"Alright, alright. You and Anthony, bloody hens the pair of you." Even as he said that, even as he knew the truth that no one would say, he couldn't help but find it a little endearing how fussy Fell was being.

He was a little amused by Elliot's actions too.

"Alec Crowley." He took his hand with professionalism. "Call me Crowley. I'll still annoy the piss out of you more often than not and we won't be friends. But I respect you and that'll have to be enough."

It was better to lay all the cards on the table before anyone had a chance to hope and then be disappointed.