Mandalorian Culture

[Anastasia Rade]

She wasn't an expert on the Mandalorian culture and she wasn't portraying that she was. Anastasia just knew a lot due to her studying and teachings. She was embracing everything around her and trying everything. She wasn't born into the culture like many but had been brought in by Azrael. They made her feel welcomed as if she was a true member. Anastasia took the Manda to heart and she was more than willing to share her knowledge with others.

The young witch was still learning herself but she had no problem sharing that which she knew with others. They could kind of learn together which could be fun and useful to both parties. They were in the same boat when it came to being sort of outsiders. She was less of one now after Teta but still there was still so much to learn. She learned something new everyday and was still working on her custom set of armor. Working on it more or less meant it was designed and that was it.

Spreading the books she had across the table she waited for him to arrive. Anastasia didn't know much about him except he was interested in learning and she was happy to help. If he was serious about this she would know and be able to let others know. It would be nice to have another on their side.

[member="Sarkin Vance"]

 

[Renato Sarkin]

Sarkin wandered the halls taking in the area sipping from a bottle of ale he had gotten from one of his stops between here and there. He knew nothing about Mandalorians other than the rumors that they were some of the best fighters around. Fighting was one third of Sarkin's personality next to drinking and making credits. Apparently there was someone willing to fill in the gaps for him so here he was navigating the halls to find her. Sarkin turned the corner and stepped into the room looking at the desk littered with books.

Sarkin frowned.

"What the feth is this?" "Please tell me I am lost and accidently walked into somebodies archives."

Sarkin looked up from the books and saw [member="Anastasia Rade"] his demeanor changed slightly.

"Then again you are probably the loveliest archivist I have ever seen." "Perhaps I may stay awhile anyway."

Sarkin holds out the bottle.

"Drink?"

 

[Anastasia Rade]

Anastasia wasn't really an archivist although she did collect a lot of things. The reason for that was she was trying to learn. Well, they were also cool so that was the reason she kept them at her place and made good reading material when she couldn't sleep at night.

"Sure, why not?" She had a feeling that she was going to be quite interesting. He probably thought her an expert which she very much wasn't. She was willing to help him put the pieces together. The funny thing was she really didn't have herself together. That didn't mean she didn't know her stuff.

"I'm Anastasia. I heard you were interested in the Mandalorian culture? Or wait, how about we have a drink and you tell me what you are interested in learning and more about yourself."

She smiled closing the book in front of her. The young woman never had been one for chit chat. This she attributed to her lack of common interests with others. She didn't want to get into her backstory and have others pity her.

[member="Sarkin Vance"]

 

[Renato Sarkin]

[member="Anastasia Rade"]

Sarkin took a seat setting the bottle on the table between them. He snickered slightly at being asked about himself.

"Interested in Mandalorian culture?" "Well no not really but hey if it means I get to hang around such a lovely specimen then why the kark not."

Sarkin took a swig from the bottle putting it back.

"There is really not much to tell really." "I have been a scum bang gangster since I learned to walk." "I am a big fan of drinking and fight. some times drinking while fighting." "I heard you guys are the best so I thought I would come see what all the fuss is about."

Sarkin smirked.

"When I am not drinking and fighting I enjoy the company of the fairer sex whether acquired temporarily with credits or by my own wit and charm for an extended stay."

 

[Anastasia Rade]

She couldn't help but shudder slightly. It wasn't his fault of course but her beauty had always been an issue for her. Reminding herself that she was on the outside now the young woman took a deep breath. She was sure that he was a nice guy just like others she had come in contact with. It was just she always deferred to her past experiences. It wasn't the way to go or live however somehow she always ended up there.

"Well, your in luck because Mandalorians also enjoy fighting and drinking a lot. You could also say that's apart of the culture as well as a bunch of other things." She normally wouldn't use the term things however in this situation it seemed as good as any term. She didn't want to get too in depth right now and scare him off. "When we fight we will wear armor or truthfully we always wear our armor it's a part of us. The reason I don't have any at the moment is because I'm making my custom suit or Beskar'gam as its called." She was still working at earning it and being apart of the people whom had so readily embraced someone like her.

"The woman around these parts are different I'm sure than the others you have woed into your bed. But tell me, what do you find yourself fighting most of the time."


[member="Sarkin Vance"]

 

[Renato Sarkin]

Sarkin laughed at her comment about women.

"Most of the time I fight whatever or who ever needs to be fought if the pay is right." "The rest of the time I fight who ever is trying to take something that belongs to me."


Sarkin smiled taking a swig from the bottle.

"Never really much cared about the who or the why." "Just the when and the how."

[member="Anastasia Rade"]

 

[Anastasia Rade]

"Well, we do that too. We also will fight for causes that are close to our heart and we fight together. It is at the end of the day all about family. Are you interested in being apart of something bigger than yourself?"

Anastasia wanted to know what he was thinking before going any further with him. She didn't want to waste her breath on someone who really wasn't that serious. The young woman had other things that she could be doing. Having him sit here and oggle her was not apart of the plan.


[member="Sarkin Vance"]

 

[Renato Sarkin]

Sarkin shook his head.

"The only people I call family are the three other people that came here with me in my ship." "The only people who have stood by me from the very beginning even when they entire weight of the gang came down on us they stood by my side and watched my back."

Sarkin took a sip from the bottle setting it back down.

"I am a criminal Ms. Rade." "I trust no one and call even less family." "I find myself fascinated by the rumored accomplishments of your group but don't think I am just going to drink up the juice just because you call yourselves a family." "That being said you want to educate me on your beliefs then I am all ears."

[member="Anastasia Rade"]

 

[Anastasia Rade]

"I don't have anyone I consider family. I'm not sure I still understand what a family is or positive relationships are but that's another story." She paused for the moment and took the bottle from him to take a swig herself. Hopefully he wouldn't mind and if he did so be it. Anastasia didn't much care and if it bothered him that much she would buy him another.

"I know trust takes time and learning to trust someone when you have been beat down over and over again is hard. I don't think it's impossible though to trust again. Do you?" She was in the mindset that she could learn to trust others and she wasn't trying the impossible. If she could do it, he could as well.

Sighing she took another swig from the bottle. Seriously she was going to need to get them more alcohol soon. "I'm not asking you to join, just maybe hang out with us awhile see what you think. Perhaps you'll find your home amongst us. I recently did and now am absorbing myself in the culture. Before you ask, no I didn't come from some high class lifestyle. I have some demons of my very own I'm still fighting."

Anastasia could help him, perhaps they could help each other.

[member="Sarkin Vance"]

 

[Renato Sarkin]

Sarkin smiled watching her drink all his booze.


"Fighting your own demons?" "Having something to fight gives you focus I would imagine." "A home is not something I have had in a long time unless you count leaving on a ship for months at a time."

Sarkin shrugs.

"Who knows what I will find here."

[member="Anastasia Rade"]

 

[Anastasia Rade]

"I wish they gave me more focus but they just manage to keep me up all night. I do know I hate the Sith and will do anything to stop them. That is another story and we are here to talk about you not my sad past."

Picking up the bottle she frowned slightly seeing that it was empty. "Sorry about the booze. What do you say we get out of here and get some drinks? I'll than tell you everything I have learned in the last few months about the Mando's?"

[member="Sarkin Vance"]

 

[Renato Sarkin]

[member="Anastasia Rade"]

Sarkin smiled shaking his head.

"Don't worry about the booze." "I drink too much anyway." "Besides if I drink any more I will forget about the reason we are both here and decide to shamelessly start trying to sleep with you."


Sarkin looked at one of the books on the table casually before looking back up.

"So what's lesson one then?" "We can talk about killing who ever later."

 

[Anastasia Rade]

He was right of course they ought to not drink anymore. She needed to lay off the bottle as it was or it was bound to get her into trouble. Anastasia could find herself going along with his plan. Not that would be a bad thing though.

"Ya, your right we do drink too much. We can do that later. Though I'll have you know Mando's do drink a lot when we are fighting. Lesson one, you do not have to be born Mandalorian to become one. You can also be adopted or join one of our many clans. Each clan is different but at the end of the day we are all connected under a sole ruler our Mand'alor."

She paused for a moment and signed. They currently didn't have one as they had just lost their last one. "If you have any questions as I go on please feel free to ask."


[member="Sarkin Vance"]

 

[Renato Sarkin]

Sarkin smiled giving her a nod.

"Born or adopted into a clan." "I assume the clan is not necessarily determined by birth then?" "By what then are they bonded together?"

[member="Anastasia Rade"]

 

[Anastasia Rade]

"Clans are normally broken into families or if not really it's based off whom you bonded with. Though many will join a clan because they are all farmers or engineers so based on skills. I'm no mechanic but I couldn't see myself in any other clan because I was save by one of the members. He's more or less a father figure to me."

When it came to skills the young woman was lacking but she was learning a lot and was always bubbly and cheerful around others. She could be anything that she wanted when she grew up only she hadn't decide what that was at the moment.

"Before you ask, there is no special clan for drinking."

[member="Sarkin Vance"]

 

[Renato Sarkin]

[member="Anastasia Rade"].

Sarkin laughed.

"Then perhaps I shall have to create one." "With banners and holovids and endless merriment to be had by all." "I shall call it "Keep Calm and Drink" or maybe "Drinkers with a fighting problem." ............. oooo wait I know "Fighters with a drinking problem."

Sarkin reaches into his pocket making a few notations before looking back up.

"Sorry you were saying?" "What's next?"

 

[Anastasia Rade]

“You could do that, or you could just join one. Seriously, it’s easier than becoming the head of a clan and having to make all these decisions especially when your just starting out. I’m lucky enough to have the opportunity to experience the culture as I am learning. Everything makes more sense to me that way especially the language. I learn by actually using it and hearing it from others. We speak Manalorian which can be difficult at first but you’ll learn. “

She was learning slowly but surely and she knew that if he hung around long enough that the language would sink in for him as well. He would just need to be patient with himself and not beat himself up when things became too difficult. It was easy to say, but harder to do as she beat herself up over things all the time.

“As much as we love fighting and drinking the most important thing is family and those we care about. Its why we fight to protect those we love, what is ours and to come back to such.”

[member="Sarkin Vance"]

 

[Renato Sarkin]

Sarkin smiled listening to her speak having no real recourse to interrupt for the moment.

When she finished Sarkin absently scratched his chin.

"Fair enough I suppose." "I guess having a purpose to what you do is helpful, a purpose other than yourself." "Tell me something for what purpose do you fight?" "What brought you to these people and this place?"

[member="Anastasia Rade"]

 

[Anastasia Rade]

"I had been a slave and the Mandalorians saved me. A member of the clan Skirata took me in and helped me adjust to life on the outside. He shared with me the culture of his people and showed me how to fight. It's been an uphill battle that I'm still fighting but he's still there for me. They all are in one way or another. Instead of casting me out they welcomed me in with open arms."

She was really going to need that second drink now. Though honestly she didn't want to be a drunk and it would be better to find a different outlet but for now this worked.
"I fight those whom have enslaved me, the Sith. They have terrorized the galaxy long enough. They have also killed many vode including the Mand'alor. There is a head to each clan as well however he is our sole ruler. They all get together to talk about the affairs of the galaxy. Soon there will be a ceremony to find the next Mando'lore which will be quite the event I'm sure. Young men and women will step forward and fight for the right. The strongest, bravest among us."

[member="Sarkin Vance"]

 

[Renato Sarkin]

[member="Anastasia Rade"]

Sarkin listened to her story nodding at times to what she said. It seemed reasonable enough and a story he knew all to well. For how many young people men and women both had he sold into slavery for a quick credit or just because the had stood between him and his goal. He realized their was most likely a great deal about his past he was better off keeping hidden than to share. Even though he was not sure why he found himself actually giving a feth about what this girl thought of him. Maybe he was just getting sentimental in his old age. Shaking his head Sarkin loked back up at her.

"So your purpose then is a mix of justice and revenge against those who did you wrong with these Mandalorians as the instruments of that goal?" "The goal being these Sith who did you wrong."

Sarkin looked thoughtful for a moment.

"I can respect that."