The thought that blossoms deep in Daniel's id is: you've got me now. Embarrassing, stupid, the thought of an eager twenty year old rather than the man he is. It's not true, or its not a truth he's ready for, and his higher brain functions bury it again.

"I understand," is what he says instead. That sympathy isn't gonna pull any promises from him, though. A streak of coldness in him: he's too far into it not to see it through with Louis. Whether that turns into a public work... he doesn't know anymore. The pause of this place has him doing cost benefit analysis.

"He made a choice knowing that," Daniel says. "Maybe you need to work out with him if you're losing him anyway."

Armand looks troubled, which a deep animal part of Daniel says is his cue to stop marriage counselling and get the fuck out of there. Let him swim it out. He takes a step back.

"But what do I know?" he adds cheerfully, "I've been divorced twice. It sucked. It still sucks. Regrets, I have a few. But I wouldn't really change anything."