5606/Return of the Volkswagen

Return of the Volkswagen
Date of Scene:	20 October 2018
Location:	Wayne Manor
Synopsis:	Mercy stops by Wayne Manor to retrieve her borrowed car. (Alfred emitted by Batman)
Cast of Characters:	Mercy Thompson, Batman

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Mercy Thompson has posed:
    It's a couple hours later...the truck was slow arriving and the driver wanted to take his time loading such an expensive, and amazing, car. It's here though, and unloaded. Mercy pays the driver with two of the bills Wayne left her, "Thanks Mike. I'd say I owe you one but I'm going to have to wipe the drool off the bumper of the lamborghini." The tow driver laughs, waves and drives off. Mercy watches for a minute, then turns to the car sitting to on side of the houses's drive, and then, slowly, to face the house itself. "Fancy," she mutters. she's trying to sound blase about it but comes out still with some wonder. "A bit beyond this indian girl."

Batman has posed:
    The sun has set and the evening has begun. As the truck and Mercy arrive, an elderly gentleman with thinning hair, a pencil-thin moustache and a well-tailored step emerges from the front door. As he steps down onto the drive, he offers Mercy a polite but entirely reserved smile: "Ms Thompson, I presume? My name is Alfred Pennyworth. I'm Master Wayne's valet."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    Mercy shakes herself, just a quick shiver of muscles, bringing herself back to the moment and the man that's emerged from the house. She offers him a hand. "Mercedes Thompson," she introduces herself. "Mercy," she adds. "Umm, I can just wait out with the car here for Mr. Wayne to bring mine back. Or if there's some where," she looks at the house. "No so grand. I don't want to be a bother."

Batman has posed:
    "Master Bruce has already returned your car, actually," Alfred answers, gesturing towards the large doors that lead to a large auxillary building off the side of the main manor. As he taps a swift code into the keypad, the roller door slides open to reveal a veritable fleet of cars. Cars from all eras dating back to the earliest days of the automobile all the way to this year. They are all kept in immaculate condition, and at the forefront is Mercy's Volkswagen which appears - despite all expectations - to have been washed and waxed in the interim: "I hope you don't mind, I took the liberty of cleaning her as recompense for your good deed."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
     Mercy looks surprised. "Really? That's...how'd he do that?" She shakes her head. "And no, I don't mind at all. Thank you very much Mr. Pennyworth. I don't often get a chance to really take care of the rabbit like it should be." Inside the car was neat and clean though worn. Outside it had showed very little sign of being washed. "Thank you very much." She can't help but look at hte fleet in the garage, and wow a little.

Batman has posed:
    "I'm afraid Master Bruce has had to leave for the evening," Alfred says as he takes a step away and allows Mercy to examine the garage, "But he was quite adamant that you be given the run of the place as far as the garage is concerned. He thought you may be interested in some of the cars in the Family's collection - and if you would like, I can prepare a guest room for you. Master Bruce informs me your business in Gotham isn't until tomorrow. If you have other lodgings planned, of course ... " He trails off.

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    Mercy just blinks. "I ummm." She shuts up rather than stammer. "I'd love to look around the garage a little," she says after getting over the surprise. "I wasn't expecting all that. Oh, I figured Mr. Wayne would be gone, it was pretty clear he had business to see to. Ummm, a guest room," she looks up at the manor house. Way better than the motel 6 she has reservations at. "Umm, Thank you for the offer of a room but I'll stick with what I had planned. The hotel is very close to the auction grounds." This is said with a little regret, but her common sense is starting to kick in.

Batman has posed:
    Alfred can't help but look maybe a little bit disappointed when the invitation is declined, and adds: "Are you certain you won't reconsider, ma'am? I'm making duck cassoulet and you wouldn't be an imposition." After all, it's a rare chance that Alfred actually gets to cook and fuss over someone who doesn't stalk off down to a cave or immediately pass out. Still, he doesn't push it and allows Mercy free range of the garage, "Take as much time as you'd like. Some of these cars have been with the Wayne Family since the days of his great grandfather."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
     The second invitation, and the mention of duck cassoulet, whatever that is but it sounds amazing, makes Mercy stop and sway a little. "Ummmm. Ok, you talked me into it." she also noted the look and hint of disappointment. One does not just walk away from Alfred. "I'd be delighted to stay, Mr Pennyworth, and thank you." She takes her time going through the garage. "This is an amazing collection," Mercy tells Alfred. "I'm going to bid on some old VWs being auctioned off, and I'll take them and restore them. My old boss and I disagree on that. Zee would hot rod them...use the bodies on modern engines and gear. I'm more a 'make it like it was in the showroom' sort."

Batman has posed:
    "Master Bruce and I are at a similar dichotomy of opinion," Alfred answers as he walks along at a respectable distance while Mercy examines the cars, "He likes to preserve the cars and keep them locked away in here. They are all in working order. All clean. They all look as though they rolled off the assembly line yesterday. I, on the other hand, feel that life is for the living and what fun are they if they spend all their days locked away in seclusion?"

Mercy Thompson has posed:
     Mercy grins a bit. "I'm with you...they should be driven. Museums are boring," she says. She lingers over a couple of them including an older Mercedes...with her name how not? "Ok. If I stay in here any longer I'm never leaving. Could I trouble you for that dinner, Mr. Pennyworth? And a histroy lesson... I know more or less who the Waynes are but I'm sure you have the family's history in great detail. My degree is actually in history, I'd intended to teach it, but that didn't quite work out."

Batman has posed:
    "Absolutely," Alfred answers, turning to lead the way out of the garage and into the manor proper. For all it's size, it seems lived in but very well-maintained. There are obviously sections that have been cordoned off and are not entered, but from what can be seen of them they are still dusted and kept in neat order. Once they near the kitchen, the smell of slow-cooked duck begins to fill the air, "There is a substantial amount of history to go through, but I would be glad to answer any questions you might have. I consider myself something of an expert of the subject of the Wayne Family."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
     The smell of slow cooked duck makes Mercy's mouth start to water. "Well...I can read the history as well as anyone. But something more interesting. What would your favorite story of the Wayne family be? History really is about stories, you know. something too many historians forget, I think." She looks around the house as they walk through it, interested but only mildly. It's so far beyond her she can't grasp living in such a place.

Batman has posed:
    "Oh, it would be hard to pick a favourite," Alfred admits, moving to tend to the earthenware pot on the stove where the meal is cooking, "They all have their own flair. I was always fascinated how Gotham formed around this family. They came out here, set up their trading post and now look. If Gotham City had a heartbeat, I think it would beat in time with that of the Wayne family." Alfred looks into the pot, smiling to himself, "Oh, well, this seems ready. Now, if you've not had cassoulet before it's a type of casserole dish. There is," he scoops some into a small, ceramic bowl and sets it on the table, "slow-cooked duck, which you've no doubt noticed already. Couennes - with is pork skin for those of us who do not parle francais - and white beans, or haricots blancs. Bon appetit."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
     Mercy inhales, eyes closing, savoring the smells. "It smells just wonderful." She waits for him to set it out, and for him to sit down or settle wherever he will, and after a brief murmured grace, she starts to eat. Bite...mmmmm, the eyes close again. "Wonderful." She manages to talk while eating and still be polite about it. "I've heard that said, about Gotham and the Waynes. It really is their city in a lot of ways."

Batman has posed:
    Alfred nods his head, setting out his own portion when the tone of the meal is set to more informal than formal, "It truly is. But I think it is a blessing that it hasn't gone to their head. Rather than take from Gotham, the Waynes have always felt it to give back to the City. Charitable donations. Economic stimulus. Even tonight Master Bruce is working to make Gotham the best place that it can be."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
     "W..." Mercy starts but then stops. "I sometimes wonder, not to criticize mind you, just to speculate, I sometimes wonde if perhaps there's been too much charity? Charity gets abused so easily. Why work if someone else will just pick up the bill?"

Batman has posed:
    "I don't think Master Bruce sees it that way," Alfred answers, pondering the question for a moment, "I think for him it is a form of, if you'll forgive the term, noblesse oblige. In some ways, life has dealt him a very cruel hand but in others he is extremely fortunate. He chooses to focus on the latter." A small, rueful expression crosses Alfred's face for a moment before fading, "He believes in charity as he is doing what others cannot. At the end of the day, there are people who could work hard their entire lives and never come within a thousand miles of the Wayne fortune. I believe he knows this, and so makes it his duty to do for others what they cannot do for themselves."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    Mercy nods slowly, still eating, while Alfred talks. "I don't mean to take away anything of what he does. It speaks well of him that he feels that way...I think we'd be a lot better off if more people felt that noblesse oblige. I just... I live in a not wealthy part of New York City, and it makes me both angry and sad to see the abuses of the welfare system where government chairty has replaced teh family, and the satisfaction of working for your living." Mercy makes little enoug she could receive welfare benefits, in fact. "Whether we ever make a fortune or not?" She shrugs. "It matters but only a distant third or fourth to living well." She makes short work of the cassoulet. Then she can't quite resist, a mischevious grin and a sparkle to her eyes, "More, please sir?" quoting Oliver Twist.

Batman has posed:
    "Certainly," Alfred says with a smile, getting up from the table to fetch the dish and heap some more cassoulet onto Mercy's plate, "I can't speak to the welfare system, I'm afraid. I hope you'll understand that up here, we are perhaps the furthest from it that one could be without achieving orbit." The old butler sighs, but shrugs his shoulders, "That said, maybe you will have an opportunity to discuss it with Master Bruce over breakfast. Is your auction early in the day?"

Mercy Thompson has posed:
     Mercy chuckles at the orbit comment. "The auction is early," she admits. "I'll need to be on my way by..." she thinks a minute, "By seven. If I could just ask for some cofee in the morning? I'm not much of a breakfast person." or a morning person she doesn't add. "And in case I forget later, thank you very much for your hospitality. I really was not expecting this at all."

Batman has posed:
    "Oh, I very rarely get to play host," Alfred admits with a thin smile, showing maybe a small amount of disappointment hidden back there, "the pleasure really has been all mine. I've prepared the Kane Room for you, if you'd be so kind to follow me? Of course, don't feel confined to your room. Feel free to take in the rest of the manor at your leisure. I would ask that you stay clear of the library, though. Master Bruce is renovating and I'm afraid it's rather a mess."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
     Mercy gets up from teh table, bowl cleaned out a second time...where does she put it? "Thank you again. If you don't mind, though I think I'll just get cleaned up and get some sleep? It's been a long day. And I have to admit this place is a little overwhelming..." She grins a little. "Alanis Morissette's 'Wonderkind' song keeps running through my head in here." A yawn surprises her and she blinks. "Pardon. I'm more tired than I thought."

Batman has posed:
    Alfred takes the plates and deposits them on the sink to be taken care of later. As Mercy speaks, he nods his head, "As you wish, Ms Thompson. You'll find everything you might need in the room but if not then don't hesitate to call. Have a pleasant evening." That said, the old butler turns back to the kitchen to clean the dishes as well as put something aside for Bruce. The rest of the night is entirely uneventful save for, in the late hours just before dawn, what sounds like a plane rushes close overhead. Not enough to do more than briefly disturb sleep, and any look out the window will fail to reveal what it was or where it went.
    The Master of the House is home.