#when jaskier wins and reaches the end of the labyrinth geralt is so UPSET he's flinging himself down into his throne

[roughentumble]

geralt is forced to work within the confines of the fairy tale world he lives in, and so when he gets cast in the role of villain, he has no choice but to work with it. to be that, to continue the game, to keep the baby hidden away as a prize to be won. but he was watching jaskier as someone brave and true, wise and clever, someone to be his consort. he'd wanted to WOO jaskier. and each of their interactions balances between antagonistic, bantering, and startlingly genuine. they have a connection! they get on well, when they get to slip for a moment and be geralt and jaskier instead of the goblin king and the hero!

then jaskier wins, he actually WINS and the baby is back in his arms, little ciri or essi or maybe even an OC, little rodrick pankratz or some such, and he pauses because maybe it's a trap? and geralt looks so disgusted, lounging back on his throne, because his word is his bond and he would NEVER betray that. so he starts to step away, to go home, prize in his arms, when one of the little goblins shouts "but sire, you still need to marry for the court! you've turned down all your other offers!" and jaskier. just. freezes. and thinks of them, together, back in that ballroom

#jaskier gets to pick his name for the course of the adventure when everyone back home calls him julian #here accepting geralt-- with conditions-- is about accepting yourself and living your truest life without shame #when jaskier wins and reaches the end of the labyrinth geralt is so UPSET he's flinging himself down into his throne #because it means he's lost. it means jaskier will go. jaskier has seen him as a villain this whole time and there was no fixing it #but then jaskker stops. and starts asking questions. and geralt sits up so straight #because hope is blooming in his chest that maybe jaskier will SEE him. maybe jaskier will understand. maybe jaskier CLULD come to love him #witcher tag #ogc tag #idk. i think about it #its a loose AU you have to change a lot to make it work like it does in my head but i think its a good one