Video; un: darkness

[survivalthroughhate]

[The video turns on and it's everyone's not-so-favorite Sith Lord. He looks better than he did upon arrival though he wears the usual expression of just barely contained fury he's known for. Sitting next to him is a creature that might be the stuff of human nightmares given how they're all teeth. They could have easily been mistaken for a monster in this place were it not for the fact they're remaining perfectly still, Maul's right hand resting along their back.

If you're all done fooling around with these devices like the children half of you are, perhaps we can turn our attention to more serious matters. Oh, and for those of you who had hoped I wouldn't find my way here, so sorry to disappoint.

[Though he sounds anything but.]

For one, I recall a lot of bleating about organizing a government and such during your charming little witch hunt of me. I assume for most you that was all talk but surely there has to be a few enterprising souls that were serious. If so, let us talk more. I am most curious given I have some experience with running an entire planet. [Venge, the Maalraas sitting by Maul, paws him gently.] Oh and has anyone else found themselves suddenly with an animal companion?

[Then, having blithely insulted a good three-fourths of the population, the video is turned off.]

Comments

[jedies]

[ he blinks. ]

So what if we are?

[survivalthroughhate]

It-- [Maul pauses and there's a curious expression that ripples across his face before it becomes shuttered and closed off once more.] --It's nothing.

[jedies]

[ hm. it certainly didn't seem like nothing, but obi-wan doesn't see a point in pushing. ]

All right.

[blackmothwings]

Splendid. I shall look forward to it.

[It does make her happy. Her friends must look respectable.]

I doubt it as well. It would be unwise to expect kindness from them. And if any of them do seem benevolent, I'd be inclined to believe that it's a facade — manipulation and not true kindness.

[droptheious]

So, what? You'd run this place in peace and harmony? You can't even stop yourself from getting into a fight with Glitch every time you hear him speak.

[He's callin' you out on your shit, Maul.]

Not really? But Ruddiger's different from animals from other worlds, I've noticed. He's always been... I dunno, more? It's just how animals are back home.

[deadboywalking]

I know that. [If there's anything Will knows, it's that Sith Lord + Democracy is not even remotely a thing.]

I think...that might actually be a good idea. [Listen, he's shocked too.]

[survivalthroughhate]

[That Will actually agrees with Maul stops him up short. He pauses and blinks in surprise.]

You do?

[frogfear]

Well, there's one way to find out. I mean, it might take a little more effort before you start seeing any change in the potion John gave you, but maybe your friends can help you figure out if you're on the right track?

[lightthedarkness]

We can start with dealing with how you think apologizing is the same thing as crawling on your belly.

[Usagi withholds from pointing out that Maul's "not me" is not entirely HIM either considering how much of Palpatine is his personality instead of... Maul's.]

[survivalthroughhate]

It's weakness. I can possibly show it to those I have learned to care about when the occasion calls for it but I will not show it to the populace at large to be mocked or to have it used against me.

[Yep, there's a lot of Palpatine still infecting Maul's thinking despite his best attempts to shake it off. Children absorbed a lot from their parents and Maul had done the same with his adoptive father for better or for worse. At least when it was pointed out to him it gave him cause to hesitate.]

[survivalthroughhate]

I already ask them to do that.

[Maul didn't have much in the way of a conscience so his friends tended to act as an external one for him. At least the good ones did. He had a number of them who were just as bad as he was.]

[lightthedarkness]

Well then, the answer is clear what we must do.

[She grins.

Be afraid, Maul, be very afraid.]

We're just going to have to widen your list of who you care about to the population at large.

[survivalthroughhate]

[THIS WOMAN HE SWEARS--!

Maul's got a clear scowl on his face.]

I have reached my limit for caring about people and refuse to do it anymore.

[That's not how it works and they both know it but he's being stubborn for stubborn's sake right now.]

[lightthedarkness]

Well, if you're scared, that's fine. Caring about other people can be scary.

[survivalthroughhate]

I know what you're doing and it's not going to work this time.

[He's in an irritable mood and not up for letting himself be manipulated because of his foolish pride.]

[frogfear]

Well, good. That's good.

[People like Usagi and Obi-Wan are no doubt a good influence on him. Surely he doesn't have anyone in his life who would encourage him down a path to stop him from getting his cure.]

Right?

[royalfling]

[ Wu's quiet for a moment, trying to figure out how to say what he wants to say here ]

Ah... Maul? Is this the same master who did all those awful things to you? Are you, are you sure that you want to trust his judgement?

I'm not arguing that it can't be a flawed system, but then I have to ask you, what would be better? I've done a lot of reading on governmental systems, and I think that a democracy, if done right, really is the fairest way to give all people a say in their government.

[onerthes]

Such is likely the way of all primal forces, whatever form they take in their world. Influenced by the unknowing as their belief in something impacts the world. Belief does have power.

I will do so. we will see in time how gracious they really are.

[lightthedarkness]

This time. [They both know it'll work again soon enough.]

Fine, tell me about your friend there. [She didn't forget about the toothy creature beside him.]

[survivalthroughhate]

[Getting him to talk about his new companion puts him in a slightly better mood. Maul glances at Venge, who looks particularly happy to see Usagi, though it's a bit hard to tell expressions on a face with that many teeth.]

This is Venge. [Venge pokes him with a paw and he rolls his eyes.] Full name is Vengeful Snuzzle but I refuse to call such a magnificent creature by such a ridiculous name. They are a Maalraas from my home galaxy, Force sensitive creatures with hides so thick even a lightsaber is hard-pressed to go through it. I think it is somehow part of me given the way they appeared.

[survivalthroughhate]

Hmph. It's annoying more than anything else.

[No one likes to be told when they're doing something wrong, especially after a lifetime spent of not caring about the consequences of his actions.]

[survivalthroughhate]

He managed to completely deconstruct and overthrow the system of democracy in our own galaxy in the matter of a few short decades. How stable could such a system really be if all it took was one smart man working tirelessly to make himself emperor?

[He's not really swayed on the idea of democracy being a good thing. His master's claws are still sunk deep into certain parts of his mind.]

[morningstud]

You should consider it.

[Seriously, buddy. Also don't jump to the worst possible conclusion.]

Yes... I've had much the same experience with Ceres.

[And he just sort of pivots his device a bit to show off a stern-looking cat before moving it back to him.]

It's... quite a strange thing to become aware of, isn't it?

[survivalthroughhate]

So people keep telling me.

[It's one of the things he's trying to work on but it's far down on the list considering some of the other things he's got at the top include "Not killing people in horribly painful ways when they piss him off."]

Very much so. Becoming aware of one's best and worst qualities in an external force is something I never thought I would experience.

[Of course, he should know better than to never say never where cities run by Pthumerians are concerned.]

[frogfear]

Oh. Well.

[She isn't sure what to say. She's genuinely trying to not provoke another argument - they argue enough naturally.]

I mean, I'm sure they're trying to be supportive?