#caretaker jaskier

[astaldis]

Whumpers-Monthly Issue 28: Falling

Fandom: The Witcher (TV)

Whumper: Yennefer of Vengerberg

Caretaker: Jaskier

Published: 2023-02-20; Completed: 2023-04-09; Words: 23,951; Chapters: 9/9

From: Where The Tulips Grow - Chapter 3: Battle for the Bard

The two sorceresses stare at each other. Slowly, Philippa wipes the blood from her nose with a handkerchief.

"Contrary to what you might think, Yennefer," Philippa begins to speak, looking at the red stains on the white fabric pensively, "I have nothing against you personally. Why don't we sit down here, just the two of us, and talk things through. I'll conjure up a nice cup of tea, no poison, I swear. There is a bigger picture to all of this. Let me explain and you'll no doubt understand why we need the bard."

"Sorry, can't do that." Yennefer shakes her head. "Jaskier is my friend. I don't sell out friends." 

Having mostly recovered from the dizzy spell, she quickly and without warning aims a fiery jet of magic at Philippa. Perhaps she can blast her off the cliff? Fuck, how stupid of her, Philippa would probably just transform into an owl and laugh her head off. While, if the same happens to her, Yennefer, she will not have that luxury. Turning into an animal is not a skill she has mastered, nor has she ever had the desire to do so. And Philippa knows it.

Philippa dodges, the stream of light only grazing the side of her white dress, leaving an ugly singe mark in the fabric.

"You've ruined it, bitch!" Philippa spits. Then she launches the counter-attack. Several blasts of magic in quick succession that drive Yennefer, who parries the blows as good as she can, closer and closer to the edge. Three steps. Another blow and parry. Two steps. Now she is standing precariously close to the rim. Shit, she has to do something or she will tumble a hundred meters down into the abyss. Luckily, Philippa has slowed considerably by now, showing the telltale signs of magical exhaustion. Not only her nose is gushing blood, but her eyes are starting to bleed, too. Hell, they both must be looking not a little worse for wear, and feel like it. 

Yennefer takes a deep, steadying breath and summons all that is left of her chaos. With all her might, she hurls it at her opponent in a tremendous explosion of magic. Philippa is too exhausted to shield herself. The blast hits her square in the stomach and flings her across the promontory. Lying in a heap on the stony ground, she does not move.

However, something else moves. The cliff. In the very place where Yennefer is standing. Fuck!

Together with the ground under her feet, Yennefer falls.

[geraskierfanficprompts]

Prompt 128

In place of August Sixteenth, Promptapalooza 9/ Most people immediately assume Geralt would be annoyed by human ailments. Find them distracting, or burdensome. They assume that if Jaskier gets sick, the Witcher wakes him up at dawn and forces them to travel onward any ways. They spread rumors that Jaskier sews his own wounds when caught in a hunt. The people speak of the heartless witcher yelling at the bard for getting sick. Of course, it's all false. Couldn't be more false, actually. Jaskier woke up with a sniffle. Just a tiny sniffle. No big deal! And yet, Geralt noticed. Of course he noticed. Notices everything with those damn supersenses of his. "Geralt, the contract-" "Fuck the contract." "That archespore hasn't even taken me on a date yet." "Jaskier, lay down!" "I can sit up-" "LAY DOWN!" Jaskier has been stuck in a witcher-enforced bedrest for two days. Even if the sniffles became sneezes, and his throat began to get scratchy and sore. So what if he had a fever? So what if he felt like shit? He shouldn't be slowing Geralt down! But Geralt won't let him do anything but slow him down! "Not gonna tackle me to the bed?" "No, walking is good for you, in spurts." "How nice." "No, keep moving. Ten more minutes of walking." "In the room?" "You can lap the inn if you'd like." "Well, alri-" "No wait- It rained recently- Too cold and damp for you." "Says who?" "Says me. And your fever." "Geralt, it's been two days of nothing but laying!" "I thought you liked being in bed." "Yes! To fuck! To sleep! Not to lay and stare at you!" "I like staring at you." "FineI'llpacethefuckingroom-"

[thedemonofcat]

Jaskier witnessed a terrible crime when he was young. Instead of killing him, the mage who committed the crime decided to keep him as a test subject.

One day, Jaskier manages to escape, but the mage planned for this. A failsafe spell activates the moment Jaskier steps over the threshold.

This spell seals away his ability to speak, read, and write; thus, preventing him from communicating the secrets he holds.

And then Geralt finds him.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Geralt whispered softly to the young man crouched before him. The youth scrambled backwards on his hands and knees, eyes wide with fear. “Can you tell me your name?” Geralt asked, his voice calm.

The young man, his ears pointed but not quite like those of elves, opened his mouth, but no sound emerged.

“You can’t speak?” Geralt asked, more to himself. The young man nodded in confirmation. Beside him, lying in the dirt, he picked up a small buttercup flower and pointed to it, then to himself.

“Your name is Jaskier?” Geralt ventured. A nod answered him. Without the heavy aura of magic radiating from Jaskier, Geralt might have mistaken him for a mute, lost soul who had wandered too far from his caretaker. But there was more—something deeper about this boy.

Jaskier reached out hesitantly, fingers brushing Geralt’s medallion. “That’s a witcher’s medallion,” Geralt explained. Jaskier frowned, clearly puzzled. “You don’t know what a witcher is, do you?”

[fangirleaconmigo]

Cursed (actual) Shower Thought I had the other day about how fic writers shorten Jaskier’s name to ‘Jask’ or ‘Jas’:

Gerlion Modern Day AU where Geralt’s affectionate nickname for Dandelion is “Dan”.

(I’m so sorry. I don’t even go here but these boys bring out the caretaking instincts in me. My brain made this without my permission and it was like being slapped in the face with a fish. I’ve been burdened by cursed knowledge and had to share it with someone. Pls forgive me.)

Hi Nonny!! Can you IMAGINE? Dandelion being saddled with a nickname that is so lacking in poetry? So devoid of petals? No scent? No silky tactile plant experience? No colorful sight that makes humans smile and relax?

Just.

Dan?

Oh my friend, we are really in it now.

[limerental]

ficletvember 2024 - day 6

geraskefer modern au sickfic

A sick Yennefer is predictably horrendously stubborn about admitting to weakness and being cared for by her two partners.

The first sign of something amiss is the almighty sneeze Yen unleashes one evening after dinner, followed by several more in quick succession.

From the family room, Jaskier and little Ciri chorus a bless you, and at the sink, Geralt pauses his washing up to look at her.

“You getting sick?” he asks, and she waves off his concern. Historically, Yennefer doesn't do getting sick. She simply overcomes illness through sheer force of will.

“Allergies,” she assures him, sniffling.

Jaskier refuses to kiss her goodnight when he heads out for his latest gig, making obscure hand signs to ward off the plague. Which is for the best. He does sickness to the most advanced, theatric heights possible. Better he not also fall ill.

Geralt, who only in recent years has been coaxed by his partners not to attempt to crawl away to die at every minor sniffle, does understand Yen's stubborn desire to beat back any small sign of bodily weakness, but he wishes she'd accept that she doesn't have to go it alone anymore.

After everything-- their messy childhoods and turbulent on and off years of hurting each other and their stumble into fostering young Ciri and suddenly becoming something resembling family-- the three of them have made it work. It's peaceful. It's good. There's no reason to push through the pain anymore.

By the morning, Yennefer wakes shivery and flushed, her sleep-groggy voice warped by clogged sinuses.

“Geralt, ‘m fine,” she says as he palms her forehead. Her eyes drift shut against the cool press of his hand.

“You're warm.”

“I run hot.”

“You're calling off work.”

“I have clients–”

Geralt steals her phone to text the office, and Yennefer grumblingly stops trying to rise from bed and curls down under the covers, only her hair visible as a dark tangle across the pillows.

With Ciri fed and dressed and off to school, Geralt catches her attempting to shower on her own, listing against the tile wall in a cloud of steam. He helps her wash, careful not to wet her thick curls of hair knowing neither of them have the energy to tackle proper curl maintanece in her present state, then towels her dry, easily lifting her in his arms to carry back to the bedroom.

“It's just a head cold,” she mutters against his crooked arm. “My legs work fine.”

“Sure, Yen,” says Geralt. She dozes off with grumbled protests, and he pulls the blankets high to cover her bare shoulders.

By noon, Jaskier has finally dragged himself out of bed and promptly launches into pulling out all stops on sick people caretaking.

He makes elderberry tea with lemon and honey and serves it on a bed tray accompanied by buttered toast and chicken noodle soup. (Nevermind that Geralt boils the water and butters the toast and warms the soup and brings in the tray to set across Yen's lap.) He draws the blinds closed against the glare of the sun and puts on the least objectionable season of a vapid fantasy show on Netflix and supplies her with several tissue boxes and lights a scented candle.

“I can't smell anything,” Yennefer protests. “The candle’s stupid.”

“It's lilac,” Geralt offers.

“It's for the ambiance,” insists Jaskier. “Lie back and enjoy the stupid candle, you intolerable harpy.”

The day goes on as usual, Geralt occupied with the regular domestic work of a stay at home dad, folding socks and cleaning the kitchen and tidying the living room floor. He stops sometimes to peer through the crack of the bedroom door. Despite Jaskier's earlier moaning about catching her deadly diseases, he's curled close behind Yennefer in bed, an arm around her waist, his lips in her hair.

It warms something in his belly, an achey, fragile feeling.

They've clawed their way here somehow. The three of them.

Several days pass before Yen's back to herself, only a lingering sniffle left of her illness.

Then, one night after dinner, Jaskier sneezes hard and then once more.

Yennefer and Geralt look at one another with shared resignation to their impending doom.

“Oh I fear you must live on without me,” sighs an ailing Jaskier the next morning, burrowed deep in a thick layer of blankets. “I fear it's too late for me to retire to the seaside for my health. Bury me beneath the willows in the garden… Don't weep for me… Goodbye… I have loved you two so dearly… Hang on, Geralt fetch my notebook, I penned my last words ages ago. They're in there somewhere, I'm certain.”

And of course, when it's Geralt's turn to fall ill not long after that, he grits his teeth and puts on a brave face, and gladly lets them care for him.

[shy-urban-hobbit]

28 + Geraskier!

Here you are Nonnie! Some Geraskier angst/ fluff for 28 - "I care about you."

Jaskier had always been there, taking care of Geralt. But who takes care of the caretaker?

“You alright?”

That did it. After being cast aside on a mountain, tortured, imprisoned, the whole Voleth Meir thing and everything in-between, it was those two words leaving Geralt’s mouth that caused Jaskier to break.

He wrapped his arms around his torso, hugging himself as he cried. Geralt stared like a startled deer before he sat next to him on the half rotted bed and hesitantly gathered the bard to his chest.

“Jaskier?”

“Sorry, sorry.” Jaskier pulled away slightly, attempting a smile which only looked more like a grimace as tears continued to fall, “No idea what that was. I’ll be fine in a second.”

“Jaskier.” Slightly more forceful this time

“I’m fine, Geralt. You don’t have to humour the human and pretend to care about my petty grievances. I don’t see any of you lot crying about it because you’ve had a bad day.”

A decades old memory stirred: A young Geralt, eavesdropping on Vesemir and an old Bear Witcher who had needed a place to stay for the winter. He couldn’t remember the details of the conversation but he remembers an unfamiliar, rumbling bartitone asking “And who takes care of the caretaker?”

Jaskier had always been there. Patching up Geralt’s wounds, making sure he was well fed and well rested (and well paid) after a hunt, knowing exactly how to pull him out of his own head when he started feeling a little too melancholy. Even after everything on the mountain, Jaskier had helped Geralt without a moments hesitation.

And Geralt had....

“Who takes care of the caretaker?”

He tightened his hold on the bard, “Not pretending Jask, if something’s upset you enough for...this, then I want to know.”

Jaskier gave a watery laugh, “Holy Hell, Ciri really has turned you into a dad hasn’t she? Mr. Witcher’s-don’t-talk-about-feelings.”

“You’re deflecting.”

He felt Jaskier slump against him, “It’s nothing. These few months have just been a bit much.”

It was testament to how much his bard had changed. When they first met, the "nothing” would have been Jaskier scuffing his new boots. Now it was being heavily involved in aiding Elven refugees, spending an entire night holding his own against a fire mage alone and then everything at the Keep with barely space to breath in-between. Geralt would have been impressed if he wasn’t so terrified on Jaskier’s behalf.

Jaskier gave an exaggerated sigh as he finished, “Phew! Sorry to suddenly dump all of that on you. It’s not like everyone else here hasn’t been through worse.”

Geralt felt himself tense at those words, which in turn caused Jaskier to tense.

“Uh, Geralt?”

“The fuck Jaskier. You’re acting as if all of that was a stroll through the fucking woods.”

Jaskier lowered his head, “I’m sorry.”

“No. That’s not what I-” Geralt sighed through his nose, “I’m doing this wrong. I’m trying to say I – that’s not nothing, Jaskier.”

Jaskier tilted his head in a slightly birdlike manner with a “Huh?”

“I’ve known experienced soldiers who have cracked under less than that. You shouldn’t have had to carry all that alone and I’m sorry you felt that you had to.”

Jaskier gave a slightly bitter laugh, “Shit shoveller, remember? I...I didn’t want to push you away again by adding to everything.”

“No, Jaskier. I pushed you away and I never should have fucking done that.” He gently took both of Jaskier’s now healed hands in his, “Please don’t keep stuff like this from me again. I care about you too much for you to suffer like that.”

“Good riddle that: How much is too much?” Jaskier asked, trying to sound lighter than he felt in an attempt to joke his way out of the awkward tension which was now building. He expected Geralt to give one of his usual grunts, maybe a three words quip if he was lucky.

What he wasn’t expecting was Geralt’s lips to land quickly and lightly on his. Jaskier would have been convinced he’d imagined it if it wasn’t for the fact that Geralt was still close enough that they were nose to nose.

“That a suitable answer to your riddle?” Geralt asked, gaze flitting between Jaskier’s mouth and eyes.

“Hmmm, close but not quite. You’re on the right track though.” Jaskier murmured before initiating the first of many longer, firmer kisses.

[lucigoo]

Weekly Roundup: 2nd Decmeber - 8th Decmeber

Once again late, but hey ho, here it is anyway. I have absolutly no organisational skills lol.

But anyway, recs <3

Wild Wings - DomesticGoddess - The Hobbit @domesticgoddesswriter, (Bilbo/Thorin, another amazing fic by DG, and its a WING FIC< and one of my favs!)

Summary: Wounded and stranded in a strange forest, Thorin finds himself in the care of a lovebird, a reclusive and mysterious race. He’s not impressed. His host appears backward and primitive. But Bilbo seems content enough to play caretaker while Thorin heals, and that is a mercy. Isolated with the halfling, Thorin has little to do besides navigate the barriers between them and learn more about his host. The more he learns, the more he finds himself drawn to the selfless, hardworking hobbit.

But how can he be sure that this growing attraction between them is anything more than an intimacy brought on by isolation? Besides, Thorin’s a king. He’ll have to return to his kingdom, and Bilbo has never left the forest.

old cat, new tricks - Shy_Urban_Hobbit - The Witcher (Aiden/Lambert, a cute look at the differences in cat and wolf schools)

Summary: Aiden witnesses his first 'fight' between the Wolves and is beyond confused. It's never too late to learn how to play though, right?

Married at first sight - TracingPatterns - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus, this was such a fin read, and for someone who doesnt watch relaity shows, reading about them is much more fun for me personally)

Summary: Usually, a romance story ends when the couple say I do, but in this case, that is where it starts. Can you marry a total stranger and still make it work? Can a group of experts really find your perfect match? And how do you stay true to yourself when your every move is caught on camera?

The Kitchen Thief - mordelle - The Hobbit (Bilbo/Thorin, different first meeting by the amazing @mordellestories, seriously, everyone check it out!)

Summary: There are pests. At first, Thorin thought one of his assistants was stealing from him. And that may have been why he was a bit harsher on them than what was deemed necessary. But one by one, the workers were replaced only for the goods to keep vanishing into thin air. It was driving him to madness. And when Thorin wasn’t at peace, everyone knew it. So, it had to be pests, right? Pixies, brownies, rats, something was pilfering his hard work and it was happening more often as time went by.

Not So Small a Thing - HerdingFlowers - Wiedźmin | The Witcher - All (Geralt/Jaskier, I adore deaging fics and little Jaskier is precious asf)

Summary: What is a witcher to do when he finds himself with a baby bard on his hands?

Take him to Kaer Morhen, of course.

An Infinte Ocean - orphan_account - Harry Potter (Sirius/Remus, muggle au, I hope whoever wrote this one day sees that this is my ultimute HP comfort fic. I adore everyhting about it and iM so grateful tey wrote it!)

Simmary: Remus Lupin knows two things--working and caring for his son, Teddy. When his babysitter sets up crowdfunding so Teddy can go swim with the sea turtles at the local animal rescue, Remus doesn't realise how completely their life is going to change. Especially when he meets Sirius Black, the weekend merman in the aquatic show, and someone who might convince him of love at first sight.

So, I hope you had a good week, and see you sometime tomorrow (or after lol)

So, I only wrote two fics last week, but thats alright, everyone slows downa t some point right?

Seven goats and a cow (Geralt/Jaskier, written from this amazing prompt from @odde11eth)

Summary: Jaskier is excited to spend winter at Kear Morhen and to ask Vesemir for Geralt's hand in marriage.

Vesemir does not aprove and sets Jaskier 3 all but impossible for mostly-human bards to complete.

Will Jaskier succeed?

And finally Our ghostly hearts reach for one another - Lucigoo89 - The Hobbit (Bilbo/Thorin, written for @flashfictionfridayofficial, Prompt #281 - Ripple effect)

Summry: Bilbo is old, and fells so alone. If only he could see Thorin again. Hold him one last time.

Maybe in his dreams.

Take care all <3

[plotbunnybreeder]

Howl a Verse, I'll Sing the Chorus

Jaskier's hit writer's block for his latest album and he takes his manager's advice to "traipse through nature or something" for inspiration and ends up at the wolf sanctuary Kaer Morhen a couple hours out of town. After one tour of the place he's fallen in love with the pack and even harder for one of the caretakers there, the cautious, surly, absolutely gorgeous Geralt.

Real estate conglomerate Nilfgaard is fighting to buy out the land and get rid of the sanctuary, but Jaskier thinks he has a plan to finish his album and save the sanctuary if he can only get Geralt and the rest of Kaer Morhen to trust him.

[sickfictropes]

That one angsty thing where Whumpee is saying what is 100% true but sounds like absolute paranoid nonsense and Caretaker gets all concerned and sympathetic and Whumpee is like nO DON'T DO THAT

you've seen it we've all seen it and it's so good man. IT GIVES ME FEELINGS. I HATE IT

the first example that springs to mind is Reprogrammed (a really angsty Wild Kratts fanfiction. yes I did just say "angsty" and "Wild Kratts" in the same sentence.) where the character getting whumped had an abuser who supposedly died but they have a bunch of really good reasons to believe they're still alive actually so they try telling another character, who gets so so worried and it's painfully obvious they're assuming it's all in the whumpee's head.

which. the aforementioned abuser fell out of a plane so. not a totally unreasonable assumption

but specific fanfic aside, this is just a really good trope. Bonus points if there's a heated argument where Caretaker is really trying to keep it together and they step towards Whumpee with intent to give them a comforting touch but Whumpee is Not Having It and maybe even swats their hands away. "Don't look at me like that!! I'm NOT making this up!"

and something I don't see nearly enough: Caretaker putting their hand on Whumpee's head to check for a fever as Whumpee is arguing with them

ooooh yes!! i have a Witcher fic that i never finished where they cut a beast's head off and flee, so she will pursue for 3 days before giving up. but Jaskier was poisoned in the fight and one side effect is high fever and paranoia/feeling of impending doom. they do flee once when Jaskier says he saw her, but the second time he claims to see her, Geralt realizes that both this time and the first time were fever hallucinations. but then,,, OOOH HERE SHE COMES! SHE'S A MANEATER!!

i should use this for my OCs too,,, 👀

[handholdinglion]

okay witcher thoughts

I’m watching this program abt rewilding the Lake District and there’s a sheep farmer who is against it as it destroys his livelihood & the farming communities way of life + it’s future !

so what I’m saying is…

- sheep farmer / wild horse caretaker eskel who’s family have farmed on the fells for generations. it’s not an easy life and it doesn’t really make any profit, but it makes him happy. Waking up each morning to check on the sheep (they roam pretty freely but he still likes to make sure nothing has happened over night), to feed the few chickens and hens and to groom any foals he’s currently raising

- baker / brewer lambert who continues in his foster families foot steps of producing the best bread + baked goods in the whole of the lakes (well that’s what the locals say) and has started his own brewery on the side (as it’s just the same as baking just with greater rewards)

- conservationist/ environmentalist geralt who was brought up in an old industrial town and found freedom from his mums family in a hidden patch of greenery amongst derelict red-bricked buildings. After passing his apprenticeship and spending years advocating for more green / wildlife spaces in towns and cities, he’s looking forward to an ‘easy project’. Cause how hard will it be to convince farmers about the benefits of nature

- journalist / blogger jaskier who’s hoping this placement year project writing and documenting for the National Trust will finally show his family why doing a joint honours in journalism was a good thing and far more important than (idk law ? politics ? business management ?)

they’re literally in my head 24/7 I’m sorry, everything comes back to them especially nature tv shows (or anything based in the north of the UK)

[astaldis]

(pictures from Netflix and pixabay.com)

@febuwhump    @badthingshappenbingo

Chapters: 1/1   Words: 2,102 Fandom: The Witcher (TV), Wiedźmin | The Witcher Series - Andrzej Sapkowski Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Geralt z Rivii | Geralt of Rivia & Jaskier | Dandelion, Geralt z Rivii | Geralt of Rivia & Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy, Geralt z Rivii | Geralt of Rivia & The Hansa | Geralt's Company Members Characters: Geralt of Rivia, Jaskier | Dandelion, Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy, Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach, Maria Barring | Milva, The Hansa | Geralt's Company Members (The Witcher) Additional Tags: Febuwhump 2024, Bees, Friendship, bee sting salve, bee stings, The Hansa | Geralt's Company (The Witcher), Bee Attack, creepy crawlies, Bad Things Happen Bingo, Humour, Humor, Geralt z Rivii | Geralt of Rivia Whump, Caretaker Jaskier | Dandelion, Banter, Fluff, Protective Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy, Jaskier's new bee song Summary: On their way to find Ciri, Geralt and his company travel through the wild forests of Riverdell. Suddenly they are under attack. It stings.

[tears-and-smiles-ao3]

What my heart just yearns to say

Fandom: The Witcher

Pairing: Geralt x Jaskier

Rating: Gen

Tags: first kiss, caretaking, fluff

Summary: Geralt wants to tell Jaskier how he feels, but battles with his inner belief witchers shouldn't want the comfort of another. He cares for his bard the only way he thinks he's allowed until Jaskier forces a conversation between them.

Written for the prompt: kiss as comfort.

Read on Ao3.

[thedemonofcat]

While travelling together, Jaskier would often take care of Geralt. This included cooking the food, although Geralt typically caught whatever meat or fish they would be eating. If left alone, the witcher would eat it raw. Stitching up Geralt wounds and helping wash in the bath.

Looking back, there were many things that Jaskier did for Geralt that he didn't think to appreciate.

Jaskier had been held by Nilfgaard for months before Geralt, with the help of Yennefer, found and rescued the Bard. In the period, Jaskier was brutally tortured to the point that by the time Geralt found him, Jaskier was catatonic.

Bringing Jaskier back to the safety of Kear Morhen, Geralt finds himself in role reversal, as now he must be the caretaker looking after Jaskier.

In hopes that one day, his bard will come back to him.

[eggcompany]

Jaskier and his Snuggly Wuggly Killing Machines Part 9

Day Four of having the babies home. Them. The babes were going to tell daddy everything. 

The day started with soft shorts and cozy sweaters and pitter patter rain. Jaskier was in a calm slow mood. He spent time making each boy three nice big waffles with butter and syrup, except Eskel on Eskel’s, he had blackberries and strawberries. Jaskier finished making himself one before sitting down at the counter with the three boys. It’s then that he noticed they were unusually quiet and rather… nervous or sad looking. 

“Is there something wrong, my flowers?” Jaskier asked, concern dripping from his tongue. Lambert and Geralt looked at Eskel. Eskel nodded and Jaskier waited. Each boy hadn’t wagged and had their ears down flat. 

“Can we tell you something? Pr-promise you’ll still- still like us?” Eskel said and stumbled over his words. Jaskier put the plates away and cleaned their faces. Each boy got a kiss to the forehead and lips. 

“I will always love you no matter what. Now come, we can talk in the living room. Up on the couch.” Jaskier said and guided them all to sit on the couch. Although Geralt still preferred to sit on the floor and rest his head against Jaskier’s knee. 

“Now take your time. Tell me what’s wrong.” Jaskier said. He seemed so calm but really he was screaming and crying and worrying himself to death on the inside. Eskel took a deep breath. None of the boys liked talking about them . 

“Before… Before we got to you we each had other… caretakers. We got split up for three years and four months before we got put in the Doxe Witcher Sterilization Program. People got paid to bring in witchers even if they weren’t theirs. But before that we um… we had other owners.” Eskel said and avoided Jaskier’s eyes. Jaskier nodded and said “I know. I know that babies. What’s this about?” Jaskier wanted to know what had all his babies so stressed out. Eskel gulped and continued. 

“We all had… jobs. Things we were forced to do. It um...Daddy I was a bodyguard and and they made me fight and and I- I hated it! I hated it so much I wanted to die! Daddy I didn’t want to I- I- I-” Eskel broke down. Jaskier stood after gently moving Geralt's head and being careful of him. He held Eskel in his arms and rocked him a bit and shushed him. 

Geralt added onto that by saying “When we saw him again he had that scar on his face and a broken arm and a dislocated shoulder and and cuts and bruises everywhere! It was so horrible, he looked half dead and broken!” Geralt said in a sad voice. 

“You never ever have to do that. Never. I know you hated it. You are just a soft little lover. You didn’t deserve to go through that. Never. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I promise to keep you far far away from that.” Jaskier said and shed a few tears for the baby. He kissed all over Eskel’s poor tear streaked face. Jaskier used the bottom of his own shirt to wipe away the tears and snot off his face. Eskel breathed normally after a while. And Jaskier sat back down. Geralt scooted so he was pressed up against Jaskier’s legs. He was picking at the seam on his pants. 

“Da-Daddy… I was um… I was a dolly. I got dressed up or not dressed at all and and… I was painted and given presents and compliments for just… being there. I had to stand up on pedestals and stay perfectly still. Sometimes they made me take medicine that made me not able to mo-mo-move and when I moved one too many ti-times I would get hi-hi-hits for each movement. It was scary and I was so alone and and Daddy I don’t wanna ever do that again. Never.” Geralt confessed and started crying on the floor. Jaskier shushed and pulled him up into his lap. He rocked back and forth shushing him and telling him the same thing he told Eskel. “I love you. I love you so much. You’ll never be treated like that ever again.” 

Finally when Geralt calmed down Jaskier looked toward the youngest who was picking at his fluffy hoody. Eskel whispered something to him and then him and Geralt left to go sit on the patio right outside the doors. Lambert finally looked near Jaskier’s shoulder and spoke in a hushed angry voice. 

“Geralt was a pretty dolly. He was art and used for aesthetics… I was… I was a different kind of doll. Tied up, beat on, cut, bitten, scratched, punched, made to do disgusting acts on even more disgusting men. Daddy, I was a sex doll. I wasn’t pretty and I wasn’t strong like Eskel. I was just, I got used. Roofies and sedatives and and and- Daddy I’m gonna be sick.” Lambert said and ran to the kitchen sink where yes, he was sick. He emptied his stomach into the sink. Jaskier was right there petting down his back and getting him washed up and made him rinse his mouth. 

Lambert was shaking and crying into Jaskier’s chest. Jaskier held him close. Jaskier shushed him and rocked a bit.

“Lambert my feather soft heart, I’ll protect you forever. You will never be touched in an inappropriate way ever again. Anyone who makes you uncomfortable or upsets you will be cut and pushed away so fast they’ll have whiplash. You never, never, have to do anything you don’t like or want to do. I love Lambert. I love you so much. I love you more than anything in this entire world. Thank you for telling me about this.” Jaskier said in a feather soft voice. Lambert nodded and whimpered “I love you too, daddy”. 

 Poor babies. Poor little babies. I had such a fun day planned… I suppose we can still have fun.  Today is their first time in the basement… A treat!

“Well baby, you know what we’re gonna do to cheer you and bubbas up?” Jaskier asked after the baby stopped crying. He started to walk toward the doors and the patio. “Wha?” Lambert said in a sweet tiny baby voice. Lambert had been more and more like this. Coping mechanisms. Jaskier ushered the boys all up and toward the basement door which was always locked until now. 

“I have a surprise for you. I know we love playing in the yard but since it’s raining I thought I'd finally show you the…” Jaskier said as he opened the door and walked down the stairs. He heard gasps as the three followed him. Jaskier reached the bottom and spread his arms. 

“Your playroom! I’m still getting some things but here it is!” Jaskier said and watched the witchers take it all in. The colorful foam floor, the stuffed animals, the bean bag chairs, the movie collection on the shelf beside the TV, the little painted fridge and snack baskets, and the three oddly wide closet doors that were each painted with different colorful patterns. They were wagging wildly and purrs soon filled the air. Geralt made his happy noise and wagged so much he was swaying on his feet. All ears were pointed straight up. 

“Woah… Daddy we can have movie night where! We can make it better with blankies!” Eskel said excitedly and went to the steps. 

“Aht! Eskel, baby, I’ve gotta talk first, then you can work, okay?” Jaskier corrected the pup who said “sorry, daddy” and got back off the stairs. Jaskier walked around the room, he was really trying to make it more baby friendly. 

“Rules. There are rules for the playroom. I will have them up on a poster soon. So far we have a few. Firstly, no running on the stairs. No rough housing down here. Always follow the rules that are on the fridget, which are basically portions. So we don’t under or over eat. Um.. Oh no open cups down here. Bottles and sippies only. And lastly, No hiding accidents down here. If you make a mess or spill something, tell me. I know there will be plenty of accidents down here and that's okay! These tiles? They’re just foam, so we can just pop them up, clean them, and put them back. The walls are scratch proof and stain resistant. Got that?” Jaskier said and the witchers watched and listened carefully. 

“Yes Daddy!” All three said. They were looking around now, looking at the movies and talking to each other. Jaskier walked to the closets then. 

“Boys, here, look here.” Jaskier said to get their attention. The boys ran over and had the sweetest curious looks plastered on their faces. “This one has cushions and fort building things like sheets and clothespins and things like that.” Jaskier said as he pulled open the door. The small closet was two thirds full of about seven large couch cushions and then two shelves with different plastic jars full of clips and pins and things. Eskel had his hands wiggling around at this. 

“We can make forts down here!?” Eskel said and looked at Jaskier with wide sparkling eyes filled to the brim with joy. Jaskier nodded “Absolutely, they’ll be even better once I get the low profile mattresses. They’re like cushions but the size of beds!” Jaskier whisper yelled to Eskel. Eskel almost squealed and clapped his hands. Jaskier smiled and giggled a bit. “Anything for my loves.” He said and walked to the next one. 

“This one is all toys. When we’re done playing down here we put our toys back here.” Jaskier said even though each boy almost always put his toys away when he’s done. Lambert automatically grabs one of the many soft toys. A plain brown cat. Jaskier was about to say something but Lambert was already chewing on its ear. There was a basket about three feet tall and as wide and deep as the closet. It was filled with stuffed animals. There were five white lidded labeled tubs on each of the three shelves. Cars, Race tracks, papers, paints and brushes, crayons, markers, Play dough, Slime, Beads and string, Light up Buggies, Magnets, Lock Blocks, and three tubs dedicated to legos. Jaskier wanted to make sure they had plenty of options. 

Lambert was happy to just chew on his cat and go sit on the floor and watch his brothers. Jaskier laughed at the baby. He’s gonna need to get more babyish stuff for him. Maybe a rattle and some special teethers? Jaskier walked to the last door. 

“This one’s empty for now but it’ll be where all the other fort material and things go. Maybe when you get more comfortable we could go out to the store and you guys could pick stuff!” Jaskier said and walked back to the stairs. Eskel and Geralt followed, leaving Lambert alone in the middle of the floor. Jaskier let the boys go and joined the babe on the floor. 

“You like that one?” Jaskier asked and Lambert nodded he crawled over and climbed into his daddy’s lap. Jaskier pet at his hair and watched as the older boys brought quilts and blankets and pillows down. Lambert was sound asleep soon enough. Emotional strain can do that to a baby. Eskel and Geralt were making a lovely nest. 

Soon Jaskier had laid Lambert in the nest and watched his brother wrap him up in a quilt and then cuddle him. The boys requested “The show with the green trash monster” So Jaskier popped on Sesame Street for them and brought his laptop down so he could do some stuff while watching the babes. 

He had messages from his managers and others asking how he was adjusting… he forgot to tell anyone except Yen that he had gotten witchers.... oops. He replied to them all that he was doing fine and that the pets were adjusting well and were healthy and happy. He also decided he was getting too old to sit on the floor and ordered a nice plush red chair for down here for himself. 

He then flipped over to his phone and popped one of his ear phones in. He opened up Yennefer’s newest message that read “Todayyyyy????????????”. She really wanted to meet the babies. 

Yennefer was Jaskier's best friend. They had met in high school and went to the same college. Yennefer really was just always there for Jaskier. From when he came out to his parents and got kicked out to the time when he was a penniless struggling musician and still now when he was fairly well off. Yennefer was always doing things for herself. She paid for her own college (thank gods for scholarships), she worked through medical school, and now she harassed Jaskier everyday about being able to come over and pet the babies. Yennefer just wanted to kiss their faces and wash them and kiss them and kiss them more and kiss them again.

Jaskier typed back what the babies had told him and that maybe tonight they might wanna meet. Yennefer answered with pity and sympathy. Jaskier quickly snapped a quick picture of the boys. All had on their soft snuggly sweaters and soft shorts and looked so snuggly in their nest. Eskel was holding a pillow against his chest, Geralt was sucking on Lambert’s ear and Lammy was asleep with his stuffy's ear in his mouth still. Eskel and Geralt were both completely focused on the show. 

This would be their first picture. He snapped the picture and sent it to his bff with the message ‘ Babies’ first picture! Imma get it framed.’ Jaskier smiled and saved the photo. Yennefer instantly messaged him back- 

‘ OH. MY. FUCKING. GODS. THEY’RE SO BIG! OH MY GODS THEY LOOK SO CUTE! IS HE SUCKING ON THE OTHER ONE’S EAR? AWWWWWWWWWWWW OH MY GODS THEY. ARE. PERFECT. I WANNA HOLD THEM. N O W!’ Jaskier laughed a bit at the message which caused the two awake boys to look at him. He waved them off and they went back to their show. 

Jaskier sent her a quick ‘ I’ll put you on a video call. I have my headphones in so they can’t hear but you can watch them. I need to do laundry. I’ll be able to hear you so tell me if they need me.’ Yennefer was more than happy to do so. Jaskier stood up and stretched and positioned his phone on the movie shelf so that the screen faced the wall and the camera was down on them.

Jaskier walked over and kissed their foreheads. “Hey Bear, I’m going to go do laundry but my phone’s gonna watch you so if you need me just call out okay?” Jaskier said and kissed Geralt’s forehead. Geralt nodded. “Eskel, darling, you too. If you need something just call out. Love you babes, I’ll be back soon.” Jaskier said and left upstairs. In his ear he could hear Yennefer squealing. 

Jaskier hurriedly put the clean laundry in a basket to fold, out the wet in the dryer, and loaded up the washer. He listened to Yennefer talk about “T hey’re so cute!” “Oh my gods they’re giggling” “Do they need bottles? Oh my gods I’ll feed them bottles 24 fuckin 7” “Aw the little one’s waking up!” “Aw they’re given him kisses!” “Oh he’s grumpy isn’t he, I’d kiss his perfect little head all day long. I wanna rock him to sleep” “JASKIER I WANNA MOTHER THEM. THEY’RE SO FUCKING CUTE.”

Jaskier laughed and walked back down to where all three were watching the show. Jaskier walked over and knelt down next to them. Lambert wiggled to lay across Eskel to kiss Jaskier. In his ear he just heard ‘ Awww daddy’s baby. He’s an angel.’

“Hey babies. I have a very important question, so pay attention.” Jaskier told them as he paused their show. All three wiggled and looked at him. Jaskier misled and looked at his phone for a second. 

“Do you think you could meet someone today? It’s not a doctor or anyone like that! It’s my bestest friend Yennefer. Do you think you wanna meet Aunty Yen?” Jaskier asked and watched the boys look at each other, having a silent conversation. Yennefer was screeching ‘ FUCK YEAH I”M FUKIN AUNTY YEN’. All the boys smiled. Lammy looked the most excited. 

“I hab Aunty!? Is she pretty? Is she nice? When is she here I want my aunty!” Lammy said as his tail flicked up from under his blanket and started squishing excitedly. ‘ Oh I am on my way NOW! I’m comin for ya lil baby!’ is all Jaskier heard before the noise of hanging up. 

“I think I wanna have an aunty.” Eskel said and Geralt nodded in agreement. “When is she gonna be here?” Eskel asked. Jaskier laughed. 

“I believe she’s currently on her way. How about we get up and get lunch ready so she can eat with us. I think she’d like feeding a certain someone a bottle.” Jaskier said and booped Lambert’s nose. He squealed and said “She will! She wants to feed me!?” Jaskier nodded and hummed a yes. 

Geralt stood up and walked up the stairs with Eskel in close tow. Jaskier hauled Lambert up and walked behind the wobbly baby up the stairs. Eskel and Geralt already had already gotten some berries out and turned around to look at their daddy. 

“What’re we making here, boys?” Jaskier asked as he looked over the blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Geralt smiled and sat down at the counter next to Lambert. Eskel got out the pancake bowl. 

“We gotta make her pancakes! We can make ‘em pretty for her!” Eskel said and even got out the container of powdered sugar. Jaskier nodded and started on the dough. He thought about how long it would be until the violet eyed woman would be knocking at the door. She lived about 35 minutes away and it was raining so maybe 40 minutes. Easy Peasy plenty of time. 

Jaskier smiled and whipped up the batter and cooked the pancakes which took about 20 minutes and then the boys decorated for fifteen minutes. The boys had about five minutes and they waited by the door. 

Geralt was wagging with his ears high up and rolling on the balls of his feet. Eskel was wagging but looked a little nervous, he stood in front of his brothers, closest to the door. Lambert was again sucking on the end of his own tail while sitting on the floor, he was watching his own toes wiggle. 

‘Please don’t bite my best friend, Please don’t bite my best friend, Please don’t bite my best friend’

<- Last Chapter Next Chapter ->

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

30 for the fanfic writer asks:

do you think you used girl power effectively when you started writing Spider's Thread?

Me writing a fic where Jaskier lost his ability to speak in a horrifying and debilitating way that impacts every single aspect of his life and leaves him a handful of fragments of his usual self and Geralt feels the insurmountable weight of guilt over his actions that he believes to have doomed him to this and has to try to manage that guilt without it hindering his caretaking for his bard that he doesnt think he can call his bard and a Story that at its core is rooted in profound unconditional devotion between two men who love each other so incredibly much but think so little of themselves that neither man thinks that the other would ever love him:

Girlboss 💖✨💋

Ask me a Fic Writer Ask!

[humbae]

Tagged by the lovely @do-androids-dream-ao3acc thank you very much!

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💕💗

Limit - Super self-indulgent Geralt whump with Jaskier as the caretaker.

2. Sling - A fun challenge to fulfil a series of prompts, with lots of Geralt whump.

3. Maintenance - The inspiration for this piece of Data whump struck like a sledgehammer and had to be written.

4. Shed - Loki whump based on a dream I had.

5. At the Edge of Madness - A collaboration with @do-androids-dream-ao3acc and therefore special to me, was a fun process. With Geralt whump, of course.