Oh, there's definitely a part of R that wanted to try even with the muzzle on: he just has to keep it as far in the background as he can manage. Obviously he hadn't managed very well their last encounter.

"Part...of us," R says. He's making excuses for his fellow Dead again. "Our...drive. Sorry," he adds, realizing he's not exactly being tactful. He can't put into words just how powerful the new hunger is and even if he could, it doesn't make up for nearly ripping a chunk out of Bert.

R falls silent, aware that Bert has acquired this habit of glancing at him and then looking away, a subtle shift in his eyes that hadn't been there before. What does he say? Can he fix this? What does Bert hope to get out of a conversation with a Dead boy?