#bfhmuse

[the-delightful-illario-cross]

And in the dark it comes for me Malevolent and without thought Uprooting trees, destroying cars Cold and relentless, with arms outstretched

No boat nor brick Nor crucifix can hold it back

[karissathevamp-blog]

Vampire Attack || Past Self-Para

“Hide, my darling, don’t let them see you.” Her mother insisted frantically, kissing Karissa’s forehead and trying to be heard over the sounds of fighting outside the carriage. "The House of Aita will send someone for you." She helped Karissa under the seat, and threw some coats over the seat, and a trunk, trying to hide her daughter from whoever was outside the carriage, and it was in darkness that Karissa heard the wood of the door breaking apart, making the roars of men and monsters almost deafening, heard her mother’s shriek as she was pulled from the carriage, heard the liquid splatter of blood and she kicked at the trunk awkwardly in the small space, trying to get out, wanting to get to her mother and father outside the carriage. She couldn't wait for the Aita's; they were ages away and their son didn't want to marry her anymore than she wanted to marry him; he was just as likely to convince them to forget her as he was to send for her.

The trunk suddenly disappeared, and red stained face, lips pulled back to bear too sharp teeth at her, and she too screamed as a hand grabbed her ankle and pulled her from her hiding spot, throwing her with inhuman strength outside the broken carriage to land in the dirt. She grunted, unable to breathe for a moment, and as she got her bearings back she almost wished the throw had killed her. Her parents, her father's friend Gian, Arturo their driver, the familiar servants that usually accompanied them, everyone lay scattered across the clearing, teeth sunk into throats and wrists as the monsters of the night drank them dry.

The one that had come for her came stalking out of the carriage, and she forced herself to jump to her feet, holding a hand out to stall the creature coming toward her. "Wait." She said, careful not to yell, careful to keep her voice strong and steady, as though she were talking to a servant. "You don't need to do this, not to me."

"Quite true, little one," it practically growled, sending goosebumps rippling across her skin. "We don't need to, but we do want to.."

She tried not to let the nerves show. It would be hours until someone noticed her family's caravan missing. Perhaps less if someone happened through the path. She just needed to distract them long enough to either convince them they were full, until someone came for her, or convince them using her as collateral was more useful and wait for the young count to pay for her release. It was the least the little bastard could do if she was supposed to marry him. "Is that all you want though?"

That paused the male creeping every closer to her, trying to unnerve her with his predatory movements, and she took courage from that small show of hesitation. "There's so much at stake, killing me may prove not near so enjoyable as the rewards you could reap from allowing me to live, the demands you could make of my home and the home I was headed toward. Our families are close, they'd pay dearly to have me back in one piece, orphans are quite cosseted by their courts."

"You think we deal in things so petty as money?" He was moving toward her again.

"I think you'd be idiotic not to." He growled, but she didn't shy away. Annoying him with the bluntness was a risk she'd calculated. "Currency can offer you much; protection, homes safe from the sun, thick cloaks to travel in daylight under, or even carriages to hide the sun and allow you free travel. Not to mention my life is worth more than money. You're hunted, are you not?" She asked, expecting no real answer. "You could barter for safety in this area. People wouldn't travel as much, but you'll always have men too brave and too stupid to go around, and you'll have sanctuary to return to."

"Luca!" A high female voice rose up, and a disturbingly beautiful- even more so than her own mother, something she hadn't thought possible- woman came to the man's side, blood still dripping down her chin, but more neatly than some of the others. "What are you doing?" She asked, turning her bloodred eyes to Karissa, who's back straightened on instinct in the face of this woman who seemed to bleed leadership. Though the woman didn't seem to care about Karissa's hidden fear, as she looked back at the man. "No one left alive, that's the rule."

The man, Luca, seemed to flinch back, shrugging. "She makes good points."

Those eyes turned back to her, and amusement etched itself across those predator features. "Oh do you now?" She asked mockingly. "Let's hear them, then. Make your points, mortal, and we'll see who gets first bite at the little wordsmith." Watching the woman, she remembered a lesson her mother had taught her young that she always seemed to forget until it was too late:

Woman could be so much more bloodthirsty than men.

"Odessa you've heard her-"

"Shut up Luca." She snapped without looking at him. "Speak, human girl."

"Money and protection from hunters, that's what my life has to offer."

"Oh does it?"

She nodded, trying to look as strong as she'd forced her voice. "It does. The young Count in the next providence over will pay neatly for my unharmed return. In addition, you hold what he wants, you dictate the demands. Tell him to keep hunters from your woods, from your village, from wherever you claim as home."

"We claim no home."

"You could." That sparked murmurs across the clearing, and she realized there was about seven vampires total in the clearing. "Doesn't it get tiring running so much?" her voice turned silky, coercing. "Moving so much? You were all human once, do you not miss having a hearth to return to at the end of the day?" The murmurs were growing, and she knew she was winning them over.

But so did Odessa apparently. "Enough!" She was in front of Karissa in a blink, too fast for her eyes to even track the movement, and she felt a hand around her throat. She pulled at the hand in vain, unwilling to give herself to her fate, and was rewarded by fate in the form of a deep voice rolling across the clearing.

"Odessa." The woman lowered the girl in her grip, though she didn't let go of her throat, and Karissa grasped at the hand, feeling her breathing stall, unable to get full breaths through her smothered throat.

Was she to be spared? The gods willing, she was. 

[karissathevamp-blog]

Moodboards (2/?): Karissa and Stiles

“She borrowed my pen. Dude she borrowed my pen. It’s meant to be."

[karissathevamp-blog]

Moodboards (1/?): Karissa in General

Karissa is, above all else, an elitist. She was in her life. And she is in her undeath.

[faerielylost]

The hunters have been spotted in the city, though their activity has been minor. They’ve put up a few cryptic recruitment advertisements, but even they have to keep a level of secrecy for their own protection.

What does your character think of this threat?

~It makes her nervous.

Would they ever consider moving into the Institute?

~If the Hunter issue became bad enough Aurelia wouldn’t hesitate to move into the Institute to ensure her safety.

Have they ever been inside the Institute for any other reason?

~Nope

What do they think of cohabitation?

~She thinks it’s a good idea. Also an excellent opportunity to study both the Shadowhunters and the other Downworlders.

Are their friends seeking asylum already?

~Some of them, yes.

Why haven’t they joined the others yet?

~She would rather live in her own home for as long as she feels safe there.

Where are they living currently/what are they doing?

~She has an apartment in the city which she shares with her cat, Barnabas, and she works part time as a model.

[karissathevamp-blog]

Writing Prompt One

Every downworlder that seeks sanctuary in the Institute has to swear an oath to keep it’s secrecy and to keep the peace before they are allowed to enter. They are led to their room by a Shadowhunter and then left to get settled.

What do they think of it? 

Karissa would like the old-school style of the Institute, the rules and clear cut groups everyone falls into… if she hadn't been told to come here without being given a choice. At the moment, she's more in sullen child mode, having been told to come to the Institute by her clan leader. She thinks she'd be of more use outside the Institute, but isn't the type to stand up to her older clan members.

Where is the first place the wish to explore? 

Whatever passes for a lunchroom or a common space around here. She's interested in knowing what species are here and how the cliques- of any- are set up. Secondly, she's heard whispers about a bar that sounds cool and good for dancing. Third, the training ground, to keep an eye on anyone she should befriend or avoid.

Have they ever lived with such a large group of people? 

Not quite so large as the Institute. Her clan was small, elite, with the occasional transient member, but once she started getting a handle on the bloodlust, she was allowed to attend high school every couple years, to test her control. She actually comes to the Institute in Cincinnati from a high school and college in the city, her latest social experiment for herself, and it was the closeness of the Institute that prompted her clan leader to give her the order to seek sanctuary.

Do they hold any grudges that might test the limits of the oath they’ve sworn? 

No. Her clan leader at least knew about the Institute, so there's really no one else and no other reason for her to expose the place she's been told to stay in. If she finds a fellow downworlder that doesn't know about the Institute but seems like they might need it, she'd be tempted, but she'd want to go through whatever proper channels were needed to tell them about the Institute.

Try and capture their first day or few days at the Cincinnati Institute.  If your character is a nephilim, consider the above questions and these as well: how long have they been there? how many other Institutes have they lived in?

She'd be a bit overwhelmed at first, drawn to finding what the rules were so she knew her boundaries upfront. She's interested to know how the social circles work, who's in charge, what the generally accepted rules about leaving the Institute is. She wants to make friends, know her boundaries so she knows how to find the loopholes and twist the rules to her advantage. She wants to be involved in the Institute… with the right people of course.

[the-delightful-illario-cross]

Writing Prompt One

The hunters have been spotted in the city, though their activity has been minor. They’ve put up a few cryptic recruitment advertisements, but even they have to keep a level of secrecy for their own protection. 

What does your character think of this threat? 

Illario finds the hunters mildly annoying. He hates the senseless killing of downworlders but is certain the hunters will be stamped out by their own stupidity sooner or later. He’s seen many mundanes attempt to interact with the shadow world, and every time they end up dead or become some sort of downworlder. 

Would they ever consider moving into the Institute? 

Illario likes his luxury apartment just fine, and is in no rush to move into one of the Clave’s depressing fortresses. He would move into the Institute if there was something in it for him, or if he felt it would serve some greater purpose to protect his downworlder friends.

Have they ever been inside the Institute for any other reason? 

Illario has been inside the Institute at the request of the Nephilim several times. They are often brief visits since he prefers to conduct his magical business at home.

What was their impression of it? 

Illario is not a fan of the Institute. It feels like all of the other Clave buildings to him, dreary and depressing.

What do they think of cohabitation? 

He doesn’t really have strong feelings about it. Illario thinks at the very least the downworlders will bring some color to the bleak world of the Nephilim. 

Are their friends seeking asylum already? 

Illario knows a few downworlders seeking asylum, but it would be a stretch to call them his friends. He doesn’t keep many people close. 

Why haven’t they joined the others yet? 

Illario doesn’t believe that a few mundanes playing soldier could really do anything to hurt him, thus he has chosen to remain at home. 

Where are they living currently/what are they doing?

Illario is living in the penthouse suite of a luxury apartment building downtown. His occupation is currently Warlock for hire. 

[greenwillmend-blog]

Writing Prompt 1: Welcome to the Institute

Of all of the 8 or so Institutes Andrea’s lived in, Cincinnati is not the worst. The rooms are spacious enough, the training area is well stocked, and the architecture is gorgeous. The city is familiar in a distant way to her, having grown up in the area, but things have changed since she was ten. The river, though, it’s still very much the same. She was one of the first to arrive at the call of the hunter threat, having already been in the US, so she’s been at the Institute for about a month. A few shadowhunters had already been boarding there and she fit in well.. enough. Her first conversation was with the Consul, and she’d been one of the people tasked with spreading the word to the downworlders about the offer of sanctuary. As much as she’d rather be training or doing something more active, she’d been able to get acquainted with the nightlife- the local restaurants and the nightclubs. It definitely could have been worse. 

Most Institutes, apart from the Academy in Alicante, were largely uninhabited, so this is a big change of pace for her. She absolutely refuses to go to the sanctuary where the vampires are currently residing, but apart from that she’s had mostly amiable interactions with the downworlders. She’s been monitoring hunter activity during her excursions out, but it’s been quiet. They know they’re here, but they didn’t know what they were planning. It made Andy uneasy, and she was constantly walking extra blocks and taking alternate routes in case by some chance a hunter had gotten on her trail. Normal hunters couldn’t see her, she made sure to cast the appropriate runes very carefully, but they had a few sighted mundanes among them; there were even rumors that some rogue nephilim that the Clave hadn’t tracked down yet had joined them, but so far those rumors were just speculation. Either way Andy knew better than to underestimate a group of people with the conviction to kill.