Ranma ½ Night Shift

[Lawra]

Well if your playing Haruka as the usual butch lesbian 'I can kick any guys ass, take any challenge' then I can see Ranma's response asking if she'd like to spar later and if Haruka backs off asking if she is afraid.

Sure Ranma gets played by his pride all the time but he can play head games almost as well when he feels the need too.

A threat to beat her up under the guise of a spar isn't so much a head game as it is bullying.

 

[WarGiver]

actually I would almost think that Haruka would tease Akane for having falling in love with a cute redhead.

 

[Lawra]

actually I would almost think that Haruka would tease Akane for having falling in love with a cute redhead.

Which falls under the teasing Ranma thing, probably has a few innuendos already lined up.

I should come up with a plausible meeting where Ranma pseudo planned all these 'random' meetings out. Because obviously all these senshi suddenly being brought into Ranma's life for Akane to interact with with can't be a coincidence. :lol:

Had it all setup just waiting to pull the trigger.

 

[Lanceavalon]

Well if your playing Haruka as the usual butch lesbian 'I can kick any guys ass, take any challenge' then I can see Ranma's response asking if she'd like to spar later and if Haruka backs off asking if she is afraid.

Sure Ranma gets played by his pride all the time but he can play head games almost as well when he feels the need too.

A threat to beat her up under the guise of a spar isn't so much a head game as it is bullying.

I never said beat her up but embarrassing the hell out of her is a option, and having to deal with the pink monster I don't see Ranma sitting there and taking it.

 

[Lawra]

Later that night

“Ugh, all this studying is going to rot my brain.” Ranma whined and tossed his book aside. ‘What do I care about history books that ignore all the big stuff?’ Kasumi was kneeling nearby, studying an old book that he had been able to scrounge up.

“Your mom will be upset if you don’t.” Chibi-Usa hummed while laying on her stomach with her head propped up by one of her hands, and a manga spread out before her. Usa’s other hand was occupied repetitively raising and lowering a dumbbell.

Ranma narrowed his eyes and flicked one of the child’s odangos in annoyance. “You shouldn’t talk.”

“Shouldn’t talk about what?” Akane asked curiously, entering into his room with her own textbook in hand.

“Being a pest.” He answered and started to slowly pull Usagi’s manga out from beneath her till she slapped his hand.

“Leave my manga alone.” The pink haired girl warned ominously. “And why do I have to do this?” She whined, switching the dumbbell to her other hand.

“It’s part of training.” He hid his smirk, having come up with this little exercise to try and annoy the small child.

“Don’t pick on her, Ranma.” Akane took a seat next to the time traveler. “I just checked on Ryoga and he doesn’t really seem any better. Do you know--.” The youngest Tendo sister paused and glanced at Chibi-Usa. “Maybe we should we bring him to a doctor?”

“He’s fine.” Ranma waved off her concern. “He was just fine eating some food I brought him earlier, he just needs some rest.”

“If you think so.”

“I’m sure you don’t have to worry about your boyfriend.” Usa added and Akane blushed after a moment.

“He’s just a friend, not a boyfriend. A boyfriend is something very different.” Akane explained in embarrassment. “But you’ll learn that when you get older.”

Ranma gave Akane a brief half-lidded stare before shaking his head. ‘She’s over nine hundred.’ He decided it would be best not to get into that with Akane, ever.

“Ranma, what does this word mean?” Kasumi asked while pointing into the book.

“You may.” He answered after a second of thought.

“What kind of book is that?” Akane asked, finally noticing the ancient book that her big sister was reading from.

“Ranma is helping me learn Lunarian.” The homemaker answered proudly, shifting over to show Akane the book.

“Lunarian?” Akane took the book right from her sister’s hands and studied the text. “This looks like my autograph.”

“Seems like a good possibility.” He nodded and earned a small glare from Akane.

“So how much have you learned?” Akane asked her sister with interest.

“Not very much.” Kasumi admitted. “The sentence structure is very different and there are a lot of big words to learn.”

“You’re getting it really quick.” He pointed out. “It’s not easy and you’re mostly going from that book.”

Kasumi thanked him in Lunarian causing Akane’s face to scrunch up in confusion. “What did you say?”

“Thank you.” Chibi-Usa answered absently.

“For what?” Akane asked.

“No, that’s what she said.” Ranma sweated, noticing that Akane had caught Usagi’s little slip up.

“How did you know that though?” Akane asked the little girl who finally realized she had been caught.

“Uh-- they talked about it before you got here.” Chibi-Usa quickly answered and Akane seemed pacified by that response.

“Were you planning on offering to teach me as well?” Akane asked him in an overly casual way.

“I didn’t know you wanted to learn.” He shrugged. “Do you?” Ranma enjoyed tutoring Kasumi on the dead language and the memories it could summon. It would be nice if Akane was as interested as her elder sister.

“Maybe-- I don’t know.” Akane admitted.

Ranma caught the distinctively quiet footsteps of his mother before he saw her round the corner into the room. Carrying a familiar silk wrapped bundle in her arms, her eyes took stock of everyone in the room before settling on him. “How is everyone?” She asked pleasantly. “Studying hard, Son?”

“Yup-- uh-- just taking a break.” He answered awkwardly, still not really knowing how to make small talk with his own mother.

“Be sure to study hard.” She instructed. “Akane, I was wondering what you were planning to wear to the concert?”

“I hadn’t thought about it.” Akane admitted.

“Do you mind if I make a few suggestions?” Nodoka asked hopefully.

“Of course not, Auntie.” Akane beamed at the attention.

Ranma slowly twisted his head to one side, watching as Nodoka excitedly began to chat with Akane on various options on what to wear to the concert. He knew from experience that girls spent far more time than guys on prepping themselves but he hadn’t expected his mother to focus in on Akane with such gusto.

It reminded him of how his mother had tried so hard to make the fictitious Tendo cousin, Ranko into a proper young lady. He had brushed it off as her being desperately lonely and wanting to mother someone. But he was here now, she didn’t need a proxy, and if she wanted him to be manly than why wasn’t she trying to make him look the part? Since she had found out that he and Ranko were the same person, she had been hovering close by. Had he mistaken her presence for attention? He certainly hadn’t taken it for affection.

“I’m going to go practice.” He excused himself, not wanting to think about his mother any further for the evening.

 

[Wharpt]

Even though they covered Usa's slip-up, doesn't Akane think that it's odd that Ranma is teaching Kasumi 'Lunarian' in front of his 'cousin' Chibi-Usa? For that matter, Kasumi must be aware of whom Usa really is if she is unconcerned about talking in 'Lunarian'. Perhaps someone will later catch Kasumi and Usa talking in this strange 'foreign' language.

 

[Lawra]

Even though they covered Usa's slip-up, doesn't Akane think that it's odd that Ranma is teaching Kasumi 'Lunarian' in front of his 'cousin' Chibi-Usa? For that matter, Kasumi must be aware of whom Usa really is if she is unconcerned about talking in 'Lunarian'. Perhaps someone will later catch Kasumi and Usa talking in this strange 'foreign' language.

To be fair about that, she looks like a little kid who would happily play along with whatever is happening, and not know what was really going on.

Not sure if I should indicate that Usa says it with the correct accent and pronunciation. As for her knowledge of it, I was going with her having been taught but doesn't have enough practice in it past a few regularly used phrases. Being that it remains a dead language.

 

[WarGiver]

How would Akane know she said it correctly?

 

[Lawra]

How would Akane know she said it correctly?

That's true, for some reason I was thinking that Usa repeated it.

 

[Lawra]

Ranma came to the end of her kata, standing calmly in the center of the dojo with her feet together and hands clapped together in front of her chest. Breathing slowly and deeply, she found that physical activity was not helping to clear her mind. She had changed into a girl to see if her minorly boosted mystical senses could tell if there really was anything wrong with Ryoga, but she hadn’t been able to notice anything further. ‘I wonder if I should get Ami to stop by with her computer just to be sure.’

The lost boy was trying to walk off his continued lethargy, making circles around the dojo, and keeping his hand on the wall to not get lost. Kasumi had appeared shortly after she had begun practicing and was keeping an eye on Ryoga as well.

“You doing alright?” She asked, not really able to keep a teasing tone from creeping into her voice. Watching him occasionally pause and take stock of his position was far too tempting of a target.

“I’m fine.” He snapped without thinking. “Just can’t believe I lost like that.”

“Don’t worry about it.” She waved a hand dismissively. “I lost to those monsters before too.”

“Really?” He asked incredulously. “You lost-- and admit it?”

“Well yea, but I didn’t need to get saved by a girl.” She smiled toothily at the angry scowl that was directed her way.

“Ryoga-kun you were very brave and you have nothing to be ashamed of.” Kasumi shot her a disapproving look. “And Ranma needed to be saved by a girl as well.” The homemaker added.

“Kasumi!” Ranma whined childishly. “Why would you lie like that?”

“Shut up Ranma!” He barked loudly, growling under his breath and clenching his fingers through the wood. “I’m not going to be mocked by you.”

“Not sure what you could do about it.” She mock cleaned her fingernails.

“I’m going to get better, train harder, and finally get my revenge!” Ryoga announced angrily.

“Revenge for what? You’re still on that?” Ranma asked in confusion.

Nabiki chose that moment to barge in through the door. “Hey Saotome, get in here, and get your mom out of my closet.”

“Why would my mom be digging in your closet?” She asked with a groan, not wanting to deal with an uncooperative Ryoga along with an angry Nabiki.

“She’s playing dress up with Akane and is stealing my stuff to do it.”

“Now why would she be doing that?” Kasumi asked suggestively. “You’re not borrowing clothes without permission again, are you?”

“Of course not!” Nabiki recoiled at the accusation. “But you need to hurry, I don’t want any of my stuff getting ruined when you two go on your little date.”

“You’re going on a date with Akane?!” Ryoga shouted, wildly charging her.

“What’s it to you?” Ranma barely took notice of the clumsy attack, easily redirecting him to be thrown face first into the wood floor. “You shouldn’t be pushing yourself, not in your condition.” She watched him struggle to push himself up from the wood, concerned that he was going to hurt himself.

Ryoga regained his feet, wavering enough that she expected him to fall over. Slowly turning to face her, she nearly gulped at the look of pure hatred that was etched into his face. “The next time I see you, I’ll destroy you.” He spat.

Ranma watched silently as the lost boy made his way across the dojo to retrieve his heavy traveling pack that she had returned earlier. “Ryoga-- hey come on.” She rushed over to where he was trying to lift his backpack. “It’s not the end of the world that you got saved by a girl.”

“Ryoga-kun, you don’t seem very well, why don’t you stay another night?” Kasumi offered hesitantly.

“I’m going to have to start charging him rent.” Nabiki remarked crassly, earning a glare from her elder sister for her rudeness.

Ryoga regained more strength suddenly, hoisting his pack up onto his shoulders with only a tiny grunt of exertion. “Leave me alone.” He whispered hatefully and stomped towards the exit.

“Fine, I’ll leave you alone.” Ranma crossed her arms in a huff and looked away from the lost boy. “But don’t go blaming me when you get hurt cause you’re such a stubborn ass!”

“Do think it’s wise to let him leave?” Kasumi asked, Ryoga already being out of earshot.

“If he can lift that stupid umbrella I’m sure he’s strong enough to get by.” She snorted and unclenched her fists. ‘I’m not ever that stubborn-- am I?’ She glanced around evasively, hoping that if she had voiced that question out loud the answer would have been no.

“Ignoring the question of when you got turned into a girl--.” Nabiki drawled. “What are you going to do about your mother?”

“Oh I can help with that.” Kasumi offered cheerfully, making Nabiki wince. “I’m sure I’ll find a few things that need to be laundered.”

“No need, I’m sure Saotome can handle his mom, right?” Nabiki laughed nervously but was dragged from the dojo by her elder sister.

“I insist.” Kasumi reaffirmed.

‘I don’t think Nabiki would have any of my stuff.’ Ranma looked skyward in thought before shrugging. Kasumi had a good memory for that kind of thing and would be able to properly sort out Nabiki’s pilfered clothing, so she didn’t have to worry.

----------

:evil2:

 

[Wharpt]

Things should be fine as long as Nodoka doesn't find Ranma's bunny outfit.

 

[Lawra]

Things should be fine as long as Nodoka doesn't find Ranma's bunny outfit.

Well Nabiki would be more likely to steal one of those minidresses Ranma picked up for the mirror clone. And that's a conversation Ranma probably doesn't want to have.

 

[Wharpt]

Things should be fine as long as Nodoka doesn't find Ranma's bunny outfit.

Well Nabiki would be more likely to steal one of those minidresses Ranma picked up for the mirror clone. And that's a conversation Ranma probably doesn't want to have.

Too bad Usa isn't older in body. Then Ranma could stick her in the white mini while he wears the black and convince everyone it's 'training'.

 

[Japan8]

It's rather generic at the moment. What kind of direction are you hoping to take it? Action, Drama, Comedy? Also, whats the time frame for events? What events was Ranma present for in the Moon timeline?

Ranma was active in none. Awoke after the SM stuff is completed but before Usagi takes over which'll be put just a few years down the line.

For Ranma canon it's set at the tail end of book 36 with Ranma awakening as a senshi at the end beginning of 22 right before Nodoka is introduced. A few minor things would change but overall Ranma's been living a completely secret double life. (Even if it's been running him ragged at times)

I'm really not intending it to go very far. Original intent was just for a oneshot but I have come up with a lot of possible story and plot elements that could last 4-5 chapters. I'll continue it when I feel like it or if I decide I just want to focus on it.

Trying for a mix of comedy/drama but with some of the things I've thought up, it could get VERY dark for a few characters. Real bad end level dark along with character deaths.

Basically, there are around three real cliches for the Sailor moon crossover fuku-fics (Ranma-chan in general is another cliche, but I'm not going there)

1) Martial artists are ineffectual or weak vs monsters
2) Ranma is stuck in a skirt for power
3) Ranma is a reincarnated female from the moon empire

You're hitting all of them. Quite literally this just feels like a standard fuku-fic. Well written, but nothing new or eye catching. Even the autograph part has been done repeatedly.

Those are all very vague and generic, as well as nearly impossible to avoid.

1) If Ryoga had known about the draining and that he had to use weapons he could have taken care of them. Ranma had the same problem and faced one with a nasty ability. Senshi powerup just gives them immunity to the draining which makes the monsters complete jokes save for possible abilities. I'll need to have Cologne or even Shampoo dispatch one of them to try and get that across.

2) Not stuck in a skirt for power, but considering how disgusted Ranma is by them doesn't like to mess around. Nukes first, doesn't try to play around with normal physical means. They're evil creatures who do nothing but kill.

But then again, Ranma being the reincarnation of a senshi in the SM universe would mean he's inherently stuck in a skirt for as long as he gets reborn. Having been chosen by the universe to have that power.

3) Pretty much a given.

I suppose as I near the end of this chapter and things start to spiral a bit more out of Ranma's control it'll get a bit farther away from the well worn path. What's coming up in the next scene I don't believe gets done very often, if ever, and will be used for some comedy.

Don't think in such a limited paradigm for power... Ranma universe martial arts vs Sailor Moon magic. You can always mix in other "stuff", or derivatives from either universe... like magic tech or esoteric artifacts... You can find ways to avoid the power level issues that have been mentioned.

Too bad it's a Fukufic challenge, not just a SM-crossover. Other treatments for a SM crossover have been interesting...

Progeny http://www.fanfiction.net/s/293768/
The Dark Lords of Nerima http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3566724/1/The-Dark-Lords-of-Nerima

I'd like to have seen more in this genre... oh well.

 

[frice2000]

Too bad it's a Fukufic challenge, not just a SM-crossover. Other treatments for a SM crossover have been interesting...

The Dark Lords of Nerima http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3566724/1/The-Dark-Lords-of-Nerima

Can't speak for the other fic you mentioned but that's an awful example. Claymade would be the first to tell you that if Usagi was serious all of the Nerima crew die instantly. It's not even close. Senshi are little goddesses. There isn't any competing.

 

[Fellow Sufferer]

Too bad it's a Fukufic challenge, not just a SM-crossover. Other treatments for a SM crossover have been interesting...

The Dark Lords of Nerima http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3566724/1/The-Dark-Lords-of-Nerima

Can't speak for the other fic you mentioned but that's an awful example. Claymade would be the first to tell you that if Usagi was serious all of the Nerima crew die instantly. It's not even close. Senshi are little goddesses. There isn't any competing.

To be fair, only Usagi (and perhaps Saturn) can be considered to completely outclass the NWC in the sequel. Ryouga, for instance, managed to soundly trash Uranus (and finish off Nuptune after she had a very close fight with Ukyo), and then survived against Saturn (who is REALLY souped-up in this fic).

 

[frice2000]

That's partially true. However he's going off anime continuity. Lawra here is going off manga where the levels are higher.

 

[Japan8]

Too bad it's a Fukufic challenge, not just a SM-crossover. Other treatments for a SM crossover have been interesting...

The Dark Lords of Nerima http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3566724/1/The-Dark-Lords-of-Nerima

Can't speak for the other fic you mentioned but that's an awful example. Claymade would be the first to tell you that if Usagi was serious all of the Nerima crew die instantly. It's not even close. Senshi are little goddesses. There isn't any competing.

I was actually pointing those two out referring to characterization and cliches, not power levels.

However, I did say...

Don't think in such a limited paradigm for power... Ranma universe martial arts vs Sailor Moon magic. You can always mix in other "stuff", or derivatives from either universe... like magic tech or esoteric artifacts... You can find ways to avoid the power level issues that have been mentioned.

Destiny's Child wasn't too bad, perhaps. Twin Dragons Under Moonlight was maybe a better example of this... In other words, the gap in power with a couple exceptions can be written to not be so large. You can also always augment the Ranma 1/2 characters with "magic tech" or artifacts from the Moon Kingdom...

 

[frice2000]

And you get those...Where? The Moon? Because finding them on Earth is almost always contrived.

 

[Japan8]

And you get those...Where? The Moon? Because finding them on Earth is almost always contrived.

Yeah and? There was one fic where Ranma and Ryouga could generally hold their own, but we more easily injured and couldn't always finish off yoma on their own. They were working with the Senshi and eventually it was decided that they needed some kind of protection. So a trip to the moon to get them some armor and minor weapons. What's so wrong with that scenario?

 

[Lawra]

Yeah and? There was one fic where Ranma and Ryouga could generally hold their own, but we more easily injured and couldn't always finish off yoma on their own. They were working with the Senshi and eventually it was decided that they needed some kind of protection. So a trip to the moon to get them some armor and minor weapons. What's so wrong with that scenario?

Ranma/Ryoga/Cologne... endless number of characters can hold their own and defeat these monsters, as I said in your quoted post, if Ryoga had known about the draining he could have worked around it with normal weapons. No special moon weapons or armor needed. Not that there would really be armor just laying around that could counter their draining. Which is the greatest danger they pose.

Actually, maybe I could have Shampoo try crashing the whole concert thing for a high class date with her airen and ends up casually killing one of the monsters before any of the senshi can. Also opens up more teasing from Haruka.

The monsters aren't even supposed to be a huge part of the story, at least not till they get a new leader, not sure why how they get killed is so vitally important.

 

[WarGiver]

not sure why how they get killed is so vitally important.

It comes down to reader view as to why Ranma has accepted the fact of who he is as a Sailor Senshi.

Remember Sailor Moon herself took much of the manga to fully accept that she is princess Serenity. She only ever used her powers as a final resort where she could technically used her powers to destroy any enemy as soon as they were a threat. The other senshi not really being needed in that regard. In the end she knew but only at the end when it was time to found CT did she truely seem to accept.

Ranma on the other hand seems to be more of a shoot first type now, using Sailor Senshi magic. As a reader I know why he awoke but it feels like there is a missing piece. Why he doesn't try without his powers.

 

[Lawra]

It comes down to reader view as to why Ranma has accepted the fact of who he is as a Sailor Senshi.

Remember Sailor Moon herself took much of the manga to fully accept that she is princess Serenity. She only ever used her powers as a final resort where she could technically used her powers to destroy any enemy as soon as they were a threat. The other senshi not really being needed in that regard. In the end she knew but only at the end when it was time to found CT did she truely seem to accept.

Ranma on the other hand seems to be more of a shoot first type now, using Sailor Senshi magic. As a reader I know why he awoke but it feels like there is a missing piece. Why he doesn't try without his powers.

If by much of the manga you mean before the first big bad was killed, Usagi accepted she was Serenity before Beryl got defeated. She constantly used any power she could whenever dealing with youma. There wasn't anything before that for her to be all 'I'm Serenity!' Because none of them had any memories. Luna even goes on how she didn't expect her to recover her memories so quickly. And as soon as the Serenity hologram went through the history they remembered even more. And the founding of crystal tokyo takes place years after the end of the manga so your comment about her accepting then is really off.

Ranma got a little boost through dying then remembered quickly through interaction with the other Senshi, and anytime he talked with Kasumi about it.

While I have made Ranma rather jovial while taking out these things, he's been killed by them, and has decided to shoot first because these monsters don't have any kind of humanity. They have one purpose in life and that is to consume anything they can. These monsters are supposed to be monsters. They're not misunderstood, not being controlled, they're not reasonable.

If Ranma wants to play around and let one get away, that means they are going to go off and kill more people. Why Ranma feels an extra reason to insta kill them will be a bit more obvious at the end of this chapter.

 

[WarGiver]

I may be remembering wrong but aside from Galaxia and Deathbusters arcs, the ones I remember, Especially Beryl where she did a "S**** this" gloves are off. and she goes serenity on them because its "stronger" (not really, more like a focus for her crystal) then her powers as Sailor Moon.

What I was trying to say is that She could just go as Serenity most of the time instead of Sailor Moon. Granted seeing her roof hop in her dress would be funny like that. It seems more of a psycological decision then a decision of true practicality most of the time. Yes Ranma would be encouraged in this case to go Senshi. But why is his choice to do so going to be like that? People tend to go into shock of some sort and regret a reaction right after in a high stress event. Like a child dropping a gun like a poisonus snake after scoring their first deer kill.

All My point is there would be a second event to Ranma to reafirm the decision to go Senshi. More of something that makes it clear to him its his best tool.

 

[Lawra]

I may be remembering wrong but aside from Galaxia and Deathbusters arcs, the ones I remember, Especially Beryl where she did a "S**** this" gloves are off. and she goes serenity on them because its "stronger" (not really, more like a focus for her crystal) then her powers as Sailor Moon.

Going completely all out is different than accepting herself. And Ranma is not going all out at all.

Oh and senshi can fly around with wings, what would she have to roof hop for?

All My point is there would be a second event to Ranma to reafirm the decision to go Senshi. More of something that makes it clear to him its his best tool.

What is wrong with Ranma simply coming to that conclusion just by considering the abilities? He can come up with counters, strengths, weaknesses, and new techniques on the fly but he can't sit down and think through the best way to deal with murderous monsters?

But if you have some situation that you think would work well to illustrate it, I am open to the suggestion. What would satisfy this for you?