maskormenace

[ Oh, look, it's Kitty Jones. She seems a little tired - though you'd only know it by looking at her. Her voice is unchanged from normal. Indeed, she speaks with her typical firm bubbliness - a cheerful, kindly tone and an adorably youthful London accent obscuring the fact that her speech is (as usual) a bit on the manipulative/calculating/forceful/aggressive side. ]

Hullo, all. First, a job offer. I run a charity garage. It does pretty good work - we fix up and build really, really good cars, and sell 'em to the richer members of the local populace, and then the proceeds go to fund public transit in Heropa. Anyway. I recently... [ Just a little flicker in her smile. ] Lost an employee. So if there's anyone out there who's good with cars or mechanics or whatever, I definitely want you.

[ And now to the less businesslike portion of her announcement: ]

Anyway. Obviously there's been a lot of talk of elections lately, and there's also been a lot of cynicism about the whole electoral process. For obvious reasons. Since there are some politicians who are lunatic idiots. So I guess I just wanted to throw this out there, 'cause all of you have so much different experience from different worlds.

Who had power, where you're from? What was the government like? And were they good - just - or unjust? What do you think's the best form of government? How much power should the people in charge have?

And if you could build a government, build a country from scratch, what would it look like? Would you limit the freedom of the press, or would everyone have the right to speak? Would you build social programs, or would you leave people to fend for themselves? Would you go after warfare and expanding your borders, or would people live in peace?

[ These questions are a little bit leading. Perhaps. ]

Anyway. Share your thoughts, please.

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[ Her face brightens a bit. There's no happier circumstance than intentions lining up. ]

I've got plenty of time. D'you want to talk here over the network, or in person?

Either is acceptable, though I can offer tea in person?

[ Yes, he will default to tea for all things involving discussions. ]

[ Grinning: ]

And you're an Englishman, so I can trust you to make it properly, instead of giving me this madness that Americans try to pass off as tea. In person it is. Text me your address, will you?

[ Her comment on American tea had him chuckling, even as he typed up and sent through the address to the Foundation. ]

Now you have made it a matter of honor that I put on a proper tea. [ There were some times when he just reached for a tea bag. ] When you arrive, just ask for my office, anyone will be able to direct you.

Sure. I'll see you in about two hours, maybe?

[ It ends up being a little less than that by the time that Kitty shows up. She looks just a bit ill-at-ease when she pops her head in and raps on his doorframe; her face is wearing the slightly ironic expression of someone who isn't used to swanky surroundings being surrounded by swankiness. But her voice is casually cheerful enough as she asks: ]

Hullo. Sorry, I forgot - is it Mr Xavier, or is it Dr Xavier?

[ For all the swank, perhaps it would help put her at ease that Charles himself was dressed in a nice button down and a rather frumpy cardigan?

He was also sitting behind a desk with mounds of paperwork around him. On a small table set in between two comfortable looking chairs was a tray with a tea pot (complete with tea cozy) two proper tea mugs, cream, sugar, lemon and a small plate of shortbread cookies.

It wasn't fancy but it was proper.

At the sound of her voice, he looked up from his work. His eyes showed signs of dark circles and he looked tired but his smile was warm and welcoming and he straightened immediately, setting down his pen. ]

Hello Ms. Jones and welcome. Technically, I go by Professor but please, call me Charles. Come on in and have a seat, the tea should be steeped by now.

[ As he spoke, he released the brake on his chair and navigated it out from behind the desk, rolling towards the area he'd invited her towards. ]

You're right on time, should I take that as an indicator that you received some good prospects for the job?

A few. A couple of part-time employees, at least. One's a rather odd old fellow. The other is absolutely lovely, though.

[ She smiles at the table and settles into the chair opposite him. ]

As is this. Brilliant. Thank you for this. Especially since I know you're decently busy.

Excellent! [ He exclaimed as he settled into a spot facing the chairs and reset the brake. Leaning one elbow atop the arm of the chair, he gave Kitty time to choose her refreshment. ]

While being busy certainly beats the alternative, please do not think about it. I'm the one who asked for a bit of your time, yes?

Technically speaking, yes.

[ She smiles over at him as she takes a cookie and nibbles on it. ]

What can I help you with, anyway?

[ When Kitty had taken what she wished, Charles reached forward and quickly made himself up a cup of tea. ]

I wanted to speak with you about the way you approach your charitable work. The repair of vehicles for resale.

Are you, settled on keeping to the work you do with Heropa or would you be interested in expanding?

Expanding?

[ She blinks, a little startled by the question. She'd...never considered that. A little uncertainly: ]

That'd take quite a lot of money, wouldn't it? And it'd be hard for me to run a second shop...But I certainly wouldn't be opposed to it.

A little seed money, at least to help secure the overhead. [ He agreed, thinking a garage and equipment, perhaps the first two project vehicles. ] Those are dollars the Foundation could assist with, if this is something you'd even be interested in taking on.

[ He could fully understand if she already had her hands full, but he wanted to ask. ]

Here, I'll tell you my full thoughts. [ He offered, setting the tea aside and giving her his complete attention. ] At the moment your business model is to take vehicles, refurbish them and sell them at profit but funnel that profit back into the community. It's a good model and my suggestion isn't meant to affect any of that.

What I was thinking, since you already have the skill set in your garage, would you consider a two fold additional approach. Vehicles, which might not be fancy enough to draw your high clientele, but which could be made serviceable sound and donated to people who need a source of transportation.

And also a vocation program that would offer training for people ~~and later metahumans~~ who could then make a living out of those skill sets?

[ He paused to give her some time to think about the suggestions, because they certainly weren't all or nothing. ]

[ Huh. She listens to that curiously, attentively, tapping her finger gently on her lower lip. ]

I do worry a bit... [ She hesitates. ] With the first part, at least - I worry that there just wouldn't be enough cars to donate to people. That's why I focus on donating to transportation networks. So everyone gets helped.

[ They were certainly fair concerns and Charles nodded, looking a touch pensive before he responded. ]

Well, how many vehicles would you say you turn down because currently, even when in good repair, they would not be considered flashy enough for the clientele you target?

[ She tilts her head to the side and admits: ]

A few.

A starting point then? [ It was a question but perhaps also a little bit of hopeful encouragement. ]

At least enough of one to discover if there is a market for something like this?

[ Charity work was not entirely unlike a profit based business. Though the goal was not net profit, there was still the need to balance available resources with benefit. ]

[ She nods after only a bit more hesitation. ]

Yeah. Definitely worth finding out about. Honestly, an expansion in a new direction could only be a good thing. Are you willing to help me with it?

[ Charles smiled warmly and nodded. ]

I would not have made the suggestion, were I not prepared to support it. If you want to give it some more thought, we could reschedule a time to have a more formal meeting and discuss logistics?

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