#star eater

[mothmussy]

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[sunnyxiv]

|| The Black Sun never rises, because the Black Sun never set. ||

Art by the amazing Dr_Voronin on Twitter.

[marisr3stavrant]

[leafaske]

Piece I made for the 2021 Monster Challenge :)

[aroaessidhe]

I went to the library sale :) i am a picky bastard and only got hardcovers with the removable dustjacket covers , so they're pristine on the outside! I've read the wayward children books, the others are on my tbr.

[cibguts]

Revenge on Moosifurr

[alexanderlightweight]

Hi! I feel a little bad prompting two weeks in a row, but if you feel up to it could you maybe do some more stuff with the sentient shadow au? I love it so much, I would love to see the progression of Alec and Magnus’ relationship (maybe through an outside pov, if you want).

I hope you have fun with this and enjoy your Wednesday!

here we go! also no worries, plenty of people prompt every week and there is nothing wrong with that. the prompts are all happy things for me, not burdens. so don't feel bad kay? plus i love starting to recognize names of those who prompt!

i'm greatly enjoying this wednesday and the last ones! i hope you are doing well and having a good day!

hope you enjoy

lumine

-

“I cannot believe you!” Magnus seethes the moment Alec is gone and Ragnor sighs and takes a deep puff of his pipe. “How could you have been hiding such a delectable treasure from me?”

“Magnus, I have a contract and an oath that restrict me.” Which is something of an over exaggeration but Ragnor is tired and he doesn’t want to deal with Magnus’ outrage.

There’s a huff and finally Magnus settles for a moment before he adds, “so what is he like?”

“Aren’t you going to want to find out on your little ‘thank you’ dinner?” Ragnor teases and it earns him a cold, sharp eyeroll. “Fine, ducky. Ruin my rare fun. The lad’s incredibly intelligent and calculating, or at least he normally is. It seems you rather turn his thoughts around.”

Magnus almost looks unbearably smug at that, but Magnus wears smug well and so Ragnor sighs and just relights his pipe.

“He’s both incredibly perceptive and incredibly sheltered about certain things.”

“Like?” Magnus demands, summoning himself a glass of whiskey as he gives Ragnor a viciously impatient look.

“Like casual intimacy. Or consider the power of touch, of which he knows little of. Alec lives in relative isolation from other people in the embrace of his powers. They’ve always protected and comforted him, and he relies on them, which mean very few are allowed to approach him.”

“They’re not merely powers.” Magnus muses and Ragnor nods his head, unable to say more due to oaths but wanting to warn Magnus. Alec himself isn’t the only obstacle in this that Magnus will face, Alec’s shadows will be the true obstacle. 

“I’m sure I can woo the entirety of him,” Magnus drawls smugly and he gives Ragnor a curious look. “What do they like?”

“They’re hungry, Magnus. Greedy and powerful and they only care for Alec. They’re incredibly dangerous and not to be underestimated, even by you.”

—

Magnus shows up nearly every day after that for a week, as if he’s hoping Alec will drop by again, which was rare enough the first time.

Finally, after much exasperation, Ragnor has had enough.

“Why not just go to the New York Institute, instead of portaling all the way over here?” Ragnor questions, cross after Magnus has come over and stolen the last of Ragnor’s favorite biscuits. A specific type that are warded by their baker against being summoned.

Ragnor will have to request a new delivery by fire message and he scowls at the additional work. He’d been hoping to avoid that until the next day at least.

“What do you mean the New York Institute?” Magnus drawls, “why would I go over there when I want to see my darling Alexander? Not some boring cannon fodder hunters.”

“Because your darling,” Ragnor says rolling his eyes, “is the Head and Commander of the New York Institute, Magnus. Weren’t you paying attention? I did mention it.”

“It wasn’t as important as getting him to agree to dinner—” Magnus tells him. “And you haven’t mentioned again at any point in this last week because?”

“Frankly, I have better things than just assume that you no longer listen to me at all.” Ragnor retorts and he summons a new cup of tea with a sigh. “I’m far too tired for all this nonsense Magnus, go woo the lad and come back once you have your boy. Perhaps with your influence, I’ll see him more than a handful of times a year.”

“Oh, you’ll be seeing plenty of him.” Magnus promises with a leer and Ragnor flicks him with magic.

“No! I’ve helped raise that lad since he was a wee one, Magnus. I’ll not have you telling me about how you plan to deflower him or anything else. This is one relationship where you will have to rely on Cat alone to pander compliments to your ego. Bring the lad around for tea and know that you’ll be staying clothed in my abode.”

“Deflower?”

Ragnor groans wishing he’s said defile and knowing he’s about to hit every one of Magnus’ possessive, covetous and prideful instincts with his words.

“The lad’s not shy Magnus. He doesn’t blush, he doesn’t stutter, he doesn’t get entranced. This isn’t a normal reaction for him. I’m fairly certain there is a graveyard somewhere dedicated to people who made the mistake of hitting on him. Alec generally considers it a nuisance. I hope you can understand what I mean and treat him well.”

Ragnor doesn’t say anything else, because he’s said enough and while he’ll step in if he feels he needs to, he trusts Magnus enough to let him try first.

“Thank you, Ragnor. Even if you did let me suffer for a week.”

Ragnor rolls his eyes and waves his hand in farewell as Magnus portals away.

[riotbrrrd]

Brett makes Lascaille's Shroud and one half of Soulmass, both scifi-inspired metal projects. I'm more of a LS fan myself, more easily swayed by the progressive chord in there, but honestly all of it is good. If you could spare less than 15 dollars to get yourself Promise and The Gold Flesh of the Sun, you would have an absolutely delightful time with both. Not that you shouldn't also check out everything else it's just that those are my favorites if you don't know what to pick.

[marnz]

I reread my sterek wip and I miss them 😭 what if I finish it…

[lotitheism]

um tumblr literally doesn't care about my ocs but screw you. uploading this is an obligation to me to finish it beyond this horrifically rough animatic. star-eater content for the stragglers out there (my friends)

[cosmicgardencreative]

New Arrival

Here's some art from another project - Star Eater. 

It's in super early development, but we wanted to show off the quick sketch and flats of Claif, one of the two MCs of this bloody, fanservice-y scifi story. Like with Sweet Nightmares, we draw from a variety of mythologies, but it leans more heavily into some Biblical lore (talking about angels and demons, but framed more as mysterious alien races which some people trust and some don't). 

Claif, assumed an orphan, has been raised by some empathetic aliens far away from any human colonies all his life. Then in his young-adulthood, he started experiencing some behavior problems that were chalked up to his alien adoptive community not knowing how to properly raise a human. He finally decides to leave and meet other humans for the first time and "learn how to be what he is"... 

... Only to finally arrive at the human capitol colony and discover... he isn't one of them?! 🔪👀 

*Art by Ismaire

[orez-suke]

Halley

[charipoda]

your makers must’ve kissed in cosmic dust

[aroaessidhe]

2023 reads // twitter thread

Star Eater

fantasy world under religious rule by an order of nuns who practice ritualistic cannibalism to gain magic

one young Sister who’s plagued by visions wants to get out, and ends up caught in the complex politics between factions vying for power and the revolution wanting to get rid of them

[kazz-brekker]

For book asks: 6, 7, and 9!

Thanks!

6. What is your favorite book to recommend?

I think it depends on the person I'm talking to, but lately at the bookstore I work at there's been a TON of people looking for Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross, which is currently out of stock, so I like to recommend them one of her other books, A River Enchanted, since it's a really good Scottish-inspired fantasy with faeries, bard magic, and some excellent romances.

7. What book do you love but usually not recommend because it’s weird or intense, etc?

A few years ago I read Star Eater by Kerstin Hall, which was super weird and unique in a way I found really interesting and engaging, but I've never had a chance to recommend it to anyone because "fantasy novel starring bisexual cannibal nuns who live on a floating island and push men off it when they turn into zombies" is such a bizarre premise that I've never found a good time to rec it to someone. But hey, if anyone sees this post and that sounds like your kind of thing, please check it out!

9. What series has most disappointed you?

Probably the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas–I was a huge fan of the earlier books when I was in middle school/early high school, but the further the series progressed, the more I was turned off by the focus shifting to alpha male romance and the main character's unchecked arrogance. I kept reading the books even after they started to go downhill for me, but I was disappointed enough by them that I never finished the series.

[alexanderlightweight]

Can I ask for more shadow heir alec? I like the idea of baby shadow alec meeting and charming downworlders, after raphael who would be next? I just had the thought of pretty much everyone knowing him but magnus because reasons until they meet at ragnor's

here we go!! i hope you enjoy

early part in the star eater verse

lumine

-

“So this is your friend.” Cat says and her smile is warm and welcoming as she looks at Alec.

Alec is watching her curiously, with the same wary edge he greets everyone but Ragnor has already warned her that he’s like this with everyone. Honestly, it’s only because of how much Alec respects and — hopefully trusts — Ragnor that he accepted to be secretly portaled out of the Institute.

It’s only because Alec keeps a great many secrets from his mother that Ragnor risked this, that he’s risking Cat as well.

“Hello Healer Loss.” Alec says politely, a little nod that’s respectful but doesn’t risk him putting himself in a more vulnerable position. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Catarina blinks down at him and then she nods, her own little head tilt that Alec smiles shyly at. It’s clear he’s pleased by the fact that she understands and well, Ragnor prefers to keep others away from Alec’s actual body.

His shadows don’t take lightly to others infringing on Alec’s personal space and well, Ragnor doesn’t blame them in the slightest.

“There will be times when you’ll be called to the Institute in the future.” Ragnor starts carefully, “I know you are aware that I was called in to oversee the contract between a healer and the Institute. They don’t know our connection and Alec understands he has to pretend you’ve never met, but I feel better with everyone meeting before anything like that happens.”

Because as soon as Ragnor realized the warlock Maryse had picked was Cat, he knew he had to do something. Anything to mitigize the risk that would be working on Alec if he needed medical aid. If it was another warlock, Ragnor wouldn’t have bothered but he will do anything for Cat, which includes what would be considered the breach of an Institute’s wards and the kidnapping of one of their most reverred heir.

It’s Ragnor’s hope that meeting first in safety, will ensure Cat’s own safety if she has to work with an Alec who unconscious or out of it from pain or deliruim.

“It’s nice to meet you as well, Alec Trueblood?” Cat asks, as if checking even though she’s never forgotten a patient’s name in her life and as of today, she considers Alec a patient.

“It’s just Alec.” He gives a little shrug and his shadow pools and Ragnor notices how Cat’s eyes widen and then narrow slightly in academic concentration. “Trueblood is for shadowhunters when they’re being stupid.”

Ragnor turns his head and coughs, because when he’d allowed Alec to call him Ragnor, he’d had to explain to the lad why everyone else they interacted with had to call him Fell or Potion Master Fell.”

Ragnor is fairly certain he’s managed to explain without too much of a problem, but the resulting issue is that Alec doesn’t understand why nephilim hate downworlders and therefore, thinks most of them are entirely insensible and stupid.

In his very young and very sensible opinion — at least Ragnor thinks it’s sensible — it doesn’t make sense to pick a fight with people who don’t need to be enemies. All that causes is more enemies, and Alec feels like they have enough of those with just demons.

Also, according to Alec, he met a very pretty vampire who was probably very old but looked very young and Alec felt that the clave was probably jealous. Especially since most of the nephilim didn’t live long enough to look old.

From the mouth of babes, Ragnor thinks to himself as he watches Cat and Alec cautiously intereact.

She’s doing just as well as Ragnor thought she would. Treating him like not-quite feral cat, but something close to that and it’s with an internal sigh of relief, that Ragnor watches them touch hands.

Cat’s magic pools a lovely sunset pink in her palm and Alec very carefully, sets his tiny hang in her palm, small fingers wreathed with dark tendrils. The shadows seem to vibrate for a moment, Cat’s magic sparking and then it all settles and they both retreat.

Cat with an intrigued look and Alec with a thoughtful one.

“As lovely as this has been, and it has been lovely.” The best Ragnor had hoped for, “I must be getting this lad back to his room to actually finish our tutoring.”

They say their goodbyes and when Ragnor has Alec back in the Institute, practicing on the range and motions of his shadows, he checks his phone and smiles at the text Cat has sent. It appears, that Alec will have someone in New York looking out for him, even when Ragnor is across the pond.