[ Morax tilts his head to one side thoughtfully, listening to the conversation but not making any motion to reach for the phone. It's rather obvious (and quaint) what the other is trying to do. He's presenting his client on a silver platter, so that Morax might take revenge on the one that placed the hit out in the first place. It's an offering of trust and usefulness. How eager to please his newest recruit is.
(Ah, but what expression would Tartaglia make if he knew that is was one of Rex Lapis's men who made the call? That all of this was an elaborate set-up from the very beginning. After all, how else would they have enough information to lay the trap that would eventually catch the Vanguard within it's web.) ]
I assume that all of it is fake.
[ He exhales a long breath, an unimpressed look crossing his features. ]
Is this your way of saying you want me to take care of this? What terrible dinner conversation.
[ Childe sighs with some exasperation, a dramatic pout there for a moment. ] You're really going out of your way tonight to label me as a subpar date, Zhongl-xiansheng. You do this to everyone who wants to please you or am I just getting the warm welcome version?
[ Rolling his shoulders back once in a slow stretch, he pulls his phone back towards him. ] If you don't appreciate that particular kind of loyalty, I won't bother you with it. [ Tartaglia knows there are plenty of ways to demonstrate loyalty, but this is the only way with immediate gratification when you happen to be someone with a praise kink.
guess he'll have to really work for it.
opening the menu in front of him, he glances down at it with interest. He didn't realize it until now, but he's actually pretty hungry. At least he'll appreciate it when it arrives at the table. he glances back up at Zhongli curiously. ]
So, what are you planning to order, out of curiosity?
[ Zhongli's hand closes around Childe's wrist before he can pull the phone back completely, grip like iron though his expression never strays from more than mildly intrigued. He does not take the device outright, merely traces his fingertips along the pulse of Childe's wrist, head canted to one side. ]
My apologies. It was not my intention to make light of your hard work or craft.
Loyalty, I do appreciate. But I find it is best brewed like tea. Left to steep gradually over time and at precise moments to truly capture the best flavor of it.
[ He does not bother to look at the menu nor answer the silly small talk that Childe keeps trying to make. How rude of him, really. But perhaps he really was a terrible first date. ]
You are charming, even if I am not as charmed as you would like. But that comes with time and patience. Can you be patience for me?
[ Despite being a good deal into getting in people's personal space, the Mafia boss grabbing his wrist and simply holding him there has him flushing in his cheeks a bit awkwardly, even moreso when Zhongli speaks.
Well, he guesses those answers are good enough for now, even if he makes mental note with being told how to properly charm him. Time and patience have never been things Tartaglia considered on his side, but he also isn't one incapable of discipline and perseverance which require patience. Otherwise, he would not be where he is today, even if still trailing a long ways behind what he aspires to be. ]
Loyalty like tea, huh... [ he seems to understand what Zhongli is saying— more or less, huh. ] I can be patient... [ he insists, glancing off to the side with uncharacteristic shyness suddenly.
He's back to staring at the menu. Time to change the subject! ]
How many times have you been here, anyway, that you don't need to look at the menu? Maybe I should have picked a more exotic place. [ he mutters to himself then. ] Then again, I usually don't have a dinner date with a really rich guy so I guess it's still fine....
[ Zhongli shift's Childe's hand in his, lacing their fingers together as he watches the former Fatui avert his gaze. Interesting. Was that a flush of red on his cheeks or was that just a trick of the light? Or perhaps— was this clever performer putting on a new act in order to get what he wanted. Obedient — that might be what one might think Zhongli wants. (He does strictly in terms of business.) But business is not where he met Ajax. And hopefully business was not all that would be between them.
Hopefully. ]
Order what you like and order your fill. And choose for me as well. I will find a suitable drink for pairing.
Think of this as a soft initiation. A welcome to your new home.
[ Ajax pauses before nodding, looking back to the menu. He decides to select the same thing for them both: a Matsusaka beef tenderloin dish.
At first his idea is to go for a preparation something 'traditional,' but then realized that maybe he's trying too hard with this. So he selects the grilled steak option of preparation seasoned with salt and pepper at most served with roasted vegetables and a second side of choice. Simple, straightforward and undoctored. He's curious about what Zhongli pairs with it for a wine or otherwise. Just like horoscopes and blood types, and everything else really, there's always those that claim how someone prefers to pair their drink with their meal can be insight into just how compatible they may be with another.
Then again, they say that about a lot of things, don't they? ]
[ Predictably, Zhongli does pair it with a wine — a cabernet sauvignon. And not a cheap one as the two glasses themselves cost a few thousand mora. The waiter compliments them on their choice (even if politeness dictates they would required to do so anyway). A small part of Zhongli relaxes when the dish is not seafood (though Ajax could have easily chosen one off the menu seeing how close they were to the harbor). No need to give him that kind of ammunition this early on into the game.
He unlaces their fingers and folds his hands back in his lap. ]
Are you sure you are not familiar with the menu? While not one of the establishment's more extravagant dishes which helps promote the business through various influential food blogs and the like— you did pick the dish that put this restaurant on the map of Liyue.
[ Ajax hums thoughtfully. ] I mean... I feel like I might have read about it somewhere in passing and potentially forgot. But I usually like to pick my Valentine's Day restaurants as a new one every year. It would definitely be so weird of me to go the same place with someone new each time, right?
[ That would be weird, right...? ] these fine dining establishment don't have high turnover like fast food places, or anything. I don't know if I could take my love life being chronicled by the staff. Although, I guess the only real thing they would be able to come up with for it is that it's non-existent if I got a new person every year, right?
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no subject
(Ah, but what expression would Tartaglia make if he knew that is was one of Rex Lapis's men who made the call? That all of this was an elaborate set-up from the very beginning. After all, how else would they have enough information to lay the trap that would eventually catch the Vanguard within it's web.) ]
I assume that all of it is fake.
[ He exhales a long breath, an unimpressed look crossing his features. ]
Is this your way of saying you want me to take care of this? What terrible dinner conversation.
no subject
[ Rolling his shoulders back once in a slow stretch, he pulls his phone back towards him. ] If you don't appreciate that particular kind of loyalty, I won't bother you with it. [ Tartaglia knows there are plenty of ways to demonstrate loyalty, but this is the only way with immediate gratification when you happen to be someone with a praise kink.
guess he'll have to really work for it.
opening the menu in front of him, he glances down at it with interest. He didn't realize it until now, but he's actually pretty hungry. At least he'll appreciate it when it arrives at the table. he glances back up at Zhongli curiously. ]
So, what are you planning to order, out of curiosity?
no subject
My apologies. It was not my intention to make light of your hard work or craft.
Loyalty, I do appreciate. But I find it is best brewed like tea. Left to steep gradually over time and at precise moments to truly capture the best flavor of it.
[ He does not bother to look at the menu nor answer the silly small talk that Childe keeps trying to make. How rude of him, really. But perhaps he really was a terrible first date. ]
You are charming, even if I am not as charmed as you would like. But that comes with time and patience. Can you be patience for me?
no subject
Well, he guesses those answers are good enough for now, even if he makes mental note with being told how to properly charm him. Time and patience have never been things Tartaglia considered on his side, but he also isn't one incapable of discipline and perseverance which require patience. Otherwise, he would not be where he is today, even if still trailing a long ways behind what he aspires to be. ]
Loyalty like tea, huh... [ he seems to understand what Zhongli is saying— more or less, huh. ] I can be patient... [ he insists, glancing off to the side with uncharacteristic shyness suddenly.
He's back to staring at the menu. Time to change the subject! ]
How many times have you been here, anyway, that you don't need to look at the menu? Maybe I should have picked a more exotic place. [ he mutters to himself then. ] Then again, I usually don't have a dinner date with a really rich guy so I guess it's still fine....
no subject
[ Zhongli shift's Childe's hand in his, lacing their fingers together as he watches the former Fatui avert his gaze. Interesting. Was that a flush of red on his cheeks or was that just a trick of the light? Or perhaps— was this clever performer putting on a new act in order to get what he wanted. Obedient — that might be what one might think Zhongli wants. (He does strictly in terms of business.) But business is not where he met Ajax. And hopefully business was not all that would be between them.
Hopefully. ]
Order what you like and order your fill. And choose for me as well. I will find a suitable drink for pairing.
Think of this as a soft initiation. A welcome to your new home.
no subject
At first his idea is to go for a preparation something 'traditional,' but then realized that maybe he's trying too hard with this. So he selects the grilled steak option of preparation seasoned with salt and pepper at most served with roasted vegetables and a second side of choice. Simple, straightforward and undoctored. He's curious about what Zhongli pairs with it for a wine or otherwise. Just like horoscopes and blood types, and everything else really, there's always those that claim how someone prefers to pair their drink with their meal can be insight into just how compatible they may be with another.
Then again, they say that about a lot of things, don't they? ]
no subject
He unlaces their fingers and folds his hands back in his lap. ]
Are you sure you are not familiar with the menu? While not one of the establishment's more extravagant dishes which helps promote the business through various influential food blogs and the like— you did pick the dish that put this restaurant on the map of Liyue.
no subject
[ That would be weird, right...? ] these fine dining establishment don't have high turnover like fast food places, or anything. I don't know if I could take my love life being chronicled by the staff. Although, I guess the only real thing they would be able to come up with for it is that it's non-existent if I got a new person every year, right?