Heart Stopping Mien: How exactly does it work?

I was wondering if anyone could clarify Heart-Stopping Mien:  There seem to be 3 possible interpretations of how it works.

 1) Anyone who attacks the Abyssal gets hit with the damage, period. 

2) Anyone who doesn't spend the willpower get hit with the damage.

3)The charm itself is instant, so it just works the one time.

Anyone know for sure?  Neph?

If you spend the willpower to stop it when it triggers, nothing happens from then on.

I don't know for sure, but I'd certainly be interested in an author-intent answer.  The most natural reading of the effect seems to be that anyone who hits the Abyssal takes the damage, but that also seems... extremely potent.

Yeah, I asked this a bit ago, and one of the writers said that if you spend the willpower, you avoid all the damage.

In a thread, or a PM?  Do you know which writer?

I'd love to get something I can point my GM towards.

Rather, it wasn't a writer, just a smart guy who made a strong case for it.  In the end I agree, even though I like me some abyssal broken charms.

Ah.  Well, nothing against Hats- I certainly respect his opinions on stuff- but that's a bit less useful as a writer-intent precedent.