middaeg | ( SEMI-OPEN ) march catch-all

(( early march ))
I. CAT ACQUISITION

[ Geralt's never been one to blend in well, but if you happen upon him now, he's especially out of place: surrounded by a mishmash of Aefenglom's creatures deemed adoptable. A cat winds around his ankles, there's a bastard of a bird in his hair, and something that looks a cross between a dog and a lion barks at him from the corner.

He sighs. What a pain in the ass. He just—look, Jaskier's been spending more and more time in the stable out back. He gets it. There's comfort in an animal's company. The problem is, Roach isn't a housepet, she's a damn horse and he needs to take her often to ride.

So here he is. Looking for an actual pet for his Bonded. It's meant to be a simple affair. So much for that.

He ends up with an arm full of a small dog that seems to be mostly made of cotton balls. The shopkeeper seems determined to find him something for his troubled friend. ]

Don't you have anything... [ The pup wriggles in his hands. ] ...less energetic?

II. ALL WORK AND NO PLAY

[ It's been some time since he's traveled out of the city. The itch to venture further now that Jaskier is doing better means he's packed up his horse and made his way to Dorchacht. The Wilde is rougher in these parts, its people more desperate for a hand. A good place to find a job.

Besides. Something about the unpaved dirt roads and barely-held together shops makes him feel a bit less out of place. Parts of Aefenglom are far too pristine and shining.

There are no contracts he can see yet, but Geralt remains in the city nonetheless. A couple of days, he thinks. Jaskier and Yennefer both know how to get a hold of him if anything happens—but he trusts Yen will keep a close eye on their Bonded.

You can find him in a tavern in the city, drinking, or near one of the orphanages: some of the children seem to recognize him from a few months ago. The play, the one that Jaskier helped write. It feels like fucking ages ago. A lot has changed.

Despite his insistence he's not here to play, Geralt has invariably been roped into holding a replica Shade made of painted sticks and yarn while the children take turns smacking it. The touch of exasperation to his expression suggests this isn't how he planned on spending his evening. But maybe it says something he's here, anyway, humoring them. ]

Edited 2021-03-08 01:49 (UTC)

(( HOME; early march; morning ))
[ A few weeks have blurred by, oddly quiet and yet not at the same time. It's not Jaskier's fault—of course not—but the house seems filled shadows that won't leave. Between the restlessness, Jaskier's troubled sleep, and his desire to not have a repeat of their shared little dream stroll, he's spent his nights reading while keeping an eye on Jaskier or simply in the woods nearby.

They must've noticed by now, the bard and Yen both. Yennefer, especially—he's not often there in bed anymore by morning, having long left in the middle of the night. It's nothing. A precaution. Neither of them need a trip through his head.

He catches a handful of sleep around dawn. By the time the sun is round in the sky, he's in the garden by a small pond that he can't recall whether it came with the mansion or was conjured by Yennefer. A few shimmering red and gold fish swim in circles. Too small to eat, though.

His sword is in one hand, whetstone in the other. There's some peace of mind found in a repetitive task. Besides, Jaskier's healed now. Leaving the house again, too. It's time he looks for work that's more than small errands, something that'll occupy for awhile. ]

Edited 2021-03-07 01:32 (UTC)

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(( THE HARBOR; early march; afternoon ))
[ After a few months now, he's grown used to not being hissed at by every damn feline within sight. He's even visited the tabby that lingers around the children at the orphanage here and there. Down by the Harbor, especially, strays aren't rare. They slink around, usually scruffy and eager to snatch food off tables.

So the sight of a small cat by the water makes him pause. It doesn't look like a common stray, with its bright white fur in stark contrast to the filthy docks. It doesn't even look like it belongs to anyone here. That pendant on its collar seems worth more than the cunes these people make. Is it lost? If it is, it doesn't look like it gives a shit.

He crouches down next to the cat. A small pouch is in his hands: powdered clam pearls he's picked up for the two Witches he now lives with. ]

You're far from home.

Edited 2021-03-07 02:19 (UTC)

[Mogget is busy eating his latest acquisition - a fish stolen from a catch being unloaded further up the docks - when one of his small ears swivels towards the sound of the approaching footsteps. He's more than used to being mistaken for an everyday cat, so looks up without speaking and stares unblinkingly at the man with vibrantly green eyes.

The tip of his tail flicks, and he lifts one paw up to begin cleaning it.

He wonders, as he often does in such situations, what this person may do if they don't realise his level of sapience.]

[ Being soft and caring wasn't a strength for her, even if it was a skill she seemed to be calling upon more and more in the last weeks. And there'd been something else she'd found herself missing whilst playing a role she struggled to fill. Or rather, someone. Falling back into old routines of waking up alone.

They'd seemed to fall into a natural rotation, making sure someone was awake enough to at least help Jaskier should he need it, but it didn't mean she couldn't want for at least something to return to a semblance of normal. And allowing Geralt to pull away wasn't going to work anymore. Not when Jaskier was healed. In another life, she might've admitted out loud that she missed him, but that was a luxury she had no intention to allow herself to indulge.

Instead, she frames seeking him out as just a request. Yennefer approaches, keeping herself in his line of sight to make sure she doesn't startle him, already dreading having to replenish all of her healing brews and salves. She just needed to not blink in and out of existence during this discussion and it'd be fine. The frequency with which she'd been dealing with that after-effect was slowing, but it served its purpose as a warning. That she'd exerted too much power that night getting Jaskier and under too dire of circumstances without the same reserves of power she often had. Her dress trails slightly behind her on the ground as she moves, having chosen not to wear heels to walk through the grass. She stops in front of him, blocking the sun slightly with her body. ]

Do you remember the man I told you about? The one carrying his sword in a bag with armor?

[ It's one way to say hello. ]

[ Hm. Friendly. Or at least, uncaring of a stranger's company.

After a second, Geralt sits down beside it. The docks are crowded and dirty and the air is stifling. Not the most ideal place to relax—but he likes that out here, few give him a second glance. Besides. He needs a little air away from the house right now. Even if that air is permeated with the stink of fish.

What he does is simply talk: ironically, a rarity, except when he's in the company of a creature he doesn't realize understands every word. ]

Did you know I've never kept company with your kind before this world? [ He offers his hand, curious if the cat will let him scratch its ears. ] I imagine if we were home, you'd be throwing a fit at the sight of me.

[ Both her scent and her heartbeat alerts him before he sees her figure approaching. Geralt looks up. He's been worried about her since that night. Even with the infection mild, he knows what they felt together through the Bond was...

Intense. And she's as likely to talk about it to anyone as he is. Proven when she brings up one of the Mirrorbound instead.

Not that Geralt's much better. He's not the topic at hand here, though. ]

Mm. [ He turns his blade over, examining its edge. Right. What was the name. Ferran? ] Did he finally lose a hand?

[It's nothing new that Geralt is gone from the manor when Jaskier wakes, though the sight of it, every time, feels like another stone piled onto his chest. They've yet to discuss it, though he is quite aware it's from what happened to him. Something the experience brought up for his friend.

He'd only gotten a hint of it from him. And despite it, Jaskier always hesitates to bring it up himself.

He does manage to go out for walks for a bit of sun on the nicer days, his lute on his back whether or not he intends to use it. The weight of it is comforting either way, and his magic keeps it warm, his fingers alive now. (Even if sometimes he looks down and swears they're grey again.) He pulls lightly on the Bond sometimes to craft his magic, securing the feeling of it, of the magic. Sparks will fly, or soft wisps of smoke. He's been working more with heating his fingertips, or cooling them down.

Practice to perfect the spell. He promised Geralt some sort of charm to keep him cool, and it's only fair he aids Yennefer in controlling the temperatures of their home.

Speaking of. Just as he's on his way to perhaps visit the tea room -- for pleasure, since he let himself go once he was released from the Coven -- he spots his Witcher Bonded. With a wicker box in his hand, no less. Geralt? Shopping?

It's practically an impossibility.] Geralt! [He gives his friend a wave, curiousity piqued. These days he was just as like to leave the Witcher alone, but this time he simply can't. He must see Geralt shopping.] What are you up to out here, you scamp?

[ It wouldn't be the first time Geralt's avoided Jaskier, but this time, it isn't that he wants to be left alone. It's that he's out here for...something he doesn't want Jaskier to see until he's decided to bring it home.

So of course the bard appears out of thin air. He sighs. His plan had been to leave the thing in Jaskier's room and claim he found it on the street before vanishing and never speaking of it again. Maybe he can still do so. The walls of the wicker basket are high. ]

Jaskier. [ A soft meow greets Jaskier from inside the basket. Shit. Geralt looks down, then decides there's nothing he can do except change tactics. He hands Jaskier the basket with a typical lack of ceremony. A small furry head pops out. ]

Here. Take it.

Edited 2021-03-08 16:54 (UTC)

[In the latter half of the month, Roxas will have gathered enough strength to return to working at the orphanage once more. The staff has been more than willing to accommodate his recovery from his time kidnapped by the Emerald Circle, but he also knows that if he wants to recover, he can't be hiding inside all day. And besides, some of the kids at the orphanage miss him.]

[But while working at the orphanage and keeping an eye on the kids, Roxas can't help but keep an eye on the strange, white-haired man who the kids insist on playing with. The other staff members don't seem to have any distrust towards him, but after everything he's gone through Roxas can't help but be a little on-edge and defensive. Especially with the kids involved.]

[Though he doesn't actively approach Geralt yet, the akita turnskin does keep a careful eye on him, sometimes outright staring at him with his canine ears upright; a clear sign of caution and wariness towards the stranger.]

[Some days after their... adventure... the sun had set, once again, and... weirdly, there's a knock at his door. Well. Shared door, anyway, and honestly- the house of which Cloud and Zack occupy is a strange one. It's far away from any of the others which make up the residential area, has a lot of nothingness around it, and is just on the edge of the forest. Chosen, well, for that reason. Remoteness and all. And proximity.

Regardless. There's a knock, and Cloud drags himself up from where he'd been... watching the staircase (long story.) in order to answer. It's weird. Whether it's turnskin enhanced smell, hearing... whatever, there's something familiar about whoever it is that knocks. So much so, he takes it for a bond. A heavy step...

Sephiroth?

He opens the door.
Whoever's standing there is certainly tall enough. Certainly broad enough, and certainly... silver and cat-eyed enough. But it's not him.]

....

[Who?]

If you're here for Zack, he's resting up.

[Cue the watching the staircase. To make sure he rested up. With house arrest. And yes, there's been more than a few attempts to escape it already.]

If you've got a job with him or something, you're gonna have to do it solo.

[Wait, why is his tail wagging?]

Edited 2021-03-08 23:50 (UTC)

[ Around these parts, he gathers a little less attention. There are Monsters who look rougher than he does, and both the children and the residents seem used to it. So when he senses the careful eyes of one boy lingering on him, it makes him glance over.

His own furry ears lift up, though more in a question than anything. The face isn't familiar. His clothes suggest he's not one of the local orphans, either. For a few moments, he leaves it alone. The boy looks wary, but that's all. When one of the teachers interrupts the children's playtime, Geralt takes the opportunity to break away.

He straightens up as he addresses the staring boy. ] They didn't draw something on my face, did they?

[ If Geralt were a man more concerned with politeness, he might've given Zack an additional heads up before actually coming here. As it is, he asked where he could find Cloud a few weeks ago, got sidelined by...certain kidnapping events, and has now simply shown up some time much later.

He raps on the door. The scent tells him he's found the right place and he can hear heartbeats behind the door -- though he's half expecting to be turned away. He's not certain how well Zack is doing, even if the man seems the type to bounce back.

He's not expecting to not be recognized at all, though. It shows in the tilt of his head. Geralt studies Cloud for a few seconds. Then his gaze shifts to the spinning tail. Mm. Maybe he sees what's going on here. His time under the full moons had been a blur early on. This far into his transformation and with a Bonded, though? Geralt can't help but find that a concern. ]

I'm here for you. [ He rests a hand on the doorframe, leaning forward. ] We met. Two moons ago. Shared some venison. You threw me into the sky and fucked off.

[ Good times. ]

[Roxas doesn't recognize Geralt, and while he would normally just be curious, his ordeal with the cult has him more cautious than usual. The only reason he doesn't outright say anything is because the kids seem to recognize him, and the other staff seem to be okay with his presence.]

[Though, once the kids are ushered away by the teacher, Roxas isn't expected to be addressed by him, and he momentarily balks at the question.]

Ah, no... no, there's nothing there. [He frowns, ears angling to the sides a little, before he takes a breath and fixes Geralt with a guarded look.]

I haven't seen you here before.

[ His expression softens some. He leans back against an old wooden pillar, splintered at the edges. ]

I was just passing through. [ Technically, Geralt has never stopped to actually visit or volunteer at any of the orphanages—here or in Aefenglom. But he does seem to allow the children to catch him a lot as he's passing through. ]

Knew someone who wrote them some songs awhile ago. He dragged me to watch all their rehearsals.

[ Jaskier had claimed the children would be disappointed if he didn't show, which was enough to make Geralt come along despite himself. ]

[It is far from the first time Geralt has thrust something into his hands without zero to little explanation, but often those things are blood-soaked blades, or half-eaten bread rolls, or monster heads (particularly horrible).

This is. Confusing, actually. He stares at the basket. At the small, grey head that pokes out from the lid at the top.

It lets out a very diminutive meow.]

This is a cat. [A very small, blue-grey cat, so small that it could barely reach the top of the basket with its paws.] Geralt, I have several questions here. Why are you running off with someone's cat? Oh, is it haunted? Or for a quest? Finding someone's lost cat is very sweet indeed, for such a mighty Witcher -- Wait! Did you steal it? Why are you giving this to me? I will not be your accomplice!

[ As Jaskier frets and theorizes about the cat, Geralt looks increasingly chagrined. He lets out a deep breath. This was a bad idea. He knew it was. ]

I didn't steal the fucking cat. [ He shifts his weight. There's a reason he wanted to simply leave it at Jaskier's door and not speak of it. ] They said familiars could have a calming effect.

[ It's company. That's all. A creature Jaskier can take care of and distract himself with and maybe use to aid his magic. At the very least, it's something Jaskier can talk to. Geralt knows they're...friends. They are. He's sat and listened to Jaskier often, even if his responses are few and far between.

But he also knows there are some things about what happened that Jaskier doesn't want to tell even him. And unlike Geralt, Jaskier does not do well with not being able to speak about it one way or another. So. The cat. ]

Oh. [He clears his throat.] I should hope not. That's not like you at all.

[Which brings to question why he thought of it at all. He sets the basket down and opens the lid fully, crouching to see the kitten, now outraged it being acknowledged, mewling a tiny storm. He offers it a finger, which it bites with the tiniest of teeth.]

You can't use familiars. [Which... means...] Geralt. You got her for me? [He looks back up at his friend, all dark brows drawn together, annoyed. No, not quite. Not annoyed. But bothered. Very uncomfortable.

He bites his lip. Fuck. He lifts the kitten out and stands, holding it against his chest. Her claws pluck at Jaskier's doublet, though it helps her grow much more quiet.

A calming effect. Whether magic or nature, he feels it.] I see. [Thank you, he wants to cry. This was what he'd gone out to do. Get him a cat. A familiar. This tiny, harmless thing, who, thankfully, did not talk.

What a ridiculous fucking Witcher.] I'm not naming her Roach.

[ This wasn't meant to be any kind of gesture. The cat, that is. Geralt doesn't do gestures. At least Jaskier knows him well enough not to thank him nor acknowledge it as a gift. He can sense it anyway, what Jaskier is feeling, through the soft hum of magic between them.

Geralt relaxes. His tail grows less stiff. ] Roach is a fine name.

[ He watches the kitten pick and claw at Jaskier's expensive silk doublet, already beginning to loosen some threads on it. Jaskier must be fond of her already to not complain. ]

And I'd better not find it crawling about my room.

Why, because it's one syllable?

[He's teased Geralt about the name for years. And his insistence that every single horse he has should have the same name. He looks down and takes in the tiny thing attempting to crawl up to his shoulder. He's not even thinking about having to patch up this doublet.

It's enough to feel something deeply that isn't simply despair.]

Any cat has better sense than to crawl into a wolf's den. [She looks at Geralt and seems unimpressed with him, actually. Then again, he supposes cats look at everything like that. Especially if Mogget is any indication.

Fuck. A cat. Plenty of bloody strays all across the Continent, and they're far more a nuisance than anything.

This one is different. This moment feels so surreal.] It's funny, you know. I never imagined I'd ever catch you actually shopping. [He gives Geralt the easiest smile he's managed in weeks.] Or, at least, not for something far less lethal than bee perfume.

[When Geralt says why exactly he's there. Cloud can't help but be surprised. The surprise is shown in a small way- a quiet way- with a quick flick of too bright eyes to his face from where they'd previously rested to the side, in anticipation of movement from said stairwell.

But yes. No more- Geralt has his attention. He's grateful, at least, for the other man's brevity. There's no wasted words in his statement, it's simple, clear, precise. ...It's just the content which he's not that grateful for. ...And that, as well as Geralt's lean forward, is misinterpreted. ]

Don't remember. Never do.
...But look, if you're here for payback, It's going to have to wait. I don't have time to screw around with you.

[He's not good with people, okay.]

Songs?

[Roxas pauses, ears perking up a bit in confusion. Someone had wrote the kids some songs?]

Like a... bard?

[That was the word Jaskier had used, back in the cages.]

[ His eyebrow lifts. If it weren't for the wolf ears atop Cloud's head, he might not believe he's speaking to the same person. Cloud had been obnoxiously friendly that night. Now he's nearly neck to neck with Geralt for the title of cranky bastard.

Interesting. ]

I don't knock for payback. [ He looks Cloud up and down. There really is no recognition on his face. ] Came to see how you've been. You were pretty deep in it.

[ Not that he makes a habit of checking in on strangers. Most likely, if they'd met while human, he never would've. But like Cloud, there's a deeper instinct that comes with running with another wolf, even for one night. So here he is. ]

[ She’d made it through in one piece, concern for her own personal safety not having been high on her list since that night. Truthfully, for a bit now. When living in an almost constant state of moving from one crisis to another, shoving her own selfish choices deeper and deeper down. While she wasn’t the same woman she’d been when she and Geralt first met, she needed to move her own personal interests back towards the forefront of her mind.

She actually missed the witty banter and the lighter sides of conversation, to be able to just be an observer for a bit. This was at least a step in the right direction, though there were a few more barriers she needed to get through. ]

Shockingly, no. He seems to be doing quite well. He has a friend, a child it seems. Wants to learn to use a sword to protect himself, asked if I knew of someone who might be willing to assist.

[ And she will easily work in one of those barriers she’s wanting to get through to the conversation, violet eyes watching him with an arched brow. ] Unless you’re too exhausted to take on a student.

( SEMI-OPEN ) march catch-all

♞ open to all

♞ yennefer

♞ cloud

♞ mogget

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II

♥!

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