#i feel like i should also say something about dracula daily here although that does feel like a slightly different phenomenon

[astriiformes]

You know what else? 2022 was also a really great year for fiction for me

My special interest in The Owl House continued through the whole year because Season 2B/the start of S3 were both phenomenal; I had a resurgence of feelings about the first Critical Role campaign because The Legend of Vox Machina really exceeded my expectations as an adaptation; The Locked Tomb series got me reading again in a BIG way; and now here at the end of the year I am a puddle of emotions about Pentiment and telling everyone I know to play it

All incredibly good stories, that also make me have emotions ABOUT stories, and all sort of interesting/weird/unique in their own way. There's some extremely tasty thematic intersections between them all too which I think is doing a lot for me as a storyteller and writer myself.

(Also they all have actual queer characters and I love that for them.)

[astrangergivingthestrangewelcome]

It Should Have Been Jonathan: Why Swapping Jonathan and Mina's Roles for the Blood Ceremony Makes Dracula a Better Story Both Thematically and Plotwise

Bram Stoker did not write it this way, so swapping Jonathan in is not a headcanon, but rather an adaptational choice that adaptations like Murray Mysteries or fic writers (like me!) choose to make over and over again. Here's why you should engage with this premise.

(No spoilers for those caught up to October 3rd of Dracula Daily)

(non-graphic mention of rape, sexual assault, etc)

The Story As It Is: The Good Points

Jonathan um. Goes Through it this novel. If you hadn't noticed. Mina takes care of him a lot, and after the blood ceremony, Jonathan gets to take care of her. This is very sweet, and I do enjoy that both Mina and Jonathan take turns rather than Jonathan always needing help.

It's not like it's unrealistic. Dracula would totally retaliate against the men fighting against him by targeting Mina. He super would see this as very apt revenge, and he's definitely that brand of sexist that sees women as a prize.

This plot point goes out of its way to frame the actions of the men in excluding Mina as utterly disastrous, which is cool.

Mina as the Victim: What is it Accomplishing + How Did She Get There

Mina spends most of the novel taking care of the people Dracula's victimized. She is a force to be reckoned with, but as Stoker wrote her she is a very good sort of English woman, pious, obedient to the men, respectable, etc. etc. Although she and Lucy have very different characters, when Dracula targets them they serve the same role as good English women who are coming under attack by Dracula, an evil Eastern European man. In Lucy's case he literally kills her and in her place is a hot sexually impure corruption of the original person. Victorian nightmare fuel. In addition, there are all kinds of sexual non-con rape vibes to what he does to both Lucy and Mina. Hot forceful foreign men are invading England and targeting good women. That's the whole fear that Dracula represents.

This manifestation of xenophobia doesn't hold up at all. For me, it's always been the worst element of the novel. I don't find it compelling.

Something else you might have picked up from this update: martyr talk martyr talk martyr talk. While (trust me) Mina is still smart and still given a lot of agency by Stoker to break her own curse, after the blood ceremony, she suffers Very Piously. Like a hair's breadth away from publishing a video entitled "How To Suffer A Tormentor From Hell in A God Honoring Way" on her Youtube Channel.

I personally don't find this interesting. I don't think it holds up. I don't want to see Mina suffer like a Perfect Little Christian. I want to see her kick ass and take names.

In conclusion: the driving forces behind Mina's attack and trauma are at best uninspired and outdated, and there is a very nasty undercurrent of xenophobia and sexism there as well.

I don't love it. I'm either bored or actively turned off by what Stoker is trying to say.

Jonathan as the Victim: What Could It Accomplish?

Dracula choosing to attack Jonathan again would shift the narrative so that it becomes a story about an abuser who will Not Let Go. An abuser who follows across a continent. An abuser who waits until you've just started to recover from the first round of trauma and started to feel safe again to start an onslaught even more vicious and concerted than the last.

I think Stoker laid the groundwork for this twist to be more terrifying and compelling than for Mina to be targeted 2/3rds of the way through. Obviously Dracula is an abuser no matter what, but it so much more terrifying to me to think of him playing a long-term game of cat and mouse over like 6 months with one man, than it is to see him target Mina over the span of three days.

This is also in character for Dracula. I agree with the common interpretation that Dracula continued to target Lucy even when it got ridiculously difficult and dangerous to continue because he can't stand to lose a test of dominance.

If we carry that over to Jonathan there is absolutely no way that Dracula would be ok with learning Jonathan escaped and is recovering. He would Hate that. He would absolutely want to target Jonathan again.

So you remember "I too can love" "tonight is mine" the gaps in the journal? All that abuse that is hinted at and never explored? The same sort of sexual assault motifs that are so present in Lucy and Mina's attacks? The implication that Jonathan was fed on by Dracula? All these hints that Stoker doesn't do anything with or develop further? Well Making Jonathan the one who undergoes the blood ceremony gives us a very natural chance to discuss them again.

In conclusion: Jonathan's history with the Count makes him being the victim (again) a more compelling story. We've watched the Count slowly escalate aggression with him over the course of a novel, and this final attempt to literally claim Jonathan's soul and make him a thrall is the natural conclusion of that. To me those are some compelling stakes

Jonathan being Targeting Makes for Less Plotholes (and less Infuriatingly Sexist Plotpoints)

Not that Mina being excluded is unrealistic or unworthy of engaging with in the original novel but I find it to be such a drag

And actually to a certain point it is unrealistic to me because I think the decision to completely cut her off and stop talking to her about anything comes completely out of left field. Everyone was acting like she'd work with them in some capacity right up until Van Helsing says differently. I find that jarring.

Switching the target to Jonathan eliminates that plotpoint entirely, which I think is cool. Maybe Stoker never would have written Mina as one of the boys, but it's not the 19th century anymore and we can write Mina however we want. I think having a Mina that sticks up for herself and refuses to be excluded is neat.

But on what grounds would they choose to exclude Jonathan? Well I actually think that some obvious solutions present themselves.

Murray Mysteries goes the "Jonathan you have PTSD you shouldn't retraumatize yourself route" which works for them, since it's a 21st century retelling

But I actually think it could potentially make sense for Van Helsing to want to exclude Jonathan, and to need to be secretive about it.

So you know how in the canon Dracula gives Mina his blood partially because his intention was to make himself a spy? The plan was to use an unwitting Mina to his advantage but the polycule bursting in killed that idea.

Well if I were Van Helsing, I would immediately suspect that the Count had fucked with Jonathan at the castle. I mean it would make so much sense wouldn't it? Jonathan was there for two months, he could be compromised in so many different ways.

If Van Helsing had these suspicions, then it would be the natural next step to try and exclude Jonathan from the business as completely and utterly as possible under whatever flimsy excuses he can make up (and this man has been making up flimsy excuses for the whole novel so it's in character).

This adaptational change would lead into Jonathan getting attacked again very smoothly, except in this version, Van Helsing's reasoning has more grounds to it than just Sexism, so he would be not only a smarter character, but also one I'd want to punch less.

I think that makes for a stronger plot

Also it seems very natural to me that Jonathan wouldn't realize he'd been attacked again by Dracula. More natural than Mina not realizing. This man has been having PTSD nightmares and flashbacks about Count Dracula attacking him for the entire summer and early fall. Canonically his trauma made it difficult for him to separate dreams from reality in the past. He would just assume they were particularly nasty dreams.

This would also apply to Mina not noticing Jonathan was being fed on as well. She's used to him not looking well and having bad nights. It would not immediately be apparent to her that this was different that the usual.

In conclusion: Jonathan being the one who is attacked opens the door to other obvious plot changes that create a better story structurally.

Okay You've Convinced Me, I Want to Explore This

Listen to Murray Mysteries! Listen to Murray Mysteries if I haven't convinced you, it's really good and it's the only adaptation I know of that actually adapts the Polycule in a good way.

Read my series! I don't mean to self-promote but if you couldn't tell I feel incredibly strongly about this premise and I don't see people tapping into the potential so I've had to do it myself. Strange Wonders is a series of short stories that explore the plot of Dracula if this change had happened. The goal was to create something that mimicked Bram Stoker's tone and style as much as possible, while being the story I liked better in my head. The first in the series, Uncommon Horrors and Unnatural Hurts is Dracula Daily friendly, and the next in the series The Resilience of the Dawn will be Dracula Daily friendly by October 4th. I'm still updating as well although the story is technically complete and has a climax.

here some would stand between you and death by princ3ssf33t is a great little one-shot fic I've found that deals with the role reversal and features some stellar Jonmina

There is a Pleasure in the Pathless Woods by calliopes_pen is another epic reimagining where both the Harkers are targeted by Dracula

Your fic/art/content here!! Endless potential.

TL;DR

Having Jonathan undergo the blood ceremony instead of Mina makes for richer horror, stronger character arcs, less teethgrinding sexism, and less plotholes. The Dracula fandom should be exploring it more.

[thatvictorian]

I posted 664 times in 2022

That's 660 more posts than 2021!

48 posts created (7%)

616 posts reblogged (93%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@suspiciouslyglowingmoss

@alcinas-darling

@ava-does-dumbassery

@hypo-critic-al

I tagged 323 of my posts in 2022

#dracula - 47 posts

#dracula daily - 35 posts

#lady dimitrescu - 33 posts

#jekyll and hyde - 28 posts

#lady dimitrescu x reader - 24 posts

#resident evil village - 23 posts

#jonathan harker - 21 posts

#writers - 19 posts

#the strange case of dr jekyll and mr hyde - 19 posts

#tanz der vampire - 18 posts

Longest Tag: 83 characters

#how dare you give him emotions he's not supposed to have those he is not hysterical

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

See the full post

55 notes - Posted November 1, 2022

#4

See the full post

59 notes - Posted April 26, 2022

#3

Donna's Hands

I could talk about her hands forever. The gentle curves of her slender fingers, her neatly painted nails, the way they gently rest on Angie's waist with gentle care. GOOD LORD

The way I'd love to sit and watch her sew by the fire, never faulting. The way her hands know the materials she uses, the way her hands would fit perfectly on my waist, the way she'd kiss my lips.

102 notes - Posted May 15, 2022

#2

Love Aflame

 Love, Aflame

Pov: You’re a maid who had been working for Lady Dimitrescu for quite some time. Recently you’ve caught the flu and have been reduced to bedrest. 

Warnings: Some slight anger from Lady Dimitrescu and a small argument between them. Other than that, this is fluff! A word a few might not know! Pulchritudinous! It means beautiful.  This was written for @alcinasdarling but also for @ladydimitrescuworship

Working in House Dimitrescu wasn’t exactly easy. The Lady’s daughters tended to be very aggressive in a playful way, and the Lady herself could have a bit of a temper. Although, you had worked up quite the good relationship between you. After the first year, you had been promoted to grand chambermaid due to your ability to follow orders and sarcastic sense of humor.  Perhaps the work had bored you way more than you had cared to notice, as you had taken up writing down your thoughts in a journal. 

The journal, old but usable, had been gifted to you. And by that, it was really just left on your nightstand. Usually when Lady Dimitrescu left you small gifts of appreciation, they were left with some sort of note. However when you had found it, there were none. 

December 18th, 

“I have begun my daily tasks as per usual, getting dressed and fixing my hair. The Lady has requested I clean the ballroom for she intends to host a ball. Of course, after eavesdropping   over-hearing a conversation between her and Mother Miranda, I knew this was really a ploy to hunt for test subjects and prey. It is now time for the Lady’s bath.”   

 “That’s an old entry.. Perhaps it’s about time I write another,”  You thought, picking up a pen that looked like a quill. After all, it could be quite frustrating trying to write with actual ink. The ball itself hadn’t actually been that interesting aside from sharing your first kiss with the Lady. Socializing isn't exactly easy when you know what the real reason was behind the whole event. The girls had been cleaned up and put in fine dresses, and the Lady wore a glorious red dress with fur on the shoulders.

December 20th, 

It has been sometime since I last wrote, perhaps I should do this more often now that the Lady has restricted me to bedrest. It is quite frustrating, as I can’t do any of my regular duties and feel quite useless just laying here. The ball itself was full of the usual boring guests, people from the village. No one I knew however. But I got the most incredible gift I could’ve ever asked for. Alcina had kissed me, her wine flavored lips pressed against mine. And when she kissed me for the first time, I felt something of which I could not name. At the time, I could not find the right words. Even when she had asked me how it made me feel. When I had told her I could not say, her lips upturned into a grin. As if the mere idea of making words incomprehensible to me was the most enjoyable thing in the world.

“Y/N, I have come to inspect your health,” Lady Dimitrescu’s voice called from the other side of the door.  You jumped, startled by the suddenness of her presence. The door began to open as you scrambled to hide the journal under the covers of your sheets.  Lady Dimitrescu stood high above you, moving to sit on your bed. Her weight tilting you slightly, she smiled.   “How are you feeling darling?” She purred, her golden eyes puncturing you with their gaze. You hesitated to answer her, causing her smile to drop. “I asked you a question, you are expected to answer. Or have you lost that precious voice of yours?” She growled. “No mistress, I have not.. I am feeling better.  I only ask to return to my work. It’s killing me just sitting here, I feel suffocated,” You said, clutching the sheets nervously. Lady Dimitrescu’s gaze softened as you coughed a few times, a light burn in your throat. “My dear, you are not well and I will not have you making yourself worse,” She stated firmly. Scoffing and rolling your eyes you tried to get up but were held down firmly by the woman, the journal slipping out from the covers and onto the floor.

“Oh? What’s this?” Lady Dimitrescu bent slightly to reach the item, easily holding your frantic self down. “N-nothing stop! Put it down! Hey! Can you hear me up there!?” You rambled on until she covered your mouth. Her eyes scanned the entry before she snapped the journal shut.  “Well.. isn’t this interesting..” she murmured, scooping you gently out of the bed. The urge to protest was quickly swallowed by the excitement and admiration rising in your chest. For a murderer, she truly was beautiful. Her ebony hair in soft curls, her porcelain skin, and most of all her air.  She carried you for a while through the hallways, soft candlelight warming your skin.  

Eventually you reached her room, she didn’t drop you for a moment. Not even as she bent slightly to enter the room. 

Finally she sat you on her bed. “Now pet, I want you to stay there until I return alright?” She purred. You nodded, swinging your legs. “Sure why not, after I assist you in–”, She raised a finger.  Lady Dimitrescu slipped into her bathroom, returning a short moment later in a white nightgown that, if the light landed on it right, was slightly transparent. “Wow.. just wow.. She’s.. incredible..”  You thought as she strode around to her side of the bed and slipped under the covers. Moving quickly to avoid her crushing you, you pulled the covers around you. A coughing fit racked your body as you leaned back against the pillows. 

“Easy my dear..” Alcina whispered, rubbing your stomach. Her fingers against your thin nightgown sent cold shivers throughout your body. Her smell, her touch. The way she carried herself so restrained so as to not hurt you by accident. God just her… 

It was hard not to leap up and kiss her, but the fear of destroying the relationship restrained you very well. “Thank you mistress, I appreciate it,” You whispered.  She smiled again, tilting your head over. She ran a finger across your lips before pulling you closer so that your noses were almost touching. “May I kiss you?” She asked in a breathy whisper. Your answer was pressing your lips against hers, rolling over her to straddle her lower stomach. At first you had been lifting yourself up but she pulled forward, cupping your cheeks with both hands. At last, your lips were touching. Her breath filling your lungs, the smell of the wine she drank filling your nose. The kiss lasted for a while, neither of you stopping to properly breathe. “My my draga mea, you taste so sweet..” 

All you could do was stare at her pulchritudinous body. “And you too mistress, I apologize for staring.” You tried to match her formal tone, even though your size made the romantic pose quite a funny scene. She chuckled, bouncing you slightly. In order to stop yourself from falling face forward onto her face, you rested your head on her chest.  “Rest now my dear, do not worry about your weight. I assure you, I am comfortable,” she said in a hushed tone. Soon the room had become quiet, the only sounds being Alcina’s breathy sighs of contentment as she breathed. Her skin and nightgown, warm. Sleep soon came to take you under its wing, Alcina stroking your hair.

Thank you for reading!! This is my first fic so I apologize for it being so short!

181 notes - Posted April 26, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Mother Miranda said it's my turn on the xbox

267 notes - Posted May 23, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[lugalkisarra-urnammu]

To begin with I’d like to say that this is not commentary on what people should think about John Seward or should they like, love, despise, dislike, consider him either interesting or uninteresting, be completely apathetic about or hate him. This is purely my interpretation of his intentions, character and the reasons behind his actions. Be warned that this post includes spoilers for the parts of Dracula sent by Dracula Daily on 24th and 25th of May, and minor references to earlier sent passages. This is in no way an analysis based on any further parts of the book, and is solely built around the aforementioned parts on days 24.5. and 25.5. I have not read Bram Stoker’s Dracula before this, so I have in no way been influenced by further contents of the book in making the interpretations presented here. Be warned that this post includes parts discussing psychiatry, psychology and treatment of people in those fields. I’d appreciate it if any comments avoided spoilers about any further developments.

To summarise what we know of John Seward from these two text fragments: Our first insight into John Seward comes from Lucy Westenra’s description of him proposing to her. During the proposal he almost sits on his hat, and keeps nervously fidgeting with a lancet he had on hand. John Seward, also known as Jack Seward, as mentioned earlier in the book ”has an immense lunatic asylum”. The day after the rejected proposal he has returned to the asylum and records his point of view on the events of the day. Not feeling happy he decided to work. He proceeded to discuss with a patient named Renfield about his state of mind. In his own words he ”questioned him more fully than I had ever done before”. After the discussion he came to realization that he had been cruel in how he had kept the discussion focused on Renfield’s mental state longer than he should have, a deed which he states to himself to be something which he avoids very strongly. He then ponders under which circumstamces he would not avoid such deeds.

Based on his behaviour during the failed proposal he is a nervous person, who when out of his comfort zone easily begins fidgeting on whatever he has on hand, and has a heightened chance of unintentionally doing things like accidentally sitting on his own hat. Although this may be bias, but as a person with similar tendencies, I would partially extrapolate his personality from this, and use this for a more in depth interpretation of his further actions during these two days.

After a harrowing situation, in this case proposal, he is nervous. This nervousness is further increased by the social interaction not having a resolution that he hoped for. He is thus agitated, a situation which he’d wish to stop. Because of this he decides to do something that calms him. He proceeds to focus on the subject he is in modern terms a nerd about, which is in his case study of his patients. This ends his anxiety, and he is absorbed in his research. He is so enraptured by his interest in research, that he fails to take into account things outside of it. In this case how other people feel. Only after he has stopped, does he realize that he pushed Renfield further than he would have if he had paid attention to his feelings about the matter at hand. This realization of his cruelty horrifies him. He avoids such cruelty with fervour.

This combined with the other knowledge we have gained of his person, lead me to conclude the following things. First of all, Doctor Seward wants to help his patients. He is horrified about the fact that he caused the things that he did by continuing the discussion with Renfield longer than he would have otherwise. He is a person who wants other people to be happy, and because of that his goal with his asylum is to be a positive influence on his patients. Secondly, although his goals are to help his patients, he is immensely interested in his field. He did what he did because he did not realize in his enthusiasm that he was not acting with his patient’s peace of mind taken into account. Finally we can conclude that although his actions were not good his intent with those actions was at its heart good. He is at times motivated to not act in a way that aims for this, because at those times he doesn’t realize that he is not acting in such a way. His reaction to not acting in a way that enacts that intent for good is horror. I do not say that his methods are good, but methods being good does not necessarily equate the intent behind them being also good. What he did in this single excerpt is if I have understood correctly a case of psychotherapeutical discussion not being stopped early enough. Whatever he has done, he has done it with fundamentally good intentions, and because of those good intentions whenever possible to the best of his ability.