( he stitches his jacket back together with crisp, elegant tugs and silver buttons, walling perilous temptation away, and it's such a surprise that childe moves easily when he's guided back, booted steps scuffling over stone. )
Of course.
( somehow, fully buttoned in his jacket, he feels more exposed than when he's outright naked, like ajax the schoolboy writing mantras on a chalkboard for naughty behavior or tartaglia the eleventh knelt in front of the tsaritsa's crystal throne awaiting orders, head bowed in reverence. it's paralyzing. he pops the bottom button on his jacket one-handed, more reflex than a pouty rebuff of zhongli's focused attention, then turns to graciously sweep his arm toward the path ahead. )
Far be it from me to lead you astray a second time.
( his tone is pleasant, paired with a dimpled smile crinkling across the bridge of his nose. it's one of many sincere smiles he's given zhongli in their time together, over a teahouse table or while bartering a merchant for a fairer price on whatever priceless trinket's caught his eye. strange how effortlessly zhongli finesses his possesions from him, time and time again. strange how much he'll miss it, this, him.
they exit the shelter of the pavilion, back on the stone pathway that circles through the entire city. childe pops another button on his jacket as they walk, his vision glowing vividly in the setting sun. )
no subject
Of course.
( somehow, fully buttoned in his jacket, he feels more exposed than when he's outright naked, like ajax the schoolboy writing mantras on a chalkboard for naughty behavior or tartaglia the eleventh knelt in front of the tsaritsa's crystal throne awaiting orders, head bowed in reverence. it's paralyzing. he pops the bottom button on his jacket one-handed, more reflex than a pouty rebuff of zhongli's focused attention, then turns to graciously sweep his arm toward the path ahead. )
Far be it from me to lead you astray a second time.
( his tone is pleasant, paired with a dimpled smile crinkling across the bridge of his nose. it's one of many sincere smiles he's given zhongli in their time together, over a teahouse table or while bartering a merchant for a fairer price on whatever priceless trinket's caught his eye. strange how effortlessly zhongli finesses his possesions from him, time and time again. strange how much he'll miss it, this, him.
they exit the shelter of the pavilion, back on the stone pathway that circles through the entire city. childe pops another button on his jacket as they walk, his vision glowing vividly in the setting sun. )