#witcher big bang 2021

[dear-ao3]

decided for some reason that i need to reread the only multi chap fic i ever finished that i posted a good 2 years ago and why does the summary read like a novel summary i don’t remember it being this good

the fic in question is called remember me as i was not as i am by all-hail-the-witcher and it was written for the 2021 (?) lambert big bang

[captainkirkk]

✩ WEEKLY FIC ROUND-UP ✩

All the fics I’ve read and really enjoyed in the past week-ish. Reminder: This list features any and all ratings and themes. Please look at tags and warnings on ao3 before reading.

Stranger Things

Where the 20 Chain Links Lead by fandsart

Steve has always known he’s stupid. While it wasn’t exactly something he took pride in, it hadn’t really ever bothered him until he started socializing with what could probably be described as some of the smartest people in Hawkins. It doesn’t help that most of those people were so much younger than him.

A character study of one Steve Harrington, and a glacial slowburn Steddie fix-it fic

chat with you, baby (flirt a little, maybe) by desiccatedwithering (acornsofthemind) (+ podfic)

"Hey, shitheads!” Steve “the hair” Harrington barks, looming in the doorway like a monster from the Abyss. “What the fuck are you doing in here? Get your asses down to the gym right fucking now.”

Eddie gapes. First of all, the audacity— Second, he’s never been much for physical fights, but if this douchebag thinks he can bully any of Eddie’s kids, he’ll have to go through Eddie first.

“Let’s go! Move it!” Harrington snaps, making an impatient gesture down the hall.

SVSSS

Achievement Unlocked by The Feels Whale (miscellea)

One day, after five years of reasonably peaceful marriage with only a few kidnappings and sex pollen incidents, Shen Yuan is sent back to his old body without warning. Luo Binghe makes a deal with an alien entity calling itself the System to perform a mission in exchange for the ability to bring his husband home.

The mission is simple; [Uncover secret transmigrator plotline and flesh out the character wiki!]

At least it will be once he figures out what the words ‘transmigrator’ and ‘wiki’ mean.

Or: That one where Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe don’t realize they’re in a domestic fluff bonus chapter.

Written for the 2021 MXTX Big Bang with art created by Ataratah

The Witcher

The Footsteps We Follow by thiswildheart

Look, Jaskier's got a lot going on. He's painfully aware that there are cataclysmic events happening and that the troubled teenager he knows might save the world or speed along the end of days. He's also in love with a man who's never even admitted that they're friends, which is almost as bad.

Oh, and he's still working as the Sandpiper, only now a terrifying eldritch creature has entrusted him with the Song of the Seven to give hope to the elves and help them fight back against their oppression. It's probably the bravest thing he's ever done, but not everyone sees it that way.

Luckily he knows some people who excel at last minute rescues.

... then he just has to figure out how to tell Geralt why so many people are trying to kill him. This is going to go great.

Clone Wars

Every Shadow by Kenobster (kenobster)

The days on Kadavo were long, but the nights moved quickly. Hundreds of pairs of wide, sleepless eyes haunted the space of the holding cells. Droves of terror clogged the heavy, sweaty air, and every sound, however faint, was like a physical ripple across the crowd. Every sound. The jingling of keys, the clicking of locks, the thudding of boots, and that’s how the nights on Kadavo started—with a gradual increase in the degree of quiet.

OR—during the mass casualty event following Kadavo and Zygerria, Obi-Wan and Anakin seek ways to cope with trauma.

Shadowhunters

We All Want (to Change the World) by opalish

It starts with Simon, which explains why the entire process is such an unrelenting headache.

or, Alec's startlingly quick journey from Head of the New York Institute to Inquisitor.

[theproblemwithstardust]

20 Questions For Fic Writers

Tagged by @just-here-with-my-thoughts!! Thank you!!

1. How many works do you have on Ao3?

13 (meshurkaan) and 88 (the_problem_with_stardust)

2. What’s your total Ao3 word count?

111,654 under meshurkaan! I have no idea about the_problem_with_stardust since some of those fics were cowritten :D

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Right now Star Wars, but I’ve also written for star trek, the witcher, teen wolf, marvel… maybe some others?

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

Under meshurkaan:

sand in the hourglass codywan, 2224 words shovel in the dirt crosshunt, 1366 words any way to baffle death (Part 3: ESU), foxfives, 27786 words close out the sun (Part 5: ESU), foxfives, 12114 words (WIP) a flint and a fire (Part 1: ESU), rexfox, 31627 words

5. Do you respond to comments?

I try to! I love responding to people's thoughts and reactions XD

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Hehehehehe a flint and a fire :) It’s part of a series though, so it’ll get fixed soon!

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Probably one bright morning? I wrote it the night before TBB series finale and I just wanted them all to be HAPPY

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Nope!

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Ah yes the mortifying ordeal of having your buddies read the porn you wrote. Um I think most of the time it’s fun and a little silly?

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

I don’t think I’ve written any crossovers?

11. (I kept your question XD) Which fic are you proud of but wish had gotten a bigger response from your readers?

Maybe only a call? It has some of my favorite moments in the ESU but it is also mainly worldbuilding so it might have only been fun for me XD

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

A few! Mostly teen wolf stuff from WAY back in the day

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I did some round-robin type fics, but I am not a good writing partner since I struggle a lot with schedules and deadlines

14. What’s your all-time favourite ship?

I’m a chronic multishipper so it’s honestly the ship I am writing for at the moment (this morning it was RexFoxFives, this afternoon it is TechPhee)

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I always plan to finish WIPs, no matter how old they are (stares at across the stars) but there is a codywan fic I started for the 2021 codywan big bang and didn’t finish. I still think about it ALL the time

16. What are your writing strengths?

Hmmm one thing that I've worked on a lot is structuring plot. In long fics I like to include off-hand details that then become relevant later. And I do put a lot of thought into characterization so hopefully that comes through in my writing >.<

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Endings! I sat on trying to find my way home for three weeks before I added like twenty words to the end and just posted it

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

It depends. I used to do it a lot but now that I primarily use screenreaders to edit, I don’t love it.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

First published on Ao3? Star Wars (FinnPoe my beloved) But I was definitely writing little epilogues to each of the Chronicles of Narnia books at the age of 8

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

Ummm maybe take the old, make it new? Or intersecting foliations? All of endless space unfurled? It’s hard to pick ^^’

No pressure tags: @whiskygoldwings, @cacodaemonia, @wolveria,

@catbuir, @loverboy-havocboy, @kartaylirnaak, and anyone else who would like to play?

[the-henry-cavillian]

Unveiling The Ladies: A Look At Henry Cavill's Dating Life In Hollywood

Henry Cavill is a British actor who has captured the hearts of many with his good looks, charming personality, and exceptional acting skills. He has had a successful career in the film industry, starring in movies such as "Man of Steel," "Mission: Impossible - Fallout," and "The Witcher." However, aside from his successful career, he has also been in the spotlight for his dating life. In this article, we will take a closer look at the girls that Henry Cavill has dated.

Ellen Whitaker

Henry Cavill's first public relationship was with British equestrian Ellen Whitaker. The two started dating in 2009 and were engaged in May 2011. However, the engagement was called off in August 2012. According to reports, the couple split due to their busy schedules and long-distance relationship.

Gina Carano

After his split with Whitaker, Cavill was linked to American actress and martial artist, Gina Carano. The two started dating in 2012, and their relationship lasted for around a year before they called it quits in 2014. According to reports, their busy schedules and distance were the main reasons for their breakup.

Kaley Cuoco

In July 2013, Cavill was linked to American actress Kaley Cuoco, famously known for her role in the popular sitcom "The Big Bang Theory." The two were spotted on a few dates, and their relationship was confirmed by various media outlets. However, their relationship was short-lived and only lasted for a few weeks.

Marisa Gonzalo

Henry Cavill's next rumored relationship was with Marisa Gonzalo, a stuntwoman from Spain. The two were first spotted together in 2014, and rumors of their relationship surfaced soon after. However, the relationship was short-lived, and the couple called it quits after a few months.

Tara King

In 2015, Cavill started dating Tara King, a British college student who was 13 years younger than him. The couple met at a London nightclub and hit it off instantly. Their relationship was not without controversy, as many criticized the age gap between them. However, the couple remained together for around a year before calling it quits in 2016.

Lucy Cork

After his split with King, Cavill was linked to Lucy Cork, a British stuntwoman whom he met on the set of "Mission: Impossible - Fallout." The couple made their relationship public in 2017 and were often spotted together at various events. However, their relationship was short-lived and ended in 2018.

Rebecca Ferguson

In 2018, Cavill was linked to Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson, his co-star in "Mission: Impossible - Fallout." The two were rumored to be dating, and they were often seen together at various events. However, neither of them confirmed their relationship, and the rumors eventually died down.

Natalie Viscuso

Henry Cavill's current girlfriend is Natalie Viscuso, an American executive who is the Vice President of Television and Digital Studios at Legendary Entertainment. The couple made their relationship public on Instagram in April 2021, and they have been together ever since. They often share pictures of each other on social media and seem to be going strong.

In conclusion, Henry Cavill has had a fair share of relationships throughout his career. While some of his relationships were short-lived, others lasted for a longer period. Despite the ups and downs of his dating life, Cavill has always remained professional and focused on his career. With his talent and good looks, he is undoubtedly one of the most eligible bachelors in Hollywood. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors, both in his personal life and his career.

[inkofamethyst]

December 10, 2023

Me while waltzing (or any kind of dancing tbh): >:( *high concentration mode*

Me when the song ends: :D *cheerfully complimenting my partner bc i fully recognize that we're both learning*

I think one of the best parts about the dance thing was that I wasn't looking at a screen for several hours in a row. I actually left my phone in the coat check room, if you can believe it. And my last reflection on it all will be thus: I generally don't prefer sequiny dresses, they come off as tacky to me a lot of times. However, one of the waltz instructors looked positively radiant as her flashy dress spun around the room. She effortlessly conversed with her partner as she glided across the floor, following the prompts of her lead without hesitation. I wanted to be her so bad.

On the topic of seasonal depression, I think some years tend to be worse than others for me. I remember it being pretty bad in high school, especially during senior year when there were other things going on that negatively impacted my mood. Lockdown winter 2020/2021 was tough, but there were, again, other factors besides the climate impacting my mood. Last winter, I think I was okay? A bit anxious because of apps, but not depressive to my recollection. We'll see how this winter in a new place goes (trying to identify consistent mood triggers now that I have five years of autobiographic data lol). From a cursory analysis, regular/daily outdoor walks seem to be linked to less depressive winters. Will continue to monitor.

So I intend to read at least a trilogy over break during my downtime. I don't really want to reread something this winter (unless it was to finish a series I got halfway through back in high school (ahem, falling kingdoms, ahem, an ember in the ashes)), but I know I definitely/probably want angst blatant entertainment. I think I will be able to get back into regular reading when I treat it the same way I treat cooking/mealprep. That means having a prepared list of what's next so I don't have to deliberate over that decision when I finish a book. That's how I'll be able to beat my junior year 111-day reading streak (which was mostly The Witcher iirc).

There's a pub near campus that does karaoke on Fridays and I've never actually done karaoke because I feel like I don't have My Karaoke Song figured out, but Snake Eater from Metal Gear might have to be something I try one of these days. And, of course, Vandalize, because we were robbed.

Okay this is my actual last reflection on last night: I want to become more comfortable taking photos of myself/having photos taken of me and I think that might have to start with me just trying things out. If Gen Z knows anything it's how to take an interesting, dynamic photo, and I think I have the artistic vision to do something like that, but I freeze up whenever I'm in front of a camera. By the time of the next ball (could be as soon as February/March), I want to do better.

UGH the mibsile is just SO eepie and NEEBIES to sleebie. unfortunately the missile has things to get done. sleep cometh 19 december. counting down the days. (I'm going to try to see if I can bang out my research paper in one big three-day work sesh to maybe even finish before the weekend, or only have minor edits left to do)

I spent all of today in a chair prepping for my anatomy final agh. Thankful that the semester will be over for me in a week.

[curls-cat]

12 and 23 for the AO3 wrapped asks?

How many WIPs do you have in your docs for next year?

Oh geez. Uh. Okay. So uh like. A lot? I think there's upwards of 30 that are actually worth finishing and posting. How many I'll finish next year is anyone's guess, though.

Did you do any collaborative works this year?

I... did not? I thought the Witcher Big Bang I did was this year but apparently I posted it in 2021. huh.

[cozyknights]

rambleoncas -> cozyknights (:

posts about video games, lotr, star trek, bbc merlin, the witcher, gay movies & supernatural (:

This is a sideblog** Minors, please block "#minors dni" for my peace of mind. W*ncest or inc*st shippers of any kind will be blocked on sight.

**for privacy reasons, this account does not do replies, but will answer asks on tumblr & comments on ao3

2024 Calendar

✴️ Shore Leave/Thyla Reverse Bang (POSTED June 2024)

✴️ How We Begin Fest (coming June 2024)

✴️ After Camlann Big Bang (coming August 2024)

✴️ Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang (coming August 2024)

✴️ Merlin Tarot Fest (coming September 2024)

✴️ Dean Cas Big Bang (coming October 2024)

My Fics

The Kraken on Kepler-3b, 7k, Jim Kirk/Spock, M. No archive warnings apply. Written for Shore Leave 2024 (art)

The Knife, 8k, Castiel/Dean Winchester, M. Graphic depictions of violence. Written for DCRB 2022 (art)

Jimmy Novak's Crash Course on Falling, 34k, Castiel/Dean Winchester, M. No archive warnings apply. Written for DCBB 2021

Contact Card

Micah is a writer who has focused heavily in making content for the Supernatural fandom in recent years. You may know them from their original tumblr username “rambleoncas” or from his ao3, kettleknight. Micah takes an interest in several fandoms, namely ones in the genres of Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Historical Fiction, or the Preternatural. They have a BA in creative writing, with a focus in fiction and poetry. 

Some projects Micah has contributed to are Sweetheart, This IS Gender Studies Zine (Supernatural) and The Supernatural Poetry Collection (SPN), among other works made for the Deancas Horror Fest, the Dean/Cas Big Bang and Reverse Bang, and fics made for various other events.

Micah was a mod for the Excalibur Zine (BBC Merlin), as well as several Supernatural-related events and accounts such as SPN Thursdays, SPN Pride Week, and the Ramble On project. For any questions or inquiries, please email Micah at kettleknightwrites@gmail.com. For a list of in-progress works, go here.

If you like my work, leave me a tip!

[witcherbigbang]

like the love that discovered the sin

Author: longing-and-heartache-and-lust (AO3)

Artist: gen-syz-art (Twitter)

Rating: E

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Word Count: 14,223

Pairing: Geralt/Jaskier

Tags: Explicit Sexual Content, Explicit Language, Lingerie, Jaskier | Dandelion in Lingerie, Multiple Orgasms, Rimming, Porn with Feelings

Summary:

It was last winter that Jaskier had overheard Geralt while he was playing Gwent with his brothers and lost a bet that one of his biggest fantasies was seeing Jaskier in lingerie and being allowed to do anything he wanted to him then.

He couldn't stop thinking about it since, not really.

So when they returned to Redania in early spring, he knew exactly what he had to do. It would take some planning and some talking, of course, especially considering that he had to keep it all a secret from Geralt, but - and of this, he was more than sure - it would all be worth it in the end.

Link to Fic | Link to Art

[roguepyrola]

The bard wore a long red vest that looked to be of the same material as the prized coat that he had been treating so carefully since Geralt first saw it in Kovir. Beneath the vest, a pale yellow sleeveless chemise only made its appearance known because its silky fabric cascaded from below the hem of the vest. At first glance, the fabric looked to be of a solid pale yellow, but if one studied it more closely, the faint lines of a darker yellow traced a silhouette of dandelions.

So excited to share this with you! I had the pleasure of collaborating with @gwylliondream​ for and beta Gilli_ann this year’s @witcherbigbang​ on this cover art for the amazing slow-burn fic, “Visiting Marilka.” 

Loved watching the story come together over the last few months. I’m so glad I was paired with Gwyllion for my first collaborative fandom event, she truly made the process approachable and fun. 

Summary: Months after the mountain breakup, Geralt finds Jaskier performing in a tavern. Before Geralt can consider apologizing, the bard is interrupted by a messenger who notifies Jaskier that his father has died. Jaskier prepares to set off for Lettenhove to console his mother and siblings. Geralt gets caught up in the drama and accompanies Jaskier as he travels to his childhood home. On their journey, Geralt learns that a witcher’s Path needn’t have a predetermined destination.

Go over and read it on AO3 right now: Visiting Marilka (57k, rated M) 

(art minus title under the cut)

[asweetprologue]

me lámh le do lámh - Part I

Ahh I can’t believe it’s finally done! After a year of working on this beast, it’s finally ready for me to share. This is something I started way back last summer, and I decided to finish it as my project for this year’s @geraskierbigbang. It will be ten parts in total, and I will post one part per day until it is complete! There are several art pieces that were created by the wonderful @herostag​ and Miranda.draws for this story, which I will link when the appropriate section is posted. For a summary and further links, please see the masterpost.

Next | Ao3 | Masterpost

“Alright,” Geralt said. “Don’t laugh at me.”

Yennefer looked up at him with bright eyes, curious and already mirthful. She was sitting across from him in his quarters, reading through a tome she’d found in Kaer Morhen’s disheveled library. Geralt had just come from a bath after hours spent training Ciri in the yard, and the room was filled with the warm evening light, supplemented by the fire crackling in the hearth. Yennefer had insisted on carting dozens of tapestries and drapes to hang around the drafty keep, and the room was nearly stuffy with their bulk keeping the heat in.

Yennefer gave him an amused smirk. “I will make no such promises before I even know what you’re going to say.” The gentle teasing brought a fond smile to Geralt’s face. After the events of the mountain all those years ago, things had been understandably tense. Yennefer had been reluctant to join them when she had finally met up with Geralt after Sodden, but had eventually agreed to seek refuge in the witchers’ keep and teach Ciri to control her magic. Once she’d met the girl it had all been a wash; it was clear as soon as their eyes met across the room that Yennefer was as much a part of Ciri’s destiny as Geralt was.

Geralt had expected that to either mend the rift between them enough for things to go back to the way things were, or make things even more awkward. Instead, they found themselves in a sort of in-between. Over the years his affection for Yennefer had only grown, but he found himself looking to her more and more as a friend—maybe his best friend. After Jaskier, of course.

Speaking of. “I was thinking about Jaskier.”

Yennefer rolled her eyes obviously. “As you are so frequently wont to do. The thaw will come soon enough, dear, and you can run off in search of your bard.”

Geralt felt his ears grow warm. Witchers couldn’t blush, not truly, but he still felt the tingle of it as he fidgeted with embarrassment. “That’s not what I meant,” he said, absently tracing a finger against the grain of the wooden table. There were two goblets of wine sitting between them, but so far neither of them had begun to drink. “Do you know how many winters it’s been since I found Ciri?”

If she was confused by the odd turn in subject matter, Yennefer didn’t show it. Instead she looked thoughtful. “Two, perhaps three? You know I don’t follow the seasons with diligence.”

“Neither do I,” Geralt agreed. “I was thinking the same though, two or three years since the fall of Cintra. Which means Jaskier is…” He paused, trying to do the math. “He was a few years past forty, during the dragon hunt, I think. He must be closer to fifty now than not.”

Yennefer raised an eyebrow at him. “I recall mentioning something about his crows feet. What of it? Humans age. Are you only just discovering this?”

Geralt forced himself not to grumble. In a way, he was only discovering it. He’d known humans across the years, of course, and knew that many that he’d once been acquainted with were no longer alive or were in their twilight years. For decades Geralt had wandered through the world, changing no more than a ghost would, touching the lives of regular mortals for a brief instance, maybe a few times if they were particularly unlucky. No one had stayed by his side, dedicated themselves to a relationship with him, the way that the bard had. The amount of devotion that Jaskier showed to him had made Geralt antsy, in earlier years, and then confused and angry by turn. He had hated the idea of someone needing him, had hated needing someone in return. The way his chest felt heavy when he and Jaskier parted ways had left him furious with himself and the bard.

And then Ciri came into his life, and everything had changed so quickly.

With Ciri, it didn’t matter whether Geralt felt like he should care for her, or if he wanted to. He needed to. Without him, the girl would die, or be kidnapped by Nilfgaard for who knows what purpose. He had to feed her, and clothe her, and teach her, and he had to love her for her to thrive.

She made it very easy. It was only afterwards that he realized how much of an idiot he’d been to Jaskier, and the thought of how he’d treated the bard over the years had plagued him. It had been months before he could find him to apologize, but Jaskier forgave him almost immediately—which Geralt found both relieving and infuriating at the same time. This was the first winter they’d spent apart since. Geralt left the keep more rarely now, heading out on the Path only when the months grew truly warm and returning at the first hint of falling leaves. Ciri was safe on her own, he knew, but he missed her when he was away. And he could admit now that one of the forces driving him back into the world over the last few years had been the itching desire to find Jaskier again and settle the yearning in his chest for another year. He was less inclined to venture forth when his bard, his daughter, Yennefer and his brothers were all in one place.

This winter Jaskier had begged off, saying that he had “work in the south,” which could mean anything from spending a decadent winter in the court of some noble or sludging through the front lines as a Redanian spy. Geralt had learned not to pry too deeply into Jaskier’s business when he wasn’t around. It was often either too explicit for him to stomach or too confidential for Jaskier to share freely.

It worried him, being away from the bard for so long. He could get hurt, or captured by Nilfgaard, or worse. But what really terrified Geralt was the idea that he would find Jaskier in a tavern along the Path and realize that the bard had grown old, to find silver in his hair and wrinkles beside his eyes. “He’s getting too old,” Geralt said to Yennefer, who looked at him with sympathetic eyes.

“You must have known when you started travelling with him that he would eventually leave you,” Yennefer said, not unkindly. “Humans are so short lived.”

“I didn’t exactly get a choice about becoming his muse,” Geralt said with a huff. Despite his improved relationship with Jaskier over the past few years, he still found it difficult to admit that he had always been more than willing to let the bard tag along. If he’d wanted to travel alone, he would have. But he never had. “I just didn’t realize…”

“It always comes sooner than you think it will,” Yennefer sighed. She set her book aside and picked up her goblet of wine, turning to look out the large window their table sat in front of. It faced west out of the keep wall, towards the mountains and the forest beyond. The sun had set below the craggy peaks, throwing the snow covered valley below into darkness. Geralt could just make out the ruins of the old tower, its stones dark against the white landscape. “You can’t cure his mortality, Geralt.”

“We did.”

The look that Yennefer gave him was sharp, almost angry. The firelight in the room turned her violet eyes darker, like mulberry wine. “At great cost,” she snapped. “I can’t imagine you would put him through the Trials.”

A stab of panic shot through his gut at the thought. “No. Of course not. He wouldn’t survive it anyways. Only children stand a chance at all.”

Yennefer nodded, apparently satisfied that Geralt hadn’t completely lost his mind. “The boy hasn’t got an ounce of Chaos in him, in spite of his rather chaotic nature, so I highly doubt they’ll accept him as a late trainee at Ban Ard.”

“There must be other ways,” Geralt said, feeling petulant. “Less conventional.”

“I cannot believe we are actually discussing this,” Yennefer said, rising to her feet. She picked up her book from the table as well as her glass. “There is no way to achieve immortality, especially not without sacrifice. You know that, Geralt. Drop this foolish line of thought.”

Geralt rose after her, reaching out to catch her retreating wrist. A grasp loose enough that she could break it, if she wanted, but Yennefer paused. “Please, Yen. Just… look into it for me? I can’t—the thought of—” He cut himself off, dropping his hand away from her arm. The look she gave him was more pitying than he would have liked.

“I’ll do some research, but nothing more. Don’t get your hopes up, Geralt. There’s a reason there are so few of us,” she said. Her face softened slightly, as much as it ever did. Despite Ciri, Yennefer was still made of more glass and fire than anything else. “I know you love him, even if you can’t admit it to yourself. I promise, I will do my best.”

Geralt nodded wordlessly as she left and wondered if Jaskier's eyes would be as bright next time he saw him.

*

For weeks Yennefer said nothing about his request, and Geralt refocused on spending time with Ciri and preparing to depart for the spring. Lambert and Eskel had already left a month before, as soon as the road down the mountain began to thaw, but Geralt had hung back. The roof needed repairs, a difficult job to do in the midst of winter, and it was a hard task to leave for Vesemir alone. It was always like this, now—him looking for odd jobs to keep him at Kaer Morhen, with Ciri, making excuses until Jaskier’s jitteriness or Vesemir’s raised eyebrows forced them on the road again. Some of that was mitigated this season by the silence he heard when he found himself listening for the sounds of lute strings strumming gently in the background, and Geralt’s increasing anxiety about Jaskier’s wellbeing. Even so, it was hard to leave Ciri behind.

The girl was progressing rapidly as she entered her teen years, the chubbiness of her youth morphing into lean if awkward muscle as she continued to work on her swordsmanship. When Geralt and his brothers weren’t pushing her through drills, she was studying monsters and alchemy with Vesemir, or practicing her magic with Yen. She never seemed to tire, eagerly absorbing any lessons passed on to her and desperate to prove her worth. The only person she seemed to let her guard down around was Geralt, who found himself often goading her into mock wrestling matches (which he refused to throw on principle) and humoring her when she became restless and wanted to explore beyond the keep. Kaer Morhen was dangerous in the winter, but as spring approached and the deep snows on the surrounding mountains began to thaw, the duo spent more and more time trekking through old ruins and sleeping beneath the stars.

He could put off his journey south no longer.

“I’m going to be fine, Geralt,” she said, rolling her eyes at him. He wondered if he’d been this petulant as a teenager. Certainly Lambert had. “I can take care of myself, and Yen will be with me.”

Geralt tapped her wooden training sword with his own, indicating that she should prepare to go again. When he was a boy he’d trained against the other foundlings, stumbling around like pups through drills and sparring matches. Ciri trained against full witchers, and only Eskel ever faked a misstep here or there to allow her to get in a good hit. When she won a fight for the first time, it would be on her own merit.

The girl raised her sword into a decent fighting stance, and Geralt moved to correct her footwork. Her sword work was exceptional above the belt, but she consistently forgot her stances, throwing herself off balance. They’d begun putting her on the pendulums to force her to focus, dancing between posts to attack the dummies. Geralt had spent many a night rubbing salve into her bruised shoulders, gained from taking fall after fall from the low poles. No one forced her, but if there was one thing Ciri hated, it was admitting to weakness in herself. “Sword up,” Geralt said, and launched into his attack.

He stayed on the offense, forcing her to practice the defensive drills they’d started going over recently. “I know you’ll be fine,” he said, continuing their conversation. His breathing was relaxed, almost meditative through the slow exchange of blows. “Just seems cruel to leave you with only the old man and Yennefer for company.”

Ciri giggled despite herself, and Geralt found himself grinning back before he smacked her lightly in the ribs with the training sword. She swore—Lambert, Geralt thought with chagrin—and danced back a few paces. “Gotta focus,” he said, still smirking at her.

She poked her tongue out at him childishly and reposted off of one of his blocked attacks. He easily swayed out of the way, but the movement was fluid and smooth, which meant someday it would be fast, faster than he could dodge. He gave an encouraging nod.

They continued to spar for another half an hour or so before breaking, heading to the well to fill their water pouches. Geralt sat on the short ring of stones and Ciri slumped on the ground beside him, leaning against his leg. The simple trust and familiarity she exhibited around him still took him by surprise, sometimes. “I’m leaving tomorrow,” he said, rubbing a hand over the top of her head. Her hair was almost as white as his.

She sighed, wiping dripping water from her chin as she tossed her water pouch down. “I figured,” she said. “Say hello to Jaskier for me, when you find him? I missed his songs this time.”

Geralt’s caress turned into a playful ruffle. “I will. Any requests for books?”

“Ones about Elves,” she said immediately, “and Skelligan alchemy. It’s different from ours, did you know? The Druids—”

Geralt chuckled. “I know. You’ve said half a dozen times. No fairytales this time?”

The girl hummed, reminding him for a brief and touching moment of himself. “Just bring Jaskier back. He tells about your adventures so much better than you do.”

“He’s certainly made a career out of it,” Geralt grumbled, feigning annoyance. “I’ll do my best. You know how he is.”

“You missed him too,” she said, hitting his knee with one closed fist. “I know you did. You get all…Well, more grumbly and mopey than usual, when he’s not around.” She wrinkled her nose up at him in exaggerated disgust. “It’s gross. But I do want you to be happy.”

Geralt knocked back against her gently with his knee, swallowing around the feelings that rose in his throat. “You just think I’m a boring old man who won’t help you put toads in Eskel’s bed. But you never even ask. I’m the expert, not Jaskier.”

Ciri laughed, bright and crisp in the morning air, and Geralt felt warm despite the fading winter chill. Tomorrow he would leave, and he would find Jaskier, and next winter he would tell Jaskier that he had to stay at Kaer Morhen. For Ciri, if nothing else. And if it was more for Geralt’s sake than anything, well, no one had to know.

*

Yennefer found him before he left, saddling Roach in the stables.

“Go to Triss,” she said by way of a greeting. Geralt knew what she meant by the gravity in her tone and the tension sitting in the corners of her mouth. “Ask after Ida. I don’t know where she is or if she’ll speak with you, but a Sage is the only one that might be able to give you anything.”

Geralt reached out to grasp her hand firmly in his own. “Thank you, Yen,” he said honestly.

The sorceress sniffed. “Well, you owe me one, I suppose. I hope you find what you're looking for. But be careful.”

“I won’t do anything that might put him in harm’s way,” he promised. “I swear it.”

“Good.” She gave him a slight smile before leaning in to brush a kiss over his rough cheek. The simple touch warmed him from inside out. “Say hello to the bard for me. Tell him I heard about that disastrous competition in Vizima. Ought to have him stewing for a good long while.”

Geralt rolled his eyes. “I’ll give him your love as always.”

“Goodbye, Geralt,” she said, patting his arm lightly. “Be safe. You know how to reach me, if you have need.”

“I do,” he said. “I will. Take care of Ciri.”

“It’s more the other way around, I’m afraid,” she said with a soft smile, and Geralt understood exactly what she meant. Ciri had saved them both, in more ways than one. Every time he left her was more painful than the last. Someday, he knew, they might travel the Path together, a witcher, a sorceress and their daughter. Maybe even a bard, if he was extremely lucky.

Geralt hoped he would be.

[dear-ao3]

Saph what’s the longest you’ve spent working on a project?

Mines a Sonic fanfiction I’ve been working on since April 2021 that I’m pretty sure is continuing to be worked on purely because of teenage passion (for context I was 17 when I started working on it and I turn 19 at the end of the month). In other words a Sonic darkfic is a teenage passion project of mine idk

ummm *kicks my 5 year long newsies fbi spy gang slowburn au that i’ve tried to write 3 times under the rug* funny you should ask…

the longest i worked on a completed work was probably like 6 or 7 months, it was a witcher 1920s au fix that i wrote for the lambert big bang and it got illustrated, one of my favorite projects to date

and honorable mention for the witcher polish deli au katya and i have been writing for like 2 years. still on chapter 4 :)

[inennui]

My piece for the Geraskier Big Bang! Big thanks to my wonderful author (ilu!) If you want angst go read her time loop fic!! (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`) It Doesn’t Break But it Bends - @drowningbydegrees

[silvertonguelover]

This is my artwork for the Geraskier Big Bang 2021. @geraskierbigbang

I am doing artwork for two fics and this is for one of them. This is a fic-art collab with @asweetprologue 💖

I made a background...lmao imagine me drawing a background! 😆

I absolutely loved this scene from the fic and you should definitely go and read it! It's being updated daily. Link 👇

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32266939/chapters/79975228

[jew-flexive]

mostly we don’t want to harm each other

a collaboration for the 2021 @geraskierbigbang​! fic by: @jew-flexive​; a03 art by: @breannaneo​ fic rating: teen word count: 16,275 relationships: geralt/jaskier, past jaskier/countess de stael, minor geralt/yennefer warnings: no archive warnings apply tags: alternate universe - modern setting, angst with a happy ending, not actually unrequited love, kid fic, jewish jaskier, past underage, emotional infidelity, famous jaskier, domestic fluff, new york city, jewish identity, alcohol, post-divorce, healing, yiddish, pov jaskier, pov jewish character summary:

“Thank you,” he murmurs to Geralt as they sit together on his couch, both nursing hot toddies (Geralt’s praise for Jaskier’s heavy pour was so effusive it made him blush like he hasn’t since he was a teenager and Victoria Stael had him by the wrist at a Grammys afterparty) and watching the girls play with the LEGO set Jaskier got Essi for Chanukah. It’s for the gifts but it’s also for everything else. “The wine is really more for me than for you, Jas,” Geralt smirks, but he softens quickly, his gaze warm, nudging Jaskier with his shoulder, understanding what Jaskier was trying to say without needing to be told. “But no problem.”

That’s what Jaskier likes about Geralt. With him, some things can be left unsaid. Jaskier never thought he’d take such comfort in silence, wordsmith that he is and has always been, but with Geralt, he is learning how to sit with the quiet, how to speak without sound.

Read the fic here!

Art post

[wellthisstinks]

My contribution for the @lambertbigbang 2021!

For my part I got to work with the amazing @ladyahiru and create an embroidery piece for her fic "The Picture of Lambert Grey" (link in the reblogs). She was so much fun to work with and I look forward to doing more with her in the future

[justhereforeskel]

Dragon's Heart Tea Shop Art - WBB 2021

I got to work with the absolutely lovely @iboughtaplant for the Witcher Big Bang! She wrote an amazing story that combines Witcher and the Tea Dragon Society - which I was SO EXCITED to get to do art for and now we get to finally share it! 💜💜💜

I got a bit carried away so everything came out a little less refined than normal, but there were just too many good moments in the fic to pick just one! 😍

Please, please go read the fic! It's so so good and deserves all your loves, comments and kudos! 💜🐺