[Red Lion]

Alissa's eyes crinkled and she burst into a fit of giggles, "He is rather silly isn't he? All scrawny and pasty!"

[uncledaddy]

Randy nodded and snorted. "The most ridiculous human being I'm sure I've ever met," he sighed.

[Red Lion]

Alissa shook her head, "Mama invites him over often....Oh no," her face fell. She pointed across the garden, Winston was kicking over several potted plants, smashing the clay pots and spilling the flowers everywhere, Hans was protesting frantically in broken English but his distress only seemed to further enrage Winston, who picked up a broken shard and slashed the young man across the face. Hans let out a wail and cowered, holding his injured cheek. Winston grimaced in disgust and wiped his dirty hand on his handkerchief, giving the young gardener a passing kick before he left.

[uncledaddy]

Randy stared in disbelief. "He can't just do that, can he?"

[Red Lion]

"He can....he's more important than Hans is, so he can do anything he likes. That's why Hans is so timid," said Alissa, already rushing over to see if Hans was alright.

[uncledaddy]

Randy followed after her. "Allow me to help," he offered.

[Red Lion]

Hans was trying to clean the pots as quickly as possible, he had a deep gash in his cheek, which bled onto his shirt. When Alissa arrived to help him he started to apologize, she assured him that it wasn't his fault and gave him her own clean lace handkerchief to staunch the bleeding, "Poor Hans," she shook her head. Hans looked over at Randy with wide grey eyes, he cowered again and edged away from him.

[uncledaddy]

Randy attempted to reassure him with a subtle mental connection, making his intentions clear without directly stating anything in a way that might be suspicious. He stooped to help clean the mess. "Is it very bad?"

[Red Lion]

Hans seemed to calm, "Hurts," he said gesturing at his cheek, "Much bleeding....need Errol for...for...make stop bleed."

[uncledaddy]

"I'll go and get him," Randy said with a nod before hurrying back into the house.

[Red Lion]

Errol was in the kitchen, peeling potatoes and singing a jaunty little song, when he saw Randy he frowned, "Whit's yar trouble lad?"

[uncledaddy]

"That Winston has gone and given Hans a rather nasty cut; he's asked for you," Randy explained.

[Red Lion]

"Och, Ah'll be richt thar!" said Errol setting down the potato and rushing out. When he reached Hans he led the young man inside and sat him down at the table, "Oh...Aye tha's a real bad cut, gonna need ta sew ye up, puir lad," he clucked his tongue. He called for Ellen to fetch hot water and a needle in thread. "Lucky it's no where near as bad as when Winston tried ta jump a harse ower him, the puir lad was oot cold fer hours an blinded fer three days. Winston torments him cause he's a foreigner, he's got nae kith nor kin ta defend him an 'ee don't speak much English so 'ee canna tell no one."

[uncledaddy]

Randy frowned. "That's terrible," he remarked as he watched them in fascination. "Can't anyone keep that Winston in check?"

[Red Lion]

"Winston is untouchable," said Errol, "He is a laird an tha' puts him above us,"

Hans ground his teeth and whimpered as Errol set to stitching his cheek. "Och...Ah noo laddie, tis a'richt" he said soothingly, he motioned for Randy, "C'mere an hold 'is head still!"

[uncledaddy]

Randy did so, trying not to let his curiosity show through too much. The people of Earth had quite a long way to go in technological advancements--and apparently social ones, as well.