I haven't really had time to process -- I watched both seasons for the first time last week. Off the top of my head, I would put series!Armand's motivation for getting involved with Louis as a combination of things:
- I read Armand in the series as a child of trauma and abuse (I believe his book relationship with his maker is more complex? but that's befitting a book) who, when "rescued" by the coven and sent to Paris, did as he was trained. He took charge of the coven and enforced discipline along the lines he was taught. Did he belive in it? Not necessarily. But playing the Maitre was a role. Abuse victims are, often, awesome at playing roles or shaping themselves along the lines someone in a position of power wants them to be.
- It was Lestat who created the Theatre; when Lestat left, Armand continued to maintain the rules of the coven within its structure. I think Lestat could have taken over leadership of the coven anytime he wanted, but he didn't care to. What did Armand have besides the coven?
- Louis came in and thumbed his nose at the rules. That might have been very appealing to Armand, the same way Lestat was. And Louis' disdain for the coven may have made Armand think uncomfortable thoughts. To me, it seemed significant that Armand turned on Louis immediately after Louis asked him to make Madeleine a vampire. Armand had every reason to do it in order to please Louis, but that was a bridge too far. Did Armand balk at "cursing" someone that way? Alternatively, it could just have been that was the stage at which Santiago made his move. Series!Armand is not brave. So he goes along with the play and even helps to shape it because he knows (or thinks he knows) that he is a director, not an actor.
- Then Lestat blows it all to hell and yet because Lestat can't come out and say to Louis I saved you, Armand has the perfect opportunity to cling onto Louis, his next lifeline, his next master. Playing the sickeningly adorable goodhearted boyfriend in 2x02? Yikes.
This all makes series!Armand sound pretty pathetic, which is not the full story in my head. But I either post now so I can leave to take the cat to the vet for her appointment, or I don't post at all. Apologies.
no subject
- I read Armand in the series as a child of trauma and abuse (I believe his book relationship with his maker is more complex? but that's befitting a book) who, when "rescued" by the coven and sent to Paris, did as he was trained. He took charge of the coven and enforced discipline along the lines he was taught. Did he belive in it? Not necessarily. But playing the Maitre was a role. Abuse victims are, often, awesome at playing roles or shaping themselves along the lines someone in a position of power wants them to be.
- It was Lestat who created the Theatre; when Lestat left, Armand continued to maintain the rules of the coven within its structure. I think Lestat could have taken over leadership of the coven anytime he wanted, but he didn't care to. What did Armand have besides the coven?
- Louis came in and thumbed his nose at the rules. That might have been very appealing to Armand, the same way Lestat was. And Louis' disdain for the coven may have made Armand think uncomfortable thoughts. To me, it seemed significant that Armand turned on Louis immediately after Louis asked him to make Madeleine a vampire. Armand had every reason to do it in order to please Louis, but that was a bridge too far. Did Armand balk at "cursing" someone that way? Alternatively, it could just have been that was the stage at which Santiago made his move. Series!Armand is not brave. So he goes along with the play and even helps to shape it because he knows (or thinks he knows) that he is a director, not an actor.
- Then Lestat blows it all to hell and yet because Lestat can't come out and say to Louis I saved you, Armand has the perfect opportunity to cling onto Louis, his next lifeline, his next master. Playing the sickeningly adorable goodhearted boyfriend in 2x02? Yikes.
This all makes series!Armand sound pretty pathetic, which is not the full story in my head. But I either post now so I can leave to take the cat to the vet for her appointment, or I don't post at all. Apologies.