Louis & Lestat are so toxic!!
I BEG TO DIFFER.
IWTV: We all know this is the origin story of their toxicity. But does it continue that way? NO. See all the other canon interactions of Louis & Lestat.
TVL: a sweet reunion in a backyard, professing how much they love each other and missed each other and how the misunderstood each other. Louis is a special guest backstage. Lestat screams when he thinks Louis is stuck in an car explosion.
QotD: Louis worries about Lestat while he’s held captive by Akasha, he’s respectful of Lestat’s grief after the trauma and let’s him heal at his own pace, Lestat panics when Louis leaves without a word go New Orleans and follows him, Lestat confesses that he and Akasha were lovers and Louis is understanding, they take a romantic as fuck flight to London, Lestat holding Louis, Louis napping on Lestat’s chest, they nap some more in the grass once they land and Lestat cajoles Louis into having fun with him by bothering David.
TotBT: Louis comes over frequently to just hang out and watch tv, he advises Lestat to be careful, that he is frightened for him. They exchange the petty words of hurt lovers. Louis refuses to damn Lestat to a vampiric life again, no matter how much it breaks his heart, Lestat burns down Louis’ shack out of anger and spends the rest of the book thinking about how much he’s afraid of what their relationship will be like in the future, Louis confesses how miserable he was when Lestat was a human again and that he probably would’ve come back to find him. Lestat confesses to burning the shack and completely rebuilds the home the shared together for 60+ yrs. Lovingly welcomes David as Lestat’s new lover and fledgling.
MtD: Louis is panicked about the state of Lestat after his ordeal with Memnoch but doesn’t want to alarm Lestat, so he remains calm and soothing but begs him twice to come home to their flat in Rue Royale. Louis begs for Lestat’s life/ safety after as he is held captive by Maharet. He watches over Lestat after he becomes catatonic for years, lying on the ground, eyes open but unseeing, unresponsive.
1995 - 2000 Louis watches over Lestat alongside Armand, Marius, David and Gabrielle. He also visits alone to sit next to him, read to him, talk to him, clear the dust off of him. Misses him. Gets into his own drama and suffers a complete break, committing suicide. Somehow LESTAT KNOWS and wakes up, walks slowly to their home on Rue Royals and BEGS David & Merrick to tell him if they think he would want to come back, desperately making sure he’s making the right choice for Louis. He saves him, remaking him into a very powerful, significantly less human Louis. They live together with their other lovers, David and Merrick.
2000 -2013: Louis becomes resentful that he’s so much less human after being revived by Lestat’s blood and leaves, eventually coming back to Armand, residing at Trinity Gate, raising two fledglings. Lestat, sick in heart and feeling tremendous loneliness, wanders the earth as a loner for over nearly 13 years, unattached, afraid to get close to anyone, tired of screwing things up, occasionally watches Louis & Armand from across the street.
Prince Lestat: Lestat, in a quiet, stolen moment, after all the isolating drama of Amel & Rhosh, he firmly assures Louis that he is still himself, still Louis’ Lestat and professes his love once again, Louis confirms his heart belongs to Lestat. Louis finally faces all the questions he’s forced on himself, all the guilt, finally acknowledging that it has been useless this entire time, that there is a giant possibility for real happiness, that he feels excited, full of grace and STILL IN LOVE.
Realms of Atlantis: Lestat convinces Louis to meet him at their home in New Orleans, buys an entire room of clothing for him, and in a rare move, Louis wears the clothes given by Lestat FOR Lestat, admitting that he wanted to give Lestat what he wanted. They walk together, hunt together. Over beignets at Cafe du Monde, Louis makes very husband-like vows to Lestat with a vampiric version of Ruth 1:16, telling Lestat that his people are Louis’ people, that where Lestat goes, he will go, that because he has no other god and never will, Lestat shall be his god. He and Lestat are joined at the hip at the Château, and LOUIS finds the solution that will save Lestat’s life and the life of all the other vampires.
Blood Communion: Louis & Lestat live together as true partners and lovers, Louis rarely leaving Lestat’s side for very long. Lestat FINDS A NEW BEST FRIEND FOR LOUIS because he wants Louis to have someone who is more like him at Court. Louis is terrified for Lestat, after Rhosh kidnaps Gabrielle, staying as close as he can. They profess their love again and again, melting into each other while they embrace. Lestat is bereft and unmoored when he thinks that Louis is dead after being kidnapped by Rhosh. He feels nothing. He’s dead inside. He is triumphant once Louis back home. They profess their love again and dance together in front of everyone for the first time.
This doesn’t sound like a toxic relationship. This sounds like a couple who has an eternity to process their differences, who bicker like any other couple, who desperately love one another, who are incapable of holding grudges, and who separate when things aren’t working. Normal shit.
