Ask We All Love Cannons

[Carrick]

He had been so busy recently that Carrick was beginning to become more aware of the lack of time he had spent with his Mando. Reiel had been around, of course, but she had gone on some other missions and most of his security needs had been met by the ISC as a matter of course when it came to the Galactic Senate meetings and all the rest he had been doing more recently. There had been some objections to him bringing in his own security at first but Carrick had done his very best to ignore them.

Being the Secretary of Defense, he was largely able to do this without fear of repercussion. Unless Reiel turned out to be a massive security breach, he didn't believe that President Thorne would actually care all that much as his other colleagues within the ISC would only be able to use her against him if she did turn out to be such a leak.

And he wasn't worried about that for even a single moment.

He had called for her to meet up with him since he knew she had recently returned from a mission but he wasn't in his office or his flat either - instead he was currently in a warehouse used by the ISC. Specifically, it was used to stockpile the weapons and armor they were buying in bulk to become the new standard issue uniforms and armaments for the ISC Navy and Army.

There were more blasters in one place than he had ever even thought of before but they were all of a standard that he was certain they could all be proud of. Specifically, he was currently checking over one of the 'hunting rifles' that was to be assigned to the sharpshooters within the army. It was nothing short of a cannon at close range and capable of threading the hole of a needle at long range.

He was certain Reiel would love it.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

With Tinnel IV now a part of the ISC and it's Governor now acting as the latter's Secretary of Defense, Reiel was very much aware that she had to step up her game. As head of Carrick's personal security, she had to make sure that any attempts on his life would never come to fruition, and anyone he met ot wanted to have an audience with him had to undergo a highly discreet but thorough background check. He couldn't be seen with anyone suspicious or tied with people with questionable connections – Reiel, after all, took it upon herself not just to protect her sorcerer from physical threats but also the... not so physical ones.

Nirem, her assistant and now close friend, had joked about overcompensation somewhere along the line. They both knew that she wasn't, however – with their employer's new status the two of them needed to be even more focused and attentive towards the challenges said status threw at them. As a former Jedi Knight Reiel was keenly aware that Carrick was more than capable of protecting himself in the event that his life was threatened and she wasn't there to do her job, but as Nirem told her none of them could be complacent with that fact alone.

The ISC had graciously provided her sorcerer with a security detail, and Reiel wouldn't openly admit that the action had... frustrated her. She understood why the Consortium had to resort to that, understood the measures they had to take against possible information leaks. Not that she would even consider becoming a spy for organizations who wished to besmirch the Consortium's image, nor would she do something that could be considered a security breach. She was the Governor of Tinnel IV's chief of security, Manda's sakes, and while she never considered herself to be the sharpest tool in the kit she had the common sense to act and do her job properly–

Sighing softly, the small Mandalorian stared at the warehouse in front of her and fought to urge to run one gloved hand over her T-visor. Frustration bubbled briefly in her chest again at the fact that she had to be separated from her beloved sorcerer and have someone else do her job for her but she knew she really couldn't object about the set-up. And besides, both of them have been rather occupied with their work. While Carrick had been away for Galactic Senate and ISC meetings (where the latter found it prudent to have him guarded by their own people) Reiel herself was busy with some Mando Duties and keeping their (she still blushed fiercely at the word) planet secured through the eyes and ears she and Nirem placed everywhere and nowhere.

Reiel Mal – not the Mando nor the security chief – missed spending time with her sorcerer. Terribly so. Not in a clingy sort of way, just...

She missed him.

So when she received a call from him to meet up Reiel had quickly jumped on the opportunity, leaving supervision to Nirem and making her way to where Carrick was. She couldn't suppress the smile on her face as she entered the warehouse, taking note that it was being used by the ISC to stockpile their Army and Navy's weapons and armor. Any normal woman wouldn't be happy about finding the man they loved in a glorified armory, but Reiel obviously was not an ordinary woman. Even without the influence of the culture she had been adopted into Reiel Mal would still be delighted and in awe at finding herself in said glorified armory.

Spotting Carrick, the small Mandalorian made her way towards him. He was inspecting one of the many weapons lined up in the warehouse, and her greeting died from her lips with a delighted gasp when she saw what it was.

"Fucking hell, I'm in love," she muttered weakly at the sight of the hunting rifle-slash-cannon, her words tapering into a faint moan. "Pinch me, Governor, I'm scared I might be dreaming – is that real? Fully functional? How much damage can it cause? Can and will it blow stuff up? Or do mine eyes just deceive me–?"

The weapon looked heavy and seemed a bit of a drag to carry around given her height, but damn was she absolutely in love with it!

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Heh.

Either his Mando was predicable or he really did just know her well enough to know that she was going to react this way. She didn’t even acknowledge his existence in her excitement over the hunting rifle he had in his hands. His time with Reiel had ensured that he was holding the rifle properly and with the safety on. As she exclaimed in her excitement over the new sniper rifle for the ISC Army, he spun it slowly in his hands as though showing it off for her.

It was the rifle version of a catwalk strut.

“The BM-792 Zok-10 Rifle from Blackwell Munitions.” He ‘introduced’ the weapon to his excitable head of security, “1.1 meters, 10.2 kilograms of durasteel, dallorian alloy and finished with exquisite hardwood.”

He patted the gun as he continued to slowly spin it in the air with the force, rotating it slowly like a showcase model.

“Heavy blaster damage. Heavy stun setting included – semi automatic with an ammo count of just six shots. Capable of downing a Wookiee at 450 meters.”

Carrick pressed the gun into her hands before giving her a sly wink.

“I’m fine, by the way, how are you?”

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Her sorcerer really knew a thing or two about showing off, and he didn't pull any punches. Reiel's attention was focused on the rifle, gaze shifting from the weapon to the way he held it, a small smirk gracing her face. The small Mandalorian stepped in a little closer, helmeted head tilting a little to the side as she listened to Carrick talk about the rifle's composition and specs. Gloved hands itched to just reach out and feel the weapon's weight against her palm, but she stayed the urge and waited for him to continue without interruptions.

The rifle was soon pressed into her waiting hands and Reiel – face predictably turning red – let out a soft, awkward chuckle at the sly wink and inquiry about her well-being sent her way. Of course he didn't let the opportunity to tease her about her disregard for his existence in exchange for her excitement over the weapon he was previously holding.

“A little tired, to be honest,“ she replied in between quiet laughter. Reiel adjusted her hold on the weapon, getting used to it's weight as she began to examine it more closely. Glancing up at Carrick, she shot him a playful smile hidden by her helmet. “But I'm starting to feel better now. I wonder why...“

She would've sent a wink his way, but... helmet.

Reiel might not have been by his side most of the time, especially given that the ISC deemed it prudent to provide Carrick their own security team but her absence didn't mean that she was slacking off. As much as she didn't really like politics she took it upon herself to start learning, first the basics then the more complicated stuff. Reluctant a teacher he might have been, Nirem proved to be helpful and considerate enough to break down concepts for her to understand.

Carrick had taken some time to learn about her language, so it was only fair that she learned about politics, too. And while Nirem's lessons were going smoothly so far despite his open dislike of politics, Reiel found amusement in seeing the usually shameless Morellian blush and stumble under her praise and gratitude for his teachings. Served him right for always trying to guess who her lover was and teasing her about their Governor whenever he had the chance.

...she did complain to the ex-mercenary about the change in the Secretary of Defense's security, after all.

“Mind giving me a tour around, Mister Secretary?“ she asked jokingly, letting the rifle rest on her shoulder as she lightly nudged Carrick with an elbow. Teasing, she continued, “Summoning a Mando to an armory... is this a date? Though if anyone asks, you can always tell them that I'm a friend from work.“

She certainly wouldn't mind if this counted as a date.

“How's work so far? Any reporters asking for more gossip about the nature of your relationship with your chief of security instead of something more sensible?“

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

One of the many good things about having spent more time around Reiel was that he was able to read her moods very well. He didn't need to see the blush to know it was there these days and he didn't need to 'cheat' and use the Force in an attempt to pick up her emotions either. No, he could read it in the way she held herself these days and he very much preferred it that way.

He smiled because he wanted to, not because it made for good political optics.

"I'm sure it has absolutely nothing to do with the long, hard, weapon in your hands." he teased her with another wink, "Maybe you should see about taking a vacation? I hear security chiefs for government officials get paid vacation days."

Carrick didn't answer her question about if it was a date at first - instead merely linking his arm with one of her own. Specifically the one that was not trying to cradle the small cannon that she had seemed to adopt like it was some kind of child. As amusing as being asked about their relationship by reporters was, he hadn't asked her here purely to catch up with her.

While that was a secondary objective, it was not either of the primary objectives.

"Let's call it a working date." he told her with a little chuckle, "I called for a few things and, while one of them was to spend time with you, the others are less personal and more professional. First is to get your opinion, as a Mandalorian and a warrior, on the weaponry and armor we will equip our soldiers with. The other?"

He smirked ever so slightly.

"Well the other is bigger; I would like to know your thoughts on how other Mandalorians would feel being contracted to the ISC Military to serve as trainers, instructors, for our sentients. And, should they wish it, as officers within our Military as well."

Cards on the table was how he liked to play things with Reiel and he was doing his best to get right to the point when it came to the professional elements of their meeting. Their personal time could come later, after all.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

The urge to playfully hit him was so strong, her face heating up at the double entendre and the complementing wink her sorcerer sent her way. Reiel couldn't help the snort, then the sudden bright laugh that escaped her as she restlessly adjusted the rifle on her shoulder, helmeted head shaking in amusement. She wanted to say something about it, but ultimately decided not to, letting her mirth speak for herself. Her laughter abated into soft giggles at Carrick's following comment, her free hand coming up to briefly caress the weapon slung over her arm.

“I have paid vacation days?“ she playfully asked, head tilting a little to the side in a display of mock accusation. The small Mandalorian continued jokingly, “Why am I hearing about this just now?“

She knew she could never out-tease him, but Reiel was highly aware that she could always try. As much as she liked it when he teased her, it wouldn't do her good if she wouldn't try to hit him with her own quips in return. Besides, it wouldn't be fair for her sorcerer to be the only one doing all the teasing in their relationship.

The small Mandalorian could only mutter an artistically articulate “oh, my!“ when Carrick linked his arm with hers. A warm smile brightened her features at the gesture, and she fought every and all urge to just press her helmet against his arm.

“PDA in your workplace? Aw, I missed spending time with you, too, cyare,” she teased him, the words only for him to hear in case someone might be snooping around the vicinity.

Reiel listened attentively as he laid his cards on the table, visibly perking up as he went straight for business. Asking for her opinion was, admittedly, a little surprising given how it involved Carrick's own hard work with regards to the ISC Army and Navy. It was unexpected, but not in any way unpleasant. His primary objectives made her stand a little straighter, made her square her shoulders in a manner befitting her station not just as a Mandalorian warrior but also as the granddaughter of Clan Crowholde's alor.

She had to treat this thing with utter care and professionalism.

“First things first, I'm gonna have to put a disclaimer right here,“ began the small Mandalorian, tapping a finger to her chestplate. “While I highly appreciate your asking of my opinion, as a Mando warrior, I have to say that I really can't speak for all Mandalorians as a whole when it comes to your second concern. It's obvious, I know, but we've got to consider the views of Mandalorian zealots and those who are not. We'll get to that later, let me just go for your first question.“

Her gaze found the rifle she held, then at the shelves upon shelves of blasters before them. Honey brown eyes scanned the compact hand blasters and pistols, appraising rifles and running the specifications in her head. The small Mandalorian carefully removed herself from her sorcerer's side as she approached a rack of BM-548 Blaster Rifles, setting the Zok-10 down first before plucking one of the shelved rifles.

“Blackwell,“ Reiel muttered to herself while adjusting her hold on the rifle in a shooting stance. “Semi-automatic, good choice considering this one's got a longer range than an E-11...“

Replacing the rifle back on it's rack, she then sailed over the hand blasters and pistols, repeating the rudimentary check she did for the rifle and muttering specifications under her breath. Perhaps she should be speaking directly to him and not just to herself, but she there was no need to be redundant about things he already knew – he didn't become the ISC's Secretary of Defense for nothing. And besides, she really wouldn't be able to form a coherent opinion simply by gazing at the weapons before her. She needed to touch them, to feel their weight under her hands, to identify the kind of blaster – pistol or otherwise –a soldier would bring to a firefight.

Kind of like knowing your date first before deciding if it's worthy to bring them home to a set of disapproving parents.

She chuckled quietly at the comparison before turning to face Carrick once more.
“Would it be too much to ask if I'd say I want to see the armor worn in person?“ she asked as she returned the GLIE 44 she was inspecting back in place. “If it's possible I'd like to see how much maneuverability it can provide your soldiers with. Also any lapses in coverage and if the full weight might impede movement.“

She would speak out her opinions after she's done inspecting both weapons and armor. Once they're done with that then she could happily move on to his biggest concern about hiring Mandalorians as instructors and officers for the ISC Military.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

The snort was enough to assure Carrick that he had done well enough to get her rather amused and rather flushed. He would take it as the win he knew it to be despite all other appearances because he was just aware of what it likely meant - and how Reiel had likely dampened her reaction as much as she could by default. Of course, it was a point of pride that she still giggled despite herself and Carrick did nothing to hide the smirk her wore very happily.

He snorted this time.

"Well if you ever spent any time around HR I'm sure you'd have figured it out." he joked back in response, "Just maybe avoid filing that workplace sexual harassment claim, yeah?"

A wink tossed her way carelessly, casually.

The small noise she made when he linked their arms amused him slightly as they started to walk. Of course he tried his best to ignore the light dusting of red that came to his own cheeks at the mention of the PDA he was showing her. It was something he hadn't really thought about and that he had done it without any ulterior motive was... odd.

He was a politician - everything was done with a plan in mind after all, it was just how he worked.

Instead of trying to get a counter in place, Carrick just let her have it as a point won against him in the game they played because he genuinely had nothing to say about it. Nothing to say to dispute it that would be truthful enough for her to believe. It helped that he didn't have to dwell on it as they turned to business instead almost immediately. He nodded in understanding to her first point of order; during his research he had confirmed that the Mandalorians were a fractured people at the best of times.

"Blackwell is reliable as well." he admitted to one of the concerns that had come with assigning a weapon as the main rifle of the Army, "Something that can be customized as well."

Humming a little bit, he gestured guided her to a side door that led into an area that was set up for the armor of the ISC Army and Navy. Gesturing up and down the room, he started to undo the buttons of his shirt.

"Which one do you want me to try on first?"

She couldn't very well take off her helmet in a semi-public place after all.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

A pensive hum was what she had responded to his answers to her mutterings, not entirely lost in her own thoughts while she inspected the weapons before her. Given their connections and dealings it didn't really come as a surprise to the small Mandalorian that the ISC had been quick to amass weapons and armor for their troops, and the hard work of those in office paid off rather well. Reiel was impressed by the choices they made with regards to their Army and Navy's weaponry, and she knew that they'd do better from here on out.

It was unfortunate that her attention was split between her sorcerer and the armory itself that she had missed the way Carrick's cheeks turned pink at her teasing comment. Reiel would have crowed at the point she'd won against him – a shot at (somehow, somewhat) gaining the upper hand in the game they played, for once – but alas! If only she'd gazed up at him she would have seen it, and him not really saying about it did not help her cause.

The way Carrick did things around her without much thought nor pre-planning... had Reiel known the full extent of what she could do to him as much as he knew the things he could do to her, his effect on her. Observant as she was there were things that still escaped her notice, even her understanding. The small Mandalorian never liked to assume, more so in matters regarding the heart, and she never allowed herself to do so in the first place. She expressed how much he meant to her, what her feelings for him were, and she let Carrick figure out his own feelings and what he really felt for her without suffocating him. She understood all too well that this.. relationship... was quite new to him like it was with her.

He was always free to figure out his own feelings and she wouldn't press him about it. She wouldn't even try to lead him to a path that would come out to her favor. She wouldn't dream nor consider it.

Reiel shot the weapons a quick glance before following Carrick towards the side door. She studied the armor closest to her with a critical eye, and quickly became flustered when she looked back at her sorcerer to see him unbuttoning his shirt.

Don't start wandering on me, brain, she chided herself as she tore her gaze off of him and brought her eyes back to the armors beside her. Of course he would be the one to try them on, do you see any other people around here? Kriffing pervert!

"The specialist armor first, cyare," she replied evenly, jabbing a thumb at said armor. "Heavy armor tends to get exploited upon despite the protection it offers its wearer." She wore one herself, and boy did her targets always seem to assume that it would hamper her movements. She was a Mando, and this armor? It was her second skin.

Reiel would move to help him put the armor on should he ask, and should her sorcerer wave her offer off she would instead turn to her datapad to take down notes regarding the weaponry that was presented to her. Once Carrick was suited up Reiel would take a step back, not to admire him in the armor but to test things out with regards to her earlier concern.

"Okay, time to test this bad boy out, but first off: Don't use the Force," the small Mandalorian told her sorcerer almost cheerfully. Reiel moved to a more open space, away from the shelves of armor, and squared her shoulders. "Alright, cyar'ika, come at me."

Only one way to truly find out how the heavy armor would affect the wearer's maneuverability, really.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Huh, how to distract a Mando in one move? Undo some buttons. Of course it was a joke and he would be very surprised if any Mando other than his own Mando would respond in any way that didn't involve pulling a blaster on him. Still, he couldn't help the small smirk that her reaction brought out in him, though he mainly kept it because he knew she was probably going to be getting her own back fairly soon.

Pulling the armor on wasn't that difficult to be honest, even if it was a bit too heavy for his own tastes. As a former Jedi Knight, Carrick relied on speed and motion to avoid being hit. The armor he was pulling on felt like it wanted him to avoid the very idea of dodging in favor of taking a hit in order to trade one right back.

Dangerous mindset in his own opinion.

As it was just the basic suit, it came equipped with only the helmet functions. Standing there in the full armor with the helmet in his hand, he kind of shrugged a little bit. Trying to get used to the weight was slightly different for him considering he wore suits more often than not. But he was getting used to being in armor again. He held up the helmet.

"You want the helmet on as well, right?" he muttered before pulling the helmet on, feeling it attaching to the rest of the armor, "Smells like new speeder in here..."

Don't use the Force? Well he wasn't entirely helpless without the Force so that wasn't going to immediately hand her the fight but, well, one of them was far more accustomed to using armor in a fight than the other. He brought both his hands up in a light ready stance, close to a high guard. Without further warning he made a quick jab with his right hand toward her helmet - as quick as he could with such armor of course. Thankfully the arms were less bulky around the elbows than they could have possibly been.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

While he was putting on the rest of the armor Reiel had managed to take a quick look at her datapad, brows raising in curiosity at a message she'd received from Nirem. The Morellian mentioned something about a package directly addressed to her, and the concern and caution in the former mercenary's message made the small Mandalorian a little uneasy but she had shoved the feeling aside for the time being.

At Carrick's muttered question Reiel replied with a quick nod and a smile. Clasping her hands behind her she turned to face him, posture deceptively lax. Instead her father had taught her to either dodge or use any dirty tactic she could come up with should push come to a shove.

Under normal circumstances she would have met the jab sent her way head on, letting her helmet break her opponent's fingers from the direct impact and the force of their punch. Carrick still managed to move fast enough despite the weight and type of armor for someone to be caught unawares by the sudden quick jab but Reiel was so used to barfights and surprise brawls. The lack of warning was expected, since the first unwritten rule of a fistfight was to catch one's enemy unawares. That, and the fastest combatant almost always won.

Close quarter combat was the bane of her existence, and out of everything she had been taught by her Buir hand-to-hand simply just wasn't her forte. Reiel side-stepped the punch instead of meeting it head on, moving to her left (his right, that is) while closing the distance between them and would make her way behind him.

While she basically told Carrick to come swinging at her, Reiel's intention was not to fight him. The main goal was to test the mobility the heavy armor offered, not to trade punches with her sorcerer. She would dodge whatever attack he would try to land on her while making her own to test the maneuverability the armor offered. As such, the small Mandalorian unslung her DC-15A Blaster Rifle from her back, holding the weapon like a bat, and would swing it down at the back of Carrick's right knee in an attempt to lose his balance while she was moving behind him.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Helmets sucked.

Maybe it was because he didn't like his senses to be dulled even slightly when he was active but they felt weird to him. There was nothing wrong with the helmet he was wearing with the armour (it was actually a nice fit actually) but it still took him a few seconds to get used to it. He didn't warn Reiel about the strike, however, more because he was aware that she would be ready regardless of any warning. Not to mention she had probably forgotten more about combat in armour than he would ever learn.

She moved to his right and Carrick narrowed his eyes underneath the helmet slightly as he followed her. Moving to spin on the spot to keep her in front of him was not too difficult but it was more restrictive than having no armour on at all, of course. Seeing her swinging her blaster rifle like a club at his knee, Carrick tried to spin to catch the attack on the front of his armour rather than the back.

The limitations showed themselves, with him able to turn half of the way so the club hit him on the side of the knee rather than the back. It still hurt but it didn't knock him off balance as much - rocking him slightly without sending him sprawling.

"Tight turns are hard... noted."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

When her strike made contact but not where she had intended Reiel took a quick step back before Carrick could fully turn to face her, creating a distance between them so she could see any attack he might throw her way in retaliation. However he could only turn halfway, and she took it as a cue to one of the armor's limitations. She wasn't surprised that they showed this early, her gaze dropping to the segmented durasteel plates that comprised the armor covering his legs.

But perhaps those weren't the only source of that particular limitation.

"Alright," she muttered, adjusting her hold on her rifle. The small Mandalorian waited for him to fully face her, and at the same time contemplating on what to do next before she came to a decision. "Look alive."

Those two words were the only warning she gave him before throwing her rifle at him. And while she had just deprived herself of the only weapon she could use to attack her sorcerer with, Reiel was already on the second part of testing the specialist armor Carrick was wearing. One limitation had already presented itself to her, and that was one point down for the specialist armor's overall mobility.

She didn't wait to see if he caught her rifle. Reiel had bolted the moment the weapon was out of her grasp, running back where they came from, out of the side door, and back into the weapons' storage hall. For someone small and clad in heavy armor she moved quickly, a testament to how used she was with being weighed down by a mix of beskar and durasteel.

The small Mandalorian wasn't playing a game of chase, though. She wanted to see how fast he would be able to move in the bulky heavy armor the ISC would equip their soldiers with. Making tight turns when it came to hand to hand combat was one thing. How much fluidity did the armor offer while a soldier was on the move – in this case, chasing after an enemy, a perpetrator? And not only in a straight path, but through corridors that required quick turns?

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

He was getting used to how the armor limited his movements now and working around them easier than he had done before. This time when he needed to turn he was able to do so faster, though it involved keeping his legs straighter than he usually did when prepared for a fight in close quarters. Not an issue in a blaster rifle fight but certainly something to consider when it came to hand to hand fighting.

Shifting his weight slightly, he nodded once to Reiel when she gave him something of an actual warning. It was nice that she was still giving him warnings but he was also not going to feel bad about not extending the same courtesy to her. She was good enough to outclass him in a fight like this and they both knew it after all.

Rather than reaching out to catch the rifle like he would have done had he been lightly armored, Carrick took a split second longer to react but when he did he reacted like he imagined an armored man would; he ignored it. After all, his armor was harder, stronger, than the rifle and Reiel hadn't thrown it with enough force to do anything to the armor. Had he been without it, he could imagine a set of terrible bruises but he was fine with that when the armor caught the rifle and it was knocked to one side.

He took off after her in a run and was actually rather surprised - it was very fluid in running. Not quite the same as running without armor because the weight was there but he was surprised just how well all the joints worked in running in a straight line. Though he would bet his lightsaber that it was not quite as good at making quicker turns.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

He reacted just as she had expected, and Reiel didn't stop the smirk from crossing her face while she ran. The small Mandalorian wasn't worried about her sorcerer slowly gaining in her as she let him chase after her in between shelves upon shelves of weapons that lined the warehouse. Without looking at Carrick over her shoulder to check how close he might have been, she quickly turned around the corner to her right, past one towering shelf, and stopped abruptly on her tracks.

Turning to face where he would emerge, Reiel stood in a back stance, fists raised in preparation to deliver a punch. She didn't move just yet and instead waited for Carrick, asking,

"How does the armor feel while running? Too heavy?"

It was a genuine question, one not laced with even the slightest hint of teasing. Kriff, even her own armor was heavy – she had simply, for a lack of a better term, gotten used to her own beskar'gam. For someone as small as her to be wearing heavy armor instead of light or medium ones...

She had initally gotten some flak for choosing the type of armor she now proudly wore. Buir and her ba'vodu Dell were the only ones who supported her in the beginning – the former's advice laced with strong paternal feelings while the latter offered a challenge to prove their other clanmates wrong.

Once Carrick emerges from the corner Reiel would launch herself forward towards him, right arm rising to deliver a swift punch to his chest. Before it could make contact she would abruptly stop, however, and would offer no further follow-up to the punch she wouldn't fully throw. It was an indication that she was partially done with her testing the specialist armor.

"How's the quick turn? Not so good?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Ah, yes, the natural enemy of armor that excelled at straight line motion - a corner.

Cursing up a storm under his breath, Carrick half managed to make the turn at speed and half had to push off from the wall with his hand to keep himself from running into it. It was possible to take such a corner but he really had to think about it and get ready for the corner in advance. He muttered another few swear words under his breath as he approached Reiel.

"Not too heavy really and running in a straight line is actually rather easy - flows quite well in straights feels like." he admitted, "Quick corners are possible but, well, not graceful."

At all.

He reacted to the almost-punch quickly enough, reaching up. Carrick had intended to tank the punch to the chest and used that to grab her wrist. Of course he was only able to really grab her wrist because she didn't fully commit to the punch. He moved his hand instead to give her hand a quick squeeze before letting go.

"It feels like it has a lot of plus points and the downsides will come with use and experience." he admitted, "Though we will be making sure there's no regulations against modifying armor so they get the chance to change it to their own style. You got any thoughts from what you've seen of it?"

Carrick reached up to remove the helmet.

"Think I'll stick to my tailored suit though."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Reiel smiled when she felt him squeeze her hand before letting it go. Her face turned warm at the action – she couldn't tell if it was an involuntary action from her sorcerer's part, and she'd observed some gestures from him seemed to be. But every action felt natural, as if it was becoming second nature for him to show her physical affection.

That thought alone made her blush.

She filed the thought away for further inspection, however, and listened to Carrick as he spoke. Vision lifting up to watch him remove his helmet, stealing a quick glance of his face before her gaze drifted back down to the armor he wore. The small Mandalorian slowly circled her sorcerer, chuckling at his comment about sticking to his tailored, armored suits. Pausing to his left, Reiel sat down on her haunches and inspected the leg armor more closely. Lifting one hand she gave the lower leg armor a light rap, gloved knuckles tapping segmented durasteel plates and frowning at the junction between the knee guard and the armor itself.

“That's good, letting your soldiers modify their armor,“ she commented. “I heard you when you turned ‘round the corner... and it wouldn't do the wearer good if they're chasing someone or being chased themselves real-time. And it's true that the plus points outweigh the negatives when wearing heavy armor, but we just can't bet on the soldiers quickly getting the hang of this thing – not everyone is brilliant at it like you are.“

That last comment about him came out rather unconsciously.

Rising back up to her feet, Reiel crossed her arms over her chest and hummed in thought. She couldn't exactly call herself an authority on armor – that was more her grandfather's speed, being an armorer himself. The small Mandalorian picked up a thing or two from him whenever she was given the chance to watch him craft and modify his or another clan member's armor.

“Hmm... joints,“ muttered Reiel, lightly tapping Carrick's elbow then his knee. He could move his arms easily, that much she saw, and his earlier comment about making tight turns stuck to her. “I was going to suggest that regulation about giving your soldiers free reign to modify their armor but you beat me to it," she said with an embarrassed grin.

"I'm no master armorer, but," she gestured at her leg armor – now out on display unlike before, concealed under a layer of fabric "maybe go for greaves like this? And keep the segmented armor up the thighs – protects the femoral arteries that way. And maybe make a bit of room between the knee guards and the greaves to allow more leg movement... but that's just me speaking, alright? If you want I can subtly ask Grandda about this – he's an armorer, and a wicked one at that."

She might have crafted the durasteel parts for her armor, but it didn't mean she hadn't received any help – Ba'buir nearly had a fit when he saw the finished products of Reiel's initial attempts.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Carrick was glad to be free from the helmet - while not too tight, he wasn't a big fan of having anything covering his head being that heavy. He used spacesuits every now and then but they were required. In his experience, a Jedi Knight like him didn't require something so heavy surrounding their head but he knew that some people liked it. Or, at the very least, managed to get used to it until it was normal - kind of like how he imagined Reiel got used to wearing her helmet all the time.

Speaking of Reiel... she was popping into a squat to examine his legs and Carrick had to admit that it was a humorous situation. If someone came upon them now he would be the first to admit that it would likely end up in a tabloid as some kind of a joke.

"We didn't want them to suffer Stormtrooper syndrome - where everyone and their dog learned their armour's weak points and capabilities within a month." he admitted before chuckling, "I think people more accustomed to armour will do much better than I have but thanks."

Listening to her comments, he was glad that they had managed to think of the part about giving free reign on modification. It would likely mean that some of the armour would look very different by the time some people were done with it but that was fine. So long as they all maintained the basics, they could do whatever they wanted to enhance it.

Carrick nodded.

"I think you're right about the joints - they feel like they could be done better." he grimaced a little bit, "My only concern is that this option was created for a reason; cost. What you're suggesting would probably end up costing more and we're still needing to armour hundreds of thousands of sentients right now."

He rubbed at his chin.

"Contact your Grandda and if he's interested we can get him some crowns for writing up a formal design - what we can do is have it as a suggested first improvement for each specialist. That way some of their pay can offset the individual cost." he grinned, "Did I remember to tell you that I really appreciate you doing this with me today?"

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

The small Mandalorian crossed her arms over her chest, letting out a thoughtful hum as she listened to him speak. She didn't miss the tiny grimace – even she herself now sported one at the mention of the word cost.

The bane of any and all production conpanies' existence.

"Right," she agreed at length, pouting beneath the cover of her helmet. Money was one of the few things she hated discussing despite her position as hunter in the clan – and while she perfectly understood the necessity she would rather avoid talking about it at great length if she could help it. Maybe it's because she only cared about what was necessary for the clan to stay alive long before they moved to Mandalore? Or maybe it's because she'd been raised on Sorgan with the thought that being materialistic often led to greed, the lesson further reinforced by her Buir?

Money don't grow on trees, brat. Ya gotta work hard an' honest to earn it.

Yep, that was what the village head used to tell her as a kid. She remembered being bonked hard on the head with a wooden stick for commenting about the villagers' past lives as pirates who lived off of stealing stuff.

Grinning wistfully at the memory Reiel absently lifted a hand to rub the top of her helmet, as if to try and soothe a pain long gone.

"He'd probably throttle me for throwing him in the limelight," she joked at his suggestion. Old Cin was a traditionalist, but perhaps he could be convinced by assuring him that the designs he would be asked to make would in no way resemble Mandalorian armor. But even then he rarely left the covert – then the Citadel – so if he agreed Reiel might have play the ever dutiful role of a messenger.

That is, if her Ba'buir refused to speak to an outsider.

"But I shall do my absolute best to convince him," Reiel continued, and while it wasn't a promise she would keep her word about convincing her old, old man. Then, grinning up and leaning towards Carrick, she added in teasing, "But only because of you, cyare. You're lucky I like you a lot."

His own follow-up about his appreciation for her presence turned her face red, but Reiel tried to play it cool by looking away, arms crossed over her chest once again.

"No, I don't remember you telling me, either," she told him with another pout, trying her best not to break out into a laugh. "All I remember is getting a call saying–" in an exaggerated imitation of Carrick's (seductive) voice "–'come here, cyare, I need your opinion about these bunch of weapons and armors'."

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Well he wasn't so sure about throwing her old man into the limelight - he wasn't about to do a press conference on him - but he was fairly certain that the Mando in question probably thought that anyone not a Mando was "limelight". So long as he was willing to work for a fat stack of Credits (or Crowns) then Carrick was sure that their relationship could be as frigid as the older man wanted it to be and it wouldn't be any kind of problem.

... unless Reiel wanted them to get along?

That was a thing that he knew that partners liked to have going - a decent relationship with family members. Carrick wasn't about to take her on a trip to visit his which meant that it was on him to make sure that they had a good relationship with her family. Ugh he was going to have to play nice with people who were probably going to try pulling blasters on him wasn't he? Reiel was lucky that she, and her connections, were worth it.

He ignored his own thoughts about how it was interesting that she was placed ahead of her connections to the Mando Clans. Instead he leaned down and kissed her helmet where here forehead was with a small smirk.

"Ohohoho so it's been downgraded to 'like' now has it?" he teased her with a smirk, "And here I was about to offer to come and visit your family with you. It's a romantic thing to introduce your partner to the family right?"

Carrick just stared at her and, in an utterly deadpan voice, just responded.

"That's a terrible impression." he joked before grinning, "Though I do think that you probably did get a little bit excited when I mentioned I needed you for your amazing... sexy... insight into arms and armour."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

The red on Reiel's face turned brighter when Carrick not only bestowed a kiss upon her helmet but also when he teased him about her wording with regards to what she felt for him. Gloved hands raised to cover the T of her visor – akin to covering her own face – and she giggled loudly at his teasing.

"What do you mean 'downgraded'?" she teased him right back without missing a beat. "There's no such thing as a 'downgrade'! I just like you a lot, you know–"

Of course his following comment visibly caught her off guard, the hands covering her face dropping as she swiftly tilted her head up to look at him. Did he just say– he was about to offer–

Her sorcerer was still teasing, wasn't he?

Reiel accepted the fact that she would end up having to go back and forth to Mandalore and Tinnel IV if her Ba'buir refused to even speak to Carrick. She had resigned herself into the role of messenger between the two, and while it would obviously be pretty tedious she was also aware that her sacrifice would benefit both her clan and her sorcerer. Not only would she be upholding her end to provide for her clan by giving one of them – even if he was the Alor – a job, but she would also be helping Carrick with his own. It was out of her jurisdiction as his chief of security, but still!

It didn't help that he joked about her horrible impression and him needing her presence and insight for the ISC military's armory.

"First off: If you're gonna hold true to that offer of yours," she told him in faux seriousness with a roguish grin, "then you're going to have to stand behind me and duck unless you want Dad and Grandpa to come at you blasters blazing. I'm quite sure they'll both find it romantic to see me shielding my aruetii from their wrath!"

She was kidding about the two Mandos raining blaster fire upon Carrick on the first meeting – well, second for her Dad. Buir was protective, but he believed in Reiel's own capacity to defend herself. Ba'buir, on the other hand, was a traditionalist, but even the old Falleen would frown upon committing murder at first sight.

"And second!" she continued in between giggles. "Yep, I did get excited about that part," the small Mandalorian admitted freely, her grin turning into a bashful smile. "But can you blame me? We've both been very busy with work and I just really missed you a lot, so I guess it would be pretty understandable that I'd get excited at the prospect of spending the day with you..."

Then, in a mischievous and slightly seductive voice, she added, "Even if my amazing and sexy insight was only needed for arms and armor."

@Nefieslab