Whoa Whoa, Hold Up [D1|MM]

[Raven Cadera]

Of course it was no surprise that they didn't have holding cells or prisons as such. Mandalorians didn't take prisoners or kept them for long if they did. Seeing the young man again, it really hit her... how young he was. Older than she had been, back when she lost her family. But still younger than herself, seeming to be the same age as Varina and Dex.

Still. He wasn't a child, Raven reminded herself, for it would've been a disservice to Dex to think that. Though a part of it felt so wrong, when he was so young...

Normally she would've kept the helmet on, facing an enemy like this, but she wanted him to see. The pain, the hurt, the rage. Without a word at first, her hands loosened her helmet and slipped it off, causing her black hair to tumble out, a bit messier than usual.

"... You know who I am," she stated to the Raider, glaring him down with her helmet tucked underneath one arm. They hadn't spoken during the feast, but most had at least caught a glimpse of the bride and groom at the party. "What I want to know is why. Why this attack?"

[Meiyokashi]

He was young, perhaps a year younger than Dex was. Black hair down that held down by his shoulders and a slight facial scar or two. Best she could surmise it was the face of someone who was raised on Mandalore proper. Shifting against his binds he tries to find himself a better position but the way he's locked against the wall he can't seem to find a hold and just struggles in vain, falling back to where he originally lay. Looking up to her he was quiet, thoughtfully so.

"Told everyone else everything I knew," he matched Raven's gaze. "Carid said he had business here with your Mand'alor, wanted to see what he was about. Valkyrie didn't see it the same and told us not to go. I was curious. Had a good time until one of yours sucker punched me when I was walkin' down the hall. Figure you know the rest of it," he said, shrugging with what space he could afford.

[Raven Cadera]

The way her fist clenched and remained stiff, it was clear she was holding herself back from striking him.

She had often had a good hunch of whether people lied to her, and the kid seemed sincere enough. Even if he was putting on a show of being brave and cool in this situation.

"Kriff... he's just a kid, Orar." Raven took a step that placed her between the two of them, turning to face her brother. "Protecting one's family and clan is one thing... killing innocent kids? There's no honor in that."

Without the helmet on now, her glare was obvious. "You know Praxton would say the same if he was standing here. When he's standing here."

[Orar]

"Praxton-" he said the name in a strange manner, as if he almost let himself slip. In that moment of catching himself he groaned, tapping the blaster against his leg. "Would know his place.." he measures Raven for a moment in silence, letting that sentence drift from him.

"But-" he slides the blaster back into a holster on his hip. "I'm done with this. You have some better idea on what to do with the kid? Your call. I'll just be sure to let Mand'alor know who made the call on this one. Ain't comin' off my skin, that's for sure."

[Raven Cadera]

"I will take the consequences," she said with a firm nod. It wouldn't be the first time she had butted heads with Mand'alor, but Raven wasn't sure if she would overstep too much here. Not that Raven would consider it at this moment, but she was doing more or less the same Praxton had done for her when she had asked for Phroth, Lysa, and Solork to be given sanctuary in the Enclave on Kamda.

"Take his weapons and armor for the time being, until he proves he can be trusted. Dex, being the one who vouched for him, will be the one responsible for him. He should be given the chance to earn his name as a true Mandalorian... not what these Raiders are posing themselves to be." At least to her, they didn't seem like honorable Mandalorians.

She looked back at the boy, measuring him. "Know this that it is by my husband's will, and Dex vouching for you, that I have decided this. You have proven innocent. So far. Do not squander the mercy I have extended to you. Honor my offer of truce, for I would not willingly shed my brother's blood."

[Meiyokashi]

There was something boiling under his brow but the raider seemed to know when and where to fight his battles as he grit his teeth and kept quiet. Nodding his head in response to Raven instead.

Meanwhile, Orar saw to leaving himself and when doing so left the door open enough for Dex. From the sounds of his boots he didn't wander too far but he also wasn't all too willing to involve himself anymore with the situation. With the space granted Dex walked in and took measure of what was going on best as her eyes could manage alone.

"So.." she walked over to Raven's side, glancing from her to the bound raider.

[Raven Cadera]

"It is decided." She said simply at first, repeating what she had said earlier to Dex... though it meant something all-together different this time. Placing her hands on Dex's shoulder, she looked the younger Mandalorian in the eyes. Still, many conflicting feelings warred within her, but she spoke truthfully.

"He will live, as long as he honors the truce given to him. This is because I trust in your judgement, my foundling. He will be your responsibility to watch over. We are Mandalorians, that means we act with more honor than any other warrior."

Raven didn't see the need to explain to Dex that she was the one sticking her neck out on this with Mandalore. Right now... she only hoped that Dex was right, and that her own intuition was right. Then it would work out for Dex and the boy, at least.

[Dex]

Dex's eyes welled up a little and she lunged forward to wrap her arms around Raven in a hug. With a squeeze she muttered, "Thanks. That's.. I was hoping you'd say somethin' like that," she chuckled a little, "Thanks, for trusting me," she repeated and then let her go.

Stepping back she took a moment to herself, glancing over to the cuffed Raider who didn't seem to make sense of it all yet. Looking to Raven, she smiled, "You won't regret this."

[Raven Cadera]

She only nodded at first, but a part of her felt some sense of fulfillment in seeing Dex's reaction. Raven wasn't that much older than Dex, not even near enough to claim that she considered her like her child, but for certain there was a sense of familial bonds there.

"... For the time being, he's not to wear the armor or weapons," she reminded, having already said this to the Raider. "He is innocent, but trust has been... well, not completely broken, but certainly injured."

Looking to the young man again, Raven held her gaze steady but without malice. "If you wish to see the Mando'ade united once more, to stand strong again, then you have the power to do so by honoring the chance I have given you. By restoring that trust."

Once she was certain the situation was under control, that Dex had it in hand, Raven knew she'd have to face Mand'alor...

[Meiyokashi]

"I'll see he keeps out of trouble," Dex said with a wink before stepping back again and then turning over toward him. Taking a moment to appraise the area and where the key might have been for the binders they had him wearing.

Meanwhile, he looked up to Raven, "I owe you. I owe her," he indicated Dex with a nod, lingering as he looked to her searching for the key a moment. Looking back and reaffixing his position as he faced Raven, "But that's all the stake in this I've got. Hope that doesn't make you regret this."

Mand'alor was just a walk away whenever it was time to go. Likely, he was in his own chambers.

[Raven Cadera]

She breathed in deeply. "Make sure I don't then."

For a moment, she watched the two of them. Yes, she felt a pang of jealousy. "... I have preparations to finish. You two behave." Turning away from them, Raven fitted her helmet back on as she slowly let out all the air she had been holding in, which felt like a lot.

Stepping outside of the room, she gave a brief but respectful nod to Orar as she headed off to find Mand'alor, approaching the part of the enclave that was his. While she never slowed down or showed any outward sign of nerves, inside she felt pretty shook up. If there were butterflies in her stomach, they were all the sizes of those basilisk war-droids.

Right. Time to face Mand'alor. Again. She hadn't wanted to talk to him today, yet here she was, outside his private quarters. Announcing herself with a firm knock.

[Meiyokashi]

Leaving the two of them behind the immediately start talking, Dex's voice is loudest but it quickly falls of as she exits the door and moves beyond. Orar still waiting outside sees her and watches as she goes. Arms crossed tightly over his chest he grunts as she passes but a glance would only find him moving off the wall and walking in the opposite direction.

Leaving little other distractions in front of or behind her as she approaches the door to the private quarters of Mand'alor. With her presence made known she's made to wait for some time before he eventually answers. A large door swinging open to reveal the man waiting in full suit, as he almost always was.

There is no vocal greeting. Just a cold expectant look from his t-shaped visor.

[Raven Cadera]

Visor facing visor. There was some comfort in having that between them, so he couldn't see the expression on her face when she saw him.

"Mand'alor," she said bluntly in greeting, one closed fist over her heart. "I wish to speak with you." Judging by her tone combined with recent events, it was obvious it was not a conversation for the sake of pleasantries with the one who was technically her brother-in-law. "... About your most recent order, given to Orar."

[Mandalore]

"You have a problem with it?" he spoke, his voice low and more distant than unwelcoming. Turning from her and moving more into his chamber. It was spartan within his chambers, but the space still managed to be filled with an assembly of different projects. Off to the left was a workbench with his blade he often wielded set atop it. On the right, to where he walked, there was a table set up with a viewscreen and an assortment of pages scattered around it.

Tapping a few inputs the viewscreen lit up and he resumed the work he had been doing prior.

[Raven Cadera]

As he hadn't dismissed her, Raven stepped inside after him. "Of course I do." Her tone was a touch softer than she had intended at first, perhaps due to his own tone. And the fact that they shared in common that it had been their family that was attacked.

"There's no honor in executing kids that had nothing to do with what happened." As she often did, Raven crossed her arms over her chest, watching him return to work.

[Mandalore]

Mand'alor allowed himself time to consider, far more than merely what she had said as it was a moment of time that went on beyond normal comfort. However, he did eventually shift his position toward her and away from the work. Regarding Raven, yet in that silence, for but a few seconds more.

"And I seek no honor in it," he says. "Yet, I am Mand'alor. My actions are not always dictated by seeking honor but what is best for the Mando'ade. This-" he raises a hand to indicate the point of correction- "young warrior may not have had a stake in the attack on our people but he came here under the banner of the ones who did. I do not wish to claim life needlessly, but there must be answers given to such actions."

[Raven Cadera]

"You are Mand'alor," she agreed sincerely, her voice straining slightly to remain level, as part of her still wanted to shout and be angry, "you are also the one we look to as example, of how you wish to rebuild our people. How we should act, as Mando'ade, worthy of the name."

Uncrossing her arms, Raven held up her hands slightly, taking her time before continuing. "I can't stand by to see innocent be killed for something they had no part in. That is not how you will convince those still doubting that you are Mandalore the Rebuilder... that is how we will lose good new warriors, like Dex." And Varina. As she took a deep breath, she wondered if this was similar to have it must've been like when Praxton shouldered her choices before. "He will live. I want revenge as much as you do against the one responsible, but he is not the one."

[Mandalore]

Mand'alor's shoulder raise, and then lower with a long exhale. "You are young, inexperienced though you wish to claim otherwise. You see your own point of view reflected in those around you and believe it is the only one worthy."

"It is not my place to convince these warriors of the veracity of my claim, because my claim is the only true one. If they believe that I am not Mand'alor then they will eventually realize their mistake or will be forgotten by history. I will not chase after them. Others, those with more years and experience than you have come to me with their own concerns. This young warrior in our care.." he glances aside, considers the words which fit best. "You see him as an innocent in a battle, one to be saved. Myself and others see him for what he is still, a potentially deadly tool in the arsenal of one of our enemies. I would limit the force our enemy might bring to bear against us. I feel- I hurt for the attack on one of our own, but no matter whom that one is he is only one. I plan and move in ways that would ensure many more need not fall in his stead, as good as those deaths may be."

[Raven Cadera]

"I don't--" Raven clenched one hand, then lowered it as she calmed herself. "I don't believe it is the only worthy way, but if it was easy to follow the path of honor, then more would do so. And we wouldn't have these disagreements."

Composing herself with another silent breath, she continued to look at him through her visor. "I see him as someone caught up in the mess of his brothers, someone who had nothing to do with what happened. If we were to kill every one who happen to have been on the wrong side, or merely shared brotherhood with them, then many of us could qualify for that. He deserves the chance to prove he is not the same as the cur who attacked Praxton." Considering the complications of all the clans these days, it seemed a slippery slope to start casting blame by association to her.

"And yes, I am young. You often like to remind me of that." The words came with a mixture of fire and humor. "But you can't rebuild our people's future with only the mindset of the old guard - if your choices turn away all the younger generations of Mando'ade, then it can't last. I say this because I believe in you as Mand'alor."

[Mandalore]

Taking a moment he walked further into his room. Placing himself near some of the old weapons he had, some of them his own and others retrieved from ancient vaults. Ancient relics of varying degrees of use left in them. Looking across them he granted himself the quick reminder of his purpose.

Turning back to Raven both hands came up, and for the first time he removed his helmet.

"Sometimes I wonder if you do.." closes his eyes, shaking his head at that thought. "My focus is on the traditions of our people," he says. There is a clear familial resemblance to Praxton, but Mand'alor is certainly the eldest. Wear from age works its way in through the scars he carries on his face, hair shaved save for his beard. Though aged his face is there is that inner strength she and many others have come to associate him with that shines through. Yet, it is dimmed slightly now by the tiredness seen in his eyes.

"I will rebuild the legacy of our people, our future, as it must be rebuilt. Those who do not agree with our course may make their own choices. I will not be swayed from our course to retrieve them from their delusions of a different way," he raises a hand, gives pause. "This boy is a problem that I have no resource to spare on, and wished to accept knowing the problem is dealt with. If you wish to take on the responsibility of the boy, then it is not an action I will forbid."

"Let the young warrior have his chance, if you wish to grant it. I have many other things to which I must attend."