[Maul stood up, checking out how he felt. Aside from the few injuries he'd sustained during his fight, he was still in great shape. He'd be fine after a day's rest and ready to face what else this place held. Already, he was feeling much better about battling Anakin than he had at the start of this conversation.
When Savage asked him why he was putting up with his friends condemning him for such actions, he had to think for a long while. Fortunately, the two Zabrak siblings were used to each other's presence by now and no great prompting of words was needed.]
I have lost much, Savage. [His brother being one of those things he'd lost along his quest for revenge and power. He'd come to Deerington questioning if it had all been worth it and he still had no good answers.] Loneliness is a great equalizer. And losing those I have now would wound me too much.
[It was a weakness that he no longer knew how to correct, save cutting himself off from all those here entirely. That was not an option for him any longer and hadn't been for months now.
At least was easier to talk about Anakin's return and what they would have to do to prevent any retaliation.]
He will be dead for a week before reviving. After that, he'll be bogged down with what they call the Death Flu here, an illness which will keep him out of our affairs for at least another week if not more. Beyond that, I cannot say what will happen, but we should prepare for an attack.
[Anakin would have known soon enough if he didn't already that Savage was here with him. If he wanted to hit Maul where it hurt, he'd go after his brother. Trying to that would quickly lead him into his second death after just recovering from his first.]
[He watched his brother move, doing his own version of scrutiny to make certain bandages weren't going to slip as Maul returned to daily activities. It also allowed him an opportunity to check for other injuries that might have been so minor as to have previously been ignored. Lightsabers wounds were clean, but they were also terrible to have to heal up. He had no doubt both of them had experienced little nicks over the course of their training.
There was no issue with the silence; they had spent long minutes, hours or even a day or two in silence. For him, it was companionable and had also allowed him to learn to read Maul's body language so he could react with little more than a glance and also knew Maul understood what he needed or wanted at the same time.
His brows drew down at the answer, and a stillness returned to him as he continued to lean on the counter while the baby rathtar explored around his feet. He had not been raised like Maul, someone with nothing but harsh training and loneliness. However, he knew what it was like to have something or someone special and lose it. That empty loss was like a constant ache, bittering every moment on the edges.]
You have come to care for these people as much as you cared about Mother Talzin? [He didn't put his own name in there, expecting it would sound more like ego than truth. Even now, they explicitly did not show each other too much emotional attachment unless angered or apart.
He listened to Maul describe death here, nodding his head slightly to acknowledge he was drinking in that information. A week to resurrection then a week of illness? He supposed that fit with being part of a dreamscape, since a lack of permanence would make for a terrible dream. They were apparently necessary.]
If he's going to be a renegade Jedi, shouldn't we push the other Force users to step in? You can no doubt manufacture a reason. [He'd be willing to be bait, but he had already been given the impression that such a service went against what his brother wanted.]
[For once, Maul honestly examined his feeling as to what he felt towards his friends. There was much affection there, protectiveness that bordered on possessiveness sometimes, even some glimmers of love with his closest friends. But was it to the extent he'd felt towards his own family? No, he couldn't say that yet.]
Not quite to that extent.
[While Maul had his friends, he still wasn't sure he'd put his life on the line if it came down between them and him. Not like the way he would with his own family. He would have gladly given up his life to protect either his mother or his brother.
Fortunately, Maul already had the beginning of a plan to keep Anakin from striking out against them. He knew exactly what kind of flea to plant in the ear of the other Jedi to make them focus all their attention on the rapidly spiraling Jedi.]
I can give them a very good one. My master has gotten his claws into the idiot. He's promised to help him and Skywalker was naïve enough to believe him. I am certain that would be enough to make Obi-Wan act if I told him.
[Obi-Wan could be all noble about saving his apprentice from himself. So long as it kept them distracted, off-kilter, and away from he & Savage, he was perfectly alright with spilling the beans about Sidious.]
[He nodded his head, assured by the statement. He had no reason to disbelieve his brother after all; Maul was not in the habit of lying to him. He didn't consider withholding information until they were in private or just plain not at all to be lying either. There was no one that he trusted more in all the galaxy than Maul.]
You value them, and not in a manner that requires them to be used for your plans. You... [He considered for a second, thinking of the Nightbrothers.] ...enjoy their companionship and opinions.
[He already was thinking of how to protect his brother and himself against this rogue Jedi. The fact that Maul's master - the one that killed him - had decided to work over the young Jedi was enough to tell him that the boy was probably lost and they should simply make contingency plans to contain or eliminate. Mercy killings didn't seem to be much of the Jedi way either, so it might be left to himself and Maul.
He nudged the rathtar with his foot, sending the ravenous creature from his part of the floor to Maul's. Go enjoy the taste of Uncle Maul's boots, baby rathtar. Tentacles latched on to pull itself closer and it definitely was chewing on booted feet.]
Are you certain that discussing your master will be beneficial? I know he isn't here, brother, but you've always kept such matters out of the Jedi's sight.
[It was definitely good information. Or at least, he thought so. Long-term battle tactics and mind games were not his strong suit. He preferred tribe survival tactics.]
[That was easier to answer than the previous question had been. Maul had learned to care about people in his own warped, selfish way. At first it had been purely to use them, but later on it had evolved into a genuine friendship. He really did enjoy having some of the people here around him for no other reason than they made him calm and happy.
Happiness, as they both knew, was a rarity.]
I will only tell them as much is necessary to keep them all focused on each other instead of us.
[Let them be distracted or end up in a dog-eat-dog situation. Really, there was only a benefit to them when it came to this plan.
It was only then that he noticed the baby rathtar determinedly trying to gnaw its way through his prosthetic feet. Well, A for effort, little one, but not satisfactory at all. Seeing the creature sends aw wave of nostalgia through Maul. He reaches down and a tentacle surprisingly strong for one so little wraps around his hand.]
I used to hunt rathtars for sport when I was young. One of the few indulgences my master allowed.
[He mainly thought Sidious gave in out of sheer annoyance. Maul as a teen had not been easy to cope with, even he understood that, and he had worked his master into a migraine at least a couple of times from his antics.]
[It still took some getting used to that Maul was so... social and had companions to rely on. When they had been traveling the galaxy together, they had only had one another to rely on and even then, the disparity in their power level was obvious. His brother gave orders and he followed. It might have been a look, but it was still not equal playing field.
He hadn't seen Maul ordering anyone around here, not really. The network post of his introduction had showed him that his brother had found something that could have never been obtained in their galaxy. Seemingly he was behind again when compared his older brother, and that was fine. He knew his role.]
Your Kenobi seems to want to separate us in his own way. He keeps asking me questions about what I want and pushing that I have no goals of my own.
[He resented it, and no matter how much it might be necessary in future. He had stood on his own two feet for much of his life, but the world beyond Dathomir required something more than he had learned there. He relied on Maul to show him more of the galaxy, and he never thought there was anything wrong with that.
He leaned over the counter to peer at the rathtar chewing on Maul's foot, a pleased expression on his face. It seemed to like his brother, which was good. He was still working at finding acceptance with Maul's many ferocious pets.]
Feral and I would sneak out of the village to hunt bane back spiders when we were younger. [He nudged at the rathtar with a foot and it made a squeaky howl of protest and moved closer to Maul's leg.] I hear rathtars are vicious insatiable creatures. You had no trouble killing them on their native planet, then?
[The idea of Kenobi talking to Savage in such a manner made a look of fury cross Maul's face. Damn that man and his meddlesome personality.]
He needs to learn to butt out in things that are not his affairs!
[He snarled, blood suddenly boiling again. Nothing and no one was going to take his brother from him! Anyone who tried to drive a wedge in-between the two of them was going to be destroyed swiftly by Maul. Especially now, after getting a second chance when he thought Savage was lost to him forever, Maul wasn't going to be quick to try and understand the motives of anyone who might be trying to push his brother away from him.]
No. They came in packs but they were no match for me. I even did it without a lightsaber. There's a recreation of the weapon over there.
The mention of Dathomir and Feral stirred something in Maul's chest, a tightening of his two hearts the same way it often happened when he thought about his home and his people.]
Tell me more about Feral. [Maul had rarely asked about his youngest brother. Savage seemed to be reluctant to talk about him at times and others Maul simply wasn't interested in hearing about him. But right now he was in the mood to hear about the sibling he'd never gotten the chance to know.]
[Savage wasn't so easily pushed to anger in this form, so Maul's shift to it only received a small shrug of his shoulders. He didn't enjoy the verbal prodding, if only because it made him both uncomfortable and defensive.
Aside from living for the Nightbrothers and Nightsisters, he hadn't been allowed many goals aside from 'get stronger', 'learn better skills', 'protect the village'. Even the Nightbrothers themselves were technically expendable, and it wasn't as if anyone there promoted them to be anything but slaves to the society they grew up in. Big thinking was for otherworlders.]
I won't let him distract me with his fancy words. He seems genuine, but it's surely a trick, brother. To the Jedi, I'm nothing more than a monster to be put down.
[He turned his attention to the weapon, and it wasn't the first time that he had seen it. However, it was the first time he knew the story behind it, and that drew him away from the counter that separated them so he could examine the spear more closely. He liked spears, the range of them, the ferocity one could use to attack. It kept enemies at a distance and forced them to overcome their defenses.]
A fine weapon. I should like to have the pleasure to practice with it, if you're willing.
[At the mention of giving more details about Feral, he stiffened up and stayed facing the wall with the weapon. His fingers reached out to run down the body of it, and he considered if he even wanted to go into more detail. There was a deep corrosive sadness as he remembered his younger brother in more than a fleeting mention.]
...what would you be interested in knowing, brother?
[While Maul tried not to, he did take his brother's passive nature for granted. He'd always allowed Maul to be the one to take the lead, to plan things out, and allow Savage to be the one to implement them much of the time. While he couldn't voice it even in his own thoughts, he was afraid Savage developing his own goals would pull his brother away from his side or even set them on opposite sides of an issue.
The fear of growing distant from his brother was a dark thing inside of him that he could not quell.]
Never forget he called you a monster and a thing on more than one occasion.
[That was the ultimate insult, to be dismissed as not being a person but an 'it.' The casual way Kenobi had done this and apparently dismissed this as being appropriate made Maul think that the man wasn't nearly as entrenched in those Jedi ideals of caring about all lifeforms as he would like to be. Just another way he was a damn hypocrite in Maul's eyes.
His eyes brightened up when Savage suggested learning to practice with the spear. Teaching and sparring is where their close bond had been formed. It was the only way Maul could truly express his feelings towards his brother, the affection that didn't often rise to the surface and the pride in the skills that Savage were able to swiftly learn.]
There is a place here where almost anything can be summoned with the right meditation. If there is any others you would like, I will take you there and show you how.
[He couldn't see his brother's face but he saw the change in his posture when the tension ran through his entire frame. He waited to see if Savage would refuse to answer, but when he didn't, Maul pressed on.]
You once told me he was very different from you and I. In what way?
[He had learned a lot from his elder brother, had grown stronger because of Maul too. There were many things that he was now proficient at now because of his exploits with his brother, and he would never take that for granted.
In his own way, he understood that for Maul to love him or respect him, he had to be the follower and rarely the leader. He could and would be put in charge of aspects of missions, and he could carry out orders nearly flawlessly, but he was hardly ever allowed to reach his own potential for leadership as he had with the Nightbrothers. His brother was superior; Savage accepted it as a stipulation for their relationship to run smoothly.
He was very aware of being called a monster, an animal, a thing. He was nothing more than a feral beast let off the chain by his current master, performing mindlessly and returning with whistled to.]
I will never forget. I am nothing to him. He came to our village, and yet, it was only you whom he felt sorry for that day you killed his woman. Nevermind that you never had an opportunity to grow up there. [He sighed, calming himself.] I am nothing of value to the Jedi.
[He was still touching the spear in question, sensing the enthusiasm in Maul without even having to look. The way his brother spoke was enough to let him know that sparring would always be on the table for them. He reached up to touch the blade, to see how it would be used. A slashing weapon more than a piercing.]
You know I was never particularly good at meditation. [Maybe he would be better now in his smaller form where he could be calm and settle, but when he was angry, he was either a brick wall or raging.] I have my lightsaber, but... Mother Talzin gave me a glaive that I found useful. Nothing like this, but they would work together well, I think.
[Slowly he turned from the weapon to look at Maul, and he nodded his head. It wasn't often his brother wanted to know much about Feral, and just as rare he felt willing to speak on the subject.]
He was well-liked amid the brothers. He had very good skills hunting and training, but Feral was more... group oriented. If he was overcome by an opponent in combat, he always lost. Most would call him weak. I didn't care; he was my brother.
We shall have to find a way to take care of him and soon. He has been a thorn in my side long enough.
[If it meant having to fake certain emotions like feeling remorse for what he'd done, than that's what it would take. Maul wasn't usually a good liar but he got better at it when he was properly motivated, like say, with the hatred fueling him for his longtime foe.
Where his brother lay in these plans Maul wasn't sure yet. Kenobi had a bad habit of cutting body parts off of them and he wasn't keen on having his brother lose an arm or leg to the Jedi. Kenobi really did have an aggravating habit of being a superb master of the blade.]
Yes. We shall work on that. When the time comes, we shall go and see if we can summon forth this glaive.
[Meditation was the only way to get anything at the Summoning Stones, so he was going to have to get Savage up to what he felt was a decent standard before they went. Besides, it would be nice to get back an item that their mother had personally given Savage.
Maul listened as Savage spoke of their youngest brother and it painted a vivid picture in his head. He'd seen Feral through pictures this place had once sent him and in Savage's memory. He sounded like the exact opposite of his oldest aloof, solitary, and ferocious brother. But as Maul had learned, there were different forms of strength.]
You protected him well all those years. [Even if he hadn't been able to save him at the end. It also did explain why Savage was as protective of Maul as his older brother was of him. He'd spent his whole life in the role of protecting their little brother until that purpose had been taken away from him. No wonder he'd clung to Maul so tightly ever since he'd found him on Lotho Minor.]
I believe he and I must have taken after our sire.
[In appearance he meant. Maul and Feral were both more angular (he'd bristle at the word delicate but it worked too as an adjective) in features and on the shorter side. Savage, on the other hand, had a certain blocky look to him that had been shared by their mother, and was definitely the tallest of the three.]
But your truce with him, brother? Will you force that battle that you've been wanting a rematch for?
[Savage was also a touch concerned about fighting Obi-Wan here when he wasn't in full control of his ability to move into his other form. He was far more useful big, since much of his lightsaber combat style was based on the extra foot of height and strength that came with that form. He found that he could fall out of that form if he wasn't stoking his anger constantly, not usually a problem back in their galaxy.
The notion of failing Maul again was like a slow knife twisting, and he still was aware of the pain of it. He had to improve, gain more experience and finally practice more of the other lightsaber forms, many of which he just plain didn't appreciate as he should.]
Very well, brother. I'll practice.
[Why did it sound like Maul had just given him homework that he wasn't much interested in? Probably because that's exactly what it felt like. Mediation require a control of emotions, focusing them, and while he could do that, usually his anger was such that it boiled over to frustration very easily. Not exactly conducive to a lofty mediation session.
At the compliment to his taking care of Feral, Savage could only shrug half-heartedly. Back then, he supposed that he had, but much of his feats when it came to his younger brother were overshadowed by the last words and actions he had done against Feral, his kin, their blood. The worst part was that he had felt nothing about it for a few weeks under Dooku's tutelage, but over time as the spell settled and he could think more clearly around it, he was haunted by what Ventress had forced him to do.
She had no attachments. Until him, he supposed that Maul hadn't either.]
He was very loyal. A family trait, it seems. [His eyes shifted to glance at Maul. Definitely a family trait.] We were leaders of our tribe, and he was efficient with hunting parties, over confident sometimes. When Ventress came to the village, he was stupidly excited to prove himself.
[He nodded his head in agreement. Maul and Feral had been angular in bone structure, likely making them both popular in the village.]
I don't remember our sire, but I imagine that he gave much of his looks and ferocity to you. He had to be strongly sensitive in the Force, didn't he?
[It was easier to talk about the shadowy image of their sire, probably only brought forward to see the product of his seed and acknowledge that they were his offspring. Beyond that, he wouldn't be able to pick the man out from a line of Zabrak. Also, he had no doubt Mother Talzin killed him.]
I’ll get what I want one way or another. I always do.
[The ominous words have the absolute ring of truth to it. Aside from his master’s demise, Maul had never failed to get what he wanted eventually, even if he ended up with setbacks along the way. He wanted Kenobi to suffer and so he had. He wanted to take over Mandalore and so he had. He’d get his final fight with Obi-Wan one way or another.
He heard the surliness in Savage’s voice and knew his brother was unhappy with what he’d assigned him to do. Well, he just had to make sure he’d be properly motivated to do it.]
Good. You want to be able to access the full extent of your powers to help me, don’t you? This is the way.
[Just a nice bit of subtle manipulation would work wonders on his brother. Maul knew Savage would have walked through hot coals if he thought it could have furthered his brother’s plans.]
Yes, it definitely was. [Maul smiled softly, thinking very hard of the family he knew and the one he’d never gotten the chance to. Even Talzin, in her own way, had been utterly loyal and devoted to her eldest son. Everything she’d done had been to bring him back home and get her revenge on Sidious for stealing him away in the first place.]
I don’t imagine Mother would have chosen anything less in her choice of a mate.
[She’d likely calculated for her children to be strong in the Force from the very start. Mother Talzin had plans upon plans upon plans, always plotting for the future. After whoever their sire had been had served his part, she likely disposed of him, as he was of no use to him any longer. Tradition always dictated the Nightsisters killed their mates after they were done with them.]
Is that what you want? You seem to have other priorities these days.
[He wasn't entirely certain what those priorities were, but his brother seemed to be accepted in this place and garnered plenty of conversation from a wide range of people. If there was a plan to take over this place, it was definitely one of those slow burn plans which he hadn't been apart of yet. Maybe it was? The Jedi weren't hunting them this time around, yet he felt Maul had settled better here than any of the planets or cantinas that they had found themselves on.
Was Obi-Wan an actual objective these days or a person that Maul had come to rely on as a constant presence to antagonize when the elder Zabrak felt the need?
And of course Maul knew exactly how to manipulate him. Unlike in his big form, Savage was more aware of it this time, and he regarded his brother for a moment before growling out a soft noise of agreement. He thought he would always do whatever was necessary to help Maul with whatever task - large or small - that needed to be done.]
You know I will always help you. I simply don't know if meditation is the way to fully accessing my powers.
[Emotion was definitely the main drivers to his reactions when he was at his most successful. Of course, it also allowed him to tunnel vision and lose the big picture because he was too busy smashing through someone's defenses and not always watching his back and having good environmental sense.]
You're right. She had a plan when it came to picking a mate, and only the strongest male would suit her purposes. She probably only kept him alive after you were born because she fancied you so much.
[It was common for Nightsisters to kill their mates if they produced a male over a female. Mother Talzin had clearly allowed their sire a few extra opportunities to impress her.]
Feral never had the Force gift. Not that he ever displayed anyway.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ninetydegrees
(no subject)
When Savage asked him why he was putting up with his friends condemning him for such actions, he had to think for a long while. Fortunately, the two Zabrak siblings were used to each other's presence by now and no great prompting of words was needed.]
I have lost much, Savage. [His brother being one of those things he'd lost along his quest for revenge and power. He'd come to Deerington questioning if it had all been worth it and he still had no good answers.] Loneliness is a great equalizer. And losing those I have now would wound me too much.
[It was a weakness that he no longer knew how to correct, save cutting himself off from all those here entirely. That was not an option for him any longer and hadn't been for months now.
At least was easier to talk about Anakin's return and what they would have to do to prevent any retaliation.]
He will be dead for a week before reviving. After that, he'll be bogged down with what they call the Death Flu here, an illness which will keep him out of our affairs for at least another week if not more. Beyond that, I cannot say what will happen, but we should prepare for an attack.
[Anakin would have known soon enough if he didn't already that Savage was here with him. If he wanted to hit Maul where it hurt, he'd go after his brother. Trying to that would quickly lead him into his second death after just recovering from his first.]
(no subject)
There was no issue with the silence; they had spent long minutes, hours or even a day or two in silence. For him, it was companionable and had also allowed him to learn to read Maul's body language so he could react with little more than a glance and also knew Maul understood what he needed or wanted at the same time.
His brows drew down at the answer, and a stillness returned to him as he continued to lean on the counter while the baby rathtar explored around his feet. He had not been raised like Maul, someone with nothing but harsh training and loneliness. However, he knew what it was like to have something or someone special and lose it. That empty loss was like a constant ache, bittering every moment on the edges.]
You have come to care for these people as much as you cared about Mother Talzin? [He didn't put his own name in there, expecting it would sound more like ego than truth. Even now, they explicitly did not show each other too much emotional attachment unless angered or apart.
He listened to Maul describe death here, nodding his head slightly to acknowledge he was drinking in that information. A week to resurrection then a week of illness? He supposed that fit with being part of a dreamscape, since a lack of permanence would make for a terrible dream. They were apparently necessary.]
If he's going to be a renegade Jedi, shouldn't we push the other Force users to step in? You can no doubt manufacture a reason. [He'd be willing to be bait, but he had already been given the impression that such a service went against what his brother wanted.]
(no subject)
Not quite to that extent.
[While Maul had his friends, he still wasn't sure he'd put his life on the line if it came down between them and him. Not like the way he would with his own family. He would have gladly given up his life to protect either his mother or his brother.
Fortunately, Maul already had the beginning of a plan to keep Anakin from striking out against them. He knew exactly what kind of flea to plant in the ear of the other Jedi to make them focus all their attention on the rapidly spiraling Jedi.]
I can give them a very good one. My master has gotten his claws into the idiot. He's promised to help him and Skywalker was naïve enough to believe him. I am certain that would be enough to make Obi-Wan act if I told him.
[Obi-Wan could be all noble about saving his apprentice from himself. So long as it kept them distracted, off-kilter, and away from he & Savage, he was perfectly alright with spilling the beans about Sidious.]
(no subject)
You value them, and not in a manner that requires them to be used for your plans. You... [He considered for a second, thinking of the Nightbrothers.] ...enjoy their companionship and opinions.
[He already was thinking of how to protect his brother and himself against this rogue Jedi. The fact that Maul's master - the one that killed him - had decided to work over the young Jedi was enough to tell him that the boy was probably lost and they should simply make contingency plans to contain or eliminate. Mercy killings didn't seem to be much of the Jedi way either, so it might be left to himself and Maul.
He nudged the rathtar with his foot, sending the ravenous creature from his part of the floor to Maul's. Go enjoy the taste of Uncle Maul's boots, baby rathtar. Tentacles latched on to pull itself closer and it definitely was chewing on booted feet.]
Are you certain that discussing your master will be beneficial? I know he isn't here, brother, but you've always kept such matters out of the Jedi's sight.
[It was definitely good information. Or at least, he thought so. Long-term battle tactics and mind games were not his strong suit. He preferred tribe survival tactics.]
(no subject)
[That was easier to answer than the previous question had been. Maul had learned to care about people in his own warped, selfish way. At first it had been purely to use them, but later on it had evolved into a genuine friendship. He really did enjoy having some of the people here around him for no other reason than they made him calm and happy.
Happiness, as they both knew, was a rarity.]
I will only tell them as much is necessary to keep them all focused on each other instead of us.
[Let them be distracted or end up in a dog-eat-dog situation. Really, there was only a benefit to them when it came to this plan.
It was only then that he noticed the baby rathtar determinedly trying to gnaw its way through his prosthetic feet. Well, A for effort, little one, but not satisfactory at all. Seeing the creature sends aw wave of nostalgia through Maul. He reaches down and a tentacle surprisingly strong for one so little wraps around his hand.]
I used to hunt rathtars for sport when I was young. One of the few indulgences my master allowed.
[He mainly thought Sidious gave in out of sheer annoyance. Maul as a teen had not been easy to cope with, even he understood that, and he had worked his master into a migraine at least a couple of times from his antics.]
(no subject)
He hadn't seen Maul ordering anyone around here, not really. The network post of his introduction had showed him that his brother had found something that could have never been obtained in their galaxy. Seemingly he was behind again when compared his older brother, and that was fine. He knew his role.]
Your Kenobi seems to want to separate us in his own way. He keeps asking me questions about what I want and pushing that I have no goals of my own.
[He resented it, and no matter how much it might be necessary in future. He had stood on his own two feet for much of his life, but the world beyond Dathomir required something more than he had learned there. He relied on Maul to show him more of the galaxy, and he never thought there was anything wrong with that.
He leaned over the counter to peer at the rathtar chewing on Maul's foot, a pleased expression on his face. It seemed to like his brother, which was good. He was still working at finding acceptance with Maul's many ferocious pets.]
Feral and I would sneak out of the village to hunt bane back spiders when we were younger. [He nudged at the rathtar with a foot and it made a squeaky howl of protest and moved closer to Maul's leg.] I hear rathtars are vicious insatiable creatures. You had no trouble killing them on their native planet, then?
(no subject)
He needs to learn to butt out in things that are not his affairs!
[He snarled, blood suddenly boiling again. Nothing and no one was going to take his brother from him! Anyone who tried to drive a wedge in-between the two of them was going to be destroyed swiftly by Maul. Especially now, after getting a second chance when he thought Savage was lost to him forever, Maul wasn't going to be quick to try and understand the motives of anyone who might be trying to push his brother away from him.]
No. They came in packs but they were no match for me. I even did it without a lightsaber. There's a recreation of the weapon over there.
[He gestured to the corner of the kitchen where it was < a href="https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/e/eb/Darth_Maul_vs_rathtars.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180119043201">resting vertically against the wall. Of course Maul would have had weapons lying all over the large house. One never knew when they would fall under attack and needed to be prepared.
The mention of Dathomir and Feral stirred something in Maul's chest, a tightening of his two hearts the same way it often happened when he thought about his home and his people.]
Tell me more about Feral. [Maul had rarely asked about his youngest brother. Savage seemed to be reluctant to talk about him at times and others Maul simply wasn't interested in hearing about him. But right now he was in the mood to hear about the sibling he'd never gotten the chance to know.]
(no subject)
Aside from living for the Nightbrothers and Nightsisters, he hadn't been allowed many goals aside from 'get stronger', 'learn better skills', 'protect the village'. Even the Nightbrothers themselves were technically expendable, and it wasn't as if anyone there promoted them to be anything but slaves to the society they grew up in. Big thinking was for otherworlders.]
I won't let him distract me with his fancy words. He seems genuine, but it's surely a trick, brother. To the Jedi, I'm nothing more than a monster to be put down.
[He turned his attention to the weapon, and it wasn't the first time that he had seen it. However, it was the first time he knew the story behind it, and that drew him away from the counter that separated them so he could examine the spear more closely. He liked spears, the range of them, the ferocity one could use to attack. It kept enemies at a distance and forced them to overcome their defenses.]
A fine weapon. I should like to have the pleasure to practice with it, if you're willing.
[At the mention of giving more details about Feral, he stiffened up and stayed facing the wall with the weapon. His fingers reached out to run down the body of it, and he considered if he even wanted to go into more detail. There was a deep corrosive sadness as he remembered his younger brother in more than a fleeting mention.]
...what would you be interested in knowing, brother?
(no subject)
The fear of growing distant from his brother was a dark thing inside of him that he could not quell.]
Never forget he called you a monster and a thing on more than one occasion.
[That was the ultimate insult, to be dismissed as not being a person but an 'it.' The casual way Kenobi had done this and apparently dismissed this as being appropriate made Maul think that the man wasn't nearly as entrenched in those Jedi ideals of caring about all lifeforms as he would like to be. Just another way he was a damn hypocrite in Maul's eyes.
His eyes brightened up when Savage suggested learning to practice with the spear. Teaching and sparring is where their close bond had been formed. It was the only way Maul could truly express his feelings towards his brother, the affection that didn't often rise to the surface and the pride in the skills that Savage were able to swiftly learn.]
There is a place here where almost anything can be summoned with the right meditation. If there is any others you would like, I will take you there and show you how.
[He couldn't see his brother's face but he saw the change in his posture when the tension ran through his entire frame. He waited to see if Savage would refuse to answer, but when he didn't, Maul pressed on.]
You once told me he was very different from you and I. In what way?
(no subject)
In his own way, he understood that for Maul to love him or respect him, he had to be the follower and rarely the leader. He could and would be put in charge of aspects of missions, and he could carry out orders nearly flawlessly, but he was hardly ever allowed to reach his own potential for leadership as he had with the Nightbrothers. His brother was superior; Savage accepted it as a stipulation for their relationship to run smoothly.
He was very aware of being called a monster, an animal, a thing. He was nothing more than a feral beast let off the chain by his current master, performing mindlessly and returning with whistled to.]
I will never forget. I am nothing to him. He came to our village, and yet, it was only you whom he felt sorry for that day you killed his woman. Nevermind that you never had an opportunity to grow up there. [He sighed, calming himself.] I am nothing of value to the Jedi.
[He was still touching the spear in question, sensing the enthusiasm in Maul without even having to look. The way his brother spoke was enough to let him know that sparring would always be on the table for them. He reached up to touch the blade, to see how it would be used. A slashing weapon more than a piercing.]
You know I was never particularly good at meditation. [Maybe he would be better now in his smaller form where he could be calm and settle, but when he was angry, he was either a brick wall or raging.] I have my lightsaber, but... Mother Talzin gave me a glaive that I found useful. Nothing like this, but they would work together well, I think.
[Slowly he turned from the weapon to look at Maul, and he nodded his head. It wasn't often his brother wanted to know much about Feral, and just as rare he felt willing to speak on the subject.]
He was well-liked amid the brothers. He had very good skills hunting and training, but Feral was more... group oriented. If he was overcome by an opponent in combat, he always lost. Most would call him weak. I didn't care; he was my brother.
(no subject)
[If it meant having to fake certain emotions like feeling remorse for what he'd done, than that's what it would take. Maul wasn't usually a good liar but he got better at it when he was properly motivated, like say, with the hatred fueling him for his longtime foe.
Where his brother lay in these plans Maul wasn't sure yet. Kenobi had a bad habit of cutting body parts off of them and he wasn't keen on having his brother lose an arm or leg to the Jedi. Kenobi really did have an aggravating habit of being a superb master of the blade.]
Yes. We shall work on that. When the time comes, we shall go and see if we can summon forth this glaive.
[Meditation was the only way to get anything at the Summoning Stones, so he was going to have to get Savage up to what he felt was a decent standard before they went. Besides, it would be nice to get back an item that their mother had personally given Savage.
Maul listened as Savage spoke of their youngest brother and it painted a vivid picture in his head. He'd seen Feral through pictures this place had once sent him and in Savage's memory. He sounded like the exact opposite of his oldest aloof, solitary, and ferocious brother. But as Maul had learned, there were different forms of strength.]
You protected him well all those years. [Even if he hadn't been able to save him at the end. It also did explain why Savage was as protective of Maul as his older brother was of him. He'd spent his whole life in the role of protecting their little brother until that purpose had been taken away from him. No wonder he'd clung to Maul so tightly ever since he'd found him on Lotho Minor.]
I believe he and I must have taken after our sire.
[In appearance he meant. Maul and Feral were both more angular (he'd bristle at the word delicate but it worked too as an adjective) in features and on the shorter side. Savage, on the other hand, had a certain blocky look to him that had been shared by their mother, and was definitely the tallest of the three.]
(no subject)
[Savage was also a touch concerned about fighting Obi-Wan here when he wasn't in full control of his ability to move into his other form. He was far more useful big, since much of his lightsaber combat style was based on the extra foot of height and strength that came with that form. He found that he could fall out of that form if he wasn't stoking his anger constantly, not usually a problem back in their galaxy.
The notion of failing Maul again was like a slow knife twisting, and he still was aware of the pain of it. He had to improve, gain more experience and finally practice more of the other lightsaber forms, many of which he just plain didn't appreciate as he should.]
Very well, brother. I'll practice.
[Why did it sound like Maul had just given him homework that he wasn't much interested in? Probably because that's exactly what it felt like. Mediation require a control of emotions, focusing them, and while he could do that, usually his anger was such that it boiled over to frustration very easily. Not exactly conducive to a lofty mediation session.
At the compliment to his taking care of Feral, Savage could only shrug half-heartedly. Back then, he supposed that he had, but much of his feats when it came to his younger brother were overshadowed by the last words and actions he had done against Feral, his kin, their blood. The worst part was that he had felt nothing about it for a few weeks under Dooku's tutelage, but over time as the spell settled and he could think more clearly around it, he was haunted by what Ventress had forced him to do.
She had no attachments. Until him, he supposed that Maul hadn't either.]
He was very loyal. A family trait, it seems. [His eyes shifted to glance at Maul. Definitely a family trait.] We were leaders of our tribe, and he was efficient with hunting parties, over confident sometimes. When Ventress came to the village, he was stupidly excited to prove himself.
[He nodded his head in agreement. Maul and Feral had been angular in bone structure, likely making them both popular in the village.]
I don't remember our sire, but I imagine that he gave much of his looks and ferocity to you. He had to be strongly sensitive in the Force, didn't he?
[It was easier to talk about the shadowy image of their sire, probably only brought forward to see the product of his seed and acknowledge that they were his offspring. Beyond that, he wouldn't be able to pick the man out from a line of Zabrak. Also, he had no doubt Mother Talzin killed him.]
(no subject)
[The ominous words have the absolute ring of truth to it. Aside from his master’s demise, Maul had never failed to get what he wanted eventually, even if he ended up with setbacks along the way. He wanted Kenobi to suffer and so he had. He wanted to take over Mandalore and so he had. He’d get his final fight with Obi-Wan one way or another.
He heard the surliness in Savage’s voice and knew his brother was unhappy with what he’d assigned him to do. Well, he just had to make sure he’d be properly motivated to do it.]
Good. You want to be able to access the full extent of your powers to help me, don’t you? This is the way.
[Just a nice bit of subtle manipulation would work wonders on his brother. Maul knew Savage would have walked through hot coals if he thought it could have furthered his brother’s plans.]
Yes, it definitely was. [Maul smiled softly, thinking very hard of the family he knew and the one he’d never gotten the chance to. Even Talzin, in her own way, had been utterly loyal and devoted to her eldest son. Everything she’d done had been to bring him back home and get her revenge on Sidious for stealing him away in the first place.]
I don’t imagine Mother would have chosen anything less in her choice of a mate.
[She’d likely calculated for her children to be strong in the Force from the very start. Mother Talzin had plans upon plans upon plans, always plotting for the future. After whoever their sire had been had served his part, she likely disposed of him, as he was of no use to him any longer. Tradition always dictated the Nightsisters killed their mates after they were done with them.]
(no subject)
[He wasn't entirely certain what those priorities were, but his brother seemed to be accepted in this place and garnered plenty of conversation from a wide range of people. If there was a plan to take over this place, it was definitely one of those slow burn plans which he hadn't been apart of yet. Maybe it was? The Jedi weren't hunting them this time around, yet he felt Maul had settled better here than any of the planets or cantinas that they had found themselves on.
Was Obi-Wan an actual objective these days or a person that Maul had come to rely on as a constant presence to antagonize when the elder Zabrak felt the need?
And of course Maul knew exactly how to manipulate him. Unlike in his big form, Savage was more aware of it this time, and he regarded his brother for a moment before growling out a soft noise of agreement. He thought he would always do whatever was necessary to help Maul with whatever task - large or small - that needed to be done.]
You know I will always help you. I simply don't know if meditation is the way to fully accessing my powers.
[Emotion was definitely the main drivers to his reactions when he was at his most successful. Of course, it also allowed him to tunnel vision and lose the big picture because he was too busy smashing through someone's defenses and not always watching his back and having good environmental sense.]
You're right. She had a plan when it came to picking a mate, and only the strongest male would suit her purposes. She probably only kept him alive after you were born because she fancied you so much.
[It was common for Nightsisters to kill their mates if they produced a male over a female. Mother Talzin had clearly allowed their sire a few extra opportunities to impress her.]
Feral never had the Force gift. Not that he ever displayed anyway.