[Varian is a minefield of emotions at the best of times, and this has tossed the proverbial ball right into the middle of it all. But at least he's managed to salvage some of it- he's glad- he would have hated to completely ruin everything here. Fern meant the world to him, no one, not here, not at home, understood him to quite the same level as Fern does. Perhaps it's a little selfish, clinging onto this- to have someone who understands exactly what it feels like to sink so low and then pick up a shovel and keep digging. But cling he does. ]

...Yeah.

[That's both to his admission of his importance and the acknowledgement that time's... good. He needs to hear it, to know he matters. It's desperate and sad and he knows it. Is it fair to Fern to be like this? He doesn't know... probably not. But he needs it. To be important. Relevant. ]

...I can get that. And I appreciate it. I'll... I don't know. Is it easier to just give you your space? I don't want you to think I'm turning my back on you for that. Because I'm not.