Ranma CMO Post

[nerdietalk]

(Source)

Stupid 90s aesthetic romance central.

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[hououji]

Why did you decide that so quickly?

[fluidgender]

[Her confidence shatters and she crumbles into herself.]

…the Saotome way taught me to fight for power and dominance. Miss Fuu offered only kindness and consideration.

It’s… a better way.

[hououji]

If you have no honor, why should the king and I trust you with our daughter?

[fluidgender]

[Her brain shatters deeper.]

I… I don’t know. Maybe you shouldn’t.

Maybe you definitely shouldn’t.

But I… I have nothing else I am capable of doing. The only thing I can do that seems worth doing is to protect Miss Fuu. To sacrifice my life if necessary.

[hououji]

I like your answers, child. You’re honest. It makes me believe you a bit more.

Do you know I was a firstborn, myself?

[fluidgender]

That's more reason not to trust me- who knows if I'm sayin' something stupid to someone else too...

Y-yeah?

[hououji]

I didn't say trust, I said believe.

Do you know what my skill is?

[fluidgender]

N-No... I assume its pretty powerful.

[hououji]

Stasis. I can freeze time for anyone. It is possibly worse than death.

[fluidgender]

[E-eep.]

...Daunting.

[hououji]

I don't need to tell you, then, to be good to my daughter?

[That, Ranma, is a threat.]

[fluidgender]

...That is a promise.

[Her fear gives way to steely certainty. She is certain that she must not fail.

She's lightly stroking Fuu's hair, which makes this steel certainty look really soft tbh.]

[hououji]

[ The queen glances down at Ranma’s hand on Fuu. Then she softens and smiles, looking back at Ranma’s face. ]

I hope you’re half as fond of her as she is of you.

[fluidgender]

Anyone would be lucky to have even a 1/100th of Miss Fuu’s kindness in their heart.

[hououji]

We’re very proud of who she’s become. But she wasn’t raised for war…

[fluidgender]

That's a good thing too.

[hououji]

It was a good thing, until we lost our eldest. Now it seems war is on the verge of erupting every day.

[fluidgender]

If people are raised for war, there's no guarantee they'll be fighting for peace. People raised for peace are the ones who build the world worth living in.

[hououji]

Or they become the martyrs that others fight for.

[She's still dressed in mourning clothes, including a veil over her hair.]

[fluidgender]

…war is not inevitable. It’s not something we’ll be rid of in our lifetime… but it’s not something every decision will lead to either.

[hououji]

You’re very young yet. I appreciate your idealism. But from the day Genma Saotome ordered his soldiers to light the match, there was no other outcome. The scale or timeframe are yet to be decided, but there will be war. We will do everything in our power to minimize the toll, but we’ve lost one daughter and nearly lost our second.

If we weren’t prepared for war now, it would mean our end. And in the transfer of power, our citizens would suffer most.

[fluidgender]

I don't... consider it my idealism. Its idealism I'm borrowing from others. I must pretend to believe in it, so that it can become real.

One of many wartime strategies we must use.

[hououji]

Then what do you truly believe?

[fluidgender]

I believe... power is what the world churns on. And power is obtained and controlled through violence. That violence may be physical or it may be material. But it is the function of all things.

But... that's not a good way for a leader to think. It is better to believe in things like justice and mercy. I believe Miss Fuu... her way of thinking is the best kind to hold power. To make mercy manifest.

I think the real duty is making the ideal possible, without ignoring reality.

[hououji]

Do you think it will truly serve her well in the coming war?