#sir malcom

[melhyan-writes]

Hii, hope u having great day. Do u have any fav characters HCs from penny dreadfull you'd like to share?

I love listening ppl talk ab this series, sigh

Omg hi hi hi—yes, absolutely, I do, and I’m just going to assume this is a safe space to yell about them and not, like, a secret council where headcanons need to be stamped and notarized before release!!! Soooo if no one stops me, HERE WE GO—

Read more cause I know I yap a lot and I don't wanna flood you peeps dashboards so-

(Also sidenote I am only on season 1!!! Please no heavy spoilers peeps!!!)

Vanessa Ives

secretly loves soft domestic routines. like tea at the same hour, same cup, same chair. it grounds her more than she’ll ever admit

keeps little objects people give her (pressed flowers, ribbons, random trinkets) and actually treasures them

reads aloud when someone can’t sleep. her voice is low and steady and it helps more than anything

has a very dry, blink-and-you-miss-it sense of humor. if you catch it, it’s gold

will gently fix your collar or brush lint off your sleeve without even thinking about it

knows she’s being dramatic… will still deliver a full gothic monologue over something minor. no brakes

goes quiet for hours then drops one sentence that emotionally devastates the whole room

weirdly, secretly soft with animals

stray cats absolutely flock to her like she’s their chosen prophet

pretends she doesn’t care but is 100% feeding them and apologizing to them like she personally caused original sin

rehearses conversations in her head… and then somehow says something even more intense in real life

Ethan Chandler

makes coffee/tea/whatever drink for everyone before they wake up. doesn’t announce it. just leaves cups there like some tired cowboy fairy

surprisingly good with kids. like immediately softer, quieter, lets them win at games

listens. like really listens. might not respond perfectly, but he hears you

gives his jacket away constantly and then pretends he’s “not cold anyway” while absolutely freezing

hums sometimes without realizing it. low, absent-minded, usually when he feels safe

two modes only: charming cowboy 😏 / deeply unprocessed trauma 🤠

will say something genuinely thoughtful and then immediately deflect with a joke like SIR just stand in it for TWO seconds

terrible sleeper. like actually TRAGIC

brain will not shut up, especially about things he said/did wrong

replays conversations with Vanessa like it’s a curse

“I should’ve said this—no wait that’s worse—damn it” on loop at 3am

instinctively gentle with people who are hurting

doesn’t know how to help himself but the second you are sad he’s suddenly soft, careful, steady like ??? excuse me ???

gives comfort in that quiet, non-intrusive way that makes it worse (compliment)

Dorian Gray

buys people things that are weirdly thoughtful. like he noticed one tiny detail and built a whole gift around it

will sit with someone in silence for hours if he actually cares about them. no performance, just presence

lowkey enjoys being told “no” by the right people. it keeps him… human, in a way????

has moments where he just watches others being happy and doesn’t interrupt it or make it about himself, which for him is basically growth

keeps a perfectly curated space but will let it get a little messy if someone he likes is there often

acts above everything. is actually the pettiest man alive

gets ignored once and decides to make it your lifelong psychological problem

keeps souvenirs from experiences/people, not even creepy, just some bored immortal behavior

collects moments like objects because he needs something to feel entertained

gets bored out of his WITS mid-conversation SO easily

will maintain perfect eye contact while mentally redecorating his house in velvet

you’re trauma dumping and he’s like “hmm… chaise lounge?”

BUT the second someone surprises him? fully locked in

weakness: novelty and people who don’t immediately worship him

secretly respects resistance way more than admiration

Sir Malcolm

checks on people at night. quietly. just to make sure they’re safe

fixes things. broken objects, loose hinges, anything practical—his version of “I care”. that man is dad coded, sorry not sorry

remembers small details (how you take your tea, what you don’t like) and never mentions it, just acts on it

stands a little closer than necessary when he’s protective

emotional range: gruff silence ↔ quiet, soul-crushing devastation he will never talk about

will not say “I care about you” under any circumstance

will absolutely cross the world, fight horrors, and ruin himself for you without hesitation though

communication skills? nonexistent

loyalty? genuinely terrifying levels

stands in doorways watching over people like a guard dog

if you notice: “I was merely passing through” SIR YOU’VE BEEN THERE FOR TEN MINUTES

softens around people he feels responsible for but instead of being warm he just becomes… less sharp??? Like you can see him TRYING

which somehow hurts more because you can feel the effort

expresses care entirely through presence and action, never words

[incorrectpennydreadfulquotes]

Malcolm: It has come to my attention that you have been harassing Vanessa.

Evelyn Poole: I wouldn't say "harassing" so much as persistently tormenting.

[incorrectpennydreadfulquotes]

Malcolm, after Vanessa's been possessed again or some shit: Forget it, I’m not even shocked anymore.

Vanessa: Aw, that’s no fun.

Malcolm: This has become the norm for you, Vanessa.

Vanessa: I’ll have to try harder next time.

Malcolm: Please don’t.

Vanessa: I feel like I’ve been issued a challenge.

[incorrectpennydreadfulquotes]

You are a patronizing, sinister helicopter parent!

Vanessa to Malcolm

[incorrectpennydreadfulquotes]

Ethan in the finale: Here's the plan: we go in, I start hitting people hard in the face, and see where that takes us.

Malcolm: No.

[incorrectpennydreadfulquotes]

Okay, I’ll be the leader, Sembene is my sidekick, Malcolm is the tough guy, Victor’s The Smart Guy, and, Vanessa, you’re the quiet religious guy who ends up going crazy.

Ethan

[incorrectpennydreadfulquotes]

Malcolm: I'm sorry Vanessa, she wins. I can't resist her.

Vanessa: God Malcolm, you have to!

Evelyn Poole: Stay out of this! This is our relationship. He's my man. And we have something twisted and beautiful. Oh...You want Malcolm. That's what this is all about.

Vanessa: No! That's insane! ...Fine, I had one dream. But no, no.

[incorrectpennydreadfulquotes]

Malcolm: This is the best day of my life!

Vanessa: You're married and you have a kid.

Malcolm: I said what I said.