"Stop," Nero said, as he grabbed the kid's shoulder and squeezed it. This was a technique he learnt to help others focus, though many assumed it was an intimidation tactic. But that's not what it was. By deepening his voice and applying pressure near the neck, he distracted the other person's brain and allowed them to focus on what he was saying, rather than whatever had them distracted.
"What is your name?" he asked, locking eyes with the kid.
"I- my- my name is Isa," he stammered. "Isa Hammel, from the Hammel orphanage."
"Isa, my name is Nero, and I need you to focus on me. Can you do that? Drown out everything else, just focus on me."
He applied more pressure as he spoke, careful not to push to the level where his grip became painful. The point was to regulate the blood flow, not cause pain, which would have the opposite effect.
