Yes, I know I already exist

The Paramours at the Long Table

"I am glad Nicki took his hands with him into the fire, because if he had not, I would have to go back to Paris and get them before I could go on."

Courtship -- Under the Autumn Trees of Doriath

"I couldn't stand the sight of him now."

Nicki & Lestat // Song: He's My Man by Luvcat

I really want to know more about that music box.

Lestat says he composed the song for Nicki-- does that mean he had the music box made for Nicki? Or did he make the melody and only made it into a music box after the fact? Was it originally a song that Lestat would play on the piano for Nicki?

When the music box/piano song was made for Nicki, at what point in time did Lestat show him? Did Lestat do so nervously or excitedly? What was Nicki's reaction, being a character who seems to value music very much as a way to express emotions, is music a love language of his? Lestat, who cannot write poems or love letters, made a singular repeating melody for him.

If it was music box, a small sign that someone loves him that can be kept in a box. Even if Lestat is not there, he can listen to it. When he is feeling cheerful, depressed, overexcited, or all the other in-betweens Nicolas might feel, he has the song to keep with him.

Did Lestat commission a music box it for Nicki during the era of disappearance, when he was sending him very expensive gifts... preserving a piano melody he used to play... Did Nicki listen to the music box during the era when Lestat had vanished to fill the space of loneliness and silence...

I love them <3

"We were very drunk. We had never ordered supper. And I think I was happier than I had ever been in my life."

As the sun was starting to set, Lestat then begged Nicki to play his violin for him, as he lay back and listened, and Lestat is absolutely enthralled.

When Nicki was finished playing, Lestat looked shocked with emotion, Nicki inevitably asked him what was wrong,

This was pretty much the end of their night, but as Lestat recounts, most definitely not the end of their companionship.

There are many things that I love about this moment, even though it consists of just a page or so. First of all, is how much Lestat is so moved by Nicki's violin playing. Which I have no doubt might have been plenty exceptional, but with them having four bottles of wine between them-- there's also a chance it may have been a blissfully drunk version of something Nicki may have memorized. And yet Lestat still gets so emotional over it to the point of crying. I think it's partly because he saw the passion, the light showing through when Nicki plays from his heart, but in that moment Lestat also felt like he was falling in love.

The gentle closeness of saying "call me by my name" just stabs me in the heart.

Secondly, is Nicki's reaction which is both bittersweet and also rather amusing. Imagine playing a song in front of a man and he just starts crying in front of you haha-- in some strange way it's a compliment? But also please don't cry.

"There was no sarcasm or bitterness in him now." oh poor Nicki...

And finally, the aftermath. Not only is the idea of Nicki seeing Lestat cry and just being like 'ah. let's take you home.' such a nice thought-- but Lestat tossing pebbles at Nicki's window the next day to ask for attention like a swooning love interest?? He was like I want to hear that sweet music again!!

On a scale of human to vampire, how are you feeling today?

Lestat, are you telling me there is a version of events where you would have carried Nicki's hands around with you as a memento...

And I just got to the part in TVL where I find out what happened to Nicki...

“There haven’t been any…intruders.” “Are you worried about intruders?” William waited. He was still clutching his spoon. “I thought that I – last night, I thought that...perhaps…there may have been…someone. In my room.”

Some more art inspired from @aclever-username's "A Little to the Left", which I have been thoroughly enjoying lately.

Y'all already know that I love exploring the dynamics of the Frankenstein brothers-- so this whole conversation from Chapter 8 I was having a field day with!

Claire Frankenstein + "Death and The Maiden" by Marianne Stokes

Guardian angel. Sweet companion. Stand by my side and do not leave me... And so Claire saw the Angel of Death, it was like gazing into a looking-glass.

Irises symbolize faith, courage, valor, hope and optimism.