They saw Human Ji sit down for their tea after the brief fight with the braggart that had decided to be an idiot. As the crowd dispersed, people getting back to their normal routines, they first helped the owners put the tea gardens back together, mainly because they were nervous about approaching Ji, before plucking up their courage and approaching the table. Lightly clearing their throat, they asked, softly. "I'm having to deal with bullies in school that keep trying to beat me up, can you help me? Can I defend myself, too?"
It's from this Prompt: @internutter/challenge-02925-h002-he-prefers-the-first-option -- Fighting Fit
[AN: As always, blessings for supplying the link. Also, this now has to happen near the Edge, as bullying is almost extinct and quickly quashed in Galactic Alliance space]
Poflo saw it all from an upper gallery, where ze liked to hide from the bad kids. It was hard not to know about Master Ji. The man was a legend. The Sensei who knew everything and was able to beat anyone in an unfair fight[1]. He was a teacher, and had taught Havenworlders to hold their own against the Vorax.
Which meant that he was the man to see about hir problem. He was also the man to avoid about hir problem. People like that tended to take advantage of people like Poflo. The strong made victims of the weak. Humiliated them with it. Thusly, ze made a hesitant path to Master Ji's line of sight. Thereafter, ze watched the Master slowly imbibe his tea and enjoy the ambiance.
Then the Master ordered a tray of treats and another pot of tea. "You can sit and talk. I don't mind rude questions," he said, "and you look like a soul with a lot of troubles."
Poflo's first irrational thought was, He can see into my mind! He can see into my soul! At which point, it was a battle to not have an urgent bowel issue.
Master Ji offered a seat. "Come on. I prefer not to hurt people. And no, I don't actually read souls or minds. It's an expression."
Poflo sidled into the seat as if expecting it to be hir last moment. "I saw what you did to Fox..."
"Did you like Fox?" Ji poured the new tea and added some honey.
It smelled like a fruit smoothie and tasted like summer. "No."
"Would you like to learn how to do that?"
More than anything in the universe, thought Poflo. "But I'm tiny and weak and a coward."
"That's what others say about you," said Ji. "What do you know of yourself?"
It was such a teacher thing to say. Poflo thought of the Galactic teachers who came around and tried to show the locals better ways - ways that didn't stick out here on the Edge. What would they say? "I like being quiet and watching things... sometimes I know more'n I should."
"Ha. Should. Should is not is," said Ji. "The others do not let you play with them so you hide and read... or watch things. Thusly, you learn. The cat who watches the mousehole is never hungry."
There was a dojo of sorts, which was mostly padded matting and a rather bored Medik waiting by a station. Judging by the very comfortable chair in that corner, the Medik did not get to see a lot of incidents. There were a few complicated devices currently under dust covers, and a holoprojector by a painted 'ring'.
The first lesson was how to fall without injury. Since Poflo's schoolmates delighted in making hir fall over, that was a valuable lesson indeed. Master Ji made a game out of being thrown about like a rag doll an Poflo never once felt afraid.
"Once they attack," said Master Ji, "they are in the wrong. You must always and only defend yourself. Those who hurt the weak to feel strong will cease once they have nobody to prey on."
"Won't that make them find another victim?" countered Poflo.
"That is when you bring that victim to me."
Master Ji was a very good Sensei. He taught lessons that would last a lifetime, and not just to the people who were his students.
[1] By definition, any battle with Master Ji is automatically unfair.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / oorka]
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