[That just gets a look that says 'you better'. Dickish as he might seem sometimes, he wields his perceived authority comfortably.]

Not really. It depends on the species. I find them better conversation partners than most humans, especially whales and dolphins, though of course things like microbes and coral polyps have very little individual sentience. [He reaches out casually to stroke his fingertips along one of the sharks' side.] You've never met a telepath?