[classic swim]

Niko: Fifteen minutes ago you were cowering in fear because you didn't know what was going to happen. Now, you know everything is shit and we are going to be killed, and you're all cheerful.

- Roman’s Sorrow. • 2008 The Bellic cousins find the cab depot along with their apartment in flames from Rascalov’s men hunting them. Mallorie has a place in Bohan where the two relocate.

Niko: Hey thanks for your help, Jacob. Little Jacob: One love, me breda.

Niko: I didn't know that Mr. Bulgarin was here in Liberty City. If I could have killed them all then and there... Jacob: Just chill Niko man, one at a time. Wan wan coco full baskit, seen?

Niko: I’ll rip your fucking heart out!

- Russian Revolution (cont...) • 2008 Niko Bellic & Little Jacob mow down a warehouse full of members from Bulgarin’s Russian syndicate. Dimitri and Ray both flee as bodies begin to pile up.

Niko: We were busted a mile off the coast. I had to swim for my life. I don't know what happened. I nearly drowned. Bulgarin: My heart is bleeding. Niko: I did my best! I didn’t fuck up! Bulgarin: удалить его!

- Russian Revolution (cont...) • 2008 Trouble follows from Eastern Europe as trafficker and former employer Ray Bulgarin has entered back into Niko’s life.

Dimitri: But you messed up... and left a lot of bad debt. You left a good friend of mine out of pocket, big time.

“You are Niko Bellic, correct?” - Dimitri Rascalov

- Russian Revolution. • 2008 Rascalov claims to have Niko’s money for the Faustin hit over in a East Hook warehouse, and is urged to come alone at night. Little Jacob immediately reaches out to Niko on his own volition, and attends the deal without any hesitation. A true friend and a guardian angel.

- The Master and The Molotov (cont...) • 2008 Upon the eye of the storm, Mikhail Faustin collapsed in front of the Perestroika he and Dimitri ran together as one. Faustin was dead, Petrovic was pleased... and Rascalov found his way up the ladder.

Mikhail: Dimitri turned on me, not the other way around. America made him greedy. Dimitri will turn on you as well, you shall discover this.

- The Master and The Molotov. • 2008 According to Dimitri, the only feasible end to this Faustin and Petrovic war would be removing the head and turning away from history. Rascalov is hiring Niko to kill his best friend, and to supposedly end the bloodshed. Mikhail and his loyal soldiers will be waiting at their cabaret.

“You know, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that we must obey the rules of the game. We can pick the game, Niko Bellic, but we cannot change the rules.” - Dimitri Rascalov

Happy birthday!

Wished for gummy bears to be alive and shaped like grizzly bears.

Roman: I'm high on life, man. American life. It's the fast-food, the cheap gas, the fake titties - there's a short cut for everything here. You just need to know where it is. Niko: Yeah, but most people don't know where it is so they stay at the bottom of the food chain. They stay there until they're burnt out or dead. Roman: That's because most people are too foolish to look for the shortcuts. - - Every move I make is a gamble. I'm going to get knocked back a few times, sure. But one day I'll find that short cut to the top. If you're lucky I might take you there with me.