powerisyours | (no subject)

[ he's wiggling a little to pull a newspaper clipping out of his pocket. it's from the gorilla delivery service, naturally ]

There. Can you read that?

I can read! [takes the paper indignantly, before just staring at it a minute]

..."meishu"?

[i am already lost, bro]

It was more of a question as to whether you could read something entirely in Chinese. [ rolling over to face you ]

"Meng Zhu", to us. Takeru told me once that it would be similar to your "tono".

Oh. Yeah. [drags you back down again, pushing soft fingers through your hair] Like I care about that, though.

[ shakes his head ] I know that. I'm not worried about that, but it may help explain why I am the way I am. Takeru lead you and your comrades against the evils of your world. My job was similar, except I had my dimension's Imperial Army at my command, and it was my duty to keep the protective barrier supplied with energy. Or at least, that's what it should have been. The other dimensions falling to evil made it my responsibility to fix our universe before it collapses entirely. It's my responsibility to find the Ultimate Iron Man--one of very few people in my world more powerful than myself--and make sure he's properly trained so I can transfer my Original Power to him.

[ tilting his head and nuzzling against your hand ] It's lonely, yes, but it's a necessary sacrifice. If being alone all the time and having the vast majority of the population treating me like an all-knowing untouchable is what it takes to keep my dimension safe, I'll do it.

Huh.

[turning and dragging you in against him]

...m'glad you're here.

Me too. For now, at least.

[ look at all these snuggles, Chiaki ]

I know not very many people here care about that sort of thing, but for the sake of not alerting those who do, I'd prefer you didn't say anything about it. And don't go start calling me "Meng Zhu", even in jest; I get enough of that from Xia Tian.

[ making an annoyed face ] I almost prefer being called "Xiao Wu" than "Meng Zhu".

[he stills against you, a look crossing his face]

...Xiao Wu?

[ raises an eyebrow and tilts his head to look at you ]

Yes?

[that look you saw before was unholy glee]

That is so cute.

. . . How so.

It is! [laughing and pinching your cheek]

[ this face ]

That's not an answer.

[pinches both your cheeks, grinning broadly]

Then you won't mind if I call you that.

[ grumpyface! ]

You'll do it even if I tell you not to, so I can't really stop you.

That's right. [cheerfully]

I could permanently mute you.

[ this faaaaaace ]

You wouldn't. You like me. [and i'm snuggling your puppy]

I do, for some strange reason.

[ MY PUPPY. . . . okay i'll share]

[now you know how takeru feels with you and his cat]

Hey, it's not strange! I'm awesome. [kicking you a little]

[ at least I am willing to share. she likes you and I am not afraid of her sharing her affection with other people UNLIKE CERTAIN SHIBA TAKERUS. it's not my fault Shirahadori likes me too :| ]

Well, yeah. Maybe. [ nudging you with his foot ] Do it if you must. But I reserve the right to punch you in the face if you call me Meng Zhu.

Hey, no! I won't, anyway. I've never even called Takeru 'tono'--well, not seriously, I guess. When he gets all overbearing and annoying, maybe, but that's just to tell him he's being overbearing and annoying without actually saying so.

[ grins ] In that case, I'll give you the same privilege. If I'm trying to pull rank without good reason, call me on it. [ pushing his face against your shoulder]

Kane calls me that, but it doesn't bother me as much when he does it because he doesn't actually know the significance of it. I think he heard Xia Tian call me Meng Zhu and just thought it was a nickname.

Fair enough. [mussing your hair before he pokes you, laughing] That's not a nickname! Xiao Wu is a nickname.

It could be, if you didn't know what it meant. [ poking your face! and this puppy is just getting very lick-happy ]

Except she might think you're calling her.