"You say that like it's some kind of miracle," Ned observes, "I don't think. you're that hard to stand." When Ginsberg misses his footing Ned reaches out automatically, though his support wasn't really necessary. It's a little moment, but it sets his heart to racing with fear.

"Please be careful," he murmurs, fervently, "Because that'd be just my luck, meet a great guy, buy him some drinks, invite him back to my place only to have him slip and fall and break his neck on the way up the stairs."

Ned visibly shudders, thinking of that, because it isn't much of a stretch to imagine. He knows that misfortune seems to follow him like an evil cloud, and he'd hate for it to impact Ginsberg.