The Shape of Your Face
folder
+M to R › Ranma �
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
8
Views:
4,265
Reviews:
21
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
+M to R › Ranma �
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
8
Views:
4,265
Reviews:
21
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Ranma, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
First Look
DISCLAIMER: Mousse isn't mine. Neither are the rest, but Mousse is the one I wanted most... whaaaaaaa!
~thinking~
‘actual thoughts’
*emphasis*
A/N - Mousse is starting to look at things differently. oh, and pwease pwease review?
CHAPTER TWO:
Mousse sat on the edge of the chair, hands lying limply in his lap. He stared blankly at Dr. Tofu, trying to process what the man had just told him.
“Mousse, are you all right?” The doctor knew it was a dumb question to ask after you told someone they were probably going to be *blind* but he was worried at the lack of reaction from his young patient. Those large grey eyes were fixed on his face - such beautiful eyes, it really was a shame... “Mousse? Talk to me.”
“Are you sure?” The words were calm and quiet.
“Yes, I’m sorry. A year at the most, unless you decide to try the operation.” Mousse gave a snort of derision.
“Where would I get $7,000?”
“Perhaps Cologne and Shampoo...” He was interrupted by laughter.
“Please! They don’t even pay me now. I’m lucky they let me live there in exchange for work.” Mousse shook his head. “No, if I decide for the operation, I’ll have to take care of the expenses myself.”
“What will you do?”
“I don’t know yet. I - I don’t want you to tell anyone about this.”
Dr. Tofu frowned. “Well, of course, if that’s your desire, I will respect your privacy. But you are going to need help, Mousse. You have a lot to learn, and if you try to earn that much money at the same time you’ll be exhausted before you even get started.” Mousse shook his head again.
“I’m used to hard work.”
“Well.” Dr. Tofu sighed, keeping his opinion to himself. “I’ll just get the glasses and the eyedrops, then.” He left the room. Mousse waited until he was sure he was out of hearing, then he groaned and dropped his face into his hands. What was he going to do? Blind - they’d never let him work at the café *blind* - they barely tolerated him now. His bad eyesight was considered a blot on the tribe’s honor as it was - a blind boy wouldn’t be suffered at all. His mind went over the list of things he had to do; learn Braille, find a paying job, find a place to live, open a savings account - too many things. Hide from Cologne. Shampoo wouldn’t care, with her out of sight was out of mind, but Cologne had issues with the ‘honor of the tribe’. He’d have to figure out a way to change his appearance. Have to come up with a good excuse for vanishing. Dr. Tofu had recommended a class that would teach him how to get around without being able to see. He didn’t need that - he had enough experience with getting around without his glasses. Total blindness couldn’t be *that* much different from seeing nothing but colored blurs. Could it?
“Here we are!” Dr. Tofu’s voice was purposefully hearty. Mousse looked up and saw him holding two small cases and a prescription bag. He took them carefully, opened the cases to see a pair of thick-lensed glasses, smaller than his old pair, rimless with delicate silver frames. Those *had* to be expensive - the other case had a pair of dark glasses with stylish round lenses and sleek dark frames. “No need to look bad while you’re taking care of those eyes.” Dr. Tofu said cheerfully.
“I - can’t afford these.”
“Nonsense! I used leftover frames, discount priced! You can make payments. The instructions for the eyedrops are in the bag. Be sure you wear the dark glasses anywhere you might be exposed to intense light. Now I recommend you go home and get a good night’s sleep. Try not to worry. The operation will almost certainly be successful.” He kept chattering as he guided the still-stunned boy out the door, sighing when he closed it behind him. Poor kid.
*
Mousse shuffled slowly down the sidewalk, kicking small stones out of his way. He wasn’t in any hurry to get back to the café, and with the new glasses and the soothing eyedrops Dr. Tofu had already put in, his eyes didn’t hurt anymore. He needed to think - if he went back now, he’d be cooking and cleaning until the wee hours of the morning. It was just twilight, soft rays of the sun giving way to a soothing half-light. The world was beautiful, he decided, watching the dance of leaves swirling in the soft breeze. Gods, it was *beautiful*, and he wanted to keep seeing it. He couldn’t believe how much time he’d wasted in that stuffy little resturant when he could have been outside watching the gorgeous play of life. He found himself stopping to study the subtle shades of red and rust in a brick wall, becoming absorbed with the tiny pebbled shadows on each small block. He put out a hand to feel the texture, tying the memory of color to the feeling of roughness beneath his fingertips. He didn’t hear the footsteps behind him.
“Hey, Mousse!” The loud voice sounded almost in his ear, and he nearly leaped out of his skin, whirling around and pulling knives from his wide sleeves. “Whoa! Take it easy - you’re the one who didn’t want to fight.”
Ranma.
He sighed and let his knives slip back into his sleeves, ready to scowl at the boy - but he stopped short, staring. *Was* this Ranma? Had to be - thick dark hair in a braided ponytail, big dark eyes, red and black clothes... but did Ranma always look this tired? Did his smile always look so forced? There was something oddly - hunted - about the wide grin.
“Are you all right?” They asked the words at the same time, and then smiled, both almost timid.
“Are you?” Ranma asked again, and Mousse saw his eyes grow sharp. Waiting for a lie, then. Well, he’d just have to lie his hardest.
“I’m... okay. I was... having some trouble - with my eyes.”
“You got new glasses.”
“Yes. Different prescription.”
“Oh.” Ranma frowned, looking suddenly uncomfortable. “Oh,” he repeated, “Well, okay. See ya around, Mousse.” He turned and dashed away. Mousse’s reply was too quiet for the other boy to hear.
“See you. For awhile.”
~thinking~
‘actual thoughts’
*emphasis*
A/N - Mousse is starting to look at things differently. oh, and pwease pwease review?
CHAPTER TWO:
Mousse sat on the edge of the chair, hands lying limply in his lap. He stared blankly at Dr. Tofu, trying to process what the man had just told him.
“Mousse, are you all right?” The doctor knew it was a dumb question to ask after you told someone they were probably going to be *blind* but he was worried at the lack of reaction from his young patient. Those large grey eyes were fixed on his face - such beautiful eyes, it really was a shame... “Mousse? Talk to me.”
“Are you sure?” The words were calm and quiet.
“Yes, I’m sorry. A year at the most, unless you decide to try the operation.” Mousse gave a snort of derision.
“Where would I get $7,000?”
“Perhaps Cologne and Shampoo...” He was interrupted by laughter.
“Please! They don’t even pay me now. I’m lucky they let me live there in exchange for work.” Mousse shook his head. “No, if I decide for the operation, I’ll have to take care of the expenses myself.”
“What will you do?”
“I don’t know yet. I - I don’t want you to tell anyone about this.”
Dr. Tofu frowned. “Well, of course, if that’s your desire, I will respect your privacy. But you are going to need help, Mousse. You have a lot to learn, and if you try to earn that much money at the same time you’ll be exhausted before you even get started.” Mousse shook his head again.
“I’m used to hard work.”
“Well.” Dr. Tofu sighed, keeping his opinion to himself. “I’ll just get the glasses and the eyedrops, then.” He left the room. Mousse waited until he was sure he was out of hearing, then he groaned and dropped his face into his hands. What was he going to do? Blind - they’d never let him work at the café *blind* - they barely tolerated him now. His bad eyesight was considered a blot on the tribe’s honor as it was - a blind boy wouldn’t be suffered at all. His mind went over the list of things he had to do; learn Braille, find a paying job, find a place to live, open a savings account - too many things. Hide from Cologne. Shampoo wouldn’t care, with her out of sight was out of mind, but Cologne had issues with the ‘honor of the tribe’. He’d have to figure out a way to change his appearance. Have to come up with a good excuse for vanishing. Dr. Tofu had recommended a class that would teach him how to get around without being able to see. He didn’t need that - he had enough experience with getting around without his glasses. Total blindness couldn’t be *that* much different from seeing nothing but colored blurs. Could it?
“Here we are!” Dr. Tofu’s voice was purposefully hearty. Mousse looked up and saw him holding two small cases and a prescription bag. He took them carefully, opened the cases to see a pair of thick-lensed glasses, smaller than his old pair, rimless with delicate silver frames. Those *had* to be expensive - the other case had a pair of dark glasses with stylish round lenses and sleek dark frames. “No need to look bad while you’re taking care of those eyes.” Dr. Tofu said cheerfully.
“I - can’t afford these.”
“Nonsense! I used leftover frames, discount priced! You can make payments. The instructions for the eyedrops are in the bag. Be sure you wear the dark glasses anywhere you might be exposed to intense light. Now I recommend you go home and get a good night’s sleep. Try not to worry. The operation will almost certainly be successful.” He kept chattering as he guided the still-stunned boy out the door, sighing when he closed it behind him. Poor kid.
*
Mousse shuffled slowly down the sidewalk, kicking small stones out of his way. He wasn’t in any hurry to get back to the café, and with the new glasses and the soothing eyedrops Dr. Tofu had already put in, his eyes didn’t hurt anymore. He needed to think - if he went back now, he’d be cooking and cleaning until the wee hours of the morning. It was just twilight, soft rays of the sun giving way to a soothing half-light. The world was beautiful, he decided, watching the dance of leaves swirling in the soft breeze. Gods, it was *beautiful*, and he wanted to keep seeing it. He couldn’t believe how much time he’d wasted in that stuffy little resturant when he could have been outside watching the gorgeous play of life. He found himself stopping to study the subtle shades of red and rust in a brick wall, becoming absorbed with the tiny pebbled shadows on each small block. He put out a hand to feel the texture, tying the memory of color to the feeling of roughness beneath his fingertips. He didn’t hear the footsteps behind him.
“Hey, Mousse!” The loud voice sounded almost in his ear, and he nearly leaped out of his skin, whirling around and pulling knives from his wide sleeves. “Whoa! Take it easy - you’re the one who didn’t want to fight.”
Ranma.
He sighed and let his knives slip back into his sleeves, ready to scowl at the boy - but he stopped short, staring. *Was* this Ranma? Had to be - thick dark hair in a braided ponytail, big dark eyes, red and black clothes... but did Ranma always look this tired? Did his smile always look so forced? There was something oddly - hunted - about the wide grin.
“Are you all right?” They asked the words at the same time, and then smiled, both almost timid.
“Are you?” Ranma asked again, and Mousse saw his eyes grow sharp. Waiting for a lie, then. Well, he’d just have to lie his hardest.
“I’m... okay. I was... having some trouble - with my eyes.”
“You got new glasses.”
“Yes. Different prescription.”
“Oh.” Ranma frowned, looking suddenly uncomfortable. “Oh,” he repeated, “Well, okay. See ya around, Mousse.” He turned and dashed away. Mousse’s reply was too quiet for the other boy to hear.
“See you. For awhile.”