[ Zhongli's mouth twists in a complicated expression as Tonia explains her proposal. It is even and it is fair, and yet he wants to protest it for the sake of protesting due to an unfamiliar feeling bubbling up in his stomach. Thankfully, Childe pulls him away and leads him out of the kitchen before he can do so.

The place they end up is also surprising, but what about this evening hasn't been different from the norm.

Zhongli lets out a startled sound when his back hits the door, clearly surprised at Childe's forwardness (they were going to eat soon and wasn't this probably going to get potentially messy), but it is clearly not unwelcome. Not when Zhongli angles his head just so to meet the kiss, tongue slipping into Childe's mouth. Not when arms wrap around his neck to pull him closer and invite him to touch him more.

(But during this time, there is a strange pause where Zhongli's eyes go glassy and unfocused. Zhongli cannot recall ever being intimate with another person, but Morax certainly has enough experience that his body knows how to respond even without those memories. Hands smooth down the expanse of Childe's back with practiced ease. A kiss is pressed firmly against his jaw and the haziness recedes from Zhongli's expression.) ]

But would it not be terribly rude to ruin your appetite before the meal?

[ Fingers fiddle with the claps and buttons on Childe's next layer of clothing as contrary to his words, Zhongli attempt to undo them. His voice is steady as always though the rising flush in his cheeks and the slight tremor in his fingers bely that overwhelming confidence. ]

Unless you can manage to fit in a whole proper course.