#also i Do just have to say it frustrates me a bit when louis is talking about how he feels bad about leaving marlon on his own to lead

[spacedlexi]

A little while ago you said that you have nuanced feelings on Clem x Louis, and I think that’s how I’d describe my opinion on the ship as well. I was just wondering, what makes you feel that way? Personally, I think they’re romance scenes are cute and sweet, but the whole situation with Marlon makes me unable to see them as anything other than friends. I think they both mean a lot to each other, but the idea that they’d want to date so soon after that whole ordeal’s a bit of a stretch to me.

putting this under a read more so if anyone even Thinks they might get upset about mild louis opinions they can move on and stay happy. seriously people take this stuff too seriously sometimes and i dont want to stir anyone up but also im allowed to have my own opinions OKAY. none of this means i dont like him or them OKAY??

okay

thats pretty much where my opinions are too

the stuff with marlon and the vote is Definitely the biggest thing that influences my opinion about their romance. i always forget just how Cruel he is in EP2 😭 like im on your side dude what aj did was wrong can we just talk about this 😭 but he votes to kick them out. like his reaction about marlon doesnt bother me, its his insistence on kicking them out that does 😔 my clem will always forgive him for it, i believe him when he says he regrets it, but its gonna take some time for trust to build again. for both of them

having only one scene between his apology and the lock in was just not gonna happen for my clem. she was mad at him for it. aj almost died because of it. she might be doing better now but she still has trust issues and her trust was broken just as much as his was. he was fine with never seeing her again, sending her and aj out to their deaths because he struggled to accept his confused feelings about marlon. that pissed my clem off shdfksd she is barely keeping this child alive let alone herself. her face when ajs kicking the wall bro she was like "its so fucking over" 😭 cmon bro look at her shes dead inside have some compassion. and he still hits her with the "i dont know [if i want you to stay]" even after aj gets shot like cmon man...... Cmon.........

and while shes waiting for louis to finally be ready to talk about what happened with marlon (which my clem apologizes for in the dorm, she does genuinely feel bad about it), her and violet are only growing closer, focusing on preparing the school together for the bigger problem. clem knowing vi has her back is a huge source of relief in everything thats going on, and that means a Lot for my clem, who appreciates the idea of having a partner she can rely on. my clem is already sure of her feelings for vi by the time louis apologizes. but she appreciates his apology, and is looking forward to being friends again, because she did genuinely appreciate his friendship at the beginning. but her heart was really truly Broken about everything with marlon and the vote and i think thats gonna take more time to heal. depending on player choice some clems might not even forgive him (some others might say he was right and that clem didnt stop it but... i do not agree with that.. like how could she have... aasim calls mitch a hypocrite for saying the same thing)

the other less important thing is just his general blasé attitude. my clem takes things seriously, but that doesnt mean she doesnt know how to have fun. she Wants to. she just Cant. she has a child to take care of first, and she cares about the survival of the group. its why my clem is looking for someone she knows she can rely on. she never wanted any of this, and she just wants a little support, someone to help take the weight off so she CAN relax. shes so tired 😭. playing with louis while aasim hunts by himself made me feel Dirty 💀 (i literally couldnt do it the first time i felt so bad AASIM WAIT UP). and while i can understand and appreciate his "there might not be a tomorrow so enjoy today" outlook, it cant come at the expense of the group. louis i feel eventually learns this, finding a balance between the two, and Becomes someone clem can rely on. but his change doesnt begin until like.. after the raiders take everyone (because we have to get through the marlon stuff first). and if you save vi, you dont get to see any of it 😔

the thing about these two problems is that, if you were to take them out of this setting and throw them in like, a modern au, suddenly these are not issues anymore. no more life or death. the stakes are a lot lower. so i can see them dating in that scenario and having fun together. they do have cute moments!! but also due to less stakes, theres less to motivate louis to change. and i think they would fundamentally just not click on their worldviews. clem while she can have fun, ultimately takes things seriously, and louis doesnt. that doesnt mean they dont care about each other, and clem definitely appreciates his energy, but its why i see them still ending up as friends instead of romantic partners (esp if vi is around IM SORRY 😭 they just Click too well for me 😔 this is why my messy au exists 💀)

i also understand this is mostly personal preference and some people might like them for these reasons 😭 but the dynamic that they have i prefer as friends personally. theyre supportive of each other and deeply care about each other, just not romantically imo. especially not after the stuff with marlon. and thats ok!!!! i see it a lot like louis' relationship with vi. not romantic. but they Love each other regardless. honestly the reason why i like clem vi and louis as a trio so much is that clem slots between them really well. louis who doesnt take anything seriously, and vi who takes things Too seriously. clem exists between them. knowing having fun is important but also understanding the weight of responsibility. she helps louis become more responsible, and she helps vi chill the fuck out. she brings balance :)

i will say tho louis' "nothing wrong with short and sweet, right?" line was cute he got me there

[heliza24]

Please allow me to brain dump all of my episode 5/devils minion thoughts/questions/predictions one more time before the episode comes out this weekend here. Only partially organized into something of a list:

- After the initial aborted interview, Armand is jealous that Daniel is able to connect to Louis in a way that he cannot, and he’s furious that Louis tells him about Lestat. He’s also just angry and frustrated. He’s been trying to make things up to Louis for thirty years, and their relationship has been strained for as long. And he takes it out on Daniel. I imagine the “is that was makes you fascinating?” Could easily be in response to Louis saying something like “I know I should have killed him, like we always kill the boys we sleep with, but he was just so fascinating that I didn’t want to.” And then all the jealousy that Armand has carefully stored away when Louis was imagining Lestat or choosing to sleep with another human rather than him just bubbles up to the surface.

- The more I think about it the more questions I have about Louis and Armand’s relationship (and their relationship to the absent Lestat) at this time. What caused Louis to want to do a first interview in the 70s? What happened between the 1973 and 2022 to change how he describes Lestat to Daniel so much? How and why do Louis and Daniel connect, and what does that mean for why they are repeating the interview in 2022? I am sometimes very guilty of having Armandaniel ship goggles on, I love them so so much together, and most of the further points on this list are from that lens. But I would be remiss to forget that Louis is the protagonist of this show, and that he has always been paralleled with Daniel narratively. So their connection is going to be really important, and i am also dying to understand it.

- Armand’s “I am the quiet you have been longing for” speech to Daniel is the equivalent of Santiago rooting around in his victim’s head before luring them into a willing death on stage. It’s seduction, but a seduction towards death. Armand is trying to peel Daniel apart in his anger. But somewhere along the line he gets too used to looking, too fascinated himself, to kill Daniel.

- I’m sure some of the initial anger at Daniel, and some of the initial anger at Louis, for humoring and connecting with him, has to do with Armand’s engrained respect for the great laws. Louis violates the law about not recording the history of the vampires, by talking to Daniel. He has revealed his true nature and let Daniel live, etc. part of me wonders if that’s why there’s that photo of Armand and Louis carrying Daniel when Louis is clearly being burned by doing it during the day. He made a mess, and his punishment is to do the dirty work of cleaning it up, even if Armand could take care of Daniel quickly on his own if he wanted to. I presume that eventually Armand ends up breaking rules himself around Daniel (not killing him, chiefly) which makes the forbidden aspect of their relationship all the more interesting to me.

- The two examples we have so far of Armand peering into Daniel’s memories (selling porn magazines and sleeping with a girl only if she would cover her face) speak to a combination of sexual shame, cruelty, repression, and desperation. There is something prompting Danny to sell those magazines, whether it be poverty or some hidden trauma. And Armand is familiar with that kind of relationship to sexuality. There might also be something about Daniel’s sexual brashness, as complicated as that might actually be, that feels refreshing after decades of Louis’s simmering resentment. There’s also a similarity between these early Daniel facts and Louis pulling the knife on Paul. It demonstrates a vampire-compatible personality (a certain viciousness combined with certain type of shame) while they’re both still human. And I’m sure that is fascinating to Armand.

- I’m also hoping that we’ll learn a little bit about Daniel’s childhood or backstory. I do feel like he has to be already running from something by the time he meets the vampires. He’s self medicating for sure, and I want to know why. Whenever I write about Daniel in fic I always end up coming back to his relationship to women and mothers/daughters, maybe because his daughters that he doesn’t speak to anymore in 2022 seem to loom large in absentia to me in the Dubai version of his character (especially in the ways they echo with Claudia). His disavowal of his queerness and kind of casual acceptance of the fact that he was a shitty husband does the same thing. The casual cruelty and misogyny of the bag over the head story reinforces this to me. I would love to learn more about this side of Danny, not because I think it’s a particularly good part of him, but because it’s a thing I think we’re missing in our understanding of him. It makes him grey in the same way the vampires are grey, in the same way Louis was grey before he was turned, and I want to understand it better.

- I think Louis begs Armand to stop torturing Daniel; whether or not he and Daniel actually hook up (and I kind hope they do!) I think Louis genuinely likes him. But Armand either refuses or continues to chase/torture/fall in love with Daniel behind Louis’s back. I’m not positive this is what the show is going to do, but I think it would work so well to have Daniel basically be an affair during Louis and Armand’s marriage. that information imbalance would make the drama in the penthouse more dynamic, and I think it would make sense that Armand would be looking for some kind of release, something that was just his, while he was trying to manage Louis’s moods and continued attachment to Lestat.

- I have a kind of more structural question as well, which is- how much they are gonna show us in this episode? Just from a character arc perspective, I don’t think they can end season 2 without Daniel knowing exactly why his memories were erased. That’s his dramatic question; not just what happened to me, but why do I not remember (and what does that mean for me now)? So I suspect that if we only see the first part of Devil’s minion in this episode, the torture and the stalking maybe, but we don’t get to the point where Daniel’s memories are erased, then there will be future revelations in the later episodes about happened in the 1970s. I am also wondering if the episode will be akin to a bottle episode, at least in the San Francisco section, set all over the same night in the same location. This is very play-like, so it would not surprise me if the writers room full of playwrights wrote it this way. And we’ve also only seen images and clips from the one location and the one set of costumes. If that’s the case, and we learn why Daniel’s memories were erased in this episode, that means his interaction with the vampires was actually pretty short lived, and any deeper devil’s minion stuff is gonna happen in the Dubai era if it happens at all. Because of that I either hope that the episode is less of a bottle episode than we’ve been led to believe, or that the bottle episode is only the start of a longer interaction between Daniel and Armand.

- To me Armand is like a dragon, who has been taught through repeated trauma that the only way to get what he wants is to roll over and show his vulnerable belly. Thats his dynamic with Louis; he grants him control even though he is the more powerful one because he wants to keep Louis. But Armand comes in like the monster he is to Daniel, and the fact that Daniel ends up liking him anyway, and doesn’t ask him to dim his power or appear more human or more gentle, is what makes their connection special. That’s what makes generally terrifying Danny early on necessary, the idea that he sees the absolute worst of Armand and is still somehow interested. I hope we can get to the point in this season where Daniel can articulate how attracted he is to Armand’s monstrosity. Based on the critic’s reactions I guess we’re not getting that this episode? But I live in hope that we’ll get that sentiment somehow before the season ends.

- Part of me is scared that the critics who believe that nothing romantic is going on between Daniel and Armand are somehow correct. Like, maybe we just aren’t gonna see any of that at all this season. Maybe if they have a romance at all it will just be in the Dubai timeline somewhere down the road. But then I remember the way Assad plays Armand around Daniel, and the way that he has jumped to Daniel’s aid twice (once in season 1 and once in season 2), and the “Alice wanted to say yes when you proposed but you hadn’t given her a reason to trust you” comment, which to me so clearly reads as Armand talking about himself. Surely those things don’t mean nothing.

- I love the idea that if Daniel and Armand were having an affair, Daniel asking to be turned and made into Armand’s companion would involve Armand leaving Louis, or at least breaking his trust further. That would be a huge leap for Armand because of the ways that he’s committed to and indebted to Louis because of what happened in Paris, and it makes sense to me that he wouldn’t be able to make that leap. Especially if Daniel’s addiction issues ends up transferring to vampire blood. The question of “do you really love me or do you just want to drink from me?” Is such a great doubt for a vampire to have, and I can see it really plaguing Armand, enough for him to not want to turn Daniel. I also hope we get him just in general not wanting to make fledglings because it feels like passing on a curse, and wanting to protect Daniel from the hellish parts of vampire existence by keeping him human. (I wonder if we’ll also see some kind of evolution in Louis and Armand’s relationship that will make it easier for Armand to recommit to Louis. Some kind of demonstration by Louis that he would pick Armand over Lestat if he had a choice? Something else? I’m not sure).

- I do think Daniel asking for the memory wipe himself is the most dramatically satisfying way for it to happen. Daniel being desperate for immortality, and despondent at the fact that Armand won’t turn him, and choosing to forget him instead is just so good. Especially if Armand acquiesces because he can see that his and Daniel’s connection is hurting Daniel and affecting Daniel’s mental health. It would fit with the way that Armand puts all of his partners before himself, because Armand would erase Daniel’s memory to save him, at the expense of his own broken heart. And that broken heart would explain the vacillating coldness and bitterness and affection he treats Daniel with in Dubai. And it would be an incredibly difficult realization for Dubai Daniel to have, that the person he initially thought was a monster because he committed this violation of his mind actually did so at Daniel’s own behest. This would fit with something that Eric mentioned in an interview, that Daniel realizes that he has fucked up two marriages because of the things that went down with the vampires that he cannot remember. What if the reason he could never be happily married was that he was never fully over Armand, even if he didn’t realize it? Heartbreaking. Juicy. The stuff of good drama! This is the other reason I keep reassuring myself that something romantic did happen between Daniel and Armand in the past. It changes the Dubai dynamics in ways that are simply too rich to ignore.

- I also do suspect that season 2 is gonna end with modern day Louis and Lestat being reunited. Lestat has to be around to narrate season 3 after all, and we have that tiny clip of the Loustat hug that feels modern. I’m really excited about that! But my heart breaks for Armand in that case, and I just… really hope that Daniel could be Armand’s safe place to land if Louis ends up leaving him at the end of the season.

[quidfree]

very understated beat that i liked amongst all the other brilliant choices in iwtv s2e5 (which for me is foremost a loudaniel self-actualisation via mutual recognition plot, and then a loumand failmarriage plot) is that amongst daniel’s general resistance to armand’s gentleman death manipulation (his first “rest” going ignored, “i like my life man”, “i have a thing in the city” etc) and armand’s overall intense frustration and disdain for daniel given that he caught louis’ eye, they have these weird little moments where they themselves do have a bit of a rapport despite circumstances? or like- accidental wavelength sharing?

my favorite example is that when armand is frustratedly mocking daniel by listing his mundane flaws (while daniel argues/nervously babbles back, certified platinum yapper) and starts going in on his other interviews, daniel’s non-self-deprecating line is that “he’s good at getting people to open up” (paraphrased). this is the genuine skill he assigns himself. skip forward some dialogue, and what does armand do? sit them down and ask daniel: “would you like to know my first memory?” two lines later, he stops himself, gives a terse “hm” and stops that conversational pivot dead. there’s a lot to read in the volunteering and cut off, but EYE find it interesting that daniel molloy just Gets The Girls Talking, and i think armand stopping where he does is both a character thing (his relationship to his trauma does not allow him to cathartically spill to random mortals) and i think a frustrated realisation that he’s slipped up and literally let the wannabe journalist kid get him monologuing.

there’s echoes of it in the dubai scene when louis is asleep and armand starts volunteering conversation to daniel, both as a ploy and sort of sincerely? and daniel of course just throws back “i’m listening” at him, but he is, in fact, listening. they’re always kind of operating on a level of lie and honesty lol.

it’s like how armand asking daniel if he finds him boring is part performative and part genuine inner angst bleeding through, and daniel retorting no is obviously because he will say anything for the doe-eyed freak not to murder him but also (as he himself immediately points out), armand can literally read his mind and see for himself that’s true. it’s just a well written show like that!!!

[cbrownjc]

My more detailed thoughts on EP 2x04 :

Spoilers below the cut:

@emeraldinerosefaedragon pulled this quote about Armand, which I believe is from The Vampire Companion book, that I think encompasses very much what we saw by the end of this episode:

Do I think Armand is some huge grand mastermind, manipulating every single thing that is going on years in advance in a mustache-twirling villain-type of way? No, I do not.

But just because Armand's not that, doesn't mean he isn't cunning or smart. And that he can't think this way on the fly, especially when a new troublesome situation presents itself to him.

Armand had two main problems at the start of this episode: the coven grumbling about the fact that Louis was still not a member -- after almost two years it seems -- and Louis not viewing Armand as his companion.

And by the end of the episode? Well, both problems are pretty much solved, aren't they? Louis, in letting Dreamstat go, has made a choice to start to try and move on, with Armand the one he is choosing to have by his side. Louis didn't say it, but Claudia did -- Louis had decided, after that trek to the museum, to accept Armand as his companion.

Along with this Louis also decided, (after he comes to terms that his photography isn't going to go further for him after meeting with that photo editor guy), again of his own free will, to join the coven. Which now makes Louis bound to its ways and laws. Which, in the book, the Great Laws are just a fig leaf, but I think the show is having the TdV -- and had Armand too at first as well -- take them much more seriously . . . but that's a meta as to why for another time.

Anyway, at the end of the episode, the two main problems Armand had at the beginning of the episode are very much solved by the end. Louis is joining the coven and Louis is accepting Armand to him as a companion. And no, the solving of those issues was not a happenstance IMO. Armand even told Louis, rather directly at the top of the episode, that these two things were problems for him, and Louis just barely conceded to one of those two things at the start -- which is only that he'll "come around" and spend more time with the coven. By the end of the episode, however . . . Louis fully commits to giving Armand both things.

Do I think Armand might have had a bit of influence over what that photo editor said to Louis about his pictures? Hey, I can't prove anything, but it wouldn't surprise me if he did, given Armand's Mind Gift abilities (which, put a pin in this, as I'll get to talking about that in a bit). But, more than anything, I think Armand went with a strategic full-court press when it came to having Louis decide to commit to him as a companion wrt that whole museum date.

And, unlike Lestat, who held his trauma and vulnerabilities from Louis until things had reached a point of no return, Armand opens up to Louis about his past traumas and vulnerabilities long before it has even begun to get to such a point. But also because Louis is still reluctant to fully give himself over to truly being companions with Louis. But here, Armand is showing Louis that he will not withhold when it comes to such things as this -- something Lestat very much did withhold for a very long time.

However, a bit of dialogue from Armand during the scene where Louis is practicing his Fire Gift abilities is key when it comes to Armand's thought process when it comes to why he decided to share this about himself with Lous, as well as when it comes to solving issues in general IMO -- "I try to find the vulnerability within the object."

Which is what he says wrt how he uses the Fire Gift, yes, but I do not believe that it is something Armand just does when using the Fire Gift. I believe that comes to all situations in his life, especially when it comes to being a coven leader and master.

Lestat withholding in the ways he did made Louis feel not just frustrated but powerless. As Louis exclaimed just last episode, "Lestat didn't tell me shit!" Because even when Lestat did finally start to tell Louis (and Claudia) some things (about Magnus and Nicki) there was still very much he still withheld, even after that.

But Armand? Well, after that museum trip that withholding issue is starting to look quiet different with Armand than it was with Lestat, I'd say.

And in Armand's eyes, well . . . if even yielding can be a way of eventually gaining something, then so be it. Because who says yielding to something means that you must now also be in a weak position? IMO, it's very much like the adage about attacking from a defensive position.

This brings us to the end of the episode and seeing what Santiago, Celeste, and Quan were up to.

And can I say right now -- it actually doesn't matter one way or another if this ends up being a true mutiny by the coven . . . or if Armand is manipulating this stuff. For the record, I personally don't think Santiago and the others were under orders from Armand to go and search Louis and Claudia's apartment. But again, it doesn't matter one way or the other because there is just no way in hell a vampire as powerful as Armand didn't know he was being watched at that moment in the park with Louis.

Armand put not just the entire dining room but all his coven members -- including Claudia -- into a stasis state by just one command. (And no, that power isn't something from the books, but the show made it clear back in episode 2x03 that the ability to do this is part of the Mind Gift -- which is one of Armand's two most powerful abilities btw).

No. Armand knew damn well he was being watched. And frankly, I would not be at all surprised to learn that Armand could hear all that telepathic conversation going on between Quan, Celeste, and Santiago either. Again this episode already made it clear how powerful Armand's Mind Gift abilities are, plus that he can hear thoughts even when at a distance. (Such as when he got summoned from the museum wrt Claudia befriending Madeleine).

So, no. Armand knows damn well what is going on wrt the coven. The reason I don't think Armand was behind Santiago and the others doing this -- at least right now -- is only because I don't think Armand has decided, just quite yet, to fully choose Louis over them completely and therefore have the coven destroyed. I think that is a choice he is going to make -- due to some event, mostly likely the turning of Madeleine -- in Episode 6.

But once Armand makes that choice? That the coven has to go? He will use what he knows to bring that about. And probably winning the coven fully back to his side right before the trial is set up . . . in order to set everything in motion for their demise in the end, and having Louis all for himself.

(Where the Frankenstein Experiment comes into all of this I still can't figure out, but that can be put on hold for now.)

So yeah. Armand isn't a Machavelli. But he is smart and cunning and good at working out situations he finds himself in. To the point that, even when he appears to be yielding, he still ends up dominating.

Other things:

-- I've already been thinking that one of the reasons that the show made present-day Daniel older was because it was going to be part of helping Armand work through his issues with Marius. And now, after this episode and hearing from Armand's own mouth how much darker the show's version of Marius is -- and Armand's relationship with Marius is looking to be, I feel that all even more. Because now older Daniel will not only have the maturity to directly say what that relationship dynamic was . . . but it will also help Daniel himself understand why his past relationship with Armand was the way it was because . . .

-- I've also been thinking that, in many ways, Armand and Daniel's relationship in the past was going to mirror a lot of what we'd learn, and then eventually see, of Marius and Armand's past relationship. And I feel that even more so now. I think a lot of parallels will begin to be set up now that we, the audience have heard from Armand himself what his relationship with Marius was like.

-- I don't feel that was just a random slip-up by Daniel when he mentioned the theater fire. I think something else compelled him to say that. Well, something or someone else.

-- That final scene between Louis and Dreamstat was so sad. I really do think that Louis, at that moment, was accepting that Lestat was well and truly dead.

-- Those Talamasca files that Daniel has are not the full and complete files about everything. I was already suspecting that when Daniel was given them last week. But the fact that there are those 5 files (three images and two audio) related to Daniel? Nope. Daniel was strategically given what he was given. Because it's not like Daniel can verify if that is or isn't the complete files the Talamasca have about himself or anything else.

-- And speaking of the Talamasca . . . just like with the coven, I will be surprised if Armand doesn't know that he and Louis were being tracked by them at one -- or many other -- points in time. Though, in that instance, if he doesn't I won't look too sideways at it . . . given that I just finished reading the chapter in Prince Lestat that explains the Talamasca's origins. And Rolin Jones did note that Prince Lestat is one of the books this season takes information from, so . . .

-- I knew Santiago was going to get to Claudia's diaries at some point. But even then, I can't really tell if he truly likes her or is just 100% playing her. But, maybe deep down Claudia herself feels something off with him, or she wouldn't have sought out a friendship -- companionship -- elsewhere. I, personally, don't see what is developing between Claudia and Madeleine as romantic (eros) love, but there is love growing there -- for sure on Claudia's end, and I'd say affection (just right now) on Madeleine's. The show is probably being a bit careful on this, seeing as how Madeleine still thinks Claudia is just a kid, although it's also clear she's sensing something is different about Claudia as well.

So, all in all, very good episode. I actually like it more than last week's. It's still mostly set up, but it's set up with more movement to it when it comes to character development and plot IMO, which I really loved.

[nalyra-dreaming]

Not the same anon!

https://www.tumblr.com/nalyra-dreaming/764053264567238656/httpswwwtumblrcomnalyra-dreaming764035488039

Completely agreed with you, yikes. But do you mind elaborating on how things will get ugly and leave an unpleasant aftertaste when Amel shows up?

... Alright.

So let me preface this again, by pointing out that this is not something I want, but what I see written on the wall with what we got so far, and what Rolin and others have said. I called it putting "2+2" together, and it fits, because it's something that clicked into place after Sam mentioned certain things, and which seem very clear to me now. I would be very surprised if it didn't go like this, especially, since s2 more or less went like I expected, except details. But as with s1, they hit all the emotional beats and necessary story points, and I expect this to stay the same for the future seasons.

I'm putting this under the cut, because spoilers:

I'll recap a bit, so it makes sense within the structure as I see it.

The "fight" in 1x05 is split in three phases: inside, the driveway, in the sky

If we go by the trial revisit being the truth, then the driveway and the bite, as well as the sky have been tampered with, in memory - the dragging itself is done by a pristine Lestat, and even the biting one and the one in the sky do not have enough blood on them. They seem to have confirmed the drop having happened, and so I'm taking that as is.

Lestat goes on about "his nature", in a very weird voice in the driveway, while dragging Louis. (I talked about this before, for example here.) Apart from the truly harsh image this scene presents the whole acting choices and wording have always seemed weird to me. Knowing what an incredible actor Sam is drives home this was intentional. So let's keep that in mind. As mentioned before though the scene was "edited" - by Armand? Maybe. Maybe it is even a suppressed or edited-by-someone-else memory. In both cases it means it masks something else there. Maybe something worse.

In 1x06, in the car scene, Lestat says "I don't know what possessed me that night.". That is when the alarms in my head went off, and loudly. Because Amel's later awakening, literally possessing other vampires, is a violent and bloody one - and the possessed vampire does not always remember. Sam talked about this in Autumn's interview, that Lestat has this "thing inside him" that is hard to control (at ~40mins).

We all know what 1x05 did to the fandom, and the ever circling back discussions, because it was NOT "just" two vampires fighting, it was NOT "just" about canon abuse. The canon abuse was Lestat fighting once with Louis on equal grounds, and Louis being afraid he would "destroy the parlor in a rage"... meaning take his frustration out on the furniture. Louis and Claudia were not afraid of him (I talked about it in the car scene, Louis and Claudia are NOT afraid of him in the show either, but that's a different discussion.) But it was NOT Lestat beating his partner to a pulp, the white guy dragging his black partner as if on a meat hook, and then throwing him out of the sky. Making it seem as if Louis and Claudia were trapped. And so on.

Rolin has named "Prince Lestat" as one of the sources for the show, and Fareed being there is a clear evidence of that as well. He also said in an interview that "Lestat has hints of the prince in him" already.

So, with all this in mind, especially with what Sam has said:

The way I see it, they will (in broad strokes, never mind the details, obviously) keep Lestat fighting with his "nature", aka the spirit that is awakening and hungry for violence, which presents as toxic masculinity. That presentation will be why Akasha chooses him, but, as in the books, her quest will ultimately fail because the others will not be on her side... and Lestat does not help her (in the end), is not the one she took him for. Amel will wake/is already awakening. He will be the driving force behind Lestat's and even Akasha's violent outbursts, or desire for violence. I am not sure if they will make him "evil", they might.

To get to why I said this will be "ugly":

When book fans were crying foul re characterization in season 1 we were called racists, abuse apologists, and what not (and it has been taxing AF, to put it mildly), but actually it is a skewed characterization. Because Lestat canonically never did that to Louis or Claudia.

What the show does here, and which Sam confirmed and Rolin hinted at, is that Lestat's violence... is actually Amel. Amel taking over.

And that - is actual abuse apology.

In the very sense of he word.

Because they ramped up the abuse to a level that was inexcusable, so the "murder night" seemed inevitable too, thereby laying out a big, big stumbling rock for the show.

Lestat takes responsibility for the drop, haha, they're vampires, remember that, haha. The fight inside was not as shown and as left festering for years, haha, no, actually Louis went at Lestat, and Lestat let it happen, haha!!! Oh, the dragging and biting part outside is just Amel, taking over Lestat's body, he loves violence and blood, haha, oh and he loves looking at green eyes, isn't that cute???

//sarcasm off

Can you imagine this fandom, this fandom which cannot even really take the mental step back to realize that s1 and s2 have been an edited tale ... can you imagine this fandom being confronted by this (imho upcoming) show fact??

'That is what I meant will be very ugly.

They cannot even stomach this show being about monsters, or one of them still loving the other when one has actually dished out abuse. The discussions about the "white demon" have been going on ever since season 1, no matter the reveals in s2.

Now imagine that person, this in the show's setup white person(!) being absolved of (some of) their crimes against their black partner.

It's gonna be reaaaallllyyyyy ugly, fandom-wise.

And, to repeat, I don't like it either.

They should not have done that, imho. They should not have tied this level of abuse to an edited tale and Amel's awakening arc.

But they did.

And here we are.

[bloodtiesstilllives]

Let's Talk About Henry And Lestat Pt 3: Stubborn Loves

In the last two segments we got into a bit about both of them and their personal family histories. (This is show only, but if anyone can put together analyzing them together from the books, please feel free. I will post it immediately. Just notify me.)

Today we are going to talk about something very important to these characters and what they do.

They are both in love with some VERY stubborn people.

Henry is in love with Vicki Nelson. Her dad left when she was young, so she developed a tough shell. This served her well when she was a police officer. But then her genetics exploded and her eyes are failing her. Note the glasses in the picture. That stubborn pride forced her to pick herself up and go into business for herself as a private investigator.

Lestat is in love with Louis. Stubborn. Developed a tough shell. He had to. Not only is he a man who is the head of his family, he is a black man in the south who is the head of his whole family. This toughness served him well in his career as a pimp. He was tough, but he seemed fair.

Take a vampire with life experience, baggage, and a certain detachment from humanity, and a stubborn human with all sorts of emotional baggage, mix it together and see what happens.

Both Vicki and Louis have gotten so far under their respective vampires skin, that both at one point or another had a break in composure, to say the least.

It is what it is.

Both of the gifs above were times they got frustrated when their loves were doing something totally in character. LoL just because you love someone doesn't mean they don't get on your nerves.

Also, their loves are badasses in their own right, even if their vampire is way stronger then them. That badassery is what attracted the vampires to them in the first place. Neither of these stubborn loves care about limitations, and will dive into the shit head first if their mind is set on it.

[zalrb]

If you don’t mind me asking, why does loumand work for you a bit more than loustat

I don't mind at all! Loumand works for me more because a) the show allowed me to see in scene that their relationship is more fucked up than initially presented whereas Loustat is more me liking the idea of them because season 1 is mostly dialogue and b) I also find it more sinister just more subtle.

So, Loustat is supposed to be this volatile, stormy, all-consuming vortex of a relationship but like I've been saying, I think that's mostly in dialogue that makes me go, I want to see this (including the push pull of sentiments like "I wanted him dead, I wanted him all to myself" "I wanted to be the man" because those lines are voiceovers over Louis' face and while I think Jacob Anderson is a good actor, he doesn't provide the nuance needed for me to see the hatred, love, desire, resentment in his expression for those lines to really get me when it’s just on his face) along with a few key moments -- such as having hate sex in Antoinette's apartment, the reveal of what actually happened when they turned Claudia into a vampire -- that make me go, it should be this all the time.

It's supposed to be insanity and chaos, it's supposed to be this rollercoaster of emotion, like when Louis says "that's Lestat" where he says lies and lies and then says something real, I thought to myself, is that Lestat? Did we really see this before? They are way too contained for me, which is partly why I like making vids for them because I can edit things to be as chaotic as I believe they're supposed to be. I hear them talk about what their dynamic is more than I actually see it, so watching it I get frustrated because it should be more.

Loumand isn't supposed to be insanity and chaos, they are supposed to be light and flirty and then calming and stable and I see that in their interactions

but I also see the other part of why Louis is attracted to his relationship with Armand. Armand is extremely powerful but Louis is in control, he can tell him to take his clothes off and read while he fucks him and Armand will love it

Louis sets the pace, Louis leads.

Or so he thinks.

The show portrayed Armand as somewhat passive and docile for a 500 year old vampire in charge of a coven. We get a sense of his power and what he can do but he only seems to react to potential conflict, which he says

and then we get 2x05 and we get to see what he's like when he's angry and his, "Oh, he's fine. You're fine. This is fine. We're all fine" while torturing Daniel to hurt Louis

and him interrogating Daniel because he's hurt that Louis called him boring,

besides being more interesting to me than something like Lestat bringing soldiers to the house in a temper tantrum because I find Armand's calculated punishment way more insidious (which isn’t to downplay Lestat’s abuse), I am shown that this relationship isn't quite right and Armand isn't toothless.

Not to mention, he doesn't tell Louis that Lestat said "I love you" so if he's withholding that,

combined with what happened with the photos

combined with the fact that Armand had been hovering around the interview from the beginning pretending to be someone else,we're left wondering if this is true

and then when we get to Armand's role in Claudia's death, we're left questioning whether or not this supremely powerful vampire really was as powerless to stop it as he tells us he was

and while Armand's love may be sincere, his protection of Louis may be sincere, is he also maybe emotionally manipulating him to stay?

It's ironic that Louis says this

when it's quite clear that he does need these things and the way Armand even interacts with him in that very fight is him doing the things Louis says he doesn't need.

I'm along for the ride with Loumand and left wondering who is in control, who is manipulating who, and find that the show actually illustrates the subtleties and power shifts etc in more than just moments.

[docholligay]

I didn't watch this show for a long time because I was so annoyed that they made Louis Black, and I also couldn't say that was why i refused to watch it, because I come off, saying that, like a fucking weirdo.

I am sure some of you in the audience are saying to yourselves, "Yeah Doc, it does kind of surprise me that you were apparently clamoring for Louis to be white. It seems more or less unlike you." Let me explain. Read to the end.

So, Interview With the Vampire is Anne Rice working through some shit, and it's also the only book of hers I would actually maybe argue is good. At the very least, I will argue that she is doing things within that novel, that she never does in any of her others, at least nothing I've ever read as a committed Vampire Chronicles reader.

Louis is her stand-in. Louis is Anne. And because Anne is the least hinged writer on the planet, Louis cannot do anything wrong, fucking ever. Nothing is ever Louis' fault, Louis' life is a tragedy, everyone feel bad for Louis Du Fucking Pointe Du Lac.

Obviously, I had no particular love lost for Louis. BUT, because she was a southerner writing in the 70s, of course Louis' tragic story is that he was a plantation owner, and she does a couple interesting things with that in the novel. You may recognize this as something that a modern audience will not accept. Instant villain. You could write damn near anything you wanted about Louis and he would still be a villain, as a slaveowner.

When I saw that they were going to change it so he was not a slaveowner, and not only that, he was Black, for me it was just another link in the chain of Rice's construction of Saint Louis Whomst We Must Never Accuse. Easily my least favorite part of the books, and she does put the screws to him a TINY bit in later books, but not really in a serious way, and she doesn't really want you interrogating the narrative that way either.

I didn't watch the show. I did not need more Blameless Louis in my life.

Fast forward to season two. Friend of mine watches the show, and given that we have a close enough relationship that I knew she would take the statement in good faith, I told her why I couldn't watch it.

"You should try it, I think you'd be pleasantly surprised" She said.

I WAS SO DELIGHTED TO BE PROVEN INCORRECT. IT DOES A VERY GOOD JOB.

Don't get me wrong, i think there is some very boring fandom stuff about "Who is the villain here" and if I were to say what my greatest frustration with the recent popularity of this is, it would easily be that there are a bunch of people who have never read the books, and so they don't realize that everyone in these books is terrible. Every time you think you've met the most fucked up, worst one, another, shittier one comes out of the shadows like the world's most fucked up Russian doll.

But the SHOW itself, very much lets you take the position that Louis sucks, actually, which ironically makes me more likely to give him some rope. If I am allowed to think he is annoying, and a hypocrite, I am more likely to enjoy him for the fun things about him, as well and even feel for him. I would have delved a little deeper into his being an asshole, and very selfish in a lot of ways, but I don't think the show does a poor job, I think I just have my preferences.

Love being proven wrong about something!

[blacclotusss]

And That's the End of It. There's Nothing Else

The End of an Era

And that's the end of it...literally. It's bittersweet to see this show, or should I say book, come to the end of its rope. Firstly, this show has become one of my favorites in the past year and a half and I wish I could shout from the rooftops about how much it has changed the way I view a number of things in life. Also, despite the annoyance of this fandom space, I have met so many beautiful spirits who are just as insane about the show as I am and I'd like to say that I have made some lasting connections. Now, onto discussing everything about this finale. 

Louis

I just want to go on record and say that my love for Louis has never gone away. Everything about him from the way he dresses to the way he loves those around him has embedded him in my mind as an all-time favorite character, and of course its thanks to Jacob for breathing a new life into the character. With all that being said, it should come as no surprise that Louis was my favorite part of the finale. The many ways in which Louis shows his rage (and any emotion, really) are astounding, and it's interesting to see the similarities and differences of it in New Orleans and in Paris. In Paris, it's more severe because of the location and the reasoning. Paris was slightly more inviting and welcoming than New Orleans so we hadn't seen him as on edge and pissed off with those he's had to interact with as much. Again I sawy slightly because we can still see the racism in certain comments and those plays. But, his anger and rage is fully ablaze when it comes to Claudia and the way she's being handled. He was able to set ablaze an entire beloved theatre (and its vampires) without the guilt he felt to that at the end of episode three in season one.  

I do, however, think it's also a combination of the fact that Louis is always a step behind and a bit too late and this is how his emotions are come out similarly in both seasons (in regards to Claudia). He'll wait it out until it reaches the tipping point to then do something and that did make me frustrated with him in this episode. Like yeah, let's burn it to the ground, but baby you should have been on this when Claudia came to you about Armand and that coven earlier in the season.  

With all of that being said, I am proud of Louis for finally getting away from everyone else and focusing on himself. I absolutely loved him going back home and seeing how much the city changed since he was there. That little interaction with the Uber driver was the cutest thing ever and something that I had missed in the previous eight episodes. What I mean is that this was such a Black moment from the comfortability between the two and the subject matter of the conversation. Someone tweeted that they missed how unapologetically Black season one was and I hadn't realized what was missing until I read it, so it was nice to have this little moment here. And, in my opinion, Louis looked his best here at home where he now has a better understanding of himself and has lived. Now, I do think another setting other than Dubai could have been good for him, but I love that he's being watched over by his family (Claudia and Paul) and can have a bit of peace now; and that's all I could ever ask for with Louis. 

Louis & Lestat

Two words: Fan service. You can curse me out all you'd like, but you cannot convince me that this little "reunion", even the moments Lestat were present in Louis' mind were purely for the book fans. We all knew Louis was not going to be able to let Lestat go quick, but it's weird and questionable to have Louis in a new space claiming that he's finding himself and getting into this new relationship with that man still floating around. What is his reason for being there other than to appease to the masses? Back to the reunion, nothing about it moved me. This man claims that he cannot get Claudia out of his head and I hope she continues to haunt him for the rest of his days. I don't believe that "daughter" crap for one second because he still listened to that bat signal and skipped on over to Paris to watch her die. When he had the opportunity to save somebody, he let her die. I don't buy it and I wish they didn't have Louis buy it either because yeah, he saved you, but he still let y'all daughter die when he has that ancient blood in him. I'm sure deep down Louis wanted her to live a happy life and yet he's hugging one of the people responsible for it. He still chose you over her, Louis. Come on! I'm just glad Louis ended up by himself and not back with that man. Oh! And the little redemption arc they're trying to give him with saving Louis and the season one revisits...it's not working! 

Louis & Armand

...I'm confused. This relationship has had me on the edge of my seat the entire season, all for it to come crumbling down like that. I just want to know what the purpose on this relationship was? Their sweet moments, both in Dubai and Paris, where adorable. It was like watching high school sweethearts grow older together. But, when you get behind the curtain you begin to question what it really was beyond sex. The sweet moments we see in the beginning of the season has Louis with his mind clouded with Lestat, so was he really into Armand for who he was? Or was he just a placeholder (I hate the idea of this)? And then once Louis washes him away, those moments are limited and it goes downhill from there. In Paris, it just seems like their relationship was out of convenience. And then in this episode it's revealed that the whole "we've been together 77 years" thing was basically a revenge plot...*head scratch*. So I ask again...what was this relationship for? To move the plot along? And it's clear from interviews that no one talked about this as a collective as everyone's answers are different. Even if there are differing opinions, there's usually one cohesive answer. But, I guess I'll just have to take what the creatives have given. 

Armand

Girl...what are we going to do with you? I haven't read the books so I will just have to judge the character as he is on the show, but I have talked to some people who have read and some of the things they've noticed are the same that I have noticed. But, it seems like Armand has little to no characterization throughout this entire season once you really look at it. Yes, he and Louis were able to explore things in their relationship (especially in a sexual nature) but that's really it. He's still the same menacing coward that we meet in episode two in Paris. Did I think that Armand was going to turn his back on that coven? No. But, I also think that unnecessarily explodes beyond fixing. Him being apprehensive about leaving the coven after centuries is on brand. However, that mixed in with directing the death of his lover and his sister, deleting memories from his lover's mind, omitting information in multiple decades, etc. doesn't seem crazy to anyone but me? It smells like the big R, but I'll just keep my mouth shut on that for right now. Maybe we'll see more of this character in future seasons (don't know if I'll be there), but yeah his characterization was just...eh. It seems like he was just there to wreak havoc and I know he's more than that. It's okay to have a villain, but make them make sense.  

Finale Thoughts

I am quite grateful to be alive in a time where there are three lead actors of color in the fantasy genre as well as playing queer characters. I don't know when I'll see it again, so this show and season will be in my heart forever. And, I'm hoping to see Jacob, Delainey, and Assad in more things as the time goes on because this cannot be the end. I won't give for it! And I want them as the leads with their faces plastered everywhere. The show has breathed a new life into me and now I'm excited to watch good television again. The writing, acting, the directing, etc. has been phenomenal so far and I'm sure it will continue to be. However, certain things besides what I talked about above seem like they were there for plot. I will simply blame it on the fact that there wasn't enough time to flesh things out the way they should be so it falls flat in some areas. Now, it seems like season three will be focused on Lestat and right now I don't have anything really keeping me to continue the show. Maybe as the season approaches there will be something to interest me enough to watch. It was a great time with you all (especially the ones I've become close with)! I'll still be around reblogging posts about the show and writing, but this is my last meta post. See ya'll around!

[blouisparadise]

Upon request, today we have another part of our friends with benefits rec list! You can find part one here, and we also plan to have another part to this that will come out eventually. Be sure to check out these fics and show them love. If you enjoy our rec lists, please be sure to like and reblog this post to help spread the word. Happy reading!

1) A Treat For You And A Treat For Me | Explicit | 3416 words

Louis blushed at Harry’s flirty tone. “You’re just saying that to get in my pants.” He giggled, half joking. “But thank you. I’m glad you like it.”

“Not just to get in your pants, baby. I’m being honest. You’re always cute. Are you wearing mascara?” He asked, licking over his lips. Louis in makeup always did something to Harry. He loved it.

Louis nodded, leaning forward. “I am. Do you like it? I’m also wearing some cute Halloween panties under my costume.. if you wanna see them later?” He murmured, letting his lips touch Harry’s lightly before pulling away, a tiny smile on his lips.

Harry’s mouth opened a bit, but no words came out. Instead Louis was lifted up and carried in Harry’s arms, up the stairs. “Later? I wanna see them now.” He whispered into Louis’ ear, hot breath sending shivers down Louis’ body. “Missed you so much since last time.”

2) Kissy | Not Rated | 6876 words

Harry buys a motorcycle against Louis's advice, and it might be the best mistake of his life. Kissy.

3) You're The Only One Who's Making Me Come, To My Sinful Senses | Explicit | 9355 words

Louis the dance major and Harry the business major meet on Tinder. They hook up regularly and come to find out they like each other more than they let on.

4) I Would Wait Forever (And Ever) | Not Rated | 10018 words

Louis is brave but has the worst timing in the world, Harry doesn't want to lose his best friend and they just don't communicate enough.

5) Butterfly Kisses | Explicit | 11832 words

Himbo Harry is smitten with stem cell researcher Louis, who only dates smart people.

6) Before You Go, Can You Read My Mind? | Not Rated | 13415 words

Harry can listen to whatever is going inside of Louis’ head and breaks up with him. Louis can never let it go.

7) Kiss Me Once, Kiss Me Twice | Mature | 13487 words

“You’re a fucking brat, you know that,” Harry muttered through clenched teeth, bones already burning with the pure desire and hatred mixing in his body. It was an intoxicating rush of adrenaline and something else that probably came with fucking Louis Tomlinson. He squeezed his neck just a little tighter. “I can’t stand it.”

Their lips were brushing against each other, just moving with the ragged movements of their mouths and harsh breathing.

“You’re a lying piece of shit dickhead,” Louis muttered right back. That was all he did, challenge and nag. He loved to have the last word and Harry let him because he used all his energy to fuck him mindless.

8) Wait For Me (To Come Home) | Explicit | 16066 words

"I’m always soft for you, that’s the problem. You could come knocking on my door five years from now and I would open my arms wider and say, ‘come here, it’s been too long, it felt like home with you.’"

9) Dance Like Waves Along The Wind | Explicit | 17031 words

A Greek Mythology AU where Louis is Adonis and Harry is Poseidon. Louis would really like to move on with his everyday life without everyone on Mt. Olympus talking about his ex, who just happens to be the God of the Sea.

10) Keeping The Flame Alive | Explicit | 19706 words

Recording with One Direction never felt like this. There’s a couple reasons for that, Harry thinks. One is that they did most of their recording on the road, rushed and in busses and hotel rooms, never in one place long enough to really get an argument going. The other, larger and more important one, is that back then he had the sweetest, meanest little omega around to distract him from all of that frustration.

The first time around, when he’d been recording his debut solo album, it hit him pretty hard. He likes to think he’s better adjusted to it now, but frustration is warring under his skin nonetheless. He doesn’t want to be told what to do most of the time, and he especially doesn’t want to be told what to do when it comes to his music.

What he does want right now is that sweet, mean little omega right in front of him with his mouth on Harry’s cock. Unfortunately, the best he’s got is his own hand and a shared toilet. So. That’s really not going to work.

11) The Evenness I Fake | Explicit | 26372 words

Harry doesn’t do relationships. He has a perfectly enjoyable friends-with-benefits agreement with a perfectly lovely omega, and he doesn’t see the need to change that anytime soon. The small fact that Louis giving his attention to another alpha makes Harry want to put his head through a wall isn’t nearly as much of an issue as everyone’s making it out to be.

12) Let Me Carry Your Weight | Explicit | 28633 words

Louis is fresh out of a bad relationship with someone who made him feel awful about how he looked. on his journey to better himself, he meets harry - the ridiculously attractive and fit personal trainer.

13) Building Me Up (But Buttercup, You Lied) | Explicit | 31007 words

Harry’s mouth felt dry just saying those words. What he had with Louis was so much more than a simple ‘fuck buddies’ situation. It was slow kisses in the morning between soft sheets and shy smiles, it was holding hands in the afternoon while walking and eating ice cream. It was breakfast for dinner, laughing and licking honey from each other’s lips as they shared goals and even some secrets, it was happiness, it was glow.

To Harry, what he had with Louis meant everything. Until Louis decided it meant nothing.

14) Tarnished But So Grand | Explicit | 32258 words

Louis hides in places. Harry always finds him.

15) You’re An Alpha, Harry! | Explicit | 32900 words

Right before Harry goes to university, he presents as an alpha. Struggling with his newfound identity in a completely different environment, he seeks advice from the notorious Louis Tomlinson, an omega whose claim to fame is being the local campus sex expert. Sex Education AU.

16) Sweet Like Honey | Explicit | 33117 words

Weeks of flat shopping with their limited budget with Louis as a librarian aid and Harry as a barista and arguments about whether a balcony or extended bathroom suite were more important (Harry wanted to be able to feel the crisp night’s air and watch the sun set and Louis just wanted to take long bubble baths) led to them stumbling across the perfect fit. A small flat only ten minutes from campus with a cramped but lovely balcony and an included bath.

It’s affordable too… well, sort of. But they always manage. Louis picks up more shifts as an aid, adapting a habit of bringing his Psych textbooks and homework with him to finish in between duties, and later his script so he can quietly practice lines with little distraction.

Harry also increases his number of shifts at the cafe and valiantly endures the nasty customers who for some reason flock to their establishment like moths to a flame.

For a while, it’s enough.

17) A Common Place Affliction | Not Rated | 36508 words

“You should go home,” Louis muses, and Harry can feel the omega crouch down to become eye level with Harry, poking his cheek with a dainty finger. Harry lifts his arm, taking a peek at Louis’ face. Louis looks tired, he notes, but not exhausted, and there’s an eyelash stuck to his cheek. Harry doesn’t hesitate to lazily reach out and thumb over his cheek.

“Can’t,” Harry croaks, blindly twisting his hand around to grab at Louis’ offending finger and just holding it. “C’mere. Take a nap with me,” he asks after a beat, opening an eye to look at Louis.

Louis raises an eyebrow. “M’not going to nap with you in the middle of the ER, H.”

Sighing, Harry squeezes the young nurse’s finger. “Nobody cares.” He knows they do; they’ll annoy nurses and probably worry patients when they catch sight of a nurse and surgeon sleeping on the job. Let alone in the middle of the emergency ward hallway. Harry can hear the complaints now: ‘these are the people we’re supposed to trust with our lives?’

18) Smoke Between Your Teeth | Explicit | 37015 words

Louis tries to stop his addiction to cigarettes and discovers he's been addicted to Harry for much, much longer.

19) The Space Between | Explicit | 39917 words

Harry Styles is the alpha rockstar who can’t sleep and doesn’t know why.

Louis Tomlinson is the omega PhD student who helps him figure it out.

20) Where I End and You Begin | Explicit | 42730 words

Global rock sensation Harry Styles is set to perform in his sold out residencies across six major cities. What happens when his usual makeup artist can’t make it and they hire the most beautiful human he’s ever laid eyes on? Surely it couldn’t be that hard to remain professional.

21) Two Can Play That Game | Explicit | 44221 words

Harry and Louis have been best friends since they were little. Now being flatmates, both being single, they decide to hook up during the weekends as that is easier than having to go look for someone nice to hook up with.

But can friends with benefits really work? Or do feelings get in the way?

22) Social Cues | Explicit | 55860 words

To Harry, Louis was becoming as tangible and essential as music in his life. He still was a mystery but at the same time, he was one of the most real things Harry had. He just hoped he could live up to the image Louis probably had in his mind of him.

He could play the part, after all, what was published of him wasn’t as detached from reality. He didn’t think of himself as a rockstar cliche, although he couldn't deny he did sleep around, partied a lot, and did some drugs. But then again, wasn’t that what the majority of his friends back in his hometown were doing at college?

Harry wanted to impress Louis, he didn’t want to disappoint or leave his expectations unfulfilled, so he’d give him the full rockstar experience.

It was a very simple plan, what could possibly go wrong?

23) Know I Think You’re Awesome, Right? | Explicit | 60113 words

“Well, that’s not very Treat People With Kindness of you.”

“Neither is approaching someone with the sole intent of criticizing a cause they’re clearly passionate about, given the amount of time they’ve dedicated to advocating for it,” Louis snaps.

“Sure, but I’m not the one with the button,” Harry shrugs.

“So, is there actually something I can help you with, or did you just come to push me into pepper spraying you as well?” Louis is quickly growing impatient. Hell, he was impatient the moment that Harry made his grand entrance on campus yesterday.

“I’m just trying to assess the environment here,” Harry says, “Because if this is all you’ve got to offer trans people who just want to be able to use the bathroom in peace like the rest of us, then I’m not sure I fit in.”

“Allow me to save you the trouble, then: you don’t.”

24) Quite On The Contrary | Explicit | 63816 words

Neighbors x High School AU where it all started with Harry moving next door to the Tomlinsons, a balcony break in, mixed feelings, a poorly thought-out initiation, several missing sweaters and a lot of non-platonic activities.

Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.

[hab-a-nice-day]

The last time Montreal beat Boston, you were 15 years old. You were still somehere in Košice or Salzburg, so how does it feel to finally win against them? So, for me it was a great feeling. I'm glad we managed to win. It was a good game, Saturday at the Bell Centre. I don't think it could have gone any better than that. I was actually here for a game for the first time. When you won the game, there were 20, 000 people screaming. Do you feel that extra energy? Of course. Our fans are the best in the League because they have unbelievable energy and I think we have a great atmosphere in this arena, probably one of the best in the world. So it's just a joy to play here every day. Your team and Boston are big rivals. Have you felt that yet? Of course, there's always a big rivalry. Even today I think there were some fans from Boston here. I'm glad that… I think it's the first time I've played against Boston and we managed to win, so I'm extremely happy about it and I just need to keep going. You were winning a lot of [ puck ] battles today. Was it also your best physical game? Well, I don't know, it's just a normal game. I'm just trying to help my teammates win some pucks and then do some things that the coaches and I have talked about. I think it's going on the right track. If I'm not mistaken, during the combine, when you had an interview with Montreal, you said that what you love the most is making a difference when the games are close. Isn't it a bit frustrating in moments like these when you don't play and the coach makes you sit out? [ Smiles ] Hmm! I think it's a coach's decision and I can't accept anything else and if it wins us games, it probably works. And I believe that my opportunity will come at the right moment and I'll be ready for it when he sends me there. Do you talk to your coach about playing at the end of the game or in the 3-on-3 overtime? I talk to him, sure, but I don't think it's explicitly about that. It's about the game in general, and so… I don't know… nothing—nothing in particular. You're playing Vancouver tomorrow. Are these two wins an extra motivation? Well, of course, I think it's extra motivation. They're difficult games but we're all prepared and tomorrow we will try to play like we did today. You've already scored a goal this season but you've also missed a few opportunities. Is scoring a goal for you? Or, as Martin St. Louis says, it's not about the points so much as the progress. Of course I want to put it in there, but I'm trying to do these little things on the road and I'm getting nothing else. I just have to believe that it's coming and that [ my production ] is going to take off. It's not happening for me right now but the team is winning, so I'm satisfied.

—Juraj Slafkovský, Montreal Canadiens, [ Translated from ] Post Game for Šport SK, Nov. 11, 2023

[variousqueerthings]

okokok so because i was taking all these darn notes while watching s1 of due south I feel like I should share some of my favourite ones.

the full list went like this:

fraser gets hurt/puts himself in danger

some fraser quirks

fraser is kind

ray does things for fraser/is emotionally affected by fraser

fraser's guilt/shame/lack of introspection

magical realism

things they do together casually

institutions/organisations are callous/uncaring/corrupt

every time fraser is uncomfortably hit on/doesn't realise flirting is a thing

bob fraser and benton fraser

ray family lore

ray is a good investigator

misc notes

can't claim i caught every moment, but certainly... Patterns 👀

SO: JUMPING TO NINE JUST FOR THE HECK OF IT: every time fraser is uncomfortably hit on/doesn’t realise flirting is a thing

an accurate depiction of fraser's daily life

NOTHING IN EPISODE ONE

- EPISODE ONE: FREE WILLIE

- - - - hit on twice within moments of each other: Elaine: I should probably have your number just in… case Fraser: oh uh, I don’t- Ray: he uses smoke signals FC: I like your dog Fraser: he’s white FC: call me Fraser: ??????? (walks into a door) - EPISODE TWO: DIEFENBAKER’S DAY OFF

- - - - gets hit on by the female reporter, although she is technically trying to play him: "you see I can’t I… have a dog [bring the suit, leave the dog] … oh dear" - - - - later on tries to talk some courage into himself, while also pointing out that he can't cancel because he doesn't know who she is - EPISODE THREE: MANHUNT

- - - - WHILE he’s in hospital/getting his leg wrapped up, by the nurse - - - - note: also oblivious to Elaine, the other cop, and Julie all being into him (it is often unclear if Fraser uses "obliviousness" as a way of getting out of these situations) - EPISODE FOUR: THEY EAT HORSES

- - - - doesn’t know what a “come-on” is and everyone assumes he’s into her, even though he’s constantly just being very literal - - - - she asks him out on a date and he assumes (or gently brushes it off) as “to discuss testimony” - EPISODE FIVE: PIZZAS

- - - - the wife of the car salesman blatantly hits on him and he doesn’t realise - - - - woman wanting “test drives” with him, doesn’t realise until later it may be about more than test driving - - - - doesn’t realise he “asked out” frannie - - - - forces fraser on a date with her during a stakeout

NOTHING IN EPISODE SIX ALTHOUGH ELAINE DOES COMPLAIN TO DIEFENBAKER THAT FRASER SEEMS OBLIVIOUS

- EPISODE SEVEN/EIGHT: CHICAGO

- - - - is hit on multiple times at the BDSM club and doesn’t notice it happening once (also misread as a dom) - - - - DOES potentially see a dick and is shocked/mortified

- - - - elaine very obviously suggests that she wants fraser to ask her out (can’t keep someone waiting forever) and while everyone else (ray and christina) knows what she means, fraser simply says “no, that would be unfair” - - - - elaine in this scene is also unconsciously using fraser’s face for the ID, something ray notices - - - - doesn’t understand that one of the club-goers is hitting on him when he borrows handcuffs off her - EPISODE NINE: COP BABY MOUNTIE

- - - - all the waitresses surrounding him when he has the baby and aren’t interested in the baby – he doesn’t get it, but ray does (and is frustrated) - - - - the mailwoman chuckles about how she ought to get fraser to babysit for her NOTHING IN EPISODE TEN (?)

- EPISODE ELEVEN: REMEMBER

- - - - elaine asks fraser how refurbishing his apt is going, then presses on what he does at night with his new lamp and what he’s reading on his own... - - – - interesting alt direction, ray asks fraser “what do Mounties know about women?” in a dismissive way, not knowing about his past with victoria. This whole episode is very interesting in terms of “romantic love” with fraser seeming to look for cues from ray as to whether that connection could be deemed romantic: huey thinks the whole thing is a bit silly/probably quite pragmatic, and says it could be anyone, and louis has mainly had a string of relationships that didn't work out and is feeling a bit sad about it although he does add the "see, talk is bad, you talk and then before you know it you're married," which leads to ray's next Big Speech, and RAY!!!!! well ray is in the midst of coup de foudre as it were ("Right, and then what, what about love???"), he's adamant and clear and precise-ish about his opinions. also he's ray so ofc fraser would listen to him the most ray statements that we know fraser takes in because the script and/or camera makes sure to indicate he's actively listening: - - - - you just know when someone is the right woman for you and it can be connected to a near life-or-death experience even if you know nothing about one another - - - - you have to have that moment in your life when you know nothing will never ever be the same again" <- that does describe victoria (he doubles down on the "just knowing" idea when fraser asks "how do you know?") - - - - REAL love shouldn't be "prudent" -- "nobody who's prudent has any business being in love" (uh-oh) - - - - "you only meet the woman of your dreams once" -- he says this almost to himself at the window and when he does, the camera which was on fraser in the foreground paying attention to hewey, softens onto ray as fraser turns his head to listen in - - - - fraser points out that ray's love interest who may be a criminal missed him on purpose and ray is like "gasp this means!!! i knew it! she's into me!" (but in a sweeter way) and fraser says well now hold on, you've only known her a few seconds whilst concussed, which ray dismisses and goes "it doesn't matter if it's ten seconds or ten years, chemistry is chemistry" and he Knows her - funny that FRASER tries to get him to calm down and ray constantly dismisses him with things like "I mean how many times in a lifetime does this happen, has it ever happened to you (because he was sleeping when fraser told the story about victoria)" and then while fraser is stuttering he interrupts and goes "ofc not you're a mountie, what do mounties know about women" - - - - in this case special agent susanne is lying the Entire time, and there's a big rug-pull at the end just like with victoria, but it's in the other direction (that she's undercover). - - - - connected also: "she left me but she left me for the right reason. she loves me "but she's gone." "but that's what's right for us..." "but you might never see each other again" "that's what we need, ridiculous odds and just the speck of hope that someday we'll beat them" "i cant say i understand"

- EPISODE TWELVE: HAWK

- - - - the pathologist drives diefenbaker home because she thinks fraser is hot/charming – he may have been counting on it, unclear

- EPISODE THIRTEEN: EYE FOR AN EYE

- - - - all the old women want to patrol with fraser

- EPISODE FOURTEEN: THE MAN WHO KNEW

- - - - a random hot woman in a car asks fraser to get in and go to miami with her. Fraser is mildly perturbed and also confused about the logistics of how a young woman could possibly be known by only her first name in such a large city

- EPISODE FIFTEEN: THE WILD BUNCH

- - - - gets hit on by the woman who owns Maggie at the end. a gentle geeentle soft no

- EPISODE SIXTEEN: THE BLUE LINE

- - - - slightly to the left but mark’s publicist is desperate to sign him and he isn’t into the idea

- EPISODE SEVENTEEN: THE DEAL

- - - - many women join the church choir just to shoot their shot. He remains steadfastly earnestly “oblivious” until francesca arrives, then sings louder and louder to drown her out, then jumps off a balcony to escape her when she utters the word “sex” - - - - flirted with in the lingerie shop and can only blink (ray gives him a fortifying pat on the back) - - - - on the flipside ray is truly SHOCKED at how fraser can get away with looking closely at the “fine stitching” - - - - several women, old, young, cis, and trans are very happy for fraser to look closely at their shoes - - - - elaine patches him up and is very happy about it, although fraser isn’t tooo thrilled about her slightly-too-friendly bedside manner - - - - when frannie arrives in a sexy outfit he is. terrified

NOTHING IN EPISODE EIGHTEEN I THINK (i switched invitation and heaven and earth) BUT THIS IS THE EPISODE WHERE WE GET SOME CORE FRASER EVASION TECHNIQUES (or do we) -- WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW PUNTING THE "ISSUE OF FRANNIE" ONTO RAY MEANS THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE TO LET HER DOWN BUT CAN HAVE RAY DO IT FOR HIM........ - EPISODE NINETEEN: INVITATION

- - - - the secretary is clearly into him - - - - so is the woman in the queue at the post office - - - - the woman in the post office shoots her shot and fraser doesn’t bite - - - - the woman in the bridal shop who asks if she can “help” fraser – he is confused about how she could help him if she doesn’t work there - - – this whole episode is one big romantic farce/screwball comedy in which fraser desperately wants to escape, especially during the honeymoon suite scene - - - nonono that’s you and me, come on think – what is the most unglamorous, unromantic place you could take a woman? AW CMON THE GARBAGE TRUCK NOT EVEN FRASER’S THAT- HOLD ON BENNY!!!!! - - - - what is wrong with you ??? a man is trying to kill you! You’re supposed to hate him! A woman throws herself at you, you’re supposed to… you’re supposed to do something. - - - - I thought I was in love once…. (it’s easier to think you’re in love, than it is to admit you’re alone) --- GENERALLY this episode has some very interesting ideas about “love” and “romance” especially as related to fraser - EPISODE TWENTY/TWENTY-ONE: VICTORIA’S SECRE

- - - - SO OKAY THE THING IS! MOST OF WHAT I PUT OF THIS EPISODE IS IN A DIFFERENT POINT (fraser's guilt/shame/lack of introspection) BECAUSE VICTORIA HAS HIM WRAPPED AROUND HER FINGER -- HE'S MORE OBLIVIOUS TO HER INTENTIONS THAN TO THE FACT THAT SHE VERY LITERALLY WANTS TO SLEEP WITH HIM. does fraser know what's making him sleep with her? that's another question

(also see for episode "you must remember this")

- EPISODE TWENTY-TWO: LETTING GO

- - - - is incredibly uncomfortable about being touched by the physiotherapist and babbles facts to get over the discomfort. this is kind of played as her not trying to "hit on" him per se, but the touching itself is too much on its own – - - - she clearly does want to get with him, but keeps it juuuuuuust this side of unprofessional (in a TV sense)

NOTES ABOUT ALL OF THIS: in the not-knowing when fraser is genuinely unaware of being hit on, and when he uses that reputation as a way to avoid confrontation, something is said about fraser's issues with interpersonal conflict. he can do things for the greater good and be resolute in his ideals, but when it comes to himself he can struggle with being honest. he doesn't want to let anyone down, is one of his big problems

[1d1195]

So i have reread dolcezza again and i just want to ask (if it’s not too much of a bother) for a little uhh check up (??) is that what’s it called? with them like how is principessa doing and how is her harry doing and all that stuff. 😅

I like the idea of checkup! But it's whatever we want to call them! They’re also on my next round of voting :( Unfortunately their fate is kind of pre-decided and it won't really be a check-in that I have planned for them.

BUT

I imagine they’re currently snuggled in Harry’s bed on his day off. His arms caged around her. He doesn’t want to get out of bed even though he could hear (and feel) her stomach growl. She’s got three texts from Emma, two from James and one each from Ethan and her mom. Ethan’s message is just telling her how much he loves her and it’s not too late to leave Harry and he's known her longer. (One of James is warning her that Ethan was the love drunk version of himself the night before and she should just delete his message). The other is he needs money because he had to pay for his car that got towed when he parked illegally 🙃 Emma sent one long message about how mom is the worst and her mom’s was a complaint about how frustrated she is by Emma and misses her dearly. But for now she chooses to ignore them. That is a huge deal for her and it's something she'll deal with later but not right now. That is the important part--the part that makes Harry so proud of her.

Harry is cooking for her, no shirt, still partially asleep. He's barefoot and she's just sitting at the kitchen counter looking at him. Almost as if she's studying him. "Something the matter, Principessa?" And the answer is no because what could be the matter? Harry's the best thing that ever happened to her and she is so utterly in love, so safe, and just feels so warm in his house.

"Just love you," she shrugs.

He smiles at the eggs he's frying and she swore he was blushing a little. "I love you too, kitten," he answered.

She could say more. Tell him about how she's stressed about a few things with work and her family. That she misses Eleanor and Louis. She wants to go visit them but feels burdened by the people around her needing her.

But instead she revels in the feeling of her pretty boyfriend making her breakfast and the way he smiles and hums while he cooks leisurely. "I think everyone should date someone who knows how to cook," she sighed dreamily as he settled the plate in front of her.

He chuckled, turning to grab his own plate. "Y'know how t'cook yourself, love," he reminded her.

"Yeah, but it's better the way you do it. Like most things."

"Most things?"

"You're really good at putting up with me."

"S'not that hard." he rolled his eyes. "S'not 'putting up with you' either."

He bit into his toast. "All the same," she shrugged and smiled.

He shook his head at her and sighed. "I love you and it's the easiest thing I've ever done."

There's not much that can be said after that.

[yourlocalsmutslut]

The high (pt.2)

pairing: Louis Tomlinson x reader

word count: 1.3k

warnings: smut, swearing, praise kink

A/N: first time writing smut, so if it's shit, I'm sorry. Also it's not prof read.

The rest of the show felt like eternity. But the last song started playing. finally. Louis looks over at you with a face you've never seen. His eyes have darkened since the last time you've seen them, and you can't help but feel more turned on by it.

The song has ended and we are all saying our goodbyes to the fans. When walking off the stage you can feel Louis staring at you. Intensely. You're so worked up and Louis isn't helping one bit. All you want to do is jump on him and fuck him right here, not even caring if everyone sees. But you decide that maybe that's a bit too much. Just when you've calmed down a but Louis has the nerve to talk to you. "I can see how worked up you are. Just wait until I actually touch you, pretty girl", fuck. Now you're dripping. You have no clue how much longer you can last.

Louis sees the frustration and lust in your face and he enjoys it so much. He enjoys the way he can have you so hot and bothered by just a couple words. He can't help but smirk. And you see it. The smirk. The one that completely destroys you. shit. god, just touch me already, you think to yourself. "You're so hot when you're auroused", Louis whispers in your ear with a slutty tone. "Shut the fuck up", you reply, agitated. You're about 2 seconds from ripping his clothes off and he's not helping one bit.

Thank god you've just arrived at the hotel. finally. I can't wait t- "Hey, we're gonna hang out up in my room. Ya wanna come?" Liam interrupts your thought. Before you can process what he said Louis responds with "Nah man, I'm actually proper tired", yes. "How 'bout you, y/n?", Liam asks. "Mh, I'm exhausted, but we can hang out tomorrow !" "Alright, see you two tomorrow"

Louis and you walk to the elevator. Both of you step in and you press the number 3, indicating the 3rd floor. As soon as the door closes, Louis slams you against the elevator wall. fuck yes. "You've got me so worked up I can barely speak y/n", he says with a rushed voice. He wants you bad. Needs you. Craves you. He suddenly smashes his lips on yours. Your mouths combing. Moving in sync. Like this is how it's meant to be. You can't help but moan into the kiss when he sticks his tongue in your mouth. Roaming and exploring it like it's his property. He kisses down to your neck. Once he reaches it he sucks and bites. Marking you as his. He's an animal. "I need you in me. Please", you beg. And as soon as he was about to do something the elevator doors open.

He takes your hand and rushes to your room. The key card swipes and the door opens. And with that opens a hungry, deprived Louis. Without a second thought he pulls you to the bed. You're laying on the bed whilst he's towering over you. Kissing you. So hard. So hungry. Needy. It's everything you've ever imagined. He detaches his lips from yours. A whine slips from your mouth only making his hunger grow. "Clothes off. Now" You immediately start taking your clothes off, eager to feel him. Once you're fully naked he admires you. "God you're beautiful", making you blush. He swiftly takes his top off, allowing you to see his gorgeous body. You can't take it anymore. "please" you say with desperation. "Please what, baby?" you whine. "Use your words beautiful" this man is something else. "Please touch me. Fill me. Do anything. I just need you", you plead. "Oh, baby, I'm going to touch you everywhere" He takes his pants off. His hard dick more visible than ever.

He kisses you again. This one more passionate. Slower but just as good. He kisses your jaw, moving to your neck, down to your breasts. One he reaches your breasts he sucks your left nipple vigorously. As his tongue works on the left, his hands kneads the right. You moan at the feeling. But it's not enough. You need more. And just like he read you mind, he moves down. Right near where you need him most. He kisses your thighs. Slowly moving closer to your aching vagina. Then, without warning, he sucks on your clit. The unexpected feeling making you moan loudly. Your moans only turn Louis on more. He needs to hear it again. So he continues to work. Sucking and nipping at your clit. "Oh fuck baby. This f-feels so good", you barely manage to get the sentence out. Louis grunts. Loving the way he makes you feel. He slides his tongue across your folds. Tasting you. "You taste amazing", his words ringing in your ears. He sticks two fingers in you. The moan you let out echoing against the walls. "Fuck babe. Your pretty noises are making me so hard" You moan louder at the thought of his dick. He continues to pump his fingers in you, never slowing down. Hitting your g-spot every time his fingers thrust into you. You feel the familiar sensation in your stomach riding, indicating you're about to cum. Louis knows it by the way your pussy is clenching around his fingers. You moan out, "I'm about to come Louis" "I know, love. C'mon, give it to me." And with that you came undone. Your high hitting you. You moan and whine at the amazing sensation. Feeling so euphoric. Louis continues to pump his fingers into you, carrying you through your high.

Once you've calmed down he pulls his fingers out, making you whine. He kisses you and you're able to taste yourself on him. He using one hand to cup your face and the other to hold his body weight up. "You did so good f'me, love. Think you have another round in you?" You nod, unable to form words from his previous actions. "Good girl" He pulls his boxers down and you're finally able to see him. wow. He's bigger than you expected. Much bigger. "Take a picture, it'll last long" Louis says with a wink. Making you blush. You didn't even notice you were staring until he pointed it out. He leans over you and lines himself up with your entrance. Before he's able to enter, you cup his face and kiss him passionately. The kiss so breathtaking. He slowly slides into you making you moan into the kiss, allowing him to stick his tongue into your mouth. Once he bottoms out he slowly pulls out and then goes back in. "Fuck. Your pussy is so tight." He grunts, the feeling making him crazy.

Once you've adjusted to his size, the slow pace is agonizing. "Faster" Louis doesn't hesitate to go faster. He thrusts into you hard and fast. "Oh god!", you scream. Both of your curses and moans fill the room. He reaches down and rubs your clit. The sensation is building up in your stomach once again. Your pussy throbs and clenches onto his dick. Louis leans down and whispers praises into your ear. "You're doing so good." "You're so fucking beautiful like this", the praises only making your pussy flutter more. He continues to thrust hard into you as he sucks onto your neck. Leaving bruises. Marking his territory. With his pace it's only a matter of seconds until you cum again. Your moans and whines becoming louder. "Hold on babe, I'm almost there", he grunts into your ear. A few deep thrusts later and he says 'Now. Cum for me darling", the minute the words leave his mouth you come undone. Louis didn't cum too long after. Both of you reaching your highs. Louis slowed down as both of you settled down. He slowly pull out and flops next to you. Both of you in a hazy state. After a minute of laying there, Louis speaks up, "God, you're beautiful" You didn't even know he was looking at you because you're so fucked out. You turn to him flustered and kiss him. This kiss was much different. It wasn't needy, it was contentment. In that moment both of you know that you never want leave each others side.

[nalyra-dreaming]

WAIT OMG! we never actually hear show louis tell lestat that he loves him?? i know i probably sound stupid but i don’t think that’s something i’ve ever truly picked up on until now. i was rewatching some loustat scenes and got extra sad over lestat constantly feeling like he’s rejected and not loved, then it dawned on me that i don’t think louis said it or even showed it?? do you think that type of declaration will happen in future seasons?

this isn’t louis hate btw, i love them both so much

I love them both, too, and yes, ultimately I think we will get it^^.

…. okay this is a bit of a wasp‘s nest, so... fair warning^^.

Quite a while ago the IWTV writer's room (yes they are, or at least were active on Twitter) answered some questions.

One of them was this:

This... produced quite the backlash and made some huge waves around the fandom.

The thing is, Louis withholding and using that withholding (something the writers called "weaponization of language" here is canon behavior in the books, and something Louis in later books apologizes for.

Of course it is all a bit more difficult than the simplified (tweet)answer here. There is for example the added complexity of Louis losing Paul right after saying these words (something that, given this canon behavior does soften (for lack of a better word) said behavior, and as such was very much done on purpose, imho).

In the clip from the "Murder Mansion" we have already seen Armand commenting on the "withholding" as well, so I fully expect the show (aka the writers here) to keep this canon characterization, as they are obviously building on it.

It is something I also touched on the "intimacy post" a while back. Because for Louis and Lestat, in their good times, when they had sex regularly and bit each other during sex... Louis' inability to say the words probably meant next to nothing. Lestat would have been able to read it in the blood.

Only later, when the eating disorder set that fatal downwards spiral off (again, it bears repeating, this is not assigning blame, but it is an important aspect that started with the choice to not eat human anymore) the lack of the said words started to actually weigh on them.

So yes, eventually, the lack of the words was probably very much grating.

And for Louis it might have actually made it impossible to speak them.

Because, from experience^^, when you mean something it can be very, very hard to say that thing, especially if you know you maybe should have said the words earlier, but didn't - for valid reasons - but now... now they just seem unable to pass your tongue.

I think that is something that happened to Louis there. And Lestat probably didn't really feel rejected at first, but more frustrated, then estranged somewhat, mixed with concern, and then anger, and then and then and then... because he loves Louis.

And Louis loves Lestat.

Very much. Too much, maybe. Too much, maybe, for these words.

(Which is also why he and Lestat were both able to so easily say them during murder night, because then... then they were not meant.)

In the books he eventually does put it into words.

… I love you with my whole soul, and I will always love you, [..] you are my life. I have hated you for that and love you now so much that you’ve been my instructor in loving.

...this is from Blood Communion. Since we already know they are taking from that book.... :)

[ironwoman359]

Taylor Reads - July WrapUp

So I have a spreadsheet where I keep track of all the books I read each year, and I also keep a scrapbook style reading journal where each month has a spread of all the books I read that month, and I'm going to start putting my wrap ups here on tumblr, because I can :3

I had a unexpectedly fruitful reading month in July; I only read three books in June, but the League of Extraordinary Gentlefolk comic here on tumblr made me want to read some classic victorian sci-fi, which pulled me out of my reading slump and got the ball rolling on some of my reading goals.

Here's everything I read in a glance, and beneath the cut is a little blurb review for each book!

The Black God's Drums by P. Djeli Clark - 4/5 Stars This is a fantasy novella set in a post Civil War alternate history steampunk New Orleans featuring street urchins and sky pirates. Need I say more? P. Djeli Clark became an auto-read author for me after I read Ring Shout, and while this didn't have quite the punch of that story, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells - 3.5/5 Stars My first classic of the month, I went back and forth on whether to rate this book 3 or 3.5 stars (I think it's rated 3 on my storygraph, actually), because while there were parts that were slow/boring to read, some of the prose was very memorable, and the ending was excellent. I find Dracula to be a bit more readable, but if you're interested in these early sci-fi classics, I still definitely recommend it.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne - 2.5/5 Stars This book, on the other hand, I found mostly frustrating. I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more in a serialized fashion similar to Dracula Daily, because the long descriptions of travel to a place where nothing much happens and lists of fish and mollusk species that our main character saw quickly became boring. These moments were interspersed with genuinely interesting character moments and scenes of adventure, but reading the whole book in one week really detracted the impact of those scenes for me. Maybe read an abridged version if you're interested in the story but have more trouble with older books.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson - 4.5/5 Stars This was by far my favorite of the classic sci-fi (or would this be classic horror?) books that I read this month. The book is presented as a mystery that, as a modern reader, it's hard not to know the twist to, but even then, the execution keeps you engaged the entire time. This is by far the most readable of the classics I read this month as well, and is also very short, so there's nothing holding you as a modern reader back from checking this one out! I dinged it half a star because I found the ending to be a bit abrupt and unsatisfying; I wish we'd gotten to see our pov character react to the final explanations and truths instead of him just vanishing from the story. But still, this was very very good!

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron - 4/5 Stars Do you want a sapphic YA fairy tale retelling where our black lesbian protagonist decides to attempt to single-handedly overthrow the patriarchy? Yes, yes you do. While not a perfect five stars, this book still felt absolutely tailor made to my specific tastes, and if I had been a teen myself when it came out I probably would have been obsessed with it. Kalynn Bayron just had a snow white retelling come out last month and if it's anything like this then I need it in my hands yesterday.

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells - 3/5 Stars Reading the book that is credited for popularizing the idea of a time machine as an avid fan of time travel stories today was an interesting experience. I have a few more books of his on my tbr to go before I can make a final judgement, but I'm not sure if Wells's writing style is really connecting with me. I found this to be a little more readable line by line than The Invisible Man, but there were more striking character moments in that book than in this one. Still, seeing the arguable origin of one of my favorite sci-fi subgenres was very cool.

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer - 2/5 Stars I started writing a stand alone review for this book and it's already over one thousand words long. It seems I always have more to say about a book that I thought was bad than a book I thought was good. Suffice it to say, this book had a good premise (if you're into that sort of thing) but it needed several more rounds of editing. It felt like I was reading an unpolished manuscript that had been sent out on submission, not a finished product that I paid money for. Very disappointing.

The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson - 4.5/5 Stars There's not much you can say about this book on its own, as it's the third book in a trilogy, but suffice it to say it was a perfect ending to said trilogy. I have so much love for these characters and this world, and I can't wait to start reading era 2!...after I start Stormlight. And Warbreaker. Why am I trying to read the entire cosmere before Wind and Truth comes out why is this my life-

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan - 4/5 Stars So this is a book that I started on audio back at the end of May, and for whatever reason I listened to the first 60% or so in a few days and then just...stopped. Had no desire to pick it back up, not because it wasn't good, it was, it was really good, I just had some kind of mental block on it for some reason. Then in a burst of inspiration after finishing the Hero of Ages a few days ago, I put the book back on and listened to another hour of it, then finished the rest on ebook during a slow couple hours at work. Again, not much to say about this if you haven't read the first book, She Who Became the Sun, but I highly recommend this duology, it's incredibly written, queer as hell, and the ending was extremely satisfying.

Abeni's Song by P. Djeli Clark - 5/5 Stars Beginning the month where we started it with P. Djeli Clark, this time with his middle grade debut! I love middle grade books, I usually read at least one per month if not more, and this was an absolutely stellar example of the genre. A great coming of age story based on West African mythology with lovable characters and the type of plot that will keep even adults hooked, I highly recommend this and can't wait to read the sequel when it comes out next year!