#kitcatia

Super duper cunty commission I did for @kitcatia and @aria-greenhoodie 's OC Cindy! Oh, I love drawing wuh-luh-wuh ladies in pretty dresses, and being able to draw inspiration from the Art Deco and Art Nouveau eras was a bonus!

Little talks by Of Monsters and Men

I used to hear this song on the radio all the time, and I liked it but I haven't thought about it in ages. And listening to it with them in mind... you know, I don't think I would have seen it on my own but once I'm thinking about it I definitely get the vibes.

Definitely some of the back-and-forth works, though I wouldn't always assign the male voice to Jonathan or female to Mina. But in some instances it can work for both at different points of the book, definitely. Like the "some days I can't even trust myself / it's killing me to see you this way" - either Jonathan when he first comes back, or Mina when turning into a vampire.

I quite like the first verse in the context of both of them separated from one another in the first part of the book. Jonathan literally in an old and empty castle, (the idea of) Mina walking with him. Mina having trouble sleeping, kept up by worry and strange noises, and (the idea of) Jonathan trying to comfort her. But it could also be more literally the two of them after Hawkins died, too.

The second full verse as well - it's so wistful for the innocent past in a way that is so sad when applied to Jonathan and Mina who are both so young in the book. Also the juxtaposition of "we used to play outside when we were young / and full of life and full of love" straight to "some days I don't know if I am wrong or right / your mind is playing tricks on you, my dear" feels pretty brutal. But again, can work depending on the person and scene. They both feel that wistfulness for a lost innocence, and that last line specifically reminds me of Mina feeling unclean and Jonathan dismissing the idea.

And I mean everything about this feels VERY them:

You're gone gone gone away I watched you disappear All that's left is a ghost of you Now we're torn torn torn apart, there's nothing we can do Just let me go we'll meet again soon Now wait wait wait for me Please hang around

Every time they are separated despite all their love and dedication. Mina caring for Jonathan who is a shadow of his former sense. Jonathan caring for Mina who is fading away before him. When they are side by side but cannot confide in one another, and when they have to say what might be their final farewells again and again. Pleading for the other one to return to them... I also love that this is both singers harmonizing, not just a dialogue back and forth. They both feel all of this.

Honestly, lyrics-wise the chorus fits least to me, but I like the idea that "though the truth may vary / this ship will carry / our bodies safe to shore" is about them sticking together no matter what comes. No matter how their very world around them is rewritten into new and more horrifying realities than were ever dreamed of.

Plus, specific lyrics aside, the theme of dreaming fits super well with Dracula, and I really like that bit about two and a half minutes in where things all fade away and you can almost hear this kind of echoing creaking. Reminds me of Mina's trances... and that being right before them both coming back stronger fits too. And then at the end, the same kind of sound but it's their (relation)ship sailing on strong.

Oughhh so I have Odysseus take after his mom/grandpa in physique/build and Ctimene take after her dad. So yeah Anticlea looks a lot like Autolycus haha. Both take after their mom in personality, though Ctimene is softer, takes after her father.

I believe the earliest mention we get of Jonathan having any kind of weapon (other than the beloved shovel *blows a kiss*) is on October 1, when the lads all head off to Carfax for the first time. Jonathan's narration has this moment with Van Helsing handing out goodies:

We must, therefore, guard ourselves from his touch. Keep this near your heart"—as he spoke he lifted a little silver crucifix and held it out to me, I being nearest to him—"put these flowers round your neck"—here he handed to me a wreath of withered garlic blossoms—"for other enemies more mundane, this revolver and this knife; and for aid in all, these so small electric lamps, which you can fasten to your breast; and for all, and above all at the last, this, which we must not desecrate needless."

We know that he is actively handing out some of the items he mentions to Jonathan, but it's not clear if he gives him both a knife and a gun, or just one, or if those things are stuff the other men have and he's gesturing to them without giving Jonathan any weapon.

I tend towards Jonathan having his knife by that day somehow, whether he already brought it from home or Van Helsing gave it to him. The first time he's mentioned having a kukri knife specifically is on the 3rd, and it's spoken of as an established belonging of his: "Harker evidently meant to try the matter, for he had ready his great Kukri knife and made a fierce and sudden cut at him."

this is a very jonmina coded song, if you ask me

Oh man, I totally see it. Honestly, so much of it works for each of them individually as well as together. "Cold is the night without you here / just your absence ringing in my ears" is both of them them when separated in the first half of the book, as is "long is the road that leads me home / and longer still when I walk alone" honestly. It may seem more like just Jonathan on a surface level (especially as this is all the male singer before the female voice comes in), but if we are thinking of a less literal 'home' and 'walk' then it fits Mina too. Her home here is Jonathan, and the road is long and she walks alone because she doesn't know the way to him and cannot leave to find him for so long. The other halves of those first two verses don't fit quite as well initially but they kind of work in the sense of the 'memento mori'. Jonathan couldn't simply forget what happened to him and move on with his life - his trauma still affected him and Dracula was still out there. Similarly, later on when Dracula leaves England, they cannot surrender to the impulse to let him get away and just live on together because then Mina would turn into a vampire. In both instances "without the bad, the good disappears". And the lines "bitter is the thought of all that time / spent searching for something I'll never find" honestly works well for both of them in guilty retrospect about what happened to Lucy. Jonathan for not wanting to confront his memories when doing so may have given a key to save her sooner and Mina for both her irrational idea of exposing Lucy to Dracula in the first place as well as her ineffective efforts to help her in Whitby and her inability to be by her side when Lucy was dying.

Both of them have asked the other to "take this burden away from me / and bury it before it buries me". Both of them could say "many are the days I've wanted to cease / lay myself down and find some relief" especially in the latter part of the book. And the line about "heavy is the head that gets no sleep" needs no explaining for these poor sleep-deprived vampire hunters. The lines asking for apathy specifically to be taken away and buried make me think of Mina. Her lack of energy and apathy is a major symptom of turning into a vampire.

"Steady is the hand that's come to terms / with the lessons it has had to learn / I've seen the things that I must do / but Lord, this road is meant for two / so I am waiting here for you" is such a great verse because it could work for both of them in all the diverging directions there's tension about near the end of the book. For Mina, this could be her asking Jonathan to promise to kill her. She knows what she must do (or what must be done to her), but that road is meant for two not in the sense of him joining her as a vampire, but in the sense that she wants him to free her soul from that state. She wants him with her. She wants him to "take my hand and set me free" when it's too late.

And it can work just as well for Jonathan determining that he must turn himself against humanity if that happens. Deciding that this is what he must do, because the road is meant for two and he will follow with her. In this scenario Mina taking his hand would set him free from humanity and all the burdens of morality that weigh him down. Because despite how much he cares about all of those things and how much guilt he feels at the idea of becoming such and evil being, he cares about her more.

And it works too for both of them being determined to hunt down Dracula together to save her. They cannot stay behind, they cannot ignore this, they know what they must do. But they must do it together, they succeed as a team (even when not physically together) and leaving Mina out has been a harsh lesson Jonathan has had to learn. This leans more into the memento mori again but it still works.

This is a great song for the Harkers. And lyrics aside, I really like the gentle sound for them finding comfort together, no longer alone in the cold night.

Até o momento eu nunca achei nenhuma história que explorasse o grau de parentesco entre o Zé e os sobrinhos! Tecnicamente Zico e Zeca foram criados só pra servir como substituições dos sobrinhos do Donald e Mickey na época em que as próprias histórias do Zé eram apenas redesenhos das americanas. Além disso, acho que os pais do Zico e do Zeca nunca foram oficialmente mostrados ou mencionados nos quadrinhos, então nem é muita certeza se eles tem mesmo pai e/ou mãe!

O mais próximo de uma aparição oficial é nesse quadro aqui mas também não certeza absoluta que essas crianças são os gêmeos! Além disso, o próprio Zé Carioca nunca menciona ter irmãos ou irmãs, então COMO ele poderia sequer ter sobrinhos, certo?

Por essas e outras é que eu sou adepta do headcanon de que o Zico e Zeca não são sobrinhos biológicos do Zé! Gosto muito de pensar que ele na verdade é o padrinho dos gêmeos, mas sabe como é, todo parente não imediato acaba virando "tio".

Quanto aos pais do Zico e do Zeca eu curto muito a ideia deles terem uma mãe solo que conta com a ajuda da comunidade da Vila Xurupita. Provavelmente porque trabalha muito ou então porque trabalha de noite e, por ter horários invertidos, precisa da ajuda de amigos e vizinhos pra ficar de olho nos meninos dela.

Pfft, it would be really fun I admit.

okay now we got to pick the pokemon the other characters would be

Admittedly I'm not the best at this. Also confining it to the first couple generations (mostly 1-3), as that was what my dream was set in and also the ones I know best (though I still heavily consulted Serebii for this). But here's kind of what I'm thinking for the team...

Jonathan (THE): already assigned, with art and everything! Shiny Magikarp, later evolves into a white Gyarados. As a bonus, the Sapphire description reminds me of him in the castle too: "MAGIKARP is virtually useless in battle as it can only splash around. As a result, it is considered to be weak. However, it is actually a very hardy POKéMON that can survive in any body of water no matter how polluted it is."

Mina (POWER): Despite the name suggesting Fighting-type, I really wanted to do Psychic because that's what makes sense for her. I thought about the Gothita line but not only are they not present until Gen 5, but the descriptions don't fit her as well. I also liked the idea of the Ralts line particularly as Gardevoir has text about knowing the future and sacrificing itself for its trainer. But I think overall I prefer Eevee at the start (super adaptable and interested in lots of things)... and then teetering on the edge between Umbreon and Espeon near the later stages before finally evolving into Espeon just in time. We get the affection+daytime evolution which seems fitting for her, and again the description emphasizes Espeon's loyalty which also works well.

Jack (OF): Got so stuck on this one. I was drawn to mostly Electric or Bug types, but nothing stuck out to me as perfect. Venonat line is kind of fun. Nocturnal is a nod to his poor sleeping habits, big eyes because he's always looking and noticing stuff... Still not so sure on for him.

Arthur (LOVE): So I obviously want a dog. And I think Normal-type fits him. But there are no Normal-type dogs until gen 5. I thought about going with either a different type or an earlier dog pokemon, but honestly I think the Lillipup line works for Arthur too well so I'll break pattern and pick that. The whole line is about herding dogs who want to help keep other pokemon safe and I think that really suits him. Plus, moves such as Helping Hand where he boosts another pokemon's abilities, or Odor Sleuth that allow a Ghost-type to be hit with Normal/Fighting moves are perfect for him. That said, my second choice is Growlithe because they're also dogs who can have those moves, and are friendly/loyal with a good sense of smell that can pick up emotions. I just think the Fire-type and the Arcanine are a little less of an overall match.

Quincey (AND): He's generally quick to act and observant, so I was thinking some kind of bird for him, maybe. I like Ground-types for cowboy vibes but I think overall Pidgey line fits best for him. Quick, alert, large territory, beautiful plumage, a classic. I kind of feel like both he and Arthur would already be on their second evolution when you catch them, so he'd be a Pidgeotto already.

Van Helsing (VIOLENCE): The first thing I did was look up who can use Confusion or Supersonic, haha. I did consider Abra line but other than the super high intellect of Alakazam I don't think it fits best. And honestly... I know it's kind of a weird choice but weirdness itself feels fitting for him: I almost picked Lickitung. Abilities being Oblivious or Own Tempo works, the whole 'licking everything new to memorize it' kinda could go along with him having a million degress, and some of the moves work pretty well. Supersonic, Knock Off, Wrap, Disable, Refresh... I think overall I might lean towards Mr. Mime, though. Also an odd one, but the description mentions its ability to convince people of imaginary things which then become real and that seems fitting for him. Also the various Barrier/Light Screen type moves make sense for him always warding away vampires, and he's got Confusion and Double Slap too. Him being personally weak to Dark/Ghost types might make sense in some parts and make others more difficult, admittedly.

That's the best I've got for them all, at least! Feel free to suggest others if you like.

When you get them:

At the end: