Hahaha, I totally called that this would be the requested scene! I've had a lot of comments about it, which makes me happy because I adore it, but I have trouble putting into words exactly why, so I'm thrilled that everyone seems to get it anyway. I'm going to talk about the scene as a whole, because... context is important. Or something.
This was one of several scenes that I outlined waaaaay early on in the story-constructing process. Pele is maybe the most prominent supernatural presence on this island, and she's my favorite goddess, so there was no chance of me not including her in a story that showcases supernatural Hawai‘i. And I had to do it right.
This scene got a little more complicated when I came up with the idea that Pele might assist Steve and Danny in the capture/defeat of Elika Olokui. It fits well as part of the lore; if you meet Pele, you're supposed to be VERY RESPECTFUL AND GENEROUS and she will remember you when next her volcano erupts and starts paving over people's houses. It was tough, though, because I needed to give her a reason to choose Steve and Danny over Olokui... I didn't want to depend on her simply not running into him, and if they met, for sure he would know better than to be an asshole to the Goddess of Lava and Fire. Luckily, Pele is known for being petty and temperamental, so her reason didn't necessarily have to be a very good one to anyone but her.
I start setting this up earlier in the scene... Pele is familiar with both Maka and Olokui and their families, as both men are active in the spiritual aspects of traditional Hawaiian culture and would be sure to give Pele her due when the occasion called for it. Part of the lore surrounding Pele is about her beloved companion and pet, the little white dog, so I selected the dog as the Kilauano family ‘aumakua specifically so that she'd be inclined to be fond of the family and their friends. For the same reason I chose the pig as the Olokui ‘aumakua... Pele has a very tempestuous relationship with her sometime-lover, sometime-enemy Kamapua‘a, the pig god, so she would be inclined to dislike Olokui for this reason alone. Danny and Steve both show her great hospitality, and I think she's inclined to give Danny extra credit since he obviously had no idea who she was and offered it anyway... and then, of course Danny's nice to her dog, too, so there are a lot of points in their favor as far as she is concerned.
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Hahaha, I totally called that this would be the requested scene! I've had a lot of comments about it, which makes me happy because I adore it, but I have trouble putting into words exactly why, so I'm thrilled that everyone seems to get it anyway. I'm going to talk about the scene as a whole, because... context is important. Or something.
This was one of several scenes that I outlined waaaaay early on in the story-constructing process. Pele is maybe the most prominent supernatural presence on this island, and she's my favorite goddess, so there was no chance of me not including her in a story that showcases supernatural Hawai‘i. And I had to do it right.
This scene got a little more complicated when I came up with the idea that Pele might assist Steve and Danny in the capture/defeat of Elika Olokui. It fits well as part of the lore; if you meet Pele, you're supposed to be VERY RESPECTFUL AND GENEROUS and she will remember you when next her volcano erupts and starts paving over people's houses. It was tough, though, because I needed to give her a reason to choose Steve and Danny over Olokui... I didn't want to depend on her simply not running into him, and if they met, for sure he would know better than to be an asshole to the Goddess of Lava and Fire. Luckily, Pele is known for being petty and temperamental, so her reason didn't necessarily have to be a very good one to anyone but her.
I start setting this up earlier in the scene... Pele is familiar with both Maka and Olokui and their families, as both men are active in the spiritual aspects of traditional Hawaiian culture and would be sure to give Pele her due when the occasion called for it. Part of the lore surrounding Pele is about her beloved companion and pet, the little white dog, so I selected the dog as the Kilauano family ‘aumakua specifically so that she'd be inclined to be fond of the family and their friends. For the same reason I chose the pig as the Olokui ‘aumakua... Pele has a very tempestuous relationship with her sometime-lover, sometime-enemy Kamapua‘a, the pig god, so she would be inclined to dislike Olokui for this reason alone. Danny and Steve both show her great hospitality, and I think she's inclined to give Danny extra credit since he obviously had no idea who she was and offered it anyway... and then, of course Danny's nice to her dog, too, so there are a lot of points in their favor as far as she is concerned.