Ivanova wore a blue silk shirt and black pants. She had tried on 5 things before deciding on her current selection. She�d purchased a rose (yellow) which came in a status tube. Yellow was for friendship which she hoped she was building with Talia. She took at quick shot of vodka, a mint, and sighed loudly before uttering, �here goes everything� as she walked out of her quarters towards Talia�s. Talia realized fashion had not been a driving force in her life when she tried to choose some �casual� attire from her wardrobe. Black & brown suits weren�t the most colorful of choices and seemed out of place for a �carnival� from what she gleamed from the net. She decided to wear her hair down to promote the �casual� look and choose some �blue jeans� the saleswoman swore was the ultimate in �retro casual� and a pink blouse (long sleeved). She was excited that Ivanova had offered to take her to a carnival; Talia had not heard of one, nor the strange food Ivanova said was a �must.� The Zocolo was the only place large enough to fit the vendors and rides; the original vendors got a percentage of the profits to give up the space for a limited time. Talia was making sure she didn�t have on anything (like a Psycore pin) that might upset Susan when she heard the door chime. �Come in!� shouted Talia. She was greeted with a yellow rose sticking out of a tube and a shy grin on the commander. Susan�s cheeks are a cute red tint she thought. �Ready to go?� asked Susan as she saw Talia�s grin as she took the rose. �Of course!� responded Talia a little more eagerly than she had intended. Susan felt warm fingers as Talia threaded her arm around Susan�s. Talia was so surprised by the rose and pleased that she had not gotten on Susan�s nerves yet that she had absent-mindedly put her hands around Susan�s crooked arm as they started to walk. Susan didn�t seem to mind and actually had quite a large smile on her face so Talia left her arm there as they walked. The lift ride was short with small talk about the rose and mutual appreciation for each other�s attire. Both remarked how comfortable and casual they were dressed. When they arrived at the Zocolo Susan quickly asked Talia�s favorite color and then ran off (telling Talia to �stay right here� at the ticket counter). She returned moments later with a purple balloon & �cotton candy.� �This isn�t Flarn on a stick is it?� Talia asked cautiously and was rewarded by Susan�s high spirited laugh. �No, it�s cotton candy which is a sweet dessert and this�, she said while tying the string to Talia�s arm, �is a balloon.� �It�s lovely but I think I can hold onto a string Susan.� "A balloon.� �What?� �The string is tied to a purple balloon. Talia sighed, �Ok a balloon.� �Too late I�m done tying it.� Susan stated triumphantly and Talia pouted. �Humor me Ok? I can more easily find you if we�re separated and my papa used to do this same thing to me when we went. It�s part of the experience.� �Uh- Huh� Talia remarked drolly. �Tell yah what, I�ll do the same with a red one if you like.� �No, it�s Ok. What�s next?� �Well, we get our tickets for either rides, or events, after I pay for us to get in.� �What is this sticky blue stuff on a stick you gave me?� Talia asked looking as if it had two heads and holding it away from herself. �It�s cotton candy & it�s delicious� try some. �Did worms give their lives to make this concoction like silk worms used to do for clothes?� Talia was surprised when Ivonova laughed. �No silly, it�s sweet and definitely man- er humanoid made.� Susan grinned as she saw Talia still viewing it as if it were Garibaldi (suspiciously). Tearing some of it off the stick Susan ate it and licked her fingers. Talia had a balloon in one hand, and tied to a arm, and in the other cotton candy. She did not look as happy as the other children and patrons who had the same. �Time to change that frown around� thought Susan. �Here Talia, since your hands are full let me help you try some. Susan tore more cotton candy off the stick and offered some to Talia�s mouth. Talia looked closed mouthed like a kid refusing to eat their veggies. �Come On, Try it� Please�?� Gods, who knew Susan could have puppy dog eyes? And the begging for anything was just not done by Commander Susan Ivonova. Besides, she�d be feeding me and who wouldn�t like that? �Ok, just a little,� she sighed and nibbled on some. Susan was gratified at seeing Talia�s eyes open wide in shock. �That�s good!� �Told yah!� Susan grinned triumphantly. As Susan fed her the rest of the treat she accidentally touched Talia�s lips and Talia sucked the sugary substance off Susan�s fingers. Susan tried to swallow but realized her mouth was suddenly dry. Heat flushed to her cheeks at the sensation of Talia�s lips around her fingers, watching Talia�s eyes closed in sugary bliss. Susan regained her composure. �Uhm you can eat it from the stick too.� �Really? How� �Just chomp into it.� Talia attempted to eat the candy on a stick and almost got it up the nose but succeeded in getting it in her mouth finally (and all around it actually). What a sight, too bad I can�t play napkin on those lips thought Susan. The sight was just too cute and Susan tried not to laugh, but didn�t succeed. �You�re laughing at me!� �Well, you�re so cute messy. I never get to see you with a hair out of place and you with a blue mouth is adorable (and sexy she thought). Can I have some?� �Sure,� Talia grinned. Susan should have recognized the mischievous grin in her eyes since she had seen it plenty of times on Garibaldi. As Susan leaned toward the offered treat, Talia thrust it upwards covering Susan�s face in blueness. �ACK!� muffled Susan. �There, now we both look like blue smurfs now.� She had learned of Smurfs as Garibaldi�s third most favorite thing in the world- next to Duck Dodgers in the 24and � century! He really did love his �cartoons.� That had been a long night for a variety of reasons. �Why you little� wait what kind of insult is Smurf?� �It�s a blue elf with a white hat who does very bad singing. Garibaldi�s third favorite thing in the universe- cartoons.� �I might�ve known the phrase would come from him,� Ivanova stated while wiping her mouth with a napkin. �Now you�re the one with the sex, er, cute mouth,� Talia said. �Yah well, nobody ever said Carnival�s were really clean places, just fun and loud ones.� �Lets wander around the booths to see what�s being sold or displayed while we finish our treats.� �Sounds good.� Neither Talia nor Susan noticed the other patrons and co-workers who stared at the sight of the two of them arm in arm talking and smiling. Everyone always assumed one or the other would be out an air locke if they were together longer than 10 minutes. As the day went on the audience would get a different kind of show when the ladies played some �carnival games� later on. *Tune in next time for the next installment of Carnival Games ;> If you have any ideas of what you think might happen, or should, let me know at [email protected]. -Jazmine |
| Carnival Games |
| Summary: Ivanova has finally gotten up the courage to ask Talia out to do something and a Fair/Carnival is visiting the station (thoughts are generally in italicized print). Disclaimer: This story is based off the Babylon 5 net story in �Truth and Lies� and is not for profit. Don�t sue. All I own is a talkative furball �my cat ;). |
| By: Jazmine |