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audio ; un: a.solo

[ There's a faint sound of wind in the background of his broadcast, as if he's sitting somewhere up high. ]

Hello. Again. [ Oof, okay, not the strongest start. ] I'm Anakin Solo, a knight of the Jedi Order, at your service. I sort of remember being here before, and I wanted to thank everyone who helped me out.

They offered me a bed at the orphanage, but I don't want to take it from someone who might need it.
How does housing work here, exactly? I don't mind sleeping outside, but that doesn't seem wise in the long run.

[ A pause. ]

By the way, I don't remember the sky being like this before-- is this normal? As normal as anything is here, I mean.

[ Another pause. He's clearly not in his element. ]

Thanks again.

[ The feed ends. ]

( ooc: let me know if you want to keep his tdm thread! i'm cool either way. )

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Oh, you're still around?

[Maul would say he's sorry for the not-so-nice welcome but he's most assuredly not. Maul will be Maul after all.]

Any house that you want to claim as your own is fair game. If you need somewhere temporary to rest, my home is available. Your uncle is here quite often, so I can assure you no harm will come to you should you wish to stay.

[Maul's gotten used to having various Force users in and out of his dwelling, which is large enough to house just about anyone who wishes to stop by.]

[ Wonderful. Just the face he wanted to see.

The offer to stay at Maul's house stops him short. His uncle stays there? That's both worrying and on-brand for Luke. He'll have to pull his uncle aside and have a talk. Which is probably going to be more awkward than this entire conversation. ]

I'll find my own place. [ A pause. ] Is he doing better? Luke, I mean.

Yes. He's been staying here until I deem him strong enough to leave. Getting him to rest has been most difficult but threats to tie him to the bed if necessary seem to have gotten through to him.

[Maul grins, a look that would be less disconcerting if he didn't have a mouth full of fangs. Still, at least he's genuine. Who would have thought a Sith Lord of all people could have such caring instincts?]

[ Anakin didn't. And still doesn't. Now he wants to go immediately to his uncle and make sure he's actually alright. Maul hasn't done anything so far, but Anakin has been taught to be vigilant against the Dark. He's not about to throw away all of his teachings. ]

How did he get hurt?

[The smile drops from Maul's face and a guarded look comes into his eyes. Much as he's still mad and frustrated with Reaper, he's not about to throw his lover under the bus. Reaper is still his mate as far as Maul is concerned and he's determined to bring back the man he loves from the edge he's teetering on.]

He was attacked by someone here who has suffered blood corruption. I got to him after the attack and managed to heal him of some of the worst of his injuries but he lost quite a bit of his own blood, which is why he's needed to heal.

[ Fortunately, Anakin isn't interested in any sort of revenge for Luke's injuries. For one thing, Luke wouldn't want that. For another, it wouldn't help the current situation. ]

Spilling blood is what brings on corruption, right?

[ He's done a quick once-over of the manual he was given, but he'd like to know as much as possible about corruption. It plays too closely to his old fears of turning to the Dark. ]

That among other things. From what my followers have told me, just about any negative act can cause corruption. Your esteemed grandsire-- [And who would have thought Maul could put that much sarcasm and contempt into one word?] --Managed to end up full of it simply through being his usual charming self before I ripped it out of him again.

[ Anakin frowns. ]

Your "followers?"

[ Interesting word choice. ]

A group of natives who have proclaimed me to be their leader. They started following me around when I first arrived here, claiming I was the one they had been waiting for. I was very suspicious given my experiences in the previous town. The people there acted kindly for the first month and my guard was down. Then they drugged me, sewed me to a dead animal, and tried to burn me alive as they lit a building on fire with me inside.

[Granted, that experience hadn't turned out to be all bad given it was how he'd met his lover Reaper, but it had certainly had colored Maul's opinion on any natives that appeared to be kind or helpful right off the bat.]

I kept telling them to leave me alone but they were persistent. After several months went by and they showed no signs of stabbing me in the back, I consented to teaching them and becoming a leader for them to follow.

[Maul makes having his own cult sound so benign, doesn't he?]

[ Well that was. A lot. He files the details about the ritual and mentions of the other town away. More pressingly: ]

What are you teaching them?

[ He has some concerns. ]

[Having some concerns is absolutely valid in this situation, given Maul now has a group devoted to following his word like it is the law.]

Whatever I think will benefit them. Some teachings of the Dark, some Mandalorian customs I learned while ruling Mandalore, things I have learned on my own over the past two years. It really depends on what I think needs to be emphasized at the moment.

[ Oh wonderful. Just what he wanted to hear. Anakin files the information away and decides this is something he should look into later. He doesn't sense any other Force-sensitives here, but Sith teachings are dangerous no matter who learns them.

Flatly: ] Have you considered swapping out Sith lessons for cooking classes? Seems more useful, on the whole.

[There's something in Maul's expression which suggests he's almost amused at Anakin's words but doesn't want to encourage him any further.]

......I'm surrounded by quippy Jedi. Wonderful.

[Why is this his life?]

I was being serious. Not hopeful, but serious.

[Maul tilts his head, taking in the sight of Anakin for a moment.]

You want a serious answer? This is a very dangerous place and you'll find that out soon enough. Many of those that have been drawn to me were tired of cowering in fear and always wondering what would come next. I decided that if I could teach these people ways that would help them do more than just survive, but actually begin to live and thrive, I was going to take it. So I did.

[ Anakin eyes him suspiciously. "I did it for them" sounds like pretty words wrapping up a more sinister motive. The Dark is selfish and driven by power, and those who practice the Dark Side of the Force aren't immune.

Dryly: ]

I'm sure you get nothing out of this arrangement.

[Maul grins and laughs, a deep sound that definitely has an eerie edge to it. This Jedi can read him well.]

Who wouldn't want a bunch of people devoted to following their every word? They shall live and die at my command. That is a kind of power which is hard to come by and one I will keep at all costs.

[ There's an undercurrent of a threat in that statement. If he should meddle, Maul's followers will probably try to stop him. There is only violence and death down that path. There would be no one left to save. ]

I wouldn't. Then again, I'm not a megalomaniac.

Do I look like I am trying to take over this city or attempting to overthrow the Pthumerians? No, the amount of power I have is satisfying enough for the moment. And I have made enough enemies out of other Sleepers over the years to think better than going after them or anything of that nature.

[It's taken a very long time, but for the most part, Maul's finally learned that actions have consequences.]

[ Dryly: ] Emphasis on "for the moment."

[ If the opportunity arises, he's not sure if Maul will resist it. ]

Perhaps I will end up surprising you, young Jedi. I am predictable in some way but also very unpredictable in others.

[ Neutrally: ] Maybe. But I'm not counting on it.

[A smirk with quite a lot of sharp teeth comes over Maul's face.]

We shall see.

[ Dryly: ] We will.

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