[ Ned tries to look at Jesse, but he can't keep it up for more than a few seconds. After that, he knows he really is going to start crying again if he doesn't do something, so he drops his gaze to their feet. Crossing his arms tightly over his chest, he rasps out: ]
No, of course I didn't. [ He can see what Jesse is getting at, but it isn't that simple, to him. He knows that cause and effect doesn't always work in comprehensible ways. Responsibility can be intangible and incomprehensible and Ned is far too used to being domino that sends all the others crashing down. It might not be rational to blame himself for a murder that someone else committed, but rationality isn't always his strong suit. ]
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No, of course I didn't. [ He can see what Jesse is getting at, but it isn't that simple, to him. He knows that cause and effect doesn't always work in comprehensible ways. Responsibility can be intangible and incomprehensible and Ned is far too used to being domino that sends all the others crashing down. It might not be rational to blame himself for a murder that someone else committed, but rationality isn't always his strong suit. ]