The direct question is rewarded by a rare flicker of true vulnerability across Armand's expression -- though this, too, is expected, allowed. Daniel has earned it. Earned it in San Francisco, earned it in Dubai.
Armand glances aside, dropping his burnished gaze to look at the wall of the pool house, damp eyelashes fanned across his cheek. He folds the towel between his hands, then loops it around his neck, as if rediscovering that it exists. His mouth works, briefly.
"I cannot," he says, the words wrung from him. That said, he looks back at Daniel, as if harnessing some inner well of conviction. "I wish that I could. I wish that I could whisk him away, back to Dubai, and keep him safe there. But I cannot. Louis would go to him, even if I.." He shrugs a little bit, attempts a brave smile. "We have tested each other enough. What he seeks in Lestat, I cannot always provide. I've made my peace with it, over the years."
no subject
Armand glances aside, dropping his burnished gaze to look at the wall of the pool house, damp eyelashes fanned across his cheek. He folds the towel between his hands, then loops it around his neck, as if rediscovering that it exists. His mouth works, briefly.
"I cannot," he says, the words wrung from him. That said, he looks back at Daniel, as if harnessing some inner well of conviction. "I wish that I could. I wish that I could whisk him away, back to Dubai, and keep him safe there. But I cannot. Louis would go to him, even if I.." He shrugs a little bit, attempts a brave smile. "We have tested each other enough. What he seeks in Lestat, I cannot always provide. I've made my peace with it, over the years."