[Ah, he's fucked it up. Keiichi, why'd you have to go and get weird?

His eyes trail back to Alec.]

Guess it's too much to hope for a shitty hallucination, huh? [He rolls his head, testing how his neck feels.] Thanks, though. I guess if I have such an easy time with my own throat, I probably won't hesitate with somebody else's. Musta been all those orphans I killed, or something.

[He shrugs, shooting a lopsided grin Alec's way, and a gentle nudge at his shoulder to return the physical contact. Which, wow, he really wonders what it says about him that the brief pat raised his mood so quickly.]

Sorry, I... don't actually care that much, I promise. Guess I just don't want the first cool guy I've met to think I'm some kinda weirdo who'd claw out his own throat for no good reason. [The smirk revitalizes back into that cocksure, mischievous grin that has so frequently adorned Keiichi's face, an old friend making a surprise visit that isn't actually a surprise at all.] And thanks again! I'll keep your expert medical advice in mind, Doctor King Alec.