"One thing I noticed," Sulen says. At what point is the alcohol actually drunk? They don't mind exercising patience as part of a ritual, of course, but it's helpful to know the schedule ahead of time. A mental visualization of a timeline, one point ticking over to the next; that's the appeal of ritual, condensing the chaos of life into a straight line. Also, it's good alcohol, and they would like to drink it. "He is lonely. And desperate. I do not think getting him to talk more will be difficult."