[Gasping for breath, Atem forces his head up, his eyes open, to look at Ryou -- oh no, Ryou's upset, Atem has to get it together -- he gulps in a lungful, and tries to speak, but he just gets out--]

I'm not -- I'm not going to...snrk! H-haha...just because you...

[He remembers what set it off...annnd then he's lost again. A second set of vocal cords is involved now, there's a deeper, chestier undertone to the laughter, like a much larger beast hmhmhm-ing with its mouth closed. A very long name for a letter, indeed!]

--W! Mmweh heh--

[He squeezes Ryou's hand back, picking it up and pushing it back down on the bed like he's slapping a table in mirth, and the tip of his tail raises off the bed to do the same thing -- but unfortunately, it's still healing, too, so when it comes down on the bed, even though he's still laughing, Atem flinches.]

Hhh--ouch! Ha ha---ow.

[But it lets him breathe. Okay, okay. Ohhh his sides hurt. But the laughter's faded down to small aftershocks, now.]

Ah...ha ha...it's all right! I'm -- I don't -- I'm not sure what came over me. Haha.

[A sleep deprived giggle fit that's a little bit informed by weird supernatural bullshit, that's what.]