#dettlaff's hand

[rohantohu]

Regis enjoys his shaurma

Enjoying it too much actually, this is going out of hand.

[spellwing777]

Cassie and Moses are the worst offenders of the pack.

[whitegoldtower]

I could fix them: Kar’niss, Ancano, Dettlaff, Minthara, Thranduil

We would fix each other: Astarion, Geralt, Zevran

Would fix me: Haldir, Galadriel, Regis, Dorian

I could make him worse: Ondolemar, Legolas (I think I would give him second hand stress)

Would make me worse: Vingalmo (in the best ways possible. He’d encourage/provoke me too much), Elenwen (would make my mummy issues worse)

[eycsnow666]

witcher screenshot compilations

got a bunch of stray imgur links floating around on discord, but here they all are! mostly of character swaps to emhyr. be warned that character swaps involving female->male skeletons may be a bit...cursed ahah. check the reblogs for further additions, because the original post is cranky abt any more links being added to it.

shoutout to @tigerlyla-of-metinna who's done amazing edits to some of these pics and also for enabling my new hobby

Emhyr visits Kaer Morhen

quest is No Place Like Home, swaps are Lambert to Geralt, Yen to Ciri, Geralt to Emhyr. Emhyr graces Kaer Morhen with his imperial presence. in return, the witchers convince him to drink himself silly. welp, what dignity was lost was regained in camaraderie

La Cage au Fou ft.a sad hedgehog

while out trapping monsters, Geralt accidentally captures...the emperor of nilfgaard?? how he got there aside, he's in pretty bad shape and has apparently gone feral. lucky there's a witcher who's been through this rodeo before, so emhyr's in safe hands <3

Roche to Emhyr and Ves to Ciri

quests are Eye for an Eye and Reason of State, with bonus swaps Dijkstra to Dettlaff and Thaler to Regis. Ever wanted to see Emhyr plotting against Emhyr? these pics have you covered! also included: emhyr and geralt being big damn heroes, and drunk uncle Dettlaff giving Regis a headache by quoting Macbeth Vakmeth scenes. See one of my reblogs for this link, bc this post doesn't want to save with it here for some reason.

Emhyr x Geralt hugs (Blood Run quest)

Regis's expressions make Emhyr look so soft 💖

Something Ends, Something Begins (Geralt to Emhyr)

soft moments with Ciri and Emhyr getting some dad moments in.

Ciri's Story: Out of the Shadows (Baron to Emhyr)

Emhyr has a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Emhyr may be a snacc but his daughter's here to make sure he doesn't become a snack (for basilisks)

The Battle of Kaer Morhen ft.The White Flame (Geralt to Emhyr). lots of Sadmyr and tender moments with Ciri

father's day at kaer morhen

Geralt to Emhyr swap, quest is Blood on the Battlefield. Emhyr and Ciri destress with a snowball fight. Geralt's sitting out this one, probably collapsed of sheer shock from learning that Emhyr is capable of experiencing fun.

Emralt, now with reduced clothes!

Yen to Emhyr, the opening scene at Kaer Morhen. yeah these are actually Yen's body proportions bc Yen's skeleton but shhhhh

A Midnight Clear: Shani to Emhyr mod

more spooky scary (animation) skeletons

A Midnight Clear: spiciest Emralt highlights

Geralt x Emhyr action. don't look at the proportions too closely, just lie back and think of nilfgaard

[yourraywin]

Hair

Astralites’ Hair Color Supplement Tav's Hair Salon Icon and Race Patches for Tav's Hair Salon Icon P4 Bangs Bangs Everywhere (a Fringes and Extra Hair mod) Shibariwaluigi's NPC Hair Edits Bardic hairstyles Hairstyles of Faerun Tasha's Cauldron of Hairstyles Pack 2 Kay's Hair Extensions Kay's Hair Extensions

Face

Vemperen's Other Heads Repaired Mari's makeup Astralities' Skintone Expansion - Natural Tones Astralities' Skintone Expansion - Natural Tones Horns of Faerun Bloody Kisses - Blood Drip Tattoos

Body

Unique Tav Custom Appearance Darker Bhaal Scars for All Black Nail Polish (Hands and Foot) Alternate Tiefling Tails Alternate Tiefling Tails

Armor&Weapons&Clothing&Accessories

IO's Outfit Collection Basket Full of Equipment. NSFW version Basket Underwear to Underwear Slot Effe's Consort Dyes lokelani's lavish livery - outfit-clothes-clothing Ranger's Leather Armor Astarion's Gear Tasha's Cauldron of Outfits Kelemvors Chosen Weapons and Armor Witcher Outfits - Dettlaff Twinkle and Icingdeath - Drizzt's Swords Astarion's Earrings TC Dyes Simple Blouse Camp Clothing Yennefer's wardrobe

Gameplay

The Chosen of Bhaal The First Vampire Warlock Subclass Witch Class Soul Reaper

Romance

Astarion Post Ascension Dialogue Fix Hugs Kisses Astarion Kiss Dialogue Fixed BG3SX - Sex Framework

ReShade Presets&Photography Tools

ReShade Otis_Inf Photomode IGCS Connector for ReShade BG3 ReShades Galore Blushing Dusk ReShade Preset DUSKWOOD PATH (cinematic ReShade preset)

Other

Appearance Edit Enhanced Ring of Metamorph

[northernolddragon]

Part 1. Whatever the vampire and the witcher amuse themselves with.. (note: 1. a little fun for the monster slayer and the very sight of the 'bloodthirsty monster' in Tesham Mutna, where Emiel prefers to collect the herbs he needs; 2. I would like to see their interactions like this sort of in the game, more options for old friends; 3. Due to my inexperience at the time of shooting, I couldn't remove one of the swords, so he remained - one for the monsters, the second for the people and the third for the Regis. xd).

"This season has been a great harvest of "Erysimum canescens L." In the greenhouse of Corvo Bianco, it will be an excellent addition among other herbs, that we have already managed to collect with the respected Barnabas-Basil and my friend Dettlaff ... How nice it is, when you have been given full right to interfere in the garden and the greenhouse. I would plant the necessary herbs to treat the common ailments, that people in this climate zone have. Workers often complain to me about their ailments... " Geralt is sneaking. Quiet, like a very cautious wolf. "I could feel you from a mile away, witcher. Don't stand there. Kindly don't draw your sword. I have enough to worry about." "You will have to fight me, bloodthirsty vampire!" Characteristic clang and soft grin. "I warned you, White Wolf..." The vampire laughs weakly and a swirl of dark cloud covers the area around him. Geralt literally flies up, trying to catch the 'monster' in time. He just turns around, rubbing the petals of that very plant in his hands, rubbing it into the phalanges, watching the movements, which are so fast for a person, and so slow for a vampire. "Are you seeking death, Geralt of Rivia?"

[do-androids-dream-ao3acc]

Shani, Lambert and Dettlaff for the "give me a character" game. (As Geralt and Emhyr were already done by you.)

(for this ask game)

How I feel about this character, Shani Oh, I love Shani. I would have loved to see her as a permanent love interest for Geralt in TW3.

How I feel about this character, Lambert Lambert, Lambert, what a prick... you know I love him WAY more than Eskel. His storyline in TW3 is a bit strange, but he's awesome.

How I feel about this character, Dettlaff I never liked Dettlaff. I mean he's made to be interesting, and to an extend, his motives are understandable. And I actually felt sorry for him when he was forced to kill his friend. But... well, I think my judgment is a bit harsh because I had SUCH a hard time with him in my playthroughs 😂

All the people I ship romantically with this character, Shani Geralt. And Vlodimir :)

All the people I ship romantically with this character, Lambert Aiden, naturally... mh, yeah, let's not forget Keira. Why not. All the people I ship romantically with this character, Dettlaff Dettlaff shall crawl back into his batwings and don't interact with anybody.

My non-romantic OTP for this character, Shani Also Geralt, somehow. And... strangely enough, Dandelion.

My non-romantic OTP for this character, Lambert Regis. Yes! I bet they would be awesome friends. I made them kinda friends in one or two fics, if I recall that correctly.

My non-romantic OTP for this character, Dettlaff Well, Regis of course.

My unpopular opinion about this character, Shani No idea. I think I have no unpopular opinions on her. She's great!

My unpopular opinion about this character, Lambert Mh, nope, no unpopular opinions... My unpopular opinion about this character, Dettlaff There should not be a redemption arc for Dettlaff.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon, Shani Well, as I said, I wish she'd been a permanent love interest.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon, Lambert I wish we would have known more about why Aiden was his friend. Or rather why he considered him to be such a good man, the best witcher he'd known yada yada...

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon, Dettlaff Well, depending on your choices he dies by Regis's hand, that's satisfying, no complaints here.

(I feel the Dettlaff- and Gaunter apologists among my followers will now click unfollow, but!) 😂

[tigerlylascollection]

Emiel Regis

...holding, no doubt, Dettlaff's hand... and even sniffs it to confirm.

(you know Geralt keeps that in the back pocket of his trousers?)

Shot by @alphagravy and my edits in PS.

[rohantohu]

I've been having this on my mind for years, now it bursting up, y'all in danger.

Click keep reading if you brave enough

relax, Regis just accidentally spilled his auto-pixelating white potion, on Dettlaff's severed hand. nothing else

[cosmos-coma]

Blood and Vengeance - Part 1

A/N: I've had this story saved in my drafts for a while now and i think about it every dang day so here it is! Finally!

Pairing: Dettlaff x Reader

Words: 1332

Summary: You answer an ad for a housekeeping job at the estate of the two new mysterious visitors in town, despite strange rumors circulating around town you know the pay makes it well worth it. However, when you arrive it seems to be part housekeeping and part "nanny" as you're tasked with getting the dark-brooding Dettlaff used to humans. surely this will go smoothly, right?

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7| Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 (Final)

__________________

Your town had always been a sleepy place as far as you could remember. Small markets, rarely any visitors, and relatively little commotion as far as you were concerned; but maybe that's what attracted the two mysterious men to your tiny town. 

Word of their arrival spread quickly and quietly through the streets of the town, warping the way all rumors do. Some said they just seemed like two standard rich men. One was pleasant, always carrying a bag of herbs and odd-smelling concoctions, and the other didn’t seem to like anyone and was strangely intense for such a quiet man. However, in no time those rumors faded out, instead replaced by speculation of criminal pasts, and fake identities- some even went so far as to swear they had seen them turn into bats when the veil of night fell.

Either direction the rumors went you found yourself growing more and more curious the longer you stared at the posted ad on the noticeboard. 

It said they were looking for a few workers; mostly gardeners and people to help renovate- neither of which you knew how to do well enough, but you did think you could settle into the housekeeping role well. It looked like it paid nicely and you’d get to have a room at the manor as well. It was bound to be long hours and being on call at a moment's notice, but soon enough you should be able to save up a small fortune and live your life quietly on your own time. 

You nodded, determined in your decision, and went straight there to apply, despite the way your nerves grew with each step. 

As you walked up to the estate It’s multiple levels loomed over you and blocked out the low-hanging sun. You pushed open the iron-wrought gate which creaked with age as you closed it behind you and walked through the freshly tilled gardens. The home had been worn by decades of neglect and paint flecked off in patches here and there revealing an older color underneath. 

“I guess they must’ve already found gardeners” you commented as you made your way up to the door. A deep breath steadied your nerves long enough to lift the heavy door knocker, clacking it against the old wood twice. 

It was quiet for a short while before the sound of footsteps suddenly came from behind the door as it was pulled open with ease by an older-looking gentleman. His hair and sideburns were a sooty gray and his eyes held bags beneath them that betrayed the exhaustion his pleasant smile tried to hide. “Ah, you must be here to apply for one of the posted jobs?” He held his hand out for you to shake. “Emiel Regis, it’s a pleasure.” 

You put on your best smile, shaking his hand as you introduced yourself, “Yes, um- I was hoping the housekeeping position was still open..?”

An amusing thought seemed to cross him as he glanced you over once more, barely noticeable if you weren’t watching. He nodded and ushered you in right away, into the darkened entryway. “Of course. Come in, come in- I might as well show you around if you're going to be working here,” he said, leading the way.

Two large staircases curved their way out and upward and met at the next level. Rugs lined each step and the hallway before you, worn to a small degree but mostly dulled with dirt, dust, and age. The wood lining the walls could use a layer of polish, but you were surprised to see what decent shape the interior was in. 

Mostly the interior just showed aging, from the dimmed dirty windows to the cobwebs in the corners. “You’ll have to pardon the mess while we get everything put back to its former glory. The house Is big, but please don’t let it become daunting to you. I-” He paused his steps and his words to listen to the quiet house for a moment before he continued. 

“Well if I have to be frank. This job is in part a regular housekeeping job, I assure you. But it is also because I would like to have someone to keep an eye on my dear friend Dettlaff.” He said, glancing back at you before he continued giving you a tour of the house. “I-I promise it’s nothing strange. Ah- but that probably only made it sound stranger, didn’t it?” 

“Very much so..” you replied, laughing lightly, but still holding your satchel close as you went from room to room. A few of the rooms were more finished than the others- the bedrooms and the kitchens for example- others seemed to be more of storage for extra materials. 

“I apologize… I had no intention of making you feel uncomfortable. It’s just- Well, how do I put this… Dettlaff is not good with people. At all.” Regis huffed in mild annoyance. Because Dettlaff was such a good friend, Regis could only acknowledge his shortcomings for what they were. Dangerous liabilities. “He feels far too much, but I think small introductions could be good for him; someone who can pepper him with how people work socially” He further explained, waving a hand of his with nails that were just a bit longer than normal. 

This was all starting to get a little bit weird… but you still couldn't deny this kind of pay, plus room and board. “So you want me to be a sort of… glorified nanny for your friend?” You asked, increasing your pace to step side by side with the older man.

“Well, when you put it like that…” he began to mumble, but you quickly interjected. 

“I’ll do it. When can I start?” you stepped in front of him and held out your hand to shake on it, causing the older man to stop short and raise his eyebrows in surprise.

“My, my… you certainly seem like a rather tenacious creature, don’t you? Though I think that could prove you well in dealing with him…” He smiled that friendly smile again and shook your hand. “If you’re up to it you can start tomorrow. I’ll create a list of daily duties and It’ll be waiting for you in the room we’ve set aside for you. We can discuss your pay after your first day, does that arrangement work for you miss Y/n?” He asked, looking at you with nothing but an earnest expression and kind eyes. 

You smiled as you nodded, hefting your bag further up on your shoulder as you were led back to the front door and seen off by the older man. 

You were quiet on your walk home, quickly scampering through the streets before the sun fully fell and the more malicious folks came out for the evening. As soon as the door clicked closed you shouted in excitement and did a little dance. You weren’t even a hundred percent sure where all the confidence had come from, but you didn’t care! A huge grin spread across your face as you breathed a sigh of relief. 

“Oh, shit, I’ve got to get packing…” you thought aloud as you sprung yourself up and began pulling things together. For once you were thankful that you had only been renting in this little town. It felt like ages ago that you had walked away from your childhood home to try and make a life for yourself and for once it seemed to actually be working out. You didn’t have too much to pack up, mostly books, clothes, and a few little knickknacks you had picked up over the years, but each one held a small special place with you. 

A small smile painted on your expression as you put the last of your things away in a bag and gave the old place one last look around. 

Tomorrow would change the trajectory of the rest of your life for you, you could feel it. And you had never been more ready. 

_______________

Taglist: @writingmysanity @open--till--midnight (thought you might like to be tagged in this!)

Wanna be added to a certian taglist? DM me to Let me know!

[spellwing777]

How does a giant bat wear a snowsuit? Reluctantly. 

[ladysunbite]

@fallesto | x

The winter-eyed princess were right to choose the shadows. If she sat upon the sunny side of the table, her dazzling rays if rage would blind. It took all Orianna's temperance as a vampiress-in-hiding and a semi-courtier as not to frown at the sight. Abduction of power, bloodletting of the land...and no coherent plans for keeping, restoring, letting it all bloom anew in sight as far as her ears could catch. No reprimands, no calls to logic would help the lost little princess to return to the path. Not that the sun-eyed had any wish to mingle in politics. Was it what her little ruva found fascinating in that human? The ripe openness, the cutting sincerity, the dazzling passion that cut in half? That what made her dangerous to the dream-like peace of the Duchy, a peace Orianna valued higher than a prized glass of Sangreal. Sure, the fruit had its rotten parts, as any fruit would, but...to exchange it all for what? The Northern lands bloomed not with vines and songs, but with corpses and bones. It didn't improve locals at all, or the taste of their blood, or their understanding of fairness and justice, or the state of arts so sweet to the sun-eyed's throat. Her ancestors were right - calamity makes human blood impossible to drink, sour like a rotten apple. And...there was no use to tell anything of it to Sylvia Anna. Like her children, she was wallowing in grief, hungering to fill herself to the brim, anything as not to feel the void. Abandonment is the most terrible punishment, because it leaves a pestering, poisoned wound. That Orianna understood with both her cold head and the pulsing marrow of her bones. The little princess was named anathema, as far she had remembered. The gossips were murky, and gave no clue how to appease her. Something about the Curse. Blessed be the Unseen that bit remained false, Sylvia Anna didn't stink of unnatural magic, at least not now. Only a slight wisp of pears caught the vampiress' attention. Pears and leather and old blood, that nothing can wash away,

Orianna's prized human-like face froze in a pleasant, null mask. A statue in the sun. Let the little red princess project any emotion she desired upon it, be it a nod of remorse or a sigh of indignation at her horrible fate, or a secretive displeasure at her younger sibling. "Quite the opposite, I admire your sister. She has a loving heart and a good memory. You had no chance to visit Ducal Camerlengo's office, I presume? I highly suggest it, my lady," a confidential whisper, that hinted that something apart from the badly-guarded plump chest of gold was waiting for her there. Her children usually responded favorably to treats. That was the first one. "I wish you to show to you can both seize...the moment...and live in it," they were in a public place after all. It was enough that a prohibited names escaped Orianna's lips. That the red princess talked about a rebellion as nonchalantly as if choosing wine for her supper. Let the cultured vampiress get at least a pleasure of riddles out of it all.

"Hunt with me for that unnamed horror. It's a shame not being able to enjoy a proper royal hunt. You will have a chance to pass the news about my brother while we are at it. I miss him dearly." Mother Tuir blind Dettlaff, if he will not arrive soon and pacify his ravenous beauty. Royal blood was too thick upon one's hands, clawed or not.

[eycsnow666]

Hey! You asked me, and I love these sort of games, so I'm paying it forward.

If you want to do the character aske, I'd ask for your take on Geralt of Rivia 🥰

ah Geralt, my beloved most neutral witcher and bestest monster killer in all the land (/s ^^)

Sexuality Headcanon: once upon a time, a young Geralt fancied himself strictly as a woman’s man, and that his same sex dalliances w other witchers were simply bc of lonely nights in Kaer Morhen. Until he left KM and found himself not averse to bedding women and men alike. Life is full of surprises and sometimes they are children, sometimes the discovery that cock is prettty good. And since life as a witcher is Toil and Labour, he wasn’t about to over-complicate smth he personally had no objections with just because some rando noble might be uncomfortable. Quite the useful attitude for a witcher living on the outskirts of civilisation, so that worked out for him.

This is just my hc for a TW3 timeline with overt homophobia, based on the encounter with Mislav. Because CDPR have proven themselves cowards by not showing a single dick in the entirety of the games and therefore cannot be 100% trusted with canon, I like to also imagine another where homophobia is less prominent (and non-existent in most regions) where geralt is…exactly the same. no fucks given except for in bed ;)

Gender Headcanon: a cis man, and pragmatic and doesn’t give a hoot if prudes shake their heads at his gender non-conforming habits. if a warm, comfy article of clothing in his possession happens to be a dress, it’s being worn, and how majestic. he knows how to braid hair, bc it doesn’t hurt to know how. Bonus: kid!Ciri adored him for it. Besides, gender-coding things sounds like an Other People kinda problem, and he is but a simple witcher with potions to brew and blades to oil, so…

A ship I have with said character: Geralt/Emhyr is my current obsession💖 Geralt/Regis and Geralt/Dettlaff are two close faves. All simultaneously within the same timeline bc my blorbos love to share

A BROTP I have with said character: a begrudging understanding between Geralt and Mererid, whose dislike of Geralt rose exponentially when he heard of Emhyr taking on Geralt as a lover. But Geralt worked some magic (read: really good sex and perhaps some axii for the nerves) to make emhyr’s mood do a 180 or maybe just a 90, he’s still a grump sometimes

and mererid was like, ‘you. you can stay.’

A NOTP I have with said character: none particularly? m8 if I encounter a ‘squick’ ship (think themes of incest for example) that’s also well-crafted, count me in for eating the dead dove

Random headcanons:

The only time he seriously reassessed his sex life was: 1) after falling for Regis, and even then it was more bc of the mental image of Papa Vesemir scolding him that he was meant to fight, not fuck this creature, and 2) falling for Emhyr, but then he seriously contemplated many other things too…

No way is he not a good cook what with those witcher-level potion brewing skills and olfactory senses

he has really nice hands! when they’re not encrusted with monster gore, anyway. and he takes good care of them too

General Opinion over said character: one of my fave things abt his character is that even though he’s pushing 100, he’s still a big awkward turtle. and also that his hero complex pulls him in directions he wouldn’t intentionally go makes him even more fun (see: every single bit of politics shenanigans his allegedly neutral arse gets swept into). I love him. my babygirl.

that was fun, thanks for the ask!!

[unapologetic-ciri-shipper]

SNIPPET - GOD from the PAST

Fear-filled dreams haunted her this night, as they did almost every night. Not that Ciri wasn't used to it. Most of them had their origins in her childhood: the ominous black rider who always turned into the Wild Hunt or dreams of her grandmother Calanthe's death and, again and again, the sea. Wild tides that broke the ship on which Ciri sailed through her dream and dragged her down into the depths. In the current dream, she let all this happen, listening to her heartbeat and watching the ever-shrinking bright surface of the water as she sank down into the depths. Yen had taught her that. Conscious dreaming, influencing dreams and from Geralt she learned to face her fears. Not to forget them, but to see fear as a useful companion that showed her danger and gave her access to her instincts. When she was afraid of the dark, she and Geralt spent a night in the forest training sword skills in complete darkness. When she was afraid of the water, he taught her how to swim and dive and, of course, how to defend herself against drowers in the water. Yen and Geralt's training prepared her for the confrontation with her fear. And so she floated in her dream and watched calmly as she drowned. Admittedly, there was something peaceful about it. Once she had accepted these superficial layers of fear, she knew where it came from. She dreamed of her mother's death, falling off the ship, drowning in the storm, in the darkness, in the sea off Skellige. When her panic used to take over when she was alone, she saw the apparition again. The image of white-green light, the magical manifestation of her elder blood, then pulled Ciri out of the water. But this time Ciri was very calm and watched the anxious thoughts pass her by. The figure would not appear like this. Ciri realized that she had never asked it for its name - if the magical being had a name at all, after all, it was nothing really physical. It was simply the embodiment of the Elder Blood itself.

Ciri smiled and watched the moonlit surface of the water, which was getting smaller and smaller.

'Enough of this dream. I can imagine better things.'

Ciri closed her eyes and when she opened them again, she was standing on a snow-white plain. Dettlaff was standing in front of her. Heat rose to her face.

'This is definitely more beautiful.'

"Dettlaff? This isn't just my dream, is it?"

Dettlaff nodded.

"Do you remember the last time? The dream level where you fought the shadow monsters. Only this time it's Regis who's allowing the resonance."

Ciri smiled at him as she walked towards him.

"Right, it's the same feeling."

She stepped closer to him and saw his tired, almost sad look. His smile didn't mask the emotions underneath. As she scrutinized him, he turned his face away.

"Is everything all right with you?"

"Not really... But this place is peaceful, more peaceful than what I dreamed."

Ciri's hand moved almost automatically to his forearm.

"I can understand that very well. My dream was cruel too."

"But you were calm. I didn't sense any panic from you."

"Ahh that... training from Geralt and Yen. Conscious dreaming and a kind of witcher's meditation to pull yourself out of frequent nightmares. I don't know if I can teach you anything new. But if you want, I can show you some of the things I've learned from them?".

Dettlaff smiled, this time the underlying sadness was less prominent.

"I'd like that."

Ciri paused and briefly considered whether to ask the following.

"What were you dreaming?"

Dettlaff swallowed and looked at the gleaming white floor. The pain was written all over his face, a pain she knew. She took a step towards him, but didn't dare take his hand. She knew how she felt at times like this and how upset she had been by the odd well-meant but unsolicited touch in the past.

"I won't ask any more... Would you like me to keep you company?"

He nodded again and Ciri sat down in front of him, her legs crossed and her hands resting loosely in her lap. His breathing was erratic and his nails clawed into his thighs as he tried to bring what was apparently bubbling inside him back under control. Ciri tried to feel into the connection, Regis created unconsciously between them, to catch something of his emotions, what he felt at least from what Ciri knew of this resonance. But Regis' own emotions were far too present in the background. And so she waited patiently, her hands subtly and unobtrusively palm up as a gesture to him. And to her surprise, Dettlaff grasped her hand, trembling slightly.

"I deserve to have these dreams, since I killed these people."

Ciri squeezed his hand.

"Don't forget the woman who had put you in this position..."

"Irrelevant. I killed her."

She screwed up her face. Syanna's story had shaken her deeply when Geralt and Regis had told her about it in Toussaint.

"Which she absolutely deserved."

Dettlaff looked up at her in surprise.

"And yet I regret it."

She fell silent, painfully lost in memories of her time in the rat gang. Her raids through the countryside, where she took her anger out on others, with that alias name, Falka, and like Falka hundreds of years ago. Not burning the ground, but soaking in the blood of those who stepped within range of her blade. Her sword made no distinction between young and old. The blood of innocents was on her hands and no matter what her motives were then, those motives left a stale taste on her tongue now. Ciri saw how Dettlaff gently turned her hand upwards and, lost in thought, traced the lines on the inside of her hand, which suddenly triggered a crazy feeling in her.

This could have been a perfect moment. A moment in which time almost stood still, the moths barely noticeably flapping their wings or the dust in the air forming a glittering swirl. But instead, all the light on this dream plane disappeared. She could still feel her fingers on Dettlaff's cool skin as she tried to reach out and grabbed at nothing.

"Dettlaff!"

Her hands scanned the smooth floor where he should have been sitting and she cursed aloud. As panic began to rise within her, she took a deep breath and felt into the bond. The amount of foreign magic was overwhelming, compressing her chest and making it hard to breathe, but she sensed Dettlaff somewhere. Ciri remembered the magic lessons with Yen about reading minds. She adjusted her breathing, searched for a ley node and drew magic from it, but the tightness didn't vanish. She tried again... Nothing.

A familiar figure of light appeared beside her, illuminating the area.

"They're attacking us, you and Dettlaff... I'm afraid you'll have to rely on my magic, my dear Ciri."

Ciri screwed up her face at the thought of how exhausting this would be for her body and sighed heavily.

"I know..."

The light figure resembling her image looked at her and smiled.

"I will help you. It only takes an ounce of our magic to banish this dream mage... And just a little more to kill him. It's your choice."

Ciri puffed out a laugh.

"Not today, but I want it to hurt. Hurt a lot... Nobody attacks Dettlaff!".

Well this is it so far. That chapter will be betaed at first in german than translated. I am currently writing the following chapter. Hope you like my version of Dettlaff x Ciri shenanigans and the concept of Ciri's source magic. Feel free to comment and share your thoughts ❤️

Read the series in english here

[northernolddragon]

From Dettlaff's notes:

"They walked in a formed black cloud against the misty plain of Skellige. Dark cloaks with red and white. Only from hunting. I smelled blood from the distance, where I happened to be. They were relaxed and satiated. Laughing and joking. Their leader - Emiel Regis - seemed excited. He moved ahead. Orianna followed, the one who was famous for her love of young blood. She is one of those who turned him on, as I happened to hear in the vampiric youth circles in which I didn't belong. Me disgusted. They invited me. And when I spoke about their vile deeds, they laughed. Now I hear sharp barbs addressed to me from time to time, I hardly see him and his company. I've been used to it for a long time. The blood didn't affect me. It didn't carry that basic postulate of the existence of our race, which it was for them. They could drain an entire village, arrange voluptuousness right at the place, where their insatiable hunger was satiated, frighten girls and men for fun and argue over who would drink more. And now I saw with my own eyes the moment of their procession after the hunt. Not a hint of guilt, not a hint of regret. Laughter, excited themes about the taste of this or that person... And black atracites, like an abyss in which there is red fire.

His velvety voice spoke of the baby. And I choked on the desire to break loose to their leader, in order to once again express my contempt to his face. But remained standing in the distance, growling under his breath. Orianna and the red-haired vampire, Vladlena, it seems, were dressed in a noble way, probably not bothering to hide their appearance. Regis, on the other hand, tried to pretend to be a lower class, probably, for the famous games, that they were famous for. As he was followed by those, who stood behind.

I captured this moment, as I saw how black eyes fell on the place, where I spent my seclusion painting the northern landscape. Instead of the goal, I drew a bloodthirsty nobleman from my Gharasham tribe in a dark red cloak in the company of my associates."

Perhaps, later I will arrange it differently and with a little history. In the meantime, this is a couple of shots through Dettlaff's eyes.

[krwioholik]

The Diary of Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy

Summer, 1271

The heatwave we've had here is beginning to reach levels I can only describe as unbearable. I must conclude that I am simply not made for such temperatures, though of course, that isn't necessarily factual. I am not used to them would be a more accurate assessment, but when I feel like my skin is about to melt off my very bones, I feel a proclivity for more dramatic expressions rising within me.

Dettlaff seems to be faring with the heat far better than I, and I find myself harmlessly jealous of him in this regard. It is true that it is largely thanks to his general state being far better than mine, but I do think he is also more accustomed to such temperatures after the long time he has spent living in Nazair and Ebbing. Myself, I have rarely travelled that far south and having spent the majority of my life in the northern kingdoms, I feel myself far more acclimatized to the wet and cold than dryness and heat.

I have fallen over in a bout of weakness yesterday.

I blame the heat, of course, though I'd be a fool not to recognize I am simply not in the shape I wish I were in yet. And, as Dettlaff points out to me still, pushing myself too hard. Yes, I know it. Even so, I am also not made for prolonged idleness. And I do attempt to rein some of my restlessness in, to pace myself and not take on too many duties, which in fact do not truly require my attention at the present time. But without something to do I feel my mind slipping into melancholies and boredom. Merely reading does not satisfy the urge any longer either, though I appreciate Dettlaff's attempts in bringing me increasingly outlandish tomes to capture my curiosity. He is, for the most part, very successful, and I am certain I will read all of his gifts in time.

Tomorrow night I plan to start a batch of distillate which I hope will give me something to occupy both my mind and hands in a fairly non-strenuous way. And I shall put this promise to myself, and to Dettlaff, here in ink: I will not move the still and flasks myself but I will ask Dettlaff for help.