CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS (CANON)

GALE: Deeply romantic and devoted, come what may.

Thomas and Gale's stories and lives come from almost the exact opposite ends, and their relationship perhaps could have gone in all sorts of directions... if you asked anyone except Anne (and maybe some select few confidants). Anne, upon learning of the whole story, would roll her eyes and say that had she been there from the start she could have easily predicted how completely 'gooey and smitten' her brother would become. Thomas initially sought closeness to Gale because of Gale's complete comfort in and control of the weave, hoping he might get help in grasping his own inherent magic and making sure he didn't make their arduous journey more of a problem with his outbursts. He did get quite a bit of that, but first because of the new experience of someone showing enthusiasm for his magic, and then for a multitude of other reasons he'd get embarrassed to admit the extent of, Thomas's heart had him acting goofy real fast. Fortunately for him (and to his own surprise) this was mutual. More, Gale outright romanced Thomas, thoroughly sweeping him off his feet as Anne would say he needed, and the passionate love affair had the widely appreciated bonus of helping to ensure that Gale would reject Mystra's request to use the Netherese Orb to destroy himself and Netherbrain both.

Of course, towards the latter half of their journey, Thomas would have to actively inject more 'sensible and worried' than he'd like back into his heart in order to rein Gale's ambition in and persuade him of how much he absolutely didn't need godhood, thank you very much, but after the felling of the netherbrain, a promise and proposal left Thomas pretty much floating on air in his adoration of his very silly wizard... and with a lifelong horrible opinion of Mystra. One wedding and a move to Waterdeep later, well, Thomas is much more back to the 'gooey and smitten' side of things, but now with just the right amount of sense in place, and with a settled Professor Gale as his side, feeling more optimism about the future than he's ever known.

(Whether Gale will ever get to see any of the many, MANY poems Thomas wrote over the course of their romance remains to be seen).


LAE'ZEL: Eventually familial, with some respect, but often difficult.

Of all the companions along their journey, Lae'zel proved to be the one with which Thomas would have the most complicated and difficult relationship. Having many traits in common but just as many sitting in complete opposition, their relationship was always bound to be strained, though in a rather different way to the conflict between Lae'zel and Shadowheart. Long after those two had at least patched things up Thomas would find it hard just to interact with Lae'zel and pissed her off often, particularly when he refused to let her into the device within the Githyanki creche (even though this was done out of concern). Her picking up on the absolute agony of that experience for him didn't fix things, really, but did cause Thomas to realise he'd been unfair to her on many counts. After the experience with Vlaakith and the Astral Prism the pair of them were at least able to fully settle into the idea that come what may, they were allies, and could rely upon one another when it really mattered.

Thomas would encourage her to completely turn her back to Vlaakith, and it was her desire to free Orpheus that would fully push him into going down the route. His refusal to make a deal with Raphael did throw a wrench into things, and Thomas would never quite feel able to ask her about her feelings on his asking Orpheus to become a mindflayer (a sacrifice that was beyond Thomas's limits to make himself), but when Lae'zel flew from Baldur's Gate upon the back of a red dragon, their conversation was not bitter at all. There may never be an easy relationship between them but, at least, there would be respect and a sense of familial affection.


KARLACH: A simple and cheerful friendship, tight for life.

Without question the bond Thomas formed with most ease, Karlach is the kind of person Thomas would have clicked with naturally even back in his old life in Baldur's Gate. There isn't anything complex here. He grew to love her as one of his best friends in a speedy time and is fierce and determined in trying to help her fight her demons in all senses, and finds her brand of advice easiest to accept and seek out. Nobody else understands his struggles with his temper quite so well, to boot!

Her asking to be there when she died did throw him off, the reality of her struggle stark and heartbreaking, but he committed to it and even spent time recording all of the advice she'd ever given him into a little book so he'd never forget a word. That she agreed to go back to Avernus with Wyll and live was the biggest relief. He felt her lack of presence at his wedding, but the post-epilogue brought the sheer excitement of knowing she might soon be able to return home. Karlach is the best. :)


WYLL: An admirable friend, someone to aspire to but worry for.

After Karlach, Wyll was the easiest for Thomas trust... and after coming to learn of his history, trust would grow into a deep admiration that nothing could ever shift. Wyll is the type of hero Thomas would love be capable of being in so many ways and really good at helping Thomas keep himself on a leash. Honestly, if Wyll was ever disappointed in him, Thomas would be half-broken! Wyll being fully willing to accompany Karlach to Avernus so she could live on and not be alone only made that admiration sour. Wyll's also just good company, easy to make conversation with.

There is exactly one thing Thomas has concerns over when it comes to his friend, really: he thinks Wyll is far, far too forgiving sometimes, and isn't fully convinced that he is as understanding of his father's actions in the past as he seems to be. Certainly this might be a HUGE case of Thomas's own relationship with his father clouding his perspective, but he truly believes Duke Ravengard was too harsh too fast on a son he should have known the nature of, and has said as such before at ill-timed moments. Oops.


SHADOWHEART: Initially a confusing relationship, it grows into something fond.

Lae'zel, he had the most difficult relationship with, and Shadowheart, the most confused, at least at first. While they seemed to have many similar values, the revelation of Shadowheart being Sharran absolutely threw Thomas off because the personality of his new friend did not at all match with the Goddess she worshipped. Completely confused by this, he chose to show acceptance to her following that religion (despite his misgivings) while trying his absolute best to conceptualise how it would come about and encourage her more good-natured side. This did result in the occasional mild conflict.

When the answers came, and how they came about, well... Thomas might be one of the few people who has seen Shadowheart cry, and has held her through it. Since that experience Shadowheart has ended up returning the favour to Thomas as well, on several occasions, and she might be one of the few people in the world now that he feels comfortable being vulnerable around, just as he is for her.


ASTARION: Like a troublesome younger brother.

From the get-go their relationship was volatile as hell. It was bound to be. Their outlooks clashed often, Astarion enraged Thomas more than once, and Thomas made Astarion roll his eyes on a daily base... and yet, while volatile, it's not a fully negative bond either. Thomas showed considerable kindness to Astarion over the vampire revelation, feeling nervous about it but nonetheless sympathetic to a degree, and would allow Astarion to drink his blood on a scheduled basis. This sacrifice ensured that something positive could exist there. Thomas's fierce protectiveness of the group probably helped as well, with Astarion valuing personal loyalty between them and benefiting from it.

Later into the story, taking on Cazador, something Thomas was beyond willing to do with focused ferocity considering all the horrors inflicted, was a bit of a tense moment. Fortunately their group's time together and the revelation of the fate of Astarion's past victims led to Astarion rejecting ascension. Thomas was rather worried about what Astarion would do after the Netherbrain's defeat but fortunately, in a reunion six months down the line, he met an Astarion in the best place he'd ever been... and with a Minsc apparently checking up on his at regular intervals, which was both funny and reassuring. Their bond is now something like bickering siblings, who nonetheless care about one another and would round on anyone interfering with an argument.


HALSIN: A reassuring pillar of support and comfort.

Another rather uncomplicated relationship. Thomas likes Halsin a lot, finding him a comforting presence and perhaps the best hugger on the entire Sword Coast. Had Thomas not fallen in love with Gale he probably would have been open to Halsin's offer of a fun time; as it is Halsin is a close friend, instead someone Thomas had vented to on occasion and will always be willing to run to if Halsin needs his help.

(He was also the first to ever see Thomas cry, helping Thomas down from his anger by perceiving very well that it was something else driving the mood).


MINSC (AND BOO): Boo knows that we are all the very best of friends!

As all from their city of Baldur's Gate, Thomas was well aware of the stories of the mighty Minsc! He was not, in any way, as so few are, prepared for the reality of the man. Finding himself frequently caught between amusement, endearment and frustrated speechlessness in his presence, Thomas was relieved that Boo was always there to make sure that things were usually positive (once the whole Stone Lord business was dealt with).

After the defeat of the Netherbrain and the massive celebration that followed, Minsc's determination to track down Astarion and offer his intense and insistent support was a relief, even though Thomas knew that Astarion was going to be very, very annoyed about it. And six months after that, with Astarion doing pretty well for himself... well, turned out Minsc indeed possessed an almost magical ability to find Astarion wherever he went, and Astarion's feelings on the matter were exactly as Thomas predicted. Family and friendships can sometimes invoke one hell of a lot of irritation. ♥


JAHEIRA: As a stern but supportive Aunt.

Absolutely makes Thomas feel like a small boy in her presence... which can be a good thing, but also a bad thing. That isn't her fault but entirely down to Thomas's own issues with his parents colouring his reactions. He certainly respected her from the start, usually deferring to her advice and reflecting back onto her whenever she asked him to make the choice for them all. This did not go unnnoticed, but not much dealt with either. Aside from an increase in the friendly needling between them over time, the nature of their relationship would never change much.


NOTABLE NON-COMPANION RELATIONSHIPS:

• THE EMPEROR: When Thomas first encountered the 'Dream Companion' his romantic side and desperation for a solution made him initially very amiable. Over time, though, he got very suspicious, especially with their insistence on the wisdom of consuming the parasites. By the time the Emperor revealed themselves he was very, very distrusting, and time only made that worse, so it was no surprise that he chose to struggle through the House of Hope and stealing the hammer to free Orpheus rather than keep the Emperor on side. Feeling used and convinced the Emperor only truly sought power for himself (whether or not that is true), Thomas did not feel any kind of regret when he and his companions had to kill the Emperor on top of the Netherbrain.


• RAPHAEL: Complete distrust on every level right from the start, as you'd expect, as anyone would. But, also, Thomas was especially grated by the idea Raphael pushed that only the devil's assistance could free his group from their fates (and Raphael's sometimes too on-point observations on Thomas's weaknesses). Breaking into the House of Hope and completely screwing Raphael over was something Thomas might have taken a touch too much satisfaction in, all things considered, and during the inevitable fight, Thomas's aggressive side was on full display.


• ORPHEUS: Thomas did not, and never would, consider Orpheus trustworthy... but a better option than the Emperor (and Vlaakith). That and Lae'zel drove his decision to free him. But he was also the person willing to take on the burden of becoming a Mindflayer in order to stop the Netherbrain, the one line Thomas himself just couldn't cross, the one sacrifice he couldn't make. So he'll always remember him with deep respect for that alone.


• MIZORA: Obviously Thomas can't stand her, only tolerating her presence for Wyll's sake. Mentioned here to recount the time she tried to get him into bed. It was clear enough she was doing it just to hurt Wyll (and Gale as well, just as a fun bonus, probably), and he angrily told her where to go. But that night in camp, the weather oddly got very stormy pretty much out of nowhere. Wonder why?


• VOLO: Help.