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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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[ Boy that thing is scary, but he isn't really scared of Maul so maybe he shouldn't be afraid of his animal friend..? Wu for his part has Fritter the raccoon perched on his shoulder ]

You ran a whole planet? Oh, wow! That's a lot of responsibility. I've only run a country, and not for very long...

[ He was in Deerington longer than he's been on the throne back home. It's a strange thought ]

I talked with some people about starting a government, but I think that things have changed pretty dramatically. We aren't in Deerington anymore, and this place, Trench, already has a bunch of people in it! Imposing our own government on them seems pretty, um... well. Bad. It seems bad! We can't just come in here and start trying to change everything before we even know who these people are and what they care about.

[ It feels like what Kuvira did: she came in and imposed her will on others, and while Wu was behind starting a government when it was just them, just their group of Sleepers, it would feel all too much like a coup to try and impose a government on the people of Trench ]

I wonder if they already have a government? There has to be, or it would be all out anarchy! ...right?

I guess we could have a Sleeper-only government? But that also seems kind of strange to single out a group of people, even if we are in that group!

If you're interested, I know that Ozpin had some thoughts about it.

I don't trust the people here any farther than I can't throw them.

[Cause Maul could throw them a great distance.]

You weren't there for the first month I was in Deerington. The locals acted very kind and sweet, just like they did right now. And I thought all the talk of them hating us was exaggerated... [He pauses, reflecting on how long ago that was now.] .... until they drugged me, sewed me to a dead deer and tried to burn me alive at the end of the month. I would have died were it not for Reaper rescuing me. No, I do not trust these natives to have our best interests at heart.

Having a Sleeper-run government does seem like a wise course of action. Why let outsiders meddle in our affairs when we are perfectly capable of taking care of them ourselves?

[ Wu sits there quietly for a moment, letting that sink in.

That is a horrible, awful, disgusting thing to happen to him. Wu can understand his anger, he can even feel it, even through this device but-- ]

I'm so sorry that that happened to you. That's just-- that's awful, Maul.

[ He takes a moment there, chewing the inside of his cheek. It's a valid concern, but he still doesn't think that that's the solution ]

However, I don't think that you should lump the people in Trench in with the people in Deerington. I know I only arrived there when they started to, ah... stop working? But even so! They were figments of Julia Sodder's dream, and, if what I've been told is right, we aren't in any sort of dream anymore. We're in a world, a world that we are the outsiders to.

I don't think it is wise. How would you feel if, when you were back home, an outsider came in and decided that they had the right to govern your world? I know that it feels really bad! I trusted a woman, Kuvira, to help get my country back in order, and what did she do? She took it over! It's not quite the same situation, but it wasn't her right to do it, and she forced all sorts of awful things onto my people.

[ He takes a deep breath, frowning at the screen ]

What I'm saying is: we are the outsiders here. We need to respect the people of this city and their way of living. If it turns out that that's dangerous to us, then of course we should do something about it. But I don't think that inflicting our values on them is the right course of action.

Perhaps we can discuss some way to keep each other safe? If that is your most pressing concern, and it probably should be! Awful things happened so often in Deerington, I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop here even though I really, really hope it doesn't. I'm sure we can find some way to make you feel safer?

You seem to be of the optimistic nature that people are good, kind, and want what's best for their fellow beings, and that is what you are basing all your assumptions off of. That's not my experience. People are cruel, selfish, and look out for themselves most of the time. That is what I am doing right now. I won't be the victim of anyone's ire again because they don't know what to do with me when I inevitably act out against popular opinion.

[Maul gets a stubborn cast to his face.]

There is no safety here or anywhere else. I'll do my best to protect the people I care about but stopping the horrors, danger, and death we face is a futile option. Inevitably, we will end up getting hurt if not dying here. I am seeking the small bit of control I can possess.

I'm sorry you feel that way. You're right, I do believe that most people are good. If someone isn't good, it's generally because of their circumstance or upbringing--from what you've told me, your circumstance wasn't great, so it makes sense that you might not have seen many good people around you.

I hope you can see it more here.

[ Maybe it's a futile hope. Wu knows he's not going to change Maul, but at least he hopes he can help a little ]

Protecting the people you love is admirable. I just don't think that a government is the best way to do it, right now.

I know for me, I'm not really interested in creating a government anymore. I was, in Deerington, because I thought it could really help rally the people, and that it might help us deliver fair and just punishment. But now I don't think it's what was needed then, either. We need to figure out what's actually needed, what will actually help people, and do that.

I hope that if you do decide to help create one, it's only for Sleepers and that you don't inflict our laws or rules on the people who were here before us.

Edited 2021-09-04 03:17 (UTC)

I doubt it. Most Sleepers have not given me much reason to change my mind.

[The ones he does listen to have been doing their best to convince him to do otherwise but it is a futile effort most of the time.]

Then how do you feel we are to deliver 'fair and just punishment' instead of people taking things into their own hands as they did before? There needs to be some form of law and order or there will be anarchy. [He pauses.] Although anarchy can have its uses too..

[Venge buts his hand to get him back on track.]

Well, that depends. Perhaps the people here want to be ruled. Maybe they've been waiting for some strong leadership. I'll have to inquire some of their opinions.

I'm sorry, Maul, but people rarely want to be ruled. Do you?

[ Wu shakes his head. He hasn't figured out the rest of it, but this part he feels very strongly about ]

Many people want stability, they want to feel safe, and that often comes with being governed, but people don't simply want to be ruled.

Whatever happens, if we do create a governing body, it needs to be fair. Fair for you, and me, and everyone who would be under its jurisdiction.

[ He lets out a sigh, tapping his fingers on his knee ]

Asking the people is a great idea. But, please, don't take this into your own hands, either. I don't think that would end well. It, people really don't take well to people simply seizing power. I believe that the people should choose who governs, and if we do do this, I hope we could hold an election or something to make it fair.

[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.

[ 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.

If the people here could find the motivation to do such a thing-- [He mutters quietly 'And I'm not certain they ever could'] --Then I would want to be a part of such a thing. Not everyone here has such noble intentions as you. Those of the, shall we say, darker perspectives need representation too.

You can make some of the people happy all of the time and all of the people happy some of the time but you will never make all of the people happy all of the time. [He sounds as if he is quoting someone saying that.]

Of course! That is how democracy works, after all. At least, representative democracy. Everyone should have a voice, someone they trust to represent their interests. If you can earn people's trust to represent them, you would be an excellent candidate!

[ He has the passion, at least.

At the quote, Wu's lips part, and he's struck by such wisdom ]

Wow, that's very astute! I suppose you're right. Let's aim for the middle one, can't we? Help everyone get at least some of they want, even if everyone will never be fully happy with society at the same time.

Stop saying the word democracy. I've grown to mistrust such a system of government as that.

[He'd grown up hearing everything that was terrible about it and wasn't sure he believed in any form of it any longer.]

Doubtful. This does not seem like a place conducive to getting what you want.

Why, why don't you like democracies? I'll admit, they're not perfect. I read a lot about them in Deerington, about how they've failed, but also how they've succeeded! I think a representative democracy, one that's truly representative, is the fairest form of government. But, if you disagree, I'd love to hear what you think is a better choice.

Maul, Maul, you're being so pessimistic! We just got here! You have to keep the faith. This is our new home, at least for now. We have to do our best to make it work for us.

The entire time I spent with my master all I heard was the ways in which democracy was failing and why it would never work properly as a system. The corruption, the stagnation, the hypocrisy of such a form of government. Forgive me if that has made me wary of such a system ever having any good to it.

You'll just need to have enough optimism for both of us. Any time I have ever tried to have hope, it doesn't end well for me.

[ 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.

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.]

Well, my country fell when one man killed the Queen, so...

[ He waves a hand uselessly. What kind of argument is that? He knows he won't convince Maul ]

I hope that you'll consider the options here carefully, and I'm happy to talk with you about any of them. I've studied a lot about governments, both from my world and from Earth, and I hope I can help figure out what might work best for us.

Several have put forth your name as one that would be suitable for discussing governments with, so I shall try to keep an open mind when speaking with you.

[Which is more than he would do with a lot of others but Wu has been nice to Maul and insightful too, so he deserves a little more in terms of tolerance.]

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Video; un: darkness

video; un: wulala

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