#while armand has no idea daniel feels like this and thinks daniel hates him now since he's been paranoid about turning daniel since the 80s
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Santiago and his relationship with Armand
OK so I actually wrote most of this as tags to a post that compared Santiago mocking Louis in the restaurant with Louis mocking Santiago after he set the theatre on fire, but I realized I wanted to expand on the idea.
Basically, I had always interpreted Santiago's hatred of Louis as jealousy over him 'stealing' Armand (both in the book and in the show). An interview with Ben Daniels confirmed that while Santiago was initially written as straight, Ben felt the only way Santiago would so viciously hate Louis was if he was in love with Armand. However, in the same interview he also said that Santiago had been in love with his maker, and his jealousy of Louis and conflict over Armand killing his maker made him want to destroy Louis.
After reading this, I was more than a little confused: if Santiago loved his maker, how could he fall in love with Armand?
Then I saw the gifset and was reminded of this moment-
Louis mocks Santiago about his maker's disdain for him, and how his maker abandoned him shortly after he turned him. Santiago loved his maker, but his maker did not love him back.
Now, we aren't given any timeline of events in terms of when Santiago is made, when he joins the Coven and when Armand kills his maker, but I think it's safe to assume it all happens not long after he was turned. So we have fledgling Santiago, bitterly in love with a maker who disdains him, meeting the beautiful and powerful Armand. Armand welcomes him into the Coven, gives him the opportunity to return to his theatrical career, and kills the maker that wounded Santiago's pride and heart. From that perspective, Armand must have seemed like an avenging angel to Santiago- of course he'd fall in love.
For years, Santiago forges his way up the ranks of the Coven, serving Armand and becoming his right hand man and star of the show. The other vampires of the coven practically throw themselves at him, some of the women literally fighting each other over him...but his heart belongs to Armand.
Then Louis and Claudia come into town, and Armand's attention leaves him for this beautiful man that Santiago can't help feeling attracted to too. And Armand lets this newcomer do pretty much whatever he wants, making the execution of Santiago's maker suddenly seem a lot less fair... yet Armand is still the one responsible for pretty much all the opportunities and good things in Santiago's life, and he's still the one Santiago loves and wants above all others.
Just look at his reaction to seeing Armand's photo in Louis' apartment-
There's no anger there, no hate. He's in love. And he wants Armand back.
Santiago must've been thrilled when Armand seemingly changed his mind about Louis and Claudia and agreed to punish them for their "crimes". I suspect, though this is only hinted at in the show, that after the trial, Armand regrets choosing the coven and allows himself to be overthrown by Santiago (Celeste is overheard by Louis saying that Armand was overthrown and there's no reason to doubt her at this point). Now Santiago has (he thinks) everything he wants: leadership of the coven, his rival dead, and Armand seemingly broken and at his mercy. When we see him watching Armand bow his head to him and slip into his coffin, Santiago stares at him with naked hunger, completely ignoring Celeste hanging off his arm.
He thinks it's only a matter of time before Armand will become his lover once more. Instead, Armand frees Louis and allows him to destroy Santiago's world.
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Initial thoughts for 2x03 (Episode 10) — SPOILERS INCLUDED!
Hooooo boy. This episode, y’all. This episode. “No Pain” aka The Vampire Lestat (Armand’s Wattpad Version)™
I think it was deliberate that Louis was asleep for the main parts of Armand’s version of his history with Lestat. A lot of that recollection was disjointed and full of contradictions that even calls things from S1 into question (I’ll get to that). A lot was being omitted and glossed over, and I’m glad for that in a way (I’ll get to that too.)
Armand has spun the story in a way that makes Louis feel as if they are kindred souls who were both harmed by Lestat and as if the way Lestat allegedly treated Nicki was a “pattern” for how he seemingly treated Louis, even though it’s clear that’s not accurate, and Louis deep-down knows it’s not accurate even though he tries to back up what Armand says. There are so many ???? moments that contradict, not only what Armand is telling NOW, but also what Louis told in S1 such as Lestat’s apparent apathy towards Nicki and just abandoning him while in S1 Louis knew the memory of Nicki was something deeply cutting for Lestat. There’s also the fact Louis acted as if Lestat leaving and being selfish was “typical” meanwhile he knows Lestat never left him during his lowest point in S1 and wouldn’t even truly abandon Louis after the events of 1x05 when he easily could’ve. Lestat is also apparently so possessive that he had to be killed to escape him, but he also abandons Nicki so easily? Mmmmm no.
I want to make a separate bullet list for every inaccuracy and OOC point wrt Armand’s version. 😅 For one, Lestat would never treat Nicki like that, which goes back to the way Lestat was framed in S1 with the Antoinette/Jonah red-herring. For another, Armand was acting like Lestat loved him so much and was all over him and then abandoned them all after “using” Armand to gain vampirism secrets. Armand has seemingly framed it in a way to essentially offer a confirmation bias so that Louis can feel justified in “hating” Lestat and why it was “inevitable” that he be killed. Even though, like I said, Louis knows none of that is true as evidenced by his breakdown with DreamStat in the club/park.
Harlequin Lestat was hot af. I’m just amazed that they’re acting as if it was Lestat’s idea to form the theater when that couldn’t be further from the truth. Just like Lestat, the Lestat who held such reverence for the arts, would not be fucking in the audience and especially would not be fucking Armand while Nicki watched. Absolutely not.
Seeing Lestat and Nicki onscreen together finally….I got choked up. They were exactly how I always pictured them. They were so tender and so sweet….until Armand interrupted. When Lestat steps out of the carriage to greet Nicki, you can hear the reverence and love and devotion in his voice when he says Nicki’s name. It harkened back to 1x06 when Lestat said his name to Claudia and the reverence was evident.
Sam’s acting in that confrontation scene was magnificent. He showed us that Lestat was truly upset, scared, and going ballistic over Armand hurting Nicki and abducting him. Yet we’re supposed to believe Lestat was also so cruel and apathetic that he turned Nicki and didn’t care about his struggles and also was so malicious that he’d cheat on Nicki right in front of him with Armand and simply abandon Nicki without a second thought?! Again, absolutely not.
I wondered how Armand was going to frame Nicki’s abduction and apparently he just admits to doing it, Daniel says he lured Lestat there, and Armand says he just wanted Lestat to bust up the coven?! While just a few sentences later Armand is telling Lestat his coven left him?! Uh, no. The coven didn’t leave him. Armand had a rage tantrum and threw many of them into the fire. They didn’t “throw themselves” due to Lestat. But back to Nicki’s abduction, that’s it?! No elaboration or calling that out for how unhinged and awful it was?! Okie dokie then. 🙃
Having said that, I’m glad they didn’t delve too much into Nickistat. Armand tried to butcher it, but Nicki is a story that needs to be told by Lestat. Their story deserves that as it’s a fundamental part of who Lestat is throughout the entirety of the books.
Armand acting like him drinking Lestat’s blood was consensual and something Lestat enjoyed? No. Nope. Non. No way. No how.
They’re clearly setting up something big wrt the fact Louis never said “I love you” to Lestat. Louis expresses remorse for it in Paris with DreamStat. Louis in Dubai is trying to go along with Armand’s AU version of Lestat-The-Great-And-Terrible™ meanwhile Daniel outright says “Never say I love you to a raging narcissist” and we know that version of Lestat isn’t even remotely true, which Louis’ face directly after that comment tells me he’s still troubled over that aspect to their relationship no matter how much he’s in denial.
The full “Come To Me” scene was insane. Armand letting Louis know that he knows Lestat is his maker and has known for months. Well, duh. Louis CONFESSING to the murder and saying Lestat had it coming and then “well that’s debatable” and saying he knows nothing of the laws cause Lestat never told him shit (fair point because he didn’t) and then DreamStat’s “I told you I loved you and you said nothing!” 🤯 The implications of that statement alone. As if to say “if you only would’ve reciprocated the love and not betrayed me and our life in NOLA could’ve been enough and you wouldn’t be here in this den of vicious vampires without any protection because I loved you and that would’ve/could’ve/should’ve been enough to keep you safe if only you would’ve let me love you like I do and loved me enough in return to not stab me in the back.” If the murder scene actually went how I think it did, hoooo boy this moment is gonna hit that much harder.
They played the chilling “To Beat Lestat You Have to Become Lestat” theme while Santiago was talking to Armand about killing Louis, which is what played in 1x06 when Claudia was talking to Louis about killing Lestat. The implications. The parallels.
The scene with Louis and Armand in the tunnel? Holy moly. Louis genuinely thought he was going to die, and he just resigned himself to it and told them to take care of Claudia?! That entire scene was heartbreaking. “Tell her she’s pretty every morning” and only growing a spine when Armand said she wouldn’t be around for long. 😭🔪💔
I feel so bad for Claudia. Honestly, what the coven is doing to her is beyond awful, and the fact she’s so hurt and broken and wants someone, just someone, to put her first and so she’s letting her guard down and ignoring the glaring red flags. (No eye contact?! Calling her a flea?! Gifting her a flea circus?!) Oh Claudia. Oh baby. It’s so beyond icky and disturbing and the fact Louis is just letting them treat her like that? I know he feels he owes it to her, but dear lord. That’s his daughter. Say something about it instead of out fucking around with the ghost of his ex and the rebound of his life. 🤦🏼♀️
The conversation with her and Louis was bonkers. The parallels with her and Lestat. Bruce kept her for a week?! Just like Magnus kept Lestat! It’s like I’ve pointed out in 1x05. Lestat knew someone had hurt her, because he saw it in her eyes. Also when she admitted Lestat was right about the vampires being vicious directly after implying he was “wrong” for not telling them about the theater coven? Mmmmm talk about foreshadowing. Just like she found out with Bruce. She will find out with the coven too. She’s broken pretty much every law and so has Louis. My heart is hurting for her. She just wants someone to love her so badly, but everyone in her life fails her, and it’s such a tragedy. 💔
Armand using “Come To Me” first to lure in Lestat? That is actual book canon.
Raglan James. Dude has an agenda, and he’s seemingly giving Daniel the entire scoop on Armand’s (and Louis’?) histories? That’s so interesting to me, and I have no idea where that is going other than to give Daniel a reason to 100% know there’s way more at play with this second interview than anyone might realize. It’ll be very interesting to see the full context of the “You fear Armand. You should fear the other one.” scene. Those file names too. 👀
I keep waiting for Loumand to start hitting. I keep waiting for this tender, old Hollywood romance. All I’m seeing is an episode of You in which Armand is Joe and Louis is his new “you.”
It’s clear to me that, even though Armand has written a whole ass Lesmand fanfic, this is likely how Lestat made him feel during that time. I imagine this version will only serve to make the later motives wrt the trial and Lestat’s imprisonment all the more cutting as we’re getting a glimpse into just how down bad Armand is for Lestat and how much he feels Lestat led him on and ruined his life and abandoned him. Armand’s true emotions are clearly coloring his version of the tale, whereas Louis’ true emotions are almost always vacant in his recollection except for the times when the truth bleeds through, and we get the meltdowns like in 2x01 and 2x02.
Delainey, Jacob, Assad, and Sam continue to just chew up the scenery. Superb performances from all of them! 👏🏽❤️
#interview with the vampire#iwtv#interview with the vampire amc#iwtv amc#amc interview with the vampire#amc iwtv#iwtv 2x03#louis de pointe du lac#lestat de lioncourt#armand#claudia#daniel molloy#nicolas de lenfent#the vampire lestat#iwtv season 2#iwtv spoilers#iwtv season 2 spoilers
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Yeah. Armand looks sooooo annoyed 😭😭😭 every time Daniel opens his mouth. I have to confess something. Even if I do kind of like the concept of dm and the eternal sunshine theory- I do love the question of what happens if you don't have time and your loved ones will never run out of time and also won't ever grow into anything else either- I don't think past dm happened. And uh. Idk how can dm happen then if there has been no past dm and a considerable part of dm was Armand terrorizing Daniel and Daniel trying to push through it before they eventually take a liking to each other.
i agree that past devil’s minion is essential, so without it, present dm going forward could feel odd. it’s easy to forget in fandom that devil’s minion is a blank slate right now. everything about them is essentially just theory. if you avoid outside interviews and books, the only thing you really know is that armand turned daniel out of spite. that’s it. if you don’t actively search for them, you won’t know they’re drifting toward something romantic until it actually happens.
i just can't come up with a reason to remove the chapter at all though. it plays a major role in armand grappling with his trauma surrounding marius, so i see no reason for it to be cut (hello anne rice's opinion on the cycle of abuse). it also ties into daniel’s character - his pursuit of truth, even to disastrous and unethical ends. the core elements of their relationship can exist in any form, but if there were to be something more between armand and daniel, it fits perfectly within themes of the show and who they are, even with your mention of "time running out." if dm broke up as poorly as they did in the book and there is no queen of the damned event to bring them back together, then of course armand being annoyed fits very well. imagine your annoying ex who left you because you two got too codependent is in your home untying your web you built for your current companion lol. i wouldn't want the king of destroying relationships in MY house.
the issue i've found with fandom and devil's minion (and honestly, a lot of other characters & ships get this treatment too) is that they're quite sanitized. when held up against their antagonism in the show, this tends to lead towards conflicting opinions. i hate to say it, but reading the books does a lot more heavy-lifting than one would expect. armand and daniel don't speak any differently in the show than they do in the books lol. they clash in both materials. they both want what the other has and they bleed together, which results in love.
i know this is mean to say, but the iwtv fandom as a whole really sands down the idea of love, or sticks to one singular interpretation. love doesn't immediately equate to a positive. the entire show revolves around how vampirism, whether as a curse or as a gift, confronts your emotions, your memory, against an unending corridor of time. if time heals all wounds, how many times can you rip the scar open again? like, yes, sure, louis and lestat love each other, but should louis love the man who dropped him thousands of feet to punish him for his denial of love? no lol. except, love here is measured against a passage of time beyond human comprehension. much of the love in this show can be horrific and dark, and yet there it is.
anyway, an unnecessarily long post to essentially say that, yea, devil's minion fits the show's theme too well for it to be abandoned in any form. armand enjoys living in lies at his own comfort, while daniel will pursue truth at the cost of his own. throw in the theory that a part of daniel's life is gone, potentially because of something armand has done? now, they’re clashing, but each with a long stretch of time to deal with that. they can be the warped mirror image of loustat, which is delicious to think about.
#also as someone who loves loumand i see a lot of armand would never cheat on louis#and i gotta say if you think that's the worst crime armand could commit against louis...well...#like do not remove one of armand's lovers in favor of another. you shouldn't be doing that with any character#all the differing romances only reflect the others you know?#this just really isnt the show for ship wars and idk how they keep happening#and fuck idk if i even responded to you right. i tend to talk a lot adrift in my own opinions. sorry fatal flaw#devil's minion#daniel molloy#armand
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I've been thinking about the part in your latest fic where Marius responds to Daniel's dig about not fucking Armand by saying that Daniel wishes he hadn't.
How do you think Daniel felt looking back on his time with Armand by that point?
Also thank you for spoiling us as always with the incredible fic 🥰✨️
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A BIT ON DISCORD BUT I WANT TO REALLY LIKE PARK IT HERE AND MARINATE IN MY FEELINGS OKAY??????
(but first of all omg thank you ;.; I’m so happy that you like it)
Before anything else I want to say that in this fic, they’re both just kinda throwing barbs at each other and picking a fight to feel something, and neither of them 100% mean it as much as they just know how to push buttons and pick at each other’s insecurities. So like, on that note, I want to state for the record that Daniel DOESN’T wish he hadn’t, but that Marius is still picking at some really complicated feelings.
[This is going to be really long, I’m sorry!]
I think like we (fandom) get kinda swept away in the silliness & romance of the Devil’s Minion and we don’t talk enough (FOR ME!) about how dark and fucked up it was. I just think it’s worth reminding everyone now and then that the Devil’s Minion chapter is a story about stalking and coercion and substance abuse—they MEET via Armand abducting Daniel and keeping him captive in a pitch black room for days and letting him starve. And to me, that’s part of the charm LMAO but I just feel like I wanna park that idea here in case anyone has forgotten.
So like, I want to think about Daniel Molloy as a 20 year old who was abducted, locked up, and starved by a vampire LMAO, and how the 40 years following that is a roller coaster of trauma and recovery.
And like, okay, insofar as I’m half talking about my own fic that was built with my own headcanons, I think it’s worth asking about Daniel’s life experience as a 20 year old. (I wanna drop this link here because I talked about it once in terms of his sexual experience LOL). Like, we know almost nothing canonically about Daniel’s background, and while that works really great for writing fic and headcanons and is FREE REAL ESTATE BABY, I think we really have to just keep asking like, how much experience does a 20 year old have?
Because I think it’s entirely possible that he never had a serious relationship before? Even if he had, is it relative to being 20 years old? How do we feel about the “serious relationships” we have when we’re that age?
I talked about this in the post I linked about his sexual experience so I don’t want to repeat too much, but we have to realize also that his life effectively STOPPED after the interview. He was on the run, he wasn’t dating lol. He did NOT have a social life. When he stopped running, it was to be with Armand. So what I’m kinda trying to say here is that I think it’s plausible that Armand was his only serious relationship, and that also means that it’s his first serious breakup.
(And while this is like, getting into headcanon territory since the canon is so vague, I will say for the record that it aligns with my ficverse, that almost all of my VC fics take place on the same timeline, so this is at least the truth in this story and it’s the truth of Daniel in all my stories.)
This is something else where, as much as I hate building meta around FANDOM, I want to also take a moment to remind everyone that they broke up lmao. They did! That happened! Fandom gets so swept up in the idea of endgames and whatnot and it's like. THEY BROKE UP LOL. Like yeah yeah that’s what fanfic is for etc etc etc do whatever but like, canonically speaking, Armand never wanted to turn another because he knew that it would inevitably lead to resentment, that makers & fledglings get sick of each and hate each other, that’s what happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I like to think that Armand was doomed with his self fulfilling prophecy and the trope of I didn’t have a good dad so I can’t be a good dad so he didn’t even try and I’d like to believe in the post-canon ether that they can work something out lol but this is like, the canon, this is what happened. They broke up!!!!!!!!! Daniel got what he wanted and bounced!)
It's also by then the dissolution of an ongoing period of trauma and abuse that has been going on for at least 1/3 of Daniel's life, depending what year they actually made it to, and VC is a series that is often about messy grief, trauma, and grieving abusers.
So the Vamptember/looking in the dark from below collection of fics wasn’t planned or anything, they’re nonlinear little oneshots about different moments and aspects of Marius & Daniel’s relationship. And it’s just a place for me to park all these thoughts I have about them!!!!!!
But thinking about like, Daniel’s life being ruined by vampire -> being turned during a really chaotic Vampire World Event -> BREAKING UP WITH HIS MAKER! -> (???? radio silence in the 1990s) -> Having ND timeout at Marius’s house -> RECOVERING AND BEING IN A REALTIONSHIP WITH HIS MAKER’S MAKER…
It’s just such a complicated thing to look at, you know? In a very basic, easy-to-understand-for-us-mere-mortals way, the easiest way to think about it is that Daniel is recovering from a HORRIFIC breakup, but it’s also the trauma from like, the Everything. And also going from the nonstop Devil’s Minion chaos to like, just having to live as a vampire, and having to live as a vampire on his OWN?
I really really love thinking about this aspect of like the Trondheim & Beyond era because like, we’ve all kinda debated what does Daniel’s “madness” actually entail, like, what is the vampire neurotype yatta yatta, is he just overstimulated and needs a quiet break, can a vampire truly be “mad”, are some people just not fit for the Blood, whatever. But we DO see him recover! And Marius has a hand in the recovery! And I am just absolutely feral climbing the walls thinking about Marius’s feelings about the entire thing.
Because like, Marius has to look at it and think “Good lord Armand fucked this up” and I don’t think it’s possible to pin that on Armand without also accepting that Marius also fucked up with Armand ! And I’m so interested in thinking about how family patterns manifest in vampires—like I’ve written a little bit about if epigenetic trauma can exist inside the bloodline, but it’s also the lessons everyone learns from their makers, and how it informs what type of maker they then become.
I read a really interesting post from @theatlasofclouds the other day about Marius’s particular flavor of toxic empathy, too—the way he does what he thinks is best and what he thinks people needs, without understanding that he doesn’t KNOW what other people need, or that other people don’t operate the way he does, that they have different belief systems and emotional languages. And I tend to think of Marius as a dad-type Fixer—he wants to help people and guide people and wants to be respected as a leader/mentor/teacher.
We don’t have an answer of how or why Daniel wound up with him, but it’s impossible for me to ignore this elephant in the room, that Marius would see Daniel’s predicament as an extension of his own failures!!!!!!!!! Marius has that type of egotism, too, that he’ll feel responsible even if it’s not strictly his own fault!
I like thinking about Marius feeling responsible to fix it and clean it up, even if he's not sure what he's doing, even if he's doing it badly. I always try to approach Marius this way when I write him, so I've tried to make that kinda clear in the fics, too. He doesn't always know the best way to fix something, but he's gonna try anyway. He worships at the altar of his own reason, and doesn't know how to be wrong. (Gosh I know I wrote a big meta about Marius's ego as a defense mechanism but I can't find it lol but TLDR he has to believe in himself because it's the only way to make sense of immortality and any time he's proven wrong or makes a mistake it's a devastating wound to his entire sense of reality.)
It just makes me wonder how Daniel wound up with him, since we never got a complete answer. We know that he turned B+S, and then by the beginning of B&G he's ashamed of something that happened recently, and he thinks everyone's mad at him. Like, is it fair to assume he took in Daniel as a ways to make amends? Does he see Armand's handling of Daniel as a massive fuckup, and does he want to try to help? Does Daniel see that it's also a massive fuckup?
This fic series is really a space for me to daydream about all these angles because I think that these are some REALLY rich relationships, and their space in canon is largely off screen subtext. Like, none of this is really spelled out, but how do we NOT ask these questions?
And I’ve made it like 1500 words into this answer by splitting off into all these different directions, but to focus and bring it back to your question: IT’S COMPLICATED MAN.
I think SO MUCH about the line from TVA “I was no Marius to [Daniel] afterwards.” I think so much about how we don’t have any proof that Marius ever told Armand about his life. As far as we can tell, Armand never told Daniel about HIS life. By this point in the canon timeline, they will have READ it in books!! HAVE THEY EVER JUST TALKED TO EACH OTHER IDK?
Like how do they each FEEL reading that in TVA?! How does anybody begin to make up for it?
I also was so excited that you picked up on this in your AO3 comment on the chapter: “And then the way they trade barbs, I love when characters know each others perfect weak points to attack, and for both of them of course Armand is a huge sore spot that they share” – YES exactly!
There’s a lot to juggle here between like, Marius’s anger issues & trying not to be an angry person vs Daniel who is so very much like Marius in some really meaningful ways, how they might be weird mirrors of each other who sorta saved each other, how they might both operate on some similar wavelengths. I imagined them as the type of couple who doesn’t say I LOVE YOU or get vulnerable until they can push each other into an argument to admit it. In my mind, the chapter ending on “I love you, too” was the first time they’ve said it in that way, and Daniel clocks Marius’s difficulty in apologizing as a HUGE effort that expresses love.
But they’re basically picking a fight to feel something! They’re both saying shit they don’t 100% mean! Daniel’s history with Armand is extremely complicated and Marius knows it! Marius even feels complicit in it!
There’s this thing I really love in fics, I’ve only seen it a couple times so I’m not sure if everyone considers it a proper trope the way I personally do LOL, but I realllllllly love, not when a character loses their virginity, but when they lose their virginity in a disappointing way and then fuck a new person and think “I should’ve saved it for you” asdgjklasdghjkl LORD!!!!!!!!
I just have to wonder if there times where things were gentle and nice and Daniel thought “I wish Marius had been my maker” or other such sentiments. Imagine going from chaotic stalker Armand to calm daddy Marius, you know??????????
It would be natural to think that, and wonder what it would’ve been like, and it’s something I’ve tried to hint at in this series. And it doesn’t have to mean like, that Daniel completely regrets how he was turned or sincerely wishes that it had been Marius, but whomst among us have not looked back at traumatic experiences and wondered what our lives would look like if things had been different for us?
The good news is that I think there’s hope for these fools!!!!!!!!
Like, I am thinking about an arc of Daniel’s Horrific Breakup & Trauma Recovery, where things will settle down and he’ll feel stable and okay and the past won’t be such an open wound anymore. I think it’s also reasonable within the logic of VC that all roads lead to forgiveness and that time heals. He will eventually be okay and feel like, I’m glad it worked out this way, I’m glad Marius can be my companion and not my maker, everything lead us here and it worked out.
And I think like, Daniel & Marius have such a huge shared wound concerning Armand and I like to think that Daniel might be a huge key in everyone kinda figuring it out.
I'M JUST -------
WHAT DO MARIUS & DANIEL SEE IN EACH OTHER’S BLOOD? HOW DOES IT CHANGE THE WAY THEY THINK ABOUT ARMAND? MARIUS SEEING HIM IN AS A DOMINEERING PREDATOR, DANIEL SEEING HIM AS A VULNERABLE HUMAN???
Armand absolutely HAUNTS these two ! And it’s clear to me that they want so desperately to forgive each other and have something again !!!!!!!!!! Vampires are fools for that kind of thing, they mourn time periods and places and relationships! They become (or stay) vampires because they fear death ! They fear mourning !!! They fear loss !!!!
So again sorry we’re now 2300 words into this and I’m still rambling but again to answer the question, How do you think Daniel felt looking back on his time with Armand by that point? *by this point* I think, he’s sorta okay, but it’s still kinda sore. He’s getting there!
10 years ago he would’ve been crushed, and in 10 years he won’t mind at all.
Just anyway!
What a rich relationship these three have! There’s so much to talk about !!!!!!!!!
In conclusion I just gotta bring this back again because TLDR -
#stuff i wrote#vamptember#marius/armand/daniel#marius de romanus#armand#daniel molloy#devil's minion#vampire chronicles#deep ass thoughts about vampires#im full on RAMBLIN i hope this makes sense#looking in the dark from below
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I NEED YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE ARMAND/DANIEL BREAK UP SCENE IN TVA PLS
Not gonna lie, I would’ve loved for a more polished version of this to have made it into the book, the potential is there IMO as well as all the elements that make Devil’s Minion such an explosive, intense, compelling ship. The fighting, the yearning, the weird sexual analogies (this one didn’t quite land but it kinda always goes back to sex with them, doesn’t it?), the kissing in between hurtful statements. Daniel using INSECT parts for his models, Pandora trying to make him pay attention to Armand, Armand being sad and kissing Daniel while trying to fix things, but Daniel being too far gone at the time to even register the impact of his words. I NEED MORE.
Anon, I have so many thoughts, my brain is spinning.
I'm not sure I'd want this in the book or not, it's so hard to say now. I was absolutely baffled by Daniel's lack of inclusion in TVA when it came out, and and then suddenly he's there in B&G mad and being cared for by Marius, and I had to do a lot of mental gymnastics to figure out how I thought he got from A to B. I eventually decided him thinking Armand was dead drove him mad, which made the most sense to me. That is clearly is not what Anne had pictured, but at this point I'm honestly pretty happy with that conclusion instead.
I'm trying to imagine how it would have felt if this was included in TVA. What else does that change? Is Armand still bitter and angry? Is he more regretful? Does this mean we get any of his POV of the Devil's Minion years, including their break up? (Because that is the piece I feel is most missing from that book and what I deeply wanted from it in addition to filling in Armand's background.)
The idea that Armand abandoned the island to mortal hands--a reference to him selling it, I guess--would absolutely break Daniel apart. It does feel very much like something he would be devastated by but I don't feel we're given enough on this one page to really understand what happened. Armand left the others? That doesn't gel with anything I've ever thought. Armand always struck me as the one who was holding things together and was then heartbroken when everyone else left. So I'd need a more context into Anne's idea of how things played out there.
That said, there are pieces I like!
I love the idea of Pandora and Marius looking after Daniel together and Pandora trying to get his attention.
"I have no maker!" I mean, if Daniel and Armand had a vicious fight and Armand all about renounced him and left him wandering to the point where the loneliness and devastation of it drove him mad, then this is absolutely something I can see him saying. The way he talks about how Armand doesn't make others so clearly he has no maker is so full of bitterness and resentment I would love to see a fic unpacking that (Someone should write it! Maybe several someones!)
Daniel building his worlds with found objects and weird shit is amazing. Like it's so deeply unhinged that I can't help but applaud the creativity. I honestly wish I'd known about this months ago because I can totally see this happening as Daniel sinks into madness and I would have loved to have added a scene to my fic about that where Daniel is building a little town on the floor of some seedy motel with bugs and matchbooks and rubber bands or something. It's delightfully freaking weird and I dig it.
I love Armand asking after Daniel, which is another thing I think was sorely missing from TVA. The fact that he doesn't seem to care where he is just explained by his assumption Daniel hates him, but it still feels exceptionally weird to me that Armand wouldn't even ask, particularly after he almost died, and he doesn't know if Daniel may have tried to follow suit? This whole big thing just happened and Lestat is catatonic on the floor, I'd be accounting for my loved ones, no matter how we left things.
Armand losing all his anger and bitterness (does he have that in this version? He must have some, right?) when he sees Daniel in a bad state, clearly struggling, and offering him comfort is so precious. But also can we talk about "I didn't mean to abandon you..." ????? Armand ABANDONED Daniel in this version??? I just... that's so wild, I have so many questions. And then he kisses him??? That is precious. Look, I have wanted an Armand and Daniel interaction during his madness since we learned Daniel was in Marius' basement playing with model trains in Blood and Gold. And I think I would have been okay with this if we got some satisfying resolution between them afterward - we can have this hurt, but we need some comfort to end it on, you know? And I don't think that would have happened. I think Armand would have left defeated and we'd have been stuck with that in our heads for decades until PL came out and we get one freaking line about them hunting together, so.
I think I am glad this version did not make it into TVA, but I would also love to read a dozen fics that try to make sense of all this because there are some delicious tidbits I think talented fic writers could explore and really work into something great.
#the vampire armand#daniel molloy#armand#armand/daniel#devil's minion#tulane#anne's notes#anonymous#answers in the desert#vc headcanons#vc meta#the vampire chronicles#vc
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Hello there! Original pedantic anon back again (haha is that the worst pseudonym or what?). To be even more annoyingly pedantic, Armand says “I do hope you’ll join us” which I agree with previous anon, does feel like it could indicate something more than a dinner.
However, what could it be if not a special meal? Cause I agree with you, it doesn’t really make sense if it was anything of what you earlier considered. And I really don’t believe Louis would erase Daniel’s memories.
If past DM is a thing, I don’t believe Louis knows (I’m also more inclined these days to believe there won’t be a past DM), I agree that it’s unlikely to be the money (also technically Louis gives Daniel the 10 million as compensation for his time because he decides to burn the laptop/stop the book - this is why Daniel offers to pay Louis the money back later in the episode since he decided to write the book anyway - the money and specific amount is a continuation/call-back of Daniel’s ‘whore fee�� as first mentioned in s1e7), I don’t believe it’s a threesome (also yes, I believe most who suggest it are joking), and I don’t think it was to offer to turn Daniel again. Louis said they had something “special prepared” - that is a weird way of phrasing it if the special thing was to offer to turn Daniel again, no? Not impossible, I’ll grant you - but I believe it to be unlikely.
I read an interesting theory somewhere that Armand’s words are specifically meant to reference/be a callback to his words back in the 70’s at Polynesian Mary’s, where he said he wouldn’t (want to) join Louis and Daniel (in other words, but that was the gist of it), when Louis asked. The theory was that Armand in s2e8 saying he hope Daniel will join them is a subtle indication of Armand’s growing interest in (maybe even attraction to) Daniel. AZ did say that the line between hate and love is thin, so while Armand is probably resenting Daniel trying to expose him - he could also possibly have began to be attracted to him here. So back when they first met at the bar in the 70’s Armand has no interest in Daniel, and rejects the opportunity to join him and Louis for their interview/potential hookup and now in the 2020’s he has changed his tune and is now interested in Daniel - the change in interest is implied by this 'change/development' of Armand's original dialogue/attitude to joining/having Daniel join in any way.
What do you think? What does prev. anon think? I’m excited to hear your (and your followers) thoughts!
Ooh that is an interesting theory. I love that. Everything in this show is so deliberate (the main reason I don’t think it was just a special dinner), and that could be it
I rlly like the idea of it being nothing else than a special dinner, despite not thinking it’s likely. I rlly enjoyed all the little moments of connection between Louis and Daniel and I so hope to see more of that in the next season
(Also I’m pretty much on the same side as you about past DM probably not being a thing and Louis not knowing about it if it was)
#and thank you for another wording correction aksjdndn#asks#interview with the vampire#iwtv#daniel molloy#armand de romanus#louis de pointe du lac
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First Taste
here is a genderswap Daniel/Armand fic. It was for vamptember, but it's a day late. very nsfw
Danielle Molloy is endlessly fascinating. A lovely mess of contradictions and so achingly human.
He’s been chasing her for a little over a year now. They’ve begun to talk, having long drawn out conversations about anything that comes to Armand’s mind. It doesn’t matter if he shows her these parts of himself; he’s going to kill her anyway.
The foolish girl has nearly stopped running. She had the gall to greet him with a smile the last time he saw her. A smile! As if he hasn’t made it explicitly clear he means to end her life.
It isn’t that she isn’t afraid. It’s that she likes the fear. It excites her. Arouses her.
The very idea of him arouses her. She’s built some romantic notion of him, one he will thoroughly enjoy destroying when the time comes. For now, she’s his prey and he has her cornered. It’s time to play with her.
Armand slips in through the open balcony doors of the hotel room Danielle is staying in. It’s like the girl has no survival sense at all. She’s practically inviting him in.
He finds her sprawled over the bed, sheet twisted around her waist. She’s wearing a light pink silk nightdress, and he can see the little nubs of her nipples through the fabric. Her dark curls are spilled around her on the pillow, wild and free. He can smell her blood pumping, and can see all the lovely veins along her arms and neck.
How easy it would be to take her now. He could crush her against his chest, and feel those pert little nipples press against him. Armand imagines she’d taste sweet, like a summer wine or an overripe fruit. Sweet, with an undercurrent of spice.
She smells delicious. Too delicious, her scent shouldn’t be so strong. Armand drifts over to her, a fleeting thought passing his mind that she could have hurt herself. His chasing her might have driven her to such actions. Armand dismisses it almost immediately; Danielle is too stubborn to ever willingly face death. She still finds a way to ask about becoming a vampire every time they meet.
He glides down the blankets and understands at once what that aroma is. There is blood staining her nightgown, down between her legs. She’s menstruating. Armand lifts up the fabric, careful to keep the touch delicate and light. He doesn’t touch her at all, only the blood-damp fabric. That he rubs between finger and thumb, then brings both up to his mouth to lick them clean.
She tastes like heaven.
The blood from there is never as sweet as the blood from the veins, but it has its own appeal. Armand learned that years ago, when he was just a fledgling vampire. His mortal friend and confidante, Bianca Solderini, taught him that. She knew he was a vampire, and so had asked him if any blood would sate his hunger. He’d been eager to try.
It had been an overwhelming experience, to be so surrounded by blood. To smell nothing but it, and taste it, again and again. To be able to suck and pull out more and more blood, without fear of taking too much. He’d been ravenous with thirst after and had sunk teeth into her inner thigh and drank so deeply she nearly fainted.
Armand wonders if Danielle would let him taste her.
He knows that she’s attracted to him; he’s read her thoughts here and there. She thinks he’s beautiful; though not quite like most people. She likes the inhumanity of him, likes his monstrosity. And she hates herself for liking it.
She’s thought of him while touching herself. Armand hadn’t been expecting to enter her room and find her doing that. But he hadn’t let his shock show on his face. He dipped into her mind and saw what she was thinking before he announced his presence. It had been of him. Specifically of him biting her. Not at all what he had expected.
Danielle stirs and her eyes flutter. She yawns, and opens her eyes, then screams. Or tries to. As soon as she gathers the breath to build it, Armand presses a hand over her mouth.
“Hush, Danielle,” he says, “I have no intention of harming you tonight.”
She relaxes and pushes his hand off. “It’s just you. Jesus, I thought you were some murderer-rapist.”
Armand arches a brow at her as she sits up. Has she truly forgotten what he is? Perhaps a demonstration is in order.
Danielle rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
Armand wraps a hand around her throat and slams her back against the headboard. He only uses enough force to frighten her a little, not to cause harm. He did say he had no intentions of harming her.
Her breath hitches and her pupils dilate. Her heartbeat increases and her cheeks flush. She’s quite beautiful, this girl. “I am a murderer. Would you like to hear how many I’ve killed tonight?”
Danielle licks her lips. “Stop trying to scare me. You already said you won’t hurt me tonight. Unless you’re a liar and a murderer.”
“You should be afraid, foolish girl.”
Danielle swallows; his grip is loose enough to allow her to. He’d choke her, but he wants to hear what she’s about to say. “What, you want me to be some scared little girl and cower in front of the big, scary, monster? Go fuck yourself.”
“I’m the thing you feared when you screamed tonight.”
Her heart pounds a little louder. “You’re a monster and a murderer…but not a rapist, right?”
There’s a flash of an image in his mind, the image of a clear blue sky out of the small round window of the ship. The feel of wood grain under his fingernails, against his cheek. Armand shuts away the thought before it can be properly born. Some things are best left untouched.
Armand leans in nearer to her, and moves his mouth to near her ear. “When I take you, Danielle, it will be because you’re begging me to, and not a moment before.”
Danielle inhales sharply and her gaze drops to his mouth. They’re very close, close enough that they can share a breath. Danielle’s heart is racing and her thoughts are practically shouts. She desperately wants him to kiss her.
Armand doesn’t. Anticipation will make it all the sweeter, and besides, he hasn’t decided how much he’s going to indulge here. He has no problems playing with his food before he eats it. But this isn’t the right moment.
He releases her and pulls back. Her disappointment is nearly palpable. “You’ve stained her nightgown.”
Danielle glances down. “Fuck, I liked this gown. I usually just wear tee-shirts to bed.”
“Yes, I know.”
Danielle crosses her arms over her chest. “Creeper. I should probably cover up.”
She makes no move to do so. Armand tilts his head and runs a hand up her thigh, over the blanket. He gets to where it stops and takes the edge between his fingers. He glances up at Danielle’s face and slowly pulls it back. She shows no indication that she wants him to stop. Her thoughts are those of arousal and fear. But not fear of harm, fear of embarrassment.
“As much as I like where this seems to be heading, I’m on the rag this week.”
Armand doesn’t exactly know the expression, but gets the gist. “I’m a vampire. Do you think blood bothers me?”
“I guess not.” She’s already wet; Armand can smell it. Her thoughts are a jumble of sex and desire.
“I want to taste you.”
Her eyes go wide. “You mean…down there?”
“Yes, Danielle.”
Her thoughts are racing. “What if I taste bad? Oh god, that would be so embarrassing. But what if he likes it? What if it makes him like me more? Maybe he won’t kill me if we’re fucking. Maybe I can get him to make me a vampire.”
Armand wraps the hand back around her throat and shoves her down the bed and onto her back. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can tame me.”
Danielle glares at him. “I wouldn’t want you without your claws.”
Armand releases her and sinks down to kneel between her legs. Her blue cotton panties are stained with blood. She’ll probably throw them out, so Armand decides it’s alright to be a bit theatrical. He rips them down the middle and Danielle gasps.
“Tell me you want this, Danny.”
Her voice shakes when she answers, “I want you.”
Armand reaches between her legs and tugs out her tampon. It’s soaked with blood and smells tantalizing. Armand takes it into his mouth and sucks on it. The rich flavor of her blood erupts on his tongue and he sighs with pleasure.
“Oh god, that’s so disgusting. That’s so disgusting, so why is it so hot?”
Armand ignores Danielle’s jabbering. She never shuts up any other time, why would sex be any different? He slings her thighs over his shoulder and puts his mouth on her. He delves his tongue inside and licks into her. The taste of her is stronger, sharper here. Armand licks into her, again and again. He chases after the taste of her and she pants above him.
He only indulges himself for a moment, then he begins to focus on Danielle’s pleasure. Her fingers wind into his hair and she says his name with a moan. He licks into her, slipping into her thoughts to know exactly what it is she desires. He rubs his thumb in circles over her clit while he licks inside her.
His world is narrowed down to the blood, to the taste and feel of her. He wants to sink his fangs into her, to bite down and drink and drink and drink, to drain her dry.
Armand wrenches his mouth from her hole and licks his way up to her clit. He kisses it softly, then licks over it, gently, with ever increasing pressure. He waits for her legs to start shaking, then he pulls back and fucks his tongue into her instead.
After the third time, her fingers are gripped tightly in his hair and there are tears in her eyes. “Armand, please; please let me come.”
She did ask nicely.
Armand returns to her clit and circles his tongue around it until she starts to shift, then he wraps his lips around it and sucks. He alternates sucking and licking, until she’s quivering and crying. She comes and her entire body goes taut and she screams. Armand works her through it, then sucks on her again, hard and forceful and another orgasm rocks her body.
Her hand falls limp on the bed and she breathes hard. “Fucking hell.”
Armand smiles and she glances down at him. “How’d I taste, by the way?”
“Divine.”
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2.04 – I Want You More Than Anything in the World
I think I liked this episode more than the previous ones. And as with season 1, this means that I don’t have any particular thoughts to record because nothing in particular bothered me.
So I’ll talk about something I noticed in the online reactions to one of the previous episodes. Apparently people think that what Louis and Armand planned in episode 1 and enacted in episode 2 was not a continuation of some kind of unseen conversation they’d been having about Daniel’s memory and past, but just putting him in his place to retake control of the interview. I guess this works better with the rest of their bedroom conversation. My interpretation was based on/influenced by the subtitles that wrote Armand’s line as “We can have him saying what happened next in no time”, and I genuinely didn’t see other interpretation than “While Daniel is interviewing Louis, we’re secretly interviewing him back for some not yet revealed reason”. But if the internet people are right, then the subtitles are wrong and Armand actually says “We can have him saying ‘What happened next?’ in no time”, i.e. “We can force him to drop the aggressive prying and conduct the interview in a normal manner”. I relistened to the line a couple more times and the delivery honestly sounds like it could be either or even both. Maybe it is both? I’d hate to lose the extra layer to this subplot. We know that the surface level is that Armand is trying to shield Louis from Daniel digging too deep in order to prevent him from compromising their marriage, the viewers can see it, Louis can see at least a part of it. But is that what Armand wants us and him to see? The season 1 finale juxtaposed shots of Armand with the lines “Cold, calculating, on a mission” and “...the entire endeavor had been his idea to begin with”, which I took as an indication that the interview was secretly a result of Armand’s plotting. Am I just setting myself up for disappointment?
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Alright, now I feel the need to say something about the episode. Here: a list of potential gifsets I haven’t seen yet:
Lestat (x2) and Armand lighting Louis’s cigarette
Armand preparing to kill Louis with his fire gift vs lighting his cigarette with the same
Louis offering Daniel a taste of Armand-as-Rashid vs Armand telling the story of how he used to be “donated”
As an extension of the above: Armand’s traumatic backstory vs Armand continuing the cycle of abuse by forcing Claudia to live an imitation of his traumatic backstory (“Fifteen minutes a night to pretend.” “It’s a degrading fifteen minutes!”) vs Armand consensually roleplaying a scenario that has similarities with his traumatic backstory
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Wait, I have a question. Who lit which cigarette? Because the tone of the scene changes a lot depending on the answer:
A) Armand lit both cigarettes. Louis throws out the lighter because lighting his cigarettes is Armand’s job from now on. That’s what my first interpretation was, and it fits the narrative best.
B) Armand lit Louis’s cigarette as ordered, then Louis lit Armand’s cigarette, returning the favor. His gift has grown stronger compared to the beginning of the episode: now he doesn’t need to be angry to use it, as the weakness and hesitation were banished along with Lestat’s ghost. He throws out the lighter because he doesn’t need it anymore.
C) They actually both lit their own cigarettes. Louis’s nod was actually the permission for Armand to light his own. Follows from what each of them is looking at.
(Edited much later to add: In the film Now, Voyager (1942), previously referenced by Armand in 2.02, a man lights two cigarettes at once then hands one to his lover! Well, that settles it, then. Option A it is. Love wins! For a while.)
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Okay, enough about the men. I have another question, inspired by the claudeline scene. If someone is turned into a vampire while menstruating, are they going to be stuck menstruating for all eternity? That would be horrific. The vampires should update the great rule about children and the injured etc. specifically to forbid this as well.
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Edit: after one more episode and approximately two days of scrolling through people’s blogs from that period, I come back to this section because it concerns something from this episode specifically. I saw some strongly opinionated discourse about the “Arun” thing, and that suddenly made something click for my own understanding of the scene.
Sure, this is Armand’s birth name that he just revealed in a bid to solidify their relationship and that nobody else knows, so using it is an intimate gesture that indicates romantic commitment. However, that doesn’t explain why Louis simultaneously uses it as one of the markers of them bringing D/s into their relationship, or why Armand immediately understands it as such and responds by addressing him as “Maître” specifically.
Well, there’s something that caught my attention in a scene from 2.01 that I’ve already talked about a lot. Armand says about Daniel that “the boy” is “still in there, somewhere”, and that they “can find him” and bring this younger self out to make him more compliant. In the next episode that plan is put into action when Daniel acts out of line and Louis puts him in his place. When Louis asks his final piercing question, he calls Daniel “Danny”.
Fast forward to the episode I’m discussing here, 2.04. Armand, as the Maître of the coven, disciplines Claudia by making her wear childish clothing and makeup even offstage; Louis watches this happen. Later in the same episode, Armand opens up to Louis about his past for the first time, and tells him of the first of the several names he’s had, the one from his youth until 15 years old. These are the two pieces of information introduced earlier in the same episode with which Louis goes into the umbrella scene: 1) that Armand sees infantilization as a tool to enforce or signify hierarchy which is the job of the Maître of the coven, and 2) what Armand’s childhood name was. So Louis puts these two pieces together and addresses Armand by his childhood name (to sound patronizing like a coven leader would), and when he does so, Armand understands and effortlessly responds in kind (by addressing him with a coven leader title), because Louis is intentionally using the tools that Armand himself gave him.
(I guess this is a very long-winded way to say that Louis essentially calls Armand a (good) boy with a few extra steps but whatever ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)
(And all of that is also connected with both of them repeatedly referring to Daniel as “boy”, especially in 1973.)
(And in 1.05, they’re doing their roleplay right in front of Claudia’s diaries... To the sound of her victims’ last words “no, please, stop” written in them... Not a direct connection, but that juxtaposition of presence vs absence of consent still feels thematically relevant to the similar contrasts presented in this episode.)
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Edited right before posting to add:
I rephrased my wording in the section above to be clearer for a potential reader compared to how I originally wrote it for myself, because I’ve seen even more bizarre discourse since then and don’t want someone to mistake my opinion for those I actually disagree with. I didn’t change the meaning of what I was saying, though, and since then I’ve obviously gained some perspective, so here’s a couple of clarifications. The preceding part of the scene (“I’m a little wet”) was not mentioned because I didn’t have any questions about it, and was only trying to figure out why loumand were using these specific name and title for each other. I focused on Claudia’s punishment here because it was in the same episode, but in retrospect, the nickname “Puce” might be a closer analogy. As another example from the same episode, there’s Armand calling Louis and Santiago fledglings. Louis isn’t evoking the idea of punishment or hazing, just the general “age = hierarchy”, which in retrospect is such a basic obvious concept that I’m embarrassed I spilled so much ink over this in the first place. Let me go over the points I was trying to make above, again:
The usage of overly familiar and/or diminutive terms of address as a display of seniority and dominance is a fairly universal and basic thing, and in a previous episode Louis has demonstrated that in the present day he can do it to great effect in order to breach someone’s emotional walls.
In the 1940s, Louis has seen Armand use similar tricks to wield his authority as a coven leader, so he knew he’d recognize the power play.
Conversely, the main hierarchical relationship in the vampire community is “coven leader/coven member”, so these are the roles that Armand projects onto Louis and himself respectively. And Armand, who is sick and tired of leadership and also terrible at it, and has spent a long time trying to get Louis to see beyond his stoic façade and commit to him and be in a coven with him, is relieved and happy to grant Louis the symbolic title of the leader for the pseudo-coven of just the two of them. Also all this happens in the span of seconds and they’re both really horny about it, so they’re not overthinking it like I have been doing for a whole page.
Alright, that’s it. I feel stupid for retroactively attaching what is essentially a long disclaimer to my two month old liveblog, but it was either this or removing the whole section altogether, which would have defeated the point of leaving a record of my evolving opinions. It might be especially redundant because I also have a draft of a long post breaking down this episode’s themes and storylines, which makes similar points, and I’m hoping to publish it sooner than later. Well, at least it was nice to see AZ validate the main point of my interpretation in one of his interviews (the one quoted here), so I don’t feel like this entire wall of text is completely off base.
Next: 2.05 →
Interview with the Vampire notes, episodes 1.07–2.08
Here are the notes I took after watching every episode of IWTV, starting with the first season finale.
This post is just the intro; see the reblogs for the full text. I’m not sure that it’s possible to fit 20k words into one post, and even if it is, such a long post would be painful to navigate. More importantly, this way the contents of the posts shouldn’t flood the site-wide search results for pretty much every possible character and ship name I mention here. There is some negativity in these notes; if that bothers you, please scroll past.
I tried to simulate a fandom experience for myself, taking a break after each episode, checking out what other people said about it, and writing down my reactions mostly to the episode itself but sometimes to the things I’ve seen posted about it.
For context, I watched the first two episodes of season 1 back when they came out, loved them, but failed to keep up with the weekly releases and decided to catch up later. When season 2 aired, I checked out the trending posts every weekend, and after it was completed, I finally restarted the show from the beginning. Oh, and I had seen the movie half a lifetime ago as a teenager. This means that I was familiar with the premise and some of the main characters, was aware of the impending tragedy (one of the few things I remembered from the movie, and one of the reasons I was afraid to catch up and break my heart), had no idea about the events of the late season 1 or what the fandom was doing during the hiatus, but knew pretty much every major spoiler from season 2.
I didn’t take notes during season 1, because I was familiar with the opening episodes and satisfied by the following ones (I thought the first four episodes were flawless television). After the first season finale finally had things that bothered me enough to write about it, I started taking notes. Initially I just wrote down the things that I disliked or had questions about, but with each episode I got into the habit more, and had more fandom reactions to sift through and prompt further thoughts. By the end of the season, I was having long-winded arguments with myself. Since the point was to record my own evolving opinions, I didn’t go back and amend the previous entries, except for one or two marked paragraphs; all editing for that part was for clarity only. I wrote all of that in the notes app on my phone, for the first time in my life. The exception to the above is the final section with my opinions about the finale and the entire season: I kept periodically adding to my original phone notes during the almost two months between watching the episode and publishing this post. That’s why it took me so long: completionism finally took over and made me attempt to write down every thought about the show I had and attach it here, then proofread the resulting wall of text more times than it is healthy.
That’s enough for an intro. Direct links to each reblog:
1.07 – 2.03 / 2.04 / 2.05 / 2.06 / 2.07 / 2.08 / season 2
#interview with the vampire#liveblogs and reviews#blah blah blah#swearing to hide this post in the tags: fuck
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"send me a character" Armand?
YESSSS
first impression: my first impression of him was from the movie when i was a freshman in high school, and i honestly wasn’t super into him. i love antonio banderas but he just didn’t grab me as armand, especially since i hated brad pitt louis so much and all of his scenes are with pitt. when i first read the book after watching the movie, i at first didn’t trust him with louis, but i loved their scenes together and their discussions and i really wished the movie actually adapted them properly. then by the end, once i was finally on board with their relationship, louis didn’t care for him anymore and i was heartbroken for him. so i had an interesting start with armand!
impression now: i would literally die for him, i’ve felt such intense love for him ever since i read tvl and now after reading tva i think he’s one of the best written and absolutely the most complex character in the series. his arc is PHENOMENAL, the depth of sympathy i have for him is enormous despite all he’s done, his character voice and style of writing is so mesmerizing and the tragedy of all that’s befell him makes me want to cry. at the same time, the way he writes around certain incidents and explains his wrongdoings is so fascinating; he never mentions the interactions with lestat in paris, and he glosses over his reaction to marius being alive, and you just have to wonder WHY. he is an enigma and my best friend and all that i adore and my god i am so excited for assad’s portrayal of him
favorite moment: there’s like……so many to choose from but i will always love him pushing lestat off the tower it was the first moment that i was like. oh he’s a BITCH . thank god. from tva it’s the swordfight with the guy he slept with it’s just such a cool scene and i loved how brave he was 🥹
idea for a story: i want to see a comedy where he lestat and louis try to live together in book verse i think it would be v funny. like the odd throuple
unpopular opinion: in the show he is not mind controlling louis he’s just saying “your ex is a piece of shit” over and over again and failing to disclose his stint with human experimentation. in the book pretty much all of his acts of evil are so understandable from his mindset, it’s so clear why he does the things he does and i could never hate him for any of it, he’s just so interesting to me
favorite relationship: it’s a really solid tie in the books between devil’s minion and armandstat. for a while devil’s minion was my second favorite ship, but honestly i think armandstat has overtaken them for the time being. in the show idk yet!! i project a lot of my book feelings onto him cause that’s all we have to go off of, but i’m excited for all his relationships in the show
favorite headcanon: he likes to crawl around on the ceiling and just stay there until daniel comes in and turns on the light and then he screams
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"Well, it must be said that Lestat actually does read quite often and enjoys it. He simply has a complicated history with books and intellect, because he was kept illiterate and uneducated on purpose, and his mother used books to isolate from him and shut him out."
I know i know one of the things make me feel for him despite the shyte he constantly pulls is his childhood😭
"How will Lestat react? Teasers from S3 indicate he won’t necessarily be pleased with how he’s been portrayed, but I also think his attitude towards Louis (specifically) will depend on whether the reunion actually happened. We also know from Hannah’s interview with Autumn that Lestat will have words for Armand too. "
Armand-Lestat face off is something i've been waiting since S1 finale😆💥
An aspect I’m not seeing discussed a lot is the fact the Talamasca edited the book before it was published. We truly have no idea what was in the book and neither does Louis? Since he apparently still hadn’t read his advanced copy? "
I think he doesn't and will never read bc discovering the truth about his survival made him question everything he ever said about Lestat. Louis lies to himself a lot but when he faces the truth he yields.
I agree w Talamasca aspect, forgot to add 😅 Their intention from the beginning seems to bring Lestat out and truth about Louis's survival is the pawn to it along w using Daniel. (RJ did mentioned other journalist tried to do the job and failed/died/turned also noted he would rule Talamasca if he had Daniel's body) So Lestat has been a long time target breaking Loumand was the way for it. I think show already set multiple arcs starting w Body thief. (Which is the final book i read before dropping the series for good)
Which kind of intertwines w the question of meeting being reality or another figment of Louis's imagination. Bc Talamasca's actions imply Lestat is definitely recluse. There is good chance reunion might happened but Taxi driver also called the hurricane Odette, which was in 2021, affected Philippines so it might be Louis trying calm himself down after ultimate confrontation. He has pychosis, mostly manifests as conversations w Lestat so guess it adds up.
If reunion did not happen Rolin Jones I am at yo' door😣
Whether reunion happened and Louis comforted Lestat or didn't and book is designed to trigger Lestat's self doubt and hate either would cause Lestat to come out to the world. But the state of their relationship would be vastly different. Would Talamasca really care Loustat being together? And if they do would they want it or try to stop it?
I started w questions and ended w more question. Just gonna shut my brain off and hope for the most chaotic, emotional, campy mess 🤞🏾
……what shit did Lestat pull during his childhood? Other than running away and trying to escape the abuse and oppression? Other than continuing to provide and care for his abusers?
Anyways, I don’t think the Talamasca cares about Louis’ and Lestat’s relationship. I meant I think they used Louis to get to Lestat, because they will know who Louis is and what Louis means to Lestat.
The Talamasca connection is Sam. Sam would’ve been around for the rehearsals for the trial. He would’ve seen firsthand everything that actually went down between Lestat and Armand. He would know exactly how Lestat got tied up in the mess. He would also know that Lestat loves Louis. Remember in 2x08 when Armand points out that Lestat loved Louis “a great deal” and that he could say that “now”? That’s because whatever happened prior to the trial showed everyone involved that Lestat loves Louis and would do anything for Louis.
I don’t know where they’re going with all that, but like I said. It opens up the world and threads to all the later plots while also keeping Louis as the co-lead along with Lestat.
#interview with the vampire#iwtv#interview with the vampire amc#iwtv amc#amc interview with the vampire#amc iwtv#lestat de lioncourt#louis de pointe du lac#iwtv season 2#iwtv season 3#iwtv future seasons#iwtv speculation
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Yours-Part 1
the next part in my Vampire Daniel series. Two chapters, first one is up. You can read it below or here
Armand returns from visiting Marius after a week. Daniel is disgusted to find he missed him. He is determined not to show it, doesn't even go to greet Armand once he arrives back home.
Armand finds him, of course.
Daniel is in the reading room, skimming through a novel. Armand appears and plucks it out of his hand. “I was reading.”
“You didn't come to say hello,” says Armand. “I missed you, Daniel.”
Daniel takes the book back. “I'm busy.”
“Did you miss me, Daniel?”
“Like a toothache.”
Armand presses a hand to his heart. “You wound me, Daniel.”
“Uh-huh. How was your trip?”
Armand looks away from him before answering. “Fine.”
“So when are you loading me off on this Marius?” Daniel asks. He's not about to tip toe around it. He wants to know. Has a right to. It's his life. Unlife? Afterlife?
Armand quickly returns his gaze and seems confused. “What ever are you talking about?”
“Don't lie to me. I know the reason-”
“You know nothing, Daniel.” Armand cuts in. “I have no desire to be rid of you.”
“Bullshit.”
Armand sighs. “If you must know, I asked him to take you on in the event you left me.”
Daniel snorts. That's a stupid fucking idea. “What makes you think I want to chum it up with your ex?”
Armand tilts his head and examines Daniel. “Is that jealousy? Are you jealous I visited Marius?”
(Yes, but he doesn't want to be. So that's the same as no.)
“We're not together.” Daniel rises to his feet as he says it and moves toward the other side of the room. He wants to put some space between him and Armand.
“But you are jealous.” Armand says, eyes focusing on him intently.
“I'm not,” Daniel denies.
“There really is nothing like it, the bond between maker and vampire,” Armand says. He takes a step closer to Daniel. “It's why I turned to him. Why part of me will always be his.”
Daniel nearly sees red. He wants to hit something, he wants to scream. “You aren't his.”
Armand smiles slightly. “Aren't I? After all this time, he's the first one I go to for help. It must mean something.”
Daniel can see what Armand is doing. Hates him and himself for it working. “It doesn't, and you aren't.”
“Oh? And how do you know?”
“Because-” Daniel starts, then stops.
Because you're mine.
Armand takes another step closer, eyes wide. “Say it.”
His voice is barely above a whisper, but demanding all the same. He knows exactly what Daniel is thinking.
“Because you're mine.”
There's a beat of silence while Armand stares at him. Then there's no space between them and Armand is kissing him, hungry and perfect. Daniel's arms go around him and hold his close and he kisses him back with an urgency he didn't know he felt. Fuck, it's been a long week.
Armand keeps kissing him and kissing him. After a few long minutes, he breaks away to pant against Daniel's mouth. “I am yours. Utterly yours. Only yours.”
It feels like victory. Daniel kisses him again. He's drunk on desire. All he can think is of want and mine. He moves his mouth the Armand's neck and suck at the skin there, kissing and licking. Armand's fingers tangle in his hair and he chants “Yes, yes, do it.”
Daniel bites down and the rich, sweet taste of Armand's blood fills his mouth. His head is buzzing and his body feels like it's on fire. He's burning, burning for Armand. Armand moans, low and needy. “Daniel, Daniel, Daniel. Take me to bed.”
Daniel pulls out his fangs and looks over Armand. His eyes are dilated and his chest is heaving. His gaze drops to Daniel's mouth then back to his eyes. He lifts a hand and traces his thumb along Daniel's bottom lip. “Don't deny me now, Daniel.”
Daniel seizes the hand and twists it, biting into Armand's wrist. Armand gasps and moans. Daniel takes the smallest of drinks before pulling away and meeting Armand's burning gaze.
“Bedroom, now.”
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or read it below for those who prefer to read on tumblr
The alleyway is dark as Daniel stumbles out the back entrance to the club. He's wearing jeans, a faded Led Zeppelin shirt and his leather jacket. It isn't the outfit Armand picked out for him, so he knows there will be hell to pay later. He just didn't think Armand would punish him like this.
Standing in the alley, looking like sin incarnate in black leather pants and a mesh top is Armand. His eyes are brown--Daniel hates when he wears the contacts--and focused on a woman standing beneath him. She has blonde hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail, tan skin that's just a tiny bit pink across the nose and big blue eyes with lashes for days. Legs for days too, and she's showing them off in those short suede shorts.
Her name is Nola, or Nina, or something. She was chatting with Daniel in the club. For once, someone took an interest in him and not Armand. Not that this was his normal place for picking up chicks. It was more of a gay bar, but she had caught him checking her out and said "You like girls too?"
Daniel had said yes and she had dragged him to the dance floor. Armand was busy doing the Little Drink, meandering throughout the crowd. So Daniel had danced and talked with her, and they really hit it off. She didn't care that he had someone, she was into free love. Daniel decided she could be the person he fucked tonight while Armand watched. He left her to go grab some drinks, then when he returned, she was gone.
Here she is, leaning against the wall of the building and staring up at Armand. He towers over her and he speaks so low, Daniel can't hear his voice. He doesn't need to, Armand saw he chose a play mate and swooped in to grab her for them.
Except that isn't what happens.
Daniel watches in horror as the woman turns her head and offers her neck. Her eyes are vacant and her mouth is frozen in a smile. Armand latches onto her neck and drinks deeply from her. Just as she starts to swoon, he wraps an arm around her waist. They loom to all the world like two lovers caught in an embrace.
Armand lets her body hit the ground with a dull thud.
Daniel breaks out of his shock and marches over to Armand. His blood is singing in his veins. He's never been so aroused or so angry. He pokes a finger in Armand's chest. "What the hell was that?"
Armand shrugs lightly. "You wanted her to play with, she didn't want to play with me."
Sometimes people don't like the idea of Armand watching. Usually, they're too eager for the chance he might join to worry about it. But this girl was different.
"Oh my god, you killed her because she didn't like you," Daniel says, stunned.
Armand looks away from him. "She was fond of you. She was imagining a future beyond this night."
It suddenly clicks for Daniel. It's not vanity that ended this girl, but jealousy. "You're jealous. She liked me, and you're jealous."
"Don't be absurd, Daniel," Armand says. "You're mine, I have no reason to be jealous."
"And you won't even admit to it, you asshole."
Daniel feels his previous good mood vanish. Now,instead of getting laid, he has to wait for Armand to deal with a body. A body of a woman who did nothing wrong, other than want Daniel. It's fucked up.
Daniel shoves his hands in his pockets. "I can't believe you."
Armand shifts his gaze to Daniel. "You're upset."
"No shit, Sherlock." The last time Daniel had used that expression, it lead to he and Armand watching every piece of Holmes media that existed. It had been exhausting.
"I will handle the body. Meet me back home."
Armand speaks like he's sure Daniel will listen. And that's the thing, isn't it? Daniel always listens.
"Fuck that; you do what you gotta do, I'm staying out."
Armand lets out a small sigh. "Daniel,now is not the time to be difficult."
Daniel glances down at the body. At the cold, empty eyes. She was a good girl. In med school. Wanted to be a pediatrician. She had a whole life ahead of her.
He should feel guilty. He should feel sick and disturbed. Mostly he's just angry. Armand had no right to kill someone just because he was jealous.
Like he couldn't just talk to Daniel! Then he'd know that Daniel would never leave him, not for all the med students in the world.
"Too bad. You killed my friend."
Armand's voice has an edge of impatience when he speaks. "You just met her. She wasn't a friend."
"She could have been!" Daniel says. "If you let me have anyone in my life but you. But you're too possessive for that."
"Ah, so that's what this is about." Armand scans the ally and lifts the body of the girl up. He easily dumps her into a dumpster further down and floats back to Daniel's side.
Daniel steps away from him. Armand frowns. "Daniel, beloved-"
"Don't start with that. You can't sweet talk me into being okay with this."
Armand has that look on his face like he thinks Daniel is being ridiculous, but he magnanimously amuses him. It patronizing as fuck.
"And don't look at me like that!"
Armand says nothing, merely steps forward and collects Daniel in his arms. He props his chin on Daniel's head. "I've caused you distress. It was not my intention."
Daniel refuses to give in just because Armand is showing affection. He's angry, dammit.
His arms go around Armand's waist without his consciously deciding it. He buries his face in Armand's chest. "Next time ask first."
Armand's hand runs a soothing line down his back. "If you'd like."
That's good enough for Daniel.
Read my latest Armand/Daniel fic here
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