Instead of an answer formed in words, Daniel offers Louis the psychic version of squeezing his hand— it's clumsy, but he wants to show him. Just how happy he is. Overwhelming, stupid sentiment, seeing Louis out in the world, Louis doing goofy shit like picking a fight, Louis watching Lestat perform with a look of wonder, Louis getting his nails painted. Louis, safe, here, alive.

(Daniel does love him. Not the way Lestat does. But he does love him.)

And then, the wrecking ball of Lestat de Holyfuck—

He can't help his sudden laugh. Heeyyyy.

"The kids are going up," he says, a little loud over the rowdy chorus of a bar that's forgotten all about a thrown punch. "And then: yes."