#did I want more yennefer? yes absolutely

[insistonyourcupofstars]

No, I think it's so funny that Jaskier is so obsessed with Yennefer in SOTD - just so bitter and casually drops her into every conversation - all while Geralt is like "I will end your lute's life if you say her name one more time."

[judasiskariot]

@judasiskariot and @bhaal-battle-beer-bard personal "Being grateful"

I just wanted to sit down and take a moment to look at all the things I can be grateful for.

A lot has happened this year, bad things, really bad things. On top the last few days and weeks in particular have been unnecessary...complicated again. But I can't help but see that, unlike others, I can't laugh bitterly when it comes to expressing gratitude and seeing the good things.

And there are many, very many of them good things. Every small thing matters.

You just have to want to see them. (It is not always easy, that is ok)

But if you decide to find just one thing every day that you're grateful for and that made you smile, you'll find it. Try it. It becomes more and more easier.

And yes, I may sound like a fortune cookie and that may sound absolutely annoying and superficial and you can ignore me if you like.

But maybe it will help someone. Maybe someone needed to hear that today.

There were accidents, there were losses, but when I think about the year, the last months, weeks and days, I see the moments that made me smile. Celebrate the small moments and not the big tragedies to burden your heart. I am sure you had many victories that you just haven't seen yet.

For example after 10 years of silence I am reconnected with an old friend of mine, like no time was lost.

There is wonderful @aristenfromwarsaw with whom every conversation is a dream 😊

@alpydk without them tumblr already seems not like the same anymore 😄

I can't get enough of rambling with @yennefer-of-vengerbergs about anything! Most fun! 😁🤗

Lovely @pinkberrytea being my mutual is still incredible and unbelievable🤩😍🤩 You lovely human being 😘

@heytheresunflower always has a hug for me 🫂 so as @anacdoce blushing words on works that make me faint 🥹

And @goromimii without her I would never been able to write with all those wonderful persons. It all started with you and I know you always got my back when I need to 😘

@blazingsaza you are just part of my tumblr brain chemistry and also outer space 😄 Writing with you is a joy 💙

And so many other moots.

I just wanted to let you know that you are amazing and taking the chance to tell you I appreciate you.

Small things, small moments.

But for me they are worth being thankful for.

And great interactions and people are just a message away and when I think about what you could miss if you hadn't sent that message 😭😰😱😢 So if you don't know whether to write to someone: Do it! A wonderful conversation is just a Hello! away. Don't let fear and insecurities take that away from you.

Let people know when they had an impact on you, that you love them. They don't know it out of the blue, you have to tell them.

I know it takes courage to go straight up to people and compliment them, to say you did a great job, I'm proud of you. (It's so sad that it is like that, but it is)

But please do that.

Do that more often. Take a heart.

Just one kind word can save someone's whole day, their whole week.

It gives so much energy.

Just a kind word, a smile, can make a difference for someone.

And joy and love always increase when you give them to someone.

(Yeah, there are better options than the end of the year and it shouldn't take this to be grateful and to reflect, but unfortunately I didn't get around to it before. And I may sound like a dumb inspirational sayings calendar, but if it helps just one person not to end the year sad or frustrated, or it makes someone smile, then it has served its purpose. All I wanted to say is, that it is normal that we can't see the beauty of the world when darkness is deep within us. And at the end of the year, many people feel that way. It makes me sad to see this. And I just wanted to let you know that the wonders of the world are not disappearing, but are waiting for you when you are ready to see them again. But maybe one or the other needs a little reminder. Maybe I could help them with that. I would be happy. Maybe delete later because I don't know if my blather should be in the void out there.)

[finleycannotdraw]

yes syanna deserves punishment but her stupid sister won't punish her. We know this from the dialogue with Dandelion in the ending where Dandelion visits Geralt. No one denies that syanna suffered a lot and undeservedly but she absolutely does not deserve to be forgiven for the crimes. and this is what happens in the 'good ending' syanna had psychopathic tendencies even before she was diagnosed with the curse. For those who choose Yennefer because of books, Syanna's death should be canonical. syanna is Renfri created for the dlc. What did Geralt with Renfri? Butchered her in the middle of Blaviken. He should do the same with syanna. She is my most hated character from the entire witcher universe. Dettlaff is not completely good character but psycho sisters are not better than him. the perfect ending for me would be with both sisters dead and alive Dettlaff. But I only had with syanna dying. Dett deserve a second chance just like Regis in the books

Okay, so, you’re making the issue black and white when it clearly isn’t. Syanna and Dettlaff were both hurt and made bad decisions, and I think Dettlaff deserves more sympathy than he’s given by the game and the fandom, but you’re arguing that.. Syanna is just the villain, straight up, full stop? Yes, what she did was inexcusable. But one of the main ideas in the witcher is that there is no lesser evil, it’s just people and their choices! That was the whole point of Renfri’s story!

Your comparison to Renfri disregards and disrespects the point of the character and the message of her death. Yes, Geralt kills her, but it was based on a decision at a moment’s notice and he regrets it later. He carries her brooch with him for over two decades! He was prompted to choose the lesser evil, but truly, it was just different evils. He did what he thought was best with the information he had! We all do this, every day! This happens with Syanna as well, because yes, they are parallel characters. One difference is that Syanna had power over Dettlaff, but Renfri never had power over Stregobor. Dettlaff and Stregobor are not parallels the same way Syanna and Renfri were written to be.

You said, “syanna had psychopathic tendencies even before she was diagnosed with the curse”. She wasn’t diagnosed with anything! She was born, and the time of her birth made everyone think that she was a monster. That’s not her fault! What are the “psychopathic tendencies” you’re talking about? Lack of caring about others? First of all, that’s insensitive, and second of all, she’s an insecurely attached rich princess who was thrown out of her home for reasons she had no control over. She doesn’t know how to be a person. That’s why I think she deserves to live and learn.

Also, what’s the point of bringing up Yennefer???

Same with Anna Henrietta! Why do you think she deserves to die? According to story canon, she’s a beloved leader! Toussaint is prosperous under her leadership! Yes, her priorities are skewed, and she should see that Syanna is punished, but she’s blinded by the fact that her sister is alive! Anarietta was not only one of the reasons for Syanna’s banishment, she was also hurt by the way their parents treated her! Her reaction to learning that Syanna is alive is completely reasonable, and wanting to protect her is too. At this rate I think the issue is yours and not the game’s.

You’re allowed to hate her. I’m not saying you shouldn’t. But none of this is broken up neatly into right/wrong, black/white, good/evil the way you seem to believe. Come back when you understand that people (and all stories about and portrayals thereof) are more complicated than that.

[dancingwiththefae]

wait you have a yennskier pirate au? tell me everything please I love them and hyperfocused on pirates for so long

Oh anon I’m so glad you asked!

Challenge the mighty titan featuring pirate queen Yennefer (drawing heavily on Grace O’Malley) and stowaway Jaskier. It’s absolutely delicious enemies to lovers. It’s only at 11k at the moment but I do have the whole thing planned.

Might be easier just to give you the summary:

Pirate Queen Yennefer discovers a stowaway on her ship. She plans on making an example of him, but it's a long way to their destination. And perhaps she is more interested in this man than she lets on. But nothing is ever smooth sailing in the life of a pirate. And politics, secrets and lies are never too far behind.

I mean Yennefer has a sword what more could you want?

And yes I did listen to a lot of ELO while writing this sweet talkin woman is now a yennskier song

[bambirex]

It's A Game We Play: Chapter 10

Pairings: Geraskier, Yennskier, Radskier

Characters: Jaskier, Geralt of Rivia, Yennefer of Vengerberg, Radovid, original female characters, Essi Daven, Priscilla, Ciri of Cintra, Valdo Marx, Vespula

Additional tags: inspired by Mamma Mia! (movies), crack, alpha/beta/omega dynamics, omega jaskier, alpha geralt, alpha yennefer, beta radovid, awkwardness, jaskier is a good parent, protective jaskier, weddings, found family, fluff and humor, post mpreg, aternate universe-modern setting, jaskier is having the worst time of his life, valdo is here to make everything worse, confusion, banter, insecure jaskier, internalized slut shaming, light angst, family drama, there was only one bed, sharing a bed, valdo marx being an asshole, valdo marx and his ukulele from hell, drunk jaskier, mild language, sexual humor, jaskier in a dress, well it's a skirt but still, jaskier is essentially a milf in this, mentions of depression

Rating: teen and up audiences

Full word count: 31,857 words

Chapter word count: 3,334 words

Chapters: 10/?

Summary: Jaskier's daughter is about to marry the love of her life, and she decides she wants both her parents at her wedding. Only problem is that Jaskier has slept with a little too many people in his youth, so the identity of the other parent is a mystery. That does not stop the bride-to-be from inviting three potential daddy candidates and unleashing absolute chaos in the process.

*

Otherwise known as Jaskier's terrible horrible no good past decisions leading to terrible horrible no good outcomes. Also known as the Mamma Mia! AU nobody asked for, but I wrote it anyway.

Chapter summary: Jaskier and Geralt open up to each other during a picnic. Radovid and Yennefer make delightful mess in the kitchen.

Author's notes: Time to take Jaskier out on his individual dates to help...no, obviously, to confuse the already confusing feelings even more.

Read on Ao3

*

When Geralt asked him out on a date in his typical, endearingly awkward way, Jaskier suddenly felt like he was flung back in time. He felt like young, naïve Jaskier again, who almost did cartwheels in his excitement when Geralt finally made the first move towards him. His heart beat just as fast as it did two entire decades ago, but he was older now, a bit more mature. Therefore, he made sure to mask the way he felt like bursting with happiness, and accepted Geralt’s invitation with a polite smile instead of screaming a thousand ‘yes’, over and over.

As expected, Geralt didn’t want a lot of flair, and instead went for a little picnic. Not that Jaskier minded: he obviously loved to be wined and dined and enjoyed adventure, but he very much appreciated the idyllic little setting as well. Being simple but extremely sweet was part of Geralt’s charm, and so, when Jaskier saw the checkered blanket laid on the grass, and the traditional basket, his lips curled into a wide smile.

Said smile widened even more as he watched Geralt prepare for his arrival almost frantically, murmuring under his breath as he checked that everything was in its place. He gently removed a bug that crawled on the blanket to make sure it wouldn’t disrupt their date before triple-checked the contents of the basket. Jaskier stifled a small chuckle behind his hand.

Geralt looked up. His eyes flashed, and his cheeks flushed softly. He stood up and dusted off his clothes. His black t-shirt was pulled just as tight over his muscles as it was all those years ago. Jaskier allowed his eyes to drift to his defined chest, then to his thick arms. He let out a soft sigh.

“Hi,” Geralt greeted him. He extended his hand to Jaskier with a questioning look. Jaskier took it, once again appreciating the warmth of his skin against his.

“Well, that’s a lovely set-up,” Jaskier said earnestly as he sat on the blanket. Geralt smiled proudly.

“Glad you like it. I bought raspberries, blueberries and apricots. I also made some sandwiches and there’s home-made lemonade.”

“Wow,” Jaskier chuckled as he watched Geralt unpack the basket. “A real provider.”

He knew he managed to poke the Alpha in Geralt with his statement. He smirked when Geralt instinctively puffed out his chest.

“Did my best. The lemonade was made by Ciri, though. When she heard I was taking you out on a picnic, she immediately got to work.”

“She’s a very sweet girl,” Jaskier said softly. He grew more and more fond of Geralt’s daughter: she was a real menace and extremely stubborn, too, but she had a huge heart. In many ways, she reminded Jaskier of Amaryllis.

Geralt sat next to him and poured the both of them some lemonade. He smiled as he handed Jaskier his glass.

“I was a bit worried about how you would get along,” he admitted. “I guess you finding out I have a kid was almost as shocking as me finding out you have one, too.”

“Almost as shocking,” Jaskier replied. He took a sip of his drink, watching Geralt from the corner of his eye.

“I guess I was shocked because it was a reminder of how much time has really passed. And how much people can change in the meantime.”

Geralt hummed. He opened the box of raspberries and pushed it closer to Jaskier. For a few moments, he didn’t say anything, just stared down on the fruits.

“Do you think I changed for the better?”

The uncertainty in his voice surprised Jaskier. He knew Geralt wasn’t always the most confident person, but he didn’t realize he carried those doubts within him, still.

“Definitely,” Jaskier assured him softly. “You’re a lot more verbal than you used to be. You can still be a little awkward, and you’re still not a man of many words, but I noticed you’re a lot more open about your emotions. Do I see that right?”

“I think so.”

Geralt swallowed his own drink, a lot heavier than such a small sip indicated. Jaskier patiently waited for him to be comfortable enough to be honest with him. What didn’t work out twenty years prior, could very well work out now. With the changes in both their personalities, with decades of experience under both their belts, there was a chance their communication wouldn’t shipwreck like it did back then. No more begging for an explanation that didn’t come, no more crying instead of understanding. No more self-loathing that led to a seemingly unreasonable goodbye. They were barely adults back then: now they were both more mature, both of them parents. Maybe that was enough to turn the tide, this time.

“I hated myself for what I did to you,” Geralt eventually said. His eyebrows were knitted together in a frown as he stared down on his lap. “I acted like you didn’t matter to me. I deliberately drove you away.”

“But why?” Jaskier asked. His own emotions squeezed at his chest. “I understand having to finish college, I obviously didn’t expect you to suddenly move in with me, or anything, just… I felt like there was something else behind that whole thing. You didn’t even want long-distance. Nothing.”

“I struggled with depression a lot.”

Jaskier blinked in surprise. He was aware that Geralt could get lost in his own head, but he didn’t realize it was that bad.

“It was the worst when I was young,” Geralt continued. “I always wanted to fight every battle alone. Refused help from everyone.”

“Even your brothers and your dad?”

“Everyone. I never realized that I could be loved. Or, that I could give someone the kind of love they deserved. You scared me.”

“Me?” Jaskier breathed. Geralt nodded with a small smile.

“Yes. Because you were so open about your feelings. You wore your heart on your sleeve. There was no masking with you. I didn’t know what to do with it. With all that love you gave me, and all that love I felt for you.”

His words made Jaskier’s heart tighten in his chest. This was the first time Geralt explicitly called the thing that was between them love.

“So, I pushed you away. Told you we could never be a good match. That I can’t give you what you need. In a way, I believed I couldn’t.”

He looked up at Jaskier. His eyes were so beautiful, so gentle. Jaskier suddenly felt like he was drowning in them, but he felt no need to call for help.

“I pushed my feelings away for long years. I’ve met Yennefer. I loved her. I really, really did. But she had her own problems, too, and I had mine, and we practically killed each other. Then, at a really dark point in my life, my brothers finally knocked some sense into me and dragged my ass to a therapist. It helped a lot.”

“Thank you so much for sharing this with me,” Jaskier told him earnestly. He gave Geralt a smile. “I’m so proud of you, you know? That you didn’t just give up. The fact you feel comfortable enough to share this with me means that you truly did change.”

“I still have a lot of things I need to work on.”

“That’s okay. I need to work on a lot of things, too.”

Jaskier bit his lip. He chewed on a slice of apricot slowly, gathering courage. If Geralt respected him with being so honest, then, he needed to be honest with him, too.

“You said I always wear my heart on my sleeve, and it’s mostly true. But I do hide things like you do, as well. I don’t really advertise the fact I think Amaryllis deserves a better father, for example.”

“Hey,” Geralt said softly. He scooted just a little closer to Jaskier. “Don’t say that. You’re a great father.”

“I don’t know,” Jaskier whispered. He swallowed thickly as the memories rushed to the surface.

“You know, they say you truly grow up when you have a kid. But you know what? I never felt more like a child than when I held her in my arms for the first time. There was this beautiful, beautiful baby girl. And I had no idea what to do with her. I felt like those toddlers who play with those realistic baby dolls. Except, she was real. She cried and whimpered and relied on me for everything, and I was useless.”

He blinked against the tears in his eyes. Geralt wrapped an arm around his shoulder. Jaskier let himself lean against him for comfort.

“I remember the first night at home. She cried for hours. I fed her, rocked her, sang lullabies, changed her diaper, everything. She kept crying. And I held her in my arms, she was wailing, and I was sobbing with her. Because I didn’t know what to do.”

He wiped at his eyes with a sniffle. “And, you know, I feel like this is how we lived our lives. Me, just bumbling about, trying to take care of her. I’m always terrified I’m not enough.”

“You are,” Geralt promised. He rubbed soothing circles onto Jaskier’s back. “The things you survived, basically all alone… I don’t think I would’ve been able to.”

“You’re a single parent, too.”

“That’s different. I was much older when I had Ciri. And she was ten. She… had issues, of course. I’m not saying it was easy. It was difficult, most of the time. But it still isn’t the same as having a baby all alone when you’re barely an adult yourself.”

He gave Jaskier a small smile. “You’re incredible, Jaskier. Trust me. Amaryllis idolizes you. She has every reason to.”

His smile faded and his frown returned. “Jaskier, I… if I had known… that you got pregnant…I never would have left.”

“Well,” Jaskier said with a wet little laugh, “we can’t change the past. Besides, you know exactly she could be someone else’s.”

“That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have cared,” Geralt clarified softly. “But… you’re right. We can’t change that. We can still work on the present, though.”

His eyes were more open, more trusting than Jaskier has ever seen them. It made his heart leap inside his chest once more.

“Yes,” he replied, feeling his lips curl into a smile, again, “we can.”

--

The kitchen was bustling with people, and everything smelled like used oil. Radovid scrunched his nose up as he made his way through the kitchen staff, apologizing profusely when he nearly knocked a pot out of a lady’s hand.

He spotted Amaryllis and Ciri giggling together at a counter. Ciri got so into her little lemonade-business that she decided she was going to make enough for the whole inn. Amaryllis, of course, gladly helped her. It looked more like they were throwing lemon slices at each other’s head and putting ice cubes down the back of each other’s shirts and causing very loud chaos than actually working, but Radovid couldn’t help the warmth inside his chest as he watched them.

He finally noticed Yennefer cutting vegetables. Jaskier agreed she could help out in the kitchen, so it became her little sanctuary, lately.

She looked up and sent Radovid a confused look.

“Can I help you?”

“I was looking for you,” Radovid admitted. He approached the baffled Yennefer slowly. “Do you need some help?”

Yennefer stared at him. Radovid gave her an awkward smile.

“You? Doing something in the kitchen?”

“I’m not as lazy as I look,” Radovid told her. He grabbed a knife and a potato, sending her a challenging look. “I might not be as good a cook as you are, but I can peel vegetables.”

“How did I turn into a good cook all of a sudden,” Yennefer huffed under her nose. Radovid carefully placed a hand on her arm.

“You were young, and nervous,” Radovid reminded her. “You made a mistake. I blew it out of proportion. I’m sorry. You did not deserve that. I tasted your cooking yesterday, and it was incredible. You’re talented, Yennefer. You just need to believe in yourself.”

Yennefer blinked. She opened her mouth, then closed it. Radovid couldn’t help but feel pleased with himself upon rendering her speechless.

“Grab an apron and tie your hair up,” was all Yennefer said. Radovid obeyed her with a grin.

They worked together in silence for a while. Yennefer broke it with a little chuckle.

“You’re bored,” she said, “and you miss Jaskier. That’s why you’re following me around like a puppy.”

“In about twenty-five percent. The rest is about me genuinely enjoying your company. Is that weird?”

“Very weird.”

They both laughed. The awkward silence turned into a comfortable one. They both stole glances towards Amaryllis and Ciri- and sometimes, at each other.

Radovid rolled his eyes when he saw Valdo flirting with one of the servers. Yennefer groaned. Valdo looked in their direction, and grinned.

“If it isn’t walking ATM and the ice queen herself!”

“I prefer Richie Rich and Savage Soufflé, to be honest,” Yennefer scoffed. She slapped Valdo’s hand when he tried to steal the olives off the counter. “I’m holding a knife, so don’t push me!”

Radovid watched Yennefer threaten Valdo with glee. She really was one hell of a tough woman. It was very, very endearing.

He filled a piping bag with Yennefer’s home-made mayonnaise. He had no idea what he messed up, but when he tried to shake it up, he managed to shoot the sauce out and into Yennefer’s face.

“Oh, shit,” he gasped, throwing the bag away and turning to Yennefer to inspect the damage. Mayonnaise was dripping from her hair, her nose, even her eyelashes. Radovid was certain that knife was gonna end up in his gut, instead of Valdo’s.

“Let me…” he gently started wiping at Yennefer’s cheeks with a napkin. Yennefer blinked up at him, her lips slightly parted as Radovid gently held her jaw. His fingers accidentally brushed her skin as he cleaned her off. It made his chest strangely warm.

Yennefer’s cheeks were flushed pink as Radovid wiped the corner of her mouth.

“Thanks…” she whispered, her pupils blown wide. Radovid held her gaze.

Of course, Valdo had to ruin this moment, as well.

“See, Radovid, if you aimed like this with Jaskier back then, you wouldn’t have to worry about whether your DNA is wreaking havoc in the form of a pretty young girl with bangs.”

“Do you ever shut the fuck up?” Radovid growled as he turned to him. Valdo cackled and popped an olive into his mouth.

“My aim was a lot better, you see. I made sure I didn’t get him pregnant, but your braincells are obviously stored in your balls.”

“Get who pregnant?” Yennefer asked, confused. Valdo smirked.

“Who? That ripe peach out there who’s currently fluttering his lashes up at G.I. Joe.”

“Ridiculous,” Radovid huffed. “Jaskier wouldn’t sink that low to sleep with you!”

“I’m sure you know he can sink extremely low.”

“Get out of the kitchen with your bullshit!” Yennefer hissed. She grabbed the knife again, narrowing her eyes at him. Valdo realized it was probably smarter not to push an angered Yennefer, so he left, but only after he grabbed the entire jar of olives.

“There’s no way Jaskier slept with him,” Radovid shook his head vehemently. “I refuse to believe it.”

Yennefer scoffed. “Yeah, this gremlin just really enjoys messing with us for no reason.”

She looked up at Radovid, and smiled.

“Is there any mayonnaise left in the bag?”

Radovid laughed and handed it over to her, to make sure no more accidents happened.

--

They lay on their sides, facing each other. The Sun warmed their skin and the light breeze carried the sound of birds chirping. Geralt has never felt this peaceful in his entire life.

Jaskier foregone make-up today. He was beautiful. Geralt ached with the need to caress his face, but he knew he wasn’t allowed to, not just yet. He couldn’t push this any further than necessary.

After opening up to each other like that, it felt like the walls between them finally tumbled down. Geralt felt a great sense of comfort as he watched Jaskier curled up on his side next to him, his long lashes fluttering against the light.

“Ciri and Amaryllis are so cute together,” Jaskier suddenly said. Geralt raised an eyebrow. Jaskier chuckled.

“You know, when Amaryllis was little, she always asked me for a little sibling. She would toddle up to me and poke me in the stomach, asking me if I could put another baby in there.”

Geralt smiled brightly at the mental image. His heart swelled at the big, beautiful smile that spread on Jaskier’s face.

“I had to tell her that I couldn’t do that alone. Then, she offered me to help,” Jaskier snorted. “Obviously, she was too small to understand. I told her I needed an adult’s help. She promised she would find someone for me.”

“That’s adorable,” Geralt grinned. Jaskier sighed with a fond little smile.

“It was, but it was also incredibly awkward, because she would walk up to random people and ask them if they could help put a baby in my belly.”

“Oh, God,” Geralt laughed. Jaskier hid his face in his hand, cackling.

“It’s no wonder she pulled this scheme with us. Been her favorite sport since she was little.”

He placed his head over his arm comfortably. His eyes were bright as he peered up at Geralt.

“It’s almost like she has a sister now. With Ciri.”

“Ciri loves her a lot,” Geralt admitted with a smile. He also noticed the growing bond between the two girls, and it made him feel just as excited as it did Jaskier. The warm, fuzzy feeling in his chest quickly dissipated when he realized that if it turned out Amaryllis wasn’t his, and Jaskier picked her biological parent, that meant they would have to separate the girls.

Jaskier seemingly had similar thoughts, if the small frown on his face was anything to go by.

“I know you already have a child, but… would you be happy, if it turned out you have another one?”

“Yes,” Geralt said without hesitation. “Of course.”

“And what if she isn’t yours?” Jaskier asked softly. “You said you would have cared even if it turned out she wasn’t, but do you mean it?”

“You know my entire family is adopted,” Geralt reminded him. “For me, blood doesn’t make a family. It’s about choice. Ciri and I do not share our DNA. I love her all the same. I do not think of her as my ‘adopted daughter’, she’s just my daughter. The same way I do not think about my brothers as step-brothers, either. We look nothing alike, so what? We are siblings. And my father is my father.”

He trailed off for a second, watching the sunlight reflect off Jaskier’s necklace.

“But in this situation,” he continued, feeling his chest tighten, “it might matter. Not to me, necessarily. To Amaryllis.”

“Yeah,” Jaskier whispered. He bit his lip. “This is about her.”

“I don’t think sharing blood is the only way to connect to a child,” Geralt continued. Then, looking into Jaskier’s eyes again, he added, “but it might be the only way to connect to you.”

Jaskier let out a deep sigh. He opened his mouth and made a small sound, but he trailed off before he actually said anything. There was a sad frown on his face. Geralt wanted to replace it with a smile instantly.

He carefully moved his hand until he brushed Jaskier’s fingers. Jaskier blinked up at him.

“Is this okay?” Geralt asked, hopefully. Jaskier nodded, his smile almost shy.

“Yes,” he replied. He opened his hand, letting Geralt lace their fingers together. They lay like this, quietly talking about less heavy subjects, smiling, laughing, while never letting go of each other’s hands.

[yeraskier]

“i didnt know where else to go” (taken from this prompt list, for @bloodbuzz-smartypants)

There’s a knock at the door.

Jaskier’s wearing his most charming smile as he stands to answer it— this time of night means that it must be Lambert.

It’s isn’t.

“Geralt.”

“Hi.”

For a beat, all Jaskier can think about is how desperately he hopes Lambert doesn’t show tonight. Then, he takes in Geralt’s appearance— the dip of his head, the hollowness in his eyes, the clench of his hands— and suddenly, nothing else really matters.

“Do you want to come in?” He asks, giving Geralt room to enter before the man in question responds.

Geralt takes that invitation, and then invites himself to Jaskier’s bed. Where he’s sitting when Jaskier turns to face him after closing the door. Jaskier decides to not comment on that.

“So…”

He’s quiet for awhile and Jaskier does nothing to fill the silence.

Things have been... off between them. They haven’t been bad, per se. Geralt did apologize and he did welcome Jaskier into his home. Geralt does still trust him since he trusted Jaskier to bring Ciri back to Kaer Morhen.

The issue, he supposes, is that he doesn’t know if he still trusts Geralt. 

Jaskier trusts the witcher to protect him from physical harm, he always has. He trusts him with his body, and he always will.

But when it comes to his mind and soul, when it comes to his heart, he doesn’t know if he’ll ever trust Geralt with them again. It’s made him distant.

So, things haven’t been the same. They haven’t been the same. They’re quiet in each other’s presence, they tip toe around one another. It’s suffocating. Every time Jaskier’s in a room with Geralt, all he can do is ponder over the quickest way to get out of the room.

And now he’s in a room with Geralt, and he can’t exactly find an escape route here given that it’s his room, which he... willingly invited Geralt into.

“Geralt, would you like to tell me what this is all about?”

Truthfully, he’s prepared to not receive any bit of enlightenment at all, so he’s more than mildly shocked when Geralt actually speaks. 

“I just... I haven’t been... I needed—” Geralt’s grunts, hands forming fists against his thighs, “I don’t know... I just wanted to get away from my own thoughts for awhile and I didn’t know who to turn to. I didn’t know where else to go.”

There’s that familiar pang in his chest. Jaskier refuses to look into it. 

“What happened?”

“I haven’t been sleeping well,” Geralt tells him, “I’ve been having nightmares.”

“I’m sure Yennefer has potions that can help,” Jaskier suggests. He regrets the words even before he takes note of the sudden tension in Geralt’s shoulders. 

“I can go if you don’t want me here.”

Jaskier should take this out, he should tell him to leave.

He doesn’t want Geralt here. He doesn’t want Geralt anywhere near him because every time he’s around, Jaskier can feel the wall he carefully constructed over the past few months crumbling beneath that golden gaze.

He doesn’t want Geralt here because he always wants him here. He always wants him. That’s the problem.

Jaskier sighs, “you can stay.” He moves to the bed at last, leaving only a few inches between them as he takes a seat beside Geralt, “you can stay, and we can talk about whatever’s on your mind.”

Geralt levels him with kind eyes. "Can we just sit here for a moment?”

“Yes,” Jaskier says, “though I kind of want to lay down. My back aches from training today,” he explains, “if that’s okay with you?”

It’s a stupid question. It’s his room and his bed. He can do what he wants here. Yet here he is, bending over backwards to please the witcher in his own space— another thing to add to the list of things Jaskier will absolutely not be exploring tonight.

Geralt nods once and scoots over, giving Jaskier room to spread out on the side nearest to the wall. A sigh of relief breaks free as his outstretched body presses into the mattress. He basks in it for just a moment, before cracking an eye open to see Geralt watching him.

“Lay with me.” The words have left his mouth before the thought fully formed in his head, but he doesn’t retract them.

The corners of Geralt’s lips twitch into an almost, barely-there, maybe smile, before he shifts to lay down as well.

They aren’t touching but they are facing each other, and the way Geralt’s watching him feels oddly intimate. 

It’s a dangerous thought, and what he’s feeling being this close to Geralt is a dangerous thing to feel, but he’s helpless to it. He always has been. 

“Thank you,” Geralt says softly.

Helpless, he thinks. He always will be.

Jaskier smiles. “Always.”

[practically-an-x-man]

This is a fantastic idea!! Idk how much time I'll have for reading since my irl life has been INSANE lately, but I'm happy to rec some fics I love from smaller authors that deserve more attention!

____

In Too Deep by @negative-speedforce - set in the Flash universe and following a team of new teenage sorta-superheroes... but shit gets dark fast. If you love action, angst, and some absolutely KILLER character dynamics, this is the fic for you!

When I'm Alone With You by @can-of-pringles - set in the Ghost (band) fandom, this fic is adorable yet shockingly profound and emotional at times. It's a slowburn that'll just have you dying for the two leads to finally get together!!

Coming Back to Life by @theonetryingtolive - a compilation of various Marvel characters and a thrilling story woven around them, this fic did and still does have me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next! Action-packed, exhilarating, and every character is written to a tee. Highly recommend!

The Hawthorne and the Dirt Farmer by @witchy-self-shipper - in the Ghostbusters universe, this fic is unique and lovely and wonderful in so many ways! It's rare to see older characters/relationships represented in fanfic, and rare to see healthy polyamorous relationships as well. This fic is the first in the series, but I'd highly recommend reading on if you enjoy it!

Protecting Yourself and the Ones You Love by @warcats-cat - Yes, she made the original post, but it would be unfair to list some fic recs and not include her since her writing is fantastic! This fic is set in the Good Omens universe and features some devastating whump - my heart hurts just thinking about it! Short and sweet, it's a masterclass in angst writing.

His Tenebris Moenibus by @nebulousfishgills - set in the Stranger Things universe, this fic features easily one of the most interesting and entertaining OCs I've ever seen. Emily is charming and witty, yet downright chilling when it comes down to it. I'm utterly obsessed, and you will be too - as long as you're an angst fan.

Blue Streak by @vexic929 - set in the Flash universe, this fic is in its early beginnings but is already completely enthralling! We're talking fascinating action sequences, interesting characters, and some intriguing foreshadowing that I'm sure will come into play later... really, if you want action-packed fics, I'd recommend anything from Vexic's body of work :D

Biting the Hand That Feeds by @sashathedoge - set in the Fallout universe, another fic in its early beginnings (really, it's more a collection of oneshots), but their OC Joel is easily one of the most chaotic and compelling characters I've ever read. I mean, this guy's a wild ride, and you're bound to enjoy every minute of it!

You Might not Fear a Man (But a Woman by the End) by @noodles-07 - set in the Witcher fandom, this fic is a fascinating AU in which Yennefer becomes a Witcher rather than Geralt (and, if I'm correct, there may be sequels that involve a mage-Jaskier and a bard-Geralt, which sounds delightful!). This fic is powerful, emotionally-charged, and action-packed, and absolutely deserves a read!

Hey!!! I'm doing a thing!!!

I've noticed that bunch of writers (myself included) are feeling down about our writing, and dealing with art block, so I propose a rally! And since I don't know what else to do, I'm offering the top 5 people a fairy made custom and mailed to them as a prize. You get one point for each *engaged* comment you leave on a fic (specific moments you like, asking questions, etc) or sending asks to the author. Keep a list of screenshots that show your name and the name of the fic to be submitted at the end.

Let's say until the end of June 👀

Rules:

no more than 2x comments per fic so we're reading lots of them.

Please be honest and fair; the spirit of this is the read NEW fics that you may have heard of or skimmed but not actually gotten to yet.

No offence to the big blogs but the hope is for some smaller creators to get new engagement.

Please tag me/reply to this post with your fics, your friends's fics, and we'll get a list going of ones to check out. (Also if you could copy/paste or write up a little summary that would be super sexy.

[thelostgirl21]

I keep seeing posts about a "love triangle" between Geralt, Jaskier and Yennefer; sort of wondering who would be "in the middle" ...

... and here I am, picturing them in a full polyromantic and polyamorous relationship together, having each developed their shared as well as unique connections with each other, raising and protecting Ciri together, each bringing in their own unique set of skills to share with the girl.

That's not to say that the polyromantic/polyamorous relationships where there's a "middle", and two of the three partners aren't really into each other romantically and/or sexually, are wrong or not valid.

On the contrary.

But after what I've seen in Season 2, I can fully imagine Jaskier and Yennefer being involved together directly, without needing Geralt to maintain the interest and connection in their relationship alive.

After all, it's been rather well established that this version of Jaskier is drawn to strong and autonomous people in general, and that he genuinely falls in love with virtually everyone he meets, rather than seek to "trick them" into having sex with him under potentially false pretenses.

His antagonism towards Yennefer came largely, in my personal belief, from his very first significant memory of her.

Waking up to find Yennefer half naked by the foot of his bed - threatening him to get what she wants through sheer power and superior strength - literally assaulting him by grabbing him by the balls - after ordering him to "do some scales for her" to test his voice, is bound to start any potential relationship on the wrong foot.

Not to mention that singing is intimately tied to Jaskier's identity and self-esteem. So, making him sing under duress (rather than because he wishes to express himself, and willingly share that part of himself with others) and grabbing his genitals like that, made him perceive her as a threatening predator / monster.

Hostility comes generally from fear.

And he doesn't even try to hide that he doesn't trust her, and wishes Geralt would keep his distances from her because she is a terrifying witch.

He even watched her openly manipulate that knight for her own gain on the dragon hunt - her interest in him entirely devoid of any sincerity or emotional connection.

"Sometimes, the best thing a flower can do for us is die", she was taught.

Then suddenly, she comes to him humbled, without magic, on the run, among those persecuted for having eleven blood, and - though still very capable and potentially scary in her own way - no longer acting predatory towards him.

They are HUGGING!!!

She is now a prey needing his help and protection; and asking him for it, rather than trying to take it by force from him.

It does not make their prior encounter okay per say... But like Batey said, Jaskier is both an absolute genius and a total idiot.

I think he did get a sense that, when they first met, she was hungry and desperate to fill a certain void within herself; and that there was a more complex, deeper story beneath her behavior and who she was that he knew very little about.

Jaskier can now afford to look at her and truly listen without fear, as she shows vulnerability and respect for who he is and what matters to him as well.

She's even the one implying that there's more to him than "being a bard", and that he'd find a new purpose if he could no longer sing or write songs.

She's grown, he's grown, they have a deep mutual understanding of loss, and feeling unwanted...

They do not need Geralt in the middle to relate to each other, care about each other, and even grow to love each other.

And yeah, I think that Jaskier's teasing is also a way for him to move past the primal fear she once inspired him, come to term with those feelings, and move past them.

He seems to be a big believer in second (third, fourth...) chances, and leaving room for people to learn from past mistakes and misbehaviors, and grow.

So yes, she did overstep important boundaries and terrified him at first... But now he's learned that she's also able of risking her own life for those she cares about, and she came back to save him despite no longer having her magic, thus putting herself in significant danger.

If that had been the version of Yennefer he'd first encountered, Jaskier would likely have tried saving her from the djinn himself.

Geralt saw the cracks through her façade because she never was a predator to him.

The hunger she felt and void she was trying to fill? He understood where it came from, and saw a kindred spirit in her.

The initial connections may have been Geralt <--> Jaskier, and Geralt <--> Yennefer...

But Season 2 evened the power dynamic between them to offer us Yennefer <--> Jaskier; and it was beautiful, and phenomenal, and felt very genuine and organic...

And I just want them to be happy all three together now, for some reason...

[seidenbros]

It me again. This time I'm here to request something from the 50 types of kisses list.

Kissing tears from the other’s face.

I'm a hoe for geraskier, but if you feel like doing some other ship I'd be more than happy to read that too! Thanks in advance!

- 🌻

My dearest sunflower <3 When I read your request, I immediately had a song stuck in my head, which is called Blurry Eyes and so I took that as inspiration a little bit as well, because I think it fits so well (and it's beautiful!), sooooo... (and you can always request Geraskier, if you want to <3)

(I’m always happy to receive requests, so if you want to, send some in. If you need inspiration, here are some prompt lists )

Pairing: Geraskier | Geralt x Jaskier Warnings: angst, hurt/comfort, depressed Jaskier, post Season 2 Word count: 2684

_________________________

It was the first time, Jaskier was staying at Kaer Morhen. After everything that had happened with Voleth Meir, with Ciri, they were staying together. Even Yennefer was staying here, which gave him a sense of security - weird, huh? Considering how their relationship had started out, but ever since meeting her again, getting his life saved by her, they'd developed a deep friendship that even he failed to describe. Not that he wanted to find the right words, which was new for him. He simply accepted it as it was, and by now he knew, that he could talk to Yennefer about everything, but there was one thing that he kept to himself, something that had been bothering him pretty much ever since they'd arrived here. He felt like he didn't belong here. Like he was just in the way, because what did he contribute? Lambert had even pretty much told him, that he wasn't part of the family, hadn't he? Those words had stuck with Jaskier. It was something he was dealing with on his own, and yes, he'd thought about leaving them, but right now he couldn't. He snow wouldn't melt for a long time, and if he didn't want to freeze to death on his way... who knew where, he had to stay.

He did his best to smile throughout the day, to not let anyone know what was going on, but it was getting increasingly hard, especially in front of Geralt, who apparently saw right through him – at least sometimes. Probably not surprising considering they'd travelled for years and years, and had gotten to know the other one quite well. Which was another problem, because Jaskier didn't only know and respect Geralt, he'd grown to love the Witcher. Even though that man had pretty much abandoned him on top of a mountain. Why else would he have come right with him once he'd appeared in his prison cell? Sure, Geralt had gotten him out of there, but a sane person would have walked the other way afterwards before getting their heart trampled on once again. But Jaskier wasn't sane, he was absolutely in love with this man, and there was nothing he could do about it. Oh, he'd tried to get Geralt out of his head and heart through writing, with other people he'd let into his life, but it hadn't worked. He'd followed the Witcher again, and now he was here, in this big keep, where he wasn't of much help.

“Jaskier, what's going on?” It's Geralt's voice that grabs his attention again, and jaskier thinks for a moment, before he blinks, shakes his head.

I can see your thousand doubts written on your face right now.

“Nothing,” he says, trying to conjure up a smile, before he gets up. “Just thought that it's really sunny outside for a change, so I might go for a walk.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I'm okay.”

You tell me you're okay, but your voice don't match the words you say.

His smile widens a little, but he pushed away from the table to get his coat. It really was nice outside, he had to admit to himself, as the sun kissed his cheeks and nose, but it was still rather cold. The sun at least managed to make him smile – a genuine smile for a moment. Jaskier walked for some time, not leaving the premises, but just staying in motion, because otherwise the cold would settle in his bones, and then it would take him a long time to get warm again. Still, after some time, his feet stilled and he stood there watching out towards the horizon. All his worries came back, everything that he'd been able to push away for the time he'd been in the sun. But now, he was questioning himself again. Jaskier hugged himself tight, didn't even realize that he'd started crying until he tasted salt on his lips.

“Ridiculous,” he said to himself, wiping the tears away.

“Jaskier?” he heard a soft voice behind him, but it took him a moment to turn around. Ciri was standing there looking up at him through these big eyes that always managed to tear at his heartstrings.

“Ciri, what are you doing out here? It's cold and it's getting dark, you should be inside!” Especially dressed like this, because she wasn't wearing a coat. “You'll catch a cold!” Had nobody watched her or at least given her a coat so that she wouldn't freeze to death? Jaskier took off his own one and wrapped it around her shoulders, which managed to make her smile.

“I'm not cold,” she stated, but still snuggled into the coat Jaskier had given her.

“Liar. I can see how you're shivering, but we'll keep that our secret.” Jaskier winked at her, earning him another smile.

“I was looking for you,” she admitted, shuffling her feet in the snow, which made Jaskier put his hand between her shoulderblades and lead her back towards the keep, because now he was starting to freeze, and they didn't have to be out here when they could go back inside. “I was hoping...” she hesitated, licked her lips, didn't look at him. “Maybe, you could tell me a story after dinner? The others are no good at it, and your stories are the best.”

Jaskier knew why she'd asked. She had trouble falling asleep, just like him. When he closed his eyes, all kinds of pictures danced in front of them. After being tortured by Rience, he'd been having nightmares, coupled with what they'd all endured here... He could only imagine what Ciri was going through, after everything she'd seen, she'd lived through. But at least, she'd confided in him that she had trouble closing her eyes, and his stories helped her think of something else once she closed her eyes.

“Of course.” He smiled at her, his expression softening. They hadn't had much time to get to know each other, or even bond, especially with the training she was going through, but in the quiet, in the night, in the dark, they'd developed a kind of routine. She simply had to ask and Jaskier would be there for her to help her fall asleep.

All throughout dinner, he could feel Geralt's eyes on him, but he didn't react, didn't want to let him see what was going on inside his mind. He didn't want to talk about it, think about it right now, and he especially didn't want to talk to Geralt. It was good that he was lulled into a conversation by Lambert, but when that conversation ended, Jaskier hadn't finished his meal, so Geralt could turn his attention to him again.

“How was your walk?” Geralt asked, trying to figure out what was going on in the bard's head, but he didn't have any luck so far, especially since Jaskier was avoiding eye-contact.

“Good.” One word, nothing more. What else was there to say? Oh you know, I just started crying, because I feel like I don't belong here, that I serve no purpose, but apart from that it was lovely out there?No, he would most certainly not tell him that.

So distant when you're next to me, hiding all I wanna see. The silence in the air we breathe echoing so hopelessly.

“That it?” Geralt pushed a little further, trying to reach out for Jaskier's hand, but that was the moment when the bard pushed away from the table and got up, reaching for his empty plate to take it to the kitchen.

“Yup.” Jaskier finally turned to face his Witcher, he even managed a tiny smile. “It was warm in the sun, I had a nice view, then Ciri found me and brought me back for dinner. Anything else?”

Before Geralt could pester him with any more questions, though, Ciri called for him and asked if they could go. Good. Jaskier excused himself from Geralt and turned to Ciri, his face immediately lighting up. They brought their dished to the kitchen, then they left for Ciri's room, where it was nice and warm, because Geralt had probably lit the fire earlier on. He was really good with Ciri, but there were some things, that Jaskier understood better than anyone due to their different upbringing.

“Okay, you all good there?” Jaskier sat down next to her bed and waited for her to nod her head. When she did, he couldn't help but smile. These were the moments, when he really felt content out here. What he'd usually experienced when he was standing on stage, singing his songs, was something he now experienced when he could help Ciri fall asleep. Once she'd closed her eyes, he started his story. He knew so many, so, so many that his parents had told him when he'd just been a little boy, when he had not yet known what expected him out there in the world, the good as well as the bad. But the stories... they'd stuck with him throughout his life, he'd always remembered them, and now he could do something good with them.

It didn't take long for Ciri to fall asleep, which made Jaskier smile. It didn't assure that she wouldn't wake up from a nightmare, but at least, she'd fallen asleep easily, which was what she had the most trouble with. He made sure that she was tucked in well and hadn't lied to him earlier on, and then he quietly left the room.

“Is she asleep?”

Jaskier jumped and hit the wall behind him, making him curse under his breath. Geralt was standing right outside her door, smiling to himself, because he'd listened in on the story he'd told her. Jaskier was good with Ciri, really good, and just what she needed. Geralt could teach her how to fight, he could hold her when she woke up in the middle of the night, but Jaskier had built a connection to her that Geralt hadn't been able to yet. Maybe, because he'd been brought up rather differently, and the stories Vesemir had told them when they'd still been kids, were not the stories he wanted to tell Ciri. The stories Jaskier knew... were not the ones Geralt knew, not the ones he could tell.

“Did you have to scare me like that?” The bard took a deep breath, before he turned around, ready to walk away. But Geralt caught his wrist, making him stop dead in his tracks. Even that contact made him shiver slightly. One part of him wanted to rip his hand free and just get going, but the other wanted to revel in the feeling, wanted more.

“That wasn't my intention and I'm sorry.” Geralt's voice was quiet, soft even, making Jaskier close his eyes. He should get out of this situation, he should get away, because he could already feel the tears prick at the backs of his eyes again, and he didn't want to cry. Not in front of Geralt. It was one thing when he did that alone in his room, but another, when Geralt could see him, because he would ask questions. “But you keep pulling away from me, you've been doing this all day, and I know that something's not right.” Of course he knew, he always did, but when it came to Jaskier's feelings for him, he was apparently oblivious. “Talk to me, Jask... I'm right here.”

Damn that Witcher, because now, Jaskier couldn't stop the tears from falling anymore. He'd always known that Geralt was there, that he would listen, if he asked him to. Yennefer would have listened as well, but he hadn't wanted to talk about it. When he said it out loud, it sounded ridiculous, but even if it was ridiculous, it made him feel lonely, it really pained him. His eyes were still cast down, because he didn't want Geralt to see him cry. Tough luck, because the Witcher put his hand beneath Jaskier's chin, tilting it up, so that he had to look at him. It was breaking his heart to see the bard like this, not knowing what was causing the tears.

“I just...” Jaskier started, chewed on his bottom lip to find the right words. “I don't feel like I belong here. I can't help with anything. I'm not part of this family.” There, the words were out, but the tears didn't stop. Gods, he felt so pathetic, but once he'd started crying, he couldn't seem to stop. It had been easier out there with Ciri, but right here with Geralt, it was rather difficult for him. He felt so vulnerable right now and couldn't do anything.

“Jaskier...” Geralt sighed, and when the bard started to chew on his bottom lip again, he pulled it free from his teeth with his thumb. “Stop that, or you're going to make it bleed.” Jaskier stilled, didn't even seem to breathe for a moment, when Geralt touched his lip. “You're too blind to see it. you're usually so observant, but you don't see just what you do here?”

“What do you mean?” Jaskier's voice was quiet, barely above a whisper.

“You are a part of this family, Jaskier. A very vital part.” Geralt shook his head, before he smiled down at Jaskier again. Sometimes, he really was completely oblivious. “We might be able to teach Ciri how to defend herself, but you... You are her anchor here. You are the one she turns to, because she can't sleep. You are the one she trusts with these issues. Not Yennefer, not me... It's you.”

“Oh... that's nothing.”

“Don't play it down. You're the only one who can help her fall asleep, and I love you for that.” Geralt's last words were more quiet than the previous ones. He raised his other hand to cradle Jaskier's face in his hands.

Did he just say that he loved Jaskier? Yeah for being there for Ciri, don't get excited.

“I could do more...” Jaskier swallowed hard, looking into Geralt's eyes.

“You're doing more than enough. You ARE enough, Jaskier, stop questioning that.” Carefully, Geralt leaned down, still cradling Jaskier's face in his big hands, and started to kiss the tears away. It was such an intimate moment, so sweet, and breathtaking at the same time, that Jaskier thought that he was imagining this. His own hands found their place on Geralt's chest, because he needed that contact, needed it to realize that this was indeed happening. It felt good to be in his hands, to be taken care of like this. He'd longed for it so long, and now, he was getting a glimpse at what could be. But could it really? Jaskier didn't want to get his hopes up, because he wasn't strong enough to cling onto this hope only to be let down again.

But he wasn't let down, no. When Geralt had kissed all the tears away, his lips found Jaskier's, capturing them in a sweet, salty kiss, because Jaskier could taste his own tears, but it didn't matter. What mattered was the mere fact that Geralt was kissing him, that this was really happening, and that it wasn't just one of his dreams.

Jaskier's hands moved on their own accord, up to Geralt's jaw, tracing along the stubble he had going on there, before he tangled his fingers in the Witcher's hair. When Geralt pulled back from his lips, Jaskier let out a sigh, because he wanted more. More of this, more of Geralt, more of that warm, tingly feeling spreading throughout his whole body.

“Do you understand now, just how much you belong here?” Geralt asked against he bard's lips, smiling.

“Mhm,” Jaskier hummed, opening one eye to peak at Geralt. “But maybe you could remind me just once more...”

A chuckle rumbled through Geralt's chest, but he was all too happy to show him again.

[bamf-jaskier]

Why I enjoy the parallel between Yennefer and the Striga's transformation

I think Yennefer's transformation is best viewed through the understanding that women of color have historically been subjects of forced sterilization.

From Lennard in 2020 -- Eugenics programs directed at decimating the lives of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, particularly poor and immigrant communities, as well as people with disabilities, were an explicit part of U.S. policy in the 20th century...Tens of thousands of forced sterilizations were carried out nationwide last century. California’s so-called Asexualization Acts, which led to 20,000 men and women losing reproductive capacity, were a direct inspiration to Nazi eugenicists. “There is today one state,” Adolf Hitler wrote, “in which at least weak beginnings toward a better conception [of citizenship] are noticeable. Of course, it is not our model German Republic, but the United States.”

From Patel in 2017 -- Coerced and forced sterilizations have often been justified by medical personnel as necessary for public health. For instance, in the early 20th century, medical personnel argued that forced and coerced sterilizations were needed to address hereditary and genetic defects. In the late 20th century, forced and coerced sterilizations were considered necessary to address overpopulation. In the 1990s, forced and coerced sterilizations were carried out in Peru as part of a discriminatory public health program.

More recently, forced and coerced sterilizations of Roma women has been justified by medical personnel as necessary for their own medical benefit.

We have to understand that for Yennefer, being part-elven means she is a part of this targeted class of people. She literally gets booted from Aedirn due to her being Elven and beyond that Yennefer is played by a woc which is also adding in these overtures.

There were often 3 main ways in which consent was not obtained when these women were forcibly sterilized. The consent was obtained under duress, the consent is invalid because the woman did not have full and accurate information and finally consent was simply not obtained.

In my mind, the first two largely seem to apply to Yennefer. The consent was obtained under duress, she thought this was her last chance at becoming a mage, and realistically it was, and she also did not have full information on what would happen until the procedure was already occurring.

Giltine when he first meets Yen in episode 3 says, "You are a...first draft of what nature intended yes?"and it comes across as just another way of saying that she does not fit into their dominant culture and therefore is lesser for it. It comes off as almost micro-aggressive. Oftentimes, people will claim a certain cultural style is more progressive or better just because it came later and treat the original version as if it is inherently diminished. We saw this a lot in Residential Schools where native folk would be told to cut their hair, speak, and dress a certain way.

Tissaia further puts this idea forward when she asks Yennefer to look into the mirror and close her eyes. She makes special focus on Yennefer's eyes and posture, trying to again purpose this idea that Yennefer is "wrong" but Yennefer never says she wants to be "beautiful" in fact she outright rejects it but she does constantly state that she wants to be powerful. And she is manipulated into believing that that beauty is a source of power by just about every figure in her life from Tissaia to Giltine to Istredd to every girl at Aretuza.

This gets to why I like the parallel between Yennefer's Transformation and the Striga fight so much. Because at the end of the day, Yennefer's transformation is a tragedy. It's something she was forced into and pushed into and they show her in absolute agony. She was not told the full extent of what she would suffer and has been pushed to this point. Technically she consented but it was in word only. In the same way, the Striga's story is also a tragedy. A girl's life cut short before she could ever life it, abandoned to a castle as monster, hidden away.

Both of these woman were seen as "monsters" before this transformative scene in their life. the princess was a literal monster as a Striga who ate people while Yennefer was seen as a societal monster as the "other". For both of them, their transformations were supposed to fix their "monstrousness".

Yennefer's transformation is supposed to strip her of her flaws and make her powerful and beautiful but in practice it makes her exposed and in pain and suffering. With the Striga, the transformation should be simple --- keep her out of her crypt until sunrise but once again this transformation is full of pain and suffering.

And then --- once the transformation is complete and both women are huddled on the floor, panting and covered in blood -- their problems are not solved. Obviously the visuals for both are meant to parallel a birth. Because for both of them this transformation is a rebirth. But as Yennefer soon finds out, court is a glamorous lie and her job is to help murderers and rapists keep a throne. The Princess is unable to talk, to communicate, and the injury that hurts Geralt the most is one she gives him while in human form. The form that is the supposed to be "beautiful" "transformed" and "cured" is the one that gravely injures Geralt.

Their "rebirth" is not the salvation they might have assumed.

Basically for me it comes down to how compelling I find the parallel between the two situations. Two women forced into a situation, into a transformation that doesn't solve their problems but only creates new ones. A rebirth that feels more like a nightmare.

[doberbutts]

Re: your tags

Yes! Though she still calls a truce by the time we get to the equivilant of the second season in the show, in the books Yennefer does NOT attack Dandelion/Jaskier here but DOES get sexually assaulted by the Reavers (who've tied Dandelion/Jaskier up, so he couldn't help even if he wanted to) while Geralt and Dandelion/Jaskier watch. Geralt's response is to threaten to kill the Reavers, Dandelion/Jaskier's is to make crude jokes about how at least he got to see Yennefer's nice boobs before he dies and how if he lives he's going to sing an ode to her great tits etc etc.

While uncalled for (and he does get yelled at by both Yennefer and Geralt for it), she did JUST betray them in favor of the Reavers like 5 minutes prior to being betrayed herself by the Reavers. So they definitely both have reason to absolutely hate each other, which they resolutely do until circumstance and mostly the pursuit of Ciri makes them make amends.

This scene doesn't exist in the show, instead it's Yennefer yelling at Geralt who then yells at Dandelion/Jaskier and we get the breakup and reasons for disliking each other that way. In the show there's no reason for Yennefer to attack or dislike Dandelion/Jaskier, and there still wasn't any reason by this particular point in Rinde because even in the books she was merciful while she thought he was the holder of the last wish, mind-controlling him to wish for Geralt's release from prison and portalling him conveniently into the room where Geralt was being tried.

That's also why I said in a different reblog of this thread that book fans absolutely do not get to harp on how this scene makes the show bad, because in the books it's much more complicated and also another female character rapes/manipulates/grooms Geralt, so.

To illustrate a point here, those who have watched the Netflix Witcher, if I were to tell you there is an unambiguous sexual assault in the first season, shown onscreen and never once properly dealt with (not just discussed), would you know what scene I'm talking about?

[loki-is-my-kink-awakening]

Omg hi! I like to greet all my new mutuals and I just wanted to say you have EXCELLENT choices in fandoms, and I would love to hear your thoughts on Witcher S2 cause phew that got pretty gay-

That's such a lovely thing to say. I'm honoured.

The Witcher S2, oh my. It had so much gay. So much to love about it. Here are my favourites.

Burn Butcher Burn - I mean, this song is so epic. The way he sings it, showing his pain and hurt, his longing and need. The little breathes Jaskier takes before he finishes the last line of the song. And that's before we even look at the lyrics themselves. "For what do you yearn?" is a question Geralt needs to ask himself. Jaskier is right there, that's all I am saying.

Jaskier and Yennefer friendship - this was amazing. I never new I needed it until I saw it. I love the balance of Jaskier's feminine qualities with Yennefer's masculine ones. Maybe that's just me but I appreciate it.

Honestly, the Yennefer and Jaskier scene in the bar gave us so many good lines. So many things were admitted and Geralt wasn't even there.

"No one leaves any tastes in my mouth..." Yes, but you would like him to.

"That song could be about anyone." Right, sure, Jaskier.

"When I wrote it, it did come from the heart. Perhaps a broken one." Oh, it most certainly was.

"They come for the elves, Yennefer. They'll come for the dwarves. And sooner or later, they will come for everyone. Anyone that they deem the 'other'". Which we all know can only mean coming for queer people.

"I'm scared that one day, the muses will stop speaking to me." That his heart will be so broken he can no longer function.

Yennefer rescuing Jaskier from the fire fucker and then once they escape Jaskier saying he is the damsel in distress - absolutely the crowning glory.

When Geralt and Jaskier finally do meet, we get:

"Fuck it." and tears in Jaskier's eyes. That had me. This was such a powerful moment for me.

Jaskier jumping into the water topless. The whole 'bloated biceps' line while his eyes raked over Geralt's body. Gah, loved it.

"is this what pleases you?" Another plea for Geralt to think deep about what he actually wants (and if it's Jaskier).

Then Geralt asks Jaskier to take Ciri to Kaer Morhen and what I don't get is why. Ciri can clearly make her own way there. The dwarfs could fight if needed. So, is it the fact Geralt wants Jaskier close with him? Has he had a change in heart about what Jaskier means to him?

Ultimately, this is the unanswered question from S2 - why did Geralt need Jaskier? Is it because he no longer trusts Yennefer. Yennefer certainly seems to be using Jaskier as a go-between - giving him the active jasper (did that even do anything apart from bring Jaskier into the fight to hide under tables?). What is Jaskier to this found family of Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri? Obviously, I'd love for Jaskier to be part of that family with Geralt. I can hope.

My main takeaway is that it is now clearer that Jaskier is in love with Geralt. There are heavily implied hints that it is more than platonic. It is a want, a desire, a longing, a yearning.

And, yes, Burn Butcher Burn is what you get when you fail to see the longing and yearning in Her Sweet Kiss and instead wrongly believe it is simply a love song for Geralt and Yennefer. READ THE LYRICS!

Jaskier's whole personality and behaviours are definitely acted out to show his queerness. Yes, he may be an artist but I don't think that is why they made the choice on how Jaskier presents himself.

I also believe they choose the name Jaskier (buttercup) as a queer choice. They could have gone with Dandelion, which was chosen for the games because it was less flowery than buttercup, but they didn't. Yes, the go on about the books but I think it was a choice to play upon the queerness.

So, yes, so much gay and I loved it. Hoping S3 will be even gayer.

[bambirex]

The World Is Yours, If You Seek The Good: Chapter 13

Pairings: Geraskefer, Geraskier, Yennskier, Yenralt

Characters: Jaskier, Yennefer of Vengerberg, Geralt of Rivia, Ciri of Cintra, Lambert

Additional tags: implied/referenced abuse, forced pregnancy, mpreg, creature fic, fae Jaskier, creature Yennefer, captivity, enemies to friends to lovers, polyamory, found family, hurt/comfort, it starts out angsty but it will get better, completely made up lore, fertility issues, completely made up skills and powers, angst, angst with a happy ending, whump, Jaskier whump, Yennefer whump, intersex Jaskier, Ciri whump, Geralt whump, blood, nightmares, injury, wound care

Rating: mature

Chapters: 13/20

Full word count: 40,194 words

Chapter word count: 2,974 words

Summary: Used and abused by humans, Jaskier and Yennefer believe they are alone and with no reason to trust anybody. That is, until they meet each other - and then, a couple of other strange misfits.

Chapter summary: Ciri practices her magic with Yennefer. They become even closer during the process, and Ciri reveals another, disturbing layer of her powers. Geralt and Jaskier have a moment together.

Author's notes: I hit a bit of a roadblock with this fic, but I think I know where I'm taking this, at last!

Read on Ao3

*

Ciri closed her eyes, focusing inwards. She pursed her lips into a thin line, each muscles in her face and the rest of her body pulled tight in concentration. She could feel frustration building inside her as her mind missed the connection to her body. A gentle hand touched her back.

"Relax," Yennefer told her softly. "Don't overdo it."

"It's hard," Ciri admitted with a sigh of defeat. She lowered her hands and turned around, giving Yennefer a wounded look. "I'm afraid I will never get it right."

"We'll try our best," Yennefer promised. "Sometimes, it's the most we can do. Your power is huge, Ciri. It makes sense you struggle with it."

Ciri scoffed softly. She turned around and watched the small tree trunk that she was practicing on- well, tried to, mostly. Apparently, achieving full acces to the chaos inside her wasn't as easy as Yennefer made it look. She could set a whole town ablaze with just the touch of her fingertips, effortlessly. She carried so much power within her, and she was in charge of it, not the other way around like in Ciri's case. Her own powers seemed to control her, instead, and barely behaved when she needed them to. She wasn't sure if she would ever be able to wield her magic like Yennefer did.

"You all say that I have so much power, that I'm so special," Ciri murmured, wrapping her arms around herself tiredly. She looked down on the ground. "And yet, I barely see any of it. When I screamed and that tree fell, that was just an accident. I can't do it on purpose."

"Yes, you can," Yennefer stepped closer. She brushed Ciri's hair back from her face, pulling it into a quick braid at the back of her head. Ciri bit her lip when she realized her childish pout was fully revealed. Yennefer only smiled at it.

"I know you have it in you, Ciri. We all do. And I'm not gonna lie to you, I am also in the dark about the full extent of your powers. But we do have similarities, and that's what we need to work on. I will help you with whatever I can."

"Geralt finally taught me some sword skills," Ciri smiled. "You know how long I've been begging him to? It sucks that it took me revealing I have Elder blood for him to realize I wasn't a helpless little flower."

"I don't think it's just about that. Geralt is a bit overprotective of you, it makes sense. But it has become clear for him that he cannot keep any more secrets from you. And if we want to survive in this world, we have to rely on our own strength."

"So, you say there's another reason he opened up," Ciri smirked. She looked up at Yennefer, and chuckled when she saw the confused look on her face. "What, no idea what that reason could be?"

"Absolutely none," Yennefer scoffed. The tell-tale flush on her cheeks made Ciri grin wider.

"Oh, come on. As if you can't tell. Geralt is in love with you. And Jaskier, too. And you're also in love with the both of them."

Making a mighty drepima splutter and scramble for words while blushing deep red was no small feat, so Ciri felt immensely proud upon seeing how Yennefer's brain stopped working for a good minute.

"That's... How can you tell?"

"It's obvious. When are you guys admitting it to each other?"

"Well," Yennefer gave her a small smile, "Jaskier and I may have kissed the other day."

Ciri squealed. Finally! It was so painfully obvious that despite all the banter and teasing, the fae and the witch were head over heels for each other.

"How was it?"

"Okay, can we return to your training?" Yennefer rolled her eyes, but the smile never disappeared from her face. Ciri smirked. Those three were so painfully obvious. The deep connection between Yennefer and Jaskier was evident from the start, then Jaskier wasn't exactly subtle about his attraction to Geralt, and while Geralt tried be subtle about his own feelings for the fae, Ciri often caught him staring at him affectionately. Yennefer did need a lot of time to open up, but soon enough, it became clear she got attached to Geralt, and vice versa.

Geralt wasn't as much of a lone wolf as he claimed himself to be. He loved his witcher brothers, and he loved Ciri. Deep inside his heart, he did long for a connection. Ciri was happy that it seemed like he was finally getting it, in quite large amounts lately.

She was happy about it for her own reasons as well- she felt a bond to these creatures since the day they've showed up here, and Ciri never wanted to lose them. It seemed like they were truly turning into a family, as Ciri hoped they would be.

"You know, I'm really happy you guys get along so well," Ciri said, smiling up at Yennefer. "It means a lot to me, after everything."

She bit down on her lip as the memories flooded her brain.

"I lost everything. Everyone. I thought I would never have a family again. And then Geralt came, and yes, he can be a bit weird, but he loves me. And I love him. And then, you guys came along, and now I have a family again."

"You'll always have a family with us," Yennefer promised her softly. "I'm sorry for what you had to go through. All that suffering isn't meant for a child."

"Or an adult," Ciri pointed out. "You did not deserve what you had to go through, either. But things are gonna be okay now, Yennefer. You will also always have a family here."

Yennefer reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Her eyes were a little misty as she smiled at Ciri.

"Now it's really time we continued your training," she said quietly. Ciri shook her head.

"Not yet. I wanna tell you one more thing. I know what you think of yourself, that you're some scary, destructive monster, but that's not true. You're incredible, Yennefer. Your powers are wonderful, and special. You inspire me all the time. I hope I'll be like you, one day."

Yennefer blinked at her, her lips twitching. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, staring at Ciri with a mix of bewilderment and something else - hope, maybe. The hope that she could be a beloved presence, instead of a feared one. That she could mean something to someone.

For Ciri, she was slowly turning into a mother figure - something she's missed out on. Well, her grandmother was there, but she didn't have a lot of time to spend with her, with her royal duties and the many battles she needed to fight and win. Ciri has been aching for a gentle, motherly love - and while Yennefer's love was often tough, rough at the edges and unpolished, what with her never having had to take care of a child before, what with her living most of her life in utter loneliness, her love was very much needed, and appreciated. She was another lifeline Ciri could hold onto.

Ciri squeaked softly when Yennefer pulled her into a crushing hug. She wound her arms around Ciri, holding her close. Ciri happily burrowed into her arms. Yennefer's skin was colder than Jaskier's, colder than Geralt's, but Ciri still found the warmth she needed in that hug.

"This means a lot to me," Yennefer admitted against Ciri's hair quietly. "That you would look at me that way."

"I'm being serious," Ciri promised. She pulled back slightly to look up at Yennefer. "I thought my world ended when I found out about my heritage. I didn't know what to do with it. With that knowledge, and that power... I felt lost. But you're here. And you're helping me, and you're being so patient, even though I'm a shit student."

"You're not," Yennefer laughed softly. She gently patted Ciri's cheek. "I promised you I would make sure you'll learn to control these powers. And I'm fully intent on keeping that promise."

She gently turned Ciri back towards the tree trunk. She helped Ciri keep her arms straight by a supporting touch on her elbow.

"Relax, and try to shut everything out," Yennefer told her. "Don't be afraid of the power that is within you, but also don't underestimate it. Try to find a healthy balance. It's a part of you."

Ciri closed her eyes again, trying to loosen her muscles. She willed her brain to focus on only her inner voice and that deep rumbling of the magic within her core. She let it flood her cells, pump away in her blood. She faintly heard Yennefer's encouraging words through the haze that slowly filled her brain.

There was only a flicker of light at her fingertips, just a tiny bit of warmth - yet, Yennefer looked at her so proudly, as if it was a huge achievement.

"You're getting there," Yennefer told her with a smile. "You're learning to bring the fire to the surface. That's not easy. And you had better control of your screams last time. Only thing you have to do now is believe that you have it in you."

Ciri smiled, feeling her heart flutter with happiness. Indeed, it felt easier to get even that flicker out - maybe she wasn't a lost cause. Maybe she could truly learn to control her powers, instead of letting them control her.

Speaking of which, she believed this was the perfect time to ask Yennefer a question.

"You said our powers are mostly similar because of the link in our heritage," she started quietly, "do drepimas have visions, too?"

Yennefer arched an eyebrow at her. "Visions?"

"Yes. Weird dreams."

"Everyone has weird dreams, Ciri. And it makes perfect sense you would have nightmares about the things that happened to you. I have them, too. So does Jaskier. And I bet even Geralt does."

"I don't just dream about Cintra. I used to, but it's different, lately. I think... I think I'm dreaming about the future."

She really didn't like the way Yennefer's cheeks paled, nor the way the obvious concern filled her eyes.

"And what do you see?" Yennefer asked. Ciri swallowed thickly.

"An unfamiliar place. Metal bars. You and Jaskier injured. I'm screaming for Geralt, but he never comes. And as I scream, everything falls apart around me and everyone gets hurt, and..."

Her throat constricted around the words as she relived the nightmares. Yennefer cupped her cheeks soothingly.

"What makes you think they're visions, Ciri?"

"I don't know," she admitted weakly, "but I'm scared they are. And last night, I..."

She took a deep breath as she saw the man's face in front of her eyes again. A man that she didn't know, and who was yet so familiar. Someone who should have radiated warmth, but his heart was cold as ice. He was dangerous.

"I dreamt about a man. I don't know who he is but it's still like I've met him before. And I think he wants to hurt me. Us."

"Ciri, it's okay," Yennefer cooed. Ciri didn't even realize she was crying until she felt Yennefer wiping her tears away. "We'll get to the bottom of this, I promise. Let's hope these are just senseless nightmares. Anything is possible, you know? When you have power like this, it can sometimes mess with your head."

She took Ciri into her arms again. Ciri sighed and propped her chin up on her shoulder, staring at the tree trunk.

She hoped Yennefer was right. And if she wasn't... well, then Ciri hoped she would get full access to her powers in time to protect herself and her family.

--

Maybe one day Geralt would get used to this feeling, that warmth inside his chest - this giddy, all-encompassing sensation that filled him almost every single day lately. It was still so new, and he still grappled with trying to describe it. Maybe the best word for it was love, a word that he thought he forgot a long time ago. Yet, it was definitely love he felt for Ciri, and it only got stronger the longer he spent taking care of her.

And it was very possibly love he felt for the two creatures he hosted in his hut. That was why his heart beat so fast when he watched as Yennefer trained with Ciri. She was so gentle with her, not too soft but patient and caring. She smiled so brightly at Geralt's daughter, with so much pride in her eyes. They laughed together, and it was the sweetest sound Geralt has ever heard.

And that was why he smiled uncontrollably when he caught a whiff of sweet cinnamon scent, and felt Jaskier's body radiate heat next to him.

"She seems like a really good teacher, doesn't she?" Jaskier asked, his own smile matching Geralt's. "Who would have thought!"

"Ciri really trusts her," Geralt said. "And I trust her, too."

"That's a big deal," Jaskier said softly. "Since, you know, you were so apprehensive in the beginning. Not that I blame you for it. But I know how hard it is for you to trust people, especially when it comes to Ciri. It means a lot that you opened up to Yennefer like that. She's clearly important to you."

"And you," Geralt added, turning to Jaskier. "You're important to me, too."

The fae blushed softly. "Why, that's a very lovely thing to say."

"I do mean it."

"I know," Jaskier replied, smiling up at Geralt from under his lashes.

Geralt looked down on Jaskier's stomach. It was growing bigger every day. He only had a couple of months to go now. Geralt felt a strange excitement over getting to meet Jaskier's baby soon.

"Are you feeling comfortable?" He asked, still looking at Jaskier's stomach where the fae now was resting a gentle hand. "Do you need anything?"

"No, thank you," Jaskier smiled. "I'm feeling perfect, actually. You know, it's a whole lot different, going through a pregnancy like this."

"Like what?"

"Surrounded by people I love."

There was so much genuine emotion in what he said - in everything he said and did, to be honest. Jaskier wore his heart on his sleeve, forming a perfect antonym to Geralt and Yennefer's more closed-off personalities. Geralt and Yennefer fit together, because they were so similar, and Jaskier fit in with them, because he was different. He completed them.

"We're here for you," Geralt replied earnestly. "Whatever you need, you'll get it."

"Even a giant cake with fifteen layers, dripping with chocolate?"

"I guess," Geralt laughed. "Whatever."

"Just kidding," Jaskier laughed with him, gently elbowing him in the side. He turned his attention back to Ciri and Yennefer. "So, I assume, we're all sticking together from now on. Does that mean that if we ever had to leave this place - and I've overheard you talking about it with Lambert -, you're taking us with you?"

"Yes. Of course. When winter comes, I wanna take Ciri to Kaer Morhen. The witcher keep."

"And if something happens in the meantime?"

"I'll figure something out," Geralt promised. "Winter is only a couple months away. Until then, we stay put. I used to think being on the road constantly was the only way to avoid danger, but I changed my mind since Ciri came along. She's safer in hiding."

"And practicing her chaos with Yen. And I also heard you thought her some sword skills, as well."

Geralt smiled at the memory. "She's good with a sword. She's an extraordinary kid."

"With an extraordinary father," Jaskier told him. The smile he gave Geralt was so beautiful, the witcher had to look away for a second.

He only turned back when he saw Jaskier fiddling with something from the corner of his eyes. Geralt watched curiously as Jaskier took a crushed, dry buttercup into his hand. He caressed it with his finger gently, his hand emitting a soft glow. The dead flower returned to life under Jaskier's touch, its browned leaves becoming harsh green once again. The sadly hanging flowers popped up again, coloring with a bright, happy yellow. Its scent picked up, sweet and carefree, more intense than before it dried out- almost as if it was grateful that the fae brought it back to life.

Jaskier noticed Geralt staring at him. He smiled brightly. Then, he reached out, and gently tucked the renewed flower behind Geralt's ear, into his hair.

"Pretty," Jaskier said with a happy sigh. Geralt swallowed. He never had been called pretty in his life, not with his giant, broad built, his scars and his unnerving, yellow eyes. Not with his unruly white hair and his unnatural, menacing presence.

He should have felt embarrassed about it. Instead, he felt his cheeks flush as he smiled.

He wrapped an arm around Jaskier's shoulder and pulled him close, letting him rest his weight against him. Jaskier put his head on his shoulder with a happy sigh, his own arm snaking around Geralt's waist, holding him close.

Geralt rested his cheek atop Jaskier's head. He inhaled his sweet scent, and he smiled. He remembered when this scent first hit his nose, faint and suspicious, mixing with Yennefer's exotic lilac and gooseberry scent. Geralt still remembered how confused that wild perfume made him, not yet knowing that the creatures Ciri was hiding in her room would one day mean so much to him.

His life had changed so much in the past few months, Geralt barely recognized it. But it did not scare him anymore. In fact, it filled him with so much happiness. Maybe that made him a strange witcher, but he did not mind.

[bambooastronaut]

some thoughts about Burn Butcher Burn, because I’ve been back and forth on whether or not it’s realistic that Jaskier would use the word “butcher” at all and I’ve decided that yes, it is, specifically within the context of the Netflix show.

while I can absolutely see the perspective that Jaskier would never use the word “butcher” as it’s the word that would hurt Geralt more than any other, I think it makes sense at this point.

I have read several of the books (working on reading them all!) and I feel like book!Dandelion would never use it like that. and that’s because book!Geralt would never have behaved quite the way show!Geralt did. I’ll take a beat here to say I do consider this to be a flaw in the writing of their relationship in s1. I spent a long time pretty unhappy about how unkind Geralt was in the first season, not just to Jaskier but to basically everyone, but I accept the adaptation for what it is and also appreciate the reported efforts of Henry Cavill to draw the characterization back to the books. that said, back to my point.

Jaskier’s song is, in my opinion, a logical progression of what happens. Jaskier is more vulnerable, more heart-on-his-sleeve, and also has been rejected in his affection for Geralt throughout their time together, moreso than any other version of the character. (if you’ve been on my blog for 5 seconds you know I ship it but I am not talking about romantic love in this discussion of canon, though to me his discussion with Yennefer in the fourth episode is an admission of that.)

at the top of the mountain, Geralt did the thing that would hurt Jaskier more than literally anything else he could have done. he rejected Jaskier's love, his softness, his kindness, his persistence, his music. he rejected his place in Geralt's life. and I think someone with the gentleness that Jaskier often portrays (I really enjoy this interpretation btw, as I don’t think womanizing lecher really lends itself well to modern tellings and Jaskier being portrayed as a bisexual disaster slut with too many feelings is much more interesting).

and while I don't like how unfair Geralt and Jaskier's relationship was in s1, I do like Jaskier in s2 standing up for himself. and I do like him willing to talk to Geralt again, but on his own terms. and I like to think when the dust settles at the end of s2, Geralt and Jaskier might have a longer conversation about Jaskier's boundaries and Geralt's apology and subsequent growth. I want them to treat each other better. I think that they can't do that if Jaskier doesn't get his chance to be really, truly angry. and as we know, Jaskier expresses the things he sees and hears and feels through song. so obviously he would write this song, and he would use the word butcher. will he come to regret that? maybe. should he apologize for that? probably. was it the right thing to do? no! but Jaskier is a flawed person who was harmed greatly and he lashed out. he’s human.

at the end of s1, Jaskier has all his love thrown back in his face. he climbed back down the mountain alone. he had to find new purpose after almost 20 years of making people see Geralt as a hero. why wouldn't he be angry? and despite the fact that it was petty, cruel, and awful of him to say say it, why wouldn't he feel entitled to lashing out just like Geralt did? so to me, it makes sense. to me, it’s this: fuck you, witcher, I spend two decades at your side doing everything I could to improve your reputation, to make you happier, to ease your burden, to care about you, and you didn't want it. no matter how much I did, no matter how much I loved you. so fuck you. you want to throw me away? then I'll tell everyone you were right about yourself all along. you want to act like a butcher? don't let me stop you. in fact, I'm going to watch you burn.

[greisekinderschar]

Yes 👏 yes 👏 yes 👏

The point of Yennefer taking over Philippa‘s role in the lodge and Philippa needing her own story is very important. Controlling Widow Queen Hedwig is not the same as controlling The King, who is not a child and therefore has actual power but who she thinks would serve as a good puppet because she knows he doesn‘t want to be king.

The merging of different characters is also a big point. The show does not have time for all of that. And merging characters into one substitute is something screen adaptions often do.

That also leads to Anna Henrietta. While I do not believe they will scratch her entirely, the show is big on providing female characters whose plots are mainly linked to men with more of their own (*cough* Fringilla *cough*). At the same time, we know how the lowkey misogynist aspects of Dandelion‘s womanizing are spared on the show, making him more of a romantic than a fuckboy (which he also is in the books to an extent, but you get me). AND, after all that build up they did for Jaskier‘s loyalty to Geralt, I absolutely do not see them making him leave the hansa behind for a love they have not yet introduced, one that ends with the very funny but not netflix-y situation of her having him (almost) executed (but then not bc emotional woman) for fucking around. But with Radovid, they have already set up the love story, and it fits Jaskier‘s characterization on the show better to go to him rather than to stay at Toussaint. Also, with Redania as a bigger player, and, as you said, probably the show‘s main focus on the North, it makes it possible to keep Jaskier involved in the story.

So yeah, regarding wanting to give Jaskier a romantic storyline that remains relevant in the overall plot, ageing Radovid up was a killer move and I will defend it forever.

PLUS, regarding Radovid‘s role as king, and this is more of a headcanon but hear me out: we have the satyrical depiction of the (male) monarchs, not unlike the books, but Radovid as a more fleshed out character who actually wanted to leave that world behind would be more believable in that context to follow „honourable“ paths like those attributed to Vizimir the Just.

(the following contains book and show spoilers.)

i have to say, i think the main reason why radovid was aged up beyond the romance with jaskier was to provide redania with the stability it lacked in the books after vizimir was assassinated in order for the show to have a central pov for the north. because the show almost has that with philippa and dijkstra, but the one area that’s really lacking — if the show stuck exactly to the books — is the war itself as redania was not in a place where it could fight until the end of the series. but aging radovid up old enough to be king should fix that issue by virtue of redania actually having a leader and therefore not falling into chaos. and even with that change, the show could still feature later issues redania runs into with the war just by having them run out of money by the end of the series and needing more and/or facing so many losses in their army that they need to hire more soldiers.

and within that whole idea, i can see the show using radovid as a substitute for other northern nobility and royalty. like, given the little that is known about radovid in the books and what philippa’s plans in them are, the show could easily use radovid in tankred’s role as both characters were almost betrothed to ciri in the books. (and i say this fully as a radskier shipper in radskier shipping mode, but i am still ✨ manifesting ✨ radovid being used as a daniel etcheverry replacement.) (also, like, insert speculation about radovid being jaskier’s anna henrietta here.)

all of which is to say that i think it makes sense that the show would do something like that — having a central pov for the north and condensing things a bit — because it is a tv show, and one with only 8 episodes per season at that, and as such there’s a limited amount of time to work with. the show’s focus just with next season alone will already be split enough as it is between geralt, jaskier, and the hansa; ciri and the rats (and bonhart); yennefer and the lodge; francesca and the elves and the scoia'tael; and nilfgaard with emhyr (plus wherever vilgefortz may fall into.) philippa, dijkstra, and king!radovid round out a northern pov — the one pov that’s missing — without having to split the focus even more if the rest of the northern nations were really featured. (just to say: i don’t think that means the show will erase the rest of the nations, i just think that when it comes to having a central one to focus on, it’ll likely be redania.)

(also just to add: i think radovid being aged up old enough to be king likely has to do with philippa, too, and her storyline — or lack thereof. because yennefer has largely taken her role in the lodge, so she kind of needs another storyline to focus on. at least initially, anyway, as i suspect yennefer will eventually leave the lodge to go to skellige and try to find ciri. but in the meantime, philippa still needs a plot and puppeting king radovid makes sense given everything that happened last season.)

but just to bring it back around to the radskier of it all… i think these reasons are why it does make sense that the show would make them love interests. jaskier is already connected to redania by virtue of being the sandpiper, so they have completely feasible reasons to know of each other, meet each other, and fall for each other — and all without taking up time introducing someone that would never have the same political impact and ramifications to the plot that radovid does by being older. (which i do still largely think was the point of aging him up.)

and then there’s how their relationship will affect everything in the future — and we know per lauren that their relationship is going to have ripple effects in the future. i know there’s been some speculation that losing jaskier on top of everything else will turn radovid ~evil, but i think that’s speculation largely based off of the games — which the show has nothing to do with. i think what will happen is actually the opposite and that radovid will try and do his best to remain a good person and a good king — which imo also makes the most narrative sense, too, given that the place we last left off with them was radovid basically vowing to jaskier that he would prove himself to him. he can’t exactly do that in person anymore, but he can still try to prove himself to jaskier even if he’s not with him.

plus i still think that the show hasn’t based radovid solely off the stern, either, and that he’ll end up being more of an amalgamation of all of the king radovids throughout redania’s history. and as far as i know, no one on the show has ever confirmed which radovid he’s supposed to be based off of and the only thing we do know is that lauren said he’s a character that “continues to show up in the books.” but that’s a description that fits the stern, the bold, and the great. so i think it’s entirely possible that through having met jaskier and falling for him, radovid will end up as the great rather than the stern. (also something something radovid, like the bold, going to kovir.)

and just as far as jaskier’s side of things go… obviously there’s speculation about radovid being jaskier’s anna henrietta. which imo does have merit given radovid’s status in society and how what we saw of their relationship in s3 fits the picture (and even the timeline, if only vaguely) of jaskier and anna henrietta’s romance prior to the books. i don’t know how the logistics of it would work exactly, but i think it’s completely possible that when jaskier and geralt (+hansa) separate that jaskier somehow stays with radovid. because jaskier really does need to be put on a busTM to escape the fate of the rest of the hansa, and radovid fulfils the same role of jaskier’s love interest that anna henrietta did.

and just for one last thing. but it includes season 4 spoilers. like, for real writer’s room spoilers. so, y'know, beware of the following if you’re trying to avoid those.

Weiterlesen

[orsuliya]

The bad thing about Netflix' Witcher season 2 is that it is an unholy mess reeking of games. Am I being bitter? Yes. I grew up reading the books, I've got the right to be exactly as bitter as I want to.

The good thing about Netflix' Witcher season 2 is that it is so utterly forgettable that two hours later I can scarcely remember a quarter of it and I can quote the books verbatim and recap every episode of Wiedźmin starring Żebrowski, just try me.

What I do remember is this (spoilers ahead):

Jaskier doing break-up songs? Yes, please! Also, more Jaskier in general would do this thing good - unlike most of the other characters, he's at least entertaining.

Did Nivellen really need to be there in the present timeline? Nope. Do I mind terribly? Also nope. There's something to be said for good old Last Wish-y feel.

The Codringher&Fenn&Cat bit is absolutely amazing... and notice that I don't even mind Istredd being there or the fact that apparently Hen Gedymdeith's legacy is all but lost. (Book!Hen Gedymdeith would very much like to say something about that!) See? They can do it when they want to!

Philippa is the most gorgeous of all the sorceresses, in both human and owl forms. Perving on Dijkstra? Proceed!

This whole plotline with Fringilla deciding the Empire's pro-elven policy is a hot, hot mess. First of all, good luck to any wizard trying to pull any of that grey eminence bullshit in Nilfgaard. Secondly, for some reason the very political, clear-cut and surprisingly honest off-screen deal with Enid an Gleanna re: Scoia'tael&Dol Blathanna becomes an emotion-fueled tangle of pure idiocy and some weirdly hazy political messages. Also, why did we need the baby again? Oh, to make Nilfs evil baby-killers, right, I forgot.

THE Tissaia de Vries having tears in her eyes every other scene I could deal with. Miraculously pregnant Francesca Findabair trying to manipulate Fringilla Vigo in the clumsiest, most blatant way possible? Stop the Earth, I want to get off. Philippa, all my hopes regarding Magnificent Witchy Bitches are on you now, don't you disappoint me in season 3!

The final bit with the Council of Kings was suprisingly good. Now, why would that be...? Oh, they were using book material, how shocking! At least it gives me hope for the future politicking bits, so there's that.

For some weird reason Melitele's temple is the cleanest and the best lit location there is. Meanwhile, the Northern kings (and queen) congregate among ruins. Why not.

Nice to see you, Yarre! Bye, Yarre!

I like my Emperors cute AND smart. This one is very, very cute, but smart he is definitely not. Unless all the Nilfgaardians in Cintra are afflicted with sudden deafness or... they're going for the Empress Ending route, to which I say: NOPE. Where's my False Ciri subplot, you bastards?

It's been 8 episodes and what have they achieved? There is no bond nor even the beginning of one between Yennefer and Ciri and no real hope for one forming naturally. At the same time, the timeline being all wonky doesn't give the relationship between Ciri and Geralt any time to deepen. But at least it exists, yay!

Politically they've spent all this time on the Dol Blathanna deal and still got absolutely nowhere other than making the elves look bad. Also, the pacing is really, really slow, thanks to all those invented bits; I had been fully convinced we were going to get to Thanned or nearly so by the end of season 2. Well, we didn't.

Other than that I have no bloody idea what happened.

...and don't you dare tell me! I really, really don't want to know.