Tywin Lannister was a grey man. Not for lack of color, but the grim set of his jaw and the steel in his eyes gave anything he did a lack of frivolity.

"I am only asking you out of necessity, of course. If anyone else could do it, I would ask them first." He jabbed at the map with one long finger, tracing a line through several small towns. "As it is, my son is still held captive by the Stark boy, and you are the only sword who can stop your brother, Lord Clegane."

He'd never get used to that title. He was used to being addressed as 'Hound' or 'Dog'; it suited him. Lords weren't meant to be coarse, they weren't meant to be crude and they weren't meant to be ugly. Yet here he was, and to the rest of King's Landing he was the luckiest dog in the world. It didn't mean he had to be grateful, though, and he was far from it. Sansa kept finding new ways to haunt him. First with her fear, then with her innocence, and now with her wet face in the candlelight, asking him if he loved her. That fucking girl. If only she were older, less of a child, he'd have considered… But she was ten-and-five on her next name day. That was a full thirteen years. And even if she had been older, he knew that he still could not justify any lust he had for her. She was not meant for him. She was meant for a true lord, one without scars. Their marriage would dissolve easily once Joffrey's idiocy lost him the realm, and she could go o better life, with pretty children and a handsome husband. He wasn't stupid enough to hope she'd forget him, but hopefully she'd look upon him as someone who did something right. Not the man who'd scared her but someone she'd tell those children about one day. Pack, he'd told her, and that was his intention for the time being. Yet he'd have to leave one day, and then he'd do it quiet if she was still asking questions like that.
"I'd do it twice over, but I can't leave King's Landing and leave my wife."

Tywin's eyes narrowed, folding arms that, although strong, were slender compared to his. "Why are you so concerned for her?"
"That grandson of yours seems to consider her property still, and I'm not leaving her here to be at the mercy of his whims. If i go, then you'll protect her, or I will kill him. I don't give a shit if he's the king or not." He tried to make it seem less protective of her as a person, and more of sheer possessiveness. Tywin had known him for years; he knew that The Hound cared little for women. That'd only been true because of the women around him- none were as pure as Sansa. Here they were whores or hopelessly jaded, and Sandor wouldn't have taken an interest in any. Sansa Stark had been a breath of cold north wind, and he meant to keep her that way.

"She's my reward for fighting Stannis's lot and saving that son of yours, and I mean to keep her to myself." Tywin had shown no sign of even hearing him, but that meant he'd won. Had there been an argument against him, Tywin Lannister'd have reeled it off as matter-of-fact as reading a list from the kitchens. "So she'll have a decent guard?"

"Does two men outside her door and a... loyal female companion sound appropriate?"
"Aye. And when I come back, she'd better have every hair on her head intact. Or Joffrey'll never have to worry about setting his crown straight."

The threats seemed to amuse Tywin, and even as The Hound stalked from his rooms he'd moved to other business. Yet the issue of telling Sansa remained, and he wished he could find someone else to do it. Alone, she was vulnerable, and that was dangerous. She'd told him of what Joffrey'd told her, that he intended to take her whether or not she was wed, and the thought had made him want to go and strangle the little cunt. She'd stopped him, somehow, but the urge was still there, and if Joffrey did a thing he knew he couldn't suppress it. Seven hells. He had long remembered why he refused to care for people, but it was too late now. His Little Bird had wormed her way in, and to remove her would likely kill him.

OOC: Hey guys! Only one (short) update tonight, but no worries! I've just had a busy few days, but after tomorrow (fingers crossed!) I should be back on schedule!

And again, if any of you wanna chat, please feel free to PM me/add me on tumblr (same account name :3)