[ Astarion just manages to keep his expression from going sour, but it's a close thing. He's used to people tripping over themselves to impress him, and Astarion thought he had Gale on that same string, but it looks like Gale is only willing to take the bait if he's puffing about magical tomes.

He pretends to return his attention to the book in hand, responding crisply, ]

I suppose we'll leave your virtue intact for another day.

[ His smile's tighter as he pulls another book off the shelf at random, and then a third, examining their tables of contents. If he can't get Gale out of the room, he'll just have to slip him the wrong book to replace the rare one instead. ]

I should probably get back before too long, anyway. My date is likely on his third bottle and stumbling into the rose bushes as we speak.