#⸻ ♡ 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ⟨ addison walsh ⟩

[smthliminal]

"You're in the right company," Tomiko's shoulder lifted and slowly lowered back to position, "I couldn't imagine a life without books. Even when I tried to do other things I ended up here. I opened up a bookstore." As a lover of book covers, her eyes drifted to Addison's hands as they closed the book they'd held open, and lingered on the fingers that eventually revealed the spine. This particular cover, Elantris, did nothing to draw Tomiko in and she loved fantasy. Usually if someone uttered Tolkien or Hobbits or The Lord of the Rings she'd come running, barreling down anyone in her path. Maybe she was too tough of a judge. Beauty was in the eye of the beholder though, wasn't it? "You're correct," her eyes lifted quickly, maybe lingering too long where they shouldn't, and she smiled at Addie. Even if she hadn't read Brandon Sanderson it was her job, her life's passion, to know these things and she appreciated that Addison knew her stuff.

The comments on her father reading to her and her siblings was reason for Tomiko to disconnect some. She couldn't relate. It wasn't that her father didn't appreciate the written word, it was more in the way he enforced reading. A list of requirements that had to be met for scholastic purposes and academic merits. There was no such thing as pleasure reading when she was growing up. And her now imprisoned father certainly never sat around reading aloud to her. A wistfulness seeped into her expression, dimming her eyes some and casting away her smile. "I think that's wonderful. That's so important; to read to your children and to open up the imagination like that. Storytelling, you know, it goes back to the dawn of humanity." In one way or another.

"Please, treat yourself, buy as many books as your habit can afford. I just hope you're better at getting through your to be read pile than I am." Now her smile had returned, as did the spark in her eyes. "I love Tolkien so I'll give Sanderson a try. He's been recommended so many times I need to just dive in. I've just heard that Elantris has pacing issues." It was his debut novel it made sense it wasn't perfect. "Did you find that to be true?" Due to hating things on her wrists Tomiko didn't wear a watch and thus retrieved her phone from her pocket to check the time. "Store closes at nine but you can stay as long as I am here. I usually lock up and head home around eleven." Tomiko laughed and added, "I'm not going to charge you rent. I'm happy to offer you a space away from the world."

As Addison got lost within the book, a soft smile appeared on her face as Tomi spoke. "Good I'm glad, sometimes I get so into the book that I forget where I am honestly." Addison said and turned the page but then put her bookmark into it and closed the book. Nodding her head at Tomiko's question, Addison continued with "I believe it's his first book that he's ever published. I think it's a duology and not a series or trilogy if I'm remembering correctly." She shook her head and said "Don't quote me though, I could be wrong." Brandon Sanderson was an author she has been wanting to dive into for so long, he was supposedly up there with authors like J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkein. Fantasy by far always has been and always will be her favorite genre to read. A laugh escaped Addie's mouth at Tomi's next words. "My father was a huge reader when I was a kid, he read to us all the time my siblings and I. So I think I got it from him, but my father would always read books in order. For some reason that was always important to him." Shrugging her shoulder she thought about the silly rule and Addison realized how nuts it sounded. Maybe it wasn't nuts though, in a sense it did help her in the long run. There were so many books that Addison still needed to read, it was a little overwhelming at times but Addie loved it. "Well honestly please tell me to buy more books, it's been a while for me. Kind of treating myself if that makes sense." She shrugged her shoulders and ran a hand through her hair but then Addison nodded her head in agreement "It's really good, you should add him to your list if you love Harry Potter and The Lord OF The Rings." A soft smile appeared on her lips and then Addie bit down on them "What time do you close normally? Am I able to stay past lights out? I have a library at home kind of, but for some reason this is nice and quiet. Kind of need to get away from my thoughts for a little bit." Letting out a nervous laugh Addison opened her book again and looked at the brunette "I'll help with rent." Addison looked at the brunette for a moment "If not it's fine."

[smthliminal]

"Please, never ever apologize, if anyone gets it," she lifted her hands, opening them up to the store, "it's me." Tomiko's smile didn't waver and in fact grew at the mention of the popular young adult, fantasy writer. "Elantris is the first book, right?" Anyone that had the ability to create worlds in their head and detail them out to the point where readers could escape into it was worth all the praise in her opinion. A shift put her weight on her other foot and her hand went to rest on her hip. "That's so bold and dangerous of you. I dig it." From her personal experience every other had their ups and downs. Such as Paula Hawkins new release. As much as she loved her writing, the new book didn't hit the mark. Sally Rooney was back with Intermezzo after some lackluster following Normal People. She'd yet to know an author whose every work she loved. "Not a bad habit to have as a reader," she smiled, "may be a little tough on the wallet. I have quite a few regulars who are trying hard to manage their addictions of buying new books. Which I don't help them with at all." A little laughter spilled at that, she'd never be able to tell a reader to slow it down. It wasn't about business. "Are you enjoying what you're reading so far? And feel free to stay as long as you like. If you plan to stay past lights out though I might have to ask you to chip in for rent," Tomiko winked.

One of Addison's favorite locations in town was Novelty. A quaint little bookstore where she realized she only had the library back home in Texas. A reader is what she was on her days off and the brunette could find herself lost in books for hours. Addison could read anything and everything and while she was deep into a chapter, someone interrupted and Addie let out a laugh "Sorry, these books are so good." Addison had already started one, she was reading Brandon Sanderson at the moment. "Elantris is the name. When I like an author, I usually buy every single book he or she has." She said shrugging her shoulders and continues with "It's a habit I picked up when I was a kid." She pushed her hair out of her face and nodded "I heard his stories are beautifully written and beautifully detailed which is why theyre so thick."