#marius/armand/daniel

[tulinokkaelain]

Valenfangs day 3: Slumber party

They were watching a movie, but Daniel fell asleep, and now they're just mostly watching Daniel snore cutely. :3

@valenfangs

[desertfangs]

VC Fic Rec Friday (....the return)

It's been an eternity since I've done this, but I want to bring it back because there's so much great fic in this fandom.

This one will be a bit of a mishmash because it's been so long, and but here are just a few of the great fics I've read over the past... *checks watch* many months! I have a long list so this is just the tip of the iceberg. I'll be back with more recs next week.

🪦 The world (it flows through me) - by @cinnamonclove A beautiful character study of Armand after Les Innocents burns.

💚 Bury Me in Green - by @rebel-revenant Armand/Lestat talk about losing Louis and preform a little ritual.

🧜‍♀️ Of Saltwater, Shipwrecks and Blood - by @this-writer-needs-coffee One of my favorite mermay AUs, Armand/Daniel/Marius goodness and little siren Armand is adorable

🚗 Shifting Gears by - @inexplicablepeas Fun sexy Armand/Daniel chase years goodness, where Daniel teaches Armand how to drive

🌴 Inexplicable by @aunteat More Armand/Daniel chase years deliciousness

🛥️ Like Real People Do by @mothmage Night Island Era Armand/Daniel with delicious mortal Daniel angst

Happy Friday and happy reading!

[nanathebunny]

i see silly affectionate things, i sigh and think to myself: that’s so armand and daniel :)

like they absolutely Would play footsie…. marius gets to his chambers at the chateau one day and he finds armand and daniel on the sofa doing this while talking abt whatever

[monstersinthecosmos]

I've been thinking about the part in your latest fic where Marius responds to Daniel's dig about not fucking Armand by saying that Daniel wishes he hadn't.

How do you think Daniel felt looking back on his time with Armand by that point?

Also thank you for spoiling us as always with the incredible fic 🥰✨️

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A BIT ON DISCORD BUT I WANT TO REALLY LIKE PARK IT HERE AND MARINATE IN MY FEELINGS OKAY??????

(but first of all omg thank you ;.; I’m so happy that you like it)

Before anything else I want to say that in this fic, they’re both just kinda throwing barbs at each other and picking a fight to feel something, and neither of them 100% mean it as much as they just know how to push buttons and pick at each other’s insecurities. So like, on that note, I want to state for the record that Daniel DOESN’T wish he hadn’t, but that Marius is still picking at some really complicated feelings.

[This is going to be really long, I’m sorry!]

I think like we (fandom) get kinda swept away in the silliness & romance of the Devil’s Minion and we don’t talk enough (FOR ME!) about how dark and fucked up it was. I just think it’s worth reminding everyone now and then that the Devil’s Minion chapter is a story about stalking and coercion and substance abuse—they MEET via Armand abducting Daniel and keeping him captive in a pitch black room for days and letting him starve. And to me, that’s part of the charm LMAO but I just feel like I wanna park that idea here in case anyone has forgotten.

So like, I want to think about Daniel Molloy as a 20 year old who was abducted, locked up, and starved by a vampire LMAO, and how the 40 years following that is a roller coaster of trauma and recovery.

And like, okay, insofar as I’m half talking about my own fic that was built with my own headcanons, I think it’s worth asking about Daniel’s life experience as a 20 year old. (I wanna drop this link here because I talked about it once in terms of his sexual experience LOL). Like, we know almost nothing canonically about Daniel’s background, and while that works really great for writing fic and headcanons and is FREE REAL ESTATE BABY, I think we really have to just keep asking like, how much experience does a 20 year old have?

Because I think it’s entirely possible that he never had a serious relationship before? Even if he had, is it relative to being 20 years old? How do we feel about the “serious relationships” we have when we’re that age?

I talked about this in the post I linked about his sexual experience so I don’t want to repeat too much, but we have to realize also that his life effectively STOPPED after the interview. He was on the run, he wasn’t dating lol. He did NOT have a social life. When he stopped running, it was to be with Armand. So what I’m kinda trying to say here is that I think it’s plausible that Armand was his only serious relationship, and that also means that it’s his first serious breakup.

(And while this is like, getting into headcanon territory since the canon is so vague, I will say for the record that it aligns with my ficverse, that almost all of my VC fics take place on the same timeline, so this is at least the truth in this story and it’s the truth of Daniel in all my stories.)

This is something else where, as much as I hate building meta around FANDOM, I want to also take a moment to remind everyone that they broke up lmao. They did! That happened! Fandom gets so swept up in the idea of endgames and whatnot and it's like. THEY BROKE UP LOL. Like yeah yeah that’s what fanfic is for etc etc etc do whatever but like, canonically speaking, Armand never wanted to turn another because he knew that it would inevitably lead to resentment, that makers & fledglings get sick of each and hate each other, that’s what happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I like to think that Armand was doomed with his self fulfilling prophecy and the trope of I didn’t have a good dad so I can’t be a good dad so he didn’t even try and I’d like to believe in the post-canon ether that they can work something out lol but this is like, the canon, this is what happened. They broke up!!!!!!!!! Daniel got what he wanted and bounced!)

It's also by then the dissolution of an ongoing period of trauma and abuse that has been going on for at least 1/3 of Daniel's life, depending what year they actually made it to, and VC is a series that is often about messy grief, trauma, and grieving abusers.

So the Vamptember/looking in the dark from below collection of fics wasn’t planned or anything, they’re nonlinear little oneshots about different moments and aspects of Marius & Daniel’s relationship. And it’s just a place for me to park all these thoughts I have about them!!!!!!

But thinking about like, Daniel’s life being ruined by vampire -> being turned during a really chaotic Vampire World Event -> BREAKING UP WITH HIS MAKER! -> (???? radio silence in the 1990s) -> Having ND timeout at Marius’s house -> RECOVERING AND BEING IN A REALTIONSHIP WITH HIS MAKER’S MAKER…

It’s just such a complicated thing to look at, you know? In a very basic, easy-to-understand-for-us-mere-mortals way, the easiest way to think about it is that Daniel is recovering from a HORRIFIC breakup, but it’s also the trauma from like, the Everything. And also going from the nonstop Devil’s Minion chaos to like, just having to live as a vampire, and having to live as a vampire on his OWN?

I really really love thinking about this aspect of like the Trondheim & Beyond era because like, we’ve all kinda debated what does Daniel’s “madness” actually entail, like, what is the vampire neurotype yatta yatta, is he just overstimulated and needs a quiet break, can a vampire truly be “mad”, are some people just not fit for the Blood, whatever. But we DO see him recover! And Marius has a hand in the recovery! And I am just absolutely feral climbing the walls thinking about Marius’s feelings about the entire thing.

Because like, Marius has to look at it and think “Good lord Armand fucked this up” and I don’t think it’s possible to pin that on Armand without also accepting that Marius also fucked up with Armand ! And I’m so interested in thinking about how family patterns manifest in vampires—like I’ve written a little bit about if epigenetic trauma can exist inside the bloodline, but it’s also the lessons everyone learns from their makers, and how it informs what type of maker they then become.

I read a really interesting post from @theatlasofclouds the other day about Marius’s particular flavor of toxic empathy, too—the way he does what he thinks is best and what he thinks people needs, without understanding that he doesn’t KNOW what other people need, or that other people don’t operate the way he does, that they have different belief systems and emotional languages. And I tend to think of Marius as a dad-type Fixer—he wants to help people and guide people and wants to be respected as a leader/mentor/teacher.

We don’t have an answer of how or why Daniel wound up with him, but it’s impossible for me to ignore this elephant in the room, that Marius would see Daniel’s predicament as an extension of his own failures!!!!!!!!! Marius has that type of egotism, too, that he’ll feel responsible even if it’s not strictly his own fault!

I like thinking about Marius feeling responsible to fix it and clean it up, even if he's not sure what he's doing, even if he's doing it badly. I always try to approach Marius this way when I write him, so I've tried to make that kinda clear in the fics, too. He doesn't always know the best way to fix something, but he's gonna try anyway. He worships at the altar of his own reason, and doesn't know how to be wrong. (Gosh I know I wrote a big meta about Marius's ego as a defense mechanism but I can't find it lol but TLDR he has to believe in himself because it's the only way to make sense of immortality and any time he's proven wrong or makes a mistake it's a devastating wound to his entire sense of reality.)

It just makes me wonder how Daniel wound up with him, since we never got a complete answer. We know that he turned B+S, and then by the beginning of B&G he's ashamed of something that happened recently, and he thinks everyone's mad at him. Like, is it fair to assume he took in Daniel as a ways to make amends? Does he see Armand's handling of Daniel as a massive fuckup, and does he want to try to help? Does Daniel see that it's also a massive fuckup?

This fic series is really a space for me to daydream about all these angles because I think that these are some REALLY rich relationships, and their space in canon is largely off screen subtext. Like, none of this is really spelled out, but how do we NOT ask these questions?

And I’ve made it like 1500 words into this answer by splitting off into all these different directions, but to focus and bring it back to your question: IT’S COMPLICATED MAN.

I think SO MUCH about the line from TVA “I was no Marius to [Daniel] afterwards.” I think so much about how we don’t have any proof that Marius ever told Armand about his life. As far as we can tell, Armand never told Daniel about HIS life. By this point in the canon timeline, they will have READ it in books!! HAVE THEY EVER JUST TALKED TO EACH OTHER IDK?

Like how do they each FEEL reading that in TVA?! How does anybody begin to make up for it?

I also was so excited that you picked up on this in your AO3 comment on the chapter: “And then the way they trade barbs, I love when characters know each others perfect weak points to attack, and for both of them of course Armand is a huge sore spot that they share” – YES exactly!

There’s a lot to juggle here between like, Marius’s anger issues & trying not to be an angry person vs Daniel who is so very much like Marius in some really meaningful ways, how they might be weird mirrors of each other who sorta saved each other, how they might both operate on some similar wavelengths. I imagined them as the type of couple who doesn’t say I LOVE YOU or get vulnerable until they can push each other into an argument to admit it. In my mind, the chapter ending on “I love you, too” was the first time they’ve said it in that way, and Daniel clocks Marius’s difficulty in apologizing as a HUGE effort that expresses love.

But they’re basically picking a fight to feel something! They’re both saying shit they don’t 100% mean! Daniel’s history with Armand is extremely complicated and Marius knows it! Marius even feels complicit in it!

There’s this thing I really love in fics, I’ve only seen it a couple times so I’m not sure if everyone considers it a proper trope the way I personally do LOL, but I realllllllly love, not when a character loses their virginity, but when they lose their virginity in a disappointing way and then fuck a new person and think “I should’ve saved it for you” asdgjklasdghjkl LORD!!!!!!!!

I just have to wonder if there times where things were gentle and nice and Daniel thought “I wish Marius had been my maker” or other such sentiments. Imagine going from chaotic stalker Armand to calm daddy Marius, you know??????????

It would be natural to think that, and wonder what it would’ve been like, and it’s something I’ve tried to hint at in this series. And it doesn’t have to mean like, that Daniel completely regrets how he was turned or sincerely wishes that it had been Marius, but whomst among us have not looked back at traumatic experiences and wondered what our lives would look like if things had been different for us?

The good news is that I think there’s hope for these fools!!!!!!!!

Like, I am thinking about an arc of Daniel’s Horrific Breakup & Trauma Recovery, where things will settle down and he’ll feel stable and okay and the past won’t be such an open wound anymore. I think it’s also reasonable within the logic of VC that all roads lead to forgiveness and that time heals. He will eventually be okay and feel like, I’m glad it worked out this way, I’m glad Marius can be my companion and not my maker, everything lead us here and it worked out.

And I think like, Daniel & Marius have such a huge shared wound concerning Armand and I like to think that Daniel might be a huge key in everyone kinda figuring it out.

I'M JUST -------

WHAT DO MARIUS & DANIEL SEE IN EACH OTHER’S BLOOD? HOW DOES IT CHANGE THE WAY THEY THINK ABOUT ARMAND? MARIUS SEEING HIM IN AS A DOMINEERING PREDATOR, DANIEL SEEING HIM AS A VULNERABLE HUMAN???

Armand absolutely HAUNTS these two ! And it’s clear to me that they want so desperately to forgive each other and have something again !!!!!!!!!! Vampires are fools for that kind of thing, they mourn time periods and places and relationships! They become (or stay) vampires because they fear death ! They fear mourning !!! They fear loss !!!!

So again sorry we’re now 2300 words into this and I’m still rambling but again to answer the question, How do you think Daniel felt looking back on his time with Armand by that point? *by this point* I think, he’s sorta okay, but it’s still kinda sore. He’s getting there!

10 years ago he would’ve been crushed, and in 10 years he won’t mind at all.

Just anyway!

What a rich relationship these three have! There’s so much to talk about !!!!!!!!!

In conclusion I just gotta bring this back again because TLDR -

[deromanuscoven]

Welcome to the February mini-event of the de romanus coven! Since we are preparing a mega event for the arrival of spring, we have decided to hold a three-day mini event in anticipation of the Spring event. We thank in advance everyone who will participate in these three days.

The only rule, which you all know by now, is respect and love for Anne Rice's characters.

This mini-event is for Marius/Armand/Daniel, as the Spring event will be open to all ships and characters in the world of Anne Rice. Given the love that everyone in this family has for Marius, we have decided to gear this mini event toward him and his loves.

Any kind of work will be accepted, fanart, moodboards, headcanon, poems, small stories etc….

There will be three prompts for each day and you can decide which ones to do, whether one or all, the choice is yours!

Late submissions will be accepted, as always, and if by chance you notice that we have not found your work please contact us so we can add it.

We ask that you please tag your work with deromanuscovenevents so that we can find it and post it on the coven blog.

We are giving you the prompts in advance so that those who want to participate will have time to organize.

The coven sincerely thanks you all for the participation the commitment and joy you put into your works!

We are always extremely happy to be able to share the love and joy that your work brings us, and to share our passion for Anne Rice's characters. Thank you all and enjoy!

[aurelialux83]

The happy family all elegant and in love!

Marius❤︎

Armand♱

Daniel★

[uncivilcivilservice]

Comforting vampire thoughts: Marius bringing Daniel a soft blanket at Court when he's feeling a little off and just wants some quiet time, and then sitting with him and watching a movie. Bonus: Armand joins them and they all end up cuddled under the blanket together.

🥹🥰🥹🥰

I think a lot about times when Daniel gets overwhelmed and finds it difficult to speak or really interact with others, but Marius, Armand or other friends still just hang out with him with no expectations or pressure.

It's a bit of a change from his time with Armand as a mortal, when I think Armand could be quite demanding (without meaning to) regarding Daniel's attention or interaction with him, and Armand probably took it pretty badly when Daniel would go quiet on him. I think Marius maybe helped Daniel unlearn some of the pressure to always be interesting, or engaging, or always have something to say even if it's just something snarky.

Daniel deserves some time to just be allowed to exist and chill and still be loved and cared for 🥰

[herbeloved82]

Is this what happiness feels like?

Marius heard the giggle before he heard their steps coming closer and closer. They were up to something, those little minxes and he knew he should worry, but at the same time, he was too comfortable to move. 

There, in the room they shared, with the scent of the salty water of the sea drifting in, lulled by the gentle noise of the waves dancing with the sand of the remote island he bought only for them and the breeze that lazily moved the curtains, open to welcome the moonlight, laying among sheets that smelled like the perfect mix of them, Marius was too happy to move.  

Oh, he knew troubles would find him in the form of his two lovers, so he decided to just wait and see what their beautifully devious minds decided to do. There were so many ways they could choose to spend their evenings, and never did they shy away from mischief. That was one of the many reasons why he loved them as much as he did. 

They complemented each other. Three pieces of a puzzle that couldn’t make sense if one of them was missing. 

Marius was the calm and logical. He was the quiet harbor where the other two knew they were safe and could find the peace they needed. Armand was fire and passion that burned under the ice. He was the curious one, eager for everything, always consuming, craving all the love he could get and more. And Daniel, their young lover, was the humanity they had both lost too long ago, a reminder of what the world could still offer. He was the glue that put back together their broken pieces. They were perfect together and Marius knew he was ready to burn the world to keep them by his side. 

The giggles stopped abruptly, replaced by hushed shushing noises he would recognize everywhere. For a moment Marius was back in Venice, the noise coming from streets that were now foreign to him, the voices making his house alive forgotten by everyone but him. 

The smell of salt coming from a far away sea and dust and mixed colors, the smell of a city that was at the apex of its power and bursted with life and intrigues invaded Marius’ memories and with them came the voices. Young men’s whispering among themselves, working on their paintings, excited for the life in front of them. Among those voices a beloved one that always stayed with Marius even in his darkest moments. 

Amadeo’s giggling with Riccardo, confessing to him his desires and wishes. It had been such a beautiful thing to witness the growing friendship between them, knowing that Amadeo was leaving his shell behind, ready to look at the world with new eyes. 

A loud sigh left his lips as Marius tried to clear his mind. It was rare for him to let those memories sneak up on him, and yet they always found their way back when he had his guard down. 

It wasn’t even a surprise this time. Since Armand and Daniel both had come back to him, Marius hadn't felt the need to be always guarded and alert, always on the defensive, not with the two people he trusted with his life by his side. 

However memories were strange creatures, always present even when one didn’t know, ready to be awoken and bring pain or joy without a reason. Marius’ memories of the time in Venice were bittersweet, and always left behind the taste of regret. 

“Master?” Armand's worried voice sounded in the room, and Marius silently cursed for causing his lover even the smallest distress. 

“I’m fine my love, don’t let me keep you and Daniel from causing trouble,” Marius answered, calmly, sounding entirely unbothered by their antics.   

The gasp of outrage that escaped Armand’s full lips echoed in the room and made Marius laugh. He didn’t even need to open his eyes to know how he looked now, his big eyes shining in the semi-darkness of the room, his mouth slightly open, ready to deny such a false accusation. 

“We would never.” Daniel said, taking advantage of Armand’s silence. “You always say we are your angels, Marius. How could you accuse us of being anything but perfect?” 

Marius wasn’t aware he’d even said that, but he learned not to argue with Daniel, the young man could have put Cicero to shame. 

“I would never, my loves. You are two perfect angels,” they giggled again. “Of chaos and mischievousness.” He finished with a lightness in his voice that had been missed way too long. 

“You are a horrible person, Master, and you should pay for your cruelty.” 

In another time when things had been broken and too rough between them, Marius would have taken those words as a personal offense, an attack on his own person. Now, they were just a tease between them. 

“You are right, my angel. And tell me, how should I be punished?” 

Curious to where this would take them, Marius waited for an answer, which was fast to arrive. 

“You should keep your eyes closed and let us use you as a canvas.” Armand said like it was the most natural answer he had to offer. 

“A canvas?” Marius asked, unsure he understood his words. 

“You know what a canvas is, right Master? You are not old enough to forget about something you use everyday.”   

Marius huffed, unable to keep the sound for himself, oh he would show Armand who was old, but not before he allowed his lovers to have their way with him. There was nothing in this world he would ever deny them, and he had to admit he was intrigued by the unknown. 

“I think I still know what a canvas is, you cruel creature, but I never saw myself as one.” Marius said at the end. 

“As you always say, we should learn new things.” 

Marius couldn’t really remember when he ever said that either, but to argue with Armand once he made up his mind was something Marius wouldn’t waste his time on, so once he agreed he simply relaxed even more, scooted towards the middle of the bed and waited. 

He didn’t open his eyes when the mattress dipped on both his sides, signaling that both Armand and Daniel took their place and were ready for - well, Marius didn’t know for what but he knew they were all safe. And for once the need to control everything wasn’t strong enough to make him break his word to Armand. 

Marius allowed himself to be lulled by his lovers’ heartbeats into a state of contentment so deep The first kiss of a brush caught him by surprise. 

It was on his left side, where he knew Armand was. For a long moment he tried to follow the pattern and figure out what was being created on him, but soon he was distracted when Daniel too began his work.

They worked in silence for what felt like hours, stopping only to pamper his kin with small kisses or steal some from his lips. Then, when they were ready, Armand spoke again. 

“Do you trust us?” He asked, and for a moment Marius was taken aback. It had been a long time since Armand felt the need to ask that question, did something change again? 

He fought hard to keep the intrusive thoughts out of his mind. There was no reason to worry about something he didn’t know and too often he made the mistake to act before knowing what was going on exactly. 

“Always.” Marius chose to say. 

“Then would you allow us to help you out of the bed without opening your eyes?” This time the only answer he got was a sure nod of Marius’ head. He let himself be moved and led where they wanted him, in the middle of the room, if he wasn’t wrong. Even when he heard noises that would have made him suspicious, he kept his eyes closed, showing them once more how much he did trust them.   

“You can open them now.” 

So Marius did, and when his eyes were open, he could finally see what they turned his skin into. A canvas, like Armand had said, but more. 

The pages of a decorated book, where drawing beautifully made and words joined in harmony to create a story of love and forgiveness. Of redemption and absolution. Of sorrow and joy. On his skin was the path they had to walk to be here and now. Together when it had looked impossible for them to be. 

On his skin were the scars that they gave each other and the story of how they also made them heal. It was the story of their life but without the word end, because this was just their new beginning of an eternity they had earned at the price of their blood and tears. 

“I love you. I love you both, more than words can explain.” Marius said, his voice broken by emotions. 

“We love you too,” Daniel responded. 

“More than anything else.” Armand continued. And the same emotions Marius felt towards them reflected back in their eyes.  

That night Marius gave them his blood, allowing them to drink from him as they kissed. The elation and peace couldn’t be broken by anything, for they survived hell on earth and managed to find each other all over again. This was true happiness, Marius realized as a small smile appeared on his lips as Armand and Daniel used him as a pillow and were safe in his arms. 

Though it had come at a great cost for all of them, Marius would never willingly give up this happiness. If this was their happy ending, Marius thought, the pain he had endured didn’t weigh on his soul anymore.  

He sighed when Armand sharp fangs sunk in his neck, sipping from him like he would have tasted a fine wine back in Venice. Always greedy, his little minx, but he said nothing, allowing his lover to take what he needed from him, as their peaceful thoughts and steady heartbeats lulled them in a calm state that quieted the turmoil of their emotions. 

When morning drew closer, Marius only moved to secure the room so that Daniel wouldn’t suffer any harm brought by the sun. When sleep claimed them, they were caught in each other’s arms, as one, like they were always supposed to be, and the smile on their lips competed with the brightness of the sun itself. 

END   

[cloudabserk]

what am i to you? am i your companion?

inspired by this awesome artwork, which in turn is based on this vocabulary question:

[tulinokkaelain]

Need to sleep but first needed to draw vampires bathing. Such is the hierarchy of needs :)

[desertfangs]

DesertFang's (rainandcoffee's) Fic Masterlist 💖

For easy reference. Oldest to Newest.

Armand/Daniel

The Vampire Bar - M, 2.5k [Humor, Angst] Daniel, with his book newly published and still on the run from Armand, finds a "vampire" bar full of mortals.

The Mundanity of Mortality - M, 2.8k [Humor, Angst, Slice of Life] Daniel wakes up one night and realizes he has to take care of some boring human stuff, like laundry.

The Madness of Mortality - M, 3k [Angst, Hurt/Comfort] Daniel finds some gray hair, runs away, and loses it a little as he tries to decide where he belongs.

Pumpkin Carving - T, 1.5k [Boyfriend Era, Exploring the World] Armand learns about this Halloween tradition with Daniel's help.

Just Another Party - E, 1k [Public Sex] My first foray into writing smut

The Dancer - M, 3k [Angst, Grief, Comfort] Daniel learns that young dancer he and Armand sponsored in the late 70s has died.

Rings - M, 1.8k [Chase Years, Angst] Armand is surprised when Daniel is more observant than expected.

A Series of Decembers - M, 2.7k [Christmas, Angst] Daniel experiences Christmas through the years.

Turning Circles - M, 8k [Reunion, Angst, Fluff] My first attempt to write their reunion missing from Prince Lestat.

The Christmas Village - M, 3.2k [Christmas, Angst, Fluff] Daniel decides to build a Christmas village, but his obsessive nature causes Armand to worry he's falling into a dangerous old pattern.

So This Is the New Year - M, 8.9k [Humor, Fluff, Mild Angst] Armand is throwing a New Years party at court at Lestat's request, and Daniel is trying to avoid being there for too long.

Turn Me to Dust - M, 2.2k [Hurt/Some Comfort, Angst] Hurt and angry that Armand won't make him a vampire, Daniel threatens to go out and find another vampire who will.

Every Time I Look at You - T, 1.3k [Angst w/ a Happy Ending] Seeing Armand for the first time in years, Daniel doesn't know how to talk to him.

In the Midst of Madness - M, 8.3k [Angst, Hurt, Missing Scene] Armand begins to wonder where Daniel is and doesn't like the answer.

In the Mouth of Madness - M, 2k [Angst, Alternate POV] Daniel's POV of Armand's phone call from In the Midst of Madness

Changes - E, 3.8k [Angst, Humor, Fluff, Smut] Daniel isn't sure why Armand is hellbent on running them ragged but he's determined to figure it out before it blows up in his face.

Shadows and Stars - M, 6.5k [Humor, Fluff, Angsty Conversations] Daniel tries to surprise Armand for Valentine's Day. Post-Canon.

Collapse Into Me - E, 2.6k [Smut, Humor, Fluff] While Daniel and Armand fool around, Daniel discovers that Armand is ticklish and uses that to his advantage (somewhat).

Dead Drunk - E, 5.2k [Vampire Drunk, Smut, Humor] Armand and Daniel drink from intoxicated people and get vampire drunk together

Lace - E, 4.4k [Public Sex, Lace Panties, Humiliation] Armand gets Daniel a pair of lace panties for his birthday

In the Blood - M, 4.8k [Angst with a Happy Ending, Humor] A few months post-Queen of the Damned, Armand finds Daniel alone, avoiding everyone inside the Villa.

Wicked Designs - E, 4.9k [Smut, Light Bondage, Handcuffs] Armand buys novelty handcuffs.

Hey Pretty - E, 6.3k [Reunion, Voyeurism, Sentimental Smut] Daniel and Armand try to find their footing again in NYC (post-PL)

Carnal Pleasures - E, 2.7k [Smut, Chase Years] During the early years of the chase, Daniel finds himself in a motel, alone and wishing Armand would appear.

Five Times Daniel and Armand Almost Kiss During the Chase Years and One Time They Did - E, 5.9k [Chase Years, Humor, Angst, Pining] What it says on the tin.

Goddamn Aliens Part 1 and Part 2 - Mature, 2.5k each [Missing Scenes, Angst, Humor] Two scenes of Daniel reacting to the aliens and plot points in PLROA.

Forbidden Desires - E, 3.8k [Humor, Mild Angst, Smut, NI Era] Armand gets a new coffin and Daniel is determined to see it

Broken Orchid - E, 3.7k [Fighting Then Making Up, Angst, Trauma] Daniel and Armand are at Trinity Gate when they discover one of Louis' precious orchid flowers has died, and Armand blames Daniel.

Make the Season Bright - E, 6.1k [Christmas, Chase Years] Daniel finds himself in a shopping mall on Christmas Eve with his vampire stalker.

All Dust and Stone - M, 6.9k [New Year's Eve 1989, Angst] Daniel is not about to ring in the new year without trying to fix things between them, no matter how frustrating that may prove to be.

St. Patrick's Cathedral - M, 3.3k [Grief, Daniel's Madness] When Daniel learns that Armand has gone into the sun, his grief threatens to destroy him.

Haunted House - T, 2.3k [Daniel's Madness, Angst, Comfort] Armand and Daniel venture back to the house Daniel shared with Marius in Norway, and Daniel has to face is demons.

Grave Decisions - M, 3k [Grief, Angst, Comfort] Daniel is off by himself dealing with a personal matter when Armand finds him to make sure he's okay (and doesn't do anything stupid).

Dangerous Obsessions - E, 3k [Smut, Angst, Chase Years] Armand and Daniel discuss the meaning of Valentine's Day... and love. And get a little handsy, leaving Daniel extra confused.

The Amethyst Ring - M, 11k [Humor, Fluff, Angst, Reunion] Four interconnected stories about a ring.

Swipe Right - E, 18k [Human AU, Dating App, Smut] In this modern, human AU Daniel is a radio intern with a podcast who installs a Dating App to find love. Some Louis/Daniel as well.

Drifting Across the Moon - M, 3.8k [St. Patrick's Day, Angst, Fluff] A St. Patrick's Day Story: Daniel returns to Chicago, the last place he was alive as a mortal, trying to figure some things out.

Shake and Sway - E, 3.6k [New Vampire Daniel, Humor, Smut] Having finally arrived at Night Island after a long road trip, Daniel just wants some time alone with Armand.

Inebriated - M, 1k [Angst, Alcoholism] Daniel is drunk and pleading for the blood. Again.

The Chameleon - T, 1k [Chase Years, Humor, Armand in Glasses] Daniel is thrown a small surprise launch party for his book, Interview with the Vampire, and a special guest crashes.

Telephone Line - E, 2.6k [Vampire Phone Sex, PL Era] Daniel gets Armand to talk dirty about his latest kill over the phone.

An Evolution of Intimacy - E, 4k [Smut, Humor, Angst] A series of vignettes about Armand and Daniel being intimate in all the eras of their relationship.

Caught in the Crush - E, 2.9k [Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Smut] Armand, feeling a little dismissed and uncertain at Court, finds comfort in his only fledgling, Daniel.

Is it possible you never knew? - M, 5.1k [Angst, Reunion, Daniel's Madness] Armand pays a visit to the little house in Norway where Marius and Daniel are living, and Daniel worries about what his maker will make of him now.

Candy Cane - E, 3.4k [Christmas, Smut, Object Insertion] Armand & Daniel find non-traditional uses for a novelty candy cane.

Lestat/Daniel

Night Out - M, 3k [Angst, BroTP w/ Bennies, Humor] Daniel and Lestat meet up in New Orleans, vent some frustrations about Armand and Louis respectively, stalk a serial killer, and then make out a little.

The City Never Sleeps - M, 13k [BroTP, Angst, Humor] Lestat comes to Trinity Gate surprised to find Daniel alone and Daniel takes him on the Molloy Tour of NYC circa 1979

Leave Your Mark (+ Armand) - E, 5.2k [Hickeys, Smut, Threesome] Armand returns home to Trinity Gate and sees the very large mark left on Daniel's neck by Lestat.

One More Kiss, Dear - E, 4.6k [BroTP, Vampire Smut] An interlude between The City Never Sleeps & Leave Your Mark in which Daniel and Lestat return to Trinity Gate together.

Through the Garden Gate - E, 4.4k [Smut, Deep Discussions] Lestat and Daniel talk about Lestat's body swap and how Daniel worries his relationship with Armand is falling apart.

Marius/Daniel

Comfort and Joy - M, 2.9k [Christmas, Fluff, Humor] Daniel convinces Marius to decorate for Christmas.

Goddamn Aliens Part 3 - M, 2.5k [Missing Scene, Angst, Humor] Daniel tells Marius that he and Armand are leaving Court after things settle

Peripheral Ghosts - M, 1.7k [Angst, Daniel's Madness] Daniel thinks he sees Armand in a club and he and Marius discuss it

The Prime Minister's Assistant - E, 4.2k [Clothed Sex, Smut with the Boss] Marius wearing a sexy suit distracts Daniel

Red Wine - M, 2.7k [Angst, Fluff, Comfort, Daniel's Madness] Daniel ducks into a wine bar and stares at a glass of wine instead of hunting. Marius finds him.

Soul of an Artist - T, 1k [Fluff, Humor] Marius paints flowers on the walls of an abandon house and he and Daniel discuss art.

Five Times Daniel and Marius Almost Kiss and One Time They Did - M, 6.2k [Angst, Fluff, Daniel's Madness, Yearning, Kissing] Exactly what it says on the tin.

Another Halloween - 1.3k, M [Angst, Brooding] On a Halloween after he's recovered from his madness, Daniel is ruminating on the anniversary of his turning

Teetering on the Brink - M, 3.7k [Daniel's Madness, Hurt/Comfort] When Daniel has a mild relapse of his condition, it puts him in a danger and Marius has to come to the rescue.

Passion Play - E, 2k [Angst, Jealousy, Sexual Healing] Marius gets preoccupied by his thoughts and Daniel does his damnedest to pull him out of it.

Deck of Cards - M, 1.4k [Light Angst, Night Island Era] Daniel talks to Marius, hoping to make a connection with his maker's maker.

Marius/Armand/Daniel

Into the Woods - M, 3.5k [Plot Driven, Relationships] A mysterious presence has been noticed in the woods around the Chateau. Marius, Armand, & Daniel try to find it.

Look Right Through - M, 20k [Plot Driven, Mystery, Relationships] When Daniel finds a corpse in the house, he isn't sure if it's a prank, a threat... or worse, his own madness rearing its ugly head once more.

Mortal Desires - E, 4.8k [Hormone Use, Smut] They use Fareed's hormones to allow the three of them to have a night of mortal intimacy together.

Armand/Lestat

Subtle Salvation - M, 3.4k [Night Island Era, Angst, Fluff] Lestat is ruminating on his concert and the fall out from it when Armand attempts to pull him out of his malaise.

O Tannenbaum - M, 6.5k [Mild Smut, Court Era, Holiday Fluff] Lestat bets Armand that he can decorate a Christmas tree better than he can 

Stitches - E, 3k [Angst, Humor, Smut] Lestat comes across Armand alone in the Villa, and decides to see what he's up to. He teases him a bit then one thing leads to another…

Sentinel - T, 428 words [Angst] Armand stands in Lestat's dilapidated little house during a storm.

Louis/Lestat

Delicate Desires - E, 3.2k [Rue Royale Era, Angst, Vampire Smut] Lestat is moody on his birthday.

Armand/Louis

A Ghost In Our House - M, 3k [Hurt/Mild Comfort, Angst] Louis is living like a ghost in their shared home. Armand wants to bring back his passion and joie de vivre, but doesn't know how.

Armand/Santino

Flamingos - T, 942 [Missing Scene Fic, Night Island Era] Armand and Santino have a brief exchange, Santino's POV

Jesse Reeves/Bianca

How Rare and Beautiful - E, 5.6k [Grief, Sexual Distraction, PL Era] At Trinity Gate in the middle of Prince Lestat, Jesse and Bianca connect over mourning their losses.

General/Other

San Francisco, 1985 - M, 4k [Missing Scene, Angst, Conversations] Before they head to Miami, Armand, Daniel, and Louis visit the little place on Divisadero where it all began

Little Motel - E, 1.6k [Masturbation, Fantasy] Daniel, alone in a motel room, fantasizes about Lestat and then Armand

Necessity - T, 948 - Marius/Pandora [Angst, Humor] Pandora watches Marius get frustrated and leave a council meeting, and follows him out to talk.

The Recruiter - T, 999 - [Angst, Humor, Outsider POV] Thomas, a Talamasca agent, is sent to observe and talk to Daniel Molloy to assess if he might be a good fit for the organization.

Collections

Vamptember Prompts 2022 - Armand/Daniel, Louis/Lestat 13 Short Fics filling prompts

Bites & Bruises - Armand/Daniel, Armand/Lestat, Marius/Daniel, etc. Short fics, drabbles, vignettes that I didn't know where else to post

Shorts/Misc/Tumblr Only

Reassurances - Armand/Daniel Hurt/Comfort Fic

Marius and Daniel Experiment With Novelty Handcuffs

Record and Play - Armand/Daniel Short Fic

*Just a note that I did leave off a few super old fics that don't really reflect how I see the characters anymore. But otherwise this is a pretty complete list.

[theblackphoenixwritings]

-Messy notes, messy desk

Daniel stopped at the threshold of the large, white, inlaid door that led to Marius's bedroom. From within it came a strange noise of crumpled papers, and things being moved, and thrown. Marius was not there. He had left, with Lestat, to visit a coven in Canada. And so only one other person could generate that chaos of testy noise, or generate chaos regardless. Daniel entered with a sigh, and was stunned at the condition of Marius's beautiful polished wooden desk, and its surroundings. There were papers crumpled under and on top of the desk, a quantity that seemed industrial to Daniel's supernatural eyes. Marius's handsome, coated tomes of Latin prose were on the floor scattered here and there, the bust of Augustus was dangerously poised on the corner of the desk, the pictures Daniel had taken and framed for Marius, which he proudly kept on display, had been placed on the floor on top of other tomes, other half-written papers.

The pens had been spread out and scattered all over the surface of the desk, and the worst thing, which almost bleached Daniel more, was seeing the draft laws, ready to be transcribed, on which Marius had been working incessantly for three weeks, scattered here and there, on the desk, while small, furious hands, scrolled through those papers, clutching them with all too much conviction. When fiery, crucified eyes rested on him, Daniel arched an eyebrow: " You really screwed up, no doubt about it. What exactly is the need behind this butchery Armand?" asked Daniel, bringing his hands to the back pockets of his jeans. Armand stared at him, his eyes two slits from hell, " It's none of your business…" but Daniel knew Armand and the slight blush on his cheeks did not escape him. Daniel tilted his head to the side, noticing Armand's graffiti-stained hands. On the table in front of him a sketchpad was open and Daniel clearly glimpsed Marius' physiognomy.

Armand stared at the pad for only a moment before covering it with the papers in his hand, " So you were drawing and then it happened to be in your hand, the laws, which Marius worked on, and for which he could only devote a little time to the two of us, and you got jealous… of Marius's laws…" Daniel stared at Armand whose mouth had become a thin line. They burst out laughing together at the same time. When he recomposed himself, however, Armand became strangely serious again, almost melancholy. Daniel sat down in front of him and took the pad from under the papers with which Armand had covered him. He stared at the delicate contours of Marius' visage, the big eyes, the fleshy mouth, the firm nose, and the expression of love and calm that he always had. The most handsome man in the world. " How are you Armand? I know the weeks leading up to these have been hectic for us, they have been beautiful and shining weeks, Marius always near, always present, making you feel safe, loved, valued and protected. Almost unreal isn't it? And yet, that's how it is, and when he's gone the demons come back to haunt us." Armand nodded slowly, " He asked me to take care of you, Daniel, he said take care of Daniel and let him take care of you while I'm gone. And look at us, me you and his love to keep us together." Daniel nodded and smiled, " You know when Gregory told him, what you told Lestat, in those days when we thought we lost him forever, he defended you. I don't know why Gregory brought up that old story…" Daniel looked thoughtful, while Armand looked troubled, " I wasn't myself. I thought I only had Lestat left and no one else, I thought you hated me, I knew it, Louis gone and Marius … my Marius gone … dead … I just wanted the dark Daniel. I had him for so little and I became what I am for him, I embraced death for him, then they tore me away from him, and I embraced another death, different, cold and cruel, then I embraced another where fear and despair forced my pride, and then he was gone, and I really wanted death, real death, because if I could ever get him back in immortality, at least in real death, maybe, who knows, I could finally be reunited with him. But they prevented me, and I went crazy. And now instead, I have to thank them because they have given him back to me along with a new hope, a future."

Armand looked startled, then, and stared at Daniel, who got up and sat on the edge of the desk, taking Armand in his arms, " Do you know what Marius said to Gregory?" and Armand's eyes grew bigger, " He told him, if someone has taken my place in Armand's heart, the fault is mine. Mine is the penalty to pay, mine is the duty to give me back to him and take back my place. There is nothing I would not do for it, and whatever you may say to me, Gregory, will not change my newfound devotion or my ever-present love for him. We were cruel to each other, I see now, much of that was the chains of fear that gripped both of us. If Armand really said this, he will not receive accusations from me but only more love. More respect, more dedication, more understanding, and whatever love he has for Lestat, even if it's in the past, he'll only get respect from me." I was there, Daniel said, next to Marius, when it happened. I know and he also knows that there is no greater love than yours for him, even if at times it was stronger love for someone else, and how could he blame you for that? Or because you felt a different, though no less profound, love for others?" Daniel was then, compelled to stop and caress Armand's face to wipe away the tears that were streaking his face and that showed no sign of stopping. Daniel held Armand close to him, those tears were the river he was washing away, the last remnants of a fear that would give way to love and nothing else.

[monstersinthecosmos]

Since you don't see Marius and Armand as having a lot to gain from a relationship with each other in the current era, I'm curious as to how you headcannon them with Daniel? And what do you think the best possible version of their relationship could be in the future for all three of them in their respective groups?

Dasdg I want to like, clarify that, I THINK NOT HAVING A LOT TO GAIN is not exactly what I mean. I know I’ve said things along those lines but fandom softened me a little bit. I think what I mean more is like, the thing they have to gain is the investment of time, and I wonder if this is something that will take years/decades/centuries to build and heal. The thing they have to gain is the baby steps, the clearing of the path!, so that they can get somewhere again!

I think the relationship is something like this:

The strange thing too is that like, we’re now getting like, seven years off of canon !! SO WHEN WE SAY CURRENT ERA PART OF ME THINKS “WHEN THE BOOK ENDS” but then I’m also wondering, how much do they get done in 7 years. This is interesting to think about. Because me thinking that they’re not in a great place by the end of canon doesn’t necessarily mean that they can’t get there eventually! I wonder what those dingdongs are doing out there in the ether!  

I really think Daniel could be very useful for this, as well! Like as a mediator! NOT JUST AS A PERSON BETWEEN THEM WHO KNOWS THINGS ABOUT EACH THAT THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT EACH OTHER, BUT AS A MORE MODERN MAN WHO MIGHT HAVE A BETTER GRASP ON PSYCHOLOGY.

So like the short answer your question is that I think he’s maybe their marriage counselor LOL. He’s someone who can read people very well and spent a lot of time with Armand, even before the barrier was an issue, so I think he can read Armand very well even without it! And he can mimd gift with Marius to understand the subtext when Marius is being cagey about his true feelings, or when he’s speaking abrasively/condescendingly as a defense mechanism!

Since you’re asking about headcanons I’m gonna be indulgent here and talk strictly headcanons and how I personally imagine it so don’t take anything else I’m about to say as canon in anyway way, since we literally get ZERO information about the 3 of them together in the books—

I wonder like in what ways does Daniel being between them resembles a child and their parents, maybe even more accurately a child of divorced parents. And the family structure is abstract here obviously, but so is the polycule structure and the way it’s complicated by the Mind Gift barrier and how it puts Marius and Daniel at an advantage when it comes to communication. It kinda leaves Armand out in the cold to never be understood lol but Marius can be so contradictory sometimes that I wonder if it does them good for Daniel to able to translate when it’s needed.

AND LIKE THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO EACH OTHER ARE SO DEEP ??? As much as Daniel might help as a balm between the two of them, I think he and Marius can also ground the three of them in a nice way. NOT SURE HOW ELSE TO INTRODUCE THIS OTHER VISUAL AID SO HERE -

I have some headcanons about Daniel’s backstory and what his home life was like and so that kinda plays into headcanons about the current day, too. Like, I pictured him having unhappily married parents who were too squeamish for a divorce, partly because I’m projecting LMAO and partly because divorce was a little less common then. There WERE divorces, even Anne Rice’s parents were divorced!, but I wonder about what it does to you, when your parents stay together “for the kids” and wind up making it worse. (I say I wonder, but, I know very well how it feels lol.)

Like how much does Daniel as the mediator come out of a need to break a family cycle?

I think it’s a trap people fall into when we try to break cycles, or try not to be like our parents; sometimes you think you’re safe because you changed your situation drastically and yet we still always wind up confronted by things we need to unlearn. So Daniel might think he’s left the realm of the family cycle by removing himself completely from humanity, except now he’s in the center of this very fraught chasm and has to rely on his human experience again.

Daniel is such a very blank slate in canon that it’s so hard to know, like even after he’s better again we don’t see him interact with Armand, so honestly like it can be whatever you want it to be, but I like the idea of him being a mediator.

I think he has seen the best and worst of them both, and I think he can see the way they miscommunicate. Even with the barrier with Armand I just think like, he’s Armand’s ONLY fledgling like they know each other SO well. I think Daniel can just read him anyway, in a way that Marius can’t, because Marius knew Armand when he was so young and naïve and Marius was so stressed.

And even though Daniel is WAY younger than both of them, all three of them have been through some very life changing experiences since the 1980s when Daniel was turned! Like Marius needing to re-evaluate his entire life & purpose & identity without TWMBK to take care of, and Armand having such a massive religious relapse that he attempted suicide, and Daniel’s psychological overwhelmed and subsequent recovery! 

In some ways, all three of them are new people who are in the process of building their new lives and understand their new identities, so in a way it’s sort of a blank slate that they can work from. 

So the question, what does it look like ?

I’m not really sure!

I think there’s the sort of like vaguely polyamorous nature of VC vampires along with their patience for eternity — for example, the relationship we see between Lestat - Louis - Armand is that Louis is able to come and go from Trinity Gate as needed. We know that Daniel went back to New York with Armand in PLROA, but there no indiction that he’ll never come back to Marius again, or if it’s just a visit, or what it was. Like perhaps Daniel will also get in the habit of coming and going from Trinity Gate as needed, we can’t know. 

LIKE THANKS ANNE FOR FUCKING FORGETTING DANIEL EXISTED DURING BCTU LMAOOO cause like, does he comes to Marius’s side when Marius is in criss? Apparently not LMAO. Did he stay home in NY to babysit Benji & Sybelle while ARMAND came Marius’s side? Gosh idk man. 

I like that canon tells us that the vampires are sort of relaxed and secure in their relationships when it comes to stuff like this (it’s something I REALLY deeply fucking hate about the show sorry lol) so I think I kinda enjoy thinking that there’s a version where they can come and go and be there for each other without being codependent. I like to think that Marius & Daniel have a home in France for when they needed space away from Court, and we know that Marius has a lair in Trinity Gate. 

At the end of BCtu Armand is like freshly traumatized and probably need some comfort, and Marius wants to go talk to him, and I think that’s a great sign that they’re ready to start talking to each other again. It might take years or decades or centuries for them to get somewhere healthy because they have a LOT to talk about, but I like the idea that they can have an open line of communication! And I like that maybe Daniel can be there to mediate! And they don’t have to a always be around each other all the time, but don’t get jealous when the other two are spending time together, and maybe sometimes they hang out and hunt together or go catch a show or go to Carnival or go fuck off into the mountains to stargaze, who knows what all they get into! 

But I like thinking that when canon ends they’re in a place where they can start working towards that!!!!!

[deromanuscoven]

ღᴡᴇʟᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇʙʀᴜᴀʀʏ ᴍɪɴɪ-ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴜs ᴄᴏᴠᴇɴ!ღ

•♡ᴡᴇʟᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀʟʟ! ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ ʙᴇɢɪɴs ᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏᴠᴇɴ's ᴍɪɴɪ-ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ.♡•

The only rule, which you all know by now, is respect and love for Anne Rice's characters.

ಇThis mini-event is for Marius/Armand/Daniel.

ಇAny kind of work will be accepted, fanart, moodboards, headcanon, poems, small stories etc….

ಇThere will be three prompts for each day and you can decide which ones to do, whether one or all, the choice is yours!

ಇLate submissions will be accepted, as always, and if by chance you notice that we have not found your work please contact us so we can add it.

ಇWe ask that you please tag your work with deromanuscovenevents so that we can find it and post it on the coven blog.

The coven sincerely thanks you all for the participation the commitment and joy you put into your works!

We are always extremely happy to be able to share the love and joy that your work brings us, and to share our passion for Anne Rice's characters. Thank you all and enjoy!

ಇAs always, we make banners available to all, which can be used freely by those attending the event. We make this our trademark, which we have always offered since the first event we organized. We are happy to be able to create them and see them used to accompany participants' work.

The prompts for the event are as follows:

ಇᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏಇ

[aurelialux83]

Moodboards inspired by @shittyravencarcosa and her beautiful fanfiction Tessellate :)

I hope you like them ♡ as i love Tessellate and that they cheer you up even if just a little bit!

[ihateornithologists]

queen of the damned.....

and bonus armand:

he's so cringe he WOULD love doctor who i swear