Video; un: darkness

[survivalthroughhate]

[The video starts off with Maul looking angry, as he usually does, and he starts in with no introduction or insults. There’s a definite sense one gets watching that he’s doing his best to keep himself from pissing off the population at large.]

It appears that recently there was a misunderstanding over who had killed someone named Flynn. I am here to make it clear that was not me. While I have no issues with being accused of things I have actually done, I won’t stand for people speculating that I am the cause of all your miseries here--

[He pauses, visibly restraining himself from saying anything further that he knows won’t help his cause here.]

--But no matter. I knew who actually did it and so I have brought the miscreant forth to tell you himself.

[He nods to someone off-screen and Savage comes forward with Anakin. He has his lightsaber pointed at his throat.

The effects of bloodsport and corruption have started leaving their marks on Anakin. Despite the lightsaber held against him, he’s still twitchy with pent up energy. In addition he’s flushed with fever. He stares at Maul blankly, not understanding what’s going on here.]

Are you going to kill me again?

[Maul shakes his head no, pointing to Venge who is currently broadcasting the video.]

Not if you cooperate. Now, tell the people here what you did at the Gate.

[He looks at Savage.]

Cut his hand off if he refuses to cooperate. I’ve no patience for playing games today.

[A smirk appeared on Savage’s lips, and he lowered the lit end of his saberstaff downwards to make it clear that the threat would be carried out without question. His mechanical hand tightened on Anakin to prevent much squirming.

Anakin winces as the metal parts in his hand grind together. Maintenance wasn’t as easy.]

So if I say whatever you want me to I get to go? [Turning directly to face the camera.] Whatever he said, it was me. It was all me. I did it.

[Maul nods in satisfaction. He figures that’s as good as they’re gonna get on any coherency from Anakin.]

There, you see? It wasn’t me.

[Then he turns to Savage.]

Let him go.

[Honestly, the fact Maul isn’t about to execute Anakin on the network is a bigger sign he’s sincere about this than anything else. He never would have been willing to let Anakin go after having to deal with such a problem a year or two ago.

Savage growled as he turned his saberstaff off, then moved to seize Anakin to drag him off screen to be set free. As promised.]

[Red=Maul, Blue=Anakin. Any of the three are available for replies!]

Comments

Video | Clickclickbloom

[onekindsoul]

[She feels a little bad for immediately thinking of him when Flynn died. But the signs were there.]

Uh- Great job on not doing a public execution over the network? We're making progress.

...That's uh- Not a great way to start the day.

But what did he mean by "kill me again?" Is that a recent thing? Or something we're trying to work past?

Voice; un: ...

[opress]

[Savage snorted as if pleased. Compliments!]

Brother can stay his hand as and when he chooses to.

And brother killed this one when he was going mad back in the other dream.

[onekindsoul]

He's learning. I'm so proud of him.

...Yeah. That makes a lot of sense. It was hard to keep track of how many people he went at around then, I just wanted to be sure there weren't any other massacres I should know about.

You keep an eye on him, alright?

[opress]

Are you actually?

[That sounded too genuine to be real. There had to be a trick here. No one wanted them to succeed from his previous experiences.]

No massacres that I know of. Those are no doubt coming.

[He grunted softly.]

Both eyes. He's all I have, so no one will harm him.

[onekindsoul]

I am, actually.

[She taps her chin and smiles lightly.]

I don't approve of everything Maul does, but I've had enough time to get to know and I understand why he is the way he is.

He's rough and prickly but he's making an effort to better himself and this place doesn't make that easy.

So I'm not looking to give up on him unless he truly fully gives up on himself.

[She couldn't get much more honest than that.]

Yeah... October at least in the dream was known for them- it'll be best if we're all on our guards for that.

[See. That gets a smile out of here.]

See, that's what I like about you.

But I hope you give yourself a chance to have a little more when you're here.

But it's absolutely heartwarming how much you care for him.

[opress]

[He recalled having a similar conversation with her where they seemed to size each other up but she was... as vehemently judgmental either. It was strange to think that someone was both wary but willing to give Maul a chance to continue to improve.

His brother deserved that, deserved all the happiness.]

He is. He could have strung up the body with a note on it, but he went this avenue.

So... as long as brother doesn't give up on his confidence, you'll stand by him?

[Hold up. The smile and the fact she liked him made him snort in surprise.]

Why would you like me? I have my brother... [He didn't sound so certain that she wasn't going to fly into a 'happiness' talk.]

[onekindsoul]

He certainly could have. And I think a lot of people would have expected that from him.

He's got us on the edge of our seats to see what he'll do next. One way or another.

[She gives that a little bit of thought and eventually nods.]

Yeah. Through thick and thin as far as he's willing to go. That's what friends do.

[The snort gets a grin out of her.]

You remind me of someone. She gave all they had to protect their sister and the people she cared for. She was one of the most important people in my life.

[opress]

Some would call that exciting and engaging.

[So this was about loyalty then? He wasn't so convinced of the friends thing, but he knew about loyalty. He had no choice in that.]

Is he loyal towards you then?

[He knew his brother did have 'friends' in the population. She seemed the right kind of upbeat to fit the bill to work his brother down anyway.]

I've done that. It's how I died.

[onekindsoul]

...Yeah. You know what? I'm pretty sure a lot of people would. In a whole variety of different meanings.

[Maul was the kind to engage people in an exciting manor.]

I think we have things in common- And agree on some things. I'd like to think that loyal is what I'd call it. But I don't want to put words in his mouth.

[She gives a little nod.]

Yeah... That's how she did too. Or at least I'm pretty sure she's dead.

[opress]

So you don't expect he will kill or threaten you then. [That sounded more like what it could be like for interaction with his brother. He didn't disapprove.] I could ask him what his opinion is.

It seems like the right thing to do for some. Death is a small price.

[onekindsoul]

I don't think while he's in his right mind he would. But I know there are things that could put us at odds with one another. I don't think either of us want that.

[She kind of hm's at that suggestion.]

You know? I'd actually be interested to see what he'd say? If you want to go for it.

...Yeah. I guess it was. It shouldn't of had to be paid though.

[opress]

You mean if he went after someone that you cared about?

[He would ask, but it wouldn't be public. He tried to keep most of their conversations where they appeared on even ground to be limited. It was better for all involved if Maul was the clear 'leader' between the two of them.]

We all pay in blood at some point. For me, as long as my brother lived, that's all that matters.

[onekindsoul]

Kind of? That could have something to do with it. But it's more complicated than that, because I care about him too. So it would be depend a lot on the reasoning there and whether he was in control of himself or not.

But yeah- If he were to attack someone I care for of his own volition for the sake of just hurting them. Yeah, that would put us at odds with one another.

[She gave a sad little nod at that.]

I'm sure she felt the exact same way when it happened to her.

Thanks- For talking about this.

[opress]

You care... about him. [That sounded way too foreign to him. Though, Maul was the more popular one when it came to their particular species.] Does everyone get a free pass in your books if they aren't of sound mind at the time of atrocities?

[This person seemed like someone he might be curious enough to meet. Too bad she was dead. So was he, but apparently he had a second chance.]

Okay?

[onekindsoul]

I do. A whole lot.

[She considers that briefly. Thinking back to the situation with Ironwood in her own world. Or with Salem. She gives her head a shake.]

No. Not exactly and I can admit that some of these situations can get me heated too- So it doesn't always work like that.

But if I held a grudge for every time Deerington or this place made us fly off the handle I wouldn't have any friends.

As long as they can own up to the fact that they did something wrong and work toward making themselves better, I'm willing to at least try and give them a pass. I've seen people do the exact opposite too.

[She just grins.]

Okay!

[opress]

[Interesting. That she would like his brother that much. Was that what friendship was supposed to be viewed as?]

Perhaps not having friends would be easier and less complicated than having to sort out if you should be angry at someone for losing control.

So you're one of those forgive and move on people.

[onekindsoul]

Maybe. But being alone has it's own complications too. It might look cut and dry but I don't that's true at all.

I like to think so! There's too much to do to hold a grudge over every little thing.

[opress]

You must rely on your own strength and cunning. And you can more easily be killed while sleeping.

I don't hold grudges either. It's a waste of energy.

[survivalthroughhate]

You see? I can be reasonable.

[For a given level of what Maul considers "reasonable" which is not committing public executions on the network.]

I killed him on his first day in Deerington. He was out of control and threatening everyone with his lightsaber, demanding a way to leave the town.

[And for Darth Maul to be saying someone was out of control really means they must have been pretty close to going right over the edge.]

Killing him was the only way to make him stop. He would have killed at least one person by the end of his rampage and probably more.

[onekindsoul]

[Considering she knows full well how Maul can be when he doesn't want to be reasonable. She does have to give him points here. Anakin is alive and has all his limbs. That's something.]

I never thought I'd see the day, but here we are.

[She gives a little nod. She was guessing this guy wasn't a Jedi. From what she knew about Obi-Wan it sounded like it was against their rules to be like that.]

You know? For all the shenanigans you get up to. It's kind of weird to say thank you for protecting the town like that?

But here I am. About to do that-

[survivalthroughhate]

I am nothing if not predictable.

[At least in some ways.]

Well, I certainly wasn't thinking of the good of the town at the time. I merely saw a problem and decided to fix it.

[And Ruby well-knows Maul's version of 'fixing things' always involves murder.]

But I will accept your thanks.

[It hadn't been altruistic in the slightest but Maul is only now realizing he indeed may have saved a number of lives by taking out Anakin when he did. An out-of-control Jedi had no business being surrounded by vulnerable people.]

[onekindsoul]

And that's why we keep you around- I'd say we love you for it but like you've got a rep and I don't want anyone to leap on either of us for saying it.

[She does and she'd be a hypocrite if she tried to fight beyond that. She had taken lives too back at home and maimed to protect her loved ones. She knows that sometimes it has to be done.]

I appreciate it. It is a problem solved. Whether for selfish or selfless means.

[survivalthroughhate]

Good. If people starting thinking I've lost my bite, they'll try to take advantage of me, and I can't have that.

[It's always about not showing weakness in Maul's mind. He has to appear strong at all times.]

I don't doubt I'll be called upon again at some point here. When moral people can't make a decision, it's sometimes easier to have someone who has none make one.

[onekindsoul]

No we can't! Next thing you know we'd have someone else trying to step up to be the meanest and reddest goth in town.

And I'm way to friendly to be that!

True enough- Well it doesn't hurt to have someone who isn't afraid to act around here. I hope it goes as well as this time did when it happens next.

[survivalthroughhate]

Precisely. I have a reputation to uphold around here after all.

[Maul smiles, a genuine one all full of sharp fangs on display.]

Something we are both hoping for.