stellanimarum

[stellanimarum]

Julian felt the breath catch in his throat when she moved closer—so near, yet still too far for him. He reached down and took her hand instead, lacing their fingers together.

He let the moment settle, offering her a quiet, steady nod. His hand hovered over the file for a beat longer before finally opening it, the old paper crackling as he turned the first page. The initial contents were clinical—cold descriptions of procedures, magical theory, spells cast and their effects. But in between the lines were details that made Julian’s stomach twist. She had been a child. A child. Not a number.

Arguing with Julian was always a very hard thing for Manon to do and with the stress of everything else she kept the words back she wanted to say.

That he was responsible for his subject. She wasn't that. She was his. And even if she was, choosing not to read that wouldn't make him neglectful.

She did settle down a bit at his promise though. She hoped he would keep it.

Manon moved her chair closer to his so that they could read at the same time. Shoulders almost touching. A bit of comfort even if she couldn't bring herself to close the gap.

"Ready when you are."

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Jaskier huffed a small laugh, the tiniest smile tugging at the corner of his mouth at her comment. “Well, then I’ll try to get pissed off more often, just for you,” He replied, leaning just slightly into her touch.

“Sorry it had to be today...Shall we head home? Back to the beach house?"

Manon was fine with the quiet. She understood quiet anger. She just had to remind herself it wasn't directed at her.

At his words, the look in his eyes Manon softened. Her hand leaving his to cup his cheek.

"Your British comes out when you are angry. It's kinda sexy." She said with a smirk. It really was.

The bags in her other hand did feel heavier though. It had to be the first day Manon had really said yes to anything big that his parents show up and poke at that wound.

[stellanimarum]

"Fine. I am a flower who would much prefer the food served to me already prepared." Jaskier relented, there were times to be stubborn and this time he wasn't prepped to commit to it. Well...one must align with their own strengths and this was not one of his.

“You wouldn’t. Unless you are insinuating I am a bad teacher… Or that you really are a flower that won’t prepare what you eat?” She said with a raised eyebrow. Still holding out the dragger and animal.

[stellanimarum]

this too is yuri

[stellanimarum]

TW: Mental health, abortions, job loss etc

I have made my peace with the abortion that I had at the end of last year, and yet I still think about if circumstances were different. I was made redundant from my job at the end of October and unbeknownst to me at the time, I was pregnant throughout the process. I know it was the right decision, especially as the job hunt continues now. It would have been impossible to afford to be out of work for probably realistically two years and then having to find a new job to take me on with that large of a gap. But I still can't stop the feeling that something was stolen from me by a company who decided they had no use for me anymore after I gave them five years of everything. I will be okay. I will be fine. It is just hard some days and I just feel so drained and exhausted.

[stellanimarum]

So Jaskier was bullied as a child?

Also, I've never seen medieval children wear such fancy swimming trunks...

Also, also: There is no mention anywhere thar Jaskier grew up in Bremervood. That's something Netflix came up with.

[stellanimarum]

jaskier sleeping peacefully in the tent while geralt fights for his fucking life like three feet away is one of the funniest things. this would've done numbers in 2020-2021 witcher fandom

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Jaskier and his sliding boots but with style for once 😅🥰

[stellanimarum]

His intrigue would grow more as she handed him a book. He recognised the cover, it wasn't a proper book by any means...an artful bodice ripper by any other name. He grinned back at her. "I'll read it quickly then." He chuckled with a nod and tucked the book under his arm before turning on his heel towards his bed chambers.

Manon grinned and leaned in to kiss him again. Savouring it before pulling away slowly.

She left his side with a grin and moved to pull a book from the shelf. One with two bookmarks still in it.

"I've marked the bit. Why don't you get comfy and give it a read in your bed and I'll get changed. Give me a mental bell when you have finished."

It was slightly less of a struggle to keep it sounding not like a question this time. She had been practicing. And there was a slight hint of mischief in her eyes. A playfulness not often seen.

Yes, this was a very good day and Manon didn't want to waste it.

[stellanimarum]

Jaskier was more than happy to walk away from the conversation without a proper end, he would certainly flip his lid if he didn't. He breathed in and out in attempt to calm himself as they walked away and scowled at the ground saying nothing for a time, not until they were a good distance from his parents anyway. "Manon...I'm so sorry. They are awful. Absolute cocks." He finally spoke softly, blue eyes swimming with regret, he didn't want her to take those awful things to heart.

Manon followed along, quiet for a moment. Part in cold rage and part in panic. After a few steps she turned around though, the rage winning out as she walked back to Jaskier's parents.

"Mr and Mrs Pankratz, you can both say what you want about me. Lord knows I have been called worse but your son is bright and funny and the kindest man I have ever met. So insult me all you want but don't insult your son."

She didn't give them a chance to respond. She made her way back to Jaskier quickly. Slipping a hand into his and continuing to walk away.

[stellanimarum]

Jaskier would stir eventually if only because his phone would start blowing up with texts. Not anything unusual just Aelin spamming him with a list of things. Blearily he opened his eyes and just half heartedly reached for it on his bedside table to see he was right. He'd reply to her when he was a little bit more conscious. Now his only thought was coffee...and - oh. He had forgotten Fallon had stayed here. No wonder he was so comfortable. He glanced down. "Oh good morning."

Fallon would stir when Manon got up. She was going to leave the bed until Manon basically ordered her not too. That and she was pretty wrapped up in Jaskier. The boy could cling.

It didn't take Fallon long to settle back to sleep with someone else's heart beat in her ears. And like Jaskier, she was a fan of sleeping late. She would awake around the same time as Jaskier would. Still snuggled into his chest.

[stellanimarum]

Shit...shit..bollocks. They really had and that made Julian's blood boil even more. "Can't you...wear it yourself? No of course it needs two energies not one..." He mused answering his own question, he wasn't an expert in magic by any means but well...he wasn't entirely brainless and he knew Yennefer pretty well by now. Yennefer. He needed to track her down...she'd know what to do. "I promise you my dear, we will destroy them and get you sorted."

Celaena was quiet while he saw to her horse at the beginning. Just breathing.

"Don't leave me." She whispered after a while. Shinning cat eyes looking at Julian.

"Not just because I need you but the rings a tether." She said softly, voice crocking. "I don't know the exact distance but if we are too far apart I won't be able to move. I will be stuck in crippling pain."

A dark weak chuckle escaped her.

"They really planned every part of this."

[stellanimarum]

"Oh...I am good. I would certainly mess it up." Jaskier excused with his hands raised up slightly for some kind of emphasis and shook his head. "I more meant...I could provide some kind of entertainment - tell a story or perhaps a song?"

“That is a great point.” She grinned. A sparkle in her eye that ment trouble. Jaskier was not getting out of this one without saying he was a baby that would eat meat but not prepare it.

“The most useful thing you could be doing is learning. Luckily I have two of these and multiple knives.” She unhook one of the animals from her belt and pulled out a knife, flipping it so its handle was offered to Jaskier along with their soon to be meal.

[stellanimarum]

"It is my job. I am responsible for all of you." Julian responded back firm but still gentle, there was a determination in there even if he everything inside of him didn't want to read more horrible things he knew he was about to uncover. "But I promise."

"Only if you promise the same." She said softly. She could tell Julian was pushing himself. And if she was honest maybe even punishing himself with it.

"None of this is your fault Julian. I admire you wanting to know but you can face too much too."

[stellanimarum]

At the kiss, Julian's mind would reduce to static, losing what they were even talking about honestly. He raised a brow as she spoke, keeping that closeness. His mind would run away with itself as it so often did - who could blame him with a beauty such as Manon in his presence after all. "Well now you have me curious."

"I do like spending time with the Princess."

Manon grinned at the compromise. A wide smile on her face as she leaned in to give him a kiss.

"And in the spirit of working on us..." She said keeping close with the grin still in place. "I was reading one of your books and I found something I would like to try... If you want a break?"

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OOC: I AM UP TO DATE ON HERE FOR REPLIES! TAKE THAT DEPRESSION!

[stellanimarum]

A small smile grew on Geralt's face at her returned rambling, appreciative of it actually. Quite an interesting philosophical statement. "A good point. Seems a bit pointless." He agreed with a snort. He was still awkward in how he held himself but he was warming up to the stranger...he just wasn't accustomed to talking to many people.

"Werebears like berserkers? I think I saw something in a book on Skelligen myths about that. I've been trying to read up on things so I don't, you know, die on the road. Or offend a culture." She did travel constantly. Where was she going to settle? She couldn't.

A little, quizzical sound formed deep in the elf's throat--- inhuman and strange. It wasn't a concerning or intimidating sound. It just was. "So, the trials change you physically? That makes sense. Makes you able to handle monsters." Like her.

Hands fidgeted with each other, a small nervous tick. "Well, curiosity's a good thing. And that whole saying about the cat is wrong. They leave off half the saying. It's really 'curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back'. So, I'm not really sure why the cat had to die in the first place if the satisfaction of learning was just going to resurrect it... I'm rambling, sorry."