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

[survivalthroughhate]

Plenty of people were on the post his friend or lover or whoever he was made about it. Several people immediately jumped to my name as the only one who could have done it as soon as someone killing another person with a "light sword" was mentioned. And then it all snowballed from there when Skywalker let the case of mistaken identity continue. He deliberately let people believe it was me and that I cannot stand for.

Skywalker's not smart enough to lie. And I didn't torture him one bit. All I did was make him confess and then let him go afterwards.

[In Maul's mind, he's been completely reasonable!]

[justoscar]

... I'm not saying either of you are right or wrong, [He said tightly, with the earnestness of a teen and the wisdom of a thousand years.]

I'm just saying that, if you want people to believe you? This is a bad look. Everyone whose been here a while has opinions about you. I know I have some feelings, but I've heard enough to understand that there's a lot going on here.

Not everyone is as understanding.

[survivalthroughhate]

Most Deerington Sleepers know enough about me to understand this is is a show of mercy. [Well or think that he's just an utter psychopath. One of the two.] As for the new ones, well, they shall have to make their own decisions.

[He pauses for a long moment.]

.......Do you believe me?

[There is a very piercing way he asks the question and then looks at Oscar with those unblinking eyes, like all he cares about in that moment is this specific answer.]

[justoscar]

I do.

[Spoken without hesitation. Oscar met that unblinking gaze without flinching, understanding exactly how important this was.]

We don't know each other well... But you've been nothing if not completely honest.

A person with your skill has no reason to bluff or lie.

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul gives a slow, approving nod. Oscar just won major points with him for saying that. As Willow told him, it doesn't really matter if everyone doesn't believe him if the ones that matter still do.]

As I've said before, the honest truth can hurt far worse than a lie ever could.

[Despite being raised by one of the most talented liars the galaxy has ever seen, Maul never really picked up on the habit of being able to lie the same way he could breathe the way Palpatine did.]

[justoscar]

I don't know... I've seen good intentioned lies turn the course of history and damage an entire generation.

[w h a t.

The creampuff pointedly did not elaborate.]

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul blinks a little at such words.]

You speak with much wisdom for one so young.

[At least he's assuming Oscar is young. He's never verified the boy is actually human so for all Maul knows he's a humanoid that comes from a species that lives thousands of years.]

[justoscar]

[Oscar sucked in a breath and swallowed what could only have been a swear word. After a month of poor quality sleep and accidental telepathy or dream walking, it was harder to keep certain aspects of his person in check.

Like the sentiments of a certain ancient wizard.]

... Yeah, I get that a lot.

[He squirmed. Although he was a smaller, more honest soul than some... He was not immune to lies of his own.

Certain truths had their time and place to be mentioned-- and this was not either of them.]

[survivalthroughhate]

You are a strange, strange child....but I enjoy your company.

[That's a high compliment from Maul, who can barely stand most people at the best of times. Oscar had gone a long way in trying to understand Maul, more than many others had in this place, and he was a Zabrak with a long memory. He didn't easily forget when people were kind to him.]

[justoscar]

Um. Thank you?

[That was the furthest from anything he expected from Maul, and it was enough to throw his game. He squirmed, unsettled and uneasy about being holder of this strange honor. ]

... You do know that I live with Glitch, right? I know neither of you were right, but I'm still upset for my friend about what happened.

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul's eyes harden, the same unyielding, inflexible look in them that makes him like the red kyber crystals that power his lightsaber.]

Let me make one thing perfectly clear before we go any further. If anyone, and I mean anyone who is friends with that little nuisance keeps bringing up what happened before, I am going to go find him and use my powers to bash him into whatever hard objects are near until I get bored and decided to stop-- if I decide to stop. The boy could still use a good bashing in my opinion. It won't kill him but it will be very painful.

[He takes a deep breath.]

Have I made myself clear on how tired I am of hearing over and over again what a monster I am for chopping his arm off? I don't feel bad about it. I'm not going to feel bad about it. And all bringing it up does is make me very angry and willing to go hurt him despite what any consequences may bring. Understand?

[justoscar]

I didn't say you were a monster. I said you were irresponsible.

[He huffed, rattled and irritable about how quickly Maul shifted with the mention of a single detail.]

It won't be mentioned again. I just wanted to let you know that I've already had trouble with irresponsible adults that I've tried to help, so I'm not going to Do anything-- but, I will be upset if something else happens with you and my friend.

[He may be a marshmallow, but on this point he was going to stand firm. He'll see where this goes, but do not underestimate him.

Just because he wasn't fond of the idea of being shot or tortured again didn't mean he would stand idle.]

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul lets out a very long breath he seems to have been holding in like someone trying to keep themselves from exploding in anger.]

It is simply aggravating to have what I have done in the past brought up again and again to be thrown in my face whenever I upset other Sleepers for not being their idea of what a perfect "good person" should be. It's not easy to change when people keep you mired in the past.

[Maul really was trying to let go of the chains that had held down his mind for so long.]

Just do not mention him at all in my presence and I can pretend he doesn't exist.

[justoscar]

.... I know that better than you realize.

[He was to be the Wizard if he stayed on Remnant, complete with the memories of more mistakes than any man or woman alive could commit. Oscar heaved a sigh.]

I won't mention it again. I just wanted to make sure you knew the truth, but also that I wasn't going to Do Anything either.

[survivalthroughhate]

That makes you better than some. They seem to take me so much as being on the same planet as the boy as reason enough to try and continuously punish me.

[But he's beginning to calm down a little bit now that he'd gotten out his momentary spike of anger.]

[justoscar]

...Most people don't get that different worlds, beings, and cultures have different standards. We don't have the right to judge you by what we think is 'normal', because everyone's 'normal' is different.

[survivalthroughhate]

You’re one of the few to understand that about me.

[But he’s glad the boy does. Maul gets very tired of dealing with people who seem to think that his mindset should be the same as every other person’s here and that being different makes him an awful person.]

[justoscar]

I think it's because I've learned that most people don't need to worry about how something as ordinary as having a bad day can bring in monsters that'll threaten your crops and your home.

[Remnant was by no means for the faint of heart... and everyone, from the pessimistic Qrow to the effervescent Ruby to even Oscar himself were struggling with major emotional repression issues because of the life they had no choice in leading.]

[survivalthroughhate]

Yes. I suppose that would lead one to have a much more different mindset than others would when it comes to seeing different points-of-view.

[Maul himself isn’t nearly as skilled at learning about other viewpoints despite growing up in a galaxy where there were so many different cultures and people given how he’d been indoctrinated to believe the way of the Sith was the only one worth knowing.]