Logs:Mating Flights: The Good, The Bad, and The Awkward
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| RL Date: 22 December, 2014 |
| Who: V'ros, Ghena, R'hin, K'del, Klohi, L'sha, Lia, G'laer |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Vignette |
| What: Telavi gives him a homework assignment, and awkward interviews ensue. |
| Where: High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Month 11, Turn 35, of the 10th Interval. |
| Weather: Cold. |
| Mentions: U'by/Mentions |
| OOC Notes: I tried to catch people when I could. If I didn't get to you, and you'd like to contribute, still, please let me know and I can always add on to this! :) Thank you to everyone who contributed! And Telavi for the idea! |
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| There is no way to go about mating flights gently; no way to tone down the bluntness of the information required. Telavi had been specific in her instruction, and V'ros hates to disappoint, especially the Weyrlingmaster and her assistants, who remain patient. It takes several hours of psyching himself up to get to the initial asking, of playing mental warfare with Zmeyth to overcome the wall of towering anxiety that stands between him and his goal. Zmeyth responds with his usual tremendous ambivalence when it comes to human interactions, and his rider with his particular brand of emotional tumultuousness. They decide on the first target, together, and with no other recourse than to follow, V'ros fairly trips over his own feet in getting to the bluerider. He stutters out the request, flushes while he utters the words. "How would you.. describe your experiences with dragonflights? How.. do you.. handle.. them? What happens.. after.. how do you.. deal with that?" And before they can assume he's being a nosy busy-body, he'll lays all the blame on the greenriding assistant to the Weyrlingmaster, Telavi, citing her homework assignment that has him, and multiple others, in the throes of awkward conversation. "Let me start off by telling you V'ros, Dragonsex? It's fucking awesome. When he catches, you won't really give a damn about the person because there are dragons and everything else works itself out. The more you fight it? The more difficult it gets. You probably won't be able to entirely keep him from chasing if he's in good condition without just popping between to someplace far away, and believe me I understand the initial worry about it. Tried to hold Knioth back, and succeeded for two turns, until he finally caught. My advice? Ask someone to get the first time over with before-hand. Although you don't have girly parts to break so it doesn't matter as much. Catching someone who doesn't match your natural preferences? Don't even worry about it, because it's just the dragons, it doesn't really change who you are inside. Be considerate, don't run out screaming or have a freaking panic attack though - first guy I caught - I thought we were going to have to call a healer. I ah - well I didn't take care of things beforehand so trust me when I say that you probably don't want to have your first experience that way, sets you up for disappointment later - Poor guy. You should totally talk to him though, U'by Green Ekoth's. Tell him I sent ya." (Contributed by Ghena) Once the first talk is over, it doesn't get much easier, but gradually. Nothing can ease the awkwardness of the topic, not familiarity or anonymity, nor the impression of age and experience. It's two of Reaches' own Weyrleaders that V'ros seeks out thereafter, on consecutive days, one former and one present. He doesn't stutter as much and tries to make eye contact, at least. Telavi told you to ask, did she?" R'hin's tone is immediately amused, as if the source is somehow more significant than the questions themselves, pale eyes glittering as he chuckles under his breath, regarding the brownrider. "Leiventh --" he glances sidelong, distant a moment, "He doesn't have a mind for most greens, unless he knows them well. But when he has it in his head... I learned long ago not to resist. Or that if I did, it'd do more harm than good. There are... ways, but I don't suggest you try them. Winning isn't the problem -- you just go with it. Losing... just find yourself a nice, willing pretty thing of whatever stripe interests you afterward. That, or stash some bottles of cheap wine in your weyr. Regardless the wine is a good idea -- it's a good ice breaker in the morning when you wake up next to a total stranger, though I'd suggest being less awkward about it." Helpful, is the Savannah Wingleader. (Contributed by R'hin.) K'del is pretty frank, in talking about flights. Cadejoth has caught some greens whose riders he didn't like; he's caught golds whose riders he didn't like, too (well - /one/ gold, anyway, but multiple times). But, "It's all about what /he/ wants. Had a hell of a time when he wanted Isyath, and I couldn't let him chase her; hated doing that. The thing is... you enjoy it, during. You do what you need to. Even if it's with a man." Which K'del is clearly not a fan of. "Important thing is to be respectful. Treat him or her properly, you know? But most of all, try not to worry too much... difficult though that is. It works out. They know what to do, instinctually. In the end, so do you." (Contributed by K'del) Could V'ros get away with just those three? They don't go as painfully as V'ros expects, but would the minimum suffice? He grudgingly continues his impromptu-interviews, disrupting and agitating a handful of other riders, all of male dragons with diverse opinions on the topic of mating fights: from fighting, to sexing, and in the end, their after math thoughts. From the way everyone tells it, there isn't much for the immature brownrider to worry about. With the first half of the assignment complete, V'ros gives himself a couple days of rest and contemplation, going over his notes with a troubled mind. Most important, most frightening, is the second half, when he has to address the issue of greenriders and their opinions. He doesn't talk half as long to convince himself to grab the first greenrider of the day that he sees, but his question-asking is painful and full of inconsistencies, but he manages to divulge his purpose and what he needs from each one. Granted, he could have chosen easier target, gentler souls, but his picker tends to be off. Zmeyth remains mildly amused throughout. Initially, Klohi is /very/ defensive about V'ros even asking and right off the bat the conversation is unpleasant. If V'ros tries to leave (like a sane person when faced with a livid greenrider) she forces him to stay because what she has to say is /important/. It is very obvious that Klohi /hates/ flights. Her own especially. She hates that Quinzeth has to 'whore herself out' several times a turn. (If asked, "Quinzeth likes them, but she's a /dragon/. It's not her fault she doesn't know better!") Klohi is forced into the situation by their bond, so she doesn't 'handle' it so much as she doesn't have a choice. She doesn't put up much of a fight, after a turn of this bullshit. Klohi hates that because of her dragon she's forced to accept a lie-- tricked into the fact that it 'feels good' when she knows that it doesn't, outside of flights. After the deed is done, she "makes them leave" and if they linger/refuse, they're likely to get "slapped to between and back" until they fuck off. Then she finds her clothes, walks shamefully to the baths, and doesn't come out "for a million turns". She goes back to pretending it doesn't happen, and it won't ever again until it eventually does. "Flights are the worst. At least YOU don't have to worry about fucking a stranger /every/ time. You have a chance to escape." (Contributed by Klohi) That experience is startling, given the passion with which Klohi expresses herself. Still, it's nothing compared to the lengthiness of L'sha's response, which makes the brownrider squirm far much more. V'ros is too happy to get up and leave after both; without looking back. "So I'll skip the stuff you've already heard about flights in your classes, you know that stuff already. I'll start with some tips on flight etiquette. While I don't like dragons or riders fighting or getting hurt during flights, I understand that emotions run very high and Things Happen. That being said, please try to control your dragons so that they don't fight or hurt each other and control yourself as well. I usually make sure that belt knives are checked at the door. If you lose the flight, and you most likely will lose the first few times until your dragon gets more experience, please don't be a sore loser. You and your dragon will be frustrated, but please take it outside and leave the winners alone. You might want to head to a bar or the lower caverns to drown your sorrows or find companionship. Say that you do win, and the rider is male, you may end up in a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable, even though the emotions from your dragon are overwhelming. My suggestion is to let the greenrider take the lead, since he'll most likely be more experienced. Being holdbred, you may have been taught that sex between men is unnatural or wrong. You need to clear your mind of any preconceived notions and follow your dragon's instincts. You'll have a much better experience that way. Who knows, you might even enjoy it! As for the sex itself, I won't get into too many details, but you might worry about hurting the greenrider. Yes, there's going to be some pain at first, maybe even a little blood (dragon sex can get rough), but it does feel good after that. It might be over pretty quickly, so if you're still hung up, at least there's that. After the flight is over, you may not want to hang around. Personally, I don't mind, some riders just want to go and get drunk after winning a flight, I understand that. Their dragons are preoccupied, though, so a quick getaway may not be in the books. Of course, I'm also perfectly happy to wake up next to the winner of Rillaeth's flight the next morning and talk about it, maybe even cuddle. I think that's the best, really. Some greenriders get offended if you run out on them, but I don't mind much. It's not everyone's cup of tea. Whatever you do, don't be abusive, verbally or especially physically. Word gets around in the Weyr and you might find yourself in front of the Weyrleaders, not to mention having traumatized a poor greenrider. Relationships in a weyr can seem complicated if you're holdbred, and sometimes they are. Thousands of Turns of dragon pairings have made Weyrfolk accustomed to more casual affairs and relaxed attitudes towards sex, so they're usually not too averse to hopping into bed with strangers. Romantic love is wonderful and you may settle down with one rider for the rest of your life and never fly another dragon. You may never end up in bed with another man, but if you do, go with what your dragon tells you is right, not what people say. That's the most important lesson. Hopefully my advice will prepare you for that circumstance." (Contributed by L'sha) While the awkwardness of his plight and his own uncomfortableness weighs on his shoulders, giving him pause in the course of his assignment, one of his former interviews - a good natured brownrider - suggests he talks to G'laer; he waxes on about what a nice, calming influence G'laer is and how he would have the best insight. V'ros goes, as light-heartedly as he can, for surely this next target will be easier, only to find a reluctant, unwilling participant who requires tribute for his answer. The greenrider watches the brownrider another moment, as if gauging his sincerity for accepting the deal. Then moves to cap the canteen. "I'm not usually aware when proddiness sets in, or if I am, I don't care." He shifts back to lean against. "So if I wanted to resist, I couldn't. It takes me over like an ambush." The former guard would draw that sort of comparison. "After depends on the person I end up with. If you're more likeable than I am," and his tone suggests most people are, "then you probably won't have to deal with death threats or dislocated shoulders. If you're not an asshole, you won't be the one dealing them out either. If it's a male greenrider, you take your belt off when you go in, and bring oil. The greenrider should have thought of that, but if the green goes up unexpectedly, there's not always a chance. And if you've hurt him in the end, you damn well make sure a healer comes to him in the flight weyr or you get him to the infirmary yourself." It started out fairly bland, but as things went along it's come to a head with G'laer giving V'ros a very firm look. "Understand?" But before a real answer can come, he adds, "And don't make assumptions. Not all male greenriders are gay, or even if they are, they don't necessarily like it the way it happens." (Contributed by G'laer) V'ros thanks the greenrider for his advice and retreats - that is, after all, the safest recourse. He takes another day to deliberate, to lick his wounds, and find a better game plan than heedlessly charging towards random participants. Women are far less scary - Klohi excluded - so he attempts to address another two, and once again, proves his own ineptness in selection. Lia is his last of the assignment, after he has a pleasant exchange with an older woman of her many turns of experience, and he wittingly goes in expecting the same. "Flights?" Lia glances over from the pale green side she's working oil into. A simple shrug claims one of her shoulders. "Flights are flights. My dragon starts to go into heat, I tend to drink a little more to cope and not be a complete raging bitch, and then she rises and it's an instant relief." "You want to know more?" Lia's velvet alto sounds confused; what more is there to say on the subject? "Daehyeth isn't prone towards picking the same people over and over again, though there was once this one dragon down Southern way-," Lia's already quiet voice trails off into a small smile. "In either case, I like to think of flights as no obligation one night stands. It mean nothing and can be enjoyable if you give yourself over to the primal urges we try to pretend we don't have." Even though she's mostly distracted by oiling her dragon, she doesn't hide her interested once over of the weyrling before returning to the task at hand. Lia's laugh precedes her words, a low earthy sound that causes Daehyeth to glance over, amusement drawing the dragon's expressive eyeridges together. "Afterwards?" Her hands pause against the green's side, pressing into the now supple and smooth hide, and turns, favoring V'ros with a rather dry smile, "If the sex was good and both parties are willing, you might as well go at it again. Who knows the next time you'll encounter each other and, without the intoxication of a flight clouding your vision, if you'll even find each other attractive again. Anymore questions?" "Don't worry, kid, Daehyeth prefers her lovers a little older, a little wiser, and I prefer not to pop cherries. We'll tryst a few turns down the road maybe. Leaving so soon?" (Contributed by Lia) All in all, the material is good, and Telavi accomplishes what she sought to have the brownrider learn - that flights are an everyday occurrence, a normality of the Weyrlife, and unfortunately, for V'ros, an eventuality that he has to become fast accustomed to. He isn't completely convinced, but some of his anxiety seeps away, replaced by resigned acceptance. Zmeyth will rise and he may catch, be it green or gold, and V'ros, he'll have to handle the consequences, be they pleasant, unsavory, female, male, or anything in between. But, one thing's for sure: it'll be fucking awkward. |
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