#and ofc i think armand knew this

[honeytrap-graham]

jacob saying leaving with armand was a mutual punishment to both louis and lestat bc their connection is so unique it could never be matched…

[rendnotmyheart]

Soulmate aus are so interesting in an iwtv context. Like for humans it's easy, right? They get their soulmate mark, they find their soulmate, or maybe they don't, and they live their life. For vampires though? Do vampiric soulmates even exist? How could they when the soulmate marks are relics of their human life? When the other person who has the mark will be dead before their life as a vampire has even begun? Or were they always fated to become a vampire? Did the universe take that into account? Will they have to wait some hundreds of years for their soulmate to be born? Their soulmate could be anywhere, any time. Hell, their soulmate could be the person they just drained. Who knows. Even if they were somehow able to find them, what are the chances they'd stay together for eternity? It is eternity after all. Not even the universe or fate can guarantee that.

[frigidwife]

did i misread the arun/maitre stuff or was that whole thing designed for armand's gratification, not louis'? the "armand was a sex slave ofc he's good in bed" take is crass imo, but also misses the point? louis is the one bartering w desire now for his own (& claudia's) survival. he's the one adopting a fake persona & going through the motions to appease a partner who threatens him. if the sex is mid it's not bc armand lacks "technical skill" or w/e it's bc he doesn't care abt louis' pleasure, agency, or even his waning interest so long as he toes the line. & yes 2 things can be true, sexual chemistry can co-exist w abuse/coercion. but if l0umand's sex was fire the show didn't convey that? in the closest we get to a sex scene (ep6) louis was grimly disengaged & armand was midway through scripting his lynching. i doubt the writers did this by accident?

yeah exactly exactly …people literally do seem to think it was by accident😭 the takes when episode six aired that were like “you guys just aren’t ready to see gay men who are switches in a bdsm relationship” Like woah this isn’t found fucking footage This is a constructed narrative with deliberate framing 😭😭😭 and they reallyyyy wanted that narrative to be l/a romance and it’s simply not . WHICH is why the service-oriented “””””””wife guy””””” fan characterization of armand pisses me off so much like neither armand’s control nor his “submission” are for louis’s benefit and it’s a huge and obvious lie he tells (for the control; i don’t even think Armand pretends the roleplay is for louis’s benefit people just ran with that) that anything he does makes louis happy. Or honestly even the idea that he wants to make louis happy and just doesn’t know how lets armand off the hook . It’s killing me actually we’re literally given a scene w armand w big wet eyes saying it was love about the events leading to louis’s lynching, in the episode after we see him torture louis and then erase it from his memory. and now i have to see 9 million posts like It was love guys it was loveee armand just didn’t knowwwww any better bc he was born in a cardboard box and only knew cults 🥺 No it was strategic from the start his veneer of generosity is so fucking transparent !!

[mschievousx]

now and then | b.b.

pairing: benedict bridgerton x ofc, anthony bridgerton x ofc (platonic)

summary: loraine silva always knew she was not normal. she loves unusual things. she love her father's guns, horses, boxing, climbing a tree, falling from a tree, engineering, astronomy... oh, and a man eleven years older.

series masterlist

i. one: when we were together

"i look funny."

raine grumbled as she turned to her father who just arrived earlier from god knows where after being away for months. she's not complaining though. she loves her father dearly. that and the fact that her mind is preoccupied at the moment. eloise was right. this does look like being presented for sale, and she hates it.

"you look beautiful, my love." her father reassured, pulling his own fit to compose himself as they are next in line.

"the headdresses are too much."

he laughed at the continuous rant of his only daughter, offering an arm, "don't we just love being too much?"

both stood up straight, back arching and head facing the closed doors, "they'll think we're crazy."

raine exhaled twice, the silence defeaning befor she turned once more to her father.

"are we crazy?" the patriarch only gave out a smirk as he nudged his daughter and whispered 'right face'.

"viscountess loraine silva, presented by her father, the right honourable and gallant, lord silva!"

the doors opened, revealing the very first surprise of the season. as the initial shock set in and the pair walked forward, the ton immediately turned to each other with whispers they did not bother to hide.

"they're insane!" anthony whisper-yelled to his family on the side at the sight of the pair.

"lord silva, good god." colin muttered in disbelief with a laugh.

"i thought it would be lady danbury since it's not mother." voiced out eloise with a grin as she watched them walk, certainly carrying an air of elegance and valiance, very fitting for the pair.

benedict smirked in reply, "well, we should've known really."

upon reaching the queen, both bowed with respect—which, one can argue is lost at what they just did.

"i should have you know you can both be beheaded by this... stunt." the ton held their breaths in anticipation of what will happen next. on the contrary, the concerned pair stood up straight, their smiles borderlining to smirks never leaving their faces. raine definitely took after someone.

"oh, my queen," lord silva began with a chuckle and familiarity dripping in his tone, "i ask you let me savor the very few days i have left in this world."

the queen narrowed her eyes at them before ultimately speaking with a sigh, "go on. i do not want two souls to haunt me tonight."

small gasps can be heard at the mention. lord silva only chuckled as he and his daughter walked to the side, ending their turn of presentation.

"yes, my love. we are crazy."

━━━ ✦ ❘ ☽ 【❖】 ☾ ❘ ✦ ━━━

"armand!"

the man turned to them and opened his arms for a light hug. the act could have been scandalous, really, yet the ton somehow chooses to brush off anything that the quirky silvas do. surely two widows are not worth the gossip, are they?

the presentation to the queen has ended, thankfully, and everyone finds themselves enjoying the rest of the day outdoor.

"oh, loraine, you look beautiful, my dear." the debutante neared the woman for a hug herself as she said her thanks.

"violet, i see you have your hands full this season." raine's father greeted with an observation.

"well, i do hope i can manage two daughters."

"and of your sons?"

lady bridgerton laughed at that as she took the arm that the man is offering.

"would you really like to involve yourself on that matter of our children?" she replied as they both share a chuckle before strolling away.

francesca and raine have chosen to stroll themselves with linking arms, "eloise told me what happened. i wish i was there to see it."

she went out first before the silvas, missing the earlier show. raine, however, was able to take a glance of her before she went out.

"you were perfect earlier, francesca, and do not fret. you will see quite a lot of my mischiefs this season. my debut means the debut of my antics on a higher level."

the kind girl took a hold of her hand with her eyes full of concern as they continue to walk, "raine, i fear you will get into something you cannot get out of."

she smiled warmly at that. raine is close with everyone in the bridgerton family, but she did interact the least with the girl beside her. francesca is quite reserved, but that was definitely not enough to stop loraine in forming a friendship with her as well when they were still children.

"then i will just stay there."

she sighed upon hearing her response, but ultimately smiled, "we are polar opposites."

raine nodded in agreement with a grin, "yet here we are, arm-in-arm."

"such flawless debutantes, spending the day with each other." lady danbury appeared in front of them with narrowed eyes.

"one would think you're shy, which i presume must be true with miss bridgerton but an utter lie with you, miss silva."

the younger lady turned to her with mock surprise, "i am shy, lady danbury. this is my first season after all."

the woman rolled her eyes as she got in between the two debutantes, turning to francesca, "have you talked with the other ladies? they are good company and might share an interest or two with you."

francesca nodded and smiled as she spot the ladies who seemed to be eager to make her acquaintance. lady danbury turned to loraine this time as the latter whined.

"why did you do that? i am good company. we both share an interest in the pianoforte."

"you have enough of socializing with the ladies. now, it's the men's turn."

she said as she guided the silva with a seemingly friendly walk. raine's eyes, however, opened wide as she realise the group she's being guided towards.

"lady danbury," she began, immediately stopping in the middle of their walk as she wasted no time to speak, "i will wipe the floors of your house, lower and upper, inner and outer, do not send me to them of all people."

the older woman tried to give a push at her lower back but her feet did not move an inch. damn this child's upbringing, she thought.

"you have not spent enough time with other gentlemen, that is why you are still so keen on violet's second born."

"i'll include the walls." she threw that in, hoping it will change the woman's mind. raine turned to her to make her point clear, "i have spent enough time with them to know i don't like them."

"the bridgerton boys are rakes." despite the dowager's love for violet, and by extension, her family, there was no lie in what she said at all.

raine did not miss a bit in replying, "i know. i grew up with them."

"and the said rake would like to steal a moment of your time, miss silva." she turned to see benedict with that familiar smirk again before the man turned to the elder woman in greeting, "lady danbury."

"mr. bridgerton, quite the coincidence." she sighed, yet her words were said as if she knew something.

"it must be fate." he corrected with a grin as he offered an arm for raine to take.

"we'd like to excuse ourselves. mother and the viscountess are on the left turn." he said, both of them bowing—quite in mockery because they're little shits, but they will not admit that—before taking a new path.

"i never thought you can be more charming." she turned to her right and grinned.

benedict chose to play humbly as he replied, "i try."

"you don't even have to."

he smiled at that. it always amuses him how she never seems to run out of things to say to him, "quite a show, what you did earlier."

raine laughed, remembering the ton's faces when the grand doors parted, revealing her with her father, "oh, the look on everyone's faces!"

"i must say, your father's looking better now."

"he jests he wants to pull a lady this season. i will seriously shoot him in the leg if he introduces someone my age to me."

thinking a few years back, benedict chuckled as he can totally see that happening now if ever, "your skills will finally come in handy."

raine turned to him genuinely as they continue to walk, "how about you? i am completely asking this in curiosity. are you marrying this season?"

"mother would collapse in joy of having three successful weddings in one season."

once more, there was no lie to that at all. francesca will wed this season. colin, with his newfound personality and interest in the ladies' interests in him, may marry as well. if he adds on top of that, violet will faint. he loves his mother dearly, so he will have to pass for now. that and the fact that he has really no interest in marriage.

he continued, "besides, i'm perfectly in love with my art these days. now that anthony is back, i can pour my time on painting again."

"are you going to enrol in the royal academy again?" she asked, beaming hopefully for a positive answer.

"i might."

"you must." she insists.

"perhaps."

raine narrowed her eyes and slapped his arm lightly, "stop playing coy, ben. it doesn't suit you."

the man turned to him again with a teasing smirk, "everything suits me, as you have said multiple times in the past."

"have i grown your ego too much for your head to contain?" she deadpanned at him before turning to face where they're walking toward again, "but touché."

he laughed at her admission. she was direct and bold, but there were times she's simply comedic. his laughter didn't last long though, as he spot the father of the lady in his arm quite exactly on their path. benedict looked around to disguise his rapid muttering, "your father is burning a hole through my skull with his eyes. i sometimes forget he can enforce a siege on the entirety of mayfair and beyond."

"lord silva... sir," he greeted as they finally reach him, acting as if to raise his right hand, and down again, and up, and—well, honestly, he has no clue what he's doing.

raine laughed at him. she turned to her father, "see, you have been away for so long that everyone believes they must salute to you."

lord silva raised an eyebrow, his gaze still at the bridgerton son but addressing his daughter, "and why should they not? i am a maj—"

"yes, father, a major general," she rolled her eyes at him and dugged even a greater hole, "and above all else, this is your son-in-law."

both men immediately turned to her that she thought they would snap their necks. well, they agree on one thing—their facial expressions of utter shock and betrayal were similar.

benedict, lips parted and mouth still agape with wide eyes, mouthed to her silently, "do you want me to die?!"

raine grinned, turning to her father again who has the same expression and dugged the greatest hole ever, "i jest. he does not like me."

the eyes of the concerned 'he' grew wider than they were before, which he didn't know they could even grow wider than that, as he immediately turned to armand to resolve such misleading implications.

"i—you—i... uhm, you—your daughter is delightfully wonderful... in all aspects! and... i am fond of her a great deal!"

raine snickered from his side as he stutter, while lord silva spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, "she is."

"i most certainly agree." bridgerton nodded with no problem at all, trying to regain his composure.

"has edmund taught you well with guns?"

benedict turned to raine in pure confusion as to where the conversation is going, "i believe so. although, i find myself lifting brushes, sir."

"oh my—stop scrutinizing him." she stated, taking a hold of her father's arm, "you both act as if you've never met each other, went to hunts, and spent leisure time on the backyard," her eyebrows suddenly raised as a thought entered her mind, "or gentlemen's clubs."

"how do you know that?" armand turned to her, shifting his inquiring and quite strict look from ben to his daughter.

rain chuckled at the memory, completely forgetting the supposed secrecy of what she's about to say, "i have snucked in a brothel before. is knowing about clubs above that?"

"you have what?!"

"oh, uhm," realising it now, she laughed awkwardly and let go of her father's arm slowly. she turned to benedict for help, but by the look of it, he was currently not on her side.

seeing the two ladies upfront, she thanked the heavens promptly, "it seems like lady danbury and lady bridgerton wants me to meet other bachelors. we must go."

raine took hold of benedict's hand at once, slowly walking away as armand spoke in a low voice, one she has taken to call as his 'military voice'.

"loraine silva."

her eyes widened, her grasp on his hand tightening. raine did nothing but simply call back to her father, hoping that it will still do the trick.

"i love you, papa!"

she wasted no time to dash, pulling benedict with her towards the safety of the society's mothers.

and to think this is only the first day of the season.

[nalyra-dreaming]

Hey I got some questions about the show and thought you may got some answers. I already rewatched the show a few times but I still don’t understand everything. (Feel free to ignore if this is too much ofc) Thanks in advance!

Does Armand love Lestat or did he ever? Or is he over him now? Cuz he still seems kinda obsessed with him sometimes.

Did Louis ever love Armand? I always thought he was trying to convince himself and everyone else he did but I never got the feeling he actually did love him. At least not like he loved Lestat. It always seemed like Louis and Armand were putting on a show for Daniel but even he clocked him.

Why didn’t Lestat tell Louis the truth and let him run off with Armand after the trials instead? He knew all of this was Armands fault and he still let Louis go with him without saying anything. Why?

(Talking about the show)

Hey!

All good.

Yes, Armand loves Lestat, we'll see more of that relationship in s3.

2. I think... given Jacob has been so very clear on Armand being a rebound for Louis and Louis' inner "Dreamstat" being so biting with the commentary that this one is difficult. I think Louis was definitely attracted and infatuated - but that died, when Armand almost burned him in the sewers. He did not start the relationship out of love. And he did not continue it later bc of that either. And Dubai was a farce - a farce put into Louis' mind by Armand. Re-edited at times, too, and Daniel did call that out, quite clearly.

3. I said it before, but I don't trust that "tower scene" to have happened as we were shown. I really don't see Lestat just hanging out in Paris while Louis is screaming and starving, and definitely not in the place he himself was tortured in. Like, no. Also, Sam hinted at something there in an interview, he said Lestat thought Louis knew - but Louis was likely too "whammied" to be able to really think at the trial. I think Armand probably went to Lestat to tell him he's leaving with Louis - and I don't think Lestat was able to do much about it. Whether he was too hurt/tortured or locked up, will remain to be seen. There are hints in what they gave us at the trial. And we know they are very deliberate with these things.

[murfpersonalblog]

IWTV S2 Ep7 Musings - Loustat Ep4 Revisited (Spoilers)

This one was WILD, my jaw was on the floor. JACOB! SIR ANDERSON! BRUH!?

Santiago doing a deliberately TERRIBLE Claudia voice after we saw his IMMACULATE Louis mimic--I HATE HIM. 🤣

I already tore Lestat a new arsehole for that.

Underneath the distorted Mind Spell audio effect you can barely hear Les say something about "the lies said by Louis;" but the subtitles don't pick it up.

NO, the COVEN wrote that script and did that. Lestat's COMPLICIT only cuz he's tryna SAVE Lou from the mess YOU put them in by selling them out to Santiago, Armand! You stood by and let them be abducted & dragged on stage, when YOU have the Fire Gift! You coulda lit them all up like matches! But you AND Lestat wanted Claudia out of the picture!

Louis finally not wearing black in Dubai; he's in dark blood red. 👀

HOW, if Les cant read your mind? I think SEEING Lestat and hearing his effed up account took Louis back to NOLA--not that Les was doing any Mind/Spell Gifts on Lou, literally taking him back to NOLA. It's a distorted memory, not astral projection or a hallucination.

Lestat like: "WE?" All of a sudden you wanna speak French at me with this OUI?

I couldn't resist, the hands were sending me.

Ohhhh this is SINISTER, making Lou look he manipulated Les. The VOICE Jacob uses is tryna kill me--he sounds so simpering and soft and feminine, no deep bass whatever; they know wtf they're doing. XD Any other network and there'd've been a fullblown sex scene. 😅

Ohhh no, the coven's tryna make it seem like Louis DID know the laws b4 he got to Paris; this isn't Lestat or any true memory; this is the coven talking thru Lestat's script; which wormed into Louis' head.

LOL. Scripted AF.

"He did tell me, what she would be." No, in S1E4 Les realized AFTER she killed the cop that her metabolism would be effed up. Armand told him the Great Laws, but Lestat just laughed in his face. Marius told him not to make vampires as young as Armand, but it had nothing to do with the Great Laws, and Lestat assumed it was just cuz ARMAND'S a poor vampire, in that silly cult. Les & Marius were more concerned about Christianity's effect on vampire moralism/depression/"self-loathing," and Les talked about LOUIS' anxiety--

--but as for Claudia he turned her CUZ HE'S A EFFING BRAT who only ever does what HE wants to do, eff anyone else.

I nearly had heart attack, thinking the coven was gonna say Louis' her Maker--the LAUGH I was gonna make, omg. 🤣 Cuz the humans can't call them on that, cuz what do THEY know about maker/fledgling blood and not being able to read minds?

The coven has her diaries when she said this, so I think this was all scripted; not something he really said--though ofc he could've read it in her mind when he rescued her, and genuinely felt this way, cuz ofc he would--he wanted/needed her to think he was a good person.

I DO wonder if a bit of this was true, about Louis feeding Claudia his blood, cuz these AMC's vamps are wildly inconsistent about healing. Their blood has strong healing powers--as we see in S2E5 when Armand fed Louis after his suicide attempt by fire, and in Ep6 after his suicide by slitting his wrists after making Madz. So ofc Louis might try to heal Claudia by bleeding on her & letting her drink.

These 2 frames back to back are precisely Louis' issue--he don't know wtf is going on. U_U

☝️ THIS!. ALL OF THIS! ☝️

Louis' GUILT is why the memories are all muddled; why he's doubting his own recollection, on top of the literal brainwashing from Armand & the forced Mind/Spell Gifts put on him by the coven.

Dragged on the EFFING FLOOR, the coven is WICKED! 🫣 This is when I knew those dirty heifers were LYING. And Claudia can't even corroborate this, cuz she was in & out of it when she was turned.

She is staring Louis DOWN, but sweetie, he's as lost as you are.

This is hilariously & deliciously & salaciously melodramatic; Imma slap Vampire Sam for writing this script--he'd've loved writing fanfiction on AO3.

NGL, I expected that hand to start veering a few degrees over if you know what I mean. 🍆 Lou's face was in PRIME position to do him some face. (The fanfics finna go CRAZY.)

Welp, my fears were well-founded. The coven is SPITTING all over their history.

PLEASE do the "evil of my evil" line, AMC! 🙏 This democracy of hypocrisy ain't finna do that. Sit your French White arse down on the red velvet throne AR gave you in the Prince Lestat trilogy, and STFU.

I don't think Lou did; he was very candid in S1 about how he cried & pleaded, and Les saying she'd be their daughter. The important difference is the inclusion about the Great Laws, and how that implicates them. It doesn't matter that Louis already knew she'd be stuck 14 forever & didn't care--if he didn't know Lestat was 100+ and stuck 34 forever, then he's a fool. Wanting an eternal child to baby & pamper & dote on is way different from intentionally breaking the law.

No love, that's the guilt talking! They were scrambling your brains RIGHT THERE ON STAGE; take this with a grain of salt; 74 years have provided A LIBRARY OF CONFUSION!

Daniel, stfu for once; why would you see this as having ANY "clarity." This is the most muddled portion of the trial thus far!

[crazykuroneko]

My IWTV S2E4 Watch Notes

Love the episode! I think this is my favorite so far, followed by E3 and E1.

Anyway very long note after the cut. But my main complaint now is: I miss the voice-over narration! It's basically gone after Ep 2 (except for Armand's flashback). I know it's probably a sign of how Loumand have "defanged" Daniel the Journalist and it's part of the mystery, but still! Without it, we don't get much idea about how current Loumand think on certain parts in the flashback. We don't know what exactly Claudia has said in her diaries. I feel so lost without it 😭

Oh, also, my fix-it fic for this episode would be Eglee helping Claudia get out of the coven and leave Paris along with Madeleine. Women support women 😌

• the difference of Loumand's accounts on the reactions to Claudia's play 🤭

• NOT EGLEE GIVING SANTIAGO A BLOWJOB BACKSTAGE

• I love how the founders of the 1927 company got to show off their acting as well

• God @ Claudia being so open with the coven about her hangup with the play and yet. And Louis just sat there being bitchy, giving her "well, /this/ is what you want" look.

• "This is not about Louis" Poor Claudia. people tend to talk about the men around her not her. Many such cases, even out of the screen, unfortunately.

• Santiago creating cracks in Loumand's mind. you have to give it to him

• No @ Eglee my princess catfighting over Santiago's dick.

• Dreamstat came up when Louis is unsure about their relationship. Louis is desperately trying to keep this casual because how bad it was for him the last time. Meanwhile, Armand has history of being abandoned multiple times. Ofc he wants Louis more committed to him. On top of the coven. Like, yknow, he has to risk it for Louis at least he wants to be sure the relationship is real.

• "Only works when I remember shit that pisses me off". Oh, Louis is pissed Armand hanging his history with Lestat over his head. Then Armand goes, "I try to find the vulnerability within the material". The balance is so precarious here

• Ngl the "i love you" sounds so ridiculous. LOUIS PLEASE

• "The fire?" Louis forgets about That?

* Claudia is their current biggest star yet she's still doing the wet room????! Oh fuck off

* Madeilene really matches Claudia's weirdness.

* The restaurant scene. That's what you got when you make a problem with a Black man growing up in Jim Crow NOLA! he's so done with the coven.

* Louis and art. He went into art once he arrives in Paris. I think it's to connect to humanity more. He said it helps freeing his mind as well. I wonder how much seeing Lestat connecting to humanity through art affecting his drive here. Whether consciously or not. But alas, he is businessman at heart. He's good at management and trades. Anyone has tried to guess AMC Louis MBTI?

* The addition in their archive though?? Is rashid a Talamasca agent confirmed? Or that's Armand miscalucating?

* Also that line about Daniel and a girl at high school. Once again a reminder that these men are misogynists first and foremost 🙂

* Oh I like the scene with Louis and Ghostat in the dark room. Ghostat really says everything Louis doesn't dare to admit to himself. He actually knew his weakness as photographer. There's also a meaning here Louis making those lines said by Lestat. Lestat likes to confront Louis about what he believes about himself, but he never does it the right way (which is the crux of their problems). Here he does it the right way.

* Sam giving 🥺 because Louis does that when they're good with each other is so 😭

* "Romeo!" Louis is SO mad about the restaurant if that's how he reacts to Armand romancing him

* "Are you their hostage?" Madeilene why are you so straightforward? (I like her)

* I know it sounds consensual, but Madeleine's body language when telling her story with that German soldier looks weird. Perhaps we'll see her more open later.

* "I don't enjoy using my power like that" he says, after flexing his power on security guards then float to the next floor. I think what Louis said in S1 that Lestat not using his power perhaps in consideration to not make Louis felt way weaker says more about his current situation than he was with Lestat. Like, I get him, you can't help comparing notes on your relationships.

* Oh, the Ghostat in the museum date is clearly Louis' reluctance to believe Armand completely. Or rather than believe, I think "putting his guard down" is more accurate. He did after Lestat told his story and yet he got betrayed. I think Sam does a good job here. As the story goes, Ghostat looks more anxious. Louis wants to let go yet there are still the coven, Armand's power, and the secret hanging over them.

* Assad's acting here 😭

* Going on a date with Louis then threatening Claudia. THAT IS WILD.

* I wonder if Delainey uses chest binder as Claudia. If not, I wish she did. ngl that line and the visual don't match.

* That period blood scene is something. Bet Rolin was very inspired when he read Memnoch

* "I pretended to be an actor for two years." When does Louis mean here? Lestat at Renauld's? He stayed there as an actor for two years before shit happened? I need an updated timeline already OML

* Not @ Ghostat aka indirect Louis calling Claudia a "poor decision"

* Louis knows it's doomed. But again, he's desperate to find happiness in Paris. Because him killing Lestat and choosing to go with Claudia has to pay off somehow. (Is she worth it?) He's desperate to make this work with Armand. He sees Armand is basically a lost child, shouldering this job he doesn't want just because he's older. So, Louis, good at running things etc, takes the wheel here. Trying to save the sinking ship that's the coven. Unbeknownst to them, the doom actually has started already (Santiago finding Lestat's last words). Louis also gives Armand a choice here, but Armand said he wants him. Well, we know what will happen with the coven members 🤭

* The Ghostat disappearing. Ngl the rain and special effects make it look ridiculous. And Hannibal (the show) did a better job with it by literally re-slit Abigail Hobbs' neck. But I understand that won't work in IWTV narrative wise. In Hannibal, it's not Will who slit her throat, so when they redid it it doesn't have added meaning. But Louis the one who slit Lestat's throat. And he doesn't want to re-kill Lestat. He has made peace with it. In fact, the fact he doesn't burn Lestat's side on that photo with Armand and his last words with Ghostat tell me that he's not forgetting Lestat. he's moving on, yes, but he puts Lestat safely in a corner of his heart. Just like Lestat did with his initials. And it reminds me to Louis' initials on the letter he sent Daniel in S2 look a lot like LDL, not LDPDL

* But anyway, isn't it sus Claudia just has her diaries out in the open like that? I mean, yes she doesn't live with Louis anymore, but there's a history of Louis reading her journal. If I were her, I'd at least save them in my coffin at the apartment for save keeping. This is sus.

* "Is that what makes you fascinating?" Oh, Armand is so insecure about their relationship for years. He saw Louis getting interested with this Daniel boy and he tried to crack his brain, finding the reason.

• Daniel isn't filed under suspected victims.

[apoptoses]

would you be so kind as to explain Daniel as the latin bro tiktoker and how it affects the household dynamic

okay SO off the back of your excellent Marius Discovers Tiktok posts-

Sometimes I like to think about how he originally got on the app because of links that Daniel or Armand or even fuckin Benji sent him, and he'd be patting himself on the back when he figures out how to stitch videos and make his own tiktoks 'correcting' historical information. And ofc because it's Marius he thinks he's the first vampire to be sneaky posting on there and he takes great pride in how modern he's being, doing right by his old Roman ancestors spreading the truth about history, etc etc

Until he finds Daniel's account scrolling his for you page lmao And for those NOT IN THE KNOW there's this dude on tiktok who's studying ancient linguistics and constantly getting stoned and like, rapping in old Egyptian lmao Or translating memes in ancient Sumerian and generally making ancient language shit posts in between actually making education videos where he gently reads people down for spreading incorrect linguistics facts.

and I JUST THINK that would be Daniel lmao He's learned all this history from Marius, all these old dead languages and how they were pronounced and he's bored and wants to do something with that. And he's just so personable that people eat it up, he's got like minimum 60k views on every post.

And it just eats Marius alive hahaha Like on one hand he taught Daniel all that he knows, right?? He's proud that his fledgling's fledgling actually absorbed his lessons and is out there able to put knowledge into the world.

But ON THE OTHER he's burnt up inside about how Daniel gets so many fuckin views and people praising his account in the comments when TECHNICALLY Marius is doing the same kind of stitches correcting people and getting crickets half the time, or horny comments from booktok people who are hot for what a cold, harsh professor he is and aren't actually taking in the facts he's trying to put out there😂

And like he's too proud to ask Daniel how to game the algorithm or what he's doing wrong, and just texts him links to his old Egyptian rap videos with disapproving emoji, and sometimes when they're on the phone he chides him for making a mockery of the great cultures of the past.

(Daniel isn't dumb though, sometimes he throws him a bone and stitches one of Marius's videos being like 'yeah this dude nails it, you guys should follow him'. And Marius doesn't acknowledge the thousand extra followers he gets from that, just tells Daniel he's not required to promote him simply because of their relationship, but Daniel knows that means 'thank you' in emotionally constipated old man)

So YEAH, Daniel's success causes a little tension at first but it settles into something nice because he knows posting something real dumb gives Marius an excuse to gently scold him when they're apart. And like when they're together maybe he takes a sneaky video of Marius trying to set up a fuckin ringlight or something so he can get better video of some old text he has, and Daniel holds onto that draft for blackmail purposes lmao

(Meanwhile Armand is off making 'watch me restock my guest room drawers' videos and everyone in the comments is bewildered by the lack of hygiene items and consumables. Like vampires don't need toothpaste and deodorant and mints, so it's all weird shit like the little toys you get from gumball machines and ink for fountain pens for the vampires who visit who prefer to use tools from the time when they were mortal)

Whew who knew I had so many thoughts on that, I could go for days on this subject lmao

[claudiablogger]

I think people mean Louis is so caught up in his emotions, he doesn't let out declarations of "I love you"s to those around him. Not Lestat or Claudia.

He says it to Paul and he kills himself immediately. I get why Louis is like that but also he's probably less direct with declarations of love. Many are like that in real life too. But it doesn't make their love less genuine imo.

right ofc i do get what ppl mean but i genuinely don't think louis' expressions of affection are distant or difficult to comprehend lol i meant it when i said "you did good getting off that boat," was implicitly a communication of love. lestat knew it too hence the smile as he walked backward towards the house. the reason lestat begins to feel louis doesn't love him is louis stops putting out after claudia leaves and becomes wrapped up in her journey and the prospect of her return + listens to her when she says lestat's love is a small box, not bc louis doesn't communicate his feelings directly. they're right there to see in his actions if lestat tried. it's true that louis has trauma associated w telling ppl he loves them but after being confined to rue royale for several decades and forced to grow hyperaware of every shift in breathing every heavy footstep on the stairs i don't think he's wrapped up in his emotions. initially his distress at how much he's lost in coming out and moving in w lestat (again, for love) after what happened to paul keeps him from saying it, but after claudia's leaving and lestat's assault he's simply too jaded and mired in his freeze response. so if anything it's the opposite he's rejecting his emotions and wrapped up in lestat's because of the nature of his abuse. anyway this isn't to say he's direct w declarations of love as you said that's definitely not the case, saying it doesn't come easy to him. but it doesn't come from or even cause distance, that's a different beast imo. just look at how he swallowed teeth to say it to armand bc he wanted to prove something to himself. and he keeps saying it for 77 impossible years. to what end....imo he does love armand but again the confession is never that simple for him. emotionally repressed women rise

[murfpersonalblog]

Weaker/smaller people can operate on sheer adrenaline/fear/righteous indignation/anger/protective instincts to try defending themselves and their loved ones. Protecting your "built-like-a-bird" daughter from almost having her neck snapped by her MUCH stronger father is not being abusive, mutually or otherwise--it's being a PARENT.

I bet the show won't pull back at all, not if Lestat's monologue during the Trial is anything to go by; or Loustat's reunion, or what Rolin & Sam have repeatedly said about Claudia's memory haunting Les in S3. Les outright admitted that he tried to kill Louis. Lou already knew that, and still took him back in Ep6--when Les wasn't even (sincerely) apologetic!--and caught hell for it from Claudia & Daniel.

There's PLENTY of abuse victims who go back to their spouses--not just cuz they CAN'T leave, but cuz they don't WANT to leave. Cuz they DO love them, and they DO forgive them--regardless if that forgiveness is earned or not. I already mentioned Ray Rice cauight on camera knocking his wife TF out, and how she was talking big up in his face, just like Lou talked big to Les--right before he DECKED her with EASE and dragged out that elevator; just like Louis when Les dragged him across the courtyard by his effing jawbone & dropped him 1000 miles in the air. And guess what? Ray Rice's wife STILL married him afterwards, and AFAIK they're still married, and his wife keeps telling ppl to mind their effing business cuz she doesn't have to explain/justify her choice.

YES. 😂 Les realized that he'd grossly underestimated Claudia's intelligence, and the lengths Lou'd go to for Claudia--their daughter. Even so far as slitting Les' throat. He's PROUD of Claudia ("I see the best of my vampiric self in her"; "evil of my evil"), and he already said Lou was justified & and that he didn't deserve him (hence: letting Armand take his man).

AMC is developing Les's character--that's the whole point of TVC: watching his progression & redemption from the P.O.S. he was in IWTV, to becoming AR's hero & messianic savior in Blood Communion. We need to see him put in the work--coming to terms with how much of a trash husband he was to Lou, and how much of a deadbeat dad he was to Claudia. His backstory in TVL will show Les' misogyny towards his mother Gabrielle; and his insensitivity towards Nicki--Les taking accountability for everyone he loved but still FAILED. Les can be sympathetic and STILL be a crappy son, boyfriend, husband & father. "To have a think.... Why I do what I do."

Ray Rices got all kinds of therapy & talked thru his issues; and his relationship w/ his wife is apparently STRONGER & BETTER for it.

Eff them being vampires; that was Santiago's cop-out.

AMC is conveying a REAL MESSAGE about REAL LIFE. I've said a billion times that the whole point of GOTHIC HORROR is to hold a mirror to HUMANS so we can see the monster/beast WITHIN US.

Cuz this ish is REAL--people REALLY go through these things--and have to either OVERCOME their past trauma, or SUCCUMB to it and repeat the same vicious cycles of violence & abuse in the future. Loustat is endgame cuz Louis and Lestat OVERCOME. They learn how to be BETTER people--not necessarily "good" people, ofc, but they learn how to treat each other; and by realizing how bad the effed over Claudia (X X X), they try to do right by their next kids, Viktor and especially Rose.

Lestat tried to KILL Claudia, then threatened LOUIS with murder.

Les literally says that if Lou tries to fight him, "it will end in Louis' death"--LESTAT will murder Louis. As I've said 1000 times about Lestat as the Matador (meaning KILLER).

LOUIS' life is the one being threatened here. And he's in VERY serious danger, since Lestat has a century of advanced powers over Louis, plus Louis had been starving himself for the past 7 years. Lestat knew that once he got serious, he'd BREAK Louis for good.

Why on earth would Louis STOP fighting? Lestat was tryna kill their daughter AND him--out of petty spiteful jealousy and domineering Stockholm on steroids wife-in-the-freezer BS: if I can't have him, no one can--till DEATH do us part!

And why is it Lou's responsibility to lay down & take Les's behavior?

Just like I said--Lou's expected to just sit back and take being abused, insulted, harassed, ridiculed, demeaned & gaslit; but the second he stands up for himself (or for his daughter)? Omfg this wild animal's out of control; "disreputable, cold, violent!" He could've (read: should've) stopped at some point! Why didn't he walk away!?

Do y'all honestly believe that Lou "walking away" would've solved ANYTHING that night? Les asked over & over & over if Lou was gonna LEAVE him. Les was tryna keep Lou in that house--and he succeeded, crippling him & shattering every bone in his effing body. He BROKE Louis, cuz he was convinced that he'd already LOST Louis--to Claudia. Hence: Lestat tryna kill her! Hence: the fight! LES started it, and best believe HE ended it! 💀

I'm a Lestat fan, too. I've been reading TVC since the 90s, and AMC's only made me love these books & characters more & more. The whole point of personal journeys and character growth is that it's a PROCESS. Lestat IS a vampiric monster, yes--and he's also an abusive husband & father. He FINALLY apologized during the Trial & reunion; but how will he do BETTER going forward; to become a vampire WORTHY of Louis' love & forgiveness--unworthy in NOLA, unworthy in Paris; disregard!

I treat AMC's adaptation of these characters the way Gothic Horror as a genre treats monsters: as a WARNING; recognizing that they ARE human, reflecting the ugliness within all of US, IRL. In so doing, hopefully we can then do better by ourselves and each other; rather than pretending that things aren't a problem and ignoring/handwaving aside all the things that make us uncomfortable--or ruin the fantasy of the dreamy romantic fun hot guy we're in love with. Cuz he might just be a monster in disguise out to kill you, your kids, or anyone around you.

Seven years of compromise. Denial. It all gave way.

[mschievousx]

now and then | b.b.

pairing: benedict bridgerton x ofc

summary: loraine silva always knew she was not normal. she loves unusual things. she loves her father's guns, horses, boxing, climbing a tree, falling from a tree, engineering, astronomy... oh, and a man eleven years older.

series masterlist

xi. eleven: every word you say

the sunlight did not reach her face. there was no sunlight in sight at all, aside from the most external door that shows a little hint of the visible spectrum. she stirred awake on the hard floor she slept, if she had any at all. she slowly sat up, finding the colonel on the adjacent cell, staring into nothingness.

they have yet to acknowledge each other's presence, trapped in their own battles inside. it was a surreal thing—to feel that it was both the end and the beginning. they have long let go of any hopes in receiving a lighter sentence, and that act is what made it possible for them to breathe despite the stifling feeling.

they have found freedom. losing all hope was freedom.

hence, the young silva raised her gaze to the ragged man across. his rank is not apparent on his current state, stripped off of dignity and proper legacy. she pulled him to the deepest ocean floor a man has never explored to.

"i am so sorry, raphael." raine broke the silence, feeling utterly apologetic for bringing the man with her in this fate.

"there is no need." he replied, closing his eyes as he leaned on the wall.

there really was no need. although his tone may have sounded frustrated, it was not directed to the girl. coming to think of it, he believes he would have done the same. he actually did, when he admitted to the suspicions just so she could be saved. the young silva, however, was hardheaded. a small chuckle left his lips as he looked at her in thought.

"you know, your father would be proud."

"oh, silence." raine rolled her eyes in jest, "i have not slept well with how much my eyes poured last night. do not make me cry again."

"but it is true."

"i know," she turned to him with weak eyes, "he asked me one time, if he was being too forceful in making me the viscountess or also the fact that he taught me things that a proper lady would not have preferred."

she laughed at the memory of her father teaching her how to hold a dagger at four, and her mother in utter worry as she caught them both.

"he was afraid he turned me into something he wanted instead of being someone I want to be."

the lady chuckled before continuing, "i told him I do not see myself embroidering at all. he laughed like crazy."

raphael weakly laughed at the story. by the mention of the girl's teaching experiences, a memory resurfaced in his mind as well.

"did you know that your father used to say you shoot like—i apologise for the term we use in the military amongst men—a virgin?"

despite being above average compared to the general public, her shooting really did not pass her father's standards. she could shoot, yes, but it would not have been enough for war. armand concluded that it was enough at the very least for self-defense.

raphael lifted one end of his lips, "i bet he would say otherwise now."

"that is because now i am not." she said with indifference, missing the way the man sat up from his leaning, turning to her fully.

"...wait, what—you mean...?" he asked curiously, his will returning to his voice in spite of their current situation.

raine looked at him and she found it interesting how curious he was at the topic. she let out a short giggle before slowly nodding. his mouth noticeably went ajar at that as he pried more.

"the bridgerton son?" she nodded once again, raphael leaning back down in surprise, shaking his head in disbelief, "your father is going to kill you."

"no need. the crown is doing it for him."

both laughed in chorus—how they could still jest in a situation like this is lost. perhaps, it was there saving grace. little joys do really count.

"i cannot fathom what you could possibly find so amusing in a place like this."

the queen's voice announced her arrival, her face grimacing in disgust at the place. the two greeted her with respect, standing from their position. she looked around, as if assessing their surroundings before settling her eyes to the girl.

her majesty sighed resignedly, "why ever did you have to shoot him?"

"he talked too much."

"that he did." she had no problem agreeing with that statement at all. the lord had been bothering her as well before about royal familial matters.

she clasped her hands, forming the words to say, "i have spoken to have a private execution for you both. it was granted. this is the least i could do, considering everyone has voted for a beheading instead of hanging."

raine nodded thankfully at that. she did not care much. either way, they would be dead. she inquired further, "the soldiers?"

"all free from the charges."

the two released a breath of relief. that was one of their main goals—for the rest of the troop to be able to go home and spend the following years with their families.

"thank you, aunt lottie. that is all i ask." she smiled warmly to the older woman.

"it will be in an hour." the queen noted, pertaining to the execution.

it must already be five in the afternoon already. the young silva did not know how time flew by so fast. she neared the girl, pushing a hand through the bars of her cell. raine held her hand as she continued.

"make death proud to take us."

raphael and raine's ears perked at that, their brows crossing as the queen took back her hand slowly, "how do you know of it?"

charlotte offered them a smile before she turned away, "your father had been a good company."

after the queen, major gilbert and the viscount bridgerton also stopped to visit them. the former relayed the gratefulness of the soldiers by the news of their freedom, while the latter updated her on how the queen is working on for a proper investigation against the said involved people in the treason with the help of the papers that was left to him. they did not take long, of course. the prison had that effect. it was very suffocating.

yet, her breath came back at the sight of the man in front of her.

"what are you doing here?" she said in concern, her lips quivering as she scrambled on her feet.

benedict reached to her, cupping her face with a tearful smile, "i told you. i will always be here."

she shut her eyes in shame of her current state, "you should not see me like this."

he chuckled with tears in his eyes, "like painfully beautiful?"

"like dying." she corrected in all honesty as he went silent, his heavy breathing speaking for himself.

his lips formed a thin line, features traced with painstaking gaze, "you are so unfair."

"i know," she admitted, knowing exactly what he meant, "i am so sorry."

he hushed her, his palms still on her cheeks as he soothed—both tracing the tear marks that intensified their emotions.

"forget about me. let go of this grief completely." she bleakly uttered, torment clear on her voice.

benedict immediately responded a multiple series of 'no' with an intense shaking of his head in disagreement. he would do anything to not forget her, both the joy and painful memories. he would cherish everything that she was present in. he would cling onto every word she utters.

"and in case you do forget about me," she continued, cupping his face with the utmost care, "i hope you remember by my touch alone.

he nodded fervently, "i love you."

he leaned his head to hers, their breaths exchanging as if he was used to the taste of pain on a dead friday night.

"i love you too."

they wanted to be together for as long as they could, and if that's not very long, well, then that's just how it is. and so, they held each other for the last time, coming to terms that if this life will be this cruel, he would spend the rest of his life praying that the next will not be.

he wanted to badly stay with her, to stop the time and prolong this moment. but, it seemed like he had angered the gods as a guard knocked his truncheon on the door, calling for him to exit for the fifteen-minute preparation before the execution.

━━━ ✦ ❘ ☽ 【❖】 ☾ ❘ ✦ ━━━

no later, guards entered the cells, taking both prisoners with no austerity in their touch. it was so strange for them to the point that it was hard to swallow. they have seized and lead criminals of darkest crimes to their end, yet they find themselves wanting to break the two out.

a viscountess and a colonel, both still children in their own way.

they have never thought there comes a day they would dread their work, and the executioner would say the same. because just as they all arrived in the execution stage, the forty-five soldiers, four members of the bridgerton family, and the queen are in attendance. as she caught sight of them, raine offered a brief, forlorn smile. these people are the ones who she is most thankful of.

executions happen at a faster pace than the young silva thought. one moment they were walking, the next they were kneeling. the executioner bowed to the both of them when they arrived, now asking for forgiveness on the duty he must do in a while. loraine granted him that.

he stood back up, announcing clearly, "you have been granted to speak your final words."

she turned to take a look at raphael, the latter nodding as a sign for her to speak for them both. raine casted her head down in thinking of the words she must say for the last time. she looked back at them all, to no one in particular, and dared to raise her eyes to her terrible fate as she began.

"when a crime goes unpunished, the world is unbalanced. when the wrong is unavenged, the heavens look down on us in shame. we too must die for this circle of vengeance to be closed. we will leave this record of our courage so the world will know who we were and what we did."

as she ended, they both tied the cloth firmly to cover their eyes. at the absence of sight, fear started to creep in. she could hear the executioner stepping away from her and to the colonel first. he declared with resolve, a means of comforting the two souls.

"death is proud to take you."

raine exhaled peacefully at that. it was a reply to their previous convictions—a way of reassuring they have done well.

and so, she did not panic, even when the sound of a drop on the floor filled the place.

raphael had been a great friend, soldier, and a person. the silva would not mind having to fight beside him once again.

the room stayed silent, with no other noise but the small whimpers of the audience. however, it was immediately overshadowed by the sound of footsteps, nearing her one step at a time. she guessed this must be it.

loraine's mind became blank. she hurried herself to think of memories—those that she would love to relive. she had a strange belief that it would not be as painful if she was feeling happy. but, it was also strangely hard to be one in the moment. all she could think of was that maybe, dying is the best option for her in this life. there was no home for her anymore.

and when she greets death, she hoped it is gentle. she hoped it is like going home. she believed a great happiness awaited her somewhere.

and for this reason, she remained calm as the axe hit her neck.

the audience found themselves letting go of the prolonged silence, breaking out to their cries. however, one person did not have any tear or voice left in himself anymore as he stared at the trail of blood that was starting to accumulate and flow away from the body.

indeed, a lot can happen in a day.

he was annoyed by her in one, taken by her in one, and loved her in one. he is grieving for her in one, and he will long for her in one.

and so, he was left with nothing but to face reality—realising that a very frightening thought is now shadowing him intimately.

when tomorrow depends to a person, what should one do? when that person is lost, does that mean tomorrow is too?

love was there. it may have not changed anything. it may have not saved anyone. but, it still matters that the love was there.

because, raine did not need to be saved. she needed to be found and appreciated for who exactly she was. her father has taught her that this world was only a preparation for the next, that all they can ask is to leave it having loved and being loved.

and benedict, until the very last moment, made that known to her and everyone else. she was found. she was appreciated. she was loved.

all by him.

taglist: @aadu2173 @imgondeletedis @pumkiinpasties @rebleforkicks @perseny @everavenclaw @datingbtr @peetahpahkah @myo11 @idek-what-to-put @aysamuka

[nalyra-dreaming]

So I interpreted that comment from Raglan that others had tried and were either dead or undead a bit differently. It's a very vague comment in the first place - Raglan never actually says "others have tried to interview Louis". Imo I think he meant it in a more general sense - that others have tried to document vampire lives & lore throughout the ages (and interview them), which they likely have. I believe Khayman mentions this in qotd so they could be pulling that from the books.

Because would Louis really invite total randos to tell his very personal and traumatic story to? And even if he did, would any of them have been turned (like Raglan says)? Who would turn them, Louis? Unlikely. Definitely not Armand. Another vampire? When we see them in Dubai, we don't get the sense they are close to any other vamps, they seem pretty isolated. Just my opinion ofc! :) We don't get enough detail either way.

Oh, I definitely interpreted that comment as a mix of what you refer to, and other tries of Louis trying to free himself.

Like, I get what you're saying re "randos" :), but... Daniel would have been a trump card he knew of. The diary pages were removed before, when Louis and Armand talked about it, it seemed to me as if Louis had read them before, and then given them back, because he is taken aback by how much he misremembers. The incident with the photos wasn't a first time either (or something similar).

Just as in SF back then I don't think Daniel was the first, but he was the last (this show loves parallels). And while they are living isolated from most other vampires (that we know of at least) they do have contact with the world outside, go out to hunt, etc.

I mean, it could be there were none before Daniel (in Dubai, I mean). That is also possible. But I do think Louis has tried to free himself of Armand's influence before, and, in a way, the more he tried, the more he was "kept".

There is this moment in 2x05, when Louis pushes Daniel to remember, because "lunch will be over soon".

Louis is aware there that they only have a chance at remembering something while Armand is away.

Deep, deep down he knows.

[murfpersonalblog]

IWTV Ep3 Musings - Claudia & Louis (Spoilers)

I'm still teary & choked up while typing this. SUPER emotional episode. It's incredible how much they packed into one ep, too! But the second half of the ep was BY FAR the most emotionally impactful IMO. Jacob's acting is just WAY too good; he had me choking up something fierce.

Louis taking pictures of his food for no effing reason like all the social media girlies do; I love it.

Louis STILL tryna be Claudia's knight in vengeful black. U_U But just like before when he tried to save her from Lestat, he can't save her from Bruce or the Theatre or even his own eff-ups. DANG. 😔

YES YOU DO. If you wanna keep pestering her about trauma she doesn't want to think/speak about, then be prepared for the consequences.

AMC, you GOTTA kill Bruce on-screen for us, either in QotD during all the Burnings, or during the PL trilogy (Killer's death was GNARLY).

LOOK AT MY DAUGHTER ALMOST CRYING RIGHT THERE. God's strongest soldier, she's suffered more than Christ, JUSTICE FOR CLAUDIA. All rapists deserve the death penalty, IDGAF.

Understatement of the century.

I CACKLED at that literal DEMON TIMING. Armand was already AT the door while y'all were concocting your lies! Then he just strolls on in, uninvited! 😭

BULLSH!TE. Not that it matters, since vamps have SUPER-HEARING and can READ MINDS, you morons! Pack your bags and go back to America RIGHT NOW. 💀💀💀

Louis, beloved, bless your heart, but if you don't take your garbage attempts at lying back to NOLA and stop playing with this ANCIENT immortal dressed in all white like the effing BOSS PIMP you USED to be.....

Alpha DADDY Maitre Armand Sir, I take back every bottom Uke Omega joke I ever said about you~! 😍

Yeah, about all that.... 😬

Aaaaannnnnd THIS is where you effed up, Claudia.

And Armand heard the WHOLE THING. 😭

Look at her FACE. 😭😭😭😭

They KNEW she hated being treated as a child, and they KNEW her time was numbered cuz she lied about breaking their Great Laws, so they DELIBERATELY made the "Baby LouLou" role to humiliate her, and EXPLOITED her image to bring in extra revenue (how many BLACK actresses did they ever have in their coven/stage? ZERO); all while KNOWING they were gonna kill her and Louis ASAP.

I hate this Theatre coven with ever fibre of my being, Maitre.

Excellent point, Louis. Cuz I noticed in Ep2 that their apartment is kind of crappy--I assumed it was cheap & low class cuz of the tenants all being college students & sex workers, and I noticed a bunch of chipped paint everywhere; on the doors & walls.

They're slumming it in a studio, sleeping in the living room, as neither has their own room & she has to use a Murphy Bed. Major step below 1132; the exact opposite of how book!Claudia & Lou lived in Parisian opulence--highlighting my point that AMC!Claudia got NOTHING out out being a vampire.

But it's also pointing out how Louis covers all the cracks--in his MIND, in the lies he tells himself, just to live with the glaring problems he desperately wants to cover up & deny.

I'm finna yeet myself out the nearest window.

This is SO bizarre, cuz in this version Lou KNOWS Lestat's not really dead! In the book Lou set him on FIRE. So ofc he'd think Les was really dead. But here it makes no sense why he's carrying all this guilt!

Armand knew Lou & Claudia LIED, sure--but he SHOULD know Lestat's still ALIVE--he's probably chained up in the Theatre basement in one of those friggin "wet room burial vaults!"

THANK YOU.

The guilt is out of control. Louis, if Les couldn't tell you loved him after ALL OF THAT, then he's a effing fool who neither understands nor deserves you. Now go chop his d**k off!

Is that what you tell yourself when DreamStat's in bed with you every night? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

I haven't seen mental trauma treated so well in Horror media since Senua's Sacrifice; this is incredible. 👏

Lou, give yourself a bit more credit--you're doing the best you can! :( Even if your best is an entire travesty. U_U

NOBODY TALK TO ME!

Just when I thought she was having a breakthrough, she doubles down on thinking Lestat lied to them about Europe being terrible. 🤦

(The way Lou clutches his pearls like he's having a heart attack--STOP it, ma'am~! 👌) And YES, you should've told her that you folded and spilled the beans to Armand and that she was walking into a trap, WTF!?! 😡

Jacob, your GirlDad is showing; PLEASE have mercy on us! 😭

EMMYS. 👏 GRAMMYS. 👏 OSCARS. 👏 TONYS. 👏

[crazykuroneko]

okay, @lesfleursrouges' latest fic got me thinking.

in Ep 7, daniel read forward and said claudia resent louis in Europe, and we got to read claudia's diary where she said louis was haunted by lestat. she also said "lestat, whose body left dry and rotting somewhere in garbage dump". so, claudia realized where they would take lestat's body but she didn't have any idea he could revive? 🧐

louis, the biggest rat eater of them all, of course should have realized what was available for lestat in the garbage dump. so, did he leave New Orleans believing lestat was really dead or not? because louis was extremely shaken, i could see him putting lestat in his coffin both very aware of what could happen or doing it autopilot because lestat asked for it. there's no way of knowing louis being haunted by lestat due to his guilt for killing him or for letting the murder attempt happened.

now, if louis was aware lestat could go after them, what if he did go after them and found them near/in Paris. he tried to talk to louis, but claudia burnt him just what happened in the movie when they're still in NOLA. being in Paris, armand ofc knew lestat was there and meant to help him until lestat said he just needed his blood to go find his fledgings again. then armand dumped him in dungeons in worse condition when lestat left NOLA. at this point louis didn't really know lestat had survived or not.

anyway, that's only my speculation. another interesting point is why Dubai Louis tried to convince Daniel and us that lestat was really dead in NOLA? did he mean to finish off his whole story there? or did he mean to erase every lestat's involvement in the Paris arc? but for what? what is it you're trying to tell with this change Louis?

[apoptoses]

OK SO. After some careful consideration.... I think I'm going with Tokyo? Like you said, even when it's explicitly stated in canon that they spent time together in Japan, I don't think it's ever been explored in fic and by now you've firmly established yourself as a pioneer of sorts wrt lesser explored aspects of Armand and Daniel's relationship so this would completely make sense lol. Also, the possibilities with the food and the locations and the kink of it all are endless. Armand will be out of his comfort zone in the best of ways and WILL make sure to experience every single thing there is to experience with and through Daniel.

OTOH Night Island might be my favorite location of anything ever and I don't think I could ever refuse it in any way 😭 the NI-centric stuff you've written so far is definitely among my favorites. What you did with that Secretary-inspired fic of them was absolutely insane and I think of it often. Older, more rugged business man Daniel and extremely naughty Armand bent over a desk UGH just thinking about it makes me feel lightheaded 🥴

Right!! Like sometimes I think about locations where the two of them would be close to equals by virtue of the culture and language being totally unfamiliar, and Japan is one of those places. And like vampires can pick up language quickly but we've only seen them do so with languages that share a similar root- of course Armand, who learned an old dialect of Italian and who Marius taught Greek and Latin to would pick up Spanish and French and English. But what about a language with a writing system he doesn't know, that's unrelated to Western languages? I think for a minute they'd be totally adrift together.

And exactly, the food is new, the location is new, there's a lot to mine!! And I can manage it because I lived there long enough lmao I'm taking Anne's 'writing hotels and cities I've been to' trick to heart here.

So I think it's decided!

But ALSO man I love Night Island, I'm gonna be fucked up all night about your idea of Daniel doing business and bending Armand over the desk 🫢 Armand was pretty much in control in that one little fic I did with Daniel on the phone, he deserves the full Secretary treatment iykwim

(also ofc I knew it was you DA, how could it be anyone else ♥)

[lookatthestarrynight]

Laughter is the Best Medicine - Chapter Eight

Poe Dameron/Doctor!OFC: Poe Dameron has joined the Resistance at the request of General Leia Organa, and he’s finally arrived on the Echo of Hope, the Resistance’s floating base of operations. While on board, he meets the Medical Director of the Resistance and... falls in love? We’ll see.

I’ve also posted this on AO3. Check my masterlist to see what I write for. Please only like, don’t reblog.  Hope you enjoy, let me know what you think!

Warnings: Poe is a little sad. Otherwise very fluffy. 1278 words.

I spent the earlier part of the day in the med-bay, and after lunch I followed Nira to the hangar to watch her do mechanic things with X-wings. It was soothing and methodical, much like a well-done surgery, and she even bothered to tell me what she was doing and what every tool and part was. It was calm for a while, and then the familiar noise of X-wings filled the air and the Black Squadron came in for their landing. I watched, mesmerized, as the ships powered down and Poe climbed out of the cockpit of Black One. He bent down to speak with BB-8, and then the dedicated little droid disappeared off to do something I could only presume was important. Poe noticed me sitting on one of the crates by Nira and raised his eyebrows at me.

           I waved, hopping off the crate. “Hey, Commander!”

           He laughed, his smile not quite reaching his eyes for some reason, and he walked over to me. “Hello, Director.”

           I smiled at him, reaching out to hold his hand.

           He smirked. “I feel so special… you’re holding my hand.”

           I snorted. “How was the mission, flyboy?”

           “Eventful.”

           “You’re not giving me anything else?”

           “Nope. Classified.”

           I nodded and began leading us towards the med-bay, since I should probably be there again soon anyway.

           “Wait, wait,” he tugged gently on my arm, stopping me.

           I turned to face him, my eyebrow raised. He leaned forward and smushed his lips against mine, his other arm wrapping around my waist. My free hand wandered up to the nape of his neck, my lips parting just a little bit. After a moment, he pulled away, a little breathless, and let go of me, reaching up to push a stray hair out of my face.

           “I gotta go do the debrief with the General, but I’ll come find you around dinner-time, alright?”

           I smiled and nodded, walking backwards a bit. “See you soon, then, Poe.” I turned around and continued to the med-bay.

<> 

           My time spend in the med-bay flew by as I made my rounds and fussed with transfer paperwork on my holopad, and before I knew it, Poe was waltzing in to drag me to dinner.

           He leaned over the high counter of the main desk and looked at me. “Ready for dinner, Doc?”

           I looked up at him from my place curled up in the chair behind the desk. “Yea, yea, just let me put this down in my office.” I stood up and wandered over to my office, dropping the holopad on my desk before turning around and running straight into Poe’s chest. He’d followed me in, apparently.

           He wrapped his arms around me, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “You’re my favorite person, you know that, right?”

           I nodded into his chest, pulling my head away to look up at him. “What prompted that?”

           Something passes behind his eyes, but he just shrugs. “No reason, just felt like it.”

           I hummed, skeptical, and tried to extricate myself from his hold, but his grip wouldn’t budge.

           “Poe?”

           “Yes?”

           “Can you let go of me now?”

           He frowned, but did so, opting to loop one arm around my waist to guide me to the cafeteria. I leaned into his side a little as we walked out of the med-bay and through the halls of the base. I could tell something was bugging him just a little bit, but I decided to press him about it later – after we ate.

           When we arrived in the cafeteria, we waited in line together and got our meals, and I waved to Shana and Ilia as we walked by them. I opted to sit with Poe and his pilots, since he still seemed awfully attached to me. Through all of dinner, he kept an arm around me or a hand in my lap, and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what exactly was wrong. When I raised my eyebrows inquisitively at Jessika, she shrugged – as did Snap and L’ulo. I sighed, and I as soon as I noticed Poe was done eating, I gently pulled him out of the cafeteria with me, stopping when we got to a more secluded hallway.

           I reached up, my hand cupping his cheek and my thumb gently swiping across the top of his cheek. “What’s up with you today, Poe?”

           He shrugged noncommittally. “Just a bad day.”

           “Is there anything I can do?”

           “I just want to spend time with you.”

           “Do you want to talk about it?”

           “Not really,” he paused, his hand covering mine on his cheek, “I just want to hear you talk.”

           I laughed quietly. “Why don’t we stop by your quarters and grab some of your things and then head back to mine?”

           Poe nodded reluctantly, pulling me to follow him. When we reached his quarters, he disappeared inside before reappearing with a change of clothes in his arms a minute later. He followed behind me as I led the way to my quarters and stood awkwardly in the middle of the room when we arrived, until I gently guided him to the edge of my bed.

           “Let’s get changed, yeah? And then we can lay down and I’ll talk for a bit.” He nodded, and a few minutes later I found myself propped against my pillows on my bed with Poe’s head laying my stomach and his body slotted between my legs. Slowly, I threaded my fingers through his hair and gently massaged his scalp.

           “So, what do you want to hear about?”

           He grunted, lifting his head up just a bit. “Your whole life story.”

           I giggled. “Ask and you shall receive, flyboy.” He dropped his head back on my stomach with a smile.

           I stared at the ceiling for a minute, trying to figure out where I wanted to start.

           “Well, I was born in 8 ABY on Taris, in the inner city, and—”

           Poe lifted his head up for a moment. “I’m six years older than you?”

           “Yeah. Anyway—”

           “That doesn’t bother you?”

           “Uh, should it?”

           Poe shook his head and laid back down on my stomach.

           “Anyway, grew up in the inner-city skyscrapers, came to Senate meetings with my dad all the time, uh… oh! I have an older brother – he’s taking my dad’s seat in the Senate in the next cycle I think,” I twirled a strand of Poe’s hair through my fingers before continuing, “Uh, my dad’s name is Alrich, although you might’ve already known that, and my brother’s is Armand, my mom’s was Leta.”

           “Was?”

           “She was killed in the Talinn district when I was growing up, which is why I spent so much time with my brother and father.”

           “I’m sorry,” he said, muffled by my stomach.

           I hummed. “It’s alright… it’s been a while since then. I decided I wanted to be a doctor after that, and Dad was more than happy to ship me off to the New Republic Medical Academy on Hosnian Prime,” I shifted my shoulders, getting a little more comfortable, “And when I left the Academy, the General tapped me to work for the Resistance, so I got here about a year and a half, maybe, before you. It’s good experience, working in the Resistance. And I know I’m making a difference in the galaxy, doing my mom proud and all that.” I looked down at Poe and noticed his eyes were closed, his breathing slow and measured.

           I smiled. “Goodnight, flyboy.” I gently pressed a kiss to his temple and turned off the light in my room. Time to sleep.