#madame ellunas moonlit readings

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

May 8 - Foul Bauble Of Man's Vanity

Re Dracula/Dracula Daily

So, I got distracted and now I'm behind by about a week. So be it, I'll catch up. Starting with this one.

Serious props to the voice actors here. Jonathon's stressed venting over being trapped and in danger, and Dracula's fervent rant over his people's history were excellent. I was drawn right in. They really set the tension and the tone. There were no skipped bits this round, so just a reaction to the podcast today. And a little definitions bit at the bottom for the words I had to google.

Jonathon has stopped turning his back on his ill feelings and the numerous red flags, grateful even for his older descriptive journal entries to refer upon and determined to keep clear record onwards. I guess not seeing someone in the mirror and getting choked out would be too much for anyone to hide from. That and his destructive tendencies.

I like how he takes the time to feel gratitude for the rosary and the woman who gifted it, wondering on the manner in which it works. Also the little tangent, 'now I can't shave! how annoying!'. Coping skills 101.

He's not just kept older fears to heart but has started actively looking into things as well. Thanks to that he knows that there are no servants, only himself and Dracula, that the man hasn't consumed anything and that there's no way out. All the doors are locked and his window just leads to a precipice ending in rivers, chasms and forests, all easily seen from the castle. It's no wonder the poor man ran about the place in a panic.

Jonathon is taking care with his interactions with Count Dracula too, planning ahead, how to react, how to behave, what to, what not say. He's even gone with so bold a move as to dig out personal information from the man himself. And wasn't that interesting.

Count Dracula fell for it, hook line and sinker. He fell into a fervent rant over the histories, follies and glories of his blood, his people, his land. He ranted on wars and battles, dismissed more pacifist and communal behaviours, which showed a lot into his personality, his priorities and his attitude towards others. He even clued Jonathon in on who he is was, when he came from, his role in the past, when he went on about his achievement against the Turks.

Was it not this Dracula, indeed, who inspired that other of his race who in a later age again and again brought his forces over the great river into Turkey-land; who, when he was beaten back, came again, and again, and again, though he had to come alone from the bloody field where his troops were being slaughtered, since he knew that he alone could ultimately triumph! They said that he thought only of himself. Bah! what good are peasants without a leader?

Overall, it was a stellar success on Jonathon's part. It could even make for a historical record there. What a thing for a historian to get their hands on.

Jonathon has a point though. This, like with the other nights, didn't end til morn. He compared it the beginning of the "Arabian Nights" or the ghost of Hamlet's father, ending at cockcrow. Not very comforting comparisons.

It was an interesting chapter. Very informative. Love the building stress, the increasing urgency and the worldbuilding.

My little definitions page, in the order they came up. Almost all are directly copy pasted, with some hyperlinks for clarification sake.

Diffuse: lacking clarity or conciseness, verbose, wordy, longwinded

Prosaic: without interest, imagination, and excitement, prose lacking poetic terms and verbosity

Demoniac: possessed or influenced by a demon

Boyar: a high ranking member of Russian aristocracy, serving under the prince

Szekelys: Székely people are ancient Hungarians, living in Transylvania in Székelyföld (Szeklerland), situated in Romania

Ugric: Ugrians or Ugors were the ancestors of the Hungarians of Central Europe, and the Khanty and Mansi people of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug of Russia.

Scythia: or Scythica was the region of Eastern Europe corresponding to the Pontic steppe. The Scythians were an ancient Eastern Iranian equestrian nomadic people.

Attila: Attila the Hun was the leader of the Hunnic Empire from 434 to 453. Attila the Hun is used as a figure for an extremely vicious fighter or cruel person, especially in political contexts.

Magyar: The Magyars were horsemen from the Pontic-Caspian steppe. Their people make up the majority of the Hungarians.

Lombard: a Germanic people who conquered most of the Italian Peninsula from 568 to 774. They originated from Scandinavia.

Avar: a nomadic equestrian people from central Asia who built up an empire in the area between the Adriatic and the Baltic seas from the 6th century.

Bulgar: The Bulgars were Turkic semi-nomadic warrior tribes that flourished in the Pontic–Caspian steppe and the Volga region during the 7th century.

Arpad: Árpád was the head of the confederation of the Magyar tribes at the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries. He was a ruler of what we now call Hungary.

Honfoglalas: the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin

Cassova: or Kosovo. Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo is a landlocked partially recognised state in Southeast Europe, lying in the centre of the Balkans.

Wallach: the people of Wallachia, now Romania

Voivode: a local ruler, governor or military commander, especially the semi-independent rulers of Transylvania, Wallachia, or Moldova before c1700.

Mohács: is a town in Baranya County, Hungary, on the right bank of the Danube. The Battle of Mohács was fought on 29 August 1526 near Mohács.

Hapsburgs: aka the House of Austria. One of the most prominent and important dynasties in European history.

Romanoffs: or the Romanovs. The Russian imperial family in control from 1613 to 1917. Famous for the murder of the Romanov family wherein Princess Anastasia went missing, presumed dead.

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

May 5 - The Dead Travel Fast

Re Dracula/Dracula Daily

Wow. This one was a longer one. I didn't mind it. It was, again, a very good story. But after chapters just 4-7 minutes, 38 minutes was a touch blindsiding. 😂 Apparently it's because Jonathon wrote an entry long enough to be split into 2 chapters. At first I mistook it for 2 separate entries on the same day. But no, that wasn't the case. Woops. I'll be reacting/writing accordingly, thus the chapters.

I wound up reading the Dracula Daily email while listening to the podcast to better follow it. Until now i had been skimming it, but this was a real read along. I'm glad for the decision because I noticed some interesting differences.

I'll get to that in a bit, moving onto the story.

Chapter 1

Poor Jonathon is not off to a good start. The poor thing can't sleep at all and the scenery is looking jagged and indistinct. Again, very ominous. The days experience was so strange and awful he felt the need to note what his dinner had been so readers wouldn't think him a drunk. It sounded delicious, I was actually kind of jealous. He ate robber steak which is bits of bacon, onion and beef seasoned with red pepper and served as a kebab, paired with a wine called 'Golden Mediasch'. The story calls the kebab style 'cat's meat', which made for an interesting research dip. I'll leave some links down the bottom.

When the coach came it drew quite a crowd. They gawked and stared, making crosses and warding off the evil eye, yelling in various languages words like 'hell', 'witch' and something that was either 'were-wolf' or 'vampire'. My bet's on vampire but who knows, maybe it's both. Wouldn't recommend asking the Count after them though. I love Jon's polyglot dictionary. Seems very useful.

Jonathon's poet tongue made a comeback on the journey. His descriptions of the area are breathtaking (though I suppose I should be extending that praise to Stoker). It starts off with brighter scenery, orchards of apple, plum, pear and cherry (it didn't say they were orchards but I think they were), rolling green hills, grasses, woods and forests. Before gradually turning to darker tones, becoming, rugged, jagged, snowy, shadowy , grey and steep, with large groups of praying peasants. You can feel Jonathon's spirits rise and fall. I enjoyed it rather a bit, got completely absorbed in it.

The scenery and explanations given for the conditions on the roads really show the movement from Winter into Spring. I mean, I know I should've gotten that from the date alone, but I'm from the Southern Hemisphere, be nice. Jonathon continues to make for good source of information. I had no idea the roads in the Carpathians were kept poorly to avoid dangerous misunderstandings and conflict with the Turks. How interesting.

Props to the coachman. He tried to break the tensions with a joke that fell a bit flat. A poor attempt is still an attempt. Though his neck-breaking rush seems to be spooking Jonathon too much for anything from him to work, The other passengers getting worked up isn't helping either. The podcast did this well. Their urging voices really amped up the tension. It did take me by surprise that the rush was an attempt to keep Jonathon from heading to the Count. Again. Props to the man. But unfortunately he was busted.

See, here was where I noticed the difference between Dracula Daily (email) and Re Dracula (podcast). The dialogue for when the driver of the Count's calèche confronted the coachmen are different.

Re Dracula

That is why, I suppose, you wished him to go on to Bukovina.

Dracula Daily

"That is why, I suppose, you wished him to go on to Bukovina. You cannot deceive me, my friend; I know too much, and my horses are swift."

The podcast skipped a bit. I can't tell if it was an accident or not. It didn't harm the story, I doubt I'd have noticed at all if I wasn't reading along, but it was different.

Speaking of the calèche, it's mentioned quite a bit so here's what that looks like.

They're sure upping the creep factor of the driver, going on about his gleaming smile, very bright reddish eyes, sharp teeth and the like. Jonathon is definitely regretting his life choices and I agree. Should've listened to your instincts.

The travel just gets creepier and creepier. First they go round and round in a loop along their road while just going forwards. Barrier magic, anyone? Wards perhaps? Then blue fires that seem like wisps and howling spooked dogs that eventually gets taken over by wolves (definitely werewolves). Good luck escaping, Jonathon. I think your paths are closed. But hey, fright of your aside, at least you've made it to the castle, worn and ruined as it looks.

Chapter 2

Poor Jonathon's hindbrain seems to be kicking into action, noticing an odd strength in his driver, an iffy and nightmarish feeling about the place, flames that don't follow known logic and the Count, odd in both appearance and behaviour. But I finally know why he's there in the first place! He's a solicitor! There for business on the purchasing of an estate in London. Not a good sign in regards to Dracula's motives, but still!

Aww, so sweet. Mina seems to be a supportive woman if she's been lecturing him on his view of himself.

It's funny how his concerns were forgotten entirely once food was on the mind. I feel you. It's a bit worrisome, but I feel you. They came back pretty quick when the Count touched him. No Jon. You're not sick and the Count's breath isn't that bad. You're nauseous because your instincts are telling to pack your bags and be on your way. Best listen to them, if you can.

He's not in for a good day tomorrow. Not if he's spent the night letting his mind spin in fear for his life and soul. Good luck.

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It was an interesting chapter, a very good one. They're certainly headed deep into building the setting. I'm looking forward to seeing how Jonathon Harker's (and how did I only just pick up his surname just now?) first day of work goes.

The promised links on Cat Meat Sellers

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

May 3 - Your Friend, Dracula

Re Dracula/Dracula Daily

Honestly, Jonathan is so sweet. He was all, 'oh, I must write Mina about this', 'I have to give her this recipe, it was so good'. Such a sweetheart. And very informative. His descriptions of the settings, the people, the landscapes, the histories. They painted the picture well.

So well I couldn't help but google a few images of the Carpathian mountains myself. Just look at them, they're gorgeous. I also found a map.

I do feel for the poor thing, in regards to the awful train service. The China joke was pretty funny. I like how he travels. Eating the local food, staying at the old local inns, talking to the residents without discrimination (though he does have the occasionally harsh though on their appearances).

I'm guessing he's a noble. He will not stop calling people peasants and he seems to view the lower classes in general with the eyes of a foreigner. I doubt any random could get an invitation to see a foreign Count either.

I'm so glad I chose to follow the audio version. The voices are brilliant. The background music and sound effects really make the story. The Spotify podcast comes with a poll too! I'll share them here.

I chose the Paprika Hendl. What about you?

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

May 15 - Lizard Fashion

Re Dracula/Dracula Daily

Now that Jonathon knows what to watch for he's taken to mentally mapping put the place, seeing where he can and cannot go, where places lay in relation to each other, the hazards of various potential escape routes. Very hazardous, full of sharp rocks, mountains, thorns and whatnot. He's got a task ahead of him. His descriptions have gotten pretty again too. It really sets the scenery. It's good that he's found a nice place to rest away from the rooms Dracula follows and harasses him in. But he shouldn't get too comfy so soon after being warned not to sleep outside his rooms. He's risking it there.

I liked this bit in particular

This was evidently the portion of the castle occupied by the ladies in bygone days, for the furniture had more air of comfort than any I had seen. The windows were curtainless, and the yellow moonlight, flooding in through the diamond panes, enabled one to see even colours, whilst it softened the wealth of dust which lay over all and disguised in some measure the ravages of time and the moth. My lamp seemed to be of little effect in the brilliant moonlight, but I was glad to have it with me, for there was a dread loneliness in the place which chilled my heart and made my nerves tremble. 

It sets the tone well and says a lot of his experiences and sentiment towards his other rooms. Not to mention the state of his mind, given his usual stubborn optimism and compartmentalisation.

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

May 4 - The Eve of St. George's Day

Re Dracula/Dracula Daily

Poor man's off to a bad start. Asking after information on Count Dracula and just getting them dodge the question, suddenly forget their german or crossing themselves. I have to agree with him. Not very comforting at all. At least he gets a good quality coach out of all this. If he must travel into a horror, he may as well do so comfortably.

Both Jonathon and the inn lady are so kind. The woman overcame her fear to try and warn him off the best she could. And even though he considered her fears unrealistic, if not outright hysterical, he still still reacted gently and didn't dismiss them. Instead he emphasised the importance of his work/duty to him and that he would go. He didn't even get upset at her gift of a rosary and wore the cross despite considering it idolatrous.

Her emphasis on it being the eve of St. George's Day was interesting. Her fear was that after midnight it would be the time when the mysterious evils of the world would be at their height of power. I've hear of this superstition in regards to Samhain, All Hallows Eve and the like, but I've never heard of this holiday.

So of course I looked it up, just briefly. Apparently the exact date jumps around a bit according to local tradition, and more commonly, it's relation to Easter. It's a feast day set aside for the patron saint, St. George, a roman officer of Greek descent who was executed for his Christian ideals. There's also a legend wherein he executed a dragon who had been extorting more and more, worse and worse, from the locals until they tried to give it a princess. It was a popular tale amongst the Byzantine cultural circles in the 12th century.

I won't pretend to understand how this relates to a day of evil, because I don't 😅, but the symbology is interesting. Will Mina be the princess in this story, with Jonathon as George and Dracula as the dragon? If so, what will be the preliminary tributes. Since he's a vampire, I'm guessing random village women.

But moving on from all that, we have Jonathon writing while waiting for his carriage. The whole experience has left him extremely unnerved. To such an extent he actually wrote that the journal should be his goodbye if it reached Mina before he himself did. It was honestly very ominous and the shaking of his voice in that part was an excellent touch. Kudos to the VA. Seriously though, I don't know if it's his duty, curiousity or adventurousness getting in the way, but if he's that disturbed he should just turn tail and leave.

The happy relief when the (of course, late) coach arrived was amusing. Broke the tension right away.

Unfortunately there's no poll this time. I've no idea if the poll is standard or a treat. But the chapter was excellent. Certainly works you up for the horrors to come.

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

SVSSS - Vol. 1 - Chapter 1 - Scum

Part 1

So I reached the first break line and wow, this MC is really something.

After reading up to the bit Shen Yuan where first faints after his transmigration, and I gotta say......his poker face? Legendary. His nigh instant adaptiveness? Amazing. His ability to subtly, quickly and easily settle his mind? Absolutely envious. Stellar acting skills and memory too.

Really makes me curious about his background. How he spent his life on Earth. I mean, I know he's the youngest son and second youngest child of a wealthy family, but surely it takes more than that.

I'll admit I prefer the donghua opening to this one. The bitchiness just makes it. But this one is good too. I have to agree with Shen Yuan (SY) on the harem aspect, I wonder what happened to all those women. Makes you curious about the other plot holes and red herrings he mentioned.

As for the upset over cultivators still eating and sleeping, I'm going to put it down to hedonism and the preservation of ones humanity and sanity. I mean, can you imagine a life without dreams or chocolate‽ Is it possible? Yes. Do I really need them? No. Am I going to stop anytime soon? Not a chance in hell.

It's interesting how they made Luo Binghe (LBH) a little bit crooked even before he meets the main villain, the first Shen Qinqqiu (OG!SQQ). It means the man doesn't have full blame for what became of the child. A lot of it, maybe even most of it, but not all of it. Now Shen Yuan as Shen Qingqiu (SY!SQQ) gets to deal with the ramifications of that.

I love how SY has a game plan for a potential transmigration. Now there's a fan for you. 😁 Interesting how it says SY suffered a high fever that made him sleep a while. I could swear I heard it was a qi deviation.

That System siren sounds awful. 100 police car sirens and a herd of divine beasts. Ouch. 😬 Poor man. Good luck with the OOC function. Guess that memory of his will be put to good use.

And Yue Qingyuan (YQY) seems to be a bit of an abuse enabler. A sweetie to SQQ, but a leader who's both knowingly and willingly allowing a child of his sect to be abused by a member of authority. I don't know if I like him yet. We'll see.

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The rest of the chapter (3 more parts) is under the keep reading link because 4 parts made for a long post 😅

Part 2

I love SY just internally squeeing at LBH despite how terrified the poor man is. Fanboy much? Such fancy compliments, if only Binghe could hear them.

The comparison of OG!SQQ to a courtyard-complex concubine is interesting. I wonder if he feels trapped. He's certainly bitter. And fearful for his position since the medicine excuse worked. How curious. It'll be fun to see where the story takes that character.

SY's thought process is funny. So dramatic. 😂 And at the same time as admiring LBH he's quietly analysing the situation and characters. Not to mention digging up the System's loopholes. He's quite the multitasker. Sharp minded.

Both LBH and Ming Fan are just there in the background going 'wtf is going on here, what happened to shizun'. If only they knew.

Part 3

"Shen Qingqiu was an easygoing person" No honey, you're a 'fuck it, so be it' person. Seriously though, adopting that name as his own already. So adaptable. I know I said it earlier, but this part really does show how well he assesses and breaks down a situation before setting up a clear game plan. He's definitely intelligent.

It'll be fun when he unfreezes the OOC function. Especially since others are already noticing his odd behaviour as it is. Not only was there Binghe and Ming Fan earlier, now his other disciples are looking at him with "wavering faces".

I know he said it was for self-defence, and he listed some very good reasons, but there is no way him wanting to try out is sword nigh immediately after an extensive cramming session wasn't him being a big child getting excited over a cool fantasy weapon. Boys and their toys, really. He went for the sharp leaves pretty quickly too. The leaves show his genuine love for worldbuilding too. Guy saw the MC woo ladies with a cool spell and went 'cool, what else can it do?'. Scared the shit out of himself with both too. 🤣

Ngl, it's hilarious watching him compare LBH to the side characters. Looks at Binghe, 'wow, what a mind, what a heart, such enlightenment, so bright I can barely look at him', looks at Ning Yingying (NYY), 'so young, so silly, little EQ, little IQ, so sweet but so slow', looks at Ming Fan and crew, 'very dumb, dumb and dumber, too pampered, headed for ruin, rip children'. Then there's his view of OG!SQQ. A creepy, old, lecherous hypocrite worthy of castration. A terrible authority who likes beating up young boys and trying to assault Ning Ying Ying. Best of luck Shen Yuan. That's you now.

His take on NYYs behaviour with LBH is curious. I wonder how much of it comes from his little sister, from PIDW or from webnovel tropes in general. I'm guessing it's mainly his sister from how he went into how little girls want a something of their crush's to feel special. There's also LBH's short responses towards her.

And PIDW, wow. I'm kinda curious how the author kept the story going for 200+ years. There's an achievement right there. Not to mention binging that brick in just 20 days. That's what? 10 years worth of story per day? And he still remembers these details? Even if they're a little suppressed at first that's impressive. I wonder what happened in those 200 years for SY to be so focussed on the fake jade pendant, sad origin story aside. LBH must have found it eventually for the frame of reference to exist.

It's kinda fun seeing him speak all fanficy, lingo wise. It's not something you usually see in a novel. He definitely reads fanfics. If he's not read any PIDW fics yet it's only because he died before he could get to it. You can't convince me otherwise. Don't even bother.

I am noticing the distance he's putting between himself and the story. Like when he watched the fight scene from the novels and treated it like peeking into the filming of a screenplay. He still seems fairly focussed on LBH though. And his expected behaviour being to abuse children. Compartmentalisation? If so that's interesting. That's a habit more common in those with anxiety, trauma and the like. So unless the transmigration is the trauma, that says something.

LBH has started noticing him back. First the medicine, now he's caught onto the bloody leaves.

Swapping one green treasure for another.

Part 4

Poor Shen Yuan. He's got his first beginner mission. No more laying about for him. At least he'll be able to shrug off the OOC restriction soon.

It is nice that SY has been able to relax and recuperate thanks to the Sect Leader's (in my opinion, overbearing) doting, and that SY is taking comfort in all the brotherly love. Unfortunate that he still can't see YQY as a person rather than a character. The man straight up got called a mission giving NPC. So the emotional distancing is definitely still there. Wonder how long that'll hold. It's fair enough though, it would be a difficult transition.

Ming Fan is surprisingly capable too, if he has some level of control of all the Peak's runnings. Guess he wasn't just given a good rank because OG!SQQ liked his bullying tactics. Pity he's a dumbass when LBH's around, or worse, when Ning Yingying's around. Guess he's at his 'dumb for girl' teen stage. Well, everyone gets a free dumb teen pass. Not for bullying, but considering the authority in charge isn't just ignoring or encouraging the behaviour, but straight up instigating, he at least gets a little leeway.

The random practicality that comes with the living part of living in a fantasy world is funny. Poor SY doesn't get to play with the flying part of his sword just yet. The System snarking back at Shen Yuan using Harry Potter and flying brooms as an example just makes that scene. And him asking if the System was involved with that story too. I love it.

I'll have to go look for some HP/SVSSS crossover fanfics later.

The worldbuilding that comes with that practicality is right up my alley. Love worldbuilding. Love adding feigned realism to utterly unrealistic fantastical stories. Love seeing the organisational systems of our main groups. Love seeing the interactions and impact of story elements on the world.

This part gives us why people don't fly anywhere, how and when the disciples of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect get their swords. Which showed us the practicality of passing down swords vs each member getting a fancy new one. That must save so much money. And a more developed if crude, Harry Potter-esque explanation on how and why the sword choosing works. Did anyone else read that 'the sword chooses the disciple' bit in Ollivander's voice?

We also got the idea of how the Sect travels with carriages and horses, their influence in the world, and their wealth. We're peeking into the wider world now too. If they're the top, who's under them? The trip to the city will show us more of the common world. And the new demon, the Skinner, that even Shen Yuan doesn't know anything of, will give us a good glimpse of what the cultivators are up against and what they consider training-wheels level.

This brings up five points, a look into OG!SQQ, behaviour on Qing Jing Peak involving LBH, the Skinner demon, Shen Yuan himself and the System as part of the world. I'll start with OG!SQQ.

This trip showed us what was normal for that man, or in Shen Yuan's words, the 'original flavour'. Several tea-sets, a jade chess set that goes everywhere despite it's rare use, any and all manner of comforts that shocks even a self-admitted wealthy second gen kid. Could just be me, but this guy reeks of a bourgeoisie. Not just the technical definition but the cultural one. The sort that gets rich after a poor or mundane life and overcompensates so hard they make a complete ass of themselves to everyone in what they think is a normal or acceptable display of newfound wealth and power.

Then there's the Skinner demon. We've not seen much of this one yet so I don't know much, but it is freaky. And also curious. 9 deaths thus far via a brutal method where the skin is removed from a body so cleanly it would make a surgeon jealous. Which is what got me curious. Do you think a Skinner demon could focus that skill on smaller selected parts for surgery? Like skin grafting or removing it out of the way for organ surgery. Especially if it can put it back just as cleanly. What a gruesome case for our sheltered MC to start with.

Next there's what counts as usual and acceptable behaviour on Qing Jing Peak under OG!SQQ's command. The disciples treat extreme abuse of Binghe as an expected everyday behaviour. No wonder PIDWs LBH was so vicious. When Shen Yuan found a natural way to put an end to it the ringleaders nonsense, he thought it was an encouragement of their behaviour. Which he then added onto later, moving from taunting to abuse, kicking up dirt into him and terrorising him. We also saw Ning Yingying felt perfectly safe and confident to call SQQ out on his bullshit to his face. LBH also showed us the effects of it, like his blanking face when waiting for more abuse from SQQ. The trauma is strong with this one. Followed by everyone's shock when LBH got a free pass onto the carriage.

Which leads us to Shen Yuan. He is sneaky smart. He was probably sassing the System because he's a ball of sass, but he was paying very close attention to how it worked, what he could and couldn't get away with. He did so well he even had well enough idea of it's weak points to flat out defeat it in an argument and get his way. It sulked later, that -5 points was pure pettiness on its part, but what a job well done. As sassy and critical as he is (poor NYY, may you never hear his thoughts), he's also such a fanboy! If only LBH could hear him, compliments everywhere and any excuse to see or help him.

My guy, you are not just scared of him.

Nor is Binghe for that matter. Such pretty and effusive descriptions of his good-looking Shizun. And the little heart prickle at Shizun's laughter and smile. Awwwww, so cute. You don't know what that feeling is yet but you will.

Lastly, there's the System and its place in the world. Thanks to SYs efforts we're getting an idea of its priorities and how it interacts with the world. He's even managed to get more information out of it. So now we know that the world isn't just the polished (published) version of PIDW, but also the notes, stories and whatnot that didn't make the cut. Having to experience all of it sounds ominous. The System also gave him mission information via files. At first I thought they were computer files but SY said they were all over his desk. Were they scrolls? Manilla files? I'm picturing manilla files. It'd be funny if so.

It's a very scary, knowledgeable and controlling existence with surprising humanity in its communication style. I swear it felt more rote-like earlier. Is it adapting to SY!SQQ?

In Conclusion

So in short, I am loving the worldbuilding, the characters and I find the System fascinating.

I think the MC, Shen Yuan, is intelligent, sassy and very adaptable, though is hiding being one hell of a mental block. Luo Binghe is in various stages of shock and is only in for more, The other disciples are also floundering at signs of what will be the new normal. Ning Yingying is very confident and bold, even in the face of her supposed abuser, though the story says that's naivety.

The System is spooky scary but also fun and interesting. It's also petty but that may or may not be part of what I suspect is it adapting to its user, Shen Yuan, partially through mirroring.

I'm also looking forward to how much this deviates from Shen Yuan's PIDW since the System said he would also see the unpolished, unpublished bits. I mean, I know Binghe becomes a hardcore monogamist for Shen Yuan, but outside of that.

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

May 7 - Stranger In A Strange Land

Re Dracula/Dracula Daily

I think from now on I will continue to read Dracula Daily as I listen to Re Dracula. This time it was not a line that was skipped, but 3 paragraphs. It's an understandable thing to skip, just very specific details on the house Dracula wishes to purchase. Honestly, I'm glad they skipped it. I'd rather not listen to them prattle on about the houses walls and the streets it lies on. Reading and Listening are two very different experiences, treating them as such was a good choice. But it is good to know what was missed. Especially as I'm new to the story and would rather not accidentally skip something important.

But I'll go into the missed parts when I get to it, for now, the story.

When Jonathon woke up to find a note from Dracula excusing him from dinner, I couldn't help but wonder how many excuses the man has up his sleeves. They can only go on for so long, surely. It is interesting how the author shows things to be suspicious through absence. Whether it be the Count himself, the lack of mirrors or there being no servants at all. I guess that driver was him then.

Jonathon's finally gathered himself to exploring the place too. First his room, which was filled with precious things centuries old but extremely well-maintained. Is Dracula taking good care of his belongings, or are there some practical uses to his magic? Then out of his rooms to locked doors. And of the first unlocked room he finds is a library which immediately captures him. A man after my own heart.

It is curious how many of those books are English and clearly new. Has the Count been visiting the bookstores. There are some that are clearly new(ish) by the titles.

I'll list some of the books down below, including those mentioned later.

London Directory (now known as the white pages), a telephone system was already well established so he access to both their numbers and addresses

Red & Blue Books (government briefings, if modern terms match), so he's getting a feel for the lay of business and authority too

Whitaker's Almanac (facts, figures and statistics relating to the UK and the world), to help him understand the wider and more minute facts of the world he plans to venture into, I would guess

The Army & Navy Lists (lists of army and navy soldiers)

The Law Lists (I'm not sure, maybe the laws?)

Bradshaw's Guide (railway timetables and travel guides), he was actively reading this one

A marked Atlas open to England (an iffily marked marked, not spooky at all)

It's a bit eery, considering the genre of the story. But not as much as what comes up in their following conversations.

Dracula showed up while Jonathon was browsing and was glad to have found him there. He insists that he doesn't know English fully but would like for Jonathon talk with him more so he can learn. He goes far as to request he picks up any mistake, any off intonation, anything mismatched at all. I guess to better blend in and not get caught in his violence. He himself states that,

But a stranger in a strange land, he is no one; men know him not—and to know not is to care not for.

It contrasts well with how Jonathon was treated by Carpathian citizens on his arrival. How hard they work to send him, and failing that, protecting him.

He goes to say that even still he would be a master, or at least master to none. So he definitely isn't looking to live among them when blending in.

At this point Dracula officially allows Jonathon into any unlocked part of the castle (adventure, anyone?) and moves onto the cultural differences. Considering how he directed Jonathon to his questions of his strange experiences thus far, focussing on the treasure marker blue flames, I'd say he's decided to kick the gaslighting into gear. And even in these explanations the Count has focussed on violent histories and speaking lowly of the citizens here.

His character isn't just shown through disdain and violent interests, but also his strong focus on the house and surrounding areas. He questioned Jonathon on various aspects of the house and location fiercely and had gone into his own research as well, startling him at how much more of the place he knew. Dracula says he obviously must as both Jonathon and his boss, Peter Hawkins, would be in Exeter, miles away.

Dracula is good at saying things that aren't odd or are easily excusable. But when added up, 😬. There was no need for the 'I know where you live' comment, really.

Here's where the podcast skips. In between "So!" and "I am glad that it is old and big".

In the missed bits Dracula signed his lease and other necessary legal documents, and Jonathon got them ready for mailing. Dracula asks how him came across a place so suitable, so Jonathon reads out notes on the place he had found. And yeah, it's suitable all right.

"At Purfleet, on a by-road, I came across just such a place as seemed to be required, and where was displayed a dilapidated notice that the place was for sale. It is surrounded by a high wall, of ancient structure, built of heavy stones, and has not been repaired for a large number of years. The closed gates are of heavy old oak and iron, all eaten with rust.

"The estate is called Carfax, no doubt a corruption of the old Quatre Face, as the house is four-sided, agreeing with the cardinal points of the compass. It contains in all some twenty acres, quite surrounded by the solid stone wall above mentioned. There are many trees on it, which make it in places gloomy, and there is a deep, dark-looking pond or small lake, evidently fed by some springs, as the water is clear and flows away in a fair-sized stream. The house is very large and of all periods back, I should say, to mediæval times, for one part is of stone immensely thick, with only a few windows high up and heavily barred with iron. It looks like part of a keep, and is close to an old chapel or church. I could not enter it, as I had not the key of the door leading to it from the house, but I have taken with my kodak views of it from various points. The house has been added to, but in a very straggling way, and I can only guess at the amount of ground it covers, which must be very great. There are but few houses close at hand, one being a very large house only recently added to and formed into a private lunatic asylum. It is not, however, visible from the grounds."

I agree with Dracula. How did he come across a place so well suited to him? I'll leave a link on what a Carfax is down below.

But this is where we get back to the podcast.

Jonathon's observational skills are serving him well. Dracula goes on about how he is old and weary and likes the shadows and time to to myself, but to Jonathon his expression doesn't match at all. To him his smile seemed "malignant and saturnine", meaning malevolent and gloomy. Even worse, when Dracula left and Jonathon piled together his papers, he found an Atlas opened to a map of England. It was marked up with circles at the east side of London, on Exeter (the area where he and his boss lives, very creepy, very ominous) and on Whitby on the Yorkshire Coast.

Seriously, just run.

When Dracula comes back to chat until the rooster crowed, his instincts kicked back into gear as well. I get that you feel "under obligation to meet my host's wishes in every way", but kick that duty or social anxiety out of the way and leave. Even you thought the chill you were feeling was something reminiscent to turning of tides when one meets death. Listen to your instincts and just go already.

At least he was able to rest after after this journal entry. Probably. But we can definitely see the Count testing more and more of his bounds, slowly pushing Jonathon into a corner.

It was another good chapter.

My thanks to Re Dracula and Dracula Daily.

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

May 11 - Pray For My Happiness

Re Dracula/Dracula Daily

Another letter, this time from Lucy Westenra to Mina Murray.

The voice actress was interesting. I liked how she firm she was in the last line, with her crush being a secret. Very fair. The way her voice went sweet when talking about her crush was also nice. The emphasis on Mina's name was odd though, I'm honestly not sure what to think of it. The background music was nice, relaxing, like a backdrop for a calm evening.

The letter started off very specific. I wonder if her address (17, Chatham Street) and the day she's writing it (Wednesday) is important, or if the author is showing us Lucy's own writing style. Still important, but in a different manner.

The immediate chide is amusing. 🤣 They're close indeed.

I must say you, tax me very unfairly with being a bad correspondent. I wrote to you twice since we parted, and your last letter was only your second.

Of course I had to go back to the previous letter to see what she meant. I only found one instance at the end where Mina is scolding her for withholding gossip, referencing a mysterious man. Jokingly, of course. Mina also apologised at the beginning of her letter for her own reticence due to all her work.

Their friendship is definitely close (also, childhood friends, I was right!). It's giving me strong sibling vibes.

It seems the tall, mysterious, curly haired man was a family friend who gets along especially well with Lucy's mother. A Mr. Holmwood, who does not look to be a reoccurring character. The man this mister introduced to her, however, is definitely a mainstay. A 29 year old, handsome, well off, well born, skilled doctor who's a love interest to Lucy, and most tellingly, runs an insane asylum. Very likely the one near Dracula's new property. Lovely.

Best run from this one, he's not worth the drama. It's not his fault, but still. Run, run away!

It's cute how Lucy tries to hide her crush by describing how well he'd do for Mina if she weren't already engaged (right again!), before drabbling on about him and then eventually breaking and admitting how much she's come to like him. I love how she just can't seem to help herself. It's adorable. We even get his name, Arthur.

Apparently we can expect this new character to be resolute, calm, clever, fancy (well dressed), capable and with a habit of staring hard at people's faces in attempt to read them. Assuming that wasn't his version of flirting. It could be that Lucy's crush is reciprocated.

I have to agree with Lucy. Fashion is a bit of a bore, especially when it's about tracking and following all the new ones. Samsies.

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

Re Dracula (Dracula Daily), Dracula

Bram Stoker (novel), Bloody FM (audio podcast)

Yay! I get to do Dracula Daily! I missed it last time so I'm hyped. 😆 I've not read any Dracula, my only familiarity with the novel itself being fanworks and Tumblr posts. I have of course seen Dracula inspired media, but nothing from the original source.

So this is basically completely new to me!

Instead of reading the daily emails, though I might refer to those, I'll be experiencing the story via the podcast made by Bloody FM. I'll be following their Spotify podcast but they're on other platforms as well.

Please take a look.

Let's have fun reading along ☺️

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

Woops - Blog/Reactions Status Update

So, life happened. Lots and lots of it. Just.....so much. You know how it can get. So I got completely distracted from all of my reading reactions. Ah well.

Out of respect for anyone who has been following along with me and to help keep myself on track, I'll explain what's going on with my readings in a general status update here.

ReDracula - audio drama of Dracula Daily - (Hiatus)

I'll be stopping my reactions to it for now, but it's more of a hiatus than an end. I'll be continuing my reactions where I left off in the next round. If there isn't one I'll do it myself with calendar updates.

Good thing I kept those email updates huh? XD

I considered trying to catch up on the current round of updates but I'm behind by nearly 5 months now so...yup. Even ignoring work ethic and time available it just wouldn't feel the same having all that squished together, y'know.

So yep, Re Dracula Reactions are on hiatus until the next time. See you then. Thank you for sticking with me so far.

Scumbag Self-Saving System - (In The Works)

This one will be continuing soon! The next update is already partially drafted. I just need more time to finish the chapter.

Thank you for waiting. You won't be waiting for much longer.

New Reactions

I'll be reacting to one or two stories on the side. I haven't decided what to do next but I have some I'll definitely be doing at some point as well as some undecided. I'm thinking one podcast and a lighter standalone book but I'm open to suggestions,

Definitely Will At Some Point

The Martian by Andy Weir (novel - sci-fi)

The Prince and The Dressmaker by Jen Wang (graphic novel - fairytale/historical)

Maybe

Arabian Nights (novel - classics/folklore)

Welcome to Night Vale (podcast - horror/mystery/supernatural/paranormal/surreal)

The Magnus Archives (podcast - drama/horror/mystery)

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas & Auguste Maquet (novel - classics/fantasy/adventure)

The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions by Kerry Greenwood (novel/short story collection - detective/mystery)

Again, recs are appreciated! Thank for following along. See you later!

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

May 9 - Castles In The Air

Re Dracula/Dracula Daily

This one was short and sweet. If the others are like this I'll be caught up in no time.

This chapter was a pleasant surprise. Not only do we get to hear from Jonathon's dear Mina (Murray), but we also get introduced to another character, Miss Lucy Westenra. There's also been a change of format from a journal entry to a personal letter.

I'm curious as to who Lucy is to Mina. The letter is very sweet, they seem very close. Their names show they're not sisters. Childhood friends perhaps?

Seems we'll also be learning more about Miss Mina herself and her relationship with Jonathon from her perspective, with whom she seems to be just as sweet to as he is to her. It's adorable. In order to better help him with his work, while she's busy with her own work as an assistant schoolmistress (teacher) she's also practising shorthand and learning to use a stenograph, a shorthand typewriter.

I like how they're both writing their letters to each other in shorthand while practising. It feels domestic. I think Mina agrees considering how quick she is to add "When we are married". I wonder if they're engaged? Her idea of continuing this practise with her journal is interesting. It seems we'll be getting that format back soon.

I wonder how similar hers will be to his? While Mina's comparing it to Jonathon's stenograph, she's also comparing it to what she sees other women do, mentioning interviews, conversations and descriptions. Think she'll be interviewing anyone? That there'll be interesting conversations for her to remember?

Apparently Jonathon is due back in about a week (the 16th then, give or take), best of luck to him. Wonder how he got that letter out? Dracula has kept him well isolated. Did the madman take it to the postie himself? She mentioned there were a few hurried lines in his letter. Poor thing must be up to his ears in stress. We've seen how profusely he writes naturally. It's sweet seeing Mina thinking of travelling with him to strange nations. If only she knew.

I'm guessing this tall, handsome, curly haired man is a reoccurring character. Wonder who he'll be. Love Mina taking the time to tease Lucy over him.

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

May 16 - This Man Belongs To Me

Re Dracula/Dracula Daily

Poor Jonathon got the fright of his life this time, sleeping outside his rooms really did create trouble. It's good that he has taken to his journaling as a coping method. It'll be a good way for him to reflect upon his experiences later, once the danger has passed and he trusts in the state of his mind again.

I can't blame him for taking small victories in defying Dracula, even with something as simple as sleeping outside his rooms. Though now that Dracula's warning has come true with the new characters, three vampire women, he'll be stuck listening to his captors words with much more caution.

The women were certainly plenty creepy, phasing in and out of rooms as they please, laughter not meant for human ears, casting no shadows, bloody breath and likely using some sort of aura to attract and hold their prey (which reminds me a lot of those old witch burner stories). Not to mention the baby eating. Those poor villagers.

There was a lot of emphasis on the blonde one. Not just because the others bade her to drink first, but also to show her difference from the other two. Not sure what that was about but I'm looking forward to finding out. There was this bit too;

I seemed somehow to know her face, and to know it in connection with some dreamy fear, but I could not recollect at the moment how or where.

Again, very curious as to what this is all about.

But before the woman could get her 'kiss', Dracula came to the rescue in a fury, sent them off with the baby and carried Jonathon off to bed. Now the poor man must take to his cell and warden for safety. Until Dracula has had his way with them, in any case. At which point the women have been promised a feast. Wonder how he'd do if he ate a bucket load of garlic. Not that he can, with Dracula cooking his meals. But still.

After seeing that his bed time routine wasn't followed he knows (with some doubts to his sanity but definitely knows) that he has monstrous women to deal with, a monstrous man who lords over them to fear, that he's caught in a horror of a situation, and that the privacy of his journal is still intact (but not due to any sort of respect on the Counts' behalf). He's also worked out what's to be done with him, at least in part. He's to have his blood sucked from him.

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

May 12 - What Manner Of Man Is This

Re Dracula/Dracula Daily

It seems Jonathon has accepted his role of a prisoner and seeks to escape already (can't blame him). The way he watches the Counts reactions to him, feels out for his plans and digs for info reminds me of a woman escaping a violent, powerful husband. He's doing a good job at keeping his wits about him even while he's scared to bits.

Dracula knows he has him cornered. He's making no attempt at hiding his delight at frightening and controlling him. And thanks to that we know he understands the system of Jonathon's workplace well and already plans to mask his legal tracks with various workers.

The way Dracula exerts control, both obviously and subtly, through small mannerisms to ordering him to write letters he'll surely check himself, also lends into the abusive partner vibe. Though we know he's just a common (monstrous) kidnapper.

Jonathon's plan on writing to Mina in shorthand is smart. I wonder how much he'll be able to get past him. He's gotten better at writing down Dracula's conversations to the word, too. And taking care to write down both personal observations and confirmed facts to better help him.

Dracula's warning about not sleeping outside of the assigned areas is creepy. I wonder what that's about. Jonathon responding by hanging his crucifix over his bed was great, the gratitude he must have for that inn woman. I hope he doesn't forget to carry one as well.

Jonathon wound up adding a later entry today, raising two points.

The way he describes falling into smaller amusements, looking outside and wistfully dreaming of freedom instead of the bleak castle grounds, is really giving me 'trapped princess damsel in distress' vibes. Unfortunately there's no knight coming for him so it's a good thing he's the intelligent, proactive sort. When you remember the St. George Day metaphor painting Dracula as a dragon, the vibes ring even truer.

Jonathon got a peek at Dracula's inhumanity, seeing the man crawl out the window and down the castle like a gecko. It was honestly rather reminiscent of that ghost lady from The Ring. Now he's trying to work out if he's a monstrous man or a manlike monster.

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (MXTX)

At long last I'll be reading SVSSS! Admittedly, I've got a good idea of a lot of the story thanks to social media, fanworks and the donghua (all totally my own fault, my self-control is zilch 😅). But I'm new to the novel itself, so it still counts.

I'm honestly really looking forward to this one. 🥰

I'll be reading and reacting to this story in chapters. Or, well, I'll be writing my reactions in parts and posting by chapter. A part being the bit between break lines. If I remember I'll write overall thoughts for the chapter as a whole at the end of each post.

So let's have fun reading along 😊

Oh, and major Spoiler Warnings ⚠️, obviously.

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

May 19 - Surely In The Toils

Re Dracula/Dracula Daily

Another short one! They didn't bother with the voice actor credits this time either, so I suppose they're done with them for now.

Jonathon can feel his end coming. The three letters he was made to write, dated for the 12th, 19th and 29th of June, seem to span his life should the Count not fall to whim. We'll to watch for what Mina receives around those times.

Jonathon's now clinging on by playing ignorant and waiting for the first opportunity to escape. By the end of this the poor man will be frightened off of foreign jobs for good.

And I'm all caught up! Unless I do the bonus stories as well, but apart from that, I'm all caught up!!!

[madame-ellunas-moonlit-readings]

May 18 - It Was No Dream

Re Dracula/Dracula Daily

This one was itsy bitsy! Teeny tiny!

He went to go take another look at the womens' room he slept in in daylight hours. He found it jammed shut and sealed from the inside. He has now accepted this horror as his reality.

At least he isn't doubting his sanity now.

Seriously though, such a tiny entry. They didn't even bother with the whole 'this podcast is voiced by' spiel, they just moved onto the next one.