“The misery and unpleasantry is a feature, not a bug,” Stephen says, unheeding as usual about dropping incomprehensible turns of phrase on Thedosians.

“Like, the whole process isn’t easy, which is part of the whole reason you’re not all lining up to do it. I’m keeping an eye on the situation. Him wanting to stop isn’t indicative of anything; but if his physical symptoms actually endanger him, and his health becomes at genuine risk, then we can reconsider.”

It’s a sternness, a flintiness, that Mobius doesn’t often get to experience from the doctor. For lack of anyone else around to do it, he has to put his foot down and hold their ground. (It’s not an enviable position.)