Ka'rta Tor (D7, EA)

[Raven Cadera]

As always when looking for guidance, Raven looked around the Enclave for Praxton. Dredgen had earned a lot of newfound respect with her, but Praxton remained the one she trusted the most.

[Honor]

Praxton was speaking with one of the other Mandalorians, a man with armor that was dark with red coloring mixed into the black-paint giving a very deep red color to his appearance. When Raven appeared Praxton noticed and looked to the Mandalorian he was speaking with, finishing their conversation.

Turning, he approached Raven as she approached him in turn, "Su cuy'gar, Sister. None other surprises me as much.." he says, a mixture of praise and worry. "You have a look, do you need something?"

[Raven Cadera]

Seeing him engaged with someone else, Raven got ready to wait, even if she was curious. Though with Praxton approaching her, she gave one look to the other Mandalorian before looking back to him.

"Su cuy'gar, brother. Is... this a bad time? I can wait."

[Praxton]

"No, it is fine. We were merely discussing some details of their current situation," he said, assuring in his tone. "I am at your service, if you have need."

[Raven Cadera]

Without her helmet on, she looked... contemplative was perhaps the best word. At least she didn't seem to have any new bruises, but it seemed she had already given her armor its baptism of fire, so to speak, with at least one faint blaster bolt mark visible.

"You seem overly concerned," she smiled to put him at ease. "It's just that I've been thinking more about my suggestion to Mand'alor that was refused... even more now that I've seen more of how the clones fight and act. I think it's a mistake to refuse them a place as Mando'ade. They're our brothers. Long lost perhaps, but brothers nonetheless."

[Praxton]

"I.." he looks around, leads her over to somewhere they might sit as this was a conversation he felt needed the attention. Removing his helmet he placed it down on a surface that was workable as a table, but wasn't.

"I understand," he said, first, foremost. "Those clones have had no choice in being who they are, and they follow a warriors spirit. By all rights, they should be allowed to follow the Resol'nare as we do. To join their strength to ours. Yet.. I too feel the pain their creation caused. A galaxy saw our way, the strength that our people have earned for themselves and they chose to take it. They disrespected the Resol'nare, our people, and stripped away all meaning from what we are and instilled the parts they liked into obedient soldiers. Mando'ade are not obedient soldiers. We are warriors. Free warriors whom fight together of our own choosing. That the clones seem bred to.. be removed from that, even I have my doubts.

[Raven Cadera]

"I agree that it's wrong what the Republic did, what Jango Fett did, it was wrong and a deep insult to us. If either of them were still alive, we should have let them feel our wrath for it." While she was calm, she was quite sincere in her words.

"But if these show free will, and a want to be more than slaves, how can we deny them the ways that Mandalore the Ultimate gave us?"

She shook her head. It was a shame how the clones had become disposable tools of war.

[Praxton]

"We should not," he said, his voice heavy. "Yet, I understand the pain it causes our people. Mandalore.. is not a man who forgives easily, and he has felt their creation as a personal slight to the beliefs he has so fully devoted his life to restoring."

[Raven Cadera]

Raven sighed and crossed her arms as she leaned back in her seat. She felt there was more. More than what was being said, and yet she felt out of place in pushing about it.

"... I believe in them, and I won't stop believing in them. And I've given them my word that if that is what they want, I will stand for their cause." She rubbed her neck. "Is there... a way, to try to make Mand'alor change his mind? Or something? This is kind of a point where my own upbringing isn't enough in knowing what to do. What is the right thing to do."

[Praxton]

"Mand'alor is not a man to change his mind. True, I have altered his direction on occasion as he listens to my counsel but.. that is always before he has already decided his course. While he has not barred you from recruiting them he has placed every obstacle in your path, and is sure to continue to do so. While you have Vex you cannot take on another, Dredgen could take on one.. but I do not believe there are any others who would openly rebuff Mand'alor's preference," he said.

"There are two paths forward.." he said, looking to Raven, "neither is wrong, not in our eyes. You might bide your time, slowly work to change mind and sentiment among your fellow Mando'ade. Or.. if there was a change in Mand'alore, you would merely need to petition them again. Unless you were to challenge Mand'alor yourself.. but I cannot advise this. My brother is far your senior in battle, even as far as you have come. Even I doubt I could take him in a challenge."

[Raven Cadera]

There were things Raven was patient about. Hunting was one. Surviving too. However, when she saw opportunities, especially ones who made her one step closer to taking her revenge on the Empire and Vanito Cadera, she was quick to grow impatient... and so she frowned as she had to weigh her options, leaning forward again with her elbows on her knees and fingertips touching eachother.

"Aren't challenges like that between Mandalorians to the death anyway?" she looked up at Praxton. Uncertain, but not ruling out the craziest option it seemed.

[Praxton]

"They are, once a Mand'alor is challenged there can only be one victor, only one can be left standing else we risk a degradation of command among the Mando'ade, of respect," he said, leaning his head back. Sighing heavily.

[Raven Cadera]

That made sense to her, in the way most things made sense to a Mandalorian. Raven nodded and sighed as well. She had no interest in killing Praxton's brother, even in the unlikely event that she could defeat a warrior many years her senior and much more experienced.

"Relax. I'm not going to challenge him," she reached out and put a hand on Praxton's knee. "I know I'm dumb and get myself into trouble all the time, but... don't worry. I... didn't go through all those years, surviving on my own, to throw my life away without having avenged my family."

"I'll just have to find another way, I guess."

[Praxton]

"You are a strong warrior," he said, leaning up back off the wall and looking to her with a fatherly kind of smile. "Not just that, but smart as well. I am certain that all you wish to accomplish will be done, in time. Conquer your own, perhaps.. one day you may even rise to Mand'alor yourself and conquer those problems which face all Mando'ade," he said, there was a hope there that his tone betrayed despite his attempt to conceal it.

[Raven Cadera]

"I would be a terrible leader," she retorted truthfully, but with a brief laugh. At least the person she was now would be a terrible leader. To consider oneself to be a name to be remembered along with the Ultimate, the Preserver, the Indomitable, the Avenger... well, what kind of young Mandalorian hadn't imagined such a fantasy at some point in their lives? A younger Raven certainly had.

"It's not exacty playing to my strengths, but I'll continue to speak for the clones who would want to pursue their true heritage as Mando'ade." She had a brief smile as she spoke of them. "They'd hardly need any training, at least this group. Last night, myself, Clay, and a couple of bounty hunters worked with them to take out a base..." in good Mandalorian fashion, Raven recounted the events of the previous night's mission alog with the others and the clones.

[Praxton]

Praxton listened on, a subtle grin all to convey his thoughts as he listened along. Both to what she said before and the story that followed after. After the tale he clapped the table-like surface with a full palm, "Well, I'll say you've seen well their prowess for battle. Theirs and that of the other fellows too," he chuckled a deep sorta chuckle.

"There is an old understanding that strength attracts strength, and this tale only serves to prove it," he commented.

[Raven Cadera]

"Tranq's been a good comrade-in-arms, but I know that the path of a Mandalorian isn't in the cards for him." While Praxton had her utmost and complete trust, she wouldn't share the Karkarodon's secret.

"I'm not familiar with that saying... but yeah, I suppose there's something to it. And it's been good to fight alongside others after doing so much on my own." Raven crossed her arms across her chest. "Though there's one thing about last night puzzling me. All those clones were just given numbers by their creators - these guys have earned or been given a name by their brothers."

Her eyebrows lowered into a line as she seemed pretty puzzled. "One of them they call Ladykiller, Lad for short. Which from what I understand is because of his number, and the others seemed to find it hilarious, but I don't get it. What's so funny about 6969?"

[Praxton]

Praxton coughed, and then immediately choked on his own spit, surging forward in the surprise of it. Quickly he brought up a hand and waved with it to show that he was alright. After a good, long while, he wiped the few tears that had accumulated at his eyes from the shock to his system clear. Pounding his chest twice, he coughed with each one.

"That's.. uh.." he stammered, "an.. inappropriate joke. Relating to.." he coughed again, "well, not something you need to concern yourself with.. but.. if you really want to know, maybe one of your peers? Someone you trust should answer that question," he said,

[Raven Cadera]

At first she watched with great concern, fear taking her for a brief moment. It eased as he gave signals that he was ok, yet she still seemed worried until he had completely composed himself.

"Hmmm... I don't know." Varina was unlikely. She didn't want to ask any of those who knew the clones because then she had to admit she didn't get the joke. That left... Manny and Jyrvess. Or Lysa.

Raven shuddered at that. Neither of them were people she wanted to ask about something that made Praxton of all people react that way.

"You're someone I trust more than anyone though. Just so you know that. You believed in me, and helped me be.. a better Mandalorian."

[Praxton]

"I hope I never give you reason to regret that trust," he said, dipping his head in respect. There was a proud look, "I am glad to have done what part I may to add to the foundation of your success. I will be glad to see all that you shall become and all you shall do."