The hellish elixir of bloode

[dhampyresa]

(Entry title taken from the intertitles of Murnau's 1922 Nosferatu.)


I mentioned recently to someone IRL that I gave blood regularly and was asked why i did. This happens a lot of the time someone new hears about it. Even after years and many such questions, I continue to be absolutely baffled by that question. I do it because it's the right thing to do. Why do they think I'm doing it? So they'll give me the blood and I'll make blood sausage out of it? For the free pain aux raisins? And every time, because the answer is so fucking obvious and I can't understand why they'd ask, it gets my hackles up and I get defensive. I don't get it. Why do people ask? Isn't it obvious?

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Finished my Dracula reread I'd started with the 2022 Dracula Daily. Yes, I'm very late *shrug emoji* and yes I finished it during the blood donation. What can I say, I am a comedy genious.

It was really lovely to see all the various reactions to the actual book from people who'd never read it before. People falling in love with everyone! Our friend Jonathan being a sweetheart! Recognising how kind Lucy is! Seeing Mina for the MVP she is! Realising Renfield is a hero and Seward is a fucking creep, actually! Becoming willing to fistfight Alan Moore in a Denny's parking lot for the honour of the Harkers' love! Being both surprised and delighted by Quincey Morris even existing! Being thoroughly creeped out by the log of The Demeter! Realising the book is Good, Actually!

I posted my liveundeadblogging of the book in a group chat, might see if I can gather some of the most interesting and/or funny or whatever bits from there to post on here.

The log of The Demeter remains my favourite horror short story of all time. « But I am captain, and I must not leave my ship. » CHILLS, every goddamn time.

The edition I was reading also had illustrations by Becky Cloonan, whose art I love and greatly admire, and looking at those closely made me appreciate her artistry even more and also helped give me a better idea of where I want my art to go, so to speak. Not that I can put it into words, lol

Before I go to sleep and slumber for another eighteen hundred years, I ask you all to play the part of Paris in deciding who of Lucy Westenra, Quincey Morris or RM Renfield deserves the golden apple inscribed with "To the most ill-served by adaptations of Dracula".

Comments

[isis]

I'm envious. You get pain aux raisins, we get cheap supermarket sugar cookies.

[watersword]

Hunh, I've never gotten that! I am secretly motivated by the fact that blood drives are the only place I permit myself to eat the "fruit" gummy candy they supply afterwards (the other options are Oreos, and hard no), or at least that's how I bribe myself to get out of the house when the weather is bad.

[corvidology]

I'd have to go with Renfield.

[senmut]

I'm going with Lucy.

[flamingsword]

Sorry, that comment was meant for a completely different post!

[kore]

People falling in love with everyone! Our friend Jonathan being a sweetheart! Recognising how kind Lucy is! Seeing Mina for the MVP she is! Realising Renfield is a hero and Seward is a fucking creep, actually! Becoming willing to fistfight Alan Moore in a Denny's parking lot for the honour of the Harkers' love! Being both surprised and delighted by Quincey Morris even existing! Being thoroughly creeped out by the log of The Demeter! Realising the book is Good, Actually!

That was SO FUN, on Tumblr and even Twitter. Dracula is one of my favourite books (I used to reread it every Halloween) and the chronological rearrangement worked so well! Tumblr Book Club being about a nineteenth-gentury Gothic classic and Tumblr Film School being about a made-up lot Scorcese (sp) flick were just highlights of my online year.

[luzula]

Why do people ask? Isn't it obvious?
You should reply that you have a vampire lover! : )