The Eight Facets of Maul - Player Plot

[survivalthroughhate]

Who: survivalthroughhate and you!
What: Maul's player plot where eight versions of himself run around and cause mayhem
When: Late January and lasting into the beginning of February
Where: All over the city

Content Warnings: gory violence possible, gaslighting and manipulation, unhealthy toxic love relationships, insanity, disassociation from reality, hallucinations, and cannibalism.



Prelude

Maul has had it. After eight months, the curse that Willow, Constantine, and Luna had put him under in Deerington is still no closer to being broken than the day he found out he was cursed. Forced to feel harm if he causes anyone else pain, his frustration on how to get it to break is growing larger and larger. Logically, he knows the solution is to feel genuine remorse for his actions, which will activate a potion he carries with him at all times. But Maul's not there yet on his journey of emotional growth and knows he might never be. Maul rarely feels remorse for his actions because most of his worst ones have gotten him exactly what he wanted, whether that was power, revenge, or anything else he lusted after. After such a long period of time, Maul's decided enough is enough.

It is time to fight fire with fire.

Magic is what cursed him so, logically, magic should remove it. After asking his followers discreetly where one might find a curse-breaking shop, he's directed to a small hole-in-the-wall shop that nonetheless has a sterling reputation for breaking curses. The shop owners, an older couple who both have long grey hair, turn to one another and seem to communicate without words in that way two people who have been together for decades will. Then one turns back to Maul and tells them they have exactly what he needs.

After an exchange of a hefty amount of gold, Maul is given a medallion made up of eight different colored sections of crystals. He's told to put on the medallion the next time he meditates and he'll get what he wants. Leaving the shop, Maul returns home and does so. The medallion then shatters and eight versions of Maul come to life in Trench, each one representing a different facet of Maul's personality. They all wear a shard of a crystal around their neck. These must be taken from them and put back into the medallion that Maul Prime still wears. He'll be in a coma that he can't be woken up from until all the crystals are put back into it. Only then will he be able to awaken.

Time for his friends, allies, and even foes to help get Maul (literally) put back together!

The Facets

Of the facets, there's certain ones that make their presence known quite a bit in the first couple of days given these are Maul's more extroverted sides.

First off there is Maul's Happy side and there will probably be a number of people wondering that Maul can even be happy. Of course, Maul's version of the emotion is just as intense as the man himself is, but for most people who know Maul they'll likely find him amusing given this part of his personality most resembles Usagi of all people. He'll mostly be found in Cassandra, Cellar Door, or anywhere else that it seems like good vibes are around. He wears bright yellow.

Then there's Love, who looks an awful lot like the Trickster Virus variant seen a month ago. Rather than finding particular spots in the city he likes, this one finds particular people Maul loves, whether that's platonically or romantically. These poor souls will then have him on their case at all times and it's definitely going to annoy the shit out of some people after a certain point to have someone who loves them quite this much around them all the time. This version seems silly and even humorous at first. Love can be that way sometimes after all, especially for someone as new to the emotion as Maul is.

But it's best not to forget that love can be just as toxic and damaging an emotion as something like anger. Maul's targets will soon find this version of Maul has a very ugly, possessive, and jealous side to him. He rarely lets targets out of his sight and any excuses made to try to ditch him will be met with something like: "Where are you going?" Then there's an ominous pause before suddenly Maul growls out in a very dangerous way. "I won't let you leave!" If he has to cause violence to make the object of his affections stay with him or hurt someone else they are with, he won't hesitate.

Lastly, there's Maul's Brave side. Made up of his grit, determination, and unwillingness to ever give up, this side will find himself very busy fighting monsters. If he sees anyone, not just someone he knows, who is in need of a rescue from a dangerous beast or back-up during a fight, he won't hesitate. There's quite a bit of enthusiasm to this version when it comes to just about everything he does and for the most part he's easy to deal with. In fact, it might be prudent to get him to slow down, for he lacks a bit in the way of restraint, and will headlong rush into danger without a second thought. He can mostly be found in districts like Lumenwood and Prufrock, happily helping to fight anything that might be threatening someone. He wears forest green.

There are a few sides that make their presence less known but can be found fairly easily once people figure out what is going on.

First off is Maul's Good side. Much as with the Happy side, there's definitely going to be a number of people (including all of his enemies) wondering at the fact Maul even has a Good side, but it's there and very real. Every single one of his friends who has loyally stuck by him now for almost two years and insisted he does have good within him is about to be vindicated in a very literal way. This version of Maul is dressed in Jedi robes, has a blue double-bladed lightsaber, and for those that are observant, they will realize this version of Maul has grey-brown eyes instead of his usual Sith yellow ones. He'll mostly be found in Crenshaw or anywhere someone vulnerable might need help.

It's not uncommon to find him trying to help someone out of a bad situation and he's very selfless. For those wondering even how to put Maul all back together again, he'll be the best bet, as he knows there's far too many dangerous sides running around. Being one being is definitely better in this situation. He'll even try to help fight against the other sides if that's what someone requires of him.

The most calm side to deal with will be the Knowledgeable side. This one runs more on logic than pure emotion, representing Maul's love of learning. Wearing electric blue, he'll be found mostly in Willful Machine and Gaze in places like The School of Mutter, bookstores, or anywhere else that he might possibly pick up something new that he hasn't heard before.

One of the calmer sides, given he's far more focused on learning than on people, this can also be to the detriment of anyone trying to get his attention, as he also doesn't really care all that much about those around him either. Still, he's very reasonable, and if someone puts forth a good argument as to why it's better for him to return to Maul Prime, he's willingly give up his shard. Of course, he might challenge you to a battle of wits first, so it's best to be on your toes mentally around this one.

Then there is Wrath. Of all of Maul's sides, this one is the most dangerous, and needs to be approached with the most care. Wearing red, at times he's got all the outwards anger of Maul, and won't hesitate to attack anyone who gets close to him. Free of the fear that runs through Maul at all times given his past with Darth Sidious, he can even channel Force Lightning. But far worse than the surface anger to deal with is the manipulative side he possesses beneath the surface. Using all that Sidious taught him, he won't hesitate to play the part of the chessmaster, and treat those around him as nothing but pawns to be used and then discarded.

While other sides can be convinced to give up their shards or at least have them taken through wit or cunning, this side will never give his up. The only way to take it will be to kill him.

If anyone looks at the medallion Maul Prime is wearing, they'll notice there's eight sections for crystals. But it seems like there's a couple of versions of Maul that are doing their best to avoid the population instead of interacting with them at all.

The first is the Timid version of Maul. While Maul himself often claims not to be afraid of anything, that's a lie. All the insecurities, sadness, and general timidity are in this one. He tries to avoid people for the most part but that's mostly because he feels very intense guilt for having wronged any of them over the course of his life. Given what he's done back in his own galaxy and in the Pthumerian-run towns, this can turn into quite the laundry list if he encounters some people. Be prepared for a litany of "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." for quite a length of time if someone interacts with this one. He's dressed in grey and often seems to be smaller than he actually is, given the way he tends to shrink and withdraw into himself.

The other is the Insane version of Maul. He looks very much like how Maul ended up during his years of insanity during the thirteen years he spent on Lotho Minor in his own galaxy, but even more creepy given his levels of corruption. He'll be found mostly in Darcmouth, the sewer system, and hanging around Maul's home more than the other ones. This version is all of the insanity that still lingers in the back of his mind mixed in with all of the corruption that has been building up and given a very solid form. It's not pretty. He lurks in the shadows of the parts of the city that have the most corruption, feeding off anything (and unfortunately anyone) that crosses his path. While not particularly dangerous, he's rather disturbing in other ways. When encountered, he tends not to acknowledge people are there, although if one is persistent in talking to him long enough he will notice and talk with them for a minute or two before seeming to lose what little sanity he has left. His disassociation from reality is very bad and he hallucinates his master Darth Sidious a lot. The only time he will get violent is if someone tries to take his lightsaber, a damaged broken half that has yet to be remade whole, or if they attack him. Occasionally, he seems to snap back to sanity for a few moments, but only long enough to say one thing. "Revenge. I must have revenge."

Epilogue

Maul wakes up after the crystals are all returned and he's mad as hell, thinking that the shopkeepers tricked him deliberately for their own gains. It's only when he notices the glow in his pocket that he pulls out the vial Constantine gave him months ago. He'd been instructed then that it would only glow and be ready to drink when he showed true remorse. Apparently, though Maul thinks himself incapable of doing so, having his Timid side show it is enough for the potion to activate. He downs it without a second thought. Apparently, the shopkeepers had been right all along and likely meant for this to happen. With his curse lifted, Maul is greatly pleased, though his thought now to turn to how to gain revenge on three certain witches he's got a bone to pick with......

[OOC: Please mark which version you're interacting with in your subject line. If anyone would like a custom starter for any of the forms, give me a poke on Light_shade or Lightshade#4738 on Discord. Always happy to do them!]

Comments

Love

[lightthedarkness]

Usagi is snapped awake when she hears something or rather someone in her kitchen. She quietly gets out of bed, checking the time to see it was late morning before she silently crept downstairs, her brooch in hand as she did not sleep with it.

She is just about to transform and DEAL with whoever the hell this is when they stand up from pulling... something out of her fridge. What?

It looked like...

"Maul?" what was he doing here? She put her brooch in her pajama pockets and looked at all the food he had set on the kitchen island. Was he making something? She balked, however, when she saw Maul properly, not having dealt with his trickster form. She clenched her brooch in her pocket. That... that was NOT Maul.

[survivalthroughhate]

Maul looked up when he heard Usagi come in. "Oh good, you're awake!" The Love version of Maul said with a very chipper tone that Maul himself would never use but that seemed to fit this weird-looking one perfectly. He seemed oblivious to the fact that Usagi was on the verge of transforming and dealing with him in a violent fashion. There was a reason there was a saying that 'Love is blind.' This version of Maul wasn't the most observant but he made up for it by being absolutely and obsessively devoted to those he cared about.

"I thought I'd make you breakfast." After all, Usagi had been through a lot recently, and she deserved something nice done for her. Even had Maul been whole, he wouldn't have thought twice about breaking into her house to do this. Personal boundaries were a concept he and Usagi hadn't really talked about enough for him to form a good, solid idea of.

He picked up a few eggs and began cracking them into a bowl. The claws and sharp teeth he still possessed seemed very discordant with how the rest of him looked like he'd fallen into a vat made up of '80s cartoons like My Little Pony and Care Bears and then crawled back out.

Wrath

[lightthedarkness]

Usagi FINALLY managed to escape Maulberry Milkshake and knew something was up. She just didn't know WHAT. To be safe, she had transformed into Sailor Moon and was flying over to his home, attempting to seek answers for this whole situation.

Only, she didn't really need to go very far.

Because she saw another version of Maul, this one in all red, fling a Trench citizen into a wall and keep moving forward. She watched from her vantage point as people fled from this Maul's appearance, flinging away anyone with the Force or brandishing his lightsaber if that didn't do it. She would have to deal with Maul first before she could help those citizens. He was still attacking people.

She swooped down and alighted in front of him, Tiare in hand.

She lifted her head, her hand tightening around her Tiare as a wall of Darkness slammed into her. She wasn't Force Sensitive, not by a long shot, but she did know darkness well. She had fought it, been embraced by it, surrounded by it, and most of all, it was her cosmic half. She let out a breath, her own light flaring as she stood in Maul's path, feeling the wave of darkness slam against it, trying to conquer her light, trying to quash it.

Her gaze traveled to the crystal around his neck. The other Maul had one too, she realized.

She didn't know what the crystals had in connection with this, but clearly, it had to be something. It was just a matter of figuring out what.

"Is something wrong?" she offers, trying to see if she could reason with him, keeping her ground as Wrath-Maul was now only a few feet away from her, the darkness completely surrounding her even as she glowed within it even if the naked eye could not see it.

cw: severed limbs

[survivalthroughhate]

This version of Maul was full of nothing but anger and hate. Those two emotions had sustained Maul for so long but they're not all that made him up. Maul in his proper form was able to feel love and care about people, tempering those other emotions to become manageable. Without them....Maul was very much like the psychopathic, brutal animal many people still thought he was.

With his rage stoked up to its highest level, he had nothing holding him back from attacking and hurting people. Anyone who came within his line-of-sight was fair game. Some of the Trench natives were already aware that they should give Maul a wide berth but not all of them possessed this knowledge quite yet.

Maul had just finished severing the arm of a most unfortunate Trenchie, who managed to crawl backwards away from him long enough to escape once Usagi landed, and his attention turned to the person who should have been one of his dearest friends. But when he spoke, there was nothing in his tone but anger, both ice-cold and burning hot at the same time. Scarily enough, it most resembled the same type of tone Sidious had always spoken to him in. He pointed his saberstaff at her as he growled out: "Get out of my way."

Love - probably eventually a knowledge prompt down the line

[droptheious]

Varian doesn't have the best memories of the mess Karkat made with his virus. He was deep into corruption at that point and he'd been keeping to himself. Fun had been enough to deal with, quite frankly. Seeing Maul like this was...weird and uncomfortable, but he did his best to humour the guy while trying to work out why this had happened again. Did Karkat's virus get loose once more?

He's finally thinking he can slip away to investigate this when Maul gets...antsy about him leaving.

"Uh, deep breaths. I'm just gonna see if I can help you, okay? I'll be gone like...half an hour."

[survivalthroughhate]

Love has been quite content to just be around Varian and just shower him with affection, a little oblivious to the fact that the tech genius is a little uncomfortable, but when he tries to leave Maul's ugly side begins to come out. For someone who looks absolutely hilarious, there's a strange undercurrent of menace to his next actions.

"No. You're not allowed to leave." Then Maul conjures up the Force, using it to slam shut the door Varian is trying to open and then yank the teen back towards him. Maul properly almost never manipulates people's bodies like that unless he's trying to pull them out of the way of danger and has no other way to do it. But obsessive as he feels right now with the feeling of familial affection towards Varian, he's not worried about anything like personal boundaries or consent.

Insane

[laminae]

It's when Fern starts hearing whispers from other Hunters of something creeping around in the sewers that he decides to head down there. After what happened in January it's more of a scouting mission than anything, there's only a small part of him itching to pick a fight and he's trying to push it down in favour of being cautious. See what he's dealing with first, then figure out what to do from there. Don't rush in headlong, don't get killed.

It's the muttering echoing off the walls that gets his attention first, and using the light from his omni and Blodeuwedd on his shoulder he follows it until he finds the source. And oh boy, is that a sight. At first he thinks Maul is some spider-y monster, and that immediately sets off all kinds of alarm bells in his mind. He doesn't like spiders he really doesn't like spiders.

But that voice is familiar, as are the markings on his face, and after a few beats Fern thinks he recognizes him. Clutching his omni, he resists the urge to form a grass sword and instead cautiously steps closer. "Maul?"

[opress]

Savage had heard the same rumours, and something about them made something in his chest tighten. He had taken the time to lock up the pets in the house before he had headed down into the sewers, and it was a good reminder of what Locto Minor was like. Sewers weren't meant to be clean, but this was definitely where someone who had a need to stay out of sight would come to.

The sounds that echoed were also familiar to him, and he kept his footfalls quiet this time unlike the first venture to this adventure. He knew better, was far more experienced and understood what he was dealing with. He also knew that he was probably the best one to deal with this, having navigated it before.

When he came upon someone else in the sewers, he considered for a long moment. No, his brother was too unstable to be left like this. He approached, making his foot falls known as he ignited one half of his saberstaff to illuminate the tunnels in a red light to announce himself.

His voice was calm and assured, aware of some of the ticks that would cause a reaction. "Brother," he murmured as he came up behind Fern. "Be careful with him. And be prepared for him to attack or run."

Happy

[subject_013]

It might be one even in Cellar Door, when Wesker had headed to the Hunters' Rest, a small dive bar not far from The Red, to meet up with his semi-regular Donor, when he spots Maul.... or what looks like Maul, only with a weird makeover.

"Trying out a new look in the new year? Or is there a costume party I didn't know about?"

[survivalthroughhate]

"Wesker!" Well, that far-too-chipper tone filled with affection is very much unlike Maul to begin with, and things are only going to stranger from there. He bounds over towards his friend, smiling broadly, and then flat-out hugs Wesker. That if nothing else should show that something really, really weird is going on with the Sith Lord.

"Oh, there's been some big changes lately, and I needed something besides the same drab clothes to celebrate them."

Brave

[chenqing_player]

So far Wei Wuxian hasn't had to encounter too many monsters in this place. Probably for the best since he doesn't really have the desire to be fighting things as of late. The cold weather has him mostly huddled up in his house working on new medications. Not that he is a doctor of any kind, but he is an inventor and creating new ways to help people is a passion that started in the previous world.

And perhaps that is what drew him out on that day. A feeling that someone was in need of some help. Bundled up against the colder air he made his way out to find some supplies. At least that was the reason he told himself when he stepped out the door into the cold.

He pauses as he sees someone in the distance. He doesn't know for sure what is going on but it looks like they are trying to fight something. But he focuses more on the person then whatever it is that they are after. It takes a moment but eventually he remembers the face even if he doesn't quite remember the name.

He holds up his hand and waves towards him. "Hey! Are you alright?" Because he might not feel like fighting but he will lend a hand if it is needed.

cw: one creepy-ass horse monster in the link

[survivalthroughhate]

Maul's Brave side has been having the time of his life in Trench. He's already saved several natives from danger and they've been profoundly grateful. With the members of his cult both confused and interested in what's going on, this version have given them all instructions to go out and win a fight with whatever interpretation of those words that they so choose to do.

Right now, he's fighting a rather disturbing-looking horse monster that he had taken on when he found it menacing a group of four or five children. Telling them all to run, which they did with alacrity, he'd stayed back to fight. He is darting in to slash at it with his lightsaber and then retreating again before it could try to slash at him with its sharp claws. Unfortunately, due to the length of the beast's arms being longer and more disproportionate to its body than a normal sentient being usually had, it os proving a little more difficult to manage than he is used to.

When he hears someone calling out, his head snaps up. He nods towards Wei Wuxian, recognizing the man. He gives him a tight smile as he keeps most of his attention on the monster. "Well, this thing is proving tougher than expected, so I wouldn't mind it if you want to lend a hand!"

( love )

[jedies]

[ it's not unlike a chill.

which is why obi-wan paused in the middle of his rounds. chills signify the dark and he's attuned to the feeling constantly. but it wasn't like that and because of it, he wasn't wary as much as cautious. it didn't need to be dangerous. though his experiences here often inform that this is rarely the case.

so when maul steps into view looking . . . well, not like himself, he blinks, perplexed. ]

Well. This is . . . unexpected.

[survivalthroughhate]

[Normally, Maul's feelings for Obi-Wan were a complicated mess. Hate mixed in with admiration and respect, affection and a desire to be near him still tinged with anger. But when boiled down to its simplest form, as Maul has been fractured right now, it came down to only one thing: part of Maul is in love with the Jedi and has been for some time since they came to Trench. Maybe even before then if he is being honest with himself, which Maul rarely is.

He comes towards the Jedi with an eager air, glad he has been able to find him so quickly. He's got so many people to see to and so little time.]

But not unwanted, I hope?

Timid (changed my mind)!

[imaglyphwitch]

Luz was riding on her staff for the moment, having gathered a bountiful bag of food from some gathering that she decided to do so that she wouldn't ask Fern or Snow White for things as much. Some of it was fish, some was regular nuts and berries and vegetables, and some were meats she managed to trade up for, and was ready for home when she spied someone below that seemed a little out of place.

It looked like Darth Maul, but what he was wearing was...different from what we wore, and he seemed to be looking rather closed off from people. She might have thrown a snowball at him and goaded him into a snowball fight, but something in the way we carried himself definitely gave her pause.

After the Snakening, it didn't hurt to be careful.

She hopped off the staff and figured she'd start off with a greeting. Maybe she was wrong!

"Hi, Darth Maul. How are you doing?"

[survivalthroughhate]

This version of Maul had been doing his best to avoid people. Half of them intimidated and scared him while the other half caused a crippling guilt to rise up in him as he remembered everything that he'd done to them over the course of the almost two years that he'd been in both Pthumerian-run towns.

When Luz touched down, he very nearly jumped out of his skin before skittering back a few steps and seeming to withdraw even further into himself than normal. "Oh....hello," he said softly, the volume level of his voice barely above a whisper. He was nervous and wasn't even meeting Luz's eyes, instead looking around like an animal that had been trapped and could see no good way out.

love

[facultative]

There's an unwanted presence hanging around the house and Anakin doesn't like it. He tells Artoo to stay out of the way before stalking over to where Maul is currently camped out and observing them. Anakin privately thinks Maul looks like an idiot now, but if he wanted to paint himself new colours it had nothing to do with him.

"Go away."

[survivalthroughhate]

The Love version of Maul has been hanging around for quite some time now. Obi-Wan was definitely one of the main targets of his affection, so he saw no reason not to stop by and break in whenever he so chose to do so. Even at the best of times, Maul has trouble with healthy boundaries. Right now, he has none at all.

Maul looks the Jedi up and down like someone who has just discovered an annoying gnat flying around their head. "I think not," he says with finality in his tone. Nope, he's not going anywhere.

Happy

[onebadapple]

"Why, hello Maul!" a voice giggled behind him in Cellar Door. Snow White was wearing a cloak around her shoulders and a warm gown, surrounded, as always, by an endless army of animals with Faramund, her stag, at the helm. On her arm is a basket of food, upon closer inspection, its crab and some other meat.

"What perfect timing! I'm just on my way to feed our mutual horse friend! Would you like to join me again if you're not busy?"

[survivalthroughhate]

The Happy version of Maul was delighted to see Snow White again. Dressed in a yellow outfit which proved to be an interesting contrast against his red-and-black skin, he gave her a large smile. Though it was full of sharp teeth, there was no denying he was being friendly.

"Why, I'd love to!" He said enthusiastically. Before, he'd held some caution towards the Nightmare Steed but now he couldn't quite remember why that had been. "How have you been, my dear?"

Good

[no_reload]

Reaper had noticed that there were multiple versions of Maul around and also that his Maul seemed to be deep in meditation and could not be awakened. There was always something dramatic going on when Maul was involved, and he supposed this might mean that the Zabrak would be down and out for Valentine's Day? That would just burn his lover to have missed a lovey-dovey holiday where it was a general requirement to have sex.

So he went off to investigate if this was a Trench issue or a Maul-caused issue. He was giving it a thirty-sixty ratio at this point, and he perhaps wasn't wrong as he encountered a very normal looking version of his lover until he crept out of the shadows of a building and found this fragment had a completely different bearing than the Maul he knew and loved.

Still, he walked forward all the same, bringing himself to stand in front of the Zabrak and clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth in faint disapproval. "Beige isn't particularly your colour," he said as a way of an opening. Then he noticed the eyes were different, reminding him of when Maul was a small boy. "You don't have a prickly-as-a-cactus air about you. Are you sick, mi sol?"

[survivalthroughhate]

There was a certain amount of affection in his eyes but not quite the deep level of love that Maul usually had when he looked at his lover. The Love version had most of that within him instead. Reaper would have already gotten a taste of his suffocating ministrations when it came to showing his feelings towards his mate. Still, feeling compassion and kindness towards people did mean loving them on some extent, and so this Good facet had that within him instead.

"MMmmmm, no." Maul said, humming in the back of his throat. "Not sick. Just....different currently." The fact Reaper hadn't pulled a gun on him or start demanding answers made Maul think the other man might have already had an idea of what was going on. "Do you understand what's going on yet?"

Good!

[frogfear]

January has been a surprisingly stressful month, so Willow has found herself straying away from home more often and exploring the rest of the town on the back of Radar for a bit of peace and quiet.

Crenshaw is supposed to be a fairly safe neighbourhood, safer than the wilderness that sprawls out behind her home, at least, and there's something relaxing in the sound of the horse's hooves clopping over the cobblestone in the quiet lane.

Coming across Maul isn't too much of a shock - they've run into each other plenty of times around the city, and it's difficult to be terribly alarmed by someone who can't actually hurt you without hurting themselves. The change in style, though, is something completely different. Some kind of weird effect of the town? Or is his washing machine broken?

"That's a new look."

[survivalthroughhate]

Any malice or anger he might currently feel towards Willow is currently wrapped up in the Wrath version of Maul, so this one has absolutely no reason to quarrel with her or try to attack her. There's a distinct lack of anger that always seems to follow Maul around like a dark cloud, that darkness (and Darkness) that is constantly present.

Indeed, he seems to be much lighter not only in appearance but in temperament as well. He seems calm and relaxed, more interested in kindness and compassion than anything else. He gives a shrug when Willow speaks to him, conscious of how this mirrors the way some of their conversations in Deerington had started, right down to her riding her horse again. "Well, I've turned over a new leaf recently."

Good! (and maybe Timid down the line)

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra's slowly getting used to the idea that he may not have to view Maul as an enemy, but he still makes it his policy that when he's anywhere near Maul to at least pay attention.

It takes him a split second to process the beige robes - and a little longer than there's enough familiar about this person's presence in the Force that he's inclined to conclude this is some version of the Zabrak he knows as Maul, yet the difference is more than just a change in wardrobe. Ezra senses less of the murky chill of the Dark and more....

He feels like a Jedi. Weird.

Ezra shakes himself out of his thoughts and comes close enough to call out, "Hi. This might sound like a strange question, but do you recognize me?"

[survivalthroughhate]

Maul looks over towards Ezra, and for once, that miasma of rage and fury brimming under the surface is completely absent. Instead, there's that aura that a Jedi like Obi-Wan might give off, full of kindness and compassion. It's the Light Side in its most pure and unfiltered form. "Of course. Should I not?"

Alright, so Maul is messing with Ezra just a tiny bit, given he knows that right now most people are likely thinking he's either been turned into an alternate-universe version of himself or had a perspective flip that Trench caused or something similar. Just because he's good right now doesn't mean he doesn't have a sense of humor.

Happy (with potential Timid or others later)

[azurestar]

Lance lives and sometimes works in Cellar Door, so it's not unusual to see people wearing more colorful clothes in this district. But that yellow he sees on Maul as he's heading toward The Red with his guitar slung over his shoulder sure stands out. It has him doing a double take once he catches sight of the man wearing such a bright outfit.

"Uhhh, pretty sure eye searing yellow is not your color, man. You look like you're the new McDonald's mascot."

[survivalthroughhate]

On a normal day, Maul would have growled at Lance or taken a swipe at him with his claws for such a comment. But this is definitely not a normal day, so instead of being enraged, Maul laughs at the comment. Even if it's being made at his own expense, he still finds it a little amusing.

"Well, one can only be in black for so long. It is my favorite color but it's not very cheerful now, is it?" Alright, it's time to start looking to see if this is a pod person, he hasn't even taken the opportunity to insult Lance like he normally would.