There was some irony in the thought Signless had. If they'd been Avoxed together there would be a lesser distance than there is now. They could touch, communicate, even stay by one another, if only in their most private hours, when it was time to sleep. There'd be no jams in piles, no protecting one another, not sorting things out and making a calm, that'd be more touch than is able, but it'd be more than this. Funny, he still wouldn't want it. He wouldn't wish this of Signless. He's fairly certain such closeness would have them brought in for reconditioning anyway, over and over again.

Their position right now is a dangerous one. If there was one person in the entirety of the world right now how could pull him out, it would Kankri Vantas, his brother best. But what would that do? It would damn the Signless, set him up as being on an Avox's side. And for himself, reconditioning.

But he misses him. He misses his brother so bad. He misses everyone horribly when he's mustered the ability, but it's different with Signless, with a moirail, someone who can unwind all the twisted bits, smooth over the hurts, quiet the noise and the fear and everything. It's a need and it's the one thing the other avoxes can't relate to.

It's not just his side either. Being a moirail is a duty and devotion. He's failing that. And Avox cannot afford failure. He follows his brother's silent direction, moving over to the rack as well, taking the time to carefully neat each and every little thing he can for as long as he can.