#anyway i will continue to rb memes about armand being Guarded by sam because i do think they're funny as fuck

[katkitpaddywick]

these were originally tags i made on a rb'd post but i want them to be seen because there is Too Much nuance-less armand hatred flinging around in the iwtv tag for my liking

i honestly believe at this point that the trial and armand being "unable to prevent" claudia's death was another case of his self-ingrained false helplessness - i think there's a very good chance armand BELIEVED he couldn't have stopped it.

was that belief reinforced over 70 years of telling himself that since to alleviate responsibility? perhaps! was that belief impacted by the fact he really didn't care for claudia all that much? almost definitely! but i think he was complicit as opposed to actively masterminding

he prefers to feel the victim because it's a familiar (dare i say comfortable) place for him to be with his specific brand of trauma

that said i do think he was absolutely lying about claudia's death that louis didn't see - making it sound more noble than it was so louis would be less distressed about it. 'i protect his happiness' etc. etc.