Having run through the game rather obsessively over the last few weeks, I have had a few ideas and observations surrounding some of the characters, specifically Nemesis and her relationship with Melinoë. The way that Nem acts brings a cognitive dissonance to the story, a narrative trip hazard that always catches me off-guard when I come across it.

You have this big important mission, the fate of the world is at stake, very important task, etc etc. Nem is out in the field, even showing up in the Fields of Mourning, roaming much further than any other NPC does, like Artemis or Heracles. Unlike the other two, you can romance Nem, bring you closer together with a investment of time and resources, deepening the friendship and tipping into romantic if you want.

Despite the deepening of the connection and pursuing her romantically, Nem does not extend her assistance beyond the challenges or trials she offers. This feels like a conflict in the story, as Nem is on paper travelling the same route as you, in pursuit of the same goal.
Multiple times Melinoë makes suggestions about Nemesis coming with her, them travelling through the areas together, comments on the fact that Nem can't get into Tartarus by herself, etc.
But each time, Nem turns her down, insisting she will go alone.

Nem's reasoning makes sense at the start, given her disposition towards you. But as you progress along the romance track, the reasoning falls short and begins to actively feel dissonant to the story. (One time I had Nem drop in to do a challenge literally right before the Infernal Beast chamber, like... Babe, walk with me 10 feet, the entrance is over here.)
it also begins to actively lessen the stakes at play, Is your mission really that important if Nemesis is putting herself over the success?

The other romance options have their own story reasons for not helping you on your task, (Eris is the epitome of Strife and very clear she will keep shooting you from the get go), but Nemesis doesn't really have a good one. Or at least, has a reason (pride?) which begins to fall apart especially after you max out the romance track.

Compare Nemesis to a similar character in Hades 1, Thanatos, who acts in a similar role of dropping in to issue a kill challenge and offer a reward. However, on Than's end, there is a strong narrative reason why he can't offer more support (he is literally the god of death running everywhere), and even then he provides Battie, which can be used to summon him in a limited capacity to provide damage.

On the other hand, in the field Nemesis treats you exactly the same post-romance as she did before, and her narrative reason is exceptionally flimsy. She doesn't help despite;
- she's already breaking the rules just to be there,
- she is in the area most of the time anyway
- the stakes are repeatedly emphasised, there is a strong sense of urgency.
- she is the freaking embodiment of Vengeance, the entire task is a act of revenge against Chronos! This should be right up her alley.


When it comes to resolving this conflict, aside from the obvious option of 'Just have Nemesis come with you', I feel like there needs to be more explanation or reasoning for why she can't accompany you. Some lines of dialouge, either from Nem or Mel, something to smooth over this narrative wrinkle.

It could be how the depths of Tartarus repel her, or Chronos is also acting out of vengeance so she can't interfere, or something like that. An idea would be if she was maybe insistent on travelling the 'main route' through Elysium, and looks down on the others for taking the 'cowards route' through the backdoor.