The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Kincaid microfiction "Goodbye"
Dina:
--- Quote from: morriswalters on March 20, 2020, 07:44:29 PM --- Now this is the text, and it speaks explicitly to the point. He gave her something that could kill her because he was hungry. If there is another way to read that I'm open to persuasion, but barring that, it is what it is. This is some of Jim's weakest work. It makes Harry look stupid. This is a college student perspective, which is what he was when he wrote this. If it was as dangerous as he states it, then he had no business giving it to her. If he doesn't then she can't hurt herself with it and it doesn't matter if she listens or not.
--- End quote ---
What? Harry did not give her something that could kill her. That is the point. He gave her the information he thought was safe, because they had made a deal and he did not want to break it. And I don't think anything weak in JB writing here, it explains very well how Harry is. He is a man that can produce a lot of raw magic, he could explode a door, for instance. But he is desperate for food because he is not good at making money and because he is honorable and fundamentally good. It has to be frustrating. And on top of that he is always under the WC watch. He cannot tell to much to any non-WC. So much of what he does, most of what he is, must always be in hiding. Secrecy is what he has been taught and what he lived by. For him to tell even a few things to Kim are a big deal that he does because he wants to help her. So he tells her all what he feels is safe for her.
morriswalters:
Again the text speaks for itself. Here's some more.
--- Quote ---“Oh, come on, Harry,” she told me. “You’re Chicago’s only practicing professional wizard, and you’re the only one who can help me.” She leaned across the table toward me, her eyes intent. “I can’t find the references for all of these symbols. No one in local circles recognizes them either. You’re the only real wizard I’ve ever even heard of, much less know. I just want to know what these others are.”
“No,” I told her. “You don’t want to know. You’re better off forgetting this circle and concentrating on something else.”
--- End quote ---
That by the way is the fourth paragraph Chapter One. Straight out of her mouth, I can't look this up and no one but you knows what they mean. If he don't tell her she can pout and get over it. And then multiple paragraphs involving Harry's stomach rumbling. I mean, come on, what does it take?
Mira:
--- Quote from: morriswalters on March 20, 2020, 09:50:17 PM ---Again the text speaks for itself. Here's some more.That by the way is the fourth paragraph Chapter One. Straight out of her mouth, I can't look this up and no one but you knows what they mean. If he don't tell her she can pout and get over it. And then multiple paragraphs involving Harry's stomach rumbling. I mean, come on, what does it take?
--- End quote ---
Before that, he says," no, absolutely not." He hesitates to eat the food though he is very hungry..
Now come the HUGE LIES on Kim's part...
--- Quote ---"Look Harry," Kim said. "I'm not using this for anything serious, I promise. "I'm not trying to summoning or binding. It's an academic interest only. She leaned forward and put her hand over mine.
--- End quote ---
Next page.
--- Quote ---"You're sure?" I asked her. "This is just you trying to scratch and itch?"
"Cross my heart," she said, doing so.
--- End quote ---
Harry is still reluctant to tell her anything.
--- Quote ---I frowned. "I don't know. . ."
--- End quote ---
Then she gets all charming, "Oh come on,Harry it's no big deal.
So then he begins to explain it to her... Until he realizes it couldn't be an academic exercise and refuses to tell her what the inner most ring means.
He tells her
--- Quote ---"You don't need to know that, either. Not for academic interest. I don't know what you got in mind, Kim but leave it alone. Forget it. Walk away, before you get hurt."
--- End quote ---
He says further, realizing she has been lying to him all along...
--- Quote ---"Save it," I told her. "You're sitting on a tiger cage, Kim." I thumped a finger on the paper for emphasis. "And you wouldn't need it if you weren't planning on trying to stick a tiger in there."
--- End quote ---
She then proceeds to get pissed and accuses him of thinking she isn't strong enough. Then he tells her she doesn't have the training and the experience, and refuses to tell her more.. Her parting shot is he is about the same age as she is..
Seems to me, Harry's warning was pretty clear, he also refused to tell her more once he realized she was lying to him... She chooses to continue to lie to him, and she chooses not to tell him why she wants it, i.e. to contain a Loop.. Harry hates the argument but knows he did the right thing by not telling her everything. It isn't like he didn't spell out the danger to her.. She made a series of bad choices and paid for it with her life... Harry isn't responsible when he is lied to like he was...
forumghost:
--- Quote from: morriswalters on March 20, 2020, 09:50:17 PM ---Again the text speaks for itself. Here's some more.That by the way is the fourth paragraph Chapter One. Straight out of her mouth, I can't look this up and no one but you knows what they mean. If he don't tell her she can pout and get over it. And then multiple paragraphs involving Harry's stomach rumbling. I mean, come on, what does it take?
--- End quote ---
The thing is, none of the stuff he actually told her was dangerous. All he did was explain what each level of the Circle was for, what she got was:
"This is a normal spiritual circle. This one forms a Physical Barrier, this one is somewhere in between" Even if this was entirely new information to her (which I doubt, since MacFinn probably knew something about it) none of that information would in any way enable her. It was entirely descriptive. The practical application of how to do anything with the Circle was what he refused to give her, in fact.
He then warns her that trying to use such a Circle to bind anything is beyond her skill level and will get her, and others, killed, so he won't tell her how to turn one on. She then throws a fit because "You're not my dad, you can't tell me what to do" and storms off, decides to fuck with it despite not knowing what to do, and surprising nobody, got herself (and others) killed.
morriswalters:
Adult tip 101. Never go to the store when you are hungry. Adult tip 102. If an adult says cross my heart, smack them, and suggest that they find someone else to flummox. If you ignore those adult tips then obviously you shouldn't be let out without a leash. Back in the day when he wrote this Jim had a boy beard, today he has a man beard. We know this because it is grey, which is the direct result of all the fibs your kids tell you when they are trying to wheedle whatever it is they want out of you. ;)
@forumghost
Obviously the story belies that interpretation. After Harry tells her what the three circles do, he refuses to tell her how to empower them. Which is what gets her killed. Until he gives them meaning they might as well be in Sanskrit. Since according to the quotes I posted she was clueless until Harry got finished, then in my estimation he owns it. Whatever you doubt she specifically says that he is the only one who knows, that she has access to. Again I quoted that.
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