"Every time I think I've hit the 'nothing can surprise me anymore' threshold, this place proves me wrong."
Ned doesn't mind Wallie's skepticism. In fact, it's rather reassuring. That kind of outlook, which finds his very existence to be improbably, has been instrumentally useful to him over the years. He's had more than his fair share of near-misses, all of which did not become complete catastrophes only because the truth was too unimaginable to the witnesses. The case with Laura had been the exception: it had been too public, the process of cause and effect too public, to dismiss as anything else the way he normally would.
"I wouldn't believe in vampires either, if it weren't for the evidence of my own eyes." And neck, he thinks, wryly. "Or psychics or any of the rest of it. But there are more things on heaven and earth, Horatio, etcetera."
Perhaps if he had a chance to see Ned's power for himself, Wallie would believe it more easily. But Ned isn't really in the habit of wandering around giving demonstrations. He's still convinced that people only accept what he can do because they don't think about it hard enough, and have never seen it in action. He doesn't intend to jeopardize that.
Ned spots a few of the newcomers milling around, looking as if they need direction. He sets his shovel aside and looks at Wallie. He's glad to have met him, spoken to him. Now, despite his imposing frame and appearance, Ned doesn't feel that same uneasiness when he looks at him. Wonderful what a little chat can do.
"I'm gonna go... pretend I know something about leadership and help those people, but it was good to meet you, Wallie." In lieu of the traditional parting handshake Ned waves again, this time with a bit of a smile quirking the corner of his mouth.
no subject
Ned doesn't mind Wallie's skepticism. In fact, it's rather reassuring. That kind of outlook, which finds his very existence to be improbably, has been instrumentally useful to him over the years. He's had more than his fair share of near-misses, all of which did not become complete catastrophes only because the truth was too unimaginable to the witnesses. The case with Laura had been the exception: it had been too public, the process of cause and effect too public, to dismiss as anything else the way he normally would.
"I wouldn't believe in vampires either, if it weren't for the evidence of my own eyes." And neck, he thinks, wryly. "Or psychics or any of the rest of it. But there are more things on heaven and earth, Horatio, etcetera."
Perhaps if he had a chance to see Ned's power for himself, Wallie would believe it more easily. But Ned isn't really in the habit of wandering around giving demonstrations. He's still convinced that people only accept what he can do because they don't think about it hard enough, and have never seen it in action. He doesn't intend to jeopardize that.
Ned spots a few of the newcomers milling around, looking as if they need direction. He sets his shovel aside and looks at Wallie. He's glad to have met him, spoken to him. Now, despite his imposing frame and appearance, Ned doesn't feel that same uneasiness when he looks at him. Wonderful what a little chat can do.
"I'm gonna go... pretend I know something about leadership and help those people, but it was good to meet you, Wallie." In lieu of the traditional parting handshake Ned waves again, this time with a bit of a smile quirking the corner of his mouth.