Question:
Do you think Nick would still be trying to
regain his mortality if Lacroix had been
a "better", less possessive father?

Michelle Bischof

Yes, I do. It wasn't so much Lacroix that caused Nick to want to regain his mortality. It was his overwhelming guilt. The fact that he was forced to kill in order to exist. Lacroix had warned him about letting go of those emotions, but Nick just couldn't.

The Doc

Yes, Nick would still be trying to regain his mortality. Nick no longer relished in his life as a vampire when he came to realize that he was truly hurting people. In the episode entitled Hunters, Nick watched on as the wife of a man he had just killed cried by his grave. This realization that what he was doing was hurtful and wrong would have come regardless of LaCroix's actions. Up until this point, Nick was content as a vampire. I do think, however, that LaCroix would have been slightly less possessive if Nick wasn't constantly trying to "reverse the condition".

Sharon Bauman

Yes, I think Nick would still try to regain his mortality. The problem wasn't that Lacroix wasn't a good "father", although Lacroix kept knowledge from Nick that could have affected Nick's attitude about being a vampire. Nick's problem with being a vampire was that he could not kill people to satisfy his need for blood. Being a vampire represented a dark side of Nick that he once nurtured - whether it was from disillusionment or temptation. As Nick lived through the centuries, his noble side re-emerged. He felt remorse for the killings - which he tried to justify by only killing those who deserved it. But Nick wasn't really the type to be judge and jury to people, and thus came to loath what he had done to them, and why. To try to make up for it, he became a police officer. But to really atone, he had to become mortal - and kill the entity that caused his angst to begin with.

Wendy

I think that whether or not LaCroix was a less possessive father, that Nick would still be trying to regain his mortality. I say this because regardless of how LaCroix treats Nick, their philosophies of vampire life, i.e. killing, would always be disparate. LaCroix has no guilt about killing, whereas Nick still possesses his humanity and remnants of his religious teachings from centuries before, regardless of how it seems to have been pushed down. The mortal lives that Nick and LaCroix had led were vastly different, and subsequently, still influence both Nick and LaCroix's attitudes in regard as to how they view their existance. Just my opinion, of course. So, if LaCroix was a less overbearing, perhaps Nick would not be tortured if he never regained mortality, but he would never stop looking.

StephiLyn

Interesting question... I believe that Nick wouldn't be as angst-ridden and less prone to "pity-parties" if LaCroix hadn't been as tight-fisted as he was with him. If LaCroix had really taught Nick that he wasn't a bad person and that he can be happy and content with what he had become, their relationship might have been more amicable. Nick would probably be less likely to try to regain his mortality because he would have become more comfortable with his vampirism and not wanted to become mortal right away. I also believe that Nick would also be less prone to the selfishness and manipulative behavior that he displayed far too often when he dealt with mortals, especially Natalie.

Jessica Murray

Yes. I mean, right after he was brought across, before he had a chance to find out how possessive Lacroix was, Nick asked Lacroix to take his gift back. Although he came to accept his vampiric nature for a time, his first reaction was to go back to being mortal. If Lacroix had been nicer, it may have taken Nick longer to want to go back, but I think his first reaction, the desire to be mortal again, would have come back. Of course, if Lacroix had been a less possessive father, Nick would have spent the intervening years much happier, not only with his vampirism, but in general. He'd also be a much more competent vampire: hypnosis, bringing people across, all the little things Lacroix never taught him in order to keep him close.

Mary

Yes. To be a vampire is to "prey on humans for their blood." Given the dining habits of FK vampires, it's reasonable to estimate that Nick killed at least 175,000 people before he stopped feeding on humans. That doesn't count rampages, frenzies or large-scale bloodlettings. Nick's passionate desire to be mortal is rooted in his revulsion at that horror and in the spark of hope, given to him by Jeanne d'Arc, that he might be redeemed and escape the darkness. Prison is still prison, and hell is still hell, whether your captors rage or smile.

Victoria Masters

I believe that the driving power of Nick's quest for humanity is within him and so nothing that LaCroix could ever do would stop that. If, however, LaCroix was less possessive than perhaps Nick's quest would be less of an obsession and more of a phase. It would not be such of a necesity to become mortal in order to get away from Lacroix and all he stands for.

Michelle

Definitely... it's a part of Nick, IMO. Nick has a habit of never having what he wants, even when he has what he used to want ("The grass is always greener..."). LaCroix tried to help him adapt (Curiouser and Curiouser); Nick was unable to for his own reasons. However, LaCroix's attitude towards him and his quest played a large role. For example, in 1966 he destroyed the Abbrat (sp) that Nick seeked, the jade cups in DK, etc. Of course, it's so much *fun* annoying Nick (whoops, ignore the Cousinly streak!!! :) ). LaCroix's actions helped encourage Nick and his determination up to the third season, when Nick's backsliding began; LaCroix wasn't responsible for most of it (Sons of Belial, NiQ), so Nick would have backslid without LC's interference. To summarise (b/c I don't know what I'm saying <g>), while Nick would have gone on his quest in any case because of his inherent guilt and angst, LaCroix's actions helped encourage him.

Raissa Devereux

No, I don't think Nick would be trying to regain his mortality if LC had been a better father. However, I do think Nick would've found something else to quest for. After all, he's a knight. Questing for things is his job.

Sami Swan Thompson

Nope. Let's talk personal responsibility here. LaCroix made some mistakes (as all parents do); a few were real doozies. However, Nick's perpetual dissatisfaction (with his immortality, as well as the consequences of that type of existence) was of his own making.

Greg Henry

There are indications that Lacroix had access to knowledge that Nick desired, such as reading a book that Nick hoped would contain a solution (just before burning). I suspect that had Lacroix been less possessive, Nick might have had his answers. As an interesting twist, however, I believe that had Lacroix been different, he would not have brought Nick across. In many ways, Nick is emotional, passionate but terribly impulsive and naive. He never seems to think anything through (what would the consequences be of Nick becoming mortal, for example?) and anyone less self-indulgent than Lacroix would have thought a few things through for Nick.

Nik

I think Nick's angst is the reason for his wanting to return to mortality and have some sort of spiritual redemption. Good Catholic boy that he was.

Melinda Cadarette

Nick wants to be mortal so he can't kill people anymore. It's hard to live like a vampire who also has a deep-rooted sense of justice. LaCroix and Nick are two different people with two different philosophies. LaCroix's behaviour can be likened to a father who is afraid that his son is going to make a big mistake and would do anything to "correct" him. It's just that Nick is not obeying LaCroix and being a rebel. If a person thinks he's doing what is right, it is hard to convince him otherwise. LaCroix don't know the words "give up". But as I said, it won't matter if LaCroix was telling the truth-Nick would find out in the end what is possible and what is not.

Gwynn Holloway

I believe Nick would have tried regardless of how Lacroix acted toward him. The remnants of his mortality would have always been there to some degree. However, Lacroix's ruthlessness did not help matters much.

Reva

Yes, I do think Nick would still be trying to regain his mortality. I believe his desire to do this stems from the fact that he is tired of killing. He believes human life is worth something - he called a "state of grace." However, I do believe Lacroix' possessiveness contributed to Nick's angst but I think Lacroix thought he was acting in Nick's best interest.

Shayna

I really don't think that Nick would be actively seeking mortality if LaCroix had been a better father. Why? Well, it always seemed fo me that LaCroix didn't really teach him everything he needed to know. Maybe if LaCroix had been a better teacher Nick would be able to control himself more and be able to tame the beast a bit. That way he wouldn't be angsting all over the place. And not to mention Nick would have had more confidance when bringing someone across. He seemed to always bring people he loved, belived had greater purpose or who were downtroden. Trying to give them something better. LaCroix almost seemed to want Nick to fail so he could be there to pick up the pieces. To be more in control of Nicks life, something I find very selfish. (And comming from a Cousin, that's saying something.) Maybe if he had been a bit easier on Nick or more expressive of his feelings, instead of coping that "I am your master, do as I say" attitude, Nick would not be soooo desprate to be mortal again. If he really wanted it still, he may have been more patient. Instead of trying EVERY single little cure that happened along. Maybe even give up after awhile. In a situation like this there are so many what ifs ANYTHING could have happen if Nick AND LaCroix's attitudes towards life etc. were different. All we can really do is wonder and write LOTS of fan fiction <g>.

Katherine

Probably not. Nick has been happy with his existence many times. At first, he was a "happy" vampire. This became progressively worse. It was an endless spiral. He would dissent, LaCroix would try another tactic to bring him closer into the fold, Nick would rebel. Most of Nick's problems with his vampirism came from his inner desire to rebel against LaCroix. Thus, if LaCroix hadn't tried to control him, Nick would have been a much happier person.

Karen

Definitely. I think that Lacroix might have actually been more of the "glue' to hold Nick to his resolution of regaining his mortality. I think Nick realized the "dark side" of his immortality and truly regretted his becoming a creature of the night. It might have taken Nicholas longer to have come to this conclusion had Lacroix been less possessive, but he would have reached it nonetheless. The underlying character of Nicholas de Brabant has always been portrayed as a kind, gentle soul who had a stong sense of right and wrong. His only weakness was a mortal one, he was desirous of being with the beautiful Janette. I never got the feeling he wanted immortality to wreak havoc on the citizens of the day. Lacroix knew which buttons to push with Nicholas, how to get his goat, and how to be the most irritating, and I think this is what gave him the impetus to search for a cure much earlier in the relationship. It would have happened sooner or later, either way.