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codenamethebird · 25 days ago

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More Hades 2 rambles from me! Though this time round it's a continuation of a point I made in this post.

Specifically, that I think the final boss of the Surface will be a living human mortal.

A couple people on that post disagreed that it would be a human, mostly just because of boss fight mechanics. Which I do get, but this is my not so little refute of that idea (all in good fun of course, I very well might be wrong! I just have thought a bunch about it since then and wanted to ramble about it).

I'll be getting into later how the game could have a hard mechanically satisfying human final boss later, because first I want to talk about how it would make sense naratively. Not because anyone remotely argued this point, I just think it's interesting haha.

So let's go back for a moment to Hades 1, and it's final boss, Hades himself. On a mechanical sense, it makes total sense, Hades is the god and master of the underworld Zag is trying to escape. He would be the final obstacle. But what really makes Hades work as the final boss, is the story and emotional reason he's there.

The plot of Hades is ultimately about Zag's messy relationship with his dad. And that final boss fight is an ongoing conversation with him. While irl you and your questionable dad constantly fighting to death is not a great way to fix your problems, these are weird bound to underworld greek gods. Death is their weird love language for like half this cast haha. There is a reason Death is one of, if not the main love interest.

Okay now that I've established that, let's look at the one final boss we do know from Hades 2, Chronos. Now it's Grandpa's time to shine. Unlike Hades 1, he fits a lot cleaner into a more traditional villian role. The monster who literally takes over your house and takes your family hostage.

In that way, it is a personal fight for Mel to save her family, but Mel lacks a specific personal connection to Chronos himself. Obviously there's the whole Grandpa thing, but she wasn't like raised by him or anything. He is a convient big bad she can hate simply and wholeheartedly. While he does try to challenge her beliefs at times, Mel will never listen to him because of the whole family kidnapping thing, and Gramps equally doesn't want to engage with her either. He just wants to be a dick to her.

While I'm a firm believer in the "We (the gods) are actually the bad guys" theory, I don't think Chronos is secretly an angel. He did you know eat his kids and that entire scene with Hades and him just reeked of shitty dad vibes. While Chronos might be better for humanity, I think he really is using them as a prop and doesn't genuinely care about them. (This is a derail, but I do think the human army side of things including Prometheus will turn on Chronos at some point. Specifcally that they are already planning to).

But yes, basically, while I adore Chronos as a villain, you get none of the character growth from either party that you got between Zag and Hades in the first game. Obviously, we are still in early access, so there's more dialouge to be had. But from what we have seen, those two are not changing the other. So this is my roundabout way to say that must mean the Surface boss is the one that is going to be all about Melinoe's character growth.

I don't think I need to explain why fighting a human would be a fascinating place for character growth for humanities #1 hater Melinoe. Mel's the Hades equivalent in this game (not the Zag), who will not listen to anyone who disagrees with her. Getting beat up by a human might actually start to get it through her head.

But also I want to dig into why I don't think the final boss will be another Titan. I've seen Atlas thrown around a bunch as a possible final Surface boss. Also Typhon... I'm certain there are others. But I don't know what they would add to the narrative, especially as a final boss? I think there's more evidence for Atlas, so I'll focus on him.

It would make some sense, he was the leader of the titan rebellion and much like Prometheus, in certain versions of the myth he was also freed from his punishment by Heracles! Which considering Heracles suspicious lack of dialouge so far, and the dialouge he does have being a god hater, I do think he's the one who freed Prometheus in this game.

But other than those connections, what does Atlas add to make him an interesting antagonist to Mel? He's not particularly tied to humanity, and while his punishment sucked he did lead a rebellion against the gods (and traditionally the reasons have nothing to do with humans).

Mostly, in my opinion, if the game was going to have a titan also be the final boss for the Surface, it wouldn't be Atlas. It would be Prometheus. He's the powerful titan who has a legitimate gruge against the gods and who can engage with Mel in interesting ways, challenging her stance against the gods. But they have already used Prometheus, I don't know how they could write Atlas (or whatever titan/god) in a way that would be more interesting than Prometheus, and rival the Hades boss fight for thematic weight. Also, it would be 2 titans in a row, which isn't nessisarily a bad thing, but still.

I've also seen people throw around it might he Ares, which I will admit would I would be way more excited for that another titan. Theres some interesting ideas to be had with an Olympian who has betrayed the gods. But we already have dialouge with Athena where she says how Chronos' armies motivations wouldn't line up with Ares'. And I feel like going from a dude only obsessed with war to someone fighting for some kind of higher cause would be a jump in character. Not impossible, but a little weird.

And ultimately, I just think that a Human would serve the purpose better as an antagonist to Mel who would shake her worldview on living mortals in particular. A fight with Ares would mess with her relationship with the gods, but not as clearly with humans.

Okay now that I've talked about themes, how about what people actually had an issue with lol, how would a final boss with a human make sense from a boss fight perspective. I have three main ideas, that don't really contradict each other and could all exist in the fight.

1st idea: multiple enemies. We've heard that there are human armies, the final boss could possibly be a leader of them. We could have hords of enemies, could have select recognizable commanders that have different skill sets, etc. None of the Surface boss fights have multi bosses in them (they have random mobs but none like the sirens or Theseus and Asterius), so I don't think it would be strange to have it. And while stretching the definition of a human boss a bit, these other bosses could be ghosts and other kinds of beings (I just think the main boss should be a breathing human).

2nd idea and tbh my main one. Have them be a Witch! Or some other kind of magic user. I feel like this should be obvious, but a lot of the theming around Hades 2 is witchy/magic stuff and it's wild we don't have a major witch enemy yet (other than obviously Hecate, but for obvious reasons I don't count her).

I'm thinking some kind of High Priestess of Chronos kind of character, we still don't know exactly how Chronos was revived and this could tie in, but there's a bunch of ways you could spin a magic user! I think it would be a prime place to put a narrative foil to Melinoe. A fellow Witch whose family was stolen away by the gods who is looking for justice. Maybe when finally looking into a mirror, some of the stuff Melinoe's been told will finally breach her thick headed skull haha.

I don't think I really need to get into the technical about how a witch fight could be cool. But one idea, tying into my first point, a magic user could have mind powers and compell powerful beings to fight for them. This could be the Zag boss fight of borderline crack theories or even maybe the aforementioned Ares who maybe got captured during his war path. A magic fight doesn't need possessed enemies, but it could be cool.

And finally, my 3rd idea. You might be going, but how could a human be more powerful than Prometheus? Well first point magic, but more seriously, just have them be boosted by Chronos and/or other allies. I mentioned a theory about a high priestess sort of character (the power of God and ani--), but more specifically, if they do go the route of a foil to Melinoe, she has her boons from the gods. Much like Theseus in Hades 1, the final surface boss could gain the boons of Chronos/Prometheus/and the like. Maybe even a Chaos boon, they have already aided Chronos once, and there's a decent chance the humans might betray Chronos at some point so Chaos might be chill with them. This could also be a way to introduce more titan characters and the like without needing to make models for them haha.

But yes, tldr, magic human gives us both the thematic weight of it being a human, witch stuff to parallel Melinoe, and just cool powerful magic fight as a final boss (and it could parallel the Hecate boss fight, the first boss u fight and the last being magic based).

#hades 2 #hades game #hades #melinoe #i also think if we do get a human boss Mel and them should kiss---#okay im joking and writing fic in my head but also i do think that would be very fun #both her bro and parents have the life/death motif going on with their love lives #and Mels love interests so far totally lack any life to them #they are either literal ghosts or children of Nyx whose aspects are not very life esc lol #and Mel is a god of ghosts so shes not the life half of the equation #and very vitally her falling in love with a human enemy would be hilarous because she would hate it #a sad little human AND her enemy #oh no the horror!#... like i said i am a fanfic writer pfft #but yeah i could very well be wrong #but i do think it would be a wild misstep by the game to never have a living human #there needs to be someone of some capacity #also who specifically idk #the timeline of these games is weird to gadge who would be alive during it haha

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moonclade · 1 year ago

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Hey! Doing good I hope?

I’ll make this request quick, I was thinking of a Percy x Melinoe!reader? Since her mother is known as a minor goddess of nightmares and ghosts, people are either afraid of her or doesn’t care about her that much. She even hangs out with ghosts more than people, but of course, dear ol’ Percy is curious of her and tries to befriend her? You know, a good strangers to lovers. Is this good? If not, just tell me so I can fix it!

note ― i'm so rusty when it comes to writing about pjo but i really hope i did well with this! (also sorry it took so long, i wasn't able to work on it for a week). i didn't want to make this like 20k words long, so i didn't really include the bridge from acquaintances to lovers

not proofread || lowercase intended & lots of use of the word "you"

1.5k words

the sun smiles as it burns your skin, and you scowl as the blinding rays make it unbearable for you to even stare ahead. as usual, you were wandering around camp, attempting to find something to do.

you really didn't know why you bothered. considering the fact that you always reverted to your normal routine of finding a bench and reading. and if you were lucky enough to find a shaded and secluded spot, you might even have someone to talk to.

that someone being whatever spirit would bother entertaining you. obviously not any of the other demigods, as majority of them never tried befriending you or were simply scared of the fact you were the daughter of such a "dark" goddess. of course, a few of the other campers didn't mind your family and your abilities, such as nico di angelo. the two of you weren't close, but he always acknowledged you whenever you would lock eyes. he was definitely your favorite at camp.

you never understood why people were scarfed of you just because of your mom. it was laughable honestly, and it led you to have a slight resentment for everyone who actively avoided you. daughter of a goddess of nightmares and ghosts, being invisible and feared by everyone. very ironic.

being alone took a while to get used to, but you eventually made it work out, opting for the quiet whispers of the long-passed spirits. they never judged you, although a few definitely make fun of your isolation.

not finding any activity to do, you decided to read a book you were itching to finish instead of conversing with your little clique of ghosts. your eyes lit up as you found the perfect spot to sit, away from prying eyes and the harsh beams of sunlight.

making yourself comfortable, you found your marked page and started where you left off, ready to finally get this book out the way and start a new one.

suddenly, a blocky figure blocks the sparse amount of light you were using to read. you look up to see, surprisingly, percy jackson.

you were confused and a bit intrigued. you've never interacted with him, but you always admired him from afar. he was a role model to you, both socially and when it comes to slaying monsters.

you would never admit you studied him thoroughly, usually in the light of the campfire, watching as he would crack a joke and then burst into a grin and let out a hearty laugh.

you were definitely jealous of him. that's all.

"i've seen you around camp. (name), right?" he questioned.

a nod was all he received. you looked around for the inevitable group of campers laughing at this interaction, but you saw none. relaxing a little, you lock eyes with his striking sea-colored ones.

"i'm bad with words." you respond, shaking your head. you avert your gaze back to the book you were reading. a romance, and an undeniably cliche one at that.

you loved reading about things that weren't commonplace in your life, like fantasy, but especially romance. everyone was too scared of you for you to even imagine about having a relationship or a love life in general. every crush that developed in your heart was quickly stowed away until it eventually died off.

"it's alright. i never see you talking to anyone around camp." he takes a seat on the bench, a reasonable distance away from you that it wouldn't seem he was uncomfortable with you, like most campers, but not close enough to make it awkward for you.

"never have to, everyone too terrified of my "sinister aura" and prowess in war. and also, my mom." you slightly joke, not wanting him to pity you or something along those lines. he tilted his head like he was going to say something in response to your slightly self-deprecating statement.

"you talk like a book." he blurted. you didn't know if you should take that as a compliment, but even with the short time you've talked with percy, you knew he wouldn't mean it as an insult. just a weirdly phrased statement.

"y'know, in a poetic way." he sheepishly rubbed his neck as you stared at him. the corners of your lips upturned, and he calmed down a little knowing that you didn't take offense.

"you talk a lot," you counter. "but in a good way."

he returns a smile and notices the book you had been slowly inching away from his view.

"what's that about?"

oh my gods. you weren't getting out this one.

"it's just a little romance," you rub your wrists awkwardly, hoping he wouldn't ask for a more in-depth answer.

but the gods were not in your favor today.

"but what is it about?" he quirked an eyebrow at your unwillingness to elaborate on the plot.

"it's just about a boy and a girl meeting randomly and they slowly fall in love at a summer camp. really cliche and probably boring to you." the book made it into his hands as he scanned the front cover art, not bothering to open the book and attempt to read it, thankfully. you could guess why though.

"at a summer camp?"

"i like reading about stuff that could be relatable to me," you shrugged.

"well is it relatable?" he seemed interested.

"do you always ask so many questions?" you grumble. "and no, not really. do you think i have a love life here?"

every answer was turning into a question, followed by another question.

he looked you up and down and smirked. "you don't?"

you swipe your book back and roll your eyes. "yes, jackson. you do realize i have more ghost friends than living ones, right?"

"adds on to the charm. now, tell me more about what happens in the book."

you groan outwardly, but on the inside, you were giddy at finally being able to talk to someone, especially percy.

giving in, you begin to go off on the plot and major events in the story, and your opinions on characters.

before the two of you knew it, the sun was already cut in half by the horizon and the sky was a flurry of colors slowly being overtaken by the dark blues and blacks of the evening.

"how about we meet here again tomorrow?" percy asks.

you were already warming up to the son of poseidon. it could be because you haven't talked to another human in a long time, or he had that vibe to him that let you feel safe.

sometimes you would go and hang out with him and his group, but you didn't know for sure if they liked you that much. it took you months to even decide if percy himself considered you a friend or not.

majority of time you'd go back to that same bench you met him at, and if he was free, he'd meet you there and the two of you would talk about how the book you were reading was going or just how life was going.

but the bench wasn't the only place you hung out. percy would invite you to spar with him or walk around camp, or take part in events going around camp. slowly but surely, more people warmed up to you as they noticed the bond you and percy had. you were still wary and apprehensive of those people though, knowing they judged you even though they didn't know you. but it was a welcome change.

it was half past noon, and you make your way over to your and percy's rendezvous point to hang out for the day. the battered wooden bench that was now carved with quotes and drawings that spanned the seat.

you didn't have to even wait a minute, percy jogging up to you with a hand behind his back.

"what're you hiding?" you try and peer over his shoulder but he moves the object out of your sight.

"well," he looks around everywhere but you, before taking in a big breath and finally meeting your gaze. "i really like you!" he shows you the assortment of flowers most likely picked from the forest nearby.

you process his statement. the percy jackson likes you? never in a thousand years would you have thought that someone could have a crush on you, but never ever would you have dreamed of percy liking you.

it was like your life was turned upside down ever since you met him. you managed to finally have someone to talk to, and also get people to stop fearing you. and it was all because of him. he was the saint in your life.

"hey, it's alright if you don't like me bac-" you cut him off quickly by pressing your lips on his. sure you weren't an experienced kisser, but you've read enough to know how to shut him up.

he went from stiff in surprise to leaning into the kiss, the bouquet long forgotten on the ground. you couldn't get enough of him, throwing your arms around his shoulders and bringing him closer. he slipped his hands around your waist, a shiver running down your back at the touch.

he pulled away, and you clung onto him, not wanting his warmth to leave you.

after a moment of bated breath, you piped up.

"i love you too, percy."

#[🌙clade]#i LOWKEY hate this #percy jackson #x reader #percy jackson x reader #demigods #pjo #hoo #pjo x reader #riordanverse #percy jackson and the olympians #heroes of olympus #hoo x reader

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philomenie · 2 months ago

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KILLING ME SOFTLY

Hitman!Jolly - Part 1

CN murder, violence, sex, organized crime, blood, angst, mention of death, 18+

@jilliemiw86 @nojoyontheburn @reyadawn @dsireland86 @aubrey-melinoe

Seventeen

“Fedor is dead, just like his wife and probably his children too.....” Kolja throws at Jolly's feet without saying hello.

“Why?” Jolly asks in astonishment and stretches a little, having noticed that he has adopted a protective posture for his injured shoulder.

“I'd like to know that too....” nods Kolja and looks Jolly straight in the eye.

“Well... should I ask around for you?” Jolly wants to know.

“Not necessary.... I already know WHO it was!” Kolja continues to stare at Jolly.

“And WHO was it?” Jolly asks, trying to remain as calm as possible.

“It looks like the Yakuza, Doi, is behind it....” Kolja explains, still staring at Jolly.

“Hmm” grumbles Jolly.

“Strange, don't you think?” Kolja wants to know.

“Well.... Artur was murdered by one of the Yakuza, just like his other men.....” Jolly replies, stretching.

“I mean the timing... I tell you that Artur had you watched, that I know about Fedor, and BANG, Fedor dies. I find that strange!” Kolja grumbles.

Jolly looks coldly at Kolja, “Are you implying that I had something to do with it?”

“Well, there's no denying it!” growls Kolja.

“What would I have to gain from it?” Jolly goes on the offensive, ”That would just be too obvious!”

“To shut him up...” Kolja shrugs his shoulders, his eyes still fixed relentlessly on Jolly.

“Why?” snorts Jolly, ”There's nothing to find out about me!”

“Well, that remains to be seen.....” explains Kolja coldly, ”There's ALWAYS something. EVERYONE has a skeleton in their closet that they'd rather keep buried!”

“I certainly don't have my skeletons in the closet!” replies Jolly sarcastically, ”They're lying out in the street or wherever.....”

“You know what I mean!” growls Kolja and approaches Jolly, who remains stoic.

“I have no secrets!” shrugs Jolly with his shoulder.

“We'll see.... Maybe you're working with the Yakuza too? And Fedor knew that...” Kolja speculates.

“Don't make a fool of yourself!” growls Jolly immediately.

Kolja grabs Jolly by the lapels of his jacket, which puts uncomfortable pressure on Jolly's bullet wound, forcing him to grit his teeth.

“What did you say to me?” Kolja hisses at him.

Jolly calmly counts backwards from 10 before replying, “Kolja, I certainly don't work for the Yakuza! This is my family.... Your father took me in.... Do you really think I would betray my family?” he explains gently.

Kolja's gaze flutters and Jolly notices how he becomes uncertain and finally lets go of him.

“All right....” he snorts, ”Still, it's been a lot of weird coincidences lately. My father, Oleg, then my mother.... Artur, his men....” he runs his fingers through his hair, trembling.

“If you like, I'll get some trustworthy men to ask around.” Jolly nods seriously.

“Hmm,” grumbles Kolja and looks thoughtfully at Jolly, who calmly returns his gaze.

“Do that.....” growls Kolja finally.

Jolly nods, turns around and quickly leaves the room before Kolja can harass him further with accusations.

FUCK!!! He has to hurry, find a suitable opportunity to kill Kolja before the little wanker finds out about him and everything fails.

But first of all, he has to get Olivia and the children to safety.

They are absolutely no longer safe in the apartment!

God Liv will never, ever agree to this, Jolly thinks to himself in frustration. But this time he can't give in. Olivia MUST go to Doi with the children. The situation has worsened and become too dangerous.

Just as Jolly suspected, Olivia is anything but enthusiastic.

“You can forget about THAT, Joakim!” she hisses angrily, ”We've already talked about this and I have NOT changed my mind!”

“Liv!” Jolly grabs her by the arm, “It's too dangerous now! I can't act if I'm constantly worried about you.... And now the kids too. Liv, PLEASE, go to Doi. PLEASE!”

Clenching her jaw, Liv looks at Jolly. “Right... let's take the little ones to him!” she then pushes out.

Jolly grabs her upper arms, “LIV, YOU have to go to him too!” he urges again.

“I'm staying here, here with YOU!” she hisses at him with tears in her eyes, then raises her hand with the engagement ring on her finger.

“Do you see that? This is a pact! I stand by you as you stand by me. For better or for worse!” she hisses at Jolly.

“Damn you, woman!” he growls and pulls her into his arms, pressing her against him, ”I can't lose you... if Kolja finds out you exist, you'll be at his mercy. I can't let that happen!”

Olivia clings to him, “And I can't lose you, let you down. Please.... I'll die of fear for you if I can't be near you. Can't see you at least briefly... hold you, feel you. Joakim, please, we'll find a solution, but please, don't send me away!”

Jolly is silent, thinking, knowing that it is pure madness not to take Olivia to Doi where she is safe, even if it tears him apart because he will then be separated from her indefinitely.

“Fine... let's take the kids to Doi.... for now But if things get worse, you'll go to Doi too. No arguments!” he insists.

“I swear to you!” Olivia nods immediately and kisses him, pressing herself against him.

Doi is not enthusiastic at first, but Ruffilo is surprisingly the one who convinces him to take the two little ones in for the time being.

“Say thank you to the Cuban!” Jolly nods to Doi when they meet.

“You can do that yourself soon. He's here in town for a while. The idiot loves children.... Has enough of his own!” snorts Doi, partly amused, partly uncomprehending.

“Ruffilo has children?” Jolly wants to know in astonishment.

“Yes... four of them, in fact. With one and the same woman, it's hard to believe!” laughs Doi.

Jolly looks at him in irritation, “I didn't know that....”

“Well, Nicholas values his privacy... precisely because it's not just about him. Hardly anyone knows about it, which is why your information about the informant was so valuable to Nicholas. For me too, but for Nicholas much more.” Doi explains seriously, ”And I know you're someone who understands that!”

Jolly nods seriously, “Yes, absolutely!”

Doi's gaze wanders to Olivia, who is holding Zoja in her arms and Nikolaj by the hand, standing next to the car she and Jolly came in.

“And I understand all the more now that you want to get out!” he smiles at Jolly, ”She's bloody worth the risk!”

“She is and so much more!” Jolly nods seriously, ”She means everything to me, more than my life.... She has to live!”

“She won't stay here!” Doi realizes immediately.

“No, just the children, even if I wish otherwise. She can't be changed!” growls Jolly.

Doi looks at him, “You've received an incredible gift with her.... Incredible happiness! Hold on to it as long as you can!”

“I know and I will!” gulps Jolly, then waves Olivia over.

As he lifts Nikolaj up, he draws in his breath for a moment, as his shoulder is not really happy about it.

Doi looks at him questioningly, but Jolly pretends not to have noticed.

“Hey, kiddo, this is....” Jolly begins.

“Noah, I'm Noah!” smiles Doi and strokes Nikolaj's cheek, ”I'll take care of you and your sister!”

Nikolaj, who is completely overwhelmed by the situation, wraps his arms around Jolly's neck and starts to cry.

“Liv... and if you stay with the little ones...” Jolly swallows.

“Don't do it!” Olivia chokes out, ”Don't you dare!”

Jolly closes his eyes, pulls Nikolaj away from him and puts him in Doi's car, in the child seat.

“I'll be back with you soon, Olivia too. Don't be afraid, my little one!” Jolly whispers gently and strokes Nikolaj's head, then tears himself away from the crying child. Everything inside him clenches.

FUCK, first he takes his parents away from him and now he gives him to a stranger...

Olivia has put Zoja in the baby carrier, she too is miserable about giving the children away, but knowing they are safe.

“I've got a nanny for the two of them. She'll take good care of them. Besides, Ruffilo is here... as I said, he loves children....” Doi tries to ease the situation a little.

“And once Kolja, that little rat, is taken care of, you can leave without a problem and all will be well!” he smiles.

Olivia steps close to Doi, “If anything should go wrong. Joakim should come to harm, or......” she has to swallow, ‘I swear on everything I hold sacred, I will not rest until you are held accountable!’ she hisses in his ear.

Doi looks at her admiringly, then smiles, “Beautiful and spirited, our Swede is really lucky!”

“You think this is a game?” hisses Olivia, ”Believe me, I'm very serious!”

Doi becomes serious, “I'll take your word for it!”

“Good!” she growls as Jolly puts an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close.

Doi smiles at them both, “You two are growing on me more and more... maybe you'll reconsider your plans?”

“Surely not!” Olivia hisses at him and Jolly shakes his head, ”I only want one thing, a peaceful life!”

“Regrettable....” smiles Doi before getting in, ”Don't worry about the kids. They'll want for nothing!”

As he drives away, Olivia puts her head on Jolly's shoulder, “It's the safest thing for her right now!”

“I know!” Jolly squeezes out, ”Would it be for you too....”

“I'm staying with you! Even if I had to take on the devil himself, my darling!” she whispers tenderly in his ear and snuggles up to him.

“Hmm,” grumbles Jolly, who doesn't know what to say to that.

Inga's funeral and the subsequent memorial service are disastrous, to put it mildly. Kolja can barely control himself, alternating between outbursts of rage and fits of crying. Jolly can see that many of the men can't or don't want to deal with this behavior. He doesn't even hear that Kolja's behavior is unworthy of him and that he is not doing his father any credit by letting himself go like this in public.

Jolly remains silent, takes note of everything and occasionally sprinkles Nadja's name around as a more worthy successor. All subtly and inconspicuously, of course.

Alexei joins him.

“Kolya's certainly not making any friends today, let alone allies!” he snorts.

“Hmm, not really!” nods Jolly.

“He's increasingly becoming a problem. The Italians are skillfully exploiting our chaos! Folio is getting bolder and bolder.... He's secured a whole district for his drug sales from us and Kolja doesn't seem to care!” hisses Alexei.

“Well.... Why don't you tell him?” suggests Jolly.

“Am I tired of living?” growls Alexei, ”But I'm telling YOU! Do something, let's push the damn Italians back.”

“That's for Kolya to decide or order. What do you think will happen if I order it on my own! Because I'm not tired of living either!” Jolly grumbles.

“Then talk to him. He has to make a decision about it now. Our men are already getting restless!” urges Alexei.

“Hmm,” nods Jolly, who certainly has no intention of suggesting this to Kolya. Unrest among the men and dissatisfaction with Kolya's leadership style is exactly what plays into his and Nadja's hands.

Jolly continues to keep an eye on everything and notices the looks Kolja is giving Nadja, which Jolly doesn't like at all.

Nadja herself doesn't seem to notice them or pretends not to. Jolly thinks that the latter is more likely to be the case, because Nadja doesn't usually miss such things.

When Kolja beckons Jolly over, he has a sinking feeling in his stomach.

Kolja grabs him by the lapels of his jacket and pulls him towards him.

“I don't trust Nadja anymore...” he slurs in Jolly's ear.

“Hmm, why all of a sudden?” Jolly wants to know.

“She was drinking with the bodyguards and then my mother died....” swallows Kolja, looking up at Jolly, ”And you.... You've got something to hide too.....”

“No!” Jolly explains softly, releasing Kolja's hands from his jacket, ”I'm an open book!”

Kolja looks at him impassively, then leans back.

Jolly returns his gaze stoically, neither his expression nor his mimicry betraying him.

“Whatever you say....” Kolja then hisses as he throws his hands up and then reaches for his glass again, emptying it in one go, ‘But I'll keep an eye on you, on you... I'll keep an eye on ALL OF YOU!’ he then roars, pointing at everyone present, who look at him with varying degrees of irritation or disgust.

Keep it up, Jolly thinks to himself hatefully, nobody will shed a tear for you!

As he is about to leave the house, Nadja stops him.

“That cursed bastard has sent his men after me!” she hisses angrily.

“I was afraid of that!” sighs Jolly.

“You have to do something!” Nadja hisses at him.

“I will, don't worry!” growls Jolly.

“Soon! Who knows what other ideas he'll come up with!” hisses Nadja and lights a cigarette.

“As soon as the opportunity arises, he'll be dead!” whispers Jolly harshly.

“Despite everything, be careful!” Nadja warns him, ”He's suspicious of everyone right now... who knows, he's probably sent men after you too!”

“I didn't notice anything and I was on my guard!” growls Jolly.

“Be careful anyway! Please!” Nadja puts her hand on his arm.

“Hmm!” nods Jolly.

Nadja throws the cigarette on the floor, stomps it out, “You're leaving?”

“Hmm” nods Jolly.

“I'll probably never get used to it!” swallows Nadja and tries to smile.

“Hmm” shrugs Jolly with his shoulder.

“Ok.... I'd better get back then... see you around!” and with that she runs back into the house.

Jolly looks after her before going to his car and driving off.

In the parking garage, he just sits there for a while. Nadja's warning echoes in his mind. It's safe to assume that Kolja has also set someone on him. After half an hour, Jolly gets out. No one has shown up, no one has followed him. At least not that he noticed and he paid attention to everything.

He slowly walks to the elevator and goes to his floor.

The uneasy feeling he has had since the conversation remains.

He is just about to unlock Olivia's apartment door when he hears the elevator stop on his floor.

He quickly goes one door further, to his apartment, and tampers with the door lock.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees an elderly couple getting out of the elevator.

FUCK, Karlsson, you're getting paranoid, he scolds himself.

Later, as he lies in bed with Olivia in his arms, he stares silently at the ceiling.

“What's upsetting you?” Olivia wants to know quietly.

“Kolja....” sighs Jolly and would have liked to kick himself in the ass immediately because he doesn't want to put any more strain on Olivia. She's already carrying enough weight from the damn situation.

As expected, Olivia straightens up, “In what way?” she asks.

“Oh... forget it! The little prick is just unbearable!” Jolly tries to talk her way out of it.

“Why don't I believe you?” Olivia hisses and looks at him angrily.

“I'm not lying to you! Really not.... I'll never do that again!” Jolly looks at her seriously.

“But you're worried about something!” Olivia continues.

“Hmm....” grumbles Jolly, then sighs, ”He's got Nadja under surveillance.... I'm worried too, even though I haven't noticed anything!”

“WHAT?” gasps Olivia.

“Min Liv... Nothing's going to happen. Before that asshole gets his hands on anything against me, he'll be long dead!” Jolly reassures her.

“I know I'd go to hell for this if I were a believer.... But, please, Joakim, just kill him!” Olivia chokes out fearfully.

“As soon as the opportunity presents itself. I've already prepared something. I'm just waiting for a favorable moment!” Jolly explains seriously, then pulls Olivia close again, ‘Try to relax, it'll be over soon!’ he kisses her tenderly and Olivia snuggles up to him again.

The days drag on. Jolly is starting to get nervous because Kolja has thrown his normal routines out the window and is not acting as usual. He has also recruited more bodyguards to protect him at every turn, day and night. So Jolly doesn't have the slightest chance of killing him.

Olivia's nerves are also on edge, she is becoming increasingly irritable and so a small matter quickly culminates in an argument in which her whole temperament comes to the fore.

Furious, Jolly slams the door behind him and stomps towards the elevator.

FUCK... he'd die for this woman, but right now he'd like to wring her neck, stubborn as she is.

It was just a little thing.... A damned little thing, he thinks to himself, still angry, so a fight... ridiculous really.

He has a lump in his throat as he drives downstairs, gets into his car and just drives away.

He needs to clear his head, so he drives out of the city and into the nearby forest.

Once there, he gets out, walks a little way in until he sits down on the ground under a tree and just stares up into the treetops.

FUCK.... So pointless.....simple.

The longer he sits there, the more insane their argument seems to him.

FUCK... he shouldn't have just left, he thinks to himself ruefully.

He slowly gets up, walks back to his car and looks at his cell phone.

No new messages.

Stubborn woman, Jolly thinks to himself lovingly, and he realizes how tight his chest is getting.

FUCK.... He has blown it.

When he re-enters the apartment, it's already dark. But there is still no light on.

“Liv?” he whispers hoarsely.

No answer.

Panic rises in him, surely she won't have just left too? Alone? Without him?

Jolly feels sick to his stomach at the thought.

He runs into the living room, his eyes already accustomed to the darkness, so he immediately sees the curled-up ball on the couch that is Olivia.

“Liv...” he sighs as he sits down next to her and pulls her into his arms, ‘I'm sorry... I was such an idiot!’ he swallows, ‘I... I have no experience with relationships... when we fight... I can't handle it!’ he explains quietly, ashamed.

Olivia looks him in the eye, Jolly immediately realizes that she has been crying and his heart clenches.

“I'm sorry... I shouldn't have freaked out like that... over nothing!” she swallows, ”I was so scared you wouldn't come back...”

“God, Liv, I can't do that at all, not coming back to you. You're everything to me, just everything....” Jolly whispers harshly and pulls her even closer to him, ”My North Star......”

Olivia wraps her arms around him, “Let's just forget this stupid fight... Please!”

“Of course!” Jolly sighs in relief and rests his forehead against hers.

Just as he's about to kiss her, his cell phone vibrates in his pocket.

FUCK... right now, he thinks to himself, annoyed, but pulls it out.

“Him!” gulps Olivia.

“Hmm” nods Jolly and takes the call.

“Come to the club... we need to talk!” Kolja barks and immediately hangs up again.

Jolly slowly puts his cell phone down and stares at it.

“What does that mean?” whispers Olivia uncertainly.

“That THE opportunity has finally presented itself....” Jolly explains harshly, then looks Olivia in the eye, ”You've got everything packed, haven't you?”

“Yes.... Just a few little things not yet....” Olivia swallows.

“Pack everything you need! You have to get to Doi NOW! I'll catch up with you!” Jolly declares sternly.

Olivia turns pale.

“Liv, PLEASE, I need to know you're safe!” urges Jolly, ”I need to be able to focus on what I have to do!”

“Yes!” whispers Olivia, but can't move.

Jolly pulls her close again, “Then it's over...finally over!” he gulps!”

As Jolly slowly drives into the parking lot of the club, it's pitch black. The parking lot, which is normally well-lit, is shrouded in deep darkness. Not a single light is on.

But even so, Jolly recognizes that several cars are parked there.

He slowly breathes in and out, picks up his cell phone and thinks.

FUCK.... He must know for sure that Kolja is in the cursed club, so he gets out.

Before he goes to the entrance, he hesitates once more.

He breathes in and out deeply, concentrating, becoming calmer.

Olivia is safe, he tells himself again and again. No matter how this turns out today. She is safe. Doi has vouched for that, just like Nicholas Ruffilo, who is currently with Doi again.

Nothing will happen to her....

Taking her to Doi was the only right decision, leaving her there, leaving, hard, incredibly hard.

Jolly can still remember every single word, every single second.

His promise to her that he would come back to her, that everything would be all right.

Jolly opens the front door. The club is dimly lit. Just enough for him to find his way up the stairs.

His instincts tell him that something is wrong, that the whole thing stinks, stinks badly.

He slowly makes his way up the stairs. Everything is bathed in dimmed light. There is no one to be seen.

FUCK... what is this? And where is everyone?

Jolly goes to Kolja's office, pushes the handle down and opens the door.

FUCK... his instincts didn't deceive him, this place stinks!

Kolja is sitting at his desk, Nadja in front of him. His men stand in a semicircle around Nadja.

When Jolly enters, all heads turn towards him, all eyes are on him.

The looks are partly skeptical, partly uncomprehending, partly hateful, Nadja's gaze pleading.

FUCK!

Jolly straightens up, “What's wrong?” he wants to know quietly.

Kolja nods his head and two men grab Jolly, twisting his hands behind his back. The abrupt movement stretches his injured shoulder, causing Jolly to gasp in pain.

Kolja gets up, goes to him, looks at him with narrowed eyes, then grabs his shoulder and presses his thumb into it with all his strength.

Jolly gasps again, then grits his teeth. Kolja doesn't loosen his grip, digging his thumb deeper and deeper into his flesh until Jolly's blood is visible on his jacket.

Disgusted, Kolja wipes his thumb and fingers on Jolly.

“Where did you get that....” Kolja hisses at Jolly.

Jolly stares at him in silence.

“WHERE DID YOU GET THAT FROM, I WANT TO KNOW!” Kolja roars and kicks Jolly in the stomach with his foot, causing him to collapse with a gasp.

“A fight.....” whispers Jolly hoarsely.

Kolja grabs Jolly's hair and yanks his head back, “WITH WHOM?!”

“Hmm, no one you know!” gasps Jolly.

Kolja kicks again, “DON'T LIE TO ME!”

Jolly gets sick to his stomach and spits out, “Fuck... what the fuck is this shit! Why would I lie to you?!”

Kolja yanks his head back by his hair again, “You tell me.... Why are you lying, Jolly?” growls Kolja.

“When am I supposed to have lied to you!” Jolly blurts out.

“THE WHOLE FUCKING TIME!” Kolja roars again and this time he punches him right in the face. The blow is so violent that Jolly feels his nose break and the blood just oozes out. Choking and spitting, he bends over, only to be pulled back again by his hair.

“That's not true....” mumbles Jolly, trying to remain calm.

Kolja pulls his head back even further, “I had you watched, just like I had Nadja watched....” he growls dangerously quietly, “And lo and behold, you do have secrets.... And it's so obvious that it hasn't been noticed..... I almost admire you for it.... But only almost!”

Jolly has to swallow, “Kolja” he whispers harshly, wants to continue but Kolja kicks him in the stomach again so that the word gets stuck in his throat and he has to choke again.

Gasping for breath, he hangs in the iron grip of the two men.

“Kolja!” whispers Nadja, ”Stop it!”

“YOU LOVE TO BE QUIET!” he shouts at her and approaches her threateningly, raising his hand. Nadja flinches slightly, but she returns his gaze with hatred.

“Then what? Are you going to hit me?” she hisses at him.

“Don't go for it! I have NO problem with that!” Kolja growls back.

“Your mother would be really proud of you!” Nadja hisses back, causing Kolja to freeze.

“Leave my mother out of this, bitch!” he growls at her and grabs her neck, squeezing.

Nadja pushes herself towards his hand, “Do you think I'm afraid of you? Squeeze, you'll see what you get out of it! Semjon and my father may be dead, but I still have connections you can only dream of. I still have power!”

Kolja's gaze flickers uncertainly and he loosens his grip on her neck.

He leans down towards her, “What connections do you mean? I am in charge here, I have the sole power. My father left ME his empire!”

Nadja twists her mouth mockingly, “If you say so.....”

Kolja's face changes color from pale to red, he takes a swing and wants to strike.

“What have you found out about me?” gasps Jolly, which throws Kolja off balance and makes him lower his hand.

He looks at Jolly in irritation, as if he had forgotten about him.

“Well, that you have a little bitch... that you were with Fedor, killed him and his wife, hence the wound on your shoulder... that you took his children..... You'll die for that alone today... but that's not all.... You're in contact with Doi, the Yakuza! You're a dirty traitor and I'm glad my father won't have to experience that again! You're in league with Nadja! Am I right?” Kolja spits at Jolly.

He slowly shakes his head, “No... Nadja has absolutely nothing to do with any of this!” mumbles Jolly, who is finding it difficult to speak.

“DON'T LIE TO ME AGAIN!” Kolja yells and pulls Jolly's hair back again.

Jolly fearlessly returns Kolja's gaze. He knows he has absolutely nothing left to lose. Getting out of this situation alive would be a miracle, so he puts all his eggs in one basket to at least get Nadja out of here.

“I won't.....” he gasps, ‘You're right..... with Doi!’ he presses out.

Everyone stares at him speechlessly, including Nadja, who shakes her head imperceptibly and gives him pleading looks.

Jolly closes his eyes briefly, trying to signal to her that it's OK.

“Since when?” growls Kolja, who would never have expected this admission.

“Hmm, for a while....” sighs Jolly.

“YOU'VE BETRAYED US ALL!” Kolja roars and lashes out at Jolly like a madman.

His men don't intervene. Firstly because Kolja is blinded by rage and secondly because they are severely disappointed in Jolly.

Kolja doesn't even stop when the door is opened and Alexei stands frozen.

“FUCK.... Stop it!” he gasps in horror and falls into Kolja's arms, pulling him away from Jolly, who is hanging like dead between the two men.

Kolja pushes Alexei away, “THIS BASTARD IS A TRAITOR!” he yells at him.

“What?!” Alexei looks around in irritation, only to receive grim nods.

“It can't be!” Alexei gasps.

“He's admitted it... he's in contact with Doi, the Yakuza... he's responsible for the deaths of Fedor and Magda, it looks like!” one of the men speaks up.

“What?!” Alexei is shocked.

Nadja, who has been thinking feverishly in the meantime, jumps up, “Yes, it's true. Jolly HAS contact with Doi, but he is definitely NOT a traitor! He should make contact with him.... Acting as a mole!”

Everyone stares at her.

“What kind of bullshit are you talking about, woman?” growls Kolja, walking up to Nadja, who stares at him coldly and fearlessly.

“Not bullshit, Kolja, but the truth!” she triumphs, ”Jolly was supposed to infiltrate and spy on Doi and the Yakuza for your father, which he apparently succeeded in doing. And as thanks, you beat him almost to death..... Idiot!”

Nadja has regained her composure, her gaze towards Kolja radiates pure contempt and arrogance. She is back in her element, trying to regain the upper hand and turn everything around in her and Jolly's favor. Because she knows that if she doesn't succeed, Jolly is dead.

“BULLSHIT!!! My father would have told me about this!” growls Kolja, but his gaze flickers. His men also frown, looking uncertain.

“So... he would have?! Yes? Are you sure about that?” Nadja smiles and reaches for her cigarettes in her bag, lights one.

“YES, he would have!” Kolja looks like a defiant child.

“If you say so....” Nadja smiles again, takes a drag on her cigarette and blows the smoke towards Kolja.

“HE WOULD HAVE TOLD ME!” Kolja shouts angrily.

“Hmm, just like he told you that he made a pact with the Italians! That's why your cousin married Nick Folio, the heir... I'm sure your father told you all that too!” Nadja's gaze is cold.

Kolja looks at her in confusion, “Jelena is in Russia!”

Nadja laughs her bell-bright laugh, “Sure....” she simply stubs out the cigarette on Kolja's mahogany desk.

Kolja angrily grabs Nadja's shoulder, who shakes him off just as angrily, takes her cell phone out of her pocket and dials a contact.

“What are you doing?” hisses Kolja.

“Wait!” Nadja rolls her eyes, annoyed.

“Ah, Jelena, good to hear you!” she smiles as her call is answered.

Kolja's eyes almost pop out of his head.

“Yes, I know, what happened to my father, Semjon AND Inga is an absolute tragedy! Thank you for your sympathy!” sniffs Nadja, ”Say thank you to Nick too... Yes, that's really sweet of him!”

White with rage, Kolja snatches the cell phone out of Nadja's hand. “Jelena??”

“Oh Kolja... I'm so sorry. I would have come straight away, but we're in Europe right now, on our honeymoon!” Kolja has to listen to his cousin.

“You... WHAT?” hisses Kolja, irritated.

“You don't know? Didn't your father tell you?” Jelena asks, irritated.

“Uh, yes... of course.....” Kolja swallows, his men look at him skeptically, ‘Just let me know when you're back here!’ and hangs up, throwing her cell phone at the smiling Nadja, which she deftly catches.

“So?” she hisses, ”WHO is lying and WHO doesn't know everything?”

“That's all bullshit!” Kolja roars again, ”My father WOULD have told me if Jolly was spying for the Yakuza.... And why would he? He has nothing to do with that......”

“You've got the point there!” nods Nadja, ”Precisely because he doesn't normally have anything to do with that sort of thing!”

The men in the room begin to talk quietly, which encourages Nadja. Her gaze flits to Jolly, who the two men have now let slide to the floor.

Nadja can't see how he is, his long hair obscures the view of his face. The blood beneath him doesn't make her particularly happy. At least his chest is rising and falling.

FUCK.... She has to get him out of here.

“Jolly was ALWAYS loyal... took a bullet or two for your father. He's a child of the organization. Think about it, Kolja!” Alexei, who has been following the whole thing tensely, now speaks up.

The grumbling of the other men gets louder.

“So why did he kill Fedor and his wife?” Kolya barks.

“Fedor was a rat....” growls one of the men, ”Always looking to get something for himself. Jolly probably found out something about him and rendered him harmless.....”

Murmurs of approval can be heard, making Nadja's heart beat faster.

“BULLSHIT! HE HAS LIE!” Kolja yells again, but his men narrow their eyes and shake their heads skeptically.

“If you hadn't beaten him half to death, you could have asked him about it!” Nadja accuses Kolja bitingly, ”You're rash, you just react without knowing all the facts.... Your father did NOT make mistakes like that!”

“Don't you dare....” Kolja angrily tries to reach for Nadja, but is prevented from doing so by Alexei, who stands between them.

“Calm down Kolja!” he hisses, ”Think about it!”

“I don't have to think about it... I know Jolly's a traitor!” growls Kolja, then looks angrily at Nadja, ”And that bitch would put anyone to the sword to protect him!”

Nadja can be heard laughing, “God, Kolja, don't be ridiculous. We have fucked. I like him, but that's all. Do you really think I would risk my life for him? I dumped him after he fucked that bitch regularly... God, what do you think I am?”

“You mean that doctor? The one who works in the same hospital where my father and yours died?” Kolja chokes out.

“Oh, she's a doctor?” Nadja opens her eyes, ”I don't know, you tell me. All I know is that he fucks someone regularly, that was enough for me to drop him!”

Kolja grinds his jaw, his gaze darting around the room, from Jolly to his men, back to Nadja.

“You're beginning to see ghosts, Kolja!” Nadja explains gently, ”The last few weeks have been grueling... But you're misjudging this!”

Kolja remains silent, staring at Jolly, who is still lying motionless on the floor.

“Help him up!” he then demands of his men, ”Make sure he can talk!”

Nadja closes her eyes briefly and takes a deep breath.

Two men lift Jolly up by his arms, drag his unconscious body outside and lay him down on one of the lounge couches.

Nadja has to restrain herself from sinking to the floor next to him. He looks terrible. Worse than the last time Semjon took his anger out on him.

His nose is broken, his lip is split open, both eyes are starting to swell up and there are also lacerations on his eyebrows. His face is covered in blood.

“Get something so we can clean him up!” she whispers to Alexei, who is standing next to her, mute with rage, staring at Jolly just as horrified as Nadja.

He nods grimly and walks off.

“Let me know when he's awake again! I need something to drink!” Kolja growls to Nadja. As he leaves, he waves to two of his men, “You stay here too! I don't want the bastard to disappear!”

“How is he supposed to do that? He's half-dead!” Nadja hisses at Kolja, who prefers not to hear her.

Alexei has brought a bowl of water and towels, with which Nadja carefully dabs and wipes Jolly's face clean.

He slowly begins to stir, soft moans can be heard.

Nadja sighs with relief as he opens his eyes as best he can.

His face contorts in pain.

Nadja grabs his hand, “Don't move!” she whispers, brushing a strand of hair from his face.

“Kolja...” whispers Jolly.

“He's gone, but he'll be back!” Nadja leans even closer to him, “Listen, if you've understood everything, nod! I told Kolja that Semjon sent you to Doi as an informer... so I could unsettle him and even more so his men. Play along and you might get out of here alive!”

Jolly looks gratefully at Nadja, then nods.

“My cell phone.....” he croaks.

“Did Kolja.... What do you want with it?” Nadja wants to know.

“Need it!” sighs Jolly.

“He won't give it to you that easily!” Nadja shrugs her shoulders helplessly.

“Get out of here....” swallows Jolly, ”Take Alexei with you.....”

“No... you don't think I'm going to leave you here alone with this lunatic!” Nadja looks at him indignantly.

“Go... you have to....” whispers Jolly urgently.

“Why?” Nadja looks at Jolly in irritation.

“Just go.....” Jolly leans back and closes his eyes again.

He feels terrible. Everything hurts and when he carefully feels his chest, he immediately notices the stabbing pain.

FUCK... the same place again. This time his ribs are broken for sure.

That little fucking wanker... Jolly didn't think he could hit like that.

He has to finish it, Kolja has to die, even if it means dying with him.

“Jolly, I'm getting you out of here!” whispers Nadja sternly.

“No... I've got things to do here!” sighs Jolly, ”But you have to go, please Nadjuscha.....”

Nadja's chest tightens, Jolly hasn't used the diminutive of her name for ages. She immediately realizes that he has something planned.

“What are you planning?” she hisses in his ear.

“Go.... I want you to survive!” he whispers quietly.

Nadja stares at him in horror, “You want to kill Kolja? Here, in front of his men? How can you do that? You can barely move!”

“That's why I need my cell phone....” he nods and looks her in the eye, ”Go, Nadjuscha, please!”

Nadja grabs his hands, holds them tightly in hers, “I won't leave you alone, this is madness!”

“But.... You have to go.... It's up to me now to finish what I started!” he whispers barely audibly, ”Take Alexei and go..... and Nadja....thank you!”

Nadja is on the verge of crying. Her feelings threaten to explode.

“You fucking bastard!” she hisses at him, ”You're not playing the martyr here.....”

Before she can continue, she can hear Alexei, “He's just woken up!”

Her gaze travels backwards and she can see Kolja and more of his men walking towards her and Jolly.

“Is he talking?” Kolya barks out.

“Talking is too much!” Nadja snaps back.

“Let me see him!” Kolja angrily pulls Nadja from Jolly's side so that she falls to the floor and stares at him, speechless with rage.

“Are you crazy?” she hisses angrily at him and is immediately back on her feet.

Kolja ignores her and looks at Jolly in front of him with narrowed eyes. He puts his foot down on the couch next to him, digging the toe of his shoe into Jolly's side.

“So... talk, asshole!” Kolja growls at Jolly.

“I have contact with Doi!” Jolly repeats quietly, ”Because your father wanted me to!”

Kolja now rams the tip of his shoe completely into Jolly's side, causing him to groan.

“Why don't I know anything about it? And why didn't you tell me? I don't believe a single word you say!” Kolja spits out.

“Doi..... he wants to kill you.... Take it all over!” gasps Jolly laboriously, ”He's waiting for me to call and tell him you're dead!”

“He wants you to kill me....” Kolja turns pale.

Jolly nods, “Hmm, the doctor.... I needed someone to lead Doi around by the nose.... That I want out, because of her.... He wanted to help, against your death, your father's and your mother's!”

“You killed my father and mother?!” Kolja is pale as a sheet.

Jolly shakes his head again, “No... Semjon died just like that.... I didn't do anything to your mother either.... She really did commit suicide....”

“AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE YOU?!” Semjon roars again and kicks Jolly in the chest with his foot, causing him to double over, whimpering and wrapping his arms around his ribs.

FUCK, he can barely breathe, he realizes with burgeoning panic.

“God, Kolja, let it.... Let him talk!” Alexei growls angrily.

Kolja's eyes shoot daggers in Alexei's direction, but he nods, “Yeah... I want to know what this Japanese asshole is up to! So... keep talking... how are you supposed to kill me, then what's the next step?”

“How does Doi care!” gulps Jolly, ”I'm supposed to call him afterwards, then he'll meet me, give me money and papers....”

“WHERE?!” Kolja wants to know immediately.

“Didn't he tell me....” coughs Jolly and spits blood on the floor, causing Kolja to take a step back in disgust.

Nadja, on the other hand, turns pale. Her eyes wide open, she looks at Jolly and the bloodstain on the floor, knowing what this means.

“Then call him!” Kolja immediately demands of Jolly, ”Arrange a meeting with him. My men will be waiting for him!”

“I need my cell phone for that.....” Jolly swallows and looks Nadja in the eye, holding her gaze. Nadja nods imperceptibly, grabs Alexei's arm and hugs him.

“You shall have.... Ivan, get it, it's on my desk!” Kolja orders.

Nadja walks slowly towards the stairs, tears stinging her eyes, but she swallows them bravely. Alexei looks at her questioningly, but she just shakes her head slightly and he lets her pull him along, irritated but obedient.

Jolly, who has noticed, closes his eyes briefly in relief. At least this one time, this stubborn woman has listened to him.

“Here!” Kolja holds out the cell phone to Jolly, “Call him!”

Jolly struggles to get up so that he can sit. His ribs are hurting badly, he can barely breathe, his lungs are seething with every breath he takes.

FUCK, one of his ribs must have injured or punctured his lung. He struggles to hold himself up and dials Doi's number.

Not long and Doi answers.

“So, is it done?” he wants to know immediately.

“Almost!” gasps Jolly.

“You don't sound well? Did something happen?” Doi wants to know immediately.

“Hmm, no....” Jolly shakes his head, ”Is Olivia around?”

Kolja gives him an irritated look, but Jolly doesn't let that put him off. He needs to speak to Olivia one last time.

“Shall I get her?” Doi wants to know, also irritated.

“Please!” gasps Jolly.

“What are you doing?” hisses Kolya quietly, but Jolly ignores him.

“Joakim? Is everything all right?” Olivia sounds alarmed.

“Yes, min Liv!” whispers Jolly tenderly.

“You sound so different....” Olivia swallows.

“It's all right, min Liv..... I just wanted to tell you how much I love you....” Jolly whispers softly and is shaken by a coughing fit, spitting up blood again. Panting, he has to take a deep breath.

“You're supposed to arrange a meeting place with Doi.... Don't talk to your bitch!” Kolja hisses hatefully.

“Joakim.... What's wrong?” Olivia wants to know in a panic.

“Everything will be fine, min Liv....” whispers Jolly breathlessly.

“God Joakim....” Olivia cries, ”Please, come here... now.....”

“Soon min Liv.... soon” whispers Jolly, ”Always remember... you're my North Star, you saved me..... I always come back to you, no matter what.... I'll find you everywhere..... I will always be with you, always......”

“JOAKIM... WHERE ARE YOU, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?” Olivia's panic is immense.

“Doi.... Tell him now, he has to do it now.... Now!” gulps Jolly.

“What do you want him to do?! Joakim, talk to me.....” Olivia is beside herself.

Jolly can hear Doi taking the cell phone away from Olivia and answering it herself, Olivia's crying is clearly audible, her despair, her fear.

Jolly closes his eyes, tears running down his cheeks.

“What should I do?” Doi's serious voice can be heard.

“It's time!” nods Jolly, ”You do it.....”

“I see....” gulps Doi, in the background Jolly can hear Olivia's screams and crying, along with muffled words from a familiar voice. Ruffilo must also be present, trying to comfort Olivia, to calm her down.

“What kind of bullshit are you pulling here?” Kolja hisses at Jolly, but he takes his cell phone from his ear and hangs up, looking at Kolja, who no longer understands anything.

“Do you want to know the truth?” smiles Jolly.

“What are you doing now?” Kolja stares at Jolly, stunned.

“It was me....” nods Jolly, ”Your father, your mother, Oleg....”

Kolja looks like a fish out of water as he gasps in bewilderment, his eyes threatening to pop out of his skull.

“They so deserve to die... they took everything from me... EVERYTHING! And dragged me into this hell here!” Jolly Kolja spits, ”I hope they burn in hell now! Where you'll soon be too!”

Kolja is still frozen, but then he grabs Jolly by the collar, screaming, and throws him to the ground, about to pounce on him when the building starts to vibrate. Everyone stares around in horror as a deafening bang rings out and all hell breaks loose around them. Flames race through the building and everything begins to crumble and collapse, engulfing them.

Jolly closes his eyes with a smile, his last clear thoughts are with Olivia, his North Star. Which he will always find again, free of space and time.

......

#bad omens band #bad omens cult #bad omens #joakim jolly karlsson #joakim karlsson #jolly karlsson #jolly #jolly fanfiction #bad omens fanfiction #fanfiction #fanfic

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nightmare-magic · 5 months ago

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And away we goooooo...

“You know I wouldn’t be calling if I had another option.” Vollrath growled as his teeth ground. He looked around, hating to even have to be there meeting with Morpheus. How did he even get himself into this position. He was a fucking Master Warlock. Shouldn’t he be able to vanquish nightmares? YES! Yet here he was having to ask for help from a being that he hated, and who he was sure hated him.

“Would you prefer to negotiate with Melinoe?” Morpheus smirked, knowing the answer to that. While Melinoe was less of an asshole than he was, she also had never had a run in with Vollrath before. The other three men who sat at a table near them, obviously hating this as much as Vollrath was, would make her no less pleased than dealing with the jackass warlock in front of him. “So, what did you fuck up to need my help, warlock?” His eyebrows rose in amusement.

“I didn’t fuck anything up. Someone is coming after my wife through her dreams. My brother, and both of the warlocks who serve under me have tried figuring out what’s going on, and neither can. I’m worried, Morpheus. Nothing we can do through our magic is working. The goddess is not helping and even Sylvan seems unable to vanquish whatever is coming to torture her dreams. The ancestors don’t seem to be able or willing to help, they are not communicating which. I’ve never run into anything like this.” His jaw clenched and his hand ran through his auburn hair as Vollrath admitted that he was powerless to fix the problem. Mahala was already afraid to fall asleep and even had to be drugged most nights. Her fear kept her from being able to relax enough to sleep, so it was either drugs or she’d stay away until she passed out.

Morpheus sat back as his eyebrows drew together. That was not what he’d expected. The last time that he’d been called by Vollrath, it had been a witch who’d called a nightmare demon and couldn’t vanquish it. Of course, Morpheus had been able to take care of the problem easily. This situation was a lot more personal and touchy though. Vollrath requesting personal help from him was something that Morpheus knew was not something that the warlock would do lightly. It was one thing to ask for help for someone in the coven, or to undo something that had been done by someone in the coven, but this was different.

“Of course, both Melinoe and I will be glad to help. We also have another team we work with, that we have personally trained. No one should be tortured by nightmares that sound that powerful and violent.” He could see the powerful warlock before him relax, as did the three others at the other table, when they saw Vollrath relax. “I need to know how long it’s been going on and any details that you are able to tell me. That will give my team an idea of what we’re up against and how we want to take it on.” Anything or anyone taking on the wife of a Master Warlock had to be pretty ballsy. To withstand the powers of four powerful warlocks, like the ones before him, meant that they were going to have to call in help from Lorien and Rua as well; which is why he mentioned them. Morpheus had a sinking feeling that they were once again up against something new, or dark.

“About a month ago, it just started suddenly. It was a random nightmare unlike anything that she had ever had before. Mahala, my wife, had problems waking up from it even with me trying to help her using spells. When she did, she was disoriented and unlike herself; and kept falling back into the same nightmare. It was as if there was a tether to her even when she was awakened that pulled her back into sleep and into the dream. I had to give her a potion to stay awake. Then, every night since then, whenever she falls asleep, she falls back into the same nightmare. It is violent and dark….” Vollrath began with how the nightmares started.

From there, he gave details of how the nightmares involved witches that seemed to come from ancient times, chanting in ancient language that she didn’t understand. They were doing rituals that she did not understand, burning her, cutting her, poking her, hitting her, and even warlocks taking place trying to rape her. Vollrath had to pause at times, obviously becoming overcome by emotion at what his wife had gone through, the obvious emotional and physical toll it was taking on her. He did mention that he was always able to wake her up at least before the rapes took place. She would start screaming to please not rape her and he knew that is what was starting. He was afraid, though, that one day he would not be there, and that the emotional trauma would be too much. At times tears made slow rivers down his face, his hands fisted, he shook, and his voice cracked as he recounted all that had been taking place.

The more that Morpheus listened the more disturbed that he became at what he was hearing. His eyes scanned all four Warlocks and it seemed that they all shared the same emotions regarding the situation, which meant that most likely all had tried to help regarding it and failed. This wasn’t the situation that he had wanted, but rarely were you handed one you did.

There had to be some kind of tie in with Vollrath’s history, or that of Mahala. Maybe something in the past of their family, or of the coven. With them both being strong in power and married to one another, there could be no coincidence in what the nightmare was showing them. It didn’t mean that the dream agents couldn’t help her, but it would be more complicated than if it had just been a nightmare assassin of the normal kind that they dealt with her. He was sure by the end that all four of them as a team would be best, if for no other reason than to watch one another’s back.

“We will find out what is going on. All four of my team will help. We will end this. I vow it. We may have our differences, Vollrath, but no one should suffer like that. We begin tonight. I’ll go back and round my crew up. I’ll call you when we’ll meet again so everyone can become acquainted and you can learn what we’ll need from the four of you.” Morpheus was resolute, his voice firm. Whatever was going on with Mahala, he had no doubt that he and his crew could handle it. He just hoped that they were in time to prevent any lasting damage to Mahala.

Share banner: @cafekitsune

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foreststarflaime · 30 days ago

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Strangest but also best idea I’ve ever had.

(Before I say anything about the idea: I hope we don’t get Hades 3, or else Nyx will run out of kids for the Hades Kids to collect like Pokémon cards)

(ALSO NEVER GONNA SHUT UP ABT THE FACT THAT BEN STARR VOICES PROMETHEUS!!!!!!!)

Hear me out;

Hades (2) and FFVII (Remake, Rebirth and CC) crossover, but it’s the FFVII characters in the Hades (2) situation.

Don’t know if this is exactly how the character swaps would go, but here’s my take on it, and those who I don’t know (this is disregarding all ships amongst Hades and ff7 characters):

Melinoë - Cloud

Zagreus - Zack

Hades -

Persephone -

Achilles - Angeal

Patroclus - Seph

Than - Also Cloud (because Zack also gets shipped with Cloud)

Meg - Aerith (you get the idea, right???)

Nyx -

Chronos - Also Seph

Hecate -

Chaos - The Goddess / Minerva (hahaha)

Skelly - Kunsel

Eris - Also Aerith

Nemesis - Tifa

Moros - Vincent

Dusa - Cait Sith

CERBERUSSSSSS - Zack at heart.

Charon - Also Kunsel

Hypnos - Also Vincent (he eepy)

Prometheus -

Icarus - Cid

Odysseus - also Kunsel

Heracles -

Zeus - Verdot

Hera - Cissnei

Ares - Reno

Apollo - Rude

Athena - Elena

Herems - also Kunsel (everyone is actually Kunsel)

Artemis - Tseng (is this my love for both Artemis and Tseng showing? Maybe,)

Demeter - LAZARDDDDD

Dionysus - Rufus

Posideon - President Shinra

Aphrodite -

Hepheastus - Barret

Hestia - Angeal’s mum because I can

Selene -

Feel free to give your takes on the character swaps (please do)

Ooo I love that idea! I’ll admit I still haven’t quite finished with the first Hades (I know, throw me out of the classics department), so my knowledge of specifics is somewhat limited esp in the Hades 2 realm of things

God I love the idea of Zack as Zagreus sm! I feel like that would work so well with him! I once read a time-travel fix it fic where he was stuck in a time loop of the escape from Shinra Manor to his death trying to get Cloud to safety and it was so heartbreaking, could totally see that kind of vibe there. The sunshine character struggling over and over again relentlessly trying to keep their positivity >>>>>

Despite my constant ramblings comparing Achilles to Genesis, yeah I think him as Angeal works so well in this situation, especially with having Sephiroth as Patroclus. God that hurts my heart to think about actually ahhh 😭

Melinoe I know less about but from what I’ve seen omg yeah I love the idea of her as Cloud! I could also totally see her as Sephiroth though with the whole being trained her entire life to kill thing, and speaking of yeah Chronos as insaneroth or Jenova herself is perfect imo, and as for Hecate idk who she’d be if Melinoe was Cloud but if Sephiroth she could potentially be Vincent in a sort of stole Seph away from Hojo or was charged with his protection by him au

Hades I could easily see as some Shinra director or even the president himself, not sure which one exactly though

For the others yes yes love it, might come back for more commentary on those later if I have more detailed thoughts lol

(Hades 3 but instead of another kid it’s Zagreus and Melinoe going on a quest together??? 🥺🥺🥺 sorry lmao I am just a sucker for sibling relationships in media)

#this took a while to answer bc I was thinking lol #soon. soon I will finish hades *stares despondently at piles of essays*#star rambles #asks #hades #ff7 #final fantasy vii #final fantasy 7

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silverloreleysfanfics · 2 years ago

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Real Names in “Descendants“

Here’s a rant + solution about the characters’ names in Descendants.

Who in his right mind could accept Lonnie’s name is just that? Mal makes sense for the explanation we were given, but Evie? Even assuming Ally is short for something, isn’t that’s a weird name? The books have stuff like Herkie, Lil’ Shang, Pin, Tiger Peony, Ginny Gothel and I don’t know how many more and while I get it’s about making them recognizeable as the children of certain characters, I do get it, I still think they’re bad.

So I decided to compile a list of presumable actual names of the Descendants kids, VK and AK alike that anyone could feel free to use in fics.

Two little notes before anything else:

the -son/-dottir patronimics I see sometimes in fics are North European and should be used only in the right context, avoided otherwise. In Ancient Greek the correct suffix is -ides (gender neutral), so Mal wouldn’t be Hadesdottir but Hadeides; similarly, Uma would be Ursulaides, and Ursula Poseidonides and so forth. Despite that, I assume Auradon would want to conform to the habit of fixed family names that is normal in modern Europe, so they’d make everyone adopt one, like Chad Charming, or use the place of origin, like Jordan of Agrabah.

The explanation I have in-universe for some names is that there's an obsession in Auradon with precising who their famous parents/relatives/family friends could be and many kids end up with nicknames tied to that. Either this or because names have power when it comes to magic, so real names are kept secret and known only by the most trusted people, but that wouldn’t get along with how magic works in the movies, nor with the fact Ben and Mal shared their middle names like it was no big deal (but then again, Ben could have a secret third name and Mal didn’t specify her first name is short for Maleficent). The first explanation is easier.

I’ve been working on this list for quite some time. As such, if you use this as reference it’s fine, but I’d like to be told at least, even in a note to this post and given credit if you pick one of my ideas that aren’t mainstream in the fandom.

Also, I may add to/modify this post later on, but without taking into account anything made after Descendants 3.

That said, VKs first:

Mal: we’ve been said Mal is just short for Maleficent and the daughter isn’t allowed to use the full name because she “didn’t deserve it”. Abusive and terrible, yet it fits. But I don’t think Hades would agree and in myths there is a Melinoe who is an Hades’ daughter, so Mal’s full real name could be Maleficent Bertha Melinoe Hadeides or just Melinoe Bertha Hadeides.

Jay: I saw Jayden around and, nope, it doesn’t work for me. Either Jayanth or Jayad (both mean “victorious one”) sound a lot better and more fitting for the general area Aladdin is set in. But, really, this page has tons of names starting with Jay, pick one from there. (also, for a proper surname you should check Arabic onomastic, which is complicated, so just use “of the Isle” or “of Agrabah”, unless you know the subject well. I don’t think Auradonians would bother to learn anyway)

Evie: oh, dear, my poor girl, what an atrocity. It could be short for anything like Evelyn, Evangeline (but the Evil Queen would never choose such a meek name, plus it’s tied to Tiana’s story), Evanna, Evalina, Evisse, all can work, but the one I prefer is Everhilde or Everild, which would call back to the Evil Queen’s real name, Grimhilde. On this note, I suppose Genevieve could work too with the “parent-children with same intials” trend.

Carlos: I already said I find weird he has a Spanish name when Cruella is British, and unless there are some Spanish roots somewhere in the de Vil lineage, his name should have been Charles. But recently I headcanoned his father could be Bruno Madrigal, so the Spanish name could stay (in the books it’s stated his middle name is Oscar, which @dragoneyes618 reminded me was also Bruno’s first-draft name), so, Carlos Oscar de Vil-Madrigal.

Uma: it’s a Hebrew or Hindi name and a weird fit for the granddaughter of Poseidon (yes, I am one of those who agrees Ursula is one of Poseidon’s children and thinks a name meaning “little she-bear” is a tad weird for a sea being). But, after all, Ariel is a Hebrew name too, so Uma fits the Little Mermaid lore and all is well.

The three Hook siblings (Harriet, Harry and Calista Jane) have the most normal and reasonable names of the whole franchise and I won’t dare to change them. Perhaps I’d argue Harriet and Harry are fem/male variants of the same name, but, really, there is worse in the franchise (and I guess, when she made up Harriet, Melissa de la Cruz had no idea they’d later create Harry for the next movies).

Gil: his real name could be Gillaume (variant of Guillaume) or Gilbert. Personally, I prefer the latter (like Gilbert Motier de La Fayette, you know, lol). His brothers’ names, unfortunately, fit with Gaston’s narcissism, so they can stay. The canon surname is LeGume, although I’m not sure where it comes from exactly as it’s never mentioned in either movie or live action as far as I remember.

Freddie: I think Frederique Facilier sounds great and she probably hates it. I read that in a fic but I don’t remember whose, maybe @ginnyrules27 or @hannahhook7744 or @dragoneyes618, feel free to correct me if it’s none of theirs.

Celia: it’s a name in its own good, used in both French and Spanish (fitting for New Orleans’ culture), but if we want, we can consider it short for Cecilia.

Ginny Gothel: assuming Gothel (like Yzma) was able to procreate and Ginny isn’t actually Cassandra’s daughter (I haven’t seen the series though so I don’t know much about her), Ginny is still an abbreviation, usually of Ginevra/Guinevere. I can’t fathom why Gothel’s name became a surname though, I’m at loss here, unless we are supposed to read it as Ginevra Gotheldottir (Rapunzel is a germanic tale, so this kind of patronimic fits), shortened Ginny Gothel.

Dizzy: I wrecked my brain on this. Drusilla or Desdemona. That’s it, that’s the top I could come up with. Drusilla Tremaine-Westergard, in my universe, to be precise.

The only other Tremaine cousin we have a canon name for is Anthony and I think it’s a perfectly fine name. Antoine if we set the story in pseudo-France.

Hadie: Hades had few children in the myths and Zagreus was the one I liked the most, that’s my reasoning. In myths, Zagreus is Persephone’s son but here it could be anyone’s, he’d still keep the Greek patronimic, so Zagreus Hadeides.

Squeaky and Squirmy Smee: those are 100% nicknames, it can’t be otherwise. In fact, in piracy, it’s pretty normal to have nicknames and aliases that are known more than regular names, like Calico Jack, Blackbeard, Big Murph and so on. The twins likely have normal names like Sullivan and Sean or something like that. In fact, their big brother is Sammy, short for Samuel, I assume, so it pretty much supports it.

Mad Maddy: while “mad“ is a mockery/title, Maddy should be short for Magda or Magdalene, but it’s used on its own too, so it’s your pick.

LeFou Deux: stupid name, like so stupid it can’t be real. Let’s pick a normal french name, like Denis LeFou, with the mockery he acts like father, they call him Le Fou Deux aka “twice as stupid”. Kids can be cruel.

Claudine Frollo: unfortunately, it’s an actual French name, but a religious zealot would maybe give her a double name, like Marie-Claudine.

Zevon and Yzla: I don’t know what to say here, I really don’t. Yzla sounds bad, that’s all I can say (but I admit Zevon has a nice ring). I accept suggestions.

AKs:

Lil’ Shang: first thing first, in China (and other Eastern countries) surnames come before names. So Li=surname Shang=name. Cleared that up, this name makes sense only as a nickname (which I hate). If we want it to start with S and an assonance with his father’s, we could pick Sheng (victory) or Shuang (clear and bright).

Lonnie: Lanying, which, mispronunciated, became Lonnie, it would make sense if said by kids first. (Fun fact: irl Lin Lanying was the name of a scientist, there’s also a Guo Lanying who is a soprano, both great women).

Herkie: oh, don’t make me start with this. This is one of the atrocious names that are clearly rip-offs of the parent’s names and I hate that. Hercules had lots and lots of children in the myths, from Megara in particular he had four: Therimachus, Creontiades, Ophitus and Deicoon. Pick whatever you prefer, I am partial to Therimachus, too difficult for Auradonians to enunciate, they started to call him Herkie as a nickname that stuck.

Tiger Peony: I’m certain I’m not the first who thinks a name like this is, like, the epitome of disrespectful. For the same reason, I admit I know nothing of the subject and ask if someone could tell what an appropriate name for her could be.

Ally: Allison Liddel (original Alice’s surname) or Kingsley (live action surname). Or another surname if she took her father’s (I am partial to the Tim Burton movies and ship Alice and the Hatter, so Allison Hightopp, but that’s just me).

Jordan: Joodah (or Joudah) meaning “generous“ or “of high qualities“ (as far as I could find, please feel free to correct me).

Artie: don’t ask me where I took it from, but in my head his full name is Arnault Pendragon (and he isn’t Guinevere’s son as Disney’s Arthur married another woman under the advice of Merlin, but this is all my headcanon).

Pin: Pinocchio’s son. Now, in Italy it is traditional to name children after parents or grandparents (I have one uncle and 5 cousins all named after my maternal grandfather and other 4 cousins after my grandmother, to say nothing of the ones who have them as middle names), so it wouldn’t be weird BUT! we don’t have names without final vowels, especially first names, in Italian, so he’d be called Pino. Which is also short for Giuseppe (Giuseppino) and I much prefer that (if they wanted to use Geppetto’s name it would have made sense too, and that he would have been nicknamed Geppettino > Tino).

Now, for the dwarves’ sons I picked German names with the same initials:

“Doc II” Dominic;

“Hap” Harold;

“Cheerful” Klemens;

“Gesundheit”/“Gus” Gustav;

“Bash” Bastian;

“Shy” Silas;

“Crabby” Conrad;

“Sleepy jr” Simon;

“Snoozy” Samuel.

Doug and Gordon are normal names and can stay.

Ruby and Anxelin Fitzherbert: I’m not even sure from where we got those names from for Rapunzel’s daughters, I seem to recall Ruby mentioned in Wicked World, maybe? Anyway, I don’t like either name. Anxelin is the name of a wine, that’s a very strange choice, and Ruby, uh, is too generic, I guess? There are so many german names to pick from, if we want to follow the pattern of same initial as the parents! Renate, Rayna, Reinheld, Richel, Roslin, Rowena... then Engelbertha, Eda, Erika, Evonne, Edith,... Just research a bit. If we really want to keep the original ones, Anxelin could be a deformation of something like Annegret or Analise, and Ruby could stand for Ruperta or Ruomhildi, although I prefer to call them Annika (same initials as Queen Arianna, Rapunzel’s real mother) and Roslin.

Opal: daughter of Mama Odie (what is it with those super-old women having teenage kids?!) can be Opal of the Bayou, I suppose. It has a nice ring, actually, although I don’t know what tie opal stones may have with voodoo.

Bobby Hood: usually, Bobby is short for Robert, which fits the area and the pattern. Robin is, at times, short for Robert, but I don’t think it’s the case here. The surname Locksley was discarded by Robin, provided it existed in the Disneyverse, but it’s worth remembering it.

This post will possibly be corrected expanded in the future and I appreciate further discussion, as long as all parties are respectful and thoughtful.

#disney descendants #descendants #here I fixed the matter of the names #it irked me to no end #reminder that if you use this in fics I want to see it!#any of it!#long post

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pokemoneverlastingorchard · 4 months ago

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Download 7/31/24

Link that takes you to the download page

Not being able to debug really fucking limits what I can do.

Story:

-I MAYBE fixed one of Umeko's heart scenes.

-I don't fucking know what's fucking wrong with Mary/Angela in Melinoe's gym so I just fucking deleted her.

Pokemon:

-I might have fixed some of the wild Pokemon in the available routes. I had to do it through the .txt file and compile it which is always a gamble. (That's my preferred method of doing things otherwise.) I'm not even sure how they got fucked up in the first place.

+I might have been able to shove wild Pokemon in most of the remaining areas where they'd appear. (There's one remaining, but I have to change the "trading quest" first. Before that I have to finished the regional dex.)

+I started on the regional dex. (Not that that really matters right now.) I'll explain my process once I'm done with it.

Blog:

-Answered the question "will you make a list of Pokemon and where they're located?" in my FAQs.

#pokemon everlasting orchard #pokemon fan game #pokemon fan games #pokemon #pokemon essentials #pokemon eo update #everlasting orchard

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cimmeriana · 1 year ago

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❛ table . to hoist my muse onto a table .

@lordgortrash

There was something about today that was absolutely vexing, as if all the lowerlings of the Flaming Fists lived to just piss her off. Be it them just being too abundant within Wyrm's Rock than she felt was usual to give them impression they were constantly underfoot, or maybe just because Melinoe was simply tired of the same faces every day saying the same pointless things. Truthfully, she wasn't sure how Gortash was able to stand looking at them all so frequently.

Maybe this was all just her headache affecting her mood. She hadn't felt an ache this badly since she'd fallen out of the nautiloid she'd be abducted in and had to swim to shore. Gods, it had been months since then hadn't it? Perhaps she was getting too comfortable and cushy in the city. Gortash definitely made sure of it that she would want for nothing.

The real truth of the matter then... the reason for the ache in her temples. She craved bloodshed. She craved the sweat of a hunt and the feel of flesh in her teeth. It had been a while since she was required to enter into any form of battle. Of course, the Melinoe was sure to keep up her skills by carving out time to train. But practicing didn't come with the same adrenaline rush.

To put it plainly, the Bhaalspawn was bored.

And, of course, today of all days, her most favorite companion to pastime with had fixated himself on his work. She hadn't seen him for most of the day, only when she'd awoken and gone to check up on him before doing her own little morning ritual of meditation and pampering herself.

Perhaps another visit was in order. Perhaps this time she could break his attention enough that he could help cure her boredom. But, more so than that, she did very much crave his touch and his taste.

To say Lina was unsurprised by the fact that he was entirely consumed by whatever scrolls of information laid out upon his desk would have been an understatement. She said nothing when she stepped in, sauntering her way within his personal space and slowly beginning to circle the archduke like a vulture.

He wasn't so consumed in his work not to notice her presence, nor to not notice her circling. And when he actually spoke to inquire in what manner she intended to try and steal away his attention this time, she couldn't help the mischievous grin that tugged at the corners of her lips. This was just a little game to her that they played. He so nobly focused on his work and his plans and his plotting and his fixing until he'd tired himself out furrowing his brow, but refusing to take himself for much needed rest, while she came in like a siren song on a gust of wind to tempt him astray.

❝ You've reclused yourself for quite some time now, my lord, ❞ she began with a purr, ❝ the wine is all but flat vinegar now and I see you hardly touched the plate I had the lowlings bring you. ❞ He remained unaffected, of course, studying a book now and comparing it to the scroll that previously had his attention.

—— ❝ Would you not consider a little break? I can provide a way for you to clear you head. And I do very, very much miss you. ❞ she laced a little whine to her tone, her head tilting as she leaned forward, bending at her waist to try and catch his gaze. Even so, he remained unaffected and visibly neutral the the softer feminine wiles she was attempting to utilize. Something about this struck a nerve in her, to have her presence balanced and managed secondary to something else.

He wasn't even fully paying attention to her flirtations and seductions, only half seeing her as his mind was full of the Flaming Fists and whatever complaints and suggestions are weak attempts of gaining his favor the nobles shoveled at him daily. This wouldn't do at all, especially not when her body was itching from untapped energy.

Her little temper the hidden sense of entitlement that came with it flared out as one of her hands quickly extended to give Gortash a firm shove backwards towards his chair. It was clear that this sudden outburst had taken him by surprise, but it also seemed to serve to clear away some of the enchantment his work held over him. She bent down at her waist once more, leaning towards him as an arm extended to set a palm against his chest to block him from standing again. ❝ Do I have your full attention now? Now that I've stopped asking so sweetly? ❞

Something about him seemed to change. Perhaps a mix of annoyance that she had put her hands on him how she had and by all rights forced him to sit down - her certainly wouldn't have allowed it if she had been one of the underlings - but maybe... something else. She honestly wasn't sure what, but the look in his eyes changed into something dark and the way he looked over her body made a shiver erupt in her spin. Then, his own smirk and beneath his breath she sword she heard him give an amused, "So very like you." Had she done this to him before? Waltzed into this very office and so rudely and selfishly demanded his attention?

Melinoe hardly had time to ponder before she felt his hands on her thighs as he so roughly flung her upon his desk. She landed with a small yelp of surprise, her heartbeat quickening as now it was he that loomed over her.

She had wanted his attention, hadn't she? Well, it seemed now she would most certainly be getting it. He pushed his way between her legs and immediately his lips claimed hers, her instinct to grab at him and pull him closer taking over her as she grazed her teeth upon his bottom lip.

❝ There you are... Are you going to punish me for being so insolent, Lord Enver? ❞

#verse ; midst: shadow is the greatest teacher #ode ; do not fear the shadows but take reign of them #sonnet ; ray #masterwork ; the lady of dread #ship ; an offer from an archduke #ship ; loviatar's blessing and bhaal's curse

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shardreach · 2 years ago

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So Hades II got announced, I have some thinking to do.

Here’s the thing, I like thinking about media I’m engaged in and try to figure out what works, what doesn’t, why, where it’s going, where it could go instead, all of that jazz. Spitballing an idea for a sequel to Hades before yesterday would have been five minutes of fun and had infinite potential, but now that Hades II got announced, the possibility space has shrunk enough that I just can’t stop thinking about what could possibly be in store based off of the information that Supergiant has given us with the the announcement.

I’m putting a keep-reading break here for a reason, I’ll probably be typing a lot. And there will be spoilers for the original Hades all over the place as I reference it alongside with the details I can glean off of the announcement. And should I happen to land on at least some approximately correct predictions, it might impair other people’s enjoyment of Hades II if they’re not like me and don’t particularly enjoy the exercise of trying to piece things together instead of just riding along. This is the only warning.

So, we know Hades II is a thing. We know it is a direct sequel. The protagonist is Melinoe (I’ll not be adding the ë for ease of typing, but I’m aware it is how they have chosen to write it). Hecate is present in a role analogous to a mesh of Hades’ and Achilles’ from the first game as home base and mentor. Chronos is the flagship villain and has Hades hostage. Gameplay is similar, artstyle is delectable as per Supergiant usual. Daren Korb is still a member of the team, so the sound front will be utter delight no matter what. This is where I’m flailing, screaming, and just want them to take all the time they need to make it the best they can but also give me the game right now.

But then I start thinking, there are a number of interesting concerns, plot points, structural issues and whatnot that I feel need to be addressed in the story and structure somehow, at some point, and I think it’s possible to extrapolate at where they’re headed, in general, from what we already know with the first game, their general design principles, and the constraints already set in place by the announcement.

Whenceforth cometh Melione? Easiest part to theorize on, I feel. The game is a direct sequel, any 30 to 50 years is a blink on the timescale of gods. She would be Zagreus’ younger sister, born after the events of the first game. There are no hints are her existence in the first game because she did not exist. But the hymn thingy says she’s Zeus’ daughter! You scream from the depths of pedantry dungeon. Well, no. Zagreus was also associated to be an earlier form of Dionysus, as well as a son of Zeus. Supergiant addressed both of those points fantastically in the first game, with Zeus offering to claim Zagreus as his own because it’d be so much cooler than have stinky Hades as your dad, and the Dionysus lore is reframed as a prank on poor Orpheus that gets out of hand. The trailer refers to the underworld gods as her family, and she refers to Hades as father. Supergiant is saying this iteration of Melione is Hades’ and there’s zero reason to doubt them. Zeus will still probably offer or attempt to adopt her anyway because that’d just be a thing he’d do for the brag points.

When Melione, then? I don’t think they will give us a numerical fixed timeline, but anything between a few decades to a century or so would be enough for a new child to be born, grow up, but still be young and untested with lots of growth potential to serve as a protagonist that has to get stronger still.

Why not keep Zagreus, then? A young god would make more sense in the gameplay department than trying to contrive a justification for why Zagreus would be struggling to get through anything other than the latest of challenges. I also feel like Zagreus would be far better used as a part of the support cast in this case. I’ll offer a sketch of a timeline later.

It’s implied we’re going down, but Zagreus couldn’t exist on the surface, and Melinoe seems to be up there. What gives? Not all gods are created equal, in fact, they’re all very different. Thanatos could exist on the surface just fine. Nemesis is referenced in the first game as being busy on the surface specifically, hence her absence. It could just be that Melinoe just doesn’t share in that particular weakness, or, and what I find most interesting as a possibility, is in her design. Her left arm is permanently spectral, with a very clear armband serving as a boundary. Given her affinity for magic, and her involvement with Hecate, it’s possible that this is a sacrifice or spell of sorts, keeping part of her permanently dead so she’s always in touch (heh) with the underworld, and is thus not spontaneously dying.

So, if you’ll indulge me, let me sketch a hypothetical timeline of sorts.

Hades I ends, the Olympians reunite with the Chthonic gods. I refuse to believe Supergiant is going to rehash the dysfunctional family setup (as the main course) again, so things go well in the underworld for several years. Demeter’s thawing spurs a change in Olympus also, which leads to reconciliations on that front. Somewhere in there Melinoe is born, grows up, and is found to have an affinity to magic.

Much like Achilles was hired to train Zagreus, the family proceeds to look for a good tutor for Melinoe. Circe and Medea are considered, but Hecate takes an interest in the girl. If the literal goddess of the relevant field is available and willing, you’d be a fool to pick second best. But it requires going to the surface, so they come up with the ghost arm trick. Kind of boarding school.

Sometime during her training, Chronos breaks free and attacks the House of Hades. Now, this is where the interesting questions lie, and where I think Zagreus is best utilized. First, the entire house falls into disarray, and Hades is out of commission. Zagreus’ expertise and experience lets him show how much he’s grown by being able to cut off or reinforce all escape routes, and extra points if he even gets to fight the big guy himself - only to fail on account of time shenanigans. No, Hades’ resigned “time cannot be stopped” line is, unfortunately, true. Power alone can’t stop Chronos, we’ll need magic, so little sister is the one is best suited for the job. Hence why we play as Melinoe. Supergiant likes their tight narratives, and the fact that the protagonist is who they are because it couldn’t be anyone else would be very tight indeed. Hecate herself is likely the one actually working the necessary spells, but we need someone with a blood claim over the underworld to channel it and make it stick, so Hecate alone wouldn’t cut it.

Then gameplay happens, and this is where I think some clever framing could work wonders for the whole “you can repeat this forever” gameplay that would be seriously weird in a strongly narrative focused game with a definite conclusion. I would spitball this:

We try to make our way through to the depths of the titan prison, where we confront Chronos, setting up an anchor for Hecate’s spell, and when we win, he goes “no you didn’t” and rewinds time, which triggers the trap and creates a time loop, sealing him inside his escape attempt. Now, the outside world is partially safe, but missing some pieces and kind of unstable, so we need to then go into the time-looped bubble to, yes, confront Chronos, but also rescue any and all of our other allies who got caught in the trap (and Hades) and pluck them out of the loop. This would be the clear number 10, credits roll. Epilogue progress then looks a little bit reversed, with us taking the influence of the various allies we have into the time loop in order to reinforce it until it gets to a point where it is stable enough to be considered at least as reliable as the old prison (that one worked for thousands of years, after all), but hopefully better. And then the endgame grind can be framed as Melinoe taking on the role of time warden, running the loop prison to make sure it’s still holding, and repairing any cracks that appear as Chronos continues to try to escape.

While I know Supergiant is not afraid of tearjerkers, I don’t see them as being willing to go for an unabashedly depressing ending. So no Melinoe heroic sacrifice or oops accidentally locked in a time loop as the final endpoint. Which is why I think creating a loop and then rescuing people selectively is my favored hypothesis. Plus, it also respects the power level of a bloody titan. Just straight up killing him dead would be underselling Chronos’ magnitude. It’ll also be interesting to see what twists they’ll put on the pact of punishment, or if we’ll still be using Titan Blood to upgrade our weapons (maybe that’s what started the chain reaction that led to Chronos’ escape, after all), and all sorts of other minor things.

Am I right at all? Nah, probably not. But once the game is actually out, it’ll be interesting to come back and see if I got anything at least in the neighborhood of what we actually got. For me, at least, I don’t know about any of you.

#hades #hades 2 #supergiant

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