We All Have Spaces We Keep Blank

My piece for the incredible Blood And Brocade by @thevelvetcompote - another collab with my beloved @hummingbee-o0o!! The result of yours truly going to Bee with big wet dog eyes and whispering “but whAT IF They went to the Carnevale di Venezia together IN COSTUME?”- and oh, bless her whole entire dazzling soul, she DELIVERED. Go read the full fic on her ao3 and please say hi from me!!

Daniel knows he’s an asshole. He’s potentially the most self-aware character. He knows he hurt his ex-wives and his daughters. He understands that they hate him and he frequently validates their decision to do so. He gets it. He’s not hiding from his mistakes. He knows what he’s done. People leave him because anyone sane would. There’s no malice there. He knows who he is.

But here is this beautiful, ancient creature who has lived through some of the most incredible periods of human innovation in modern history, who lived in Renaissance Venice and witnessed Paris return to its former glory after World War 2 , who has been exposed to some of the most important works of art in history, who has had so much time to absorb humanity and all its most impressive creations, and this creature tells him he’s in love with him, some random kid he met half a century ago by chance.

And not just that he’s in love with him. That he was actively in love with him while he was doing all the terrible things. None of it ever mattered. Armand has seen every shade of Daniel’s soul, more than anyone else ever has, and he is in love with him because of it. It is one thing to have your mistakes exposed, it’s another entirely for someone to see them and decide to stay.

Could be nice.

Could be.

Sorry. 1) Magnus tower. Kissing you in front of Lestat. 2) Couldn't pin me on companionship. 3) Kissing you in front of Lestat. Not for you. Never. For him.

I used you to punish. I never forgave you for Par-

Paris.

Never. I never did.

And now?

Nope.

Rest.

Can't. Won't.

Then what are you sorry for?

Love of my life was him.