#Carol (Renfield)

[png-of-a-bat]

do you think he ever got him a new ant farm? i think he did. prompt 4/17/24: fave side character his name is apparently "ant kid" but he was so much more. he also watched renfield get arrested and still waved at him. thats some king shit. @renfield-anniversary

[gerardway-is-my-babygirl]

Renfield Anniversary Week, day 4: Favourite Side Character

I love all the DRAAG members equally (lie) but damn. Carol's nonbinary swag got me good

Here's some of my headcanons about them 👹👹👹

Nonbinary, obviously. They use they/she but prefer the former

It takes them a little while to warm up to Renfield after he continually Interrupted them, but without Dracula to worry about they are finally given their chance to talk. Renfield apologises for all the times he stopped her from sharing her problems, and they get along now

Emo/alternative music taste. They love MCR and encourage Renfield to get back Into them after he stopped listening to them In the 2010s. They bond over their shared love for the band

Thinking that they're neurodivergent In some way, but they aren't bothered enough by It to get a diagnosis

Everyone In DRAAG has had their nails painted by Carol at one point or another. Mark Is their most frequent victim of this I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL!!!!

They're either bi or a lesbian. Big woman liker

They steal Bob's old jackets because they like baggy and masculine clothing

For a few years they struggled with their gender Identity, since they wanted to be percieved as genderless but also be able to wear makeup. The support group helped them to realise that they can be androgynous and still wear makeup at the same time

[spiders-rob]

NSFW Headcanons for Renfield 2023 Characters

Robert Montague Renfield

I saw someone else headcanon that he has a mostly Phantom of the Opera sex playlist and God, that's so true. You're absolutely right.

more submissive type stuff:

Likes:

His hair played with

Light choking

Hand feeding

(Off) Limits:

Being told in detail what his partner is about to do to him

Pain (receiving)

Blood (weird memories yo)

Drugs

Insults

more dominant type stuff:

Usually being in restraints but it depends. Occasionally he's into it.

Biting

Picking his partner up/holding them in place

Calling his partner bug or bugbug (yeah don't think about that one too much, dude)

Rebecca Quincy

Honestly he's not particular he just enjoys being in control

Cowgirl (lol. Because of the book. Do you get it? Do you get it??)

Competence kink!!!!

Wrestling and grappling with one another

Compliments: Giving compliments and Getting compliments

Will make lots of awkward jokes to relieve the tension/anxiety

Once accidentally killed the mood by making herself laugh so hard (at a funny voice impression she did) that her wine came up through her nose.

Tedward "Teddy" Lobo

Will do a line or three (or a centipede) off of like, any body part.

Look, let's be honest we all know he has a barely-repressed Mommy kink that will surface the second he loses composure, ok?

Claims to be a dom. Is absolutely not that. 100% submissive brat.

Will attempt dirty talk but will frequently stumble over his words (when he doesn't plan them out extensively ahead of time) and then backtrack trying to correct himself.

Likes to record it so he can "prove he fucks" (??? Babe, what)

"Teasingly/knowingly" asks "do you like that?" But is absolutely not actually bragging and is genuinely unironically seeking reassurance

Carol

The type of guy who thinks the stripper/prostitute/cam worker actually likes him lmao.

He'd do pretty much anything to be called a "good boy" but he has to get over himself or just be unbearably horny to admit that instead of claiming to hate it/viewing it as an "accusation"

He has had so much unfulfilling/uncomfortable sex because he tells himself that the mild panic he feels when taking control is "exhilaration". (Exhilaration is supposed to be fun, dude)

Body painting on her partner

Tantric sex

Likes to make jokes/laugh to deflect from the vulnerability

Idk man she's really hard to get a read on honestly.

Bellafrancesca Lobo

Her partners have a habit of turning up in little pieces throughout the city dumpsters once she's done with them so like...approach with caution

Attracted to power

Mark :)

Like she's dominant but she's only attracted to other doms and then they compete to see who can keep up with eachother

Pretty vanilla tbh

Has a surprising amount of hangups

Likes sexy dancing as foreplay

Gentle

Caitlyn Bergman

Running hands over each other's faces

Generally considerate

Wants a fairytale romance (or maybe a bodice-ripper fantasy)

Attracted to witty remarks/sarcasm

Honestly still figuring out what she likes after Mitch.

Likes dressing up in sexy lingerie

Kate Quincy

Ace so nope

"Wait, people actually experience sexual attraction? That wasn't a joke?"

Bob

Surprisingly gentle and tender

Like for such a tense/angry guy he basically just wants very gentle sweet intimacy

Says a lot of reassurances

Checks in a lot to make sure his partner is ok

He's very masculine and "tough" and people tend to expect him to be the one doing all the pursuing/masculine role stuff, so little sweet romantic gestures like getting him flowers or complimenting him etc go a LONG way. Just genuinely calling him pretty without irony or sarcasm makes him blush like crazy and his heart races.

Kevin

Really likes it when his partner wears perfume. Especially something floral.

Long makeout sessions

Trevanté

Takes a long time for him to trust someone enough for anything

A bit of a showoff

Will put his hand over his partner's and guide them

Very direct communication. Will say plainly what he wants/likes and ask questions upfront.

[stradithebird]

What it looks like when Cratchit tries to ask for a higher pay

[brsb4hls]

'My life is like a never ending hallway of funhouse mirrors, but all the clowns are me'

[phoenixwatchesmovies]

What I'm Watching: December 2024

Last roundup of 2024! After finally finishing Doom Patrol (and sobbing for hours afterward), I was in the mood for fun and/or nostalgia. Here we go...

MythBusters (2003-2018)

A weekly documentary in which two Hollywood special effects experts attempt to debunk urban legends by directly testing them.

I've been binge watching sporadically all month, and it's bringing back some fond memories. Aside from that, this show never gets less cool.

Rio (2011)

When Blu, a domesticated macaw from small-town Minnesota, meets the fiercely independent Jewel, he takes off on an adventure to Rio de Janeiro with the bird of his dreams.

Cute, lovely to look at, and pretty funny. I liked it.

Renfield (2023)

Renfield, Dracula's tortured henchman, is forced to capture prey for his master and do his every bidding. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there is a life outside his boss's shadow.

FINALLY! This year's Dracula Daily/Re: Dracula really put Renfield high up there on my list of favorite canon characters, so I'm glad I had as much fun as I did watching this one. The colors, the premise, the humor, it's all a silly, enjoyable time. The recreation of certain shots from the Bela Lugosi movie were a nice touch as well.

Van Helsing (2004)

The famed monster hunter is sent to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula, who is using Dr. Frankenstein's research and a werewolf for nefarious purposes.

THIS MOVIE RULES, OKAY??? Long story short, there is a me before I ever saw this movie, and the me who exists today partly because of this movie, and as such I will defend it with flaming swords. Besides, it doesn't feel like Christmas without it.

The Thing (1982)

A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

I wanted some winter horror, and I didn't have time for The Shining. I'm not complaining, because I wanted something tense and gnarly and COLD, so this worked out perfectly. Dog lovers beware, though, because sheeeeeeeeeeeeesh......

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

The Muppets put their spin on the tale of an elder, Christmas-hating miser who is visited by spirits who foretell his future and share secrets from his past and present, which helps change his view on life.

Still can't believe I talked Dad into watching this with me, though I'm not surprised he enjoyed it. You either like the Muppets, or you're wrong. (Now I'm really in the mood for Muppet Treasure Island...)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

A grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.

The exclamation point is important. I wasn't skipping this one for anything. It's required viewing.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.

Also required viewing, and the most important holiday movie in the world.

###

I suppose at some point I'll go over my favorite new watches of the year, but in the meantime... *shrug* Happy New Year!

[effloradox]

cornelia street; robert m. renfield.

track nine of LOVER

pairing: robert renfield x f!reader

synopsis: your soulmate’s first words to you are written on your wrist

word count: 3.2k

The modern world was confusing. Renfield had watched the world change rapidly around him during his century as Dracula’s familiar and the way humans had changed never failed to surprise him. It had made life more difficult for him, Dracula’s need for good quality blood was harder to fulfil in a world where the influence of the church was increasingly slipping and sour blood was more common than ever before. His master didn’t understand that, of course, and just berated his familiar for doing such a poor job in attending to his needs.

Finding DRAAG had been a good twist of fate. New Orleans wasn’t quite what he’d expected, slightly more lawless than he’d initially assumed, but it had plenty of derelict buildings that he could move Dracula between if they were to be discovered and people went missing frequently enough that taking victims to his master wasn't going to alert too much suspicion. The group had become something of a lifeline for him after a few weeks in the city. He’d followed Bob inside after thinking he would make a good victim, and five weeks later he was still coming to the group. Everyone was so desperately sad, and a part of Renfield had identified with their stories and that kept him coming back.

It was especially hard listening to the people who had realised they were codependent with their soulmate. To watch them lament that this was meant to be the perfect person for them and they had fallen into destructive patterns with them had hit a sore spot somewhere deep inside Renfield. He’d never met his soulmate, his marriage to his late wife had been one of convenience rather than based on a soul bond, and it didn’t mean he loved her any less but his heart had always ached that he’d probably never meet his soulmate. Him and his master had moved so frequently that he was sure his soulmate had passed him by like ships in the night, or day really since he and his master did all their travelling by night.

If his master had ever noticed him absentmindedly tracing his words, he had never commented on it. His master didn’t have any words, Renfield had checked one time when he’d been tending to his needs, and he was sure if he ever brought up being lonely his master would begin another speech about how he didn’t need a soulmate, that they had each other and that humans were beneath them. The lectures had been focused solely on bringing his master back to full power recently but they had been happening more frequently, like tonight for instance. He’d been ready to go to the DRAAG meeting when Dracula had started another lecture about having to consume sour blood again and wanting Renfield to find him some nuns to eat.

He’d arrived late to this meeting, nervously babbling out an apology to Mark and the others as he took a seat in the back circle. It had taken him a few minutes to realise that there was a new face sitting with the group. She was sitting next to Carol, and the two seemed to know each other based on how they’d moved their chairs to be closer together. They were whispering quietly to each other, not quite loud enough to be audible but enough that he knew they were doing so. He tried not to stare, but there was something about Carol’s friend that had entranced him. He began to trace his words again, a nervous habit he’d developed over the years, only stopping when he saw Mark take notice. He waited for Lawrence to finish his share before looking to Renfield.

“Renfield, do you want to share today?”

“No, I’m good I think.” Mark sighed lightly at the denial, clearly having expected it.

“You’ve been coming here for a few weeks now, and you don’t have to say anything, but you’re always welcome to share. This is a safe space for you to speak your truth.”

“I suppose so.” Mark and the rest of the group were quiet for a moment, clearly waiting for another round of pushback from Renfield but when he gave none, Mark proceeded in a gentle tone.

“Is it your soulmate?”

“No, I haven't actually met them yet.” There were a few sympathetic noises from various people sitting in the circle. If they felt bad that a man who looked to be in his thirties hadn’t met his soulmate, he didn’t want to think about how they’d react if they knew he was almost one hundred years old and hadn’t met them. They’d probably refer him for a psychological evaluation if he said that part out loud though; whilst he didn’t exactly take pride in his appearance, Dracula’s ability to stop his body ageing meant he hadn’t physically aged for almost as long as he’d known the Count.

“And do you think the person you’re in a codependent relationship with is taking advantage of that?”

“Honestly? No. My boss he, uh, he’s blank. I don’t think he particularly minds but that also means that he doesn’t care about me and finding my soulmate.” Being blank wasn’t particularly common, and it always invoked a specific sympathy from everyone who found out. The idea that you were a person without another half in a society where that was the norm always tended to put people on edge. Renfield had always been somewhat relieved that Dracula didn’t have a soulmate, the idea of having another vampire to tend to the needs of and transport around seemed like much more hassle than he cared to entertain. One Lord of Darkness was more than enough, thank you very much.

“That must be hard for him, but that doesn't mean that you have to put off your chances of happiness just because he’s blank. Has he ever taken any interest or even acknowledged that you haven’t met your soulmate yet?”

“I don’t think it’s even occurred to him to be honest. I think if anything he’s probably glad, I think it would be fair to say that meeting my soulmate may influence my ability to do my job the way he expects me to.”

“So what would happen, hypothetically speaking, if you were to seek out your soulmate?” The question drew only a blank in Renfield’s mind, and he noticed the flicker of pity that passed over Mark’s face when he struggled to imagine a world where he prioritised himself rather than his boss.

“What do you mean?”

“If you went off and tried to find your soulmate, what would happen?”

“I couldn’t leave my boss for that long.”

“Well, why not?”

“He has this medical condition you see, it means he can’t go out in the daytime, or much at all. If I’m not there to help him, well it doesn’t bear thinking about really.”

“Oh so you’re like a carer then?” Renfield wasn’t sure who spoke up, but it occurred to him that his relationship with his master would sound very strange if he disagreed with the interjection.

“I suppose you could put it like that.”

“I understand that it’s more complex when there are medical needs involved but listen to me Renfield, you cannot put your entire life on hold for someone else. You are important, you have value, and you are more than what your boss seems to see you as.” Renfield shifted uncomfortably in his seat, wringing his hands together. It was much easier attending the meetings when the spotlight wasn’t on him. He stayed quiet in the hopes that someone would interrupt his share but no one came to his rescue and he was left scrambling for something to say next.

“I guess it’s just hard because if he doesn’t have me then there’s no one else who could take care of him. After working for him for so long it wouldn’t feel right to just leave him.” Mark seemed to notice that he was getting more uncomfortable and mercifully decided to open the discussion back to the rest of the group by talking about the sense of duty that came with being codependent before announcing that the meeting was over. Renfield stayed in his seat as most of the group migrated towards the exit. A few people were still inside when he finally stood and went over to the refreshment table, his throat aching for a glass of water. He made quick work of the glass and stood for a moment, cursing himself for speaking ill of his master. He was so in his head that he didn't hear the footsteps coming up behind him until the person spoke.

“I like what you said about your boss.” The world seemed to shift on his axis as he heard the soft voice behind him speak. He turned around and saw the shy smile you were sporting, completely unaware that you had just turned his world upside down in a single sentence. You'd spoken his words.

His words had always confused him slightly, and that had only grown when he's become Dracula's familiar. He'd never been able to imagine a scenario when he'd be freely talking to people about his master, but this made perfect sense in a weird way. He realised that he hadn't spoken yet, and he probably looked like a deer in the headlights and it took him a few beats to come up with a response.

“It’s you.” He watched as it dawned on you what had just occurred between the two of you. The smile that grew on your face made you look truly radiant, like an angel sent directly from above. It felt like he was being saved and being damned all at once and any and all trepidation he’s had about this moment vanished from his mind as he took you in.

“Hey.” The word is soft, you’re clearly still trying to process what’s just happened after all, but it feels like it echoes in his mind, a pleasant change from the way his master’s voice booms through his skull when he deems it fit to communicate like that.

“Hello.”

“I’m, uh, I’m (Y/N).” You gesture to the name sticker on your jacket, and he smiles when he sees a small smiley face drawn next to your name.

“Robert. Robert Montague Renfield.” He holds out a hand to you, trying to hide the slight tremor, and when you take his hand it feels like a shock running through his body. It’s electrifying and relaxing all at once and it’s perfect. You’re perfect.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

“It’s funny really, of all the places in the world I never expected it to be at a codependency anonymous group.” It occurred to Renfield that you hadn’t spoken at all during the meeting and he truly hopes you’re not here because of some awful person you can’t escape from. All his anxieties are put to rest when you reply though.

“I’m not codependent actually, I’m just here to support Carol. But, if you’d like help with your situation, I’d be more than happy to listen. Or if not, we can just grab a coffee, get to know each other?”

“I’d like that very much.” You beam at him before turning to the refreshment table and picking up one of the small business cards that had been scattered amongst the snacks. You grab the pen that lay next to the name tags and write something on the back of the card, handing it to him.

“I need to take Carol home but you should call me. We can go grab that coffee.”

“I will. Yes, definitely.” He watched as you turned to face Carol and the two of you made your way to the exit. You turned back to face him, giving him a small wave as you walked out into the cool night, and Renfield was left alone in the gymnasium. It was only then that it occurred to him that he had no plans for people to bring to Dracula to satisfy him tonight. He cursed himself lightly under his breath as he walked outside and began the walk back to the hospital. The closer he got the more anxious he became, and it was only when he passed the church that his luck seemed to change. He spotted a woman, maybe in her late twenties or early thirties, leaning against the wall and looking to be in rather bad shape. He’d been cautious upon approaching her in case she was with someone but when she drunkenly slurred out that her friends had ditched her, her fate was sealed. It hadn’t been difficult to overpower her, the chloroform in his pocket had done its job as quickly as ever and, with the aid of a bug, it had been easy to pull her into a bridal hold and walk the rest of the way back to the hospital.

Luck seems to remain on his side as he makes it the entire walk without spotting a single patrolling police car, and once he got to the hospital it was easy for him to drop the body onto one of the gurneys he always left near the entrance and then push that the rest of the way. He made it through the hospital without hearing his master until finally reaching the room his master spent most of his time residing in.

“Renfield! Where have you been? Where’s my dinner?”

“Right here, master!” He pushes the unconscious body off the gurney to the ground just shy of the makeshift throne his master was currently sitting in. Dracula didn’t look at all pleased by the offering, slowly rising to his feet. His recovery from their run-in with the vampire hunters had been a slow one, but his skin had finally started to grow back and, whilst he was revolting to look at, it meant he was nearly fully healed again.

“Is it a nun?”

“Um, well, no, but she was hanging around outside a church when I found her?” The answer seemed to satisfy his master enough for the vampire to start feeding from the body. It had been fairly easy for Renfield to become accustomed to the blood and gore that came with being a familiar but the sound of Dracula ravenously feeding on some soon-to-be corpse never failed to make him queasy.

“Not as sour as most of the other trash you’ve brought me. Bring me more like this one Renfield.”

“Yes master.” Renfield went about his usual tasks whilst his master fed; moving the depleted corpses to the pile he’d made a few rooms down from the main chamber of the hospital and trying to keep himself occupied until he could move the fresh body. It didn’t take long for Dracula to drain her fully, but his master’s mood seemed to shift when Renfield approached.

“You smell different, Renfield.”

“I’m sorry?” He watched as Dracula rose to his feet, shifting rapidly around him and coming to a stop just in front of him after a moment. Renfield’s eyes dropped to the floor automatically as he waited for his master to speak to him.

“You met your soulmate.” It wasn’t a question, Renfield realised, but an observation. It was all he could do to nod, questioning how on Earth his master could possibly know he’d met his soulmate from his smell.

“How did you-?”

“It changes the blood of a man, meeting his soulmate. Sweetens the blood, makes it sing.” Dracula’s voice lilted slightly at the mere idea and Renfield felt his heart drop. His chance of having a normal relationship with his soulmate seemed to be going out the window with every word his master spoke.

“Oh.”

“I do hope that this won’t change your fealty, Renfield. I would hate to have to…remove any distractions that come your way.” The hand on the back of his neck makes Renfield flinch, and he listens as Dracula chuckles deeply whilst tracing his carotid artery with one of his nails. He never presses deep enough to draw blood, but the warning is heavy in the air. He hates the way he quivers under his master's touch but after almost a century of knowing just how lethal Dracula’s clawed nails are, the reaction is uncontrollable.

“I, uh, of course not, master.”

“Good.” As Dracula slowly shuffled away from him, Renfield was left with the impression that this wasn’t the end of the discussion. He doesn’t move until Dracula tells him to leave, and it’s with a sigh of relief that he realises that the conversation is indeed over for now. He walks out of the main chamber, leaning against one of the walls after a brisk walk, and slides down until he’s resting on the floor. He’s not sure how long he spends sitting on the floor trying to quiet his mind and failing. The only thing that pulls him back to reality is when he slides his hand into one of his suit pockets and feels the business card with your number on it. He pulls his phone from his back pocket, tracing his fingers over your number on the business card in his other hand. He types your number in, toying with the idea of what he should send to you. He types multiple messages before trying something simpler and more to the point.

Hello, (Y/N). It’s Robert Renfield. Would you still be up for grabbing that coffee?

He presses send before he has time to debate whether it’s a good first message to his soulmate, and he locks his phone, letting it flop down onto his chest. He lets out a sigh, and closes his eyes. He only opens them when he feels his phone vibrate, and he looks down to see if you’ve responded.

Hi Robert! I’d love to, how does 9am sound?

The fact you responded so quickly makes him smile slightly, and it almost makes him forget about his master’s threat. Almost.

That sounds perfect.

Awesome, see you outside the gym? I know a great coffee shop nearby :)

I look forward to seeing you.

He shuts his phone off after sending the final message, letting his eyes close once again. He doesn’t have a bed here, hasn’t for a long time now, and he feels the edges of sleep start to close in on him. His last thought before falling asleep is that he needs to come up with a cover story for when you inevitably ask him about everything he shared at the codependency group because there’s no way you’ll believe that he’s a vampire’s familiar.

[twistedtummies2]

Top 10 Appearances of Pete (Disney)

Earlier this month was the 100th anniversary of a very special and somewhat underrated character: Disney’s longest-lasting and most recurring antagonist, Pete. Nowadays, Pete is most well-known as the arch-nemesis of Mickey Mouse and his friends, but this thuggish, bullying scoundrel is actually even older than Mickey is. Pete first appeared in the famous “Alice Comedies” of the silent film era, as a recurring menace. This continued into the even more popular “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit” cartoons that came later. When sound became a thing, and Disney wanted a rival for his new creation, Mickey, it was only natural that Pete would return in short order. He became a sort of lucky talisman of villainy: anytime a classic cartoon needed a baddy, you brought in Pete.

This tradition has continued well into the modern day for Disney. Pete isn’t the most clever villain in the Disney canon, and how truly evil he really is depends on the interpretation in question, but he is certainly the most PERSISTENT antagonist of the whole lot. Just about anytime Mickey, Donald, or Goofy go anywhere, Pete is sure to follow. Given the history of this character, I thought it would be fun to take a look at some of my favorites of his appearances over the years, the same way I have with Mickey as well as various classic Disney Villains from the feature films. (Plus, I do have a bit of a crush on the guy, soooo definitely even more incentive to give him some kudos.) Just like with Mickey, I won’t be counting any of the classic theatrical shorts from way, way back, such as “Steamboat Willie;” this will be for more recent appearances the character has had, ranging from the 1980s into today.

10. Disney’s Dracula, Starring Mickey Mouse.

We’re starting with a comic appearance, though it is a rather special one. A while back, Disney created some graphic novel adaptations of two of the greatest horror stories ever told: “Dracula” and “Frankenstein.” The latter featured various characters from Donald Duck’s world, while the former focused on the mammalian side of the cast, with Mickey as Jonathan Harker, Goofy as Van Helsing, and the Phantom Blot as Dracula himself. The comic manages to actually adapt a big chunk of the novel in a surprisingly faithful fashion, while also making sure nothing is sacred: obviously, Disney couldn’t get away with the darker and more twisted aspects of the tale, so it essentially becomes a parody of the vampire legend. In the graphic novel, Pete plays the role of Renfield: in the original book, Renfield is a madman who devours flies and other insects, and acts as Dracula’s mindwashed servant. In the comic, instead, Renfield - or, rather, “Pete Pegfield” - is still Dracula’s servant, but instead is a crook obsessed with “files,” of various kinds. It’s…a very weird interpretation, which goes for the whole comic. To be honest, the main reason I list this one here is simply because I love this graphic novel so much, more than for Pete’s own sake. They later did a storybook version of the tale, as well, with a lot of the cast returning (albeit some shuffled around into other roles), but that one features neither Pete NOR Renfield, alas.

9. Mickey’s Christmas Carol.

This holiday classic features one of Pete’s more ambiguous roles. Towards the end of this adaptation of the Dickensian tale, Pete appears in a sort of surprise role (I don’t think I’m really giving away spoilers) as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, a.k.a. Ghost of Christmas Future. It is he who points Scrooge’s way through the dark path his life is taking, showing him the consequences of his actions and inactions if he doesn’t choose to change his ways. This culminates in arguably the most famous scene from this cartoon, as well as possibly the darkest: Scrooge finds a lonely grave, which not even the the undertakers care enough about to finish dealing with right away, and asks whose it is. The ghost then removes his hood, revealing Pete’s greasy mug: “Why, YOURS, Ebenezer! THE RICHEST MAN IN THE CEMETERY!” With a clap on the back, the Ghost sends Scrooge careening into the pit, and then begins laughing maniacally as the coffin below opens up to reveal the fires of Hell itself, while Scrooge pleads for mercy. JESUS. Pete, we get the point! To be fair, this does end up being the final point in changing Scrooge, but…YIKES.

8. Wizards of Mickey.

Our second comic appearance on the list, and definitely a much more typical one. “Wizards of Mickey” is a series of comics that sort of parodies classic fantasy universes, such as “The Lord of Rings” and “Dungeons & Dragons.” It tales the tale of Mickey, a poor young sorcerer’s apprentice (get it?), who goes on a quest to try and find his lost master and - of course - save the world. Just like in “Disney’s Dracula,” the Phantom Blot is the main villain, here depicted as a dark wizard who wants to conquer the universe. And, also like in “Disney’s Dracula,” Pete is here depicted as the Blot’s second-in-command and chief henchmen. In this series, Pete is Mickey’s greatest rival: the leader of a group of scoundrels called Team Black Phantom. As their name itself may or may not indicate, they’re sort of the Team Rocket of the series, with the Blot as the resident Giovanni. Over and over again, throughout the comics, they pop up to cause trouble for Mickey and his friends, with many a scheme that ends up going awry either because of their own foolery, Mickey’s interfering, or - most commonly - a little bit of both. There’s not much else to say, it’s just a really good comic series, and Pete is one of the most notable antagonists in it. If you want to look at some Disney comics with Pete, this series is a good place to start.

7. A Goofy Movie.

Well, if you’re one of the more “furry-centric” people in my resident kingdoms, this one should have been a no-brainer. I think the scene with Pete at the pool is kind of infamous now amongst that crowd. However, there’s a lot more to appreciate than that. Pete plays a sort of “small but important” role in the film; he’s not the main antagonist, but instead acts as a sort of warped parallel to Goofy himself, with his son, PJ, acting in similar fashion to his best friend, Goofy’s son, Max. The movie seems to take place in the same universe of the series “Goof Troop” (more on that later), wherein Pete is depicted as Goofy’s neighbor and a sort of “frenemy.” He doesn’t seem especially villainous, but he’s not necessarily the nicest guy in the world, either. His perspective is that children need to be controlled, keeping a tight grip on his son, PJ’s, reins, and encouraging Goofy to do the same with Max. The parallel is spelled out pretty easily, when Pete warns Goofy that Max is tricking him. Goofy, disbelieving, tells Pete that no matter what he thinks, he knows that Max loves him. Pete growls back: “MY son RESPECTS me.” I think that says it all, doesn’t it?

6. Goof Troop.

While “A Goofy Movie” is definitely a memorable appearance for Pete, Pete has a much larger role in “Goof Troop,” and frankly he and his family were the best part of this show. While the nominal antagonist of the series, and certainly often up to no good, Pete was once again frequently depicted not so much as a villain, and more just as the coarse and grouchy neighbor of Goofy and his son, Max. We also got to see a lot more of Pete’s family than in the later “Goofy Movie,” as we not only met P.J., but also his smart, sassy wife, Peg, and their hyperactive daughter, Pistol. (As well as their family pet, Chainsaw. Dear God, even the NAMES are hysterical here.) While Goofy and Max were the stars of the show, I was always more excited to see the delightfully dysfunctional Pete family. There was just a lot more comedy and utter MADNESS to the way the Pete family got along, and sometimes didn’t get along. Even though they were better off than the Goofs, and no less loving as a family, the mixture of Pete’s harebrained schemes, Peg’s short temper and endless nagging, P.J.’s somewhat panicky personality, and Pistol’s...um...craziness, meant that they tended to clash a lot more. Honestly, I wish the show had been just about them; most of the best episodes were the ones where they got the majority of the focus. With the recent reboot of “DuckTales,” I keep wondering if other old Disney shows will get revamped in the near future; if they ever decide to make a “Life With Pete” show, or something like that, I’ll be genuinely hyped.

5. Epic Mickey.

In the video game “Epic Mickey,” the good Mouse descends into a world known as the Wasteland, where various forgotten characters, rides, and concepts from the wonderful world of Disney have all been retired. Pete is by no means a forgotten figure, but his presence does still make sense: first of all, I would argue that Pete - despite his perennial appearances - is one of the more underrated Disney bad guys. You don’t hear him referenced or spoken of as often as characters from the films, such as the Evil Queen or Scar. More importantly though, in the Wasteland, it is Oswald the Lucky Rabbit who is chief of all toons, not Mickey…and let’s not forget, Pete was Oswald’s nemesis well before Mickey came into the picture. What makes Pete in “Epic Mickey” fun, however, isn’t just the history involved: it’s how he’s just EVERYWHERE. There is not one Pete, but instead a whole Legion of Petes (that’s literally what they’re called, no joke) who dwell in the Wasteland. There’s “Big Bad Pete,” a sort of “Pete Prime,” who lives and works on Mean Street. Then there’s Small Pete, dressed up in drag like a Little Dutch Girl doll, in the Gremlin Village. Next there’s Petetronic, the head of Tomorrow City, who is based on both Tron AND Sark from the film “TRON.” Finally, there’s Pete Pan, who is literally Pete acting like Peter Pan, with a cyborganic Captain Hook as his nemesis, and a Tinker Bell analogy simply called “Sprite.” (I guess she really likes lemon-lime soda, har har.) In the games, all of these Petes are ultimately seemingly friendly figures, who try to help Mickey out rather than go against him…but in “Epic Mickey II,” in a twist ending, it’s revealed the Legion of Petes have some devious plans of their own. Unfortunately, the series was canceled before we could ever get a follow-up and learn what those schemes were, which is a shame. Still, seeing so many different, funny, and surprisingly amicable Petes all in one place was certainly a lot of fun.

4. The Prince and the Pauper.

After several appearances of Pete being more of just the resident grumpy-gus and not so much a villain, we’re now finally cycling back to a situation where Pete is most DEFINITELY the villain of the story, and a pretty great villain, too! In Disney’s “Prince and the Pauper,” an animated short released in 1990, Mickey Mouse plays both a spoiled Prince and a dreamy Pauper, who end up trading places for a day. The King of the Land is old and feeble, and the Prince himself is so locked up in his own little world, and so detached from the kingdom outside, he doesn’t know how to handle things. As a result, Pete - here the Captain of the Guard, aided by an army of Weasels - is the REAL ruler of the land. Of course, power-by-extension is never enough for these sorts of villains, and Captain Pete plots to TRULY take over upon the King’s demise; when he finds out the Prince and the Pauper have traded places, he plans to use this to his advantage. While Pete’s gluttonous and greedy personality does lead to a lot of humor, and some slapstick shenanigans are had at his expense, this is still probably one of his most evil portrayals out there. He’s a bit smarter and more menacing than many other depictions, while still very much being the Pete we know. I also have to give credit to the voicework here: in the short, Pete is voiced by Arthur Burghardt, who I know best beyond this for playing Venom, of all characters, in the game “Ultimate Spider-Man.” In my opinion, he’s one of the best Venoms out there, and he’s pretty darn great as Pete, too. Maybe there was more in common between Marvel and Disney than we thought, even before the buyout…who can say? Ha Ha. :P

3. House of Mouse.

I debated between this and “Prince and the Pauper” taking third place. I ultimately chose “House of Mouse” just because, much like with Goof Troop versus Goofy Movie, the format of a series gave Pete more opportunities. The series focused on Mickey and his pals running a nightclub, populated by just about every 2D animated Disney character in existence (up to that point). It was made as a vehicle for the “Mickey Mouse Works” cartoons, as well as a few older short subjects, with every episode including a selection of cartoons tied together by a framing device within the main story of the episode. Pete was the main antagonist of the series, not only showing up in multiple cartoons, but also acting as a constant threat to the club in the framing device section. It turns out that Pete owns the land the club rests on, and is constantly trying to find a way to get the club closed down so he can use the land for other purposes. His schemes involved everything from joining forces with the Evil Queen to feed poisoned apples to everyone, to arranging a “Pete Day” at the House of Mouse all for his own vanity, to trying to sabotage a show being put on by “Big Bad Wolf Daddy.” While always up to no good, he was also really, REALLY funny, and, once again, probably one of my favorite parts of the show.

2. Mickey, Donald, and Goofy in The Three Musketeers.

I think most people would agree that this is probably one of the highlights of Pete’s career. While not by any means anybody’s favorite Disney movie, this animated direct-to-video parody of the classic “Three Musketeers” stories is still really fun and enjoyable in its own right. In a way, it’s a lot like “Prince and the Pauper,” but with a longer screentime and a bit more of a tongue-in-cheek tone. In this movie, Pete is once again the Captain of the Guards, this time in charge of protecting Princess Minnie. However, Pete has plans to take over the kingdom, and hires the Beagle Boys to kidnap Minnie as part of his scheme. When Minnie - who knows nothing of Pete’s diabolical plans - orders him to provide her with Musketeers as bodyguards, Pete signs Mickey, Donald, and Goofy into the ranks specifically in the hopes they’ll fail. You can guess how that ends up going for him. Just like with “Prince and the Pauper,” while there’s still a great deal of humor with Pete, he’s depicted as somewhat more clever and more dangerous than usual. He really does feel like he’s right up there in the ranks of some of the more notorious movie baddies I mentioned in the past: someone who is entertaining, but also totally reprehensible. (He also gets the catchiest song in the whole film; no surprise there.) It’s definitely one of the first roles with him I think of when I consider the character.

1. Kingdom Hearts.

Part of the reason KH takes the top is simply because I love Kingdom Hearts. A LOT. But there’s more to it than that. In Kingdom Hearts, Pete is one of the main antagonists of the series: starting with KHII, he shows up in nearly every title of the franchise, to some degree or another. In the universe of KH, it’s revealed that Pete used to be a pretty nice guy; somewhat grouchy, but not evil at all. However, over time, his jealousy and bitterness towards Mickey led to him becoming more and more devious. Eventually, his wily ways led to him being banished to a sort of limbo by Mickey and Minnie; when Maleficent offered him a chance to escape, he swore his loyalty to her, and now serves as her chief lieutenant. I absolutely love the way Pete is depicted in the series, ESPECIALLY with Maleficent as his superior. It’s a duo you would never think of, but works EXTREMELY well: this big, dumb, loutish, showboating thug standing alongside the cold and elegant Mistress of All Evil. What I love about their relationship is that, even though Maleficent is always putting Pete down, and he does get frustrated with her in turn at times, himself, you get the feeling neither can REALLY do without the other. Pete doesn’t have the brains to do much damage on his own, end of the day, and Maleficent…for all her powers, she seems to just need someone to command. She can’t do EVERYTHING on her own, after all. And while other villains have come and gone throughout the series, some siding with Maleficent before leaving her side, Pete has been there nearly every game and remained steadfast in his devotion. On top of that, it’s just a lot of fun seeing all the different ways characters encounter and battle Pete throughout the series. Sort of like Epic Mickey, Pete shows up in all kinds of capacities, with various faces, costumes, and roles to play. And unlike Epic Mickey, where he’s ultimately a fairly peripheral figure, Pete is pretty essential to the stories of these games. End of the day, I see no reason not to name Kingdom Hearts as My Favorite Appearance of Pete: Disney’s longest-lasting villain.

HONORABLE MENTIONS INCLUDE…

DuckTales.

In the original DuckTales series, Pete showed up multiple times in various forms; no surprise there. It was always fun to see him, but I don’t tend to think of this series foremost in my mind when I think of the character. Other villains made more of an impact throughout, in my opinion.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

In this Disney Junior show, primarily aimed at preschoolers, Pete is once again less of a villain and more just of a sort of “grouchy neighbor” character. While he does frequently cause trouble for Mickey and the gang, just as often he’s either on their side or playing the role of an innocent bystander. Easily his most lighthearted appearance.

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas.

In this holiday anthology film, Pete appears in one story as Goofy’s neighbor, once again. What heinous treachery does he pull here? HE TELLS MAX THAT SANTA ISN’T REAL! THE DASTARDLY SLIMEBALL!!!

The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse.

Even in the more modern, zany world of these cartoons, Pete remained his usual self: causing all sorts of trouble for Mickey and the crew in all sorts of forms. By far my favorite cartoon of the bunch was “A Pete Scorned,” where Pete gets depressed when he thinks he’s not a good enough nemesis for Mickey anymore, and becomes jealous of rival arch-foe, Mortimer Mouse. That kind of setup is always hilarious to me. XD

[nicoleanell]

I've always been distracted by RENFIELD'S FACE and also CAROL'S FACE :(( but i just noticed while making this gif set Mark's hand reaching over toward him on the left. 🥺😢

^^ dude

[xxgothchatonxx]

Hi, Renfield fandom, I just realized the irony of Carol (played by Jenna Kannell) talking about how her life is like "a neverending hallway of funhouse mirrors, but all the clowns are me”

(edit: the second pic is from ‘Terrifier’ where Jenna’s character is stalked by a creepy demon clown)

I have no idea if that was an intentional wink-to-the-audience reference but, fuck it, I’ll take it.

[thenightling]

Now that Epic Universe's Dark Universe is doing well (even though the park is still in preview mode) certain rival companies and some independent folk (i.e. Alice Cooper) may want to do some horror parks or horror expansions of their won. So here's my rough, easy guide of public domain horror characters you can use.

Note: before we begin, any character from before 1920, such as Victorian literature, or mythology are in the public domain. Universal only owns their specific depictions of these characters.

When Sony was making Hotel Transylvania, Universal sent them a list of character traits in regard to Dracula that they claimed they owned because they were specific to their own depictions of Dracula but these traits are easy to argue and have been in versions not owned by Universe (i.e. widows peak hairline and red lined black cape).

Now for the list of horror characters that anyone can use:

___________________________

Dracula - Novel is in the public domain. So long as he doesn't match Universal's specific depiction.

Dracula's brides

Mina - as a vampire or mortal.

Renfield - Dracula's mad, bug eating henchman. All characters from the Dracula novel are in the public domain.

The Frankenstein Monster - Novel is in the public domain. Literary version, or vaguely like the Universal version. A new character design (no flat head, green skin, or neck electrodes / bolts might be best). Intelligent and articulate versions of The Creature (such as in the novel) are refreshing.

A possible Frankenstein monster mate - The mate was unfinished in the novel but if you make a version that does not look like the Universal studios version you should be fine. All charactes from the Frankenstein novel are in the public domain.

The Invisible Man - Novel is in the public doman.

The Phantom of the Opera - So long as he doesn't look like the version from the Universal movie or the Broadway musical he's in the public domain. So just give him some unique traits, i.e. a newly designed mask. The silent film may be in the public domain but it's iffy because of later depictions from Universal.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - The novel The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is in the public domain.

The Mummy - Any version of a walking / revived / sentient mummy so long as he isn't using a name owned by Universal. Real Egyptian pharaoh names are usable.

The Mummy from The Mummy! or A Tale of the Twenty-second century. An 1827 novel written by Jane C. Loudon.

The Mummy from Lot No. 249 by Sr. Arthur Conan Doyle.

Carmilla - Lesbian literary vampire character who can turn into a grey cat, created roughly twenty-five-years before Draula.

Varney The vampire - Penny Dreadful character.

Lord Ruthven - Created around the same time as Frankenstein, he's one of the first pop culture vampires.

Generic vampires - Pretty much most vampires are in the public domain so long as they're not owned by recent authors like Anne Rice. Everything from the works of Edgar Allan Poe

Dr. Moreau and his human-animal mutant creatures from The Island of Dr. Moreau.

Sir Simon de Canterville - The Canterville Ghost. A melodramatic ghost from Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost novella.

Dorian Gray - An immortal whose sins and true age are reflected in a cursed painting. He cannot die unless you destroy the painting. The Hunchback of NotreDame The man who laughs

Jacob Marley - The doomed ghost who warns Scrooge of what he's to encounter in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Hamlet's Father - Ghost of the murdered king from Hamlet.

The Weird Sisters - The three Witches from MacBeth.

The Headless Horseman - Character from Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Headless Horsemen also turn up in Irish folklore known as Dullahan.

The Banshee - Faery lady made from the soul of a deceased woman whose wail warns of an impending death.

King Lycaon of Arcadia - From Greek mythology, the first known werewolf. Cursed by Zeus for serving human flesh at a feast, he became the first werewolf and spread his condition to others. Only his eyes remained human, and while in wolf form he had human eyes so he would never truly be of one world or the other. From him we get the terms Lycanthrope and Lycanthropy, as well as the modern Lycan.

Wolf of God - A self-claimed werewolf from actual history who claimed he was a werewolf in the service of God to prey only on evil-doers.

The Loup-Garou (French for werewolf) or Rougarou - The werewolf that is supposed to haunt the Louisiana Bayou. (French-American / Cajun folklore / cryptid)

The Wulver - Scottish werewolf that is said to be harmless, mostly just roaming around and leaving fresh fish on the windowsills of poor folk who can't afford food. He will also lead lost travelers to safety.

The werewolf-wife - An old French legend from the Auvergne where a farmer was attacked by a werewolf while traveling at night, and he severed its paw. When he got home he found his wife bandaging a stump where her hand should be. And when he checked the paw of the werewolf that attacked him he found it was his wife's hand, still wearing the wedding ring.

Generic werewolves - Any variation of a werewolf is in the public domain except, specifically, the one named Larry (or Lawrence) Talbot. That is the version specifically owned by Universal studios.

Wicked Witch of the West - From the Oz books. She's in the public domain so long as you avoid specific references to the 1939 movie or Wicked. i.e. Don't call her Elphaba.

Mephistopheles AKA Mephisto - The demon from the Faust legend. Though Marvel uses him, he is in the public domain. HIs first appearance is in the old German legend of Faust.

Faust - Sorcerer who sold his soul for the ultimate life experience. Originally from German folklore (and might be based on the historic Doktor Johannus George Faustus) he has been the protagonist of depictions by Christopher Marlowe and Goethe's two part version (which is the national play of Germany).

The Boogey Man - The Boogey Man is a public domain creature of folklore. The version that is a sack of insects in Tim Burton's The Nightmare before Christmas is a version not in the public domain.

Baba Yaga - Witch from traditional European folklore. She can be good or evil and has a hut perched on giant chicken legs. She lives in the wilderness and may be haunting Germany's Black Forest region, Romania, or Russia.

The blind (or poor sighted) witch - The villain from the Hansel and Gretal story.

Gothel - The witch from the Rapunzel story. Just don't have her look like the version from Tangled and don't give her a magical flower and you should be fine.

The Sea Witch from The Little Mermaid. So long as she's not named Ursula and not half-Octopus you can design your own version.

The Kraken - Giant Squid.

Mothman - Folklore / Cryptid. (Actually all monsters are technically cryptids.)

Bigfoot - Folklore / Cryptid.

Jersey Devil - American folklore / Cryptid

The Evil Queen from Snow White so long as she doesn't look like the version in the Disney film.

The Snow Queen - Character from Hans Christian Andersen.

Phobetor - In Roman mythology he's the nightmare inducing brother of Morpheus (Shaper) and Phantasmos (Fantasy). Phobetor also goes by the name Icelos by friends or family. He is the king of Nightmares. Essentially the public domain version of Nightmare (from Marvel comics). Medusa

All Gods or Goddesses or personifications of Death from Greek, Roman, Druidic, or Nordic mythology are in the public domain and usable.

Krampus - The Christmas demon who threatens mildly naughty children and scares them into behaving and abducts the truly evil ones. No one knows for sure what he does with them.

Stingy Jack - The folkloric ghost that inspired the legend of why we carve Jack o' lanterns. Might just be called Jack or Jack o Lantern or jack of the Lantern. Similarly an anthropomorphic personification is fine. Both The Real Ghostbusters animated series and the movie Trick 'r Treat named a version Sam after the Gaelic word Samhain (original name for the time of year we call Halloween).

The Skinwalker - First Nations / Navajo

The Windigo - American First Nations There are many more but these are just examples of what you can legally use without having to get permission.

[alterkrystal]

Anniversary Days 4 - 5

I couldn't decide between Teddy, Mandy, Carol or Mark for Day 4, so I just went "FUCK IT!" and did Teddy instead. I just think he's silly!

(SIDE NOTE: This is the very first time I drew Teddy Lobo, so he may appear a bit inaccurate in this first attempt!)

As for Day 5? Oh Jesus, that was a hard one, so I just went with two ships at once. Now, I'm gonna admit.. At first, I didn't really see the chemistry between Renfield and Rebecca during my first time watching the movie, but I began to see it in my second watch. It's not *really* my favorite favorite, but I still consider it to be alright. At least in my opinion! Besides, she seemed happy with Ren in the end..

(Similar pose as last time, but nyeh, who cares?)

However I also drew Dracula and Bella, mainly got inspiration from another artist's submission for that. I would say a joke I thought of when drawing it in the Cookie Run style once again, but I don't know if it's appropriate. My bad!

Coming up next, expect to see Dracula once again for Day 6. And once Day 7 comes I'm gonna go ALL-OUT, so be prepared! ..And then I'm gonna go back to focusing on other things I need to get done.

@renfield-anniversary

[elfoscuro]

Peter MacNicol, Darla Haun & Karen Roe as Renfield & Dracula brides in:

Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995) by Mel Brooks

Costumes by Dodie Shepard

Production Design by Roy Forge Smith

Make-up by Jane English, Alan Friedman, Carol Schwartz & Todd McIntosh

[captainx-camino]

The possibility of Hellsing coming back for the sequel just makes me all the more suspicious of why Carol is constantly taking notes while Renfield is talking

[popironrye]

Of all the deleted/alternate scenes in Renfield

The extended slaughter of the support group in the gym is the one I wished stayed in the final cut the most. Dracula going ham slicing through them is great, but a couple extras thrown in really emphasizes the sheer power and threat Dracula is. From slinging poor Carol in the air with a single swipe or flinging Bob's body over his head with one hand was so damn fun to watch.

[spiders-rob]

Headcanons: How Renfield (2023) characters feel about people shorter/taller than them

Dracula: Physical stature is irrelevant. Humans are all ants whether they know it yet or not.

Tedward: With taller people, he will be insecure and he will take it out on the other person by mocking their height. With shorter people, he will bully and mock them about being short.

Carol: Tall women are beautiful but intimidating. Tall men are kinda scary but she would not admit this. Short women are friend-shaped and sometimes very cute. Short men are literally just some guy. All non-binary people are fellow queers regardless of height and therefore Carol will relax more around them.

Caitlyn: attracted to tall men. She knows she's not ready to date again yet tho so it's mostly hypothetical. Anyway she's got a crush on a woman so once she is ready to date her feelings about tall men might be kinda irrelevant.

Karla: Finds shorter people pretty/cute.

Bob: As long as you don't joke about his height you're fine

Rebecca: "Height is a social construct", Will make short jokes about herself but that is not permission for anyone else to do so. Unless you're funny.

Robert: He's pretty tall so if you're taller than him it's surprising anyway. A bit nervous about fighting people taller than him, as seen in canon. He does worry about "looming" over others as he doesn't generally want to come off as intimidating/suspicious. He's also used to wanting to be smaller in order to go unnoticed/be less of a target. This all put together means he tends to hunch in on himself or try to seem smaller (especially around shorter people) when he's feeling insecure or nervous. Occasionally people will compliment his height and he gets very flustered.

Mandy: Enjoys it when people underestimate her for her height/gender/etc. It's funny because then she kills them and the look on their face is priceless.

Mark: He had a thing for tall guys in high-school but at this point he doesn't really care as much.

Kate: Doesn't really care unless she's teasing Rebecca about being short. (Sibling privileges.) Rebecca teases her about being tall which she doesn't care about but acts offended by/bickers back about, on principle. She does take note of everyone's height but that's more in a "constantly remembering details about people in case they turn out to be criminals and she needs to give a detailed report" fbi paranoia kind of way.