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How it started:

How it's going:

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jay's australian so for him the year ends in summer, and it appears it's the same in elidaen too 😭😭

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silversteel

This sounds like it'd be the scene where Gabe kills the Forever King.

However, the blade is silversteel, not starsteel - so it's not Ashdrinker.

Apparently, there are twist upon twists in EtDawn, so I'm worried it might be something different 🥲

But if it is that very moment, then what the hell will have happened to Ash?

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If I had a nickel for every time I liked man named Gabriel with a French last name, tragic love, and vampire blood; I would have two nickels… Which isn’t a lot but crazy that it happened twice right?

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aaron & baptiste's dynamic in eotdawn:

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Red Thirst, Crimson Want - Medu_Nefer - Empire of the Vampire - Jay Kristoff [Archive of Our Own]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65450164

Chapters: 1/1 (6 292 words)

Fandom: Empire of the Vampire - Jay Kristof

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Aaron de Coste/Baptiste Sa-Ismael

Characters: Aaron de Coste (EotV), Baptiste Sa-Ismael (EotV), Gabriel de León (EotV) (barely there), Lachlan á Craeg (EotV) (mentioned)

Additional Tags: Spoilers, inspired by a spoiler, DON'T READ IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO EOTDAWN COMPLETELY BLIND, starving vampires, Graphic Description, Blood and Gore, Blood Drinking, Smut, Explicit Sexual Content, Oral Sex, Rough Oral Sex, Blow Jobs, Established Relationship, Aaron and Baptiste trying to protect each other (as usual), Fluffy Ending, middle-aged men in love, Fluff and Smut, i guess there might be a smidge of angst for a little while in there too?, baptiste might have told dior that aaron isn't the jealous sort but both of these wonderful bastards are possesive af

Summary:

⚠︎ ⚠︎ ⚠︎ SPOILERS FOR “EMPIRE OF THE DAMNED” AND "EMPIRE OF THE DAWN" ⚠︎ ⚠︎ ⚠︎

Better to live a man than die a monster. But what if one is both?

No force in Elidaen could stop Gabriel's loyal brothers from accompanying him on his journey towards vengeance, even if it's suicide taken the long way round. Unfortunately, each of the four men finds himself struggling with his demons.

Some of these demons are more dangerous than others, and few know it better than Aaron de Coste. As a coldblood fledgling haunted by sangirè and fear for what he is capable of, he keeps his distance - especially from his beloved Baptiste.

Eventually, however, something has to give. The only question is, will it happen while he's still in control or after he loses himself?

the working title was literally "blood-drinking and cocksucking BARON"

make of that what you will

and a lil' snippet below 👉👈:

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on my relaxing day off 😭

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welp

that aged poorly 😅🙈

a huge thanks to Bon for bringing these characters to life and giving these books such a unique style ❤️❤️❤️

Bon Orthwick's illustrations for EotDawn from Jay Kristoff's instagram stories

(as of 14.05.2025)

and a bonus sketch from Jay himself 😆

pretty sure top right is Lachlan, bottom left is Baptiste. it probably means top left is Gabe and bottom right is Aaron? (assuming this since Aaron and Baptiste would obviously be paired up together, and it looks like he's wearing something fancy too)

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yeah, they're brothers all right 🤭

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Bon Orthwick's illustrations for EotDawn from Jay Kristoff's instagram stories

(as of 14.05.2025)

and a bonus sketch from Jay himself 😆

pretty sure top right is Lachlan, bottom left is Baptiste. it probably means top left is Gabe and bottom right is Aaron? (assuming this since Aaron and Baptiste would obviously be paired up together, and it looks like he's wearing something fancy too)

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Jay Kristoff's illustrated IG stories for EotDawn

(as of 13.05.2025)

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nothing to see here

seriously, i'm doing this just to be able to insert an image on ao3 🙈

but if anyone's interested, coldbloods don't walk around with their fangs out all the time

who knew

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EotDawn excerpt 13.12.2024

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Aaron & Baptiste

I commissioned the one and only @hypherr and now here are my angels: Aaron de Coste and Baptiste Sa-Ismael from "Empire of the Vampire" by Jay Kristoff 🥹

This is their here and their now and their forever 💚🖤

aaand Hypherr's also made versions of each of the boys separately too 🫶 ft. a little love letter 🤭

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Chapters: 2/2 (16 395 words)

Fandom: Empire of the Vampire - Jay Kristoff

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Graphic Descriptions of Violence, Major Character Death

Relationships: Aaron de Coste/Baptiste Sa-Ismael, Aaron de Coste & Gabriel de León

Characters: Aaron de Coste (EotV), Baptiste Sa-Ismael (EotV), Gabriel de León (EotV), Lachlan a Craeg (EotV), Dior Lachance (EotV), Celene Castia (EotV), Ashdrinker (EotV), Reyne a Maergenn (EotV)

Additional Tags: Fix-It of Sorts, Blood and Injury, Graphic Description, Temporary Character Death, though not really??, Fear of Death, Grief/Mourning, a lot of crying, Sad with a Happy Ending, Established Relationship, Male Friendship, fluff at the end, Post-EotV3, Gay Sex, blasphemous use of religious themes for sex, i guess it ended up being an everybody-lives AU?, Aaron-centric, Aaron/Baptiste-centric

Summary:

⚠︎ ⚠︎ ⚠︎ SPOILERS FOR “EMPIRE OF THE DAMNED” (but no spoilers for “Empire of the Dawn”) ⚠︎ ⚠︎ ⚠︎

And with this darkened veil reversed, By whelming guilt of fallen cursed; Three nights of boundless crimson thirst, Shall retrieve the lives dispersed.

San Dior has ended daysdeath and all in Elidaen are awaiting the first dawn in nearly 30 years with bated breath. But unbeknownst to most, when the sun finally rises as it used to in days past, it will be over an earth unmarred by the vampiric scourge. Aaron de Coste and Celene Castia can feel the cold fingers of death finally catching up with them.

But like with most curses, there's a prophecy tied to it. A prophecy of hope for the damned and the mortals loving them.

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Chapters: 1/1 (5 555 words)

Fandom: Empire of the Vampire - Jay Kristoff

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Aaron de Coste/Baptiste Sa-Ismael

Characters: Aaron de Coste (EotV), Baptiste Sa-Ismael (EotV)

Additional Tags: Smut, Graphic Description, Bottom Aaron, Top Baptiste, Anal Sex, Riding, A tiny bit of oral sex, Biting, Blood Drinking, Body Worship, they are madly in love with each other your honour, aftermath of homophobia, (aka being kicked out of the order)

Summary:

Eventually, de Coste cleared his throat and stood up, returned the small phial and the pipe to the saddlebags, over-careful. He walked back to the window and with a final glance outside, closed the shutters. ‘It’s been a long day,’ he said. Normally, a dose would have him thrumming with energy begging to be spent, but some nights, all it did for him was soothe his frayed nerves. He blinked, then stifled a yawn. ‘And an even longer fortnight besides. I reckon it’s time to bed down.’

After leaving the Ordo Argent, Aaron and Baptiste look for a place to call their own. After weeks on the road, they end up staying the night at an inn - and as they lay down, they realise it's the very first time they are able to sleep together in one bed.

The revelation comes with a wave of emotions and the two naturally end up celebrating their newfound freedom.

And since it's a night of new beginnings, perhaps Baptiste might get to try something new as well - something that involves his paleblood lover's fangs and his own very willing body...

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Chapter: 1/1 (5 067 words)

Fandom: Empire of the Vampire - Jay Kristoff

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Graphic Descriptions of Violence

Relationships: Aaron de Coste/Baptiste Sa-Ismael

Characters: Aaron de Coste (EotV), Baptiste Sa-Ismael (EotV), Lachlan a Craeg (EotV)

Additional Tags: Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Self-Harm, Self-Destruction, Mental Health Issues, Guilt, mentions of sexual abuse, post-EotD, Mind Control Aftermath & Recovery, Homophobia, Established Relationship, Aaron struggles with his part in the events of EotD, Baptiste tries to be there for him and help, it gets fluffy by the end, Lachlan is unexpectedly helpful, Canon-Typical Violence, Aaron and Baptiste are so in love help

Summary:

⚠︎ ⚠︎ ⚠︎ SPOILERS FOR “EMPIRE OF THE DAMNED” ⚠︎ ⚠︎ ⚠︎

‘All that while I laughed in delight, rolling around in that bastard’s filthy bed,’ de Coste hissed, his blue eyes burning. ‘And those that remained, I took out of their cages, not to their salvation but to be slaughtered by monsters. Devils all, such as myself. 'Children, my love, I dragged these sweet, innocent children that looked up to me to their horrible deaths and couldn’t care less. And I did it all with these very hands, no less. ‘So don’t you dare tell me when and if—’ ‘That’s enough!’

After the nightmare of Dún Maergenn, Aaron struggles badly with his role in the slaughter of his people. He has taken to matching the heartache with physical pain in order to punish himself. Baptiste has found out and does his best to help him through it but Aaron's despair is deep and nothing seems to change his views.

That is, until the right words come from an unexpected source. It's a long path to healing but perhaps Aaron will finally be able to take that first step.