[Oh. That's... Not what he's expecting, and he isn't quite mentally prepared for it; that's not a bad thing in itself, it just means he can't quite hide his emotions as well as he might otherwise. So he ends up having to concentrate on not looking away while Drake's talking, though he isn't able to avoid chewing on his lip a little or tapping his fingers against his glass in small shows of agitation.
When Drake's done, Lance tries to decide what to address first, and what might help the most to hear. If he were counseling the way to proceed would be simple enough, but they're talking as friends, and that means more relying on his intuition.]
You're not a bad person for protecting yourself and your mother.
[He wants that to be very clear; even if his voice is quiet as he says it, there's no hesitation.]
It wouldn't have been wrong of you to protect yourself in the Aerie either, just as it wasn't to make the choice not to. Having a different life and different experiences in the Aerie didn't make that version of you better or worse than you are now, just one whose life took an alternate path.
no subject
When Drake's done, Lance tries to decide what to address first, and what might help the most to hear. If he were counseling the way to proceed would be simple enough, but they're talking as friends, and that means more relying on his intuition.]
You're not a bad person for protecting yourself and your mother.
[He wants that to be very clear; even if his voice is quiet as he says it, there's no hesitation.]
It wouldn't have been wrong of you to protect yourself in the Aerie either, just as it wasn't to make the choice not to. Having a different life and different experiences in the Aerie didn't make that version of you better or worse than you are now, just one whose life took an alternate path.