[14 // video // 10 March]

[want_the_world]

[The video shows not the sender's face, but a puppy, most of a black-clad leg, and a bare foot with the remnants of black polish on the toenails. The puppy's growling and tugging at the jagged hem of the leather pants, as if they're a threat that must be neutralized.]

Who the hell does this belong to?

[Mello tries to pull his leg away, but the puppy seems to see this as escalation of the game, and gives a little bark before seizing the leather again.]

Hey! These were expensive, you little fucker!

[The picture goes dark as the communicator lands on the floor.]

Comments

[voice]

[want_the_world]

This one obviously has superior taste.

[He picked Mello to follow home, after all.]

And he's not mine.

[hexappeal]

It would seem so! Less of a mutt, too.

So, are you just going to abandon him, then? [The world's tiniest violin.] Seems to like you.

[want_the_world]

No, he belongs to someone else.

And I tried to leave him in the park. No dice.

[hexappeal]

Do you know whom he belongs to?

Or not, since you were going to just leave him behind.

[want_the_world]

Yes, I'm talking to him.

That's why I bothered with video in the first place.

And random animals that accost me in the park are not automatically my responsibility.

[hexappeal]

I don't know if they're cute they should be!

[want_the_world]

Have you met me?

[He's amused.]

[hexappeal]

I'm choosing to ignore the part where you don't come off as a guy who goes around cuddling baby animals.

[want_the_world]

So... my entire personality?

[hexappeal]

Yes. Blank slate. It's working out well!

[want_the_world]

If I ever meet your mental version of me, remind me to punch him.

[hexappeal]

Oh, but the mental version is so precious. I'd feel terrible doing that!

[want_the_world]

It'll toughen him up.

[hexappeal]

I guess he could use that. Maybe he'll learn to stand up for himself.

[want_the_world]

Come on. Even a version of me that cuddles puppies and kisses babies would be stubborn.

[hexappeal]

It only makes the cuddling that much more precious.

[want_the_world]

I salute your dedication to your delusion.

[hexappeal]

If I must be deluded, I'm going to put some effort into it!