Fic: The Raven And The Nightingale Book III: Cherry Blossoms (6/22)
Title: The Raven And The Nightingale Book III: Cherry Blossoms (6/22)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Bruce/Dick, Roscoe Brown, Theodore Roosevelt
Genres: AU, Historical, Mystery, Romance
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings (this chapter): Use of the word 'Negro'.
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Bruce and Dick get caught up in political intrigue on a business trip to Washington City.
Chapter Summary: Bruce and Dick visit the White House.
Date Of Completion: November 9, 2015
Date Of Posting: February 15, 2022
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1924
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: The entire series can be found here.
VI
THE PRESIDENT’S HOUSE
“The President’s House is simple elegance at its best.”
Mrs. Robert Edwards
Famed Washington Hostess
January 6, 1901
Bruce and Dick checked in at the White House front gate and walked through at the guard’s behest. It was a beautiful spring day as they strolled up the driveway. The fountain’s water sparkled in warm sunlight as even the White House seemed to gleam.
They were greeted at the portico door by a Negro butler, who smiled and took their hats, coats and canes. Both visitors were dressed in smart suits and vests with silk cravats. Bruce had chosen dark-blue with a lighter shade for his cravat, a diamond stickpin sparkling as he moved. Dick had gone a little conservative, to Bruce’s amusement, choosing a dark-green suit and pale yellow vest with a bright yellow cravat and a ruby stickpin. Their cloaks matched their suits and their shoes were freshly polished, courtesy of a Negro shoeshine boy outside the Willard.
Bruce and Dick handed their gloves to the butler, who put away their outerwear in a small closet and returned quickly. His style of easy grace downplayed his haste, a valuable skill in a butler, Bruce thought. The butler led them up the grand staircase to the second floor.
Bruce had been here more than once so concentrated on Dick’s reaction. Dick always absorbed his surroundings with eagerness, especially if they were new. He used all five senses (taste if offered food or drink!) to process what he was experiencing.
He now looked at the furniture and paintings of past Presidents on the walls, hoping to see famed rooms like the Blue Room and the East Room before he left.
There was much to see along this corridor, too, with paintings and gilt-edged mirrors in the Federal style. Ubiquitous ferns were placed along the hall and the dark-blue carpet was soft under their feet.
At the end of the hall the butler bowed slightly. “He is expecting you. Go right on in, sirs.”
“Thank you,” Bruce said.
He and Dick entered the room and Teddy Roosevelt rose from his seat behind the oak desk. He smiled the toothy grin that cartoonists loved, sunlight glinting off his pince-nez glasses. He stretched out his arm and shook Bruce’s hand.
“Good to see you again, Bruce.”
“Good to see you, too, Uncle Teddy,” Bruce drawled.
“Ah, and this is the young man you brought home from Europe?”
“Yes, this is Richard Grayson, star of the Gotham City Ballet Company. Dick, my Uncle Teddy, also known as the President of the United States.”
Dick grinned and shook hands with Roosevelt. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. President.”
“I look forward to seeing you in action, Mr. Grayson.” He winked at Bruce. “The missus has tickets to the ballet.”
“Good for her. Broaden your horizons, you ol’ Rough Rider.”
Teddy laughed. “Bully, Bruce! Now, Mr. Grayson, I’ve asked my butler to give you a tour of the house while I discuss business with my nephew.”
“I’d like that, sir.”
Teddy called, “Roscoe!”
The butler appeared in the doorway. “Yes, Mr. President?”
“Will you be so kind as to give Mr. Grayson a tour of the house?”
“Yes, sir.”
After Dick had departed, Teddy sat behind his desk while Bruce took the comfortable seat in front of it and crossed his legs. “So what’s this committee really about, Uncle?”
Teddy grinned. “Knew you were always smarter than you let on, Bruce, my boy.” The President steepled his fingers. “I need some financial expertise, and not from the likes of Rockefeller and Morgan. I don’t trust them.”
“And you trust me?”
“You’re family.” Teddy leaned forward. “And like I said, you’re smarter than you let on.”
“Really?” Bruce said languidly.
Teddy seemed more amused than irritated. “Really.” He leaned back in his chair and appeared utterly relaxed. Bruce knew that was when his uncle was most dangerous.
“I take it this finance committee is more than it appears to be.”
Teddy beamed. The candlepower of his smile was extraordinary, Bruce thought.
"Exactly, Nephew.” Teddy’s smile became grim. “Lionel Luthor is becoming chummy with some of the Senators on the committee.”
“Lex’s father?”
“The one and only.”
“Hmm.”
“Exactly.” Teddy picked up a quill pen and twirled the feather restlessly. “He’s up to something.”
“Just a general feeling or proof?”
“A source of mine says Lionel has been meeting with key Senators who are hostile to my program. And they’re Republicans.”
Bruce laughed. “You’re just too progressive for them, Uncle.”
“Ha, could be, could be.”
“I’m Lex’s friend, and I’ve dined at the Luthor castle so I’m familiar with Lionel, but I haven’t seen either of them before Alfred and I left for the Grand Tour two years ago. Lex and I exchange letters and Christmas cards but our correspondence isn’t regular.”
“But you know about Lionel’s ways.”
“I’ve heard the rumors.” And know the effect he’s had on Lex.
“Then you know he’s not to be trusted.”
“Is anyone in Washington to be trusted?”
“Good point.” Teddy shook his head. “But some are worse than others.”
“Now that I can buy.” Bruce tapped his index finger on the desk. “Uncle, what I’m hearing is a task longer than a few months. I can’t be away from Gotham longer than that.”
“You were away considerably longer while you were in Europe.”
“Yes, and I’m trying to make up for lost time.”
“Don’t you have someone you trust to watch Wayne Enterprises for you?”
“I do, but he can only do so much.”
“I know he isn’t a Wayne…”
“He’s a Negro.”
“Ah.” Teddy stroked his chin thoughtfully. “That would complicate things.”
“Unfortunately so.”
“Well, we must hope that change will come someday.”
Bruce refrained from remarking that it was easy for Teddy to say. His skin was not black.
“I can’t stay indefinitely.”
“I understand. I just need your expertise. There will be a meeting with the committee tomorrow on Capitol Hill. I’ll escort you so be here at nine sharp tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir!” Bruce was tempted to salute.
Teddy ignored him, rubbing his hands together gleefully. “We’ll stop Lionel Luthor and his cabal of Senators and industrialists.”
“Sounds intriguing.”
Bruce was telling the truth. He had anticipated some rather dry financial business, but skullduggery sounded promising.
& & & & & &
While Bruce was contemplating unexpectedly interesting duties, Dick was enjoying his tour with Roscoe. The elderly man carried himself with dignity, and he was impeccably dressed in his black-and-white butler’s uniform. He was soft-spoken with a slight Southern accent.
“And this is the East Room, where balls and receptions are held. On New Year’s Day, the President and First Lady receive all citizens, the powerful and the ordinary. President Abraham Lincoln was the first to receive Negroes during this informal reception.”
Dick could hear the pride in Roscoe’s voice. He smiled. “I’ve read much about Mr. Lincoln. He sounds like a great man.”
“Oh, he was.” Roscoe nodded sagely. “He knew the hearts of men, good and bad.”
“I guess that’s what makes him an exceptional leader.”
Dick gazed down the length of the room, the largest in the White House. He observed the glittering chandeliers and wall-length mirrors and he wished he could dance down its polished hardwood floor. Gold wallpaper lent an air of elegance to the décor. The room reminded him of the Grand Ballroom back in Wayne Manor.
“This place must look striking on a special occasion.”
“It does. We keep an eye on the ferns and keep them well watered and tended, and bring in fresh flowers. Last fall the Roosevelts hosted a Halloween masquerade and a grand ball during the Christmas season. We imported poinsettias for that occasion.”
“Wow, that must have looked great.” Dick had seen a picture of a poinsettia in a book at the Gotham library.
“Yes, suh, it was.”
Dick wandered around the room, getting up close to gilt-framed mirrors and paintings. Roscoe answered his questions and they fell into a conversational mode.
Dick realized that this was the first in-depth conversation he had ever had with an American Negro. In Europe, the plight of Negroes was remarked upon, but most people were interested in the jazz that some cities were able to feature as a novelty. Paris in particular was eager for American jazz, and black musicians often traveled to the City of Lights and ended up staying there as they found they suffered a lot less indignities than in their homeland.
Bruce called Washington a Southern city. The preponderance of black people fit the profile, especially as all were in jobs of service if they had jobs at all. Bruce had told him that in the years right after the Civil War, there were blacks elected to Congress but that did not last long. Now lynchings were endemic, especially in the South but not confined to that region.
Dick understood what it was like to be persecuted. The Roma were universally despised in Europe. He knew that if his true heritage had been known on the Continent, job offers would have dried up.
I do have one advantage, though. I can pass for non-Roma. Roscoe can’t change the color of his skin.
Suddenly the direction of his thoughts depressed him. He put a smile on his face and turned to face the butler.
“This is really a grand tour, Roscoe.” The butler’s smile was genuine. Dick dug in his pants pocket. “How about two tickets to Opening Night at the National Theatre for my ballet company?”
Roscoe took the tickets. “Well, suh, I thank you, but I will have to exchange them at the box office.”
“But why? These are front row seats!”
Roscoe’s voice was gentle. “Negroes cannot sit in the front section, suh.”
“Oh. Oh!” Dick’s face flamed red. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize…”
“Quite all right, Mr. Grayson. You’re European and don’t know all the customs here.”
Dick still felt awful. “Still, I apologize.”
Roscoe bowed slightly. “Thank you, suh. I thank you for the tickets. My wife and I thank you. She always wanted to go to the ballet.”
“You’re…you’re welcome.”
Roscoe slipped the tickets inside his formal jacket. “Shall we continue the tour, suh?”
“Yes, please.”
Both men exited the East Room.
& & & & & &
“I will definitely be here tomorrow morning, Uncle Teddy,” said Bruce.
“Bully!” Teddy beamed, nearly blinding his nephew with the wattage of his famous smile.
A knock on the door captured their attention. Teddy urged the person to come in, and Dick appeared, followed by Roscoe.
“Well, how was the tour?” Teddy asked.
“Excellent.” Dick smiled at Roscoe. “I had a most informative tour guide.”
“Very good! Thank you, Roscoe.” The butler bowed and left the office.
Bruce rose from his chair. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Teddy stood, too. “Excellent, excellent!”
“Thank you for the tour, Mr. President,” said Dick.
“You’re very welcome, my boy. A pleasure to meet you.”
Hearty handshakes all around then Bruce and Dick left the White House as Roosevelt went on to his next appointment.
As they walked down the driveway, Bruce asked, “So you really liked the tour?”
“Oh, yes. I learned…quite a bit.”
“Great.” Bruce clapped a hand on his companion’s shoulder. “Where to next?”
Dick’s eyes lit up. “The Smithsonian! I’d like to see all of it!”
Bruce laughed. “It’ll take a week, not a day. But let’s get started.”
They walked through the front gates and Bruce hailed a cab.
Neither saw the hooded figure watching them from across the street in Lafayette Park.
This story can also be read on AO3.
This entry has been cross-posted from Dreamwidth. Comment on either entry as you wish. :)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Bruce/Dick, Roscoe Brown, Theodore Roosevelt
Genres: AU, Historical, Mystery, Romance
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings (this chapter): Use of the word 'Negro'.
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Bruce and Dick get caught up in political intrigue on a business trip to Washington City.
Chapter Summary: Bruce and Dick visit the White House.
Date Of Completion: November 9, 2015
Date Of Posting: February 15, 2022
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1924
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: The entire series can be found here.
VI
THE PRESIDENT’S HOUSE
“The President’s House is simple elegance at its best.”
Mrs. Robert Edwards
Famed Washington Hostess
January 6, 1901
Bruce and Dick checked in at the White House front gate and walked through at the guard’s behest. It was a beautiful spring day as they strolled up the driveway. The fountain’s water sparkled in warm sunlight as even the White House seemed to gleam.
They were greeted at the portico door by a Negro butler, who smiled and took their hats, coats and canes. Both visitors were dressed in smart suits and vests with silk cravats. Bruce had chosen dark-blue with a lighter shade for his cravat, a diamond stickpin sparkling as he moved. Dick had gone a little conservative, to Bruce’s amusement, choosing a dark-green suit and pale yellow vest with a bright yellow cravat and a ruby stickpin. Their cloaks matched their suits and their shoes were freshly polished, courtesy of a Negro shoeshine boy outside the Willard.
Bruce and Dick handed their gloves to the butler, who put away their outerwear in a small closet and returned quickly. His style of easy grace downplayed his haste, a valuable skill in a butler, Bruce thought. The butler led them up the grand staircase to the second floor.
Bruce had been here more than once so concentrated on Dick’s reaction. Dick always absorbed his surroundings with eagerness, especially if they were new. He used all five senses (taste if offered food or drink!) to process what he was experiencing.
He now looked at the furniture and paintings of past Presidents on the walls, hoping to see famed rooms like the Blue Room and the East Room before he left.
There was much to see along this corridor, too, with paintings and gilt-edged mirrors in the Federal style. Ubiquitous ferns were placed along the hall and the dark-blue carpet was soft under their feet.
At the end of the hall the butler bowed slightly. “He is expecting you. Go right on in, sirs.”
“Thank you,” Bruce said.
He and Dick entered the room and Teddy Roosevelt rose from his seat behind the oak desk. He smiled the toothy grin that cartoonists loved, sunlight glinting off his pince-nez glasses. He stretched out his arm and shook Bruce’s hand.
“Good to see you again, Bruce.”
“Good to see you, too, Uncle Teddy,” Bruce drawled.
“Ah, and this is the young man you brought home from Europe?”
“Yes, this is Richard Grayson, star of the Gotham City Ballet Company. Dick, my Uncle Teddy, also known as the President of the United States.”
Dick grinned and shook hands with Roosevelt. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. President.”
“I look forward to seeing you in action, Mr. Grayson.” He winked at Bruce. “The missus has tickets to the ballet.”
“Good for her. Broaden your horizons, you ol’ Rough Rider.”
Teddy laughed. “Bully, Bruce! Now, Mr. Grayson, I’ve asked my butler to give you a tour of the house while I discuss business with my nephew.”
“I’d like that, sir.”
Teddy called, “Roscoe!”
The butler appeared in the doorway. “Yes, Mr. President?”
“Will you be so kind as to give Mr. Grayson a tour of the house?”
“Yes, sir.”
After Dick had departed, Teddy sat behind his desk while Bruce took the comfortable seat in front of it and crossed his legs. “So what’s this committee really about, Uncle?”
Teddy grinned. “Knew you were always smarter than you let on, Bruce, my boy.” The President steepled his fingers. “I need some financial expertise, and not from the likes of Rockefeller and Morgan. I don’t trust them.”
“And you trust me?”
“You’re family.” Teddy leaned forward. “And like I said, you’re smarter than you let on.”
“Really?” Bruce said languidly.
Teddy seemed more amused than irritated. “Really.” He leaned back in his chair and appeared utterly relaxed. Bruce knew that was when his uncle was most dangerous.
“I take it this finance committee is more than it appears to be.”
Teddy beamed. The candlepower of his smile was extraordinary, Bruce thought.
"Exactly, Nephew.” Teddy’s smile became grim. “Lionel Luthor is becoming chummy with some of the Senators on the committee.”
“Lex’s father?”
“The one and only.”
“Hmm.”
“Exactly.” Teddy picked up a quill pen and twirled the feather restlessly. “He’s up to something.”
“Just a general feeling or proof?”
“A source of mine says Lionel has been meeting with key Senators who are hostile to my program. And they’re Republicans.”
Bruce laughed. “You’re just too progressive for them, Uncle.”
“Ha, could be, could be.”
“I’m Lex’s friend, and I’ve dined at the Luthor castle so I’m familiar with Lionel, but I haven’t seen either of them before Alfred and I left for the Grand Tour two years ago. Lex and I exchange letters and Christmas cards but our correspondence isn’t regular.”
“But you know about Lionel’s ways.”
“I’ve heard the rumors.” And know the effect he’s had on Lex.
“Then you know he’s not to be trusted.”
“Is anyone in Washington to be trusted?”
“Good point.” Teddy shook his head. “But some are worse than others.”
“Now that I can buy.” Bruce tapped his index finger on the desk. “Uncle, what I’m hearing is a task longer than a few months. I can’t be away from Gotham longer than that.”
“You were away considerably longer while you were in Europe.”
“Yes, and I’m trying to make up for lost time.”
“Don’t you have someone you trust to watch Wayne Enterprises for you?”
“I do, but he can only do so much.”
“I know he isn’t a Wayne…”
“He’s a Negro.”
“Ah.” Teddy stroked his chin thoughtfully. “That would complicate things.”
“Unfortunately so.”
“Well, we must hope that change will come someday.”
Bruce refrained from remarking that it was easy for Teddy to say. His skin was not black.
“I can’t stay indefinitely.”
“I understand. I just need your expertise. There will be a meeting with the committee tomorrow on Capitol Hill. I’ll escort you so be here at nine sharp tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir!” Bruce was tempted to salute.
Teddy ignored him, rubbing his hands together gleefully. “We’ll stop Lionel Luthor and his cabal of Senators and industrialists.”
“Sounds intriguing.”
Bruce was telling the truth. He had anticipated some rather dry financial business, but skullduggery sounded promising.
& & & & & &
While Bruce was contemplating unexpectedly interesting duties, Dick was enjoying his tour with Roscoe. The elderly man carried himself with dignity, and he was impeccably dressed in his black-and-white butler’s uniform. He was soft-spoken with a slight Southern accent.
“And this is the East Room, where balls and receptions are held. On New Year’s Day, the President and First Lady receive all citizens, the powerful and the ordinary. President Abraham Lincoln was the first to receive Negroes during this informal reception.”
Dick could hear the pride in Roscoe’s voice. He smiled. “I’ve read much about Mr. Lincoln. He sounds like a great man.”
“Oh, he was.” Roscoe nodded sagely. “He knew the hearts of men, good and bad.”
“I guess that’s what makes him an exceptional leader.”
Dick gazed down the length of the room, the largest in the White House. He observed the glittering chandeliers and wall-length mirrors and he wished he could dance down its polished hardwood floor. Gold wallpaper lent an air of elegance to the décor. The room reminded him of the Grand Ballroom back in Wayne Manor.
“This place must look striking on a special occasion.”
“It does. We keep an eye on the ferns and keep them well watered and tended, and bring in fresh flowers. Last fall the Roosevelts hosted a Halloween masquerade and a grand ball during the Christmas season. We imported poinsettias for that occasion.”
“Wow, that must have looked great.” Dick had seen a picture of a poinsettia in a book at the Gotham library.
“Yes, suh, it was.”
Dick wandered around the room, getting up close to gilt-framed mirrors and paintings. Roscoe answered his questions and they fell into a conversational mode.
Dick realized that this was the first in-depth conversation he had ever had with an American Negro. In Europe, the plight of Negroes was remarked upon, but most people were interested in the jazz that some cities were able to feature as a novelty. Paris in particular was eager for American jazz, and black musicians often traveled to the City of Lights and ended up staying there as they found they suffered a lot less indignities than in their homeland.
Bruce called Washington a Southern city. The preponderance of black people fit the profile, especially as all were in jobs of service if they had jobs at all. Bruce had told him that in the years right after the Civil War, there were blacks elected to Congress but that did not last long. Now lynchings were endemic, especially in the South but not confined to that region.
Dick understood what it was like to be persecuted. The Roma were universally despised in Europe. He knew that if his true heritage had been known on the Continent, job offers would have dried up.
I do have one advantage, though. I can pass for non-Roma. Roscoe can’t change the color of his skin.
Suddenly the direction of his thoughts depressed him. He put a smile on his face and turned to face the butler.
“This is really a grand tour, Roscoe.” The butler’s smile was genuine. Dick dug in his pants pocket. “How about two tickets to Opening Night at the National Theatre for my ballet company?”
Roscoe took the tickets. “Well, suh, I thank you, but I will have to exchange them at the box office.”
“But why? These are front row seats!”
Roscoe’s voice was gentle. “Negroes cannot sit in the front section, suh.”
“Oh. Oh!” Dick’s face flamed red. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize…”
“Quite all right, Mr. Grayson. You’re European and don’t know all the customs here.”
Dick still felt awful. “Still, I apologize.”
Roscoe bowed slightly. “Thank you, suh. I thank you for the tickets. My wife and I thank you. She always wanted to go to the ballet.”
“You’re…you’re welcome.”
Roscoe slipped the tickets inside his formal jacket. “Shall we continue the tour, suh?”
“Yes, please.”
Both men exited the East Room.
& & & & & &
“I will definitely be here tomorrow morning, Uncle Teddy,” said Bruce.
“Bully!” Teddy beamed, nearly blinding his nephew with the wattage of his famous smile.
A knock on the door captured their attention. Teddy urged the person to come in, and Dick appeared, followed by Roscoe.
“Well, how was the tour?” Teddy asked.
“Excellent.” Dick smiled at Roscoe. “I had a most informative tour guide.”
“Very good! Thank you, Roscoe.” The butler bowed and left the office.
Bruce rose from his chair. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Teddy stood, too. “Excellent, excellent!”
“Thank you for the tour, Mr. President,” said Dick.
“You’re very welcome, my boy. A pleasure to meet you.”
Hearty handshakes all around then Bruce and Dick left the White House as Roosevelt went on to his next appointment.
As they walked down the driveway, Bruce asked, “So you really liked the tour?”
“Oh, yes. I learned…quite a bit.”
“Great.” Bruce clapped a hand on his companion’s shoulder. “Where to next?”
Dick’s eyes lit up. “The Smithsonian! I’d like to see all of it!”
Bruce laughed. “It’ll take a week, not a day. But let’s get started.”
They walked through the front gates and Bruce hailed a cab.
Neither saw the hooded figure watching them from across the street in Lafayette Park.
This story can also be read on AO3.
This entry has been cross-posted from Dreamwidth. Comment on either entry as you wish. :)