Ranma CMO Post

[nerdietalk]

(Source)

Stupid 90s aesthetic romance central.

Comments

[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?

[fluidgender]

...It will. If someone only cares about power, they will hoard their wealth to keep it. Miss Fuu... she would do a lot to keep the people safe. And as long as we can act on that will, people will choose that safety over anything her enemies could offer.

[hououji]

And yet she was nearly killed showing mercy to Saotome knights.

… I hope you’re right. You may be a good influence on her.

[fluidgender]

...I disagree. She is a far better influence on me.

[hououji]

Fuu wasn’t raised in the same way her sister was. We allowed her more freedoms, thinking she would never need to inherit the throne. We thought it was best to shield her from the worst, knowing her role as princess would be elevated if she were beloved by her people. She’s good natured to start, and we encouraged it further.

But our shortsightedness could lead to danger for her.

[fluidgender]

Maybe. But...

As a first-born, I was molded too well by own parents. I'm... still learning how to be someone outside of their expectations. The person I could have been... maybe could have protected more people that the person that I am.

Ah- Not that. I meant that. As a judgment? Ma'am? [R-royalty...]

[hououji]

A firstborn? Then you’re of noble descent?

What’s your family name?

[fluidgender]

…one that… lost its honor years ago. Your highness. We were never welcome in royal court and never deserved to be. And I have vowed to abandon the name entirely and speak of it as little as I am able.