[It certainly does kill the cat, or potentially humbles the wizard— he's no stranger to those kinds of consequences, and yet that still doesn't seem to hinder his inquisitive nature in the least.

He slows his pace, coming to a stop to turn towards Astarion in full and gently grabbing his upper arm to command his attention.]

Now, I'll hear none of that.

[His expression is uncharacteristically stern, a face he doesn't pull all too often.]

You're a great deal more than that, and I should hope that by now, you might have started to believe as much.

[Flippant or otherwise, Gale knows when certain comments ought to be addressed.]