Ben opens his mouth to respond, but whatever he was planning on saying dies on his lips as Merritt's magic rattles through him. While he reaches up to press his fingers between his eyes, briefly, however, it seems to have no effect beyond that. The projections pull Merritt's arms behind him, holding him in place; the scene around them remains untouched.

When he drops his hand, he manages, "Yes, well." A beat. "Enjoy the fire." And another, though when he speaks this time, it's to address the projections. "Kill him."

Ben turns on a heel, that said, heading in the direction of where he indicated the bar might be, the crowd of tourists and hotel staff parting for him and then surging back into place as he passes. One of the projections with his hands still on Merritt, meanwhile, pulls a pen out of one of his pockets and lunges at Merritt with it.