Question:
What kind of master/father do you think Nick might be?

Jessica Murray

Hmm, good question. In the past, he's been somewhat neglectful of his "children." He left Dr. Archer (was that his name?) to his own devices in a city full of helpless plague victims. Elizabeth didn't last out the night she was made (I believe) because Nick lost track of her, letting her avenge herself on the fisherfolk. Serena he left at her own request, and she seems to have managed, but she was Nick's first modern fledgeling, and in "Father's Day" we see that as early as the '20s, Serena's home era, the Community had access to bottled blood. Richard Lambert was a scant few days old when Nick went to work, leaving him alone with his new superpowers and a desire to get scum off the streets. Not a very good track record thus far. But has Nick learned his lesson? And more to the point, would it occur to him that there's a middle ground between total control over your fledgelings (like Lacroix) and his own previous modus operandi? Maybe. If he could get beyond appearances and personas and talk to Vachon (who seems to have the middle road down pat) about this kind of thing, maybe Nick would shape up into the kind of master whose fledgelings would not only outlive their first few weeks, but also look on him kindly even 70 years later. As for what kind of father he'd make as a mortal, that would depend on the state of affairs between him and the Community upon his reversion and on the mother of his children. Assuming the Community was at worst neutral, I think Natalie could whip him into some semblance of a '90s father. However, if the Community were hostile, Nick would be so paranoid he'd make the Lone Gunmen look reasonable by comparison. And if Nick and Janette both went back across and bred, I'd pity the kids, because I can see them falling into a semi-medieval parenting mode.

Melinda Cadarette

Nick will be a more UNDERSTANDING father than LaCroix. He seems to be one who allows people their own way of life, provided it is not against the "natural law" which he wants to be under so bad. His experience with his own children is not pretty-Alexandra tried to kill him, he had to kill Nat's brother when he went berserk-so he pretty much someone who would let his children develop their own way of life as long as it is done with self-control. He will be quite the opposite of LaCroix for sure.

Wendy

As a master/father, well, Nick would more than likely be a lot less controlling and "kinder" than LaCroix. However, for all his faults, LaCroix taught Nick well and tried to have Nick embrace the vampire. Nick, while teaching the basics out of necessity and allowing more freedom, would still, on the other hand, probably angst his "child" to death for condemning him/her to a life in darkness. Having "grandfather" LaCroix as a back up is good, should Nick's "child" actually accept his/her fate. *g* But, all in all, Nick has the potential to be an effective master/father.

Farah

I think Nick would be very protective, but not interfere with what you do unless you were in trouble. Of course, he'd also be completely guilt ridden for bringing anyone across in the first place.

Jody A.

As much as I like Nick, his track record as a master/father is miserable. Cases in point: Richard, Serena, Elizabeth, and Gerald (the doctor from the Black Plague flashback). Nick's choices for progeny were made as a result of pity, coercion, or gross miscommunication. All were disastesr in some form or other. Three were destroyed and one survived only because she is a strong individual. She did not want the "dark gift". Nick had left her own devices because she despises him for what he did. It was one of those "Be careful what you wish for..." situations that led her to our tarnished knight. Nick just doesn't seem to be able to clue into what to do for a fledgeling vampire. Nor does he seem to know when to exert control until it is too late and the fledgeling had to be destroyed. I was really put out with Nick for leaving Natalie's brother alone shortly after being brought over. How could Richard have developed the appropriate self-control without someone there to curb his out of control behavior, to teach him discretion. Killing so openly endangered his survival as well as Nick not teaching Richard what the vampire nature involves. Instead Nick pretty much said, "The blood's in the fridge. I'll be back later because I got to go to work." Serena would have made an excellent vampire should *she* have wanted to become one. This episode was a little amusing to me to see Nick so flattered by female attention. I think he had been too reclusive at that time in his life. I definitely don't think "love" had anything to do with it. That was libido all the way.

Tessa Orrison

I think Nick isn't the greatest master. Look at what happened to Richard. I'm going to quote one of my favourite fanfic stories, "Death Has No Dominion" by Marg Baskin for this. Vachon said to Nick "Every one of your fledges has self-destructed! My worst mistake in that department [Urs] is still walking!" Vachon knows how to take care of his fledges. Nick doesn't. So I wouldn't want old Nickyboy for my master.

Tina

If my memory serves me correctly, Nick has been a father and/or master on several occasions (e.g., the episode with Nat's brother). As far as I can see, he was a fairly loving father, but then he had to kill the brother because he went berzerk. Overall, I think Nick is too dysfunctional to be a father to anyone (e.g., why Nick doesn't understand women after 800 years???). Nick needs to get his "life" in order before he takes on parental duties.

Karen G.

Nick would feel guilty over any child he made. No matter what had happened to make crossing over necessary. He would be very attentive to the needs of the child and hate having to teach the child to hunt, but he'd do it. He would love the child. The relationship would be rocky at best. If the child liked being a vampire, Nick would be knocking himself because it is his fault the child is one, and feel directly responsiable for any kills. If the child disliked the vampire life style that would be all his fault too. Guilt would get in the way of a good relationship. I'm glad he didn't bring Nat across.

T.C Gregory

I belive that if Nick brought a person over Nick would feel he would have to teach them to kill. But Nick would wait to the last minute possible (that would include never if possible.) Nick would also try to keep the influences of Lacroix away from his protege so Nick's Protege would not go on a killing rampage like Richard. So I belive that Nick might be somewhat of an overprotective master or father.

E John Lindsey

By looking at the vampires that Nick made in the show, I belive he would ironicly be in many was like LaCroix. Just to the other extreem. LaCroix has been hounding Nick to get him to return to the evil that is in side him, where Nick would attempt to destroy that in a vampire that he would make. We did see him kill Nat's brother because he began to kill, and Nick brought him over. In a flash back from that same episode we she him kill another of his creations. He let the Doctor from the flashback in episode Fever. Even though there was not much he could have done anyway. The woman he brought over who's name I can't remember who tried to become mortal with the aid of childbirth and the man who was xyy is a diffrent story. He knew he made a mistake when he brought her accross thus making him fell guilty.

Princess E.R.E.A.M.

I think that Nick would make a great father/master. He would teach his "child" how to survive; but would not force them to kill.

Linda

I thought Nick was a great father to Fleur's son Andre until Uncle messed it up. It was of course foolish of him to think he could keep his secrete from Andre for long. But he seem quite the caring and proud parent while it lasted. It's harder to know what kind of a master he would have been. He would have been so reluctant to bring anyone across in the first place. I have heard him remark on more than one occasion that he didn't believe in the bond that master and fledgling share. Come to think of it he got rid of a number of vamps he brought over after discovering they were some how out of control, but it would have been him or the enforcers any way.

Anne Sampson

A tormented one. He already despises his nature - he would destroy himself with guilt if he brought someone new across and had to teach them to survive in the dark.

Mary

I don't think Nick has what it takes to make a successful vampire master. (I intend this as a compliment.) As a father, I think he would be very good up until the teenage years, and then I think that he and Nat (N&Npacker assumptions here) might have to watch out for any echoes of his abuse at the hands of LaCroix in his treatment of the children, particularly the boys. And, of course, it might never surface at all. A lot would depend on Nick's relationship with his own father, or whoever was his chief mentor as a boy.

Susan Bennett

I think Nick would make a terrific master because after he brought you across he would leave you the hell alone instead of trying to cling to you for eternity like Lacroix does to him.

Michelle Bischof

Boy, that's a toughie. On the one hand, I think Nick's sensitivity and humanity would make him a fantastic father (adopt me!) But on the other hand, his utter loathing of what he is, would contradict everything a master should be. I'd say Nick would be a great father, but a somewhat lousy master.

Berg

IMHO, Nick would be a pretty awful father... Given his drive to do the right thing, coupled with his auto-angst tendency, he'd very likely alternate between spoiling a kid and tossing around some rather hefty punishments (bear in mind what time period his childhood was in). As a master vampire, he'd be worse. Imagine what he'd do to a vampire who actually ACTED like they enjoyed being a vampire...

Reva

I don't think Nick would make a very good father/master. He can hardly stand himself so how could he guide another vampire?

Danielle Goldstein

I think he'd be a good master. LaCroix has made so many mistakes and Nick must have learned. He's also a great guy and could never be cruel.

Inimeg

I believe Nick would be an excellent father. He has just the right combinations of sensitivity of heart and patience. Nick has lived a very long time and therefore would be a great educator because of his experiences and knowledge he has acquired from many time periods and cultures.