( They've seriously gotten really far along on this whole honesty thing since they've known each other. Slow going, sure but here they are now -- Ian admitting a worry he does actually feel, Lance not denying the toll it must take on him.

There's a subtle shift in his brow and the downturn of his lips that makes it clear he's not particularly happy with the answer. He wants to disagree with it -- that's not all Lance is good at -- but at the end of the day... well, the guy's got like fifteen doctorates for exactly this, doesn't he? It'd be a little like Ian getting tired of building stuff and switching to mopping floors or something. Just somehow a little off.

What makes this an issue that's impossible to argue is that last sentiment; actually making a difference. He knows the feeling, he's pretty sure he said something similar to Lance not all that long ago, he'd be a hypocrite now if he tried to talk Lance through some kind of logic-loop to get away from that. )

Look, can you at least... promise you'll try to find some balance? Start out small, go easy, make sure you're taking enough time to actually... feel good for like ten minutes before you dive back into somebody's traumatic psyche?