Black hair slicked back, a delicate touch of makeup for that "natural" look, and a tailored suit. Almost no one would recognize Raven Cadera, fierce Mandalorian Warrior, in this location, this setup... and was she being suave talking to some of those posh people earlier?

For now though, the tall woman was eyeing the fancy-things called "hors d'oeuvres", pondering how much would be considered polite to eat...

Maybe many people wouldn't recognize her because she was wearing unusual clothes, make up, and acting a bit different but Deonis had A. Seen Raven without her helmet already and B. Knew her body language and how she presented herself.

He approached her, shockingly enough, in a suit of his own black coat and pants with a red undershirt that matched his skin. It wasn't as well tailored as Raven's was which made it look a little less classy than hers but at least it showed off his muscular physique a bit. His long black hair was tied back in a braid and he regarded her with slightly nervous yellow eyes, being unarmed In a crowd wasn't his favorite thing.

His gruff voice and slight courscant accent were unmistakable "Raven. You fit in better than I'd expect." He took a sip of his drink his eyes darting a little around the crowd before settling back to her a small smile on his lips.

Raven did a double-take. "D... Deonis?" Her surprise wasn't that she hadn't seen his face before, but rather more that... his face had seemed like an important secret.

"... Ah... thanks. Guess I've spent a lot of time learning how to do this myself. I would say I almost didn't recognize you, but that's not true. Rather, I'm surprised." Her blue eyes looked him up and down, and she exchanged a look that pretty much said would've been nicer with armor on, huh?

"Very surprised. Maybe I misunderstood things..."

He chuckled a little his smile widening revealing his Sharp white teeth "They already showed up to my home. I'm not really hiding anymore. Well rather hiding isn't useful if the people after me already know where I sleep." He explained.

An eyebrow ridge raised "spent a lot of time doing this? Come to these things often?"

She raised an eyebrow at that revelation. "Are you sure this is the safest place to be then...?" It had seemed like he had a lot of danger at his neck, so this seemed to be like walking into the lion's den.

Not that she couldn't call that gutsy. Or even admirable. But foolhardy certainly.

"Believe it or not, this is the second time I've been to a shindig like this. This fancy that is. About a year ago I was at a similar gathering for the first time... I only wanted to fade into the wallpaper then, but," she shrugged, "I feel more confident in who I am these days."

While she had always had an aura of conidence to her, something seemed a little bit different with her tonight compared to when they had spoken previouly. It wasn't quite a feeling of her being more at ease, but something close to it, and the underlying anger she had carried with her seemed less profound than before.

She might notice something similar about Deonis as well he certainly still radiated menace but it was lighter, and there was less violence and fear to his aura balanced by a calm confidence. He took another sip of his drink "I can't ever imagine you blending into the background. Especially looking like that." He chuckled again.

As the chuckle faded his small smile was soft but had an edge of mischief to it "no not the safest. But it's where I can help."

"Brave of you to be here to help then, knowing the risks," she nodded, her words approving. "As for me... I think I didn't specify I wanted it to be social camouflage when I got these clothes." A soft laugh accompanied the words, and she picked up one of the fancy pieces of food.

At least she was certain it was food and not table decor. Hard to tell sometimes here.

"You seem... hmmm... different somehow? Well, apart from the obvious changes. I can't quite place my finger on it. Did something happen the past weeks with the swamp-thing maybe? I've been... preoccupied, I must say."

He picked one as well his fingers ending in slightly sharp but well maintained black claws "Nothing big. Been meditating more, might be part of it. It has a lot to do with that special stuff." He emphasized in a way so she would know what he meant.

He gave her another once over "it is both camouflage and not. Less out of place. But beautiful so you draw the eye in a different way. It does the job."

He took a bite "you seem a little different yourself. You been busy solving the problems you were having?"

Normally Raven was pretty oblivious to flirtation, but she had a nagging feeling there might be some? Or was she imagining things?

"... Thank you." She cleared her throat and focused on the food for a moment. This was reminding her of Lysa. She rather did like that suit too.

"I suppose I seem different?" it seemed more a question than a statement. "Been back home for a little while. Spent time with my partner, my family. It does a soul good to be at home with them. As for my problems," Raven shrugged a little, "closer, but not resolved yet. But soon, it will be. Most likely." Hopefully. She didn't particularly feel like hunting Carid across the galaxy for months, even if she would because honor demanded it.

Was there? Deonis himself might not know. It was a statement of fact but facts and flirtation weren't mutually exclusive were they? If he were honest with himself he might wish to see her like this more often but he wouldn't voice such things. Deonis did note the change in her bearing for a moment and wondered if he had said something wrong but Raven didn't seem hung up on it so he wouldn't be either.

"A partner eh? Family. Sounds nice." He knew what the word meant but he had never really known family, not truly. The foreigness of the concept might play through his tone. "Well I hope it does resolve. Soon."

A beat passed and he took another drink "so if I may ask why are you here not with your family? Or why is your family not here with you?"

"I hope so too. That way, we can focus on more important things." Vengeance was all well and good, and she certainly craved it, but more... she wanted to look to the future, to rebuild.

"Ah," Raven picked up her drink and chuckled warmly, casting a glance to the room and all the finery on display. "This is... very much not his type of scene. Not one for large groups, or lots of strangers." There was certainly a rare kind of warmth to her demeanor as she spoke. "Doesn't mind braving the forces of gravity by strapping on a jetpack, but can't stand a party. Though to be honest, I don't like either very much. I've just found I have somewhat of a knack for this, and like you, this is where I can do most good right now."

"I think I'm with him on that." While Deonis wasn't outwardly expressing nerves obviously his eyes did quickly move around them every once in a while and when strangers wandered to close they got a quick scan

Her grinned at her a bit "You like it more than you say. Or you are a very good actress." Then shrugged "maybe just more used to it."

"How long have you and your partner been....partnered?" He asked not really sure exactly the kind of union Mandolorians had.

"I like being useful and doing what I can. And company of friends makes it better too," she said, nodding at Deonis to make sure he knew she meant him.

"Newly married, so not long yet. Two months. But well, this big mess came up so that's... here I am." Raven sighed and took a gulp of her drink. "... What about you though? Anyone special in your life?"

That was, frankly, an extremely loaded question "I.....do not know. It is...complicated. I have someone I have been....spending time with recently. She is a Complex woman and I am extremely inexperienced with these things." He spoke haltingly uncertainty thick in his voice a sort of youthful awkwardness entering the man. So different from his usually menacing and confident self it made him appear much closer to his actual age.

"Growing up as I did. I did not learn about such things. Except as a concept."

The awkwardness in his demeanor certainly caught her attention and she eyed him with both curiosity and understanding.

"I see... I understand what you mean. Well. Kind of. I wasn't... I was never experienced with such either, before I met my partner. Lived a life just looking after myself after my family died. So I understand some of what you're saying."

In a moment of contemplation, Raven slowly swirled the contents of her glass. "I'm hardly the expert here on advice, but... be honest, I guess? I know it might not sound like a whole lot, but... for me, it was the hardest thing, to put my feelings into words after a lot of thinking and confusion. As I said, I hadn't had anyone to think of that way, or to rely on. Sure, I had my brothers and sisters among my people after I met them, but that's not quite the same."

"But... yeah. Be honest. Maybe write it down, if you need some time to sort out your thoughts. Helped for me at least, to see it spelled out, figure out if that was how I really felt."

Deonis nodded slowly to her words, she must have some insight if she is married "That makes sense." he chuckled a little "strange how I can charge into heavy blaster fire without blinking. But talking to people has my stomach in knots."

"I get that," she chuckled knowingly. "It gets like that, opening up to people you like or care about. It's... kind of like exposing yourself, you know. Like taking off all your armor and laying yourself bear to hurt and pain. Just that there's no stims or good cures for pains of the heart, so the pain will be harder."

Raven looked off at the gathering for a moment. "But once you find that someone who accepts you, you have someone who holds your heart. There's no greater sign of trust between two people than that."

Deonis nodded slowly "honestly never a concern I had until recently. Life takes crazy turns." He said with an amused chuckle a small smile settled on his lips as he took another drink.

"I don't know if I've found that yet." He says looking out to the party and back to her "but I'm glad you have." He gave her a warm, sincere smile.

"Thank you. And... I hope you find it too, even if you're not sure if you have yet. Sometimes," she began, paused as she searched for the right words and took a sip of her drink.

"Sometimes... you're not sure. And that's alright. Important thing is, that when you do know it, that you don't let others tell you otherwise."

"You are wise beyond your years Raven." He said with a smile "no wonder people think you're older than you are." He took a drink

"Any way how have you been enjoying the party? Even if it's not your scene. Met anyone interesting so far?"