Okay, well. That sets his teeth on edge. That is something familiar that grates up his spine and along down to the wiring replacing nerves in his right hand. Conjures up imagery of other twisted smiles. Trapped behind glass. Mocking. Panic flooding every inch of him until he couldn't think clearly and --
No.
That face is gone. Dead. It won't be coming back.
He has to stop. Focus. There's sun and grass. There are birds (or bird aliens) singing. Flowers. This isn't the Castle. He's not trying to interrogate a tube, an old enemy he couldn't remember. Sendak is dead. Gone.
He feels cold when he pulls himself back. Staring across the space to where the presumed child is still. Now he knows why it felt like something was passing under their words -- because it was. But... why? Why would a kid remind him so strongly of ... ?
"Something you want to share with the class?"
Dry and quick. Like he never lost control for a moment. Like he never slipped at all.
no subject
No.
That face is gone. Dead. It won't be coming back.
He has to stop. Focus. There's sun and grass. There are birds (or bird aliens) singing. Flowers. This isn't the Castle. He's not trying to interrogate a tube, an old enemy he couldn't remember. Sendak is dead. Gone.
He feels cold when he pulls himself back. Staring across the space to where the presumed child is still. Now he knows why it felt like something was passing under their words -- because it was. But... why? Why would a kid remind him so strongly of ... ?
"Something you want to share with the class?"
Dry and quick. Like he never lost control for a moment. Like he never slipped at all.