rosearosis

I'm starved of Devil's Minion so I drew them.

DM has been on the brain since Episode 4 of TVL released on Sunday (and generally since the episodes have been coming out), I literally spent a 5 hour orchestra rehearsal and performance thinking about them it's becoming a problem. But, it got me thinking about why it is that Daniel and Armand's relationship is so alluring.

In the run up to the episode I saw so many posts manifesting and hoping for them to get together this series and, even though I fully agreed with the sentiment, I legitimately didn't believe it was going to happen. I vividly remember thinking that I just want them to at least speak to one another and maybe say something nice.

It wasn't until the episode where I was pleasantly surprised (ecstatically screaming in an empty house at my laptop) at their scenes and Armand's legitimate confession of love.

However, as I've been thinking it through, I realised that I'm so used to shows flirting with the idea of queer romance and years long 'will-they-won't-theys' with these secondary queer couples whilst the straight lead has had 2 marriages and a baby, that even in IWTV – which is in no way scared to delve into queer romance – I could still only perceive DM as strictly fandom and a relationship that would never be fully formed, or at least not for many series to come.

Additionally, Daniel and Armand's relationship is a dynamic I have literally never seen before, there relationship is so unique it's almost refreshing. In a world of Bella and Edwards, DM is a relationship that can literally surprise me at every turn. It's not a typical vampire romance following all the clichés of stalking vampires and innocent young women. I credit this both to Anne Rice and the formidable team behind IWTV. I need to know who decided to centre the show around 70yo Daniel because I truly believe that has elevated Anne Rice's work to new levels in the context of DM because that is what truly distinguishes it as groundbreaking.

but also

When Rice invented Devils Minion, it was a strange background story, so out of place in style and plot, new and intriguing, she herself didn't realize what unique thing she created. She immediately buried it again and focused on her main characters. I was so disappointed with the books that DM was basically never mentioned again. It was the Fandom that curated the relationship over the years like this rare piece of valuable art.

And the show runners know this. They know the Fandom, they know the history of the books in all their over 60 years long existence. They understand how special DM is, even though it hardly plays a role in Canon. I'm sure they chose to put DM in a much more central role because they understand its value.

Okay posting my thoughts on this before we go on to episode 5. I have seen bits and pieces of this floating around for years but it was this line that basically convinced me...

As much as I want to take the "It was love" explanation at face value, I do not believe it for a second. I did not believe it when it was Armand giving it to Louis about the coven "betrayal" and I do not believe it now either.

You want to tell me that the vampire Armand, control freak that he is, the most powerful vampire when it comes to the mind gift, who goes in and out of people's heads like he is reading the newspaper. The one that does not believe in boundaries, who stalked Daniel for four years, who erased Louis's memories who knows how many times. Mister Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss, You are telling me that he would NOT go into Daniel's mind?

It does not matter how you look at it, it doesn't make sense!

He has Mr. Molloy, investigative journalist, in his home and interviewing his companion, and he has a couple of HUGE secrets that could blow their relationship up if found out, and he doesn't live INSIDE Daniel's mind?

And on the other hand, he has Daniel, his beautiful boy, his beloved, in his house, within his reach for the first time in who knows how long and he doesn't live INSIDE Daniel's mind?

It makes no sense.

And yet he does not go into Daniel's mind at all during his interview in Dubai. Think about it, every time it happens it is Louis who is meddling or ruminating , not Armand, never Armand.

Again: It. Makes. No. Sense.

Unless… he cannot get into his mind or at least he finds it very difficult to do so.

It has all but been confirmed that Devil's Minion relationship happened in some way in the past. So it was love, there was love, and there were blood exchanges over years and years.

And slowly, as more and more blood was exchanged, the veil of silence that falls over makers and fledglings fell or at least half formed between Armand and Daniel. It WAS love, their love and their blood exchanges that stopped Armand from entering Daniel's head

Now, that would explain so much about their dynamic during seasons one and two. Armand disguises himself as Rashid so he can spy on Daniel because he cannot get into his mind. He sends real Rashid with Daniel when he leaves the apartment because he cannot get into his mind.

He does not see Daniel regaining his memories of San Francisco, he cannot adjust Daniel the way he does Louis after he is found out (you cannot tell me that Louis' reaction the next episode is not a mind wipe… come on) he does not follow his scheme with the Talamasca. He does not see it coming because he can't see it coming.

I completely agree that he probably couldn't get into Daniel's mind because in season 1 Armand is so caught off guard at the honey and pineapple comment along with Louis talking about his weight, there's so clearly this secret conversation going on between them. It makes perfect sense in the context of Rashid but it makes no sense retrospectively within the context of Armand and I'm surprised Daniel never picks up on it.