A deeply lost dream

once, maybe, she loved louis, when she was truly still a child. and of course he had to believe she always did, at least a little. but through the years following? by the time she died, a grown woman still reduced to his daughter? what love would she have left for him?

she was a vampire. and good at it. she was always lestat’s daughter. she is every bit the evil of his evil.

But he has to let him know in that moment. No, it wasn't that I was manipulating you. I was under your spell. I was under your spell and I didn't even know it. I thought I had messed this up because I was so in love with Louis. But actually, no. It was you. – Assad Zaman

The reliable narrator:

If I’m able to, then perhaps I’ll be closer to portraying a true expression of love.

Like Outie Irving assumes his Innie is just as radically anti-Lumon as he is. He assumes his hatred of Lumon is something ingrained in his personality! That's why he stays up at night drinking coffee and making paintings, because he hopes that when his innie dreams about the testing floor, he'll say "okay bet" and start exploring. That's what Outie Irving would do, after all. But he miscalculated! His hatred of Lumon isn't inherent--- his desire for meaning and art and spirituality is inherent. That's what his hatred for Lumon is built on. But in a world where there's no meaning outside of Lumon propaganda, of COURSE his innie would become ridiculously devoted to the company.

And Helena!! She is the corporation, that's her whole identity. She presumably assumed that Helly would be just as pro-Lumon as she is. But she miscalculated too! Her devotion to the company isn't inherent, her headstrong and entitled nature is what's inherent! And in a world where she's denied any agency whatsoever, that manifests as rebellion.