February Catch-All; "We can deeply love our poison."

[survivalthroughhate]

Who: survivalthroughhate and open!
What: Maul comes back from a canon update with a brand-new attitude
When: All of February
Where: At his home and around Trench.

Content Warnings: Gross canon update cocoon, will update as necessary



Open prompts below!

A. Canon-Updated

After Maul peeled out of his cocoon and had reoriented himself with where he was, it was time to make some house calls. By his point-of-view, he'd been gone for three years. Though he had learned thankfully that time had passed for everyone else over the course of a week, he still wanted to check up and make sure that the people he cared about were still present, accounted for, and had all their limbs attached. The fact that the month appeared to once again be messing with his blood type just exacerbated matters.

So off he went. His first priority was to check up on those he was blood-bonded to. Fortunately, he could feel they were all still intact, but they were the ones he cared about most in Trench, so they were checked on first. Then came everyone else. If anyone had even a somewhat positive relationship with the Zabrak Sith Lord, they were going to find themselves with Maul on their doorstep to check up on them, his eyes no longer golden but now instead a grey-brown color. Close friends and family could even expect to possibly be hugged, a sure sign that Maul had changed in his time away from Trench.

B. Lessons

January had been a wash as far as all student-related activities were concerned given Maul had either been a kid or wrapped up in the membrane where he'd experienced life in his own galaxy for the entire month. Well, it was time to get back on track with his students. To that matter, after he got on the network to inform everyone of his changed state, he made sure to make time for anyone who wanted to stop by in February.

He kept to his regular hours as much as possible, not including any of the usual shenanigans that made each month go topsy-turvy, and made sure to make the lessons a little longer to make up for the fact he hadn't been able to train anyone for the past month or so. "It's been a while. I hope you haven't forgotten everything I taught you," he would say upon seeing any of his regulars show up.

C. At The Archives

After the intriguing conversation with Sharon regarding his former ability to shapeshift, Maul knew it was time to do some research into the ability of being able to turn into mystical deer that those Sleepers who had been in Deerington had once possessed. He hadn't tried to turn into that form since arriving, assuming with the corruption of Ramona into a permanent beast that such a thing could no longer occur.

But he remembered that the Ramona seen when passing through the dimension which would allow them to change into deer had seemed to be beyond time itself in a way. If that was true, than part of her was always going to be waiting there, uncorrupted and never-changing. It was time to figure out if that was truly the case. To that end, he was in the Archives, looking through ancient books and scrolls filled with text that would lead him to the answers he sought.

If he saw someone he knew, he would gesture them over. "Come, take a seat!" After they'd sat down, he would plunk down a huge mass of scrolls, a bottle filled with caffeinated tea, and a bag of beef jerky in front of them. "Tell me if you can find any mention of Ramona Derwin in these." There was something in his bossy tone that made it clear he wasn't allowing anyone to leave until they had helped him out at least a little bit, though judging by the supplies he possessed, he was certain to try to keep anyone there for the long haul.

D. Chocolatier

[After the disastrous experience Maul had the previous year that had led to the death of Willow, he was avoiding the chocolatier at all costs. He also wasn't letting anyone make the same mistake he had and to that end he was warning everyone away from the giant monster at all costs.]

Don't you dare accept anything from him!

[He'd state emphatically.]

Some of them are harmless but others will dead to disastrous, even dangerous consequences!

[If anyone asked, he would detail what some of those chocolates could do to a person.]

E. Wait For Me

[Maul had always had a little trouble with the anticipation of waiting for people. It wasn't like he didn't already have a ton of abandonment issues that stretched through the entirety of his life that made him very conscious of those that he had left. The anxiety that gnawed at him grew greater and greater until he found himself suddenly unable to move another muscle.

Then he was stuck there, a pit of fear and energy in his body that was unable to go anywhere. All he could do was stand or sit there, waiting for someone to come along and help him out, trying to reach out with his own mind to anyone he knew who could come save him from this plight.

Alternatively, he could be that person for someone else who was afflicted, coming along their frozen body and noticing almost immediately that something was wrong. He'd come up to them and inspect their form for a few moments before taking a step back.]

Well, this certainly is a situation.

[Maul observed. He wasn't certain on how to fix this problem but he also just wasn't going to leave the person afflicted all on their lonesome. He'd come far enough in his journey of becoming a better person to know he had to stay and help.]

F. You Take My Breath Away

[Maul wasn't big on being touchy-feely even with people he was close to, let alone people he might not have been fond of. As he went about minding his own business, he'd pass by someone and suddenly it would hit. He gasped suddenly, unable to take another breath. He'd reach out blindly, trying to grab whoever was close by to bring attention to his plight.

He could see the other person nearby who was also choking. Was this affecting everyone in the city all at once?! But as soon as he touched them, he could feel himself able to breathe again. He took deep breaths in, grateful for the oxygen he could access once again.]

What--What was that?

[He gasped out as soon as he had enough air in his lungs to speak with.]

G. Speed Dating!

Maul wasn't all that enthused about being forced to go through another 'getting to know you' session in Trench. But it wasn't really like he had any other options here. So he sat there, glowering a little, not exactly appearing to be the most friendly of partners to be seated across from.

On the plus side, his profile was indeed a thing of beauty. He'd been mortified for about five minutes after seeing what it had put up for him but then he began to see the funny side of it. Rather than letting it get to him at all, he decided to just have a sense of humor about the whole thing.

He glanced at whoever sat down across from him and went back to picking at his claws, which were looking a trifle long right now. "Shall we get this over with already?" He asked. "Do you want to go first or should I?"

Comments

Closed to Savage

[survivalthroughhate]

Maul woke up slowly. The last thing he remembered was being on his ship, frustrated at having left the castle without anything to show for it. When he found himself encased in something flexible and pliable, he immediately tore his way out of the cocoon. Having ripped most of it apart, he stepped out, stumbling for a moment before righting himself back up. He looked around, the room seeming very familiar before all his memories came rushing back in a flood. This was Trench and he was back home now.

But wait, if three years had passed for him, did that mean--? His first thought was of his brother. He had no idea how much time had passed here in Trench but his fear was that Savage had gone back to the sea. The fact he could still feel the bonds that tied them together in the Force and by blood calmed him a little, but he was still worried about how much time had passed. If it had been years, he didn't even want to think how hard his little brother would have taken it.

Maul immediately set out to find his brother in the house, calling out his name and adding on a loud yowling Nightbrother call designed for when they were separated as on a hunt for good measure.

[opress]

At first, Savage had hovered close to the cocoon that held his brother, concern gnawing at him as he paced and considering his options. What stayed his hand was the blood bond that he shared with Maul, and it was a constant source of calm as he knew that the elder Zabrak was still present here in Trench... just held away from him.

But they had been separated before. He was growing used to their absences from one another, and while he wished that Maul would return after a day or two, he did force himself to be busy taking care of the various animals that inhabited the space with them and even went so far as to take a few hunter jobs that wouldn't take him away for long.

A week later and in the middle of his morning exercise routine, he paused mid push up at the sound from the other room where Maul had been cocooned. He shot to his feet and padded towards the sound on bare feet as he issued a low deep chuff of reply. The moment he caught sight of Maul, he paused and drank in the sight and aura from his elder brother. "You're returned, brother. I've been waiting for you."

Because Savage was ultimately loyal to his bloodkin over anyone else, even himself.

[survivalthroughhate]

Maul immediately went over and hugged Savage tightly. "You're here. You're here." Maul said softly, half to Savage and half to himself, reassuring his mind that Savage was still here and hadn't left his life again. His voice was filled with emotion, mostly relief and love.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for failing you again," he said as he clutched his brother, face buried in his chest, the memories of the castle fresh in his mind. He knew that hadn't really been Savage but it was hard to think logically when the Dark Side had taken the form of someone he held most dear to him and had used it to teach him a painful lesson. Despite everything that had occurred to him back in his own galaxy and here in Trench, he'd never been forced to kill his little brother before. Having to do that had left wounds upon his soul.

[opress]

Pleasure to have Maul back overlay his confusion at his brother's muttered words. Did Maul expect him to be gone so quickly? "I never left, brother..." he trailed off when the apology flowed from Maul's lips. His confusion only grew stronger until his expression was one of puzzlement. He knew Maul had regrets about his death, but this seemed... more than that?

"I knew you were still here, just away. Don't apologize." They weren't big on apologies the two of them. By the Fanged God's balls, they weren't big on a lot of 'normal' verbal communication, and he was fine with that. He had always done what he could go accept Maul as his brother was: flawed, damaged, powerful and determined. His loyalty to Maul was without question, so these words went against what they normally had. Okay, they were developing more to expressing themselves a touch more normally, but it was nothing to like how humans operated. "Maul, what happened to you? Where did you go?"

Closed to Reaper

[survivalthroughhate]

After he'd reoriented himself with where he was and how so little time had passed in Trench, his thoughts turned to his husband, who had surely noticed what had happened to Maul when he'd gotten wrapped up in the membrane. He sent out a thought down their link. 'Where are you?' It was tinged with desperation and love, Maul realizing just how much he'd missed the old man who had become such a part of the fabric of his life. Three years was a long time to be without someone he loved so much.

After Reaper sent back a thought confirming he was at the Disaster House, Maul immediately went to a lantern point and teleported to the closest spot where he could quickly get to the house from. Once there, he wasted no time in going to Reaper's room. He burst in without even bothering to knock and immediately hugged Reaper without any intention of letting go in the next twenty minutes or so. "I missed you, Gabriel," he whispered quietly to his love.

[no_reload]

Reaper hadn't been concerned when Maul's side of the link went slightly dull and definitely one-sided. It had been surprising yes, but he had confirmed that his husband wasn't under and threat of harm but instead resided in a cocoon which so many Sleepers had done before. He stayed away, knowing Maul needed no protection from him, but mentally, he kept track of his Zabrak through the link and could even nose his way into a few experiences here and there like watching a movie of someone's life from long distance.

He was also very much aware when the link flared to its usual vibrance to announce that Maul had returned to Trench properly. There was an odd sort of calmness that was through the link they shared, one that hadn't been there before or if it was, it was tinged with the threat of violence. This was different, and he was curious how much Maul had changed in however long had passed. He thought years but couldn't be certain.

One thing he could trust about Maul was that the determination was intact, so he didn't even bother to go out and meet his husband half way. He expected Maul might not let him keep clothes on long anyway, and that was not a sight Trench needed even from a dark alley. Besides, Maul was quick about making the journey.

He stood in only military fatigues and a compression shirt, arms crossed over his chest as his door was basically kicked in so the familiar sight of Maul could launch in. He smirked when he was swept into a hug and curled his arms around the Zabrak's shoulders, though he allowed the fingers of one hand to scritch the back of Maul's head affectionately.

"They do say that distance makes the heart grow fonder. Though, are those a few wrinkles on you? Closing the age gap, are you?" He was teasing of course. This wasn't the time for seriousness when he had a week of trolling to make up for starting right now. Especially since he didn't care to smoke his way out of the hug.

[survivalthroughhate]

Maul began to softly purr the minute that he was back in the arms of his husband, holding him close the way he'd been denied for so long. He entangled his fingers in Reaper's long white hair, feeling like he was right back where he belonged. He kissed Reaper deeply, showing the depth of how much he'd missed his lover and how lonely he'd been without anyone in his life for three long years.

Then he pulled back a little and punched Reaper playfully on the arm at the mention of wrinkles. "I'm not that old! Besides, no matter how old I get, you will always be older, and that's what counts." But he couldn't deny Reaper a nice little moment of trolling. It was just how their relationship worked and had since day one. Leaning in again, he rested his forehead against Reaper's in a sign of affection. "Tell me, did you get up to any mischief while I was gone? Or have you plotted something for the two of us to do upon my triumphant return?"

[no_reload]

He made an amused noise when Maul began to purr instantly, and he rocked his weight on his feet so he could gently pull Maul along. It might have been a week, but he and Maul saw or spoke to each other once a day. The distance of a week had been rather isolating, and there was a comfort in his husband's determination to be close and the feel, sight, and smell of Maul.

He leaned into the kiss, tightening his hug in reply. "Oh, I might be older, but that age gap is shrinking and that's amusing. So eager to catch up," he remarked with bemusement even as he leaned in to kiss Maul on the forehead just before they rested together, and he continued to lightly rock them side to side. "No, I was too busy mooning over you being gone that I was entirely unproductive. I kept an eye on your allies though; their sadness of your absence made me faintly happy."

He nudged their noses together. "Why don't you tell me of your adventure? You seem... different, lighter I suppose. You're not going to become a boy scout on me, are you?"

Closed to Nara'a

[survivalthroughhate]

When he had a spare moment, he texted Nara'a and asked if he wanted to come over. The catman had intrigued him with his talk of the aether and how to wield it. Maul was all for learning about something new, especially if it came with the chance of possibly of gaining more power. No matter how far he went along the path of redemption, the ingrained desire to become more powerful was always going to be with Maul.

Maul was busy hand-feeding his Nightmare Steed when Nara'a arrived, a big intimidating looking beast who had the expression of a creature that would just as soon gore a person as let them approach. He snorted hard and pawed the ground aggressively as Nara'a approached. Maul turned, saw who it was, and then kept himself between his friend and his steed. "No, don't be like that. He's a friend and he's nice. You can't just crush everyone to death." The big beast snorted again but accepted a bit of raw meat from Maul again, nibbling it delicately between large teeth.

Maul turned his attention towards Nara'a. "Sorry about him. He's aggressive and bad-tempered much of the time." So basically the perfect type of creature for Maul to have made the acquaintance of, slowly befriending it over the course of two years now. "Shall we get started then?"

[aetherweaver]

Nara'a was a little surprised to get the message, but he didn't really have any desire to turn the man down. He headed over to the other's home and smiled at the steed. He held up a hand for the horse to sniff at - he wasn't concerned about the creature's bite. If nothing else he was fast enough to avoid a nibble if need be.

"It's fine. I don't mind - D has a steed like that as well. I understand that they're... touchy at times." To say the least. But anyway, yes. He nodded and glanced around for a quiet spot. He'd brought a notebook in his bag just so he could draw diagrams for Maul.

[survivalthroughhate]

The Nightmare Steed snapped at Nara'a's proffered hand like he wanted to take a chunk out of it as he was warranted to do with anyone who wasn't Maul or Snow White. Maul scowled at the creature and bopped him gently on the nose. "You have no manners. Go on, be off with you." The large creature gave a look to the two men that was almost scornful in nature before he began to walk off, swishing his large lion-like tail behind him.

Maul led over Nara'a over to a spot where there was just hard, cold dirt on the ground instead of any patches of snow. "Let us get started then. I am prepared to learn anything you are willing to teach me about the aether." It sounded like a fascinating subject of study.

[aetherweaver]

"Uh huh." He was undeterred by the horse's bad manners and watched it go, a slight smile on his face. He nodded to Maul and follows the other. He sat down where indicated, pulling out his notebook and smoothing out a page.

"To begin with, as I've said before - aether is the energy that makes up all living things. There are three main types of aether - memory, soul, and corporeal." He wrote the three words down on the paper and drew a line between 'memory' and 'soul'. "These two are tightly connected, and are the more mysterious of the three types. Manipulating them is highly dangerous and generally highly taboo. What we're going to mainly talk about today is corporeal aether."

He circled the word and drew a line downwards, where he drew a circle. "There are six types ore elemental aether. Can you think of some elements that might be one of these six?" He didn't want this to just be him talking. That would be boring for both of them.

Closed to Obi-Wan

[survivalthroughhate]

[It kept weighing on his mind after he got back, the things he had talked over with the specter of Qui-Gon. He knew it wasn't the true spirit of the man brought forth from the dead but still he wondered why the Dark Side would have chosen that particular form to talk to him about the subject of his pain and the way he had of inflicting it on others. Perhaps it had known that such a form would be sure to get a reaction out of Maul and it certainly had.

He thought it over for a long period of time, meditating for hours each day until he finally came to a decision that Maul knew he really should have made a long time ago. At least it wasn't too late yet to do what he needed to with Obi-Wan. So he called up his old foe and now sometimes friend.]

We need to talk. Can you stop by for tea?

[He wasn't going to do this over the Omnis. If ever there was a conversation that needed to take place face-to-face, this was it.]

[jedies]

[ well. that's never a good opener but how much worse than things get at this point? ]

All right. Shall I come by now?

[survivalthroughhate]

Yes, that would be best.

[If he didn't do what he wanted to right now, Maul knew he might lose his courage for what he needed to tell Kenobi. When the Jedi arrived, Maul already had the kettle going to warm the water.]

Have a seat.

[He gestured to the kitchen table. There had been a physical change in Maul, his eyes no longer Sith-yellow but instead grey-brown. But there was more to it than that. His presence in the Force, before so full of pain and rage, was not the same as it once was. He was calmer now, and while the anger was still present, it had dimmed. So too the pain he'd always felt so acutely, while not entirely gone, was now hurting him less. He felt less like an open wound in the Force and more like someone who had gone through the process of starting to heal.]

[jedies]

[ hm. obi-wan notes this quietly before taking a seat, his arms on his lap. ]

I take it this isn't merely a social call.

Closed to Usagi

[survivalthroughhate]

Someone else Maul desperately wanted to see once he got back was his best friend. Usagi had helped him so much along his path of redemption and he needed her to know just how much he was committed to the change that she had been instrumental in helping him with now that he was back in Trench. All that she had always tried to tell him had been proven right in the end there at the castle. She needed to know that, to hear that he'd finally had the epiphany everyone had been waiting for. He immediately set out for the Pink Monstrosity.

When he opened up the door and saw her there, Maul immediately enveloped Usagi in a hug. Considering how rare it was for him to initiate contact even with his closest friends, that said volumes already right there. "I've missed you so much. I have so much to tell you," he said in a whisper, voice thick with emotion.

[lightthedarkness]

Usagi can be found in the Pink Monstrosity this is true. She is currently making lunch as she's in the kitchen, a simple bento box set out for her from what Makoto made that morning. The oven was on, currently baking the next round of charms and she's about to dig in, only she hears her door being opened.

"Hello?" she calls out, only to be immediately wrapped up in Maul's arms. OH! She blinks as she's hugged with a full-force hug. She blinks and looks up, naturally wrapping her arms around Maul without saying anything, so used to being the one to engage the hug first.

A smile spreads across her lips and she tilts her head upwards as she gently strokes his back where his spine is his own.

"Welcome back," she soothed.

[survivalthroughhate]

He held Usagi tightly for a minute, just letting him be present in the moment with his best friend. "It's been a long time for me. I went home for three years." Three long, lonely years full of pain and rage from Maul's perspective. He'd kept lashing out, inflicting that pain on others, killing and hurting people because there was no other way for him to live. Or at least not a way out that he could see for himself.

Finally, he let her go, and it would be clear to her that the color of his eyes had changed from Sith-yellow to grey-brown. "But just before I came back, I had an eye-opening experience. The Dark Side, it put me through a series of trials. It was trying to teach me the same things you've always tried to. I wasn't able to listen then but now I'm finally able to take heed of the lessons it was trying to impart upon me."

You Take My Breath Away

[martyrofduty]

Duty, currently a few inches shorter but with longer hair, grabs Maul's hand and takes a moment to recover to a crouch. His other hand is at his waist, but no threat comes into view. Nor does he sense any unnatural attention on them.

"Anything via the Force?" Duty asks Maul. That might tell them something he can't sense.

However, he suspects something else. His gaze lands on the nearest doorway, and his brown eyes sparkle with amusement. They need each other in Trench, always. This month more than ever, perhaps. Touché.

[survivalthroughhate]

Maul immediately sent his senses out, trying to see if he could feel anything that might explained what the hell had just happened to the pair of them. He was still gripping Duty tightly, so tight that the grip was a little bit painful.

He shook his head after a few moments of probing the Force. He lingered on Duty's form. That black spot that usually represented the lack which the man made in the Force was now gone. He could feel him now that he had a grip on him. Eventually, he shook his head. "No, there's nothing malicious I can sense through the Force."

[martyrofduty]

Duty nods in acknowledgement. No foul intention during the month of honesty, the month focused on relationships. That's where he'll place his bet. As with other challenges the Pthumerians issue, he will see it through. Slowly, he stands.

"Lets be sure," Duty says. His gaze fixes on their hands, the point of connection. He lets go of Maul's hand. Expecting the strange choking sensation, the near panic, Duty experiences it and takes Maul's hand again, upon which it vanishes instantly.

"Companions," Duty says. "What were you doing?"

Chocolatier

[wapples]

Billie is more than happy to talk to anyone in Trench, and the Chocolatier is no exception. No, it's fine, really. Besides, he likes chocolate and trading a bit of blood for a piece is a pretty easy sell, with the reassurance that it's a chocolate he will like, and not something badly flavoured.

He has his knife out and is about to prick his finger, when Maul interrupts them, and the boy looks over his shoulder. "Huh? But I like chocolate!"

[survivalthroughhate]

Maul was alarmed to see the young boy about to get a piece of chocolate. Sure, there was every possibility it'd just turn him into a cat or give him a puppy crush on someone, but there was also the chance he might end up vomiting organs.

He tried to warn Billie away from the beast. "Sometimes, he gives out chocolate which can lead to devastating results. One of them can cause you to want to murder people."

[wapples]

Billie's eyes shift from the Chocolatier and his goblet, to Maul, back to the Chocolatier again, before declaring accusingly to the beast. "You said your chocolate was cool, that's not cool! Who wants stupid murder chocolate anyway?"

He lets out a loud, offended hmph and tucks his knife away before crossing his arms. Look, he was hungry, and this guy promised him not just food, but chocolate. Of course he's disappointed, and angry that it comes with some pretty serious strings attached. He turns back to Maul, arms still crossed over his chest.

"This guy sucks!"