#i suppose i can reread the ones i've already right (spoiler: i've read them all)

[nateslehky]

the heaviest sigh you’ve ever heard

[spider-jaysart]

What was the last comic you read & your least favorite?

@pin-crusher2000

Last comic:

Supersons haha, because I love rereading it

Least favorite:

Ooooh sooooo many!!!😤

(Incoming spoilers about some of them btw, in case you plan on reading some of these)

1. The comic that Bendis wrote, which caused Jon's whole age up and then changed everything for him in his life in main comics after that

2. The Supersons comic that starred the older, current version of the boys, because even though it was supposed to be like "Oh look fans! The boys are back!!", It just wasn't the same since DC already messed things up. And there were also some ooc moments inside the book too in a way where it felt like they swapped a bit of personalities🤨, which was pretty odd and didnt help so much for the enjoyment either

3. Don't know if you know this video game series or not, but it's called Telltales the walking dead games, and after the series ended, a comic series called Clementine was released a while after that and it's all so horrible, because it ruins everything about Clementine (the main character) and the good ending she had in the last game, making all the struggles she went through in her survival journey over the years to keep living and hopefully find peace one day seem like it was all actually for nothing. The writer doesn't understand her at all and mischaracterizes her so much that it's super annoying!! I HATE that book so much!!!😤😤 That is not my Clementine, just Tangerine

4. The Legion of heroes comic where they met Damian, because the way they treated and spoke about him, especially right in front of him and also Jon who they know is his friend, was just so disgusting to see and I was disappointed in the way Jon handled it and how he still joined their team after that AND the fact that he still dated Saturn girl too. His written reaction during that moment just wasn't enough, because I believe he should've been way more mad about it all, lost some respected interest in their group, and have his feelings on Saturn girl really changed up afterwards, which he would've been right for and it fits his character better because he's protective of his loved ones like that

5. Marvel zombies. I've never read it before, so I can't say if anythings wrong with it, since I don't know how most of it's story throughout the series goes to actually say if it has good or bad writing, but I just hate whenever I see it, because it's all just really gross and too messed up for me. Don't get me wrong though, because I love apocalypse stories, they're my faves, it's just that looking at this series and the stuff that happens on page feels a bit too much for me

6. Beast Boy by Kami Garcia.

Idk if this counts enough to be added into the list, cause the book was good, it was fine, it's just an annoying thing that stuck with me that changes my view on the book whenever I reread it now, because Beast boy seemed like he was genuinely really into the popular girl in the story, but then at the end it turned out he was actually just using her to get the feel of being popular and that just didn't sit so well with me when I read that part, because that just only makes it look like that's all he ever really wanted from her now and wasn't actually interested fr, even when he did look like it. Then he just runs off onto an adventure in the end after admitting to his friends that he didn't actually care that much about her anymore, just when he had finally gotten her invested in him and it's like, dude, what the heck??? That's how you handle it????

7. "Beast boy loves Raven" and "Robin" both by Kami Garcia

These are both also fine stories, it's just another thing about one of the romances, which doesn't let me really get through the books so well the way I want to. Damian falls for Raven's sister in "Beast boy loves Raven", a little too quickly tbh, and soon starts dating her, which is continued in "Robin" (because ofc he does, he can never just be a single kid that's not being set up everytime with whatever same age girl they can throw at him or just can't be left not crushing on some mature woman who's way too old for him, which is just icky whenever that happens). It feels weird because he's instantly into her the second they meet without him getting to know her, he's flirting right away back with her when he doesn't actually get like that in canon and mostly keeps his feelings to himself when it comes to crushes since he's reserved, and then he begins dating her after not too long and then they're pretty close and so cutesy playful as a couple, which should be fine, but it's just the way it's done that feels off to me loll, and I'm not so sure how to exactly explain the vibe, like it's too overly sweet in a way that's just not fitting because it was kind of quick and Damian seemed way too expressive with it a lot??? Probably not the right way to say it, idk lmaooo, but a friend of mines also understands and feels the same on the whole topic here. Like, it all just feels ooc on Damian's part the way his character there handles the whole thing. And this is not because I'm a Damijon fan loll, cause even if it was Jon in the love interest role instead of Raven's sister in the two books, I wouldn't want it to be rushed either. I would want Damian to have to get to know him better too before actually developing any romantic feelings and showing any signs of interest in him, and after a good while of getting to do that, then he grows more comfortable around him and they start dating later, cause that would fit his character better and would make the cute, playfulness feel more fitting in the relationship and seem more natural since they've already gotten close enough to be that way. It's one of the reasons why I like Damijon lol, because they're both already so close in their friendship, that dating could work between them so well. Once again though, this is all just my opinion that I'm expressing

8. I am not Starfire

That book is just so dumb lmaooo, only the art is good. Mandy, the daughter of Starfire, is an annoying, spoiled child who only envies and disrespects her Mother, makes everything about herself, gets too mad about everything for no good reason, and she doesn't even share any Tamaranean features with Starfire in looks either, except for the green eyes and very normal looking ginger hair, like seriously??? Dick is obviously the Dad, but he won't step up to get involved at all and pretends this isn't his problem, and I hate that this a trope that keeps happening whenever Dick and Starfire have kids with eachother, one of them gets taken away or either just leaves the other on their own to deal with everything, which sucks, because they should be able to be a happy family all together already where the kids grow up with them both in their lives, not more of this. Anyways, besides those mentioned things, everything else in this book is also very annoying and makes no sense too and it's not worth the read at all because of it

9. The Injustice crossover with Jon

Most of that book was annoying, like for example when Injustice!Clark broke Jay's arm and then Jon threateningly went into Ultra power mode just to....give Clark a hug for it. Like wtf lmaoooo???? He was overly playing pacifist and it was so, so stupidly silly. And I don't even know what's going on in that universe now after he left it, like that's how much of nothing he did in there, except get sassy with everyone and try befriending Injustice!Damian lolll, which made things feel like a literal waste of time in the crossover when it seemed like he would actually try changing things up in there somehow

Okay, so I think that's it for now, cause I can't think of anymore books at the moment lol, so thanks for the ask, crusher! I like that I got to express about some of these! :)

(I apologize if these rants were a bit much btw, I just get like that sometimes because I don't get to do it enough😅, so, sorry about that, unless you're fine with it though and actually like reading that, which is awesome then, cause then I've got a good listener loll)

[intrepidacious]

time after time: reread edition [1]

series summary: After what starts out as a fairly normal mission, you find yourself stuck in a time loop. Which would already be bad enough in itself if it didn’t also mean having to watch Bucky die over and over again.

pairing: bucky barnes x f!reader

word count: 6.0k

chapter warnings: canon-typical violence, accidentally starting a time loop, banter, pretty angsty to start us off with ngl, reminder to read the fic premise. please note that my blog is rated 18+. minors dni. ageless/empty blogs will be blocked without warning.

read the full chapter here | series masterlist | reread masterlist

wouldn't you know it, it's friday already!! this is a reread of already published chapters, so if you're new to this story, i would highly suggest not starting here and reading the actual story first. please be aware that by clicking the read more you're gonna see spoilers for chapter one 💚

how it started

welcome to the reread. i'm pretty sure this is the part of the post i'll only do once, but we'll see how it goes.

i swear to god, i only wanted to write a fun little time loop fic. it was never supposed to be this huge thing; it just kept growing. it's two years later now and i'm still writing—granted, that's after taking several long breaks because this story gives me headaches like no other, but still. i've never poured this much love into one story, i think.

and we can all blame russian doll for it.

turn back the clock – tl;dr

we start with a mission. sam, bucky and the reader, soon-to-be nicknamed twelve, are checking up on a secret lab. against all odds, bucky gets killed right before the fight seems to be won. twelve uses her time powers to prevent this from happening, loses consciousness and wakes up in her bed earlier that day. she goes through the entire day again, thinking her reset worked as intended, only for bucky to die in a different situation during the same mission and her waking up in her bed again.

behind the loop

welcome to my first running commentary on my own story. you’re gonna be sick of me really soon.

depending on how new you are to this story, you might not know that the chapter titles are all taken from movies. sadly i haven't seen most of them but the ones i have seen do feature a little in one way or another. more about that when we get to that point, though. the title cards for this story were also so fun to make because i just recoloured the actual movie posters!!

i’m gonna be honest with you, i keep forgetting that this first flashback exists. but i lowkey love it?? i like how it sets the tone for the angst that’s stitched into the very fabric of this story while simultaneously being juxtaposed with the first actual, very blunt introduction of our main cast.

the start of that mission was one of the first things i ever wrote for this fic, but the whole transition from the upstairs lab to downstairs and the actual fight scene were the last parts before posting.

“Do you think I’d pass up the opportunity to hear the two of you scream in terror when the vampire puppets creep up on you?” “Gotta disappoint you, cap,” you grin and wait for him to check the map. “I only scream when there’s good reason.” “I don’t wanna interrupt,” Bucky interrupts over the intercom, “but they’re heading your way now, so get a move on.”

writing banter is one of my all-time favourite activities. i also already knew at this point that i was gonna write a lot of it over and over again, and so i needed to vary the interjections in order to not bore everyone to bits. i like to think it worked out, but you tell me.

my beloved nightmare flashmob was such a fun antagonist to include. they will be named in the next chapter but if there are comic readers among you, i feel like i have to apologise because i definitely haven’t read enough of them to properly do these guys justice. they did seem like a logical step up from the version of the flag smasher(s) we encountered in tfatws, though. plus, there’s just enough of them to be a realistic threat to three very capable superheroes.

And then his eyes glaze over. You scream.

i’m so evil lmao

You wake up with a start to the sun in your face and FRIDAY blasting The All-American Rejects at full volume.

spoiler alert, you’ll encounter that sentence a couple of times. and i still love it. fun fact, i genuinely set my playlist to shuffle to decide on the song that was going to play to wake her up, and this was the one i landed on. and i couldn’t have come up with a better choice. honestly, look at the lyrics and tell me i’m wrong. i love how things work out sometimes.

originally, the decision to set the story on july 4th was very practical because i needed my available settings to be limited. this isn’t punxsutawney, pennsylvania in the middle of a snowstorm, this is new york city after the blip. i wanted our characters to have at least somewhat limited options what to do during their ever-repeating day. (on a sidenote, do you think we’ll ever see avengers compound again in the mcu? how long are they going to rebuild that thing? anyway.)

“Feels a little … déjà-vu-y.” “I know the type,” Sam says. “Wanna talk about it?” You do. But the time stuff is your problem to deal with, and so you shake your head.

isn’t it great to have a full ensemble of characters who absolutely will not talk about their feelings to each other? (derogatory) is it more interesting from a narrative point of view? … i suppose.

i love twelve’s rings though. are they entirely useless for the duration of this loop? maybe. but i love that she has them to physically show her how stuck she is <3 other things that i love: bucky calling sam bud. it just makes sense.

A surge of emptiness goes through you, unlike anything you’ve ever felt before. Time seems to still for just the blink of an eye as Bucky’s head is thrown forwards.

and there we have it. ✨dread.✨ this is such an evil way to end a chapter, wow. i had fun, though. was it fun for you?

how it's going

well, actually. i've been writing chapter seven as well as a secret bonus chapter this week, and i've made reasonable progress on both which i'm quite proud of. i really hope i can report that i got started on chapter eight this time next week, but we'll see. i think the worst of my writer's block is gone, at least. and all it took was a little self-indulgence and an external deadline. who'd have thunk.

if you made it to this point of my rambles, thank you. lmk how i can keep these interesting for you to read, and if you have any questions about the story, you know where to find me!! also: please please please consider leaving a comment or a reblog on the actual chapter. it would mean the world 💚

[fangirleaconmigo]

The Witcher: 5 Biggest Differences Between Geralt in the books, and Geralt in the Netflix Show

So. I've written an analysis of book!Geralt vs TWN!Geralt, detailing their major similarities and differences as I see them.

I wrote it for myself, to help me develop the two different versions of Geralt for my crossover book/show fic Posada Remix (See pinned post), and because I'm a big nerd who loves Geralt of Rivia perhaps more than is normal.

A few fellow nerds have shown interest in my ravings. So here it is below.

It is very long at 5500 words-ish (I am actually a little embarrassed about how extra I am), but nevertheless, if that is your thing, read on!

Disclaimers:

I compare the two Geralts' behavior during the same time frames, during the same events, to ‘control’ for natural behavioral evolution. (ie. character development)

Because of that, you will only get book spoilers for the bits that have *already* been adapted in S1. So they may differ, but they won't spoil the future show seasons.

I use book excerpts and quotes whenever possible, so you don’t have to take my word for it. You can read the excerpts and come to your own conclusions.

This is not to make ANY judgment call on ‘which Geralt is better’. It is simply analysis.

This is personal, subjective, fallible, and shifts every time I reread the books.

As I write this, S2 hasn't come out. If people want updates after I watch it, send me an ask!

SIMILARITIES

Ok, counter intuitively I’m going to start with their similarities. When I write the two versions of Geralt, they have to *feel* like the same character, as much as they must *feel* distinct.

Here are a quick few:

Both Geralts:

Have endured a massive amount of early childhood trauma.

Were abandoned by their mothers and fathers. They know who their mother is but not their father.

Were made into witchers via traumatic, abusive means.

Had most of the only other children they had ever known, be killed by the only adults they had ever known.

Are witchers, with all of the powers that entails (enhanced senses, combat, signs, etc).

Are witchers, with all of the stigma and prejudice that entails.

Are heroes. They have always wanted to be a knight and they always try to do the right thing.

Have similar appearances, with white hair and non-human appearing eyes.

I’m going to be controversial here, but...are both handsome, if perhaps in different ways. (I know people say book!Geralt is supposed to be hideous. But the only time Geralt is said to be unattractive is when he is talking about himself. When he is described as having a “hideous smile”, it has to do with being menacing, not aesthetically displeasing. In fact, when Yennefer meets him, she immediately refers to his good looks. “Don’t pull that look. It doesn’t suit either your good looks or your complexion.” And every woman Geralt meets in the books wants to sleep with him (except for his mother figure and daughter figure.) I have more evidence, but this post will get too long. I picture book!Geralt as skinnier and more sinewy and rugged than Cavill, who is obviously the exact specimen of a pretty, square jawed body builder type that Hollywood favors. But they are both handsome in their own ways.)

They are both nerds.

They geek out about monsters.

They are pleased with their own questionable jokes.

Neither are especially intimidated by noble and royal types.

There is more, but those are few of the biggies. So I keep those facts as starting points. You have to hold similarities to highlight differences.

DIFFERENCES

For this bit, I started with the most visible and immediate differences, which meant basic personality.

Difference #1. Geralt’s general level of friendliness to new people, starkly differs in the two versions. Here are a few examples of the two Geralt’s responding to the same people in the same moments, so you can see.

Example One: Both Geralts meet Borch/three Jackdaws before the dragon hunt. In both the show and the books, Borch, Tea, and Vea defend Roach and Geralt’s belongings from would be thiefs, and then invite him to eat. Here is how the different Geralts respond.

TWN!Geralt

He grunts/hmmms when he sees Borch, Tea, and Vea for the first time.

He makes a positive comment about Tea killing a man, but frames it negatively in relation to Jaskier as a way to say he is an inferior travel companion.

He doesn’t speak directly to Borch, Tea, or Vea, introduce himself, or shake their hands.

When Borch compliments Geralt profusely, and asks whether Geralt is interested in what he has to say, Geralt says,

“Don’t trouble yourself on my account. I just want food.”

Book!Geralt

When Geralt meets them in the books, it's a very different vibe. First, he compliments Tea and introduces himself.

“An excellent stroke from a Zerrikanian sabre. I bow before the skill and beauty of the free warriors. I am Geralt of Rivia.”

Then he thanks them profusely.

“Thanks to them, it appears, I still have my horse and belongings. I thank you, warriors. My thanks to you too, sir.”

When Borch suggests they eat together, Geralt says

“Borch...I wouldn’t want anything left unclear between us. I’m a witcher...There are those,” Geralt says, “who prefer the company of lepers to that of a witcher.”

When Geralt realizes Borch is fine with him being a witcher, he takes off his glove to shake Borch’s hand and says

“I accept, glad to have made your acquaintance.”

This witcher is complimentary, expresses his gratitude, and is downright gallant. He tries to head off any possible rejection or abuse by disclosing his mutant status right up front.

Example Two. Geralt meets Jaskier/Dandelion. In the books, he meets Dandelion at a “fete in Gulet”. In the show, they meet at a tavern in Posada. The two meetings went very very differently.

TWN!Geralt

When Jaskier wants to come along:

Jaskier: Need a hand? I’ve got two. One for, uh, each of the devil’s horns. (Editors note: !!!???)

Geralt: “Go away.

......

Jaskier: Ooo, I could be your barker! Spreading the tales of Geralt of Rivia, the-the butcher of Blaviken! (Editor's note: The big dummy really shouts this like it's the biggest compliment. Like it's a superhero name.)

Geralt: Come here. (Jaskier wanders forward looking eager. What he thinks is going to happen is anyone’s guess. Geralt sucker punches him.)

Book!Geralt

Dandelion characterizes their first meeting like this:

“And you almost jumped out of your pants with joy to have a companion. Before then, you only had your horse for company...Remember?”

And Geralt answers

“I remember.”

Geralt agrees with it. He doesn’t contest the fact that he was lonely and desperate for companionship

Difference #2. Geralt’s level of verbal affection for his friends. They are so different in this regard, they barely feel like the same person.

Example One. Since Dandelion is Geralt’s best friend, let’s compare how the two Geralt’s refer to him.

TWN!Geralt

It is something of a theme that TWN!Geralt will not use the term ‘friend’ to describe Jaskier. Others point out how odd it is.

Jaskier: It is one night, bodyguarding your very best friend in the whole wide world, how hard could it be?

Geralt: I’m not your friend.

Jaskier: Oh, oh really? Oh, you usually just let strangers rub chamomile onto your lovely bottom? (the line that launched a thousand fics)

In episode 5: Bottle Appetites, the djinn story, this theme comes up a few times.

Jaskier: I fear I shall die a broken hearted man. Or a hungry one, at the very least, unless somebody fancies sharing a fish with an old friend?

Geralt: (Silently keeps working)

Jaskier: “Oh are we not using friend? Yeah, sure, let’s just give it another decade.”

Then, twice Yennefer says the word friend in that same episode, trying to get Geralt to characterize his relationships with Jaskier.

Geralt: We need your help.

Yen: We?

(They look at Jaskier.)

Yen: Just a friend I hope.

She’s implying they could be more than a friend, and Geralt looks at her incredulously, as though she has sprouted horns. It plays a bit like a “no homo” moment on Geralt's part. But the next one is more of the previous theme. Geralt simply being unwilling or unable to say the word friend.

Geralt: I said some things to him. He’s a--

Yen: A friend?

Geralt: I’d like it to not be the last thing he remembers.

In that bit, Geralt pauses and seems to be struggling. Yennefer finishes his sentence, because it seems clear that the appropriate word is friend. He seems unable to say the words to agree with her, but expresses regret for his argument with Jaskier.

Now, to me, the subtext is that he cares about Jaskier. In the banquet episode, lets him bathe him, dress him, and take his drink. He intervenes with the noble for Jaskier. In the djinn episode, he pulls out all the stops to save his life, and by then, his refusal to say the word friend, genuinely seems to be just struggle in expressing himself.

But you can interpret those different ways as well. Did Geralt just feel indebted to Jaskier in the banquet episode? He calls him an idiot to Calanthe. Is he just putting up with him? Jaskier is pretty annoying sometimes. (I love him but I recognize this)

In my incredibly unscientific poll of my irls who watched it, none of them characterized them as best friends. They all thought Jaskier adored him, and he either tolerated or didn't like Jaskier. And I think that is mostly related to this point.

Book!Geralt

Here is how book!Geralt talks about Jaskier. (Dandelion) The first time we meet Dandelion in the books, Geralt is in Nenneke’s library and she comes to tell him Dandelion has arrived. Here is how Geralt reacts.

“...It’s Dandelion this time, your fellow. That idler, parasite, and good for nothing, that priest of art, the bright-shining star of the ballad and love poem. As usual, he’s radiant with fame, puffed up like a pig’s bladder, and stinking of beer. Do you want to see him?

“Of course. He’s my friend after all.”

Nenneke, peeved, shrugged her shoulders. “I can’t understand that friendship. He’s your absolute opposite.

“Opposites attract.”

“Obviously. There, he’s coming.” She indicated with her head. “Your famous poet.”

“He really is a famous poet, Nenneke.”

Then, to parallel the djinn episode I just discussed, here is how Book!Geralt refers to Dandelion in that story in the books. When meets Yennefer to ask for her help, he refers to Dandelion several times as his friend.

“All because my friend needs help, which only you can give him.”

“Yennefer, I don’t want to be persistent but time is pressing. My friend--”

Then in the tent with Chireadan he says,

“...this only concerns Dandelion. He suffered at my side, in my presence. I didn’t manage to save him and I couldn’t help him. I’d sit on a scorpion with my bare backside if I knew it would help him.” (my emphasis)

So, Geralt calls him a friend. Brags about his poetry. Nenneke calls Dandelion "your" famous poet. Declares how much he cares about him to Chireadan.

Example Two. I’ll toss in another example of Geralt being affectionate to someone he considers pretty quickly to be a friend. In both the books and the show, when Geralt wakes up in the cell in the djinn episode, and when Chireadan apologizes for his role in allowing Yennefer to take advantage of him, this is how the two Geralt respond to the same moment.

TWN!Geralt

Chireadan: I admit I could have better prepared you for her.

Geralt: You’re under her spell aren’t you?

Book!Geralt

Chireadan apologizes. He says:

“Forgive me.”

Geralt replies:

“I forgive you...My dear elf...You wouldn’t have managed to break Yennefer’s spell...”

I simply cannot imagine TWN!Geralt calling another man "my dear." And the show quickly moves the focus to the romantic relationship.

Subjective interpretations and character building related to 1) and 2), both variations on Geralt’s willingness or desire to make friends.

So, I'm going to pause and talk about these two personality differences. We don't know why the show made these changes to the characters, though I'll speculate a little at the end of the post.

But for now, this exercise was for me to speculate on a fictional, "in world" reasons for them to be so different, so that I could write them. So, my armchair psychoanalysis for their fictional character dev went like this (you may disagree that's totally fine and good. This bit is all personal.):

Book!Geralt wears his vulnerability on his sleeve. He immediately tells Borch he is a witcher, making sure that Borch is still willing to associate with him. He is heading off the experience of being rejected yet again. (it is actually heartbreaking)

Book!Geralt goes beyond politeness. He is downright gallant in praising Tea and Vea, and in forgiving Chireadan (my dear elf). It reminds us of the little boy that wanted to be a knight.

With Book!Geralt, we see a man constantly trying to connect with a world that rejects him over and over again. He navigates these rejections with a bit of self consciousness and caution. His hurt is evident. But he always jumps at the chance to make a friend.

With TWN!Geralt, we see a man who has shut himself down to protect himself from the world’s cruelties. He rejects people preemptively.

TWN!Geralt may also be afraid of rejection, and that’s why he rejects people up front. He may be just as lonely. (I think he is) But he suppresses and hides his vulnerability.

TWN!Geralt grunts at Tea and Vea and keeps his face expressionless. We see again, the man who shuts people out.

They are both traumatized, there’s no question, given their background and status as witchers. But their defense mechanisms are very different.

Difference #3. How Geralt responds to the prospect of his own death. This may seem like a small thing, but these differences really jumped out at me as interesting and extreme. Here are the two versions of Geralt responding to the same threats to his life.

Example One: When Geralt is about to face the striga (in Betrayer Moon in the show, and in The Voice of Reason in the books) someone asks him what will happen if he fails. Here’s how each version of Geralt responds.

TWN Geralt.

Man: “And if you can’t kill it?”

Geralt: “Then I die,”

Book!Geralt.

“I intend to do whatever is in my power...but if it goes badly, I will defend my life.”

Example Two: In the djinn episode (and in the short story) Geralt wakes up in a jail cell with Chireadan after Yennefer has used his body to punish the men in town. Chireadan tells Geralt he will be executed for his crimes. The two Geralts react totally differently.

TWN!Geralt:

Chireadan: “The sentence will be passed by the very council members you attacked. It is sure to be death.”

Geralt: “I suppose that’s one way of getting some rest.”

Book!Geralt:

“The elf made a brief gesture across his neck. Despite the gesture, the darkness left little doubt as to Chireadan’s meaning....

“Great,” said Geralt finally, and cursed vilely. “Not only will I hang, but I’ll do so with the knowledge that I am the cause of your death, Chireadan. And Dandelion’s too, no doubt. No, don’t interrupt. I know it’s Yennefer’s prank, but I’m the guilty one. It’s my foolishness.”

Subjective interpretations and character building:

Ok, again. Thinking 'in universe' ways to interpret these.

There are several times in the witcher books where book!Geralt is ready, willing, or even wanting to die. However, they all take place in extremely dire emotional situations having to do with people he loves. These moments are not in the course of a regular contract. In normal circumstances, as you see above, book!Geralt really wants to live! He doesn’t want to get killed by a random monster! He curses vilely!

TWN!Geralt seems to not care about his life.

The fact that TWN!Geralt reacts so casually multiple times about the possibility of losing his life for no reason beyond a simple job, is heartbreaking. As someone with depression and PTSD, both the flat affect and the constant, chronic desire to die feels like it could fit. So my headcanon for him in my inter-dimensional fic is that he is severely depressed. But obviously, you could take that as 'that's just his humor.' Or 'he's really badass and risk seeking' or simply 'low self worth'. We'll all interpret that differently depending on our own personal experiences. And honestly, I'll contextualize that differently in different fics, depending on the story I'm telling.

Side Note: Also, in this passage, we see book!Geralt doing what he always does. He blames himself for everything bad that happens to himself and others. It’s a quality of his that is frustrating and also many times heartbreaking as well. He does that more prominently than his TWN!Version. When TWN!Geralt is upset in Rare Species, he blames Jaskier for the direction of his life. (though I don’t think he meant it. I think it was said in a moment of emotion) Book!Geralt just constantly blames himself for literally everything. This isn’t an extreme difference as much as a stronger tendency. So, that goes in the fic too.

Difference #4. How Geralt feels about fertility, both his and Yen’s. This is starkly different in the book vs the show, and I think, given the themes of The Witcher, makes a big difference to the story.

In the books, theme of fertility is a central theme throughout, and Geralt's desire to have a child is central as well. Sapko says this in an interview on Sugarpulp:

Interviewer: Could the witcher’s obsession about the child, the wish to make her like him helping her develop her magic power, be reflecting the witcher’s wish to become a father, (my emphasis) as we know they are sterile due to the poisons and potions they have to drink?

Sapkowski: Of course it was the one and only reason to introduce the character of Ciri into the storyline. ..(again, my emphasis)

So, while I have seen some TWN viewers said that Yennefer and her desire to be a mother came out of nowhere, was gendered in a cliched way, and/or didn't seem to fit with her character, I think part of that is because of the changes the show made to Geralt. it does not come out of nowhere in the books. It is a central theme, and she and Geralt experience it in parallel. She has lost her fertility due to a lifelong proximity to magic (not in a surgery of choice, like in the show) and he lost it through the trials. They are both struggling with it. That also makes the theme less gendered than it comes across in the show

So, with that background in mind, here are the contrasts in the text.

Example One. The different Geralts speaking about their own fertility.

TWN!Geralt

Geralt speaking to Yen during the dragon hunt.

“I didn’t choose to become a witcher. Listen. The people who made us, they made us sterile for a lot of reasons. One of the kinder ones is because this lifestyle isn’t suited to a child.”

He uses the word 'kind' to describe at least one of the reasons they sterilized him.

Book!Geralt

Book!Geralt speaks to Calanthe in Sword of Destiny about his fertility. She suggests he have his own child if he wants to raise a witcher, but then guesses that he cannot. He responds:

“As usual,” he said smiling sadly, “you are correct in your deductions Calanthe. You guessed right. What you are suggesting is impossible for me.”

“Forgive me,” she said, her smile vanishing from her face. “Oh, well, it’s a human thing.”

“It isn’t human.”

“Ah...So, no witcher can--”

“No, none The Trial of the Grasses, Calanthe, is dreadful. And what is done to boys during the time of the Changes is even worse. And irreversible.”

“Don’t start feeling sorry for yourself,” she muttered. “Because it ill behooves you....”

Time and time again in the books, Geralt grows sad or his voice grows soft when expresses regret about his loss of fertility.

Example two. How the two Geralts respond to Yennefer’s desire to become a mom.

TWN!Geralt

This was his response to Yennefer, when she says she wants her choice back, and wants to become a mother.

“And seriously? You? A mother?”

When asks him directly whether she would make a bad one, he says:

“Definitely.”

He calls her wish to be a mother, selfish and ego driven.

Book!Geralt

Book!Geralt gets it, because he feels the same. He wants to help Yen. In fact, he wants so much to help Yennefer conceive, that he tries to give Nenneke jewels to give Yennefer to pay for treatment. (He and Yen are broken up, so he tries to get Nenneke to be the go between)

Nenneke thinks he is just trying to suck up to Yen with gifts, and she refuses. Geralt responds:

“You misunderstand. I’m not thinking of appeasing or bribing her. But I do owe her something, and the treatment she wants to undergo is apparently very costly. I just want to help her, that’s all.”

Nenneke insists that Yennefer cannot be helped. Geralt practically begs. He says that not all sorceresses are infertile, and alludes to his mother. When that doesn’t move Nenneke, he tries another tack.

“Sorcerers...have raised the dead. I know of proven cases. And it seems to me that raising the dead is harder than reversing the atrophy of any organ.”

Ultimately, Nenneke won’t take his gifts, mostly because he’s poor by comparison to Yennefer.

“A costly treatment? Help? Geralt, these jewels of yours are, to her, knicknacks not worth spitting on. Do you know how much Yennefer can earn for getting rid of an unwanted pregnancy for a great lady?"

(Editors note: fuckin ouch)

This is all before the dragon hunt even takes place, so it contrasts directly with TWN!Geralt during the same period of time.

Difference #5. How Geralt feels about his child of surprise.

Example One. Geralt claiming the law of surprise.

TWN!Geralt.

After casually claiming the law of surprise, more to get out of an awkward social interaction than anything else, then realizing he is getting a child of surprise.

“Fuck.”

Book!Geralt

Book!Geralt knows (or hopes) she is pregnant, and purposefully and explicitly invokes the law of surprise because he wants a child. This is key. Here is how he explains it.

“And I,” said Duny, “ask again. What do you ask for?”

“Duny,” said Geralt seriously, “...In order to become a witcher, you have to be born in the shadow of destiny, and very few are born like that. That’s why there are so few of us. We are growing old, dying, without anyone to pass our knowledge, our gifts, on to. We lack successors And this world is fully of evil, which waits for the day none of us are left.”

“Geralt,” whispered Calanthe.

“Yes, you’re not wrong queen. Duny! You will give me that which you already have but do not know. I’ll return to Cintra in six years to see if destiny has been kind to me.”

“Pavetta,” Duny opened his eyes wide. “Surely you’re not--”

“Pavetta!” exclaimed Calanthe. “Are you...are you...”

The princess lowered her eyes and blushed.

Example Two. Both Geralts decide ultimately not to claim Ciri. Here is their reasoning.

TWN!Geralt

Again, speaking to Yennefer during the dragon hunt.

“I’ve thought about this, often. And I’d rather use my child surprise as bruxa bait, than subject it to this life.”

I find this to be a pretty dramatic line. He would rather let a monster tear apart a defenseless, mushy headed, innocent baby (no one made him claim the law of surprise, babes), rather than to raise it.

ADDITIONALLY. TWN!Geralt doesn’t just decline to take Ciri, he actively tries to sever his connection with her. He doesn’t say this but rewatching the djinn episode, it is heavily implied. Come with me on this. In the djinn episode:

When he claims he needs a djinn to cure insomnia, Jaskier says that if he’s sleepless, it’s because he is anxious about the child of surprise issue.

“I don’t mean to play priest’s ear or anything, but has it occurred to you that maybe we’re merely rubbing salve on a tumor? Not exactly addressing the root cause of the problem? Hm? I mean, maybe, just- just maybe, this whole sleeplessness-ness has got something to do with what the druid Mousesack said to you in Cintra? You know the Law of Surprise? Destiny? Being unable to escape the child that belongs to you, et cetera, et cetera?”

So the show brings up Geralt’s fear of claiming his child of surprise in this context.

Then, when he’s in the bathtub with Yen, she points out that looking for a djinn to help with insomnia makes zero sense. And it doesn’t! Djinn are powerful and dangerous and always find ways to twist your wishes! Geralt is a witcher and he knows that. It’s like using a bomb to kill a fly. If he needed a magical cure he would have just hired a mage. (In the books, Geralt and Jaskier were fishing together because they were hungry, and Jaskier pulled it out first)

So then Yen says:

“…And to pretend you’re after a djinn to cure insomnia?”

She’s like, you are full of shit, babe. That’s not why you wanted that djinn. And Geralt doesn’t deny it. He just tells her it’s none of her business.

So I’m thinking he wanted the djinn to undo his claim to the law of surprise. You don’t have to come along with me on that one, but it’s what I’ve inferred and I used that in my fic.

TWN!Geralt DOES go to Cintra in Episode 7 to make sure Ciri is safe when Nilfgaardian troops are gathering (that is when he finds out she’s a girl). So he does believe he has an obligation to her. Between the djinn episode and this, I’m thinking he takes destiny a little more seriously by then than he did before. But when Mousesack asks whether he has come for his child surprise he says.

“The opposite. I want you to tell me he’s safe and healthy so I can keep on riding.”

The implication, though, is that he would stay and defend her if she needed it.

Book!Geralt

Book!Geralt DOES go to claim the child in his sixth year, but he leaves without Ciri. (he still thinks the grandchild is a boy)

When he arrives, Calanthe throws in his face her knowledge of how many children die in the trials. She gets him to reveal that they aren’t even necessary if the child is already gifted. She also gets him to reveal he wasn’t a child of surprise but abandoned by his mother. And then gets him to acknowledge his infertility.

He crumbles, and changes his mind about taking the child.

“The risks are too great,” he said quickly. “As you said, at most, four out of ten survive...I wouldn’t want the child to tell you one day...as I’m telling you...”

He refers to his lack of fertility again. Again, this expresses his sorrow that the trials took his fertility, and he expresses that he would never do this to another person.

Then he says something that makes me think that invoking the law of surprise had little to do with witchers and more to do with him wanting to be a father.

“...I quit. I renounce it. I renounce my right to the boy. I don’t want to look destiny in the eye, because I don’t believe in it. Because I know that in order to unite two people, destiny is insufficient. Something more is necessary than destiny...”

He doesn't just want someone who is forced to be his child because of destiny. Destiny is not the love of a father and child. And he knows it isn't enough to fulfill what he wants. He wants familial love.

Interpretations and character development.

So yeah!! This is so different!

When I first read Geralt purposely claiming the law of surprise in the books, I was horrified. He’s supposed to be a good guy! Don’t the trials harm and kill most of the children? Why would he do that to someone else?

And when he changes his mind in Cintra, for that exact reason, it made me realize, he hadn’t really thought that bit through.

To me, that reflects the fact that we don’t always think critically about our parents and childhood trauma. Especially in a setting without therapists or the internet. You just take it for granted, or suppress it.

My inference is, book!Geralt just wants to be a father.

So, while TWN!Geralt got a child of surprise by accident, and is outwardly hostile to the idea of fatherhood, (and hostile to Yen about her desire for motherhood) book!Geralt is conflicted. He very much wants to be a father, but he thinks he doesn’t not have enough to offer, except perhaps a dangerous life. So he backs out.

WHY are they so different?

SO what does it mean for these characters? I needed an ‘in universe’ reason they are so different for my fic. Here are the reasons I came up with.

TWN!Geralt was abandoned by his mom at a much older age. The scene shows him playing as a young boy. He looks to be 6 or 7 when she flat out abandons him by the side of the road. He runs after her screaming for her! (D: as a mother of a son, that hit me hard) So basically, in my fic, I crank the abandonment related trauma up to a thousand per cent.

I build the character by assuming that TWN!Geralt feels anguish at the prospect that he could turn out like his mother. That he could abandon or disappoint a child.

His insulting comments to Yennefer now feel like a projection of mother issues. She is a sorceress and he thinks she'll just abandon her child the way he was abandoned. In reality, he cannot know what she is prepared to sacrifice to make a life with a child. But he just dismisses the idea entirely, and judges her harshly.

It also would explain why he made the wish and kept it from Yen. In my view, she is completely right to feel violated. Even if the wish wasn't why she loved him, she had the right to know about any magic acting upon her and influencing her. Now it seems like he was, again, avoiding being abandoned. If she is tied to him, she can't really leave him. Until Borch opened his mouth ofc. (In the books, Yen heard the wish and was deeply, deeply touched that Geralt would do that for her. It was a point of bonding for them. So, very different. But. He did still walk out on her without a word. He's a bit of a fuckboi)

(Also, I know Yen has also treated him poorly, but this isn't a post about Yen. It's a post about Geralt, so pls no one feel the need to point out her flaws. I am aware of them.)

Also, perhaps TWN!Geralt is in distress about his child of surprise already, feeling like he has abandoned Ciri every day he doesn’t go to her. After all, he does check on her later on. Maybe he feels guilty the whole time that he wasn't protecting her.

So every day, he could possibly feel like he is doing to her that was done to him. (In his mind. It’s obviously not the same objectively.)

So I just slap on this constant low level of distress and stratospheric level of abandonment complex to his character.

Book!Geralt has a bit of a different situation. He tells Calanthe he doesn’t remember his mother, suggesting she abandoned him much earlier, perhaps as a baby. (he could be suppressing the memory, but I’m going with the baby option for my fic)

AND YET in the books, we get constant reminders about how much it hurts book!Geralt that he was abandoned by his mother. In his first run-in with Renfri’s men, one of them taunts him about witchers not even knowing their mothers. He reacts so obviously in his expression that they laugh, knowing they’ve hit a nerve. (*sobs)

So I just pump that up even more for my TWN!Geralt.

Also, S1 of The Witcher completely cut out Nenneke. She is such a dear and important friend to Geralt, and many characterize her as a mother figure. She says a few times ‘I’m not your mother’, but she heals him, advises him, defends him, and plays a mentor type role to him. She also knew him when he was a child. Not many people knew Geralt as a child.

So, losing that friendship, grounding influence, and female mentor figure would have made TWN!Geralt even more lost and out to sea. It would have exacerbated his mother issues.

Now, they’ve actually worked backwards and cast Nenneke for S2. The absolutely fabulous and talented Adjoa Andoh has been cast, and is in a few images. SO, that sort of wrecks this little theory I’ve worked out. But it’s too late to change it now, as I've already written my next update. Besides, they may not retroactively make them as close as they are. Given what they did to Geralt’s other friendship, it’s likely not. So I’ll just keep writing.

THE SORT OF DIFFERENCES

Lastly, there are a few additional things that are not textually different, but aren’t really demonstrated to the same degree in the show.

Geralt’s vulnerability. There are a few things Geralt does in the books to try to make friends, and you laugh, but it also just breaks your heart. Like in The Last Wish, when Geralt goes to Blaviken, he tries to impress the alderman’s wife by throwing a fork at a rat in the dark. He is showing off his enhanced vision, trying to make his witcher powers seem cool and fun and worthy of showing off. It freaked her out and the alderman begged him never to do it again.

Geralt’s intellectual and philosophical side. I've made a post. And another one.

Geralt’s economic challenges. What it’s like working as a freelancer in dangerous manual labor.

Geralt’s humor. There are a few moments in the show. (You’re a dick, with balls. These views. Old and crusty?) But eeeee I think there could be more.

THESE DIFFERENCES ARE A MOVING TARGET

These differences probably have a time limit on them. Season 2 already looks to be quite different.

Lauren (the showrunner) says that she took people’s critique seriously about erasing so many of Geralt’s relationships and friendships, and only allowing him to show affection in the context of a romance. She says S2 will focus on found family and will let Geralt have human connections. There are images of him with Ciri, and him with Nenneke in the trailer. They show him reuniting with Jaskier.

Henry has said that he wants Geralt to show affection for other men. I saw a few pieces of thoughtful critique post-S1 about how American-ized hyper macho no-homo vibe of the Netflix changes to Geralt. When you take away his stress with fertility (often something considered feminine) and you take away how he shows affection to men, that critique had compelling evidence to support it. But Henry said that he wants to show that men can care about each other in S2. There are images of him hugging the other wolf witchers in the trailer for S2.

Henry also says he is working hard to make sure Geralt’s vocabulary reflects a well traveled, cultured, 70 year old man. (he said all of this in the Witcher con interview. He said too many hmms and fucks become tropey, comedic, or sells short Sapko’s writing)

So, a lot of this analysis I did regarding their differences may not be so relevant after December 17. BUT, it is what it is. That’s the way the ball bounces sometimes. It’s the nature of fic for a current show. And, they can't change him that much, or he wouldn't seem like the same character at all.

Having watch a lot of my favorite novels be adapted for movie or tv (LOTR, The Expanse) I have lots of ideas or opinions on why these kinds of changes happen, but that would be a whole different post.

Ok, this is over 5k words. So, I’ll stop.

But these are some of the similarities, the differences, and the ‘not textually different but not emphasized’ bits of TWN!Geralt vs Book!Geralt.

I love them both, or I wouldn't obsess to this degree.

If you’ve made it this far WOW YOU’RE AS MUCH OF A NERD AS I AM. YOU GET A GIANT NERD PRIZE. MY NERDY ADMIRATION. XD Feel free to comment or send an ask about your thoughts. As you can see, I am always up for talking about Geralt of Rivia. Or really, any aspect of the characters or relationships in The Witcher universe.

And if you read Posada Remix, I’ll update in the next day or so, then I’ll see you in the comments. (I swear I will catch up on them. I feel so guilty when I don’t update for awhile that I hide)

xo

A few tags of people who said they wanted to read it. @panur @lottelorelei @lovelysailboat @littleyumeshiro

[imatechbummerliketomholland]

"ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇɴ'ᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ, ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ?" - ʜ.ᴏ

Hello to you! There it is! My first Harrison request. I'm working for a one shot with him, but it takes me so long because it's a little angst. But don't worry, this one is just fluff! I hope you'll all like it! I did not have time to be reread and corrected. So be indulgent once again, English is not my native language.

Summary: harrison met you in this coffe/bookstore where you friend worked. Since that day, he tried to ask you out but nothing really worked he would like. Until that day. Word count: 2690 Warning: some of swear, spoilers of "one day" by David Nicholls" Pairing : harrison osterfield Request: yes!

You walked happily into the store, heading towards the counter where your best friend was. “The cup and feather” was a second home to you. The warm atmosphere that reigned in the bookstore/cafe has always seduced you. There was a peace of mind that relaxed your muscles: the woody decor, the warm and captivating light, the mixed smell of old/new books and coffee. You were leaning on the counter where Maya was completing an order for a regular.

“Good morning Luke! Enjoy your drink!” you said with a large smile.

“Hello dear y/n! Thanks sweetie! Let me know if you want to drink something. It’s on me”

“It won’t be necessary but thank you. I appreciate!”

The customer adds a generous 10-pound bill to the tip pot with a wink at you. Maya thanked Luke and then gave you a broken look. You gave her an amused smile, shaking your head, already anticipating her next line. But nothing could dissipate your good mood, your day was good.

"It's unbelievable how my tips increase when you're here. What's your secret?"

“Hello to you too, dear best friend. I don't have a secret...but maybe, try to be...nicer to customers? Give them a smile while you're taking their order! ”

“Hello honey. I’m so thankful you’re here. It’s a boring day”

It was a pretty quiet day, there weren't a lot of customers. The rather gloomy London weather seemed to have put them off. A huge thunderous sound echoed outside and Maya jumped. You had a sympathetic and somewhat amused smile. You liked the storm. To be honest, you liked the storm when you weren't alone: feel the heavy, electric atmosphere before the refreshing rain falls. She looked out the window with annoyance.

"Jesus. It looks like it's gonna be a long day" she complained

“Don’t be so dramatic! Let me help. How can I help you?”

“There is this book cart that I have to put away and that has been lying around for an hour. But my boss would kill me if he found out that someone who actually doesn’t work here, did it for me”

Maya gave you a knowing look. It wasn't that she hated you helping her with her work, on the contrary, you were quite useful to her. But she would have preferred that you spend your free time other than helping her. You took a few books from the cart, sticking your tongue out at your best friend and rushing down the aisles of the library section. The distinct sound of a heavy downpour was heard outside and a few seconds later, the store door opened to let in two young, but also handsome, men. Maya bit her lip as one of the individuals approached the counter with a polite but warm smile. He seemed tall, with a thin but toned build, thin lips, his blue eyes pierced her from the moment his eyes met hers; a fucking model.

"Hello. Do you mind if we stay a little while the downpour subsides?" he asked.

" Hell no, of course! You can stay as long as you want as long as I can admire you… uh, shit, no, as long as you order something… did I say the other part out loud?

The second boy laughed, but nothing mocking. He was shorter than the guy across from Maya, brown hair and chocolate eyes, muscular arms but not sculpted like a bodybuilder. He seemed in good shape.

The blonde raised his eyebrows, an amused smile on his lips.

"I'm afraid so. Um ... okay. Tom?" he turned to his friend "Do you want to drink something?"

"Black tea. A single sugar and a drop of milk."

Your friend nodded meaning she heard it and then she patiently waited for the blonde to place his order.

"I'll have mint tea. Just one sugar too."

"Noted! Feel free to go grab a book once you've settled in."

The blonde smiled at Maya as he turned slightly to the tables to settle in with his friend. You were immersed in reading a synopsis when you finally returned to the counter. You looked up too late while talking to your best friend.

"Hey, Maya can I keep - ouch"

You had just hit a rather solid chest and your eyes widened in surprise. Two hands grabbed your shoulders before the fall, stabilizing you on your two good. And thank you, handsome stranger because you would have been able to let yourself fall so as not to drop the book you were holding in your hands.

"Everything's alright, love?"

"Huh Huh" You barely said, still a little surprised by the impact.

He smiled at you and finally joined Tom at a table without giving you a chance to thank him. You leaned against the counter giving your best friend an indecipherable expression.

"Who are these guys?"

"I know, right?" Maya whispered, biting her lips again.

You smiled to her. You and your best friend had the same tastes when it came to boys. So it was no wonder that they found them attractive.You quickly gave a last look on the mysterious guy before focusing on the cart again. Your logic wanted you to go back and forth rather than pushing this wheeled machine. And deep down, it was also an excuse to admire the blond boy at the table 7. When you came back from your last trip down the aisles and there were no books left on the cart. You noticed with a sad expression on your face that both boys were gone. What did you expect? A romantic scene where love story is born in the aisles of a bookstore cafe. What's the point? You might not even have been his type. Correction: You were certainly not his type. Maya came over to you, a mischievous half-smile on her face.

"If you're wondering. His name is Harrison. I heard his friend call him. And he kindly tipped you 25 pounds."

"I don't work here."

"It's just like"

"I would probably never see him again, Maya"

"Believe me, I have a feeling that you will."

☙♡❧

And she was right. The following week did not bring the handsome stranger, the following week either. You had totally, or almost, forgotten this delicious abrupt encounter. You were in the aisles of the cafe, looking for the next book you were going to devour when you were politely tapped on the shoulder, a throat clearing accompanying the gesture.

"Hm, excuse me?"

You turned around and your eyes widened a little in surprise. You did not expect, or more, to see this beautiful stranger again. He was holding a book in his hands and looked nervous. His demeanor was endearing and you couldn't help but suppress a shy smile.

"Yes?"

"I'm looking to get my mom a book. I've heard of this one but ... I wanted your advice."

You raised an amused eyebrow. He wanted to buy a book from his mom and he went to a coffee shop to ask you for advice on a book he obviously couldn't buy here. You found this sweet and awkward. You gave him a shy and mischievous smile.

“You know you're not supposed to buy the books here… just read them. »You joked

"Hmm, yeah ... but ... I wanted your opinion since ..."

"I don't work here ..."

The surprise was read in his eyes as in yours but for different reasons. Harrison felt silly for asking you when you weren't an employee. You, you were surprised by your tone, which seemed so cold when it was not your intention. You didn’t want to be rude to him. In fact, he makes you a little bit uncomfortable. You had never been so awkward with a boy but, for some reason you didn't know, his piercing blue eyes bowled you over. You couldn't deny that you were drawn to him and there was something really spellbinding about Harrison. To catch up you glanced at the book, you wrinkled his nose and you scratched your head

“I'm sorry, this is not the kind of novel I read ... But if she read Fifty-shade of Grey ... this book might please her” you told him, somewhat embarrassed.

Harrison gave you a confused look and you pointed to the cover of the book. To be fair, although he won't admit it, Harrison had grabbed the first book he saw off the storage cart and it actually turned out that it was an erotic fiction rather categorized in the young adult, a bestseller. Honestly, you didn't know where to put yourself. You watched the cheeks of the boy in front of you turn deep red.

"Okay ... Okay. I wasn't there for my mom."

"No shame ..." you tried to comfort him

"No..no i swear. It..i'm … okay ...

A boy with curly hair appeared in the aisle, calling out to the young man, breaking that awkward moment between you at the same time. Harrison's friend seemed vaguely familiar to you, as if you knew him or seemed to know him.

"Harrison, we're late. Tom's gonna kill me, mate!"

Harrison gave a sigh of relief that he seemed to have held back. He gave you a sorry smile and apologized before leaving you, putting the book down on a shelf. They headed for the exit and you stayed there, without moving, still challenged by this moment. You heard a laugh that came from the curl without actually hearing the reason.

"Did you ask her advice about 365 DNI? What kind of div are you?"

"Shut up Harry."

And Harry's laugh echoed one more time before the door closed on them. After a few seconds, you returned to the counter where your best friend was. She nodded at you, as if asking like it had happened. You have to shake your head negatively while shrugging your shoulders. It was the most bizarre interaction you have had in your life. A total failure. With that, he was sure you would never see him again.

☙♡❧

But you were wrong again. You were, again and again, at the cafe. Maya was finishing her shift and you were sitting at a table with a book in your hand. You were in your own little world when your gaze was drawn to a male hand, wearing rings highlighting the veins of that said hand, placing a cup of latte on your table.

"I didn't order any-" you said before interrupting you.

Harrison was in front of you, a shy little smile drawn across his face. You frowned, intrigued. How had he guessed your favorite drink? A simple glance over the blond's shoulder told you your answer: Maya was smiling at you, thumbs up, as a token of encouragement. You looked Harrison, pursed your lips, flattered by the gesture.

“I wanted to apologize for the other time.” Harrison finally spoke.

“It's nothing ... I..I hope your mom liked the book.” you just told him with a little smile

"I… It wasn't for her."

"Oh..for whom?" you asked intrigued.

He smirked, amused by your carelessness. Was he not obvious, however? Since the day he met you, the actor hadn't stopped thinking about you. Tom and Harry kept telling him that he was completely whipped and looked like a fool.

"For no one actually. I grabbed the first book I found."

"But why?" you seemed more confused.

"I wanted to see you. It was a pretext… I didn't know how to approach you."

Your cheeks turned as red as Harrison's the last you met him. You were flattered but at the same time surprised to know that he was interested in you. You've replaced a strand of hair behind your ear, blushing. An awkward silence has settled between you two. Neither of them really knew how to break the ice. Harrison looked up at the book you had put on the table when he arrived.

"What do you read?" he asked interested

“One day by David Nicholls. It’s the one of the most moving books I have ever read.”

And you started talking for hours about how this book moved you and how Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess' portrayal in the film adaptation blew your mind. How you went from laughter to tears to anger. How you got attached to the characters in both the book and the movie. Harrison couldn't stop you. He admired you talking with passion and found you endearing. The way you spoke with your hands or the way you frowned when some character action disturbed you. You were in your world and he wanted to enter it.

"I hope we end up like them." He said, interrupting you.

You suddenly stopped in your monologue looking at Harrison puzzled. You didn't expect this. First, because by knowing the story of this novel. You didn't want anyone to experience people's stories, no matter how beautiful it was. Second, did Harrison just say he was considering something with you?

"Like who?" you asked

"Emma and Dexter ... I hope we have such a great story."

You pursed your lips, amused. You swallowed to keep from laughing and you shook your head. You were sure he didn't read the book but you wanted to play with him a little.

"I don't hope so."

"Why? Their love story is beautiful!"

"You haven't read this book have you?"

"Of course yes!" he defended himself, uncomfortable.

In truth, he was lying. He was trying to impress you. He had simply said he wanted to live this love affair to soften you and try to approach you to ask for a date. Once again, you smiled, genuinely amused by the boy in front of you. He looked so innocent and so confident in her walk. But you knew ... You knew he hadn't read the book.

"Harrison, she dies at the end"

Harrison's cheeks have once again turn red. He played with his hands nervously, embarrassed. He was an idiot, a complete fucking div. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to let go of all the stress he had accumulated but also to find a way to make up for it. You were blowing him outright. He thought you were so beautiful and had never been so awkward about approaching a girl. Of course, Harry had introduced him to his ex-girlfriend. But, the actor had never had a hard time flirting. He knew his strengths, he was kinda funny, can't deny he was pretty handsome, after all he was a model. He was also an actor, he could play all emotions, recite hundreds of lines of dialogue. But you looked different and he was unable to have a conversation with you without being ridiculous. You found that rather adorable.

"Okay, okay. I don't hope we end up like them."

“I hope you don't wait 20 years before asking me out?”

Harrison looked at you surprised. Did you really just reach out to her? Did he hear what you just said or did his imagination play a dirty trick on him? Her heart skipped a beat. You pursed your lips before putting on a warm but shy smile. You weren't that confident in normal times but ... but it was pushing you out of your comfort zone. You liked him, his clumsiness made you laugh and moved you a lot. You wanted to know him better. And with a simple smile, Harrison knew he had the green light.

"Would you ... have coffee with me?"

"I'm already taking one with you, idiot" you joked ...

"Yeah..hmm, okay ... um. Would you like to go on a date ... one day?"

Your smile widened. You didn't know if he had chosen his last words intentionally but you liked to think he had. And if it wasn't, that awkwardness had melted your heart. You bit your lip, a smile still on your face. Your cheeks were rosy with emotion. Eventually, you might have had your romantic story at a coffee shop / bookstore.

“Yes, Harrison. I would like to go out with you.