victory_road | text; backdated to end of Worm-ageddon

Ah, more than one kind of sand-dweller, I see.

[Learning!! Knowledge hour!!]

[He can't help it, he's going to lean over a little to inspect Mando's new chest plate. Yes, Shadowmaru is fully aware this is new, replaced, and better. He'd also seen for himself the evidence there's no mortal damage underneath - well "seen". He just can't help it.]

Shattered? Truly? What happened?

[This is better than a movie.]

Yes. The Tusken Raiders and the Jawas are the two main types.

[Mando turns slightly so Shadowmaru can investigate his chest plate. He also taps where it attaches up at the shoulder.]

It was hanging from here. Just flopping open and getting in the way.

I was down on one knee with a knife, hoping that I could at least stab the mudhorn once or twice before it killed me. But then the hit never came. I looked up, and Grogu was holding it in the air with his mind. The mudhorn was bellowing and kicking, still trying to get to me, but Grogu held it in place long enough for me to get in close and kill it.

[Oh yeah, did he mention his son can move things with his mind? He totally can.]

Fascinating. Your world is endlessly interesting.

[No joke. This is beyond what he could ever have learned in his world - AI or not.]

It ... [Wait, hold on.] Your child can... hold onto things with his mind?

You've never mentioned that before.

Yeah. He moves stuff with his mind.

[Mando never brought it up because it's something dangerous in their world. It makes Grogu a target. He's still working on getting past that mindset in this quieter, more gentle place.]

With the mudhorn dead, I brought the egg back to the Jawas, they gave me my ship parts back, and Grogu and I left.

[Mando shifts a little. This next part of the story is the part that isn't his finest moment.]

Grogu was a bounty. I turned him in, and they gave me the beskar I used to make my armour. Then I went back to where I dropped him off and took him back.

As the psychic pokemon do?

[Sorry, Mando, he's interested now. Your boytoy has no such hangups and is definitely curious.]

Ah... I think you may have mentioned it. Some time ago.

[In case Mando's worried about Shadowmaru judging. He shifts too, to lean his weight into the other.]

As I recall... the important part was you returning for him.

Something like that, yes. It's called using the Force, and it's something Jedi do.

[Another pause.]

The Empire tried to kill all the Jedi. There are only one or two left. They're adults, and they're trained in using the Force, but Grogu is just a kid. He didn't have anyone looking out for him.

[Sigh.]

After I got him back, the Armourer told me that I'd earned the mudhorn sigil on my armour, because it was an honourable battle against it. It was Grogu helping that made it honourable, because Mandalorians and foundlings fight together during training. That's how he became my foundling.

[His face pales a fraction, looking at Mando with something close to horror. Mass killing... really isn't a thing in the world he comes from. It's a weirder, better world, in a lot of ways.]

He had you.

[He's sure Mando knows that. But sometimes people need to be told those things. Sometimes it's good to hear. He drapes an arm over Mando's chest as he continues leaning on him.]

An honorable battle, and an honorable rescue. And you wonder why I will always be convinced you are a knight.

[Yeah, Mando's ~~canon~~ world isn't a particularly kind one. It perhaps explains the various ways he's had trouble adjusting to the Pokemon world, or how naturally he slips in Serious Business mode whenever there's trouble here. He's just come to expect it.]

He did. And he still does.

[Hey, Mando isn't afraid to admit that he fucked up. But, importantly, he made it right. And he's going to continue to make it right, if he ever gets back home. He's going to find Skywalker and punch him right in the face if he has to, so he can see Grogu again.]

I'm telling you, you're the only one who thinks that.

[But Mando's voice is warm and amused, and he starts finger-combing Shadowmaru's hair.]

If you want, I can comb out your hair.

I can't be. You just said it yourself... your child still has you. Parents such as you can be just as valuable as a knight.

[So there.]

[He's not trying to say Mando didn't fuck up. But what's important here is how Mando fixed it. How determined he is now to stay with his kid. It's - kind of a sobering thought, if he goes down that train long enough. Is it selfish of him, now? Enjoying the company of someone with better places to be?]

[His head tilts into that finger combing, unconsciously.]

I prefer what you're doing now, actually.

[If Mando were given the choice, he'd bring Grogu here. This would be a good place for a kid to grow up, he thinks. The kid could run around and play with Pokemon, and no one would be trying to capture him or experiment on him. He could just be young.]

[He'd also be a human, and not have any of his Force powers. Mando has had a discussion with Riz about being turned human, and he's not sure that Grogu would like that. Who knows, though... maybe he'd love it. He'd love Shadowmaru. The kid likes bright, shiny things.]

Okay.

[Enough said! Mando keeps it up, gently untangling the rare snarl he finds with his fingers.]

[For a bit, Shadowmaru doesn't say much else. Just lets himself enjoy the contact. He's gotten so used to having hair, it's hard sometimes to remember he shouldn't - so used to breathing, sleeping, all of it. He loves the times when he can return to his original form, of course, but...]

[Human beings are alive.]

[They are worth something.]

If you had the chance to return to him... I would not begrudge you for it. You know this, yes?

[Well that's. A topic shift there, buddy. It makes sense in his head, though. Living things, humans, whatever species Mando's child is, they have more worth than an AI.]

[We can always be revived.]

[That is certainly a change in topic!]

[Mando's hand stills for a moment, then keeps combing.]

I know. But if I had the chance, I'd bring him here and we'd both stay.

[There's something more going on here, but Mando isn't going to push the topic. He'll let Shadowmaru work to this on his own.]

I don't think anyone here gets a choice, anyway. And if time doesn't move back home, then it doesn't matter how long any of us are here.

[Sorry Mando, sometimes he goes off on these internal tangents. Which he's still doing.]

I still hope for that, you know? That you'll see him here.

[That's a good statement to make. He's not sure why his brain is so hung up on all of this, all of the sudden. Is there anyone he really hopes he'll see here? Would they even recognize him?]

That would be strange for him. Arriving here after so much time has passed for you.

Thank you. I do too.

[See, this is why they're dating, Shadowmaru: you just understand Mando's inner sentiments.]

It'd be a little weird at first, but he'd fit right in. The little guy is adaptable.

[Mando chuckles.]

He'd probably want to go wild in your closet or your studio. I'd have to make sure he didn't try and eat any sequins.

Would he be all right, being human?

[As this world tends to do to people. Not everyone appreciates the change, after all.]

[Well. That gets him to make a face.]

He wouldn't eat sequins. You're joking. [Wait-] Please say you're joking.

I don't know.

[It's a difficult question! Would the kid enjoy being average? Would he like not having his powers? Would everything be easier for him if he were just ordinary?]

It's a good thing I know some people here who could talk to him about being suddenly human.

[Most of Mando's found family here weren't originally human, so Grogu would be in good company.]

[Shadowmaru's face makes Mando laugh.]

He'd definitely try. Might not succeed, but it wouldn't be for lack of effort.

Mm. That is true. You do seem to attract a great variety of non-humans to your company... Your children are lucky for that, I think. More who can understand them, drawn to you.

[Also himself, but that probably goes without saying, considering they're literally in bed together.]

[His expression doesn't change.]

But they're sequins... not food.

It wasn't on purpose. It just seemed to happen that way.

[Not that he's complaining, mind you! He's quite happy with how things worked out.]

He's at the age where he puts everything in his mouth. [A pause.] Or, the stage of life where he does that. He's actually older than I am.

Do you regret it?

[He's betting the answer is 'no'. But he's decided to tease Mando. Just a bit.]

... Ah. [Shadowmaru's turn to pause.] That is... interesting information, to be sure. Will he grow out of it?

Not at all.

[A pause, and then he gives Shadowmaru's hair a gentle tug.]

Even if I have to pay a lot more attention to things like shampoo and soap now.

[He kids, he kids!]

Probably. I've heard it's a stage all young kids go through, and that he'll stop before too much longer. He'll put things down if I tell him no.

[Most of the time.]

Ah! Be careful! Too hard and you'll turn it grey!

[He's teasing too, though. He knows 1) that's not possible, and 2) Mando didn't actually hurt anything.]

I'll take your word for it. Our Boss is well past such a stage of life. But, ah, you must be a good parent, to be able to teach him so.

I'll turn it silver and then you'll match me.

[But yeah, he'll stop with the playful tugging and gently smooth Shadowmaru's hair back down.]

I'm doing my best. It's not as good as what he deserves, but I'm trying.

Oh, the horror. Matching my dear knight in stunning armor.

[He's never, ever going to drop that. Never. Get used to it, Mando. Get used to his shining opinion of you.]

[Case in point:]

Why wouldn't you be? You're doing a fine job with your children here.

I'm going to paint this armour so you stop calling me that.

[Technicolour! Neon! He'll look like a 90s Lisa Frank nightmare!]

The kids here are older. It's easier when they're older.

[He sighs.]

No one wants to kill them here, either.

[He holds a hand to his chest in mock horror.]

Why would you do such a thing! To such gorgeous armor...

[Mando would never!! He doesn't think so, anyway. He hopes not.]

No? What about the worms, earlier? Perhaps they didn't want to hunt them down... but they weren't careful of human lives, either.

You still take fine care of them.

... I SHOULD HAVE GUESSED

too many different Star Wars races!

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