Childe is definitely noticeably off his game, it's true--he blinks, unable to do anything but stare for a moment. Isn't this... off? Shouldn't Zhongli be, y'know. ...Y'KNOW!!! Reacting in any way other than this?
Well, no. This makes sense, doesn't it? Because Zhongli is an Archon, whether he's retired or not. Why wouldn't this be exactly how he is? He's a single mortal, in the grand scheme of things. Why would his actions (or feelings, for that matter) garner anything more than a scrap of Zhongli's attention?
(He'd asked, after all. "Doesn't anyone feel the least bit bad for deceiving me?" And the answer was obviously no, which is... fair, but. Still. Wow, he does not need to be thinking about this right now.)
ANYWAY. Wow he should probably say something and stop staring like a weirdo. He scratches the back of his neck.]
I don't mind telling you about it, but it's best as an indoor conversation, I think. [The walls have ears, and all that. It's meant to be an offhanded comment, not an invitation, but there's that flash of disappointment, and Childe is a stupid fucking simp who was not expecting a warm(?) welcome, so.
Without thinking--] I do need to stop by the bank and write a couple of letters, if you'd care to join me? I haven't scheduled a ship home yet.
believe me so am I
Childe is definitely noticeably off his game, it's true--he blinks, unable to do anything but stare for a moment. Isn't this... off? Shouldn't Zhongli be, y'know. ...Y'KNOW!!! Reacting in any way other than this?
Well, no. This makes sense, doesn't it? Because Zhongli is an Archon, whether he's retired or not. Why wouldn't this be exactly how he is? He's a single mortal, in the grand scheme of things. Why would his actions (or feelings, for that matter) garner anything more than a scrap of Zhongli's attention?
(He'd asked, after all. "Doesn't anyone feel the least bit bad for deceiving me?" And the answer was obviously no, which is... fair, but. Still. Wow, he does not need to be thinking about this right now.)
ANYWAY. Wow he should probably say something and stop staring like a weirdo. He scratches the back of his neck.]
I don't mind telling you about it, but it's best as an indoor conversation, I think. [The walls have ears, and all that. It's meant to be an offhanded comment, not an invitation, but there's that flash of disappointment, and Childe is a stupid fucking simp who was not expecting a warm(?) welcome, so.
Without thinking--] I do need to stop by the bank and write a couple of letters, if you'd care to join me? I haven't scheduled a ship home yet.