Babs usually isn't even on the shortlist of people to invite when it comes to one of Bruce's gala obligations. Primarily because she's made it clear - repeatedly - that she is not interested, thank you but no thank you. Oracle has better things to do with her evenings than play nice with Gotham's elite, and a gala is not in any way her idea of a 'nice break', either.

But this particular one is being held in honor of the GCPD. And it isn't Bruce who invited her, but her father. She's pretty aware he hates these about as much as she does. And, well, all things considered... she had to at least show up, if only for a little while. She can play nice for a bit, right? Then make an excuse and bow out early.

She's not having the best time, however. She'd been prepared for it, but the problem with not making that many appearances at these things is that she's a bit of a novelty. She's not sure what's more annoying, the people who only want to talk about her 'fancy' wheelchair or the new treatment Wayne Enterprises is funding for her - at least most of them seem genuinely interested, if only in the 'experimental tech' angle - or the people who are being incredibly pointed about not mentioning anything of the sort but can only seem to think of 'the weather' or 'lovely party' as substitute topics. No, scratch that, actually the worst are the ones who keep talking to her father about her as if she's not fully capable of hearing and responding to them herself. Of course there are plenty of perfectly polite people too, but the long and short of it is it's been a grating evening so far, and she suspects she's approaching the 'bow out early' point pretty fast.

Still it is a nice night, so in a bid to bolster herself with a little more patience, she's retreated to the balcony for a spell, to get some fresh air. She's content to look out over the admittedly-impressive gardens and sip some champagne, but the quiet is interrupted when she hears someone else come through the door, similarly seeking a moment away.