Hello everyone! Yesterday I've been requested by @ritterschaf for more information about Dracula/Frankenstein AU. So here it is. I present you a quick translation (thanks for yandex translate) of info originally written in russian.
A brief on the characters:
Johann Schmidt (Count) is a vampire who owns a castle in the German Empire and the territory around it. He expands his influence at a slow pace, infecting people with vampirism. He acts covertly by intimidating.
Arnim Zola is a scientist experiencing burnout. To get inspiration for a new scientific work, he decided to change the environment and went to a quiet, sparsely populated area of Germany (probably on the advice of colleagues). By coincidence, he settled in Schmidt's castle.
Abraham Erskine is a scientist who had previously crossed paths with Schmidt (perhaps, like Zola, he stayed in the castle for some time, but miraculously managed to escape quickly and not go crazy). He was interested in mysticism before, so he is able to "raise literature" on ways to defeat evil. In addition, he believes in God, so he knows about the lotions of crosses, holy water etc, so he is the one who is really able to help deal with Schmidt.
Peggy Carter is the only woman working in British intelligence. It was she who was contacted by Erskine, who was worried about the news about the aggressive and conquering behaviour of Schmidt. She was the only one who listened.
Steve Rogers is a weakling who somehow got into the American army. He was sent to Britain with his best friend and colleague.
Bucky Barnes is Steve Rogers' best friend and colleague. Although they tried their best, they couldn't prove themselves in America. They were sent to "exchange experiences".
Howard Stark is also a scientist in the plot, he develops weapons that help the heroes in the fight against vampires / monsters / count himself / etc.
Now when it's became so complicated and unclear, I'll tell you about the plot.
AU is primarily about schizola, so part of the plot about their interactions is much more extensive and detailed than about defeating the evil of the main characters. My bad
So, by coincidence, Zola settles in Schmidt's castle. The latter offered the scientist an inexpensive lease and even took symbolic contributions at first, so as not to arouse suspicion (Johann did not need the money). At first, the change of scenery helps Zola a lot: another country brings new impressions, plus, after the stuffy research establishment, he really liked the mystical atmosphere of the ancient castle. Arnim writes his scientific work with high productivity.
Schmidt first uses Zola (bro translator wrote the name as Ash bc зола in russian is literally ash/cinder LOL) to find out in detail about the events taking place in the world, and as an interlocutor and adviser. Johann came up with several options for what can be done with Zola when the interest runs out. One option is to just drink his blood for,,, you know saturation (after all, a Swiss, exotic); the second is to convert him to vampirism and send him to spread the count's influence to Zola's homeland.
To his surprise, Schmidt discovers Zola's genius. The latter, still not fully aware of all the dangers of the castle, also sees interest in Schmidt. Until the doctor considers him a mortal threat, he tried his best to figure out how to take a blood sample, how to catch him and not be killed himself, how to make him a scientific asset. How to replay and destroy. He didn't know what Schmidt's plans were for him.
Only after realizing his prisoner's position, Zola decides to give up on everything and run, but his attempts are absolutely futile. He tries his best not to spoil his relationship with Schmidt, but the tension between them is obvious. Schmidt talked with Zola more than once and took him out for revelations. It was from these conversations (and by searching through his research to see the proofs) that he found out that Zola can be useful only remaining unbitten. Their conversations, by the way, were very interesting for both of them - Zola also found such leisure enjoyable.
Schmidt had no problem secretly reading Zola's writings and his personal diary, written during his stay at the castle. At first, he found Zola's naive aspirations to study Schmidt himself ridiculous. Schmidt also knew that a theoretically intelligent person who studied him well enough would be able to identify his weaknesses (by these I mean the ways in which the count was killed and harmed, such as destroying boxes of dirt, garlic flowers, crucifixes, and so on). So, judging by the notes, Zola clearly began to figure something out. Zola had already figured out some of the details of Schmidt's vulnerability complex, while the rest were still incomprehensible to him due to Zola's atheism. This, however, has already caused Schmidt to fear and at the same time anger.
This is a turning point in the development of their relationship. Schmidt is a prudent man (?), real strategist. He did not openly bully Zola. Instead, he remained calm, but made it clear about the danger. Work begins on luring Zola to Schmidt's side. Zola is scared to death, but he also tries to maintain an appearance of calm (although it's difficult). They talk a lot, Schmidt talks about Zola's past, science, and the injustice of his former position at the institute/research establishment. In addition, Schmidt's goal is also to normalize cruelty and death in Zola's worldview. All in order to involve the scientist in the plan to take over Europe. Zola has no such interest, he has a passion for science (which will not fade away in him even if he completely loses his mind from fear, and he is just about to), and Schmidt is ready to satisfy this passion. The fact is that becoming infected with vampirism is a long process of several sessions, at least so that the molded vampire obeys Johann's will. When he learned from Zola that purely IN THEORY it was possible to revive the inanimate, he thought that such dead people could multiply his army. Zola mentioned it casually during one of their old conversations, and it wasn't Zola's main concern, but Schmidt got very hooked on it. To implement such an idea for him would mean defeating everyone and everything.
Now about other characters!
Erskine is concerned about the situation on the German border. He knows about the spread of vampirism beyond its borders. He is very concerned about this topic, but he does not find support anywhere, instead he is branded paranoid. Once he had a chance to talk with Peggy, and she, unlike many, shared his concerns. Peggy calls for action against Schmidt by people she knows from the army and intelligence, but, like Erskine, she is not taken seriously. At least by most of them.
In turn, Bucky and especially Steve know very well what it means to be underestimated and rejected. That's why they were less skeptical of Peggy than the others. Erskine also saw how desperately Steve strives to resolve any conflicts, to help in any minor conflict, so he noticed a nobility in him.
The methods of destroying the Count are the same as in the book. It is necessary to destroy the boxes of earth, pierce the heart, etc., etc. the boxes are scattered not just across England, but also beyond its borders. He left one of them in his castle. This is so that he can temporarily change his location at any time and start spreading vampirism.
Another condition for killing Dracula in the book was the destruction of all his servants - but this will probably have to be omitted or at least ignored. I'm not sure if the wives of Dracula (Dracula gay) are present in AU's plot, but in any case, he made bitey-bites for too many people. Including, by the way, Erskine. Erskine is an old acquaintance of Schmidt's. He's been to his castle and he knows a lot. That's why Schmidt chose him as his target, to turn him into a vampire. Abraham realized this immediately, raised the alarm, and forced his allies to kill himself - no one would be able to defeat Schmidt before Erskine irrevocably turned into the something really scary... Poor guy
Of course, before he died, Erskine injected Steve with a supersoldier serum. He got it in order to be an effective one-on-one fighter with the Count. If anyone is going to deliver the final blow, it's him.
One day, Steve and Bucky (+ Howard probably) come face to face with Schmidt. This is the case when he came to the soul of Erskine. During the fight, Bucky loses an arm and dies, Steve and friends cry, Erskine also dies, and everyone cry even harder.
Bucky is very handsome and strong, so Schmidt takes him in and hands him over to Zola. Zola is not sure if he is ready to agree to this, but he has no choice. He invents a steampunk prosthetic for Bucky and for the first time conducts an experiment that really brings Bucky back to life. Unfortunately, this does not restore his former knowledge of the world and himself, so he becomes the first soldier in Schmidt's army of the dead.
The success of reviving Bucky is very invigorating for Zola. All his doubts were dispelled: this is his main scientific triumph. Now he's fucking ready to make an army out of stuffed animals for Schmidt if he asks. This is the moment when Arnim turns from a victim of circumstances into a villain; he no longer wants to leave the castle.
The clash between the team of heroes and Bucky will occur when the heroes arrive for the box of earth, which is stored in the count's castle. Bucky's guarding him there.
Bucky is not the strongest specimen (as I understand it, the Monster in Frankenstein was strong precisely because it was assembled piece by piece and specially made huge, Bucky still has his old body except for the prosthesis), but he is still dangerous. The rest of the monsters, constructed by Zola "from spare parts", already have great power and are, in fact, buffier than vampires.
About Zola's fate and the finale of AU:
As I mentioned, Zola''s colleagues recommended him a place to rest. It's the area, not the castle. They thought he'd get a hotel room, not a room in a cursed damn castle. He followed the advice and warned his colleagues about it. He was gone for a VERY long time, and he was VERY scared at some moments when he felt all the horrors of the castle. He actively wrote letters to his homeland asking them to save him, he invented his own radio transmitter to send a signal for help (only Popov and Marconi heard him, but they couldn't help in any way), but it was all to no avail. Schmidt incited these fantasies: "I'm sorry that I had to detain you. But it doesn't seem to be a problem. No letters have been received addressed to you, and no one in town is interested in you. No one seems to be worried about your fate. It's both sorrowfully and beneficial for both of us at the same time."
The heroes will meet him during the mission in the castle and offer to help him escape, but Zola will refuse, because he already believed that the world did not deserve his genius, and Schmidt appreciates him, and that's it, and now he's here, and he's not complaining at all, the conditions are not bad. By this point, he is most likely already ill with something due to the fact that he practically does not see the sun and works non-stop for Schmidt. The boxes of earth will be destroyed, and after a short time, Zola will die and be unable to produce new soldiers. Cap will catch up with Schmidt and hit him with an aspen stick (for Erskine), and good will defeat evil, and everyone will be fine, except for poor Bucky. He will be buried with dignity and in peace.
And now for the questions.
Do I ship Zola and Schmidt in this AU?
Well I probably do. What I kept behind the scenes is that Schmidt might get attached to Zola. Like when you admire his genius and consider him an interesting person and you don't want him to be scared anymore you want to protect him. Johann was really upset when Zola passed away, not only because his plans are ruined, but mostly because he's grieving. Dude that's really toxic yaoi I'm sorry
How does that go, does Zola's scientific interest turn into romantic interest in the middle of it?
Well here I probably should justify myself. As you might notice, I took from the book Dracula a lot (and just a little from Frankenstein book). And in that book Dracula is pure evil that is the representation of Devil. And he is a complete danger to Jonathan Harker. In this AU, Johann does not want to hurt Zola after he realises his benefit. He doesn't want Zola to be afraid of him and to get a heart attack from all these horrors. Arnim's curiosity made him discover new scary things all over the place (bro I told you not to go in the west wing of the castle and you did exactly this. I told you not to sleep anywhere except for your room and what did you do? Ah yes, slept somewhere else. good job), and those horrors might be rightfully associated with Johann. And not to mention Johann still kept Zola in the castle against his will as a prisoner. The point is Johann is BAD but not as bad as Dracula you know. How do we call the kind of affection that Zola experienced in relation to Schmidt? Stockholm syndrome. But that happened after Zola's first experiment on Bucky. Arnim was so insanely excited that he decided that that success is inspired and sponsored by Schmidt. When Zola gave up on the whole world, Schmidt was the only one who valued his job and the feedback from Schmidt was really worth it. Zola's broken mind kinda made up that Schmidt is the only person that appreciates his work. This feeling easily turned into affection. Bro that dude is sooo brainwashed
Does Schmidt initially only want to use Zola and realises he's a little more interest than should be?
Well yes, you've got it right! I've discussed it above.
Would Zola be open to being bitten?
That's an easy one. The answer is no. If only there were a Twilight-like vampires, but we only have hardcore canonical vampires that are mostly like zombies. Dracula bites his victim several times, it dies slowly from blood loss, then it turns into chthonic... something that is completely subordinate to Count. They made an agreement that no one would bite anyone. For many reasons. Mostly because Zola would be useless as a vampire but he has benefits as a brilliant man.
Wow thAT is long one! Hope you enjoyed!
