While Ben does recoil as if struck, the reality around him remains unwavering. He doesn't even seem terrible concerned that his control over this place might have slipped, instead reaching up to thumb at the split that's appeared in his lip, expression incredulous as he draws his hand away and finds it bloody. When he seems to get over his surprise, he looks towards Merritt without righting his head, still turned to one side as if Merritt had actually punched him, and from the corners of his eyes.

"Oh," he breathes. "Oh." A bark of a laugh follows, as humorless as Merritt's expression. "Well, then, Mister McKinney. I do hope you said goodbye to them, because the only person that's going to be a drooling idiot when we're done here is you, I'm afraid."

Behind Merritt, bars that weren't present before swing down across the doors, effectively locking them. As Ben gets to his feet, a security grill falls into place in front of that, for good measure.