Link was rethinking his intelligent man comment, the more Clef spoke, feeling and seeing Shadow's reaction beside him. But, he pushed that thought aside, as voicing it would have helped no one.
He'd address a lot of Clef had been saying, but, first, Shadow. Link shifted his stance so he could pull Shadow in with a one-armed hug. "Thank you," he said quietly. "Thank you for doing this. For helping arrange this. I know this is more than a little painful for you."
Link gave him a squeeze and added. "But, don't call yourself a freak of nature. You're unique. And eventually, he'll understand. Because, this is a hill I'm willing to die on."
He turned his gaze to Clef. "I think he answered your question about why it's all or nothing with us. But, that aside....why would you start yelling? I told you that you were hurting his feelings and your response was to double down and yell at us. I--I don't understand that. You seem to think that acknowledging someone's flaws is somehow loving them less. Is it because you can't accept your own flaws or something? Because, blindly loving someone isn't healthy. And it's not really love when you pretend the worst of a person doesn't exist."
Link took a deep breath and shook his head. "Are you capable of apologizing? Without following it up with a justification as to why you're right and we're wrong?" He hadn't meant it to come out as condescending, it was a sincere question, but frustration did creep into his words.
"I...think I need to point out to you that Zelda, Shadow, and I live in three different Hyrules. When Zelda sent me back, that Hyrule was basically sealed off from me. The Hyrule I live in has never seen Ganondorf take over. He was awaiting execution last I heard. Apparently spectators aren't allowed, and some sage is going to be executioner."
Link sighed. "That's why I'm not recognized as a hero back home, outside of the Zelda from that time. The things I did never happened there. I know who and what I am, but, no one else does. Shadow, is from a few centuries later. Between my time and his there have been a few crises because of that damned Gerudo."
He stopped and hesitated. "Sorry, that derailed a little. My point was, the three of us in one spot is pretty impressive. Whether it be here or in Nautilus. I'm grateful for the opportunity, every day. To be here with all of you." The last thing he wanted was for Clef to feel excluded by his comments, so he made sure to make eye contact with his last statement.
no subject
He'd address a lot of Clef had been saying, but, first, Shadow. Link shifted his stance so he could pull Shadow in with a one-armed hug. "Thank you," he said quietly. "Thank you for doing this. For helping arrange this. I know this is more than a little painful for you."
Link gave him a squeeze and added. "But, don't call yourself a freak of nature. You're unique. And eventually, he'll understand. Because, this is a hill I'm willing to die on."
He turned his gaze to Clef. "I think he answered your question about why it's all or nothing with us. But, that aside....why would you start yelling? I told you that you were hurting his feelings and your response was to double down and yell at us. I--I don't understand that. You seem to think that acknowledging someone's flaws is somehow loving them less. Is it because you can't accept your own flaws or something? Because, blindly loving someone isn't healthy. And it's not really love when you pretend the worst of a person doesn't exist."
Link took a deep breath and shook his head. "Are you capable of apologizing? Without following it up with a justification as to why you're right and we're wrong?" He hadn't meant it to come out as condescending, it was a sincere question, but frustration did creep into his words.
"I...think I need to point out to you that Zelda, Shadow, and I live in three different Hyrules. When Zelda sent me back, that Hyrule was basically sealed off from me. The Hyrule I live in has never seen Ganondorf take over. He was awaiting execution last I heard. Apparently spectators aren't allowed, and some sage is going to be executioner."
Link sighed. "That's why I'm not recognized as a hero back home, outside of the Zelda from that time. The things I did never happened there. I know who and what I am, but, no one else does. Shadow, is from a few centuries later. Between my time and his there have been a few crises because of that damned Gerudo."
He stopped and hesitated. "Sorry, that derailed a little. My point was, the three of us in one spot is pretty impressive. Whether it be here or in Nautilus. I'm grateful for the opportunity, every day. To be here with all of you." The last thing he wanted was for Clef to feel excluded by his comments, so he made sure to make eye contact with his last statement.