13.Oct.18, 09:20 PM
The example D’hys gave of the bronzerider was much too specific to be anything but true, and F'drel delicately raised an eyebrow at the description. Bronzeriders really were rather like lords, weren’t they, having secret male lovers on the side. Not that this was news to F’drel, just further proof of what his instincts told him. If he found that sort of tidbit, F’drel had no issue passing it along if it could be used to blackmail the bronzerider in question or something along those lines.
Of the other, less specific examples, fighting was easy to hear about, and not that interesting to him, so F’drel had no issue passing that info along. 'Stepping out of line with liberties' sounded a lot like 'taking advantage of people’ which was what he kept an eye out for anyway, so no extra effort there. He was perfectly happy to talk about people not liking leadership too, though he did get the impression D'hys would happily give the information to both other dissenters and the leadership itself, depending on what the bluerider felt served him better. He had a very self-serving vibe about him. Which meant F’drel might not give him something if he felt the information could too easily be abused, but some things? Sure, why not.
And what he got in return sounded absolutely worth it. It meant he was somewhat less likely to have men trying to get in his pants or harassing him, and F’drel wasn’t going to say no to that. Made his life at least a little less awful, in theory. The way D’hys spoke, too, made F’drel think it wasn’t just bluster either, that he actually had a decent chance of providing the protection he offered. Interesting. Was that what knowing everyone’s secrets got you? A level of power not related to what your social standing otherwise was? Because there was no reason D’hys as a bluerider should be able to get a brownrider or maybe even a bronzerider to leave some random greendrider alone. Yet it sounded like he could and while F’drel couldn’t say the man was easy to read, he seemed at least like he believed what he said. And D’hys didn’t strike him as someone who talked big without knowing he could back it up. Again, interesting.
Which of course meant it was very complicated too, and would probably be better to not have anything to do with the man at all. Too fucking late for that, F’drel thought grimly. He didn’t think D’hys would just let him walk away, even if he had agreed to letting F’drel deny him sometimes. Not the same thing at all, and everything F’drel knew about D’hys said the bluerider was used to getting his way. Fucking blueriders. Why did Miri have to have a thing for blues with dangerous riders? F’drel could very much do without it.
Still, the chance of additional safety was very, very tempting, as was the offer of information. Whether D’hys could protect him or not, an easy way to get information definitely could help F’drel stay out of dangerous situations more often than not. And he’d get it for really very little on his part. He listened carefully anyway, so it’s not like he’d have to change how he did things beyond occasionally sharing what he learned. Yes, to F’drel’s great surprise he rather did like the proposition — he just wasn’t going to let D’hys know how easy a decision it was. Besides, he did have another question.
“When you say anything that might concern me,” F’drel started, watching for any signs D’hys might be lying to him at any point, “I imagine that includes information about me. Do I get to hear that first, and do I have any ability to keep you from sharing it, or is it fair game for anyone who offers you enough for it?” He didn’t think ‘protecting’ him included his reputation in any way, but fuck it, F’drel was a private person, and he hated people looking at him like he was nothing. Being a greenrider got him enough of that from some people, details of his past would only make it worse. If someone paid enough for it, F’drel figured there wasn’t much information D’hys wouldn’t share. Except about himself, probably, but that was to be expected. That was self preservation, not morals or giving a shit about other people. Not that the answer being ‘your life details are forfeit’ would keep him from agreeing to the arrangement, but he wanted to know where they stood on the matter. And if he could do something to protect his privacy, F’drel at least wanted to know he had the option, even if it ultimately wasn’t worth it.
Of the other, less specific examples, fighting was easy to hear about, and not that interesting to him, so F’drel had no issue passing that info along. 'Stepping out of line with liberties' sounded a lot like 'taking advantage of people’ which was what he kept an eye out for anyway, so no extra effort there. He was perfectly happy to talk about people not liking leadership too, though he did get the impression D'hys would happily give the information to both other dissenters and the leadership itself, depending on what the bluerider felt served him better. He had a very self-serving vibe about him. Which meant F’drel might not give him something if he felt the information could too easily be abused, but some things? Sure, why not.
And what he got in return sounded absolutely worth it. It meant he was somewhat less likely to have men trying to get in his pants or harassing him, and F’drel wasn’t going to say no to that. Made his life at least a little less awful, in theory. The way D’hys spoke, too, made F’drel think it wasn’t just bluster either, that he actually had a decent chance of providing the protection he offered. Interesting. Was that what knowing everyone’s secrets got you? A level of power not related to what your social standing otherwise was? Because there was no reason D’hys as a bluerider should be able to get a brownrider or maybe even a bronzerider to leave some random greendrider alone. Yet it sounded like he could and while F’drel couldn’t say the man was easy to read, he seemed at least like he believed what he said. And D’hys didn’t strike him as someone who talked big without knowing he could back it up. Again, interesting.
Which of course meant it was very complicated too, and would probably be better to not have anything to do with the man at all. Too fucking late for that, F’drel thought grimly. He didn’t think D’hys would just let him walk away, even if he had agreed to letting F’drel deny him sometimes. Not the same thing at all, and everything F’drel knew about D’hys said the bluerider was used to getting his way. Fucking blueriders. Why did Miri have to have a thing for blues with dangerous riders? F’drel could very much do without it.
Still, the chance of additional safety was very, very tempting, as was the offer of information. Whether D’hys could protect him or not, an easy way to get information definitely could help F’drel stay out of dangerous situations more often than not. And he’d get it for really very little on his part. He listened carefully anyway, so it’s not like he’d have to change how he did things beyond occasionally sharing what he learned. Yes, to F’drel’s great surprise he rather did like the proposition — he just wasn’t going to let D’hys know how easy a decision it was. Besides, he did have another question.
“When you say anything that might concern me,” F’drel started, watching for any signs D’hys might be lying to him at any point, “I imagine that includes information about me. Do I get to hear that first, and do I have any ability to keep you from sharing it, or is it fair game for anyone who offers you enough for it?” He didn’t think ‘protecting’ him included his reputation in any way, but fuck it, F’drel was a private person, and he hated people looking at him like he was nothing. Being a greenrider got him enough of that from some people, details of his past would only make it worse. If someone paid enough for it, F’drel figured there wasn’t much information D’hys wouldn’t share. Except about himself, probably, but that was to be expected. That was self preservation, not morals or giving a shit about other people. Not that the answer being ‘your life details are forfeit’ would keep him from agreeing to the arrangement, but he wanted to know where they stood on the matter. And if he could do something to protect his privacy, F’drel at least wanted to know he had the option, even if it ultimately wasn’t worth it.