Ned considers that question, resting his cheek against the top of Ginsberg's head, trying to think how he'll answer. Eventually, he settles on the truth, "I have no idea. I wish I could tell you how I do it, but I don't know. Because I have to. Because I've had a lot of practice." But that doesn't really solve anything. Presumably, Ginsberg would like to be able to appear normal just as badly, and has had just as long to try. Then again, that fear of discovery is something he lives with, too. Though, he thinks, his fear of discovery is a shade different than Ginsberg's. Similar as their emotional troubles may be, Ned's never questioned his assumption that Ginsberg is, after all, a normal human being, without any inexplicable powers to hide.

He keeps holding Ginsberg, muses, "I've had a lot more practice seeming normal and happy than being either of them, if I'm honest. I always knew... being normal was never really an option, for me. And I was always pretty skeptical about being happy, too. So I guess I learned to fake it pretty well."