#i can though kind of see it in the sense that i think louis would like these sorts of glimpses of unconventional fashion

[sovietyaoi]

First of all when I wrote about creating fandom content I wasn’t talking about myself or shipping crowferi in any way but about things like fanfiction/fanart/headcanons/any other type of fandom content. I was reffering to you writting about how it annoys you when people mischaracterize character and ignore canon. Before posting something like that I feel like you should have considered that nobody’s perception and interpretation of characters is perfect (neither is yours) and facts from canon can be interpreted in different ways, so getting upset over something like that is counterproductive. And yes, people are going to ignore canon wile creating fandom content. That’s like the whole point of transformative works.

As for me mentioning the inspiration for Ferid and Crowley I suppose it was a little random, allow me to elaborate. The reason I didn’t earlier is because it will take a while and I’m not even sure you’re going to read this with understanding but here we go.

When I first came across people calling crowferi incest I found it very surprising, for a very simple reason. There are many pieces of vampire media where vampire and their creator are reffered to in familial terms, in OnS it’s sire/progeny, another popular one is maker/fledling, yet romantic/sexual relationships between them are never considered incest. I don’t think it’s hard to imagine a vampire turning their human lover and then what, are they supposed to be like “oh wait, we’re family now, sorry :/”. I mentioned the characters Ferid and Crowley are based on – Lestan and Louis from IWTV, because the familial/vampiric relations in that book are very complicated and show very well why claiming crowferi is incest doesn’t make sense. In short – Lestat (on whom Ferid is based) turns Louis (on whom Crowley is based), yet they don’t share a familial relationship and don’t refer to each other as family. What I say now might seem like I’m doing some mental gymnastics but bear with me – their relationship is not explicitly romantic, yet that’s how it’s usually interpreted. I have no idea why author chose to do this, maybe some American literature critic can explain it, but’s that’s how it is (also in the latest. version of the story their relationship is both romantic and sexual). Then Lestat turns Claudia and tells Louis that she’s their daughter, even though he only gave her his own blood (also he calls himself her mother at some point). Claudia ends up being closer to Louis and referring to him as her father and to Lestat as uncle, even thought technically he’s her sire. And also Lestat had at some point turned his own mother so by your logic she would be his child?

Another good example is Vassalord, which is basically Ferid and Crowley but it’s a bl. Rayflo turns Cherry into a vampire, he sometimes jokingly refers to him as his son, their relationship is again, romantic and sexual.

Also I think it’s good to point out that no vampire aside from Ferid refers to other vampire’s as his family. Ferid only does so joking, which you can see from the fact he either calls Crowley his son or his brother. The reason why he switches it up is because he’s not being serious.

Now answering to you writing that the relationship between Ferid and Crowley isn’t romantic, I think something you forget about is that just because somebody ships something doesn’t mean they believe it’s canon. I’ve never claimed their relationship is romantic, there are however scenes between them that can be interpreted as romantic, for example Crowley saying he doesn’t mind having his mind fried because he just wants to learn more about Ferid in the latest chapter, and I’d say their relationship is homoerotic.

Lastly I’ll never get over how people use that one scene where it’s literally said Ferid feels no desire for women as an argument as to why he’s straight. I understand your point, but it’s still ironic to me.

I’ll be honest – to me the kind of thinking “all characters are straight until proved queer” or “if a character expressed interest in opposite gender (or lack I guess?/j) they must be straight” is just homophobic. I have sad news for you – queer people do in fact exist and sometimes they are even showed in media. Unless officially confirmed character’s orientation is up for interpretation and Ferid has many qualities that can be interpreted as queer (androgynous appearance, him flirting with Crowley). Coming from somebody who has, I assume, more experience with queer media the scene you mentioned, when Ferid thinks he wishes he felt desire towards women can be interpreted in queer way (queer people wishing they were straight since it’s considered normal). That is especially true since vampirism is often used as allegory for being queer (like in IWTV). I personally don’t interpret it that way, but it’s still extremely funny when people use it as an argument that Ferid is straight while it can be understood like that.

kami's rage

[pynkhues]

I love this art so much, it has a special place in my mind along with all TVL fits. do you think Lestat used to dress up for Louis like this before Claudia? 👀

https://www.tumblr.com/artgroves/762199491171467264?source=share

I love that sooooo much, anon! That art deco style just suits the show so well, and as someone with numerous monsteras, I love that they feature so prominently (especially given the fact that the plant name literally translates to monstrous too!)

And ah! Y'know, I'm always kind of in two minds about whether or not Louis is into Lestat in drag? It features so much in fic (and I often enjoy it in fic!) but we don't get a reaction shot from Louis when Lestat was in his King of Mardi Gras / Marie Antoinette costume, and it feels a little loaded to me that even when they have their first and last dance that night, Lestat's back in menswear.

I tie that a little to fashion of the era? I just tagged it on another post, but I was listening to the Behind the Bastards episodes on Beau Brummell recently who's partially responsible for transitioning men out of the flamboyance of 17/1800s dandy fashion and into what's effectively the modern suit, and it kind of made me think of that transition point in 1.01 when Louis - who's extremely stylish - literally pulls Lestat's wardrobe from said dandy fashion to modern, and notably masculine suits, even if Lestat keeps the cinched/practically corsetted waist, as Carol's mentioned in costuming Lestat. It kind of goes hand-in-hand to me with Louis wanting to dress Claudia too in very girlish, doll-like looks - - like there's this sense of convention, modern fashion and trend for him?

I can see that tying into a lot of his own sensibilities in general (and again, one day I'll write my Louis-is-probably-a-misogynist post, haha), but I also think Louis as a gay man might be a bit more into masculinity generally when it comes to intimate partners?

I don't know! It's something I've been thinking about a bit recently for fic related reasons myself, haha,

[nalyra-dreaming]

so, if the teaser is canon, it's presumably set after the publication of Louis' book (as Lestat is holding a copy of it). Are you saying you think there's a significant space of time between the book being published and the final scenes of ep2, in which Daniel's a vampire? And so the documentary happens prior to Louis' 'I own the night' speech etc?

Well. I mean, they give us the hint that there is a significant space of time between those scenes within the show, even within that scene?

There's this shot

and this

For example.

Louis has an advanced copy on his table:

Meaning, he got the book before it was released, aka was given out to be sold.

I would say there is a frame of time of at least six months that is indicated by that.

Just because Louis has not read it yet, does not mean it's "freshly released" - Louis book canonically rereads IWTV - his story - just prior before he finally comes to terms with himself, and then joins back with Lestat for good. Him not having read the book yet is a hint at that book canon event, I think.

As per the documentary...

We have two claps indicating a certain time frame as well.

Since this is a "documentary" I don't think there are many classic "takes" per scene, however there might be quite a few per night, I don't think this indicates one per night (I think Lestat might be too... capricious for one focused take^^).

Given the first number should stand for the "scene"... I would guess that that number (edit: the roll number, thanks to @destielonfire) indicates more towards sessions/nights? (Even though, granted, you can't really pull a relation between takes and rolls, but I just don't see one take per documentary session^^)

And it would make sense, I mean, how many nights do you think Lestat would stay put there... maybe even 45 is a big stretch there. The documentary is probably a lot faster.

Now, IWTV (the book) has obviously been released already, there is some kind of semi-real discussion in "reality", the clapper guy in the first shot has the tattoo indicating that after all. :)

And the copy Lestat has there is not an advanced copy either.

But... Daniel does not sound as self assured as he is when he is a vampire yet, to me. He sounds pretty impressed by Lestat, and obviously hangs out with the other mortals there.

I think there is a high chance that Daniel will be turned after the documentary itself, that what we see at the end of s2 is actually after the teaser...

I could be wrong there, but I would not be surprised if everything overlaps a bit. Because a lot of things hinted at or introduced were not picked up yet, were not finished yet. The torn out and cut out pages of the diaries, for example.

And of course there is the mystery of Daniel's turning, because I don't believe for one second it was actually done out of "spite" or as a "rage kill". No, there's more to it all, but of course they're not spoiling^^.

I mean, book canonically Armand is often just... there, where Lestat is. They have history after all. History we will see a lot more of next season.

Both Louis and Daniel will understand a lot more of their respective partners after season 3 is done - and knowledge can be quite the catalyst.

[charliedawn]

The New Patient Part 2

The weight of the decision lingered on your mind as you made your way down the sterile hallways to Dr. Gregory House’s office. You had been contemplating the idea for a while now—letting Eddie meet the other slashers. You could tell that he was struggling with the isolation, and though he had his moments of wild behaviour, there was something in him that reminded you of the others. Maybe some kind of camaraderie with those who understood the pain and the darkness he carried would help him.

You took a deep breath and knocked on House’s office door, hearing the familiar grumble of his ‘jovial’ voice calling for you to enter. You did, stepping into the dimly lit room where House sat hunched over his desk, eyes glued to a stack of medical records while slurping on a slushy.

“What is it now ?” he asked without looking up, his tone sharp but not unfriendly.

You hesitated for a moment before approaching his desk. “I’ve been thinking about Eddie.”

House finally lifted his eyes from the papers, studying you intently. “Eddie Munson. New kid on the block. What about him ?”

Big slurp.

You took another deep breath. “He’s been struggling a lot, and I think it might help if he were allowed to meet the other patients. He... he’s isolated, and I think he could benefit from the company of people who—well, who understand him in a way.”

House raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. “What, you think a meeting with the other psychos of St Louis will suddenly turn him into some well-adjusted model citizen ? That’s your plan ?”

You picked up on the sarcasm, but decided not to acknowledge it.

“It’s not about making him ‘well-adjusted.’ It’s about him not feeling alone. He’s a complicated case, and I think some peer interaction might do him good. He needs to see that there are others who have their own demons—people who won’t judge him for his past.”

House gave you a long, skeptical look, but you didn’t flinch. “And you think this is safe ? For him and for the others ?” He tapped his cane against the floor, considering. “This place is a powder keg as it is. You let one spark in, and who knows what’ll happen. Eddie might not be as ‘understandable’ as you think. And the other slashers...They have their own ways of handling things, especially when it comes to strangers.”

Another big slurp.

“I know the risks,” you assured him, your voice steady. “But Eddie’s not a stranger to trauma, to pain. Neither are the others. I believe this could help him feel less like an outsider.”

House’s gaze softened slightly, but only for a brief moment. He sighed, rubbing his forehead as if considering your request. “Alright. I’ll allow it. But don’t come crying to me if you get caught in the middle of some psycho circus. You’d be the one responsible for whatever fallout happens.”

You nodded, grateful for the approval, even if it came with a warning. “Thank you, Dr. House. I won’t let you down.”

He waved you off dismissively. “Just make sure it doesn’t become a bigger problem. You can go ahead, but if anyone gets hurt, I’ll have you cleaning up the mess.” He gave you a pointed look. “Including yourself.”

You shivered. Right…That warning smelt like the burning coal of unemployment.

“I’ll be careful. I promise.” You said and turned to leave, a sense of relief washing over you. You now had the green light to try something that might make a difference for Eddie. As you stepped out of House’s office, you couldn’t help but feel a small spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this could work.

Meanwhile, Dr House finished his slushy and threw it away in the bin—perfect throw and landing. He sighed and rubbed his face with his hand. He really didn’t want more paperwork to deal with…

…

The next morning, you found yourself standing in front of the heavy metal doors that led to Eddie Munson’s cell. Your heart pounded slightly in anticipation, but you steeled yourself. The decision had been made. Eddie would meet the others—he needed it. You took a deep breath before stepping inside, the dim lights casting long shadows over the room. Eddie was sitting cross-legged on the floor, fiddling with a set of dice. He didn’t notice you enter at first, lost in his own little world.

“Eddie,” you called softly, and he looked up, his eyes still carrying that mixture of defiance and weariness that had been there since his arrival.

“Hey,” he muttered, his tone flat, but there was a slight flicker of interest in his gaze. “What’s up ?”

You walked over to him, sitting down with a gentle smile. “I have something to ask you. Something...important.”

He raised an eyebrow, his posture tense. “Important, huh ? Sounds ominous. What’s the deal ?”

You hesitated, choosing your words carefully. “I’ve been thinking about how you’re doing here. How isolated you’ve been. And I think... it might help if you meet some of the others here. There are people who understand what you’ve been through—people who might actually get it. They’ve lived through things like you.”

Eddie stared at you for a moment, his expression unreadable. “You want me to meet the other freaks, huh ?” He chuckled darkly, though there was no humor behind it. “And you think that’ll magically fix everything ?”

“I don’t think it’ll fix everything,” you said gently. “But maybe it’ll make things a little easier. You won’t be alone anymore. And I think you deserve to have people around you who don’t judge you—who understand what it’s like to carry your past.”

Eddie shifted, clearly uncomfortable with the sentiment. He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding your gaze. “I’m not exactly a ‘people person,’ you know ?”

“I know,” you replied softly, “but sometimes being around others who’ve been through similar things can make a difference. I’m not asking you to be best friends with them right away. Just...maybe try talking. See what happens.”

Eddie let out a long sigh, clearly conflicted. “I don’t know, Nurse Y/N...I’m not sure if I’m ready for that.”

“I understand,” you said and smiled. “But it could be worth trying. For your own peace of mind, at least.”

There was a long pause as Eddie seemed to weigh the idea in his mind. You could tell it was a difficult decision for him—he had been through so much alone, it was hard to even consider the idea of allowing others in.

Finally, Eddie stood up slowly, looking down at you with a resigned expression. “Fine,” he muttered. “I’ll meet them. But I’m not making any promises. If they’re just gonna be as messed up as I am, then I’ll bail.”

You smiled, trying to reassure him. “I think you’ll be surprised, Eddie. They are good people once you get to know them—like you.”

He snorted softly, shaking his head. “Sure, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

You stood as well, walking toward the door with Eddie in tow. “Let’s start small, yeah ? Just a conversation. Nothing more.”

As you led him down the corridor toward the first group of rooms, you couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe this was the beginning of something good for Eddie. He might not believe it yet, but you had faith that meeting the others would give him something to hold onto.

…

The first stop was Jason’s cell. You could already hear the heavy thud of footsteps from inside.

You stopped outside the door and turned to Eddie, who was staring ahead, his jaw clenched. “Are you ready ?” you asked quietly.

Eddie shrugged but didn’t say anything. He was still unsure, but he had agreed to this much. You nodded understandingly and opened the door, stepping inside with Eddie behind you. The familiar sight of Jason in his tattered mask and dirty jumpsuit greeted you, the hulking figure silently observing the two of you.

“Jason,” you said gently, “this is Eddie. Eddie, this is Jason.”

Eddie’s eyes flickered between you and the towering man, his expression skeptical but not hostile. Jason didn’t move, his gaze fixed on Eddie with a quiet intensity.

“Eddie’s here to talk,” you said, offering a small, reassuring smile.

Jason’s head tilted slightly, as if acknowledging your words, but he didn’t react immediately. Instead, he held Eddie’s gaze for a long moment, a silent exchange passing between them.

Eddie fidgeted with his sleeves, his fingers twitching as he tried to maintain his composure. Finally, he broke the silence. “I’m not exactly...the best at this whole ‘group’ thing,” he muttered, his voice low. “But I guess I’ll try.”

Jason gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.

You smiled softly, sensing the tension easing slightly. “You’re doing fine, Eddie.”

Jason remained still for a moment, his eyes fixed on Eddie. The silence was thick, but then, in a gesture you had seen before, Jason raised his large, calloused hand. He extended his fingers in a simple, deliberate motion, making a sign.

You recognized it immediately—Jason was asking if Eddie could be a friend.

You smiled softly at the gesture and turned to Eddie. “He asked if you want to be a friend.”

Eddie blinked, his eyes flickering with surprise as he watched Jason’s hand. For a moment, he was silent, processing the question. Then, after a long pause, he gave a slight nod, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his expression.

“Yeah...I guess I could try that,” Eddie muttered, his voice quiet but sincere. “I’m not exactly easy to befriend, though.”

You turned back to Jason and nodded in return. “Yes, Jason. Eddie’s willing to be your friend.”

Jason’s mask remained still, but his posture seemed to relax, just a little. He gave a subtle nod, as if accepting Eddie’s response, before lowering his hand back to his side.

Eddie glanced up at you, a small, uncertain smile tugging at his lips. “Well...I didn’t expect that. But okay. I’ll give it a shot.”

You could see the walls he’d built around himself starting to shift, even if just a little. It was a start, and for now, that was enough.

“Good,” you said, turning back toward the door. “Let’s move on. Baby steps, right ?”

Eddie nodded, still a little unsure, but for the first time since his arrival, he seemed to be open to the idea of connection…As you and Eddie made your way down the corridor, the heavy door to another room creaked open unexpectedly. Before you could react, Brahms Heelshire appeared, moving with surprising speed. His doll clutched tightly in one hand, his mask slightly askew, he barreled toward you both like a determined child on a mission.

Eddie barely had time to process what was happening before Brahms practically launched himself into his arms, wrapping him in an unexpectedly tight hug. Eddie stiffened, his entire body going rigid with shock, eyes wide as saucers.

“I saw what happened with Jason !” Brahms announced, his voice muffled slightly by Eddie’s jacket, yet filled with excitement. “Any of Jason’s friends are my friends too !” He squeezed tighter, his doll squished awkwardly between them.

Eddie just stood there, arms awkwardly hovering in the air, his face a perfect picture of confusion and panic. He looked at you like a cat stuck in a tree, silently screaming “HELP.”

You tried not to laugh but couldn’t hide the small smirk tugging at the corner of your mouth. “Brahms, sweetie, maybe let him breathe ?”

Brahms pulled back slightly, his mask tilting up as if just realizing Eddie hadn’t exactly returned the hug. “Oh,” he said softly, blinking through the eye holes of his mask. Then, with zero hesitation, he grabbed Eddie’s limp hand and shook it vigorously instead.

“Friends,” Brahms declared solemnly, as if sealing an ancient pact.

Eddie cleared his throat, still frozen in disbelief. “Uh…yeah. Sure. Friends.” His voice cracked slightly, making the word sound more like a question than an agreement.

Brahms seemed satisfied with his answer and gave Eddie’s hand one last firm shake before skipping—yes, skipping—back to his room, his doll tucked under his arm like a proud trophy.

Eddie stood there, still processing, his hand hovering midair as if Brahms’s grip had left an invisible mark.

“…What just happened ?” Eddie finally muttered, glancing over at you.

You chuckled softly, patting his shoulder. “Congratulations. You’ve been adopted.”

Eddie groaned dramatically, scrubbing his face with both hands. “I survived Ghostface training, but this ? This is terrifying.”

You laughed, wondering what Ghostface training meant but didn’t question it. You would have all the time you needed for that later.

Eddie’s stomach then grumbled and he looked away with embarrassment, but you only smiled and les him towards the kitchen. The sterile hum of the hospital kitchen was oddly soothing, broken only by the faint clatter of utensils and the rhythmic chopping of vegetables. Michael stood at the counter, towering and silent, his white mask eerily blank as he methodically prepared lunch. Despite his reputation, his movements were calm, almost mechanical—knife slicing with precise, practiced motions that somehow made the act of chopping onions look… menacing.

You led Eddie into the room, his steps hesitant as he took in the sight before him. The sharp contrast between Ghostface Eddie Munson and The Shape was comical—Eddie, with his wild curls and anxious energy, fidgeting with the hem of his sleeves, while Michael stood like an immovable statue, focused solely on his task.

“Michael,” you called softly, stepping into his peripheral vision, “I’d like you to meet someone.”

Michael didn’t pause, didn’t even glance your way. He simply continued stirring the large pot of spaghetti sauce with the same dedication he’d probably use to, well…you know.

“This is Eddie,” you continued, gesturing toward the fidgety newcomer. “He’s new here.”

Eddie gave an awkward wave. “Uh…hey, man. Cool knife.”

Nothing. Not even a twitch from Michael. The silence stretched uncomfortably as Eddie shifted from foot to foot, his eyes darting between you and the masked figure like he was waiting for a punchline—or an actual punch. You weren’t too sure.

Then, without warning, Michael turned, his imposing figure casting a long shadow across the tiled floor. Eddie visibly tensed, bracing for—well, something. But instead of violence, Michael calmly grabbed a plate, piled a mountain of spaghetti onto it, napped it with sauce, and without ceremony, shoved it into Eddie’s hands.

Eddie blinked down at the plate. “…Oh.”

Michael turned back to the stove as if the interaction had never happened, resuming his stirring with the same stoic intensity.

You bit back a laugh, watching Eddie try to process what just occurred. He held the plate like it was an alien artifact, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly before he managed, “Thanks ?”

No response. Just the steady scrape of the wooden spoon against the pot.

You leaned toward Eddie, grinning. “Wow. You’ve officially been acknowledged by Michael. Good job.”

Eddie squinted at you, then back at Michael. “…Is this, like, a friendship ritual or…?”

You chuckled. “With Michael ? Yeah, pretty much.”

Eddie glanced down at the spaghetti again, then back at Michael. After a beat, he muttered, “This is the weirdest cult I’ve ever joined.”

Michael kept stirring, completely unfazed.

…

Later that day, you found Eddie sitting in the common room, the half-eaten plate of spaghetti resting on his lap. His Ghostface mask was perched beside him on the couch, abandoned for now, revealing his messy curls and a slightly dazed expression. He absently twirled a forkful of noodles, staring ahead like he was still processing…everything.

You approached with a small smile, sinking into the chair opposite him. “So,” you started, resting your elbows on your knees, “what do you think about the others so far ?”

Eddie blinked, as if your voice had pulled him out of some distant mental loop. He set his fork down, exhaling dramatically. “Well,” he began, rubbing the back of his neck, “Jason signed ‘friend’ to me, which was both terrifying and adorable. I think I’m still emotionally recovering from that.”

You chuckled. “Yeah, he’s a sweetheart once you get past the whole…machete thing.”

Eddie snorted. “Right. Just your average, seven-foot-tall killing machine with a heart of gold.”

He leaned back, staring at the ceiling for a moment before continuing, “Then there was Brahms. Brahms. That guy ran at me like a puppy on espresso and hugged me like we were long-lost soulmates. I didn’t even know what to do—I froze. I think he smelled my hair at one point ?”

You restrained a laugh.

“Yeah,” you nodded with a fond smile. “Brahms is…affectionate.”

Eddie waved a hand. “Affectionate is one word for it. I thought he was gonna climb inside my ribcage like I was a human sleeping bag.”

You burst into laughter, shaking your head. “That sounds about right.”

“And then,” Eddie said dramatically, pointing his fork at you like it was an accusation, “there’s Michael. I thought I was walking into the kitchen to meet the literal boogeyman, but no—he just hands me a plate of spaghetti like we’re at some weird family reunion.”

You smirked. “That’s how he shows he likes you.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow. “By aggressively shoving carbs into my hands ?”

“Yep. It’s basically his love language.”

Eddie stared at you for a beat, then shrugged. “Could be worse. I mean, I’d rather get spaghetti than stabbed.”

You nodded.

“Fair point.”

He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “Honestly ? They’re not what I expected. I thought they’d be…scarier, I guess. But it’s like—yeah, they’re dangerous, but they’re also just…people. Weird, stabby people, but people.”

You nodded thoughtfully. “That’s exactly it.”

Eddie gave a small smile, picking up his fork again. “I think I kinda like it here. Feels less like a prison and more like…a really dysfunctional summer camp.”

You laughed, standing up and ruffling his curls as you passed by. “Welcome to St. Louis, Eddie. You’ll fit right in.”

[hl-obsessed]

✨ FIC REC ✨ | 10-30k

•°���°•°•°•°•

Snowed In by @germericangirl

(E, 15k) Harry wants to fly back home to London after visiting his family for the holidays but a snow storm causes his flight to get cancelled. What happens if the hotel only has one room left for him and the beautiful blue eyed stranger?

✨ Running Home To You by sincewewereeighteen

(E, 18k) Harry can’t help but look at his iTunes library. What he did not expect was to see his name there: Harry Styles, and a half-played album. He has to ask.

“What’s that you were listening to?”

“Oh, it’s this guy, uh- Harry Styles?”

“Hm. Is he any good? I’ve heard a lot about him.”

“He’s proper famous, isn’t he?” Louis smirks. “He’s good, believe it or not. Many people don’t give credit to teenage girls, but I don’t regret listening to him.”

“D’you have a favorite?”

“You’ve probably heard Sign of the Times, because everyone’s heard this song…” Louis checks his screen. “Don’t know. This is the best one musically speaking. But there’s something about this one,” he points at his screen, “From the Dining Table. It’s just so sad. Makes one wonder what this guy went through.”

“That tough?”

“Sad.” Louis replies. “Anyways. Don’t be prejudiced and give the pop star a listen. He’s really talented.”

OR: the one in which Harry and Louis take the same plane, and even though they're both sort of nomads, they end up finding a home in each other.

give you my fever by @thelovejandles

(E, 10k) x-factor era. harry's never had an orgasm before, louis gives him his first

If Tomorrow Never Comes (We Had Last Night) by @fallinglikethis @all-these-larrythings

(M, 15k) Louis accepts the call without bothering to look at the caller ID. Only Zayn would be a big enough asshole to call him at two in the morning. This fucking better be important.

“This fucking better be important,” Louis greets.

On the other end of the line comes a soft giggle. “Li, you don’t usually curse. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I like it.”

 Yeah, that’s not Zayn. Louis sighs, his anger melting into resignation when he realizes that it’s some poor bastard probably drunk dialing his ex or something. “Sorry, mate. Think you’ve got the wrong number."

Based on this Tumblr prompt: "Accidentally called your number while drunk asking for a ride and you actually came au"

sweet, where you lay by @infinitelymint

(E, 27k) Louis Tomlinson is a twenty-eight year old succesful actor living in New York. Harry Styles is a twenty year old up and coming model and coincidentally also the one who turns Louis’ world completely upside down.

or, Louis is Zachary Quinto and Harry is Miles McMillan. Falling in love was always in the cards for them.

stop the world ('cause i wanna get off with you) by @thedevilinmybrain

(E, 12k) Five times Louis and Harry get walked in on at the worst time, and one time Louis makes sure they don't.

✨ i'm a captain on a jealous sea by @thedevilinmybrain

(E, 15k) It’s not that Louis doesn’t like Nick. He is, if he’s being honest, kind of indifferent. Louis gets that Nick is just doing his job most of the time, being loud and prying, not having boundaries. But it’s just a little too much for Louis’ taste. Louis, who has learned over the years, when to be loud and when to know that coy is the game. But, it doesn’t matter really. He’s not required to like everyone, doesn’t have to make nice with them outside of having a camera shoved in his face. He can let Nick be Nick and it shouldn’t affect Louis at all.

Except.

What Louis actually has a problem with is the way Nick Grimshaw looks at Harry.

✨ some things fade (some never do) by @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed

(T, 25k) Matching tattoos. He’d never thought he’d be the type for tattoos to begin with, let alone matching or magical ones, but once Harry had put the idea in his mind it had never quite managed to disappear. And it had made sense. With their relationship a long distance one, this was simply another way of feeling close to one another. Of knowing where the other was, how they felt. It had made so much sense.

Back then.

*

Three years after their break up, Harry calls.

In a sky full of stars, be my Northern lights by @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed

(T, 13k) It's one of those nights there's nothing on the telly that Louis absently scrolls through Tinder. After swiping left on a bunch of profiles he comes face to face with a picture that stops him in his tracks. The picture is..almost sweet. It’s a boy with brown curly hair, wearing a very low cut yellow blouse, paired with a black jacket. He’s got a smile on his face and his tongue sticking out, but it’s not in any way lewd or suggestive. He just looks like he’s having a good time, and something about the innocence of it has him swiping right rather than left.

He’s barely checked the other pictures on the boy's profile before Tinder confirms that he’s got a match. The shots are so different from the pictures Louis is used to on Tinder - half naked boys who are smoldering at the camera - that he can’t help but smile.

It quickly turns into a frown when he opens up the message he’s just received.

Harry: Hello!

Harry: Thank you for swiping right

Harry: I have a proposition for you

Treat You Like A Gentleman by @justanothershadeofblue

(E, 12k) 5 times that Harry Styles was unsatisfied by his dates, and one time Louis Tomlinson helped him find what he had been missing.

Sweet as Honey by TeamLouis

(E, 21k) Louis has always been shit at cooking. When he discovers Sweet as Honey on Instagram, owned by chef Harry Styles, he intends to mock him by recreating his recipes with his awful skills, posting photos on his own Instagram account, Nailed It. It's all fun until Harry asks to meet him.

✨💎 To Have Touched the Sun by @ireallysawanangel

(E, 12k) Louis has been taking suppressants ever since he first presented as an omega, and because of that, he has his heats dwindled down to just once a year. When he suddenly goes into heat in the middle of a supermarket only two months after just having one, he immediately knows something is wrong. It takes the act of a very kind stranger in that supermarket to change Louis' life forever.

Losing Focus Every Time You Speak by @causticsunshine

(E, 19k) “Harry,” he starts, his tone cautious, “what’s this I’m seeing?”

A roll of Harry’s shoulder and the thing catches the light again. “Hm? I dunno what you’re talking about, Lou,” he replies, voice suddenly strained.

Oh. So that’s how it’s going to be.

“This,” Louis reiterates as clearly as he can—by abruptly spreading Harry’s cheeks as much as he can through the confines of his knickers, in turn causing Harry to grunt and Louis to reveal a, fuck, a small bubblegum-pink gem in the shape of a heart, rimmed by a sliver of silver, “you remember now?”

“Oh.” All faux innocence. Louis removes his hands as Harry slowly pulls himself back up, a little red-faced and with a chunky throw in hand. “That? It’s nothing.”

“Nothing?” Louis repeats, trying for gentle surprise.

Louis returns from an impromptu work trip and enjoys some long-awaited alone time with his favorite person. Lace knickers and a princess plug might have a role to play in things.

✨💎 Eyes on the Horizon by @uhoh-but-yeah-alright

(E, 12k) Freshly dumped, recently fired, and about to turn 40, Harry's friends insist on taking him skydiving to cheer him up. His younger and extremely fit instructor Louis makes him even more nervous than the idea of jumping out of a plane, but both may be exactly what he needs to turn his life around.

Waste the Night by @wicked-archer

(E, 12k) Harry is excited to finally see his favourite band in concert and his favourite person, the guitarist of the band, Louis Tomlinson. Little does he know what the night has in store for him.

✨ Prelude to Forever by @always-aqua

(M, 13k) @StylinHarry: So I kinda fell for a boy yesterday at #ChiPride. Kissed & fireworks went off. Literally. He’s a drama teacher. Goes by “Louis” but I prefer Sunshine. Very pretty. The prettiest. Got separated & I’m a fucking idiot who forgot to get his number. Anyone know him? #helpfindsunshine

Or, Louis and Harry meet at Pride in Chicago and spend the day falling for each other before getting accidentally separated.

Be Mine? by @softfonds

(E, 11k) Getting dumped the week before Valentine's Day wasn't in Harry's plans, and neither was being dragged to a concert to forget about it. But a sign Zayn brings manages to turn his night around in more ways than he hoped for.

Blinded by the Colors by @fallinglikethis

(M, 20k) After a heated fight with Harry, a maudlin, inebriated Louis Tomlinson questions his presence in his boyfriend's life. In fact, maybe all of One Direction would be better off if Louis had never been put in the band to begin with.

He never expected to wake up in a world where that's exactly what happened.

Or an It's A Wonderful Life Au where Louis Tomlinson realizes just how important he really is.

✨ Keep Me Closer by @zanniscaramouche

(T, 18k) Louis expects Harry to react poorly, maybe even file a formal complaint and that’s gonna suck ass but Louis won’t say shit cause he knows he deserves it, so he prepares an apology before Harry’s even turned around.

What he doesn’t expect is Harry to fucking drop.

Moonlight Minx by @jacaranda-bloom

(E, 15k) The one where an unexpected storm strands Harry on an island, Louis gets an unexpected house guest for the night, and love might just be the most unexpected thing of all.

Love On Air by @jacaranda-bloom

(E, 19k) The one where Louis doesn't have a type, no matter what Niall says, but if he did, it'd probably be the guy currently trapped in his radio studio and grinning back at him from across the desk.

✨ Every heart but mine by @rainblou

(E, 17k) In the years leading up to his presentation, Harry hoped that his soulmark would appear, that his soulmate would present first and Harry would have irrevocable proof that his other half was out there, waiting for him.

Years later, he's given up on waiting and with a heat coming up, his eyes are set on Louis Tomlinson to help him through it.

redamancy by @yu-taeil

(G, 10k) dystopian au.

Harry lives in a world where, at the age of 18, everyone gets paired up with a life mate, a perfectly compatible partner. When Harry gets Liam Payne as his soul mate, he thinks nothing of it. It must be true love, right?

But then he meets Louis Tomlinson, a 19 year old who is already partnered up. Harry starts to fall for Louis, and it is not unrequited, but it is against the law.

Harry had always known he’d end up breaking some rules, he just hadn’t quite imagined the magnitude of them.

Sooner or Later by orphan_account

(T, 12k) Louis suspected he might have a little crush. It was harmless enough. It wasn't as if he were any sort of threat to his sister's relationship with Harry, was it?

✨💎 I Just Wanna Give You Love by @lululawrence

(NR, 18k) Graham Norton appeared on the screen introducing his guests and out of nowhere, everything in Louis’ world was turned upside down.

Louis gasped as he intently took in the man on the screen, smiling and waving from his seat beside Sir Ian McKellen.

“Oh my God,” Louis said before it all sank in as to what it meant. “Holy fucking shit!”

“Louis William, you watch your mouth,” Jay said. “What has got into you?”

Feeling like a madman, his palms to his cheeks, Louis couldn’t help the tears of surprise, relief, and fear as he turned to his mum. “What colour are his eyes? What do you call that colour?”

“Louis, are you telling me that the man on the screen, Harry Styles, is your soulmate?”

Or the one where the world is in black and white until you meet your soulmate, but Harry is world famous and Louis is...well...not.

Where Life Changed Us by ExiledQueenCatalog

(E, 22k) Omega Harry has a rare genetic disorder where he has no sense of smell. This has lots of odd effects such as him not being able to smell his own scent but most brutally, not being able to scent the way his inner omega desires. It also leaves him as a sort of odd-ball to the community, leaving him becoming touch starved as no one wants the omega who can’t scent. Until finally, he meets the right alpha.

Hint: I want to be yours by @greenblueish

(M, 11k) or, the one where Harry unconsciously starts acting like Louis' alpha after they spend his rut together and Louis finds ways to make sure Harry's affection doesn't end.

'cause I want you (for the worse and for the better) by @absoloutenonsense

(NR, 26k) When Louis gets invited along to Anne's wedding, Harry is prepared to let people think whatever they want about their relationship. That's what Louis said -- let people think whatever they want. That changes when Louis sees his ex, who turns out to be Anne's future husband's son. Now, Louis wants to prove that he's an omega that an alpha could want, and Harry wants to get through this weekend without letting his best friend figure out he's in love with him.

We Don't Need No Piece of Paper (From the City Clerk) by @2tiedships2

(M, 26k) Harry sat on his bed and stared at the pile of luggage by the door. This was really happening. He was being shipped off to America to get married.

In a matter of months, he would be bonded to an alpha his father had chosen for him. Someone that Harry knew nothing about. Not even his name.

Party Lines by @absoloutenonsense

(E, 25k) Louis works for a phone-sex operating company, collecting credit card information and transferring calls to different operators. On a particularly busy night, everyone is booked up, and one caller has been patiently waiting for more than a few minutes. In a split second decision –one he’s probably going to regret– Louis picks up the call himself.

*

Or Louis accidentally becomes a phone sex operator.

Losing That Reactive Spark by @crazyupsetter

(E, 11k) Prompt 73: ABO fic where Louis is cursed. He can’t touch anyone without a spark of electricity going through his body, causing him to blackout. He meets Harry, the only one the curse doesn’t work on for some reason.

(Gimme a Solution and) Watch Me Run With It by @lululawrence

(NR, 21k) This second, this minute, this hour, this day... hell, this week the trend was for Harry to feel overwhelmed. He was having a hard time not drowning in all of the responsibilities he had heaped upon himself and it had exhausted him. Beyond that, really. He had gotten to the point where he didn't even remember why he used to be so focused on getting back on stage every night.

Fine. Maybe this trend had been going on for even longer than a week. It might have even been months.

Harry is getting dangerously close to his breaking point, and that is when things start to change, starting with a favorite childhood sweet a member of the touring crew leaves for him in his dressing room.

Catching a Partner by berzerkshires

(M, 25k) This documentary follows the story of two people who fell in love in the last place you'd expect. Louis is a detective at the Boston Police Department investigating a trail of recent murders. Harry is the latest victim who survived an attempted murder and is sent to live at a safe house with Detective Tomlinson as the killer is still at large.

This is their story.

No Place I'd Rather Be by @iamasphodelknox

(E, 29k) Harry's had a crush on his stepfather's friend for six years. A small crush. A tiny crush.

Honestly, if you don't look at Harry's dozens of poems about Louis Tomlinson, the crush is practically infinitesimal. They haven't even had a conversation.

But then a car wreck prompts them to finally have a conversation.

Christmas works its magic, Harry pines, Louis fonds, and they just might make it.

baby shut your mouth and turn me inside out by ballsdeepinjesus

(E, 10k) Harry and Louis meet in a mcdonalds. louis is everything harry needs.

The Joke's Always On The Joker, Baby by @greenfeelings

(M, 16k) It’s all about an anonymous one-night stand that turns Harry and Louis’ lives into a rom-com cliché, provides Liam with the perfect opportunity to finally approach the man of his dreams, and confirms Niall that he’s always right.

Hold You With My Hands Tied by @letthemusicmoveyou28

(E, 12k) "There’s a club in town called Habit, and they’re looking for a bartender to cover evenings and weekends. No previous experience required."

Harry furrows his brows. He’s never been to Habit, but he certainly knows what type of club it is. BDSM.

It’s not the ideal position for an Omega surely, but beggars can’t be choosers he supposes. He tilts his head to the side. “And they would be ok with an Omega filling that role?”

Janet scans her eyes over the job description before nodding. “Yes, actually it says here Omegas are preferred but not required.”

Harry sighs.

“When do I start?”

(Or the one where Omega Harry loses his bakery job and is forced to take a temporary position bartending at a local BDSM club. It turns out to be not so bad. Especially when he catches the eye of the owner Louis, who also happens to be a gorgeous Alpha).

if you show up there then you know I will too by @harrybirthdaytoya

(M, 11k) Everyone in Louis' life keeps getting married, but he's almost 30 and single. (He's also grumpy about it). Harry sings in a wedding band, and Louis may have a bit of a crush.

I've Always Liked the Fireworks by QuickedWeen

(T, 12k) When alphas and omegas reach the age of twenty-one they are required to attend a Proving Day ceremony. Omegas watch as alphas do their best to compete in events, show off their skills, and prove how good a mate they can really be.

The whole thing is a bit ridiculous, but Louis Tomlinson has always dreamed of finding his mate. He's got two unsuccessful Sheffield Proving Days under his belt and decides to go for the much more competitive one in Manchester. His goal is to play his best, leave it all out on the pitch, and hope that one of the omegas watching just happens to be his mate.

Hold My Heart by Awriterwrites, phdmama

(E, 14k) Or, the one where famous Louis Tomlinson offers his hand and a lot more to his seat mate on a transatlantic flight.

Torn On The Platform by conscious-ramblings

AU where harry and louis are strangers but they always get the same train to work in the morning and one day harry falls asleep on louis’ shoulder. louis wants to be annoyed because harry just broke a least seven rules of tube conduct but he looks so soft and peaceful that he just lets him sleep and wakes him ever so carefully when it’s his stop. it happens again and again until it becomes a regular thing where louis will let harry snooze and then gently nudge him awake, hand him the cup of coffee he took from him so it wouldn’t slip and spill everywhere and send him off with a “have fun at work, love” and after the tenth time harry isn’t even embarrassed anymore.

Cue changing work schedules, missing each other for the first time in weeks, panicking because “i don’t even know his name, why didn’t i ask for his name”, dramatic waiting on platforms and finally bumping into each other again when they least expect it

✨💎 Tell Me Your Secrets, Teach Me Your Ways by @insightfulinsomniac

(E, 23k) The day after turning eighteen, Omega Prince Harry is expected to meet with eligible Alpha suitors. It's a day he's been looking forward to all his life, desperate for romance and yearning to find his mate.

What he doesn't expect to find, however, is that he's one half of a historic soul-tied union: a phenomenon last seen over a century ago. Luckily, his future mate is everything he ever dreamed of finding.

But... that's just the problem. Louis makes Harry feel things he's never felt before and has no way to describe. He knows that once they're married, he and Louis are meant to mate, but what that actually entails is a mystery…

Who better to ask about these feelings than his mate-to-be?

AKA: A regency-ish royalty AU featuring overeager soulmates who maybe give into temptation a little too much on their secret journey of sexual discovery.

The way you move for me baby (lights me up like nobody else) by @thechavier

(M, 12k) Those green eyes found him again and he struggled thinking of what to say.

"You look beautiful in that dress" It's what he landed on. (...) "You know I wrote a song back in the day called little black dress?"

He didn't imagine the little spark in his eyes, nor the pleased smirk on his lips, nor the tongue peeking out to wet them.

"Why do you think I chose it for tonight?"

or the rolling stones awards au

Talk Dirty To Me by BriaMaria

(E, 13k) Or the one where Harry is absolutely terrible at dirty talk so he asks his best friend to teach him. And the one where Louis knows it's a catastrophically bad idea but agrees anyway.

Because Sparrows Mate For Life by @builtyouahousefromabrokenhome

(E, 24k) Harry’s tattoo gets done all wrong, and he needs someone to fix it.

Bend Like a Hairpin by @letthemusicmoveyou28

(M, 26k) Or the one where FBI agent Harry Styles screws up in a mission and he has one more chance to save his career. He’s going undercover as a stripper to investigate a strip club suspected of money laundering. There’s just 2 problems: 1) Harry can’t dance, and 2) he might be falling for the club’s owner Louis, who just happens to be the prime suspect.

Celebrity Discount by @loaded-gunn

(T, 27k) Louis fell for Prince Harry when he was ten and Harry was eight and peeked behind the Queen’s elegant gown for his first public appearance—a shy smile and a mess of curls. He fell for him when he caught Lottie putting up a magazine cover of Harry on her wall and all she had to say for herself was, “He’s such a good person, yeah?” and, yeah. He fell for him when Harry gracefully accepted his demotion. He fell for him when Harry came out and stayed out.

tonight's not over (come over and stay) by @adoredontour

(E, 17k) Zayn doesn’t say anything for a moment, pausing and worrying at his bottom lip. Finally, he asks, “Have you heard that Cox guy is coming out with a new song?”

Louis freezes, fingers hovering over his keyboard where they had been typing his password.

“No, I hadn’t,” Louis says truthfully. “Where did you hear that?”

“Tell anyone this and I’ll kill you, but I’d consider myself a big fan,” Zayn says. His face doesn’t change in expression, completely serious as he admits this to Louis.

“Big fan? Like run a blog and everything?”

or, harry is a famous singer and louis is a student who just wants to write his novel

where sirens fear to tread by @stylinsoncity

(M, 28k) in the royal line, there are only a select few sirens with the ability to transform into humans once a month. harry is one of those sirens. he mostly sticks to the rules. when he's on land, he reads his books. he buys copious amounts of ice cream. he keeps to himself. that is until he meets a lifeguard named louis working at one of the luxury resorts on St Barts. and unfortunately, harry doesn't know the rules about falling in love at all.

✨💎 When The Stars Come Out by @briannamarguerite

(E, 30k) Louis was about to reassure Harry further when Gemma bounded back over to him, slipping a hand around Louis' waist. Harry’s eyes followed the movement. And then that lip gnaw again. Christ. How was he supposed to survive this weekend?

He turned his attention to Gemma as her palm came to rest right above his heart. Laying it on a bit thick, dear. Or at least that’s what he hoped he’d conveyed with the simple tilt of an eyebrow.

In response, she went up on tiptoes and laid a noisy kiss on the hollow beneath his cheekbone. Louis didn’t take his eyes off Harry, who watched the scene play out with a blank expression. Once Gemma dropped back to the ground, Harry shifted away from them, his gaze dropping to his feet.

[Or the one where Louis pretends to be Gemma's boyfriend for her horrid cousin's wedding but fate is a nasty jerk and throws Harry in his way.]

•°•°•°•°•°•

part 1 (+50k) | part 2 (30-50k) | part 4 (<10k)

[inthiseverymoment]

silhouettes emerging: prologue

the vampire isabelle de la rue, upon realizing that she has been erased from history, decides on a whim to set the record straight.

iwtv oc, prologue ~500 words (short n sweet)

welcome to our framing device! my girl is a study of the messy morals of iwtv, deceptive artistic communities through the tdv, the purple-prose-ish-yet-strikingly-earnest storytelling style, and being hopelessly in love with assad zaman. WOOT WOOT

i am not sure how many chapters this'll wind up being but A Lot Is Going To Happen, I Can Promise You That

enjoyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

fic masterlist chapter i

Twenty Twenty-Three, Chicago, United States of America

“...That motherfucker.”

Instinctually, she did a double-take, despite knowing that what the page held wasn’t truly a surprise at all.

She’d been intrigued upon seeing the book in a shop window-something told her that this one was different from the thousands of fictions regarding her kind. That something had proven to be right when she glimpsed the familiar name of Louis de Pointe du Lac on the back cover’s summary; heart pounding in her ears with a somewhat delicious anticipation of decades-held secrets being blown open, she bought the book without another thought. Along with every other possibility, a teenage hope of seeing her name somewhere in this illegal chronicle thrummed in the back of her mind.

But, Isabelle realized, of course it would make sense that her maker would erase her from any history he told these days. The one that quite literally got away did not fit within the life that Armand was trying to fabricate for himself and his apparently-no-longer lover, and keeping up the lie that he had never thrown the Dark Gift upon anyone probably made him a more alluring character to whomever this Daniel Molloy was.

The author was witty, that was certain. She could practically hear the snark in every narrating line that wasn’t Louis’ pensive recollection, and she’d laughed to think of how those three personalities must have meshed and exploded throughout that interview.

She also knew that she needed to set a few things straight.

I’ve been wanting to go back to New York anyway.

~

Twenty Twenty-Three (One Week Later), New York City, United States of America

“Frankly, given the amount of telepathic ‘fuck-you’s from around the world I’ve had the pleasure of receiving, someone else wanting their story told was the last thing I expected.”

“Well, not all of us revere the Great Laws above all else.”

“Glad to hear it.”

They sat at an outdoor restaurant in Brooklyn, appearing to all the world like a pretentious, nighttime-sunglass-wearing, book-toting father and daughter. In truth, each was sizing up the other; trust was not a thing easily earned to the slightly jaded vampiress nor the world-weary journalist.

The former was beginning to wonder, though, at it seeming more possible with every second that she wasn’t the only supernatural one at the table.

She glanced at his nails, then back up to meet his eyes.

“You too?”

“Yeah.”

A beat.

“Armand?”

“Yeah.”

Another beat. This time, it was Daniel who spoke first.

“...You too?”

She almost laughed.

“Yeah.”

Apparently by habit, he lifted an incredulous hand as if to remove his glasses, then remembered himself and lowered it with a sigh.

“That motherfucker.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“So that’s why you wanted to meet.”

“I have a lot to tell,” Isabelle said, “if you haven’t heard enough already about the toxic-theatre-kid subsection of vampirism.”

Daniel considered for a moment, then-

“You’re okay if my main intention with your story is to throw it back in his face?”

Despite herself, she nearly smiled.

“Absolutely.”

[licncourt]

Ohhhh can we get into it? That post about Louis San Fran bender. Going after people who look like lestat. Maybe Louis doesn’t sleep with all of them, maybe a few but he feeds on the rest and drains them. Lestat realizing he’s made his own little magnus in a way…

San Francisco era Louis being an utter and total freak is something that is so important to me, I really cannot stop talking about it. The psychosexual aspect of the gay serial killer phenomenon as it relates to Louis is something I've discussed a lot (on here and in my fic about that) because I think it explains so much about how he looks at sex and desire. Sex and violence can't really be separated in his head (Catholic freak), especially when he's at a serious low point, so when he engages with them they are often enacted together.

When he's alone in San Francisco, he seems to be in a weird place mentally where he's in a state of obvious apathy, but also more prone to gratuitous violence. I think it does make sense, even though it seems contradictory. Vampirism is inherently violent, so those outbursts are coming from a lack of will to restrain his nature rather than real passion and the release of built up pressure the way they did before. It's exceptionally chilling and predatory. There's something very human about losing control, but the way Louis seems to approach killing in the pre-TVL era is distinctly monstrous and inhuman.

I think it's in QotD that we find out Louis initially chose Daniel as a potential victim because of his resemblance to Lestat, so this is canonically where his mind is at the time of the interview. It also shows that he's was probably cognizant of what was going on even at the time and it doesn't even seem like it bothered him that much that he was doing it. That's what makes San Francisco Louis so scary imo, just that small acknowledgment shows us that his violence is honing in on something and the obsession is either setting in or already there.

The implication in the book (AND the original short story) that the place Louis met Daniel was a gay bar adds a layer to it as well in a very human and sexual sense. Not only did he choose a Lestat lookalike, but it seems like he chose to hunt in a (homo)sexually charged environment on purpose. His whole vibe reminds me of an addict who's been using for so long that there's no dopamine rush anymore and is getting more extreme in chasing a very particular high. The allegory of addiction is always very strong in Louis, but the way it presents during this period is kind of a continuation of that narrative.

I think if Lestat hadn't woken up, Louis could have easily devolved into what Magnus became. He has that incredibly addictive personality and he's prone to obsession and pathological rumination anyway. By 1973, we can see how detached he was from humanity already. Imagine him in 300 or 500 years, after so much death and isolation. Nothing in there except hunger and memories that he's clung to for so long that they're horrifically distorted, maybe unrecognizable except for blue eyes and blonde hair.

@nasnyys is the beautiful mind behind the Lestat POV aspect of this so I can't speak on that a ton, but I love it SO much. A huge part of Lestat's story is how he can't seem to break out of existing cycles and he's often the catalyst for that continuation against his will. It seems to disturb him the most when he sees those cycles repeating in Louis (to the point where I would say he imagines them at times), so I think this would absolutely not be lost on him. Maybe he would perceive it as Magnus "tainting" him to the point where whatever Lestat creates has some essence of his maker/abuser, like it's intrinsically a part of him somehow. It's very sad, I would love to think on it more and come back with something better to say!

[dreadfuldevotee]

okay so I've gotta say I just finished iwtv and like it's really refreshing to find someone who's willing to talk about armand (and, by extension loumand) in an interesting way. Because I quite liked them in S2 so imagine my surprise when I go online and all I see is people acting like armand personally kidnapped claudia and also was mind controlling louis 24/7 (tiktok is horrible with that) when that's just the most boring and frankly nonsensical reading of the material ever. (I think it's silly in general to constantly compare loumand and loustat on the basis of who's worse because. come on.)

However, it got me thinking about how some of that might be the show's own fault? Sure, a big amount of the people not willing to engage are loustat shippers who can't comprehend one person loving multiple people, but I've seen that many people revert back to calling armand this big bad who would have let louis die as if it recontextualizes the WHOLE relationship when imo... it doesn't? Like I feel like I'm going insane bc the show presented it as this huge twist and I didn't quite get on with it? (I'm conflicted on the loustat reunion too but whatever). I feel that there's a disconnect there of what was established the whole season and what was said in the finale. And people are just running with it.

Man idek if what I'm saying makes sense but I wanted to hear your takes on it bc I quite enjoy them and value your input!

No, I totally get what you're saying! I think the details of the loumand breakup collapse on itself upon prodding a bit. I can understand why they wouldn't want them to split the way they do in the book (years of travelling together, finally ending up in New Orleans- Armand setting Louis up to meet Lestat who is wallowing, jumping at sirens 'n just generally sad and pathetic; and being fed up that Louis is seemingly unmoved to any real emotion after the encounter. Them exchanging some harsh observations about each other and then Armand walking off into the night) I think the season ending is more interested in serving the direction they're (presumably) heading for Louis, and wrapping up his life story.

I've been thinking of it to myself as a "Straw that broke the camel's back" kind of break. It's the resurfacing of all the myriad of ways Armand fucked up and fucked Louis over- Oh, and by the way not only did he have a more active role in the play than you originally thought, it never even crossed his mind once to lift a finger to save you. Though, even this falters a bit under remember that Armand breaks Louis out his crypt. People smarter than me have put their finger on exactly why it stumbles on the landing, I'm sure.

What makes it work enough for me is that Louis doesn't go back to Lestat. Yes, they see each other and hug tearfully but Louis does not walk out of Dubai with the intent to ask Lestat to take him back. No, he goes home. He ruminates in the sound of the driver's accent and immediately steps out in a saint's hat. The fact that he finds his way to Lestat is a turn of fate and even then its not really a reunion of lovers but of parents, as the only two people who will mourn Claudia. I say this all the time, but I think knowing that IWTV as a contained story is about grieving a child is the puzzle piece I think a lot of people miss. Before its about Lestat and messy romances and aliens, the whole story sprouts from this moment of deep grief. So I love that Louis has this moment of personal introspection and allows himself to feel his own grief and share it with Lestat but also make a promise to try living for himself and still goes back to the penthouse alone.

I think my continued feelings are a little contingent on how the show plays it going forward. The way I see it, if we start taking score for whos worse, Armand or Lestat- They are tied for gold. Lestat is still complicit in the trial, as is Armand ofc, but neither of them wrote it or schemed it, or genuinely personally desired to kill Louis/Claudia/Madeleine. If the show decides it wants to act like Armand is irredeemable in Louis eyes I will be....less than happy, to say the least. But if the show is as interested in engaging with all the character and all their complexities I think it could all come together quite nicely by the end.

[fascinationstreetmp3]

What if...what if past dm didn't happen. How do you see it playing out? And actually give your two cents about danlou too plz. Cause sometimes I think he is the devil ( angel) to Daniel's minion. Idk if that makes sense?

admittedly it sometimes is difficult for me to shut off my "past dm definitely happened" thinking because im just so certain there are too many hints that it did LOL but...

for armand, there's this boy he wrote off in 1973, who he maybe genuinely couldn't find anything "fascinating" or extraordinary about, who he has perhaps been underestimating this whole time in 2022— i could see him realising that now daniel is truly sharp-minded and ruthless, with none of the attempts to knock him off balance really working, and he's figured out so much in such a short space of time and ultimately gotten the truth (and a little revenge) he was after in the end. there's something very intriguing in that, despite the anger he feels that daniel took everything from him.

maybe turning him could feel like a punishment to armand (even though i think daniel did want to be a vampire by that point, armand might not realise that. and it could also be a form of punishment for louis, taking away daniel's humanity in a perversion of letting him live for louis in 1973), but maybe it's also subconsciously a way of keeping around someone who has figured him out and seen him so quickly, even if that is something he runs from.

for daniel, i think everything that went down in dubai sort of "woke him up." when we first see him, he looks bored, tired, and lonely. he barely talks to his family, only enough for them to know he's sick, and he's teaching internet classes now. the pandemic has kept him away from the world but it also feels like the passion has seeped out of him long before that. at this point he's expecting to die someday soon and leave his daughters some cash. being invited for a second interview with louis doesn't immediately break him out of that mindset; it's invigorated him some by the end of the first season, but once there's an even bigger mystery to crack after armand reveals himself, that's when he really starts enjoying himself.

by the end of season 2, daniel is so far in it he doesn't want it to stop, chasing a high. and for that reason, even if the turning was "spiteful" on armand's part, i think daniel would've wanted to be turned either way. just like daniel in the books, he can't go back to an ordinary life and function normally or sit around waiting to die after being so involved in this world. armand gives it to him in some form— but daniel wants more, he wants answers and a story from armand, he wants to crack the truth about him and figure out "where the bullshit starts." so he chases after him when armand leaves, and it turns into an inverse of their original chase in the books:

the highlighted lines could actually actually work in reverse in this scenario too— daniel wants to know what makes armand so fascinating, wants to know what and who he really is. even down to daniel himself not being able to move about by day now when armand can. and as the chase goes on, they learn more about one another, becoming drawn to each other despite the animosity between them.

as for the second part of your question, do you mean danlou kind of acting as the show's version of devil's minion? or their relationship being more similar to what armand and daniel's is in the books? i see danlou as something unique, and especially if there was any kind of past dm, i don't know that louis would be directly involved— in the sense that i believe he wouldn't be happy to fuck with this kid's life even further than he already did, with the "think of me as god or an angel" speech he gave trying to set daniel free from everything he'd seen and heard from armand. even if louis doesn't really care as much about humanity in general as he sometimes claims, daniel is a symbol of something to louis, proof he can still do good.

whereas with armand, no matter what love was there, dm is ultimately about keeping daniel embroiled in that life. armand shares his blood and lets daniel get addicted to it, and it slowly breaks daniel apart until he's losing his mind.

like you said, louis is more the "angel" where armand's the "devil." in a past dm scenario i actually think it's possible the words louis speaks to daniel in 1973 could be something that helps daniel towards the end of his relationship with armand in the 80s ("if things ever get bad again," "these words will hold you up and carry you; they are your lifeline") and could be what led to him finally breaking free of armand and maybe asking to be "let go" if he really won't ever turn him.

but to me whether past dm happened or not, danlou is about daniel being the first person in a long time to listen to louis both in 1973 and 2022, louis changing and saving daniel's life in a way no one else ever did, and daniel coming back 50 years later and eventually returning the favour. they're both fathers to daughters, they've both repressed themselves in various ways, they've both had their memories messed with by armand.

they're the vampire and the interviewer who kick off the whole story being told, and i think the show portrays that very well, keeping them (and hopefully their relationship) relevant going forward and expanding on their relationship with each other in a way the books never did, and not really borrowing any dynamic from dm or anyone else. armand of course hangs over them both, the same way louis hangs over dm, the same way daniel factors into loumand in 1973 and 2022, and they're all important to each other for different reasons.

[spicykat9]

regarding your au with ludwig as rome's sugar baby-

feli when he sees lud pull up with a brand new lamborghini, a BOVET watch and louis vuitton from head to toe: 🤨

Best part. Ludwig didn't even ask for these things. Ludwig prefers quality over brand name. But Rome I think would definitely go for luxury brands in modern aus.

Ludwig just took up this dynamic to pay for uni/college without straining his ill brother Gilbert or work himself to death. But Rome can't help but doll Ludwig up in luxury brands. After all, Lud doesn't exactly have the best fashion sense. And Rome I see as being rather fashionable so he convinces Lud to update his wardrobe. And Lud doesn't really care about clothes so he kind of just goes along with it.

Though I don't know if Ludwig would accept the lambo, I've heard they aren't the most efficient when it comes to gas and maintenance. And Lud is someone I see as being particular about cars and cares more about saving gas and just over all being more efficient than flashy and fast. Now driving around with Rome in a Lambo, definitely can see, but I can't see him actually using one on his own. No matter how much Rome insists.

Honestly, I love the idea that Lud keeps from Feli that Rome is his sugar daddy. How do you tell your best friend his father/grandfather is your sugar daddy? Now I think he lets it slip that he has a sugar daddy to Feli. And Feli is like "Yessss. Get that bag." But Lud is going to keep tight lipped about the sugar daddy being Rome.

[stylinsoncity]

a little snippet from the thrill of it all...

Harry pauses at the doorway to the lunchroom with a Tupperware bowl held in his hands. Over by the microwave, Louis and Kate pause too. A half-second later, Kate returns to her story about a recent trip to London.

Louis’ gaze lingers.

With a shallow exhale, Harry steps into the lunchroom. “Sorry,” he says, gesturing with the Tupperware bowl. “I just need the microwave.”

“Whoops, sorry,” says Kate and noticeably sets her hand on Louis’ forearm as if to guide him out of the way, as if he needs guiding. Harry doesn’t think he’s ever had the urge to hiss until now. He feels his gums ache as he quickly puts his back to them.

He shoves the bowl into the microwave a bit roughly, jostling some soup that he’ll have to wipe up later, and sets the timer. He sets it high because the microwave sucks and takes a while to get going, also so he has more time to eavesdrop. He crosses his arms tightly over his chest as he waits, his mouth set in a firm unhappy line that neither of his colleagues can see.

He can hear the quick uptake of Kate’s heart when Louis speaks and almost feels sorry for her. It doesn’t mean she’s in love with him, Harry knows that. But she’s moved by him, which almost seems just as bad.

Harry wants to feel sorry for her because doing so sets him apart. Doing so establishes a line of demarcation between her infatuation and his own. Harry is moved by Louis, too, but in a literal sense, they’ve moved each other. Harry’s infatuation is reciprocated. Kate’s isn’t.

Except he’s not entirely sure that’s true anymore.

And at least Kate isn’t the kind of person to vacillate ad nauseum between boldness and timidity. Kate is always bold and unapologetic with her attention. Whether Harry wants to admit it or not, she’s the one to envy right now, not him.

To his relief, one of Kate’s team members arrives to fetch her for their next meeting and after telling Louis she’ll catch up with him later, she’s gone.

Louis isn’t, though. “Is that homemade soup?” he asks, sliding into the space beside Harry.

For a second, Harry just looks at Louis in an inexplicable stupor. “Uh, I don’t know. It’s Jim’s,” he says, numbly. “I’m heating it up for him.”

“Jim can’t heat up his own soup?” Louis asks with a scowl.

“It’s my fault. I offered the first time and now he keeps asking,” Harry says. “It’s honestly fine.”

The microwave beeps. Harry carefully removes the container and turns to face Louis. “Good chat with Kate?” he asks.

“You tell me,” Louis says. “You were listening to most of it.”

Harry’s mouth drops open. “I was not,” he says, aghast.

“You absolutely were,” Louis says, plainly. “What’s for lunch, then? If not soup?”You, Harry thinks. Or pretends not to think. And nearly spills more soup.

He isn’t thirsty. He fed before leaving so he shouldn’t be. But he’s also been feeding more often than usual. When he confirmed his next delivery last night, he even considered increasing his subscription level. But he’s not sure he can afford to and he’s not so desperate yet.

“I don’t know,” Harry says. “Soup actually sounds good.”

“There’s a new Mediterranean place down the street some clients seem to like,” Louis says, randomly. “Want to go?”

Harry forgets to blink.

“After you give Jim his soup,” Louis adds in the silence. “Obviously.”

“Would that not be weird…? If someone saw us?”

“As far as anyone knows, we work together and we’re just getting lunch,” Louis says. When Harry still doesn’t reply right away, Louis’ smile visibly shrinks. “It’s lunch, Styles. But if you’re busy…or you don’t want to, it’s fine.”

“No, I want to, really,” Harry says. He’s more surprised that Louis wants to. “I’ll just drop off the soup. And meet you at the lift.”

[virginiaisforvampires]

Until I saw your gif, I didn't even realize those were books falling around Daniel. I thought the ceiling was caving in because they were being attacked or something. I'm a little less nervous now, but I still hope Daniel doesn't get hit by those books.

Yep. When I first saw it, I was like no! Don’t hit Daniel!

But having a longer version of the clip in the full trailer to see it was actually the bookcases exploding gave me pause, and my mind immediately went to this passage from Louis in Prince Lestat:

He’d learned once more somehow, after Lestat had shattered the Undead realm with his antics and his pronouncements, to live from night to night in a semblance of happiness, and to seek for grace once more in the music of operas, symphonies, and choruses, and in the splendor of paintings old and new, and in the simple miracle of human vitality all around him—with Armand and Benji and Sybelle at his side. He had learned his old theology was useless to him and perhaps always had been, an incurable canker inside him rather than a spark to kindle any kind of hope or faith.

“….after Lestat had shattered the Undead realm with his antics and his pronouncements….”

This is referring to Lestat breaching the veil between the natural world (in which vampires exist) and the supernatural world (in which “angels” and spirits and “devils” exist).

This is what Lestat tells Quinn Blackwood in Blackwood Farm about his time in the coma with these supernatural beings called “angels”:

“This right eye was torn from me,” he said, “just as I described it, by those spirits who would have prevented me from fleeing Memnoch’s Hell. And then it was returned to me, here on Earth, and sometimes I believe that this eye can see strange things.”

“What strange things?”

“Angels,” he said, musing, “or those who call themselves angels, or would have me conclude that they’re angels; and they have come to me in the long years since I fled Memnoch. They’ve come to me as I lay like one in a coma on the chapel floor of St. Elizabeth’s….It seems my stolen eye, my restored eye, my bloodshot eye, has established some link with these beings, and I could tell you a tale of them, but now is not the time.”

“They harmed you, didn’t they?” I asked, sensing it in his manner. He nodded.

“They left my body there for my friends to watch over,” he explained, and for the first time since I’d seen him, he looked troubled, indecisive, even faintly confused.

“But my spirit they took with them,” he went on. “And in a realm as palpable as this very room they set me down to do their bidding, always threatening to snatch back this right eye, to take it forever if I didn’t do what they bid me to do.”

He hesitated, shaking his head. “I think it was the eye,” he said, “the eye which gave them the claim on me, the ability to reach down to me, in this realm, and take me—it was the eye, stolen in another dominion and then returned on Earth to its rightful socket. You might say that as they looked down from their lofty Heaven, if Heaven it is, they could see, through the mists of Earth, this bright and shining eye.”

He sighed as if he were suddenly miserable. He looked at me searchingly. “This wounded eye, this tarnished eye,” he continued, “gave them their compass to find me, their opening, as it were, between dominions, and down they came to enlist my spirit against my will.”

………………..

“I can’t entirely accept what I learned from Memnoch and those who came afterwards. I’ve never told anyone of my last spiritual adventure, though the others, the Blood Drinkers who love me—you know, my lusty troop of beloveds, I call them that now, the Troop of Beloveds—they know that something happened, they sense it only too well. I don’t even know which of my bodies was the true one—the body that lay on the floor of the chapel of St. Elizabeth’s, or the body that roamed with the so-called angels. I was an unwilling trafficker in knowledge and illusions. The story of my last adventure, my secret unknown adventure, the adventure I haven’t confided to anyone, weighs on my soul as if to make my spiritual breath die out.”

“Can you tell me now of this adventure?” I asked. It took a great sense of power in him, I thought, to look so readily abject, to show me such affliction. “No,” he said. “I haven’t the strength for the telling of that story yet, that’s the plain truth.”

If Lestat is the coma, it would not surprise me at all for the show to go big on such a climatic moment from the books and literally show that Lestat is “shattering the realm” when he senses what Louis has done, because at that point, those “angels” lose their power over him. The worst had happened when Louis “died”, and nothing mattered to Lestat anymore except getting to Louis.

@cbrownjc also made the point in this reblog in that this moment is also around the same time as the shattering bookcases moment, because Daniel is wearing the same shirt:

As noted in the reblog, Louis looks tired here. He looks like someone who’s accepted stuff with a grief-stricken finality. Daniel, on the other hand, looks tender. He’s looking at Louis with a quiet affection, as if some of his memories are back in place, as if he remembers something between him and Louis, and he’s recognizing that Louis actually does mean something to him. There’s a palpable understanding between them in this moment and yes, a mutual appreciation. It’s giving shades of the moment in 1x06 in which Louis finally offered to turn Daniel. Given the clips we’ve seen of Louis viciously attacking Daniel in the original interview and almost killing him, there’s something quite profound and poetic seemingly happening in this scene. A full-circle moment.

Until….

So yeah, I think the entire penthouse will “groan” and shake, rattle, and roll when Louis’ heart stops, and Lestat feels it. Judging from everything we have to go on thus far, including some of Jacob’s own comments, I really don’t see any other culmination for Louis in S2 other than the Merrick moment. Everything has happened that is needed to get him to that headspace, and I feel like trying to hold off on that and push him to that specific breaking point again at another time would just be repetitive. He’s in that headspace now.

[dxxtruction]

What I find dynamically interesting about Armand is he really is a victim of his own privileges, but his privileges are still privileges, and it kind of gets lost where exactly he stands in position to them. With Marius it's most clear, like he gets luxuries, money, an education but those don't cancel out how he was abused and prostituted by Marius. In the CoD, yes he is the leader, but he's a victim of being forced into the position against his will, having to take on, and become accustomed to, the role of killing other vampires who break The Great Laws, regardless of his own desire to, and further, having to uphold things he no longer believes in, in order to appease the larger group.

With the TdV the only main difference is that it's secular. He has control over the beliefs being presented, giving humans/the audience the illusion and vampires the grim reality of things. So he can now think for himself, but still has to appease a larger group he never wanted, who are labyrinthine depths of stuff he wishes he didn't have to put up with. He upholds the laws pretty much only in order to appease people, and to some extent reinforce his role as the leader. Keeping this order and peace isn't what he wants though, he doesn't want his leadership. But I think a part of him is aware how such a position can become abused, and can suspect how someone like Santiago would abuse the position. The Great Laws almost need someone who doesn't want to be the one to uphold them in order to not be abused.

And I think as well that this secularism puts him at greater risk, (greater perceived risk I should say?), since people aren't considering some kind of divine right to his ruling. He has to actually prove he deserves this position, and is strong enough to maintain it. The theatre was also established right around the time of the french revolution, where uncontested 'divine' leadership was toppled for enlightenment thinking. So he can garner the coven is disillusioned by how much power he really holds. He's probably rightfully paranoid. I think as well he's understandably fairly unaware of his true position in all of this, and how much power he actually holds, or could hold, especially given all of the various contentions he has with his own power.

The only part of things where he isn't a victim at all is with Louis, but I think he probably sees himself this way. (No Armand there's more to being a victim than simply not having your way). Like he has all the privilege of everything he ever wanted, but at a cost for something he never wanted - (The trail and Louis' tendency towards ideation and depression made worsened by said trail. Of which he partook in an unclear position of privilege. Though he tells it that he'd been forced to). He's still living a lie of himself, which I think is what fuels this sense of being partway the victim in all this. He still has to posture a role and appeasement towards his privileges in order to have a semblance of peace and what he wants. Though this is in a much more manageable and definitely desired way, he can be possessive over out of purely his own desire for it. But even if this is everything he wanted he's always going to be on edge with knowing it's all a lie that he conveniently earned Louis back. (If we're going with just the show there's something in the way the acting is done that says Armand was NOT expecting it, even upset.)

And he gets toppled out of this by Daniel, and for the first time has really no privileges at all, no position at all, but is completely free to simply be seen, and be himself. He wanted this in equal measure to wanting love. He wanted to be seen and heard, and to experience the world without being beholden to a lie of himself he'd developed to endure. I think he always feared this, and yet also desired this out of Daniel. He just couldn't fully admit it till he saw it. Daniel is the best thing to have ever happened to Armand, and I'm not sure how Armand is taking it. Probably with a lot of confusion, probably very lost. But he did change him, he is his fledgeling. So that must mean something, maybe something he can hold onto to maintain some type of thread to all he has ever been. Maybe for love for him, maybe a gift of reciprocity. It's speculation.

Also the fact Armand is not white in the TV adaptation adds many layers to his positionality. He is always going to be without the privileges of whiteness, even with a position to be granted some amnesty and privileges by appealing to whiteness. He is a victim as well of colonialist racism, first, before even ending up with Marius. Having then no privileges, not even that of himself.

[nalyra-dreaming]

I enjoy your blog and I’m not trying to be argumentative; just some friendly debate, but I notice you and Virginia both frequently reduce the entire Antoinette ordeal to Louis’ feeding habits and Lestat’s need for attention and adoration. Don’t you think Lestat had to have at least a little love for Antoinette? He had to love her on some level not to kill her right off the bat. This is apparent in the scene before Louis is playing cards before Doris tells him Jonah is there, Lestat is standing up close to the stage, completely entranced watching Antoinette perform like there is no one else in the room. Louis isn’t even present to make jealous. He slept with her and didn't kill her before Loustat was having serious problems like lack of intimacy. He stayed with her just as long as he stayed with Louis. I’m sorry, but I don’t think that man ever had any intention of being in a monogamous relationship.

Hey nonny!

(All good, you can be argumentative, as long as you're kind it's all fine, I just won't accept hate or insults anymore^^, hope that makes sense! Also, I really don't see that as argumentative^^)

I think @virginiaisforvampires and I just ... shorten the Antoinette discussion at times (by now) because it's been... a theme.

Like, the fandom latched onto the jealousy angle so massively, the asks wrt her were so numerous, the human cheating AUs on Ao3 so prevalent... the vampiric aspect seems to be often overlooked.

I think you're referring to my ask with the open relationship?

Because of course Antoinette was more.

(this is long, so the rest under the cut:)

She became more when he did not kill her as a feeding fling. (And I still stand by the fact that they must have had a lot of feeding flings, for example Louis is not really taken aback by soldiers in their bedroom - the same bedroom he gets so sharp about with Antoinette, which is another detail.)

So yes, Lestat apparently slept with her and didn't kill her. We don't get to see it, but it is insinuated.

But there is a lot more to Antoinette, and that is why some think she might show up again later. I am not sure if you're familiar with "the musician" from IWTV, "Antoine" from the later books?

Let me recap:

In IWTV we have the unnamed "musician". Louis never bothers to find out his name, even though it is clear that Lestat turns him. That unnamed musician then gets into the crossfire of Claudia's attempt on Lestat's life, and Louis... forgets about him. But he did know about him from the beginning:

"Lestat had a musician friend in the Rue Dumaine. We had seen him at a recital in the home of a Madame LeClair, who lived there also, which was at that time an extremely fashionable street; and this Madame LeClair, with whom Lestat was also occasionally amusing himself, had found the musician a room in another mansion nearby, where Lestat visited him often. I told you he played with his victims, made friends with them, seduced them into trusting and liking him, even loving him, before he killed. So he apparently played with this young boy, though it had gone on longer than any other such friendship I had ever observed." [..] "I could not tell whether he had actually become fond of a mortal in spite of himself or was simply moving towards a particularly grand betrayal and cruelty. Several times he’d indicated to Claudia and me that he was headed out to kill the boy directly, but he had not. And, of course, I never asked him what he felt because it wasn’t worth the great uproar my question would have produced. Lestat entranced with a mortal! He probably would have destroyed the parlor furniture in a rage."

(Interesting tidbit about the rage, which they picked up for the show!)

Louis even encounters Antoine, has a bit of a discussion with him after the initial attack on Lestat:

‘What is it?’ I asked him. ‘What did you need from him? I’m sure he would want me to...’ “ ‘He was my friend!’ He turned on me suddenly, his voice dropping with repressed outrage.

This last bit is important, for the later books, most importantly for "Prince Lestat", which we know Rolin takes from. Because in that book, in chapter 7, we find out what happened to "the musician", Antoine, after that fateful night, when Rue Royale burned (in the book).

Because Antoine did not burn to death (in the show, likely: Louis and Claudia did not know to scatter the ashes), and he survives, hideously burned, needing decades to heal. Lestat reunites with him before he chases after Louis and Claudia (to Europe).

When Antoine later tells of his own story, he says this:

“He was my friend, Lestat,” Antoine confessed. “He told me about his lover, Nicolas, who had been a violinist. He said he couldn’t speak his heart to his little family, to Louis or Claudia, that they would laugh at him. So he spoke his heart only to me.”

There is a LOT in that little paragraph. A lot that fits with what we know from the show, too.

Louis (in the show) tells of Lestat saying that "Antoinette fortifies him against them". Antoinette became more than a passing interest, a passing feeding fling, true, because Lestat can confide in her, can be himself with her, especially later, when things between him and Louis take on a strain. But he never leaves Louis, and I think that is often overlooked - (s)he was never a real threat to Louis, nor Claudia. Lestat left Antoine behind when he goes after them, to try to save them.

Louis on the show makes it seem as if Antoinette was that major threat. And the show (of course^^), sharpened that threat by making Antoine a woman, a white woman, whose very presence represented what Louis could not be in their relationship at the time, namely an official partner.

Louis uses the focus on Antoinette and what she represents to overshadow other things that coincide with the affair. He does the same later, when they are threatened, to shift the focus to Lestat's paranoia. It's clever, because it's built on truth, a "look at my right hand, not at my left" approach. But the real story is much more difficult than that.

And I think that goes for Antoine(tte) as well.

Since Rolin is specifically taking from "Prince Lestat" as well there is no way in hell he has somehow missed reading chapter 7, or has missed Antoine in the later books/chapters.

I for one wouldn't be surprised if she shows up at the trial - or in Dubai. Maybe she's that interior designer, who knows that Louis is missing the natural world....

I don't know. We'll see. But I doubt that the jealousy angle is all there is to it. There are too many discrepancies, even down to the make-up they used for her (which is its own meta). Lestat may have very well loved her, albeit differently than he loves Louis.

As for the monogamous relationship(s)...

Nonny, forgive me, but these are not humans. They are vampires.

They hunt, and kill humans, for food and pleasure. They play with their food, like other predators in our world do, too. They are also inherently hedonistic, looking for pleasure. (Maybe) Especially Lestat is trying to drown himself in the pleasurable things at times, for reasons that the show will still get to. Since the show explicitly added sex to the mix that desire is of course expressed in the hunt for pleasure, too.

But totally apart from "food", and sex... these vampires are a mess, relationship-wise.

When Lestat and Louis are "married" in the later books as Jacob calls it (I bet they'll make that literal in the show^^), that doesn't mean that they don't still love others. Have loved others. Will love others. They are beyond the need to narrow down their love though. And they are "official partners" then.

But it's... a knot of relationships and history.

Some of these people are truly immortal. Like, can not be killed anymore.

Imagine living with that fact (it maybe most famously sends Lestat reeling in "The tale of the Body Thief", for example).

Imagine loving with that fact. Imagine having the time.

[fancyfeathers]

Oh my gosh, yes I have been waiting for this question because when I write these stories I make an unnamed person in my kind and basically make her the darling which you all can fill in the blanks with, so thank you @zainiscompletelydone333

Louis’ darling gets the mercy of having many of the clothes from her old life, like William retrieved them when he retrieved her for his brother. Fairly simple, button up shirts, ribbon ties, long skirt and perhaps a vest. I imagine that after awhile Louis would have her do housework with him, only under his supervision since she was the only one who was kidnapped in the traditional sense with William’s coming in close though. I also imagine Louis like her wearing flowers in her hair, it reminds him of the days they used to go to the market together and he would always buy her a bouquet of flowers for her apartment, the last ones still left on the windowsill, dead and collecting dust.

Albert’s darling is from noble blood, even as silly as that is in that situation, she is still expected by her peers when she does go out in public to look the part. I imagine much of the clothes of the era’s aristocracy not being palatable for Albert to see on his wife, the tight waist looks far to uncomfortable, and the dress looks near impossible to move in. I imagine him preferring dresses that were popular at the start of the century in the regency era rather than the end, especially with the corsets since they show her natural figure rather ran the restrictiveness of the current ones that are popular. Then I don’t think Albert would be very keen on heavy jewelry, but since his darling has her own from before their marriage he does not mind her wearing it if that is what she wishes, though I do imagine he would buy her a sapphire necklace for their anniversary perhaps that he prefers to see her in.

William’s darling is the one who is subjected to a few of the fashions of the time, less than most people like no corsets that squeeze her waist so tight that it causes damage and No over the top hoop skirts for dresses. He dresses her in more softer colors and shades, the fabric and lace being just a tiny bit less itchy than the fabric from the costumes at the ballet she used to work at. I do think that he would avoid more expensive jewelry and accessories because I do not think William would like her looking too much like the woman of the aristocracy, finding their clothing too expensive and needlessly so, but I do think he would buy her a nice set of lace gloves for a wedding gift and her wedding ring would be ruby and gold. He would definitely buy her a pearl necklace and maybe a set of earrings for rare occasions when they do go out, which isn’t very often due to the gossip of the nobility revolving around her being on his arm, both of them hating the stares from everyone around, William because he despises her being talked about in such a way and her because she never even wanted to be here.

[pynkhues]

https://x.com/snow_droplet/status/1836806686041944275

lots of people see this scene (louis reading madame bovary) as a one more confirmation of louis = housewife = mother. just as the yellow painting depicting mother and child. why do you think he relates to these works so much? and what do you think it says about writers' intent wrt his character?

Mm, I can see the thought process, but having read Madame Bovary a number of years ago, I'm a little surprised at the interpretation of Louis as Emma, who cheats because she finds monogomy boring, provincial life even more so, and dislikes motherhood - three things that I'd associate a lot more with Lestat than I would with Louis given a) Antoinette, and the fact that Louis never cheated on Lestat given he only had sex with Jonah when the relationship was opened up, b) Lestat spent most of his mortal life trying to escape the French countryside when Louis has only ever lived in cities, and c) his Whole Deal with Claudia.

I do think that it's worth noting too that the copy of Madame Bovary Louis' reading is actually Lestat's, not Louis':

It also shows I think a real sense of taking Louis' self-assessment when he's at one of his lowest points of depression across the course of the series, as an actual representation of himself? Claudia calling Louis a housewife was pretty specifically about trying to emasculate him into action, and we're sitting with Louis here where he does feel emasculated. Louis does find purpose through work - he's an ambitious man and a capitalist from the moment we meet him - and him being forced out of the upper echelon of earning capacity due to his race is both, of course, racist, but I think also is something he does find emasculating.

Louis always took his role as provider seriously with the du Lac's, I think both as eldest son and patriarch (and I kinda touched on it in my post about Grace, but the show flirts a little with gothic themes of a perverted family structure there in that Louis is both father and brother to Grace and Paul, and son and husband to Florence), and I think even having the illusion that he was providing for at least Claudia, if not Lestat (who of course is cashed-up from Magnus), was still a crucial part of his identity. It's why it's easy for him to fall into a (again, perverted) version of that role with Armand.

That's even without getting into the Capitalism of it all, haha. I actually forgot this and just caught it again on my (very slow) re-watch, but The Azaelia isn't Louis' only business at the time when it starts getting targeted. He's invested in, at the very least, grocery stores and millineries, which Lestat points out to him when Louis' making his No Whites Allowed sign:

This - - again - - is emasculating. Grocery stores and hat makers are very specifically pink-collar industries, and Louis' been making a fortune not off women's quote-unquote 'interests', he's been making it off women's bodies. And again, one day, I'm going to write my Louis-is-a-misogynyst post, but for now, my point is that it's the insult of this that fuels Louis' (rightful!) anger, not his relation to it.

The painting I do think is a bit different, but that's kind of harder to talk about given visual art is so subjective (and honestly I know less about it / can speak to it less). I do think it's significant though that the artist is a Black man, and someone who's still pretty up and coming. The maternal side there I can see, but I don't think it's as absolute as others, just personally.