Maybe Daniel's the one playing too fast and loose with it. He was terrified over Louis' safety when Lestat lost his temper, and he's been terrified over Louis shutting down— a shift, to this hope, in part because of that, because of Lestat's infectious magnetism making Louis seem so much less dreary.

(Maybe Daniel's looking to cover his own ass. His own stupid fucking mistakes. How could he have agreed to do what's agreed to, when Louis is right here, Louis who's been hurt the most of anyone, holding on to his hand like this?)

Affection is tangible, like a spilled drink; Daniel is clumsy with this, still. He does understand. And he cares so much about Louis. Stupid, how much.

"Alright," he says, soft. "I do get it."

Daniel's being too much. Wants him to show the great person he is to his employees, wants him to be happy with Lestat. Wants him to be happy, so Daniel can make up for demolishing Louis' life. It's better this way, but it's still in pieces. He could break it, but he can't fix it. He's fixing himself, a worse person, he's making shameful progress with Armand, an infinitely worse person, so why the fuck can't he fix Louis.

"You're just.. you know. Probably the most important person, to me. Ever. I'm going to want you to be happy, all the fucking time, and be real annoying about it."