Back to the Cauldron

It's part of White Collar canon lore that Neal's romantic side is a vulnerability. In Caffrey Conversation, Rolf and Klaus Mansfeld have planted Bianka at Columbia University to take advantage of that weakness. After an intensive study of Neal's former loves Kate and Fiona, they selected a blend of qualities designed to appeal to Neal. Physical beauty, artistic talent, innocence, and sensuality were all placed in the magic cauldron, and they groomed Bianka to fit that image. But potions don't always work. Neal was never attracted to Bianka romantically, and now that he knows she's a tool of his arch-enemies, she's the one being conned.

I find myself in a somewhat similar position to the Mansfelds when I create an original character. The ingredients I put into the cauldron sometimes don't produce the effect I'm looking for. Fiona is an early example. I'd intended for her and Neal to have a casual dating relationship while Sara was off in London, but they took matters into their own hands and became unexpectedly serious about each other. The next thing I knew, Peter was teasing Neal about love being in the air.

Maia is another example. In the beginning, Maia was designed to be a younger, more scatterbrained version of Electra. Maia didn't think much of that playbook, however, once she met Sam. Unexpectedly, she fell head over heels in love. Neal had changed for the better, she pleaded. Why couldn't she? I gently pointed out several obstacles. Readers had met her when she was evil. Would they believe she'd actually reformed or would they harbor suspicions that sooner or later she'd revert to her old ways? She stubbornly waved Neal's example in front of me, but I pointed out a major flaw in her reasoning. Neal has always been charming and well liked even when a thief. She, on the other hand . . .

Is there any hope Bianka can sneak back to the cauldron and cast a counterspell to change her destiny? At this point, it's unknown if she even wants to. In Maia's case, she hopes the bloodline of her ancestors will help her stay cured. Only time will tell if she's right. Otherwise, it will be back to the cauldron.

Night Howls on the Hudson on Archive of Our Own
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