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Love your rambling, actually. Jonathan’s been hesitant to go along with Van Helsing’s plans ever since he was told to shut Mina out “for her own good” the first time. Each time, he seems to be the only one who still doubts Helsing after Helsing reassures everyone in his “Honeyed tones”, but is always outvoted and pressured into going along. Today Helsing hit his ptsd square in the jaw and he snapped, but even then he could tell nothing would come of his protests.
If it is Hypnosis, idk why it doesn’t seem to affect him as much. Maybe because the others are already at least a little willing to agree with him, so they can be influenced by it more easily than Jonathan’s form opposition. But a part of me gets the sense that, whatever he does (or doesn’t) write, he doesn’t like or trust Van Helsing much, especially right now.
The thing is, Jonathan has to be feeling two ways about Van Helsing. It was the Professor who clarified, yes, Dracula is real, the vampiric nightmare Jonathan went through was not his imagination or a result of madness, you can stop doubting yourself, Jonathan. This guy tossed Mr. Harker a desperately needed lifeline while he was stuck in a spiral between belief in monsters and belief that he was insane. Better yet, Van Helsing was and remains a key mobilizing force for their vampire hunting crew coming together, taking action, and preparing to destroy Dracula for good.
Great!
...But, he was also the main influence in insisting Mina be shut out of Men's Grim Work (c) once she had finished being useful (at the time). Come along, Jonathan, we already went through your diary--we need a Man's Man like you at our side, but stay mum to Madam Mina, eh?
Cue October 3rd.
Cue all the aftermath.
Cue today, with Van Helsing--the man of wafers and stakes and blades and 'private' discussions of Mina that are nowhere near as subtle as he thinks--saying that Jonathan and Mina must part ways. That Van Helsing and Mina must go alone to Castle Dracula to see to the Brides. Trust him, friends, it's what's best.
I wouldn't be surprised if that cavalier announcement in itself triggered something in Jonathan--a flashback to a certain other learned older gentleman giving him request-orders in such a polite and earnest tone. Just trust him, Jonathan. His ways are not your ways, but they are the ways you must follow.
And where did all that obedience get him? Oh, it saved his neck, true. But giving into Dracula's games and demands was what allowed the whole hellish mess in England to happen in the first place.
Just as that same obedience was what led to him going along with Van Helsing and the others' decision to keep Mina in the dark, against all instincts and desire to the contrary.
And now. Now Van Helsing wants to take Mina and his suspicions out and away to the Carpathians. Alone.
Finally, Jonathan snaps. Probably just short of reaching for the kukri. It's likely this same mindset that would block any kind of low-key mesmerism on Van Helsing's part too; you have to be willing to let a trance happen for it to work. The Suitors Three and Mina are on board with the Professor. Jonathan very much is not. After Dracula, the Brides, and getting every last one of his distrusting buttons pushed by their current situation, the best hypnotist in the world likely couldn't make a dent in him now. God Himself is on thin ice in the trust department, even if Jonathan says it's all in His hands.*
(*And my, doesn't it seem to him like the Lord has a case of butter fingers when it comes to routinely poking holes in their lives.)
He only goes along with the plan because Van Helsing actually does manage to make some logical points to back up his idea of splitting the party. You know. Once he bothers to share it rather than just expecting everyone to be cool with his decision straight out of the gate.
#in short Jonathan is no duckling trailing after Mama Van Helsing's every word#he is a majestic and pissed off swan with his soulmate in danger#if the Professor wants him to separate from her he BETTER have a good reason or he's not moving#that might fly with his star pupil and his buddies#even with Mina#But Not Him#jonathan harker#abraham van helsing#hypnotism#mesmerism#dracula#dracula daily
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