fandomhigh | Exploring Alien Cultures, Monday

When they got to Odessen this time, they headed for the military staging area, where Nell (assuming she's there) would be happy to see a number of Mandalorians sparring (and drinking, and arguing), with a late middle-aged woman with bright red hair and brighter silver armor watching over them. She turned and nodded to them.

"Beniko."

"Mandalore."

Lana turned back to the students. "Today, Shae Vizla, Mandalore the Avenger, will be telling you something about her people, the Mandalorians." She stepped back.

Shae snorted. "As if a few minutes is enough to say much. We're warriors. That doesn't mean we're mindless killers. We're honorable. Being Mandalorian is a promise and a way of life. We live by the Resol'nare, our law: we wear our armor, speak our language, defend ourselves and our family, raise our children as Mandalorians, contribute to our clan's welfare, and rally to the Mand'alor when called upon. We don't have any one homeland or species - anyone can be taken into a clan. And those that fail to live honorably and by our rules can be cast out. Each clan has its own leader and can have its own rules, but they all follow the Mand'alor. Not literally - we tend to be wanderers."

At this point, a number of the Mandalorians had come up to lounge nearby, several with smirks as they listened. Shae pointed at one. "K'uur, Rass, don't say a word!" He held up his hands, grinning. She looked at another. "Jekiah, I miss anything important from the last few millennia?"

"We're a bunch of unmanageable jai'galaar?" Jekiah answered wryly.

"That part goes without saying," Shae answered.

"We're the best warriors!" One of the men near him yelled out."

"Don't drink with us if you can't hold your liquor!" a reptilian piped up.

"Or eat with us if you can't take a bit of spice!" one woman added.

Shae facepalmed as she shook her head. "Making Jekiah's point for him. All right, udesii! Answer questions or take it elsewhere."

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Ready to fight!

Liberty Hazlett

Gladiolus Amicitia

Nell Ingram

Alara Kitan

They're a well-regulated veneer over a rowdy bunch.

Well, it didn't take long for Gladio to feel assured that taking Lana up on her invitation to drop in on her class that week was a good idea, even if some of the banter and familiar camaraderie between the Mandalorians gave him a little ache of homesickness for being among the ranks of the Crownsguards and working with the Hunters over the decades.

And no offense to Prompto and Ignis, and it's be a whole lot worse if he didn't have those two around, but it still wasn't quite the same.

So he was there, looking around with an amused grin on his face, his massive greatsword strapped to his back, and a large stuffed duffel bag in his hand.

What? Iggy always said it was rude to be invited somewhere and show up empty handed.

(Although he had a feeling Ignis might not entirely approve of this particular gift offering).

And a good number of the Mandalorians were eyeing that sword, yes. (And a good number of them were eyeing Gladio, too. What? They (mostly) had eyes.)

Nell was here, of course! She listened respectfully to Shae, but couldn't help but drift over towards the group of women she knew. She'd been happy and excited to see that Gladio was joining them today and quickly pointed him out to the warrior women.

Oh, they were absolutely checking him out! Both in his own right and for his suitability for Nell. Venda raised an eyebrow at Nell and gave her a wink.

Nell nodded her head towards him. "So that's Gladio, the one I told you guys about." Was she blushing a little bit? She was. But she was mostly looking shyly happy.

"He's a big thing," one of the women observed. "Got brains to go with that muscle?"

"He does," Nell said with a grin. "He's very smart. And funny. He's pretty amazing just as you see him, but wait till you see him fight."

"That sounds like a challenge," another of the women said, rubbing her hands together. "Can't wait!"

Nell grinned at them. "I can't wait to watch!"

Ask questions, get answered by someone!

"So!" said Gladio, cheerfully. "I hear this is the place to go if you're looking for a good spar!"

That got a laugh from the whole group, and a cheer from a few of them.

"Okay, I have to see how you use that stupid big thing!" Rass Ordo piped up. "Where's our blades?"

Gladio huffed in amusement, because it wasn't like he was going to deny the accuracy of that description.

"But first," he said, holding out the duffel bag, "a gift. For your hospitality, and for hopefully having a good challenge ahead of me. Traditional warrior fuel, from back home."

Said with a grin and a wink sent over in Nell's direction, because, of course, the bag was entirely stuffed with containers of Cup Noodle^TM.

Based on the reaction he'd gotten so far, he was pretty sure the offering would be appreciated.

Edited 2023-07-17 22:49 (UTC)

Nell hit her forehead with her hand and laughed as she shook her head, because of course Gladio had brought Cup Noodle.

A few of the Mandalorians came forward to see what it was, and one of them frowned at the label. "Don't read High Galactic. What's it say?"

Another opened one up. "Huh. Looks like some sort of rations. You just eat it?"

"Not quite," said Gladio, looking far too proud of himself over all of this than anyone should have a right to. "They're called Cup Noodles^TM, and they pack a whole lot of incredible flavor in convenient, easy-to-make packages. All you gotta do is add some hot water to cook up the noodles all nice and soft, add in the packet of seasoning, and you're in for a whole world of nutritious and delicious fuel to get you through even the toughest battles and strenuous spars."

"Huh. Hey, Kahvo -"

"On my way!" A younger Mandalorian headed off. "Hot water coming up!"

"It'll take a few minutes to get," the man that had started said. "Meanwhile, let's see how that thing swings." He nodded his chin at Gladio's sword.

"What?" Gladio reached to grab the hilt, stepping back a bit before he pulled it out, because he was going to do so with a casual twirl of the blade, to adjust it in his grip to hold it out in front of him as if to inspect it and grinning back over the edge. "This old thing?"

Then lifted his chin back.

"What'chu got for me to swing at?"

One of the women, shorter than Gladio but with about as much muscle for her size, stepped up, grinning, and lifted a beskad in one hand and a dagger in the other.

"Right. Let's see if your style matches your reach, ad'ika!"

Or stay here and eat and drink (or spar!) with the Mandalorians. Heed their warnings.

Nell was here to spar and eat and - she was fairly sure - about to watch Gladio spar with her friends.

Shae is awesome!

Exploring Alien Cultures, Monday

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OOC!