The look Daniel gives him is the same one he's given to Louis many times, unmoved by his emotions, unswayed by the noble tragedy of it all, calling bullshit. Armand is not a man who gives way to the inevitable. If he's ceding his king, it's because he's played out the whole chess game and decided it isn't worth his time - but this feels more like sacrificing a queen because the pawn is at the point of transformation.

"You've been controlling his life across multiple continents for seventy years," he says, shifting his position and tucking a leg under him, sat forward on the seat like it's a floor pillow rather than a pool lounger. Unlike with the discovery of Lestat, he's letting himself ogle Armand and argue with him at the same time. "Aside from a relocation, what's changed?"

He knows the answer as soon as the question's out of his mouth. "Actually, don't answer that," he says. Wonders if this is why Louis invited him to Dubai in the first place, to have someone to share the burden of Armand's attention. Common tactic by abused wives. Daniel looks up at this beautiful, troubled angel of the swimming pool sorrows and sighs. "Healthy people live full lives. You guys for a longer time than most. You can't be someone's everything. This is good."