#earthrunes

"Running away because some commoner might not want to give you a hug? Bit like cowering Adam. Fine. be a warrior. Fight against your insecurities " She says

"I'm not running away because they won't give me a hug, I'm not running away from them at all!"

"Seems like a very casual retreat"

He sighs. "Dame, can't you just... I mean, do you have to like -everyone-? Aren't there people in the world you can go "Oh, nope outta that, don't need that in my life." and choose to avoid them?"

"And I'm not insecure about commoners."

"Not them specifically. More about not being liked"

"I did ok till I moved to Jersey. But hey, quality not quantity, right?"

"Besides, it's not just the commoners that don't like me. Equal-opportunity disliked, that's me. Screw 'em. Sorry, GrandDame. Lanugauge."

"Adam. You did ookay until Jersey because until then you weren't a part of a changeling world at all. You had to start fresh again in more ways than one. " She looks troubled "I do not know how to get you to realize that ... sometimes, if everyone around you is sniffing the air, wheever you go, maybe YOU need to take a shower?"

"And I'm not saying you stink. It's a metaphor. "

Adam smiles just a little. "I know." His smile fades to a frown. "You're saying it's me? 'Cause I'm Kinain? Or....whatever it is I am now?"

"I'm saying it might be how others THINK you act, thye see your behavior and maybe they think you don't lke THEM, or are stuck up because you avoid them."

"I don't want to make friends there." still frowning. "I'm polite, I just don't, like, try to chum up to anyone."

"I'd rather have friends here."

"But your friends here ARE there" She points out

"Alanza."

"Yes. She is there too. Same school, Same farm?" Reminder

"Yeah, that's what I was saying. Alanza's there. And Zane."

"What happens when THEY make new friends?"

"What, like they can't be friends with me too?"

"What I'm saying is... you'll be introduced to their new friends. That's what old friends do when they make new friends. Bring them int othe circle"

"Not always."

"If you drive off their new friends, you make them feel unwelcome too" She warns

"Who's driving anyone off? Just sayin', don't need friends there."

"Well, we'll continue this conversation later. For now... we go over commoner kiths and THEIR heritage. Now you know trolls pretty well. I think I'm going to each you some sluagh manners"

He sighs, and looks weary. "You're going to make me go to school there, aren't you?"

"oh that... " She says "Pretty much, yes. I love you enough to displease you. You are likely too young to grasp what that means, but you'll learn"

"Please, GrandDame? I hate it there. I could go online again, or to a public school here, or a public school in Bergen or.... a private school somewhere? I mean, if.... if I can't stay here and stay out off that farm. Isn't there any way we can work something out that we can both live with?"

"Oh Adam. Sometimes if you want to get to heaven, you have to put up with a little hell, even if that hell is of your own design"

And she says "NOW, ettiqutte"

He -clearly- wants to continue that train of thought but swallows it and turns to etiquette with a lack of grace. He obeys, at least.

Yet grace is required, and he will find that pointed out...

(End scene)