True that. In the interests of keeping it as deconstruction, I'd have to truncate my list for sure.
That said?
Hotaru will have the strongest claim of them all. This will be followed closely by Homura and Madoka, for reasons both obvious and subtle.
The next strongest claim will be Fate and Nanoha. The whole "They fell in love with him TWICE!" thing is pretty irrefutable.
After that would be Hayate, but she is by no means a slouch in any way, shape, or form. The fact that she gave him a Reinforce is not a small matter.
Kyoko and Sayaka would probably drop out eventually, but not after investing enough into the relationship that they just can't walk away, either. Not quite part of the "Clan", but definitely full-fledged members of the "Tribe".
With Ruby and Weiss, it would probably be all about the practicality of it all. They do like Ben very much, but the situation is just plain untenable. Though they, too, would probably still be part of the "Tribe".
That said, I could still see the last four electing to have Benjamin be the father of their children. The way it'd work out would be similar to couples with children who went through an amicable separation. Except it would differ in that the family has always been split like that, so the children don't feel much anxiety over it because that's how it's always been for them.
Of course, a few of them would ask their father about it...
"Well... this is one of those things. You know, something that kinda complicated, yet simple at the same time. Your mother and I... we have something between us. It's more than just friendship, but not quite that thing they call 'true love' in stories and fairy tales. So we decided to be realistic about it. We do care about each other, yeah. But... there's not quite enough there to make things work out the way they did with your Aunties. Too many strong personalities, you know. Especially wherever your Auntie Homura is involved.
"But... all that said? Even when something isn't so-called 'true love', there can be wonderful things that result anyhow. And there was just enough there for you to be a product of those feelings between us. Because of that, your mother and I love you dearly for the miracle that you are."
Hrmmmm.... Ideas for terminology:
Thoughts?
That said?
Hotaru will have the strongest claim of them all. This will be followed closely by Homura and Madoka, for reasons both obvious and subtle.
The next strongest claim will be Fate and Nanoha. The whole "They fell in love with him TWICE!" thing is pretty irrefutable.
After that would be Hayate, but she is by no means a slouch in any way, shape, or form. The fact that she gave him a Reinforce is not a small matter.
Kyoko and Sayaka would probably drop out eventually, but not after investing enough into the relationship that they just can't walk away, either. Not quite part of the "Clan", but definitely full-fledged members of the "Tribe".
With Ruby and Weiss, it would probably be all about the practicality of it all. They do like Ben very much, but the situation is just plain untenable. Though they, too, would probably still be part of the "Tribe".
That said, I could still see the last four electing to have Benjamin be the father of their children. The way it'd work out would be similar to couples with children who went through an amicable separation. Except it would differ in that the family has always been split like that, so the children don't feel much anxiety over it because that's how it's always been for them.
Of course, a few of them would ask their father about it...
"Well... this is one of those things. You know, something that kinda complicated, yet simple at the same time. Your mother and I... we have something between us. It's more than just friendship, but not quite that thing they call 'true love' in stories and fairy tales. So we decided to be realistic about it. We do care about each other, yeah. But... there's not quite enough there to make things work out the way they did with your Aunties. Too many strong personalities, you know. Especially wherever your Auntie Homura is involved.
"But... all that said? Even when something isn't so-called 'true love', there can be wonderful things that result anyhow. And there was just enough there for you to be a product of those feelings between us. Because of that, your mother and I love you dearly for the miracle that you are."
Hrmmmm.... Ideas for terminology:
- Clan: a group of families that share a common living patriarch/matriarch (Clan Head).
- Clan Head: the patriarch or matriarch of the Main Branch of a Clan. This person will dictate the Clan's policies and agendas.
- House: a specific family within a Clan.
- House Head/Head of House: the patriarch/matriarch of a House. In the establishment of a new House, this person is lawfully wedded to the Clan Head. The House Head may also take other husbands and/or wives. When the original House Head passes away and if the next House Head is not wedded to a member of the Main Branch, then the House has the option of becoming a Cadet House instead.
- Clan Council: The combined House Heads within a Clan, with the Clan Head sitting as the chairperson of the council. All House Heads, regardless of whether they're wedded to the Clan Head or not, have a single vote on any matter brought before the council. The Clan Head may only vote to break ties - otherwise they act as a mediator over all discourse. Any one person, including the Clan Head, can veto a decision, but only if one other member of the council agrees that the reasoning behind the veto is sound.
- Branch: used in place of "House" when referring to a House in relation to the Clan it is a part of. (e.g.: "House Takamachi-Rhodes" vs "The Takamachi Branch of Clan Rhodes".)
- Main Branch: The main-line family of a Clan. The Spouse of the Clan Head will take their last name as his/her own and use "Maiden Name" as their official middle-name. As such, there will be a Branch that has a single surname, which denotes it as the Main Branch. Usage: "That child is part of the Main Branch of Clan Rhodes."
- Cadet Branch/House: A family that is closely interrelated with a Clan, but not actually part of said Clan - usually by intermarriage or, more rarely, extramarital relations with a Clan Head that results in children. As they are not actually part of a Clan, they are bound only by Tribal policies and agendas.
- Tribe: a grouping of multiple Clans and Cadet Houses that are associated by close friendship or intermarriage. A Tribe may consist of as little as a single Clan with a single Cadet House.
- Tribal Council: Similar in how a Clan Council operates, only with Clan Heads and Cadet House Heads as the council members. The Chief (and Chairperson of the Council) is chosen by election. The length of Term in Office is to be decided by a Council Vote, and the single-person veto rule does not apply. Calls for a vote on the length of term of a Chief cannot be blocked for any reason.
Thoughts?