#maybe this will be like when i wished that more people shipped geralt and dandelion. and we can all see how that turned out

[hanzajesthanza]

geralt: hey dandelion. do you want some of this [offers kebab]

dandelion: no thanks, i’m not hungry. . .

geralt:

geralt: . . . tellico! 😠 stop pretending to be dandelion! change back into biberveldt 😑

dudu: . . . [sighs] fine 🙄 [turns back into dainty]

geralt: so. . . if you’re here, then where the hell is dandelion?!

dudu: don’t get your knickers in a twist, witcher. he’s off seducing that pretty blonde from the market stall.

geralt: . . . sure. but why, then—

dudu: he didn’t want you to be lonely when he was away, so he asked me to step in for a bit. [turns back into dandelion] and i was doing a pretty bang-up job too! 😌

geralt: . . . 🥺

[damatris]

I was tagged by @fieldofclover!

Rules: Go to your published works on AO3 and list the first fic you ever published there, the last fic you published, any fic that you wrote for a fandom/ship only once, your favorite fic you wrote in the fandom/ship that has the most works, the fic you wish more people read, the fic you agonized over the most, the fic that sprang fully formed from your mind without any effort, and a work you are proud of—for whatever reason.

First fic you ever published there: Born of Familiarity

I ended up hyperfixating on The Witcher (all versions tbh, it's got so many cakes. And it's still having me in its grip.) in 2019 when Netflix released the 1st season. In spring 2020 I was painting a portrait of Geralt and the sentence "To Geralt Jaskier registered as quiet." popped up in my head and didn't leave me alone until I started unveiling the reason. And then I ended up writing the thoughts down in fic format, writing prose for the first time in like 8 years and fic in maybe 14 years? The overwhelming positive reception only fed into the rediscovering of how much fun writing prose is (had been doing only comic scripting) and I continued writing more fics. That one also ended up being the 1st fic of the series that's my main focus.

Last fic you published: Flying High, Falling Low (Latest update was on Winter Winds and Snowmelt though)

I'll be talking about both fics later on.

Any fic that you wrote for a fandom/ship only once: Ouija Phone

It's a very slightly longer than a drabble crack fic for The Umbrella Academy. I just thought it'd be funny. It's also the only fic that's not for The Witcher on ao3.

Your favorite fic you wrote in the fandom/ship that has the most works: Winter Winds and Snowmelt

Will talk about it later.

Fic you wish more people read: I Get To Watch You Grow Up Now

This one is purely book based fic involving Dandelion and Essi. It's a short snapshot of their almost familial relationship. I personally like how it turned out despite not much happening.

Tbh, I'm not surprised at all that this particular fic has far less interaction than my other ones since it's not geraskier or has any other ship either. Plus Essi is only in a single one shot in the book series so she's not so well known character.

Fic you agonized over the most: Flying High, Falling Low

Decided to go with this instead of any long fic because the amount of agonizing versus word count is higher despite having written a bulletin point fic a couple of years ago which I used as an outline.

This one was for the Disability Pride Month Challenge in a discord group and I decided to use bipolar disorder. Which is what I have so I ended up using A Lot of personal experiences and that was both difficult and freeing. It's not the 1st time I've put them on paper or even leaned into fics but this time there wasn't much redressing some of the symptoms into different things/reasons and creating distance that way.

It's kinda surprising how very, very few fics there are with bipolar Jaskier since a lot of his canon behavior fits it. But from what I've observed, people tend to give him adhd if he's written neurodivergent. I wonder if it's because of adhd is better known or if it's because of the stigma still clinging to bipolar disorder (...most likely because of a combination...).

Fic that sprang fully formed from your mind without any effort: There's Harshness In Your Voice And Softness In Your Hands

This is a funny and lighthearted one with concussed Jaskier. It was so much fun writing him being a bit loopy and saying only parts of his thoughts out loud to Geralt's exasperation. Plus, I got to write a whole silly ditty for it that I posted as a 2nd chapter. The whole fic was written wayyy past midnight during an insomnia spell which absolutely lent itself for Jaskier's thought process. It's also my most popular fic by a pretty large margin when looking at kudos, however I don't consider it as such. (That would go to Biting Snake Isn't Better Than Knife In Your Back due to the comments and bookmarks. Sorry for sneaking in a fic not asked for)

A work you are proud of—for whatever reason: Winter Winds and Snowmelt

Winter Winds... Gosh, I have so many feelings about this fic (And Biting Snake too which is the immediate prequel). I'm really happy with the way I managed to treat serious topics about mental health, recovery from trauma, and building healthy relationships both romantic and platonic. It's not a perfect representation but the way multiple readers have told me how much they see themselves/in general identify with what the characters are going through and how it has brought them comfort makes me feel like I've done a good job. Not to mention that people have loved the slow healing and found each chapter interesting is so so great to hear. Especially since Winter Winds is the longest fic by a large margin in the Geraskier tag on AO3. Which I still find absolutely wild! I have no idea how it's currently a bit over 472k words.

Also, I'm so very proud about the fact that I'm currently writing the last chapter of it. It's been a long ride, both with time and word count. I started it in fall 2020 so it's going to be slightly less than a 3 year project. And I'm almost finished. I'm actually having so many feelings about finishing that the last chapter is a very slow writing as I'm also letting go of the fic and all the emotions I've gone through while writing it. Although, the series it's part of isn't even close to finished so I don't have to say goodbye to these particular versions of the characters.

Uhh.. I never know who to tag but @dapandapod maybe you want to talk about your fics...!

[flowercrown-bard]

A little gift for the lovely @thingr2  <3 I hope you have a most wonderful day, friend

word count: about 2.5k

ship: Geraskier

summary: Geralt receives flowers from a secret admirer. What a stupid gift to give him. (modern au/ flowershop au)

Roses and Cornflowers

Geralt’s face is a stone mask as he stares at his doorstep, only cracking the tiniest bit when he bent down to pick up the bouquet, just as he had done almost every day since he had moved to this town to open his new shop almost two months ago.

“A gift from a secret admirer,” Lambert had called it with a shit-eating grin when Geralt had been stupid and drunk enough to tell his brothers about the flowers he kept finding on the doorsteps of his shop.

Eskel had rolled his eyes at Lambert but then he had shrugged and said that that wasn’t the worst start to living in a new place.

No, Geralt supposed for most people -unlike him - receiving flowers would be a nice thing. But then again, most people - unlike him - didn’t own flowershops.

Why would anyone give flowers to a florist? What had started out as something Geralt might even be looking forward to, if he were completely honest with himself, had started to become an annoyance. At this point, it must clearly be some kind of stupid joke.

With a scoff he went inside, almost tempted to just throw the bouquet into the bin, but putting them away in a vase at the last moment against his better judgement, before setting up the shop for the day. Though his movements came with practiced precision, his eyes and mind wandered back to the bouquet again.

Maybe it wasn’t a joke after all. Though it was mainly made up of buttercups, cornflowers and other complimentary flowers – or weeds rather - bouquets were far too expensive to buy one every day for such a long time just to make fun of someone. Maybe the ‘admirer’ just thought that as a florist Geralt would appreciate flowers all the more?

And perhaps he would – he certainly knew how to appreciate good work – if it didn’t mean that whoever got him the flowers must be buying them at the only other flower shop in town that oh so conveniently had his shop just across the street from him. As far as romantic gestures went, supporting his rival was about the worst thing an admirer could do.

It wasn’t as if the other shop wasn’t already thriving and luring in all the customers Geralt might have gotten if the other shop wasn’t there.

If you wanted to call it a flower shop, that is.

Wish upon a Dandelion was not what Geralt would call professional. Though he had to begrudgingly admit that there was a certain craft to the way the flowers were arranges and the florist undeniably had an eye for colours, his choice of flowers was atrocious.

No respectable florist would even think about selling wildflowers and weeds and as if that wasn’t already enough, Geralt’s rival put them on the same shelf as roses and other normal flowers.

Then again, Jaskier didn’t seem like the kind of person who put much value into being respectable. Too openly was he toeing the line of what was an acceptable amount of friendliness between him and his customers, as far as Geralt could see through the window.

Not that Geralt knew much about how to treat customers correctly. Maybe he would, if Jaskier didn’t prevent them all from coming into his shop.

It didn’t matter how much care Geralt put into arranging the flowers in the display window and how hard he worked to keep his flowers in perfect shape, barely anyone even grazed his shop with so much as a glance.

And why would they? He too would rather go to the man with the bright smile and warm blue eyes that crinkled beautifully when he talked about his flowers. Anyone who met Jaskier even once would want to see him again.

Geralt should know. Ever since Jaskier had strolled into his shop on the day he had first opened, welcoming him into the street and asking about Geralt, he had found himself wishing he would come in here again, despite his ridiculous choice in flowers.

But Geralt wasn’t stupid enough to think he would ever see more of Jaskier again than the glimpses he caught through the window. He had made sure of that when he had done nothing but grunt and stare at Jaskier in the way that Lambert always said intimidated people. Sure enough, Jaskier’s face had fallen and left the shop, never to return again. And apart from the times he waved over at Geralt when they closed shops at the same time, he didn’t show any sign of wanting to speak with Geralt again.

Geralt pretended that he wasn’t disappointed.

Just like he pretended that he didn’t feel a strange pang in his chest whenever he saw how other people earned Jaskier’s easy smiles and charming words that Geralt so stupidly had rejected.

Hell, even his ‘secret admirer’ probably got to feel those brilliant smiles on him.

The thought made Geralt pause.

No one, absolutely no one would admire Geralt if they also knew Jaskier.

He didn’t know why he felt so disappointed at the realisation. He had never wanted an admirer. Not some stranger at least. He shouldn’t care if the person who got him the flowers was doing so as a backwards way of saying that everyone preferred Jaskier’s shop and that Geralt wasn’t wanted here. But whatever reason the gifter had to mock Geralt, it hurt that they were doing so by using Jaskier’s flowers.

He knew the sudden anger that boiled up inside him was irrational, but that didn’t stop him from abandoning his tasks.

He acted without thinking, grabbing peonies, roses and lilies – flowers that actually belonged in flower shops – in a bouquet. Before he could think this through, he was storming out of his shop and across the street.

The bells above the door chimed as Geralt marched into the Wish upon a Dandelion and Jaskier’s eyes snapped up at him, making Geralt’s breath hitch. For the briefest moment, the typical smile on Jaskier’s face froze when his eyes fell on Geralt, before they darted down to the flowers in his hand and the smile inexplicably brightened.

“Geralt,” he said and somehow managed to sound excited, “what are you doing here?”

Without ceremony, Geralt slammed the bouquet on the counter, inwardly flinching at his own harsh movement. “Teaching you how bouquets work.”

Jaskier let out a startled laugh. “What?”

“I don’t know what game is being played here, but you don’t put weeds in a bouquet for someone you want to talk to.” He pointed at the bouquet he had brought. “This is what you give someone if you have romantic intentions.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, if I had known you didn’t like those kinds of flowers I wouldn’t have put them in there,” Jaskier said softly, fingers twitching.

“It’s something all florists should know. If you’re going to ruin my business and my day, at least do it with flowers that belong in a bouquet. And tell whoever if getting those flowers for me that I don’t want them.”

“Oh.” Jaskier’s voice was painfully small and his eyes were everywhere but on Geralt. “You really dislike them that much?”

The quiet question was like a punch in the gut. As if a tight had snapped, all tension left Geralt in an instant.

He rubbed a hand down his face and groaned.

“No, they…I don’t dislike them. They are fine.” He sighed and looked away. “I just don’t like getting them. You…the colours are nice.”

Even out of the corner of his eyes, he could see the way Jaskier’s face morphed from crestfallen to an expression that could rival the sun.

“Thank you! I had hoped you’d like the colours. The buttercups do look a bit like your eyes, don’t they? Though of course not quite as pretty. It’s really hard to find the perfect flower to match the colour. It’s a shame there are no golden flowers.”

Geralt huffed, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Well, it’s easy for you. Your eyes really look exactly like cornflowers.”

Even as he said those words, his mind came to a screeching halt. No. It couldn’t be. His brows drew together as he searched Jaskier’s face for something, any sign that he hadn’t gotten this all wrong. “Jaskier? Did you -?”

“I’m sorry,” the words rushed out of Jaskier’s mouth and Geralt’s stomach twisted as a panicked look replaced Jaskier’s smile.

“Why?” It was too much. It couldn’t possibly be Jaskier. Because if it was, then that would mean that Geralt wouldn’t have to hope for a chance to meet those blue eyes through a window or that he wouldn’t be gifted with Jaskier’s breathtaking smile again.

“I swear I didn’t know you don’t like getting the bouquets. If I had known I would have stopped – I will stop -”

Geralt’s blood ran cold at the words, but his mouth couldn’t form any words, didn’t even know what he wanted to say, except that this was all wrong, that he didn’t mind getting the bouquets from Jaskier, that he was the only one he would want to get them from.

“I just… you always seemed kind of alone,” Jaskier said, wincing at his own words, “and you are new here and I know how hard it can be to make friends, so I thought that maybe… but I will stop.”

Before Geralt could even open his mouth to protest, to explain, to say something, the bells chimed again and the palpable relief on Jaskier’s face as he turned away from Geralt and towards the customer made Geralt’s heart clench.

It was more than obvious that Jaskier didn’t want to be alone with him right now and Geralt could more than understand it. Without saying another word, Geralt turned back and left, going back to his own shop where the last bouquet he would get from Jaskier stood lonely on the counter.

--

Jaskier heaved a heavy sigh as he walked down the street to open the shop for the day, already dreading the day to come.

Yesterday, he had done his best to keep smiling and making his customers welcome, but it was damn near impossible after his talk with Geralt – and the unmistakable rejection. He had done his best to keep himself busy, but he had found his mind drifting time and time again to what kind of bouquet to make Geralt next, before reality mercilessly came crashing down on him again.

Rejection was nothing new to him, of course. It was kind of a given when you fell in love fast and hard, any yet Jaskier had been foolish enough to hope that maybe if he sent Geralt enough flowers, they could at the very least become amicable shop neighbours. When he had seen through the window how Geralt put each of his bouquets into a vase, he had thought that maybe they could even be friends. Any yesterday, for a beautiful moment as he had seen Geralt come in, a bouquet of the most beautiful roses in hand, he had hoped that –

He should have known better.

The only consolation Jaskier had was that Geralt had forgotten to take his bouquet back with him as he had practically stormed out of his shop. At least, Jaskier had something to take home with him. At least the flowers had allowed him to pretend even if just for a little bit that Geralt’s hadn’t rejected him as harshly as he had.

But, well, the fact that Jaskier wasn’t at his typical early hour at the shop already, preparing the newest arrangement to put on Geralt’s doorstep before he arrived was all the reminder that his little fantasy of charming Geralt was over.

He dragged his fingers through his hair in frustration, just as he reached his shop.

He stopped dead in his tracks.

It couldn’t be. Geralt wouldn’t –

Every so slowly, as if it might still turn out to be a dream, Jaskier crouched down to pick up the flowers laying on his doorstep, caressing them carefully, not daring to even breath.

The sound of a door falling shut behind him, made Jaskier turn.

And there he was. Standing in front of his flower shop stood Geralt, looking somewhat insecure and uncomfortable as he caught Jaskier’s eye.

Jaskier froze, not knowing what to do, but as he lingered at the door shifting his weight from one foot to the other and clutching the flowers tightly, Geralt started to move.

Jaskier’s eyes widened and his heart was hammering in his chest, as Geralt walked up to him, slowly as if he wanted to give Jaskier the chance to unlock his door and flee into the Dandelion if he wanted.

He didn’t.

For some inexplicable reason, Geralt must not have excepted him to stay, for when he reached Jaskier he didn’t open his mouth, just looking at Jaskier with a look in his eyes that made it hard to breath.

He swallowed thickly.

“You know,” Jaskier said, cracking a hesitant smile, “this isn’t a good bouquet to give someone you don’t want to talk to.”

Red heat crept up Geralt’s cheeks and his eyes darted to the side before landing back on Jaskier.

“And what about giving them to say that I am sorry and that I would very much like to talk with this someone again?”

Jaskier’s heart skipped a beat and his mouth went dry. “Yeah, that…that would be a good bouquet.”

He bit his lip, knowing he was pushing his luck, but the words slipped out before he could stop them. “But I would also say that the roses, peonies and lilies might be sending a bit of a wrong message still. I’ve been told they would be used for something a bit more romantic.”

For an agonizingly long moment, Geralt said nothing. When he finally opened his mouth again, a tentative but hopeful smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

“If…if that were the message I wanted to send, would you accept the flowers?”

The smile that spread over Jaskier’s face was so wide that threatened to hurt his cheeks. “I would, if I were allowed to give you flowers in return.”

Something like astonishment shone in Geralt’s eyes.

“I missed your bouquet today,” he admitted sheepishly.

“Don’t worry,” Jaskier said, pleasant warmth spreading through his chest. “My bouquets might not be quite as romantic, but I will make you as many as you like. Who knows, maybe I’ll even learn how to make proper bouquets with the right help,” he added with a wink.

The shy smile on Geralt’s face turned into something radiant. “Your arrangements are already perfect.” He hesitated, before adding, “But cornflowers are my favourite.”

[ainti-pretty]

Zoltan for the character ask!

ZOLTAN <3

How I feel about this character

he seems like as a chill as a dude can be when he has ties to the scoia'tael, has traveled with geralt multiple times, owned a short lived jewelry shop, and other things. hes got a lot going on and i think he deserves time to rest. also he really does seem like a genuinely nice guy, especially in the books where he helped out the refugees and lead them to safety. in the games he also seems pretty nice

All the people I ship romantically with this character

i dont know,,,, ive never thought abt it,,, read a fic where him and dandelion were together and it honestly pretty good so maybe dandelion. also i just feel bad abt eudora and that situation so,,, idk

My non-romantic OTP for this character

him and geralt. i know in the books they are really besties, but in the games they get along great and i wish they could hang out more.

My unpopular opinion about this character

not really unpopular, but i have seen some people in the fandom just make him a partier and kinda a jackass and while hes certainly no saint, i think he deserves more credit.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon.

i wish he was just. there more i think

[limerental]

Geralt!

How i feel about this character

I feel so so many things about Geralt and most of them are difficult to put into words. I love him as an everyman character, just an ordinary guy, someone caught up in bigger affairs, someone who refuses power when it is offered to him... but also, I love him as a guy who stands up for what's right even though it scares him, who wisecrack backtalks at corrupt authority figures, who has no time for mind games or politics but can hold his own with both. Who is so incredibly intelligent and bone-headed stupid. Who has such a big heart and still such a tendency to doubt its capacity. Who is just a big mess of anxieties and fears and doubts who is so utterly human for all his whining about not being so. Yes I feel... several things about Geralt.

All the people I ship romantically with this character

Yennefer first and foremost. I love Them. He loves her so very much in ways he doesn't even really believe is possible, and it just warms my teeny little heart. Also, Yen femdoms the shit out of him and i think that's nice. Geralt deserves a nice, thorough pegging.

Eskel is a character I didn't expect to go so hard shipping with Geralt but something about the child friends, brothers in arms, know you better than I know myself type love has got me fucked up, man.

I also really like Geralt and Regis because they are both know it all assholes and crotchety old creatures and bellyaching philosophers and melodramatic shitheads.

Also, Jaskier/Dandelion, though I don't have really strong feelings about them anymore beyond an ot3 type relationship that includes Yen. Idk if I'm bored of the ship itself or just the fandom, but I can't see Geralt/Jaskier working out as a soulmate type monogamous love.

My non romantic OTP for this character

I love when Geralt and Jaskier are just complete idiot disaster buddies. Just zero brain cells between them. Light hearted bickering and teasing and equal power balance. Giving each other shit for things and driving each other up the wall.

Also, Geralt and Ciri of course. I love them very dearly.

My unpopular opinion about this character

Geralt speaks words and does not "hmm". He is not an unfeeling, stoic, gruff asshole loner who won't admit to giving a shit about anyone in his life. He feels pain and discomfort and voices it, he chats happily with people of all walks of life, he only resists the assistance of others who care about him when he knows that they are very likely to follow him to their deaths, he struggles to make choices and sometimes makes the wrong ones, but he is more likely to cower and flee from his problems than unleash his temper. Anyway haha. Henry Cavill and Netflix production fight me about Geralt challenge.

One thing I wish would happen/had happened with this character in canon

I'm not super optimistic that Netflix or Mr. Cavill is going to depict the Geralt that I've come to love in any capacity going forward but I still can appreciate it as a weird alternate universe Geralt and hope to steal whatever I can from the wreckage. But yes, I'm hopeful that the Ciri and Gerwlt interactions are not terrible and that there are more soft moments with Yen and maybe that Geralt and Jaskier end up actually friends? Maybe?

[vampire--dad]

Uhhhh "I’ve got death in my pocket and nothing but time" gives me Regis vibes and "You have no control who lives, who dies, who tells your story" book!Jaskier vibes, so maybe one of those please? :3 (or those two as a couple it would be like MY DREAM COME TRUE though I'm not sure if you like that ship??)

Lo...... you’ve enlightened me. Dandelion/Regis...... Danderegis? Regilion? idk, but boy oh BOY i like that. i like that a LOT

anyway this got really philosophical but i think its cute? they just talkin about things, the ship is hinted at the end

——————

The vampire leans against the tree, watching the embers of the dying campfire jump and flicker weakly as his mind wanders to days long gone and people he once knew. He may be slightly too distracted to be on watch tonight. He didn’t even notice that Dandelion had risen from his bedroll until the bard settled beside him.

“Your shift isn’t due for another hour,” Regis says softly. “You need to rest.”

“Resting doesn’t seem to be coming easily tonight,” the bard replies. “There’s too much on my mind. Too many lyrics and lines and ballads that, truthfully, may never see the light of day.”

His blond curls are dishevelled from tossing and turning and he wears only a light linen shirt and trousers. He seems so much... gentler without his usual colourful regalia. In the latest hours of the night, even his usual flamboyancy seems to slip away into the darkness, revealing a calm and tender version of the bard he knows.

“Besides,” Dandelion continues. “You’ve taken far too many night shifts in the past few days. Though I suppose... you don’t need sleep like the rest of us do, do you?”

Regis smiles knowingly. “No, I don’t. That’s why I prefer to sit by and watch over you. I’d prefer if those who needed it most were allowed to rest.”

He finishes his statement with a pointed look at the bard. Dandelion’s eyes seem to shine with mirth, practically glowing in the moonlight. The beauty of humanity never ceases to amaze him. Just like the flower he is so appropriately named after. Beautiful for a short period of time, and its mortality only makes it more wonderful.

“I would if I could, but alas...” Dandelion tilts his chin up and casts his eyes to the stars with a shake of his golden curls. “Gods, sometimes I wish I were like you and didn’t need to sleep. I wouldn’t be so rushed all the time... I must say, I have always wondered about you...” He turns his head back towards the vampire. “What is it like living for so long, if you don’t mind my asking? You have all of the time in the world, you never have to worry about all of your efforts going to waste... what keeps you going if not the fear that one day it will all come to an end?”

Regis raises his eyebrows at Dandelion and sets an inquisitive look upon him. That is perhaps Dandelion’s favourite look to see upon his face. One that seeks knowledge and answers for questions he never knew he had before. It fills him with a sense of pride to have evoked such a look.

“I didn’t take you for such a philosopher, bard,” Regis says.

Dandelion smiles. Not his usual, beaming smile. A soft smile that Regis would dare to describe as affectionate.

“There’s a great many things you don’t know about me, Regis. I’m not just a pretty face.”

“And here I thought I was the mysterious one,” Regis chuckles. “You are right. I’ve nothing but time. Death doesn’t come quite as easily to me as it will to you, but one day it might. It isn’t easy, but there is a possibility. I don’t believe I am truly immortal. Truthfully, my biggest motivator is your kind’s mortality. You each have such a short period of time in this world that I feel as though I should help you make the most of it.”

“That would explain... quite a few things, actually,” Dandelion mutters, mulling over Regis’ words as he gazes out into the forest. It would explain why he chose a profession so deeply rooted in helping others, and why he joined their party without any obligation or reason to help any of them. It’s honourable, and nothing less than what he expected from such a kind man.

“It would,” Regis agrees, as though he had heard every thought that had crossed Dandelion’s mind. “Now I would ask, but it seems you already answered the question. Is it your own mortality that keeps you going?

“I suppose it is, in a way,” Dandelion says with a curious look upon his face. “It’s... the desire to have a legacy and to create something that will outlive me, to immortalise things that will inevitably come to an end. That’s why I tell Geralt’s stories and I write them into songs. I may not have any control over... anything, but I can make sure that our story never truly comes to an end— that is, until the last person to ever hear one of my songs forgets how it goes and the White Wolf truly is forgotten. I can only hope that that doesn’t happen for a long time yet.”

Regis hums thoughtfully. ‘That’s rather noble of you’ is what he was going to say, but he is cut off by a stifled chuckle.

“You sound so awfully like Geralt when you do that,” Dandelion snickers.

Neither of them had noticed how close to the other they had drifted until their shoulders met, but neither minded. Instead they leaned against the other as they shared their thoughts quietly until the sun kissed the horizon. They never did wake Cahir for his shift.

[itsclydebitches]

(1/2) Personally, I could never get into Geralt's relationship with Yennefer when I started reading the books. The first thing we learn about their relationship in The Last Wish, is that he broke up with her because he couldn't stand her possessiveness and the way she treated him. That was massive red flag on it's own already, but then I got to the scene in The Bounds of Reason where Geralt tells her that he doesn't care anymore if she forgives him for breaking up with her. And he's

I’ve finished up my work for the day so I’m going to break this down to pass the time lol. My journey with Yennefer of Vengerberg has basically been: 

Hearing about her prior to getting into Witcher stuff and being legitimately excited to meet this sexy, badass sorceress that everyone is head over heels for. 

Meeting her in The Witcher 3 and hating nearly every moment we spent together (with a few exceptions) because she is rude, self-centered, cares little for the boundaries of others (like frequently invading Geralt’s mind), and will destroy everyone and everything necessary to get what she wants. The fact that what she currently wants is Ciri’s safety doesn’t change how horrible her actions are. 

Getting reassurance that CDPR butchered her characterization and believing it because when has an adaptation not messed something up? God knows that’s happened to many of my faves. 

Reading The Last Wish for myself and going, “She’s not better here. She worse.” 

Coming to the Realization™ that Sapkowski, as an author very interested in undermining fantasy tropes, must be deconstructing the concept of True Love/Love At First Sight. After all, we’re not actually supposed to believe that a woman who treats Geralt like Yen does, a man who is canonically so lonely he’s picking up bards on the side of the road, and the both of them being bound together by highly suspect magic is supposed to be representative of real, healthy, destined love. These two are incredibly dysfunctional together and the point is for them not to stay as a couple, demonstrating that neither the characters nor the reader can bank on tired structures (like Hot Male Protagonist meeting Hot Female Protagonist) as evidence of “true love.” Sexual attraction and a djinn wish does not a healthy relationship make. 

The further, disappointing realization that this is not, in fact, the point Sapkowski is trying to make. Or if it somehow is he hasn’t done a good job of writing it. 

Struggling with other aspects of the series, notably how many of the women are written/treated. Finding it difficult to get into the main story-line. Coming to the conclusion that, like Doyle, I massively prefer Sapkowski’s style in a short-story format. 

Deciding to put the books on hold for a while and check out some other material. Maybe I’ll like Yen in the comics! 

I do not like Yen in the comics. Neither does Vesemir.

I post a few times about this dislike and marvel at how often events are twisted to paint Yen as a victim. One moment stands out regarding Yen dumping you in the lake in Witcher 3. When I expressed discomfort that she would do this to Geralt and then “jokingly” threaten to kill him next, someone basically asked me, “Well, did you pick the dialogue option where you’re an asshole to her?” It was asked with such confidence that for a moment I floundered. Had I chosen something that justified such treatment? Yet this is the exchange: 

“Yen... Told you already. I lost my memory.” 

“And I’ve lost my patience.”

(Side note: Yen is fully aware of how much Geralt despises portals.)

I begin to realize that a lot of the fandom truly believes that “Expressing a fact” equals “Being an asshole” to Yen. That any disagreement is automatically asshole behavior. Which is how Yen herself views the world. As fans have pointed out – myself included – she has a habit of rejecting responsibility and convincing others she’s the victim in most situations (with the one exception I can think of being her admitting that she destroyed the sacred site in Skellige), whether we’re talking about her condemning Geralt for sexualizing her (ignoring that she orchestrated that situation) or likewise condemning him for leaving her (ignoring that her behavior is what drove him away). I find myself re-emphasizing to others that my issue is not with flawed characters, but rather how Sapkowski’s story and the fandom insist that Yen isn’t actually flawed in these ways. 

Watching the Netflix adaptation and promising myself that I’m going to give Yen a clean slate. Let’s start over. I connect with her for the first few episodes and then everything falls apart once she starts blaming others for her own decisions, getting obsessed with a biological child in a world filled with adoptions, abandoning a woman to die because she dared to insult her, having to re-watch her taking over Geralt’s mind only this time with an orgy that’s super iffy in regards to consent… There’s a lot going on there. 

My friend – who knew I disliked a character but didn’t know who/why because I didn’t want to bias her ahead of time – slams into my texts talking about how much she hates Yen too. 

I make a few more posts expressing my personal discomfort with their relationship + how the fandom tends to erase her behavior for endless praise, rather than just acknowledging that they love the ship and Yen has done horrible things. I get a couple of anons (which I delete) about how I’m just a misogynistic – and now racist – asshole who can’t understand how badass she is.

I grapple with the fact that my primary ships are indeed Geralt/Jaskier and Geralt/Regis. Maybe I am drawn only to Hot White Guys and have internalized misogyny to work through? Then I remember the hundreds of other het/femslash ships I adore, the thousands of other badass women in media – including the Witcher – that I love and conclude that no, I just really don’t like relationships where parties are cruel/disrespectful/borderline abusive to one another. Hence why I criticized Netflix for taking an already wonderful relationship between Geralt and Jaskier and making Geralt insult him all the time/punch him. 

More and more I find myself uncomfortable with fans taking scenes where Yen verbally accosts someone, assaults them, or otherwise does them dirty and talk seriously about how they aspire to be her. I experience an intense need to remind everyone that being a badass and standing up for yourself does not mean treating people the way Yen frequently treats others. 

I read a lot about how many fans can’t get behind a Geralt/Triss pairing because of how Triss treated him in the past, even if she’s now improved. I completely agree. I wonder though why the same doesn’t seem to apply to Yen. I’m told I just need to read more of the books (which I’m honestly not eager to do) because she gets so much better later on. Don’t you care about character growth? When I respond, “Yes, but even if she does grow I’m not comfortable with that relationship because of all she’s done in the past – to say nothing of what she does in the future if we take the games as canon too.” That response does not go over well. So Triss’ past actions justify a reader’s discomfort with the relationship, but Yen’s past actions have to be forgiven? Witcher and RWBY are the only fandoms I’ve come across where women can commit truly heinous acts  and the response is “Yas queen!” rather than, “Huh, that’s a cool antagonist.” 

As I work through these differing opinions I’m constantly reminded that Yen is an excellent mother to Ciri and each time I wonder what bearing that has on how she treats Geralt. 

I’m likewise reminded of all the Big and Important sacrifices Yen has made for her family. Those deserve acknowledgment! But it doesn’t change her everyday behavior. Even if Yen stopped pulling shit like mind control, torture necromancy, and scaring people to the point where they assume she’ll rain fire down on them if they disagree, she just doesn’t extend basic kindness/respect on a day-to-day basis. Some people love that in a character. I personally don’t. I find Yen to be a vain person who puts her own self-comfort over others’ lives just as often as she deigns to save them. Dandelion is just going to have to wait until she’s had a bath before his curse is lifted. Margarita will have to do without her help because Yen doesn’t want to get her clothes dirty: 

“Mucking through ruins and sewers, hmm. I’d rather leave it to the expert.” 

“Meaning you’d rather waltz in once the hard work’s done.” 

I finally finish The Witcher 3 and find Yen tolerable from the boat onward, mostly because we don’t have to do much with her. 

I start the first Witcher game, wondering how I’ll find her in the first two installments. Frankly, at this point I’m not terribly optimistic. 

And every once in a blue moon, in a sea of post-Netflix Yen adoration, I see a post going, “Hey, ship what you ship but can we just acknowledge that this relationship isn’t the happy-go-lucky, super healthy, #goals pairing that most of the fandom wants to paint it as?” and I’m compelled to reblog :D

[abluescarfonwaston]

IMO I don't think Yen ever gets better 😬 I dunno if she's the kind of lady who would ever be able to stop chucking jam jars if you know what I mean. I can't tell if it's just shitty writing or bad interpretation on my part, but I really want to claw Yen's eyes out sometimes. Her calling Ciri ugly, even as a ""nickname""was just...... awful. Yen screams at Geralt and he just takes it. But also they seem don't talk about their problems or discuss fidelity expectations and it's kinda uncomfy idk

[part 2]Not that Yen is a bad character by any means!!! I should say. I kinda think that the relationship she and Geralt have is incredibly unhealthy at times, and I never really felt like book!Yen grew into a mother role for Ciri. Maybe as a mentor, but not a parent? Emotionally she's kind of a wreck at all times. I know these are spicy opinions and I should probably read the books through again, but that was my takeaway from my first read-through. Haven't played the games so can't really speak to that

[part 3] Another caveat: i LOVE the fandom interpretation of Yen. Just don't really care for her in canon

Hmmmm. There is definitely issues with how she is written in the story. I mean. This was pretty clearly written by a straight man in the 70′s. Well. I wouldn’t put it that far back but. Progressive for the time. Rough for today.

She does have issues with control and power and anger. They all have shitty coping mechanisms. Geralt, Yennfer, Dandelion. All of them. So I do genuinely worry for Geralt’s safety in that relationship. At least with the versions of her that would throw things. Or hurt him with magic.

Yeah for how ‘communicative’ this Geralt is. Theirs not actually a lot of communication that seems to happen. I can see why every other version of the story just. Had him talk less. When you can See him you need less words to be able to tell the audience what’s happening.

I haven’t seen her call Ciri ugly yet. I’d assumed that it was like a reversal of Daisy saying ‘I hope she grows up pretty and stupid. That’s the best thing a girl can be in this world.’ And Yennefer - as someone who grew up ‘ugly’ is saying the opposite. I hope you grow up ugly and smart. But i can definitely see why it could easily be upsetting or miss it’s mark.

I really hope she does grow into the mother role for Ciri. I need her to. It is so important to me for her character. Game Ciri seems to think of her as mother. If I have to I will be satisfied with that.

And just to be fair- they are all emotional wrecks at all times.

So far Book! Yennefer I feel bad for but don’t want her in a relationship with Geralt. Hexer! Yennefer I feel Very bad for because honestly from the tiiiiny bit we see of her screams someone in a great deal of pain. And she’s the closest thing we see in that show to Geralt eagerly participating in a sexual/romantic relationship. Still don’t want them in a relationship. Cause I trust that Jaskier with Geralt’s emotional wellbeing and he doesn’t want them to be together. Game! Yennefer is Badass lady that Geralt CLEARLY adores. but i honestly haven’t seen enough to know if she’s changed meaningfully from the books. I hope so. I want them to be happy. And whatever Triss did in the first game was clearly unforgivable for a lot of people so. Better option? Still wish I could have let him romance Regis instead. They seem like a fitting pair of old men.

Netflix Yennefer Has a Lot of potential for me. She’s clearly been thought out by a team of writers that include actual women. And their discussion to not include Jaskier’s more... repulsive aspects gives me hope that their relationship might grow into something I can enjoy. 

Someone said that the Netflix Geralt/Yennefer relationship isn’t a standard romance. It’s a Kink romance. And Netflix Geralt seems to be into it. (He’s clearly got some Game Geralt influences. That is a man who would enjoy the unicorn i think) So. Depending on how things go in season two I could ship them. It’s just. So much of their relationship appears to be based on their Physical attraction to each other and as an Ace I don’t get that at all.

I remain hopeful. And if not. I will continue to enjoy Fanon Yennefer in all her glory.

[spica-starson]

end of 2020 fandom asks

i was tagged by @nolongervoid​ on a post of this by @ao3commentoftheday​ and i thought i’d do it bc why not lolol

thanks so much for tagging me fam! <3

What fandom(s) did you join this year? The Witcher!!

What fandom(s) did you leave? Can you leave sth that you never entered? ∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿lmaooo. I tend to avoid the Fandoms in general (like Naruto, Bigbang, Witcher, etc.) but even when I’m sorta active in some (like Boboiboy and DC) , I never really leave the ones I was a part of? I just stopped being active haha. Unless that’s what the Q meant? Hm. I change and revisit different ones all the time so eh nvm

What fandom(s) from the past did you return to? DC/Batfam, Transformers, Naruto, Running Man!!

What show/book/movie etc. was your comfort and/or escape this year? Oh...the Witcher books and game, for sure. :”) <3 and tons of DC comics haha. Merlin too. And lots, lots of fanfics of the ones I just mentioned lmao

What creative work are you most proud of (your own or someone else’s)? Uuuhhh- my Batman!Cass mock-cover art, I guess? :0 And there’s a bunch of awesome fics I found this year which are amazing.

Did you have any new ships this year?  Lol i stopped having new ships since 2013. Idk my romance radar kinda just. Died off as I grow older, thankfully. I still enjoy some pairings from time to time, but my heart is never into them? Not like I feel towards platonic ships or friendships--I literally go crazy and obsess over them lmao. I guess if we’re talking platonic pairs: Geralt and Dandelion. Merlin and Arthur, but that was kinda from 2019-2020 sooo- yeah. Platonic love ftw.

Which character did you relate to most this year? The Wayne/Bat-siblings. Tho I guess I relate to Jason, Tim and Cass the most qwq <3 my bbys hhfhdskf--

What quote really sums up how you’re feeling at this point? “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts” — Winston Churchill

Recommend something that you really enjoyed in 2020. THE WITCHER BOOKS!!!!! THE BOOK SAGA IS SO SO GOOD PLS READ THEM!!! AND WITCHER 3 GAME TOO GO PLAY IT--

Share something you learned in 2020. Plans can change anytime. Don’t be afraid to move on and let go of others.

Name a fellow fan who you really appreciated this year. @aishazero9i18r for staying strong in our server even tho so much shit happened and i got busy and couldn’t help as much qwq love you zahhh<333

Share your wishes for your fellow fans in the new year. Stay healthy and safe okay? Remember that fandoms can be toxic and it’s okay to step back. Prioritize your happiness and i hope yall have fun gushing abt whatever it is you love!!

What do you want to do less of next year? Procrastinating. Seriously.

What do you want to do more of next year? Draw and write more :”D maybe read more published books and comics too. I read a TON of fanfics, but it’d been a while since I read an actual book before I read all of the Witcher books this year. I forgot how nice it was to explore and follow through a whole new world haha

What are you looking forward to coming out in 2021? GOTHAM KNIGHTS!!! And Witcher netflix s2? I’m pretty neutral tbh bc I much prefer the books, but who knows? It might be good lol. Also Jason and Bruce team up comic later in March hfjkdshHFDKSH--

That’s it I guess?? That was fun XD kinda late but eh its fine haha. To everyone who sees this, feel free to do this too!! uwu

Oh wait imma tag these people anyway: @takutron @ananymous-plak @dashiecomic13 You don‘t have to do it ofc!!

[gayregis]

ok also. i don't think geralt's into pet names BUT he's really just like. thoroughly physically affectionate. like he's not good with words but he knows very well just how and where his bf wants to be kissed and touched and what makes him feel good and what makes him feel appreciated both in terms of sex and in just in general and in turn jaskier is very vocal abt how good geralt makes him feel or abt how much he really appreciates him and his company and how he loves him bc They Know Each Other

in a little sacrifice when geralt begins tripping over his words around dandelion and essi... he was shortcircuiting from the pressure of having to speak in front of two poets. ... the thing is that geralt has the capability to be incredibly eloquent, but it’s only when he’s not thinking about it, and also usually when it’s about something he scorns, or a hateful situation (the nature of humanity, impending doom, the dangers and woes that ciri is facing...) ... when he has to speak about good things and love, he kind of becomes reduced to “you make me feel good in my heart :)” 

i know that this isn’t the ship on the table right now, but, i mean, it took geralt four books and like what, 10 years, to tell yennefer he loved her... i feel like with dandelion, there was less, ahem, drama in their relationship (they don’t really on again/off again, it’s more of a mutual everlasting thing) so it could have gotten to that point sooner between them, but it also has to be considered when exactly it turns romantic or geralt Realizes that he’s not only capable of love but legitimately loves dandelion ... not just in a friend way... 

(personally i understand the appeal of a ship that has love at first sight, but i really like the “love at second sight” dynamic in which they realize they’re important to each other right off the bat but only really realize their feelings later... also i think falling in love / realizing that you have fallen in love with your best friend is a common gay/bi experience...)

so i like to put the estimate of when geralt Realizes actually exactly at the point where dudu changes into dandelion in eternal flame. because at that moment geralt realizes that all he wanted to do when faced with dandelion is hold him, talk with him, be with him somewhere quiet, peaceful, and safe... that he loves him, even if he is wearing that stupid gaudy blue kaftan... that all he ever feels towards dandelion is this desire to be with him, spend time with him, protect him from anything that may come their way... dudu and geralt in this moment both were expecting geralt to raise his sword, geralt was already reluctant and never wants to harm innocents, but after dudu shifted form into dandelion, any kind of drive he possibly could have had for unsheathing his blade in an act of violence just got knocked out of him, blew away like the wind. (also worth noting that right before dudu shifted into dandelion’s form, he was in geralt’s form, and that only made geralt actually more OK with using violence than he was with dudu in any other form... geralt’s self-loathing knows. only a few bounds.)

the reason why i bring it back to this time geralt realizes he’s in love is because of that moment where all he wants is to just sheathe his sword, rush forward, and hold dandelion in his arms... feeling horror at the fact that his sword is glistening in his hand. he doesn’t know what to say, actually, in this moment. the dialogue becomes a monologue as dudu continues speaking in dandelion’s voice and form, and where geralt is supposed to repond, it just says: “geralt nodded reluctantly.” “the witcher said nothing.” “the witcher said nothing.” i interpret this scene as him basically being paralyzed with feelings, especially after a shard of ice where he and istredd went toe-to-toe and was told he can’t experience love because it’s a biological impossibility. he’s still thinking about this question throughout eternal flame, and it comes to a head in this scene, because what else, other than love, stayed his blade, paralyzed him?

geralt’s situation relating to his feelings and love are intensely complex. it’s not the simple “oh i have feelings for you but i’m too abashed to say them uwu,” but rather “i was born to be emotionless so i could fill a societal role and specific caste laid out for me but your presence in my life has changed everything and now i think i might be able to feel love, and i feel love for you” ... so yeah he has difficulty verbalizing all of that. especially when he hasn’t had a traditional upbringing with the presence of fairy tales and stories of love told to him since childhood, he’s missed out on a lot of “normal” societal things like this so he does not have a framework to understand his feelings through! no one told geralt that when you want to spend night and day with someone, sleep in the same bed, talk to them endlessly, and you feel like you can be completely honest and truly yourself and seen for who you really are around somebody... that’s love! 

before dandelion’s presence in geralt’s life, the idea of pleasant touch was really foreign to geralt. from contracts, he felt claws and teeth and maybe the sewing of a wound afterwards. from other contact with other humans, he felt nothing except the ocassional contemptous spitting or throwing of stones (legit what it says in the last wish). the witchers in KM seem to go for that masc shit (he and eskel hug for an imperceptable moment, blink and you’ll miss it) and i can imagine witchers roughhouse for fun and stuff like that, but in the outside world, with no one who could ever understand who he is, what he is, what role he was meant to play... it’s a very isolating life. 

i’m stealing an entire paragraph from this other post i wrote a while ago: “tbh there was probably an entire first week of their friendship where geralt flinched or became immediately alert when dandelion got close to him to speak, touch his arm in jest or gentle motion, or grabbed onto his hand, forearm, or sleeve in anxiety, because geralt just…. wasn’t used to anyone touching him, even in a passing or platonic manner.” geralt wasn’t used to kind touch, but he has highly trained mind-body coordination. i think in one part of tower of the swallow in a chapter prelude, witchers are called a “caste of warrior-priests” which just makes me think of the monk class in D&D... which can be a good analogy. geralt is NOT just a sellsword. his profession goes entirely much deeper, it’s literally what he was genetically altered to perform. this is why he has such a difficult time separating himself from his work, because it almost cannot be done. witchers do undergo extensive training, and especially individuals like geralt who are focused on ethics and morality take time to reconcile the physical and mental effects on their body. it’s not really just “guy with sword feels things physically bc that’s just how he’s wired,” but geralt has really tuned his soul and body together as a result of both his profession and coping with being forced into his profession.

so i think when dandelion introduces this concept of good touch to him in addition to the idea that he can be loved / deserves companionship, it’s natural for geralt as he becomes more in-tune with his emotions to feel them more physically. i ask whomstever is reading to take their mind out of the gutter bc this part at least is a nonsexual context, because they can put it straight back into the gutter later, since this post does involve dandelion.geralt’s emotions are practically on the same level of chronic pain as his shattered leg later on in the series. you know when you feel despair and grief in your chest, the tingling sensation of love in your arms and shoulders, the bristling anger on the back of your neck... it’s along those lines. 

so when he’s feeling emotions very heavily, and can’t begin to craft the statement beginning with, “so, i’m not supposed to feel emotions, but...” he just acts with his body. this can actually be seen in all the times he saves dandelion, saves yennefer (debatable b/c she’s pretty badass; it’s more like he helped her), and when he just runs to ciri without even needing to say anything in something more. 

in his worst times, geralt’s a man of philosophy and surmising and indecisiveness... like in baptism of fire, regis says that the cardinal directions have no meaning to him, as long as he is going somewhere... he paces around, and also like in baptism of fire, the song about the ornery wolf... look how the wolf dances in the holt / teeth bared, tail waving, leaping like a colt (...) look how the wolf is dragging his paws / head drooping, tail hanging, clenching his jaws (...)” ... but in his best times, he’s a man of action. he acts when it’s most important.

ok time to put your head back into the gutter now! i’ll put the nsfw stuff under a cut to save all of your eyes

this part can be treated like an add-on to the post. wow, all this writing just to say geralt doesn’t suck at sex... ok. 

well in terms of geralt x dandelion i think that after their first time together, dandelion accuses him of lying about how many people he’s fucked, because ‘it can’t possibly be that small of a number’ because geralt wasn’t awkward. he was very emotional as to be expected, but also we know he doesn’t tend to show emotions on his face, so the intense rippling feeling of love & desire he feels when dandelion pushes his hair back behind his ear flew under the radar. which is good in geralt’s perspective, because he strongly feels that it would be embarassing if dandelion knew how much he’s affected by him. honestly similarly, dandelion who’s not embarassed by much is at first apprehensive to think about his and geralt’s relationship, because usually he can just leave whenever he feels like it... but with geralt, it became different, geralt was no fling, and realizing this very early on in their relationship was alarming until dandelion did what he usually does and just drops it and remains happy. 

honestly you could make the argument (not outright STATING it... i’m not being h*rny on sideblog...) but you could argue, that geralt and dandelion have bomb ass sex because both of them are canonically good in bed, weirdly enough. geralt is pretty giving and loving in his sex scenes, even when it’s not even romantic and rather a crazed passion, like with fringilla. it’s canon that he’s a proponent of oral sex b/c he defends the concept in discussion with regis and also gives it canonically, so idk what to really say here except geralt’s a real one and sapkowski had a vision i guess for his main character. 

another important thing mentioned in geralt’s sex scenes is that he’s pretty intuitive with pacing. in the last wish, he and yennefer take their time and have quite a soft and loving experience, and in lady of the lake, he and fringilla experience this more sort of intense scenario. but i think these differences are meant to speak to the differences in love and relationships between the pairings... while geralt and yennefer experience an all-consuming love of mind and body, geralt and fringilla had more of a ... bad decision. this makes us have to headcanon for what the pairing of geralt and dandelion would be like, i’m inclined to say it would be a lot like geralt and yennefer because the thing about geralt and yennefer is that they find intimacy in each other that they’ve yearned for their entire lives, and geralt and dandelion have a lot of that similar energy of finding something in another that you’ve always longed for. 

especially towards the beginning of their relationship, i feel like just their abilities to be vulnerable are what drives them. of course, having emotional sex is a fireworks-type event for geralt, while for dandelion it’s more just like, 3 PM on a tuesday afternoon, so that affects their dynamic a lot, again especially in the beginning of their relationship before geralt met yennefer and villentretenmerth, because geralt really was just not sure of himself. dandelion’s very sure of himself so he kind of doesn’t realize that it’s the beginning of an Emotional Journey for geralt and not just something casual like eating brunch together. geralt becomes more confident over time though and that’s good but he still gets just regular pangs of gay love that stops your heart momentarily, from being ... in love... 

as for actual dynamic during i think it would be funny and good to keep them both in-character and interacting as they normally do. cue humorous arguments with no vitriol or consequence: “stop moaning in musical scales, it’s ruining my concentration” “no— fa so!” 

[moiraineswife]

3 for phil?

003 | Give me a character & I will tell you... 

How I feel about this character: Tbh it’s like, pretty universal adoration. Which I shouldn’t. But morally grey queer ladies are my KRYPTONITE. Ahem. Okay, no, I acknowledge that perhaps she’s vaguely awful but like, do I care? No. Also she’s v Complicated as a character, I enjoy a female character having the typically masculine morally grey, ruthless, ‘for the greater good’ type role in a narrative. And I could write screeds of meta on the way her sexuality is presented in canon and the fluidity of sexuality and the nuances of it when it’s present in a character who is, effectively, immortal, and likely several centuries old. But I will not. 

All the people I ship romantically with this character: To answer this question, simply: Step 1)- Is the character in question a lady? Step 2)- If the answer to step one is ‘yes’ then proceed to ‘yes I ship them’ Step 3)- If the answer is no ask ‘why not?’ OKAY NO SERIOUSLY. I am Weak for Phil and Sheala and also Weak for Phil and Triss (in the AU land in my head it’s Good, okay, idk what else to say) and I have tragically written nothing for it but I am Here for Phil/Yen as well. That about covers it. Oh no it doesn’t I forgot my crackship with Assire (Listen, the whole hufflepuff/slytherin thing Gets me.) 

My non-romantic OTP for this character: Phil doesn’t have any friends this is a terrible question. Erm, okay, she and the other ladies of the Lodge, probably. Also Geralt bc hilarity and snark. And possibly Dandelion, purely for the iconic ‘Introduce me’ scene. 

My unpopular opinion about this character: Erm…That I…Genuinely like her??? (There’s a beautiful little corner that Appreciates her but from what I’ve seen in general people are pretty Nope towards her) 

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: Errrmmmmmmm. I would maybe have liked more backstory? I feel like I don’t know a huge amount about her past and I would Like To. 

My OTP: *screams at the horror of being made to Choose* okay, okay, I think that Phil/Sheala officially has its claws the most deeply sunk into me at the moment. They’re just so Good together, their dynamic is fascinating I am All For It. 

My OT3: M’kay this is what’s going to get me Disqualified from this fandom but at this point I’m too deep into my own garbage to care. I have two (what can I say, Phil is proficient in poly things, polymorphy, polyamory, she excels at it all)  Okay the first one I enjoy is like, in some AU where I twist and tweak and change various aspects of canon until it doesn’t really resemble canon anymore but instead looks like a world that fully fits my f/f/f designs: Sheala and Phil are married af and very happy wives together. Phil is, naturally, gay af, and Sheala is ace. They’re both totally chilled with this but like…Phil has Needs, and Sheala is aware of this. And because Phil is probably too proud to fess up to this, Sheala takes matters into her own hands and takes it upon herself to solve this problem. The way she does this is by approaching an unsuspecting Triss and just, ‘my wife is very frustrated and it’s driving me to distraction, I’m hiring you as her new fuck buddy, congratulations’ Triss is a bit like O_o oookkaaayyy, but like, who wouldn’t say yes to no-strings-attached sex with Phil? (every sensible human being on the planet. Fortunately, this list does not include either Triss, or me, so onwards and upwards) So that happens for a while and it’s pure sex and it works pretty well for both of them tbh and then things sort of…shift a little bit. Feelings are had and things suddenly start feeling…Decidedly….Domestic. At which point Triss realises she’s been adopted by two of the most terrifying sorceresses the world has ever known. And she’s pretty cool with that. Polyamory ensues. The second one is equally garbage and created in equal parts for my desire for a)- ot3s, b)- hilarity and c)- Phil to be with multiple people at once (who knows why. One person can’t handle her though, maybe two is the secret to Domesticating Philippa Eilhart (it’s not but it’s still fun)) Sooo I’m kiiind of here for Phil/Yen/Geralt tbh. Obviously there’s nothing remotely sexual/romantic between Phil and Geralt for gay/’you’ve got to be fucking kidding me’ reasons. But like, in the hilarious AU in my head (probably works best as a modern AU tbh) it goes down something like this: Yennfer cannot choose, and so she doesn’t. She just decides she’s going to have her cake and eat it, and she’s going to have both of them at once. Geralt and Phil therefore tolerate one another for Yennefer’s sake (and probably get ridiculously competitive abt it too. Like Phil will drift into the kitchen smirking and just ‘I made her come three times this morning before you even made her coffee :)’ Yennefer has a lot of orgasms that week and can’t quite work out why (she has a shrewd idea) but she’s not complaining) And eventually they probably grudgingly bond over like, snark, repressed feelings, and some really obscure interest that they probably weirdly have in common. Send me things!!

[gayregis]

ok may have misunderstood this ask as being in a passive aggressive tone like “so what do YOU want then 😤 (if nothing is good enough for you!!)” and not just a genuine ask of my opinion about how to handle geralt yennefer and dandelion as a ship

the ballad of geralt’s love life

i feel like in this specific situation: geralt and dandelion became friends years ago and had this eventual friends-to-lovers thing which really originated around the time of the last wish but geralt only realizes it during eternal flame. dandelion knew but he wanted geralt to come to terms with it on his own. so by the point of the last wish, they have an open relationship (they date each other but are allowed to date as many other people as they’d like) going on.

geralt and yennefer of course have their electrocution love at first sight moment in the last wish, which leads them to spend something like 1-4 years in vengerberg, but then they realize they’re both too immature for the relationship and it begins to dissolve towards the end, which leads to geralt leaving in a dismissive manner. we rejoin everyone in the bounds of reason, where geralt (self-divorced from yennefer, still friend-romance-gay dating dandelion even though he has no idea where he is) has a fling with borch, then by the end of the story he also gets back together with yennefer.

geralt and yennefer work through some issues that still seem unsolvable in a shard of ice. geralt realizes he actually is experiencing gay love for dandelion and not just gay friend love in eternal flame when dudu transforms into dandelion and geralt feels some emotions. in a little sacrifice he’s still working through these emotions and doesn’t think dandelion will understand (😑) and that’s why he’s so testy towards him in chapter 4.

of course geralt gets a break from his dramatic love life to become a dad but then he loses ciri and wants to find her again which brings us to the resolution of geralt and dandelion “are they gay friends or gay friends” , after they turn away from cintra and are resting for the night, geralt has a little moment of “fuck it why not” because he’s feeling hopeless (more hopeless than usual) anyways and tells dandelion he thinks he’s in love with him and dandelion’s like we have literally had sex before this is of no surprise.

this is a relief but geralt still finds himself yearning for yennefer but he’s too proud / scared to admit it so he tries to get triss to help him in blood of elves instead which of course leads to triss weirdly coming onto him in every scene and him denying her. etc etc fast foward to in time of contempt when geralt and yennefer actually get back together because they’re both mature enough now that raising ciri has taught them maturity individually

the thanedd coup happens, geralt gets his ass sent to brokilon, dandelion does some orpheus-like manuevers to visit him. preddy gay

baptism of fire, geralt and regis have a weird argumentative - confidant relationship going on. tower of the swallow, geralt thinks yennefer betrayed him, but she didn’t she was being tortured, and he realizes his only later in lady of the lake when theh get back together at stygga. also in lady of the lake geralt is jealous of anna henrietta for being able to know a side of dandelion he never got to see but he can’t confront anyone about this thus causing some palace drama

basically to summarize you can have your wife and your best man too and maybe a dragon and a vampire if you play nice

What kind of polyamory do you prefer? (books, games ofc)

it’s not really about what i prefer, it’s more that i think tumblr shippers ONLY respect the idea of a polyamory triad/ot3 as the solution to everything and don’t ever give a shit about any other kinds of polyamory ... like not every single character is gonna wanna date every single character and that’s ok.

i feel like other types of polyamory just go either ignored or disrespected. for example, i have seen twn fans gush over a geralt x jaskier x yennefer triad, but when considering the idea of geralt dating both yennefer and jaskier in an open relationship (literally explicitly saying that they all agreed to it), the fans always make jaskier hiding his jealousy and in some cases straight up suicidal, as if it’s inherently unhealthy/abusive/manipulative to date multiple people. it’s almost like they intentionally misunderstand the concept of an open relationship as cheating just to create boring drama for their fic. like come on show some respect to other forms of polyamory... just because it’s not your ship fuel doesn’t mean it makes people who practice it manipulative and cheaters lol