[ It would be an outrageous lie to say that he isn't afraid of Bondrewd. Even just seeing the lash of that tail has his nerves bristling as he recalls the stunning impact of getting flattened against a wall by that appendage; he knows for a fact that that blow would have killed him instantaneously if he were still a normal human and not a Shardbearer. But even so -- even as his canine ears cant back, his posture held tense and low -- Gen stands his ground as Bondrewd approaches. Whatever nuance might be seen in the changes in Bondrewd's movements and demeanor go unnoticed, given his entire focus is simply on maintaining that brave front. ]

I'm not emotionally impacted. [ He lies, each word spat out at a disdainful snarl to better mask the fact that he is, indeed, (unreasonably) emotionally impacted. ] And I ain't answering your stupid survey question.

[ As if he could even put into words how he feels about Link. He knows whatever feelings he has for that little Meridian twink are entirely unreasonable and tainted by how badly he'd been affected by something to do with Link's Discord, back at Xanadu. But even so -- those feelings, foolish as they are, are hard to entirely dismiss. And he doesn't want to think about it.

If Link's shard is with Aetos, then he's already too late. Would it have made a difference if he'd come here sooner? Or was it too late the moment he let himself get knocked out during that fight? Did Bondrewd immediately whisk the shard away, to god-knows-where? It's a deeply frustrating line of thought, and Gen gives a hard click of the tongue before turning his ire to Bondrewd. ]

-- that wasn't how you said it'd be.

[ Sharp and accusatory. He's never forgotten the distant goal Bondrewd had enticed him with, after all. ]

You said all that shit about giving Meridians a form that'd help'em survive no matter what. So what the hell was that? Have you just been bullshitting me this whole time? Give me one good reason why I should still believe in anything you say!