Mini Nano Day 19

"You did very well out there, Maul." Master Rish tilts her head a moment, studying him. "Are you ready for more of a challenge than you can find here?"

Maul grins a moment, glee rising in him before he tries to stuff it back down like he's supposed to, and makes a proper bow to Master Rish. "I would be honored to be your Padawan, Master Rish." He glances over at Master Jinn a moment, all but vibrating as he waits to hear a similar question asked of Obi-Wan. Anything to show his hopes for the day aren't just shadows in the night. Why else would Master Jinn come over with Master Rish, anyway?

He might be projecting a little much, because Master Jinn smiles and shakes his head. "I'm not looking for a Padawan myself, Padawan Maul."

"Why not?" Maul reaches out without thinking about it, wrapping Obi-Wan's hand in his as he stares up at Master Jinn.

Master Jinn's smile fades, and he looks away from them, maybe trying to avoid the frustrated look Master Rish is giving him. "It's not your concern, Padawan."

"Does no one meet your standards of skill?" Maul tilts his head, narrowing his eyes at Master Jinn. "Or are you scared you won't get along with someone?" He knows he's being rude, and right now, he doesn't care. Even if it does mean that Obi-Wan is looking steadily more embarrassed, and the other Initiates in earshot are staring at him like he's lost his mind. "Why'd you even come here if you're not looking for a Padawan anyway? It's rude to make any of us hope we'll finally be chosen when you're not even bothering to look for someone to teach."

Master Jinn looks down at him, his expression closed off, and almost harsh. Maul stares back, tucking his chin down to protect his throat as he waits stubbornly for a satisfactory answer.

"He has a point." Master Rish shrugs when Master Jinn turns his head to glare at her. "Though he could do with learning to better pick his time and place to ask those sorts of questions."

Maul glances down at the floor a moment before he looks back up, not truly sorry.

"You could just talk to the Initiates waiting for Masters." He rolls his shoulders back when Master Jinn turns his attention back. "That's what Master Yoda says is best when you don't know about a person." Maul grins at the thought of the little green Master, and glances over at Master Rish. His Master. "Should I tell Master Yoda that Master Jinn needs to speak with him, Master?"

Bonus Snippet

More of the Cats and Murder Kittens AU!

---

The only one of the group that so much as opened an eye to acknowledge Mace coming into the room was the kitten firmly pinned under Qui-Gon's chin, and it hissed as if to demand Mace release it from its impromptu prison. He snorted, and smiled at the little ball of hate and fluff. It was right where it belonged, as far as he was concerned.

Glancing over them, his smile softened a little - though if anyone had seen it, he'd deny he'd ever done so - at the tableau. Obi-Wan in his favorite spot between Qui-Gon's shoulderblades, with Cody and Rex half on top of him, and the rest of the 212th that had been on that damned mission huddling close to Qui-Gon.

Mace sighs softly, his smile fading. They were no closer to figuring out how to fix this, and the trap they'd sprung hadn't provided any clues other than faint traces of both Dark and Light Force-signatures that had faded beyond use before they'd even finished gathering the newly-changed clones and their Jedi.

At this point, the only useful thing it seems to have done is bring back a few dead people, and even that was a mixed blessing in Mace's opinion. That it had also, somehow, spread to the Chancellor... well, he could wait on telling them that. Once the Council has finished examining the newly feline Palpatine, and made sure there's someone to look after him.