[ Zhongli isn't expecting to run into Baizhu here. He's definitely not expecting to run into him while Changsheng is nowhere to be found. While he recognizes the doctor immediately, the sight of him unaccompanied is jarring enough that Zhongli blinks before he nods. ]
You needn't apologize, Dr. Baizhu. Hospitality seems to be in short supply all around.
[ That's even before you consider all the people getting locked in closets. ]
[ His Vision, huh? Zhongli's gaze flicks to Baizhu's, and he supposes it's no surprise that the man arrived with his. Visions aren't mere trinkets, after all.
Which is a bit of a problem, because Zhongli's Vision is a trinket and thus didn't make the trip to the hotel with him. Would admitting to that be too strange? Bazihu isn't someone he can assume will accept everything at face value. On the other hand, does it really matter if he does grow suspicious? There's little he can do to confirm it here, and once they return to Liyue it's not likely that he'll share the information carelessly—or be believed even if he does.
Zhongli's considerations, ultimately, only take as long as it does for him to look to Baizhu's Vision and then meet his gaze again. ]
I'm afraid that avenue is closed to us.
[ And he doesn't elaborate further on that matter. ]
In any case, it may not be worth the risk of damaging the door to escape. If the hotel staff are capable of forcing us to come here in the first place, I'm sure they're able to force us to pay for any damages we cause.
[ Just as well that Baizhu’s failed to notice Zhongli’s lack of a Vision given everything else that’s been going on. Right now he’s just trying to steel himself for the inevitable, but it’s also hard to shake off the feeling that Director Hu might be hovering nearby, even if she’s nowhere near subtle enough to actually escape his detection. ]
So we only have one option left to us, then.
[ He might be willing to take his chances with waiting for some kind soul to get them out of there, but who knows how Zhongli might be feeling about this… ]
[ Breaking down the door is a bad idea, but waiting it out and hoping someone else comes to find them is an avenue available to them. Just not a terribly appealing one. ]
But if that method isn't appealing to you, I don't mind speeding things along.
[ At that comment, there's a burst of excited giggling from the spirit that locked them in here, and Zhongli looks a bit tired. Maybe it really is like Hu Tao is lurking nearby... ]
…It’s awkward, but I must admit that I’d rather be outside.
[ Partly so Zhongli doesn’t have to see him when his symptoms are acting up. But also to get away from that creepy voice, damn. Not that it scares him so much as that it reminds him of Director Hu, which can be a bit of a boner-killer.
[ 'Get it over with' seems to paint a pretty clear picture of the type of encounter Baizhu is ready for—which will at least not be a difficult encounter to provide.
So he doesn't say anything further. He nods, reaches up to cup the back of Baizhu's head, and then leans in the press their lips together. A little abrupt, to be certain, but Baizhu had said 'get this over with'. ]
[ …All right, he’s maybe regretting his choice of words a little because while he hadn’t expected to have to do this with Zhongli, it’s, well…he’d like to think his on-again, off-again business associate deserves a little more care than that.
All Zhongli’s getting at the moment is a startled moan, Baizhu flustered and wide-eyed at the suddenness of it all, at how…good it feels…
And in the next moment he decides to throw all caution to the wind and clutch at Zhongli’s shoulders to keep him in place then, the tip of his tongue flicking out to seek entry. ]
[ Leave it to Zhongli to rigidly adhere to the letter of an agreement, even in defiance of all other logic. But he's not some oblivious rube, either. If Baizhu genuinely wanted something perfunctory and to the point, he wouldn't be trying to deepen the kiss.
So Zhongli changes course. He parts his lips, readily and willingly, and turns his wrist so that he can comb his fingers through Baizhu's hair. ]
[ He doesn’t even realize that the door’s already been opened to them.
Nor does he care.
Maybe it’s just the stress of the whole thing, maybe somewhere deep down he’d found Zhongli rather attractive, or maybe it’s just the excitement of doing something so…forbidden… In any case, he feels their kiss heating up before he even realizes what a mistake this is—or isn’t. Hard to tell, when he’s sinking into the moment, desire shooting up his spine when Zhongli reciprocates, searching his mouth, letting the sensations take over, because fuck it. They’ll deal with this when they get out. If they get out.
His hands slide over Zhongli’s shoulders and over the back of his neck, brushing at his hair, and there’s something to be said about propping himself against someone as sturdy and spry as Zhongli. In his pleasure-addled mind, he only craves more.
…And it’s only with great reluctance that he has to part from the kiss, just a tad— ]
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for snakelace
[ Zhongli isn't expecting to run into Baizhu here. He's definitely not expecting to run into him while Changsheng is nowhere to be found. While he recognizes the doctor immediately, the sight of him unaccompanied is jarring enough that Zhongli blinks before he nods. ]
You needn't apologize, Dr. Baizhu. Hospitality seems to be in short supply all around.
[ That's even before you consider all the people getting locked in closets. ]
no subject
He sighs, leaning against a nearby rack of towels. Another coughing fit isn’t coming in anytime soon, but he’s tired all the same. ]
I don’t suppose your Vision will be of any help here…?
[ Baizhu does have his own strung at his hip like usual, though it’s completely inert at the moment. ]
no subject
Which is a bit of a problem, because Zhongli's Vision is a trinket and thus didn't make the trip to the hotel with him. Would admitting to that be too strange? Bazihu isn't someone he can assume will accept everything at face value. On the other hand, does it really matter if he does grow suspicious? There's little he can do to confirm it here, and once they return to Liyue it's not likely that he'll share the information carelessly—or be believed even if he does.
Zhongli's considerations, ultimately, only take as long as it does for him to look to Baizhu's Vision and then meet his gaze again. ]
I'm afraid that avenue is closed to us.
[ And he doesn't elaborate further on that matter. ]
In any case, it may not be worth the risk of damaging the door to escape. If the hotel staff are capable of forcing us to come here in the first place, I'm sure they're able to force us to pay for any damages we cause.
no subject
So we only have one option left to us, then.
[ He might be willing to take his chances with waiting for some kind soul to get them out of there, but who knows how Zhongli might be feeling about this… ]
no subject
[ Breaking down the door is a bad idea, but waiting it out and hoping someone else comes to find them is an avenue available to them. Just not a terribly appealing one. ]
But if that method isn't appealing to you, I don't mind speeding things along.
[ At that comment, there's a burst of excited giggling from the spirit that locked them in here, and Zhongli looks a bit tired. Maybe it really is like Hu Tao is lurking nearby... ]
no subject
[ Partly so Zhongli doesn’t have to see him when his symptoms are acting up. But also to get away from that creepy voice, damn. Not that it scares him so much as that it reminds him of Director Hu, which can be a bit of a boner-killer.
A helpless shrug and a smile. ]
Shall we get it over with, then?
no subject
So he doesn't say anything further. He nods, reaches up to cup the back of Baizhu's head, and then leans in the press their lips together. A little abrupt, to be certain, but Baizhu had said 'get this over with'. ]
no subject
All Zhongli’s getting at the moment is a startled moan, Baizhu flustered and wide-eyed at the suddenness of it all, at how…good it feels…
And in the next moment he decides to throw all caution to the wind and clutch at Zhongli’s shoulders to keep him in place then, the tip of his tongue flicking out to seek entry. ]
no subject
So Zhongli changes course. He parts his lips, readily and willingly, and turns his wrist so that he can comb his fingers through Baizhu's hair. ]
no subject
Nor does he care.
Maybe it’s just the stress of the whole thing, maybe somewhere deep down he’d found Zhongli rather attractive, or maybe it’s just the excitement of doing something so…forbidden… In any case, he feels their kiss heating up before he even realizes what a mistake this is—or isn’t. Hard to tell, when he’s sinking into the moment, desire shooting up his spine when Zhongli reciprocates, searching his mouth, letting the sensations take over, because fuck it. They’ll deal with this when they get out. If they get out.
His hands slide over Zhongli’s shoulders and over the back of his neck, brushing at his hair, and there’s something to be said about propping himself against someone as sturdy and spry as Zhongli. In his pleasure-addled mind, he only craves more.
…And it’s only with great reluctance that he has to part from the kiss, just a tad— ]
We might…be here for a while…