Sex-u-al-i-ty | CANDIDATE CLASS.

G’rem & Blue Remeneth – Weyrling Master

It was a mild day today, and despite G’rem’s preference for lectures to be held in the lecture rooms, he had been otherwise convinced by his assisting riders to hold today’s class outside. As a Weyrbrat set down the final chair he dismissed her with a wave of his stick, barely glancing at her. Running a hand over his head he looked up at the sun, it was nearing the start of the class. White clouds were racing across the sky, providing occasional shade as they crossed the late summer sun. Glancing back down he smiled behind his bushy beard, the early birds of this group were already arriving. He liked these ones, punctuality was one of the best things a person could be.

Tapping the small sundial that stood at the south of the gather square, G'rem strode over to the class and surveyed them. He could see that a couple hadn't turned up yet, and for that they would be sorry. Why they hadn't learned yet that punctuality was one of G'rem's favourite things was beyond him. Standing at the head of the class he cleared his throat and tapped the ground with his stick, commanding their attention. Pulling a piece of parchment from within his light jacket he grunted.

"Allendris, Echlerov, Erisi, Kerrin, Lymsleia, Razzah, Talian, Valerian, Volfetti." After each name he paused, waiting for each Candidate to reply that they were present. With a tut he put a small charcoal mark beside the late-comers before pocketing the sheet. "Hmph. Today we are starting the next topic you will be studying: Weyr Sexuality." He paused, glaring at them as small titters of laugher and gasps went amongst the Candidates.

"Ugh. We have some riders who will be talking to you at the end of the class, ask them every question you think of. No question is too embarrassing, you're in a Weyr! Everybody knows about your business here." He reminded them, his eyes narrowing at those Candidates that squirmed in their chairs at the thought. Don't exaggerate so much, there are some secrets. Remeneth rumbled softly to the class, his blue wings stretched out across the gather square. G'rem shot a glare over to Remeneth before turning back to the class.

---

All Candidates are to attend this class! There are openings for three NPCs to join if you're feeling frisky. The next post will be in two days.

---

Played by Featherpirate

“Here.”  Valerian nearly mumbled the word thanks to the boredom that had started to grow from waiting around for the lesson to begin and gave a weak wave of his hand to help indicate who the voice belonged to.

Why had he shown up to the class that would probably break down into fits of giggling or lewd gestures and the subject matter was pretty straightforward? Oh, right, his curiosity that often got the best of him. He hated that aspect some days. Well, at least he could say this wasn’t a class he had taught before at various holds in the north, so that was something new. Besides, this was a lesson he had no intentions of missing thanks to Allendris and Talian being in the same class as him. Those two men were so rigid that it was bound to lead them into awkward moments with the various areas of discussion that should arise. But Valerian was just making a lot of guess work since he only had to work with the common perception of what the weyrfolk got up to and not what the nitty gritty of how the sexual politics worked.

Despite his reluctance, Talian had been among the first to arrive for the lesson. Schooling was familiar and comfortable to him, though the general atmosphere of Katila was still unpleasantly foreign. His primary concern was to avoid rocking the boat. If lessons were required of him, he would attend them. He didn't like it, but then again, no one asked him to. That was the unfortunate truth of life in general. It just stung with particular potency here at Katila.

He seated himself near the front, as he habitually did back at his old hall. He'd elected not to wear his knots. He never did, but this time he had an actual excuse: he didn't want to draw unwanted attention from the instructor. Talian aimed to being an attentive and obedient, though perhaps somewhat invisible student. He was used to private instructors. He'd almost forgotten what classroom settings were like. His best bet in such an unfamiliar situation so far from home was simply to be a good boy and stay out of the way.

"Here," he said as his name was called. He looked around at the others. He saw several familiar faces, none of which surprised him. Some he was happy to see, while others made him...well, uncomfortable to say the least, especially considering the topic.

He crossed his legs awkwardly and held his breath as the topic was announced. He suddenly felt like everyone was staring at him, even though he knew that not to be true. So many of the others had gasped or were whispering. He didn't dare look up, not wishing to make eye contact with anyone he knew.

Lymsleia raised her hand. "Here sir." she began in a formal voice. The dark skinned young landy shifted her weight  as ther class began. Lessons. She hadn't had a good proper lesson since, well those early days of her Healer training.

She sat near the front of the group as well. She didn't directly in front of the rider, but she did sit off to the side, but still  in that front row. She wore her knots, the knots of the Journeywoman Healer, but also the knots of candidate. She toyed with it, a moment fingers stretched and  fingered the knots.

"How can you study Weyr sexuality sir? Isn't sexuality a given part of being... a being? "

Erisi was on time, neither early nor late, and while that was a hard mark to hit, he hit it perfectly. Why? Because he did not want to sit around with his peers for more than a minute that was necessary, and he actually did not want to be late to avoid future scolding. He recognized most of the faces in the group, but only knew the names of a few of them. Erisi couldn't be bothered to get to know future dragonriders - he certainly didn't intend on becoming one, though he had no idea how he was going to avoid the Hatching. Perhaps he should ask Talian how it was that he was deemed 'unfit' to stand. Erisi could try and pull that miracle move and get out of it himself.

He was a little preoccupied with trying to conspire a few escape plans when his name was called, and a beat late he responded with 'here'. Somehow, he managed to draw out that one word long enough to cover up the previous beats he missed. His head of black hair was hard to pinpoint in the group of gathered Candidates, because he refused to sit in the front. That was for good students like -- Shardit, was Talian really sitting at the front? He felt embarrassed to even know the guy, let alone for making a move on him. He should have guessed that Talian was that sort of character. If he didn't already have a sort of immunity built up to how ridiculous Talian was, he would have felt the spark of inspiration to end that friendship before it had even started.

Erisi was already hiding his face with his hand in shame when the subject of today's class was brought up. There were a few immature giggles and gasps, but instead of joining that particular ground Erisi rolled his eyes. Really, this is what they talked about in Candidate classes? Surely there were more important things to discuss, like, how not to kill your dragon if you get one. They should be talking about things a little more necessary, but, whatever. Erisi could survive this class, and hopefully muscle through the other classes. The subject itself wasn't horrible, though that was most likely from Erisi being familiar with it already.

Faranth, with everyone at the ages they were at, they should all be familiar enough with it to stop being giggling dimglows.

"I doubt that is what he meant," Erisi answered Lymsleia with a characteristic roll of his eyes. "Weyr sexuality, not sexuality in general." It was true, he was stuck with a bunch of dimglows. He wasn't going to survive this Candidacy - he was going to go jump off the highest tree to spare himself. "This is a place, things are different than what you're used to." Erisi had walked into this lesson with little patience, and it was quickly being used up. "I doubt the class is going to consist of us standing up one by one and saying what our sexuality is and how many people we've done. So there."

Echerlov was slightly later than he had hoped to be, but at least he had made it to the lesson before it started. He would hate to be late for something as important as this, and who knew what sorts of punishments would be assigned for those who would be late, or even worse, not show up at all. Hopefully that wouldn't happen.

He slid into a seat near the front, close to Talian, though he did wave at Lymsleia. He was glad that they had ended up in the same lesson section, he liked the young woman, and it was always nice to know someone during things like this. The rest of the candidates he didn't know very well, having not interacted with them much, and he frowned. That would never do.

"Here," he answered when his name was called, noting down the rest for future use.  It would be useful to, if not befriend, at least get to know as many of the other candidates as possible. Now wasn't the time for that, but hopefully there'd be free time for that soon enough. If not, well, there was more than one way to skin a wherry.

The topic made him grin, amused at the reactions of some of the others. He had been at the weyr long enough that he more or less knew how that worked, but it would be interesting to see how G'rem explained it. Perhaps he should have sat more towards the back, the better to see how some of the newcomers were going to react. Oh well. It was too late to move at this point.

"Present," Allendris answered when his name was called. His tone was formal and his posture was stiff enough to easily convey the discomfort he was obviously feeling, despite the cool neutrality of his features. Still, he had also been among the first to arrive at the designated gathering point for the lesson, despite his reservations on the subject, the classroom setting, the lecture environment, and, well... everything else, really. His concerns were, in order, thusly: not unlike Lymsleia, he had assumed that sexuality was one of those things that any well-adjusted young adult would surely have figured out by their 20s, and even if not, then it was still a topic best left for private discussion if he had ever heard one. Not in a classroom in front of countless other Candidates! Of course, the fact that Allendris had also always been among the privileged few to enjoy the exclusive attentions of private tutors also did not help to ease his distress at the idea of actually examining such topics in what he felt was an unreasonably large group. The staid young man was shifting warily in his chair by the time the list of names had reached the T's... for not only was the list long, but it was full of names he recognized, and the names belonged to people he did not particular want knowing every intimate detail of his business. And then, as if just to add insult to this injury, their 'classroom' was outside! Shells, next they were all going to be sitting on the dirt like a gaggle of regular farm-boys.

In short, Allendris was very unhappy to be calling 'present,' indeed... and that gloomy mood would have continued unabated, were it not for Erisi's smart-mouthed comment drawing attention away from his own self-pity and reminding him once again that as long as his fellows were these people, it was up to him to maintain at least some appearance of responsible adulthood. Discreetly he turned to cast a quick glance in the direction of the comment-maker, and for just a split second his expression might have twisted comically into one of bafflement and dismay - for where he'd expected Valerian to surely be sitting, he saw not the familiar harper's face full of bland indifference, but another man just like him.

Dear Faranth! There were two of them?!

---

(ooc: one down, expect Kerrin to be late as usual so that he may incur G'rem's wrath XD)

Volfetti knew how the lessons worked, and G'rem was almost the same as Ch'vay in temperament. You turned up on time and you behaved, that was the best way to fly under the radar. This time however, it was slightly different. These lessons she was attending primarily to escape having to do anything around the Weyr. While she was officially a Candidate, with her pregnancy it was still up in the air as to whether or not she'd be able to stand or not. Somehow she'd managed to slot herself into the most ambiguous timeframe, with her baby due within the timeframe of the hatching. Ah well, at least she didn't have to sew clothes.

She had arrived with plenty of time before the lesson started and chose a seat right on the very edge so that she could leave easily if she needed. One or two Candidates she recognised from the past clutch, but almost everyone in this group appeared to be a new face. As G'rem tapped his stick and grunted she looked up. Ah, roll call. No need to pay attention yet, as far as she knew she was the last Candidate to be called on the roll call no matter what group she was shuffled into. When it finally reached her name she called out a bland "here" and looked at G'rem. There was no need to raise her hand.

When the topic was announced Volfetti sighed, the reaction was exactly the same when she had attended this class three turns prior, she knew exactly how this would progress. And from some of the idiotic comments she was hearing, this was going to be even more laborious than last time. She looked around at Erisi as he replied to Lymsleia, flicking her eyes over him judgementally. This one would cause trouble no doubt. A strong 'know-it-all' personality in the sexuality class was what Volfetti had hoped to avoid this time. She resisted the urge to add her own quip to the conversation, that would be no way to curry favour with anyone, particularly the Weyrling Master.

G’rem & Blue Remeneth – Weyrling Master

G’rem’s brows furrowed in distaste as his boisterous students spoke up, one speaking grievously out of turn and another apparently being rude to a fellow candidate for the sake of being rude. The bluerider cleared his throat loudly and produced a heaving grunt before speaking over them, his booming voice both forceful and distinctly gravely.

“Listen up!” he said, hard eyes moving between Lymsleia and Erisi with equal distaste.  He kept his temper in check, but only barely. Don’t punish them for rules they didn’t realize they were breaking Remeneth suggested soothingly. G’rem snorted.

“From now on, you will not speak out of turn!” he said, looking first at Lymsleia, his tone gruff but not necessarily cruel. Young people and their lack of discipline! His head snapped deceptively quickly towards Erisi. “And you! Respect your classmates, or I’ll have you running laps around the Weyr before you can say ‘dimglow’!” he said. Remeneth gave off a supporting rumble from behind his rider. As usual, the blue loomed as a calming force, trying to remind the class that yes, his rider was actually there to teach them, not murder them.

“Now then,” G’rem grunted. “Now that’s out of the way, let’s begin.” He was just going to assume they got the message now. He liked discipline and order! “Sexuality...”G’rem knew no shame. Most weyrfolk gradually outgrew shame, but G’rem wasn’t the sort of man most people would expect to give a lecture on sexuality. They expected a woman rider, or perhaps one of those slender, effeminate men. Well, too sharding bad!

“Urm,” he grunted, “I’m going to assume most of you grew up in the hold. Holds are notoriously close-minded when it comes to sex,” he said. Remeneth curled up in the grass and laid down, his shining eyes looking reassuringly on the candidates. “Some holds,” G’rem continued, “encourage young people to abstain from sex until married. Most, if not all, condemn sexual activity between two members of the same sex…” he said.

“Well! That’s not the case here,” he said. “As many of you experienced when Nirinath flew, dragon sexuality has a strong effect on bystanders. It becomes considerably more intense when the dragon in question is your own.” He shifted  a suspicious glare to Remeneth, who only crooned gently and looked quite pleased with himself.

“To put it plainly, it’s gonna happen,” G’rem grunted. “It’s common for dragons with riders of the same sex to mate, which results in a sexual encounter between the riders as well. It’s part of life here, and part of being a dragonrider. So any assumptions you have about conservative sexual ideology need to go out the window. It will happen, and here at the Weyr, it’s an acceptable part of life,” he said.

“Same sex encounters aren’t frowned on like they are in the holds.  They’re quite common. At the Weyr, you’re welcome to pursue whatever kind of sexuality pleases you, so long as it isn’t harmful to others,” he added.  “In fact, the Weyrleaders and staff actively encourage you to experiment with sexual activity before Impression.”

His face hardened, as if daring any of them to giggle at this next part. “Now then,” he said. “we do this because dragonflight is an intense experience. We don’t recommend that anyone lose their virginity in a flight. Sex is intense enough the first time, it’s better to know what to expect before experiencing it through dragonflight,” he said. “That extends to same-sex encounters as well. Those of you who have never tried will want to consider doing so before Impression, or you may find yourself trapped with another man or woman in dragonlust one day and come out considerably worse off than you would if you knew what to expect…”

Though all this, G’rem remained perfectly serious and impersonal, albeit gruff. He crossed his arms and surveyed the candidates. “….Any questions so far?”

---

Played by Bluedragon

Lymselia glanced around at the other candidates. Some of the others made moaning sounds. The young woman wanted to turn around and pick up a pebble and hit them with it. But she resisted the urge.  Man of them she assumed were just ignorant rubes. Who didn't understand the subtlies of deeply caring about one f the same gender. Well she didn't either, but most of the people in Falen's deed seem to have close bonds with others- same gendered or not-.

Lymselia noticed Volfetti and offered a polite wave in her direction, though as the rider brought up encouraging sexuality before impression, and indeed before a Flight. Lymsleia steeled herself. The Gold's flight had been.. exhilirating. And she  bite her lip at the thought of being on the 'rider's end of it. It'd be super intesnse not being a rider. She pondered Tsuen's disposition. She'd never met the woman, but that must have changed things, how one saw the world.  It certainly had changed her outlook.

Flight's changed a lot of things. She remained quiet though, and considered experimentation. The was Talian... interesting, quiet, attractive Healer... who else? She leaned foreward to listen to the lecture. So Weyr life was really different.

Erisi still couldn't believe that they were going to discuss this, not because he was sensitive to the subject (he was fairly immune at this stage in his life), but rather because it was pointless. There were few candidates that looked to be completely unfamiliar with the subject. He was also counting Lymsleia in his estimation, if only because she had snubbed his smartass response to her. Erisi had never taken well to being ignored. He thought his answer to her question warranted a response, whether negatively or positively. Faranth, there was one girl that had shot him a look that he was happy for just so he could shoot a glare at her back. The young man enjoyed silent confrontation, even verbal confrontation was a small thrill. Physical confrontation was out of the question, but one look at Erisi and anyone could see that.

So, he probably disliked Lymsleia more now than his original judgment of her had allotted. He was vindictive, even G'rem was more likable. G'rem had snapped at Erisi and was rambling on about a pointless subject, but at least he had paid him attention. Still, G'rem wasn't all that likable, he was just moreso than Lymsleia. Talian still somehow managed to be the best one in the group, and how he had achieved that position... Erisi had no idea. He was just the best out of a bad lot. Embarrassing? Yes. Immature? Quite. Likable? Sure.

While it may have seemed that G'rem's scolding warranted a response from Erisi, he took the wiser route of shutting up. He had some sense of self-preservation, and he was pretty confident that taking a lap around the Weyr would cause a heat stroke. Erisi hated living here, just not so much that he wanted to die out in the sun. It wasn't a dignified death, if he had to consider deaths. Erisi was so quiet, in fact, that he wasn't asking any smartass questions.

That was also because he was fairly comfortable with the subject matter. The bluerider was practically telling him to get laid. 'Why, thank you, I think I will.'

Talian wasn't pleased to hear Erisi scolding Lym like that, if only because he had a soft spot for both of them and didn't want to choose a side.

He could see Erisi wasn't necessarily the most pleasant or tolerant of people, but Talian couldn't deny a liking for the man. He frowned as he thought about it. He wondered if it had to do with the incident, if it was hard for him to wash his hands of Erisi now that they'd shared a vulnerable moment like that. His stomach knotted at the memory, only reinforced by the gruff and unashamed way the bluerider before him spoke of such encounters. It was like a constant reminder ringing in his brain, and it only stung more as the behavior was encouraged. Talian couldn't get it out of his head.

Did he want something like that to happen again? With Erisi or otherwise? This place was starting to get to him...He shuddered and banished the thought.

As for Lym, Tal was blissfully unaware of the way she was looking at him. He'd decided he liked her after his first few minutes of conversation with her, her nurturing nature reminding him closely of his older sister Carys. Carys always looked after him where his mother and Talerian failed. Of course, Tal's only friend in the north had been a girl. He was more comfortable around them. They weren't so competitive and didn't expect so much of him. Lym fit the bit, gentle and caring, though sometimes too optimistic for him to take entirely seriously. She didn't deserve to get screamed at, though!

He sank in his chair as the lecture continued. He had no questions; most of it had already been explained to him by B'jin, or he'd witnessed it and figured it out on his own. The very idea that he needed to 'practice' terrified him, though. He didn't want to practice!  With anyone!

Or did he? He turned around and scanned his classmates, his face red.

It wasn't that Kerrin had forgotten about the kick-off of classes, or that he'd forgotten what time they started, or any other sensible excuse that would have explained his fashionably late arrival to the charming outdoor 'classroom' where his fellow candidates were no doubt eagerly awaiting his presence. It was just that showing up on time - or at all, really - to a lesson on weyr sexuality wasn't exactly on the top of his list of priorities. After all, he was weyrbred, it wasn't like the instructor would have anything to say that would surprise him; and besides that he liked to think he knew quite a bit about the subject already, thank you very much!

But in the end, somehow or other, it seemed that Kerrin had finally matured enough to realize that attendance was mandatory, not a choice - or perhaps it was more likely that he had just been persuaded to show by one of his more responsible friends. Regardless of the reason, he finally did appear, slipping into an empty seat miraculously only a minute or two after the official start of the lesson. Looking totally unconcerned by his tardiness, Kerrin surveyed the other students present in his class. Most of them he had met in some form or another, and at least two he recognized from those previously Searched for the Renewed Hope clutch. In fact... amber eyes stopped briefly on Volfetti, noting the woman's obviously gravid form. Now here was a student who clearly had nothing new to learn. "Hey," he called, addressing their lecturer without even turning to look at him, for he was nodding towards Volfetti. "Don't you think she should be exempt?"

When he finally did look up to see which of the blueriders - for despite his superior intelligence-gathering skills, that was all he had been able to ascertain regarding the identity of their lecturer before his arrival - had been blessed with the dubious honor of teaching him and his friends this round, Kerrin's smarmy grin immediately dissolved, his expression falling into one of shock and horror as soon as he fully appreciated the looming 7' figure standing before them. "Oh shells, it's G'rem," the boy muttered, and the tone of his voice spoke volumes for those unacquainted with the strict and surly bluerider.

Silently Kerrin rose from his seat, tense from head to toe and looking for all intents and purposes as if he were about to take off running as soon as G'rem so much as twitched a muscle. "Well, it's been fun guys, but I'm a dead man."

Razzah had been maybe a few seconds late but was in time to hear his nam being called "here!" he called out as he raced to his seat; with hard breaths that indicated he had ran. it had been about half a week since he was brought to the south and to Katila. He enjoyed it here even if he did miss his home and his old Master. His throat had healed up perfectly and though Raz had a fear of going between he had otherwise came off unscathed.

When the subject of the lesson came to light, he couldn't help feel slightly uneasy. His first and so far only sexual experience had been with K'ren and that was only a kiss. But at least he had some same sex experience. He listened to the rider with rapt attention; not wanting to miss a thing. When it was suggested that some experimentation should be done, he glanced around. A pretty dark skinned woman cought his eye near the front but she was most likely out of his league.

He looked around again; there were other women in the class and he checked them all out; he would rather have his first time with a woman anyway then a man. Raz looked back at the rider and awaited more of the lesson; he did not have any questions as if yet...well...save one. He raised his hand a moment then spoke "well what if you feel yourself attracted to someone who would -outside of a flight- be rather unobtainable?" his eyes flicked to the dark skinned woman as well as a few others.

Leaning foreward a bit the heterochomia eyed girl  tried not to let her mind drift too much. LEctures. She didn't need to know how sex worked. She barely needed to know why sexuality was important, but she sat there as attentive as she could be.

The Founders of Falen's hold- she realized, must had Weyr-like views.. her home was arguably very fluid the way G'rem had suggested- nay started that Weyr life was. But why? It was a hold. Lymselia mulled over this question but hten voices, comments and questions shook her from her thoughts.

Looking at Kerrin, Lymlseia tried tok keep her eyes still. "She is probably here because its a requirement." she said softly. She was Volfetti's healer and could only make an educated guess as to why the pregnant candidate, was she candidate even in that condition, was there.

Lymsleia glanced at Razzah's question. Falen's hold was as close to 'weyr' like as it could be. It was close enough to Ista- well what had once been Ista Weyr. She had grown up there and glanced back at Razzah with rapt attention. "You go obtain them." she said in them ost matter affect way. "Falen's Holder's have a saying. Reach for the Moons, you'll land amoung the stars." she said simply.

"I'd say you keep trying, no harm in it. Unless I guess they make it very clear they want nothing to do with you.." she muses a moment and then turns back around for the lesson.

Did he have any questions? Well, technically yes, but since he wasn't sure how the rider would take them, with both questions being sarcastic and not helpful in the least, he wasn't about to ask them. He was fairly certain of the answer to the first, that most of them probably weren't virgins, though he had his doubts about Razzah.

Why else would he think the other candidates were out of his league?

The rest he was certain already had at least some experience, some more obviously than others. He chuckled softly to himself, and then turned himself to paying attention. This would be a good way to judge the other candidates, the ones he didn't know, since their reactions, and questions, were sure to reflect their opinions. Not a bad way to figure out if they'd be the type of people he'd get along with.

As for the second, well, the flight probably just happened before they thought about it, since this was only the second queen flight here at Katila, and they had a weird sort of candidacy. Perhaps if the candidates hadn't had to be stolen, this lesson would have taken place before any mating flights. Or maybe not. There was no way to know.

He thought for a moment, trying to see if he had any serious questions. Nope. Guess he'd just have to listen to everyone else's, and then, if one popped into his head, could ask one of his own.

While priding herself on being a good student, Volfetti was primarily tuned out while G'rem was speaking. While he explained it differently, the content was exactly the same as the last Weyrling Master's lecture. She spent this time watching the other Candidates curiously instead. She found their facial expressions most intriguing, from Erisi's rich smugness to Talian's red embarrassment. Maybe she should find Talian later and strike up a conversation with him, he seemed so shy and reserved, as well as a little awkward.

At Kerrin's comment Volfetti turned her head, ever so slowly, to face him. The look on her face was one of pure malice, did he think she wanted to be in this situation? Filled with dragonspawn? She watched him with narrowed eyes as he jumped up, having realized it was G'rem in charge of their class. Were she not laden with a two-season baby, she would be up on her feet and chasing the cheeky weybrat. When Lymsleia got a reply to Kerrin before herself or G'rem, Volfetti turned her gaze to her. It was still narrowed in annoyance, though not directed at the other woman.

"I'm here, because the rules dictate that all Candidates attend all classes. Just because you're just old enough to be one doesn't mean you should be ignorant." Volfetti hissed to the boy. It would most likely earn her a snap or a clip from G'rem's beloved stick but she was willing to risk that, what an insolent child. Sighing she shifted in her seat, the child in her belly wriggling with her and kicking out three times. "Knock it off you sharding tunnelsnake." She muttered down to her belly. What was that, any questions? How about how to avoid mothering dragonspawn unwillingly? As much as Volfetti ranted about her future child, she still had some love for it clearly, since she still had it and hadn't ducked between to abort it.

G’rem & Blue Remeneth – Weyrling Master

G’rem paced towards the back of his class, his stick hopping dangerously along the grass as he dragged it behind him. “No speaking out of turn!” he snapped, lashing out at Lymsleia and clipping her shin with the stick. The rider’s face flushed red, but a loud rumble from Remeneth quelled the man. Yelling won’t solve anything the blue reminded his rider judiciously.

Very well G’rem muttered.

He turned his attention towards Razzah. “Talk to them. It’s not different from any other situation, without the flight to complicate it,” he explained, earnestly through gruffly. He slid his gaze towards Talian, brows furrowed unfavorably. “You won’t get anywhere hiding in the corner and keeping your feelings to yourself.”
G’rem was prepared to continue after that, but he found himself the victim of a rude interruption.
Shards. In only a few moments, G’rem’s perfectly fluid candidate class had turned into what hewould have deemed a complete and total circus. He spun around and glowered at Kerrin like the Katilan summer sun.

G’rem… Remeneth urged, but this time he was ignored.

“First, you arrive late to my class…” G’rem grunted, pointing his stick at Kerrin in a threatening manner. “Then you make a snide comment towards a fellow candidate, who is doing her duties PROPERLY, may I add?!” he demanded, waving his stick at Volfetti in demonstration. G’rem walked closer to Kerrin, waving his stick more and more threateningly with each passing moment.

In the background, Remenath reared onto his hind legs and fanned his wings, issuing a rumble of warning to both G’rem and Kerrin. G’rem, please the blue urged. Don't go overboard. Aggravated but receptive to reason, G’rem lowered his stick.

Remeneth turned his jeweled eyes on Kerrin. The dragon’s soft voice drifted to the boy, speaking firmly but not unkindly. Don't leave. I’ve talked some sense into G’rem, but you must stay and finish your lesson. He will inform you of your punishment after the lesson is over the blue said sagely. G’rem grunted and returned to the front of the class, clipping Volfetti’;s legs with his stick as he moved. ‘And you! Don’t.  Speak. Out. Of .Turn,” he muttered.

Once at the front of the class, G’rem drafted a quick note to the kitchens regarding Kerrin. He detailed how the boy was to spend an afternoon catching as many herdbeasts and wherries as the kitchen would require for dinner that evening, without the benefit of equipment or assistance. A humbling job, and it would help build up the boy’s physique. “Now! You take this to the kitchens after the lesson. For now, I expect you to sit down and listen to the riders who are taking time out of THEIR day to talk to you!” he growled, waving the note for Kerrin to take before motioning to a free seat.

Unwilling to waste any more time, G’rem continued. “The first rider who will speak to you is B’jin. He’s going to talk to you all about weyrmates and first flights,” he said.

---

Played by Bluedragon

B'jin was, admittedly, less than thrilled to be talking to the current classes of Candidates. He'd done such things before, of course, most notably during his time at Telgar Weyr. Stand Impressions were rare, and usually occurred in response to someone being in them, that the dragons would at least agree should have been on the Sands - they were usually Weyrbred, and had dragonrider blood in their veins - B'jin was a farmer's brat turned Harper who was about as responsive to a Search dragon as a lump of wet wood on a raining day. He just wasn't what anyone would have considered dragonrider material, and he had, admittedly, been more than happy with his lot in life before Larrikith came screaming and cursing at him. As a result, he was often called upon to explain to less than enthused Candidates exactly why it was important that they shut up, sat down, and learned their lessons before they Impressed a dragon.

Oh, quit whining, Larrikith snapped, as she followed her hobbling rider. A rather large, and very nasty bruise was still in place on B'jin's upper left thigh, where he had run into a table when she'd taken Flight. It was a particularly stunning piece of art, as far as she was concerned, although she could have done without all his bitching and moaning. Of course, she had the lovely results of numbweed to shut her up. They are waiting for us.  She added, just to bait him, and rumbled happily when he bit.

"Shut up, Larri." B'jin grumbled as he hobbled around the form of Remeneth's massive blue body, which quite nicely dwarfed his pretty green as she moved carefully after her rider. B'jin turned his gaze from G'rem after nodding cordially, and then frowned at the class. Wonderful. B'jin's warm brown eyes took in those that were sitting around, apparently less than thrilled with who was teaching their classes and - or - their subject matter. Gaze landing on Kerrin, he took in his expression with one of mounting amusement, and a smirk slowly formed upon B'jin's lips. Looks like the weyrbrat had already gotten himself into the shit heap. Letting his gaze drift, he met Talian's eyes with a small smile before shifting over those he knew less personally, but did know from gossip. The Weyr was small, and the Searchers were probably almost as big a group of gossips as the Harpers within the Hall. They all had bets laid, and he was definitely going to take this moment to suss out those within this class.

"Hey kids," B'jin said cheerfully, as he came to a stand still and visibly leaned weight onto his right leg. Larrikith came to a halt behind him, and sat herself down regally, eyes swirling with amusement as she caught up on what had happened with the blue. "I'm B'jin, this is my Larrikith. We've been bonded for twenty six turns; I was twenty-one when she sought me out, and much like many of you, I was not the least bit interested in Impressing. However, while you will be trained via these Candidate classes, I missed out and was very much a learn-as-I-go case, something Weyrs in general strive very hard to avoid as the result tend to become particularly messy. For the purpose of today's talk, that will namely be in regards to Larri's first flight."

He paused, letting the young men and women before him take in his words, before continuing, "Your first flight can go one of two ways, when you get right down to it. It will either be something that will capture you entirely and become much like a drug, or, as in the case of Larri and I, it can be something that is memorable for all the wrong reasons." He paused again. "Obviously, only female dragons Fly and as I'm aware most of you know, Larrikith flew earlier in the week. Unfortunately, that was a particularly horrendous re-enactment of our first Flight together. Larri is usually predictable in two areas - her flights, and her unpredictability."

He paused, and Larrikith took over, her voice reaching into each of the minds of those before her. Unlike B'jin, who's voice was decidedly deep, smooth and masculine with an underlying lyrical quality, Larrikith's tone was rough around the edges and decidedly feminine. It was sharp, and entered the mind like a hot knife sliding through butter. Despite knowing better, B'jin miscalculated my flight schedule, and as such, was caught off guard. First flights are similar; you will see signs, in both yourself and your dragon. Such is called being 'proddy'. That word was said with high amusement, and she shared the image of B'jin storming around the dining hall half dressed with obvious delight. B'jin, beside her, scowled comically.

"Yes yes," he snapped, and waved a hand. "That is beside the point. Such will be explained in detail should you Impress, now shut up Larri. Anyway." He stressed the word. "The best way to avoid having a traumatic first flight is generally the simplest - test the waters before you're thrown in the deep end. This includes those of you who hope to Impress a male dragon. You can just as easily end up in a messy situation. Trust me, it is much less embarrassing to go about it in awkward twitches than to have your brains kick back into gear and find yourself in a tangled mess with someone after a Flight." B'jin twitched, visibly, and Larrikith gave a muffled gurgle of laughter. He shot Larrikith a dark look. "If you like surprises, you'll love Flights," he added.

"Now. Questions before I talk about Weyrmates?"

What the...?! Was everyone going to gang up on him for simply stating the obvious? Kerrin turned an incredulous look to Volfetti in particular when she'd chewed him out, hands spread in a clear expression of 'what gives?!', because as far as was concerned he'd been doing her a favor! Pregnant as she was, he seriously doubted she wanted to sit around and listen to old men ramble on about sex any more than he did, but at least she had an excuse to leave. Not that anyone else seemed to see it that way.

The boy straightened immediately when G'rem approached, having momentarily forgotten in his sheer disbelief at Volfetti's inexplicably negative reaction at his attempt to help a fellow out that he'd fully intended to run. Now it was too late! Kerrin's jaw clenched with the sheer effort it took to keep himself silent, for over the course of his 12 or so turns at Katila he'd had enough experience with G'rem to know that even just the slightest peep in his defense - not that he had anything to say that would have any way excused his misbehavior, but that was beside the point - would be enough to double if not triple whatever humiliating punishment the towering bluerider was dreaming up as he shook his stick just inches from the glowering teenager's nose.

It was the blue dragon's soft but insistent voice in his head alone that kept the boy from doing anything drastic as he approached the front of the class to accept with a scowl the scrawled-upon note that he knew contained something horrible. Thanks, I guess, he intoned mentally at Remeneth as he slumped back into a seat, uncertain if the blue was still tuned in enough to hear him and not particularly caring, either - he just didn't want to express any gratitude for the bluerider's uncharacteristic leniency aloud, lest G'rem hear him.

His mood hopelessly soured, Kerrin watched B'jin and tiny Larrikith approach the class with utter disinterest. Had he not just endured a public shaming in front of his entire Candidate class the boy could have admitted that there were far more boring options for a guest speaker, but with Katilans being the incorrigible gossips they were he still doubted the man had any secrets that the weyrbrat didn't already know. Still, he couldn't help but smirk a little when Larrikith brought to their minds the familiar image of B'jin, proddy and raving, storming about the dining hall. Of course he understood that it must have been horribly embarrassing for the greenrider, but it had certainly been an interesting morning for the rest of them.

Jek was hoping very much that the list of names and times on the noticeboard had been more suggestions than essential, but seeing the way that the blue-rider at the front of the class was marking off names, that semed like it might've been too hopeful.
Taking a seat at the back, he thought that maybe at the end he could go and explain that the class he was originally scheduled for was going to clash with his only chance to go out to the animals and feel like all the time spent training back home had been worth anything at all. And he could always sit through it again if the teacher needed him to, although it didn't sound like one he'd want to hear twice.
He blushed a little, although he thought it should be hidden by his tan, at the thought of asking riders questions at the end. Really? He'd spoken to a few of them, but there wasn't anyone he felt he knew well enough for that converstaion.
As the other students made comments on the topic, he decided that the best way to get through the class was to sit quietly, look like he was listening intently, and nod every now and then. And cross his fingers, toes and everything else that this wasn't a class with enforced participation and questions.
Razzah's question made sense, although he didn't really see how that was any different from at home - except that at home the challenge would be to get a dance, or a kiss, or a confidence, rather than the sex that G'rem was recommending.
Kerrin's attack on Volfetti made Jek sit up a bit more in his chair, surely the boy could see that it wasn't up to him who was approved as a candidate? If the weyrleaders were allowing her to attend classes then that was the final answer. Luckily the woman responded herself, and then G'rem shut Kerrin down, so he didn't need to stand up for her, and sank back down into the chair.

Once B'jin came to the front, the mood generally seemed to relax and Larrikith's image of B'jin in the dining room - why had he missed that? It had been a topic for gossip during chores ever since and now, having seen it from the dragon's perspective he could see why. Again, the emphasis was on experimenting before the first flight, and therefore before the hatching and possible Impression.

Looking around at the group of candidates, there wasn't anyone who particularly caught his eye. Lymsleia was pretty, he could daydream about her for a while, but that didn't feel as though he was challenging his own perceptions in quite the way that B'jin was talking about.

So that meant that he'd need a new experience - which would be by implication male.

If anything in the world could have made Talian more uncomfortable, he was hard pressed to think of it.

First the bluerider was shouting and scolding, next the pregnant girl was complaining, and now B'jin was talking about sex?

With Erisi right there?

Talian wanted to melt. He bit his lip in a coy manner and looked around, gauging the others' reactions. Some of the other boys were taking this business a lot better than he was, it would seem. Funny, since he'd already had his first taste. The girls seemed open and comfortable as well, far more comfortable in their skin than Talian's conservative family would have had him think they'd be. Weren't girls supposed to be modest and shy?

Well, I guess that makes me a girl

He shot B'jin a pleading look. It could have meant anything, or quite a lot of things blended together. Please don't look at me, please don't remind me of the other day, please don't mention me, please don't look at Erisi, the 'please don'ts' went on and on.

He sank in his chair, his full attention still on B'jin even though the subject made him want to wiggle out of his skin and scurry away.

Valerian was surrounded by idiots. He really didn't think he needed to be such a class but at the same time his predictions of it being good entertainment for an afternoon had come true. People were asking ridiculous questions and blueriders almost looked embarrassed to talk about something everyone already knew they more or less did daily and often bragged about. He was starting to believe dragonriders were a special sort of breed. No, wait, he knew that already but they were proving daily how deep that 'special' ran. But for all of the chaos that was already starting to form, Valerian decided he liked the kid that was late to the class. Kerrin had said exactly what the harper had been thinking about the pregnant woman. Given the reaction of the boy seconds later when he realized who the teacher was and how G'rem barely held it together, Valerian was, for once, glad he didn't speak his mind.

When Larrikith flashed images into his mind, something she clearly enjoyed doing far too much, Valerian again kept his mouth shut but glared at the little green. He hadn't forgotten her trick at the river, figuring he was scarred for life, and could have gone without seeing more of B'jin being proddy or in any sexual act. He'd get his revenge on her one day, he would make certain of it. But when B'jin gave the opening to ask questions, he finally had to say something since no one else seemed all that interested and since it was B'jin, he felt like being extra cheeky. "So should I just announce something like, 'hey, Allendris, do you wanna bang after class?' or will there be some blueriders waiting for us after class with sign up sheets?"

Erisi was pretty much zoning out through most of B'jin's introduction. He did believe that this was the man that had Searched Talian mistakenly, but that wasn't the reason he was tuning him out. Instead, it was because all of the information that was being provided really didn't phase Erisi. He was fairly confident there would only be more prattling on about how everyone needed to be accustomed to sleeping with both genders so they weren't frightened out of their own skins when it finally did happen in a dragonflight. He got the point. He was already well-rehearsed with both genders, so this wasn't an issue for him.

The only thing that got him to pay attention was Larrikith's needlessly loud voice resounding in his head. He hissed softly to himself, pressing a hand over his ear as if to block out the Green's interruption of his own thoughts. All right, while the mental picture of a half-dressed B'jin wasn't terrible, he really did not desire it in the middle of class. Besides, if the man was a Searchrider, Erisi really had no interest in him. He'd thank Larrikith for the effort, but no. He wasn't interested right now. B'jin was a little beyond an acceptable age range too... though now if he thought about it, that was something that was probably included in their 'experimentation guide for Candidates'.

He glanced at B'jin again.

No. Not even remotely interested.

Erisi was not entirely oblivious to the fact that Talian kept on glancing towards him throughout the sex talk. He wasn't sure what to make of it, since Talian had voiced his disinterest in Erisi before. Was he reconsidering it, or recollecting their shared kiss? Whatever it was, when Talian happened to glance back to him, he arched both brows and stared back at the Healer. He supposed he should let Talian know that he was well aware of the glances being shot in his direction. It wasn't like Talian was being entirely discreet about it, anyways. In fact, it was probably impossible for someone like Talian to be discreet.

In the moments proceeding his silent interaction with Talian, Valerian spoke up so eloquently that Erisi himself was proud. In fact, he wondered why he hadn't said the same thing himself. He would have high-fived the other Harper if Valerian had been close enough to him. But, instead he gave an appreciative chuckle, raising a hand to cover the smile that was blossoming across his face. At leas the gave credit where credit was due. Valerian deserved a few solid marks for that comment.

B'jin wasn't even slightly put out by the varied attentions of the calls of students. So long as they at least pretended to listen so G'rem didn't come storming in and take over, B'jin really couldn't give two shards. The greenrider was only present because it had been requested of him, and when he'd hesitated, had been assured it wasn't really a polite request and more along the lines of 'do as you are bloody told'. So, there he was, highly amused as half his class tuned out, a quarter sunk low in their chairs and prayed to Faranth he wouldn't notice them (After smirking cheerfully at Talian, B'jin had ignored the young Healer) and the other quarter... looked like he'd just offered them all their dreams on a big fat platter. His smirk widened.

B'jin knew most of the class, either through a personal note or gossiping with his fellow Searchers. Most of them were less than happy to be at the Weyr, and a lot of them were more than a little sour. He didn't actually blame any of them, though he found the extreme ratio of emotions rather interesting. At any rate, he noticed a distinct increase in shuffling seats, and twitchy looks as he finished his little speech, and not at all a lot of questions. A frown pulled B'jin's mouth down even as he raised his eyebrows and cast his brown eyes across the group. Really? No questions?

Wait for it... Larrikith whispered into his mind, and a moment later, the question was sprung. B'jin's gaze swung rapidly around and locked onto Valerian, his eyebrows arching up on his forehead once more even as his lips twitched and he tried valiantly to smother a wide smirk - and failed miserably. Behind him, Larrikith let out a half-cough that was definitely a choke of laughter, her eyes whirling rapidly.

"Well," B'jin said, laughter thick in his voice though he was doing a fabulous job of trying to keep it under control, "that could certainly work." Highly amused glance was tossed at Allendris, smirk widening. "Or it might get you decked - depending." B'jin licked his lips, and attempted to bring his features into an expression that was less mirthful and more SERIOUS TEACHER. It didn't work very well, since serious and B'jin didn't tend to mix very well at any rate.

"I'm sure G'ram would be delighted to take down names." This time his smirk was evil, "or you could all get drunk and party in the candidate barracks. Katilan booze is strong, and I could possibly get my hands on some Benden if you ask nicely," the last part was teasing, and B'jin smirked even as he carefully shifted his weight as far from G'rem as he could, putting Larrikith between himself and the whack-happy Weyrlingmaster. His leg was bruised enough; he didn't need additional welts!

I like this plan, Larrikith smirked, voice just for B'jin. Her eyes were alight with terrible mischief.

Allendris was still obviously feeling very uncomfortable by the whole ordeal presented by this particular class. He had only just recently learned that homosexuality was more than just a rumor whispered about in the dark hallways of more questionable holds, and now here he was at a weyr, where sex was apparently rampant and marriage nonexistent, with quite possibly the largest and most intimidating old man he had ever had the questionable pleasure of meeting shaking his stick and gruffly encouraging them all to run off and engage in unspeakable acts with their classmates. He could only stare straight ahead at their instructor, spine ramrod-straight and jaw tense, as he watched out of the corner of his eye all the wandering gazes of the other candidates. Checking their prospects no doubt, he thought with a mental shiver. The staid young man had to wonder: was there just something about Katila's borders that somehow obliterated the morals of all who passed through them, or were these young men and women all just that depraved from the start?

Either way, was it something that was going to start affecting him too?

The addition of the familiar faces of B'jin and Larrikith did nothing to help the glass-smith feel at ease, especially with the cheeky green dragon seizing the opportunity to project into their unsuspecting minds what he was certain must have been a very embarrassing image for the rider in question. He resisted the urge to gape at the implications of this new 'proddy' term and what the existence of such a thing meant for him, should it ever happen to him. He hated to imagine himself doing something as insane as raving about a dining hall half-naked for all the weyr to see. And yet somehow, despite the nigh-impenetrable chaos of his thoughts on this subject, somehow both Valerian's quip and the greenrider's laughing response managed to reach him. Dark brown eyes widened in shock as Allendris realized, belatedly, that the two were talking about him - but it didn't take long for those same eyes to narrow into a glare which he delivered at both the snickering B'jin and the smart-mouthed harper, in turns.

"It most certainly will not work," Allendris hissed, his indignant glare lingering on Valerian just a moment longer.

Lymsleia grinned. "You know.. I think signup sheets would be an excellenet way to get to know each other." she said quickly jumping into the conversation. "And not, be sexual about it. Just a meet and greet. No pretenses, no walls, just all of us can talk." she chimmed in trying to break what she felt was awkward tension.

The Weyr felt strangely like home. Well home with dragons and alot of more open sensual acts. Lymselia was used to it being somewhat more discrete but she glanced at B'jin. "If you're offering Benden, I'll take some!" she called to him with a smile.  She sat back and simply listened to what the others were saying. They were a wide variety of people, this electic group of  student-candidates. A few were hold breed, a few like her were  hold-born but weyr-bred at heart. Lymlseia brushed at her eyes. She was crying again. Shards, she had tried so hard not let it get to her.

She looked around for Talian, and then again for someone else. A name, a face, she hadn't met yet. She looked back to B'jin. Did she have a any questions? She smiled as she got an idea. "What's a goo way to break the ice with someone you're not sure about? I mean in terms of making an advance."

So much for his hopes that there wasn't going to be a participation element of the class - it was now looking like there was going to be homework set. And a very different type of homework from anything ever set by Harpers back home!

Although the idea of getting to know some of the other candidates a bit better was definitely good, especially if they were going to be working together as weyrlings at some point, there were a couple that he would be happy to avoid. Kerrin he had never had chores with, but from this class he seemed a bit confrontational  and not someone he particularly wanted to be having an in-depth conversation with.

Looking around, and happy to be sitting at the back so he wouldn't need to meet anyone's eye, he started thinking about the boys of the class. There wouldn't be much 'experimenting' with girls, after all. Jek wasn't exactly an expert, but he had enough experience to know what happened and how it all worked, and it was very nice.

It was all a bit strange though, thinking 'that way' about men. In a flight situation, he could see how the dragons might override the human's instincts, but without a dragon, how did you even start getting into that feeling? And what exactly did you do? He'd heard some crude jokes back at the hold but they sounded pretty unlikely and even downright painful, and he'd always thought they were just meant to put youngsters off relationships that couldn't end up with babies to extend the hold.

Perhaps it would start with kissing, the same way as with girls. Looking at B'jin, he could almost imagine that, but then where would you put your hands? Jek didn't realise how hard he was staring at the greenriders mouth and body, and, lost in his private musings, missed some of the comments following Valerian's suggestion.

On second thought, maybe more of the group were virgins than he thought. Why else would they be asking such stupid questions?

He rolled his eyes, and then glanced around at the other candidates. He knew a few of them well, like Lym, and Volfetti, who he was especially glad to see. He wondered what the Seacrafter made of this batch of candidates, having been through candidacy previously as well, and he made a mental note to look her up later. If only to find out her opinions of this lot, and maybe to find out how she's doing.

As for the rest, he wasn't sure how he felt about them. Maybe they were being as stupid as they were because they were bored.

“You’re kind of dense, aren’t you?” Valerian’s comment was directed at Lymsleia and he gave her a good ‘you have got to be kidding me’ look. Seriously, did the dragonriders make a mistake with some of these dimglows? Then again, maybe he was the mistake, along with the few others he found okay to spend time with, and the dragonriders liked having a good laugh and picking up those that were most likely to entertain the Weyr for a day with the drivel that came out of their mouths. “You’re in a sharding sexuality class and you’re trying to turn the talk away from sex? That confident you won’t get laid? You also answered your question with your idea of talking to someone before jumping them.”

Rolling his eyes, Valerian turned away from the ditzy girl that had just been thoroughly dismissed from his mind so he could pout at Allendris for several heartbeats before lips curled up into a smirk, “and we’ll see about that not working,” he currently had no intentions of pursuing the glass-smith outside of simply hanging out and driving the man insane while he put up with his blunt comments but that was something to leave Allendris worrying about and that was amusement enough for the young harper.

With his insulting and teasing done for the moment, he turned back to the front and gave Larrikith a grin knowing the dragon would appreciate his comments the most. As for B’jin, he waved the man to continue, as if he was actually the one controlling the class and giving permission for people to speak, “you were going to talk about weyrmates, I think you said?”