(Darth) Maul (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
survivalthroughhate) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
deernet2022-10-08 04:10 pm
survivalthroughhate) wrote in deernet2022-10-08 04:10 pm
Entry tags:
- alice baskerville (black): holly,
- beatrice: mila,
- darth maul: shade,
- dito: kaiya,
- echo: kaito,
- ezra bridger: lis,
- lord felwinter: niki,
- lucius artorius castus: orlando,
- luke skywalker: skyla,
- makoto naegi: anne,
- nara'a sunvara: matt,
- neopolitan: latroma,
- obi-wan kenobi: timmy,
- pyrrha dve: silyara,
- ruby rose: josh,
- sakamoto ryouma: min,
- savage opress: vette,
- sharon da silva: lunare,
- shen yuan: drake,
- stefan salvatore: trace,
- tory nichols: lex,
- usagi tsukino: jax
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.
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.
no subject
Rei told me... If I really wanted to, I could go home, and everyone would understand.
[Here she gazes at Maul, because she knows, truly, that he would get it. If that day came when this place got to be too miserable, when Mamoru's absence became too great, then he'd understand her leaving. She closed her eyes and gave an idle shrug.]
I suppose that was the... what's it called link pin? [She means lynchpin.] Anyways, I guess... it sounds so silly now... but just knowing I wouldn't be thought of as failing my loved ones, that it'd be okay if I wasn't here... it sent all of it away.
I still stand by the sea, still listen to her calls, but this time it's not a fight with myself about listening, if that makes sense.
no subject
That is a good story. I like it. Even if you did leave, what you have taught me in our friendship and all the lessons I have learned from you pulling me out of the darkness means you would live on here in my hearts.
[Maul's not a sentimental sort but he feels he needs to say something like that, sappy as it is. He asks a lot of Usagi and she's always been willing to give it to him, so he wants her to know all her hard work hasn't been in vain.]
no subject
So she's grateful to hear he'd understand, that he'd continue on in his hearts and she smiles.]
Being told it was okay to go home... it released the weight, the guilt, and the anger I felt at what felt like... well, choosing wrong. Constantly being tortured emotionally every month wasn't helping make the desire to stay here any easier.
no subject
[Maul's still selfish enough to want his best friend to stay with him a while longer. His tone turns a little lighter.]
Why do so many good people feel such a sense of responsibility towards everyone and everything around you? Someday, I am going to be able to transfer my natural selfish nature to other people, and both you and Obi-Wan are getting a dose of it.
no subject
What is so appealing about being the most powerful in the galaxy or universe?
I am a selfish person. I'm an incredibly selfish person.
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I……suppose I’ve never thought about it for too long. Always, I was indoctrinated with the idea of gaining more power without questioning it. After a certain point, it just became reflexive to think that way. Having power here is pleasing to me, for I like having people loyal to me and who will do what I ask.
no subject
Consider you and me. Consider our power dynamics. I am not loyal to you because of power, and you are certainly not loyal to me because of power.
no subject
[No, even Maul is not that obtuse. He's just messing around and seeing Usagi will think he's actually serious.]
no subject
no subject
[Might have something to do with all the sharp fangs there in his mouth.]
no subject
And they shouldn't. You're not scary when you smile. [She's sooooooooooo biased.]
no subject
[He's not entirely sure what that means but he knows it's definitely not complimentary.]
I'm not? [He is.] Hmmm, I wonder why people look uneasy then when I make the expression.
no subject
Maybe because you have a bad habit of grinning when someone is in pain.
no subject
[Maul was very quick to say all that.]
I've gotten better about that!
[Though that evil smirk of his still crept through from time to time.]
no subject
Yes, I know, but always room for improvement.
no subject
[Depending on how much varied on one day of the week but such was the complicated relationship between himself and the paladin.]
I know, I know. I strive for upwards progress.
no subject
Well, there's something to be said about being self aware.]
You're getting there, certainly.