"I do my best in some things, but I think our ideas of what's important might differ." Honestly one of the most important things in life to Aleksei were his friends, and making sure the people around him were having a good time. Any woes could be cured with a bit of good ol' fashioned entertainment. And that was his goal in life - to make people feel wanted, and that they were having a good time. He hated when first years came to the school, because a lot of them were always so miserable. It made him sad. He laughed, she looked like she didn't believe him at all about the swearing. "Oh, yes. My family swore a lot. And they all could pose as nice fine southern gentlemen."
He'd have to agree with her now, nodding his head. "Nope, for most everything I'm assuming there is no winning a bet with you. Someday, though. I might figure something out." He grinned at her, giving her kind of a suspicious glance like he was sizing her up, maybe. Seeing what she was made of. "But research, don't know if I can beat that." Because school, ew.
There was another laugh before Aleksei attempted to fake looking scared of her, like she was mind-tricking him in to things. For a moment it looked like he would agree to studying, but then he broke out into a fit of laughter and shook his head. "You're a comedian, Layla. Studying. Ha."