Illum's Prize is His Eyes (Trilby Benedetta)

Structure after structure engrossed the landscape. The beauty of the architecture gleamed with the rare marbles that molded into a glamorous building. Even as one's eyes caught the repetitive style, it seemed just more heavenly. Everything combined into a spectacle that was Muunilist state capitol, an area of hasty motions, business and financial competitions. A calm mystique paraded over the land, even with the eternal financial wars, allowing the neatly organized city to hold mass appeal across the galaxy.

Lamar was just another figure that had found his eyes gazing in awe at the very existence. Standing in ovation as he stepped from his ship onto the landing bay, he watched as the world below him went about. There wasn't a single chirp that seemed disturbing, but chants and calls echoed over the land. Speeders splashed over the streets, swaying through he waves of traffic. Muunilist was not Coruscant, but with the amount of business it could easily been mistaken.

"Just bring my stuff to the hotel." Lamar ordered to the nearby protocol droid, still transfixed at the works below. A smile curled its way into his face, pressing into his eyes allowing them to unlock the shackles of glamour in the city.

Letting out a sigh, he headed off to the ramp, heading into the city. Soon he would have to report for duty, but until then there would be some sort of time for fun.

Muunilist was not Coruscant, thankfully.

Trilby had arrived here for a job a short time ago; something simple, and it had taken her less time then expected to complete. There were still a few days till she met with her employer, so she decided to "blend" in and play tourist.

She had stopped into a small caf-bar for a drink, sitting close to window, watching the people walk by. It was a pleasant change from her usual days, and she intended to enjoy every minute of it.

The walk had held many main events. Premieres of numerous cultures splashed across the pavement in a display of various creatures and critters. Many were frowned upon by the Empire, but that was particularly renown ideal with the growth of discriminative beliefs. Lamar was a custom, however, for the vast species of beings were second nature in Coruscant streets. Yet the style, the motions, and the structures--they were all far too foreign to call home.

Occasionally his awe left him bumping into someone, nearly tripping on many occasions over the smaller figures. The displays caught much attention, though not for long. Laughter assumed as he tripped over a Squib, falling back against a glass window. He was safe, it seemed, though his head ached with the pressing of the glass.

A sigh was slowly released from his soul as he regained his composure. Glancing over his shoulder, he peeped into the building collided. The place was surely occupied, much like all the other buildings, but the place was social. Face after face combined, forming a wave of people in conversation. It was a unique blend and he could do nothing to be absorbed into the scene.

Drifting into the bar, he scampered about in hopes of finding a safe place. It was exactly packed, but the jumble of different weight class wasn't precisely the safest place to be. Finally taking refuge at the bar, he called out for breathes in a pant. Nothing was worst then sliding between two obese Sullustians. All his mind could do was channel the pain of his ribs, but he managed to beckon the bartender for a moment.

"A...Corellian Ale," he wheezed.

She was brought out of her happy stupor by a loud thud as someone..tripped? And fell back against the window. She raised a brow at the younger man as he glanced inside, but he didn't see her.

Another gulp and her cup was empty. She elbowed her way to the bar, slamming the glass on the counter to get the tenders attention. He was in the middle of pouring an ale, looking up to be greeted with a sweet smile.

"Give me another one of ...whatever this was. Please."

In the bustle, Lamar had a lot of trouble regaining his composure. At the very last moment his body eased, husky flesh interrupted his senses as it banged against his side or back. Initially he was ready to bout, but such behavior was immature and silence would be the virtue in this mishap. Instead he turned to sublimation, and looked for a gem amongst the rubble.

A boom of noise coated over the sounds of his conscious, leaving Lamar's senses weak. All he had was his eyes and they scarcely saw anything attractive. Not even the ale in his cup seemed worth swallowing. For a moment the consciences was to leave, but at glance it was clear that the voyage to the door would be far harder than the entrance.

Lamar took another survey, swallowing in the room through the windows of his soul. A pout scourged his face, his curvaceous lips pressed down tremendously by emotion. The expression soon shifted as his eyes caught a single lady along the sturdy bar, allowing a smile to fester upon his face. It felt foreign, but comfortable, like new sheets on a bed.

"Hey...there!" He called.

Her glass was quickly refilled, and over the noise of the bar she heard someone call out. It was the window guy, a smile on his face and two fat aliens on either side of him. She returned the smile with a raise of her glass.

The young man fumbled through, nearly dropping his cup of ale. It wouldn't have mattered much; it wasn't a good choice on his part. A simple drink of water would've handled the parch throat of his, but the dry visual was in need of a wetting attraction. Even through the barricades of aliens his eyes and tongue moisten with a sense of lust.

"Finally, someone worth speaking to," He muttered before he nearly fell over another alien's tail. There was a tendency growing, but he could care less. All he wanted was conversation...with another human being.

Despite the stagger over, he came to a graceful stop by her side as he regained his composure once more. Slinging his arm over the bar as he took a moment for respite he analyzed the woman up close. She was no different from before, yet there was nothing wrong with that. All of his expectations had been reached and the survey was over. Next was communication...

"So, whatcha name?"

"Trilby. What's yours?"

She watched as he eyed her up and down, bring her freshly filled glass to her lips as she waited for his reply.

Lamar eyed her, ogling in his own little world for a moment. It seemed as though the words she spoke were etched out of his mind, leaving only him in silence as he surveyed her. The examination continued on, even as his gaze became more focused. Then, in a sudden change, he was warped back into reality.

"La--Lamar," He stuttered, seemingly out of breathe. The nerves that once tingled with sensation had become dull. Rarely was he nervous, but being overwhelmed wasn't too far from a daily occasion. The Empire had assisted in molding the youth to deal with such situations however.

"Lamar Starworth," he reiterated. A gulp followed, taking a drink from his peripheral. It wasn't his, apparently, because the obscure taste rolled down his throat like a slug in slime. Never would he order such an appalling beverage. He ignored the distaste, however, taking his composure as a priority as his insides grumbled in contempt.

He had slipped into what she fondly called the "Boy Bubble" - his own little world where he was blissfully unaware of anything. He stuttered a name that she strained to hear over the noise of the bar, leaning slightly closer to him as he said it again.

Trilby stiffled a laugh as he grabbed a random drink from the bar, taking a taste that obviously wasn't pleasant. "So Mr Starworth, what brings you to this lovely little planet?"

A smile grew on his face as he realized she had moved closer. Even though the drink still filled his belly with anguish, glee stung his nerves. As the moment unfolded the grin widened, realizing that the events could've been even worst. All the enraging noise about him had been placed, unconsciously, in a whole different dimension. The "Boy Bubble" was still in many respects activated.

"Business," he began. "I guess..."

Lamar glanced off, taking his eyes out of the bubble. Recognizing the bartender from earlier, he beckoned him over once more. A smirk replaced his joyous smile, though his demeanor didn't change a tad.

"A drink for the lady." The young bartender nodded in response.

"What would you like?"

She had barely finished her last drink and already he was buying her one. She slid her glass across the bar-top to the tender. "Another one of these, please."

She caught the smirk, but didn't mention it. "Business seems to be the only reason to come here. What kind of business are you in?"

"Imperial," He simply said. The nonchalance of the statement was grand and almost perfectly delivered. Such comments were common, especially with the numerous inquiries about his regular black attire.

Grabbing up the drink, he smoothly placed it in front of her. However, his eyes were not trained on his motion, instead they locked upon her. Unlike before he studied her in hope of catching a twinge. Most melted at the topic of the Empire or reacted with glee. In an era of war there was no "gray" area.

She took the drink and quickly raised it to her lips, covering the slight scowl that appeared as he uttered that word. A smile appeared as she set the drink down on the bar.

"Oh really? Why would the Empire send you here though? Are you an officer of some kind?"

This was a lovely turn of events - here on a job and the one person she decides to strike up a conversation with is an Imperial officer. Depending on what part of the Empire he was in...he might be useful for more than a few free drinks.

"You could say that," Lamar murmured.

A glance shifted his focus then. Finally he could breathe out of his bubble, allowing the foreign air to explore his body. External sounds overcame his thoughts. Coruscant was hectic, but he was not native to Muunilist. Tongues of abo shattered all sense of normality, while Lamar tried to refocus. It was hard.

"I'm a stormtrooper."

"Oh."

A trooper. Wowee. Some Imperial lackey. She didn't let her disappointment show, slowly draining her glass and setting it back on the bartop. She didn't really know what to ask or even say - a trooper would be of little use for information, or as bait for some bigger scheme.

"That must be...interesting."

The smirk had long faded, and in replacement was simple thought. All the talk of his job had forced him to think harder, far harder than anytime on work. During jobs he simply went through the motions, did the work and was on his way. Even as a civilian there was no real time to meditate on his placement.

A lot had change over the tides of time. From the Coruscant streets to a black uniform with a few badges. He wasn't exactly what he expected himself to be, but that was not all that bad in the end.

"Well...not really." He began. The drink he had unknowingly stole was still quite filled, but it was equally distasteful. Not even a drop could moisten his tongue without destroying his stomach.

"Being a commander at my age...It's good, but I'm not exactly patient. I know my time will come and all, just not soon enough for me."

"Uh-huh."

She casted a glance down at her crono. Slipping off her stool, she dropped a few chits on the bartop. A false appointment would be a good enough excuse, right?

"Well, uh, thanks for the drink and the chat, but I gotta run. I have an appointment across town."

An eyebrow rose as she dropped the chits. Lamar's body reacted without his mind. As she wandered off the stool, his arm reached out. Grabbing her wrist, he stared deeply into his eyes. For a moment the grip faltered, just a tad, before regaining it's fury.

"Ya--you--," he stammered. "Your leaving without saying goodbye kiss?"

A smile widened his already childish cheeks, a sly glint shimmering from his eyes.

The grip slowly was released as a laughter broke from the cage of his belly. Dropping down from the chuckling onslaught onto the stool, he tried desperately to regain his composure. It was a moment before he retained control, the laughter distorting his gaze as his eyes were squeezed like lemons.

"Hah, was just playin." Lamar said. "See ya."

Her first reaction as he grabbed her wrist was to sock him in the face. She held back - no need to cause a scene - and rolled her eyes.

"Uh-huh. Whatever."

She turned her back on him, elbowing her way towards the door through the mass of alien bodies blocking her way.