Ranma CMO Post

[nerdietalk]

(Source)

Stupid 90s aesthetic romance central.

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[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…

[fluidgender]

There is no other place I would rather be.

[Which maybe indicates, no matter how much Ranma has been trying to hide it, the truth that…

There’s no other place for her out there.]

[hououji]

[ Fuu kneels to gently take Ranma’s face in her hands. ] The world is a wide place. You don’t have to serve in it. You can do anything you’d like.

[fluidgender]

[Ahhh…

Her regal demeanor kind of breaks a little, fighting off a blush by this personal a touch.]

…I’ve served bad houses. I… wanna serve a good one.

[hououji]

You still shouldn’t promise your entire life to me. I don’t want that… I don’t want to be like those awful houses.

[fluidgender]

…even so…

That’s why I wanna serve ya… because you aren’t like that.

[hououji]

[ She sighs softly. And then, still very gently holding Ranma’s face, kisses her forehead. ]

Then… if this is really what you want… I accept your offer.

[fluidgender]

[She accepts it with honor and grace, although not without some nerves.

This... this is the best way to atone... isn't it?]

Thank you... Fuu.

[...oh she supposes. She hadn't really thought through the actual job. And a maid with knight training is suspicious. Uh.]

I... if you don't have any normal openings, I could be... a poison taste tester?

[They always need one of those, right?]

[hououji]

Absolutely not! I’m not sacrificing someone else to make sure I’m not poisoned!

[fluidgender]

You aren't sacrificing- its a safe precaution...

[hououji]

And if someone eats something poisoned they’ll die in my place! Absolutely not.

[fluidgender]

[That doesn't make sense... its almost like she's saying they don't have a poison tester at all... Ranma can't understand that.]

I'm not sure what other value I could be to you...

[hououji]

There are so many things you can do without putting your life in danger! Is that the kind of thing the Saotomes made you do?

[fluidgender]

If it keeps the staff safe and well-paid, it should be alright to take on that burden…

[…she supposes she should have fought harder against having a poison tester though. It just seemed easier to let that battle go and focus on other staff…]

[hououji]

But how could it keep them safe if it was poisoned…? It’s an incredible risk…

[fluidgender]

There’s medical experts on standby with antidotes as needed…

Well, until Lord Genma had one executed. The others escaped afterwards.

[hououji]

Executed?! Whatever for?

[fluidgender]

The Lord was paranoid leading up to recent events. Increasingly. He was certain there was a plot to kill him involving everyone in the town.

I wish there was.

[hououji]

It wouldn’t have happened if only he’d not attacked others.

[fluidgender]

The signs were clear. All it took was choosing not to see it.

I, the heir Saotome, and the fiercest of the knights... no one stopped him. We all obeyed.

[The way she says that last part is ambiguous. It sounds likes she's referring to three separate people. But it could also refer to one person.]

[hououji]

Did you… know him? The heir?

Do you think he’ll be a danger to us here?

[fluidgender]

[...She hesitates.]

...I think the heir would rather be dead than allow any further bloodshed.

[hououji]

Is that true? I’ve heard… rumors. About how vicious he is. And with the lord and lady…

[fluidgender]

The heir Saotome is the most vicious, horrible, deadly creature on this planet.

And wishes desperately not to be.