Always Room For Cake (D8, EE. Dol's)

[Raven Cadera]

Since Tenzing had persuaded Dol to try to make uj-cake and sell it here, Raven had to do her part in making sure that the new product would be a hit. So of course had to drop by the place and ask for some of it.

While she wasn't wearing her helmet, and instead had her hood up and face concealed with a head-wrap, Dol still recognized the Mandalorian woman who had visited plenty of times before the past months.

"Hey, you have any of those uj'alayi... uh... I mean, those Mandalorian cakes? Tenz said you were still making them?"

[Zimrzala Skalirz]

Zim was still walking a bit stressfully through the premises thinking about her.... interesting meeting with the Imperials some days ago as she heard a voice she thought she recognised mention a name she *definitely* recognised after the escape from the Press. And... Mention Mandalorian cake

Her tendrils turned first, but her head soon followed. She took the few steps to get closer, greeting both women with a nod and a shy smile. "Ah! if you do, I'd like to try them too - thrse... 'Uhj'jalayin'?

The pronunciation was *clearly* off...

[Raven Cadera]

Turning to look at the smaller person beside her, Raven gave a nod in greeting before looking to the friendly neighbourhood baker.

"If she's having them too, I'm buying," the woman said with a warm tone, then looked back to Zim. "Have you had uj'alayi before? They're quite good, very sweet treats."

[Zimrzala Skalirz]

Turning to look at the smaller person beside her, Raven gave a nod in greeting before looking to the friendly neighbourhood baker.

"If she's having them too, I'm buying," the woman said with a warm tone, then looked back to Zim. "Have you had uj'alayi before? They're quite good, very sweet treats."

Zim nods in greeting as well, a faint but kind smile on her face. "Oh... I have not! In fact, I haven't had the chance to get to know much about the Mandalorians, their culture - or their cuisine. But I've heard quite a bit about them!

She looks at the sweets displayed, and waited for the baker's answer. "I'm definitely having one if you still have them, friend!", she says, somewhat expectantly. "I've been meaning to try one since I've heard of it", she says with another smile to the woman. "Seems like you've had them often before? Have you tried other Mandalorian dishes? I..." she seems thoughtful for a while. "Ah... wait... have we met before?", she asks, a bit confused now as she notices she may have heard the woman's voice before.

[Raven Cadera]

(OOC: I am assuming it's fine to handwave Dol a little for the moment since it's not an important thing )

-

Dol informed there were a few of those cakes left, as they still only made small batches each day. Grabbing a clean pair of tongs, he picked out two of the dense-sticky cakes.

"Ah, I grew up with them. My parents would give them to us as a treat on occassion, or we'd make them together. The cakes, that is," she said with a warm smile in return, though there was a sadness behind it. "... But yeah, I suppose I'm kind of an expert on Mandalorian food? I sure make a lot of it."

The baker handed each woman their own piece of a flat, dense, sticky cake, wrapped in waxed paper for easier consumption and keeping fingers non-sticky. On a closer look, it seemed to be packed with crushed nuts and dried fruits. Raven, true to her word, paid for both of them and dropped the loose change in the tip-jar.

"... Have we? Sorry, I've met a lot of people the last couple of weeks since I arrived on Bellionas. Were you thinking of the, uh, radio show, perhaps?" Asking about the Resistance's radio broadcasting had become a go-to for her when trying to pick out others who were part of the group.

[Zimrzala Skalirz]

Dol informed there were a few of those cakes left, as they still only made small batches each day. Grabbing a clean pair of tongs, he picked out two of the dense-sticky cakes.

"Ah, I grew up with them. My parents would give them to us as a treat on occassion, or we'd make them together. The cakes, that is," she said with a warm smile in return, though there was a sadness behind it. "... But yeah, I suppose I'm kind of an expert on Mandalorian food? I sure make a lot of it."

The baker handed each woman their own piece of a flat, dense, sticky cake, wrapped in waxed paper for easier consumption and keeping fingers non-sticky. On a closer look, it seemed to be packed with crushed nuts and dried fruits. Raven, true to her word, paid for both of them and dropped the loose change in the tip-jar.

"... Have we? Sorry, I've met a lot of people the last couple of weeks since I arrived on Bellionas. Were you thinking of the, uh, radio show, perhaps?" Asking about the Resistance's radio broadcasting had become a go-to for her when trying to pick out others who were part of the group.

The Mikkian gave the woman a small, but warm smile of her own. "Ah. Childhood memories" There is a quick shade of sadness in her eyes as well, but it's quickly gone.

"Ah... yeah, the radio show. That was it, I think", she says, nodding and suppressing a silent chuckle. "But so, an expert, eh? I'd had little contact with the Mandalorian culture before here. And not so much here either... before last night, that is."

She looks at the woman again. She tried to place the voice. Was it her...

She remembered the helmet, the armour. She was a Mandalorian, then?

The Mikkian takes a mouthful of the cake. "Hm. It's quite flavourful. A bit sweeter than I'd expect, maybe. But it's really good!" Another peaceful smile as she looks at her again.

"Name's Zimrzala, friend. I'm quite sure I've seen you before, but it's good to put a name to the face". She extends her hands for a greeting... then asks with her voice a bit lower and more serious. "You... wouldn't have been to the Gonks' area underground, have you?"

[Raven Cadera]

-

Tugging down the headwrap to below her chin to be able to eat her slice of cake, her face was indeed bared for Zim to see and connect the voice too, and soon name. "Raven Cadera. A pleasure to meet a fellow radio enthusiast." She chuckled a little bit at the shared joke there.

For a woman of her stature, there was a surprising youthfulness to her somewhat pretty face, even underneath the roughness of a warrior. "I'm glad you like it. It's always a good occassion to speak over shared food." She quickly took a bite of the cake, that was almost as quickly chewed and swallowed. "There seems to be a lot of us Mandalorians here in the city, but I should know since I arrived with a few. It's why Dol here was persuaded to make some of this, probably because we've created a demand with my little group."

At the question of the Gonks, she had to give a shake of her head. "Apart from watching a race the other day, no. I've not been to the lower levels here at all. I don't think those with me have either." Her blue eyes studied Zim for a moment. "Did something happen, since you're asking?"

[Zimrzala Skalirz]

Tugging down the headwrap to below her chin to be able to eat her slice of cake, her face was indeed bared for Zim to see and connect the voice too, and soon name. "Raven Cadera. A pleasure to meet a fellow radio enthusiast." She chuckled a little bit at the shared joke there.

For a woman of her stature, there was a surprising youthfulness to her somewhat pretty face, even underneath the roughness of a warrior. "I'm glad you like it. It's always a good occassion to speak over shared food." She quickly took a bite of the cake, that was almost as quickly chewed and swallowed. "There seems to be a lot of us Mandalorians here in the city, but I should know since I arrived with a few. It's why Dol here was persuaded to make some of this, probably because we've created a demand with my little group."

At the question of the Gonks, she had to give a shake of her head. "Apart from watching a race the other day, no. I've not been to the lower levels here at all. I don't think those with me have either." Her blue eyes studied Zim for a moment. "Did something happen, since you're asking?"

"Pleasure's mine", she answered, still smiling, before taking another bite of the cake, then pointing at a free table and the door with her head and tendrils as if offering two options of where to continue the conversation. "And yeah... I've seen quite a few of your people here! Some seem to be talking about it, even. It is different from my experience other parts of the Outer Rim and Wild Space, at least!", she says with another friendly smile. "I'm not one to complain about meeting different peoples, that's for sure."

As Raven answers about the gonks, though, her brow furrows a bit in thought. "You... could say that. I've had an... interesting experience with their people. The Gonks I mean. I think there's more to them than the rumours say. They're not simply raiders, but farmers... "

She seems somewhat worried, and there's some doubt in her voice, but she shakes it away before falling silent for a moment. When she speaks again, it's in a serious tone. "A few weeks ago, they said a man in a Mandalorian armour had killed many of their people. Said they were hunting for him. That was before they targeted the clinic underground. I've been hoping to reach some sort of understanding there, but I'm not sure how..."

"But if it isn't someone in your group..." She looks up at Raven again. "There's one other... "group" of Mandalorians here that I've met. If it can be called a group", she says with a small smile. "Would... would you know if there are others?"

[Raven Cadera]

-

Choosing the table with a gesture of her hand first, Raven let the smaller Mikkian have a seat first.

"I see..." her steady voice grow thoughtful as Zim's words roll around in her head. She very much doubted the Raiders had anything to do with it, as they would had mentioned it before. "We Mando'ade have no quarrels with the Gonks. They're not our enemies and we're not theirs, and we have left them alone to focus on our own matters and that of the, uh, radio show. Though, I think I could give a guess at who is responsible."

Another bite of cake however led to a natural pause before she continued. "There is one Mandalorian on Bellionas who is... an outcast, to put it in simple terms that an outsider understands. Richo of clan Toboga. He could be striking out on his own against these folks, though for what reason...I don't know. Do you know him?"

[Zimrzala Skalirz]

Choosing the table with a gesture of her hand first, Raven let the smaller Mikkian have a seat first.

"I see..." her steady voice grow thoughtful as Zim's words roll around in her head. She very much doubted the Raiders had anything to do with it, as they would had mentioned it before. "We Mando'ade have no quarrels with the Gonks. They're not our enemies and we're not theirs, and we have left them alone to focus on our own matters and that of the, uh, radio show. Though, I think I could give a guess at who is responsible."

Another bite of cake however led to a natural pause before she continued. "There is one Mandalorian on Bellionas who is... an outcast, to put it in simple terms that an outsider understands. Richo of clan Toboga. He could be striking out on his own against these folks, though for what reason...I don't know. Do you know him?"

Sitting down and waiting for Raven to sit down as well, the Mikkian hears her out with great attention, with a bite or two in-between. As the words are said, slow realization - or maybe confirmation of something she already suspected, but perhaps didn't want to acknowledge - came to her face. "I... have seen him. In the Lower City, no less. Seen him doing some things related to that show too, I believe. I can't quite say I know him. But... this clan Toboga, is this like the clan he was cast out of? If you'll allow me asking, of course. I don't know how much of these things are sacred to your people, or secrets. I don't mean any disrespect, of course", she adds with a kind smile, the H'kig chime and the stylized Cosmic Balance symbol dangling from her neck and one tendril, respectfully.

"I... I wonder how and if I could talk to them, in that case", Zim says thoughtfully, apparently more talking to herself than to Raven.

[Raven Cadera]

-

Raven gently shook her head at first. "I can't speak for clan Toboga. He's the only member I've met claiming to hail from that clan. It's a complicated matter, but he doesn't recognize... hmmm..." she paused, seeming more uncertain of how to explain to an outsiders rather than what she could explain. "You might be familiar with the fact that my people are not concerned with bloodlines, or the species of those who join our numbers. We are all bound together by the Manda. It is like, an oversoul, that binds us together in life, and in death. By being part of the Manda, you are part of the collective of being Mandalorian. Makes sense, yes?" she asked, hoping that Zim was following without bogging her down with too many details and the points all required for Mandalorians to know.

"He does not recognize it, claiming not to be 'religious' when the subject was brought up. Now, I bear the man no ill will, even if he rejects this part of his identity. But it means he is outcast to us - he is not part of us. But, if you believe he is stirring up trouble with these Gonks, then he could perhaps be reasoned with. If you could reason with these Gonks, surely you can reason with him, yes?"

[Zimrzala Skalirz]

-

Raven gently shook her head at first. "I can't speak for clan Toboga. He's the only member I've met claiming to hail from that clan. It's a complicated matter, but he doesn't recognize... hmmm..." she paused, seeming more uncertain of how to explain to an outsiders rather than what she could explain. "You might be familiar with the fact that my people are not concerned with bloodlines, or the species of those who join our numbers. We are all bound together by the Manda. It is like, an oversoul, that binds us together in life, and in death. By being part of the Manda, you are part of the collective of being Mandalorian. Makes sense, yes?" she asked, hoping that Zim was following without bogging her down with too many details and the points all required for Mandalorians to know.

"He does not recognize it, claiming not to be 'religious' when the subject was brought up. Now, I bear the man no ill will, even if he rejects this part of his identity. But it means he is outcast to us - he is not part of us. But, if you believe he is stirring up trouble with these Gonks, then he could perhaps be reasoned with. If you could reason with these Gonks, surely you can reason with him, yes?"

Zim kept silent throughout the explanation, and for a good minute after it, except for one or two more bites of the cake. When she finally answered, it was in the form of a nod and a kind, respectful smile. "I cannot claim to understand all that means to you, Raven. But I think I understand enough to see why he's seen as an... 'outcast', as you put it. It's... slightly surprising, though. I don't quite know him, but at least one of the times I saw him, he seemed quite committed to some sort of Mandalorian... creed."

She falls silent again. She knows full well that different takes on religion could lead to bitterness and violence. Pressing this might not be helpful.

"I... do believe he is probably the one who was involved in skirmishes with the Gonks in the past, though. I will see what I can do. Hopefully words can prevent more bloodshed where it can be helped. Thanks, Raven", she adds with a kind smile, looking at the woman's eyes, then gets another bite of the cake.

[Raven Cadera]

-

"There are many who claim the name Mandalorian without all that comes with it. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you though; it's not something that should affect your interactions with them," she explained calmly, stripping out some of the crushed nuts from the pastry to eat individually. "It is many millenia ago since my people put others to the sword if they didn't join our ranks."

The Mandalorian wars had been a pretty brutal history for those not Mandalorians. And for the Mandalorians too at the end.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to walk into their territory without being prepared for a fight though? All I've heard about the Gonks is that they're territorial and violent. Words might not reach such folks, no matter how hard you try. Can't talk sense into those without sense, you know?"

[Zimrzala Skalirz]

"There are many who claim the name Mandalorian without all that comes with it. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you though; it's not something that should affect your interactions with them," she explained calmly, stripping out some of the crushed nuts from the pastry to eat individually. "It is many millenia ago since my people put others to the sword if they didn't join our ranks."

The Mandalorian wars had been a pretty brutal history for those not Mandalorians. And for the Mandalorians too at the end.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to walk into their territory without being prepared for a fight though? All I've heard about the Gonks is that they're territorial and violent. Words might not reach such folks, no matter how hard you try. Can't talk sense into those without sense, you know?"

She nods again at the explanation, but doesn't take the topic further. She could try to bring that up with J-Richo later... she'd have to think about it.

Raven's questions, though, she answered with a thin smile. "I've heard the same thing about them. And what happened at the clinic underground would suggest the same... but that doesn't quite fit what I found when I came to their territory before. There seems to be... something wrong with them. Some of them, at least. But one of them, at least, seems to be their leader... words did reach him. There seems to be a story there. And they seem to want... a life. Maybe peace, even.To be left alone were his exact words."

She gradually softens her voice as she continues. "I believe... dealing with... some things is part of that for them as much as for others. If you get what I mean"

[Raven Cadera]

-

"Hmmmm..." she chewed thoughtfully on the nuts, considering Zim's words and the topic of the Gonks. Something she knew little about. But she could understand a group banding together, simply wanting to be left on their own.

"I think I do. A little." Raven looked off for a moment in the direction of the Imperial Spire, eyes narrowed in thought and silence. "Have you spoken with the, uh, radio-hosts, about this? They might know more that could be helpful to you. To help these people to be able to live their lives in peace. If they just want to be left in peace, I don't see the harm in helping them, so..." a shrug was given. "Maybe make a meeting between them and this leader? They might have a common enemy, with aligning goals?"

[Zimrzala Skalirz]

"Hmmmm..." she chewed thoughtfully on the nuts, considering Zim's words and the topic of the Gonks. Something she knew little about. But she could understand a group banding together, simply wanting to be left on their own.

"I think I do. A little." Raven looked off for a moment in the direction of the Imperial Spire, eyes narrowed in thought and silence. "Have you spoken with the, uh, radio-hosts, about this? They might know more that could be helpful to you. To help these people to be able to live their lives in peace. If they just want to be left in peace, I don't see the harm in helping them, so..." a shrug was given. "Maybe make a meeting between them and this leader? They might have a common enemy, with aligning goals?"

"Hm." The Mikkian takes some more bites of the cake, which is now almost over. "I haven't spoken to them directly. But you're definitely right."

She looks in the direction of the Spire herself. "I... get the feeling more may be known in a few days, but I'll be sure to talk to them. And if I can help them... aligning goals is something that may very well happen." She lets out a silent chuckle and grins at Raven. "May help... keep that radio active, yeah?"

[Raven Cadera]

-

"That could be nice. More voices joining in to be heard, might be good. Not all fights are... obvious." She cleared her throat thoughtfully. "Alright, a poor choice of word. What I mean that is a fight isn't always just a fight, not always just about knocking down your opponent. And sometimes things aren't what they seem to be."

Raven smirked slightly. "Might sound weird coming from a Mandalorian, when our very culture is defined by being warriors, but not all fights are solved with violence. Perhaps what you say about the Gonks is right, and what they need isn't someone to come in and fight them, but someone to come in and be their friend. Are they a problem in the lower regions from what I hear? Yes. But they're not a problem that is fixed by just fighting or butting your heads against them - if they were, the Imps would've solved it that way already probably."

"Helping them can help the troubles of the lower city, and them being helped means they can help our favorite radio show." It was a bit of a roundabout way of saying it, but Raven at least thought she managed to get her point across. And with that, she finished the last bite of her cake.