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Author's Choice: Triage (Part 3)
🕑 Added 2025-09-17 12:30:03 +0000 UTCA hand firmly settling on your shoulder ends with you aligning your stake's tip with the fleshy part beneath James's rib cage to dodge his swift attempt at catching your wrist. All that's left is thrusting in and upwards—a brutal puncture to his kidney that disregards troublesome ribs. This isn't a true deadlock. James couldn't raise his crossbow against you. If he had, you'd feel better.
"I—"
"I know."
_ _ _
[Alternate Text: A somewhat murky header image of an unsettling root structure that has several tendrils and offshoots from the thicker roots; it's a branching mess of limbs. It appears dusk out, but the vegetation is oddly lit by a red light. The title is difficult to discern, a smear of burgundy around its letters; it reads: 'Triage' in a font that's all hard edges, almost stake-like.]
Hi Evergreen and Hickory Patrons! 🌲🍂
Here's our continuation of a story series that's set within a dark, vampire AU verse. 🥰 You'll find content warnings (with spoilers, naturally) at the top this time, hidden by a drop-down feature. This entry is intense, so I gently suggest reading them unless you're fine with most anything. You'll notice four links that allow you to select your preferred Fernweh gang composition by deciding R and J's genders. Thank you for all of your support! 💚
Find Part 1 of Triage: here (James) and here (Jane) [You can set R's gender too!]
Find Part 2 of Triage: here (there are four links on it for you to tailor things!)
_ _ _
Every second you don't find the victim, they could be swayed to inflict harm on themself.
…But saving one without isolating the cause of this dark phenomena may condemn others…
You spare a furtive glance to J during your sweep, their gaze failing to meet yours due to their scan that's strictly by the books unlike yours. Another room receives an 'all clear'. You peek around a corner, your stake leading a silent charge that's tension-filled, but also—
Anticipation
Please continue reading the story below:
Password: rot
James with Reese Version: here
James with Ruby Version: here
Jane with Reese Version: here
Jane with Ruby Version: here
Comments
Stephanie
Can we please discuss the definition of “implications” in the context of “dark” because I’m calling Princess Bride shenanigans on this content warning… I don’t think we have the save definition of this word as a point of reference. In fact, I do believe that what we have is a confirmed preponderance of the evidence. Not even subjective, but blatantly objectively verifiable accounting of dark happenstance. Tell me how I’m wrong. Also, tell me his cars aren’t names after Dark Shadows vamps. I’ll just be over here TwiHarding with a vengeance that makes my heart go on. Sweet - trifecta. 💔❤️🩹❤️🔥
ckl
TRIAGE TIME!!!! After the patreon "oopsie' moment, I wanted to make sure I had enough time to sit down and enjoy Triage (I LOVE THIS AU AELSA and i've been busy at work, so i wanted to sit down and SAVOR triage ) I'm glad that the MC in Triage is fueled by anger and grief tbh. If the MC wasn't so fierce and able to hold their own, I can see how they would slip even more into ???'s comfort and clutches. Shouldn't ??? be fucking ashamed for trying to get an in when Jam is so sad? SORE LOSER. (LAUGHING OUT LOUD AT ??? SAYING "HELPING?" 😔 for reals...........?) I AM NOT WELL. I am feeling very deranged about Jam holding that monogrammed flashlight with the last name she never got to carry. January thinking about her and Ruby's promised future... their future together... she wanted it... Ruby wanted it... even Ms V is bitter it never came to pass. Everyone knew about it! But it's something that she can't have anymore. (I'M SOBBING ABOUT THIS) Im being very mean to Jam but when she aimed the stake at J's kidneys instead of his heart I was like, "well, it's cause she's short. RIP" 👐 OKAY. The necklace that Char put in the cupcake for Mirabelle? They can make jokes all they want about blood bags and juice boxes BUT they did something so sweet for Mirabelle?! LIKE!!! Play it off, but they are capable of more than what they try to portray themselves as... (also listen, when Char asked if Jam is jealous. wellllll lol yes. hello? jam would absolutely give blood so ruby could have sippies from a blood bag from her. WEIRD EYE CONTACT INCLUDED. PLEASE ALWAYS MAKE IT WEIRD. I'll keep screaming about this forever) I can't believe. No. I can believe that R would bet against themselves for if Jam/James would get together. Char knows better than R??? HELLO? HELLO????? RUBES PLS. How can you think that jam would find someone else that quickly, and yeah J is her best friend, but it's NOT LIKE THAT. R AT THE END. AT THE END. WHEN THEY ONLY HAVE A SLIVER OF BLUE IN THEIR EYES AND THE BLACK VEINS. AND THEY'RE TOO STRONG. BUT THEY STILL CARE SO MUCH ABOUT JANUARY AND ARE BRUTAL WHEN THEY SMELL JAM'S BLOOD ON CHAR? Vampire ruby needs january so much. babes. come home. RUBY COME HOME. what was it from the original bloodletting? the memory of january was the only thing stopping R from becoming a monster? RUBY YOU'VE BEEN GONE TOO LONG.
alex
'babygirlifying that eldritch horror' claims another victim 🙂↕️
Sneep
SPRINTING IN CIRCLES AND THEN BUSTING THROUGH A WALL KOOL AID MAN STYLE AAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THAT ENDING OH MY GOD IM FERAL. FERAL!!!!!!!! theres so many things i want to lose my shit over. the absent reflection, the last name they can never take, that james and the rv love each other bc of course they do,,,add me to the pile of ppl who think 'helping?' was cute. bethany mention immediately made me wonder about mal in this au since i dont think hes been mentioned, though considering hes usually a walking spoiler thats not surprising 🤭 the whole thing with char and mirabelle made me oof....the necklace,,,,but on the flip side i love how very willing james is to put a bolt in char on the rvs behalf. and that ending. goddddddd. i love how dark a note it ended on kicks my feet in delight
