I agree that it didn't feel like there was a lot of information being exchanged, it felt more like an opportunity to a) show that Sabé was building a network and b) Sabé felt attraction to a woman. That's it. Maybe I'm projecting - - LOL

RE: the fanfic, it absolutely feels like that! (and not in a bad way, because I think fanfic is as legit as any "approved" tie-in novel - it's simply not canon) That's what made me feel like it was written by someone who'd previously practiced doing just that sort of thing!