The feeling of her fingertips against his palms, light as it was, sent little shivers down his spine. He glanced up at her as she talked, but Zelda wasn't looking at him, only at his hands. A part of him wished that she would look at him while she was, in essence, giving him the details of his death sentence — but a different part of him was glad she was just looking at his hands. If they were both looking at each other the tension and emotion that was lingering in the air might become too palpable to ignore. He'd probably end up looking away, rather than addressing it, which would make him the coward here.

"How long would it take to 'activate'?" he asked softly, glancing back down at his hands. Would it be better or worse if it was a long lead time? On the one hand, he'd be able to take notice and do something to tidy up his affairs, or say goodbye. On the other hand, that would mean that he'd know — for hours, or maybe days, he'd have this knowledge lingering above him, and he'd be able to keep looking down at his hand and checking the curse's progress, dreading the inevitable completion. "Is it — do you think there would be warning?"