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Video; un: darkness

[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.]

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I take it shaaks are your world's answer to a wooly-coated herbivore known as sheep in my world of origin?

I suppose at times, I overstudy the board, but I've seen what happens when I act on impulse.

[More work with the flint and steel, on a different bundle of tinder, resulting in more smoldering and smoke. A small brown weasel with a faint white radiance about its eyes scurries into view. Despite its size, the critter tries puffing on the smoldering tinder.]

I can't vouch for other species since I haven't a large enough sample to observe. But humans, in my experience, are such chaotic and willful creatures, they need to be watched over by living gods. If they could allow themselves to evolve, perhaps they wouldn't run their own civilizations into ruin. Perhaps my opinion will change, but the Pthumerians or something like them might seem the ideal keepers for them.

[He leans down again to blow on the smoldering tinder. Finally some small flames start to flick up from the tinder, startling the weasel, which skitters back. He sits back on his heels, fetching some bits pf kindling to slide into the flames.]

I'm not one to hold a grudge.

[It's true. It's pointless when you're immortal. Or, well, usually immortal. He doesn't want to test that here.]

Your animal companion appears to have made some sort of compelling argument.

[Maul merely gives the unfamiliar woman on the screen an unimpressed look.]

Do I look like someone who is interested in increasing their popularity with the populace at large?

So we are due for more reality-warping I am sure. How thrilling.

[Just look at that expression on Maul's face. He is not happy one bit. But since when is that new?]

Well, whatever happens, it might be good to have someone of a more dark persuasion helping things along. Not everyone here is good and sweet and on the side of light. They deserve representation too.

[He nods vigorously at Vira-Lorr's last words.]

Exactly! That is what I keep saying. These locals seem friendly now, but the first and only time I let my guard down around the Deerington natives, they tried to burn me alive. I won't trust these people until proven otherwise.

Oh, of course they are....for the moment. But when I first arrived in Deerington, the natives were nice and helpful too. I thought surely the reports of them hating Sleepers was exaggerated. I let my guard down. Do you know what happened? I ended up being drugged, sewn to a deer corpse, and would have been burned alive were it not for a timely rescue.

No, I will not trust things to be alright around here until proven otherwise.

Shatter a glass window into a thousand pieces and you'll never be able to put it back together. Such is the way things go when people try to make a system right and fair for everyone.

On that, we can agree. Jedi are horrendous to deal with. Steer clear of the one here called Anakin Skywalker. He's as unstable as a house of cards right now.

And what exactly do you think is better? Democracy?

[One can hear the scorn in Maul's voice. After watching how the system of democracy had broken down so effectively as to possibly never rise again, his faith in such a type of government was slim.]

I am trying to change. Hence why I am involving the entire populace of Sleepers instead of merely try an aggressive takeover as I might have in the past.

[There is a certain level of terror in knowing that, on some level, this is Maul behaving.]

I will. I do not intend to lose it yet again once I have found it.

[What a poor, deluded fool he was. Someday, he'd learn that power couldn't prevent the pain he wanted to avoid at all costs. But that day was not today.]

You see? There is a method to my madness after all.

[It's just hard for Maul to communicate what he really means with people he doesn't trust. He finds it far easier to hide behind the persona of the psychopathic monster that so many of the Sleepers have already written him off as.]

And when was the last time I Force Choked anyone?

[.....Probably the last week he'd been in Deerington but ssshhhhh. They don't need to discuss that.]

[Maul waves a hand dismissively.]

You really need to stop taking that so personally. I've threatened most Sleepers at one point or another.

Good people? That's all well and fine but to be balanced, what such a Council needs is someone who is not a good person. Not everyone here aligns themselves on the side of light or is trying to do better. They need representation too.

[For someone who claims not to have been taught much of manipulation by his master, clearly Maul had picked up a lesson or two just by virtue of being around Sidious for half his life.]

True. My sense of humor is a bit limited, so I don't see the point much in such posts.

[Maul grins, all his sharp teeth on display.]

Since most have made it abundantly clear they would rather toss me back into the sea before ever letting me have absolute power, a seat on a hypothetical council will suit me just fine. After all, not every Sleeper is a good, noble person. They need representation from someone who is on the side of darkness like they are. That is where I come in.

[Well, Wu does have a point there. Maul's definitely not a fan of anyone bigger and stronger than him coming in and taking over. He just wants to be the first one to do it is all.]

A 'fair government' sound like an oxymoron to me. You can strive for balance and equality but it is unlikely such a thing will ever be reached.

[He pauses. Others have been trying to suggest things to him, so he's got an idea on how to adapt but still have power.]

What about a council? Appoint many people and that way the balance won't shift too much towards one or the other. And that way things won't be thrown into chaos if any one person disappears.

There is no time like the present to establish things. Start off by hitting the ground running, so to speak, and that way people aren't shocked and thrown into chaos when things ultimately end up being outside of their comfort level. And that will rapidly happen here if it is anything like the old town.

Well, that makes one of us.

[Let's face it, Maul would likely hold a grudge against someone for breathing too loudly in his general vicinity, let alone some of the things people have done to him over the past year and a half.

He shoots a look at Venge, who sits there primly looking as if butter wouldn't melt in their mouth.]

They are very good at that. It's like having a conscience.

[Maul's never had one external or otherwise, so this is most unusual.]

Likewise, my friend.

[They were birds of a feather, these two, and Maul was glad to see one of the people with a similar mindset as him had made their way to Trench.]

I survived. There was some hallucinations afterwards but no lasting harm done to anyone I encountered.

All too true. I am simply waiting for the other shoe to drop here. Then it will simply be a matter of weeding out the strong from the weak.

[Maul sighs in a resigned fashion.]

Keep in mind I did not name them. They named themselves.

[Venge butts his hand with their head roughly. Get on with it.]

Their full name is Vengeful Snuzzle. A perfectly ridiculous name for such a serious creature.

There is no time like the present to get a move on things.

[Sorry, Varian. He's going to end up even more tired by the end of this conversation.]

Yes. Aren't they adorable? [.....Not quite the adjective most people would use for a creature with teeth coming every which way out of their mouth.] They are Force-sensitive beings and quite tough. This one's name is Venge.

Odd that Ruddiger would have gone through such a metamorphosis. Did he start off as a squid too?

Yes, very much so. Shaaks are large round herbivores bred for their hide and meat. They don't have much in the way of intelligence and stay together in herds.

[So it definitely wasn't a compliment Maul was paying people when he compared the populace to them.]

Assuming the Pthumerians actually want to rule with equanimity and a just hand. Most of those in Deerington didn't exactly show themselves to be the benevolent sort of rulers.

[He was thinking specifically of Mother Superior and the Pthumerian Queen, two that he would have loved to have gotten his hands on again if only to make their lives evermore miserable.]

Who is the little furry companion you have helping you there?

Okay... [there's a vaguely clear indication Manabu's rubbing at his face right now, despite there being no visual.] I mean, setting aside that...that this isn't Deerington, that...I really don't think what you went through is normal. I, I mean, I've...I've visited a dozen or so planets? And the bad and lawless places are mostly an exception to the rule.

[beat. hamster wheel in brain spinning...

quickly:] A-and not because of some harsh rules or anything, either!

[ Wu smiles at that. It's what he and Ozpin discussed, what Vira-Lorr suggested. It's a good idea, and he could shift credit, but... ]

That's a wonderful idea! Then we would have diversity of thought, and everyone could be heard. And, yes. I don't know if that will be the same here, if people will disappear, but if it's anything like Deerington, that's certainly a concern. We would want enough people so that no one person being gone with unbalance the system.

And, yes. A government is always a work in progress. No one will ever be completely happy, but I think that's the beauty of it. There's always room to improve, always ways that we can be better. I hope we can create something better. If we do, perhaps we'll have succeeded.

Deciding things without learning the lay of the land is an excellent way to make enemies of the people you are attempting to help.

[ That, Flynn feels very strongly about. ]

Can you know the reality they are facing if you act so quickly? Can you truly understand the problem you are attempting to solve, and would you listen, if you're so determined to act quickly, when problems are brought to you? Structure is, of course, necessary to society, but I believe this city has existed for a long time before you and I washed up here. We cannot ethically come in and take over like an invading force, imposing our ways on the people here.

[ No matter that Flynn thinks this place will need something like that eventually. No matter that he agrees, in a way. He has seen the failures in power-grabs. ]

You'll create more of the very chaos you're trying to avoid.

Without question. They have their agenda, and their rather ham-fisted ways of ensuring it plays out.

[She rubbed at her forehead. For all that she was not sure of his intentions here, he did have a point. There was going to be a time that they needed a more ... firm hand.]

There will be a time when we need a darker method, yes. That is something some will have difficulty fully embracing, but I think the world will help them understand soon enough.

As for the natives, measure twice, cut once. Let's keep an eye on them and hope that there's no need to cut. Hopefully. [There was definitely a 'believe it when they see it' tone there.]

There is actually! It's a time called "once everyone has settled down and knows what this whole new world is actually about".

[He just wants a nap, he doesn't want any of this.]

They're... something. I'm still gonna stick with toothy. It is pretty weird, but no, he didn't. I couldn't find him for ages once I'd got to land, and then he just burst out of my chest like it was normal. He thought it was funny.

[Because Ruddiger is a giant asshole.]

[Don't take death threats so personally. Uh huh. She raises an eyebrow.]

Yeah, well, the whole trying to attack me on the street, and then tearing down my house because you couldn't kill me thing makes it just a little bit personal and a credible threat.

And who would you suggest to represent them? You?

That's still not an excuse to stop trying.

And I would point out that the system worked for centuries until it came apart.

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Video; un: darkness

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