It being his joke is precisely why he knows it's shitty. Daniel says things to provoke reactions. He asks stupid questions, he pushes at illogical buttons, he's insensitive and inflammatory, and after so many years, he struggles to stop doing this when he's not interviewing someone. Given everything he's experienced with Armand, he assumes Armand is re-using this joke for the same purpose. To be a dick.

It's a real fucking mystery why Daniel has no friends and has alienated all of his partners and children, huh. Alas, turning him into a vampire (against his will, to spite someone) has not made him a nicer person.

"Self-effacement doesn't look any better on you."

Here they are. Maker and fledgling. Great people. At least I haven't tortured anybody, Daniel might say, of his own personal assholery. But he's ruined plenty of lives. Armand's included. And yet, Armand threw a very painful tantrum over being told to leave Daniel alone.

"What do you want out of this?"