i remember a s2 interview in which assad confirmed that armand fell in love with louis due to his humanity, and it has me thinking on the difference how armand fell for louis vs daniel.
louis' connection to humanity, as a vampire, was radiant in comparison to the coven. he was mingling with humans, taking photos, talking, laughing, forming connections. there was a joyous human connection to how louis lived that allured armand as much as it scared him.
and there was also a falsity in it too - louis hiding from armand how lestat's memory torments him, his inability to take critique of his photography, and how he eventually abandons it all to return to hardened capitalistic ventures with his art dealings. and he does all this as he furthers his relationship with armand, until they both lose that thread.
when proving his love to daniel, armand doesn't list to him the moments in which daniel was radiant. he tells daniel of his lowest shames, when daniel's his worst human self. armand tells him, you don't have to hide from me. i watched you live as your messiest human self, and loved you through it all.
it's not a beautiful connection to humanity armand falls for, it is the humanity, however brutal it may be, and it is wholly daniel's.
