Ranma ½ Career Opportunities 6

[Lawra]

Ranma nodded in understanding, this was a wildly uncomfortable situation. He was struggling to keep his composure, using the precious few tips he had picked up from living at the Masaki home to keep himself calm. It helped that he had several people in his life that seemed to genuinely care for him, unlike his own mother. Pausing, he found that realization to be thoroughly depressing.

ôRanma!ö AkaneÆs shout broke into his musings just before she started to pummel him about the shoulders.

ôOuch! Hey quit it!ö Being limited as he was, he couldnÆt even run away from his violent tomboy fiancÚ.

ôThen quit feeling sorry for yourself and talk to your mom, you idiot!ö The youngest Tendo hit him over the head one more time for emphasis.

æFat load of good you two are.Æ He glowered briefly at his former roommates who had sat idly by while one of the lawless natives assaulted him. æBut I should try.Æ Noticing all the eyes in the room were locked on to him, Ranma leveled a simmering glare to the onlookers.

ôI think I left the oven on.ö Kasumi took the hint and rose to rush out of the door.

ôLetÆs go check out that little pond outside.ö Corina volunteered and pulled Adilynn outside.

ôThis is a perfect time for you to give me back all my clothes that you borrowed.ö Akane motioned for Nabiki to follow her.

ôItÆll be five hundred yen for making me search.ö The middle sister reluctantly left the scene of an upcoming awkward conversation.

Sitting in the painfully tense room with just himself and Nodoka, Ranma cursed Washu and Seto for sending him down to Nerima for the day. This was likely all part of their plan. Was their goal to push him towards Seto and adoption? Or was it some emotional garbage about reconciling with his real mother? Either option was equally likely along with any number of plots that werenÆt so immediately obvious.

Nodoka was the one to break the silence first. ôI waited so long--.ö She paused, staring down at the floor. ôEverydayù every month-- every yearù waiting for Genma to return and bring back my child.ö She paused again, dabbing at her eyes with her kimono sleeve. ôAnd then I heard that you were to go off into space, to do something no other man has done. At first I was so proud it felt like I would burst. But then I realized that I would likely never see my son ever againùand it hurt.ö

Ranma swallowed the painful lump forming in his throat. He had spent his life never caring that he had another parent. But Nodoka had spent that entire time waiting for the moment he would return home to her. Crazy or not, he was starting to consider her position better. He remembered their first meeting, what should have been a joyous moment had been ruined by his fatherÆs attempt to hide.

ôI may have been overzealous in my expectationsùbut I wasnÆt expecting my husband and son to hide and lie to me.ö Nodoka finished disappointedly, sniffling but sitting with as much dignity as she could.

He looked away, ashamed of going along with his fatherÆs ruse.

ôAs disappointed as I am in your character, I justùI donÆt know how I am supposed to respond to it.ö She visibly deflated, staring impassively at the floor.

Ranma breathed out through his nose and stood up. ôOriginally I accepted a life in space for a cure and when I finally had it within my grasp-- I hesitated-- until I met you. I was cured because I had to meet my mother as her son. When given the chanceùI hesitated again.ö Sighing, he felt like such a coward. ôEven if you ask me to fulfill that contract I canÆt. IÆm a coward who will choose the obligations I made myself.ö Squeezing his hands into his fists and closing his eyes, he hated admitting it. ôSoùgo ahead and say I committed seppuku if thatÆs so important. Chances areùIÆll never be back to this planet, so no one will ever know.ö

Sparing his shocked mother one last look and trying to hide despondency, he mustered his resolve, and tried to calmly walk outside towards the koi pond. Both of his roommates looked as though they had heard the entire exchange and made a point not to meet his gaze. Bringing up his hand, he hit several keys on his wrist computer. ôSeto.ö He demanded angrily. ôI know you can hear me.ö He growled at the blank viewscreen. ôIÆm done playing this game!ö

X x x x x x

Nodoka knelt on the floor in complete and utter shock. Ranma had wanted to meet her as a man and had cured himself for her. This was all some sort of horrible misunderstanding! Slipping on her kimono in her blind panic to rush after her son, she ran out into the yard, and collapsed at his feet.

ôRanma! Wait--.ö She had no further time to beg for understanding because the world vanished around her briefly. The oppressive heat of Tokyo was replaced with a gentle breeze and fresh air. Blinking repeatedly, she rubbed at her eyes, trying to come to terms with the vast grassy field she was now in. Nodoka traced the forested edge of the field until she couldnÆt help but gape at the tree large enough to be a skyscraper that dominated the landscape. ôWhereùwhere am I?ö

ôOopsies.ö A woman she recognized as Kamiki Seto from the other night exclaimed with false surprise, a fan held in front of her face. ôAnd to answer your question youÆre aboard my ship, Mikagami.ö

ôShip?ö She asked intelligently, noticing that she was no longer clutching RanmaÆs clothing, and her child was located a short distance away. The two women who were accompanying her son were nowhere to be seen, leaving just Seto, Ranma, and herself. A wooden table made up of a slice taken from one giant tree trunk sat nearby along with three chairs.

ôItÆs a very large ship.ö Seto added, snapping her fan shut. ôI thought you two could use some real privacy and maybe a second opinion. Please, make yourself comfortable. Would you like anything to drink?ö

ôOùokay.ö She nodded and mechanically stood up to walk towards the table. ôSome water would be nice.ö

ôRanma.ö The mint haired woman motioned towards the table, the black haired teen frowned but took a seat across from her. Nodoka jerked to the side as an attendant wearing dark green robes with her face covered appeared and poured her a glass of water.

Focusing on her child, Nodoka recovered enough of her faculties to try, and patch up the situation. ôRanma, this is all just a big misunderstanding.ö

ôI agree-.ö Seto tried to break in.

ôPlease be quiet.ö She interrupted the woman who looked at her in amused shock. ôSonùplease donÆt leave.ö She pleaded. ôWhatever is going onùI know we can work it out. Pleaseùplease donÆt leave me again.ö She begged, wringing her hands with enough force to hurt. Nodoka could see a mix of hope and pain in her sonÆs eyes.

ôIf I mayùperhaps this would be easier for you both if there wasnÆt a death pact hanging over your heads.ö The other woman suggested.

ôBut itÆs--.ö She pulled the old piece of paper out and laid it flat on the table. The ink was old and faded but even GenmaÆs terrible hand writing was still legible. Nodoka was going to say that it was all she had. This piece of paper had been everything to her, the one link she had to her husband and child.

ôWould you rather a piece of paper, or the real thing?ö Seto asked.

ôMy son.ö She answered and felt tears start to fall from her eyes. But she couldnÆt just accept him. He had to be manly, over a decade of her life had been spent waiting and expecting Genma to return, it couldnÆt be for nothing.

ôThen you donÆt need this, do you?ö Seto slowly drew the paper away from her.

ôBut heÆs going to leave againùheÆll be on another planet! What am I supposed to do?ö She asked the other woman desperately.

ôWell since youÆve asked there are several means of communication available and Ranma may be soon in a position to visit Earth anytime he wants.ö The tall woman explained and held up the contract. ôHeÆs only lost to you if this is more important.ö

Nodoka stared at the paper in indecision. ôOur family honor will be forever tarnished unless--.ö She paused and let out a ragged breath.


----------

Two options, since it doesn't really affect the story, does Ranma say screw you and your piece of paper that's more important, or do they patch things up somewhat and agree to talk things out?

 

[WarGiver]

Canon wise she would have tossed the contract as soon as she met male Ranma as her son, AFAIR the contract was largely a non-issue and not mentioned again once she met him as her son, then again there was an event of him saving her life.

If Seto had not interfered to begin with it likely would have gone that way, but she had, Ranma might just turn his back to his mother at this point being high on emotions just to spite Seto.

Perhaps a medium of Ranma saying something spiteful and Seto simply giving him room (Though not leaving orbit) for a bit and letting him cool down before getting one of the former roommates from trying to get him to give his mother a chance. though I suspect that she might need to use someone to tell them its a good idea, it would also give them plausable deniability if Ranma outright asks if Seto put them up to it.

 

[Lawra]

Canon wise she would have tossed the contract as soon as she met male Ranma as her son, AFAIR the contract was largely a non-issue and not mentioned again once she met him as her son, then again there was an event of him saving her life.

Canon wise she sat there holding it above his head even going so far as to get the sword and Genma had to calm her down just because he moping about in his room over Akane.

 

[WarGiver]

it has been a while since I have read the manga so my bad there, but still, with how Ranma is painted atm in your fic he might just reject his adopted parrent (Seto) through rejecting his biological one which Seto is trying to cause some reconnection.

 

[Lanceavalon]

Canon wise she would have tossed the contract as soon as she met male Ranma as her son, AFAIR the contract was largely a non-issue and not mentioned again once she met him as her son, then again there was an event of him saving her life.

Canon wise she sat there holding it above his head even going so far as to get the sword and Genma had to calm her down just because he moping about in his room over Akane.

I say he lays down an ultimatum, don't bring it up ever, judge me for me, and when she doesn't he blows up on her and Seto for setting this shit up and forcing him to do what Seto thinks is right.

For once I'd like to see Ranma go off in a coherent rant on someone that doesn't sound like a temper tantrum.

But yeah I like this and want to see more thank you.

 

[Lawra]

I say he lays down an ultimatum, don't bring it up ever, judge me for me, and when she doesn't he blows up on her and Seto for setting this shit up and forcing him to do what Seto thinks is right.

For once I'd like to see Ranma go off in a coherent rant on someone that doesn't sound like a temper tantrum.

But yeah I like this and want to see more thank you.

While I do have Ranma effectively refusing the contract before leaving Earth, I do find that him throwing Nodoka out as well when she's acting conflicted and confused over it to be overly cruel and against the slightly more thoughtful person he's been forced to become. But him going out of his way to patch things up with a woman he barely knows is also out there.

Even though this is long term not an important event, it's still bugging me with how to proceed.

 

[Lanceavalon]

I say he lays down an ultimatum, don't bring it up ever, judge me for me, and when she doesn't he blows up on her and Seto for setting this shit up and forcing him to do what Seto thinks is right.

For once I'd like to see Ranma go off in a coherent rant on someone that doesn't sound like a temper tantrum.?

But yeah I like this and want to see more thank you.

While I do have Ranma effectively refusing the contract before leaving Earth, I do find that him throwing Nodoka out as well when she's acting conflicted and confused over it to be overly cruel and against the slightly more thoughtful person he's been forced to become. But him going out of his way to patch things up with a woman he barely knows is also out there.

Even though this is long term not an important event, it's still bugging me with how to proceed.

He throws down the one more chance ultimatum, whether you think Nodoka could handle never bringing it up again, or she starts talking about 'that isn't manly' five minutes later without noticing, and Ranma flips out on the both of them it's up to you.

 

[Lawra]

He throws down the one more chance ultimatum, whether you think Nodoka could handle never bringing it up again, or she starts talking about 'that isn't manly' five minutes later without noticing, and Ranma flips out on the both of them it's up to you.

Except that's the kind of thing I want to avoid. It screams author insert and having foreknowledge the characters should not have.

All Ranma knows right now is that Nodoka is/was serious about the contract, he can see that she's been using it as a symbol of him for over a decade and is reluctant to let that go. If anything he should feel pity for how her life turned out not anger at her weird views, when he's already said he's not going to go through with it. However, does he pity her enough to put up with her or does he have a reason to feel strongly enough to cut ties?

 

[PCHeintz72]

Personally... even had he felt pity for her... I would have thought it would have been badly tainted by the latest action of Seto forcing this meeting... Manipulating them is very in character for Seto... but what if this blows up in her face... after all, Ranma is so not Seina Yamato.

 

[Lawra]

Personally... even had he felt pity for her... I would have thought it would have been badly tainted by the latest action of Seto forcing this meeting... Manipulating them is very in character for Seto... but what if this blows up in her face... after all, Ranma is so not Seina Yamato.

Thought... Maybe Ranma ends up completely ignoring Nodoka to focus on being angry with Seto? (And he really should throw Washu in there as well)

 

[Deathwings]

At this point I just really want to see Ranma just get fed up with Seto's and Washu's bullshit and tear into them. In particular that peoples aren't toys that they can just shake around with absolutely no consequences and questioning if they're such complete bitches that putting peoples through the emotional wriggler is how they get their jollies or something.

 

[Lanceavalon]

He throws down the one more chance ultimatum, whether you think Nodoka could handle never bringing it up again, or she starts talking about 'that isn't manly' five minutes later without noticing, and Ranma flips out on the both of them it's up to you.

Except that's the kind of thing I want to avoid. It screams author insert and having foreknowledge the characters should not have.

All Ranma knows right now is that Nodoka is/was serious about the contract, he can see that she's been using it as a symbol of him for over a decade and is reluctant to let that go. If anything he should feel pity for how her life turned out not anger at her weird views, when he's already said he's not going to go through with it. However, does he pity her enough to put up with her or does he have a reason to feel strongly enough to cut ties?

Alright I think I'm not explaining myself properly.

He should accept her but lay down some ground rules, most likely the only one is 'don't ever bring up that contract again'.

Ultimatum isn't the right word for this, it's alright I can accept you despite wanting me to murder myself, but if you bring it up again we won't be talking again.

Does that make more sense, he needs to make sure she understands that if she wants her son in her life then that contract with a five year olds hand print never existed.

 

[Lanceavalon]

Personally...? even had he felt pity for her...? I would have thought it would have been badly tainted by the latest action of Seto forcing this meeting...? Manipulating them is very in character for Seto...? but what if this blows up in her face...? after all, Ranma is so not Seina Yamato.

Thought... Maybe Ranma ends up completely ignoring Nodoka to focus on being angry with Seto? (And he really should throw Washu in there as well)

That would also work, accepting Nodoka within reason then when Seto and Washu start their little 'and everything worked out perfectly crap' Ranma just unloads on them, about how he isn't there fucking toy.

 

[Lawra]

Nodoka stared at the paper in indecision. ôOur family honor will be forever tarnished unless--.ö She paused and let out a ragged breath.

ôDid you plan this?ö Ranma suddenly spoke up, staring directly at the tall mint haired woman.

ôPlan what?ö Seto asked innocently.

ôFor this?ö Her son pointed towards her.

ôWe were keeping an eye on you and obviously we expected you might come into contact with people you knew.ö The woman answered calmly.

ôYou knew because you planned it!ö Roughly standing up and stomping away, he paced angrily back and forth. ôItÆs just too perfect. The Amazons, the Tendos, and then my mom shows up just in time for you to whisk me away for this calm peaceful conference that youÆre going to help settle.ö

ôRanma I admit to preparing for this outcome but I assure you that it was not the intent of your visit to Earth to cause it.ö SetoÆs explanation and calm faþade held but Nodoka picked up on just the tiniest hint of desperation.

ôYou.ö Ranma snorted and looked away in frustration. ôYouùalmost had me believing that the stories about you were fake. That you didnÆt have a plan and use for everyone. But I guess it is true, isnÆt it? ItÆs all games and plots.ö

Nodoka looked slowly between the two, missing out on something, and not knowing how to ask for an explanation. It was another clear indication that she had missed out on vital parts of her life. ôSon--.ö She drew her child attention, wanting to know why he was so upset but paused as the sharp look he gave her. ôPerhaps you should take a deep breath.ö

ôYes deep breaths.ö The raven haired teen nodded rapidly and took several deep breaths. ôDo you know what she wants from me?ö He indicated Seto. ôShe enrolled me in school as a girl. She puts herself as my guardian. She offers to adopt me into her family and following that I canÆt help but imagine IÆll be married off for some political purpose.ö

ôThatÆs not true.ö Seto tried to correct the boy until Ranma held up his hand.

ôLike with Noike?ö He asked sarcastically. ôWas it before or after when you decided to set her up with Tenchi?ö Ranma seemed to be growing more and more agitated with every point he was trying to make.

ôIt didnÆt happen like that.ö The woman calmly tried to explain before she was interrupted.

ôNo but it did happen. Just like with how you created a conga line of suitors for Amane.ö

ôYouÆre really blowing things out of proportion.ö Seto tried to slow down RanmaÆs tirade.

ôWhy donÆt you just be honest? Huh? WhatÆs your big plan for me? What little piece of the galaxy will I get you?ö Ranma demanded angrily.

ôI think you need to calm down.ö Seto hardened her gaze and Ranma vanished in a flash of multicolored light.

ôWhaùwhat did you do?ö Nodoka asked, shocked over RanmaÆs anger at the woman, and that he had just disappeared.

ôI sent him to his room.ö The woman answered sadly.

ôWhy was he so mad with you? Was what he said true?ö

ôNodoka-dono some of what he said was correct.ö Seto admitted. ôAnd I am more than happy to explain anything that you want.ö

ôI feel so out of the loop.ö She sighed. ôI donÆt know what to ask first.ö

ôTake all the time that you want.ö

--------

ôIÆll tell you when I need to calm down!ö Ranma yelled at empty air, realizing too late that he was no longer facing Seto but the large bed of his room on the Mikagami. ôDamn it!ö He shouted ineffectually before grabbing the edge of his bed and roughly throwing vertically up against the wall. His dresser received the same treatment, bouncing through the front door, to smash against the grass outside. Huffing and puffing in the center of his room, he glared at the wall, daring it to incur his wrath until his bed came down on his head squashing him to the floor. Popping his head and shoulders out the side, Ranma growled and cross his arms, his left eye twitching angrily.

Yelling in frustration, he stood up suddenly, and bent the bed in half before shoving it outside. Everything here reminded him of Seto, her lies, and the future in space he had condemned himself to. Ranma paused in his anger, feeling that something was amiss. ôWait.ö No one had taken the restrictions off of him, he should be as weak as a normal human.

When no answer came for his concern, he stomped out of the home sized room, and headed towards the control area to look for Seto so he could continue giving her a piece of his mind. He didnÆt know how to get back to the field where they had been but there should be someone there who can teleport him back. Asking around, he found out that none of them new SetoÆs current whereabouts because she had not wanted to be disturbed. Growing frustrated that his first act to find Seto had failed, he headed down to where the MikagamiÆs real body was housed.

ôI take it youÆre not going to help me find her, are you?ö He asked the otherwise normal looking tree, standing in the shade created by the leaves.

ôYes IÆm angry at her.ö He exclaimed indignantly at the ships answer.

ôNo IÆm not going toùhurt her.ö Ranma wanted to emotionally hurt Seto but he didnÆt want to physically harm the woman.

ôHey! She started this.ö He crossed his arms and sat down in a cross legged position. ôI am completely calm and I donÆt appreciate being told that I need to calm down.ö

Rolling his eyes and sighing, he just wasnÆt getting through to the tree. ôThereÆs a time to get angry and thereÆs a time to not, this is one of those times where I should be angry.ö

He paused at the MikagamiÆs next question. ôYou want me to explain it to you? I thought you knew it all from Seto. OhùI didnÆt know you could keep things from each other.ö Scratching at his chin, he had thought they were constantly and freely sharing information between each other. ôIf I tell you, will you take me to where Seto is?ö

ôNo promises, huh?ö Uncrossing his arms, he leaned back and planted his hands on the grass. ôI guess I can try.ö He didnÆt know how much a sentient tree could relate but it would give him time to come up with more reasons to be angry with Seto.

 

[Lanceavalon]

I liked it he gives Seto the piece of his mind that everyone else is to much of a chicken shit to give. Calling your out on the manipulations she pulls for 'their own good'.

A few parts came out a little whiny, and as long as this doesn't end with the tree pulling his arguments apart and him telling Seto he was sorry it seems like a good middle ground.

After all getting pissed at Nodoka is like getting pissed off at a crazy person or a retard. There are few things as pointless.

 

[The Eromancer]

I liked it he gives Seto the piece of his mind that everyone else is to much of a chicken shit to give. Calling your out on the manipulations she pulls for 'their own good'.

A few parts came out a little whiny, and as long as this doesn't end with the tree pulling his arguments apart and him telling Seto he was sorry it seems like a good middle ground.

After all getting pissed at Nodoka is like getting pissed off at a crazy person or a retard. There are few things as pointless.

While visiting my sister in a loony bin one fine afternoon I brought with me a copy of my favorite book which I was incidentally in the process of re-reading (Dune) when as I'm sitting in the big room where they have many of the other <s>inmates</s> patents come to congregate (lobby?) when one of the crazy fucks walks right up to me pulls down his pants and pisses on my favorite book. Right there in my hands, getting me as well, well obviously I lost it and proceeded to try and beat the shit out of him, try being the keyword them orderly's are fast.

Point is, while it might be pointless in afterthought or from an outsider's perspective when it happens to you it isn't pointless at that time.

 

[Dumbledork]

I liked it he gives Seto the piece of his mind that everyone else is to much of a chicken shit to give. Calling your out on the manipulations she pulls for 'their own good'.

A few parts came out a little whiny, and as long as this doesn't end with the tree pulling his arguments apart and him telling Seto he was sorry it seems like a good middle ground.

After all getting pissed at Nodoka is like getting pissed off at a crazy person or a retard. There are few things as pointless.

While visiting my sister in a loony bin one fine afternoon I brought with me a copy of my favorite book which I was incidentally in the process of re-reading (Dune) when as I'm sitting in the big room where they have many of the other <s>inmates</s> patents come to congregate (lobby?) when one of the crazy fucks walks right up to me pulls down his pants and pisses on my favorite book. Right there in my hands, getting me as well, well obviously I lost it and proceeded to try and beat the shit out of him, try being the keyword them orderly's are fast.

Point is, while it might be pointless in afterthought or from an outsider's perspective when it happens to you it isn't pointless at that time.

At least it wasn't a kindle or a tablet that got hit. That would have been worse.

 

[Druid]

Considering Ranma's past, Seto should have known that manipulating him in such a fashion would bite her in the ass. I'm quite curious how Mikagami will respond to Ranma's point of view.

 

[The Eromancer]

Considering Ranma's past, Seto should have known that manipulating him in such a fashion would bite her in the ass. I'm quite curious how Mikagami will respond to Ranma's point of view.

how could she have possibly have known that? Hasn't she been doing exactly that same stuff for millions of years now?


And Dumbledork I grew up in a Library basically, my grandmother is a librarian and when my mother abandoned me it was my grandparents that raised me so I spent a LOT of time in libraries so books and I kinda go hand in hand, I'm ALWAYS reading something weather its a book, or something on the internet I love to read.

That copy of dune I told you about? Ya that's was given to me by my great great grandmother before she passed on (god rest her evil soul), so no a tablet wouldn't have been as bad.

 

[PCHeintz72]

Considering Ranma's past, Seto should have known that manipulating him in such a fashion would bite her in the ass. I'm quite curious how Mikagami will respond to Ranma's point of view.

how could she have possibly have known that? Hasn't she been doing exactly that same stuff for millions of years now?


And Dumbledork I grew up in a Library basically, my grandmother is a librarian and when my mother abandoned me it was my grandparents that raised me so I spent a LOT of time in libraries so books and I kinda go hand in hand, I'm ALWAYS reading something weather its a book, or something on the internet I love to read.

That copy of dune I told you about? Ya that's was given to me by my great great grandmother before she passed on (god rest her evil soul), so no a tablet wouldn't have been as bad.

Actually... I think only 20000+ years.

 

[Lawra]

Actually... I think only 20000+ years.

Yes, and being that she's one of the top political powers, Ranma's little temper tantrum isn't exactly going to alter things.

 

[tsilverman]

RanmaxMikagami? =P

Seriously, is Ranma actually having a conversation with Mikagami or is she sending images to him? As far as I know, unless you have a connection to the tree, they can only send images to who they want to communicate with.

 

[Lawra]

RanmaxMikagami? =P

Luthorne did that omake earlier.

Seriously, is Ranma actually having a conversation with Mikagami or is she sending images to him? As far as I know, unless you have a connection to the tree, they can only send images to who they want to communicate with.

Yes he is having a conversation with the Mikagami.

I go with them communicating on a level that doesn't require language. So images/sound/feelings/concepts/anything directly sent.

Where did you get the images only thing?

 

[Capito Celcior]

Didn't really like it. First it's all

"Mom, you really don't understand me!" runs away to Seto.

Understandeable. Then when Seto answers, Ranma out of the blue turns around and goes

"Seto, you tricked me and mommy, didn't you?" and runs away.

It feels too bipolar. Where first he realises what a crummy mother he has, before calling Seto out on manipulations (why now? The whole living as a girl thing I agree he should complain about, but he just took it after going through the expected motions of resistance but no more...but this, when reality agrees with his suspicions?) while almost defending his mother as though it were the circumstances of the conversations which dictated the consequences, rather than either person's personalities.

But that could just be me seeing how I actually don't dislike Seto and while I disliked and disagreed with Ranma being stuck in the girl dorms as a girl, I never thought she'd try to match him up as a girl. More like making him into as great a possible man by having him learn just a bit of what girls go through. After which, back in a male body, he'd be much more appealing. Granted I guess that's quite manipulative but I don't believe she'd force a couple of strangers together. To me, Seto's all about making people she thinks are compatible meet in interesting circumstances and see if chemistry works. She's very experienced at this.

 

[Lawra]

Didn't really like it. First it's all

"Mom, you really don't understand me!" runs away to Seto.

Understandeable. Then when Seto answers, Ranma out of the blue turns around and goes

"Seto, you tricked me and mommy, didn't you?" and runs away.

Ranma doesn't run away to the safety of Seto, he's going back to call her out on her manipulations, Nodoka's presence just threw him for a loop. But Seto's calm and planned setting show him that she set this up as well.

It feels too bipolar.

Why not? Ranma's been in and out of a super stressful situation. From the start he's gotta deal with the culture shock of finding out about aliens then all the 'magic' that their technology can do. Ranma having a mini-freak out is kind of the culmination of too much too soon. Seina at least got to just stay out in space long enough to become acclimated before returning home. Ranma's being played like a yo-yo, in and out of his former life and everything he has to give up as a result of his decision.

But that could just be me seeing how I actually don't dislike Seto and while I disliked and disagreed with Ranma being stuck in the girl dorms as a girl, I never thought she'd try to match him up as a girl. More like making him into as great a possible man by having him learn just a bit of what girls go through. After which, back in a male body, he'd be much more appealing. Granted I guess that's quite manipulative but I don't believe she'd force a couple of strangers together. To me, Seto's all about making people she thinks are compatible meet in interesting circumstances and see if chemistry works. She's very experienced at this.

Seto would set Ranma up as a bride for a joke. Then enjoy the angry fall out. (Not like Ranma hasn't been setup as a bride in canon, just another day)

And I agree that Seto isn't about forcing things on other people. If Ranma had really thrown a fit about going to school as a girl things would have changed. He didn't, he went through the motions about how horrible it is then fell in line.

Ranma is angry about Seto/Washu's attempts at solving his Earth based problems so that's going to make her stop doing them. Making a stand on an issue illustrates to Seto that he's serious and not just looking for attention, stopping the precedent he's allowed to be set.