Alex notices, enough to call attention, and something inside Neil responds to that. He reaches to wipe away the sweat collecting on his forehead, an attempt to defuse the blunt of his ire.

"It's just dumb," he gives. The muscles on his jaw tense as he continues, "Pointless. A complete waste. If he wanted the Sierra Madre so damn much, he could have figured it all out himself. Oh--" Except. "--except that's impossible. If he couldn't stabilize a fucking bomb collar properly, he can't very well fucking figure out the rest."

His lower lip trembles once, before Neil sets his mouth into a tight line.