#robber steak

[wicked-books666]

Bram stokers dracula has me wanting steak. And I don't even eat steak that often.

[tmorriscode]

Given the great paprika debate of 2022, I’d like to humbly put forth an alternative dish for Dracula Daily 2023.

[san8ny]

robber ellie falling in love with victim reader😭

Something.

?: tried experimenting with angst / Older!Divorced!Reader x Younger!Robber!Ellie / Bi!Reader

“and you decided on here of all places?” You ask for what seems like the hundredth time, cleaver in your hold waving in the air all too closely for Ellie’s liking.

“Fuck— yes, lady, like I said, I just get paid to do this shit.” She groans, struggling against the ropes you had her embraced in, “What kind of knots even are these?..”

“Now, i’ve never really had to use this up until now..”

She feels her eyes widen, color draining from her face at the implication, “Woah! H-hey, you wouldn’t need to. We can find a compromise—

“You tried stealing my father’s urn.

Ellie’s winces at the weight of your words, her soiled plan gone to waste, “I thought it was a regular vase.. but— but with that being said, I didn’t succeed so you don’t need to be so brutal! Eh?‘Whaddya say?”

You stare at her for a rather long time before taking the knife and inching it towards her,

Ellie’s entire body tenses up, teeth clenching and her eyes shutting to prep for her seemingly inevitable demise—

Instead, you lightly poke her chest with the knife experimentally, “You’ve got like, no boobs.”

“WHAT THE FUCK? O-oh my god, you’re a pervert..”

“You’re in my house.”

“THAT DOESN’T JUSTIFY IT!”

“Back on topic! Why my place?”

“Needed the cash, how else?” She spits, gaze still never meeting yours fully

“That bad?”

“Wouldn’t be robbing people if I didn’t, would I?” She snaps aggressively, though it was expected

“You know, you should be nicer to me.” You say, reaching over back for your knife threateningly. She seems to quiet down at that, relaxing her shoulders as she obediently nods,

“I think i’d rather you just call the police at this poin, lady..” Ellie whispers, not having the willpower to deal with your manical interrogations, “My dad is sick, alright? He’s on the verge of dying, and I need that money for his treatment. Content now?”

After a brief pause, you speak up,

“Tell you what, you give me proof of this.. and I might be graceful enough to do something for you.” You thumb her bangs, separating each strand to reveal the glistening beads of sweat that pool at her auburn hairline.

“Huh, why?” Her head raises at your all-too gracious proposal, what exactly were you playing at? Pay the person trying to rob you? It’s laughable.

“Well..” you tilt your head, “You’re interesting”

Eventually, you do let her go, informing her of an easier way out than she came in. However, a deep pit in her stomach tells her she’d had been safer with cops than with whatever you were.

The following week, she’s being put to absolute work once she’d validated her father’s bills with you— from scrubbing floors to literally helping you wash your hair in that stupidly huge bathtub you have— she wants to hate you. no, she does! She hates you with every fiber in her. So, why does she feel so strongly opposed to seeing you interact with your husband everytime he’s back from his job? Maybe she hates him too? Yeah, that must be! Ellie hates everything to do with you by proxy, including your husband.

“Have you ever considered marriage, Eleanor?” You ask out of the blue, politely cutting your steak as you two sit across from each other at the dinner table, your husband not being present, per usual, not like he ever is. “My name is Ellie, not..whatever that is.”

You grin at her response, “Aren’t you too old to be going by a nickname though? Especially one as infantile as Ellie? It sounds like a pet-name if i’m being honest.”

She feels a vein threatening to pop as she points her fork at you, “Well, it’s my name so either call me it or not.”

There it is. The way you stare at her even when she’s slightly out of line. It’s a mixture of both amusement and surprise. Like she was some sort of entertainment for you.

“Ellie it is.” You softly say, smiling as you chew your food.

She hates the way it rolls off your tongue smoothly, no sign of condescension in it despite your previous words.

She hates how she feels something else stirring other than supposed hatred.

The other time she’s noticed this odd-feeling of hers rear it’s ugly head, was when you two had visited a bath-house, you stripping with ease as you walk the small steps they have before relaxing into the steamy water. Ellie stands there awkwardly, watching as you let your hair-bun down, all stress exiting your body once the sensations of the water settle around you.

“Well, aren’t you joining me, Ellie?”

She bites her bottom lip in an anxious fashion, almost fighting herself whether or not she’d let herself get that close to you. Regardless, one overpowers the other so she, like you, quickly sheds her clothing, stepping into the pool experimentally, however, she maintains a moderate space inbetween you two, careful not to ever let her body even touch a bristle of hair on yours.

Facing across from you, she studies the way your eyes are closed, soft crows feet at the corners— you were only 31 as she learnt, and already seemed so tired of the life you lived, having to run an entire estate while your— fuck, she couldn’t even recall his name— husband, ran business elsewhere. Ellie saw and took care of you more than she’d ever seen him done. I mean, what did you even see in him— ..what is she saying?

At the realization, she turns her gaze away from your face, eyes instead busying themselves with the small ripples the water makes.

“You never answered my answer.”

She doesn’t seem to want to avert her gaze from the water just yet, but speaks, “I don’t answer alot of the questions you ask if you haven’t noticed.”

“So will you answer one if I ask now?”

“Why should I?” She scoffs at your bluntness, if she didn’t want to answer a question, it’s not like you’d force it out of her.

“I see.” You say, before standing up to dry yourself off with a towel. At this, Ellie seems alarmed. What happened? Why’d you leave so suddenly? Why— why does she seem to care recently more than she’d like?

A reasonable amount of time had passed since the bathhouse, and you seemed to forget about it reasonably quicker. Almost immediately, actually. Currently, you were hauled up in your study while Ellie sweeped the hallway flooring. Upon arrival to your door, she’s met with a quick ‘I’d like to be alone, thank you!’ She rolls her eyes, knocking again. When ignored again, she opts for a 3rd time, before you open the door in irritation, “What— Oh, it’s you, Ellie! Hello!”

“Yes, yes, it’s me, can I come in? I have to tidy up this room before I can clock it for the night.” She says briefly, attempting to enter the room before you block her way with a nervous smile, “I don’t think this room is obligatory, you can just skip it and leave.”

“Uh, no, I’d like to it now rather than have it pile up tomorrow.”

“That’s really not necessary, I mean it, i’ll clean it even.” You try one last time of persuasion. However, this earns you a blank state and an occasional eye-twitch.

Sighing, you step to the side, “If you insist..”

Ellie looks around as you return to your desk, massaging your temples as you seem focused on a slight-stack of documents. I mean, she hadn’t seen you this stressed since the time you were told the oak-tree in the grand-garden had to be cut down because the neighbors were complaining about it obstructing sunlight to their meek vegtable plants. You went though with it, with the help of Ellie’s shoulder and a couple of shirts she had to run through each time you soaked them with your tears.

“I thought you said you had an accountant for taxing?” she asks, dusting the bookshelves, “I do,” You say, biting the cap of your pen as you twirl yourself in the swivel-chair, “these are divorce papers.”

It’s almost like time itself stops when those words dawn on Ellie. You’re..divorcing whatshisname? It’s like a fever dream. Almost surreal. Sure, you two never seemed all that in-love but you had your moments like when you’d kiss his cheek before he departs for whatever country he had shit to do in, I mean, that’s..romantic, right?

“12 years i’ll never get back down the drain. This, is why I ask you if you’d ever marry. Could you ever dedicate your life to another for it to be wasted like this?” You snap your fingers to signify time, bitterly laughing at Ellie’s solemn expression, “Don’t look at me like that, I liked you better than the others because we mutually agreed not to pity eachother.”

There it is, that feeling she faces when these moments spring up on her.

It’s not pity, it’s more like understanding where you’re coming from— but that’d be sympathy. Ellie doesn’t feel quite sympathetic about it, I mean, rich people don’t exactly feel that anyways but, she wants you to be the exception. You’re not like whatever the bunch are. You don’t frequent country clubs and you don’t go seeking elaborate affairs to spice your life. You’re an unsatisfied woman.

“I was young, you know? When my family heard of the marriage, they immediately called me mentally unwell— his family? Even worse. Guess what they immediately came to as reasoning? Witchcraft. It’s comical, isn’t? Me using spells to make a man of all things want me. If I did that, i’d be with Christian Bale, I tell ‘ya! I should’ve taken my signs then when he wouldn’t defend me, but I chalked it up to his fear of confrontation. ” You share, sipping your tea, “Older Men do nothing but leech off your youth. Don’t be like me, Ellie.”

“I won’t.” She finally says, though her throat tightens up, making her voice extra quivery rather than the assertion she was going for.

“Oh dear, don’t tell me my cautionary tale scared you?”

“No! No! It didn’t. I was just wondering, does your rule .. also apply to women?”

A brow is raised in response to the question, “I’d say so, though it’s a more common practice among that accursed other gender.” You kid, smiling. Ellie’s lips slightly pull into their own smile, her worrying expression now relaxing when she thinks you hadn’t caught onto her words yet.

“Do you like older women?”

At that question, Ellie feels the embarrassment return double the amount, slightly ruffling her short hair as she feels the hotness reach her cheeks, “I’m indifferent.”

Ah.

You look out the window before looking at your ring, “I don’t suppose your answer is supposed to imply dual-affection?”

She sighs, continuing to sweep, “I only like women, miss.”

…

“I suppose a women as a lover would be nice.”

Ellie’s heart races at this, is..this an opening? What exactly were you trying to do by saying this?

“Have you ever been with one, Ellie?” You tease lightly

Oh, how she wished the ground would swallow her whole.

After a brief pausing to catch both her breath and recollection of thoughts “..No, ma’am.”

“Want me to be your first?”

How this turnt into many illustrious nights with Ellie warming your the bed had become something both of you couldn’t come with an answer for other transactional sex.

How scandalous would this be if it got out? A well known older, recent divorcee seeking comfort in the arms of her 20 something year old house-hand. It would only intensify rumors, not that you ever cared, but..

“I won’t let you ruin yourself.” You softly whisper, sweeping a light tucking of hair behind her ear, “You’re too sweet for your own good, Ellie..”

That night, while Ellie slumbers, you pull together her seemingly last paycheck, wads of cash together into an envelope that could easily total above 20,000 as you place them near her pillow.

When she does awake, she’s brought to the empty idea of you, slot next to her feeling cold and empty. Where did you go?

Instead of a verbal answer, she’s given one in the form of payment and a brief letter:

‘Will be enough for your father’s bill. Collect your stuff at once and leave.’

Even when she does leave— she says nothing, catching a glimpse of you sat on the stump of the old oak-tree in what seems to be deep thought.

As per usual, Ellie’s last to saying everything

“Anyone could have seen she wasn’t in the right of mind.” The elderly ladies exchange amongst themselves, “I just didn’t expect it to be in such bad taste. Nobody is going to buy that home.’

Ellie’s fingertips brush against the ‘SELLING HOME’ sign they’ve posted up, the other 20 she’s ran off with clearly not stopping the process of this house being sold.

How long has it been since you left her behind again?

[thethirdromana]

Mem., get recipe for Mina: a food guide to Dracula Daily

Inspired by There and Snack Again (in which you eat along with the LOTR movies), this is your guide to eating and drinking along with Dracula Daily.

All under a cut because there's no way I can do this without extensive spoilers. I strongly recommend not reading this unless you already know what happens in Dracula. Also only if you're comfortable reading about alcoholic drinks - there's a lot of booze in this novel.

Let's eat!

2 May We start with the famous paprika hendl. Google "chicken paprikash" and choose whichever recipe most strikes your fancy.

3 May For breakfast, choose from mamaliga (cornmeal porridge, similar to grits), "impletata" (vânătă umplută - stuffed aubergine) or anything with more paprika in it.

4 May For dinner, Jonathan has robber steak: "bits of bacon, onion, and beef, seasoned with red pepper, and strung on sticks and roasted over the fire".

5 May Slivovitz, if you'd like it (Jonathan declines). Then, for dinner, Dracula serves up roast chicken, with some cheese, a salad and a glass or two of Tokaji wine.

6 May "A cold breakfast" for Jonathan. In Romania a cold breakfast might include boiled eggs, telemea (sheep's cheese), franzela (bread) with assorted spreads, sliced cucumber and tomatoes, and sunculita taraneasca (sliced smoked pork). Jonathan also has "an excellent supper", but doesn't tell us what that includes.

16 May Would it be too bleak if I suggested eating a symbolic Jelly Baby?

26 May A glass of wine as Quincey and Jack congratulate Arthur and drown their sorrows.

18 June There's a kind of Scottish fruit slice called "flies' graveyard". That might make a suitable snack given Renfield's meal today.

24 June I guess a gingerbread woman, for the wolves? IDK, it turns out doing this for a horror novel is a bit grim.

8 July Thankfully the internet has hundreds of ideas for spider-themed cakes so you can eat along with Renfield.

18 July The voyage of the Demeter begins! Celebrate by eating like a sailor: have some salt pork, or make ship's biscuit.

20 July Renfield has just eaten several sparrows. Provide redress by feeding birds near you, bird flu guidance permitting.

24 July Imitate the "feet-folk" from York and Leeds by drinking some tea or eating some cured herring.

10 August Lucy and Mina enjoy a "severe tea". There are lots of severe teas in Victorian literature, but few writers actually describe what's in it - e.g. the Churchman's shilling magazine, 1868, has a story with a severe tea "which implies coffee, tea, and muffins, with substantials". What are substantials? I have no idea, but that's what you should eat today.

11 August Dracula has a little nibble on Lucy. I don't suggest doing this for every vampire bite in the novel, but given this one is particularly significant, how about marking the occasion with some black pudding?

30 August No food details for a while, but in this entry, Lucy notes that she "has an appetite like a cormorant" and "Arthur says I am getting fat". Celebrate with some cake.

3 September Van Helsing has been! And surely he wouldn't have come all the way from the Netherlands empty-handed? Acknowledge his visit with some gouda or a stroopwafel.

4 September Eat some sugar, which Renfield has requested for his flies.

7 September To stay in line with what the characters actually eat and drink, have a glass of port (though ideally not if you've just given blood). But for the real spirit of the day, consider a corn-on-the-cob.

9 September Free space! Jack has "an excellent meal" but doesn't say what it is. Dig into your favourite dinner.

10 September A sip of brandy, with which Van Helsing wets Lucy's lips.

11 September The garlic flowers arrive. There's lots that you can make with wild garlic - personally, I like it in risotto.

17 September A boxful of garlic flowers arrive for Lucy every day. Time to make chicken with 40 cloves of garlic. Other options for today include more black pudding (in honour of Renfield lapping up Jack's blood) or sherry.

18 September The Zookeeper enjoys a teacake, and so shall we.

20 September No food, but the labourers have "a stiff glass of grog". This is rum diluted with water, but you could also add lemon or lime juice, sugar, and/or cinnamon.

25 September Nibble another Jelly Baby for the Bloofer Lady.

29 September A lot happens in this entry, but there's not a lot of food. There are thirsty labourers, however. Maybe have a beer?

30 September Mina makes everyone a pot of tea. Also, we don't know what they have for dinner, but they eat it at 7pm, if you'd like to time your evening meal accordingly.

1 October More tea! Since this is being gulped down by a working man, make it builder's style - strong, sweet, lots of milk.

2 October Jonathan visits the Aërated Bread Company. He only has a cup of tea, but you could have whatever you like best from their menu:

(source)

3 October Dracula forces Mina to drink his blood like "a child forcing a kitten's nose into a saucer of milk". You could either have some more black pudding, or drink a glass of milk in solidarity with Mina.

15 October The Crew of Light aren't focusing much on meals any more, but they have travelled on the Orient Express. Here's the 1887 dining car menu.

(source - I can't vouch for the accuracy of a random person on Twitter but it looks plausible)

29 October No one is thinking of food in this bit of the novel (though Mina makes yet more tea), but as they're heading to Romania, have some sarmale. These stuffed cabbage rolls are the Romanian national dish.

31 October Mina and Van Helsing have "a huge basket of provisions". Have a picnic in their honour, if it's warm enough where you are.

1 November Mina and Van Helsing have "hot soup" into which the local cooks have put an extra amount of garlic. Consider having a truly extra amount of garlic with this 44-garlic-clove soup.

7 November The Crew of Light return to Transylvania. No details of food, but in honour of their journey, I would suggest a final round of chicken paprikash, to bring us back to where it all began.

[mariposakitten]

Next up: robber steak!

I skipped May 3; not a huge fan of eggplant, and I could have done the porridge but that would have meant cooking breakfast and I'm v much not a morning person. But May 4 is "robber steak," and it sounds amazing.

Bits of steak, bacon, and onions, strung on sticks and seasoned with red pepper - okay. So that sounds like kebabs, right, and "red pepper" usually means paprika. So I cut up some cheap beef and thick-cut bacon, added pearl onions, put it all onto kebabs, and did a dry marinade of: paprika (not smoked), garlic powder, ginger, allspice, coriander, salt, and white pepper. Didn't feel like grilling so I put them in the oven for 30 minutes at 400 (turning over several times), then 5 minutes under the broiler.

Result:

Verdict: fucking delicious. I worried that cooking it long enough to fully cook the bacon would leave the steak dry and tough, but even though it was cooked more than I usually like my steak it was still really tasty, especially when I basted the whole thing with the pan drippings. The onions had just a tiny bit of crunch left, enough to provide a nice contrast to the texture of the bacon and steak. A solid 8/10, thank you for the recipe, friend Jonathan!

Okay, so. I was inspired by this post.

I'm probably not going to do every single day (some of them just don't sound appealing, for starters), but since today's dish was chicken paprikash, and I LOVE both making and eating chicken paprikash, I decided why the hell not?

(It's not 100% traditional; I cut up boneless thighs instead of having large bone-in pieces of chicken, and it's over mashed potatoes instead of spaetzle or noodles. But I like it this way, and since I'm the one eating it, it's my opinion that matters, lol.)

Let's see how many I can end up doing!

[hypexion]

While the characters of Dracula don't know they're in Dracula, Jonathan picks up pretty quickly that something is up. The end of his May 4th entry is:

Whether it is the old lady's fear, or the many ghostly traditions of this place, or the crucifix itself, I do not know, but I am not feeling nearly as easy in my mind as usual. If this book should ever reach Mina before I do, let it bring my good-bye. Here comes the coach!

He's contemplating the idea that he might not come back. Of course, nothing obviously suspicious has happened at this point, but he's certainly picking up the vibes. And by May 5th, well, he begins with:

There are many odd things to put down, and, lest who reads them may fancy that I dined too well before I left Bistritz, let me put down my dinner exactly. I dined on what they called "robber steak"—bits of bacon, onion, and beef, seasoned with red pepper, and strung on sticks and roasted over the fire, in the simple style of the London cat's meat! The wine was Golden Mediasch, which produces a queer sting on the tongue, which is, however, not disagreeable. I had only a couple of glasses of this, and nothing else.

Jonathan has already noticed what he's about to write sounds totally out there, and he's trying to convince a reader (and himself) that he saw what he saw, and none of this foreign food or drink is effecting his judgement. He finishes his entry with:

I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt; I fear; I think strange things, which I dare not confess to my own soul. God keep me, if only for the sake of those dear to me!

Our friend Jonathan is now definitely on edge after two weird coach trips, and internally he's noticing that things are off. He suspects that the person who greets him at the door is that same man who drove the coach (because they are), and he's noticed that these guys are weirdly strong and unusually cold.

Things are about to escalate very quickly, but Dracula's facade was crumbling the moment Jonathan met him. (As Van Helsing later says, the Count ain't that bright after spending all his time cooped up.)

[thegoatsongs]

Question: Can you buy Golden Mediasch, a wine which, according to Jonathan Harker in Dracula, ‘produces a queer sting on the tongue’?

Answer: Golden Mediasch was a real wine, but it is no longer made.

Bram Stoker’s source for the episode in his novel, where his character Jonathan Harker has a memorable meal, was Andrew F. Crosse’s 1878 travelogue Round About The Carpathians: ‘The weather had been fair, though sport had been bad, so with a feeling not altogether sorrow like we sat down to a hearty good meal.

‘The wines were excellent. We had Golden Mediasch, one of the best wines grown in Transylvania, Roszamaber from Karlsburg and Bakatar. The peculiarity about the first-named wine is that it produces an agreeable pricking on the tongue, called in German tschirpsen.’

Today, wine production in the Medias (former Mediasch) area is limited to small- scale vineyards producing Riesling-style wines.

Jonathan Harker drank this wine in the fictional Golden Krone (Crown) Hotel in Bistritz. Fiction became fact in 1974 when the Golden Crown, the Hotel Coroana de Aur, opened in modern Bistrita. It served a wine it called Golden Mediasch, though its provenance is unknown.

Also on the menu was the meal Harker enjoyed there, Robber Steak, which is bacon, onion and beef roasted on an open fire with red pepper. Also on the menu was a dracula red wine and a plum-based spicy liqueur redolent of blood.

Source

[dearest-and-nearest]

Anyway, I finally decided to make a big post with Red's biography. Because some events I mentioned, but I've never given the big picture yet.

By the time the game starts she's about 40 years old (37-38 maybe?), she's a paladin of the Oath of Conquest and she's basically an animal, at least in other people's eyes. And Glassred is a nickname she gave herself (no meaning, she just wanted to be cool), and her real name is Saorsie.

Saorsie (or Glassred) at her 16

As a child, she was no different. A bulky girl for her age with a habit of getting into fights. The foster parents, who picked up the baby, certainly did not expect this when they told the girl that the Tieflings were not very fond of her and that she could be abused. Saorsie was eventually the one who abused everyone. Overall, it's important to clarify that despite being poor, her parents were loving and tolerated her aggression to the last, trying to explain that it wasn't allowed. Eventually they got fed up with it at some point and punished the child for another fight. That same night, on impulse, Saorsie killed them both.

People didn't accuse her of murder, though, thinking it was a robber. She had been taken in by her foster mother's sister, a paladin and a generally decent woman. Thanks to her, Saorsie grew up at least relatively adequate and civilized, because unlike her first foster parents, this woman raised the “rabid creature” strictly and harshly, as people raise dangerous animals.

Glassred grew up to be a bully anyway, capable of throwing another novice of the order to her death purely because Red thought she dared to lay eyes on a guy she liked. The funniest part was that the guy didn't like either of them, but that was something Red couldn't believe. Overall, it came as little surprise that she had vowed to take Conquest, since c'mon, she's still a fuckup now, and when she was 16 it was even worse. That said, it was somewhere around 15-16 that she just started seeing and interacting with Sceleritas. Urges didn't scare her and generally wanting to brutally kill someone seemed perfectly natural and normal to Red, she'd be more surprised to find out someone didn't have one.

At 17, she'd slaughtered her entire order and then earned a burn on her face from her foster mother for trying to kill her daughter. Killing didn't work, but maiming did. A couple hours after that Red came to Sarevok, finally giving up her old name and taking her nickname as her new and real name. She was soon followed by the then very young Orin (about 9 years old, no more).

She met Gortash at around 25+-. She didn't like him at first, like almost everyone else around her. Gradually, however, she grew to respect “Steak” and the nickname went from being a promise of his destiny to just a joke. It was she who helped Gortash to get ahead, as those who could hinder him in the future happened to be connected to one murder or another, and Red has a good imagination for murder.

She lost her arm about five years after she met Gortash. They were in his workshop, as usual, when he suggested she take something to look at. She took a prototype bomb, which exploded in her hand. Luckily for Gortash, Red didn't die on the spot, nor even dying from blood loss while he panicked and tried to bandage the rest of her arm. Thanks to the blood loss, however, she didn't eat him on the spot, but allowed herself to be convinced to wait. Her prosthetic was made of infernal metal and made specifically to fit her, weighted to keep Red's balance comfortably. In theory, the thing can be broken, but it takes a lot of effort.

And one thing, important to understand why she ended up choosing to deny Bhaal instead of gaining power from him. Triggers! Rape, incest, plans for forced reproduction! Skip the next paragraph if you don't like that.

Now, let's move on. She was created primarily for one purpose: reproduction. She is essentially an incubator, a breeding mare to bear more children by Bhaal. Children that would be of particularly pure blood, as much a part of him as Red herself. Fortunately, he didn't plan on forcing her to give birth before she accomplished anything significant, so he limited himself to 'preparation'. Rituals in which Bhaal, in the form of the Slayer, was raping Red on an altar while the rest of the cult stood nearby and praised him and their future children. Glassred had forgotten about it, but once those memories returned, once she remembered her own helplessness and disgust, she didn't even consider whether to obey her Father. Only abdication. Even at the cost of death, but not becoming a brood mare.

Otherwise, her biography doesn't differ from what was told in the game. Except for an important point: Red is in perfect harmony with herself before the game starts and after. She doesn't care that she kills people, for her being herself and doing what her nature dictates (namely being a fucked up psychopath) is as natural as breathing. That's why she doesn't have a conflict of “ah, I want to kill, I remember the corpses and how horrible it is”, all her conflicts are purely external. Bhaal's violence, Orin's betrayal, the tadpole in her head - all her problems are only from the people around her, Red has no internal conflict as such, she can't and doesn't want to change, like a wild animal can't and doesn't want to change.

Actually, it's that delicate balance between wild animal and sentient being that she is. A predator, but in her case her hunting grounds are the city. So yes, if Halsin had survived, she would not understand his desire to hang out in nature, hugging birch trees, at best. It's natural for her to know the city, to be able to blend in with the crowd (despite being a six foot horned beast), to track a person down alleys sometimes all day.

Oh, and a couple things that for some people will be scarier than the fact that she kills people, lol. Glassred is racist (primarily towards the shorter races. She basically doesn't take them outside of snacks and walking throwing weapons) and doesn't take any mental problems or illnesses seriously because she hasn't experienced such things herself and can't, so it's just dope to her. Also, with literally only a few exceptions in the form of Gortash, Gale and Laezel, she doesn't listen to the opinions and feelings of those around her. Astarion's trauma, Shadowheart's amnesia, Wyll's worries - for Red it's all equally uninteresting and just treated as background. She basically lacks even the slightest empathy

I'm still thinking about her ending, but it's probably a control the brain. But even if she decides to defeat it, she's still herself: a cruel, heartless, and dangerously savage creature ready to kill you for any word she doesn't like.

[detectivereads]

My Thoughts on the ND34 Trailer

I know a lot of people have expressed their thoughts on the trailer, but I am going to try to observe anything that looks interesting and ask questions.

In the museum gallery room in one of the opening shots, why is there fog around the artifacts? Isn’t that dangerous for the items. Or are we on a steak out and the robbers are coming in under the cover of fog.

The old guy with glasses (not sure who he is)-Did I see a scopa card? Very Phantom of Venice vibes here. The card is also seen later next to some footprints. Could he be like a professor or something?

Puppet of Death????  Maybe some alchemy, like a homunculus. We saw pictures and alchemy was mentioned in the trailer. Does Radek have something to do with it since we saw him with puppets in the background?

Oskar- eh not much was said about him, but he might have something to do with the fake jewels.

Blonde lady- Ok I am thinking she may be the person that assigns us the case to find her grandmother’s necklace.  She gives off Xena vibes from game 31.

Other Old guy- I do see puppets in the background with him so maybe he works with Radek?

Guy in purple coat- he might be our contact with a government like entity maybe a news reporter?

Elka- Computer smarts maybe she will be helping us solve the case?

Coffee shop owner lady- I’m getting Margherita vibes from Phantom but also the sweet lady that would offer you a slice of cake, maybe her coffee shop is the hot spot of latest gossip on the theft/fakes. Maybe her sweet vibe is a lie?

The scary looking office lady- She seems sus. She probably works with Oskar.

This next bit is pure speculation I have no idea so please take this with a grain of salt.

Some of the puzzles that I did see the big one that had the different shapes of stone.

3 crowns

3 crosses

3 hammers

3 swords

Each one of these pictures are on an octagon, a square, and a triangle no repeating shapes with the same picture (I.E. 2 octagon crowns) so maybe this is like sudoku. I did notice look at the puzzle on the side on the wood part there are the same symbols. Oh, wait I’m getting Bento puzzle vibes with this puzzle once I take a step back.

[fandomcrazy6226]

Liveblogging Dracula Daily - May 5

Brought to you on May 7 because tech week is k i l l i n g me

I'm actually skipping my 7th period class cause I was gonna take a nap and I may still do that but I'm gonna get through these two posts first, cause technically I'm already late on the May 5 catchup. Whoopsie. Anyway, there'll be two posts today, more or less back-to-back, so enjoy the double feature!

Ooh, we're finally getting to the castle! More sleeping problems, trust me that's very relatable atm. I'm so exhausted after rehearsal every night and then it's impossible to actually fall asleep when I get home.

OK that 'robber steak' actually sounds really good. Love me some bacon.

"A name meaning 'word-bearer'"... huh? Like they call the door by a name? They call him a name? That structure is a bit confusing.

Oh joy, Satan, hell, witch, and *gasp* vampire! Hmm... something tells me this Count won't be the most transparent about these rumors. (Also as someone who watched the Sam and Colby video where they went to Dracula's Castle I wonder if there's a reason "strigoi" wasn't listed here. I do see "stregoica" though, which does look similar)

I think this is where someone who knew nothing about Dracula would definitely figure out something is wrong. Like, the last chapter with the old woman and the innkeeper suddenly not speaking German were definitely a tip-off but an entire crowd of people doing a gesture to ward off the evil eye? Yeah that's a big ol' flashing red light

Honestly I'd get super emotional too if a huge crowd of people I didn't even know did some kind of big protective gesture for me. Also, I'm sorry, the driver's pants are how big??

Again, the way this scenery is described is just so beautiful. And I definitely appreciate the translations here otherwise I'd spend way too much time on Google Translate

Okay... this driver seems odd. "The dogs are too vicious to walk", sure, thanks for the warning. "You'll probably have enough problems tonight", um. Get off my lawn you creepy thing with huge pants. And now I feel bad for the horses.

Okay they're going real fast now, and the other people are offering Jonathan gifts? Strange... but alright then. Oh and they're also doing the evil-eye-protection thing. Yeah does Jonathan realize he's probably walking into a blanket-fort-sized red flag with this trip yet?

Wait, what? What does he mean "not expected"? Are they really gonna take him all the way back to the inn and make him wait for however long just to bring him back? What the hell?

Ummmmmm red eyes you say? And black horses? And hiding his face? Is this a disguise? And the red lips and sharp teeth, yeah calling it now this guy is actually Dracula.

OK as someone who doesn't drink, why would the brandy help? Like is is just a courage thing? Or maybe for sleep?

Oh, midnight, all the evil things come out at midnight. According to the old lady from before, I think. Good thing he's got that cross, and like a million villagers helping him out.

Hm... methinks this driver has superstrength and can talk to animals. Wouldn't you guess what two more vampire powers are?

Is he... are they following a Will-o-Wisp? Is that was the blue flame is? Cause the popping around magical blue fire floating in the air sounds a lot like a Will-o-Wisp

OK that sounds terrifying, surrounded by wolves. But hey, I'm pretty sure wild wolves don't actually attack humans, since humans aren't prey. Or at least that's what Wild Kratts taught me. OK Google is backing me up here. I think wolves are generally pretty chill with humans, although the horses would definitely have a reason to freak out, considering wolves can take down moose.

Oh, so the driver basically waves his arms and the wolves go away? Not suspicious at all...

Oh jeez, this just keeps on going. Hang on, how much is left of this entry? OK I shouldn't have to split the chapter. I'm just gonna keep going, hopefully I'm done before the bell rings.

Um, no, Jonathan, I don't think this is a common occurrence for most realtors. Aww, Mina mention again! Oh, this poor boy seriously needs to sleep. (Me too, buddy)

That's definitely a perfectly normal way to invite someone in. "Enter freely and of your own will" Hand of a dead man hmmmmmmmm?

Ha! Even he thinks it's the driver.

I assume Mr. Hawkins is his boss? And that's a really sweet thing to say. Mmmmm chimcken. I'm very hungry the lunch at my school is not great on Tuesdays, especially when it's flavorless pasta with flavorless tomato sauce. Like somehow the lack of flavor is it's own flavor.

Hair on palms isn't actually... possible. The only two places your body doesn't grow hair at all are your palms and the soles of your feet. So that's extra strange.

This chapter definitely makes things a lot more tense, and I'm very excited to see how that build in the next one!

PREVIOUS / NEXT

[vickyvicarious]

There are many odd things to put down, and, lest who reads them may fancy that I dined too well before I left Bistritz, let me put down my dinner exactly. I dined on what they called "robber steak"—bits of bacon, onion, and beef, seasoned with red pepper, and strung on sticks and roasted over the fire, in the simple style of the London cat's meat! The wine was Golden Mediasch, which produces a queer sting on the tongue, which is, however, not disagreeable. I had only a couple of glasses of this, and nothing else.

Jonathan Harker, 5 May (aka the 'I wasn't drunk I swear' version)

Let me be prosaic so far as facts can be; it will help me to bear up, and imagination must not run riot with me. If it does I am lost. Let me say at once how I stand—or seem to.

Jonathan Harker, 8 May

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.

Jonathan Harker, 12 May

+

Written 18 July, things so strange happening, that I shall keep accurate note henceforth till we land.

Captain of the Demeter, 18 July

Noticed right away the echo of Jonathan's oft-emphasized approach to weird events (be factual, keep a record). Of course, the Captain is only belatedly beginning this log, running back over some earlier suspicious events, whereas Jonathan made sure to keep an accurate account from the start. Then again, things did get weird a lot faster for him... Once I had this comparison in mind, I noticed another detail:

The roof was broken, and in two places were steps leading to vaults, but the ground had recently been dug over, and the earth placed in great wooden boxes, manifestly those which had been brought by the Slovaks. There was nobody about, and I made search for any further outlet, but there was none. Then I went over every inch of the ground, so as not to lose a chance. [...] There, in one of the great boxes, of which there were fifty in all, on a pile of newly dug earth, lay the Count!

Jonathan Harker, June 25

+

He was in a panic of superstitious fear, and I am afraid the panic may spread. To allay it, I shall to-day search entire ship carefully from stem to stern. [...] As there were only the big wooden boxes, there were no odd corners where a man could hide.

- Captain of the Demeter, 18 July

First off, the Captain 'indulges' superstition similarly to Jonathan accepting the crucifix and other gifts before he went to the castle. But more directly, they both share that impulse for a thorough search in order to discover anything hiding. Of course, the goals of their searches are different: the Captain is looking for a stowaway (if he honestly expects to find anything at all), while Jonathan was looking for a key. Given the relative sizes there's a clear difference between how thoroughly they actually look - adding in Jonathan knowing he's a prisoner and making the most of a rare chance, while the Captain is in charge here and is just humoring others. Add in the fact that the boxes are full of dirt and sealed shut for the Captain so obviously no one would be hiding in them, whereas Jonathan saw them before the lids were on. So it's no surprise things turn out the way they do.

Still, there's a horrible irony to the Captain's line about the boxes which is only increased by comparing it to Jonathan's own more recent quote about searching.

[odinspattern]

Made robbers steak from Dracula, served mine with tortillas, salad and tzatsiki. I also added zucchini because I had it on hand.

It was really delicious, 10/10 reccomend if you eat both beef and pork.

[theonlinemuse]

In honour of this year’s cycle of Dracula Daily, In Each Retelling decided to look at the robber’s steak mentioned in Chapter 5 — which Jonathan compares to London’s cat’s meat. And no, it’s not what you think. 

Robber’s Steak (aka Vlad the Impaler Steaks)

— (adapted from Ghoul at Heart by Lori Castellon

FOR THE MARINADE

1/2 cup olive oil

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

4-5 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp Italian seasoning

2 tbsp dried minced onions

1 tbsp course ground pepper

2 tsp smoked paprika

2 tsp salt

FOR THE KEBOBS

6-8 sirloin steaks

4 red bell peppers, chopped

2 red onions, chopped

PREPARATIONS

Step 1

Mix together olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, onions, Italian seasoning, pepper, paprika and salt. Set aside.

Step 2

Cut each steak into large 3 inch pieces, transfer to a ziplock bag and pour marinade over steak, place in fridge to marinate overnight.

Step 3

Let meat sit at room temperature for 30 minutes as you prepare the vegetables. Thread the onion, steak, and bell pepper onto skewers.

Step 4

Grill kabobs over direct high heat for ~8 minutes for medium rare or until desired doneness. Let steak rest 5 minutes before serving.

[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.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[oodlenoodleroodle]

I am glad to see that Jonathan doesn't think Mina should eat "robber steak".

[kroashent]

Val-Cula Daily - May 5

Val's random thoughts as she revisits Dracula Daily (An excellent choice if you missed it the first time around). Its a long day for Jonathan Harker, and one of the more interesting ones, so bear with the long post!

--------------------

AKA: Adventures on public transit.

Once again, Jonathan's delightful business trip in which nothing will go wrong (aside from some strange behaviour from the innkeeper the night before) begins with another delicious sounding dining experience:

I dined on what they called "robber steak"—bits of bacon, onion, and beef, seasoned with red pepper, and strung on sticks and roasted over the fire, in the simple style of the London cat's meat! The wine was Golden Mediasch, which produces a queer sting on the tongue, which is, however, not disagreeable. I had only a couple of glasses of this, and nothing else.

-------------

A driver comes to pick up our traveler, and the ominous conversation does not set off any red flags:

I quietly got my polyglot dictionary from my bag and looked them out. I must say they were not cheering to me, for amongst them were "Ordog"—Satan, "pokol"—hell, "stregoica"—witch, "vrolok" and "vlkoslak"—both of which mean the same thing, one being Slovak and the other Servian for something that is either were-wolf or vampire. (Mem., I must ask the Count about these superstitions)

Yeah, this seems like you're in for a fine time Jonathan. Nothing to worry about here. That said, I really like Jonathan carting around this little phrasebook. Its cool to see that, even in the 1880s, some tourist trends remain the same! I also like the confusion over vampire/werewolf. The two have quite an intertwined history, and those who have followed my work know I have an opinion on these things!

----------------

Jonathan goes on a lovely little coach ride, and just continues to be a pleasant person so happy to be on this little business trip. In many adaptations, Transylvania seems to be always portrayed as this perpetually dark, gloomy place. But, as Jonathan remarks:

Before us lay a green sloping land full of forests and woods, with here and there steep hills, crowned with clumps of trees or with farmhouses, the blank gable end to the road. There was everywhere a bewildering mass of fruit blossom—apple, plum, pear, cherry; and as we drove by I could see the green grass under the trees spangled with the fallen petals.

Its interesting to me at how colourful and picturesque Stoker's work is, given assumptions about it. People made a big deal about bright, colourful horror like Midsommar, but its present and strong here in the quintessential Gothic horror.

-----------

Jonathan's journey on the Transylvanian bus remains a beautiful journey through the countryside, even as his fellow passengers and drivers start to get nervous as his destination approaches. Dracula's coach appears dramatically, and gives us an early glimpse of how Drac, for all of his faults, knows how to make a hell of an entrance:

A calèche, with four horses, drove up behind us, overtook us, and drew up beside the coach. I could see from the flash of our lamps, as the rays fell on them, that the horses were coal-black and splendid animals. They were driven by a tall man, with a long brown beard and a great black hat, which seemed to hide his face from us. I could only see the gleam of a pair of very bright eyes, which seemed red in the lamplight, as he turned to us.

I also love this exchange:

One of my companions whispered to another the line from Burger's "Lenore":—

"Denn die Todten reiten schnell"— ("For the dead travel fast.")

The strange driver evidently heard the words, for he looked up with a gleaming smile.

Its such a smug move and I love it.

-------------

The blue flames are one of those cool concepts that sort of vanish in adaptation. Once Jonathan switches to the new carriage, his driver keeps stopping the coach as blue lights appear alongside the road, running off into the woods and marking the spots with rocks. There's something really cool about this whole bit, a glimpse at the supernatural world beyond the main focus of Dracula and his vampiric ilk. Its not explained at this point, but its just a really cool bit of worldbuilding that hints that there's more supernatural stuff in the world. The driver also displays some Wolf Master traits here, which I'm sure I'll touch upon on a less eventful day.

-------------

Jonathan has his first experience with both Castle Dracula and the Count himself (at least, the Count presenting himself openly). Its interesting to see the description of Dracula in the book vs. the iconic look of Bela Lugosi.

His face was a strong—a very strong—aquiline, with high bridge of the thin nose and peculiarly arched nostrils; with lofty domed forehead, and hair growing scantily round the temples but profusely elsewhere. His eyebrows were very massive, almost meeting over the nose, and with bushy hair that seemed to curl in its own profusion. The mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy moustache, was fixed and rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth; these protruded over the lips, whose remarkable ruddiness showed astonishing vitality in a man of his years. For the rest, his ears were pale, and at the tops extremely pointed; the chin was broad and strong, and the cheeks firm though thin. The general effect was one of extraordinary pallor.

Drac has some odd behaviours here, but is remarkably cordial and professional. We also learn that Dracula apparently makes a good roast chicken. We never learn if Dracula himself or one of the brides is the one who actually cooks, but the fact remains that someone in the castle did. I really love the image of Dracula working in a kitchen with an apron and chef's hat to make his guest meal that Jonathan raves about (Jonathan has yet to have a bad meal on his trip and has been collecting recipes. I hope he got the chicken recipe from Drac.)