A Royal Pain (Audrey Thenardier)

[Doctor Zendu]

Location: Doctor Zendu's Private Practice, Belasco.

Currently browsing a Holo mag which detailed some unapproved surgical procedures being developed in order to help the Bith species reproduce naturally instead of through their usual method of computerized mating service, Doctor Robert Zendu, renowned galactic xenopsychiatrist, suddenly noticed the time. The young psychiatrist realized that he had another patient arriving shortly, but forgot which one. He saw so many patients in his practice, he sometimes lost track. To jog his memory, he grabbed the next patient file from his desk.

Name: [member="Audrey Thénardier"]
Age: Twenty-seven
Occupation: Noblewoman
Species: Human

The Doctor smiled broadly when he read the name. Wealthy people were some of his favorite kinds of patients because he never had to get collection agencies involved when the bills came. He'd met the noble woman once at her estate on Naboo where she'd hosted a lavish party, and while he didn't have specifics on her emotional state, he'd met enough of her family to see that the Thenardiers seemed to have their share of issues. Well, she certainly came to the right place. Carrying her patient file under his arm, he crossed to the door of his office and poked his head out into the waiting room to see if the Lady had arrived.

"Lady Audrey Thenardier?"

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

Having arrived a little ealier than expected Lady Thénardier had been sitting in the waiting room to [member="Doctor Zendu"]'s private offce for some time. It was more that her scedual had been the blame of it, being that she had finished one little matter ealier in the morning before recalling that she had this appointment soon after. Now that she had arrived she was forced to sit and wait until the Doctor's time permitted. She sighed and sat in the room, unable to do anything but sit and read the holomags avaliable until the recepcionist had called her in.

Even then Audrey had to wait another five minutes. As she did she examined the doctor's office, taking note of everything around. It was a decent set up and reflected on his income and expertise. She liked it. She was considering to have an office or two redeisgned to look like this. It would make for a better view, that was for sure.

As she waited Audrey recalled have set up the appoitnment with Zendu before, when he attended a party she invited him to, while dealing with the matter of her family members she worried would embaress her in front of the many important guests she had present. At least now, that she had time to speak with him in private, the pressure was lax. She wondered, however, if she would be allowed to smoke; even to the point where she had a cigar out and fiddled with it before Zendu finally arrived.

Looking to him she simply said "Good day, Dr. Zendu. Glad to see we were both finally able to meet in private. You're lucky. Usually around this time I'm dealing with a lot of quota specifications while learning of any back dealings coming through or not."

 

[Doctor Zendu]

"It's nice to see you again Lady Thenardier," greeted the doctor with a small bow. He then ushered her into his office, which was a sleekly decorated, softy lit mid-size space with expansive windows that looked out over the sparkling city below. Normally he would have taken greater care to make sure that his patient wasn't bringing any weapons into his office, but he was more lenient with Audrey since he already knew her.

Doctor Zendu led her to the corner of his office which housed his desk and Hover sofa. "Most patients prefer the Hover sofa, but you can sit anywhere you like." he explained. "Just be careful with that." He gestured to her cigar. "We don't want any burn marks in the upholstery, do we?" Not one to deny his patients of their lighter vices, the doctor politely reached into a desk drawer and took out a modern crystal ashtray, handing it to her.

Plopping her patient file on his desk, the psychiatrist gave Audrey a tight-lipped smile. "So Lady Thenardier, as you decide where to sit, perhaps you can tell me what brought you here in the first place?"

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

After the little warning from the Doctor and he handing her an ashtray Audrey replied "Don't worry, Doctor. I've been doing it for years and have yet to burn anything I didn't want to." After that she took her seat over on the hover sofa, taking a minute to get used to it's feeling, before laying herself down and aswering "A great number of thing, Doctor. You've seen how some of my family can be. A drunken brother and an overly dramatic sister who wastes her money on the bare essentials of life. And her damn tiger. I swear half of it she does for attention. And then there's the matter of all of my businesses I run. Both the legal and illegal. I have to attend parties. Makes deals with all manner of privateers and scum. Need to keep track of my agents and their assignments. I need to make sure the shipment deals are passed with any and all manageble detials looked over." She sighed and finally lite her cigar before saying "Sometimes I feel as though it's all bearing down on me, and one mistake will mean the end of it all."

[member="Doctor Zendu"]

 

[Doctor Zendu]

The Doctor crossed to a panel on the wall and flicking a few switches, turned on an aroma-therapeutic air filter to grab the cigar smoke. Then he grabbed a stray chair and placed it directly in front of her, politely crossing his legs as he took a seat. As she talked, the doctor took judicious notes, scribbling for quite some time. He then raised his head and with a furrowed brow nodded, "Of course you're feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders. It sounds like you're incredibly overworked. Plus with having some difficult family relationships thrown into the mix, that's a recipe for a mental breakdown I'm afraid."

He gave her a broad grin. "The good news is that you started therapy so hopefully you'll start to get the help you need."

The doctor rubbed his chin with his thin fingers. "Let me ask you this. With all your money, can't you hire some help to look after your sister and brother? Delegating that task to someone else would clear off your plate immeasurably."

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

Hearing his suggestion she huffed before responding "I've thought about it. But lord knows my mother wouldn't approve. She's always been one to let others make thier own mistakes, even her children. Regardless of what happens to them I need to continue keeping things afloat. The most I can do is have someone reporting to me on what they do and when they do it. At least it keeps me in the loop of what they're doing and if they're making fools of themselves. Fo far my brother Aedan has been the prime example. Always getting drunk and making an ass of himself. You've seen him at the party. You know what he's like."

[member="Doctor Zendu"]

 

[Doctor Zendu]

"Your brother did seem to have a substance abuse problem, yes. Perhaps he should come see me as well. I'm not a substance abuse counselor but I could offer talk therapy in tandem with one." Doctor Zendu decided he didn't mind treating every last Thenardier if their pockets were as fat as he thought they were.

"But enough about him, this is your time Lady Audrey. The problem with taking on too much responsibility is that it will eventually lead to burnout, depression, anxiety, or possibly worse. It seems like you're already experiencing some of that. Setting some boundaries with your family, and learning how to say no. Those are two things I'll be asking you to do as homework after our session today. But more about that later."

The doctor interlaced his fingers over his notebook and absently tapped his foot as he spoke. "Can you tell me a little bit about your other relationships? For example, you look after everyone else. Is there anyone that looks after you? Besides your mother, that is."

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

She chukled at that last remark while puffing out a little more smoke before saying "My mother hasn't taken care of me since I was out of diapers, Doctor. All she ever did was tell me how to act like a lady while the servants raised me. My father was more of a real parent than her." She sighed and added "Father was always there for me. He groomed me to become the head of the household because I was the oldest. I think that's what mother didn't like about me. I was the first born, but not a son. That came after when it was already too late...."

[member="Doctor Zendu"]

 

[Doctor Zendu]

"So no boyfriend or girlfriend," the doctor said with a nod of his head, and scribbled down a few more notes. He waved his hand in the air, clearing some of the cigar smoke out of his immediate vicinity. "Do you want to have a relationship with anyone? I only ask because it seems like your life is all work and no play. Not that having another relationship in your life would necessarily be a good thing, but it might be good for you to go out on some dates at least just for fun."

"A few more questions, Lady Audrey. Do you genuinely enjoy your business? What is it about a life of crime that appeals to you? Is it purely financial?"

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

When it came to the questions about relationships she sighed before saying "I'm more of a ladies....lady, Doctor. Men never 'did it' for me. I think that was something else my mother hated. But I'd had breif relationships throughout my younger days. Some ended better than others. Most were because of my pruing to lead the family after my father became ill. In truth...I don't really know if I'd go searching for a full time lover anytime soon. Work tends to muddle things up."

She breathed in more smoke while contemplating the question of her business, to which she finally replied "It's more than business, Doctor. It's a duty. That's what my father always told me. Our family's lineage comes from a long line of rulers from the planet Alzar. We ruled as conquerors for generations before both the Hutts and the natives of Alzar rose up and forced us off world to relocate to Naboo. Now we'd become a pale relfection of what we once were. And what we've been building to all this time is to eventually reclaim what should be ours. No matter how many generations it takes. So in truth, Doctor, I can honestly say as hasseling and annoying as it is, this job is my life. My legacy."

[member="Doctor Zendu"]

 

[Doctor Zendu]

The doctor nodded looked down at his hands as he spoke. "I recently thought the way you did about relationships, Lady Audrey. Nothing came between me and this." He swept his hand around in gesture to indicate his practice. "My day consisted of eight to ten hours of listening to other people's problems, then four more of paperwork, then maybe a solitary sip of whiskey, and finally sleep. Even on the weekend I was shuttling off to medical conferences on Coruscant. I wasn't looking for a relationship either. But then I unexpectedly met someone." As this recollection he smiled. "And he's helping to show me how to put aside work and enjoy my private life."

With the sudden realization that he was rambling on about himself, he switched the topic back to the patient lying on his Hover sofa. "As I said before I'm not sure a relationship is the answer, but while I definitely understand the idea of duty, when it comes to your work, I would caution you against placing all of your self identity in your role as 'Lady Thenardier,' and consider leaving some room for exploring the woman that is 'Audrey.'"

He scribbled down a few more notes. "Are there any other things you enjoy outside of work, then Audrey? Any other hobbies you can focus your energies on?'

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

Hearing his little story followed by his advice on trying to avoid her more professional self for the actual self Audrey took a moment to think on it. Aside from seeing the similiarities with herself and [member="Doctor Zendu"]'s situations, his having a better outcome than hers, she did realize how often she refered to herself or had others call her 'Lady Thenardier'. It had been her titles afterall, but then there were times where people had called her that when it wasn't a matter of business. In fact she knew a few instances were some of the partners she took to bed would still call her that even after one night of love. She supposed she could lay off of it and try exploring more of herself as just Audrey, even more when he'd asked about her hobbies.

"I enjoy some simple things." she began. "I enjoy reading now-and-then. Usually the genre doesn't matter, only as long as the story itself is interesting. Can't tell you how many times I was left with a dud ending. I've also trained in armed combat and like to keep myself up to speed with practicies now-and-then. I've been doing it since I was eight years old in fact. Other than that I've had a few....side projects that've kept be occupied."

 

[Doctor Zendu]

Grinning Doctor Zendu nodded at his patient. His office was filled with bookshelves, and the doctor himself tried to devour as many pages a day as he could, so in enjoying the literary arts he found a kindred spirit. "Reading is good for the soul. As is fitness." A warm, toothy smile enveloped his face. The psychiatrist liked Lady Thenardier. He didn't often fraternize with patients outside of the office, but he felt that she and he could possibly be friends. and his new-found paramour aside, friends were rare in the workaholic doctor's world. He made a mental note to later ask her if she was having any more parties anytime soon.

"Side projects?" he asked. To the doctor vague statements made it seem like patients were hiding details that should be exposed, especially in therapy.

"Could you tell me a bit more about those?"

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

Audrey smiled at his little phrasing about reading, something she could agree on. Ever since she was little she read as often as possible. When he asked about side projects, however, she seemed a little reluctant to talk. She looked to him before looking back away and sucking up more smoke from the cigar. Once she'd left it out she sat up and looked back to [member="Doctor Zendu"] with a somewhat worried gaze.

"You'll keep your confidentiallity, won't you?" she asked, only wanting to confirm this for herself. When he obviously answered 'yes', as she knew he would, she sighed before confessing "I've....born and rasied a child in secret to be my successor when I'm gone."

 

[Doctor Zendu]

Audrey's news was quite a bombshell, and Doctor Zendu was momentarily speechless. He scribbled down a few notes and leaned in on his knees to better study her. "I assure you Lady Thenardier, all of our sessions are held under the strictest confidentiality agreement. You signed the papers when you first arrived. I'm not allowed to divulge any of portions of your file to anyone including the authorities and in turn, you will not sue me for malpractice. Not that you would, but I'm merely explaining what you signed." He gave her a toothy grin.

"That is a fascinating revelation, indeed." He snuck a glance at his chrono. Their hour was almost up but he was so intrigued he didn't mind offering her a few more minutes.

"Would you like to tell me more about it?"

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

With his vote of confidentiality on the matter Audrey sighed, needing a minute to accept that she was talking to someone about her secret child. She'd been quite about it for so long, even to her family, that it was hard to keep a secret so deep down inside for that time. It had been years since the child was actually born and she was still growing and training in secret to that day.

"My interest in women had compromised me from ever truly having a child." she began. "My mother knew it and hated that my father had insisted the head of the house be left to me. But I still intended to have a child, just not with any man. I would never allow such a thing. Instead I'd planned to make a clone, one like me on a cellular level but who I would raise better than I was. But then someone came to me with a greater propositon. A child who would be stronger. Smarter. Able to use the Force. All of it artifically grafted to the child's DNA. And so I chose that path. I wanted my child to be the first of the new and stronger Thenadeir bloodline. But when she was born I kept her hidden from anyone else. I feared what would happen if anyone knew. How my child would be used against me. So I've kept her secret all this time..."

[member="Doctor Zendu"]

 

[Doctor Zendu]

Cloning was a good or bad thing depending on which planet you were on. Doctor Zendu's opinions on the matter were mixed. The physician generally felt that cloning was an ethical practice, as long as the clones in question ended up being given their own autonomy, and not abused or enslaved as many were. Doctor Zendu jotted down a few more notes, and then gave his patient a warm smile. "It's brave of you to admit this to someone, especially since I can tell that the subject is a touchy one for you. I'm pleased that you trust in me enough to share this with me. It bodes well for our sessions."

He scratched his chin with his thin fingers. "I find it interesting that despite having a large family already, you chose to make another family member, but one that you could control more easily than your siblings. One more question, a two-parter, and then I believe our time is almost up. First, does your daughter know that you're her mother? And if not, do you plan to tell her?"

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

Audrey looked at the chrono on the wall when he'd mentioned their time almost being up. She was suprised that things had run by so quick, but then again given everything they talked about it was no grand suprise. Time tended to run differenlty when you were getting relaxed enough and were talking long enouhg with someone; even if it was about something important or not.

His question, however, had almost made Audrey feel beguiled before saying "Of course she knows me, Doctor. I wouldn't do that to my own child. I've been with her as often as possible. The thing is, though, she is on Naboo. And she has been since her birth. I'm afraid of taking her off-planet until I'm ready to reveal her to the world." Upon thinking on this, however, Audrey sat herself up and threw her legs over the hover couch, looking down at the ground for a moment before turning to [member="Doctor Zendu"]. "Doctor....do you think she should speak with you? I mean so you could have some sense of her mindset?"

 

[Doctor Zendu]

Doctor Zendu adjusted his glasses and pondered Audrey's question. "Yes, of course. I think it would be very helpful for me to see her. The only thing you must remember is that I'm not allowed to share any details of your daughter's therapy session. What she and I talk about is strictly between doctor and patient."

He crossed the room and shook her hand with a smile. "I meant to tell you that I enjoyed the party at your estate. If you are entertaining again anytime soon, I'd love to be considered a guest again." He made a few more notes in his notebook and then made his way to his office door.

"Have your daughter make an appointment with my receptionist. I should be able to fit her in soon. Also before you go, do you need a prescription for anything? Maybe a muscle relaxer for your job stress?"

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

Upon hearing his terms about keeping the information confidential, even from her, Audrey sighed and agreed before standing up and wiping herself off. Some of the ash from her cigar, as well as a little dust that had settled, was on the shoulder of her shirt which she burshed away. After that she shook [member="Doctor Zendu"] 's hand while he told how he enjoyed her party before offering any medicine.

"Now that you mention it, I could use some sort of stress relieve. Something I wouldn't exaclty need on a daily basis, but enough to get the job done when needed." After he'd given whatever he could she nodded her thank you before walking out and saying "You've been a big help Doctor. From here on in I'll be sure that if anyone threatens you, they'll have to answer to me first."