#please Tissaia just let me be

[flowers-shouldnt-die]

Currently watching Rebel Moon 2 and I cried

“Fierce as the storm with its flashes of lightning, but with its life-giving rain.

That is the source of life.

The storm is the mother of us all”

[thedeadthree]

TAGLIST (ask to be added or removed or interact via this post !!): @griffin-wood, @grapecaseschoices, @adelaidedrubman, @duskfey, @lavampira, @alltoowelltv, @socially-awkward-skeleton, @flyntz, @statichvm, @unholymilf, @quickhacked, @full---ofstarlight, @avallachs, @risingsh0t, @pinkfey, @d-vx, @dameayliins, @nightbloodbix, @queennymeria

𝖆𝖒𝖆𝖛𝖊𝖙 𝖆𝖊𝖗𝖆𝖘𝖚𝖒𝖊 -`. 𝔟𝔤𝔦𝔦𝔦. 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔪𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔩𝔬𝔯𝔡 𝔬𝔣 𝔰𝔦𝔩𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶𝔪𝔬𝔬𝔫.

MOON HALF ELF. FIGHTER. ELDRITCH KNIGHT. WIZARD. NECROMANCER. NOBLE. ❦ 𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔡𝔬𝔴𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱.

[yennefer-x-tissaia]

Can we please talk for a second about how Tissaia hesitated when Yennefer starts to talk about her suicide attempt in that scene in 3x04?!

First of all from the moment Yennefer started to talk about her suicide attempt Tissaia suddenly seems much more worried. She interrupts Yen that her actions where foolish and that they had nothing to do with taking control. She wanted to remember her that there was nothing good about it.

And then Yen tells her that she still feels so desperate sometimes and from there Tissaia is all worried for her.

Tissaia never looked away when she said that. She seemed so worried while it looks like she tries to read each of her facial expressions looking for something alarming. And before she could say anything about it Yennefer starts to talk about Rience and Ciri without even noticing that Tissaia was still stuck on the first topic.

Like look at her face.

That woman needed some seconds before she followed their conversation again (and she blinked!!). Because just the thought that Yennefer could fall that deep again let her freeze for a short moment.

And that really makes me want to know how Tissaia reacted to the new scars on Yenenfer's wrists. She is a very attentive woman so she definitely must have seen them and I really wanted a reaction to what happened during the end of season 2.

[cybernecromancer365]

A.N. TW: For self-exit references. When I feel depressed my writing follows suit. Apologize for any mistakes. This is really just something random I wrote.

------

They stood outside Tissaia's door. A whole day had passed and then some. Sabrina stood with her arms crossed, Margarita beside her, and Triss in front of them. Triss gathered them to check on Yennefer. They knocked on the door a few times but never got a response.

"How long will she stay in there?"

"However long she has to." Margarita spoke where Triss ignored the conversation, the red-head staring at the door and preparing another knock.

"Never thought Tissaia would do something like that. Especially not over a man." Sabrina said the latter part almost under her breath.

"It's not about Vilgefortz. It's about Aretuza. You know that." Margarita corrected her with a healthy dose of side-eye.

Triss knocked and they waited for a response. "Yennefer...please come out. At least walk with us for a few moments."

Nothing.

"You still need to eat." Triss waited, then sighed.

"She'll find us when she's ready." Margarita squeezed Triss’s shoulder. "Come on, let's go."

------------------------------

Tissaia was going to hate her. There would be hell to pay for taking away the one thing Tissaia valued the most, control.

They did it for a reason. Aretuza couldn’t afford to lose its rectoress, and neither could she.

The evening sun slowly faded from Tissaia's room. Yennefer watched the open window opposite them with a hollow look in her violet eyes. Her tears dried hours ago, and her anger simmered until only a vague haze of sorrow remained.

The room was silent. A breeze wafted in, and Yennefer lay still. She hadn't uttered a word in hours. She hadn’t the energy to even hear herself talk. It all went to the Rectoress resting beneath the bedcovers.

The marks on Tissaia's wrists had healed to angry red scars. It was the best they could do for now. They'd all exhausted their chaos to bring Tissaia back.

Yennefer stroked Tissaia's pale cheek with her thumb, touching the Rectoress as though she were delicate glass. Her tears gathered each time she thought of the moments before the ceremony.

'You lied to me. Why?'

That thought stayed on her mind as she replayed their last moments incessantly, containing her emotion behind an unsteady frown.

Her world came crashing to a halt when she felt the searing pain in her wrists. It took her by surprise.

Her heart pounded, and a dangerous pang split it in two as she ran across Aretuza as fast as she could with her wrists still on fire. Her hands were numb when she reached the room.

She was grateful the others were close behind her. They started on Tissaia immediately.

"We need you too."

Triss pulled her out of her horror.

------------

Bringing Tissaia back took hours, and now all she could do was watch Tissaia breathe. The process of coming back was naunced and different for everyone. But as long as Tissaia was breathing, their part was done.

The center of her chest still ached as she recovered from the shock that left her tired and drained. The soreness under her ribcage throbbed with every inhale.

Their minutes were precious after she found Tissaia lying on the floor of her room with pools of blood under her wrists.

She had no time until now to lament over Tissaia’s choice, ruminating over a thousand what ifs.

Tissaia fooled her with a smile. She left the room, reassured by the gentle look in Tissaia's eyes. Strength had returned to them, or so she thought.

Now, their final hug haunted her. She welcomed it then and needed it more than she thought. Tissaia clung to her more than ever, and it chilled her to realize why. For Tissaia, that hug was their last. She couldn't have known, and that was exactly how Tissaia wanted it.

Yennefer's brow tensed.

What a cruel way to leave her. Tissaia had to know the horror she'd face in finding her.

Tissaia’s letter lay on the nightstand opposite them. Yennefer skimmed it once and couldn't read it again. Reading it the first time was hard enough.

She couldn’t believe a note would’ve been all of Tissaia she had left. It would’ve haunted her for the rest of her life as it did now.

The pain Tissaia must’ve felt...

Yennefer stroked the white hair under her palm as the Rectoress' color returned.

Tissaia was the strongest of them all. They needed her.

She wouldn't return to Ciri yet. Ciri had Geralt, and it was a good thing she did. They'd understand.

Yennefer closed her eyes and sunk deeper into the pillow, keeping Tissaia close, her hand resting on warm skin.

'I'm not ready to lose you.'

[corvo-bianco-lilacs]

Hi! I love your writing. May I please request a prompt with this option off of that most recent list you reblogged:

[that one hand squeeze just before letting go]

with the rare pair Tissaia x Triss? Thank you.😊

The sky above them glittered with stars, even through the haze of wood smoke. Tissaia looked at Triss, her cornflower blue eyes blazing in the firelight, her auburn locks wild and untamed in the soft breeze that blew across the clearing.

She had never thought she had looked more beautiful than she did in this moment, one that could have been their last.

She prayed that it wasn't. That they would see each other at the end, alive and breathing, sharing a new space away from war.

Triss held her hands, her silken skin warm against the chill of Tissaia's own, thumbs gently stroking her knuckles.

"You're thinking quite loudly." Triss teased, though her mirthful smile didn't quite touch her eyes.

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't be."

"No, I am... You're here because of me. Because of the Brotherhood. You shouldn't be here. None of us should be here."

"And yet here we stand, not because of you or the Brotherhood. I can't speak for everyone, but I'm here for you, not because of you." Triss breathed, pressing their foreheads together, a moment of calm against the storm. "And there's nowhere else I would rather be than at your side. No matter the circumstance."

Tissaia released a shaky breath, her hold of Triss' hands trembling.

Triss gave her hands a gentle squeeze, one Tissaia returned, before letting go, watching as the young woman moved across the field to where she was meant to be positioned.

Tissaia breathed out a prayer, hoping that the Gods would be merciful.

[eddysocs]

Sensual Soothing - Part Two (Tissaia de Vries x OC)

Summary: As Emerysia prepares to relax after a taxing day, Tissaia has in mind the perfect way to ensure she unwinds, but not without a little teasing.

Word Count: 1,150

Warnings: Teasing, minor dom/sub dynamic

Emerysia relaxed into the warmth of the water that filled the bath. It was exactly the thing she needed after a day of pushing her abilities to their limits. Closing her eyes and letting her thoughts drift away, she didn’t hear Tissaia enter the room. Crouching down at her side, Tissaia came in real close, her fingers delicately tucking Emerysia's long, black hair behind her ear. "If you want me in there with you, you’re going to have to ask nicely for it," she tempted.

Tissaia then rose to her feet and began walking around the room, circling the bathtub like some kind of predator toying with its prey. Emerysia knew what she was doing, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t working. Normally, pride and pure stubbornness wouldn’t let her cave so soon, but when it came to Tissaia, it was like finding and exploiting her weakest spot. "Don’t tease me this way. You know I want you. You can’t just leave me like this. Please, Tissaia? Join me?"

Tissaia smirked as she continued her rounds, knowing full well that she could leave her exactly like this, in a state of frustrated arousal, but she wouldn’t. Emerysia's big, pleading eyes worked on her just as well as Tissaia's own taunts and teasing worked on Emerysia. On her next turn about the room, she unfastened her dress and let it fall into a puddle on the floor behind her. Then she made her way into the bath and to an all too eager Emerysia.

"Move forward. Allow me to wash your hair," Tissaia offered.

Of course, it was an offer that Emerysia wouldn’t refuse, even on her worst day. So she did as Tissaia bid her to, and made a space for Tissaia to join her properly. What she didn’t realize was that Tissaia had it in mind to repay her for the last time they shared a bath.

It began as Tissaia had promised, wetting down Emerysia's hair and soaping it up for her, once again using the pitcher to rinse. She repeated these steps again, this time slower, more thoroughly. Emerysia really felt the way Tissaia's fingertips tingled against her scalp as they smoothly combed through her hair. Forgetting herself, she let out a quiet moan.

"Feel good? Just you wait." Tissaia's words did their work, causing a pleasant shudder to run down Emerysia's spine until it ended with a flutter in her lower abdomen. "You didn’t think I forgot about last time, did you? Only, I haven’t decided whether this should be a punishment for you having distracted me, or a returned favor. Maybe both," Tissaia mused aloud, so close to her ear that Emerysia could feel her breath against it.

Needing to look Tissaia in the eye, Emerysia shifted about in the water, turning over and laying her body onto Tissaia's, barely avoiding spilling the water out of the tub. Tissaia lifted the young woman's chin with a finger, leading her forward to kiss away the satisfied grin that played on her lips. "Sit up for me, princess," Tissaia softly instructed.

Emerysia used to hate being referred to by her title, but something about the way Tissaia said it had a different effect on her, one she couldn’t seem to get enough of. Carefully shifting herself again, she now effectively sat straddling Tissaia's lap, awaiting further instruction. "If any water hits the floor, that’s it. I’ll pull away and leave you just as you are…wanting."

Emerysia nodded, steeling her mind and body to keep still as Tissaia reached out to touch her. Her hands ran down Emerysia's shoulders and over her breasts, just long enough to tease her. The absence of her fleeting touch left them vulnerable to the coldness of the air compared to the warmth of Tissaia's hands. Her hands continued to travel down the curve of her body, one stopping at the small of her back, the other breaking the surface of the water and finding its way between her legs.

Emerysia bit her lip to keep from making a sound. "You can be as loud as you want," Tissaia informed, "just don’t spill the water over the edge." Tissaia's skillful fingers traced the outline of her before sliding two fingers inside, causing Emerysia's breath to hitch.

It was hard to fight the desire to rock her hips and take Tissaia's fingers deeper, but she reminded herself not to move, lest the water splash over the lip of the tub. In mere minutes, the sensations became almost unbearable and Emerysia was desperate for more. For release. For anything.

She steadied herself by clasping her hands around the sides of the bathtub, gripping so hard her knuckles went white. This only encouraged Tissaia to change pace and apply more pressure and friction to the most sensitive part of her to see how long she could hold on. Emerysia's quickened breaths made the water ripple, but not spill, and she allowed herself a moment of movement to lower herself onto Tissaia's hand to bring about that feeling of exhilaration she so fervently longed for.

Tissaia could tell that Emerysia was getting close. A few more skilled manipulations on her part and Emerysia would fall apart under her touch, only she wanted Emerysia to fail her test and cause the water to pour over the edge. She was counting on it, so Tissaia pushed just a little bit further. Just as she hoped, Emerysia couldn’t fight the need to thrust her hips, the water dangerously close to sloshing out.

"I didn’t— Did I," Emerysia asked, panic evident in her voice. She couldn’t have, not after she’d been pushed so close to the edge herself.

"Nearly," Tissaia stated, "but no. Looks like you passed."

The wave of relief that flooded over Emerysia could easily be read on her face, but Tissaia didn’t give her long to feel it as she brought Emerysia right back to the edge, building the pressure that welled up within her to its breaking point and finally letting her come. Emerysia moaned so deeply that it almost felt like it echoed off of the walls.

Her body ached from holding herself so rigidly, but it was all worth it. She let the tension melt from her body and into the now lukewarm water, laying herself against Tissaia once more, her head finding respite in the crook of Tissaia's neck. "You are wicked and cruel," Emerysia practically exhaled, though there was no bite to her words, only an exhausted sense of teasing.

"Tell me, princess, if I were those things, do you think you’d be where you are right now?" Emerysia shook her head lightly in denial. No, she supposed she wouldn’t. Tissaia smiled and placed a kiss on Emerysia's forehead. Soon they’d have to leave here, but for now, Tissaia was content to let her rest for a moment. Everything else could wait.

💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

Part One <-

Forever Tag: @arrthurpendragon, @baubeautyandthegeek, @foxesandmagic, @carmens-garden, @fawera, @themaradaniels, @that-demigirl, @iloveocs, @bossyladies, @b1rvt4, @getawaycardotmp3, @misshiraethsworld, @kmc1989

Emerysia Of Temeria: @dollvi3e, @ghostsunderstoodmysoul, @theuniverseofsg, @thepotatoislost

[mantra4ia]

I mean no offense to the people who enjoyed "The Witcher" Season 3: Vol 1 on Netflix. No judgement. And also no offense to the cast and crew who I am sure worked hard to bring this to the screen.

I love the Witcher, mostly from the books and some gameplay, so from my own personal perspective...

What in the actual hell did Netflix do?!

There's so much eloquent dialogue in the source material to draw upon and this steaming pile of ****e is what they came up with? It telegraphs so much without a whiff of subtlety or craft— not unlike Sabrina in 3x5— that I want to puke, the only exception being that Yarpen Zigrin is still no nonsense and true to form.

Emhyr, as is evidenced by his cringe, overlong speeches and dull drawl, is not written as cunning or menacing by any stretch of the imagination as he ought to be, and the lack of a strong villain does nothing to drive the pace of the season.

Why are we waxing on about Vissena to try and strum up audience feels? We don't need to revisit that unless it serves a purpose for the characters. It doesn't. If the audience has been watching any of the previous two seasons, we don't need Geralt's childhood memories of his mother to impress upon us that he takes newfound parenthood seriously and would spill blood and make sacrifices for his family.

If that weren't painful enough, Yennefer — who we know is cunning when she schemes— lacks all of her razor edged wit when "groveling" before the Brotherhood to form a conclave. The recycled dialogue with Tissaia about chaos and control has lost its potency, as lukewarm as the mages' council of armchair tapping, and even her speeches to Ciri like "my ugly one" have so much wasted potential because there's a speed run montage about how much Yen and Cirilla care for eachother in episode 1 rather than letting us growing into the emotions ourselves, so that by the time we get to Yennefer disclosing her past, the emotion is lost. Also, Cirilla is supposed to be in a little awe of Yen and her power of influence, which is what makes "ugly one" so endearing, because it's the ends way of saying that Cirilla is powerful but magic isn't all she is / she doesn't need to rely on it like the mages rest on prolonged youth. It's her way of saying I love you, and for all the exposition that season three uses to elaborate feelings, this most essential part is completely lost. It's like we're playing house with emotions that haven't been earned their screen moment. "Lilac and gooseberries, now that I can tolerate," but I cannot abide these trash conversations.

These were the action sequences, the fight choreography, and the monster concept visualization they came up with? Like, for example, a failing mass of conjoined limbs and disembodied heads! The idea of Ciri's doppelganger from the books has been so corrupted.

On top of that, the cuts from scene to scene are so rough it's like whiplash. Chase scene - recycled Geralt /Ciri hug - dark portal nonsense - crash through ceiling. No finesse.

The Belletyn festival, which is so meaningful and beautifully described in the books, was butchered in execution of costume (Yen's is a season 1 throwback but never underwhelming way), with ridiculous "masks" (it irks me so much that Yennefer tells Cirilla had to cover her eyes and hair for a low profile and then we speed cut to the next scene where neither occurs and the costume department decides that they aren't even going to attach Cirilla's mask to her face, she just carries it around in her hand because that makes sense), unnecessary mazes to separate our characters and engineer a sense of peril, the whole lot. They used Belletyn as a setup to engineer a subsequent bait scene, which was an appallingly insult to intelligence and fight choreography. PS: Yen can I do more than throw a knife, can we please utilize her a little better?

Speaking of choreography, Ciri descending from mid air to stab the CGI aeschna in 3x4 with the overlong shot pull of monster blood on her face was so poorly edited I wanted to fast forward the entire episode thereafter.

Lastly, this farce for humor is what they came up with?! They made layered source characters like Dijkstra into single line fodder, and they wasted so much time on sitcom rubbish like Queen Hedwig's Redanian funeral, and Phillipa's bedroom shenanigans, and Fringilla as a drunken poison tester. I want to slap someone. It's as if the whole of season 3 thus far is a live-action adaptation of Ciri and Jaskier's satire of Yen and Geralt. Except that no one left the audience in the joke.

Also, for a series called The Witcher there is surprisingly little in the way of meaningful dialogue and action for Geralt to do, and that's a shame

I'm angry.

Season 1 was fantastic, season 2 was good but with notable divergence to character integrity, and Season 3 so far is the refuse pile of Aedd Gynvael. The only highlight was Ciri telling Valdo Marx to shut up, like I wish I could do for the rest of the dialogue in the series. After "Sherrawedd" I kept thinking to myself, it will get better. Ironically Sherwood was probably the best episode so far because at least it kept the essence of idea in "dear friend" from the literature as a foundation. After which it kept sinking down into chaos.

But more than angry, I'm disappointed. I'm sad that the Yennefer/Jaskier frenemy dynamic ("Hello again witch) —a highlight of season 2— has been shirked; the only decent byproduct of which is the Ciri/Jaskier relationship. And I'm depressed that this is Henry Cavill's sendoff as Geralt.

[kuwdora]

Dead of Night Vid WIP - Timeline Progress

Over the weekend I managed to get into a nice vidding groove. It also helps that I'm really only working with 2 or so episodes for this whole vid (with a smattering of clips featuring Aretuza's adepts). This was also the type of vid that's been sitting in the corner of my brain for the past 11 months so it was pretty well formed when I started teasing it out. Thanedd Intrigue! Yennefer's face!! Fighting and more intrigue and did I mention Yennefer's face? And her pain and love?? I love. I love. The last quarter of the vid really came together better than I imagined and is my favorite part of the whole vid. Lots of fighting and dancing choreography on the beat. It's really fuckin' visually sweet.

And if you squint at the screencap, you can also see that I extended the audio by about 15 seconds at the end of the track. I found myself wanting to include a little more about Yennefer and Tissaia rather than just focusing on the Yenralt of It All because Tissaia was so fucking important to Yennefer. It's also turning into a motif for me since I made sure to include Tissaia and Geralt's relationship as equal importance in my season 1 Yennefer vid Gasoline. I wasn't really happy with a bunch of clips I laid in the middle section but that was mostly me trying to figure out how to balance various intrigue elements: Philippa and Dijkstra, Triss and Istredd. At one point I had a too much Geralt and Vilgefortz taking over the middle part and ended up yanking out a bunch of stuff and made sure to put Philipa and Yen in there. The vid is much better for it. I can always make another Geralt/Vilgefortz vid later if the brain still wants to gnaw on that. I let the vid draft sit for a day or two to let my brain cool down. Then I tackled it again in the evening. The blank space in the screencap below was mostly the Thanedd battle scene stuff which I mostly wanted to skim over since that was more Action than Intrigue.

I have a lot of favorite lyric associations in this vid, but among my favorite is the lyric "you can shout, you can scream" - and on the scream lyric, I put a shot of Lydia doing her quiet lurking thing. It makes me very very pleased, eeheee. It's the sort of thing that people who know the show will get, but casual vidwatchers and non-witcher friends wouldn't immediately grasp since they probably don't know that Lydia's jaw was burned away by the Elder Blood huffing she did in season 2. There's a shot of Lydia with her face revealed later in the vid. But it might be hard to connect the random appearance of this character to those who aren't familiar with the show and events of the episodes so I wasn't going to assume many people would see it. But here I am talking about that clip because it makes me happy. Another unplanned vidding thing that's very satisfying.

I did finish the vid last night!! So no more sneak peeks, I'm gonna post the vid tomorrow!

Yennefer!!! Dancing and intrigue with the beat!!

ICYMI: Naked Vid Draft - Dead of Night (Yennefer/Yenralt/Thanedd) - The Witcher Netflix

Process video of laying down the first clips

First minute of the vid + timeline view

[astaldis]

Nauseous - Not Cruel by Nature

@whumpers-monthly​

Fandom: The Witcher TV

Whumpee: Cahir

Whumper: Tissaia de Vries

Caretaker: Marti Södergren

Summary: Tissaia is trying to extract information from the Nilfgaardian prisoner in the Aretuza dungeons with Vilgefortz's help. Cahir is not having a good time ... Lucky for him, Marti Södergren is a dedicated healer. Written for Whumptober 2022.

Published: 2022-10-19; Completed: 2022-12-14; Words: 26,422; Chapters: 17/17

Rating: Mature     Category: Gen

Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Relationships: Vilgefortz of Roggeveen/Tissaia de Vries; Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach & Yennefer of Vengerberg; Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach & Marti Södergren

Excerpt from Chapter 3:

A volley of icy water hits him square in the face. He flinches violently, coughs and gasps for breath, the iron chains and manacles clanking and rattling from the sudden movement. A movement that sends jolts of pain through his skull which explode into a dizzying shower of stars. Cahir heaves a groan of agony and squints his eyes tightly shut under the blindfold. The stars are still there, spinning and falling. His empty stomach cramps with the feeling of vertigo. Just so managing to turn his head to the side, he leans over the stone armrest and retches onto the floor, mostly bile and gastric fluid. Another bucket of water is poured over him when he is done retching but does not sit up. Shivering and shaking from the freezing cold water, Cahir still makes no move to straighten up but rests his aching, spinning head on the broad armrest. It is far from comfortable and he must look thoroughly pathetic slumped to the side like this, his teeth chattering, but it helps a little with the vertigo, looks be damned. His torturers have other plans, though. Rough hands grab Cahir by the hair and yank him up into a sitting position. Which makes him black out again. Without making a sound, he sags against the low backrest of the chair.

"I told you it's too early yet, Tissaia." Vilgefortz lets go of the unconscious prisoner's wet locks. He crumples like a soggy rag doll.

Excerpt from Chapter 17

Suddenly an even more disturbing thought occurs to Cahir. What if they send his head to Nilfgaard? As a demonstration of power? What if his father gets to see it at court? It will be hard enough for his parents to lose another son. He can still remember how devastated his mother was when his much older brother Aillil was killed many years ago fighting the uprising in Nazair, and how ugly she was from weeping. She made him promise to her to hate the Nordlings then, and he hated the Nordlings with a vengeance for making his beautiful mother look so ugly. How old was he? Ten? He has killed plenty of Nordlings since then. Even a Nordling king. And now the Nordlings are killing him. Makes kind of sense. If only his parents are spared the horrific details. Just imagining them seeing his severed head makes Cahir nauseous. He swallows back the rising bile. Maybe it is a good thing he has not had anything to eat today ...

Read the complete story on Ao3:  https://archiveofourown.org/works/42355635

Additional Tags: magical torture; Spoilers for The Witcher (TV) Season 2; The Way You Shake and Shiver; Poor Unfortunate Souls; Seizurefic; nauseous; Waking up disoriented; Silent Panic Attack; Everything Hurts and I'm Dying; breaking point; repeatedly passing out; Fetal position; Catatonic; Muffled Screams; headache; hair grabbing; Head trauma; Defiance; Please don't touch me; You Better Start Talking; coughing up blood; Screams From Across The Hall; The Very Noisy Night; Comfort; Hurt/Comfort; Lost Voice Tossing and turning; Withdrawal; shaking hands; no way out; No One's Coming; Stumbling; Aretuza (The Witcher); Execution; Missing Scene; between S2E1 and S2E3; Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach Whump; Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach Has a Bad Time; POV Tissaia de Vries; POV Marti Södergren; POV Yennefer of Vengerberg; POV Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach

[feastingonfanfiction]

First watch through of the witcher ep6

With unfiltered thoughts

(Mainly watching for tissaia/myanna buring)

...no tissaia at all this ep .....;^;

They trying to yoink his horse and stuff

Who are you? Good question

Draw my weapons the ladies protecting him clearly

And in comes geralt

This woman just killed a man for trying to steal your horse

Tea and vea both cool as heck i think first impressions

Damn man's got money probs

Is this a quest with dragons?

Jask wtf commenting on ladies necks

Compares them to geese

...

Such flirting

Obviously he wants you to work for him to kill dragon geralt keep up

Jask...jask shut up

Man really wants to kill a dragon before he dies

Shows off the crew

And is like they don't seem greatly qualified to slay a dragon

Oh yen is joining in?

Lmao

Jask was all for it then yen comes along and is like haha NO

but knowing what happened last episode is geralt gonna probs change mind cause yens here now and he gotta make sure she don't do something stupid?

Yup he's in

God they really are building something with geralt yen

No horses

When the team starts turning on eachother before even finding the dragon

Lmao jask can't come up with a come back to yens insult

I hope his horse is OK

Oh she's escorting a guy who clearly wants to be a knight

I dont think he got what it takes

Hah for kingdom and glory? Feel like he'd fall fast if not for yen

Oh lil princess

Noooooo creepy weird shapeshifter

Get away from him lil princess

And they get out of forest

Will they be ambushed now?

Nope back to dragons

Shows just really trying to ship geralt and yen

Old man goes you're in love with her

Geralt:or the dragons not the danger

Jask shut up

What did jask just find?

Jask finds creature immediately runs for his safety that is geralt

OH BITCH WHAT THE FUCK GERALT SAYS TO SHEATHE YOUR WEAPONS BUT NOOOO YOU GOTTA SLAY AN INNOCENT CREATURE WHO WAS JUST HUNGRY? I HOPE MR ALL HIGH AND MIGHTY KNIGHT BOY PERISHES

that's right yen look on with who your charged to protect

Damn yen really?

"You could've been killed" or whatever

Your current idiot or whatever is a blood thirsty moron who seeks honor he'll probs never find

He then fucking eats the creature. A great knight must lead by example

Your example is bad

I hope you have no subjects Mr lord knight moron

I would not trust him into leading

Oh the monster is not agreeing with Mr knight boy

Yen really pulling the will you be joining me

Is she trying to make geralt jealous?? Like that's all I can see with this dynamic.

OK so we haven't had nilfgaard take cintra just yet in this time line

Also yen mocks fringilla interesting

Ooo I wonder if we'll encounter a gold or black dragon?👀 again they mention gold dragon perhaps it'll come up

Back to....present? Dara asking the right questions

Reveal the creepy dude

No he didn't geralts not here

Don't trust him!!!

Ciri understand not to trust him

Dara is smart!!!

Oh He's getting annoyed

Dammit he used her grandma's sash against him

Oh gosh Mr knight boy got hit while taking a poo... I was annoyed with him but I wanted a more comedic death than this

Immediately struck down by a dragon would be cool

Wonder who did kill him?

Geralt hearing what yen was looking for

Dragon heart

Damn man telling her she'd make not a good mother? Rude

Technically you knew the choice and terms and conditions

You also chose it to escape going to nilfgaard?

Oh? He didn't have a choice in being a witcher?

Oof geralt let out he has a kid

Man it was the law of surprise

Oh he talks more around her and he regrets talking around her...weird

Oh He's showing care

The come with me really hitting a try to make people see ship

Lil princess! Please tell me she's asking

The right questions. Oh she asked the right questions!!!

Dara kill him!

Nooo princess save him!!!

Oof straight to the neck

Guys when you hear the weird cracky Crack you run!

Dara saving them

Man he looks weird unshifted

Ciri you moron!!!

He knocked out Dara! He had him and then you tried to kill him!

What if he kills and replaces Dara!

She just left him there

Oof that doesn't look ohsa approved

Anyone could just fall off that cliff

WHAT?!

Bro you're the one to hire him but you tell him to let you go

Yen can you do the magic?

No!!!!!

Old man died

There goes tea and vea?

They go away with the old man

Now they are here with the sus people

I wouldn't trust these guys

Jask comforting geralt...

Asking him if he'd leave with him to go somewhere else...this seems so fruity like ...just I can see how people would ship jask and geralt

Nah yen is still here

Geralt wouldn't leave yen

Geralt goes to see yen right after jasks whole ask to go away

Immediately goes to kiss him

He came for her?

She fears the mountain would take him from her....

I still don't understand your dynamic???

Damn They really trying to be like ship yen and geralt

Right after the fruity moment of jask and geralt

Damn you just left her there geralt?

It's who leaves first now argument

Forgive him???

And they kissed....I guess she forgives him

Sigh then implied fantasy spice

What else would geralt have wanted to be? Forgotten

She didn't have much of a choice

Did she want to be a mom👀?

To be important to someone someday?

That still could happen.

Man they really going for yen and geralt

He really being like you're important to me and then falls asleep like bro Says something important then immediately nap time.....oh cut to wake up? Did he leave her again? He didn't

He learnt from the first time.

...she's still going for the dragon

It'll solve everything she goes again

Lil princess got captured....

Who is he and what does he want

What does this creepy man want

Don't trust what a stranger tries to give you food after capturing you

Oh it was the shape shifter!!!

Who will win

Can't tell which is which

Who won?

Yen going to hunt down them backstabbing dwarfs

Freezes them now what?

Oh she found it

She's really gonna kill a lone dragon mother protecting its baby

Yen don't do it

Tea and vea live....

Oh my God

Called it they mention gold dragon he appear....oh the old man was a gold dragon

Yen do not kill the baby

Yen do not kill the dragon

Oh no stop them!

Yo wtf

Fucking kisses him during battle

I hope Mr gold dragon lives

I worry for if that man touches the egg

Please let eggy be ok

Stop him!!!

Oh thank god he burned the man

Yen comes to geralts rescue

Damn They slaughtered a whole bunch of people

And there's jask

Did he sleep through all that? Lmao

Geralt? Where'd you go?

And their secret stays

Ciri!!!

Is it shape shifter? Dara?

Who is he?

Oh thank god Dara is ok

He frees her....oh are they gonna part ways?

Please no! Dara left her :(((

He was truly probs the only one she could trust...

Oh geralt and gold man both have children

I wonder if it's supposed to be a parallel or something?

He wished for her? Oh does she doubt her feelings?

Oh she doubts him....What'd he wish for?

Damn They really just yelling at eachother...

What do you mean he will lose her

Oh and then yen leaves

She outta there

Jask in the background watching this...

Nows not the time jask

Oh geralts taking out his frustrations and anger at the situation and blaming jask? That's not fair dude

Dude....that's fucked up

You're gonna lose your friend too....

Jask have some self respect and just dip man...leave him...

Who is cahir? Fringilla, is not one we trust since they hunt little princess???

[bittersweet-mojo]

i know everyones gonna care so much about jask screaming in the new trailer but its fine guys he only gets tortured a little bit what I want to talk about his Cahir screaming!!

It seems to me theyre definitely taking a different turn with him because I certainly dont think he gets tortured by Tissaia in the books, his own countrymen maybe but not Tiss so I think his arc is going to be quite different (which id already guessed cus he was certainly way less evil in the books) Theyre definitely not going with his general I’m-Just-Some-Guy vibes, which I don’t feel bad about because despite it being funny, if theyre going to make him out to be this big thing it’d make sense for him to be less of a random footsoldier. I suspect hes going to take more of a moral heelturn then he did in the books, in which he mostly didn’t have any goals and hung out with geralt because he spared his life that one time. Really intrigued about the religion theyre giving him because that is entirely new and not really anything the books ever touched.

❤️ anyways cant wait to see cahir continue to have the worst year of his life ❤️

[fangirleaconmigo]

I have always loved reading Yennefer x Tissaia (my first TWN ship, tbh) but I’ve never written any. *drumroll* Until now.

Tada, here is a first kiss ficlet. It is sexy but it fades to black before the really explicit stuff. Let’s see if I have any takers.

They are very much of age, but it does not shy away from the “former mentor” dynamic. So if that bothers you, I’d skip it.

Yennefer x Tissaia, first kiss

——

Yennefer was ninety-fucking-five years old, but the great Tissaia de Vries still spoke to her like she was back at Aretuza, botching spells and crying herself to sleep.

“I’m not that pitiful young woman anymore, Tissaia,” she retorted.

Tissaia snapped her mouth closed and regret played on her fine, delicate features. “You were never pitiful. You were resilient,” she said softly.

Fuck. Tissaia always did that to her. Pissed her off with an imperious, patronizing comment, then broke through her defenses with unguarded kindness and open admiration.

That was it. She was done letting Tissaia get the better of her. It was time to exercise less restraint. It was time to indulge the desire she had long tried to drown. Years and years of holding its metaphorical head underwater, and all she had gotten was wet.

“I was also enamored of my mistress,” she said. “That hasn’t changed.”

Yennefer twirled a lock of hair around one finger and then let her hand drop, traveling slowly down, lingering a beat too long at her breast. She curled her tongue to press against the corner of her mouth.

She could feel the vibrations of chaos around the other sorceress, like an aura. Tissaia shivered. Then she darted her eyes away.

Yennefer smiled triumphantly. “Admit it, you admire me as well.”

Tissaia snapped her gaze back and tilted her chin up. “Your new wrapping does nothing for me. You put it on for powerful men.”

“It is hardly new, Tissaia. And it pleases you too.”

Tissaia tried not to look directly at her, but was clearly affected by her shameless advance. “I always—-“

She stopped, voice closing with a soft cough.

Yennefer knew that she had one claw in her former headmistress. This could take all night. It would be worth it. She stepped closer.

“You always what?”

Tissaia pressed her lips together. “I always thought you were beautiful.”

“And now?”

Yennefer was closer still. Now it wasn’t just her chaos that was trembling.

“You were beautiful then, and you are beautiful now.” Tissaia’s voice was breathy now, trying to be stern, but failing. “It doesn’t matter, Yenna. Your sneering and sarcasm ruin any such effect you could have on…people.”

“Is that so?”

Yennefer reached and Tissaia flinched. But she didn’t pull away. In fact, when Yennefer let the back of her hands slide softly down Tissaia’s cheek, her eyes fluttered closed and she leaned, ever so slightly into Yennefer’s palm.

That lean, almost imperceptible, revealed Tissaia’s hand.

Yennefer chuckled softly. “People?”

Tissaia snorted and spun around. Before she could get far, Yennefer grasped her waist.

It almost surprised Yennefer as much as it surprised Tissaia. The rectoress of Aretuza was terribly powerful. Formidable. She was also tiny. Yennefer’s hands curled around much of her waist.

And oh the give of her body. The way she responded, leaning back into Yennefer with a sigh.

The feeling of having the severe and terrible Tissaia in the palm of her hands sent a warm thrill through her stomach and lower.

She pulled Tissaia tightly against her and curled around her back. She whispered in her ear.

“I don’t think my sneering and my sarcasm bother you so much. I quite think you like them.”

“I don’t,” is what Tissaia would have said. But she only said “I—“ before Yennefer nuzzled her and placed a hot kiss under her ear, right on the crook of her jaw. Tissaia’s words turned into a breathy, frustrated moan. Yennefer knew she was winning.

She decided to risk it all. She reached for the button at the top of Tissaia’s dress.

She pulled it open, half expecting Tissaia to turn and shriek at her. She still felt like she was getting away with something. Like she would be stopped and punished at any moment.

But Tissaia whimpered.

The sound was practically edible.

Yen popped the next button through the buttonhole and Tissaia shivered. Yennefer unbuttoned her so slowly she could have walked away a hundred times. Thrill ran through her at the sight of Tissaia, overcome, standing perfectly still. Giving into her desires.

It was like the first time she had mastered chaos, only better. She had never felt more powerful than when Tissaia’s dress fell to the floor in a heap, revealing her satiny cream colored slip. Yen slid one delicate strap off her shoulder, and then the other. It fell away too and Yennefer slid a hand over Tissaia’s bare breast.

“I’m going to devour you,” she said.

Tissaia spun around and grasped Yennefer by the nape of the neck. Yennefer squealed in surprise as Tissaia pushed herself up onto her tip toes and pulled her down into her lips.

She was soft and fragrant and felt like paradise. More. She needed more. She pressed her tongue between her much admired headmistress's lips, and felt her swoon against her.

Then, Tissaia pushed her. Yen was not prepared, so she went down easy, back hitting the mattress and bouncing back up with a gasp. Before she could react, Tissaia hands slipped up her skirt, gliding along her thighs. Then the great Tissaia de Vries leaned over her panting and disheveled.

“Lay back, Yenna. I have a few lessons to teach you yet.”

—fin

[loverofallthingssarah]

Kitchen nightmares

Request: Fluff 42 with Coven Cordelia 👀 @rainbow-hedgehog

42."Darling I love you and all, but please step out of the kitchen."

WARNING: none

Word count: 600 +

A/N: sorry for any typos or mistakes!!

All you wanted was to surprise Delia and surprise her you most definitely shall. Delia never spent more than an hour away from the coven, especially when times were tough. Delia was always so worried because of the lack of witches in her coven. These places used to be filled with teeny witches running a muck, but the days were hard when the world seemed so against individuals with any sort of differences.

Today was different, the girls asked Delia to take them shopping and much to their surprise she gladly agreed. She even decided to treat them to a movie afterward - a cheesy romcom. They all begged you to go with them, except for Delia she knew you didn’t like shopping and anything too gaggy romance after her many attempts of begging you when you both first started dating. You politely turned them down, and the wheels were turning in your head plotting the perfect evening for your wife.

You weren’t really the most domesticated woman in the world, but you thought you could hold your own. So, you decided making a lovely dinner for your wife to come home to would be perfect. She was the only one who ever threw down in the kitchen in the coven, she never had anyone making anything for her until now.

As soon as all the girls left the academy, you quickly wrote down a shopping list. You raced to the store to get all the ingredients and a bouquet of white roses.

When you got back home, you set out to try and get all your prep work done. How hard could that be? Harder than you had imagined.

Everything that could possibly go wrong while cooking did. You started off chopping your veggies and with one slip of the knife, “Shit!” You rushed to the sink to clean off your finger, and then remembered your magic and healed it instantly. You huffed as you threw away the ruined contents of the broccoli and went back to cutting up some more.

Things were starting to look up. You had the veg sautéing on the stove. Your steak was sizzling in the pan. All you had left to make was the sauce. That couldn’t be so difficult, and just when you thought things were going better, you were trying to put all the ingredients in the blender to make your sauce you hit start before you remembered to put the lid back on.

As all your hard work was flying all around the kitchen, and you started cussing up a storm you heard a curt, “hmmm” come from behind you.

Your head whipped around so fast, “D-Delia, I didn’t think you’d be home so soon!”

“Oh, darling. What are you doing?” she inquires as she looks around the messy kitchen before shaking her head.

You pout, “I really wanted to do something nice for you! You always work so hard to make sure the academy is always taken care of, these girls have a mother figure they deserve, and you never let our marriage fall through the cracks with such a busy life. I just wanted to do something special for you for once.”

Delia giggles as she walks closer to you, and wipes splattered sauce off your cheek, “Darling I love you and all, but please step out of the kitchen.”

You grumble under your breath. She innocently whispers in your ear, “Besides I can think of better uses for those hands…”

You look at her, “Delia, what did you do with the girls?”

“I gave them the money to go to the movie without me.” she winks at you and takes off running upstairs.

You think to yourself before taking off after her, ‘How did I get so lucky?’

sfw taglist: @oh-mydarling @rainbow-hedgehog @twistedpoeticjustice @tissaias-lover @peggycarter-steverogers @hortensia-cullen @citizenoftheworld-stuff-blog @lanawinters-ily @lntlmate @sapphicforsarahh @talulahmae @dreamypqulson @goodeday2u @imstacysmomtm @winters-witch-bitch

[yennefer-x-tissaia]

Oh my god, how just HOW do I relized it just now that Yennefer controlled the most uncontrollable magic of any chaos magic! The people are warned of fire magic, it is destructive, dangerous and almost uncontrollable. Of course Yennefer pays the price for the using of fire magic when she oses her chaos. But can we please talk about the fact there still was control in all that chaos?! It's uncontrollable but she still could manage to protect Tissaia! The fire rained down like hellfire on everything in front of her EXCEPT Tissaia. In all that chaos she find enough control to protect her and don't let a single flame touch her. And I really don't know what I love more about that fact. That she is strong enough to did that or that it was Tissaia who gave her that strength.

But I know what I hated. That they NEVER talked about it again. They just run over the fract that Tissaia was the only survivor on that field between all those burned ones because Yennefer wanted her to live. Needed her to live. And this is just- Nah.

Yeah, I felt like it definitely warranted a bit of a follow-up conversation. I assume that's why it's mentioned in a lot of fics. Fic writers resolve it, but the show didn't. It was such a big deal. It was the big set piece in the finale of the season. In a show called The Witcher, the big battle of the season was won not by Geralt, but by Yennefer, who was fighting for Tissaia, and who carved out a little cocoon of safety for her in the midst of a ferocious outpouring of chaos. (That she's never let go of to that extent before.) That should have been addressed at some point. We should have had a 'You saved me' moment from Tissaia. And not just the fairly bland 'You are a hero to me and many others'.

The whole reunion ep, while it had some great lines and scenes, fell a bit flat for me. I never really understood Tissaia's motivations for a lot of what she did in season 2 to be honest. And season 3 just handwaved a lot of it, so it was pointless anyway.

Like, Yennefer literally had wanted posters out for her, but she can just waltz back into Aretuza at Tissaia's say so? Why, then, could Tissaia not just insist she didn't need to kill Cahir and could stay in the first place?

Tissaia puts a bounty on Ciri's head? That gets one line in season 3 and a not very convincing answer - something to do with not assuming her movivations were so basic. What were they, then, Tissaia??

Anyway, it is what it is. That's why we have fic.

[mercisnm]

Rant: she fidgets

Upon rewatching this scene I've just realized that Tissaia has started fidgeting with things (the rings on her fingers) when she is nervous, as in this scene here where Stregobor tried to frame Yennefer as a betrayer.

You can see in the previous shot her right hand fingers were just resting on her left hand, but once Stregobor started accusing Yennefer of betraying the Northern mages, Tissaia started turning the rings between her fingers. The gesture was more clear to see as she studied other people in the room.

I, for one, still hate the addition of golden jewellery to her look with a passion, simply because they look gaudy as hell. Her complexion and overall character goes better with silver, like in the Ascension ball outfit; mother-of-pearl or ivory would also fare very well - but gold jewellery, and as crude as those the costume department added, would not. Then throw in the partly questionable partly enigmatic character development this season where she gave up the role of a simple school teacher, got tangled in politics, got laid with [fax machine noises] [AK-47 firing] [Ciri screaming], I cannot help but making a bad joke about midlife crisis behaviour, or worse (*).

I think it counts as half a win for book enthusiasts since Tissaia's OCD in the book was quite apparent. I have always thought it a shame that they did not make her that way in season 1, did not utilize an interesting trait of her that deserved to be translated on screen, I kept hoping anyway that they would add something subtle about her disorder in season 2. The rings could be to show her OCD. Since MyAnna's acting Tissaia-wise is precise and concise, I don't think the fidgeting is unintentional, especially when it started only when things started not looking so bright for Tissaia.

imho it is not too late to make Tissaia more book-like, yes, but symptoms of such disorder does not stop at, does not have to be just the fidgeting - it is plenty other kinds of compulsive behaviour. So while the rings might be a thoughtful enough addition (they are not impossible to spot, but neither they are in your face) - they do not seem particularly creative either, plus they do clash with her previous characterization. Remember, this is the woman who, on the most formal, dress-up kind of events, as shown at the Ascension ball, donned simple earrings and her everyday pendant and that was as far as jewellery went for her, no rings were to be found on her hand that day. I used to interpret that detail as a crucial trait of Tissaia: she is aware of her good looks, but she is practical, she is serious, she is stoic; and while she does not force herself to quit the small pleasures of life such as packing and lighting a pipe every now and then, frivolity and Tissaia are strangers grown.

So in short, am I pleased that they seem to include some book!Tissaia's traits to show!Tissaia? Yes, quite. Am I pleased at their execution? No, not at all, could have been done a lot better, the rings and her OCD were just a small part of book!Tissaia that they tried to bring into the show but seems not to go very well, but since Tissaia's story has not come to a close yet, I'll not draw any conclusion except for:

Damn, those rings are ugly.

(*): When you think about it that only after Yennefer had gone missing/been assumed dead and Tissaia had started having a relationship with [Roach neighing] that she started wearing tons of jewellery, the detail about the rings does not sit well at all. It looks as if a dick could make someone as intelligent and stoic as Tissaia dull and frivolous. To be honest I am quite close to calling that a sexist move from the writers, or a move so lazy it actually seems detestable, but again who am I to judge. Let's all hope Tissaia has been playing every side this season. Fingers crossed.

Do NOT bother to leave a reply I don't know how replies on tumblr posts work and cannot be arsed to learn, so if you want to feed me to sharks please do it with the reblog.

[dapandapod]

20 with geraskier but Victorian au and they're meeting in front of jaskier's parents

20. formal hug

YES Darling Jjay, you are absolutely right!! I have greatly enjoyed writing this, and a sincere thank you and sorry to my lovely @kuripon for helpig me beta read this, it was so very much needed <3

Please enjoy my very self idulgent way to get a formal hug!

Send me a hug prompt?

On Ao3 Hug collection here

They are not supposed to know each other like they do.

They are not supposed to have spent time together out of sight of a chaperone.

They are barely supposed to know each other.

But in their childhood, they have spent many nights running away from formal gatherings, birthday parties, anywhere with a crowd where they can escape unnoticed, as only children can. In their teen years, they were supposed to avoid each other at the gentlemen's clubs, racing events, and even in school.

New money and old money don’t mix well, Vesemir likes to say. And Jaskier’s father is of the opinion that his boy can do better than the social circles that Geralt comes from.

Despite it all, they became close friends. Now, as young adults and with marriages waiting for them at the end of the year, they spend as much time together as they possibly can get away with.

Which is not much, but Geralt enjoys listening to Jaskier strum the lute, and Jaskier is always suitably impressed with Geralt’s skill with a sword. Having a family consisting of mostly military officers will set certain expectations for you.

Geralt doesn’t want to get married.

Well, he does, but he doesn’t want what Vesemir and Tissaia are planning for him; a cold, loveless relationship. He wants what Jaskier is talking about. Friendship, at the very least, and respect, but he wants the spark too.

He knows he is greedy, but looking at Jaskier, he senses that spark, and he wants it. Wants it so much it hurts.

Today is the big day. Geralt is a strange mix of worried and excited for getting introduced to his parents' chosen one.

On one hand, that spark he feels when Jaskier is around is what he wants, craves, longs for. On the other hand, the promise to have someone at his side, and hopefully find affection for, for the rest of his time is appealing. Very appealing.

There has been lots of time spent with the Vengerberg family. The young lady Yennefer’s name is on everybody's lips, and she and Geralt have been getting along well on the outings. Her guardian, Regis Terzieff-Godefroy, has been encouraging the match. And Geralt wouldn't… mind, per say.

It just isn’t Jaskier.

They sit in stiff silence, the carriage pulled by Geralt’s two favorite horses, Roach and Pegasus. The neck of his collar feels too tight, and the top hat that Tissaia insists he wears rests on the seat next to him.

“Nervous, my boy?” Vesemir asks when Geralt can’t stop fidgeting with his sleeves. A habit he picked up from Tissaia, who always keeps everything neat and tidy.

“I just don’t understand why you won’t tell me who you picked.”

“Come now, Geralt, if we told you, you would have told Lambert, and then the entire town would have known,” Tissaia chastises.

Geralt pouts, but he knows she is right. It is a wonder, really, that his family doesn’t know how much Geralt and Jaskier have been seeing each other, considering Lambert has been his go-to cover. Maybe it is because Lambert has been using the same cover to go meet his Aiden.

The rest of the ride is silent, until Geralt recognizes his surroundings.

They are closing in on the Lettenhove estate. He tries not to let his surprise and excitement show but he can’t help to sit a little straighter. Out of the corner of his eye, Tissaia smirks.

The carriage comes to a stop, and outside the doors stands the entire Lettenhove family, Jaskier and his three younger sisters, his mother, (who has looked away more than once when Jaskier has snuck away), and his father, looking rather constipated.

“What…?” Geralt asks faintly, hope and nerves and confusion and a tinge of fear at being found out mixes in his chest, collides, fractures, builds. “I thought I was going to meet…”

“You are.” Vesemir smiles.

They can’t mean one of Jaskier’s sisters. Geralt doesn’t know what to do. He knows he is supposed to get out, to help Tissaia out, to spout pleasantries, to act as if he is just now making their acquaintance, as is proper.

It takes all his self-restraint not to just rush forward and pull Jaskier into his arms. All of it.

He helps Tissaia down, he gets properly introduced, as if they haven’t spent years in each other's company already, and he greets all of Jaskier’s little sisters with gentle smiles.

Their two families join in a stroll around the gardens, deliberately letting Geralt and Jaskier walk a little ahead of the others.

“Is this… do they really mean to have us engaged?” Geralt finally dares to ask.

“I think so. I must confess, Geralt, I might have been pestering my father about it.”

Everything in Geralt tingles, that spark exploding in a way that he feels all the way out in his fingertips. It translates to one word.

“Oh.”

Jaskier laughs, as if he has been holding a tense breath for a long time.

“Oh good, or Oh bad?” Jaskier asks, his mouth is smiling but his eyes are worried.

“Good,” Geralt breathes. “Definitely good.”

Jaskier’s smile is bright, warm, and Geralt can’t help but to reach out and link their arms together.

The small connection feels incredible as Jaskier’s hand tracing little patterns on Geralt’s arm, out of sight from their families.

As they part, Jaskier pulls him into a careful hug. A proper, formal one, holding back and hiding everything that is between them. Geralt can’t look away, can’t stop looking behind them long after the carriage has brought them far out of sight from the Lettenhove estate.

“I thought you had made arrangements with Lady Vengerberg,” Geralt says finally, looking at the couple in front of him.

“Not all connections are made for politics, my boy,” Vesemir says, smiling, taking Tissaia’s hand.

“Yennefer expressed a wish to pursue her studies,.” Tissaia says, smiling back at Vesemir as he brings up her hand to his lips and kisses it. “The Lettenhoves are not a bad match. And it helps that you seem to have a certain... connection to the young lord already.”

Geralt feels himself blush, and he looks out the window.

It would seem he’ll get his spark after all.