#[van helsing voice] ''what do you see? what do you hear? why are you such a massive dickhead?''

[weepylucifer]

Re: Dracula has done this thing where they layer several voices over each other when several characters are speaking a few times now, but i go nuts for it each time. Like yesss, have Dracula speak faintly in the background when Mina is questioned under hypnosis, because really Van Helsing is asking HIM!!!

[princessofmarvel]

Love Story

summary | renfield falls for the vampire hunter sent to kill his boss 

pairing | robert montague renfield x van helsing!fem!reader! 

wc | 1.5k 

genre | fluff! 

warnings! | this is not really proof read yet, but other than that, nothing that i can think of, lol 

requested? | yes! i combined two requests the best that i could since they were for the same character and song! i hope that you all enjoy it! and, if you have requested something, i promise that i am getting to them!

authors note | i loved these ideas! keep sending them in for the swift series! And as always, I do I have really bad OCD that causes me to write in some random capitalization, and punctuation, But I think that we don't have to worry about that in this fic lol. And let me know if there are any mistakes, but please be kind!

  You had just landed in New Orleans. Your family is sending you to take out the most notorious vampire known to man, Dracula. Being a Van Helsing, you had trained your whole life for this very moment. You beat out everyone in your family for this opportunity. 

Your family had found out where his location was, and sent you immediately. You made your way through the parking lot before being stopped by a voice. 

“Miss? May I help you?” Said the voice. You spun around fast to find a young man with brown hair. He seemed to be around your age. You thought that he may be one of two things. He was either lost or another vampire that you would have to kill. 

“I’m fine, thanks” You said as you continued forward. You were almost to the door before he jumped in front of you. 

“Miss, I don’t think you should go in there.”

  “Sir, I have a job to do, If you would please move.” 

“As do I, and I truly can not let you though.” 

“Then you will have to make me.” You said as you straightened your back to him, and placed your hand on your stake. 

  “Miss, I can assure you that you would rather not.” He said. The moment he looked away, you took your chance and in one punch knocked him out. 

You felt something was up once you got a better look at him. Yes he could pass as a vampire, but with his mouth slightly open, you could tell there were no fangs. You decided to take him back to your hotel room and get some answers. 

Renfield wakes up, dizzy at first and then he notices the woman holding a crossbow of stakes at his head “Woah! Woah! Miss, I’m not one of them! I swear!”

  “Then who the hell are you?” You ask, not lowering your weapon

“I’m Robert Montague Renfield” He answers. “Please lower your weapon.” “Renfield? The Renfield? That's not possible, you should be over 100 by now.” You said while lowering your weapon some. 

“I promise I’m not lying, why else would I have been there?” He says. You stare at him for a moment. He seems like he is telling the truth. “I’ll prove it, feed me a bug and my eyes will turn yellow.”

“If I feed you one of these and you attack me, I can guarantee that you will be dead within a second. You hear me?” He nods, and you pick up his tin, and feed him one. You watch as his eyes do change to yellow, and he breaks his ropes. 

“See?” He says as he rubs his wrist. 

“Why am I not dead?” You ask as you head to the fridge, leaving him confused.

“I beg your pardon?” He asks, following you, confused.

“You kill anyone that comes for Dracula, so why am I still alive.” You watch as he frowns, as you sip your soda. 

“Please, do not remind me, I hate myself for it.” This shocks you as you stare at him.

“What do you mean, don’t you do it on your own free will?” You ask, sitting down at your table. 

“Of course not.” He says while he sits across from you.

“You mean to tell me that you don’t do this because you want to protect Dracula? You say, offering him a soda as you do. 

“I don’t….not anymore at least, if I could get out, I would, he just won’t let me go.” He says while looking down. 

“Wait, you are bound to him?” You ask. You had always heard the stories of Renfield tearing over vampire hunters to shreds, it just does not make sense to you. 

“Yes, I am. I do want to be but he will not let me leave.” 

“Alright, I will help you, as long as you help me.” You say as you stand from the table. 

“Wait- What do you mean, you will help me?” He asks while standing too. 

“I need to kill your boss. Help me do so, and we both will get what we want.” 

“You would do that for me?” He asked, his eyes full of hope, while making your heart swell. 

“It would be cruel of me not to.”  You say as you smile. 

Over the next few weeks, you and Renfield meet up every day while trying to come up with plans on how to get rid of Dracula. 

You walk into your hotel room the next day waiting for Renfield, only to find Dracula sitting at my table. 

“So this is the woman that plagues Renfields mind?” He says as you put your crossbow of stakes down onto the counter. “Allow me to introduce myself” “I already know who you are.” You say as you say while staying far enough away so you could attack if needed. 

“Then introduce yourself to me, I would love to put a name with the face that he always thinks about” He said, like he was not asking.

“My name is (Y/n) Van Helsing” You said with a smirk. You knew he would know the name. 

“Ugh, are they still making those?” He said while standing, “Why have you Van Helsings never stopped, Do you know how many of your kind I have killed?” 

“Why are you here?” You asked while taking a slight step closer to him. “Are you gonna kill me?” 

“I should, and perhaps I will.” He said, and in a flash he grabbed her neck and pushed her against the wall. “Maybe I will take pity on you? Kill you quicker than your ancestors” 

He is taken aback by the laughter that comes from you next. “Why are you laughing? Is this some kind of joke to you? Losing your life?” 

“You won’t, can’t kill me.” You say in a laugh

“And why is that?” He asked, getting closer to intimidate you. 

“You know why, If you kill me, Renfield will find out, and blame you, and then you will never be able to control him again.” You say as you jerk his hand off of your throat. 

“Stay away from Renfield, are we clear?” He said while making his way for the door, he left before he could hear your answer. 

When Renfield came by later that day to see the marks on your neck from his hand, he was done, and he was ready to get rid of Dracula as fast as he could. 

It was a month later when Renfield and you finally had killed Dracula, you were in your hotel packing up to go home when there was a knock at your door, when you opened the door, you found Renfield standing in front of you.

“I just wanted to see you one last time before you left, Miss Van Helsing” He said with a sad smile on his face. 

“How many more times do I have to tell you to just call me (Y/n)” You said while inviting him in. 

“Would you like some help?” He asked while taking a look around the place, noticing that it had become plain again.

“No thank you, You know I was just starting to get comfortable here in New Orleans.” You say with a sigh. 

Renfield grabs her hand while she is packing “Please don’t go” he says in a small voice. 

“Renfield I-” You look up and his eyes are already looking into yours. 

He leans in and kisses you while he places a hand on your face gently. The kiss is gentle, and nervous, but full of need. When Renfield pulls away he immediately starts apologizing. “I am so sorry-” But before he could finish you pulled him back in, taking the air out of his lungs. 

“You really want me to stay?” you say as you two pull away from each other. 

“Yes,” He says out of breath.

“I will have to think about it” You say to him. Knowing that with your job, you will have to talk to your family about this first. 

Renfield was starting to lose hope that you would return. It had been months since he heard from you last. A knock at his door took him out of his misery, especially when he opened the door to see one special vampire hunter standing there. 

“Surprise” you say while pulling him in for a hug. You had to make some arrangements before you came back, but once you did, your family set you up with your own house in New Orleans for you to move into. 

Renfield hugged you as tight as he could. “I am so happy you came back.” He mumbled into your neck. 

“Well, I came back because I wanted to go out with a certain ex-slave of Draculas, any idea on who that could be?” You said with a smirk, teasing him. 

“I have no idea, Will you tell me more about him?” He said as he pulled away to look at you. 

“I will over dinner, how does that sound?” You say while looking up into his eyes while smiling. 

“That sounds absolutely wonderful.” He says while pulling you into his apartment, and shuts the door

[ninadove]

Nina reads Dracula 🦇

September 29th

Long one today, but Quincey’s here, so everything is right in the world. ❤️

First of, the boys are going grave-robbing as a gang! 🎉

"The more we talked, the more puzzled we got, till now I can say for myself that I'm about up a tree as to any meaning about anything."

"Me too," said Quincey Morris laconically.

"Oh," said the Professor, "then you are nearer the beginning, both of you, than friend John here, who has to go a long way back before he can even get so far as to begin."

GDHSKSKSKS THE BURN. Completely gratuitous too, John hasn’t even spoken yet.

Therefore may I ask that you promise me in the dark, so that afterwards, though you may be angry with me for a time—I must not disguise from myself the possibility that such may be—you shall not blame yourselves for anything."

🥺

"That's frank anyhow," broke in Quincey. "I'll answer for the Professor. I don't quite see his drift, but I swear he's honest; and that's good enough for me."

[Sigh] ❤️

"Would it not be well to hear what I have to say?" said Van Helsing. "And then you will at least know the limit of my purpose. Shall I go on?"

"That's fair enough," broke in Morris.

Spoken like a man who immediately thought VAMPIRES after eavesdropping for two minutes and a half ❤️

"There are mysteries which men can only guess at, which age by age they may solve only in part. Believe me, we are now on the verge of one. But I have not done. May I cut off the head of dead Miss Lucy?"

I love the way he asks like a kitten eyeing your food. I can has head of dead (<- important precision) Miss Lucy? 🥺

His voice broke a little, and he went on with a voice full of pity:—

"But, I beseech you, do not go forth in anger with me. In a long life of acts which were often not pleasant to do, and which sometimes did wring my heart, I have never had so heavy a task as now."

Day I-don’t-know-how-many of asking for Van Helsing’s backstory

"For her—I am ashamed to say so much, but I say it in kindness—I gave what you gave; the blood of my veins; I gave it, I, who was not, like you, her lover, but only her physician and her friend. I gave to her my nights and days—before death, after death; and if my death can do her good even now, when she is the dead Un-Dead, she shall have it freely."

Ok, let’s pause here for a second. I understand why so many authors directors artists etc. have developed an erotic fascination for vampirism. I see the themes, you see the themes, we nod in understanding.

But I have to wonder why the blood transfusions were not co-opted in the same way?

Like!!! We keep going back to them!!! Van Helsing in particular is so uncomfortable about the implications of sharing his blood with this young girl who was another man’s fiancée! Arthur compares it to an actual wedding ceremony!! John and Quincey let their own blood be drawn because they also loved her!!! WHY ARE BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS NOT ROMANTICISED IN THE WAY VAMPIRISM IS.

Can you imagine the creative possibilities? The poetry of giving such a fundamental part of yourself without expecting anything in return? And pushed to its extreme — the devotion that has you wasting yourself away when there is no hope of saving your lover? COME ON don’t tell me it’s not fascinating!!!

"Come to me, Arthur. Leave these others and come to me. My arms are hungry for you. Come, and we can rest together. Come, my husband, come!"

Oh oh.

"But of the most blessed of all, when this now Un-Dead be made to rest as true dead, then the soul of the poor lady whom we love shall again be free. Instead of working wickedness by night and growing more debased in the assimilating of it by day, she shall take her place with the other Angels. So that, my friend, it will be a blessed hand for her that shall strike the blow that sets her free. To this I am willing; but is there none amongst us who has a better right? Will it be no joy to think of hereafter in the silence of the night when sleep is not: 'It was my hand that sent her to the stars; it was the hand of him that loved her best; the hand that of all she would herself have chosen, had it been to her to choose?' Tell me if there be such a one amongst us?"

Oooooooof

There, in the coffin lay no longer the foul Thing that we had so dreaded and grown to hate that the work of her destruction was yielded as a privilege to the one best entitled to it, but Lucy as we had seen her in her life, with her face of unequalled sweetness and purity. True that there were there, as we had seen them in life, the traces of care and pain and waste; but these were all dear to us, for they marked her truth to what we knew. […]

"And now, my child, you may kiss her. Kiss her dead lips if you will, as she would have you to, if for her to choose. For she is not a grinning devil now—not any more a foul Thing for all eternity. No longer she is the devil's Un-Dead. She is God's true dead, whose soul is with Him!"

🥺🥺🥺

Then we cut off the head and filled the mouth with garlic.

Whiplash

And now onto Mina being cute:

"I was only entering my diary."

"Your diary?" I asked him in surprise.

"Yes," he answered. "I keep it in this." As he spoke he laid his hand on the phonograph. I felt quite excited over it, and blurted out:—

"Why, this beats even shorthand! May I hear it say something?"

Baby girl… Baby… ❤️

"You helped to attend dear Lucy at the end. Let me hear how she died; for all that I know of her, I shall be very grateful. She was very, very dear to me."

MINAAA 😭😭😭😭

"But do you know that, although I have kept the diary for months past, it never once struck me how I was going to find any particular part of it in case I wanted to look it up?" By this time my mind was made up that the diary of a doctor who attended Lucy might have something to add to the sum of our knowledge of that terrible Being, and I said boldly:—

"Then, Dr. Seward, you had better let me copy it out for you on my typewriter."

I love her your honour ❤️

"You do not know me," I said. "When you have read those papers—my own diary and my husband's also, which I have typed—you will know me better. I have not faltered in giving every thought of my own heart in this cause; but, of course, you do not know me—yet; and I must not expect you to trust me so far."

OH SHE SPEAKS LIKE VAN HELSING ERGO LIKE DRACULA

"I know that Lucy told you of me; she told me of you too."

🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

And back to Seward:

I was so absorbed in that wonderful diary of Jonathan Harker and that other of his wife that I let the time run on without thinking.

“Wonderful” certainly is one way to describe it, yes.

"That is a wonderful machine, but it is cruelly true. It told me, in its very tones, the anguish of your heart. It was like a soul crying out to Almighty God. No one must hear them spoken ever again! See, I have tried to be useful. I have copied out the words on my typewriter, and none other need now hear your heart beat, as I did."

Mina continues to be the real MVP

And back to Mina:

Fortunately I am not of a fainting disposition.

Oh trust me, I know.

The world seems full of good men—even if there are monsters in it.

THANK YOU YES THAT IS IN FACT THE POINT

[Still traumatised by the 1992 movie]

I remember how much "The Dailygraph" and "The Whitby Gazette," of which I had made cuttings, helped us to understand the terrible events at Whitby when Count Dracula landed, so I shall look through the evening papers since then, and perhaps I shall get some new light.

WHAT A WOMAN.

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[vickyvicarious]

"if the specimen I enjoyed of their hospitality be of the average kind, their lives must be pretty comfortable." good for the Bilders!

the polite, casually musing, "did I tell you to go to hell?" is so funny

Bilder hating Dracula on sight <3

ahhh it's good to hear Dracula's voice again. I mean I hate him, but, you know.

"I have made pets of several." Dracula making his little jokes again...

"he said, with a suspicious sort of modesty" hahaha, the delivery of this line was so funny

the Bilders laughing and literally going like "hohohohooo" is so funny. they're just 'gotcha!!!!!!' it's great

they are so playful. good for them

I love the long talk about how this wolf isn't clever or dangerous or anything... ending with "well, and I guess he could eat a baby" haha

Correspondent not liking that door being opened

it IS a shame that people are allowed to top their walls with broken bottles, I agree. I love how soft his voice gets on "come along, Berserker."

"the only exclusive information" hahaha yes, kudos to you, Correspondent

I like the doorbell noise quite a lot.

And the saw noise!

I never noticed them going round to the back of the house, but um. Probably a good choice before breaking in!

Ooh, the way Jack's voice falters on "but there was no sound... that we could hear"

I LOVE the music as they open the door and see Mrs. Westenra and Lucy

my immediate reaction was DO NOT BRING BRANDY

I do love that Jack tested it to make sure it wasn't poisoned though

"there was a gentleman who had come with a message from Mr. Holmwood." HERE HE ISSSS

god, that van Helsing doesn't have any hope for Lucy to survive this anymore. his only goal is to save her from vampirism

THE TWANG COMING IN WITH QUINCEY AHAHA

also the way Jack says "Quincey Morris" he is in love

oh god Art's voiiiiice

"Her struggle back into life was something frightful to see and hear." oh god

I love Jack's uncertainty upon reading Lucy's memorandum. The vulnerability in his voice as he asks van Helsing what it means, and if Lucy is mad.

Quincey's voice is so soft and sweet when he asks to have a talk with Jack.

Man, Jack really is running around all over the place isn't he.

"I don't want to shove myself in anywhere where I've no right to be;" this is why Quincey has been gone from the book for so long.

the music while Quincey describes the vampire bat

love the "royal lot of [manhood]" line, but also the whole bit before it, with Jack being so soft and full of sympathy for Quincey, more so than himself

"What took it out?" Quincey asking the real questions

Lucy's sobbing aches to listen to

"Some may not think it so sad for us," oof, she sounds kinda bitter. perhaps insinuations have already been made? not necessarily that they killed him but that this is mighty lucky for them isn't it/that they deliberately got close to him when he was dying in order to inherit

"my belief in him helps him to have a belief in himself." YES. YES.

Mina reaching out to Lucy for comfort and support... unaware that Lucy too is plunged into a nightmare

oh she sounds so agonized when she says the letter was unopened. oh ouch.

[inkstainsxxonxxparchment]

...And Remember... *Vancula*

My writing has felt like it's been staked and I'm trying to find the ritual to bring it back...so with work being a bit fussy and me being angry at myself for all the trouble with energy and motivation you get...hurt and no comfort. So I am sorry. But if I'm going to cry so are you...

He could taste the metal on his tongue and knows that it's bad. Of course it was. But at least it had ended in a victory. The cost was…acceptable. Except every step is harder than the last and his vision dims alarmingly. 'Not yet,' he thinks in some despair, 'Just a little further. Surely you can manage that, Lorrimer.' The simple fact was that he might not be able to but those odds had never stopped him before. And he has no intention of them doing so now.

No matter how unfair this all was. And he's sure it's quite a bit of that.

The sight of the ruins has him feeling better for that at the least as his breathing is starting to wheeze and the spots aren't vanishing as quickly if at all. He stumbles over the threshold and makes a few stumbling steps before he hears, "Prof… Lorrimer!" It's not often the other chooses his first name and that means it's clearly as terrible as he was thinking.

"I, for one, think I've never looked better so don't look at me with that horror, Dracula."

"You…" There is a pause before would come, "Foolish man, what have you done?!"

"What needed to be," he answers as he makes his way trying not to trip over the scattered rocks as he makes his way to the other. "I-it is what I do is it not?"

Cold fingers take a hold of his face. "Lorrimer…Helsing…"

"It's fine," he manages as he smiles at the other, "Everything is fine. You are fine. That is what matters."

"Why not a hospital?"

"And die in within those whitewalls? Not a chance. If I am to do that it is going to be here. With you."

"Cruel, professor. So very, very cruel."

"Life is cruel, dearest count. I figured you had learned that by now. Cruel and short." His breathing shudders and something squeezes hard. He closes his eyes. "I did not want them to see me thusly."

"But I should?"

"Look upon me," he whispers voice amused despite the severity of the situation, "Look upon me, Dracula. And remember."

These words are followed by a press of lips to his mouth and he's sure they are not as warm as the other was accustomed to but he feels the arms curl around him and hold him close. It was enough. It had to be enough. Because there was no where else at the end of things that he would like to be. He feels lightheaded and detached when he feels the other pull back enough to whisper, "I will always remember you, Van Helsing." A smile forms as familiar blue eyes slowly close.

[astrangergivingthestrangewelcome]

As Much As Is Realistically Possible We Should Avoid Getting Our Panties in a Twist Over Being Faithful To The Canon: Me Giving Dracula Opinions Alongside a Good Does Of Generic Fandom Philosophy Because I'm A Procrastinating Idiot Who Likes To Hear The Sound Of My Own Voice

Don't get me wrong I fucking hate when what I personally love about the canon is ruined in adaptations. Still waiting on any adaptation to actually give me a post-castle Jonathan which is in any way as interesting as he is in the book. But also, the nature of fandom and fanfiction and fanon and all that is we all engage with a story, are drawn to some aspect of the canon which resonates with us, and then typically use this as a jumping off point to explore things that the text doesn't. This is true for pretty much everyone out here draculablogging.

For example, there is in my opinion absolutely no evidence that Lucy Mina and Jonathan were a trio of childhood friends. Lucy's family does not seem to have property in Exeter and Jonathan literally never thinks about Lucy on his own. It seems obvious to me that Mina and Lucy met at boarding school. I'm quite happy to keep this element of canon in my fics because it makes sense to me. Conversely I do like to dabble in Van Helsing: Vampire Slayer, and that is expressly not canon. But idrc because it's more fun and interesting to me to have it that way. People who want to see Lucy, Jonathan, Mina childhood best friend trio bc they think it's cute are just as valid, even though I don't particularly care one way or the other. It's kinda silly to be like *eye roll* well this is fanon not canon when I guarantee you if you really look at your own preferences you're doing it too, and who really cares? People just like different things. Plus the whole point of fandom is you can go places where the canon didn't like if you write in a best friend trio then you get to explore why Lucy and Jonathan apparently grew apart. If you write an occult background for Van Helsing you get to maybe color in some of his odd edges. That's cool and good who cares if it's not strictly accurate as long as you don't pretend you're being canon compliant.

Now, those two examples are pretty innocuous, but bc this novel gets pretty heavy at times, naturally the Discourse amps up when things amp up. For example, I really like to write Mina having a lot of rage. I like her to want to rip Dracula limb from limb (granted my fics always have her role-swapped with Jonathan in the books). I am well aware that this is not in her book character at all, who consistently pities Dracula and counsels against vengeance. Personally, I just think vengeful Mina is more fun, and it's also true that I don't appreciate how Bram Stoker is like "yes perfect christian woman. perfect. all mercy. so pitying." I don't think it's quite realistic to what her feelings would be to a man who assaulted her and I also think she should get to be waaaayyy more angry about the way Dracula abused the two people she loved in all the world. I like feminine rage and I think Mina should have some and so I write her as having some. But I also get that plenty of people don't really vibe with righteous anger and like Mina's whole mercy bit and find it really really compelling, and sure plenty of victims of assault in the real world are not preoccupied with revenge. And that's such a valid take and fics that run with it are more reflective of Mina's book characterization than mine. And once again both are good. Neither side needs to be going "well MY changes are inherently more feminist than yours" to justify our preferences, it's just what we like, we can just like it, and if there is a feminist slant to what we think/write/draw it does not mean the other take is anti-feminist.

This is also why, in my opinion, it's truly not that deep if people want to ship their little harkula dracumina dark romance ships. Like full disclosure I think some of the most fucked up harkula stuff can be hot, but I have 0 interest in reading the stories that really focus on Dracula embodying the repressed desires of either Jonathan or Mina. I do absolutely exclusively read the stuff where Dracula is an unsympathetic abusive monster, and I want to read stories that use that as the anchor for horror, and I want to read stories that have Jonathan and Mina overcoming that abuse.

Now That Doesn't Mean I think the people who want to do the whole twisted love stockholm syndrome thing are bad or shouldn't do it. They are clearly just coming to the text from a completely different place than I am. It's not like I would disagree that at the very beginning before the torture began Jonathan was kinda attracted to Dracula in the Victorian queer horror way. If people want to do the whole reincarnated wife thing with Mina bc idk they really like the Coppola film or whatever, sure. I will not read that, but I'm not going to invent reasons why they're Bad Dracula Fans. It doesn't matter if it's not canon, so long as you don't say it's canon (why did you name it Bram Stoker's Dracula Francis it's not Bram Stoker's Dracula you did not adapt ANY of the characters faithful why are you lying)

Anyway I know I'm not really saying anything new, and mostly the Dracula fandom has been fine but I have seen a few takes out there acting like canon is a trump card that it truly isn't, and i've also definitely seen people get up on the moral high horse on like, depictions and portrayals of abuse etc. and although fandom can be a wonderful space to tell important, compelling stories about heavy topics, when people don't want to do that, they're not less moral than you. Lots of the time they're trying to tell important, compelling stories about heavy topics of a different sort, and sometimes they're writing porn. This is normal fandom stuff.

[capribornio]

Oops, it seems Matt DraculaDaily missed quite a bit from today's mail. Here's the rest (extracted from last year's archive).

Later.—Another change in my patient. At five o'clock I looked in on him, and found him seemingly as happy and contented as he used to be. He was catching flies and eating them, and was keeping note of his capture by making nail-marks on the edge of the door between the ridges of padding. When he saw me, he came over and apologised for his bad conduct, and asked me in a very humble, cringing way to be led back to his own room and to have his note-book again. I thought it well to humour him: so he is back in his room with the window open. He has the sugar of his tea spread out on the window-sill, and is reaping quite a harvest of flies. He is not now eating them, but putting them into a box, as of old, and is already examining the corners of his room to find a spider. I tried to get him to talk about the past few days, for any clue to his thoughts would be of immense help to me; but he would not rise. For a moment or two he looked very sad, and said in a sort of far-away voice, as though saying it rather to himself than to me:—

"All over! all over! He has deserted me. No hope for me now unless I do it for myself!" Then suddenly turning to me in a resolute way, he said: "Doctor, won't you be very good to me and let me have a little more sugar? I think it would be good for me."

"And the flies?" I said.

"Yes! The flies like it, too, and I like the flies; therefore I like it." And there are people who know so little as to think that madmen do not argue. I procured him a double supply, and left him as happy a man as, I suppose, any in the world. I wish I could fathom his mind.

Midnight.—Another change in him. I had been to see Miss Westenra, whom I found much better, and had just returned, and was standing at our own gate looking at the sunset, when once more I heard him yelling. As his room is on this side of the house, I could hear it better than in the morning. It was a shock to me to turn from the wonderful smoky beauty of a sunset over London, with its lurid lights and inky shadows and all the marvellous tints that come on foul clouds even as on foul water, and to realise all the grim sternness of my own cold stone building, with its wealth of breathing misery, and my own desolate heart to endure it all. I reached him just as the sun was going down, and from his window saw the red disc sink. As it sank he became less and less frenzied; and just as it dipped he slid from the hands that held him, an inert mass, on the floor. It is wonderful, however, what intellectual recuperative power lunatics have, for within a few minutes he stood up quite calmly and looked around him. I signalled to the attendants not to hold him, for I was anxious to see what he would do. He went straight over to the window and brushed out the crumbs of sugar; then he took his fly-box, and emptied it outside, and threw away the box; then he shut the window, and crossing over, sat down on his bed. All this surprised me, so I asked him: "Are you not going to keep flies any more?"

"No," said he; "I am sick of all that rubbish!" He certainly is a wonderfully interesting study. I wish I could get some glimpse of his mind or of the cause of his sudden passion. Stop; there may be a clue after all, if we can find why to-day his paroxysms came on at high noon and at sunset. Can it be that there is a malign influence of the sun at periods which affects certain natures—as at times the moon does others? We shall see.

Telegram, Seward, London, to Van Helsing, Amsterdam.

4 September.—Patient still better to-day.

[whatwedointhecraft]

The 100 Theme Challenge: Ash Shepard's Worlds - 1. Introduction

Hi guys! So I started the 100 Theme Challenge which is where you do 1 prompt per work, of 100 themes obviously and the challenge is to finish them all.

So here we go.

Its been a while since I've written anything so in this piece, its an introduction

Angel With A Shotgun

Summary: What would you do if your first introduction to an Angel, was by the barrel of a shotgun? 1. Introduction of the 100 Theme Challenge

Jasper

I’d heard of a league of Angels who were fighting in the name of peace, in their new God. Every so often I would hear stories of then, you’d think they’d like being called Valkyries. But they refused this name; with names being passed around like debts being sold by desperate gamblers in search of something more.

There was one name that popped up more than any. Hope’s Sanctum. It sounded like a pilgrimage to see who still had faith and who they would need to cut down in the name of evil.

Many people have been committing heinous acts in the Angels names, wanting a path to Heaven or Purgatory to take that power for themselves. They wanted to sow the seeds of chaos across the world and they want to revel in it.

Demons. That’s what they are.

Where there is light, there will be darkness and its hand in hand with chaos and war. But I’d never seen an Angel up close before. Me, Jasper Pratchett – a man with no ties to neither God nor Chaos itself. A being that floats in-between the realms and reaps what must move on. Who answers to no-one.

A spirit. A remnant of a purge long since past. A long forgotten memory.

I’d decided to see if I could find Hope’s Sanctum for myself and see what they were doing, for myself.

I had no faith before I became what I am now, and I will continue to have no faith, even in the face of fact and fiction because I don’t believe in being controlled by a higher being, so my entire situation is some sick fuck’s fantasy in a much larger game. What is my purpose and why am I still here?

What is the point of me?

I stumble across this world… this Haven of The Inbetween. Where the dead continue to scream as they long for a way into Heaven and instead get a choice of Purgatory or Hell. You hear them pleading, you hear them begging… and all you hear are the sounds of shotguns and prayers.

And then silence.

It doesn’t take long to follow the trail, it never seems to run cold or never seems to stop. Feathers torn and ruffled, lay on the ground with blood on the ends as if ripped out from an Angel’s very core itself.

I need to get to Purgatory. I need to move on, to find my body. To be reunited with myself and feel whole whole. Asking questions nobody dare seem to ask, for fear of what comes next that seems inevitable.

I never expected the Angels to be so strikingly beautiful.

“Jasper Pratchett, been wandering around again for far too long. What is it you want?” The voice is smooth as silk, but I feel a gun to the back of my head.

I turn, being met with the barrel of a shotgun. A one way ticket to my final destination… though seeing where I am and what I am, who only knows what that may be.

The Angel at the end of the shotgun is a six foot tall, chubby long-haired blonde with an outfit that can only be described like Hugh Jackman’s Van Helsing. She looks damn good and she flaunts it. She’s a big woman, and proud. She’s athletic, she never misses a step. She’s a dream.

“And you are?” I ask, staring down the barrel like its actually going to do something to me.

“My name is Ancora.” She lowers the shotgun. “Pity this wouldn’t work on you. Non-believers always seem to find a way to get out of receiving justice.”

Latin for Anchor. Though, for what I am wondering. Maybe it means something more.

She knows me. I’ve only just been introduced to her and she seems pretty pissed that she can’t kill me.

“Yeah and I can’t move on from The Inbetween until either you let me into Heaven, send me to Purgatory or tell me what the fuck my actual purpose is.” Curse words be damned, I’ll speak how I feel.

Wouldn’t you be angry if you were cursed like me?

Ancora falters, taking her finger off the trigger of her trusted weapon. She watches me closely.

“You’re one of the ones Hope Sanctum is fighting for – a place to peacefully exist. You’re a Reaper, you can’t help what you take from others. But when you’re not needed or wanted, you live in limbo. You cease to exist.”

“And your kind has kept my body. Once I’ve returned to it, instead of being in this shell, I can help out and live again. Move on. Go home. But there seems to be a higher purpose for me. And I gather you don’t know what that is.” I say bitterly.

Though I know, this isn’t her fault.

“God is missing and there is chaos in all realms. We’re searching for someone who knows where God is, or wants to become the new God.”

Ah. so they’ve had a power struggle of sorts.

“And then your God could restore me to my former status?.” I inquire hopefully.

“I could put in a good word or two. I’d be able to keep you safe, until they were found that is.” Ancora listens to everything around us – the screaming is still going, the dead are still being reaped, judged and thrown away.

“If I help you find God, will you promise to restore order to everything here and beyond The Inbetween?”

“That’s why I’m an Angel with a shotgun. Fighting till the war’s done. Who knows if Heaven will take me back.” Ancora cracks a smile

“And what of the league of Hope’s Sanctum? Where are they?”

Surely there’s more.

“There were others… but I’m the only one now. And I’m looking for recruits.”

Ancora is Hope’s Sanctum.

She is the hope and faith of the people. She is the league… She is the mercenary.

She is hope as one person. She is the light in the darkness.

“Consider me your new recruit.” I reach out to take the shotgun from her, to hold out a hand for a handshake.

“Jasper, we’re gonna need to find you a weapon. One that they won’t be able to take from you.” Ancora laughs.

“Where do we begin?” I find myself crossing my arms.

[rachentp]

Dear Amelia,

I have been asked on occasion if my profession involves writing and it does. Just not creatively or with the purpose to entertain. As an auditor, if anything it's quite the opposite. But really, who even reads for fun anymore?

Anyways… I had an interesting conversation with a stranger a few weekends ago and I guess that's where this all starts. She sweetly complimented me and said I have a way with words and even though I don't professionally write creatively, if I happened to write something, she would most definitely read it. So, Sweet Stranger (who I'll recall fondly now as Amelia), this one's dedicated to you.

Having gone to an open house nestled in the suburbs near California State University of Sacramento (CSUS), not that I'm in any position to buy a house right now, I was on a kind of in-and-out mission. So when Amelia started to tell me about the features of the home, I was a bit standoffish. But she caught my attention when she said something to the effect of, "Can I give you some X advice?". I don't remember the word she used or even the phrasing exactly, but it was mostly her tone that gave me pause. It was, I don't know. Frank. What I intuited was, "You probably don't want to hear this, but if you're open to it, I'll tell you and not for any other reason than to be informative".

Because of this intuition, I later told her in passing conversation the exact reason why I am not in a position to buy a house right now: I was still waiting for the house that I primarily owned (with my ex-husband as the co-signer who is henceforth referred to as "Schad") to close and would be receiving a sum of monies at that time.

Naturally, we bonded through conversation as women may about the audacity of the the modern man. We heartily laughed about the nuanced way they can gaslight and manipulate us into doing pretty much anything under the pretense of "normalcy". Our voices got softer as we talked about how they use our children as leverage without any seeming thought about how it would affect our family dynamic. I sardonically mimicked classic, hysterical court hearing scenes between the ex and I, "But I have spousal rights! Even though I make more than her, she needs to continue to support me living in the house I kicked her out of".

What broke my heart about this conversation is that Amelia told me she observed their child (after their dad left) laughing wholeheartedly for the first time. To the point where the child had stitches in their side. Apparently, she had never seen them laugh like that before… Only after the toxin was removed could a child feel free to laugh so hard that it hurt.

And oddly, I am laughing deliriously - similarly to Amelia's child, but different - at the fact that I could ever imagine this, silver-tongued-Prince-of-the-literal-Family-Court-room to have any modicum of empathy. Schad says, "I am an ISTJ… like 100%, which suits me just fine", and I literally roll on the floor laughing… as if the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator used by the CIA to identify potential suspects would conceal his also 1,000% abusive narcissism and in all probability clinical sociopathy. If Schad were to ever take an honest look in his mirror, he'd break psychotically into a million pieces. He'd realize the litany of abuse he's inflicted not just on the three of his ex-wives (I am the third). Like Dracula, he'd realize the truth - he is a fucking vampire. Thousands of lives lay at his feet ruined, destroyed, forever changed… deranged. Except this one…

Because at this point in time, I don't regret it. Any of it. Ultimately, all of this made me (us) a Van Helsing. I will hunt his kind till the end of my mortal life. I recognize the signs now. I can see it so clearly. Where other people see a charming, charismatic, even desirable man, and bend to his every whim… I know what his kind really fucking is. I don't have stakes and I don't employ the Lord to protect me. But I do have words and independent thought. And those can be just as, if not more deadly. Honestly, the best way to eliminate the Schads of this world is to forget them. To heal from them. To not waste another thought regarding them.

They showed us happiness and rainbows, but they also showed us beauty in darkness. And at the end of that darkness… "a new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why."

Thank you, Samwise. I understand now.

[wcmcink]

paging dr. van helsing theres a vampire on the loose

i got in my daily practice��”what are we going to do now? looking for the clampdown”… or however the song goes…gotta see my psych today, he’s prolly gonna ask me why i hit that guy but i don’t have a good answer…i finished the piece or the rough draft of the piece i was working on yesterday morning…

[near the waters edge]

traffic flows thru me splices & stops  along mclaughlin 

no more/ more they beg with callous eyes

but its never finished i'll be hearing it all my life & its a daily affirmation

towards being little beeps & sirens busy the streets

don't i know it too past the crass noise it makes on the surface/ where all roads meet

& change into one i have been to the mountain top & seen the green valley

each person, in each car desires a location, a destination of sorts, & they are on their way

to work, it becomes a metaphor for the journey itself— happiness is cruel sometimes

a commentary on a commentary darkness seems to go by the words

be mindful of the source you could be listenting to someone who hangs out with his mom on weekends & dribbles nicotine on his tongue. NICOTINE = big black titty of the moon. we couldn’t have that.

its a work in progress. i’m imtating my own voice & style at this point…the tryptich form i like, its expressive, nuanced & allows for a concentrated output…stevens was fond of it as well…its a kind of repetition simultaneously its not… where these things seek fuller definition, demonstration, & expression. & each poem is a kind of ostensive definition towards the fuller becoming of these words. what i mean is that i’ve used these words, & lines, & definitions in other poems, & i’ve attempted to locate them in space before. maybe this locative urge is why i say where so much. i have no option but to write it out at this point.

[zooophagous]

Strauss sat at the edge of his bed with his hands folded and stared off into space in a deep pensive mood. This was risky. If he were caught, he might not get shot- but the fallout for theft would most assuredly be miserable. What's more, it would destroy any good will he managed to foster between himself and Frau Harker. Not to mention, destroying any future visits to the library. No. He would have to do this in a fluid, deliberate motion and not get caught. Getting caught was not an option. Suffering the banality of beaurocratic discipline was almost worse than physical torture.

At least a tazer only hurt while it was stuck to you. Pulling off the actual robbery would be the easy part. It was the distraction that proved to be the biggest hurdle. He was sure Troy would play along, sure, if he asked him nicely. He had absolutely no way, however, to repay such a kindness. Worse than that- no guarantee that Troy would remain lucid and safe. Asking him to do this was a risk- a physical safety risk.

On the other hand, he had been improving his lucidity in his altered state. And the team was well practiced in containing him when his hold on reality slipped. If anyone could do this safely, it was the security team here, and so far their track record at containment had been excellent. The very name 'Van Helsing' was synonymous with the capture of beasts like these. And besides, they'd taken down Strauss himself before. Twice. Perhaps underestimating them against Troy was foolishness.

Or maybe that's just what he wanted to believe, because he needed this to happen. He slapped his hands on his knees and hopped up and wandered into the game room. Troy was watching tv, flicking through selections of scary movies, looking for one about werewolves. Strauss entered quietly and folded himself onto the couch. "Guten abend, Troy. Anything on?"

"Nah. Nothing good. Werewolf movies these days all suck." He sighed. "You think vampires have it bad in cinema? Nobody even bothers with werewolves at all. And you can forget us ending up with the love interest. We don't even have any gay werewolves either. At least you guys have Lestat."

Strauss smirked. "I am sorry to hear that. It is true, there are woefully few decent options that portray your kind in a favorable light. Even fewer than there are for vampires. I also believe, it is a terrible pity that when our kind meet on the screen, we also always seem to be at odds. I do not believe it is proper for a vampire and a lycanthrope to go to war. We are stronger together. We can rely on one another, confide, we are brothers in arms." He shrugged, and tilted his head, and splayed his hands in a palms-up gesture.

Troy looked at him sideways and narrowed his eyes. "Are you... trying to butter me up right now?"

"I need a favor, Herr Cunningham." Strauss replied in a harsh whisper, low enough that perhaps no security devices could pick up. "I desperately need an item from the library, an item that Frau Harker cannot know I am taking. Security has eyes on it, so I need a distraction."

"Woah woah woah, back up. You want to steal something from the library? What is it you're stealing, exactly?"

"Please keep your voice down. And I cannot tell you what it is, not yet. Just that it is very important. You're the only one who can distract an entire security team easily, I only need a few minutes."

"Wait, hang on, you need to distract the entire team? Strauss, are you asking for a fuckin' WEREWOLF transformation so you can steal some shit from the library?!"

"That is precisely what I am asking for." His eyes glinted with wild excitement.

"Look, if you can't even tell me why you need it you can forget it dude. You know you're asking for a lot here."

"Troy please, I just... ugh." He dragged an exasperated claw down his face. "Alright. I'll tell you part of it. I need to take my file from the records and see what's in it. I'm afraid if I ask for it, I will get a redacted version without truthfulness. I wish to see the whole thing. The other part of it is also a record, but I cannot say for whom. I have sworn myself to secrecy, but please understand, it is for that party's own safety, and potentially the safety of the Institute." He grabbed Troy's hand and held it.

"Please. I ask you this in the interest of getting accurate information, without inadvertantly bringing harm onto anyone else. I came to you because you already hold some very dire secrets very well."

"You mean like how bad you have the hots for Artemis?"

"Shut up about that. Yes. Anyways... what say you? I understand this is an incredible favor to ask of you. I am prepared to promise repayment in any way I can. Think about it. A vampire must be useful in some way, yes?"

Troy looked down at his own hand, clasped fitfully in Strauss' claw. "You're really gonna make me do this, aren't you?" He sighed. "Look, man. I don't even know HOW to initiate a shift on purpose. Last time I did it, it was medically induced. And when I'm like that, I don't know how useful I can even be. I won't know what I'm doing."

"Yes, but last time you knew it was coming, you were much more in control. I believe you will be even more in control if you induce the shift on your own. Think of it as an experiment, under the supervision of a doctor." He grinned slyly, showing off his fangs.

"God dammit, fine. Fine! If it means that much to you, fine. One problem Dr. Acula, I don't know where to start."

"Please do not call me that. As far as where to start, perhaps I can help. When I perform my own transformation, it requires intense focus. You must stretch your extremities to the point where it hurts, and then stretch further than that. You find your body begins to shift to reach its goals. But you must concentrate."

"Concentrate. Concentrate." Troy opened and clenched his hands. He bit his lip, and furrowed his brow, and curled his hands into tight fists. His body heaved, his diaphram ached, he fell to his knees and arched his back- willing his body to morph, to change, to bend to his will. His stomach burned with reflux.

"Urgh... Humph...."

"Yes?"

"Aughhh. I got nothing." He huffed, out of breath, and sat on the floor. "Sorry bud. Gave it the ol' college try."

"Oh for God's sake." Strauss rubbed his temples. "Here. Let me help you. Do it. Like. This."

He grabbed his friend's face in both hands and stared deeply into his eyes. The power of vampiric suggestion was difficult to wield on a human being, but Troy being both trusting and caught off guard, instantly came under the vampire's sway. Strauss would owe him an apology for this. And more beyond that.

"Now. Access every nerve in your body. Think about flexing each muscle individually. Think of the shape of the wolf around you and reach your fingertips into his claws. Put your eyes behind his eyes. Focus on the rip of skin, the flow of blood."

Strauss could hear the steady thrum of Troy's heartbeat in his chest. It was getting faster. Harder. Too fast, actually. He looked sick. Before he could call the whole thing off, his friend's eyes went from hazel to black as his pupils grew wide, and when he blinked, there was the telltale yellow glint of the tapetum lucidem glowing behind them. Strauss dropped his hold and stepped back.

Troy grunted, and fell to his hands and knees with his back arched like a Halloween cat. He gripped the floor, and left deep claw marks in the linoleum. Success. A thick smell of sweat and of blood filled the room as the poor lycanthrope's body began to break and remake.

Hair flowed down his arms like water as his flushed, irritated skin disappeared beneath a heavy coat of fur. He peeled off his shirt and threw it aside. Blood dribbled from his lips as his teeth clicked into newer and sharper shapes in his pounding skull.

He had begun to scream, but the sound was choked out as his torso constricted and writhed under the pressure of transformation. When he got his breath back it was in heavy gasps. He staggered to his feet and coughed to clear blood and spittle from his newly reformed airways. Strauss sat pressed against the back of the couch, shrinking away from the beast that now stood over him. "Herr Cunningham? give me a thumbs up if you understand me."

Troy turned on the vampire with a reverberating growl. He took an aggressive step forward, but paused, and slowly raised on hand with his thumb up, freshly tipped with a sharp new claw. Strauss grinned. "Run away from security, not toward, see if you can purchase me a few minutes."

He made his way to the wall by the fire extinguisher, flicked open the plastic 'in case of emergency' guard over the red button, then slammed it. Instantly the room was bathed in red light and sirens blared to life. Show time.

Strauss ran down the hall like a bat out of Hell. Security was charging the opposite direction, towards the game room. "Hurry. He's heading for the commissary. He's out of control." He said darkly to Ursula as she rushed past with her tranq gun at the ready.

Down the hall, Troy fell down into a playful posture and wagged his tail, before bolting down the hall. The wolf couldn't speak, but he was still saying "catch me if you can." The sounds of Ursula frantically yelling at Mr. Cunningham to PLEASE listen to her died in the hall behind him as Strauss continued his dash for the library. First stop was Ursula's office to steal the keys. His running slowed down as he tried to sort the cumbersome key ring and jog at the same time. He found it by the time he reached the door.

The library swung open before him and he made his way to the records cabinets in long, purposeful strides. He yanked on the drawer- locked. No time to play with keys. He grabbed the handle and with a firm yank the lock snapped and the drawer squealed out of its nook. No matter. By the time anyone realized the lock was broken he'd be long gone.

His own file was procured first, and then Sylvain's file... but there were two of them for her? A "patient" file, and an "employment" one. Interesting. He took both and kicked the drawer shut. He got an idea, and ran to a shelf and stole another volume off of it, as a cover. The library door was shut hard and locked. He dumped the keys back in Ursula's office and shoved the goods into his waistband and pulled his shirt over them. It was hard to hide any lumps on his skinny frame, but maybe his chronically oversized clothes could conceal a bit while he slunk back to his room.

He'd done it. If he had a heartbeat, it would have been racing. He snuck back into the dorms quietly. There was muttering and complaining but no roaring or thrashing to be heard- they must have darted him. Damn, didn't last so long as he hoped. He made it to his own room and opened the door very carefully so as not to make noise, then shut it behind him. No matter how careful one was with the door, it always let out a hard pneumatic "click" as the latch took. Well, maybe nobody heard that. He yanked his materials out of his pants and stowed them under his mattress, and under his pillow. He sat down on his bed and let out a deep sigh of relief.

Heavy footsteps clicked down the hall. He sat bolt upright. Someone was coming. The steps got louder and louder towards his door. It swung open. Ursula glowered into his room. "Excuse me? Where the Hell were you? an unexpected lycanthropy event is all hands on deck."

"I wasn't aware I was considered a 'hand', Frau Harker."

"You know what I mean. You saw it happening and instead of staying with your friend, you call for back up and just... what. Leave? You're one of the only people here who can handle him when he's like that but you left him for security? You know we had to dart him, right? You've been darted before. You know it's painful."

"Yes, apologies. I ah... I do not know what came over me. I must have panicked."

She stared hard at him. "What do you have under your pillow?"

He froze like a deer in headlights. "My pillow?"

"What do you have?" She marched forward. He threw himself over the pillow with his hands up.

"Nein, Frau Harker, nein, bitte."

She shoved him aside and yanked the contraband from its hiding spot. She produced a heavy, leather bound book, clearly stolen from the library. "Now, what is it you've STOLEN when my back was turned? I should have known better than to trust you in that library. As soon as I'm distracted you get a wild notion to go steal..." She held the book close to her face to read the print, and began to go pink.

"Thurgood's Illustrated Guide to the Erotic Vampire?"

Strauss hung his head in shame and looked at the floor. Ursula dropped the volume back on the bed in disgust. "Nevermind. Don't get it dirty and bring it back when you're... UGH, when you're 'done' with it. You pervert." She muttered angrily and stepped out of the room blushing furiously.

Strauss dragged his hand down his face in exasperation. An embarrassing ruse, but very effective. He'd take it. He lifted up his mattress and picked up the files, the true treasures of this labor, and set them on the bed. Now one just had to decide where to begin.

[wildberryautumn]

Live thoughts while watching Dracula Das Musical Part II

(first of all i'm sorry that this has taken more than a year to complete, i have no excuse other than i'm gay)

-Lucy’s spooky “la-la’s” omg (no don’t kill the children you’re too sexy uwu)

-oh no she sounds like a dying cat :/

-hearing the men of the scooby doo gang all sing together does something to me hmmm

-at first I thought “oh good we didn’t see poor Lucy’s death on stage” but then ON HO THERE’S HER HEAD WHY >:(

-Dracula, gatekeep gaslight girlboss ^^ (Borchert’s voice is so pleasant to hear, especially when he’s speaking calmly like this – I couldn’t stay mad o.o)

-Dracula is depicted as such a /cool/ guy here; I, too, would roll around the floor for him (he’s watching Mina do this as she sings – what does musical logic say is really happening??)

-oh shit there’s Val Helsing?? How long has he been there that’s so embarassing D:

-did Dracula crush Renfield’s face? :0

-you upset Van Helsing >:(

-I was confused at first when Jonathan came in right after Mina’s "If I Could Fly/War ich der Wind" song, but Dracula came and knocked him unconscious? I wonder why they chose to have Jonathan on stage during this scene (yes I am thinking about a Dracula/Jonathan relationship!! “Were he not your husband he would be a dead man” ok but why did you feel the need to explain yourself? And what does that even mean – you care about Mina so much you don’t kill her husband? Sounds pretty gay suspicious to me...)

-nothing says seduction like screaming how many people you’ve killed to your crush 😊(I jest I f**cking love “Mina’s Seduction/Die Verfuhrung” ok)

-Mina singing about loving Dracula while checking on her husband? Hmmm (internal screams)

-JONATHAN WOKE UP

-omg Dracula bit Mina right in front of Jonathan!! :0

-ALRIGHT TIME FOR THE COOLEST ACTION SONG IN A MUSICAL

-wait how did Zu Ende end – all I saw was the wall close?? How did Dracula escape?? I'm so confused

-Uwe Kroger >< he fits the role of Van Helsing so well idk he’s just...so good and OH HE’S SO HOT IN GLASSES

-I wish there were more moments to show off Mina’s intellect

-oh no Van Helsing don’t cry you’re so sexy :’( (This is so sweet though, I love the layers this small moment adds to his and Mina’s relationship...Although these men use Mina as a means to work through their feelings from their past relationships which isn’t fair to Mina, who is her own person. I guess Jonathan and Lucy love Mina for Mina...I wish these characters were gay developed more)

-I never understood the context for “Before the Summer Ends/Frost an einem Sommertag” and it’s actually SO SAD...my love for Jonathan has increased tenfold

-my second favorite song is “All Is Dark/Die Zugsenquenz” and I know it’s mostly a reprise, but I enjoy Dracula being emotionally connected and thus vulnerable with Mina!! (are we supposed to believe that the scooby doo gang heard all of that, and that it was only one half of a conversation? If I were them I'd be so confused lmao)

-I think it’s funny when an immortal creature has an existential crisis – and I’m noticing it’s only those who were once mortal that experience this. Is it saying that people – writers/creators – assume it would be horrible to live forever, or at least at some point become a burden? It also seems ridiculous to me that someone like Dracula would get tired of existing when it’s only been a few centuries, and not thousands of years like in Dracula 2000 or Queen of the Damned. (In the latter, Akasha is the only vampire I can think of who is thousands of years old and not sad about still existing, and even wants more life – then again, she was in a frozen state for a while, so I wonder if this cancels out a few millennia?). Or, is this what people think must cross immortal beings’ minds because none of us can actually know what it’s like to live that long? Just fun to think about...

-why would Dracula go to sleep in his coffin at night?

-oh it was a trap that makes sense

-love the way Mina turns sl*tty whenever she’s in the presence of Dracula, and he acts like a supportive husband OMG IS HE HUSBAND MATERIAL? IS THAT WHAT I’M SENSING?

-yes Borchert’s Dracula is a total DILF and I support this

-that ending felt...suggestive? Like the way Jonathan and Van Helsing “walked in on” Mina and Dracula – it felt like they were interrupting an intimate moment. Not sure if this was intentional or not, plus it felt like it could be accusatory too, like they "caught" Mina. I wonder what these men are thinking, that Mina outwitted Dracula? hmmm

-yaythey included the curtain call ^^

-overall I enjoyed it! my favorite casting was definitely Van Helsing & Dracula

[ninadove]

Nina reads Dracula 🦇

October 4th

"Go, call the Professor. I want to see him at once."

"Why?" I asked.

"I have an idea. I suppose it must have come in the night, and matured without my knowing it. He must hypnotise me before the dawn, and then I shall be able to speak. Go quick, dearest; the time is getting close."

This is right after being, in all but name, sexually assaulted by a vampire by the way. Mina herself proposes to use a second form a violation in the hopes of locating her abuser. She does not fuck around and I love her for it ❤️🦇

"What do you hear?" I could detect the strain in the Professor's patient voice.

"The lapping of water. It is gurgling by, and little waves leap. I can hear them on the outside."

"Then you are on a ship?" We all looked at each other, trying to glean something each from the other. We were afraid to think. The answer came quick:—

"Oh, yes!"

DEAR GOD NOT AGAIN

Alas, but that sentence is a puddle; is it not?

Van Helsing is becoming self-aware

Tally Ho! as friend Arthur would say when he put on his red frock!

Would he?

"But why need we seek him further, when he is gone away from us?" […]

"Because," he answered solemnly, "he can live for centuries, and you are but mortal woman. Time is now to be dreaded—since once he put that mark upon your throat."

I was just in time to catch her as she fell forward in a faint.

🎉🎉🎉🎉

This very creature that we pursue, he take hundreds of years to get so far as London; and yet in one day, when we know of the disposal of him we drive him out. He is finite, though he is powerful to do much harm and suffers not as we do. But we are strong, each in our purpose; and we are all more strong together.

HELL YEAH THAT’S THE SPIRIT

We have never spoken to each other yet of the future. It is better to wait till we see the Professor and the others after their investigations.

🥺

< Prev 🦇 Next >

[vickyvicarious]

under the cut for length again

I do love the way Renfield manages Seward

"I had to go and see my.. patient" WHY THE PAUSE

everyone wants to meet Renfield! I sure do wish everyone actually got to (Jonathan glitch so annoying here)

"By the way... you have not introduced me." I love his line delivery. EVERY TIME.

there's nothing odd about introducing him at all Seward! stop it!

Oh man, Arthur's probably tearing up hearing his dad praised

Renfield's manners are so nice when he wants them to be

Oh man the edge of repressed urgency in Renfield's voice when he's talking about "here--now--" etc. He's trying so hard to get the urgency of his message across but also not to be too intensely pleading or vehement lest he come across as mad when he's very deliberately trying to appear extremely sane. It's such a tightrope

"Then I suppose I must only.. shift... my ground of request." Oh man this line is so sad.

HE'S TRYING SO HARD. The little almost shake on "they are good ones" auughhh

"I had a growing conviction that this sudden change of his entire intellectual method was but yet another form or phase of his madness," and there it is, exactly what he feared. he showed emotion and Seward immediately went 'oh well there's the madness'

he can't speak. he can't speak! aghhhhhhh

"if I were free to speak I should not hesitate a moment; but I am not my own master in the matter." HE IS HINTING TO YOU WHAT HE CAN LET SLIP.

"As he saw that the very excess of his emotion was militating against him, by restoring us more to our old relations, he became still more demonstrative." I HATE THIS

and he doesn't know what else to do, he's tried being reasonable, being clever, being genuinely emotional, none of it works, so he cries and begs and that fails too

the music when he says "I did what I could to convince you tonight" and the WAY he says that

Quincey speaking for Renfield is nice. I wish it changed matters.

Seward making the connection to "master" but not in the way Renfield was trying to get him to

ART. I know what you're up to and I love you for it. I imagine he slipped away as soon as Jack mentioned Dracula having 'wolves and rats' (though of course he had to prepare for this earlier by bringing them here)

van Helsing moving to protect Jonathan first with the crucifix, flowers, lamp, wafer, is so sweet. Sure, he's closest, but also... he's been preyed upon by this particular vampire before, and perhaps might need the protection all the more if he's recognized.

everyone shrinking back at first!

I imagine Jonathan watching the lock very closely as van Helsing tries it

oof, Jonathan's voice shaking a little on "grim surroundings" and "just as I felt myself doing". Also him kind of rushing and pausing in his speech... he's so tense and trying so hard to keep it together

Footsteps in the dust? Is that the workers bringing boxes in... or Dracula setting a trap? after all, he doesn't leave footprints

everyone choking up and saying like "oh great god" in disgust at the smell is so funny

meanwhile Jonathan is disgusted but recognizes it

"corruption had, itself, become corrupt" I looove the way he says this line

Jonathan's panic at noticing Dracula in the hallway! Also I love so much that he and Arthur both spot him... even if they dismiss the idea

ART'S BIG HERO MOMENT (again)

the skittery rat noises are so fun.

"They seemed to swarm over the place all at once, till the lamplight, shining on their moving dark bodies and glittering, baleful eyes, made the place look like a bank of earth set with fireflies." NOT fun. such a creepy image

Art hand-delivering his dogs to do their rat-murder <3

the dog noises are altogether cuter than I expected. Like I anticipated cuteness but also violent snarls but nah they're just having fun here

stop congratulating yourself on leaving Mina out ughhh

van Helsing saying "for the stake of human souls" feels very intentional...

"needless thoughts of pain" is SUCH an interesting (frustrating) thing for Jonathan to think, given all his experiences.

"It is too great a strain for a woman to bear. I did not think so at first, but I know better now." BOOO don't do it Jonathan don't let yourself be convinced

ughhh

Jonathan don't sleep on a sofa, only bad things happen when you do!

"for a few seconds she did not recognize me, but looked at me with a sort of blank terror," oh god

and van Helsing is still up before otheres. when does this man REST

"When our sane and learned lunatic made that very statement of how he used to consume life, his mouth was actually nauseous with the flies and spiders which he had eaten just before Mrs. Harker entered the room." and what about it. he had finished eating them when he said it. he never specified how long ago he used to eat them.

Renfield dissing van Helsing to his face is excellent. I absoluetley love the delivery of "I wish you would take yourself and your idiotic brain theories... somewhere else."

stop congratulating yourself on leaving Mina out!!!!

god, Mina sound so sad about Jonathan not confiding in her. It's hurting them both, but her so muchhhhh I hate it. SHE'S CRYING ABOUT IT

Mina determined to keep her journal for Jonathan to read while knowing he is hiding things from her is so sad

no no no no no honey don't you dare blame yourself, no no... god the way her voice rushes through all the blame and then just breaks down into sobs I HATE IT

oh god Mina hearing the dogs and Renfield :( oh god oh god it's SO AWFUL to hear the muffled yells

Mina's 'nightmare' is so damn scary

"(It is wonderful what tricks our dreams play us, and how conveniently we can imagine.)" the way she tries to drag herself out of her terror at the memory and convince herself it's nothing, but it doesn't work and she sinks back in to the nightmare

Mina realized but it was too late and then she dismissed it in the morning. god. I hate it.

"The very prospect of beer which my expected coming had opened to him had proved too much, and he had begun too early on his expected debauch." oh my goddddd

Jonathan figuring out that Dracula is trying to spread out his boxes!

I love Smollet, such a reliable guy

Jonathan letting the kid keep the change. :)

Jonathan instantly recognizing that Mina has been crying

OH MAN the way he is SO hesitant and working himself up SO much to try and keep quiet to her still

"It is better to be disappointed and worried in such a way now than to have her nerve broken." especially makes me sad. he doesn't want her to break like he did

Renfield making references that go over Seward's head and embarrass him <3

so then he gets stern and distressed Renfield

OH the way he says "like you Dr. Seward" is so creepy. and the following line as well!

"Ordinarily I would not have come without special reason," you LIAR you are always running after him to see what he's up to

"Renfield might not speak so freely before a third person as when he and I were alone." literally yesterday you were astounded at him talking better to all third parties than to you. is this genuine or just possessive?

"to "be cruel only to be kind." dammit now the song is in my head

"I thought I would enter into his mind as well as I could and go with him" you are not the best at that Seward. I can think of others who are much better.

augh I have many feelings about Renfield.

Seward seems so scared of him, or at least SO ready with the straighjacket. I hate it, especially when he was pushing him to try and stress him out in the first place

THE MUSIC when Seward realizes Dracula has seen Renfield

Renfield's song is killing meee

ahh, I see the timetraveling mail has been discreetly fixed in the podcast. definitely a more haunting not to end on with Renfield singing

[rainydayotomes]

helloo!! i dont rly like showing my account so would i be able to request here? it would b nice if u could write a van helsing x reader wherein we work as a government employee (how they met basically, post non lupin or van route) and he learns she doesnt associate much with her family for personal reasons after they share each others pasts? if its too much to ask for i can req something different! tyy

Hey Anon! Thats totally fine- its why I turned on the anon feature ;) and hey, thanks for being my first request! Essentially this fic is a little bit of a weird AU, where you don't end up with anyone and never met Van. I hope thats ok! If not, feel free to send in another request! Love you ❤ I hope you enjoy!

----------

There she was again.

That woman. The one who made his heart skip a beat at just a glance.

She laughed as she conversed with two men on either side of her. One of them, Van Helsing recognized as Victor Frankenstein. The famous alchemist.

The other one had long, red hair and had his jacket hanging off half his body. The woman who had caught his eye was sandwiched between the two; and was seemingly good friends with them. Van Helsing wondered who she was.

"Aha! Eyeing her I see!" A snide voice came from behind her.

"Tch." He closed his eyes and turned to the young king.

"Everytime you see her, you always stare. Why don't you go say hi?" Delacroix said with a loud smile that made Van Helsing sigh.

"No."

"Awww, cmon! Why not? We have some time to spare! Go have lunch with her or something!"

"No."

The young king frowned.

"That's an order."

....Goddammit.

"Tch. Fine."

He turned to see her walk towards the dining hall, where government employees and guests often met for lunch.

What the hell would he even say? He stalled for a moment, wondering what he would do when he got to her. Would he ask her for her name and run off? Would he sit down and just... eat across from her?

"Come on, let's go!" Suddenly his arm was yanked quite forcefully, and he was made to follow Delacroix into the dining hall. This was bound to be trouble.

"I thought I was only here escort and advocate for you? Not be forced into eating lunch with people unrelated to us."

Delacroix, with his hand still tightly around Van Helsing's arm, opened the door to the cafeteria easily and led the two inside.

"Well I consider you one of my loyal subjects now! And as your king, I want to see my people thrive and be happy!" He said proudly.

"Tch. All I am is your bodyguard and an advocate. What happened to wanting revenge?"

"Oh shut up about that already. Look- there she is!"

The young king pointed out the woman Van Helsing had been admiring from afar, now sitting alone at a small round table. It didn't look like she was waiting for anyone.

"Here we go..." He mumbled to himself as he was forcefully dragged right up to the table.

"Are you waiting for anyone?" The young king's voice cooly asked.

The girl looked up at him, and her eyes went wide.

"A-Ah! K-King Delacroix! N-No, I'm not waiting for anyone. Please, take a seat if you want." She said as she gestured to the two other seats across from her.

"And Mr. Van Helsing... It's nice to meet you both."

Delacroix sat down in one of the chairs, seemingly unaware how awkward this was for poor Van. Or maybe he just didn't care.

"Is this some type of torture...?" He mumbled to himself before he sat down.

"Well, it seems you know plenty about us! But what about you? My advisor has seen you around quite a bit, and he always eyes you as you walk by!" He said proudly.

Dear god, this really was torture wasn't it!?

She gave out a nervous laugh, a blush quickly dusting her delicate cheeks.

"At least this is cute." Van thought to himself.

"My name is (Y/N) (L/N), and I report to Her Majesty on public affairs. Stuff like how the different districts are doing, how crime is and such..."

"Ah, I've heard of you. You're friendly with everyone except your family, aren't you?" The young king said without hesitation.

"I-I uh..."

Van Helsing sighed at Delacroix's unapologetic nosiness.

"Delacroix, you forgot your coat in the meeting room." He said as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Ah!" Delacroix rose from his seat in a slight panic. "I'll be back!" And with that, he took off faster then any human could run. Thankfully he didn't notice that he was still wearing his coat.

"Sorry about that." The soldier murmered to the girl.

"O-Oh no, it's ok! After last week's incident, I-I'm kind of used to this sort of thing..." She trailed off.

"...what happened?" He wanted to ask, but he knew he shouldn't. His unvoiced question lingered above his head, and she seemed to catch on to his thinking.

"Ahaha... well, one of my parents actually was at one of the meetings I was attending, and tried to talk to me... but I don't really... get along with them. So I tried to avoid them as best as I could, but... they kind of cornered me. I told them to leave me alone, but I was a bit too loud when I said it... the whole public affairs board saw what happened."

"I see." He replied simply.

"O-Oh, I uhm... I'm sorry. I know that talking about family might be a uh... little tough for you. I didn't mean to be insensitive. I apologize..."

It was pretty well known that Van Helsing's family was murdered, after the whole situation with Aleister came to light and he was sent to court. But it was still weird to hear that some girl he had never met before knew his past. But he doubt that she knew all of it.

"It's fine. But why don't you want to talk to your parents?"

"Ah.. it's... personal. Personal reasons."

Van Helsing closed his eyes in thoughtful silence. So she wasn't as naive to tell him absolutely everything when they first meet.

He hated to admit this, but he was definitely intrigued.

"H-Hey... I uh, have another meeting I have to get to. Do you uhm... want to go out later? For some tea or something? I'll be free around 5."

Van Helsing mulled it over in his head for a moment. Delacroix had a meeting at 5:15, but it wasn't one he necessarily had to attend. He could already practically hear the kid's voice telling him to go in his head.

He gave a nod to her.

"Sure. I've got nothing planned."

She perked up. Perhaps she wasn't expecting him to accept? He couldn't help but smile to himself over how cute she was.

"A-Alright, I'll meet you at the cafe down the street. The one-"

"-where the evening sun makes it look like the whole place is glowing?"

"Yes! That one!"

He nodded, giving her a "sure" before she got up and ran off.

He couldn't help but close his eyes and smile. She was pretty damn cute. It was pretty clear she wanted to go somewhere that would give them a little but of a fun, romantic atmosphere... but he didn't mind too much.

He was curious about her family, and why she didn't want to associate with them. But he knew that was none of his concern. Still, he quite enjoyed the thought of perhaps learning that reason one day.

Jeez, being with that kid really did make him soft, huh?

[inkstainsxxonxxparchment]

Suspicious Behavior *Vancula* Sequel to "Relief"

{{Direct sequel to this finds Van Helsing's reactions...along with the idea that his life might be getting only more complicated going forward... So enjoy a small ficlet series because I'm completely normal about them}}

Suspicious Behavior

Leaning against the windowpane, the wind brushing along his skin there is that knowledge that he needs to rescind his invitation. To not do so would indicate a continued willingness for the Count's presence in his space and that was a beyond foolish response considering how dangerous the other was. And yet here he was sitting by the window with the night air blowing as his fingers rolled the stem of a familiar black rose between them. His eyes close a moment as he tries to recall exactly what had transpired through the heat that had made him miserable enough to voice said invitation to the count and why the other had merely come inside to help him. He was vulnerable and incapable of fighting back. There is no way he would have been able to protect himself. The other could have fed from him and he would have succumbed. So why hadn’t he? A moment later there is a rustling sound but before he can really think on it, long chilled fingers are against his cheek and jaw making his eyes open. “Evening, Van Helsing.” “Count,” he says quietly, “You…are here.” “And you sound surprised at that.” “A few things surprise me about all of this, if we’re being open and honest. Starting with why you would have just come  in to see me to sleep.” “To be fair you were feverish. It did not seem the proper etiquette to do anything but see to your comfort.” “Since when have you been concerned with etiquette?” There is a moment of silence before would come, “Since you.” It makes him blink slowly at this admission as if he wasn’t sure how to take it and indeed he isn’t. So much between them that he couldn't fathom any chance of it ending well for him to be in such a vulnerable state. “Since…me?” 

“Surely you must realize that you are an exception to everything in my existence by now?” “To be fair, I am not sure what we would consider ourselves at this point. I certainly should not be here letting you this close let alone allowing you into my home. And yet…” 

“Yet you did. Again, you were feverish and needed attending to.” “I still can’t believe that with all of this you allowed me to wake up. That is still making me curious as to what your intentions might be.” The other chuckles before reaching to lightly tap a long slender finger against a dark petal; a stark contrast of colors. “I do wonder, dear doctor.” It’s the tone of amusement and knowing that has him confused before he realizes that he’d left a note and a flower as an obvious answer to the question. “I thought you meant…” 

“Oh, I have no doubt that we will be having something of a final fight, it is in our natures after all but before then I do not think it would be completely out of the question to enjoy the lead up.” 

He blinks at him a few times just not sure what he’s hearing. “So you just stopped by…to chat?”  “I suppose in a way, I did,” he answers, giving a too pleased smile like he knows he’s off-setting him and enjoys that thought immensely.

It was something that seemed to happen more than his nerves were comfortable with. “What did you want to discuss then?”

“Dear doctor, you need to relax. I am hardly here to cause you grief or do you harm. Indeed, I am glad to see you back to yourself as I must admit to having been very concerned last we met. You do need to take better care of yourself.”

“If I wasn’t having to deal with some supernatural issue then…”

Dark eyes narrow at him as there is a demanding interruption of, “Is there someone causing you grief?”

The shift is immediate and he realizes immediately how territorial the other suddenly becomes which was saying something because usually it would be the count he was worried about. But he wasn’t. Which was a curious set of affairs that he wasn’t sure he had time for right now. “There…is a vampire but…”

“Who?!” His voice is suddenly sharp, angry now and highly offended.

“That’s what we’re trying to find out. It’s a new case and since I don’t know it’s been a struggle to find information. But they are violent and they need to be stopped so I’ve been working a bit more than I suppose I should be. I just…I need to find them because no one else is. It’s still too new an idea for most people.”

Teeth glint and the other leans closer. “You do not need to fret over some other vampire, dear doctor. I will take care of the…problem at hand.”

“Count…”

“Consider it…a token of my esteem.” And he’d lean before the other can really register and there is a soft press against his mouth before there would be a rustle of clothing and the other would be gone.

It has the other blinking dumbly a moment, fingers coming to the corners of his lips. “Did…that…Did he…” And the realization that he might have more to worry about in a completely different direction has him giving a quiet, “This…cannot be good.”