That makes sense. Illumi and Milluki were mostly just prototypes and then the three kids in succession were the real attempts at making an heir. If I’m understanding you correctly, I really like that explanation.
The Zoldyck family tree is definitely a bit confusing to me. I always assumed Zigg was either Maha’s younger sibling or Zeno’s much older sibling, but if not is he meant to be Maha’s son and Zeno’s father? I don’t quite remember if we have any information on that in canon. I definitely agree that the previous generations probably didn’t have as many children, at least. Silva is probably learning why that is… the more you have the harder it is to control them.
I completely agree on the kids view of love as a limited resource. It helps explain the contempt they have for each other, too. I’m reminded of the opening scene for the Zoldyck Family arc where Milluki is torturing Killua. Really just relishing in any opportunity to place himself in a position above the family favorite. That line - “surely if my other siblings fail then they will love me” makes me look forward to Illumi’s fic (if you do plan to do one for each family member). He must see Killua as a failure the way he abandons the family and breaks literally every rule their father ever set for them, but instead of disowning Killua they just let him go and expect that he’ll return later. Illumi must have been confused at least early on about why he is not the heir and Killua is despite his continued disobedience. He seems to take pride in his role as the eldest but I’m sure there is a lot of resentment there.
I knew Kikyo was from Meteor City and that’s exactly what makes her interactions with their butlers the most interesting to me! I think your read on her is spot on. And I had no idea about her being sixteen when she had Illumi, either! That’s definitely gonna make me consider them in a new light.
And that’s true, I doubt the details were worked out so early or we might have gotten a somewhat better lead in for her character reveal than “the needle made me forget”. But still Alluka did exist from the beginning, even if she might not have been the same adorable little dues ex machina we ended up with. I do think the missing Zoldyck child was always meant to be some shameful, powerful secret they were hiding so I wonder how different her original concept was.
Thank you for responding so thoroughly to my comments! That’s what makes it feel like a chat at all! I really enjoy being able to see your thoughts on the characters and your writing.
I wouldn’t day Milluki and Illumi were prototypes so much as failed models — there WAS very concentrated effort and sincere hope that one of them would be a standout, an amazing assassin and son and strategist and leader, but when both of the failed in at least one category, Kikyo and Silva decided to try again, this time using Illumi and Milluki’s upbringings as a template for what not to do. Not too harsh or demanding as they were with Illumi, not too permissive and affectionate as they were with Milluki. And while their younger siblings are raised and tested and experimented on, Illumi and Milluki lose the routines they’ve been dependent on all their lives.
I THINK Zigg is the missing generation between Zeno and Maha, but I don’t think it’s ever been confirmed so a brother IS possible. But I suspect that only children, or at least only having one son, was the Zoldyck family custom until Silva changed things. And yes, it’s probably about control…but also potentially efficiency. Assassins aren’t really meant to be collaborative, they should work alone, and generational divides lend to that.
Kikyo is horrible and I get why she’s a fandom hate sink, but like…the sixteen thing GOT to me. No wonder she acts like such a child, she never got to be one before becoming a mother.
I think Alluka’s silhouette was hinted at pretty early, so her design at least might’ve been finalized??? I dunno, I’m not a fandom veteran and I suspect you’ve gotta pull from deep in the archives for this stuff.
Growing up in Meteor city, Kikyo may have never gotten to be a child at all. Makes me question how she even met Silva. Was he shopping for a wife in meteor city or did she just happen to be from there. He was probably seeking someone strong and desperate, which an assassin from Meteor city fits just perfectly. Killua has said his parents love each other so I can at least hope there is something organic there.
Also, I looked at the manga again since I was wondering about Zigg and it actually is confirmed! In the chimera ant arc Killua mentions that Netero is the same age as Maha and we get a little drawing next to him that has the generations in order. There is someone in between Maha and Zeno that looks like he could be an older Zigg. Definitely seems to imply a lack of siblings in the older generations.
We also do see Alluka with her back turned in chapter 39, I think? But it’s just her as a child so there’s no telling what the plan was back then.
I think Silva and Kikyo probably have this fucked up dynamic where like. She DOES love him and he loves her, but there is a huge power balance neither of them is interested in addressing, and subsequently their love often only serves the purpose of appeasing Kikyo when she's ignored/has no control of her own family. To that end...I don't necessarily think Silva was wife shopping, I think he was probably recruiting butlers or something in Meteor City when he met her, was impressed/taken with her, and they got together. Which like, yes I invented that backstory wholesale, but if Kikyo started dating Silva while he was doing a recruitment drive, it would make her insecurities worse.
Oh nice!! So Zigg IS great-grandpa Zoldyck for the current generation of kids, good to know.
Honestly to me it doesn't even matter if Alluka as a sister or Deus Ex Machina WAS planned — you write as you go, even if you have SOME overarching plot ideas, and if that means you gotta dig your way out of a plot hole so be it. Togashi did something awesome and with zero retconning so it worked fine.
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