So what with the revelation of both Samuel Barnett and Elijah Wood playing members of the clergy in a supernatural TV show and feature film respectively, my feverish imagination immediately got to work and I was inspired to make some digital art based on the concept of them both being Evil Force fighting pen pal priests writing to one another from each side of the Atlantic. (I will note that I started this before The Last Witch Hunter ended so I didn’t realise the twist at the end which I won’t say for spoilers’ sake but let’s just say it shat all over my idea something chronic)
As a result I played it fast and loose with the story perimeters. I’m unhealthily obsessed with the concept of Doddington being Strange’s sidekick (such a wasted opportunity) so in this lil universe he helps Strange and co. on his Holy missions. Dolan 37 assists Kaulder and Chloe much in the same way, but to keep the timelines in check they’re both livin’ in the 90s. (I know Strange was set in the early 2000s but in my ‘Doddington is sidekick’ world they’re in the 90s. Because I like the 90s.) - Oh and they’re both similar ages. Early 20s.
Doddington likes to put smiley face stickers on his letters and has made Dolan 37 a mixed tape with his favourite Cliff Richard songs on it, along with songs from some of his other favourite artists. He’s also sent a baking recipe, a picture of himself and an old newspaper cut out of Cliff Richard, just to push him onto his American friend that bit further.
They like to send each other curios, photos, diagrams, drawings, ingredients etc. to inspect and investigate as solving mysteries and fighting evil is their main occupation and passion.
They know each other’s real first names names but continue to refer to each other by the titles bestowed upon them by their immediate superiors - an inside joke, probably.
Dolan 37 is much more formal with his letter writing - his handwriting is much neater than Doddington’s and he writes his letters with an expensive fountain pen as opposed to Doddington’s choice of blue ballpoint. He always closes his envelopes with the Witch Hunter wax seal - both he and Doddington are very proud of their calling and veil their ongoing correspondence as ‘official church business’ even though each letter is more informal and friendly than the last.
Strange is aware of Doddington’s association and sometimes asks (well, demands) he ask his accomplished, well connected friend for information, hard to obtain documents and utilities he has access to in order to help them with their own investigations. Dolan 37 always obliges, much to Doddington’s simultaneous appreciation and embarrassment. Doddington in turn eagerly returns the favour when the opportunity arises.
The two rather lonely men are each so happy and relieved to have found a good friend in one another, and more than that, a kindred spirit who can completely understand and sympathise with the other’s way of life along with the dangers they both face. Their enthusiasm for their bond is illustrated by the reams and reams of paper they write on, neither of them ever managing to run out of things to say.
- and one day they hope to meet each other, perhaps to join forces to fight an Evil too massive for only one of their crews to handle, or maybe they’ll meet during a well earned break from it all - but they will meet, for sure, and that’s a day they both look forward to very much.
