deernet | Video; un: darkness (Storytime With Maul!)

Video; un: darkness (Storytime With Maul!)

[Maul's doing a little better than he has been the past few months. At least he's not all corrupted into insanity like he was for a couple of weeks in July or about to breakdown after his video in June. Sharp-eyed viewers will notice he's got a new piece of jewelry. On the ring finger of his left hand, there's a black, sparkly wedding band made of Darkblood. Yep, Maul got hitched. But who would be crazy enough to marry the Zabrak Sith Lord? A question one can ask if they're feeling especially brave.]

Everyone always thinks they're the hero in their own story. And it's easy to justify that you are no matter what you do because you're the main character in your mind. No one ever wants to admit they're just one of the side characters or even the villain. And how do you even know when you've become the bad guy? It's easy to say what actions you undertake are for the greater good or at least something that will get you what you want. You keep telling yourself that until you look around one day and see the only monster around you is yourself.

[He leans forward.]

I am very fond of stories. So I'll tell you a story about a villain from my world and you can tell me one about a hero or villain from yours in return.

Once upon a time, there was a young man who had darkness in his heart. He coveted power amongst all else and to that end he committed many monstrous acts to gain it. When he saw that his family stood in his way, he killed them all without thought. Over the years, he gained power but it was never enough. Always, he wanted more. Eventually, he realized that no matter how much power he possessed, he would lose it all when he died. And so he sought to gain immortality.

He eventually found a Sith Lord, very old and wise, who told him he had discovered the secret to living forever. "Become my apprentice, do everything that I command, and I will teach you my secret," he told the man. And so he did. Day after day, year after year, he obeyed the Sith Lord, committing many more atrocities in his quest to gain immortality.

He would often ask the Sith Lord, "Am I ready?"

The response was always the same. "Not yet."

After many years the man, no longer as young as he once was, began to grow impatient. He went to his master. "I have done all that you asked. Teach me what you promised."

The Sith Lord merely laughed in his face. "You will never be ready to learn."

The man felt rage rise up within him. "Why not?"

"Because only a Sith who has no fear can conquer death. But you? You will always fear dying no matter what you do and so you will never master the secret of immortality," the Sith Lord told him with contempt.

The Sith apprentice was furious. He felt he had been lied to and so he waited. His master never slept, for he had seen the future and knew he would die in his sleep, but his apprentice was cunning. Eventually, he got his master drunk, and the Sith Lord finally fell asleep. So the apprentice took up his lightsabers, stabbing his master in his hearts, and killing him. Only then did his anger abate and he realized he still did not know the secret to living forever.

He would spend the rest of his life seeking it out and never finding it until the day he died, always shackled by his fear instead of facing it head on and conquering it instead. He used the power he'd acquired to create a vast empire that stretched throughout the entire galaxy but still it was not enough. Always he was afraid of what was to come at the end of his life. And when he finally died, betrayed by his own apprentice as usually happens with Sith Lords, it was done so screaming in fear as he realized he had failed in his lifelong ambition.

[He pauses for a moment, examining his claws without looking up.]

That was a true story by the way. It is called the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise. Sith Lords often have a dramatic way of doing things, especially when it comes to teaching their apprentices.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He wasn't all that wise if you ask me. He led on his dick of an apprentice and somehow never thought that he'd be killed by him. It should have been obvious.

[ sorry Maul she has no stories to tell in exchange ]

That is the way of Sith Lords for you. They always think they will outlive anyone, always beings smarter and stronger than those around them.....until the day comes when they are not.

It's because they never take the lesson they taught their own masters. Honestly, it's kind of sad.

If I were a Sith Lord, I would never take an apprentice. Fuck that noise. I've learned their lessons. [ she's mostly joking ]

Actually, there's a circular sort of logic there. The idea is that you pass on all your wisdom and skill to the next generation. If they are strong and smart enough to kill you, then you have done your job well. If not, then your apprentice wasn't worthy and you must pick a better one next time. There's a warped sense of selflessness to the whole process.

[Then he grins.]

Fortunately, I have learned the disadvantages of such a system. I have my students here but none seem willing to kill me anytime soon.

I'm sure that's what they'd like to think but, in the end, they're still dead and I doubt they died proud of their apprentice.

[ ah ah ah ] Not so fast. I could be planning your downfall at this very moment! [ and now it's her turn to grin. ] I am very wicked after all.

Well, I shall go to my grave proud of having taught as well as I can. I have found teaching brings me great satisfaction.

[Maul barely stifles a laugh and it shows on his face.]

Of that I have no doubt. You are very much on the Dark Side.

You should go to the grave proud because you're a damn good teacher. You've made it so I'm not totally afraid of what I can do.

Aww, that's the best compliment you've given me. I want it on a mug.

That is a very gratifying thing to hear.

[Maul shifts a little, uncomfortable with the praise, but he's glad he's been able to make such a difference for Sharon.]

I shall get you one that says it for the next holiday.

I'm gonna be thoroughly disappointed if I don't get a mug with it now, just an FYI.

Tch, so very pushy. Unlike some Darkbloods, I can't just make one appear from thin air you know.

Then I guess it's a damn good thing you've got time, huh?

Yes, yes, be nice and perhaps Santa will bring you one in your stocking this Christmas.

[ she can do nice. sometimes. but that's not the big deal here. no, the big deal is this: ] You know about Santa? [ and stockings! she is truly impressed! ]

Yes. He is an old man who may be some sort of Pthumerian judging by how powerful he is. He breaks into your home and you must appease him by leaving out offerings of food and drink. If done so, he will leave you presents.

[Yeah, Maul’s understanding of the Santa Claus myth is……unique.]

I have been hoping to meet him the past two years so I might fight him but he has yet to make a visit to my house.

[ oh.

oh my god.

for a moment, there is stunned silence on the other end and then Sharon bursts into laughter. the kind of laughter that comes from the gut and ends in wheezes and tears. ]

Holy shit, that is... [ fuck fuck hold on let her catch her breath and wipe the tears away ] That is the best description of Santa I've ever heard and I 100% subscribe to that version of him now.

[Maul looks a little puzzled as to why Sharon is laughing. Granted, he doesn't think she's laughing at him specifically, but he's not sure what he said to produce such mirth. At least it's nice to see her laughing for any reason at all, his student needs more things in her life to find funny.]

Is that not right? I am very certain that's how he operates. And he is definitely a Pthumerian judging on how powerful he is.

It's not really how adults like to tell children about him but... the important thing is that you're not wrong! [ he's definitely not right but like... who is she to take that from maul? ] I agree about him being Pthumerian, too. Or maybe half-Pthumerian? He definitely has some time powers or something given how many people he can visit in one night.

[Really, it's almost adorable that Maul has this version of Santa in his mind.]

That's exactly what I thought! And he has an affinity for deer much as Sodder did. He uses his powers to make them fly.

Some of the stories indicate that the deer he chooses are special and can fly without his intervention.

That does make sense. I've met many a deer who has had magical powers. I did when I was able to turn into one.

You were able to turn into a deer? [ there's a mixture of surprise and curiosity in her voice ] I'd always pegged you as more of a predator.

It was an ability unlocked after someone had the dubious honor of dying seven times in Deerington. Anyone could then turn into a deer that had special powers and help their fellow Sleepers in times of trouble. Mine allowed people to become more brave in my presence, useful considering how many things filled people with fear.

That is why it is important to be kind to the deer here. Some are previous Sleepers who died so many times they became deer and forgot their former lives. That was always a risk when turning into a deer. Now they help us as best they can because they cannot find their way back.

Oh, wow, that... definitely explains some shit. I've known deer were important here but I never really understood it. [ and never cared enough to ask because some things were just unimportant to her ]

Seven deaths. Goddamn. [ as it is, she knows he's died a few times in Trench already too. ] Is there any way to recognize the deer?

It also has to do with the first Sleeper Julia Sodder brought into the dream. Ramona Derwin. She came from a world where deer were special creatures and were something that represented the power she had. Julia became fixated on the idea of the animals being protectors and so that is how the first deer became empowered.

[It was a touch more complicated than that but Maul didn't keep exact records of the Pthumerian lore that had come out of Deerington the way some Sleepers did.]

I don't know if there's a way for a layperson to do so but I can sense something different about them in the Force. They're....how do I put this? Full of more life than most beings here. They remind me of that wolf goddess that was here for a period of time.

[ The more Sharon hears of Julia, the more she feels and relates to her. It makes it hard not to have a little bit of resentment at the choices people made for her before Trench. ]

So it's not something I'd be able to pick up on. [ It's kind of a shame, she'd have liked to see one of those deer. ] I definitely get why the deer are treated the way they are now, though.

Can you still turn into one?

audio | un: sds

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