Hugin is one of Odin's two ravens - ravens yes, not crows. The name means 'mind' (Sindet in Danish) and along with Munin ('memory' - Erindringen in Danish), they were seen as personification of the mind and the memory of Odin, sometimes referred to as the Raven God. In the morning, he would send out his ravens and when they returned in the evening, they would tell him about things that happened in the world.
Hugo was originally not a GOC - he was meant to be a slight man while Moon was a buff woman. I changed them because I felt weird about the sex scene; kinda silly to offer a man to a WLW player (**just so we're clear - this is not a dig at anyone, but a reflection I made 2 years ago about a choice that is completely inconsequential to the plot. It's silly because they're side characters**) I also liked the idea of Odette, Hugo and Moon being evil girl gang leaders, as a feminist I want to see representation of women in all areas of society, including crime statistics. Just cause you're a woman doesn't mean you can't plot the end of the world 😈
I spent way too much time plotting Hugo's background. Hugo is 27, of the Toubou people and described in the documentation as 'thin and long-limbed'. I also wrote:
Originally from Libya, where she now facilitates the odd people smuggling if needed. Deep voice, sultry and snake-like.
The Toubou people in Libya have faced massive discrimination, both under Muammar Gaddafi and in the following Libyan civil war. The more I read about the persecution of Toubou under the Gaddafi regime, the more I pictured Hugo as a person who grew up displaced, perhaps orphaned, and very quickly decided the only way out is through the suffering of others. North African gangs make a lot of money on drugs and human trafficking, and Hugo's slick, charming exterior would've made him an excellent handler.
I imagined him finding purchase in the criminal world and becoming highly respected due to his intelligence and ruthlessness, which eventually lands him in Europe and in some context (drugs? guns?) into the realm of O. The two of them hit it off, and O tells her about their their vision; Maybe Hugo wanted a change of scenery and thought this was a good deal.
Whatever happened, Hugo is the one of the two lieutenants to enjoy the mythology the most - he quotes poems and is closer to O in the belief that Ghita *is* the incarnation of vølven. While Moon is clearly the muscle, Hugo is the intellectual and in my mind, supports O strategically, perhaps even suggesting things for them to do to Ghita.
I think Hugo is intrigued by Ghita beyond just physical attraction, but that's just my headcanon.
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