#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.

[see-arcane]

I think today’s entry is probably the nail in the coffin—ha ha—for the last crumb of hope that Jonathan might find aid in Dracula’s domain. That hope didn’t fizzle out when Dracula revealed and destroyed his letters (one in front of him, the other doubtlessly behind closed doors). It didn’t snuff when he found all his stationery stolen. He held onto it. That one final grain of Maybe…maybe there’s still a chance…

Because, as has been suggested elsewhere, he could tell himself that maybe the last people he tossed his letters to had no choice in handing them over to the Count. The people in Bistritz had no choice but to obey, even as they tried to help Jonathan covertly. I picture Jonathan telling himself this ad infinitum.

They tried, but the Count threatened them, as he went to gather more paper.

They tried, but they had kin to protect, as he discovered he was robbed.

They tried, they were thwarted, but at least there is someone else here, and maybe…maybe there’s a chance… as he tried not to think of sharp teeth and joining Dracula for another night of company.

And today, that kernel of hope flowered—People! Living human people! Look, help, please! Something is terribly wrong here! I am trapped, I am slated for death and worse, he might mean the same for you! Please, while it’s daylight, the door, the door..!—and was crushed.

There’s a lot to be said by more informed people about the language Stoker has him use; by Doylist lens it’s meant to be the author actively insulting and demonizing, by the Watsonian lens it’s Jonathan working from the only terms he has from a limited/incorrect source of information in his Very English guidebooks, give or take the venting of his first real bit of vitriol towards anyone other than Dracula and the Weird Sisters.

What gets me narratively is that he stopped to say anything about the people who brought the boxes beyond ‘The Count’s people brought boxes. They laughed when I begged for help. And then they drove away.’ He’s been silent for days and getting progressively less descriptive. Why linger on the people before and after mentioning the cargo of empty boxes?

My guess is because of the anger. The hurt of receiving concrete proof that he is alone here. That he was betrayed when he gave them his letters. That the animals and the living and the dead are all Dracula’s legion in the mountains as surely as he is the bastard’s caged property. That he left behind human camaraderie the second Dracula drove him away from the coach.

It is a different flavor of despair—what a treat! a break in the solid block of grey misery!—if only because it spurred genuine ire from him rather than another helping of fear or sorrow. They’ll return soon, of course. Fear that he is utterly outnumbered by men and monsters. Sorrow that the only other chance at interaction left to him besides the Count was reduced to mocking laughter and then to total ignorance as they worked and he screamed.

But he writes it down. He is having a new emotion beyond despondency and there is info to preserve.

Mem.— Empty boxes delivered. No human being exists on Castle Dracula’s ground who will help me. Everyone and everything here is the Count’s. No one will help me. No one will look at me except to laugh. I am all that I have.

[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!

[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 :(

[beacedocrime]

Welcome to

Artemis reads:

(JONATHAN IS BACK!!!!!)

"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."

"Do you wish me to stay so long?" I asked, for my heart grew cold at the thought.

I want to personally stake him through the heart actually

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. 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:—

While reading, externally, I was calmly sitting in a café, reading on my phone.

Internally, I was (and still am) turning the Count into a pincushion.

One of the letters was directed to Samuel F. Billington, No. 7, The Crescent, Whitby, another to Herr Leutner, Varna; the third was to Coutts & Co., London, and the fourth to Herren Klopstock & Billreuth, bankers, Buda-Pesth.

Oh, I wonder what sort of importance these people might have in the future. Which ones might be there just to fill names and which ones might actually appear.

"Let me advise you, my dear young friend—nay, let me warn you with all seriousness, that should you leave these rooms you will not by any chance go to sleep in any other part of the castle. It is old, and has many memories, and there are bad dreams for those who sleep unwisely. Be warned! Should sleep now or ever overcome you, or be like to do, then haste to your own chamber or to these rooms, for your rest will then be safe.

Oh, gee, I wonder what could be so dangerous about going to sleep around the castle. Surely Jonathan isn't going to fall asleep on a couch partly just to spite Dracula.

I quite understood; my only doubt was as to whether any dream could be more terrible than the unnatural, horrible net of gloom and mystery which seemed closing around me.

I love this man far too much for my own good, how am I gonna withstand the later entries when just this sentence makes me feel so bad for him.

Jonathan Harker why are you so lovable aghhhhhhh

I am beginning to feel this nocturnal existence tell on me. It is destroying my nerve. I start at my own shadow, and am full of all sorts of horrible imaginings. God knows that there is ground for my terrible fear in this accursed place!

I knew this was gonna start affecting his psyche sooner or later

I looked out over the beautiful expanse, bathed in soft yellow moonlight till it was almost as light as day. In the soft light the distant hills became melted, and the shadows in the valleys and gorges of velvety blackness. The mere beauty seemed to cheer me; there was peace and comfort in every breath I drew.

Yes, yes, grab whatever shred of happiness and joy you can find, and hold onto it, kicking and screaming if you have to, because you're going to need it, my friend.

As I leaned from the window my eye was caught by something moving a storey below me, and somewhat to my left, where I imagined, from the order of the rooms, that the windows of the Count's own room would look out.

Is this. Is this what I think it is. Oh my god I completely forgot today was Lizard Fashion Day

What I saw was the Count's head coming out from the window. I did not see the face, but I knew the man by the neck and the movement of his back and arms. [...]

But my very feelings changed to repulsion and terror when I saw the whole man slowly emerge from the window and begin to crawl down the castle wall over that dreadful abyss, face down with his cloak spreading out around him like great wings. [...]

I saw the fingers and toes grasp the corners of the stones, worn clear of the mortar by the stress of years, and by thus using every projection and inequality move downwards with considerable speed, just as a lizard moves along a wall.

LIZARD FASHION DAY.

I was at first interested and somewhat amused, for it is wonderful how small a matter will interest and amuse a man when he is a prisoner.

Also this line 😭 Jonathan please stop making me sad The HorrorsTM haven't even properly started yet

What manner of man is this, or what manner of creature is it in the semblance of man? I feel the dread of this horrible place overpowering me; I am in fear—in awful fear—and there is no escape for me; I am encompassed about with terrors that I dare not think of…

screams into the abyss

Not to worry, my newest blorbo going through SituationsTM is causing me no stress whatsoever.

Anyway on a completely different note, I need you all to know that if Dracula has haters, I am one of them. If Dracula has one(1) hater, I am them. If Dracula has no haters, I am dead. That is all. Thank you.

May 11 / May 16

[mostly-literary-memes]

[another-chaotic-bisexual-vampire]

Jonathan: Let me begin with facts

Also, Jonathan in the same letter:

[reallucywestenra]

the lizard thing is actually reallly fun fyi

[cheese-whizard]

Jonathan: and now he's a fucKING LIZARD-