Title: The Stuff

Author: pronker

Era: Circa 9 ABY.

Summary: Fennec Shand endures change because she is unable to embrace it, as others in her life have suggested. [Written for a theforceDAHTNET challenge to write a dramatic monologue to a silent listener that reveals the character of the monologuist.] (Loose follow up to first "Pusher" followed by "Xerarch.")

IOIOIOIOIO

Shand. Fennec Shand. Snub expects me. Hurry up, droid. I'm alone in the den today? Thaaaaat's right, make me comfortable yourself, stretch me out on the couch-sofa-lounge because I'm a long-standing customer. You cater to me alone today, not that droids matter to me one way or the other - once I get the stuff I'll go home, or, or someplace - maybe Fwip's place, she's got a sofa beyond the beaded curtains for entertaining -

I hurt a lot today.

Where can Snub be? I wouldn't have come here in the daytime if the summer hadn't made my metal innards unbearably hot, droid. Cue your surprised beedoop because your processors can't sweat. I can't sweat like I used to and jettoz, my first full-length Tatooine summer couldn't come at a worse time. Right, the summer arrives annually, but why do I stay onplanet if I hate it? Draw the blinds, give me a pillow and a teaser - oh, why not? If I tell you, will you give me a teaser? Are you shaking your chrome dome? Was that a nod? I'm calling that a nod. Well, droid, I owe Fett my life and I've got nowhere else to go. That's all you need to know.

The Bounty Hunters Guild wrote me off, but Fett never did. Call it what you like - why are you tapping your audio receptor? Is Snub messaging you? When will he be here with the stuff? Give me a shot of spotchka now, and don't spare the choholl proof. It's not the stuff, but it'll take the edge off like unrefined ryll. Sansanna, andris and carsunum tapered off working two weeks ago, not that I'll ever tell you, droid. Just give me the stuff. All right, all right, you won't or can't and Snub is on his way. What's it to you if I hate him? Stop reading my body language, pheromones and blood pressure or I'll stick this right through your -

Why did you lock the door? Of course the meat harvesters in Anchorhead go off shift soon and they'll stop here before heading to dreary home life. You're telling me that Snub wants me to have this den all to myself until he gets here? Why would he do that? Get me a blanket, I'm beginning to shake.

Droid, don't answer the knock or let anyone in unless it's Snub - oh, it is him. Blaze off, droid.

Go away, Snub, it's a bad day. Just give me the stuff first.