//ill write an actual thread after this gsdfsf
disclaimer idk shit abt selective mutism im just being poetic :^(
When Link woke up, he didn't know anything about himself. Not how old he was, why he was there. Nothing. He didn't even know his name until much later, when people seemed to recognize him and call him by that. They'd never tell him why that was his name, or who he was, so Link just figured that they must be right. They knew more than him, after all.
The first thing he knew about himself however, was that he didn't want to talk. That he liked food, and travel, and seeing things. He didn't know the speaking thing until he actually ran into somebody -- words had hardly made up his thoughts until he realized that people used them. And then he started to. People sometimes got upset when he wouldn't reply -- would chirp or bark like a wild animal. Questioned him until he actually spoke. But Link .. he'd try to speak, to appease them, but it felt wrong. Wrangled out of his chest. It didn't feel like part of him, he felt vulnerable. So he didn't. He shut his mouth, only spoke when necessary. It was more often than he'd like -- people demanded answers, whys, hows, things that couldn't be answered through charades. Sometimes they'd tell him to write something down, but Link didn't know how.
He doesn't know why he won't speak, besides the comfort. It's harder to, around strangers, around people he doesn't like. When it's stressful, when the world feels like it's on his shoulders but he doesn't know why. But ... it's easier, too. He didn't have any ... any other friends, but he did feel like he could talk around Sidon during his visits, sometimes. Not .. not often, but sometimes. When somebody asked about something that made his eyes light up with delight. .. Of course.
Sometimes he had to talk, when things were dangerous or he needed an answer. Sometimes he didn't like it -- the words felt like molten through his chest, made him feel less. Sometimes it slipped out, easy as breathing, scarcely noticed. Like a normal person would, he thinks.
He doesn't know.
He doesn't know why he can't bring himself to talk.
Sometimes he can talk when he's alone, to himself. It's .. okay. It's not bad, but it's not something Link cares to do, either.
He feels like his voice is off limits, in a way. Maybe that's it. Like something that shouldn't be used, not for this, not right now. But why? When would the right time be? He doesn't have an answer. He doesn't know if he wants it to happen at all, really. But ...
... maybe someday, even so.