Affection proves doubly effective here as Neil shivers at the gesture, his nerves humming at one pleasant aspect in a sea of misery. It moves through him before eventually passing, leaving behind a lack and the recent memory of dreams. Of punga-ridden hallucinations. Alex asks if Neil would like to be put under or stay awake, and Neil thinks that if the other man just knew about the nature of his sleep as of late that he wouldn't ask such an obvious question.

Only, there is something missing. "Kicking through what?" questions Neil.