There we go - all nice and started off... and I see Tessa gets to show her resolve. Nicely done.
That scene leads me into a bit of speculation: What would the ladies in Zeke's life think of the "Tenchi Solution"? (It's obvious you're going in that direction, even if you hadn't already mentioned ideas along those lines.)
(And are you brave enough to add Shoko Asami to the circle? She might make a good fit; she's accustomed to dealing with the conflicting needs and desires of her close family members. But would she want to join, and would Zeke want to make the offer? "Reply hazy; ask again.")
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."
- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012
That scene leads me into a bit of speculation: What would the ladies in Zeke's life think of the "Tenchi Solution"? (It's obvious you're going in that direction, even if you hadn't already mentioned ideas along those lines.)
- Rei ... I'm having trouble figuring out how she'd likely react. In canon manga, she didn't like men at all for reasons you've already mentioned in the story; in canon anime, she dated Mamoru for a while but gave him up to Usagi. In this story, the Red String of Fate is tied between Rei and Zeke, and she knows it. How much manga characterization are you using, and how much anime characterization? Is this Rei the sort who doesn't like sharing what is hers, or is she the sort who would be willing to let someone else warm her man's bed? Magic 8-Ball says "Reply hazy; ask again."
- Deimos has already said flat-out that she's willing to share, and be the subordinate mate - but that was when the relationship looked to be a threesome. On the other hand, she did perform a divination, so she may already know better than the others what's going to happen; that depends on how her question was framed. I think she's the most likely of the group (including Zeke) to embrace a group marriage.
- Tessa made her feelings quite clear in this chapter. Intellectually, I can see her being willing to share. Emotionally ... she might insist on being senior wife, which she can't be. (Rei, as a direct descendant of Yosho, is the only one who could be accepted politically by Jurai as the senior wife.) There may be some acrimony in the household because of this - but not very much.
- Lum is a "pampered princess," accustomed to getting her own way - which Zeke won't let her have. Of the four (so far), Lum is the most likely to reject a group marriage ... unless she gets some character development (in the "emotional growth" sense, not the "telling a story" sense).
(And are you brave enough to add Shoko Asami to the circle? She might make a good fit; she's accustomed to dealing with the conflicting needs and desires of her close family members. But would she want to join, and would Zeke want to make the offer? "Reply hazy; ask again.")
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."
- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012