#c: tissaia

[hanzajesthanza]

you ever think about how tissaia saved yennefer from her su*cide attempt, in which she slit her wrists trying to bleed out, and sternly admonished her for it, very sincerely telling her that she knew she had meant it, because she cut deep. demanding from her that she is not to ever do something like that again, and she will make sure of that, because she will take care of her, nurse her to health, and bring her to power.

and then later in the saga. tissaia kills herself. in the same way as yennefer attempted, by slitting her own wrists .

[horsegirlcahir]

sᴋʏʟᴀʀᴋ — "there is nothing more pathetic than a sorceress in tears."

[nellieofthevalley]

Tissaias constant Prefectionist attitude is my favorite thing ever, Shes absolutely perfect and I miss her so much

“… Ciri put the carafe on the table, obviously wrong, because Tissaia de Vries immediately move it. In serving, Yennefer destroyed the entire composition on the table and once again Tissaia started sorting it. Ciri imagined with horror Tissaia in the role of teacher.”

— Time of Contempt (Andrzej Sapkowski)

[mercisnm]

Messy and rough desk sex with Tissaia, uncropped version(s) on privatter.

[multifandomfix]

Tissaia de Vries Angst Alphabet

A = Anger (what are they like when they’re angry?)

Tissaia is controlled and rarely raises her voice, even in anger. Her anger is cold and sharp, often delivered through biting remarks and tense silence rather than yelling. When she’s angry, she maintains her dignity, but her intensity can be deeply intimidating. Though when she does explode it is nuclear.

B = Break Up (if they had to, how would they break up with you?)

Tissaia would break up with you in a formal, almost clinical manner, detaching herself emotionally. She wouldn’t allow her feelings to show, and she’d likely tell you it’s for the best, citing logic and reason. It would be painful but respectful, a clean break with little room for argument.

C = Cry (how often do they cry? do they cry over little things?)

Tissaia very rarely cries, and certainly not over little things. She only cries when she is completely overwhelmed, and even then, it’s often in private. She sees crying as a weakness and tries to avoid it, but when it happens, it’s because something has truly broken through her emotional armor.

D = Debt (how do they make it up to you when they’ve done something wrong?)

When she knows she’s in the wrong, she makes amends through actions. She would go out of her way to demonstrate her regret by doing something meaningful for you.

E = Entrapment (how would they react to you being kidnapped?)

If you were kidnapped, Tissaia would remain calm outwardly, but inside, she would be seething with anger and fear. She would meticulously plan your rescue, using her power and resources to track you down without hesitation. She would stop at nothing to ensure your safety.

F = Fear (how badly do they fear losing you? do they fear for you somehow losing them?)

Tissaia deeply fears losing those she cares about, though she would be hesitant to admit it. She doesn’t show it often, but the thought of you leaving or being harmed terrifies her. As for you losing her, she’s confident in her sense of self but aware that her stoic exterior might push you away.

G = Grief (if you were to die, how would they react?)

Tissaia would be devastated, though few would see it. She would grieve in private, shutting herself off from the world. She might become more detached, burying herself in her work to avoid confronting the depth of her loss. It would take her a long time to process the pain.

H = Health (How are they at taking care of themselves?)

Tissaia is disciplined in maintaining her health, both physically and mentally, but she tends to neglect her emotional well being. She keeps herself in top shape, but she represses a lot, which can take a toll over time. She’s not one to ask for help, even when she needs it.

I = Insensitive (how do they act when they know they’ve said something that upset you?)

Tissaia would reflect before doing any apologizing outright. She’d take time to acknowledge your feelings and let cooler heads prevail instead of trying to say something in the heat of the moment. She’s direct and honest, sometimes to a fault, so if she realizes she hurt you, she will try to make amends.

J = Jerk (when can they tell you’re mad at them? do either of you resort to name calling?)

Tissaia can tell when you’re upset with her, as she’s highly perceptive, but she doesn’t deal well with emotional confrontation. Name calling wouldn’t be her style, and she would disdain it if you resorted to it. She’s more likely to withdraw when she senses tension.

K = Knife (how do they feel about hurting others? physically or emotionally?)

Tissaia is pragmatic and understands that hurting others is sometimes necessary, both physically and emotionally. She doesn’t enjoy it, but she won’t shy away from it either, especially if it’s in pursuit of a greater good or protecting those she loves.

L = Liar (are they a good liar? how often do they lie to you?)

Tissaia is an excellent liar, but again, only when necessary. She values honesty, particularly in relationships. She wouldn’t lie to you often, and if she did, it would be to protect you or spare you from a painful truth. Her lies are calculated and subtle, but she won’t lie just for the hell of it. She always has a reason.

M = Maudlin (how do you cheer them up when they’re feeling sad?)

Tissaia doesn’t respond well to overt displays of affection when she’s sad. The best way to cheer her up is through quiet companionship, showing her that you’re there without overwhelming her with emotions. Small, thoughtful gestures mean more to her than grand declarations.

N = Never (what would they do if they knew they could never be with you?)

If Tissaia knew she could never be with you, she would accept it, albeit with great difficulty. She would try to bury her emotions and move on, throwing herself into her work to avoid dwelling on the loss. But it would haunt her for a long time.

O = Oath (what happens when you break a promise? how do they take it?)

Tissaia values trust and integrity deeply, so if you were to break a promise, she would take it seriously. Depending on the severity, she might become distant and cold, finding it difficult to trust you again. Earning back her trust would be a long, arduous process.

P = Pressure (how do they handle stress? how do you help them relax?)

Tissaia is accustomed to handling immense pressure, and she’s adept at managing stress without showing cracks. However, stress does take its toll on her, and helping her relax would involve creating a calm environment where she can let her guard down. A fragrant bath isn’t a bad idea.

Q = Quiet (do they ever give you the silent treatment? how do they react when you give it to them?)

Tissaia doesn’t intentionally give the silent treatment, but she can become distant when upset. If you were to give her the silent treatment, she would find it childish and frustrating, likely waiting for you to explain yourself rather than addressing it directly.

R = Rejection (how would they take it if you were to reject them?)

Rejection would sting Tissaia deeply, but she wouldn’t show it on the surface. She would internalize the pain, questioning what she did wrong. Still, she would remain dignified, not begging or pleading, but the rejection would stay with her for a long time.

S = Self Doubt (what are they insecure about?)

Despite her confidence, Tissaia is deeply insecure about her emotional vulnerability. She fears that her coldness may drive people away or that she’s incapable of truly connecting with others on a deep emotional level.

T = Triangle (what would they do if they were caught in a love triangle with you? would they fight for you or give you up?)

Tissaia would not participate in a love triangle for long. If she felt your affections were divided, she might initially try to win you over, but she would never lower herself to open competition. If she felt you weren’t fully committed, she would eventually walk away, letting you decide what’s truly important.

U = Unloved (what would you do to make sure they felt loved?)

To make Tissaia feel loved, you’d need to show her loyalty, respect, and understanding. Offering her thoughtful, quiet moments of affection without overwhelming her would reassure her. Consistency and subtle gestures are the key to making her feel secure in your love for her.

V = Vault (do they keep their emotions sealed tight, or do they let them out openly?)

Tissaia keeps her emotions tightly sealed, only revealing them in moments of extreme duress. She believes in maintaining control at all times, so she rarely lets her emotions show, except with those she trusts most. Even then, it’s a slow process to fully open up.

W = Wound (how do they react when you’ve been injured?)

If you were injured, Tissaia would react with immediate action, suppressing any panic to focus on helping you. She would be efficient, finding the quickest and most effective way to heal you. Afterward, though, her concern and fear would surface, likely leading to a serious conversation about safety.

X = X Lovers (what happens when they’re confronted with an ex of yours?)

Tissaia would be cool and composed when confronted with an ex, but she would carefully assess their behavior and the dynamic between you. She wouldn’t show jealousy overtly but might make subtle comments to remind you where your loyalties should lie.

Y = Yell (how often do fights occur? how bad do they get?)

Fights with Tissaia are rare but intense. She doesn’t yell often, but you know it’s serious when she does. When arguments happen, they can be emotionally charged, but she remains composed. However, when truly pushed, she can unleash a sharp, cutting fury.

Z = Zestless (what happens if you lose that initial spark with them?)

If the spark begins to fade, Tissaia would notice and try to reignite it through meaningful conversations and reminiscing, but if she felt that the connection was truly gone, she might begin to withdraw, believing that some things are beyond saving.

For anon

Forever Tag: @baubeautyandthegeek, @ghostsunderstoodmysoul, @immyowndefender, @valencethefriendlychangeling, @crimsonwidow666, @rebelbossheart, @thedailyspiritualist, @orangeisnttheonlyfruit, @woman-simp, @aperol-with-izzy, @leonoralessoem, @ellepossum69, @lakita-fisher, @trexsuit, @analuw, @luvlesavyy, @malfoyfeed, @aliciabrower, @sparrowspixie, @imaginationismyworldlypleasure, @og-kxsh-420

Tissaia de Vries: @riveranddoctorsong123, @randomfandomimagine, @grilledcheeseandguavajelly, @shitheadsthings, @thepotatoislost, @harknspet, @rubyqueen819, @roxi-reid, @hc-geralt-23, @floresferae, @pink-sunrise-56, @anarrowtotheknee, @tissaiasdarkone, @thekirbishow, @theuniverseofsg, @thepotatoislost, @tissaias-wife

[wingsofhcpe]

yeah now I see why everyone's saying Netflix ruined the Witcher story in s3 and why Henry Cavill hightailed it the fuck out of there.

They ruined Dijkstra by making him a coward and a drunken fool by the end. They ruined Philippa by making her a "sexy dominatrix" cardboard cutout instead of the calm and collected mastermind powerhouse she's in the books AND it seems they'll give her secret magic meetings orchestrator role to Yennefer because fuck any female character who isn't her or Ciri, I guess. They changed Cahir's story for.... God knows why, actually. They FUCKED UP Fringilla and Fransesca and the emergence of the Dol Blathana kingdom, seriously I don't even know where to begin when it comes to these two.

And worst of all, the one thing I will absolutely never forgive them for: Tissaia.

My brave, strong, arrogant Tissaia, brought so low for a man. Making mistakes not because of her arrogance or her immense power and her belief that she was protecting what she treasured, but for a fucking love interest. Oh, but he turned her soft, she finally trusted, she was finally happy, she's better for it per Yen's literal words. And she gambled and lost not because of her unwavering beliefs, but because she was shagging Vilgefortz and he manipulated her.

The lightning scene and her hair turning white? Yeah, that was fucking badass. But since they went through all that trouble to keep her around longer/have her do more things, I don't understand why they had to kill her in the same way as the books in the end. With the path they chose for her, she should have died during the lightning spell. That would have been okay. But no, they had to do that part like the books, I imagine for shock value. And somehow, that made everything even worse.

CW for self-harm and suicide under the cut.

In the books, Tissaia taking her own life was not a dramatic, prolonged scene. It wasn't an emotional decision she took by smoking drugs and writing farewell letters. She made a mistake because of her own arrogance: not because of men or love but because she truly believed herself to be powerful and infallible and trusted herself to protect Aretuza. And so when she gambled and lost, taking her own life felt like her acknowledging her colossal mistake and not cowering at the face of consequences, but instead delivering those consequences herself, which only strengthened her image as a powerful, self-sufficient mage; she didn't even need someone else to point out her failures and deliver punishment, she did it herself. And to be clear here, I am not glorifying her act; suicide is no "proper punishment", nor should it be regarded as something admirable. All I'm saying is that it was very much in line with Tissaia's character and thematically fitting. This is fiction, not reality. Let us not confuse the two.

In the show, however? They dragged it out, they had Philippa rubbing her mistakes at her face, humiliating her in front of the other sorcerers. And the last straw for me was her conversation with Yennefer, because it really came off as Tissaia accepting that her living and staying strong and leading them would be the proper way to atone for what she did. It came off as Tissaia accepting responsibility, recognising the truth in Yennefer's words, and actually trusting in them. Then, the moment Yennefer looked away, she got high, made a callback to season 1 for... some reason with the rock and flower trick, and killed herself.

In the books, death felt like her righteous punishment that she accepted for her mistakes. Here, it felt like running away, choosing the easy way out and, ultimately, doing it all because of Vilgefortz.

And I am never, ever forgiving the show writers for that. Tissaia was my favourite character in the books, and they absolutely destroyed and humiliated her, and for what? For shock value and to prop up Yennefer. Because God forbid this show has more than one badass woman character in the lead. If yall wanted to change Tissaia's character you could have done that by keeping her alive, having her stand by Yennefer, maybe having lost her powers after thar spell but still being there to guide the new generation of sorcerers as they rebuilt their home- that would have been what book!Tissaia would have done as an alternative to dying. But no. You just had to make her a pathetic little coward whose actions were mostly because of her relationship to Vilgefortz. Taking away her strength and agency in every possible way.

I'm glad Cavill left this shitty-ass production and I honestly hope s4 flops SO bad you'll have to cancel s5 even if it's already renewed. Fuck this shit.

[zoeysdamn]

Fanarts and illustrations masterlist

[MAIN MASTERLIST]

[Instagram art account]

Meet the artist 2023 (TW: mention of mental health issues)

Meet me in different universe //the 'girls on films' trend

The Wicther

The Witcher Tarot - Major arcanas

Jaskier Yennefer of Vangerberg Philippa Eilhart Anna Henrietta  Emhyr var Emreis  Avalla’ch  Yennefer and Geralt  Geralt of Rivia Angoulême  Emiel Regis Cirilla of Cintra  Radovid V  Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach Eredin Eithné Leo Bonhart  Tor Zireael    Triss Merigold   Milva Barring  Mistle  Tissaia de Vries [TW: blood]  Ciri     

The Witcher tarot - Figures 

King of Swords - Eskel  Queen of Swords - Cerys an CraiteKnight of Swords - Sigismund DijkstraPage of Swords - Fringilla VigoAce of Swords - Ida Emean aep Sivney

King of Wands - LambertQueen of Wands - FalkaKnight of Wands - Olgierd von EverecPage of Wands - Assire var AnahidAce of Wands - Sabrina Gleivissig

King of Pentacles - Vesemir Queen of Pentacles - Francesca FindabairKnight of Pentacles - Margarita Laux-AntillePage of Pentacles - ShaniAce of Pentacles - Sheala de Tancarville

King of Cups - Crach an CraiteQueen of Cups - Lytta NeydKnight of Cups - Iris von EverecPage of Cups - Hjalmar an CraiteAce of Cups - Keira Metz

Other The Witcher fanarts:

Geralt’s Hansa (books) Philippa Eilhart (cosplay/fanart) The witcher 3 genderbends More The Witcher 3 Genderbends (Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri) Fem!Radovid x Male!Philippa Eilhart (TW: blood) Empress!Ciri || Another Empress!Ciri Cahir x Empress!Ciri Queen of Cintra!Ciri Ciri x Cahir Pirates of the Caribbean AU Witcher!Yennefer MET Gala looks for Yennefer, Triss and Philippa Witchersona sketches Triss x Philippa (cosplay/fanart) Witcher!Ahsoka Tano (Star Wars x the Witcher AU) Regis mandrake liquor

Avatar: the last airbender

ATLA Tarot

Aang Azula The Painted Lady Ursa Ozai Iroh The painted Lady x the Blue spirit Zuko Toph Roku Ty Lee Kyoshi Jet Kô Suki Zhao Air temples Katara [COMING SOON] Yue [COMING SOON] Sokka Mai [COMING SOON] [surprise card] [COMING SOON]

The Sandman

There shall be night series fanart Crack headcanon crossover Hamilton x The Sandman

Wednesday

Tatto artist AU (Xavier Thorpe, Wenclair)Glitter and Gold Rave’n outfits for Bianca, Enid and Xavier

A-Z double characters challenge

A & B C to K

Original Art

Golden Aphrodite [redraw]Lady Loki [redraw]Party Medusa [redraw]Greek Mythology women - color palettes studyArt progress from 2018 to 2023Modern!Medusa x AthenaMonstersona V4Pole dance strugglesBrush and layer mode theory [practice]

WIPs & sneak peek

Ciri x Cahir inspired by 'Paolo and Virginia' Queen of Cintra!Ciri ATLA tarot: Katara's card Unfinished Queen!Ciri x Knight!Cahir fanart ATLA tarot: more sneak peeks

[crushermyheart]

WIP Word Game

Thank you for the tag @fandomsbyladymelodrama! <3

Rules: You will be given a word. Share one sentence/excerpt from your WIP that starts with each letter of that word.

My word was: MAGIC.

I've currently got two 60k+ wips on the go that I've been working on for over a year. Help. M & A are from a Happy Valley wip, and G, I & C are from a Witcher fic.

M

Milton avenue is as quiet as she left it the day before. Deserted. As if no one had set foot on the cobbled path she was walking down for a very long time.

A

And she knows that if she dares, if she looks beyond his quiet grin, she'll find the same sadness that had stolen years they might have otherwise spent together.

G

Guilt blooms in the pit of her stomach as Tissaia braces herself against a pillar, a heaved exhale creating a solitary tear in her evergreen composure.

I

It is not long before the other follow, cocooning themselves in a ring of defiance, drawing strength from their collective chaos and the coveted presence of their sisters.

C

Chaos gathers in the hollow dome above their heads, drawn not from the tempting flames but from the cool fabric of night.

I'm tagging @phoenixflames12 @itsmeagain00 @fuel-prices @cookie-moi @katiedingo @beanabouttownand @baronessblixen + anyone else who might be interested :)

Your word is TIDES.

[fangirleaconmigo]

ARE YOU EXCITED!!!!!!!!

Ahhhh Nonny I AM excited. I AM VIBRATING

I KNOW I KNOW

For book fans like me, there were some really disappointing elements last season. I was so excited to meet Eskel (lolsob) I was so excited for Yen and Ciri to meet and the magic lessons at the temple (lolsob). I hated her betrayal, I hated Vesemirs betrayal, I was so upset because I do get invested damnit and I did contemplate up and quitting the whole thing.

However, I cannot! I cannot quit this story, I love this cast, and what is more, the trailer looks really really cool.

The trailer has the theme of neutrality vs choosing a side, it has Geralt being devoted to protecting Ciri, it has THANNED it has some really exciting looking fights scenes and monster scenes and Ciri coming into herself. They also released extra scenes where Yen and Ciri and Geralt are bonding, which, dear god I hope are not a dream sequence or something like that, but Ciri is teaching Yen to ice skate!!!! That’s straight out of our fanfic fantasies for book fans who know how important ice skating is to Ciri’s story! I have a fic like that!!

I know that hope is dangerous but I’m afraid that I have it, I’ve caught the hopes 😂

I also know that a lot of people are complaining about the outfits and styling. Let me be honest I really do not notice that stuff much? I’m totally ignorant about style and fashion and such and I think Yen looks stunning because Anya Chalotra is such a stunning natural beauty, and omg her and Geralt at the ball together yesss and yes ok Joeys real life hair is a lot better than the one they have on the show but he’s still beautiful 🤷🏻‍♀️ bc that’s all that beautiful man can be, and I love the eyeliner and I can’t wait to see his face again.

Also Joey has basically confirmed that he has a male love interest this season, which is beyond my wildest dreams for this show. I would happily throw down with anyone about this being a bad idea for the story bc it’s a great idea actually. And hey speaking of queer story lines what if we get a scrap of Triss and Philippa??? What then??? I would throw a parade.

So yeah.

The writing is the writing and it’s never gonna be the prestige writing of my dreams (i would absolutely kill for fuckin premium top shelf Andor level writing for a witcher story, but I know that what I want is not what mass audiences want) and it will never be the books and I am sure there will be things I’ll nitpick b/c that’s me but the trailer looks awesome and the cast is terrific and I can’t wait to spend time with this cast and these characters and my body is ready.

I will be seated I will have my bells on. I will woop when I see Yenny boo and Gerri boi and my daughter Cirilla and Myanna as Tissaia again and Jaskier and Philippa etc etc etc and we may even see the love of my life Milva at the end.

If I come back bitching and complaining about it then I come back bitching and complaining about it but I’m gonna give it a chance. And I’m super excited based on the trailer.

[is-your-blorbo-neurodivergent]

does she have c-ptsd?

submit your own characters here to be featured!

edit: I FUCKING SPELLED VENGERBERG WRONG. i made this at like 2 am so my bad

reasons under the cut; includes spoilers for the witcher franchise, tw for suicide and abuse

reason: yennefer was born with physical deformities and was abused by her family because of this. when they sold her to tissaia for only four marks, she became intensely suicidal and tried to kill herself. she's been through lots of battles and traumatizing events throughout the whole franchise, such as the battle of sodden hill, which caused her intense anxiety and nightmares. she seems to have a lot of trust issues, unstable relationships, trouble discussing her past with others, and self worth/self esteem struggles at times especially in season 1 of the show. she has emotional regulation issues and has several meltdowns (such as the "power and purpose" scene or "i want everything").

submitted by @angelellipsis-devilofdots

[hanzajesthanza]

if vilgefortz is so evil why is he so quotable. or perhaps being evil and being quotable do not contradict one another, but instead correlate

[uglylaugher]

Y'know,i love myself some funny pranks😈;just when it's not pulled on me. 🤣🤣

Here's an idea:

Yennefer pranks the Rectoress(Tissaia dV),just for fun,but enlists the help of ofc. Rita and who ever else you decide to use.

I think it would be funny because Tissaia is someone with a metal pole stuck so far up her ass,that it's majestic.Ofc. Yen wants to bend that pole to a 90°C angle for the fun of it.

OH! it would even be so funny if she got the Aretuza students in on it too !! 🤣🤣😎

NB*you don't need to follow this idea exactly, change it up and do whatever you'd like with this idea to your liking. 🙃

[arianaofimladris]

Season three thoughts&rant

I more or less watched the third season of Netflix’s The Witcher.

What I liked:

- Geralt with a sword. His fight scenes are at least pleasurable to look at, even if in a wider picture that fighting makes no sense. I no longer have any expectations towards this show, I mainly wanted to watch Cavill as Geralt while I could.

- Geralt’s fight with Vilgefortz. It was alright for the series standards. It is one of my favorite moments in the saga and while they thoroughly butchered the whole Thanned part, that fight was ok.

- Geralt and Ciri were alright, at least until any fighting happened. I do NOT buy Geralt standing idly by while he lets Ciri take the initiative in a fight. Not with the monster on the boat and certainly not with Cahir. But other than that, they did have a few nice moments.

- The actress who plays Tissaia. I did believe Tissaia is one of the oldest of the mages, that she is respected and that she is powerful. The only idiotic drawback being her romance with Vilgefortz, but the actress really shines in that role and if I’m to remember anyone from that show except Geralt, it’s her.

- The final fight scene in the tavern with Ciri meeting the Rats and with Percival music during the fight. This was actually the only moment in this season when I felt like I was watching a Witcher adaptation, to the point that I felt like this scene came from a completely different series than the rest of this crap. Which left me sad in the end, because this is how this show could have looked like if the scriptwriters bothered to actually adapt the books. There were changes, yes, I know, but I actually FELT like I was watching the Witcher. That scene, along with the Renfri tale from season 1, are for me  the best adaptation and if the whole series had kept such quality/level/accuracy, I would have been happy.

- Ciri on the desert. Ok, with one huge BUT. I was genuinely surprised to see that subplot quite accurately adapted, with all the little details like Ciri licking the cream she had, or her going the wrong way and returning to the start point. The pace was slower, but I enjoyed it. Freya Allan gives much better impression when she’s not on screen next to Yennefer (because she looks older than Anya). Still looks a decade too old for Ciri, but at least it’s not that obvious when she’s alone on screen.

BUT – I really disliked there the visions part, I hoped to never see Netflix Calanthe or Pavetta again. I scrolled past most of that. It was boring, too long and unnecessary. Also I saw a lot of people complaining about this episode and I think it could have been way better if it was edited in a different way. Those desert scenes, which are, I agree, quite boring in the end, could have been entwined with another subplot. Like Geralt in Brokilon. We would get some news about both characters without either plot being too long and slow. And let’s be honest, Geralt in Brokilon, lying stiff, is not too action-packed either. I think the filming material of the desert part was good (minus the shitty visions) and different editing would have helped a lot.

- The Milva actress is like a decade too old for Milva and also very tiny for a nicely looking, but well built and muscled young woman living among the dryads, but at least her dynamics with Geralt start on the right ground. If I were to point one woman in the whole season whom I did not dislike, it would be her.

General impressions:

- Once again, a show that requires the suspension of brain instead of the suspension of disbelief.

- Garbage scriptwriting. And I’m not even talking about the book accuracy – that ship had sailed loooong time ago.  I’m talking about writing dialogues that make you cringe every three minutes. I’m talking about writing and constructing scenes in a way that makes the characters act like complete idiots. There were so many scenes where I could come up with at least five different solutions on spot, tiny changes easily incorporated so that the characters’ behaviour would make sense.

- Destiny as deus ex machina. This is exactly the opposite to the books. All the bullshitting about people linked by destiny always finding each other. This is exactly what Sapkowski did not write. Destiny is not enough. You need something more. The “more�� being character’s conscious decision to act or inact. Geralt’s and Yennefer’s fates were somehow bound by Geralt’s wish, but it didn’t magically made them a couple. Without effort from both parts, their relation kept falling apart (Because Geralt would walk away. Because Yennefer was afraid to open up and allow herself to get involved. You name it.). Same goes with Ciri.

- Soap opera drama. God, this is a dirty fantasy world, why do we get all these teary dialogues with cheap emotional play. Or the big inspirational speeches that look ridiculous. And don’t get me wrong, motivational speech, when delivered right, will make a huge impression and get the right result. Remember Aragorn before the battle at Minas Tirith, talking to the Rohirrim? But Yennefer returning from her banishment, bullshitting before the other mages about how they have to stand together, blah blah blah? I know, the show desperately wants to create her as the best, the smartest, the one who takes charge, whatever. Sorry, it’s not working.

-  I watched/listened to the series in English and my cringe tolerance in English is higher, but gosh, it was hard even there. I wonder how these dialogues sound to native English speaker who actually uses their brain while watching. Because when I heard/read bits of these dialogues in Polish, that surely brought out another level of cringe.

- I feel like you could cut off half (if not more) of the first five episodes and the story would lose virtually nothing important.

- The sex/kink scenes were, erm, boring is a mild word to describe them. So you don’t actually show any intimacy between the two main characters, but you waste screentime for Filippa and whoever just for the sake of ticking another checklist.

- I would love to see sth like “season three by characters screen time”, just to know how many minutes of Geralt we got in these eight episodes. I’m left with an impression that he was hardly there.

 The rest of rant in details

- Ciri the future queen, the saviour, the one who will unite them all. Hi the most generic idea in a fantasy universe that contradicts most of the typical, generic ideas.

- They had absolutely no idea what to do with Geralt in this season. They make him act like an idiot and not killing Rience in the first episode, so that he has a purpose in the next three, only to let him kill Rience in episode 6 ( which takes a powerful moment later on from Ciri, who kills Rience in the books). Or they make him act like an idiot and putting his sword away when he’s literally waiting for a monster to attack.

- Episode 6 deserves an entire post probably, but let’s put it here. On one hand, it was the only episode of that season which I did not scroll. On the other, this (along with the fifth one) was the one I paused out of cringe most often. It was better than the previous five in terms of “something is finally going on there”, but then if you didn’t kill your brain cells before, it was a damn hard thing to watch. I’m going to ignore the mages vs elves fight. It was hilariously bad with cheap effects. Filavandrel blowing right into Francesca’s face was too grotesque not to laugh out loud and yes, I am aware that was not intended as such. Sorry.

Tissaia had her “big” moment, but all I could think of was “oh, so she unleashed the eels”. Well done, netflix.

And here comes the “fuck logic” part. All these scenes on the fields – the look like they are taking place MILES away from Thanned. And yet our characters run back and forth like it was 100m. Sorry, brain cells still working. Then we get our trio meeting in the middle of nowhere because Reasons and they have the perfect opportunity to just get the hell away. But no, here comes the soap opera in its full glory of teary speeches and Yennefer decides she needs to go back (miles away, but why would she care). I’m not buying it. Her priority should be Ciri. Since Rience had just teleported there, she should have been able to open a portal ANYWHERE and just send Geralt and Ciri away. But no, because it’s netflix.

Then comes the Powerful Girl netflix trope and when Cahir catches up with Geralt and Ciri (were they just standing on that field so he could go all the way after them?). Geralt does not know what his intentions are. He doesn’t know how good a soldier he is. And yet he lets Ciri charge madly at him and stays SEVERAL METERS away. Yeah, cool, I do see what the scriptwriters wanted here, let’s let Ciri have that fight. So maybe, idk, get Geralt involved with half a dozen of elves in the meantime to justify why Ciri is fighting Cahir? But no, he just stands aside. If Cahir wanted to kill Ciri, if he got the best of her, there was no way Geralt could have intervened in time. A+ parenting. And again this is just making Geralt an idiot. I don’t like it.

- Lydia. Why did they turn someone who was most probably a servant and also unhappily in love with Vilgefortz, a victim, into his willing accomplice and Rience’s master. I should not be happy that she died, but she was absolutely awful in the series.

 - Except for Tissaia (who acts mature and in a way that demands respect) and Sabrina (who looks pretty and dresses on the verge of scandalous but in a stylish way), the other sorceresses could easily blend in with any other women on screen and I wouldn’t be able to tell they are supposed to be sorceresses. You could switch Keira with Annika or Vespula and there would be literally no difference. I have some trouble with Filippa, because she was usually alone on the screen and thus recognisable as a sorceress, but somehow, depending on what she was wearing and how her hair was styled, she looked 30 or 50. I literally have no idea why, but she could look pretty and young in one outfit/hairdo, and then she would look way older and uglier. It’s confusing.

- This story, in general, lacks believable relations. Normal, casual relations. Even in the background or whatever. The only one I can think of in this season is Annika and that werewolf (or Zola and Yurga in the first season).

There is Filippa and Dijkstra and while the actors give a good performance, what the hell was that – first with the whipping for literally no purpose (yeah, except the obvious American “the powerful woman” trope) and then with drunken Dijkstra coming to Filippa and begging her to kill and blame him for the failure. What. the. hell. was. that. Why were they not portrayed as a powerful duo who has (or had) some kind of romantic relationship, but first of all who come as equal partners in the plotting. There was also this subplot of Filippa and that blond assassin with hideous haircut and her only purpose was to kill and show that Filippa fucks women. Cool. It’s not like later on there is an actual relationship between Filippa and Triss.

There is the fuckin F girlboss duo (Francesca and Fringilla) I had hoped to never see again after season two, yet here we go again. Bleh.

We get Jaskier and Vespula and Jaskier is discussing his love interests while laying in bed of his other lover. Believable as hell.

There is Geralt and Jaskier and while in the last two episodes I finally began to see the friendship between the two of them, the friendship I should have seen in the past two seasons as well – with Jaskier’s creation this series goes, I can’t be sure of how Jaskier sees that friendship. I really, really hate it because this was probably the deepest friendship this whole universe gives us, the kind of “against all odds” friendship. I wouldn’t want Jaskier to have any other thoughts towards Geralt.

- Just please pack Yennefer into a tiny figurine and store her somewhere for the next season. I know that the showrunner wants to have a show about women, but I’m tired of seeing this imposter of Yennefer being the acting factor of everything. Yennefer taking charge of the sorceresses? Yennefer funding the Lodge? Just pack her and store her.

- I’m not even going to bring up the CGI or the costumes. The first I want to forget, the latter I have already forgotten. There wasn’t a single outfit that caught my attention in a good way, something I would want to be inspired with.

I’m aware no one is going to read this long a post, but I needed to spill it out. In the end it’s sad to see two scenes that could have come from a decent book adaptation among a shitload of crap.

[mercisnm]

Didn’t think I had one but mebbe I do: 3b/c, Ciri (young or older) and post-S3 Tissaia. Because lbr, Tissaia loves Yennefer loves Ciri, and in a world Tissaia had had the chance to become part of Ciri’s life, it would have been full of affection

Oh dear I really cannot count on one hand the times I've wished for what you have just described, either the coup never happened and Ciri could learn to harness her source under the tutelage of the best mage there is (also her mother's beloved) and warming up to Tissaia in the process, despite Tissaia trying her best to put on the icy rectoress facade (underneath all that she's Soft soft for Ciri) - or Tissaia simply hadn't choosen to atone herself like *that*.

Just... lots of feelings. But anyhoot. Have a retired rectoress and witcher Ciri coming by to visit and not forgetting to give her the warmest tightest of hugs. It's soft. It's happy. Needless to say I've enjoyed drawing this one a lot.

And that's the last request this round. My ask box is open if anybody want to chat, but I'll close the requests for now. I honestly did not expect so many asks, one or two yes, not nine (??!) plus some I didn't do?? Gosh my hands hate me right now. Feel free to buy me a drink on my ko-fi, and until next time.

[a-hearts-a-heavy-burden]

A: Your current OTP : Yenskier

B: A pairing you initially didn’t consider but someone changed your mind : Hotch x Rossi

C: A pairing you wish you shipped, but just can’t : Spencelle

D: What was the first thing you ever contributed to a fandom? Johnlock FMV

E: Have you added anything stupid/cracky/hilarious to your fandom, if so, what? Silly little Selkimore Guts (Witcher) post that everybody loves for some silly little reason (:

F: What’s the longest you’ve ever been in a fandom? What fandom was it? 13 years in the Sherlock fandom and still going strong

G: What was your first fandom? Sherlock

H: Do you prefer real-life TV shows or animated TV shows? YES

I: Has tumblr caused you to stop liking any fandoms, if so, which and why? The Phandom - IYKYK

J: Name a fandom you didn’t care/think about until you saw it all over tumblr The Witcher ... It was EVERYWHERE

K: How do you feel about the other people in your current fandom(s) There are some problematic ones but most of you are so freaking cool, funny and talented as heck. I wanna be your FRIEND.

L: Your favorite fanartist/author gives you one request, what do you ask for? FOR GERALT TO NOTICE JASKIERS PAIN. YENNEFER TO HEAL HIS HANDS . JASK TO GET A NEW LUTE. THE THREE OF THEM TO END UP A TRIAD

M: A person who got you into a fandom and what fandom they pulled you in to : The Dear Hearts pulled me DEEP into The Amazing Devil family once I chose to dip my toes into the Discord. (They kept me and I wouldn't rather be anywhere else.)

N: Your favorite fandom (for the people) : The Amazing Devil has the most wholesome, kind, considerate and respectful people I have ever met.

O: Choose a song at random, what ship does it remind you of? Two Minutes - The Amazing Devil reminds me of Spemily (?) Spencer x Emily from Criminal Minds (As besties though not romantically)

P: Invent a random AU for any fandom (we always need more ideas) : (Criminal Minds) Reid learns ASL for a case with a victim who is hard of hearing and offers to teach the rest of the team. For future possible cases and further accessibility with the public Hotch makes this mandatory for all current and future team members.

Q: A ship you’ve abandoned and why : PHAN bc they have practically begged the internet for privacy and the phandom is really toxic.

R: A pairing you ship that you don’t think anyone else ships : (Netflix) Tissaia x Yennefer

S: What’s a headcanon you have? Penelope x Derek x Spencer are all in a triad -

T: What are your favorite male/male ships or female/female ships? MlM : Moreid // Geraskier // Victuuri WlW : Prenteau // Garceau // Tarow (Tara x Willow - BtVS) [ I REFUSE to use Twillow .... Absolutely NOT ]

U: What are your favorite male/female ships? Yenralt // Yenskier

V: Do you have any 3-way ships? If so, what? Geraskefer // Garcia x Morgan x Reid

W: 5 favorite characters from 5 different fandoms : Jaskier, Hotch, Willow, Scarlet Scarlet, John Watson

X: 3 OTPs from 3 different fandoms : Geraskefer // Moreid // Tarow

Y: A fandom you’re in but have no ships from : ERROR 404 : PAGE NOT FOUND

Z: What’s a ship that you want to ship publicly, but everyone on tumblr hates it so you keep your mouth shut about it? [ REDACTED ]

Fandom-Related Questions

[flowers-shouldnt-die]

Metamorphosis

Chapter 3

Pairing: Vilgefortz of Roggeveen/Tissaia de Vries

Trigger warnings: suicide attempt, depression, a "complicated" relationship, most likely some smut in the future, stockholm syndrome-ish maybe, angst, hurt/comfort, hurt/no-comfort. Some fluff peppered in somewhere.

Rating: M

Summary: When is love turning into an obsession? When does forgetting feel better than forgiveness? What are these two idiots doing?

He is spiraling; she has already spiraled. Witness him slowly embracing his obsession.

On the bright side, she is not dead.

Chapter summary:

I'm fucking back. Sorry for the long wait, life has been lifing, but whatever, you don't care about that.

So this is a more Tissaia focused chapter. Just like me, she's like ???? and depression. A day in life basically.

Slow and lazy sunlight crept into her room. It illuminated her face, and she woke up feeling the warmth of the morning on her skin. Tissaia stretched her arms and turned to face the other side of the bed. She reached out for him, but the space next to her was empty. This was odd. He never woke up before her, quite the contrary, while she woke up at dawn and fell asleep at a reasonable hour, he preferred late nights and even later mornings. 

Opening her eyes, she hoped to find him, but he was gone. She had found it extremely odd. The Rectoress got up and tried to look for him. The window was open, something she always made sure to close before falling asleep, so she carefully walked over and looked out to the endless sea. The water was burning, and stones crumbled. She tried to look away, to get to safety, but her legs wouldn’t move. Turning her head, she saw herself in the open window, and the glass broke, bleeding and shrieking like the damned from the underworld were trying to reach out for her.

Tissaia was still unable to move, and when the floor opened up under her and she began to fall, a small yell escaped her. She didn’t know where he came from, but he stopped her fall, holding her hands and lifting her from the abyss that waited for her. She clung to him for safety and love, and he caressed her back like always. It took a few moments to realize that his hands had claws and it tore the fabric of her nightgown and eventually her skin and flesh as well. She was screaming in pain but he didn’t stop. He muffled her cries with his lips, and he tasted like summer wine and blood. She tried to push him away, but Vilgefortz held her tightly, never letting her go.

The flames from outside had reached into her room and set it all on fire. He felt cold against her, and she instinctively moved into his arms, hoping for shelter against the heat. But he melted; his beautiful face was melting away, and she was freezing, turning white the longer she touched him. Tissaia couldn’t let him go, or else the flames would burn her alive, but the ice kept spreading inside her with each passing moment. She wished for the floor to open up again and swallow them both, but the sweet release of flying never came, and all she could do was fall into his arms and let him keep tearing her flesh open.

-

Tissaia was past the point where she would wake up screaming, but cold sweat covered her, and her heart was pounding. As usual, he was in the chair next to her. She had told him several times that she was fine, but he insisted on staying with her, just in case her fever returned. Vilgefortz was watching her, and she was too tired to ask why he wasn’t sleeping. They knew this routine by heart; she would wake from her nightmares, he would give her medicine, and in a few hours, she would wake up desperately holding his hand, her fingers hurting from flexing it for so long. 

She usually preferred a routine, but not like this. Tissaia hated that he just sat there. If he wanted more, he should have manned up and just gotten into the bed next to her. Or left her for good. He looked into her eyes for any sign of resistance, but he found none. Letting go of his hand, she watched as he circled the bed, shifted the blanket, and climbed in. They stared into the darkness ahead of them, and as her medication started to take over her mind, she turned her back to him and fell back into a dreamless, heavy sleep.

-

She was looking into the mirror, trying to figure out who the woman that was staring back at her was. Pale from the inside out, she looked like she had lost all her colors. With its deep blue color and golden accents, her new dress was a stark contrast. She was not interested in getting up or dressed, but the doctors insisted she needed fresh air. He tried his best to get her a dress that had some semblance of who she was, but the seamstresses added a Nilfgaardian twist to it. Maybe, if she cared at least a little, she would have gotten involved in its making. He did his best, but, as usual, it wasn’t enough. 

Two guards followed her, and two walked in front of her, guiding her into the gardens. Summer bloomed outside, and the fountains quietly murmured with the breeze of life. Statues stood between bushes, and she thought how much alike they were to her. He waited for her on a cold, stone bench and rose when he saw her.

“Save your compliments,” she said curtly when he opened his mouth. Vilgefortz nodded and stepped beside her, offering his arm to her. She accepted; her legs felt shaky even after her short walk, but she figured it was her own fault for staying in bed for so long. The wind caressed her white hair, and she closed her eyes for a moment. Birds sang and flew by, escaping the ground with much ease. He watched them, and the sun burned his eyes.

His mood was sour, but she lifted his spirits. After a failed experiment where she lost another subject, he almost began to wonder if he could perform it successfully on Cirilla. Of course, the princess was different from these simple girls with elven blood, but he wanted to leave no room for error. Everything had to be perfect, like the woman walking next to him. He told the guards to leave so she might feel more at ease. Tissaia just raised her eyebrows a little and made no comments.

“You are not a prisoner,” he said with a small smile. Tissaia looked at him like he had told her the sky was green. “You are my guest. You can leave if you wish.” He, of course, hated the thought of it but… He wasn’t sure. He wanted to keep her safe, to keep her close but if she truly wanted to leave-

“And go where?” This made no sense.

“To Aretuza, of course, or anywhere you would like.” His white-haired angel laughed and shook her head.

“I cannot go back.” There was a long pause, and he waited patiently. “They are better off without me.” She had failed them all, and now she was spending her nights with the man who burned their world. There was no way in all the hells that she could face her girls ever again.

“I never thought I’d say this, but Dijkstra was right.” This was indeed such a sentence, and she let out a small laugh. “You are the heart of Aretuza. You belong there.” She also belonged to him, and he would do his best to keep her by his side, but maybe if she left the palace for a while, she would feel better. 

Tissaia didn’t answer. She had no intention of ever returning there. Centuries of hard work - her whole life’s work - went down in flames. At least the past was burned away and opened the door for a different future - a future her girls needed to build without her. She was tired; she did her best; she gave her all, and none of that mattered in the end. It was so long ago when she acted for her own interest, and even though she didn’t know what that was for her in this predicament, she decided to be selfish, in her own way, and let the weight of their Continent rest on other’s shoulders. It was so much easier to think of it this way instead of letting the guilt suffocate her again.

Stopping at a rose bush, Tissaia gently touched the petals. “The best thing it can do for us is die,” she remembered again, but shook her head. Her punishment was this purgatory. Not deserving of death, not deserving life, walking next to her destruction, holding onto his arms, and feeling her skin burn by the southern sun - this was the Gods justice for her. 

Many were staring at her, whispering behind her back, when they saw the two of them walking by. It seemed they all feared Vilgefrtz, but were uncertain about her. She wished she could sense what they felt, and read their minds, but her chaos was still in a deep slumber. No one approached them, but they were watching.

“I wish to return to your quarters.” She didn’t know what pierced her skin more: the sun or their gaze.

“It is yours as well,” he said, remembering a time when they didn’t feel the need to refer to anything as his or hers. Tissaia nodded, not looking at him, knowing arguing was futile. She couldn’t change his mind back then; she most certainly wouldn’t be able to do so now.

-

Beautiful as the setting sun, she stood on the balcony, a golden halo around her. The princess was walking from the temple back to her room. Ashen hair and sparkling eyes, fooling everyone in the palace.

“What did you do to her?” She asked without turning back. He was like her shadow, looming behind her wherever she went.

“To who?” Stepping next to her, he sighed when he saw who she was talking about.

“I remember when she disappeared from Aretuza.” There was a bitterness in her voice. “You held my hand and told me she must have run away. You told me not to worry about her, as there are always those who leave without a word." She paused and kept looking at the girl. “Did she? Did she leave without a word? Or did you not give her a chance to speak at all?”

“She was different,” he knew she could tell when he was lying, which is why he found it hard to believe he could fool her for so long. Their relationship was a paradox, but at the very least, he felt no need to keep the truth away from her anymore. “I needed her to play this role.”

“But what did you do to her?” Teryn was a sweet girl, a little bit naive, but her heart was pure. Even from this distance, she looked like a scared puppy among monsters.

“I had to make her believe she was Cirilla, so that everyone else could believe it too,” she found his lack of remorse insulting. He said it as a fact, without any emotion attached. The girl was just a tool for him; he stripped her of all that made her human and looked at her as a means to an end.

“And how is she now? She will break if you won’t control her,” this kind of magic was fragile, he needed to constantly check on her, or else her mind would get tangled, too much for anyone to manage. Tissaia knew, of course, that he couldn’t do that so easily anymore.

“The princess fares well,” admitting that he had difficulties was never his strongest suit. The thought sparked up like lightning, and he smiled. “Teach her,” he simply said. A genuine laugh left her mouth, and she shook her head, but he looked serious about it.

“I can’t.” For the first time that day, she looked into his eyes. “Vilgefortz, I can’t. I have lost my magic and without it -“

“It’s still inside you,” he interrupted her, and he felt like drowning in her ocean eyes. “You just have to wait until it wakes again. I can feel it growing stronger, just as I can see the tide when it��s coming.” Her lips quivered and she looked away. “Just teach her how to control herself. You don’t need magic for that; simply guide her.”

“With a mind as tangled as hers, it is a miracle she can still function; making her use her chaos could lead to disaster.” She hated him for doing this to Teryn, for doing this to her. 

“Which is why she needs you. She will cause disaster if she doesn’t learn; she might cause it if she does,“ he smiled and held her hand, and she felt a fire flare up inside her. ”And besides, you won’t be bored out of your mind,” she pulled her hands away and steadied herself, holding the stone of the balustrade in front of her. The sun had disappeared behind the castle walls; its faint light was a mockery of itself.

“I don’t need entertainment,” anger, hurt, shame, and something else stormed in her chest. “I am quite content with the way things are.”

Vilgefortz genuinely laughed, and she turned to face him, her eyes shooting lightning bolts at him. She was so unimaginably mad at him that she couldn’t hold herself back, and she slapped him. When she tried to do it again, he gripped her hands, and by doing so, he pulled her closer to him. Time stopped as he looked into her eyes and then at her lips, and he captured it, kissing her like he was dying and she was his only hope.

Her eyes widened before they closed, and for a heartbeat, she kissed him back. Her hand, which had struck him a moment ago, now rested on his shoulder. When she felt his arms around her waist, she woke up and pushed him away, the sound of another slap echoing in the dark of the night.

“Tissaia, wait,” he said, wanting to stop her and to… apologize. He didn’t feel guilty at all, but he knew he had hurt her. As his hands captured her arms, she yanked herself free and left him there, standing in the moonlight alone.

-

The water engulfed her, and Tissaia thought maybe she should stay underwater. The skin in her arms and legs turned red from scratching it so hard with a sponge. Never in her life had she felt this dirty before. Her lips were bleeding from biting and cleaning them for so long. As her blood colored the water with red little stripes, she emerged, gasping for air.

Nilfgaardian palaces and castles had so many bathrooms, and the most important people even had private pools attached to their suites. It made sense; the summer here was painfully hot, and without magic cooling the heated bodies, this was the most obvious solution. Tissaia took advantage of the situation, and after storming away from the balcony into the open hall, she found herself in the only room where no one would follow her.

Her hands were shaking when she lit the many candles and took her dress off. After the denial was over, she loathed herself for it. She wanted it; she felt it in her heart even as her mind screamed at her in defense. There was a deep yearning in her, and she longed to feel his lips on hers, his arms around her, wandering all over her hips and waist. Shaking her head, she blinked back her tears. She felt like her own body had betrayed her, so she cleaned herself until she scratched away all the skin that had touched him and more.

The sting of the soap afterward felt comforting, a sign of a new beginning as her skin grew again. 

-

He left by the time she came back to her room. The candles were lit, and he left her dinner on the table for her. How strange it was - only a day before had she insisted on dining together. The loneliness was worse than his constant presence. Tissaia was in no mood to eat at all, but an unexpected sight made her sit down. She lifted the pale rose that she admired in the garden this afternoon. 

Oh, how she hated this man. She hated him with such a fire that only he could ignite, and yet she hated herself more. The need for him to be close to her and to touch her was just as strong as her anger and pain. Did he truly think she would help him? How dare he ask anything of her? His nerve truly had no end, and she couldn’t believe just how shameless he was. He even tried to make it seem like he was doing her a favor. To help her occupy her time and use her many talents. He dared to treat her like a child.

On the other hand, the actual child in question needed guidance. Preferably hers than his. Teryn has been a good student - not exactly remarkable, but good enough. She would have made it to the ascension, maybe even to the court of a smaller kingdom. The poor child. Now she was living with snakes and lions, all alone. Tissaia swore to protect her girls. Even though she let them down, and ruined everything, maybe she could at least help her. A small consolation for all she had done. For letting herself be blind to Vilgefortz and all his deeds. Looking back, she couldn’t understand how he had fooled her. The writing was on the walls, and she willfully ignored all of it, all because she was in love. Everything Philippa had said in the forest was true, and now she was ready to admit it to herself. She had loved him so much, and she paid the price, but worst of all, she made everyone else pay it too. She could never look her girls in the eyes again, let alone go back to Aretuza. Teryn was here, however, alive, unlike the other novices he had taken. Maybe she owed it to the poor girl for failing to protect her and letting him use and abuse her. Just like how he had done it to her while claiming that he loved her.

Tissaia held the rose to her heart and closed her eyes.