#because Vernon Roche just can't do it any other way

[ladymarinamart]

Geralt: "Roche, fuck!"

Geralt: "The evil seducer of my beautiful daughter!"

Vernon: "So... We're leaving, Ciri."

Ciri: "Vernon...?"

Vernon: "Let's get married, make love and have children... I don't care about the opinions of others, I love you and that's all that matters."

"Father, this is Vernon Roche. He's my future husband."

[henryyarden]

Comparing yourself and your boyfriend to iornon is insulting. You are both not strangers, you do not care about each other, you have common things and understanding, you also talked a lot. There is also clearly no evil ridicule and humiliation in your relationship.

It's none of my business, but I just hope that you two are doing great in a relationship and understanding like RocheCiri, and not like iornon.

(Okay, I said I'm going to ignore her, but this is too much, I just can't. Please forgive me.)

DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS WHAT WE DO? Honey, this is not how cosplay works. We do not change our whole personalities and our relationship dynamic for our costumes. Not to say how often we would have to throw out everything about our relationship to fit what we are just doing.

No, we don't think we are Iorveth and Vernon (thank gods) and if you think about your life this way, please don't. Don't bend your life to your favourite fictional characters. And if you already do, try to get some help. These characters are not real. Ciri and Vernon don't exist in our world. Just as Iorveth and Vernon don't exist.

I know that from my Tumblr profile it looks like I do not have anything else to do in my life than simp over Rorveth just the way it looks like you don't have anything to do in your life than to hate every ship that is not Roche/Ciri, so let me get this straight.

Doing Rorveth photos doesn't mean we compare ourselves or our relationship to them.

Just as we don't compare our relationship to lord Hans Capon and Henry of Skalitz.

Just as we don't think we are Nilfgaardian soldiers.

Just as I don't want my husband to pay with his life for making him the captain of the Black Pearl.

Just as I don't steal and he doesn't kill people.

(Honestly I still live for this ship from completely different settings.)

Just as we don't want to go on a journey to destroy the One ring.

Just as we don't think we are important figures of Tamriel.

We don't compare our relationship to any of these characters and their possible ships. We are cosplayers. We are a couple that share a passion about movies and books and video games and we love to discuss them as proud nerds we are, but we don't share a mental illness which would make us actually believe we are the characters.

I don't want our relationship to look like Iorveth and Vernon, and I for sure don't want it to look like Vernon and Ciri (who by the way didn't share a single sentence in the source material if you so insist on comparing). I want it to be just the way it is - two people who love each other and share a strong passion for their common HOBBY.

You don't have to be worried about our relationship, because WE know what is real and what is fiction. Maybe you should also try it.

[stillness138]

for the character ask game: Vernon Roche

i gotta think about this! thank you

first impression: i actually remember this pretty well because witcher 2 was my first exposure to the franchise. i think i felt pretty much what i was supposed to feel though; "this guy imprisoned me but seems more sensible than the goons he employs". i liked his matter-of-fact but clearly proud and protective attitude towards Ves and his putting the key on the table and walking away like 'surely Geralt will manage'.

impression now: i still like him! surprisingly, cdpr writes original characters with really commendable nuance. of course, if Iorveth is to be believed word for word, Roche is responsible for carrying out hate crimes (he doesn't deny the accusations Iorveth makes, so i think that's just fact), and yet he shows time and time again that he really is more sensible than most. compare him to Rayla - also a special forces leader - and see the difference. Roche lacks the outright bloodthirst or really even the prejudice; it seems to me that he does his job and obeys Foltest without objection because he sees it as doing something worthwhile with his life, considering how he grew up. he and Iorveth contrast and parallel each other in fascinating ways.

favorite thing about him: his relationship towards Ves, because he clearly values her as an employee and as a person. his relative level-headedness. and the unpacked daddy issues that are most definitely there even if he won't talk about it. that part of him is sadly the most relatable to me. i also enjoy his humor, whether intentional or not. "emhyr var emreis, spice merchant" bursting into the elven baths while Triss is trying her hardest to seduce Geralt, fucking comedy gold.

least favorite thing about him: apart from the hate crimes? i think most of my issues that relate to him are metatextual - because the entire political landscape and plotline of witcher 3 sucks ass. maybe he could've held back the cops that beat Geralt though ngl.

favorite line/scene: "And we did. For three days. Then they smashed us into splinters." again, as much as i dislike the politics in witcher 3, this bit stands out to me. maybe also because it's punctuated by a reprise of the second game's main theme, in 3's instrumentation and a much more somber mood. good scene. that and the funny bits. "Some professional you are..."

favorite interaction he has with another character: it should be mainly credited to Letho's absolutely hilarious one-liner, but their little reunion at Kaer Morhen always gets a chuckle out of me. the entire interrogation at the beginning of witcher 2 is up there too.

a character that i wish he would interact with more: in the second game, elves in general. he mostly proves he's not completely shit-headed in context, but it would've been interesting to see him have a conversation with someone like Cedric. third game should've had Iorveth, we all know that.

another character from another fandom that reminds me of him: i know 5 things, but if i had to make a comparison... general Tullius from Skyrim? both are very capable and dedicated servants of a government despite its obvious failures and both show a noticeable sensibility or even calm you perhaps wouldn't expect. both have a badass lady as their right-hand person, too.

a headcanon about him: he hates the smell of cheap alcohol. childhood reminder. i also think he has a notable appreciation for architecture. can't remember if he actually comments on Loc Muinne in any way but somehow it feels like a thing he'd do. and i think it's pretty much canon that his hair color is towards light brown? or have i been living with fanon for far too long. either way, yeah, dirty blonde or warm light brown, super short on the sides.

a song that reminds of him: Shadowplay by Joy Division, in a way. first verse about beginning to serve Foltest, second verse about Foltest's and Temeria's fall. "but i could only stare in disbelief as the crowds all left" versus "and we did, for three days, then they smashed us into splinters".

an unpopular opinion about him: i famously dislike shipping him with Iorveth and i'm actually yet to see a good Roche ship. but the real hot take is that he doesn't need one. did i just say aroace Vernon Roche? maybe.

favorite picture: i'm sorry, but it's gotta be this one. on a more serious note, i always liked this piece of fanart a lot too. he gets to be cool.