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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"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!"

Exploring Alien Cultures, Monday

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