[The contact from Varian's thumb makes the grass twitch, and Fern can't really tell if it's just sensitive due to being newly regrown or if his emotions are causing that reaction. Either way he really, really doesn't want to think about it. Right now isn't a good time.

He's still feeling uneasy and like a total wreck, even when Varian forgives him. The whole 'girls only' is baffling, but explains one or two things. And honestly, that kind of limitation has to really suck. No wonder he reacted the way he did. This isn't going the way he had been hoping, but it's marginally better than how they were both dealing with this earlier. He reaches up, absently rubbing the antler tattoo on his right arm.

Okay... okay, he's disappointed, but he isn't emotionally devastated. He can do this. He can try to not completely screw this up again.]

Time's... good. Time's better than - [Outright rejection this very second, though he can't bring himself to say that aloud. He can barely hold back a wince. He... also probably needs some time.]

You're important to me, too. [He instantly feels dumb for saying that too, though he at least feels like warrants reiterating with the self-loathing he's noticed creeping into Varian's words. Guess they're both feeling like garbage right now, that shouldn't be surprising. The least he can do is try to be reassuring, though he knows from previous experience how awful he is at that.]

I don't want to shut you out. [He's managing to sound firm about that, though as he continues he falters.] I just - do that, when stuff gets too hard for me to deal with. It isn't you.

[He's just as big a failure at people as you are, Varian. Don't worry.]