( OPEN ) cold ground got a hold on me

[gynvael]

Who: Geralt + Jaskier, Yennefer; You
When: September // Septeril
Where: Aefenglom
What: Full moon + events/quests later
Warnings: Body horror

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

OPEN: quests + wildcard

CLOSED: full moon | wish break

Comments

[sing_for_me]

[ Her finned ears perk up when he speaks up next to her. ]

Oh, you don’t—you don’t have to...

[ It only makes her feel worse when he’s offering to help her.

Then one of the children speaks up, very matter off actly. ]

Miss Alex, you’re not a very good jumper. Let the mister help you!

Thanks for the vote of confidence...

[ She looks back at him, hesitant but resigned. ]

If...you don’t mind, please.

[gynvael]

[ Her resigned expression says enough. These kids must've been a damn handful. Geralt figures since he's already hauled down a cat, he might as well get the kite, too. Miss Alex, huh?

He lifts her with ease, giving her enough height so she can reach the kite.

Yeah. He can place the scent now. She must realize -- but she hasn't pointed it out, either, that they've met. He'd have expected her to after he, you know. Took a bite out of her.

He'll ask her how she's doing when the children run off. ]

[sing_for_me]

[ He lifted her up a little too easily...though feats of strength weren’t too uncommon in this place it seems. She takes the chance to snatch the kite, and is taken down with just as much ease.

The kids cheer, one of them running up to take back the kite before they all scatter again. ]

Thank you.

[ She finally looks him in the eye. ]

It would’ve been a...difficult situation if I had to actually climb up there.

[gynvael]

Mm. [ Seems like the orphanage could use a ladder or two.

Once the kite's back in good hands, he leans back against the trunk. There's little segue into the topic; it's clear he's just been waiting for when there aren't a rabble of children around them, demanding cats and toys from treetops. ]

You were in the lake that night. [ A simple, casual statement. ] Full moon.

[ He peers at her. She's the only one he never got a good look at. Rolling in the water hadn't given much time to take in details. Her changes even in this form are more obvious than his own, which suggests she's been in the city awhile. ]

[sing_for_me]

[ Her shoulders visibly shoot up when he finally addresses the elephant in the room. ]

You—-you saw...?

[gynvael]

[ Jumpy. He gets it. He hadn't meant to frighten her that night or right now, and a hint of that flickers over his expression. ]

Relax. [ He studies her for a moment. ] You smell the same. And I didn't run into any other merrow that night.

[ That he remembers, at least. He doesn't think he lost any time, but it's hard to say. That whole night, little murky. ]

Sorry I bit you.