#dracula daily 12 may

[dracula-dictionary]

Dracula Dictionary, May 12th

Lincoln's Inn: one of the four professional associations for lawyers in London, as well as the building that they're based in

solicitor: a lawyer

militate: be a powerful or conclusive factor in preventing

Newcastle and Durham: port cities in the north of England

Harwich and Dover: port cities in the south of England

consignment: an arrangement in which goods are left with a third party to sell

acumen: the ability to make good judgements and take quick decisions

stinted: (archaic) to stop or check something

resistless: powerful and irresistible

compunction: a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad

Varna: port city in Bulgaria

mullion: a vertical bar between the panes of glass in a window

projection: something that sticks out from a surface

inequality: lack of smoothness or regularity in a surface

[pop-goes-the-weasel]

""I desire it much; nay, I will take no refusal. When your master, employer, what you will, engaged that someone should come on his behalf, it was understood that my needs only were to be consulted. I have not stinted. Is it not so?"

What could I do but bow acceptance? It was Mr. Hawkins's interest, not mine, and I had to think of him, not myself""

Simply looking at this quote from today's update tells us why it was well nigh impossible for Jonathan to heed the warnings of the locals. It was not just that he was an young orphan securing a deal at the very beginning of his career, but that he also felt a great sense of obligation towards his foster parent and employer. It is such social fealty and obligations that Dracula preys upon.

[another-chaotic-bisexual-vampire]

Dracula: *slowly but surely isolating Jonathan as his personal prisoner*

Jonathan:

[frozenbluecookies]

May 12th:

JONATHAN NO

JONATHAN YOU NEED TO KEEP IT ON

IT'S USELESS IF YOU'RE NOT WEARING IT, JONATHAN

It's not his fault, he doesn't actually know how the crucifix works. But the dread I feel every time I read that. Because we the audience know that Dracula can be near the crucifix without apparent ill effect. He's been hanging around Jonathan and making physical contact with him (usually in the form of handshakes or hand touches) this whole time. The crucifix only affects him when he touches it directly, as in the shaving mirror incident.

As long as Jonathan was wearing it around his neck, Dracula couldn't drink.

As soon as he takes it off, he starts sleeping better (at least initially, but more on that at a later date). He sleeps deeply, and nothing wakes him up.

[akasanata]

Lucy version

[yallemagne]

BEN GOT ME FUCKED UP THIS DAY

SIR. Fffffff the letters, the letters, Jonathan sent one a while back saying that he should be coming home soon and now he sends one saying it will be another month it has got me FUCKED UP.

Like yeah yeah yeah whatever lizard whatever climbing-- LOOK LOOK AT THIS. Dracula blatantly acknowledges he shouldn't need Jonathan anymore, he can hire many solicitors-- he intends to-- he already has if those letters are anything to go by. And yet he dashes any hope of Jonathan's that this means he is homeward bound and tells him he must stay. But even though he is staying, knowing that Dracula already plans to replace him clues him in that Dracula never intends to let him return home. He looks straight into Jonathan's eyes and tells him that he is replaceable, that he is merely here on Dracula's whim, that he has no choice. It has got me fucked up again and ESPECIALLY BEN'S NARRATION HAS GOT ME FUCKED. UP.

And then, they have beautifully captured Jonathan trying to calm himself with the view outside his window only to find that not even looking out the window at the scenic landscape is a safe distraction from the inconceivable horrors of the castle.

[buildoblivion]

LIKE A LIZARD YOU SAY?

[remembersunflowers]

Jonathan when he quotes hamlet: fully aware of the horror he is in, writing down everything to keep himself sane, and that night he is faced with vampire ladies threatening to drain kiss him

Lucy when she quotes hamlet: aware only of a dreadful exhaustion, afraid to sleep, writing down reassurances that the people around her are trying to help, and at night there is that sound of wings flapping against the window

[happy-for-harkers]

I love how it was Jonathan seeing Dracula crawl down the wall like a lizard that finally got him to lose it from the fear, not the manipulation, not coming to a realisation he’s a prisoner, just the fact there’s a guy crawling down a wall

[ashleybenlove]

This is also the first time Dracula crawls down a wall like a lizard day!

Happy to all who celebrate!

[random-user753]

Back to Jonathan.

"Let me begin with facts—bare, meagre facts, verified by books and figures, and of which there can be no doubt. I must not confuse them with experiences which will have to rest on my own observation, or my memory of them."

This sticks out to me because it illustrates that Jonathan is a lawyer and that he has switched into the problem-solving-mindset by collecting the facts for drawing conclusions. Also the logocentrical approach is in an interesting contrast to the creature of superstition and legends.

"'Then write now, my young friend,' he said, laying a heavy hand on my shoulder (...)"

Fun fact: Since listening to Re:Dracula my internal language switches for the Dracula-parts into the voice of the voice-actor (this production is amazing!)

The other thing is that Draculas hands get a lot of screen time and always as a symbol of power - to control the wolfs, to scare Jonathan in the mirror scene and his mannerisms of touch and gesticulation. It's an interesting thing and I guess it could be interpreted as a sign that he's a man of action.

"I saw the fingers and toes grasp the corners of the stones (...)."

This leads to a lot of questions - how do his toes look for this skill? Or his feet in general?

Also I never noticed but where did he left his shoes? 😆

[another-chaotic-bisexual-vampire]

Jonathan: Let me begin with facts

Also, Jonathan in the same letter:

[cookingontheroof]

Dracula May 12:

Dracula is already going to such extreme lengths to keep Jonathan imprisoned. Does he really need a whole MONTH? No, but perhaps it’s more fun that way. Slinking down the castle walls… so needlessly dramatic. I love it

[clockwork-stars]

What could I do but bow acceptance? It was Mr. Hawkins's interest, not mine, and I had to think of him, not myself; and besides, while Count Dracula was speaking, there was that in his eyes and in his bearing which made me remember that I was a prisoner, and that if I wished it I could have no choice.

At least he is aware of that :(

[akasanata]

In today's Dracula manga...

Creepy Dracula and disturbed Jonathan

What are you looking at Jonathan?

It's the count! In lizard fashion!

[yallemagne]

What got me fucked up was Jonathan saying how could I do anything but bow acceptance IT IS MR HAWKINS' INTEREST NOT MINE. After Dracula told him that Jonathan's master promised he'd satisfy his needs (phrasing!)

He will take anything, anything at all to help him cope with this. Right now, he is falling back on "I am nothing. I'm doing this for my boss, I'm doing this for my second father, I'm doing this for Mr. Hawkins. If I cannot be of service, I am nothing."

Dracula is corrupting the promise of good service that Hawkins made into something far more devious.

"Then write now, my young friend," he said, laying a heavy hand on my shoulder: "write to our friend and to any other; and say, if it will please you, that you shall stay with me until a month from now."

He touches him again. And orders him to write Dracula's alibi for him.

"Do you wish me to stay so long?" I asked, for my heart grew cold at the thought. "I desire it much; nay, I will take no refusal. When your master, employer, what you will, engaged that someone should come on his behalf, it was understood that my needs only were to be consulted. I have not stinted. Is it not so?"

That dirty slip of the tongue! To him, Mr. Hawkins is Jonathan's master. He downgrades Jonathan from an employee who should receive compensation to a slave who should consider himself lucky to still be in the Count's good graces when he can so easily be replaced. But now that Jonathan's "master" can give no further input on what Jonathan is to do, Dracula has decided to assign himself as master, using some unfortunate wording on Hawkins' part to trap Jonathan into that dynamic.

What could I do but bow acceptance? It was Mr. Hawkins's interest, not mine, and I had to think of him, not myself; and besides, while Count Dracula was speaking, there was that in his eyes and in his bearing which made me remember that I was a prisoner, and that if I wished it I could have no choice.

We've seen before that Jonathan cannot put himself first. Even as he's fearing for his life, he prays he'll make it through if only so his loved ones will not be negatively affected by his death.

Imagine if Jonathan retaliated against the Count and Dracula decided to take retribution against Mr. Hawkins? Or even Mina? Before, Jonathan had to only worry about Hawkins' reputation and his profits, but now, he must worry for his life. Because what if Jonathan fails to be the good pet Dracula wants him to be?

The Count gives him the illusion of choice. But there is no choice. If Jonathan refuses to aid Dracula, he would be forced to follow through anyway but also risk punishment if Dracula saw fit. It is just like when Jonathan didn't ask the driver why they were riding in circles. The confirmation that he was being endangered on purpose would be worse than mere suspicion.

The Count saw his victory in my bow, and his mastery in the trouble of my face, for he began at once to use them, but in his own smooth, resistless way:— "I pray you, my good young friend, that you will not discourse of things other than business in your letters. It will doubtless please your friends to know that you are well, and that you look forward to getting home to them. Is it not so?"

Jonathan, despite trying desperately to keep up the pretense, has let slip his suspicions by not agreeing right away. Even still, he cannot break character lest he offends Dracula in some way and loses his favour. Likewise, Dracula also refuses to break character and tests Jonathan's limits as he continues the charade. He so kindly forces Jonathan to write his alibi and ensure that the few people who would care about his disappearance won't go out looking any time soon. At once, Dracula plays a tyrant and a gracious host. It brings him back to the good old days.