dell's bells

in the book, lestat DOES try to leave by joining the monastery, but is dragged back home by his abusive brothers and is violently reprimended by the marquis, reminding the reader of just how much abuse lestat faces FROM MEN. and when he does SUCCESSFULLY leave, it's with nicki so the two of them can be in a relationship together in paris. it's this touching queer reclamation of the abused self, asserted even further by gabrielle financing their moving to paris.

that’s why he asks louis if he thinks levi truly loves grace. then he brings up louis getting married and asks him about his dealings with lestat. and when louis tells him he’s done with lestat. paul visibly relaxes, he’s assured that both his brother and sister are safe and in good hands. they’ll be fine without him, especially because paul knows the burdens he places on them. so he thinks that this would be in their best interest, that it’ll be okay.

he reminds louis one more time to stay away from lestat and calls him the devil.

the last thing he says to his brother is “i love you, louis” before walking off that roof

now paul isn’t appearing to his brother who he loved more than anyone in the world. instead he’s appearing to the white french man whom he thought was the devil and could not stand. not only does he appear to this man but he THANKS HIM. “for loving his brother the way he needed to be loved”

idk how you could watch the first season and then watch this fucking 60 car pile up and not wonder what fumes the writers were vigorously huffing.

We Heard You. We Understand We Fucked Up. Please Please Please Forgive Us. Ohh Crawling Like A Worm. Sliding Across The Linoleum. We're Sorry. We're Sorry. We're Sorry.

Alrernate Ending:

"Who are you, Louis?"

For @ldpdlweek2026 day 4 - guilt | reconciliation and forgiveness