People have tried to explain jokes to him. Varric made a valiant attempt in teaching him something called knock-knock jokes, but he never seemed to get the hang of it. Apparently, you're not just supposed to state facts in a deadpan voice. Apparently, that's not how you tell a joke.

"Knock knock."
"Who's there?"
"Cole."
"Cole who?"
"That's my name. Cole."

It's a work in progress.

"But Knights aren't immortal. Some of them tried, they defied nature. They were all twisted and wrong and red inside. But they fell like anyone else."

He slides some of the food over to Dave. Sharing is part of compassion.

"I...used to be a spirit, I think. I don't know what I am now."