(D8 LA, Mando Safehouse) Kit-Bashing

[Varina Ordo]

"Kind of like how good morals protect you from making dumb decisions, right?" Varina shrugged. She still wasn't sure why she hadn't sought the suit harder beforehand. It'd take a bit too much self-awareness on her part to know it'd been a rebellion against her own identity.

"Before? Why not still?" Regardless, she eyed the helmet with pursed lips. "Only so much room for designs though."

[Raven Cadera]

Raven chuckled. "Maybe a little? Good morals can only take you so far, really. Need guts, good instincts, to back it up. And good companions around you too."

She eyed the helmet silently for a moment. "Still, I suppose is a better word. Just... no, not gone, merely marching far away." There was a sense of solace for her in speaking in the traditional terms for a someone who had passed on. "Never forgotten. My brother... I owe it to him that I'm still alive today. Of course, we argued and fought like siblings do when we were children, but he was very dear to me. He would've been an excellent warrior today, had he been alive."

"I just want to figure out a good way to add him and my parents to my armor somehow."

[Varina Ordo]

"Good guts, morals, instincts, armor... friends." Varina raised a brow. "Quite a lot to survive in the galaxy, isn't it?"

She nodded along, making sure not to comment on the 'marching' analogy. Time and place to comment on warrior culture. "Ah, well, let's see. You have the feather going on there, which I assume is reminiscent of your family. Maybe... I don't know. Let's talk about him then. And your parents, if you want to."

[Raven Cadera]

Her lips pressed together into a thin line, clearly finding it hard to speak on it. "Robin, my brother... he and I were very close. He was a skilled hunter, and a pretty good shot. He... was supposed to have had his verd'goten, the coming-of-age-hunt, the day after." She swallowed. "The day after he died. I was sure he would've done well for the hunt. He was always the best of us, always succeeding at the tasks our parents gave us, and always knowing how we could get into trouble when they weren't looking. Was the one who taught me to play the harmonica too."

Raven inhaled softly, steadying herself. "Robin was a true Mandalorian to the end, giving up his life to protect me; his younger sister who was too scared to know what to do when our parents were attacked."

[Varina Ordo]

Varina scratched the back of her head. "That's rough, uh, witnessing all that." Nothing in her life had prepared her to be a good source of comfort. No loss, not of the same sort, had come to her. Closest thing was her lost leg and absentee mother but she was at least alive.

Rather than dwell on the past, she hoped to look to the future. "It's been awhile since you've played your heart out, hasn't it? Might be nice to have that again."

She eyed Raven's helmet. "I dunno if a harmonica or a music note would work."

[Raven Cadera]

She nodded, not quite sure how to put it into words herself. Raven was usually composed and strong, but it was obvious that it was still a deep scar that plagued her still, and would for a long time.

"Mm, you're right. I haven't played any music at all while we've been here on Bellionas... I think I'll play some when we return home. Who knows, maybe I'll even give a try at singing? My father used to do that a lot for us when we were children. And listening to Dhel, I'm thinking maybe I'll give it a try too." Raven rubbed briefly at the corner of her eyes, and forced herself to smile. For the sake of herself, Varina, but also looking forward to the future.

"You never had any siblings growing up? Or other close family?"

[Varina Ordo]

"I guess it's been a bit busy for it, huh?" Varina pursed her lips. She hadn't really thought much on Dhel's performance when there'd been all that food to take. "Singing, though. I can kind of see it. Maybe you'll do that like... battle musician thing?" An awkward smile grew on her face; she was still absolutely terrible at comfort.

"No, no, I'm the only one. I guess my mom realized after me that she definitely couldn't have other kids. But for the rest, I guess there're my uncles. My father's brother's husband," she said, making the links with her fingers. "He's the one who taught me how to fight."

[Raven Cadera]

At least changing the subject seemed to do the trick with Raven's mood, as she had learned to easily go with the flow of the conversation.

"Battle-musician? You mean like the one who leads the clan in song before battle...?" she seemed intrigued with this idea. "I do know a lot of the old songs of our people... Clan Cadera somewhat prides itself on honoring a lot of the old pieces of our culture; the songs, the dances, the rites..." and having grown up on Concord Dawn, she was more used to many of the rituals based around the changing seasons.

"Ah, uncles huh? Have you spoken to them lately then? If he taught you how to fight, he probably would be proud to learn you got your beskar'gam now."

[Varina Ordo]

"And during!" Varina piped up. She pursed her lips and resumed surly mode. "I do think a rousing speech would be in order though. Morale, well, is always important." She tilted her head. "Maybe we should think of more ways to break the enemy earlier on, rout them so we don't have to cut them down to the last, you know?"

On the subject of her family, she was less enthused. "I guess he would. He's not exactly a primo-fighter now though. Heck, I wouldn't even be surprised if he'd answer the Empire's questions about me." She sighed. "Kind of a relic of the past, I'd say. At least my mom keeps fighting."

[Raven Cadera]

"Your father didn't... or hasn't..." there was some questioning in her tone, as she didn't know for sure, "so I don't think your uncle would either."

Raven ran a hand through her hair. "As for morale... you do know that the war-dances of old were meant to psyche ourselves up for a fight, while also terrifying any enemies who saw it. You've seen Dha Werda Verda performed before? Maybe in old history lessons?"

[Varina Ordo]

"No, he hasn't. I don't think I've landed myself in any lists for them to come knocking on his door, to be honest." Varina winked. "I'll leave the press to you."

She couldn't suppress her smirk at Raven's explanation. "Oh so that's what those were! I didn't think they would actually work. Figured it was some sort of... exaggerated bit of history that dance majors came up with to make their degree seem relevant."

[Raven Cadera]

Raven laughed. "I mean, it could be exaggeration? I've never seen it performed myself, but I was told that it would strike fear into the hearts of our enemies when they witnessed a battallion of warriors move with such precision and coordination."

"Maybe it did in the old days, when war was a more ritualized ceremony for the gods, as noted in the old texts. But, today? I suppose I can see the appeal in it the night before a battle, or something..."

[Varina Ordo]

"Hey, even if it's not that regimented, I'm sure people would still find it fun." Varina propped herself up and hopped on over to grab more of her paint supplies. Her eyes burned with determination; she definitely intended on taking care of herself. "And hey, maybe my new leg will make me have a bit more talent for dancing."

Once she got everything she needed, she scooted back to her seat. "Although, come to think of it, I think people already do pretty well for morale in the Enclave. Maybe it'd help after it gets bigger."

[Raven Cadera]

"Varina the dancer," Raven teased with a few warm chuckles.

"Morale, a sense of unity and belonging, are something that must be maintained and nurtured all the time. But... yeah, more people to join? That would be great. We have many strong and capable warriors, good and reliable all. But we need more people who are experts in other matters. Engineers, builders to work on the Enclave itself, medics or doctors... a lot of things are needed really."

[Varina Ordo]

"Hey, I'd say Claymore is pretty good at tinkering. But overall, I'd agree. The Enclave is mainly good at one thing." Varina left that part unsaid. "Just thinking that it'll get harder to maintain as it gets bigger is all. That's how all things go."

[Raven Cadera]

"He's pretty good at it, yeah, but he's also just one person."

Thinking, her fingers drummed idly against the table. "Depends. Following a traditional structure, leaders who take up more responsibility for either a smaller group or task answer to Mand'alor, who oversees from the top. This is how it works with the various clans and chieftains: they handle their stuff, and Mand'alor listens to them."

She sighed as she thought about it more. "Guess that means Orar and Praxton would both be busier, as our numbers grow, and additional members will be given more responsibility."

[Varina Ordo]

"That's true. Hopefully one day he learns how to make beskar'gam himself. I think he's worth of following that tradition, at least."

Varina shrugged at the organizational structure. That sounded a lot like it'd involve more authority figures. "Good luck with all of that. You're going to have a lot more responsibility yourself, you know."

[Raven Cadera]

"I think so too. That or work on the basilisk war droid." She stared into space for a moment. "Imagine if that thing became operational again..."

Would be like Life Day and birthday at the same time.

Varina's next words does hit close to home though. "Oof... yeah. Probably? But, whatever more responsibility Praxton will shoulder, I'll share with him. If it means spending my time improving the lives of us all though, I don't mind it. As long as it doesn't mean I'll have to keep picking up your mess," she smirked at Varina.

[Varina Ordo]

"That thing is a relic. I'd be surprised if you could even salvage anything useful from it." Varina shrugged. "It would be pretty cool to see it moving around. I just think it'd be more practical to have two people know how to make proper armor. Might keep others from losing a leg, huh?"

She rolled her eyes. "I don't ask you to do that. I can take care of myself. But the others? I dunno, they seem more attached to your leadership. I'm sure you'll have more under your wing in no time."

[Raven Cadera]

The eyerolling was met with a laugh. "It's our camp, Varina. It should be clean and tidy." The tone was a little chiding, but in good humor.

"Attached to my leadership? ... I don't know. I'm just doing the best I can in the situation I'm in. That everyone's trusting me is, well, it does put on some pressure, but we should always try to challenge ourselves. Not sure if I want that much more under my wing though... I don't feel like I've handled this well enough to warrant that." She cast a worried glance to Varina's leg.