[Oh yes, giving Tiger that stare-down was indeed a mistake; but not for the reason Steven might suspect. Bill eagerly meets bold child's gaze but the second their eyes truly lock he finds himself staring down... a different pair.]
[*** Just as young. Possibly wider. Horrified, determined, and oh- so-full of self doubt. Bill knows them well. He thinks they can be filled with more of that.
"YOU THINK, YOU CAN STOP ME? GO AHEAD, PINETREE, SHOW ME WHAT YOU'VE GOT!"
His perception is all scewed. The kid is barely an ant compared to the way Bill towers over him; nothing but a speck of dust compared to his own magnificence. He's stammering unintelligibly and Bill can't even muster up the sense to feel threatened by it. He has to break this child's spirit. Break it now before there is any chance of it rearing it's face again.
"'UM, I, UM!' DO IT, KID! DO SOME BRILLIANT THING THAT TAKES ME DOWN, RIGHT NOW. WHAT DO YOU GOT, PINETREE?! EVERYONE'S WAITING!! DO IT!!!!!---"***]
[Several things happen at once; Tiger lunges into Bill's side, and that contact is enough to rudely shove the jazz player back to reality. Cipher grapples against the wall for balance, knocks his head hard against it-- but the dream is still going; and somehow it feels so much easier to just let gravity take him. The next thing Bill knows, he is on the floor, face to face with the roaring fireplace, the last vestiges of the dream playing in tandem with his current line of sight.]
***In a flash, the red book with a golden six fingered hand is consumed by the flames,
"THAT'S RIGHT- DON'T BE A HERO, KID. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO HEROES IN MY WORLD."***]
Bill glances to find Tiger and Molly nowhere in sight. With a groan he drives the knife into the floor and lowers his head. Shit.]
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[*** Just as young. Possibly wider. Horrified, determined, and oh- so-full of self doubt. Bill knows them well. He thinks they can be filled with more of that.
"YOU THINK, YOU CAN STOP ME? GO AHEAD, PINETREE, SHOW ME WHAT YOU'VE GOT!"
His perception is all scewed. The kid is barely an ant compared to the way Bill towers over him; nothing but a speck of dust compared to his own magnificence. He's stammering unintelligibly and Bill can't even muster up the sense to feel threatened by it. He has to break this child's spirit. Break it now before there is any chance of it rearing it's face again.
"'UM, I, UM!' DO IT, KID! DO SOME BRILLIANT THING THAT TAKES ME DOWN, RIGHT NOW. WHAT DO YOU GOT, PINETREE?! EVERYONE'S WAITING!! DO IT!!!!!---"***]
[Several things happen at once; Tiger lunges into Bill's side, and that contact is enough to rudely shove the jazz player back to reality. Cipher grapples against the wall for balance, knocks his head hard against it-- but the dream is still going; and somehow it feels so much easier to just let gravity take him. The next thing Bill knows, he is on the floor, face to face with the roaring fireplace, the last vestiges of the dream playing in tandem with his current line of sight.]
***In a flash, the red book with a golden six fingered hand is consumed by the flames,
"THAT'S RIGHT- DON'T BE A HERO, KID. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO HEROES IN MY WORLD."***]
Bill glances to find Tiger and Molly nowhere in sight. With a groan he drives the knife into the floor and lowers his head. Shit.]