[He looks caught somewhere between surprise and a laugh for a moment, settling for allowing his smile to pull to one side, amused.]

I almost think I'd have liked to see that, though I don't know that it would have been worth the consequences.

[Certainly a sight, however, and he can't say the dean doesn't deserve it, especially given some of the things he's heard. The dean is probably fortunate he hadn't lived up to his whispered reputation regarding certain inappropriate behavior in this case— Gale might not have been able to stop himself from doing something more than scolding.]

So you're saying that was the calm, relaxed Amelia Steinbeck? Well, that certainly offers some perspective. I— pardon, I should make sure this isn't anything urgent.

[He feels his phone vibrating where he had slipped it into his pocket upon her arrival, and shifts to pull it out so that he can see who's messaging him.

Almost immediately, he wishes he hadn't.

Ariel Manx
Gale, exactly WHAT did you say to Dr. Raphael? What's this I hear about threats?

It is the first of several messages. Those that follow aren't nearly as mild, and he furrows his brow, setting his phone on the bar face-down.]