I have one friend who, for some reason, attracts people to attack him from behind.
Wherever we're seated, someone will come up to fake-throttle or fake-kick or fake-stab this friend. One night when we were out somewhere he had his back to an unsavory crowd, and I mentioned that it made me nervous to have his back vulnerable to attack because everywhere we went people snuck up on him. And he smiled like I was a little kid and told me that he always heard the people coming.
The friend wasn't being tricked or shocked. He always knew what was going on, and he could read whether or not there was a threat. I didn't need to be afraid.
The next time we were sitting in friendly territory, and someone "snuck up," I saw him smile. His eyes slid over to me, to tell me it was okay. Then he faked all the shock he needed to to satisfy the crowd.
I'm challenging you to write a scene where your character convinces someone not to be afraid. Not a scene where they try. A scene where they succeed.
I hope the friends in your life are as fear-crushing as the heroes and heroines in mine.
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