It was definitely a defense mechanism. The only way Siegmund had managed to hold onto his aloof, detached public image was because he didn't speak carelessly. (...Most of the time.)
Of course Thane was expecting that one. That's the benefit of phrasing a question the way Siegmund had--the other party fills in whatever they expected to hear.
Aha! He was right, an alien! Not that anything else meant...anything, to him. Drell? Rakhana? Whatever, it wasn't really important. The important part was alien. Siegmund's face lit up at the answer (figuratively, this time), though it was only a subtle shift to his features. "What means endothermic?" was the first follow-up he asked (because let's be honest, this kid isn't exactly going out of his way to learn English biology terminology). The second was, "Did you know what humans are, before you come here?"
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Of course Thane was expecting that one. That's the benefit of phrasing a question the way Siegmund had--the other party fills in whatever they expected to hear.
Aha! He was right, an alien! Not that anything else meant...anything, to him. Drell? Rakhana? Whatever, it wasn't really important. The important part was alien. Siegmund's face lit up at the answer (figuratively, this time), though it was only a subtle shift to his features. "What means endothermic?" was the first follow-up he asked (because let's be honest, this kid isn't exactly going out of his way to learn English biology terminology). The second was, "Did you know what humans are, before you come here?"