Loumand's Divorce 🥰

[angrybubbles]

One of the things I've always found really interesting about Armand's role in the interview is how objectively against the interview he is (constant reminders for Daniel and Louis), yet how much he's willing to be negotiated into it.

So much of the Loumand relationship as we see it is about negotiation. The BDSM, the power-dynamics, the past guilt and flaws, and especially the interview.

Armand haunting the background as fake Rashid was and is one of the craziest things they've done, but it was probably the only way Louis could talk Armand into allowing the interview. (And the fact that we seem to be witnessing an intense 24/7 roleplay scene to help 'Armand keep character' also reinforces this. Louis can order him around, and Armand can have a role to model). Yet he reveals himself as Louis is confronted with the reality that... maybe he did still love Lestat so that he could be a more physical and intentional reminder that Louis loves HIM and not Lestat.

Because the interview is working through the past misconceptions, lies, trauma, and other things that Louis has used to peice together the story that upkeeps his current reality, of course Armand is going to be fearful that poking holes in that narrative will make Louis fall out of love with him.

Louis, even after covering and recalling the trial, of his anger at Armand, throwing a bowl at Armand's head, is still willing to keep pushing forward. Louis, as uncertain about everything that he is, truly believes that Armand has his best intentions at heart. Flaws (and child murder) aside, Armand tries to do things for HIM.

Even Armand can see this interview had been healing for Louis, and so now Armand can introduce a new peice to Louis's puzzle that won't throw off their relationship. Louis no longer seems to be here out of spite. This can be a new beginning.

Now that Louis has laid his grievances out on the table again, he is prepared to move forward.

Because, and I think a lot of people miss this, while Armand may be abusive, he wants the best for Louis. And he knows Louis has not been doing well. So the negotiation of the interview, something he feared would break what little of Louis he had left, has instead strengthened their bond.

At least, until Louis finds out that Armand was willing to let Louis die at the trial.

Because that's the biggest part of the betrayal, right? That's what Armand has been trying to cover up. That he was more involved with the trail than he pretended to be, and he did nothing to save Louis' life as it happened. Armand only saved Louis afterwards (which I feel a lot of antis also forget. Like Armand did save Louis, it was just a little late).

And Armand scrambling after Louis reads the script, his begging and trying to fix it because obviously Louis is PAST this, Armand told him Lestat loved him and Louis was going to STAY-

And of course the best thing Louis could do was to shut Armand up. No more frantic words. No more soothing lies. No more accusations. No more negotiating.

Louis tends to make decisions at pivotal points in his life, but leaves the rest of the minute details up to others. And this was one he decided to make.

Now it's his turn to really decide how best to heal. Armand has shown with this new evidence that he doesn't always have Louis's best intentions at heart.

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I love Loumand so much, and I can't wait to see how the show will dramatize their awkward relationship moving forward. As the Vampire Chronicles have laid out in its themeing: Love doesn't truly fade, it just makes the aches and pains feel stronger.

I can only hope it's a lot more entertaining and loving than my parents divorce