#the draper’s hall

[eurekavalley]

I love the Betty moments in S6. Going into the city alone to look for the runaway violinist at the squatters' house in St. Mark's Place. Her concern that the kids living there are going to get sick from drinking melted snow from the roof. Keeping the television off after the MLK assassination because "who knows what they'll show" - after Lee Harvey Oswald, she's not going to have a repeat of seeing someone killed on live television. Of course it's twisted and insecure, of course she's protecting the part of herself she sees in these kids. But after she has been tied up for years in the anger over her marriage and the rigidity of the family roles she cast herself in, the genuineness of this emerging maternal energy is so sweet, too.

#betty draper francis #putting her in my bad moms hall of fame #mad men

[aneverydaything]

Day 1762, 20 April 2023

#London #city of london #drapers hall #Throgmorton Avenue #England #UK

[suzukiblu]

Day twenty-seven of fic NaNoWriMo, obligatory sugar daddy Tim/sugar baby Kon AU.

They walk to their first planned destination, Kon being unfairly adorable and also an asshole at the same time, because it’s Kon so of course he can multitask that kind of shit. Tim gets teased about his taste in kids’ toys and his date budget and his theoretical Smash skills, which he’s clearly going to need to educate the bastard on the hard way. Alternately, Tim also gets Hawaiian gummy candy shared with him, never mind that Kon apparently both really likes it and hasn’t had it in months. 

Tim continues to be in way too deep and finds it sweet of him, possibly because of the excited and pleased way Kon grins at him when he tells him likes the candy. 

Tim is definitely in way too deep. 

They get where they’re going, and Kon . . . pauses, and then tilts his head and raises an eyebrow at him. 

“Seriously?” he asks. 

“Trust me,” Tim says with admittedly unwarranted confidence as he squeezes his hand, then leads him into the modern art museum looming in front of them. Kon isn’t the type to really be that into museums, he knows, but they did “meet” in one and also this specific exhibit seemed, well . . . 

Promising, he guesses. 

“Sure, pretty boy,” Kon says with a laugh, squeezing his hand in return. Tim is idly mystified as to why Kon keeps calling him that, but in no way intends to dissuade him from it. If Kon wants to call him completely illogical things, that’s up to him.

He takes Kon to the ticket counter and buys them both a ticket. The clerk asks for their ID and Kon hesitates, because he’s obviously never had or needed an actual ID in his life, but Tim’s already pulling out the fake ones he made for “Alvin Draper” and “Connell Hill”. They won’t stand up to Bat-level scrutiny, obviously–he didn’t have the time or see the point in going that far–but they’ll get them into an adults-only museum night. He’ll do up something more reliable to buy the cul-de-sac with. He has a few identities that could buy property established, but Bruce knows all of those identities, so he’d rather avoid using any of them. Easier to just build a new cover ID from scratch than hide an active one setting up a new residence that isn’t an obvious safehouse, he figures. 

He pays the clerk, pockets his receipt, and they head down the hall together. The museum is one of the nicer ones in Gotham, and decorated a little bit more nicely than usual for the event, but not outright extravagantly. It’s due to be open a little later than usual too, though Tim doesn’t know how late Kon will want to stay. He can probably push back their dinner reservations if it comes to it, though he’s not expecting that to be necessary. 

“It’s an 18+ thing?” Kon asks as soon as they’re out of the clerk’s earshot, raising an eyebrow curiously. “The frick kind of museum is this?” 

“Not that kind,” Tim says, trying not to blush. “They just do adults-only events sometimes. It’s just so there won’t always be a bunch of bratty kids and annoying teenagers running around distracting the older museum-goers. And there's hors d'oeuvres and drinks.” 

“Babe, I don’t know about you, but you are aware I am technically both a bratty kid and an annoying teenager, right?” Kon asks him with a smirk. 

“That would be why I got you a fake ID too,” Tim says reasonably. 

“So we just snuck into a museum with fake IDs,” Kon says with a laugh. “I mean, I’ve done weirder, probably, but what the fuck, Tim? Where’d you even get that?” 

“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” Tim says only a little bit sheepishly, carefully avoiding the latter question. Also every other version of this kind of exhibit he found was way more kid-oriented and definitely not going to count as the kind of “nice” date to have convinced Kon to dress up for or actually look like Tim had put effort into any of the night. 

“What, did the goat idol end up here?” Kon asks in amusement. “We checking up on the little guy?” 

“No, he’s still living his best life in Metropolis under increased security, last I heard,” Tim says, though that’d be kind of funny, so depending on how long they’re seeing each other maybe he should keep that idea in mind. 

“You actually checked?” Kon asks with a laugh. 

. . . right, that’s not something a normal teenager would do, is it. Well–too late now, so Tim’s just gonna have to lean into it. 

“I was just wondering what they were going to do with it, after a whole gallery wall got blown in and everything,” he says. “Apparently the answer was ‘close for a weekend and then back to business’. Don’t ask me where they found contractors that fast.” 

“It’s Metropolis,” Kon says. “If you can’t find a contractor to fix superhero damage, you’re not trying.” 

“It wasn’t actually superhero damage,” Tim points out. “You didn’t break anything.” 

“A real fucking important vase, apparently,” Kon snorts, but he’s smiling a little as he shrugs. “Alright, fine, but ‘mediocre museum robber damage’ probably doesn’t sound as good on the insurance, now does it? And I look much prettier in the paper than a bunch of mug shots of idiots who didn’t even know how to work their cute lil’ magic goat buddy.” 

“Definitely, yeah,” Tim agrees wryly, steering him down a side hall towards the sounds of other people. Frankly he’s counting them lucky the goat didn’t try to start a magical apocalypse or something, given how their lives usually go. And also it was Metropolis, which sucks enough as it is. So like, of course the apocalypse would come from Metropolis, given the option and opportunity to. 

“I don't know much about art or whatever, you know,” Kon says a little bit awkwardly, peering down the hall towards the dimly-lit gallery ahead. “Like–that was not prioritized in the ‘how to be Superman’ educational package. Especially because it was written by committee by a bunch of people who I'm still pretty sure had never even met the guy. Like ever.” 

“You don't have to know anything about art to like it,” Tim says reasonably, resisting a vague urge to frown over the way Kon phrased that. Note to self, maybe. Just–for later, obviously. “But this isn't really that kind of exhibit.” 

“Isn't this an art museum?” Kon says with a puzzled frown. “What else is there?”

“It's a ‘multimedia experience primed to dazzle and delight all of the observer's senses’,” Tim recites wryly off the website copy he was reading earlier this week. “Also known as a sensory exhibit.” 

“A–what?” Kon wrinkles his nose in confusion.

#timkon #tim drake #kon el #conner kent #dc robin #superboy #young just us #young justice #rinfic #long post #wip: obligatory sugar baby kon

[levindesdieux]

Herbert James Draper, Prospero Summoning Nymphs and Deities, ca 1902, Oil on canvas, Ceiling of the Draper's Hall in London.

[aimeedaisies]

Princess Anne, President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, attending the Sustainability in UK Textiles Conference at Drapers’ Hall, London on 28th September 2023.

#🥰🥰🥰 #princess anne #princess royal

[stranded-in-paradise]

The Gates of Dawn (1900)

Oil on canvas (198×101cm)

Herbert James Draper (British, 1863-1920)

The Drawing Room of Draper's Hall, City of London

#pre raphaelite #romanticism #esoteric art #pagan witch #pagan wicca #greek mythology #Goddess Aurora #academicism #neo-Classicism #dawn #City of London #herbert james draper #mysticism

[thereadingchallengechallenge]

🦘 Booklr Reads Australian - Authors on My Shelves 🐨

so, I’ve been trying to think of a way to recommend a lot of Australian authors really quickly for Booklr Reads Australian. what I came up with was just to give y’all a giant list of all the authors I have at home! 

most of them are YA and/or fantasy authors, and I’ve marked my favourites with an asterisk (*) but if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an ask 😊

1. Sarah Ayoub 2. Eugen Bacon 3. Shirley Barber * 4. AJ Betts 5. Danielle Binks * 6. Cally Black 7. Steph Bowe * 8. Alice Boyle 9. JC Burke 10. Meg Caddy * 11. Frances Chapman 12. Wai Chim * 13. Claire Christian 14. Lyndall Clipstone 15. Claire G Coleman 16. Katherine Collette 17. Harry Cook 18. Cath Crowley 19. Robyn Dennison 20. Cale Dietrich 21. Lauren Draper 22. CG Drews * 23. Michael Earp 24. Kate Emery 25. Sarah Epstein 26. Alison Evans * 27. Fleur Ferris 28. Carly Findlay 29. Helena Fox 30. Lisa Fuller 31. Emily Gale 32. Meg Gatland-Veness 33. Sophie Gonzales 34. Erin Gough * 35. Leanne Hall * 36. Pip Harry 37. Sonya Hartnett 38. Adam Hills 39. Simmone Howell 40. Megan Jacobson 41. Amie Kaufman 42. Melissa Keil 43. Nina Kenwood 44. Sharon Kernot 45. Kay Kerr * 46. Will Kostakis 47. Jay Kristoff 48. Ambelin Kwaymullina 49. Benjamin Law 50. Rebecca Lim 51. Gary Lonesborough * 52. Kathleen Loughnan 53. Miranda Luby 54. Tobias Madden 55. Melina Marchetta 56. Ellie Marney * 57. Freya Marske 58. Jodi McAlister * 59. Margot McGovern * 60. Nikki McWatters 61. Anna Morgan 62. Jaclyn Moriarty 63. Liane Moriarty 64. Garth Nix 65. Lynette Noni 66. Carly Nugent 67. Poppy Nwosu 68. Kate O’Donnell 69. Shivaun Plozza 70. Michael Pryor 71. Alice Pung 72. Emily Rodda * 73. Autumn Royal 74. Omar Sakr 75. Holden Sheppard 76. AG Slatter 77. Jo Spurrier 78. Krystal Sutherland * 79. Jared Thomas 80. Hayli Thompson 81. Gabrielle Tozer 82. Christos Tsiolkas 83. Alicia Tuckerman 84. Ellen van Neerven 85. Marlee Jane Ward 86. Vikki Wakefield 87. Lisa Walker 88. Jessica Watson * 89. Allayne L Webster 90. Anna Whateley * 91. Samantha Wheeler 92. Jen Wilde * 93. Rhiannon Wilde 94. Lili WIlkinson 95. Gabrielle Williams 96. Rhiannon Williams 97. Fiona Wood 98. Leanne Yong 99. Suzy Zail 100. Nevo Zisin 101. Markus Zusak

#booklr reads australian #booklr #bookblr #read australian #loveozya #trcc original #book recs #book recommendations

[thinkingimages]

A field of spectra labelled by Cannon. From Cannon Papers.

Annie Jump Cannon’s astronomy translated the dense skies into a scientific form, and her mere presence made the observatory halls most welcoming and accessible. She could not classify the stars without her colleagues’ help, but they were helpless without her energy and strategy. At the observatory for forty-five years, she became it — embodying its curiosity, generosity, and passion.

Cannon classified over 358,000 stars over the course of her career. When she was in the flow, she could classify a star every 2-3 minutes, with the help of a staff of around five assistants doing most of the preparation and recording. Under her supervision as Curator of Astronomical Plates, the observatory published the Henry Draper Catalogue, in nine volumes between 1918-1924 classifying over 225,000 stars by spectra. With the final volume published in her 60th year, Cannon gave no thought to retirement, and immediately embarked on an ‘Extension’ to the Draper catalogue, a task Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin regarded as one of “heroic proportions” (Payne-Gaposchkin, 444). While Cannon focused on spectral work, she also assisted in identifying variable stars, novae, and other observations. In 1939, she identified the observatory’s 10,000th variable star (Jones and Boyd, 381).

#spectra #astronomy #annie jump cannon #harvard college observatory

[grandmaster-anne]

8 November 2022 The Princess Royal, Royal Fellow, the Royal Academy of Engineering, attended a New Fellows’ Dinner at Drapers’ Hall, Throgmorton Street, London EC2. HRH presented the Academy’s most prestigious individual award, the Prince Philip Medal, to space technology pioneer Dr Asad Madni FREng. The award recognises Dr Madni’s decades’ long career developing and commercialising intelligent sensors and systems across the aerospace, manufacturing and transportation industries. The Prince Philip Medal is presented in honour of the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh KG KT, who was Senior Fellow of the Academy. The award is made biennially to an engineer of any nationality who has made an exceptional contribution to engineering. Read more here  📸: Royal Academy of Engineering

#princess anne #princess royal #annegagements #The Diamond Ribbon and Tassel Brooch

[halles-comet]

the reason i work in advertising really goes back to fifth grade when our art teacher (???) for some reason made us do a worksheet on the seven different types of advertising (raw stimuli, endorsement, etc) and instead of being like "this is boring and not really relevant to the dia de los muertos masks we were making last week" ten year old halle's brain lit up and went "this is a trick, this is how you trick people" and instantly understood it better than any math class she ever took. like if don draper was adorable and owned sparkly camo pants because it was 2006 and the country was at war

[ifreakingloveroyals]

7 February 2019 | Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex meet guests pre-ceremony reception as they attend the annual Endeavour Fund Awards at Drapers' Hall in London, England. The Royal Foundation's Endeavour Fund Awards celebrate the achievements of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women who have taken part in sporting and adventure challenges over the last year. (c) Tolga Akmen - WPA Pool/Getty Images

#Prince Harry #Duke of Sussex #Meghan #Duchess of Sussex #Britain #2019 #Tolga Akmen #WPA Pool #Getty Images

[rockislandadultreads]

Picks for PRIDE: Queer Historical Romances

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

When Viola Caroll was presumed dead at Waterloo she took the opportunity to live, at last, as herself. But freedom does not come without a price, and Viola paid for hers with the loss of her wealth, her title, and her closest companion, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood. Only when their families reconnect, years after the war, does Viola learn how deep that loss truly was. Shattered without her, Gracewood has retreated so far into grief that Viola barely recognises her old friend in the lonely, brooding man he has become. As Viola strives to bring Gracewood back to himself, fresh desires give new names to old feelings. Feelings that would have been impossible once and may be impossible still, but which Viola cannot deny. Even if they cost her everything, all over again.

The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley

As a master of disguise, Thomasina Wynchester can be a polite young lady—or a bawdy old man. Anything to solve the case. Her latest assignment unveils a top-secret military cipher covering up an enigma that goes back centuries. But when Tommy’s beautiful new client turns out to be the highborn lady she’s secretly smitten with, more than her mission is at stake... Bluestocking Miss Philippa York doesn’t believe in love. Her cold heart didn't pitter-patter when she was betrothed to a duke, nor did it break when he married someone else. All Philippa desires is to rescue her priceless manuscript and decode its clues to unmask a villain. She hates that she needs a man's help—so she’s delighted to discover the clever, charming baron at her side is in fact a woman. Her cold heart... did it just pitter-patter?

The Hellion's Waltz by Olivia Waite

It’s not a crime to steal a heart... Sophie Roseingrave hates nothing more than a swindler. After her family lost their piano shop to a con man in London, they’re trying to start fresh in a new town. Her father is convinced Carrisford is an upright and honest place, but Sophie is not so sure. She has grave suspicions about silk-weaver Madeline Crewe, whose stunning beauty doesn’t hide the fact that she’s up to something. All Maddie Crewe needs is one big score, one grand heist to properly fund the weavers’ union forever. She has found her mark in Mr. Giles, a greedy draper, and the entire association of weavers and tailors and clothing merchants has agreed to help her. The very last thing she needs is a small but determined piano-teacher and composer sticking her nose in other people’s business. If Sophie won’t be put off, the only thing to do is to seduce her to the cause. Will Sophie’s scruples force her to confess the plot before Maddie gets her money? Or will Maddie lose her nerve along with her heart?

The Pursuit Of... by Courtney Milan

What do a Black American soldier, invalided out at Yorktown, and a white British officer who deserted his post have in common? Quite a bit, actually. • They attempted to kill each other the first time they met. • They're liable to try again at some point in the five-hundred mile journey that they're inexplicably sharing. • They are not falling in love with each other. • They are not falling in love with each other. • They are… Oh, no. The Pursuit Of… is about a love affair between two men and the Declaration of Independence. It’s a novella of around 38,000 words.

#Romance #Queer Romance #LGBTQIA #PRIDE #books for PRIDE #historical romance #queer historical romance #lgbtq characters #lgbtq books #lgbtq #to read #tbr #reading recommendations #book recs #Book Recommendations #library books #highly recommend #Highly Rated #booklr #booktok #book tumblr #reading list

[siempreweddings]

Making Memories: Capturing the Essence of Your Event Reception Halls in Utah

Utah's breathtaking beauty sets the stage for unforgettable events. Finding the ideal venue is key, and today, we explore the captivating reception halls of Salt Lake City and Draper. Imagine exchanging vows against a mountain backdrop, dancing under shimmering city lights, or celebrating in rustic elegance. From SLC's modern marvels to Draper's hidden gems, Utah's reception halls promise to make your special occasion. Read More: https://penzu.com/p/5b75db22111f7bf8

#Draper outdoor wedding venues #indoor wedding venues in Draper #christmas party venues Draper #modern wedding venue in salt lake

[aimeedaisies]

Court Circular | 28th September 2023

St James’s Palace

The Princess Royal, President, UK Fashion and Textile Association, this morning attended the Sustainability in UK Textiles Conference at Drapers’ Hall, Throgmorton Avenue, London EC2.

Her Royal Highness later received Brigadier Dan Duff (Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands).

The Princess Royal, Founders’ Patron, Benenden School, and President, the Benenden Society, later attended the Centenary Global Conference “Inspiring Future Female Leaders”, opened the Seniors’ Courtyard, launched “Benenden 100” Centenary Book and attended the Benenden Society Reception, Benenden School, Benenden, Cranbrook, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent (the Lady Colgrain).

#court circular #princess anne #princess royal

[youngeditor1999]

Favorite crackships?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS ANON!!!!!! 🤩🔥💯💥

Crackships are silly but also super fun!! (: 💓

Alright, so the very first one that came to mind was Kono Kalakaua/Danny Williams from the 2010 reboot of Hawaii Five-0.

Now, I am definitely a very loyal McDanno (Steve McGarrett/Danny Williams) girlie through and through. I also really enjoy(ed) Kono's relationship with Adam!!

That being said...

Kono and Danny had some flirtations during the very first few season one episodes. They for sure would have been cute together and really would have made an excellent couple overall. 🥰

Speaking of Hawaii Five-0...

Steve McGarrett and Dean Winchester is also a fave.

They feel so right to me in a way that truly doesn't make a lot of sense, which is how I know that this is an excellent crackship.

Perhaps they are too similar to each other, but then again, that's what would be fun about watching and reading about them!!

Next on this list, I'm gonna say Troy/Kelsi from High School Musical.

They are only a crackship because of how iconic Troy/Gabriella are...if Troy/Gabriella weren't the main romantic couple of the trilogy (Chad and Ryan aside of course because they definitely count, even if they weren't canon-canon! 💓), then I fully believe that they would have had more potential.

Troy complimented her song writing/composition abilities in the first movie and then at the end of HSM 1, literally gave her the championship basketball because she was "the playmaker". 🥺🥲😩💞

Also, all of the most romantic songs that Kelsi wrote for Troy and Gabriella...there was always just a little something extra there that made me think that she was moreso thinking about Troy and herself when she was writing them. 🤷🏻‍♀️

It's hard to explain exactly what I mean because of course Kelsi was always super respectful to Gabriella and Troy and Gabriella's relationship in general.

But I just feel that there was so much potential for them!! They definitely could have worked out and lasted way past high school. 💗

But yeah, they are also a major crackship because Troy was always hella smitten with Gabriella, even when he maybe shouldn't have been. 👀

Moving on, I have to mention Olivia Pope/Mellie Grant from Scandal.

They have so much history and moments together that really solidified them into the Crackship Hall of Fame. Maybe they aren't as cracky as what some crackships are, but they would have probably raised more than a few eyebrows if they had ever been real.

And for the record, Fitz didn't deserve either of them!!!!! 😤

Onto Law and Order: SVU...

Olivia Benson/Nick Amaro is a hardcore crackship.

There's no way Liv would have ever hooked up with Nick for realisies, but it's still hella fun to imagine what that would look like (:

I am also counting Elliot Stabler/Alex Cabot as a crackship!!!

They have just as much energy and chemistry as what Benson/Stabler and Benson/Cabot do.

It's easy to forget about them because of these factors, but it's also what makes them so nice to consider from time to time. (:

Next, I'd be amiss of I didn't mention Megan Calvet-Draper/Joan (Holloway) Harris from Mad Men!!

This is a pairing that literally doesn't make sense at all for many reasons. I still like to think about them together anyway though because it's fun and crazy!!

Finally, last but not least, I must mention all of my NFL RPF ships. (Tom/Rob, Tom/Jules, Jules/Danny, Joe/Ja'Marr etc.)

These are all crackships because they of course focus on real, living people who, no matter how damn obvious they are, have never confirmed real relationships with any of the people I ship them with. 🥴🫣😶‍🌫️😔

Ok!!

...I think that's all of 'em for now. 🙂

That was way more than what I was first thinking when I originally received this ask!! 😱🤯😵‍💫

At the end of the day, though I have my set OTPs, it's cool to think about different fandom pairings in way that isn't usually seen. 🥰

I hope that you have enjoyed reading all of my crazy and random answers, anon!!!

Thank you again for sending this in; I had a lot of fun working on it!!!!! 🌟

#asks #askbox #asked and answered #anon #crackships #favorites #fandom #fandom life #Kono Kalakaua #Danny Williams #Steve McGarrett #Dean Winchester #Kelsi Nielsen #Troy Bolton #Gabriella Montez #Chad Danforth #Ryan Evans #Mellie Grant #Olivia Pope #Olivia Benson #Elliot Stabler #Nick Amaro #Alex Cabot #Megan Draper #Megan Calvet #Joan Harris #Joan Holloway #Tom Brady #Rob Gronkowski #Julian Edelman

[animemangasoul]

renewing the renewal

Summery: Bruce takes up his CEO crown and has a weird kid by the name of Tim Draper cheerfully helping him along the way.

Or, in which Bruce is so not prepared for his son from alternate universe being obsessed with keeping him safe and making sure he develops healthy life habits even as he himself has non of those.

Chapter: 1/?

Going back to Wayne Enterprise had been his choice. Righting his father's wrongs. Fixing his parents legacy. Bringing Gotham hope outside of the cape. It had all been his choice and yet.

Adjusting his sunglasses, Bruce sighed. With the throbbing headache threatening to burst out of his skull and with every bruise marring his body screaming each time he moved wrong, the young billionaire was now regretting taking this sudden leap in career choice. Sure punching criminals at night hadn't yielded the exact result he needed; Bruce shuddered thinking of the Riddle and how that path to vengeance had turned out, but Wayne Enterprise? Being a CEO? Was this really something he wanted to do? Something he could do?

"Mr. Wayne, are you alright?"

Biting back a wince and adjusting his sunglasses again, Bruce let out a soft grunt of acknowledgement. "Of course, Ms. Pierce. Lead the way."

The chirpy secretary gave him a bright smile and waved her hand at the double door across the hall. "Your tour is coming to an end Mr. Waybe because we are finally here!"

"Where?"

Ms. Pierce smile grew two inch wider and Bruce would be disturbed by that nature defying action if he wasn't already dead on his feet and too exhausted to pay this creepy woman any more attention than the simple action of nodding along. "Your office of course," she said, voice sing-songy and excited. Bruce bit back the nausea that came with trying not to grab at his head.

God why hadn't he double dosed on those painkillers?

And… turning around to stare at the giant mahogany doors, Bruce heart twinged at not even recognizing his father's office at first site. How long had it been for him to feel so alienated in a space he used to run around in as a child?

"Thank you Ms. Piece," he said, stepping past the young secretary and making his way down the hall. "I appreciate the tour but I believe it is time that I get to work."

"You are welcome Mr. Wayne," the brunette chirped behind him but much to Bruce's charging her click clacking footsteps did not seem to fadeaway but instead appeared to come closer as the woman apparently had decided to follow him all the way to his office. 'Great,' he thought. 'Fantastic. There goes any chance at getting a small nap in.'

Before he could reach for the door, Ms. Piece was there like a summoned demon, catching him by surprise and throwing upon the door in a flurry of motions befitting someone putting on a show. "Welcome to Wayne Enterprise, Mr. Wayne," she exclaimed, smiling at him even wider.

Bruce gave himself a silent pat on the back for not flinching or throwing up at the unexpected motion. God, maybe deciding to come back today of all days; being paraded around for nearly an hour and half. Meeting every personal worth any notice and being drilled with every piece of intel he'd missed out on for the past 20 years was not such a good idea. Especially after going toe to toe with the criminal underworld of Gotham when he'd accidentally stumbled upon a weapons deal during his patrol. Yeah, maybe this was not such a good idea.

"Mr. Wayne," an unfamiliar voice, distinctly unchirpy, broke through Bruce's hazy mind. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, sir."

Bruce blinked.

There, right in front of him stood a kid. Probably no older than fifteen, staring up at him with an unreadable expression. Hair dark long and pulled up in an elegant ponytail. Body dressed in an ill-fitted suit and left hand clutching a folder while the right held onto an elegant wooden cane.

Bruce blinked again. "Excuse me?" What was a kid doing here, in is father's office?

"Um, didn't Ms. Pierce---" the kid seemed equally confused now, eyes flittering between him and the oblivious Ms. Pierce who appeared to be content running around the office cleaning up nonexistent dirt on his father's desk. "I…" the kid trailed off.

"Ms. Pierce," Bruce sighed. "Who is this?"

His secretary only offered him a brief look over her shoulder before going back to rearranging the bookshelves. "Your assistant of course," she said. "Timothy Draper. Brilliant young man he is. You will love him."

Said young man or more accurately young boy grinned up at him; eyes alight with emotions too deep and too confusing for Bruce to decipher. "Nice to meet you Mr. Wayne."

No, just no. He was not doing this.

Bruce should have never let Alfred encourage him into coming back so soon. He should have just stuck to punching criminals in dark, dirty Gotham back-alleys.

"Mr. Wayne?"

Taking off his sunglasses, folding them up carefully and then sticking them equally as carefully into the front pocket of his coat. Bruce finally reached out to grab the extended hand the kid had offered after he scrambled to stuff the folder he'd been holding under his elbow. The kid had been on the way to awkwardly drop it but Bruce reaching for it now made the kid freeze and they were momentarily caught in a moment where the kid was retreating while Bruce was coming forward and well….yeah.

"Pleasure is all mine, Mr. Draper," Bruce said softly, brutely beating the awkwardness back by firmly grabbing for the lifeless hand and shaking it twice before releasing it; mind briefly stuttering on the details of those callus palms and scar ridden knuckles. 'Kid must come from the streets,' he thought with hint of regret. 'Maybe if I'd checked upon the Renewal Mr. Draper wouldn't have---

But those were dangerous thoughts and Bruce was loathe to let himself spiral like that again. Last time had been ugly and coming back to sobbing into Alfred's arms as the old butler cradled him against his chest was not something he wished to repeat. He could only fix his mistakes by moving forward. No reason to dwell on the past.

"Tell me Mr. Draper," he asked, staring the kid in the eyes; taking in the pale skin, the two bright blue eyes and the hunched over figure and overly friendly smile. "Why are you here? I don't know much about business but I'm quite sure children are not hired as assistant to the CEO?"

That unreadable thing flashed through the kid's eyes again; too quick for Bruce to grab a hold off, cut up and examine, before his expression warmed and his lips quirked up once more. "I'm excellent at what I do Mr. Wayne," he said. "And I've already graduated from collage and I have worked for Wayne Enterprise for the past 8 months so while I may not look it, believe me, I am quite qualified for my position."

Resisting the skepticism that threatened to crease his brows, Bruce stared the kid down, silently impressed with the boy didn't budge. "How old are you Mr. Draper?"

"Nineteen," the kid answered.

Oh…. so not a child child then. Hell, Bruce only had eight years on this kid. He looked fifteen! Who'd starved him?!

"Nineteen?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Huh?

Had he actually asked that out loud? Bruce could have slapped himself. What a stupid question. And by the look of Ms. Pierce's stiff back and the baffled expression on the kid's face they thought so as well.

Coughing awkwardly, Bruce made his way into the office, avoiding the kid's gaze and making his way over to his father's old desk to gently guide Ms. Pierce out of the office; desperately needing something to do after that ridiculous question. "Well then," he said. "I guess I best get back to work. Thank you for your hard work today Ms. Pierce. I got things from here." With that he pushed her out of the room, closed the door behind him and sighed loudly.

"Rough day?"

Opening his eyes where he'd briefly closed them, Bruce met Mr. Draper's strangely understanding gaze. "Yeah," he said. "You could say that.

"I'm sorry to say it won't get any better Mr. Wayne."

"Can't say I'm surprised," he muttered.

Draper grinned, eyes crinkling at the corners and Bruce found himself almost returning it. Almost.

It would be a long day indeed but his new assistant didn't seem half bad and now that he'd gotten rid of Ms. Pierce, maybe he could finally give his brain some rest from all that chipper and start focusing on fixing his father's mistakes and restoring his family name.

Yeah, this was the start of something new. A renewal of a renewal even.

Gotham would see a new chapter of the Wayne name and Bruce was going to make it count for something this time.

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