I'll have to start guessing. [Technically, a fun new project? No, that's silly; he'll be content with this other definition, for now. His personal brand of affection doesn't normally extend into this kind of term of endearment, but since it's the thing Viktor offered, well. An exception?

He glances down at the table, mumbling the word a few times over before he's satisfied he isn't totally mangling it.] In that case: you're blushing, miláčku.

[God, they get more saccharine the longer this fish takes to be cooked. Palamedes doesn't even know what a sorbet is, either-]

Stop, though, you're going to put me on the floor. Why? The food doesn't know what you cut it with. That is seriously... unhinged.