Ranma CMO Post

[nerdietalk]

(Source)

Stupid 90s aesthetic romance central.

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[hououji]

… you don’t have to be angry for our sakes.

[fluidgender]

I’m not. I’m… generally angry. All the time.

[hououji]

I'm not sure that's healthy. Is there anything we can do tohelp?

[fluidgender]

...are you... offering to help someone be less angry about unfair your situation is?

[hououji]

I don’t think this is helping your healing is all. And Kuu would want me to help as much as I could.

[fluidgender]

...What would you want to do, though?

[hououji]

I’m a healer. I’d want to do whatever would help you get back on your feet.

[fluidgender]

[She breathes out through her nose, something like... a smile on her face? Its small, but its clear.]

...You're an interesting person, Princess.

[hououji]

I don’t mind if you call me by name. It always seems a bit formal to use titles…

[fluidgender]

...Lady Houoji.

[Oh, that's- that's her attempt at a correction. That's the less formal thing she can think to say.

She blinks as if this is natural. Or maybe as if she's testing the waters.]

[hououji]

My mother is the lady for now. Fuu would be fine, it is my name, and many of the servants and hackers use it! Even the knights do.

[fluidgender]

[She's quiet, for a little bit.]

...you're really really interesting... Fuu.

Healers lmao

[hououji]

I can only hope in a good way!

[fluidgender]

...yeah. In a good way.

[And Ranma's health continues to improve! She can't stay out of bed too long, but she's able to walk around with more stability. And very quickly, she tries to help out Fuu where she can.]

[hououji]

[ fuu is ecstatic to see her up and about! She doesn’t ask anything of Ranma, though, except what she might like to do with her time now. ]

[fluidgender]

There's people who need bandages replaced, right? I can help with that...

[hououji]

I mean… now that you’re healed. I’m happy to have you with me, but you can do anything you’d like.

[fluidgender]

You healed me. And protected me from inquisitors. I owe you a lot of debt.

[hououji]

I also destroyed your home.

[fluidgender]

Did you personally burn down the stone with your own hand?

Castle Saotome destroyed other homes. It was only fair that it receive what it dealt to others.

[There really was a clear switch in how she talked once she got healthier. Her casual drawl still slips in but… she’s speaking a lot more formally and refined.]

Any other noble family would have my head on a spike for what the Saotome house has done.

[hououji]

We’re not just any noble family. We’re the royal family. We need to rule with grace and compassion.

And the way I see it, a maid never hurt us. The battle… [ She clutches her chest a bit, as if it’s painful. ] It was unavoidable to prevent more people from losing their loved ones. But none of you could have stopped what the Saotomes did. They’d’ve killed you.

[fluidgender]

I could have killed them first.

[Casually, with certainty.]

If the Lord was dead, the castle would be too frazzled to launch a campaign. Lives would have been saved. I failed to do the responsible thing to do.

[hououji]

If the lord was dead, it would have fallen to his heir. From what I’ve heard… our defeat would have been inevitable.

[fluidgender]

[...that's true. The fall of the castle, the fate of Lord Genma... honor would demand certain things from the heir.

Unless...

Ranma kneels at Fuu's feet.]

Then I pledge myself to your service. I swear, to repay the kindness you have given me and the damage the Saotome house has committed, to protect and serve you until my dying breath.

[hououji]

[ Fuu falls back a step, stunned. ] T-that kind of thing isn’t necessary… You should get to live the kind of life you want…