New Experiences

Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 2nd July 2025

Characters: Gilbek, Tr'vel, I'lek, Ochyra
Description: Gil and Tr'vel attend the Hatching celebration with Lightning Wing
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 26 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik, Z'kim

Tr'vel

Gil leaned forward in the stands, his gaze focused on one of the last of the hatchlings as she stumbled towards a tall, white-robed girl. He was hardly aware of how tightly he was gripping Tr'vel's hand, until Impression was made and the group from Lightning Wing erupted into cheers. Another one of Terella's grandchildren - or was it great-grandchildren? - had become a dragonrider.

"That was incredible!" He turned to the bluerider, tearing his gaze from the new pair. "The hatchlings look so tiny, even the bronzes. And the looks on their faces when they Impress..."

"It's like nothing else in the world," Tr'vel said, voice warm with the memory of his own Impression.

"You must have to be brave to Stand." Gil watched as the pair made their stumbling way off the sands. "I don't know if I'd want to be that close to a queen watching over her eggs. And did you see that bronze knock the young lad over?"

Tr'vel chuckled. "That happens sometimes." Despite the happiness of the event and Gil's enthusiasm, he couldn't help thinking of sitting in these very Stands, watching his daughter Impress. The joy on her face, the pride in his heart. And then the dragons roaring, Eboroth shouting about 'bad meat', the terror at the thought of Velaria's beautiful little green, only minutes old, being poisoned.

"And now the Hatching is over, Gil, we celebrate!" I'lek was in the row in front, and he twisted in his seat to face them. "Get ready for an evening of feasting, wine, song, dancing and debauchery like nothing you've ever seen before."

"We don't start that last one until the holders have gone home," Ochyra added mischievously.

"Come on, let's get out before the rush." Lightning Wing were occupying the lower rows of the stands, to accommodate Ochyra's chair and a few elderly riders who had difficulty with steps, so as soon as the last unsuccessful candidates had filed out, they could head for the exit, just behind the Headwoman and the serving staff.

Tr'vel put those troubling thoughts behind him and helped one of the older riders out of the Stands.

Lightning Wing took over a large table, the group eating and drinking and chatting happily about the Hatching. Nothing bad had happened, the event had been nothing but the joy of new bonds being made, and Tr'vel relaxed back into a happy mood. He made his way through one glass of wine, then another. Gil was sitting next to him, and occasionally Tr'vel would slip an arm around him or take his hand.

It was such a pleasure to share this with Gil, and to see a man who'd been through so much smiling and laughing with Tr'vel's wingmates.

"Oh, I like this one!" I'lek perked up as the harpers struck up the notes of a familiar dance tune. He twisted in his chair to see who was taking the floor. "Who's that with the Weyrleader? I wouldn't mind a long, slow spin and a twist in his arms..."

Gil followed the greenrider's gaze. He'd got used to the dancing at the Weyr, with its mixed couples and movements ranging from lively to downright raunchy, so he wasn't unduly surprised when the two men began to sway in time with each other, hips rocking and hands boldly exploring. It was only when I'lek squealed in delight that he understood that something noteworthy was happening.

"Look, look!" The greenrider tugged on D'stan's sleeve, and even the usually imperturbable bluerider raised an eyebrow. "What a show! I can practically see the steam coming off the dance floor. Oh, he's so lucky..."

"What's the matter?" Gil asked Tr'vel quietly as the other wingriders gazed avidly at the pair. "Do they think it'll shock the guests?"

Tr'vel was staring with his mouth open. "That . . . is not how a Weyrleader should behave. We have guests. Lord Holders." He watched N'vanik laughing as his male partner unbuttoned his shirt. "What is he _doing_?"

The former holder couldn't hide his amusement. "You're _all_ shocked!" Since to him, this was no more outlandish than most Weyr behavior, he couldn't resist getting his own back for the teasing about bathing rooms. "Oh no, what a scandal! Shall I get you a fan? A glass of water?"

That was enough to get Tr'vel's attention, but he couldn't quite take his eyes of the spectacle on the dance floor. He half-turned toward Gil. "Alright, alright. Yes, weyrfolk can be shocked, too. The Weyrleader should have some . . . some . . . decorum. He shouldn't be dancing like that with anyone. At least not this early in the night with so many holders around. And for him to do that with a man is just . . ." Tr'vel shook his head.

"...Just sensational." I'lek gazed dreamily at the couple, clearly wondering what this meant for his chances.

"Well, he is the Weyrleader," Gil said. "Hard to complain when his Wings protect your hold."

"I shouldn't think that'll stop some people." Ochyra looked over at the next table, where an older couple were watching with frowns and pursed lips. Sitting beside them was a teenage girl with candidate's knots, blushing hotly. The greenrider hoped this wouldn't put her off Standing again.

Gil nudged Tr'vel's shoulder. "Does this mean I have to wait till the visitors go home to ask you to dance?" he murmured.

"No, we just can't do . . . that." Tr'vel waved a hand at where Z'kim was currently grinding against the Weyrleader. Shards and shells.

"Oh, all right." Gil had to admit he'd never seen dancing quite like that in the Hold, but the rare opportunity to tease the dragonriders was too good to pass up. He jumped to his feet and offered a hand. "I promise to restrain myself."

The prospect of dancing with Gil was enough to push everything else aside. Tr'vel rose with a smile and took the man's hand. "At least until later tonight when most of the guests have gone home." He led Gil toward the dance floor. "I hope the next song is a slow one."

"So do I." Gil wasn't sure if he was ready for the unashamedly sultry moves of the Weyrleader and his partner, but he liked the idea of gently swaying to a romantic ballad in Tr'vel's arms. As the song came to an end and the Weyrleader swung his partner low, he grinned. "At least we won't have to worry about your wingmates watching our every move. They'll have far too much to gossip about."

Tr'vel held his breath. For a moment it looked like the Weyrleader might . . . but then N'vanik laughed and he and Z'kim started moving away. Tr'vel let out a sound that was part sigh, part groan. "I'm so embarrassed." Then he shook his head. "But there's nothing I can do about the Weyrleader's behavior, and I'm here with you. That's what's important." He traced a thumb along Gil's jaw. "Who should lead?"

"Perhaps you'd better. I haven't done this in Turns," Gil admitted. He'd had no heart for what dancing there had been at White Hollow.

When the music began again, it was to a more sedate rhythm, the harpers wisely giving the dancers a chance to catch their breath after the last number. Gil rested a hand on Tr'vel's shoulder, his first steps careful as he followed the bluerider's lead. He smiled at a memory. "This takes me back. When I joined the guards, some of us trainees used to practice dancing together. We hoped when a Gather came around, we'd dazzle the holder girls with our skill."

Tr'vel chuckled. It felt so good to have Gil in his arms, swaying gently to music. "Any handsome guards catch your eye?"

Gil shook his head, laughing. "I was a married man! But I was much in demand as a partner." His confidence growing, he tried a light dance step as they turned. "The others thought I knew the secret of attracting women. I didn't let on I had no idea why she said yes."

"What's she like? Uh, if you don't mind me asking?" Tr'vel hoped he wasn't ruining the mood.

"Not at all." When he thought of Calenta, he still felt the ache of loss, but it wasn't the sharp pain of guilt and regret it had once been. Their lives had followed diverging paths since the burning of the Harper Hall, and he'd come to accept that. "She's a singer, one of the first women to be accepted into the Harpercraft in the South. She's so talented and intelligent - apart from choosing to be with me. Like I said, I've no idea why she did that." He smiled. "But she had a sense of humor, too, so perhaps that explains it. She was quiet and restrained on the surface, but once you got to know her...she could be wicked. I felt so lucky that I'd found her, when no one else seemed to notice."

"She sounds wonderful. I'd love to meet her sometime. Well, I mean if that would be alright." Tr'vel had to remind himself that holders were usually much less comfortable around their ex-lovers than weyrfolk.

"I'd like that. And I think she'd like you. The dragonrider who was scandalized by his Weyrleader's dancing," Gil teased. He didn't know what Calenta might make of his lover being a man, but she had never been one to give way to prejudice, and he had complete trust that she would be happy for him. "She's at the Harper Hall in the North, with her new husband. I could write her a letter - perhaps the Weyrharper would see it gets to her."

"I suppose me delivering it myself might be awkward." Tr'vel chuckled. He was glad Gil liked the idea and had agreed so readily. Gil had, in fact, been far more accepting of all this than Tr'vel had expected. "We could send I'lek," he joked.

He laughed. "That sounds risky. I'm not sure he'll be able to resist telling her the whole story himself, in his own inimitable style." And he would rather she heard about it from his letter first. He glanced over at I'lek, who was staring with a rapt expression across the cavern to where the Weyrleader was standing with another dragonrider, a man with a bandaged arm. "Oh, look - someone got in ahead of him."

Tr'vel followed his gaze. "Oh Faranth, not another one." For a moment he hoped N'vanik would politely refuse, then he groaned as the two of them stepped onto the dancefloor.

"At least they seem to be behaving with more propriety this time." Gil grinned at his discomfort. "Is it really that unusual for a bronzerider to dance with a man? Or is it just because he's the Weyrleader?"

"Both. The Weyrleader has danced with that greenrider before, which is a little eyebrow-raising, but it was . . . more like _that_." He nodded toward N'vanik slow-dancing with the bluerider. "Bronzeriders aren't attracted to men." He frowned as he thought about the way N'vanik had looked at that greenrider. "At least, they aren't _supposed_ to be. And for a Weyrleader to behave like that with a man, in front of all these holders . . ." Tr'vel sighed. "I have a lot of respect for N'vanik, but he can be a bit . . . unconventional."

"Well, I'm glad of it. A more conventional Weyrleader would have sent me to the mines. Or dropped me /between/." Gil smiled. "As for the holders, we'll think you dragonriders are a set of unrepentant reprobates no matter what you do."

"He doesn't need to make it _worse_." Tr'vel sighed again. "But you're right. I've liked a lot of the Weyrleader's less traditional decisions. And I'm very glad he didn't drop you /between/." His gaze softened as he looked at Gil. He never would have imagined the man he'd been assigned to guard would end up in his arms at a Feast. Or in his bed.

"I'm glad, too. Think of all the new experiences I'd never have had." Mischief glinted in the holder's eyes. He wasn't quite ready for putting on a show like the Weyrleader, but he did step in closer, feeling the warmth of Tr'vel's body next to his. "And the ones that are still to come."

Last updated on the July 7th 2025

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