⠀ ⠀. . ⠀⠀ 𝓩 `` 𓅝

"⠀⠀...no.⠀⠀" the bluntness of the word paired with a squint at the shining glass that pierced through him.   zhongli was never a man to let down his guard so readily,  yet being so utterly surrounded by childe,  he felt he had nowhere else to look but at what demanded his attention.   and comply he did at the audacious armoured creature sat on him.  "⠀⠀you are one who hungers endlessly.  you wouldn't know satisfaction even in death, coming to deliver judgment with a steady blade of water, unwavering despite ripples that should take place.⠀⠀"  
            
            a deep breath and he looks down,  eyes following sharp edges. "⠀⠀...no.⠀⠀"
            
            ⠀⠀⠀▋⤻⠀⠀@tartagliarte 

a low huff,  perhaps laughter if not for how warped it sounds in this abomination’s body.  “have you ever known me to be satisfied?”  his tone oozes with easy arrogance,  leaning back in casual informality as the cloudy orb regards zhongli steadily.  he’s effectively straddling him now.  carelessly lounging upon this abdicated god.  he’s careful to not apply too much of his weight,  but enough so that is overbearing,  enough that the pressure  &  warmth of him is everywhere.  a reminder of what childe is.  “are  *you*?”

"⠀⠀you'd find a way to complain if i didn't.⠀⠀" he huffed, propping himself up on his elbows yet making no other move of trying to struggle out.  possibly because of the weight.  possibly because he didn't mind it.  "⠀⠀are you satisfied.⠀⠀"
            
            ⠀⠀⠀▋⤻⠀⠀@tartagliarte 

“of course.  one of my gifts to you,”  a mere jest of course but he can’t help glancing away from the sheer radiance of their smile.  he considers himself well-worded in  “zhongli”  now and yet—-  such an open expression renders him uselessly speechless. 
            
            “so what?”  childe scoffs.  utterly careless but the way he sees it such people should appreciate they’re even around to witness zhongli’s celebration.  a childish way of thinking perhaps,  but he’s adamant.  “they should be ashamed they haven’t brought their beloved consultant something.”

eyebrows raising at the bolder compliment,  her smile was wider before she could even take notice.  "⠀⠀thank you.  very generous with your wording today.⠀⠀" she teases.
            
            "⠀⠀i wouldn't be embarrassed over someone showing kindness.  however,  i wouldnt want to disturb any of the people there,  i'm sure they're just trying to enjoy a good meal as well,  they needn't a pile of gifts disturbing their vision.⠀⠀"
            
            ⠀⠀⠀▋⤻⠀⠀@tartagliarte 

“charming?”  his smile helplessly brightens.  his heart does something foolish in the depths of his chest.  “and you look..”  the words subtly die on his tongue,  as if wondering whether he can muster enough courage.  “beautiful.  which is an understatement.”  
            
            childe lightly chuckles,  squeezing their arm in response.  “i didn’t get as many as i wanted to,  to spare you from the public embarrassment.”  a huff.  “oh well.  i can always gift you other things later on.”

“did it take you long?  the stories of morax..  hm.  i wonder how much he’s changed.”

⠀ [    MORTAL COAT:   ZHONGLI.̲    ]
            ⠀⠀⠀    ACT  II.⠀⤻┃◇      ʷᵃⁿᵈᵉʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵏⁱⁿᵍ
            
            ⠀▪︎⠀▋ ID:   @tartagliarte 
            
            
            "⠀⠀when you live as many days as i do,  and venture among society as often,  you learn human nature inevitably.⠀⠀"

“i think they would be more appalled that a..”  a considerate pause.  “former god is willing to learn human nature.”

"  ..  yes.   im  aware,    the  god  of  dreams  cruelty  is  beyond  compare.   however..  "   a  pause,   as  they  take  silver  locks  of  hair  into  its  hand.   "   i  was  well  aware  of  this  the  day  they  stood  in  the  forest,  as  i  chatted  with  two  friends  of  mine. " 

⠀⠀ [    LORD OF GEO:   MORAX.̲    ]
            ⠀⠀⠀      II.⠀⤻┃◇      ʷᵃⁿᵈᵉʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵏⁱⁿᵍ
            
            ⠀▪︎⠀▋ ID:⠀@solmoonic 
            
            
            "⠀⠀...you surely understand why one is hesitant in believing you.   alatus doesn't seem to doubt your intentions,  though i still will remain cautious.⠀⠀"

⠀⠀▪︎⠀▋ ID:⠀⠀@khaerenyi 
            
            ╱╱ ⠀⠀  ⠀⠀THANK YOU SO MUCH!! i'll be so fr it's an old one i had i was too lazy to make a new one..
            your theme though?  should be put up in  museum  

⠀⠀ [    MORTAL COAT:   ZHONGLI.̲    ]
            ⠀⠀⠀      II.⠀⤻┃◇      ʷᵃⁿᵈᵉʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵏⁱⁿᵍ
            
            ⠀▪︎⠀▋ ID:⠀@solmoonic 
            
            
            "⠀⠀you're making peace with your situation.  that is an admirable thing to do.⠀⠀"
            
            [   he hums,   observing the home he walks into with his hands folded behind his back.   ]
            
            "⠀⠀should we bring the tea outside then?   the weather's pleasant today.   it'd be a shame to miss out on it.⠀⠀"

call  it..  a  gut  feeling.    ㅤ ㅤ(    he  says  as  he  walks  in;   the  smell  of  the  rice  buns  wafting  throughout  the  cottage.   yuhan  pauses,   a  snort  bubbling  up  in  his  throat  as  he  heads  to  his  kitchen  to  fetch  his  teapot.   )      theyre  made  from  scratch.   i  have  a  small  garden  outside.  really..   its  a  nice  life.  

⠀⠀ [    MORTAL COAT:   ZHONGLI.̲    ]
            ⠀⠀⠀      II.⠀⤻┃◇      ʷᵃⁿᵈᵉʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵏⁱⁿᵍ
            
            ⠀▪︎⠀▋ ID:⠀@solmoonic 
            
            
            "⠀⠀your sense of precognition has not diminished in the slightest,  mm?   or are guests a regular thing you expect,  perhaps?⠀⠀"
            
            [   his tone is lilted with light teasing as he follows him in after the invitation,  leaving his shoes by the door.   ]
            
            "⠀⠀how conveninent.   they're very aromatic,   i can smell them from the doorway.   did you make them yourself or buy them from the market?⠀⠀"