I would drink it... [Moonfire]

[Thaddeus]

Not far from the Senate tower and tucked down a side alley off one of the main and beautiful boulevards was the Alderaan Ruge. It was a secluded establishment; it did not pay for advertisements and in point of fact didn’t even have a sign. All that welcomed patrons was a worn edifice, bedecked in the remnants of posters from various senatorial campaigns, and off to one side (why it wasn’t in the centre of the wall was a puzzle for the ages) was a simple door.

Step through the door and you would find yourself looking upon a grand old establishment, here generals and supreme chancellors had drunk and dealt cards, everything though worn a little was of the greatest quality. A droid would offer to take your coat if you had one, it would also perform a discrete scan for weapons and remove them too if the patron had them. You could then make your way directly to the bar, or perhaps you preferred the seclusion of one of the rooms made available on request, wanting to be semi-social you could make for a little booth in a corner, or to take in the full majesty of the place and be very social one could sit at a table in the centre of the room. Live music always played, though it was never loud or dominating. The staff was quick, quiet, familiar with all the regulars, convivial to the new faces, and most importantly were experts at their tasks. In short one could not find a better establishment, or one less well known outside the proper circles, than the Alderaan Ruge.

It was to this place that Arkoh had set out after the Aegis had finished its latest mission. He was not in a very good mood as the taxi roared towards the nearest place to set down, the Aegis had been seconded to Special Operations again. It was not that like some military types he thought war was to be fought upfront and ‘honourably’, no he loathed having to operate and command his ship without knowing all the details. How could he do his best without all the information, simply handing him coordinators and telling him to be there at such-and-such a time, or making him listen to some foot-slogging lieutenant tell him what to do… it was just insufferable, and meant that he could not do anything as artfully as he was normally able to.

The taxi touched down, Arkoh straightened his uniform, picked up his coat, and paid the fare. As he threw the coat over his shoulders he began the short walk to the Ruge. He had learnt of the place from his brother, who had attended it frequently while lobbying the Senate, who had told him that it was just his sort of place. And he was right, quiet, classically classy, and even better it never had a happy hour; for its patrons were not the sort that needed to slake their thirsts quickly and cheaply. No the people who frequented the Ruge enjoyed slowly salivating over the perfect wine, delicately inhaling the finest cigarette, or just listening to the music while nursing a drink. Yes the Ruge was just what he needed, not a chance that he would run into anyone that would bother him – and certainly none of the grunts that currently had earned his ire.

So disinterestedly and casually he handed off his coat, and then made for his usual table. It was near the stage so that he could hear the music, but close enough to a wall that it was obscured somewhat from view. Though the Ruge was very empty this lunch, and so he was a bit more visible. Ordering a Arkanian sweet milk, he did not need to tell the waiter to leave the ash-tray as Arkoh was a regular. Whenever the Aegis came on leave to the Republic capital Arkoh could be found here. The routine was already working its magic and beginning to soothe him. Pulling out his cigarette case, and manicured fingers extracting and lighting one he took a deep breath. The smoke filled his mouth, and gently coursed down his throat, leaving the case on the table he exhaled and nodded a thank you as his drink arrived. Sipping and smiling his perfect smile Arkoh thought this was just wonderful, and closed his eyes and listened to the fine music.

[Moonfire]

"I'm sorry, pumpkin," Crackled a wheezey voice in the far corner of the ritzy establishment, distorted some from the holo-call, the more obscured by the imposing figure.

"Daddy, you promised." The husky-sweet tones of the woman huddled off into the corner matched the look of disappointment. A large hand swept through the unruly mane of dark blue waves, a sigh of exasperation flipping through her lips as she leaned back, setting her boots up on the mirror-quality polish of the wooden table. "How many times is this now?".

Sgt. Lila Styles wasn't exactly a regular at the Alderaan Ruge. Not in the classic sense. At the begging of her father, who spent much of his time as a senator in the Core, she'd come and spend an hour or two with him at his favorite lounge when she had leave before wandering off to a seedier and far more comfortable bar to enjoy the rest of her much deserved mini-vacation.

"Oh, Pumpkin. Don't be like that, its re-election season." The man, one Jor Styles, a darkly handsome Zeltron with an firm hold on his seat in the senate cooed, trying to placate his agitated and suitably out of place daughter.

"Three... No wait, four? Daddy, I don't give a sh*t if you're busy or whatever, just don't ask me to come down to this snooty dive--" Her eyes flicked up to a nearby maitre de, who'd been hovering over her since shortly after she arrived. "Sorry, fine establishement when you're obviously too busy to actually show up."

"Lila, dear. I'll be there in an hour, hour and a half tops. Let me just get some off these damnable interns wrangled and under control and I'll head right over. I promise." Without quite hearing her reply Jor Styles hung up, his miniature image frozen and then quickly flickering away.

"Urrrrrrrghhhhhhh." Lila moaned, head flinging back as she tossed the comm-link unceremoniously towards the bar, where it landed with a clatter at the foot of a very perturbed waiter. "Hey! You! Get me a glass of Paradise Heart, your best vintage. Put it on Senator Styles tab." She barked before standing up, surveying the small crowd, the rich men with their fine wines and their frilly music.

What the hell was she going to do for an hour?

Taking the quietly offered wineglass Lila stood up at a fairly imposing height for a woman, and showed off the full extent of her regalia. Or lack there of. Clad in only the most basic of career military fatigues, the soldier wore simple a thin-undershirt style tank top and a pair of cargo-shorts, the dog-tags at her neck jangled as she took firm, thudding steps across the lounge of the Ruge.

A curl of smoke and a wisp of carefully place white hair caught the woman's attention and with a surprisingly deft movement of a woman of her more amazonian dimensions Sgt. Styles was seated before the Republic Captain and plucking the lit cigarette from his lips, fluid transferring it to her own.

"Cap'n Arkoh." A dip of her head and a sparkle of the violet eyes met the grin plastered across her face as she said hello, before taking a deep drag on the cigarette and exhaling the gorgeously curling smoke.

"Not bad, Cap'n. Shoulda pegged you for a guy with an eye for the finer things. Much like myself."

[Thaddeus]

The whiskey-like voice of the sultry Pa’lowick filled the relatively empty Ruge, the band played the seductive notes of the song, and slowly one by one everyone had turned to watch,

“You want my glove, are you enthralled? You wanna see it slip away and watch it fall. Oh, we know it’s your show, so take it all.”

Arkoh listened entranced, they may be a primitive species but they could sing like almost no other. Another deep puff of his cigarette as the band played on, he was so entranced he hadn’t noticed the Amazonian Zeltron engaged in argument over a holocall. Most people had noticed, it was a very quiet lunch, and a few of the political types nodded to one another and said that must be Jor Styles daughter. Politics, whether on a galactic or simply town council scale, was utterly incestuous. But Arkoh was blissfully unaware of all of this; he was enjoying his fine Corellian cigarettes, the Arkanian sweet milk, and immersed body and soul in the music.

So when the powerfully built woman quickly moved to his table, his eyes had barely opened to take in her features, before her hands had plucked the cigarette from his lips. He was too startled to be truly angry yet, and looked on dumbfounded at the oddly dressed woman before him. She clearly knew him, though obviously thought she knew him better than he would ever let anyone know him. A former conquest? No, Arkoh was sure he would remember summiting that particularly mountain. Not from his crew, they all knew better. He nodded his head aloofly at the ‘Cap’n Arkoh’, and slowly realisation dawned on him. He recalled on their last mission a sergeant, who had been particularly… forthright would be the polite way to put it, obnoxious the more honest way. The universe was a cruel and vindictive b*tch Arkoh thought with a sigh, as he reached for his cigarette case and the song played on,

“Now it’s your turn to finally learn. You had the world, you had your fling. You wanted more than everything.”

Pulling out another cigarette, and lighting it, taking a deep and soothing puff he cast his white eyes over the woman. She was slightly taller than him, much more powerfully built, but despite all this she still held much of the Zeltron’s famed beauty – albeit in a more rustic and rural manner Arkoh thought with the disinterested mind of a connoisseur.

“Please keep that, I have another.” He said icily, and looked down at the new cigarette which rested just in front of his lips.

There was perhaps not an odder sight in all the Ruge, perhaps there had never been. A manicured and coiffed Arkanian, whose dress and taste was tailored to the very finest limits; and seated next to him was the camo-fatigues wearing, complete with wife-beater top and dangling dog-tags, Zeltron woman. Arkoh had recovered sufficiently from his initial shock that he was now annoyed, how had this trooper even found the Ruge? Shouldn’t she be downing drinks at some dive bar? How had she been let in like that? Ah here Arkoh had a realisation; she must know someone who was a regular… yes that would explain it.

“So sergeant…?” He trailed off leaving time for her to offer her name, “What brings you to the Ruge? Apart from our shared eye for the finer things of course.” Though he covered it well, there was more than a hint of displeasure in the final remark.

[Moonfire]

Lila wasn't exactly known for her decorum. The startled and sort of puzzled look the Arkanian had brought a deep laugh from the woman as she took another long drag of the cigarette, thoroughly enjoying the flavor. The tingling euphoria of the cigarette spread in pleasant waves as the fingers of her free hand drummed across the table top.

"Styles," The Zeltron answered for him as she exhaled. "Lila Styles." Another dip of her head in acknowledgement as the cool voice of the twi'lek songstress echoed through the richly furnished room.

Now take it right between your thighs, you grabbed for everything my friend, but don't you see that in the end, there will be nothing left of me.

Her song ended to the mild claps and nods of appreciation from small group, a rather surprising amount of people or the early afternoon now that Lila took a closer look. The faces all of the men, who shot glances in her direction all had that same sort of perfectly manicured haziness about them. Men who struggled all their lives to appear as prosperously the same as possible. Youthful, but with a carefully crafted distinguished maturity. Meticulously placed greys. Whatever plastic surgeon had taken up residence in this part of the city was certainly making bank.

Her eyes flicked back to the peering, and certainly disgruntled Arkoh as the songstress picked up another tune, the music floating between them in eerie honeyed tones.

I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream...I know you, that look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam.

"Figured while I was in town I'd meet up with my Pops. Old man stood me up again. You'd think he was embarrassed of me or somethin'." Another dusky chuckle at the thought as she shifted in the plushly cushioned chair, kicking her feet up quite comfortably onto the table top. With a wave of her hand the dark, deliciously sweet wine slipped between her lips in a startlingly delicate sip.

A long sigh of pleasure as the glass settled back with a clink on the table.

"Plus, the wine here is exquisite."

[Thaddeus]

Arkoh’s enjoyment of the sultry and sexy songstress was diminished somewhat by his uninvited companion’s tattoo that she wrapped with her fingers. His glass empty, a delicate hand raised only falling back to his lap when the barman nodded and promptly started making another drink. The barman was halfway through his task when the Zeltron offered her name, yes he had been right! Sergeant Styles had been the rather insistent trooper from the latest mission; Arkoh took another puff and could not help but smile a little in pleasure at the taste. Sometimes he did wonder whatever had happened to the Corellian smuggler who had tried to bribe the young ensign with cigarettes. No doubt having paid his fine, and once more up to his old tricks.

“And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem but if I know you, I know what you'll do.”

The band played the wistful tune, and the lovely singer entranced the room once more. Arkoh quirked a brow as if to ‘never’ when Lila mentioned that her father may be embarrassed though the twitch of a smirk betrayed the sarcasm. He could not have imagined meeting his parents dressed as she was, he could not imagine leaving his quarters looking as she did. As her feet quickly clunked onto the table Arkoh deftly moved the ash-tray out of the way before placing it down between them once again, tapping away some ash.

“Your father is a regular I take it?” Arkoh inquired with stiff politeness, he was not social at the best of times, and right now he was not in the mood at all. But decorum demanded a certain standard of behaviour; he thought inwardly cursing his good breeding. Speaking of good breeding Arkoh watched how Lila delicately supped her wine, clearly she had been raised well… hold on wasn’t there a Senator Styles? Arkoh seemed to vaguely recall the name in some posters or holointerviews.

“Ah… your father must be the senator.” It was said more to himself than to his companion. At long last his drink arrived, and he indulged a rather deep and vivifying draught. “The bar here is very well stocked you are right, the Arkanian sweet milk is almost as good as on Arkania itself.”

The singer had finished once more, and a polite round of applause filled the room. Arkoh did not applaud, but noticed that she was looking at the odd pair and launched into her new number as if it was sung directly at them.

“Rusted brandy in a diamond glass, everything is made from dreams. Time is made from honey slow and sweet only the fools know what it means.”

It was a song he knew and actually liked, so he listened and looked on ignoring his companion for a moment. Eyes still on the singer he asked almost absentmindedly, “I trust you found the Aegis up to standard for your mission…” Bitterness crept in for a moment, “…Whatever it was.”

He noticed that Lila’s cigarette was almost extinguished, inwardly sighing, but with a charming smile he reached for his cigarette case. Opening it and offering it, and the lighter, to Lila.

“Please have another.” Never let it be said that Arkoh was uncivilised he thought, even in the face of this Amazon.

[Moonfire]

"The Indomitable Senator Jor Styles." Lila answered, taking another soothing sip of her wine. The tartness of the tannins washed over her tongue as the saucy singer on stage bust into another number. "This is his sort of haunt, my step-mother's a fan as well. Not exactly my style, but it's a fine enough past time until the better bars open up."

The woman's voice smooth and slow as piano hummed beneath and a sort of silence settled between the pair, merely enjoying the music, much more so than one another's company. A lingering eye wandered over the form of Arkoh. Impeccably dressed, with a sort of aristocratic charm. All angles and severity in his handsome face. The kind of man who didn't get his hands dirty. How dull.

"Oh, don't tell me you didn't get the scoop on what we were doin' on your ship?" Blue eyebrow cocked, bemused. "What a shame, it's a helluva story. Pirates and wildfires. Damn near burned down a village there on Shili. Poor bastards." A shake of head sent the tangle of her hair in a flutter about her face as Lila crush the butt of her smoke into the crystal tray.

"But to answer your question, Cap'n. You have a mighty fine vessel there. I've been on quite a few, and shes certainly a sweet ride. And your crew! So well behaved. It was cute." Her legs scooted off the table with another resounding clatter as she graciously accepted the second cigarette, tipping it between her lips and leaning forward to let the Arkanian light it.

"Thank you, Arky. Mind if I call you Arky? You look like an Arky."

[Thaddeus]

Arkoh ignored the quip about ‘better bars’ just nodding instead at Lila’s short affirmation. He could imagine Lila’s sort of bar, it was dingy, fights were frequent, and bodies were crammed together so closely that it would need no heating. Lila seemed to be examining him, albeit disinterestedly, Arkoh followed her lead with his white eyes quickly glancing over her feet towards her face. What he found was not at all unpleasing, her face was a delightful pinkish hue which seemed warm to touch against the blue of her hair; meanwhile violet eyes, not too close or far apart, looked out at the world over a little and feminine nose. Lips were full and suitably inviting, Arkoh thought, though they were absent any obvious lipstick – indeed her whole face seemed to be lacking make-up, a practical sort then Arkoh thought derisively, though she wasn’t lessened because of it.

“SpecOps have never been particularly forthcoming with information.” He said it while turning to watch the singer once more. The songstress had broken into a new number, and Arkoh did not know it so his interest was piqued – the band appeared to like this number particularly.

“I don't wanna show off no more. I don't wanna sing tunes no more. I don't wanna ride moons no more. I don't wanna show off. I don't wanna wear this no more.”

He listened to Lila’s rather enthusiastic, if brief, rendition of what had happened. Arkoh did not press the matter, what was done was done; the information she could have given him about the mission would not help in the future. No he would just have to endure SpecOps being tight lipped for the foreseeable future.

Any chance for Arkoh to mentally continue bemoaning SpecOps was cut short as Lila began to talk about his ship and crew. For this subject she had his full attention, Arkoh was proud of his ship and determined that she would always excel. He allowed himself to smile at first, but the pleasure turned into confusion when Lila called his crew cute… he had never heard a crew called cute. Arkoh couldn’t help himself,

“Cute?” It was asked with a genuine tone of confusion.

As he lighted Lila’s cigarette all of a sudden any warmth in his features vanished, the only discernible warmth at the table coming from the lighter which quickly flicked shut as the cigarette began to glow.

“Arkoh if you don’t mind.”

He said no more than that, in his entire life he had never been addressed with a nickname – at least not to his face – and he would not have it. He had kicked women from his bed when they had called him sweetie or some other nonsense. He would not have anyone addressing him with such a flippant name. It just wouldn’t do. His huff, as always his vanity was a sore point, continued for a little while until the song ended. Drawing upon his massive reserves of decorum, or so he told himself, Arkoh struck up the conversation once again.

“So Lila why did you sign up? It is not the usual career path for a Senator’s daughter.” He had to admit to himself that he was intrigued by this at least, though he imagined that her reason was some rebellion against her father.

[Moonfire]

"Oh yeah, they're downright adorable." Lila continued, leaning back to stretch luxuriously into the plush arm chair. One thing she'd definitely have the give the Ruge, it was certainly comfortable. The texture of the velvet felt delightful against her pink skin as she puffed at the cigarette, fingers tingling lightly with the nicotine high.

"They're all so well behaved. Lotsa 'Yes m'am. Right away m'am.' and stony expressions. You've got the fear of the Gods in 'em." She grinned wolfishly, feeling his agitation in waves over her. She could feel, sense the way he bristled under the familiarity. It was sublime.

The empathetic nature of her species was always something Lila enjoyed thoroughly. Something so thrilling and addictive about being able to feel the intensity of her superiors annoyance, watch the features of their faces try to conceal the rage that bubbled so obviously beneath. The best part, of course, was screwing with them while they tried to remain cool and calm and incredibly piissed.

The wine glass fit perfectly in the sergeant's hand as she sipped at the delicately sweet drink, letting her own amusement sweep over him in the form of some rather potent pheromones and light telepathy. It was fun to watch the squirm with the conflicting emotion, these proud leaders of the military. But Arkoh was after all an Arkanian, perhaps he considered himself above such foolish games? Probably.

The songstress finished the lively song, and with hardly a breath in between swayed into a new one.

If there's a prize for rotten judgement, I guess I've already won that. No man is worth the aggravation, that's ancient history - been there, done that!"

"Well, Arky. After secondary school my pops wanted me to go into University. I was a bit of a rambunctious kid, didn't quite do so well in school but he'd managed to pull a coupla strings to get me into Novale University in the Southern Province. My old mentor, Colonel Myra Calway suggested the military. Said I need some structure. I thought, eh beats havin' to listen to old queens lecture 'bout politics. So I turned eighteen, enlisted and haven't looked back since." She nodded, eyes closed as she sipped at the wine, letting the sweet taste bask over them both.

"I'd ask you, but I get the feelin' you're story is a bit standard. Born on Arkania, perfect specimen for officer's training. One thing led to another and here we are." The woman shrugged, leaning forward to openly appraise the Captain, her own violet colored eyes twinkled mischievously as she stared in the pupiless white. "Now my question, Arky, is what do you do for fun? And don't say work, thats terribly dull and predictable"

[Thaddeus]

Arkoh’s bemused look did not leave his face as Lila explained supine. He inhaled on his cigarette deeply; tongue playing with the smoke in his mouth as it slowly floated down his throat. White eyes without pupils regarded Lila without humour at her explanation,

“They respect me, and they understand that I demand a certain level of behaviour…” He trailed off as the songstress launched into her new number. This one brought a few ‘no’s and never’s’ from the younger men in the audience who were caught up in the music. Arkoh cast an eye over the singer again, while he did have fairly egalitarian tastes for an Arkanian they did not extend to finding the singer physically pleasing – her voice though was divine.

Before Lila had begun to start her tale Arkoh found himself feeling happier, more ecstatic, more entranced by his female companion. Oh you harlot he thought, but remained powerless against the pheromones. His conscious mind may remember not enjoying her company, and being displeased with her behaviour, but that silent tyrant – the subconscious – was stirring and asserting its power. A tiny part of him regarded the situation with academic intrigue, to be mentally aware of the manipulation on a conscious level but being unable to resist the subconscious influence was intriguing. But Arkoh was not enough of a philosopher or scientist to enjoy the experience, well that wasn’t correct. The whole experience was very pleasurable, and his company was more so. But that was just it, he shouted internally, it should not be so.

Arkoh may be happier, but even a happy Arkoh remained decorous. He wasn’t some fawning, slack-jawed fellow who know drooled over his Zeltron seducer.

“Yes I can imagine you were quite the rebel…” And despite his conscious effort Arkoh smiled, now Arkoh when he wanted to be was quite charming and he was particularly stunning physically. Back on Arkania many a girl and boy had swooned at his smile. “Always the Army though? Slogging it on the ground just never struck me as being very dignified – and the uniforms are much better in the navy.”

The singer began a new number, and it was like the universe was acknowledging it had conspired against him by bringing Lila here decided to rub salt in the wound with a song about his state,

"Never know how much I love you. Never know how much I care. When you put your arms around me. I get a fever that's so hard to bear."

Lila’s assessment of his reason for joining the Republic Navy was oddly on the mark Arkoh thought, but then that was so her, beauty is always intelligent. Bah! Damning his subconscious Arkoh managed with great effort to suppress the expression of that particularly line of thinking at least, and just nodded and took a drink. Looking up his eyes met the sparkling violet of Lila’s, and before the words were even spoken knew she was up to no good. At ‘Arky’ he consciously revolted, but it was an impotent rebellion as the subconscious adored the genial tone and familiar name – like at long last it had been given a name after decades of silent and nameless oppression by the conscious Arkoh.

“Come to the Ruge or train, and should something pretty cross my path, well then…” He smiled roguishly, and white eyes regarded Lila not so long as to be called leering, just a quick glance of conspiratorial rakishness.

[Moonfire]

A well sculpted blue eyebrow cocked at the word as it left the perfectly poised, though now grinning Arkanian. Rebel. The lips of her wide grin twitched more, showing the even, white teeth beneath the unpainted rich pink. It was getting to him, the pheromones, and she could see the behind his eyes. The way he seemed tempted to squirm and yet scoot closer. Delightful.

"Oh, I dunno if I'd say rebellious. More of a wee hellion than anything else.
Lila's hand moved in an expansive but vague gesture before tapping the ash of the corellian cigarette into the fine crystal receptacle, letting it burn between her calloused yet slender fingers.

The amphibious songstress swayed more, singing about the fever the seemed to sweep over her. Soft and slow, only the slightest acoustic accompaniment as she snapped along to the beat, bemoaning the situation that the stiff captain was currently suffering. What a lovely way to burn.

The bang kicked back up, sweeping with a new energy on the tail end of the previous song as Lila basked in the silent wanting and discomfort of the Captain.

"I put a spell on you, because you're mine. You better stop the things that you do, I ain't lyin', no, I ain't lyin."

"Oh? You think I'd be able to pull off those snazzy lil' Navy skirts, do ya?" Lila crooned mockingly. "Nah, the Navy just seems too... boring. No offense, Arky. I'm in it for the adventure, and sittin' in a chair and starin' at the stars just isn't doing it for me. Tromping through jungles in power armour and a flamethrower is much more my pace."

With an emphatic nod Lila pulled the cigarette back up to lips, taking the long final drag before crushing the butt into the little pile of ashes they'd built up together.

“Come to the Ruge or train, and should something pretty cross my path, well then…” The Captain's smile was downright cheeky, and that bright a bright barking laugh as she returned the grin, eyes darting over to the singer and back to him.

"See somethin' you like, Cap'n? I didn't realize you had a thing for Palo'wicks. I'm sure she'd be happy to give you her number."

[Thaddeus]

The women of all species were the more dangerous, to the very last every one aimed at either the enslavement or the destruction of men. Of this Arkoh was supremely sure, and never more so than right at this moment. This siren toying with him, enjoying the pain her song wrought. Impossibles creatures every last one of them! He cursed inwardly.

"Well women are always more interesting with a past, just as men are more interesting when they have a future." Arkoh quickly quipped, as with most supremely vain individuals he was sufficiently enamoured of beauty to be called a libertine.

As he watched the slender pink fingers grow warmer in the glow of the dying cigarette Arkoh could still hear the singer. Curse that damn Palo'wick, every woman was in some sort of confederacy against him! He was even more sure of this when she launched into another sultry and svelte number... the expletives flowed fast and free within the confines of his conscious. But 'Arky' that damnable traitor of a subconscious would not voice them for fear of offending the lovely Lila.

Akroh still looking as composed as ever, except perhaps in the irritated way he held his cigarette or the odd way his eyes narrowed in anger but his mouth smiled. He leant back slightly and crossed one leg over white eyes running over Lila like a connoisseur as she mentioned the naval dress. She'd look amazing Arky quipped internally, no her thighs are too large, too muscled, horrible figure for anything other than a full length skirt Arkoh retorted in vain.

"Well we can't all enjoy the more refined things can we?" Puffing on his cigarette, he may be artificially enamoured of her, but not even that could overcome his supreme arrogance when it came to troopers.

He looked at the Palo'wick singer who belted out another with tune all her heart,

"What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play! Life is a cabaret, old chum, come to the cabaret!"

And turned back to Lila face completely deadpan,

"If I found that attractive I would fling myself from the balcony of my apartment." While his experience had reduced his Arkanian arrogance somewhat, it had done nothing for the arrogant and superficial manner in which he viewed potential partners.

[Moonfire]

"Ahhh, you cut me deep, Arkylove." She winked, obviously unoffended. "Are you saying I'm not sophisticated? You insult me. I'll have you know I'm the very height of society." Lila teased, clucking her tongue at the conflicted Captain, fingers tapping a staccato beat on the table top as she leaned across it. The point of her elbow propped up between the table and the smooth cheek in her palm as she regarded the fair-haired man.

"In fact, I'm going to that ball some ridiculous Senator or another is throwing next week. Takin' leave to accompany dear ole Daddy and everything, sparkley gown included." Another salacious eyebrow wiggle as she mulled over her choice of attire for that night. A deep purple clingy number her father had so appropriately chosen for her. As always.

His agitation was more apparent now, in little ways. "Whats wrong, Arky? Don't like my teasin'? I'm sorry, I'll play nice." Her lilting tone making it incredibly obvious she had no intention to make this at all easier for the handsome Arkanian.

Another billowing whirl of pheromones ebbed from the young woman, regarding her companion with mischief in her eyes.

"Well, if you're not a fan of Pa'lowicks, what do you like, Cap'n?"

[Thaddeus]

With greater effort than he would ever admit Arkoh suppressed a giggle - a giggle of all things - at Lila's teasing. To truly prevent the traitor with him winning he took a deep drink of Arkanian sweet milk, keeping the liquid flowing down his throat till he was sure that Arky would not betray him.

"A regular scullery maid at the ball then..." Normally it would have come out a lot more sarcastically, but again the Zeltron's pheromones smoothed out the Arkanian's normally biting comments. Arky won out for a moment, adding, "And I am sure your transformation will be as lovely."

Instinctively he grimaced at himself. This was becoming too much, lighting another cigarette he took a deep puff on the fine tobacco. He said nothing at Lila's promise to cease teasing, the way she spoke and the smirk made it painfully obvious that Lila had no intention to stop.

Arky wanted to either leap across the table at Lila, or prop his head up on his hands and stare longingly across the table her. Arkoh almost gagged at himself, disgusting. Extinguishing the barely smoked cigarette, placing both hands on the table to groggily stand, Arkoh rose pushing the chair back.

"I think I need some fresh air."

He set off rapidly towards the door, not wanting to give Arky another chance to betray him to that strumpet.

[Moonfire]

Lila couldn't help but laugh uproariously as the Captain seemed to fight himself, struggling to maintain some sense of himself and his composure as the soldier across from him made no secret of her games. Even his response to her casual mention of going to a ball had come with a sort of backhanded compliment, the moon-eye'd look still apparent despite the curious lack of iris and pupils.

"Oh, don't be salty~" The woman crooned again, leaning closer as his hands fumbled for another cigarette, extinguishing it just as quickly as the wicked grin rested comfortably over her face.

"I think I need some fresh air." He stood up on shaky legs, fleeing the amazonian zeltron as she laughed unabashed, drawing the curious looks of the other patrons as she called out behind him between gasps of breathe and peals of laughter.

"Check and mate, Arky. Check and mate!"

[Thaddeus]

Arkoh could hear Lila's laughter, and Arky wanted to go running back to the table and sit there listening to that wondrous sound. Each step was like walking through knee high mud, his muscles as much as his subconscious seemed to be traitors.

What was a man to do when his mind and body revolted against him? Against all good taste! Gritting his teeth he pushed on, Lila still laughing herself sore, grabbing his jacket roughly from the doorman.

He pushed open the door, sending it colliding into the wall on the other side, and causing several people to jump. The open air hit him like the sweetest of smells, it was open, it was unoppressive, and there was no Lila twirling her hair and wafting her pheromones.

He walked away eagerly, determined never to see Lila again - if he even heard her name again it would be too soon! Muttering more curses at the fairer sex of all species he reached the taxi stand and was whisked off to his apartment.

"Harlots and sirens every last one of them..."