...Sensate enough to scream in shock and surprise and of course pain despite the two pain suppressing amulets he's wearing is apparently doable.

No not that sensate less than that -

He's back to flopping on the ground, breathing hard, crying. He says something garbled.

"We do not have fine control!"

...shit.

Okay she has to make this choice, she knows it gets worse later, she hugs him and whispers, "Okay, how long can you keep it up?"

"I don't know. We've never attempted to hold someone under this long before. But we already are straining."

"How long will you need to rest, and how long will you then be able to hold?"

"-Perhaps five hours rest for an hour and a half more effect. Traded off."

"Oh my gods—would ten hours rest do three hours—?"

"Most likely. We maintained it for many hours at first, and the accumulated strain is what forces us to stop."

"...can you rest now for long enough to cover the end of his transformation?"

"I believe so."

"Okay. Please do."

"We're sorry. You were promised more."

"You'll do what you can do, I can't ask for more."

Oh, here it is again. "Gaaaaah put it baaaack -how long -"

"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry—a few hours—they needed rest, but they'll come back before the end so they keep the worst off—but look you're already getting better and it's working—"

"You - were - right. Unimaginable."

"I'm so sorry my love—I swear it's worth it, you'll see, it'll be so good, I'm sorry—" She holds him tight—she can, now, he can take it, and it's not like the venom won't just fix him if she breaks something.

He chose this hell, the pain, he chose it. Remember that. Remember- 

What was he trying to remember? The utter confusion of the shadows from before? Impossible. Too much pain. Eyes boiling. Jaw roasting. Belly like a volcano's pit. Arm-

Arm, he should have two arms, one feels like it just - oh.

"Sadde. Arm. Can't - augh - feel my arm. Do the other one."

"Can't—oh—"

There's a snap and he can't feel anything from the neck down anymore.

"Oh... Still so much. But. Almost tolerable now... Distract me?"

"Okay. Should we talk about computers? We could talk about computers—" She starts talking about computers.

He listens and manages to - very occasionally - comment and ask questions. Mostly he listens.

She will be as distracting as she superhumanly can, she will focus every ounce of energy and brainpower on this.

He's very distracted. It's just that the burning is moreso.