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.

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[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?

Come with me sometime when I visit the woods. I'll introduce you to some of them.

[Sharon could see Maul in full Disney Princess mode communing with the wildlife.]

.....I'm not sure. The power was directly tied to Ramona and she's much changed now.

[From a selfish woman desperate to do anything to survive to the monster she'd made her own self into. Maul couldn't find much sympathy in his hearts for her.]

I would like that a lot, actually. [ Disney Princess Maul is what she needs in her life. ]

Maybe it's something to try sometime? I mean, only if the risk isn't too high, though.

We'll make you some new friends. They might be good for you in a time of need.

[Maul had seen even small deer gore something to death to protect the Sleepers.]

I shall look in the Archives and see if they might have an answer to that question.

I'd like that. I've always wanted to be a little bit of a Disney Princess and have some animal friends. [ rabbits that eat people would be cool but she'll take deer that gore things to protect her ]

Let me know if you need help. [ He likely knows she hates the Archives and that district in general but she's willing to ignore the things that bother her for him. ]

What's a Disney Princess?

[And how was it different than a regular princess? (Of course, Maul already knew one as it was without even realizing it.)]

If the search takes more than a few days, I will.

[He knew Sharon wasn't fond of the Archives, so hopefully his cult members could help speed up the process of reading through a large amount of material.]

They're cartoon princesses that are heroic and overcome odds that are usually stacked against them and have animal friends that help them out or that talk to them. They come from certain animated films for kids. I used to be obsessed when I was little.

I'll have to see if I can find my favorite here and we can watch it sometime. I think you'd get a kick out of it. It's about a woman who defends her country from invaders.

Interesting. They sound quite noble in their own way.

[Maul would be partial to Disney Princesses given he was good friends with Snow White here in Trench.]

That does sound like something I would enjoy. Warrior women deserve respect.

I'll invite you over if I ever find it. We'll make a whole thing of it. Snacks, drinks, that kind of shit. [ It sounded like a good way to bond. ]

That sounds like a wonderful time. You really are your mother's child, you know that? She took me out shopping a time or two because she wanted some company.

[Yep, only Rose Da Silva could have turned Darth Maul into her shopping buddy.]

[ She's quiet for a good long moment after that statement. Touched. There is no greater compliment in the world to her than that. Finally, she lets out a soft laugh, though it sounds like it's hiding a sniffle. ]

I have a-a hard time imagining you going fucking shopping.

She convinced me because I needed new clothes.

[Sharon would have observed by now that Maul had a handful of outfits he wore on a regular basis and that was it. He usually wore them until they were close to falling apart and then got new ones. He was apathetic to most clothing anyway.]

[ Sharon laughs at that. That sounds like Rose. ] Well, you do seem to have a limited closet.

Maybe I should drag you out to shop with me sometime? I'm not a big fan of it myself but maybe I'd like it more if I was dragging around big bad Darth Maul with me.

Why own more clothing than is absolutely necessary?

[Maul please. He didn't even have enough clothes to last him a full week.]

I'm sure you could convince me. I can always use a new shirt.

[And pants. And jackets. And every other type of clothing that someone could need on a regular basis.]

Because it's Trench. [ That is a million points in one for her, Maul. ]

Kinda sounds like you don't need much convincing if you could use a new shirt. [ There's something of a grin in her voice. ]

The ones I already possess are getting a touch threadbare.

[That was his excuse and he was sticking to it!]

Well, you're tolerable company. Better than some of the idiots around here.

Tolerable!? Please, I am a goddamn joy for you to be around. I beat tolerable any day.

Well, on the sliding scale of "wanting to murder on sight" all the way up to "trusting them enough to let them sleep in the same room as me" you're much more on the latter side of things.

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fogsong - 2023-04-02 16:45 (UTC) - Expand

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survivalthroughhate - 2023-04-03 04:43 (UTC) - Expand

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