#Will it be Geraskier? it'll probably be Geraskier

[hiddenbysuccubi]

One of these days I'll write another fic story that'll hit DYK levels and surpass that.

[phvntom-limbs]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Tagged by @scary-monsters <3 ty ily

1. How many works do you have on Ao3? 6! One for The Witcher and 5 for JJBA.

2. What’s your total Ao3 word count? 6,498 <3 So few!!! For now <3

3. What fandoms do you write for? JJBA, One Piece and maybe a few others in future. Buuut mostly those two right now. Even if the OP shit is unreleased. And Resident Evil!!! Hopefully soon.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? Well this is sorta easy with only 6 works in total. BUT. His Sweet Kiss (Geraskier fluff), Letters from a lover (compilation of short letters from characters), If I could be with you tonight (Gyro angst), Ties that Bind (Dio fic...... that I uhhh,,, haven't continued. Whoops) and Phantom Pains / Fleurs Captives (Diabeth angst) !!!

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? Yes! I do try to! I don't get them very often, mostly because I'm only recently getting back onto writing platforms. But I do try to. I like people who enjoy my works to know the support is appreciated.

6. What is a fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Definitely Phantom Pains. Out-of-the-blue Diabeth angst ending in grief and regret... I do love writing angst and I don't shy away from sad endings either! Although I do love a good happy end too <3

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Speaking of.... His Sweet Kiss is definitely the happiest one, at least so far. My lost-to-time fics from the Wattpad era weren't exactly happy, so I think a fluffy mess like HSK is the best right now.

8. Do you get hate on fics? Not yet. Yet. It'll happen eventually I'm sure.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? I do! I have yet to publish any of it, though. Mostly because I am incredibly picky when it comes to smut, and by extension incredibly finicky with my own smutty works. As for what kind? Ah... a mix.

10. Do you write crossovers? I don't. I don't even think I'd necessarily consider it for anything other than a crackfic.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? I have not! But I have had people copy my writing suspiciously closely.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? I have not, but I would be honoured if someone offered to, and I hope that at some point I'm fluent enough in another language to do so myself.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? I have not. I'm semi-open to the idea of it, but also... kind of sounds stressful.

14. What’s your all-time favorite ship? Ahhhh..... Geraskier held my heart for a very long time. I'm also a YenRalt truther, though. I struggle a little to compute ships nowadays but I think Dinopants is really fun. and Satosugu.

15. What’s a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will? Oh god, the Dio fic I started and then never continued. It was meant to be a look into Diabeth over the years but I changed a lot of things since I started it, so I may have to scrap the whole thing and restart.

16. What are your writing strengths? Description. I love describing things and spaces and people more than anything and I think that love has lead to a lot of practice. I can be a little flowery at times but I don't particularly mind it. It's not for everyone, though.

17. What are your writing weaknesses? Dialogue. I never know how much to have people say or not say. It's something I need to practice. On the flipside, sometimes I have characters say too much and then I completely neglect action. I just need to get better with it all-round.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic? I do it! And I respect other writers who have the balls to do it (and potentially cock it up). I tend to check, and double/triple check it.

19. First fandom you wrote for? If I'm being honest it was probably Skullduggery Pleasant, back before I even knew Fanfiction was a thing. And I read it out in front of my class at the time. I think I was about 10.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written? Honestly? Every since I wrote Phantom Pains it's been my pride and joy. I really love my use of description and imagery and tone in that one specifically. I just really love it.

I don't have anyone to tag.... that Kat didn't already tag. So take this as a free ticket to join in should you wish to <3

[pretttydemonboy]

Some Fae!Jaskier Headcanons

Because I want to

the Fae aren’t like they are in the storybooks, the folk tales that people pass back and forth over campfires

what i mean by that is that they’re like all the tales

the Fae are as wide and diverse as humans are, with different appearances, abilities, and rules

Jaskier is one of the more benign types, as far as the whole kidnapping people/trapping them/stealing their children/etc etc.

he’s not into that

Jaskier wants attention, he likes attention, and he likes making people happy, and helping them

that’s not to say that he does things purely out of the kindness of his heart

Jaskier makes trades with nearly every interaction he has with another person

lots of times it’s a simple transaction, such as paying for a meal or a room

sometimes though, he makes more of a game out of it

one time he helped an elderly woman coax her cat out of her chimney

in exchange, he asked for one of her teacups

not because he needed it, or even wanted it, really, because where the hell was he going to keep it? but because it was a small and dainty thing and it reminded him of her

Jaskier’s favorite things to collect though, are stories, which is ultimately why he ends up following Geralt

heroics and heartbreak, death and destiny, Jaskier looks at Geralt and sees a fountain of stories and so many muscles it makes him weak in the knees

Jaskier’s vow to improve Geralt’s reputation in exchange for the chance to have Geralt’s stories becomes a longstanding trade between them

Jaskier tells himself that’s why he sticks around, why he and Geralt keep finding each other, just the trade

definitely not the way Geralt’s eyes glow in the firelight when they make camp, nor the way he grunts but smiles to himself when Jaskier tells him a story of his own

because if it’s not the stories he sticks around for, if it’s Geralt...

who owes who?

[kateis-cakeis]

Jaskier being a bi icon for 7 minutes straight (with wii music)

Ayyy, so I had to do it because every movement Jaskier makes, and every word he says is soooo not straight, that it one shots me. I hope ya enjoy!!!! 

[ophidiasmadness]

I made myself sad and now I have to share it.

Potential spoilers for the Steven Universe Movie? I guess. I really don't know much about the cartoon besides it being a really great show about acceptance and love and I've never really watched it for myself. Might have to start though...Anyways. My little cousin demanded we watch it while I was minding her at my house and whoo boy.

So, there's a moment in the Steven Universe Movie really close to the end. Spinel is fighting Steven and he's kneeling with his shield and she's just slamming her fists against it. And then she just starts to break down. And she says during a big emotional break down

"... Hahaha (super broken laughter) That's funny, right? At least you found me entertaining. You actually liked me, didn't you? What am I doing? Why do I want to hurt you so bad? I'm supposed to be your friend. I just want to be your friend..."

And my brain exploded in Geraskier freaking angst.

So, it's been a couple years after The Mountain and Geralt has Ciri in Kaer Morhen, and Yennefer just portals in and tells Geralt to get his shit together because something awful has happened to Jaskier. And Geralt just gets his shit because he feels like an asshole for what he said. He missed Jaskier and wanted to apologize but couldn't fucking find the bard anywhere. Plus needing to protect Ciri limited the search time and distance. He feels a bit sick and knows he should have tried harder to find his bard.

A rogue sorcerer found him instead, drawn to the pain and pure chaos of Jaskiers heart break. Because the thing is, Jaskier has chaos he just repressed the hell out of it because he's full on terrified of magic like the kind sorceresess and sorcerers use. This sorcerer used Jaskier, manipulated him, and changed him. Jaskier is now a hyper powerful destructive entity, with power linked to his emotions. And the sorcerer fucking with Jaskiers mind has left the bard unhinged.

Yennefer came across Jaskier as the bard fucking flattened a hill with Nilfgaard soldiers camping on it, sparing not a single one. Not a single drop of sweat or blood shed by the bard. And then he attacked her. And the way he looked was wrong. His playful smile was a rictus grin, stretching his mouth wrongly and tears like black ink fell from bloodshot black lined eyes down cheeks that were pale as death. His laugh was a twisted version of itself and Yen, who really didn't care about Jaskier, felt her insides twist with the warped sound.

Fast forward to The Big Fight TM, and Geralt is just blocking Jaskiers blows, using quen and his steel sword because Jaskier is not a monster.

And Jaskier is just shouting at Geralt to finish him, screaming, singing little mad tunes and Geralt just powers through blocking the attacks, because Yennefer is shielding him from the chaos and Triss is shielding Eskel who uses quen when Geralt's sign fades.

And finally, finally Jaskier is battering against Geralt's sign when black ink tears start to run again and Jaskiers slows down.

"What am I doing? Why do I want to hurt you so bad? I loved you, I'm supposed to be your friend. I just wanted to love you. Even if you didn't ever see me I was just happy to be with you. I just wanted to be your friend."

I'm not sure how it ends in my brain yet, but yeah.

Fuck me up I can just hear so much of Spinel in Jaskier. The pretty toy, happy to play and listen, wanting to just make his Witcher smile. And Geralt just ripping his heart out and abandoning him.

Here's some angst! Sorry!

[roughentumble]

I wrote a fic for disability pride month! Featuring Geralt's knee brace, and some Geraskier fluff.

(Note that I don't personally use a knee brace, but I hope I did an alright job representing it in my fic! Geralt's knee brace deserves more visibility in fandom :3 )

tagging @hale-of-stiles-heart cuz I figured she'd want me to.

here on ao3

——

Geralt can tell it's going to be one of those days. The twinge in his muscles as he stretches his leg, the dull ache seeping into his bones... It isn't so bad yet, but it'll get worse fast if he doesn't nip it in the bud.

His knee brace is as easy to apply as breathing, nowadays. He can do the straps with his eyes closed, the familiar leather sturdy and reassuring under his fingers as he tightens them around his thigh and his calf. He bends his knee once, twice, to make sure everything's in working order, then sets about packing up their meager camp.

It takes three tries to wake Jaskier, but Geralt's used to this by now. He wakes the bard in stages, listening to Jaskier's grumbles as he folds their tarp and saddles roach. By the time Jaskier is sitting up, bleary-eyed and groaning, his bedroll is the only thing left on the forest floor. "I'm up, I'm up." He slurs, tripping over his own feet as he tugs on his shoes and sloppily folds up his bedding.

"You never leave me time to fix my hair in the mornings, you brute," he grouses as he affixes his roll to roach's saddle. "You could try waking me earlier."

Geralt lets out an amused hum and throws a stale roll of bread at Jaskier's head.

He squawks and nearly drops it, fumbling it between his hands. "And now you're throwing things at me, you horrible–! Oh, it's breakfast. Thank you, darling, I didn't even realize how famished I was... presentation could do with a bit of work, though." He nibbles on his breakfast and slings his lute over his shoulder as he falls into step beside Geralt and Roach, a spring in his step on this fine summer morning. "So. Where are we off to today, witcher-mine?"

——

The answer, as always, is a small town with a monster problem, which Geralt had told him the night before, but information that didn't interest him had a tendancy of falling right out of his head. This particular small town is right outside the walls of Vizima, but they probably wouldn't end up inside the city itself for a day or two while Geralt dealt with the inevitable small town drowner contracts, and the town was rather small and dingy in comparison, hence Jaskier's lack of interest.

They arrived just as the sun began to peak overhead, and Jaskier's lack of interest was quickly turned on its head when he saw the town's bustling sunday market. It seemed as though everyone was out, whether selling or buying, tables laden with everything from fresh, steaming food, to new journals, to glittering jewelry. Jaskier let out an awed little 'ooh', and turned to scamper off into the crowd immediately, only to have his elbow caught by Geralt. "Notice board first, then the market."

Jaskier whines, but stays put as Geralt dismounts roach, careful not to jostle his leg too badly. "I could go on my own. Meet back up with you after all your negotiating."

"I'd never find you again. You'd get lost between the stalls, or pickpocketed. Why, are you that tired of me already?" Geralt inquires, face kept blank and serious but eyes alight with amusement.

"As if I could ever tire of your illustrious company. Alas, I've tried many things over the years, but nothing seems to do it."

"I suppose, then, you're stuck with me."

"I suppose, then, you're right." Jaskier smiles fondly, hooking his elbow around Geralt's. "Even if I am being dragged to a boring old negotiation."

——

The townsfolk, as it turns out, are staunch followers of the eternal fire. Despite the contract on the notice board, the town priest– acting as aelderman– insists that they don't even need any help, because all that's needed is prayer and the lighting of holy flames at dedicated spots.

Even though a woman was recently torn to shreds on the very riverbank they overlook to negotiate.

Maybe the fires weren't holy enough, Geralt thinks blithely. It tacks on an extra half an hour to negotiations, because he needs convincing that something needs to be done at all, and is that much stingier with funds as a result. Jaskier goes from enraged, to bored, to distracted, and finally slips out of the room during a particularly delicate portion of the exchange, where Geralt can't take a moment to corral him back into the room. Little weasel.

He gets half his payment up front, but the drowners in their river only come out at night, so he has an afternoon– however much is left of it, now– to wrangle Jaskier before he has to go fulfill the contract.

He flexes his leg, stiff from standing so long, leaning into the support of his brace, as he swivels his head in search of Jaskier.

Thankfully, there aren't many alleys for him to be hidden down. The market stretches straight down the main road, then veers straight off to the side, wrapping around the town in an L-shape. Unfortunately, someone else spots Jaskier just as Geralt does.

It must've been his bright garb that caught the man's eye, his showy gestures, the loose way he held their purse, because one moment he's gesticulating at a vendor, and the next a man from the crowd is snatching the purse from his hand. The wrenching motion looks painful, and Jaskier yelps as he snatches back his hand, the sound loud enough to carry across the street to where Geralt stands.

He doesnt stand still for long. Geralt is between the thief and his most obvious exit, the stalls packed in too tightly to slip between acting as a corridor right to the city gates– and the guards standing right outside them. He presses his advantage, darting forward to grab the man before he can escape.

He's fast, even faster than Geralt expected, and he dodges to the left when Geralt swipes right, nearly ducking out of his reach entirely but for the hood he uses to hide his face. A fistful of the loose fabric ends up in Geralt's hand, and he yanks backwards, clotheslining him and making him stumble back, choking and panicking. His arms whirl, grabbing at Geralt's own for stability, twisting in his grip to try and squirm away from his iron hold, and in a last desperate attempt swings his knee wildly at Geralt's.

The brace absorbs the impact and holds strong, keeping Geralt upright despite the distant throb.

The thief's knee crumples in pain on impact, collapsing beneath him in shock.

He hadn't expected the metal core inside the leather, reinforcing it.

Geralt grabs his arm and twists it, following him down to the ground and then pushing him lower, until he's flat on his stomach. The twinge in his knee tells him he shouldn't have done that, but he ignores it for now as he calls jaskier over.

It had only been a few moments in real time, but Jaskier looks frazzled, eyes wide as dinner plates. "Get our coin back while I hold him." Geralt says, and Jaskier nods, rifling through the man's pockets as he squirms under Geralt's weight, then taking Geralt's hand to help pull him back up.

The guards by the gate finally take interest, strolling down the bridge at a leisurely pace. "Go on, then. Before you get thrown in a cell for the night." Geralt says as he steps out of the theif's way. The man looks around for just a moment, as if judging Geralt's sincerity, then scrambles to his feet and runs.

"Well! That was rather bracing, wasn't it?" Jaskier says. When Geralt turns to respond, he sees not one but three bags of coin in his hands.

"Jaskier." He just shoots Geralt an innocent look, and Geralt pinches the bridge of his nose in irritation. "We should give those back to the people they belong to."

Jaskier's face screws up with incredulity. "How? No one's going to be honest, so there's no way to trace the original owners. And it's better than the guards taking it and adding it to the city's coffers. Might as well turn a bad situation into good fortune, and enjoy it!"

Geralt doesnt like the idea much, but he can't argue Jaskier's logic, and the enthusiasm is a bit infectious, though he'd never admit it. "Fine... but I'm holding the purse."

——

When they finally get a room for the night, the sun is just starting to dip below the horizon, and their arms are laden with food and trinkets and books that Jaskier had insisted they spend their new assets on. Geralt will have to don his armor soon enough, but for now he has a free moment, and he sinks gratefully onto the bed.

"Pants off." Jaskier commands, and Geralt raises an eyebrow, though he undoes the strings dutifully.

"Not the sexiest way I've been propositioned, I've got to say." He reaches down to undo the straps of his brace as well, shedding both with ease. "Don't tell me the great bard is losing his touch."

Jaskier throws his head back and laughs, twisting the lid off a jar of lotion as he does. "Trust me, if I was propositioning you, you'd know." He scoops a dollop into his palm, then sets the jar on the side table as Geralt shimmies up the bed, back against the heaboard and legs out in front of him. The lotion is hand-warmed as it's smoothed over Geralt's skin, and Jaskier's touch is gentle but firm as it rubs soothing circles into the tired muscle.

He strokes up and down, long, slow strokes from calf to thigh and back again, until Geralt feels like a puddle on the bed, eyes closed and a little pleased rumble emanating from his chest. "You'll just have to do that again when I get back," he says quietly.

"I don't mind." Jaskier replies, voice equally hushed. He places a reverent kiss on Geralt's thigh, then gently pats it and slides a pillow beneath it for extra comfort. His knee really isn't that bad today– the brace works wonders for him when he uses it– but the gentle love and care makes Geralt's chest ache with affection, and it works to keep his knee from getting worse more often.

Jaskier moves to leave the bed, but Geralt stops him, tugs him towards his lap. "Would that be alright?" Jaskier asks, glancing over at his knee anxiously.

"It's fine, as long as you don't give me too much of your weight." Geralt says, which has Jaskier eagerly scrambling into his lap, grin absolutely blinding.

He reaches out, slowly twining his arms around Geralt's neck. "So. Now that you've got me here, what do you want from me?" Jaskier asks, voice deep and sultry.

Geralt takes a moment to trail his hand up and down Jaskier's back, looping his arms around Jaskier's waist. "Wanted to tell you... how much you mean to me. How much I love you. How much better you make my life."

Jaskier's face takes on a shocked little oh shape, then tranforms into a watery smile. "Oh, you great big sap, you." Jaskier says, pulling Geralt in closer to hide his face in Geralt's shoulder, sniffling. "I love you too, my darling."

They stay like that for a long time. In a little room in a tiny inn, they find peace together as twilight descends.

[thestalwartheart]

6, 19, and 30, if you can, for the fic ask. :)

Hi @theexistencegame! Thanks for the ask 💙 I answered no. 30 here.

6. Favorite title you used

the guardian of progress. I thought it up on my own (no TSwift needed that time 😂), and it's one of those titles that doesn't really click until you finish the fic. I got a really nice comment about it that made me feel extremely smug haha.

Aside from that one, titles aren't generally something I'm attached to. I'm curious if readers register/remember/appreciate them. If there's one you liked of mine, let me know in the replies!

19. What’s one pairing you want to explore next year?

Well, we all know there's one pairing that isn't leaving my brain any time soon!

Beyond 00Q, though...

I keep teasing about this and not releasing the fic (I'm so sorry - it'll be posted when I'm happy with it, I promise), but: Bond x Moneypenny. There are layers upon layers to it (at least in my head) that I'm fascinated by. I'm intrigued by Bond x Vesper, but will probably be much too intimidated to write any.

Honestly, I'm just chomping at the bit to write more women.

In terms of other fandoms, idk. I had a crack at Geraskier for The Witcher earlier this year, but with the TV series falling apart, I've lost a bit of interest. There's always Star Trek, though. I have a 20k+ half-written Kirk/Spock epic (relative epic maybe, I'm never going to be a 100k story author) sitting in my WIP folder. Who knows, maybe next year will be the year it sees the light of AO3.

In my head, I'll also probably write the mystery rom-com backstory for Benoit Blanc x his partner.

Anyway, you asked for one pairing. One. And I gave you a shopping list. I don't know how you all put up with me. Thank you for doing it anyway! 💙

[ruffboijuliaburnsides]

WIP Game of Shame: okay first of all, how am I supposed to only pick a couple because these all sound AMAZING.

Jaskier's goin conspiracy board on his past life

Small god of Kaer Morhen

Hey There Cirilla

Viper!Jaskier

okay now that I'm not mobile I can touch on all this. :3

Jaskier's goin conspiracy board on his past life:

I think in this case you get an excerpt. :3

"He's definitely your ancestor or something!" Maddie told Jaskier with a laugh as she snapped a picture of him posing in front of the large portrait in the Novigrad Art Museum.

"I wish," Jaskier said with a laugh once she'd lowered her phone to post it online. "No one in my family history could ever have been this cool, we'd have long droning stories about them."

They'd come to the museum to get some pictures of themselves with the art, to prove they'd been so they could get extra credit in their art history class, and tucked into some little alcove of the labyrinthine exhibit they had found it. A portrait of a handsome nobleman posing dramatically as his sword pierced the heart of... probably a wyvern. Jaskier had never managed to remember the difference between them and dragons, even if dragons didn't exist anymore and wyverns were still out there, though they were rare. The man looked like Jaskier if he were about ten years older and grew a goatee, which had delighted both of them.

"Maybe it'll go viral and I'll get to be famous for like five minutes," he mused wistfully, while Maddie looked closer at the painting. It had been among a number of works found in an underground storeroom during a construction project years ago, painstakingly restored, and now finally on display in this "art of Medieval Novigrad and Oxenfurt" exhibit.

small god of kaer morhen:

So this is a fic about if a spirit were attached to Kaer Morhen that was essentially like... the guardian/patron of it and the wolf witchers? And I maybe used a conlang builder to make two different conlangs for it and if I ever actually write it I think ppl will enjoy it :3

Hey There Cirilla:

Dadskier! aka the modern AU where Jaskier is Ciri's very loving but kinda deadbeat dad, Yen basically raised her, and both Ciri and Jaskier get ADHD diagnoses and treatment. Jaskier's not REALLY a deadbeat, he's got untreated ADHD and depression, and knew when he was 19 and found out he'd knocked Pavetta up and Pavetta was dead that he wasn't in a position to raise his daughter in a way that would give her the stability and opportunities she deserved, and so he and Yen (her godmother) decided it was best if Yen raised her and Jaskier just visited sometimes, but now Ciri's having trouble in school and needs her dad and Jaskier's determined to figure out how to do better for her.

Features enemies-to-lovers (sorta) Geraskier, bc Geralt initially is under the impression that Jaskier actually IS a deadbeat dad and finds that unacceptable.

Viper!Jaskier:

aka by god still am, my beloved. That one AU where Jaskier was a witcher the whole time but had no memory of it. It was the first proper fic I started in Witcher fandom, and ONE DAY I WILL FUCKING FINISH IT GDI.

[suzukiblu]

current commissions' current progress (in no particular order):

Ko-fi subs/thanks -

Clay Kids (x2) (750/2000), (0/1000)

Geraskier kiss (0/1000)

de-aged Witcher (2/?)

speed demon Palpatine (1500/1500)

next Azue installment (50/1000)

random ATLA x2 (0/1000), (0/1000)

standard comms -

"read the inscription" coda (1800/2000)

"you make a really good girl" sequel (x2) (2600/5000), (0/10000)

ODYDLB den mother Tony (1300/10000)

Jedi Finn (16000/10000)

FTH work -

Encanto triplets (0/5000)

Ted Lasso (needs final sketch)

summer project (0/10000)

original serial -

next installment (1000/????)

Slowly progressing, but progressing. Just gotta knock a few things off this list this week if I can. Not sure what to work on next, there's . . . a lot of options, hahaha. Probably something from the normal comms list, that's been VERY neglected lately.

Also speed demon Palpatine still needs edits, but it's done, at least, so it'll probs go up sometime tomorrow.

[senashenta]

A Beauty And The Beast Geraskier short fic is definitely incoming from me, probably to fill one of those WATB prompts that I'm still planning on writing. So what I'm saying is it's probably going to be porn, but at the very least it'll be fluffy too.

[unwhithered]

So I just went through your geraskier soulmate au (which I love bc I am weak for soulmates, reincarnation, and angst and this au dun fucked me up so good) and I had a lovely angsty thought: none of Geralt's soulmates seem to survive more than 20-some years with him, so what if he's counting down the years until canon!Jaskier dies too? Like it hurts to imagine the other dying (just as it hurts to have him there) but 20 years have passed so it'll be over soon and he can go back to grief in peace.

That is a very very sad thought anon. I DO think Geralt is just counting down the years to another tragedy but I don’t think he has that specific a timeline. He probably had about twenty years with the first Jaskier, but only around 4 with plague!Jaskier, 15-ish with Buttercup, but now that I’ve decided book!Dandelion is the most recent past incarnation I think he got more than twenty years with Dandelion (not sure how long yet). And that was almost worse, because Geralt had to watch him age and be reminded that his soulmate’s mortality isn’t *only* due to violent death directly associated with having Geralt for a soulmate or getting sick on their travels, it’s also just *inevitable* no matter what. He could never ever find his soulmate in one life, and they would still die. He can send canon!Jaskier away, refuse to travel with him, never see him again, and he has to live with the knowledge that Jaskier will *still die* because he fucked the wrong man’s wife or he caught run-of-the-mill pneumonia or he just...got old, like humans do.

I think the unexpectedness of it makes it worse for him, honestly. Yes, he hasn’t gotten a whole human lifetime with any incarnation, but they’ve also all died differently enough that he cannot plan for it. Can’t keep them safe by always having them by his side, because the first Jaskier died right in front of him, when Geralt was just a little too slow and a werewolf was just a little too clever. Can’t keep them safe by leaving them in town while he hunts, because Buttercup was stoned to death by villagers who thought she deserved to die for being soulbonded to a Witcher. Can’t protect them from the weakness of their own human immune system. Can’t ever save them from old age.

So he’s counting up the years. But twenty is no guarantee. Maybe Jaskier will die soon. Maybe he’ll live another decade or two and Geralt will see him whither in front of his eyes before something kills him. Maybe they’ll separate and never see each other again like he keeps trying, and he’ll never even know exactly how or why Jaskier dies this time, he’ll just hear about it someday when another bard sings one of the “late, great Jaskier’s” songs and pull up his shirt and realize his soulmark is scarred over again and he didn’t even notice when it happened, and that...is almost worse. It’s the not knowing that torments him the most. And not knowing when another incarnation will turn back up, either.