Alexi leaned back a bit as Ysabel snapped at him, his hands coming up defensively.  "Well, I suspect a lot less happened than you believe, but if you want to think the worst of me, then go ahead.  That said, I'll make sure you're well and truly drowning before I reach for you again, to avoid confusion."  He shrugged, heading to the table, keeping an eye on the people around them, to make sure none of them produced firearms, or duct tape, or, even worse, umbrellas.<br/><br/>He took what was the last chair, settling into it with a simple poker face, but kept most of his gaze on Yazkov, when he wasn't planning for someone to toss a grenade on the table. "For a time, they did, but, as you know, Beria may be dead, but he still stalks the halls of Lubyanka.  Such talk fell off pretty quickly once you were dead."<br/><br/>After ordering his usual tea and toast- though this morning the toast might be a bit rough, he let his ear perk slightly at Yazkov's suggestion.  "For ourselves?  Just what do you mean, and how can we possibly be working just for ourselves, anyway?  What we do is commit crimes, after all."