[Jaster]
Entering the training room he raised a brow at the group of warriors just milling about, talking lowly to one another and gesturing at the mats. Shoving his way past them with a huff, they were so focused on the fight before them they didn't even notice his presence at first, he made his way to the front. When they finally realized who was in their midst they quickly moved out of his way to give him a full view.
And what a view it was.
Squaring off against one another Ben and Jango stood a few feet apart, eyes unwavering and bodies poised to move at a moment's notice. In their hands were a pair of beskad, Ben's longer and more slender while Jango's was closer to the heavy sabers favored by the Mando'ade. He wasn't quite sure what triggered the attack but Jango launched himself forward with a ferocity that stunned him. His son made three quick strikes that were easily deflected as a wide grin crossed Ben's face.
"Good! Watch your form, keep everything in close, no wasted movements. Speed and precision are your allies, strength comes in time." Hearing Ben as he coached Jango through another round of strikes made his budding feelings for the man all the harder to ignore.
He was teaching Jaster's son how to defend himself with a traditional Mando weapon.
Stars it was attractive.
Apparently he wasn't the only one who noticed either. He could feel the approval and interest coming from the people all around him.
A lesser man might feel jealous, territorial even, but Jaster just felt grateful. His people, for all their faults, were accepting of those who came to them looking for a new way of life. Jaster couldn't help but wonder what path Ben would follow now. He could already see the man would be an excellent teacher to any children put in his care.
With a twist that was all technique Ben stole Jango's sword and caught it in his offhand before spinning it expertly in his palm to readjust his grip. Pointing both weapons at Jango he maintained his sharp focus until the teen finally backed down. "I kneel." Jango admitted in defeat. Ben smiled and it was like the morning sun.
"Excellent work, Jango! You're a quick study and know yourself well. With more training and a little more height I don't think there will be any enemy you can't defeat." The teen's cheeks pinked slightly at the praise, even as he pretended to grumble at his loss. It made Jaster chuckle at the easy way the two interacted with one another.
"You didn't tell me you were ambidextrous." The teen huffed, sounding more annoyed than he felt.
"Always keep an extra blade hidden in your boot." Ben replied, the skin around his eyes crinkling with mirth. It was an old saying, and one that still held true.
"Yeah, yeah." Jango groused, rolling his eyes, but it was clearly for show and Ben knew it too as he huffed in amusement.
"Are you ready to try the moving meditation again?" Jango frowned, looking down at his hands and flexing them for a moment before looking back up at Ben, nodding in acceptance. The redhead handed him back the beskad and stood nearby, where Jango could see him. The man murmured quiet instructions, nudging the teen into place before slowly leading him through what appeared to be proper sword forms.
"Alor, looking for your wayward ad and your ru'jetii?" The warrior next to him asked. Jaster glanced at them and wanted to groan at the wide grin on their face. Rikad Moru'teh, exceptional slicer, and the biggest gossip in the Haat'ade.
"Got it in one." He admitted easily, hoping to forestall any unnecessary peculation. "Last I heard he was supposed to be teaching my kid meditation." Rikad snickered.
"He was, but apparently your kid thinks too much." Jaster snorted in amusement.
"And that turned into beskad lessons… how?" Rikad shrugged.
"Not sure. No one was paying too much attention to them until they started sparring." Jaster raised an eyebrow and the warrior shrugged. "Your kid can take care of himself and they were just sitting there quietly, like statues. Pretty boring." Clearly that had changed when Ben and Jango had drawn swords, as the large group of spectators could attest to.
"Well, it looks like everything is going well here-" As one of his warriors stalked confidently toward the redhead Jaster wanted to let out a groan of frustration; he'd spoken too soon.
The green armored verd stopped just outside of Ben and Jango's reach, one hand wrapped around the hilt of their own beskad. "Just because you're here now doesn't make you qualified to teach the ad of the Mand'alor." Jango's shoulders stiffened with offense and Ben's eyes turned calculating as he looked the warrior up and down, as if trying to judge whether or not it was worth the effort to respond. "You haven't even proven yourself capable yet and you're already corrupting our ade with your jetii teachings."
"You know," Ben said loudly, with an obvious Sundari drawl that set Jaster's teeth on edge, "if you wanted to spar all you had to do was ask. No need to make a large spectacle out of it." Ben motioned for Jango to step back and his son glowered at the intruding verd before he obeyed. Jango was a smart kid, he could see what was going on just as easily as Jaster could.
Jaster knew that some of his people would have a hard time accepting Ben, even though they could all feel how Manda sang for the man. What he hadn't expected was someone to challenge him so soon.
Spying his father Jango jogged over to stand next to him, beskad sheathed at his waist and crossing his arms over his chest as he glowered at Ben's challenger. Jaster glanced down at his kid and placed a hand supportively on his shoulder. "You alright?" Jango let out a low growl.
"He's one of Montross' old lieutenants." Jaster scowled, finally placing the man.
"You could have cried challenge, you're old enough to defend your own honor." Jango shrugged half-heartedly.
"It… didn't feel right. This is Ben's fight. He has to prove that he has the skills to teach me." He looked up at Jaster then over at the two warriors who were standing with swords drawn but making no moves.
The fight was over so quickly Jaster wondered if time itself had sped up for a moment or if Ben had been using the force.
"You cheated!" Claimed the now defeated warrior. Many who had still been gathered around to watch the drama unfold hissed and growled in response.
"I see." Said Ben, looking at the discarded beskad lying on the ground. His eyes narrowed for a moment before he looked over at Jaster and placed a fist over his heart. "I swear on the Ka'ra, before the Mand'alor, that I will not use the Force if my opponent wishes a rematch." There came a hush as all eyes turned to Jaster.
"I accept your oath." He nodded at Ben before turning to the challenger. "Do you wish to challenge Ben Vhehn of Clan Vhehn, House Mereel, to a rematch?" The man stiffened, knowing that if he didn't accept the challenge now he would be seen as a coward. Getting to his feet he picked up his beskad.
"I do. To first blood." Jaster hid his grimace behind a blank mask. Ben was wearing bracers and basic training clothes, while the challenger was wearing full armor. It would be a difficult fight.
"Ben?" The man gave him a wide grin, eyes sharp and calculating.
"To first blood." Ben accepted, turning and falling into a ready stance. Jaster looked to his opponent, ensuring he was ready as well.
He waited a moment or two just to be safe before calling for the match to begin.
To say that Ben was an exceptional warrior would be doing the man a disservice.
If anyone had asked Jaster he might have been able to warn them about how easily the former jetii had wiped the floor with Tor- but no one had asked. The man was a former jetii and had at some point in the past had military training, though that was only a guess based on what Jaster had observed of his behavior.
The match didn't last much longer than the first.
Even after the man had added in a couple of surprises Ben just danced out of the way before counterattacking with pure skill. Again the challenger's sword ended up on the floor as his arm bled sluggishly through a hole in his kute.
"This proves nothing." Ben's eyes darkened and his expression became thunderous.
"With and without the force I have been proven the victor twice. Yield, before a simple challenge becomes a duel." There was a heavy feeling in the air now, like an oncoming storm.
"That's enough." Jaster said, striding forward so he was in full view, Jango on his heels. "Ben has proven himself multiple times now. First by saving my life, second by killing Tor Vizsla in single combat, third by saving Jango's life, and fourth by swearing the Resol'nare and completing his Cin Vhetin. The Manda accepts him as one of us- I will not repeat myself a second time."
It is, perhaps, a little heavy handed but the murmurs and feelings of agreement-acceptance from the majority of his people tell Jaster he'd chosen his words well. Jango looked more than a little smug as he went to stand beside Ben, arms crossed and shoulders squared.
"As for beskad training." He said, turning to his son. "Ben is free to offer, and Jango is free to accept. As a legal adult no one may interfere in his decisions save for his Aliit." Meaning it would be up to Jaster to do something about it if he didn't approve.
Of course he couldn't actually see that happening any time soon. Ben was the only option they had if Jango wanted to learn about the force properly without hurting himself. On top of that Ben had done nothing but be courteous, respectful, and treat Jango like the intelligent young man he was.
"Like anyone could stop me." Jango muttered under his breath, just loud enough that Ben and Jaster could catch the words. He snorted in amusement and glanced at Ben to see the man smiling. It almost looked wistful or nostalgic but quickly turned fond.
"Now that everything has been sorted, you lot get back to work!" He called out over the crowd. "I'm sure some of you are going to miss the beginning of your morning shifts!" There were a few grumbles and curses but the crowd did end up dispersing quickly.
"Thank you for the vote of confidence, Alor." Jaster let out an exasperated huff.
"I told you to call me Jaster." Ben blinked at him before his brows furrowed..
"I thought that was only because we were going to be aliit, before my ori'vod intervened and I became a Vhehn." Thankfully Ben had kept his voice low, for which Jaster was thankful.
"You saved my and Jango's lives; call me Jaster." Ben smiled.
"Of course, Jaster. Now; I do believe I was teaching Jango how to meditate." Jaster raised a brow at the man and pointedly looked at the swords they were both carrying.
"Meditation?" Ben chuckled.
"Moving meditation is best for those of us who cannot clear our minds of all thoughts. Engaging the body can help center the mind and I believe Jango will be quite good at it. He's already shown a talent for swordsmanship." His son stood a little taller at the praise, a smug grin crossing his face.
"Don't let him get a big ego." Jaster half joked. Ben's eyes practically glittered with amusement.
"I don't intend to. If his head starts getting too large for his helmet I'll be sure to correct him." He spun the sword in his hand for emphasis.
"Good. Now you two have fun, I have paperwork to finish." Ben gave him a sympathetic look before turning back to Jango.
"Shall we start from the beginning?"
Jaster left with the pleasant image of Ben teaching his son the art of the beskad in the back of his mind.
Maybe he would ask the newest Clan Vhehn member for some sword tips later…
Mando'a;
Beskad/Beskad'e- Beskar sword, they can come in many forms.
Ad/Ade- Child, Children
Ru'jetii- Former Jedi
Kute- Underclothes, also Flightsuit/Undersuit.
Ad- Child, Son/daughter
Aliit- Clan, family.