( OPEN ) just a pinch of salt in the wound; you'll be fine

[gynvael]

Who: Geralt + Victims You
When: August // Aguril
Where: Various
What: Full moon feral shenanigans; events/quests later down the line
Warnings: Violence

[ prompts in comments. find me at discontinued for plotting. ]

OPEN: feral wolf | post full moon | basement bonanza curses

CLOSED: feral wolf: jaskier+yennefer | antler fruit: jaskier

Comments

[sparkstrikes]

Someone you know, then.

[Lightning resigns her curiosity, realizing that it's probably not her business to be asking who, or what the relationship is, even if she just wants to look out for the people she's gotten to know here. If he wants to talk about it, she'll listen, but she won't push her luck.

Geralt seems more like her in that regard, based on what he's given her so far, and she can respect that.]

A witch, I hope? Apparently it's supposed to help.

[And to his earlier question, she waves a dismissive hand.]

We need to find an outlet for our magic, or else we just... explode. Supposed to make you feel more balanced or whatever.

[gynvael]

A witch. [ Geralt confirms at least that much, though he sidesteps exactly what the issue is. Nor does he get into the fact that there's more than one -- and more than one witch. When he offers a little more, there's a reason he picks the person that he does. The less complicated of the two. ] Though who the fuck knows. Perhaps his lute is outlet enough.

[ It's not, despite his dry response. He already knows that. Jaskier needs the bond as much as he does -- if not with him, then someone else. Preferably someone else. Even if he's aware Jaskier feels otherwise.

But Yennefer is right. The risk inherent in it is something to consider. He hasn't told Jaskier yet exactly what that risk is or why. Eventually, he'll have to. ]

[sparkstrikes]

[Wait, hold up a second.

Lightning's eyes immediately narrow, the witch he's describing already sounding oddly familiar. The lute is all she really needs to come to the conclusion—]

Jaskier?

[Of all the people in the world, Lightning never expected Geralt to bond with someone like him. Excuse her while she lets the surprise settle in on her before she barks out a laugh loud enough that the people at the nearest table turn to see what it's about.]

There's only one Mirrorbound I know around here with one of those.

[Or one Mirrorbound who is confident enough to flaunt the fact. She hasn't seen it, but he did mention it.]

[gynvael]

[ If he'd been talking about anyone else, Geralt would've been curious to know how she's familiar. But this is Jaskier. So he's not. Of course she knows his name. Jaskier has made it a point for the Continent to know his name and it seems he's maintained this goal in an entirely new sphere.

Instead, Geralt's expression is vaguely chagrined as if he, too, wants to know how the hell he wound up friends with the bard. Never mind him being a potential bond. (Also never mind that Jaskier, somehow, is still far easier to explain than Yennefer.) ]

You met him. [ He eyes her. He's only half-kidding about what he says next. ] Surprised he's still in one piece.

[sparkstrikes]

Yeah, me too.

[It's said with a quiet snort under her breath that she tries to drown in the beer that's been sitting at the end of the table. The comment is mostly a joke; Jaskier had given her plenty of opportunities to kick his ass if she was really feeling inclined to, but he had also proven himself undeserving of that, whether it was out of pity or out of appreciation.

She's still not sure how she feels about him, though. What a strange dude.]

Surprised he hasn't told you about how he won the heart of a certain bakery owner. He sang outside the patisserie and now I'm pretty sure Karen's in love. You should ask him about her. How they're doing.

[ :) ]

[gynvael]

[ A certain what? Geralt doesn't mention that he probably only hasn't heard about it because he's specifically been avoiding Jaskier. There's a particular conversation they need to have and he knows Jaskier will bring it up immediately as soon as he sets sight on Geralt.

Hence. Drinking here, where he knows Jaskier is less likely to be around performing.

He grunts. Right. Naturally. Jaskier has, as expected, found himself a suitor already, enamoured with his singing. It's deeply annoying, the amount of people who find Jaskier charming. ]

The only thing I'm asking him is why he hasn't brought me any bread yet.

[ No, actually. The first thing he's going to ask is if Karen has a husband. ]

[sparkstrikes]

If you want bread, all you gotta do is ask.

[Jaskier. Not her.

The apron that's been balled up in her hand is subtly stuffed far into the reaches of her pocket, never to be seen or mentioned again for the remainder of this conversation. She likes Geralt and feels relaxed around him. The last thing she needs is him finding out why she was carrying that apron with the happy croissants. There are certain parts of her reputation that she wants to uphold...

Back to Jaskier.]

So, he's from your world... [Because why else would Geralt know him!? That's the only logical conclusion she can come up with in her head.] Does he do that a lot? The singing thing?

[gynvael]

Mm. [ Geralt confirms both her suggestion and assumption with a noncommittal sound. Jaskier is not just from his world. Jaskier has traveled with him longer than any human has, a fact that Geralt still doesn't know how it happened.

His expression turns curious. The way she's asking, that's all. Like she doesn't actually know why Jaskier walks around with a lute and a song on hand. It doesn't occur to him bards might not exist elsewhere. ]

He's a bard. [ It's, you know. What bards do. They sing. Jaskier's profession is just about the only respectable thing about him. ] A known one. [ A pause. ] Do not tell him I said that.

[ Back home, anyway. Less so here. He has no doubt Jaskier is working on rebuilding his reputation in the city. ]

[sparkstrikes]

What, that he's well-known? [... Actually, yeah. Given what she does know about him, it's probably best that she doesn't talk about that with him, lest she want to be sat down to listen to him sing about his supposed fame. Geralt knows what he's doing.] Your secret's safe with me.

[But Lightning can put two and two together. There may not be bards in her final fantasy world, but they're singers. Floofy performers. Got it.]

Don't take this the wrong way, but that wasn't the answer I was expecting when I asked. [She's having a hard time imagining what that dynamic looks like.] ... But I'm glad you found someone.

[gynvael]

[ Found someone sounds far too much like Geralt's already made the decision to bond with him. Explaining that requires bringing up why things are so complicated between him and Jaskier and Yennefer, and the tangled web that's become their fates or Destiny or whatever the fuck, so he keeps it to himself. ]

Trust me, I wonder the same thing. [ After awhile, he's stopped questioning it, what it is that has resulted in Jaskier being here twenty-some odd years later.

After a second, he shifts the topic. ] What about you?

[sparkstrikes]

[It's a wonder that Jaskier still has his head, but unlikely friendships have been forged here before. Wouldn't be the first or last time that she's been surprised by it.

But when he turns the question around on Lightning, she shifts, suddenly feeling the heat of the hot seat. It's fine to talk about other people's bonds, but hers?]

I've talked about it with someone. Have another in mind.

[The more, the merrier, right? She doesn't know how much more info to divulge, or whether or not Karin would want people to know, but even Lightning had asked that they keep it on the downlow until it was "official."]

Hard part is actually popping the question...

[She lets that comment hang, as if she's seeking some advice on that...]

[gynvael]

[ The comment simply hangs. Geralt realizes she's waiting to see if he has any suggestions. Oh. Personal advice. From him?

Then again, Geralt had decided to ask advice from a reclusive man in the woods, who seems to enjoy prefer company as much as he does. Maybe he shouldn't throw stones. ]

Uh. [ He takes a moment to search. Now they both look like they've been put on the spot. ] Could ask to try it out first.

[ Those temporary bonds. Seems like a good way to broach the topic. Geralt had thought about it, too -- testing a bond -- but given how severe his case had been, he's concerned it won't be enough come the full moon. ]

wrapping :)

[sparkstrikes]

[There's a lingering moment of silence following his answer before Lightning snorts out loud.]

Still gotta commit to asking.

[And therein lies the problem with bonding. It's no longer an issue of whether she wants to or not—none of them have a say in that—but how to bring it up. Temporary or permanent, Lightning has no idea how to ask someone to commit to what is essentially a platonic marriage arrangement.

(Thinking about it that way only makes it harder to do.)]

We'll all figure it out, [she says, defeated but not without a smile. No reason to get her panties in a knot about it now, not when she has half a bottle of beer to finish! She lifts her bottle and raises it to Geralt in offering.] Here's to that.

[gynvael]

[ True. Geralt has half a mind to tell her the most ideal solution is to find a bonded who'll pester about bonding on their own and then it was just a matter of begrudgingly agreeing at some point during said pestering.

Effectively his plan for Jaskier. Also a unique situation. There's only one Jaskier in the world. (He fucking hopes.)

Still. ]

Mm. [ He offers her a quirk of the lips that passes for a smile. She makes for easy drinking company, at least, and for once it isn't to escape a conversation that Geralt eventually calls his drink his last. He leaves enough coins on the table to pay for his part before getting up. ]

See you around.