#wayne galas

[cherry-jamm]

Y’all think Wayne galas ever got like fucking crazy back in the day?

[cerddom]

Tossing in my 2¢ as someone who worked as an assistant caterer as his first job and went on to be a business owner that hired caterers. (File this away to use as a trope in a fic, it would make a good one.)

If you are good to the catering staff, especially if you frequently hire the same caterer and (thus) work with the same staff often, they will save your a** someday.

Something will eventually go wrong that Is Your Problem™ and very much Is Not Their Problem™. If you have treated them well (and I mean more than just treating them like people), they will know that something has gone wrong, they will remember that you are good to them, and they will save your a**. It may or may not have anything to do with food.

On one occasion, I was the captain (on-site supervisor) for a wedding where a frequent (amazing) customer's son was the groom. He got a bit nervous and tossed his cookies all down the front of his tux shirt. (Thankfully just the shirt.) He wore my tux shirt down the aisle. For her, I'd have let him wear my pants. I'd have let her wear my pants.

On another occasion, I was a guest at a wedding where the cake did not show up – the cake person totally ghosted on them. While the wedding was going on, the head caterer personally went from grocery store to bakery to grocery store to find enough all-white sheet cakes to serve the guests, and even managed to convince one bakery to loan her the artificial wedding cake that they used in a window display, so there would be a wedding cake for the couple's cutting-the-cake photos. The guests (aside from those who were told, of course) never knew.

Sometimes it's as little as calling back to base and getting an allergen-free meal rushed down because neither host nor guest thought to pre-order one. Sometimes it's loaning a staff member when the venue is short-handed, has a no-show/walk-off, or something unplanned happens. Whatever it is, they've done this a thousand times and they've seen a thousand disasters averted. You want them on your side.

I'm going to toss some How To Be A Good Person™ advice in here for free – it might never be useful for anyone's fic, but maybe someone will remember in real life:

Always feed the staff. The bosses never allow them to just go through the buffet line, but they have state-mandated breaks, and you can insist they be allowed to make a plate in the back. (Or just order a couple pizzas they can keep in the back and eat as time permits.) (Sometimes they don't want to stop to eat so they can get done as soon as possible, which is valid - as an alternative, have them make a takeout box from the leftovers to take home with them.) If the caterer treats this as a problem, get a new caterer.

If allowed, always tip the staff. Some caterers don't allow tipping (note: please, question the caterer on this), but if they do, tip.

If somebody goes above-and-beyond, bring it to the attention of management. Try being twice as enthusiastic about reporting staff with praise as you would be about reporting something done wrong.

And by God, if someone is mistreating the staff or being a creep, put a stop to it. They often aren't allowed to make a scene, even if that means letting some freak sexually harass them all night, but you can.

Be not forgetful to treat staff well: for by this some have ended up wearing the cater's clothes. (Hebrews 13:2-ish)

Tips for writing those gala scenes, from someone who goes to them occasionally:

Generally you unbutton and re-button a suit coat when you sit down and stand up.

You’re supposed to hold wine or champagne glasses by the stem to avoid warming up the liquid inside. A character out of their depth might hold the glass around the sides instead.

When rich/important people forget your name and they’re drunk, they usually just tell you that they don’t remember or completely skip over any opportunity to use your name so they don’t look silly.

A good way to indicate you don’t want to shake someone’s hand at an event is to hold a drink in your right hand (and if you’re a woman, a purse in the other so you definitely can’t shift the glass to another hand and then shake)

Americans who still kiss cheeks as a welcome generally don’t press lips to cheeks, it’s more of a touch of cheek to cheek or even a hover (these days, mostly to avoid smudging a woman’s makeup)

The distinctions between dress codes (black tie, cocktail, etc) are very intricate but obvious to those who know how to look. If you wear a short skirt to a black tie event for example, people would clock that instantly even if the dress itself was very formal. Same thing goes for certain articles of men’s clothing.

Open bars / cash bars at events usually carry limited options. They’re meant to serve lots of people very quickly, so nobody is getting a cosmo or a Manhattan etc.

Members of the press generally aren’t allowed to freely circulate at nicer galas/events without a very good reason. When they do, they need to identify themselves before talking with someone.

[strange-birb]

Some Wayne gala fits for the boys! I saw something similar by @fallen-jpg and wanted to do some of my own lol

Ps… I’m not good with backgrounds lol and I made Damian much older cause I didn’t want to draw a kid …

Part 2 !!!

[tiger-grace]

The Dark Knight, Batman, Mr. “I am the night” maintaining his mystery even while revealing his identity in a justice league meeting:

The JL: Bruce Wayne?!

His wayward children, who have scheduled a “Brucie Wayne” funniest moments and scandals compilation to kick on in about 30 seconds on the monitor:

The JL: … bruce wayne

[abyssal-ali]

Bruce doesn't invite her. Either his children do or she crashes the party.

He can't send her away because then she'd make his life (especially his nightlife) hell and one night of a wild Steph Brown is infinitely better than a fortnight of petty Steph Brown/Spoiler and her gang of hooligans (aka his children).

People like to debate which batboy is the worst at galas, but let me tell you it's NONE of them. NONE of them are the worst. You know who is the worst at galas and benefits and shit? Stephanie Brown. We're all missing the potential of Stephanie Brown being the worst at galas

She's not a Wayne, she's not part of high society, she's a nobody to these people. These galas don't mean anything to her. Why should she care about saying the wrong thing to the wrong person? She's quite literally never going to see these people again.

So what if her name ends up in the news? Her neighbors would probably salute her for making fun of the wealthy socialites. She'd be a hero for putting them in their place.

Bruce loathes inviting her. Everyone else cannot wait to see what she's going to get up to

[waveoftheocean]

something something superbat sneaking off at a gala 🫣

[violent138]

Duke: "Bad news guys, he managed to give me the slip."

Tim: "How? Okay, who's got eyes on him?"

Damian: "He's just... gone."

Tim: "Hood?"

Jason, eating takeout: "Stop hacking my comms for this, I'm not even there!" *leaves the channel*

Steph: "Negative from me, I've been tailing some whole other guy."

Tim: "Nightwing?"

Dick, in a whole other city, on the computer, barely listening: "I already told Alfred I left the keys in the--"

Tim: "Thanks anyways. Orphan?"

Cass:

Tim: "Well shit. Everyone, we need to find him now."

Kate, spotting Bruce holding someone's black-haired baby at the Gala and immediately taking the baby from him: "No."

Kate, pressing a hand to her earpiece: "I got him just in time. Don't give me those puppy dog eyes Bruce, you can't even keep all your kids' names straight anymore."

Tim: "Phew, crisis averted everyone, good work. But remain vigilant."

Jason: "Tim, I swear to God--"

[abyssal-ali]

Here’s some more about the game :D for your reading pleasure @portal-to-oblivion (Based on this post)

Freestyle Checkers: A Tim and Damian Special OR “How can we make talking to people a competition?”

They are sneaky. They are underhanded. They will do anything to win.

Originally, this was a ploy to get Bruce to ban them from the galas. Over the coming months, however, they begin to enjoy attending. A little too much.

Tim starts a conga line and convinces everyone on his team to join before marching them to Damian’s side.

Damian subtly moves the tables just an inch or two to the right all night until the whole room has switched seating arrangements.

After a particularly eventful game, Bruce now requires them both to empty their pockets and walk through a metal detector before entering the ballroom.

Tim uses his role as company heir to befriend everyone on his team and then introduce them to one another. He accidentally started a coup once.

Damian uses his puppy eyes to woo the guests into doing his bidding and avoid punishment.

He also sets fire to the curtains.

They are repeatedly caught giving death glares to each other from across the ballroom…but that’s normal. What’s not normal is the two giving death glares to a seemingly random guest at the same time. (She was only going to say hello to Maxine. Why does she feel like she’s in mortal danger?)

Tim spikes the punch with a hint of laxatives so everybody sticks to the bathrooms on Damian’s side.

Several games in, Damian finds a loophole in the rules. Even if the pieces can’t know they’re in a game, that doesn’t mean others can’t. He pays several catering staff to form a physical barrier between certain guests and places. Tim is livid and demands the loophole be written out.

Damian, after stealing a woman’s expensive watch: “Oh, I think I saw it at table seven! Here, let me take you there :)”

Tim makes a kid cry at table 20 so everyone will avoid that side of the room.

Tim: “To the left now, y’all! Left again! Right foot two stomps! Keep going left!”

Every other batfamily member has joined the game at least once, both as a piece AND as a player. On a particularly boring night, it was Tim v. Damian v. Steph v. Jason v. Duke. Every attendee was an unwilling participant. Including Bruce.

Damian is the reason death threats are no longer allowed for the game.

Tim: “Oh, you don’t want to talk to Nicole. Did you hear what she said about Leandra last night? The drama!”

Damian, tugging a guest’s arm: “Hey, is your blue Mercedes parked outside?” Guest: “Oh, hi sweetie :) Yes, why do you ask?” Damian: “It exploded.”

Damian studies the attendance sheet, makes a mental list of who eats what kind of dessert according to previous galas, then chooses all the guests who he knows like chocolate. Suddenly, there’s a surprise chocolate fountain on Tim’s side!

Tim studies the attendance sheet then figures out their addresses, hacks into their Facebook, stalks their Friends list, makes a chart of who is on good and bad terms, then chooses his team based on that.

Both of the above methods listed fail spectacularly

Damian: “So…I win.” Tim: “Damian, this is a hostage situation.” Damian: “But they’re lined up on your side. I win.” Tim: You know, I’m starting to think you set this up.”

He did.

During one particular night, a Wayne benefactor figures out what’s going on and tries to expose them so they team up, completely ruin his public reputation, and get him banned from all future galas to preserve the game.

No matter how hard he tries, Bruce cannot stop them from playing.

[anti-the-glitch-bitch]

Batfam: dressed up in various Halloween costumes getting ready for a costumed gala.

Danny: in his ghost form not really doing anything.

Damian: stares at Danny with suspicion.

Danny:👀

Damian: how are you making your hair do that?

Danny:👁👄👁 uh because I'm a ghost?

Damian: -_- Fine keep your secrets.

Steph: 10 bucks it's some kinda electronic device.

Tim: I'll take that bet.

Chaos ensues as everyone tries to find whatever is making Danny's hair float as Danny tries to stay out of their reach.

Bruce: sighs in exasperated dad

[heylosers06]

In an art block rn so some Duke and Damian art.

1. Duke taking Damian to get a sweet treat after an altercation at school

2. Talking shit at a Gala

3. Falling asleep on Brucie after shit talking (a sketch because the art block hit full force in that one. 😭)

Also they’re wearing matching earrings because I said so. I also think Dick would also have a matching set with them. I feel they all would share jewelry their mothers passed down to them.

[sentient-stove]

“Okay, first off don’t call me that, it’s kind of rude, imagine if I went around calling you the base template.”

Elle leaned over Danny’s shoulder, propping her chin in her hands as she smiled with too many teeth at Damian. “You can call me it. It’s kinda funny. ‘Cept I’m a Xerox of a Xerox.”

“So you’re not a clone of—” Damian started, glancing between the pair in confusion. “Is that why sh-”

“Not a clone of you.” Danny interrupted, seeming to find his plate of scrounged up desserts more interesting than eye contact. “I’m a clone of Damian Wayne, she’s a clone of Daniel Fenton.”

“Xerox of Xerox.” Elle held up a peace sign, her fingers cutting the air. “Clone of a clone. Very unstable, very fun. I have a tendency to nearly melt into primordial goop.”

“It’s not that funny, Vlad’s raised you on terrible humor.”

“Dad’s raised me fine.”

“You swear in breakfast foods. Say fuck like a normal clone.”

[elizabethemerald]

The New Wayne Kid was different than any of his siblings.

Dick had been loud and boisterous. Jason loud and crass. Tim calm yet sarcastic. Duke was friendly and had a cutting wit for insults. Cassandra had been quiet and uncomfortable in social situations. Damian had clearly been uninterested in making friends with his acerbic personality.

Danny, the newest Wayne kid was different and he was different in a way that both fit in with the Gotham natives and made him stand out so even those without capes wanted to protect him. He was shy and quiet during social engagements. He flinched at sudden sounds and recoiled from unwanted contact.

Anyone with a brain in their heads knew that if you ended up a Wayne adoptee, you must have really gone through it. Only the most inane and brainless (like Vicki Vale) were jealous of the kids and called them lucky. Danny, however seemed some how even worse off.

Those who had survived the horrors that Gotham could throw at people recognized a similar look in Danny's eyes. They say the way his siblings closed in around him when someone said something off color, and the way he would almost stop breathing and zone out when sudden noises went off. They all knew he had faced the absolute worse humanity had to offer and was still putting himself back together after.

.

There's a new bird that's flying through the Gotham skies. He doesn't fight, only following the others around keeping them safe and performing search and rescue. He had an uncanny ability to find people trapped in rubble after explosions or natural disasters. He would ignore the fighting going on around him to get civilians out of the line of fire.

He went by the call sign Black Bird, and like Black Bat, he was always silent as he moved communicating through simple gestures to victims that he was there to help. The other Bats were clearly protective of him, and cared deeply for their newest bird. Once Black Bird had fled from Bane who had used explosives to draw the Bats out and the other Birds took turns beating the snot out of Bane with and without his Venom.

Most of the rogues of Gotham realized quickly that Black Bird was off limits. Especially since he would save anyone no matter what side of the law that fell on. Rogue or Bat, Goon, Cop or Civilian. If you were hurt, trapped or out of a fight, he would get you out and get you to medical care.

.

It was something of a tradition in Gotham city for Brucie to host a gala for the first birthday each of his kids celebrated with him. For better or worse. Dick had still been too new, too raw from his loss and Brucie wasn't as skilled at protecting his kids from the media during his first birthday. He had punched a reporter who had gotten in his face during the gala right in the teeth. Rumor was Wayne Industries paid for the reporter's dental care on the condition that they never take up the pen again.

Jason had been uncomfortable and wary during his birthday bash, and when Two Face had shown up to cause a scene and had snatched on of Jason's presents out of his grasp, the still half-feral street rat had tackled the man to the ground.

Cassandra had seemed mostly confused. She didn't recognize some of the presents or what they were for. However she was the only one who would turn down a gift before even opening it. She would look at each person coming up and turn most away before they could even offer a gift.

Tim and Duke had behaved mostly as expected during their bashes. Both of them had fake smiles plastered on their faces and had given bland thank yous for every present so it was impossible to tell if they liked it or not.

It was very easy to tell if Damian like things or not. He would closely inspect each gift as if he was Robin inspecting for bombs or poison, then declare the few he liked as, "Passable." Any that weren't deemed passable were harshly critiqued and tossed in a discard pile. No one had made note of the art supplies he had added to his keep pile until the next year when the gala also played host to some of his original paintings, including a stunningly realistic painting of a breathtakingly beautiful woman with brown skin and middle eastern garb.

.

When it came time for Danny's turn, a few of the more cruel socialites had bets on whether the even would be a disaster or not. Of course any who were over heard making such comments were swiftly escorted from the premises. Some worried that it may have been too soon for Danny, he was clearly scared and uncomfortable being in the lime light.

However his midwest charm quickly won the doubters back. He seemed so genuinely thankful for every gift, no matter how small. He also wasn't without the sass that made living in Gotham bearable. If there was a gift that felt especially backhanded or petty, he was quick to roast the gifter to within an inch of their lives, slowly coming out of his shell and revealing a winning personality.

There were numerous coos when some reporter from Metropolis gave Danny a telescope. Some swore the kid had actual stars in his eyes and he had to be stopped by Tim and Damian from leaving immediately to set it up. The next several presents were over ridden by his excitedly spouting of facts about stars and planets.

The bright mood of the gala crashed like one of Danny's meteors when he opened the next present. He could only stare in horror, his already pale complexion losing all color. His hands shook and he looked on the edge of either vomiting or passing out.

Bruce raced to his side and after only a brief glance inside snatched Danny away from the gift with such vigor that the package fell from his nerveless grasp to fall open on the floor.

Inside, to the gasps of shock and fear from the watching crowd was a mutilated raven.

Both wings were messily cut off. Its chest was cut open, then stitched back closed, a ticking bomb with only a few minutes left on the clock had been placed inside. A red smile was painted across the raven's beak. The threat could only have come one sadist. The Joker.

Joker's threat was clear, even the new protector in Gotham wouldn't be able to keep Gotham's newest prince safe.

When Nightwing arrived moments later and defused the messy bomb, the rage on his face said that the bats were going to be taking both the threat to Black Bird and the threat to Danny Wayne very seriously. The clown better watch his back.

Bruce Wayne has a new adoptee that quickly stole the hearts of Gothamites for his personality. The birds gains a new baby brother that doesn't like to fly. The joker finds a new plaything.

Danny receives a mutilated crow and a smile on his birthday.

[redsray]

Batkids playing any kind of board game but make it extra competitive because whoever wins gets to choose what Bruce wears for the next gala.

Bruce, in a sparkly top and skinny jeans:

Reporter: Ah, who chose your outfit tonight, Brucie?

Bruce: That'd be my eldest, dear!

Dick, behind him, full into the gala persona: Flattering, isn't it? He should wear it more often, don't you think, sweetheart?

Reporter, flushed: Oh, absolutely.

Bruce (to Dick): Get a new fashion style. Please.

Dick: Never.

Reporter: Who would be responsible for your wardrobe tonight, Brucie? It's certainly a statement.

Bruce, head to toe in a pink suit and Hello Kitty accessories: Gorgeous, isn't it? All the credit will have to be given to Jason, though, I'm afraid.

Reporter: Your second son, if I'm not mistaken?

Bruce: The very one.

Jason from across the gala hall, trying to not cough up his drink with laughter:

Tim, next to him: He's pulling it off, though. Little spins and everything.

Jason: Still ridiculous. That's Batman right there, Timbo.

Tim, snickering: The Dark Knight, huh?

Bruce, dressed in a collared white shirt, sweater and skirt, looking like he just came out of a light academia novel:

Reporter: Wow, Brucie. Who do we thank for that wonderful outfit choice?

Bruce: Ah, flattering, is it not? Tim's choices when it comes to fashion are wonderful, if not a bit simple.

Tim, nodding from behind him: Only the finest satin skirts. Charming, right?

Tim, to Bruce: Don't call my style simple, Mr. all I wear is black.

[Jason handing Dick $10 in the background because Bruce does, in fact, pull off a skirt.]

Reporter: Oh lord, what a gown! Who influenced your fashion choice tonight, Brucie?

Bruce, in a long green and black gown with gold accessories, nothing short of royal-looking: I fear only one person I know could choose an outfit as gorgeous as this one.

Damian, proudly next to him, in a smaller, matching gown: Only the most exquisite. You lot in this flimsy country cannot compare.

Bruce: Yes, Damian has a fine taste in fashion. He gets it from his mother.

Damian, quieter: Well certainly not from you.

Bruce, dressed in an elegant white dress shirt, long black pants and a corset with red accessories, a fan in his right hand:

Reporter: What an entrance! Anyone to give credit to for the wardrobe, Brucie?

Bruce: That'd be my daughter, she certainly shines with her choice of clothing.

Cass, grinning with a matching fan: Very pretty.

Bruce: Thank you, Cass.

Reporter: Woah, that's certainly new. Any reason for this choice of clothes, Brucie, dear?

Bruce, in a snapback cap, loose jeans and a band t-shirt, complete with rings and a chain around his neck: Well, all of my children are creative, but... Duke might just take the cake for this one, love.

Duke, losing his absolute shit next to Jason, Dick and Tim: You look great, B.

Steph doesn't usually go to galas, but she participates in the game nevertheless. If she wins, god help Bruce, because it's a gamble with her. He either ends up wearing a gorgeous outfit with eccentric and trend-setting accessories or literal checkered pyjamas. Worst yet, he has to say he picked it himself, since he can't directly blame Steph.

[r3ynah]

Someone's Oughta Change

Jazz waited impatiently for Danny to finish preparing for the gala, they were invited as guest due to jazz being one of the most successful therapist at Arkham.

Jazz wore a simple mountain green off shouldered floor length silk gown, with her hair tied neatly into a bun making her look ethereal and calm, which was very different to what she was feeling currently: she was practically walking around the whole living room in nervousness and checking her dress in the mirror every second to see if she dirtied it.

"Danny! are you done?" Jazz shouted from the living room. as she tapped her right foot on the tile continuously.

Cue Danny entering the living room with the same outfit if the dress made Jazz looked Ethereal like a goddess, it made Danny look radiant that made all the stars above envious, they were practically the exact copy of each other if you ignore Danny's short black hair and Jazz's orange hip-length hair, and they're height difference.

The siblings stared, then looked at each other up and down for a good 2 minutes.

Silence

"Well someone's oughta change" Danny crossed his arms over his chest, while Jazz just chuckled her nervousness disappearing.

[tiger-grace]

Gala Woman: your manners are rather good for someone from the... lower class

(Dick Grayson shovels breadrolls into his mouth in the background and Bruce Wayne trips and falls down a flight of stairs to have a getaway for Batman Stuff™)

young Jason Todd, incredulously: ..if theres a rumor being spread about behavior in this family i know damn well its not gonna be me.

[pevensiechase]

Every time you add onto a post, it somehow gets even better than it was.

Also, how dare you leave this in the tags.

a random socialite at a fundraiser: you know Bruce, that boy of yours is getting to be a little too pretty. heh.

Bruce Wayne, who was also "too pretty" at fourteen and is absolutely ready to castrate anyone who even looks at Dick directly: oh?