[snapshot--crisis point]

[le_desirous]

At first glance, he appears to be sleeping beautifully soundly, the rise and fall of his chest even. Mildly closer inspection reveals at once that he is in fact passed out. His drinking has been such lately that he's actually run out of palinka, and the empty bottle half-hidden by his hand is chartreuse. To judge by the strong smell and the dampness of his beard and pillow, he's managed to spill a great deal, and there's no glass; he appears to have given up all pretense of drinking by moderates.

He hasn't worn his sword in weeks--it's abandoned on the chair by the bed, as much an indication of the trouble as the bottle is.