deercountry | One step closer to the edge and I'm about to break (May/June Catch-all!)

He'd offered to help the young lady with her powers and it was not an idle one. He felt a real connection talking with Sharon and is interested in getting to know her better in a way that has nothing to do with her powers. Maul waits for her to come the next day. He's out in his rather large front yard, setting out food for his numerous pets as she comes up. He waves to her as she comes up. "Give me a moment. The horde is hungry." He sets out various buckets of meat and fruit for the different creatures and makes sure they're all thoroughly engrossed in munching down their lunches before turning to her, peeling off the fingerless gloves he'd been wearing.

"I am glad to see you. My methods might seem a bit odd at first but they have been known to get good results," he says. "Have you ever done meditation before?"

Maul hasn't left his house much this month. Between the memory-sharing, nightmares, and ghosts he's been a bit overwhelmed mentally and just can't take much more of this. But one of the few places he makes time to visit is the garden Ariadne has created. He can sense things in the Force from the trees there. They are not alive in the way sentient beings are but there are certain signatures that he can feel around them.

There's the sense of being loved and cared for, of someone spending a very large amount of time to make sure they have everything they need. It's the faint traces of Ariadne herself that surrounds them and it brings Maul peace, as much as he ever gets living here in Trench. Serenity is a good name for the place he thinks to himself, for it calms that anger within him just a little bit.

He stops in front of Riot, the avocado tree he gave Airy for Christmas. It has been growing nicely and there is clear signs of being tended to. He can almost sense the love that surrounds the little tree. He plans to only sit down nearby and meditate for a bit. But he's been sleeping so poorly over the past few weeks that he ends up curling up a on a few pillows and falling asleep next to the tree instead. Pretty soon, he's breathing deeply and slowly as the sun warms his red-and-black skin.

When Ariadne returned from her shopping expedition in the Willful Machine, she paused on the edge of the garden, her face turned up slightly. Although it was becoming commonplace for her to pick up scents in the garden, she had to admit that she wasn't expecting Maul's.

Not an unwelcome scent, of course. She'd come to like him and Savage quite a lot. Especially when they surprised her with how secretly kind they could be.

So, basket of baked goods on her hip, she turned around, walking into the garden, carefully picking her way through the hedges until she spotted him, asleep beside Riot. A little incongruous, admittedly. But something in the sight kind of warmed her heart. Ariadne truly believed that there was good in everyone. And here was the proof of it, at her feet.

She only hoped he wouldn't get sunburned, lying out there. Truthfully, she didn't know if he could or not, but all the same, she set down her basket and fetched a parasol, opening it up and setting it beside his head, to shield his skin.

A. Removing Corruption

Maul's been intently working on trying to figure out his blood powers. They seem to mainly be focused on removing corruption but every time he's used them thus far it's mostly been under extreme amounts of stress where he either has to use them or face dire consequences for them. After failing to remove it from Varian and just barely being able to bring Reaper back from the edge, he's determined to work on them more.

One way he tries is by going over to Raleigh's farm. The man had challenged him to figure out a way to remove corruption from the soil and Maul never turned down a good challenge when it was given. His ego was too great for that. But he's not having much luck. The other times he's done this have been only on people, so one can find Maul grumbling and muttering under his breath as he has his hands pressed against the soil there. He's starting to grow frustrated, for nothing he does seems to be working in getting the corruption out. Finally, he moves from the kneeling position he's in back to a sitting one, staring at the ground like it's personally offended him. For now, he's giving up.

Otherwise, anyone he knows who comes over to Maul's house for any reason will be subjected to one of his intense, unblinking stares as he looks them up and down. "Yes, you'll do," he'll say to anyone who has signs of corruption in them. "Sit here, don't move, and relax. I'm going to try to use my powers on you." Yep, you've now just been voluntold to help with Maul's desire to master his abilities.

B. Reading at The Bookstore

He'd told Lexi he would be coming by and so here Maul is at the bookstore. He's sitting somewhere on the first floor of Satellite of Love Used Books and Comics, and judging from the amount of food detritus on the ground near him, he's made quite the day of staying and looking through books while he occasionally eats.

If anyone comes by, he'll be deep in the midst of reading. "Watch out," he says laconically, still looking down at his volume, slowly turning to the next page. Of course, that usually means the person is looking at him instead of where they're going. "Too late," he then says as they trip over the large pile Maul has stacked by his feet. They won't fall flat on their face luckily. This has clearly happened more than once already today and the Sith Lord is fully prepared. Maul simply uses his powers to hold the unfortunate person there in mid-trip and then set them back on their feet. The books, which were all scattered when they were tripped over, also restack themselves. All this without having to get up and physically deal with the problem himself. Mundane Force power using for the win!

C. Teaching

Maul's always available for teaching even on his worst days. Frankly, focusing on someone else can sometimes help lift his spirits even when he's breaking apart inside. For anyone interested, he spends the late mornings and early afternoons always available at his home, ready to help those who have already sought him out to improve their skills or take on any newcomers who have heard that he's willing to help. His skills aren't just limited to fighting, though that is his specialty, but also include meditation and teaching people how to use any extrasensory abilities. The latter doesn't even need to be similar to the Force, for he's found accessing power has more to do with mind over matter than anything else.

Today, he's out in his front yard and currently going through his lightsaber techniques. Sometimes he uses his saberstaff only, switching between more aggressive forms and defensive techniques. Other times he's got one half of his saberstaff lit and the Darksaber in his other hand, practicing with them both in a style of fighting called Jar'Kai back in his home world. He'll put them away and his eyes light up as he sees someone approach. "And what are we interested in learning today?"

D. Animal Wrangling

There is a certain amount of care that goes into dealing with all the animals Maul has collected over the past two years. A good part of each day is spent feeding, grooming, training, exercising, and otherwise making sure all of them have their needs met. As bad-tempered as Darth Maul is with most people, he's far more gentle and patient with his animals. It's a good moment to see him in a softer light as he will affectionately pet or play with one of them. Currently, Maul is busy in his front yard dealing with the various creatures surrounding him. He's talking to them as if they're all sentient and can understand him. "No, wait your turn. I said wait! Have you no manners whatsoever?! Did your mother raise you on a hellscape planet like Mustafar? Now stand back or you will have to wait to the very end."

If he sees anyone milling about and watching his misfortunes, he immediately swoops in on them. "If you're going to just stand there, you're going to be put to work," Maul announces. He hands the unfortunate victim a large brush. "Pick one and start grooming their fur." That's an order best obeyed. There's the choice of Slicer, the warg straight out of the Lord of the Rings series, Malice, the vornskr from Maul's own galaxy, Cranky the Mankey, a fluffball of a Pokémon and probably the one that will take the longest despite also being the smallest, and the unnamed Nightmare Steed who has more adopted Maul rather than the other way around after a long number of months. Anyone who might be a touch intimidated by these creatures all milling around will receive an impatient look from Maul as he starts to put out food for all of them. "Well, get to it!"

Maul was rarely an easy sleeper. Too often, nightmares crowded his mind, echoes of the past mixing in with the fears that plagued in in the present day. But out here, amidst nature, it helped to quell some of the worst things that plagued his mind. He still tossed and turned on the pillows, muttering occasionally, but it was nothing like the thrashing and screaming that he had to deal with on other occasions.

He didn't stir when Ariadne approached and placed the umbrella above his head. Even in sleep, he could sense when threats and friends alike approached him. His subconscious recognized Airy as the latter and so he didn't snap awake ready to deal with a threat. He merely sighed, rolled over, and curled up a little more in the shade. Eventually, Maul's eyes opened back up. His sharp canines were on display as he woke up and yawned, stretching out in a luxurious fashioned. He looked up to find a parasol shading him. Now where had that come from...?

Since it felt a little creepy to watch someone sleep, Ariadne moved to one of her many non-magical trees, carefully tending to the branches. When she heard him yawn, she looked over her shoulder and was instantly reminded of a cat.

Well, with the stripes on his face, he was kind of like a tabby.

"Good afternoon," she said gently, plucking a withered leaf from the tree and adding it to the collection in her hand.

Politely, she turned away in case he wanted more privacy while waking.

"There's some bread in the basket over there, if you're hungry."

Although Tory doesn't actively seek the monsters out to fight, sometimes they find her. Especially since she lives on the outskirts of Crenshaw near the forest rather than in the most protected area. The ones she dealt with before were manageable - the size of large dogs. Today, she's faced with a big one that towers over her.

If not for the powers her blood granted her here, she would have already been killed. As it stands, she has yet to land more than a few scratches on the monster. Its hide is very tough, with only a few vulnerable spots on its body. Striking them is easier said than done. The creature's claws and teeth are large, and while it's not exceptionally fast, it still moves quickly enough that Tory doesn't dare turn her back on it to run.

Scared as she is, she's tapping into all of her anger to slash at it with the katana in hand. Her powers are reflexively manifesting weapons, which she promptly telekinetically hurls at the monster.

When a dagger manages to nick a vulnerable spot, the monster roars angrily, stomping its feet into the ground before charging at Tory at full force.

"Oh fuck."

She had been surprised to see Maul, though that seemed silly in retrospect. Of course she'd see him around. There wasn't very many places to hide in Trench, not that she ever thought of that. But after her conversation with Willow, as well as the meditation session they had, Tara had wondered about him.

Well, now their paths had crossed and she wasn't quite sure what to say, only that she wondered about him. With her own books in her arms, she made her way over to him, neglecting to notice his stack of books. She tumbled forward, but seemed to be caught in midair. Her poor books on the other hand, fell to the ground in a heap.

"Oh." She glanced around, able to at least sense the energy he used. "Um...hello again."

Snow White was paying visits to her friends and was visiting Maul when he suddenly yelled at her. She blinked and then lifted a brow.

"Why Maul, if you need help, you really need to ask much nicer! Here, like this! Everyone!" Snow White called out and all of his animals were immediately paused and looking over at her.

"Will you get in a nice line please for food?"

Who's not gonna pass up a chance to play with the Sith Lord and a freakin lightsaber staff thing?

Not Chuck Hansen, that's for sure.

He's always been an enthusiastic student, that's for sure - eager to learn and once he figures out there's lessons being offered, he's appearing in Maul's yard, watching, eager.

"Um. The basics first, I guess?"

It would be a lie to say she wasn't all nerves as she stands there, awkwardly, watching as Maul finishes up feeding his variety of dark creatures. She never would have thought a man like him would have a veritable zoo to look after but that might be why one shouldn't judge a book by its cover. When he finally finishes up and turns to her, she gives a short nod in response to his question.

"I've tried it a few times on my own but it's like no matter what I do I can't empty my brain of thoughts or feelings. It's like there's a constant buzz in my head." She admits," I've never had a teacher, though. I always had to do it on my own following advice I found online and never felt like it worked. Or even could work."

Meditation had always eluded her. She would try before going to sleep in hopes it'd ward off nightmares or before school in hopes of avoiding panic or rage but each time resulted in failure. It made meditation seem like bullshit; a thing people without worries would do.

[Ruby let's out a yelp as she trips up after Maul's warning. Apparently reading her own comic, watching where she was going, and suddenly paying attention to him was a little too much for her to pay attention to. But she's surprised when she doesn't land face first on the floor and instead sort of floats there in the air before briefly setting down on her feet.]

Woah- Uh- Hey. Thanks for that-

[She then glances up at the top shelf briefly as an idea forms in her head and she turns back to Maul.]

Hey! Think you can give me a lift to the top shelf like that?

I can never reach the good comics.

A gloved hand reaches out and yanks Tory out of the way just before the creature can eviscerate her. The monster's momentum carries it right past Tory and Maul. He lets go of her, already holding his saberstaff out in his left hand. The two blades ignite.

He doesn't take his eyes off the monster but speaks towards where Tory is. "Are you hurt?" He asks.

Maul held up a finger without taking his eyes off the page when Tara spoke to him. He waited until he was done with the current paragraph before he slipped a bookmark into the volume he was reading. No, Maul never just dogeared the pages, he wasn't a barbarian.

He set the volume of Greek mythology on top of the stack he had before he looked up. There was that usual glowering expression on his face but it was nothing personal towards Tara. Maul just sort of had resting murder face at all times. He nodded towards the young witch. "Hello there. Found anything good to read?"

He really shouldn't have been surprised at Snow's ability to handle his animals in a much neater, nicer way than Maul himself ever could. But it still was so unusual that he couldn't help watching the process with a bit of wonder.

All she had to do was ask nicely and the entire bunch stopped the rancorous behavior that had been occurring only moments before. They all lined up from biggest to smallest in a row, with the Nightmare Steed on the left going all the way down to Cranky at the end on the right. Maul stared at all of them before he looked back at Snow. "You have my thanks. They get very tetchy when it comes time to feed them."

She didn't take it personally. While his features might be severe, she could at least feel intent before anything else, relying on her senses more than her sight. She gave a shy smile, a bit glad to see him. He had fascinated her since their last meeting, though she doubted she made much of an impact.

"Mostly just magic theories. It's not as in-depth a library as I'm used to." At least she didn't have to translate Ancient Sumerian anymore. "You're reading Greek Mythology?" She was a bit excited by that, having always loved the stories since she was a girl. "Which story are you reading?"

"Well, of course, they're animals, Maul, food is one of the most important things for them and for many of them, it isn't always a guarantee. That's nature you're dealing with no matter how long they've been with you. But if you really wish for it to be more orderly, you would have a much easier time if they didn't all EAT at the same time, because then your attention is divided!"

Maul scrubbed at his face to wake himself back up. He used to have the habit in his youth of having the ability to wake up instantly and have all the grogginess completely disappear, making him ready to do his master’s will. He’d been glad to break it, for he felt it made him little more than a machine, and he was glad to be rid of a habit that depersonalized him so.

He glanced in Airy’s way when she mentioned that there was something to eat. “Many thanks.” Maul then immediately pounced on the bread, taking up a large roll and chomping down on it. He had no manners whatsoever when it came to eating, though considering who had raised him, that wasn’t much of a surprise.

Maul is not surprised that Sharon hasn’t gotten good results from meditation before. Some people just aren’t cut out for meditation. (Savage, he suspects, is one of them. His brother often falls asleep when he tries to meditate with Maul until the Sith Lord throws something at his head to wake him up.) But Maul thinks more often it’s simply that people haven’t been introduced to the right type of meditation that suits their own unique personality.

To that end, he tries to figure out which is the best way for each of his individual students.

“If you have trouble emptying yourself of emotions, then the type of meditation I use might produce better results for you. It’s not based on emptying yourself of emotions but instead bringing them up to the surface instead of letting them be stifled down deep within yourself. The idea is to feel whatever it is that is strongest in that moment.”

This is what you get for being a tiny runt.

[Not like Maul can talk, he never grew taller than 5’8” when he was on his original pair of legs. He raises his tattooed eyebrow ridges when Ruby requests he lift her up to the top shelf.]

The Force is a mystical, sacred power that is not to be used lightly or for frivolous purposes. [Beat.] Alright, be prepared. On the count of three. One, two, three…Now!

Maul speaks to Snow as he starts passing out food for all the beasts, starting with the Nightmare Steed since it is so large and the most wild of Maul’s animals.

“I have never owned multiple pets before…..or any pets at all for that matter, so I have had to learn much simply by trial and error. If you could give me any sort of advice on how to make things less chaotic, I would be most grateful.”

One step closer to the edge and I'm about to break (May/June Catch-all!)

For Sharon - Training

For Ariadne - Sleeping in the garden

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Personal Prompts - OTA

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C

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