Something I am trying to puzzle out for fic-purposes:
I established at the very end of Wishing on Space Hardware that Kudelia's parents live on Earth, post-canon, with the strong implication they were from there originally. This is going to be relevant in the second part of the two-fic sequel I am currently writing. To the best of my knowledge, there is nothing in the series itself to imply their origins either way.
So does it make sense if they were a pair of Earth ex-pats who moved to Mars following Norman's appointment as Chryse's governor?
No information is given in the show about how exactly governorship works for the Mars colonies. They are described as 'autonomous zones', so we have to assume they have a measure of self-rule. At the same time, they are subordinate to the Earth governments in every meaningful sense. And Norman himself is a toady for Gjallarhorn.
The trappings of the Bernstein estate calls to mind the aristocratic model we see in Gjallarhorn. It's a huge mansion, equipped with glasshouses to simulate a far more lush, Earth-like environment than we see elsewhere in Chryse, and Tomomi Bernstein shares her daughter's elaborate fashion-sense. These could all be a case of keeping up with Earth social standards, or they could be an attempt to recreate those social standards in a foreign land. Or, rather, they *are* that attempt, but it's not clear if that's coming from a place of origins or aspirations.
I feel trapped by choice, given the lack of information. Kudelia is unquestionably treated as Martian to all intents and purposes, but why wouldn't she be, having lived there all her life? If Earth is a 'pristine and sacred land', then anybody who existed outside it would be suspect regardless. There might be environmental aspects to the prejudice: the sub-human status assigned to space-rats is coming from a place of disdain for body modification; would that extend to fears of 'Martianisation'?
And perhaps there's an educational aspect to this. If Norman were from Mars but educated at an Earth institution, he'd benefit from an elevated (though still subordinate) social position. I suppose there's nothing stopping Tomomi from being Earth-born while he isn't. She is his second wife, canonically...does that lend this approach more credence? Or maybe...
OK, how about this? Norman is as described, a Martian educated on Earth. While there, he has an affair with and marries an Earther, but it goes wrong when he can't secure a good career on Earth (for further plot reasons, it would be good if I can justify his first wife being from Earth). Acrimony, divorce, and he slinks off home. Tomomi is the daughter of Earth ex-pats, possibly people involved in half-metal mining and exports, to justify them being there and in the upper crust. For Norman, she is the next-best option for his social aspirations. Hence leaning into the Earthen trappings at the estate, once he's wormed his way to the top of the heap (can you tell how much contempt I have for this man?) - he wants to flex and to keep his wife happy.
The exact contours of the relationship are still pending; a lot of the second fic is going to be driven by Akatsuki getting involved in his Bernstein family history, so I want it to be nice and juicy. Norman is dead by that point; he's going to be entirely an ex-factor that has wrecked various people's lives, with the consequences of his mishandling of various things being an instigator for events.
I shall continue to ponder this, but yes. That's not a bad start.
