[ Strange gives Alucard a wry little smile and a small shrug. ]

I'm afraid that unless the matter is magic, I'm a slow learner. [ But he doesn't want to let the seriousness hang in the air for too long. Strange's smile widens as he returns to teasing Alucard a little bit. ]

You should count yourself lucky! You've been spared the horror of meeting me at my most erratic and pugnacious. I might be a pain now, but I was much worse when I was younger.