A Difficult Subject (D9, Early Evening)

[Raven Cadera]

Having agreed to meet Sol later at the Hangout, Raven was keeping herself busy as she waited by the workbench there, figuring that would be the most likely place for Sol to show up as well.

Not that she was having any fast luck with the modifications she was making to her sword's edge, but it would get there, eventually. It was a stubborn determination that made her do this herself rather than ask for help.

Her helmet rested on the table beside her as she worked, allowing for more comfort during the task.

[Solork Tan]

Sol had continued on the workbench, what what looks like a long staff of blackened wood and metal, with what looks like a bone or horn handhold. Sol appears to be adding sliding panels of wood over the metallic components, making it look like an elegantly carved walking stick.

"So Raven..." Solork looks up from his work. "What was it you wished to speak with me about?"

[Raven Cadera]

"Hmmm..." was the first response, as she was figuring out how to start off.

Placing a hand on her own helmet as if leaning on its symbol for support, she looked over her shoulder at Sol. "Explain to me why you have changed the style of your helmet, to that of a Mandalorian's." There was no anger or accusation in her even tone, but there was something she was searching for with her words.

[Solork Tan]

Ahhh, so that's what this is

There had been some warning about this, given J-Richo's warning, but no one had broached the subject unless they had explicitly traveled to meet other groups, so a tiny sliver had held out hope. Still, there was no use in deflecting or hiding.

"I changed the style because I have been adopted into a Clan of the Mando'ade . I was recommended to do so for my gai bal manda. And yes, I am aware that I am a child in the ways of the Mando'ade, and there is much to learn before I should consider myself truly versed, which is why I haven't been going around rooftops and shouting about it. There's never enough hours in the days or credits at hand to truly do enough"

[Raven Cadera]

That he was a child in the ways of her people wasn't an issue. She had been watching Lysa undergo that same journey since Kamda too, but...

"J-Richo Toboga did the rite then," she said, not a question but a statement, as she was capable of filling in some of the blanks herself. "... I'm sorry, this is difficult. But, I worry then about how your path forward will look like, when the parent adopting you in is dar'manda."

Raven paused to pick up her helmet and look at her reflection in the visor. "Dar'manda is... a Mandalorian who refuses the Manda. It is to be soulless, not apart of the Mandalorian spirit. Has your adopter explained to you the purpose behind the Resol'nare?"

[Solork Tan]

"Yes." Solork replies bluntly. There had been no point in hiding things about it. Even if Sol had any serious talent for deception, it was an unsustainable ruse and a dishonorable one at that.

That Raven did not consider J-Richo to be a true Mandolorian wasn't surprising. The reasoning though seemed to be on a tangent, and he was being surprisingly gentle about it.

"I did learn that before my adoption. They are the central tenants into what makes being Mando'ade. What about the Manda?"

[Raven Cadera]

"The Manda is..." she considered her words with care. "How my parents explained to me, the Manda is what ties us all together as brothers and sisters, as family, no matter the backgrounds or the bloodlines. It is our souls connected. The collective soul of the Mando'ade. Through the Six Actions, we confirm our commitment to this bond we share."

Looking up from her helmet, Raven looked back to Sol. "There is many philosophical answers to it, and even when I asked my people, the answers varied some, but... what all agree on is that to say you don't believe in the Manda is to be dar'manda, to refuse your Mandalorian soul. From what I know, that is an answer you would find across our divided peopled, from the Death Watch, to Jaster Mereel's followers, to the Rebuilders and the Salky Raiders, to the Protectors, all the way back to the Neo Crusaders, and our founders. Denying the Manda is to deny that you are part of our shared identity."

[Solork Tan]

"Oh..." Sol is honestly taken aback slightly, especially with the impassioned description. "That was not part of the crash course"

"Well, the thing is" Sol clears his throat. "You know that I was training to be a Jedi right? While I don't believe in every part, among the part I learned, that I truly believe in, is that the Force flows through everything. That in death, we return back to it"

"So, the concept of the Manda makes absolute sense to me. It would be an honor to have my spirit join with generations of warriors at my passing. " Sol nods. "Does that allay that your cause of concern?

[Raven Cadera]

She hadn't known the specifics of his path, but she recalled he had mentioned something along those lines back at Kamda. "I don't know how much there might be a connection between the Manda and the Force. Perhaps there is none, as I don't know of any Mandalorians being able to move things with their mind because of it," Raven chuckled a little at that. "But, yeah, I suppose there are some similar ideas there. A Mandalorian warrior, when they die, become part of the Manda, reunited with our brothers and sisters who are already marching ahead of us there."

A feeling of sympathy washed over her as she looked at him. "I am... saddened, that your adoption has been a... 'crash course'. It should not be like that. It is a monumental decision to make, one not made lightly. Not only for the one being adopted, but for the one adopting as well. I know I'm not perfect there either, but it is a hard task to train and teach." She knew all too well.

"My concern is where it might lead you, already thrust into this with so little guidance and teaching. A wayward child as it were. I worry for what it means for your parent as well. I bear no hatred towards one who is dar'manda, rather, I pity them in their state of being without a soul - but, speaking with my partner, I agree that there's not anything one can do to make them see their errors. That is a challenge they must overcome themselves."

[Solork Tan]

"It was a decision made quickly, and one with not all altruistic reasons, but my decision to accept was made sincerely. I certainly won't pass up chances to learn more about " Sol thinks for a moment.

"Raven, this may seem like a strange question: Have you ever been discarded?"

[Raven Cadera]

Not quite sure what to make of that answer, she figured to leave that be for now. "Well, if I were you, I'd speak to my adopter about these things. Try to understand why this was not told to you. And perhaps, you'll be the one to guide him."

A shake of her head. "Torn away from, lost, orphaned... but no, not discarded."

[Solork Tan]

"I've been twice in my life. The first was when the Empire decided that it would be more efficient to kill my pack than pay us. The second..." Sol stops as if the words were bitter to speak and he needed to brace himself before they left"Someone decided that I was too dangerous to keep around. They are two of the hardest moments of my life. Richo... is not your standard Mandolorian, but he knows that feeling better than most. That your very existence is so inconvenient to someone else. And when he saw that in me, he offered something I did not think I would have a chance at again: a way to have my pack back, but more honorable. Held to a higher code. Ties to stop me from slipping back to being a monster. A life aspire to that does not mean leaving half of myself out."

Sol's gaze grows distant for a moment. " So please do not think that we take what is to be Mando'ade lightly. And I'll believe in the Manda enough for both of us for now "

[Raven Cadera]

"That's not how it works, Sol. It is the action of the individual that determine it, not that someone else wishes it. Just like you could not simply wish hard enough to not be discarded by the Empire or to be turned away by this other person, so it is here."

She shrugged calmly. Thousands of years ago she knew that the Mandalorians of old had forcefully recruited on the threat of death, but that was long ago in the past. And was not the way she had been taught to follow the way. "You will not find solace with the Mando'ade this way. If he is dar'manda, then he is not one of the people. Others will not accept it, some might not even accept your adoption as it was performed by someone who was in no position to do it. As his family now, you are the one in the strongest position to guide him, rather than leave him soulless."

Still, she continued in her calm manner, as someone who knew the ways of teaching and passing on her knowledge. "To be dar'manda, it is a fate worse than death for a Mandalorian. It might not be an accurate answer as I'm no master of the Force, but... imagine if you cut yourself off from the Force, to no longer be connected through it to all life in the galaxy. For us, that is how it is. It is serious."

[Solork Tan]

Solork takes a deep breath in and lets it out.

"So, you are saying that if you had a single non-believer in your clan, one Mandaolore born, raised their entire life in the tradition, was versed in all of the customs, who lived every day of their lives following the Resol'nare and the code in all ways but that one...and you would contest that their offspring would be Mando'ade? "

[Raven Cadera]

"You misunderstand, child, and you misplace your frustrations," Raven replied calmly, her form leaning against the workbench behind her. Her words were spoken with patience, as one did when teaching those who did not yet know.

"Some might not accept your adoption, as the one performing the rite did not do so with the intention of completing all of it. Gai bal manda - the name of the ritual, it's very meaning is name and soul. Both are just as important as the other, but the question becomes how can one not part of the soul carry it on to the next? It's not a question I have an answer for, to be honest, I've never encountered such a conundrum. Some might say yes, some might say no. I personally don't think it means you cannot be Mando'ade, but rather, I see you now as a lost child with an irresponsible parent that might not be able to provide what you need, even if their intentions are good."

"Born Mandalorian or not does not matter, but... again, you misunderstand, though it's not your fault." She pressed her lips together for a moment, searching for the right words to explain. "If you just go through the motions of what is expected, without thought or understanding behind it, are you then truly doing it? To be like that, it sounds more like just following some programming, without understanding the purpose... that's no way for Mando'ade to live. And, can you call others family, if you also deny that they are part of you? I hope that might explain more to you what it means to be dar'manda. It's not an easy subject to talk about for me, as I never thought I would encounter one ever in my life... and there is much you don't yet know, though that is not your fault or failing. But I hope you understand what I'm saying in that you can help them. I believe it's certainly possible for someone to no longer be dar'manda."

[Solork Tan]

"Not frustration. Confusion" Sol corrects. "And I note that you did not answer the question. I ask because it seems like something that would be a non-issue for many born into the culture. How does one test the sincerity of such faith? How many quietly hide their doubts and go through the motions, but hide their insincerity behind looking the part?"

Sol returns to working on his staff. "I ask not to upset you, but because it is too much in the nature of sentients to act in such ways. Furthermore, there appears to be a staggering number of disagreements among what is the proper way to live the tenants of Resol'nare. I do want to live them well, and I certainly won't pass up education, especially about the Manda. Like I said, I find it easy to believe in, and if you wish I will certainly entreat J-Richo about it. But if one should truly make it a part of their being and not simply live out ritual, then all aspects must be questioned. And if any wishes to call me dar'manda, may they have the courage to back up their words with steel"

[Raven Cadera]

"You asked if I would contest you as Mando'ade, as the child of a dar'manda. My answer was I wouldn't," she repeated calmly, making it clear that she had answered the question he had asked.

"As for the Resol'nare... I suppose you could say it is in our nature to be a contentious people, with our disagreements. But the times we have united, it has been as brothers and sisters, united in spirit." Raven paused taking a deep breath. "It's for your sake, I ask that you try... for him and yourself. If he is to be your parent, he must embody it all, to teach you all. Otherwise, I worry your path will be difficult, and incomplete. Like a blade that's missing a component."

There was a soft sigh, one that seemed too heavy for someone her age. "You must learn before you can boast or make threats. There is much you don't yet know or understand. Your words already show that you act and speak before you consider. Had you been able to spend more time learning about the Mando'ade, to understand our ways, before hastily accepting the adoption, then you would understand that we don't question or pretend sincerity about who we are."

"Meeting your adopter, I didn't question who I thought he was, until he spoke honestly himself that he did not believe. Though, as I said, that he still believes himself Mando'ade while also openly saying he is dar'manda, makes me worried, even if I know that it's something I can't do anything about directly. I want you to know that, so you may know what he hasn't told you. So you can make your own choices going forward, and to be prepared for what it would mean for your futures."

[Solork Tan]

"You asked if I would contest you as Mando'ade, as the child of a dar'manda. My answer was I wouldn't," she repeated calmly, making it clear that she had answered the question he had asked.

"As for the Resol'nare... I suppose you could say it is in our nature to be a contentious people, with our disagreements. But the times we have united, it has been as brothers and sisters, united in spirit." Raven paused taking a deep breath. "It's for your sake, I ask that you try... for him and yourself. If he is to be your parent, he must embody it all, to teach you all. Otherwise, I worry your path will be difficult, and incomplete. Like a blade that's missing a component."

There was a soft sigh, one that seemed too heavy for someone her age. "You must learn before you can boast or make threats. There is much you don't yet know or understand. Your words already show that you act and speak before you consider. Had you been able to spend more time learning about the Mando'ade, to understand our ways, before hastily accepting the adoption, then you would understand that we don't question or pretend sincerity about who we are."

"Meeting your adopter, I didn't question who I thought he was, until he spoke honestly himself that he did not believe. Though, as I said, that he still believes himself Mando'ade while also openly saying he is dar'manda, makes me worried, even if I know that it's something I can't do anything about directly. I want you to know that, so you may know what he hasn't told you. So you can make your own choices going forward, and to be prepared for what it would mean for your futures."

"No, you did not answer the question I asked at that time. I asked whether one of your Clan would fall under such scrutiny." Sol's voice carries no malice but his gaze grows increasingly far away from her as he speaks, instead focusing on the staff. "However, your followups have effectively provided an answer." The pauses as he welds a piece on. "Right. Manners. Thank you."

The Gank does turn an eye up, and a raspy chuckle rattles through the helmet, static washing in before returns to the work, idly inserting a tool into a section and twisting. "And please forgive me, Basic is something of a second language, never mind the third I am working on. I do miss nuances. You see, you said something about a boast or a threat. To my knowledge, boasting is to speak with excess pride of themselves. A threat is an attempt at intimidation, an intent to deter by promising retribution. As best I could tell, issued neither. There, what do you think?"

Sol presents his staff to Raven, pride in his voice. (Formidable Perception or Vigilance with setback if she desires, otherwise, it looks like a nicely crafted walking stick)

"As for your concerns, would it help to allay them if I were to continue to take lessons from a teacher who you trust? Or regular visits to ensure that I receive an education in the areas that you deem necessary?"

[Raven Cadera]

She chuckled briefly. "Saying that Mandalorians would have to back up their words with steel, considering you're still just a child who is new to it all... yes, I would call that boasting. A threat, some would certainly see it that way. Members of the Death Watch would certainly respond that way."

At his question in return, Raven is quiet, contemplating it. "... I'm not certain, to be honest. I've never before seen a situation like this. The closest would be the one I trained, after the one who found her died, but that was different as she had lost her adopter." Her gloved hand touched her face as she considered it.

"...It somehow seems wrong. And it will be something I have to give some thought. For the time being, I'd advice what I've been saying so far; that you in return help your new family. From there, it might be easier to know where to go. I... I don't think I would be the right one, to step in and provide the training you lack. At least not soon, when I have other obligations I must see to first."

There didn't seem to be any recognition in her eyes that the item was a weapon. It was just... a fancy stick? Maybe it had some unseen gadgets she didn't see. "... A stick?"


---------

D9 EE Fluff and YOLO Vigilance roll to recognize walking stick as a weapon? Formidable: 3eA+5eD 2 failures, 4 threat


Bah just a walking stick!

[Solork Tan]

"Indeed. Is it a very good stick And yes I see the confusion!" Sol seems to beam, as if he has found the answer. "If one places his hand in a fire, is a boast or a threat to tell him that he may burn himself? Others might be insulted construe it as bragging about the quality of the fire stoked, or that they cannot handle the flame, but it is neither. It is describing a consequence. Even a child can do that."

Sol pulls back the stick. "Just so with issuing the greatest insult one can muster to a member of the Mando'ade? Because...if there is a greater one, would you please inform me? I would hate to use it without meaning to. You know, because, new language. That's a lot of vowel sounds. You never want to insult somebody accidentally."

The Gank looks ahead, putting as much positivity to the synthy rasp as he can muster. "And I certainly shall do my utmost to help my clan after all. Aliit and Ara'nov. If you can think of someone who has he time and talent for such a thing, I would be excited to meet them"