15 Jun 2025, 20:47
A bookish suprise
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As for every morning, for the past few weeks, Olivia gets up, goes downstairs to grab her breakfast. Always the same, some eggs with a hot coco which her mom makes for her every morning again, putting small marshmallows into them because she knows it will light up her daughter's mornings. Once she finishes her breakfast, she kisses her mom and goes out the door, to hang out at her favorite spot of all London.
Crawford's Bookstore.
Olivia is obsessed with books, is she doesn't read at least two times a day, it's not a day well spend. Olivia received the love for books from her grandfather, who was a literary scholar. The very first gift her parents received for her at birth, from her grandfather, was a book. Which was always the gift she got from her grandfather. He thought books would not only make her ambitious and smart, but also intelligent and eager to learn and, most important of all, eager to dream.
By the time she arrives at the bookstore, the owner, who is a rather elderly woman, flips the mark hanging on the door that says "open". As Olivia opens the door and walks inside, the elderly woman gives her a smile and says "Why am I not surprised to see you here again Liv, i'm assuming you're staying for the entire day, again?" Olivia gives out a small laugh and takes a seat at her usual spot, close to the bookshelves connecting to the window. "I would take it personally if you would assume otherwise" She answers the woman. The woman gives her a smile and continues to do her work.
As Olivia takes the book she was currently reading, she flips it open and lets her mind wonder off to the next adventure.
Interaction with = @Simon KincaidWordcount = 297Date = Summer of July 2025
It only has to make sense to you
25 Jun 2025, 13:54
A bookish suprise
Soon to meet @Olivia Thorn
Simon had two jobs that summer to help keep him busy. He held an internship with St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries and he helped out Aunt Maggie at Crawford's. That's what he was doing on this day.
When you worked at a hybrid bakery-bookstore, you were blending two very different retail environments. One one hand you had food service and on the other you had literary ambiance. This difference created opportunities for unique tasks that normally wouldn't typically exist in either setting alone but he knew it was this quirkiness that his Aunt Maggie thrived on.
She loved making bakery themed book recommendations. She'd place various markers near some of the baked goods, going off a customer's pastry voice. "You like the lemon tart? Try omething tart and witty like Nora Ephron essays."
During Christmas, she'd set up a Gingerbread Telling, where customers were encouraged to submit their edible displays that highlighted literature - recreating a scene from different novels.
She also loved to pair classical literature with baked goods - creating pastries such as Salted Caramel Sea Bread, a rustic loaf with sea salt an caramel drizzle, inspired by Moby Dick or Pain de Misère, a rustic french loaf with crusty justice, inspired by Les Misérables.
Her employees enjoyed these as well but especially that they were encouraged to read advanced copies of new releases or to read for writing of book reviews for store displays or to put on social media during cooling times. Getting paid to read was a plus for those who loved to read.
At the dinner table the other day, Simon suggested Crawford's should have story themed baking events. These could be creative gatherings whehre the baked goods were inspired by stories, books, or fairty tales. Those attending could be encouraged to dress up and have an evening of good food and fun. Aunt Maggie thought it was a brilliant idea.
And that was his task for that morning. Simon brought one of his trusty notebooks with him and found a spot towards the reading nook at the back of the store where the lightly was just perfect and every spot nice and cozy and got to work. He already had a couple ideas written down from the night before: Fairy Tale Feast and Shakespeare & Shortbread.
Hmm, was there anything else? Simon focused down on his notebook as he tapped his pen against the arm of his chair as he thought.
Be kind to one another.
(*iNPC is Miles Thatcher [also Cassian Mercer, caretaker])