Somehow, later, exhausted and dismayed by these sapping, abrasive, attriting episodes, they came to a sort of truce; but it was at the expense of any closeness.
In Iain M. Banks' "Excession," characters experience a range of challenging and exhausting interactions that drain their emotional and mental energy. These turbulent episodes leave them feeling disillusioned and distant from one another, highlighting the difficulties in maintaining relationships amidst conflict.
As a result of these trials, the characters eventually arrive at a fragile truce. However, this resolution comes with the cost of intimacy, as their bond is weakened, reflecting how unresolved tensions can impact connections between individuals.
