[Atem knows what to look for. Even without the countdown, he knows how Ryou's heartbeat feels when it's calm, knows that he can't drink from Ryou so long that he can't support himself. So, between the moments when the heartbeat in both their chests slows and when Ryou will no longer be able to hold himself up...
...Atem stops.
He never wants to stop. But when he's feeding from a monster, it's not impossible to keep his mind, and Atem wants Ryou to stay alive, to not be weakened badly, more than he wants Ryou's blood, or even his heartbeat.
So, he pulls his teeth out of Ryou's neck as gently as he can, and holds him close and steady.]
no subject
...Atem stops.
He never wants to stop. But when he's feeding from a monster, it's not impossible to keep his mind, and Atem wants Ryou to stay alive, to not be weakened badly, more than he wants Ryou's blood, or even his heartbeat.
So, he pulls his teeth out of Ryou's neck as gently as he can, and holds him close and steady.]
Better?
[He asks, close by Ryou's jaw.]