InsaneJournal

Svetlana Sergievskaya causes lyrical chess wars (thegirlisme) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-10-09 15:54:00

Capable had arrived a little late to the presentation on human trafficking but she had snuck into the back and managed to get a seat without too many people noticing. She’d first seen the talk when Tessa had put up some posters in the bookstore window and it had been on her mind ever since.

Living in a cult and being forced into marriage wasn’t quite the same but she thought it might be interesting to hear about and put some perspective on things for herself. She wanted to learn more about the world and this sounded like it could be an important place to start.

Rest was something Svetlana wasn’t all that used to these days. Constant paranoia did that, even as the time ticked by and there was (so far) no signs that she needed to be worried. But there was a lot going on with her friends, her own concerns and then work that she was having trouble sleeping. That never distracted her from the presentations she gave though.

It was a multifaceted presentation, the current speaker discussing the use of forced labour through trafficked people in agriculture, which was a major aspect for California. Svetlana would be then focus on sexual exploitation. So while she waited for her own turn to speak, the Russian woman scanned the audience. There were the usual ones there, those in law enforcement, local community centers, but also some who seemed interested just to learn.

Then it was her turn and Svetlana got everything set up before going into her own lecture, making sure to take time for questions that anyone might have.

Capable found that the woman who got up to speak was incredibly spellbinding and she listened to every single word. She was obviously knowledgeable and Capable found her oddly reassuring too. When everybody got up to either mingle or leave Capable sat for a few more minutes thinking about the things that had been said. It was certainly a lot to take in and consider.

Having spent her life out of university working with different NGOs, first in Russia, and now in California, though technically she was still with an international group, Svetlana could probably give these presentations in her sleep. In the handful of languages she spoke. With everything finished and packed up, the blonde was stopped by a few colleagues before she noticed Capable sitting off by herself.

Always an observer, the woman looked vaguely familiar, as if she’d seen her in passing. And lost in thought. With nothing on her advocacy schedule for the day and not needing to be back at her office anytime soon, Svetlana moved over to where the other young woman sat.

“Is everything okay?”

Capable was pulled from her thoughts when the presenter came to speak to her, “Oh yes, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get in the way. You gave me a lot to think about” she said, standing and pushing her hair behind her ears before wrapping her arms around herself. “You were very good” she added with a small smile.

A small shake of the head was given as Svetlana smiled reassuringly. “It’s fine, you aren’t in the way. You just seemed distracted.” So she had gone to check. It was what she did. Perhaps it was all the work she did with victims trying to reclaim their lives that she noticed these things and automatically went to investigate.”Thank you, we do try to make people think.”

“You definitely did that” Capable said, hesitating a little before asking, “How did you get involved in everything? If you don’t mind me asking” She was interested and only hoped the woman wouldn’t take offence at the question.

It was a pretty common question. After all, most people seemed more invested in advancing themselves, the work Svetlana did? It wasn’t as common and so questions were abound. Add in the fact she wasn’t from this country, that tended to get questions as well. “You hear things on the streets, unwritten rules.” The rule of the mafia if you wanted protection, even in the states within Russian communities, “My university was focused on global relations.” Sure, that was the nice way of putting it. Politicians usually came from it but it was still international relations, Svetlana just went her own way. “I wanted to do what I could to help.”

Capable didn’t really understand but she smiled and nodded, “Well it looks like you are definitely doing that. Everybody I saw looked like they had learnt something and not something they’d forget easily which I think is one of the big points” Because so often it was easy to forget, to push unpleasantness to the back of your mind.

It was a complicated matter, one brought about by one’s lived experiences. She knew that for most people, the idea that organised crime could be known about and just accepted as the natural order of things went against their own lives and seemed like it was out of a movie. Which was why expanding on it tended to only happen when she was asked as finding the words could be difficult. “I should hope they will not forget. There’s only so much that can be done if people continue to turn a blind eye because they do not think it is a problem in their immediate sphere.”

Organised crime wasn’t really something Capable had seen or really knew about which is why it never occurred to her. She simply took it that it had been something which peaked the woman’s interest at University and she had simply gone from there. “I don’t think people can always be blamed for that. Sometimes it’s hard to stand up for something if you’re scared of what might happen” Fear was a controlling factor and it wasn’t fair to blame people for being afraid, most people would be in certain circumstances, “Or if there are things in their own life that they need to focus on” There had been a number of people who had visited the farm where the cult resided who could have helped but none of them had. However Capable didn’t hold them responsible for it.

“Fear is a very powerful motivator.” It was one of the reasons it could be hard to get people out. There was fear of retribution, fear of what might happened to their loved ones who they had left behind when they moved. It was tied into how things were framed, what the government wanted to focus on. “Which is why we try to get awareness. Because there are so many different things to consider and even one person who notices something can set a chain reaction.”

“One person can make all the difference” she agreed with a nod, after all thanks to her getting away the farm had been shut down and people arrested. And that had been all down to Furiosa stopping to help her, she was a perfect example of somebody who wasn’t afraid to do what was right. “Sorry” she said, realising she’d gotten lost in thoughts, “My mind drifted”

“They can, even if people do not see themselves as able to do so.” They lived in an individualistic society and yet there was also a feeling that one person couldn’t create change which led to people not trying. It was a vicious cycle. Though then Capable seemed to drift off and Svetlana felt that small alarm in her head say that something was going on. “It’s fine. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Capable nodded, “I’m fine now. Memories that’s all” she gave a small smile, “I am sorry. I must seem very rude or silly” She hadn’t meant to let her mind slip but her therapist had said it may happen sometimes.

“Not at all, it’s fine.” Her work made Svetlana well aware of how memories could sometimes take over, and there was nothing wrong with that. She didn’t know Capable’s situation, there was a chance she had heard about the Farm but she hadn’t kept up with it that much. She just knew the cruelties that could exist within the world and that no one knew someone’s entire story. So getting lost in memories? It wasn’t seen as rude for her.

“Thank you. You’re very kind” Capable said, she felt rude but it was nice of her to tell her not to worry. It relaxed her a little, this woman wasn’t someone who would judge her for what she had been through. And that was reassuring. “So how else can people help?” she asked.

Svetlana would probably be in the wrong field if she judged people on the things that they had gone through and seemed to expect certain reactions. So at least there was that, as she did try to be reassuring and generally a calm person. Which mostly came from guarding her own heart. “We have volunteer options, which usually is going to events and staying at tables, or handing out water at the runs we promote. There are also training sessions for other things such as hotline work as well.”

“Oh well I could definitely volunteer my time” Capable said nodding enthusiastically, “I’d love to be able to help” She hadn’t been sure she’d be able to help since she wasn’t really qualified for anything but that sounded like something she could do.

“If you are able to, that would be wonderful.” Shifting her bag around, Svetlana pulled out a card with the contact information for both the organisation she was mostly affiliated with in Orange County, as well as her private contact information. “You can come in whenever you like to fill out a volunteer form so we can keep you updated on different events which you can choose from to help out at.”

“Great, thank you so much. And for the talk you gave. It’s been really nice to meet you” she said before belatedly holding out her hand, “My name is Capable” she smiled.

“Likewise.” Smiling some, Svetlana shook the woman’s hand, noting her name away. “Mine is Svetlana.” Which belatedly she realised would be known since she’d been introduced before her talk.