#geralt is a mess for this whole quest and i love that for him

[seventfics]

Autumn Birds

Written for @witcher-rarepair-summer-bingo

Prompt: We fell in love, but your previous lover reappeared/returned Relationships: Eskel/Jaskier (w/ past!Geralt/Eskel and past!Geralt/Jaskier) Rating: T Content Warnings: None Summary: They’d met just as the leaves were turning yellow. 

Read on AO3

* * *

They’d met just as the leaves were turning yellow.

Jaskier had heard of a witcher staying in town and, as was his prerogative since his acquaintance with a certain White Wolf, he’d ventured to see what the man was all about. It was not so often one got to meet someone of their caste. Why not have a little courage to break the ice himself?

The whispers spoke of a witcher with a terribly scarred face. Two swords strapped over his back, their pommels shaped into wolf heads. The women said he had a voice like a dog’s growl, so grave that when he spoke, it made children cry.

He thought that last bit was rather mean, and followed the trail of curses into a grimy tavern where a fight was about to break out.

“You promised fifty.”

“The best I can do is half.”

Jaskier’s hand freezes on the door. Whatever he’s come to doesn’t look good. The witcher’s back is to him, his padded shoulders raised with tension. The village’s alderman paces in front of him, fuming over a contract’s fee. There’s a few antsy people in the crowd too. The anger written on their faces makes him nervous.

He’s seen how this ends a dozen times. It’s gotten his own arse kicked butting into the middle of a witcher’s bargaining, actually.

“Now, now, gentlemen,” Jaskier interjects boisterously from the doorframe anyway. “This is no mood for drink and cheer. Calm your spirits with a little of the former—”

The alderman grumbles under his breath about merry idiots meddling in what they shouldn’t. “Shut up, bard. This here’s serious business. And I’m not about to be robbed by a witcher’s ridiculous high prize.”

“It’s not ridiculous. The contract says fifty, and,” the witcher stops to lift the bloody stump of a water hag’s head, “it’s already done.”

“That contract was up weeks ago. The reward’s gone down. You’re lucky half’s on the table at all.”

The witcher grunts—a familiar sound to Jaskier’s ears which translates to wordless annoyance—and drops the head on the floor. “You’re lucky the hag didn’t move closer into the village in that time.”

“Is that a threat?”

At the rising outrage in his tone, Jaskier slips closer to stare at the alderman over the witcher’s swordless shoulder. “Ah, I believe the witcher means more of your people would have died, had he not taken care of the problem so promptly. The reward hardly sounds like an unreasonable amount. I could get twice as much on a profitable eve of singing. In fact,” he flips to the witcher, who does not yet deign to look back at his unforeseen defender, “I could turn this place around and earn us both a decent share in one night. I’m no fop on the job!”

It’s then that the witcher looks towards him, but the bard only manages a quick glimpse of an incredulous set of eyebrows before the alderman starts shouting.

“Get out! Both of you! Out of my town or I’ll have the dogs chase you out!”

They both take that as their leave, Jaskier with a bit more speed in his jog.

At the outskirts the witcher turns fully, and at the sight of his whole face Jaskier almost gasps out loud. A long scar runs through his cheek, from eyebrow to jaw, and over his lips. It puckers the skin all around it, disfiguring half of his face.

Whatever caused that scar must have hurt a lot.

The witcher shifts in place, quiet for a long second as Jaskier does his best to hide his nerves. “I’m sorry to have involved you.”

“Oh, please, don’t be. I involved myself. Jaskier’s the name, by the way,” he introduces himself, hand extended in greeting.

The witcher scratches the back of his head. His lips twist to one side, bashful. One of his teeth peeks through the scarred tissue over his mouth. “Uh. Eskel.” He takes the offered hand and shakes it.

It’s the firmest handshake Jaskier has ever received.

“Well, Eskel. Are you short on coin? Because so am I.”

The snort he gets is—soft. Not at all like the gruff from before, with the alderman.

“I’m not doing too bad, I’d say. Just currently fifty short of what I expected to have at the end of the day.”

"How about I help with that? I wasn't lying when I said I could earn both a decent share, given the right crowd."

It's the sunset hour, and the leaves were falling on top of them. Everything is gold. The sky, the trees. Eskel’s eyes when they blink at him and he breaks into a genuine laugh.

Jaskier knows he’s a romantic. His heart flutters every odd day over strangers with pretty smiles. He’s just never seen such a shy, sweet smile on someone with such an intimidating facade.

Making him smile again became a personal quest.

* * *

At the next town over, Eskel speaks to the alderman there. This one is more reasonable at least, and up front about the sort of beast that lurks in the northern farms. Which brings up a whole new conversation as Jaskier doesn’t part from Eskel’s side despite the obvious danger.

Eskel grunts and sits him down, not unlike the times Geralt tried—and failed—to convince him to stay put. Jaskier just blinks his pretty blue eyes and says, “and how will I write a song of your prowess in battle if I am not there to witness it?”

“This is a dangerous contract, bard. It would be best if you let me handle it alone.”

“Oh no. No, no, I’ve heard that before a dozen times.”

Eskel pauses at that. “What?”

“I am perfectly capable of staying out of your way.”

The wyvern they encounter says otherwise.

To be fair, he had done a good job of staying out of the witcher’s way for most of the fight. It is only when the beast slams its tail into Eskel’s side on a backswing that Jaskier shouts in worry from his hiding place and brings undue attention to himself.

Wind whips around him for a split second, scattering dust into his eyes. It takes a moment to wipe them clean so of course he doesn’t see the great shadow flying at him. Doesn't realize the immediate need to hide or flee for his life until a giant claw snatches him by the bunched fabric on his back.

Jaskier's stomach plummets as he soars up. The ground recedes. His clothes start to rip. This is it, he panic-screams in his mind, this is his final day. Either as monster food or a blood splatter on a rock, his time has come.

A severe overreaction, and his own mistake for not trusting in a witcher's skill. He doesn't realize it in all, what with all his flailing about, but Eskel fires a crossbow bolt perfectly at the wyvern’s eye.

The beast screeches terribly loud in his ears. It flaps its wings once, twice, before twisting midair and letting him go.

They both fall, but Eskel catches him.

By the silence that follows after an earth-shaking crunch, he knows the witcher's won. Victory is not immediately on his mind, though. The way his sight spins and the sun paints a halo behind Eskel's hair, Jaskier dumbly thinks, oh—I've quite literally fallen in love.

“See?” he says instead, breathless with terror at almost having died, “I’m perfectly fine.”

Eskel raises a thick brow at him. And he's smiling too, the bard thinks. Could just be the scar making it look like a lopsided smile, but he wants to believe that he's made the witcher smile again with his foolish sense of humor.

“Are you alright? The tail,” Jaskier frets once his vision settles. Some of these monsters have poisoned stingers on the end of their tails. Are wyverns one of them?

But Eskel waves him down before he can consider the worst. “Relax. I cast Quen in time.”

“That’s a, uh, magic shield, right?”

Surprise colors Eskel's features. So it seems he's right. A point of pride on Jaskier's belt for remembering witcher signs.

Getting proof of a contract well done takes the witcher a good minute to collect. Wyvern skin is tough. The head would normally satisfy as proof, but it's too heavy to be lugging around town. He will have to make do with the wing tips. Should they question him, the remains aren't going anywhere.

“Come on, bard. Time to get our day's work done. And after that, we're going west.”

“'We'?” Something about the proclamation has his heart beating fast.

“'Course. I'm not letting you out of my sight now.”

He makes a show of bowing dramatically. “I wouldn’t want to be elsewhere.”

* * *

“You’re a friend of Geralt’s.”

Jaskier looks up from his notes.

Traveling with someone is always interesting—with a witcher even more so. So far he's learned that Eskel has far more routines than Geralt ever did, like counting his coin at the end of every week, and making sure he has two of every potion ready.

Jaskier quirks a half-smile. “I am. How did you figure? I never said his name.”

“Your song.” He points to the scribbled mess on his lap. “Or, I guess your work in progress. I see an expression he uses a lot, that he learned from me.”

“Oh?”

Eskel sits by him and nods, as if finally understanding Jaskier’s odd ease partnering with a witcher, and starts the story of where the expression in his handwriting originated from.

It’s funny at first, imagining a much younger, somehow more foolish Geralt together with this huge, frightening man who is not frightening at all to talk to. Eskel speaks so softly, so tenderhearted about the old memory—two boys, witchers-to-be, practically joined at the hip, making crude jokes. So he reciprocates with a tale of where he comes from, as destiny deigned to put them in each other’s paths.

As it happens, a lot of their first stories aren’t even their own, but Geralt’s.

And Eskel has many more over his. He’s more than happy to share them over camp.

Some of it leaves Jaskier’s throat aching. This is someone who clearly cares about his big grumpy friend. It's someone he can understand.

Then Eskel claps a bare hand on his back, his thumb and forefinger a hot press just under his nape, and oh, he’s more than a little foolishly in love actually, as his head is emptied of all reason at the small touch.

“Am I to become your travel bard,” Jaskier quips with an airy giggle. “I’m excellent entertainment at parties.”

“Not for long. It’s almost winter. Soon I’ll have to head north to meet my brothers.”

His heart sinks. “Oh.”

Eskel squeezes his shoulder with careful strength. “You better keep out of trouble while I’m gone, you hear?”

“Of course. I don’t go looking for trouble.”

“No, trouble just finds you.”

Well, if ‘trouble’ is a scarred, smirking witcher, he sure hopes that to be true.

* * *

They meet again when the trees are just beginning to color with spring blooms.

There is also a griffin tearing through the town's cattle, but that’s besides the point. Easily dealt with. Which is good, seeing as Jaskier had been near the scene and probably next on the menu. No one had told him about the griffin, so really. He's just as surprised to find Eskel as he is about the beast.

“You alright, bard?”

“I am now.”

Matter resolved, Jaskier walks in step next to Eskel. The town opens before them, welcoming the witcher not with smiles, but grudging gratitude.

“You sure? Trouble didn’t come knocking while I was gone?”

“Only a man with a lover’s grudge come to kick my ass out of a wonderfully luxurious establishment. Didn’t even get to enjoy the hot bath I paid for, which is such a terrible waste of hot water.”

A deep hum comes out of the witcher. “A lover’s grudge?”

“Just a past dalliance that won’t forget me.”

Eskel stops and shifts on his feet, like he wants to say something but he doesn’t know how to start.

Oh, witchers and their awkward conversation skills.

“You know what, I’m starving. I think a good, hearty meal is owed between us. What do you say we go collect your reward and we break fast at the alderman’s recommendation?”

“We don’t have to get the coin right now. I could go for some food.”

“First tavern we see then. Come on.”

Right as he says it, he wraps his arm around Eskel’s, and maybe he’s just being too obvious, too hopeful, but Eskel doesn’t shrug him off. They make their way to a large and welcoming tavern, him talking his head off about the barn smell that permeates the whole town and ignoring the dark looks people give them down the street, as Eskel listens, not a word coming from his mouth. It worries Jaskier a minute that he’s becoming more annoyance than the teasing meddler he wants to be. But Eskel is just scratching his chin, looking down and letting Jaskier lead.

When it becomes clear that Eskel doesn’t have any rented lodgings yet, Jaskier offers his own. “I’m sure the innkeeper won’t mind us bunking if we pay for two, at the end of our stay.”

Eskel doesn't say no. He also doesn't say yes. It takes them finally being settled in a table of their own, full of fruits, cheese and bread, neither of them taking the first bite to eat, for Jaskier to nervously ask, “What is it?”

“Nothing,” comes the too-quick response.

“If I overstepped in some way, please tell me.”

“It’s nothing like that, I—uh.” Eskel shakes his head, his expression scrunched up unpleasantly.

“Whatever it is, I won’t be offended.”

He's already writing a million apologies in his head for any of his imagined offenses, that he's not quite prepared for what Eskel says instead.

“You are...different from what I expected.”

Jaskier blinks. “How so?”

“I don’t know. You’re just. Human. You’re normal.” He makes a point of gesturing at the table, the people keeping their distance. “I don’t get why you do all this for me.”

It's slow-creeping, but once the pieces align, Jaskier starts to understand what he means. That confusion, he’s known it with Geralt. Why do you stick with me? What does a witcher have to offer a human that isn’t the service of a silver sword? What does a human want with a mutant when there are plenty of other ordinary, uncomplicated folk in the world to have for company?

“Because you’re a good man,” he tells the witcher gently. “Because you saved my life and I want to repay you in kind. Most reasonably of all, because we’re friends, and friends take care of each other.”

Of course there’s more to it than that, but if a friend is all Eskel wants, then a friend he shall be.

The rumble of the tavern fills the air as Eskel stares at him a little wide-eyed. Jaskier gives him a slight smile. As a close, he pushes the platter of cheese forward with an encouraging, “now eat your fill, my friend.”

Once Eskel returns his smile, he thinks that, well, that everything will turn out alright.

And they’re happy eating their food when Geralt shows up for the griffin that’s already dead.

At his distinct silhouette, Eskel stands up. “White Wolf.”

“Eskel,” Geralt calls back gravely.

They clasp arms and pat each other’s shoulders in sync. It might not seem like much to outsiders, but what a rare sight to behold—two witchers, two mirrored grins on both their faces.

Eskel is the first to part from the hug with a chiding, “You didn’t come for winter.”

“I know. I had a lot going on. Saw your handiwork hooked to your horse’s saddle.” Then he looks down, and spots Eskel's table company. “Jaskier?”

“Geralt.”

Their held eye-contact feels longer than it is. Looking away, Jaskier half expects the whole tavern to be staring at them, but as it turns out, no one cares to pay the witchers and their odd bard any attention now that the monster's been dealt with. It's just him, imagining his heart hanging out of his sleeve for everyone to judge.

And maybe Eskel senses something's up between them, because he leaves them with the excuse to collect his coin.

“I haven’t seen you in a while,” Jaskier says after Geralt takes Eskel's abandoned seat. “Have you really been so busy that you couldn’t let your friends know you were alive?”

Geralt's silence is its own answer—a little shame, a little remorse. He remembers how Eskel had said that as time went on, Geralt just, lost touch. There had been something heavy in Eskel’s eyes when he said it, and Jaskier had felt it in his soul. Now he understands why. Him and Eskel, they'd both gone through the same impossible task of loving someone who doesn’t believe he can be loved.

By gods, he still loves Geralt, but Geralt's heart is a rusty cage, and neither of them can coax the old bird that lives in it anymore. Soft words and gentle promises have run their course.

“So,” the witcher starts, “you and Eskel? Didn't know you knew each other.”

“Maybe if you’d met either of us during winter you would have heard.” The phrasing's rough, but there's no resentment in his voice. He would have liked to know that Geralt had been safe in his wintering home, with Eskel.

“Yeah. I’m...surprised.” Jaskier raises his brow at him. Which just earns a quick shake of Geralt’s head. “He doesn’t make friends easily.”

“Neither do you, and yet look at us.”

“Look at us,” he echoes, staring at the empty plates.

“We missed a lot of opportunities together, didn’t we?” It doesn't make the truth any easier to swallow, but acknowledging the what-could-have-beens has always made him feel better afterward. Like closing a book, and getting ready to open a new one. He hopes Geralt knows that there's no bridges destroyed between them. Only those missed moments.

He still very much cares for Geralt, and he knows that Geralt does as well. They just have to come to terms with what's over—and what might come next.

“I won’t lie to you,” Jaskier adds more seriously. “I don’t want to miss any opportunities with him.”

The 'him' in question is unmistakable. Geralt nods. He looks down, one end of his mouth drawing up to dimple his cheek.

He says, like an olive branch offering, “His favorite flower is yarrow. Not because they’re pretty, but because they’re useful in the most surprising ways.”

* * * 

They spend the day catching up, all three of them, before Geralt is on the road again, taking his own path. Jaskier sees how it brightens Eskel’s spirits to have seen him off, and cheers up twofold. 

“I’ve known him practically my whole life,” Eskel tells him.

“I’ve known him half of mine.”

“So you understand.”

“That he’s a prat? Oh yes. Good at heart, backwards about verbalizing it. Cheeky when he wants to be. Oh by the way, here.”

From out of his little travel bag, Jaskier pulls a swathe of yarrows.

“Saw some at market street,” he explains, presenting them. “Thought you might find use in them for your potions.”

Eskel turns to him, his bright witcher eyes bouncing between him and the yarrows. Jaskier feels his heart climb up his throat, wondering what runs through Eskel's mind that makes him pause for so long.

Then Eskel takes them with one hand and with the other, he touches Jaskier’s face. It's big, warm, calloused against his skin. And sudden.

“‘Cheeky when he wants to be’, right?”

Jaskier stutters to say, “Well, yes, I mean, but this isn’t about him—”

He forgets how to speak after Eskel kisses him. It’s the lightest peck on the corner of his lips, so light that once he draws back, he wonders if he's not still dreaming back in their rented room.

“Thank you. I know just what to use them for.”

The yarrow gets tucked away with the other herbs in Eskel's saddlebag. A few glasses clink together as he moves things around so they don’t get crushed. And then, as Jaskier stands there, stupefied and slack-jawed, Eskel mounts his steed, a soot-black beauty that neighs softly at Jaskier’s face.

“Where are you headed for now?”

“Nowhere. Anywhere.” Wherever you’ll go, he thinks to himself. Wherever you'll have me.

Eskel grins wide at him, and it's the most beautiful sight, his smile, with all his teeth gleaming.

“That sounds like trouble.”

#jaskel #jaskier x eskel #rarepair summer bingo #myfics #tt

[jaskierswolf]

Not sure if you’re still taking prompts, but if you are I’ve got something for you: In light of spooky season, I present to you modern au roommates having a scary movie/show night (watching Netflix’s Haunting of Hill House or Bly Manor or something) in which GERALT is the one too spooked to sleep alone. But he’s Geralt, so it’s not like he’ll actually ask for company. Jaskier is perceptive, though, and realizes what’s going on.

OK I really hate horror films and I have never actually watched one. What I have watched is Doctor Who... so... Weeping Angels anyone? Have fun! (Also on AO3) _______________________________

Geralt wasn’t sure why Jaskier always chose horror movies. He hated horror movies. He always squeaked at the jump scares and ended up in Geralt’s lap. Geralt didn’t mind  horror movies particularly. The jump scares did fuck all to frighten him and if he was being honest he quite liked having the excuse to hold Jaskier in his arms. They had been best friends since university and it had made sense for them to continue living together once they’d graduated. The economy was shit and if Jaskier wanted to pursue his dreams of becoming a musician then he needed a housemate. As for Geralt, after his explosive break up with their other best friend, Yennefer, he hadn’t really felt like living alone.

So they’d moved in together.

And every Friday was movie night. They took turns in choosing the film and Jaskier always chose a horror film. Tonight was no different and Jaskier was shaking in his arms like a flower in the wind, fitting he supposed.

“Oh shit!!” Jaskier moaned as the statues moved closer to the house. The poor protagonist had taken her eyes off them to check on her friend. “Geralt!”

Geralt rolled his eyes but threaded his hands through Jaskier’s hair and placed a kiss on his friend’s temple. The first time he’d done that a month ago he’d panicked. It had been an accident but it had settled Jaskier’s nerves better than anything else he’d tried. Jaskier hadn’t mentioned it so small kisses to Jaskier’s hair and forehead had just become another part of their friendship. “It’s worse if you don’t look.” He murmured. “They are only still when we’re looking at them.”

“Geralt!” Jaskier pressed his face against Geralt’s chest and his fingers clawed at Geralt’s hoody. “That’s only for the characters.” He mumbled, his voice muffled by Geralt’s clothes.

Geralt tilted his head and peered at the screen. The statue was still and unmoving but none of the characters were looking at it. It was only stone because the camera was looking at it. He said as much to Jaskier who just groaned and held him tighter.

“Fuck you, Geralt. You just had to go and make it worse!” Jaskier grumbled.

“You wanted to watch it.”

“Fuck off!”

Jaskier didn’t pay any attention to the rest of the film. On the rare occasion he did peek at the screen through his hands, he squeaked and snuggled back into Geralt’s chest. Geralt kept a hand in Jaskier’s hair and murmured reassurances at him as he watched the film. The plot moved slowly, unlike the statues, as the characters were sent back in time one by one until only two of them remained. The statues then started to mess with the lights in their quest to get to some powerful artefact that would allow them to take over the universe.

The two remaining characters screamed as they were left at the mercy of the four statues creeping towards them as the lights flickered on and off. Geralt had to admit even he had goosebumps and his heart was racing faster in his chest.

“Fuck.” He mumbled not able to tear his eyes from the screen as if that would help the characters.

“Oh gods, if you’re saying that it must be bad.” Jaskier moaned against his chest.

“You’re not even watching.” Geralt grumbled. “I’ll turn it off.”

“Oh no! Nooo no no.” Jaskier protested. “I’m still listening! I want to know what happens!” He peered up at Geralt with those glimmering blue eyes that haunted Geralt’s dreams.

Fuck he was so beautiful.

A loud bang on the screen broke the moment and they both jumped to face the television. Jaskier immediately curled back against Geralt’s chest. Geralt was almost tempted to hide in Jaskier’s hair but he couldn’t do that. He was the strong one. He protected Jaskier so he kept his eyes fixed on the screen until the credits began to roll. The protagonist had ended up sobbing over her lost friends alone in her apartment, the universe had been saved but at what cost.

Geralt felt strangely moved by the whole thing. Jaskier was still nestled in his arms, safe and asleep. Geralt finally allowed himself to nuzzle against Jaskier’s soft hair, inhaling his calming chamomile scent. Fuck he didn’t want to be alone like she had been. What was the point of living if everyone you loved was taken from you?

Geralt’s heart was still racing and not even Jaskier scent was helping to calm his nerves.

“Fuck.” He groaned as quietly as he could but even that was too loud. Jaskier had always been a light sleeper unless he was sick.

“Geralt? Oh shit. Did I miss the end?” He rubbed his eyes and peered sleepily at the blank screen of the television. Geralt hummed in agreement. “Oh. Well you’ll have to tell me what happened in the morning.” Jaskier sighed and started to extract himself from Geralt’s arms.

Geralt felt himself tense up as Jaskier stood up. Shit. He’d never felt this bad after a film before. His jaw clenched as he watched Jaskier head towards his bedroom. Fucking idiot hadn’t even watched the film, of course he would rest easy tonight in blissful ignorance.

At the last moment Jaskier turned and glanced over his shoulder. His bright smile fell from his face when his eyes met Geralt’s. “Geralt? Are you alright?”

Geralt’s hands were tight fists by his side, nails digging into his palms. He glowered at Jaskier. “I’m fine.”

Jaskier tilted his head and put a hand on his hip. “You don’t look fine.”

“I’m fine, Jaskier.” He snapped.

Jaskier scoffed and pranced back over to sit back down on the sofa. “You’re fine.” He sang, clearly not believing Geralt.

“Hmm.”

“But I am not fine!” Jaskier announced and draped himself across Geralt’s lap. Geralt tried to glare at him but he was pleased to have his friend back in his arms. “Cuddle me.” Jaskier rolled onto his back and pouted up at Geralt, his head resting in Geralt’s lap whilst his legs sprawled out over the sofa cushions.

Geralt smirked and rolled his eyes. “You won’t sleep like that.”

“I will!” Jaskier’s lower lip jutted out and Geralt had to grit his teeth to stop himself from leaning down and kissing his friend. Did he have to be so goddamn cute all the time?

“You won’t.” Geralt insisted firmly, ruffling Jaskier’s hair. “You’ll wake up if I so much as breathe too heavily”

Jaskier huffed. “Well I’m not sleeping alone, not after that monstrosity.” He gestured wildly to the television.

“You can sleep in my room.” Geralt suggested with a faint smile that he was trying to hide. “If you want.” He added just to be sure.

Jaskier beamed up at him like he was the sun itself. “My hero!”

“Now get off so we can get to bed.” Geralt grumbled. His heart was still racing but it had little to do with the film anymore and everything to do with the way Jaskier’s eyes were shining with open affection.

Jaskier pouted. “Carry me?”

“What?” Geralt groaned, exasperated by his friend.

“I’m tired!” He whined. “Please?”

Geralt sighed but shifted Jaskier in his lap so he was able to scoop him up bridal style. Jaskier wrapped his arms around Geralt’s neck and placed a kiss to his cheek.

Well that was new.

Geralt smiled softly at the brunet in his arms. “What was that for?”

“Because, my darling, you are my hero and every hero deserves a kiss.” Jaskier answered with a disarming smile.

“Is that so?” He hummed as a thought began to grow in his mind.

Jaskier laughed and kissed his cheek again. “And that one is for being so strong and carrying me to my room.”

“I think I deserve one for ordering dinner.” Geralt suggested and Jaskier’s eyes lit up.

“Oh darling, how could I forget?” Jaskier kissed him again, this time barely a centimetre from his lips. “Oh and one for letting me share your bed.” Jaskier moved in slower this time and Geralt’s breath caught in his throat. It took all his strength not to drop him as Jaskier’s lips hovered over his. “May I?”

Geralt didn’t answer. There was no need, not when Jaskier’s lips were so close. Their noses bumped together as their lips finally met. Jaskier’s hand gripped tighter on Geralt’s hoody and Geralt kicked open his bedroom door, not wanting to break the kiss. He’d spent so long wishing that he could have this that he wasn’t going to miss a single moment.

Jaskier seemed to be similarly inclined, moaning as Geralt lowered him onto the bed. When they finally had to break apart to breath, Jaskier began to laugh, his beautiful musical laugh. Geralt sat back on his ankles and gave Jaskier a puzzled look.

“What?”

Jaskier propped himself up on one elbow and reached out for Geralt’s hand. “I’m just happy, my dear. You should always laugh when you’re happy.”

Geralt chuckled. “Hmm. Well then I’m happy too.”

Jaskier licked his lips and gave him a mischievous smile. “Even if I made you watch the scary film?”

“Wasn’t scared.”

“Oh yeah sure.” Jaskier drawled. “I believe you.”

“I was protecting you!” Geralt growled.

Jaskier sighed and fell back on the bed. “You were ever so brave, dear heart.”

God he was insufferable. Geralt had to wonder whether he was mad, wanting Jaskier like he did. He just never shut up….

Except when they were kissing…

Geralt grinned and lunged forwards to capture Jaskier’s lips once more. It was what the hero deserved after all. ______________________

Tag list: @alwenarin @slythnerd @davidtennan-t @flippinfricks @awitchersbard  @innocentcinnamonpun @marvagon @elliestormfound @geraskier-trashh @panerato @moonysourenza @artistsfuneral @victorieschild

#the witcher #geraskier #geralt of rivia #jaskier panktraz #geraskier fanfiction #hurt/comfort #snuggles #friends to lovers #modern AU #wolfie's witcher writing #Anonymous

[itsclydebitches]

Godddddd I'm so upset that I dislike yen this much, doing main quests in skellige and Freyas ppl were doing stuff and she again disrespected other cultures with Geraly being against, "I may be inhumanly beautiful" I know she's meant to be confident but wowww. She's not confident and worried for Ciri she just comes off arrogant and selfish and vain. Like, fuck.

The ultimate mood, anon. My Witcher fandom life would be so much easier if I enjoyed Yen ... but I just do not lol. Remember how I mentioned that things were going to get even worse than her stealing and using a potentially dangerous artifact? Yeeeaah. She also resurrects Ciri's friend to torture him for information, all while destroying another sacred garden to get the power to do it! It's not even a "She's so evil and I love it 😏" situation for me because the game tries so hard to convince us that she's still The Best. Geralt's sexy soulmate, Ciri's adoring mother, the baddest bitch around who gets things done and does it with an effortless confidence... all while ignoring how horrific her actions and attitude are. Oh sure, other characters speak ill of her at times, but considering how much Geralt is written to adore her, no matter what you choose, that's all undermined. I love morally gray/evil characters, but I've never enjoyed them when the text refuses to appropriately acknowledge that side of them. Nothing is more frustrating to me than a story that frames disliking a character as the unambiguously wrong thing to do, especially when the text is piling up reasons to dislike them and, as a result, ignoring or shrugging them off their actions as not that bad. Yen is a rather extreme example of that for me. Despite her attitude, her choices, and other characters outright going, "Why do you like her?" the story as a whole works under the assumption that it's correct to like her anyway because Geralt loves her. And he loves her for... reasons.

They do meet before the wish, but only just. Major "The Last Wish" spoilers in this paragraph, so feel free to skip. Basically, Geralt and Dandelion run into trouble with a djinn, he goes to Yen for help since she's a sorceress (first time meeting her), he instantly falls for her because she's gorgeous and such (there's an elf there who is also madly in love with Yen. Men just... fall for her, instinctually), she heals Dandelion, Geralt agrees to pay her, but Yen has already decided on the payment she wants. She takes control of Geralt's mind and forces him to attack the town to seek revenge on those who have insulted her, resulting in him waking up in prison awaiting execution for "his" crimes. Meanwhile, Yen has gone after the djinn for herself because power/trying to regain her ability to have a kid. Geralt escapes, finds her failing to master the djinn (an attempt which btw has endangered the whole town) and despite what she's done to him, Geralt tries to get Yen to escape with him. She refuses, set on capturing the djinn even though it's obvious she can't. So as a last resort he uses the final wish to bind their fates together, saving Yen from the djinn in the process. Aaaaaand then they have sex.

So yeah, their rocky relationship is one of the main reasons why I can't enjoy Yen. For some their tumultuous history is evidence of realism, for me it's evidence that they're not actually very compatible and they're only together because a) that's the fantasy trope: protagonist men get together with the hot sorceress and b) because the magic is literally ensuring that they can't escape one another. I mean, canonically their fates are tied together by magic and canonically they spend about 20 years swinging between passionate love and fearsome fights... but there's supposedly no connection between these two things? No chance at all that they keep coming together because magic is drawing them rather than because they actually want/should be together? I wrote a meta a while back about the short story where they meet, which includes a present day scene where Geralt is criticized by another character — Nenneke — for running out on Yen. Thing is, he tries to explain that he left because she was "too possessive" and this is... flat out ignored. By both Nenneke and the fandom. There's a strong trend of ignoring Geralt's words in favor of a pro-Yen interpretation of events. He says he left because she was too possessive and she treated him like ____ — he's not allowed to finish the sentence and say what she treated him like because Nenneke interrupts him, saying she doesn't care about his version of events. Major yikes imo! She turns a claim of being possessive into Geralt not being man enough to stick around. The fandom likewise turns this into a case of Geralt getting cold feet and running out because he's a bastard who hates commitment. Likewise, Nenneke and the fandom claim Geralt is trying to get Yen money as a way of appeasing his guilt for leaving, he claims he's doing it simply because he still cares for her — even if he doesn't want to be with her — and knows she needs it. Geralt's words are frequently dismissed, in the same way others characters' opinions of Yen are dismissed. Any mark against her is treated as either a lie, or a convoluted claim that they don't really know her... never mind that an understanding of why she may act this way doesn't excuse the behavior itself. (Plus, the whole "Yen had a horrible upbringing, so of course she struggles being kind" perspective always fell flat to me when so many, including witchers, had horrendous upbringings too. The whole point is this world is a mess and most everyone suffers). It's supposedly true love, yet if someone came up to me and went, "I magically tied my fate to this woman to keep her from getting herself killed and we've spent the last couple decades having what many would term a rocky relationship, to put it kindly. I left once because she was too controlling. She once cheated on me. I likewise hooked up with others during our frequent breakups. A mutual friend used magic to get me to have sex with her — also while my lover and I were broken up — and though I view it as a dumb decision I'm happy to forgive her for, my lover is ready to commit murder because again: possessive. A lot of the time we're only a family because of our daughter. I once thought she'd horrifically betrayed us both. She didn't, but it says something that I was so ready to believe it, huh? Hmm? Permanently separated? Of course not! I love her. We're destined to be together after all :)" I'd be like, "Uh... you sure about that, dude?"

Not that Geralt doesn't make his fair share of mistakes in the relationship — he absolutely does — but I don't think it helps his case that he's immature in other ways and, frankly, that he's a very strong, badass witcher. It's easy to turn the hints we get about their relationship into a simplistic "emotionally naive man can't give the poor woman the commitment she wants" situation. Given Geralt's status as the badass fighter of the tale, it's likewise easy to dismiss his admissions of her being "possessive" and his general discomfort. He's the man. He's the witcher. If he's making any claims about how Yen isn't treating him well, they must be excuses, or exaggerations, because real men, especially physically powerful men, would do something about that — a something that's not sneaking out in the middle of the night. A lot of people read Geralt leaving as the ultimate proof that he's an immature bastard who doesn't deserve her. I read him leaving and think, "What were you trying to get away from? What was going on that made you think you could only leave by sneaking out without a word?" To me, that doesn't read as someone who felt safe, comfortable, and respected enough to do anything but slip away and try to wash his hands of things. And I'm not just pulling this "Geralt is at least somewhat afraid of Yen and isn't comfortable establishing boundaries with her" reading out of my ass. When Yen wants Geralt to kill the golden dragon for her and he refuses, saying he doesn't care anymore, his thoughts are:

He expected the worst: a cascade of flames, flashes of lightning, blows raining down on his face, insults and curses. There was nothing. He saw, with astonishment, only the subtle trembling of her lips. Yennefer turned around slowly. Geralt regretted his words.

And everyone is like, "See! Yen has improved so much. Geralt nearly made her cry, but she's supposed to be the bad guy here?" Meanwhile, I'm going, "Uh... anyone want to unpack why he expects fire, lightning, insults, curses, and blows to his face for telling her no? Why he's astonished that she wouldn't use her magic against him? Anyone think that Yen refraining from attacking Geralt when he refuses to murder on her command is a pretty low bar? No? Just me?"

Geralt and Yen's relationship makes me uncomfortable and a great deal of that discomfort derives from how much of the Witcher fandom shrugs off the fictional warning signs. I mean, I post primarily about RWBY. We watched a man in that show try to sneak away with his kids when his villainous wife planned to use them for a eugenics plan... and the fandom still blames him for that, refusing to admit that he was in an abusive relationship. Because that doesn't happen to men, right? I'm not saying it's the same for Geralt and Yen, simply because they are written to be soulmates. An abusive relationship was, quite obviously, never the authorial intent. However, I am saying that the a "This isn't a healthy relationship" reading is there, it exists as an interpretation, and both the story and fandom's tendency to dismiss it is something that hasn't helped me enjoy Yen's status as an otherwise well written, complex character. Their equality supposedly stems in part because they're both so flawed, yet each time I see a list of Geralt's supposedly equal faults they're... lacking imo. "Geralt bound himself to Yen without her consent." Yeah, to save her from dying from the djinn she was trying to enslave, after she refused to leave, while her actions threatened a whole town. "Geralt ran off without a word." Mmm hmm, anyone care about why? And my personal favorite is a scene you may not have gotten to yet (or may not get depending on your choices), but suffice to say, Yen is supposedly justified in physically attacking Geralt if he dares to challenge her in any way. That's the main takeaway across the fandom: If Yen is pissed off, you must have done something to deserve it which, in the relationship deliberately written to be "stormy," is something that sets all the alarm bells in my head off. Honestly, it kinda makes my skin crawl to go, "Geralt didn't deserve that" and get responses back of, "Yeah he did because he [insert basic human action here]." The Witcher world is hard and cruel, absolutely, but that doesn't mean I personally enjoy seeing an equally messed up relationship presented as something that's enviable in its flaws. "That's actually true love because the magically bound man who often expresses discomfort with his lover, written by a male author with a very iffy perspective on women, says it's true love." Crazy theory here, but... maybe it's not?

Idk, lots of rambling on my end tonight! For me, Geralt/Yen reads as something rather tragic which, in a canon that unironically upholds the relationship, and in a Yen-adoring fandom, doesn't make enjoying her character any easier. I keep coming back to Witcher 3, the comics, the show, even the books going, "Maybe I'll like her this time?" but nope, still trying lol.

#witcher #mymetas

[damatris]

Silver In Your Veins

Perfect, Jaskier thought.

There was a monster coming for them, a half unconscious Witcher, a loyal horse and a silver sword he could barely hold up. Just as he had planned his evening going.

...

"Hey, the Mud Wolf, wait up!" Jaskier called out trying not to fall on a rain slicked mossy slope. "Some of us have shorter legs!"

"Don't call me that. I'll give you a fucking concussion myself," came Geralt's kind reply.

"No you won't. You like me too much!" Jaskier said cheerfully hurrying to catch up. "What if you scrambled my brain for good? There'd be no one to chronicle your quests."

"A blessing."

"Come on. If not for me, you'd still have a horrible reputation. Well, worse than you have-"

"Noooooooooow! Ow, shit, bloody hell!" Jaskier cursed from the ground where he had a perfect view of the moss. It was mocking him with its innocent greenery, he swore. At least he hadn't landed on his lute or twisted an ankle. "Why, o', why are we taking this death trap of a path?"

"It's the shortest way. Pay attention and you'll be fine. If Roach can make it so can you," Geralt stated and Roach snorted as if in agreement.

"She has four legs. How is that a fair comparison?" Jaskier complained dusting off his clothes.

He really didn't understand why they were hurrying. It wasn't as if they had an appointment to make or a bloodthirsty monster to kill. They were just traveling from one town to another. Jaskier was half convinced Geralt decided to take this so called short cut just to annoy him. He could be such a petty bastard.

True, it technically was a road. A decade ago. Now it was an overgrown mess of shrubbery, loose stones, mossy slopes and winding paths carved in hillsides. It made for a truly lovely trail. According to Geralt it would cut two whole days but that'd be useless if they broke their necks traversing it.

"Can we at least take a rest on the next level part? I'm not lagging behind for fun you know," Jaskier asked making his way gingerly towards the relative safety of bare rock.

"No."

"Then you can start preparing to carry my collapsed body. I know you wouldn't let me ride Roach," Jaskier pouted.

"I'll just leave you laying there. Get up and follow me whenever you're ready," Geralt grumbled without looking back.

Geralt truly had no compassion for bards and their weaker constitution. Even if he was much more fit than most of his profession Jaskier mused. A bonus he hadn't planned.

Valdo Marx wouldn't last an hour. Feeling much happier than a minute ago he picked up a more Witcher approved pace.

Continue reading on AO3!

#The witcher #Witcher #the witcher fic #geraskier #Jaskier #geralt of rivia #the witcher fanfic #witcher fic #witcher fanfiction

[thewitcheress2389]

The Most Beautiful Secret

Jaskier x Pregnant!Reader (Part 2)

Summary: After a long time, you, Jaskier, and Geralt are reunited. And it happens to be near the most important event in your life. Fluff. Lots of fluff. More so than my last story.😂

It has been many months since that incident on the mountain, where the witcher broke your lover's heart. Honestly, you knew Jaskier shouldn't have gone to talk to Geralt. You knew that the witcher would take all his self-afflicted anger and put it on the bard.

But what could you have done?

Jaskier's heart was just too big, and Geralt wasn't use to receiving that kind of love. The love where people actually care for him.

Well, better for you guys to be kicked out now rather than later because now the witcher knew your guy's secret.

That you were pregnant.

Geralt would have dropped you off somewhere. Granted, it probably would've nicer than the way it had gone on the dragon quest.

So that's how you ended up here. Going from tavern to tavern while your lover played for the people, earning as much as he can to support his soon to be small family.

You were nearing the end of this pregnancy. It was quite clear now that you were with child. Your once flat stomach had grown to the point where you missed seeing your feet. Your feet and back ached. The baby moved around so much that you can now see why Geralt wanted to find a djinn. At least they calmed down when Jaskier spoke or sang or just put his hand on your belly.

It was cute really. Jaskier was so in love with the baby before it was even born. Ever since the baby started moving, Jaskier was growing more attached to the baby. He could actually feel his child moving around. Jaskier was also growing more and more anxious as your due date approached. In the evening, you and him would lay in bed with his head in the crook of your neck, and his hand caressing your bump. He would talk about his concerns, his worries that he wouldn't be a good father. You would gently run a hand through his hair and tell him that it was gonna be okay, that he was gonna be amazing. Then he would quietly laugh and say he should be the one comforting you. You would smile and just tell him it's a team effort. He would then quietly sing till you fell asleep.

Now here you were, lying in bed with your eyes closed while the mid-day sun shined through the open window. You were trying to rest while Jaskier was trying to make money. You guys were staying in a small village that was isolated in the north. It was not so closed off that it couldn't provide for the people who lived there, but closed off enough that there's hardly any travelers.

You and Jaskier being exceptions. You were planning on staying there till the baby is born.

Speaking of Jaskier, you can barely hear him from downstairs. After the whole Geralt fiasco plus his impending fatherhood, the poor bard was trying his hardest to keep his cheerful personality that you fell in love with.

You sighed dreamily while putting a hand on your belly. You could feel the not so gentle movements of your unborn child. You could not wait to have your body back. Now that your child was active, sleep seemed impossible. So instead you decided to leave the room and head downstairs to check on Jaskier.

Getting up was hard without help, but somehow you managed and were soon making your way down. You expected to hear your lover's joyful singing, or perhaps the chatter of the people in the tavern, but it was dead silent. You couldn't see what was going on yet, but Jaskier let out one word that cleared it all up.

"Geralt?"

Sure enough, once you arrived downstairs, you saw the white-haired witcher. He hasn't changed a bit. The people who were in the tavern were quietly talking to one another. Surely they didn't know the past that you three shared?

Jaskier was closest to you, and you could practically see the uncertainty in his eyes. How should he feel? There was no smiling at the sight of him, no nothing. You, on the other hand, felt boiling rage at the sight of the witcher. Your maternal instincts made you want to go right over to Geralt and slap him. However, Jaskier grabbed your hand as if he could sense you're bold desires.

The witcher's cat-like amber eyes flickered over the both of you till they landed on your swollen middle.

"You were telling the truth..." That's it. That's what he says after all this time. All that heartache.

"No," Jaskier retorted. "Said that for the hell of it."

You were shocked at Jaskier's sharp attitude, but hey, the witcher deserves the sass.

"Hmm." Was Geralt's reply. Yeah, he hasn't changed a bit. The stares of the people were beginning to make you uncomfortable. Jaskier could sense this, and started to guide you back upstairs. You could tell that Geralt's presence was starting to disgust him, and there is no way he'll be treated like that again.

"Jaskier." Geralt's voice caused the bard to stop in his tracks. You could tell your lover was at his breaking point. With a flourish of emotion, he spoke.

"Geralt, do me a favor and please leave." The bard gave him a look of intense dislike. "I don't need you to mess up my life while it's at it's most important moment."

Geralt opened his mouth to retort that comment, but Jaskier kept going on his rant. "Do you understand what stress I've been under!? Having to watch over Y/N when she's so close to giving birth! Making sure she's safe while I know I have NO fighting capabilities! Also, let's add to the fact that during the dragon quest she was-"

"I'm sorry."

Geralt's solemn voice cut the bard off. The witcher actually looked apologetic, his eyes gazed at Jaskier as if asking for forgiveness. Jaskier's eyes softend in return. He then nodded slightly as if he was acknowledging the apology. You then saw Geralt smile slightly, and then you looked to see that Jaskier was smiling a toothy grin. You wondered if the witcher would leave again now that his conscience was clear.

Your thoughts were interrupted, however, when back pain suddenly hit you like a bolt. You groaned in pain, and put a hand on your lower back in agony. Jaskier was at your side instantly putting a hand on your back as well. You were shocked to see Geralt was nearby as well, looking at you in concern.

"I'm fine," You gasped out. "Just some back pain."

"Well, that's expected at this stage." Geralt said while staring at your bump in curiosity.

Jaskier soothingly rubbed your back and said, "Maybe a bath will make you feel better."

You winced and nodded.

Later that evening, you were in a tub filled with warm water. The calming scent of lavender filled the air. It was serene and quiet, the earlier pain becoming nothing more than a numbing throb. You closed your eyes and leaned back with your hands coming to rest on your belly. You could feel the child moving and upon opening your eyes, you could actually see them moving. You hummed lightly while trying to sooth the unborn baby, but to no avail. You chuckled slightly.

"Maybe we'll get daddy to sing to you later." You said with a smile. Then you decided to get out of the water before you fell asleep there.

Jaskier showed up just before you put on your top. You expected him to give you privacy and leave, but instead he stood and watched you dress yourself. With red cheeks and a slight smile, you scolded him.

"Jaskier!" You whisper-yelled. "Thought you learned some respect!"

He smirked and walked towards you, gently grabbing your hands in his. "You should know by now that I don't do respect."

Then he kissed you with a heated passion. You returned it, running your hands through his hair and caressing the back of his neck. His hands gingerly rubbed you waist and back before pulling you closer. The baby, however, protested at the sudden scene of passion by kicking vigoursly. It caused you to groan in pain and grab a nearby dresser for support.

Jaskier, who tried not to look so disappointed at the interruption, gently rubbed your shoulder while saying, "Let's get you to bed."

Then he glanced down to where his child was and placed his hand there, smiling when he felt the wild movements of his baby.

"I'll help them sleep as well." Then his blue eyes glanced back at you and with a smile added, "For your sake."

You both layed in bed at the inn you were staying at. You learned from Jaskier that Geralt was staying there as well. Apparently, the witcher got a contract to check out some pack of monsters that were stirring up trouble. So, maybe you all meeting up was destiny's work yet again.

The full moon shone through the window of your room. Jaskier had his head resting on your belly while you gently rubbed his shoulder. Your eyes were closed as he gently sang a song that he wrote just for your child. Soon, you both were asleep.

A dull pain in your lower abdomen woke you up later that night. You sat up, and stared at the wall trying to figure out if what you were feeling was a sign of anything at all. You glanced to your right to see your lover was still sleeping soundly. You were slightly envious that he got to sleep all night while you had to deal with the pain. Speaking of pain, the tightening in your stomach came again. You bit your lip and gripped your stomach to stop yourself from groaning out.

You knew it was time for your baby to come.

When the pain subsided, you began to shake Jaskier's shoulder.

"Jaskier." You whispered. The bard just nuzzled deeper into the pillows. You growled slightly.

"Jaskier!" You tried again, whispering louder. When he still didn't budge, you smacked the back of his head. Now THAT woke him up.

"I'm up. I'm up." He said while tiredly running a hand through his messy hair. Blinking the sleep out of his eyes, he glanced worriedly at you caressing your stomach. "What's wrong?"

You opened your mouth to answer, but a scream interrupted. Both your heads whipped to the window where the high-pitched scream was followed by a guttural growl. Followed by several more guttural growls. Jaskier got out of bed and glanced out the window whole you sat through another contraction.

"Okay," he started while coming back over to you, looking a lot more alert. "We need to go."

"What's going on?" You said, panicked. He hesitantly looked into your eyes.

"Monsters are attacking the town." Was his reply. Your eyes widened and suddenly another contraction hit you. Jaskker noticed this time, and carefully placed his hands on your shoulders.

"Y/N?" He asked. You bit your bottom lip and looked into his blue eyes.

"The baby is coming."

You could see all the color drain from his face. You prayed he wouldn't faint on you, not when you needed him the most. Pain hit you again and you cried out. Jaskier gently rubbed your back. He was being calm, but you could tell that inside he was freaking out.

"Okay. Alright..." He whispered before suddenly your door slammed opened. It was Geralt, sword in hand. His eyes widened when he saw you doubled over in pain.

"The baby's coming..." Jaskier stammered. "I-I don't know what to do?"

"You guys need to leave." Was Geralt's command. "Alghouls have attacked this village."

Jaskier's eyes widened. "But Y/N..."

He glanced at you with concern in his eyes. He knew that in your critical condition, you guys wouldn't make it very far.

"Take Roach." Was all Geralt said before rushing down the stairs and out the door. The sounds of a swishing sword and ripping flesh along with guttural roars could be heard. Jaskier's eyes widened even more if that were possible. The witcher was letting you guys take his beloved horse. Maybe he has changed some.

"I know this is a lot to ask," Jaskier said softly. "But please try to hold it."

You nodded weakly while the bard helped you to your feet, supporting you slightly. You weren't even thinking on how your going to get on the horse. One problem at a time. Once you guys made it out into the crisp night, you saw Geralt slashing at the alghouls who had huge spikes penetrating out of their back. Roach stood calmly a couple feet away, and Jaskier urged you towards her.

However, your body had other plans. You had to wait at least a full minute for the contraction to cease. At that point, most of the monsters were dead with Geralt being covered in blood. Not his own. The bad news being everyone else in the village was dead or dying.

Oh, and your baby decided it was time to come out.

"Jask..." You gasped. "It hurts so bad..."

He rubbed your back and kissed your forehead. "It'll be okay..."

Geralt approached you two and directed his words at Jaskier. "There's no way she can walk to the next town in that condition. Get her on the horse, or she'll be having your baby in the woods."

Geralt and Jaskier then assisted you onto the mare who snorted at the sudden weight.

"I don't think we'll make it to the next town..." You groaned through the pain. Jaskier was fidgeting a lot and was about to grab the reigns of the horse, but Geralt beat him to it.

"Comfort her, Jaskier. She needs you." Geralt then pulled Roach along the path. You weren't going to admit it, but you were scared. However, Jaskier gave you his hand through all the pain and you have never been so grateful for him.

It has felt like hours since you guys left the destroyed town. The pain was near unbearable for you, and you could tell that your baby was going to be born soon. Very soon. It was near evening again when you just had to stop.

"Geralt..."

The witcher turned to look at you. Jaskier also looked up as he continued to gently rub your knee.

"I can't keep going..." you said miserably. The witcher swore under his breath. He glanced around quickly before tugging on Roach's reigns. You wound up off the beaten path and deeper into the forest. An old, weary hut lay there degraded by the aging forest. However, there was a candle flickering in the window.

Geralt tied Roach to a tree and Jaskier, as gently as he could, helped you back down to solid ground. Jaskier looked to see the witcher banging on the door of the structure. After a few moments with your pained breaths and the life of the forest being the only sounds, and elderly woman opened the door. She leaned against the doorframe, and looked at Geralt with a questioning stare.

"What do you need, witcher?" She asked with crossed arms. The venom in her tone was thick, but that didn't phase Geralt.

"My friend needs your help." He said.

Friend. He used the word friend.

"Friend?" The lady questioned. Geralt turned his body to look at you and Jaskier. The bard was supporting you with both arms as you were near collapsing with pain.

"She's in labor. And neither one of us," He gestured to himself and Jaskier. "Know what to do."

The older lady bit who bottom lip in uncertainty. Geralt gave her a pleading look.

"Please," he said. "If I make you uncomfortable, I will leave. Just please, help them."

She glanced back at you and Jaskier, who was whispering words of comfort to you. Then she sighed through her nose and shrugged.

"Bring her inside." She said. Jaskier took no time in helping you into the house, thanking the lady profusely. Then she glanced back inside and yelled at an older man who gave the young couple a startled look. Jaskier quickly explained, what he was assuming was the lady's husband, the situation.

Now that you guys had help, Geralt turned to leave. He figured they'd all feel better if he left, his presence making things more uncomfortable.

"Oi! Witcher!"

He turned around to see the elderly lady smiling at him. "We'll need an extra pair of hands."

Finally, you were laying on a bed. A cold cloth was constantly being put on your head by Geralt, the witcher who offered to help. However, he didn't expect to end up in the room with you during this experience. Jaskier was almost more anxious than you, constantly holding your hand no matter how numb it got. Turns out, the older woman used to work as a healer. So, she knew exactly what she was doing.

Destiny plays her hand once again.

Turns out you were nearly done with this whole ordeal. So, about a half hour later when you were instructed to push, you did not hold back.

The early morning sun peaked through the window as a newborn baby's cries pierced the atmosphere. You were exhausted, sweaty, but glowing as you held your new daughter. Your smile radiated like the sun. Jaskier was sitting beside you on the bed, trying his hardest not to cry. Geralt stood at the doorway, with the faintest smile on his lips.

"Wow..." Jaskier whispered as he gazed down at his mini-me. She literally looked exactly liked him. Dark whisps of hair could be seen on her head. However, her nose looked like yours. After a couple minutes of giving your daughter, D/N, time to calm down, you handed her to Jaskier.

She squirmed slightly in her father's arms, opening her tiny blue eyes slightly. D/N let out a small cry and gripped onto the collar of his shirt. He swallowed back some tears and smiled wide, gently grabbing her tiny hand in his fingers.

"Hello..." he said. "I'm your father..."

She cracked opened her blue orbs at the voice and cooed slightly. You smiled.

"She recognizes your voice." You said. Then you tried to hide a yawn. Jaskier held D/N closer to him and said, "Sleep. I'll watch over her."

You smiled and fell asleep to the sound of Jaskier lightly singing to your guy's daughter.

Moments after you fell asleep, Geralt stepped more into the room. Jaskier looked up from his now sleeping daughter to meet the witcher's gaze.

"Congratulations Jaskier." He said in a monotone voice. The bard smiled and glanced back down at the baby who was subconsciously gripping his shirt.

"Thank you Geralt." Jaskier glanced back up towards the witcher. "Do...do you want to hold her?"

"No." Geralt deadpanned.

"Oh come on." Jaskier said while gently standing up, making sure not to jostle D/N. "It's not that hard. It's just like holding a lute."

Geralt just stared at the bard with an unfazed look. "Don't compare your newborn daughter to an instrument that you've broken twice."

Jaskier resented at that response and held his daughter closer with a pout.

"Well," he said. "Your still gonna be her godfather."

Geralt's eyes widened at that. In the time frame of two days, Jaskier went from hating the witcher to wholeheartedly forgiving him and making him godfather to his child. Geralt took a couple small steps forward to peer at the small bundle of life in Jaskier's arms.

He remembered back during the dragon quest where he would always hear a strange sound whenever he was around you. Like a hummingbird beating its wings. He realizes now, that it was D/N's heartbeat. Geralt smiled fondly at his goddaughter, who felt the looming shadow over her and opened her ocean blue eyes. She cooed at Geralt and reached a hand towards him.

"See," Jaskier urged. "She wants you to hold her."

Geralt hesitated. "I've never held anything so...fragile."

Jaskier smiled. A true, confident smile. "I trust you."

Then baby D/N was handed over to the witcher, who was copying Jaskier's position of holding a baby. He said he trusted Geralt, but the witcher could see him fidgeting with hands and anxiously keeping an eye on her. Geralt realized that she fell asleep in his arms and he smiled at that. A true smile.

You opened your eyes slightly to see the tender scene before you. You didn't acknowledge the men with your consciousness and instead closed your eyes again. You heard everything and couldn't agree more with Jaskier. You trusted the witcher with your daughter. If anything happened to you or Jaskier, you knew Geralt would protect her.

I guess he did have Jaskier to thank for this child surprise.

#the witcher x reader #jaskier #the witcher imagine #jaskier imagine #jaskier and geralt #jaskier x reader

[randomfandomimagine]

Hi! Could you do what first kiss with Jaskier would include? Perhaps during the dragon quest thing. There's a serious lack of content, I need a saviour, pretty please ): Thanks anyway!

Worry not, my dear friend, for I will save you! XD I really love this nerd, so of course I’ll write this, just in headcanon form :)

Please send more Jaskier requests! I fell in love hard with this nerd, omg ❤

Jaskier:

It had been a really crazy day full of adventures

Of excitement, dragons, hunters and a lot of people

The three of you got mildly hurt and scared for each other

Especially you and Jaskier, who freaked out over the other

So it was an emotional day just with that, worrying about your friends

Geralt was also really moody at you two the whole day

Because you and Jaskier were so close and talkative all the time

He kept rolling his eyes at you two as he saw you interacting

Especially when Jaskier took your hand and dramatically sighed

“My poor heart stopped when I saw you falling down to the ground, Y/N”

You knew he was playing around a little, but had been truly concerned

Finally arriving to a tavern to blow off some steam, you drank

Not enough to actually get drunk, but yes to be slightly cheery

Jaskier was loudly singing ‘Toss A Coin To Your Witcher’ at the moment

(That damn song has been stuck in my head for a week now)

And you were joining him, finally relaxing from the stressful day

Jaskier was also in a great mood now for the same reason

So he took you to dance with him and made you laugh

That was when things got a little intimate, since you were really close

Your bodies were pressed together as you gleefully danced

Your noses almost touched with the closeness, 

You blushed at the realization, Jaskier sweetly smiling at you

He squeezed his hand against the small of your back

There where it had rested during all the dancing and spinning

“What a day, huh?” You muttered awkwardly, pretty embarrassed

“Enough to write a fantastic song” He replied, still smiling

Then came the silence as you stared into each other’s eyes

You were suddenly captivated by that closeness and intimacy

The tavern around you seemed to dissapear completely

It was only you and him now, blocking out the noise and people

The two of you seemed to be breathing heavily now

You thought it was from the dancing, but maybe something more

Your souls and minds seemed connected as you moved in sync

Closing your eyes and leaning in until your lips finally touched

Jaskier held on to you, seemingly letting out all the tension of the day

Urgently squeezing you against him like he had been craving to do

You also melted in the embrace, placing your hands over his shoulders

The kiss was sweet and passionate, slow as you enjoyed every second

His lips were soft, tasting a little like the liquor you both drank

His hands were gentle, even as they urgently pressed you against him

You would have happily kissed for hours, it was so exhilarating

You were tingling all over and had butterflies in your stomach

But you were running out of oxygen and had to pull away

When you did, gasping for air, you had to take a moment 

Your eyes were closed just for a little longer to linger on the sensations

It was Jaskier chuckling that forced you to look at him

“You okay there, Y/N? Am I such a good kisser?” 

His smirk was annoying you and driving you crazy at the same time

You had to take a moment to catch your breath to reply, holding on to him

“Shut up, before you start singing one of your stupid songs” 

He laughed at your joke and tightened his arms around you

“So this is why Geralt was so annoyed at us” 

You laughed at what he said too, even if none of you moved

You were still incredibly close and clutching on to each other

“Let’s find him, before he gets in trouble again” you replied with a grin

Jaskier nodded and took your hand to guide you through the tavern

You heard him humming a tune that was new to you

You smiled to yourself, flustered when you thought about it

Maybe you were his inspiration for a new ballad after all

Tag list: @kingniazx / @greensadmoon / @they-call-me-thewildrose / @aviankin / @jasper-the-stan / @v3nusc3 / @kisabellar / @breezyfails / @iwannaendme5 / @squirrel-saloli / @saveatruckrideoptimusprime / @ultracolorfulnerdcollection / @creativemayhems / @bands-messed-me-up / @pantrashtic / @buckyness-intensifies / @drunkonbuckybarnes / @kkcline123// If you want to be added or taken off the tag list for these fandoms or characters, let me know!! // Reblogs and comments are appreciated!

#nellie mars #ask #non anon ask #rfi writings #requests #hc request #witcher request #witcher hc request #jaskier request #jaskier hc request #non anon request #jaskier x reader #witcher #witcher headcanon #the witcher #the witcher headcanon #jaskier #jaskier headcanon #reader insert #requested #headcanon

[royal-shinigami]

Darkest Secrets (3/?)

The Witcher and Game of Thrones Crossover

 Pairing: Oberyn Martell x Witcher Reader x Ellaria Sand

 Warnings: Slow burn, some language, mentions of rape

 Word Count: 1.4K

Tyrion was walking with Bronn and (Y/N) on either side of him. You looked down at the man walking beside you.

 “Who were they exactly?” she asked.

 “That was Prince Oberyn of Dorne. He is the younger brother to Prince Doran who is the lord of Sunspear and Ruling Prince. Ellaria is his lover and mother of four of his children,” Tyrion explained.

 “And why does he seem to want to rip out yours and your family’s guts exactly?” You asked questionably.

 “Tyrion’s father Tywin decided to execute Prince Oberyn’s sister Elia along with her son and daughter. She was married to the mad king’s son Rhaegar Targaryen. Tywin found it insulting. Rhaegar was killed in battle a couple of weeks before the incident. Tywin had the Mountain carry out the task of brutally murdering both of her children. Then he found Elia and raped her still covered in her children’s blood then cut her in half with his sword.” Bronn said while Tyrion did not make eye contact.

 (Y/N) stood still wondering how someone can be that heartless. You may have killed people in the past but that is because they were trying to kill you. This was different small children were involved along with an innocent woman. You could see why the Prince would hold a vendetta against the family because all of them except Tyrion so far seemed messed up in some way.

 Tyrion saw (Y/N) thinking and had some what of a mad expression on her face.

 “For the record I never agreed with my father on what he did.” Tyrion said looking up at (Y/N).

 You gave him a small smile looking at him, “Never said you did,” you kept on walking and quickly Tyrion and Bronn followed.

 Once back at the Palace (Y/N) was called to the gardens where Margaery and a few others waited for you. You walked there and found a pavilion where an elderly woman was putting different expensive necklaces on Margaery while about five women stood off to the side watching.

 The elderly woman spoke up after she went through all the necklaces, “None of these will do,” and turned to the five women.

 “I want you all to go to the jeweler’s and whoever finds the best necklace for my granddaughter’s wedding gets to keep the second best.”

 The women replying with a yes with smiles on their faces. They then took off running past (Y/N) to the jewelers.

 (Y/N) looked behind her at the women as they ran past then ahead at Margaery and who you now know as her grandmother.

 “Come over her and sit with us girl.” Margaery’s grandmother said.

 You walked over and sat down nodding at Margaery then looking at the elderly woman who looked you over.

 “You are an odd looking one aren’t you? I am Lady Olenna and you must be (Y/N). I have heard from my granddaughter that you call yourself a Witcher and have great fighting abilities.”

 You look at Margaery who smiled at you then back at Lady Olenna and nod, “Yes but I usually fight on my own terms and for payment.”

 “I’m guessing you’re not used to being tied down to one place for your work,” Lady Olenna said while drinking from a glass that sat on the table.

 You shook your head, “I do not stay in one place long. I travel for work with my brother and a bard.”

 “A bard? That is quite an odd travel companion. I guess you keep him for entertainment?” Margaery asked.

 “Not necessarily my brother Geralt finds his music and extensive talking irritating a lot of the time. The bard Jaskier followed us to make music about our quests. He’s stuck with us on and off since.” You explained to her.

 “That sounds exciting dear. I would love to talk more but Margaery and I must be going to continue wedding preparations.”

 Margaery and Lady Olenna got up from the table and walked off with guards walking behind.

 You went back to your room with nothing else to do for the day and cleaned and sharpened your sword and went to sleep.

 You woke up the next morning to banging on the door not getting much sleep due to the guards that walked past your door constantly through the night. You put your leather clothing on and sword on your back and walked to the door and opening it. The Hound as Joffrey called him was standing outside the door. You raised an eyebrow looking up at him silently asking what he wanted.

 “You are to go with Lady Margaery later today to visit the people of King’s Landing,” He told you.

 You nodded and the Hound turned and walked off after getting your answer.

 Once he was gone you quickly moved to get out of the palace before anyone else found you. Walking along the streets again wanting to look around more but also secretly wanting to find the Prince and Ellaria again.

 You walked around a corner and saw stalls selling different foods along both sides of the walls. The food smelled good and you did have some coins in your pocket but did not know if they would work here. You did not particularly need it anyway considering Witcher’s didn’t really need to eat.

 “Ah if it isn’t the beauty with the golden eyes,” you heard an awfully familiar accented voice say from behind you.

 You turned seeing Prince Oberyn and Ellaria at his side holding his arm. You gave a small smile to them.

 “Would you like to join us little dove?” Ellaria asked.

 Your eyes slightly widened at her beautiful voice never actually hearing her speak before.

 “Sure,” you answered before walking over to them.

 All three of you walked to a table away from the busy stalls and sat down.

 “Tell us about yourself flower. I would like to know where you are from.” Oberyn said.

 “I grew up in a keep called Kaer Morhen in a place called Kaedwen,” you answered not really into talking about the place that made you who you are.

 “It does not seem like a great place considering your expression.” Ellaria spoke as she saw your silver necklace with a wolf engraved into the silver circle that hangs at the end.

 Oberyn saw where she was look and asked you, “Your necklace did you used to work for the Stark family flower?”

 You looked down at the necklace and held it up in your hand, “No I do not know who they are, but my necklace is one given to Witcher’s who pass their trials.”

 The couple gave you a questioning look. You suppose at this point this whole kingdom does not know about what you are considering most have looked at you like you grew a second head.

 “A Witcher is what human children are turned into after years of trials that very few survive. It is why I have no pigment in my hair and unusual eyes. I was one of the very first females in a group of fifty of us to go through them. I was the only one that lived. We are trained to kill monsters that others cannot.” You said.

 “I am sorry to hear about that little dove. I am sure you have helped a lot of people with your skills. Many people probably look up to you.” Ellaria said with a smile trying to lift your spirits.

 You smiled at her deciding to leave out that most humans would rather see you and your brother dead because they think both of you as emotionless and heartless mutants.

“Thanks, tell me about both of you since I do not know much.” Your curiosity taking over.

 Oberyn smiled as he started, “I am the Prince of Dorne an exceptionally beautiful and free kingdom with stunning beaches and people. I am known to my people as the Red Viper for my skills in fighting. My eight daughters are my pride and our four we have together are very skilled fighters thanks to Ellaria.” He looked over at his paramour as he said that with such admiration in his eyes.

 “My daughters are called the sand snakes they take after their father very much. You should visit Dorne someday the Dornish men and women would love you considering how beautiful you are,” Ellaria looked you over and smirked as she said that.

 From hearing of what they have told you it looks like the three of you would get along extremely well.

#oberyn x reader x ellaria #oberyn martell x reader #game of thrones fanfiction #crossover fanfiction #witcher reader insert

[jump-off-a-clifford-universe]

Your Song || Part 1

Pairing: Geralt x Jaskier

Summary: Geralt x Jaskier where basically Jaskier is a merman who met Geralt while Geralt was training to be a witcher. Both of them were young, Jaskier was curious, Geralt wasn’t as broody, and they fell in love with each other. But after Geralt completed his trainings, something happened and they parted ways. Years later, perhaps destiny does have a way of bringing lovers back together, they met again. But this time, things are different. 

Warning: none

Word Count: 1,485

A/N: eeeeeeek my first geraskier fic!! please tell me what you think about it! 

Geralt rubs his temples lightly. Pretending to listen to those prideful lords boast about their achievements and wealth is harder than Geralt thought, and it is giving him a headache. If it wasn’t because of Mousesack’s invitation, he would not be here at all. Slowly, he moves to a quiet corner of the room, wanting to spend the rest of the evening alone with his cup of ale more than anything. He is glad that the lords have now taken an interest in arguing with each other about their encounter with “a rare subspecies of manticore” instead of asking him to share his stories. 

He leaned on a pillar and looked around the room, completely unamused. The music, the talking and all the sounds in the room start to blend into the background. That is, until he caught a pair of striking blue eyes from across the room, which belongs to a well-dressed bard who is strumming a lute and completely immersed in his own singing.  

Geralt’s mind spins, suddenly filled with memories. 

The night feels heavy as Geralt treads carefully through the woods. He clutches his sword tightly, his hands trembling slightly, as he kept his breaths shallow and his steps light. It was his first monster hunt as a witcher-in-training, and for a 10-year-old, this is the most important night of his life. He silently thanked the gods for the weather. At least it is spring where the air is warm and the wind isn’t harsh. Although he has never shown, Geralt hated the cold. He hated how the snow absorbs all the sound, and it feels like he is alone in this world; He hated how unforgiving the winter wind is, how it slices through the air; He hated how frozen his fingers always get and he can never them warm. 

Geralt was instructed to find this hideous aquatic creature who only appears in the night. He was told that his monster has pointed ears, wicked eyes that seem to burn into your soul, and deformed fins that pokes out of its skin in odd places. From what Geralt has heard, this creature steals from villages - accessories, musical instruments, … other than food, this monster has stolen almost everything.  Surely it is not the worst crime, but enough to make the young witcher thinks that he is doing some good by those helping helpless villagers get rid of this nuisance. 

As Geralt nears the river, he felt his palms grow clammy. Adrenaline courses through his veins, heightening his senses. Geralt scans his surroundings - nothing suspicious. Geralt reaches the edge of the river and stands there for a moment, his muscles as tense as they can be, but nothing happened. Geralt is starting to think he went the wrong direction, or maybe that aquatic thief has gone to another village, or - 

The water ripples and Geralt snaps back from his thoughts. He tries his best to slow his heartbeat. His breaths quickening. He readjusted his stance as he stared intently at the water. Something emerged abruptly and caught Geralt off-guard. He dropped his sword in the water, and he felt his heart sinking to the bottom of his stomach. This is it, he thought, this is how I die. Before even becoming a witcher, before I do anything remarkable in my life.  He closes his eyes and holds his breaths, bracing for whatever that is coming.

A few seconds, or minutes - hell, it felt like decades passed before Geralt realises nothing is happening. There is no sound, no commotion, and he isn’t hurt. Geralt slowly opens his eyes, just enough to catch a peek. To his surprise, there is no kraken, or hydra, or whatever scary monster in front of him. There was a boy, around his age, holding Geralt sword in the water, studying as Geralt. 

Geralt takes a deep breath and is just about to say something before the boy in the water cuts him off. “What are you doing here late at night?” asked the boy, 

“I- I am a witcher,” said Geralt, in fake confidence, “and I want my sword back. I am on a quest to hunt down a horrific monster who lives in the water and steals fr-” Geralt suddenly stops mid-sentence as the realisation hits him. He is standing face to face with the water monster, who is not hideous or deformed, or anything close to what people described him to be. Sure, the boy has blue fins growing out from behind his ears and scales on his torso, but he looks nothing like what Geralt has imagined. One thing that is true, though, is that the boy has wickedly blue eyes that seem to look into Geralt’s soul, which Geralt still has not decide if it is a good or a bad feeling.

“A monster? Weird, I haven’t seen one nearby, and I’ve been here all day. Are you sure you’re in the right place?” asks the boy.

“I, uh, I am sure. I don’t make mistakes,” replies Geralt. “I want my sword back. For my quest. To kill monsters.” Geralt feels like he has forgotten how to speak for a moment. He is afraid, but also excited, and confused, and curious.

“Sure, witcher, but at least tell me your name. My name is Jaskier and I am a merman.” says the boy with a singsong voice, followed by an elaborate flip that shows off his iridescent tail. 

Geralt debated with himself. He knew he wasn’t supposed to give away his name to a stranger, let alone an aquatic monster, but harm will this boy do? He is much lankier than Geralt, and he doesn’t sound threatening or menacing at all. 

“My name is Geralt.”  “Nice to meet you, Geralt,” said Jaskier, extending his hand for a handshake. Geralt gingerly shakes his hand. Jaskier’s hand feels slippery and cold but surprisingly soft. Both of them hold each other’s hands for a while, silence hanging between them. 

“My sword. I want it back.” Geralt says bluntly, breaking the awkward silence. Geralt did not mean to be rude or that forward, but he didn’t know what to say. He doesn’t like how he has wasted so much time talking to Jaskier, but more than that, he hates how he doesn’t hate this young merman, and how much he wants to continue this conversation. 

Jaskier tossed Geralt his sword back. “Here you go, witcher.” The corner of Jaskier lips curled up into a small smile, his voice playful. 

Geralt catches his sword and uttered a quiet ‘thanks’ before he turned away, marching away from the river. “Will I see you again?” shouted Jaskier. Geralt turned back and takes one last look at Jaskier. He knows he isn’t supposed to be friends with a merman who steals, not only because it goes against the rules, but also because he should have had killed Jaskier like he was instructed to. He can’t let anyone know he hesitated and made friends with the target of his mission. Everyone will think he is weak and he will never get to be a real witcher. He cannot let anyone else see Jaskier, because they would kill Jaskier without a second thought. The gears turned in Geralt’s head - there has to be a way out of this mess he got himself into. “If only you promise me you will stop stealing and you hide from the villagers and other witchers. If you can do that I will find a way to see you again.”

“Deal.” 

Geralt felt an unexpected warmth rising up his chest. As the merman said ‘deal’, Geralt realises how much he is looking forward to their next encounter, whenever and wherever it might be. For once, Geralt loosened up a little bit and let himself smile. 

“Deal.” replied Geralt, this time surely and truly confidently. 

Geralt snaps back to reality as people around him applauded. The bard had just finished singing a song about some fishmonger’s daughter which Geralt did not pay attention to at all. Surely he cannot be mistaken, Geralt thought, who else could sing a whole song about a fishmonger’s daughter? It has to be Jaskier. 

The bard smiles and waves goodbye to the crowd. Geralt did not realise he was staring before the bard caught his stare. Immediately, Geralt’s heart jumped to his throat. But the bard looks away from Geralt as if they had never seen each other at all. Geralt hasn’t seen Jaskier for years - he doesn’t know if Jaskier is mad or sad at him for what happened, and he doesn’t know what Jaskier is like now. There Jaskier was, standing right in front of Geralt, with his beautiful blue eyes and soft brown hair which Geralt has run his fingers through so many times, yet Geralt never felt further away from him. 

A familiar stranger. An estranged lover. 

#geraskier #geralt #geralt of rivia #geralt of rivia imagine #jaskier #jaskier imagine #geralt x jaskier #geralt imagine #geralt x jaskier imagine #witcher #the witcher #witcher iamgine #jaskier the witcher #the witcher netflix #the witcher imagine #geralt the witcher #fic #fluff #imagine #netflix #one shot #oneshot #geraskier imagine #geraskier fic

[g3n3515]

I’m not original but I made some Witcher OC based on owls because I love owls! (I also made a dragonfly Witcher down below if you’re interested)

He would be just the Owl Witcher Josef. Like other treasure hunts he would be mentioned in an inventory list written by a servant to his master, who thought Josef was Sketchy and so requested his belongings be checked. The inventory list indicates he carried patents for armor and weapons. 

I didn’t really make much research on what boosts it would give but I’d guess the weapons could focus on bleeding/staggering? The armor could focus much the same things as other Witcher gear and maybe some stamina bonuses as well?. (Though, and I know it’s dumb, it giving you bonuses in hand-to hand combat is something I would want because I think it would be funny to fist fight things viably.)

also as a bonus, a much less detailed drangonfly witcher because dragonflies are peak, naturally bioengineered killing machines that I love with my whole heart.

While making Han, pictured here it kind of dawned to me that his mutations would be very different than that of a Witcher. 

(This is edge incoming btw) 

So, instead of having a Drangonfly school, in my head they’re a specific faction of Witchers made to be a bigger fish rather than someone with a monster hunting profession. Like Dragonflies, they hunt year round of their own will. Their extra mutations make them capable of eating a variety of the monsters they hunt, as to be able to go without needing human food. A sad drawback of this is that some Dragonflies will amount to just eat anything, humanoids included. When this happens they’re deemed too dangerous and are hunted down by other Witchers.

some of their mutations have aim in making them in complete control over nearly every joint they have individually, but the process often messes with their bodies’ nervous systems and gives them tics/nervous reflexes. The mutations also affect the pigment of their skin and their body’s ability to produce hair, so their skin tone ressembles that of Geralt when he drank potions and the hair on them grows patchy and uneven.

Dragonfly Witchers are drifters who mostly unlearned their human behaviors while retaining their application memory. They hunt and that’s basically what they know. though, some blurred memories could sometimes make Dragonfly Witchers migrate towards their previous schools during the winter, though the reason as of why they are drawn there or where the keep is exactly has been forgotten. 

In-Game you’d first hear of Han from Vesemir. He says he caught wind about one of the Dragonfly Witchers that came from the Wolf school, though he didn’t believe it at first, thinking all were long gone. 

You’re informed Han had begun to hunt humans. You can then follow a Side-quest to go hunt him down, which will give you his entire Dragonfly gear in return, swords included. You also have the option to capture him and attempt to help him, though I deem this could also go bad and you’d have to kill him anyway. You’d also get extra options to ask Vesemir about Han, who had helped train him when he was still following regular training, but had not seen or heard of him since he completed his training. He had assumed, after none had spotted him for decades, that he had just died without a soul to tell, like the rest of his kind.

#the witcher #witcher fanart #sketches #I know people sometimes count griffons as part owl but shh #i want a whole owl man #also i'm sorry about my dragonfly witchers but I just like dragonflies so much ok

[flowerflamestars]

Hello love, hope you are well 🥰 I noticed you've posted/reblogged a bit of witcher content lately, and I was wondering if you would ever consider writing anything for it?

Maybe! Eventually? Possibly. 

I have nothing strictly planned right now, caveat being I am literally only familiar with the netflix content- so it would definitely be super AU.

But anyone who follows me knows I love a raging woman and Yen is just like *chef kiss* THE RAGE,THE BEAUTY, the messy not necessarily wanting a kid for real but wanting what fucking men and the system would deny her at ANY COST. 

The ship I’ve seen the most content for though is, Geralt/Jaskier??

I’d go the most AU there: Geralt, built like a brickhouse forest ranger. His national park is huge for the revitalization efforts of native wolf populations, his first career was a wildlife biologist. He’s out there grumpily doing The Most for everything that walks swims or crawls.

BUT 

Bordering his park, a property abandoned for years and years after the implosion of a commune, the grandson of the original artsy menance who haunted Geralts predecessor has shown up freshly washed out of grad school to turn the property into a flower farm. 

Jaskier grows tulips!

Tourists love tulips! (Geralt hates tourists.)

Jaskier decides that no, he’s not going to take another look at his as yet unfinished thesis on the legacy of chivalric codes in European composition- HE! is going find huckleberries. In the woods. He is going to go into the woods for fruit to make jam to sell to tourists and everything will be FINE

Jaskier gets lost in the woods.

Geralt, of course, finds Jaskier wandering around, half soaked from tripping over the roots of a very majestic tree he was addressing his stress to and promptly falling into a stream.

Jaskier is 80% he’s accidentally incited a vision quest and Silver Haired Forest God is a VERY good hallucination. Who then, naturally, proceeds to wrap him in an emergency blanket, bully him into rehydrating, and somehow with about five words total and shockingly good snacks make Jaskier feel completely better.

What proceeds is a courtship for the ages.

Jaskier mourns very publically in the cute tourist artsy town half an hour away about Silver Haired Forest God only for half the residents to be like yeah? Geralt? 

THEY ALL HAVE A STORY

He rescues cats from trees. He magically fixes maybe murderously haunted espresso machines. He once glared a bear out of town. He keeps bees and gives all the old ladies free honey. 

And Jaskier, bless his heart, is like Okay. OKAY. fifty fifty chance? Sixty forty? He gave me cookies- no straight man is carrying around lemon lavender shortbread, right? Or has that perfect of hair, RIGHT?

(Old lady in the background: he makes those cookies! But the hair is natural, dear. Her companion: a natural phenomenon, maybe.)

So Jaskier takes up hiking.

Geralt, meanwhile, knows exactly who Jaskier is because Local Gossip. Could he just go say hi? Sure. Will he? God, absolutely not. 

He sends him homemade get-well mead. Actually starts telling tourists the correct direction to drive to find the farm. Shows up after an unseasonable spring flood to fix a fence with his own hands.

Flower farm employee who talks to Geralt, extremely aware of her bosses crush that is Visible from Space: You want to try the back acre? Its a mess back there.

Meanwhile, Jaskier, stomping to the back acre where he’s trying out some new cultivars, to himself: hiking is the worst! it has been months, months! Maybe he only talks to wolves. Or animals in distress. I could be an animal in distress again.

Geralt, loping up silently and noticing Jaskier crouched down in a flower bed, half hidden behind a sunhat, red cheeked and adorable, with great feeling: Fuck.

Jaskier, who has excellent hearing jumping up, brain processing nothing but Large, and thwacking Geralt in the face with his flower gathering basket: jesus fuck

Since the basket mostly missed him, Geralt kind of laughs? And rolls with it? Picks up what Jaskier flung, gently tips back upright the pot de-marking the path that Jaskier had knocked over. 

And Jaskier is Dying. DYING. He’s been looking for hot man! for months! But Hot Man found him when he’s like, covered in soil and sweat and literally wearing one of his dearly departed grandmother’s hats because no one bothered to tell him mountains are actually secret sunburn hell. 

There’s stuttering. And pontificating. And Jaskier not at all thinking oh my god his eyes his hands his throat his- TALL

But he eventually manages to ask Geralt why he’s there. 

And Geralt smiles. Hands him back his basket that he’s been holding the whole time, straightens from the cute little lean down scrunch he was affecting to hold Jaskier’s eyes and it all like, well, I thought I’d fix your fence that got destroying in the storm. 

And then buy you a drink.

[darth-salem-emperor-of-earth]

OCtober: Day 23

Day Twenty-Three: Dating Sim

THIS IS ONE DAY I WAS WAITING FOR! THE ONE THAT IS PERFECT FOR FRITZI! XD

While I was laughing and agonizing over Fritzi’s three love interest options, my friend once joked that a part of her story/route was “Fritzi the Otome”. Hence why this day is so apropos for her. XD

(Artwork by the talented @rayeliann​)

So Fritzi would have four routes available: one route where she doesn’t end up with her three possible LIs, the Aryan route, the Roche route, and the Dettlaff route. The routes would start off the same, allowing Fritzi/the reader to let her spend time with each man, explore all her choices outside of romance, and deal with both the joys and sufferings of her life as a noblewoman, soldier, spy, and dhampir in Temeria. No matter who she chooses in the end, she will still give birth to Alexia Lagorio, her bastard daughter with Aryan, and adopt Oliver, the Bootblack she encountered while Regis and her tried to locate Dettlaff. These two children are important to Fritzi and her story and they come into the picture before she can make any final decision about her love life. And she knows all three men will accept Alexia and Oliver wholeheartedly and treat them as their own children.

The Aryan route is for Aryan La Valette, her childhood friend whose mother and her mother have secretly hoped the two of them would become close enough were they’d be inclined to seek out each other without the prodding of either family. He confesses his love for her after when he is treated and recovers at Castle Lagorio from escaping imprisonment after La Valette rebellion and Foltest’s death. Their courtship begins before Nilfgaard invades and briefly are betrothed soon after. Their troth is only dissolved when she has to confess she cannot have children (at the time, she doesn’t say the reason for this is her halfbreed blood because she doesn’t know at the time how he’d react to her not being fully human) and Aryan has to fulfill his duty to his family and house. It was a heartbreaking moment for them both. 

The Roche route is for Vernon Roche, the first man Fritzi ever loved. He is the first one outside of her family (save for Fritzi’s friend, Ahnya) to learn about her dhampir heritage. Instead of shunning her, he decides to better use her talents for the Blue Stripes, sparking the flame of love within her. They do end up drinking together after a feast made in Geralt’s honor for protecting King Foltest and all that alcohol causes them to sleep together. However, things don’t go quite smoothly the day after and Roche doesn’t realize his feelings for her until much later, when he is tracking down Foltest’s killer. It gets a little awkward when he brings Anais to Castle Lagorio for Fritzi to be the future ruler’s second instructor, per John Natalis’s request. 

The Dettlaff route is for Dettlaff van der Eretein, the third man to lay claim on Fritzi’s heart after she struggles to deal with the loss of her uncle/birth father after the birth of her daughter, the war on her homeland, the man hunt on nonhumans and magic users, her relationship with Aryan and Roche, and just trying to survive and not feel so lost. She goes to him to revive her birth father, Alexei, another higher vampire. Even though her initial quest doesn’t go as planned, it does help to bring these two closer together, so much so she helps Regis track him down and try to save him from the whole Syvanna mess. Once he slowly recovers and comes to terms with the Syvanna aftermath, he returns to Regis and then Fritzi later, starting to see her in a different light. 

#OCtober #OC-tober #Friederike Lagorio #Fritzi Lagorio #OCs

[daleisgreat]

2019-20 TV Season Recap

Previous TV Season Recaps - (2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19) JULY 2, 2020 UPDATED WITH RANKINGS FOR WATCHMEN AND FINAL SEASONS OF GAME OF THRONES CLICK HERE TO JUMP RIGHT TO THEM Greetings, and welcome to my yearly TV season breakdown of all the shows I followed that were released during the past school year. For newer readers, please take a peek at previous TV recaps above that go as far back to the 2013-14 season. I usually try and watch a couple more shows during the summer and will update the top of this entry with an addendum link to new shows I kept up with during the summer. I will keep up my tradition of beginning with some animation shows….

South Park - This is a slight improvement from last year’s season, and it continues South Park’s return to form of episodic storylines. There were a couple dud episodes sprinkled in, but I was a fan of most of the ten shows this season. Standouts were cable TV installers fighting the war on streaming services, criticizing the Chinese government’s censorship to the point of getting South Park banned in China and an awesome season finale that sees Randy’s pot farm in despair when pot is outlawed during Christmas season so he turns to growing cocaine and gets everyone, including Santa and Jesus, hooked on it. Grade: B Simpsons - Last few years I have stuck to watching a few episodes a year of The Simpsons and Family Guy to at least have that constant association with those long lasting shows. Usually it is only the season premiere, finale and the Christmas episode of each show. The Simpsons I will also watch its annual Treehouse of Horror special, but something about this season kept me coming back to it where I watched nearly half of their episodes this season. They had their first ever Thanksgiving of Horror special which I was surprised with the amount of gore that got in. With this being the first full season of the show where it officially fell under the Disney ownership umbrella, there are now constant Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel references throughout, but likely due to the nature of the show it was not that intrusive to put up with. I really dug an episode with the Flanders coming to terms on reconciling with Maude’s death in a ‘special’ episode. Other fun episodes were the return of Sideshow Bob for the Christmas special and a touching season finale centering around Santa’s Little Helper, complete with a flashback to a clip of the very first Simpsons episode in 1989. Grade: B+

The Conners - Loving how most of the cast is settling into their roles by this point. I was thrilled to see the family regain ownership and reopen ‘The Lunchbox.’ Loved episodes that centered on that homey diner in the original. Sara Gilbert and John Goodman continue to carry the show on their backs. Seeing Dan’s dilemma of coming to terms with accepting the passing of Roseanne and committing to Louise was a chase that was worth following all season and had a gratifying payoff. I loved the ups and downs of Darlene and Ben’s relationship this season, and Ben has easily won me over as a regular on the show and I hope he is there to stay. Harris on the other hand…not so much. I would love to see more of DJ and his family in the mix, and it is disheartening to see he seems like such an afterthought of the show. Seeing Becky’s newfound motherhood troubles were a bit much to keep up with but it had its moments. One nagging issue I have with the series that has now been back for three seasons is that they never addressed what happened to Jackie's kid yet from the original run which is kind of ridiculous. Not even in a passing ‘Fred has custody now on the other side of the country’ sort of way. I was hoping to see Fred make a surprise return for an episode or something to address that, but will have to keep my fingers crossed for season four. Loved most of this season minus the Harris-centered episodes, and a couple of plotlines and barbs that felt like overkill. Grade: B+ Arrow – It was bittersweet to see the final episode of Arrow this past January. It was the last show I kept up with in the DC line of CW shows since I dropped the other couple midseason last year because it became too much to keep up with. Oliver had a fond farewell as the entire season built up that Olly would be riding off into the sunset this season. This season saw the continued use of jumping back and forth between current and future timelines where Oliver’s two children, Mia & William are all grown up and doing their own vigilante justice. I watched the entire five part Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover special between all the DC-CW shows. I will not attempt to explain it because my brain will explode in doing so, but it has a major impact dealing with Oliver’s fate and it all comes full circle in the finale with a heartfelt memorial for Oliver in front of a lot of familiar faces that were delightful to see again. The memorial saw an absolutely killer speech from Diggle that had my emotions running wild.

Arrow has consistently remained my favorite DC show on the CW. It had a touch more edge than the other shows which eventually morphed into a carefree, watered down formula I could not tolerate anymore. It sounds like there will be a new spinoff show with Mia and William starting next season, but I think but this seems like the perfect jumping off point from the ever-growing lineup of DC shows. There were times I felt like I needed a guide to keep up with all the time travelling plot threads, but the recaps helped keep me in check, and this was a great way to wrap up my favorite show of the CW-DC ‘Arrow-verse.’ Grade: A The Witcher – I heard a lot of positive buzz going into this Netflix original series, and being only eight episodes did not seem like too much of a commitment so I dove right in. The videogames this series is based on have been in my backlog forever so I cannot say how they compare, but I was won over by the two main characters of Geralt and Yennefer. Jaskier the bard was also the perfect companion to provide brief moments of levity. Henry Cavill has a tremendous presence as Geralt, and comes off as one powerful badass not to mess with. My favorite episode is where Geralt competes against a couple other factions going up a mountain to hunt a dragon that has many fun twists and turns. It would not be a medieval fantasy show without a big awesome setpiece war of a finale, and Witcher also delivers on that front. Only nitpick I have is sometimes the lore can be a bit dense to keep up with, but at only eight episodes that does not prevent it from being an easy recommendation. Grade: A-

Castlevania – The third season of the Netflix original show based on the hit videogame series is easily my favorite season of the three. There are several separate story arcs transpiring throughout the season, and most of them I was able to get into with the exception of Alucard's odd arc where mysterious loners seek his guidance who oddly turn on him for not revealing all his secrets after only a week under his tutelage. The rest of the cast had vastly more intriguing storylines. Trevor and Sypha are an adorably deadly couple that find themselves helping out a village filled with all kinds of dark secrets. Forgemaster Hector is wrapped up in a pickle of a situation as a prisoner of vampires who want global conquest. Forgemaster Isaac had an arc that I got into where he also is on his own quest for taking over the world. Something about the way it was written this season especially made it pop for me with each episode having one or two standout sessions of conversing. That boat captain especially, I want him to come back after his enticing conversations with Isaac! The last two episodes packed a really mean punch and compensate for the lack of action for the rest of the season. Sure as hell hope to see a fourth season soon enough! Grade: A Star Trek: Picard - During the early weeks of the global pandemic we are now in, a lot of streaming services offered extended free trials. I took advantage of that for CBS All Access, which is the exclusive home of Picard. Despite being nearly 20 years older since we last saw him as Picard, Sir Patrick Stewart remains masterful in the role. Now that it has been about a month since I wrapped it up, I am kind of 50/50 on the first season of Picard. There were some characters that I did not care for, but the show ultimately came together for a semi-decent season. Loved the expected old faces that returned for rushes of nostalgia I was totally into, and am glad only a few older faces returned to save room for future cameos. Took a while to get use to watching Star Trek in a serialized format with story arcs lasting the whole season, but I liked the crew Picard assembled by the end of the season, and although the season arc spiraled into a bit of a mess by the season finale that I additionally will refrain from attempting to explain, a big part of me is feeling like the cast was starting to organically gel by the last episode which leads me hoping for a better dynamic in season two. Grade: B-

Star Trek: Discovery (Seasons 1 & 2) – That CBS All Access trial wound up getting extended further into two months for me so I once again took advantage of that to plow through the first two seasons of the newest core Star Trek show, Discovery. The first season was a bit of a chore to get through. After an explosive two episode season opener setting up the protagonist Michael Burnham, the show gradually got less interesting as they mixed in plot tropes I despise like time travelling and alternate dimensions that play a major role in the first season. I will give props to a guilty pleasure time loop episode I was all in for however that can easily be watched in its own without taking in the rest of the serialized plot. I was not that into Rainn Wilson before, but his recurring role here as con-man Harry Mudd was my unlikely favorite character of the first season. My main gripe about the first season is it is all about Michael, with the rest of the crew primarily relegated to B and C plot affairs while most other past Star Trek shows shined the spotlight on the entire crew. The second season is a step up with some noticeable improvements. I liked the introduction of their versions of Captain Pike and Spock on here that drastically helped the rest of the cast to step up. Seeing Spock & Michael’s sibling rivalry and their past revealed as the season went on was an arc that I was able to invest in. Discovery did a little bit of fleshing out of some parts of the rest of the crew, but it could have done better where instead a lot more emphasis was placed on Michael's character making silly Jennifer Garner-esque reactionary faces. She does a mean vulcan eyebrow though, ditto with Spock! Special effects are in a league of their own, no idea how they have the budget for it with nearly every episode having a ton of spectacular action scenes. TNG nut in me would prefer Discovery to dial back the action a notch or two, but supposedly the new Pike spinoff show, Strange New Worlds, will do that next year. Season 1 Grade: C- Season 2 Grade: B- ====================================== UPDATE – July 2, 2020 ====================================== A couple weeks after I posted this originally I did one of them free one week trials for HBO Max to crank out two more shows I have been meaning to get to for quite some time so here are my thoughts on them….

Watchmen - The 2009 film is extraordinarily polarizing among anyone I talk to. I have a love/hate/love relationship with it myself. The HBO TV series from several months ago appears to be the same from the first few people I spoke with about it too after finishing it earlier this week. It is set in the present in 2019, some 34 years after the events of the graphic novel. I was hooked by the end of the first episode which had an impactful viewing experience due to the similarities of how the police are portrayed in Watchmen to the recent real life events/riots/protests in recent weeks. Nearly every episode had an interesting hook that spiraled into another arc that had its own callback and references to the original story and how the present world in the show was still enduring the rippling effects from the conclusion of the original saga. The second half of the season has a different dynamic to it once certain revelations are made of key characters and other characters are introduced. Seeing each episode’s dose of Ozymandias’ journey from the past 34 years had me scratching my head where it was going until his arc came full circle and it all pleasantly came together. A couple little twists and turns did not sit well with me in how the finale played out, but for the most part I was absolutely invested in the series throughout and hopes the show gets picked up for a second season which is currently in doubt because the season one showrunner feels the first season put an overall conclusion to Watchmen all together. Grade: A-

Game of Thrones - I finally got around to watching the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones. I somehow managed to escape spoilers all this time too. Was in no rush to see it due to noticeable step down in quality from the seventh season based on how rushed it felt and how it crammed two seasons of content into one. Unfortunately the same can be said here for the last season. The thing is though the first half of season eight is extremely good. Episode one is all about reuniting the characters and setting up for the battle of all battles against the undead army that has been building since the very beginning of the show. I loved how the second episode gave nearly every character a moment of their own to take in their presumable last evening before the fight ahead as they basked in each other’s fellowship and drink. Then the battle itself was a huge undertaking for a TV show to pull off a battle scene of that magnitude for over an hour, even with a premium HBO budget. There are parts where I can nitpick and see where they tried little camera tricks and implemented other special effects tomfoolery to give the false illusion they were on par with the AAA budget cinematic battles of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but by and large that battle with the Whitewalkers is an impressive feat of television filmmaking that I will never forget. Loved every chapter of that third episode. If you have fallen off of Game of Thrones after season seven, then do yourself a favor and at least watch episodes two and three of the final season. Now if the series would have ended after that big battle that would have been ideal, but there was still one Queen Cersei to deal with…. …and the final three episodes of the season eight dealt with the rest of the kingdoms building up for one last battle to take over the Red Keep and remove Cersei from the throne. The final three episodes feel overwhelmingly rushed and should have had their own expanded season, and that is saying something because those episodes are all longer than average episodes and around the length of a movie each. While the first half of the final season has key characters meet their demise in a blaze of glory, the final episodes have anticlimactic finales for fan favorite characters and it felt like the writers were trying to make the best of the worst situation for trying to wrap up the show. There are a couple fleeting moments I enjoyed for certain characters having a gratifying conclusion to their stories, but I could not shake this gut-wrenching feeling throughout the final two episodes that the wheels were quickly flying off the rails. For what it is worth, I did like Bran and Jon Snow’s final destinations and scenes for how they were shot and am now relieved I have now got this show out of the way. I avoided reading recaps and spoilers, but had a feeling this was not going to be a good season due to a general lack of reaction and enthusiasm for the final season as it was transpiring, minus a little optimism for the aforementioned midseason battle. The series finale came and went without much of an online reaction to my surprise and in the succeeding months little murmurs of ‘meh’ was what I picked up on in the general sense of how it wrapped up when asking around….and I am essentially on board with that after seeing it myself. Now with that out of the way…should I read the books? Grade: C Past TV/Web Series Blogs 2013-14 TV Season Recap 2014-15 TV Season Recap 2015-16 TV Season Recap 2016-17 TV Season Recap 2017-18 TV Season Recap 2018-19 TV Season Recap Adventures of Briscoe County Jr: The Complete Series Baseball: A Ken Burns series Angry Videogame Nerd Home Video Collections Cobra Kai – Seasons 1-2 Mortal Kombat: Legacy - Season 1 | Season 2 OJ: Made in America: 30 for 30 RedvsBlue - Seasons 1-13 Roseanne – Seasons 1-9 Seinfeld Final Season Star Trek: Next Generation – Seasons 1-7 Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle Superheroes: Pioneers of Television The Vietnam War: A Ken Burns series X-Men – The Animated Series: Volumes 4-5

#TV/web series #south park #roseanne #conners #the simpsons #Castlevania #star trek #picard #discovery #arrow #stephen amell #John Goodman #sarah gilbert #witcher #henry cavill #rainn wilson

[st33d]

Sandman

I’ve tried a lot of sandbox games over the past year. Mostly driven by acquiring a PC and leaving my Mac to its scheduled obsolescence. Playing games on a Mac is like playing Doom on a calculator. You celebrate that it works, it actually works, but it usually fails to be more than a proof of concept. When I switched back to a PC I discovered an entirely new realm of stubborn design. At least it wasn’t getting slower with each update and it deigned to play all manner of toys. Being quite turgid for roleplaying games I set about catching up with every RPG the Mac had denied me and checked out some more for good measure.

A common feature I discovered in many of these games is what I call the Back Breaker. You lift the game up high, then crash it down over your knee, broken. You are now free to explore the game how you choose - all of its secrets are laid bare. A lot of people get very upset at the inclusion of Back Breakers in what they hope will be a game with an ever ascending skill requirement. The notion that the audience is primarily there to explore is an insult - where, they ask, is the game? Personally I like this feature, I like that the end game is to become a god. This is why a lot of you will disagree with my assessments.

Skyrim

The sticking point for many people with this one is the combat. It’s dour grey-brown landscape invites a comparison to Dark Souls (I’ll get to that one in a bit) so people like Matt Lees will remark that Skyrim is an inferior counterpart. If you’re looking for tight combat in Skyrim, then like a 1st edition iPhone 5, you’re holding it wrong.

It insists you take it seriously over an unskippable introduction to the most tired hook that any roleplaying game can throw - the prison break. After shaking your screen as hard as it can with an assault by a dragon you are thrown into a scant and confusing interface in a land of ugly robotic people who are super fussy about what time they’re willing to sell things. On my 1st playthrough it got dark, so dark I couldn’t loot the mages I was killing for their expensive robes. I quit and rerolled a khajiit, purely because the wiki told me they had nightvision. It wasn’t until much later I discovered that there were many means of creating light, some of them causing fantastic AI behaviour (I nicknamed the spell Magelight; aggro-ball). Some short way into the terrible main quest line I thought, “sod this”, and went in search of the mage college to learn how to blow things up like some of the monsters were doing. This haphazard adventure was some of the best gameplay I’d ever encountered. A scared lowly girl-cat, picking her way through a hostile landscape in hope of learning real magic. Typical that when I finally arrived at the college I encountered the first blatant design wall in the shape of an unclimbable pillar that the college sat on. I barely had the mana to cast the spell that would prove me worthy to train there. A few hours later I was the archmage of the college. It would take many more hours before I mastered glitch-riding: taking the cereal box collision space of my horse and rubbing it against the prettiest parts of the scenery until it yielded to let me ride vertical. Out of the many hours of play the only real low point was getting turned into a vampire, I had to look up a wiki on how to cure it and reload many times because the quest to stop vampirism is broken.

There are many Back Breakers in Skyrim - I chose twin dremora lords that I chain-summoned to lock up the AI. But truly it is Skyrim’s pretty mountains and their unresolvable collision meshes that are the best. Only after hours of play does one develop an art for sniffing out details that defy edge-case-programming. Skyrim is a perfect mess. I know why they keep re-releasing it, they got lucky. One need only play the Dragonborn DLC to see Skyrim at its worst. It is a hard game to recommend, for it is not really a game, it is a thing both ugly and beautiful.

% out of 10

The Witcher 3

“Stick with it”, they say. Few games deserve such an epithet as this one. The controls are fiddly. One’s inventory is so dense with options that I didn’t realise that my potions refilled themselves until I’d nearly finished the game. After which my character sported full-body-priapism as I quaffed every decoction available. The turning point from hating this game to loving it was a side quest where a character caught Geralt off guard when being subject to the witcher’s advice - the townsfolk declared him a freak not because he was like Geralt, but because they were intolerant of homosexuals. I then got drawn further into the man’s drama. Every single story this game presents is trying to be Not So Simple. It’s a manifesto that leaks into the game’s bestiary that tells you not only what a monster likes for dinner, but your best tactics for killing it. But then, it’s Not So Simple as killing a monster, there is always another layer to each story.

It took at least three score hours of gameplay before I started skipping some of the many cutscenes. One of them was the infamous sex-on-a-stuffed-unicorn. It was a fault of the main storyline being so lackluster. I never really cared for Ciri, I found her even more fiddly to control than her tutor. But the extra layers that surround it: the Bloody Baron, stupidly shagging Keira Metz, the numerous detective scenes - they all carry this game. It is a shame it takes a few hours for it to reveal itself.

I must commend the map design for being sensible enough to be broken into several parts. You first explore a tutorial village before moving into war torn Velen and its haunting soundtrack. Here you work until you can gain passage to the north, the islands, and your home. Many sandboxes simply give you one map to conquer and contort it to stop you wandering into the final challenge. It’s refreshing to move on to a clean map, full of new challenges and surprises.

I couldn’t be arsed to play Gwent.

Trophy out of Archgriffin

Zelda: Breath of the Wild

This game has three stages: Delight, Depression, and Exploration.

Delight

Oh wow, there’s so many things to do. And so many things interact with one another. The sense of discovery comes not only from reaching new locations, but also finding new ways for elements to interact. Of course wood burns. Of course burning creates an updraft. Of course metal conducts electricity. Even after many hours of play there are still new things to find. So strange that the game is as dense as it is... empty.

Depression

Ugh, I don’t have a horse and I’m in yet another blank area. Ugh, I lack just enough stamina to climb this mountain, I’ll have to start all over again. Ugh, I can’t stay in this area because I take damage and the food I eat to stop it only lasts ten minutes. Ugh, I complained about all of this online and everyone keeps saying, “I don’t have a problem, the game works fine for me, Git Gud.” As often as I meet people who have played this game in excess of 100 hours, I also meet people who have played it for less than 10. If you are unlucky, if you don’t make the right connections, if you don’t stumble upon the right thing, this game is truly depressing. Made more so by the amount of people who cannot fathom why anyone would have trouble with the game. And yet there are many that do. It is not really that they need to be better at games, it is merely because they have not found the Back Breakers. Or worse, they do not appreciate them.

Exploration

After needless hours of collecting (grinding) you find yourself in possession of armour. You upgrade the armour again and again and suddenly the cloud of depression is lifted (if it was ever there). You are free to explore any edge of the island, you simply need to wear the right threads. At this stage of the game you have found many secrets but still keep finding more. Korok seeds, the OCD baiting puzzles, become a delight to find. It’s hard to remember the game ever being frustrating, but it remains in the back of my mind. Zelda BotW has a hump, a hump that some people will feel very aggrieved to surmount. Do not be surprised when you hear of someone bouncing off this game - it really is torture for people with precious little play time or patience.

Perhaps I should say something about the shrine dungeons or the 4 beast dungeons. They exist. There, I said it.

96 out of 120

Path of Exile

I tried this many years ago on my Mac using some sort of Windows executable wrapper. It did not work. I tried again when I got my new PC, I was underwhelmed. I tried yet again two weeks ago - holy shit this is the best action RPG I’ve ever played. The fact that it’s also free is sort of a weird blessing. You can only buy cosmetics and extra slots, so it even has a total lack of pay-to-win going for it. At least they get to keep expanding and updating it, which is probably why my recent play through was so smooth.

Diablo 2 is one of my all time favourites. It’s a concise loop of murder, loot, sell. But not without flaws. It has cruft, tedium, and imbalance in spades.

Path of Exile shuffles the formula and bets the whole thing on loot. Skills are loot. Money is loot (you pay with scrolls and item modifying tools, no gold). Equipment is loot. Yet playing it like Diablo is quite a silly thing to do - you get almost nothing from items you try to sell to vendors, so you no longer make trips back and forth with junk items. Leveling up is spent on a massive passive skill tree shared by all the classes, so the game sees no need to forestall leveling because it’s not the gatekeeper of mechanics. The items are. This occurs by way of gems that you socket into items, a bit like Diablo 2 and 3, but instead of boring damage bonuses you get entirely new mechanics. If you play with several characters in the same league they can share these items as well (providing they are strong enough to wield them). A mere ten levels into the game I had a full on rave of undead surrounding my witch character like she was the hottest new DJ at a halloween party.

I refrained from playing on hardcore because the game is online only and my internet sucks, but the game does boast a challenge that is mandatory hardcore. A multi-part dungeon that rewards you with a new section for your skill tree. Complete it without dying and you get to specialise. This is further complicated by deadly treasure rooms you must salvage keys from in order to unlock the many chests at the end. This was quite an exciting challenge with real stakes and real swearing when I let my greed get the better of me.

So what of its flaws? It takes a few goes to shake off the Diablo conditioning, so it’s not until you hit act 2 and try again from scratch that you figure out a strategy for building a character. The passive skill tree has a handy search feature and after I typed “minion” into it I was determined to carve a path through the best parts. If you don’t plan your route, you miss out on your mana rocketing back to full, your health restoring, or in my case: zombie disco. It’s online only and if you insist on playing over the weekend it can be a very choppy experience. The chat is a sewage pipe, a stream of edgelord douchebaggery. Go into the options and turn it off. I’ve yet to meet anyone that wants to form a party and every time I look at it I’m certain I don’t want to. There’s little to say of the story, it’s not bad though. I appreciate that it doesn’t try to get in the way like Diablo 3′s did. Perhaps if they had taken their loot thesis a step further they could have buried it in the game’s items. Then all this hoarding would have expanded into something like an archaeology dig. A missed opportunity.

O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O out of Shiny Armour

Shadow of Mordor

It’s quite cool and exciting to begin with. We’re in Mordor with lots of grim orcs and cool cutscenes, and... is that a bush? Oh okay, it just popped into existence. Nevermind. Well at least sneaking around is fun... my finger hurts a lot though because they want me to hold down the trigger button for ages. Yeah, ganking orcs is cool, it’s real fun shooting them in the head... oh, I have to do these crappy sword fights where I only press two buttons throughout the whole thing.

This game is like someone who seems fascinating and pretty from afar, but soon as you talk to them at length you begin to realise that they’re quite boring. They just say the same thing over and over. It’s a sausage party that gets slowly more off putting as I play. The developers don’t even seem to know that women exist outside of being trophies or reasons to be angry about stuff. The main draw in this game is apparently the battles with the orc leaders, which I found to be the most boring part of the game. I hated the sword combat and it kept dragging me back to it. After doing every arrow and dagger challenge I could find on the map I left the game and never played it again.

Gollum out of Mordor

Dark Souls

in my game Ending I structured the second level so that the player would step forward and get a slap to the face in the shape of an unfair death. This was my opening salvo, death is your education. So after persisting with Dark Souls I’m somewhat nonplussed. I get it. By repeatedly killing the player they form a mental map of the area. By repeatedly killing the player they encourage experimentation.

Except that this doesn’t always work. There has to be some investment on the behalf of the player or this magic completely fails. If the player feels like they can walk away, they will. And they do. It’s why I believe Dark Souls is such a hit with game reviewers, they are beholden to persist, and in doing so the game makes a believer of them.

I on the other hand couldn’t care less. A tedious march through the same janky fights to get to the same boss I still don’t understand is nothing more than that. I tried a variety of combat techniques, from trying to interrupt attacks, to blocking, to evading, all of it very unsatisfying. What little progress I made illuminated the premise, to internalise the map and hone my skills, but I was not impressed. I enjoyed not one second of it, I only endured. I experimented and I explored, but never was I delighted.

The very worst thing that Dark Souls has given us is complacency towards killing the player. I have heard designers remark that it didn’t matter that the player died in that spot in their game because Dark Souls kills the player all the time. It makes me want to shake them. Dark Souls does not kill you all the time, it kills you for a specific reason. See, I get it, I get Dark Souls, I just don’t enjoy the combat.

Soul out of Estus

Divinity Original Sin 2

I had the worst time with Divinity Original Sin. My two characters insisted on bickering and ruining every conversation - no matter how many times I reloaded a scene they would find a way to trash it. I eventually found myself locked out of every quest in the game and unable to fight my way past monsters higher than my level. I was playing the game to forget about a failed relationship where my ex would find excuses to start arguments. It was about as bad an experience playing a game I could ever hope for.

To say the sequel is an improvement is true. To a point. Somehow I’ve done it again and gotten trapped in an area with no quests to advance and monsters too powerful to fight past. I’ve muddled my way past some really irritating quests with obtuse requirements that I’m told can be solved in many ways. Except that when you fail to chase a particular lead it’s really frustrating to have to try a dozen different tactics to shake out a solution. It feels like I’ve picked up my PC and I’m rattling it over my head until the game agrees to let me move on. People keep telling me I can solve situations in dozens of ways, but all of them seem very specific and very intent on being a dick about it.

The combat is as amazing as it is chaotic. Environmental effects are at the fore, making it feel very D&D-like as you slow people down with oil and then ignite the oil and so on. The story I felt was okay, but the tone is all over the place, making it impossible to give a shit. Some nice touches with elves gaining visions from eating flesh and anyone can choose perks for talking to animals - but I found it more infuriating than cute after searching an entire island to solve a riddle, only to have a rat explain to me that I had to talk to some NPC again in order to shake, shake, shake out the solution. For every ounce of fun I got two ounces of frustration and misery.

1 out of 2

Dungeon World

Out of all the table top roleplaying games I’ve tried, this one was the most robust for casual play. Especially seeing as roleplayers are the most unreliable people on the planet. The resolution system it employs forces a plot twist every time you use it, so it’s impossible to plan anything. It’s not for everyone, you end up with a very gonzo story without the fiddly depth that other roleplaying games manage. On the other hand it’s a dream to be the Games Master and watch a story unfold instead of meticulously planning it and seeing a conclusion land that tears apart your ideas instead of adding to them. I wrote a full guide of how I run this game over here. The campaign is effectively a sandbox, I let people explore and fill in the map as we go - which is why I mention it. I’d like a computer game that approached it this way, not like Dwarf Fortress where a randomly generated overworld is dumped on you. Instead I’d like a piecemeal discovery of the world, one that reacts to the tensions you’ve created. Perhaps I’ll have to do it myself.

Story out of Players

[thealfanator]

The Steel that Warmed Us in the Night-Time ~ Chapter 6

Yennefer and Triss stared at each other from across the room.  The daytime sun leaked ferociously through the windows whilst also being remarkably soothing.  The innkeeper gazed upon the room with a casual boredom; it was ‘just another day’ after all.  The smell of beer stimulated the air like a bitter electric shock.  For what had seemed like days, the tavern was still noticeably empty – with people staying clear from it since the moment Geralt had arrived a few days earlier.

“I wonder how long they’ll be.” Triss brought up.  She felt awkward with Yennefer’s piercing, crystal-like eyes which failed to blink.  She merely nodded her head or grumbled a tiny sign of approval, then sighed.  Triss sighed too; trying to solve the everlasting grudge but failing miserably. Hunter watched from a distance, fondling over his own, large cup of ale.  His tired eyes dragged their way from Triss, then to Yennefer, then back again – constantly watching a competitive game of conversation.  Yennefer sighed again.

“They won’t be long, I hope.” She pointed out, “A couple of days?  It’s Toussaint, we’re talking about – as far as I know, Geralt loves fighting monsters in White Orchard rather than getting dressed up in a luxurious city…”

“He’ll want to escape the place as soon as they have the amulet.” Triss finished.

“Exactly.” Yennefer almost cracked a smile.  She looked at the floor with tired eyes, clutching her almost healed stomach wound.  From time to time, she prodded it with unsatisfying effect, exerting her frustration of not being able to mount a horse on an exceptionally thick, white bandage. She sighed again.

Geralt and Cirilla stood at the edge of the lively city of Toussaint, feet sinking slightly in the dancing, brightly coloured sand which slowly merged into a blinding pale green grass which coated the city’s structure.  Ciri laughed and enjoyed the bliss atmosphere whilst she looked around at the people who worked their day, carrying clothes, picking fruit or travelling along the cobblestone intestines of the city.  On the other hand, Geralt studied the layout once again, in a curious fashion.  He had been here before, but not in quite some time. They both shared a fascinated expression; green splodges of life dissolved into the red and white structures of the roofed tiles and infrastructure.  The air was crisp and Geralt could almost smell the delightful mood of the inhabitants here.  Flowers bounced around, overjoyed at every passer-by.  Geralt looked to Ciri.

“As much as you love it here, you know we have a business to do?” he prodded.

“Absolutely.” Ciri stared back, eyes still voluntarily open, drinking in the charm of Toussaint.

“Right…” Geralt, amusingly, did not look convinced. “I got good news and bad news. Good news first, we have large city to look for an amulet.  Bad news is exactly that! We have a WHOLE city to explore for an amulet, and further – we have no leads to follow.”  He sighed, “You ready to do some exploring?”

“You kidding?” Ciri chuckled, “I’d explore this town for days! Just say the word.”  They moved forward, deeper into the city.

           Geralt and Ciri decided to split up and take different roles so that they could expand their search for the amulet.  Geralt agreed he would delve deeper into Toussaint’s mazes and pathways whilst Ciri headed to a shoreline which surrounded a large, beautiful lake just off the side of the city.  Ciri continued to absorb the amazing nature of the place.  Her eyes as wide as a tiger’s, constantly observing the liveliness. People bustled around their business. She noticed that there were no true monsters here like in Velen; she hadn’t seen such purity and happiness to extents like this!  She walked up to a woman who, just outside her small cottage door, was picking some berries then washing them in a sweet-smelling bowl of water.

“Hello, Miss?” she poked politely, trying not to invade her business.  Luckily, the woman turned around without angry eyes but instead greeting her with immediate happiness.

“Yes, my love?” she croaked.  She was an older woman, with cloth-like clothing which seemed worn out from kneeling so much.  Ciri asked her about an amulet in the area – trying not to sound too desperate for an answer. The woman looked down at a wet patch of sand, but she was clearly in thought.  She stood silently, puzzled like a wise wizard in his tower.  After a few, awkward moments she replied.

“There was one… A man, a knight to be precise, who thought it would be funny to make a beast swallow it.  ‘Twas a peculiar beast; shaped like a bird – has feathers ‘n all that but it mostly stays underneath the lake there.” She pointed; Ciri followed her arm, “Every now and then, not often – mind you, does it burst out of the lake in rage, scaring all the people including me!  The rather expensive looking item as you said is clearly in its stomach. It looks too beautiful to ignore…” she trailed again into thought.  “Unfortunately, the rather arrogant man who forced it down its throat was also eaten. He may’ve deserved it, but I won’t wish death ‘un anybody!  It was a tragic day.”  Ciri looked down at the sand again.  It was almost like they were both sharing each other’s thoughts if only for a moment.

“Thank you so much.” Ciri said eagerly.  Just as she turned to leave, the woman called her again.

“Please, do me a favour and pick some of these gooseberries? I’d be ever so grateful.”

*

Meanwhile, Geralt stumbled into the city’s depths, wandering aimlessly and hoping for something to latch onto.  He randomly started asking people about an amulet in the area but found no immediate luck as they would usually keep their head down and slowly shy away.  He sighed again.  He sat by a bench, deep in thought.  The afternoon sun scorched his forehead and brought small entities of sweat to the surface like a father dragging his disobedient child.

“Hey, Witcher!” someone whispered.  Ears peeked up towards the sky.  The Witcher turned.  “I know somethin’ ‘bout that amulet you been askin’ about.” He cupped his hands round his mouth, trying to encourage his whispers.  He went across the busy street to meet the stealthily looking man who bent down into a crouch inside a doorway.  He was evidently one of the townsfolk and not a city guard, which was noticeable due to Geralt’s perceptive nature, and the fact he could see his ‘not incredibly expensive’ clothing.  “Let’s make a deal.”  They both leaned into the warm, wooden building and increased their whispers into a normal-sounding chat.  Geralt nodded, expecting more information.  “Look, I had a bottle ‘o wine which was stolen from me.  It was dear and I need it back.  I saw you, Witcher, ‘cause your kind ‘ave those swords! Please, fetch it for me and I’ll give you information about this task you’re pursuing.”  Geralt looked reluctantly at the man, but was forced to take on the quest.  He sniffed the area, picking up the trail.  For what seemed like eternities later, he returned from this mundane task with a frustrated look on his face and a bottle of half-drunk wine.

“I have it.  Now tell me about the amulet.” Geralt said as he passed the bottle back to the man.  Geralt had a headache from the frustration and had a rumbling sound and sensation in his head.  Trying to ignore it, he put his forefinger and thumb on his temple whilst leaning on a table.  It wasn’t until the wine bottle Geralt had just retrieved smashed on the floor after it fell off a shelf, that he realised the rumbling wasn’t in his head.  Books and ornaments shook, chairs wobbled. There was a vivid vibration through the floor.  The Witcher heard screams coming from outside.

“What the hell is that?” The man in the room screamed. Geralt used his hand to restrain the man from running wild.

“Wait here!” Geralt shouted above the chaos of sound, adjusting his swords in the process – ready for a potential fight.

           Geralt ran through the chaotic streets of Toussaint.  High pitched screams of women and children stabbed at his brain. He pushed passed in the opposite direction to the bolting people.  He cursed to himself, hoping that Cirilla was not caught in the mess.  Stalls were pushed over followed by the sprawling of food items which became bludgeoned with the feet of others.  After minutes of panicked breaths and the wish to move faster, Geralt came to a clearing.  Below him, past a few banisters and intestine-like pathways, he saw a large lake in the distance bubble and shake like boiling water.  He stood in shock, paralysed to the strange matter.  Decades of suspension and expectation passed before a griffin-looking creature burst out of the water, producing a storm of water which spread for what seemed like miles.  Shielding his eyes, Geralt noticed that this wasn’t a pure hybrid of a griffin, but instead a peculiar beast of a creature which he had not seen before.  It had jet-black feathers with a red-stained beak and large, evil eyes.  It zoomed into the air, screeching all around before diving towards the ground.

*

Ciri urgently shouts to the woman she was just talking to and others which crowded in awe around the beast.

“Get out of here!  Now!” She warned as she drew her sword.  The beast dived down towards the ashen-haired figure.  Ciri deflected its attack with a swipe of her weapon.  It was incredibly strong.  It continued to dip and dive around buildings and over the lake it had emerged from moments before.  Ciri continued to prick the creature.  Not long passed before she gave a powerful attack to it which caused it to spray blood, turning the sand to a stale copper-like colour.  It involuntarily smashed to the ground. Amongst the blood-spilling stomach, conveniently oozed the amulet.  The colour was coated with blood so much that Ciri couldn’t even see the glistening greens and blues of the gemstones which were embedded into it.  Geralt continued to look at the situation whilst desperately trying to reach her.  It proved quite difficult due to the high amounts of obstacles and great quantities of idling bystanders.  He looked a few dozen seconds later to see that he had made almost no progress at reaching her.  Ciri snatched the amulet immediately, breathing heavily at her achievement. Despite the situation, Ciri couldn’t help but grow a small smile.  They had retrieved their fifth amulet.  That counts six now; she almost forgot that the contractor already has one out of the ten they had to gather.  She continued to breath heavily, restoring the oxygen in her lungs.  The corpse of the bird lie a few feet ahead of her.  Geralt saw a bunch of city guards approach her with spears drawn.  They looked puzzled at the scene and, with their narrow minds, immediately grabbed Cirilla by the arms and dragged her like a cat held by its neck away from the situation.

“What are you doing?  I killed this creature!” Ciri yelled.

“Aye, you might say so, but let’s see what the queen says about the matter!  You could’ve meddled with other people with a bloody-stained sword like that!” one of the soldiers replied.

“Are you kidding?  You think I’d idly stand there and watch that monster bite away at the people of this city?” Ciri countered in shock whilst being continually dragged.

“We don’t know.” They blindly said from within their helmets. “For now, a holding cell is in order for you, missus, even if you are innocent!”  Ciri could almost sense their stupidity through their empty, iron suits. She failed to resist their physical prods as she helplessly flailed with them towards a jail cell far inside the large castle in the middle of Toussaint.  Geralt shouted at them and tried to push his way towards her, but he couldn’t make it and they couldn’t hear him.  He grew angry as he fell to the cold, hard floor, unable to keep himself upright in his shock.  After he came to his bearings, he stomped back into the alleyways of Toussaint in search for a better plan.

This is the start of ‘the Toussaint Trilogy’!  I hope you still enjoy the series.  It is very action packed!  Please feel free to leave me some feedback; direct message me or anything you like!  In the meantime, please - if anything - reblog because my mission is to expose my series to as many people as possible and increase recognition!  Nevertheless, have a great week :)

Link to Chapter 1: https://thealfanator.tumblr.com/post/161443706234/the-steel-that-warmed-us-in-the-night-time

#the #steel #that #warmed #us #in #night #time #chapter #six #geralt #of #rivia #butcher #blaviken #yennefer #vengerberg #ciri #cirilla #triss #merigold #witcher #rise #white #wolf #assassin #kings #wild #hunt

[itsclydebitches]

Soo like 6 days ago I started watching the Witcher stopped at ep 7 bought the Witcher 3 and have been playing it nonstop. The shows okay? I think? (From someone who only knows what the series is from a 4 hour critic video that I had no idea what was going on in BUT- the game is so funnnn. Like I barely know what’s going on, from that video and people discussing things online but WOW??? Like how was I not told about this shit earlier??? Dandelions realllllly icky thooo like I thought he’d be more fun and less “wow your straight fucking scum” but I mean at least he cares about his friends? Triss and yennifer are... Oof rough BUT I’m only just in the game, hope they’ll grow on me? Or change? But Ciri? Is adorable? Her parts are so fun to play her dodge is so fun.

The novels! Have You read them? Where does one get them lmao Ik they’re translated?

[old timey fisherman's voice] WE CAUGHT ANOTHER ONE, BOYS!

Ahhhh new Witcher 3 fan!! Congratulations, anon, you've unlocked my numerous Thoughts™ and Opinions™ on the matter that I am now going to dump on you in bullet point form. No spoilers though!

Okay, okay, yeah I like this game a totally normal amount. I've sunk at least 250 hours into it (so far) which might not be much compared to the Pro Gamers and whatnot, but it's an insane amount for someone like me who possesses the attention span of a goldfish. I don't do any of the same thing for 250 hours (except write things on tumblr, I guess)

I didn't know what was going on either when I first played. I didn't even have the show to sort of help me out, Witcher 3 was the first Witcher story I ever dove into. The great thing though is you can just... google stuff? See, idk if you've worked this out yet, but the games all take place post-book series. All the stuff in the series happened, then Witcher 1 starts with Geralt having amnesia, and everything else in the games is new content. Which means that though there's obviously a fair number of book spoilers throughout, it's pretty easy to google worldbuilding questions without getting game spoilers. So once I understood that I was able to supplement what I was getting via game osmosis with stuff like, "Who the fuck is Nilfgaard again and why does everyone hate them?" or "What did Triss do to Geralt?" without getting any quest-specific spoilers. Basic wiki articles with, "Such and such is related to such and such and once did This Thing" was super helpful.

Yeah, the show is just okay. I'm far less enamored with it a year later than I was at the start. I think I was trying to like it more than I actually did... Honestly, I'm actually somewhat wary of getting more seasons simply because of how TV shows tend to dominate fandoms. The Jaskier/Geralt dynamic is a perfect example: once the show does something, a very large portion of the fandom tends to take that as their preferred canon. Finding non-TV!Jaskier/Geralt content is more of a struggle now. Which isn't a bad thing, god knows I'm happy to have more Witcher content in general, it's just too bad that we have game and book dynamics that are, at least here on tumblr, largely overshadowed by the show. My fave in the whole franchise - Regis - is someone I'm particularly worried for because if the show does him dirty and the whole fandom takes that characterization as gospel, I may not recover lol.

Dandelion's characterization in Witcher 3 is, sadly, not what I'd hoped it would be. To my mind book!Dandelion is superior to both game!Dandelion and TV!Jaskier. It's his dynamic with Geralt that made me ship them in the first place. He does grow on you in the game though (or at least he did for me), but he's definitely presented as more annoying/inept/creepy than in the books. And don't even get me started on how they butchered that relationship in the show... Though I WILL say game!Dandelion remains pretty funny. There's one quest in particular that never fails to make me laugh. Also his fashion is on point for a flamboyant bard.

Oof Triss and Yen... beware, anon, that is THE debate in this fandom and the one you might want to steer clear of lol. Personally, I'm not a fan of either. Triss is fine, I guess, but not someone I really, actively like and Yennefer is... well. Let's just say if I could do away with any character it would be her. I absolutely despised her in the game, was told she was better in the books, started the books, hated her even more, tried to give her a chance in the TV show, and ended up hating her there too. I'm just not a Yen fan, at all, which basically makes me the black sheep of the Witcher fandom lol. You might warm to them though, the majority do, however, know that you don't have to romance either of them. My Geralt was quite happy being a single father to his amazing daughter Ciri :D

I've read the short story collections and read enough of the novels to realize it wasn't my cup of tea. Basically, there are two collections of interconnected tales as Geralt goes about his witchering and then a six book epic following the hansa and everything with Ciri. Personally, I couldn't get into the epic and dropped the novels early on. In my humble opinion Sapkowski, writing a character like Geralt, (much like Doyle writing Holmes) excels in the short story format and then struggles stylistically in novel form. I found his writing tedious, the themes not nearly as poignant (many outright uncomfortable), and the fact that Yen is a central part of the whole tale didn't help sell things for me. Reading a six book series where a good chunk is dedicated to the supposedly epic love story of a couple where you hate one half and find the whole relationship cringy (though not in a way the story is purposefully acknowledging)... doesn't make for great reading imo lol. But I want to emphasize that that's my take and god knows it's a minority one. Most fans adore the books - and I do heartily recommend the short stories - so definitely give them a shot for yourself some time.

They are indeed translated (I can't read a word of Polish lol) and are very easy to find in a bookstore, online seller, etc. The wiki article lists them all.

(Though know that you definitely can't download ebooks for free via the Z Library. Nope. Not possible. Don't know why I'm even getting your hopes up.)

Really though, Witcher 3 is my fave, hands down. Out of the books, the show, the other games... Witcher 3 is the version of Geralt and the world that I truly fell in love with. When people say "Witcher" that's the version of Witcher I'm eager to discuss. However, if you can stomach early 2000s games with pretty terrible graphics, I recommend trying Witcher 1 and 2 once you're finished (I was immediately ready for more gameplay content after I'd finished lol). Witcher 1 is, in many ways, a mess. God the combat system drove me nuts... BUT it has a strange charm that I, in all seriousness, really loved. Meanwhile, Witcher 2 (Assassins of Kings) is far stronger. You can easily see the building blocks of Witcher 3 in the narrative choices and worldbuilding. Plus, AoK has Iroveth who is just such a fun character. Wish he'd made it into Wild Hunt :(

Also the comics! I bought the omnibus a while back and didn't regret the purchase for a second. House of Glass (the first story run) also has one of the saddest Geralt moments for me. Just this single panel that lives in my head, rent free, making me Feel Things on occasion lol. There's a new run, Fading Memories, releasing this month (!!!) which I can't wait to get ahold of once the trade paperback is out.

Oh god I could ramble about Witcher 3 for ages but this is already getting so long. Do all the side quests! Return to places you've already been to for fun surprises! Replay decisions to see how differently things turn out! Play lots of Gwent! Enjoy the gorgeous landscapes! Be sure to get the amazing DLCs when you're finished! Play Hearts of Stone first because Blood and Wine has an ending-ending and I didn't realize that, so it was a little weird to get the emotional finish and then have like 10+ hours of gameplay left! Oh, and if you haven't figure it out already know that you can put points into any skill in the General Skills tab (you don't build on it like the fighting/signs/alchemy tabs) and I would snag the "Gourmet" ability ASAP because it has saved my ass so many times.

AND ENJOY PLAYING

I wish I could play it for the first time again, but diving back into more Blood and Wine tonight will have to do :D

#witcher #TW3

[csmarksforlearning]

Witcher #1

So here I am going to be writing about few of my favorite games.Including a few stories from it that got me interested and some opinion of mine.

So my very favorite game in the past years was The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. So this game is about we are Geralt of Rivia, a witcher. What is a witcher? So basically being a witcher means that you’re a mercenary and a hunter, you kill monsters that threatens the people, and of course for a fee. That fee is the only thing what helps you live. But witchers are not really humans, they were humans before their training has started. Every kid that got destiny of being a witcher needed to go through a lot of mutations, they usually have no emotions, feel less pain, are used to steroid type of potions and poisons (these are special witcher potions), and one more thing, they don’t sleep. So the main story is that you are seeking for Ciri (a girl who has secret powers that can change the world) who is fleeing from the Wild Hunt (the Wild Hunt is basically a group of spectres who are capturing slaves from different worlds and led by Eredin commonly known as the King of the Wild Hunt) and we are following her journeys until we finally find her near Skellige.

So when I bought this game (yes I’m that type of a person) I got the money for one game only and wanted to buy two. So I had to decide wich one I’m going to buy, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or Fallout 4. I wanted to play with some kind of medieval game in that time so I decided to buy the Witcher. After the payment I was kinda afraid that I totally messed up because I wasn’t sure that I’m that type of person who likes to slay monsters 24/7. Well when my Steam finished downloading I started the game. First the voice of the narrator and the music under just made me an eargasm. Okay let’s check the game itself. Well the first video in the game took away my breath. Well tutorial of the combat system was pretty weird for me (almost at end of the game but still can’t parry and counter attack) but at my first real fight (with a spectre near the mill) I learned almost everything mostly the dodge system. After that I was amazed by the aftermath of the battleground in Velen, getting the pass to the way to Novigrad. Yes here we are, Novigrad, the place where I Completed every quest and started to love Gwent(a card playing game ingame, I’m looking forward to buy a gwent pack but there are unbelievably prices), and this game got a really interesting love story with Geralt, Yeneffer, Triss and some other girls who met Geralt (don’t judge him he can be a good boy and a bad boy aswell).

So after everything I just LOVE this game. If I could afford to myself I would buy every fan thing about this game. I love the whole world of this game every character every music every quest almost every tree in that game(no I’m not a tree racist). So If you got 30$ I would definitely recommend to buy and play this game, and I recommend the books aswell I read the first two and I got amazed by them.

#witcher #homework #gaming #wanttoplay