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Saekagi swallowed hard, lifting his eyes sharply to the angry Candidate master, and gripped the edges of his seat. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all. Would he really prevent them all from standing if he couldn't get the class in line?
He'd been doing his best to toe the line, but he recognized the excitement, and the reasons for it, among the other candidates, and there was a lot of reason -to- be excited. More eggs meant more chances to impress... unless you were bared from the sands. A hatching from the stands was -possible- but he didn't remember seeing one.
Even though he wasn't sure if he'd impress, the idea that he might even loose the chance to stand was devastating.

----

Salin's jaw dropped as well, eyes widening at the threat. He wasn't sure if he should answer, or if it would just cause more trouble, but if the void of silence kept on being... silent... well.
It already felt like it was stretching on far far too long, even though it had only been a beat or two in truth, it was long enough to make his stomach flutter in apprehension... a flutter made worse by the snippy answer from the back. Someone in the crowd didn't seem to take seriously how many other people they might be jeopardizing if this man was as touchy as Salin thought he was. Salin did after-all, consider himself a pretty accurate judge of character, though others might have found this up for debate.

"U-ultimately it's not our say of course, but..." He swallowed the bitter taste of the idea he was probably defending some of the Holdborn he already resented as well. "It's not only for our gain but for the hatchlings. The more of the candidates that can stand, the more likely they are to find theirs. If we can stay organized and, as much as possible, not crowd so deeply that it confuses the hatchlings, it's an honor to have the opportunity, but the ones we'll hurt most are the dragons."

It was more than he'd been asked for. He was babbling. He was going to be called out for babbling. He just knew it, but he wasn't sure about that sarcastic answer from the back.

That... was a very potent question. Gabriel listened silently for a moment as other gave their answers while she formulated her own. Even aside from the threat of being kicked from the sands, it wasn't an easy thing to answer. Why them versus anyone else on Pern? Finally, she decided to speak up. "Aside from giving the dragons a chance to find Theirs, which is unarguably very important," she started, "we have a responsibility that we have accepted in becoming Candidates. A responsibility to both the Weyr and to Pern. Candidacy is about more than becoming a dragonrider; it is about becoming a protector of Pern. Even should we for never see Thread ourselves, we need to train to our very best and pass on the lessons learned to the next generation so that they may be able to protect our world. If we-- many of which have been hand selected by the dragons themselves-- should not be allowed to stand, that would potentially make for less riders to help support the Weyr and Pern. We will not fail on the Sands because there is too much at stake to fail." Might not have been the answer that he had been looking for, but hopefully it was sufficient in explaining how she felt on the matter.

Basically all these kids were telling him what he wanted to hear, or whatever it was that they thought he wanted to hear, and unfortunately for any and all of them they were all entirely wrong. A few of them had even dared to snap back and make some smart comments, most likely hoping to see his face color red and his voice raise into a startling yell, but instead his expression merely kept itself calm and collected, his dark eyes staring out at the group as his mind processed just what would happen if a rag-tag set like this dared those sands in front of the Weyrwoman, Weyrleader, and all those poachers who were arriving by the candlemark.

"If a dragon goes between because it does not find it's lifemate, don't think yourself so selfish that it simply left because you were not there to stand for it. Don't be ridiculous, and don't you dare assume to say that I am the reason behind such things because I say you are not fit to be a Dragonrider."

Hitath rumbled.

"Your petty words and clear thoughts that you will be the one to Impress this time, that you will not leave the sands alone hatching after hatching disgusts me. I know we raise you here in the Weyr to believe that everyone has a dragon waiting, that we all have a chance for one, but many of you are never going to have a lifemate."

The Candidatemaster did have a point, so many of those standing before him appearing so sure in themselves. They were all cocky, claiming in their own ways that if a dragon went between then it must have meant that the dragon was surely meant for them and no one else - such thoughts were ridiculous. Trine had seen her share of between at hatchings, enough to make anyone's heart ache from the memory, but it disgusted O'rer the sheer...ugh. He couldn't even think properly to keep responding, but somehow he did. Hitath kept cheering him on from her sitting position, wondering if she should swoop down and decorate the space next to him.

"And as for you, -"

He pointed at Lanakirene with a motion, not a stab of his finger.

"Leave the lesson. Now. I will find you when this is over and we'll be talking with the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader about how you can't take anything seriously, even when it's such a rare event as two clutches on the sands. If I catch you trying to run off or not be found, I can guarantee you won't be pleased with what I make you do with your bare hands."

There was a cruel smirk for a second before he turned back away and continued to address the group, still displeased with all of them for acting so high and mighty.

"Anyone else care to actually run their mouth to me instead of wanting to listen? If you can't follow instructions then you're not suited to be a Dragonrider, because how can you fly in a wing come thread if you cannot follow the simplest command? If you answer with nothing but excuses how can your Wingleader expect to hold you in a position of dependence? A Dragonrider is someone who can follow commands, someone who does not make excuses for their actions. Those of you here you come in late, speak to me like I'm a deadglow, you're not thinking like a Dragonrider."

Oh, it was likely that O'rer was going to have his boots chewed again and again by those who ran this lovely Weyr for the way he was handling the Candidates, but who could blame him? The man really didn't have the patience of a saint, but his words always rang true - this group of Candidates was disappointing and it broke his heart to see so.

Wait, what.

What.

La's eyes went wide as she realized the Candidatemaster had pointed at her, snapping out of the half-daze she had been in as the man went on some sort of RAW I HATE THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT YOU ARE ALL WORTHLESS rant and staring at O'rer like a herdbeast in the path of a swooping dragon, lips twitching as she tried to figure out how to respond. For once, the words had rendered her entirely speechless, but the alarm was quickly replaced by indignance, and she scowled at the man, crossing her arms over her chest. Talk to the Weyrleaders? Yeah, sure, like that was the most important thing on their minds. A Candidate backsassed the Candidatemaster, big deal. Everyone was throwing a fit about Benden, she wasn't going to matter.

"...Yeah, okay. Sure. Whatever," she said, meeting O'rer's gaze for a moment and then snorting, turning away with a half-smirk that would have passed as smug on her face and sauntering off. They didn't want her there? Screw them! She had better things to do anyways.

Viskal’s stomach tightened and threatened to sink into his knees, but his spine stayed rigid with conviction. This was the sort of man he’s expected to see when he first arrived at the weyr, sure someone would realize the mistake and send him home. Although he rarely spoke with them, he’d overheard too many of the other candidates’ excited conversations about the double clutch. Anticipation had infested his sleep over the past few days, enough to make him think he might have a decent chance of Impressing. He still believed he had that much – that chance – despite O’rer’s harsh words. He found his heart clinging absurdly to the notion, refusing to let go of the hope, even though the fear of failing was bound tightly to it.

This was probably closer to reality than the murmur and knowing gleams that came to Candiddate’s eyes when they spoke of eggs though. The grimness was almost to a relief to him. It matched what he’d seen of life so far.

He was, however, still self assured and stared unflinching at O’rer as he delivered his sentence to another candidate. Part of his confidence came from knowing that he would try, he would listen, he would throw himself into a Candidate’s duties in an effort to make himself worthy of Impressing. The rest of it came from knowing that he would not be crushed if that moment didn’t come. He had his craft and integrity (whatever that really amounted to) to fall back on, and his own canniness. It lessened the dread attached to his expectations, and made self-assurance an affordable thing, in moderation.

Devlin honestly hadn't expected anything less from the Candidate master - especially when he realized that he hadn't been the only one late. Of course they were going to get a bit of a lecture about it. All teachers lectured when people did such things, that was pretty much their job.

But..he didn't expect the others in his class to back talk in such a manner and with the green seeming so very upset as well. Huffing lightly - not at the talking too but at the behavior of his fellows Devlin watched as one girl was ordered off and then returned his gaze to the Candidate master. "I am sorry to have disappointed you so Sir. It won't happen again" He promised and then glanced at his classmates. "I'm sure all of us will strive to be worthy of this hatching, surely we all know the importance of it and understand your role in ensuring those of us lucky enough to impress will be ready for the responsibility" He added not so subtly reminding his classmates that this was not some lesson to be brushed off so easily. Surely they ought to have known that for themselves but some of their replies seemed to hint otherwise.

Deep down, Nasuymi cheered the girl who had back talked the Candidate Master. Of course, she would say nothing of the sort outloud, leaving her emotions behind a very well built wall. She could feel Camm stir but sent soothing thoughts to the little green flit. Now was not the time to have her lovely pop in when O'rer was in full rage. So what if they had been to lessons before, there might be something that they missed.

She snorted as she got one last good look at the girl. Nice legs, she mused to herself before turning and facing the dragon rider. Of course, the boys would assume that any dragon that went /between/ should have been their dragon. Just like a boy to assume that he was the center of Pern. Seriously? No. If anything, the dragon was all that there should be along with the well-being of the weyr. Ugg. How disgusting and she allowed a look of loathing to come over her face as she looked as some of the stupider canidates. At this rate, they would never learn anything and it would be a piss and moan, mine is bigger than yours contest.

Times like this made Nasuymi glad she was a girl and had half a brain to think with... Now if only they could get back to work.