The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Thomas hoped Marcone would Kill Lara?
KurtinStGeorge:
--- Quote from: Basil on November 16, 2021, 02:09:12 AM ---Good point. What Thomas has gone through before being put in Stasis is likely many times worse than what Shaggy did to him. Plus, he doesn't have the real Justine anymore (or perhaps his illusion of her is gone).
Question: Is a hypothetically well-fed Thomas actually a match for Lara? I actually don't think so. I suspect that Lara, Thomas and Lord Raith are the three strongest of the Whites, but that doesn't mean that he can take down Lara. She has too much experience, is older (and therefore stronger) and probably knows how to use the Hunger to achieve a wider range of tactical objectives.
--- End quote ---
Add to that, Lara has had the time to peruse her father's library; which I believe was supposed to contain a great deal of magical knowledge. My guess is that probably meant White Court vampire abilities. Way back in Blood Rites, we were given a description of Lord Raith's 'kiss of death' technique, which he would use; presumably against other White Court vampires, to start business meetings of the Court to get everyone's attention. Harry even teased Lord Raith about his inability to use the kiss of death any longer because of Margaret's death curse.
I'm think this is an example of Chekov's gun. We've been given a graphic description of a rare and powerful White Court vampire attack method but we haven't seen it used; at least not yet. My hypothesis is that at some point we will get to see it used. I think it could occur in the next book.
Most likely, that means a resurgent Lord Raith uses the kiss of death to show everyone he is back, or; and I think this next scenario is far more likely, Lara Raith uses the same ability to show those in the White Court she no longer needs her father as a figurehead to maintain her leadership of the Court.
I suppose a third possibility is that Thomas will get the opportunity to learn this nasty trick and his father's other secrets, which will allow him to challenge Lara and become the leader of the White Court, but at present that seems highly unlikely to occur.
Mira:
--- Quote --- Chekov's gun
--- End quote ---
Shaggy's treatment of Thomas and how this affected him at the end of Turn Coat is a very good example of it. Jim had Thomas repeatedly beaten up to the point of death, presented with young women he had to feed upon until they died and it changed him. This changed him, he seemed more at peace with being a vampire at the end of the story, this pleased Lara, but upset Harry greatly. He even asked him what he thought Justine thought about all of this. So the promise of conflict between Harry and Thomas, but it never really happened.
vincentric:
It would have been an issue if Thomas was feeding and killing like a typical White Court vampire but he wasn't. He did have to come face to face with the fact that he is really a predator when pushed to his utmost. That he could not overcome his nature and not feed on those victims was the cause of his despair.
Whatever else Justine/Nemesis was doing when she showed him how to feed again, by feeding him she mitigated this emotional crisis. He didn't have to feed on unsuspecting or unwilling victims or survive by constant nibbling on his clients.
Cornbred:
I can't help but wonder if something else is going on here. Thomas had been remade by Shagnasty into a killing machine in TC, and then suddenly in Changes he is the same old Thomas. We know that Justine is Nfected, is it too much of a stretch to think Thomas was also Nfected by Justine? Maybe the whole thing is a retcon by Jim but the fact that nobody in-universe notices or comments on Thomas' sudden personality changes is disquieting.
vincentric:
I'm beginning to wonder if I got a different copy of Turn Coat than other people.
Thomas was taken by Shagnasty and tortured to near death. Then while he was only semi-coherent he was given a victim to feed off. Which he did killing them in the process. This cycle was repeated several times in rapid succession driving him to near insanity. Harry knocks the unconscious Thomas into the cabin with Molly and Morgan and he wakes up and Molly activates the crystal to protect herself. The battle is won and Lara and family take Thomas away to treat him, probably killing several more young women in the process.
When next we see Thomas in the epilogues, he is just able to go out in public after several weeks of healing. By his own admission he realizes that he is a vampire when driven to his utmost and that he is seeing people as food first. But he never states that he is going back to killing like a regular WC vampire. He's just weeks removed from a mental and physical trauma that left him with severe PTSD and just starting the healing process.
A year or so later in Changes, he better but still struggling against his nature as he, Harry and Molly talk on the way to Rudolph's house. Then Harry dies and he's thrown into his deep funk which isn't lifted until the end of Ghost Story. But he wasn't killing. Justine chides him for starving himself.
And eight months later, in Cold Days, he's close to the Thomas we're used to. But he's more conscious of his nature and more honest about it as he advises Harry on dealing with his mantle.
So while I understand that the end of Turn Coat may have hinted at a change in Thomas. After almost two years, he's healed quite a bit and should realistically be close to his old self, san a trigger.
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