"Because he's putting you in danger."
He eyeballs the pair of cabalmates. Ned had an air of eye-rolling that didn't quite make it to his eyes when the Doc asked for an explanation but he didn't speak up immediately. Instead, he let Margot take the floor first and answer Doc's question. Then she turns around on him and Ned returns her stare and question with something else. His voice is quiet but not subdued. His gaze and features are tired but not exhausted. Resignation and conviction in a single breath.
"It was just you before-" He nods so very slightly toward Margot "-but you're stubborn and don't seem to know any better. Then we're called into the city by him-" Ned nods to the side, indicating William "-to pick up the optional corpse of you-" Another slight nod toward the Doc, who receives a slight glare for the effort. As if to say that situation might well have been avoided...ifs...ands...buts...digressions.
"-and each time I'm sitting around thinking 'alright'-" He claps, once. "-'I guess it's time to do something about him'..." And there's an air there. Something under the tone that Margot might recognize from another (life)time. (He's gotta go...you know that...but if you don't want too...)
"Because we're living here, no one's done anything to fix the situation and we're all content just to ignore the stupid sitting in the chair in our study and the stupid that keeps saying 'It'll be fine'-" Eyes at Margot "-or 'Kill it with booze'..." Eyes at the Doc.
"So no I didn't discuss it with you. All of us are experts in denial tactics. I think that's blatantly obvious. We're here to discuss this as a collective. No hiding. No walking away. No telling us to shut up or complaining about what's right and wrong. I want to know what we're going to do about him and inviting him into the Cabal so we can keep an eye on him and minimize how much fucking half-life he spreads around, was the option."
A pause. Then around on the Doc and his question:
"I've already told William that if the two of you don't comfortably and logically see why he should be in this Cabal, that I'm going to do my level best to kill him. Felt like a compelling reason to do this in person and isolation so that there's no holding back."
He eyeballs the pair of cabalmates. Ned had an air of eye-rolling that didn't quite make it to his eyes when the Doc asked for an explanation but he didn't speak up immediately. Instead, he let Margot take the floor first and answer Doc's question. Then she turns around on him and Ned returns her stare and question with something else. His voice is quiet but not subdued. His gaze and features are tired but not exhausted. Resignation and conviction in a single breath.
"It was just you before-" He nods so very slightly toward Margot "-but you're stubborn and don't seem to know any better. Then we're called into the city by him-" Ned nods to the side, indicating William "-to pick up the optional corpse of you-" Another slight nod toward the Doc, who receives a slight glare for the effort. As if to say that situation might well have been avoided...ifs...ands...buts...digressions.
"-and each time I'm sitting around thinking 'alright'-" He claps, once. "-'I guess it's time to do something about him'..." And there's an air there. Something under the tone that Margot might recognize from another (life)time. (He's gotta go...you know that...but if you don't want too...)
"Because we're living here, no one's done anything to fix the situation and we're all content just to ignore the stupid sitting in the chair in our study and the stupid that keeps saying 'It'll be fine'-" Eyes at Margot "-or 'Kill it with booze'..." Eyes at the Doc.
"So no I didn't discuss it with you. All of us are experts in denial tactics. I think that's blatantly obvious. We're here to discuss this as a collective. No hiding. No walking away. No telling us to shut up or complaining about what's right and wrong. I want to know what we're going to do about him and inviting him into the Cabal so we can keep an eye on him and minimize how much fucking half-life he spreads around, was the option."
A pause. Then around on the Doc and his question:
"I've already told William that if the two of you don't comfortably and logically see why he should be in this Cabal, that I'm going to do my level best to kill him. Felt like a compelling reason to do this in person and isolation so that there's no holding back."