#barton beekman

[nerds-yearbook]

The word "shit" made it past both Marvel editors and the eyes of the comic code to make it in print on a cereal box in Defenders 89#, cover date November, 1980. The issue also introduced Dolly Donahue and Barton Beekman and saw the death of Dorothy Walker. The issue was written by David Kraft, Ed Hannigan, Mark Gruenwald, and Steven Grant and was illustrated by Don Perlin and Pablo Marcos. ("A Death in the Family!", Defenders 89#, Marvel Comic Event)

[softforloki]

Chapter 4: Young One

Chapter List

Word Count: 2,607

Summery: Loki stays with Raven while Selene is overseas on an assignment from the Avengers. Books are read, insight is shared, and bonds are made.

. . .

“She’s at school now, but it lets out at three, so you’ll need to be there to walk her home. You remember where it is, right? Beekman Hill?” 

“Yes, darling. I remember where the school is.”

“Okay, good. She’s allowed to watch two episodes of a show after school, but then she’s got to do homework or something else productive- she won’t fight you on it but make sure you remind her about it.”

“Understood.”

“And you’re welcome to anything in the kitchen, we’ve got a leftover rice thing for dinner tonight, and Raven told me she wanted to make spaghetti tomorrow. She’s allowed to help you, but mind that the pots don’t boil over- she burned herself once.”

“Selene, will you sit down for a moment?” Loki gently grasped her arm, pulling her down onto the couch. “You’ve made me a list to consult and given me all the instructions. You’ve thoroughly prepared me, you don’t need to run yourself ragged.”

“I know, I know.” Selene sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I’ve never been away from her for more than a few hours, though. Now I’m leaving my daughter for two days while I go out of the country to fight Russians!”

“I know, darling. It’s not at all ideal, but you will merely be gathering intelligence, it’s a fairly danger-free mission.” Loki gently took her hand. “And Raven will be safe here with me, I give you my word.”

“You’re being completely reasonable and I need you to stop it. Please be quiet for a minute.” Selene begged.

“As you wish.” He acquiesced. 

Loki brushed his fingers along her knuckles, wrist, and up her arm as she stared off distantly into space. Her eyes were clouded and unfocused. Loki squeezed her hand comfortingly. 

“She’ll be okay with you.” She conceded quietly. “You’re going to get her from school, and she’ll be safe until I get back.”

“She will,” Loki agreed, tilting her face towards his. “I’ll care for her as though she were my own.”

Selene smiled at that, nodding. “I know you will,” She murmured, leaning into him. “Thank you again, I really appreciate you doing this.”

“It’s no trouble at all, I’m quite happy to help. Raven is a lovely girl.” He raised a hand to Selene’s face, trailing his knuckles down her cheek in a slow, intimate motion. “And her mother is an absolute treasure.”

She leaned into his touch, eyes dancing. “You sure you don’t want anything in return? I can take you out for dinner again.”

“If that’s what’s on the table, how could I possibly refuse?”

Flirting had increased exponentially between the pair since the first dinner date, but never seemed to go anywhere. Loki was now more certain than ever of his feelings for Selene, which seemed to burn more intensely every day. He longed to trail his hands further down her body, to feel every inch of her perfect skin. In his mind's eye his fingers danced across her collar bones, tracing the lines of her tattoo before descending down her sides and resting on her hips. He daydreamed of her painted lips trailing across his body, marking him for everyone to see with her cherry red lipstick. 

He wanted to lay her down and whisper poetry of her grace and beauty while she gasped for him. He wanted her to whisper his name as though it were the only word on her tongue, the only thought in her mind.

He wanted to lay the cosmos at her feet, offer her any artifact she desired. But for now, he’d settle for babysitting.

The mission was a fairly simple one, taking Selene, Romanoff, and Barton overseas to run surveillance and gather intel. They had orders to avoid combat and kill only in dire circumstances. Despite it being Selene’s first big job with the Avengers, she seemed more concerned about her daughter then she did about herself. 

Loki watched the Quinjet take off with Selene in it at 10:24. He went about his routine, training, reading and arguing with his brother. At 2:52 he parked himself at a Starbucks just outside Raven’s school with a cup of tea, watching the hands of his wrist watch tick towards 3:00 and ignoring the stares and whispers around him. As soon as the big hand hit the twelve, Loki drained what was left of his drink and made his way back to the place he and Selene had met Raven before.

Unlike the last time, Raven’s eyes lit up as soon as she saw Loki. She darted in between New Yorkers, running up to him. “Hi,” She said breathlessly, hugging his torso.

“Hi,” Loki parroted, accepting the girl’s embrace with a surprised laugh. “I’m glad to see you again, young one.”

“Me too! I’ve never been home without Mama before.”

“And are you excited about that?”

“A little. It’s kinda cool.” The girl frowned. “But it’s weird. Her not being here.”

“I bet so. Shall we?”

The pair only made it a few steps down the sidewalk before Raven slipped her hand into Loki’s. “Mama always tells me to hold hands because it’s easy to get lost here.”

“She’s not wrong,” He murmured, adjusting his grip on her hand. “Very well, then.”

They walked home, Raven mostly leading the way in comfortable silence. Loki tried very hard not to enjoy the feeling of her little fingers curled around his own;  tried not to think about how it meant he had her trust.

He was very glad to have it, though.

. . .

Selene had been right, Raven didn’t fight him on anything, and she was very well behaved. Loki was somewhat relieved to find that he didn’t have to entertain her much, she mostly did her own thing either watching TV, playing in her room, or joining him on the couch to read.

“What are you reading?” She asked him, hopping up next to him. 

Loki showed her his book, entitled The Call. “Your mother recommended it to me.”

“That’s the fairy book she won’t let me read!” Raven jabbed an accusatory finger at the cover, scowling. “She says it’s too scary.”

“It is quite gruesome, I don’t blame her.”

“What does gruesome mean?”

“It’s very scary, and it has several scenes with detailed blood and gore.”

“Ew,” She shook her head. “Why is there blood?”

“The fairies used to live in Scotland, but they were forced out by humans and made to live in another realm. They're trying to…get rid of all the humans to take their land back.”

“Huh. Is it good?” 

“I quite like it- it is certainly dark, though. What’s your book about?”

Loki learned from her sparkly-eyed rambling explanation that Raven liked fairies, but she preferred the ones based in old Midgardian folktales- tricky, mischievous, and a little untrustworthy- to the nice glittery ones in more child-friendly interpretations. Perhaps she would like Loki’s book when she was older. He thumbed through The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2: The Seeing Stone and actually found it interesting for a children’s book. 

Dinner that evening wasn’t much of an affair, Raven showed him the rice and pork dish Selene had set aside for them and they heated it up. True to Selene’s words he had to remind Raven to bathe and brush her teeth, but she offered no resistance, just asked that he’d read a few chapters of her book to him when she went to bed- which he did so gladly.

He only ran into one problem come bedtime, which was that he was going to have to sleep in Selene’s bed. She’d given him her full and expressed permission to do so, but it still felt like an invasion of privacy when he dressed for bed and turned down her covers. 

He tried not to be too nosy with her things, but he did allow himself to look at framed photos of Selene with Raven at various ages, clusters of dried flowers hung from the walls, and a desk with what appeared to be some sort of alter; a deck of cards flanked with candles and a bowl of small crystals. Loki flipped over the card at the top. Three people in a boat, one rowing, with six swords.

He sunk into bed, enveloped with the complete and utter sense of Selene as he closed his eyes. He could picture himself here with her, crawling into bed after a long day and just holding each other, breathing each other in. He suddenly remembered an old daydream of his in vivid detail: Selene, breathlessly staring up from under him with kiss-bruised lips. Loki groaned and ran a hand down his face.

He had to get this figured out.

. . .

“Can you teach me magic?”

The question came totally out of the blue. Loki had been talking Raven through a meditation practice he thought would help her clear her head, and she’d asked it as he’d summoned a book to his hands in a flash of light.

“I don’t see why not.” Loki replied slowly. “We’d have to ask your mother first. I’d rather not do anything without her giving the okay.”

“She said you can help me with my powers.”

“That doesn’t involve my magic, little bird. It’s different.”

She pouted. “If Mama says yes will you?”

“If she says yes I will. Now speaking of helping you,” He swatted her gently on the shoulder with the book. “Do you remember any of what I just told you?”

“Something, something clear your mind, something.”

Loki shoved her until she fell on her side from her seated position, giggling.

Things went well on day two, all things considered until about 3:29 AM, the night before Selene was set to be home.

Loki awoke to the feeling of being watched, and abruptly sat up in bed. Heart racing and with half a mind to summon his daggers, he squinted in the dark, trying to make out the small figure that stood by the door. “Raven?” He asked, voice hoarse from sleep.

“I’m sorry,” She whispered, voice watery. “I forgot Mama wasn’t here.”

“What’s the matter?” He clicked the bedside lamp on, taking in Raven’s sweaty brow and tear stained face and very glad he’d held off on his weapon.

“I had a bad dream.”

Loki felt every ounce of hesitation drain from his body at her admission, pulling himself up to sit at the edge of the bed, patting the space next to him. “Would you like to sit with me?”

She nodded, hopping up to join him. She sniffled and wiped her nose. 

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“It was different.” She said, as though he knew what she typically dreamt of. “I’m in the dark, but Mama can’t find me. She can’t get to me. That’s normal. But then there was blood. And screams. And then Mama was there, but she just held me and told me it was gonna be okay.”

“I’m so sorry, that sounds very scary.” Loki placed a hand carefully on her back, watching her closely to catch any signs of not wanting to be touched. “I have nightmares sometimes as well.”

“What are they about?”

He was quiet for a moment, fingers stroking her back gently. “Sometimes I’m falling. Sometimes I’m being hurt. Sometimes everything around me is being destroyed and there’s nothing I can do. It varies from night to night, really.”

“That sounds scary, too.”

“It is.”

They were quiet for a few more moments, before Raven spoke again.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Please do.”

“Do you think Mama would hurt someone?”

Loki inhaled sharply, looking down at the girl. She seemed almost… resigned. Like she knew the answer, and knew she wouldn't like it. The look of dark knowing in her eyes seemed far too old for a girl as young as her.

“From what I’ve learned, your mother is a very protective person.” He started. “I highly doubt she’d hurt anyone for no reason, but she loves you very much, and is very concerned about your safety and wellbeing. If that were being threatened by someone… well I don’t doubt that she’d have something to say about it.”

She nodded slowly, biting her lip. “I think she might’ve done that. When I was little. I don’t remember much, but I think my dream really did happen.”

“You think you were stuck somewhere, and your mum had to hurt someone to get to you?”

“Mmhmm. I can’t see death on her, but I think she makes it go away on purpose. I think it’s there, but she doesn't want me to see it. I think I remember that it used to be there, but I don’t know what it was exactly.”

Loki nodded slowly, wondering just how this child got so damn smart. Were nine-year-olds supposed to be this perceptive, or was this just because she was Selene’s kid? “Do you think you should talk to her about it? I don’t think she’d keep information from you if you asked.”

“I’ve never wanted to know before.”

“Do you want to now?”

“I… I don’t know.” Raven admitted, tucking herself into Loki’s side. “I don’t know.”

“It’s alright, you don’t have to decide now.” He assured, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “It’s just something to think about.”

“I just don’t know if I’ll like what she tells me.” She whimpered, a tear slipping down her small face. “But I feel bad not asking.”

“That is entirely understandable. No one, not me, nor your mum would blame you for not asking a question for fear of the answer. It’s a perfectly reasonable concern, and you don’t have to feel ashamed of it.” Loki carefully brushed the tear away. “How about this: when you’re ready, you tell her about your dream. You don’t have to know anything more about it, and she doesn’t have to tell you anything if she knows something.”

“I like that.” Raven peeped. “I want her to know about the dream.”

“Perfect.” He smiled softly at her. “Are you ready to go back to bed?”

“Can you read to me again?”

“Certainly.”

She let him lead her back to her bedroom by the hand. He tucked her into bed and retrieved her book from the floor and opened it to where they’d left off.

“Thanks for being here, Loki.” Raven suddenly put out. “I really like you being here. Mama does too.”

“You’re very welcome, Miss Raven.” He said warmly, sitting at the foot of the bed. “I like being here with you, too.”

“And with Mama?”

“Yes, and with her.”

Raven smirked a little, her tearstained face alight with mischief. “She likes you.”

“Does she?” Loki raised an eyebrow.

“Mmhmm. She said she wouldn’t leave me with just anyone.” Her grin widened. “And she smiles a lot when she’s with you. I haven’t seen her smile that much for anyone else.”

“Interesting.” Loki mused, fighting a grin of his own. “I hope I can make her smile more in the future.”

“You better. I’ll be mad at you if you don’t.”

“Perish the thought,” He chuckled. 

Raven frowned. “What does that mean?”

“That I would hate for that to happen and I will do all I can to keep it from happening.”

“Good.” She snuggled down into her covers, as Loki began to read.

Loki woke up that morning with a horrible pain in his back, but it was well worth it to find himself sitting upright at the foot of Raven’s bed, watching over her as she slept peacefully.

[decorfrontline]

Achieving the Modern Victorian Style: Lighting

New Post has been published on http://www.decorfrontline.com/index.php/2018/02/21/achieving-the-modern-victorian-style-lighting/

Achieving the Modern Victorian Style: Lighting

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Today marks our last and final post in the “Modern Victorian” series (cue collective grabbing of hand-embroidered victorian hankie to wipe away single tear on cheek) and although we are sad to move on, we do have some fun new styles we are bringing to you very soon. If you missed the first few posts in this series: An Introduction to Modern Victorian, Modern Victorian: Furniture, and Modern Victorian: Art and Wall Treatments click back through those to get yourself caught up on everything you need to bring this style to fruition in your own home as today we are capping it off with some of our favorite options for Modern Victorian lighting.

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As we have mentioned before, Modern Victorian is all about a mix of the new with the old, and the old with the new. The same goes for lighting in this style. However, for today’s purposes, we are going to highlight some of our favorite Victorian-inspired pieces as we are going to make a general assumption that most of you don’t already live in an architecturally stunning victorian space complete with a “parlor” and “powder room” and oodles of built-in character like some of the inspiration images. In other words, we are going to show you what pieces you can bring into your existing space that will help it lean more Victorian as your space will provide the “modern” aspect of this style.

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Let’s start with chandeliers and overhead lighting. The chandeliers and overhead lighting in this style are all about the details – lots of details. Think an abundant use of crystals, fringe detailing, tassels, or all of the above.

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If the light doesn’t have a lot of the aforementioned details then it should have some sort of curvature or lines that evoke a more traditional shape or style. You will want to steer clear of anything that feels too “french country” or “industrial” even though some of the lighting from those two styles can work in this style. It should feel more playful, fun and whimsical. Here are a handful of our favorites:

1. Berkshire Linear | 2. Fela Tasseled | 3. Clark | 4. Metal Drum | 5. Launceton Medium Two Tier | 6. Mia Faceted Crystal | 7. Sarah Colson | 8. Alcazar | 9. Fairmont | 10. Gold Torch 6 Light Elsa | 11. Arstid | 12. Horn | 13. Berkshire Drum | 14. Raspberry Pink Globe | 15. Isabela Antique Gold Small | 16. Villier | 17. Blue pointe 6 Arm | 18. Petaled Pendant | 19. Profile | 20. Lacy | 21. Oahu Fringe | 22. Barton | 23. Draped Bijoux | 24. Classic Ribbed Glass Globe | 25. Mellow Bowl | 26. Goodman | 27. South Shore | 28. Floral Droplet | 29. Ortofta | 30. Gold Fringe | 31. Ironside Wide | 32. Dorette | 33. Wildwood | 34. Feathered Antique Brass Drum | 35. Heidi Mini Teardrop | 36. Daisy

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Moving down the wall to wall sconces. These will again have some sort of detailing to them but typically will not be anything too overly playful, whimsical or intricate. Why you may ask? Well because the overhead lighting typically is very detailed as are the table lamps so the sconces act as the supporting role to those other two sources of light. You can’t have two Meryl Streeps in one movie. And you can’t have three very detailed pieces of lighting in one room all vying for your attention – even if it is Modern Victorian which is about abundance and details. Keep these guys a bit more refined and simple like the ones we have rounded up below.

1. Dorette | 2. Barton | 3. Quenouilles | 4. Donna | 5. Vendome Double | 6. Classic Milk Glass Curved Arm | 7. Fluted Gold | 8. Brass and Black Leather | 9. Ritz | 10. Berkshire Single | 11. Mitzi Tara | 12. Daisy | 13. Fresh Picked | 14. Beehive | 15. Conifer | 16. Otis | 17. Studio Swing Arm | 18. Angland | 19. Alcazar | 20. Pluma | 21. Gold Leaf Olympia | 22. Savannah | 23. Ella Crystal | 24. Bistro Double | 25. Chainmail | 26.1-Light French Library | 27. Bennie

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Up next is table and floor lighting. The main rule with this is: if it has a simple shade (like a drum shade or anything that feels modern) then it should have a more detailed base. Or visa versa. Simple shade + simple base = does not work in the modern Victorian category. You’ll see this example clearly in #2 which has a very simple brass base but then a fringe shade that is much more detailed, playful and fun. Or on the opposite end of the spectrum, #8 which has a very simple white drum shade but then the base has some Victorian lines and also is made out of marble. The one exception of this rule comes into play if metallics or metal are used on either the base or shade which then allows both to lean more simple as the metallic or metal makes it feel more special. #3 is a good example of how the metallic shade makes the simple base and drum shade feel unique.

1. Lightbearer | 2. Pink Fringe | 3. Frosted Marble | 4. Brass and Black Urn | 5. Ina Task | 6. Elodie Etched Glass | 7. Cylinder Tall | 8. Riley Glowing Alabaster | 9. Radcliffe | 10. Beekman | 11. Antiqued Metal Drum | 12. Vintage Copper | 13. Brass Genie | 14. Alvangen | 15. Tassel | 16. St Germain | 17. Mythos | 18. Flamingo | 19. Ritz | 20. Brass Orb | 21. Green and Gold Task | 22. Hand Blown | 23. Selene Beaded | 24. Ceramic Globe | 25. Isla Curvy Brass | 26. Recluse | 27. Davenport | 28. Cane Gold | 29. Brass Library Task | 30. Jane | 31. Olson Two Head Task | 32. Angland | 33. Hayes

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1. Dorette | 2. Modern Swing Arm | 3. Donna | 4. Violetta | 5. Klabb | 6. Arched Bridge Arm Adjustable | 7. Ritz | 8. Bruno | 9. Carved Mahogany | 10. Tassel | 11. Ocean Palm | 12. Brass Library | 13. Shelf with USB Stick | 14. Sylas | 15. Amato Tripod | 16. Astor | 17. Tommi Parzinger | 18. Paulo | 19. Clustered Torchiere | 20. Pyramid Telescoping | 21. Maron | 22. Hackney | 23. Melrose | 24. French Mid Century

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But, what if you already have a very simple base that you feel could work within this style but the lampshade feels a little drab? Then you swap out the lampshade of course. We walked you through the difference just swapping out your lampshade can make in a room in this post. But, swapping your generic lampshade on your existing piece for one of these more fun and playful versions will instantly bring it into the Modern Victorian style at a much more affordable price point. Think of it like going to the blow dry bar but for your existing lamp. It goes in feeling generic, regular and drab and comes out feeling rejuvenation, colorful, and playful. Pretty drastic what a simple zhoosh can do to you (or your lamp).

1. Judarn | 2. Ekas | 3. Mauve Velvet | 4. Autumn Rose | 5. Metallic | 6. Ollsta | 7. Modern Pleat | 8. Teal Blue Velvet | 9. Black Bell | 10. Gray Velvet | 11. Red Morrell Bell | 12. Box Pleat | 13. Black Silk Bell | 14. Grey | 15. Plum Velvet 

Let us know if you guys have any questions on this and if there are any styles you are wanting us to cover and blog about next.

The post Achieving the Modern Victorian Style: Lighting appeared first on Emily Henderson.

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