Title: HSU(?): General Conclusion
Authors: Julia & Sere
Rating: WAP (weird-ass piece)
Setting: After Crazy Little Thing Called Ho
Archive: GG
Disclaimer: I am not the General (obviously!). I'm not Billy Joel. I am not George.
I was reading all of the great HSU fics this morning and talking to Sere, and this weird little idea came to me. I apologize. It's out there and I'm sorry if it conflicts with your pov of the General. Me, I'm running off to hide now. *points to the newly resurrected* It's Qui-Gon's fault! ;)

~*~

He wonders why I'm here. Why I am surrounded by these strong-willed, defiant, outspoken women.

I have no doubts he thinks I can do better.

Better, my Master? Better than what? You left me with a boy I never saw anything but dangerous potential in. Left him to *me* to raise because he was *your* 'chosen one'.

How can I explain what this university has come to mean to me? What I would do to defend it? You wouldn't understand. You have only your visions, and cannot see anyone else's.

But, for the sake of amusement, I will try.

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~
She can kill with a smile
She can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child
But she's always a woman to me
~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

They call themselves Hos. *My* Hos. I certainly didn't call them that. It's an appellation they came up with completely on their own.

I wouldn't advise you to call them that, Qui-Gon. They don't take kindly to shows of Alpha Domination -- regardless of the size of the man attempting it.

Size does not matter, as Master Yoda is fond of saying. I know that even the most petite of my grrls would stand in open defiance of you if you pushed matters. Even the Frosh class. They've learned a great deal already.

Are they ladies? Do they have class?

Most certainly. Look beneath the surface, Jedi Master. Look for the true essence that is in each one of them, and you will see the shining core that draws me to them. They burn like novas, so ...it's no surprise that they blow once in a while.

They're intense. Driven. A bit off balance at times, but that keeps a man on his toes.

Look at them. Freckles, moles, tall, petite, slim, every hair color, every shade of eyes... And all of them, every last one, beautiful in my eyes.

Would I change them? That's laughable. *Could* I change them?

No. I would not do that. Free will brought them here, free will keeps them here.

You noticed, no doubt, that their minds are not easily influenced. Don't waste your time waving your hands around trying to "whammy" them, Qui-Gon. They're immune.

However a stance and a look sometimes do what all the Jedi abilities in the galaxy cannot.

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~
She can lead you to love
She can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth but she'll never believe you
And she'll take what you give her as long as it's free
She steals like a thief
But she's always a woman to me
~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

Do they cater to me?

No. If the whim suits them, they pamper me. I have been fed grapes upon occasion.

I've also been locked out of their rooms, had my personal property dumped into the pool, had all of my clothing exchanged for horrendous substitutes, bailed them out of jail, chased them down and retrieved them from numerous situations.... The list goes on.

Why?

They have been there for me also. Too many times to list. Comforting me, humouring me, cheering me up, indulging me..... Loving me.

They give love so fiercely.

It's addicting. Like living in flames without being burned.

Why do I stay?

Because they want me to.

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~
Oh, she takes care of herself
She can wait if she wants
She's ahead of her time
Oh, and she never gives out
And she never gives in
She just changes her mind
~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

Yes, I'm well aware of the other men on campus. I've had several occasions to sit and drink with that other General, and he's a likeable man. Seems to suffer from many of the same problems I do.

They are an unruly bunch at times, my grrls. They get into all sorts of trouble, and do it as easily as breathing comes to the rest of us.  

Sometimes the results are less than I think they planned. They have a knack for getting in deeper than they expect.

Most of the time they don't need my help, Qui-Gon. Oh, I think they do, I like to tell myself they surely must... But the truth is they typically get themselves out of trouble before I can even get there.

You could count the times I have been able to look like a hero to them on one hand.

Independent. Intelligent.

I love them for it even as it frustrates me no end.

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~
She will promise you more
That the Garden of Eden
Then she'll carelessly cut you and laugh while you're bleeding
But she'll bring out the best
And the worst you can be
Blame it all on yourself
Cause she's always a woman to me
~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

You think them cold, uncaring.

That is so wrong it is almost laughable.

You haven't seen them in passion. Seen their faces glowing, eyes shining like stars as they scream your name. Haven't seen them lose that control they hold themselves under. Lose it on you...in you....around you....

I have seen innumerable beautiful things in the galaxy.

None of it compares to any of them when they are lost in my arms.

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~
She is frequently kind
And she's suddenly cruel
She can do as she pleases, she's nobody's fool
But she can't be convicted
She's earned her degree
And the most she will do
Is throw shadows at you
But she's always a woman to me
~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

Perhaps it's best you don't understand them, Qui-Gon.

You are used to being In Control At All Times.

A Jedi Master, bound up in beliefs and tradition more than I think you like to believe.

I was a General for the Republic. A Jedi Knight among people who had little use for showy mind tricks or diplomatic abilities.

They wanted a sharp mind. Someone who could use Jedi intuition to foresee problems, plot an evasion for it and come out victorious.

That experience changed me. Made me realize that being a Knight wasn't the end all and be all I had thought.

And Anakin... He's not even a possibility, Qui-Gon, so let go of that idea.

I am happy here. At times I am confused, at my wits end with the insanity that seems part and parcel of this university, and I sincerely doubt that I am ever in control for long.

Be that as it may, this is my home.

I am at home with these smart-ass, willful women. Who aren't afraid to tell a man exactly what they want, when they want it, and how, if necessary.

You will have to be sure of yourself if you stay, Qui-Gon. They see right through a man. See through to what is in his heart, his mind and, sometimes I think, his pants.

Quiet surety. Not ordering them around, calling them "Little One". They don't take kindly to that.

Be strong without bravado. Be intelligent without belittling them. Be compassionate without smothering them.

You will find they are as much a lady as any woman. As much a woman as any man could dream of.

If you find them different than this, I can only conclude the fault lies in you.

They are always my grrls -- always a woman to me.