[ Normally, Childe wouldn't have batted an eye at the exorbitant cost of such a thing, but it wasn't like he'd grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth. Although he'd joined the Fatui crime syndicate at a young age, he still knew to save and mora pinch where he could - which greatly contradicted the careless way he tended to throw what money he had around when the mood called for it - so shelling out thirty thousand for a whale was a little... much.
But, if it allowed him the chance to get an audience with Rex Lapis, then he had no other choice. For whatever reason, Zhongli really, really wanted that stuffed whale.
It probably helped that he wasn't being overly pushy about it. Sure, the remark about the talisman and its worth could be seen as such, but it didn't come off that way to Childe. He's just about to pull out his wallet with a sigh, hand going to his back pocket - and then suddenly Zhongli is close, too close, encroaching upon his personal space and causing the Harbinger to stiffen on reflex.
This close he can see the way Zhongli's eyes shine in the darkness, trace every individual eyelash cresting that beautiful golden gaze of his. He can see the red rimming his eyes - eyeliner? eyeshadow? he can never tell the difference - and he thinks, for a moment, that he might have actually died and gone to heaven, because there was no way this impossibly beautiful, attractive stranger was propositioning him for a stuffed animal. No way, and yet his mouth is still going dry at the prospect of what Zhongli's offering, heat diffusing into a flush on his cheeks.
What else might he offer him, indeed. Childe can think of a few things. ]
You're... [ He begins, realizes how his voice cracks a little, swallows, and then tries again. ] You're only as old as you feel... right?
[ Which is neither an acceptance or refusal of Zhongli's previous proposition. He has to at least make some headway in his mission before he thinks about having a little fun.
Zhongli would still be there when he was done. Maybe. ]
As long as you can get me an audience with Rex Lapis, then... that's fine. [ A beat; he bites his tongue, then tries to laugh it off, trying to look nonchalant as he pulls out his credit card and makes a mental note to see if he can't get reimbursed for the purchase later. It's technically a business expense.
Fuck it. Maybe a little fun, as a treat. ]
But I wouldn't be opposed if you decide you want to sweeten the deal a little.
no subject
But, if it allowed him the chance to get an audience with Rex Lapis, then he had no other choice. For whatever reason, Zhongli really, really wanted that stuffed whale.
It probably helped that he wasn't being overly pushy about it. Sure, the remark about the talisman and its worth could be seen as such, but it didn't come off that way to Childe. He's just about to pull out his wallet with a sigh, hand going to his back pocket - and then suddenly Zhongli is close, too close, encroaching upon his personal space and causing the Harbinger to stiffen on reflex.
This close he can see the way Zhongli's eyes shine in the darkness, trace every individual eyelash cresting that beautiful golden gaze of his. He can see the red rimming his eyes - eyeliner? eyeshadow? he can never tell the difference - and he thinks, for a moment, that he might have actually died and gone to heaven, because there was no way this impossibly beautiful, attractive stranger was propositioning him for a stuffed animal. No way, and yet his mouth is still going dry at the prospect of what Zhongli's offering, heat diffusing into a flush on his cheeks.
What else might he offer him, indeed. Childe can think of a few things. ]
You're... [ He begins, realizes how his voice cracks a little, swallows, and then tries again. ] You're only as old as you feel... right?
[ Which is neither an acceptance or refusal of Zhongli's previous proposition. He has to at least make some headway in his mission before he thinks about having a little fun.
Zhongli would still be there when he was done. Maybe. ]
As long as you can get me an audience with Rex Lapis, then... that's fine. [ A beat; he bites his tongue, then tries to laugh it off, trying to look nonchalant as he pulls out his credit card and makes a mental note to see if he can't get reimbursed for the purchase later. It's technically a business expense.
Fuck it. Maybe a little fun, as a treat. ]
But I wouldn't be opposed if you decide you want to sweeten the deal a little.