Stay, though even the thought itself stops short of what Louis feels in his body. It blooms between them, obvious and clear in his mind, but the rest comes only as formless impression. Stay in a way that offers weeks months years of time. Work here on the books and the articles, travel where he pleases.

Louis missed him. Misses him. Hand opening into the little knock of knuckles and wrist, the suggestion of interlocking fingers without indulging himself. Laughs, quiet but clear, for the excuses as to the rigors of traveling.

"I'll take two weeks, to start," he says, knowing this already as indulgent. "I know you have work waiting for you."

Daniel and Lestat should complete their work together.

"And I'll do a better job of staying in contact with you both."

Find the balance between too much presence in their periphery and too little. Louis has stepped back out of politeness, but—

"I have missed you," he reminds Daniel. "A whole hell of a lot."