The Officer and The Lady

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena watched as Ludolf sat up; she did as well, but didn’t move from the bed just yet. As a blush touched Ludolf’s cheeks, she only smiled, thinking that the color almost looked out of place on his face. Nevertheless, she thought it was very cute. She had been very attracted to his cold demeanor, but it was nice to see him loosening up, even becoming more boyish and playful. Her brows raised just a touch as she saw Ludolf stand to his full height and stretch, the morning light highlighted his finely tuned muscles rather nicely.

She finally climbed out of bed when Ludolf started down the stairs, moving to her dresser and went about selecting something to wear. Slender fingers pulled on a pair of panties and matching bra, both were a dark red and a bit lacey. She slid a black silk robe over top, but left it open to billow behind her as she walked. There was no need to cover herself completely now, and she liked that it would add a bit of dramatic flair to her every step. She chuckled to herself when she heard Ludolf’s voice carry up the stairs to her, and she began her descent into the living room.

“I promise.” She said, a bit of laughter still in her voice.

Marzena paused midway down the stairs to fully appreciate what was happening in her apartment at that moment. Though she was very tired, she was awake with the sun, and there was a man clad in only his undergarments cooking breakfast for her. It was a nice start to the day, and she wouldn’t have minded starting every day in this fashion. As she moved into the kitchen, she caught sight of the ingredients that Ludolf had selected and knew it would be a calorie heavy meal in comparison to her normal breakfast.

“Hmm,” She moved around to his side, letting her hand slide across his back. “Looks good.”

A grin played on her face, she wasn't talking about the food.

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Ludolf turned to see Marzena appear on the steps, and smiled before returning to preparing breakfast. He didn't seem to notice oddity of his appearance in the kitchen, measuring out ingredients as if conducting a science experiement, all the while wearing nothing but a pair of undergarments which left precious little of his male definition beneath to the imagination. Meanwhile, Ludolf hadn't forgotten to start a brew of stimcaf, which began to chirp and simmer on the counter behind him, and fill the kitchen with its distinct, warm aroma. In the military, there was no such thing as a morning without stimcaf, and it was likely much the same for an actress and singer such as Marzena.

The two were quite an interesting pair, Ludolf reflected quietly to himself as he cracked a few eggs over a pan. She an artist, he a soldier. The two probably couldn't have come from any more opposite backgrounds. And yet General Vaas had a strange feeling when he was with Marzena Choi. The woman, despite being his opposite in numerous ways, felt more like a compliment to him; a fire to his ice. As she slid next to him and placed her hand around his back, Ludolf had no trouble in pulling her close and leaning down to place an affectionate kiss on her forehead. After they had shared each other's bodies last night, he found it remarkably easier to display affection and loosen from his typical rigidity.

Well, almost. "All major food groups represented," He replied to Marzena with an excited nod. "Everything one needs to begin the day properly. Eggs for high protein, grainmush cakes and butter for fat and carbohydrates, and I've also included some Kyleme seasoning. It contains magnesium, for the heart and muscles." Ludolf seemed more excited about the nutritional value of the meal than the potential taste itself.

Setting out a cup for her, Ludolf began to pour Marzena some freshly-brewed stimcaf. He continued to talk as if reading off a spreadsheet of orders. "I calculate approximately 22 grams of protein and and 18 grams of carbohydrates per serving, which, for someone of your body weight will be approximately 25% and 10% daily value respectively, not to mention an excellent source of fiber for digestion. As well as..." He stopped himself, realizing he was rambling.

He really needed to work on this whole normal thing, didn't he?

"I mean, what I meant to say is... well, you know. It'll taste good, too," He finished as he handed her a piping cup of stimcaf, and Marzena Choi would have the honor of being the only one to ever see General Vaas blush sheepishly.

[member="Marzena Choi"]

 

[Marzena Vaas]

As General Vaas began to explain their breakfast, Marzena blinked a few times. Never before had she ever had such a balanced meal in the morning. Her normal meal usual consisted of stimcaf and a piece of fruit, and she also had the unhealthy habit of skipping the meal altogether. Her gaze grew slightly wider as he recited the nutritional values for her body weight, and she couldn’t help but wonder how he had been able to approximate her weight. When asked for this bit of information on her acting resume, she always subtracted a couple pounds... As with many women, it was a bit of a sensitive subject, but she had to applaud his efforts.

“My goodness.” She smiled, seeing the touch of color appear on his face once more. “You’re very thorough, Ludolf.”
She gratefully accepted the hot cup of stimcaf and took a small sip of the strong brew. A bit of the morning fog began to lift, and a happy sigh escaped her lips.

“And I have no doubts that it will be wonderful.” She added with a nod. Although she normally abstained from eating too many carbs, she figured that she could just eat a salad for dinner and be just as well off. Marzena finally left his side to search for the flatware and plates, feeling a bit silly that Ludolf probably knew her kitchen better than she did now. Marzena finally tied her robe closed before moving out of the kitchen, plates in hand. After setting the table she had a seat and watched with interest as Ludolf finished cooking their meal.

“Shall we continue our conversation from last night?” She smiled, remembering how they had become a bit... sidetracked. “If there is a way for me to help the First Order, I would be glad to oblige.”

If she could do more work in First Order space, she knew that the likelihood of seeing Ludolf again would be higher. That in itself would make it well worth it.

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Slowly, the flushing of Ludolf's cheeks began to disappear as he resumed his more usual stoic manner.

"Marzena," He said over his shoulder to her in the same low voice that had uttered her name last night, "I am nothing if not thorough." This was said with a wry, suggestive grin, as Ludolf began to warm up to Marzena's flirtatious ways, and perhaps even begin to match hers.

Within moments, the kitchen was once more filled with the savory aroma of a well-prepared breakfast, which Ludolf meticulously arranged with a spatula on the plates Marzena provided. Finally, he presented Marzena's plate to her on her kitchen table, along with a piping cup of stimcaf, before sitting across from her with his own. Another sip of stimcaf, and Ludolf was beginning to feel the energy return to him after a quite eventful night. His hair was still somewhat tousled as he sat across from the actress bare-chested, clad only in his undergarments. Already he felt as though he had developed a strange level of closeness with Marzena Choi - perhaps it was their intimacy last night that had done it, but he felt oddly comfortable.

"An excellent suggestion," Ludolf replied to Marzena, remembering that he did indeed have business with her aside from carnal activities. "In fact, there are already a number of ways in which you could prove useful to the First Order."

Turning his head for a moment, Ludolf observed the early morning bustle of Cloud City from Marzena's high-rise window, watching the ships fly by on their routines. Only a month ago, this planet had barely heard of the First Order; now nothing was done on Cloud City without the First Order's involvement or acquiescence.

"You see, Marzena... our people need icons. They need paragons of greatness to emulate and aspire to. This goes not just for men, but for women as well. I think you may be in a unique position to provide such a thing." Turning back, Ludolf locked eyes with her. "I was thinking of having a statue commissioned here, on Cloud City. A statue that will serve as a reminder to our citizens of human beauty in its most perfect form. We need more than lackluster buildings and lifeless skylines in our cities. We need aesthetic. I was thinking you could be the model for this statue, should you accept."

[member="Marzena Choi"]

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena smiled as Ludolf set a plate full of food down in front of her, and she found that her cup of stimcalf had even been topped off. The smell of breakfast actually made her hungry, but she couldn’t even turn her eyes away to look at the food, her gaze was captivated by Ludolf as he sat down to eat. It was probably the first time that anyone had prepared a meal for her at home, and it was a gesture that she truly did appreciate. It was also nice to have company to eat with, as she often found herself taking most of her meals alone.

Finally she picked up the fork and took a dainty bite of eggs. “Mmm, very good!” She said with a nod, dabbing her mouth with a cloth napkin. Next she tried a bit of the grainmush cakes; she ignored the nagging carbohydrate induced guilt and allowed herself to finish it completely. There was something about this meal that was very comforting. Marzena raised her cup to her lips as Ludolf began to explain his plan for her.

Her eyes lit up upon hearing that he wanted to commission a statue in her likeness. Now that was certainly a high form of flattery. Over the years she had served as a model for her father’s company, and it was always a welcomed thing to see her image blown up many times over and displayed in his mall. Of course, this contributed to a very inflated ego at times... but it was a wonderful feeling nonetheless.

Marzena’s slender hand came to rest over her heart, and she beamed across the table at Ludolf.

“I would be honored.” She said in a slightly breathless voice. “And I’m so very flattered.”

Human beauty in its most perfect form. Ludolf’s deep voice was echoing in her mind, and she reflected upon the fact that he had successfully made her swoon. A light and rosy flush of color had also found her cheeks.

“I must have a spectacular dress made for the occasion.” She said after another bite. “Unless you would prefer that I pose in the nude.” Marzena laughed softly.

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Attempting to eat with some level of composure, Ludolf was barely able to hide his hunger. Skipping dinner last night, coupled with the activities the two had engaged in for hours on end, had truthfully left him famished. He was half tempted to raid Marzena's refrigerator in the middle of the night, but that would have been rather unbecoming, Ludolf deduced. Besides, Marzena had kept him quite occupied last night. There was nowhere else he wanted to be than Marzena's bed, amidst her company.

While eating his eggs as slowly as he could manage, Ludolf was happy to see Marzena beaming from across the table. He figured she would be amenable to his suggestion. Even for an up-and-coming actress and singer such as herself, it wasn't every day that one was given the opportunity to be immortalized in statue form.

"I'm pleased to hear you're on board," Ludolf smiled warmly back at her after finishing a bite of grainmush. "It will be wonderful, I assure you."

Glancing out the window again, Ludolf began to envision where the statue would be placed. There should definitely be one in Cloud City's center square, he decided - perhaps with a fountain as well.

"My philosophy is simple, Marzena," He continued as he looked out the window with an inspired glow in his eyes altogether uncommon for his usual cold demeanor. "If people are not surrounded by beauty, how are they supposed to believe they are part of a superior culture? I'm of the belief that aesthetic influences attitude. The people of the First Order must feel the superiority of our culture all around them. I think when they look at a finely sculpted statue of you, that is exactly what they will feel."

Suddenly overcome with uncharacteristic flirtatiousness, Ludolf reached a bare foot underneath the table and began to toy with Marzena's bare leg, playfully rubbing his foot against her soft skin.

"There will be no nude statues. There will, however, be plenty of nude posing... though that will be saved for my company alone."

[member="Marzena Choi"]

 

[Marzena Vaas]

As Ludolf continued to elaborate on his philosophy and the vision he had for the people of the First Order, Marzena knew that she wanted to help make all of it a reality. She was more than happy to act as his muse. Her fingers slid along the neckline of her robe slowly as he spoke, the fabric separated just slightly, but she didn’t seem to notice. For a moment she was deep in thought, and she knew that it was the right time for her to make a bit of a change. Marzena’s eyes came to focus again on Ludolf when she felt his foot brush up against her leg, and she grinned upon hearing his take on posing nude.

“I shall look forward to our next... modeling session.” She said with a sultry look.

Her attention shifted back towards her plate, and she looked with a bit of surprise to see that it was mostly empty now. Perhaps she had been a bit more ravenous than she cared to admit. At least she had delivered on the promise to eat, and she had actually enjoyed it thoroughly.

“Next week I will be back home on Dargul, my mother insists that I pay her a visit.”

Marzena rubbed her temples for a moment, her head already starting to ache at the prospect of spending at week with her mother. For now she would keep any talk about General Vaas under wraps, as she did not want to fuel her mother’s fight for marriage. She could already imagine her mother extending an invitation to Ludolf, only to grill him about his intentions. Her family was still fairly old fashioned when it came to relationships. She sighed slightly and stood up to get more stimcaf, surely that would help...

“Anyway...” She continued as she brought the small pot to the table and poured herself another helping. “After that, I was thinking that perhaps I would stay on Bespin for a while. Perhaps I will make this my primary residence.” Marzena tried to keep her tone even and casual, not wanting to come across as desperate or needy.

“And I do owe you a meal...” She stepped around to his side to refill his cup, strategically placing her chest close to him. It was overkill, as she already knew that he was attracted to her, but she want to secure a place in his thoughts... especially during their time apart.

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Smiling, Ludolf nodded in agreement. "As do I."

If he didn't have duties to attend to today, Ludolf would have gone forward with their little modeling idea right then and there. The sight of Marzena's robe falling off her shoulders a bit did not escape him. Vaas had to fight off a bit of arousal as he finished his breakfast completely, and listened to Marzena reveal her homeworld of Dargul. He admittedly knew very little of the planet, only that it neighbored Umgul, another system which he had virtually no knowledge. Ludolf made a mental note to ask Marzena about her homeworld some time.

"I should very much like that," Vaas said to her suggestion to make Bespin her primary base of operations. Ludolf was on Bespin frequently, and it would certainly be lovely to have someone nearby to unwind with. "By the way, how are you getting around right now, Marzena? We shall have to find you a transport."

Ludolf was about to get up to reach for his datapad to search for a suitable ship for Marzena, compliments of the First Order... but Marzena was already upon him, refilling his stimcaf dutifully. Her matronly mannerisms and flirtatious air caused a sudden surge of excitement in Ludolf as she bent over in front of him, her breasts at his eye level. At once, Ludolf pulled her onto his lap and placed his lips against hers, while his hands pressed against the soft fabric of her robe along her back. The transport could wait for a moment; it was an opportunity he simply could not miss.

[member="Marzena Choi"]

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena had just set the kettle down on the table, as they had already exhausted its contents, and she let out a slightly started sound as she felt Ludolf’s strong hands upon her. Before she knew it, she was on his lap and they were locked again in a kiss. Her hands found his sturdy shoulders, and she gripped them to help steady herself for a moment before letting her arms drape around him again. She was coming to learn that General Vaas was a man of few words, but she liked the fact that he made his attraction known to her through his actions. Telling someone that you liked them was one thing... but being pulled into a passionate kiss was simply divine.

When the kiss broke, she let her eyes open to gaze into Ludolf’s blue eyes. She felt a bit dazed, but was also fighting the urge to rip off her robe completely and demand satisfaction. Usually she was the one that left her lovers wanting more, but now she found that the tables had turned. Marzena couldn’t even remember feeling this way about a man, perhaps it was a first...

“First a statue... and now a ship?” She grinned at him. “You sure know how to spoil me.”

If there was anything that pleased Marzena, it was receiving gifts from adoring men. Though she did have a transport, she hadn’t the slightest clue what type it was... those just weren’t the kind of details she needed to know. All she knew was that it was silver colored and got her from point A to point B. She certainly wasn’t going to turn down a shiny new ship provided by the First Order.

Reluctantly she climbed off of Ludolf’s lap, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before moving to the nearest chair.

“Just so you know, you’ve set the bar quite high.” She said with a playful laugh. “Next time, you may have to give me a whole planet.”

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Straightening himself out again after their lips parted, Ludolf gave Marzena a wry, confident smile. There were plans to invade Lanteeb, after all.

"I'm sure that can be arranged."

Silently, he got up from his seat at the table and crossed towards the stairs again, this time moving up to the bedroom. Ludolf needed to collect his things and dress himself for his appointments later today. A feeling of dissatisfaction came over him at the thought of having to leave Marzena's apartment and resume his job again - the first time he had ever felt so. His job was his life, and yet now Ludolf wanted nothing more than to stay with Marzena and make love to her all day, and repeat the things they had done last night over and over again. General Vaas was forced to brush these thoughts from his mind as he found his pants on Marzena's floor and put them on, and then gathered his black shirt and boots.

He came back down the stairs again with both articles of clothing in hand, and slipped his black shirt over his chest again. He could shower and fix his disheveled appearance later. For now, he crossed back towards Marzena again and sat on a chair across from her, pulling his boots on.

"Whatever ship you've got now, we shall find you an improvement," Ludolf said nonchalantly as his black leather boot slid back into place on his foot. "I'll have my people contact you. Expect a retinue of Stormtroopers to accompany you offworld, should you decide to go," He continued - technically, if Marzena Choi was involved in a relationship with a First Order general, that too made her a target, and she would require protection. Though Ludolf didn't bother to explain any of this now.

Finally, Vaas stood up, and tugged Marzena's thin frame to press against him by pulling on her robe tassles. His hands gloved once more, he ran his fingers through the young actress' silken hair.

"And of course, I will be in touch."

[member="Marzena Choi"]

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena watched quietly as Ludolf stood and made his way back to her bedroom. She couldn’t say that she didn’t want to rush up the stairs and keep him there for the rest of the day; the thought had certainly crossed her mind. However, she figured that it would be best to let General Vaas get on with the rest of his day. A soft frown tugged at the corner of her mouth when she saw him emerge a moment later with his pants back on, but at least he’d given her one last peek at his muscular upper body before covering it with his shirt.

Now she was watching as he pulled his boots on, and she could hear him explaining that she should expect a new ship and a retinue of Stormtroopers. “Thank you.” She said, nodding a bit absently. Marzena didn’t question his motives, for having a group of Stormtroopers around would only add to her air of importance.

A tug at her robe tassels brought Marzena back to the present, and a smile grew on her face again as she found herself pressed against Ludolf. Her arms wound around him one more time, and she nodded a couple times when he said that he would be in touch.

“I shall wait patiently.” She said softly near Ludolf’s ear, and gave him a bit of a squeeze before relinquishing her hold.

Marzena escorted General Vaas to the door, where she held it open for him to exit, but not before grabbing his arm one last time and kissing his cheek. For a few moments she remained standing in the doorway, and watched as the black clad figure moved down the hall. When Ludolf had vanished from sight, Marzena slipped back inside and locked the door. With a sigh she moved back up the stairs to her room and climbed back into bed.

Despite the fact that she liked to keep a nonchalant front when it came to relationships, she found herself quite taken with Ludolf. Even though he had only shared her bed for one night, she found that it felt strangely empty now. Slowly her dark eyes closed and Marzena drifted off into sleep quite quickly, still tired from a very eventful night.

Needless to say, she had very pleasant dreams...

[member="Ludolf Vaas"]