#earthrunes

the shadow of it hides one eye, but shadows never hid anything from Zara

He's got a huge bruise on his eye

A brow quirk.

Benny starts to whistle, not loud, but super casual... because if you're whistling folks don't notice right?

"Glorious day, Miss Zara" Oh one need not be a boggan or Gwydion to know when someone is gilding the lily

She looks at him steadily, waiting, unblinking.

He looks nervous, more so as she just keeps staring. Sluagh aren't as scary as redcaps or so some might say but they still ARE spooky and .. .unlike redcaps who tend towards getting instant terror... sluagh can wear you down

He swallows "Can I... get you anything, Miss Zara?"

Yup. Trying to bring the brim down to block view of that eye

She silently taps her cheekbone, below her own eye.

More squirming then.. a shuffle of feet then.. finally "Please don't tell the baron?"

A wavering gesture, and then she indicates he go on.

"I got beat up" he looks sheepish "by another son of Adam."

A slow nod. She's listening.

The kinain says "I tried to do like the baron wanted.. to turn the other cheek? But... he didn't stop"

"Then, I was out of ccheeks and I tried to defend myself after all" A bit ashamed "And I ended up on the ground and he laughed at me"

"Bullies do not stop when you turn the other cheek."

He rubs the bruise "This one sure didn't. Anyway... I cried a little" Flushing with shame "it hurt"

"Crying is a reasonable response to pain."

"Shame? Is not productive, or kind to yourself."

He nods "Yes, ma'am. I'll try not to be ashamed but... not sure I can"

"Trying is the part that matters, nu?"

"Not everyone believes that" the boy says "But, thank you. Oh well.. I don't want to run into him again"

She nods.

"You can hide - I am a sluagh, I can show you how to hide. Or you can fight back. And... there are ways to do such beyond your fists."

"There are?" he asks curiously

She nods, then pauses. "August.. might not wish to think about all of them."

"oh" he sighs " ishouldn't then. He's a good baron. I don't want him to be dissappointed in me"

"Sometimes August... doesn't always see how he has been protected, that he may hold his ideals."

the boy gives him a sly look "Nelson says you look out for folks "

"I do."

"Sluagh protect what is theirs."

"It's nice of you, Miss Zara" He nods

"Not in the way of a troll - tis difficult to miss a troll in action as they stand as such tall defenders. Our way is more discreet."

A curious look then "How would YOU fight back?"

"Find what makes the bully tick - does he desire validation? Does he feel small, and seeks to inflate himself by attacking others? Does he desire social influence?"

"I don't know" he admits "Not sure how I'd learn that. "

"I know he has friends, they laugh when they watch him beat someone up" A frown "Which isn't very nice. And they lie for him"

She nods.

"So - the key to stopping him is to prevent the positive feedback. The friends encourage him. He wishes their approval and respect."

"How do I stop his two friends? They're almost as big as jerks as he is" Benny tilts his head

"Well, that is the question - isn't it?"

"Blackmail, humiliation, peer pressure..."

"ooo that's why you didn't think Baron August would approve" He realizes

Zara nods.

"Ideals."

"mmm" He ponders "I need to think about it. I think I value Baron August's opinion of me more than winning against a bully, but.. there are limits to anything"

"There are."

"You could also improve your fighting skills."

"I learned a little.. if I had a sword i could cream him I bet" A sigh