It was quite a detour, to a place way out of the way. But Raven would've travelled twice that distance and even further for this meeting.

This planet was... unbearably hot and unpleasant, even as her thermal cloak kept the worst of it at bay. This spaceport and its attached town wasn't particularly stellar either, but Mos Eisley did have the benefit of not really having much in presence of law enforcement, or Imperial troops. It was surprisingly easy to just blend in with the cast of the galaxy's underworld, with its various shady characters - a Mandalorian didn't really stand out.

Stepping into the dirty cantina, at least it had some form of air conditioning in here as it was less unbearable dry heat... instead it made things feel more clammy. Already her visored eyes were looking around, looking for the familiar faces she was hoping to meet...

Stepping down into the pit of the cantina the various species present here, scum and villainy all, were on display. Across the many alcoves which housed tables for meetings of all kinds and types, most of which were illicit. From the entry the bright shone on her back from outside but the light inside was dim and comfortable. A group at a table to her left smoked some kind of substance from a strange bulby-device. Off to her right, a cantina band played to the enjoyment and entertainment of all. However, her continuing scan eventually spotted something familiar.

Underneath a cloak there was a woman watching her, the t-shaped visor underneath her thermal cloak resting atop her head visible from miles away to another of the Mando'ade. Arms crossed over her chest there was a brief hope but as she would get closer and the details got more apparent it wasn't Dex looking at her but someone else.

Well, at least the music wasn't bad. It lacked the vocals she was fond of, but it was a catchy tune that would probably haunt her until the end of her days.

Approaching the other Mandalorian, Raven dared herself to hope even if she didn't see any familiar markings. Maybe a friend of Dex's? "Su cuy'gar, vod," she offered in greeting as they got close enough.

"Su cuy'gar, tyra'de," she gives a nod, regarding Raven as she approaches but raising a hand and placing it against her chest when she got too close. Notably, this didn't appear too close to Raven by far but she kept her away from the table by some measure. Over a shoulder she can get a glance at a few other helmets in the booth but the woman at her front calls her attention.

"I don't know who you are but-" a hand comes up onto the woman's shoulder and she looks to meet the helmet there. A helm Raven is immediately familiar with.

Dex, a little shorter than the woman in question pulls off her helm and looks to Raven with a smile. Hand still on her shoulder, "Relax Tir, she's a friend.." she says, her voice is a little more mature than the last time they spoke. There's a little command in her tone that Raven can almost recognize. With a smile she steps forward and throws her arms around Raven.

Raven was first taken aback by the hug, but soon enough put her arms around the younger woman to squeeze her firmly. It was a small blessing that she was wearing her helmet, so they couldn't see her squeezing her eyes shut out of happiness.

"Dex." She finally said as she easened her hug. Just saying the name had a lot of emotion to it. Already she has grown so much. "I'm so glad to see you again. Alive and well. Allow me to buy your friends a round?" It seemed like a fair offer to make up for her taking Dex away from them for a brief moment to speak.

"Y-yea," she laughs, as they broke from the head she stood back. Looking to Tir who already broke off a few steps she gives a nod, tossing over her helmet Tir catches it with ease. Pointing with her head toward Raven, "She's gonna buy you guys a round," she says, a brief smile. All the visors pop up and offer a signal of appreciation one way another. Across the helmets present Tir was the only one she didn't recognize. Silas was one she was easily able to expect. However, in some weird twist of fate and time Ari, the togruta from Carid's band, was here and with them.

"Wanna sit with them or.." she gave one nod, and then another toward the bar itself. That second nod being her somewhat subtle way of showing which she preferred. In the time seeing her there's a couple notes to make of her armor. Chiefly, any worry of fallout might have been washed away as the crest Dex copied from Raven onto her own armor was still there. As well, the rest of it was undisturbed save for a small white crest on the breastplate of some type of bird with wings spread, an undershot, all done in white paint.

Offer a Mandalorian free drinks was always a safe bet, and she turned over a credit stick to the group that would more than cover two new rounds. At least in more decent places, so in Mos Eisley it would probably go far and include snacks as well.

Silas was given a smile, and the familiar Togruta was given a nod. Did this mean Carid was around?

"Maybe later. I want the chance to speak with you, just us two..." Raven likewise shared the sentiment of preference. Turning to move to the bar, she patted Dex on the shoulder before reaching up to take off her own helmet.

"I see you made some new additions to your armor...? A particular meaning to it?" Raven asked with a genuine interest, to break the ice to start with.

Walking together they had to weave through the crowd a little, but they were able to stay side by side. A hand coming up to her chest at the question, putting a few fingers on the image, "Oh- yea this, uh.. Silas and I thought it'd be neat. We're.. trying a little something," she gave a nod to point back toward her group, "Me, Silas, Tir... see if anyone else swings by. I- we.. got an idea on how to do the thing we do but in a better way, yea?" she says, looking to Raven with an uncertainty to her.

Even with Raven coming all this way here, Dex still had that inkling of uncertainty of her approval.

"A group of your own?" she said with some surprise, but a smile touched her features. Even if she did feel her heart sink a little as she had hoped Dex would come home...

Still, she kept the smile, and nodded. Finding a comfortable place by the bar, Raven kept her attention on Dex. "That's good. Finding friends... I see one of Carid's companions are with you too...?" there was some uncertainity to her own question. Not disapproving, but more... searching. Curiosity. And there's more a neutrality to her voice as she speaks Carid's name. No hatred or rage towards him.

"Ah- yea," she says, coming up against the bar with her elbow first and leaning into that motion with the rest of her body. Free hand raising and flagging down the keep as she looks back to Raven, "She came through.. couple days ago? Not with Carid, but she told us the story. Came through looking into Silas," she laughs, shaking her head. "Seems she's the momma hen of the raiders or something, 'least that's the impression Silas gave me."

"So.. everything's okay with you then?" she says, regarding Raven, the din of the cantina around them creating some strange sense of privacy.

So Dex knew what had happened then. It kind of made her wonder what Carid was getting up to now then, if the togruta had left him. She had been his family, no...?

"I'm... better. I think?" she breathed a chuckle, seeming a little uncertain herself but more so out of being nervous. Last time she had seen Dex, it had been painful, and she was uncertain if she could mend the rift.

"Sorry... I'm... terrible at this. But, I'm sorry, Dex. I wasn't at my best then. It's not an excuse, but I see in hindsight I was... scared, and hurt, during that time. I was projecting my own fears onto you. And doing that, I hurt you."

"Kriff I knew that," she says, that straight face a kid growing up in a rough neighborhood masters. Breaking into a smile as she puts her hand on Raven's shoulder, patting it with a nod of acknowledgement. "Well, the fact you're terrible at this," she teases but shakes her head laughing. "But no.. I yea, I knew you weren't your best I just- I really wanted you to see that before you did something you might regret."

"Sometimes.." she shakes her head, not dwelling on it. "I coulda.. probably handled it a little better myself. I'm not- I'm more of a punch my problems kinda gal? But I didn't wanna punch you so... yea," she smirks, looking to Raven, "maybe I shoulda though?"

"Maybe?" she laughed, putting her hand over Dex's. "I... I don't know. I've had a lot of time to think about it... it's not something I'm proud of, in hindsight, but had I chosen differently, I don't think I would be here now. This conflict would probably still be on-going." Carid would've been at full strength still, ready to continue the cycle. She knew if she had been in Praxton's position then, she would've not heeded reason herself... though Praxton was always the more sensible of the two. "I don't... yeah, I wish I could have done better at the time. Known what would've been the best thing to do."

"Now, I want to put it behind me and not dwell anymore on the past. Instead, focus forward and be better than I was then. Not because I need to live up to expectations others have of me, but for my own sake." Raven shook her head, looking straight ahead for a moment instead of at the younger woman. "Trying to meet the expectations of everyone is what got me into that mess to start with."

Dex regards her for half a minute following that assertion, smiling, and not one to let a moment where something felt right go to waste she takes Raven into another hug. Giving her a good uncomfortable squeeze as the plates of beskar bash up against one another but as annoying as it was it bothered Dex none. "Good," she says, her head leaned in over Raven's shoulder. Patting her on the back, "I'm glad," she laughs, letting her go and leaning back into her spot.

As the tender came up Dex glances at him, gives an order in Huttese and then holds up the universal sign for two. Looking back to Raven as he walks away and taking up her position on the bar again, "I've been.. Tiroc died protecting me, defending himself. Last thing I want to have is another person I look up to lose themselves huh? Or- ya know," she didn't say it, but dying would also be pretty bad. A quick shrug, "Just.. hey, wanna know something a little," she shrugs, "I- well, kriff it's awkward to say and I shouldn't but.." she shakes her head, "nah, it'd be dumb. Just, I looked up to you for a while and I think it wasn't totally always in the right place. I still like learning from ya but- think for both of us I might stop the up part of that," she says with a bit of a smile.

"Maybe I figure things out here a while and.. we figure out where one another's been at?"

The hug was fierce, as Raven didn't want Dex to let go right away. A part of her had worried Dex would've berated her still for what happened, but... this was an unexpected emotion that almost overwhelmed her. She understood that feeling all too well. Losing those you looked up to.

"Not gonna lie, it's a high to have people look up to you. In a weird way, really..." an embarressed smile settled on her features. "You feel like you're doing something good, and it gives you a pressure to continue to be better. But... I learned myself I was looking up to others, placing them on pedestals above me and creating a weird divide between us when I should had been looking at other things."

A shake of her head to clear her thoughts. "Yeah... figuring things out sounds good. Being your mentor, it's been an amazing experience, Dex. No matter what happened, it won't take that away. But... you're your own woman." Her gloved hand poked against Dex's armored chest. "A Mandalorian in your own right. I think... it's probably more right to think of eachother as equals. Maybe that way, we can both grow a bit more?"

"I'd like that a lot," she says with a broad smile. Their drinks arriving Dex popped the Cred stick for them down and grabbed up one, handing it off to Raven. Taking the other in her hand she holds it up in the space between them, "To.. learning? Learning how to figure things out, to do better," she says with a half-smile, looking to Raven for the confirmation.

The drink was accepted with a firm nod and a grin of her own. "Let's drink to that, sister. Oya!" While she wasn't loud, there was enthusiasm to the cheer, and a big swig followed.

The drink wasn't all that amazing but the company more than made up for it.

"Just want to let you know though... I'm proud of you. Seeing you've found your own group and made your own friends. But you'll always be welcome at the Enclave, by my word and invitation. Not going to force you to come back, but... just want you to know that we won't forget you." Raven did want her to come back, but she was sincere in her words; Dex was her own woman and a proud Mandalorian, but the door would be open to her whenever she would need it.

"It's!" she returns with a bright smile, she puts her glass against Raven's with a clink and raised for the cheer. Private as far as cheers go it still drew a couple eyes from those around. Suspicious as always in this place but none bothered to confront them on it. And the drink? It was standard cantina fair, which wasn't great.


Smiling, she nods, "Thanks.. Raven, it means a lot to hear. I'm sure I'll come through sometime when we need.." she gives a nod over toward them, "just the three of us for now but- yea, we'll see how we do," she chuckles. "Gotta see Kagr sometime too. Tell him hey, for me, yea? Just- wanna make sure I don't forget to ask that."

"He'll be glad to know you're alright, and I will tell him hi. Dredgen too... old wampa won't say it, but he misses you," she spoke with a warm fondness about their brothers. "But yeah, make sure you come and tell them hi too, and introduce us to your new friends."

A curious look was turned in the little group's direction. "Silas the brain behind this little crew? I'd like to hear more about what you've been up to, where you guys are planning on going from here..."

Most of all, she just wanted to listen to Dex talk, to hear how she had grown since they parted, so she could bask some more in how happy she was to be together again.