Alexi's smile becomes warm and a little fixed as he fights the sudden urge to laugh. However he manages a half bow and a murmured, “And you too. I pray you the best of days, given the circumstances.” As Joseph leads him out, closing the door carefully behind them, Alexi holds out as long as he can before pulling away and pressing a hand to the wall, doubling over to clutch at his stomach. It's a few tense moments before the sound of giggles can be heard bubbling up out of the eccentric billionaire and the hand on his stomach goes to his mouth as he tries desperately not to bust into full blown laughter bare yards from his door. He waves to Joseph, indicating that he's alright as he once more manages to stand up strait, his laughter subsiding, leaving in their wake a slightly teary eyed goofy grinning Alexi.

“Forgive me, Joseph, I just found it all so amusing. The sudden change, the happiness after all the gloom and doom, and. . .and. . . I just needed to laugh to try and batten down all this pain. . .” The joyful tears in his eyes turn to ones of sorrow and hurt as he covers his face. After Erik took he potion, a new thread formed and while it is small, and weak, it does a good job of breaking through the barrier Alexi had put around the emotions he received from the rebel leader. His free arm, the one not trying to hide his tears, goes across his stomach as a sudden wave of nausea races through him and it is all he can manage not to spill his guts all over the carpet. He folds, falling to his knees as his mental faculties go into overdrive to try and draw the emotions back, to keep them from taking over Alexi completely. Nothing in his life could have prepared Alexi for the feelings now flooding his system. [i]'I am so glad he only got good feelings from me. . .Even if they grow stronger, they will never hurt him like this. . .'[/i]