Ah. Of course. I do fear my afternoons and weekends are largely booked.
[ He has to hit the campaign trail when most people aren't working, after all. There's a sound of him shuffling around to get his appointment book, flipping pages to see what he has going on. ]
Would an evening work just as well? I would hate to pencil you in to such a tightly scheduled slot and have to cut the discussion short prematurely.
Yes, I believe we could manage that without trouble. So far as I'm aware, we don't have any particular plans this week. Is there any evening you prefer?
[ An invitation shows up in Petyr's inbox at some point in early November... RSVP can be handwaved, and don't worry, the log will go up in advance of actual Thanksgiving! ]
Thank you kindly for your invitation. It would be my honor to attend, and I shall bring Haen Hithiel as my plus one. Neither of us have any dietary restrictions.
I look forward to spending this Day of Thanks with the both of you.
( Gwen has literally not taken a single day off since she started working for him. )
Sorry about vanishing- I'm going to reschedule my meetings and work from home, let me know if you need me to come in urgently for anything or if there's anything else you need me to do that's not already in my diary. This whole whatever the fuck is happening now has kind of hit me, I will keep you appraised.
I'm having some magical issues that I can partially address with a power nullifier that I've borrowed, but unfortunately I can't use it for extended periods because I'm finding nullifying my magic makes me ill.
( Magic is inextricable from what makes her a living, breathing being; just because she can live without something for a time doesn't mean it's healthy or that she can thrive that way. )
Something is the matter, yes. But I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Is there something you would like to get off your chest? Something you know would have displeased me, but you had done it regardless for a reason you believe is important?
If that is the first thing that comes to mind, then clearly it's more than a simple donation. But no. I do not care who you engage with in blood play. Anything else?
Then clearly you had no alternative motive for what you did. You simply could not keep things confidential, is what you are saying. Perhaps you did not think it would get back to me the things you spoke about with Ambassador Merlotte. But it is never a wise move to assume I will not find out about something.
You should have been able to control it. Is winning an argument so important you are willing to detonate all the other relationships you've built around you?
I believe I was able to navigate the situation. But it does not change the fact that I paid you ten thousand dollars for both your vote and your silence. And since you broke one of those two golden rules, you are now in debt.
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