I'll wait until after you've had your bath, so that we might talk about the terms together. I've never made a contract for one of my partners, you know.

[ "partner", and not "prisoner of war" like they both know Zhongli is. either Childe is disillusioned with the state of affairs between them or he's more fond of the Liyuen than one might think. given that his gaze keeps wandering, straying over the other's gravid belly and lingering, warmly, on his face, it might be more the latter than the former. ]

Come. I'll walk you.

[ and he wastes no time in helping to steer Zhongli along, not even bothering to look back at the trail of white the other will no doubt leave as he's guided along. he leads him to the same inlaid bath from before, the waters already miraculously filled and steaming - probably from a particularly sneaky attendant, no doubt - and primed for their use. a few fresh towels are piled nearby just out of reach of the splash zone. ]

Would you like for me to get in first, and have you seat yourself on my lap?