Changes Come

Writers: Ames, Chelle, Noli, Paula
Date Posted: 29th August 2013

Characters: D'lorn, N'tur, B'jon, Ameala
Description: The weyrlings learn about weyrlife.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 2, day 28 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Fitchan, H'vack

The classroom was full since they knew it was time for lessons. The
lesson scheduled was going to be a sensitive one, but it had to be talked
about. So D'lorn stood up there and looked over his charges.

"Today we're going to discuss the differences between a Weyr, a Hold,
and a Hall. As most of you know, life at a Weyr is far different than life
elsewhere. Why is this? Because we have dragons. Dragons have mating
Flights. This means you will not be able to be monogamous as a rider-ever."
He was quiet as he let that sink in for the holdbred boys. "We also fight
Threadfall and have duties which make it impossible for us to raise our own
children. Those of you who are Weyrbred were probably raised by fosterparents
or a nonriding parent. This is necessary."

D'lorn had been traderbred so he couldn't speak with absolute authority as
to what a holder did, but he had been in enough Holds to watch them. "On
the other hand, a holder's life is very different. You grow up, you get married, and
you have kids. You stay with your spouse. This is because Holds need
people-lots of people-to keep things running and due to the plague
killing so many. Most high ranking holders will foster their children but
the rest will raise them."

"Hallfolk are like holderfolk in that they get married and stick with their spouse
and they have children. They usually use the fostering system more than holders do, though,
since they have crafting duties and journeymen can travel a lot. They are career
minded and generally don't have as many children as holders do." The greenrider
paused again to see if they were listening.

"Obviously people in a Weyr are more free with their attentions. We usually don't
get married, though you will see what we call weyrmates-people who have chosen to
live together and perhaps have children. Men will be seen with men. Women
will be seen with women though not as often. We don't have as many inhibitions here.
Now, if you ever feel uncomfortable about attention you receive, you can tell that
person plainly. We don't condone harassment." His voice lowered to make himself clear.

"I'll take questions now but if you aren't comfortable, see me after the lesson." D'lorn
looked to see any raised hands.

B'jon didn't know if he should be grinning like silly at the lesson's
subject or try to keep a straight face. He didn't have questions
though, and kept his hands on his lap.

Ameala was much more uncomfortable. She understood what D'lorn was
saying. She'd had some of these discussions with the Weyrlingmaster
and others as she tried to decide to Stand. Now, however, the
expectations were real.

She did have one question to ask at the moment, raising her hand she
waited to be acknowledged and then asked, "What if we already _were_
married before we came here? You said people here don't get married."
She hadn't really thought on this particular issue before D'lorn's
talk, now she was anxious and worried about the answer. She felt her
stomach seeming to churn as it had these recent days. Just another
sign of her anxiety.

"In all honesty most relationships that exist prior to Impression usually do
not remain the same. Most of the time the nonrider in the pair can't adjust
to the changes that Weyrlife brings and jealousy and guilt can damage a
young dragon's mating instinct and hurt the bond between dragon and rider."
The greenrider wasn't going to sugarcoat it. They needed to know what they
were getting into. "However, that's something you will have to work out with
your loved one once you get far enough in your training to be around them
once more."

N'tur listened obediently, but his attentions were detached at best.
He had grown up in the Weyr and felt no inhibitions about the
discussion. Although he was not particularly interested in sex
himself at the moment, he expected that after he graduated Weyrling
training that he would take many different partners to his bed.

His interest peaked slightly at the greenrider weyrling Ameala's
question. He tried to remember if he knew any married people, and
decided that he didn't. Other than visiting holders, of course, but he
had never spent any time contemplating the nature of their relationships.

B'jon looked at Ameala too. At least he didn't have such worries. His
only pre-weyrlinghood relationship had ended well before he was
Searched. He certainly hadn't wasted his time as candidate either.
Unlike some hold-bred greenriders, B'jon actually felt comfortable
with his role. At least he was not caught unprepared when Denenth
matured.

"Very well if there are no further questions..." He looked around at the crowd
assembled. "As time goes by and your dragons mature, we are going to have another
talk about mating flights. For now, though, we encourage everyone to limit
your activities to friendships since anything more involved could upset
your very jealous dragonet. Understood?" And he thought that was all he needed
to say about that.

"Yes, sir," B'jon said with small, frustrated sigh. He couldn't wait
until he was free of the weyrling ban. All those gorgeous
blueriders...he quickly turned this thoughts to other things so not
to alarm Denenth.

Ameala had frowned at the answer she'd gotten. Her heart had clenched
at the thought that her life with Fitchan would have to change. She
knew _some_ of it would change, but in her mind, she just assumed
they would all live together as a happy family. What if that didn't
work out? She wished she could go and talk to him now, but her times
with him were limited right now until Ingoth grew older. They'd been
told to keep their conversations short and light for awhile when they
were allowed to see each other. She missed him, though that feeling
was less intense now that she had Ingoth with her at all times. Still
he was a comfort to the life she had had before. She had no idea
where their life would go from here, but she knew she couldn't imagine
her life without Ingoth now.

Ameala nodded when D'lorn spoke in answer to his question. She knew
her place and what she was and wasn't allowed to do. Now she just had
to figure out what her future would be like.

Last updated on the September 14th 2013

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