private PSL
Dec. 12th, 2022 10:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
srsbznss[Part of the problem with being a financial advisor, Ali realized, was that it meant he had to work. And it wasn't even the fun kinds of 'work' like stacking coins and sorting them by the quality of their gold or silver, oh no. The king had made it quite clear that any coin-counting was to be done only when requested, or outside of working hours. No, Ali had to do things like read and fill out paperwork, or run analytics on tax revenue and what kind of surplus or expenditures there were in the quarter. Or, at the very least, he had to assign all of that work to one of his several secretaries. After all, he at to at least keep up the appearances of being a financial advisor, and over the last few decades he had gotten pretty good at that. It wasn't impossible, but it also wasn't nearly as fun as counting coins.
Of course, he would get odd looks if he just sat around counting coins all day. To anyone else looking in, they did not see the fearsome dragon Aligrezoph, guardian of the kingdom's treasury. They saw Ali, a normal- albeit quirky- man who kept a very small social circle in the finance department and spent most of his days trying to keep expenditures to a minimum while saving up as much as he could. All for the kingdom's benefit, of course. It totally wasn't so there would be an even bigger pile of coins for Ali to count on his breaks.
Indeed, most who looked at Ali would just see an average-looking man. shoulder-length black hair tied back with a black ribbon, piercing blue eyes, a perpetual frown stuck on his face in most situations. A lean body that was more built for flexibility and speed than strength, and a very simple style of dress in neutral colors. He looked every bit like a stuffy accountant, though Ali would argue that he wasn't really THAT stuffy. He was just comfortable with the form!
He also would not talk about his other form under any circumstances.
On that day, Ali had an armful of expense reports with him. There was to be a meeting, and he had stayed up all night with two of his secretaries preparing these reports. With the midsummer festival coming up, the festivities had to be decided upon and paid for. And, as usual, Ali wanted to keep the expenses as low as possible. For the good of the kingdom, of course. Ultimately his team had prepared a few possible expense reports, with varying amounts spent on decorations, hiring out staff, and paying guards for keeping the peace. Any one of his plans would be acceptable, but Ali was sure that someone would complain. There was always someone who complained and called him a 'coin-pinching cheapskate', but those complaints had picked up more in recent years. Already Ali was annoyed just from the thought of the argument that would happen that day when he butted heads with a certain other advisor. Sparks would fly as usual, and these weren't the good kind of sparks.
But Ali was willing to give it a chance. As people arrived at the meeting- a meeting between the king and his dozen or so advisors in the various ways of running the kingdom- Ali worked to lay out one set of expense reports at each desk. It was only two pages of paper per table spot, so hopefully everyone liked to read!
Of course, when Ali passed a certain advisor, he had to fight the urge to make a snide comment. Instead, he just held out the two-page document to him, trying not to show too much contempt when he spoke.]
Do take care of those papers, will you? My staff stayed up all night finishing them.
[He was a dragon in hiding, not a snake in hiding, but his words still had bite to them.]
Of course, he would get odd looks if he just sat around counting coins all day. To anyone else looking in, they did not see the fearsome dragon Aligrezoph, guardian of the kingdom's treasury. They saw Ali, a normal- albeit quirky- man who kept a very small social circle in the finance department and spent most of his days trying to keep expenditures to a minimum while saving up as much as he could. All for the kingdom's benefit, of course. It totally wasn't so there would be an even bigger pile of coins for Ali to count on his breaks.
Indeed, most who looked at Ali would just see an average-looking man. shoulder-length black hair tied back with a black ribbon, piercing blue eyes, a perpetual frown stuck on his face in most situations. A lean body that was more built for flexibility and speed than strength, and a very simple style of dress in neutral colors. He looked every bit like a stuffy accountant, though Ali would argue that he wasn't really THAT stuffy. He was just comfortable with the form!
He also would not talk about his other form under any circumstances.
On that day, Ali had an armful of expense reports with him. There was to be a meeting, and he had stayed up all night with two of his secretaries preparing these reports. With the midsummer festival coming up, the festivities had to be decided upon and paid for. And, as usual, Ali wanted to keep the expenses as low as possible. For the good of the kingdom, of course. Ultimately his team had prepared a few possible expense reports, with varying amounts spent on decorations, hiring out staff, and paying guards for keeping the peace. Any one of his plans would be acceptable, but Ali was sure that someone would complain. There was always someone who complained and called him a 'coin-pinching cheapskate', but those complaints had picked up more in recent years. Already Ali was annoyed just from the thought of the argument that would happen that day when he butted heads with a certain other advisor. Sparks would fly as usual, and these weren't the good kind of sparks.
But Ali was willing to give it a chance. As people arrived at the meeting- a meeting between the king and his dozen or so advisors in the various ways of running the kingdom- Ali worked to lay out one set of expense reports at each desk. It was only two pages of paper per table spot, so hopefully everyone liked to read!
Of course, when Ali passed a certain advisor, he had to fight the urge to make a snide comment. Instead, he just held out the two-page document to him, trying not to show too much contempt when he spoke.]
Do take care of those papers, will you? My staff stayed up all night finishing them.
[He was a dragon in hiding, not a snake in hiding, but his words still had bite to them.]
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Date: 2023-03-13 03:18 am (UTC)He wedges his downward beneath Ali's pillow, allowing him to lay down against his bicep of the crook of his elbow with a layer of feathery down overtop for further comfort. The arm that was hanging over Ali hooks around his back and pulls him in to hold close. Ali's warm and slender body fits just right up against him, pressing into his scar in a way he finds comforting.]
I imagine so... yes... [what a shame that is, he considers saying, but that is also a silly thought. It also sounds a bit like he's blaming Ali for this taking so long, when he's at the least equal part of causing their longstanding rift. Better to not focus on what could have been. So much is, now.]
Glad we figured it out. I did not know I wanted companionship like this so much. [proved himself wrong on that one]
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Date: 2023-03-21 11:13 pm (UTC)He listens to Concords words, and then he snorts at them. They'd had a conversation barely a week ago, hadn't they? Ali remembers how hard it had been for Concord to come up with some kind of compensation for his extra hours of work, only to come up with 'companionship' at the end. He still finds that amusing.]
We'll have to figure out what to do from here. We can't just make out every time we argue over something. Sometimes other people are involved in those arguments, they'll get uncomfortable.
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Date: 2023-03-26 05:16 pm (UTC)Not that Concord is in a rush. He wouldn't admit it, but being so full of Ali's release is strangely thrilling, despite how calmed down they've gotten. A reminder of what they did, definitely.
He moves that hand to Ali's chest, rubbing the skin there with his broad, calloused palm with idle affection]
We can, it just cannot be then and there. I am not one for an audience. [as always, it's difficult to clock if Concord is joking or quite serious.]
OH NO I THOUGHT I HAD REPLIED ALREADY I'm so sorry
Date: 2023-04-07 01:08 am (UTC)He does not move to do that yet though. He's just considering it as he answers Concord with a very serious tone, like he missed Concord's joking.]
Well, we agree on 'no audiences' at least. That's a start.
[It might be a surprise to hear that coming from Ali though. Dragons traditionally pick mates with intricate flights in the sky, where the king and everyone else can see. Ali is nothing like that though, his affections are to be kept private. For Reasons.
He jumps slightly when he feels Concord touch his chest, but it's gentle enough to not stir any reactions in his exhausted body quite yet. It is quite intimate though, and it surprises Ali. Both because he had never seen Concord as affectionate before this past week, and because he thought his body would be too sensitive for this by now. Maybe he does have the stamina to keep up with a stallion.]
But I suppose this makes us lifemates now, doesn't it?
[Concord had said that before. Lifemates.
Dragons, in general, do not have lifemates. They can pick the same partner multiple times during different mating cycles, or they can pick all different ones. But sticking with one for life is unheard of. Ali is an odd dragon though, and it's not like anyone else would ever be interested in him during a mating cycle, so he could get used to this lifemates thing. As long as he doesn't have to be sappy in public.]
NO WORRIES I have been wicked busy myself!!
Date: 2023-04-08 05:04 pm (UTC)Concord's expression shifts a few times. Surprise, outrage, consideration, rejection, reconsideration, surprise again- it's more expressive in short order than Ali has seen him across most full days, weeks even. He's a stoic sort, so all the rapid, quiet shifting of emotion across his face is a lot to take in.
His brows finally crumple a bit upset, looking to Ali]
..... are you making fun of me? [that's got to be it, right? He just overthought a whole life together with Ali and ended on that sounds nice, but it gets pulled out from under him considering the dragon is probably just messing with him.
Concord looks a bit disappointed, rather than angry.]
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Date: 2023-04-08 06:12 pm (UTC)To be fair, what he had been expecting is entirely unrealistic anyway. Concord is probably not the type to happily jump at the question of being lifemates and going "oh yes, please, yes!" Ali's mental image of what would happen has betrayed him.
But now that he knows he's wrong, he's left wondering what else he's been wrong about.]
Nnnnnnno?
[He draws out the word and sounds unsure of himself there. He knows this whole 'lifemate' thing means a lot to Concord, and as much as he likes teasing the stubborn mule he wouldn't tease about something like this.]
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Date: 2023-04-08 06:25 pm (UTC)[an important distinction!]
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Date: 2023-04-08 09:18 pm (UTC)No.
[A pause.]
I am not making fun of you.
[Another pause, and then a grimace of "I don't want to say this, it sounds sappy in my mind, but it needs to be said".]
I wouldn't make fun of you for something important like this.
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Date: 2023-04-09 04:07 pm (UTC)[his eyelashes flutter a few times, letting that sink in.]
So, I should be making fun of you. [Concord, no. He smiles and leans in, kissing Ali first on the forehead, then the bridge of his nose, then on his lips, dragging that last one out with a long draw of attention and passion. When that kiss is broken, he stays close, nuzzling his nose to Ali's and speaking quietly]
That would mean much more for us, Ali. I am not against it... do you know anything of unicorn lifemates, or are you simply echoing the term back at me? [he said it once, right? It's not the way humans talk about husbands and wives, after all. It's not too dissimilar, but unicorns live a very long time and do not break their bonds, so it is much to decide on.]
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Date: 2023-04-09 06:23 pm (UTC)I...
[Apart of him wants to act as obstinate as usual and claim he knew everything about lifemates. Concord is so inexperienced with mating that Ali might get away with it. But even someone as persnickety as him couldn't possibly do anything to intentionally hurt such an honest being. So he swallows, and he gives a real answer.]
As much as I am an expert in dragon mating- [Yeah he's still lying about that to save a tiny bit of his pride.] -I don't know much about unicorns or lifemates. I had assumed from your description that unicorns just don't sleep with people until they find their mate. So...
[Yeah. He had assumed that since they slept together it meant they were automatically lifemates.]
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Date: 2023-04-11 08:21 pm (UTC)[Concord is sure that even just a week ago, Ali would have absolutely not believe him if he said he trusted him or held any affection. Let alone enough to fall into bed beneath him. It surprised Concord, too! This is all... very unique.]
But if you did not wish to be lifemates, it does not mean we must be. That is akin to marriage, though on a much... longer timescale. A life bond cannot be broken, once sworn.
cw: mentions of coercive breeding practices
Date: 2023-04-11 10:28 pm (UTC)It might be the dragon in him that's making it difficult to understand.]
I...you see...
[He bites his lip and glances away. He's got to give Concord the truth, even if it might drive him away.]
It's not that I'm not interested in the whole thing, it's just...complicated. While I doubt other dragons see me as a good mating partner, if one did appear and make a challenge then we would have to answer it. And if we both failed our respective fights, then...well, you know.
[Combat IS how dragons choose their mates each breeding cycle.]
And if I said no after that, then it would invite a reckoning. I don't want to destroy this kingdom because I refused to follow the rules and it made a bunch of dragons come burn down the city. And I don't want to hurt you in the process either.
[The tone is clear: he doesn't want to hurt Concord, even if the choice to hurt or not hurt is taken out of his hands entirely. Dragon mating rituals honestly don't bother him, it's just a way of life for solitary creatures like them, but he knows it can seem horrifying to people not used to it. It's why he doesn't talk about it much, along with everything else about being a dragon.]
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Date: 2023-04-11 10:42 pm (UTC)I would not allow that to happen. Even if we were not lifemates, I would fight for your honor. You are of our Kingdom, you are owed my protection.
[Concord takes his duty very seriously. He's a fierce warrior and leads the armies alongside the King, who would surely do the same for Ali.]
If we bonded as lifemates, then if I were to fall in battle, so would you. I am not sure you want that. The process would bind our souls together into the beyond, so we could not die alone... It is why unicorns tend to choose only one another as lifemates, other kinds are too short lived.
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Date: 2023-04-11 10:50 pm (UTC)No, no, it's not like that. Mating fights are only to defeat, not to death. There wouldn't be many dragons left if we kept killing each other over mating rights.
[He is touched though, that Concord would fight for his honor regardless of the situation. Ali is inwardly happy that such a thing will likely never happen, he doesn't want to put Concord through that. Fighting a dragon is awful, even if you are also a dragon.]
Besides, I'm not exactly desirable to most dragons, so if any came this way demanding mating rights it would be to taunt me as some sort of sick joke.
But...if it involves tying lives together, we should think more about that. There are a lot of things we need to discuss first.
[But he's not disinterested. He just wants to make sure they both understand what they're getting into.]
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Date: 2023-04-12 06:13 pm (UTC)No. It would be to the death. I would need to be killed to not keep fighting.
[There is no honor in that kind of defeat, so there is no leaving him alive from it. He's also aware most dragons would underestimate him and that could easily be their end.]
Still. I am rather confused by your contradictions. Have you been desirable in the past, but are no longer? I do not grasp how that could be. You are as attractive as I've ever known you. [and that has been a while, but he doesn't know shit about dragon mating standards. Concord does presume he's just missing something, rather than catching Ali out in a lie...]
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Date: 2023-04-12 08:08 pm (UTC)Of course you would, you stubborn mule.
[But the rest...well. Ali really needs to keep better track of his lies if he's going to keep presenting himself as a Casanova. He's just lucky that Concord is pure of heart and dumb of ass.]
Er, well...of course I am, my good looks as a dragon translated into human good looks.
[He's continuing to lie, he purposefully made his human form attractive. He'll even preen his hair to ]
But dragons are rather insular and don't take kindly to other species. And since I live primarily as a human now, I've missed a few mating seasons and nobody has come calling.
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Date: 2023-04-12 09:50 pm (UTC)I see. That is similar to unicorns. None would come seeking me out as a mate, given I am not guarding the realm in solitude. I have prioritized the people of this land and not all unicorns see that as best. [he does, though, in large part because of the King here. He gave over the crown of this land to him and so Concord made his choice, set his priorities in line. It isn't uncommon, unicorns tends to split between protecting their lands from outsiders and protecting those who have settled. Concord just happens to be the latter, which just so happens to be the less sought out for mate seeking.]
Still, if any dragon did arrive who you scorned, I would fight for you. Regardless of our bond.
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Date: 2023-04-13 01:35 am (UTC)Dragons don't really like humans either. They see them as an annoyance, and get angry at the occasional bunch of soldiers that get sent out to kill any particularly dangerous dragons. It seems a lot of mythical creatures don't like humans, huh?
[That makes them two peas in a pod, in a way. They both like humanity for different reasons, but that still brings them together.
That last bit is particularly touching too, and Ali finds himself tucking his head close to Concord's chest o hide his warm smile. Even if he just slept with Concord, he still feels apprehensive about showing his true smiles so easily. His voice gives away how touched he feels though.]
Thank you for that, Concord. It means a lot to me.
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Date: 2023-04-15 04:51 pm (UTC)When Ali scoots in even closer, Concord wraps him up in both arms. A bearish hug from a man who is more like that animal in his protective spirit than most would think of a unicorn. He buries his nose in Ali's dark hair and nuzzles there with utmost affection, taking in his smoky scent. The warmth is downright addictive, he fears he'll never want to be far from Ali now that he's been so close to him. There are duties beyond this bed, after all...
Also, they're both quite sticky.]
... did you wish to bathe together? I need a wash.
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Date: 2023-04-16 03:16 am (UTC)But a mess will separate them, it seems. He sighs and starts to untangle himself from Concord.]
Might as well. The baths should still be largely unoccupied at this hour.
[Most people are probably still at the festival, even if the fireworks are over.]
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Date: 2023-04-16 10:27 pm (UTC)He's getting ahead of himself,]
Do you have a handkerchief on hand? [top prior: no come stuck to his chest or running down his legs. Being at least that decent before tossing back on his casual set of clothing to walk to the baths is a must.]
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Date: 2023-04-17 01:41 am (UTC)Also, he wants to wash Concord's back in the bath. That's pretty intimate in his mind.
But Concord's question snaps him away from those thoughts, and with a bit of flourish he speaks as if it's silly of Concord to even ask.]
Of course.
[He has one in the pocket of his pants, which he goes over to pull out. Of course, when he picks up his pants he hears the two coins clinking against each other, and he smiles with a bit of warmth before shifting it to something a bit more smarmy as he hands over the handkerchief.]
Knowing how messy you are, I'll have to be sure to bring several towels next time.
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Date: 2023-04-17 01:51 am (UTC)I would not think I am any messier than a dragon, in this way... [he scrubs off with the regimented movement of a soldier, getting himself at least decent enough to be redressed. Once he's decent, he's ready to trek onward to the baths, which weren't necessarily far from Ali's den besides the treasury]
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Date: 2023-04-17 02:06 am (UTC)He eventually does get dressed though, only pulling on a shirt and pants for the time being. No need to dress up super-fancy when they're just going to the baths. Together. Post-sex. He wonders how many people have done just the same thing.
Once they arrive he'll indicate to one of the more secluded pools.]
Let's go over there.
[Even if someone does wander in after the festival, they're unlikely to catch the two of them far in the back.]
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Date: 2023-04-17 02:18 am (UTC)Making it to the baths, they're likewise empties out still. Spotting the far pools, tucked away beyond walls for a bit more privacy, Concord follows. If anybody came in, they could probably hear and... adjust themselves. That is, if they return to such intimate displays as before.
Concord isn't sure he could resist, it feels like a given. He strips back down and enters the warm water with a sigh. His braid will get undone in time, for now he needs to bask a while, watch as Ali enters in after him, hopefully]
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