A string of musical language leaves River's mouth in shock when she's touched, followed quickly by: "Gods of my mothers Erik you're fucking cold - gimmie -" before she takes his hands in her too-warm ones and squeezes them together, tight. And then she listens, her ears twitching, then drooping in guilt.

She nuzzles her nose into their joined hands.

"...We gotta talk," River murmurs. "I. Cut you pretty deep and then just fucked off. Realized it less than an hour after...but..." she sighs.

Hangs her head.

"...'m sorry, Erik. Sometimes I forget that you don't like being what you are. And that's. Cruel of me. To forget."