#Aaaaaaaa thank you for being nice to him!! 💖

[thewhumpcaretaker]

⛑ adelais PLEASEEEEE

It’s mostly comfort but I ended up making him sad at the end because that’s just what felt right. He thinks he wants comfort but is too mad at himself to accept it, soooo…

CW: mild self-punishment

“Let’s just get this over with.” Adelais’ voice sounds raspy. But his bandages need changing, and he’s too tired to resist. The best he can do is add, “Try not to prod at it, will you? Some of the people who call themselves nurses…” he mutters under his breath.

The prince slumps down in a chair and leans his head back to expose his throat. It’s covered in seeping red. He’s been carrying part of the curse all day, which means it has bled through his bandages onto that starched white collar. Good thing he can afford a new one. He braces, expecting you to pull roughly at the buttons as the servants often do, but you’re very gentle. You start to unwind the gauze and he lets out a little exhale of relief as its chafing pressure falls away.

Infection isn’t a concern, at least not for the wound itself. It doesn’t seem capable of getting infected, thanks to Ievenar’s perfect control over his pain levels. Still, it’s best for Adelais not to have blood all over him. You wipe it away with a soft cloth dipped in warm water, going over his lower neck and collarbone, being careful not to disturb the wound itself. It feels so nice…he tilts towards your touch without realizing it.

Now it’s time for the most painful part. He tenses up again, but still, you do your best not to make this hurt. As the bandage makes contact with the wound, he swears quietly and closes his eyes. He stays like that while you wind it around his neck once, twice… Every time he winces, you pause, letting him adjust to the sensation. And every time, he blushes with embarrassment at all the consideration you’re taking. You might really have managed to get through this without causing a single unnecessary moment of discomfort.

You’re almost done when he demands, “Why are you coddling me? You're taking forever.” Before you can answer, he smacks your hand away and takes over. “Forget it. It’s done. Go.” As you’re walking away, he tucks the end of the bandage into place roughly. The wave of pain that follows sends him gasping.

If you didn’t know better, you’d think he pressed on it on purpose.

[the-lunar-library]

I finished The Price and Prey of Magic and oh my god why did I take so long with such an wonderfully enjoyable novel? T_T

(Warning, this stream-of-consciousness ask was meant to be shorter but it got out of hand, sorry! 😅)

Yew on her own was a wild ride; impressively impulsive (often as a benefit and often amusingly!), just self-aware enough to realize it, but not enough to keep it from causing trouble. I was getting more hopeful for her as she began heading out for missions, but that just made the downward spiral even worse. I honestly didn't expect things to go quite THAT wrong, but my god she deteriorated into a human disaster. Although she does become a semi-antagonist toward the end, it had become heartbreaking to read. So many catastrophes that she couldn't even process good decisions anymore. Just blame, blame, blame.

I honestly though Yew was going to tell Arsen "I know about the cost limiter. Remove it without a word, and I'll forgive you." But that is not how Yew works. (It IS, however, how Eider works!)

What hurts is that you could really tell Arsen was growing into a more caring person because of her. He wasn't fully there yet, but now he never will be.

I out loud gasped "oh no" when she learned that Siege City was hit by the plague. With how hellbent she was on putting all the responsibility on herself for everything, I thought for sure that would finish her. I'm glad she was able to keep herself occupied for the time being, at least.

Maybe one day, she'll learn how to remove the cost limiter herself. Who knows.

The shift of personalities from Yew to Eider was a breath of fresh air when part 2 started, even if it opened with her in a rotten situation. With how grim things got, it was nice to see that her friends had her back in some capacity. Yew feels strong-headed, but Eider's just plain strong.

Then of course she eats a pear, and I'm embarrassed at how long it took me to recall you mentioned a giant mirrored world in view. It took me until the snake first spoke for the egg timer in my brain to go off and I was like "ohhhh, hi Diarca." XD

He grew on me so much. By the time Eider came back for him and saved him from the collapsing prison, that whole scene from the bed to the outside world had me 🥺😭💖

The whole bond between them was beautifully developed, and I love how hard she worked to save him all over again. Right up to EQUIPPING CLAWS. Like… I'm with Yew: sorcerer or not, I'm stepping aside, the hell with that! lmao

Just… all the ways this story dealt with forgiveness or pacing blame between the two protags, it was really well done. 👏

So glad to have read this story! Already recommended it to a few friends who like this genre. ^^ Skillfully written, I loved the characters, and I loved the occasional snark and humor. You did a wonderful job! I look forward to your next book. :D

Aaaaaaaa, I'm incoherent, thank you! I'm so, so happy you enjoyed it. Yew's descent from merely making bad choices to being an antagonist is pretty heavy, and I worry sometimes about it alienating readers. But you're right -- I want this to be an ultimately hopeful book. Yew goes through a lot, but that doesn't mean there aren't still better things ahead for her.

I'm just hugely smiling as I type. Thank you again, so much, iffy!

[toss-a-coin-to-your-stan-account]

CHRYSAAAAAAA THIS IS SIMPLY MAGICAL AND SO SO SOFT AND SWEET 🥺🥺🥺

CHRYSAAA!!! If you're still taking those rare word prompts, then how about "gigil" for geraskier? Just if you feel like it! We love a little harmless cuteness aggression 😌💖

(Love, Hannah <3)

ahhh thanks for the prompt my dear!! this is truly harmless even i can't make it angsty you made a good choice 😌 also i want an award for this word count. hope you enjoy!! 💜

wc: 666

gigil   –   the urge to pinch of squeeze something that is so unbearably cute

"Melitele help me, I'm being attacked by a snowner!"

Jaskier yelps as a snowball hits him on the back of his head and quite gracefully slips inside his coat and the girl behind him giggles loudly. At this point, he's drenched to the bone. Geralt hides his face inside his hand, regretting his hearing ability if it is for witnessing terrible puns.

The square is beautiful. Covered by a thick white veil, so warm in its coldness, like a blanket used to wrap around a loved one. The snow is falling slowly. Swirling around like petals, or like nymphs that escaped the woods to dance among people and rest on their hair for warmth. And people welcome them, laughing and running around, snowballs flying across the square in a dangerous speed and Geralt ducks once more, already feeling his clothes sticking on him, freezing. He thinks, a burning fire would be ideal after this.

"Geralt." He turns around to see Jaskier running up to him, a wide grin spread on his lips, arms wrapped around himself. "You good?"

Geralt raises an eyebrow, a small smile playing on his lips. "Bold question from someone who's shivering."

"I'm not–" Jaskier's voice quivers in his throat and he huffs a small laugh, tilts his head. The warmth in his stare is enough for Geralt to melt in it. "Maybe I am a bit. What do you say," he tilts his head, a playful look in his eyes, "let's head back?"

With a deep sigh, as though letting cold air run through him, reassure himself it's not a dream, Geralt looks around, one last look at the violent magic of winter, and nods. "I think it's time."

Jaskier smiles and starts walking up the cobbled street to the academy, leaving deep footsteps on the snow. And as though he's unable to avert his look, he continues staring at Geralt. His smile becomes wider.

Really, Geralt can't blame him. He's staring back anyway.

He's beautiful like that, he thinks. Thick snowflakes are tangled in his hair, a caress, and it's like the stars descended from the sky to rest on his shoulders to bask in the light of a brighter sun. A deep, adorable blush paints his cheeks and nose pink and as Geralt's eyes dart on his lips, they're red from the cold.

Jaskier squints at him. "What?"

A pause. Geralt gazes at him with a smile, shakes his head. "Nothing." As though instinctively, his steps slow down, come to a stop. Jaskier stands beside him.

It suits him, the cold. Geralt's hands trail gently upon his cheeks, hold him like he's the rarest flower, and Jaskier leans into the warmth of the touch. Then, as though hesitantly, he feels Geralt's fingers moving slightly. And a squeeze.

"Geralt." Another squeeze. He bites his lips in an attempt to hold back laughter, looks up at him in. "Are you squishing my cheeks?"

Geralt tilts his head, smile wider. "Maybe."

Giggling. Their breaths form clouds on the air, mingle with each other. "How's that working out for you?"

"I'd never stop if I could," Geralt mutters so as not to confess that he wants to squeeze him to death. Instead. Jaskier's hand rests upon his, cold under his gloves and yet, it's enough to make his heart flutter. Something gentler then, he decides. "I love you."

Jaskier huffs, his blush seeming to redden even more. A snowflake floats between them, twirls, and softly rests on his lower lip. Geralt feels his knees giving in.

Slowly, like a ritual, his thumb brushes over his lips and they're cold, just like he thought they'd be. Jaskier shivers.

He leans, and presses their lips together. Lingering, and warm, and one of them chuckles but they're too lost to understand who it is.

It's warm and the fire of a hearth couldn't ever compete the heat of the sun glowing between them.

It's warm, and Geralt knows he could hold Jaskier's face inside his hands forever.