#ja’s face card is lethal

[hannasinterlude]

Ja Morant after the win with Anthony Edwards, Naz Reid, & Mike Conley 🐺🐻.

01/20/2025 — Timberwolves at Grizzlies.

[heartsoulrocknroll]

AEW Dynamite 1/4/23 

Chris Jericho vs. Ricky Starks -- Starks comes in hot out of the gate. Starks is on the apron, and Jericho springboards off the ropes, but Starks halts him with a big forearm! Jericho lands a suplex on Starks off the apron to the floor! Back in the ring, Jericho bounces Starks' head repeatedly off the turnbuckle! They trade chops and elbows in the middle of the ring!!! Sit-out powerbomb by Starks! Lionsault by Jericho, but Starks gets the knees up! Superkick from Starks! Cover, but Jericho kicks out! Codebreaker by Jericho lands!!! Jericho attempts a Judas Effect, Starks tries to counter into Roshambo, but Jericho turns the tables again and locks in the Walls! Starks crawls toward the ropes, but Parker stops him with a bat to the face!! Starks looks like he is out!! Ref lifts his arm. The arm drops to the mat twice, but he keeps it up the third time!! Roll up by Starks, and Jericho barley lifts his shoulder up! Starks lands a tornado DDT, takes out Mernard and Parker on the apron, and then lands a huge spear on Jericho!! Cover!!! 1, 2, 3!!! Wow!!!!!! Jericho loses again!!!!! Good match here and nice finish. Rating: 3.5

JAS comes out to attack Starks after the match! Action Andretti comes out to save Starks and avenge himself, with a burn still on his eye from the fireball. He gets a low blow from Tay Melo, and Starks gets powerbombed through a table. 

Hangman Page tells Schiavone that he is not yet cleared to compete, but he will be by next week if he doesn't get into a brawl with Moxley beforehand. Out comes Moxley! Moxley cannot get a functional mic. Lmaaoooo. Moxley says he is sick of the flowers and the sympathy cards and the candlelight vigil for Page just because he got knocked out. Page says he isn't mad at Moxley for knocking him out. That's part of what they do. Hangman says he is angry, because, when he came face to face with Moxley after the knock out, Moxley didn't let him get a word in before making a joke. Page wasn't there for revenge then, but he is now. Moxley says the only joke is that Hangman thinks next time is going to be any different. Next time, he is going to make sure Hangman doesn't get back up.

The Acclaimed (c) vs. Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett for the AEW World Tag Team Championship -- This is a fine match. Good action from The Acclaimed and Lethal, but the mere presence of Jeff Jarrett, who is too senile to know which corner to stand in, takes it down many notches. Bowens with a nasty rolling elbow to the back of Lethal's head to counter Lethal Injection. Jarrett lands the Stroke on Bowens and covers. Bowens gets his foot on the rope, but Dutt knocks it off. The ref doesn't see this and calls for the bell. Wtffffff. Aubrey comes in to tell the other ref what happened and they restart the match. Bowens lands a superkick, but Lethal with a roll up! Bowens kicks out and rolls Lethal up for the three count!!!! Acclaimed retain! Thank god. Rating: 2.75

Hayter and Baker sit down with Renee. Baker asks how Saraya has not decided who her partner will be in their tag match when she has had two of the best wrestlers in the world, Storm and Shida, next to her. 

Bryan Danielson vs. Tony Nese -- Massive ovation for Danielson in his home state!!!! Danielson's elated smile at the crowd reaction has my heart overflowing!! Danielson puts on a clinic of hard chops and kicks. He lands the psycho knee, kicks Nese's head in, and then locks in an STF-esque choke to put Nese out for the win in a three and half minute squash. BEAUTIFUL!!! Rating: AWESOME SQUASH 

After the match, Danielson grabs the mic. He says he is feeling a little froggy and is ready for another fight!!!!! He tells MJF to get his ass out there!!!!! AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!

MJF's music hits! Max comes out, takes his gum out of his mouth and slings it, and greets Danielson, calling him "Brain Damage Bryan." Lmao. MJF says he is not going to wrestle Bryan tonight. "Unlike you Bryan, I don't get my rocks off by putting my body on the line to entertain these schmucks. I don't care about them at all. Cause you're a mark, bud. I'm fully aware I've got a big fat check in the mail whether I wrestle or I don't. That's what makes me a special attraction. These people clearly love you. They chant your name every single week. I'll give you credit. You're pretty solid. But I was just standing in the back while you were talking. With all due respect, Bryan, if Lance Storm and Dean Malenko were somehow able to procreate and have a child, it would still be more charismatic than you. Just cause you look like a goat, it don't make you the greatest of all time. I mean, you really look like a goat. Matter of fact, I wouldn't be shocked if back in 1981 in rural Aberdeen, Washington, mama Danielson, much like all the mothers here in Washington, couldn't find a human suitor." 

Bryan responds, "I'm glad we're making jokes, because in the back, all the boys talk about your mother and how many human suitors that she's had. In fact, probably enough human suitors to fill this whole arena. Hell, she might have had some human suitors who are in this arena right now. Who here has been Max's mother's human suitor?" Lmaoooo, go off, Bryan. MJF says Bryan is delusional. MJF says Bryan really buys the hype and thinks he's the best wrestler in the world, but that can't be true, because MJF is, and the Triple B around his waist proves it.  "I'm just curious, Bryan. Who died and made you the king of wrestling? Journalists who have never stepped foot in the ring, let alone stepped out of their mother's basement? Or even worse, these MARKS, who don't have one athletic bone in their parasitic bodies. See unlike you, Bryan, I am touted as being the best in the world by some people who have actually been in this business. (Asshole chant!!) Top names, guys that are putting me over, like Disco Inferno, Eric Bischoff, and the smartest man of them all and my number one fan Jim Cornette." Looololol. 

Bryan cuts MJF off and tells him to just shut up. "We've heard the spiel, we've heard it a million times. I hate you, and I think it's time for us to fight." MJF freaks out and quickly runs farther back up the stage toward the commentary table, yelling, "Wait, hold on, hold on one second, slow your roll. Jesus, Taz, the anger issues on this guy, can you believe this?"

MJF says, "You might not realize this, Bryan, but I actually came here as a favor for you. This ain't play wrestling, this is pro wrestling. In this company, wins and losses matter. If you want a shot at the grandest prize of them all, you have to become number one contender. I talked to that nerd Tony Khan in the back. He said if you were to wrestle every week on Dynamite and win from now until February 8th, you would be number one contender. I usually make my opponents jump through hoop after hoop to get a match with me, but I'll make an exception for you. If you can do that, I'll give you a match for the title at Revolution, no questions asked." Bryan says no, he will wrestle whenever he wants, beat his opponents, and then beat MJF for the title at revolution. MJF says, "That's not how this works. Tony Khan doesn't run this company, the EVPs don't run this company, I do, me. If you don't become number one contender the way I am telling you to, you will never wrestle me for this belt. It's my way, or it's no way, got it?"

Bryan: "I'll agree to your cute little stipulation if you agree to let me make the stipulation for our match at Revolution." MJF: "You wanna make a stipulation, so I can cheat in front of the ref? Go ahead, please, pick any stipulation you like." Bryan: "I don't think you understand. In this stipulation, you won't be able to do anything that gets you DQ'd. This is the true test of whether you're a great pro wrestler. My challenge is for a 60-minute iron-man match." After taunting from the crowd, MJF finally accepts. 

AWESOME SEGMENT HERE!!!! I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS MATCH!!!! THIS RULES!!!!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!!!! 

Swerve Strickland vs. AR Fox – Swerve lands a DEATH VALLEY DRIVER OFF THE TOP ROPE ONTO THE APRON! OH MY GOD!!!!!! Swerve rolls Fox back in the ring and lands his stomp from the top for the pinfall. Great match here. Rating: 3.5

Saraya, Storm, and Shida sit down with Renee. Saraya very rudely announces that she has chosen Storm as her partner, turning her back to Shida to say this to Storm. Shida looks offended. Hope Shida kicks her ass! 

The Gunns have a funeral for FTR's career, with a large graphic reading "FTRIP May 2020 - December 2022" on the big screen. They talk about how FTR lost to them and lost all their titles. They bow their heads for a moment of silence. Lol, ridiculous. 

Samoa Joe (c) vs. Darby Allin for the TNT Championship -- Darby with a suicide dive out of the ring to Joe on the outside before the bell!!! Darby smacks Joe's back with his skateboard! Darby lands a huge diving stomp off the stage with the skateboard under his feet, driving the board into Joe's back!!! Holy shit!!!! Darby lands a senton off a huge ladder onto Joe on the ramp! Darby tweaks his knee on the way down. Back toward the ring now. Joe slams Darby down back-first, uranage-style into the edge of the ring steps! Joe bounces Darby hard off the ring post, and Darby sells that shit like a pro, flying off the apron onto the floor and lying there lifeless!! Darby finally makes it back in the ring. Headbutt and kicks from Joe! Joe misses with an elbow, and Darby jumps onto his back, locking in a sleeper! But Joe reverses, jumping down onto his back and nailing Darby with a senton in the process! Chopblock and big double knee breaker drop by Joe! Joe with a vicious kick to Darby's chest and a senton onto Darby's knees, but Darby kicks out!! Single-leg crab by Joe, but Darby gets to the ropes! Darby escapes a Muscle Buster attempt and goes for a roll up, but Joe stops it, deadlifting Darby up to his feet! Standing switch and waist lock by Darby. Into the corner, and Darby keeps the waist lock on. Joe holds onto the ropes to resist, but Darby finally lands a German suplex!!!!! Wow!!!! Joe pulls the top turnbuckle pad off in the process. Darby with a pin attempt, but Joe kicks out and immediately transitions into a sleeper!! Darby with a slick reversal, rolling back into a pinning combination! Joe slips out at two! Darby lands an elbow and attempts a stunner, but Joe reverses into a sleeper! Darby does the Sting chest pound and escapes by driving Joe into the exposed turnbuckle!!! CODE RED BY DARBY!!!! COFFIN DROP OFF THE TOP FROM ONE CORNER, BUT DARBY ISN'T FINISHED!! COFFIN DROP OFF THE TOP FROM THE OTHER CORNER! Darby covers!!!! 1, 2, 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhh heck yeah!! 

Really great match here. Both guys were awesome. Love seeing them wrestle each other. Darby's selling was fantastic here, but that is nothing new. Rating: 3.75 

Sting comes out after the match and picks Darby up in a hug. My heart. What a nice moment for Darby here, winning the title back in his hometown. Two-time TNT Champion!!!!!

[wrestlezon]

liveblog containment zone for aew dynamite 5/11/22

started like 40 mins late and i didnt even have time to eat my dang burger

me at the beginning of the adam cole vs dax harwood match: if adam wins im gonna be really mad me at the end of the adam cole vs dax harwood match: >:( AND to the sharpshooter??? AUGH my burger will console me

dude i hate impractical jokers so bad its like a lethal amount of secondhand embarrassment oh boy its the cm punk vs silver match!! im exci-- hes. his jersery is so big. boyfriend's jersey. what on this earth wow johnny hungee / cm punk chant hangman just say youre here to support your friend. do it LMAO THE "FUCK YOUR PIZZA" CHANT cm punk and hangman exchanging looks from 500 feet away :)c long island crowd got the chants yeah!!! silver with the kicks!!! brainbuster!! whoa the AUDACITY MY FAVORITE THING IS WRESTLERS USING OTHER WRESTLERS' SPECIAL MOVES OOOOOO CM PUNK... WOOO he loves it when people get mad at him. hes got troublemaker's disease. how can this man continue to be a face

what is this sweetheart filter on this britt baker segment

DANHAUSEN TIME!!!!! WHAT IS THIS THEME DID THEY MAKE A DIFFERENT THEME??? HIS LEGALLY DISTINCT TEQUILA ONE IS SO GOOD THO TONY DIDNT EVEN GET AN ENTRANCE?? LOL i guess they gotta cut for time with all these matches on the card OH MY GOD THEY SQUASHMATCHED HIM ULTRA HEEL HEAT "we're gonna beat up all your internet meme wrestlers" please no leave my favorites alone but also i think orange would kill him so maybe are they going to make hook save him??? LMAO YES HOOK DANHAUSEN ENEMIES TO FRIENDS ARC COMPLETE wish it was a real-er match but whaddya gonna do. someday, maybe...

wardlow time!!! LMFAO A DARK SIDE OF THE RING SEGMENT???? I SAW MJF IN THE BG I KNOW THIS IS FOR JOKES OMG YES this is so good. LOL HES ALSO WEARING A JERSEY staring at this table in the middle of the ring. chekov's table dont tell my friends im only half listening to mjf's speech. he is not my guy ok the winking is almost getting to me though lol mjf loooooves whippin people with his belt oh shawn spears did his 10 bit! did he only did that in the indies cage match? LOL mjf reffing for the cage match? OMG YESSSS TAKE THE CUFFS OFF :) >:)!!!!! YESSS GOT EM NOOOOOOOO oh lmfao the buttons just scattering everywhere CHEKOV'S TABLE!!!!!!!! ok but for reals we know wardlows gonna win at double or nothin now cuz the stakes are too high

ricky starks vs jungle boy! these two guys are just alright. i do not hate them, or even mildly dislike them, but i also do not go nuts for them. pure neutral here im apparently missing out on some insane commentary work swerve why are you h-- oh no jungle boy... OH! its christian cage! is he going to be evil now. i keep hearing people wanting him to be evil more interpersonal conflict is developing... cage.......... HUG ok hes a good guy. thats cool im all for it

jas time! is eddie going to show up with a bandaged face. like a mummy. i want this "you wanna know what turns me on?" lmao "YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT GETS MY NIPPLES HARD" i continue to love and appreciate 2.0 jericho: look in your heart. you know it to be true. long island sucks oh dont adultery eddie's made-up wife jericho. thats no good OH!!!!!!!! ITS EDDIE'S WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES BCC ASSEMBLING LMFAO AOHFAOUHGH EDDIE'S HALLOWEEN FACEPAINT KILL!!! MURDER!!!!!!!!!! REGAL ATTACK!!! YAY!!!! BCC EDDIE SANTANA ORTIZ TEAM lmao @ eddie tearing up the podium in the background like an angry dog dude jericho's team is gonna get wrecked. unless jericho starts casting blizzaga theyre done for

toni storm vs hayter... :)c toni's outfit. very red exchanging punches... i actually dont know who to root for here! baker vs hayter is like, well, i hope this tears their group apart. but toni storm is cool and i think itd be neat to see her fight baker too. or whoever the jonker is. i think hayter is cool and i want to see her wrestle more tho. im invested :o well that answers that

omg sammy telling kazarian that scorpio is a bad guy and kazarian rejecting this advice...

LOSING MY MIND AT THESE PPV MATCH ANNOUNCEMENTS OHHHHH HOOKHAUSEN BUY-IN MATCH REAL ?? wow i got my real match faster than i thought id get it. then again nese is tagging with sterling so... hmmm i guess i better figure out how im going to buy the ppv sooner rather than later, esp if fite is crackin down on vpn stuff... i dont update my phone apps for storage reasons so i think im good on that front but i already had a little bit of a struggle buying revolution 2022 as is (had to do a roundabout thing of getting google play credit and using that)

what the why are you looking at my liveblog when youre in voice chat with me dont yell at me for being blazé about your mjf man. and i WAS paying attention despite it all!!! he is just too funny to ignore unfortunately

darby vs jeff hardy. theyre going to kill each other love jeff hardy's outfit here he looks like a piece of candy as much as i love shirtless men i feel like you really miss out on the accessorization opportunities. leaving that torso slot unequipped, man. i joked earlier about this match just being darby and jeff hardy pulling out taller and taller ladders to jump off of and here they just pull out the 100 ft ladder at the start staring at the chekov's chair setup just sitting over there. unharmed. not a wrestler on it oh no what the NO THAT LADDER IS TOO HIGH AND THAT IS NOT THE-- THATS THE GROUND ITS NOT EVEN PADDED. THOSE CHAIRS ARENT GONNA BREAK YOUR FALL ok yea just come down the other side thats fine OH NO DARBY NOT YOU TOO AGHGUGHGHGHHGHH insane. ough the ring apron is hard. not as hard as that ladder and chairs but oof SWANTON ON THE STEPS bruhh ;o; (crying emojis) OHHHHH JEFF HARDY WITH THE PIN!!! lmfao "you know how he [won?] in a no rules match, he did a wrestling move!"

very exciting matches for us on friday and also wednesday. didnt realize that double or nothing is so soon theyre gonna have to speedrun these trials for wardlow huh. gonna be good

[collapse-and-comfort]

Prompts you say? If you want to/it intrigues you - any (and all) Geralt whump would be amazing! As far as a specific prompt - maybe something involving poisoning? Something lethal to humans and not-so-fun for Witchers? But only if you want to! -@sick-bae

Oh, my goodness!!! Thank you, @sick-bae for the amazing prompt! Sorry it took me so long (roughly forever) to write it! I meant to make it a drabble. (Oops!) Here is a bunch of Geralt whump for the sake of Geralt whump! I hope you enjoy!

It also helped me fill another @badthingshappenbingo square! (View my BTHB Card.)

Fandom: The Witcher (Netflix)

Whumpee: Geralt of Rivia

Caretaker: Jaskier

Pairing: None

Squire Filled: Delirium 

Word Count: 3,303

Jaskier sat in their little camp and plucked at his lute’s strings. The tune was flippant, atonal nonsense but Jaskier stopped and started again as though he’d made a mistake.

This is taking too long, he thought as the sun slipped below the horizon.

He nudged away the familiar pang that came with being unable to do anything in these situations. He continued to strum, and imagined the thing Geralt was hunting -a creature that was feline and reptilian in grace and appearance. It was difficult not to find inspiration in that horror, though. His fingers sussed out a new rhythm. He looked into the fire and wondered if the creature's eyes were similar in color, how Similar to Geralt’s.

Jaskier stopped abruptly when the brush to his left rustled. He gripped the neck of the lute tightly and jumped.

“You’re back,” Jaskier said as he huffed out self-deprecating laughter, but gave a smile that insisted he knew it was Geralt all along. “You really-”

Something was wrong. 

The fact Jaskier had heard Geralt approach was testament to that fact. Geralt’s steps were slow. His right hand held his ichor-slicked silver sword, and he kept his left arm across his abdomen. Jaskier couldn’t see the blood very well against the dark fabric of Geralt’s tunic, but he could see that the hand covering the wound was stained crimson.

Jaskier set his lute down, stood and walked closer without bothering to brush the dirt from his clothes. In the pale evening light, Jaskier could see the sheen of sweat covering Geralt’s face. In the back of his mind, Jaskier wondered where Geralt’s armor was.

“Hey,” he said as he reached out to take the sword, or help in some way. He wasn’t really sure.

“Leave it,” Geralt growled as he slumped against a tree. He winced and swallowed hard.

Jaskier would not be so easily rebuffed. He let Geralt take a couple of breaths before walking over and taking a soft hold of Geralt’s forearm with one hand, and the sword’s pommel with the other.

“Is it dead?”

“Hmm,” Geralt said by way of confirmation.

“Then let go,” Jaskier said.

It was not a request. He supposed it might have been an imitation of Geralt. Jaskier squeezed his forearm lightly. Geralt, for his part, looked at Jaskier with annoyed resignation as he uncurled his fingers and let Jaskier relieve him of his weapon.

Without taking his eyes off of Geralt, Jaskier carried the sword and placed it by Geralt’s things. He opened his mouth to lament Roach’s absence when Geralt heaved himself away from the tree trunk and tried to walk. One step, then another that faltered. Jaskier closed the distance between them and caught Geralt under the arms before gravity could claim him. It must have pulled the wound; Geralt gave an abrupt, pained grunt.

“Sorry,” Jaskier said as he helped Geralt right himself.

He nudged his way under Geralt’s left arm and was surprised by the heat Geralt’s body was putting off.

“You’re so warm.”

Geralt leaned more heavily on Jaskier, but said nothing.

“Come on,” Jaskier said as he took as he took a step.

Geralt’s movements shadowed Jaskier’s as they made their way to Geralt’s bedroll. The going was slow and with each step, Geralt leaned more heavily on Jaskier. They paused when they reached the bedroll. Jaskier struggled for something to say. Expressions of concern were jumbled with glib proclamations about how heavy Geralt was. He settled on silence and focused on settling Geralt. Jaskier’s knees threatened to buckle, and he felt the strain in his back, but he didn’t let go until Geralt was on the ground.

Jaskier huffed out a breath and smiled at how close he’d come to toppling. His smile was short lived, though. Jaskier had expected Geralt to begin rumaging through his pack and begin the process of making himself well. But Geralt sat there, jaw clenched, with his hand still holding his side.

“You’re hurt,” Jaskier said.

His words didn’t spur Geralt into action, but it did earn him a half hearted scowl.

“I'm allowed to indulge in stating the obvious every once in a while,” he said. “What do you need?”

“Thirsty,” Geralt said.

Jaskier was used to Geralt answering with sounds, gestures, or monosyllabic words, but his voice was quieter than it should have been; he sounded so worn. Jaskier located Geralt’s water and handed it to him. Geralt drank from the skin with the urgency of someone who had been stranded in a desert. Geralt’s breathing escalated with the effort, and Jaskier watched with both worry and morbid fascination as some of the water ran down Geralt’s chin and onto his chest. Geralt exhaled harshly when he was done. He let the water skin fall from his hand, then scrubbed a broad palm over his face and winced.

The longer Geralt took to make a move for his pack, the more nervous Jaskier became. He couldn’t see the extent of the wound on Geralt’s side, but that seemed like as good a time as any to mention it.

“We should get that cleaned,” Jaskier said.

Geralt made no move for his things. He just sat there, staring forward with his jaws clenched, sweat on his face beading anew.

“Do you need a potion, or-”

“No.”

Geralt’s voice was flat and impatient, but not angry enough to dissuade Jaskier from pressing the issue.

“What can I do?”

“There’s nothing you can do,” Geralt said as he looked up at Jaskier.

Jaskier guessed he was trying to glare, but Geralt looked too tired to muster any real menace. Jaskier frowned, but quickly marshalled his expression.

“If I were an insecure person, I might think that remark was about my value as a travelling companion.”

“The venom,” Geralt said as he bowed his head and moved it from side to side as though he were hoping to clear his vision. “There’s no potion. Nothing.”

Jaskier thought of the people the creature had already killed; their ends hadn’t been pretty. Icy fear crept into his gut.

“You just intend to curl up and die then? What if...”

Jaskier’s impassioned speech about not giving up fell short. He looked at Geralt. He looked miserable and ill, but not afraid. But then, Geralt couldn't usually be relied upon to display his emotions in a way that would allow Jaskier to gauge the desperation of the situation.

Geralt sighed and looked up at Jaskier with a flash of aggravation.

“It’s fatal to humans,” Geralt said.

Not to witchers, Jaskier thought, unable to miss the subtext of Geralt’s statement.

Geralt licked his lips and swallowed hard before slowly enumerating all the ways he was about to suffer. It hurt Jaskier to hear the frankness with which Geralt discussed the inevitability of his own agony. It was far from the first time Jaskier wondered how much pain Geralt had withstood in his past to make this seem acceptable.

Geralt moved his hand from his side. He put both of his palms on the ground and lowered himself down; he shook as he did so. He rested on his uninjured side and wrapped his arms around himself. Jaskier walked over and knelt down next to Geralt and put a hand on his arm.

“Don’t,” Geralt said as his muscles bunched. “Leave me. I told you I’ll be fine.”

“Yeah,” Jaskier said. “You did.”

He didn’t like how Geralt’s voice seemed to come from miles away, or the way he was trembling. But he removed his hand and stood. The sky had darkened; it called to attention how low the fire was burning. That thought gave Jaskier direction. He got some of the wood he’d gathered earlier and added it to the fire. The kindling popped, hissed and shifted in the flame.

He cast a glance back at Geralt before making his way to the nearby stream for water. He rushed back, but everything was as he’d left it. Geralt’s chest moved with short, quick breaths and the deep furrows in his brow informed Jaskier Geralt’s sleep was not a restful one. There was no comfort he could offer his friend in that moment, but he sang one of his own ballads dto himself as he found a pan, then filled it with water and put it over the fire. He willed the water to boil as inactivity grated on him. He considered picking up his lute, or cleaning the sword. Anything but the impotence of waiting.

Jaskier shifted his weight from foot to foot, then made a noise in the back of his throat before getting a blanket from his own belongings. He brought it over to where Geralt lay, and folded it. He sank down behind Geralt. With gentle hands, Jaskier lifted Geralt’s head and put the blanket beneath it. Jaskier felt how damp Geralt’s hair was, and a concerned tut escaped his mouth. He moved a hand to Geralt’s forehead, then his cheek.

Too warm, Jaskier thought. Far too warm.

Geralt’s eyes slid open when Jaskier moved his hand to his throat, but he did nothing to prevent Jaskier from helping.

“You’ve got a fever,” Jaskier told him as he focused on the way Geralt’s pulse jumped under his touch. Was it too fast for a witcher?

Jaskier was unsure if the heat radiating off of Geralt’s body, or his lack of response was more worrying. Geralt’s eyes seemed to look right through him. Jaskier was disabused of any notion of pressing Geralt for a way to help him when Geralt’s body seized up and began to shake.

“Nonononono,” Jaskier said.

Geralt had told him this would happen, but he wasn’t ready for it. He didn’t want to see the way Geralt shook; he didn’t want to see the way Geralt’s eyes rolled back in his head. He put a hand on Geralt’s arm and another on his hip, if for no other reason than to let Geralt know he was there. He knew the gesture was useless, but maybe, maybe, it would keep Geralt from shaking himself apart.

“Okay, you’re going to be okay,” Jaskier said. His voice was barely above a whisper. “You said so yourself.”

Geralt’s back remained straight as his limbs and head shook and spasmed with malignant force. The stuttering, uneven hiss of Geralt’s breath being dragged in and out of his noise was the only sound Geralt made. Jaskier wanted to tear through Geralt’s pack and search out a potion, but he knew that would have been absolute idiocy. He knew whatever he selected would, in his hands, likely do more harm than good.

Pleasepleasepleaseplease, Jaskier prayed to whichever deity might have been listening. Please let this stop!

It did stop.

Eventually.

The shaking tapered off. Geralt breathed hard, but his body went slack. He let out a strangled noise, likely the remnant of words that had snared in his throat. Jaskier moved his hands away, though he doubted Geralt noticed their presence in the first place.

A hissing sound drew Jaskier’s attention; the forgotten water was boiling. He leapt up and took it away from the flame and set it aside to let it cool, but his attention returned to Geralt, who was reigning in his breathing. Jaskier walked in front of Geralt where he crouched and cleared his throat. It was so discreet a noise that Jaskier barely heard it himself.

“Are you with me, Geralt?”

Geralt breathed out, in, then out again before giving a little nod. His eyes remained closed.

“Okay,” Jaskier whispered; relief had muted the volume of his voice. He rose and found his way to his pack.

He brought it over to where Geralt was and began rooting through it. He kept odds and ends on hand, little just-in-case things that he thought he would have needed before Geralt ever did. He found the poultices easily enough; he supposed he could have found them by scent alone. A priestess of Miletele had given them to him; he remembered the crinkle in her nose when she’d admonished him about their pungence.

Jaskier moved Geralt’s arm and pulled his tunic up. It came away easily enough; the fabric had barely begun to stick in the blood. He breathed a sigh of relief when he revealed the wounds. His mind had conjured images of spilt viscera and gushing blood. The wounds, undoubtedly inflicted by one of the creature’s claws, were ugly but they were nowhere near as bad as Jaskier had feared. The blood seeped lazily. Jaskier thought that staunching it should be relatively simple. But the skin around the wounds piqued his concern; it was raised and red.

Poison, Jaskier thought.

Or perhaps it was venom. He chose not to dwell on the distinction. He drew a pained groan from Geralt when he put pressure on the wound. Jaskier mouthed the word ‘Sorry,’ but he didn’t relent. Geralt did what he always did. He tolerated the pain; aside from the occasional tensing of muscle or grunt, he made no complaint as Jaskier worked in silence. He did his best to mimic the priestess’s ministrations. When he was done, he chewed his lip and hoped his limited experience as a healer was adequate. At least there was no more blood and Geralt’s breathing seemed to be more even. Jaskier pulled Geralt’s tunic back down and wished his friend a restful sleep, all while knowing unconsciousness wouldn't find him until Geralt returned to himself.

The night seemed in no hurry to pass. Jaskier shifted from one position to the other, trying to escape the aches in his legs, back and neck. The period of time the relief for his muscles lasted was shorter each time he moved. The fire’s warmth was no comfort to him, especially considering how comparable it was to Geralt’s body heat. Jaskier had no reason to believe their problems would fade with the sunrise, but that didn’t stop him wishing it.

Darkness remained. Geralt groaned and curled in on himself. Jaskier feared another seizure, but while Geralt’s body tensed and trembled, Jaskier realized another symptom Geralt had mentioned was presenting itself. Geralt shifted as he made strangled, pained cries, and Jaskier sat with a desolate kind of uselessness as cramps wracked Geralt’s body.

Nothing you can do, Jaskier thought as he rubbed circles on Geralt’s back and intermittently wiped the sweat from his brow.

Geralt raised a hand. Jaskier watched as it stayed where Geralt had lifted it; several fingers were tightly curled as he trembled with the force of his muscle spasms. Jaskier reached out his own hands and wrapped them around Geralt’s before he guided it back down to his chest. Jaskier moved his thumbs back and forth over Geralt’s hand.

He sounded inane in his own ears as he hushed Geralt and tried to comfort him through the pain.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said as he dashed the idea of running for help when it resurfaced.

Geralt said he would get through this and Jaskier had to trust in that. He bit his lip as Geralt’s hand threatened to crush his. He quelled the urge to attempt to wriggle free. Even if Geralt ground his knuckles into dust.

Geralt’s cries crackled with agony, but they tapered off into muffled, breathy sounds, but those too faded into silence as his body stopped warring with itself. Geralt’s muscles eased and his hand went slack in Jaskier’s. When Geralt’s body unwound, Jaskier patted his hand and set it down before nursing his own and sitting back with a long exhalation. Beneath the light breeze and the occasional snap of an ember there was the occasional hitch in Geralt’s breath. No matter how things seemed, Jaskier didn’t allow himself to sink into the calm, relative quiet.

He sat and watched the thankfully steady motion of Geralt’s shoulder as it rose and fell. Jaskier counted as Geralt breathed, one on inhalations and two on exhalations as though it might make time go faster. A thought flitted into Jaskier’s mind.  What if the sun didn’t rise? He nearly chuckled at the thought, but it continued to rattle around in his head. Darkness eternal? It was poetic. It could be the subject of a song. There were no words for that song, not yet, but it would begin with a plodding one-two, one-two tune.

But the rhythm became a staccato riot that was accompanied by murmuring. Jaskier had no wish to wake Geralt, even when those murmurs shaped themselves into names. Some Jaskier recognized, some he didn’t.

“I’m here,” Jaskier whispered.

The desperation in Geralt’s voice made him sound so lost and unlike himself. This part would not make it into his song.

Geralt made an ugly, uncertain noise as he rolled onto his back; his mouth hung open as he gasped for air. His eyes, unseeing and ablaze with disquietude, searched the camp.

“No,” Geralt rasped as the corners of his mouth tugged downward and he rolled back over onto his other side, facing Jaskier. He tried to push himself up on shaking arms.

Jaskier knew better than to try to reason with him. He put firm hands on Geralt, who tried to scuttle away. It took hatefully little force to keep Geralt still and his arms, unable to hold his weight, tremored before giving out. It hurt Jaskier to feel the extent that Geralt’s power had fled him. Geralt panted and raved as he struggled weakly against Jaskier, who alternated between apologizing, begging Geralt to be calm and offering him comfort. All told, it did not take long for Geralt’s energy to deplete itself. He stared at nothing as he settled.

“Ma?” Geralt called out again.

“Shh,” Jaskier hushed him as he shook his head.

He brushed silver strands from Geralt’s brow, hoping to show him the gentleness his life so often lacked. Jaskier willed Geralt to close his eyes, to find rest.

Geralt was quiet, save for the occasional, insensible whimper. Those sounds stopped too, though and Geralt lay there with his eyes half-lidded. Jaskier wondered what specters were haunting Geralt and if the venom’s repertoire of tortures had exhausted itself yet. He dabbed the sweat away from Geralt’s brow again. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs. He savored the feeling of the muscles in his back stretching. His own heart rate slowed and, despite his best efforts, he felt his eyes begin to droop.

“Huhuh,” he admonished himself as he drew in a deep breath and shook his head. He began to hum while he put another log on the fire. As the flame grew, Jaskier’s humming bloomed into a melody. It was only when he began to mouth the words that he realized it was some half remembered song from his youth, something he’d sung with glee before having had any concern for skill or method.

Geralt’s eyes slipped shut and Jaskier could see that his body had, at last, had enough; his muscles relaxed and his breath evened out.

Jaskier yawned and started singing another song he hadn’t given voice to since childhood. After a verse of that song he came to the realization that, at that moment, there would have been nothing better than to hear Geralt grumble at him to shut up.

He sipped water when his throat and mouth became too dry and he smiled lopsidedly for no reason at all. His eyes burned and when he rubbed them he found tears, though he could not recall when they’d fallen.

When the sky began to lighten, Jaskier was unconvinced that he wasn't imagining it, but when the brightness became tangibly gray, his sleep-deprived mind became giddy. He knew the light would not guarantee Geralt would be well, but the dissipation of the darkness was something.

[jwgammuto]

We’re back with wrestling reviews. Check out my thoughts on last night’s AEW Dynamite.

It’s Thursday and you know what that means! Let’s cut the shit and get right to The Good, The Bad, and the WTF: First Crack at Dynamite Edition.

The Good:

The chaotic action of the main event Trios match between Death Triangle and United Empire. Much as I don’t like wonky endings in AEW matches this was the overall pretty good and the last two minutes or so was predictably filled with insane spots. But I suppose that’s the only point of this entire Trios venture aside from getting more of the 500 AEW talents on tv as much as possible. I’m on record as not caring about the 1000th set of titles in this company and I truly don’t care who wins this thing but the Trios division is like an NBA game. You can watch the last 90 seconds and get all the quality entertainment it has to offer.

Ricky Starks’ promo on Ice Train Hobbs. This felt organic, was filled with passion, and I dug it. This build for All Out has been good and it makes sense unlike quite a bit of the rest of the card. More on that later.

Dax vs Lethal. Can never go wrong with FTR involved and I like Lethal as well. Crowd went bonkers when it was announced that MCMG was teaming with Lethal at All Out to face FTR and Wardlow. Admittedly, i know very little about these guys but the neckbeards love it so I assume it will be an entertaining bout.

The Acclaimed getting a title shot at All Out against Swerve and Lee. Proves TK is paying attention between bumps of cocaine. These guys are crazy over. Not certain they’ll win but they’re certainly deserving.

Moxley’s post match promo. Instead of just bleeding everywhere tonight, this guy solidifies himself as the intense psycho that he is and he belongs at the top of the card. However…

The Bad:

The title match was confusing, awful, and pointless. This was a lot of short term hype for a fart in the wind. Granted, not too many people outside the company really knows what the hell is going on and sometimes that’s the fun of it but I do not buy for one second Punk is re-injured. It’s quite possible AEW still has the Ace yet to be played but if it’s not MJF returning, I can’t imagine I’ll be excited about it. Is Punk quitting? Is he physically done? Did he whine his way into punishment? If he’s still hurt why did he agree to go out there? Wasn’t this one of his massive gripes with WWE? This just plain sucked. No way around it.

Along similar lines, for a company that prides itself on long term storytelling and cohesion, this PPV, their biggest of the year, sure is being thrown together last minute. Starks and Ice Train has been built, Jungle Boy and Christian is boiling, and the Trios title finals is something that’s been planned but the rest of the card is being thrown together in the final couple weeks. Jericho and the American Dragon? Slapped together tonight. Another interim title match, this time for the women? Unavoidable i guess but still slapped together. The tag title match? Last minute decision out of the nowhere. It’s a very odd switch for them. Not that the matches won’t be good, most of them probably will be but they’re not giving the fans any time to invest in the story. It’ll just feel more like a really good episode of Dynamite than a massive payoff event. There isn’t even a world title match set yet. Annoying.

Kip Sabian, if for no other reason than he kind of ruined the main event. Live fans loved it. Ok but that match deserved a cleaner finish. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I’m ok being in the minority here.

Danielson/Garcia/Jericho opening segment. I’m just not into Garcia’s emotional turmoil. Love Jericho. Love BD. They will put on a great match at All Out. Just don’t care at all about this storyline. Put Garcia in the BCC. Leave him in the JAS. I still won’t care.

The WTF:

Britt Baker in another squash match. When was the last time DMD was in a quality feud? She’s the only charismatic woman in the entire division and is the logical choice to win the “interim” title even though I think it would be much more interesting to put the title on Hayter, who is a better worker, and have her feud with Baker. I like Toni Storm and all but that’s a Liv Morgan situation waiting to happen. Don’t make that mistake, TK. Toni does not have the chops to carry a very weak Division.

Billy Gunn vs Colton Gunn. Mr. Ass’s entertaining involvement in this story is limited to Bowen’s screaming “scissor me daddy ass!”

Overall a decent show if not confusing and kind of thrown together following the “talent meeting”. There wasn’t a lot to be offended by with the exception of the ridiculously bad world title match. I suppose AEW got me. I tuned in with excitement about what swerve may be coming and instead I got the Second City Senior Citizen getting treated like Jumpin Jim Powers. Cool. 3.3 out of 5 glasses of the bubblay!