R2: Lesson 3

[Ruby]

As usual, Kemma was in the classroom several hours before lessons started. Usually she was totally focused on some document, sitting almost perfectly still in her extreme concentration- not today. She was working on something alright, but she was also fighting extreme distraction. It was not easy to focus when she was so worried about this stupid lesson. It wasn't like she was some blushing virgin, or she was doing something wrong- she just didn't like taking away the candidates' blushing virginity, assuming they had it left. It felt wrong to push young people into... relationships they didn't want or need.

But there was no way around it. This was the lesson the Weyr needed her to teach, and she'd teach it. Because she remembered how she had disregarded this exact same information during her own Candidate, and even Weyrling training, and how terrifying her first flight had been as a result. She didn't wish that on anyone.

With a sigh, she dropped her pen, shuffled the hides back into order, and folded her hands over the top of them. This would be fine, everything would be fine. Unfortunately, as far as Kemma knew, none of this batch were Weyrbred. Who knew how much of this they would know? How long had any of them been in the Weyr, for that matter?

Well, no help for any of it now. As soon as her three were here, she'd get started, avoiding as much awkwardness as she could. Too bad they were all male- Kemma had felt more comfortable with females int he class. None the less, for the first time in her life Kemma was grateful for her age- at least none of these adolescent boys was near enough to her age that this would be any more uncomfortable. Although, as usual, Rawign could make it entertaining.

[glamourie]

Rawign was exhausted, and it showed. The class was early enough in the day that he hadn't slept nearly enough. Working the entire night shift in the infirmary resulted in an exceptionally exhausted version of him. The evidence was clear in the way he wobbled rather than walked gracefully. His hair was a mess, barely brushed out of his face, and he honestly hadn't bothered with dressing up. That much showed in the fact that he was wearing a long green tunic that was clearly slept in and a pair of black slacks, along with his shoes untied. Over-all he looked disheveled, and the green and blue firelizards perching on his shoulder didn't help matters any. Despite that, though, Rawign was awake, at least mostly. One hand moved up to his face to rub his right eye and he staggered into the classroom gracelessly before flopping into the same seat he'd snatched last lesson. Both Roxie and Stumpy took off, gliding to opposite ends of the room, and his arms fell on top of his desk, stretching out, fingers curling around the end of the desktop. No one else was there? He was first? Typical!

"Wake me up when the others arrive?" he asked quietly, glancing at the candidatemaster. Was it a deliberate attempt to be bratty that he asked her to let him sleep? Technically no. He was really tired. Working from sunset to sunrise could be highly irritating sometimes. He didn't mind it because he had the easier shift and Kalierre was needed during the day, but when he had to creep out into the daylight, he had a tendency to be grouchy. Candidate lessons were important.. or something. Not that he needed them since he was sure he wouldn't Impress, but being awake all night then being asked to get up for lessons was inconvenient. At least he didn't have to get up for chores anymore, since his infirmary shifts technically qualified as those. He was starting to feel like the only people he spoke to much anymore, though, were wherhandlers. They held the same hours as he did.

Rather than wait for a response, however, the healer laid his head down, resting his cheek against his extended arm, and closed his eyes. He would wake up when it came time to actually listen, but for all the world it looked as though Ferneth and Cloar were going to be late. How strange. Normally he was one of the last ones to arrive, since he couldn't have cared less about lessons. (Rawign was thoroughly of the opinion it was not necessary for him to attend since he didn't think he would Impress and had, in fact, been thrown off the Sands on numerous occasions. Awkward.) If he hadn't known any better, he would have assumed that he had the time wrong. But no. Kemma was there, which meant he had to have it right... meh. He'd worry about that after he slept some.

[dragon]

Cloar arrived ... more or less on time... though he looked a little preoccupied with other thoughts as he sauntered into the room. Over all in a fairly good mood, he made his way toward the front of the room where the desks were set up.

After entering the room, and then realizing what he was looking at, he paused.

Was Rawign sleeping on his desk?? That was decidedly ... odd. And Kemma was letting him? HOoooookayyyyy... He edged along, to avoid awakening the other candidate, and slid into what was apparently in danger of becoming his seat. The same one he'd sat in the last time he'd come to class, opposite of the one Rawign was now sleeping on. Cloar just hoped that Rawign wasn't the type to start drooling in his sleep. If Cloar ever got stuck sitting over there at that desk ... he would never be able to bring himself to touch the desk. Not willingly, at anyrate.

Settling down into his seat, Cloar rested his arms on the edge of the desk, the edge of the wood biting into the sides of his wrists as his lac hands formed more or less into loose fists. Turning his gaze from Rawign to Kemma, he offered a quiet hello: "Ma'am."

And then he fell silent again.

(((OOC: I am leaving today ... apologies, but I won't be here to finish this lesson.)))

[Ruby]

Kemma simply quirked an eyebrow and went back to noting things on papers as Rawign entered and immediately put his head on the desk. She'd let him sleep for a moment, though- no point in starting the lesson with only one person in attendance, and she had been informed that Rawign was on the night shift as a healer now- hence, he probably needed all the sleep he could get. Flipping to the back to a sheet of notes for herself, she jotted down a bit of scrawl to remind herself to push this rotation's lessons back- he should not be punished by early mornings when someone else decided to keep him up all night. It wasn't Rawign's fault, after all. Also, Mellith STILL was no closer to rising that she'd been last time Kemma gave this lesson, and the Candidatemaster was NOT in the mood.

Cloar followed close behind, taking the same seat as before, and Kemma decided to start. Mellith didn't know were Ferneth was, but that was alright. If he was late... well, Kemma certainly didn't want to have to give a private lesson, but she would if she had so. He could just attend next rotation's lesson. Looking up, Kemma addressed Cloar, "Would you please poke Rawign awake? We're starting." Once the Healer-Candidate was suitably alert, Kemma took a deep breath and launched in.

Lesson 3
"Welcome to lesson 3, you two. You might notice that I'm in a bit of an odd mood today. That is related to Mellith being proddy- getting ready to Rise, in case you don't know. Actually, she's quite late already, which makes it worse, for me at least. It is similar to what happens before Whers run, and human females have their monthlies- some women become extra flirty, trying to attract attention of men or women depending on preferance, and so do most dragons. Many women also get irritable, which is more like me and Mellith, so you'll just have to put up with us this time.

"This is ironically timed for this lesson- Flights, Runs, and sex in and around the Weyr. You'll learn all about the dragon and wher end if and when you impress. This lesson is about Matings and candidacy."

She paused and sighed, getting up to pace the front of the room. This was far from Kemma's favorite subject. "So, how does a dragon's mating flight or a wher's run relate to you all. Those of you from Weyrs will have already experianced the extreme power of a Goldflight, and will know the answer. Anyone past puberty in the Weyr, Impressed or not, is affected by the extreme... lust, and loss of self that comes along with a Queen flight. For the non-Impressed, that is just a fraction of what you will feel when your own Bonded rises to mate. However, it is still plenty intense- enough to make you grab the person next to you, whoever they are, and perform sexual acts right there in public. I am to stress to you that for Weyr life, this is NORMAL. You will see nakedness and sexual acts during the Matings of any female color, whether or not it affects you. There is no rationality about matings, for those that are bonded. There is no choice. There is only chase. If you don't like that idea, or can't handle it, I'd say drop out of candidacy and move to a Hold now.

"I don't need to go into that any further, I don't think. So the other part of this lesson: Virginity. It is a bad thing. If you have not lost it yet, get on it, so to speak." She had to smother a snicker- it was just such a stupid way to phrase that particular instruction. Oh well. "Young dragons will be traumatized by sex, and so until they themselves are mature, it is off-limits. When they are mature, there is no more time- you will most likely lose it during a first flight, at least for the riders of females. Males will lose it the first time their male chases, be it with the female's rider, or with some unfortunate Lower Caverns person who is in the area. Keep in mind- this lower caverns person could be you. I would not suggest the Flightrooms as a place to hang out, unless you want your first experiance of sex to be terrifying, and most likely painful.

"Speaking of painful- it will hurt the first time, for the women at least. This will cause their dragons stress. The men will probably be so confused and distraught that they, too, will cause their bondeds stress on a day that should be triumphant- the Bonded's coming of age. So, if it is at all possible, lose it before you next stand. I know you two may already have, or you may not feel ready to take that step- I hate to push you into something you aren't ready for, but if I don't, Impressing will. Keep that in mind, I suppose."

Kemma turned to face the two boys, stopping her pacing. "That's all for today. No homework, unless you count losing whatever virginity you might have left," she joked, her mouth quirking up in a rather wicked smile. "And boys, please be courteous to your female companions. Remember that anyone who is pregnant will not be allowed to Stand, and although that will not affect you, you could cause someone to be removed from candidacy. If anyone has any questions, you may ask me in private in total confidence. Your fellow candidates, especially the older ones, might even be more... ahem... helpful than I."

[Ember]

Ferneth was not too late, thankfully. He arrived just as Kemma started the lesson and he gave a slight sigh of relief. At least he would be able to listen from the doorway. He didn't mind standing and letting the other two hear the lesson without him making a noise about getting to his seat. Plus he knew the topic of today. Meira had told him and helped him. He watched the candidatemaster pace and was aware that she disliked this lesson.

At the end of it he not quite successfully covered his laughter with a cough. He managed a properly embarrassed expression for being so late if anyone looked at him. Truthfully, he was late because his infirmary shift was at a very inconvenient time for him, not that he really minded. He could see Rawign too appeared tired. The other candidate was on duty for all but the last hour of his shift so it made sense. He wouldn't make excuses for himself though.

After a moment he moved more into the room but didn't sit down. If it was over they likely wouldn't be staying long. He did have a question though. "Kemma, what should we do if we Impress and are outside the weyr when there is a flight? I know riders can't really stop themselves but..." He paused and hoped she took his meaning. Holders weren't used to the feelings that flights induced. They would not like a dragonrider just jumping them, under flight lust or not.