Alexey leaned back a little bit, confused. Switching to his Russian accent- his original accent- he replied, "I greet you like this, and I grew up talking like this. For the sake of understanding-" Again, he switched accents back to a clear, understandable American one- "I learned how to talk without my birthplace accent. I've heard a great many stories about teachers and professors and students from Russia and Asia, with accents too thick to be understood easily."

He momentarily turned towards the bar, took a much larger drink, and waved for a refill. Leaning against it, Alexey glanced over at the Irish woman, before turning back to a refilled glass.

"See, I grew up in Russia. My mother is Russian, and my father's father is Russian, who married my British mother and moved back to the motherland. Mixed blood- mostly Russian. I'm told that I still look British, though." He waved his head vaguely in the direction of the nearest Barnes & Noble- the one he worked at. "I work at Barnes & Noble in the evenings, at a small classic restaurant in the mornings. Hence the attire."