#but Jaskier is bi so who cares!

[itsmellslikeinfidelity]

The Witcher Netflix is a mess but at least we got bi Jaskier 😭

[rebrandedbard]

hey srry if this question makes you uncomfy or anything, but what are your thoughts on geraskefer and the other ships between the three?

Oh it isn't uncomfortable at all! In fact, this is a perfect example of polite interest and ask etiquette. You're asking about a subject I've blogged about and shown interest in, and in a very polite manner. I'm over-explaining this so as to comfort you and encourage future asks, my dear good nonny.

Since TWN season 2, I've loved geraskefer. Season two shifted all their dynamics in very interesting ways. I will elaborate:

Yennskier

That scene in the pub and later in the boat between Jaskier and Yennefer converted me. I LOVED their vibe in season 2, and what little we had in season 3 with them was delightful. I love them having this banter-heavy dialogue, this playful "I tooootally find you annoying" best bitchy friends attitude (exaggerated, of course, for fun in fandom). They really do have each other's best interests at heart. They care. And to have them be together without the involvement of Geralt is very nice, even if he is a large part of why they would come together in any circumstance. But seeing the trust between them grow and to see how they need and rely on one another is so compelling. Drinking buddies <3 and I need them to kiss.

Yenralt

Canon and a power couple. Divorced parents trying to get back together. A good contrast. The tension of knowing your love may be influenced by magic has a kind of tragedy. However, I need them to interact more outside of sex and talking about the wish. The opening of season 3 where we saw them as a family made me actually like them as a couple. I need them to be friends before I can ship them, and season 3 went a LONG way to making that happen. They've slowed down enough to actually get to know one another, and I look forward to seeing more of it.

Geraskier

The OG. The OTP. The reason like 99% of you are likely on this blog. Besties with romantic tension. The bants. The sass. The friendship and deep understanding at the core of who they are and how they interact. The ride or die. The tragedy of having it all thrown in your face and made insignificant in a moment of weakness. The desperation to repair what was once taken for granted. The choice to put in the work to repair what was lost. The honesty that comes with it. The fact that I am a gay (technically bi, like 85% men 15% women-ish whatever I'm gay I don't do math). These are what I find so compelling about the two.

Geraskefer

All of the above with a healthy dose of tension, confusion, pining, despair, and an ending in which finally, just this once, everyone gets exactly what they want, and it's okay to have it. The healing. The appreciation for one another. All the fear gone and all the love spoken. The bisexual dream. Jaskier is the glue. And I want them to FIGHT over him before they all get together. THE ship that makes me actually think polyamory would be THE best conclusion. They're already family regardless and I will cling to that. It's a main FOUR. Those three are equals in this unit.

I hope that answers things for you! In conclusion, I love all the variations. Generally speaking, I rank them by favorite as geraskier, geraskefer, yennskier, yenralt. The more Jaskier in the relationship, the better.

[kajaono]

I am aware that some fans really are just angry because they care really deeply about book accuracy, but for me this is so weird?!

If I am reading a book and a character is straight and the I watch the movie adaptation and the character comes out as queer there my first reaction would be: „fuck yes! Good for them!“ because for me that wouldn’t change anything apart from giving queer people representation

So why are book fans who want accuracy are angry about that? Because they say it changes the story, book jaskier would never look after guy. But… changing the sexuality of a character doesn’t changes the story a bit. Idk but I have the feeling that those people associate certain character traits with bisexuality and hence say: it doesn’t fit jaskier“ or are afraid it means that a bi character can not end up with their canon book love interest

And that is actually lowkey biphobic. Bi men can still date their canon female love interest. That’s the whole point of bisexuality

And being bisexual isn’t something that defines how you behave. That doesn’t changes a beloved character a single bit. Apart from the fact that now that character enters a bar and now flirts with women and men. Easy as that

[himbo-half-orc]

This Pride season, I thought I'd rec some of my favourite aromantic and asexual witcher fics, as I am aro/ace myself and these bring me joy. Most of these are either Geralt x Jaskier or Lambert x Aiden, as those are my favourite pairings, but there are others on the links to the lists provided.

Aromantic Fics

Always Will Be (T) by @jaskierswolf - Triss and Yen can't quite believe that Geralt and Jaskier aren't dating yet.

Loves Me, Loves Me Not (T) by JamieDragon - Jaskier struggles with the knowledge that Geralt loves him, while he doesn't love Geralt. At least not the way he feels he should. No matter how much he tries.

Just Another Quarantine Fic (Gen) by Jlocked - Jaskier’s classes at Oxenfurt U have been moved online due to the partial lockdown of the Continent. It’s no fun sitting alone in his tiny flat, but his students and his own writing project is keeping him busy. So he really doesn’t need the prorector pushing him to contact the team he’s been assigned to in the University’s newest scheme to improve its academic levels. Especially since he doesn’t know any of the people he’s supposed to be working with.

Changeable (T) by YorkandDelta - Aiden isn't sure if he had only convinced himself that he didn't need a soulmate because his mark was broken, or perhaps his mark merely reflected that something inside him was broken, and had been from the start. Then he meets Lambert, a Wolf Witcher who couldn't care less about soul mark nonsense.

Date Night (T) by @himbo-half-orc - Aiden and Lambert meet again after a few weeks separation. Lambert has made some special preparations, but it takes Aiden a long time to realise that this might in fact be a date.

Just Who I'm Not (M) by @bi-aragorn - 'It felt like everyone else had their lives sorted out to some degree, they had their partners, they had people they fancied- for the gods sake, Jaskier had a new person every week. And Geralt would never, could never begrudge him that. That was just who Jaskier was. And it was just who Geralt wasn’t.'

Aro Lists:

I have written a fair few of my own aromantic witcher fics, found here

The @thepassifloradiscord ran an Aro event recently, and you can read the entries here

Asexual Fics

A Little Human Contact (T) by Quillan42 -Geralt has now been officially divorced for longer than he has been married. Eskel and Lambert celebrate by buying him a session with a professional cuddler named Jaskier. Sometimes a little human contact can change everything

Compromise (T) by @kueble - Jaskier isn't sure his gift for Geralt will be well-received, but he ends up getting a great gift of his own in return.

Taking Care of You (T) by @resident-lambert-hoe - After spending a rather athletic evening with Geralt and Eskel, Jaskier noticed a third witcher lingering at the door. Lambert may not have been there for sex, but Jaskier was determined to take care of him either way.

I Never Knew How Much I Needed You (E) by @jaskierswolf - After years of travelling with Geralt, Jaskier who's given up all hope of finding love, comes to the startling realisation that he's in love with Geralt, but Geralt is worried that not wanting sex will drive Jaskier away. Jaskier is a stubborn bard though and he's determined to make their relationship work in a way that suits both of them.

Just Friends (E) by @himbo-half-orc - Lambert invites his friend Aiden to spend the winter with him at Kaer Morhen. They're just friends, but it takes a while for the rest of Lambert's family to understand.

Dangerous Assumptions (E) by @himbo-half-orc - Geralt assumes he is immune to the effects of sex pollen, after all, he's asexual. What's the worst that could happen?

Ace Lists:

You can find a list of my ace fics here

@thepassifloradiscord ran an Ace week event in 2021, and you can read those fics here

[dapandapod]

You always can

Hello lovelies!

I am back with some more Jaskel! ... Again! And this piece has been finished since April something, and I keep forgetting I didn't post it! So here it is!

Please enjoy some silly (drunk) boys in love!

On Ao3 here

So, here is the thing. Having a roommate is good for so many reasons. You can get away with a bigger space for less money, there is someone else doing the dishes every now and then, and if you are lonely, just go bang on his door, right?

Perfect!

Having a fucking gorgeous roommate, however, is slightly problematic. 

The moment Geralt called him and said he knew someone who needed to rent the other room, Eskel knew he was in trouble. Trouble with big B, B as in Bi disaster, trouble as in Geralt dragging Jaskier's drunk ass home after a seemingly wet night out.

"Not my problem anymore," Geralt gruffs, holding up a Jaskier that is still trying to aim for the keyhole while the door is wide open.

" 'Mmmm not a problem," Jaskier slurs, glaring up at Geralt, and then he is being shoved into Eskel's arms.

Kind of. Almost. He stumbles and grips Eskel's elbow, and that is close enough for Eskel's heart to make a double flip, even if he can smell the booze reeking from Jaskier. Hoo boy, it's going to be one of those nights.

"Geralt, lemme, lemme tell you this, Geralt. It is rude to call people probloms. Ploblam. Rude! Geralt!" Jaskier complains, waving his free arm about and stumbling once again.

It doesn't matter much, because Geralt has already closed the door, and Jaskier absolutely did not notice. Or care. He does that sometimes.

Eskel smiles fondly, and Jaskier lets himself be led towards the couch, still waving his hand around and making all the little offended sounds that he is so good at.

"See, Geralt was complaininging aaaaaalll night. All night! And and and, when I say my heart is hurting, he scoff! So rude!"

Jaskier still glares at the door, but Eskel manages to have him sit down at least. Flop down.

"Gonna take your shoes off?" he asks, curious but terrified about Jaskier's remark about his hurting heart. Who did he fall for now? That prick Valdo sure turned both of their lives upside down before they broke up.

"Nu-uh," Jaskier declines, sinking deeper into the cushions.

"Please take your shoes off?" Eskel asks, and that earns him a pout and a whine.

"You know I can't say no when you say please," Jaskier complains, folding his body over to reach for his shoes.

Eskel does know. He is not-so-secretly thrilled about it, and abuses it whenever he can get away with it.

As Jaskier fights his shoelaces, Eskel goes to fetch him a glass of water and a protein bar. The kind with little dried berries and pieces of chocolate that Jaskier favors, and always has at least five pieces scattered around the house.

There is another pitiful whine when Eskel pours the water, and he returns to see Jaskier slumped over his own knees, hands on the floor and hair in his eyes. So fucking cute.

"Heeeeeelp." Jaskier whines again, not in the least stuck. Probably just gave up or got lazy.

Eskel chuckles and puts the glass and the snack on the little living room table.

"You are such a mess," he teases, kneeling down in front of Jaskier and shoving at his shoulder until he is flopped back against the backrest again.

"So mean. The laces were mean too. Nobody loves me," Jaskier sighs dramatically and his body sags as if he is attempting to become one with the couch.

"People love you, Jaskier," Eskel comforts him, holding back the 'I love you' for all that he can.

"Nu-uh," Jaskier says again, shaking his hair, making it fall into his eyes again. Gods, he is adorable when he is drunk.

Eskel focuses on the oh-so-mean shoe laces, quickly undoing the double knots that Jaskier insists on making.

"Nu-uh," Jaskier sighs again, and doesn't help at all when Eskel tries to make him lift his foot and pull it out of the shoe. "I wish he loved me, but I don't think he does," Jaskier tells the ceiling, and oh no.

Eskel grabs Jaskier's ankle, lifting it to rid them of the offending shoe himself, and yes, now his own heart hurts too.

"Why don't you think that?" Eskel says, despite himself. Self sabotage, Triss once told him it is called, but it is so hard not to.

"Because he is gorg... gor... pretty! So fucking pretty! And kind and clever, and he is so kind! And hot!" Jaskier says, his arms waving around in exasperation, and Eskel is not sure if he is the one Jaskier is talking to anymore.

But at least his legs are still, and Eskel can untie the other shoe fairly quickly.

"So hooooot!" Jaskier wheezes, arms falling to his sides with a little thud. Again, Eskel gets no help with the shoe, so he grabs the ankle and lifts the leg up.

"And sweet! Sometimes he pulls my hair behind my ear when he thinks I'm sleeping!"

Hang on.

"And there was this... was this one time when I actually fell asleep in his lap, and when I woke up I was in bed!"

Wait a minute.

"So strong! Strong strong strong, so many muscles."

No. It can't be.

Because sometimes, when they watch a show too late at night, Jaskier sags against Eskel's shoulder, curling up on the couch and gripping at Eskel's arm.

Sometimes his hair falls over his eyes, and sometimes when it does, Eskel dares to trace a finger over his forehead and tuck the wild strands behind his ears.

And there was that one time when Jaskier insisted on having his hair petted, and fell asleep sprawled over the couch, face resting in Eskel's lap, and Eskel had carried him into his room.

His head had rested heavily onto his shoulder, and when Eskel struggled with the door, he shifted and gripped Eskel's t-shirt, nuzzling into Eskel's neck.

It was very, very hard to let go, and very, very hard to calm down that night.

"But he is like that with everyone," Jaskier whines up to the ceiling again. "I'm not special."

'You are', is at the tip of his tongue. It almost slips past his teeth, his last line of defence, and he stands on his knees in front of Jaskier, helpless.

"I just.. ugh.. I love him, Geralt. I'm so fuckhing in love and I can't, and he is..." Jaskier has reached the stage of emotional drunkenness, and Eskel finds himself gently grabbing Jaskier's calves, rubbing them soothingly.

Another sniffle, and Jaskier rubs angrily at his eyes with his fists.

"I just want Eskel to love me...." Jaskier whispers, and oh no, oh no.

This is not a conversation Eskel wants to have when Jaskier is drunk out of his mind. But his treacherous heart is making kickflips in his chest, and again he finds himself reaching out, grabbing Jaskier's hands that are still rubbing at his eyes, and brings them down.

"Have some water," Eskel croaks, rubbing his thumbs over Jaskier's knuckles. "It will feel better."

"Why don't you love me?" Jaskier whispers, now looking directly at Eskel and fuck, shit, bloody hell and fucketifuck.

"I do. Please drink some water, Jaskier," he murmurs back and Jaskier pouts.

"You know I can't say no when you say please," Jaskier pouts and reaches for the glass. It doesn't seem like Jaskier noticed Eskel's confession at first, but three long gulps later he stills, and abruptly puts down the glass again. "You do?!"

Ah, there it is.

"I do. Want a protein bar? It's your favorite." Eskel is still on his knees, one of his hands still holding one of Jaskier's, and he just... fuck, his hands are shaking, the adrenaline of his own confession running through him, even if Jaskier might not even remember it tomorrow, it is thrilling, terrifying, to have said it out loud.

"I do," Jaskier echoes and accepts the snack handed to him. For a moment, he struggles with the wrapping, and when it finally is open he devours it like a starving man.

While he eats, Eskel's knees have finally had enough, and he awkwardly stands up and carries the shoes over to the shoe rack.

Jaskier is suspiciously silent, but maybe that is a good thing considering he is eating something. When Eskel turns around again, Jaskier's eyelids are drooping and he looks like he is about to pass out.

Bedtime for drunk roommates, he thinks. But Jaskier is smiling, and the way he is watching Eskel approach again has his heart aching.

"You love me?" Jaskier asks again, the rest of his snack forgotten on the cushion next to him.

"I do," Eskel confirms for a second time, again with that rush of adrenaline running through him. To say it out loud, it is terrifying but liberating. "Let's get you to bed."

Immediately, Jaskier's soft smile turns into a sly smirk.

"Is that... is that so?" he slurs, and Eskel has to roll his eyes. "Yes please. Take me to bed!"

It is a struggle, but with some effort, and some neck nuzzling from Jaskier's side, they finally make it to Jaskier's room. It is a mess, as always, and they trip and stumble as they cross the boobytrapped floor towards Jaskier's bed.

"Will you stay?" Jaskier asks, again flopping down into the bed and reaching his arms up in an inviting gesture.

"Not tonight," Eskel says regretfully, because no. If Jaskier regrets it all tomorrow, Eskel does not want to be here.

"Pleaaassseee?" Jaskier pleads, and fuck, ok, maybe Jaskier is not the only one who finds it hard to resist a please.

"Fine. I'll sit here until you fall asleep," Eskel agrees, sitting down on the foot end of the bed and leans back against the wall.

Jaskier makes a happy sound, until he remembers that he is still wearing his jeans and his shirt.

"No. No no no no, this will not do," Jaskier mutters, starting the fight of unbuttoning his jeans. Eskel prays to every deity he knows that Jaskier can deal with it himself, because he is not mentally prepared to undress Jaskier under any circumstance. 

Yet. Hopefully.

Some struggling later and pale, hairy legs are revealed, together with some blue underwear with little stars on it. Like the gentleman he is, Eskel looks away, for now, only to catch a glimpse in the mirror. 

Eventually the shirt is gone too, leaving only a white t-shirt, and Jaskier dives under the covers with a contented sigh.

"You love me," Jaskier mumbles again, and Eskel lights up like a fire inside. "Love love love me. And I love you. Love love love you."

This drunk fucking idiot, morning can't come soon enough.

"I want a good night kiss!" Jaskier exclaims suddenly, and fuck.

"Tomorrow," Eskel says hurriedly, before Jaskier can do more than sit up and look at him excitedly.

"But tomorrow it won't be a good night kiss," Jaskier argues.

"But tomorrow, you will be sober, and can ask me again if you still want it," Eskel tries. Tries so hard.

"I always want to kiss you." He is informed, and that is... not helpful. "But alright." Jaskier flops down again, but forwards, so that his feet are on his pillow and his big eyes are looking up at Eskel.

"You can tuck my hair behind my ear, though," Jaskier says hopefully, and yes, that he can do.

Jaskier falls asleep quickly, and now that he has permission, he does indeed tuck that strand of hair behind his ear. And pet Jaskier's hair, and trace his jaw and the shell of his ear.

Next thing he knows, it is morning.

The sun is trying to shine through the heavy curtains, but the thick fabric wins, leaving the room in a comfortable darkness.

Eskel is laying on his side, his body shaped like an L, his feet sticking out from the side of the bed. Against his stomach he can feel a pressure, and when he looks down he realizes Jaskier has the top of his head pressed up against it.

Right.

Alright.

He is having a small debate with himself, if he should get up and leave before Jaskier wakes up or not, when Jaskier actually wakes up.

He scrunches his nose, groans in a way that sounds a little like a cow giving birth, and almost punches Eskel in the nose when he is about to reach up and scratch his cheek.

Then, all of a sudden, Jaskier opens his eyes wide, realization hitting that he is not alone in bed.

"Oh." Jaskier’s voice is raspy after sleeping and drinking. "Hi."

"Hi," Eskel says back, smiling carefully. "Sorry, it seems like I fell asleep too."

For a few seconds, Jaskier's brain seems to be working very hard, his face making a series of strange expressions until it settles on the same careful smile Eskel is attempting.

"You stayed."

"I did."

"You love me?"

Fuck, wow. Alright.

"I do."

The sounds Jaskier makes is how Eskel imagines a keyboard smash sounds, and then there are fingers carding through Eskel's hair.

"And if I ask for a good morning kiss?"

"After you've brushed your teeth," Eskel says, a little breathless.

Immediately, Jaskier rushes up, grabs his head as he sways a bit  and does that weird cow-groan again, clearly hungover, but rushes to the bathroom.

He is a little unsteady on his feet, and bumps into the door frame. Eskel chuckles, and promptly realizes he should probably brush his teeth too. With just a little more grace, he makes his way out of the messy room, without bumping into the door frame, and joins Jaskier in the bathroom.

It is a little funny how frantically Jaskier is brushing his teeth and putting on deodorant, still in his white t-shirt and starry underwear.

The bathroom is a bit narrow, but he sidles in behind Jaskier, a hand on his hip as he reaches for his own tooth brush.

"Calm down." He smirks, marveling in the little shudder that runs through Jaskier at his touch.

Morning did not settle any kind of nerves, and touching Jaskier like this still has him shaking like a leaf.

Jaskier does calm down a little, and romantically enough shoos Eskel out to use the bathroom. Eskel rinses out his mouth by the kitchen sink, and by the time he is done Jaskier is walking up behind him, reaching out to hold his sides.

Eskel turns slowly in Jaskier's arms, so close their noses are almost touching.

"Now?" Jaskier breathes, his fingers flexing as they grip Eskel's shirt tighter.

"Now," Eskel confirms, finally, finally leaning in and pressing their lips together, hands reaching up to rest on Jaskier's shoulders.

It was only meant to be a peck, a chaste press of the lips, but he lingers. And when he tries to pull back, Jaskier chases his lips with his own, clearly not done yet, and Eskel lets himself be kissed.

It is soft, warm and cold both in the way that toothpaste sometimes feels in your mouth.

For a long while they just stand there, trading kisses back and forth. Slow and lingering, every touch of lips a question and an answer.

When they finally surface for air, Jaskier leans into Eskel's chest and wraps his arms around him in a hug.

"I always wanted to do that," Jaskier mumbles, his mouth pressed into Eskel's shirt.

"You always can," Eskel mumbles back, his lips pressed into Jaskier's hair. They stay like that until their heart rates go back to normal, until their breaths evens out and Eskel's lips stop tingling.

They move apart to make coffee, and for Jaskier to put some damn pants on. When he comes back, Eskel presses him up against the kitchen counter, one hand on his hip and the other tilting Jaskier's face up.

"Please?" Eskel breathes, hovering inches over Jaskier's lips.

"You know I can't say no when you say please."

[buttercups-song]

So I binged blood origin... (spoilers ahead)

Jaskier's new song is chefs kiss 👌👌 (but it's not bear mccreary's which is a shame)

The show was... meh? For me it was really hard to care about any of the characters because there were so many of them and only four episodes.

They introduced a bard whose nickname is the Lark?? Are you kidding me netflix?? Eile was really cool though (and sophia brown is gorgeous) even thought at times she was a bit much (like the speech to the crowd who started singing her song like she's the mockingjay)

Couldn't care less about any of the other characters except the gay dwarf lady with the hammer and michelle yeoh

Especially didn't give a fuck about any of the elves in ye olde cintra

Can't believe that they finally allowed gay people on the continent and jaskier still hasn't kissed any men (also it's really funny that the only queer characters are an evil empire dude who apparently is the antagonist in the games and of course a woman with a dead lover)

Canon bi jaskier tho? (as if it wasn't obvious - the man wrote multiple love/break-up songs about geralt)

Creating the first witcher seemed too easy but it ended rather poorly so maybe they should have spent more than a night making him

The romance... eh insta love and of course she got pregnant after shagging once (also wasn't he already a witcher? And thus infertile?? Am I insane? Did the writers forget that rather important bit of lore?) (also I am so sorry but the scene when he turned into a monster and she brought him back with the power of love... the hulk and natasha and the sun is going down)

It was very obvious that scian didn't betray them and planned the new hope esque pretending to deliver a prisoner plan

I have no idea that the empress lady wanted to achieve. Suddenly everyone was starving and they wanted to find resources on other planes instead of just planting food? She wanted to conquer unknown worlds by sending there like six soldiers?? I get killing your brother who wants to sell you to the highest bidder but i don't know her other motivations.

Also the elves were really just humans with pointy ears? And maybe there is something to say about the fact that they built their empire on dwarven bones and humans did the same with elves but i wish the elves were more... alien? Their architecture, clothes, culture, anything really. They were too similar to humans.

(Is the shitty mage who failed to open the portal shakespeare in the sandman?? it was driving me crazy from the moment he showed up)

The moment any show introduces time travel out of nowhere it goes to shit so good luck to the witcher universe

Also because of how it was shot half of the audience now thinks that jaskier is the person who is descendant from eile and fjall... god knows I want immortal jaskier but it's rather obvious that it's ciri who's supposed to end the song or whatever they were talking about

[djosephqueery]

Art block's still really really bad so I'm not comfortable posting anything I've doodled recently. Instead I'm gonna ramble at whoever will listen about my witcher au headcanons. This is really long, and mostly just word vomit. Sorry not sorry.

Obviously, I've made Steve analogous with Geralt and Eddie Jaskier. I've seen a couple different interpretations on who would be who, but this is what feels most natural to me.

In my head Nancy is closest paralleled by Yen; they share quite a few narrative themes and are both women I am equal parts in love with and terrified of.

I think Robin most closely fits Triss, except in my version of the story she's the one turning down the prospect of a relationship with Steve. She'd also play a much larger role in his life than Triss did in the show (I've only played a little of the games and haven't read the books, so most of my knowledge is show-based).

And then obviously, because this is a Steddie (and ronance, I'm making it happen) au, it has to diverge from the witcher canon at some point because I don't want endgame stancy. Because I do love a healthy amount of angst though, I am going to keep mostly to canon up through the whole debacle on the mountain. Nancy finds out about the djinn wish and leaves Steve, Steve still gets (unrightfully) pissed at Eddie and leaves him there, everyone's in pain it's great.

But Steve and Nancy don't get back together after that. That's the end of their romantic involvement with each other.

Then the romance with Eddie kicks off after steve breaks the bard out of prison. In the time between the mountain and the prison break Steve's had all his realizations about Eddie (and he's a Witcher, so like it's all tinged with this feeling like he shouldn't get involved, would be better for eddie if he wasn't around, etc etc, which is why he stays away for so long). I'm not, however, making Eddie his bi awakening. Steve's not a teenager/young adult in this au. He's been around. He's known this about himself for a long time, but it's just as inconsequential to him as his attraction to women. It's a fact he knows, but doesn't really matter because he's not destined (in his eyes) for that kind of relationship.

I am torn on how to approach the Child Surprise. Part of me wants to scrap that arc completely and come up with something New.

If I do keep it, then I'm torn on Which kid from the show fits Ciri best. El seems like the obvious choice as far as narrative parallels go- powers she doesn't really understand, her whole life being suddenly upturned and there being insane forces at play that want her for some unknown reason- it's all there. But because we don't get any Steve/El interactions in st it's hard for me to fit her into the Geralt/Ciri dynamic.

Dynamic-wise I think the child should be Max. We see Steve take care of her in the show, and they bicker a little but she trusts him and (ultimately) listens to him. He feels responsible for her in a way that we don't see him feel towards El.

So I'm still undecided on that as of yet.

Robin and Nancy getting together is a lot more amorphous due to the minimal Yen/Triss interactions we get onscreen. But there's plenty of opportunity for that while they're both at Aretuza after Sodden. Nancy having lost her powers, Robin dealing with her own wounds that won't heal, tons of opportunity for bonding over shared trauma and finding a way Forward.

Does Nancy still get tangled up with the Deathless Mother trying to get her magic back? in this au with Robin there with her, would she help? Would this create a divide between Steve and Robin (for a time only, it would Resolve. I'm a stobin lover first and foremost)? So many unanswered questions.

[mrskillingjoke]

So I rewatched a few Bud Spencer and Terence Hill movies and found something out:

They have literally the same vibe and Energy and Character than geralt and Jaskier in the Witcher series.

Terence Hill and Jaskier are both charmingful Womanizer who are definitly bi. Both are excited and talking a lot and following a grumpy looking guy, who just talks with *grunts* and *grumble*, Like little puppys. And geralt and Bud Spencer are Just annoyed of them and want to go alone but at least they care so much about them and don't want to let them hurt.

And I Love this Kind of relationship so much!

So my friends I have to say: I ship it 😅

[pherryt]

shipping ask game: Destiel, SamxRowena, JaskierxGeraltxYennifer

OH! A 3 in 1 - very nice! thank you! :D

Firstly - I think my AO3 proves definitively that I avidly ship Destiel :D I do low key ship Sam and Rowena (though they are not my favorite Sam ship) and I do love me some Geraskefer as well :D (Season 2 definitely helped with that)

Destiel:

What made you ship it?

Tumblr opened my eyes to it, but once I saw it, I couldn't stop seeing it.

What are your favorite things about the ship?

So much angst but so much loyalty too. So much genuine feeling. There's so much to play with, as a writer. I find it's hard to pin these things down because some of it boils dow to I just love the characters so much, so I want them to be together and be happy.

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

Hmm… if i do hold one, it is not one that i've been made aware of being unpopular. Maybe their sexualities? I think of Dean as bi (and i had a follower once who very much did not agree) and Cas as ace (which i've been questioned about, because the reader couldn't see that working, but it didn't really come off to me as they didn't like it, more that they couldn't understand).

SamxRowena:

What made you ship it?

I think it's the way they understand each other in ways other people just can't.

What are your favorite things about the ship?

I mean - exactly the same reason that made me ship it. But i guess the potential for the two of them to get up to shenanigans :D

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

I think in this case, just liking the ship might be mildly unpopular? not necessarily because there's hate for it, but it's a rare pair for sure (508 fics if i did the search right) But I have never hesitated to dive into a rare pair just because it intrigued me.

JaskierxGeraltxYennifer:

What made you ship it?

the bickering/bantering ALL of them have going on, but then sometimes you can SEE how soft they can be for each other/how much they actually care. I don't think i would have gotten the same jaskier/yenn out of the books as we got for yen/geralt and geralt/jask, but season 2 more than made up for that. And I'm more than okay with blending canons :D

What are your favorite things about the ship?

i really am finding the more i look at these questions that I very much can use the same answers between this and the reason for WHY lol. But seriously, the banter/bicker between them all but especially jaskier and yenn is just so fun with exasperated (and sometimes confused) Geralt just along for the ride once he figures out they don't actually hate each other.

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

Hmmm... Honestly, again, I find myself coming up blank? I know there are folks out there that don't like Yenn, so would not like this ship, or folks that don't think Geralt deserves to get Yenn OR Jaskier back and there's no way for him to ever apologize to either of them. That his actions are unforgivable. But i don't believe it's that absolute. it could be fun to explore in fic, but I'm much happier with an all of them happy end game.

Honestly, i think i'm finding myself pretty lucky not being able to come up with 'unpopular' headcanons - guess I've avoided a lot of drama :D

For this game (and please ignore the typos. keyboard is still acting up)

[jaskiersvalley]

Cookie Cutter Boyfriends

The bakery wasn't new to the area but Jaskier was constantly surprised by the variety of people who came and went. There were a couple of regulars but fewer than he'd anticipated. Some people he wished would come back, others he was glad to see go. However, the two beefcakes that just walked in, Jaskier prayed to any listening deity that they would be back repeatedly.

"What can I get you gents?" Jaskier asked with his most winning smile.

Eyes like molten honey scanned the selection and Jaskier wanted to tuck the strands of white hair behind the man's ear to see his face better.

"Cookies. The personalised ones."

"A fine choice," Jaskier trilled and pulled the tray out. "I can put any name or message on there for you. Even a phone number, if you want to give it to a special someone."

So maybe Jaskier was flirting and hoping for a number from the man for himself. But it seemed to fall on deaf ears.

"Write Eskel on one," the man said, carefully spelling out the name while the other smiled at him indulgently. It had Jaskier's heart fluttering at the sweetness.

"And what shall I put on yours?"

"You should put a heart on either side of Geralt's name," Eskel piped up with a snicker. He got an elbow in the ribs for it but didn't seem to mind.

Obliging, Jaskier did as told, curling the most perfect hearts he could onto the cookie. Done, he popped them in a box and put them on the counter by the till. "Anything else I can do for you today? Does your, uh, friend want anything?"

Geralt's eyes widened before saying, "He's my boyfriend."

Of course he was, the two looked beautiful together and Jaskier sighed internally. However, he couldn't help but note the look horror on Eskel's face. Hopefully he hadn't accidentally helped Geralt out himself and his boyfriend when they were trying to keep things a secret.

"Well, good for you both!" Jaskier mustered up a smile and nodded at the small rainbow flags by the till. "I sometimes do flag cookies if the mood strikes. Usually on a Friday."

The transaction was processed in silence and at speeds. Jaskier could only watch as the two bundled out of his bakery and, as soon as the door closed behind them, Eskel was asking Geralt something, face torn between despair and entertainment. If Jaskier could trust his lip reading, he could have sworn Geralt had said something along the lines of "I panicked, okay?".

Somehow, Geralt and Eskel became semi-regulars. They didn't pop in on a specific day each week but they were bound to appear either independently or with each other. Each time they did, Jaskier watched them with heart eyes. Eskel was broad, almost apologetically large but kind and gentle. He was quite the sight to behold but Jaskier had an even softer spot for Geralt who really looked like he needed to relax. So, whenever he came by alone, Jaskier slipped an extra cookie in his bag or asked him to be a taster for a newer cupcake flavour.

It was all going well until Geralt came into the bakery with someone new. Another well-built, handsome man but with a sharp edge to his energy. He made a beeline for the display case by the till.

"Please don't knock on the glass, it scares the muffins," Jaskier said by way of greeting and got a bark of a laugh.

"I'll be careful, don't you worry. It's Geralt you need to keep an eye on."

Which Jaskier diligently was. Well, he was checking out Geralt's backside. Tearing his gaze away, he cleared his throat.

"I'm glad Geralt has brought a friend along today."

"Friend?" The man stood up straight with a hand over his heart. "Geralt, what have you been telling people? I'm his boyfriend!"

Which just didn't compute. Geralt had called Eskel his boyfriend. The mild panic of figuring it out was interrupted by a low growl of "Lambert" that was both a threat and fond exasperation.

"What might people think?" Lambert cried out dramatically. "Are you ashamed of our love?"

A hand clamped on the back of Lambert's neck and Geralt stood next to him, not letting go. "Jaskier, a couple of dark chocolate and ginger cookies please and a tray of lemon muffins."

Hastily putting everything in boxes, Jaskier tried not to let his imagination go too wild. Maybe Eskel was Geralt's boyfriend but so was Lambert. It wasn't unheard of really. It gave hope to Jaskier that they might take a liking to him and invite him home for a wild night. He could only watch as they walked out and the first thing Geralt did was cuff Lambert on the back of the head.

Things only got more weird. The next time Geralt was in, he was trailed by another man. Lithe, seemingly on the edge of bursting out giggling and he made a beeline for the counter.

"You're Jaskier, right?" The man held a hand out. "I've heard so much about you! I'm Aiden, Geralt's boyfriend."

Face schooled into something carefully blank, Jaskier nodded. "A pleasure to meet you."

"I think the pleasure is all mine." The wink was followed by a blatant once over and a low whistle. In the background Geralt closed his eyes, jaw twitching as he visibly counted backwards from ten. This time Aiden was the one who asked for a dozen cookies with an array of pride flags on them, two of each, pan, bi, ace, nonbinary, trans and demi. Oddly, the polyamory one Jaskier had started making since meeting Geralt and his boyfriends was left unrequested. The two left and Jaskier rubbed at his temple, trying to figure out just how four incredibly attractive men had found happiness with each other.

Only a week later Jaskier was waiting for a customer to make up his mind. He was the most silently intense man Jaskier had ever encountered and he really wished he'd hurry up and leave. Alas, he was taking so long, looking over everything in the display cases like the choice was of the utmost importance.

"I'll take two cherry and almond slices."

Cutting said cake, Jaskier was relieved and hoped that once the man had gone, he'd not be back again. The sound of the bell above the door had him looking up and Geralt stood there, alone for once. However, he eyed the man by the counter with a closed off expression which remained as the man took his slices and walked past Geralt, shoulders brushing.

"Geralt.

"Cahir."

It was awkward and Jaskier tried not to pry. But curiosity won out. "Another boyfriend."

From the door Cahir laughed. "He wishes."

For a moment Geralt stared at the ground before squaring his shoulders. "They're not my boyfriend. They're dating Eskel."

Immediately Jaskier adjusted his internal monologue to reflect the new pronouns. Though what Geralt just said made no difference.

"Are they a paramour to your polycule?"

"No." Geralt shook his head firmly. "Cahir and Eskel are a couple. So are Lambert and Aiden."

Not understanding, Jaskier wet his lips and cast a glance around. His eyes landed on a familiar group on the sidewalk outside the shop, making no attempt to disguise the fact they were all watching. Cahir and Eskel were leaning shoulder to shoulder as they munched on their cake. Meanwhile Lambert leered and Aiden sent him a thumbs up.

"I'm not sure I understand," Jaskier said. "I thought you said they were all your boyfriends."

Feet shuffling on the spot, Geralt cleared his throat. "Lambert and Eskel are my brothers." Which made even less sense and Jaaskier hummed, desperately trying to understand without asking whether Geralt really just admit to being in an incestuous relationship.

"I'm not dating any of them."

But you said-"

"I panicked." Geralt was watching Jaskier intently. "You were cute, flirty and I panicked. I wanted to ask you out."

A giggle bubbled out of Jaskier. He couldn't quite wrap his head around it but that wasn't a problem in the moment.

"Well then, how about a personalised cookie, on the house?" He grabbed Geralt's favourite and, with a flourish, wrote his own name and number on it, dotting the 'i' with a heart. Handing it over, he smiled. "I told you these cookies were great for phone numbers."

Outside a cheer went up as Geralt's family decided that the outing had been a success.

[bald-queen-geralt]

The Witcher Netflix Season 2 Spoilers!

Some things I just need to get out of me:

• I disliked most of it if you ask me as a Witcher Fan. It not canon, not at all. They did so many things wrong or executed them the wrong way or idk.. only like one or two thirds were based on the books, which is really a shame since the books already have a very good, compact story and wouldn't need big changes to make it into a good series.

• if you ask me as a person who knows nothing about Witcher lore, it was a good season. The cinematic aspect was phenomenal, the acting was on spot and the story line was okay (a bit shaky tho)

• also Joeys new songs slap so hard omfg espacially Burn, Butcher, Burn and Whoreson Prison Blues are so good.. he also got more Dandelion the episode (which I love)

• I also really loved Cöen, Lambchop (so cute) and Vesemir.. they were all executed very well and I basically fell in love with them all over again

•Eskel tho? Ohhohoho we really need to talk about my boi beCAUSE WTF DID THEY DO TO HIM??? why him?? why not one of the 15 other (mostly nameless witchers) who died in the end anyways???

• also his character?? Like wtf that was not him at all. He was like the politest witcher soul ever in the books, a total sweetheart with a big scar in his face, scary, scruffy looks and an ugly voice.. this bitch tho? Not Eskel. Nah, won't accept it.

• New headcanon: Eskels still alive somewhere out there

• btw witchers.. what went wrong with the contact lenses? Did they spend all their bdget on Rience's one eye? Or on Yenns ugly ass unrealistic lookin violet ones? Love that Cöen had two different eyes but the rest.. only one with special eyes was Geralt

•apropro special.. wtf was that with the bruxa in the beginning? Since when can they fly? Right, never, they also don't have a bat form or can move round like that thing did

• Okay but back to the boys.. oha emotional rollercoaster omfg. Why were there 20 witchers? They were supposed to be like 5 at max.. also why make them if kill them in the end anyways??

• killing btw, I wouldn't have blamed Vesimir for killing Ciri.. he lost his sons, she or, better, Baba Yaga killed them.. it would have been the lesser evil to kill Ciri if it would have killed Baba Yaga too (also the show is a shitsshow this or that way, wouldn't have been surprised if smt like that happened)

• apropros killing his sons.. Vesemir was left broken by Eskels death. And Geralt? Supposedly best friend and closest brother of Eskel? He KILLED him and wasn't even half as sad as the rest of his brothers.. he killed his damn horse which he changes like dirty underclothes and was sadder about it than killing his own brother. He didn't even give Vesemir the time to mourn or say his last goodbyes.. "the wolfs are coming" stfu u stupid worthless excuse of a brother, u know what, you didn't deserve Eskel

• also ppl saying "oh he was such a good father" like no??? In the first half of the season he was literally a dudebro to Ciri, not a father.. even in the end he still called her Cirila wtf

•okay okay goddamn I'm angry but enough bout the boys... Jaskier, Cöen, Lambert and Vesemir, y'all have my love.. oh and I really dislike Triss because she's a pick me and toxic in general (based on the series, books and games; same as Yennefer) but I really liked her cute grandfather-granddaughter relationship she had with Vesemir (like in the books yk)

• ok so finally smt else than the bois

• fuck streggobor. Won't elaborate why, should be clear as daylight, if not wtf is wrong with you

• kinda besides the point but also like why tf did they make all the bad guys so hot? Like.. Vilgefortz, Rience, Dijkstra.. omfg Philippa, my bi hearts exploding

• all my love to Cöen, Vesemir, Jaskier and Lambert, thanks for caring the season my kings

• also liked/loved Ciri, Filavandrel, Cahir to a certain point and Istreed wasn't bad either.. am I missing smb?

• oh also liked Djikstra and Philippa.. both are characters that you dislike so much you start to like them again.. mostly bc of their sarcasm and general attitude

• kinda paniced when they were about to execute Cahir ngl.. like wouldn't put it behind them to ruin the Hansa as well

• which, speaking of, I am SO SCARED of what will happen to them because technically, if the books count anyhow, they will be introduced in the next season

• omfg if they ruin Regis, if they ruin my poor old sweet humanistic vampire man, I'll idk what I will do but it won't be good

• but lets face it, everything Netflix did to the witcher is not Canon, at least not as a whole.. it can be could as a meh executed fanfiction but not as canon lore, thanks

• anything else?

• oh I HATE HATE HATE what they did to Eskel, did I already mention this?

• like wtf wolf witcher bros, ya most polite and quite brother makes a 180 degree character turn and you won't even notice?

• because its sure as hell not like insecure little bitch, scar faced, ugly voice ass eskel to bring whores to Kaer Morhen

• or to just punsh Geralt in the face??? ( I mean same but still)

• gosh I am still angry and I watched this like 12 hours ago

• okay okay now, fr anything else?

• the baba yaga story was kinda cool but not totally fitting and not really needed

• OH ALSO WTF I WANTED AN OLD EMHYR NOT THAT YOUNG MF AGAIN

• btw love Cöens smallpox scars

• I think I'm done.. for now

• oh wait, I also dislike muscular abs bard but its kinda funny that he's just as buff as Geralt in that ugly ass muscle armour

• ohhh btw love that they included Yarpen, thought they forgot him and almost lost my faith :)

• but again also mad aF bc of Eskel but this time because of that stupid as funeral.. like at least burn him, like a grand witcher should be treated and don't let the wolfs feast on him? What was he, dog food or a monster slayer? Wheres your respect to traditions Netflix? Traditions Sapkowski obviously choose for a reason because they excist in our world too

• oh holy melitele I hope to idk who that Sapkowski won't watch this

• apropro Melitele, loved Neneke too, ma old sweet, badass lady

• guess thats it for real now.. might do another post if I can think about more things I dislike

Thanks for coming to my ted talk :)

[cinebration]

There Are No Monsters Here (Geralt of Rivia x Reader) [One-shot]

Premise: Jaskier brings back something more than food and drink.

Happy holidays!

Tagged: @bichibibi​

Warnings: none

Gif Source: bi-jaskier

“Everyone loves gifts, Geralt!”

Geralt grunted in disagreement, avoiding Jaskier’s stunned expression. He focused on removing the tack and saddle from Roach.

“Of course you’d hate gifts,” Jaskier muttered.

“I don’t hate them. I hate what comes with them.”

“Oh, yeah? And what’s that?”

“Social…shit.”

“Well, lucky for you, your social life is shit, so no need to worry about gifts.”

Geralt nodded, though his lips curled into a sneer. Throwing his hands up into the air, Jaskier stomped away, muttering to himself about the witcher’s stubbornness.

Trying to immerse himself in his task, Geralt wiped Roach down and groomed her, giving her the rest she deserved. Her kind eyes met his, seeming to look into his soul.

“Don’t start,” he grumbled.

The horse whinnied.

Geralt heaved a sigh and let her loose to graze the grass in the clearing. He would have continued on to the village if not for the fact he was not welcome there, as he saw it. Some years before, he had taken care of a wyvern nearby, but not before it had killed one of the young men that had insisted on accompanying him. The paltry sum he had been given reflected not only the village’s poverty but the animosity of its people when he returned with the young man’s broken body.

Hoping that Jaskier wouldn’t be too distracted by women and poetry, Geralt gathered together wood for a fire and set up camp.

He tried not to brood on things he’d rather avoid.

The moon hung high in the sky before Geralt’s keen hearing picked up Jaskier’s voice. Instead of singing or humming, as the bard was prone to do, he was talking.

To someone else.

Geralt tensed, anger coursing through him. Leave it to that feckless bard to bring someone with him when Geralt had sent him merely for vittles. He listened hard, picking up the tread of Jaskier’s companion. By its lightness, he figured it was a woman, had it confirmed by your voice answering Jaskier quietly.

Growling to himself, Geralt waited impatiently for Jaskier and company to arrive.

“Geralt!” Jaskier waved his arms wide, revealing a sack hanging from one hand.

At least he had remembered food and drink.

“Look who I’ve brought.”

Geralt flicked his gaze in your direction. The firelight softened your features, made you strangely alluring. Resisting that association, the witcher blinked at you before fixing his gaze on the bard.

“I can get my own women, Jaskier,” he growled.

A blush spread across your cheeks.

“You misunderstand,” Jaskier clarified hastily, approaching Geralt. “This young woman is from the village. When she heard I was with you, she asked to accompany me back.”

You nodded. “I wanted to thank you.”

Geralt blinked, then blinked again, a small furrow appearing in his brow. “What?”

“Two years ago you came here and killed a wyvern for us.”

Unease slithered through his guts. “I did my job.”

“And we paid you poorly for it.”

He grunted, cast Jaskier a sharp glance. The bard stepped back, held up his hands.

“Uh, maybe you should get back,” Jaskier muttered to you, trying his best to smile. He moved toward you, tried to steer you away.

Stepping out of his reach, you continued, “My brother was the one who died.”

Geralt stiffened. Boring your eyes into his, you stepped forward, no longer blushing or timid. He stood his ground, though he found it difficult to look into your face. He couldn’t read the expression there. Was it murderous intent? The cold, flat look of resignation and cold hatred, more dangerous than the red-hot kind?

“It wasn’t your fault.”

Geralt frowned, his mind stuttering. “What?”

“It wasn’t your fault,” you repeated. “We treated you like it was, but…but someone was bound to get hurt. We should have just let you do your job. Alone. Like you wanted.”

Geralt tore his gaze away, glanced helplessly at Jaskier. The bard turned aside, facing his back to the witcher in an attempt at privacy.

“He was reckless,” you continued, speaking more to yourself than to Geralt. “He would have hurt himself sooner or later. If you hadn’t come along, the wyvern would’ve gotten him and a dozen of his friends eventually.”

The fire popped and hissed, sending up sparks to the night sky.

“So thank you, and I’m sorry,” you said. “It wasn’t your fault, but I forgive you.”

Geralt tried to unstuck his tongue from the roof of his mouth. The feeling in his chest, slowly constricting his heart, felt alien, unwanted. He stared down into your soft eyes and your sincere expression.

You reached out and grabbed his hand, gently squeezed. The action sent a sharp sensation up his arm, like he had been struck by something.

Kindness. Compassion.

Forgiveness.

Letting go, you stepped back from him, curtsied, and then smiled at Jaskier. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

The bard nodded, his smile lopsided and slightly strained as he shifted his gaze from you to Geralt. Casting one last glance at Geralt, you started the trek back to your village.

“Wait.” Geralt’s rough voice pierced the silence with all the clarity of a rung bell.

You stopped, glanced back.

“It isn’t safe to walk alone,” he managed to say, his voice thick.

“I can find my way back, Witcher,” you assured him. You paused, stared hard at him. “There are no monsters here.”

Geralt felt the wind knock out of him. You melted into the darkness, your footsteps fading out of his hearing soon after. The silence of the forest, punctuated only by the insect and night life, returned.

Jaskier cleared his throat and set out the food, eyeing Geralt out of the corner of his vision. The witcher stood rooted to the spot, staring after you.

“A coin for your thoughts?” he finally asked.

Geralt turned woodenly to him, sat down by the fire. Taking the meal from Jaskier’s hands, he shoved food into his mouth, eating without tasting, gathering up strength despite his lack of appetite.

Only when he finished, Jaskier eating daintily across from him, did he mutter, “Thanks.”

Jaskier blinked. “For what?”

“For the gift.”

Jaskier understood immediately. “See? I told you everyone likes gifts.”

Geralt sneered, but only because the bard was right.

[comfyswitcherblanketfort]

Gentle

number 3 on the poll was ‘the softest yennskier smut i can muster’ and y’all i don’t know that i’ve ever written softer smut? idk, y’all be the judge of that

shoutout to @geraltrogerericduhautebellegarde for betaing this fic for me and being lovely and encouraging 💖

Warnings: well its smut, fwb to lovers, yen is scared of vulnerability and getting burned, penetrative sex, oral sex, m/f but don’t y’all think for a second these two aren’t bi as fuck. i don’t wanna hear any of that ‘but its a straight ship comfy!!!’ from anyone. understand? good.

______________________

“Bard, don’t start with me tonight.”

“Too late,” Jaskier hummed, looking up at her from where he was sprawled on the bed. He was, admittedly, a rather pleasing sight. His chest covered in a thick layer of hair and his legs long and lean. He looked like something one would paint. And he was lying on her bed, nearly naked, looking at her with a coy smile that held... too much. 

Yennefer didn’t often think things were too anything- painful, expensive, annoying- but this man was too sincere in everything he did, including wooing her. He called it wooing. She called it ‘following me around like an orphan pup’. 

Either way she’d already partially given in. She thought she was firm in her boundaries though, repeatedly claiming they were just fucking. This was just revenge and fun. She would not fall for anyone, especially not after the way all of her past relationships had ended in disaster.

She settled into her nighttime routine, taking out her earrings and wiping away her lipstick at the borrowed -not stolen- vanity across from the bed in the borrowed -not stolen- master suite she’d been staying in, “I am not one for love. Don’t get your hopes up.”

“You’re almost as much of a hopeless romantic as me,” Jaskier laughed, rolling so he was sitting at the end of the bed facing her.

She could see him in the mirror over her shoulder but resolutely ignored him. There was a long stretch of silence where he watched her take away all the different things she adorned herself with. From eyeliner to jewelry to the way she curled her hair, it was a very carefully constructed facade and she feared he may have seen through it. 

As she stood, he reached out and caught her hand, tugging her to stand in front of him. She raised an eyebrow, expecting a remark about her body, maybe even something about a strip tease before bed. But the bard continually surprised her.

“What’s wrong with a little vulnerability?”

She sighed and pulled her hand back, crossing her arms over her dressing gown and rocking back on her heels, “Do we need to do this right now?” 

Jaskier stood, so close that she could feel the warmth radiating off him, but he kept his hands to himself as much as she could see he wanted to touch her, “You don’t want to know someone? To let them take care of you for once?”

“No.” Her stare was resolute but her voice wavered, even on such a small word.

“Why not?”

She pursed her lips and held back the immediate insult she’d thought. He deserved an answer if she really was going to let him stay, and she knew she would. Whatever the reason, she found she didn’t want to be without him anymore.

“It hurts,” she whispered, hoping he would understand and let her be. Or better yet distract her. 

He ran his hand down her arm, fingertips dancing across her skin and leaving goosebumps in their wake. He said nothing, just watched and waited, completely open and patient and infuriating in his persistence. She could easily go for the kill, both metaphorically and literally, but she knew she wouldn’t. This was the first person in decades who had bothered with her. She didn’t count Geralt anymore. There was so much magic and Destiny and manipulation tangled up in their relationship that she’d lost track of any sincerity. 

No, the bard was genuine. He didn’t have any other motive but to love her. And the thought terrified her. 

She shook her head and looked at the ground, “You don’t understand. I haven’t… I’ve never had a love that ended well.”

Jaskier smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear, “Only the shitty ones do.”

A puff of air left her before she could conceal her amusement.

“You don’t have to be scared. I want to be gentle with you. In every way. I want you to know what it’s like to be taken care of,” Jaskier’s whisper spoke directly to the part of her she’d kept locked away for far too long. The part of her that yearned to be held for nothing other than lying close; that wanted sweet nothings and breathless kisses and actual lovemaking, not just goal oriented sex. 

Her tongue worked of its own accord, used to acting only in defense, “How many times have you used that line?” 

A moment of hurt flashed over Jaskier’s face before those big blue eyes were framed with a kind of sadness only someone who’d known the sting of neglect could understand, “Not once.” 

She searched his eyes for something, anything that she could use to push him away, but found nothing. For once her choice was simple; take what is freely and sincerely offered, or continue on miserable and alone. 

For once, she took a risk. 

Yennefer draped her arms over his shoulders, tilting her chin up to level him with what she hoped was the pleading expression she was going for, “Just don’t lie to me.” 

Jaskier pressed their foreheads together and rested his hands on her hips, “I won’t.” 

It had been a lifetime since Yennefer had believed someone like she believed Jaskier and it settled achingly into the pit of her stomach. She leaned in and stood on her tiptoes, brushing their lips together as she took a shaky breath in. 

When they finally kissed it was… calm. There was no unquenchable fire sparking in her belly, no stirring need to cling to him as if she’d never see him again. They were simply together, and the realization made her giggle.

Jaskier rested a hand at her jaw, brushing his thumb over her cheek as he nervously chuckled along, “What?”

She bit her lip and stared up at him through her lashes, running her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck, “It’s nothing…”

“Hmm, doesn’t seem like nothing,” Jaskier’s tone was light as he sat back onto the bed, pulling her to straddle his hips, “What’s so funny?”

“S’not funny,” she sighed, pausing to kiss him again, feeling the same sense of calm, “Just... nice.”

“Just nice?” Jaskier was beaming up at her as he held her close to him, “I think I can do better than nice.”

She raised her eyebrows and grinned, brushing his fringe out of his eyes, “It wasn’t a challenge.”

He tilted his head back and forth and scrunched his nose as if to argue before laying back on the bed and pulling her with him. She braced herself on her elbows, one on each side of his head, as he trailed his hands up and down her sides. 

This kiss was different.

This kiss set her whole body on fire, not the desperate kind that made her frantic, but a slow, hot-burning flame that she wanted to sink into and let consume her. 

Jaskier clutched her to him as he rolled them over, gently brushing her hair out of her face and placing feather light kisses over her cheeks, eyes, brow, chin, everywhere he could reach. She sighed when he finally kissed her lips, tangling her fingers in his hair and pulling. 

Jaksier chuckled, “Mmm, greedy? Impatient?”

“Whichever you like,” Yennefer gasped, not quite slipping the teasing tone in with her words, distracted as he sucked a dark red mark right behind her ear. She tugged at the hem of his smalls and he quickly kicked them off, giving her a pointed look. 

“You promised better than nice,” she countered, giving a small shrug as he hovered over her again.

He hummed as he moved down her neck, chest, and finally made it to her silk robe, “Shall we get rid of this? Don’t- Don’t do it yourself,” he grabbed her hands and pinned them by her head, not with much force but she still felt a heat pool in her core, “I want to.”

She nodded and stared at him in awe as he carefully untied the delicate silk belt and softly, oh so fucking softly, brushed the material over her shoulder. The cool slide on her skin sent shivers down her spine and his warm, calloused fingers were a delicious contrast. 

He skipped her breasts completely, kissing a trail down over her stomach, leaving a small circle of delicate kisses around her navel as he held her hips almost reverently. Unlike his normally teasing habits, he wasted no time in freeing her from her simple lingerie, holding her thighs where he wanted and leaving more kisses along the inside of her knee. Every now and then his fringe would brush over the delicate skin and Yennefer would gasp, reaching for him, any part of him, as if it would ground her and dull the feeling of lightning traveling beneath her skin to a manageable shock. Even when she got her hand in his hair, it didn’t change how she gasped when his tongue tickled the crease of her hips or how she shivered when he nosed along the soft curls between her legs. 

“J-Julian,” She keened, then bit her lip and stared at the ceiling in mute horror. She remembered vividly when he’d shouted at several different people for using that name, for pretending to know him well enough. 

He licked up her folds, making sure to look her in the eyes as he spoke, “Say it again.”

Her breath hitched when he spread her apart and flicked his tongue over her clit, it was no trouble at all to let out a needy sigh of his name over and over again. 

When she tensed her thighs, he held them open, and when her hands curled into fists in his hair, he only groaned. He worked slowly, and any other time she would be annoyed at his pace, but this time she relaxed and let him take care of her. Let him delicately stretch her until he felt she was ready as his free hand stroked any bit of soft bare skin he could reach. 

“Julian, please,” she begged, and for once it wasn’t performative. She needed him. Needed him so acutely she wasn’t entirely sure what she’d do if she couldn’t have him in her immediately. 

He rested his forehead on her hip, breathing heavy as he slowly circled her clit with his thumb, “Tell me what you want.”

“You know,” she whined, clenching around his fingers. She’d deny it in the morning, but she whined. It almost startled her when she realised that, like this, she was completely at his disposal and she didn’t mind one bit. Anything he said she would agree to, anything he did, she would follow his lead. 

He crawled up her body, leaving kisses in his wake, her skin on fire wherever they touched, “Let me hear it?"

“I need you, all of you. Please?”

Jaskier’s breath came out shaky before he kissed her, “You’ll have everything I am,” he whispered.

For a moment she wondered if she was supposed to hear his words. They sounded almost like a confession, so softly spoken that it was almost impossible to tell he’d said anything at all. But she was quickly distracted by his tongue on her lips as they kissed and his cock sliding through her slick folds. She moaned softly, her hands sweeping up his chest to cup his jaw and hold him close. 

Nothing else mattered. Not their troubles, not their heartbreak, not the politics they’d found themselves in the middle of. The other person was all they had the consciousness for and they completely consumed each other. 

Jaskier finally broke away gasping and adjusted so the head of his cock was positioned at her entrance. He looked into her eyes and before he could ask, she breathed a soft “yes” and kissed his nose. Their foreheads rested together as he slowly pushed in, blue eyes locked with violet as they both gasped and hissed. Neither of them moaned wantonly like before, neither of them put on a show, and certainly no one grunted in frustration. They moved in a gentle rhythm together, each taking the time to really feel the other and hold them close. 

For the first time in such a long time, Yennefer was content.

She didn’t realize she’d squeezed her eyes shut until Jaskier kissed her again, probably several minutes later, and whispered, “Look at me.”

He looked at her like she was his only guide, only anchor keeping him in this world. There was a light sheen of sweat on his forehead and his cheeks were as rosy as his kiss-swollen lips and Yennefer wished she could capture the image forever. She thought of painting him again, if only she could paint worth shit.  

He kissed her again and breathed, “close,” as he picked up his pace. She nodded, wrapping one leg around his hips and reaching between them to circle her clit as he thrust. 

She came first with a gasp and soft “oh” as she did her best to keep her eyes on him, let alone open. She truly didn’t remember the last time she was so quiet when she orgasmed, or the last time she caressed her lover instead of digging her nails into their back. Her body shivered, but it wasn’t earth shattering. Nothing about it would be memorable aside from the way he looked at her. 

The adoration and unbridled passion behind his gaze would haunt her forever. Only time would tell if she’d be glad to see his ghost. 

She wrapped her other leg around him as the fog began to lift, leaving her just on the pleasant side of over-sensitive. Jaskier buried his face in her neck as she smoothed her hands over his back, trailing her fingers down his spine and turning to kiss his temple. She cradled his head to her as he came, body shaking as he whispered her name like a prayer. 

Her hands roamed his body, reveling in the softness of his skin and the power held in his frame as she gently soothed any tightness in his muscles. After a while she settled to carding her fingers through his hair as he rested his cheek on her collarbone. He’d slipped out as he softened, but they laid still, Yen enjoying the comforting weight while Jaskier recovered. 

“Are you alright?” she whispered her question, tucking her chin in to try to get a look at his face. 

He just hummed and nodded, turning his head to face her with a dreamy smile.

A bright smile spread across her features and she kissed his forehead, “Do I get to call you Julian now?”

One of his arms snaked up under her back as he snuggled in closer, “Only you.”

Yennefer paused, holding her breath as she debated whether what she thought was worth saying.

“Spit it out, love,” Jaskier spoke through a yawn.

She let out a breathy laugh and wrapped her arms around his shoulders before she whispered, “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Wanting to… to take care of me.”

[abluescarfonwaston]

The wolves all go out of there way to bring home a few books every winter. Just whatever they can find and fit in their bags. They won't ever be able to replace the library they lost during the sacking but the slowly growing collection does give then something else to do during the long winter nights.

It also becomes a bit of a competition- as it always does between them - to bring the best book, the book with the most interesting story of how they acquired it, and the most Valuable book (the definition of which changes every year).

Lambert makes it his goal every year to bring the most indecent romance novels he can. I'm talking novels labeled Erotic. I'm talking Porn with just enough plot to get published. Sometimes the others will try to one up him by bringing something even steamier. No one has ever beaten Lambert though.

Much to Vesemir horror the new library is a majority erotic novels (which they do try to hide from Ciri when she arrives).

One year Lambert brings home a story about a wandering knight and his faithful squire. He likes to read excepts to the wolves to get back at them for insulting his cooking, ripping the fancy blanket he won last year, beating him at qwent. Any opportunity really.

And the first few chapters are them going to brothels and wooing ladies. the standard stuff.

But then. Then they start sharing beds and brothels and the other partners just. fall away and they're Only with each other.

Lambert LOVES reading this to Geralt especially cause it can Actually make Geralt blush and run from the room. He's NEVER managed that with Geralt. Fuck YEAH.

And Geralts Dying. Because he recognized the prose during the First Chapter. and the pen name the writer used.

Dandelion.

Jaskier had written a gay romance novel about the two of them. Chocked full of the squires effusive praise for the ‘knight’.

And then one day Lambert stops reading it. Seems even shorter than normal with everyone.

"Lambert you wanna stop being a prick and read your dumb gay romance novel to us? Promise to only throw food at you this time." Eskel said.

"No. that was a shitty Fucking book and I hate it."

"Oh did the gays die again? Lambert you know they won't get published if they have a happy ending. Just rip the last pages out like always."

"No! The knight went and rode off into he Fucking sunset with that damn princess! Left the squire behind without a Fucking word!!!! I hate that Fucking knight and wanna rip his Fucking dick off!"

"Oh. Huh. Well they didn't die for once. happy ending."

"It's not a happy ending Eskel how -

"The knight and the princess were Fated to be together Lambert! all the foreshadowing was there!"

"The princess treated him like a moron! The squire Actually knew him and cared about him!"

"The squire caused him nothing but problems Lambert! Of Course he went with the princess who loved him and could give him the peaceful life he craved! Not every damn bi man has to end up with the guy Lambert!"

Eskel and Lambert continued their Screaming match. Vesemir appear to be regretting his every life decision. Ciri popped in the earplugs and continued reading her book. Geralt stared into his ale, frozen.

"What happens to the squire Lambert?" Geralt asked his drink quietly.

"THATS THE WORST PART. HE SMILES AND SENDS THEM OFF. LIKE HE ALWAYS KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN AND WAS HAPPY FOR THEM. AND YOU CAN JUST TELL HOW HEARTBROKEN THE MOTHERFUCKER IS AND WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPY WITH THAT."

"This is why we told you not to bring gay novels Lambert. You always get upset with how they end."

"It's not Fucking fair."

Geralt’s chair screeches against the stone as he stands up - an oddity since they all Hate that noise and actively avoid making it.

"Where are you going?" Eskel questioned as he stroad to the door.

"I need to talk to Jaskier."   

"And how do you intend to do that? Gonna ride down the mountain in a Fucking blizzard Geralt?"

"I." The door slammed closed behind him.

"Should." Ciri started. "One of us check on him?"

"No." They all said in unison.

(They did all at some point check on him)

Ciri was first. with a timid and then assertive knock on his door before she entered. Crawling into his arms and burrowing into his chest.

"We can go find him as soon as the snow melts. Okay?"

"I don't think he'd be very excited to see me." He mourned tucking her closer and burying his nose in her hair.

"It's Jaskier." She said simply about a man she only knew from their stories. "He's always excited to see you."

"You going to Brood all winter or do you actually want to figure out how to apologize wolf?" Eskel asked dragging him to the courtyard for a spar.

"There's nothing I can do. He'll never forgive me."

"Oh like he'd Never forgive you for the Djinn? Or for ripping his favorite doublet? Or telling him his singing sucked?" Eskel landed a hard jab. "And what happened every one of those times he'd Never forgive you?"

"That's different." He said returning the blow.

"Uh huh. Guess we'd better make sure you've got a damn good apology ready then?" Eskel smiled easily like he knew the punchline to a very funny joke. "Tell me what happened."

So he did.

Vesemir eased into the spring water across from him with a groan. He wondered how long he had before Vesemir started making fun of how long he spent in the bath again. Longer than if it was Eskel or Lambert at least.

They sat there and a question curdled in his belly until it forced its way out.

"How are we supposed to not get attached?"

"I think we're well past that point lad."

"But How? I can't. All these years and I still can't." He buried his head in his hands so he couldn't see how he'd failed Vesemir yet again.

"If I knew I'd tell you Geralt." Vesemir said, exhausted.

He glanced up and was Viscerally reminded how much Vesemir had lost over the long centuries of his life.

How he'd seen the school founded and fall. How he'd known every child who'd walked these halls and died in them.

How he knew exactly how many had died in the raid.

He remembered how Vesemir had fallen to pieces when the last Witcher he'd ever teach, Leo, had died.

And he remembered how Vesemir put himself back together for them.

"I can't. I can't Vesemir." If Ciri or Eksel or Lambert or Vesemir or Jaskier died. "I'm not as strong as you. I Can't."

"You will. You are." Vesemir squeezed his shoulder as he stood. "Make it worth the loss Geralt."

He sunk into the hot water and wondered how it could be.

He was half asleep when the door Slammed open and only had half a second before Lambert was cannon-balling into his chest.

"FIXED IT!"

He breathed through the pain. "Fix my ribs ass."

"You're fine whiny old man." Lambert shoved a book under his nose. the scent of barely dried ink filling his nostrils. "Read it!"

"Just tell me what happened. I'm not reading your handwriting in the dark." He said shoving it back.

"It's better than yours!" It wasn't. "The knight gets his head out of his ass and tells the squire he loves him and they go on countless more adventures." he puffed up proudly.

"And the princess? what happens to her?"

Lambert scowled at him. "Who gives a fuck about the princess?"

‘I do.’ He thought. "The knight does." He said.

"Ugh. uh. she meets another princess and they go ride off into there own sunset. okay? Happy you ungrateful prick?"

He smiled in a way that made Lambert gag. "I think that's a much better ending Lambert."

"Of course it is!" He preened from atop Geralt. Toes digging into his abdomen painfully.

"Now get out of my room or I'll throw you into the snow bank Lambert."

Lambert tried to call him on the threat so he made to make good on it. Lambert dashed from the room with a crass gesture.

That did sound like a better ending. He gripped his medallion and hoped that in the spring they'd get that ending.

An ending that lead into a very very happy beginning of something new.

[alrightsnaps]

why are you so against a bi benedict if you're bisexual? they don't need to follow every detail of the books in the show and they didn't in season 1

It's definitely NOT because I'm a book purist anon, I'm literally desperate for a lesbian Eloise and Shonda scrapping TSPWL altogether in order to have her end up with a widowed Marina 😂

So, there's a bunch of reasons

1) I found the show's portrayal of Benedict too stereotypically straight man, first going for Genevieve and then for a threesome with two women (seriously can it get any more straight male fantasy?? how anyone can read that as queer I'll never know)

2) I'm generally not mad for the male leads in a show like bridgerton (due to it being set in the 19th century) having love story arcs prior to that with the female lead because we know the female characters are not afforded the liberty of having anything that even comes close to a romance before getting married. That's why I didn't much like the romance arc between Anthony and Siena in season 1. Anthony basically gets to have his past, while for Kate he's the first and only man she's ever loved.

However if they decide to go crazy and somehow give Eloise or Francesca or Hyacinth a romantic arc prior to their canon love interests I'm all for it, especially if that means one of the Bridgerton girls being bi, I PUT MY FAITH IN SHONDALAND

3) Benophie is one of my favourite couples in the series and I know perfectly well how the fandom will treat Sophie if they give Benedict a gay romance before she gets in the picture. At best she'll get sidelined, at worst she'll be the bitch who got in the middle of a queer male romance because ~heteronormativity~. (Hell, there's still a chance that'll happen even if the show keeps Benedict's relationship with Granville platonic lmao.) I've seen it play out one too many times, so no thanks (Yennefer playing third wheel to Geralt and Jaskier in fandom spaces when she's literally the female lead, Guinevere in Merlin, Maria in Roswell New Mexico etc)

4) I... don't really care about m/m ships? I'm much more invested in lesbian representation, which is disproportionately lower compared to gay male ships, especially in fandom. Don't get me wrong, I'll enjoy a well written gay male romance as much as the next person (RTD’s gay stories for example are amazing) but they simply don't compare to f/f ships for me. I'll appreciate and enjoy the first in a story but I'll obsess over the latter (read fanfics, engage in fandom etc). Hence why I'm pro lesbian Eloise (especially if it's an Eloise/Edwina or Eloise/Marina arc). In the case of a bi Benedict I'd simply be indifferent, in the case of a lesbian or bi Eloise I'd be shouting it from the rooftops.

[chasneedsamoustache]

For your consideration.

I mean this is just how I see them???

Geralt - Straight apart from that one damn bard whom he loves more that anyone else ever but because he loves him so much he will never act on it because its scawy. Definitely likes pegging. Looks like a wild boy in bed, is a bad boy in bed. Commitment issues.

Eskel - A true pan child, boys, girls, everyone in between and outside. Just a big soppy baby. Loves cuddles but will also choke you and fuck you senseless. Three in a bed and everyone cares about everyone poly. Loyal baby but doesn’t commit very often, also doesn’t have flings. Feels a lot but is private about it.

Lambert - Somewhere between pan and bi but only likes people who could kick his ass. Girly girls terrify him. Serial monogamist. Looks like a nasty boy but an absolute sub and soft puppy in bed. If he loves you, he’ll love you forever. Doesn’t really smash outside of relationships. Will murder for you, no jokes. 

Jaskier/Dandelion - Pan pan pan. Anything and everyone. Flings and fuck buddies everywhere. Pretends he doesn’t care about them, but he does, each and every one, but it’s not the same love. Loves one person and we all know who. Lots of relationships everywhere, if they find out about each other it’s trouble. An absolute wet fish in bed, but tries his best. Sub af. 

Vesemir - When his son’s are away he’s covered in bitches,  doesn’t about gender, and smashes them all. Just a big orgy as soon as the kids leave. He is the definition of daddy. All his conquests are younger. One time Es comes home randomly and is absolutely stunned, sworn to secrecy, never looks at papa in the same way. Everyone is satisfies. Big cuddle huddle after. Makes eggs for everyone. Does not smash when children are home.