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Lestat and Louis beat them to the museum center. The trip has been planned for weeks, a rare opportunity with Lestat's tour having a break which puts them in the general vicinity and Daniel thinking Armand will enjoy the Children's Museum better if he has more than just Daniel with him. Armand had been skeptical of the prospect of going to a museum at first. It's fair: his history with museums has been less than great. In fact, skeptical might have been an understatement; Armand had bristled and gone silent for nearly a day when Daniel had brought up the idea, sitting statuesque in the corner of Daniel's beat up couch, eyes glassy as he systematically destroyed fidget toy after fidget toy. In the end he had ended up small and inquisitive, demanding to look at pictures online for hours, his eyes lighting up at the pictures of the water room, the life-sized metro bus, the construction site with excavator, a pretend restaurant and grocery store with small shopping carts and menus.
Louis lets Daniel know they've arrived at the museum via vampiric telepathy and Daniel apologizes for being late, although he knows Louis is likely not surprised. Daniel has never been great at punctuality but has been getting better at arriving on time since Armand came into his life, or back into his life, if he counted their decade that he had only recently remembered. Armand had a tendency to get all fidgety and anxious if he thought they were going to be late, which had been a motivator for Daniel to try to be more aware of his timeliness. This evening though Armand had been both excited and stressed about the prospect of seeing Louis and Lestat, and had been difficult to get out the door. He had rejected three separate outfits Daniel had picked but refused to decide for himself, had misplaced his favorite pacifier and was unwilling to accept an alternate, refused to leave a toy ship he had been particularly attached to of late, and then had been tearful and agitated when Daniel had done his laces as he insisted that his socks felt "wrong." In the end Daniel had found the lost pacifier near Armand's iPad charger, agreed they could bring one toy with them, and offered to let him wear his house slippers if sneakers were going to be an issue, even though that means he'll have to carry Armand to keep his feet from getting wet in the drizzly rain that's settled over the city. Wet clothes are another crisis for Armand, regardless of his headspace, although he's slightly less inconsolable in his adult mind Daniel has found.
They take a taxi across town to the museum despite Armand's usual love for the subway. The hot, stagnant air and screeching trains don't deter Armand, who Daniel thinks could spend all day rocking on his heels on the platform, covering his ears when the trains pass, watching the city move around him. In the taxi Armand chews the sleeve of his soft, long-sleeved t-shirt. Daniel would usually correct him but lets it go this evening. He can tell Armand is already sinking into the soft, small space that he inhabits appoximately half of the time. His slim hand comes to touch the outer pocket on the backpack Daniel carries, where he knows his preferred pacifier is every few minutes, feeling it through the butter-soft leather of the bag which has become Little Armand's outing bag. Despite Armand having ostensibly enjoyed the few times Louis and Lestat have watched him while he was little Daniel can tell that Armand is worried. He tries to distract him, speaking to him so low that the uninterested taxi driver couldn't hear even if he wanted to, about what they're going to do at the museum center.
When they arrive Armand freezes in front of the building and Daniel scoops him up to sit on his hip as they enter through heavy doors. Inside Lestat and Louis are looking around the impressive rotunda of the museum building standing close together like lovebirds. The fact that the well-appointed art deco building houses a children's museum is unexpected and Daniel thinks he should send Louis the link to the "history" page on the museum's website. Daniel calls out his hellos despite knowing the two are aware of his arrival, while Armand ducks his face to hide in Daniel's neck. He can feel Armand mouthing at the collar of his own t-shirt, blood slobber wetting the cotton, but doesn't correct him. Besides, he can't redirect him to his paci without setting him down, which is not an option at the moment based on the way Armand clings to him like a limpet, so there's no point.
Louis smiles warmly at Daniel and asks about the book he and Lestat have been working on, giving him a one-armed hug on the side that isn't holding a fully grown vampire like the world's largest toddler. Daniel can feel Louis's discomfort with Armand in his avoidance of acknowledging the vampire in his arms. He's sure adult Armand would be able to sense it too, but isn't sure where Armand's brain is at right how, although he can feel his kitten fangs continuing to chew at his shirt. Daniel is just grateful Louis came and is being outwardly cordial. He doesn't blame the guy for having a complicated relationship with the vampire who killed his daughter and lied to him about it for a few decades short of a century. The fact that said vampire is sometimes a small, scared kid trapped in an immortal and undead body doesn't change the hell that Louis has been through at Armand's doing, although Daniel does think the part of Louis that craved fatherhood was in some way drawn to the more childlike version of Armand.
Lestat, professed enemy of Armand that he is, is warmer than Louis and greets both Daniel and le petit diablotin with a kiss to the cheek and a ruffle of dark curls respectively. Daniel can't read Armand's thoughts but he feels the wriggle of happiness that goes through him at the pet name which he had been surprised hadn't been deemed a grave insult by Armand the first time Lestat had said it. Armand raises his face from Daniel's shoulder where he's been hiding and smiles tentatively at Lestat. Always the performer Lestat gives a sweeping bow and holds out a hand to Armand like a knight offering his assistance to a princess, and Armand squirms in the way which Daniel knows by now means he's done being held. Daniel sets him on his feet and Armand is immediately bouncing on his toes toward Lestat, jabbering in French that Daniel can't parse. He's been trying to keep up with Duolingo but there's so much to learn in immortality and unfortunately the rude cartoon owl hasn't topped his priority list. Lestat smiles indulgently at Armand and appears to be asking questions about whatever it is his kid is talking about. Daniel is confident it's the kid now, his tone a bit higher and his speech less restrained, words tumbling out of his mouth like he's afraid he won't be able to get them out fast enough. It's a significant change from Armand's carefully considered statements in his adult mind. Daniel tries not to feel nervous at the inability to understand. He tells himself it's nervousness because the alternate option, jealousy, is out of character for him.
Armand grabs Lestat's sleeve and tugs him toward the entrance to the Children's Museum, although he glances frequently back at Daniel to make sure he's following. Young Armand is getting braver by the day and Daniel is proud of the miles of progress they've made from the clingy, panicked child who sobbed until he vomited when Daniel had been late returning home after a hunt. Louis and Daniel fall in step with each other and even though Daniel thinks he's doing a good job pretending he's not bothered by his kid speaking a language he doesn't understand he clearly hasn't fooled Louis, who speaks into his mind to tell him that Armand is describing the museum to Lestat. He's apparently already made a plan for which rooms he will visit in which order. He wants to start at the water room, which isn't surprising to Daniel. He's spent more nights than he can count at the harbor with Armand in every state of mind, sitting in comfortable silence as Armand watches the ships dotting the horizon, freighters and ferries and tourist boats coming and going from the docks at all hours. In his childlike mind Armand has an impressive fleet of toy ships of varying levels of realness and can spend entire evenings floating the boats through the bathtub or more recently, in the koi pond Daniel had installed in the yard. Thus far it's been devoid of fish and is home only to plastic boats which bob on the water and make frequent trips across the rippling surface. Louis seems amused by Daniel's complete focus on Armand's safety and wellbeing, though in a kind way that leaves Daniel feeling only mildly defensive as his gaze remains locked on Armand as he pushes excitedly through an unmanned turnstile into the museum center.
Daniel is surprised when the determined beeline path Armand is making toward where he knows the water zone lies based on his studying of the maps online is interrupted. Armand's eye has been caught by a small play area in the land of miniature shops and services. A postal office complete with laminated mail, a conveyor belt and real post office wheelie bins for sorting, canvas mail bags, a wall of mailboxes, and a counter with stamps draws Armand's attention. He drops his grip on Lestat's wrist and is behind the counter examining what appears to be a real cash register, albeit years out of date and filled with monopoly money, with wide eyes. Armand pops the drawer several times and his hands flutter excitedly when the his keystrokes on the clacky keyboard cause a paper receipt to print out. Daniel stands just outside the play area, visible but not within the space, observing with Louis at his side. Lestat is standing on the squeaky linoleum which defines the space from the carpeted larger area and appraises the mailboxes on the wall in his typical affected, showy way before wandering toward the counter. Armand's curls, ungelled and loose, flop as he carefully presses the postage paid, cancelled, and received stamps onto a stack of dry erase letters. Lestat rings a bell on the low countertop and Armand whips around as if he was unaware of the other vampire's presence. Lestat has somehow acquired a few of the pieces of faux mail and inquires regarding shipping speed, making up an elaborate story about a birthday card which needs to arrive in time for a hamster's birthday party which has Armand giggling the shoulder-shaking, unburdened laugh that Daniel lives for. Armand examines the mail carefully and drops the pieces into separate bins before typing away on the cash register and requesting an exorbitant fee with a devilish grin. Lestat reacts in mock indignation, hamming it up as he tosses his hands into the air, which gets even a wry chuckle out of Louis, although he ultimately hands over what Daniel can tell is a weighty, limitless credit card to Armand for payment.
Watching Louis out of the corner of his eye Daniel feels a worry he didn't realize had been weighing on him until this moment ease. Louis looks well these days. There's color in his cheeks not only indicative of good feeding but also of less burden on his soul. The frown lines that so often crease his forehead are less prominent. The smile that pulls at the corners of his mouth as he sees Lestat's exaggerated gestures seems genuine. Louis must sense him looking as he glances over and Daniel feels strangely like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. '"I'm glad to see you happy." He speaks into Louis's mind, and Louis ducks his head as if embarrassed by the acknowledgement.
"I guess we've both found something we needed" is the response Daniel gets, and now it's his turn to feel uncomfortably seen by his vampiric companion. It's not untrue, Daniel can't remember the last time his heart felt as full as it does when he's with Armand, regardless of his headspace.
Lestat moves away from the child-sized counter, seemingly suitable fleeced by the Child Con Artist Armand. Daniel is going to ask if he still wants to go to the water tables but Armand has found the controls for the grocery story style conveyor belt in the mail sorting play area and quickly cranks the speed up to its maximum. A bin dumps fake letters and packages for sorting and Armand does the little full body wriggle of glee that Daniel has noted as a characteristic of Little Armand as the little bits of paper and fake parcels begin to fall off the end into a large cart. He's quickly absorbed in grabbing the items and tossing them into several different totes in a way which seems too structured to be random. His tongue pokes out of his mouth and his hair falls into his eyes as his hands move so quickly they blur in Daniel's vision, no doubt using vampiric speed and skill to complete a task meant to be impossible for most patrons of the museum. Daniel wonders as to the method Armand is using as to which item goes where, he's sure there is one but the machinations of Armand's way of thinking is often baffling to him. Lestat has come to lean against the counter and is watching with amusement as Armand seems to snatch, sort, and stow like some sort of arguably-living machine.
When the packages run out Daniel is briefly concerned Armand will be upset but Armand just moves back to his counter and shoves his thumb in his mouth which makes Daniel fucking cringe at the thought of the germs he was just touching. He knows they can't get sick like humans do but that doesn't make it less gross. There is a small part of him that is weirdly happy though: Armand, normally fastidious and fussy about cleanliness, is usually the one who insists on washing his hands, scrubbing under his nails, even using hand sanitizer. The fact that he's so out of his own head that he's not worried about Super Flu or whatever it is snot-nosed kids in museums spread is a win, in a way. Daniel doesn't have much time to think about this though because Armand is yelling around his thumb "Danny! Danny, come be a customer. You have to mail your mortgage payment!" Louis snorts indelicately beside him at this, and Daniel is pleasantly surprised when Louis comes and lines up dutifully at the little counter as well.
Similar to Lestat's hamster birthday card Daniel's the postage for a mortgage payment is more than a mortgage itself would be. Because Daniel is an old man, biologically not vampirically, he has cash though and pulls a wad of crumpled bills along with a few loose quarters from his pocket and hands them to Armand. Armand, who despite having never used cash in the time Daniel has known him in the present or in any of his memories, somehow knows to hold the 20s up to the light and then run a claw down the shirt of President Andrew Jackson to check for the ridges. It's so odd that Daniel nearly asks him how the hell he learned that, but catches the question before it can leave his mouth. Things like that pull Armand back to his adult self, which is the last thing he wants to do.
Armand pockets all the cash though and chirps "no change" with an impish grin, his amber eyes sparkling mischievously, and Lestat's laughter echoes loudly throughout the high-ceilinged room. "C'mere you little shit" Daniel says fondly through his own laughter, pulling Armand in close. Armand's unabashed giggles are right next to his ear and the way the laughter resonates through Armand's chest is like a cat purring. Daniel wishes he could bottle this moment, cover it in amber and preserve it forever. Instead all he can do is breathe in the scent of his citrusy shampoo and the natural spice-and-blood aroma that is Armand and ask if he has more postal service duties or if he'd like to go to another room.
Armand is nothing if not thorough and ensures that the box Louis has found and would like to ship to The Rougarou is inspected, stamped, and put on a special pile "for mythological beings" before he's pulling Daniel by the hand toward the water room.
Armand whines and stomps a foot when Daniel insists he put on one of the waterproof smocks hanging along the wall of the water room before he starts to play. The smock falls only to mid-thigh and Daniel vaguely thinks he should've invested in one of those rubber suits fishermen wear in rivers. Armand seems unconcerned with the prospect of getting wet though and is at the miniature village which demonstrates the water cycle with preternatural speed. He plunges the hand who's thumb he isn't sucking into the water and immediately begins moving plastic barriers and small sandbags in what is either an attempt to save the little, wood painted houses from floods or to wash them from their magnets in an unholy deluge. Lestat has chosen not to don a water smock but is standing next to Armand with his sleeves pushed up, holding several sandbags Armand has handed to him. Lestat seems amused by Armand's furrowed brow and intense concentration on his either saving or torture of the village, and dutifully hands him pieces as Armand asks for them. Daniel thinks he should remind the kid to say please and thank you but can't bring himself to interrupt.
He doesn't have to worry about interrupting Armand, as only a few minutes later he spins on a sneakered heel and demands around his thumb still in his mouth for Danny to bring him his pacifier. Daniel thinks he can hear Louis's eyebrows climb and would swear he catches a thought that sounds suspiciously like an indictment of parents who don't spank their kids. Daniel ignores it, he's not getting into that discussion tonight. He gets Armand's paci out of the glorified diaper bag he's taken to carrying with them when he thinks Armand may be small and holds it to Armand's lips. He kisses the top of his curly head and whispers a reminder to use his manners. Armand ducks his head and sucks harder on the rubber teat. Around it he slurs a thank you to Daniel and wraps his arms tight around Daniel's soft middle, squeezing so tight it's uncomfortable for the briefest of seconds, before he's turning away and taking the plastic barrier Lestat is holding for him. Daniel hears him mumble "thanks 'Stat" around the pacifier.
Both hands now available Armand is free to construct an impressive dam that holds back the swirling water upstream from the little village. The water room is set up in a circle, the water recirculating through the stations and resulting in somewhat of a miniature lazy river. Daniel wonders if he should be worried about Armand flooding the place with his dam invention, but thinks surely there's a failsafe in the system made for this exact situation. Then again, he's not sure if the designers were planning for centuries old and incredibly smart vampires to attempt to break their water cycle simulation. The water is definitely getting deeper in the first half of the trough as it fails to make its way through the system. The little village is dry, and further downstream the water wheel is scooping air slowly as it exhausts its last few rotations.
"You've created a water shortage at the mill, Monsieur" Lestat says. "What will your demands be to allow them access to the waters again?" Armand's face is puzzled for a few long seconds, as if he doesn't understand the question and Daniel thinks he may need to jump in, explain that Armand doesn't always seem to grasp other people's concepts in pretend play. Before he can though it seems to click for Armand and he looks back and forth between the now-stopped water wheel and the increasingly deep water pressing against his dam.
Daniel sees the moment Armand has the idea and between it and the next Armand has lunged, grabbed the largest central piece of the dam, and allowed the water to rush through in a tidal wave. The little city is swept away: painted wood house clunking against the metal of the artificial waterways as they swirl downstream, mixed with miniature trees, road signs, churches, and even a train track that has been pulled from its place. Farther ahead the water wheel is whipped into action, its little buckets scooping set pieces up to chuck them into the beginning of the cycle again. Armand shrieks with excitement as the water pours into the city like a storm hitting the coast. Lestat, not as in tune to Armand's unpredictable thought process is caught off guard but laughs and dances backward as the water sloshes dangerously in the trough. Louis seems a bit startled by the chaos of it all, moving to stand next to Lestat and Daniel thinks briefly that he better not be going over there to be shitty about Armand's behavior or his parenting skills. He doesn't have time to worry about this though, as the waves created by Armand's rupturing of the dam have escaped their containment and water splashes over Armand's legs, soaking his pants from the shins down.
Fucking Christ. Daniel cringes but doesn't even get the opportunity to tell Armand it'll be okay before he's sobbing. Wailing actually, fighting desperately to get the smock off, but entirely overhwhelmed and agitated as he is, only succeeding in managing to tangle the ties and essentially turn it into a brightly colored plastic straitjacket. Lestat is still standing next to him, one hand in midair in an aborted attempt to presumably offer some sort of soothing gesture. His light eyes are wide and even with his usually unflappable nature he seems uncomfortable and unsure what to do."Take a step back, I've got him" Daniel speaks to Lestat privately.
Daniel approaches slowly as Armand finally puts his vampiric strength to use and shreds the smock that's been restraining him. His arms flail as he gets them free and immediately one hand comes up to tangle in his hair and pull hard at a handful of dark curls and Daniel can tell by the coppery scent of vampiric blood in the air that his nails are digging into his scalp. Armand's binky has fallen from his mouth and Lestat is a whirlwind as he rescues it before it can be crushed under Armand's sneaker as he thrashes and tries to get his legs out of wet denim without releasing the death grip he has on his hair. Armand is mumbling to himself, something that sounds like nononono and his other hand is intermittently brought to his mouth to bite at the delicate juncture of thumb and forefinger. Daniel stands to the side to be in Armand's eye line, although his eyes are squeezed tightly shut as blood tears leak down his face, and speaks softly. Armand is glassy eyed and clearly not entirely with it but Daniel can't allow him to chew his own hand off or rip any more hair from his scalp than he already has so he apologizes in advance and pulls the taller man into a hug, wrapping his arms tight around him in the way he knows Armand typically finds calming and gently teasing his bloodied hand from his teeth.
Armand thrashes in the embrace for a minute or so, fighting to continue chewing his hand and Daniel shushes and apologizes and murmurs nonsense into his ear as Armand gasps and cries and occasionally shrieks in frustration and misery. When the imminent risk of Armand crushing his delicate hand bones between predator jaws seems to have passed Daniel releases his grip slightly to pull back and attempt to catch Armand's eye.
"You with me, big guy?" Armand doesn't seem entirely sure but nods even as he avoids eye contact and squirms miserably like he would rather peel his own skin from his bones then wear wet clothing for a second longer. Daniel wonders if he's still small or if this anxiety attack has brought him back into an older headspace. He can't tell. He asks permission to help Armand out of his wet clothes and Armand nods again. Daniel wonders if the tremors that run through Armand's body as he shimmies the soaked pants off are due to memories or emotional upheaval. Armand isn't speaking. His thumb is in his mouth although he's wrinkling his nose in distaste, presumably at the chlorine taste that's no doubt soaked into his skin.
Armand stares blankly into the larger play area and rocks himself ever so slightly but makes no attempts to avoid the eyesight of Louis and Lestat when he's left standing in only his boxer briefs and cozy sweatshirt for a moment. Daniel has retrieved the unassuming backpack he carries with them when there's even the slightest chance of Armand being small and produced the backup pacifier, which Armand takes sullenly because it's the wrong color and he'd prefer the one that had just been on the floor, as well as a change of socks and pants. Armand makes no protest that the soft joggers don't quite match his shirt and is pliant and loose-limbed as Daniel threads dry pants over skinny legs. He thinks the agreeableness probably means he's stayed small. Adult Armand is always intensely aware of the impression he's giving to everyone around him and would take extreme measures to keep from being seen in a vulnerable position. Little Armand used to be the same way, hiding away in closets, under tables, disappearing into the night to be located sometimes days later small and scared in some forgotten hovel. When Daniel thinks about those days he feels guilty for the thoughts he has in rough moments when's he tired and frustrated and wonders if Armand will ever get better. Compared to how they were when he had first pulled Armand from a crypt in Prague and brought him back to New York he's basically a different person.
Armand holds his arms out to be picked up and snuggles into Daniel's arms as soon as he's been swung onto his hip. Definitely still small then. Daniel kisses his temple and asks him how he's feeling. The answer is a shrug, which is unsurprising. It seems to take him some time regardless of his headspace to piece himself back together after he's gotten so overwhelmed, and he often seems unmoored and seeking someone else to make decisions for him while his mind resets.
Daniel wanders back over to Louis and Lestat, who have clearly been conversing telepathically and do a bad job pretending they don't have a million questions. Daniel makes sure they both know he thinks they've got shitty poker faces. Louis brow furrows like he's genuinely surprised by this information which is so funny a laugh rumbles in Daniel's chest, making Armand lift his head and look at him inquisitively. Lestat surprisingly offers a hand to hold the backpack and swings it over his shoulder before beginning to talk about a humorous run in he had with a feral cat. Louis shoots him a confused look but Daniel knows what he's doing and appreciates it as they all begin to wander slowly toward the entrance.
He's assumed their night is done, Armand worn out and boneless in his arms, so he's surprised when Armand mumbles something unintelligible around his pacifier without lifting his face out of Daniel's shirt. He pauses and asks him to repeat himself. Armand stares down at the ground and doesn't enunciate any better but he's at least no longer speaking directly into Daniel's chest which makes it possible to hear him ask "do we have to leave?"
"You want to stay?" he tries to keep the surprise out of his voice.
Armand nods. "Want to go to the construction site. There's an excavator with a real bucket."
"Sure kiddo, we can stay. We've got at least another couple hours before we need to head home. I'm not sure about Louis and Lestat though, they might have other things they need to get done before sunrise." Daniel hopes they've made no other plans, Armand seems to really like Lestat when he's small, and he has to admit even though it's a bit of a sore spot, Lestat is weirdly incredible with Little Armand.
Armand's face drops slightly and Daniel immediately wants to beg Louis and Lestat to stay. He doesn't have to, because Lestat is sweeping toward Armand with a wet wipe he's presumably found digging through Daniel's bag (nosy fuck) and wiping the remnants of tears from Armand's cheeks as he monologues about the great honor it would be to work on Foreman Armand's construction site in a goofy, affected accent which Daniel thinks is supposed to be American Everyman but which sounds more like an alien impersonating a politician. Armand loves it though, giggling around his pacifier and squirming to both be put down and escape the injustice of having his face scrubbed at.
Lestat catches Armand easily and Daniel's heart is in his throat as they roughhouse for a brief second before Lestat has somehow hoisted an unsuspecting Armand to ride on his back as he weaves through the play areas at a speed that makes Daniel want to yell for him to slow down. He must be thinking loud because Louis laughs next to him.
"You're such a dad." Daniel shrugs. It's an innocent enough statement that snapping "fuck you asshole" would make him the asshole in the situation. Louis must feel the desire to though. "It's a good look for you. I'm not a huge fan of who you're playing dad to-"
"I'm not his dad" Daniel cuts in. He's been clear about this from the start. Armand has had enough daddies and masters and other people wielding their status over him in a psychosexual chokehold and he has no desire to further perpetuate that cycle. "I'm just Danny to him. I take care of him when he needs me to but I am in no way anything like what you two had or what the men who abused him before Paris were to him."
Louis acquiesces. "You're not his daddy but that doesn't mean you aren't a dad." They've gotten to the construction site, where Armand is sitting in the seat of a large excavator with an impressive panel of steering wheel, levers, glowing buttons, dials, and switches. "Look at you. You're spending an entire night following around your kid while he plays in a museum rather than going out and hunting or trying to get drunk or doing something stupid to piss off every other vampire in the world" Lestat is standing with a shovel using it to scrape large plastic boulders and rocks into reach of the excavator, occasionally having to duck out of the way as Armand spins the arm with reckless abandon and punches buttons seemingly at random. "Hell you can call it a backpack but don't act like you're carrying anything other than a glorified diaper bag. You had an entire change of clothes for him like he's a potty training toddler who you can't trust not to piss himself in public, man! "
Armand has managed to learn the controls and is scraping the bucket against the carpet as he attempts to pick up the rocks. Daniel doesn't have a good response to that. "Thank god that's not something we have to worry about. You saw the fucking fiasco that getting splashed with water was. Can you imagine if he had the ability to wet his pants? I don't think either of us could manage that level of fucking stress." Armand has gotten about half the rocks into the bucket. It looks a bit like a claw machine Daniel thinks as he watches Armand attempt several more times to grab more with questionable success. The rocks keep rolling out as he goes to change the angle of the bucket. "I actually have been meaning to ask you a question about Armand."
The question has to wait. Lestat has found plastic construction hats and looks ridiculous in his sleek, rockstar on the town clothes with a child's costume hat perched on his head. Armand manages to maneuver the bucket without spilling the rocks and dumps them into a bin which swings and drops them in turn into an area with huge foamy blocks the size of shoeboxes and an outline on the wall demonstrating that its possible to turn them into a freestanding arch if they're organized correctly. Armand is shouting excitedly and asks repeatedly if Danny saw him dump the blocks and Daniel smiles so hard it hurts when he reassures him he did and it was incredible. Armand demands Daniel come and learn how to use the excavator and Daniel puts on the hard hat Lestat holds out to him even though it pinches his head and he feels like an idiot. He doesn't care if he feels like an idiot. He'll feel like an idiot every day if it makes Armand happy.