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Saturday, January 2nd, 2021 08:22 pm
Information
His inhuman eyes veer between bright blue or tinted green dependent upon lighting. In full dark, they're a dark green, permitting him some vision in the dark, very similar to a feline. He's tall, usually adorned in clothing befitting his era, and stands at his full height when it thinks it'll give him a looming, predatory advantage.
For those with enhanced senses, Renfield will smell both young and beyond ancient. The blood of Dracula courses through his veins. Dracula is brother to Lucifer, both fallen angels cast out of Heaven, following a great war. While Renfield himself possesses only a fraction of that remarkable power, it was enough to change him into something beyond human, but not quite a vampire. In short, he'll likely confuse the hell out of most other vampires.
•DEMEANOR: What is social distancing? Renfield knows it not when he's hungry. (Look the first Familiar he encountered was super gropey and licked his neck, so I mean, these are not creatures of etiquette). Depending on his level of sanity, he will either be playfully sadistic and way too close for comfort or, on the opposite end, falling back onto old racist/classist attitudes. Show you're better than him, more powerful, and watch him switch instantly to subservient, awestruck, or possibly even faux-respectful.
| name Renfield | gender Male | canon Penny Dreadful |
| age 32 | species Familiar | timepoint 3.09 "Blessed Dark" |
Appearance & Demeanor
height 5'9"
build Slender
hair Brown
eyes Blue/Green
Somewhere between human and vampire, Renfield is pale with blueish veins that appear prominent. build Slender
hair Brown
eyes Blue/Green
His inhuman eyes veer between bright blue or tinted green dependent upon lighting. In full dark, they're a dark green, permitting him some vision in the dark, very similar to a feline. He's tall, usually adorned in clothing befitting his era, and stands at his full height when it thinks it'll give him a looming, predatory advantage.
For those with enhanced senses, Renfield will smell both young and beyond ancient. The blood of Dracula courses through his veins. Dracula is brother to Lucifer, both fallen angels cast out of Heaven, following a great war. While Renfield himself possesses only a fraction of that remarkable power, it was enough to change him into something beyond human, but not quite a vampire. In short, he'll likely confuse the hell out of most other vampires.
•DEMEANOR: What is social distancing? Renfield knows it not when he's hungry. (Look the first Familiar he encountered was super gropey and licked his neck, so I mean, these are not creatures of etiquette). Depending on his level of sanity, he will either be playfully sadistic and way too close for comfort or, on the opposite end, falling back onto old racist/classist attitudes. Show you're better than him, more powerful, and watch him switch instantly to subservient, awestruck, or possibly even faux-respectful.
Personality
At first glance, prior to becoming a Familiar, Renfield was just a prim and too proper secretary, and one suited to groveling. His role was simply to assist and smile and look pretty whilst doing both. It was a cushy job he enjoyed, easy work, disposable income, and too much time to indulge in nighttime vices..
Renfield's an addict, be it to opium, or later, Dracula's blood and compliments, and like any addict is wont to do, he does whatever he can to get that next sweet fix. A weak-willed, subservient little man, he's someone who puffed up his own importance, having excess ego to burn, whilst simultaneously feeling completely hollow in all other areas. Though he enjoyed the job, it left him feeling empty and unfulfilled. In his thirties and still a bachelor (with questionable sexual appetites), he found it difficult to truly connect with people, and they to him, which fed into his 'no one loves me and no one cares' mentality and hatred of a 'wretched world' that, he felt, incorrectly or otherwise, overlooked him. Renfield projected all his insecurities onto other people as a way to feel good about himself, albeit briefly. Examples of this are overt racism and misogyny (ie, "I smoked opium with yellow devils and planted my seed into unworthy whores.") because as a privileged white man in 1891, what better way to flout your status than by being an absolute shitheel?
And privileged he was, taught early on that money trounced affection, and the clink of coins screamed louder than declarations of love. To that end, in his mind, one's financials and station in life were the only certainties. Any problem could be solved by tossing enough money at it, just as everything and everyone was a commodity. He was the sort to buy a lady of the evening and also insult their station in life.
And all of the above was before Dracula had his familiars accost Renfield in a dark alleyway, drag him back to the slaughterhouse, and force him into blood-bound slavery. For Renfield, Dracula was the lightning bolt he didn't know he needed to make his monotonous life So Much Better. Just as he can be overwhelmed by his violent thirst for blood, so too could the same be said for his addiction for validation from his Master. Dracula fulfills an emotional need for Renfield, as he's that parental figure that Renfield always craved a scrap of affection from, however empty those words might be. Dracula even threatens his life on more than one occasion, further feeding into Renfield's incredibly skewed vision that love isn't real, it's all a supply-demand exchange. Whether by the blood enslavement, or simply his own submissive nature, Renfield feels a peculiar joy in carrying out Dracula's orders and being permitted to drink from him as a treat. It is a compulsion worse than the weekly itch for opium as it is, quite literally, ingrained in his survival instincts now. Even something as miniscule as being permitted to drink from a fresh kill before the other Familiars is akin to scratching a dog's ears and calling them a "good boy". Renfield is easily ruled by rewards and simple treats over threats of violence; this Dracula cottoned onto quickly, calling Renfield his "Chosen One" mere seconds after threatening to feed him to the other ghouls if he did not obey.
Renfield still very much is that person he was before, of course, except now everything is amplified. Added to his anger at the world are the animalistic tendencies (and lack of caring about social norms) of being a Familiar. His intense need for any attention is practically electrified to a childish glee, aligning with the manic-depressive nature of being a ghoul. In fact, upon first meeting Malcolm, Renfield's question to this stranger is "Are you here to beat me, Sir?" spoken with a peculiar agitated anticipation. It's part bravado, partly a need for appealing to the dominant male of the group, and also entirely what he's come to expect from all older males who give him a stern look. 'A kiss with a fist is better than none' aka negative attention is preferable to being invisible, a motto that was practically caned into his ass back in boarding school (and now further strengthened by Dracula).
And yet, despite everything, there is still a kernel of humanity buried within Renfield, revealed within Dr. Seward's mix of drugs and hypnosis. Despite his seemingly orgasmic joy at biting into a toad in front of Dr. Seward whilst taunting her earlier in the day, under trance it's revealed he actually craves her for a friend, believing that if that had been possible, he might not have ended up as he did. This is further evidenced by the simple fact he did not kill her when he had the chance and the means (a ghoul's enhanced strength) to do so. He even calls her "mother" when he begs her forgiveness for his misdeeds. Renfield under trance actually begged Dr. Seward to hold his hand when he led her to "The Dead Place" (aka the slaughterhouse where he met with Dracula). It was a journey he actually dreaded now, knowing (or believing) he was being watched at all times, that he was threatened into obedience. When Dr. Seward tells him he's safe, he recoils and warns her that "You will not want to see the things I've seen, Doctor." This was literally mere moments after boasting which of them would be his reward for good service to Dracula, how Dracula had been "bountiful with the gore" and how Renfield wanted the world to end and return to "blessed dark".
He's a mess of contradictions, but, similar to any drug user awakening sober after a week-long binge and seeing all the filth and decay in their life, a part of him is horrified with what he's become, even as he knows he can't stop. He finds joy in his misdeeds and terribleness, for its all the joy he feels has left to experience.
Renfield's an addict, be it to opium, or later, Dracula's blood and compliments, and like any addict is wont to do, he does whatever he can to get that next sweet fix. A weak-willed, subservient little man, he's someone who puffed up his own importance, having excess ego to burn, whilst simultaneously feeling completely hollow in all other areas. Though he enjoyed the job, it left him feeling empty and unfulfilled. In his thirties and still a bachelor (with questionable sexual appetites), he found it difficult to truly connect with people, and they to him, which fed into his 'no one loves me and no one cares' mentality and hatred of a 'wretched world' that, he felt, incorrectly or otherwise, overlooked him. Renfield projected all his insecurities onto other people as a way to feel good about himself, albeit briefly. Examples of this are overt racism and misogyny (ie, "I smoked opium with yellow devils and planted my seed into unworthy whores.") because as a privileged white man in 1891, what better way to flout your status than by being an absolute shitheel?
And privileged he was, taught early on that money trounced affection, and the clink of coins screamed louder than declarations of love. To that end, in his mind, one's financials and station in life were the only certainties. Any problem could be solved by tossing enough money at it, just as everything and everyone was a commodity. He was the sort to buy a lady of the evening and also insult their station in life.
And all of the above was before Dracula had his familiars accost Renfield in a dark alleyway, drag him back to the slaughterhouse, and force him into blood-bound slavery. For Renfield, Dracula was the lightning bolt he didn't know he needed to make his monotonous life So Much Better. Just as he can be overwhelmed by his violent thirst for blood, so too could the same be said for his addiction for validation from his Master. Dracula fulfills an emotional need for Renfield, as he's that parental figure that Renfield always craved a scrap of affection from, however empty those words might be. Dracula even threatens his life on more than one occasion, further feeding into Renfield's incredibly skewed vision that love isn't real, it's all a supply-demand exchange. Whether by the blood enslavement, or simply his own submissive nature, Renfield feels a peculiar joy in carrying out Dracula's orders and being permitted to drink from him as a treat. It is a compulsion worse than the weekly itch for opium as it is, quite literally, ingrained in his survival instincts now. Even something as miniscule as being permitted to drink from a fresh kill before the other Familiars is akin to scratching a dog's ears and calling them a "good boy". Renfield is easily ruled by rewards and simple treats over threats of violence; this Dracula cottoned onto quickly, calling Renfield his "Chosen One" mere seconds after threatening to feed him to the other ghouls if he did not obey.
Renfield still very much is that person he was before, of course, except now everything is amplified. Added to his anger at the world are the animalistic tendencies (and lack of caring about social norms) of being a Familiar. His intense need for any attention is practically electrified to a childish glee, aligning with the manic-depressive nature of being a ghoul. In fact, upon first meeting Malcolm, Renfield's question to this stranger is "Are you here to beat me, Sir?" spoken with a peculiar agitated anticipation. It's part bravado, partly a need for appealing to the dominant male of the group, and also entirely what he's come to expect from all older males who give him a stern look. 'A kiss with a fist is better than none' aka negative attention is preferable to being invisible, a motto that was practically caned into his ass back in boarding school (and now further strengthened by Dracula).
And yet, despite everything, there is still a kernel of humanity buried within Renfield, revealed within Dr. Seward's mix of drugs and hypnosis. Despite his seemingly orgasmic joy at biting into a toad in front of Dr. Seward whilst taunting her earlier in the day, under trance it's revealed he actually craves her for a friend, believing that if that had been possible, he might not have ended up as he did. This is further evidenced by the simple fact he did not kill her when he had the chance and the means (a ghoul's enhanced strength) to do so. He even calls her "mother" when he begs her forgiveness for his misdeeds. Renfield under trance actually begged Dr. Seward to hold his hand when he led her to "The Dead Place" (aka the slaughterhouse where he met with Dracula). It was a journey he actually dreaded now, knowing (or believing) he was being watched at all times, that he was threatened into obedience. When Dr. Seward tells him he's safe, he recoils and warns her that "You will not want to see the things I've seen, Doctor." This was literally mere moments after boasting which of them would be his reward for good service to Dracula, how Dracula had been "bountiful with the gore" and how Renfield wanted the world to end and return to "blessed dark".
He's a mess of contradictions, but, similar to any drug user awakening sober after a week-long binge and seeing all the filth and decay in their life, a part of him is horrified with what he's become, even as he knows he can't stop. He finds joy in his misdeeds and terribleness, for its all the joy he feels has left to experience.
Abilities / Powers
Full breakdown of Familiar/Ghoul in the Penny Dreadful 'verse. TL;DR: Faster and stronger than humans with enhanced senses, but they're moody bastards due to bloodlust. As Renfield has been a Familiar for only a week at most, he's not as 'far gone' as other Familiars, still maintaining more of his sanity (for good or ill) and his human emotions.
Supernatural abilities aside, Renfield was once upon a time a skilled secretary for Dr. Seward and is good at clerical work, keeping forms and letters neat and tidy. The affects of Dracula's blood seemed to cause some of that to go astray with his obsessive nature.
Supernatural abilities aside, Renfield was once upon a time a skilled secretary for Dr. Seward and is good at clerical work, keeping forms and letters neat and tidy. The affects of Dracula's blood seemed to cause some of that to go astray with his obsessive nature.
Permissions
•THREAD-JACKING: Go ahead but if it runs too long, please move it elsewhere.
•FOURTH WALLING / CANON PUNCTURE: I mean the guy's been in literature/classic movie zeitgeist since--(googles)--1897. Recognize his name all you want, mistake him for other Samuel Barnett characters, ask about Bela Lugosi for the lulz, but please no fourth walling Penny Dreadful itself.
•BACKTAGGING: Yes but if its been a couple weeks, I'd prefer to handwave.
•AVOIDED TOPICS: None I can think of. I'll update as needed.
•PREFERRED GENDER PRONOUN: She/her for me, he/him for Renfield.
•CURRENT CANON POINT: Post-Penny Dreadful.
•MEDICAL INFORMATION: No accelerated healing, unknown blood-type, prone to injury as other humans.
•CABIN INFORMATION:Internals Update: 01/30/21: Fancy Victorian bedroom, with hissing cockroach habitat, & fancier art. Cabin door remains unchanged.
•OFFENSIVE SUBJECTS: insults to the Master (or other vampires), disregarding social classes...
•MENTAL: Yes. Oh he would hate it by A Lot. Dr. Seward drugged/hypnotized him to get info on Dracula and just prior his exact words were: "LEAVE MY FUCKING BRAIN ALONE, YOU CUNT!" So, um. Proceed with caution?
•MIMICRY: Yes. Have a ball.
•VIOLENCE: Yes. He'll go down in one hit, or outright yield before the first punch.
•MAGIC: Yes. Zero defenses, again.
•DEBATE: Yes. Depending on the topic, he might be the first to back down.
•FOURTH WALLING / CANON PUNCTURE: I mean the guy's been in literature/classic movie zeitgeist since--(googles)--1897. Recognize his name all you want, mistake him for other Samuel Barnett characters, ask about Bela Lugosi for the lulz, but please no fourth walling Penny Dreadful itself.
•BACKTAGGING: Yes but if its been a couple weeks, I'd prefer to handwave.
•AVOIDED TOPICS: None I can think of. I'll update as needed.
•PREFERRED GENDER PRONOUN: She/her for me, he/him for Renfield.
•CURRENT CANON POINT: Post-Penny Dreadful.
•MEDICAL INFORMATION: No accelerated healing, unknown blood-type, prone to injury as other humans.
•CABIN INFORMATION:
•OFFENSIVE SUBJECTS: insults to the Master (or other vampires), disregarding social classes...
•MENTAL: Yes. Oh he would hate it by A Lot. Dr. Seward drugged/hypnotized him to get info on Dracula and just prior his exact words were: "LEAVE MY FUCKING BRAIN ALONE, YOU CUNT!" So, um. Proceed with caution?
•MIMICRY: Yes. Have a ball.
•VIOLENCE: Yes. He'll go down in one hit, or outright yield before the first punch.
•MAGIC: Yes. Zero defenses, again.
•DEBATE: Yes. Depending on the topic, he might be the first to back down.
