[ That, at least, has most of its intended effect. Miles has no way of telling that what he's seeing isn't real; his only saving grace is the thought that Bartimaeus can't possibly be that powerful here. Even Lucifer had had limits ...
Limits that he hadn't needed to exceed in order to hurt Miles very badly. Maybe that's not such a great thought after all.
Fear surges in Miles like a rising tide, but there's no spike of pain to match it; he is scared, oh yes, but not injured. And if it's just fear he can make it work for him. He lets the feeling buoy him up, rising with it like a boat caught by the tide.
What can he do? His eyes dart frantically between Bartimaeus and his surroundings. The civilians are the biggest problem; he can't let them get hurt. So despite his fear, Miles forces himself to lock eyes with Bartimaeus and take a step closer. Focus on him. ]
Sounds more like you're old and out of touch. You think a few fireworks are enough to scare me?
[ They totally are. Miles is trembling, faintly. ]
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Limits that he hadn't needed to exceed in order to hurt Miles very badly. Maybe that's not such a great thought after all.
Fear surges in Miles like a rising tide, but there's no spike of pain to match it; he is scared, oh yes, but not injured. And if it's just fear he can make it work for him. He lets the feeling buoy him up, rising with it like a boat caught by the tide.
What can he do? His eyes dart frantically between Bartimaeus and his surroundings. The civilians are the biggest problem; he can't let them get hurt. So despite his fear, Miles forces himself to lock eyes with Bartimaeus and take a step closer. Focus on him. ]
Sounds more like you're old and out of touch. You think a few fireworks are enough to scare me?
[ They totally are. Miles is trembling, faintly. ]