[ Follow Matt does. He seems to have a sixth sense for moving in step with other people, matching strides and turns without coming too close for comfort. He grimaces in sympathy at Astarion's answer, both for surprise party and for the allusion to being outed. ]

I made some connections, [ Matt allows. A soft sigh. ] I'm sorry they did that. I'm a little more open these days, but I still wouldn't want the Balfours to throw some, like, "Witching Hour Wednesday" party.

[ By way of demonstration, Matt lifts his hand palm-up. He sucks in a breath, a line of ancient prayer shimmering across his mind. And a bouquet of colored light springs up over his outstretched fingers, petaling sparks dancing in midair. ]

If they'd done it right when I first got here, [ he concludes, slightly breathless--a spell like this doesn't take much, just a bit of the air from his lungs, ] I don't know what I would've done. Barricaded myself in my room, probably.