[Okay, this is going... super not well. Varian has a split second to make a decision, and usually, he makes the wrong one. This time, though, there's only one choice he does have- and that's to reach out and grab Fern's arm. The one holding the sword. ]

Fern, no.

[The candle is still tempering everything, but there's a sharpness to his tone that's been absent before- even when they fought. It's not like the fear or betrayal that was there before. There's something else. A shadow of a shadow of what he once was.]

This isn't going to solve anyone's problems but yours. Do you think I want you to- to, what? Go out there and kill her? Do you think for one second I could even look you in the eye again after doing that?

[His hand tightens, just a notch. Things had been going well, their friendship had been mended. He'd do just about anything to keep it that way. But not this. This is where he's drawing a damn hard line. ]

You had a lot of talk about being a good friend, but do you think killing someone I care about because- because I don't know, you think somehow you've got to beat her at being important to me- is being a good friend? Because it's not. She's got enough things to deal with without having to add you to the mix.

[Neo was a constant threat, a real risk to Ruby's life. But he'd never truly believed Fern would be capable of this until right now. Despite everything. Despite their mutual monstrous pasts, he never, ever thought Fern would cross this line.]

Don't do this. Don't make me have to try to stop you. Please.