Varian is definitely in distress. Ignoring the rocks was such a bad move back home, they just became more and more and caused more and more trouble.

"But - but people will get paralysed. I- I remember seeing it happen."

Richie has proven the rocks don't exist though, but maybe that's his mind playing tricks on him too? He just doesn't know. Regardless, he definitely doesn't sit down, instead, hugging his arms around himself tightly and starting to pace. So...you know, the opposite of sitting down and calming down.

"I haven't been making anything lately," which is, out of all things, a sign that it's real fucking bad- Varian not having a project on the go is unheard of. "Fern- he's- he's worried a lot."