Inbox (Deer Country)

[opress]

[ Text | Voice | Video ]

Comments

Action

[survivalthroughhate]

[After looking at Yuri's post, Maul sighs, and goes off to find Savage in the Lego room.]

Be prepared, brother. People may be seeking retribution for something I haven't done.

[opress]

[Savage was in the lego room retreat taking some quiet time to himself, his hydraatis blood spell plant on a high shelf near a window of the room.

He looked up from his activities as Maul entered, frown appearing almost instantly at the word 'prepared'. He sat up straighter.]

What are you being accused of this time, brother?

text | timaeusTestified

[givehead]

Sup.

I'm assuming we're going to have sex at some point and when we do, I want you to know that my safeword is Fluttershy.

That's all.

Text; un: ...

[opress]

[Not being a strong reader - but learning - he was going to try this text-based interaction.]

what is yor sexe timelin? wht's fluttershy?

swear im getting back to our other tags but wanted this one in for xmas

[givehead]

I highly doubt your kind celebrates the banal festivities of which are known by humans as Christmas. It's a bogus holiday where you spend too much money on things no one wants and then you eat food and put up with derogatory comments from people who barely know you.

But it is a good excuse to dress up cutely. If you don't have any way to celebrate the holiday, then call me up. I can come by. Kinky reindeer. I don't know. Possibilities are endless and we are both probably lonely.

I'll come to sit on your lap and behave perfectly peachy. I'm ready to be your personal gift for the next day or two :)

bless; this made my christmas :)

[opress]

[Dirk sending him a long text was like a nightmare. The only reason he didn't ask Maul for help reading it was because he wasn't going to risk the ribbing that he would received. So he struggled his way through and thought he had the general gist of the conversation. Then he attempted a text back.]

nevar herd of christmas beefor. sounds stupid.

[Then, realizing it was going take him forever, he gave up on texting. Maybe Dirk would appreciate the effort first and then realize it was easier to communicate voice.]

I think my brother is off occupying a lap this day, so it's just me and the animals. What's a reindeer? I don't mind being lonely, but you've proven to be good company. Do you... want to come here?

Christmas Delivery

[lightthedarkness]

[Wrapped up in a bright red and white box is a plate of bought snowflake cookies and a black men's coat that will actually fit him and be long enough for his height and wide enough for his build.

Attached is a note with a little rabbit doodle:]

Happy Holidays!
Love,
Usagi

Voice;

[opress]

This coat is too big for Maul. I think you should get your money back.

[But more importantly - he'd never actually received a holiday gift before - he needs to have certain information.]

What... are these food stuffs made of?

Christmas Gift

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul, after he's completed his task of giving out gifts to his close friends in his most Maul-ish way, has one gift left to give. He leaves a large pile of coins wrapped up in a gothic kerchief, almost half of what Paimon had given him when Maul wished for them.

He puts a note beside it, the script blocky and large given Maul's lack of practicing writing growing up.]

It is traditional to give gifts to loved ones in some cultures and worlds this time of year. I know you will like it immensely. [Maul knows Savage has always had a fondness for money in any form.] Merry Christmas, my brother. Having you here this year is the best present I could ask for.

[Then he curls up next to his brother and falls fast asleep, exhausted from being up almost the entire night.]

[opress]

[Savage rolled over and curled an arm and most of his body around Maul, welcoming his brother to sleep. He, of course, was unaware of the gift until morning when he woke naturally to the early hours. He rolled over and found the gift and note, recognizing Maul's blocky script.

It took him time to read and then comprehend the words before he opened the gift to find golden coins. He immediately brightened as he picked each one up to examine it. They weren't credits, but they were definitely of monetary value.

So much for getting out of bed. He rolled back over and collected his elder brother in a bone-crushing embrace. Talk about a gift that would keep on giving. His purr was loud and deep, rumbling his chest.]

Video; un: lothrat

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Backdated to a few days after this

Ezra takes a deep breath and tries to get out the little speech he has planned quickly.]

Savage - I told Maul until I saw some good evidence that he was done with treating people like things, I wasn't going to be visiting the house or anything friendly like that.

But I realized you deserve to hear that directly from me, too.

I also told him that I wanted him to stay away from me, in the meantime. That part doesn't apply to you. You're not your brother.

I'm pretty mad at him, and don't want to be around him, but I'm not trying to be vindictive.

Video;

[opress]

[While Savage might be surprised he received any kind of message from anyone in this place, he didn't let it show on his expression when he activated the video function to reply. Normally, he was passed over when it came to any kind of happenings that surrounded his elder brother, and this situation hardly seemed different until now.

This particular Jedi was a weird one. However, Ezra was oddly honest and forthcoming.]

So I won't have to keep Ruin from attaching to you while you practice your training in the yard then. That will make my rathtar happy to have free reign more often.

Why would you think I deserve to be told such things when we hardly know each other?

[He frowned deeply as he stared at the picture, suspicion written all over his face before it eased to confusion. People, especially Jedi, didn't treat him as more than an extension of his brother.]

I'm not my brother, no, but we do plenty enough together to be painted with the same brush.

Action

[survivalthroughhate]

[At the start of the month, Maul came down one morning, and sat down next to his brother at the kitchen table after he pulled out a container of meat from the fridge. He gnawed on bits and pieces of it as he spoke.]

There is something I have been meaning to ask you, brother.

[opress]

[Savage was far more of a morning person than Maul, so he was generally up much earlier than his brother. He used such time to review the network, even if he might not reply. It was his opportunity to practice the words that people wrote and convert them to sound when he couldn't figure out a word pronounciation.

Yet, when Maul appeared on that morning, he shut off his OMNI and leaned back in the chair. He watched his brother, keeping it cool as he always liked to.

Instead of answering, he made a noise in his throat to welcome his brother to continue. Then he reached out to steal a strip of meat to chew on.]

text | un: kd6-3.7

[obeir]

[ Trench is full of surprises. After the complicated feelings that arose from knowing of Savage and Dirk's association in prior months, he never could have guessed that he'd find Savage's company as agreeable as he had. The dire circumstances surrounding their meeting maybe hadn't been ideal, but it had been good to meet him on emotionally neutral ground and in a manner completely unrelated to Dirk, so things wouldn't be too clouded by those complicated feelings.

And now K's in the completely unexpected position of... wanting to follow up on that meeting. They'd gotten along. Savage has interesting insight and opinions. There's undeniable parallels between their lived experiences, and the android is curious to know more. There's probably no harm in at least seeing where this might go. He won't force his presence on anyone who doesn't want it, but he's willing to initiate contact. ]

Hey. It's K. [ If his user name didn't give it away... ] I lost track of you when I was pulled down into the catacombs. Did you make it out of that "game" all right?

Voice; un: ...

[opress]

[Savage was often taken aback on the very rare occasion someone actually texted him. For one, few did contact him and he was fine with that. Two, he didn't read well, though he had been practicing daily to improve his skills at it. Third, why would the droid be contacting him? He hadn't hated the androids company, and their discussion had been oddly refreshing.

He just hadn't thought that they would speak again except potentially running into one another on another one of Trench's adventures. It reminded him a little of Dirk randomly contacting him, though he didn't have the same very odd, very flirty and very obscene conversation topics with K.

He could reply in text, but it would take him awhile. His reading was better than his writing these days, and it would just take more time than necessary.]

Of course. A few broken bones could hardly stop me. Were you injured in the catacombs? That place was a tight squeeze in places. [There had also been cursed gold and that had been extremely disappointing to find out.]

[Action]

[lightthedarkness]

[Usagi distinctly remembered that Savage liked shortbread cookies since they were less sweet than the other cookies she gave him. So, Savage will be getting an entire plate of them delivered to him, and yes to him, cause the card attached reads:

To Savage (no, not Maul, but you can share them with him if you want),
Thank you for last month.
Love,
Usagi

[And her usual rabbit head doodle made it clear it was properly from her. ]

[Voice]

[opress]

[He'd found her package of cookies, and he half expected the plate to be broken given how last month had gone for her. It was solid and he peered at the note. Her use of language for this particular note was simple enough that he had no trouble reading it.

He looked at the cookies then at the note them back to the cookies before he used his Omni to call. Normally he wouldn't since general senses of thanks for gifts wasn't common in his culture, but Deerington and Trench had taught him the occasional mannerism.]

You don't need to send me gifts for calling you short and comparing you to baby animals.

[He realized only after the words left his month it wasn't any sign of obvious appreciation. Oh well, this was what she got.]

Will these poison Rampage? He did the work.

Video; UN: Willow (Memshare!)

[frogfear]

[The feed clicks on, and it looks like it's just going to be a normal conversation.]

Hey - are you still up for meeting at the Archives later?

[It does not end there, but the feed shifts to a ceremony outside a high school. Graduation Day. It's remarkably dark, and there is a man at the podium giving a speech to what appears to be a very bored looking class of seniors, ready to move onto the next phase of their lives.

Something isn't quite right, though. He twists, and shifts, around, and nearly collapses as he tries to get through his speech before he lets out a pained scream. He manages to steady himself briefly, as the students all look around at each other. "It has begun. My destiny," he says, and he begins to thumb through his cue cards like he intends to keep going with his speech. "It's a little sooner than I expected. I had this whole section on civic pride, but I guess we'll just skip to the big finish."

He changes, skin bubbling strangely as his form shifts from a human to massive snake, towering over the assembled. The students rise, and the parents flee for their lives, as he roars a deafening sound. From behind them, a group of about two dozen vampires approach to try to cut off their escape, but the students hold their ground until from beside Willow, a young woman with blonde hair calls out "NOW!"

They shrug out of their robes, and it's clear the entire graduating class knew what was coming - every single one of them are armed. Some with all kinds of melee weapons imaginable, some with crossbows, some with flamethrowers, and some, like Willow, with spear guns.

The battle is fierce, but organized. There are two students who are clearly in command, and that is the one who was beside Willow, and a teenaged boy with dark hair who shout instructions to help control the attack. The snake strikes, and several of its intended victims are killed, including the high school principal who tried to stop the attack by declaring it 'unacceptable' and demanding order.

Several of the students break rank and try to flee, only to be attacked by the vampires who are met with resistance from a group of kids near the back armed with bows and flaming arrows. The vampires themselves try to flee, only to have their retreat cut off by a third wave of what looks like it could be both students and staff alike, determined to put a stop to the madness.

The retreat is called, and Willow hesitates until her friend tells her again to go. She joins the rest of the crush of kids, who essentially trample over the remaining vampires. She is clearly not a trained fighter, but she manages to get through it alive and unharmed, which is more than could be said for some of her classmates, and eventually the remaining vampires retreat.

An explosion draws the attention of the remaining fighters all at once, followed by several more, even though it's not immediately clear before the end of the memory what has happened exactly beyond the school being completely destroyed.

The feed clicks back to Willow, and she looks absolutely baffled.]

Uhhh... that - that wasn't me. Or, I don't think it was me.

video;

[opress]

[Willow was one of the very few people that he allowed himself to engage in video, since his default was voice. Since she had died and since they had run around as wolves - so strange - she'd been less of the Willow that he knew but still made an effort. So... maybe, just maybe, he tried a touch harder as well.

He wouldn't call her a friend yet, since that was still very much a part of him that was in denial. Dathomirian Zabrak did not make friends, least of all with other species beyond their planet.]

Yeah, fine...

[Then there's this whole weird scene that he wasn't expecting to happen. So the memory share thing was happening to more than just his brother? That was interesting, and it was definitely a part of Willow's life he hadn't expected to see.

She wasn't a warrior by any means, but she held her own because she had to and relied on more veteran fighters to put her in good position to work.

Yet, he hadn't thought she had all her memories back. The conversations he had with her during their reading sessions seemed to indicate some were back - she recognized him and their brief history together - but happened to have gaps.]

That was you. At some strange ceremony. But you don't know what the serpent was?

Accidental Video; un: darkness

[survivalthroughhate]

[This memory is from when both of them are very young in the period of time before Maul was taken from Dathomir. Subsequently, it's a little fuzzy and blurred around the edges and seems to be missing a portion or two. That's what memories from over thirty years prior look like.

Talzin is mixing up something in a bowl that's over the fire. It glows with the sickly green color of Nightsister magic. Maul, maybe about five years old, goes over to peer at what it is. His nose wrinkles for the concoction smells vile. His mother pours some into a small wooden cup. "Come. Let us take this to your brother."

Maul trots after his mother on short legs to another room. The shades are drawn and Savage is in bed with the covers pulled up tightly around him. He's missing some of the tattoos he'll have in adulthood, Talzin not quite done dotting his skin with them. There's a slight sheen to his yellow skin. He's got a fever. This isn't surprising for Maul given he knows Savage was born weak and is sick often. But he loves his little brother regardless. He's not too worried. Their mother is very wise and knows all sorts of remedies to heal whatever is ailing her youngest.

"Savage." Talzin's voice makes Savage blink sleepily and sit up. "You need to drink this."

She holds the cup up to him but after he smells the brew, Savage shakes his head. "Don't want to. Smells bad."

Talzin tries to coax him. "Now, now, you need to take it." But Savage is being stubborn and no matter what she says to him, the little Zabrak refuses. Eventually, Talzin sighs and turns to her eldest, hoping he can succeed here where she has failed.

Maul knows what to do and climbs up onto the bed he usually shares with his little brother. He strokes a few of Savage's front horns in a fond manner. "Please drink it, Savage. For me? Pleeeeaaaassse?" Savage's face lights up when he realizes Maul is there beside him. He thinks the world of his older brother. Maul continues on. "If you don't drink what Mother gave you, you won't be able to go outside and play with me anymore."

He finally nods, Maul having talked him into it. "'Kay." He drinks the cup down, still making a face at the end of the process. Even his brother's encouragement can't make the potion taste any better.

Talzin regards the entire exchange with a curious expression on her face. She's clearly thinking of how this strong bond could affect the future. As always, she's planning six steps ahead. But Maul only focuses on his mother for a moment or two. Then he's back to watching Savage carefully. He turns to Talzin. "Mother, is it alright if I stay in here for a while?"

She smiles at him. "Of course."

As she walks out, Savage starts talking to his brother. "Tell me a story!" He asks excitedly.

Maul thinks for a moment before he starts in with one. "Once, there was a rancor. The biggest 'n meanest 'n most scary rancor that ever lived. And he scared all the Nightkin in the land...." The memory fades out there as Maul starts entertaining his little brother with a tale he's heard other Nightbrothers tell.]

Video;

[opress]

[It wasn't often that his brother sent him media, so he was confused when the video started and the image was clearly distorted but oddly of the inside of somewhere that looked like Dathomir. It took him a moment to realize it was a memory that was being shared with him, probably one his brother hadn't intended.

Savage remembered nothing of this event. His memories of being so young had all but been wiped out over the years, though there was an odd tug of familiarity. He did recall having a runny nose, winded easily and was smaller than the other kits up until a certain age.

Looking at how much of a weakling he was, he was honestly surprised that Mother Talzin hadn't just fed him to a rancor and been done with him. But she hadn't. He had been useful, though perhaps in her own limited way, she had cared for him. She'd made effort to keep him alive.]

I don't remember this. How were you not repulsed by how weak I was back then, brother?

delivery

[obeir]

[ A hefty package has been left at Savage's residence addressed to him. It contains a mismatched collection of scrap metal, wires, tubing, mesh, saw blades, and miscellaneous other parts — including actual blades for the teeth — that have been carefully constructed and welded together into the form of an anglerfish. Despite the scavenged nature of the materials, there's a fairly high degree of craftsmanship involved; it's surprisingly symmetrical and sturdy. It could easily withstand, say, being used as a literal weapon. The included note reads:

Savage—
I've been making sculptures out of scrap metal and thought you might like this one. It's based off a type of carnivorous fish known for their fearsome appearance.
—K ]

Voice; un: ...

[opress]

[Savage wasn't used to receiving gifts, let alone gifts from near random strangers. He was careful in opening the package, expecting it to be dangerous. Then he discovered what it was, and he spent a good hour looking over the entire sculpture from tooth to fin.

It was impressive. It reminded him of the kind things Dirk might do, but the note clearly said it was from the droid.]

It's hideous and dangerous looking. I like it.

[It was definitely getting a place where everyone could see it.]

Someone I used to know could do similar work. Did you know Dirk before he left?

[frogfear]

[Between being dead herself, the burning of the house, and the death of several of her friends, it takes Willow a little while to recover enough to reach out to the people she's harmed. Genuine apologies rarely come easy, and under the circumstances, an apology alone doesn't feel like it's nearly enough to even begin to make up for what she's done.

Still, it's all she has.

In the early days of August, she reaches out to Savage, after the chaos of July has settled, and all that's left is to try to put the pieces back together after the fallout. She would have gone in person, but she's already died once, and come close a second time.

She doesn't really expect either of them to forgive her.]

Hey. Savage. I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to get in touch. Things have been... Well, it doesn't matter. I just wanted to say I'm sorry. About you, and Maul, and everything. I didn't - I wasn't myself. I wasn't in my right head.

[She lets out a quiet sigh.]

I know it doesn't undo anything - it doesn't even make it better, but I still wanted you to know.

I really am sorry.

[opress]

[It had gone quite some time between his and Maul's death and this that he had expected nothing close to an apology. He had moved on with his existence, struggling in his own way, but hearing Willow's voice stirred a festering rage at the situation. It wasn't as hot of an anger as it had been under the influence of The Reckoning though.

So he was silent for a time as he considered her apology, aware that she hadn't been herself at the time. His brothers need for revenge influenced some of his own feelings on the matter, and forgiveness was not something Nightbrothers were known for either.

Then he issued a low growl from his throat.]

I was beginning to trust you. [Which was a huge statement coming from him, admitting what he felt openly to anyone.] Killing me was one thing, but torturing my brother is another. You drove him insane and nearly me as well for a time. [The emotional blood bond had messed him up badly.]

You have many allies and friends. Go back to them.

Sometime in October [action]

[obeir]

[ In K's endeavour to cultivate a friendship with Savage, he spent September putting together a small device intended for the Zabrak that can project animated simulations of space, depicting all of the celestial bodies in miniature of any given star system. It's a straightforward process to download maps onto it, though more complicated to manually program them in. He's already programmed it to display a full solar year of Trench's sky by default, and there are even cartographic options to display the names of stars and constellations.

His thinking is that it could perhaps provide a reminder of home for Savage, if he has any star maps of his homeworld. K has also made himself a duplicate device for that very purpose. Given that it's the sort of thing that might serve as a night light to comfort a child (which may or may not have been his inspiration...), he isn't entirely sure how it'll be received, but he's hopeful.

October marks the completion of the project. Considering the nature of the gift, he decides to deliver it himself so he can demonstrate the functions. A message is sent to Savage ahead of time to confirm he's home. Then K cleans up and changes into more presentable attire consisting of a dress shirt and tie, vest, and dark slacks, pulls on his customary long coat, and slips the device into a pocket before heading out.

A new month has brought with it new blood effects to contend with. By the time the android has reached the road leading to Savage and Maul's residence, what had started as nagging tiredness has advanced to the point of his vision swimming as he struggles to even keep his eyes open, and he nearly stumbles with each sluggish step he takes. His body feels so heavy. It's an unnatural fatigue, beyond even what he'd experience when healing from life-threatening injuries. He thinks, dimly, to drag himself the scant few feet to the nearest sidewalk bench and rest for a moment. It's so close. But before he can even register what's happening, exhaustion finally pulls him to his knees and then he collapses face first onto the road, unconscious. ]

[opress]

[Normally, Savage wasn't a worrier. That had never been in his nature, but this month was provoked his sense of anxiety over the most ridiculous things. Only meditation worked, but then he worried about not being able to enter a meditative state because he had never been particularly good at it.

When he received a message that K was checking in to be certain he was around the house, he had been suspicious as to why the android would come around. Okay, so he had forced himself to be a bit more open to a version of 'friendship' with the droid, so he supposed he could allow a visitor. An undercurrent of anxiety that the droid was going to case the place left him pacing.

Until K didn't show up. He didn't know where the droid was coming from exactly, but after what seemed like too long for anyone to travel unless they weren't using the lamp posts. Then he paced about that. Had he been stood up? Had K run into trouble? What if there had been an malfunction to circuitry?

Should he go looking? No. Yes? No? Maybe?

Eventually, he left Ruin the rathtar in charge of house and Brute his omen Reek in the yard to let him know if K showed up when he left the house to search for the droid. He moved around the places directly from the house, and it actually didn't take him long to find K passed out face down on a public road. At first, he just circled as if waiting for the android to detonate, but when it seemed that wasn't going to be the case he did the only thing a reasonable Zabrak would do.

He used the Force to push and nudge at K, only because a stick wasn't available to use that. Definitely alive but sleeping? He didn't know enough about K's physiology to know if the droid was supposed to sleep or power down or... whatever was happening here.

It seemed safe enough for him to approach and move to pick K up off the ground. Then give a little shake.]

I thought you were coming to the house. [A touch of anxiety made his voice deeper even as he fought the blood effect of concern.]

November at the Roost [action]

[obeir]

[ After K's first invitation went awry and somehow landed in Maul's inbox, the android made sure to send another to its intended recipient and confirm it was received. He isn't wholly expecting Savage to want to take him up on it, especially if Maul ended up mercilessly teasing his brother as K suspects — so it comes as a welcome surprise when he spots Savage's hulking form shouldering through the doorway of the tavern late one evening.

It's nearing the end of his shift. He would have already started closing if not for the several scattered patrons still nursing their drinks and finishing their meals, though they'll be filtering out soon enough. They're a calm lot now, fortunately, and mostly keep to themselves and their own quiet conversations, though a few glance up to warily watch Savage with an air that suggests there may have recently been... a bit of trouble in the tavern.

K is stood behind the bar, clad in his usual work attire: a nice dress shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbow and an impeccably tied cravat at the neck, an embroidered waistcoat, and slacks, all in the fashion of Trench. Spots of diluted blood (and not his own, which crystalises) stain one sleeve, the only physical evidence that remains of the earlier commotion. His straight posture and easy smile belie his tiredness, one less physical than last month's exhaustion and more mental — he's been plagued by worries since Peter's cocooning and all the complications that have followed. ]

You came. [ He offers by way of greeting as Savage approaches, sounding pleased. ] It's good to see you. I hope you didn't have too much trouble getting here... [ What with the shifting streets and architecture and the return of the zealots. All of that, too, has been a source of worry for K. Though with the Roost's Lamp Location being right across the street, it's easy enough to reach directly via lamp travel. ]

[opress]

[Savage had indeed received the invitation, but as expected, he had also received a good interrogation and teasing from his elder brother who suddenly seemed keenly interested in K. That had not been the kind of situation he had wanted to navigate, nor did he admit to the fact that he had lay around in the bed while K slept either; he knew that was fuel to the fire. The invitation was interesting; he was hardly invited anywhere for good reason. Willow might just be one of the few, he thought.

But tonight he was unsettled. His brother was off spending time with his mate, and the zealots had made their return which meant that she might return with them. Neither the pets nor the bedding was particularly good at cuddling, which was something he did frequently with his brother when Maul was around.

So, the invitation was taken with little thought of any consequences or the potential to be caught by one of the zealots. It was difficult to navigate the twisting and changing streets and buildings, but he did make his way there later than expected. He stepped in wearing his usual armour, but he was, by now, used to his towering form drawing wary expressions and apprehensive stares. He examined the room and the few remaining patrons before he made his way over to the bar to settle himself into one of the stools, which gave a creak of protest under his significant weight.

Then he issued a low chuff of greeting, a sound he rarely made to anyone outside of Maul.] The streets are messy, but November seems to be a month of city change. Besides, everyone is more concerned with The Tower anyway, so it leaves the rest of us to go about our business. Getting to the lamp was the hardest part. [He shrugged like it was no big deal, for now folding his arms one over the other where he rested them on the bar. He was leaned forward more than he normally would.] This place closes soon, yes?

Gift Delivery - December 25th

[lightthedarkness]

[Delivered to Savage's door will be a handmade lightsaber necklace, a vest to his size, and baker bought sausage wreath. Attached is a note:]

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS, SAVAGE-KUN!

I know you don't like sweets so I got you a meat wreath! The vest is your size!

Love you,
Usagi

Gift delivery from K

[obeir]

[ Delivered to Savage and Maul's home is a festively wrapped package addressed to Savage, which contains: a very Trenchian style tailcoat and brocade waistcoat, with matching dress shirt and trousers, all tailored to fit him. His sparse wardrobe has been noticed and this is K's attempt to provide him with more options, even if he may not necessarily want them. Can't hurt to try.

It comes with a signed note from K wishing him a pleasant winter. ]

Action; Gift Delivery - December 25th

[survivalthroughhate]

[This year, Maul had decided to behave himself when it came to giving gifts, unlike in years past where he broke into people's houses rather like Santa himself did. All gifts are left on the porch or front step of the recipient's home for them to find in the morning. It took all night, even with Venge helping to deliver them as well, so by the time he got home an hour before done he was tired.

He left Savage's gift, a large bag of gold coins he'd acquired from Paimon, right where he'd wake up and see it first thing. He also included a sketch of his brother that he'd worked on hard to get just right. There was a short note attached to the bag. 'Merry Christmas, my brother. I wish there was more I could do to show my love for you but this will have to do.' Then he curled up next to his brother and fell fast asleep.]

text - UN: IceCream

[threelayers]

Long time no talk.

So.

You kill Maul yet? I'm totally betting you kicked his ass for that post, hah.

Action

[survivalthroughhate]

[After Maul had exorcised Sidious from Savage, he'd been worrying like a mother hen with only one chick. He couldn't help it. The trauma of Savage's two deaths had left him with an extremely overprotective streak and he wasn't in any hurry to curb it.

He kept close to Savage like a shadow, making sure he would be alright. It was justifiable given Savage seemed a little weakened after the ordeal. He was lying there curled up next to Savage at the moment, telling him of what had happened at the end when he exorcised Palpatine for good.]

At least I finally did it. I was able to stop fearing him enough to be able to beat him.

[opress]

[After Sidious had been forced from using his body, Savage had needed time to recover from the ordeal. He had suddenly come to an understanding what terrible potential Mother Talzin had given him, what sort of Dark Side techniques existed and could be used by his hand if he could just... reach out and take it. And he had wanted to hurt Sidious like it was the only thing left in his life.

It didn't happen. He hadn't the strength to do more than be assisted home once it was all over. Despite being someone who had suffered so many abuses at the hands of the other Nightkin, the Sith, and the general populous of many planets, he felt raw with what he had suffered.

Maul clucking after his every step no matter where he went was all that probably kept him from wandering into the woods to lay waste to a huge swath of life there. Instead, he settled into letting his brother fuss at him, quieter than usual (if that was even possible) and recovering his strength and maybe some of his fray dignity.

He listened to Maul telling the tale, and on some level, he found it deeply satisfying that his brother had finally taken steps to push back completely against the old Master. He stared at the ceiling above, mismatched hands folded on his bare stomach, and he was nodding along with the beats of the story.]

He wasn't expecting you to mount such opposition. He might have been faintly impressed with it.