Fantasy AUs

[nerdietalk]

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[fluidgender]

Well ain't you awful proud of yourself...

[phoenix_temple]

I’m very good at helping people be optimistic.

[fluidgender]

[Huffs again!]

I'm changing for dinner- you didn't get the last word on this!!

[phoenix_temple]

Do you need me to accompany you? Or should I find staff kitchens?

[fluidgender]

I can dress myself, I ain't that spoiled.

[phoenix_temple]

I mean to dinner!

[fluidgender]

Oh. [She thinks about it. Thinks about putting Fuu into close proximity to Pops again so soon.] ...Ah figure its fine. Probably better for ya to meet more people, I think.

[phoenix_temple]

I won’t be expected to be there?

[fluidgender]

Its dinner at home, the room's already gonna be full with waiting staff. If we had guests or we were at other houses, it'd be another thing but. Right now its fine.

[phoenix_temple]

If you’re certain…

I’ll see you tomorrow then?

[fluidgender]

[She lets herself be indulgent, bowing to Fuu.] Tomorrow.

[phoenix_temple]

[ She jumps right out of her skin. ] D-don’t bow to me?!

[fluidgender]

[Oh that just makes her grin wider.] Oh, so I can surprise you!

[phoenix_temple]

You’re a noble! I should be the one bowing?!

[fluidgender]

If I'm so special, I think it means I can do what I like?

[phoenix_temple]

It’s improper though…

[fluidgender]

Improper, huh...

[She puts a finger to her lips and gives Fuu a wink.] Our secret then, right?

[phoenix_temple]

[ She still looks a little uneasy. ] You promise?

[fluidgender]

I promise.

[The first of many secret ways Ranma will try to fluster Fuu, without a doubt.]

[phoenix_temple]

[ Fuu… settles after a time. Days into weeks into months, she becomes a constant presence in Ranma’s life. She stays upbeat as much as she can, and when at all possible she makes sure she’s between Ranma and Genma.

She gets taller, over the next two years, but not by much. She does, however, get much more likely to tease Ranma, good-naturedly. ]

[fluidgender]

[The staff and the wider noble community get used to Fuu, although the former take greater notice than the latter. The head chef is clearly quite fond of Fuu, in his gruff way. The butlers and other guards a little more terse and irritable. A few maids are outright nasty, but most are pleasant. There's a poison taste tester utilized by a few nobles that is happy to exchange book recs to Fuu whenever their paths cross.

Ranma, despite her proclamations, does... change a bit in the two years too. She's less rough and tumble, she complains less when forced into a fancy outfit. Sometimes she actually enjoys a dress or looking put together actually, especially if her ego gets to receive some compliments.

Or if she can find a way to tease Fuu.

Of course, anyone pointing out that Ranma's "changed" is a ticket to trouble. There's a visit to some noble estate where Nodoka couldn't help but spend time praising that her daughter's "finally become refined." Within twenty minutes, Ranma left the area for mingling, ripped off the ends of the dress, and rode a noble's horse in circles on muddy ground. Outfit and reputation sufficiently ruined for a little while.

But she stayed within the horse pen so Fuu wouldn't have to chase after her.

One maid jokes that Ranma would only change for Fuu, not for anyone else. Another member of staff chides her for such an audacious claim above station, but there's some laughter that indicates other people believe it.]

[hououji]

[Fuu is a bright presence in a way very different from her father. While he was always ready with a laugh to cheer others up, Fuu is a warm calm--the kind of person who could convince anyone that things would be all right. She's like a cool breeze beckoning night after a hot day.

There are a few incidents Fuu never reports to Ranma. Foiled attacks, blades crossed, injuries sustained and healed and hidden. And true to Fuu's original explanation, the only time she's ever injured without immediate healing are spars she offers to Ranma. She's good enough to never be hurt badly, but those are the only time Ranma ever sees her bandaged and healing.

The horse incident just left Fuu in giggles, though she did manage to pull herself together enough when they were discovered to explain "well, my lady is refined enough that she still shows grace when in such a state! It's quite a talent."

At every moment, she's true to her oath: she's always on Ranma's side.]

[fluidgender]

[Its not subtle: Ranma likes Fuu's laugh. She tries to get it out of her any chance she gets. Her general smug smile always gets a little bit wider whenever she hears it.]

[phoenix_temple]

[ Ranma will get her laugh easy and often.

Though she probably still hasn’t endeared herself to Genma because she hasn’t tried. She has to be very stoic around him as much as she really doesn’t like it. She’s hopefully getting more successful at protecting Ranma from him. ]

[fluidgender]

[Genma, at least, travels a lot. He can only stand to be around his party of cruel guards and clearly doesn't enjoy being around the staff and the family.

Nodoka is tough in different ways. She's stern beneath a pleasant smile and makes various vicious comments disguised as "polite observation." She makes sweeping, broad punishments that impact people in ways she can even see. Genma likes to see the damage in front of him, Nodoka will arrange things that hurt Ranma and the staff outside of her field of vision. Sometimes its hard to tell if she's even aware she's doing it.]