Title: HSU Something Sweet (At the amusement park for the birthday party!)
Author: Banaoire
Archive: Yes, please
Rating: ATSFW (Almost too sweet for words)
Disclaimer: The General portrayed in this story is a work of fiction. He has no basis in fact, and any similarity between him and a man who might be celebrating his birthday today is purely coincidental. Summary: Banaoire tries to enjoy the party.

Banaoire sat on a bench watching the lights on the ferris wheel go round and round. The warm breeze blew her long hair away from her face and off her shoulders. The evening was warm, giving the distinct impression that Spring was here to stay. She would have been perfectly happy.

If the Hos had decided to celebrate the General's birthday at a concert instead of an...an...amusement park!

Banaoire hated amusement parks. Well, hate was a strong word, and she could hear Yoda prattling on even as she thought it; but the emotion she experienced when she had heard that they would be taking the General to the amusement park to celebrate had been very strong and very negative.

She did not enjoy the rides, the food made her sick and the noise was tantamount to nails on a chalkboard.

In short, it was her idea of hell.

So, she sat. Watching the occasional group of Hos stumble by, laughing, apparently enjoying themselves. This would not have bothered her so much except that this was not the first time she had done this.

Senior class party (not even going to say what year) the night that still gave her nightmares. Riding the corkscrew roller coaster that everyone said was THE COOLEST. Her arms had gone numb because she had pressed the bars down so hard over her shoulders, her glasses had fallen off and had to be recovered by a park employee, and she had thrown-up all over the star basketball player's shoes. Delightful.

Actually, throwing up on wonder-boy's shoes hadn't been such a bad thing...but, no one ever likes to throw up.

After that she had sat out the rest of the night, while her 'friends' had enjoyed themselves. Strikingly similar to what was happening now.

Hating self-pity as much as she hated the carny booths, Banaoire smacked herself in the head and stood up. She looked up and down the sidewalk and tried to pick a destination. She had heard Die and Emmy say something about a photo booth--the kind where they had costumes you could dress up in and get funny pictures taken. That didn't seem so bad.

Providing the General kept the Tattler closed for good.

Tasha and Darry had said something about a side-show freak--the guy was supposed to have tatoos covering his body and could make lightening come out of his fingertips...

Nope. Not for this grrl.

Dande and Doretea had gone off in search of the haunted house--something about blue ghosts...

And, she hadn't seen Caeryn, Shana, Jael, Judy or, come to think of it...the General. She wondered if he had realized what he was getting himself into when he agreed to the amusement park party plan.

Banaoire started walking toward the food stalls, thinking that perhaps a dose of sugar would help her sagging mood. She walked by the Elephants Ears (why anyone wanted to eat something with such a name had always perplexed her), the curly fries and the corn dogs, before finally finding the one and only amusement park food she enjoyed.

Cotton candy. Bright pink, spun sugar. Fresh from the spinner, it's gossamer threads wafted slightly on the paper cone. A bored teenager saw her coming and hauled herself away from the tiny TV she had sitting on the counter.

"One?" She asked.

"Yes, please." Banaoire replied. The girl reached up for one of the pre-made bags and Banaoire stopped her. "Um, no, could you make me a new one please?"

The girl gave the Ho the look of death, and the Ho flung it right back with serious attitude. The teenager's eyes widened for a moment before she started up the machine and started a new batch.

Banaoire smiled to herself and watched the cotton candy form on the cone. In moments she had an obscenely huge pink cloud of pure sugar.

The Ho delicately pinched the top of the treat and pulled several inches off. Opening her mouth, smiled and placed the spun confection on her tongue. In less than a second it had dissolved, coating her tongue with sweetness.

Feeling her spirits rise considerably (along with her glucose count) she walked toward the tables. A huge tree grew in the middle of the eating area, and thousands of lights were strung from it's branches. One other table was occupied by a group of freshmen, and she nodded to them when they looked her way and giggled.

Banaoire found a comfortable chair and sat down. She placed another bit of the candy on her tongue and smiled again to herself at the almost magical reaction that her saliva had on the spun sugar.

She heard the freshmen giggle louder and looked up to see the General at their table. He was smiling at them, and ruffled their hair. Each one looked nigh on to swooning, and she was surprised they didn't.

He looked magnificent--no surprise there, but, it was obvious that he had put some effort into looking his most Generaliness tonight. Banaoire particularly liked the black leather jacket and matching FM boots. Definitely a nice touch.

Her eyes lingered over the line of his tight fitting black pants as they left his boots and up to his ass. She had not had an appointment with the man for a very long time, and found it difficult to look at him without becoming uncomfortably warm.

Her eyes continued to travel up, past his lightsaber and the smooth shine of his leather jacket, and the ends of his hair (still long after his tryst with Diebin!) and finally to his face.

He was looking straight at her. Her breath hitched in her chest, and she cursed herself for not guarding her thoughts better. This was his night, his birthday; he shouldn't have to put up with all their fantasies, all their delusions...she should wish him happy birthday, kiss him on the cheek and let him have fun...on the rides with the other Hos.

That is why they were here afterall.

He said something to the freshmen, and began walking toward Banaoire. She could hear the blood rushing in her ears, and her knees would not have supported her if she had tried to stand.

Damn, but that walk...those eyes...that expression. How did he DO that? How was it possible that he (who for all intents and purposes was not the most gorgeous man she had ever seen) could make her weak with desire?

And he knew it.

He walked across the eating area and stopped in front of her. Banaoire looked up.

"Happy birthday, Obi-Wan." She said, softly.

"Thank you. Where have you been?" He asked. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"I...I don't really like amusement parks." She admitted.

"You don't?" He asked, taking a chair and moving it in front of her. He sat down with, his leather creaking as he sat back.

Banaoire took one look at those boots and swallowed hard.

"No, I never have." She looked at the enormous pink cloud of sugar in her hand and blushed.

His eyes followed hers and he tilted his head. "What is that?" He asked.

Banaoire smiled at his ignorance. She had figured one of the other Hos would have introduced him to cotton candy by this point.

"It's an American delicacy. Cotton Candy." She replied.

"A food made from cotton?" He sounded suspicious.

Banaoire laughed and he smiled. The smile nearly made her fall off the chair, but she continued. "Cotton candy is made from spun sugar...with a little artificial color."

"Sugar...that's all?"

"Yup." Banaoire grinned like a child.

"And you like it?" He asked, obviously confused.

"I do. Would you like to try some?" She asked.

He eyed the pink blob carefully, and then looked back at Banaoire. "I don't think I know how." He admitted.

Banaoire tried to control the smirk she felt coming on, but couldn't. "Open your mouth." She instructed.

His eyes narrowed, but he complied. Banaoire gulped and almost eeped.

"Now," she whispered, unable to raise her voice. "stick out your tongue."

The General grinned wickedly, but again, he obeyed her. The site of that talented tongue glistening from the lights in the tree should have been too much; but the Ho was enjoying herself too much to swoon at this point.

She pinched another bit of the candy, pulling it away slowly from the cloud, and then leaned toward him.

Their eyes met as she carefully placed the feathered end of the candy against the tip of his tongue. As it should, the candy melted on contact and the General's eyes shot open with surprise.

Banaoire bit her lip and brushed more of the candy against his tongue. Finally, the whole piece was melted down to her fingers, and she started to pull away.

The General's hand shot up and he grabbed her by the wrist, holding her gently, but firmly. He licked his lips and Ban could see the shine from the sugar coating his mouth.

"What do you think?" She asked, her voice now barely audible.

"Almost too sweet." He admitted. Banaoire shrugged, and started to sit back. "But, if you like it you should eat it."

Before she realized what was happening, he took the candy from her and pulled off a large bunch. The ragged ends fluttered with the breeze as he held it between them.

"Open your mouth." He commanded.

Banaoire blushed, and felt foolish, but she knew she couldn't refuse him. She opened her mouth.

"Stick out your tongue." He said. For a moment, Ban thought about sticking out her tongue in a patented Emmy expression. But the look in his eyes forestalled her. She slid just the tip of her tongue out between her lips and closed her eyes.

She felt the featherlight caress of the cotton candy against her tongue and the gratifying taste of sugar as it melted there. She smiled a little and was given more of the confection.

She heard the sound of leather creaking, and stayed very still. The candy was suddenly replaced by the General's mouth, kissing her, and tasting her. His lips pulled at her mouth, and his tongue swept past her teeth and swirled over her own. She responded, and leaned toward him. A small whimper like noise escaped her throat, and he pulled back.

She slowly opened her eyes, to find his only inches away. The teal-grey irises were almost gone with the dilation of his pupils, but there was just enough to give away his mood.

"I can see you do like it." He murmured. "And I have to admit, it tastes better on your tongue than on mine."

Banaoire swallowed with difficulty, looked the General squarely in the eyes and said, "More?"

"Of course." The General responded, and suddenly, Banaoire didn't hate the amusement park quite so much.

End.