Merrick (2000 – 2001) By Anne Rice.
I think this one of Anne’s best works. The pace of the novel is relentless and gracefully written. For me this novel is about David, Louis and Merrick’s spiral into a world of moral decline while they are haunted by their respective pasts.
David’s confessional work, the reader is a voyeur in this tale:
A rare glimpse into Louis’ desperation, inner torment, lack of self control and poor judgement. An autobiographical piece for David within the context of the Talamasca, relationship with Merrick, his journey both into the savage unknown and his personal responsibility for those around him. This novel is his ultimate admission of shame and guilt; past and present.
The photos above represent significant parts of the novel:
Merrick and David’s journey into the Brazilian jungle
The Cave
The Jade Mask; David and the Priest apparition
Louis’ Blood and Merrick’s Binding Spell
Merrick is given the Dark Gift and Louis’ devotion to her
OOC; My gift to you forgotten-mayfair – for inspiring me every time I see you on my dash. Thank you. x
Tag Archives: david talbot
+ Ever regret not jumping Lestat’s bones on that boat while he was mortal and in your soon-to-be-body?
Looking back on it now, despite my moral conflict over the idea of bedding such a youthful body, and concerned about my failing in being able to deliver any satisfaction to Lestat with mine, I do regret not engaging in that intimacy with him back then. It would have created all manner of additional difficulties for us.
The friendship we shared certainly couldn’t have survived the encounter without becoming something deeper. I did want Lestat, no shame in saying so, and if I had given in to my desire for him then I doubt recovering from it would be an option. He has been (mostly) careful about engaging me in attempts for intimacy since my turning. Out of respect for me or due to his own concerns, I cannot say.
He is dangerous for me. By giving into my lust even once I fear that I would become fixated on exploring it further. And since I cannot even promise that any such attempt wouldn’t end in disaster, who knows whether it will ever come to pass.
I thought of how much I loved Louis, and had ever since I had become Lestat’s fledgling. I thought of how deeply I depended upon him, and what I would do for him. It was the love of Louis which had at times crippled Lestat, and enslaved Armand. Louis need have no consciousness of his own beauty, of his own obvious and natural charm.
Our emissary in Venice retrieved it from a burnt-out villa on the Grand Canal. These vampires are endlessly associated with fires, by the way. It is the one weapon they can use effectively against one another. There are always fires.
David Talbot, Queen of the Damned
To Ship or Not To Ship, that is the question…
Question for the mun: who do you ship David with? And how hard to you ship them?
(I’d send an Ask like a normal question but for some reason the button is inaccessible when I’m… not on my home ‘puter…)(WHO IS A BAD GIRL DOING THIS FROM THE AWFFICE)(spoiler alert: it’s me)
———-
OOC: (You BAD GIRL. <3)
The H.M.S. Noship: Okay. So, for my take on David, I haven’t really settled him into any romantic relationships on Tumblr. Part of this is because I play him still at a point where he is working through his transitions of mortality and immortality. David’s having to relearn himself with this second ‘restart’, while also watching the last threads of his mortal life dissolving (i.e. All those people from the Talamasca that knew him when he was alive, that he visits as they die one by one.) around him. It’s more of a struggle for him than his outward calm and demeanour indicates. The idea of settling into a relationship is far from his thoughts.
That said, here are the ships in order of my hardcore-ness:
H.M.S. I Wanna Do Bad Things With You: Armand/David
I put this one at the top of the list, and not for the obvious reasons that most people think. Yes, David showed an inclination for youthful people in his mortal relationships. However, that is hardly relevant now when he himself looks to be only in his mid-twenties. In fact — while Armand is physically attractive — the physical aspect of it isn’t what draws David to him.
Armand has proven himself a formidable psychic presence. His illusions, his ability to lock Ancients out of his mind. He’s not an outwardly emotional individual. Armand is balanced by all of the experiences of his life, and the intrigue of all those internalized mysteries appeals to David.
H.M.S. Facebook Status: It’s Complicated: Lestat/David
David loves Lestat. Despite everything that happened, he loves him. The obstacle is the loss of control and trust that exists for them now. In his friendship with Lestat while he was mortal, David felt that they were coming together as peers, as equals. That Lestat was considerably older than him didn’t matter: He was able to advise him, to lend his opinion as a mortal man with a lifetime of experience.
Lestat never belonged to David. In immortality, this is no different and he knows this. David would be required to adapt himself to sharing Lestat with other people if they were going to have a successful romantic relationship. They’d also need to go through a period of time where Lestat rebuilt that trust before David allowed Lestat to make him so vulnerable again. Love and intimacy are a vulnerability of self, after all.
H.M.S. Brother From Another Mother: Louis/David
These two went through a roller coaster of emotions together after Memnoch. David was still new in the Blood, and Lestat was suddenly gone beyond their reach. They had to lean on one another to get through it. David built up such tender feeling towards Louis while all of this was happening. He found in Louis an ideal person to spend the quiet time with. They both have that quiet in common; the peace of just spending a night reading, not seeking excitement.
The situation with Merrick was heartbreaking. Not because of David (under the influence of the spell) fearing so much that he was losing her to Louis but due to the heartache he clearly demonstrates in believing that Louis was violating his trust selfishly in pursuit of the woman. The end of the chapter where they ask David to leave always breaks my heart. His threat to Louis seems like David bracing himself to lose Louis too in all of the mess.
H.M.S. I Don’t Even Know, Bro: ??/David
I haven’t explored too many major ships beyond those. I could see David settling happily with people like Jesse, Daniel, even Marius. Those with a similar appreciation for knowledge or with their own unique intellect. And of course I ship Aaron Lightner/David Talbot BROSHIP FOREVER.
Crazy Like a Fox
From: gairid
For: fivehundredyearsyoung
… Lestat does everything in a big way-covers half the page with his magnificent lettering…
”(…) “No, for your blood,” I said, pushing him backwards against the slender but frm trunk of a tree.
“You damnable brat,” he seethed.
“Oh, yes, despise me, please,” I said as I closed in. I pushed his face to one side, kissing his throat frst, and then sinking my fangs very slowly, my tongue ready for those frst radiant drops.”
Lestat and David, “Prince Lestat”
I-want-my-IWTV 