steelbluecrises:
What he did like was probably obvious. It was no secret that Steven Stone enjoyed expanding his rock and fossil collection through excavations and exorbitant bids at auctions alike.
What he did not like was, again, probably obvious. Volkner of all people would know, having experienced it firsthand. A retired trainer was a retired man, but retired or not, having his hand forced did not necessarily guarantee a win-win.
“Is discovering that yourself not a part of the process?” Steven asked Volkner, almost quizzically. But he eventually relented with a smile.
“Well, I should think that your paycheck would not be able to afford it.”
The blond couldn't help but huff a bit at Steven's response, furrowing his brows. Squinting at the other man — the man who the powers-that-be decided was somehow a match for him... But even Volkner's resolve was a finite resource, very different from the solar power on which he made it possible for his city to run. After a moment of scrutinizing the ex-champion's visage, he let his shoulders sag a bit. Was there a point in making things harder than they had to be? And which one of them was to blame?
Perhaps neither. Perhaps both. Who could say? But things could work out, couldn't they? At least if the stupid timers had anything to say about it.
“Believe it or not,” he began, one hand coming up to rub the back of his neck as he looked away — and instead fixed his sapphire gaze on some indeterminate point above him and off to the right, “I never gave much thought into how I'd cram in some soulmate bonding time.”
Indeed, Volkner had always kind of assumed that his soulmate wouldn't be so ready to walk away at the drop of a hat — someone who would take it seriously. Someone who maybe wasn't retired, so maybe they'd have something to bond over from the get-go... Oh, how easily expectations are shattered. To be fair, though, he'd never been good with people, either...
“I probably wouldn't be able to afford it, but I mean, it's a good springboard. Yeah? No...? Guess we could play guessing-games all day, if those're on your list.”
