>> 015 | I want a refund on this marriage

[of_geo]

[ when he'd last supped with the Tsaritsa the last thing he expected was a proposal.

it wasn't as though they hadn't considered each other, but purely as a matter of convenience. the Tsaritsa did not love in the same way that Morax loved, and while neither were wrong they both knew, innately, that an attempt at anything more than the amicable friendship they held would more than likely end in disaster. they are two last remnants of a world that has evolved beyond what either could have even begun to imagine. gone were the traditions and the ideations of his people, replaced as quickly as technology had advanced.

he did not mind this. he had always strove for Liyue to become independent, able to flourish without looking to their god for direction. while their ways of life now was not what he would have expected several thousands of years earlier, they are still a strong, vibrant people, with many of his beloved traditions embraced in oftentimes unorthodox ways and molded to fit their new lifestyles.

in some ways he still leads them, still imparts his wisdom and anecdotes upon them in small nuggets of wisdom when he can. his professions have changed over the years when it became necessary to do so (mortician to curator, curator to sailor, sailor to leatherworker, etc.). in this current era he owns a relatively well-to-do antiques shop nestled in the heart of the city, where he amasses relics of time and tucks them into the rest of his hoard for safekeeping until someone worthy comes along to possess it. it is perhaps a bittersweet, nostalgic way of living, especially since he remembers the owners of such antiques as clear as day.

this is perhaps why the Tsaritsa proposed to him a "contract" of sorts, in her words. she possessed a certain relic belonging to one of his more precious acquaintances long buried, their form no doubt reduced to dust in the millennia that had passed. she would be willing to part with it without any nominal fees, of course, if he would accept it as a "wedding present".

he recalled how the tea had suddenly turned sour in his mouth at her words. it was a poor time for a joke, but her face with its unyielding, unwavering stare and her lips drawn into that thin line of determination said as much that she was not joking now.

"We are old friends, Morax. It has been a long time. Do you not get lonely?"

"I do not," he'd said, with a ghost of a smile aimed in her direction. "For how could I, when I have you for company?"

"That is not the same." Her frown could be heard in her voice so that he did not even have to be looking at her to know her expression. A beat, and then she went on to rectify her initial offer.

"A month. It will be a marriage in name only, unless you choose otherwise. A month and you will have the zither."

A month was not a terrible price to pay for what was essentially just time spent with the Tsaritsa.

"Then let it be writ in stone."

it was only afterwards, once he had been bound for home, that she called to ask what his preferences were. at first he did not understand the question, but when she made it abundantly clear she was going to send over someone she had handpicked to be his "bride" he found himself increasingly exasperated. these were not things she had mentioned in their contract prior to establishing it and, seeing as how he had carried around the moniker of "God of Contracts" prior to his retirement, her unintended deception was like a slap to the face.

a human, he'd decided. she'd sent him pictures of all of the humans in her employ, men, women, some old enough to start greying, others with nary a hair on their upper lips. thin and voluptuous, short and tall.

there was one in particular that stood out more than the rest. despite that he had seen Snezhnaya firsthand and knew that, even now, it was characterized by harsh winters and bright, glittering snow at all times of the year, there was no light reflected in the youth's eyes. they were the precise color of noctilucous jade and he imagined it was because the precious stone was lost to this new world that the comparison hit him harder than it should have.

this one.

"Childe", as he was so affectionately dubbed, had been working under the Tsaritsa for several years now. drafted into the military at a young age he was confident, brash and reckless but had an unwavering sense of loyalty and a love for his family. in some aspects he would make a perfect "bride", though Zhongli did not expect anything more from this arrangement other than a new companion for a short stretch of time.

he kept the picture. he'd saved it to his phone and every time he looked at it he tried to ignore the hot, curling feeling deep inside of him, molten and sharp and impatient.

perhaps the Tsaritsa had been right. perhaps he had been lonely.

Childe would arrive in the Liyue airport proper and take the car designated for himself. the car would drive him to the antiques shop and there ... well. they would figure it out when the time came.

Zhongli has seated himself in the back of the shop with a clear view of the door. he's dressed not to the nines for this occasion, but in something nice regardless; pressed slacks, a turtleneck under a vest, polished leather shoes. Childe will have to navigate his way through his little odds and ends in order to reach him - if he could even see him - and, knowing he has a bit of time to himself before his guests imminent arrival, he gently rises from his seat and moves to the back to put on a pot of tea. ]

Comments

[of_geo]

[ the water is just beginning to boil by the time Childe makes his way into the store, and while he cannot see all of him from his vantage point Zhongli can see enough to follow the Snezhnayan's path as he meanders about looking at all the antiques. it is curiosity that compels him to keep the man within his sights, not a sense of unease that something might be stolen, and he watches as the other makes his way over to where the especially rare, valuable artifacts he's hoarded are located and picks up one of his jade carvings.

Zhongli ducks back inside to see to the tea when he notices the other turn around, not out of embarrassment at being caught, but because it would be a shame to let the tea steep for too long, and re-emerges with two steaming mugs in hand just in time to see the lad leaning against the counter.

that same hot, aggressive feeling of impatience and something ugly rears its head, but he is quick to quash it in favor of admiring the man before him.

let it not be said that Zhongli did not appreciate beauty; as long as he's lived one would expect him to have grown tired, perhaps even critical of it as the years and the eras passed. a beautiful glaze lily became just a flower when experienced repeatedly over the years, a favorite dish became as cardboard, a song a grating tune. for better or for worse the value in all things had remained a constant for the god throughout his time in this world, and Childe was certainly not exempt from this view.

there was something both charming and mysterious about him that he could not quite put his finger on. he was certainly young, but not enough to make Zhongli feel any sort of discomfort - though that had probably worn away with time, since there were few who were close enough to him in age to make him feel like he wasn't "robbing the cradle", as his acquaintances so affectionately put it - with a bright, handsome face and a smile that made warmth curl pleasantly in his chest. he was well-built, too, putting Zhongli in mind of the farmers that would often tend to the fields in days past, people who did not shy away from hard work and were the first to get their hands dirty should the situation call for it.

sturdy would be both an adequate and inadequate way to describe the youth in front of him, he decided. and then the next thought came, unbidden, that he certainly looks as though he could take a good pounding and yet beg me for more.

it's nearly enough to startle him into dropping the cups but he is nothing if not a creature of composure and the only tell that gives away his thoughts are a widening of the eyes, though that was something that could just as easily be written off as surprise at seeing his new guest. his new bride.

what about him was bridal, really? he wasn't even wearing white, which he was certain was fairly standard uniform for nuptials nowadays. Zhongli imagined he would look far better in Liyue colors, in his own colors, shades of brown and gold that would bring out his eyes quite nicely.

... ah. perhaps he should be alarmed at how his body reacts to the thought of dressing the Snezhnayan in motifs of the Geo Archon, at the sudden fervent, hungry desire to unmake this lad in every way that is Snezhnayan and to remake him to his liking. his grip on the mugs tighten to the point of worry, shoulders tensing as the coil of aggression, of possessive, unyielding want tightens to almost painful degrees in his chest.

it has been several thousand years since he'd last taken someone to bed. to lose his mind over someone that he'd known for little more than a few minutes would be unbecoming, disastrous, even. the seconds seem to tick on agonizingly slow as he regains his composure, his breath escaping him in a soft, barely-there sigh before he speaks. ]

Childe. [ he greets, and he thinks he rather enjoys the way his name sounds in his mouth. ] Please forgive me for not coming to get you myself. [ he did not know a thing about the public transit system and cars were still a mystery to him. he's doing his best. ] I trust your flight over was fine?

[ one of the mugs was laid upon the counter, its handle turned towards the foreigner. his golden eyes flood with warmth, an expression that only deepens when he takes his time lowering his gaze to the jade carving in his hands. ]

Are you shopping for souvenirs already? You've only just arrived.

[commediadellanime]

[The first thing that crosses Childe's mind when Zhongli steps out of the back is Fuck, the pictures didn't do him justice.

It's not just that the photos sent to him didn't capture quite how handsome he is in person, it's that Zhongli has a presence he doesn't think could ever be comprehended without being around him. There's an intensity in the man's gaze that seems out of place in this small, cluttered antiques shop, and the way he carries himself - all the poise and grace of someone who's honed his body for years, like the kind of warriors you'd read about in fantasy novels or romanticized history books - just adds to it, makes him seem almost imposing.

Almost like a challenge. Childe hasn't gotten this far in life without tackling every challenge he's come across head on, and Zhongli isn't any exception. He wants to see what the man is capable of, because he seems nothing like the mild-mannered nerd he was expecting from his file. Is he strong? Can he fight? What exactly is this man capable of that Childe's unaware about? (Could he lift Childe? Not a question he's asked of most people, or something he's usually curious about or interested in, but as he tries to gauge how muscular Zhongli is underneath his clothes that's all he can think of.

He'll unpack that later. Or never. He'll just make a fool of himself if he thinks about it more than he has already.)

Still, even if he's thrown by seeing Zhongli in the flesh, it doesn't quite show on his face. He's good at rolling with the punches - even if that's usually far more literal - and all he does is laugh brightly with a roll of his shoulders.]

Flight was about what you would expect coming all the way from Snezhnaya!

[Read: he is absolutely not looking forward to his return flight in a month.

His smile - bright and wide even if it doesn't reach his eyes - goes a little bit more sheepish and crooked, though, as he looks down at the jade carving.]

Ah, I just saw this and thought my little sister would like it.

[Even if he knows Tonia would raise hell if she could hear him still calling her little. They're only a couple years apart - and she's almost as tall as he is, now - he can't help but think of her when they were young and foolish before, well.

Before all that happened.]

I know she'd get mad if I came all the way to Liyue and didn't get her the prettiest thing I could find.

[He can't keep his eyes off Zhongli as he talks, but... now he's curious about what the man knows about him. He's sure he had to get some sort of briefing about the foreign stranger who would be coming to stay with him for a month, though Childe wasn't made privy to it. He thinks it would be funny if the profile Zhongli was giving was like the briefing Childe skimmed on the plane, silly tidbits about his personality and the work he does (even if he doubts they would offer all that many details about the true nitty-gritty) that make him sound as appealing as possible.

Though, considering the few members of the Fatui who could count as his superiors, he's not really sure any file they've written would be anywhere near as glowing.]

[of_geo]

[ as Childe speaks Zhongli decides he also quite likes his voice, too. there's a warmth and a friendliness he exudes, one that seems genuine and natural and not at all forced. it's quite easy to fall into his rhythm, he thinks, and perhaps he should be wary of that fact more than anything.

he doesn't forget why Childe is here. why shouldn't Zhongli take the opportunity to appreciate his bride-to-be? ]

I see. [ is all he says, lifting the mug to his lips to take a sip. the tea is warm, a unique blend of green tea that he's become quite fond of over the years. to some he might taste too-bitter, too-earthy; but to Zhongli it is perfect.

that same deep-seated, possessive urge wells within him, but now that Childe is giving him his full, undivided attention it's easier to ignore it. absently, he thinks of the other manufacturers of jade within the area and makes a mental note to procure as much of it as he possibly can for his guest. while he does not want to think about the Snezhnayan returning home at the end of the month, he can at least see if he wouldn't be able to ship some out via a care package of sorts, perhaps, along with a few other assorted trinkets and baubles his family might enjoy.

for now, though, he gives the lad a small smile and sets down his cup. steam rises off of it in languid, curling motions, and Zhongli gives a little bow of his head to his new houseguest before sweeping a hand behind him to gesture to the back rooms. ]

Where you'll be staying is upstairs. If you would like to stow away your luggage I would be more than happy to show you the way.

[ he'll have to lock the door, of course, but that shouldn't take too long. despite the nature of his business it isn't as though he gets much business, especially at late hours. a majority of his clientele tend to phone beforehand to make sure he has what it is they're looking for or else request items to be shipped to him. it works better in some aspects than others. ]

[commediadellanime]

[The tea cup is warm, but any sort of cozy feelings a hot cup of tea brings up are squashed at the taste of it. It's so incredibly bitter - medicinal, almost - and he can't cover up the way his face scrunches up at the taste of it.

He's not going to just not drink it, though, and he scalds his tongue taking a too-large gulp of tea. It's partly because he knows his mother would be ashamed of his poor manners, and also because it's just tea. He can handle tea, no matter how gross it is.

(It's not like it's the worst thing he's swallowed, anyways.)]

Upstairs, huh...

[Is the living space as cluttered as the shop? He certainly hopes not - if there's as much stuff crammed in there as there is here he can't imagine there's space for a bed - but that's not the most pressing question. He was, after all, told he was being sent all the way to Liyue to spend time with Zhongli, and he's not quite sure where the line is drawn. It seemed a lot of the finer details of his mission (for as much as this doesn't feel like a mission) were left up to Zhongli, which has left Childe in the dark.

But it seems reasonable to assume that Zhongli will be staying with him - if he has an apartment above his shop, he probably lives in that apartment. It'd be the economical choice, Childe thinks, which would fit with what he's been told about the man.

So he just asks the first question that pops into his mind before he can stop and think about it, hiding the smirk that crosses his face with his mug of disgusting tea.]

You're not one to separate business and pleasure, then?

[of_geo]

[ Zhongli is perceptive enough to definitely catch the way that the young man's face scrunches up at the bitter tea, but he doesn't comment on it. if anything, perhaps it's good that young Childe drank it down regardless. it's not as if there aren't health benefits to it, and the sooner he becomes accustomed to that the better.

he lifts his own mug to his lips for a sip just as Childe asks his question, and if the other had been hoping for a kneejerk response to the seemingly invasive, probing query of his, perhaps he should have asked something more obscene. as it is, however, he will only get a faint furrow of his brow, Zhongli waiting until he's taken a lingering, indulgent sip before he lowers his cup and deigns to answer his question. ]

I am afraid I do not understand what it is you are asking. Is it because I live above my shop? The answer may be less complex than you were hoping for.

[ it's with that answer that he moves around the desk, going to the front door to lock it and draw down the shades. once everything has been sorted out he flips over the sign from 'open' to 'closed' as a final touch, and then makes his way back over to lay a hand upon Childe's elbow.

when he speaks it's in a low murmur, and if his gaze happens to hold Childe's own, unwavering and unyielding, then perhaps the Snezhnayan is brave enough not to be intimidated by it. ]

The nature of my business necessitates that I be on the premises at all times. Unless I am out procuring a particularly rare or valuable antique, it is imperative I remain here in the event that someone decide to peruse my wares.

[ meaning: he was the only employee.

the next is said with such an unruffled, neutral expression one might think he honestly didn't catch the implication of his words; the only tell, perhaps, would be the faintest, barest intimation of a smile, a sign that Zhongli had caught what the other had been attempting to do and was meeting him in his own game. ]

Now then. Shall I take you to bed?

[commediadellanime]

[This is, Childe thinks as he meets Zhongli's gaze, perhaps a more dangerous mission than he thought it was going to be.]

You run this place all by yourself?

[Which means that as long as there's no customers, it'll just be the two of them in this place at all time. Dangerous, a kind of danger the Fatui have never thrown him into before, but one he's willing to face head first all the same.

He'll probably get burned, but it wouldn't be the first time or the last time Childe does something far too reckless chasing a thrill. Besides, in the grand scheme of things, flirting with someone is much tamer than half the things he does. It could even work out quite well for him, which is more than you can say for his usual missions. Even those that end successful usually see him bloody and bruised at the end.

(Which isn't entirely out of the picture here, technically, but that could still be a good thing.)]

But I think that depends.

[If he thought Childe was the sort to back down, he's about to be sorely mistaken as he grins crookedly. He's never been very good at sticking to playing coy, always giving up and just being as direct as he could possibly be. Not that he has overmuch experience in this particular arena, his methods are the same.]

I'd be more than happy to go if you're going to be joining me.

[of_geo]

[ Childe's very direct, Zhongli notes, and he's not quite sure how to take that. it's a far cry from how the peoples of his own nation often went about their day-to-day dealings unless it involved some form of trade or business. back then people were usually only blunt and to-the-point if there was mora to be made, and it was not an uncommon sight to see two people quabbling over taxes or the value of an object with the sort of viciousness more likened to predatory creatures.

it is not an altogether unpleasant feeling, to be challenged by a whelp with only a handful of years under his belt. it's refreshing, in a way, even if Childe does not wholly intend to question him, and he finds himself endeared nonetheless.

perhaps the Tsaritsa knew what she was about after all, to allow him to keep her youngest. ]

I do. [ he speaks in response to the first question, but doesn't elaborate more than that. if Childe has an expectation of how this night will go, it would be impolite to leave him hanging. ] And while I am not particularly tired, I cannot imagine you are the same after such a long trip. I would be amenable to joining you.

[ the room behind the counter is little more than a kitchenette, but there's a small set of stairs sectioned off by a delicate chain that leads to the upper floor. it's here that he gestures Childe to, now, waiting until he'd brought himself and all his things through the door before he closes and locks it. from there it's a simple affair to lead him through the kitchen, with its stove, refrigerator and tiny table and single chair, and over to the stairs which he swiftly unblocks and starts ascending. ]

[commediadellanime]

[There's a few ways Childe would like to be taken.]

I'm sure we could find a way to tire you out, Mr. Zhongli.

[He knows there's a high chance he's coming across as, well, absolutely desperate, but Zhongli seems so reserved. He hasn't bat an eye at anything Childe's said so far, and he wonders what the man's limits are. What'll piss him off? Or maybe make him laugh, or just - get any reaction out of him at all? He's sure he'll come to find the man's buttons at some point during his stay in Liyue, but he won't find them at all unless he goes digging.

He glances around the kitchenette, as curious about his surroundings as he is the man he follows, even if the view isn't nearly as nice. The man has a nice figure and Childe is only human, and he doesn't quite care if Zhongli catches him ogling the older man. Surely he's used to it anyways, with an ass like that.

At least he'll keep his hands to himself. For now.]

I'm actually pretty... keyed up after that flight. Traveling always makes me feel really antsy, y'know?

[Which is actually the truth - he's not very good at being idle, and while the plane ride was boring and travel is exhausting, he knows he's too wired to do any innocent sort of sleeping.]

[of_geo]

[ what a terrible, insatiable rascal. ]

Is that so? I suppose you would not be the first.

[ that's a shot in the dark, considering Zhongli does not often associate with the people that come in and out of his store for longer than absolutely necessary. it wasn't as though his life was dictated by how quick he could make a sale, or how soon he could get someone in and out of his store; he just simply did not have much need to form bonds with others, and vice versa. to the casual observer he would come off as nothing more than an elder man immersed in his pursuits of antiques. to someone looking for something more, they would have to cross that bridge when they got to it.

to put it simply, he just didn't notice when he was being propositioned. perhaps it is as much Childe's hunger as his own that has him responding in kind, giving responses that could be taken as either playful or coquettish in nature, alluding to the promise of a shared bed and a long, enduring night of passion between the both of them.

it is telling that that gets a response from him, stirring long-since dormant urges and instincts and the desire to propagate a new generation of adepti. equally telling is the consideration he gives the thought as he ascends the stairs proper, pushing his way through an inconspicuous door and emerging out into a modest living room. like the cluttered, dusty antique shop on the ground floor there are precious relics in spades; some taking up residence on a coffee table that curves under the weight, others lined up on the mantle like an assortment of priceless treasures.

amidst the rusty, worn trinkets of the past are a smattering of precious stones and ores of good, fist-shaped size and a stack of musty old tomes in some indecipherable language.

it is here that Zhongli pauses, turning to ensure his charge has arrived behind him, and he nods to the couch that currently boasts a blanket thin enough to be categorized as a sheet. ]

I do not think it worth asking, but would you prefer the couch or the bed?