He has no reason not to take the man's hand. Alex grasps it firmly, then, out of seemingly nowhere, makes a face. Almost-Paladin. "...Man, that sounds gross. Don't say it again. And tell him yourself," he shoots back. "He should be more himself in a couple of days."

And all of this only leads into what he was telling Neil downstairs, about not letting people take the fall. "Though I have a better plan for fixing this." Somewhat fixing this. (There's no fixing this.) "When is the next contingent coming through here? --Or, how long until you guys are missed?"