IC-Ep 3-The Drive(Anna only)

[Mr. Handy]

Queensway, Bayswater- London, England
8:10 AM - Tuesday, September 10, 1940

Madeline got into the front passenger seat of Anna's car, and Anna pulled out and drove south. "Wherever was my mother found?" asked Madeline.

[Mephistophilis]

Anna glances sideways at Madeline as she drives. 'I believe she was staying in an abandoned building when she was found. Did you not hear anything from her while she was out of the hospital? I do hope she was not too traumatised being out in the air raids like that'. She thinks for a moment and bites her lip. 'You must be prepared that your mother could still be quite distressed and may need sedation. Is your husband contactable? I do think it would be helpful for you to have some support'.

[Mr. Handy]

"No, I haven't heard from her," said Madeline as Anna turned left onto Queensway, driving alongside the Kensington Gardens. "I hadn't thought to call my husband, but I can do that once we get there. He's at the RAF base. He'll still be on the ground today; his replacement plane doesn't arrive until tomorrow."

[Mephistophilis]

'Replacement plane?' gasps Anna, 'I do hope your husband is not hurt'. Anna pushes her foot a little harder on the accelerator, she is finding this enforced small talk rather wearing.

[Mr. Handy]

"He lost his leg," said Madeline, lowering her head. "It happened when he was shot down a few weeks ago. Fortunately it was below the knee. He has a prosthetic now, and he's healthy enough to walk again on it."

[Mephistophilis]

'He's very brave, getting back up into the air again' says Anna. 'Still, it must have been a very difficult time for you both. Have you been married long? How did the two of you meet?' Anna seeks to gain a little rapport with Madeline.

[Mr. Handy]

"There's nothing he wouldn't do to protect our country," said Madeline. "We've only been married a few years. No children yet, but I'm hoping. I met him at a dance. I was just making my debut in London society, and I was very nervous. He was so dashing and handsome, and when he asked me to dance I just melted in his arms." She sighed, wistful.

[Mephistophilis]

'How frightfully romantic' laughs Anna. She is silent for a minute then asks in a measured and even tone, 'can you tell me a little about your mother? Has she been unwell long?, seeking to get Madeline to open up a little about Mrs Exeter.

[Mr. Handy]

"She was always good to me," said Madeline. "She loves me. Father always did too. People think she's a horrible monster, but that's not how I see her. She was always there for me until she was locked away, and then I was always there for her."

[Mephistophilis]

'People can be very cruel' says Anna gently, 'and they rarely understand nuances. What led to your mother being in hospital?'

[Mr. Handy]

"They say she tried to kill a man," said Madeline. "If she did do it, I'm sure she must have had a good reason."

[Mephistophilis]

'What reason would justify trying to kill someone?' says Anna.

[Mr. Handy]

"There are legitimate reasons to kill," said Madeline. "Self-defense, for one. It's also justified to kill someone in war. My husband has killed more than his share of Gerries in aerial combat, and I'm proud of him for it. So is the RAF. He has been awarded medals for his heroism."

[Mephistophilis]

Anna cannot suppress a little shudder at Madeline's cold justification for killing. 'Your husband is indeed very brave' she smiles weakly. 'But he is fighting for his country against a great evil. What reasons could have compelled your mother?'

[Mr. Handy]

"She hasn't told me the details," said Madeline, "but she and my father believed what they were doing was for the betterment of the world. They didn't want a war like the Great War to ever happen again. But some people interfered with their plans, and they killed my father. Was that justified? Now we're in a war even worse than the last one."

[Mephistophilis]

Anna slows her driving listening to Madeline intently, 'how could they have prevented another war?'

[Mr. Handy]

"They believed that by bringing back the Black Pharaoh, who had ruled in ancient Egypt, they could unite the world," said Madeline.

[Mephistophilis]

'That sounds a little...far fetched. Do you believe they could do it?' Anna begins to wonder whether Madeline is any more sane than her mother.

OOC,Can she roll psychology or psychoanalysis to see whether Madeline believes this and whether this seems the result of insanity?

[Mr. Handy]

"My mother believed it," said Madeline. "Even if she was mad, does that justify attacking her? She almost died just like my father. Someone struck her with a burning torch!"

OOC,Earlier you made a Psychology roll about [b]Madeline[/b] and critically failed with a 99, so you can't try that again. She seems sane to you. Psychoanalysis would require a therapy session with her, though this conversation can be considered one, so you can go ahead and roll that. It won't actually tell you anything about her as a successful Psychology roll would, but it may help her and make her better disposed toward you.

[Mephistophilis]

'That sounds as though it would have been quite a traumatic experience for her, and for you as well' says Anna soothingly.

Psychoanalysis: 90,[dice]0[/dice]

OOC,I don't think Anna knows anything about the history of Madeline's parents and her father's death does she?