( CLOSED ) april catch-all

[gynvael]

Who: Geralt + Witcher Fam; Ianto
When: April
Where: Aefenglom; The Wilde
What: family reunions; maybe quests and events!
Warnings: n/a

[ starters in comments. plot with me at discontinued! ]

Comments

[gynvael]

[ He huffs a little. Perhaps. There just isn't much to say. No easy answers. But it is something he wants Jaskier to know, one of those small piece of himself that he offers every now and again. Over the years, he knows Jaskier has put them together into a picture of his...friend. And it isn't accurate, not wholly—there's much he has never told Jaskier and likely never will—but it's more so than most others get.

He listens to Jaskier instead. A woman. The fact that he thinks, that's new, only reminds Geralt of how different it's been lately. Normally, Jaskier finding a woman would be just another Thursday evening.

It's good. It is. As significant as the bond between the three of them has grown, Geralt is all too aware that neither he nor Yennefer can give Jaskier what he needs. Too much shit of their own between them.

He doesn't ask if Jaskier has fallen in love with this woman. He already knows Jaskier has. That's simply how the bard is. ]

Composing her a song soon, then?

[cointosser]

[He huffs a laugh. He knows his reputation, and he knows Geralt is thinking, ah, another one. But this is different too, in the way all of his lovers have been different, but he's never --

He's never walked through trauma with another. Not like this. Not besides Geralt, really, and though he loves Geralt, too, they were not meant to be lovers. (Not that he would ever say no to another fun night.) And Geralt can't say much when he's a bigger fucking idiot in love with Yennefer than Jaskier ever has been.]

Maybe.

[It doesn't feel like there's much point in insisting that she's different.] Speaking of women, have you spoken to your own yet? [He casts Geralt a sly glance. In the middle of the woods, far out of earshot, is the only place Jaskier would dare to refer to Yennefer as such.] You can't just keep running away from each other every time you have a disagreement.

[gynvael]

[ The answer is subdued compared to Jaskier's usual. He's used to the bard waxing poetic about his new affections. Lightning, for example.

Perhaps very special doesn't quite sum it up, what the woman means.

Geralt grunts in reply. ] I'd not risk your balls claiming her as mine.

[ They'll talk eventually. Geralt hates that the bed is empty every time he's there at night, the bond feels thin and rough, and fuck, he knows it's partly his fault. It's just—

It's complicated. A mixture of stubbornness and knotted emotions.

He sits forward, watching the water. ] Enjoy your entanglements, Jaskier. Don't fret over mine.

[cointosser]

[Jaskier chokes on a cough.] And you bloody never fucking tell her I said it!

[He needs no reminder Yennefer's already threatened his balls multiple times, and one time with a very real knife between his legs. But they're great friends now! There's no way she'd do it again. Even with a bit of jesting on his end.

He clears his throat.] Running away from my question too, are you? [Jaskier leans in against him, shoving him with a shoulder.] I fret over every one of yours, as you fret over mine. And I do adore you for it, bless your foolish white head.

[He pauses, letting the light-hearted lines lay for a moment. When he turns back to his friend, he's serious, and quiet.] You know I'll help you. No matter what your entanglements be.

[gynvael]

[ His tail smacks Jaskier's side. He's not running away. There are just some questions wherein an answer isn't needed at the moment.

Times like these, he misses the path. He's always going somewhere. It's easier to leave things behind when there's nothing keeping him in one place.

He wonders if Jaskier misses it, too. Traveling bard and all. This is the longest they've actually spent together without parting ways for the winter or because Jaskier decided to stay behind to woo some courtier or another before catching up with Geralt months later when it falls apart. ]

Mm. [ Yeah. He knows. He shifts, their shoulders brushing. ] A drink is always a help.

[ Come with me. It's been awhile since they've gone out for a drink, anyway. ]

[cointosser]

[Jaskier hums something close to a laugh. Geralt may deny it all he wants, but that's the only was Jaskier sees it.

They're quiet, together this time. Still. Neither of them have ever been so still, at least as long as Jaskier's known his friend. Tehy are always on the move, between jobs. Hunting or performances. It's not as if he feels trapped in Aefenglom -- honestly, he quite enjoys it here -- but he knows, through the Bond, that some part of Geralt does.

The Path, as he called. Once Jaskier had learned about it, he realized he, too, had a Path.

Jaskier looks over, a smile there. For some reason, he feels a bit lighter, having told him of Alice. That Geralt understands he needed... something more, from someone else, and he's finally found it.] Well, lucky for you you have such rich friends. I could go for a drink.

[He pats Geralt's shoulder.] Let's go, my friend.