Fic: The Raven And The Nightingale Book III: Cherry Blossoms (12/22)
Title: The Raven And The Nightingale Book III: Cherry Blossoms (12/22)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Bruce/Dick, Teddy/Edith, Nicholas/Alice
Genres: Angst, AU, Drama, Historical, Mystery, Romance
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings (this chapter): None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Bruce and Dick get caught up in political intrigue during a business trip to Washington City.
Chapter Summary: Attending the ballet gives Bruce an opportunity to slip the code to Teddy.
Date Of Completion: April 21, 2020
Date Of Posting: March 26, 2022
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 925
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: The entire series can be found here.
XII
THE PRESIDENT ATTENDS THE THEATER
“Showfolk are all right in their place, but never, ever invite them to dinner!”
Mrs. Edna Van Pelt
High Society Hostess
May 1, 1888 C.E.
Whenever a President attended the theater in Washington, some people remembered April 14, 1865, so there was always a little bit of trepidation on these occasions. Bruce resolved to be a little more vigilant as he met his aunt and uncle at the National Theatre. Alice Roosevelt Longworth and her congressman husband Nicholas accompanied them.
Bruce joined them in the Presidential Box, chatting the usual chatter of High Society. As Edith talked to her daughter, Bruce said to Teddy, “I have something for you.”
“What?”
“At intermission.”
Teddy nodded. The lights dimmed and the curtain came up.
& & & & & &
Intermission was the perfect opportunity for Bruce to slip his uncle the code he had copied. Dick had made a second copy for him and Bruce to study. Teddy casually took the papers and put them in his jacket pocket.
Alice stood and left the box. Nicholas and Edith talked and Bruce whispered, “It’s code. I got it from Cannon’s study. He met with Lionel last night.”
Teddy lit a cigar. “I knew something was up. I know who to give this to.”
“Good.” Bruce observed the crowd below. “Enjoying the ballet?”
“Very much so. Your boy is as talented as they say.”
“He’ll give Nijinsky a run for his money.”
“Sounds like you’re backing him up all the way.”
“Yes, all the way.”
Teddy blew out a ring of smoke. “A patron of the arts, eh?”
“That’s right.”
Edith and Nicholas laughed. Edith was a brunette beauty and Nicholas was handsome and charming. For the acid-tongued Alice, a beauty in her own right, he was a good match. Edith said to her husband, “Theodore, you must listen to this. Nicholas had a fascinating encounter with Andrew Carnegie.”
Bruce excused himself to stretch his legs. He walked down the curving staircase and purchased a lemonade. His mind raced through the code had copied. It would be tough to crack. Hopefully Teddy knew the right expert.
Bruce knew that codebreaking took time. In the meantime, he and Dick would have to keep investigating.
He noticed Alice holding court with her coterie of young admirers. Being the center of attention was like breathing air to Teddy’s eldest child.
Bruce sipped his lemonade. He had spoken to Jean-Paul and the fund-raising performance had been set. He hoped that the medical research being used as cover actually made genuine breakthroughs. He felt uneasy about hiding weapons research behind the cover of medical research.
Teddy is playing a dangerous game. Lionel is no one to underestimate. He sighed. Wonder how Lex is doing in Kansas.
Bruce finished his lemonade and returned to the Presidential Box.
& & & & & &
Bruce invited the Roosevelts and Longworths backstage after the ballet. The chaos of backstage did not faze them.
Considering their circus at home with the kids, all this is probably just background noise.
Dick opened his dressing room door, dressed in a bright yellow wrap and matching slippers. He still wore heavy make-up around his eyes. Edith looked uncomfortable but Alice was amused and took a good, long look.
“Bully performance, my boy! Bully!” said Teddy jovially.
“Thank you, Mr. President.”
“May I present my wife, Edith Carow Roosevelt, and my daughter Alice and her husband Congressman Nicholas Longworth.”
“Delighted to meet you, Mr. Grayson.” Alice offered her hand and Dick took it and bowed. He shook her husband’s hand.
“Your athleticism is remarkable,” said Teddy. “What kind of training regimen do you have?”
“A stringent one. Gymnastics, running, push-ups.”
“And a lot of practice, I’d bet,” said Alice.
“Very much so.” Dick’s eyes sparkled. “It’s an honor to perform for the President and First Lady.”
“Have you performed for the crowned heads of Europe?”
Dick smiled. “I have.”
“Would you give a performance at the White House?”
“Alice…” said Edith.
“A splendid idea!” Teddy said. “We must make arrangements.”
They chatted for a few more minutes, then the President ushered his party to a waiting carriage.
“Mrs. Roosevelt doesn’t seem enamored of the arts,” Dick said.
“She was just discomfited by your stunning beauty.”
“Oh, my. Such flattery. I noticed that her stepdaughter was completely comfortable.”
“Nothing much fazes Alice.”
“So I noticed.”
Bruce gently pushed Dick back into his dressing room and closed the door. “Never underestimate Alice. She’s observant, can cut you up with her tongue, and has the ear of High Society.”
“Sounds formidable.”
“She is. And, oh, yeah, her father’s President of the United States.”
Dick sat at his dressing table and started removing his make-up. “Do you think the company will get that invitation to the White House?”
“It’s a guarantee that you’ll have to sing for your supper.”
Dick grinned. “Show people.”
“That’s right.” Bruce put his hands on Dick’s shoulders and leaned close. “High Society can mingle with showfolk, but only in certain social situations.”
“When the entertainers entertain.”
“Exactly.”
Dick kept removing his make-up. “It’s the same for circus folk. Applaud but don’t break bread with us.”
Bruce kissed the top of Dick’s head. “I’ll wait for you outside.”
Bruce left the dressing room and went out the stage door. A few autograph-seekers were hanging around so he went to the end of the alley. He planned out a series of stake-outs for the committee members. It would be a busy week, but he and Dick could manage.
The Raven and the Nightingale were on the job.
This chapter 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, Teddy/Edith, Nicholas/Alice
Genres: Angst, AU, Drama, Historical, Mystery, Romance
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings (this chapter): None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Bruce and Dick get caught up in political intrigue during a business trip to Washington City.
Chapter Summary: Attending the ballet gives Bruce an opportunity to slip the code to Teddy.
Date Of Completion: April 21, 2020
Date Of Posting: March 26, 2022
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 925
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: The entire series can be found here.
XII
THE PRESIDENT ATTENDS THE THEATER
“Showfolk are all right in their place, but never, ever invite them to dinner!”
Mrs. Edna Van Pelt
High Society Hostess
May 1, 1888 C.E.
Whenever a President attended the theater in Washington, some people remembered April 14, 1865, so there was always a little bit of trepidation on these occasions. Bruce resolved to be a little more vigilant as he met his aunt and uncle at the National Theatre. Alice Roosevelt Longworth and her congressman husband Nicholas accompanied them.
Bruce joined them in the Presidential Box, chatting the usual chatter of High Society. As Edith talked to her daughter, Bruce said to Teddy, “I have something for you.”
“What?”
“At intermission.”
Teddy nodded. The lights dimmed and the curtain came up.
& & & & & &
Intermission was the perfect opportunity for Bruce to slip his uncle the code he had copied. Dick had made a second copy for him and Bruce to study. Teddy casually took the papers and put them in his jacket pocket.
Alice stood and left the box. Nicholas and Edith talked and Bruce whispered, “It’s code. I got it from Cannon’s study. He met with Lionel last night.”
Teddy lit a cigar. “I knew something was up. I know who to give this to.”
“Good.” Bruce observed the crowd below. “Enjoying the ballet?”
“Very much so. Your boy is as talented as they say.”
“He’ll give Nijinsky a run for his money.”
“Sounds like you’re backing him up all the way.”
“Yes, all the way.”
Teddy blew out a ring of smoke. “A patron of the arts, eh?”
“That’s right.”
Edith and Nicholas laughed. Edith was a brunette beauty and Nicholas was handsome and charming. For the acid-tongued Alice, a beauty in her own right, he was a good match. Edith said to her husband, “Theodore, you must listen to this. Nicholas had a fascinating encounter with Andrew Carnegie.”
Bruce excused himself to stretch his legs. He walked down the curving staircase and purchased a lemonade. His mind raced through the code had copied. It would be tough to crack. Hopefully Teddy knew the right expert.
Bruce knew that codebreaking took time. In the meantime, he and Dick would have to keep investigating.
He noticed Alice holding court with her coterie of young admirers. Being the center of attention was like breathing air to Teddy’s eldest child.
Bruce sipped his lemonade. He had spoken to Jean-Paul and the fund-raising performance had been set. He hoped that the medical research being used as cover actually made genuine breakthroughs. He felt uneasy about hiding weapons research behind the cover of medical research.
Teddy is playing a dangerous game. Lionel is no one to underestimate. He sighed. Wonder how Lex is doing in Kansas.
Bruce finished his lemonade and returned to the Presidential Box.
& & & & & &
Bruce invited the Roosevelts and Longworths backstage after the ballet. The chaos of backstage did not faze them.
Considering their circus at home with the kids, all this is probably just background noise.
Dick opened his dressing room door, dressed in a bright yellow wrap and matching slippers. He still wore heavy make-up around his eyes. Edith looked uncomfortable but Alice was amused and took a good, long look.
“Bully performance, my boy! Bully!” said Teddy jovially.
“Thank you, Mr. President.”
“May I present my wife, Edith Carow Roosevelt, and my daughter Alice and her husband Congressman Nicholas Longworth.”
“Delighted to meet you, Mr. Grayson.” Alice offered her hand and Dick took it and bowed. He shook her husband’s hand.
“Your athleticism is remarkable,” said Teddy. “What kind of training regimen do you have?”
“A stringent one. Gymnastics, running, push-ups.”
“And a lot of practice, I’d bet,” said Alice.
“Very much so.” Dick’s eyes sparkled. “It’s an honor to perform for the President and First Lady.”
“Have you performed for the crowned heads of Europe?”
Dick smiled. “I have.”
“Would you give a performance at the White House?”
“Alice…” said Edith.
“A splendid idea!” Teddy said. “We must make arrangements.”
They chatted for a few more minutes, then the President ushered his party to a waiting carriage.
“Mrs. Roosevelt doesn’t seem enamored of the arts,” Dick said.
“She was just discomfited by your stunning beauty.”
“Oh, my. Such flattery. I noticed that her stepdaughter was completely comfortable.”
“Nothing much fazes Alice.”
“So I noticed.”
Bruce gently pushed Dick back into his dressing room and closed the door. “Never underestimate Alice. She’s observant, can cut you up with her tongue, and has the ear of High Society.”
“Sounds formidable.”
“She is. And, oh, yeah, her father’s President of the United States.”
Dick sat at his dressing table and started removing his make-up. “Do you think the company will get that invitation to the White House?”
“It’s a guarantee that you’ll have to sing for your supper.”
Dick grinned. “Show people.”
“That’s right.” Bruce put his hands on Dick’s shoulders and leaned close. “High Society can mingle with showfolk, but only in certain social situations.”
“When the entertainers entertain.”
“Exactly.”
Dick kept removing his make-up. “It’s the same for circus folk. Applaud but don’t break bread with us.”
Bruce kissed the top of Dick’s head. “I’ll wait for you outside.”
Bruce left the dressing room and went out the stage door. A few autograph-seekers were hanging around so he went to the end of the alley. He planned out a series of stake-outs for the committee members. It would be a busy week, but he and Dick could manage.
The Raven and the Nightingale were on the job.
This chapter can also be read on AO3.
This entry has been cross-posted from Dreamwidth. Comment on either entry as you wish. :)