[ Erik's expression may not be exactly encouraging, depending on where Ned is standing; the revulsion the man fears fails to fester between Erik's brows or at the corner of his mouth, but then he doesn't betray much of anything else, either. Then again that may be telling in and of itself: a dispassionate disposition in the face of such a confession.

Then again, Erik doesn't really expect that Ned is looking at him at all; in some ways he's deeply crippled when it comes to understanding how other people operate. Nothing will compel him to seek absolution for the lives he's taken, and so Ned's fear that Erik will think he's a monster seems very far away. He has a head for languages, but he will never understand how to speak this one. ]

A life for a life. [ He still doesn't sound like he has much feeling either way other than thoughtfulness, as if he's mulling the idea over in his mind. ] When I mentioned judgment I neglected to add the 'jury and executioner' clause that often follows.

[ There could be a shrug here, and isn't; when Erik has taken a life in his mind he's always been justified, so he's not light about it, just certain.] But if you're expecting me to pass sentence on you, you've come to the wrong person. In your position I--

[ His face darkens; Ned can probably gauge by now that this is not a man who often cuts off his own ideas only to start again somewhere else. Of all the things he's going to do today, detail how many men he would have killed to bring his mother back isn't one of them, especially when he can't get his hands on the one who really matters. Shaw, somewhere off where Erik can't reach him. ] Retribution has been all I've ever known of justice. What you do has a symmetry to me.