#Dracula Daily Ask Game

[theholmwoodfoundation]

🐈cat and/or ✨stars for the Dracula daily ask game! :]

🧛Dracula Daily ask game🧛

🐈CAT What's your favourite animal in Dracula?

Fio: BESERKER MY BOY (That poor wolf deserves to bite Dracula's ankles.)

Georgia: Arthur's darling terriers!

✨STARS Share your favourite Dracula headcanon.

Georgia: Dracula fed from Jonny whilst he was in the castle. Fio: I imagine a scenario when the Harkers were young that it was Mina that asked Jonny to dance with her and what started their courtship together and Lucy/Lucy's Mother was their chaperone of sorts.

[draculathedansemacabre]

✍️

🧛Dracula Daily Ask Game🧛

Question: ✍️WRITING HAND If you could change one thing about Dracula, what would it be?

Answer:

Gabriel Urbina: Bahahaha, this one's easy.

I love the novel. I've loved it since I first read it when I was in my early 20's. I think its prose is beautiful, I think its format is genius, and I think its characters are some of the best in horror literature. And I think clever, kind, extraordinary Mina Murray/Harker is first among equals in my heart.

And every time that one of the other characters ushered her out of a room so that they could discuss how to solve the plot, I screamed and threw my book across the room.

I think that Mina is, even with all the recognition she gets, one of the great underrated characters and especially one of the great underrated detectives of literature. I think she could go toe to toe with Hercule Poirot and the like. (She could easily kick the crap out of Dupin as far as I'm concerned.) Every time she is allowed to drive the plot, the book just kicks into its highest gears for me.

So as a reader, as much as I've always loved the book, there's always been a shadow version of the book underneath it that I've been able to half-glimpse. A version of the story that was much more squarely a confrontation between the powers of Dracula and the intellect of Mina Harker. Something that paired down some of the other plots of the book and just let those two go at each other with everything they had.

And so... that's more of less what I've tried to do with Danse Macabre!

[thethirdromana]

🧛Dracula Daily ask game🧛

📕BOOK How many times have you read Dracula? Which bit, if any, have you reread most often?

🖊️ PEN Have you ever created any Dracula fanworks? If so, which one are you proudest of?

🩸BLOOD What is your favourite Dracula adaptation?

💚GREEN HEART If you were Lucy, which suitor would you have chosen?

⚰️COFFIN Which death upset you most in Dracula?

🖤BLACK HEART What's your favourite Dracula ship?

🍲FOOD Do you like paprika hendl? What's your favourite dish that's not local to your country?

🚂TRAIN Are you a train fiend? Or do you have a different preferred form of transport?

⌨️KEYBOARD What modern technology would you use to fight vampires?

🦇BAT Which Dracula character are you most like?

🚢SHIP If you had to go on a long journey with one Dracula character, who would you pick?

🧛‍♀️VAMPIRE Which book do you think Dracula fans should read next?

🐈CAT What's your favourite animal in Dracula?

🌎GLOBE What's your preferred setting for a Dracula AU?

🕸️COBWEB Which scene in Dracula scared you most?

🔮CRYSTAL BALL Share one thing you think happens after the end of the novel.

✍️WRITING HAND If you could change one thing about Dracula, what would it be?

✨STARS Share your favourite Dracula headcanon.

[bluecatwriter]

For the kiss writing prompts - 41

Thanks for the prompt, I really enjoyed writing this! Since you didn't specify a ship I decided it was going to be Jonathan/Mina. :D

(Send me a ship and a number and I'll write a kiss.)

(All kiss ficlets here.)

41. A kiss... because the world is saved.

Mina watched as Jonathan stood shakily, framed by scraps of cloud and stars in the sudden darkness. Seward and Arthur had taken Quincey's lifeless body from his arms, but she could not see them or Van Helsing, as if the swirling snow had engulfed them. In this moment there was only Jonathan— a moment ago a white-hot avenging angel, now teary-eyed and trembling. Her Jonathan.

A great swell of feeling, bigger than the sea and fiercer than the winds that mowed down forests, broke inside her. He could not be real, it could not be over so soon, this must be some delirious vampiric dream, he would melt in the wind— no, she must believe he was there. She needed him, she needed him more than she had all those weary days apart in the summer, more than when she wed him, more than when he enfolded her as her mouth was full of the devil's blood. She needed—

Then he was here, in her arms, and he was real. His mouth was real, pressed against hers with devouring force, his arms were real, locked around her so hard it hurt, his body was real under her hands as she grasped at his shoulders, his neck, his hair, as if gathering scraps from blowing away in the wind. She could not come up for air, not when she needed to feel her lips against every part of his face, the freezing pink skin of his nose and ears, her body pressed against him through the cruel layers of clothing keeping them apart. They would never be apart again, she swore— she would burrow inside him and make her home in his ribcage, curled around his heart like a dragon guarding its hoard. 

We won, the thought came to her, breaking over her like a wave. We won, she thought again deliberately, feeling her mind breathing fresh air again for the first time in weeks. We won…

She kissed him again, tears flowing freely even as relief bubbled up like golden light inside her. In the blaze of their love, she thought, it was a wonder that the snow didn't melt around them. 

[immediatebreakfast]

⌨️KEYBOARD What modern technology would you use to fight vampires?

Hmmmmm weirdly enough I think those new rosary bracelets that people can easily diy, and put whatever saint, holy virgin, or jesús in them are the perfect replacement for the full rosaries that grandmothers kept on their purses.

I mean look at them!

Cute, functional, and plausible enough to function as protection! Of course the trick is that you have to truly believe how this trinket is as powerful as the normal rosary, but that is something internal ✨

[serial-serializednovelreader]

Any ideas how Jonathan is managing to survive despite the heights he has to climb and the Carpathians he has to walk through and all the wolves?

Ooo love this question!

I have a few theories:

1. Pure adrenaline — I imagine during the climb down the castle, Jonathan used up a lot of adrenaline in order to climb at a good pace while avoiding falling — he probably needs this boost due to the stress of the day’s events and making the decision to scale the castle wall as a means of escape. If Jonathan climbing down the castle wall successfully seems improbable (and it kind of is!!), consider there have been many cases of adrenaline allowing people to accomplish feats they otherwise wouldn’t be able to do. Still, an adrenaline kick won’t last long, which brings me to my next theory….

2. Dracula’s bite — That’s right, folks! If I’m connecting the dots correctly, Jonathan had just gotten fed on the night before his great escape by Dracula, and in my mind, this would give him a tiny bit of Dracula’s abilities. Not much, mind you, just a little bit. If my theory is true, this would give him a some supernatural strength, speed, and (likely) endurance. This would definitely help him through his lizard climb, the forest, and then the long trek through the Carpathians. It might even help his balance, let him go for a while without food and see better in the dark (my own personal speculations). However, that’s not all Jonathan has to face on this dangerous journey. He has also has to face…

3. The wolves — I have three ideas for how he might be successfully dealing with these!

The first theory is that he doesn’t even have to deal with the wolves at all. Here’s how:

If Jonathan was able to finish his climb down the castle around mid-morning/early afternoon, let’s say (a generous assumption, I know), there’s a possibility the wolves are sleeping at this time (despite them being nocturnal, this article states they actually do most of their sleeping at night with short naps during the day — those who know more about wolves, please feel free to correct me on this!). Therefore, he might be able to make it out without alerting them to his presence at all. Assuming Dracula as the carriage driver really did drive in circles that first time, it might not take him as long to get out of the forest by the castle as his first time around.

However…Jonathan won’t be going for subtlety here. He is trying to get out of this place as fast as possible. I’m almost certain he’s running for it….and wolves are light sleepers. It’s highly unlikely none of them would hear him traipsing through the woods with all the grace of an elephant (not that I blame him).

So, how does he survive if/when the wolves wake up? Let’s move on to my second theory:

They’re not under Dracula’s influence anymore. Now that he’s has been carted away from the castle, his influence on the wolves surrounding it has diminished. This would make sense, as Dracula likely can’t focus his power on them from that far away and also store up his power for the journey ahead (if that’s how his power works — there’s also the possibility they’re constantly under his control, but I’m not sure about that one. He still has limitations). Plus, he would assume Jonathan would be accepting his fate right about now, not attempting to escape. There would be no need to keep the wolves on guard for him. Furthermore, wolves are not usually dangerous to humans unless provoked/very very hungry or the wolf in question has rabies (source: this article). While these wolves have killed humans before and would likely have no problem doing so again, there is the possibility that they don’t remember doing it. We don’t know how the wolves experience his influence or if they can remember what they’ve done under it (like Jonathan with the vampire sisters) or if they don’t remember a thing (like Jonathan with Dracula’s feeding). Most notably, they haven’t done anything unless Dracula has called them to do so (which is their normal way, they don’t tend to get in human business). If they don’t remember what Dracula has made them do, it’s likely they wouldn’t naturally attack a human and would just leave him alone.

However, if they do feel compelled to attack Jonathan even without Dracula’s influence (or if they just somehow have constant orders to attack anyone who tries to go to or leave the castle), we’re onto my next theory…

Again, Dracula’s bite. What if his bite gave Jonathan a fraction of Dracula’s ability to control wolves? This likely means he can’t make them do much of anything, except maybe summon them (if he knew how to — he doesn’t) or, instead, they follow him until he reaches the edge of the forest (which, if you’re wondering how Jonathan feels about a pack of wolves calmly following him as he walks out of the forest, it’s going about as well as you’d expect…not great).

This would really be the only feasible way I could see Jonathan surviving the wolves if they were in “attack mode” because…he can’t really outrun them (sure, he likely has a bit of vampiric speed, but they would be coming at him from all angles) and he doesn’t have any weapons on him. How else is he going to escape the pack if they decide to attack at once? I just don’t see another way.

That’s about all for my theories. From there it’s just a matter of finding rest/food/water where he can, staying vigilant, and not letting the HorrorsTM get to him.

I could be missing something obvious, so please feel free to point out anything I missed. Or, if you have your own theories, I’d love to hear those too!!

[count-skribula]

For the Dracula daily asks:

🩸BLOOD What is your favourite Dracula adaptation?

✍️WRITING HAND If you could change one thing about Dracula, what would it be?

Hello ask from a game I reblogged in fall! Sorry I never answered any of these I’ve been experiencing some major creative burnout this year and last year but the new season and summer are getting me back in the mood! So now seems good a time as any

🩸- I really haven’t seen many Dracula adaptations! I plan to watch more over the course of this year but (if this counts) I honestly really like the first hotel Transylvania movie lol. Very nostalgic to me and it’s loose enough that it doesn’t offend me as an adaptation

✍️- I wish the scene of the book where the gang splits off into pairs to chase Dracula down delved a little more into those relationships! We get some snippets but I find this little part less emotionally gripping than a lot of other parts of the book, and bram stoker went out of his way to pair together characters who haven’t had much screen time together yet. I just feel like it had more potential to strengthen some of the pairings.

Probably would’ve messed up the whole “chase sequence” pacing but the pairings were soooo gooood

[fire-and-fog]

🔮CRYSTAL BALL Share one thing you think happens after the end of the novel.

I mean - I'm a firm believer in Dr. Seward and Arthur getting married. It's almost canon ;)

I'd also like to think that the surviving characters move in together. Maybe in the same house or as neighbours

[vickyvicarious]

Oh I forgot to clarify in my earlier ask

Inkpot gods - the amazing devil

Jonmina around the latter parts of the book with the whole Mina is turning thing

With the whole things of being more than their respective parents given they didn't really have parents, and also:

"Please, let her live just one more day, 'cause she is so much more than all her scars, and if she doesn't have the will, but it seems the whole world does, I'll stay"

And what you hear is not silence, it's just the trees waiting to hear what next you'll hum. And what you see is not the dark, it's just the gods upturning ink pots 'cause they know what you'll become. And to those gods, I will speak bluntly "We've an accord, if you ever touch or harm him. Please, rest assured that you might not fear a man, but to a woman, by the end, you'll kneel and plea"

"And I can hear her sing, and I know she's giving up. And I don't know what to do, how to help her, how to bring her home"

"And I can her sing: If I don't make it back from where I've gone just know, I loved you all along"

I know and love this song already. And in fact I've seen this connection being made before (in the LXGF Discord ages ago), so I've been listening to it with this exact dynamic in mind for a while, haha. Totally, totally agree.

The line about scars being not only about bites but moreso about her wafer scar on her forehead and what that implies about her damned status. And Jonathan saying she's more than that, let her live, even if she thinks she has to die I will never agree.

The harmonizing on "I can hear him break / and he doesn't understand" is both of them about each other and then Mina saying "And I wish that I could take his hand but where I'm going is for me and me alone" being perfect for her wanting to die rather than harm anyone else and not wanting Jonathan to be damned too. Also handholding is such a big thing in Dracula and her wanting to but feeling she can't is a great reflection of the door shut between them. And of course the entire "loved you all along" refrain being a perfect fit to both of them throughout so many moments in the novel, beginning with Jonathan in the castle right up to Mina writing in her diary that her last true thoughts will have been of him.

That whole bit about the title, inkpots and her swearing that they'll kneel and plea to a woman if you harm him. That works from Jonathan's perspective about Mina but also her for him, and her being the mastermind behind defeating Dracula when he didn't fear Jonathan... Just. Basically the whole song works beautifully lyrics-wise and that's not even getting into the sound which is such a great great fit for the mood.

[phoebonica]

🔮CRYSTAL BALL Share one thing you think happens after the end of the novel.

I think Jack Seward had a lot of fallout to deal with when he got back to the asylum. What do you mean your patient died under dubious circumstances and then you wrote a new will and ran off to Eastern Europe for a month.

[pop-goes-the-weasel]

For the ask game!

🚂TRAIN Are you a train fiend? Or do you have a different preferred form of transport?

🦇BAT Which Dracula character are you most like?

Intrigued by trains? Yes. Do circumstances force me on flights? Also yes

2. Ahhh Jack! Sopping wet cat of medical malpractice!

[bloodboilswithoutwater]

have you seen the new Nosferatu film? The way Count Orlock feeds in the film immediately reminded me of how you plan to depict feeding in this IF.

I have not, but I probably should 👀

[draculathedansemacabre]

🧛‍♂️VAMPIRE for the Dracula ask game!!

(btw I just finished episode 1 and oh my god???? Really kicked us in the teeth there, can't wait for more!!!🖤🖤)

🧛Dracula Daily Ask Game🧛

Question: 🧛‍♀️VAMPIRE Which book do you think Dracula fans should read next?

Answer:

Gabriel Urbina: Oooh, two come to mind!

S. by Doug Dorst and J.J. Abrams is the first one. A literary mystery that unfolds in the marginalia and annotations of a shifting, mysterious novel. If Dracula is reading an account after the papers have been put in sequence, this is getting to be a part of the story that emerges as the papers are put in sequence. An experience like no other, and it really does make you feel like you become Mina Harker for a little while as you read it.

And then Jamie McKelvie's brilliant, gothic One For Sorrow just released its first issue and I want everyone to read this book. Dark, thrilling, with tremendous characters, set in the same era as Dracula and exploring a lot of the same preoccupations of modernity clashing against the occult and supernatural. Plus, oh my god, it's so beautiful, just look at this thing:

[theriu]

Also for the Seven Characters Ask: Jonathan, Mina, Lucy, Seward, Quincy, Van Helsing, and Arthur from Dracula.

Ooo dangit I haven't been doing the reread so here's hoping I remember enough things from last year and the memes XD

Go grocery shopping with: Lucy. I just want to get that girl out of her house. She's so rich and sheltered, she'd probably find the whole experience exceedingly charming and distracting.

Have lunch with: Arthur. He seems nice, although I don't know exactly how we would get on, but I bet he would pick up the tab like the rich gentleman he is and we would have a nice time. :D

Have coffee with: Jonathan. I think he needs the break, honestly. And he might find a coffee or tea or hot chocolate he really likes and draw out some of his suppressed-by-trauma foodie instincts!

Go thrift shopping with: Mina! Being from a middle/lower-income background and also being a very fun and chill and supportive person, I think she'd be great at this sort of thing!

Explore a museum/art gallery/aquarium with: Van Helsing. I bet he would know all sorts of interesting facts at a museum and only some of them would be made up or totally incomprehensible! :D

Go the library/bookstore with: Seward, if only to get him out of his mental hospital. I would also ban him from the psychology section, maybe see if I can get him to read some lighthearted comic books.

Have as a plus-one at a wedding: Quincy, I am positive everyone would love him and I would be proud of bringing someone so fun and interesting to the event. :D But assuming he is around the same age as me, I would once again have to gently let down people who are all hopeful I have found a man XD (See Hardison in my last reply) (Although IDK, maybe in an alternate reality where Quincy lives, who knows?)

[bluecatwriter]

Another duality of man aspect of Jonathan is how he is described as having "quiet dignity", and being a "quiet, business-like gentleman", but he also roars a command in a voice raised in "a high-key of passion" making armed men freeze. Sharpening a blade in a corner, in cold silence, while all the others are in feverish excitement, but also loudly breaking down in front of the others at the suggestion of Mina going to his prison.

Witnessing that as Seward must have been an experience

Yeah, any attempts to categorize Jonathan as "the quiet one who just goes along with everyone else" are pretty soundly shattered after October 3rd. Everyone in the crew likely reacts to this, but it's probably most pronounced in Seward, who projects his own readings of people's character onto them and is shocked if they don't behave exactly how he believes they should.

...It's probably awakening a lot of things inside. ;)

(With reference to this comic)

[excentricat1]

🔮CRYSTAL BALL Share one thing you think happens after the end of the novel.

Thanks for the ask!

I don't have the elaborate post-cannon world that some people do. I haven't thought about it as deeply. But Arthur definitely moves much of the family business to Jonathan's firm. It gives him the excuse he needs as a lord to be spending time with his good friends, inviting Jonathan to the estate to consult on this or that plan and keep him updated. And of course, since it is so far from Exeter to Ring, he simply must bring Mina along.

I like the idea that Jack goes in for investigating some of the other crazy things that Van Helsing was on about. Hypnotism and vampires and mesmerism were real. How many others of that long list have enough evidence for Jack?

Ask game here for anyone who wants to join.