[If it had just been that first comment, Lance probably would've left the conversation there and just been relieved that it hadn't gone as badly as it could've. He doesn't necessarily want to risk that changing by unnecessarily continuing the conversation.
But that comment about not being on his own stands out to him, both because that's something he rarely hears, and because it's just... Kind to say. Really, unexpectedly so, especially from someone he doesn't even generally get along with.
But it's also something he can't just accept and move on from without saying something about, considering everything that happened in the Aerie and the situation they're all dealing with now. So although there's a brief delay, he does decide to respond.]
You're not on your own either. It's understandable if you might want to withdraw to some extent after what happened, especially in the short term, but other than your own want for some space and time there's no need to remain isolated.
[It isn't wrong to want some time to process and readjust, but that's a completely different situation to thinking that he has to stay away from other people due to what happened. This whole thing is so complicated, but they all went through the Aerie and they're all having to deal with figuring out how to move on from it, and that includes Stephen and all the other people who don't just have to contend with their experiences, but with who they were.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2021-01-23 12:43 am (UTC)But that comment about not being on his own stands out to him, both because that's something he rarely hears, and because it's just... Kind to say. Really, unexpectedly so, especially from someone he doesn't even generally get along with.
But it's also something he can't just accept and move on from without saying something about, considering everything that happened in the Aerie and the situation they're all dealing with now. So although there's a brief delay, he does decide to respond.]
You're not on your own either. It's understandable if you might want to withdraw to some extent after what happened, especially in the short term, but other than your own want for some space and time there's no need to remain isolated.
[It isn't wrong to want some time to process and readjust, but that's a completely different situation to thinking that he has to stay away from other people due to what happened. This whole thing is so complicated, but they all went through the Aerie and they're all having to deal with figuring out how to move on from it, and that includes Stephen and all the other people who don't just have to contend with their experiences, but with who they were.]