That... hm, I suppose that rather was the intention of it. [viktor admits, a little sheepish. the idea of just going up to pal and confessing empty handed certainly didn't feel right, and he's not so romantically illiterate to not realize a painstakingly homecooked meal is very much date material.] Or maybe it needs a candle? That does seem to be a deciding factor on the eh... the romantic atmosphere of a meal.

[he's torn between embarrassment and humor, the entire scope of this shift in dynamic still settling across him. he's torn between assessment of his own reactions and watching how it lights pals his face and- ugh, when the man smiles his eyes are truly unfair. criminal, how was he meant to stand stalwart against it? especially when he takes viktor's hand and their fingers can intertwine without and of the muddled second guessing he would have a day before, a week before.]

I can make an itemized list, if you would like. [his typical dry humor is lost a little on how he can't keep a certain embarrassing giddiness out of tone, one he has to clear his throat to try and chase away, back to the bright thumping of his heart.] One, I am a better cook than you and have an excellent memory for preference, so soon enough I will be able to offer an good, approved variety of potential menus for dates such as this.

Two- [he taps a finger against pal's hand, leaning in a little himself and all his hard work pushed to the side to be ignored for now.] - I excel at mechanical work and general construction, so I will be able to offer you as many bookshelves as you may like for the endless amount of notebooks you seem to accrue. And three-

[his gaze softens a touch, and with his vulnerabilities and sentimentalities so routinely accepted and even rewarded it's shockingly easy to say,] I find your smile a marvelous thing and will go to great lengths to see it. I want very much to make you happy, should we pursue this. It's something I would strive for because you... you are a remarkable person.