( Louis smiles, a slow, subtle thing like a flower softly opening its petals into bloom. )

I would like that.

( He gives Lestat's knee a light squeeze, and then his nails move back and forth in aimless little shapes there, just for the sake of touching him. He's quiet for a moment, but in the way he falls quiet when he's considering his next words. It feels like a rather personal thing to admit to somehow. )

I've always wondered whether I could learn, you know, the way we sometimes find that we have a talent for new skills without ever putting in the effort? But... ah... I don't know. Perhaps I've never had the confidence to try.

( As much as Louis had railed against Lestat for failing him in those early days, Louis always quietly admired the care he'd taken with Claudia and her lessons. He was encouraging and instructive and as proud as any mortal father ever was. Prouder, certainly, than Louis' own had been of him. Perhaps it was an instinctive kindness toward children that made him behave so, but Louis suspects that it was more to do with the lack of bad blood between them. )

I'm sure you'll be a fine teacher.