"The multiverse tends to alter things from universe to universe." And Alex paused at that name, then eyed the other man, and slowly nodded, eyes more guarded, but still not unfriendly.

"Well, that explains that. Just out of curiosity, in your universe, were you ever Max?" He held up a hand. "IN some universes, there is one who was, and in some, he, or you, were not." He chuckled. "This multiverse thing gets easier to deal with as time goes on."

For a moment he closed his eyes, and concentrated, and his image would seem to flicker, for a moment, revealing, just for a second, the form of he Alex that this Eric was used to. Then he was back to normal and opening his eyes.