[The fact that Concord is being honest here is probably the part that makes it the most difficult to answer. If he were being an ass on purpose, Ali could just kick him out. But for as stony of a look as Concord gave everyone normally, there's always been this naive honesty to what he says, and Ali just can't overlook that. Even if Concord did just imply that he is interested in learning how to court dragons, Ali is sure that he didn't actually mean to imply that. It must just be curiosity.
So Ali does give an answer, but he still sounds quite flustered as he does so.]
Just so you know, I'm only answering such a ridiculous question so you don't embarrass yourself in front of other dragons with your banal curiosity.
[He takes a breath, and then-]
Not all dragons hoard- collect gold. [He has to immediately correct his word usage there, because of Concord's 'hoarding' comment previously.] A collection can be of anything. If one were to court a dragon, they would need to learn what it is the dragon collects. It's not as simple as 'gold' or 'jewels', there's always something more specific behind it. My mother collected shields, but only the metal ones that could be polished up nice and shiny. Shields of other materials like wood, or ones that were too rough to be polished, were discarded.
[He uses his mother as an example instead of himself on purpose. Because he does not want to accidentally imply that he would like to be courted. Especially not by a unicorn that he butts heads with on a regular basis.
...he is reasonably sure he does not want to be courted by a unicorn that he butts heads with on a regular basis. Probably. It's something he is talking himself out of.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-12-23 12:04 pm (UTC)So Ali does give an answer, but he still sounds quite flustered as he does so.]
Just so you know, I'm only answering such a ridiculous question so you don't embarrass yourself in front of other dragons with your banal curiosity.
[He takes a breath, and then-]
Not all dragons hoard- collect gold. [He has to immediately correct his word usage there, because of Concord's 'hoarding' comment previously.] A collection can be of anything. If one were to court a dragon, they would need to learn what it is the dragon collects. It's not as simple as 'gold' or 'jewels', there's always something more specific behind it. My mother collected shields, but only the metal ones that could be polished up nice and shiny. Shields of other materials like wood, or ones that were too rough to be polished, were discarded.
[He uses his mother as an example instead of himself on purpose. Because he does not want to accidentally imply that he would like to be courted. Especially not by a unicorn that he butts heads with on a regular basis.
...he is reasonably sure he does not want to be courted by a unicorn that he butts heads with on a regular basis. Probably. It's something he is talking himself out of.]