maskormenace

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[ 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. ]

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Ah.

[ Charles could identify with the desire to keep a lower profile. Despite the way he often stood up, with projects like the Foundation, he also preferred to maintain a quieter presence, often letting Tony Stark's flamboyant nature capture the limelight.

None of which helped Daryl with his current problem. ]

May I ask about this property you are wanting to fix up? Would you tell me about it?

Still just lookin'. Ain't picked one yet.

[There was another long pause before the correspondence was flagged with the Private notice and Daryl started talking again.]

Want something about the size of that school that's named after you. Grounds ain't gotta be as big, maybe about half that. With a good fence and room for plantin'. Raising some animals, too. It's just a lotta money none of us got right now.

[ Listening, Charles frowned a little pensively when Daryl listed off his wish list. ]

That would still be quite a bit of property and I suspect would come at a cost. I know some imPorts who have saved up and bought larger tracts of land, outside the cities so it is possible.

Do you have any friends from home, who might be interested into entering into this endeavor with you? I've seen that utilized as a way to secure property a couple of times now.

Two are kids and two just got here last couple months. None of us got the kinda jobs that pay well enough to get the money fast.

[Even if Daryl had just secured an endorsement contract, it didn't pay that well. He'd probably have to work on getting more. Just didn't want to have to wait months, maybe even a year, and only have enough to get a small house or something that didn't have the size or kind of fencing they'd want.

There was a huff of air that was probably a quiet sigh.]

If you can't help, you cain't help.

[Maybe they could just start squatting on a place somewhere abandoned and work from there. One of the older plague hospitals or something that were condemned forever, but never torn down. He'd seen more'n a few of those in Georgia, in his world. Had to be some in Virginia, here. Worlds were pretty similar in those respects.]

I truly wish I could help. Were we back home, I'd be in a position to do so but I'm afraid that here, I've faced much the same challenges.

[ Going from the mansion to a single story, one bedroom ranch hadn't been that bad. However, having a food budget that covered Ramen at best had been a new experience. ]

Have you considered talking with the imPort ambassador of the different cities? They might know of some programs specifically designed to help imPorts get settled more quickly?

[The problem with that was still the whole trying to keep it off the record aspect and Daryl didn't really want to divulge that to this guy. Instead, he gave a non-commital:]

Might look into it.

[Not completely a lie. He might if he couldn't figure anything else out.]

Thanks.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to offer more assistance. [ Charles responded and he did sound genuine in that regret. ]

It was a pleasure to meet you, Daryl. I hope we'll see you at the opening for the Foundation.

Maybe.

[He really didn't enjoy those sort of big parties. He tried, but they made him nervous and kept him on edge.]

The interior wiring's almost done. Think they've still got a week on the plumbing 'fore any of the drywall can start goin' up.

It still sounds as if things are moving right along then! [ Charles exclaimed, sounding pleased.

Not that he'd doubted in Erik's ability to keep the construction on track. If anything Charles had to wonder if his friend was reining in the urge to just wave it all into existence. Though without Jean to help with the non-metal bits, Erik might hit a stopping point sooner, rather than later. ]

Is this what you do back home? General contracting?

Nah. Do whatever needs doing. Just done a lot of building and repairs.

[Before The Prison he'd helped out on his daddy's house, but it had never been quite as intense as the repair work they'd had to do there to make it livable again for so many. He'd learned fast. Particularly on the electrical and plumbing ends.]

It's still a very useful skill set to possess.

[ It was safe to say that even before the accident, Charles was useless with a hammer. Raven, most likely, had more hands on experience with tools than Xavier; not counting lab equipment. ]

Is that the job you were given here? Building and repair?

Nope. They decided I should manage a restaurant.

[Which had ended up a lot like helping manage the group's supplies and gear. The people for patrols. Goals for runs and making sure everyone was where they needed to be. But with a lot more tedium and asshole customers thinking they were in charge for some dumbass reason.][But it was also the first full-time job he'd ever been given/hired for and he did his best by it. Even if they weren't having him come in as much anymore because of the fan rush disrupting business.]

[ That got a blink out of the professor as he tried to reconcile the two and came up blank. ]

Have you enjoyed managing the restaurant?

It's okay. Lot like something I used to do. Just ain't let me get outside as much as I'd like when I am on shift.

Have you considered looking for other employment? Something that might allow you to be outside?

...I only been there a few months.

[Said in a slightly 'smaller' voice than he'd intended. Soft and unsure. With the distinct impression that looking for other work might be seen as a negative. The kind of tone someone who's only ever had one, maybe two jobs before and didn't know if it was acceptable or right to give up on it when they'd been lucky enough to get it in the first place.

Daryl had tried talking to one of his own about it before, but she was something like fifteen and had less clue than he did about how to approach it.]

[ Charles wasn't entirely sure why there had been a chance in Daryl's tone but he could certainly hear it.

Clearing his throat, his own voice took on a slightly rueful pitch as he explained. ]

When I first arrived I was given a job as a researcher into preventing hair loss. Somewhat ironic, given that I have been lead to understand that in the future I will lose my hair and become bald.

[ A future he had been seconds away from experiencing. ]

I stayed with it for a few months but also pursued employment with an imPort run company, doing work that was more in line with my interests and skill set.

I got some extra work, too. It ain't bad.

[Just wasn't sure if he should quit that first job or not.]

Ain't it bad for your record if you don't stay with something?

Not that I'm aware of. [ Charles said, paused and then amended. ] Provided you give adequate notice of your departure and don't burn the place down behind you.

Ain't got no reason to burn it down.

[Because he has burned places down before. Not occupied ones, sure, but details, details.]

Just... thought you had to stay with something like that for a while or people wouldn't want to hire you. That they wouldn't see you as reliable.

[He's talking from limited experience, but he was also talking from what his daddy and brother had told him. Neither of which had encouraged him to get or keep a regular job of any sort. Merle mostly because Merle liked to have the freedom to go riding rather than malice.]

What I was always told, anyway. Might be different for folks that got money.

[ Daryl's response caused Charles to blink and then clear his throat, sounding slightly abashed as his joke was taken seriously. ]

I, ah, meant that as a bit of a joke. Of course you wouldn't burn it down. [ Classic Xavier foot in mouth.

He listened to the rest of what Daryl said before shaking his head; and then remembering Daryl couldn't see the action. ]

I've not seen such a stigma here, at least not for length of employment. You will run into some native businesses that do not wish to hire imPorts because we're imPorts but for every one who doesn't there will be two who will hire us simply because we are imPorts.

There are also imPort run businesses, many of which look to employ fellow imPorts. The options are actually quite varied, if you wish to entertain a change.

[ He added the last bit because it may be just as reasonable that Daryl was happy with his current employment. Still getting settled, it could be useful to have something stable and constant. Charles had stuck with his research job for a number of months for that reason alone, until he'd made connections to move on. ]

[There was a long silence on Daryl's end as he gave Charles' words some thought. A lot of thought. He wasn't exactly happy with the job he'd been assigned. Not lately. But he wasn't exactly sure he wanted to move on yet. Not completely. The endorsement he'd gotten only made him so much and he needed more to make things safe for his family.]

Okay. Thanks.

[He knew he'ed been taking up more time than he should have. Especially when he was that far off topic. And he had a lot more thinking to do. Why did everything in this damn world have to be so complicated?]

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