Usually this is the part where Jaskier would make faces to correct Geralt's manners, but honestly? He wants this interaction to be over with as well, and Geralt is much better than he is at scaring people away. As soon as the witcher asks his question, Jaskier jumps in between the men, hands going up with the jiggling of the keys.

"YES! Why yes I am. Thank you for your welcome, Professor Nowak, but we had a long trip here and--"

The old man has the audacity to laugh, but at least he nods. "Yes, yes, we both have things to do. You're free to go, my boy." He snorts to himself when he realizes what he's said and puts a hand on Jaskier's shoulder. "Except you aren't a boy any longer, are you? It's my age talking. It feels like it was only yesterday that little Julian arrived to my office, asking me to help him change courses without alerting his father's prying eyes."

At that, Jaskier's face goes white, his whole body tenses. He glances at Geralt, checking for a reaction, and he misses it when the dean pats his back and tells him he'll see him later before going back to his office. The door closing is what snaps him out of it, and with his heart stuck in his throat, he motions to the stairs with a tilt of his head.

"Shall we?"

It's stupid, to be bothered by that. It happened over twenty years ago. It's in the past! Geralt won't give a fuck, no matter how much he hates nobles - besides, he probably has an idea at least, Jaskier reminds himself, considering the snippets of his childhood he's incorporated while babbling the road away.

"You can ask. If you want."