[This was directed towards the giant horse that was now poking his rather large nose into the house, looking around at everything curiously. He gives Maul a baleful look as if not sure he can trust this unknown person or not.
Maul grimaced as he removed a piece from his cheek that turned into a satisfied smirk when Savage asked what had happened. He never was more alive than when he was in the middle of battle and his bloodlust was up.]
That little pain that can conjure lightning. Glitch. He is now missing an arm.
[Maul was a little miffed that he'd been unable to complete the job but he'd settle for a loss of limb right now, sounding very pleased about what had happened. The Zabrak had been even more furious when he heard that Glitch and Savage had gotten into a fight, though he at least took satisfaction in the fact that his brother had thrown an entire vehicle at the little pain in the ass.
He dug around in his chest and pulled out another piece of the shrapnel, dropping it into a small container he'd put onto the table.]
He did manage a stab wound on my back. Can you reach it?
[It had mostly finished clotting by now, just leaving a long slash mark across his back right at the seam where his prosthetics met his flesh half. He'd have to run a diagnostic later and see if the lightning had left any lasting damage to his lower half like Glitch had done last time he'd try to fry him.
He glanced again at the black draft horse that looked like every inch the mount that Sith Lord would have. Maul used the Force to hover a piece of fruit over towards him, heedless of whether or not it was something a horse could actually eat.]
[Rampage hadn't seemed particularly friendly with many, and at that size, the horse was not to be trifled with. So far, the big beast was good and willing to shove Savage around, and did not take well to strangers. Still, Rampage knew how to get around the sandworms that hunted, and that he had found was dead useful.
With the horse not apart of their apparent conversation, he moved over to his brother to look at the wounds in question. Sharpnel was something Maul could deal with, and they hardly ever coddled one another even through injury. It was the life of a warrior to have to endure.
Instead, he moved off to fill a bowl with water and add iodine to clean the injuries once Maul was finished removing the foreign material. That's when he noticed the wound on his brother's back and returned. He set down the bowl and picked up a piece of gauze to dab the laceration.]
Just missing an arm? That one gets away with far too many liberties with you, brother. No doubt he'll make a big scene about it.
[He began to wash the wound carefully on Maul's back, fingers moving to investigate the prosthetic damage as well. It didn't look bad, but he thought a better look would be warranted. This was all Maul had, though perhaps Amos could find something in the way of repairs should it come to that.]
It would do well with stitches. Would you like some?
[Now that was something they both could do for each other should the occasion require it.
He glanced over at the window where Rampage was craning in to sniff the apple that was coming his way. He ate it without hesitation, chewing it slowly.]
That's Rampage. He won't leave me alone, but he can avoid the sandworms.
I meant to kill him and would have but one of the little weakling's protectors interrupted me. There's always someone around to save that boy when he needs it. I have no idea why they consider him to be that important. I've no doubt he will cry about how horrible and monstrous I am to all his cronies and what a terrible tragedy has befallen him.
[He sounded quite proud of being able to cause such a state in someone else. Maul tried to make sure everyone was in a state of abject terror around him at all times. While he might have had some of his edges softened around here, he was never going to be a soft, empathetic person. Maul was a monster and always would be as he'd been made into.
Really, if Maul had been that weak and useless when he'd been under the tutelage of his master as he had seen in Glitch, he would have been killed or perished from not being able to stand on his own two feet. Only the strongest would survive. The Mandalorians had that right in spades.
Savage was one of only a handful of people Maul would have been comfortable turning his back on when he was in a vulnerable state like this. He picked up a clean rag and dabbed it away at one of the small wounds on his face. Though it was little it was also still bleeding profusely. He nodded when Savage asked if he wanted stitches, shifting his body so that his brother could have a better angle at which to sew him up.
Maul smiled at the name. His brother had the same taste in naming their various pets as he did.]
And has he lived up to his name yet? Stomped someone into a fine paste with those large hooves, perhaps?
If you're going after your enemies or at least those who annoy you, take me with you, brother. I am confident you would have finished the job without someone to bother you if I had them choked out. [A beat.] If he cries, you know your wife will come to shriek at you.
[That's what she called herself, so he supposed that's the way that it was. Maul hadn't been vehement about shutting her down, which also indicated that his brother had decided on that human-like tradition. He thought there was some exchange of metal or something, but he hadn't looked too deeply into it. He had little interest in such matters.
He waited until his brother had shifted positions so that he had better access to the wound and did a better job cleaning it out. Then he pulled the medical kit closer, threaded a needle and leaned down to set to work. No numbing; they were Zabrak and thus born tough. Pain only fueled their hatred.]
Not yet, but he is setting up for it. He's ill-tempered and pushy, but he allows me to ride him. I think he did kick one of those people who have come down the mountain.
[He had been particularly vicious to them since he had been bitten while a child.]
Had I set out with an intent to kill him, I of course would have brought you along. But I didn't plan on it. I simply ran into him and took the opportunity that presented itself.
[Maul went just a little bit redder when Savage called Usagi his wife of all things. Oh Force alive, was that what she'd been referring to their relationship as to other people? Not that he could really deny that's what they were but still. He grumbled in an indistinct fashion for a moment.]
I'm sure she will. But Usagi knows what I am like and has never held it against me for very long. She might yell but I am sure she'll understand to some extent.
[If nothing Maul had done this far had made her finally give up on him for good, including going on a killing spree where he'd betrayed her by taking her heart, chopping off a single hand certainly wasn't going to do it. Still, he knew he was in for the mother of all lectures once she contacted him.
One hand tensed just a little bit as Savage began to sew up the long laceration. It hurt but life was pain and he'd long since accepted that fact.]
Good. He shall fit you perfectly. I already have one of these beasts here. Skeletor.
[The name had been supplied by Jean-Paul which explained the oddness of it but Maul had been more than willing to go along with it given his lack of familiarity with Earth pop culture.]
Did you at least create a holovid recording so I could enjoy it? I owe him for continually electrocuting me.
[He had not yet learned how to deflect or defend himself from such attacks, and it was definitely a fact that made him realize how much more trained and experienced his brother was. It was a hinderance that he couldn't be when it came to being Maul's right hand in battle, but there hadn't really been time to learn it either, what with Maul not actually using the ability himself.
So he'd have to learn on the fly, but a part of him that was dark just liked the fact that his brother hurt their enemies. For the most part, he cared little one way or another as long as the fight was won.]
If she comes over, give me a heads up. I'll be leaving you to your fate so she doesn't call me by that stupid nickname she gave me.
[He worked quickly despite his lack of real sensation in his prosthetic. It wasn't the first time that he had given his brother stitches, and he doubted that it would be the last either. The needle pierced pigmented skin on one side then the other before he pulled them together and tied off. One, two, three, four and onwards until he had the wound closed.]
That's a strange name. I hope they don't try to kick each other to death.
[He hadn't seen Rampage with other horses, and right now, the big stallion was literally just sleeping with ear pricked and head just slightly lowered.]
Unfortunately, I did not. Next time, I will make sure you are right there with me to reap the rewards of our efforts.
[He reached over and rested his hand on top of one of Savage's large hands, squeezing gently. He'd learned from long, bitter experience on how to deflect attacks of lightning, not that it ever really helped when Sidious truly wanted to hurt and scare his young apprentice.]
I learned some techniques that I can show you. Being able to wield your lightsaber with the power you can put behind it will be an advantage in this instance.
[One had to brace themselves and be quick enough to anticipate the incoming attacks in order to confront them successfully.
He tried to hide the small smile without success that formed at Savage's grumblings.]
Oh? What nickname did she give you then?
[Maul had accepted the humiliating one she'd given him of Maulrus. Anyone else would have lost a body part if they tried to call him that but somehow his wife got away with it, as she did with so much else.
Savage's efficiency was very much appreciated and Maul heled still long enough until he had been fully stitched up. Then some of the tension went out of his frame and he was able to relax a little bit more.]
That is a distinct possibility. If he tries, just grab that large nose of his and kick him back to teach him not to do it.
[..........No one should ever let Maul teach an animal training course.]
[While he might have just said it casually, it was anything but that. Since he had found and brought his brother back to resortation, they had spent much of their time and many of their battles together. While it had ultimately lead to his death, those had been some of the best times of his life where he had seen, done and learned so much about the galaxy beyond Dathomir.
Maul was everything that Feral had not been. Aloof, aggressive, cunning, and highly intelligent.
He did not enjoy continually being left behind while his brother went out to cause all manner of trouble in the town that they couldn't escape from. Was he not loyal enough? Was he too loyal and this was Maul's way of trying to force him from the nest so to speak? His brother often worked in mysterious ways to him, and normally he didn't always have to understand his brother's motivations to know how to follow in Maul's massive wake.]
It would be good to know. Lightning appears to be a fairly common attack here, and I can only choke so many people while in the thralls of it.
[He made a soft grumbling noise at the mention of Usagi's nickname. The truth of it was that he wasn't even certain she would stick to it or if she was just mocking him. Maul apparently had one and also seemed to tolerate it? That wasn't a docile part of his brother's nature that he had seen often, if at all.]
It's stupid, and I told her not to call me by any name but my own.
[He stepped back when his work was finished, washing his hands in the nearby sink before coming back to wash the wound of blood. Rudimentary methods, but it worked and his brother would heal to fight another day.]
[Maul's eyes and voice both softened when Savage made the remark that he had been left behind once again. He got up and turned around, going over to his brother, standing up tall so that he could place a hand on his brother's shoulder, squeezing gently.]
It's not always intentional. And when it is, that is when I am trying to keep you safe.
[He moved in, pressing their foreheads together in a sign of affection, purring softly to show his reassurance. Maul had spent over a year trying to come to terms with the fact he would never see his brother again, not in this life anyway, and that his death had been entirely his fault. He had been haunted, the grief always close at hand.
When Savage arrived here, it was nothing short of a miracle for his brother. It meant he now had a second chance with him, to do things over and make sure they were done right this time. First and foremost on his mind was keeping death from reaching his brother again.]
I will show you the techniques I learned over the years. Your lightsaber is powerful enough to absorb most strikes that are thrown your way.
[Especially given that Savage was big and tough enough to brace himself against those that got through. Being zapped wouldn't put him completely out of commission the way that it would most people.
He grinned a little at the mention of Usagi nicknaming him.]
She'll never stop now. I am afraid you are doomed, brother.
[He gave him an affectionate pat on the shoulder.]
That's how I trained Skeletor at any rate.
[The horse was willful and strong with a set of extremely sharp teeth for an herbivore. Maul had learned early on that if the horse bit or kicked him, the best thing to do would just be to bite and kick him back.]
[He was busy cleaning up their medical kit, even as he kept part of his vision on his brother moving about to his side of the counter. He paused and regarded Maul, his expression softening as he nudged his forehead back in return.]
You didn't used to feel the need to protect me from such things. We've taken plenty of risks together, and we will continue to.
[He couldn't say that the idea of Maul dying again was probably similar to how his brother felt about his own potential passing. It was simply that he felt that Maul dying alone was part of his own failings, and boy did they feel like they stacked higher and higher. Nothing to put to words though; it wasn't the Zabrak way.
While he didn't purr himself yet, he leaned his forehead against Maul's and just savoured the momentary closeness. He doubted few could understand how they were raised, how males like them were meant to exist together but were constantly put in competition with each other anyway. He would always strive to be better for Maul.]
I would appreciate the training. The less electrical burns I have to heal, the better for us both. Dooku was particularly fond of the technique.
[He grunted, unhappy to be called nicknames. He was supposed to be proud of his name, and there were... other reasons he disliked it. It was easy to hate something that hurt after all, and well... he didn't happen to like many things to begin with.]
I told her to stop. I don't like the name. No, I hate it.
[There was an edged vehemence to his tone, like he was on the verge of snarling. That was just the first indication of his temper stoking, and the longer he thought about it, the angrier he would become.]
You don't think Skeletor and Rampage will try to kill each other, do you?
That was before you died. It...did something to me brother, something I cannot quite explain.
[He'd learned true pain that day, the same type he'd caused so many others, and now magnified back onto his own mind. For perhaps the first time, he'd understood a little of what Obi-Wan had gone through when he'd watched Maul cut down Qui-Gon Jinn and him helpless to do anything but watch. That had been the first brutal lesson Maul had learned on this path that had led him to seek something like redemption in this place.]
At least this place will continue to bring you back to me even if you do perish. I will always wait for you to return even if there comes a time when I cannot prevent it.
[He continued to purr a little, the sound a summation of his reassurances towards his brother that he wasn't trying to drive him away or cause him intentional distress by not always including him. Maul's free hand tightened imperceptibly into a fist at the mention of Savage's cruel Sith master. Dooku never seen anything as Savage more than a dumb brute, a beast to throw at obstacles that were in his path. Maul was all too glad that horrible Jedi (and he would continue to think of him as such, for he hadn't been born on the side of Dark, merely turned to it when it was convenient for him) was dead.]
The only good thing that pretty-boy idiot Jedi has ever done was do us a favor and dispose of that Sith pretender.
Tell her so and I am sure she will stop.
[Usagi might have been a light-hearted soul but she would never tease someone if it truly made them upset.]
There is a distinct possibility they might. I will have to show you how to calm an animal's mind with the Force. It has come in great use to prevent this household from tearing each other apart.
[Right on the dot, Malice had come sauntering into the kitchen, ears flattened at the sight of this big dumb beast now sleeping in one of the windows. How dare he! This was her territory!]
Your master took away everything you had to isolate you, to break you down. You can't let him win, brother.
[Death was a reality of their worlds, and the seemingly callous way that they were raised - Maul more than him - left them aware that death was a constant threat to them both but they so often defied the odds. It was strange to think that his failing to survive had continued to have an affect on Maul, who in his mind, was practically invincible. Hatred fueled his brother for all things that stood in his way, so why wouldn't his death just fuel that more?
He knew that loving someone too deep left a bigger hole when they were gone. He'd seen it but until Maul, he had never understood it.]
Are you going to be able to leave the town standing for the week in which I'm gone? Or will I return to ashes and corpses?
[His tone was his version of sarcasm which sounded very much like how he normally did. There was a subtle difference that he was certain Maul could pick up on, especially as it came on the heels of his own soft deep purr as he closed his eyes while their foreheads rested together. They didn't usually take such moments unless feeling vulnerable, able and willing to exist in close proximity without the physical contact. When it happened, he found it highly reassuring.]
I should have been allowed to stay under his tutelage longer. He might have used lightning on me frequently, but I learned, brother.
[Oh he hated Dooku, and a part of him had definitely planned on killing the old man someday, but he couldn't deny that Dooku was true to the original contract that forced him there. He had been taught, roughly and with hatred, but he had been taught and learned his lessons well. If he had had more time learning, he would have been better served by the time he found his older brother.]
I blame Ventress. She couldn't wait for revenge, yet had to know neither of us were ready to take him on in a duel. Then she abandoned me to die when I couldn't produce.
[For a culture that demanded absolutely loyalty to their mates and the Nightsisters overall, they certainly were not given much of the same respect in return. It was a betrayal that stung hard for him because not only had it cost him his training and a way out of the life he hated so much, but it had stolen away his younger brother. He'd never forgive her even if a part of him that was dark and complicated wanted to serve, wanted something of her approval. He had given his life, and it meant nothing. He gave his life to Maul and his brother was shaken up about his death even weeks, months and possibly years later.]
Rampage is much larger, but I expect they will work it out.
[He looked over at Malice then at the massive horse whose ears flicked off a fly but otherwise seemed settled where he was. For now, the big beast of a horse dozed, content to be 'part' of the conversation.]
Mmmm. Yes. That is something people keep telling me.
[Maul's gaze seemed to go somewhere his brother wouldn't be able to follow at that. It was one thing for everyone else to tell him that. Hearing it from Savage was something else entirely. The ghost of Sidious had ruled his mind long enough. No more. Maul needed to stand on his own two feet and break the chains that had held him fast for so long. He needed to be his own person without the shadow of his master looming over him, the way it had been doing for so long.
His lips twitched into a small smile at Savage's sarcastic remark, staying close to his brother.]
I think we both know full well what would happen.
[There wouldn't be a building left standing if Savage was killed, especially if it was at the hands of another Sleeper. Savage was everything to Maul and all the hard won bits of self-control that he'd gathered up over the past couple of months would fly right out the window if his brother died yet again.]
Such a shame. I was hoping someday we'd kill the old man ourselves.
[Especially after the part that Dooku had played in the death of his mother, Maul had been planning on hunting the Sith pretender down and torturing him until he begged for death. Only then would he have given it to him.]
She is foolish for all that she seems to have finally learned from her mistakes. [If anything, Maul privately felt Ventress might have been further along the path that he himself was only just beginning to tread. Perhaps it wasn't quite redemption but being able to do better was definitely something that they both appeared to be trying to accomplish.] If you wish to kill her while she is here, brother, I will help you accomplish that goal.
[He knew Savage hated the Nightsister dearly. His brother so rarely had goals of his own, but if he wanted to take revenge on Ventress, Maul would stand by him with as much loyalty as Savage had always shown him.]
Malice, calm yourself. He is now part of the group.
[The vornskr growled unhappily, lashing her tail back and forth as she bared her teeth, but eventually came towards Maul and nudged him roughly with her head so that she would receive pets. Maul reached down and scratched her in an affectionate manner behind the small pointed ears.]
Your master drove you madness here in this place. You speak of him often these days, and I wonder... if he came here and wanted you back as an apprentice, would you go to him?
[That was the important point to know because it meant that Maul maybe would be able to break free. They had both lived miserable lives, but his brother had been isolated and raised to be nothing more than a killing machine at the whim of an old man with galactic dreams. His brother had always been different from other Zabrak males, and even Savage was keenly aware of Maul's emotional short falls.
In his case, it only made him more loyal to his brother. After all, he knew what it was like to be thrown aside, discarded by a Sith, to go from someone to nothing all over again.]
It's just a week brother. You have survived much longer without me. Before I arrived, you were making friends and building a life for yourself that didn't involve full strategic take-over.
[He gave his brother a playful nudge to the shoulder, perhaps doing what he could to remind Maul that there was a time in their lives where they had survived just fine without each other. They could and sometimes did operate beyond one another but usually on some plan that his brother had come up with. Still, it was possible.]
Perhaps someday, but I don't care much for him. [Revenge wasn't a big part of his psyche. And he could understand Dooku's order thanks to Ventress putting a mark on him by her impatience.]
Learned from her mistakes? [Savage barked a bitter laugh and actually moved to pull away from Maul. His emotions for Ventress should be straight forward, but they were deeply complicated and flawed.] She a weapon for hire, a loose end in the galaxy, and she cares for nothing of the chaos she caused just be existing. [A beat.] I don't care to kill her. Maybe beat her into the ground.
[As much as he hated his culture, he had been raised in certain traditions and those were hard to break when it was all he had known until leaving the planet. And his word meant something, his loyalty was a strong part of him even if he resisted in her case. She was a Nightsister; he had given her life to her and her cruelty was not unusual. That didn't bother him; it was her clear and utter disdain of his existence followed with a general apathy for him. She took so much from him, and yet he was nothing but a grain of sand beneath her boot.
It was complicated. Probably more complicated than any other relationship - brief though it was - had ever been. Hell, he considered the lack of relationship with Talzin to be more straight forward than Ventress.]
Rampage. [The massive horse woke and peered at him, and he pointed at Malice.] No trampling. [The beast regarded Malice for a long moment, ear pricked forward and nostrils flaring before seeming to lose interest and just watched him instead.]
Let's hope Ruin doesn't attach to his face. That could be problematic. [Damn baby rathtars being grabby.]
[It is a question no one here had ever thought to ask Maul before and he was stopped up short since he'd never given thought to it before. His words only came after he had mulled them over a long while and he was slow to speak them.]
No. He can no longer give me what I want. He told me after you were dead that he had replaced me and was no longer his apprentice. I'm sure he meant he was looking at Skywalker even then.
[Maul knew now that his relationship with Sidious was a toxic, unhealthy one. He'd known it for a long time but had been unable to admit it to himself. To do so would have meant acknowledging all the abuse and misery he'd been put through his entire life could have been avoided if he'd only been raised by a kinder, gentler man. While part of himself would always want to snap to attention and immediately go back to his master, he now was finally ready to break away for good.]
I suppose if I must, I must. It entirely depends upon the manner of your death. If it is merely this place extracting its usual pound of flesh, I would be alright. But if another Sleeper did it.... [His eyes were like hard flint.] ....they'd never even find what was left of them.
[For all that Maul was getting better at being apart from his brother, and could survive without him if need be, there were still some limits he had. When his inevitable death came, he was going to do his best to cope until Savage came back to him. If that coping mechanism involved murdering whoever had done it in a brutal, horrifying fashion, so be it.
Maul allowed Savage his space. He knew the relationship between his brother and the Nightsister was complicated but the intricacies of it were something they'd never really spoken of. Ventress was, indirectly, responsible for Savage finding him but it was a hard price his brother had paid being in her servitude.]
If you ever wish to do anything to her, brother, I will have your back.
[After all that Savage had done for him with his wants and needs, the very least he could do was return the favor when it came time to. His brother didn't often express his own desires, but so long as they didn't conflict with his own, he would always back up Savage one-hundred percent.]
You need to train your rathtar a little better, brother. To only attack your enemies.
[Not that Maul had done much better. Malice was only trained enough to attack who Maul wanted him to but even then half the time she lunged at Maul and would try to rip him apart. Really, Maul needed to find a better class of pet. Keep a few of those little flower rats in a greenhouse or something.]
[Savage stood there watching and waiting, aware that it wasn't an easy question. The longer that Maul took to think about it, the tenser he became. He could not and would not lose his brother to that Sith Lord; he'd rather kill Maul himself than let his brother fall back into that position. Such misery would not be allowed, even if he expected that should anything of the like came to pass that he would be killed again.
Tension bled from him at the answer, and he nodded his head.]
What is it that you do want now? With the dreamscape falling apart, we should consider the possibility that you wake up and I... [He shrugged. Obviously he couldn't wake up, since he was dead.] That boy losing a limb will cause a stir, so we should be prepared for that, yes?
[His brow rose at the idea that if a Sleeper killed him that it would be different from the hazards of this place doing so. He wouldn't have thought that there would be much of a difference, then again, Maul took personal affront to certain scenarios over others. He expected a Sleeper taking him on and winning meant that it was personal, likely revenge based on something Maul might have done. It was a hazard he was personally willing to take.]
I can defend myself, brother. I doubt that anyone in this place is that stupid to have a go at me when you're potentially around to intervene. The two of us are difficult to defeat when together.
[Only Obi-Wan and Sidious had been successful in overtaking the both of them when they fought together.
And as much as he appreciated his brother's support when it came to Ventress, he wasn't certain what he wanted to do about her. Right now, he was quick to glare at the house next to theirs where she lived, and he snarled at her whenever he would see her - especially after he humiliated himself as a boy - but otherwise, he had no plan because he didn't know what he wanted.
Instead, he was left to pace the kitchen, circling it as his aggravation rose as he thought of her, how much she had cost him and how little any of it meant. What did she know of loss really? Who was she close to? Not him. Not anyone; she acted all high and mighty, but he expected it was a front. Still, it angered him so much. Everything was complicated and he made certain never to give himself enough time to sort it out.]
For now, she can live her miserable life chastening everyone. I want her to hurt.
[More accurately, he wanted her to eventually have to acknowledge him. It was a stupid idea, one that would never work and the more he thought about, the angrier he marched around the kitchen. Even Rampage looked annoyed by his tromping about and pinned ears back.
Thankfully, Ruin took the opportunity to spin into the kitchen, tangling up in his legs and glomping on. Rathtars were hardly maternal but they were pack hunters.]
He's just... clingy, brother. Likes to grab things, anything. Here, you take him. [Savage give a sudden kick out of his leg, managing to dislodge the rathtar and send it Maul's way. Tentacles searched out for something to cling to.]
I want.... [He closed his eyes, sorting through various answers and discarding them. There were different parts of himself warring with one another now and he wasn't sure how to coalesce them all into a single answer. But he would try.] ....I want power. The power to change things. Not just for the two of us but for some others.
[That was as close as he could get to really articulating all that had occurred to him over the past year, how he had people that he cared about now, how he wanted to be able to affect things in this place beyond the scope of what he'd been doing. His lust for power was always going to be there, that streak of the Dark Side in him that he was never going to be able to shake. The Dark wanted its acolytes to take action and seize power where they could but Maul knew he now had to go about it in a different way than he had been before. The old ways would not bring him what he wanted. He had to change now and for the better.
But it was still going to be a long, hard road to get there. He had just lopped the hand off a boy and gone on a killing spree not that long ago. His road towards anything like the light was going to be a hard one to go down and he still wasn't sure it was something he was going to be able to do when push came to shove.
Savage's words soothed some of the worry in his mind. It was true that they were a tough team to take onto together.]
If we stick together, none shall be able to touch us.
[If he included Savage more, perhaps, he wouldn't have to worry about losing him but could instead be reassured that he would be kept safe in his own way.
His eyes glinted with a hard, beastial light when he mentioned what he wanted for Ventress.]
I am sure that we will be able to give her that. You need only say the word, brother, and I will see it done.
[Much as he held a certain power over Savage, the opposite was true. He'd do whatever he could to make sure his brother was happy or at least satisfied with what he was getting out of life. If that meant making sure Ventress was miserable, he would make it happen.
The rathtar went flying through the air with a small squeal, landing on Maul's metal shin. Immediately, the little creature wrapped its tentacles around the fabric and metal, teeth trying ineffectively to bite through the materials, only managing to tear his pants for all the toothy efforts. Maul just sighed. Really, he needed to find a way to decrease the amount of creatures they had around here. There were too many.]
[Power wasn't an unexpected reply, and he found it to be a comforting one. That had been part of what they had quested for in the galaxy after all, though he had particular interest in credits over power personally. If he had credits, he wouldn't have to experience poverty again or so he thought.] Power seems limited at this time and a lot of it is in the hands of those who would wield it against you. The elements of this place are unstable as well...
[He paused and looked at Maul, considering for a moment as he stopped his pacing for just a moment.] What if... you were able to steal the power from some of the rogue elements of this place? Mother Superior? The Mayor? Consolidate what they have for yourself? [Then Maul would be basically unstoppable, right?]
[For his part, he never considered the Light side of anything. He had been born and raised on a planet that emitted Dark Side energy, had it soaked through him all of his growing years and then altered physically and mentally by Mother Talzin to let all the Dark Side of the Force in. He had never had an opportunity to consider a different path, and even now, he didn't consider any notion that he might have a redemption of any kind. After all, how could he trudge down the grey side of things when he didn't bother to formulate life goals since he had become a Clan leader of the Nightbrothers. His life was set out for him, and he had to perform at the whims of others with greater power than he.
With Feral gone, he had sort of given up even bothering to think outside of what he might want. Power, wealth, skills as a warrior were all basic wants, but they weren't exactly high-functioning goals. So he would continue to take on Maul's goals as if they were his own. It was easier.]
Good. Perhaps she can experience a small amount of the discomfort she has caused me.
[Even if a part of him had come to think that perhaps Ventress was as much a pawn in this game as he was. He knew so little about her, and what did his brother say? Information was power, right? If he knew where to hurt her then it would be far more impactful than swinging wildly.]
We should find her weak points. How she operates, what's important to her, then use them against her. Yes?
[He looked to Maul for assurances that such a plan was a worthwhile endeavor. It wasn't as if he had ever had to destroy anyone emotionally before. Normally, he was far more direct, especially when he was angry. After all, matters of difference on Dathomir were solved in physical contests rather than talking.
Still, he smirked when Ruin made contact, pleased with the progress the little rathtar had made. Savage felt a small well of affection for the simple, vicious creature. He'd never had a pet before, since he had had no interest training the rancors that were used for work.]
I don't know if that's even possible. But then I don't know if anyone has even bothered to try.
[He'd seen the power of The Mayor and the others firsthand, so he knew what havoc could be wrought if he was able to take even a fraction of it. Indeed, this seemed like a worthwhile endeavor and he was glad his brother had thought of the idea. It was a potential plan that he could put into effect as this place continued to collapse around them over the next couple of months.
Maul nodded approvingly at the ideas Savage had in order to torment Ventress. His brother was usually more of a doer than thinker, so it was interesting to see what he could come up with when pressed to it.]
Yes. Everyone has something which can be used against them. It's merely a matter of finding out where her's lie.
[This would require a little bit of patience and detective work on their part to discover what weaknesses Ventress had. But sooner or later they would discover it and then Savage could gain his revenge against the Nightsister who had so much to do with his fate.
Maul reached down, trying to dislodge Ruin from his leg, but the little creature stubbornly refused. Instead, he clung all the harder with his tentacles and persistently continued to try chewing through the metal of Maul's legs. Maul just eventually gave up. Most of his current energy had gone towards the fight with Glitch and he had none now to put forth towards the issue of the baby rathtar.]
With the way this place runs and how many people from different worlds exist, surely it could be possible.
[He had yet to go up close and personal with one of the pillar entities of this place, but he was starting to think it would be a good way to learn more. He wasn't doing much to delve deeper into the dream aside from getting caught up in situations doing research for his brother. Those hadn't been particularly skill-based stressful so much as strange and aggravating.
He shrugged back, not used to having to come up with the plans. Mostly he wasn't in a position to do so aside of a plan of attack, which tended to be rather direct and unimaginative.]
I don't know if she does. She seems fairly isolated and aloof.
[But he was willing to try his hand at a long game that didn't involve hunting down his kin to then follow them around. Ventress was a whole different kind of creature, and while it shouldn't be complicated, it was still very complicated. He didn't want to be to reckless in engaging her, and he even recognized that opportunity could be stolen away as the dream failed completely.]
He wants you to sit down. I think.
[At least that's what he did, and it sometimes worked to calm the baby rathtar with little pets or something.]
There is some truth to this. If one has power, there is always a way to take it.
[It was just a matter of finding out how they would be able to do that. The beings in this place were powerful but they were not invincible and they were not gods. Maul knew if he was determined enough, they could find a way to take them down.]
Most people think the same thing about me here but they are wrong. I am sure she has a weak spot that can be exploited.
[Ventress was going to have to be a long-term goal for them. They would find a way to take her down eventually, but until then, there was an uneasy stalemate between them all. Maul wouldn't let her get away with what she'd done to his brother forever. Sooner or later, she would pay the price.
With a sigh and a grumble, Maul sat back down at the table. The rathtar squealed and made a growling sound, moving up Maul's leg using its tentacles. Finally, it was on his thigh, and he held out a gloved hand to it. Ruin immediately latched onto this new source, and indeed, began to calm down at the social contact.]
When he grows large enough, we shall have to feed some of our enemies to him. That will be a very satisfying sight.
It will take time, patience and research, brother. I don't know if the dream will hold long enough for that to happen.
[That didn't mean that they shouldn't try at least. If Maul could become even more powerful, then it would be so much easier to delve into whatever plan his brother decided upon. He expected one would be coming to fruition eventually, assuming that this place didn't mess too hard with Maul's brain again. He also had to be on tip-top shape and vigilant to be of service to his brother in a moment's notice.]
You aren't as much of a loner here as you were when we were traveling together. You have plenty of... allies. [That's what he was going to call them. Friends was too... just too much, he supposed.] She is isolated and apparently the last. An entire subsection of our race, and it has to end with her.
[He couldn't tell which of the Gods was laughing the most or playing the worst trick. Someday he would find a reason and an opportunity to sort out the mess that was his emotions surrounding her. Time would help him, he decided. Like his brother, he would be patient and wait for the right opportunity.
He had learned the value of that, and it was time that he implemented it himself. He had to delve into how he was raised and what his expectations had been should his time of come to be of use... expectations did not land as accurately as mental preparation.
Savage leaned on the counter and smirked when Maul sat and the rathtar made some gains with his brother. Yes, that kind of rough interaction was what he expected, and honestly, it probably wasn't typical rathtar behaviour. It didn't matter. It liked tentacle rubs and warm places to cling when not hunting.]
How large do you suppose he will get? He's been growing slowly thus far.
Even if this place ends, there will likely be a new one. And if we work quickly enough, we shall end up on top as we are meant to. These idiots want to form a government. Plenty of room to put myself in a position of power if they insist on trying to rule everyone else.
[Just because some of the Sleepers hated or feared him didn't mean all of them did. Plus the less savory sorts were always going to need an advocate for them against the more squeaky clean types.]
The Force must have some reason for keeping her alive but I have no idea what it is.
[Being the last of the Nightsisters, the last of their particular clan, must have had some significance he just wasn't seeing. A plan that would all come together only in hindsight as things so often did with the Force.
Maul examined the beast a little more carefully. He didn't know too much about the species but it did seem very small given how large they were known for getting.]
Perhaps he's a dwarf rathtar? If so, he might only get to the size of one of the horses or a speeder.
[Savage relaxed slightly at his brother's confidence that this dream falling apart wouldn't be the end.]
How do you suppose we will transition from one dream to something else? A government is something you can infiltrate as you did on Mandalore. It is a shame we cannot simply eliminate your enemies here, but perhaps you can out wait them?
[If the dream failed, perhaps some would not return for the next iteration. He had already decided he would do whatever it took to transition, and he had nothing to lose by doing so. He was not interested in simply returning to the dead, being little more than a distant memory.]
Perhaps it intends for you to use her as well? She is a strong Force user.
[He didn't actually know Ventress enough to expect that she would have any kind of alliance with them. He wouldn't like it, but he would tolerate it if it meant his brother's goals would be accomplished. That would also involve putting up with her usual barrage of insults, but he supposed it wasn't any worse that most of the situations he had been in. She was just far more personal.]
I didn't think rathtars came in dwarf versions. They're supposed to be massive and vicious at all times.
[He wouldn't mind a dwarf version. It might be easier to keep some level of control of. After all, it would be inconvenient if Ruin literally ate everything.]
There is a consistent thing that has been said about us 'waking up.' It has been said this whole time we've been in a dream. Perhaps this state of madness will end up with us somewhere more solid.
[He would make sure both of them would be there in this new world. If his brother wasn't there, Maul was simply refusing to go. He wasn't about to return to his galaxy either without Savage by his side. Plus most of his motivation had always been to exact revenge on Obi-Wan, so with those two here he had little reason to go home.]
Most of them thinking me to be little more than some dumb animal. We can use that to our advantage.
[If they all wanted to think of Maul as some rabid idiot who had no idea of how to restrain himself, let them. Opponents like Pre Vizsla had done so before and now they were dead. Underestimating him would only give him an advantage and end with their assured destruction.]
Perhaps you are right. She could be a powerful ally if we could convince her.
[Her skills with the Force and lightsabers couldn't be denied. If she was as lonely as Maul had been when he first arrived, he knew he could use that to their advantage. Nightkin weren't meant to be solitary creatures. Not even one as aloof as Ventress.
Maul examined the rathtar a bit dubiously, continuing to pet the tentacles. He seemed to relax and go a bit limp at the contact.]
It's either that or he's defective.
[He'd prefer to think the little one was just a runty dwarf. At least then he'd still be of use to the brothers.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ninetydegrees
(no subject)
[This was directed towards the giant horse that was now poking his rather large nose into the house, looking around at everything curiously. He gives Maul a baleful look as if not sure he can trust this unknown person or not.
Maul grimaced as he removed a piece from his cheek that turned into a satisfied smirk when Savage asked what had happened. He never was more alive than when he was in the middle of battle and his bloodlust was up.]
That little pain that can conjure lightning. Glitch. He is now missing an arm.
[Maul was a little miffed that he'd been unable to complete the job but he'd settle for a loss of limb right now, sounding very pleased about what had happened. The Zabrak had been even more furious when he heard that Glitch and Savage had gotten into a fight, though he at least took satisfaction in the fact that his brother had thrown an entire vehicle at the little pain in the ass.
He dug around in his chest and pulled out another piece of the shrapnel, dropping it into a small container he'd put onto the table.]
He did manage a stab wound on my back. Can you reach it?
[It had mostly finished clotting by now, just leaving a long slash mark across his back right at the seam where his prosthetics met his flesh half. He'd have to run a diagnostic later and see if the lightning had left any lasting damage to his lower half like Glitch had done last time he'd try to fry him.
He glanced again at the black draft horse that looked like every inch the mount that Sith Lord would have. Maul used the Force to hover a piece of fruit over towards him, heedless of whether or not it was something a horse could actually eat.]
Have you made a new friend?
(no subject)
With the horse not apart of their apparent conversation, he moved over to his brother to look at the wounds in question. Sharpnel was something Maul could deal with, and they hardly ever coddled one another even through injury. It was the life of a warrior to have to endure.
Instead, he moved off to fill a bowl with water and add iodine to clean the injuries once Maul was finished removing the foreign material. That's when he noticed the wound on his brother's back and returned. He set down the bowl and picked up a piece of gauze to dab the laceration.]
Just missing an arm? That one gets away with far too many liberties with you, brother. No doubt he'll make a big scene about it.
[He began to wash the wound carefully on Maul's back, fingers moving to investigate the prosthetic damage as well. It didn't look bad, but he thought a better look would be warranted. This was all Maul had, though perhaps Amos could find something in the way of repairs should it come to that.]
It would do well with stitches. Would you like some?
[Now that was something they both could do for each other should the occasion require it.
He glanced over at the window where Rampage was craning in to sniff the apple that was coming his way. He ate it without hesitation, chewing it slowly.]
That's Rampage. He won't leave me alone, but he can avoid the sandworms.
(no subject)
[He sounded quite proud of being able to cause such a state in someone else. Maul tried to make sure everyone was in a state of abject terror around him at all times. While he might have had some of his edges softened around here, he was never going to be a soft, empathetic person. Maul was a monster and always would be as he'd been made into.
Really, if Maul had been that weak and useless when he'd been under the tutelage of his master as he had seen in Glitch, he would have been killed or perished from not being able to stand on his own two feet. Only the strongest would survive. The Mandalorians had that right in spades.
Savage was one of only a handful of people Maul would have been comfortable turning his back on when he was in a vulnerable state like this. He picked up a clean rag and dabbed it away at one of the small wounds on his face. Though it was little it was also still bleeding profusely. He nodded when Savage asked if he wanted stitches, shifting his body so that his brother could have a better angle at which to sew him up.
Maul smiled at the name. His brother had the same taste in naming their various pets as he did.]
And has he lived up to his name yet? Stomped someone into a fine paste with those large hooves, perhaps?
(no subject)
[That's what she called herself, so he supposed that's the way that it was. Maul hadn't been vehement about shutting her down, which also indicated that his brother had decided on that human-like tradition. He thought there was some exchange of metal or something, but he hadn't looked too deeply into it. He had little interest in such matters.
He waited until his brother had shifted positions so that he had better access to the wound and did a better job cleaning it out. Then he pulled the medical kit closer, threaded a needle and leaned down to set to work. No numbing; they were Zabrak and thus born tough. Pain only fueled their hatred.]
Not yet, but he is setting up for it. He's ill-tempered and pushy, but he allows me to ride him. I think he did kick one of those people who have come down the mountain.
[He had been particularly vicious to them since he had been bitten while a child.]
(no subject)
[Maul went just a little bit redder when Savage called Usagi his wife of all things. Oh Force alive, was that what she'd been referring to their relationship as to other people? Not that he could really deny that's what they were but still. He grumbled in an indistinct fashion for a moment.]
I'm sure she will. But Usagi knows what I am like and has never held it against me for very long. She might yell but I am sure she'll understand to some extent.
[If nothing Maul had done this far had made her finally give up on him for good, including going on a killing spree where he'd betrayed her by taking her heart, chopping off a single hand certainly wasn't going to do it. Still, he knew he was in for the mother of all lectures once she contacted him.
One hand tensed just a little bit as Savage began to sew up the long laceration. It hurt but life was pain and he'd long since accepted that fact.]
Good. He shall fit you perfectly. I already have one of these beasts here. Skeletor.
[The name had been supplied by Jean-Paul which explained the oddness of it but Maul had been more than willing to go along with it given his lack of familiarity with Earth pop culture.]
(no subject)
[He had not yet learned how to deflect or defend himself from such attacks, and it was definitely a fact that made him realize how much more trained and experienced his brother was. It was a hinderance that he couldn't be when it came to being Maul's right hand in battle, but there hadn't really been time to learn it either, what with Maul not actually using the ability himself.
So he'd have to learn on the fly, but a part of him that was dark just liked the fact that his brother hurt their enemies. For the most part, he cared little one way or another as long as the fight was won.]
If she comes over, give me a heads up. I'll be leaving you to your fate so she doesn't call me by that stupid nickname she gave me.
[He worked quickly despite his lack of real sensation in his prosthetic. It wasn't the first time that he had given his brother stitches, and he doubted that it would be the last either. The needle pierced pigmented skin on one side then the other before he pulled them together and tied off. One, two, three, four and onwards until he had the wound closed.]
That's a strange name. I hope they don't try to kick each other to death.
[He hadn't seen Rampage with other horses, and right now, the big stallion was literally just sleeping with ear pricked and head just slightly lowered.]
(no subject)
[He reached over and rested his hand on top of one of Savage's large hands, squeezing gently. He'd learned from long, bitter experience on how to deflect attacks of lightning, not that it ever really helped when Sidious truly wanted to hurt and scare his young apprentice.]
I learned some techniques that I can show you. Being able to wield your lightsaber with the power you can put behind it will be an advantage in this instance.
[One had to brace themselves and be quick enough to anticipate the incoming attacks in order to confront them successfully.
He tried to hide the small smile without success that formed at Savage's grumblings.]
Oh? What nickname did she give you then?
[Maul had accepted the humiliating one she'd given him of Maulrus. Anyone else would have lost a body part if they tried to call him that but somehow his wife got away with it, as she did with so much else.
Savage's efficiency was very much appreciated and Maul heled still long enough until he had been fully stitched up. Then some of the tension went out of his frame and he was able to relax a little bit more.]
That is a distinct possibility. If he tries, just grab that large nose of his and kick him back to teach him not to do it.
[..........No one should ever let Maul teach an animal training course.]
(no subject)
[While he might have just said it casually, it was anything but that. Since he had found and brought his brother back to resortation, they had spent much of their time and many of their battles together. While it had ultimately lead to his death, those had been some of the best times of his life where he had seen, done and learned so much about the galaxy beyond Dathomir.
Maul was everything that Feral had not been. Aloof, aggressive, cunning, and highly intelligent.
He did not enjoy continually being left behind while his brother went out to cause all manner of trouble in the town that they couldn't escape from. Was he not loyal enough? Was he too loyal and this was Maul's way of trying to force him from the nest so to speak? His brother often worked in mysterious ways to him, and normally he didn't always have to understand his brother's motivations to know how to follow in Maul's massive wake.]
It would be good to know. Lightning appears to be a fairly common attack here, and I can only choke so many people while in the thralls of it.
[He made a soft grumbling noise at the mention of Usagi's nickname. The truth of it was that he wasn't even certain she would stick to it or if she was just mocking him. Maul apparently had one and also seemed to tolerate it? That wasn't a docile part of his brother's nature that he had seen often, if at all.]
It's stupid, and I told her not to call me by any name but my own.
[He stepped back when his work was finished, washing his hands in the nearby sink before coming back to wash the wound of blood. Rudimentary methods, but it worked and his brother would heal to fight another day.]
Is that how you train horses?
[Sounded like a Zabrak way of training.]
(no subject)
It's not always intentional. And when it is, that is when I am trying to keep you safe.
[He moved in, pressing their foreheads together in a sign of affection, purring softly to show his reassurance. Maul had spent over a year trying to come to terms with the fact he would never see his brother again, not in this life anyway, and that his death had been entirely his fault. He had been haunted, the grief always close at hand.
When Savage arrived here, it was nothing short of a miracle for his brother. It meant he now had a second chance with him, to do things over and make sure they were done right this time. First and foremost on his mind was keeping death from reaching his brother again.]
I will show you the techniques I learned over the years. Your lightsaber is powerful enough to absorb most strikes that are thrown your way.
[Especially given that Savage was big and tough enough to brace himself against those that got through. Being zapped wouldn't put him completely out of commission the way that it would most people.
He grinned a little at the mention of Usagi nicknaming him.]
She'll never stop now. I am afraid you are doomed, brother.
[He gave him an affectionate pat on the shoulder.]
That's how I trained Skeletor at any rate.
[The horse was willful and strong with a set of extremely sharp teeth for an herbivore. Maul had learned early on that if the horse bit or kicked him, the best thing to do would just be to bite and kick him back.]
(no subject)
You didn't used to feel the need to protect me from such things. We've taken plenty of risks together, and we will continue to.
[He couldn't say that the idea of Maul dying again was probably similar to how his brother felt about his own potential passing. It was simply that he felt that Maul dying alone was part of his own failings, and boy did they feel like they stacked higher and higher. Nothing to put to words though; it wasn't the Zabrak way.
While he didn't purr himself yet, he leaned his forehead against Maul's and just savoured the momentary closeness. He doubted few could understand how they were raised, how males like them were meant to exist together but were constantly put in competition with each other anyway. He would always strive to be better for Maul.]
I would appreciate the training. The less electrical burns I have to heal, the better for us both. Dooku was particularly fond of the technique.
[He grunted, unhappy to be called nicknames. He was supposed to be proud of his name, and there were... other reasons he disliked it. It was easy to hate something that hurt after all, and well... he didn't happen to like many things to begin with.]
I told her to stop. I don't like the name. No, I hate it.
[There was an edged vehemence to his tone, like he was on the verge of snarling. That was just the first indication of his temper stoking, and the longer he thought about it, the angrier he would become.]
You don't think Skeletor and Rampage will try to kill each other, do you?
(no subject)
[He'd learned true pain that day, the same type he'd caused so many others, and now magnified back onto his own mind. For perhaps the first time, he'd understood a little of what Obi-Wan had gone through when he'd watched Maul cut down Qui-Gon Jinn and him helpless to do anything but watch. That had been the first brutal lesson Maul had learned on this path that had led him to seek something like redemption in this place.]
At least this place will continue to bring you back to me even if you do perish. I will always wait for you to return even if there comes a time when I cannot prevent it.
[He continued to purr a little, the sound a summation of his reassurances towards his brother that he wasn't trying to drive him away or cause him intentional distress by not always including him. Maul's free hand tightened imperceptibly into a fist at the mention of Savage's cruel Sith master. Dooku never seen anything as Savage more than a dumb brute, a beast to throw at obstacles that were in his path. Maul was all too glad that horrible Jedi (and he would continue to think of him as such, for he hadn't been born on the side of Dark, merely turned to it when it was convenient for him) was dead.]
The only good thing that pretty-boy idiot Jedi has ever done was do us a favor and dispose of that Sith pretender.
Tell her so and I am sure she will stop.
[Usagi might have been a light-hearted soul but she would never tease someone if it truly made them upset.]
There is a distinct possibility they might. I will have to show you how to calm an animal's mind with the Force. It has come in great use to prevent this household from tearing each other apart.
[Right on the dot, Malice had come sauntering into the kitchen, ears flattened at the sight of this big dumb beast now sleeping in one of the windows. How dare he! This was her territory!]
(no subject)
[Death was a reality of their worlds, and the seemingly callous way that they were raised - Maul more than him - left them aware that death was a constant threat to them both but they so often defied the odds. It was strange to think that his failing to survive had continued to have an affect on Maul, who in his mind, was practically invincible. Hatred fueled his brother for all things that stood in his way, so why wouldn't his death just fuel that more?
He knew that loving someone too deep left a bigger hole when they were gone. He'd seen it but until Maul, he had never understood it.]
Are you going to be able to leave the town standing for the week in which I'm gone? Or will I return to ashes and corpses?
[His tone was his version of sarcasm which sounded very much like how he normally did. There was a subtle difference that he was certain Maul could pick up on, especially as it came on the heels of his own soft deep purr as he closed his eyes while their foreheads rested together. They didn't usually take such moments unless feeling vulnerable, able and willing to exist in close proximity without the physical contact. When it happened, he found it highly reassuring.]
I should have been allowed to stay under his tutelage longer. He might have used lightning on me frequently, but I learned, brother.
[Oh he hated Dooku, and a part of him had definitely planned on killing the old man someday, but he couldn't deny that Dooku was true to the original contract that forced him there. He had been taught, roughly and with hatred, but he had been taught and learned his lessons well. If he had had more time learning, he would have been better served by the time he found his older brother.]
I blame Ventress. She couldn't wait for revenge, yet had to know neither of us were ready to take him on in a duel. Then she abandoned me to die when I couldn't produce.
[For a culture that demanded absolutely loyalty to their mates and the Nightsisters overall, they certainly were not given much of the same respect in return. It was a betrayal that stung hard for him because not only had it cost him his training and a way out of the life he hated so much, but it had stolen away his younger brother. He'd never forgive her even if a part of him that was dark and complicated wanted to serve, wanted something of her approval. He had given his life, and it meant nothing. He gave his life to Maul and his brother was shaken up about his death even weeks, months and possibly years later.]
Rampage is much larger, but I expect they will work it out.
[He looked over at Malice then at the massive horse whose ears flicked off a fly but otherwise seemed settled where he was. For now, the big beast of a horse dozed, content to be 'part' of the conversation.]
(no subject)
[Maul's gaze seemed to go somewhere his brother wouldn't be able to follow at that. It was one thing for everyone else to tell him that. Hearing it from Savage was something else entirely. The ghost of Sidious had ruled his mind long enough. No more. Maul needed to stand on his own two feet and break the chains that had held him fast for so long. He needed to be his own person without the shadow of his master looming over him, the way it had been doing for so long.
His lips twitched into a small smile at Savage's sarcastic remark, staying close to his brother.]
I think we both know full well what would happen.
[There wouldn't be a building left standing if Savage was killed, especially if it was at the hands of another Sleeper. Savage was everything to Maul and all the hard won bits of self-control that he'd gathered up over the past couple of months would fly right out the window if his brother died yet again.]
Such a shame. I was hoping someday we'd kill the old man ourselves.
[Especially after the part that Dooku had played in the death of his mother, Maul had been planning on hunting the Sith pretender down and torturing him until he begged for death. Only then would he have given it to him.]
She is foolish for all that she seems to have finally learned from her mistakes. [If anything, Maul privately felt Ventress might have been further along the path that he himself was only just beginning to tread. Perhaps it wasn't quite redemption but being able to do better was definitely something that they both appeared to be trying to accomplish.] If you wish to kill her while she is here, brother, I will help you accomplish that goal.
[He knew Savage hated the Nightsister dearly. His brother so rarely had goals of his own, but if he wanted to take revenge on Ventress, Maul would stand by him with as much loyalty as Savage had always shown him.]
Malice, calm yourself. He is now part of the group.
[The vornskr growled unhappily, lashing her tail back and forth as she bared her teeth, but eventually came towards Maul and nudged him roughly with her head so that she would receive pets. Maul reached down and scratched her in an affectionate manner behind the small pointed ears.]
(no subject)
[That was the important point to know because it meant that Maul maybe would be able to break free. They had both lived miserable lives, but his brother had been isolated and raised to be nothing more than a killing machine at the whim of an old man with galactic dreams. His brother had always been different from other Zabrak males, and even Savage was keenly aware of Maul's emotional short falls.
In his case, it only made him more loyal to his brother. After all, he knew what it was like to be thrown aside, discarded by a Sith, to go from someone to nothing all over again.]
It's just a week brother. You have survived much longer without me. Before I arrived, you were making friends and building a life for yourself that didn't involve full strategic take-over.
[He gave his brother a playful nudge to the shoulder, perhaps doing what he could to remind Maul that there was a time in their lives where they had survived just fine without each other. They could and sometimes did operate beyond one another but usually on some plan that his brother had come up with. Still, it was possible.]
Perhaps someday, but I don't care much for him. [Revenge wasn't a big part of his psyche. And he could understand Dooku's order thanks to Ventress putting a mark on him by her impatience.]
Learned from her mistakes? [Savage barked a bitter laugh and actually moved to pull away from Maul. His emotions for Ventress should be straight forward, but they were deeply complicated and flawed.] She a weapon for hire, a loose end in the galaxy, and she cares for nothing of the chaos she caused just be existing. [A beat.] I don't care to kill her. Maybe beat her into the ground.
[As much as he hated his culture, he had been raised in certain traditions and those were hard to break when it was all he had known until leaving the planet. And his word meant something, his loyalty was a strong part of him even if he resisted in her case. She was a Nightsister; he had given her life to her and her cruelty was not unusual. That didn't bother him; it was her clear and utter disdain of his existence followed with a general apathy for him. She took so much from him, and yet he was nothing but a grain of sand beneath her boot.
It was complicated. Probably more complicated than any other relationship - brief though it was - had ever been. Hell, he considered the lack of relationship with Talzin to be more straight forward than Ventress.]
Rampage. [The massive horse woke and peered at him, and he pointed at Malice.] No trampling. [The beast regarded Malice for a long moment, ear pricked forward and nostrils flaring before seeming to lose interest and just watched him instead.]
Let's hope Ruin doesn't attach to his face. That could be problematic. [Damn baby rathtars being grabby.]
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No. He can no longer give me what I want. He told me after you were dead that he had replaced me and was no longer his apprentice. I'm sure he meant he was looking at Skywalker even then.
[Maul knew now that his relationship with Sidious was a toxic, unhealthy one. He'd known it for a long time but had been unable to admit it to himself. To do so would have meant acknowledging all the abuse and misery he'd been put through his entire life could have been avoided if he'd only been raised by a kinder, gentler man. While part of himself would always want to snap to attention and immediately go back to his master, he now was finally ready to break away for good.]
I suppose if I must, I must. It entirely depends upon the manner of your death. If it is merely this place extracting its usual pound of flesh, I would be alright. But if another Sleeper did it.... [His eyes were like hard flint.] ....they'd never even find what was left of them.
[For all that Maul was getting better at being apart from his brother, and could survive without him if need be, there were still some limits he had. When his inevitable death came, he was going to do his best to cope until Savage came back to him. If that coping mechanism involved murdering whoever had done it in a brutal, horrifying fashion, so be it.
Maul allowed Savage his space. He knew the relationship between his brother and the Nightsister was complicated but the intricacies of it were something they'd never really spoken of. Ventress was, indirectly, responsible for Savage finding him but it was a hard price his brother had paid being in her servitude.]
If you ever wish to do anything to her, brother, I will have your back.
[After all that Savage had done for him with his wants and needs, the very least he could do was return the favor when it came time to. His brother didn't often express his own desires, but so long as they didn't conflict with his own, he would always back up Savage one-hundred percent.]
You need to train your rathtar a little better, brother. To only attack your enemies.
[Not that Maul had done much better. Malice was only trained enough to attack who Maul wanted him to but even then half the time she lunged at Maul and would try to rip him apart. Really, Maul needed to find a better class of pet. Keep a few of those little flower rats in a greenhouse or something.]
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Tension bled from him at the answer, and he nodded his head.]
What is it that you do want now? With the dreamscape falling apart, we should consider the possibility that you wake up and I... [He shrugged. Obviously he couldn't wake up, since he was dead.] That boy losing a limb will cause a stir, so we should be prepared for that, yes?
[His brow rose at the idea that if a Sleeper killed him that it would be different from the hazards of this place doing so. He wouldn't have thought that there would be much of a difference, then again, Maul took personal affront to certain scenarios over others. He expected a Sleeper taking him on and winning meant that it was personal, likely revenge based on something Maul might have done. It was a hazard he was personally willing to take.]
I can defend myself, brother. I doubt that anyone in this place is that stupid to have a go at me when you're potentially around to intervene. The two of us are difficult to defeat when together.
[Only Obi-Wan and Sidious had been successful in overtaking the both of them when they fought together.
And as much as he appreciated his brother's support when it came to Ventress, he wasn't certain what he wanted to do about her. Right now, he was quick to glare at the house next to theirs where she lived, and he snarled at her whenever he would see her - especially after he humiliated himself as a boy - but otherwise, he had no plan because he didn't know what he wanted.
Instead, he was left to pace the kitchen, circling it as his aggravation rose as he thought of her, how much she had cost him and how little any of it meant. What did she know of loss really? Who was she close to? Not him. Not anyone; she acted all high and mighty, but he expected it was a front. Still, it angered him so much. Everything was complicated and he made certain never to give himself enough time to sort it out.]
For now, she can live her miserable life chastening everyone. I want her to hurt.
[More accurately, he wanted her to eventually have to acknowledge him. It was a stupid idea, one that would never work and the more he thought about, the angrier he marched around the kitchen. Even Rampage looked annoyed by his tromping about and pinned ears back.
Thankfully, Ruin took the opportunity to spin into the kitchen, tangling up in his legs and glomping on. Rathtars were hardly maternal but they were pack hunters.]
He's just... clingy, brother. Likes to grab things, anything. Here, you take him. [Savage give a sudden kick out of his leg, managing to dislodge the rathtar and send it Maul's way. Tentacles searched out for something to cling to.]
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[That was as close as he could get to really articulating all that had occurred to him over the past year, how he had people that he cared about now, how he wanted to be able to affect things in this place beyond the scope of what he'd been doing. His lust for power was always going to be there, that streak of the Dark Side in him that he was never going to be able to shake. The Dark wanted its acolytes to take action and seize power where they could but Maul knew he now had to go about it in a different way than he had been before. The old ways would not bring him what he wanted. He had to change now and for the better.
But it was still going to be a long, hard road to get there. He had just lopped the hand off a boy and gone on a killing spree not that long ago. His road towards anything like the light was going to be a hard one to go down and he still wasn't sure it was something he was going to be able to do when push came to shove.
Savage's words soothed some of the worry in his mind. It was true that they were a tough team to take onto together.]
If we stick together, none shall be able to touch us.
[If he included Savage more, perhaps, he wouldn't have to worry about losing him but could instead be reassured that he would be kept safe in his own way.
His eyes glinted with a hard, beastial light when he mentioned what he wanted for Ventress.]
I am sure that we will be able to give her that. You need only say the word, brother, and I will see it done.
[Much as he held a certain power over Savage, the opposite was true. He'd do whatever he could to make sure his brother was happy or at least satisfied with what he was getting out of life. If that meant making sure Ventress was miserable, he would make it happen.
The rathtar went flying through the air with a small squeal, landing on Maul's metal shin. Immediately, the little creature wrapped its tentacles around the fabric and metal, teeth trying ineffectively to bite through the materials, only managing to tear his pants for all the toothy efforts. Maul just sighed. Really, he needed to find a way to decrease the amount of creatures they had around here. There were too many.]
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[He paused and looked at Maul, considering for a moment as he stopped his pacing for just a moment.] What if... you were able to steal the power from some of the rogue elements of this place? Mother Superior? The Mayor? Consolidate what they have for yourself? [Then Maul would be basically unstoppable, right?]
[For his part, he never considered the Light side of anything. He had been born and raised on a planet that emitted Dark Side energy, had it soaked through him all of his growing years and then altered physically and mentally by Mother Talzin to let all the Dark Side of the Force in. He had never had an opportunity to consider a different path, and even now, he didn't consider any notion that he might have a redemption of any kind. After all, how could he trudge down the grey side of things when he didn't bother to formulate life goals since he had become a Clan leader of the Nightbrothers. His life was set out for him, and he had to perform at the whims of others with greater power than he.
With Feral gone, he had sort of given up even bothering to think outside of what he might want. Power, wealth, skills as a warrior were all basic wants, but they weren't exactly high-functioning goals. So he would continue to take on Maul's goals as if they were his own. It was easier.]
Good. Perhaps she can experience a small amount of the discomfort she has caused me.
[Even if a part of him had come to think that perhaps Ventress was as much a pawn in this game as he was. He knew so little about her, and what did his brother say? Information was power, right? If he knew where to hurt her then it would be far more impactful than swinging wildly.]
We should find her weak points. How she operates, what's important to her, then use them against her. Yes?
[He looked to Maul for assurances that such a plan was a worthwhile endeavor. It wasn't as if he had ever had to destroy anyone emotionally before. Normally, he was far more direct, especially when he was angry. After all, matters of difference on Dathomir were solved in physical contests rather than talking.
Still, he smirked when Ruin made contact, pleased with the progress the little rathtar had made. Savage felt a small well of affection for the simple, vicious creature. He'd never had a pet before, since he had had no interest training the rancors that were used for work.]
See, he likes you, brother.
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[He'd seen the power of The Mayor and the others firsthand, so he knew what havoc could be wrought if he was able to take even a fraction of it. Indeed, this seemed like a worthwhile endeavor and he was glad his brother had thought of the idea. It was a potential plan that he could put into effect as this place continued to collapse around them over the next couple of months.
Maul nodded approvingly at the ideas Savage had in order to torment Ventress. His brother was usually more of a doer than thinker, so it was interesting to see what he could come up with when pressed to it.]
Yes. Everyone has something which can be used against them. It's merely a matter of finding out where her's lie.
[This would require a little bit of patience and detective work on their part to discover what weaknesses Ventress had. But sooner or later they would discover it and then Savage could gain his revenge against the Nightsister who had so much to do with his fate.
Maul reached down, trying to dislodge Ruin from his leg, but the little creature stubbornly refused. Instead, he clung all the harder with his tentacles and persistently continued to try chewing through the metal of Maul's legs. Maul just eventually gave up. Most of his current energy had gone towards the fight with Glitch and he had none now to put forth towards the issue of the baby rathtar.]
If you say so.
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[He had yet to go up close and personal with one of the pillar entities of this place, but he was starting to think it would be a good way to learn more. He wasn't doing much to delve deeper into the dream aside from getting caught up in situations doing research for his brother. Those hadn't been particularly skill-based stressful so much as strange and aggravating.
He shrugged back, not used to having to come up with the plans. Mostly he wasn't in a position to do so aside of a plan of attack, which tended to be rather direct and unimaginative.]
I don't know if she does. She seems fairly isolated and aloof.
[But he was willing to try his hand at a long game that didn't involve hunting down his kin to then follow them around. Ventress was a whole different kind of creature, and while it shouldn't be complicated, it was still very complicated. He didn't want to be to reckless in engaging her, and he even recognized that opportunity could be stolen away as the dream failed completely.]
He wants you to sit down. I think.
[At least that's what he did, and it sometimes worked to calm the baby rathtar with little pets or something.]
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[It was just a matter of finding out how they would be able to do that. The beings in this place were powerful but they were not invincible and they were not gods. Maul knew if he was determined enough, they could find a way to take them down.]
Most people think the same thing about me here but they are wrong. I am sure she has a weak spot that can be exploited.
[Ventress was going to have to be a long-term goal for them. They would find a way to take her down eventually, but until then, there was an uneasy stalemate between them all. Maul wouldn't let her get away with what she'd done to his brother forever. Sooner or later, she would pay the price.
With a sigh and a grumble, Maul sat back down at the table. The rathtar squealed and made a growling sound, moving up Maul's leg using its tentacles. Finally, it was on his thigh, and he held out a gloved hand to it. Ruin immediately latched onto this new source, and indeed, began to calm down at the social contact.]
When he grows large enough, we shall have to feed some of our enemies to him. That will be a very satisfying sight.
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[That didn't mean that they shouldn't try at least. If Maul could become even more powerful, then it would be so much easier to delve into whatever plan his brother decided upon. He expected one would be coming to fruition eventually, assuming that this place didn't mess too hard with Maul's brain again. He also had to be on tip-top shape and vigilant to be of service to his brother in a moment's notice.]
You aren't as much of a loner here as you were when we were traveling together. You have plenty of... allies. [That's what he was going to call them. Friends was too... just too much, he supposed.] She is isolated and apparently the last. An entire subsection of our race, and it has to end with her.
[He couldn't tell which of the Gods was laughing the most or playing the worst trick. Someday he would find a reason and an opportunity to sort out the mess that was his emotions surrounding her. Time would help him, he decided. Like his brother, he would be patient and wait for the right opportunity.
He had learned the value of that, and it was time that he implemented it himself. He had to delve into how he was raised and what his expectations had been should his time of come to be of use... expectations did not land as accurately as mental preparation.
Savage leaned on the counter and smirked when Maul sat and the rathtar made some gains with his brother. Yes, that kind of rough interaction was what he expected, and honestly, it probably wasn't typical rathtar behaviour. It didn't matter. It liked tentacle rubs and warm places to cling when not hunting.]
How large do you suppose he will get? He's been growing slowly thus far.
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[Just because some of the Sleepers hated or feared him didn't mean all of them did. Plus the less savory sorts were always going to need an advocate for them against the more squeaky clean types.]
The Force must have some reason for keeping her alive but I have no idea what it is.
[Being the last of the Nightsisters, the last of their particular clan, must have had some significance he just wasn't seeing. A plan that would all come together only in hindsight as things so often did with the Force.
Maul examined the beast a little more carefully. He didn't know too much about the species but it did seem very small given how large they were known for getting.]
Perhaps he's a dwarf rathtar? If so, he might only get to the size of one of the horses or a speeder.
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How do you suppose we will transition from one dream to something else? A government is something you can infiltrate as you did on Mandalore. It is a shame we cannot simply eliminate your enemies here, but perhaps you can out wait them?
[If the dream failed, perhaps some would not return for the next iteration. He had already decided he would do whatever it took to transition, and he had nothing to lose by doing so. He was not interested in simply returning to the dead, being little more than a distant memory.]
Perhaps it intends for you to use her as well? She is a strong Force user.
[He didn't actually know Ventress enough to expect that she would have any kind of alliance with them. He wouldn't like it, but he would tolerate it if it meant his brother's goals would be accomplished. That would also involve putting up with her usual barrage of insults, but he supposed it wasn't any worse that most of the situations he had been in. She was just far more personal.]
I didn't think rathtars came in dwarf versions. They're supposed to be massive and vicious at all times.
[He wouldn't mind a dwarf version. It might be easier to keep some level of control of. After all, it would be inconvenient if Ruin literally ate everything.]
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[He would make sure both of them would be there in this new world. If his brother wasn't there, Maul was simply refusing to go. He wasn't about to return to his galaxy either without Savage by his side. Plus most of his motivation had always been to exact revenge on Obi-Wan, so with those two here he had little reason to go home.]
Most of them thinking me to be little more than some dumb animal. We can use that to our advantage.
[If they all wanted to think of Maul as some rabid idiot who had no idea of how to restrain himself, let them. Opponents like Pre Vizsla had done so before and now they were dead. Underestimating him would only give him an advantage and end with their assured destruction.]
Perhaps you are right. She could be a powerful ally if we could convince her.
[Her skills with the Force and lightsabers couldn't be denied. If she was as lonely as Maul had been when he first arrived, he knew he could use that to their advantage. Nightkin weren't meant to be solitary creatures. Not even one as aloof as Ventress.
Maul examined the rathtar a bit dubiously, continuing to pet the tentacles. He seemed to relax and go a bit limp at the contact.]
It's either that or he's defective.
[He'd prefer to think the little one was just a runty dwarf. At least then he'd still be of use to the brothers.]
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