Dear Candy Hearts Eexchange 2026 Creator

[theirwolf]

Dear Candy Hearts Exchange Creator,

Thank you for creating something for me - I am so excited to see what you come up with! While I will include some thoughts about and prompts for the fandoms/dynamics I'm requesting, please don't feel constrained by this letter. I will enjoy and appreciate whatever you create for me in this exchange! This letter isn't obligatory at all, but if you like to have more input from your recipient, hopefully this will help. Some sections are much longer than others, but please don’t feel like I won’t appreciate something for one of the shorter sections just as much - everything I’m requesting I would be freaking delighted to receive, some fandoms/dynamics I just have an easier time rambling about.

I have a general author letter here if you want a look, and you can also find my auto ao3 app results here.

(Note: While only the sign-up DNWs are enforceable, if you are like me and take the time to read DNWs in letters, just know that my DNWs have evolved over time and I need to update my general letter post, so you can disregard that section and just rely on the DNWs in my sign-up. :3)

Fandoms Requested:

Nosferatu (2024)  •  IT (Films)  •  IT: Welcome to Derry  •  Skinwalkers  •  Hellraiser (2022)  •  Hemlock Grove (TV)  •  Barbarian (2022)  •  Dracula - Bram Stoker  •  The Crow (2024)  •  Crossover Fandoms

 

General Likes (noncomprehensive):

werewolf aus • codependency • obsessive/possessive behavior • monster romance • horror tropes • serial killer aus • mysteries • soulmate aus • reincarnation • reincarnation but make it horror • hurt/comfort • fluff • creepy fluff • toxic relationships • incest • polyamory • pining/mutual pining • emotional porn • sex as coping (unhealthy a plus) • hatefuck • enemies to lovers • enemies to enemies who fuck • power imbalances • age gaps • Dom/sub dynamics • informal BDSM • modern (but still horror/fantasy/whatever) aus • medieval aus • high fantasy aus • captivity/kidnapping • five times fic • men crying • found family • toxic found family • porn without plot • porn with so much plot • gothic horror • gothic romance • dungeons and dragons aus • chronicles/world of darkness aus

(Note: This letter includes possible spoilers for all fandoms)

 

• Nosferatu (2024)

 

Relationships:

Ellen Hutter/Thomas Hutter/Orlok

Ellen Hutter/Thomas Hutter

Albin Eberhart von Franz & Wilhelm Sievers + Albin Eberhart von Franz/Wilhelm Sievers

General thoughts/prompts:

I absolutely love this doomed fairy tale Dracula film and the messy, desperate triangle/throuple at the center of it. And Greta! I would love any fic that dives into these characters and dynamics. Dark sequel, happier AU, different historical setting, character/relationship study, Orlok as a different kind of horror/monster, go for it. Orpheus+Eurydice meets Hades/Persephone AU with Thomas going down into the underworld in an attempt to rescue Ellen. Professor Franz and Dr. Sievers backstory or post-canon fic (with unresolved/resolved tension between them??). 

The tragedy of Ellen and Thomas, to me, is that time was never on their side. I think if they’d had more time, they would have been happy, even if there might have been something missing. Neither one of them were properly equipped with how to communicate - Thomas couldn’t understand Ellen’s spiritual side the same as Ellen, who I feel had seen her father’s wealth and status as its own kind of prison, couldn’t understand Thomas’ financial insecurities. Ellen coming from a wealthy family didn’t guarantee her safety from an asylum, and I almost wonder if not having servants was a relief to her - did the staff at her father’s house stare at her with suspicion? Did they pointedly not look at her at all, or whisper behind her back? While Thomas is constantly aware of how much Ellen has, materially, given up and that a poor man is constantly at risk of his family winding up on the streets - or worse. When it comes to these two, I feel they do love each other - but I also love the messiness between them, the way they don’t completely line up but also have such similar issues manifesting in different ways. I also 100% believe Thomas is much freakier than he thinks or wants to admit (big supporter of both Hutters being bisexual/queer).

With the Hutters and Orlok, I love the twisted power play, the messy dynamics. Battle of wills, battle of hearts. I love this throuple at its most toxic, but I enjoy the potential for something more tender as well. I know Eggers talked about his version being more Ellen’s story, but I personally found Thomas and Ellen to be dual protagonists, going through similar horrors and arcs, just slightly out of sync. Thomas lacks the spiritual/mystical component, but there’s still something going on with him and Orlok that he doesn’t understand that is so interesting to me. I love that Orlok had so many chances to get rid of him but didn’t. I love that Thomas is the only other person we see being fed on (besides our one on screen victim who gets his throat ripped out). Anything that explores these three would be wonderful. Character/relationship study, something where Orlok can turn others, where he and Ellen survive the ending and Thomas gets dragged into their world or dives in of his own free will. Orlok turning Thomas at the castle and then going to Wisburg just to collect Ellen and bring her home. Maybe he summons them both at the same time. Go as au as you like, dark and dubcon are a-okay, or something fun and a little more on the crack side.

Dr. Sievers and Prof. Franz and their dynamic totally took me by surprise, but I just love that moment when von Franz realizes it’s Sievers, the warmth between them. The way Sievers, despite all he’s heard and even seeing what von Franz is like, he still implicitly trusts the professor (at least until the very end). I would love to see something from their history together, Sievers time as a student, idolizing Prof. Franz. Or maybe what happens to them after the events of the film - how does Sievers handle the way his faith in von Franz is finally shaken? Does the fact that it worked negate that von Franz ensured a young woman and one of Sievers’ own patients died? Would they drift apart, or would they band together, try to learn more about the supernatural, try to find ways to fight against that world without the loss of innocents? I love the repressed, pining potential with these two, but I’m perfectly fine with platonic genfic as well!

Any prompts I've included for this fandom/the requested ships from exchanges past are still fair game. Bonus points for inclusion of Greta, the wolves, and/or the rats. :3

 

 

• IT (Films)

Relationships:

The Losers Club & Pennywise + The Losers Club/Pennywise

Mike Hanlon/Pennywise

Bill Denbrough/Pennywise

Pennywise/Stanley Uris

Georgie Denbrough & Pennywise

Bill Denbrough/Ben Hanscom/Beverly Marsh

Bill Denbrough/Mike Hanlon

Ben Hanscom/Beverly Marsh

 

Regarding IT fandoms: feel free to go crazy with time loop/time travel shenanigans (especially if you want to incorporate Welcome to Derry in movie based works) + include characters from film in tv show based works/vice versa.

 

General thoughts/prompts:

Recently fell back into this fandom and I have so many feelings with the Losers Club and Pennywise. I'm open to fanworks set during either timeline/movie, or spans over both, or something completely au. Dark and twisted is more than welcome, but fluff is just as good to me. I’m also a sucker for “Robert Gray” aus.

Having recently seen the original miniseries for the first time, I was really struck when rewatching the duology, how Pennywise is so possessive of the losers and actively wants them back rather than being scared of them and trying to make them leave. I would love something that explores Pennywise being a possessive and creepy asshole with the entire group. Definitely feel free to include polyamorous losers club (bonus points if that makes Pennywise giddy). I’m also requesting platonic Penny and the losers, which could still be dark! It imprints on the losers a sort of way, killing those around them that might hurt them or wish them harm, the losers realizing It is focused on them but not hunting them - do they still try to stop It? Especially if Georgie is still alive, and they all wind up bonding some other way, do they still put themselves in harm’s way to protect the rest of Derry? Feel free to go with that or go with dark losers - maybe trying at first to direct this cosmic horror against the worst of the worst, but does that taint them more and more over time? Does Pennywise’s influence begin to change them? I’m also an absolute sucker for neutral Pennywise and good Pennywise aus (even after Welcome to Derry lol) - Pennywise as some kind of trickster fae creature maybe?

For Ben/Beverly, Bill/Ben/Beverly, and Bill/Mike, I love their relationships in the films. (And if you even want to go with Bill/Mike/Ben/Beverly, please go for it!) Rewatching, I like that we do get some good moments with Ben and Bill despite Ben harboring some jealousy. I like that that doesn’t make him antagonistic towards Bill. I also loved that Bill was the one who Ben rode with when they took him to the pharmacy, Bill being a protector especially after losing Georgie. Ben quietly pining over Beverly, it hurts that she might not return it but I love that in the second film he wants her to know not to try and win her but he needs her to know she’s loved. Also, I am so here for Ben having bisexual awakening/panic amidst his jealousy towards Bill. Mike being so excited when he sees Bill, I feel like even though Mike is really the one at the helm in chapter two, he still sees Bill and thinks of Bill as ‘Big Bill’, as their de facto leader. That faith in Bill after all those years. Their ‘I love you’ at the end gets me every time.

With Pennywise/Mike, I love the possibilities especially during the in-between of the films. Does Pennywise ever reach out somehow in his sleep? Is It aware of things? Can It interact in some way, or connect through dreams? When Mike goes down there to research and get photos, does he feel It’s presence? Does he ever talk to It, so isolated there in Derry, the only one who remembers? Especially after his uncle dies, Mike seems so alone. If you want to include Welcome to Derry continuity in this, does It try to avoid Mike more because of his family’s connection to it? Or does It try some kind of a counterstrike instead? Become a presence in Mike’s life, all that practice with Ingrid to be friendly.

Pennywise/Stanley is intriguing to me because besides Beverly, Stanley is the one It got the closest to consuming. There’s a lot of creepy potential in there, Stanley seeming to be one of the most afraid, the easiest to isolate. Pennywise really taking advantage of that could be such twisted fun. (With Welcome to Derry in mind, if you want, does Pennywise go after Stanley more because It is aware that Stanley doesn’t come back with the other losers? Even knowing It can’t change the ‘future’, It seems to still want to try.) Alternatively, because I love Stan and Stan lives aus, maybe something set in Chapter Two where he makes it back to Derry - Stanley showing up at the Chinese restaurant late but alive. (Or a ghost. Ghosts are always good too.) Pennywise being delighted to have him back, another chance at him. (Or salty because ghost. Though maybe a cosmic horror like It can eat ghosts too.)

Go creepy or go cute with Pennywise and Georgie, I love both. Pennywise as Georgie’s imaginary friend. The monster under the bed/in the closet. Something where Georgie really is down there with It, still alive, waiting for Bill to rescue him. Future au fic where Georgie moves back to Derry only for the monster in the closet to be real and still there.

For Pennywise/Bill, I love Bill’s natural inclination towards protecting others and standing up against bullies. The guilt and responsibility he puts on himself. Pennywise using that against him, playing with it. Pennywise’s bargain in the first film, the way Bill encourages the others to take it, always stands out to me - maybe something where Pennywise makes the bargain directly with him? Or a different kind of deal. It going after Bill because if it takes out or corrupts Bill, their leader, maybe the losers will all fall apart. Bill willing to bind himself to It in order to cage it somehow. There’s definitely a ‘fated enemies’ thing between Pennywise and the losers as a whole (which I’d love to see explored for Penny/Losers fic for sure!) but especially with these two specifically imo. 

Additional note: while I haven't read IT yet, feel free to include elements from novel or miniseries if you like; I also don't mind other Stephen King canons being referenced or used (I am vaguely aware of The Dark Tower connections, for example), and if you want to include Welcome to Derry lore in here as well and what we learn about Pennywise/Derry. However, don't feel beholden to acknowledge anything that isn't strictly film canon, create what you enjoy for this fandom and its dynamics!

DNW caveat: I have included a major underage sex in my DNWs for characters under 15; I am waiving that for this fandom when it comes to fanfiction. Sexual content involving the losers (including with Pennywise) at their canon first film age of 13 is fine, though I would prefer anything under 15 lean more towards an M rating than E.

 

 

• IT: Welcome to Derry

Relationships:

Ingrid Kersh/Pennywise

Dick Hallorann/Pennywise

Regarding IT fandoms: feel free to go crazy with time loop/time travel shenanigans (especially if you want to incorporate Welcome to Derry in movie based works) + include characters from film in tv show based works/vice versa.

General thoughts/prompts:

Loved this return to the world of Derry and what they did with It and the lore. The time-weirdness! Everything with Bob and Ingrid! Dickie! Please feel free to play around, ignore canon, and get freaky with the lore. 

With Ingrid and Pennywise, I adore the twisted potential between them, Ingrid’s grief leading towards codependency and blind devotion despite the horrors. The things she’s willing to do to see her “father” again! I feel like because of the loss of her mother and the lifestyle they led that Ingrid was already growing codependent on Bob - it was just them and the other carnival workers. Living in close quarters so much of the time, constantly moving around. Feel free to lean into their dynamic veering into the unhealthy if you like, whether on both ends or just Ingrid’s. With Pennywise, whether he actively encourages Ingrid or merely puts up with her is entirely in your court - I think there’s a lot of interesting things to explore either way. If you want to stick towards canon, I would love to see if they ever had any interaction in 1908, further explore the 1935 cycle, or perhaps even Pennywise visiting Ingrid one last time in 1988/89.

I love Dick Hallorann, I love his interactions with Pennywise - I absolutely dug how intrigued It seemed to be with Dick but also wary of him, and going on the offensive. The battle of wills between them is such a fascinating part of the show that I did not get nearly enough of, and I’d love to see it explored in some way. (Also as fun as Pennywise’s mocking ‘Dickie’ is, I still am not over It’s voice sounding so similar to Bill Skarsgard’s Orlok voice in their first meeting - so I would love to see It interacting with Dick in other forms, maybe even teasing It’s true form or Dick possibly picking up on that, playing into that cosmic horror beyond the clown.) 

Additional note: as noted in my IT films section, I haven’t read the book; similarly, I have not read The Shining or Doctor Sleep, though I have seen the Kubrick film and Mike Flanagan's Doctor Sleep. If you want to draw on any of those, book or film, feel free to. I don't mind other aspects of Stephen King works being referenced or included, but also feel free to totally ignore anything not specifically IT/Welcome to Derry. :3

 

 

• Skinwalkers

 

Relationships:

Sonja/Caleb Varek

Sonja/Rachel Talbot/Caleb Varek/Jonas Varek

Sonja/Rachel Talbot

Sonja/Rachel Talbot/Caleb Varek

Grenier/Sonja/Caleb Varek/Zo

Grenier & Sonja

Jonas Varek/Will

General thoughts/prompts:

This fandom, despite my mixed feelings on the movie, is near and dear to my heart. Sonja is my beloved, my forever girl. I love the villain werewolves. There’s a lot of interesting ideas in the film. I like that we get the ‘embrace the beast’ baddies but also the tortured ‘wolf man’ type werewolves in this movie. Best of both worlds! The toxic possibilities between Sonja and Caleb and Rachel and Jonas. Our villain wolves as a poly pack! The quiet trust between Jonas and Will! Dive deep into backstories, explore potential alternate futures, switch it up and make them all vampires, take away the prophecy/cure aspect even - go wild! I support giving into the beast inside.

Additional note: There are a couple of versions of the script for this film floating around online - if you’ve read them and want to incorporate anything from them into your creation, please feel free! I think some interesting ideas and added layers were lost in the final film, so I don’t mind script influences. That being said, I am just as happy to get something that is strictly film canon (I know most people don’t really go scouring for scripts for fandoms they create for, so I don’t expect this at all :3). I love this little fandom so to get anything for it at all is a treat!

 

 

• Hellraiser (2022)

 

Relationships:

Riley McKendry/The Priest

Leviathan & Riley McKendry

Cenobites/Riley McKendry

General thoughts:

Ironically, I had mixed feelings about this film initially - and they’re still a little mixed, I think the first two Hellraiser movies are overall better films, but something about this remake just sticks burrowed into my brain and got me obsessed. It’s Riley McKendry and the Hell Priest, that’s what it is. I love Riley, I think she’s such a fun, messy character. I love how stubborn and determined she is, how resourceful. Jamie Clayton’s Priest is so hypnotic. She really took an iconic character and made it her own - I love Pinhead but I love Hell Priest just as much. I’d adore something that explores what happens to Riley after the film, how she copes (or doesn’t) with what went down. 

I find Leviathan very fascinating, I love the ‘pleasure is pain, pain is worship’ aspect of Hellraiser as a whole; the cenobites’ deity being something so sharp and geometric, something entirely inhuman, unhuman, almost unfeeling in its appearance, the cosmic horror of it. I would love anything that explores Riley retaining a connection to the box, the cenobites, Leviathan itself. How many others have resisted or “chosen” Lament? Does that get its attention? I do prefer that Leviathan and the labyrinth/Hell are not biblical or related to Abrahamic religions/mythos.

The few moments we get with Riley and the Hell Priest are so delicious to me. I enjoy Hell Priest’s interest in Riley, the confusion and almost disappointment when Riley chooses to walk away at the end. I would love to see the potential between them explored somehow, whether an au or something after canon - I like the idea of, with Roland becoming a cenobite, there’s almost a Hellraiser II power struggle angle between him and Priest, and Riley getting drawn into that somehow.

While I predominantly ship Riley/Priest, I think there’s so much potential for Riley with the cenobites as a whole. I am down for weird, kinky body horror, Riley enduring things she shouldn’t be able to, or becoming a cenobite as well to endure more. The group of them playing with her to see how much she can endure as a human (take or leave Roland; I’m fine either way if you want to include him as a cenobite or ignore that).

Additional note: Similar to IT fandoms, I am familiar with the original Hellraiser film canon/lore as well as a few things from the books/comics. I don’t mind any influences or references to these other continuities, but that is solely up to your discretion! I’m perfectly content with relying solely on this version’s canon. :3

 

 

• Hemlock Grove (TV) 

Relationships:

Roman Godfrey/Peter Rumancek

Letha Godfrey/Roman Godfrey/Peter Rumancek

Letha Godfrey/Roman Godfrey/Peter Rumencek/Christina Wendall

Roman Godfrey/Christina Wendall

Peter Rumancek/Christina Wendall

Roman Godfrey & Shelley Godfrey

Olivia Godfrey/Roman Godfrey

Clementine Chasseur/Olivia Godfrey

Olivia Godfrey/Lynda Rumancek

 

General thoughts/prompts:

I have a love/hate relationship with this show - I've only seen parts of seasons two and three so far but know the basic spoilers of what goes down and am slowly working on finishing it, so don't feel obligated to stick with season one. Mostly I wish it did better by so many of its female characters, especially Clementine and Letha. But I am a sucker for Roman and Peter, for their weird and toxic and codependent friendship. The grooming and (at the very least) emotional incest between Roman and Olivia. Roman's possessiveness of Letha. I love Christina Wendall, so much; I feel like while she is obsessed with Peter, there's a bit of a queer panic going on with her too, and would love to see that explored. Christina and Roman both being obsessed with Peter and wanting to own him/be owned by him. I really want to know Letha better beyond her pregnancy and her ties to Roman and her conviction in the angel impregnation. Clementine surviving, her and Olivia as enemies with the worst and most unwanted sexual tension ever. Clementine working to expose Olivia somehow, realizing the corruption within the Order of the Dragon. I also loved the scenes between Olivia and Lynda and would love something that explored their dynamic. 

Additional note: I have not read the novel the first season was based on and with this fandom, at least, would prefer any gifts just stick with the show’s continuity/canon, thank you! :3

Fandom DNW: I know the show loves to toss around the g slur, I would just prefer its usage was kept to a minimum for fic. Characters like Olivia defaulting to it when referring to/thinking about Peter, his mom, etc. is okay.

 

 

• Barbarian (2022)

 

Relationships:

Tess Marshal/Keith Toshko

 

General thoughts/prompts:

These two! The duvet scene! Every time I watch this movie I get sad we didn’t get the meet cute romcom for them. If you want to go that route and bypass all the horror, go for it! Or perhaps Keith survives alongside Tess. AU where Keith is the horror - or maybe it’s Tess that is the real threat. I think stalker/serial killer/captivity aus for them could be a lot of fun, I like that the director said he cast Bill Skarsgard because he wanted someone who you weren’t quite sure of, and if you want to follow down the ‘maybe he really is dangerous’ path, go for it! Vampire or werewolf au even! But I also like the reversal, where Tess is actually someone dangerous, lures men in unaware. Maybe she gets soft for Keith and decides to keep him.

 

• Dracula - Bram Stoker

 

Relationships:

Dracula/Lucy Westenra

Dracula/Jonathan Harker

Dracula/Jonathan Harker/Mina Murray Harker

Arthur Holmwood/Quincey Morris/John Seward/Lucy Westenra

General thoughts/prompts:

Why can’t a woman marry three men? Hhm? Oh, Dracula gets three brides, but Lucy can’t have her three grooms? Let her have her three grooms (who are also kind of all in love with each other)!

I am working on rereading this novel currently, which I haven’t read in ages, but I really love the relationships between all the characters. There’s so much sincerity that I feel adaptations sorely lack. That said, I do love a lot of Dracula media, and I am absolutely fine with including elements of adaptations and mixing with original novel canon. That said, I can take or leave the whole “Vlad III” backstory, tbh. Sometimes it’s fun, sometimes I think it’s too constraining.

Dracula/Lucy to me in the novel could be really interesting, and I’d love to see it explored in all its twisted, dark potential. I did like how the first film to incorporate the ‘reincarnated lover’ angle actually made her Lucy, not Mina, and if you want to sprinkle that in here, go for it. :3 Dracula as a corrupting influence on Lucy, Dracula seducing Lucy with the possibility of having her three grooms.

I really love the twisted, toxic messiness of Dracula/Jonathan and Dracula/Jonathan/Mina, and this is new for me - I admit to growing up heavily influenced by Coppola’s film and being a Dracula/Mina shipper for a long time, but I have grown to see the error of my ways, lol. Dracula turning Mina to try and force Jonathan into accepting his own turning. Jonathan and Mina become vampires but vow to one day take Dracula down. Vampire JonMina and their toxic, stalker ex Dracula over the years in a world where he won, or Vampire JonMina embracing this new life to ensure Dracula remains in Transylvania?

 

 

• The Crow (2024)

 

Relationships:

Eric Draven/Shelly Webster

 

General thoughts/prompts:

I thought these two had fun chemistry together, and I loved the Orpheus/Eurydice vibes. Finding human connection at such low points in their lives and becoming almost addicted to each other. I’d love anything from PWP to a sweet moment between them before it all went to hell, something post canon with Eric finding ways to be near her or Shelly sensing his presence - maybe even trying to find a way to free him - or even role reversal where Shelly is avenging Eric and trying to bring him back while battling her own demons and guilt. Or a type of setting/subgenre shift. Vampire au, Underworld inspired type world, full on Greek mythology setting shift.

 

 

• Crossover Fandoms

 

Relationships:

Eddie Barrish (Locked 2025)/Rocky (Don't Breathe)

I don’t know, something about their similar ‘surviving homicidal, entitled, privileged older men who lost their daughters’ trauma feels like it would mesh. I like the potential there. One possibility is fudging with the timeline of either/both movies to make it work for Rocky’s sister and Eddie’s daughter to be a similar age and that’s how they meet? End up finding out each other’s baggage and bond over that final girl/final boy existence. Maybe they both get grabbed for some kind of ‘most dangerous game’ type situation, with Eddie and Rocky teaming up to once again turn the tables on their captors. Or maybe they just meet at some kind of group therapy session and go for a nice cup of coffee!

The Kid (Castle Rock TV) & Pennywise (IT Muschietti)

Randall Flagg (The Stand 2020) & The Kid (Castle Rock TV) & Pennywise (IT Muschietti)

I just think these two/three interacting with each other would be funny. Go crazy with the Stephen King lore, even if it goes over my head. Make it as serious or as crack or as crack treated seriously as you want!

Ahmanet (The Mummy 2017) & Orlok (Nosferatu 2024)

The weird potential between these two intrigues me - especially because I feel like there’s a lot of Faustian elements to Orlok and how he became a vampire, so these two making bargains with ancient deities to become something immortal but it sort of biting them in the ass is intriguing. I feel like Ahmanet might be someone that even Orlok realizes could be more powerful than him, I’d love to see him around someone that might outrank/outclass him. 

Roman Godfrey (Hemlock Grove TV)/Ellen Hutter (Nosferatu 2024)

All I can say is I think they match each other’s freak. The blood kink going on between them would be extremely messy and dangerous. I’m completely open to how this happens - no explanation, in depth and detailed explanation, Ellen is simply born in modern times Pennsylvania instead of 1800s Prussia, reincarnation, Olivia relocates to Prussia in the 1800s and has Roman then - whatever works for you!

Frankenstein's Creature (Frankenstein 2025)/Ellen Hutter (Nosferatu 2024)/Thomas Hutter (Nosferatu 2024)/Orlok (Nosferatu 2024)

Frankenstein's Creature (Frankenstein 2025)/Ellen Hutter (Nosferatu 2024)/Thomas Hutter (Nosferatu 2024)

Frankenstein's Creature (Frankenstein 2025)/Ellen Hutter (Nosferatu 2024)

Frankenstein's Creature (Frankenstein 2025)/Orlok (Nosferatu 2024)

Frankenstein's Creature (Frankenstein 2025)/Thomas Hutter (Nosferatu 2024)

Truly, I think there’s so much potential between the Creature and these three, in different and unique ways. The timelines might not perfectly line up, so if you opt to go with this and want to fudge around with that to make Nosferatu later, or Frankenstein happen closer to the novel’s timeframe, go for it! Or ignore altogether! I’m not picky if it gets these fandoms crossing over. I don’t mind other characters from either film showing up, either. Also I am fine with any name given to the Creature - I myself default to Adam when writing about him in any canon, I am a basic bitch like that, I really am not picky about it though. And if you want to play around with gender with the Creature, be my guest!

To me, Orlok is someone who, while alive at least, craved knowledge and understanding. There’s a Faustian element to him, imo, and I could see him being truly curious and intrigued by the Creature, his existence, how he was made and how he lives, what that might even mean for Orlok’s own existence. The Creature, in his wanderings, coming into the Carpathians, taking shelter in a supposedly abandoned castle only for this other not dead but not living being to rise after sunset.Would Orlok remind him too much of Victor for him to be comfortable at first, or is he more overwhelmed by something that is Other to ignore what a rude and classist asshole Orlok is? I could see there being a battle of wills there after the initial wonder and curiosity fades.

The Creature meeting Ellen when she’s a girl - the two of them bumping into each other out in the fields. Ellen helping him hide and being delighted by this strange being, the Creature so happy to find a friend. If they meet before the night she reaches out and accidentally summons Orlok, does this mean that never happens? Does the Creature sate that loneliness for her? Their dynamic evolving into something else? Maybe Ellen decides to run off with him. Maybe the Creature has to leave but promises to come back. Would she still end up connecting with Orlok? Marrying Thomas? Does she wait, hoping that her friend will return? I think these two could be a couple of kindred spirits, feeling a need in each other.

I also love the idea of Thomas and the Creature meeting after the events of both films. Thomas living out on his own, needing to get away from Wisburg (maybe even out in that ruined castle, I have a fondness for him seeking that place out again in the aftermath), the Creature crossing his path. After all Thomas has seen and endured, would the Creature really be that frightening or strange? Maybe someone who isn’t human would be the best companion for him. Someone he could be honest with about how he lost his wife. Both the Creature and Thomas struggling with the burden of living - the Creature with no other choice, Thomas feeling obligated because of Ellen’s sacrifice.

I love the idea of the Creature around the Hutters if Ellen or both of them have become vampires, or if they are turned and with Orlok. The difference in how each one interacts with and views the Creature - especially if Ellen becomes protective when she notices the almost clinical way that Orlok views him, wanting to fully understand how he exists. The juxtaposition of the Creature and Orlok and how the Hutters navigate that. Also a big fan of the Creature becoming protective of the Hutters and trying to get between them and Orlok.