Chapter Text
Henry Loomis is not a morning person, but he’s also not not a morning person. He simply gets up early because he has to get up and ready for work. He’s one of the few staff members of the museum that arrive three hours before the museum actually even opens.
Most of his coworkers arrive about an hour, or so, before they open. But one thing about Henry? Is that he’s known to go the extra mile for something he’s passionate about. He’s known to arrive hours before anyone else really shows up—sometimes so early that the security guards who worked the graveyard shift are still in the building—and he spends his time either working on certain documents or paperwork, examining fossils in the lab, or simply wandering around the museum with utter wonder and awe in his eyes.
His breakfast consists of a basic black coffee, a small fruit bowl, and a fruit smoothie on the commute from his Brooklyn loft to the museum.
He gets up and strides towards his closet. After rummaging through an array of clothes that are either hung up with hangers or thrown about the room, he pulls out a blue plaid shirt and gray wool sweater.
As he dons the sweater, he heads towards the mirror in his, albeit small, bathroom and pulls out the collars of his blue plaid shirt to have them poke out through his sweater.
Working at the Natural History Museum of North America is the most rewarding, most emotionally taxing, and least profitable thing ever. But he knows that he’d sacrifice living in a box if it meant he got to study what he loved and show it off to countless visitors—both locals and tourists.
However, he’d be a liar if he said he didn’t constantly think about new ways to find more funding for the museum. He works tirelessly studying and examining the fossils in the labs, as well as trying to come up with some creative fundraiser ideas to help raise some money. But every time he prompts an idea during a meeting, they either have already done them and barely earned them any actual money, or won’t even work at all.
With that being said, Henry is now at rock bottom. His childhood dream of working at the museum since he was a boy seeing his first Tyrannosaurus could all go up in flames just because they’re out a couple million dollars…While he understands the importance of funding, he hates that it’s gotten to this point where they basically have to beg for scraps.
Nevertheless, there are some good moments in his job that are worth more than any amount of money they could ever receive. In his eyes, at least. And it’s when he’s giving a tour to a group of elementary school students on one of their annual school field trips and sees one of the kids either ask a bunch of insightful and inquisitive questions, or be completely silent and watch Henry ramble on about a Stegosaurus with a twinkle in his eye.
It reminds him of himself when he was younger.
When Henry first visited the museum, he was only thirteen. He already liked dinosaurs at that point, but had never come across one before. But once he entered the museum, he nearly had to be dragged away from the fossil exhibit by his teacher to explore the rest of the museum. This entire building was magnificent.
He also remembers being obsessed over the movie “Night At the Museum” due to the sole reason that he, too, wanted to spend the night at a museum and see if the figurines and exhibits would come to life or not.
So, twenty years later, here he is now. 33-years old and working at the museum with a doctorate in paleontology and he couldn’t be happier. He only hopes that he can help one kid, that’s just slightly as into dinosaurs and paleontology as he is, pursue his dreams and maybe even take his place in the museum years later.
Taking his break from giving three school tours in the span of four hours, he heads on over to his office to go over files and answer any unread emails.
The most recent email has an “URGENT” message, indicating its importance. Initially thinking it’s from his boss—either to let him know that they received a buttload of funding from some deceased rich guy, or that he’s getting fired due to his lack of innovative ideas on securing more funding and that they need to “have a talk”—Henry opens the message immediately. It reads:
To: LOOMIS, Henry [email protected]
From: Amari Mari [email protected]
Subject: Hosting Request
Dear Dr. Loomis,
Hello, this is Amari M. and I am writing on behalf of Runway Magazine from Elias-Clarke Publications Inc. to request the use of your museum for our upcoming gala. We believe that the National History Museum of North America’s strategic location and excellent amenities make it the ideal setting for our event.
Our event will consist of Golden Age Gala featuring vintage pieces of fashion from the vaults and collections of high-end luxury fashion brands like Dior, Chanel, and Ralph Lauren. We anticipate approximately 600+ attendees, and we will arrive at the venue by 5:30PM, the gala will begin at 7:00PM, and will end at 10:00PM on May 9th, 2026.
If you would like to speak further about this event, please feel free to contact me directly via this email.
Thank you for considering our request. We are looking forward to potentially hosting our event at your esteemed venue.
A.
Amari Mari
Public Relations Manager, Runway Magazine
Elias-Clarke Publications, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York 10019
What on Earth?! A … a fashion show? Henry thinks. Since when did they hold one of these things at a history museum? The MET is right there.
While Henry is, most certainly, not up to date on any famous people—whether they'd be in sports, TV, movies, or even plays—he has heard from some guests at the museum talking amongst themselves about something called Runway, but he assumed that they were talking about an actual runway and didn’t want to intrude on their conversation and make it look, as though, he was eavesdropping So, he minded his business and kept dusting off of the femur bone of the Edmontosaurus.
Here he is now, months later, and some random woman emails him about wanting to throw a silly little fashion show or party at his museum? His museum. The museum that’s home to a vast collection of ancient fossils and artifacts dating centuries ago. His museum that many paleontologists and archaeologists have worked hard to build, acquire artifacts for, and worked even harder to preserve it and make sure it stays relevant and remains open.
No. No way is he going to have his treasured museum be a host to some unknown celebrities, pretend philanthropists, CEOs that won’t even remember Henry’s name if he were to come across them, or even some materialistic fashion people who refuse to acknowledge the severe lack of sustainability in the fashion industry.
With that being said, Henry responds to Ms. Mari’s email.
To: Amari Mari [email protected]
From: LOOMIS, Henry [email protected]
Subject: RE: Hosting Request
Miss Mari,
Hello, I appreciate you taking the time to write this email and ask in advance about hosting your event at our esteemed museum, but unfortunately we will have to respectfully decline.
The Natural History Museum of North America values discovery, education, and protection, fostering a deep connection to science and the natural world while actively stewarding the environment and cultural heritage. And it seems that our values may not align with Runway’s.
We, at the museum, sincerely hope you can find a better, more suitable alternative venue for your event. We wish you all the best. Again, thank you for reaching out to us.
Best regards,
Henry Loomis, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Merit Researcher, Collections
Specialisms: Macropaleontology, macroevolution, dinosaurs, systematics, taxonomy
Natural History Museum of North America, 200 Central Park West New York, N.Y., 10024 United States
Just when he thought the matter was over and he was about to end his break early and return to his work either in the exhibits or in the labs, his computer dings. Alerting him of another email.
She responded.
To: LOOMIS, Henry [email protected]
From: Amari Mari [email protected]
Subject: RE: Hosting Request
Dear Dr. Loomis,
Hello, this is Amari M. from Runway Magazine at Elias-Clarke Publications Inc.
Thank you for getting back to me.
While I sincerely respect your opinion on Runway Magazine hosting our latest upcoming gala at your museum, I ask that you reconsider. For this is an urgent matter, and time is off the essence regarding finding a suitable venue.
If it would help, I would be honored to be able to visit your prestigious museum and further discuss our event with you in person.
If so, please respond to this email as soon as possible. Thank you.
A.
Amari Mari
Public Relations Manager, Runway Magazine
Elias-Clarke Publications, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York 10019
Is she serious? What’s so important about her little event, anyway? She’s planning it six whole months from now. She has time to find another venue, why is it so imperative that they use his museum?
Well, two can play that game. Henry may be a bit of a nervous wreck, at times. And may be prone to some anxiety, but when it comes to defending his field and his museum, he won’t back down from any fight.
To: Amari Mari [email protected]
From: LOOMIS, Henry [email protected]
Subject: RE: Hosting Request
Miss Mari,
Hello, I sincerely hope you are doing well. And if you would prefer to speak about this matter in person, you can schedule an appointment with me any time between 12-3PM on weekdays.
While we, at the Natural History Museum of North America, are quite rooted in our values, I look forward to meeting with you.
Best regards,
Henry Loomis, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Merit Researcher, Collections
Specialisms: Macropaleontology, macroevolution, dinosaurs, systematics, taxonomy
Natural History Museum of North America, 200 Central Park West New York, N.Y., 10024 United States
Fine. If she wants to meet with him in person and waste her time, that’s her decision.
Perhaps it’s a stupid thing to turn down the opportunity to have such an extravagant event at his museum, but there has to be a better way to find proper funding for his museum, and there has to be a much more suitable venue for her event.
But if he’s going to throw a lavish party at his museum, it’ll be one that’ll highlight the museum, not some random brand name clothes that rich people and nepo babies will only wear once then throw away.
If there is one thing Henry knows, it’s that when it comes to protecting and preserving paleontology and his museum, he’ll never back down from a fight.
——
What am I doing? Henry thought. For all that he’s done in order to maintain his position as a paleontologist in this museum, and all that he’s done to acquire the proper funding and make sure it stays afloat, he never thought he’d stoop so low as to allow some prissy fashion people throw some frivolous party in his distinguished museum.
He keeps himself occupied in his lab with busywork that is necessary, but is more so just to distract himself from the impending doom that will be this meeting.
He’s fairly certain that he can predict the play-by-play of how this meeting will go. They will try to sell him on how important this event is. How it is imperative that all sorts of rich people, that he doesn’t even know the names of, attend this event and how his museum is just the appropriate size for it. How they promise him it will supposedly put his museum on the map and bring in tons of more guests than he’s ever had before.
They’ll sing his praises, but never once mention how this event will help the museum financially. Now, Henry is not a monetary person. He’s never been one to beg for money, or prioritize making money above all else. If he was, he’s fairly certain he wouldn’t have pursued paleontology as a profession and would’ve gone into a much more profitable field like being a doctor, or lawyer.
If anything, Henry is a poor man who wears his heart on his sleeve, and follows wherever his heart takes him. And his heart took him to dinosaurs.
And yet, here is now. A paleontologist making minimum wage, despite having a Ph.D and being one of the top of his class back at Yale, wasting his time awaiting what is bound to be a dreadful meeting with some prissy young girl—who he can bet has no knowledge of anything related to paleontology whatsoever.
A buzz suddenly rings through his answering machine. As he picks up the phone to answer the call, a young woman named Laura, the museum’s receptionist, speaks. alerting him. “Dr. Loomis, your 1:30 is here to see you.”
And, just like that, speak of the devil.
Henry sighs through the phone, already feeling the immense dread and exhaustion spread throughout his body, as he takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes with his free hand. “Yeah, thanks, Laura. Tell them I’ll be right down.” Henry says in an exasperated tone.
As Henry heads down the corridor of the back rooms reserved for the employees and staff of the museum, he makes his way towards the front entrance.
Suddenly, he’s caught off guard at the sight of a beautiful woman sitting on the edge of one of the front entrance ottomans. Her hair is in a slicked back ponytail. Straight, black, and long. Her skin is a brown so rich and deep that he wonders if it turns golden in the sunlight. And she’s wearing a bright and vibrant orange suit with matching shorts and heels.
She looks like a statuette come to life. Like one of the Greek goddesses down in the Greek Mythology collection. He can only see the side of her face, as she’s looking downward towards her phone, texting someone somewhat frantically. He can only assume whatever she’s messaging this other person about is urgent, and possibly frustrating, due to her fingers rapidly typing the keys and her constant sighs of exhaustion and exasperation coming out of her.
And just as she looks up and turns towards his direction, he snaps out of the trance she seemingly had him in, and she makes her way towards him.
The woman holds her hand out, anticipating a greeting handshake. “Are you, Dr. Loomis? I’m Amari Mari, of Runway Magazine. We spoke earlier via email.” She says in a calm, professional, and rehearsed tone, with a smile that, to most, seems polite and respectful. But to others, it is only used to be deemed as professional and courteous, but doesn’t display genuine happiness or sincerity.
Henry returns the handshake with a pleasant smile on his face that, for him, is of genuine happiness. For he can’t believe that the woman he deemed a descendant of Aphrodite is somehow standing before him and speaking to him. “Y-yes. Loomis. Dr. Henry Loomis, nice to meet you.”
As he lets go of her hand, he can’t help but get wrapped up in her large doe-like eyes. Eyes that are so mesmerizing, he can’t help but feel like a moth to a flame. Like Perseus and Medusa. If she were to turn him to stone right now, he would forever be entombed with the look of genuine adoration for all of eternity, and he would happily perish that way.
“Your demeanor most certainly has changed since we last spoke online. Shall we?” she asks as she gestures towards the corridor where he was moments earlier, indicating that she wishes to speak in private about her event.
Right. Her event. Her gala. The gala of stuffy, prissy, and frivolous guests, CEOs, celebrities, and donors who don’t care one bit about his museum, let alone even know that it exists.
“Yes, Ms. Mari, right this way. We can discuss this in my office.” He offers before stepping off to the side, allowing her to go ahead of him.
She nods her head in agreement, before walking in front of him. “Thank you.”
As she walks ahead of him, he can’t help but feel drawn to her. He quickly surmises that she could easily lure him to his death like a siren, and he would happily let her with no complaints.
They reach his office, and he offers for her to sit down in one of the two pleather chairs placed in front of his desks before he sits down across from her. “So, you wanted to speak about your party?” He says as he waves his hand around in the air, trying to remember what it was she wanted to host at the museum.
“First of all, it is not a party. It is a gala. As I stated in my email, our gala is a black-tie formal event that will host an array of vintage fashion items from all sorts of high-end, luxury brands. We host this event annually, and we have decided to request your museum to be the venue. This is a very high honor, as Runway is a highly-respected magazine, and many venues have had the privilege to host such a renowned event.”
“Then why not ask those “venues”? Henry replies with air quotes, as his museum is no mere venue for weddings and birthday parties. His museum is home to an array of ancient fossils dating back thousands of years, including the Dilophosaurus. the Iguanodon, Ankylosaurus, and more.
“We could. But Mrs. Priestly refuses to use the same venue twice. Besides, after an extensive meeting discussing locations, she specifically requested your museum. And Mrs. Priestly does not take “no” for an answer.”
“So, you’re saying I don’t have a choice?”
“No, you do. But it would be very beneficial for your museum to host an event such as this one. Many people will attend that could help—”
“—Ms. Mari, I sincerely appreciate your dedication to your magazine by coming all the way down here, but, as I already told you in my email, this museum is not some measly little venue for weddings and children’s birthday parties. This museum values science, history, and—most importantly—ethics and integrity.”
“Please, Dr. Loomis. Just hear me out, I understand that your museum may be lacking in funding. As is Runway. It may not seem that way, but it is. Social media is killing the industry. By hosting these events, it helps maintain our relevancy. If you let Runway host the gala here, I assure you that we will work together to ensure that you acquire the proper funding for your museum. And, like I said, Mrs. Priestly never hosts a gala in the same venue twice. So, once this gala is done and over with, you and I shall go our separate ways, as if we never met.”
Henry leans back in his chair in contemplation. He runs his fingers over his lips before taking off his glasses to rub his eyes. Is he actually considering this? She could very well be lying just to get him to say yes and throw her silly little party. But, a part of him knows how desperate he is to get that funding. And a deeper, darker part of him felt a small, sudden semblance of fear rush through him at the thought of never seeing her again.
As he puts his glasses back on and looks back at her, he can see the desperation in her eyes—big brown eyes that are now bigger than he’s ever seen. He recognizes that look. He’s had to give that look a couple times when speaking to donors a few years back.
Knowing what it’s like to teeter-totter on the brink of either success or complete and utter failure, he caves.
“Yes.”
Ms Mari gasps in utter shock. “What?”
“Yes, Ms. Mari, you can host your gala here.”
Amari stands up from her seat in shock and excitement. “Oh, my—thank you so much, Dr. Loomis. I assure you, you will not regret this. I will email you all the added details regarding the gala tomorrow morning, and from there we can work out a plan on gathering your funding.”
“I certainly hope so.”
Henry stands up to shake Amari’s hand goodbye before walking over to his office door, and opening it up for her.
Before she leaves, she looks at him again. A moment passes between them. Neither of them say anything, but he swears he can see a faint glint or sparkle in her eye. This time, she smiled. Actually smiled. Not the fake, corporate one from earlier that he's both seen and done countless times before. This time, she meant it.
As ridiculous as this gala will be, somehow her smile makes it somewhat worth it.
As if she was snapping out of a trance, similar to how he was earlier when they first met, she looks around the room and shakes her head rapidly. “Goodbye, Dr. Loomis.”
“Goodbye, Ms. Mari.” he says reluctantly as she walks out the door and towards the front entrance of the building. As he closes the door, he’s now alone in his office. He then sinks to the floor, and rests his elbows on his knees. Both in exhaustion and admiration. Exhaustion because of how much of a hassle this event will be, and admiration because he was lucky enough to come across what has to be the most beautiful woman alive.
Just like he asked himself earlier in the day, what was he thinking?
——
Hours later, Henry has since clocked out of work and is now relaxing in his brick-encased Brooklyn apartment. His chaotic and cluttered apartment that others would deem the apartment of a mad man. But, to Henry, he considers it home. It’s filled to the brim with an array of different novels and textbooks. While it’s mostly a collection of paleontology-related books, Henry also finds him somewhat interested in classic English and Greek literature. From Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, to Homer’s Odyssey and the Iliad.
He also is an avid plant lover, and has a vast collection of plants all around his living room. From small succulent plants, to a Spathiphyllum, a Philodendron, and a Monstera Deliciosa plant. Oftentimes Henry likes to consider himself an environmentalist. Not just caring for the animals that reside within it, but the nature itself.
The aforementioned succulent plants sit on both his windowsill and his desk, where Henry currently sits at. After dinner, he’s spent the past two hours researching Runway. If his museum is going to host their gala, as Amari called it, then he should at least know what the heck it is. Not that he suspected Amari was lying to him about anything, just that he wanted to be somewhat more knowledgeable about what his museum is collaborating with so he can (hopefully) explain it to his coworkers. And, perhaps, be a bit more knowledgeable about it—and fashion, as well—whenever he sees or speaks to Amari again.
From his research, Henry gathered that it’s a fashion magazine that prioritizes promoting high-end luxury brands both in their advertising and photoshoots. He also found out who that “doesn’t take no for an answer” Mrs. Priestly is. And from one look at her from some famous event, he can already tell that she is a force to be reckoned with.
And just as he was about to call it quits for the night, as it’s now well past midnight, he sees a paparazzi photo of Miranda. She’s in an extravagant red dress that one could spot a mile away, but as he looks closer behind her, he spots a bald man in a tuxedo with thick black rimmed glasses, and … her.
She’s kinda blurry, but he knows it’s her. She’s wearing a skin-tight, form-fitting black dress with a sheer cone around her.
Despite the lack of pictures of her, due to how often she stands directly behind Miranda, Henry can’t stop staring at her.
It’s been a long time since Henry was infatuated with a woman, let alone anything other than dinosaurs, really. Especially since his divorce a few years back.
His divorce ended mutually, amicably even, not too horribly. He was too focused on his work. And she realized that she wasn’t ready to be married. So, after six months, they decided to divorce. And they were better off for it. Simply went their separate ways and continued on with their lives, as if the marriage never happened.
Of course it did, though. Henry isn’t one to lie and act as though he’s never been married before, he’ll admit it but immediately explain that it was a mistake and that they were simply two different people who weren’t ready for a marriage in all aspects.
In the first year and a half of his divorce, he holed himself away in his office for days on end, pouring himself into his work and research. The only thing that could bring him true comfort and relief. At some point, his coworkers tried to make him go on at least one date to try and get out there again. Or, at least, get him out of the office.
The girl his coworkers paired him up with was nice. Perfectly nice. He can’t remember her name for the life of him, but he remembers that she was a linguistics professor at NYU. While she was a perfectly respectable young woman who matched his interests, he didn’t feel anything remotely passionate or special with her. It wasn’t even that he was hung up on his ex-wife, but rather that he just didn’t feel any semblance of passion between them.
Henry wears his heart on his sleeve. Which means if he loves something, he loves hard. And openly. But he’s also stubborn. And if he doesn’t love something, it’s quite hard to get him to change his mind about it.
After his date with the linguistics professor ended, he walked her to her door, kissed her cheek, and that was it. Nothing happened. Neither one of them called the other one back. And that was that. Not wanting to waste any more time on a date, and not wanting another distraction from his work, he would refuse any other dates his coworkers would offer him, and eventually they stopped asking. Since then, he’s felt neither saddened by his divorce nor ready to date again.
Until now. Until Amari.
Despite her being way out of his league, and him being presumably not her type in the slightest, it doesn’t hurt to try to at least make nice with her. To be on her good side and be a friend. If that’s all he gets to be with her, he’d be a happy man, for he wants nothing more than to be in her presence.
With that in mind, Henry concocts a plan to spend more time with her while they plan this gala together. She says that once this is all over, they’ll go their separate ways. But Henry is determined to be in her life for a long, long time.
——
*BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ*
Henry’s alarm clock is blaring in his ears.
6:00AM. It reads on the digital analog clock. He sleepily slams his nightstand, looking for the snooze button.
He reaches for his glasses, which nearly fell on the floor as he was scrambling through his nightstand with one eye open as his alarm forced him awake.
Now, with his glasses on, he gets out of bed and heads on over to his bathroom to prepare his morning routine. Which, if we’re being honest, is really just shower, shaving, brushing teeth, and that’s it.
Henry dons a simple striped button-up shirt, and a blue sweater with some simple corduroy pants, and then he’s out the door.
——
The first thing he sees in his inbox as he opens his laptop in his office, is an email from Amari.
“Looks like she kept her promise.” He mumbles to himself.
To: LOOMIS, Henry [email protected]
From: Amari Mari [email protected]
Subject: Gala Information
Dear Dr. Loomis,
Hello, this is Amari M. and I am emailing you with additional information on our upcoming gala.
Again, thank you so much for allowing Runway to host our event at your museum. It does not go unnoticed how important and special your museum is. And with this gala, we will strive to help preserve your museum and make its presence known.
As I stated in my previous email, the Golden Age Gala will be held six months from now on May 9th, 2026 from 7:00-10:00PM. Some members of my team at Runway will arrive at 5:30PM to prepare, I will arrive at 6:30PM, and Mrs. Priestly will arrive at 7:30PM.
P.S. Here is the invitation. If you wish to attend the event, perhaps to make sure we do your museum justice in hosting our event, please RSVP by viewing the attached file.
A.
Amari Mari
Public Relations Manager, Runway Magazine
Elias-Clarke Publications, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York 10019
As Henry clicks on the attached file, he reads the invite Amari sent him.
GOLDEN AGE GALA - RUNWAY MAG
Take a trip back in time by revisiting vintage collection pieces from iconic brands such as Dior, Ralph Lauren, Chanel, and more at our Golden Age Gala!
ATTIRE: Formal
May 9th, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Natural History Museum of North America, 200 Central Park West New York, N.Y., 10024 United States
Walk the red carpet as if you’re at the height of Hollywood's golden era, and enjoy food and drink such as classic cocktails, tuxedo cakes, and macarons. See you there!
RSVP
Amari Mari
212-555-7777
Despite having a years old and worn out tuxedo and only two tweed suits with elbow patches, he immediately RSVP’s “Yes” all to see Amari again.
To: Amari Mari [email protected]
From: LOOMIS, Henry [email protected].
Subject: RE: Gala Information
Miss Mari,
Hello, thank you so very much for sending me all the needed information regarding your gala.
I have viewed the attached RSVP form, and yes, I do plan to attend.
If it is alright with you, we can continue to meet in person—either in my office or during coffee—to discuss creating the gala, as well as ways to make sure this gala helps restore the museum’s reputation and public image.
Again, my office hours are from 12 — 3PM from Mon. — Fri. You can meet me anytime during that. No need to schedule an appointment every time, by the way, the museum will let me know when you have arrived.
Hope to see you and hear from you soon!
P.S. If you’d like, I can offer you a free tour of the museum in order to get a better look of our space and possibly come up with ideas for your gala.
Best regards,
Henry Loomis, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Merit Researcher, Collections
Specialisms: Macropaleontology, macroevolution, dinosaurs, systematics, taxonomy
Natural History Museum of North America, 200 Central Park West New York, N.Y., 10024 United States
Now Henry has two goals: One, be in closer proximity to Amari. And two, find a new tuxedo to impress her at the gala.