Like a drug, like a habit, Albedo watched as his twin came in, as fine as could be, and soon after started interacting with another at his table. This was a kind of torture in and of itself. He couldn't sit through this for another shift. He needed something--

A faint tingling brushed his mental shields, and his eyes scanned the room. There. Another brother, looking all too worse for the wear. Albedo watched for a moment, the faint buzz of pleasure at seeing Nigredo so... off not as strong as he would have liked. Again, a stranger's brief kindness had shifted his mind, and he wondered about Nigredo. He wondered if the other had ever cared.

Here was his dilemma. Two brothers, one a twin, and all three supposed to be as close as close could be. Instead this ate away at them, deteriorated them from the inside, and Albedo didn't know if he wanted to let it. He didn't know if he wanted to force it faster.

He glanced at the nurse close-by, and stood up.

[to here]