So I'm steadily making my way through the Vampire Chronicles and let me just say, Daniel has been and continues to be my favorite little guy.
I just finished Queen of the Damned, and ofc THE chapter was very good and I threw the book and kicked my feet often.
That being said, people don't talk enough about all the Devil's Minion that happens after.
So here's my top 10 favorite things about Daniel in QotD:
Okay so
#1:
Reserved for my favorite part of the DM chapter. The slow progression of their relationship, they way they love one another in such complicated ways. I could probably write a number of essays about them. That being said my absolute favorite part is Daniel's turning. Specifically this part:
" 'Years ago,' Armand interrupted, 'it wouldn't have mattered to me, all this.'
'What do you mean?'
'But I don't want it to end now. I don't want to continue unless you-' His face changed slightly. Faint look of surprise. 'I don't want you to die.'
Daniel said nothing.
Eerie the stillness of this moment. Even with the plane riding the air currents gently. Armand sitting there, so self-contained, so patient, with the words belying the smooth calm of the voice.
'I'm not afraid, because you're here," Daniel said suddenly.
'You're a fool then.' "
#2:
Daniel being the giggliest bitch in the land whilst Armand is stressing out and trying to teach him. At the end of the DM chapter Daniel refuses to eat but like 100 pages later he's learning how to lure people to him and he likes it! He tries to leave the body and Armand tells him: " 'What do you think this is? A penny dreadful novel? You don't feed if you can't cover it up.' " 10/10. Love tired teacher Armand with overexcited puppy Daniel.
#3:
Daniel instantly having a little crisis and basically asking Armand if he still loves him.
" 'Is it all right, the way I am now?' He'd asked Armand 'Are you Happy?' "
And later
" 'Answer me, Are you pleased with me or not?' Daniel had asked.
'I love it well enough the way you turned out,' Armand whispered. 'You're my firstborn.'
'Be patient. I am being afraid for us both, remember?' "
Just 🤌🤌
#4:
Daniel knowing Latin ✨️
" 'Talamasca.' The word struck Daniel suddenly as beautiful. Talamasca. He broke it down from the Latin, understood its parts. Somewhere out of his memory bank it came: animal mask. Old word for witch or shaman. "
(Small sidenote, Armand hating the Talamasca is so funny to me personally)
#5:
"The crowd loosened, like marbels rolling in all directions. Daniel moved towards the center, his fingers hooked around Armand's belt so as not to lose him."
-> the way I had to put the book down for a second bc I can't with him. Why must he be so cute? I might have to draw this.
#6: Armand being so unbelievably stressed about Akasha passing them over twice whilst Daniel is on his "we're in a crowd of humans and nobody can hurt us, we are invincible!" Bullshit is and will remain to be one of the funniest things in this book.
#7: The dead man on the bus ride away from the concert that Daniel struggles not to laugh at because he'd clocked that now is not the time.
#8: Lestat noting that of everybody present in the meeting with Akasha Daniel is the only one who isn't afraid (and Armand who is low key dissasociating).
"Only the young Daniel seemed to be hopelessly enraptured. And Armand merely gazed at Akasha as if it were all out of his hands."
#9: Maybe not a DM or Daniel moment per se, but the fact that near all of them now reside in the Villa on Night Island satisfies some twisted part of me. The way they're low key domestic scratches my brain. And the way they interact with Daniel is certainly a straight shot of seratonin into my brain.
"Khayman sat in the downstairs study talking with Daniel now, Daniel who liked to let the hunger build, Daniel who wanted to know all about what it had been like in ancient Miletus, and Athens, and Troy. Oh, don't forget Troy. I myself was vaguely intrigued by the idea of Troy.
I liked Daniel. Daniel who might go with me later if I asked him; if I could bring myself to leave this island, which I have done only once since I arrived. Daniel who still laughed at the path the moon made over the water, or the warm spray in his face. For Daniel, all of it-her death even-had been spectacle. But he cannot be blamed for that."
#10: Last and certainly not least! Daniel liking classical music and maybe even chess! I fear I might need to use more chess analogies when writing Devil's Minion from now on.
"Armand still playing chess with Khayman and losing. Daniel lay under the earphones listening to Bach, now and then glancing to the black and white board to see if a piece had been moved"
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Those were my very sophisticated thoughts on why Daniel is the best character of all time.
