[ Ajax's smile relaxes into one of relief, both for convincing Zhongli to get out of here but also for not (hopefully) damaging their very fresh and budding friendship. (Ha! Take that other Harbingers who said he wasn't any good at diplomacy. Take that and shove it!) ]
Yeah. Yeah! Of course. I'll be there.
[ He squeezes the hand still pressed reassuringly to his shoulder. Yes. They will go to dinner and it will be wonderful. What better way to spend the evening after the most important mission of his life than being allowed to wine and dine Mister Zhongli. Maybe this whole night could be salvaged.
Ajax's other hand goes to his cell phone, supposedly to call for a cab but Ajax is much too paranoid for that, especially with Rex Lapis's minions all around. He sends a quick text to Vlad (one of his subordinates and more than once his getaway driver), quickly giving him instructions to act like one of the many rideshares in the city.
The next grin is a little more reassured. A little more carefree. ]
Text me when you get home, Mister Zhongli. And I promise to stop bothering you for the evening. Sound like a deal? Or a promise— oh wait, right right right. Liyue. Sounds like a contract?
[ It should be no surprise to anyone that Rex Lapis would not completely step down after being the most powerful man in the city for who knows how many years now. That kind of position is hard to step away from. So, is being in control of that much power and influence.
(So perhaps when Zhongli reviews that film later, he might catch the blurry outline of Ajax in the same civilian clothes he wears now much later than he was claiming to stay out this night. He lingers in the shadows of the venue with an intense look of frustration in his eyes. One, two, three frames pass before he disappears back into the darkness as if he was never there at all.
After all, how was he supposed to know that he was the one who sent his prey away?) ]
no subject
Yeah. Yeah! Of course. I'll be there.
[ He squeezes the hand still pressed reassuringly to his shoulder. Yes. They will go to dinner and it will be wonderful. What better way to spend the evening after the most important mission of his life than being allowed to wine and dine Mister Zhongli. Maybe this whole night could be salvaged.
Ajax's other hand goes to his cell phone, supposedly to call for a cab but Ajax is much too paranoid for that, especially with Rex Lapis's minions all around. He sends a quick text to Vlad (one of his subordinates and more than once his getaway driver), quickly giving him instructions to act like one of the many rideshares in the city.
The next grin is a little more reassured. A little more carefree. ]
Text me when you get home, Mister Zhongli. And I promise to stop bothering you for the evening. Sound like a deal? Or a promise— oh wait, right right right. Liyue. Sounds like a contract?
[ It should be no surprise to anyone that Rex Lapis would not completely step down after being the most powerful man in the city for who knows how many years now. That kind of position is hard to step away from. So, is being in control of that much power and influence.
(So perhaps when Zhongli reviews that film later, he might catch the blurry outline of Ajax in the same civilian clothes he wears now much later than he was claiming to stay out this night. He lingers in the shadows of the venue with an intense look of frustration in his eyes. One, two, three frames pass before he disappears back into the darkness as if he was never there at all.
After all, how was he supposed to know that he was the one who sent his prey away?) ]