#Radovid really just went: | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

iwillbringyouruin · 1 year

Text

Radskier dialogue nuances in different languages

So I have been rewatching The Witcher in French recently and some of the changed lines stuck out to me, in the interactions between Radovid and Jaskier in particular. So i figured I'd compile my favourites from the translated versions I've seen so far here and compare their meaning to the original. I've also included some of the German lines since I'm German and I got curious!

Disclaimer: I'm just a guy who speaks a bunch of languages, don't expect overly technical linguistic wizardry here. Also this is not about the voice actors' skill or how well the lines are matched up to lip movements, strictly about the little changes in meaning when you take the translations literally! All meant to be in good fun.

Since this is about the season 3 dialogue, there are spoilers ahead.

This is going to be a long post so buckle up!

Season 3 in general: The way Jaskier and Radovid address one another

English (original): both use "you" which makes sense of course

French: Jaskier uses "vous" (the formal "you") for Radovid and Radovid uses "tu" (the casual "you") for Jaskier until they have sex in episode 4. When they talk the morning after in episode 6, they're both using "tu".

German: both use "Ihr" and the other formal derivatives for one another throughout (Even Geralt and Jaskier address each other formally the whole time. I'm not a fan)

Episode 1: Jaskier and Radovid meet

The dialogue here is generally very close, just two little things between the original and the German version I want to point out.

English (Jaskier): Fuck, I don’t really know what I’m supposed to… Bow? Or curtsy, or… I’ve been holding your hand a long time, so sorry about that.

German (Jaskier): Shit, I don't know if I'm supposed to bow or be polite... I've been holding your hand for too long, forgive me ("bow or be polite"?? HUH?)

English (Radovid): If your time at court’s been staid, you’ve been doing it wrong

German (Radovid): If your time at court has been too calm/quiet, something went wrong ([gay silence])

Episode 2: specifically Extraordinary Things

I've put the different lyrics as rather direct translations in the pictures below. They're also written out in the alt text. The French ones are a little more pointed compared to the original imo, I like that version a lot. I'm not sure how I feel about the German version but the first line did make me giggle.

Episode 3: Jaskier talks to Vespula about Radovid

I love this scene for many reasons. I have two things to point out about this.

The first thing is that while in the English and French version, Jaskier says that he and Radovid have only met twice, in the German version he says that he and Radovid don't even know each other.

The second thing is that in the English and German version, Jaskier calls Radovid a spoon and he does in the French version as well. However, he specifies Radovid is a "little spoon" here. Need I say more?

Episode 4: the scene in the shed

Ah, the scene of all time. Before the other scene of all time in episode 6. A few things about this one. The first thing is a very small change in the French version:

English (Jaskier, after Radovid admits he's scared): Just saying that makes you braver than you know.

French (Jaskier, after Radovid admits he's scared): The fact you're admitting that proves you are brave

The second thing bothered me more because it isn't really a subtle change. Both in English and French, Jaskier says Radovid has "learned [his] song", but in German he says Radovid "knows [his] song". The German line here isn't saying that Radovid "knows" the song as in he knows how to play it (from hearing and watching Jaskier play it for him once, mind you), the way it's said makes it sound like Radovid has just heard the song before.

The third thing is what they're saying right after the kiss. Unfortunately with the slightly changed lines for Jaskier we don't get the clever connection between Jaskier talking about taking Radovid into the cabin and Radovid asking Jaskier to take him (sexually).

English (Jaskier): I can't take you inside, I'm sorry.

English (Radovid): Then take me here.

French (Jaskier): The cabin is occupied, I'm sorry.

French (Radovid): Then take me here.

German (Jaskier): We can't go inside, I'm sorry.

German (Radovid): Then take me here.

Episode 6: the morning after

The German version is the same as the original here.

English (Jaskier to Radovid): I thought I’d seen through your mask. Turns out there was nothing behind it.

French (Jaskier to Radovid): I thought I had lifted the veil from your soul. But I found nothing but darkness beneath that façade

The subtle differences in the French version on the other hand not only make the pain a little different, it also includes an allusion of sorts to that version of Extraordinary Things with Jaskier talking about Radovid's soul. At least that's how I saw it. Ouch!

Episode 7: the moment where Jaskier finds Radovid at Thanedd

All three versions here make me want to cry. That's all.

English (Radovid): Just let me be there with you. Prove that I’m more than a mask.

English (Jaskier): Maybe.

French (Radovid): Just let me stay with you and show you what is beneath this façade.

French (Jaskier): Why not.

German (Radovid): Just let me be with you and show my true self.

German (Jaskier): Maybe.

#radskier #jaskovid #radovid #jaskier #the witcher #the witcher netflix #the witcher meta #twn s3 #the witcher season 3 #i made myself sad

131 notes · View notes

loki-is-my-kink-awakening · 1 year

Note

Heya! I'm dropping by people's ask boxes today with random fun asks for nice ask day!

Since you've been so excited about them lately, what's your favorite part of the Jaskier/Radovid ship?

...my babies. I love them, your honour.

My favourite thing is that we got them in canon. I still wake up and pinch myself because we finally got Jaskier confirmed as queer and we also got queer Radovid from the get go.

That we got this beautiful kiss

Which got messier. They really went for it.

The way they both openingly eye each other up, building up on their attraction to each other and that they both see behind each other's mask and find what they see beautiful.

And when things fell apart, Jaskier was still willing to help Radovid out despite his heartache. His empathy remains his superpower.

He even says "maybe" to Radovid’s question about joining Jaskier on the road.

Radovid was willing to give up everything for Jaskier. He wanted to run away with him and was actively trying to do so when he got trapped by circumstances.

And the most important thing is that Joey was so involved in how their relationship was written. He wrote a 7000 essay on it, urged to get away from stereotypes, petitioned to have Vespula involved so we could see his bi/pansexuality, and even wrote Extraordinary Things to replace lines of dialogue.

And I hope that we get more of their relationship in future seasons. Lauren did say this relationship would "have ripple effects for a very long time."

Another thing I love (yeah, can't shut me up) is that Jaskier is from royalty: he's a viscount. Being in a relationship with Radovid as a prince (and then king) is entirely possible for them.

In the books, Jaskier was willing to marry ruling duchess Anna Henrietta. Will Radovid become the male counterpart to this storyline? Maybe.

Anyway, to finally get Jaskier confirmed as queer and to explore his lovelife through Vespula and Radovid was amazing.

And all the amazing ideas the fandom are having right now about what could happen between them in future seasons, how they could get back together, it's just amazing.

Special thanks to @endiness for all the amazing Radskier gifs. They sustain all of us.

And my wholehearted thanks for this lovely ask, @cha-melodius.

#the witcher #radskier #jaskier x radovid #radovid x jaskier #jaskier #radovid #jaskier the bard #prince radovid #king radovid #the witcher netflix #the witcher season 3 #nice asks

54 notes · View notes

wren-of-the-woods · 1 year

Text

the greatest songs (are made up of unspoken words)

Fandom: The Witcher Relationships: Radovid/Jaskier Rating: G Content Warnings: None Word Count: 2.3k Inspired by the @cake-shop-rarepair-bingo prompt "love before first sight".

Summary: Radovid hears many songs of Jaskier’s over the years. Each one intrigues him more.

Also on AO3!

The first time Radovid heard Jaskier sing, he was little more than a boy.

He was attending one of the many parties that were an inevitable part of life at court, laughing and enjoying the wine. There had been a bard in the corner, one who mostly sang the usual entertaining drivel. Radovid paid him little heed. Then, suddenly, something changed.

Toss a coin to your witcher, the bard sang, and the tune caught Radovid’s ear. It was catchy. The words, as he listened further, were even more intriguing. He had hardly ever heard songs about witchers before, let alone songs so positive and full of adventure.

A few other partygoers began to sing along. Radovid smiled, enjoying the fun.

The song ended soon enough. Radovid applauded with the rest, then returned to the conversation he had been having with a rather dashing young count. The song was soon forgotten amid a joyful haze of wine and good company, and that might have been the end of it.

But the next morning, as Radovid brushed his hair and tried to choose the best doublet to wear for the day, he found that he was humming a very catchy tune.

Over the next few years, Radovid became rather familiar with the name of Jaskier the bard.

Radovid heard many minstrels play at assorted parties, balls, and dinners, each with varying levels of skill and talent. They played all sorts of songs, from their own compositions to traditional ballads. Some were of high quality. Others were distinctly lacking. But, as the years went by, one thing became more and more constant: each evening, at least one song written by Jaskier was played.

“Another tale by Jaskier the bard,” the minstrels would proclaim, and without fail a catchy tune accompanied by words of love or derring-do would follow. Radovid began to rather look forward to them — they were, unlike many of the other bards' work, reliably catchy and entertaining. Even those of his songs with little true substance never failed to make a crowd dance.

There was something about his tales of the witcher, too, that intrigued Radovid. There was a familiarity in the lyrics, a sense that this Jaskier really knew the witcher, that Radovid had not heard in many other songs. The adventures were depicted with a familiarity, almost a fondness, that suggested the bard had truly been present and cared about the outcome. Sometimes, it seemed that the songs suggested something even more than friendship between the witcher and the bard.

Radovid began to seek out rumors of the bard, listening for tales of witchers and a man with a sunny disposition and a sharp tongue. He heard rumor after rumor. He was told tales of their friendship and their adventures. Some claimed that the witcher and the bard were in love with each other. Others claimed that Jaskier was everything from a former street urchin to a runaway siren prince. It was, to say the least, intriguing.

Despite the week Radovid spent with The Fishmonger’s Daughter perpetually stuck in his head, he found himself becoming rather fond of the bard.

When Radovid heard The Golden One, he did not suspect anything had changed. It was another song of Jaskier’s adventures, another catchy tune to which crowds could sing along. It was popular, just like so many other songs Jaskier had written over the decades. The lyrics were rather simple, but the masterful melody more than made up for it.

Then, a few weeks later, the bard playing for a diplomatic dinner announced that he would be performing Jaskier’s newest song. Radovid expected it to be The Golden One again, but the opening chords were unfamiliar. It was a few moments before he managed to make out the soft lyrics over the prattle of the duchess’ daughter beside him.

A storm raging on the horizon, Of longing and heartache and lust It’s always bad news She’s always lose-lose So tell me love, tell me love, how is that just

Radovid’s eyes widened. In ways he could not quite pin down, this felt different than anything Jaskier had written before. The lyrics were precise, the words were chosen with great purpose, and the melody was elegant and melancholy.

I am weak, my love, and I am wanting, sang the bard, and Radovid’s breath caught in his throat. There was pain in the singer’s voice. Radovid could only imagine how it would have sounded from the lips of the author.

Radovid listened quietly to the whole song. He paid no heed to his surroundings until the bard finished, releasing Radovid from the spell. He realized that he had been completely ignoring the woman beside him.

The song was beautiful. There was no other word to describe it. It spoke of heartbreak and longing with such skill that Radovid could almost feel it himself.

Radovid was somewhat more distracted than usual that evening, spending more time thinking about a certain songwriter than any of the politicians and princesses in the room, but given the circumstances, he felt that was excusable.

It was a few months before Radovid heard another song of Jaskier’s.

He was in another court, visiting some distant relative of his brothers’ wife. He had not paid much attention to the whole thing, preferring to focus on the very handsome steward who had been making eyes at him across the room all evening.

The band playing announced a new Jaskier song. Radovid perked up. The steward was forgotten. Given how fascinating the bard’s last song had been, he could only imagine what the man had written next.

Then the bard began to sing, her voice sharp, and Radovid’s heart skipped a beat.

I hear you’re alive How disappointing I’ve also survived No thanks to you

The words were pointed and emphatic. Radovid spared a moment to wonder what had happened to make Jaskier write something like this, but the thought was quickly swept away as he became enraptured in the music.

The song only grew more vicious and passionate as it went. The band grew louder and more energetic, a man beginning to harmonize with the woman, and they began the chorus.

What for to yearn? Watch that butcher burn

The singers spit the words like sparks from the fire they sang about. Radovid once again found himself wondering what it would be like to hear Jaskier himself sing this song, because if his imitators could make this so engrossing, he could only imagine what it would sound like in the voice of the man who wrote it.

Burn, burn, burn, the bards shouted, then slowly grew quiet until the main singer almost spoke the final line.

Watch me burn all the memories of you, she said, and the band went quiet.

Radovid let out a shaky breath, his heart pounding. He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes as the room around him erupted into applause. Jaskier’s songs were always well-written, but this one was full of so much feeling and vulnerability that it rendered him almost speechless.

This bard, Radovid began to think, had more talent than any other person he had ever met in all his long years of princely escapades.

Several long months went by. Radovid encountered another song of Jaskier’s, one that was played in rowdy taverns and not in courts: a song about prisons and whoresons that never failed to make an audience laugh. At the same time, Her Sweet Kiss and Burn Butcher Burn were played so often in courts and at parties that Radovid soon knew all the words by heart.

The witcher, he assumed, was the butcher referred to in the song. He had vague memories of hearing servants talk of a white-haired murderer when he was small. He did not know what had happened between Jaskier and his witcher that could make him write something so vicious, though it likely had to do with the woman who had such a sweet kiss, but he found that he wanted to know.

If there was a small voice in the back of Radovid’s mind whispering that this meant it was no longer likely that the witcher and the bard were together — that it meant the bard was probably available — that was no one’s business but his own.

When he slipped away from his entourage to stop at a tavern on his way home from yet another party and heard a bard announce that he would sing a new song of Jaskier’s, Radovid sat down with interest. He expected something new about the bard’s relationship with the witcher or perhaps another well-written breakup song.

It was not a breakup song.

The bard began to sing words of history, oppression, and hope. It sounded strangely grim for the first verse, leaving Radovid just enough time to wonder if Jaskier had been jaded by his heartbreak when the second verse began.

Forget all they’ve told you, for history’s fine glow Is tarnished by those who don’t want you to know The power of your stories, your songs, and yourselves To take back the land for the dwarves and the elves

Radovid froze. He listened closely, trying to hear every word over the sound of talking and laughter in the tavern.

Rise, sang the bard, we will rise.

The tune soared with energy and passion. The words told of people and power. Radovid did not know the story spoken of in the song, but somehow he did not doubt that it was true.

This was no song of love. This was a song of resistance.

At first, Radovid thought this song was unlike anything Jaskier had written before. Then he remembered all the bard’s songs of noble witchers, remembered Toss a Coin itself, and realized he was wrong. This thread of reputation and resistance had been woven through Jaskier’s career from the beginning, so artfully braided that Radovid had hardly noticed its presence until Jaskier chose to make it plain.

A song like this was bold. A song like this was almost unique in recent times. A song like this, right now, was incredibly dangerous.

Radovid had not truly realized, until that moment, just how much there was to be known about Jaskier. There was so much to be heard in his songs, so much intrigue and intricacy in his life. There was so much the rumors did not encapsulate. There was so much Radovid did not know.

When the song reached its conclusion, Radovid’s applause was the loudest in the tavern.

Without ever having seen him, Radovid knew that Jaskier was different from anyone else he had met. He was truly special.

And, one day, Radovid desperately hoped to learn why.

Radovid could hardly believe that Philippa expected him to stay behind.

It was laughably easy to follow her, and any inconveniences he encountered were more than made up for by the fact that Philippa — and, by extension, Radovid — were going to meet Jaskier. Radovid had spent so much time thinking of the bard over the decades that the thought of meeting him in person seemed almost surreal. He could hardly wait.

When he heard a commotion ahead of him, he knew he had found his mark. He rounded a corner and paused, taking in the scene before him. He blinked.

A man was standing in the street. He was shouting at a woman on a balcony as she threw various articles of clothing in his direction. Philippa lurked nearby.

Radovid watched as the bard shouted at the woman in the window some more, then was accosted by Phillipa. He looked distinctly disheveled and rather comedic. If Radovid had not been certain of the bard’s identity, he would hardly have believed that this was the same man who had written so many songs of such beauty and bravery. The discrepancy only intrigued Radovid more.

Jaskier was also, undeniably, very handsome. This was significantly less unexpected.

Radovid approached them. Just as he drew close, the woman on the balcony drew out a lute. Jaskier’s emphatic protests did not dissuade her from tossing it into the street— right into Radovid’s waiting arms.

Jaskier and Philippa both turned to him. He dismissed Philippa and turned to Jaskier.

“I’ve long wanted to see you in person,” he said, trying to restrain his excitement. “Song of the Seven’s my favorite.”

Jaskier did not spare a moment for thought before speaking. “Slightly ironic, but thank you.” He turned to Philippa. “You see? People like me. I’ve got fans.”

He faced Radovid again. Radovid ran his thumb nervously along the neck of the lute — Jaskier’s lute — in his hands. Jaskier stepped forward with a grin, his hand outstretched to shake. The bard’s calloused fingers were warm against Radovid’s palm.

“Sorry, I didn’t quite catch your name.”

“Radovid.”

“Right.”

“Comma, prince.”

Jaskier’s eyes went wide and he started to stammer as the realization of whose hand he was holding sunk in. His surprise did nothing to make him less attractive.

Radovid held back a smile. He was holding the hand of the man he had waited so long to meet. Here, finally, he could look his favorite puzzle in the eye. Jaskier was even more intriguing in person, full of quick wit and humor and cheer that seemed to mask something more serious underneath.

Radovid did not yet know what made Jaskier tick. He did not know what made him act the way he did, nor what his true motivations were. He did not know what his tells were, his secret cues that would give away where the mask ended and the man began. He did not know what truly made Jaskier and his songs so irresistible.

There was one thing, though, that he knew without a doubt. It was knowledge that made it hard to focus, that made him want to burst into delighted laughter and grin from ear to ear.

Radovid knew that now, after all these years of waiting, he finally had the chance to find out.

#the witcher #jaskier #radovid #jaskier/radovid #radskier #the witcher s3 #the witcher spoilers #the witcher season 3 #wren writes #jaskier x radovid #the witcher fanfiction

72 notes · View notes

hannibard · 2 months

Text

"I'm choking from the taste (but I can't help but swallow)"

Chapter 6: Soul Contract

Summary: The deal is done and Jaskier copes with the aftermath.

Click here to find on ao3

(Please check the tags before reading)

“You can’t possibly be serious Your Majesty-- this trade is in no way equal!” Dijkstra yelled in disagreement, standing up abruptly and slamming his hands on the table.

Radovid shot him a warning look, displeased by his outburst. Tensions between the king and his advisors still ran high. They only recently started working towards some sort of reconciliation for the sake of the kingdom, and the balance was still too fragile for the Spymaster to make such a big show of defiance against the king, but he couldn’t help it.

Dijkstra took a deep breath to get his emotions in check and sat back down. “I understand how important this… gentleman is to your Majesty, but I merely worry a decision like that would put Redania in huge disadvantage.”

Radovid sighed and scratched his chin. “I can tell why you’d see it that way Dijkstra, but think about it.” He came to stand behind Jaskier and placed his hands on the bard’s shoulders. “Julian here is one of the White Wolf’s dearest friends! From his point of view, Julian came here to be with me of his own free will because we’re madly in love. Surely he wouldn’t carelessly put his friend in danger by attacking us.” He tightened his grip and Jaskier winced as the king’s nails dug into his skin. “Especially if said friend is tied to me.”

He let go and went back to his seat behind the desk. “Besides, the White Wolf isn’t just conquering kingdoms for the fun of it. He’s only doing it to the ones he deems unsafe towards non-humans. If we try to limit the discrimination against them and give them equal rights he should have no reason to show hostility.”

Dijkstra was silent for a moment, considering. “…Do you think we can make all these changes before the White Wolf comes knocking on our door? The sentiment against the elder races is deeply rooted in this kingdom. People aren’t going to change their ways easily.”

Radovid scoffed. “That’s what laws are for dear. We may not be able to make a difference right away, but we have to show we’re trying. That alone will be enough- especially if Julian vouches for us.”

Philippa looked at her nails nonchalantly. “And to ensure Julian’s cooperation, a soul contract will be needed.” She said and turned to Dijkstra. “I’ve got the perfect spell for it too. Our king gets to keep his boytoy forever tied to him and Redania stays safe as a result. It’s a win-win situation.”

The Spymaster frowned in contemplation before relenting. “Fine. But we must get this over with as quickly as possible.”

The king nodded in agreement and all three of them turned to look down at the still kneeling bard. Jaskier flinched at the sudden attention after his presence was mostly ignored for the majority of the conversation. He gulped and avoided their gazes. This was really happening.

The king’s quarters were chosen as the best place for the binding ceremony to take place, being in the safest part of the palace and away from prying eyes. Jaskier and Radovid were left there alone for a moment while the sorceress went to gather the necessary items, and the king spent this time reading through documents as if it was any other day, but the smile on his face betrayed his good mood.

He glanced up at the bard, who was sitting motionless on the bed, staring off blankly into the distance with his head hung low. Radovid rolled his eyes and abandoned the documents to come sit next to the other man, taking the bard’s hand in his own. When that still didn’t snap Jaskier out of his trance, he tagged at it harshly.

Jaskier blinked a few times and turned to look at Radovid, whose gaze softened when he saw the haunted look in the other’s glassy eyes. The king raised his free hand to gently stroke Jaskier’s cheek- as if the bard was made of crystal, fragile. As if Radovid hadn’t spent the past nine months trying his hardest to break him in every way possible. He seemed to have mellowed out now that he knew for sure he’d won.

“Why the long face love? We’re gonna be together forever- this is cause for celebration!” He leaned in to kiss the bard’s cheek and giggled. “Almost like a wedding don’t you think?”

Jaskier couldn’t tell if the king was saying this to mock him or because he genuinely believed it. Nonetheless, he chose not to respond, too lost in his own thoughts to care. Ever since he’d arrived in Tretogor he’d tried so so hard to keep it together. To stay positive. To find joy in the little things. Would that even be possible after this spell was done? How binding would it even be? He wished he’d asked for more details beforehand, though his questions would have probably gone unanswered anyways.

The king was starting to get annoyed by Jaskier’s silence, but he didn’t get to do anything about it since that was the moment Philippa chose to appear inside the room, through a portal that created a light breeze before it vanished.

With a flick of her fingers, various furniture started to move away to create space in the middle of the room. She used chalk to draw a magic circle on the floor before beckoning the other two closer and making them stand in front of each other at opposite sides of the circle.

The bard watched her place candles, crystals, feathers and animal bones at what seemed like specific spots inside the circle, before entering it herself and standing in the middle, arms reaching out.

“Take my hands, both of you.” She said calmly. After they’d both obeyed, she scrunched her face in concentration and started reciting words in Elder. The air in the room started swirling around them, blowing the candles out and leaving the three in complete darkness. The magic circle started to glow red.

The red light gathered in the middle of the circle and climbed onto the sorceress, who closed her eyes and tightened her grip on Jaskier and Radovid’s hands, causing the magic to course through them. It felt like static was making its way all throughout the bard’s body, getting more and more painful as time went on. He bit his bottom lip to the point of drawing blood in order to stop himself from screaming.

Finally, the sorceress stopped chanting and exited the circle, though the magic continued unperturbed. She brought the men closer to each other, pulling them inside the circle, and let go, making them hold each other’s hands instead of hers. She took Radovid’s free hand and placed his palm on Jaskier’s chest, right above Jaskier’s wildly beating heart. The sorceress looked exhausted, but she kept her chin held high.

“Julian Alfred Pankratz, Viscount de Lettenhove and King Radovid V of Redania both consent to the following: The latter will have ownership of the former’s soul in return for promising not to engage in war with the White Wolf, Geralt of Rivia. Julian’s life will be tied to Radovid’s and if the latter one dies, so will the former. If the White Wolf attacks Redania first, Julian will lose his life since his part of the deal will be broken.”

Suddenly, an excruciating pain started radiating from Jaskier’s heart. It felt like it was being squeezed and the skin over it started to burn as if something was being carved on it. This time the bard wasn’t able to muffle his screams and they echoed loudly throughout the room. This moment felt like it lasted hours but it was probably just a few seconds because it ended just as suddenly as it started.

Jaskier immediately fell to the floor, like a marionette whose strings had been cut. He sat there for a moment to rest, dry heaving.

“So it’s done?” Radovid asked, looking a lot better than the bard. He was staring down at his palm in curiosity. “Yes, it’s done.” Answered Philippa hoarsely, who was also trying to catch her breath.

The king’s gaze snapped to Jaskier as a sinister smile creeped on his face. He closed his fist and manifested a glowing red chain that extended until it attached itself to a matching red collar that appeared on Jaskier’s neck. He tugged harshly, forcing he bard closer to him.

“W-what is that?” Jaskier asked, horrified. The sorceress chuckled. “Just a little something to keep you in check. Its radius extends all the way to the outskirts of Tretogor but you won’t be able to go farther than that unless the king is accompanying you, and he can bring you back to him whenever he pleases.”

Radovid looked very pleased by this add-on, and he made sure to let Philippa know. The two started talking about her compensation as they made their way outside the room. Jaskier chose to stay behind as he struggled to come to terms with what had just transpired. When his raging mind showed no sign of calming down after a while, he decided it’d be a good idea to go get piss drunk instead, but before he went looking for alcohol, he stopped in front of a large ornate mirror and pulled his shirt up.

There, right over his heart, was something akin to a tattoo- made of scar tissue instead of ink- depicting a crowned eagle holding a scepter and what seemed like a banner with a cross on its chest.

Redania’s coat of arms.

...

Life moving forward was much the same as it was previously but with one notable difference.

Since it was now physically impossible for Jaskier to escape, he was finally allowed to leave the palace premises. The first time he stepped outside he almost wept with joy, but the direness of the situation prevented him from shedding any actual tears.

Being outside was intoxicating. The direct sunlight was almost blinding to his eyes, and Jaskier’s skin tingled with warmth on the places it touched. Other than the sun, the weather was less than ideal, what with winter being right around the corner. The greenery had mostly withered already, and a small fog was created whenever Jaskier exhaled, but none of it mattered. If anything, the cold air that entered his lungs was refreshing.

Autumn used to be Jaskier’s least favorite season, because whenever the temperatures started dropping, it signified the end of yet another year on the Path, which meant the time for him and Geralt to part ways was also coming near- unless it was one of the rare occasions Jaskier accompanied the witcher to Kaer Morhen. Somehow, the anticipation of their parting was worse than the months that followed which they spent apart. Out of sight out of mind as they say.

Now that none of the above were any of Jaskier’s concern anymore, he was able to at least partly appreciate the season for the first time in years.

He hadn’t spent as much time in Tretogor as other Redanian cities, like Oxenfurt or Novigrad, but he still remembered the way to a few places, though it was mostly inns and brothels.

Seeing as sex was something he was currently far from lacking, for better or for worse, he decided to stick to the inns instead. The one he used to frequent most in the past was called ‘The Merry Maiden’, and so it was the first place he chose to visit. The man who owned it was thankfully the same as before, and he recognized Jaskier instantly.

“Well well well, if it ain’t the famous Jaskier! We’ve been waiting for ya to show your face ‘round here ever since we learned ya’ve been staying in these parts. I started ta think ya’d forsaken us common folk since ya never left the palace.” Piotr, the innkeeper, said when he spotted Jaskier.

“What nonsense my friend! I’ve just been really busy; the king has been throwing banquets almost daily if you can believe it.” Jaskier said with a strained laugh, taking a seat across the bar. Piotr immediately placed a tankard of ale in front of him. “Good ta know. I see ya’ve yer lute with you, ya plannin’ on playin’ tonight?”

Jaskier downed the ale in one long gulp and wiped his face with the back of his hand before turning to look at Piotr with an expression of mock offence. “But of course! It’d be an insult to my name and my bardic integrity if I didn’t!”

The innkeeper chuckled. “Then get ta it lad! Business has been shite lately, if ya do yer magic I’ll let ya have dinner on the house.”

The bard all but jumped off his seat in excitement. “No need to tell me twice old pal!” He said and took to the stage, elated at the chance to play for his preferred audience for once instead of the Redanian high society that saw him as barely more than a toy at best or a piece of meat at worst.

The tears he couldn’t shed before threatened to come out as he sung the bawdiest songs in his set list and his fingers trembled as they plucked the strings of the lute, though he managed to at least keep his voice steady thanks to all his past training. This was the closest Jaskier had felt to happiness in months, and he wished this moment could last forever.

What a useless thought to have, he thought bitterly. The performance went great regardless, and the crowd that gathered to watch him made sure his tankard was never empty for long.

After his set ended, most of the patrons got up to leave, but Jaskier stayed behind to flirt with Piot’s daughter, Anna, as she cleaned up around the place. Things between them were starting to heat up when the bard felt a tug at his neck that made him yelp. He looked down to see the collar from before, whose chain stretched across the room and disappeared into the wall. Jaskier turned to look at Anna in alarm, an excuse ready at the tip of his tongue, but her eyes hadn’t left his face.

“Is something wrong?” She asked in confusion.

Oh, Jaskier sighed in relief, she can’t see it, thank fuck.

“Nothing’s wrong my lady, but it is getting rather late. You should probably finish up and go to bed before Piotr catches us.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t protest. “Fine. Don’t be a stranger ok?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Jaskier said and kissed her hand, making her blush and giggle.

His smile dropped when she disappeared from his vision. The bard wasn’t ready to return to reality yet, but he didn’t have choice. He was barely out the door when the tugging started again. He stumbled several times as the chain dragged him across town, all the way to the palace, and he was out of breath when he finally made it inside.

Radovid was waiting for him in his room while lounging on the bard’s bed in his nightclothes. The king frowned when he took in Jaskier’s disheveled appearance and clicked his tongue. “Your little outing went well I presume?”

Jaskier closed the door but stayed frozen at the entrance. “Y-yes your majesty, I am deeply grateful for this opportunity.” The king stood up and sauntered towards him, closing the distance. “I see.” He said and started unbuttoning Jaskier’s doublet, making the bard shudder, and not in a good way.

The king leaned close to whisper in his ear while his hands continued working on the buttons. “I’m glad you had fun darling, but I have to admit I missed you terribly.” He grabbed Jaskier’s nape and squeezed harshly. “If you were as grateful as you say, you wouldn’t have made me wait this long. Don't let it happen again.”

The only thing Jaskier could do in response was nod.

...

Being able to go out was a nice bonus but it didn’t take long for it to lose its appeal since Jaskier’s hellish life in the palace continued on without respite. The bard’s “workload” increased more and more as time passed, and when the nobles started realizing Jaskier wouldn’t say no even to their most depraved desires, they took full advantage.

Asphyxiation was one of the tamest kinks he was forced to engage in, but one night early on, a particularly eager baron took it too far.

Jaskier was laying underneath the man on all fours as the other pounded into him. A piece of silk ribbon was tied around the bard’s neck, and the baron took great pleasure in cutting off Jaskier’s airways by pulling at the ends until he went dizzy, at which point the nobleman loosened his hold to allow the bard to breath once more.

This pattern continued until Jaskier could feel the baron getting closer to his climax. He cheered internally, already imagining the hot bath he was going to take once this was over, but when the nobleman gave one last tug to accompany his release, he didn’t let go. It was awfully reminiscent of the time Radovid stopped playing nice, and this only served to make the bard’s panic even worse.

Jaskier struggled to hold himself up with one arm as he used his other hand to claw at the ribbon on his neck, but it was no use. The baron was too far gone in his post-orgasmic bliss, and when he finally noticed what was happening, Jaskier had already gone limp

When the bard woke up again he was in the infirmary and one full day had passed. The healer ran to inform the king of his return to consciousness, so Jaskier had a short moment alone to gather his bearings.

I almost died.

It was a thought that by all accounts should have terrified him, but the only thing he felt was regret. Regret that the baron didn’t finish the job. Regret that he survived. Jaskier had never been a suicidal person, but recently he’d started toying with such thoughts more and more.

The bard had many qualities, positive and negative alike, like his outgoing nature for example, or his flair for the dramatic. But his most unique quality was his ability to feel things much more intensely than other people. It was a gift and a curse all at once, because while it helped him form deep, meaningful connections and become an outstanding artist through his ability to impart a piece of his soul in everything he created, it also greatly amplified all his negative emotions as well, sadness being one of the strongest amongst them.

Jaskier was someone that wore his heart on his sleeve, and even though it had been trampled on time and time again, he couldn’t make himself stop. Even now that he was experiencing the absolute worst time of his life, he wasn’t able to numb his pain by disassociating, no matter how hard he tried. He was mentally present for every torturous second, and he felt Everything, even when drunk out of his mind.

After taking all of the above into account, who could fault him for considering death as a possible solution to his predicament? But despite how much he’d love to escape this eternal torment by ending it all, he knew it was impossible, not if he wanted to maintain his and Radovid’s deal and keep Geralt safe. So he went with the next best thing.

Jaskier was first exposed to fisstech on one of his rare outings. He had found himself back at ‘The Merry Maiden’, only this time he wasn’t at the bar, but at Anna’s bedroom, doing a whole different kind of performance.

The were laying on her bed facing each other after the second round, both sweaty and breathing heavily, when Anna sat up and reached over the bard, taking out a small pouch filled with white powder from the nightstand drawer.

She gave Jaskier a cheeky grin before pushing him to lie on his back, and poured some of the powder on his chest, arranging it in three neat lines using his tuning fork necklace, before leaning down to snort one of them. She gave a contented sigh and fell back into the pillows.

“Oh fuck yeah.” She laughed. “Feel free to have a taste handsome, there’s more where it came from.”

Jaskier considered her offer. There had been many opportunities for him to give fisstech a try throughout his life, especially while he was a student at Oxenfurt Academy, but one of the most common side effects was damage to the respiratory system, and that would be catastrophic for a bard, so Jaskier always resisted the temptation.

But now he was at a point in his life where he had run out of fucks to give.

The bard swiped at one of the lines with his index finger, gathering some of the powder, and then opened his mouth to rub it on his gums as he’d seen others do. Right away, he could feel his brain getting foggy and his muscles relaxing, all his troubles melting away. He let out a groan of satisfaction and stared up at the ceiling with a loopy smile. How had he not considered drugs before? It was exactly what he needed, the perfect cure to help him escape his horrid reality.

Before going back to the palace, Jaskier traded all his measly earnings (gone were the days of luxury) for all the fisstech Anna had left, after ensuring from her a steady supply in preparation for the future.

That night, as some aristocrats used and abused him like usual, Jaskier was able to lay back and accept it easily from his vantage point up in the clouds, sheltered inside the safety of his own mind. No more buzzing thoughts or internal screams of pain.

Blessed silence at last.

10 notes · View notes

feniminomnino · 1 year

Text

"I love you."

The words leave Radovid's lips almost instinctively as they part from their kiss, but instead of regret, there is resolve in his eyes as he looks up into Jaskier's. The bard's own eyes widen at the sincerity, at the lack of fear, and at the insecurity that bubbles inside his chest.

It wouldn't be the first time that he lies to a lover, that he falsely returns those words to keep his lover's feelings safe in ignorant bliss, but this time Jaskier doesn't want to lie. It catches him off guard, but he doesn't blurt out the words just to make Radovid happy. He can't. He can't hurt him.

The moment lingers for too long and Radovid gives him a breathy chuckle as he turns his head down, clearly hurt and disappointed, but seemingly not discouraged from holding Jaskier.

"You know, it's alright if you don't. I prefer that you don't, if you don't feel the same. I just wanted to say it. Get it off my chest." The prince explains, with a kind, sweet smile that Jaskier knows to be sincere, even if it's also there to hide his hurt.

"I'm sorry..." Jaskier mutters, his eyes a bit glassy with emotion. Ironic that he's the one fighting back tears, but Radovid knows his reasons, and he leans in to kiss his forehead. This only causes Jaskier to break further, and lean into Radovid's arms to hold him tightly, then pull back to hold his face between his hands.

"I do care for you. Deeply. More than I've..." He cuts himself off, and shakes his head with an awkward laugh. "You'd think a poet would have better words for a moment like this." He continues self consciously, and Radovid laughs adoringly, shaking his head.

"I like this better. I like to know I take your wits away." He smirks, and Jaskier frowns with a smile, closing his eyes.

"I will tell you one day." He promises as he looks back up at him, staring into those terrifyingly loving eyes. "And you'll know for a fact that it's not a lie." Radovid only smiles and leans in to kiss Jaskier's lips softly. As they part, he brushes a strand of hair out of Jaskier's cheek and caresses his brow, while Jaskier can only close his eyes to feel it better.

"Lucky for you I'm a patient man. And not terribly jealous." At that, Jaskier's eyes bolt open and he looks at him with worry.

"It's not because of him." Jaskier explains hastily. "Well— Not like you think." There's a bit of a blush on Jaskier's cheeks as he speaks, and it seems to be enough to break a bit of tension that had built from Radovid's part. "I... I felt an unrequited, unwanted, unwilling love for most of my life. I got used to having lovers on the side to water it down, but it never really went away..."

"And now..?" Radovid asks, playing with an air of confidence that Jaskier knows is there to hide the fear underneath.

"It changed. My love is now that of a very old friend, but my heart... Is scared to open so readily again. I fear I don't even know how to love anymore."

Radovid pulls Jaskier down into a sweet hug, and the bard whimpers and holds him back tightly, hiding his face in the crook of his neck. "Then it's alright. I don't think anyone knows how to love. Let alone a drunk, messy prince like myself. That you're worried about giving me the right type of love speaks better about you than it does me." The prince jokes, and Jaskier finally smiles.

"I will say it one day. Soon. And you will swoon off your feet, I promise."

Radovid grins, and pulls Jaskier closer still. "Good."

#radskier #i am half asleep and this probably has so many mistakes but i had to get this off my chest #enjoy my brainrot #the witcher #the witcher spoilers #my writing

54 notes · View notes

nullio · 1 year

Text

I'm actually really interested in how they'll handle the ""reveal"" of Jaskier being bisexual

I don't mean that as in, I expect a show-stopping and emotional coming-out scene but, just the act of establishing his queerness

I feel like there are vaguely 2 different ways of doing it, and even then there are a bunch of small things they can make different but

Route 1.) Jask will be conveniently bisexual the whole time. they'll act like his being into both men and women was already an established thing, despite the fact that it really was not a reality until very recently (recently, as in recently in the real world)

I have a few mixed emotions abt this route, but ultimately I wouldn't hate it if they went with this (low key it fits with the writing by the seat of our pants vibe the show already has, sorry Lauren)

Route 2.) Jask discovers his bisexuality throughout the season, most likely by developing a male crush and doing some soul-searching.

lovely! heartwarming! And keeping up with the established cannon. Yes, Jasskier is very smooth with the ladies but now he can be smooth with the men as well. I also think it would be very cool to see an older character (jaskier is like 40 right?) discover these new things abt himself, it's never too late for more self-discoveries. go get that dick bestie

I also wonder if they go with "Route 2" if it'll be a slow burn deal with longing looks, confused feelings, and lots of hypothetical internal discussion

or if Radovid will take one look at this fuzzy, emotionally tormented poet going through a midlife crisis and be like "so...wanna kiss? kiss maybe? kiss with tongue?? wanna fuck on this dining table, bard?"

and jaskier just 0-0 "yeah."

omg secret third route, Route 1.5.) Valdo Marx will very publicly and very dramatically reveal his and Jaskiers old lustful gay relationship from their college years while publically shaming Jask for being a bad bf like,

"really panckratz,,, you call yourself a tender and generous lover??? well you never acted that way... WITH ME"

*queue credits*

#she speaks #the witcher #witcher #jaskier #valdo marx #the witcher season 3 #radovid #hhnfh #i rlly cant wait #if you have your own theories TELL ME #DROP UR THEORIES IN THE TAGS OR REPLIES #LEMME READ EM #jaskier bisexual #the bard is bi

93 notes · View notes

thelostgirl21 · 1 year

Text

After watching that scene, I'm pretty sure that Radovid's intent was to go ask for Ciri's help and convince her to come with him to Redania, so all the madness would stop.

Seriously, he's all alone, he openly admitted to being afraid, he's got no royal security detail nearby, and I'm pretty sure that Jaskier could easily knock him out with his lute if it ever came to it!

And Ciri is what? A highly trained magically enhanced warrior?

Like there was literally no way he ever could have managed to kidnap her on his own, and I'm fairly certain he's 100% aware of it.

Not to mention that his big "masterplan" had Radovid just initially knocking on the freaking door while both Jaskier and Ciri were inside to come see them!

The fact that he attempted to go inside the cabin without Jaskier's permission is pretty much the worst thing he's ever done "wrong".

Yes, it would have been better for him to wait until Jaskier was awake, and then convince him to let him see Ciri; but, like Jaskier said, "people do stupid things when they feel like they're trapped in a corner".

So, disrespecting Jaskier's boundaries by taking the initiative to go see Ciri himself, likely because he was too afraid that Jaskier would still say "no" if he asked, is not exactly what I would call a "betrayal".

Something that would require a good talk between them, yeah.

But given how terrified that poor Prince was (and he had every reason to be), I can understand why he would have been rather desperate to get an audience with Ciri by that point.

And I get that Jaskier's highly protective of Ciri, and that he's got a hard time believing that someone could just fall in love with him as easily as Radovid did, but come on!

Cutting straight through him like that, by basically telling him he's freaking empty behind his mask?

You know, after Radovid told him that he believes he is someone that sees people as they really are, not as they pretend to be, and that he sees the best in them... Jaskier basically goes straight for the kill by telling Radovid there's no good in him?!

And Radovid just... takes it?

He takes his broken heart, apologizes, and leaves?

And one of the most heartbreaking things is that I think he's not telling Jaskier how bad things are at the Palace, because it might put him in danger, too.

Dijkstra's already threatened to have him killed if he says a word to anyone about that truly happened to Queen Hedwig, and it's very likely that if he tells Jaskier - and Dijsktra and Philippa find out who he spoke to - they'll get rid of both of them.

The more it goes, and the more I'm having a feeling that Radovid really is just that highly emotionally intelligent and perceptive puppy, a bit of an empath, like Jaskier, but definitely not the kind of person that enjoys political strategy and scheming.

He was crying and whimpering alone in the corner of a room upon finding out his guards were dead, for frak's sake!

You know, after Jaskier sort of "broke up" with him (before they even had a chance to really become something), all because he was scared, and had a moment of weakness where he went to see Ciri alone.

And then, he comes back to the Palace to find that all the guards that used to look after him are dead (I wouldn't be surprised if Radovid had become friends with a few of them), and he just huddles in a corner, and then tells Jaskier that he should go, and shouldn't have to listen to him / comfort him.

I'm kinda glad that Jaskier found him, and decided to give him a chance to show him that he didn't betray him and that his feelings for him were 100% genuine; and even implied that he might have gone with Radovid if he hadn't needed to go looking for his family.

It's actually when Radovid told him "you shouldn't have to listen to me", sounding like he was blaming himself for the mistake he made, and minimizing his own hurt pretending he wouldn't be worth the time and efforts, that Jaskier went into "protective mode" and considered that he was being sincere earlier.

I'm just hoping the show won't try to do something extremely dumb like turning this into a sort of "villain origin story" or something.

From what I understand, the books had Dijsktra and Philippa running Redania in Queen Hedwig's name, by forming a Regency Council because Queen Hedwig was too devastated in the wake of her husband's death, and out of her depth / unable to figure out how to run the country in times of war and conflict.

So, essentially they become the true power behind the throne.

And here, they had Queen Hedwig killed because she had an interest in politics, strong opinions, was (according to how Vizimir described her at her funerals) considered a STERN and distant figure, and the King adored her and respected her influence.

Whereas Radovid essentially says "Look, I'm terrible at being a prince, or spy, or anything to do with court and politics, really... But I've found someone I love and I think I can do some good out there..."

And when they put that crown on his head, he was looking on the verge of a panic attack.

This isn't someone that apparently ever craved power, or recognition, or enjoyed politics, or wanted to rule anything.

So what if the show was brave enough to give Queen Hedwig's role to a man who is deeply caring, loving, empathetic, weeps when he discovers that his guards have died, and has a hard time recovering from what happened to his brother and the way it totally crushed his hopes of ever escaping a world of constant betrayal and deceit.

What if Radovid is unable to rule (at least, at first), and therefore the power goes to Dijsktra and Philippa, just like it does in the books.

It's just that instead of a Queen that is unable to take care of the Kingdom and must rely on the decisions of Dijsktra and Philippa, it's a King.

Instead of Vizimir's wife, it's his brother.

He's pretty much just told his brother "I'm not cut for life at court, I can't be of any use to anyone here, but I can be of use to someone I love out there in the world."

And yes the fact that Radovid basically heard Jaskier say "I need to find my family" and his instinct was to immediately go "look, just let me be there for you, and make up for that moment of weakness I had, and let's go help the people you love and protect your family together..." just made me unconditionally fall in love with that character.

Like he's not jealous that Jaskier has people that he loves, and that he considers family, and that he's putting first (because, let's face it they barely know each other), and apparently Radovid would feel happier and safer being out there with him - where the things that want to eat you usually are very clear and open on their intents - than stuck in a viper's nest where you constantly have to watch your back and play mind games to survive.

Sure, if they have Radovid play "Hedwig" there are a few toxic gamers out there that are going to complain about how the "feminazis" have ruined a perfectly good, ruthless villain!

But that ruthless villain never existed in the books. He's literally a 13-year-old child, and the trauma that was suggested that book Radovid went through as a kid - that made him want to take his "rightful place as King", get even with those that tormented him and his mother, and earned him the nickame "Radovid the Stern" - never happened.

Book Radovid was an immature child that seemed a bit entitled and was going in his mind "Oh, just you wait to see what I'm capable of".

TV show Radovid is a very emotionally mature, sensitive, and insightful man that worries that he's taking up too much of Jaskier's time and bothering him with his concerns.

And the minute that he learns that Jaskier's family is in danger is willing to sell as much valuables as he can to get out there and help him get them back!

Like... Why on the Continent would he suddenly become a villain that decides he hates all non-humans and wants all sorceresses dead?! (That's videogame Radovid, not book Radovid, BTW)

But yeah, he doesn't fit the psychological profile of a tyrant at all!

I'm not saying that he can't turn out to be a surprisingly good strategist, given that highly empathetic people are often able to give manipulators a run for their money!

But it's exhausting, it's unpleasant, it's not something they enjoy, and they'd much rather not have to.

Seriously, I never expected to fall in love with Radovid to the point where, if I could, I'd have been tempted to jump in there to protect him from Jaskier, of all people!

Like WTF is this?!

It's probably just like I absolutely adore Geralt, but have often wanted to knock some sense into him when it comes to the way he's been behaving with Jaskier.

It's a case of "a beloved character's issues are targeting another beloved character's issues, and would you guys please stop hurting each other?!?!?"

Like, I get it, Jaskier, but Radovid didn't deserve to be told that everything you believed you saw in him was a lie, because of your own difficulty trusting that someone could really be so enamored with you, and the risk of being blinded by your feeling for him... And is it just me or it's like a huge running theme of Season 3, part 2?

Tissaia and Vilgefortz, Philippa and Dijsktra, Jaskier and Radovid, etc.

Anyway, I just have tons of feels about Radovid that I needed to get out...

#Radovid #Jaskier #Radskier #The Witcher #The Witcher Spoilers #My Posts #My Thoughts #This was painful #But I'm trying to trust that Jaskier will eventually make it right to him...#Hopefully...

120 notes · View notes