How familiar this was, those cool fingertips exploring his face as if he might have been an apparition that would fade away unless Lestat touched him, that brilliant smile when he didn't. How could Louis be anything less than enchanted? Lestat's charms were always enough to disarm him, and he held the embrace, breathing the other vampire's name.

"None of our habits die. After all, here we are." This he said with a smile, Lestat's golden curls brushing his cheek. "This place lends itself to mine. And how do you find it?" Medietas possessed unearthly beauty and teemed with fascinating creatures; Lestat may already love it for that. Louis loved the diversity of beings populating the islands, some possessing great or unique powers. With so much variety, vampires had stepped out of legend and simply become citizens, losing much of their mystique. What relieved him might aggravate Lestat, and he braced himself for what would follow should that happen.