[When he gets close to the eyecaps, Atem's expression doesn't change -- it's just a set jaw and pressed lips -- but the hand in Ryou's tenses, grips harder.
He wants to blink, so much. He wants to close his eyes, but he can't. Instead, Atem keeps pulling. He grips Ryou's hand tight, and he feels the cloudy scales separate from his eyes, lifting up and away, without pulling either eye from his socket, and with one more pull, Atem brings the whole layer of skin up over his forehead and squeezes his eyes shut for a long moment. He's breathing quietly, but quick, and he lets go of Ryou's hand to drag his own down over his face, over the new skin, so sensitive it feels raw. All his snakes are huddled with one another, pulled in tight to his scalp, and Atem breathes out a long, slow sigh.]
I'm never being a snake for more than a month again.
eyeeeeeee stufffffff
He wants to blink, so much. He wants to close his eyes, but he can't. Instead, Atem keeps pulling. He grips Ryou's hand tight, and he feels the cloudy scales separate from his eyes, lifting up and away, without pulling either eye from his socket, and with one more pull, Atem brings the whole layer of skin up over his forehead and squeezes his eyes shut for a long moment. He's breathing quietly, but quick, and he lets go of Ryou's hand to drag his own down over his face, over the new skin, so sensitive it feels raw. All his snakes are huddled with one another, pulled in tight to his scalp, and Atem breathes out a long, slow sigh.]
I'm never being a snake for more than a month again.