Fic: The Raven And The Nightingale Book III: Cherry Blossoms (16/22)
Title: The Raven And The Nightingale Book III: Cherry Blossoms (16/22)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Pamela Isley, Victor/Nora (Victor does not appear in this chapter), Bruce/Dick, Lionel Luthor
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: Pamela talks with Nora Fries and the Raven and the Nightingale spy on Lionel.
Date Of Completion: April 30, 2020
Date Of Posting: May 24, 2022
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 919
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: The entire series can be found here.
XVI
BONDING
Nature
Brings out the best
In us.
Selma McCafferty
“Nature Poems”
1906 C.E.
Pamela wrote down her observations as the beaker’s contents bubbled away. She adjusted her glasses and reached out to stroke the plant in the pot she kept close.
“There, there, Annabelle, the experiment will be over soon.” The leaf felt velvety. Pamela hummed as she watched the beaker.
When the beaker’s concoction stopped bubbling, she measured the temperature with a thermometer and wrote it down. She poured out the liquid into another vessel and stored it in a glass cabinet.
“I’m going outside on my break,” Pamela told her assistants. She left through the front door and took a deep breath.
She loved the lab being out in the country. Fresh air and flowers suited her far better than the heavy air and concrete of the city. She much preferred tall, leafy trees to brick and stone buildings.
Pamela walked along the sidewalk and touched the shrubbery and trees that lined the walkway. “It’s really beautiful here,” she murmured.
“Hello, Dr. Isley.”
Pamela turned. “Hello, Mrs. Fries.”
“Nora, please.”
“All right, Nora. And it’s Pamela.”
Nora smiled. She was an attractive woman, slender and graceful with a cloud of blond hair and cornflower-blue eyes. “It’s lovely here.”
“Yes, Virginia has its charms.”
“Especially in spring.” Nora smoothed the sleeve of her lavender dress. “Such a hopeful time of year.”
“That’s a nice way to put it.”
Nora smiled. “You’ve got to take life as it comes and treasure the good days.”
Pamela nodded. “You and your staff came from Atlanta?”
“Yes. They’re very proud of their rebuild after Sherman burned the city during the War Between The States.”
“The Civil War, and Confederates did a lot of the torch-lighting as they abandoned the city.”
“Ah, the eternal North-versus-South debate.”
“Are you Southern?”
“Heavens, no. It’s fascinating to see how they’re still fighting the War down there.”
The women strolled down the manicured walkway. Birds twittered in the trees and flew over their heads. Their silence was companionable.
“I’ll be receiving my diploma this year. I’ll be Dr. Nora Fries soon.”
“That’s wonderful, Nora!”
Nora’s eyes danced with excitement. “I learned from the best. Victor is a brilliant scientist. His North Pole expeditions have been historic. He’ll do great work.”
“I’ve read his papers. He’s got an interesting theory on cryogenics.”
“He will master this new technology and do great things with it.”
“It could be applied in so many ways preserving food, medical treatments, so many things.”
“I know. And Victor will find the ways to do it.”
Pamela smiled. “You’re very proud of your husband.”
“Yes, and I’m happy to say Victor’s proud of me.”
“Most men wouldn’t be so supportive of their wives wanting a career.”
“That’s true. I’m a very lucky woman.”
Pamela silently agreed. She and Nora returned to the house and went to their separate labs.
& & & & & &
“Maybe we should stake out Lionel Luthor’s house,” said Dick.
“Or just search it.”
“He’s sure to have security.”
Bruce considered as he paced his suite. “Ted’s instincts were right. Lionel’s up to something.”
“The Raven and the Nightingale will have to be extra careful.” Dick’s grin was infectious as his teeth gleamed.
& & & & & &
Moonlight helped the Dynamic Duo as they staked out the Luthor estate. They had avoided patrolling guards to find a spot where they could watch the house.
“Lucky they don’t use dogs,” Dick whispered.
“Eventually they will. We’ll have to take advantage while we can.”
“Yes, sir.” Dick peered through his opera glasses. Very handy, indeed.
They watched for a few hours, noting the schedule of the guards. The only lights on in the house were in the parlor and upstairs window. They both were extinguished and signaled the Raven and Nightingale that it was time to move. They waited ten more minutes, hopeful that Lionel was asleep. They ran to the kitchen door and slipped inside before the guards made their rounds around this side of the house.
The Dynamic Duo immediately went to the library. Their search was quick. They were getting good at it. Dick found a notebook in a bottom drawer of the desk. He flipped the pages.
“Reports on our movements,” he said quietly. His eyebrow rose. “A bio on Victor Fries and his movements in Atlanta.”
“Lionel always does his homework.”
“There’s phone numbers in this section. Interesting. He’s got the numbers of the German and Austrian-Hungarian ambassadors.”
“No other ambassadors?”
“No.” Dick did another flip of the pages. “He’s got a bio of Pamela Isley.”
“Anything else in the desk?”
“No.”
“Okay, go through that book carefully. I’ll keep searching the rest of the room.”
Dick put the notebook back in the drawer. “Someone’s coming.”
They had only seconds to hide behind the horsehair sofa. The library door opened and Lionel strode in, dressed in his nightclothes. He headed right for his desk. He opened the bottom drawer and took out the book Dick had found. Shaking his head, he went over to a painting of the Capitol and swung it off the wall, revealing a safe. He dialed the combination and opened it, putting the book inside and closing the door, spinning the combination lock. He left the library.
As Lionel’s footsteps faded, Bruce whispered, “Looks like Lionel forgot to put his notebook in the safe. Lucky for us.”
“He’s awake now. You still want to search?”
“No, we’d better go.”
They waited until the guards had passed and left the house.
This entry has been cross-posted from Dreamwidth. Comment on either entry as you wish. :)
This chapter can also be read on AO3.
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Pamela Isley, Victor/Nora (Victor does not appear in this chapter), Bruce/Dick, Lionel Luthor
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: Pamela talks with Nora Fries and the Raven and the Nightingale spy on Lionel.
Date Of Completion: April 30, 2020
Date Of Posting: May 24, 2022
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 919
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: The entire series can be found here.
XVI
BONDING
Nature
Brings out the best
In us.
Selma McCafferty
“Nature Poems”
1906 C.E.
Pamela wrote down her observations as the beaker’s contents bubbled away. She adjusted her glasses and reached out to stroke the plant in the pot she kept close.
“There, there, Annabelle, the experiment will be over soon.” The leaf felt velvety. Pamela hummed as she watched the beaker.
When the beaker’s concoction stopped bubbling, she measured the temperature with a thermometer and wrote it down. She poured out the liquid into another vessel and stored it in a glass cabinet.
“I’m going outside on my break,” Pamela told her assistants. She left through the front door and took a deep breath.
She loved the lab being out in the country. Fresh air and flowers suited her far better than the heavy air and concrete of the city. She much preferred tall, leafy trees to brick and stone buildings.
Pamela walked along the sidewalk and touched the shrubbery and trees that lined the walkway. “It’s really beautiful here,” she murmured.
“Hello, Dr. Isley.”
Pamela turned. “Hello, Mrs. Fries.”
“Nora, please.”
“All right, Nora. And it’s Pamela.”
Nora smiled. She was an attractive woman, slender and graceful with a cloud of blond hair and cornflower-blue eyes. “It’s lovely here.”
“Yes, Virginia has its charms.”
“Especially in spring.” Nora smoothed the sleeve of her lavender dress. “Such a hopeful time of year.”
“That’s a nice way to put it.”
Nora smiled. “You’ve got to take life as it comes and treasure the good days.”
Pamela nodded. “You and your staff came from Atlanta?”
“Yes. They’re very proud of their rebuild after Sherman burned the city during the War Between The States.”
“The Civil War, and Confederates did a lot of the torch-lighting as they abandoned the city.”
“Ah, the eternal North-versus-South debate.”
“Are you Southern?”
“Heavens, no. It’s fascinating to see how they’re still fighting the War down there.”
The women strolled down the manicured walkway. Birds twittered in the trees and flew over their heads. Their silence was companionable.
“I’ll be receiving my diploma this year. I’ll be Dr. Nora Fries soon.”
“That’s wonderful, Nora!”
Nora’s eyes danced with excitement. “I learned from the best. Victor is a brilliant scientist. His North Pole expeditions have been historic. He’ll do great work.”
“I’ve read his papers. He’s got an interesting theory on cryogenics.”
“He will master this new technology and do great things with it.”
“It could be applied in so many ways preserving food, medical treatments, so many things.”
“I know. And Victor will find the ways to do it.”
Pamela smiled. “You’re very proud of your husband.”
“Yes, and I’m happy to say Victor’s proud of me.”
“Most men wouldn’t be so supportive of their wives wanting a career.”
“That’s true. I’m a very lucky woman.”
Pamela silently agreed. She and Nora returned to the house and went to their separate labs.
& & & & & &
“Maybe we should stake out Lionel Luthor’s house,” said Dick.
“Or just search it.”
“He’s sure to have security.”
Bruce considered as he paced his suite. “Ted’s instincts were right. Lionel’s up to something.”
“The Raven and the Nightingale will have to be extra careful.” Dick’s grin was infectious as his teeth gleamed.
& & & & & &
Moonlight helped the Dynamic Duo as they staked out the Luthor estate. They had avoided patrolling guards to find a spot where they could watch the house.
“Lucky they don’t use dogs,” Dick whispered.
“Eventually they will. We’ll have to take advantage while we can.”
“Yes, sir.” Dick peered through his opera glasses. Very handy, indeed.
They watched for a few hours, noting the schedule of the guards. The only lights on in the house were in the parlor and upstairs window. They both were extinguished and signaled the Raven and Nightingale that it was time to move. They waited ten more minutes, hopeful that Lionel was asleep. They ran to the kitchen door and slipped inside before the guards made their rounds around this side of the house.
The Dynamic Duo immediately went to the library. Their search was quick. They were getting good at it. Dick found a notebook in a bottom drawer of the desk. He flipped the pages.
“Reports on our movements,” he said quietly. His eyebrow rose. “A bio on Victor Fries and his movements in Atlanta.”
“Lionel always does his homework.”
“There’s phone numbers in this section. Interesting. He’s got the numbers of the German and Austrian-Hungarian ambassadors.”
“No other ambassadors?”
“No.” Dick did another flip of the pages. “He’s got a bio of Pamela Isley.”
“Anything else in the desk?”
“No.”
“Okay, go through that book carefully. I’ll keep searching the rest of the room.”
Dick put the notebook back in the drawer. “Someone’s coming.”
They had only seconds to hide behind the horsehair sofa. The library door opened and Lionel strode in, dressed in his nightclothes. He headed right for his desk. He opened the bottom drawer and took out the book Dick had found. Shaking his head, he went over to a painting of the Capitol and swung it off the wall, revealing a safe. He dialed the combination and opened it, putting the book inside and closing the door, spinning the combination lock. He left the library.
As Lionel’s footsteps faded, Bruce whispered, “Looks like Lionel forgot to put his notebook in the safe. Lucky for us.”
“He’s awake now. You still want to search?”
“No, we’d better go.”
They waited until the guards had passed and left the house.
This entry has been cross-posted from Dreamwidth. Comment on either entry as you wish. :)
This chapter can also be read on AO3.