Lestat is here, present in this room alongside Louis. It is testing his restraint (a famously imprecise thing, Louis' restraint) not to tear into him too.
Lestat is present. He has been present, remained even when perhaps it might have been simpler to step away. When it might have been simpler to leave Louis to his fate in the coffin.
Maybe Louis wants to punish him for that as much as he wants to punish him for the trial.
"For me," is not a question, only a hollow acknowledgement. Lestat could save only one, and he saved Louis. And their daughter—
And his fledgling—
Louis crushes the cigarette out in Claudia's little ceramic ash tray. Puts his face in his hands, body bowing over, elbows on his knees. When he closes his eyes, all of it unspools before him again: Lestat's face over him as Louis coughed out rocks, Claudia stood before him on a stage spitting venom at Louis carelessness and neglect, the audience leering, Armand's face miserable and intent all at once.
no subject
Lestat is present. He has been present, remained even when perhaps it might have been simpler to step away. When it might have been simpler to leave Louis to his fate in the coffin.
Maybe Louis wants to punish him for that as much as he wants to punish him for the trial.
"For me," is not a question, only a hollow acknowledgement. Lestat could save only one, and he saved Louis. And their daughter—
And his fledgling—
Louis crushes the cigarette out in Claudia's little ceramic ash tray. Puts his face in his hands, body bowing over, elbows on his knees. When he closes his eyes, all of it unspools before him again: Lestat's face over him as Louis coughed out rocks, Claudia stood before him on a stage spitting venom at Louis carelessness and neglect, the audience leering, Armand's face miserable and intent all at once.
What now? What can come after all of this?