He can't really stop to wonder whether Ginsberg is right, whether he's doing the right thing in sticking to his guns and refusing to apologize for calling this man out. Ned wonders, with a kind of frantic irritation, how Ginsberg could be so stupid as to think it's as easy as that. Just making people listen. Ned knows that doesn't work, and he knows how this is going to turn out.
It's why he reacts so quickly, after the man launches himself at Ginsberg. Ned abhors confrontation, but once the punches start to fly, his hesitation vanishes in an instant. The man just has the chance to land one blow on Ginsberg's face (and Ned thinks, from the angle and amount of force, that's probably going to give him a nasty black eye).
Once that punch is thrown, but before there's time for any more, Ned interposes himself between the two of them. First, he simultaneously steadies and pushes back Ginsberg with a hand on his shoulder. Then, turning to face the stranger, he brandishes a warning finger, glad for once of the height that will let him tower a good half a foot over the other man.
"BACK off!" Odd to hear his voice raised and rough like that. He's unused to the sound. "Settle down, both of you, you're acting like children-" Which is as far as he gets before the man decides to punch at him, too. He's a quick puncher- Ned suspects somehow he's had a bit of practice at it- and the next thing he knows his face is throbbing with pain and there's blood pouring from his nose.
It is Ned's usual strategy not to fight back. To avoid conflict, and keep himself safe that way, keep the peace. But that is clearly not going to work in this situation, and he's had to fight too hard to get by on his own all these years not to know when to drop a failed strategy and move on to something that has a chance of working. He grabs a fistful of the man's shirt and spins, pins him against the glass display with an ominous crack. Unfortunately for Ned, this tableau is the one that greets the security guards who come rushing in at just that moment, so that he looks, by and large, to be the biggest threat of the three of them.
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It's why he reacts so quickly, after the man launches himself at Ginsberg. Ned abhors confrontation, but once the punches start to fly, his hesitation vanishes in an instant. The man just has the chance to land one blow on Ginsberg's face (and Ned thinks, from the angle and amount of force, that's probably going to give him a nasty black eye).
Once that punch is thrown, but before there's time for any more, Ned interposes himself between the two of them. First, he simultaneously steadies and pushes back Ginsberg with a hand on his shoulder. Then, turning to face the stranger, he brandishes a warning finger, glad for once of the height that will let him tower a good half a foot over the other man.
"BACK off!" Odd to hear his voice raised and rough like that. He's unused to the sound. "Settle down, both of you, you're acting like children-" Which is as far as he gets before the man decides to punch at him, too. He's a quick puncher- Ned suspects somehow he's had a bit of practice at it- and the next thing he knows his face is throbbing with pain and there's blood pouring from his nose.
It is Ned's usual strategy not to fight back. To avoid conflict, and keep himself safe that way, keep the peace. But that is clearly not going to work in this situation, and he's had to fight too hard to get by on his own all these years not to know when to drop a failed strategy and move on to something that has a chance of working. He grabs a fistful of the man's shirt and spins, pins him against the glass display with an ominous crack. Unfortunately for Ned, this tableau is the one that greets the security guards who come rushing in at just that moment, so that he looks, by and large, to be the biggest threat of the three of them.