Part 2
I know I know, all this fuss for nothing more than a simple sneeze. It all seems ridiculous doesn't it? I totally agree with you. All throughout my childhood I hated this crap. Ok sure I would wear the dress, I love dresses actually but I can't stand formailities. It doesn't DO anything. Why not just tell the ugly ass freak to go to hell and maybe clean up some of that goo around his eyes every now and then. As for the court, wouldn't it make more sense and have a greater affect if done in a small setting where everyone was the same? Intimidation doesn't do anything but f"" things up.
After the sneezing incident the Queen came to me. I had left for a walk throughout the palace and thought I was alone when none other than the Queen herself approached me. It was a few hours after the "Massive Amidala PMS Attack" and we had both calmed down considerably. Her severe make up and hair were gone and I was comforted by the fact that I stood a full inch taller than her when not in ceremonial garb.
"Sabe, I want to speak to you," she said.
"Yes Your Highness," I replied slowly and carefully as if one word would shatter the calm that had fallen over her.
"I expect you, above everyone else to know the rules." She stopped and looked up at me as if expecting her words to move the earth. " You are head of the handmaidens. You have power. But I worry that you don't know what to do with this power. Let's face it Sabe, you're here because you have um-special abilities. You're not particularly pretty, your etiquette is atrocious, and well you don't come from the best of families. You need to put up a good front, that's what you do, that's your job. Now don't worry, I'm going to help you do this job. I'm sending you to my personal physician. He'll stop this sneezing and then perhaps we can work on some…" she stopped and looked at my ratty hair, slouching posture, and nervous fidgeting, "other things." She ended. Oh yeah, thanks for the help miss priss. How dare she insult my family! God I hated this city. She handed me a data pad and sent me off to my first visit with the horny doctor.
And so this takes us back to where I started.
Back in Dr. Humperlot's office it's now been a full two hours since I first walked in. This is getting very boring. The only things that pass the time are thoughts of my very attractive boyfriend Geranto. I really am lucky; he's wanted by lots of girls. He's a typical Nubian with dark hair, dark eyes, and rather tan skin. He has just the slightest hint of a beard that makes him look like the kind never to take home to mommy. He has the softest lips on the planet, made for kissing and he does that well too. I've never met anyone so seductive; just one look at him will send you spiraling into fantasies involving chocolate and red lingerie. But it's not only that. Geranto is everything the opposite of everything I hate. He's reckless, he's a bad boy and there is something so unbelievably sexy about a hot man that loves to get caught, mmmmm. He plans on doing nothing but enjoying every single minute of every single day. Something about that just makes me want him all the more.
"Handmaiden Sabe," I hear from the door to my left. Looking up I see the large crooked nose of Dr. Humperlot poking out from his old wrinkly face. He couldn't be more than 45, but he certainly didn't win the genetic lottery.
"Yes doctor," I respond as I rise from my chair. I turn in time to catch the slightest hint of a smile as he takes in a view of my ass.
My word he's disgusting.
I follow him back through the long hallway till we reach an examination room. He opens the door for me and I see the same practically see through paper gown awaiting my presence.
"I'll leave you alone now, Sabe. Please put on the gown, you know the drill. But hurry up, I'll be back soon and wouldn't want to walk in on anything…that I shouldn't see." He says with a chuckle. I give a small smile back, hoping that it masks my extreme discomfort with the entire situation. He nods to me before closing the door and I let out a sigh of relief. I begin to take off my robe while observing the contents of the room surrounding me.
The table and scale are still there, along with the Bacta patches to the left of me. All of the bottles and tinctures are lined up in their colorful little rows on the cabinet beside me; they're the only color taking away from the otherwise sterile walls. A sudden curiosity comes from nowhere and tells me to look at those little bottles. And so I do. Turning them around I see the familiar names of pain relievers and antibiotics that I've taken before. All are labeled except the two clear bottles in the right hand corner. These are the ones that Dr. Humperlot regularly injects me with during these friendly little doctors' visits.
My heart stops in my chest as I hear footsteps coming down the hallway. Realizing that I'm not quite in my paper gown yet I scurry around the room in order to make sure that Dr. Humpalot won't see anything that he shouldn't. Tying the final ribbon of the gown I hop onto the examination table the moment before the door opens.
"Well then, let's take a look at you," he says looking a tad disappointed that I've dressed so quickly. He opens my mouth and shines a light into it while I say AHHHHHHHHH for an entire minute. He oo's and ah's before turning off the light and commenting on what a lovely mouth I have. While I'm still pondering what that means he runs through a number of different tests before announcing that I'll be fine in a few weeks if he just gives me one more injection of his special medicine. He then leaves me terrified while pondering what that means before pricking my arm with a needle filled with the clear serum on the wall. Finally it's over and I'm allowed to leave. I practically skip down the hallway before nodding a goodbye to the droid at the counter.
One of the only perks to being a handmaiden is the private apartment we're allowed to occupy anywhere in the city. Turst me I would so not make it if not for my own stuff. I chose mine right near a big park and next to the largest shopping district in order to be in the middle of everything. It was rather expensive but Panaka thought it would "Assist one with their alternate identity that is a VITAL role in Naboo polotics blah blah blah blah,"
That's right, I'm Sabe: Handmaiden by day, expert retail saleswoman by night. Well that's not really true, I don't work at night, only every few days. It has to be enough to keep up the appearance that I'm just a normal person and not some freaky Handmaiden that knows how to fight and all that crap. It has to appear that I know nothing about that nasty alien pissing off the Amibitch or the gossip about Prince this or that or how could of a kisser the AMIBITCH thought he was.
Having changed before leaving the palace I'm now wearing a low cut, simple light blue dress. It's one of the newest fashions and what any retail girl worth her salt would be wearing this season. To tell you the truth it's nothing like me. I'm not a total tomboy but I really couldn't care less about who it's made by, which store it came from and how much it cost the palace to buy for me. My hair is half up with the top ponytail braided, the rest of my hair is allowed freely down my back for the first time all day. I'm wearing more make up than I ever knew I had, but I have to play my part convincingly or else face the consequences.
The white of my apartment building causes it to stick out like a bright light in the midst of the river that laps up against its north entrance. The gondola comes to a sharp stop and bobs up and down as I attempt to step out of it and onto the stone steps leading to my door. I walk up the long staircase finally coming to my apartment.
"Good evening Miss Awree Clemine,"says the droid standing guard in the hall. Nice name isn't huh? I hate it; Sabe fits me much better then Awree. Who names their daughter something that can be shortened to Aw? How ugly.
Sliding the key into the lock I open the door and practically throw myself inside.
I'm home. This is my sanctuary. My floors are all wood, very pretty, very expensive, pretty sweet for someone that makes no money. I got to paint my walls all different colors too. I like bright stuff. Up north where I'm from we paint everything red, orange, yellow, BRIGHT blue and I had to replacate that here. I have blankets everywhere, pillows everywhere, pretty bold paintings everywhere. I love it.
Allowing my still somewhat childish side to show through, I run and jump onto the couch surrendering to the day from hell. All I want is some hot Jerub water, a blanket, a holo and my boyfriend to cuddle with. There's only one problem. I don't think I can get up off the couch.
"MMM too comfy," I say into a pillow. I lay back and think about how difficult it would be to gather all those things into one place. I begin to fall into a trance like state, halfway asleep yet still alert when I hear a noise.
Scared out of my mind, I grab my standard issue Royal Blaster out of my bag and begin to move towards my hallway. Luckily there is nothing in the bathroom. Moving on I begin to hear voices coming from my… NO WAY, from my bedroom?
"Oh god," I whisper to myself before standing right in front of my door. It's not like I haven't done this before. The blaster in my hand has become like a relative to me, but if someone is here it might mean that they know more about Awree Clemine than anyone else expects. I take a deep breath and prepare for a swift kick to the door. Gathering all my energy I use one of my familiar moves to kick open the door before settling into a defensive position.
"GERANTO?" I scream seeing the familiar bearded rogue lying on my bed.
"Hi honey," he manages through his surprise. A terrified look plays across his face and it's then that I notice his state of undress. Confusion floods both of our faces as I look from him to the blonde hair peeking out from under the covers. His eyes go from my blaster to the royal seal on its handle before he speaks.
"What is that in your hand Aw?" he asks. I look down not wanting to answer. "Why do you have something--," he stops and looks down before adding, "royal?" I'm scared because I don't know what to do. Why would a simple sales girl have a Nubian blaster? But before I let it go to far anger wells up inside of me.
My sexy Geranto, my sexy amazing Geranto is sleeping with someone else? All this time, all the amazing times and he doesn't want me anymore? Do you know that feeling when you get all tingly but not in a good way, you feel this gut wrenching horrible feeling that's almost like adrenaline but just bad? God, I hate that. I hate it every time. I've been the victim before. I've been made a fool of and I hate it. Thoughts are rushing through my brain now and I hear the echo of a conversation I've had before 'Next time why don't you tell them off like you've always wanted to' it says to me. Evaluating the situation I realize that here I am, a nice little salesgirl with a boyfriend that's CHEATING on her and not only that but he's asking her questions when she should be kicking him out.
"Aw," he says breaking me from my thoughts. That one drawn out nickname pushes some button deep down inside of me and I turn from nice little girl to BITCH HANDMAIDEN that can handle Amifrickindala and certainly Skanky Ho Geranto.
"SHUT UP! Don't call me that, I hate that name!" I yell responding to the nickname. Listen, I'm already going to tell everyone I know about the inadequate length of your "member", don't make me shoot it off!" I threaten moving the blaster southward. If I weren't so pissed I might even laugh.
"You wouldn't do tha—," he feigns fright.
"Oh hell yes I would! Don't think I haven't done it before." I assure him. He gets scared and starts getting his stuff together before running past me and out of my house for the last time. He and his blonde bitch make their way out of my bedroom.
"Who are you?" he half yells when he's down the hall. It's all the strength I can muster to keep me from collapsing until I know he's gone. Sighing I collapse to the floor and bury my head in my in my knees. Tears sting my eyes and leak down my cheeks. I feel a familiar tingling sensation starting between my eyes and before I know it the fat lady is singing, and I'm sneezing like a crazy woman.
"Who am I?" I whisper to myself. "The most miserable Nubian in the whole galaxy!" I cry before collapsing back onto my lonely couch and crying myself to sleep.