[Gale's skin tingles as Astarion traces the lines down his chest, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end despite the heat of the bath. The orb pulses under his pale palm; it stays in rhythm with Gale's heartbeat, for now.]

A secret then, just for you. To make up for my knowledge of your singular wrinkle.

[His fingers linger at the edge of Astarion's jaw.]

Before we met Elminster on the road, before I was given Mystra's charm to keep the orb sated... I couldn't have had this, no matter how badly I wanted it. Any undue stress, aggravation, or even excitement would put me in a state like you saw earlier tonight. I had to keep my composure, lest I risk catastrophic destabilization.

[His eyes tighten with private remorse.]

I stayed far from cities and people not merely because I was a danger to them, but because they were, in turn, a danger to me.