deernet | Video; un: darkness

[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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's been doing well and he deserves it. It's not perfect, but anyone expecting perfection at this stage in the game hasn't been paying attention. ]

Maybe. But maybe we can try getting help from someone...not murdery too? Y-y'know, for moral support if nothing else.

I shall consider it next time. I would have used Obi-Wan but I was trying to spare him the knowledge of knowing his apprentice was a cold-blooded murderer.

[Interesting that Maul would actually care about his old foe’s feelings but stranger things had happened.]

That's...fair. That sort of knowledge would be...pretty heavy for him to deal with. [A pause.] I would have thought you'd have relished in him uh... being in pain. What changed?

[CALLING YOU OUT, UNCLE!!!]

The way I see him changed.

[Maul doesn't elaborate. Those feelings are still so new that he hasn't really had a chance to examine them yet and really understand what his subconscious mind has known for some time.]

[Maul.

Maul. You're talking to a teenager. Do you think you can just say that and end the conversation? You fool.]

...Oh? How have things changed? Have you learned the magic of friendship at long last? I'm so proud of you.

Quiet, you.

[Maul growls out. But because Varian knows him well, he switches this to Private to explain.]

It took a very long time but after a number of discussions with him that made me think and memories of how my future ends with my death, I was able to acknowledge he wasn't the sole cause of all my misery these years. My master is where my true anger lies but he is an unreachable target. Kenobi has always just been easier. But I cannot continue with that any longer.

[They're in the tentative stage of being frenemies right now.]

[He's NOT SORRY. Still, despite being a trolling little fuck to get this much out of Maul, he sounds genuinely impressed when Maul opens up to him. ]

That's so good to hear, Maul! It's great that you've realised that! That's- that's a huge step!! Knowing where your anger lies and how it's misdirected.

[Gently, earnestly:]

I'm really proud of you.

Things were simpler when I just hated him. [Maul grumbles out in his usual grumpy tone. But Varian is well used to him being contrary just for the sake of it by now.] I've hated him for so long that's hard to understand what I might feel for him under all of that.

[There was respect, of course, that was the easiest thing for Maul to understand. Also a strange admiration for Obi-Wan that Maul had developed after realizing he'd never fall to the Dark Side the way Maul had hoped for so long. What was hardest to understand was the fascination he has for the Jedi in a way he can't easily comprehend. The desire to be near him, to want to just listen to him talk, to be a part of his life in a way that wasn't all destruction and misery.

Maul smiles, softening up the harsh black lines of the tattoos on his face.]

Thank you, Varian. That means a great deal to me.

[There's no sarcasm or snark in the words, just the plain truth.]

Well. Hate is a lot easier than anything else, as emotions go. It's a lot easier to...to feed, and it gets out of control with like...minimal pushing. It makes sense feeling anything after hate is...weird.

[Varian knows how easy it is to get lost in hate and anger. They're simple emotions, awful ones, but they require so little effort compared to most others. It's why he's so impressed that Maul is even trying something else. It speaks volumes for his honesty in wanting to be better.

He returns the smile. ]

Good, I'm glad. And I'm always happy to listen. You know, if you ever wanna have a sounding board about it.

That does make a lot of sense.

[Maul muses. His hate for Obi-Wan has always been uncomplicated. It is bright, burns with the intensity of a giant star, and is destructive to anything that gets in the way of his path to Kenobi. Without that, Maul's uncertain of what he really feels towards his old foe. The feelings beneath aren't sharp and full of anger. There's something....softer there, an emotion Maul doesn't want to look at and analyze for too long in case he finds something there that he doesn't like.]

I am sure that I will need that as time goes on.

[Maul's not one to fully understand his own emotions or the path he's walking down all that well. He needs someone else to spell it out for him what's going on in his own mind.]

[Life's like that sometimes. You think you have everything worked out and then feelings get caught and things get exceptionally Complicated overnight. And then you're stuck trying to figure out your own feelings. Such fun.]

I mean, I'm definitely not the best at feelings advice, but I'll do the best I can, even if it's just to...listen.

Video; un: darkness

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