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imagine-loki · 3 years ago

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What About Trust, Chapter 1

TITLE: What About Trust CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 1 AUTHOR: fanficshiddles ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki owns a bookshop on Midgard. He had to do something there to try and avoid getting any attention. But he’s not fond of having customers, is rather grumpy and guarded. But then he meets a bright, bubbly and trusting young woman who doesn’t recognise him. To his dismay, he finds himself becoming rather fond of the mortal. RATING: M NOTES/WARNINGS: Fluff ahoy in this fic! Lots of fluff.

Cleo was just strolling along the streets in the Northern Quarter of Manchester. It was her favourite place to be and since she had a day off, she was going to make the most of it.

As she worked in an independent record shop on Oxford street, she knew the importance of supporting small local businesses instead of the larger ones. And there was plenty of quirky shops in the area, including other record shops.

But suddenly the heavens decided to open and started dumping a load of rain on top of her.

‘Shit, shit, shit!’ She had forgotten to take an umbrella. And her jacket wasn’t exactly waterproof either.

She pulled her jacket up over her head in an attempt to try and at least keep her hair from getting utterly soaked and she sprinted along the street. Then she ducked into a small doorway that had a small overhang, enough to save her from the sudden downpour anyway.

Sighing, she looked round to see what she was outside of. Her eyebrows shot upwards when she saw it was a bookshop. It didn’t look very brightly lit inside, but there was a very small sign that said open.

Unable to resist looking around a bookshop, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. There was a small bell above the door that announced her arrival. But the shop was empty, aside from books.

‘Oh wow.’ She gasped as she looked around, it was quite a small place but the owner had managed to stack hundreds and hundreds of books in, with really tall shelves on every wall and a few aisles on front of her.

There was a beautiful wooden spiral staircase just off the centre of the shop, leading to an upper floor that came out halfway, where she saw even more books.

A lit fireplace was to the left of her, in a space amongst the book shelves. It kept the place cosy and was one of the few light sources in the shop. As well as a large lamp to her right.

Cleo breathed in deeply, revelling in the book smell that surrounded her.

How she had never noticed this place before was beyond her. Considering she frequented the area all the time, pretty much every week. But she decided she was certainly going to make up for lost time now.

‘Hello?’ She called out, wondering if there was even anyone here manning the place.

There was no response. But she didn’t notice the green eyes watching her from the back corner, hidden in the shadows.

Not caring much, she started to the right and looked at some of the book titles. She felt giddy when she realised this was no normal bookshop, these were rare books. Some were foreign, a language she didn’t even recognise. But some of the books were decorated in beautiful and intricate patterns, capturing her attention.

She pulled a few books out from the shelves and went to the fireplace, where it was warmest. There was a lone green arm chair on front of it, she took a seat with the books on her lap and she started looking through the first one.

It was a William Shakespeare play that was said to have been lost many years ago, she couldn’t actually believe it was in her hands as she carefully turned the pages.

‘What are you doing?’ Came a rather cold voice from beside her.

She jumped, having not heard anyone approach. When she looked round, her eyes widened when she saw a really tall man… A really tall and rather handsome man, at that. With long black hair, nice cheekbones. He was wearing a dark green shirt and leather trousers with boots. He didn’t look like an ordinary book shop owner, but who was she to judge?

He had his arms folded across his chest and didn’t look overly pleased at her presence.

‘Oh, sorry. I did shout when I came in but no one answered… I’m reading, that’s not illegal, is it?’ She smirked up at him.

‘No, it is not.’ He drawled. ‘But this is not a library.’

‘I can see that. It’s way better than a library.’

Loki had no idea why this mortal was in his shop, reading a book and sitting on his chair. Sure, it was a book shop, but barely anyone ever came in. Never mind stayed for this long.

‘Are you going to buy that book or just put your grubby hands all over it?’ He grumbled.

Cleo narrowed her eyes at him. ‘You’re not very friendly for a shop owner. No, I am not going to be buying it, I suspect this would be well out of my price range. Do you not like to share with a fellow book lover? I was going to leave some money on my way out, I know it can be difficult for small businesses to keep afloat.’

Loki was a little surprised at her answer. And the fact she was still there, sitting on his chair. Normally when a mortal came in and stayed to look through his books, they soon scarpered when he made his presence known. Either because they recognised him, or were just put off by his coldness towards them.

‘Fine. Whatever. Just… don’t rip any of my books.’ He huffed and walked away again, leaving her to it.

Cleo was rather confused at what the hell had just happened.

‘Wait.’ She carefully placed the books down on the small coffee table on front of her and rushed after him to the back of the shop. ‘What’s your name? I’m guessing you are the owner?’

Loki rolled his eyes before turning around to face her. ‘I am… My name is Luke.’

‘Nice to meet you, Luke. I’m Cleo.’ She put her hand out towards him. He eyed her suspiciously for a moment, then shook her hand when he decided she didn’t seem much of a threat.

‘I’ve never seen your shop before, it’s quite hidden. But it’s incredible. I can actually see why you wouldn’t want it to get too busy, it would ruin the atmosphere. But it’s quite the wee gem.’ She said as she looked around, still taking it all in.

‘Thank you… You’re not from here, are you?’ He quirked an eyebrow up.

‘Nope. I’m from Inverness, but I’ve lived here for the past eight months. Much more exciting than back home.’ She smiled.

Loki nodded once. ‘Well, I shall leave you to your reading… If there areany books you’re interested in buying, let me know.’

Cleo’s face brightened. ‘I will, thanks.’

She watched as Loki disappeared through a door at the very back of the shop, it said staff only on it. She shrugged the encounter off and went back to the few books she had taken out to look at. After flicking through them, she carefully placed them back in their place and went upstairs to look some more.

As she carefully pulled a book out from its shelf, she nearly jumped out of her skin when Loki suddenly spoke next to her.

‘Are you still here?’

She held the book she had in her hands close to her chest in fright, her heart was racing but soon calmed down when she realised it was just the owner.

‘Jesus Christ. Do you always sneak up on your customers?’

‘Are you always so jumpy?’ Loki countered, raising an eyebrow. A ghost of a smirk on his lips.

Cleo rolled her eyes and looked down at the book in her hands. ‘How did you even get hold of most these? They’re so rare and expensive.’

‘You could say I’ve travelled a lot.’ Loki said as he started walking down the aisle, she followed him, curious.

‘Really? That’s cool. I’ve never been out of the UK before. But I would love to visit some countries like Iceland, Finland and Norway, for the culture and history. Those places fascinate me.’ Cleo rambled a bit.

Loki suddenly turned on his heels, going back right past her. Cleo was a little stunned but turned and followed him again.

‘How long have you had the shop?’ She asked as Loki stopped and started skimming through the shelves, looking for something.

‘A year.’ He said simply as his long fingers tapped gently along the spines of the books on the upper shelf.

‘I can’t believe I’ve only just found it. I’ve been living in the city for the last eight months, I’m around this area every week.’ She said as Loki plucked a book out, he briefly turned his back to her so she didn’t see the slight shimmer of green that surrounded the book before he quickly turned around to face her, holding the book out towards her.

‘What’s this?’ She asked, tucking the other book under her arm.

‘Nordic tales. Since you seem interested in the Nordic countries, perhaps you might find that of interest.’ Loki hummed.

Cleo’s eyes widened as she looked at the book. She looked up at Loki in disbelief. ‘I’ve been looking for an English edition of this for… years! I didn��t think one existed. I thought I was going to have to give in and google translate every single word.’

Loki scoffed. ‘Google translate is not reliable at all, believe me.’ He turned on his heels again and started heading back towards the stairs.

Cleo was too busy looking at the blurb of the book, by the time she looked up Loki was back downstairs. She hurried after him, putting the other book back in its rightful place first.

As she was rushing down the stairs, she held the Nordic Tales book out. ‘How much is this? Please, God. Let it be within my budget!’ She said as she rushed over to him by the fireplace.

Loki folded his arms over his chest and sighed, narrowing his eyes at her for a moment. Then he smiled, just a little bit. ‘Call it a gift, for a fellow book lover.’

Cleo’s mouth opened wide in shock. ‘What? Seriously? But the originals are like at least fifty quid anyway. This English version must be worth a shit load more than’

‘Do you want the book or not?’ Loki interrupted.

She nodded sheepishly. ‘I do…’

‘Well then, like I said. Consider it a gift. Before I change my mind and decide to charge you triple what it’s actually worth.’

Cleo grinned and slipped the book safely into her handbag. ‘Maybe I did get you wrong, you’re an alright shop owner.’

Loki chuckled. ‘What is it they say? Don’t judge a book by its cover.’

‘Never a truer word spoken.’ Cleo agreed. ‘Well, it was really nice meeting you. Thank you so much for the book, I really appreciate it. I’ll be back before you know it, I want to read that Shakespeare play through properly.’ She said as she started to head towards the door.

‘I look forward to your return.’ Loki said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Cleo turned back to face him and grinned widely. ‘Ohh, I bet you do.’ She laughed.

As Cleo left the shop, Loki shook his head. But he smiled.

‘What a curious mortal.’

#Loki #Lover #Submitted fic #What About Trust #chapter 1 #fanficshiddles

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idy-ll-ique · 4 years ago

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Solitude.

Pairing: Loki x F!Reader

Genre: Fluff

Requested: by @hotsauceonabiscuit

AU where Loki owns a bookshop. Asgardians have found safety in norway I’d have a feeling he’d want to be somewhat distant because of everything. The solitude and occasional judgement of patrons would be enough or so he thought until the reader steps inside for the first time.

Warnings: None

Summary: A few years after the final battle, Loki is doing well in Norway having opened his own library on the outskirts of the new Asgard. He barely has any visitors and he is content with the life he is living. What happens when he meets Y/N, one of the maids working for Valkyrie?

Author’s Note: Hey peeps, I’m back! Thank you for the prompt, @hotsauceonabiscuit, I really enjoyed writing this. I hope you like it, sorry I’m posting it so late! Please read and enjoy, everyone :)

Y/H/C - Your Hair Colour

Y/E/C - Your Eye Colour

---

The bell above the door rang, alerting Loki that someone was in his library. Loki had been a librarian ever since Thor and Valkyrie established a new Asgard in Norway. Thor was off with the Avengers, while Valkyrie became their new ruler.

He was tired of the royal life, which is why he opened a library on the outskirts of the city. He had customers, yes, but a very low number of them. Most of them were repetitive. As he stood in the aisle, wondering who it could be, a soft voice rang throughout the place.

"Hello? Is anyone here? I'll come later if the place is closed." This was someone he had never heard before. Blinking, he walked over to the receptionist's desk to see a petite woman standing there, looking around the place in awe. She had Y/H/C hair and a very, very pretty face.

"Excuse me." She averted her eyes from the aisles and looked at him. "Oh, your majesty! I didn't know you owned this place," she chuckled nervously, looking at him with anxious eyes. "Who are you?" he found himself asking, feeling an emotion he hadn't felt in a long time.

"My name is Y/N Y/L/N, I work with Her Majesty at the castle. Um, do you have any fiction books? You know, mortal fiction," she stammered. A smile lifted his face. "Follow me." He heard her heaving a sigh of relief as she followed him.

"This is a very nice place," she commented, "You must have tons of people swarming the library! I mean, look— the neatly arranged aisles, all genre-sorted… if I could live here, I definitely would." He laughed softly at her words. "You're very welcome, my flat is upstairs," he winked, which made her blush. Even that was adorable.

"Here you are, mortal fiction," he declared as they stood alone in an aisle. "Thank you! Will it be okay if I stay here to read? I'm on a break and I really don't want to spend it at the castle." He frowned at her words. "You're very welcome to stay, miss. Why not at the castle, if I may ask?"

"The other servants there are very, very boring. They don't like books and I can't hold a conversation with any of them." He laughed once more at her honesty. "I used to face the same problem growing up. No one around me was as invested in books as I was." Both of them shook their heads.

"My father and mother used to both work with the All-Father. He was in the army and she was Her Majesty Frigga's maid. I come from a peasant family and therefore, have no access to the royal library. Still, my mother somehow managed to bring books home and that's where my love for them began."

He nodded attentively at her words, glad to have finally found someone who loved solitude and books as much as he did. "That's a brilliant story, darling. Well, I'll leave you alone now, have fun reading. I'll be at the receptionist's desk if you need anything."

"Thanks a bunch, Your Majesty," Y/N grinned at him, clutching the book to her bosom. "Loki will do, Lady Y/L/N," he smiled back. "Same, you can call me Y/N."

With that, Loki left her side and walked back to the receptionist's desk. Y/N found a cozy couch in between two aisles and sat down, getting into her favourite reading position— curled against one corner of the couch, legs pulled up to her chest.

There was silence in the small library afterwards. Y/N sat reading her book, which was the second installment of a book series she started with a month ago. She couldn't find the book anywhere, until one of her coworkers had spoken about there being a library on the outskirts of the city.

She had decided to try her luck here, actually being successful. Loki looked up from his work, distracted by Y/N's presence. Where had he heard the last name before? Y/L/N. His eyes suddenly widened with realization. That's right! Her father was the army and was good friends with Thor. That's where he knew the last name from!

He rubbed a hand over his face, trying to keep himself from groaning. Why was Y/N so captivating? A few hours passed before he heaved a huge sigh and got up, giving in to his mind's requests.

Ask her out for a coffee.

Looking around the place, he finally found her seated on his favourite couch, attentively reading the book. "Y/N?" Startled, she looked up. "Oh, Loki, sir. What brings you here?"

"Just came to check on you. Enjoying the book?" he asked, giving her a strained smile. Just ask her out, Loki, what could go wrong? "Very much! I read the first one a month ago, couldn't find the second one after that. Your library is awesome!" she gushed, grinning. He nodded with appreciation.

"How long does your break last?"

At that, her eyes went comically wide. "Oh no, my break time ended an hour ago!" she panicked, bolting upright. "Let me walk you back to the castle," he offered, surprising himself. "I would love that, thank you. Mind if I take the book back with me? I promise I'll return it tomorrow."

"Yes, you may keep the book, Y/N. Come." The two left the library. As they walked, Y/N resumed reading the book. Loki glanced at her, a small smile blooming on his face. She looked adorable as she disregarded the world around her, her attention grasped by the book.

How did he get attached to her so quickly?

A few meters ahead, Loki noticed a puddle in front of Y/N. He pulled her in by the waist, making her walk around the puddle. She glanced at him, then at the puddle next to her. "Thanks," she whispered, blushing furiously.

Y/N also liked Loki. Had liked him for nearly 15 years in mortal time. She was a teenager when her father had taken her to the castle to meet the King, the Queen and the Princes. Thor knew her father personally; they fought in wars together, he had a high rank.

As soon as she had taken a look at Loki, she was smitten. She knew it was wrong— a prince and a peasant girl? Pfft, as if. She was sure he didn't even remember her. "You're welcome. Maybe keep the book away?"

"Why would I, if you're here with me?" she mumbled distractedly, burying her face in her book once again. Loki, meanwhile, sported a huge smirk on his face at her words. She did have a point. His arm tightened around her waist and they continued their walk to the castle.

---

"Loki, what are you doing here?" Valkyrie blinked as he walked into the courtroom, looking around. "Nice place," he commented instead of answering her. Wow, he had been away from the castle for nearly 6 years, he realized. She simply raised her eyebrow at him. "Fine," he huffed, "I came to drop someone off."

"Who?" Valkyrie questioned, confused. "One your maids, Y/N. She was at my library during her break time, lost track of time," he answered, leaning against a pillar. Everyone else in the room only stared at him.

"Oh, Y/N, I know her. She loves reading, reminds me a lot of you," Valkyrie chuckled. "You're not mad at her? You know, she took an extra hour of break," he asked slowly. "Of course not. We have a lot of people working here, one person missing isn't going to stop anything," she shrugged.

"You're right about that. Well, I bid you adieu, I must go," he sighed, giving her a resigned smile, "It was good to see you again." She smiled back at him. "Likewise. Goodbye," she called out as he turned to leave.

Outside the castle, he saw Y/N. She was with a few of her coworkers, chatting. "Y/N!" It was now or never. All of them looked at him. "Loki," she greeted just as enthusiastically, waving. He didn't miss the way the others immediately started whispering amongst themselves.

"I need to ask you something," he said quietly, holding his hand out. She took it and he led her away from the group. He didn't let go even when they were in private. "What?" Y/N's blush returned. "Will you go on a date with me?" he whispered, staring intently into her beautiful Y/E/C eyes.

"Oh, Loki, sir, I will be honored," she gasped, covering her face with her hand. Had Loki just asked her out on a date? He wished to court her? "That's brilliant. Why don't we return to the library?" he smirked, bringing her hand to his lips. "But— my work—"

"One person missing isn't going to stop anything," he shrugged, repeating Valkyrie's words. "Her Majesty might fire me," Y/N expressed worriedly. "She won't, trust me. Shall we?" Well, he was close with her. "Let's go," she chuckled, leaning on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek.

Her coworkers simply stared at her in shock as the two left without another word, hand in hand. Y/N giggled at their flabbergasted expressions, not believing the fact that she was actually going on a date with the man she had had a crush on for a long, long time.

She was glad she discovered the small library on the outskirts of Asgard.

---

A/N: Please leave a like, thanks for reading!

#loki x reader #loki x you #loki x y/n #loki x female reader #loki laufeyson #loki fluff #tom hiddleston x reader #tom hiddleston x you #tom hiddleston x y/n #tom hiddleston x female reader #tom hiddleston characters #disney #mcu #marvel #avengers #fanfic #writing #writeblr

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garp19-jennicornall-blog · 6 years ago

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Research proposal statement

Why do we tell stories to children? The importance of children’s books and how to keep them relevant.

I have always loved books ever since I can remember. I have so many memories of my parents reading to me and putting on silly voices. The beautiful illustrations transported me to a different world allowing me to believe that I could be or do whatever I wanted. A world where animals wear waistcoats, twits played tricks, shooting stars, Scottish landscapes, naughty siblings and families with weird and wonderful pet animals. I learnt so much from these stories, they helped me get through bad times and made me learn about myself and the world around me. For instance, books from the likes of Beatrix Potter, Mairi Hedderwick, Julia Donaldson, Raymond Briggs. I have been interested in the children book industry for a while and thought this would be a perfect opportunity for me to learn more about it. Looking at the children book industry will help my personal practice, informing me how it works, and how it can relate to the position I am in. I will be looking into the origin of reading and children’s books by looking into folklore and how it shaped the industry that is today from the likes of Vladimir Propp. I will be looking at why its important children read and how we can encourage reading to be a part of a child’s routine. I will be going to local independent children’s bookshops to see how they encourage children to read and to look at their displays and workshops. I will look at the publishing industry and their policy on ethics over profits. I will also be looking at trends in books, to see what people are buying and why. I think this would be interesting to see the variety of books that exist and how it is evolving. For example for International Women’s Day the increase in books about strong female leads. Have they been there all the time or hidden at the back of the shelves? I also will be looking at illustrators and how children’s illustrations have changed with the use of digital illustration alongside traditional. This will be of interest to teachers, parents and people who want to get into the industry. This will help them understand how books and illustrations are still important and how they can be kept that way. They can see modern books that are on offer that can teach their children about our growing world and promoting equality.

Children are introduced to new worlds with books, they can meet new people from the present and past and they can really affect their lives. It sparks their imagination, develops thought provoking and critical thinking and helps them develop empathy. Reading allows children to have skills they will need for their future to help them thrive at school, work and life. (Cowell, 2018) Reading for pleasure is also important for mental health as well as economic success research states. ‘One in eight disadvantaged children in the UK do not own a single book of their own, and primary school libraries have closed across the nation.’ Another factor for why children are not reading is because of parents not having time to read with their child. ‘19% of parents struggle to find energy at the end of the day’ also 16% said their child prefers to do other things. Another struggle some parents find is not feeling comfortable in bookshops, with feeling overwhelmed by the variety of books. However, 61% of parents are concerned about how much screen time children are having. (Flood, 2018)

An interview between Quentin Blake and Lauren Child shows the way they draw and write for both adults and children. Child says how she treasures Blake’s comment about how young children can read a book even if they can’t actually read. ‘Whether I’m doing an adult book for The Folio Society or a book for a five- year old, it’s the same job and you should take it equally seriously.’ Child wants to address a similar method by speaking to both adults and children. ‘I think there is a misunderstanding about writers and illustrator for children. As if they don’t take their work as seriously as those who write and illustrate for adults. When actually it’s the same, the same thought process and integrity. It’s easy to feel you are there to be some kind of children’s entertainer at festivals for example.’ (Williams, 2017) The world of picture books owes much to John Burningham. His ‘visual poetry’ pushed boundaries of how much can be left unsaid. ‘He always treated the reader’s imagination with the utmost respect, whatever the reader’s age might be.’ He was able to communicate to children in their language ‘and in his understand of the mutually exclusive worlds of childhood and adulthood. (Salisbury, 2019)

During my research I am planning to look at themes in children’s books, looking at trends in books and why. I have broadly looked into how children’s books help and teach children about ‘difficult issues.’ Difficult meaning the effort to be able to deal and understand. (Dictionary, 2019) I have investigated why books like this need to exist for children and how it can help them. ‘All children deserve to be listened to: to have the chance to talk about their worst fears, their hopes and their dreams. (Edge, 2015) I have also explored what is suitable for children. How far can children’s books push the boundaries of what children should know and in what way. (Styles, 2012) I then started to investigate different topics that could be considered as ‘difficult’ or ‘taboo’; Such as equality, LGBT, death, illness, elderly, family and love.

In the lead up to international women’s day, I found lots of displays and books about women. I started to do research into equality, and how it’s presented in children’s books. Still in todays modern world, when an author reveals the gender of a creature it was 73% more likely to be male than female. Male creatures are also more likely to be shown as strong and dangerous and compared to animals like tigers and dragons. Whereas women are shown as more small and sensitive creatures such as birds and butterflies. Although there are new picture books with strong female characters, they didn’t make the bestseller list. However, illustrators and authors understand the importance of equality and it is slowly changing. However, parents are still buying books they know and trust from their childhood. Which aren’t perhaps promoting equality. (Ferguson, 2018)

I found a project called ‘No Outsiders’ in which UK primary schoolteachers looked at ways of addressing sexual equality in primary schools. It’s important to get the balance into how to educate children about sexuality for them to understand that everyone is different. The idea of the project was to prevent homophobia. In order to do this it would require talking about gender, sexuality and diversity openly in school. However, there was parents who protested against this causing a school to temporarily withdraw from the project. The aim of this project was to reduce bullying, which parents (Love, 2019) supported. However they were saying ‘our child is coming home and talking about same- sex relationships when we haven’t even talked about heterosexual relationships with them yet.’ A woman said that her 10 year old daughter came home from school after reading a couple of these books and said ‘We can’t have these books in the house, people might think we’re gay or something.’ The woman then stated how she realized in that moment that her daughter was already being ‘bombarded with peer pressure.’ ‘She had already realized and made her mind up that gay is bad and we can’t go there. If at this age they’re already saying that we can’t accept people for their life choices, then we have to start educating them earlier.’ A project teacher gave her own interpretation of homosexuality and did a story called ‘If I had 100 mummies.’ A girl responded by putting her hand up and said she had two mummies. ‘We framed it that she is the luckiest one to have two mummies, because we’d all like 100 kisses at bedtime and 100 ice creams if we went out to play.’ This empowered the child’s parents, as they came in and said how pleased they were that this was being addressed and their situation being framed as the norm. (DePalma, 2016)

Another aspect I have researched is about illustrators and how they are treated in the industry. This is something I want to look more into especially for children’s illustrators. An illustrator surveyed 1261 illustrators about their pay, workload and contracts. He found that most illustrators are based at home while only 11% share studios. Illustrators found that the most work they got was from the publishing industry with 24% and editorial work with 19%, closely followed by prints and exhibitions at 18% and 16% from advertising. Most of their work came from self-promotion 33% and repeat clients 30%. Social media is a big impact with it helping 21% of the illustrators, agents however only bringing 9%. Instagram was the most important social media source for those surveyed. It is an easy way for illustrators to get their work out there and for a large amount of people to see at a click of a finger. However there is still some way to go. 69% felt they could not earn a suitable amount to live sustainably just from illustration and have had to have side jobs. (Brewer, 2018)

The children book industry is a big area to research. I want to find out things that are going to be relevant to my practice and potential future in the industry. I want to look at illustrators and how they’ve entered the industry. I will be doing research into whether they have an agent or if they are freelance. Comparing this to international illustrators such as Sweden and Norway who have wages whereas many illustrators in the UK tend to work freelance. Why is this? How do freelance illustrators find work? I want to look into whether having an agent is needed and look at well-known illustrators and their journey in children’s books. I am planning to look at different agents and their clients seeing how successful they have been. Has social media been a big impact on the illustration industry? How has it helped illustrators and impacted their lives mentally. I also would like to look into techniques illustrators use. Looking at traditional illustration such as Beatrix Potter compared to digital illustration such as Jim Field who uses digital techniques in his work. Is the change with advanced technology good for the industry or bad? Why do people choose to draw digitally and does it have the same effect as using traditional methods.

Another area to look into would be in the publishing industry. Looking at the type of books they sell and what they promote, for example around international women’s day there were displays in every bookshop and in chains such as Waterstones. Yet where are these books on a normal day? I want to look further into who decides the market focus is right and how can it be changed to promote equality and issues such as LGBT, race, diversity and so on. Another research point would be to look at certain publishing houses such as Penguin, reviewing the books they have on offer for children, I want to see the trends in books they sell and doing an analysis on what’s popular and why. It might also be interesting looking at the type of books children read at school and how they involve books in education. Another area I want to look in is the increase in EBooks and Audio books. With the increase in young children using tablets are they likely to use these than read an actual book or be read to. What is this doing to children, what are the benefits?

I have found some books that I feel will be helpful for my research and the understanding of the children book industry. For instance How to be an Illustrator by Darrel Rees. I have already read some of this book before but I think it will give me a good insight into the illustration industry. Other books I am planning on reading are: Illustration: What’s the point? By Mouni Feddag and Becoming a Successful Illustrator by Derek Brazell. Books that are more specific to the children’s book industry are: How to Write a Children’s Picture Book and Get it Published by Andrea Shavick; Illustrating Children’s Books- Creating Pictures for Publication by Martin Salinsbury; Drawn from the Archive: Hidden Histories of Illustration by Seven stories Press; Little Big Books: Illustration for Children's Picture Books by Robert Klanten and 100 Great Children's Picture books by Martin Salisbury and Illustrating Children's books by Martin Ursell.

I am planning on doing some primary research over the holidays. I have a few ideas of what I could possibly do, but this will likely change once I have done more research on my subject. Also the type of questions and focus may change slightly with more knowledge and understanding of my subject. One idea I had would be doing an interview with an independent children’s bookshop owner. I am planning to visit some over the summer and there is a few local book shops dedicated to just children’s novels. I would want to ask the owner about their opinion on the industry, to find out are people still buying books like they used to. Do they hold any workshops, book readings/ signings, if so do many people attend? I would ask about their ethics over profits and the type of books they sell and why. Another possibility would be to do an online questionnaire asking friends and family about their experience with children’s books. Over the summer I want to visit as many independent book shops as I can. While doing some research I discovered some local ones The Childrens Bookshop in Hay- On- Wye and Booka Bookshop in Oswestry. I am also hoping to go to London and bookshops I would like to go to are Chiltern Bookshops in Gerrad’s Cross, Foyes in Charing Cross, The Owl Bookshop Kentish Town, Kew Bookshop, London Review Bookshop in Bloomsbury and Daunt Books in Marylebone. I would also like to go in some museums and galleries such as The Cartoon Museum, The House of Illustration, House of MinaLima, Chris Beetles Gallery and Marianne North Gallery in Kew gardens.

References

Ben_the_illustrator. (2018/2019) Illustrator's Survey [online] Available at: https://bentheillustrator.com/illustrators-survey [Accessed: 15/04/19]

Brewer, J. (2018) This illustrator surveyed 1261 illustrators about pay, workload, clients, contracts and more [online] Available at: https://www.itsnicethat.com/news/ben-the-illustrator-illustration-survey-2017-160118 [Accessed: 19/04/19]

Briggs, R. (1994) The Bear [online] Available at: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/299935/the-bear/9780141374079.html [Accessed: 25/04/19]

Cowell, C. (2018) If we want our children to thrive, teaching them to read is not enough – they must learn to enjoy it. [online], Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/children-reading-for-pleasure-learning-to-read-a8666611.html [Accessed: 16/02/18]

DePalma, R. (2016) Gay Penguins, Sissy Ducklings ... and Beyond? Exploring Gender and Sexuality Diversity through Children's Literature. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 37 (6), 828-845.

Dictionary, O. (2019) Difficult [online] Available at: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/difficult [Accessed: 01/04/19]

Edge, C. (2015) How Can Stories Help Children Explore Difficult Subjects? [online] Available at: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/blog/teachers-librarians/2015/11/how-can-stories-help-children-explore-difficult-subjects [Accessed: 25/02/19]

Ferguson, D. (2018) Must monsters always be male? Huge gender bias revealed in children’s books. [online], Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jan/21/childrens-books-sexism-monster-in-your-kids-book-is-male [Accessed: 07/03/19]

Flood, A. (2018) Only half of pre-school children being read to daily, UK study finds. [online], Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/feb/21/only-half-of-pre-school-children-being-read-to-daily-study-finds [Accessed: 18/04/19]

Hedderwick, M. (1986) Katie Morag And The Tiresome Ted [online] Available at: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1000937/katie-morag-and-the-tiresome-ted/9781849410953.html

Love, J. (2019) Julián Is a Mermaid [online] Available at: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/567578/julian-is-a-mermaid-by-jessica-love/9780763690458/ [Accessed: 26/03/19]

McKee, D. (1968) Elmer [online] Available at: https://www.waterstones.com/book/elmer/david-mckee/9781842707319 [Accessed: 25/04/19]

Potter, B. About Beatrix Potter [online] Available at: https://www.peterrabbit.com/about-beatrix-potter/ [Accessed: 25/04/19]

Salisbury, M. (2019) John Burningham Obituary [online], Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jan/07/john-burningham-obituary [Accessed: 18/04/19]

Sethi, A. (2018) Browse a bookshop: Moon Lane Books, south London. [online], Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/07/browse-a-bookshop-moon-lane-books-london [Accessed: 20/04/19]

Styles, M.S.a.M. (2012) Children's Picturebooks The art of visual storytelling. London: Laurence King.

Williams, S. (2017) 'Drawing is the most important thing there is': Quentin Blake talks to Lauren Child. [online], Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/drawing-important-thing-quentin-blake-talks-lauren-child/ [Accessed: 18/02/19]

Youtube. (2011) Ladybird Classic Me Books App | Interactive Picture Book [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h1EYwDg8lU [Accessed: 15/04/19]

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apsbicepstraining · 7 years ago

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Margaret Atwood: a high priestess of fiction who embraces the digital age | Claire Armitstead

The Handmaids Tales joyful reception on the small screen reminds us of its ever-energetic generators spooky prescience

Once or twice in a generation, a tale is suggested that vaults out of the literary corral studying to be a phenomenon, well known to beings the world over who have never read the book: George Orwells 1984 is one and Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale is another.

So its perhaps not remarkable that a new 10 -part TV series based on the romance has struck a chord. Starring Elisabeth Moss as handmaid Offred, the succession launched in the US last-place month and comes to the UK later this month trailing superlatives.

At 77, Atwood blends the loftiness of a high priestess who does not stand moron gladly with an unstinting generosity to those she deems not to be foolhardy. She is a heartfelt environmentalist, with a special interest in chicks, which she shares with her husband, Graeme Gibson.

If her determination to live by her principles occasionally seems incidentally comic as when she embarked by barge on an international tour of a stage show publicising the second tale of her MaddAddam trilogy, The Year of the Flood she also brings to her politics a healthy dose of intentional humour.

On a recent trip to her Toronto home, her longtime UK publisher Lennie Goodings was amazed to converge her carrying a paper bag bellying with four large-scale rubber turkeys. She established them to me with that joke, manager on a tilt, wicked smile of hers. They yelped when she pressed them. It turned out that she and Gibson were about to present the trophies at an annual RSPB competition. The winners each receive a rubber goose from Margaret, at which point she deports them in a squeezing squawking choir.

Atwood traces her refer with the environment back to a childhood spent criss-crossing the groves of Canada with her entomologist leader. She was the second of three children, and the familys itinerant life meant that she did not going to see full-time academy until she was eight years old. She embarked producing her poetry while a student at the University of Toronto, acquired her firstly major literary award for a poetry collection are presented in 1964, and three accumulations later diversified into fiction in 1969 with The Edible Woman, about the status of women driven mad by consumerism.

She is a exceedingly hands-on person, says Goodings, a fellow Canadian, who has been her publisher at at the feminist imprint Virago since 1979. Her self-sufficiency comes from her childhood but also from her participation in the early days of CanLit[ Canadian Literature ]. She designed her own cover for her first journal of poetry, The Circle Game, with the red-faced specks you buy at stationery stores. In the early days of Virago she enjoyed and learned alongside us bookshop point-of-sale information such as shelf airstrips and dumpbins.

Once she and I passed in a taxi to an happen with a large cardboard lady a replication of the figure on the handle of[ her 1988 novel] Cats Eye. She loved it.

Her hands-on approach has carried her forcefully into the digital period. As an internationally successful author who has been awarded 24 honorary magnitudes in six two countries, been shortlisted five times for the Booker prize( acquiring it in 2000 for The Blind Assassin ), and who was more recently invited to Norway to implant a manuscript for 100 years as the first participant in The Future Library project, she faced the tricky issue of a monumental carbon footprint. She undertook it by inventing the LongPen, which enabled her at least to do volume signals without leaving her home.

Her penultimate novel, The Heart Goes Last, began its life on the fanfiction scaffold Wattpad, and she has 1.6 million Twitter partisans, to whom she tweets a dozen times a day on subjects arraying from the urgent need to protect the monarch butterfly to the vilification of Hilary Clinton.

She has also made cameo appearances in The Handmaids Tale, and as an cataclysm survivor on Zombies, Run !, a fitness app blending an audio drama with an immersive jogging competition, which was devised by her protege, the English novelist and gaming wizard Naomi Alderman.

The two were brought together through a mentoring strategy run by Rolex. Four of us got flown out to Canada to meet her and I belief she picked me because I was funny, says Alderman, who ascribes Atwood with the convent settle of her recent novel, The Power, which is in the running for the Baileys prize. Shes really implied me in their own families in a way I hadnt expected. Ive been bird watching in Cuba with her brother and his wife, and to the Arctic.

Atwood has said she was reluctant to get involved with the strategy, and some of her more institutional mentoring rapports ought to have little encouraging. As a teacher she was pretty hectoring, says one former student on a imaginative print MA. She read all our first assemblies and we each had one grilling with her about our journals. Almost all the questions she requested was, And then what happens? And then what happens? so I predict plot is pretty important.

Her abrasive line-up has also been evident in run-ins with the science fiction parish as to which category her fictions are all part of, insisting that they are speculative myth on the basis that: Discipline story has demons and spaceships; speculative fiction could really happen.

The veteran SF columnist Ursula K Le Guin countered in a Guardian inspect: To my memory, The Handmaids Tale, Oryx and Crake and now The Year of the Flood all exemplify one of the things science fiction does, which is to extrapolate imaginatively from current trends and events to a near-future thats half prediction, half wit.

Published in the mid-1 980 s, with a Canadians mounting chagrin at the religion revitalization she was detecting over their own borders in the United States, The Handmaids Tale, a legend of a theocratic territory in which young woman are treated as clutch mares by a merciless revolutionary upper-clas, has become a staple of the curriculum in the English-speaking world.

In the late 20 th century, when a progress in feminism appeared irreparable, it seemed a cautionary tale of what might well. At the Hay festival in 2003, Atwood herself argues that it had little general relevance than the first fiction in what was to become her MaddAddam trilogy about a world-wide facing the consequences of environmental meltdown. Oryx and Crake, she said, addressed world-wide issues whereas The Handmaids Tale was specifically about America.

But three decades after The Handmaids Tale was produced, there are many all-too-real the locations where the denizens of the fictional republic of Gilead would feel at home, from Donald Trumps increasingly dictatorial and misogynistic US where objectors against two abortion-related greenbacks turned up at the Texas senate in March dressed in the long ruby-red costumes and white bonnets of Atwoods handmaids to a Nigeria in which schoolgirls are seized en masse, and a changing number of theocratic countries across Asia and the Middle East.

The Year of The Flood, are presented in 2009, boasts Gods Gardeners, a religious sect devoted to the melding of science, religion, and sort, whose hymn-singing was promulgated in a strange roadshow.

Atwood herself opened the depict, intoning on a monotone from a wooden throne. As Diana Quick, one of the musicians, echoes: Peggy was rather eerie on that amusing promo make because she had written all their carol of praise and she took to blessing everyone, as it were, ex cathedra. I recall she had had great hopes for it and was quite theatre struck, and then very disappointed in its implementation of the piece.

Perhaps we were too far away to see that wicked smile, though an endnote to the tale proposed to not. In it, Atwood invited readers to listen to the Gardeners hymns on her website and to use them for amateur devotional or environmental purposes. If she sometimes takes herself preferably too seriously, she has surely gave the right to do so over a 60 -book career which shows no sign of ceasing to produce spookily prescient books.

Anyone inclined to be said that The Handmaids Tale is still a parochial parable should consider its relevant to even presumably radical societies in an age of a mass surveillance that would have been inconceivable when the novel was written. Like their fellow citizens of Gilead, we have internalised the distorted reasoning of Atwoods sinister Aunt Lydia, the apparently kindly supervisor who is actually a commonwealth stooge. There is more than one various kinds of democracy. Discretion to and exemption from, she says. In the days of disorder, it was freedom to. Now “you think youre” being given discretion from. Dont underrate it. As Orwell almost said, Big Sister is Watching You.

Potted profile

Born: 18 November 1939

Age: 77

Career: Started out as a poet and has to date written roughly 60 books for adults and children. She has also created opera libretti, television dialogues and a graphic novel.

High spot: Prevailing the Booker prize in 2000 with The Blind Assassin, the fourth of her fictions to be shortlisted.

Low quality: The Handmaids Tale has been censored from schools and libraries all over the US for being anti-Christian and sexually lurid and has appeared on the 100 Most Frequently Objection Books for the last 20 years.

What she says : Optimism necessitates better than world; despair entails worse than actuality. Im a realist.

What they say : The National Book Critics Circle of America gave her a lifetime achievement give this year for her groundbreaking myth, environmental and feminist activism, and work to community as a co-founder of the Scribe Trust of Canada.

The post Margaret Atwood: a high priestess of fiction who embraces the digital age | Claire Armitstead appeared first on apsbicepstraining.com.

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imagine-loki · 3 years ago

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What About Trust, Chapter 5

TITLE: What About Trust CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 5 AUTHOR: fanficshiddles ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki owns a bookshop on Midgard. He had to do something there to try and avoid getting any attention. But he’s not fond of having customers, is rather grumpy and guarded. But then he meets a bright, bubbly and trusting young woman who doesn’t recognise him. To his dismay, he finds himself becoming rather fond of the mortal. RATING: M

Cleo was outside Loki’s shop at exactly eleven am, Loki was just coming out the door when she arrived.

‘Ah, perfect timing.’ He said as he locked the door.

‘It’s very rare I am on time, so you best feel honoured that I actually managed it for a change.’ She smiled.

‘Well, I am very honoured.’ He chuckled.

They fell into step together and headed down the road. Loki had a place in mind that he thought she would like, if she hadn’t been there before that was.

It was down a quiet street, off the beaten track. But Cleo was in utter awe when she saw it, she couldn’t believe she had never been there before.

It wasn’t just a coffee shop, it sold some records too and had good music playing. It wasn’t overly busy, but had a few people in there.

‘Oh, wow!’ Cleo’s eyes were bright as she looked around. Then she saw what was for sale along with different types of tea or coffee… Fancy looking brownies that looked to die for.

Loki ordered them both coffee and also triple chocolate brownies with caramel. He motioned for her to go upstairs, when she did she almost died in excitement. It was nicely laid out, with some beautiful plants and a long window ledge seat. To the right just off the stairs there was a set of wooden swings that matched the place perfectly. The tables were all made to look like large vinyls.

‘My god, this place is freaking awesome.’ She squeaked excitedly as she took a seat at one of the vinyl tables, Loki swiftly joined her, pleased that she liked the place.

‘I had a feeling you’d like this one.’ He said rather smugly. ‘I’m surprised you of all people haven’t already been here before?’

Cleo laughed. ‘Yeah, I am too actually. I’ve not seen anything about it online before, and I’ve just never been down this way.’ She shrugged.

‘I don’t think they’re much into tech, quite old school and quirky. No online presence.’ Loki said as he started on his brownie, he couldn’t wait any longer.

‘Yeah, makes sense.’ Cleo smiled and started on hers too. ‘Ohhhh my god!’ She moaned and closed her eyes after her first bite. ‘Wow, now that, that is better than sex.’

Loki almost choked on his coffee, he looked over at her and laughed. ‘I am sure they will simply love that kind of review.’

Cleo giggled. ‘Yeah, maybe I will need to re-think that one.’

Loki found himself unable to stop smiling while he was with Cleo. There was just something about her that was really getting under his skin. She was a breath of fresh air to be around, so optimistic about life and bubbly. She was a delight to be around.

‘So, what do you think of the music I gave you?’ Cleo asked as she licked her fingers clean, an action that Loki tried very hard not to look at. His thoughts going elsewhere.

He cleared his throat and wiped his mouth with a napkin. ‘Well, you seem to have guessed my taste rather well. I enjoyed them all. And you’re right about lyrics, I really should listen to them more often instead of just taking in the outer layer.’

Cleo grinned brightly. ‘Some lyrics of songs are just a load of bull. But a lot are really meaningful and wonderful to listen to. The great thing about lyrics is you can interpret them in whatever way you want, they can have different meanings for different people.’

‘That’s a nice way to think of it.’ Loki nodded in agreement. ‘Though those so-called rappers are quite ridiculous, just on about sex and drugs.’

‘Oh no no, I know some do. But some of the best lyricists are rappers.’ Cleo said quickly.

Loki raised an eyebrow at her.

‘Seriously. I know some of them can be difficult to actually listen to, but I’ll look out some for you. Just give them a proper listen, you will be pleasantly surprised.’

‘Hmm, that you will have to convince me of.’

‘And I will most definitely prove you wrong.’ Cleo teased.

‘I am never proved wrong.’ Loki drawled and leaned back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest.

‘Oh yeah? Well, it’s a good thing I love a challenge, isn’t it?’

Loki chuckled at her determination. He would give her the benefit of the doubt, for now.

‘I know you said your brother lives here too, what about your parents?’ Loki enquired.

‘They live back home in Inverness. It was just my brother who decided he wanted to move down here too.’

‘Do you see your parents often?’

Cleo shrugged a little. ‘Not a lot, but sometimes I’ll go home and visit for a holiday. On occasion they come down here, but not often. What about you, are your parents around or do they stay in Norway with your brother?’ She asked.

‘No… I uhm. My parents have passed.’

‘Oh, I’m so sorry.’ Cleo said sadly.

‘No, don’t worry. It was a long time ago. Though they were my adoptive parents, they adopted me as a baby. I know my biological father died, I never found out about my mother.’

Cleo was warmed that he was opening up to her. That he was starting to let his guard down a little with her, which made her feel really happy.

‘Do you wish you knew her?’ She asked.

Loki pondered on that question for a moment. ‘No. My mother who raised me, she was a wonderful mother. I loved her very dearly, we were… close. I never saw eye to eye with my father in the same way. But I wouldn’t change her for the world.’ He said fondly.

‘That’s really sweet.’ Cleo smiled.

Loki nodded. He felt a little pang of hurt within him when he thought about Frigga. She would have loved Cleo, that much he knew.

‘So, do you… have a boyfriend, or a husband?’ Loki asked, slightly uncomfortable. But it was a question that had been eating away at him, he wanted to know.

‘Nope, definitely not married and no boyfriend. I think I scare guys off when they see my flat filled to the brim with books and records, they assume I’m old-fashioned and have my head in the clouds.’ She laughed.

‘Well, you may live with your head in the clouds but you are certainly not one to run away from.’ He winked at her.

She blushed a little bit at that and smiled. ‘How about you, do you have a special girl in your life?’

Loki shook his head. ‘No, not at the moment. As I’m sure you realised, I tend to keep myself to myself for the most part.’

‘Yeah, I did notice. Grumpy book shop owner always hidden away in his shop… with not the best reputation of being friendly, I saw a few reviews online.’ Cleo grinned.

‘Well, most mortals just come in and mess up my shop.’ He grumbled.

‘Mortals?’ Cleo burst out laughing at his choice of words.

Loki shrugged. ‘Hooligans, mortals, puny humans, whatever.’

‘You do have a funny way with words sometimes… But I guess that’s part of your rather alluring charm.’ She smirked.

After they left the coffee shop, Cleo couldn’t believe that three hours had passed. They had just talked and talked, not caring about time or anything else.

‘Wow, look at the time.’

‘Was I keeping you from something?’ Loki asked as he straightened his jacket.

‘If keeping me from something counts as just lazing around at home reading or listening to music, or binge watching the telly, then yes.’ She elbowed him playfully.

‘You mean you don’t do something productive on your days off?’ Loki chastised playfully.

‘Hell no. The only productive thing I normally do on my days off is watering my plants.’

‘You have a garden?’ Loki queried.

‘Oh yeah. A little plot outside the block of flats. I have a mini greenhouse, too. I love growing some vegetables and have some flowers.’

Loki couldn’t believe it. Not only was she a bookworm, enjoyed music, but she also enjoyed some gardening? How could a mortal be so perfect? It was sickening!

‘I am surprised you can keep them alive.’ He joked.

‘I am too, to be honest. With my scatterbrain sometimes. But I actually do a not too bad job.’ She said proudly, holding her head high.

‘That’s good to hear. For the plants’ sake.’

Cleo laughed. ‘Well, thank you for the coffee and brownie. I really enjoyed it.’

‘Thank you for the company.’ Loki winked at her.

‘I’ll see you soon, Luke.’ She smiled widely at him and patted his arm, then reluctantly headed off.

Loki watched her walking away, he didn’t take his eyes off of her until she had turned the corner. He leaned back against the wall, breathing in deep he looked up at the sky.

‘Why didn’t I just tell her my real name at the start?’ He grumbled at himself and pinched the bridge of his nose.

#Loki #Lover #Submitted fic #what about trust #chapter 5 #fanficshiddles

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imagine-loki · 3 years ago

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What About Trust, Chapter 4

TITLE: What About Trust CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 4 AUTHOR: fanficshiddles ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki owns a bookshop on Midgard. He had to do something there to try and avoid getting any attention. But he’s not fond of having customers, is rather grumpy and guarded. But then he meets a bright, bubbly and trusting young woman who doesn’t recognise him. To his dismay, he finds himself becoming rather fond of the mortal. RATING: M

Loki stopped outside the record shop and raised an eyebrow as he looked at the window display. It was nicely presented, showing a variety of records. From jazz right through to rock, with everything from pop and country in-between. Old and new.

When he quietly stepped inside, he was impressed. It was larger than it looked from the outside.

There was some kind of upbeat country type music playing, and his eyes were instantly drawn to the far-left side. Where he spotted a familiar mortal. She was re-stocking some of the record displays while dancing and singing along to the song that was playing.

Smiling widely to himself, he crept closer to her, hands behind his back as he enjoyed the little show. He couldn’t stop himself from looking at her ass as she danced around enthusiastically while singing her heart out, letting the music flow through her. She had no idea that she had an audience.

Loki leaned against one of the stands, watching with great amusement for a while. When the song ended, he couldn’t resist and started clapping. ‘Well, that was quite the show.’

‘FUUUUCK!’ Cleo jumped out of her skin and almost hit the roof as she spun around. The fear was gone within a second when she saw who it was and was replaced with embarrassment. Her face turned bright red and she just gawped at him for a moment.

‘Luke! You really need to stop sneaking up on people!’ She playfully hit his chest, amusing him further.

‘Not my fault that your shop isn’t as fancy as mine and doesn’t have a bell above the door.’ He grinned wickedly.

She cursed again under her breath and pinched the bridge of her nose. Her heart was only just starting to calm down after getting such a fright.

‘I guess it could’ve been worse, you might’ve been someone important, after all.’ She stuck her tongue out at him, making him chuckle.

‘Such a childish gesture…’ He scolded. ‘I’ll stick your hand in water when you’re sleeping if you do it again.’

Cleo laughed and shook her head. ‘I guess you’ve come in by for your record player?’ She headed towards the counter.

Loki nodded and followed her. ‘I have indeed. And to annoy you at your place of work for a change.’ His eyes were twinkling rather mischievously, something that Cleo rather liked to see. It suited him, weirdly.

Rolling her eyes but smiling, she disappeared momentarily through the back. Loki chuckled to himself and looked around the shop again, it was well kept and tidy. Just like his book shop was.

‘Do you run the place alone, for your friend?’ He called through to her, he could hear boxes shuffling around in the back.

‘Pretty much. I work full time and we are closed Sundays and Mondays. We do have someone part time that fills in when I’m on holiday, ill or if we have busy periods during any events that’s on in the city. She’s on call, so to speak. Often does a few hours here and there each week to give me some extra time. But usually, it’s manageable on my own. My friend that owns it owns a few businesses, so is happy to leave me to it so she can concentrate on her others.’ She called back through.

When she emerged, she had a large box in her hand. Loki rushed over to help her with it, taking it from her. He narrowed his eyes at her when he saw what was written on the top.

The book shop’s owner that looks like a wizard’s record player.

‘You could have just used my name.’ He drawled.

She shrugged with a grin. ‘Where’s the fun in that?’

It was Loki’s turn to roll his eyes at her. He placed the box down on the counter then had a nosey at the records, flicking through them.

‘What records do you recommend I play first on my new player?’ He enquired.

Cleo’s face lit up at being asked that question. This was her time to shine!

She rushed over to him and grabbed his arm, dragging him to another stand and looking for something specific.

‘Well, I think you’d like this. It has incredible lyrics, and music too, of course. It’s slightly pop but leaning more towards synth pop. But trust me, give it a try.’ She handed him a record, he barely had time to look at it properly before she was handing him another one. ‘Oh, and there’s this one. No lyrics, the melodies are quite something. I thought of you when I came across it yesterday.’ She smiled.

He quirked an eyebrow at her and nodded. ‘Thank you. I will let you know my review after listening to them… What was the name of the artist you were listening to when I walked in?’

‘That was Mumford & Sons… did you like the song?’ She was a little surprised, not thinking he would’ve been into that kind of music.

‘I did.’ He nodded.

‘Well, the song is called I Will Wait. I think we have the single, if you’d like? Or we should have their full albums somewhere.’ She pondered, finger on her lips as she looked around the shop for where it would be.

‘The single would be great.’ Loki smiled.

Cleo soon fished out the record for him, he was impressed that she seemed to know where everything was. But then, he knew she was passionate about music, so it was no surprise really. Like he knew every single book in his shop, where you would find each one, too.

‘So did you just close up your shop in the middle of the day to come here, or do you have staff?’ Cleo asked.

‘I just closed.’ Loki shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my shop.’

‘I figured as much.’ Cleo laughed.

‘How much am I due you?’ Loki asked as he went over to the counter and put the records down, then pulled his wallet out of his jeans pocket.

‘Ten thousand pounds.’ Cleo joked, earning an unamused look from Loki. ‘No, it’s on the house.’ She said seriously.

Loki frowned. ‘I am not getting you into trouble for giving out freebies.’

‘You’re not. I’m allowed a free record once a month, I will take them off that. And I will just say one of the record players was slightly damaged on delivery, it happens all the time. So we just give them away.’ She shrugged.

Loki tsked. ‘Naughty. See, this is why I couldn’t trust anyone else, they’d be giving away my books for free.’

‘Well, you gave me freebies. So let’s just say we’re even now. I don’t do this for just anyone, you know. In-fact, not even my own brother gets freebies like this. So I’d take them while you’ve got me on a good day.’

‘You have a brother?’

‘I do. Annoying little shit.’ She sighed.

‘Brothers are annoying indeed.’ Loki agreed, chuckling.

‘You have a brother too?’

Loki nodded. ‘Unfortunately, yes. An older brother.’

‘I feel your pain, my brother is older than me as well.’ Cleo said as she wrapped up the records for Loki. ‘And he lives in the city, so I have to see his ugly mug on the regular.’

‘Ah, that’s where I am a bit luckier. Mine lives in Norway.’

‘Wow, different country. Do you ever miss him?’ Cleo asked.

Loki shrugged. ‘Not really. He visits on occasion, I know I can contact him whenever I want. Which is a rarity. Perhaps once every century, though even that’s too much.

Cleo laughed, thinking he was joking.

‘Well, that’s you all sorted.’ Cleo said as she put the records on top of the record player box.

‘Thank you, Cleo. This is very kind of you… But I absolutely won’t take not paying you.’

‘No, seriously, Luke. It’s all good, please.’ Cleo pleaded.

‘Let me take you out for coffee on Sunday then.’ Loki suddenly blurted out, unable to stop himself before it was too late. But then, he found he didn’t exactly regret asking. ‘Then I can give you my review of the music.’ He added.

Cleo was a little stunned, but nodded eagerly. ‘That would be great.’

Loki nodded once. ‘Excellent… How about we say, eleven? Meet outside my shop?’

‘That sounds perfect.’ Cleo agreed.

‘Till Sunday.’ Loki bowed his head a bit, making her laugh.

‘See you Sunday.’ She beamed happily.

That night, before going to bed, Loki listened to the records he got from Cleo. But he found himself playing I Will Wait on repeat for a while as he lay on the sofa, just staring at the ceiling. While he rather enjoyed the music and the lyrics, he couldn’t stop thinking about Cleo and her dancing along to it so care free, belting the lyrics out too. He felt a fondness within him that he had never felt before.

Without properly realising it, his heart felt like it was bursting just from thinking about her.

#Loki #Lover #Submitted fic #what about trust #chapter 4 #fanficshiddles

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apsbicepstraining · 7 years ago

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Margaret Atwood: a high priestess of fiction who embraces the digital age | Claire Armitstead

The Handmaids Tales joyful reception on the small screen reminds us of its ever-energetic generators spooky prescience

Once she and I passed in a taxi to an happen with a large cardboard lady a replication of the figure on the handle of[ her 1988 novel] Cats Eye. She loved it.

The Year of The Flood, are presented in 2009, boasts Gods Gardeners, a religious sect devoted to the melding of science, religion, and sort, whose hymn-singing was promulgated in a strange roadshow.

Potted profile

Born: 18 November 1939

Age: 77

Career: Started out as a poet and has to date written roughly 60 books for adults and children. She has also created opera libretti, television dialogues and a graphic novel.

High spot: Prevailing the Booker prize in 2000 with The Blind Assassin, the fourth of her fictions to be shortlisted.

What she says : Optimism necessitates better than world; despair entails worse than actuality. Im a realist.

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apsbicepstraining · 7 years ago

Text

Margaret Atwood: a high priestess of fiction who embraces the digital age | Claire Armitstead

The Handmaids Tales joyful reception on the small screen reminds us of its ever-energetic generators spooky prescience

Once she and I passed in a taxi to an happen with a large cardboard lady a replication of the figure on the handle of[ her 1988 novel] Cats Eye. She loved it.

The Year of The Flood, are presented in 2009, boasts Gods Gardeners, a religious sect devoted to the melding of science, religion, and sort, whose hymn-singing was promulgated in a strange roadshow.

Potted profile

Born: 18 November 1939

Age: 77

Career: Started out as a poet and has to date written roughly 60 books for adults and children. She has also created opera libretti, television dialogues and a graphic novel.

High spot: Prevailing the Booker prize in 2000 with The Blind Assassin, the fourth of her fictions to be shortlisted.

What she says : Optimism necessitates better than world; despair entails worse than actuality. Im a realist.

The post Margaret Atwood: a high priestess of fiction who embraces the digital age | Claire Armitstead appeared first on apsbicepstraining.com.

from WordPress http://ift.tt/2Ao8cR9 via IFTTT

#IFTTT #WordPress

0 notes