"I think I figured it out," grumbled Doctor №069 as he scrubbed another dissection table.
"This superstition that if you scatter poppy seeds in front of the undead, they will start counting them. Because of you, Quaestor!"
"You are extremely clever for your vapid head, Doctor №069," Valdemar grinned, carefully placed their polished scalpels.
(Based on a true story. Thanks to ApostleJay for such fun)
Here is some information to consider... ⏬
Note: this belief is more common in Eastern Europe, and no, I absolutely don't like headcanons about "Russian Ilya". Also, I remember the Devs' speech: Jeff Goldblum is a reference for Julian. Who is Jeff Goldblum? A Jew. But his family was from Eastern Europe and there were so many Jewish towns. Nevivon looks like one of those towns. For example, the kitchen in Nevivon (*"the Warm Welcome") is divided into two areas: meat and dairy. What is this? The basic principle of kashrut. "But Julian was born near Nevivon"? Yes. But Tasya said (to Lishka; again, definitely not "a common Russian name", "Lishka" sounds much more like something Czech) about the treasure that is only passed on through the female line. An elegant homage to a specifically Jewish cultural thing, iykwim.
Also, the whole image of Julian is a stereotypical Jewish image in European culture: he's redheaded, a doctor, a violinist*, etc. Sorry not sorry.
(*Technically he is a vielle player, but the vielle is a precursor of the violin. And: no, there have never been any vielle players in Russia, except the modern times, represented by rare baroque ensembles.)
Definitely not Russian, diminutives like "Ilyushka" are not specific to Russian language, Portia is not a common Russian name (neither are Pasha and Ilona, her mother). And... have you ever heard of, say, Antonín Dvořák, the famous Czech composer of the 19th century?
BTW, ApostleJay and I have a theory about Portia Devorak. Nothing special, we're just guessing about the reference: Portia, the female protagonist in "The Merchant of Venice". Why not, since the game itself has enough references to classical literature.
At last: I once saw a Julian-kinny boy here. And he said he wanted to learn Russian to be more like a Julian. Poor boy, if you ever see my speech, here is my unsolicited advice.
Please don't learn Russian to be more like Julian. Learn Yiddish. It will be much more in character.
(Czechia? Maybe Bohemia? I need Julian singing "Bohemian rhapsody", IMMEDIATELY!)
Working on a illustration of Portia from the arcana mobile game. If you have time start her route with infinitey keys, she is a underrated story option
Soft Saturday hc: being a part of Devorak family while being in love with one of the siblings. Cozy sleepovers with Portia (hot tea, cookies, Pepi, telling secrets to each other). Rowdy evenings with Julian (drinks, jokes only you two understand, singing songs drunk, deep nice conversations while you’re going home). Stopping at Mazelinka’s (life advice, delicious soups, cool pirate stories). Wandering around with Malak (looking mysteriously & threateningly at other people together). An aesthetic
Saw some folks talking about Devorak parents and my hand slipped
I figure the kids probably take more after their mother, who was six feet of wild hair and adventure. They got their Softe and Sweet (and eyebrows) from their father, and the combined might of the couple’s freckles resulted in Portia (and possibly Julian.)
