#daniel questioning the dungeon thing because holy shit is that really necessary

[desertfangs]

It IS very weird that Benji is there (as in, court/Auvergne) at the end with Armand and not Daniel but then again, the last time before that one, Daniel is there with Armand but not Benji or Sybelle, so I guess it’s one of those things where it’s fair to assume that Armand just picks an immortal in his house to travel with at any given time depending on everyone’s mood. Also, I don’t know if Daniel would’ve had it in him to keep his mouth shut during THAT scene with Lestat, given his track record of just saying the first thing that pops into his head. Benji cried and offered Armand his support but didn’t actually say anything? And while I’m not entirely sure how Daniel would’ve reacted, I do believe it might’ve involved words and who knows how that could’ve gone! Sorry I’m just rambling now 🤣

It is, yeah! In universe, I think it's probably a matter of Daniel was off doing something else during BC2 and/or house sitting Trinity Gate (read: playing through The Last of Us and refusing to leave until he got to the end). Maybe he opted not to come to court so Sybelle and Benji went because Daniel was staying at the house. I mean the possibilities are endless.

It's just funny to me he's absent from BC2 (entirely, not so much as a mention) because Daniel is the one who literally started the series, who's such a fundamental part of Armand's life and character arc, and who is someone I think Armand could rely on for comfort and support. And instead it's Benji. 😐 As an authorial choice, it's sort of weird given that we know Armand and Daniel have recently reconnected and are presumably living together at TG, but I don't know why Anne made those decisions and I doubt we ever will.

As for Daniel being mouthy, absolutely, he doesn't really keep his thoughts to himself (except, apparently, in RoA LMAO when there are ALIENS - I'm sorry I'm just never gonna be over that. The aliens or Daniel's lack of commentary on them!)

I don't think he'd have a problem with anything Armand said: I think he knows Armand has loved Lestat deeply since they first met. I also think the reason Daniel is not mentioned in that speech is because it's understood that he's in a different category altogether and cannot be compared to Armand's other relationships (he's his fledgling, after all, among other things). And Daniel is the one in PL talking about how vampires have a great capacity for love.

So Daniel would have been supportive AF of Armand in that moment but you are very right that it would not have been SILENT support and I guess it might have complicated matters if Daniel mouthed off to Le Prince. Maybe they'd throw him down in those terrible dungeons they're building. (Fandom we need to talk about those! WTF IS THAT.)

It just bums me out that we get so little of Daniel in the final two books, when he's finally sane again and with Armand, and we see zero of it. Also dude would have had so much to say about the aliens, I just can't. MISSED OPPORTUNITY. But that is what fic is for. But like at least put him in the freaking mural, I mean, come on!