~ been out for some time.

While it is still far from dawn, Armand says, "Shall we return home?"

Well, to one of their homes anyway.

~ but better for whom? It was certainly easier for a vampire desperately trying to maintain he vow never to have a fledgling -- a vow he broke regardless with the same one he refused to turn decades ago.

"I am glad you like this. And I will enjoy as you espouse your favorite flavors."

They had ~

Daniel wouldn't be Daniel if his words did not come across as a /little/ bitchy.

It is good his mind is blocked to him now. Those wayward thoughts would only bring a wave of guilt. There is so much Daniel lost, or rather,so much he does not remember.

He truly thought it would be easier or better,~

~ has yet to remember. So much Armand took.

When he knows, would that be the one unforgivable thing?

Conversations for another time.

"I will not chase you away. Not again."

Those words make his heart ache.

He could buy another pair of paints. He could buy as many pairs as he likes. Only this moment matters.

"And I missed you."

It makes no sense to miss the other so very much in the limited time they knew one another -- but there is also so much Daniel ~

A Holiday with Daniel’s Family:

bsky.app/profile/le-m...

~ would neglect to tell his family about major surgery.

And the apparently botched stitch job by the doctors.

~ him. Still, it is little more than brushing a hand against his.

In this moment, Armand is glad that the scar upon Daniel's neck was one bit of harm /not/ caused by him. For one brief instant in that apartment, he had been helpful. Protective.

/Umm. Thyroid surgery?/

Daniel seems the sort who ~

Armand is not sure about the proofreading, but he cannot help but smirk slightly as Daniel thinks of first dates. What can he say? He was lingering in the man's mind. A good thing, too, given several things to decide.

Talk of his age is forgotten for a moment. When Daniel reaches, Armand finds ~

He could easilyretort that Daniel enjoyed that, too.

Instead, he says, "Meanwhile, you also think that I could somehow want anyone but you."

About as close of a declaration as one can get.

Armand actually laughs at that.

“And you always attempt to eat it. All of it.”

“And very quickly, you started running slower.”

Which is to say, he likes him and is more than certain Daniel likes him.

“Not in the slightest,” he agrees and then clears his throat. “My turn: you liked it.”

He listens to that crap because he is equally sappy when it comes to Daniel.

This scary vampire . . . sappy.

“As long as I can list the reasons you aren’t too.”

Hmm.

He cannot say that he is very lovable.

~ aphorism. More of an excuse to simply remain as they are with no regrets.

"I /do/ want you to enjoy this."

The unspoken part is that he does not wish for Daniel to struggle with this. Uncontrolled feeding would catch up with him eventually.

Until.

Until something.

"I like to think I am still learning, and I am far older than you."

Some might think a prerequisite of becoming a vampoire is to be a human utterly incapable of change. All about becoming more oneself . . . . or something to that effect.

Their kind likes that little ~

~ needed: someone. But a small part of Armand hopes that he is special, too.

"I am so . . . so sorry," Armand whispers, his own words muffled as he buries his face in the man's hair. "For all of it."

Surprised by the gesture, it takes Armand a moment to react. When he does, he slowly wraps his arms around Daniel. And he holds him as gently as he is able.

How much of his life had Daniel felt that he was not enough? How long had he yearned to be special to /someone/?

And maybe that is all he ~

He is under no illusions — good or bad — that Lucian is like Lestat. And /that/ is for the good.

“And?” he coaxes Lucian to continue.

Armand blinks.

Really locking it in there, Daniel is. Claiming.

He doesn’t hate it.

“You truly would wish to be married to me?”

~ Reaching the dark vehicle -- tinted windows and all -- it is Armand who opens the door for Daniel.

"After you. Our island awaits."

~ behind his back to keep from fidgeting.

"This way."

He takes the lead but never lets himself get too far without making sure Daniel is with him. Funny fearing the man would run when getting him to run had been the point of it all this time.

No longer.

If they run, they could run together. ~

"Dessert can wait," he replies with a smirk as he stands and waits for Daniel to do the same. "First stop, Piraeus"

Dinner had been paid for, and the car was arranged for them. Armand very nearly reaches out for Daniel's hand but decides against it. Instead, he folds both of his own hands ~

Her grandson is safe.

Luckily for him, Daniel forbade harming him.

Which makes the leaps Lucian is taking even more special.

“I love you, too, dear one,” he replies, gently cupping the back of his head as he holds him.

“I do not want you dead, Daniel,” Armand blurts out before he can stop himself. “I would . . . turn you. Or try. I have never done it.”

Obviously. But Daniel should know the risks.

His ears are burning .

And he is behaving himself and everything.