valarltd | First Page Friday: Imperial Entanglements

Originally published in Men in Uniform, this is now available in Howl at the Mistletoe

"It is a good day to geek."

I smoothed the black leather glove on my right hand
and practiced looking grave in the mirror. Everything was
perfect, from atrocious haircut to polished boots. I swiped a
handkerchief over the lightsaber replica hanging at my belt.
It was the newest, and most expensive, addition to the
costume. I'd had a cheap-looking one for too many years.

"You will bring Captain Solo and the wookiee to
me," I quoted to my reflection with a small wave of my
hand, making sure the inflection was right.

Dave sputtered as he stepped out of the bathroom
from his shower. "Jedi masters don't feel the cold or what?"
He went to the climate control and reset it, his teeth
chattering very loudly. Drama queen. "Every time we stay
in a hotel, you change the air to ‘Antarctica.' My turn this
weekend. We'll keep it at a nice, comfy seventy-two."

"Drop the towel," I intoned, with the hand wave.

Dave laughed, slipping into character at once. A
haughty sneer crossed his face. "Your mind-tricks won't
work on me, boy." He went and pulled his own uniform off
the coat-rack. "Like all officers, I've been trained in the arts
of mind-control."

I sat on the bed and watched him dress. The grey
uniform tunic was perfect for his eyes and coloring. So
many guys just looked washed out, but it suited Dave. He
pulled on the boots and I watched, wanting. I'd polished
them before we left and polished them again while he was
in the shower. Nothing like a man in uniform. I blamed
Lucas, yet again, for warping my mind at the
impressionable age of nine.