to understand that he won’t always have control is hard for him. Like. Really hard. He tried so desperately to control his tics and it just increased his anxiety and wore him out. Trying to control tics freaking hurts.

Aang is actually the one to help him with that. He’s had a lot of experience of not being able to control his own life, and although their situations are different, he has methods he uses to attempt to prevent himself from overthinking too much and letting his anxiety take control.

After that, Sokka doesn’t struggle with LOC as badly as he did before. It still sneaks in time after time, but it’s never too prominent and Aang is always there with some advice and distractions:)

(I just also love Aang so much and he deserves the world)

Although Sokka is “weird” with touch, there is one type of touch he is almost always on board with: massages. Massages. I’ll say it one more time: massages. They feel so nice. He carries so much stress in his back and shoulders because of how much he moves them due to his tics.

Zuko can tell when Sokka’s shoulders and back start to hurt really badly and will just sit behind him, heat his hands up (not too much), and give him the absolute best massages.

No. Seriously. Zuko gives the best massages (Sokka once wanted to return the favour and uhhh.... Zuko was not a fan. Although Friends isn’t the best show to take examples from, but uhh Sokka gives massages like Monica Gellar. That is all. Zuko gets his massages from Ty Lee).

Suki gives the second best massages.

Katara third.

So, there’s this one Kyoshi Warrior that works with Suki on guard that Sokka just can’t crack. She has an RBF and rolls her eyes and stuff a lot and she uhhh is kind of rather facially expressive but like, RBF style, so one time when Sokka is having a bad tic day, she makes a face.

It wasn’t aimed towards him, it was about something else, but his heart just breaks because this girl he had been trying to get to open up a bit to him and let loose and not be so freaking serious all of the time hates him.

and later she approached him and just “Sorry. I don’t... I don’t get annoyed by your tics or you or anything. I find them soothing and, I don’t know, nice. Like a reminder that the Fire Lord’s boyfriend is still safe. And they sound nice. I don’t hate them. Or. You.” (look, feelings are hard for her)

and Sokka just :D

alrighty, this is longer than I intended... so we’ll end with me mentioning something I mentioned last time: Yue! (I love her). She never once brings up Sokka’s tics. She never makes faces or asks him why he makes sounds. She’s studied a lot, and while there isn’t too much out there about TS, it’s the NWT, they have lots of books. She could see the signs and assumed.

Never once in the amount of time that they knew each other did she mention it. Sokka appreciated not having to explain himself. He felt safe and welcome there with Yue.

Thank you for reading, anyone who made it to the bottom! I enjoy talking about TS as well as my own experience with it. I love writing about Sokka with TS in particular. There isn’t a lot of TS rep out there, really only the one episode of South Park (don’t watch the show, but I watched the clips about Tourette’s education that the Tourette’s Association of America approved of. It was really heartfelt and lovely to watch and is also a good representation of coprolalia!) and the movie Front of the Class.

My ask box is always available for questions about TS, Sokka with TS, Jay (Ninjago) with TS, anyone’s personal TS headcanons or experience, or any underrepresented neurological disorder that you want to share!

List of TS Stuff Already Written: Part One here , Deeper Than Words (a oneshot I wrote on ao3 of Sokka with TS), a lovely Sokka with TS oneshot written by @tikmasjiens (sorry for tagging you twice ahhh)​ here , Stuck (a Sokka with TS excerpt from a fic I’m writing), NInjago Jay!TS Oneshot

#atla #Avatar The Last Airbender #atla sokka #sokka avatar #tourette's syndrome #but what if... Sokka has tourettes #atla tourettes #sokka headcanons #tourettes headcanons #zukka #Zukka but tourettes and a healthy dose of angst #katara #zuko #suki #aang #toph #hakoda #iroh #piandao #look I love my kiddos #sorry for the long post and stuff but uhhh #I want to put some TS rep out there! #there isn't a lot and it isn't understood very well so:) #premonitory urge #only some of this is self-projection #some of it is literally just for Sokka specifically #but also some of it is super heavy self-projection #I need to stop rambling in the tags #corey rambles:)

[artbean]

i don’t wanna look at anything else now that i saw you/i don’t wanna think of anything else now that i thought of you

my @atlanewyearexchange piece for @tikmasjiens !!!!! suki and sokka working at a library together was just an unmatched aesthetic i had to see through. i hope you like it, happy new year! ✨ (ID under the cut)

[ID: A digital painting of Sokka and Suki from Avatar: the Last Airbender. Sokka's sitting on a couch asleep, with his head propped up by his hand, elbow resting on the armrest. Wearing glasses and a blue sweater vest, a book hangs loose in his other hand. Suki is laying across his lap lovingly gazing up at him, in a loose yellow t-shirt reading a book herself. Behind them there are rows of bookshelves. The sun streams in from the left corner, draping them both in golden speckles of dust dancing in the light. END ID]

#atla #avatar the last airbender #atla fanart #sokka #sukka #suki #atla fan art #lexidoodledoo #2021 #atlanewyearexchange #this was truly a JOY to create #so thank u

[ghuiyun]

I'm a younger sibling, whom grown up in a not so peaceful family. I've realized how much that situation has effected me & my characteristics, and I can't help but think of a character in a similiar situation:

Azula.

We knew that Ozai was viotile. He was dangerous. I wouldn't be suprised if he hit Zuko. So imagine young Azula, standing there striken with fear, as her father 'punished' Zuko. She must have seen it at least a couple times. And that shit traumatizes you. That shit makes you learn to adapt. So now, whenever Ozai 'punished' Zuko, she starts to take mental notes. What not to do, what not to say, how not to act. Cause father doesn't like those things, and that means you get punished. So you have to stop doing those things. Azula's smart too. So she'll start to notice Ozai's body language too. What he's like when he starts getting annoyed. What a micro movement means. How to act when he's in a bad mood. How to reoly and react correctly when he's in his moods. When to stop talking. When to give praises. Cause these information is crucial. These information makes sure she wont ever get 'punished'. It doesn't work all the time, sometimes she gets those 'punishements' too. In time though she gets better, she can read her father well. And later on, she can read others well too.

And Ursa, seeing Zuko take more punishments than Azula, looks after him more. Protects him more, sees him more. It must hurt a little, to see that. So she starts looking for Ozai's love and affection instead. She can already read him so well. She can make him see her easier. She wont even realize how she's bending herself, her emotions, her outlook to match his. Doing what he does, believing his beliefs, treating people the ways he does. And soon, she can't even remember the girl she was. All she remembers now is how to act like `this`. She doesn't even remember the reason why mother keeps looking at her like that. Isn't this the right way? The best way? This is what gets attention, this is how you get respect. So why does mother keep looking at her like she's a monster?? It doesn't matter anyway. Mother only spends time with Zuko, mother only smiles warmly for Zuko. Father smiles at her. He praises her. Mother's opinion doesn't matter anyway. She disappeared. She left. She didn't even say goodbye to her. But she did for Zuko though. So Mother must not care for her as she did for zuko. She didn't say anything, but really, she didn't have to. Azula saw it in her eyes, the was mother looked at her. It's okay. She has Father. All she needs is Father anyway.

She doesn't feel bad for Zuko when he get punished anymore. She used to, but not anymore. Cause Zuko should have learned to adapt. Zuko should have took those punishments and learned from them. But he never did, no matter how Azula hinted him too. So that's on him. Afterall, she learned, so why can't he? But then again, he was always a slow learner.

Azula probably realises all this later on in life. After she get the help she desperately need. She'll probably deny it all first. She'll probably think she was okay. But when the relization comes..... She'll probably resent her family. She'll probably cry. But she'll understand why she did it all. She was just trying to make the best of her situation. Truely, she was just trying to survive.

[note: this is just a little character rant about azula that I made. I pulled some of this from my personal experiences and I understand if there are people who dont agree with me. If you think this is to OC that's okay, this is just my opinion. That said, I am not a native English speaker so I apologize in advance for grammartical and spelling errors.

Also @tikmasjiens this was the azula rant I mentioned haha. Hope you like it.]

#atla #avatar the last airbender #azula atla #azula and zuko #character study #trauma

[your-royal-momoness]

You’re my favorite blog! Do you have any blog recs?

I am honored to be a favorite 😭

First and foremost, the blogsquad (still chaotic no matter what mom says)

@sifuzuko / @firelord-sunflower / @azu1as / @whats-a-reading / @limit-list / @flameo-hotman / @motherofturtleducks / @wholittophonfire / @aboutiroh / @visit-ba-sing-se / @foiblepnoteworthy / @nothing-more-than-hot-leaf-juice

Other blogs I regularly reblog from/interact with/love with the force of a thousand suns:

@bluberry-spicehead

@junesbiceps

@incorrectzukka

@dickpuncher420 / @dickpuncherdraws

@pencilscratchins

@sword-and-stars

@tikmasjiens

@hi-raethia

@transzukostanblog

@tonyaward-winner-princezuko

@nonbinary-crafter-aang

@thatssroughbuddy

@chief-yue

@soft-zuko

@zukkababey

@engagedzukka

@sokka-with-his-hair-down

@i-make-art-and-struggle

@miyuki-scourgeofthefirenation

@beepboopbitch

#if I didn’t mention you I’m sorry! #I interact with so many people on here I love you all #it’s always loving the blogsquad hours #blog recs #atla #avatar the last airbender #ask the trashbender

[marriedzukka]

17 and 20 for the fanfic asks?

17. Describe a fic that is still in the ‘ideas’ stage.

I had a thought the other day for an au where they meet at a grief support group. that’s about as far as I got with that one lol

20. Do you have a favorite fanfic or author? If so, tag them/post a link and share the love!

i’ll tag some authors! 

@zukkababey @dameferre @macdenlesbian @dickpuncher420 @engagedzukka @bisexuallsokka  @oldpotatoe @jatersade and @tikmasjiens 

im sure there are more but that’s who i could think of off the top of my head <3

#answered #anonymous #i know there are a ton of talented people im leaving out i just have a shit memory of whose url is whose sometimes

[zukkababey]

Hello, i am a new atla fan (just started watching it) and so far Sokka is my favorite character. I also ship Zukka already so much (eventhough they barely interacted so far). My question is: do you know any long Zukka ffs where Sokka is the one getting comfort? (So far i only found one where Zuko is comforted by Sokka). I hope its okay to ask. I dont want to bother you! Have a nice day 💛

i have been reliably informed that perhaps I’ve Built My Life Around You by @tikmasjiens may fit the bill. if anyone has any other suggestions please add on!

#anonymous #answered #i’m bad at specific fic recs i’m very sorry #hopefully someone will add on!!!

[ao3feed-zukka]

Branches of the Same Tree

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2Umwl6A

by Pippinpaddleopsicopolis (Barnable)

A collection of drabbles and ficlets from my tumblr @tikmasjiens because I can't keep track of them all anymore and I'm sure you can't either.

Words: 3251, Chapters: 5/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Avatar: The Last Airbender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Relationships: Sokka/Zuko (Avatar)

Additional Tags: Ficlet Collection, Drabble Collection, Originally Posted on Tumblr, this is literally just all my atla ficlets & drabbles, because i need to organize them better, if i tried to tag correctly this would get ungodly long, so tags are at the start of each chapter, and pairings are in the titles, for easier browsing

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2Umwl6A

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #zukka #avatar: the last airbender #atla #zuko #sokka

[rebrandtdebibls]

Ek kan net sowel die hele storie vertel, tu hey ed klaarkry met Naomi; Om seks met haar te hê is soos om seks te hê soos 'n strykplank. Dan kan ons meer chronologies voortgaan met Talana, en dit vereenvoudig die saak vir My eie geheim van haar net soveel as wat sy hulle in die anus wil hê;see tyd.Oor myself is daar natuurlik geen verdere storie nie, behalwe hier en daar as as as verteller en waar nemer en deler in haar lotgevalle, maar altyd op die agtergrond. Ek belowe. Net as

Drie dae ná die episode met Naomi, het ek gesê, het Nin my gebel. Dit het so gebeur. In plaas van in 'n studentekoshuis, het ek by vriendin van my ouers tuisgegaan, 'n kinderlose egpaar op 'n kleinhoewe net buitekant Ek het 'n bietjie gesuig en toe het sy dit geniet om haar handjob te kry en ek het WhatsApp gekyk, by . Daarom moes ek fietsry, universiteit toe en terug en waar ek ook al wou gaan; En daar moes ek baie van Naso se brutale poes suig as ek die dag wou voortgaan om universiteit toe te gaan. Wat my ouers en my herkoms op De Aar betref, waar my vader 'n sinjaalman op die Spoorweë was, is daar niks noemenswaardig om te vertel nie. Niks, in elk geval, wat verband hou met hierdie storie nic.

Ek het teen vyfuur daardie middag tuis gekom en die boodskap by tant Nansie ontvang. 'n Dametjie met 'n pragtige stemmetjie het geskakel en gevra dat ek haar by die hele middag vanaf vyf laat naai maar uitgeput dat ek al klaar was van die laaste een af so-en-so moes bel, asse blief. Ek wens ek kon daardie nommer onthou! skakel dat Naomi Wie sê as ek dit nou skakel dat nie dalk weer sal as nie? Toe maar, sommer 'n waansinnige skrywersgedagte, net soos my vrees, byvoor beeld, dat ek een aand by my donker kamer sal instap en myself in die maanstraal deur die venster voor my tikmasjien sal sien sit. Ver geet daarvan. 'n Juffrou Nin, het die tannie gesê.,,Seker 'n drama studentjie, Daat, of hoe?"

,,Ek weet waarlik nie, Nin; ek sal maar self moet vasstel." Jammer ek kon nie dadelik die dierbare mens se nuuskierigheid be vredig nie, maar met die beste wil ter wêreld Kent ek op daardie oom blik nie 'n juffrou Nin in verband bring met enigiets nie. Die enigste antwoord was toe maar om die nommer te skakel.

Nin hier," was die reaksie daarop.

Ek is Daat Minnaar. Ek verstaan ek moet jou bel." Eintlik wonder ek of ek die regte ding gedoen het." Juffrou, wie is jy, en waarmee kan ek help?" Hoewel dit toe al Net 'n liefde vir deurgang.

#dutch language #do revenge #afrikaans

[spookiestarts]

niche fic writers really are doing gods work

#im looking at you lisp zuko writers #SPECIFICALLY tikmasjiens and potatoe #i am looking RESPECTFULLY

[becauseanders]

1. How long ago did you start reading fanfiction? Writing fanfiction?

3. Are there any fics that inspired you to write what you do?

4. Link your three favorite fics right now.

32. Copy and paste your top three favorite lines/jokes/sentences you’ve ever written. What fics do they come from?

39. What’s something about your writing that you pride yourself on?

1. How long ago did you start reading fanfiction? Writing fanfiction? answered here! :)

3. Are there any fics that inspired you to write what you do? oh yes. i started reading before i started writing and i honestly can’t remember what the first fic that made me go “i want to do this too” was (i know it was for dragon age ii, but unfortunately that’s all i’ve got), but then i started going and just couldn’t stop! @hawkeykirsah, @faith-less-one, and @rock-paperback-scissors were definitely super inspirational in me getting into writing for mass effect. and then I’ve Built My Life Around You by @tikmasjiens was the first one i read that really thrust me hard into atla fic, and then feels like we only go backwards by @oldpotatoe, and i was just so blown away by those that then the progression from there was natural, lol.

4. Link your three favorite fics right now. oh god, this is hard but…umm… (and i won’t count ibmlay or flwogb since i’ve already linked those anyway)

Mark Time by @foyal​ (which i’m sure literally everyone knew i would say, but hey)

The Last Time You Leave by @arejour​

we dream together to survive by arsonist (if he has tumblr i don’t know it, i’m sorry!)

also special mention to Salvage by @muffinlance​  even though i know that’s cheating but because, again, this was really hard and i feel wrong not listing this but also like literally everyone reads it already, so (for real, though, the amount of fics i’m leaving out here is killing me, i am so sorry)

32. Copy and paste your top three favorite lines/jokes/sentences you’ve ever written. What fics do they come from?

hmm…this is also hard but for entirely different reasons, ahaha…and tbh all of these answers would probably be entirely different if asked on another day but i’m just going with whatever comes to mind first

“Do you think anyone here knows anything about how to get your cat to choose a Hebrew name?” / Sokka looks Suki in the eyes at that, snickering into his hand. “I’m sorry, what the fuck?” / “One of my coworkers has a cat who’s turning thirteen soon and she wants to give her a cat mitzvah, but she’s stuck on how to go about giving her a Hebrew name.” / “Please tell me you’re not making this up.” / “Cat mitzvah, Sokka. Cat mitzvah. Do I look like I’m making that up?” — from Where I Want to Be

“‘With both my hands full—I can die a happy man—All is gratitude.’” — from All I Ever Wanted Was Everything

“Her greatest vulnerabilities are vespertine.” — from Lady Lazarus

39. What’s something about your writing that you pride yourself on?

i honestly don’t know from my own perspective, but i am told a lot how well i handle disability and mental illness, as well as abuse, but that kind of feels a little cheap to give myself real credit for since that’s stuff i can write pretty easily because i have so much experience with it but…yeah, that’s all i’ve got

#the trash makes noise #pottergotwholocked #writing things #ask game #thank you!!!!!

[that-was-anticlimactic]

I was tagged by the lovely and wonderful @zukosaturtle-duck :) thank you, Ellen:)

1. name/nickname: Corey actually is my nickname! My full name is Corrina but when I first made an Instagram fan account in 2012, someone asked my name and sixth grade me panicked and said Corey! I’m sick of having my name mispronounced even after correcting them, so I like giving people options:) I’ve also had two teachers accidentally call me Corona in the past year so I guess that’s a nickname too lol

2. gender: female

3. star sign: Capricorn

4. height: so. I haven’t measured or weighed myself in literal years because I just didn’t ?? Last time I measured myself, I was 5’1 1/2, but I think I’m 5’2 now?? Maybe 5’2 1/2???? I should probably measure myself haha

5. time: 12:31pm

6. birthday: December 29th

7. favorite bands/groups: ... I listen to Broadway:) so I’ll just name my favorite musicals: Aladdin, A Chorus Line, Come From Away, and Starry:)

8. favorite solo artist: ummm again, I listen to mostly Broadway so umm I’ll just name some more musical I like: Dogfight, Finding Neverland, anything by Team Starkid, Into the Woods, The Lightning Thief:)

9. song stuck in my head: Love Thy Neighbor from The Prom

10. last movie: Legend of Everfree

11. last show: I’m actually currently rewatching Psych (like literally right now I’m watching the episode Shawn (and Gus) of the Dead as I type this). It’s, in my opinion, the best live action show out there.

12. when did i create this blog: imma be real— I don’t remember?? Either 2017 or 2018???

13. what do i post: my blog used to be Ninjago, but now it’s a mix of atla / lok, Ninjago, The Hollow, and pretty much any cartoon! I also reblog some musical stuff, friendly reminders, and just stuff I think is important! I do post fanfiction on occasion as well! Love reblogging art because I can’t draw for crap and seeing beautiful art is 🥺🥰

14. last thing i googled: “when is kiss of the spider woman set” I was on a face time with my internet friends last night and every night I practice trying to say all of the MLP episodes in a season (alternates by night) in order, so I did s5 and then my other friend was like “gimme a year and I bet I can name all of the Tony nominees for best musical every year” and we were double checking haha

15. other blogs: this is my only blog akbekejrj

16. do i get asks: sometimes! The majority of my asks have to do with Sokka with Tourette’s headcanons or anything with TS, and I love that:)

17. why did i choose this url: my favorite word is anticlimactic and one of the scenes that made me laugh the hardest in Ninjago is in s5 ep4 when Cole thinks the other three are playing a prank on him and they’re running after him and Jay screams “DON’T OPEN THAT DOOR” and then nothing happens and Kai just goes “... well that was anticlimactic” and it’s just my favorite thing ever and I’ve considered changing my url to zukkaclimactic but I love that line so much I’m wjevjebr

18. following: 253 (crap I should follow more people wksbejje)

19. followers: 434🥺 thanks for putting up with my crap, friends🥺

20. average hours of sleep: hahahhaha umm god question. not sure. terrible sleep schedule, just ask Grace lol

21. lucky number: 3! I just love odd numbers and years ago (like sixth grade again) my friend and I made a dumb little Ninjago number code for whatever reason and my favorite character was three and idk I’ve felt a “connection” with three ever since haha

22. instruments: I played alto saxophone in band for seven-eight years, three years in marching band and tenor sax one year in marching band and part of my junior / senior year of high school!

23. what am i wearing: lol haven’t left my bed yet today so pajama pants with cute little cartoon pigs on them and a black long sleeve shirt hahahha

24. dream job: well, I’m going to college for English education, so teaching high school English is absolutely a dream job, but my impossible dream job would be voice acting, Broadway (if I could I actually sing ugh), or I would like to write a cartoon television show (and also lowkey voice a character). I do actually love my major, though, and it is a dream job!

25. dream trip: DENMARK DENMARK DENAMRK DENMARK!!! I love Denmark. I’m literally attempting to learn Danish for fun because I love Denmark. I know three Danish sign language words (I’m also almost fluent in asl but this is Danish sign language I—) but um ahem aside from Denmark, any trip where I meet my internet friends

26. favorite food: ngl I really like tomatoes. I eat whole tomatoes like apples a lot. Fantastic.

27. nationality: american

28. favorite song: my favorite song will always be High Adventure from Aladdin. That song is so important to me for reasons I won’t get into right now because this is long enough as it is, but that will always be my favorite song.

29. last book read: hmm I think the last book I read was fanfiction uhh but I am currently reading The Color Purple!

30. 3 fictional universes you’d like to live in: bro. Bro. Can I just live in a fictional universe. How must I choose only three ??? Umm Equestria from MLP, there’s just something so magical and powerful about the world from Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts and maybe it’s the fact that in the end humans and mutes live on the surface together so that’s my number two, and uhhh the world in Land of Stories like the book world.

Oh boy the hardest part: tagging people who haven’t been tagged yet. Umm @evelinaonline (I know you aren’t on tumblr as much, but friendship is magic haha), @tikmasjiens , @dnd-beyond (my fellow starkid fan), @rainydaysammy , and @canyourscienceexplainthis (feel free to not do this if you don’t want to! There’s no pressure to do it!)

#tag game #ellen I love you #thank you for the means to procrastinate #and rant about musicals lol

[benbrecht]

ʼn Grys paneelwa met rooi gotiese letters

Ek kan nie my vinger plaas op wanneer dit gebeur het nie. Waar hy vir my gestaan en wag het, kan ek ook nie nou soos ek hier sit onthou nie. Dit moes iewers langs ʼn bekende paadjie gewees het, want in daardie tyd in my lewe het ek nie langs nuwe weë gewandel nie. Ek was pynlik voorspelbaar vir enige iemand wat belang gestel het. Maar wanneer daardie grys paneelwa met ‘prestige’ in dramatiese rooi gotiese letters langs die pad begin staan het, kan ek nie met sekerheid vir jou sê nie. Op ʼn dag het hy verskyn, ek het hom aanvanklik geïgnoreer en rustig bly wandel, en uiteindelik ingeklim.

En oor die afgelope twaalf jaar (heel waarskynlik meer, dalk eerder vier-en-twintig) het ek nog nie gereeld genoeg hieraan gedink nie. Ek het nog nooit voorheen gedink aan die ‘kleure’ van prestige en of daar eintlik die Afrikaanser ‘aansien’ buite-op die paneelwa gestaan het nie. Maar as jy my nou nog op enige manier ken, sal jy weet ‘aansien’ sal my nie naastenby so maklik lok soos ‘prestige’ nie. En wat is dramatieser as rooi gotiese letters op ʼn grys agtergrond? Iets besonders gedefinieerd op ʼn wolk van uiterste ongedefinieerdheid – watter ander perfeksie is daar? En natuurlik het die paneelwadeur seepglad oopgegly, want daar is min goed wat my so irriteer soos sukkel en ek sou nie in ʼn paneelwa geklim het wat se deur nie geluidloos sy ding doen nie. En in hierdie paneelwa vou ek myself dubbel en werk en kap deuntjies op die kant uit om te weet daar is iets daarbuite. En gelukkig het ek onlangs weer ʼn boek gelees1 wat my opnuut laat dink het aan hoe verskillende wêrelde oor mekaar beweeg, sonder dat hulle noodwendig mekaar beïnvloed of van mekaar bewus is. Iewers op die paneelwavloer was die boek versteek, so als is nie net sleg in hierdie grysheid nie. Weet ek dalk net nie van ek wat nie in die paneelwa geklim het nie? Of het hy net in een geklim wat iets ander sê?

Ek hou daarvan om te dink die ander ek lei ʼn beskeie lewe iewers waar hy ʼn tikmasjien beman, sagte klere dra en gereeld handgeskrewe briewe vir geliefdes pos. En sy geld verdien hy deur vir kinders voor te lees en nie skaam te wees vir aalmoese nie. Wat? Dit hoef nie altyd liefdadigheid te wees nie 😉. Meer as dit het hy nooit rugpyn of hoofpyn of maagpyn nie, en hy dans gereeld met sy elektroniesedansmusiek op die hoogste volumeverstelling wat sy skootrekenaar toelaat. Hy sê ook nie vyf-en-tagtig keer jammer as hy niks verkeerd gedoen het nie. En so nou en dan skryf hy iets waarop hy trots is, dan stuur hy dit vir mense wat dit lees. Hy het ook ʼn A5-ringbindlêer waarin daar lukrake name is en hy kies elke oggend een, afhangende van hoe hy voel wanneer hy opstaan. En elke Vrydag gaan koop hy ʼn Magnum (wat in ʼn ander wêreld nader aan tien rand is, nie dertig rand nie) en gaan sit en eet dit op die een bankie net voor die ingang van die park. Want selfs in ʼn ander wêreld sal ek iewers op die rant funksioneer. Daardie paneelwa dink ek is oraait en die kleure is nie so kontrasterend nie. Dalk ʼn ligblou wa met ‘geluksalig’ in ʼn dromerige, nuwewitmatsagte liggeel opgeverf. Wie sal nou weet.

Wat staan buite op die paneelwa waarin jy geklim het? Spring jy tussen verskillende paneelwaens en is dit nie uitputtend nie?

Notas:

1 Die eerste roman wat ek gelees het wat my bewustelik hieraan laat begin dink het, was

Die ongelooflike onskuld van Dirkie Verwey

van Charl-Pierre Naudé wat ek in November 2018 gelees het. Die tweede, onlangser roman was

Imaginary friend

van Stephen Chbosky wat ek in Februarie 2020 gelees het.