[He's not even a little surprised at being called out, but instead what he feels in response is a mix of annoyance at not being able to just get away with it and appreciation that Ian cares. Again, the struggle of having friends.
He could continue to deflect, or even turn it around back on Ian, and both are really tempting options. But instead he firmly tells himself that isn't the way to handle it, and there's silence for several seconds before he does finally respond.]
It just takes a lot, and I don't have it right now.
[Energy, motivation, willpower, whatever. He doesn't have enough of any of it for this adjustment period not to feel like an insurmountable obstacle, and so for the most part he's just been sort of on autopilot at a suitable mental distance.]
no subject
He could continue to deflect, or even turn it around back on Ian, and both are really tempting options. But instead he firmly tells himself that isn't the way to handle it, and there's silence for several seconds before he does finally respond.]
It just takes a lot, and I don't have it right now.
[Energy, motivation, willpower, whatever. He doesn't have enough of any of it for this adjustment period not to feel like an insurmountable obstacle, and so for the most part he's just been sort of on autopilot at a suitable mental distance.]