[Despite his own outburst, he isn't expecting for Varian to respond in kind. Nor is he expecting Varian to go on a whole tirade that undoubtedly has to be some measure of cathartic for him. If Fern was getting even only half of that he'd be prepared to snap back and start a whole argument, but through it he's shifting from embarrassment at needing help, to anger at getting yelled at, to a sinking sensation of self-loathing as Varian makes it utterly clear just how awful he's making him feel.
And then finally back to embarrassment because wow, he really can't do anything right, can he? Just about every single step he's taken today has been wrong, even the ones he was absolutely sure were right. The only thing he's done without completely screwing up was that fight, and now that it's over it's right back to making everything worse. Good job, Fern, good job.
His anger visibly dissipates by the time Varian has finished, replaced with a deeply mortifying shame. He doesn't even try to respond, he just stares at Varian for a few seconds longer before looking away.]
....
[Then he drops his hand from his shoulder, so that Varian can get a better look. It isn't the worst injury he's ever suffered, but there's been a chunk taken out and the torn grass still isn't knitting itself back together.]
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And then finally back to embarrassment because wow, he really can't do anything right, can he? Just about every single step he's taken today has been wrong, even the ones he was absolutely sure were right. The only thing he's done without completely screwing up was that fight, and now that it's over it's right back to making everything worse. Good job, Fern, good job.
His anger visibly dissipates by the time Varian has finished, replaced with a deeply mortifying shame. He doesn't even try to respond, he just stares at Varian for a few seconds longer before looking away.]
....
[Then he drops his hand from his shoulder, so that Varian can get a better look. It isn't the worst injury he's ever suffered, but there's been a chunk taken out and the torn grass still isn't knitting itself back together.]