[Venge takes a few steps forward, looking towards Maul, still unseen. They should have told him not to start things off this way but even they aren't perfect. 'Now...?' They ask telepathically in their strange voice, that mixture of echoing masculine and feminine tones. Maul shakes his head imperceptibly. If they attack Fern's Omen, this will never turn out right.
Maul holds his ground but he doesn't approach either Blodeuwedd or Fern. Neither does his hand reach for the long lightsaber hilt in its usual spot clipped to his waist. He just waits.]
[Blodeuwedd, thankfully, doesn't actively attack and doesn't move from her spot in front of Fern. Unfortunately, that's more because she's waiting for Maul to make one wrong move.
Fern adjusts his grip on his sword, holding it aggressively, ready to attack at the slightest push.]
[Tch, Fern could be so very pig-headed sometimes. But Maul's not leaving until he's had his say.]
Unfortunately, that wasn't a request. I'm going to talk and you're going to listen to what I have to say, no matter what kind of oversized protector you have right now.
[Maybe the physical distance would be a good thing. It would prevent them from attacking one another so long as he didn't make a wrong move.]
I wanted to first tell you that I didn't kill anyone no matter what you might think. There's more than one person in this town who has a lightsaber if you'll recall. It was Anakin that killed the man Flynn, not me.
[Being told he's going to be forced to listen clearly isn't helping the situation, as more thorns rise up on Fern's arms. Taking away someone's choice and freedoms, especially when he's had that done by toxic male influences in the past, isn't something he's keen in just accepting.
So he doesn't.]
Liar. You're a huge greaseball who flippin' does whatever he wants. I don't believe you.
[Blodeuwedd hisses again. Fern knows he can't just turn around and go back inside, that would risk Maul following him, and that causes memories of the last time Maul was in the house to flash through his head. Nope, no, he isn't letting anyone get hurt or die this time.]
Whether you believe me or not is irrelevant. I merely wanted you to know the truth.
[But he's not here to start another fight. He's got something I get off his chest and it needs to be done.]
I came here to tell you.... [This wasn't easy for him, not at all. With Varian, he'd been caught in a vulnerable moment, and more easily could access his emotions. Now, all his walls up again, it was much harder. But he has to try. This needs to be done for both their sakes.] ....That I am sorry. I tried once before but somehow the words didn't come out right. That happens a lot. In case you have not yet realized, I don't have a talent for being able to say what I mean in an effective manner. It always gets lost.
When I told you to 'get over it', I wasn't referring to Varian's death, merely your desire to kill me for the act. I know you think I don't care about you or Varian or what I did. But I do, very much so. I will never have children, Fern. You two are the closest I will ever come to knowing what that is like. And I know I hurt you deeply and you might think I'm lying to you right now just to prey on your sympathy or get what I want. But I have never lied about what you two mean to me.
[With that done, Maul waits, fully prepared to be told to leave again. He's come to say what he needs to and that's all that matters.]
[Yeah, sure. Fern isn't stupid, there's no reason for him to believe the guy. These are just words, and he's long since learned words are incredibly easy to manipulate.
That's why he stares unflinchingly as Maul goes on. It's a lot more words, the usual kind that are supposed to tug at your heartstrings. They do, of course, because deep down he's still a sensitive kid (he's still Finn), but there's also a sharp, skeptical, defensive edge there. Maul could very easily be lying to him, saying what he thinks he'll want to hear so that he'll get back into his good graces.
It reminds him of Martin and Gumbald, especially the mention of family. That's the part that hurts the most, because that exact same coercion was what both of his father figures used on him to control him, and it always worked so, so well. This time though, Fern has seen that Maul hasn't actually changed. He's ambushed him here, he's threatened Glitch, he's bleated like an egotistical goat over wanting to become a tyrannical dictator to everyone, and he may have killed Flynn. Jerks like him don't change.
So unfortunately for Maul, all Fern does is lift his sword higher.]
I still don't believe you, you dillweed. I know your type, and I'm not gonna get fooled again.
[Maul listens and it hurts to hear that. But this is what Usagi has been telling him, how forgiveness is not on his schedule and how the other person has every right not to give him theirs when he offers an apology. It's one of the worst new feelings he's come to know in the past year or so and part of him wishes he could just go back to the way he was before, cold and unfeeling without caring about anyone around him.
But it's far too late for that type of thinking and so he's forced to face the consequences of his actions.
There is one thing left he knows he can try. Fern is a warrior, a knight first and foremost, so he might respond to a more physical show of remorse than just words. As soon as he thinks of his plan of action, Venge is hissing at him in his mind. 'What are you thinking, you fool?!' But he's ignoring them right now. Time to do something reckless. He takes out his lightsaber. But rather than ignite it, he drops it on the ground and kicks it off to the side. There. Now he's completely unarmed. He looks back towards Fern.]
If this is the only way to show you my sincerity, so be it. You've wanted to take your vengeance on me for months. Now is the time. I won't try to stop you. Go ahead.
[His hands remain by his side and he doesn't move a muscle. He's dead serious. If Fern wants to run him through, Maul won't stop him. Perhaps in a way it'll be fair turnaround for what he did to Varian. He waits to see what Fern will do.]
[Fern isn't expecting this, honestly. So far Maul has been all talk and - well, not no action, but all of his action thus far has only been used to hurt people. So Fern isn't expecting much, which means when Maul speaks up again, he's more than a little taken aback.
Is he serious? Or is this another lie? Fern isn't totally sure. A reasonable person would just walk away now, end the conversation and go back inside. But Fern isn't a reasonable person, and he honestly hasn't stopped wanting to hurt Maul ever since he barged into the house.
So he decides to see if Maul is going to put his money where his mouth is. He lunges, darting around Blodeuwedd's large form, and with more speed than a regular person sinks the blade of his grass sword into Maul's side. It really, obviously isn't the smartest move here, but Fern isn't really thinking about his own wellbeing right now.]
[He waits to see what Fern will decide to do. The tension lies thick in the air. Maul braces himself when he sees that Fern has indeed decided to take him up on this offer. He knows this is going to hurt but Maul's life has been full of nothing but pain. Compared to getting chopped in half, this is at least something that he can stand.
There's a grunt of pain when Fern's sword sinks into his flesh side but no loud cry to accompany being stabbed. Really, how can something made of grass hurt so badly? Still, Fern doesn't go straight to stab him in the heart or take off his head, so Maul figures he doesn't want him dead.
He staggers back a few steps, the grass sword now coated in the sickly green color of a Vileblood. Venge has had enough of letting their other half get hurt and so they uncloak themselves, seeming to appear out of nowhere. They come up to Fern, growling softly and trying to push him away.]
You took your chance. Good. I'm not giving you another one.
[Maul is willing to make atonement but he's not going to martyr himself for the sake of Fern's feelings. He presses a gloved hand to his side, the blood still oozing out, recalling his lightsaber to his other hand with the Force. Then he staggers off, Venge trotting right by his side in case he gets too woozy and needs to hold onto something.]
[Fern isn't going to deny that stabbing Maul feels good. There are a lot of people who would tell him this is a bad idea, that he shouldn't give into his violent impulses, but he wants to. It feels great. It's kind of gross that it feels great, but that's something he'll fully process later on when he's calmed down.
When Maul stumbles Fern pulls his sword back, not bothered by the blood now coating the blade. When Venge approaches he backs off, Blodeuwedd hissing defensively and once again putting herself between Fern and the two of them. Neither of them move, Blodeuwedd wanting to protect Fern and a conflicted sort of discomfort bubbling up in him now that he's gone and stabbing Maul. He got what he wants, which is more than he expected, and Maul isn't even trying to hurt him back. He's just leaving.
It's a lot, and after Maul and Venge are out of sight, Fern turns and heads back inside the house, not sure what to think.]
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no subject
Maul holds his ground but he doesn't approach either Blodeuwedd or Fern. Neither does his hand reach for the long lightsaber hilt in its usual spot clipped to his waist. He just waits.]
I'm not here to fight. I only want to talk.
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Fern adjusts his grip on his sword, holding it aggressively, ready to attack at the slightest push.]
I've got nothing to say to you, so get stuffed!
no subject
Unfortunately, that wasn't a request. I'm going to talk and you're going to listen to what I have to say, no matter what kind of oversized protector you have right now.
[Maybe the physical distance would be a good thing. It would prevent them from attacking one another so long as he didn't make a wrong move.]
I wanted to first tell you that I didn't kill anyone no matter what you might think. There's more than one person in this town who has a lightsaber if you'll recall. It was Anakin that killed the man Flynn, not me.
no subject
So he doesn't.]
Liar. You're a huge greaseball who flippin' does whatever he wants. I don't believe you.
[Blodeuwedd hisses again. Fern knows he can't just turn around and go back inside, that would risk Maul following him, and that causes memories of the last time Maul was in the house to flash through his head. Nope, no, he isn't letting anyone get hurt or die this time.]
Get lost, Maul! No one wants you here!
no subject
[But he's not here to start another fight. He's got something I get off his chest and it needs to be done.]
I came here to tell you.... [This wasn't easy for him, not at all. With Varian, he'd been caught in a vulnerable moment, and more easily could access his emotions. Now, all his walls up again, it was much harder. But he has to try. This needs to be done for both their sakes.] ....That I am sorry. I tried once before but somehow the words didn't come out right. That happens a lot. In case you have not yet realized, I don't have a talent for being able to say what I mean in an effective manner. It always gets lost.
When I told you to 'get over it', I wasn't referring to Varian's death, merely your desire to kill me for the act. I know you think I don't care about you or Varian or what I did. But I do, very much so. I will never have children, Fern. You two are the closest I will ever come to knowing what that is like. And I know I hurt you deeply and you might think I'm lying to you right now just to prey on your sympathy or get what I want. But I have never lied about what you two mean to me.
[With that done, Maul waits, fully prepared to be told to leave again. He's come to say what he needs to and that's all that matters.]
no subject
That's why he stares unflinchingly as Maul goes on. It's a lot more words, the usual kind that are supposed to tug at your heartstrings. They do, of course, because deep down he's still a sensitive kid (he's still Finn), but there's also a sharp, skeptical, defensive edge there. Maul could very easily be lying to him, saying what he thinks he'll want to hear so that he'll get back into his good graces.
It reminds him of Martin and Gumbald, especially the mention of family. That's the part that hurts the most, because that exact same coercion was what both of his father figures used on him to control him, and it always worked so, so well. This time though, Fern has seen that Maul hasn't actually changed. He's ambushed him here, he's threatened Glitch, he's bleated like an egotistical goat over wanting to become a tyrannical dictator to everyone, and he may have killed Flynn. Jerks like him don't change.
So unfortunately for Maul, all Fern does is lift his sword higher.]
I still don't believe you, you dillweed. I know your type, and I'm not gonna get fooled again.
no subject
But it's far too late for that type of thinking and so he's forced to face the consequences of his actions.
There is one thing left he knows he can try. Fern is a warrior, a knight first and foremost, so he might respond to a more physical show of remorse than just words. As soon as he thinks of his plan of action, Venge is hissing at him in his mind. 'What are you thinking, you fool?!' But he's ignoring them right now. Time to do something reckless. He takes out his lightsaber. But rather than ignite it, he drops it on the ground and kicks it off to the side. There. Now he's completely unarmed. He looks back towards Fern.]
If this is the only way to show you my sincerity, so be it. You've wanted to take your vengeance on me for months. Now is the time. I won't try to stop you. Go ahead.
[His hands remain by his side and he doesn't move a muscle. He's dead serious. If Fern wants to run him through, Maul won't stop him. Perhaps in a way it'll be fair turnaround for what he did to Varian. He waits to see what Fern will do.]
no subject
Is he serious? Or is this another lie? Fern isn't totally sure. A reasonable person would just walk away now, end the conversation and go back inside. But Fern isn't a reasonable person, and he honestly hasn't stopped wanting to hurt Maul ever since he barged into the house.
So he decides to see if Maul is going to put his money where his mouth is. He lunges, darting around Blodeuwedd's large form, and with more speed than a regular person sinks the blade of his grass sword into Maul's side. It really, obviously isn't the smartest move here, but Fern isn't really thinking about his own wellbeing right now.]
no subject
There's a grunt of pain when Fern's sword sinks into his flesh side but no loud cry to accompany being stabbed. Really, how can something made of grass hurt so badly? Still, Fern doesn't go straight to stab him in the heart or take off his head, so Maul figures he doesn't want him dead.
He staggers back a few steps, the grass sword now coated in the sickly green color of a Vileblood. Venge has had enough of letting their other half get hurt and so they uncloak themselves, seeming to appear out of nowhere. They come up to Fern, growling softly and trying to push him away.]
You took your chance. Good. I'm not giving you another one.
[Maul is willing to make atonement but he's not going to martyr himself for the sake of Fern's feelings. He presses a gloved hand to his side, the blood still oozing out, recalling his lightsaber to his other hand with the Force. Then he staggers off, Venge trotting right by his side in case he gets too woozy and needs to hold onto something.]
no subject
When Maul stumbles Fern pulls his sword back, not bothered by the blood now coating the blade. When Venge approaches he backs off, Blodeuwedd hissing defensively and once again putting herself between Fern and the two of them. Neither of them move, Blodeuwedd wanting to protect Fern and a conflicted sort of discomfort bubbling up in him now that he's gone and stabbing Maul. He got what he wants, which is more than he expected, and Maul isn't even trying to hurt him back. He's just leaving.
It's a lot, and after Maul and Venge are out of sight, Fern turns and heads back inside the house, not sure what to think.]