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A long boring process, my sweet.

[ Petyr opts for a non-answer initially. He is well aware that he needs to be cautious around Sansa only because of her ties to Jon and Jon's ties to Lucy. He would not want Lucy to take his ideas and turn them into her own. She had lost his council the moment she decided to kill his bird.

But he does respect Sansa and because too many people in her own family have chosen to leave her in the dark, he can afford to give her a bit more insight into his own plans -- only because he hopes to establish a channel of trust between them. ]

But I've said from the beginning, to change the nature of crime, you cannot simply punish the criminals. You have to find the root cause. And I believe the lack of education speaks for itself. So, it is my primary focus to improve all things meant to enrich minds and better the younger generation so that they may grow up to not make the same mistakes of their parents. Crime pays well. But intelligence...

[ Petyr points to his own forehead. ]

That pays far better.

Then I would share it with you because that would be the only fair thing to do.

[ Sansa would believe that Kara could beat just about anyone that came up against her and not just because she had seen a hint of the other woman's skills. ]

I haven't tried pizzas or nachos yet but I would love to go bowling with you. What should I wear?

[ Sansa gives him a quiet look because it isn't that hard to guess why he is being cautious in revealing his plans to her. She knows that it's not just because he is a cautious man but also because he worries about her ties to Jon which is almost amusing since Jon worries about the same in reverse.

She is patient in waiting, though, because she has learned the need to be. Folding her hands in her laps, she waits until he speaks again and starts to nod when he reveals what she figures is the safest part for him to reveal. Considering all that she has seen him accomplish since her arrival, she figures this is all public knowledge or could be. ]

That explains the library. [ She smiles softly. ] Which I did explore a little when it first opened. It's a wonderful place, Petyr.

[ Yes, she used his first name without prodding. ]

What about the schools?

[ The surprising but familiar voice on the other end of the call sends a jolt through Sansa, so much so that she nearly drops the little device when it first registers who she is talking to. Tightening her hold, she turns to look out the window of her room as though she expects to see Margaery standing nearby. ]

Margaery. [ She finds it difficult to breathe in that moment, seized by a strange sense of guilt for abandoning the woman who had wanted her as a sister at one time. ] No, not dead or stolen by...

No, I'm fine. [ She continues after a brief pause. ] Where are you? When did you arrive?

Then it'd be only fair to go shopping and then out to eat together, too. The more I think about this, the more fun it sounds.

( Kara would happily act as Sansa's champion for free, truth be told. It's the least she can do for a friend. Aside from splitting the prize with her. )

You will! Hopefully you're okay with finger food. Ummm. Probably jeans and a shirt? But anything would look great.

( Better than what she'll wear, no doubt! Cat Grant called her wardrobe strip mall chic once. And now for some reason thinking about that really just makes her want to go shopping. )

It's almost a shame that this can't happen.

[ She smiles again before replying to the next part of the text. ]

I haven't bought jeans yet but maybe I will. Hopefully, I don't look too strange in them.

[ Sansa wouldn't understand what strip mall chic is but she thinks that Kara always looks nice whenever she sees her. ]

Never say never! If it does, my part of the prize money goes toward dinner.

( Because she can race someone here, or wrestle. She's actually done some cage fighting before while shutting down an alien fight club.

And she grins, wondering if maybe she can't make that happen somehow. More tamely, maybe. )

You should! They're really comfortable. And you'd look really pretty in them.

If it does, I'll be there right away to sign you up. Just so you know.

[ Maybe she would have to run the idea by Jon. ]

Thank you, Kara. I'll see if I can find a pair tomorrow. Is it okay to send you pictures?

Go ahead! That'd give you the chance to give me a good luck charm. I don't know what, but that's the custom, isn't it? I THINK.

( She might be wrong, but if not? It'd be her pleasure to carry a favour into a fight. The deeper meaning of such a thing is lost on her, bless her. )

You're welcome! Honestly, you're pretty no matter what you wear. And yes, of course. :D I think I need to go shopping, too.

You mean a favor?

[ She chuckles to herself, wondering if she should explain the meaning behind the favor but, ultimately, decides against it. ]

Thank you, Kara, but you are far lovelier than I am. I'm looking forward to seeing what you bought. On Friday, right?

Oh, right. That's what it's called! I think so.

( Continuing to be oblivious to its meaning, she continues: )

Nononono I don't think that's possible. Really. Oh! Thank you, though. I can send pictures too to model since you're doing the same, and yes. Friday after work. :D

[ Maybe she will take mercy on Kara later on and explain the whole thing but it makes her giggle a little right now. ]

Trust me, it is. I look forward to seeing the pictures and to seeing you Friday.

( She should! Kara would be so flustered to have unintentionally inferred what she has.

Whoops. )

Well I do trust you. Okay, okay! We'll both look pretty. Same. :D I'm excited! See you Friday, Sansa.

A shame I missed you, then.

[ He had been so busy, but not necessarily with people he had wanted to spend time with. He had prepared for Sansa's presence there, of course. Most especially with lemon cakes. ]

I am glad you liked it. You will not find a better library in any of the other porter cities.

[ His words are as much bragging as they are honest. Petyr made sure to secure as much information in the building as possible. ]

For the schools it's hard to say. What I know for certain is that more money in the budget needs to be directed toward funding them. And we should have an option for furthering education. A community college of sorts. But I digress. This is all rather boring conversation.

[ And he most certainly didn't want to discuss public education on his date with Sansa. ]

The reason we're here is for more personal reasons.

[ A waiter brings in a bunch of appetizers of a wide variety for them to pick at for now, dropping a bottle of wine at the table before departing. And Petyr opens it, pouring a glass for Sansa before pouring one for himself. ]

The reason I know first hand about flying is that one of my abilities allows for me to transform into a mockingbird. It's been incredibly useful when it comes to escaping danger, I will confess.

I knew that you would be busy with everything going on but I still wanted to see what you had accomplished with my own two eyes.

[ It was true, she hadn't expected to see him but she had noticed one thing. ]

I did find the lemon cakes, though. Thank you for that.

[ She falls quiet again as he speaks, hearing the pride that most would take as bragging. She gives a little nod when he answers her question about education but he switches the topic before she can linger.

She takes notice of the waiter then, tracking his movements out of the corner of her eye until he reaches their table and sets down the appetizers in front of them. She continues to sit back, still waiting until she is alone with Baelish again and only then does she lean forward to look at the food.

Pausing in the middle of taking something, she looks up. ]

Really? That is definitely useful and less obvious than just sprouting wings out of your back. [ She sits back. ] And useful for spying, I'm sure.

[ Petyr plucks up a few of the appetizers himself, picking at it slowly. He's always been one to savor his food. A habit he adopted from childhood when they had little. He would try to make his meager portions last as long as he could. And his slower eating had led to him never being able to finish a full plate of food at the Tully's -- much to Edmure's furthered teasing. But Petyr also takes his time in answering Sansa, shaking his head. ]

It's too dangerous to take the form of a bird to spy. There are predators to account for. But also some have taken to hunting mockingbirds for sport. Lucy and your brother have killed a number of my birds.

[ And Petyr seems to be affronted by it. Men could die, and he wouldn't bat an eye. But to kill his birds was cruel and unnecessary. ]

But truth be told, the easiest means of spying is the very communicator we have been given upon arrival. People do not tend to take the necessary precautions they should when speaking on it.

[ Sansa could understand the wariness to spy as a bird when he mentions predators that would serve as a threat to him and his life but then she frowns. ]

They have done what?

[ She can understand wanting to take steps to protect oneself against being spied on but she wasn't sure she could feel comfortable with the idea of killing a bird like that. Giving an inward sigh, she wonders if she can get answers from Jon later without giving away where she was tonight. ]

I didn't know. I must have missed any mention of it.

[ Reaching for her wine, she hums with a little nod. The tip of her tongue peeks out as she wets her lips before taking a small sip from the glass, her eyes flickering up to him again. ]

I can see that, which is why I avoided using the devices as much as I could at first and why I learned to set it to private when I wish to talk to someone without others listening in. I still have the phone you gave me as well but you're the only one who knows about it.

I can speak to mockingbirds. Lucy knew of this. I gifted her one and told her that were she in trouble, it would find me. It had even helped me to save her when she had been kidnapped. As soon as Jon and Lucy joined forces, not much longer afterward, she shot my gift to her with an arrow as well as killed any others in her sight. One did escape and told me of this. Others have been found dead near your home as well.

[ Petyr cuts into a small piece of stuffed cabbage, chewing slowly with a frown. ]

They are my eyes and ears, of course. But they also serve as a means of protection. Jon cannot protect you and your family from everything, Sansa. The fact that you are here with me now means you know this deep down, and you are building your own safety net.

[ When he looks at Sansa, it's with a sort of pride. A proud father and mentor. Which, at times, he is. Other times, those lines got a bit blurred with desire. But above all, Sansa had been Petyr's protege. She learned and is still learning from him. And the same mistakes of Westeros would not be made here. ]

Which is why I'm glad to hear you've kept our phone a secret. It may someday be vital in you and yours escaping a threat.

[ It surprises Sansa to hear what Lucy had done because she would have never imagined the other woman being capable of such a thing but she reminds herself that she really hadn't known Lucy all that well. That and she knows that people are not always what they appear to be.

Sipping her wine, she tries not to be further troubled by the voice in her head that whispers about Jon being the one to kill the birds. There is a good chance that it had been him if someone was, in fact, responsible for killing the mockingbirds.

Lowering her glass back to the table, she leans forward to move a couple of appetizers to her plate while he points out the fact that she is there because her family can't protect her. But, truth be told, he can't protect her from everything either. She needs to be ready to be on her own but she doesn't see a reason why she can't use all the resources available to her when they are, in fact, available.

Focusing on him again, she can see the pride on his face and smiles a touch in response. Yes, there are times when the lines blur but there is a lot that he can teach her. There is a lot that he already has. ]

That and I'm sure it brings you some relief to know that I haven't revealed it to others. Especially with my parents now being here.

[ Because she knows that he had to have been worried about where they stood with each other now that both Catelyn and Ned Stark were alive in the same world as them again. ]

[ It is Sansa, then. The reply confirms it. ]

Thank the gods. [ said more out of habit than faith in any of the Seven, who forsook her so easily. ]

I arrived only a few days ago. [ only, though it feels longer. ] And was placed in Maurtia Falls.

[ Petyr keeps his expression carefully controlled as Sansa speaks, trying not to betray his own displeasure at the appearance of Ned. Why did the porter keep dragging in these Starks? It could have simply left well enough alone with only Sansa and Catelyn. But Petyr dissects a chicken wing carefully with a knife and fork, bringing a piece into his mouth. ]

I had no doubt that I could trust you in that.

[ He offers her a faint smile, reaching out for his glass of wine. ]

But it's been going well at home? Since you've been reunited with most of your family?

[ Knowing as he does, it is far too easy to figure out that he isn't pleased by the appearance of her father. She knows he is pleased to have her mother in the world with them but she doesn't think too much about why. Perhaps because she doesn't like to think about how he might compare the two of them. ]

Did you? [ She asks plainly, tilting her head. ] You weren't worried even a little bit?

[ She lowers her gaze when he asks about how things are going at home. She could tell him about the joy she feels at having her family back because she does feel that way. There is a warmth and safety that she feels when they are around but the troubling part is that it's a fleeting feeling. That, as soon as she is gone from their company, she is reminded that the time they have here is fleeting and that she is actually alone back home.

She wonders too how to explain that she isn't the same girl that her family knew. That there are so many secrets that she has now, so many things that she is keeping from them, that she doesn't know how to connect with them in the same way she used to before.

Instead, she nods. ]

It's a bit strange having so many people in such a small space. Not that the farm is actually small but it's not made for that many people. But it's nice to have them back.

I know you would rather not answer the questions that may come about the nature of our relationship. I know you would rather not tell your family what happens after they have passed on. And telling them you are in contact with me may very well force you into such a position.

[ Which was to say that no. Petyr was not worried. Not even a little bit that Sansa would talk about the burner phone. There were things that Sansa knew were better not to be told. And Petyr had faith in her wanting to focus on building a new relationship with her family while not dwelling on the past. Dragging Westerosi conflicts to this world does no one any favors. ]

I can imagine it would be quite cramped. You're a woman grown, and you still have to share a room with your sister?

[ Maybe he's guessing. Maybe he has a way of knowing that for certain. Either way, he can imagine that it must drive her the tiniest bit mad to not have a space to herself. ]

It would cause them pain to know, so there is no need for them to ever find out. [ But she did worry they would find out something from Jon or the Lannisters who were around. ] I suspect they will find out that we are in contact with each other but that does bring up a good question. What would you suggest I tell them if they ever ask?

[ There was a part of that was curious about what he wanted her family to know, especially her mother. She knew how he felt about Catelyn Stark, after all. He had told her his feelings before declaring her to be more beautiful than her mother and sealing the declaration with a kiss. Of course, that had all taken place when her mother had been dead and now... ]

No, we each have our own room. We're not children anymore and the nights are not so cold here that we need to share warmth.

[ But, yes, the house could be cramped at times. ]

[ Sansa doesn't say anything about the gods but she does breathe a sigh of relief over the fact that Margaery sounds relieved as well. ]

I am in De Chima but I can come to you if you want?

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apologies, it's been a horribly busy week!