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inkweaver22-blr · 3 years

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HOLY. MOLY.

This has to be the Lóng-est chapter I’ve written so far! It took me almost two whole days to complete!

Please enjoy the fruits of my labor as we all see what Tang gets up to next!

AO3 Link

Scattered Cicadas - Chapter Seven: Scaled Siblings

Tang wakes up in Mei's mansion.

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Tang woke from the usual dream signaling the start of a new cycle when his alarm went off. With a sigh he sat up and reflexively clapped his hands. He blinked a bit in surprise when the lights turned on in response. He quickly put on his glasses and looked around.

The room he was in was not one he recognized. It was much larger than he was accustomed too, being the same size as either of the apartments he usually lived in. The opulent decorations also screamed wealth and old money to Tang, something he certainly never had.

As he climbed out of the king sized bed, Tang began to suspect where he was. The amount of green accents and jade adornments everywhere made it fairly obvious.

He was in the Lóng family’s mansion.

Shivering a bit as he rubbed his bare arms, (apparently this version of himself slept shirtless), he quickly made his way over the huge mirror that was standing upright in between a fancy dresser and antique armoire. He needed to know what was going on.

Tang’s mouth hung open when he saw his reflection.

He was young.

He was buff.

Tang gaped at his own body for a few moments. Sure, the scholar had never technically been out of shape in most timelines, but dang he had never been this fit before either.

Blushing in embarrassment once he realized he had just been staring at himself for over a minute, Tang did his best to refocus.

(But damn did he look good.)

He was much younger than usual as well. If the scholar had to guess, he’d say he was only a few years older than MK and Mei now.

He really needed to find out what was happening.

Tang took a breath and began his remembering ritual.

“I am Lóng Tang. I am the current heir to the branch of the Lóng family descended from Huánglóng, the Yellow Dragon.”

What the hell?!

Tang rubbed his temples as he felt a headache coming on. He thought being Tripitaka had been confusing enough, but this was on an entirely different level of unexpected. He needed to keep going or he’d get stuck on this single fact for much too long.

“Every family descended from a dragon traditionally takes on the name Lóng. Even though we aren’t tied by blood, all the Lóng branches consider each other family and treat each other as distant relatives.”

Fascinating, but that didn’t really help ease his confusion much. Next detail.

“I’ve been living with my aunt, uncle, and cousin, who are descended from Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea, for the last four years.”

Well that explained why he was in Mei’s mansion.

“I’ve done so at the request of my aunt and uncle, who are hoping that by setting a good example, Mei will learn from me, grow out of her childish pursuits, and become a proper heir.”

What. The. Hell.

Tang searched his memories thoroughly. There was no way Mei’s parents would have said such a horrible thing to him directly.

He came up with no concrete evidence of his aunt and uncle having ever implied that they found Mei lacking in any way. It seemed this version of himself had simply made that assumption himself.

Tang rolled his eyes. He certainly knew how dangerous making assumptions could be. He needed more information to get a better conclusion.

“Luckily for Mei, I find her to be fun and do my best to act as a buffer between her and her parents. She introduced me to her friend MK back in my first year living here, and he quickly befriended me once I began sharing stories about the Monkey King with him. We all like to hang out at MK’s adoptive father’s noodle shop whenever we all have some free time.”

Tang smiled in relief. At least some things never changed.

“Right now, I should be making my way to the mansion’s training room for my daily workout before heading to my job at the city library.”

Tang blinked as he finally checked the time. 5:17 AM. Eurgh. He should not be feeling this energetic this early.

With a resigned sigh, Tang pulled out a set of exercise clothes from the ridiculously nice dresser and got dressed.

He had always heard exercising was a good way to help clear your head when you had a lot to think about. At least, that’s what a lot of martial arts fiction implied. He hoped that it worked the same in practice.

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Tang had never felt so in control of his own body before. The way it seemed to flow from one movement to the next as he began some warm up sets was extremely satisfying.

Just as satisfying was the fact that he was trained in martial arts in this timeline. He never had a real desire to fight, but just knowing how to defend himself was a bit reassuring with what he knew would be coming in the future.

He let his mind wander a bit as he let his muscle memory lead him through his pre-workout routine.

This cycle had broken Tang’s previously held conventions on what he had come to expect within these timelines. He had originally categorized them into five types.

The ones where there were no changes to the original timeline.

The ones where there were only small, relatively insignificant changes.

The ones where new events outside of the ones in the original timeline occurred.

The ones where he was the immortal Tripitaka instead of just his reincarnation.

Finally, there were the ones that combined any number of changes from the previous three types.

Tang moved on to a second, more difficult set as he pondered on this shift in perspective. It was obvious this was a new, sixth type of cycle he simply hadn’t encountered before. This one had completely rewritten his and Mei’s background, making huge alterations to their past that would surely affect the coming future events.

Tang felt a shiver of fear creep down his spine but kept his form steady.

Now that his personal history was almost completely unrecognizable, what did that mean for the “No Interference” rule? It didn’t seem to apply whenever Tang himself didn’t know what the outcome of events could be. So with him having an altered life, did that mean the outcomes of the events he knew of would have been altered as well? Could he get more involved than before now as he never knew what those outcomes would have been? Perhaps he couldn’t directly affect the outcomes, but surely he wouldn’t be punished for offering a bit of backup and support now that he could provide it.

Right?

He smoothly moved onto his final warm up set as another complication occurred to him.

This wouldn’t be the only cycle that would drastically change his and his family’s past. Like the other variants, now that he had experienced one, more would begin to show up with increasing frequency as time went on.

What worried Tang was that they would also share the unpredictability of the others. The vast amount of probable changes were too numerous to even begin guessing what might happen until a cycle began and he could remind himself of his history within it.

He supposed that there was nothing he could do about that until those cycles actually happened, so there was no real point in fretting over it now. He let his worries go as he finished his warm up and took a deep breath.

Tang felt good.

Better than good, actually, he felt energized. Charged up, so to speak. It was exhilarating.

With a grin, Tang focused on the part of himself that was dragon in origin. The energy that swirled within him was powerful; a strange mix of wild strength and immovable sturdiness.

He let warm power fill him as he held out his hand. In a flash of golden-yellow light, the young scholar summoned his family’s own sacred weapon to him. Tang examined it in awe.

Dàdì Zhī Yá.

Fang of the Earth.

It was a masterful work of art.

The magical guandao had been a gift to his ancestors from Huánglóng himself and, just like Mei’s Dragon Blade, seemed to be made entirely out of jade.

It wasn’t the same green jade however. It was made up of three other types of the precious mineral.

The intricately designed blade was a bright yellow jade, matching the color of the scales of its creator. The shaft of the weapon was a rich brown jade, symbolizing the element of Earth Huánglóng was associated with. Finally, the connector for the shaft and blade and the counter-weighted capstone at the butt of the shaft were a deep black jade. It was said to represent the color of ink as Huánglóng had supposedly gifted the knowledge of writing to mankind.

The only part of the weapon that wasn’t made of jade was the royal purple silk tassel that hung from the connecting piece near the blade. It complimented the earthy colors of the rest of the guandao rather nicely.

Tang took the weapon in both hands and got into the proper stance to begin his drills.

He had earned the right to wield the Fang of the Earth roughly six years ago according to his memories and had practiced diligently with it ever since.

Being chosen to be worthy of possessing it had forged a sort of connection between him and the guandao. Normally, the weight alone should have made it impossible for him to lift it, but the connection allowed him to hold it with little difficulty. He had still struggled a bit with how heavy it was despite that, but the years of training had helped him gain the strength and muscle to wield it with incredible precision and control.

Simply being able to pick it up wasn’t the only benefit to being connected to his family’s sacred weapon. It seemed to bond with the dragon energy within him, allowing the scholar to summon it to his side at will. The only drawback was that his hands had to be completely free to do so.

He wondered if the Dragon Blade worked similarly for Mei back in his original timeline.

Tang swung the guandao around skillfully, thinking about his cousin in this cycle.

Lóng Xiǎojiāo. Mei.

The young woman was an endless fountain of optimism and positivity. She had a passion for life and its experiences. Riding her motorcycle was just one of the ways she connected to her innermost self and channeled her enthusiasm for existence.

She was fiercely loyal to her friends and family. She may not be formally trained in a fighting style, but if you hurt her precious people you’d face her wrath.

Mei was generally cheerful and outgoing in most aspects of her life. The single exception had been her relation with her family and their legacy.

Tang frowned as he continued his drills.

In the original timeline, Mei had constantly been under the pressure to behave properly. At least she had until the Dragon Blade had been stolen and she unlocked its power. By embracing being a part of her family despite their differences and by being herself, she had become a worthy successor to her clan’s lineage.

But that was still four months away according to the current date. This was certainly the earliest he’d even woken up before the original events.

His presence here wasn’t helping matters. While he and Mei had become good friends, he couldn’t help but feel that she thought she was constantly being compared to him by her parents.

Again, he had no strong proof about whether that was the case in this cycle. It was just a suspicion he had.

Tang hummed to himself, trying to think of some way to fix this problem while slashing downwards with the Fang of the Earth.

He couldn’t do anything overt that could change things so that she accepted her place in her family too early. He was sure that violated the “No Interference” rule despite the changed history.

Perhaps he could try subtly raising Mei’s self confidence? But how could he go about doing that?

Tang twirled the guandao around him before ending his first set.

As he looked down at his own family’s legacy and heritage, he couldn’t help but think that learning to use the weapon had made him more sure of himself over the years.

Tang blinked.

Huh.

Perhaps he could use that.

He started into his next set of drills, already brainstorming about what he would need to make his plan work.

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Tang was certain his earlier suspicions about Mei’s parents were, thankfully, completely wrong. The dinners they shared as a family proved to him that they loved their daughter completely. They just didn’t see eye-to-eye on some things.

He was also able to get their permission and help with the idea he had. That showed how much they actually cared considering the things he had asked for weren’t something people only obsessed with their image and wealth would agree to.

It took nearly three weeks to prepare but he was finally ready.

“Uncle, do you remember that issue we discussed a few weeks ago,” he asked at dinner that evening.

“Oh, is it ready?”

“Yes Uncle.”

“Wonderful! Mei darling,” his uncle addressed the young woman, who eyed him warily.

“Yeah dad?”

“Tang here has come up with a bit of a surprise for you. Would you be willing to join him in the training room after dinner so that he may share it with you?”

“Uhh… I guess so,” Mei agreed hesitantly, glancing over at her older cousin.

“Don’t worry. It’s a good surprise,” Tang reassured.

“It’s also one we support and gave our full permission for,” Mei’s mother added. “Listen to what your cousin has to say and try not to dismiss it right away, dear.”

Tang winced a little as Mei glared down at her plate.

He clamped down at the growl that wanted to roll from his throat at the slightly tactless comment. Dragon instincts had been interesting to deal with these past few weeks. Especially the protective ones.

Dinner finished soon after and Tang led Mei to the training room.

“So what’s this big surprise you’ve got for me,” Mei asked, slouching as she looked around the room.

“Don’t sound too excited now,” Tang drawled as he pulled out a wrapped package.

“I don’t know. Something that has my parents' full support sounds soooo cool,” Mei snarked, earning a snort from the scholar.

“Trust me on this. You’ll like it,” Tang said, slowly unwrapping the item. “How would you like to learn how to wield a sword?”

“Wait, what?” Mei straightened her posture in surprise. She gasped when Tang finally unveiled what he was holding.

A replica of the Dragon Blade.

“Wha- But- How?!” Mei gaped at the sword. It wasn’t an exact copy, but it had the same dimensions as the original.

“Your parents allowed me to commission a copy of the Dragon Blade so that I can begin teaching you how to use it.”

That had been a bit of a hard sell. He had to agree to only go through a smith of their choice and all schematics of the blade had to be destroyed afterwards. But they had gone through with it, at least once he explained it was for Mei’s benefit.

Mei’s expression flickered between several emotions before settling on anger.

Uh oh.

“Oh I get it! This is because I’m ‘undisciplined’ isn’t it,” she bit out, a growl rising in her voice. “I need to be reined in! Taught how to be a dignified heir to the clan like you, right?!”

“No! That’s not-” Tang took a breath. He wouldn’t get through to her if he started yelling too. “That’s not what’s going on here, Mei.”

“Oh? Well it sure looks like it is to me!”

“Will you please let me explain?”

“Ugh!” Mei threw her arms in the air before crossing them and looking away in a huff. “Fine! But once you’re done I’m out of here.”

“That’s okay. No one said you had to go through with this if you didn’t want to,” he reassured. That seemed to make some of the tension ease out of her.

“First, this was my idea, not your parents’. The only thing I needed permission from them was to make this replica.

“As for why... I just wanted to spend more time with you is all.”

“Huh?” Mei looked up at the nervous scholar. “But we hang out all the time!”

“Yes, but that’s usually with MK as well. Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” Tang hastily added at her sudden glare. “I love the kid, really I do!

“But we don’t really do anything that’s just for the two of us. Since I enjoy training with a weapon, I thought it could be something we could share?”

Mei had her brows furrowed in uncertainty.

“But… Why go through the trouble of making a copy of the Dragon Blade then? Couldn’t you just teach me how to wield a guandao as well? That is the weapon you actually know how to use.”

“I suppose that’s a fair point,” Tang conceded. “But what about when you claim the real Dragon Blade for yourself? Shouldn’t you know how to properly use it when that happens?”

“When I-” Mei’s breath caught. “You think I-! I’m not-! My parents would never-!”

“Mei, Mei!” Tang placed a hand on her shoulder and gave a comforting squeeze. “Take a breath. In and out.”

The young woman took a few deep breaths, calming herself. Then she stared into Tang’s eyes, looking for any deception.

“Do you really think mom and dad would ever let me use the blade?”

“I’m not sure what they might do.” That was a slight lie, but he couldn’t force her into a realization about her family too early. He was pushing it as it was just by telling her he thought she’d get the blade.

“But I do know you. You’re optimistic. You’re funny. You’re loyal. You’re incredibly brave. I’m sure that just by being yourself everything will turn out.” That was not a lie. His cousin was all those things and he admired her for it.

Mei, who had tears in her eyes, launched herself at him and pulled him into a hug. Her grip was powered by her dragon strength, but luckily for Tang this time, he had his own so he wasn’t crushed in the embrace.

“Thank you Tang.”

“No problem, Mei.” He held her for a moment before pulling away and asked, “So does this mean you want to learn swordplay?”

“Heck yeah it does!” Mei pumped her fists into the air. “This is going to be awesome!”

“Good.” Tang gave a mischievous smirk. “Then I expect you to be here bright and early tomorrow morning.”

Mei froze in her celebrations.

“Uh… How early, exactly” she asked nervously.

Tang’s grin was filled with too many fangs as his eyes sparkled with humor.

“5:30 sharp.”

“NOOOOOOOO!” Mei’s dramatic cry of horror and slump to the floor made Tang burst out in laughter.

Who knew teasing a younger relative could be so much fun?

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Tang grit his teeth as he slashed through another bull clone with Fang of the Earth.

It was finally the day of Demon Bull King’s invasion and the group had just returned from the volcanic ring where MK had seemed to perish. They were fighting their way through the army of bull clones in an attempt to get to the center of the city where Demon Bull King was.

What they were planning to do once they reached him, Tang still had no clue no matter how many timelines he lived through.

Tang dodged a strike from his left and countered with a quick sweep of his guandao.

There were definitely way more clones than there were originally. He supposed that this was whatever higher power that controlled the cycle's way of balancing out his ability to actually help out.

He dispatched the group of enemies surrounding him and looked around.

There was Pigsy who was beating away clones with a loose pipe. Sandy stood next to the chef, deflecting any attacks that came their way with two trash can lids. Where was-

Tang’s pulse quickened when he heard Mei scream.

He searched frantically, dodging or redirecting the strikes coming his way when-

There!

Mei was backed up against a building, surrounded by clones. She was holding a gash on her arm and the broken remains of her training sword lay at her feet.

She looked scared.

Tang could feel it as his eyes narrowed into slits and a menacing growl tore from his throat. With a roar of fury, he leapt into the air towards Mei.

He let his power loose, manifesting an avatar of his dragon form behind him as he filled the Fang of Earth with golden-yellow energy.

“STAY AWAY FROM MY SISTER!”

He landed in front of Mei and shouted in rage as he stabbed the ground with the guandao. A shock wave of power spread through the earth around them, causing it to spike up to stab any clone it passed.

The energy dissipated once all the bull clones in the area had been destroyed. Satisfied they were safe for the moment, Tang swiftly turned around and began checking over Mei.

“Are you alright Mei?! What am I saying, of course you aren't! You’re bleeding! Let me see that.” The dragon scholar fussed over the young woman, inspecting the wound before tearing off the hem of his robe to serve as a bandage.

“Did… Did you just call me your sister?” Mei’s eyes were wide as she stared at him.

Tang froze for a moment. Had he?

Oh. He supposed he had.

Well that explained where the fondness and protective feelings he had developed for her over the course of their daily training came from.

Tang finished tying off the bandage before looking at Mei.

“Is… Is that okay,” he asked nervously. “Because if you aren’t okay with it I won’t call you that again- oof!”

He was cut off by Mei launching herself at him and hugging him tightly.

“Of course it's okay you goof!” He could hear her sniffles as she fought back tears.

“Oh! Well… That’s, uh, good,” Tang relaxed into the hug as his nervousness melted away.

Mei snickered and pulled away, giving him a blinding smile.

“Come on, big bro. We’ve got a city to save!”

Tang felt his own face light up as he picked up Fang of the Earth and followed his sister to regroup with Pigsy and Sandy.

He knew they were no match for Demon Bull King and would have to wait for MK’s arrival to defeat him, but right now Tang felt like he could take on anything.

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Tang grew accustomed to being able to help in fights. They had all been scaled up in scope so that while his support was useful, it was never the tipping point that could change the outcome into something different.

The cycle moved on swiftly.

He celebrated with Mei and her parents when she obtained ownership of the real Dragon Blade.

He fought in their resistance when the Demon Bull King invaded a second time.

He did his best to be there for MK when the signs of his stress began to show.

All too soon, the day of training in the desert came.

Lady Bone Demon’s attack was just as brutal as ever.

However, when he and the rest of the group jumped to attack her once MK got caught, Tang instinctively dodged out of the way of her retaliation.

Before he could think of the potential consequences of attempting to change the outcome, he began to slash downwards with the Fang of the Earth.

Only to be stopped dead in the air when the Mayor grabbed the blade with no effort.

Tang felt dread crawl up his spine as the demon smiled nonchalantly at him. Flashbacks to that early cycle triggered in his mind, causing him to freeze up.

The Mayor casually ripped the guandao from Tang’s loose grasp, tossing it over his shoulder like a discarded piece of trash. Then he punched the dragon scholar with enough force to launch him back onto the ship.

Tang could only assume the events continued as normal from there.

He was too busy having a panic attack to notice.

Years of training and experience and still he was powerless against that man! He vaguely acknowledged he had started to cry at some point.

“Tang! Big brother! It’s okay. He’s gone. We got away.” Mei was holding him as he sobbed.

“M-mei?”

“I’m here, big brother. We’re safe.”

Tang began to breathe deeply in order to calm himself. He wanted to be composed when Wukong showed up with MK so as not to worry them too much.

He hugged Mei fiercely before pulling away.

“T-thanks, little sister,” he said with a shaky smile. She just smiled back and helped him to his feet.

As he leaned against the younger woman, Tang couldn’t help but feel extremely lucky to have gotten to know her like this.

She was fierce, loyal, brave, and kind.

She was the best sister someone could have ever asked for.

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Welcome to the Golden Dragon Tang AU!

This is my own personal creation, and most of the prominent details (minus Tang knowing the future from timeline jumping) are laid out in this chapter. If I got any of the details about the Yellow Dragon wrong I apologize! I'm not a mythology expert.

A guandao is basically the Chinese equivalent of a glaive; a short sword mounted on a 1-2 meter pole. I may get around to drawing Fang of the Earth at some point. Also please forgive me if the Chinese for the name is wrong for I am but a humble google translate user.

In case you haven’t noticed, a few of the chapters have been dedicated strictly to character studies of the other members of the Monkie Kid crew through Tang’s perspective. Mei’s just happened to occur at the same time as my really long debut of the cool AU I had made up! Also does anyone have some good fanon names for Mei’s parents? I was dying never referring to them by name.

And yes, Tang does still have some issues with the Mayor. I’m sure that won’t be too relevant in the future.

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you thought and see you next time!

#Ink Writes #Monkie Kid #Scattered Cicadas #Golden Dragon Tang AU #Tang #Tang Monkie Kid #Mei #Lóng Xiǎojiāo #Mei's Parents #MK #Pigsy #Sandy #Demon Bull King #The Mayor #Sun Wukong

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kirk-spock-in-the-impala · 4 years

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Follow You Down (3 of 13)

CHAPTER 3: ESKEL

ON AO3 HERE

CW: Geralt’s headspace; hunting and field dressing of venison; subdrop

Story Summary:

Geralt was never supposed to survive the Trials. A submissive witcher was an abomination, an insult to the order of the world. He must never let anyone know his nature, must never accept a gentle touch or a kind word. It's too risky, too dangerous. He might slip up, and that would mean the end of everything.

But Jaskier refuses to keep to the script. After the boisterous (alluring), overly invasive (affectionate), and stupidly persistent (brave) Dominant walks into his life with bread in his pants, Geralt starts to think that maybe her could break this endless cycle of deprivation and pain. If only he could figure out how to deserve it.

CHAPTER 3: ESKEL

Approx 8,100 words under the cut

It took Geralt two weeks to fully heal from the cave in. He was functional on the third day after his injury, but only in the sense that he could press through the pain and function at the risk of worsening his injury. Jaskier had insisted Geralt refrain from hunting until he was completely healed despite his protests of functionality. The only way Jaskier had gotten Geralt to agree was by reminding him that if, due to his injury, he couldn’t perform at full capacity, Jaskier, Roach, or Potato might get hurt as a result. Taking a break to protect himself was unnecessary, but Geralt wouldn’t risk the safety of his travel companions.

And so, for two weeks Jaskier had played in inns from Brugge to Dorian, gathering crowds and coin in every nameless village along the way. Geralt had heard of a harpy problem on the sea cliffs outside Gors Velen, so they were heading in that direction, traveling slowly so as not to tire the horses needlessly while Geralt healed. If the harpy contract didn’t pan out, they could always head to Novigrad; there was never a shortage of contracts in a city that large.

Today, Geralt and Jaskier had pitched camp about half a day’s ride from Gors Velen. Geralt, finally healed and free from restriction, went off to hunt fresh game for their dinner while Jaskier set up camp and settled the horses. He hadn’t said as much, but his joy at being free to roam again was writ large in his eagerness to hunt, to provide for Jaskier properly again.

Geralt tracked a herd of deer through the woodlands just outside the border of Brokilon, careful to never stray within its bounds lest a volley of arrows from the dryad guards within end his life. The woodland buzzed with the sounds of mid-summer, cicadas chirping in the trees, rabbits bounding through the underbrush, and birds frantically hunting to feed their growing chicks. Geralt breathed deeply, enjoying the scents of warm grass, rich dirt, and blooming wild flowers.

He carefully followed the trail of the deer herd, walking soundlessly over the forest floor and keeping well downwind. He was patient, willing to take on a longer hunt for the greater reward venison would provide, pleased the long days afforded him the extra time.

As the shadows lengthened in the deepening afternoon, Geralt caught up to the herd where it rested alongside a small, bubbling brook. Geralt crouched in the shade of a large oak tree, unmoving, taking in the scene. The herd leader stood watch, nose raised into the wind, nostrils flaring to catch any possible scent. The does grazed around him, tails idly flicking flies away from their rumps. The fawns cavorted with each other, tumbling head over heels in the long grass as they chased each other about. Geralt scanned the herd for the most appropriate target, selecting an older doe with a cut down her leg. She was unlikely to survive the season with a wound like that. At least an arrow would be a quick death.

Geralt raised his crossbow, already loaded, and took careful aim. Vesemir had always taught him that he should only shoot when he was certain his arrow would strike true, ending the target’s life without pain. It would not do to cause needless suffering. Taking a deep breath and letting it out, steadying his aim as his lungs emptied and his arm stilled, Geralt loosed the arrow. It struck true.

The rest of the herd scattered at the sound of the shot, bounding off into the woods. Geralt rose, hooking the crossbow back onto his sword belt, and headed out in the clearing. When he reached the deer, he retrieved his arrow and flipped the carcass on its back to field dress it. Spreading the doe’s hind legs with his, he cut a long incision up her belly before carefully removing her organs and flipping the carcass back over to drain the blood. Out in the open like this, it was safer to dress the deer well away from their campsite to avoid attracting corpse eaters or scavengers.

As the doe drained, Geralt dug a deep, narrow hole in which to bury the deer’s organs and viscera so they wouldn’t attract necrophages or wolves that might harm passing travelers. Finally satisfied with the field dressing, Geralt bound the doe’s legs together, one binding for each pair, front and back, and lifted the carcass up onto his shoulders for the trek back to camp.

He smiled to himself as he thought of Jaskier’s pleased reaction to the bounty. With a haul this good, they would eat well for at least a couple weeks. They had plenty of salt to cure the meat and could smoke it dry overnight to preserve it as jerky for the road ahead. The deer hide should even fetch a decent price at the market in Gors Velen.

Geralt knew he wasn’t the best travel companion – or even a passable one most days – but he did his best to compensate for his many failings by keeping Jaskier safe and well fed on the road. After two weeks of uselessness, of burdening Jaskier with his care, the least he could do was replenish their meat stores and ensure Jaskier didn’t go hungry.

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It was dusk by the time Geralt returned to camp with the doe. Jaskier had already prepared a fire and a smoking rack in anticipation of Geralt’s success and he was delighted at the prospect of a good venison stew and the opportunity to replenish their stores with fresh jerky.

As Jaskier prepared the stew pot, Geralt skinned the deer and prepared the best cuts for the stew, dumping the chunks into the pot with the root vegetables and herbs Jaskier had already prepared. While the stew cooked, Geralt cut the remaining venison into thin, even strips, handing each to Jaskier to salt and lay out on the smoking rack to dry.

The smell was mouthwatering and Geralt’s stomach rumbled in anticipation. Jaskier chuckled at the sound, casting Geralt a fond look over the fire as they worked. Geralt’s appetite was formidable when he allowed himself to eat his fill. Jaskier planned on encouraging him to do just that while they had such abundance.

Suddenly, the wind shifted and Geralt caught a new scent in the air. He froze, bloody hand raised partway toward clasping his sword hilt, head tilted to the side as he listened hard and scented the air. Jaskier stopped his work, watching Geralt with concern.

“Geralt?” He asked quietly, “what is it?”

Geralt’s eyes narrowed in concentration, focusing completely on the new scent and sounds. “Someone’s coming.” He said.

As the person grew closer, their scent became clear and Geralt abruptly relaxed, face breaking out in an unrestrained grin as he leapt to his feet.

“It’s Eskel!” He exclaimed, shooting Jaskier a delighted grin before bounding off into the woods.

Geralt tore through the underbrush making no attempt to hide his approach. It wouldn’t do to surprise another witcher, though he had no doubt Eskel had already caught wind of them. Within moments, Geralt caught sight of Eskel and jogged up to him, Eskel welcoming him with a strong embrace.

“Geralt! What a pleasant surprise.” Eskel said, grinning down at Geralt. Eskel had a few inches on Geralt in all directions, bulky where Geralt was lean. His dark hair was cut short and a thick, ropy scar cut across his handsome face from his right ear to the corner of his mouth. His tattoo was exposed below the elbow under his rolled-up sleeves, thick Dominant mark on full display within the intricate design. He was leading a black mare laden with his packs, a calm look in her intelligent eyes.

“Eskel, it’s good to see you.” Geralt said happily, nudging his head under Eskel’s chin, greeting him as a brother. “You look well. What are you doing this far north?” Eskel usually stayed in the Southern Kingdoms outside of winter, so it was unusual to run into his brother this far into the Northern Kingdoms’ realm.

Eskel ruffled Geralt’s hair affectionately before wrapping an arm around his shoulders as they started walking back toward the camp. “I received word of a valuable contract for a harpy nest in Gors Velen from one of my recent contractors. I was already near the coast, albeit much farther South, so I decided to take a detour from my usual haunts and get a break from the summer heat.” He gave Geralt a rough, playful squeeze before releasing him. “And you, Geralt? What brings you here?”

“Same contract, it seems.” Geralt frowned, looking down and away before continuing. “I was slow hunting a kikimora swarm and got caught in a cave in. Took me two fucking weeks to recover. Jaskier wouldn’t let me hunt so he had to support us.” Geralt’s shoulders tensed, anticipating Eskel’s reaction. He knew he fucked up and he wouldn’t hide it from Eskel.

Eskel stopped, gently grabbing Geralt’s shoulder and turning Geralt to face him. He ran his hands up and down Geralt’s arms, scrutinizing him for injury. “And are you well now?”

Geralt nodded, still looking down.

“I’m glad you’re all right, those swarms can be vicious.” Eskel dropped his head and bumped his forehead against Geralt’s. “I bet you killed them with extreme prejudice.”

A small smile forced its way onto Geralt’s face. It was hard to hold onto his self-flagellation in the face of Eskel’s good nature. He always had been the steadiest and kindest of all of them. “Aye, crushed them all under a ton of rocks.”

Eskel barked a laugh, releasing Geralt so they could continue walking, knocking his shoulder into Geralt’s and shoving him slightly off the path. “They’re dead and you’re not, that’s all that matters.”

They walked in comfortable silence until they reached the camp, Jaskier jumping to his feet when they appeared, smiling brightly. He turned to Eskel, holding out his hand in open greeting. “I’m Jaskier. You must be Eskel. I’ve never seen Geralt so happy to see someone!”

Eskel took his hand, shaking it firmly. “Well met, Jaskier. I heard a lot about you over the winter.”

“Did you now?” Jaskier asked, eyeing Geralt, a pleased grin on his face. Geralt looked pointedly away, admitting nothing.

Jaskier grinned at him as he stepped back, gesturing to the pot and the stew bubbling over the fire. “Please, join us. Dinner is almost ready.”

Geralt took the reins from Eskel’s hand, waving him off to go sit down while he cared for the black mare, tying her to the line with Roach and Potato before removing her tack and dropping Eskel’s pack next to his.

Jaskier tasted the stew and declared it done, pulling over the bowls he’d laid out earlier for their meal. “Geralt, please grab another bowl while you’re there.” Geralt opened the right pack and pulled out their extra bowl and spoon, wordlessly handing them to Jaskier.

Jaskier’s nose wrinkled as he caught sight of the deer blood still staining Geralt’s hands. “Go wash that off before you eat.” Jaskier directed, raising an eyebrow when Geralt started to protest. Geralt huffed but complied, heading off to the nearby stream to clean his hands before his meal.

Eskel watched the scene with a bemused smile, glad to see his first impression of Jaskier matched the stories Geralt had told over the winter at Kaer Morhen. Eskel had never agreed with Vesemir’s approach to Geralt’s submissive nature, finding it cruel to deny him relief for so long, but he didn’t have a good alternative to suggest that wouldn’t put Geralt at risk given that there were too few witchers for a pair of them to travel together. Witchers were feared and reviled enough as it was without giving potential attackers the idea to use a Dominant’s Voice to subdue a submissive witcher alone on the Path. The outcome of such an attack would be horrifying, if not deadly. But if Geralt had found himself a Dominant he could trust, and Jaskier certainly seemed a good man on first blush, Eskel would rest easier.

“It seems you have me at a disadvantage.” Jaskier said as he handed Eskel a full bowl of stew. “Geralt hasn’t told me anything about you beyond that you are a fellow witcher.”

Eskel took the stew with a nod of thanks, glad to have a hot meal he didn’t have to hunt and cook himself. “I’m not surprised, he’s not exactly the most forthcoming.”

Jaskier chuckled, shaking his head fondly. “For sure he isn’t. So, tell me about yourself. I would like to know more if you’re willing to share.”

Eskel sat back with his stew, speaking in between bites of the soft, fresh meat and tender vegetables. “Geralt and I were in the same training group at Kaer Morhen. We’re probably of an age, or close to it, though neither of us knows for sure how old we are exactly.”

Jaskier gave a sympathetic frown at that, but didn’t question it, knowing most witchers were Child Surprises. “We, along with Lambert, were among the few to survive the selection and the Trials. Geralt and I learned everything together, even if I did have to save his ass more often than not when we ran the training courses together around the Keep.” He said that last bit with a teasing grin on his face, hearing Geralt approach, pitching his voice to be sure Geralt caught every word.

“You saved me?” Geralt asked incredulously as he rejoined their circle around the fire, “have you lost your memory in your old age?” Geralt took the bowl Jaskier handed him, sitting down across the fire from Eskel, next to Jaskier. Jaskier just sat back and grinned, eating his dinner as he watched them bicker, delighted to see this more open side to his favorite witcher.

“Well, maybe we saved each other.” Eskel conceded, impish grin making his amber eyes dance with mirth.

Geralt huffed indignantly, rolling his eyes, but turned his focus to his meal rather than continuing, embarrassed to be to the focus of the conversation. “Tell me about the contract,” he said in an attempt to change the subject.

Eskel followed his lead. “It’s a harpy nest on the sea coast outside Gors Velen. I heard there are over thirty individuals in the nest and that they’ve caused well over a dozen deaths among passing travelers and sailors.”

Geralt frowned. “Unusual to see thirty in a nest.”

“Aye, I could use your help with this, if you’re willing.”

Geralt looked up in surprise. “You want to share the contract?”

Eskel nodded. “Thirty harpies on the sea cliffs doesn’t make for good odds and I’d rather not add myself to their list of victims.”

Geralt considered the offer for a moment before accepting. “Makes sense. Your magic will be helpful too. I fucking hate the ones that fly.”

Eskel chucked his spoon at him, his bowl empty, laughing as it bonked Geralt on the head. “Yeah, you never were good at catching.”

Geralt looked murderous, moving to place his bowl down and leap over the fire at Eskel, but Jaskier stopped him with a hand on his knee. “Eat your dinner first, then you can fight with your brother.” Geralt growled, but subsided, picking his bowl back up and finishing his meal, sulking. Eskel watched in amazement at how easily Geralt listened to Jaskier. He was certain now that Jaskier was Geralt’s Dominant.

When Jaskier looked away, he chucked the spoon back at Eskel. “I saw that.” Jaskier said, a note of warning in his tone. “Don’t waste food by letting it get cold. Eat.”

Geralt pulled a face, but settled, using Eskel’s thrown spoon to finish his serving and half of another before gathering the dishes and the pot and heading back to the stream to clean them while Jaskier banking the fire under the smoking rack for the night. As Jaskier worked, Eskel retrieved his bedroll, setting it up beside Geralt’s and removing his armor, piling it next to his pack.

When Eskel was certain Geralt was out of earshot, he spoke to Jaskier. “Thank you for taking care of him.”

Jaskier looked up from the fire, startled. “Whatever do you mean?”

“He looks happier than I’ve ever seen him since he started on his Path. You’re good for him. And I heard you kept him from hunting until he healed from his injuries, something I’ve never managed to do.” Eskel bowed his head to Jaskier. “You have my gratitude for your care of my brother.”

Jaskier flushed from the praise, uncertain how to respond to Eskel’s open display of emotion. “It is my pleasure to care for him. He’s very dear to me.” He finally said. He looked up at Eskel, smile slightly pained. “I only wish he’d let me do more.”

Eskel knew that feeling well. “Geralt has had to rely on himself all his life and he’s had to constantly hide himself from those who would hurt him. Given who and what he is, that’s most of the world, unfortunately. It’s hard for him to accept help, it always has been.” Eskel cocked his head, hearing Geralt approach. “But I think you’re just the person to get through to him. He deserves to be happy.”

“He does.” Jaskier agreed, “and I’ll do whatever I can to make him so.”

Eskel shushed him with a gesture, indicating Geralt had come back within earshot. He knew Geralt would not thank them for talking about him behind his back, no matter how well meant their words.

Geralt looked between the two of them suspiciously when he arrived back at the camp. Scowling, but without evidence to make any accusations, he repacked the pot and dishes, removed his boots, and settled on his bedroll. He glared at Eskel when he saw how he’d placed his bedroll between Geralt and the woods, protecting him by keeping him in the center of their camp with Jaskier on the other side of the campfire and Eskel at his back. But he didn’t protest or move his bedroll, not wanting to draw attention to what Eskel had done and make Jaskier suspicious as to his motivations. For all that he was glad to see Eskel again before winter, putting him in contact with Jaskier greatly increased the risk that Jaskier would discover his secret.

With the chores done, the three men settled in for the night, soothed to sleep by the good food and the soft, ambient noise of the summer forest.

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

Two days after their reunion, Geralt and Eskel lay on a cliff edge overlooking the harpy nest off to their south, well downwind of the strategizing witchers. Geralt had let Eskel pick up the contract – even on the rare occasion witchers worked together, they did not share that information with the Alderman and risk inviting doubt as to their abilities – while he settled the horses into the stables at the local inn. Jaskier procured them two rooms, as the innkeeper did not allow more than two adults per room, and left it up to Geralt to decide with whom he would bunk for the night. Jaskier had made it clear either choice was perfectly fine with him.

Jaskier was safely back at the inn having been sternly dissuaded by both witchers from following them on this hunt. The risk that a harpy from the massive nest would catch sight of him and carry him off was far too high. With such a large hoard expected, Geralt and Eskel would be hard-pressed to protect themselves, let alone Jaskier. Mollified by Eskel’s promise to tell him about the hunt afterwards and spare no detail, Jaskier stayed behind, planning to spend the day and night entertaining the locals at the tavern below the inn.

The harpy nest was almost two hours from Gors Velen on foot. Neither Geralt nor Eskel was willing to risk their mount to the harpies’ appetite, so Roach and Eskel’s black mare, Ember, were safely back at the inn’s stable with Potato, the old gelding delighted to be in the company of two fine mares.

Upon reaching the coast, Geralt and Eskel had stayed well upwind of the nest, choosing a vantage point for surveillance before plotting their attack. From their location, they could see the large cliffside cavern that was serving as the harpy’s nest. It overlooked a natural harbor, giving the harpies plenty of prey from the marine animals and unwitting sailors who came to rest in the harbor’s protected waters. To further boost their yields, the main trading route between Nilfgaard and Novigrad ran along the coast, giving the harpy nest an ample supply of travelers on whom to prey. According to the Alderman, the harpy nest had appeared two months ago and only grown from there. The high contract price was funded by both Novigrad and Gors Velen in the interest of a quick resolution.

“Seems the best angle is to approach from upwind and draw the nest away from the coast.” Geralt said, pointing out a shallow depression along the coastline. “If we can get them down in there, we shouldn’t have too much trouble.”

“Agreed. And once we clear out the flyers, we can toss a couple bombs down into the cavern to draw out any stragglers before we climb down there to destroy the nest itself.” Eskel said, adding a selection of bombs from his pack to the pouch tied to his belt.

Geralt did the same with his selection before loading his crossbow quiver and looping that onto his belt as well, priming the crossbow with a bolt and laying it gently on the grass as he downed two potions from his pack to bolster his abilities – Thunderbolt for attack power and Swallow for vitality.

Ready, he turned to Eskel. “Your Signs are stronger, so if I draw them out to the depression, can you knock them down with Aard? I’ll concentrate on taking them out once they’re grounded.”

Eskel nodded, giving his armor buckles a final check and swallowing his own potions – Petri's Philter to increase the power of his Signs and Tawny Owl to increase his stamina and allow him to cast more Signs for longer. Eskel was the most magically powerful of all the witchers and Geralt the most skilled with the blade, so it made sense to plan their attack to play to their strengths.

“Ready?” Eskel asked.

“Ready.”

They slunk down the coastline, keeping low and out of sight in the scrub brush, careful to mind the play of the wind. If it shifted, they would need to attack quickly to maintain the element of surprise.

Fortunately for them, the wind cooperated and they were able to reach the harpies’ nest undetected. While Eskel hid in the brush surrounding the small depression, Geralt darted between cover until he reached the harpy sentry situated on the far edge of the depression, facing out toward the ocean. Silently, he slit her throat, letting her body drop soundlessly to the sea grass below. He crept closer to the cliff’s edge, coming within sight of the second sentry posted on the cliffside itself. He drew his crossbow, embedding the loaded bolt into the harpy’s eye before she could make a sound, killing her instantly. Her body dropped hard into the mouth of the cave below, startling the nest and drawing the swarm out to investigate.

After shooting the second sentry, Geralt had immediately retreated back to the planned battleground, positioning himself in the center of the depression. He loaded another bolt in his crossbow, taking down the first harpy to come in range. Her sisters screamed, dive bombing him from all directions. He managed to shoot only one more before they descending on him. He switched to his silver sword, dropping the crossbow, the hybrid oil he’d rubbed into it lending him extra power against the harpies.

When most of the swarm was within the depression, Eskel burst out of the scrub brush, casting a powerful Aard sign that blew the harpies out of the air. His control was such that he was able to cast the Sign just above Geralt’s head, close enough that he felt the wind from the air displaced by the powerful blow without being affected by it. Harpies fell along around Geralt, stunned by the blast from Aard. Geralt quickly jumped into action, fitting his silver blade through the ribs of each fallen harpy and piercing her heart, Eskel doing the same behind him.

There were too many for them to dispatch before the stun wore off, and the surviving harpies, still at least fifteen, rose quickly back into the air, screaming and brandishing their long talons and sharp wings as they dove down around the two witchers.

Eskel and Geralt stood back to back, rotating as one so Eskel could knock the harpies down and Geralt could end their lives with a swift killing blow. They moved as if dancing, certain of the other’s steps without needing to look, a deadly whirl of magic and sharp silver.

Finally, the assault ceased. Eskel dropped his hands and Geralt let the point of his blade brush the ground. Both panted from exertion, lungs bellowing. As they caught their breath, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings, they crept toward the cliff’s edge, cautiously peering over the side toward the cave below. Harpies were crafty beasts and it was not beyond them to plot an ambush for their executioners.

Seeing nothing, Geralt stood back, sword ready, as Eskel lay on his stomach and tossed a series of bombs down into the cave mouth. As they exploded, outraged shrieks echoed from below as seven more harpies burst through the smoke and slammed into Geralt, bypassing the prostrate Eskel. They surrounded him on all sides, too low for Eskel to safely blast off with Aard and too close for Geralt to have time to cast any Signs of his own.

Eskel saw Geralt’s silver blade flash as a harpy’s body dropped back, blood spurting from her slashed neck. He leapt into the fray, his own sword taking the head off one harpy and the wing off another as he reached Geralt’s side, positioning them back to back again. From there, Eskel could safely cast Aard to throw the remaining four harpies out of the air, Geralt dealing a killing blow to each as Eskel watched for more, dispatching the one harpy who had fallen at his feet.

A slash from a talon cut across Geralt’s upper left arm, slowly dripping blood. Eskel gestured at it. “Serious?”

Geralt glanced down, grimacing at the injury caused by his carelessness. “No, just a scratch.”

Eskel nodded, trusting Geralt to let him know if his fighting abilities were impaired. Geralt may be dismissive of his own needs, but he wouldn’t put Eskel at risk by hiding any impediment to his usual prowess.

Together, they crept again toward the cliff edge and repeated the bomb tactic. This time, no harpies appeared. They waited again, listening hard. Silence.

One by one, starting with Eskel, they climbed down the cliff edge, dropping in the mouth of the cave. Each downed a Cat for visibility in the dark, the toxicity making their matched eyes go completely black. Eyesight boosted, they slowly worked their way through the cave, swords at the ready. They found the nest at the back of the relatively shallow cave system, human bones thick on the floor and blood splattered on the walls, but, thankfully, no more harpies. They dispatched the nest with a pair of grapeshot bombs and cast Igni to destroy it completely. It would do no good to clear out the occupants while leaving a perfect home ready to attract the next nest of harpies.

With a last check around the cave, they climbed back up to the top of the cliff and set about harvesting the corpses, collecting valuable alchemy ingredients and taking the tongue of each harpy as a trophy to prove the hunt complete. By the time they were done, they counted forty-seven harpies.

“I’ve never seen so many in one nest.” Eskel commented as they walked back to gather their packs from their surveillance post. “We’ll have to update the beastiary at Kaer Morhen and tell Vesemir about this over the winter. We don’t want Lambert or any of the other witchers surprised by the size of a nest.”

Eskel reached out and ruffled Geralt’s hair as they walked. “Without you here too, I doubt I would have survived this. Thank you.”

Geralt looked up at him from under Eskel’s hand before shoving it off. “You would’ve been fine. You’re practically a mage with all that power.” Geralt tried to ignore the throbbing in his left arm. He was the one who got careless and let a harpy cut him. Jaskier would fuss now when they returned, focusing on him when he should be free to play and enjoy the company of other softer, better submissives who deserved his careful attentions for the evening.

Eskel elbowed him, shoving him over to the left. “I know you, Geralt. I can practically hear you berating yourself for that cut.” Geralt looked away but didn’t respond. “The only reason I was able to cast so effectively was because you drew them off. It’s my fault you got swarmed and that harpy had a chance to slash you – I should have been better prepared to cast them down when they came over the cliff edge.”

Geralt looked up at that, protesting immediately. “But you had to lean over the cliff to throw the bombs, you couldn’t have gotten up any faster.”

“And you were ready for them so you can’t be blamed for one harpy in seven getting in a lucky hit when you were swarmed. I’m only glad you weren’t seriously hurt.” Eskel said, drawing Geralt close with an arm around his shoulders, careful not to brush the long scrape.

Geralt huffed, but let it drop as they reached the spot where they’d left their packs, knowing Eskel would never see his failure clearly. He was far too fond of Geralt for that, for reasons Geralt would never understand. As they started the long walk back to Gors Velen, trophies in hand, Geralt could only hope that Jaskier would be too distracted – by the crowd, by a pretty submissive, or by Eskel’s company – to notice Geralt’s wound.

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

Geralt’s wish was granted. By the time they returned to Gors Velen and Eskel traded the trophies for the contract price with the unusually grateful Alderman, Jaskier had finished his performance and had left word with the innkeeper for them that he had already retired to bed. The innkeeper implied he’d retired alone, but Geralt doubted it. Jaskier was a rare type of Dominant and he attracted favorable, well-deserved attention wherever he went. Geralt pushed down the pang of jealously that thought caused. He should be grateful for Jaskier’s company. He would never, could never, have the right to even hope for more.

Using his unwillingness to wake Jaskier this late as a cover for his real reasons – not wanting to cause Jaskier undue upset over his injury or risk seeing another submissive in his bed – Geralt followed Eskel back to his room, grateful he’d thought ahead to leave his packs in there for after the hunt.

When they reached the small room, they saw Jaskier must have arranged for a bath for them before he retired. A small, wooden tub sat before the fire, half-filled with cool water, with a large cauldron over the fire full of hot water waiting to be used. Between the two of them, they easily lifted the cauldron and filled the bath completely. Eskel cast a controlled Igni to add a little more heat, satisfied when the water was just shy of scalding.

Geralt gestured for Eskel to take the first bath and Eskel didn’t argue, stripping off his armor and settling back into the steaming water. Geralt tossed the wash cloth at his head from behind before carefully placing the wash basin with the soap fragment next to the tub. Soap was too precious to risk wasting.

Eskel, unlike Geralt, didn’t enjoy long soaks, so he quickly scrubbed himself down while Geralt removed and cleaned his own armor. Finished, he dried off and left the bath to Geralt before turning his attention to cleaning and oiling his gear.

Geralt stripped, dropping his dirty clothes with Eskel’s beside the tub to wash later, sinking into the steaming water with a satisfied groan, closing his eyes and letting his head rest on the back edge of the tub.

“Hedonist.” Eskel teased, grinning over at Geralt.

Geralt made an obscene gesture at him without opening his eyes, comfortable letting his guard down under the watchful protection of his brother. Eskel wouldn’t let anything happen to him while he bathed. Not that Jaskier would either, but Jaskier was unpredictable in other ways. He might decide to try helping Geralt with his hair or offer to scrub his back, things Geralt wanted almost as strongly as he rejected those offers. Eskel knew better than to offer things Geralt shouldn’t have.

Eventually, the water cooled and Geralt finished his bath, cleaning himself thoroughly to remove the characteristic stink of harpy, paying careful attention to the slash down his left arm. It wasn’t deep and would heal well on its own as long as made sure to clean it properly.

Finished, he stepped out of the bath, dried off, and dropped his and Eskel’s dirty clothes in the bath, scrubbing at any stubborn stains before leaving them to soak.

He redressed in his spare outfit, pulling on only the loose pants and linen shirt for now, finger combing his long hair before leaving it to air dry. Once he was dressed, he removed the laundry from the bath and started to wring out the clothes, Eskel joining him to help. They hung the wet clothes on the line by the fire, kindly provided by the innkeeper. It was a familiar routine for them, sharing baths and chores in a small room by the fire, much like their housing at Kaer Morhen. While the Keep had a laundry for the larger items, each trainee was expected to wash, mend, and maintain his own clothing and armor. As Eskel and Geralt had been roommates, they frequently shared these chores, with Geralt taking on the mending and Eskel the bulk of the washing, as was their preference.

Tasks complete, Eskel grabbed a small book from his pack, a precious resource for one who loved to read as much as he, and settled on the edge of the bed to read by the candlelight. Geralt went to check on Jaskier and, hearing nothing but his soft breathing through the door, returned to Eskel’s room for the night. Jaskier was safe and Geralt would not disturb his rest.

Exhaustion pulled at Geralt, both from the fight and from the strain of nearly six months without a drop. Soothed by his brother’s easy, familiar presence, Geralt let some of his usual control slip, allowing a soft expression to come to his face, limbs loose and gait relaxed. Seeing Eskel sitting on the side of the bed in that familiar reading pose, Geralt joined him as he had many times in their youth, sinking to his knees beside his brother and resting his head on Eskel’s thigh. Warmth immediately flooded him as the first tendrils of subspace cossetted him, easing the ache of long deprivation.

Eskel placed a gentle hand on his head, seeing the vaguely unfocused look in Geralt’s eyes. “You shouldn’t do that here, Geralt.” He said softly, looking down on his brother with only kindness in his amber gaze.

Geralt felt as if a bucket of ice water had been thrown over him. Pulled roughly from his relaxed drift, his heartrate skyrocketed as a cold weight settled in his chest. He shoved himself back and away from Eskel, sprawling on the floor and staring up at him, stricken. He should have controlled himself better. He shouldn’t have put Eskel in the position to need to remind him of his place. Shame washed over him and his vision blackened at the edges from the rapid drop.

Eskel looked startled by the violent reaction, immediately reaching out to Geralt to soothe him, but Geralt flinched away. “Easy, Geralt.” He said, attempting to calm him. “I’ll get Jaskier for you and all will be well.”

Geralt looked up at him in anguished confusion. Why the fuck would he get Jaskier? If Jaskier saw him like this, he might suspect the truth and then Geralt could never travel with him again. Geralt shook his head vehemently, incapable of speech, reaching out to stop Eskel.

Eskel turned back from the door and crouched in front of Geralt, lowering his head to force Geralt to meet his eyes. “You don’t want me to get Jaskier?” He asked in disbelief. He couldn’t understand why Geralt wouldn’t want his Dominant to help him.

Geralt shook his head, panic joining the shame and making his breathing come in short, quick pants, his pupils blown.

“All right, I won’t get him.” Eskel reassured, horrified with himself for having forced Geralt into such a violent subdrop. He had the sinking feeling he had read Geralt and Jaskier’s relationship all wrong and hurt Geralt as a result.

Eskel added a hint of his Dominant Voice into his speech in an attempt to help Geralt get his breathing back under control by speaking directly to his subconscious. “Match my breathing now, Geralt. In and out, nice and easy.”

Geralt responded to Eskel’s familiar Voice through his panic and the cold haze caused by the subdrop, doing his best to match Eskel’s breathing. Eskel slowly, carefully reached out and took Geralt’s hand, holding it onto his chest to help Geralt feel the even rhythm of his breath, praising him for each deeper breath he took. After what felt like an age, Geralt’s breathing steadied, matching Eskel’s example.

With his breathing under control again, Eskel encouraged Geralt to move from the floor to the bed, positioning them so they sat side by side, backs resting against the wall, Geralt’s head cushioned on Eskel’s shoulder. They had spent many nights together like that as children while they recovered from the brutal abuses heaped upon their young bodies in the Trials. The familiar pose comforted them both.

When Eskel felt Geralt stop shaking and slump fully onto his shoulder, exhausted by the drop, he spoke. “Jaskier isn’t your Dom, is he?”

Geralt shook his head, speech still beyond him. He knew he should move, that he shouldn’t lean on Eskel like this, but he couldn’t find the strength. The cold feeling in his chest made his bones ache from the shame of his weakness, at how he’d given in to his base instincts at the first opportunity, forcing Eskel to take care of him instead of waiting for his scheduled drop like he knew he should.

Eskel closed his eyes, internally berating himself for making assumptions. “Forgive me, Geralt. I shouldn’t have assumed. I should have trusted you to know what you need and asked you about Jaskier before correcting you without cause.”

Geralt forced himself to speak, sitting up and moving away from Eskel’s warm hold, unwilling to let him blame himself for Geralt’s failings.

“No, I shouldn’t have done that. Vesemir taught me better.”

Eskel’s expression was pained. “I’m not sure Vesemir is right. If there’s a trustworthy Dom who can help you during the year, there’s no reason you should have to suffer like this.”

Geralt shook his head, turning away from Eskel and his words.

Eskel persisted. “From what I’ve seen of him and how much he cares for you, I’m sure Jaskier can be trusted with this. I can’t imagine he would betray you.” Eskel said gently.

“It’s not that.” Geralt said to the wall.

“Then what is it?”

“It’s not his duty to take care of me.” Geralt said flatly.

Eskel frowned. “But what if he wants to?”

Geralt curled in on himself, misery pouring off him in waves. “I can’t do that to him. He would feel obliged to take care of me if he knew, but he deserves better. He deserves a real submissive who’s soft and gentle and everything I’m not. A house on a hill with a family, a dog, servants, the whole deal. Not walking the Path with me.”

Eskel’s heart ached for his brother. He had seen how the trainers’ actions, how Vesemir’s scheduled drops, had changed Geralt over the past decades. He’d been a bright, happy child, even throughout their training. But the strain of nearly a century of deprivation and the brutal, clinical drops Vesemir imposed on him to save his sanity had hardened him, convinced him that there was little more to life than pain and duty. That meeting his biological needs was a burden imposed upon Vesemir because no one else would deign to help him. Eskel suspected there was little, if any, aftercare provided in those sessions, leaving Geralt to suffer through a harsh subdrop alone each time. Eskel knew Vesemir did it out of care for Geralt in his own way, that he was calling on practices he’d learned as a young Dominant nearly four hundred years ago, but all the good intentions in the world didn’t spare Geralt the consequences.

“You should tell him. Let Jaskier make his own decision about what he wants from his life.” Eskel said finally, knowing it was futile to try and convince Geralt of his own worth. Or that Vesemir might have been wrong when he decided how Geralt’s submissive side should be handled.

“No!” Geralt said sharply, turning a harsh glare on Eskel. “And don’t you dare tell him either.”

Eskel held up his hands, appeasing. “I wouldn’t do that without your permission and you know it.” Eskel grinned, trying to lighten the mood. “After all, I still haven’t told Vesemir it was you who put the blackberry juice in his hair oil that one time.”

Geralt snorted a laugh in spite of himself at the memory of Vesemir’s purple striped hair. It had taken weeks for the color to fade. His expression relaxed and he leaned back against Eskel’s shoulder.

“I’m glad we ran into you, Eskel.” Geralt said, changing the subject. “Where will you go next?”

Eskel followed Geralt’s lead, sitting back and crossing his ankles, enjoying the warmth of his brother at his side. “Probably back south again. There’s plenty of work with all the unrest down in Nilfgaard. What about you?”

“Novigrad for now. Unless I hear of another contract along the way.”

“And then you’ll work your way back north?”

Geralt hummed in agreement.

“I’ll work my way back east and then start to head north by mid-autumn. I don’t want to get caught out by a blizzard on the way back to Kaer Morhen like I did last year.” Eskel said, grimacing at the memory.

Geralt elbowed him, grinning. “Yeah, you came in looking like a drowned rat.”

“Oh, shut up.” Eskel said, shoving him lightly away. “Like it’s never happened to you before.”

They grinned at each other before relaxing again, enjoying the easy, fraternal companionship as they sat side by side, staring into the fire. Eskel finally broke the silence. “Best we get some rest before morning.” He said, moving to lie flat and pulling the blankets up over himself. Geralt mirrored him, settling down on the other side of the modestly-sized bed. Eskel extinguished the flame in the candle before casting a controlled Igni to stabilize the banked fire for the night.

“Show off.” Geralt muttered.

“You know it.” Eskel teased back.

They lay quietly together until they drifted off to sleep, curled toward each other under the warm blankets just as they had done when they were children.

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

The next morning, after Eskel gave Jaskier all the details of their hunt over breakfast, they parted company, Jaskier and Geralt heading north toward Novigrad and Eskel heading back south toward Nilfgaard. They stood at the crossroads outside town, each man holding his own horse.

Geralt and Eskel embraced, pounding each other on the back, Geralt briefly pushing his head up under Eskel’s chin in a brotherly farewell.

“Think about telling him. I think you’ll be surprised by how well it goes.” Eskel whispered in Geralt’s ear before they broke apart. Geralt frowned at him, shaking his head, glad Jaskier couldn’t see his face.

“Don’t get dead out there.” Geralt said to Eskel. “Walk your Path with honor.”

Eskel nodded. “May your Path be smooth and may your sword strike true.” Eskel said, completing the traditional parting words.

Eskel turned to Jaskier, pulling him into a rough embrace as well. Jaskier was surprised at the open affection – he was used to Geralt’s far greater reserve – but he returned the embrace easily. Eskel was a cheerful, kind soul and Jaskier had come to like him in their short time together. Hopefully, they would see each other again one day.

“Take care of this idiot.” Eskel said, stepping back toward his horse.

Jaskier laughed at seeing Geralt roll his eyes. “I’ll try my best!”

Eskel locked eyes with Jaskier for a moment, the sudden seriousness of his gaze belying his light tone. Jaskier briefly bowed his head, message received. He would do his best to care for Geralt in his brother’s place.

Jaskier sensed there was more going on here than he knew, but he wasn’t sure what yet. He had his suspicions given Eskel’s protectiveness over Geralt and the fact that Eskel’s tattoo proudly showed off his Dominant’s stripe whereas Geralt’s intricate pattern covered his whole arm, wholly obscuring his mark. He had seen how Geralt briefly nuzzled under Eskel’s chin too, though he drew no attention to it at the time. It was common gesture of greeting or farewell among family members, but typically done between submissives and Dominants, with only the rare neutral extending a Dominant relative that same affectionate courtesy. Jaskier didn’t know enough about witcher customs to know if that held true for them, and he certainly wasn’t going to ask Geralt, but he filed the observation away in his mind to analyze when future, contextualizing evidence presented itself.

With a final wave, Eskel turned south, mounting his black mare and directing her down the main road. Jaskier and Geralt mounted as well, Potato and Roach happily walking side by side north toward Novigrad.

“I hope we run into him again.” Jaskier said after a moment, looking back at Eskel’s retreating figure.

“Hm, not likely. He usually stays in the Southern Kingdoms until he needs to head north for the winter.”

“Do you each have your own region to patrol?” Jaskier asked curiously.

“In a sense. We each chose the regions we prefer. With so few of us left, it made sense to break the Continent up and spread our services.” Geralt answered.

Jaskier was pleased at the open response and decided to see if he could encourage Geralt to share a bit more while his good mood lasted. “Who patrols each region?”

Geralt glanced over at him, assessing. Jaskier kept his gaze open and curious. Satisfied Jaskier’s question was simply as it appeared, he answered. “I stay more toward the western part of the Northern Kingdoms. Eskel patrols the Southern Kingdoms, as I said, and Vesemir does as well, though he tends to go only in response to a particular contract rather than as a general patrol given his age. Lambert patrols the eastern side of the Northern Kingdoms.”

“What’s Lambert like?” Jaskier asked, having caught the oddly painful weight given to Vesemir’s name in Geralt’s response and deciding not to poke at a potential sore spot.

“He’s an asshole. Arrogant, loud, never shuts up.” Geralt’s tone took on a teasing edge. “You’d probably get along.”

Jaskier gasped in mock offense. “You take that back!”

Geralt grinned at him before spurring Roach into a gallop. “Make me!” He shouted back.

Jaskier urged Potato to follow, knowing the older gelding would never catch the fleet-footed mare, the two horses’ hooves pounding into the dirt as they raced northward to Novigrad.

@thesunshinemanman

@humbae

#kirk-spock-in-the-impala writes #follow you down #chapter 3 #the witcher #geraskier #geralt/jaskier #geralt of rivia #sub!geralt #dom!jaskier #gerlion #jaskier #fic

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lmayveyuhh · 3 years

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Impressions of Ordinary Life

One of the sweet comforts in life is curling up in a favorite chair with a short story that will carry us away from our everyday lives for an hour or two. On rare occasions, we find a tale that mirrors real life in such a way that we are strangely comforted by the normalcy reflected in the words. A perfect example of a story about ordinary life that will soothe the soul in search for some insight on understanding human behavior is Anton Chekhov’s “The Lady with the Little Dog.” This piece is definitive of the literary period of realism during the late nineteenth century that was influenced by this brilliant writer and others such as Guy de Maupassant and Kate Chopin. This style of writing has such a mass appeal because the “characters in [these] novels (and in short stories) wear recognizable social masks and reflect an everyday reality” (Charters 997). In his simple anecdote of a chance meeting between a middle-aged, chauvinistic, repeat-offender adulterer, unhappily married man, and a young, naïve, in-search-of-something-new, married woman, Chekhov paints a picture that gives a startling representation of how these two characters are influenced by the settings in which their chronicle takes place, especially with the budding of their relationship.

The narrative takes place in Yalta, a vacation spot for Eastern Europeans and Russians on the northern coast of the Black Sea. We are given a brief description of the main character, Gurov, who is a man that describes his wife as a woman “none too bright, narrow-minded, graceless,” (Chekhov 144) and has used these human imperfections as reasons to be unfaithful. We learn only minute details about his children and his employment, with more emphasis being given to his views on women, “an inferior race” (Chekhov 144), which are no doubt due to the sour experiences he has had in his extramarital affairs. We can use this information and the fact that Yalta is a place where one would go to search out “a quick, fleeting liaison” (Chekhov 144) to assess that this man is in Yalta looking for just that. As soon as Gurov gains sight of his prospective candidate and makes first contact with “the lady with the little dog” (Chekhov 144), the scenery begins to take shape and the setting is cheerful and airy, full of beautiful colors and tranquil light. After becoming acquainted, Anna and Gurov “strolled and talked of how strange the light was on the sea; the water was of a lilac color, so soft and warm, and over it the moon cast a golden strip” (Chekhov 145). Later, when he is alone in his hotel room, Gurov reflects on “her slender, weak neck, her beautiful gray eyes” (Chekhov 145) and his thoughts reveal that he has determined this young, vulnerable woman to be an ideal contender for another one of his many affairs that he just can’t help becoming involved in. As the story unfolds, we see how the color gray is an integral component in the sort of comfortable, yet, unresolved feeling that the relationship between Gurov and Anna emanates.

When things are heating up between the two lonely travelers, so is the weather, which is “stuffy, but outside the dust flew in whirls” (Chekhov 146) and their thirst is unrelenting no matter what they eat or drink to quench it. “There was no escape” (Chekhov 146), seemingly, from the desire for one another that is beginning to blossom. On this particular evening, the couple makes way for the jetty to watch the incoming ship. A crowd of people has gathered with many bouquets of flowers to greet arrivals. The churning ocean echoes the intensity of their attraction for each other, along with the mess of people surrounding them and Anna’s display of uneasiness and absentmindedness. As the crowd thins out, the mood is calm and dark; the air is full of the lingering scents of the flowers that are long gone with the people and commotion. This becomes the optimal milieu for the couple to surrender to their desires, free from the probing stares of the public.

Back in the hotel room, where it is again “stuffy” (Chekhov 146), Gurov is reminded of his past experiences in many similar situations, and it seems as though he may be fighting off the urge to run away from this potentially, if not, inevitably, disastrous scene. “Her features drooped and faded, and her hair hung down sadly on both sides of her face, she sat pondering in a dejected pose, like the sinful woman in a old painting” (Chekhov 147). Anna’s defenselessness is unappealing to Gurov, yet he is detached from his emotions in such a way that he will not even consider the prospect of the damage he could cause to this woman. Regardless of his indifference, there is an inkling of the feelings he is already beginning to have as he considers “the solitary candle burning on the table barely lit up her face, but it was clear that her heart was uneasy”(Chekhov147). The change from dark to light signals Gurov really does care for this woman and is aware of his changing feelings, but he is far from learning to accept this.

Once the relationship is consummated and Gurov is able to console Anna, the lightheartedness returns to the scene, as if a dark cloud has been lifted, and the two take off on an outing to Oreanda. “The leaves of the trees did not stir, cicadas called, and the monotonous, dull noise of the sea, coming from below, spoke of the peace, of the eternal sleep that awaits us” (Chekhov 148). It is at this point when the reality of what they have done sets in and the landscape begins to take on a resolute quality, ostensibly validating the intricate feeling the two are experiencing together. They are reminded of the fact that life goes on regardless of any mistakes and “if you thought of it, everything was beautiful in this world, everything except for what we ourselves think and do when we forget the higher goals of being and our human dignity” (Chekhov 148). As Gurov considers the “unceasing movement of life on earth” (Chekhov 148), the light changes and “in the glow of early dawn” (Chekhov 148) the feeling is gray and mystical, uncomplicated and convoluted all at the same time.

When Anna and Gurov have decidedly accepted their fate together, the relationship swings into full force and the “outings were successful, their impressions each time were beautiful, majestic” (Chekhov 148). And then “fate itself” (Chekhov 148) makes a well-anticipated appearance, and the lovers must part, most likely forever, “and a moment later the noise could no longer be heard, as if everything were conspiring on purpose to put a speedy end to this sweet oblivion, this madness” (Chekhov 149). With the brisk winds of fall, Gurov is left alone on the train platform to contemplate his worthiness of the nature of the feelings this woman has for him, “he had appeared to her not as he was in reality, and therefore he had involuntarily deceived her…” (Chekhov 149).

Anton Chekhov is a master of portraying the complexities of the human condition and the difficulties we all have with communication, both inward and outward. The settings are artfully represented by imagery that evokes real emotions in the reader who has gazed upon the landscape searching for answers to life’s obstacles. Richard Ford describes Chekhov as “a writer for adults, his work becoming useful and also beautiful by attracting attention to mature feelings, to complicated human responses and small issues of moral choice within large, overarching dilemmas” (Ford 868). There are relationships in life that will change the very way in which we view our surrounds and ourselves, and sometimes living vicariously through another’s experience will inflict the same realizations. “The Lady with the Little Dog” will give any reflective reader a delicious taste of life in perpetual motion, the ongoing cycle of learning to live and accepting being human.

Credits: 2003, Melanie Price

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evelynsmusings · 4 years

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Showmo: 7 Days Bangkok Itinerary: Insta-Worthy Side Trip To Beachside Hua Hin

Project articles for Singtel

To some, the annual sojourn to Bangkok for a vacation getaway is of utmost importance – and if you want to make it a true getaway that includes beachside bumming, this is the itinerary you should consider! Once a small and idyllic fishing village, Hua Hin has been transformed into a wondrous beach getaway for both locals and travelers looking to escape the bustling city. This is Showmo’s 7-day Insta-worthy Hua Hin-Bangkok Itinerary!

Highlights:

Sip wine as your watch grapes grow surrounded by lush rolling hills of Hua Hin

Chill Out at Seenspace

Trek to the Phraya Nakhon Cave

Visit Thung Sam Roi Yot Freshwater Marsh

Bask in sun rays inside of a secluded Thai pavilion – Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

Witness the historical beauty of Thailand’s intricate railway station – Hua Hin Railway Station

Barter your way through the boardwalk – Sam Phan Nam Floating Market

Cafe Hopping through the streets of Bangkok

Unique IG-worthy spots still unknownst to tourists alike

BRIEF ITINERARY:

Day 1-5: Hua Hin Explore the idyllic town of Hua Hin, a mix of the traditional and modern

Day 5-7: Bangkok Spend your last few days in Bangkok exploring instagrammable spots not known to Tourists!

DETAILED ITINERARY:

Day 1: Hua Hin: Start with a luxurious winery tour before exploring a traditional floating market!

Source: About Time Magazine

Sawasdee Thailand! After you have arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, collect your bags and it’s time to take a car ride to Hua Hin! The best way to get to Hua Hin hire a private transfer from Klook’s private chartered car with driver – this will make your road trip more comfortable and convenient as it will drop you off directly at your resort. You can also opt for a couch ride from Bell Travel Service at approximately THB419 per pax, located at the airport bus station.

Just 3-hours away from Bangkok by car, Hua Hin is a holiday resort with an old world charm. Known for its dreamy stretches of white sandy shore, it is a small town with resorts, guesthouses, and eateries, it’s no wonder it’s called “The City that meets the Sea”. Once you’ve checked in to your resort, grab a light snack before heading off to your first spot of the day!

Take a Songthaew from your resort to Monsoon Valley Vineyard and make a pitstop at The Sala (their restaurant) for lunch! Overlooking sweeping views of the entire vineyard and surrounding valleys, this restaurant is a Thai-inspired open-air pavilion housing exhibits of viticulture and oenology. Try their Monsoon Valley Shiraz coupled their traditional pad Thai before finishing off with a delectable cheesecake dessert!

Afterwards, you can start your tour of the main attraction - the vineyard itself! For 100 Baht per person, they offer a 15-minute winery tour through the picturesque vineyards! Mountain bikes can also be rented for 100B for thirty minutes, or 150B for an hour, and in retrospect would have been a lovely way to explore - if you aren’t too tipsy to cycle!

Next stop, Sam Pan Nam Floating Market! Just 30 minutes away via Songthaew or Grab, this floating market is filled with over 200 shops and 40 boat sellers! It features a large man-made lake, surrounded by picturesque countryside. Stroll around at your own pace, and let the floating market scene slowly unfold as you go along or you can step aboard a boat and watch the scene from a different perspective. Shop and snack your evening away!

Finally end your night at The Venezia, easily accessible by a Songthaew less than 25 minutes away, where you can experience a taste of Italy. With famous replicas like the famous San Marcos square bell tower, a 200-meter Grand Canal with gondola rides, and Rome’s Fonatana di trevi – this open-air shopping destination exudes the romance and charm of Venice, Italy. You’ll find over a hundred tiny little shops found here, including music gardens, 3D art galleries, mini trains, horse drawn buggies, and upside-down houses – not your average shopping destination with whimsical details all around.

Day 2: Hua Hin - Visit farms and explore hipster scenic spots

Source: Hua Hin Spaces

Rise and shine for the early grind! Start your day with some decadent breakfast here at 1000Sook Food and Farm. Only 20 minutes away from the city by Grab, the country style restaurant serves Thai and Western food and some pretty delicious desserts. The farm’s mini market sells Thai snacks from all over Thailand at very affordable rates, some say much cheaper than markets in Hua Hin. If you dine in the restaurant or purchase goods at the grocers at 1000 Sook you receive a free entrance to the farm!

After a hearty meal, say hello to the furry friends at 1000 Sook Food and Farm! Visit the animals in this American style farm containing bunnies, ponies, sheep and chickens! For 30 baht per person, you can feed the animals as well! Once you are done at the farm, there's a great supermarket selling local products which can be cheaper than markets in Hua Hin town.

Want to feel like a Greek Goddess? Visit Huahin’s own little Santorini – Santorini Amusement Park, a stone’s throw from 1000Sook Food and Farm, 7 minutes away by taxi! It will feel as though you’ve just stepped out of Asia and into little Santorini, the Grecian paradise island. There are many rides and attractions throughout the park, as well as art, quirky shopping with local and international brands, entertainment and cafes. Painted white and blue, the walls contain beautiful architecture and decorations, perfect for that instagram feed.

For dinner, chill out at Thailand’s first ever beachfront shopping mall, 20 minutes away via Songthaew! It’s easy to fall in love with the laid back atmosphere at Seenspace for it stylish mall houses cafes, hipster shops, bars, and even live jazz funk music performances. Also, almost every twist and turn in this open-air, industrial mall is rather elegant. It’s little wonder so many local and foreign tourists alike flock here for impromptu photoshoots (me included).

One of the most popular places in Seenspace is Oasis, a luxurious beachfront bar that features a gorgeous infinity pool facing the ocean. The bar is swarming with people during the sunset hour, so arrive early if you want to grab the poolside bed for the best views.

For a dose of art, culture and more shopping, visit Cicada Night Market. If you’re here during the weekend, Cicada Night Market is where you’ll want to be. By night, the lights are simply mesmerising.The market itself is subdivided into 4 unique venues: Cicada Art Factory, Cicada Cuisine, Art à la Mode, and Amphitheatre. A trendy flea market selling a variety of art decorations, hand-made souvenirs, clothing, footwear, decorative items, etc. There is also an open-air food court and an amphitheatre style garden where there are performances together with music. This is the place for you to just chill out, relax and appreciate the art before you head back to your resort.

Day 3: Hua Hin - Market hopping and historical sites!

Source: Pinterest

Start your morning with breakfast in enchanted elegance. Merely 10 minutes away from the city, here at Bliss Bakery & Café House, they serve continental breakfast and fresh-baked pastries - decorated in a European colonial setting. Remember to fill up on food so you have ample energy for the fun day ahead!

Fill your Instagram with a blast from the past! Make your way to Hua Hin Railway Station, one of the country’s most beautiful train stations marked by its meticulous details in architecture. A remnant of bygone times, the picturesque Hua Hin train station is one of the stops on the route from Bangkok to the South. The station is located in the center of town, within walking distance from attractions as the night market and the main beach. You need to visit this historic railway station to complete your trip to Hua Hin!

Around 10 minutes walking-distance from Hua Hin Railway Station lies the peaceful Hua Hin Beach. Enjoy the sea breeze as you take a walk along the beachside, marveling at the azure blue waters and feeling your toes in the sand! Take a short horse ride down the beach as well, for you can hire horses from the beach mainly outside Sofitel Resort, or anywhere you see a vacant horse and handler on the beach!

Take a 10 minute walk to Jek Piah Hua Hin Day Market (also known as Hua Hin Day market) to have some lunch! For an experience of a real Thai market, Hua Hin Day Market is a fascinating insight into Thailand's way of life. You will find countless outlets and stands selling delicious food which is freshly cooked and served to you within a matter of minutes. Don’t forget to take a look behind the stalls on the pavement, because there are plenty of restaurants there as well. Other than the food, you'll discover an overwhelming variety of local handicrafts, souvenirs and clothing on sale.

Immerse yourself in a true Thai cultural experience by taking the short trip from Hua Hin city center to Baan Sillapin. You will experience Thai art first hand, while observing and interacting with the nineteen different in-house artists: painters, sculptors, and moulders. Feeling inspired? For an additional fee (that’s really easy on the pocket!), you may partake in an art class instructed by one of Baan Sillapin’s professional artists.

Whether you fancy bringing paint to canvas or turning pottery, you will certainly inspire your inner creative genius. Conveniently, these classes are tailored to accommodate all ages and skill-levels!

End your night off by having dinner at this quintessential American-inspired cottage – Wilaiwan Hua Hin. Easily accessible via Grab, be charmed by this beautiful pastel-blue American-inspired cottage house. If you’re looking for a lovely place to have dinner and end your day, this is the place to be. Wilaiwan Hua Hin is a good chilling place with its beautiful decor, perfect to end the day off.

Day 4: Hua Hin - Day trip to the national park!

Source: Adventure In You

Snack on some breakfast at your resort before beginning your morning with an hour and a half drive away from Hua Hin city. The first stop? Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, translated as the “mountain of 300 peaks”. The national park is well-known for its beautiful limestone mountains, pristine beaches and hidden caves that will make any nature lover ecstatic. To enter the park, you’ll need to pay a one-time entry fee of 200 Baht per pax to the National Park’s headquarters before you proceed.

One of the main attractions of the park is the beautiful Phraya Nakhon Cave. Inside stands the majestic Khuha Kharuehat Pavilion, and is truly an enchanting sight to marvel at. The optimal time to visit the cave is around 10:30AM, when the morning light would stream in from the ceiling and bathe the pavilion’s roof in a golden glow. To get to the cave, drive 20 minutes from the national park headquarters to Bang Po beach. At Bang Po beach, you can either hike or take a boat to Laem Sala Beach, where the trail to the Phraya Nakhon Cave begins. The former is a short 2km hike over a small hill with many rocky steps. The walk takes about 15 minutes.

After roughing it out in nature, enjoy a short and scenic stroll through Thailand’s largest freshwater marsh, Thung Sam Roi Yot. The marsh is a 35-minute drive from Khao Daeng Viewpoint, and is a wonderful place to take photos and chill out at. It’s also a popular place for bird-watching enthusiasts as many resident and migratory birds frequent the area. Do take care if you walk further down the boardwalk as the condition is dilapidated and weather-beaten. Some wooden planks are dislodged, and have not been repaired yet.

Have a cosy colonial bistro along the beach at The Living Room! There is a 50s style wooden beach house overlooking the beach and majority of the bistro is alfresco seating, with formal tables and bean bags for you to choose. The menu is inclusive of Thai, International and Fusion dishes.

After a hearty meal, head back to your accommodation to freshen up before exploring the Hua Hin Night Market. At first glance, it doesn’t look any different to other ubiquitous night markets. You’ll come across vendors selling the usual wares like bracelets, elephant pants, tropical fruit, and odd-shaped slippers. Still, it’s a fun place to walk through and window-shop. But further down the street, you’ll spot many restaurants selling a plethora of seafood. From salt-crusted fish to grilled prawns and even cheese lobsters, it’s too easy to splurge and overeat. Try Rod Fai Seafood, famous for their succulent black pepper and garlic scallops and the spicy mixed seafood hotplate!

Day 5: Hua Hin to Bangkok

Source: Unsplash

Wake up early to catch the Sunrise at Wat Khao Takiap! 15 minutes away by Grab from the city center, this small Buddhist temple is located at the top of Khao Takiap (also known as Chopstick Hill) and offers scenic views of the Gulf of Thailand. Along the perimeter of the temple, there is a long row of metal bells where you can use a coin to ring them before donating it for good luck.

Beyond Khao Takiab Temple and viewpoint, lies Takiab Bay; easily missed it if you didn't know it was there. In addition to being a nice beach with clear water there are also elephant rides, boats to offshore islands including Koh Singto and a cluster of restaurants grill up some of the freshest seafood in Hua Hin. Heading back to the main road, a 10-minute stroll back north will take you past the gates to Wat Khao Krai Lad, another hilltop temple with an old ordination hall at its peak.

Once you are finished with lunch, it’s time to head back to the city of Bangkok! Another 3 hour private car ride from Hua Hin’s city center will bring you directly to your hotel in Bangkok. Rest and freshen up before you head out into the City of Angels.

End your day on a high note, 30 minutes from the city center via Grab to Chocolate Ville. Chocolate Ville is a mini themed dining park designed to look like an old European village, complete with chapel, barn, historical clock tower, railway station and candy-coloured shops. With its quaint European-inspired landscape, you probably won’t feel like you’re in Bangkok at all! Best part? Admission to Chocolate Ville is completely free. You just need to pay for the food if you’re eating here!

As night falls, feel free to choose your table – be it at the lakeside, outdoor or indoor area, and you’ll be given the same menu. Do note that all the food is served from one central kitchen, therefore you can choose to dine anywhere in the complex, such as along the river canal or in one of the pretty buildings. The menu offers a dizzying variety of Thai food and international cuisine dishes. We browsed through pages upon pages of Thai, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese and Western dishes. Here’s a tip! Sitting by the lakeside is highly recommended as the view will be incredibly gorgeous - great for photos!

Day 6: Bangkok - Unique Instagram spots in Bangkok!

Source: Sea of Blush

It’s time to spend the next two days visiting the hidden instagramable gems of Bangkok! Depart from your hotel bright and early in the morning to the unique airplane graveyard located at Ramkhamhaeng Road, accessible only via Grab. Derelict airplane bodies litter the yard, a sombre sight for some. Always wanted to sit in the cockpit? This is your chance! There are multiple airplanes you can explore and you can take the coolest pictures. It’s not fully abandoned though, there is a family living in one of the airplanes. Be prepared to pay around 200 baht per person to enter the property. I recommend getting there early to avoid the sauna-like cockpits. You can get to the airplane graveyard by taxi or by river taxi (way cheaper). Go to Wat Sriboonreun (last stop of the Khlong Saen Saeb), and from there it’s just a short walk.

Next stop, possibly one of Bangkok’s dreamiest places for afternoon tea, the Author’s Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Back in the city, this cafe is old but most definitely gold. The serene white furniture, wall panels, and elegant imperial staircase makes it one of the most tranquil spaces in the city. The lighting here is even better when warmed by the natural sunlight that seeps through the overhead skylights.

If you’re willing to take a trek out all the way to Chang Erawan (accessible by BTS), you’ll be greatly rewarded by the incredible visual phenomenon that is the Erawan Museum. With gorgeously ornate pink architecture on the outside and sweeping, swirling sculptures on the inside, be sure to bring a fully-charged camera. The Erawan Museum is truly a magnificent example of great architecture and design. The colorful stained-glass ceiling, as well as the pastel pink walls and stairs, are the highlight of this museum. The three storeys of the museum pertain to the underworld, earth and Heaven according to the Hindu representation of the universe. The museum also showcases a vast collection of artefacts from across different eras. The pink pastel walls and stained glass in the background, these photos always turn out IG-worthy!

After you are done admiring the visuals of Chang Erawan and it’s museum, take a 20 minute grab ride to this obscure but beautiful gallery. An art gallery, a screening room, a rooftop bar, and an event space rolled into one — Woof Pack houses cool works of contemporary art as well as stickers of funny quotes that you’ll come across if you hunt around the many corners of this place. Head up to the ‘Woof Top’ for sweeping views of the city and some drinks to feature — responsibly — in that ‘gram.

Head to Sala Daeng, a 10 minute away and hop on a BTS Train to Chit Lom Train Station! Walk for another 10 minutes to Talad Neon Night Market, a hipster night market right in the heart of the city! Unlike what you would expect from a usual night market, Talad Neon is helmed by the younger generation of Thai entrepreneurs who know how to cater to the hipster crowd. You can expect to find organized rows of beautifully set up neon stalls, food trucks and shipping container shops where aesthetically pleasing wares are being sold! Impeccably presented food and incredible night scenery, feel free to instagram your night away!

Day 7: Bangkok - Temple visit and Cafe Hopping

Source: khaosod Thailand

Time to make the best of your last day here in Bangkok! Grab some breakfast and head out, 40km away from Bangkok’s city center to visit the Dragon Temple! Truly one of the most impressive temples you’ll ever have laid eyes upon the red-and-green dragon curling around the building is simply a sculpture, a magnificent one to say the least. What’s more, you can even climb up to the top of the tower – through the dragon! If you want an IG-worthy shot, don’t go all the way to the foot of the tower. Remember, you want to capture the Dragon Temple and yourself in one shot!

Once you are admiring the beauty of the Dragon Temple, it’s time to head out to Warehouse 30. Grab to BTS Saphan Taksin and walk 15 minute over to this old warehouse space on Soi CharoenKrung 30 divided up into a store, a cafe, clothes shop, motorcycle showroom, flower shop, bookshop and an open theatre. By doing an adaptive reuse rather than constructing a new building that wouldn’t fit the neighborhood, Warehouse 30 seems committed to transforming Charoen Krung into a “creative district.”

Next door is an open market that features Casa Lapin Lux’s beautiful flower shop Wallflower, a home decor and design item zone curated by Warehouse 30’s own project manager, Rungsima Kasikranung, and a motorbike enthusiasts’ accessories store called 8080Rubber.

The last two warehouses make up the Open market zone, which will feature an 80-seat screening room operated by the Documentary Club, a design and architecture-centric independent bookstore by Candide, a retail shop by Copperwired, a vinyl music corner, a raw juice bar called Raw & Real and an eco-friendly organic corner selling locally sourced fruits and vegetables, superfoods and biodegradable products. Another 20 sq meters of space have been left as a multi-purpose area which the owners will hire out for activities, workshops and art exhibitions.

While you still have time, visit The Hidden Milk Bar & Foto Club, a short walk away! This eye-popping milk bar on the third floor of Fotoclub in Soi Charoenkrung 32 is permeated with cute, from the tables and walls in different shades of pink to the counter bar lined with boxes and bags of groceries. The menu offerings are likewise coated with sugary sweetness, including the Jaffa milkshake with dark chocolate, orange and chocolate chips, and baked goodies on rotation like M&M soft cookies and pretzel brownies.

Head back to your hotel, pack your luggages and it’s time to head to the airport! Head to Phaya Thai BTS station and take exit 5 for the Airport Link, straight to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

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