"I remember those days," Balthier says with real sympathy. "I don't recall if I told you -- I ran away when I was sixteen. I had to change my name and give up my family connection for safety. I was powerless in society and out of it. Much prefer possessing things. If we were on my world I could offer you forgery of papers, but alas, I'm not much use with that here yet."

To the latter, he stops and considers thoughtfully. "I'm not remotely abreast of what is normal behavior for metahumans or their equivalents." He hates the word superhero and will avoid it. "But I'm familiar enough with systems of power and the benefits and dangers of them. They are all corrupt, in the end, but order has value, as does resource access. That said, I'm not holding my breath that there isn't something unsavory happening with the guilds, and I have no qualms jumping or sinking ship if it comes to that." Which he isn't being extremely open with, in general, but David knows that about him, and Bart is close to David.