Daniel finds Armand in Lestat’s house after the interview, just like in QotD. Armand locks him in the cellar for three days and when he lets him out, he’s delirious and desperate. He wants to be a vampire. Armand laughs and tells him he’s basically harmless so he won’t kill him but he won’t turn him. Maybe he’ll go mad. And then he tells Daniel to leave New Orleans.
Daniel refuses. He says he came to find Lestat and if Armand won’t help him or make him immortal, he’s going to keep looking. Armand gets angry and threatens to kill him.
Daniel is terrified but he’s a mess, exhausted and pleading. Maybe he even starts crying, and feels pathetic, but he won’t go. He can’t. He’s come this far.
Armand is curious about him and a little moved by his tears, not that he’ll show it or let Daniel know. He listened to the interview. He liked Daniel and how he spoke to Louis, and he liked the things he said at the end. Armand thinks he’s a fool but he’s an interesting fool. He doesn’t really want to kill him but he doesn’t want him here in New Orleans looking for Lestat. God forbid he finds him.
So Armand tells him fine, whatever, but I'm leaving the city and Daniel won’t find him again. He should give up his search for Lestat. He’s long gone from NOLA and no one knows where he is.
Armand vanishes.
Daniel sticks around for a day or two, but having no luck finding Lestat (even though he’s practically on top of him! The irony!), he decides to pursue Armand.
Uno reverse, y'all! It’s opposite chase time!
Daniel scours newspapers and radio broadcasts for anything about missing persons and murders where the bodies were exsanguinated, any clue of where Armand might be. Maybe he catches up with Armand in Paris by tracking down where the Theatre Des Vampires used to be.
Obviously Armand can stay hidden from him but he’s intrigued by this tenacious boy, fascinated that he doesn’t give up, and slowly they start talking and Daniel teaches him things about the modern world. But Armand keeps running.
So Daniel keeps chasing Armand around the world, pursuing him endlessly, Armand allowing himself to be seen and found from time to time, only to disappear into the ether again, while Daniel keeps looking.
(Optional Subplot where Daniel runs into The Talamasca and they offer to help him investigate vampires but Daniel doesn't totally trust them and Armand warns him off of them.)
Gradually Armand starts appearing to Daniel more often, maybe even leaving little clues or a trail for him to follow as he goes. Eventually things play out similarly to canon where Armand realizes he loves him and they come together as a couple.
