> "But it wouldn't be half as fun~ I'll think about it." No we won't. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
> Leave through the gap from whence we came. Spy secretly on Maribel for a few more minutes. Then gap to human Kappa village.
> Come to think of it, have we told Maribel our intentions or are we planning to spring them on her when she seems open to the idea?
>You give her false assurances that you'll think about it. "As long as you come to a different conclusion than you usually do. I'll see you tomorrow."
>You leave through the gap, returning to your front yard, but leave it open just a sliver to listen for a few more moments. You hear Maribel take a few moments to compose herself and get back to the dishes, noting that she is breathing a bit more heavily than usual.
>Maribel is well aware of your intentions, and it's put her in something of a spot. While she is devoted to Renko, you've also gotten her to admit takes a guilty pleasure in your affections. There is a reason why her resistance is mostly for show and doesn't linger when Renko isn't around. It's a conflict that she hasn't quite worked out, the fact that she really wants to be true to Renko and not betray her, but also has at least some desire to indulge herself with you. While she hasn't said it in so many words, you suspect part of why she doesn't just turn you away is because she also likes the idea that a youkai desires her; it makes her feel more like a part of Genoskyo, rather than an outsider. Her status as one is something that grates against her, though Gensokyo has largely accepted her without a word of complaint. You suspect it goes deeper than that as well; she probably also enjoys being desired by two people just as a compliment to her sense of personal importance. She's hardly the first person to have felt that way. But it all serves to conflict with her loyalty to her partner.
>This is complicated by the fact that Renko is definitely afraid of losing Maribel, particularly to you. You suppose that is a justifiable fear, it's not as though she could hope to compete with you, but you're reassured her you have no interest in taking Maribel away, just borrowing her every so often. If she did did lose Maribel, it would probably destroy her, she had a hard enough time dealing with so much of what she thought she knew about the world being wrong, already. You don't think she would recover if Maribel actually left her. Of course, you doubt there's any danger of that. Maribel has stood with her so far, and you can't imagine anything other than old age or a radical personality shift on one of their parts separating them. You think Maribel is well aware of this, too. So you content yourself for now just making the little overture here and there, and wait for Maribel to return them. You're certain she'll come to terms with things in a proper manner soon enough, and Renko will see that her worries are for naught.
> Check wealth available.
> Consider preempting the betting that is sure to happen around the tournament by taking control of it yourself. Examine who in Gensokyo would be the natural bookies and think of how we may convince/coerce them into, if not our service, then perhaps a temporary partnership. Consider how heating up the betting leading up to the day can affect the distribution of power around Gensokyo and how you can make this benefit you, starting from those snobbish Moriya-dwellers.
>Consider the earth rabbit.
>In terms of coinage, you have a bit over 10,000☼ at your disposal. In terms of non-monetary wealth, you have enough that you could thoroughly wreck Gensokyo's economy if you liked. Ran has warned you about that possibility several times in the past, so you like to be care not to just throw around too much money.
>You might well be able to preempt the gambling. Tewi is a natural choice to serve as such. Given her faith in luck, she is a natural gambler, and her ages of experience wouldn't hurt. As well, it might help disincline her toward mischief. Marisa is another option, you know she has done some small-scale gaming in the past, and few people would try to cheat her. Related to that, Yuugi would be a fine choice as well. Gambling is popular in the Ancient City and the oni are renowned for their honesty. As a Deva, regulating such is one of her jobs. Mamizou might be another option, but Ran wouldn't approve of her.
> As for prizes, why don't we have the entrants contribute something towards the pot, winner takes all? If we can somehow manipulate the Moriyas, the Scarlets, the Taoists and the various other factions to raise the stakes amongst themselves....
> By the way, what happened to Vivit after Kisume handed her over to us?
>That could work, but it may discourage less wealthy contestants.
>You sent her home on her request. She was getting separation anxiety from the rest of her community, and you felt no need to antagonize her. In the ensuring events, no one has really noticed that particular doll has returned home, and you made her agree not to volunteer any information. You suspect she might return, once it's time to collect the researchers.
>_
