A small smile ticks the corner of his mouth. "I-- You've become... rather important to me," he says, glancing up from his drink. "And despite it all, even if I never feel like I could agree with the Church again, there's something in religion that's still important to me."

Gabriel looks down again, but his smile lingers, at least. "I know all the harm it can do. I've read history, and I've seen zealots. My own mother, sometimes. But-- Blake saw beauty in it, somewhere. And I don't want to let go of that. So... thank you for not thinking it some silly exercise."

And even if Anthony did, he certainly hadn't said anything.