"Not a bad thing to do," Bel admitted. "Happy to help. Or at least happy to tell you when I won't personally participate and when I will. Or when I need some time to consider if I'm up for something."

And, well, Bel at least could see the shape of it: when you weren't in power, safety was in never letting the mask drop ever. It was a known survival strategy for a male drow: be so convincing that you didn't have a thought in your head besides for pleasing whatever woman taking an interest in you, and other people might forget that you had the same guile as your brothers who preferred the blade.

"Maybe a little," Bel finally said. "I don't like giving pain to people, I know that, but I think I can manage something that would feel interesting rather than painful."