[ This was not how this was supposed to go and yet somehow Zhongli is not surprised at all by this turn of events. It's long overdue really for Childe to turn his blade on him.
But still stubborn stubborn Zhongli had hoped that Childe would return from Springstar willingly. Not be dragged back here kicking and screaming by Kaeya and dumped on his own doorstep. Definitely not to have a rival god watching like this was some spectator sport.
Grimacing, Zhongli bites back the violence and unnatural itching under skin as he has spent more time away from Highstorm than is healthy. But that had been a necessity just like this had. He's tired and frustrated. Tired of the useless searching. Tired of the waiting. And most definitely tired of his complete inability to provide what Childe wanted. Let alone what Childe actually needed.
Do better by Childe, hmmm? Isn't that what Set had said?
(Perhaps he had approaching this all wrong from the very start.)
A shrill scraping echoes through the foyer as the hydro dagger clashes against Zhongli's shield, motes of gold criss-crossing around the god in a wide berth. The Harbinger gets nowhere near scratching him, a hairline crack appearing in the gold the only evidence of his attack. Not that Zhongli has any intention of giving him another opportunity as he reaches out to grab Childe by the throat and bodily throw him down onto the floor. ]
Childe.
[ Look, see. He can listen. He can throw away the formalities— connecting as it were. (Maybe if it didn't sound so sharp anyway.)
Zhongli slides the weight of his palm down to the center of Childe's chest, using his weight to pin him down for the moment. ]
If it is a fight you desire, you may have one but not here where things of immeasurable value to you might be destroyed.
[ He glances back at Set, half to raise his other hand in a showing that he will not escalate his offense any further and half to see whether or not he will intervene. Either way, the other god is being half-addressed. ]
Or you may return back to Springstar alongside your friend. I will not stop you.
no subject
But still stubborn stubborn Zhongli had hoped that Childe would return from Springstar willingly. Not be dragged back here kicking and screaming by Kaeya and dumped on his own doorstep. Definitely not to have a rival god watching like this was some spectator sport.
Grimacing, Zhongli bites back the violence and unnatural itching under skin as he has spent more time away from Highstorm than is healthy. But that had been a necessity just like this had. He's tired and frustrated. Tired of the useless searching. Tired of the waiting. And most definitely tired of his complete inability to provide what Childe wanted. Let alone what Childe actually needed.
Do better by Childe, hmmm? Isn't that what Set had said?
(Perhaps he had approaching this all wrong from the very start.)
A shrill scraping echoes through the foyer as the hydro dagger clashes against Zhongli's shield, motes of gold criss-crossing around the god in a wide berth. The Harbinger gets nowhere near scratching him, a hairline crack appearing in the gold the only evidence of his attack. Not that Zhongli has any intention of giving him another opportunity as he reaches out to grab Childe by the throat and bodily throw him down onto the floor. ]
Childe.
[ Look, see. He can listen. He can throw away the formalities— connecting as it were. (Maybe if it didn't sound so sharp anyway.)
Zhongli slides the weight of his palm down to the center of Childe's chest, using his weight to pin him down for the moment. ]
If it is a fight you desire, you may have one but not here where things of immeasurable value to you might be destroyed.
[ He glances back at Set, half to raise his other hand in a showing that he will not escalate his offense any further and half to see whether or not he will intervene. Either way, the other god is being half-addressed. ]
Or you may return back to Springstar alongside your friend. I will not stop you.