Author's Note

This chapter is short and more of a filler chapter. I wanted to establish Mahin's knowledge of the "radical" faction of Mandalorians, Death Watch (though Mahin calls them traditionalists because she's trying to be nice), since it will greatly inform her future interactions with Din. Not all of this is necessarily correct in regards to canon. Again, I've only seen the main movies. But, you know, I tried my best, guys. Hope you still like it, even if I get some stuff wrong.

Go onward and enjoy!


Carving Out a Place Pt. 3

The three of them sit on crates in the hold eating ration packets for lunch. It tastes so bland on Mahin's tongue. Like mushy sawdust. She can't wait to get real food. She polishes off the rest of her packet as fast as possible without gagging to get it over with and then turns to Mando, intent on asking him if he prefers chicken or pork.

The question dies on her tongue when she realizes he faces away from them, helmet tilted up just past his chin so he can eat without revealing his face.

She knows some about the Way. Melinda was teaching her. Not to get her to take on the Creed or anything. But because Mahin was curious and wanted to learn. She wanted to learn about their culture, their beliefs, because they're important to her friends. So she knows of the Resol'nare. The Six Actions, guidelines a person must abide by in order to consider themselves Mandalorian.

Wear the armor.

Speak the language.

Defend self and family.

Raise your children in the Mandalorian Way.

Contribute to the clan's welfare.

When called upon by the Mand'alor, rally to his cause.

Interpretations of the Six Actions vary among the coverts. One of the most controversial being the armor. All Mandalorians wear armor. Not just for protection but as a sign of their people. So that all who see them know them as Mando'ade.

So if wearing the armor is Creed, what does it mean to take the armor off? Especially around others who are not Mandalorian. In Mahin's understanding, it typically falls into three types.

One type believes it doesn't matter to take the armor off, especially the helmet, no matter when or around who. The armor is simply a tool, not unlike their blasters and vibroblades.

Others believe it's okay to take the helmet off but only around family and close friends. That's what Melinda's covert believes. Strangers may only know the helmet, the face of the Mandalorian people. But to keep one's face from close friends, family, their own children? That's unnecessary. They don't need to go that far, because ultimately it proves nothing.

Then there are those who believe that taking the armor off around anyone, ever, is of the utmost blasphemy. No one may see the face under the helmet. If it happens, then the Mandalorian is disgraced and banished from the covert. They become dar'manda. They lose the right to call themselves Mandalorian, losing their heritage, their identity, and—some believe—their soul. It's considered the traditionalist view.

Well, traditionalist puts it mildly. Luca likes to use more expressive words to describe them. Like radical. Zealots. Extremists.

They're…not really liked by the rest of the Mandalorians very much.

Their traditionalist beliefs—about the armor and other things—caused a Mandalorian Civil War that ultimately led to the traditionalist faction of Mandalorians breaking away from the rest, leaving their brethren and their homeworld behind. The faction broke apart into coverts, spreading out among the stars. They never went home.

And then the Mandalorian Great Purge happened. The hunters became the hunted, Stormtroopers decimating entire coverts through numbers and technology alone. It forced all Mandalorians to scatter across the galaxy, leaving their homeworld—Mandalore—behind in a landscape of ruin now under Imperial control. The divide in the Mandalorians never healed. Not even with their shared grief.

So what does this Mandalorian believe? He said he was a foundling. What he believes will come from whatever his covert taught him.

Based on what she's observed so far, she has a suspicion.

"I don't mean to step on toes," Mahin starts slowly, setting her empty ration pack aside, "and, really, I'm only asking so I don't step on toes later. But you, um, you don't take the helmet off in front of anyone, right?"

Mando's shoulders stiffen as he takes one last bite and sets his pack aside as well. He lowers the helmet squarely back into place before turning around on his crate to face her and the kid. "That's right. I can let no one see my face."

She bites her lip, looking down at the child next to her sadly. "Not even your foundling?"

Mando follows her gaze. "No one," he repeats, reeking of sadness and regret. "Ever. This is the Way."

Her head tilts in contemplation. A traditionalist, then. And that's all he's ever known probably. Depending on how old he is, he would have been just a baby or not even born yet when the Civil War happened. And it's not like a traditional covert would ever teach foundlings that other Mandalorians have different views.

However, the regret intrigues her. If he truly believes this is the Way—the true interpretation of the Six Actions—then she would expect an answer laced with more confidence. Stated boldly. Proudly.

Sounds to Mahin like he's questioning. Because of the child.

A part of her wants to push it—the kid should know Mando's face even if he doesn't stay for long—but she respects his decision, his beliefs. And she's an outsider. She doesn't have the right.

There's always more than one path to the same destination. Her parents taught Mahin that. But it's other Mandalorians who will have to show Mando. He's probably only ever known his own covert, people with the same traditional beliefs. They'll have to find other Mandalorians with a different interpretation. Let him witness it for himself.

She aches with the wish to find Melinda and her covert again. But who knows where they ran to?

Clearing those thoughts from her head, she knocks her heels against the crate she sits on. "Alright. I'll do my best to respect that. Maybe we could come up with some kind of system for whenever you do take the helmet off? So I don't accidentally look when waking up in the morning or entering a room? Maybe even a blindfold?"

He leans back, voice sounding almost choked when he asks, "You'd do that?"

"I'm the one coming into your home." She shrugs. "I want you to feel comfortable with my presence and not be afraid that I'll see something or do something I shouldn't. I'm sure we can come up with something that won't be a hardship, for either of us."

She hops off the crate, collecting her trash, the kid's, and then taking Mando's as well, stuffing it all in the trash compactor. He doesn't move, just stares at her silently. Even when she turns back around. Her fingers fiddle with the sleeves of her coveralls where they tie together around her waist. He has such an intense gaze through the visor. Like his helmet allows him to see right through her.

What would a man like him see? A hopeless girl, clinging to her freedom and sanity? Foolishly wishing she could possibly belong by his side? She suggested a kriffing blindfold. She can't think of anything else sounding so desperate.

Yet she really does just want him to be comfortable with her presence. The question is, does she succeed?

"Come on," he says suddenly, getting up to go collect a satchel. "We better get moving."

She sighs deeply. Will she ever know what goes on in that bucket of his?


Author's Note

So, there you have it. Again, sorry if I got stuff wrong. I probably won't go into much greater detail than this. I want to eventually lead Din into being okay with taking the helmet off, like how season 2 ended.

You may or may not have a surprise later today. If not, then probably tomorrow.

Hope you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW, and see you all next time!


Translations

Resol'nare (the Six Actions, tenants of Mandalorian life)

Mand'alor (sole ruler of the Mandalorians)

Mando'ade (Mandalorians, plural)

Dar'manda (a state of not being Mandalorian, not an outsider but one who has lost his heritage and so his identity and his soul, regarded with absolute dread by most traditionally-minded Mandalorians)

Mandalore (home planet of the Mandalorians)