A/N: To tide you all over some more, here's me interviewing one of the main characters, Mai Maddox. Hope you all enjoy it, and hold on just a little longer!
Salty Interviews: Mai Maddox
Salty: Mrs. Maddox. A pleasure as always. (Salty kisses Mai's palm)
Mai: Oh my, Salty! The pleasure is always mine, but you can cease the formalities, sweetie. And please, call me Mai. (Mai pecks Salty's cheek)
S: Of course. Please, have a seat.
M: Absolutely. In truth, I've been wanting you to interview for quite some time. Detective Koga always said you're great at these.
S: If that's so, you could've just asked me, Mrs. Maddox.
M: Salty, I told you that can call me Mai. Why does everyone keep calling me by that?
S: It's a respect thing, Mrs. Maddox. You command respect in everyone in the immediate vicinity, so I guess our natural instinct is to refer to you as such.
M: I genuinely appreciate the gesture, Salty. But I seriously insist. We're friends, aren't we?
S: Of course, Mrs. Ma- Mai.
M: (Mai chuckles) My thanks, Salty.
S: Not a problem. For consistency's sake, introduce yourself to the people reading this interview.
M: Sure. Good morning, afternoon, or evening. My name is Madeline or Mai Maddox, the matriarch of the Maddox family.
S: Wonderful. Now, Mai, you are the oldest cast member of GbNF and have lived in three realms: Edenia, Outworld, and Earthrealm. Can you give me an explanation of the pros and cons of each domain?
M: Good question. Stating the obvious, Edenia is where I was born and raised and spent most of my life with Ilah and Destiny. I gave birth to Benjamin and Callie Ann in Edenia. But I'm not so ignorant to say that it's as perfect as it looks. The Edenian people are judgemental and fickle to outsiders with rare exceptions. Even to their own as I've faced ridicule in some sense. The people love me now, but I haven't forgotten those same people cheered when Joseph and Okada were killed because they thought both were criminals. Those same people abandoned my children more viciously than I, despite me thinking that was impossible.
S: That makes a lot of sense, considering you barely go there nowadays unless it's to see Dakini or Ted. I guess the same can be said of Outworld to a certain degree.
M: Yes, though replace the people with a lack thereof. I cursed the entire Edenian sector to have some time to recollect and think about what happened that led to this point. Safe to say I was lonely while there. Hence why I cherish any opportunity to have company.
S: Ah, I see. What about Earth?
M: Earthrealm is lovely. Whether in the Trainer's Estate in China, the Wu Shi Academy, or even the madness of New York, I have yet to find a locale in Earthrealm that I outwardly dislike. Calabassas was also nice as well. I can do without the littering, it's a small evil that I have learned to live with while I'm down there. As for downsides, I can stand to have fewer villains threaten the place. It's staggering how Earthrealm is always the first target by ne'er do wells. What did the realm do to them, you know?
S: I always wondered that myself. Shao Kahn had an obsession, Shinnok was being petty, the Deadly Alliance suffered from overambition, and Onaga followed suit.
M: Suffering from overambition. Haha, I hope you don't mind my stealing that phrase.
S: Not at all, Mai. Next question. We know a bit about the Maddox Clan but not of your husband's. So tell me about them.
M: Ahh, the Bansho Family. Another Warrior Clan just like the Maddox Clan. But unlike my family, the Bansho Family is solely a Warrior Clan.
S: What do you mean by that Mrs. Ma- (damn it.) Mai?
M: (Mai chuckles again) I am grateful you're trying your hardest, Salty. The Maddox Family delved into many professions. We were fighters, sorcerers, and hunters. But we're also influencers, medical experts, entertainers, the works. Joseph's family only delved into the former professions. It was a reason why the Dacarthi ignored the Bansho clan. Unlike my family who held influence on par with if not more so than the Dacarthi family. This is why they vehemently despised us so. If I'm allowed to be very honest for a moment.
S: Of course, Mai.
M: The Dacarthis would have attacked the Maddox Clan sooner if we dipped into politics which is their biggest shtick. They cannot fight for shit, excuse my Outworlder, hence why they hire Maddox, Bansho clan members, and even Hunters like Ilah to be their Kombat Instructors. But they have money, their own army in the Freedom Fighters, and influence. Combine that, you can have a dead clan like the Maddox Clan.
S: What happened to the Bansho Clan?
M: They were exiled from Edenia for maintaining neutrality in my clan's false accusations. My best guess is that they're in Outworld somewhere. But if they were there, they haven't made contact with me. Though it is for lack of trying on my end as well.
S: I see. Back on you-
M: My favorite subject bar none.
S: I don't blame you. You are the first and as far as I know the only true Master of Illusion Magic. What caused you to pursue Illusion Magic and was your family supportive of that decision?
M: Another fantastic question! Even as a young girl, I was always tempted to pull the wool over other people's eyes. Whether by doing something as childish as magic tricks to pulling pranks on my aunts and uncles during family gatherings. Back then no one ever really figured out how to avoid my traps or figure out my tricks with magic. And as I grew up and learned there was an entire school of Magic dedicated to illusions, you didn't have to tell me another word. I was dead set on learning Illusion Magic. As for my family's support, my Mother, Father, and even my older sisters told me to pursue another school of Magic as back then Illusion Magic was the equivalent of a dead end. But my stubborn nature got them to relent, though they were convinced I would be the weak link of the family. Now I guess you can say they're all dead wrong. On top of learning and mastering Pencak Silat? You might as well call me WunderMai.
S: I always wondered. Where did you learn Pencak Silat?
M: Easy. The high-statured Edenian Families had familial Martial Arts that all members knew. The Maddox Family learned Pencak Silat. The Bansho Family learned Kyokushin Karate. Both styles are ruthless as I have seen Kyokushin Karate in a demonstration while still betrothed to Joseph. And I thought Pencak Silat was vicious. That style is very stiff.
S: But so is Pencak Silat.
M: Correct. The only Martial Art with stiffer elbows and knees is Muay Thai. But I make Pencak Silat look graceful. Which played into my old moniker, the Edenian Swan.
S: Were you the best practitioner in your family?
M: It can be argued. My second oldest sister Li was better at it than I was. She was the only one who never fought with a weapon in tandem. She was bare-fisted and footed.
S: I have a question about that in a sense. You have the immaculate fashion sense and make your own clothes. Did your entire family dress similarly?
M: Absolutely, honey. Where do you think I got my love for formal wear from? Mother always said that a Maddox should never have their best-dressed experience in a casket. It was elitist thinking, but I still adopted that mindset. Even in cases where my actions are from that. For example, Pencak Silat is far from elegant. I make it so as a Maddox. Hence why I call my only take on Pencak Silat elegant. Because I make it that way. Refine, precision, discipline, and sophistication are the Maddox Clan way, and I make sure all who bear witness to my skill never forget it. (Said with bold and infectious confidence)
S: Man. With confidence like that, I can see why. Good god. If I'm allowed to gush for a moment. I get ecstatic when you ask me to document you, and I'm pretty sure my editor likes it as well. We just like hearing from you.
M: Oh, I'm truly touched, my little Salty. I adore hearing from you and alwaysdoubted as well. If that's the case, I'll happily make more of an attempt to have you two document me. (Mai leans in and pecks Salty again)
S: Gosh, let me stop before I push this past the realm of professionalism. I'll let you go, for now, Mai. I'll call you back in if my editor has additional questions for you or if he wants to interview you himself.
M: Noted. I'll be counting down the minutes.
The ball is in your court now. Place additional questions past this point or come in and interview Mai yourself. Your call
Questions from alwaysdoubted
Salty: Welcome back, Mai. Thanks for getting back here on short notice.
Mai: Of course. Plus you said to keep in touch and I did as you asked.
S: Let's get started with alwaysdoubted's first question. Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed when you're called upon for assistance? Or during Family or Crisis events?
M: Hmm, not really. though I get tired of Kotal's court or Kotal himself. Or whatever renegade or entitled noble threatens the peace I or everyone else worked so hard to build. However, I get a kick out of crushing their delusions of grandeur at the risk of sounding dark.
S: Entitlement is a big problem with the villains from your universe, huh? It's that same entitlement that gets them killed or worse. Like Duffeck and Okada embarrassing Shao Kahn.
M: It's satisfying seeing those dastardly bastards get theirs.
S: I can only imagine. Next question. What was it like faking your death for all these years?
M: Alwaysdoubted is asking some thought-provoking questions, is he?
S: Trust me, it's better questions like these than ones that derail the interview.
M: What do you mean by that?
S: Don't worry about that. Just some leftover salt from the last interview.
M: Fair enough. Obviously, I didn't want to resign myself to death alongside Joseph. But he and Okada convinced me to do otherwise using the feeling of spite we all felt toward the Dacarthi Family as the main motivator. Safe to say it worked its magic.
S: Wow. Spite?
M: Truthfully, the three of us saw something like this coming while my family was still alive. They were just waiting for one of us to make the smallest mistake to capitalize like they were sharks that smelled blood. Plus I was infamous in Edenia for constantly humiliating them.
S: How so?
M: I'm an Edenian Historical Figure, sweetie. From the moment I mastered Illusion Medical Magic, the previous ruler before Jerrod offered to record my mastery of said schools, and I accepted. By the time I was around Benjamin's age, I was known realm-wide. The Dacarthi didn't like that at all since none reached the level of fame I did. They tried to blackball numerous people but always failed and looked terrible to the public. Jerrod had a lot to do when he gained the throne since the people abhorred him when he ascended.
S: Did your family share the same hatred for them?
M: No. We ignored them, another reason why they hated us so much. They probably thought they were beneath us. The Bansho, Verdigrism, even Ilah's family always responded to their constant belittling and bullying. Meanwhile, we didn't and had bigger fish to fry.
S: That's petty on a scale I can't even begin to fathom.
M: You're telling me, honey.
S: Next question. How often do you and Ilah speak?
M: Whenever we can. I was just chatting with her the other day. Unfortunately, she couldn't make Jade's ascension ceremony, so I told her what happened.
S: Does she visit Edenia since being freed?
M: Once in a while, Ilah goes there to admire the scenery. Those visits surprise everyone. I'm trying to convince her to buy a property with me near Destiny's house so we can move in together. Ilah's been anti-social ever since that fateful day. But with Sindel ruling the realm, Jade running the Freedom Fighters along with Xan and Baiken as the royal bodyguards, and finally the alliance firmly in place inter-realm, relations have never been better. Now is a perfect time to come back to the realm.
S: Best of luck on that front. Has Fujin been everything you expected? Or the complete opposite?
M: Fujin is truly lovely. At times, he makes me think that I'm 40,000, hehe. We both consented to a non-physical life partnership. Neither of us want children, or in my case additional ones, when I just became a grandmother. Plus, sleeping with anyone who's vastly younger than I am is somewhat taboo. God or not. If anything, I act more like his mother than his life partner, but he eats it up anyway. I think it's my inward nature and instinct to treat everyone younger than me like they're my children. It's something I fight internally, much like how you've been fighting to call me by my name instead of Mrs. Maddox.
S: You're not treating me like a child.
M: I can if you wish.
S: Pass. Have you ever thought about opening an orphanage?
M: You know, I haven't. But I can see why I would make a good orphanage owner. Maybe in another millennia or two. Who knows?
S: Something to think about, I suppose. Okay, final question. Do you feel the best has yet to come for you?
M: One can never be too optimistic, but it's hard for me to say. A lot of good has happened to me these past couple of decades. My children have forgiven me for abandoning them, one of my best friends has seemingly come back from the dead, and my home realm has returned. I'm a healthy grandmother and can count my blessings. I'll keep my head up as you never know what might come next. That makes life so exciting. Don't you think, Salty?
S: Absolutely. Well, Mai. It was an absolute pleasure to interview you. Do keep in touch. (Salty and Mai both stand up and shake hands)
M: Of course, my child. I'll do just that.