Video

[excessivehubris]

[ The video clicked on to show a man, sitting behind a large desk with a bright smile on his face. He was dressed in a sharp three piece suit and a mug of tea sat beside his hand. ]

Good morning.

Many of you know me but as we've had some new imPort arrivals, please let me introduce myself; my name is Professor Charles Xavier. For those of you who are familiar with me, I promise I'll try to make this short.

[ He grinned, obviously well aware that sometimes he could ramble on. ]

One of the projects I'm involved with, along with several others in our community, is something called the Maria-Francis Foundation. If you live or work in and around De Chima some of you may be aware of the building currently under construction or you may already be assisting with it. If the latter, you have my sincere gratitude.

I merely wanted to take this time to remind people of the Foundation's function, which is to provide imPorts with opportunities and support in offering humanitarian aid, not just within our own cities and country but globally as well.

[ His smile grew, widened with an expression of pride as he continued. ]

We've had excellent response to the initiative so far and we are always looking for more volunteers and contributors. Our abilities are varied, unique and this is an opportunity to help the world understand that they are not to be feared; that we are not to be feared.

If you have any questions about the Foundation, some of our previous projects or any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. I am available over this device or if you'd like to speak in person, I'll be at StarkTech in De Chima, all day.

[ With another warm smile, Charles reached forward and disconnected the video. But as promised, his device was set to receive for any questions. ]

[OOC: Okay!

So the Maria-Francis Foundation is a low key, mostly handwave project that was ICly conceived as a way to show the native population, both in the US and abroad, that imPorts and their powers weren't all about destruction.

ICly the Foundation has been mentioned here in this kick off post as well as on the Majority Report.

OOCly there was a quick run down about how this works and there is a housekeeping post where we keep track of who has volunteered/been involved/etc.

Also OOCly there is the building effort for the foundation and as mentioned on that post the September Swear-In will involve a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new building. ]

Comments

video;

[lightinside]

If you're looking for some floral arrangements to add a little bit of life to the building, I could talk to my manager at the flower shop I work at.

video;

[excessivehubris]

[ Charles smiled brightly as he keyed up the video. ]

Hello! I think that would be lovely. The flower shop doesn't happen to deal in potted plants as well does it?

Also, I don't believe I've had the pleasure, before. Professor Charles Xavier. [ Yes, he'd said so in his message but it was also considered polite when inquiring after someone else's name. ]

video;

[lightinside]

[ Laurel gave him a smile in return. ]

We only really have small potted plants. Nothing bigger than that, sorry.

And I'm Laurel Lance. It's a pleasure to meet you, Professor Xavier. [ She'll stick with formalities until he says otherwise. ]

I haven't been here for very long so I'm still finding new people to meet.

[excessivehubris]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Lance. [ He returned the more formal greeting, for the time being at least. ]

Small potted plants could have their place. I should direct you towards Mr. Erik Lehnsherr, a lot of the construction is under his supervision.

[ And Charles was trying not to keep sticking his nose in to Erik's efforts. There may have already been some slammed doors over certain subjects, though from the impish grin he worse, the professor wasn't too worried. ]

And it seems I should say, welcome to ... this rather unique world.

[lightinside]

Sure. I'd love to talk to other people who are involved with the project.

[ She likes the idea of being involved with something and helping those in need. It was a passion of hers. ]

Thanks for the welcome. I haven't been here for very long, but I'm beginning to see the uniqueness.

How long have you been here for?

Text

[dirtyredneck]

[Daryl had seen Xavier before. On the network. Had even gone over to the construction site and started helping with the building just to keep himself out of the easily accessible public eye. Being in De Chima meant that hours he used to dedicate to the job they'd assigned him were that much simpler to shift over to a different project.

But he'd never talked to the man before and he was curious now. What with all the stuff with his name on it.]

You the one that founded the school for imPorts?

Text

[excessivehubris]

Ah, asking the challenging questions!

[ Charles texted back, the name on the ID seemed familiar but he couldn't immediately place it. ]

Yes and no. I have founded a school for gifted youngsters and adults, back in my home world; it's something I appear to be well known for. And apparently I visited this world before, which I'm afraid I don't remember.

During that time I apparently founded the school you know here. But then I left and the school has been held in the capable hands of it's current headmaster and faculty.

So a version of me founded the school but I have no memory of it.

Text

[dirtyredneck]

[Then it wasn't him, as far as Daryl was concerned.]

So you ain't associated with it at all?

Text

[excessivehubris]

When I recognized the fine job being done but it's current headmaster, I felt it only right to let things proceed as they had.

As such, you are correct. I am not associated with it here in this world.

Text

[dirtyredneck]

[Man had an excessive need to talk excessively. Sounded rich, too. Not just from stuff he'd done in this world, but in his own.]

You in the business of making buildings? That what you do?

[He was going somewhere with this. But he needed to probe a little first.]

[incogneto]

Do you introduce yourself every single time?

[excessivehubris]

It's polite.

[incogneto]

I'll make sure to reintroduce myself next time I see you.

[excessivehubris]

Now you're being ridiculous.

[incogneto]

[ This is what makes him ridiculous? ]

You did make yourself very well-known a couple months ago. I don't think anyone's forgotten.

Video

[liverletdie]

Good thing you're in charge of advertising. You always were good at bringing people together.

Video

[excessivehubris]

[ Charles ducked his head and chuckled. ]

Well, perhaps we'll pick up a few new faces. Speaking of advertising, is there a reason we've had a uptick in media presence around the building?

Video

[liverletdie]

Release coming up, Charles! You didn't nose into the press packets I left around?

[ A beat. He actually means the press. ] Or were you being polite?

Video

[excessivehubris]

[ It takes him a moment to catch up to that, though when he does, he gives Tony a wry look. ]

I actually hadn't thought about it. I had other priorities.

[ He'd been distracted by this communication for starters, a new project he was getting in to for StarkTech and also finishing the hand off of his recent project to Tony's money making minions.

With all that going on, Charles had just tightened his shields against the bustle of minds in and around the building and gone about his business. ]

'Be the best you possible'? Your marketing team does like to come up with a catch phrase.

Video

[liverletdie]

Well, you know how it is. People like to feel like any product will change their life -- and hopefully? This one will.

[ His response is airy and unconcerned. He's more interested in the money, rather than the advertising, if his tone of voice is anything to go by. ]

I'm honestly impressed, actually. I thought the bustle was going to draw in a lot more interest from the employees. My emails were pretty vague, I won't lie.

Voice;

[andtherevolution]

You know, I never expected to see something like this here. Usually when I think about imPorts helping out, I think about beating up the bad guys or saving a bus of school kids. But we really do need more stuff like this, don't we? And I-

[And, before she can volunteer her talents, she remembers the limits of her powers]

...well, I can make things stronger, but it's not exactly permanent. So maybe it's not best thing for a construction project.

Voice;

[excessivehubris]

[ Her's was a voice he didn't immediately recognize, though Charles smiled as he listened to her.

That was exactly the same thought process he'd had when he'd first talked with Tony about the idea of the Foundation. ]

Hello, it's nice to meet you!

Our powers aren't the only contribution we try to showcase with the Foundation.

Willingness to help, in any way, is something we strive to support. It's a way to help show the world that we're more than just our powers.

Voice;

[andtherevolution]

It's nice to meet you, too! But what are you going to do when this thing gets started up? Is this going to be like the Red Cross or something like that?

Voice;

[excessivehubris]

Ah, perhaps I wasn't clear.

It's been up and running for a few months now. We're a small group but we've enough volunteers to be able to pursue projects among the cities here in the States and we've also had some projects in other countries; allies of the United States.

[ He paused and then continued. ]

Though the hope is to be able to expand to neutral countries but for now, we're still in the discussion phase with many of them.

Voice;

[andtherevolution]

Oh! Sorry about that. I'm still pretty new here, you see, and when I heard about the new building, I sort of assumed that you guys were just getting started. Anyway, I guess my next question is... what kind of help are you looking for, exactly?