![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xp_loa posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
xp_logsAlani catches Sooraya in a moment of her spare time, and Sooraya proposes an idea to combat the anti-mutant sentiment being sown.
Alani looked up from her laptop slowly, brows furrowed and lower lip between her teeth. She was lost enough in thought that it took her another moment before she'd realized that Sooraya was standing there. This was perfectly understandable, as Alani was seated on the floor outside her office, waiting for her without telling her she was there because she hadn't wanted to inconvenience the woman. Flashing a quick, toothy smile, she shut her laptop and stood up with it. "Hiya, Sooraya. Sorry I didn't warn ya I was here, but, uh, ya gotta minute or two to talk about this Church of Humanity ruckus that cropped up?"
"Uhm..." Sooraya took a quick glance at her watch to check the time, then pushed open the door. "Come on in. I don't have very long, but that bunch of... let's just not use that word... they need discussing, I'm afraid." Moving to a small corner of the office where a water bottle and a kettle were standing, she poured in some of the water, then turned to look at Alani. "I've enough time for a quick cup of tea if you'd like some."
Alani nodded quickly in agreement, walking in a few steps behind Sooraya. “Understood, and I don’t want to keep you from your schedule.” She quickly set down the computer and flashed a smile. “A cup of tea would be lovely, actually.” Opening the computer, she examined her screen, frowning. “So these Church folk, what I’ve found is a lot of anti-mutant rhetoric, some funeral picketing for non-human passing mutants, and... uh, a very anti sermon. It... makes me uncomfortable, to say the least.”
"I love how you said it so mildly." Sooraya shook her head as she continued to make the tea. "The thing I'm worried about is that when this kind of hatred gets mixed with your faith... something that for many people is so close to their hearts... it makes for a very dangerous and potent cocktail."
Alani looked up to Sooraya, offering a grimace. "Sorry, I'm afraid if I actually allow myself to emote right now, I’ll ruin your stuff.” With a sigh, she wraps her arms around herself. “That’s the idea that’s making me uneasy. It’ll be like throwing oil on a fire. I hate when bigots join bigots and decide their ideals are the ones that should be followed.”
Sooraya placed a gentle hand on Alani's shoulder, putting a cup of tea in front of her as well. "This seems to hit you harder then some of the other stuff we've seen?" she observed, choosing to shift the topic a bit.
Despite herself, Alani flinched slightly at the touch. "Sorry. Yes, I mean, no, it all bothers me - in all honesty. I think the proximity and possibilities make me more nervous than I realized. But I will be fine.” She smiled lightly, looking to the tea. “I refuse to let me own feelings stop me from sharing information.”
"It suddenly hits a lot closer to home, doesn't it?" Sooraya took her own seat. "And we should hear our feelings, for they can tell us important things. We just always don't have to listen to them. But I've been drifting of. You mentioned something about wanting to share information?"
"Yeah, and, I don’t know, it makes me homesick at the same time, in a weird way.” She sighed, before tentatively reaching for her tea. “Yes, information sharing - I’ve been thinking since that flyer that just calling out organizations like there’s is something I want to do, with them being perfect examples. I want people to have to see what they’ve done, so they can’t just brush it off. Statistics of the picketing with locational information, stuff like that. Does that... make sense?”
"It does... to some level... And I agree, the world does need to see what they are doing and how they are hurting people. The facade needs to be broken down. But I don't think statistics are going to be enough to do that. Not to get people into the door."
"You're definitely right... And my brain's all frazzled trying to keep everything whole, ugggh. Suggestions are always welcome, but... with the way they act I'm almost afraid to say we'd have to try to catch them being more terrible than they portray themselves. Which is an unsavory option."
Sooraya sipped her tea thoughtfully. "That's one way, but maybe a bit over complicated. I am no PR person, but I was thinking more on playing people's emotions a little. The story of someone who has had to deal with them picketing a loved one's funeral or something like that. And then the statistics of how many more people were hurt like that."
Alani nodded slowly, taking a sip of her own tea. "That's good. I've found that emotional can be good. If we can find someone willing to come forward with their stories, that would work, I'd think. My worry would be the aftermath... but I think we could also come to that when it comes to that, depending on how it would be received."
"I think you may actually have a good chance with getting people to tell their story. You are sympathetic and they know you'll take them seriously. At the same time you are known as an activist for mutant rights." Sooraya thought out loud. "Is that you'd be willing to do? If we look at where they have picketed and see if there is anyone we can get in contact with?"
"Yes, I would be very willing to use my time to do that. And luckily, I think I might have their most recent picketing information for the area on my computer, or I can find it easily enough, with the attention they get." She drained the tea. "One of the bonuses for being a somewhat recognizable face for mutant rights. I will let you get to where you need to be, and I'll email you when I find something, assuming you’d like to be kept up to date on my shenanigans?"
"That'd be good." Sooraya nodded. "I have a few connections in other cities. I'll check in with them if they have anything interesting to offer us and I'll let you know what I find as well."
"Perfect. Thank you, and thank you for your time." Alani stood, closing her laptop again and tucking it under her arm. "I'll get that started."
Alani looked up from her laptop slowly, brows furrowed and lower lip between her teeth. She was lost enough in thought that it took her another moment before she'd realized that Sooraya was standing there. This was perfectly understandable, as Alani was seated on the floor outside her office, waiting for her without telling her she was there because she hadn't wanted to inconvenience the woman. Flashing a quick, toothy smile, she shut her laptop and stood up with it. "Hiya, Sooraya. Sorry I didn't warn ya I was here, but, uh, ya gotta minute or two to talk about this Church of Humanity ruckus that cropped up?"
"Uhm..." Sooraya took a quick glance at her watch to check the time, then pushed open the door. "Come on in. I don't have very long, but that bunch of... let's just not use that word... they need discussing, I'm afraid." Moving to a small corner of the office where a water bottle and a kettle were standing, she poured in some of the water, then turned to look at Alani. "I've enough time for a quick cup of tea if you'd like some."
Alani nodded quickly in agreement, walking in a few steps behind Sooraya. “Understood, and I don’t want to keep you from your schedule.” She quickly set down the computer and flashed a smile. “A cup of tea would be lovely, actually.” Opening the computer, she examined her screen, frowning. “So these Church folk, what I’ve found is a lot of anti-mutant rhetoric, some funeral picketing for non-human passing mutants, and... uh, a very anti sermon. It... makes me uncomfortable, to say the least.”
"I love how you said it so mildly." Sooraya shook her head as she continued to make the tea. "The thing I'm worried about is that when this kind of hatred gets mixed with your faith... something that for many people is so close to their hearts... it makes for a very dangerous and potent cocktail."
Alani looked up to Sooraya, offering a grimace. "Sorry, I'm afraid if I actually allow myself to emote right now, I’ll ruin your stuff.” With a sigh, she wraps her arms around herself. “That’s the idea that’s making me uneasy. It’ll be like throwing oil on a fire. I hate when bigots join bigots and decide their ideals are the ones that should be followed.”
Sooraya placed a gentle hand on Alani's shoulder, putting a cup of tea in front of her as well. "This seems to hit you harder then some of the other stuff we've seen?" she observed, choosing to shift the topic a bit.
Despite herself, Alani flinched slightly at the touch. "Sorry. Yes, I mean, no, it all bothers me - in all honesty. I think the proximity and possibilities make me more nervous than I realized. But I will be fine.” She smiled lightly, looking to the tea. “I refuse to let me own feelings stop me from sharing information.”
"It suddenly hits a lot closer to home, doesn't it?" Sooraya took her own seat. "And we should hear our feelings, for they can tell us important things. We just always don't have to listen to them. But I've been drifting of. You mentioned something about wanting to share information?"
"Yeah, and, I don’t know, it makes me homesick at the same time, in a weird way.” She sighed, before tentatively reaching for her tea. “Yes, information sharing - I’ve been thinking since that flyer that just calling out organizations like there’s is something I want to do, with them being perfect examples. I want people to have to see what they’ve done, so they can’t just brush it off. Statistics of the picketing with locational information, stuff like that. Does that... make sense?”
"It does... to some level... And I agree, the world does need to see what they are doing and how they are hurting people. The facade needs to be broken down. But I don't think statistics are going to be enough to do that. Not to get people into the door."
"You're definitely right... And my brain's all frazzled trying to keep everything whole, ugggh. Suggestions are always welcome, but... with the way they act I'm almost afraid to say we'd have to try to catch them being more terrible than they portray themselves. Which is an unsavory option."
Sooraya sipped her tea thoughtfully. "That's one way, but maybe a bit over complicated. I am no PR person, but I was thinking more on playing people's emotions a little. The story of someone who has had to deal with them picketing a loved one's funeral or something like that. And then the statistics of how many more people were hurt like that."
Alani nodded slowly, taking a sip of her own tea. "That's good. I've found that emotional can be good. If we can find someone willing to come forward with their stories, that would work, I'd think. My worry would be the aftermath... but I think we could also come to that when it comes to that, depending on how it would be received."
"I think you may actually have a good chance with getting people to tell their story. You are sympathetic and they know you'll take them seriously. At the same time you are known as an activist for mutant rights." Sooraya thought out loud. "Is that you'd be willing to do? If we look at where they have picketed and see if there is anyone we can get in contact with?"
"Yes, I would be very willing to use my time to do that. And luckily, I think I might have their most recent picketing information for the area on my computer, or I can find it easily enough, with the attention they get." She drained the tea. "One of the bonuses for being a somewhat recognizable face for mutant rights. I will let you get to where you need to be, and I'll email you when I find something, assuming you’d like to be kept up to date on my shenanigans?"
"That'd be good." Sooraya nodded. "I have a few connections in other cities. I'll check in with them if they have anything interesting to offer us and I'll let you know what I find as well."
"Perfect. Thank you, and thank you for your time." Alani stood, closing her laptop again and tucking it under her arm. "I'll get that started."
