[File this under messages Glacius wasn't expecting to receive. For some time, it goes unanswered, as the alien considers not answering it all--Shadow had been completely unrepentant to the point of arrogant dismissal the last time they conversed, so he has a hard time believing anything his partner's abuser might have to say would be worth his time.
But this isn't exactly about him. It's about what Carlisle would want. Glacius doesn't know why he continues to waste his breath on this cur, the one who has abused him emotionally and physically repeated times over, but he does; time to find out once and for all if there's even a shred of a redeemable quality within the hedgehog, or if he needs to be dealt with.
So his response eventually does come in, and even through text one can probably feel the coldness to every word:] Give me one good reason why we should.
[Glacius continues without missing a beat this time, as if he is correcting Shadow's statement for him:] --Is an individual who you have tormented time and time again. In fact, unless you plan on showing some scrap of remorse for those atrocities, he is the very reason we should not be conversing.
Your actions have already said plenty about yourself, and I am not the only one who feels this way. Whether or not you open your eyes to that or choose to remain pathetically blind is your own prerogative.
And I did not know--but it does not surprise me. He is not the sort to turn his back on anyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it. [But that's not a concept he expects Shadow to understand.]
It does not surprise me that he blames himself--he has endured years upon years of painful prejudices from his world that have lead him to find fault in himself at every turn. And what you need to realize is that both your actions and your words have perpetuated these prejudices. If you want to begin working on correcting that, then it is a start, and you would have my adamant encouragement in this regard.
[Because Shadow is right about one thing: Carlisle isn't to blame here, certainly not solely. This all started because the hedgehog sought to forcibly get the cleric to do something against his will, which is the very thing he then turned around and got at mad his former friend for. It's disgustingly ironic.]
[The request, open as it is, surprises Glacius. While he considers his answer, there is one thing he's curious about here, and the answer will help to inform his response.] Are you asking because you think this will require a specific approach, or because you genuinely do not know how to absolve one who was once your friend of their guilt?
[Though it's likely hard to tell due to the text-based medium in which they're conversing and the way their past interactions have gone, Glacius's question isn't a judging one; rather, he's seeking to try and get a better understanding of the situation.]
[There's another long pause, as Glacius types up... well, a more lengthy response than he'd give via text in nearly any other scenario. But this is not just important--it is crucial. There's only one way this is going to work, and he can only hope against hope that Shadow might understand what he is saying.] If he asked you for an apology, and you feel as though you can give one that is truly genuine, then that would be a good place to start. But you are right... it will not be enough. You may not like what I have to say next, but... it is very important.
This will take time. It will not be something that can be fixed with a single exchange. You have both been through much... and healing will be a long process, for both Carlisle and yourself. You must allow that for the both of yourselves. For this is not just about your death at Sato's hand, but at events that came before that.
I know that Carlisle has been trying to make amends to you for some time now... but this is not just his fault. You had a hand in it as well. It was not right of Carlisle to subvert your will, but you did the same thing by attempting to force him to do something against his.
[It might seem a bit strange that Glacius knows just about everything that happened given how Carlisle had sometimes been sparse on details out of any number of fears; thankfully, he'd had some outside help from Rey, who had explained everything to him from start to finish in order to try and help the alien understand. And he knows that he does, now. He can only hope that Shadow will, too:] If you can express that understanding to him, if you can shoulder the responsibility with him and in doing so ease its heavy weight upon him... then in time, I believe that he will be able to recover.
Consider this, please. And do not attempt to force it until you feel ready.
[Make no mistake--at this point in time, Glacius has no care for Shadow. After his arrogant and dismissive responses to the cruelty that he has subjected the clergyman to, the ice alien doesn't think that the hedgehog deserves to still call Carlisle a friend, or even the time that he has spent mourning what happened between them. But this isn't up to him; if his partner feels that this is a friendship worth trying to salvage, then he will do what he can to help. All Glacius wants in the end is for Carlisle to be happy, after all. So long as Shadow is also interested in making things better, then he will have the alien's support. If not...
Well, then they will be having a very different conversation.]
Good. [Though that next question gets a bit of a snort from the otherworldly being, not that it can be discerned through text.] Is he ready for you to finally take steps that he's been trying to get you to initiate for some time now? Is he ready for the one he used to call a friend finally try to deserve that title once more?
Yes, I imagine he is quite ready. Do not hesitate to come to me if you feel you need any further advice, and... I wish you the best in this endeavor.
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But this isn't exactly about him. It's about what Carlisle would want. Glacius doesn't know why he continues to waste his breath on this cur, the one who has abused him emotionally and physically repeated times over, but he does; time to find out once and for all if there's even a shred of a redeemable quality within the hedgehog, or if he needs to be dealt with.
So his response eventually does come in, and even through text one can probably feel the coldness to every word:] Give me one good reason why we should.
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Tell me what you have come here to tell me, and quit wasting my time.
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And I did not know--but it does not surprise me. He is not the sort to turn his back on anyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it. [But that's not a concept he expects Shadow to understand.]
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It does not surprise me that he blames himself--he has endured years upon years of painful prejudices from his world that have lead him to find fault in himself at every turn. And what you need to realize is that both your actions and your words have perpetuated these prejudices. If you want to begin working on correcting that, then it is a start, and you would have my adamant encouragement in this regard.
[Because Shadow is right about one thing: Carlisle isn't to blame here, certainly not solely. This all started because the hedgehog sought to forcibly get the cleric to do something against his will, which is the very thing he then turned around and got at mad his former friend for. It's disgustingly ironic.]
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[Though it's likely hard to tell due to the text-based medium in which they're conversing and the way their past interactions have gone, Glacius's question isn't a judging one; rather, he's seeking to try and get a better understanding of the situation.]
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This will take time. It will not be something that can be fixed with a single exchange. You have both been through much... and healing will be a long process, for both Carlisle and yourself. You must allow that for the both of yourselves. For this is not just about your death at Sato's hand, but at events that came before that.
I know that Carlisle has been trying to make amends to you for some time now... but this is not just his fault. You had a hand in it as well. It was not right of Carlisle to subvert your will, but you did the same thing by attempting to force him to do something against his.
[It might seem a bit strange that Glacius knows just about everything that happened given how Carlisle had sometimes been sparse on details out of any number of fears; thankfully, he'd had some outside help from Rey, who had explained everything to him from start to finish in order to try and help the alien understand. And he knows that he does, now. He can only hope that Shadow will, too:] If you can express that understanding to him, if you can shoulder the responsibility with him and in doing so ease its heavy weight upon him... then in time, I believe that he will be able to recover.
Consider this, please. And do not attempt to force it until you feel ready.
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Well, then they will be having a very different conversation.]
Good. [Though that next question gets a bit of a snort from the otherworldly being, not that it can be discerned through text.] Is he ready for you to finally take steps that he's been trying to get you to initiate for some time now? Is he ready for the one he used to call a friend finally try to deserve that title once more?
Yes, I imagine he is quite ready. Do not hesitate to come to me if you feel you need any further advice, and... I wish you the best in this endeavor.