#idk i'm sure i'm misreading something. haven't finished the ep yet. just thoughts

[hermit-frog]

finally rewatching the ep and some things are starting to make sense (still don't like some of it, but there's nothing i can do about it). if Armand had planned to kill both Claudia and Louis in order to stay with his coven and keep the stability and power, then why stay with Louis after the events in Paris, and when the 70s have presented an opportunity to leave? well:

yes, this is a very Armand thing to say and do. Armand is nothing but a black hole, no identity, no feeling of self, complete detachment, need to dissolve self in the presence of others, to distract, to forget. no pain. Armand needs to constantly attach himself to someone in order to know what role to play (and to have one, otherwise there's nothing but a confusing half-remembered pain), to serve, to be served, the familiarity of the habit/ritual (even if it's from his abusive past. it's the only thing he knows, the only comfort he got). they made it extra crispy, in the show. + the vampire loneliness.

Lestat still owning Louis. Armand, with no coven, no theater, attaching himself immediately. Was there a choice, Louis? Did you really have any power at that moment? “Maître, but only when it's convenient.” Lestat not telling Louis because he'd figure it out. “and we are once again teachers of one another.” Teacher student, husband wife, father daughter, dom sub, maker fledgling, ...

but why release Louis from his “banishment” if Armand was planning to kill him anyway? I believe that Armand did have feelings for Louis (even if those have withered with time), one thing is a relatively fast sacrifice for personal gain/out of fear, the other is to hear Louis scream his lungs out as he starved and grieved Claudia's murder. Armand didn't plan Louis' torture, he couldn't take it.

Louis doesn't leave, why let him do his revenge? same situation. no marius, coven. no coven, lestat? no lestat, new coven. louis, no coven. no louis, coven. no coven, louis. no louis, daniel. no daniel etc it's this or death, just like when he got kidnapped. “He remained with me because he had to do it. It was the only way that he could go on existing(..)” projecting, Armand?