Of all the preposterous things that Alaric could have heard, that is the most ridiculous, Ve? Even when Cohen, someone he values and respects as much as he does, says it, he is still not willing to believe it. Even when he has absolutely no other explanation, he still is not willing to entertain the idea.
Alaric waits for the punchline of Cohen’s terrible joke, he waits for the inevitable laugh out loud moment that he expects, but it doesn't come. As he studies Cohen, he only now notices that he has a sort of vague look about him as he stares at the glass panel. Alaric doesn't question further because it is so much of an impossibility in his mind.
He can only assume that Cohen either has no idea how to phrase a joke, or the seclusion has rotted his brain to some extent.
There is hardly
