After spending an episode with her, I feel like there is a part of me that finds Gabriella sort of charming—which I think makes the whole thing even sadder?
Like you can tell that Gab and Lestat have always been FRIENDS, which let me tell you is not always a good thing. Ask any kid who was their mother's confidant how well that went for their childhood and development. Gab and Lestat were very isolated, which then lent itself to the incest, but even without that you can see that they're bonded to each other in a few different ways.
But that "your mother's best friend" thing doesn't work, because he can't lean on her. He's the crutch already. He is the thing that has always propped her up. So while we can see he does genuinely seem to enjoy her company and talking to her, he KNOWS he can't get away with leaning or they'll both collapse—SHE KNOWS that they'll collapse, so she steps to the side and lets him fall over.
And he doesn't WANT the sexual part of the relationship. He just has to give exactly enough to keep her thinking he Might give, just for her to stick around at all.
Gab is a Fair-Weather friend but Lestat can't help but reach out only ever when he needs a parent
