Owner Pose
Stephanie Brown The Fairfield Gardens Club was a mansion, home of a prominent seafaring family back in 1800s Gotham City. The sea is a harsh mistress though, and the family's fortune eventually faded away, sank to the bottom of the ocean or eroded at by poor choices over the years. After a few empty years, it was finally bought by a company that turned it into a first rate venue for events like weddings and high society galas.

The large manor itself had the interior redone to maximize the space of the main room. A grand staircase leads up to a balcony that rings the ballroom, allowing one to watch the proceedings below. On one side of the balcony, doors let out onto an outdoor gallery with its own staircase down to the grounds. And a great view of a large garden, with paved paths winding through flowerbeds statues and fountains, with benches for those choosing to sit and enjoy the flora.

Stephanie Brown was still coming around on big charity balls. A part of her loved dressing up, and Dick made sure she didn't walk in feeling shabbily dressed as might have been the case for her earlier in life. If she'd started to grow more easy with them, the slightly increased interest of the paparazzi had a moderating effect. They hadn't seemed to get wind of the engagement yet though, so it was still mild.

When Dick had mentioned the even was here though, well, that sold the deal. So Stephanie had come, wearing a beautiful dress whose blue had a shade that she found perfect. The event itself was raising money for cancer research. Many of Gotham's high society were in attendance. There to be seen, and hey it was for a good cause too.

Though Stephanie could only take so much of the hobnobbing. After more than an hour of it, she'd whispered into Dick's ear that she was going out to the balcony over the garden to get some air. Taking a glass of white wine with her, she'd stepped outside and into what was proving to be a beautiful June night.
Bruce Wayne Bruce didn't enjoy the parties. He never had. It had taken an excess of effort and time to convince him to even pretend Bruce Wayne hadn't disappeared in the wild places of the world. In the end, he'd kept up the facade for the sake of his parents and the facade meant sometimes he needed to make a showing. Not often, and Bruce emerging from seclusion was still something of an event within an event for the social columns. But nevertheless here he was, a finely tailored suit from some expert Italian tailor who only makes three a year. The sort of threads one could make a downpayment on a house with.

He's carefully traded the sparkling white in his flute glass with ginger ale from a flask, and he's topping it up discretely when Stephanie appears on the balcony.

"I'm leaving," he tells her flatly, without looking up.
Stephanie Brown From the railing of the balcony, the gardens themselves that gave the manor its name can be seen stretching out. The gentle lighting of the paved paths allow them to just be followed with the eye even in the night.

Stephanie had lost track of Bruce earlier as she and Dick were pulled over so the up and coming detective Wayne scion could share his thoughts with a city council member on some measures relating to GCPD.

As soon as she spots him upon stepping out though, she walks over slowly to stand beside Bruce Wayne. "Can't say that I blame you," she says with one of her soft grins. "If I get my cheek pinched by... the lady in the blue hat, just one more time..." she says, but doesn't vocalize the comparison to dealing with Penguin's henchmen that she might have in other settings.

"We got moved into the lake house. Thank you again for that," she tells Bruce. "Getting back and forth to campus, also not an issue." The secret transportation he'd given access to, definitely helping there.

Stephanie's eyes go over to the park. "Did you know this is where we first... where Dick broke up with that detective he was dating, Sara. And..." she says, letting the rest trail off as her eyes go over to the gardens. Remembering where she'd been standing, having needed to get away from seeing the two of them together. Only to have Dick round the corner to come talk to her.
Bruce Wayne "Mm."

He knew it. Bruce knew everything, it seemed. Though what he thinks of it is another matter entirely. He keeps his eyes fixed on the glass, pouring a few more droplets of ginger ale into it before the flask disappears into his coat pocket. He lifts it to his lips to take a sip, catching the eye of some nosy socialite inside and immediately putting on a broad and talkative grin until they look away. Then it's back to dour, cold and unemotive.

"How are the wedding plans coming?"
Stephanie Brown The question gets one of Stephanie's visually expressive reactions. Some girls dream of their wedding and immerse themselves in every detail. Those girls are the ones that Stephanie generally looked at across a room and just didn't get.

"They are going well. The event keeps shrinking the longer that we take. Which, if we can manage without offending anyone that it should be avoided, isn't a bad thing. We're currently talking about doing it on a boat so it can be more private. The people we care about," she replies to Bruce. "I think Dick keeps worrying I'm happy to go along with what he wants and am not trying to make it all be a certain way. It's... well, kind of cute," she says.

She takes a sip of the wine and glances back to Bruce. "How are things going Austin?" she asks. "I've had a few chances to get to know him, but not as much as I'd like yet."
Bruce Wayne "He's learning," Bruce answers flatly, taking a sip from the flute before setting it down on the flattened top of the railing, "A long way to go, but he's getting there. He's got the equipment he needs. Think it may be time to send him out with some of the others."

He's deliberately vague. He's doesn't talk shop openly in public. Never has.

"Within reason."
Stephanie Brown The young blond woman gives a slight nod of her head. Despite being well known for speaking her inner voice aloud, even when she doesn't intend it, she's been quite good about avoiding in public anything that doesn't sound like normal conversation. "Good. He seems like a really good kid," she says. "Glad to see him with the chance to grow."

She looks down at her glass thoughtfully. "Mom got a new job. Out of the hospital and working in a doctor's office. It should be a bit less stressful for her. Which can only help." Help her avoid a relapse of her drug addiction, she most likely means.

"It's nice being up in Bristol so I can make it over to see her more," she says. Her mother's townhouse is 'on the other side of the tracks' from the well to do areas where Wayne Manor might be found, but like the estate it is on the mainland rather than on the islands of Gotham City itself.
Bruce Wayne "You know, with your trust and Dick's, she doesn't have to work. You could set her up somewhere nice. Plenty of small homes in the township proper."

But he leaves it at that. After all, it's their decision and not one he intends to weigh in on too heavily.

"Speaking of the trust. When you're married, it'll increase. For both of you. Along with shares in the Company."
Stephanie Brown Stephanie sets her glass on the rail, hands resting on the wrought iron as she looks out over the gardens. Her expression is thoughtful as if considering Bruce's comments. Or the one about her mother at least, as it turns out. "I think... I don't know. I can talk to her about it. The hospital was kind of a higher stress environment than I think is good for her. Not to mention, being in such proximity." To the abundance of painkillers.

The young woman gently chews her bottom lip. "I kind of think that helping other people is good for her though. It gives her a sense of self-worth that I think she needs right now. But, I'll give it some thought," she says.

Her eyes leave the garden to look back over to Bruce. "Thank you. Though all of that aspect of things still makes my head swim a bit. I'm just... he makes me happy, you know? Really, really happy."
Bruce Wayne "If I thought you were a gold digger," Bruce tells her with a slight frown, "I'd have admonished you years ago for going about it in the most awkward, backwards, and ineffective way. I know you're not in it for the money, but it's there and it's better that you use it to build a life than it sit in a bank account somewhere."

He takes another sip from the flute before he flicks his wrist, tossing the remnants over the side of the balcony but holding onto the glass.
Stephanie Brown "As long as there's still room in it for the occasional Big Belly burger. I won't tell Alfred, promise," she says with one of her goofy smiles. She falls silent for a moment and then nods her head. "I know you don't, and no one else does either. Took me awhile to get over it. It's still such a different life to adjust to, is all," she comments thoughtfully.

Stephanie glances out into the night, but this time over away from the gardens, and towards the sight of Gotham's skyline. "Are you going to be heading home? Or, looking for something else to do?" she asks, displaying more of that subtle choice of language while in public.
Bruce Wayne "Something else."

Bruce looks around for a moment, squaring his lapels and straightening his tie for the inevitable walk through the party.

"Nothing I can't handle. You stay and enjoy the party. Give Dick my best."
Stephanie Brown "Alright," Stephanie replies to Bruce of staying and enjoying the party. "Though, I swear, just one more cheek-pinch and..." Her hand strays to her midsection, which wouldn't seem particularly meaningful or related to Stephanie's commentary. But Bruce would know the location her hand went to is where her batarangs would be stored, as it's the utility belt pouch that allows the most forceful delivery in the minimum amount of time.

Yes, they obsess that much.

"Good luck," she tells him, giving a smile up to the taller man, before moving to head back into the gala.