♫004 - VIDEO

[socialactivillain]

Hello, imPorts. Some of you might already know me, but there have been a lot of new faces around since the last time I really put myself in the public spotlight. My name is Hartley Rathaway, but most people just call me Piper.

Since I arrived here a year ago, I've been deeply involved with several native-run charities—most notably Helping Hands, Open Hearts in Heropa, Aid De Chima, No One Alone in Maurtia Falls, and Color House in Nonah. Things like homelessness, hunger, and poverty shouldn't be an issue in places as technologically advanced and progressively-minded as our Porter cities, but they seem to be universal constants.

To step up my assistance in these causes that I feel so strongly about, I've decided to start my own organization, focused on imPort aid to the native communities in our cities. Ideally, we'll network with the existing organizations to get more imPorts involved in giving back to the communities that made space for us in their world, and focus on imPort-related issues that affect those communities, such as imPort-related crime and disasters.

So I'm here today looking for imPorts who are either willing to volunteer their time or money, as well as those who would be interested in seeking a career in this line of work. Paid positions will be limited, as our resources are better spent invested in the communities we'll be supporting, but I'm looking for some folks with previous history in public service, similar volunteer organizations, or office work.

Feel free to contact me here, or at my private contact.

[ He hesitates for a moment, unsure if he should end on that note or continue with his last request. Sheepishly, he goes on. ]

...Also, if anyone has any suggestions for naming this organization, that's really all that's holding me back from filing the final paperwork to get this thing off the ground.

Puns appreciated, but only good ones.

Comments

[Video]

[dr_eldarov]

I was a doctor back home, and I have healing powers here. I used to work at - I do not know the exact term in English, the closest I can manage would be 'hospital for soldiers', full time for the duration of the Second World War and two and a half years afterwards. [Deep breath, as he clearly weighs his words carefully.] I am aware that as I am Russian and Jewish, there are people who won't want me to treat them. I am fully cognizant of the fact that since I have yet to fully adapt to the new technology and way of life this world has presented me with, I may not sound like a good choice for a volunteer in this.

I am asking you to consider me regardless on the grounds that I believe I can be of use and I am not asking to be paid. This sort of thing is something I want to do, regardless of how small my contribution might end up being. If nothing else, perhaps my experience seeing others run somewhat similar programs will mean I can offer up advice or ideas.

Although sadly I have no puns that work in English, which, truly, is the great disqualifying factor in my background. [This last bit is said with a small, brief but genuinely snarky grin.]

[socialactivillain]

Your abilities may be better served by donating your time to a hospital, if I'm honest. This is going to be a lot more fundraising, organizing, and petitions than hands on care. But if you're willing to help, I'm more than happy to have you on board, and if anyone has a problem with you over your background, they can deal with me about it. I certainly don't have any problems with it.

[ He grins at the last bit, though. ] If I thought puns in Russian would be better received, I'd ask you to give it a shot anyway.

[dr_eldarov]

I still have a lot of learning to do to get a medical license in order to work in a hospital legally in the United States. Medical licenses don't transfer over across worlds, sir, even if I wasn't woefully out of date in terms of era. But since I cannot help there as of yet, I want to try to find some other avenue in which I can be. I did used to oversee a wing of a hospital for several years; organization and keeping records of events on a daily basis are minor skills in the grand scheme of things, but they might be worth something in this context.

Thank you, for being willing to at least consider me. My surname alone is so Jewish that back home I had more than one employer turn me down when I introduced myself. [Which he grew to be less bitter about and more exhausted with as time went on.

He smiles at the lamentation over the puns that might have been.] I suppose I could do puns in Hebrew, but no one can really say most normal Hebrew words so the joke wouldn't translate. And I am fairly certain I am the only Azeri-speaking person, imPort or native, in this entire part of the country. The saddest part about coming to a new world: losing your ability to make bad jokes. Truly, my life is suffering. [Anatoly snarks because without puns, his humor is reduced to exaggeration, which is good, but just not the same.]

[anonymous text]

[blackhat]

What kind of money you looking for?

text;

[socialactivillain]

Any amount helps, but a steady income of regular monthly donations is what goes the furthest. Another imPort used to run a disaster relief fund before she was ported out, and I donated $500 a month to that.

Obviously, though, that's a big ask for a lot of people.

∞

[blackhat]

Not exactly what I meant. But I like where your head's at, Piper, making things right.

I can do you better than $500.

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[picksthenames]

[ If Cisco didn't already think that this Piper was a better person than the Hartley Rathaway he knew, this would cement it. ]

I'm sorely lacking in the donations and useful skills department, but naming things is kind of my jam. Mind if I give it a go?

[socialactivillain]

Pretty much anyone can volunteer, regardless of their skills, but honestly I'll take just the help with the name.

[picksthenames]

You got any guidelines you're working with? Prefer acronyms over puns or anything?

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[darted]

Do you need some promotion? [ The tone of her voice is so gray and disinterested, it's kind of hard to imagine she's actually offering some kind of assistance. ] I'm a morning talk show host for the show Smiles for Miles and we're always looking for more content that can make people feel better about life out here in Heropa. [ Her monotonous voice makes the words that are coming out of her mouth sound incredulous. There's, in particular, an awful emphasis on better that makes it sound the opposite of what it's supposed to. ]

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[catchacold]

Wow, you're great.

[His voice sounds ridiculous at the best of times, but now he's definitely mimicking her speech pattern. Or lack thereof.]

You've touched on my heart for sure.

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[darted]

I'm just the gift that keeps on giving. [ Captain Cold will get an Antarctica dryness in her voice as a response. ]

But I could really use more content that's not upsetting all these imPorts for filming them.

[socialactivillain]

...You're a talk show host?

[darted]

Unfortunately on some mornings, I host every morning on Smiles for Miles, from 6 AM-9 AM Eastern Time Zone. [ She pauses before adding. ] Weekdays only.

[trouvaille]

I don't know how much time I can offer, because I do have a full time job, but I've been coordinating fundraisers since I was a teenager. I've done some of that work here, so I've made some connections I can potentially kick your way. My name's Gwen Wynne-York, I run Ambassador Baelish's office in Maurtia Falls.

[socialactivillain]

Oh, I expect you do have a full schedule with a job like that. Ambassador Baelish is ambitious man, and he's done good work in Maurtia Falls.

I'd certainly appreciate any of those connections, though. Most of the work I've done in Maurtia Falls has been with No One Alone and their shelter and homeless outreach programs.

[trouvaille]

I'll compile some details for you - I can probably suggest some names who might be willing to donate generously from my freelancing.

[pyrogue]

You know you can call me up to help whenever you need an extra hand.

I'm trying to think of a name too but all my good puns are heat-related.

[socialactivillain]

You're not still too busy with your community service, are you? I might take you up on that.

Yeah, all mine are music related, which sadly doesn't help.

[zee_zatara]

I'm in.

[socialactivillain]

For which part? Donations, volunteering, or a job?

[catchacold]

[Look, he had the tools right here, so he just sends that on through.]

I got money.

[socialactivillain]

...I can't tell if this is making fun of me or not.


But I like the logo.

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[heliophilic]

You place a call to the network, but don't call me? After everything we've done? You wound me, Piper.

[socialactivillain]

Oh, I figured your help was a given.

[ He grins. ]