The Officer and The Lady

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena stood in front of a full length mirror and examined her appearance from nearly every angle. Her black dress was almost a bit modest, but the short length saved it from being boring. She slipped on a pair of black high heels and gave a nod to her reflection. Tonight her makeup was more natural and far less heavy handed than her stage makeup, but just as flawless.

Spoiler

There was a pile of shopping bags near the door, she’d dropped them rather unceremoniously and there was evidence that the bags had been rummaged through quickly. Although she had a closet full of the most chic clothing one could want for, she had felt the need to go out shopping at the last minute. She was determined not to make her date for the evening wait too long for her, as she had a feeling that he would be nothing less than punctual...

Only two nights previously she had agreed to meet General Ludolf Vaas for dinner to discuss her future in First Order Space. At least that was the reason behind their meeting, but she was hoping that perhaps it would extend beyond a simple business meeting. Marzena had arrived on Bespin the day after the First Order Ball and had used the information provided on the data chip as she had been directed to. It had been agreed that they would meet the following evening at seven o’clock.

The doorbell rang and Marzena rushed to the door, struggling to clasp her necklace. She pulled the door open quickly and flashed a charming smile, only to see that it was her assistant.

“Oh...” She sighed. “It’s only you.”

In all the hustle and bustle she’d forgotten that she’d sent her assistant out on a few errands. She stepped aside to let Bonnie through and went back to getting ready. Once more she moved back in front of the mirror and ran her fingers through her long dark hair.

“Ms. Choi, I brought the wine that you requested! And the -” Bonnie held up a small pink shopping bag.

“Great...” Marzena replied, though she was preoccupied with her reflection again. After a quick glance at the clock she realized that Ludolf would be arriving soon. She quickly ushered Bonnie out of her apartment and waited for the General to arrive.

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

"Shall I send a detachment with you, sir?"

"No. Carry on with your duties."

General Vaas tapped the hull of the transport on the landing pad, signaling for the pilot to take off. Behind him, the sunburst backdrop of evening on Cloud City cast a warm glow across Ludolf's poised features, the wind from the gas planet tousling through his hair. His men had shuttled him faithfully to his destination, but they were clueless as to what his purpose here was. Ludolf was on personal business, and that was all anyone needed to know. Since the First Order had taken over Bespin, General Vaas moved about Cloud City at will, completely unopposed by anyone, as if the entire city was his oyster. And for all intents and purposes it was; no place was off limits to one of the First Order's highest ranking Generals, and any of the old Gas Barons who might have objected had long since been... disposed of.

His men were on a need-to-know basis, and details of his personal life were kept well under wraps. The Stormtroopers who brought Vaas here had no idea that this was [member="Marzena Choi"]'s apartment complex. General Vaas strode off the helipad, his long, black leather officer's coat flowing in the wind behind him, and made for the elevator. He was carrying only a small meal container, but inside he had actually packed ingredients for dinner, figuring he would treat Miss Choi to a culinary adventure, rather than simply attending one of Cloud City's many restaurants, all of which the actress had likely frequented. He had also made a point to keep his black officer's uniform pristine, showing not even a hint of dust or debris anywhere. All this would send positive signals for the business at hand - or at least that was what Ludolf told himself. He would not admit to anyone that he was here primarily for pleasure, least of all himself.

Ludolf spent the elevator ride fixing his windswept hair, genty coiffing it back into place with one hand, before stepping off and finding himself on the floor of Marzena's high-rise. The entertainer had followed his instructions and messaged him promptly; to which Ludolf summarily replied with an exceedingly punctual visit. To be early is to be on time, and to be on time is to be late. That old adage ran through Ludolf's mind as he found Marzena's apartment door and stuck a gloved finger out to press the bell at exactly 6:59 PM.

Standing back, he waited for the door to be answered. His mind swam with thoughts of how Marzena would appear when she answered the door, and Ludolf crossed his hands together tightly.

>>6:59 PM: My amygdala unit is failing once again, more than it has on any mission. I am anxious.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

The doorbell chime sounded and Marzena’s heart leapt within her chest. She ran her fingers through her hand one last time, leaving it looking pleasantly tousled and smoothed down the front of her dress. Quickly she moved forward to unlock the door, but she pulled it open quite slowly at first, only giving him a tiny glimpse at her. Blame the entertainer in her for loving a little bit of fanfare. As the door finally swung open to reveal her presence, she stood in front of him with a pleased smile.

“Good evening, General Vaas.” She said with a nod to him.

She took a moment to take in his appearance, she liked seeing his impressive stature clad in the dark uniform. Marzena had no doubt that he was likely quite formidable in the eyes of his men, but she found herself attracted to his commanding presence. Though his face may have come across a bit cold or emotionless, she thought that it only added to his appeal. Her hand slid onto his shoulder and she leaned in slightly, placing a kiss on his cheek. Marzena pulled away slowly and let her hand linger upon his for a moment longer before stepping aside to let him inside.

“It’s very nice to see you again.”

She was feeling very thankful for the fact that her assistant had tidied up for her earlier that day. The whole of her apartment was sparkling and pristine, but her mess of shopping bags remained and she quickly scooped them into to the entry way closet. Marzena took a seat on the couch and smiled an invitation for him to join her.

“Can I get you anything? Would you like some coffee, tea, or something a bit stronger?” Her voice was warm, and had a hint of mischief.

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

"Good evening, Miss Choi," Ludolf responded in kind with a smile of his own, and a small bow of his head. His deep voice carried into her apartment as he spoke, the natural consequence of a career spent commanding men.

As the General stepped into Marzena's apartment, he took note of his surroundings. A naturally observant person, little went unnoticed by him. Everything, from Marzena's kiss on his cheek, which allowed him to smell her perfume once more as her body lingered next to his for a moment, right down to the shopping bags left near the doorway, it was all recorded by his brain. As Marzena placed her lips on his cheek, Ludolf had warmly placed a gloved hand on her hip, and released when she did. This time, at least Ludolf was prepared with a dab of his own cologne underneath his prominent jaw. And against all his pre-programming, Vaas felt a pang of excitement in the pit of his stomach and had to fight the urge to keep his hand on her, though he eventually overcame it, and his stone face never once broke character. Inside, however, Ludolf was taking in everything she did as if he was exploring an entirely new range of human emotion.

The bags were to be expected for someone of her station; didn't performers need new attire all the time? Ludolf's inquisitive gaze followed Marzena as she led him further into her high rise, observing every detail around him. The apartment looked meticulously cleaned, not unlike his own. Everything seemed organized with purpose and precision. For some reason, this only excited Vaas further.

"It's good to see you as well," He responded, finding a seat next to her and crossing his legs, signaling that he was at ease. "I must say, you keep an immaculate apartment. Pristine, thorough. I feel as if I'm in my own office," His lips upturned into a soft grin.

The coquettish intonation in Marzena's voice did not go unnoticed by him, either. Ludolf's cold shell mostly remained, but beneath the gaze of his glacial blue eyes lingered an amorous spirit that was beginning to crack through his icy exterior, waiting to escape.

"I'm off duty, Miss Choi. Something stronger for both of us is in order, I think."

His smile remained.

[member="Marzena Choi"]

 

[Marzena Vaas]

“Thank you.” She responded when Ludolf had complimented her apartment. “However, I’m afraid I can’t take all the credit for the level of cleanliness... I had some help from my assistant.” She said with a slight laugh. Her apartment always appeared spotless at the beginning of her stay, but by the end it would certainly look a bit more... lived in. It wasn’t that she was a messy person, but late nights often made for clothing being left strewn about. She did make a mental note to keep her space tidy in the event that General Vaas should make a return trip in the future.

“I’ll be right back.” Marzena's smile grew when he mentioned that they should enjoy a drink. She rose gracefully from the sofa, making her way to the kitchen to prepare some drinks. As she disappeared around the corner, the sound of clinking glass could be heard as she readied the ingredients for martinis. It’d been quite a long time since she’d had to actually mix her own drinks, and she had there was a chance that she’d used just a bit too much vodka... but was that a bad thing? Before returning to Ludolf’s side, she turned on some music but kept the volume quite low, so they could continue to converse with ease. She lifted the two drinks with meticulously manicured fingers and strode back into the living room, being careful not to spill.

With a smile she handed Ludolf his drink and let her glass clink against his lightly before she took a sip from her own glass. Marzena lowered herself down onto the sofa again; she was just a touch closer to Ludolf than she had been previously. She slid her hands down the front of her dress again to smooth it out, and crossed her legs. It wasn’t so much to appear dainty or proper, but more to draw some attention to her legs; their length was exaggerated by her high heels.

“So, what’s the plan?” She asked, her dark eyes locked with his. “Would you like to go out or should we stay in?”

She was more than happy with either option, so long as she would get to spend the evening in the General's presence.

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Ludolf nodded. "Your assistant is quite proficient," He remarked, while Marzena stood up and moved to the kitchen to fetch drinks.

General Vaas couldn't help his eyes from following her as she moved into the kitchen, observing her posterior and her long, thin legs as she moved. His hard, stern exterior did not yet betray the feelings Vaas was juggling with in his mind. He knew he was far more interested in this woman than his mental programming would allow, and indeed perhaps more than his station allowed. But a strange feeling rose in Ludolf; a feeling that told him to throw caution to the wind. Could it be that his brain implants were truly failing? Was this what it was like to be attracted to a woman, something he had been missing his entire life?

He snapped out of his thoughts as Marzena returned, handing him a martini. "Thank you," He said as he graciously accepted the glass and brought it to his lips. He had asked for a strong drink and had received one indeed; Marzena certainly did not disappoint on that front. Intrigued, he took another sip, before setting his glass down momentarily to meet Marzena's inviting chestnut eyes with his own. Marzena's proximity to him also did not go unnoticed, nor did her legs, as she smoothed her dress down in the front.

"Well, I've brought some ingredients, and I thought I'd cook us both something. If you don't mind me using your kitchen, that is," Ludolf motioned to the food case he had brought, which he had set on the table. "Then we can discuss business while we cook. Mind getting your hands dirty with me, Miss Choi? I wouldn't want to ruin the effort you put into those," He gave Marzena a crafty grin while pointing at her finely manicured fingernails.

[member="Marzena Choi"]

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena took another sip of her martini as she listened to Ludolf explain his plan for dinner. She didn’t mind if he wanted to use her kitchen... it would likely be the first time her kitchen had ever been used for cooking. Did she know where all of the utensils were? Not in the slightest. However, tonight she would do her best to help out with the meal. “Feel free to use my kitchen.” She said with a nod, and the corners of her mouth lifted when he commented about her nails.

“I don’t mind getting dirty.” She said in a silky voice, automatically leaning in towards him slightly, as such lines were usually meant for the bedroom... not the kitchen. Marzena paused when she was very close to him, and she let her eyes wander over his cool expression before moving away. The scent of his cologne was fresh and masculine and she found herself wanting to stay close to him. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that they were not on a date; this was an opportunity to discuss her career and opportunities within First Order space.

The performer was used to being around attractive men, and she was more than able to keep her cool... but why was she feeling so flustered this time? She had never met anyone quite like General Vaas before, and there was just something that drew her attention. Perhaps it was his stone-like demeanor, and the fact that this man was a bit of a mystery. Most of the men she worked with seemed so very transparent at times, they were easy to read. Marzena’s hand slid onto his shoulder and she gave a friendly squeeze, before she stood up again.

“Shall we get started?” She walked over towards the kitchen, but paused before rounding the corner, her dark eyes beckoning him to join her.

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Instinctively leaning closer as she did, Ludolf's glacial eyes began to get lost in Marzena's while his face remained still and motionless, as if chiseled out of a bronze statue. A weighty moment of silence hung in the air between them as Ludolf's nose was barely inches from hers now, the scent of her perfume mingling in his nostrils. Finally, Ludolf's eyelids came down slowly, blinking, momentarily shielding his bright blue orbs from view, and then he opened them again.

"I don't mind either," Ludolf said in a low gravelly tone, and suddenly pulled back. With no other word, his composure returned in an instant and he snatched up his case from the table, and followed Marzena into her kitchen.

>>7:05 PM: What is happening to me? I don't feel like myself...

Saying nothing, Ludolf set his case on the ample center island of Marzena's kitchen and opened it, revealing an array of herbs, spices and ingredients, including vegetables and two uncooked pieces of meat. General Vaas began to sort through the items with machine-like proficiency, as if performing a surgical operation. Finally, he began to speak.

"You see, Miss Choi," He said, while carefully lifting a small container of olive oil to his eyes and examining it carefully, "There have recently been changes in the leadership of the First Order. Between you, me and these four walls, I am now second-in-command only to the Supreme Leader himself. Which means my duties now go far beyond simply commanding troops. Pan and spatula, if you please."

Ludolf pivoted away from the center island and turned his attention to the stovetop, pressing a button to heat the burners. Either Marzena or her assistant were meticulous cleaners, or these burners were rarely, if ever used. Ludolf didn't mind either way; the sterile working environment pleased him only more. Once the pan and spatula had been fetched, Ludolf poured the contents of his small container into the pan and set it on the stovetop.

"My duties also involve... cultural affairs," He explained, lifting his gaze to lose himself in Marzena's eyes once again. "That is why I'm here, Miss Choi. As I explained the other day, the First Order is nothing without supreme aesthetic for our people to aspire to. Which is where, perhaps, you come in. Now, we'll simply spread this around, like so..."

General Vaas' large, gloved hand reached out and took Marzena's dainty palm within his grip, and, handing her the spatula, gently guided her wrist in a circular motion around the pan. He blinked again, but this time Ludolf could not avert his gaze from Marzena as he felt himself drawing closer to her body once again.

[member="Marzena Choi"]

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena came to stand next to Ludolf at the center island, and she watched with interest as he opened his case. It was no surprise to her that the ingredients within had been packed ever so carefully. She recognized some of the various herbs and spices, but had little clue how these things came together to make a meal. She stood to the side as he began to sort through is ingredients, and she listened as he began to speak. Her brows rose slightly when she learned that he was second in command of the First Order, no wonder she found him so attractive; she had always been drawn to powerful figures.

She snapped out of her thoughts when he asked for a pan and spatula. Marzena turned her back to him as she searched; glad that he couldn’t see the momentary panic on her face. After a bit of searching she produced the pan and spatula, glad that she’d been able to locate when without making much of a mess. Once the pan was set to the heat, she stepped up next to Ludolf again, the aroma of herbs rose into the air. “Oh, I see...” She had started to respond to his explanation, but she was taken by surprise when she found that he’d set the spatula in her hand.

She blinked a few times but let him take hold of her wrist and assist with stirring the contents of the pan. Marzena could feel him moving close to her, and she mused that he was like a tall and sturdy pillar. Though the sound of their meal sizzling in the pan was growing louder, she found that her attention was elsewhere. She noticed how he was gazing at her, seemingly unable to look away and she wondered for a moment if he was about to kiss her. If he did not lean in further, should she close the gap herself? Marzena had no issues with being forward, but she thought perhaps she should wait until after their meal to make any moves. She finally tore her eyes away from Ludolf and looked down at the pan.

“It smells amazing.” She said with a nod, trying to keep focused on the food. Though, she couldn’t help but lean up against him just slightly... simply enjoying the closeness. "Oh, and please call me Marzena." She added, figuring that they didn't need to be quite so formal now.

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

"Marzena," Ludolf repeated, as if trying her name on for the first time with his voice. Then, a warmer-than-usual smile appeared on his face as he nodded. "Yes, very well then. Marzena. And you may call me Ludolf."

Vaas turned and took the meat from the case, but not before removing his gloves and washing his hands, and then laid the slabs in the pan, which immediately began to sizzle. It was probably the first time he had actually removed his black gloves not just in front of Marzena, but in front of anyone, for a very long time. There was something oddly appealing about this whole scenario, Ludolf thought as he stood over the pan with Marzena hovering closely next to him. He was in a spotless, upscale and finely decorated kitchen, standing over a stove with a woman by his side, the warmth of her comely figure brushing up against him, the sweet scent of her perfume mixing with the savory smell of dinner sauteeing below. Ludolf had never felt so... domesticated. And worse, he was beginning to like it.

The General quickly averted his gaze from Marzena and back to adding spices to the pan, as if to attempt to distance himself from these thoughts. A pinch of pepper on both cuts of meat, and finally some salt, before he turned to Marzena once again.

"Do you want to know why I really came here, Marzena?" Ludolf almost blurted out, his voice speaking before his brain had time to process what he was saying. Now his eyes were searching hers intently, as if desperately trying to find an answer to something deep within them. "I came here not just for the First Order. I came here for myself as well. There's... something I had to find."

Ludolf was all in now. At once, he wrapped an arm around Marzena's lithe waist. His bare hand found her posterior above her skirt and, gripping lightly, pulled her hips against his, until their noses touched above.

[member="Marzena Choi"]

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Hearing him call her by name pleased her, though she was not entirely sure why; for some reason it just felt nice to hear him say it. She fell silent again and watched as he went to work with meal preparation again, this time taking the meat from the case and setting to the pan. Marzena hummed softly along to the music in the background, and let her mind wander. Though she had only met the General a couple days ago, she’d felt the pull of attraction on the night of the ball, and thought that it had created a bit of tension between them. Not the kind of tension that caused arguments or ill feelings, it was the kind that stirred desire. It seemed to be ever-present this evening as well, slowly building during their time together.

She turned slightly when Ludolf spoke again, this time posing her a question. Marzena tilted her head slightly and perked her brows as she awaited his answer, finding that his eyes were gazing deeply into her own. She let out a small gasp of surprise and delight when she suddenly found herself in his embrace, their bodies coming together and their eyes still locked. Her hands slowly slid up his chest, until her arms draped gently around his neck. Ludolf had succeeded where other men had tried and failed, it wasn’t easy to attract and keep Marzena’s attention.

Marzena finally let her eyes close and her lips brushed ever so lightly against his. How she did enjoy teasing just a bit. Letting her body press against him, deepening their embrace, her lips pressed against Ludolf’s. The kiss was gentle at first, as if she just wanted to test the waters, but slowly became steeped with passion.

When the kiss broke, she remained close to him, and spoke softly next to his ear.

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

She pulled back just enough to see his handsomely chiseled face and smiled.

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Ludolf had forgotten what the gentle touch of a woman felt like; indeed, had he ever truly known? His entire life path had been set before him since birth, his emotions pre-programmed to strictly rule out romance, or anything that might compromise his willingness to deal death at a moment's notice. Yet when his senses were embroiled with Marzena, it seemed that the Sith Empire's technology had failed. Beyond all capacity for understanding, Ludolf stood in the kitchen, holding Marzena covetously in his arms. Both his hands dipped lower, squeezing her posterior as they shared a kiss. Ludolf attempted to search for words to describe the feeling in his mental diary, but found himself at a loss. He had never felt or experienced closeness with another being to this degree before... was this what he had been missing his entire life?

As their lips parted, their eyes found each other once more, and the General brought a hand to Marzena's face, exploring it as he would is if her skin was a feeling he had never before experienced. His large fingers brushed past her soft cheek, and then ran themselves through Marzena's brown hair, exploring its texture between his fingertips.

"Long ago my mind was programmed not to feel certain things," He explained to her in a low, deep voice as the two clutched each other close with the sound of dinner sizzling away behind Ludolf. "I wanted to find what was taken from me. I think perhaps I have."

Ludolf wanted to feel what it was like to be normal for once... or at least as normal as he could ever be. He wanted to feel what it was like to be more human than he was allowed to be. So, Ludolf pulled Marzena's dainty figure against his broad chest and explored her lips with another kiss, deeper than the last, an incomprehensible feeling of warmth surging through his body as his lips basked in hers, and his hands roved across her back.

[member="Marzena Choi"]

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena had kissed her fair share of men, but likely not so many as one might think. Despite being a notorious flirt, she was very picky about the men she chose to spend her time with. Her family still favored hiring match makers and creating relationships that would be beneficial in terms of wealth and power. Over the years she had been set up with a string of business men, all of them were suave, successful, and wealthy... but they had all lacked qualities that attracted Marzena. For the most part, those men had spent their lives behind desks, quietly going about their work days... and they were all so very boring. She had always been able to find reasons to turn them down.

Ludolf was a very different story; there was something enigmatic and even a bit dangerous about him. It was the first time that Marzena actually found that she was craving a person’s company. “I’m glad I could help...” She said in response to his explanation about his past, her tone of voice was smooth and even a bit playful. Marzena had never met anyone that claimed to have been programed before, and she understood what that meant on the surface... but she was not in the mood to delve into the past.

As his hands slid around her body, she could feel the strength behind his touch and it lit up warmth within her. A ravenous hunger began to stir inside her, but it had nothing to do with the meal cooking behind them. Marzena fell into his sway again as his lips met hers, and she returned the kiss greedily, pressing her body to his. When the kiss broke for a second time, she tilted her head to the side and let her lips slide gently along Ludolf’s neck, planting a few soft kisses here and there. She leaned away from him just slightly, one of the shoulder straps on her dress slid down, revealing just a touch more skin.

A smile played on her face and she bit her bottom lip slightly, her dark eyes smoldering into his.

“I’m wondering if you can help me find something too...” She said and her smile grew wider.

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Their lips intertwining furiously, no attention was paid to the stove behind them as Ludolf indulged in the feeling of Marzena's lips against his own. What started as a soft, elegant peck on his lips turned into an insatiable lust between the two of them, as Ludolf felt his tongue brush past Marzena's in the throes of their passion. Then the kiss broke, and General Vaas exhaled smoothly as he felt Marzena's lips adventure further down, tickling his neck with playful pecks. Like a child that had just discovered sweets for the first time, Vaas was completely overwhelmed. Was he growing soft? The thought crossed his mind for a moment, but in the next moment he didn't care; his only tangible thought aside from warm desire was to curse his former masters for destroying his chances at a normal life for so long. Nearly forty years of sentience, and only now, here in this kitchen, did Ludolf feel he was truly partaking in the game called humanity.

Ludolf's eyes met Marzena's once again as she looked up to him, his arms still wrapped possessively around her feminine figure. He could feel every curve of her shapely form beneath her tight-fitting black dress, and the drop of her shoulder strap revealed to him only more of her silky skin, ripe for exploration. Ludolf took it upon himself to reach down and pull the strap down further, generously revealing Marzena's entire shoulder, as well as a considerable amount of her cleavage, leaving only a little to Ludolf's own imagination.

"What would you like me to find, Marzena?" Ludolf's dark, low and inquisitive voice poured out of his lips slowly as his eyes never wavered from hers.

His statement was punctuated by a ravenous hand clawing down her back, perhaps stronger than Ludolf intended, but such was the force of a man not used to restraining his own power.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

She felt General Vaas’ hand brush against her skin again, and then found that he had pulled the strap down further. Her heart was beating fast within her chest, and her breaths were coming fast and short. The anticipation was getting to her, but she knew that it also made things even sweeter in the end. Her eyes were locked with his as he spoke, and she arched her back as she felt his hand clawing its way down. Under different circumstances it might have hurt, but right now it only demonstrated his power, and fueled her desire for him. And she had the feeling that she would soon be returning the favor...

“Well, you’ll just have to wait and see...” she teased, letting the back of her hand caress his strong jaw line.

Even though the sight of Ludolf standing there in his uniform was very pleasing, she knew that she also wanted to see him without the stately clothing. How she was longing to feel his skin against hers. Despite the fact that she was starting to feel very much at home in his arms, she gently separated herself from his grasp, and took a few steps away from him. Marzena’s slender hand found the zipper on the back of her dress; slowly she began to pull it down. A moment later the fabric unfurled around her and fell softly around her feet. Now she was left with only her sleek undergarments and the black high heels, looking much like a woman that had stepped out from a high end lingerie advertisement.

A dark smile curled on her face, and she twisted a strand of her hair around her finger, her eyes glinting with mischief. Then she turned away from him and began to walk away, moving swiftly towards her bedroom... she wanted him to pursue her. Marzena’s playful laughter would carry back to him as she disappeared up the stairs.

She only needed to wait for a few moments longer, as she knew that he would follow...

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

>>6:30 AM: Consciousness engaged.

General Vaas gasped audibly as his eyes sprung open. For a moment, he forgot where he was. Blinking momentarily, and then inhaling the sweet, sultry scent of Marzena and her bedsheets, it took only another second for Ludolf to remember. He was still here, in Marzena's apartment. Even though he had only found sleep a few hours ago, he couldn't stop his biological clock from waking him at exactly 6:30 AM. His routine had been programmed that way for the last fifteen years, and there was nothing that would stop it now. Not even a very long and eventful night with Marzena Choi, in which there was very little actual sleep to be had.

Ludolf sat up in Marzena's bed. Blinking again, he ran a hand across his bare chest and squinted to observe his surroundings. The tidy, neutral pastel colors of Marzena's bedroom walls and the neat paintings and adornments that were hung upon them contrasted strongly with the mess of clothes strewn about the floor, some belonging to Ludolf, some belonging to Marzena. Across the room he thought he spotted his black shirt, which he had removed upon following Marzena to her bedroom the night previously. After turning the stove off, thankfully.

He hadn't remembered such an exciting experience in his entire life, and Ludolf's heart began to quicken just a little at the thought of it. He remembered Marzena scampering playfully into her bedroom clad in nothing but her undergarments, he remembered following, and he remembered everything that had transpired after that. Everything. The shapely features of Marzena's body, the feeling of his skin upon hers, the expressions on her coquettish face as each new intimate barrier was breached. The two had played together long into the night, their meeting a few days ago finally boiling over into hours upon hours of passion-infused intimacy. Ludolf had experienced Marzena in a variety of ways last night, all of which he wanted to do again and again. It turned out that his training had provided him with a certain stamina that outlasted most normal men. With another blink of his cold eyes, Ludolf glanced over to the other side of the bed. Marzena was there, sleeping peacefully, her naked form entangled in haphazardly strewn blankets and sheets.

Slowly, Ludolf lowered himself back down and rested his head on the pillow again, wrapping his own nude body back into the sheets. Utilizing his training, he began to lower his heart rate. Across the room, the early morning sunlight was beginning to peek through the drapes in front of the windows. He decided he wouldn't get up just yet; he wanted to relish in the feeling of satisfaction and relaxation for a little while longer. The past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions and passions. Ludolf hadn't expected it to come to a head like this, as soon as it did.

But he wasn't upset that it had.

[member="Marzena Choi"]

 

[Marzena Vaas]

The morning after; Marzena was still blissfully asleep, wrapped in the warmth of the sheets and the presence of Ludolf. When she had finally closed her eyes to drift into sleep last night, she had the briefest of worries that the General wouldn’t be there when she awoke. She had the impression that he would be too honorable for the one night stand, but then again she didn’t know him all that well. Marzena usually did not bring lovers to her bed so quickly but she didn’t have any regrets. Their night had been spent in the throes of passion, it was a time spent in ecstasy like she had never known before. And she had also never known what it was like to experience satisfaction so many times over...

Marzena stirred slightly, and rolled towards Ludolf as he got back into bed, craving closeness and warmth. She turned her head into her pillow for a moment, as the early morning light offended her tired eyes. Ever since her singing career had taken off, she’d been living the nocturnal life. Marzena often slept until the late afternoon, and awoke just as the sun was beginning to set. She didn’t know what the time was, but was sure that it was some ungodly hour. Dark eyes slowly blinked open to see the handsome face that she had come to know so well the night before. A smile flickered across Marzena’s lips as she moved closer, and set a gentle kiss upon Ludolf’s shoulder.

Marzena slipped under his arm so that she could rest against his side, and she wrapped an arm around him as her head came to rest upon his broad chest. She enjoyed the feeling of their nude bodies next to each other, and her mind began to wander, remembering scenes from last night. Marzena remembered the feeling of his strong back beneath her hands, and wondered if perhaps he still had marks left behind from her nails. Before they had spent the night together, her imagination had given her certain expectations about Ludolf... and she had not been disappointed.

She knew that her hair was a bit of a tousled mess, but it was the kind of style that was sexy and even trendy nowadays. Marzena was still so tired that she didn't even care that she'd slept in a full face of makeup. It was nothing that a trip to the spa couldn't fix.

“...Morning.” She whispered, looking up at him with bleary eyes.

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

A glance to the side and he encountered Marzena's inviting orbs as she grinned seductively up at him, and Ludolf found himself smiling back. As she curled up to cuddle at his side and drape her arm across his chest, he found this to be a welcome addition also. Marzena's smooth skin was against him now, warming and protecting him from the cold outside world along with the blankets. Ludolf sank into Marzena's snuggle further, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close. Vaas was always a man of few words, and none needed to be said in this moment. Their passion was unspoken, and he did not need any words to add to it.

Was he enjoying this too much? Perhaps, he thought to himself. But there was also something to be said about a well-rounded man; a man who could love as well as destroy, and up until this point, Ludolf had fought for nothing but abstracts - goals, purposes, ideologies. He had yet to find a tangible presence that imbued him with the flames of passion that fueled his fight for the First Order. Perhaps that, in itself, had been a weakness. In any case, Ludolf was far too tired, and too enamored by the feeling of Marzena's warm body of exquisite perfection curling against him, too captivated by her scent, to worry about these things anymore. He closed his eyes again, and drifted back into a calm sleep for what could have been another half an hour.

Finally, he heard Marzena's sultry voice beckon up to him again, and he opened his eyes. The fact that she was still wearing her makeup didn't even register with him; to Ludolf's manly perceptions, she was simply naturally that beautiful always.

"Good morning," He said down to her, his deep voice a near whisper. Immediately, his militaristic mind began to process a laundry list of routines and objectives, the product of so many years of habit. He was getting hungry again, which needed to be addressed, but first he would have a little fun with the lover by his side.

"Did you sleep well, Marzena?" He gave her an intimate smile - any smile was intimate coming from Ludolf - and ran a playful hand through her tousled hair.

[member="Marzena Choi"]

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena drifted in and out of sleep, wrapped in Ludolf’s embrace, her eyelashes fluttered against his skin as her eyes opened and closed periodically. She had always liked to tell herself that she didn’t need a man to feel whole, but she couldn’t deny the comfort she found being next to Ludolf, his mere presence made her feel sheltered and secure. She drew in a couple deep breaths, taking a moment just to enjoy his scent, and she told herself silently that she shouldn’t get used to it, but that was easier said than done. Though they had spent an impassioned night together, she wasn’t sure what this meant for their relationship. Could she even call it a relationship at this point? Perhaps she was jumping the gun, but all she knew was that she hoped to see Ludolf again after this.

She pushed all thoughts from her mind as she heard his voice fall softly upon her, and she wrapped around him even more, nestling her head gently against him. His hand was in her hair, and she tilted her head back slightly, feeling intoxicated by his touch. She let her hand slide across his chest; slowly her fingertips drew circles upon his skin.

“Mmm.” She grinned and gave him a bit of a squeeze. “I slept very well.” Marzena spoke in a quiet voice, her lips moving against his neck, and her breath could be felt against his skin. Slowly she sat up slightly, just enough to look down into the icy blue of his eyes, and the brightness of the morning illuminated her face, bathing her in an ethereal light. Dark eyes watched him for a moment before she leaned in to kiss him, her lips moving ever so lightly against his at first, and slowly building to a level of passion reminiscent of their time spent together last night.

When her lips finally parted from his, she lowered herself down again to cuddle against him, not ready to move on with her day quite yet.

“You’re welcome to stay for breakfast.” She said, eyes shifting upwards again. “We should be able to find something to cook.”

Only then did she spare a thought for the dinner that sat forgotten on her stove top.

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Surrounded by Marzena's presence, it was difficult to find the will to go anywhere. And why should he, Ludolf thought to himself. Was everything he needed not right here? A warm, cozy bed, a dollop of early morning sunlight, and a beautiful woman to share it all with. But what about all the work to be done back at Zenith Base on Dosuun? How many holomessages did he have waiting for him when we got back to his office? How many...

Marzena fell upon him with a kiss again, and suddenly these thoughts evaporated from his mind just as soon as they came. In an instant there was nothing, no feeling except Marzena's lips upon his, growing steadily more passionate, and her warm body above him, which Ludolf wrapped his arms around covetously and pulled her bare chest against his own.

When the kiss finally separated, Ludolf followed Marzena's gaze as she nestled back against his side. There was a marked difference in his facial expression now; his stony face had softened somewhat since last night, and there was now a hint of passion and soul behind his arctic blue eyes. A genuine smile came more easily to him now. Ludolf said nothing, simply tried these emotions on for the first time. Then, at the mention of breakfast, he nodded and began to sit up.

"Affirmati - I mean... yes, that sounds nice," Ludolf stumbled over his words, blushing visibly as he fumbled with the military jargon that he couldn't excise from his head. "Allow me."

Smiling, he slipped out of bed and stretched his naked body momentarily. The sunlight from the window glanced against his muscles and warmed them slightly as he reached down to find his pair of undergarments. Slipping them on, he headed downstairs and into Marzena's kitchen again. Immediately opening her cabinets, he found her pantry to be well-stocked; either Marzena didn't spend much time in this apartment or her maid kept the place meticulously supplied and organized. All the better, Ludolf thought, as he began to set out ingredients based around a full balanced breakfast intended to supply maximum caloric value.

"This time, Marzena, you have to promise to eat what I cook for you," He said up the stairs jokingly, unsure if Marzena had followed him or not.

[member="Marzena Choi"]