Private Memoirs of a Mando

[Ven Munin]

Ven could have rolled her eyes, but she refrained and let Aito finish what he was saying. His debt was hardly the type she had expected from him, but she still had something to address before she commented on that. When he trailed to a stop, Ven lopped her head toward him, with an incredulous look on her face.

“I know what that laugh means.” She stated in a plain tone. “You think I do not know hardship.” Ven punctuated her speech with a long draw of her cigarra. “You are wrong in thinking so. My people used to live on the plateaus of Zanbar. Credits were not something that crossed our path often. We hunted and made our own tents, cooked our own food, traded and bartered and took whatever contracts we could when we managed to get off world. Mandalorians have grown too reliant on modern comforts. They are too easy to forget their roots. There is always another way. A better way than owing something to somebody else. It is never easy, but definitely better.” She finished by throwing the stub of her ciagarra to the ground.

That was hardly the reality of her own life now, but she still practised her people’s ways as best she could. Still, Ven didn’t want Aito to think she was judging him. In order not to sour the conversation, she continued. “I suppose that it is easier to say when you grew up in that life to begin with and not somewhere like here.” Glancing up at him, her lips curled into something that could have been described as a smile. However, there was a sizeable bruise forming on her chin that distorted it in a way that made it rather hard to tell. “I am pleased you won now. You are free of your debt.”

Aito commented on moving locations, and Ven responded by shooting a glance back toward the inside of the factory. Everyone in there would likely be fighting for some time. She and Aito had been one of the first to fight. As the night ticked on and the tihaar flowed, there would be more signing up. They had some time, and she felt more uncomfortable standing out in the open than she did sneaking off whilst everyone was busy.

“Sure.” She finally said, pushing herself up off the wall and motioning for him to guide them. They could talk properly behind the safety of four walls, and it had to smell better than the arena they just left behind. “We have to be back before the fighting ends though. More trouble than its worth to piss off these di’kuts.”

Aito Vautah​

 

[Aito Vautah]

Tag: Ven Munin

Aito watched as the indignation spread across Ven's body. She knew that he thought she lived a privileged life then went on the offensive about how tough her upbringing was. He kept his smirk on his face, he refused to believe that her life was not a privileged one. Even when you have to do things yourself, not just buying your way through life, there was privilege in that in comparison to a lot in the galaxy. Just take Nar Shaddaa, those less fortunate couldn't afford to buy supplies and take care and the city moon could not provide game for hunting in comparison to more rural worlds.

Did he think that she was rich or living a life of luxury? No, but she was privileged in being able to have food every day, to breathe in clean air and have family that loved her. His upbringing was very much the opposite. "Modern comforts are only available to those with money, everyone cannot afford those comforts. Also, modern Mandalorian has dealt with plenty hardship, the force users have ensured that." Spat when saying force user in disgust, he despised what those people did to Mandalore and the people there, turning them into beskar. That was what he had heard when looking to get his own beskar.

She did calm and he nodded his head, things were easy to judge but hard to empathise when your life is complete opposite to the one you look at. Even Aito could admit he was likely bias in his view of privilege since he struggled for every scrap he got, "I did not mean to cause offense either. My life has not been easy and owning debts is less I have had to do to survive." Aito admitted as he finished his deathstick and stubbed it out, placing his helmet back on.

Nodding his head, Aito led the way, his rented accommodation was not the biggest or most impressive place to live on Nar Shaddaa. He opened the door and gestures to her to walk in. He looks around and things seemed to be quiet which was a relief. "Much better, we can head back later if that is what you wish. I am sure we won't be missing much." Aito never stuck around after fights, he preferred to relax and take in the fight in his own space. Perhaps just use to his isolation that crowds were not a comfort for him. His room a mess but he attempted to shifted things around to look neater. "I... Yeah, don't have guests so wasn't expecting anyone else to see this..." Aito mentioned in a flush of embarrassment.​

 

[Ven Munin]

Ven seemed to grow uncomfortably stiff when Aito expressed his feelings on force users. Since being forced to leave Zanbar, she’d come face to face with this sort of reaction a lot. Perhaps her people were significantly privileged, in the sense that they had found a safe haven on the harsh and unforgiving plateaus. Somewhere hidden from the bigotry of the wider galaxy. Ven wasn’t even aware that Mandalorians had a problem with force users until she had come across them away from Zanbar.

So, she decided to keep the fact that she was a force user to herself, for the meanwhile. It wasn’t as though she was a sith, or a jedi, or whatever else force users liked to label themselves as nowadays. She could use the basics if she wanted to, but it was considered a last resort for her people. It took a lot of energy. Unless she and Aito were to suddenly face a life-or-death situation, there was no reason he had to know.

Silence was the dominating factor as they made the short walk to Aito’s home. Ven wasn’t expecting much, and she was greeted with exactly that. Nar Shaadaar didn’t seem like the type of place you found expensive luxury apartments on. Especially not in the district they were currently in. She took a quick glance around but returned her gaze to Aito pretty quickly. In answer to his comment, she gave off one of her trademark shrugs.

It wasn’t any worse or better than the inside of her tent had been. “Home is home no matter what it looks like. Thank you for inviting me in.” She threw herself down onto the nearest available seat and stretched her legs out gently.

“Why do you gamble?” There was a genuine note of curiosity in her voice as she asked. It wasn’t a practised custom amongst her people. Another thing she had only come across once she left Zanbar. The concept was a confusing one, to say the least. “It does not feel like something that is worthwhile. Why put your money on something that can only be controlled by luck? The gambling I have seen, it looks like there is no skill involved at all. Even the part you play is mostly left to chance. Winning must feel good, I guess, but losing must feel twice as bad...” There was no judgement in the way she spoke. It was almost like she was just speaking the first thoughts that came to mind. Aito probably wasn’t aware of it, but it was the first time Ven had spoken to anyone in almost a year.

She didn’t enjoy the sound of her own voice, and she hadn’t missed it in the slightest, but she enjoyed how it felt to be comfortable around someone again. That was what speaking was to her. It meant comfort, safety, and trust.

Aito Vautah​

 

[Aito Vautah]

Tag: Ven Munin

As Ven made herself comfortable on a seat, he removed his helmet and started unstrapping his upper armour to allow himself feel more comfortable in the room. His underlay showed off his strong frame as he stretched and rubbed his sore muscles. Fighting in the armour was never a fun experience as he massages his shoulders. Looking over to Ven he offered a warm smile, "did you wish for a drink? Something strong or something non alcoholic? I would avoid the tap water, never trust pipes in these areas." Aito offered with forewarning.

He never noticed the stiffness when it came up about Force Users, if he had then he would assume she felt the same as most Mandalorians did. He had little encounters with them, but he heard all about the troubles they caused their people, especially on Mandalore, the genocide was intense and heartbreaking. He pours himself a beer as he thought about the current status of Mandalorians, he wasn't sure how others were recovering from the ordeal.

When Ven asked about his gambling, the concept clearly did not make sense to her and she wished to understand better. Aito was curious what her life was like since it seemed a very secluded one, unaware of the outer galactic affairs. "I gamble because it brings me joy, the risk of losing money is countered by the amount you could win. Bounty hunters don't always make a lot of credits to live on so gambling can be a way to ensure that I get enough money to survive. It is also a social experience, a way to not feel alone." Aito gestured around the room, to show that he lived alone and did not have anyone else.

"It depends on what you are gambling, the chances of luck is balanced with a game of skill. Need to understand the rules and the people as much as the game. I can learn a lot about a person from the way they gamble." Aito commented, while there was a lot of luck needed, he needed to be skilled to play the level he did. He waited to see if Ven required a drink before he settled himself down on the seat next to Ven.​