Log: Leo and Outreach!
X-Men: Movieverse 2 - Friday, January 23, 2009, 5:18 PM
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=OOC= Stage 1
You see nothing special.
[This room is set watchable. Use alias Stage1 to watch here.]
[Exits : [O]ut]
[Players : Leonardo ]
When Leonardo calls Jean up and asks for a meeting, he gives her the name of the place, and says they'll have lunch. He sounds rather professional about it, and the place sounds casual, 'Antonio's'. Despite the name, it's not just some random pizza place, it's a traditional Italian restaurant, with wooden seats, marble floors, and even a fire place, a general 'Earthly tones' feel.
Leonardo sits at a table near the back, where you can see the chef's cooking, and there's a sign sitting on top of the table that says 'Reserved'. He's wearing a black business suit, tie and all. He's very Mister Smith today, but Jean need not worry, since most of the people in the restaurant are dressed rather casually, though it's mostly people of at least 40+.
Jean in the City is only of limited casual-ness herself. While there isn't full boardroom formality, the Dr. Grey that turns up at Antonio's is dressed as befits a doctor with a long list of patient consults behind her, and several more ahead: charcoal slacks with fine pinstripes, a blouse in warm wine red and hair done up in a butterfly clasp are paired with leather half-boots that tread the line between respectability and personal style. There is an attache case as well, toted with the air of an old and familiar friend. Quietly, she inquires of the maitre'd as to Leo's whereabouts, and is soon escorted on over to him. "Mr. Maxwell," will do as both identification and greeting, given with a warm smile and curious eyes.
"Dr. Grey." Leonardo offers with a familiar grin, motioning to the seat across from him. He sits up straight and fixes his clothing, then folds his hands on the table. "You like my restaurant? I don't work in it of course, though I just learned I own it. It's very nice."
Jean sits. So does her attache case, tucked in neatly beside her feet. Once settled, she takes the time to look around as Leo explains the restaurant's provenance, and gives him a little nod as her attention drifts back again. "I'm obviously not Italian, but it looks pretty authentic. Any recommendations on the menu?"
"The chef was just telling me about an amazing mushroom meatball spaghetti dish, I'm personally going to get that. Apparently the meatballs are hand rolled with diced mushroom. Oh, and I hear very good things about the stuffed pasta shells." Leonardo picks up the menu, then looks over at her and laughs. "Some of these dishes are Italian and I'm completely unfamiliar with them. But you know, I called you here for a reason, I've outgrown my mindless pursuit of beautiful psychics."
"That's... good," Jean offers to this announcement, after a moment's pause as she attempt to determine what, if any, her response is supposed to be to it. A beat later, she picks up her pace again with the agreement of "And so do the mushroom meatballs. Sound good, that is." Menus are excellent aids for pausing for thought, and Jean employs one, looking over the house wine list before she peers at him from over the top, twitches an eyebrow, and wonders "So, what -can- I do for you, Mr. Maxwell?"
"Also, feel free to order what ever you like, money is no issue." Leonardo sits his menu down, peering over at her, demeanor suddenly changing from casual to 'Serious business'. "I'm sure you're familiar with my recent corporate take over, and it's been brought to my attention that I may be able to help you in some way, some sort of Mutant center?"
"Duly noted," Jean assures, and if there's a bit of amusement in her voice and crinkling the corners of her eyes at the offer, it's of a gentle sort. Tap, tap, tap goes her finger down the wine list, lingering on the reds as her attention sharpens on Leo. "Indeed. An outreach centre, here in Manhattan, where mutants who aren't interested or able to attend a place like Xavier's can still learn to use and control their abilities safely."
"Very well, what size of building are you looking for? Something like Xavier's, perhaps larger?" Leonardo asks, and the plump looking Chef himself comes out, smiling and asking about their orders, making all sorts of recommendations. "I'll have that meatball dish, and bring her anything she wants." he instructs the man, then fixes his attention on her again.
Although Jean looks just about ready to pull out her laptop and get to sharing plans... here's the chef himself. The businesslike gleam in her eyes fades to pleasantry and friendliness as she makes various inquiries and finally decides that "I don't think I can resist that description -- I'll have the seafood stuffed pasta shells, and a glass of the pinot gris." Only then, and a little more subdued than before, does she pick up the Outreach threads again, settling back in her seat and idly plucking at a bread stick. "Xavier's is a lot bigger of a footprint than we'd need for this -- there's no need to provide on-site accomodation, after all. Ideally, I'm looking for a plot of land big enough that there can be a buffer zone between the building and the property line -- it can be done aesthetically, laid out as a meditation garden as well as parking, but it also serves a safety purpose for the neighbours."
"Alright, and what location are you thinking? A lot of this depends on where you want it, then I can offer suggestions." Leonardo asks as he reaches for a breadstick himself, taking small bites and keeping his eyes locked with her's.
"Chelsea is the district that keeps being brought up in planning meetings," Jean answers, prompt and alert, and with the breadstick being neatly sectioned into bite-sized bits. "It's midway between the Village and Hell's Kitchen, both areas with traditionally notable mutant populations, and it's a neighbourhood that most people would feel no personal risk about travelling through. Or," she amends, taking her first breadstick bite and chasing it with water. "At least no more than anywhere else in New York."
"Alright, here's my idea..." Leonardo takes a napkin, then pulls a pen from his jacket pocket and begins to draw a section of squares, and writes 'Row houses' over them, then he draws an arrow pointing at a new drawing. Outreach Center, which is a much larger square than the others, and he draws another square around that, then writes 'Extra space'. "We go to a neighborhood of some old run down row houses, a large section of them. We offer anyone still living in them a reasonable amount of money to move somewhere better, then we tear them down, I put some workers on over-time to build around the clock, and we have a massive park built around the center. We'll put a gate up around the building, further into the park, so kids can't get hurt or anything, but the rest of the park can be public, you know, so the neighbors are happy with it too."
Jean's nails are short, kept trimmed so as not to tear at nitrile gloves, but her thumbnail is nibbled at thoughtfully all the same. "That's very generous of you," she starts with, tone firm as if daring him to gainsay that she means it. "I do think that it -might- be better to see if there are any abandoned warehouses or other facilities around first -- people are very attached to their homes, and the idea of even run down houses being demolished and their owners paid off... well, it's just not all that wise, politically."
Leonardo nods, apparently agreeing as the chef returns with their food, sitting the plates on the table, then going back for the wine. "Alright, then let's do this: I'll ask around and see what we already own in Chelsea, meanwhile, I'd like you to go and look for suitable spaces. If you see something you like, I'll acquire it."
Jean looks momentarily as one might look who has just asked for a flyswatter and been handed a chain gun: cautious about her aiming. "I'll keep my eyes open," she promises, after murmuring thanks and compliments as the meal arrives. "Now... not to be indelicate, but this is a significant investment on your part, Mr. Maxwell. What would -you- like to get out of it?"
"You've read my mind before, you know how I am. This is to help Mutants, that's usually my agenda anyway, other than trying to get unattainable women. However, I plan to earn the money back by opening surrounding businesses. Not too much clutter, but there should be enough traffic that we make a large profit. Not to mention, this should be great PR, as it benefits both the Human /and/ Mutant community." Leonardo explains, skillfully rolling his pasta on a fork, then delicately moving the fork into his mouth. He eats quite daintily in public. Oh, and here comes the wine!
"Well," Jean muses, as she lifts her wineglass for the pour, "At the very least I'm sure the initial crash in surrounding property value should let you pick up some land for cheap." A toast is offered then, glass held a little higher to signify it. "To the future, Mr. Maxwell."
Leonardo smiles, raising his glass as well, lightly tapping it against hers. "To the future, Dr. Grey."
Be careful where you aim Leonardo Maxwell...