calliopes_pen | Dear Yuletide Writer 2025

The first half of this letter is mostly copied from previous years, since my likes and dislikes are about the same. Numerous prompts were copied over as well, though amended in light of who was or was not available in regard to the characters.

Dear Yuletide Writer,

First of all, thank you so much for signing up, Yuletide writer. The fact that you are thereby offering to write even for one of the fandoms that I inhabit is delightful. If it was more than one fandom that we matched on, I’m pleasantly surprised.

Before I get started, let me say one thing. Just let the prompts take you where they may, and I’m certain that I’ll be happy. Try not to feel pressured or like you are being forced to write by these specifications, and have fun. This isn’t a point-by-point thing that I demand you stick with. You can pick whichever you want to do. You can mix and match if you like.

I’ve made a jump list to make things a little easier, just like last year’s letter, and the one before that for however many years back. You can skip around to whichever fandom you matched on faster that way. Also, for each fandom I will provide a list of pairings that I am fine with seeing, whether or not they are already canon or the characters were or were not nominated, as well as where you can find each item.

If you do wish to see what I have written for prior Yuletides, please step right this way. This is my 19th Yuletide, as I’ve been doing this since 2006. You can also look back at previous Dear Yuletide letters I have written via the Dear Yuletide Letter tag, which accompanies this post.

I am fine with gen, het, or slash. If you want to do anything pairing free, that is completely fine with me, as well. For me, the characterization is the most important aspect of the story. Just do your best. Use your own judgment for what works from the huge selection of prompts, and I’m sure I’ll love the end result.

So now we get to my likes, as well as my dislikes. My likes: Plot. Victorian horror, gothic literature (encompassing romance and horror), horror—psychological or otherwise, slow building suspense, ghosts/spirit visitations/séances, haunted houses, demons, werewolves, folklore, mythology, dark and twisted fairy tales, darkfic, vampires, Hammer Horror Movies, possession (ghostly or demonic) and exorcisms, mind control, hypnosis, character studies, adventure, action, unreliable narrators, missing scenes, devoted friendship and relationships, character development, introspection, what if AUs, worldbuilding, snark.

Also (breaking this into another paragraph due to wall of text): 19th century Spiritualism, vengeful spirits, hurt/comfort, graphic violence, PTSD, eldritch abominations, Stockholm Syndrome, sensory deprivation, brainwashing, drama, nightmares, sleepwalking, mystery, gaslighting from evil vampire Counts, fantasy elements, Faustian bargains/pacts, captivity, slow moving zombies, black magic/rituals/summoning of something, necromancy, graveyards, mounting dread, '5+1' things, epistolary novels/diary format.

Dislikes/Do Not Want To Read List: Cancer, Covid/pandemic references or situations, PWP, watersports, scat play, rape, incest, underage, mpreg, omegaverse, bestiality, cannibalism, necrophilia, kidfic, fast moving zombies, tentacle porn, sex pollen, RPF. Animal cruelty (outside of damage inflicted to Dracula or other vampires in bat or wolf form). Character bashing, politics. Reader Inserts, modern day AU's.

The fandoms I requested this year are the following: Bram Stoker’s Van Helsing (2021), Count Dracula (1970), Count Dracula (1977), Dracula (TV 1968), Fright Night (Movies 1985-1988), Legend (1985), Mr. Boogedy (Movies 1986-1987) and Nosferatu (2024).

This is a blanket statement for all requested fandoms: Yes, treats will always be welcome, if you are so inclined!

I selected “My gift must feature one or more of my chosen character tags (giver's choice)” for all of my requests. Feel free to use whoever you so desire in whatever prompt you happen to select, and if you end up using more than what I requested, I’ll be fine with that.

Bram Stoker’s Van Helsing (2021)
Characters: Any
Nominated: Abraham Van Helsing, Arthur Holmwood, John Seward, Lucy Westenra

What if Arthur chose Lucy in the end, and escaped with her? He was very close to losing himself entirely as it was. Would they stalk the night together, and cause even worse problems for Seward and Van Helsing (and, eventually, Jonathan and Mina, since Mina pops in at the end with his journal)

I sort of doubt that we matched on this one, so if you’re curious, it’s directed by Steve Lawson. It’s a quick watch, at 1 hour, 25 minutes. You can find links for viewing it a bit further down.

This film takes place entirely during the time that Lucy is being preyed on by Dracula, with a slight AU twist in what she does once she fully transforms into a vampire. In this particular incarnation, Dracula is only ever seen as fog, or you see the back of his cape as he approaches Lucy’s bed. Afterwards, he only gets mentioned by Vampire Lucy as "the Master."

Differences from the novel: There is no Quincey in this version of the story, and there is a mild love triangle between Lucy, Seward, and Arthur, though the men do get over it. Once Lucy turns, instead of going after small children, she bites and enslaves Arthur, so that he plucks women off the street for her.

Not only did she bite Arthur, but it is also mentioned that he drank from her, as well, and began to feel something of her cravings. He is utterly horrified by his activities, once he is out of her power.

Mina pops up at the very end of the film, with Jonathan’s diary ready for Van Helsing to acquire. So if you wanted to work her or Jonathan—who appears to be ill and recovering off screen--into the chaos, I would be great with that. Please ignore the sequel that isn’t really a sequel from the same director (Wrath of Dracula).

Other prompts:

-Arthur remains affected and is soon in league with Dracula, despite Lucy being staked. Since Dracula himself wasn’t nominated, you can either leave him on the sidelines like the malignant force that he is if you like. If you want to write him, I would be equally delighted. Would Arthur be turned by him, or merely used as a pawn to learn their plans? Would he use the man to thwart efforts to find him?

-What if, despite Lucy’s destruction, Arthur remained allied more toward the undead in secret? Does Seward notice subtle clues pointing toward this first, or would it take someone like Mina or Jonathan to detect it somewhere down the line? Does Arthur sabotage attempts to defeat the Count?

-What if Dracula had also bitten Seward? If they had two under attack, Van Helsing would be run ragged. What if both Lucy and Seward turned? Or, to change things, what if Lucy was saved, and Seward turned? That poor maid would likely get eaten by one or both of them no matter what happened.

-What if killing Lucy didn't save Arthur, and he fully turned while Van Helsing was meeting Mina? As I noted earlier in the letter, Lucy did feed him some of her blood when she bit him off screen. There might be some sort of taint in his blood, taking root as he rests the morning after everything. Is Seward in danger, while Van Helsing is off reading diaries?

Pairings I enjoy, even if someone wasn’t nominated this year: Lucy/Seward. Lucy/Arthur. Lucy and Van Helsing. Seward and Van Helsing. Dracula and Van Helsing. Mina and Van Helsing. Lucy/Mina.. Jonathan/Mina. Lucy/Jonathan.

You can watch Bram Stoker’s Van Helsing (2021) on Tubi (here) or on Youtube (here; also here.). It is also available on Putlocker (here) and 123Movies (here).

Count Dracula (1970)
Characters: Any
Those nominated this year: Jonathan, Dracula, Lucy, Mina

Dr. Van Helsing didn’t tell Jonathan anything about what was going on for the longest time! Jonathan thought he was insane, or that he had simply dreamed his experiences, and convinced himself the nightmare was true. In such a state, what if the Count did not strike at the others through Renfield?

What if, upon seeing Jonathan left in the dark and vulnerable, doubting everything about his mind and senses, Dracula decided to use Jonathan as a pawn? Could there be a residual influence or connection between them because of the bite? Would Jonathan sleepwalk, or just fall into more confusion?

Other prompts:

-What if this version of Mina was turned into a vampire instead of Lucy? Would she stalk Jonathan through the clinic? Or, perhaps, Lucy (instead of going after children) preys upon one she loved in life--Mina--rather than Dracula attacking Mina at the opera. In such a scenario, would Lucy still be staked? Would Jonathan be unable to help the men, instead protecting Mina and Lucy? Would anyone be staked at all?

-Before Jonathan leaps out of the castle window and into a stream below, he keeps hearing the voices of the Brides and Dracula in his mind. Yes, they are memories of what each has said...but what if they weren’t? What if he truly was hearing them trying to control him? What if he heard them again at the clinic?

-Jonathan seemed drawn to Renfield’s cell as he wandered around the clinic. What would happen if they were caught sort of bonding? Either by Van Helsing or Mina? Yes, this version of Renfield can’t speak, but that doesn’t mean Jonathan can’t share some bugs with him, or just sit nearby, assuring the other man it’s okay and nobody would hurt him, as Seward had tried to assure him earlier. As both had been tormented by Dracula, Jonathan might feel like he was a kindred spirit of a sort.

-What if Jonathan made it to the opera (it was Die Fledermaus/The Bat; Franco’s little in joke) just before the Count struck? What if he convinced Mina to return to the clinic after explaining it was a trap, but was then bitten himself once she left? Would he end up left to be babysat by Van Helsing as Mina was in the film? How poorly would things go for him?

Pairings I would enjoy in this adaptation, even if they weren’t nominated: Jonathan/Mina. Jonathan/Dracula. Jonathan and Renfield. Van Helsing and Dracula. Van Helsing and Mina. Lucy and Mina. Seward and Renfield. Jonathan and Van Helsing.

You can find the movie free with ads on Youtube; it was also uploaded here, albeit with a horror host in a few spots. You can also find it on Tubi.

Count Dracula (1977)
Characters: Any
Those nominated this year were: Van Helsing, Dracula, Seward, Jonathan, Lucy, Mina, Quincey P. Holmwood, Renfield.

What if Renfield did as Dracula wanted? What if he hadn’t tried to warn Seward and instead did as Dracula expected and drank from an “initiated human”—meaning Mina, somehow, while Jonathan and Seward were in shouting distance? Mina might do likewise, being in Dracula’s power at that moment from all that was implied. Or maybe it’s her choice. How would this work without drawing attention, and how would the men not notice?

Does Jonathan notice anything odd about her at all later? Was Mina encouraged to “initiate” Jonathan, turning him and also providing Dracula’s own blood to do so faster? And if he was turned, what would the four of them (since Renfield’s bound to get out of that cell even if they don’t come for him; seriously, the guy’s fantastic at that, so he’s right behind them eventually) manage to do before they were found out?

This particular canon has left me with so many prompts, so pick whatever inspires you!

Other prompts:

-A nice quiet moment of downtime, perhaps with the Frank Finlay!Van Helsing making his patented hot chocolate for Jonathan, and getting more out of him than he allowed himself to write in his journal. Perhaps the man suspects something was omitted, and manages to pry it out of the other gentleman. Just to ease both of their worries, would he lace it with holy water?

Another idea for this one: perhaps it’s the day after the blood exchange between Mina and Dracula, and it’s his way of being certain that he wasn’t tainted without his knowledge.

-Renfield asks to speak with Jonathan, to the man’s confusion. He confuses Jonathan further by inquiring if the Count ever initiated him while he was away from home. Perhaps it is Renfield’s way of warning him of what there is to come, since begging Seward with that tantrum earlier didn’t work. Does Jonathan figure out the danger and act?

-Somehow becoming the Count's disciples, and/or becoming initiated, Jonathan and Mina are completely in the Count's power. They are instructed, with Renfield's presumably reluctant assistance, to stop Van Helsing from meddling in his affairs. Does Van Helsing already suspect something?

If there was no biting involved, then neither of them have fangs. Perhaps it is not so obvious in their appearances, but in their mannerisms. How are they different in Van Helsing's presence? Can Van Helsing reach them beyond their control? And is there a strange team up with a fretful Renfield, in order to bring them back towards the light? Renfield did like Mina when she was herself, after all. It stands to reason he wouldn't care for what she (or, by extension, Jonathan) was becoming.

-What if Renfield begged Van Helsing to let him go free of the asylum, hoping he might sway Seward for him? Could he even be calmer about it, and less hysterical than in canon? If he were let go for some reason, would he be spared from being murdered by Dracula? And would he then request to assist everyone with Mina if the blood exchange still happened, given his fondness for her?

Would he be allowed to go with the men as they traveled, to aid in keeping Mina safe, or is that a step too far for everyone? Could Van Helsing handle keeping an eye on both a gradually turning Mina and Renfield as they rode?

-Jonathan doesn’t make it home, instead being changed into a vampire. Perhaps the Count did it out of amusement, if Jonathan didn’t escape in time following attempted whacking with the shovel?

-Another prompt from the above line of thought: what if an already infected Jonathan escaped, turning in the countryside and left to fend for himself? What if he later met up with Van Helsing and Mina on their journey to the castle? Is he feral? Vicious like when Lucy tried to lure Quincey to her? Or is he eerie and pleasant like Dracula? Does he try to entice Mina to leave the protective circle before the Brides show up?

-What if Jonathan's letter never arrived? You remember the one that told Mina to collect him from a convent in Budapest? What if he eventually stumbled his own way back home, arriving just in time to witness the fallout of Mina's attack? How sad would such a reunion between the two be as each learns what befell the other, and are they able to hold each other together?

-Vampire Lucy escapes being staked and finds Jonathan and Mina shortly after they’ve returned to England. How do they react to seeing Lucy like this? Is Mina horrified to see her dear sister like this? Were Jonathan and Lucy close before? Are they fooled? Are they bitten?

-What if Van Helsing was able to save Lucy from turning, but lost another? What if, thwarted in turning her, Dracula decided another must surely do for a new disciple? Your choice as to who: Quincey, Seward, or Jonathan would be intriguing.

Jonathan and Mina are brought back home to England, once he’s been collected from Budapest. However, there was something strange going on in the film.

The driver of the carriage in this adaptation was Dracula, and Jonathan just stood there in horror upon recognizing him, dropping his coins, while Mina wondered what was wrong. Dracula then rode away, grinning. It seems that with the news of Mrs. Westenra and Lucy being dead, and Mina understandably being devastated to hear that her whole family is no more, Jonathan just neglects to explain further about that little encounter.

What if he didn’t? I presume that he wouldn’t want to burden an overwhelmed Mina right then, but he could always tell someone else, and wonder what to do. What if he confided in Van Helsing in private? Would the man be concerned that Jonathan might be the next to be targeted?

If you want to, instead, have a scene where Dracula grabs Jonathan, spiriting him away for a pleasant and jovial (well, on Dracula’s part; this incarnation is just smug like that) ride of terror and potential doom, or a quick blood exchange before Jonathan's dumped back home, speechless and shaking, go for it!

Does Dracula also politely give him that full recipe for paprika hendl, which Jonathan had just jokingly begged Mina to never make for him?

Pairings I enjoy, even if someone wasn't nominated: Mina/Jonathan. Jonathan/Dracula. Renfield and Mina. Van Helsing and Jonathan. Van Helsing and Mina. Jonathan and Quincey. Mina, Lucy, and Jonathan. Lucy and Jonathan. Lucy/Quincey. Van Helsing and Seward. Lucy and Van Helsing. Jonathan and the Brides of Dracula. Dracula and the Brides of Dracula. Mina and the Brides of Dracula. Van Helsing and Dracula.

While this is one of the more faithful adaptations of the novel, there are a couple of major differences. Mina and Lucy are now biological sisters (so please don't turn them into lovers in this particular version) for one thing, and poor doomed Mrs. Westenra is their mother. Arthur Holmwood and Quincey Morris were merged into Quincey P. Holmwood.

In the novel, Dracula is taken out by a Bowie knife (from Quincey) to the heart, at the same time that he gets a Kukri (from Jonathan) across the throat, possibly decapitating the Count before he crumbles to dust. In this movie, Van Helsing drives a wooden stake through Dracula's heart (which causes a lot of wind).

Jack Shepherd is, in my opinion, one of the best Renfields. I found this particular incarnation of the character incredibly sympathetic, sweet, and full of potential in his desperation. I also adored Bosco Hogan as Jonathan, and his relationship with Mina was lovely, just as it should be.

I love this movie. I generally can find no flaws to speak of in the casting department, or anything to complain about (aside from Quincey’s amusingly over the top accent). Feel free to have fun with it all!

There are quite a few uploads of Count Dracula (1977) across Youtube. The best uploads I’ve found are here, here, and here.

Dracula (TV 1968)
Characters: Any
Those nominated this year: Dracula, Seward, Mina, and Jonathan.

In the aftermath of being freed from Dracula’s control, what if Jonathan still isn’t entirely what one would describe as normal? What if, having been possessed in the cell by Dracula as he had been, and being under mind control for so long, he were now forced into the role of a medium?

Is there anything good at all about this gift? Is there some scrap of hope that it can be beneficial? Is the ability only for things of a more diabolical persuasion? Can he find vampires in the graveyard before they become a threat, sort of like a human dousing rod?

Or is it actually detrimental for Jonathan to reside anywhere near graveyards now? Can he even hear his former Master calling out from the great beyond, demanding that he be resurrected?

This version of Dracula originates from a series called Mystery And Imagination, most episodes of which are now lost. Dracula, thankfully, survived; here, he is played by Denholm Elliott. The differences between the novel and this are: Quincey and Arthur do not exist. Jonathan and Renfield and merged, with Jonathan getting the asylum treatment and being put into Dracula’s power after being saved from the Brides.

Jonathan is hopelessly devoted to Dracula, and utterly devastated when he’s “cast aside” for first Lucy, and then Mina. Seward is engaged to Lucy (whose last name is now Weston, rather than Westenra). Lucy bites Mina, quickly seducing her in the graveyard.

Van Helsing slays Dracula with a mixture of sunlight and detaining him with a cross until he slowly dissolves. Mrs. Weston actually survives the events of the film, unlike her book counterpart; still, she outlived her daughter, and does have a heart condition.

If we didn’t match on this one, it’s a quick and easy canon to get through, being 1 hour, and 20 minutes in duration. I provide links for viewing it a bit further on.

I truly love this Dracula adaptation, which is probably obvious if you check out what fanfic I've written in the past. I wish the movie had continued for a few more minutes, so we could have seen exactly what Dracula being destroyed did to Jonathan. As it is, Mina is just leading him away, and he appears to be in shock. She's still borderline when it comes to remaining a human, and could go either way.

If you feel like you're interested in writing in Lucy, Van Helsing, or any other character that wasn't nominated this year, I certainly wouldn't want to stop you, Dear Writer, and would love as many or as few as you feel like you want in the tale you craft.

Other prompts:

-You would think that Seward or Lucy would have attended Jonathan and Mina's wedding, being friends of the couple before the film started, based on an early comment. What if Seward had recognized his friend when he was brought to the asylum? Could he have summoned Mina sooner? Would Seward have any incredible suspicions for the cause of Jonathan’s collapse, after meeting Dracula?

Does it end badly for himself, for Mina, but especially for Lucy in such an AU, or better, if Van Helsing were never called in? Could Seward and Mina reach a shred of the real Jonathan prior to the time that Dracula would have preyed on Lucy? Would Seward somehow get himself bitten instead of her? Would he be able to stake a vampire without fainting?

-If Jonathan were himself beneath the control, some place in his mind where he wasn’t the servant, and knew what was going on, just how horrified was he during everything? How did he cope if he happened to resurface at some point?

-What if Dracula opted to escape with Mina and Jonathan prior to the final confrontation in the graveyard? What if Seward and Van Helsing were unable to follow them? What if Jonathan was bitten, as he thought he should be? Would the newly turned Mina and Jonathan seek out and bite Seward before Van Helsing could prevent it?

-Seward, Mina, and Jonathan are forced to deal with werewolves. It’s up to the writer who gets bitten, and forced to deal with lycanthropy. Would Seward faint dead away at the very idea of being a vicious monster when the moon is full? Would Jonathan be upset at falling another supernatural spell, and wonder about his strange lot in life? Or would he be determined to take control and fix himself this time?

Or is it Mina that is unexpectedly bitten by a werewolf? Was she trying to save one of the men, afraid of losing someone else she loved? Dear writer, I’m fine if you feel like going darkly comedic, or into outright horror.

-What if Jonathan found out that he had somehow managed to legally inherit Glebe House from the Count? Would he be baffled at the Count thinking ahead like that now that he is free, or terrified? Would a part of him feel honored his comfort had been seen to, or would he be suspicious? How does Seward react to the news?

If Jonathan feared being alone there, would Mina and Seward join him for a night, in order to determine what he needed to keep or remove? Could it potentially turn into a night of horror? I would imagine Jonathan or Seward could be unnerved by sounds echoing along the corridors, or the creak of a floorboard. Does Jonathan recall there were rumors of a haunting, and that was the reason the Count desired the residence?

Does Mina happen to mention she has the deceased vampire's ring, or does she keep that information from them?

-What if Dracula did not “abandon” Jonathan? What if he were more subtle about things, so that Jonathan would not go leaping after him after breaking out of a cell? What if, instead, Dracula spoke to him through some connection at all times? In such an AU, would Jonathan not be caught and locked away in an asylum at all?

Could he just be out there, squirreled away in Glebe House, protecting Dracula and eating bugs? Is he able to perform the services of his profession usefully, such as getting the Count’s affairs sorted once he’s moved in? Could Dracula control Jonathan enough to make him more formidable an opponent than just bug eating?

The poor fellow didn’t have that much to do, after all, aside from escape at the end (and escape a few times in general) and take Mina to Dracula--and all those hypnosis sessions. Give me diabolical scenes between this Jonathan and Dracula.

And what would this enslaved Jonathan be like if he encountered Seward and Mina? I would love to see her trying to get through to him.

Pairings I would enjoy, even if someone wasn’t nominated this year: Dracula/Jonathan. Dracula and Jonathan. Mina/Jonathan. Lucy/Mina. Seward/Lucy. Lucy and Jonathan. Jonathan and Seward. Seward and Dracula. Jonathan, Seward and Mina.

You can find Dracula (TV 1968) here, here, here, and here, over on Youtube. For that last link, you’ll just have to skip around a few horror host segments in the upload if you aren’t interested in that.

Fright Night (Movies 1985-1988)
Characters: Any
Those nominated this year: Charley, Peter Vincent, Amy, Regine, Jerry, Billy, Bozworth, “Evil” Ed

What if Amy was targeted by Regine first, before Charley? What if there was still something of the vampire in Amy that found itself drawn to the sibling of what was, basically, her sire (even if it was reversed)? Or what if some part of her might miss the darkness she had felt for a brief time? If she were still influenced in any way, would she be entirely against Regine’s plans for Charley?

Could she alter those plans, if she does figure out the ‘torture him for all eternity’ part? Would it upset her to see Charley halfway turned, or thrill her? Would she be sad that he gets to feel how she felt because of another Dandrige?

Honestly, I do miss Amy when it comes to the sequel. Traci Lind did fine as Alex, but I would have loved to have seen Amy’s reactions to everything happening again. I sort of doubt that Amy could ever be convinced that it was all hypnotism by a serial killer, and nothing actually went down, as Charley was convinced by the time of the sequel.

When it comes to Peter Vincent, the performance by Roddy McDowall is one of my favorites. He gave a lot of heart to a man terrified to be dragged into such a situation, and was incredibly emotional (and had every right to be, given how tormented he was!) as Ed died next to him.

I absolutely love the friendship that developed between him and Charley. And, perhaps, with Peter and Amy for however short a time, going by the hug between the three at the end of the first film.

Other prompts (some recycled from many Yuletides ago):

-What if Peter was the one due to be turned by Regine, instead of Charley? Charley certainly wouldn’t be much help, since at the time he believed that vampires were just a shared delusion.

-When Charley looked into Regine’s eyes at the 57:09 mark in Fright Night Part 2, when be was about to try to stake her, she made him turn around and walk off into traffic. What if Regine had made him stay until nightfall, and turned him that very night? He seemed like he might be near to that point, since his eyes glowed in response when hers did. Or what if she made him go and deliver some form of message to Peter?

Would Peter then try to find Amy, in order to get help? She’s probably got her own issues, but would want to aid Charley? While Alex wasn’t nominated this year, you could try to get her involved, too, if you wanted.

-Charley, Peter and Amy dealing with something else supernatural happening to them, other than vampires. Maybe they have a ghostly visitation, and that’s the reason Amy left?

-Amy, Peter, and Charley stumble back to Charley’s house following the events at Dandrige’s place. What happens when Charley’s mother gets home? How is the mess explained? A table’s destroyed, something else might have been smashed. Ed’s body might be gone (if you want to go with him leaving after the stake was pulled out) but there is still blood on the floor.

If you don’t care for Ed that much (he wasn’t really a favorite for me,, but I don’t hate him) and want them to explain a corpse to her, too, I would be delighted. You don’t have to go with the excuse that happened by the time of the second film, with everyone believing it was hypnosis by a serial killer.

-Killing Regine doesn’t save Charley. The process was slower with him than it was with Amy, and more was irrevocably altered as a result.

-What if Charley had agreed that night, when Jerry entered his bedroom to throttle and almost kill him? What if Charley listened, and managed to leave Jerry alone? How long could Charley keep that promise? Would Amy and Ed have still been bitten? Would Charley have ever offered his neck to keep them safe?

-Charley either gets possessed by Jerry, or just mind controlled/hypnotized into resurrecting him. Perhaps that quick bite from Jerry in bat form leaves him vulnerable to it? Who notices something wrong first, and how long after they leave the basement before it kicks in?

Is it Amy that notices immediately? It would be interesting if she were the one to point it out to Peter, with the two of them teaming up this time. She might sense something creepy about him, given her experiences with Jerry, and being turned—a look, a smirk, a tone, a certain phrase, or the way Charley touches her later. Does he go back to the house? Does he collect Billy’s bones or Jerry’s ashes (if there’s any of that left)?

And just how could Charley be saved with what little knowledge they have of vampires? Does Peter know anything about this kind of thing from his movies? It could also be a strange post-hypnotic suggestion planted earlier in the evening, triggered by Jerry’s destruction. After all, when Peter temporarily fled, Charley had been left all alone with Jerry (until he was dumped in that locked room with Amy).

Make it as scary or darkly humorous as you wish, in keeping with the films. I’m sure whichever of these prompts you pick, I’ll likely love the results.

Pairings I would enjoy, whether or not they were nominated this year: Amy/Charley. Charley and Peter. Charley and Jerry. Amy and Jerry. Charley/Regine. Amy and Regine. Amy/Regine. Billy/Jerry. Regine and Belle. Charley and Alex. Charley and Richie.

The first Fright Night ought to be rather easy to find. I believe it’s available for rental on Youtube, and was previously free on Tubi. Just in case you can’t obtain it there, I’ve gone around and gathered a few other links. It’s on Dailymotion. I found it on a site called TokyVideo; here, on OkRu. Fmovies. Putlocker (wrong placeholder image, right movie). 123Movies

You can find a great quality upload of the sequel here, on Youtube. There is a lesser quality VHS rip here, and a pretty good quality one here. It’s on Dailymotion, Putlocker, and 123Movies.

Legend (1985)
Characters: Any
Those nominated this year were: Dancing Black Dress, Darkness, Jack, Lili.

What if Lili had been corrupted by the lure of the Dancing Black Dress? What if she was actually possessed or influenced by whatever dark magics crafted the dress to a far greater degree than simply pretending to want to kill the unicorn? How much of her is left? Would Darkness win in this scenario?

Other prompts:

-Darkness only lost a single battle. He was not banished forever, and can still reach out in dreams to corrupt another. What if it was Jack this time?

-The father of Darkness said this: “She fascinates you because her soul is pure. To make her one of us…charm her, woo her. Change her spirit. Hypnotize her. Set her free. Bring her to you!” What if her spirit had been changed to such an extent that the lair of Darkness—even if he was momentarily defeated—felt more like home to Lili than the palace in the wake of everything? What if evil felt more beautiful to her than Jack’s forest? How does Jack respond if he slowly realizes this?

-In the Director’s Cut, Jack seems to want Lili to believe all their troubles were just a dream. What if she can still sense Darkness somewhere in the distance?

-Lili’s dreams are darker than she ever knew was possible. What horrors follow her back to the waking world?

-Lili and Jack encounter vampires as they wander the forest. What happens when the innocent Jack is beginning to be lured away?

-When Lili is looking at the massive diamond necklace: What would have happened to her if she put it on? Perhaps do an AU where this happens, but the jewels are evidently corrupted once they’re on her.

Pairings I would enjoy, even if they weren’t nominated: Darkness/Lili. Lili/Jack. Lili and Jack. Darkness and Jack. Oona and Jack. Oona/Darkness. Lili/Dancing Black Dress. Oona/Lili.

The Theatrical Version has the Tangerine Dream soundtrack. That isn’t present with the Director’s Cut—to what I feel is the film’s detriment when it comes to the seduction of Lili by the Dancing Black Dress.

I would suggest you watch the Theatrical Version first when it comes to the dancing sequence, and follow it up with the Director’s Cut to get a taste of all that was chopped out or rearranged to make the American version, if you’re curious.

The theatrical cut can be found on the Internet Archive. The Director’s Cut can be found on OkRu here and here; it’s here on Fmovies.

If you wish to consult the shooting script (since I stumbled across it when I wrote for it 12 years ago, to keep track of various versions) then you can find those over on the Legend FAQ site The Director’s Cut Shot-By-Shot Breakdown. The American version’s breakdown And as a bonus, the European one.

Mr. Boogedy (Movies 1986-1987)
Characters: Any
Those nominated this year: Carlton, Jennifer, Eloise, and William Hanover | Mr. Boogedy

What if William Hanover/Mr. Boogedy had used someone else in the family to get back his cloak, instead of Carlton? How much sooner would he have regained his cloak? Would it have been one of the boys? After all, they had the shared dream about Boogedy’s return, so maybe he was stretching out and trying to get them. Perhaps Eloise or Jennifer? What would Carlton’s response be to this happening?

I adore these movies. Both films are quick watches. Mr. Boogedy (1986) is 45 minutes long, while Bride of Boogedy (1987) is 1 hour, 33 minutes in duration. A good copy was difficult for me to find for years, but I did stumble across a couple at various points, and kept them tucked away.

On my Google Drive, Mr. Boogedy is here; Bride of Boogedy is here The first film is 0.99 GB, while Bride of Boogedy is 2.02 GB if you choose to download them, and not simply view them on the site. Both are 480p.

I have a deeper love for Bride of Boogedy, and this sequel is the one where you’ll get a majority of the prompts from. I was traumatized by Boogedy’s face when I watched the first film at the age of 4, but after watching it a truly insane number of times prior to the second film airing a year later, I got over it and grew to love it.

These two films were a staple of my Halloween viewing until the mid-90’s., no matter how cheesy and odd they are. If you felt like including any other characters besides the ones nominated this year, I also liked the following: Neil Witherspoon, Walter Witherspoon, Lazarus, Widow Marion, Madeleinska, and Elmer. I’m not that much of a fan of Mr. Lynch until he becomes humbled following a possession, but I can tolerate him.

I’m fine with the kids being included if you feel the need to do so. I have seen some spellings of the younger son’s name as Aurie on various sites—including IMDB’s trivia page for the sequel—but IMDB and a few other places have it as R.E. I rewatched to confirm.

In the first movie, the boy is upset that his teddy bear was missing (stolen by the ghost of little Jonathan). Carlton calls him “Reginald Ernest Davis,” it’s abbreviated to R.E. Go with that, even if it sounded like Corwin shouted “Aurie” later, and in the sequel.

When it comes to the ghost of little Jonathan, let the poor kid rest in peace. He was held hostage by Mr. Boogedy in that house for 300 years while suffering a cold that wouldn’t even leave him in death. I doubt he really wants to be conjured at any further seances short of another life and death kind of situation.

Other prompts:

-What would have happened if the family really had simply burned the magic cloak, and Lynch hadn’t stolen it? Would it have unleashed something else, or would things have calmed down?

-What if Carlton hadn’t just been controlled from afar, and only halfway possessed and just...floating around the house, and going to sleep on the ceiling? What if he was fully possessed and seeking the cloak? How grim would things get?

-Why did Boogedy think Jennifer was Marion, too, if he already had Eloise right in front of him, with that case of mistaken identity? What would have gone down if the real Marion’s ghost had returned from the other side to help pull him loose from everyone at the end?

-What if the key didn’t vanish at the end? Would something from the underworld come for them later? Make another sequel if you dare, or just make the family dread something else!

-What if Jennifer was lost to Boogedy after her attempt to fool him in the final battle of the second film?

-For years, I thought the kids suddenly found and picked up Boogedy’s cloak from the foggy graveyard, and ran off in the last couple seconds of the film, leaving another opening for a sequel. However, a rewatch prior to me coming up with prompts made me realize one of them had a final line, just saying “Jennifer’s coat!” as they grabbed it. However, if you want to pretend his cloak just fell off as he was dragged to Hell, feel free to do so!

-There’s a whole thing where Carlton keeps floating and saying “Boogedy!” but then says “Just kidding!” Please, give me the internal argument/fight for his body between Boogedy and Carlton, rather than just his/their...floating incoherent catch phrases, I guess one could call it.

The psycholigcal ramifications of being possessed by an evil ghost that tried to kill your family through you, and wielding the dark arts through a magic cloak as part of it would be amazing, but it’s not a must. Carlton pretty much just goes right back into denial of the supernatural for a bit after getting exorcised via laughter in the film.

-Mr. Boogedy attempting to get out of Hell to get revenge. Perhaps another deal with Satan?

-The family finds the Necronomicon somehow, and messes up things in Lucifer Falls once again. Be as horrific as silly as your heart desires.

Pairings I would enjoy, even if someone wasn’t nominated: Carlton/Eloise. Carlton and Boogedy. Boogedy and Eloise. Boogedy and Satan (the pop-up flashback in the first film is a delight when we see Satan’s closet). Jennifer and Eloise. Jennifer and Boogedy. Lazarus and Eloise. Madeleinska and Eloise. Eloise and Elmer. Madeleinska and Boogedy. Lynch and Boogedy.

Nosferatu (2024)
Characters: Any
Those nominated this year were: Von Franz, Anna and Friedrich Harding, Greta The Cat, Herr Knock, Orlok, Thomas Hutter, and Wilhelm Sievers.

What if Orlok’s hold on Thomas actually was used? He made him open the door with Orlok’s shadow back in the castle, and at one point Thomas said that he could still feel his hold on him. What if this idea wasn’t just dropped? What if Orlok used that trick again, while Thomas still occupied Harding’s home? What if he did more than simply give Thomas a jump scare of Orlok’s face for Thomas’ PTSD in the night?

Okay, I loved this version of Nosferatu far more than I anticipated that I would. Robert Eggers did a fantastic job with this particular adaptation; I know it was a passion project of his, and I was delighted with it.

I noticed that the one character missing (even Greta The Cat is there!) among the nominations is Ellen. Which was an astounding oversight. If you wanted to include her, I would be fine with her character showing up.

Other prompts:

-What if the odd exorcism of Thomas by the nuns just didn’t work? What would have happened? Would he have been more prone to the supernatural and/or Orlok using him? Would he have turned, as Jonathan did in the 1979 version of Nosferatu?

Or would he simply have grown ill, as the sailors did? If he did turn, would he be the same type of vampire as Orlok, defeated in the same way, or would he be something weaker, more similar to what the Romani killed with an iron spike?

-An AU where Friedrich or Anna or both get turned by Orlok as part of his vengeance. Does Anna go to lure Frederich away? Does Frederich try to prey on Thomas? What do Ellen and Von Franz do, and how do they discover it has happened?

-This is a weird one, but I thought I might throw it out there. We know that in life Orlok was one of the Solomonari--a group of magicians who likely attended the Scholomance. A school for the dark arts. What if there was still a grimoire tucked away somewhere in the castle, left unattended? Long forgotten?

And what if, lost...sick...partially drained of blood as he was, and utterly terrified out of his wits, by chance Thomas happened to stumble across it? In such a state, would he not grasp at straws and just try to survive by whatever means possible?

What if he accidentally conjured something up, when he was just hoping to devise a way out of the castle and back home to Wisburg and Ellen, or a way to destroy Orlok? Might something have followed him home? Could he have signed away his soul with a recitation as surely as he accidentally dissolved his marriage to Ellen with a pen (albeit under false pretenses, not understanding the language).

Dear Writer, go wild with this one. Take a piece of it or all of it for inspiration. Want to have Frederich helping dear Thomas battle horrors beyond imagination while the rats are around and society is collapsing around them? Perhaps they can squeeze it into their schedule, I don't know.

Perhaps in an AU where he doesn’t toss Ellen and Thomas out of the house when Thomas can barely walk? Go for it! Or maybe Von Franz can realize something more is up with Thomas and put the pieces together post-film.

Pairings I would enjoy, even if they weren’t nominated: Ellen/Thomas. Orlok/Thomas. Orlok and Thomas. Friedrich and Thomas. Friedrich and Ellen. Anna and Ellen. Von Franz and Thomas. Von Franz and Ellen. Von Franz and Sievers. Thomas and Von Franz and Greta The Cat.

Because I mentioned the exorcism of Thomas, and there wasn’t much in the film itself? You can find the shooting script available for download in this Deadline article. Thomas’ exorcism is barely mentioned on page 47. Another script from 2016 (which didn’t have the best of characterization for anyone, but rewrites would fix it) has a slightly longer version of the exorcism. You can find that here, on Internet Archive.

Dear Writer, please turn to page 58 for a beating with whitethorn branches, splashing with holy water, and casting of something into Hell by an elderly abbess. It begins with “Thomas lies in a strange bed, shirtless and profusely sweating.”

You can find Nosferatu (2024) on 123Movies and Fmovies.

That's all for this year! Again, have fun writing whatever fandom you selected from this letter, and I'm sure I'll love the end result.

Dear Yuletide Writer 2025

no subject