st_ormbreaker | (no subject)

It couldn't be anything important.

That's what Thor decided first. If he was going to lie to Valkyrie, it was going to be over something pointless, something trivial. Something that didn't matter. The first lie is a small one -- a message sent to her from his notebook:

I need to talk to you about something.

Truth be told, Thor had nothing of significance to talk about. The two of them chatted enough that there generally wasn't anything new to discuss about their day-to-day. The one truly significant thing he had to talk to Valkyrie about he had done so shortly after arrival, and even then he didn't feel particularly inclined to give out anything more than just the essentials -- then or now.

Pool Bar, one hour.

The Pool Bar was unoccupied this time of year. During the spring and summer months, you'd find people there all hours of the day, making their own drinks to suck down as they lay out at the pool's edge. Winter made the location less appealing. It was private, the perfect place to discuss something important.

That is, if Thor had something important to discuss.

Thor is sitting at one of the tables in the pool bar, notebook open, two bottles pulled from the bar's shelves: a Johnnie Walker and a newly-discovered malt scotch he'd pulled from the shelf based on name alone (Highland Park Valkyrie). It felt appropriate somehow.

Thor idly writes in his notebook as he waits, brows furrowed with thought.

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"I'm sure you will," he says, ducking his head. Valkyrie had no compunctions about taking what she was owed.

Which reminds Thor. "Did I sell for a good price?" he asks. He'd bragged about the amount before, but he wasn't exactly sure what 10 million credits was on Sakaar.

“Pretty decent.” Valkyrie lowered him, not that he had far to go before his feet touched the floor.

Thor lands on the ground with a solid thump.

"Pretty decent?" Thor repeats, incredulous. "That wasn't the highest price you were paid for a person?"

"It was close." Valkyrie gave him a thin, somewhat awkward smile. "The bounty I gleaned from The Beloved Champion was never topped."

Thor is insulted that the Grandmaster wouldn't pay as much for him as the Hulk. He doesn't say anything, but it's clear he's sulking.

"You never told me how you managed to bring him in," he says. "The Hulk is an almost unbeatable force."

Almost unbeatable.

"He came willingly." Valkyrie shrugged, whipping her head as a wind blew through.

Thor is absolutely incredulous.

"You just asked him and he came?" Hulk wasn't much for listening to anyone. He punched him out once during the Battle of New York for no real reason.

"We reached an understanding." Valkyrie couldn't entirely recall what silver-tongued magic she used, as her bounty-seeking tended to be enjoyed with copious amounts of spirits.

In the midst of his disbelief, Thor can't help but feel impressed.

"You saw what happened when I tried to reach an understanding," Thor says. Back in the Grandmaster's arena. "Hulk isn't easily cajoled."

"Work on your negotiation tactics." Valkyrie delivered a friendly punch to his chest. "Don't be disheartened, Your Majesty."

"I did just as Natasha did," he says. "She used to be able to calm him down."

Also.

"She was kind of dating Banner."

Maybe that's why hers worked and his didn't.

"Don't worry about it." Valkyrie smacked him on the back, prompting him towards the door. "Get some rest. You'll need it for our talks. I don't intend to go easy on you simply because you're new at this."

Thor smiles at that. "Thank you for the ride."

He pushes the door open and goes inside.

There was a lot they were going to have to do.